Scotty came to town!

When I first moved to VA, all those years ago, when I was a young & naive version of myself, Scott was one of the first people I met. Scotty and I became fast friends for two years before he moved. He was a rising 3rd year dental student and I was fascinated with why such a smart & cool guy would ever want to dig inside people's mouths the rest of his life! He schooled me on the benefits of dentistry as a profession, and his influence actually encouraged me to pursue it myself. We all know how my fickle nature caused me to change my mind in the end. However, had I never pursued that path I would have never gotten the degree I did, nor met some of the most influential people and best friends of my life. I have Scotty boy to thank for that.

So, Scott is a dentist for the army now and has traveled the world! He has been stationed in South Carolina, Korea, Iraq, DC, and now Texas. On his drive from DC to his Texas the other day, he made a pit stop to visit lil ole me in Florida! YAY! Scotty and I see each other about once a year, but every time we do, we picked up right where we left off. I love that guy!

So, I have two purposes for this post. Who knows anybody pretty girls in the Austin, Texas area? Hook him up!

Scott likes traveling, dogs, delicious food, the outdoors. He's tall, very handsome, and speaks Portuguese fluently. He's also one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet in your life, should you get the blessed opportunity.

Secondly, check out this new restaurant that we had brunch at. The CrepeVine! Awesome!

I love you Scotty! I hope you enjoy Texas!

video?

I thought I posted a video with my last post. guess not.
Oh well. Too bad.
I'm too tired to mess with it now.
Maybe later.

weekend getaway.

The last 3 days have been magical.  I am tempted to say that they've been the best 3 days of my Florida adventure thus far.  However, that might diminish all my other awesome days that I've had... so I won't exaggerate.  Suffice it to say, I am turning into one of those annoying facebook people whose status is often, "I AM SO HAPPY, MY LIFE RULES!!!"... Don't you hate those people?  or... rather, do you even believe those people?... I surely don't.  So, before I start going into how outrageously tubular my last few days have been, I'll offer that I'm still broke and missing Richmond like crazy.  There.

Remember how I work pt time at Southwood Golf Club?... Here's a video of me awkwardly jibberjabbering while on bev cart duty there.  I kind of loathe watching myself on video/hearing myself talk... I mean, how many times do I need to say "awesome" in a conversation?...  However, b/c I know how some of you miss seeing my face... this is my gift to you. You're welcome.
mm k.

This is a tree, under which I was sitting during my video.  I want to show you the Spanish moss.  This magical fauna hangs from the Life Oaks here in Tallahassee, for which this place is known.  And it's maybe, maybe my favorite thing.  These trees are gigantic. I lived in Richmond, so I'm no stranger to trees, but these Live Oaks are special.  These trees have souls, like in the Disney movie Pocahontas.  You look at them and believe they're looking back, with their hair blowing in the wind.  And they're saying stuff like...."Be strong Jessica...be steady..." You know, junk like that.

True story: Today on my (looong, solitary, 5 hour) way home, as I was approaching the county limits.   I didn't realize the the highway would actually turn into a road I already knew.  As I was considering my lack of direction, I recognized a tree. Yes.  I looked over to the side of the road, which lacked any man-made landmarks, and I thought, "I like that tree.  Wait.  I know that tree.  Wait, I know exactly where I am."  And I totally did.

I share this story, b/c I wonder if perhaps in another life I was a tree?  What other logical reason could I offer for being so... obsessed?

ANYwho..................

Hi. Moving on.
First thing the next morning. I was off to Daytona.  All you haters out there who told me Daytona was trashy and not the "nicest beach" in Florida, can go fly a kite.  There is a clear reason that Daytona is considered the most famous beach in the world.  It was BEEautiful. The sand was like powdered sugar.  The water was warm, crystal clear and offered me regular 4 feet waves to body surf in.  The weather was perfection. And I'll add that the staff at my condo were top notch.  I spent two days rotating from beach to pool to hot tub to shower and back again with a fresh beach towel whenever I wanted it.  Can you say, AWESOME?

These are literally the only pictures I took.  I arrived, went directly to the balcony, took 3 pictures, turned around took one picture of the common area put all my stuff down, sprinted to the pool then played on the beach for the next 2 days solid.  I simply couldn't be bothered with a camera.

OK.  I did take one more pic.  This was taken from my iphone, as I was laying in bed the first morning.  I was reading a mag, and I looked over at the breakfast I was eating and thought, "This moment is awesome."  Instead of turning the camera around and taking a picture of my pillow-creased face, I took one of my bacon.  I often eat in my bed, while reading...but never with the ocean just outside my door.  Food tastes better at the beach.

The evening of my last day in Daytona Nate''s father Paul, his wife Nancy, Nate' and I went to a light house.  It was neat-o.

The next day (yesterday) I woke up and drove 2.5 hours to Tampa to see my friend Beth.  Beth and I met years ago at VCU in Chem 101.  I remember very distinctly the first time I saw her.  I thought, "That girl, is SO pretty, and such a great dresser.  and what a fabulous bag...!"... So, I told her so, and we became instant friends.  Over the years, our educations have taken us in different places, but we've kept in touch, and I'm so glad.  She is such a gem.  She was in Tampa vising her brother Mark who lives there.  I couldn't pass up an opportunity to see her while she was so close!

 Can you see the gator?

See the other gator?

Now.  Some of you may be wondering, "Does Jess wear that dress every single day?" And my answer to that is, Yes. Nearly every day.

complaints

I've been getting complaints that I never blog anymore.
And when I do, I get complaints that I'm not posting pictures...

Well, I can't really do much about the pictures situation b/c I haven't been taking any.

But here's another update.

It's been super hot here in the Sunshine State, so the horseback riding lessons have slowed to about once a week. That's frustrating b/c when I do get on Drew, it's like the first time all over again and I'm a bumbling fool. Nanny (Nate''s step mother) has been encouraging me to invite some of the boys I'm dating to come ride horses with me as an activity. I'm thinking, NO WAY. There is no way I'm letting any man I am interested in watch me bounce around on the back of a horse and periodically scream out in fear when the horse falters. NOT happening... Paul says I'm improving. I look forward to the day when it feels natural and my body just moves with the horse instead of me having to deliberately tell my legs and back and arms what to do.

My biz officially starts next month, i.e. that's when the children start their classes. My goal was to get 10 schools to sign on with me and happily, I have surpassed that. It's too early to celebrate, though, I am still waiting to see how many students actually sign up. I am hoping for 80 students at least. Pray for my success :)

In the meantime, I have like 4 part time jobs for summer cash. I regularly clean 2 families' houses and sometimes I get a phone call to clean others. I babysit. I also tend for a 90 year old Mexican woman. I happen to be doing that at the moment. I sit in a chair next to her and we try to communicate with each other in her broken English and my broken Spanish. It's an interesting time. Sometimes to mix things up I'll give her a pedicure and a foot rub. Right now she's choking down some foul smelling chicken from Wendy's that her daughter in-law picked up. She needs her protein and apparently she hates what she's been given. I don't blame her.

I'm also working at a golf club. It's boring. The end.

See! This is why I haven't been blogging. The only stuff that I have to share is too boring and the other stuff is too personal. I know some of you want to know what's going on in my dating life. There isn't anything to tell, not really. I am dating and I am happy.

I am going to the beach for four days this weekend, with Nate''s family. I'm looking forward to that. I'll take pictures and report back.

ok. Fine. Here are some pictures that I've taken from my iphone.

A gator.


A baby gator.


Duckies that get eaten by the gator. Sad but true. (I came back to see the ducks and there were only 2 left)


When it rains, it pours.


My flooding garage. No harm done.


My darling little friend. Nate''s niece.


A disgusting neighbor of mine.