Paralyzed

October 10, 2012 By 5 Comments

Tuesday afternoon. All day Wednesday.

Work.

No phone.

No internet.

No email.

It’s as if we were living in 1994, or worse, the dark ages.

Thank God for cell phones, even though there’s crap service in the office.

Selling plants without being able to connect easily with customers and vendors is hard.

It’s enough to make you shake in the corner.

It’s amazing when you’re in that situation to realize how dependent we are upon technology.

It makes for long days. It makes for frustration.

It’s paralyzing.

 

Filed Under: Work Tagged With: , ,

Sitting On My Shoulder…

August 13, 2012 By 9 Comments

Today was a second “first day” at Buck Jones for me.

Nearly 14 years ago, fresh out of college and freshly married, I started working at the Woodstock location. There were no nerves at all. I was young, smart, and probably pretty full of myself.

A lot of things have happened, good and bad, in the last 14 years. Some of them caused me to be a little anxious. Some things gave me extra confidence in certain areas. A few of the things made me feel very unsure of myself. But at the same time, I feel very confident in my ability to do this job.

This morning, after dropping Henry off for his first day of 2nd grade. He wasn’t nervous — after all, he’s pretty young, smart, and full of himself! I didn’t have a whole lot of time to think about what he was doing today because I knew he was having a great day. He always does.

But I felt my little angel sitting on my shoulder. I knew he was with me. Charlie was perched in his usual spot — right on my left collarbone, snuggled up against my neck, in his blue and white seersucker gown.

There were a few times today when I talked to vendors I had worked with way back when and they asked what I’d been doing all these years. “Raising a family” is of course, my standard answer. It’s not the time to lay it all out. I’m sure it’ll come up in time because it’s a part of my daily life. I talk about it and it’s just not a secret.

I came home and picked Henry up at his new after school program. He loved it. I knew he would.

But when I pulled out his work and looked at his “All About Me” page that he filled out at school, I realized I was right when I knew Charlie  was with me. He was with both of us today.

family image

I’m always amazed when Henry draws his family for others and includes Charlie (always bigger than him and with wings). It makes me happy and at the same time, extremely sad that I didn’t have a 2nd grader AND a 4th grader today. But I don’t question it. I just hold on to the knowledge that we’re doing the right thing in making sure Henry knows that his family is bigger than it seems.

It’s not surprising that while he was with me today, he was also with Henry. They’re connected in ways I’ll never understand.

Our family will continue to celebrate firsts.

And our boys will celebrate many more firsts together… as brothers… in their own way.

 

Filed Under: Charlie, Henry, Thoughts, Work Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

News Flash!

August 6, 2012 By 27 Comments

Later this week, I’ll have a BlogHer recap post and another fully dedicated post for the Rockettes experience. But first…

On Monday, I will be going back to work full time. 

(yikes)

I wasn’t looking, but it just happened.

I’ve been working for Buck Jones Nursery (where I worked right after I graduated from college) doing their online store and social media for about a year now. My boss called a little over a week ago, with divine timing, and asked if I would be interested in replacing a salesperson who is leaving.

After considering it and talking it over with a very encouraging Jason, it became exciting to me to rejoin the work force. The timing is fantastic and the opportunity is great!

I’m spending this week learning everything I can from Julie at the office, trying to secure after-school care for Henry, and getting the house in order.

Next week I will be selling plants, taking calls, being generally nervous and anxious. I have to remember to breathe and stay centered.

This space (I hope) won’t suffer. I’ll just have to readjust my writing routine.

Wish me luck, y’all.

 

Filed Under: Work Tagged With: , , ,

Climbing, Finishing and Shopping. Oh, and #FineChinaFriday!

May 25, 2012 By 1 Comment

My brain hurts so you get what you get today!

Last Sunday, we went rock climbing with Henry’s Scout den for the end-of-year party.

He did not love it. He’ll tell you he did, but he didn’t.

School ended yesterday. I no longer have a first grader.

This is what the first and last days of first grade look like.

If you haven’t visited in a while, you should check out the online store for the nursery I work for. There’s lots of awesome stuff like this:

And like us on Facebook (Grayson), Facebook (Woodstock) and Twitter and Pinterest and all that jazz! Oh, and the blog. Don’t forget that!

Been to Band Back Together lately? So much awesomeness going on over there. Check it out. You won’t be sorry!

Also, it’s #FineChinaFriday. Party hard. If you’re still unsure what it is, click that little button at the top of the page that says #FineChinaFriday!

 

Filed Under: #FineChinaFriday, BandBackTogether, Henry, Work Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Tidbits of Information on this #FineChinaFriday

April 27, 2012 By 3 Comments

Happy Friday.

Boy, these weeks are just flying by. Seems like every time I turn around, it’s Friday again.

First things first. It’s #FineChinaFriday again. Are you participating? Have you started noticing that you’re not as scared of your china and crystal and silver as you were before? I think you have!

Last week, my friend Leah wrote an awesome post about her experience. You should read it.

New here and don’t know what I’m talking about? Check out the original post.

So pull out your china. Order a pizza and enjoy!

Remember, I want to know about it!

  • If you share it on Facebook, tag Jana’s Thinking Place in it (you should like my page, too).
  • If you share it on Twitter, follow me on Twitter first and then use the hashtag #FineChinaFriday.
  • If you share it on Pinterest, follow me there and you can use the hashtag #FineChinaFriday there, too.
  • Using Instagram? You can follow me there, too. I’m jana0926 there as well! Use that SAME hashtag.

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In other news, things have been busy around here. School, work, life. It’s just been busy.

Yesterday I went into the office to shoot a video ad. I SO don’t love things like that but it seemed to go well.

I also got to hang out with our new mascot at the Grayson location of Buck Jones Nursery. His name is Buckley and he’s just as sweet as he can be. I interviewed him and you can read that here.

Also, speaking of work, we have some amazing new stuff in our online store. I would love for you to check it out. I’ll even slip you a code for 15% off. Type in BJNONLINE001 at checkout and there you go!

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The Kentucky Derby is next weekend. This makes me SO excited, but also very sad. I miss living in Fort Valley and being able to invite all our friends over — ones we rarely saw — and partying like we were really at the Derby. I think (and I hope this isn’t too forward) they miss it, too.

But it’s time to pull out the mint julep cups and start whipping up a batch of simple syrup so we can celebrate in style next Saturday.

Need a mint julep recipe? I have one for you. I even have a non-alcoholic version that’s really quite good. One year at our party there were like 4 pregnant girls. They devoured the non-alcoholic version in no time!

Check them out here.

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We’re going to the Braves game tomorrow night. I haven’t been to a Braves game since the opening game at Turner Field a million years ago. It’s Scout night so we’re supposed to get there early with Henry in uniform and they get to have a parade around the field. I can’t tell you how excited he is for this! Yes, I’ll have my camera!

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I’ve got a lot of ideas for posts swirling in my head. They’re a little more serious, but that’s usually how they get this time of year. We’re coming up on the Season of Ick — Mother’s Day, Charlie’s Birthday (May 21), Charlie’s Angel Day (June 14) and Father’s Day. Nine years. I have a lot to say. So next time you go to the store, grab a box of Kleenex if those posts make you cry because there will be more between now and then probably.

That’s about all I know.

What are y’all up to this weekend? Can you believe it’s almost May?

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