Is that a southern accent I hear?

I am a Georgia girl. Born in Piedmont Hospitmal, raised in Sugar Hill. I refer to my mom as "mamma" and I have a cohort of family members whose stories of deabourbonth, illicit sex and insanity confirm anyone's suspicion that the southern rule of thumb is put the crazy on the front porch, add a sleeping dog and a shot gun. Well, my dog tends to stay awake but otherwise, not far from it. I spent the past 3 days in Boston working on my skills in treating head and neck cancer. I need these skills as Kentucky is top ranking in smoking, smoking while pregnant and big huge untreated cancers that patients allow to blossom into the spine before they get to the doctor. Often once there, they decided to "wait on it" prior to initiating treatment. I love these people as they remind me of where I grew up and it is strong in my list of personal goals that I make their lives better. What I do NOT understand is the Northern fascination with southern women. The past 2 nights I went out with various speech pathologists, and constantly the comment was "is that a southern accent I hear?". I wish I was sassy enough to be like "ahoy tharrrr matey, my voice be that of a hearty scallywag." But not, I say things like (while smiling)"oh yes it is, i'm here for training" and "why don't you try some of that good kentucky bourbon."
When I was younger the allure of big cities was strong. I've lived in a few of them, and all I can think about at this moment as I partake in the free WiFi at the airport bar is: I want Bailey, my own bed, 4 wheel drive and a ball cap. Time to go home. Making the move back south has made sense on so many levels. It's remarkable how putting non-native organisms into an environment can expose just what it is that we really need. I need southern accents, yes mam's, the smell of fresh cut grass and big ole southern boys.

Bourbon Sippin'

This weekend 3 friends from Wisconsin came to Kentucky. I tried to find some creative outlets and genuine experiences....so we drove around with the sunroof open looking at horse farms, drinking bourbon at Woodford Reserve, and hearing live country music in smoky bars, then hearing acoustic guitar in underground undergraduate clubs. Overall an amazing time. There were a few moments that stick out:

1) The bourbon tour guide giving a detailed description of how the cork is hammered "deep into the hole" of the bourbon barrel to prevent "seepage around the bung". So...is that a bung hole?

2) Having 4 grown women in my little 2 bedroom apartment, going out for drinks until we are all silly dizzy, then forcibly removing my friend's spider lashes and setting that shit right before we exposed her to the young boys.

3) Discovering my secret plan to own a horse farm, take hot baths and frolick with thoroughbreds....i mean the horses not thoroughbred men. Are there thoroughbred men?

This weekend gave me an amazing appreciation for the weather, the emergence of spring, and the beauty of mid twenties musicians in tight tshirts who need the voice talents of one RLH

Balls balls balls

College Basketball. This is the lifeblood of March in Lexington. There is UK irish themed basketball attire to be found. Every sports bar is full of light beer drinking blue clad fans stuffing their face. Today I was one of them. I found myself chatting with a "louisville boy" (married, blech) about how Calipari isn't an X's and O's coach, but rather a phenomenal recruiter. To be honest, I'm amazing at faking a knowledge base and my basketball beliefs are no exception.

Wowing the men at the bar with my "they should have throwback uniforms for the final four" recommendation that I dreamt of last week was particularly fantastic. Honestly, the chances of one of those boys pulling a "britney" would pump those ratings through the roof. Just picture it... oh yea. Harrelson's stats of hotness in tight shorts. Ok, so I'm a little bit of a perv. Big news.

I'm pleased to say my love of basketball has also prompted me to begin sporting a UK ball cap. What I really love? Sports and bar food.

The love of college football that I'm used to is just being supplemented by Basketball. The funny thing to me is: I'm quite tall for a woman and people chronically ask me who I played for. I wonder if small people are constantly probed about their history as a jockey.

gone but not forgotten

So I've lived here since January 21. It's March 3. I counted the number of incoming phone calls from my friends in Madison. The number is 4. And 3 of them were the same person. The feeling is, I think I have stopped existing on some level. I miss my friends there, and know it was time to go and be happier, but it's a strange isolation. I don't miss the Wisconsin that I had day to day at work, or the Wisconsin that is being smothered with protest signs. But I miss the Sunday brunch with friends by a fire...the smoky cigar bar where we knew all the regulars, the familiarity. I am driving home to Atlanta for the second week in a row, spend some time with my long time friend and her kids. New shades of red hair are a=comin.

Oh and for my Kentucky moment. I daydreamed today about having a "throwback" college basketball week...where all those boys played in the short shorts...any thoughts?

Alls I have to say is, my neighbor who proudly drives a bright blue mustang and has hair high enough to praise the Lord year round's boyfriend has the most amazing habit. This habit? Taking off work early to sit outside the apartment building where I live as her neighbor and smoke cigarettes in his boxers. And they say the industrious american spirit is dead?