dear john-
I’m getting excited that you’re gonna be in town on Saturday and we’ll be able to hang out for a couple hours that night. Between you and me, I’m glad you’re bring colbie along this summer instead of sheryl. Is Jen coming too, I hear she’s been tagging along a lot lately.
Glad we’re able to meet again for our annual summer reunion under the stars because it has been cool to watch you grow and change since the days at Eddie’s.
See ya Saturday!
Jess
So I left work on Wednesday because I was tempted to stab my eardrum with a pen it hurt so bad. I decided to make a detour and go to the urgent care clinic. The doc said “wow! no wonder you’re in pain!”. never good words. I have an inner ear infection right against my eardrum. yeah its as fun as it sounds. Then the doc proceeded to offer me some pain meds. I decided to take him up on the offer and boy am I glad I did. I have slept more in the past 36 hours than I have been conscious. I realize that Vicodin makes me umm “loopy” for a lack of better words. I usually have crazy dream but within the last day or so- I’ve met Oprah and she’s my new BFF, been hit on by JT’s stepdad (he doesn’t have a stepdad), sold toyota’s and had many other dreams/conversations I don’t remember. I made JT wash clothes for me last night b/c I was determined to go to work today. He kindly reminded me I was under the influence of narcotics, but humored me and still washed my jeans!
I’ve decided that besides sleeping through most of the TV shows, I will attempt to watch Across the Universe. I’ve been wanting to watch it and when it arrived yesterday from my Blockbuster que, I decided vicodin and psychodelic movie would make a great afternoon.
p.s. I’m not responsible for any content in this post or any typos. the screen’s a little blurry! 
Oprah has her list of favoriite things, so why can I?
Things I’m digging at the moment…
awkward de Billy Ray Cryus on Nashville Star. Could it get any more painful with a teleprompter? I wish someone would pull a Ron Burgundy on him!
Flight of the Concords. Could these folks be more hilarious??
Viva la Vidaby Coldplay. I wouldn’t be a postmodern without lovin’ it? huh?
Summer Fresh Produce
Arrested Development - why oh why did this great show have to go away? Could Kath & Kim be a nice replacement this fall on NBC?
air conditioning
taking pics of baby belly’s
saving the world while eating ice cream
http://www.one.org/benjerry/
Girl Talkmashups – thanks Jas!
working on some creative ideas for a new website/business! more details coming soon!!
here’s a sneak peek 
what are you diggin??
after eating dinner tonight at pei wei we decided to walk over to life way. One of our friends told us about this “read with discernment” label on several of my favorite author’s book. Kinda like a Christian version of the “parental advisory: explicit lyrics” warnings on albums.
Then for the first thing I saw when I walked in was the Mother’ Day clearance gift section. I saw a blue/white print of a butter dish that had the scripture “Give us this day our daily bread”. I really don’t think this what Jesus had in mind when he was teaching his disciples about prayer. A stinkin’ butter dish? This is where it started.
I then moved over to the Bible section. The speciality Bible display caught my attention. Marines, Firefighters, Sportmans, Golfers all have speciality Bibles. hmmm…I’m gonna leave it at that.
I didn’t even make it back to the beloved VBS section.
I then headed over the card section because I decided the only place worse to get a Father’s Day card would be Wal-Mart. My favorite was the “witness” card. wow. I found the least cheesy to send my Dad and thought I’d probably feel less bitter if I’d have just gone to Wal-Mart.
I had to leave when I saw on my way to check out “Jesus fish” reading glasses. wow. I think I just threw up a bit in my mouth.
On the way home I started thinking…this really started a lot further back than just with the butter dish. It started with hurt that led to bitterness and then cynicism. I’ve spent the last two good years deconstructing my broken faith. Life, situations, people, ministry, “church”, and myself have all played a part in this. I think it is finally time to stop deconstructing, tearing apart, criticizing, being bitter and hurt.Being in LIfeway reminded me of what now feels like another life. I don’t think I could go back to the old person. I don’t know what this new person and faith can and will look like. It will be different. Some of the old pieces will remain, just with cracks that reveal brokeness. I’m truly understanding and relating to my dear Shellee’s post last week, on what it means to be cracked and drained. I think it is finally time to start putting back together and reconstructing the broken pieces.
So I’ve never been shy about the fact that I don’t intend to live in Texas for the rest of my life. JT and I were re-capping over the weekend all of the fun and awesome things we’ve done/seen over the past 3 1/2 years we’ve lived in the Lone Star State. I told him we should start a “bucket list” inspired from the movie of things we wanted to do by the time we move (date to be determined at a future time).
Texas Bucket List:
Anything else that should be added to the list?? What else can I NOT live without doing before I leave this beloved state??
I’ll be updating my “Texas Bucket List” and crossing things off my list as I do them.
Contrary to what my blogging posts my indicate, I am still alive. I realized today that it has been a whole month since I’ve blogged. wow. It seems like May just got here and now it is gone.
My blog is suffering from some serious neglect. I’ve made an appointment with a blog counselor so we can work out our issues of abandonment and communication.
I have several thoughts swirling around in my head and I promise this week I’ll make some time to give a voice to these thoughts and events. Promises are promises and facts are facts. I hope you got that little diddy – if you’re old school church Youth group choir members. Sorry if I brought tramua or drama to anyone with those words
peace.
JT and I got to Jacksonville around 4 pm on Tuesday afternoon. We left our house at the ungodly hour of 1:30 am. My parents do this every time they come and visit us and now I understand their wisdom, because it does make the trip go by so much quicker. I drove until about 6 am when we hit Baton Rouge. JT and I switched out the driving responsibility and he drove until Pensacola. I woke up just in time to see the Blue Angels at the rest stop. I then drove the homestretch to Jax. We went to his dad’s retirement party yesterday (Wednesday) and it was really nice. I still questioned if he would really retire or not even after the 15 hour drive, because he has been “fixin” to retire as long as I’ve known him (seven years). Yesterday, we met up with my parents in Valdosta (close to the Ga-Fla line) and I’m spending a few days at “home”. It really has been great. My sister has recently got engaged and we’ve been able to have “sister bonding” while being giggly girls with wedding talk. I can hardly believe she is getting married next summer. That’s insane! But her fiance is great guy and after dating for 6 1/2 years- it’s about time!
It is amazing to me how somethings change with time and others have a way of being timeless. I remember the first time I came home from college in Kentucky back to Georgia, when I looked in the fridge and had no idea what was in there. Leftovers from meals that had been cooked without me being present, but my dad always buys me orange juice when he knows I’m going to be home. Now, so much more has changed. My comfortable old bed has now been replaced by a new and firm mattress that hasn’t yet had the chance to be broken in. My sister has just finished her second year of college. My dad has a few less hairs. My mom has many more pairs of shoes and is still buy more! New streets have been created. Favorite restaurants are visited along with old memories. I love running into people that I know at Wal-Mart while simultaneously being reminded why I don’t want to live in this small town. I love TJ’s Stromboli. I love how my moma and I spent a few hours in our pjs this morning over coffee snuggled up on the couch talking while my dad made blueberry muffins. Favorite restaurants are visited along with old memories. I hate that I live 15 hours away from my family and that these trips are less frequent than I wish. I am thankful for our family even though they aren’t blood relatives that in Texas and have made living so far away bearable and worth it. I am still known as Jessica Barnes. I love spending time with my Granny and Papa, but hate wondering if this will be the last time that I see them. The dogs don’t know who I am. I love the way that only my Uncles can embarrass me.
I love my family and the ease and safeness I feel around them.
yeah yeah I know! I’ve been MIA for the last couple of weeks. Last weekend I was really feeling crummy with all of pollen floating around in the air and unfortunately my nasal passages. I got a neti pot and have been singing its praises all week.
This weekend JT’s best-friend, Bobby flew down from Jacksonville and spent the weekend hanging out with us. We went to ComedySportz in Houston with Jason. We had a blast!! ComedySportz is an interactive, competitive (sport-themed) improv comedy. I wasn’t really sure what to expect because it was the first time I’d been, but I laughed a lot and will definitely go back. On Saturday, The Dr. Dave and Biggun Show crew got together for fajitas, ‘ritas, and Wii. Bobby flew back this afternoon to Jacksonville. The insane thing is that we are driving down to Jax around Tuesday morning around 2 am.
We are heading to see our family for a few days. JT’s dad is retiring after 30+ years with CSX RailRoad. We’re going to his retirement party on Wednesday. I’m going to spend a few days in Georgia with my family while JT has some time with his dad. I’m trying to get everything together but I’m starting to stress out a bit. I’m trying to clean and pack because there’s nothing worse than coming home to a messy house. Especially when you’re having a party the very next weekend. Yikes! I’m trying not to think about to much and stress myself out. But I am excited about Derby (even it is a week later)!
I”m really looking forward to getting to see my moma, daddy, sister, and extended family. I haven’t been “home” since September and it will be nice. In some ways I’m dreading the butt-numbing 15 hour drive but there is something relaxing about driving long distances. I’ve got some new tunes on my ipod and plan on reading a book I’ve had since Christmas.
Just a quick update on my friend, Katie Criswell (Kate). She had brain surgery last Tuesday and is doing really well. She is still in the hospital but should be going home to recover very soon. She has started a blog to keep updated on her recovery. You will need a password to visit the site, I’ll give you a clue- it is her first and last name.
Ok…I gotta do some laundry. I promise a “real” post soon. Too stressed right now for the creative juices to flow.
3rd Annual (Delayed) Derby Party Extravaganza
Saturday, May 3rd 10th
The fun will start around 4ish!
A little bit of bluegrass here in the Lone-Star state.
You will NOT want to miss the mint juleps, horse racing, and Kentucky-inspired food
(even if it is a week later!)
We are going to be in Jacksonville for JT’s dad’s retirement party,
but will make sure we still have some Derby fun when we get back!
Here’s a sneak peak at my upcoming “project“.
Is your curiousity getting the best of you??? Keep checking for new updates to the site.
 | jesspatton on go texan day |
 | Aaron on go texan day |
 | chipgillespie on the streak ends… |
 | mammaren on unluckily lucky |
| Digs (volume II) … on digs |
