update

Hello, singular reader.  I apologize for my radio silence over the past weeks.  Some exciting and/or time-consuming events have begun to unfold in my little old life, and I haven't had much time for introspective vain life-chronicling.

What's that? You'd like an update? With photos? And, in the absence of photos, MSPaint art? BUT OF CARSE!

1.  The major reason for my lack of posts has been illness.  A sinus infection was treated with a Z-Pack, which caused a clostridium difficile infection. DO NOT GOOGLE CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE.  Just trust me.  I only mention this ordeal because this is the sickest I've been as a Real Life Adult, and I learned some important lessons, which I feel compelled to share here:

• When you feel sick, go to a doctor.  You are much better off seeing a physician at the onset of your illness rather than in the throes of it, because your ability to do things like, say, drive yourself to the doctor, will only diminish over time.  Take 2 hours out of your life and see a doctor.  They know things and they dispense drugs.  Do it.
• Go to a legit doctor's office.  Your instinct might tell you to go to the nearest Minute Clinic because it most closely resembles the Student Health clinic from college, which, besides your ladydoctor, is the only healthcare provider you've really actually visited since the pediatrician you continued to see throughout high school.  But you are an Adult now, and you need to establish a primary care physician who can see you quickly, keep track of your medications/health history, and be available for follow-up appointments as necessary.  You will think, "oh it's too much trouble to see a legit doctor, I'll have to fill out forms and wait a week for an appointment."  You will think this because this is often the case with the ladydoctor, but for a general practitioner, this will not be the case.  Yes, you will have to fill out some new patient forms, but they will most likely be available online, so you can fill them out in the 24 hours between your call to schedule the appointment, and the appointment itself. It is extremely embarrassing that at 25 I am just now figuring this out, but I have the sneaking suspicion that this predicament applies to lots of people my age.
• Dicyclomine is a wonderdrug, but its listed side effects should include "enhanced bewilderment and decelerated time perception while viewing certain art-house films that your well-meaning and more-cultured roommate insists you see together."

2. In the past month, I've attended bachelorette weekends thrown for two close friends by their respective Maids of Honor, both of whom are also the brides' sisters.  I knew that both weekends would be excellent fun and neither disappointed in that department, but I didn't anticipate the realization that one day, I am going to get to throw a party like this for my own sister.  This really, really excites me, and she should begin preparing her liver now.

MOH Channing, MOB Colleen, Bride Jordan

Bride Lisa, MOH Laura

One-day bride Blair, and future MOH myself.
Preview of debauchery to come, courtesy of Chi Omega Owloween '07 - perhaps a Baywatch/Harry Potter-themed bachelorette party is in our future?

3.  Speaking of weddings, my pretend-cousin Lee is getting married in October!  Lee and his brother Devon have been like brothers to Blair and I - their parents are our parents' best friends and also our Godparents, and this will be the first wedding for our little pseudo-family.  I am beyond excited for Lee and his fiancée Allison, who so very generously has included Blair and I as bridesmaids!  We are thrilled to be such an important part of their big day, and I know it will be so special for my parents to watch us stand with their Godson as he says his vows.

I mean, stop. How cute is this??

Beyond the significance of the day and the emotional family aspects of this event, I am also PUMPED for the party.  This is a group that loves to dance, and isn't afraid of usurping the microphone from the paid entertainment.  This can only make for an epic reception.

Mom and Lee

Lee, Evan (Blair's BF) and Dad.

4.  I'm moving!  As of July 17, I will be a resident of Charlotte, NC.  After 3 years in separate cities, the boyfriend and I have decided to co-locate (a term Chris uses, which I think he may have made up, and which I adore for its official-sounding nerdiness).  This is a Really Big Step for the ole relash, but a decision that I am 100% confident is the right one for us.  Besides, who can resist a man with such style?

this shirt was a joke

this shirt was not.

Obviously I am pumped to remove the "long distance" label from our relationship status, but there are some other benefits to calling the Queen City my new home.  Namely:

this person:

sisterladyfriend

and this person:

lisayourlastnamewillchangeinonemonthOMG

The prospect of the actual move is stressful, and the thought of living more than 10 feet from these little ladies already gives me separation anxiety:

And see the ginger there?  That one and I have lived together since January of 2007.  The only thing keeping my spirits up about our impending separation is anticipating the comical way in which we will both try to Irish Goodbye each other on moving day.

All that being said though, my cohabitants in the Heartbreak Hotel are all moving on to some really exciting new places and/or jobs, and I am so thrilled for each of them.  I am so proud to call these sexy ladies my besties, so lucky to have met them in the small-world-random way that we came together, and so confident that our annual Friendsgiving reunions will be basically the best time anyone's ever had.

There is, of course, the question of finding gainful employment in Charlotte.  If anyone knows anyone in the marketing/public relations/corporate communications industries in Crown Town (not kidding, that's an actual city nickname), I'd greatly appreciate an introduction!

5. Because this post has been chock-full of cheese, I'd like to close with actual cheese.  Trader Joe's Mini Brie Bites, to be specific.  They're delicious, portion-controlled, and adorable.  That's all.

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this happened

http://jennyrunaway.tumblr.com/

al fresco, part 3 - PUTTER'S

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I'm not sure if this officially counts as "al fresco", as it's more of a covered patio situation, but there's no way Putter's wasn't getting a shout-out here so I don't really care.

Winston-Salem, NC isn't much of a "college town" - having visited real college towns like Athens and Chapel Hill, where the campuses integrate seamlessly with the surrounding city, its inhabitants and its establishments; and which exist because of  the universities therein, rather than in spite of; I realize that Wake Forest's reputation for being a gated country club campus is pretty accurate.

That being said, our city did offer some lovely dining and imbibing options, and I think I speak for a majority of WFU students and alumni when I say that Putter's is one of the very favorites.

homecoming 2009...  #imissmyfriends

The Putter's food is pretty typical bar food - sandwiches, wings, cheesesteaks, and pretty decent salads if you're into that sort of thing.  There are also signs in there that say "best steak in town," but I have to say I've never tried the steak.  Their famous homemade soft chips are everyone's favorite menu item, and they're served with a homemade gorgonzola ranch sauce that almost certainly contains an addictive substance.

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There is a pretty decent selection of draught beers that are available by the pitcher, and they serve tequila shots in plastic condiment cups with little plastic lids, making shot transport dangerously easy (not that we would ever do such a thing...).

Putter's is also walking-distance from the WFU football stadium and equipped with several flat-screen TV's, making it a perfect post-tailgate spot.  I can't say much for the view (you're looking at an IHOP parking lot to one side and a strip mall to the other), but after one soft chip and a swig of Blue Moon, you won't even care.  Promise.

al fresco, part 1 - JCT kitchen's rooftop bar

There is just something special about enjoying a meal or drinks (or both) in the sunshine!  Not a novel concept, I know, and I doubt I'd be able to find very many people who disagree, but my roommates and I spent some time on the patio of a new bar/restaurant in our neighborhood yesterday, and it inspired me to make a list of my favorite outdoor imbibing establishments.

I'll start with an Atlanta favorite - JCT Kitchen's rooftop bar.  This spot strikes the perfect balance between swanky and cozy, with a beautiful view of Atlanta's skyline, an inventive bar menu (angry mussles. do it.), and, for the mixology-suckers among us (ahem, myself), an awesome array of artisinal cocktails (that menu is left over from the winter, but the "figgy pudding"?? yes PLEASE).  Plus, the acoustic soloist will almost always try to play Night Moves, which earns this spot an automatic win.

In a perfect blogging world, this would be the point in the post where I display a number of artfully-shot, high-resolution photos of my casually beautiful friends and myself recently enjoying a sophisticated outside aperitif at JCT.  Unfortunately, I'm working with a camera whose most exciting feature is the "tan" setting, and as beautiful as my friends truly are, we're not quite sophisticated drinkers yet.  I have no photos taken at JCT, and photos I do have from nights that started at JCT tend to look like this:

gotta love the tan setting

So, I'll leave you with some classier photos from the interwebs:

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If you find yourself in the A this spring/summer (or any time of year, really - they've got some pretty serious heat lamps!) and you're feeling a nosh/sip under the sun (or stars), BE SURE to check out JCT Kitchen's upstairs bar.  It will not disappoint.