Happy Labor Day!

Holy Hiatus, Peeps!  I apologize for the delay in posting, but I have been a very busy girl!  Busy with what, you ask?  Busy with lots, I say! 

I have a home improvement project in the works, and I can't wait to share that with you (it's been a process, so I will hopefully have that post up in the next week or so).  I have been SLAMMED busy at work, trying to get things ready for three huge projects that are all going on at the same time!  I've been preparing for Beach Blast 2K10, which is a friends-only beach trip that will commence in T minus two days (we depart tomorrow)!  I've been transitioning my clothes to introduce my fall attire back into the mix.  And, I've been.....wait for it......wait for it.......dating.  I know, put your shocked faces on!

That brings me to the actual topic of this post.  Dating is an interesting concept, especially to someone who hasn't done it since she was 19.  Yeah, that would be me.  After the dissolution of the last major relationship of my life, I took some time to reflect - on both relationships and myself.  I observed other couples I admire, took time to let myself think, and jotted down what I'd discovered was important to me, and also the things that my last relationship brought to light about myself.  I discovered the qualities and habits I need to work on that will make me better able to deserve the next person I invest time and love in. 

So, here are some interesting findings that I came up with that kind of surprised me. 

1)  Respect is a big deal to me - much bigger than I originally thought.  Not only is it important to me that I be respected, but it's important for me to continually be respectful of the other person. I also want to meet someone that I genuinely do respect for whatever reason - I think it helps lay the foundation for an entire journey together.

2)  Effort is key.  Here's a fact, kids.  Love takes work.  Lots of work.  Anyone who doesn't agree is honestly very naive or crazy.  Not to be harsh, but that is one thing I know for sure.  I always put forth effort in my relationships, whether it be with friends, family, colleagues, or romantic situations, and I would love to meet someone who operates the same way and is willing to do the work.  The work isn't always pretty, but it makes everything worth it in the end.

3)  I want someone who is as focused on the experience as me.  During my self-reflection, I came to realize that what really speaks to me can't be labeled as a "thing."  What really makes me happy is the experiences - the journeys from here to there, or the memories that you make.  Gifts are nice and all, but I want someone to go on adventures with me.  I want someone to discover new things with.  I want someone who is willing to listen to what I want to do, be open to it, and then find a way to want to do that too.  And I can do the same for them.  I want to be out of my comfort zone, and I want to really live.

4)  Giving back is HUGE.  I have always made it a personal policy to donate my time and even money to causes that speak to me, and I never really realized how important that quality of service is to me.  I don't do it because I want recognition.  I've always had the fundamental desire to help people, and giving back has also been the perfect way to give thanks for all I have in this world.  I am so lucky, and so blessed, and if I can do anything to make someone's life better, I want to do it.  I'd love to meet someone with that same mentality.  It's an exceptionally humbling and worthy experience, and it shows a degree of selflessness that is very appealing to me.  It's enough to melt your heart when you see someone who really gets it.

5)  Appreciation and gratitude go a long way.  I feel like we all know someone who truly complains all the time about what's going wrong in their lives.  If someone buys them dinner, they complain about the way the steak was prepared.  If they get a promotion at work, they express their discontent for the longer hours and additional responsibilities. There are very few things that completely turn me off to a person more than lacking appreciation.  I was raised to say 'please' and I was also raised to say 'thank you,' and I feel that is extremely important.  Life is too short to wish for what others have or to waste your time away with complaints or resentment.  I often get overwhelmed when I think of all the things that have been done for me throughout my life.  As I stated before, I am so lucky and so blessed - and I am so happy!  My heart could burst for the amount of blessings that have been bestowed upon me, and I am so grateful - it would be nice to meet someone who feels the same way.

So, this is the interesting and exciting thing about dating - you get to meet new people, and ask them questions, and learn things about them.  You get to see the different ways they handle high-pressure situations, and you can see how they react to the things you say and do.  For the first time in a long time, I'm completely out of my comfort zone and I am nervous!  And, in all honesty, I think that's a good thing.  I feel cautious, and maybe even a bit cynical, but moreso than that, I am very excited about the experiences I'm having and the memories I'm making!  I'm finding it fun to walk down a path that I'm not used to, and the control freak in me is being forced to keep quiet and I'd have to say that I'm finding that refreshing.  On the one hand, I'm used to planning everything and taking care of everything (it's just my nature), and dating has really slapped that hand.  I'm not in control but, for the most part, I actually don't mind - how crazy is that?  (I know it's scary - pray for me.)

So, here's to new experiences!  Here's to making memories!  Here's to meeting people, and being brought back to square 1!  Here's to being uncomfortable, and stumbling, and most of all - learning to be okay with that!  What can I say?  It's a fabulous place to be!

Until next time,

Flamenco Inspiration

It always fascinates me where I find inspiration because, much like this blog, completely random things get my creative juices flowing.  An example of this is my most recent inpsiration.  I was channel surfing the other day, and came across a show on one of the Discovery or Travel-type channels, and they were discussing the art of flamenco dancing. 

For those of you who might not be familiar with the art form, Wikipedia won't let you down:  "Flamenco is a style of music and dance which is considered part of the culture of Spain, although it is actually native to only one region: Andalusia.  It has often been claimed that these influences coalesced [...] in the 15th century. Flamenco is popularly depicted as being the music of Andulusian gitanos (gypsies). Other regions, mainly Extremadura and Murcia, have also contributed to the development of flamenco, and many flamenco artists have been born outside the gitano community. Latin American and especially Cuban influences have also contributed."  Source


When I think flamenco, I think the series of sharp, crisp movements paired with swirling arm motions.  I think of the dresses that the female dancers where, and that is where I draw the most inspiration.

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Something about Spanish style has always spoken to me, and flamenco calls out to me in the same way.  For example, here are some home finds that scream "FLAMENCO" to me.

Please excuse me while I wipe the drool off my keyboard.  Have you ever seen a shower curtain so luscious in your life?  Oh Anthropologie, you slay me.  Source

Adorable and ruffly - just the way I like it!  Source

"You can stand under my umbrella, ella, ella, ay, ay, ay."  Source

As you can see, there are tons of neat ways to incorporate art into your home.  If you have found any other flamenco-inspired items, please feel free to shoot them my way!  I'm always on the lookout and look forward to expanding my scope. 

Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

I've Got A Fever, And The Only Prescription Is...

 

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Just kidding!  The real answer is "a new project!"  Even though I work in an office Monday - Friday, I moved my home office downstairs into a corner of the living room awhile back in order to create a general information hub for my home.  I wanted easy access to my social networks, to on-the-fly recipes, and for those times when you-can't-think-of-a-movie/TV show/actor or actress/etc.-and-you-have-to-look-it-up-straight-away-or-you'll-go-crazy.  You know, stuff like that.

Anyways, it's in the perfect place in the house, but the space itself leaves much to be desired in the way of becoming and staying organized.  Granted, this is definitely NOT one of my strong points anyways, but I've been making an effort.  I was gazing at the home office area last night and it just sort of hit me that I need to make some changes and I could unlock a world of potential in the style and organization categories.

First off, I was looking at the desk.  I love the desk.  It's streamlined and has a graphic design feel to it and actually offers ample workspace on the desktop.  The only additional feature it has is the pull-out keyboard tray.

Here's the problem with the desk, though.  There is absolutely no storage possibilities, which are pretty necessary in the home office department. 

So now I'm left craving something with more storage capacity.  Enter the mecca of design, and the place that causes thrifty folks like me to dream of having a million extra dollars laying around to go crazy with - Pottery Barn.  I love their Bedford Collection because it seems to be pretty close to what I will actually need, storage wise.

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I like the fact that it's not a huge desk, because regardless of my storage needs, my space for the home office isn't getting any larger.  I also like the drawers, and the amount of workspace (the hutch on top is optional).  I'm going to keep my eyes peeled to see if I can find something similar that costs WAY less than the PB original.

The next obstacle that I'm pondering overcoming is the desk chair.  At present, I have a cumbersome model fairly similar to this:

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Now, I wouldn't actually mind this, as the chair is pretty comfortable, but the problems I have with it are these:  1) The width of the chair, plus the arms, takes up so much room in that small corner.  2)  In order to have the height of the chair adjusted for comfort, you cannot push the chair up under the desk; thus, it sticks out or you have to adjust it every time you sit down.  3) The wheels are a nice touch, but really don't do anything since the office is on a carpeted floor.  They really just succeed in making indentures in said carpet. 

I might have to update this too.  It's something I'm considering.

So, this is the project I'm thinking of taking on.  I am determined to get everything organized and hopefully will be able to stretch my legs a little more in the design process (like adding damask, anyone???).  There is only so much you can do while renting, but I'm still hell bent on creating a home.  I don't have to own it, but I do have to be able to work it!

Are any of you taking on minor or major home projects?  If so, what are they?  Comment below!

Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

From Time To Eternity

Peeps, I come to you today with a favor in my pocket. There is something that the Chicken Wing Family needs from you on this hot Tuesday in June. All I ask is this, please:

Early this morning, after a fairly long and difficult struggle with Alzheimer's and lung cancer, my darling Papa Chicken Wing went to be with the Lord in Heaven. While my heart is aching, my mind is cursing the month of June, and my eyes are crying, my soul is rejoicing because Papa's suffering is finally over.

It is going to take some time to figure out how our family works without him, and that is painful, but I am so happy for him in that he is in the best place of all! He spent his whole life giving to others and helping others. He worked at the local funeral home for more than 25 years - he worked there for my whole life so far! Every day, he helped people in their darkest hours as they laid to rest those that they loved so much. He has been a quiet and gentle beacon of our small community for a long time - I loved seeing him run into people because they would always light up when they saw him.

It's ironic that his colleagues will now have to assist us in his final departure, but it was bound to happen. You know what they say about life - nobody makes it out alive. I have no regrets, as I was able to spend quite a while last night with him. I was there helping Grandma out from about 6:30pm - 12:30am, and it felt a little like he waited for me. Maybe that's not true, but it's what will help me through this. While I wasn't there as he actually passed on, Momma Chicken Wing said that he went very peacefully, and while we are heartbroken that he is no longer with us, we are just so happy that he doesn't have to labor anymore.

It had gotten quite difficult for him, and it was hard to adjust to seeing him in such a fragile state. Don't get me wrong - Papa was never a large man; quite the opposite, actually. But recently, he became frail. It was hard to see him get so frustrated because he just couldn't do the things he was used to doing. I think the most important thing is that he knows he was loved, loved, loved. All he wanted was to be at home and to have his pain managed, and I think we accomplished both of those things. It was such a gift to us to be able to grant him his last wishes. I hope his journey to eternal life was an easy one, and that he felt as peaceful as he seemed to be.

This is a part of life that I haven't had to do yet. I've been so blessed to be able to have all four of my grandparents for all my life. I did things a little backwards, as I've gone through losing my daddy, which was one of the hardest things in the world and one of the defining factors in who I am today. Papa was one of the ones who were left to help take care of us after that, and I am grateful for all he did for me.

He was kind, gentle, and easy-going. Growing up, my little legs could always keep up with him because he took slow strides. I will never forget the ONE time he raised his voice at my siblings and me - we were being bad, and Grandma had repeatedly fussed at us, and then all of a sudden Papa said in his "meanest, most serious" voice, "Y'all better stop it or I'm going to get involved!" Seriously, that's as "mean" as he ever got. And you know what? All three of us cried because we had upset him. Grandma would pick at him, because that's the relationship they had for more than 50 years. He would never raise his voice back, but he would wait until she went down the hallway and then make a face or a smart remark behind her back. It would always make us laugh. That's just the way he was, and I will always remember and love him for that.

So please pray for us, and for him, and lift us up in this time of need. Your support will be felt, I promise, and it will be oh so appreciated. The power of prayer is so strong, and so far-reaching. Thank you for everything - you guys are the best!

"For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity." - William Penn

Until next time
Miss Chicken Wing

Decorawesome - Thank You, TJ Maxx!

I consider myself to be a Maxxinista, and I absolutely love perusing that store! With their fairly quick turnover of inventory, it's always a new adventure when you walk into TJ Maxx, and it easily enables the thrill of the hunt for me!

When you can find items that are normally too rich for your blood at a killer deal, there's nothing quite like it!

This segment of how yours truly, Miss Chicken Wing, is slowly making her little home decorawesome is brought to you by TJ Maxx!

Have you seen the photos that have been circulating fairly recently? They are letters that are actually not letters at all - they're architectural details that happen to look like letters!

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See what I mean? I fell head over heels for this form of art because I found it so interesting. In fact, since I happened upon this type of decor, I've even been looking out for any examples in real day-to-day life! I haven't found many, but the hunt is still fun!

The problem I found with this particular type of art is that it was pretty....pretty overpriced, that is. Enter my secret boyfriend, TJ Maxx.

I found two prints that were framed canvas and I absolutely love them! The first I bought was "Love." The quote that's featured underneath the architectural lettered-word is the George Sands saying, "There is only one happiness in life - to love and be loved."

The second that I bought is "Family." This print features the Anthony Brandt quote, "Other things may change us, but we start and end with family."

Really, when you think about your home, what are the two most important components?

It's not the designer couch you stalked for months, comparison shopping at every furniture store in your geographical area. It's not the granite counter tops that scream, "Look at me! I've officially made it! I am somebody!" It's not the sassy and smooth hardwood floors that promise to make your life so much easier in regards to cleaning house.

It's not having a perfectly manicured lawn, a pool, a hot tub, both?, or a paved driveway.

The two most important components of your home are love and family. Otherwise, what's the point? If you have love and family in your home, it doesn't matter where that home is. Heck, you could live in a cardboard box (albeit a large cardboard box), but you would have what's most important in the world where you reside.

That's why I wanted these two pieces - not because of what they are as much as for what they represent to me. Every time I look at them, I get a gentle reminder of what's important, and that is an incredible bonus.

So, I left TJ Maxx, once again, a happy girl. Consider me a Maxxinista for life!

Until next time,

Miss Chicken Wing

Decorawesome!

You've heard of decorating. How about decorawesome?

No?

Oh, that's because I just made that word up! Remember the gorgeous table and chairs set that I recently blogged about here?

I wanted you to see them, in all their glass-and-oil-rubbed-bronze beauty.

If you look in the top left corner, you can see my wine racks - the first craigslist purchase I made!

And, with a little damask goodness, naturally! :)

Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

They Live Better Than Us!

I ran across this picture and absolutely almost died laughing. Because of that, I just had to share it with my Peeps.

It appeals to my love of Mediterranean-style architecture, Italian touches, and overall elegance.

Check it out.

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The only problem? It's a wee bit small for me. You just looked at a designer dog house! A designer dog house that just happens to belong to model/actress Rachel Hunter's pets. It's a miniature (ha!) replica of her actual home that is just for her pooches!

I will not be showing this blog post to CiCi, MuChi, and Wilkie for fear of them revolting against me and demanding something of this caliber. Heck, that dog house is more attractive than our townhouse! It really slays me.

What is the world coming to? If I could just get that house, made human-size, for a tiny bit of money, that would be fantastic! Mmmkay, so somebody get to work on that! Thanks!

Until next time,

Miss Chicken Wing

Awful Beautiful Life

Feel free to play the video below to understand the title of this post:


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First, I'll start by apologizing for my lack of posts lately. I've discovered that a very jammed pointer finger will definitely slow you up in regards to typing, carrying things, washing your hair, and pretty much everything else. It amazes me how long it affects you - mine's starting it's fourth week! The bruising has just now gone away, even though the pain has not. It's also been very busy around the Chicken Wing household for the past month or so. Why, you ask?

Well, because we've adopted a third furbaby into our home and he is keeping us busy with his energetic nature and severe disdain for any stuffing in every.single.dog.toy.in.our.house. I have come home to a snowstorm both inside and outside of the house on multiple occasions. But, he is a sweet little thing if I ever saw one, and I believe that he is very, very happy with us so that makes me happy.

So, you want to know more about him, do you? For starters, he's a 14 month old Pom-a-poo, which is a combination of a pomeranian (like CiCi) and a poodle (like half of MuChi). We adopted him from a family who did not as much time for him as they would've liked, and because of that had to leave him in his crate most of the time. Anyone who has a small breed dog knows that their personalities are anything but small - they require (and most times demand) attention and affection every moment of the day.

His name is Wilkie, and he looks like MuChi's twin brother! And you want to know how they're all getting along? Check it out for yourself below, but you have GOT to listen to their theme song, courtesy of The Hangover.


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Wilkie and his momma

"We're the three best friends that anybody could have..."

So, as you can see, I am the proud mother of three little dogs (and one tiny turtle named P.Tree).

And,
I love this crazy, tragic,
Sometimes almost magic,
Awful, beautiful life...

Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

Decking the Halls - Christmas Decor

One of the things that make the holidays the holidays is the surroundings you put yourself in. Some people need to be in a place that has a ton of snow. Some folks have to migrate South for the winter because they want nothing to do with the cold. For me, wherever I am, I am most happiest when I can really deck the halls and transform my residence into Holiday Town! :) Yes, while it does look like Christmas threw up in my house, and while my electric bill does tend to increase due to the extra lights, for me, it makes me happy every time I walk through the door. And, most of my friends say the same, so I think I'll keep it going.

I'm going to let the following photos speak for themselves, so enjoy, Peeps!

So, as you can see, I love Christmas and I love the process of creating Holiday Town in my house!

Until next time,

Miss Chicken Wing

"This Is My Winter Song To You..."

We briefly interrupt the snowstorm posts to bring you a song dedicated to the month of winter and to give you a great quote to chew on until the next post!!!

Video/Song to Watch/Listen To:

Winter Songs from Crush Design on Vimeo.

Quote to read while listening to above song:

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”
―Edith Sitwell

I hope you enjoy these selections, and can't wait to post to you again with more snowy goodness!!!

Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

The Feeling of Giving

As I've mentioned before (here and here), the only way you can recreate the feeling you get when you help someone is by helping someone else. It never goes out of style, it never gets old, and it's one thing that you truly can never get tired of. There are very few things that fall into that category (like good dessert, laughing with friends, and Cool Whip, among other things).

Well, this past weekend I had the pleasure of being invited to join the 2009 Women's Build at our local Habitat for Humanity, and it was a blast! I got to be on a team that we coined "Norma and the Pink Seahorses," (more on that in a second) and we constructed all of the jacks (for doors and windows) of the home.

It was a great bonding experience! Some women I knew, and some I'd never laid eyes on before, but we were all there supporting a great cause. The one thing that I love about Habitat for Humanity is that it's a hand up, not a hand out. The homeowners help build their own home, and in this case, it was a single mom with two children. She couldn't believe all of the progress we made and she was excited to help out in any way she could!

Now, back to the team name that you're probably wondering about. Norma was a great lady at the fantastically young age of eighty who was wayyyyy more handy with a hammer than I am. She just lit up our faces with smiles the entire day, and therefore, we made her our team captain. The t-shirts for this build were pink (it was a women's build, after all, and you know yours truly had absolutely no problem with this choice), so that's where the pink came from. The last part of the equation came out of a moment of hilarity. My great friend, Clarissa, said to me with the straightest, most serious face, "I think this seahorse is about to break." I looked at her and must have had the most incredulous face on, because she laughed and inquired as to why I was looking at her that way. I asked her to say what she said again, and I was trying to make out what she was talking about and she repeated herself and pointed to the SAWHORSE!

Our whole team just lost it, and she was embarassed, but she shouldn't have been....it was CLASSIC, PRICELESS, and completely ADORABLE. So, we then brought our team name into the world: Norma and the Pink Seahorses.

See pic below of Miss Chicken Wing as a Pink Seahorse:

Photo Credit
Please note the hot pink tool belt and baby pink hammer. The leader of the Habitat Roadtrip Crazies told me that all I needed to be a successful Crazie was a toolbelt and a hammer, so you know I wouldn't waste the opportunity to completely go girly. Besides, part of the proceeds of each sale went towards breast cancer, and when I saw that, it was a done deal. Check out http://www.amazon.com/ to get your own!!!

Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing-Seahorse

PART TWO "From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life." - Arthur Ashe

Okay, so we left off that I was signing on to do something crazy.....and something that was totally worth the lack of sleep, sunburn, and sore muscles.

The Blitz Build was incredible, and we were all coming together to help Jacob Hearn, a little boy with a heart of gold. Here is an excerpt from a local newspaper that summed up the situation and the reason for this blitz build opportunity.

"Jacob had been diagnosed with a rare neuron-migration disorder known as schizencephaly and is confined to a wheelchair. To accommodate Jacob’s needs, Habitat had architectural plans to include wheelchair access and other features that the Farmville affiliate had not incorporated into previous homes. Extra features meant extra expense and finding more funding was not a simple task.Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity (FAHFH) contacted Piedmont Regional Disability Services for assistance and the organization recommended the affiliate for a grant through the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services. The grant, $15,000, through the reimbursement fund, was the right amount necessary to start planning for Jacob’s house.It was stupendous news. Unfortunately, there was a catch. In order for FAHFH to receive these funds, the house had to be completed by May 1, 2009. The impact of a stalled economy on local businesses and contributors had slowed the progress on homes Habitat already had under construction. That meant Habitat had less than two months to build a house for the Hearn family- a house that had not even been started. How could the affiliate possibly gather the manpower needed to accomplish such a feat in a small amount of time? Enter the Habitat Road Trip Crazies!" Source: TSM Newspaper 3/27/2009

So, basically, the Hearn family had the money to make this home right for Jacob, but they had to complete the home in a MAJOR hurry. Tom and his crew (including me) answered the call. Basically, it's hard to describe what goes on in these types of situations, but here are a few keywords that I find helpful: new friendships, lots of hard work, elbow grease, sweat, sunscreen (at least on day two), trying things you've never tried before, courage, determination, love, and that feeling you get when you truly are helping someone - you know, that feeling that you can only get by helping someone else. It's contagious..and thank God for that.

For those of you who are like me, and are visual specimens, here are some pictures from the build. Take a look and you'll see what I mean. Keep in mind that there were actually TWO families touched by the Habitat Roadtrip Crazies that weekend...the second home was already under construction, and the Crazies helped move it right along. (Let's play the new version of Where's Waldo...it's called Where's Chicken Wing. If you look, you'll see a girl in a green T-Shirt with blonde hair pulled back....that would be the Chicken Wing!)

STEP ONE: CONSTRUCT THE WALLS.

STEP TWO: PUT CONSTRUCTED WALLS UP (MAKES FOR GOOD ROOF SUPPORT).

STEP THREE: SIDING = A GOOD THING.

STEP FOUR: TWO DAYS LATER...WELCOME HOME HEARN FAMILY!

STEP FIVE: MAKE LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS AND BECOME A PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN YOU.

STEP SIX: HANG OUT WITH THE REASON FOR THE BUILD, THE SMILE THAT ACCOMPANIED THE BUILD AT ALL TIMES, AND THE LITTLE MAN THAT CAUSES YOU TO STEP BACK AND REALLY "GET IT." WE LOVE YOU, JACOB!!!

So, I guess I ought to send a big THANK YOU out to Tom Gerdy and the rest of the Crazies. The fire you've started in me is exactly what I was looking for. When I started this journey, I was looking to help people. In helping people, I fed my soul, and ultimately, it helped me. Life's crazy that way....it all comes full circle, one way or another.

I hope that each of you find something that sets your heart on fire. The feeling is indescribable, unforgettable, and well worth whatever it takes to make it happen. I am now armed with the proper materials (ones that a true Crazy should have)...a fuschia toolbelt and a pink hammer. Don't worry, there will be pictures at some point of that! :)

Good luck finding what you're passionate about!

Yours,

Chicken Wing

PART ONE "From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life." - Arthur Ashe

The title of this post is a quote that has recently become near and dear to my heart. As I mentioned in my profile, I'm on a journey to figure out who and what I want to be. One of the facets of this journey is discovering things that you are passionate about and that light a fire in you.

Some call these things crafts. Some call them hobbies. Some call them "things that fill downtime." I call them "things you really love."

I have been on the hunt for things that I can do that I really love...what am I passionate about? I gave scrapbooking a whirl for a little while. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't something that I was dying to do when 5:30 rolled around. I've been known to attempt crafts...I would love to become a big DIY'er (a Do-It-Yourself'er) someday, so that will be a "passion-in-progress."

Someone who has helped me on this journey to discover my passions is a man named Tom Gerdy. As you know, I don't typically drop real life names in this blog for security/anonymity purposes, but I think the world should know about this man - because he gets it..he gets what life is all about.

Tom is a general contractor by trade, but an inspiration after hours. Now, he wouldn't tell you that, but it's true. He gives of his time, his skill, and even monetarily to people and organizations that need him. He was even honored with a 'Man of the Year' award from the Children's Miracle Network. Yeah, like I said, he's awesome! :)

Anyways, I met Tom through a work project, in which we had him lead in a home-improvement project. It was a major project on a major time-crunch deadline, and you know how this guy inspired me? He taught me how to help in a field completely and utterly out of my comfort zone and never made me feel like I was a waste of his time, or in the way of his progress.

Along with Tom were his band of brothers, including Chuck and Larry...two others who had the same philosophy - teach them what to do and put them to work. The three of them, as well as many others from so many states in the USA, are part of a group called the Habitat Roadtrip Crazies, and they go all over the country helping Habitat For Humanity chapters that really need the help finishing homes. Many times, they help in what are known as "blitz builds," which are home constructions that happen over a weekend. Sometimes, they have enough volunteers to complete multiple homes in ONE WEEKEND. It really is a beautiful thing, and if you ever get the chance to check one out, or better yet HELP, do it. It'll change your life.

When Tom invited me to take part in a blitz build that they were doing in a town near my hometown, I said, "why not, let's do it!"

Sure, I was signing up to work my "real" job all week long (40 hours), and then report for duty Saturday morning at 8:30am, work until after 6pm, go to dinner, go home, go to sleep, wake up and report for duty Sunday morning at 8:30am and work until it was done - okay, in a nutshell, this would be my first 7-day work week in a long while. Crazy, right?

If you think that's crazy, stay tuned for Part Two.
Chicken Wing