past future sense

I'm a little overcome at the moment. There has been a local blog link floating on Facebook that I've been trying to read for several days, but it wouldn't load for me until just a few moments ago. What I knew is that a soldier who died in action in Afghanistan was brought home to rest this past Saturday in his hometown of Brandon, Miss., which happens to be my own.



When I played the video on the link, it suddenly hit me like an anvil that Sgt. Jason Rogers is someone I once met. Several years ago I dated a guy from Pearl, Miss. He would often tell me about his best friend Jason who was a marine stationed overseas. I finally had the chance meet him one year over the holidays while Jason was home, almost near the end of a very long tour. I was nervous about the introduction because he was so important to Chris.
We hung out at Jason's home, and I met some of his family. Then we drove to a nightclub in Jackson that has changed names so many times, I couldn't tell you what it was called at the time. I wasn't 21, but I did have an id on me that I had borrowed from a friend for a recent trip to SXSW.
I was called on it by the bouncer and not allowed in. We were with several people, but I didn't have my own vehicle. Chris would have to take me home, but I didn't want to ruin this chance for he and Jason to spend time together. I called my best friend and asked him to pick me up from the club so Chris and Jason could stay. That's the only time I can recall seeing Jason, although I'm sure there were a couple others.

Chris later told me that Jason had chosen to go back overseas to continue fighting, that he wouldn't be finished when this tour was over. To be honest, I couldn't comprehend it at the time.
Now it's clear to me that Jason was prepared to die for what he believed in and that's exactly what he did.

I'm proud that this marine was from Brandon, Miss., and that the community came out to pay their respect, without the cheap interruption of Westboro Baptist Church's antics. I've had my run-ins with that group, but that's for another blog post. The fact that they were kept out shows a turning of the tides in the battle against hate acts. Jason Roger's loved ones can take comfort in knowing that his life was not in vain, and his death certainly wasn't either.

I am so glad I'm off today. Yesterday was hellacious. Thank God for our intern. The deadline for Main Street Award nominations is postmarked today. We finished 72 pages miraculously at 6:15 p.m. yesterday. Much crawfish and beer were consumed. Also, while I'm out, 20 new Sugar Maple trees will be planted on the main street in downtown today.
That should make an impact. Thanks to Bill Holloway for wrapping up this project the past couple days while it's been so crazy in my office. It's the final conclusion (hopefully) of a streetscape beautification effort we've been working on since at least January. As an added bonus, we received a grant to replace 16 street lamp bulbs with more energy-efficient alternatives by May 30. Downtown Laurel will be greener and greener overnight.

This afternoon I'm showing some north Mississippi clients several homes. I love working with first-time buyers and making sure they get the best deal possible. In the mean time I'll be juggling these books:

Every night before bed, I find myself trying to pack in about a dozen activities, most of them online. What I really want to do is crack open my library book and escape, but instead I usually wear myself out from chasing web rabbits and accomplish nothing. Then I crash.

There's obviously such a thing as too connected.

Earlier tonight, the internet was down. That forced me to get some things done without distraction. What would normally take a few hours was completed in just one.

I'd like to invent a peace and quiet button that would automatically shut down all technology within a 500 ft radius for at least an hour at a time. It wouldn't sell very well but my life would be much more balanced.

(Nancy Drew just couldn't resist getting in the pic)

He mentioned that he was selling all of the items. I made him an offer for $60. Sold! I picked it up on Monday with Adam's help, and there we have it, an incubator for all my folded clothing items that seem to be reproducing in the dark. It's a huge improvement to my office/dressing room situation. The drawers are surprisingly deep, and after putting almost everything away, I still haven't filled it. An excuse to go shopping?

Something unexpected happened this morning. On a whim, I attended the 9 a.m. city council meeting, partly because it will be the last one before I wrap up my current job (in 6 days!!) and also because I wanted to inform the council members that we received a grant to purchase more energy efficient street lamp bulbs for the main street through historic downtown.
While I waited for a chance to speak, the councilman whose ward is occupied by downtown said some very kind words about me and the program I've been administering for the past three years, then he asked the room to join him in applauding me.
I got choked up! And that never happens over something in real life, only finales of my favorite shows or those ASPCA commercials with Sarah McLachlan.
No matter how exasperated I have gotten with that small town, Laurel has always managed to be worth it. Three years of sweat and tears aren't regained with a few seconds of applause, but it was certainly a kind gesture that I'll remember fondly.

Without my current, fading position, I would never have been given a shot at the new job. I'm grateful for all the steps it has taken to form this dance, even if the rhythm is a little erratic.

It's a self-proclaimed fact that I decent taste. For the most part.
However, when it comes to choosing a desk, my track record is shoddy--plain embarrassing really. You'd think, as a writer, I'd be rather particular. Problem is, I fall faster for a desk than a school girl for Mr. Turner from Boy Meets World. With no evaluation whatsoever, I've consistently picked my last three desks haphazardly, completely based on my mood in the moment I was looking, or in some cases not looking, for a new writing surface.


And so it goes, I have ended up with this 90s contemporary glass and metal concoction with no storage whatsoever. I'm sure my genius train of thought was something like: "ooh, I can write to-do lists on the surface like it's a dry erase board." Because I don't have enough places to put my incessant to-do lists. Riiiight. At least it was free. This desk was tucked in storage at an Antique Mall in the downtown where I work, and they were dying to get rid of it. I am such a Sucker.

As part of the office/dressing room makeover, I wanted to add some functionality to my work surface, since I won't be buying a new desk anytime soon. Fortunately, Office Depot had sale on desktop organizers, so I picked up two magazine files and two mail trays for a total of $12. The price overruled that they are girlier than my taste.

I am officially the worst blogger ever. Maybe you'll understand why when you see this photo of my soon-to-be home office. It's the second bedroom in my 1950's apartment that I've been using as a closet/dressing room and quasi office. (And when I say 1950's, I mean the complex was built then, not that I have decorated it adorably with influence from that time period. Puh-lease.)

The biggest issue with this office is that I'm never motivated to go in there and do work. I always end up in the living room so Davis and I can chat while I write. Or on days when the weather is as lovely as today, I'll set up shop on our tiny front porch, with Nancy Drew looking out the window over my shoulder.

The last couple of weeks have been particularly tumultuous, with the public announcement of my job change and starting work (ever so slowly) on my new side business, not to mention life's usual distractions.
So, please pardon my mess, but under this dreadful pile of clothing and paperwork is a room with some real productivity potential. I am posting it for all the world to judge as motivation to redesign the space into something worth showing off. Ahh, help!

(Excuse the tilted appearance and blur--had to seam 5 photos together using Dermandar.)

Since taking those pics this morning, I have put up all the clothing where it needs to go.
Then I made a list of all the functions that this room needs to achieve.

Now I'm basically Googling creative solutions to all these needs and seeing how all the pieces can fit together in this 10' 9" x 12' 7" space.
Next time, I'll draw out my plans and hopefully by early May, I'll have a brand new room. Any suggestions on paint color?

Oh, I almost forgot! The secret from previous posts is that I got a new job, working finally in the city where I live. I will be able to bike to work!