Y’all.

It’s a big day.

So, singer/songwriter Tara Leigh Cobble is one of my favs. I love her music, her voice, and her lyrics [you know I'm a sucker for good lyrics]. I started reading her blog a few months ago. And I loved it. Oh blogs, you are so wonderful.

I ordered her first book, Here’s to Hindsight: Letters To My Former Self, and I literally read it in a day. Which is rare for me because, though I love to read, I don’t like when I read a book in one sitting. It’s the Scrooge in me… books that I buy should last for more hours than the amount of dollars I paid. It’s a math equation.

Except when the writing is phenomenal. Real. Honest. Raw. Beautiful. Hilarious. Godly.

Because then the book is worth every penny. And more.

As if that one book wasn’t enough awesome (it could have been, it was that good), she comes out with a NEW BOOK! Ahhh…… Crowded Skies: Letters to Manhattan, welcome to my life.

This book is a collection of essays surrounding Tara Leigh’s decision to leave Nashville and move to New York City. And entire book about being brave, finding God in the everydayness of life, making friends, and trusting Him with everything. I love the flow of the book- starting with the decision and then continuing as she settles down in a new city. It’s beautifully written, honest to the point of “are you sure you meant to write that?”, and it makes me love and trust God more.

It’s like my literary utopia – a great singer/songwriter who writes really good books about stepping towards her dreams.

So in all my excitement, I made the obvious choice. I emailed her. [What? Did you forget that I'm shameless and apparently not real concerned about looking cool?]

And because Tara Leigh is AWESOME, she emailed me back and then put a little package in the mail direct from NYC to ATL.

Now I have THIS- an AUTOGRAPHED COPY of her new book! Specifically for one of you!!

I’m telling you, you want to read this book. And seriously, I’ve been SO anticipating this- I want ALL of you to read all her stuff. Blogs. Books. Lyrics. Journal. [Ok, don't read her journal. That's not polite.]

So, before we continue, if you do not win, then GO HERE to order her books and CDs. Listen, I have NEVER led you astray before, I’m not going to start now. Remember I contacted HER because I wanted YOU to get this.

NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY.

In order to win, you must leave a comment in this post. And please leave a way for me to contact you- but DON’T JUST LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. I don’t want this to be a spammer’s paradise.

Leave your address like this: spamstinks [at] yahoo [dot] com. I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I’ll figure out how to contact you if you win.

The comments will close on Wednesday morning at 8am. Then a random number generator will pick the winner. And the rest of you will ORDER ONE (or ten) HERE.

Thanks, Tara Leigh, for making this possible!!

Best of luck, bloggites! I hope you win. Seriously. I’ve got my fingers crossed for ya!

What do you blog about after you admit you have a quasi-crush on Peter Pan?

Not sure.

Oh, I forgot to tell you this….

Tuesday morning I woke up and I didn’t know what day it was. At all. I mean, I could look at my cell phone and see that it said [TUES], but I honestly could not register that my phone was correct. I started recalling what I had done the previous day and I could not for the life of me remember teaching school. I thought and thought and it never came to me.

So I got back in bed. My head was PoUnDiNg, so I figured that I would sleep it off a bit and wake up normal. I remember thinking, “If today is a school day, I really don’t have time to lay back down.”

Thirty minutes later, I realized 2 things:
#1- I had really overslept.
#2- My headache was going no where.

I get to school and do what every other teacher does in this type of situation.

Whine to the school nurse.

I explain my “symptoms”, namely the complete and total loss of short term memory, and ask her what’s wrong. Because obviously, if she is a school nurse, she knows all things.

Her response? “I bet you’re getting sick.”

No explanation. Just left it at that. She tossed me a few Advil, smiled, and then got back to typing up whatever important clinical email she was sending.

I walked out thinking she did not know what she was talking about but I wasn’t about to correct her. She gives out the Advil. Not someone to be crossed.

Low and behold. I start coming down with a cold yesterday and today, all systems are go for a full on attack. Sore throat. Itchy eyes. Achy body. Sinus pressure. Headache. Stuffy nose. All together lovely.

So I’m headed to bed a little early, getting some VERY important reading and writing done, and I’m SUPER PUMPED to tell you that the giveaway I have been hinting at for a month now is coming on MONDAY!! So make sure you head back this way and comment on the blog so you can possibly win. And bring all your friends- if ever a day to encourage your buddies to check out my blog, it’s MONDAY!!!

In the meantime, do you need something to do on Sunday? Ok, try this. The giveaway is from someone that I linked in my blogmies.

Good luck figuring it out.

And good luck not getting a cold. Please go wash your hands after reading this blog… I’ve sneezed more than once while writing this post and I would feel really bad if you caught this cold from me.

See you Monday!!

I mean, IF I was a lot younger …..

and IF he lived anywhere close ….

and IF I were a cartoon character ….

I would totally have a crush on Peter Pan.

For starters, Peter is funny. Really funny. I would even go so far as to say witty.

And he is quite caring. He saves Wendy’s life more than once, he rescues the Indian princess, and he is in charge of the care and protection of all those lost boys. Let’s be honest- he runs a missionary orphanage. That’s attractive.

He loves to listen to Wendy’s stories. That’s just such a nice gesture. I mean, they are all stories about Peter, but none the less.

He never worries. He just takes charge and handles the situation. Peter won’t be intimidated, either. “Bring it, Captain Hook. You don’t scare me.” He’s courageous- how many times does he get himself right in the thick of trouble and then poof, he’s out? Lots, I tell you. A little mind trickery, magic dust, and quick movements and he’s laughing all the way to the missionary orphanage.

He’s strong. He’s smart. He’s brave. He’s a dude’s dude, y’all. That’s all I’m saying.

Sure, there are the obvious drawbacks.

Yes, he wears tights. I understand that is not overly masculine. And this stance, ahem, doesn’t really scream manly. The entire outfit lacks some style. It’s not that he lacks flair, he’s got that. Just style. But who can blame him? He runs a MISSIONARY ORPHANAGE, people. His priority is not wearing the best cut jeans.

No, he doesn’t really have a steady job. And he’s pretty much known around the world for not wanting to grow up. Honestly, I can’t invest in that kind of guy at this point.

And he does carry a weapon, which always makes me feel a bit uncomfortable.

Then there is that Tinkerbell. Jealous little sprite. I seriously could not deal with that kind of co-dependence on a daily basis.

And, as previously mentioned, the biggest hurdle is that I’m not a cartoon.

So, I guess I just need to be realistic here. It would never work between us.

Well, another bites the dust. Sigh…..

[Yeah, you're right. This is ridiculous. I always crush on famous guys.]

now I’m on the phone with my favorite Athens family. So I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.