I'm an addict for dramatics, I confuse the two for love

So Miss Pan and I have had a few rough days this week. I was getting very stressed out. She was being all crazy and having some problems...Well, I decided to isolate her. I put her in my bedroom with her litter pan, water and food. I spent a good portion of the day cleaning my bedroom, putting up my clothes and what not. Pan has been the nicest cat she's been since we moved home. She's purring and kissing me and being the wonderful kitten I remember. She keeps walking over me as I type this. I haven't seen her this happy since before we moved back to Knoxville.

I talked to Grandpa Herb about it today. He thinks her problem is that we were by ourselves for a year and a half, and now we're in a house with three other cats and two other people. She's having to share me with other people as well, and it upsets her greatly. I knew she had a jealous streak in her, but it didn't really come out until this week. And I think I know why. She's had most of my attention today so maybe we've identified and have found a solution to the problem. Right now, she's curled up on the blanket I have over my feet.

Tomorrow I'm going to Tuckaleechee Caverns to do my research for my next column...This would be great, except I'm claustrophobic and will more than likely have an anxiety attack in the caves. And, I guess, that would make for some great reporting--but I'm sure the photos wouldn't be great.

I'm getting excited for hockey season. Too bad that most of the television stations down here in the South only show football...I guess that would encourage me to move up north so I could actually watch the majority of the season, right? Is that how that works? We all know how much I love football. Unless I'm much mistaken the season for the Penguins starts on Oct. 2. YAY!

Well that seems to be all I have for now. Will write again soon.

She woke from a dream, her head was on fire...

Why was she so nervous?

I just had the most bizarre, disturbing dream that I've had in a really long time. I've decided to stay awake until it seems like it'll be OK to go back to sleep. Normally, I'd get up, turn on all the lights and blast some music but seeing as how I live with my parents again that may be a bad idea. sigh

I'm having problems with Pan so any prayers will be greatly appreciated. I know this move back home has been beyond frustrating for her and she is starting to act out, or so I think. We may have to go visit Dr. Lehman.

Alright, I'm going to try this sleep thing again. Wish me luck.

There's no way out of this old world even if you try

I'm working on my column for this week. I'm having problems concentrating on it today though. I may just have to give up for the day, finish up some cleaning and then start on dinner.

Life's going well. I saw Baby Jake last week. He's beautiful. Can't get his wonderful face and little feet and hands out of my mind. I'm still stunned that my friends are old enough to have children (which also means I am old enough to have children). Jake was smaller than some of my old baby dolls. It's just amazing. Maggie and Shane have created something beautiful and wonderful and they are going to be such great parents.

I have registered and paid for the Institute of Newspaper Technology. I am pretty excited about it. Just a few more weeks and I'll be rubbing elbows with some pretty awesome people! It is the same weekend as the Foothills Fall Festival. I'm going to have a pretty exciting and busy fall. I can't wait for the leaves to start changing. This has to be my favorite season of the year. I'm so glad I'm back in Tennessee for it. I just hope the colors don't let me down this year.

I want to tear down the walls that hold me inside

I have never been one to watch football. Must less UT football. I've come to realize I didn't dislike UT, I disliked Phil Fulmer. I actually danced when he "left" the team. Lane Kiffin definitely had his work cut out for him, and we have no choice but to sit back and watch where he takes the team.

Now, I like hockey. Scratch that, LOVE hockey. The Pittsburgh Penguins are my team. Puck drops at the new arena on Oct. 2 (according to their Web site). I can't wait. I'll be watching and hoping we have a repeat of last year. That was intense.

I'm your biggest fan, I'll follow you until you love me

I just turned in my third Trex's Treks column. I got some bad news this morning that actually made me pretty upset: I didn't get the job at the Apple Store. I've cried about it, and yeah I'm still upset but I'll find something. I just know it. I made the right decision in moving back. I'm in a much better place emotionally, and that's worth way more than what I was making in Hickory, N.C. I love being near my family and I love what all else is going on in my life at the moment. I was here with my childhood friend was in labor, and that meant a lot to me. I still haven't seen the baby, but I will. It's just going to happen, I know it...

I'm off to job hunt. Keep me in your prayers guys. I need it.

Forget the urgency, but hurry up and wait

So, I had a fabulous weekend, and now to start to my week. I have my next column due on Wednesday. I went on the Three Rivers Rambler yesterday and had so much fun!! It was fabulous. (I am very sunburned though)
I'm hoping to see Maggie and baby Jake today. I am so excited for my dear friend. It is an amazing thing to bring a new life into this world, and I get choked up just thinking about it. She is going to be an excellent mother. I just can't stop smiling when I think about it.
I had some friends get married this past weekend. It seems like life just keeps going (duh, I know), but it changes and rearranges and it's just awesome at where it can go in such a short amount of time. I went for a ride around my old stomping grounds over the weekend, and just driving around being reminded of my childhood was weird. To think that I spent so much time in those places with kids who, looking back, had it much worse than me, but we thought that was normal for childhood...Come to find out, it wasn't!
And then seeing the Boo Radley house! I had not thought of that man in a long time...I wonder what really happened to him. All I know is that all the kids in the neighborhood steered as far away from his house as possible. The grass was tall, just like it always was.
I honestly believe that God is good, and He will provide.
After I write my column this week, I get to send out resumes. I'm still jobless, but still happy. Very happy actually.

Get up and shake the glitter off your clothes now

I've been feeling a bit under the weather, but still went to the fair last night. I just couldn't not go, it was the tractor pull! Today, I'm headed to a wedding. I'm really excited. And tomorrow, is a busy one. I have this Apple Career Seminar at 7 a.m. Yuck, but I'd love to work there. Then I have my research for my next column. I'm going to be exhausted by tomorrow night!

I still haven't been by to see Maggie and baby Jake. Unless I'm feeling 100% I'm not going to see them. I will not put either one of them in any danger whatsoever! I love them both too much to do that.

I'm sitting here drinking tea and trying to wake up. I cannot wait for Where the Wild Things Are it is going to be amazing! That and Alice in Wonderland! Its going to be a good year for little kids movies. I went and saw Extract this week. It left a lot to be desired.

Yesterday marked the anniversary of 9/11. I can't help but think that people have really forgotten what happened. I haven't. I even remember where I was and what I was doing. I guess that's the "perk" of having been in high school during a tragedy of that magnitude. And even if they "remember" they have moved on. I guess I haven't because of how drastically the future was changed for my friends and family members. So many have ended up in these two wars (sometimes fighting in one, going home for a little while and then returning to the second one), and have missed milestones in their lives. It's stunning to meet someone who has never supported someone in the military, especially after 9/11 when so many signed up to serve their country.

Anyway, I should probably do something constructive.

So!

I spent the weekend at the cabin and had a fabulous time! I didn't get any of my writing done. Ooops! But I have to amit this is my favorite time of year. When the weather gets a little cooler and the leaves start changing colors. There is just nothing like it. I can't wait for the leaves to start dropping. I may have to find a place where I can go rake up leaves and jump in a pile!!

I'm excited about all the great things that are happening in my life right now. I heard back from the Apple Store on Sunday and I literally did a happy dance. Just couldn't contain it! I have my weekly column in the Times and everything just seems to be falling into place, and I don't mind saying that. For once in a long, long time I'm not waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I have my column mostly done. I've got about 13 or 14 inches right now. I'm going to take a break, watch a movie or take a nap and let it percolate for a little while. Then I'll go back, read over it and decide what I think. Then I'll need to write my script for the video, which I will be putting together tomorrow.

Well, that's all I have for now. Just thought I'd also share a photo of Miss Pantalaimon. Isn't she beautiful? Mark Large of the Times took this photo.

My column

Every week I will have a column in The Maryville Daily Times. It will run in the Weekend Section on Fridays. Through a collaboration on the desk we have finally come up with a name: Trex's Treks.

This week, I wrote about Allison's Catfish Farm and Restaurant. Next week looks like I'm writing about Coning Farms and Market. There will be an online video component. I'm pretty stoked. Be sure to pick up a copy of the paper or visit the Web site. Thanks guys.