1 on 1 in Hell

My father recently got a new MacBook Pro. He gifted my mother his old MacBook so she didn't have to use that pile of a Dell any longer. When purchasing his new MBP, he decided to buy a year of "1 on 1" for my mother at the Apple store: you know, to help her get accustomed to a Mac and all things computer in general.

So, I was updating a few things for my mom on her new Mac. My dad was in the middle of making her first "1 on 1" appointment for her and asked me to put the time and date in her calendar while I was on her Mac.

ME: What should I call it?

MOM (begrudgingly): You may as well just put hell.

So, I enter her appointment as follows:

Date: Wed. March 30, 2011

Time: 3pm

Title: Hell!

Where: Apple Store

Needless to say, my mother goes to her appointment yesterday and what do you know: there was a problem the Apple employee noticed with her calendar. It was not syncing with her iPhone for some reason. So, as soon as the girl opens the calendar on the computer to see what the problem is, "Hell! @ Apple Store, 3PM" pops up on her screen.

My mother was embarrassed and had to explain to the Apple employee–who was, by the way, cracking up–that her daughter had done that (and why).

Isn't it great how things just fall into place sometimes?

25. a photo of a night you loved

Tara, my mother, and I - Xmas '07.

Fooling around with Photo Booth.

We were all laughing so hard, we were crying.

My mother the writer

My mother sent me such a long text message early this morning. I woke up and read it immediately, then I thought: Wow. My mother should write a book. Or a blog. Or start a blog then write the book.

She really should. Even if it's called "Letters to My Daughter" or something! I will not rest until I convince her to do it! Or have her write it, but I post it for her (considering she is not too tech literate).

This needs to happen.

Go, Mom, go!!!

Anyway, drinking coffee at my desk, door shut - my poor kitty begging to run around the apartment, but...I can not. I can't risk a cat running amuck in an apartment where no pets are allowed, but new roommates are.

No one has moved in yet. That I can hear. Soon, I will venture out to grab more coffee - maybe I should put the coffee pot in my room, too? (haha)

Here's hoping for the best...

Interactive resume, HO!

So, the past 3-4 days have been chaotic, exciting, entertaining and utterly productive as I created an interactive resume that I could present to the Photojojo team.

I applied for this job. There is no doubt that this is my dream job. And I have been psyched about this for a while now - as those of you close to me have had to "deal with". ;) (I'm sorry - actually, no I'm not! - but thank you for all of your support!)

Yes, this means I would drop everything and move to San Francisco straight away (in my mind, at least). And that, too, makes me giddy. I have longed to be rid of this "small town" and have often spoke of moving to California (Florida and Washington were dually considered). It served me well - MTSU especially - but it is just time to go, and let go.

Although, I know a resume does not mean you automatically get the job, I worked oh-so-diligently and hard on this and, well, I did my damnedest! Now, I just pursue an interview so that I can woo them with this Jamie charm!

I am proud. I am proud of what I've done and, most of all, proud that my closest family and friends are also proud (and supportive). This means more than anything. Hands down.

So, thank you again.

You know who you are.

I love you, guys.

15. a photo of you and someone you love

My mother and I.

14. a photo of one of your favourite family members

These are my two brothers.

Yeah. They're rockin' He-man and Skeletor shirts.

Love. =)

13. a photo of your best friend(s)

The two people who I will always love;

even if they don't love me.

^ Erika

^ Jon

xo

10. a photo of you as a baby

This is the youngest photo of myself I have access to.

I was three or four. And wearing a paper bonnet.

I think it was Thanksgiving.

9. a photo of your family

(Left to Right) Mom (note the "motherly expression"), Rob, Brent, Me.

This picture is like...six years old?

But this is the most recent family photo I have.

Now, let's find the camera man...

This will do. Dad and Mom. Incredibly cute.

And last, but not least...

Punk. Cutest kitty ever. My boy. <3

I feel the earth beneath my feet.

Rilo Kiley is amazing. I mean it. Jenny Lewis has the most beautiful vocal chords: she hypnotizes you with her voice like no other.

I was introduce to Rilo Kiley about five years ago by my brother, Brent. He told me to give it a listen, knowing I'd enjoy it. I did; and I loved them. He mailed me the album The Execution of All Things and I listened to it all summer. I was living back at home in Michigan - with my parents - at the time. Heartbroken. Confused. Broke. Depressed. But I remember spending my days sprawled across the deck in the back, iPod in hand, eyes closed, sun on my face...that album was everything. It made me feel. It made me...happy. Every song spoke to me, every note was just right.

You know, maybe it wasn't so much the album, but the timing. Either way, that continues to be one of my favorite albums (and artists) ever. Thanks, Brent. For that and so much more.

Brent and I don't talk much at all anymore.

It was my choice, I guess.

Kind of.

And I miss him.

4. a photo of the last place you went on holiday

Xmas with the folks in Ohio.

3. a photo that makes you happy

This took me a while [to find].

This is my grandmother, Elsie; and she’s wearing my brother’s boots.

This photo makes me incredibly happy

because it reminds me of my grandmother’s amazing personality!

She’s crazy intelligent, fun-loving, caring, hilarious,

easy to talk to, and she used to write poetry and stories

(some of which she can still recite).

She's put up with the whole family teasing her

about her height (she's like 4'8") on a regular basis -

hence, the boots.

But she always had a smile on her face.

Elsie now has Alzheimer’s.

Needless to say, she just isn’t…herself anymore.

And that kills me.

I miss getting my ass kicked in Scrabble by her,

sitting next to her and doing crossword puzzles together,

and the sound of her giggling uncontrollably.

I love you, grandma. So much. And I miss you.

You're an amazing woman! I want you to know that!

I’ll see you in December for Christmas! <3