Just Say No

You know what I've never understood? Parking spot vultures. People who circle around and around the parking lot waiting for a close spot to open even though there are several mediocre spaces available. It's a tad ridiculous when a car will stop in the aisle and wait for another person to completely unload their shopping basket, put up the basket, get in their car, and then exit their parking space. First of all, you're blocking the flow of traffic. When you've got cars building up behind you it's time to let it go. Second, you could have just parked 50 feet further and walked; it would have been quicker. And what exactly is the point? ''I'm sure glad I got this close parking spot and didn't have to walk an extra 50 feet. Let's just forget about the fact that an extra 50 feet is pretty insignificant compared to the half a mile I'm about to walk through all the aisles at Wal-Mart.''

Just think about it next time you're tempted to circle the parking lot.

When Things Go Missing...

That would be a straw, a chip clip, and my flip flop that little Miss Layla has apparently claimed as her own and dragged into her den.

The Jones Removal

Everyone keeps asking me if I feel different after being married. The answer is: Not really. We’ve already made commitments to each other and started a life together; getting married just changed the legality of it.
 
Honestly, I think the hardest part has been the name change. It doesn’t help that employees at my job are referred to by last name only. Changing my standard phone call response to “Spring 2, this is Hall.” has resulted in many confused replies.  And my maiden name has been the origin of many nicknames: T. Jones, Jonsey, random outbursts of Mike Jones rap parodies (“Tara Jones: Who?? Tara Jones!!”) and even the name of this blog. Jones has become more than just a name; it has become interwoven in many different facets of my life.
 
I briefly considered hyphenating the names. I ultimately decided not to based on two things: 1. I didn’t want to offend Zach, and 2. My favorite number is 8 and Tara Hall is a perfectly balanced 8 letter name. I realize that #2 is ridiculous.
 
In coming to terms with my new handle, I’m using my innate ability to see things on the positive side. The name change is a symbol of the new chapter that I’m starting in my life: marriage. It’s time to part ways with the old and start on the new. Another upside: I’ve become ever-so-slightly more unique. A howmanyofme.com search for “Tara Jones” turns up 844 people, but there are only 293 “Tara Hall”s. And Jones isn’t gone forever; it’s still my maiden name.
 
But I refuse to change the name of my blog :)

Return to the Routine

On September 10th I was officially taken off of the market for good. In the months leading up to the wedding, my life was consumed with wedding/honeymoon planning. All extracurricular activities (including blogging) were put on hold. 

A quick shout out to all my readers - I'm backkkkk.