Recruiter on the Road: Legendary Owensboro

The journey from Hopkinsville to Owensboro was legendary for several reasons.
1. Back roads with lots to see...(and stop the state car to photograph)

2. Barns galore

3. Little stop in Calhoun

4. Elton John: While scanning, I happened to stop on "Candle in the Wind 1997," the Elton John remake highlighting the life and death of Princess Diana. Fourteen years ago today, Princess Diana died, and I learned that I am a psychic. Shhhh. Don't tell anybody. That, again, is a story for another day, but the short version is that I woke up and knew Diana was dead. This was before cell phones, and I didn't have a tv in my room. I had a dream about it, came downstairs in my pjs, and said to my mom, Princess Diana died, didn't she? And she looked at me like I was crazy. And I just might be.

Goodbye England's Rose...This photograph was taken in the 

Royal Botanical Gardens during my summer 

trip to Edinburgh, not Owensboro. 

But anywho...one of my favorite lines in Elton John's song is, "Your candle burned out long before your legend ever will."

And I think that's how we should all hope to live our lives, in a way that allows us to make a difference; an impact that will carry on when we are long gone. It was a great reminder to me that I should be focusing on my dreams and my passions and the bigger picture of my legacy.

Speaking of the legendary Princess Diana, if I hear one more person say, "Oh, your ring looks just like Kate Middleton's," I might have to come up with a new, less gracious response. A. It's DIANA'S ring (not that I don't like Catherine, but she is not legendary) and B. Diana's ring was actually an oval, whereas mine is pear shaped.

This is right after we got engaged at the Morris Island Lighthouse 

in Charleston, SC. You can't really tell the shape of my 

ring in this picture, but it is my favorite picture of all time of me and LAS II:)

However, Diana was one of the women who influenced the hints to my wonderful hubby to go toward a sapphire rather than a diamond when shopping for my engagement ring. The other was my sophomore year English teacher from SHA, LaForrest Campbell, who, like Diana, sported an oval sapphire.

Wow, it is super easy for me to get off-topic, isn't it?
So back to my legendary trip to Owensboro.

5.  Preview Night

Our event was at the Riverpark. One of our Ambassadors, Paxton, came down on the bus to help out, which was great, because we were super duper busy tonight. Lot's of sophomores and juniors too. Which is great, because the earlier they start thinking about college, the better.

Oh my gosh. I can't believe I forgot to tell you all this! I always ask prospective students "so, what's your dream job?" because it always throws them off and starts up an interesting conversation. And last night one girl responded, "Well, I am going to take Ben Bernake's job." Really? Who honestly wants to be the Chairman of the Federal Reserve? If I said, Ben Bernake, and you didn't know who I was talking about...you need to watch the news more. Educate yourself. 

6. Meeting up with Mattie J for a nightcap!

Mattie J is one of LAS II's fraternity brothers, who happens to be a dentist here in the 'Boro. Mattie J happened to tutor me in Calculus while I was at UK. Calculus was my only "C" in college. Matt is very smart, however, not such a great tutor after a few Miller Light's at the DEKE house. I should've paid him with cash instead of beer, but at least I made it through Calculus, mind you, a subject I've not used since. I couldn't pass through town without saying hello...even though he is coming to Lex to visit us in a couple of weeks!

Tomorrow we are off to Elizabethtown. It's my third Hampton Inn in as many days, but tomorrow after Etown I get to return to Lexington and sleep in my own bed! This is great news, because currently the toilet in may bathroom is running nonstop, and the air conditioner is making a funny rumbling noise. No rest for the weary! See you in Elizabethtown!

Recruiter on the Road: Scanning.....Hopkinsville

When I am out on the road, this little word is displayed on my dashboard about 70% of the time.

I am not equipped with satellite radio, and I don't have the connector to plug my iPod into the radio. So I either bring along CDs, or scan for randomness. BTW, this is a great time to mention that motor pool gave me a Ford Focus this week, which is fine, but no cruise control.

Before, or AFTER the oil spill?

If any of you would like to make me a mix CD, I will gladly accept it. In the meantime, I'll keep scanning.

Let's be honest, 95% of the time, my mind is going in a hundred different directions, so I forget that my radio is scanning for stations. When I am paying attention, I forego the brief snippet that the scan allows me to hear, always hoping that the NEXT station will be even better. Here are a few of the current songs that will make me stop a scan in progress:
Rolling in the Deep: Adele
Dirt Road Anthem: Jason Aldean
Party Rock Anthem: LMFAO
Without You: Keith Urban (I will stop for any Keith Urban song, really)
She Ain't You: Chris Brown (But only because of the Michael Jackson throwback tune Free Willy style)
He Reigns or You are Amazing God.

I know. Wait. What? Those last two don't quite fit in with the other genres? Ok, well, sidebar. On the scans I can pick up a lot of Christian radio stations. Somewhere between years one and two the jumbling around got to be too much and I just started resting on the Christian stations, because there was really nothing else being picked up. And, I sorta liked what I heard! I'm a Catholic, mind you. We don't jam out. We are into the more traditional music. Organs. Maybe a choir. But, I'm branching out here.

Giant Cross Seen When Leaving Paducah

Then, one of my sorority sisters passed away after a tragic battle with brain cancer, and the Christian stations really helped get me through that time, because she had such a strong relationship with God...it was like a connection to her, a glimpse into her way of life. 

Before I knew it I was listening to KLove daily on my morning commute, jamming along to He Reigns while hitting a biker in the crosswalk on my shortcut to the good parking lot at work.*(that is a story for another day).

Giant Prayer Hands spotted from 

the Interstate on the drive from Paducah to Hopkinsville

But what am I doing? I'm supposed to be telling you about my day in Hopkinsville, not preaching! I love this great state of Kentucky because there are so many interesting things to look at. I can't help it if they get me sidetracked. (Especially Whitehaven, which looks exactly what I imagine my dream house to look like).

So enough random scenes. On to official duties. And the table I promised you.

This is where I stand all night in my fancy heels 

and pass out info on being a Business & Economics major

Yes, we have a step and repeat at the See Blue Preview Night. Because everyone needs their picture taken in front of an official UK background.

We have a peace treaty!

And...this is who I work with every day. Tucker. 

Enough said. Randomness. 

Oh Hampton Inn wifi, you leave so much to be desired. You are actually worse in Hopkinsville than you were in Paducah. Sigh. Here's hoping Owensboro will be even better! See you there!

Recruiter on the Road: PUH-DUKE-AH

As we say affectionately in my office. Puuuh-extra long syllable-duke-ah.
Here we are. On the road again. Travel season #3. You know, I'm gone so much in the fall that I think some of my coworkers aren't really sure where it is I am by about week #4, so I decided to *attempt* to post from each city this year. So here it is, night numero uno of week #1 of year #3. See Blue Preview Night Paducah in the books and I've crawled under the comforter (after inspecting for bedbugs thoroughly, of course) at the Hampton Inn to share my day with you all.

After a 3+ hour drive from Lexington, you know you've 

almost made it to Paducah when you come to the twin bridges. 

Oh haaaayyyy cutie. Because every Captain D's or 

Long John Silver's or whatever needs a catfish in a top hat out front. 

Very cool train car outside the conference center 

where we have our event (more on that later). For now,

a few more fun train shots. 

Ok, so why am I traveling all over the Southern region of the map, you ask?

I am the recruiter for the Gatton College of Business & Economics at the University of Kentucky. 

As the recruiter, I, well, recruit students. UK has a road show we call Preview Nights, where we essentially set up college fairs in different cities, except the only university represented is UK. 

The event starts at 7pm, so the first family usually arrives at, oh, 6:15pm. We answer questions, they go to a presentation, we answer more questions, and at about 9pm we pack up and roll out to the next city. Sort of like carnies, but without the good corndogs and Krispy Kreme burgers. 

In Paducah, we were stationed at the Luther F. Carson Center.

Tomorrow I will take a picture of my bouge table. I don't like the one I took tonight. We were in the atrium, and it was too sunshiney and bright in there. Lot'a glare goin' on. 

Paducah has a very quaint lil' downtown region of sorts. Except everything was closed for the evening or for business in general. Bummer. 

For real Clark? Did you know we were in town?

Even pest control is cute in Paducah.

So, Hampton wifi is lacking. Taking a little longer than I'd like to upload all of this Paducah goodness. That's it for now! Tomorrow, we wisk away to the glorious Hopkinsville! See you all there!

(PS. Oh. Hey, Boss? Get-a-load-of-this...)

Fall Reading List

I opted for a creative nonfiction literature class over a workshop class for the fall semester. My travel schedule does not lend itself to organized class meetings, so having a more flexible class setting will work better. Or so I thought. 

To be fair, some of these titles have been personally selected as well required. I will break them down into required and optional categories...


Best Essays of the Century, Joyce Carol Oates ((Required))
Desert Solitaire, Edward Abbey ((Required))


Molly Brown, Kristen Iversen ((Optional))
This summer, I was sooo fortunate to have Kristen Iversen as a professor during my Edinburgh Residency. Not only did I learn so much about writing from Kristen, but I also learned a lot about the industry based on her experience. Iversen's forthcoming book Full Body Burn won't hit stores until the spring...so I needed something to tide me over. I wanted to see how she writes without passive verbs ((her mantra in class)). 


Through My Eyes, Tim Tebow with Nathan Whitaker ((REQUIRED BY ME:)))

Need I say more? I mean really. I love me some Tim Tebow. I proudly smack my hands together in a big Gator chomp chomp chomp. I looked for a #15 jersey, but 1. they were sold out of my size, and 2. let's face it, I'm not cut out to wear a jersey anyway. Aside from just my love of TT, this book actually serves a dual purpose for me. The nonfiction project currently gathering dust in a binder on my desk includes 1. athletics, 2. me trying to figure out how to write in first person or third person direct from interviews, 3. a similar relationship between author and ghost writer. So I genuinely do need to see the format of this bad daddy. I'll keep you posted and post inspirational TT-isms. 

Heaven is for Real, Burpus ((Optional))
I'd like to believe that it is, so I'm always intrigued when I hear someone's already been there, and has returned to report on what they saw in Heaven. Expecting a box of Kleenex next to the lap for this one. 


Among School Children, Tracy Kidder ((Optional))
My professor, Bob Johnson ((better known as R. Dean Johnson in the literary world)), told me this would be a great read as I work on my own creative nonfiction novel.


An American Childhood, Annie Dillard ((Required))


The Boys of My Youth, Jo Ann Beard ((Required))
I loved her short story, "Fourth State of Matter," so I am sure I am going to love the full-length Beard requirement. 


Candyfreak, Steve Almond ((Required))
Almond visited our EKU winter residency in 2010, and proved to be both perverted and delightful, all at the same time. Another good pick by R. Dean Johnson.


Hiroshima, John Hersey ((Required))
This was also required for sophomore English at Sacred Heart Academy, and I do believe I wrote a scathing paper which Mrs. Hill promptly smoked cigarettes over...


This Boys Life, Tobias Wolff ((Required))
Heard great things...


The Right Stuff, Tom Wolfe ((Optional))
Another recommendation by R. Dean to expand my personal reading library. 


Good thing I'm a speed reader, huh? Got any other recommendations for me in the creative nonfiction realm?

Playing with Picnik

I took a boatload of pictures in Edinburgh. We've established that. But, since I took sooooooooo many...I didn't have time to really edit them and make them POP. Let's face it, the Canon Powershot isn't a professional studio grade camera. But, that doesn't stop me from trying to be a paparazzi. Today, I sat down and edited just a few of my favorite flower shots to use in a collage for my office. 

My, doesn't editing really do somethin'?