The Western Wind

On March 25^th 2009, I received one of the biggest honors that can be given to someone in the Southeast region, and that of course was being named East Nasty of the Week. It is hard to say what the best part of being given this great honor would be. I felt like it made me a little faster, food itself tasted a little better, and since then people seem to hold me in a little better esteem in their minds. But all those things aside, the best part about being named East Nasty of the Week was that I got interviewed by the one and only Annie Parsons.

Now you may know Annie from her fabulous blog Hootenannie, or you may know her from all the great write ups she did over at the East Nasty website, or maybe even you know her as the great songwriter/singer that she is, but I am here to tell you that she is even more than all of those parts combined. Although I did not get a chance to get to know Annie all that well last March, we luckily found out all our common bonds about one month before she moved out to Denver. Just to list off a few similar interests, we both have deep affection for: Indian Chicken Curry, Lost the television series, Orbit peppermint gum, and the positive (and tearful) stories from The Biggest Loser. From these common interests we built a strong bond that can easily out last the 1100 miles between Nashville and Denver.

The thing that has impressed me the most with Annie since I have gotten to know her is her innate ability to be 100% original and completely giving of herself at all times. I truly believe it is those qualities in her that make her blog so successful and for her to be such a loved friend by all of us who knew her here in Nashville. Her work as a writer inspired me to work even harder on my own blog, and that is yet another reason that she has made this list of top people that I met in 2009. She is very much missed by her friends here, but not to end on the negative note, at least we have her guaranteed return for the Country Music Half Marathon in April.

Favorite memory with Annie: Right before an East Nasty run on Wednesday night, realizing that we both loved chicken tikka masala. Our excitement behind this commonality was almost too much.