There's a Few Things Worth Staying Up For...

I should be well in bed by now- I have the alarm set well before 6 am to make it to the gym, since someone delayed me this morning. And yet another someone delayed me this evening. So it has  to happen. But- there's something special coming up soon and I need to let yall know about it. So, I am not asleep even though my eyes are halfway there.

The ARC is a group that I first really "met" this time last year, when doing a series of interviews on the MaconScene.com blogging site. Better known as The Advocacy Resource Center, they assist people who family members that help different developmental disabilities in many ways such as finding them homes and helping them to live in the "real world." Since 1953, they have been finding ways to help these people live as independently as they can and have also aided them in reaching their individual rights that many of us take for granted.

The ARC frequently partners with local restaurants for " Eat for the ARC" days, in which a portion of the proceeds go to the ARC. Today's happens to be one of those days at Lemongrass, downtown on Cherry Street. On the 22nd it will be Georgia Bob's.

Their biggest event is the Big Bash, and this year is their fifth one. It happens to be one of THE events to go to New Year's Eve, and tickets start at just $25 per person. From their press release:

 “It is exciting to see so many supporters sell out this party to celebrate The Arc, year after year,” exclaimed board member Betsy Powell. Partygoers will appreciate the option to have a general ticket, in addition to the table seating. Beginning at $25, tickets are available now: arcmacon.org or 478.477.7764.

So, do you really want to miss out on any of these events? I think not! Get out today to Lemongrass, on the 22nd to Georgia Bob's and ring in the New Year with the ARC at the Terminal Station- they're even going to have The Grapevine performing! I hope to see each of you there.

I Planned a Relaxing Weekend, However...

... Just curious, did any of you out there actually think this would succeed for me? Well, it's kind of going to happen. For about an hour.

Tomorrow morning, I have offered to help a friend who needs a hat in the morning. So, I may be up around 6 am. And really, I need to go running anyway. I've been missing it a lot since the time change, cause I can't go after work. So, meet friend, go on a run. Then at 11 am I take some time for myself for a massage with Mandy Miller- praise Jesus. I can also nap during the massage ;)

After that it's off to lunch at Lemongrass to meet up with my editors, Gary and Carla, with Macon Food and Culture and then Jittery Joe's to finally get serious about NaNoWriMo- and to meet up with some other ladies who are trying to meet this nearly 2,000/words daily goal (hope to see each of you- Angel, Rachel, Sarah). I'm hoping to also make it to the downtown cleanup that Main Street Macon is hosting- however I may run out of time.

And after THAT it's off my friends Alex and Eleta's house for some pre-Thanksgiving festivities with lots of food and friends. I knew Alex and Eleta both in undergraduate school at Mercer and have gotten to know them both a lot better recently. I am really looking forward to tomorrow night- it's looking to be a good night with lots of friends and cerebral conversation. (I seem to always get in a good, civil, intellectual political conversation with this group and I LOVE it. Good reminder of why I was a poli sci major, I suppose.)

Tomorrow night is also the big Goodwill Gala- I hate I'm going to miss it but since I would be dateless for the evening and the fact that cloning in humans has yet to be perfected... anyone care to send me pictures so I can post them?

As for Sunday? Going to aim for another early morning run, however the recent cold weather may take it all out of me tomorrow morning. Then church- I attend St. Paul's Episcopal but I've been meaning to visit St. James also- it's always nice to check out other houses of worship just for the sake of it. And then... not sure to be honest with you! I feel like there is something I am forgetting (there usually is). Til next time folks...

Missing In Action... Sort Of...

Even as I type this, I am exhausted. I've had to take a bit of a break from the social scene, of course I say that even as I went to the Hay House wine tasting last week and had a short evening out for my birthday last weekend.

This week, I doubt I make it to the Festival of Trees Gala. I really want to but I am simply exhausted. So, anyone out there want to take some pictures for me? I feel like I am letting down my friend Canaan- one of the brilliant minds behind this event. Anything Canaan touches turns to gold- so when you add in people like Susannah Maddux and Bowen Reichert- this is a no way to fail event. It'll be nothing short of simply fabulous. But I have the trump card, the one thing that could top any possible event: a night with my sweet babies. So as much as I hate to miss this, I know I'll be having more fun. (No offense!!)

So, what are yall doing after the event? It happens at the Terminal Station- so may I suggest grabbing dinner afterwards? Or at least a cocktail or two. You're only a walk away from Tic Toc and other places!

This weekend... I know there's a lot going on but my brain is a bit fried at the moment. Feel free to remind me here of your events! Right now- I'm about to call Chantelle at Amanda Jane or Mandy Miller to see if there is a miracle opening for either of their massage tables this weekend.... I might have to be missing in action this weekend.

OH before I forget!!! Tomorrow: from noon til 5:30. be sure to make a donation at one of the new donation stations downtown. This is a project from the 2012 Leadership Macon class. I first saw stations like these in Athens when I was a student, and they are an amazing way to really help the homeless. I'm sure each of you has seen a homeless person and perhaps wanted to help but maybe were scared or even resentful- thinking they would spend the money on addictions. THIS program allows you to give change, or even charge you card, which will then go to the Macon Coalition to End Homelessness. The ribbon cutting is at 2:30. This is a real chance to impact others who need our help, and I am so proud to call many of the people in this Leadership class as my friends.

Cheers!

EDIT: Oh my gosh I can't believe I forgot to add what all I did yesterday! First was the new organization of the Young Professionals Network through the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce. I was so happy to see so many people I already knew and to meet even more new people. I look forward to more events!

After that was our Junior League of Macon membership meeting. I always love seeing these ladies, and I especially enjoyed catching up with Kristen, Stephanie, Christine, Tori, Jessica, Amber, Suzanne and many more! I always love to see my League ladies- and it's even better that so many of my ADPi alums are in it too :)

Dovetail, Macon Symphony and Many More Projects

Well, I haven’t been so good about updating this lately, mainly because I have just been exhausted. There’s quite a bit of stuff coming up, including Tap Dogs and Cirque Mechanics at The Grand Opera House this weekend. There is also the Wine Tasting event at The Hay House, always a lovely event- I think I will make this there this week.

Yesterday still managed to be a full day, even though I TOTALLY slept in and missed my appointment to get my fill ins done on my eyelashes at The Lily Room in Bonaire (see this post for more info: http://makeitworkmolly.com/lashes-lashes-gimme-more-lashes/). I then had a photo shoot with Lee McDavid, who I worked for in high school. Hopefully, I’ll have some headshots to show yall soon! We also discussed some project ideas, teaming up with Elizabeth Grimsley of William Alexander Salon. Ohhh we’ve got some pretty cool project ideas- stay tuned! YOU might be called on to help!

After that, I met with Winsphere Jones- local playwright. Yet another project on the horizon… stayed tuned for that as well. Unfortunately, I missed the chance to meet up with friends at Eagle Gun Range. Going to HAVE to make that one up soon!

Last night, I took my mother and my grandmother out on the town. First we went to Dovetail. I had been hearing about it from everyone at work, and of course all of the social media buzz. I have the say- it lived up to the hype. Chris Horne raved about their “Put Ups”- which is a trio of bacon marmalade, lima bean hummus, and pimento cheese along with homemade bread. First- I hate pimento cheese. I like this pimento cheese, and I am pretty sure it’s the same pimento cheese they also serve at The Rookery. Bacon marmalade- I asked our server how they made it and I got a mysterious answer, the only part I understood was that they make it there themselves. It only adds to the mystic. Lima bean hummus:  I consider myself to be a hummus connoiseeur, I eat it everywhere. This had an added, not sweetness but a tanginess- kind of- I struggle to describe it. Suffice it to say this word might do it: yummyness.

Before that my mother and I both ordered one of their signature drinks: the Quarter Horse. It’s kind of like an old fashion, but less sweet. I was rather impressed that my mother would order a bourbon based drink so I jumped along as well. This might need to be my new regular cocktail. It’s made with bourbon, lime juice, ginger beer, Peychaud’s and Angosura.

For my meal I got one of their small plates: the Braised Rabbit Relleno. Mom gave me hell for eating rabbit, but whatevs it was damn good. It’s a charred tomato mole, poblano pepper, and queso fresco with rabbit. The rabbit was somehow stuffed in to the pepper. It was beautiful. Beautiful.

Next we ordered three desserts: the Sweet Tea Crème Brulee, Pumpkin Cheesecake, and I forget the other one- my grandmother ordered it because she’s allergic to eggs and it didn’t have egg in it. Sadly, I didn’t try that one. I looked like enough of a pig eating up the crème brulee and cheesecake with mom. I owe Chris Horne a big thank you for giving me a heads up about the crème brulee. Heaven. Heaven. No lie: heaven. The cheesecake was like pure sin though. OMG.

Ah- but before dessert Wayne and Mary Alice surprised us with complimentary after dinner drinks. Mary Alice is going to get me the descriptions and ingredients, it was all too fabulous and overwhelming for me to remember. A chocolate martini, some kind of blackberry concoction, and a maple something or another. We passed them around among each other, or I’d still be under the table. Wow. If Wayne ever offers to create something and for you to try it, don’t pass him up on it. I’ve been on the receiving end of his experiments before- always with success. EDIT: Here are the drinks-

Chocolate Raspberry Martini
vodka, chambord, port wine, house made chocolate syrup topped with brandied raspberry.

Berries n cream
creme de mur, dark rum, topped with batch made whipped creme drizzled with raspberry liqueur and a brandied black berry

maple creme bumbo : honey rum, Tennessee whiskey, maple creme liqueur, topped with grated nutmeg

Oh also- the chef and manager came by the table and said hello as well. I love when that happens- always a nice touch. It was also nice that they recognized me from my writer's page pic in Macon Food and Culture ;)

And we still had the symphony after this! Somehow I managed to not be in a food coma beforehand. As always, brilliant performance. This time not only did we have the opera of Hansel and Gretel performed, but the Mercer University Children’s Choir made a cameo at the end. It’s so nice to see so many young people involved in this. We have so much culture here- yall need to get out and enjoy it!

I hate to say though, I missed my friend David Quakenbush’s birthday. Happy birthday dear! It’s always a fabulous time with our group, and I hate so much I missed it.

I went to church today, and as always it was a great set of lessons and hymns. Please bear with me a moment as I get a little philosophical. Today’s church was like a moment in which both my early and recent faiths were encompassed all in one service. One of the hymns sung was one of my favorites as a child. Isn’t it funny how simple our faith was as children? So blind and so innocent and so easy. It grows harder to believe the older we get. Life’s trials and adversities cause us to question God’s presence in our lives. And why not? With so many people saying who God is and who He loves and doesn’t love. My God loves everyone- gay or straight, rich or poor. My God also loves those who are persecuted. This has become more relevant to me recently.

Some of you may know that I was recently criticized, and rather publicly so. I have to be honest, it was tremendously hurtful to read the comment from friend’s screen shots sent to me. For someone who doesn’t know me to refer to me as “the scum I wiped off of my feet today” and as a bad mother- I will admit, that hurts. I spent the better part of last Saturday on and off crying about it.

Multiple friends,  bless them, reached out to me in support- pointing out that these people do not even know me. And while this is true, it is not what has comforted me today. Today, the Old Testament reading was from Solomon:

Solomon 3:9

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, and their going from us to be destruction; but they are at peace. For though in the sight of others they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; like a gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them. In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble.

Now, perhaps I am interpreting scripture wrong, but for me I realized something today. Yes, these words that were spoken about me were uttered by people who do not know me, and yes I have a TON of people in my corner- and I am thankful for them- but as long as I have my babies and my God they are all I need. God will bring me through whatever I am going through and make me stronger. These past few months  and years have shown me that. My faith is that much stronger and I bless all the adversity I have been through for bringing me here. So for those of you who say such mean things about me, I offer you my prayer and blessing. For one, I know you must be hurting so much yourself to say such mean things. And two, I am grateful to each of you for allowing me to be a stronger Christian, even if I am criticized for my multiple writings and bloggings and goings about town.

This is not to say I will stop writing, on the contrary, God has made me as I am. I strive to be a better person every day, although I know I will never be perfect- as God made us as sinners. God knows my strengths and weaknesses, and knows I am working on being better. I hope I can use my ability to write to let each of you know about the great things here in Macon, I see it as part of my mission in life.

Sorry to get preachy on yall! But life is so great for me right now, I just want yall to know it and I hope I can share in it with each of you.

My love to all of you!