In the Words of Alan Jackson...

There is always something crazy going on at work. So let's recap the hottest week of the year, shall we?

Wednesday - AC Unit dies. Server needs to be cooled. Purchase portable AC Unit for Server.
Thursday (103 degrees) - Crank up the AC Unit. Cools the server but nothing else. Work from home.
Friday (105 degrees) - AC Unit blows a fuse. Fuse is connected to my office. I sit in the dark.

As you can see, it's been rather hot and miserable, but that didn't stop us from working. After many Walks and event planning, we were able to craft a little something together to keep the cool air "in" and the hot air "out".  We often refer to the SEC area of the office the Batcave, but with the recent air outage, the name has a whole new meaning.

So in the words of Alan Jackson, "It gets hotter than a hoochie coochie".

The Announcement

After wrapping things up with my beloved volunteer committee last night and giving them the news, I can make it public.  So here it goes.

I'm moving! Yes, that's right - ME... the one who was terrified of moving to Raleigh, NC from home because of facing something new. ((Shout out to M.A.D. for pushing me out of my comfort zone my sophomore year and encouraging me to embrace the new and exciting - I will always owe you for teaching me one of life's biggest lessons.)) 

I coordinated a huge fundraising event in Charlotte, NC for 2012 and since my organization feels that we now have the right tools to succeed, they want to send me to the area to live, work, and fund-raise.  The sad part is that I will be leaving my 'home' of 6 years. I have had really great memories and made some life-long relationships. I will always run with the Wolfpack and appreciate the 6 years of growth I have made in Raleigh.  This city was not always good to me, but it taught me a lot about family, friends, and the non-existent line between the two.  It also helped me to dream big and take opportunities as they come which is why I chose to accept a position in Charlotte.  

I am so excited for this next step. I am not ending this novel to start the next, I am merely turning the page and starting a new chapter.  Moving is scary and fun so I will keep you updated on all of the hiccups along the way. But first thing's first... Finding a place to live!

Location, Location, Location!

In my most humble opinion, the location search for a fundraising event is by far the most difficult piece of this year-long puzzle.  Our event is a 2 mile Walk on a Saturday morning in April every year.  We host 7 across the state but I'm only focused on 1 (thank goodness).  

So, what am I looking for? Well first, I start with the previous year's Walk location.  How was it? Did everyone else like it? Much to my dismay, I received a lot of negative feedback about the 2012 Walk Site.  It was at Independence Park in uptown Charlotte which was beautiful and provided our cause with some great Awareness! However, parking was a little tricky, logistics had to be very strategic, and the grass wasn't mowed! How dare they!?

With all that being said, I think it was time for yet another location change in the area.  Changing locations in a big city is good because it doesn't become the "Ballantyne Walk" but rather we open up our services and awareness to many different areas of the city in hopes that one day we've had a chance to cover them all.  

With all of the feed back from 2012 I had a better idea of what to look for: Parking, Easy Walk Path, Wide Open Spaces, Greenery, and something slightly off the beaten path so that another event does not literally RUN through your Walk site (yes that happened...)

While I can't officially announce it, I have found - and applied for - the PERFECT 2013 location! I am so excited to let everyone know about the new location and date! It is the best blend of a spacious corporate park with the warm and cozy feeling of a city park.  Get ready to be wow-ed folks... it will be the best season yet!

Why Blog?

When I was younger I was so interested in keeping a diary. I thought I would be famous some day for it - people would publish my words and be enthralled with my day-to-day life! And just in case I had ever forgotten what I did on that July afternoon in 1994 with my babysitter, I would be able to look back and remember! Surprisingly enough, that has never happened. At least, not yet.

So why start blogging now? 

This may shock you... but my life is slightly more interesting now than it was 15 years ago. I'm a recent college graduate, I (actually have and) love my job, and I am in my twenties. May I also add that I am a Special Events Coordinator for a non-profit organization based in Raleigh, NC.  I've been an SEC for a year now (go me!) but that first year was all about learning. This next year is all about sharing my knowledge and truly embracing the journey. There are a lot of ups and downs in the world of Special Events. There were days I wanted to crawl under my desk. There were also days I wanted to sprint to the top of a mountain and thank the good Lord for guiding me to this place in life. I can honestly say, I love what I do. But that doesn't mean it is boring :)

My first year was extremely successful and I am very happy to have gone through it all to have made such a huge difference.  Now it is time to open book 2 of the series and begin the planning process all over again. Therefore, I extend an invitation to you to follow me on this journey - through the good and the bad, the laughter and heartache, the vision and the reality. For those of you who don't know me, I invite you to learn more about me. For those of you who do know me, enjoy this piece of the humble pie :)