Joey | Joey Hodges Writes

Ignoring the life boat.

by Joey | Mar 3, 2014 | Throwback

It’s like I was sent a life boat and I turned it away because I was waiting for a miracle.

The life boat was the miracle.

I am afraid to go on road trips because I’m afraid of breaking down.

In the back of my head, I am angry that we aren’t in a position to just buy a new car.

So I can go and see my friends.

So I don’t have to hesitate.

So I don’t have to think about it.

What I have isn’t good enough.

That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. I have a car. It’s an old car, but I have a car. A car that has been taken care of. Sure, it’s had its stubborn moments, but I have a car.

Bear with me here a second.

My best friend lives 4 hours away. I have the blessing of a flexible schedule–but it’s been years since I’ve been to visit her (and some of those years she only live 1.5 hours away) because J’s busy working, and I was too afraid to make the trip alone. I was afraid to make the trip alone because what if I break down. I’m confessing something to you here–hold off on the judgment for a second if you can.

It’s not an excuse–it’s a real, true fear. But I allowed that fear to fester. And it’s gotten to a point that I stop myself from doing a lot of things because of that fear. It reminds me of when I said I couldn’t write a book until I got a new computer (that was 5 years ago…and I’m still using the same computer).

Spoiled Brat.

Before you click out, judging me, listen.

I have a point, I promise.

There was this overwhelming need to get out to SC this past weekend. Nothing was wrong. Everyone was well and they didn’t need my help per se with anything, but I felt this pulling on my heart. My friend asked me to come, and I was prepared to make my standard issued reply I can’t, J’s got work and you know my car. But I didn’t. I had anxiety the entire week leading up to Friday. I packed up the car and off I went. The 4 hour drive took 6. And I was in desperate need of a hug and a beer when I arrived, but my car made it just fine.

On Friday night, we sat next to a couple at the bar who I know we were just meant to meet and talk to.
On Saturday, I was able to witness Clay (Abby’s brother who has Wilson’s Disease, and who has been in a wheel chair unable to do anything for himself–eat, drink, swallow, walk, talk, etc since 2008) scoot his chair forward using only his feet for the first time. This was a moment that brought me to tears.
On Sunday, I met two young ladies who have an inspiring story of their adoption from Romania.
And the Sunday Service spoke right to my heart.

My point here is this.

I was absolutely meant to be in SC this past weekend.

It was important for me to get over that fear and just go.

To trust.

I have the tools. Use them.

Stop waiting for better ones.

I’m coffee deprived. So this post has no title.

by Joey | Feb 27, 2014 | Throwback

**FYI: the post I did on Monday (Stuff & Things) will become a link up on Thursday of next week with the darling Kristin! Be sure to join in on the fun!**

Somehow, I managed to give myself and my husband food poisoning on Tuesday night. Now, J has a stomach of steel so it didn’t hit him as hard, but I on the other hand was cursing myself all day yesterday. I know better and yet, I did it anyway. I’m so weird about chicken. I mean so weird, y’all! I had salmonella (collective ewwww from the crowd, if you will) when I was a Junior in HS and it was the worst thing ever. So I’m always so damn careful. But I got lazy on Tuesday. And I paid the price.

I spent the day on Wednesday (besides feeling sick) limping my way through re-writes and chatting with an old HS friend (who also happens to be the copyeditor for my book). I don’t know about you–but sometimes just reconnecting (I mean, really reconnecting, not just sending a friend request on FB so you can cyber stalk) with people from your past can be really refreshing. Sarah and I have been in touch for years now since HS, but we spent nearly the entire day talking–and it just made me miss her. She’s off chasing her dreams in CA now. So that’s pretty darn cool.

I haven’t made much time for TV lately. I watch The Bachelor (begrudgingly–I’ve already invested too much time not to finish out the season–but I kind of hate Juan Pablo). But otherwise, I have a hard time convincing myself to spend my time watching TV when I have so many books to read. But by the end of the day yesterday, I could hardly think straight–so I finally jumped on the Scandal train. HOLY FREAKING COW. That’s all I’ll say about that.

It’s a gorgeous day out today, so I’m about to snap a leash on the dog and go for a long walk to get some fresh air before I tackle another day of re-writes! Happy Thursday, friends!

Fifteen Minutes Changed Everything

by Joey | Feb 25, 2014 | Throwback

I was working really late hours at a bar.

I mean, really really late hours.

Sometimes I wouldn’t get home until 3 or 4 in the morning

And then I’d be up and out the door for 8 AM classes the next day.

I couldn’t keep up.

So my roommate at the time suggested I apply to the rug store where she was working. It seemed like a pretty grown up job, and I knew nothing about rugs–but I figured I’d give it a go.

I got dressed nice, printed off my resume and drove the fifteen minutes up the mountain into Blowing Rock on that misty February morning. I was so nervous. I really needed the job.

I walked in the big glass door and was overwhelmed with the scent of…rugs. I can’t describe it per se–think your grandparents house mixed with latex. I trotted to the back desk where I found an adorable brunette seated behind a big oak desk. I knew who she was before she even said a word. I’d been hearing stories about these people for the near year I’d been living with my roommate.

I explained who I was and what I was there for, and she flashed a smile and told me the manager was in the office on a call but that she’d pass my resume along.

What came out of my mouth next might have changed everything for me. It was important for me to give my resume to the manager directly. “I’ll wait.”

So the girl and I chatted. In only a few minutes, I learned a lot about her: her love for Greenville, SC. A church she loved. Her obsession with anything Starbucks. Excitement and kindness radiated out of her. As I sat on that uncomfortable couch and she rolled rugs for a new display, I felt something shifting. I didn’t have many close friends. And the ones I did have were from when I was young. I wasn’t familiar with the feeling. You know the one–where you immediately like someone and want to know everything about them.

When something went wrong in the hiring process, those 15 minutes I’d spent with Abby made all the difference. She went to bat for me. And I was offered the job. A job that changed everything for me.

A lot happened in the two years Abby and I worked together. Including, but not limited to: having a maniac manager fired. Having that maniac manager show up unexpected at the store threatening us which resulted in us having to call the police. Running the entire store together for an entire summer while we were in between managers (we weren’t even 21 yet)! Playing epic games of hide and go seek on slow Sundays. But most importantly, I made a friend whom I would come to rely on so much.

In the last eight years we’ve gone through a lot together. Her brother was diagnosed with Wilson’s Disease. I graduated and moved away. She painfully and bravely ended a relationship. We celebrated engagements. She moved to Greenville, SC. And we stood beside each other at our weddings.

And late this summer, she’ll have a little one who will call me Aunt Jo.

All because I waited fifteen minutes.

Love you abs.

Stuff & Things

by Joey | Feb 24, 2014 | Throwback

Yo, Kristin. Why haven’t you made this a link up yet?

–As a kid, I had zero patience for the game Tetris. This poses a problem for me as an adult. How do I know this? My husband always rearranges the dishwasher after me.

–Everyone is all I hate this and I hate that and these are the rules for blogging and I’m just over here dancing in the corner inhaling a cupcake and throwing glitter.

–A friend from HS made this comment on Friday’s post. And the more I think about it the harder I laugh.

–I am pretty sure I have to eliminate coffee from my diet. At least for a little while. The ugly truth is the price I pay to drink it every morning without a gall bladder is really just not worth it. Tell me about your favorite teas and how you drink them–if you would.

–I’m going to visit my best friend this weekend. She felt it necessary to send this text.

Pssshhh. As if I wouldn’t 🙂

Keeping things real.

by Joey | Feb 21, 2014 | beauty, Loves, Real Life

POLISHES USED:

sinful colors mesmerize

pure ice watch me go

revlon top speed 555 orchid thank you Bailey!

wet & wild megalast silver lake

**I used a dotting tool for the flower detail**

I was on the phone with my mom last week, and she actually asked me if when I do nail art if I do it on both hands. I do. I always do. But it never really occurred to me to share pictures of my right hand. Painting with my left hand (my non-dominant hand) isn’t easy for me. And while I always do the art on both–it obviously comes out better on my left. It’s also shockingly difficult for me to photograph my right hand without it coming out all blurry! Apparently my left hand is very shaky! haha!

But just for good measure: here is my right hand.