Driving Miss Chicken

As I mentioned in another post, Shelby sold his truck. This minor detail made transporting chickens to the farm very interesting yesterday. Approximately 40 minutes in the car with chickens in the backseat will make anyone a little carsick.

They were in a cage. 8 of them. A smelly 8.

You could tell when one would poop because the others would scramble around, possibly in a desperate attempt to stay out of the other's waste. Squawk! Churp-Churp!

How many Passats in the world were used to transport chickens yesterday? I'm guessing ONE...
Ahh, life in Kentucky :)

My Top Songs of 2007

The one true thing I love about New Years is list after list compiled by such media outlets as Time and VH1. Keep 'em coming. I love lists - making lists, reading lists, completing lists, etc. After watching the Top 100 Songs of the 90s on VH1 (great, btw), I was inspired to make my own shorter list of Top Songs of 2007. Songs that not necessarily debuted in 2007, but songs that I discovered, recovered, or simply remember being a big part of my year. Here goes (alphabetically by artist):

The Cloud Room
"Hey Now Now"

The Decemberists
"The Crane Wife 1 & 2"

Feist
"1234"

Huey Lewis & The News
"It's Alright"

Kings of Leon
"Day Old Blues"/"Fans" (tie)

Madeleine Peyroux
"You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go"

Maroon 5
"Makes Me Wonder"

Matt Nathanson
"Come On Get Higher"

moe.
"Tambourine"

Phoebe Snow
"Poetry Man"

Regina Spektor
"On The Radio"

The Shins
"Australia"

Sister Hazel
"Mandolin Moon"

Supertramp
"Breakfast In America"

Unit 4+2
"Concrete & Clay"

17.2 is a Winner

I found out that although technically I am 24.9 years old, I'm really only 17.2!

This site will tell you how old you really are based on a questionnaire of what you eat, family history of disease, exercise regime, etc. If I had taken the test when I was 17.2, I probably would have been somewhere in the mid 20s range, due in part to my daily snack of Cheez-its and M&Ms washed down with a Diet Pepsi. Most teenagers want to be older, anyway. Now that I'm on my way to wrinkles, a missing metabolism, and menopause, young is the new old, and I'm on top of the trend!

Shelby also took the quiz and his 26.9 years is actually an 18.0. Even with my head start of being 2 biological years younger, he almost beat my RealAge. It's mysterious how someone who claims to not eat fruit could rate so well!

You can also find out how old your dog is at www.dogage.com. "No more multiplying by 7," so says the site.

Did You Know? Louisville's Name

Louisville shares its name with eight other towns/cities in the U.S.

Louisville, Alabama
Louisville, Colorado
Louisville, Georgia
Louisville, Illinois
Louisville, Mississippi
Louisville, Nebraska
Louisville, Ohio
Louisville, Tennessee

The Kentucky difference? Ours is the only one that has a silent "s," named in honor of French King Louis XVI.

Hablo espanol, gente!

My future sister in law Kelley and I started taking Spanish classes together about 2 months ago. To my surprise and delight, I remember TONS from middle school & high school - from my recollections, I didn't think I was paying attention back then! I have flown through the first two levels and started Level 3 this week, impressing Kelley and my teacher tremendously along the way. My kryponite, however, is the listening component of communication - I cannot understand what people say to me in the least bit. SO, my teacher recommended that I watch one movie in Spanish every week, using subtitulos if necessary.

Of course, subtitulos ARE necessary, so Shelby & I watched/read "The Motorcycle Diaries" last week. Not only did I improve my listening skills just in the first week, but I also learned about a cultural icon. Who was Che Guevera?? Had I even heard this name before last week? No, probably not, unless I had been exposed to this knowledge in a distracted fit of apathy (much like my previous attempts to learn Spanish). Now I know! Life lesson here: you can learn anything you want to if you actually want to learn it.

Recipe Fave

My mom and I have fallen in love with Cooking Light and experimenting in the kitchen. I think Shelby was probably nervous on several occasions when I wouldn't let him in on anything I was cooking. I have a feeling my dad was in the same boat with my mom's concoctions. One recipe in particular turned out to be a hit: Cajun Quiche in a Rice Crust. Here is the link - give it a whirl!

Try it with brown rice. Makes for good lunch leftovers.

Did You Know? Kentucky State Tree

Kentucky's state tree is the Tulip Tree (aka the Tulip Poplar). It is actually a member of the magnolia family, despite its "poplar" name. It can grow up to 145 feet and live for 200 years. Its yellow-green flowers, which blossom in May, resemble tulips, giving the tree its name.

My dad, the tree expert, called the Tulip Poplar the "Weed of the Piedmont." I guess when you're not in the Piedmont, it's a little more "pop(u)lar!"

PawPaw

Boyd E. "Pluto" Wade, Sr.

February 29, 1932 - November 28, 2007
I'll miss my grandpa and his butterscotch candies.

Shelby's New Ride

Shelby & I had been talking about selling the truck for awhile. An F-250 seemed too big for only commuting to work every day. In the evenings, we would drive my car due to the F-250's gas-guzzling tendencies. We weren't getting the intended use out of the truck, and thought something more fuel efficient could serve our needs better.


Last Sunday, we found a car worth taking a look at. After having the diesel F-250 for over a year, Shelby knew he wanted another diesel, so he started looking online for VW's TDI (the name for their diesels). He found a Passat TDI on the Carmax website. Providentially, the only one available nationwide happened to be in Louisville. We went to take a look without any intention of buying anything, but we fell in love with the car and traded in the truck that day.
We loved the fact that the TDI gets over 45 miles to the gallon. My dream would be to make our own biodiesel, but for now we're filling up at the conventional gas station. Shelby is thrilled that his cost to fuel up has been drastically reduced, and I'm thrilled due to my increasing desire to be environmentally friendly. I can't wait until we drive around town smelling like french fries. Yummmmmm...

"The use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today. But such oils may become in the course of time as important as the petroleum and coal tar products of the present time."
Rudolph Diesel, 1912

The Troubleshooter

After I moved on December 2, I started work on December 4, where I am still employed today. I work for Shelby's parents: mother Eunice and stepfather Colonel (first name Ron). I had no idea what to expect, but after almost a year, I realize there is not one particular thing I do and my job title could take many forms. I've become a jack of all trades - master of... most. Before his new job started in June, Shelby worked with me as more of the technical guru of the office and had years of experience and knowledge in a world I knew nothing about. With every new task I completed, I would announce to the other side of the office, "Add that to my skill set!" Shelby left the office in June, leaving me to keep track of my steadily growing skill set. Among these skills, I have the bittersweet gift of knowing a tiny bit about computers. The IT problems became MY problems after Shelby's departure. In the days that Kristen and I would spend hours making PowerPoints for our friends (no, not for class), I never knew I would later apply so many of adapted skills for work! My days are filled with instant satisfaction in the easy fixes and mounting frustrations in the mind boggling impossibilities. Shelby is probably lucky that he is practically unreachable during the work day; otherwise, he would have heard of many a crisis that I eventually solved.

I have reached a point at my job that I can describe my position as "The Troubleshooter," which encompasses almost everything I could possibly encounter in the 9 to 5. The computer issues usually arise in the tasks I perform for Eunice. Her network marketing company is always trying to find new ways to reach people, whether by video conferencing, Powerpoint Presentations, downloads, uploads, or webpages. I now realize that The Ladies Club website I had in college was ELEMENTARY. But again, wasting time as an undergrad has certainly paid off.

For Colonel, I also work a lot on the computer, but in a different capacity. Our not-for-profit corporation does a considerable amount of fundraising and distribution of educational materials. I edit letters and press releases, along with compiling packets of information for mailings and meetings. One of Colonel's mottos is "retrieval is everything," and we have a ton of papers to keep track of. This is some of the publishing aspect of what I do, but much of my work contributes to Colonel as a lawyer. He tells me I practice law without a license - administrative law. Luckily I'm pretty organized (therefore good administrative lawyer), which increases my value as The Troubleshooter because I have avoided many catastrophes by keeping track of who gets what in mailings and emails. "Send that August mailing to so-and-so" instructs me figure out what mailing it actually was and if the desired recipient already received it. From what I understand pre-Emily, this task used to take a long while. Not anymore!

Overall, I'd say everyone is pleased that I work here, including myself. I get a great deal of satisfaction out of helping my future family, whether it's editing a crucial document, updating a website, changing the background color on a PowerPoint, or finding a Word document someone wrote in 1992. Call me The Troubleshooter.

Emily, KY Voter

Old Polls - My Alma Mater:

New Polls - Oldham County, Kentucky:

I voted for the first time in Kentucky yesterday. My only experiences with voting in person are with the above mentioned, beloved Stone-Robinson. In past years, I went into the school's gym, passing eager supporters of each candidate in the parking lot. I was usually greeted by an old teacher of mine, or possibly by one of my friend's parents working the polls. I remember as a little girl going into the booth with one of my parents, closing the curtain behind us for privacy's sake for the moment we pulled the lever to cast our vote. Immediately exiting the booth, I always had a sticker waiting for me to declare to the world that "I voted today!"

This year, however, things were slightly different. Luckily I watch a fair amount of TV and am marrying into a relatively politically active family, so I recognized most of the names on the ballot. No recognizable faces greeted me or checked me in, though. I, the only voter in the building at 5:07pm, walked to the check in table, which was manned by a cheerful older lady. When she learned my first name was Emily, she exclaimed several times how much she loved the name and that her great-niece had that name. Like it hasn't been in the top 2 most popular names for most of my lifetime...

After we had exchanged plenty of pleasantries, I naively asked what to do next. She and the 3 other workers motioned to two booths - one old, one new. They encouraged me to try the new one because they probably would have ALL new ones next year. All meaning two. I sat down at this booth (sat down!) and had no idea how to operate it. A 5th worker appeared out of hiding on the far side of the booth and explained how to get started. I realized that I was still the only voter there, with a very attentive poll staff. I neared the end of my selections and one of the workers poked his head OVER MY SHOULDER, peeking in on me to see if everything was ok.

Yes sir - going smoothly, as you can see! Privacy, please!

Feeling somewhat violated and yet comforted by his desire to help, I cast my votes and stood to receive my medal of model citizenship (aka The Sticker). I walked to the door, hoping that one of the 5 workers would present me with what I had earned. To my dismay, there were NO STICKERS! I left with only the good feeling that I had contributed to my community for one of the first times. Good thing I don't scrapbook!

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the grass really blue?
Not really - the grass is green, but it produces bluish buds that make the rolling hills appear to be blue.

I thought it was The Commonwealth of Virginia , not Kentucky!
Evidently, Virginia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania are all commonwealths. According to the Kentucky State website, a "commonwealth" means a "government based on the common consent of the people...Kentucky, once part of Virginia, chose to remain a commonwealth when it separated from Virginia."

Wait, Kentucky was a part of Virginia?
Yes! The Kentucky state website explains, "Kentucky was originally declared to be a part of Virginia and was made a separate county of that state in 1776. Soon after the end of the American Revolution, a separation movement began in Kentucky. In 1792, after nine conventions to discuss the separation, Kentucky was made a separate state and was admitted to the Union as the fifteenth state. Isaac Shelby was chosen as the first governor. Kentucky's first constitution was drafted in April and May of that year (the constitution was rewritten in 1800, and again in 1850 and 1891), and Frankfort was chosen to be the site of the state capital. In 1818, the westernmost region of the state was annexed, following its purchase from the Chicasaw Indians." So now we can joke that I never actually left Virginia - haha!

Is Louisville a big city?
Depends on who you ask and when. If you asked anyone before 2003, they would have probably said it was about average. But 2003 was the year that the City of Louisville merged with Jefferson County to create Louisville Metro, which now boasts the title of 16th largest city in the US. Some would now argue that the merger is cheating and that it's actually not that big. Seems big to me, but with a small town feel.

Cats or Cards?
The big rivalry in Kentucky is between the University of Kentucky (in Lexington) and the University of Louisville. These two large schools seem to depend greatly on the success of their sports teams, represented by the Wildcat and the Cardinal respectively. 99% of Kentuckians strongly prefer one team over another. The jury is still out on which team I favor.

Why is UofL's mascot the Cardinal?
Like Virginia, Kentucky's state bird is the cardinal. You will come to find there are more similarities between the two states...

How far is Louisville from Charlottesville?
Some say 7 hours, some say 9. Depends on who you ask, how you drive, what your bladder can hold, and if you have a dog.

And it's only 2 hours from Indianapolis?
Yes, Indianapolis is 2 hours north and Nashville is 3 hours south. St. Louis is 4 hours west and Charleston, WV is about 3.5 hours east.

Doesn't it rain more in Kentucky?
More than in Virginia? Not likely, but this year, definitely not. For approximately all summertime, we had no rain. 0". We do get tornadoes though.

Are you in the Central Time Zone?
Surprisingly, no. The time zone line wiggles its way around Louisville to keep it in the Eastern Time Zone. Compared to Charlottesville, we have about an hour more of sunlight every day. In the summer, the sun is just going down at 10:00pm!

When can I come visit?
Anytime!

Preface

In exactly one month from today, I will have lived in Louisville, Kentucky for one year. As this anniversary approaches, it seems likely to me that someone has probably wondered, "What is Emily doing out there?" So to fill you in and to celebrate the life I have chosen to make in the Bluegrass State, I submit to you my blog, "Wealthy in the Commonwealth." Not the Commonwealth of Virginia, but another Commonwealth that has become my home, where I am richly blessed beyond man's measure. I have learned tremendous and invaluable lessons which I hope to share here, along with accounts of my continuing "education" and my own humble opinion of what everyone needs to know about Kentucky. As life goes on, my goal is to keep the blog updated to keep you updated on my new/"Old" Kentucky home. Life beyond Virginia actually exists - who knew!