Thank You...

...Abc Family.

For reminding me how big a nerd I am.

I mean what is it with the cheesy, admittedly obvious plot-lines that suck me in every single year? I mean, sure, I know there isn't a real Santa Claus anymore, but does that stop me from spending a good portion of my Monday knitting(!) and watching a watered down "love" story of a young Santa, his missing reindeer, and the girl of his dreams?

The answer is an emphatic: no.

And the sad/silly/embarrassing part is that I like it. I like it a lot.

I mean, really. It is a made for TV movie. The cinematography isn't something to write home about either. But- I have watched this movie every single year since it came out. And none of those facts seem to sway my made-for-TV-movie choosing. I blame you, Tom Cavanaugh. You and your one-liner that gets me every single time.

And to add insult to injury, I pull into the driveway tonight as Delilah has deejayed me all the way home from yoga, only to sadly turn off my car as one of my favorite seasonal songs (and I seriously mean favorite...sigh) by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers came on the radio.

So, I reluctantly lowered my head, went inside, and hummed the song to myself as I made some dinner.

Oh man. The things Christmas does to me.

Ahhh. A break.

And thus, we begin a little story about Thanksgiving break...

Having an entire week off of work has proved to be a very, very wonderful thing. There has been a lot of the above picture going on. Lots of sitting. Lots of reading. Lots of TV watching. Knitting. Coffee sipping. Eating. Friend enjoying. It has been good.


At one point, a few of us met up at a local park and had a friendly little football game. Here you will notice David working his wondrous skills in dog whispering and Shannon's evidence of a strong "push" from a certain Mike Carr as she battled for a first down.

The weather was truly perfect to play football in. Afterwards, we went out for lunch and I didn't realize until later that we spent a good couple hours just sitting around talking. I love it when that happens. I mean, I was probably captivating everyone with my great charm and humor...of course time would pass that easily ;)

[Seriously though...shouldn't every meal be enjoyed like that?]

I don't have any pictures of Thanksgiving day (lame), but it was a very enjoyable one. David, Courtney (my flatmate), Brenton, Mike, and I spent the day gorging on a breakfast feast. You would have thought we were cooking for a multitude of people. We had homemade pancakes, grits, bacon (which caught on fire at one point), eggs, strawberries, pears...and the list goes on. Three cheers for us for cooking an incredible breakfast. I found myself so thankful for the abundance of food and community that I have been overwhelmingly blessed with. Such a gift. The rest of the day consisted of a walk around the neighborhood, some Boggle playing, catching up over coffee/Whataburger, and laughing at YouTube videos. Oh, how I love me some SNL, folks.

Today the flatmate and I ventured out in search of a small addition of holiday cheer. We began at Home Depot where we looked around at those great smelling trees we throw in our homes this time of year. After surveying the scene, we decided to head over to the competition after grabbing some cider from the 'bucks. And while at Lowe's, my friends, we found it...

This little guy found his way all the way to our humble abode.

And I think it looks great. Courtney and I are only going to be around for about three more weeks in our house here in Texas. So while we're around, we've got a little extra holiday fun in the house. Niiiice.

Tomorrow it's back to work. Two more full weeks and a wedding thrown in there and then it's off for another break. I'll be heading to NC for Christmas and I'm looking forward to it. But for now, I'm thankful for the holiday that just passed. Now on to some more knitting...

Words that I dislike.

As I was moving about the house on this glorious Saturday, my mind went to a few different words in the English language. I'm not quite sure how my train of thought found its way to this topic, but it was somewhere between my laundry doing and a hot cup of tea that I began thinking about these words. A very specific grouping of words. I'd like to call this group "words that I hate."

Maybe hate is the wrong word here, but I have a handful of words where upon auditory consumption I can't help but to find myself in a state of what one my call "cringing." Here are a few that came to mind:

*fester

*up-chuck

*oleander

*developing

I know, I know. Having an allergic reaction to specific words isn't exactly what I'm talking about here. Well, maybe. I will just say that when I hear people say "Wow. That wound is really starting to fester" OR "Is that up-chuck I see on the floor" OR (to a poor, unsuspecting middle school girl...generally from her parentals) "Aww, honey. You're just developing" I do have to hold back a laugh, a shudder, or a simple gag.

How about you? Any words that bother you?

Rock the Vote: 2008

Big things going down today, people.

We are having a kid's election today at work. My fellow coworker has crafted a ballot box out of an old Dunder-Mifflin container with the pictures of McCain, Obama, and a few "your vote counts" phrases.

The voting will take place at breakfast and at two different lunch periods. Nick and I will be posted at a folding table in the foyer of the dining hall.

RULES:

• No double voting. (you two-timer)
  
• No auctioning off your vote. (ebay, anyone?)
  
• You are allowed to write in a candidate. (and yes, Angelina Jolie counts)
  
• No Sarah Palin raps (unless you are, in fact, Amy Poehler)

Come one. Come all.

THE VIDEO THAT MADE MY DAY:

Seasons

"Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each."

HENRY DAVID THOREAU

Life and its seasons. It rains. The sun shines. The waves come and go. Happiness and sadness. I have always found life funny in how one minute we are praising the days of sun because that situation fits in well with our plans and then cursing another day when rain clouds send a foreboding message for us to take cover.

I appreciate Henry David Thoreau's thoughts this evening. I am going to try and breathe the air of this week.



Seasons (and the changing of the seasons) have always been some of my favorite things. I loved growing up in a place where I was able to spend ample time withing each of the four. I enjoy summer most of all, but I truly love when the heat gives way and allows for the leaves to make their way slowly to the ground. And when snow begins to silently cover those leaves, I can't help but to appreciate the peacefulness it brings. However, when the chill starts to break and the green begins to surface from the earth, I almost feel a breath of fresh air fill my lungs again.

I am so grateful that the Lord gave us a tangible representation for different seasons that come and go in our own lives. I have wonderful, close friends of mine that are enduring and dealing with their own changing seasons this go-around. And I'm encouraged tonight that even as our weather, our situations, and our feelings change day to day...moment to moment...that a new season will also show its face at some point. Regardless of the outcome, good or bad, I am just grateful for the newness I can embrace in that.

2, 4, 6, 8...

So, I don't really know how to say this, but...ummm...I'm an honorary member of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

And I really don't know how this all happened. Well, I guess I do. I'll try to explain.

Okay, working at a camp I meet a lot of people throughout the year. I mean lots. And I guess if any of us sat down and actually thought about the amount of campers we teach during a year, the number of times we chant the words of boom-chicka-boom, and the numerous nights we come home smelling like campfire, we would all be pretty overwhelmed at the stats.

This week was no different. More schools coming in. More songs to be sung. More knowledge to be imparted. A lady came up to me at breakfast and asked me where the lost and found was located and I answered like usual. Except I thought she looked familiar. Probably just a teacher coming back for another year at camp.

Except she wasn't a teacher. She was a familiar face, though. And it wasn't until my friend (who will remain unnamed for the sheer fact of embarrassment that might be caused from divulging how he knew it was her) pointed out that she was the director of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleading squad that I got it. Noted. That's her.

So, I had to tell her. I had to tell the Director that as a child, I thought when people said you could be anything when you grew up, that literally meant anything. I thought you could become a horse, a boy, a teacher, a cheerleader and when my sister and I started receiving a monthly magazine known as Sports Illustrated for Kids (complete with a poster of famous athletes each month) I decided for a brief period in time that I'd like to be a cheerleader. I don't remember how this decision came about for me as a young six year old, but I do know it happened. Through the course of my time at Sky Ranch I believe that morphed into my wanting to become, specifically, a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. Thanks to all those campfires where I was asked to display my best high-kick. Sheesh.

So tell her I did. I tried to be cool. I felt a bit awkward, let's be honest. However, we chatted for a brief moment and then I left her to be with her campers for the week. Let her work while she's at work and play while she's at camp.

The morning before they left, I was called into a teacher meeting with a guest that had an issue with their stay. My co-worker Nick and I walked in to the meeting and the director was there. In my mind I was thinking: "What the crap happened to make her stay this bad??? She's not even a teacher with this school!" And then I saw it. A certificate. With my name on it...

All's to say I am now officially an honorary member of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. That's right. Ms. Kelli Finglass offered me a hug, a certificate, and is sending me a "box of goodies" complete with the official pom-poms of the DCC (I can abbreviate it now). And she was really, really nice. Not at all like CMT portrays her to be...

So don't make fun of my coach :)

Beck would be proud.

Well, I accidentally posted and I can't figure out how to delete said post. However, this definitely cements me in to come back and write a little something to explain such a title...

Hope your interest in peaked.

Hello, again.

Guess who's back. Back again. (Guess who's back, guess who's back...)

Well, here we are folks. The Roman calendar1 has quietly communicated to me that it is already the mid-end part of September and I simply can't believe how fast time has been moving lately. And just as a recap, I really had a wonderful summer. I couldn't be happier with how things turned out; the people I was able to see, places I was able to visit, the laughter I was blessed to enjoy...

And now I'm back. Back in Texas. Back to my home, my friends I've missed, and a job that is off and going. Here's a little summary, for your reading pleasure, about what has been going on as of late.

The back-porch: The quaint, screened-in back-porch at mine and Courtney's house has been seeing a lot more action this year. This lovely place has proved to be the ending spot of most days. There has been something so relaxing and enjoyable about sitting out there lately. The mixture of friends, rest, and a visible sign of the day's closure has been gladly welcomed. So, yes. The back-porch has been a gracious host for wonderful late night conversations, a cool breeze, a good glass of wine, and a few games of DDM.

The work: There has been a refreshing, good start to work this season. We have a much larger staff than we've ever had in the past. We finished up our first full-week of work this past semana and I left the office on Friday feeling happy. I am just so blown away by the faithfulness I've been so lucky to watch when it comes to our staff and our department. Faithfulness in watching a fabulous staff, with amazing attitudes, great humor, good hearts, and a lightness I haven't felt in a while. I'm looking forward to the year.

The campers: Holy moly. The hilarity is back. I asked one of my classes this week to share with me what their own definition of "challenging" would be. One boy quite promptly responded with "Girls. Girls are challenging." And then later this week I had another boy tell me about his heartbreaking relationship saga that ended at his four years of age, but that he quickly got over during his 17 hour car ride to his new state that he moved to. "Yeah, I'm dating around, you know. I'm ten years old." Oh- and let's not forget the boy who wanted me to call him "Godzilla" and his detailed explained of his birth. "Yeah, you need to know that I wasn't born in a hospital. I was born in a bathroom. You need to know that it wasn't in the toilet. Oh and my mom didn't know; she thought she had to go number 2. Oh. And you need to know that I was on the news for it." Atta way fifth graders. I salute you.

What I'm doing right now: So, here I am enjoying the Packers vs. the Cowboys with my friend Drew after a nice, little dinner. I am excited that fall is around the corner and that football season is here. I know there are going to be frustrating times ahead, good times ahead...I anticipate that. But right now, I'm going to enjoy my Sunday evening, try to finish knitting a scarf, and then sleep to dream.

Hope you are well, too. :)



1 Thank you, David Lankford, for your knowledge that far surpasses Cha-Cha any ole' day.

Mean Jean's (and the tales of a fair trade coffee shop)

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time."
-John Lubbock

So, summer is still moving. And I'm still liking it...a lot. There has been a good mix of work and rest and I would have to agree with Mr. Lubbock and say it has by no means been a waste of time.

After lunch today, a few friends and I went into Lake City to run some errands for camp. If you've never made it to Lake City, CO I'll try and paint a little picture for you. Imagine a town surrounded by mountains on all sides, no chain restaurants - just local eateries and shops, a small park, a movie theater showing one show, and people walking everywhere as they leave their cars unlocked as they head towards the San Juan Soda Fountain for some ice cream. Quaint, cool, and what you generally think of when you think of a small Colorado town.

While running these errands around town we were able to stop and grab some ice cream and head over to the new coffee shop that has made its way into this small city. Mean Jean's is the name. Before Mean Jean's opened up there was only one other coffee shop that hailed caffeine lovers through its doors: Mocha Moose. Mocha Moose doesn't allow cell phones or computers (which is all well and good), however Mean Jean's allows both and offers a few other awesome things as well. Get ready: fair trade, organic coffee, drinks, and food and the shop is run by a 20 year old girl and her family as they, together, help this 20 year old follow her dream of owning her own coffee shop. Way cool. While I was talking to Hannah Jean today, I couldn't help but think of what I'd like my coffee shop to look like if I were to own one (and I'd really, really like to one day). So here are my ideas, thoughts, things I would enjoy about a coffee shop...and if you steal them I will find you and take you out:

*fair trade- I would love it if the food that was sold, coffee that was served, and any other items that were offered went to the people and communities that supplied and created them.

*community/cultural development- Trailing off from fair trade (and more of a bigger dream), I'd love to be connected to a people group or community that the coffee shop could support. (i.e. helping and connecting with specific regions and people that could gain more knowledge about creating sustainable living, better homes, communities, etc for themselves...whatever that looks like)

*meeting new people daily, interacting with regulars, and building relationships that way

*decorating and creating a place where people feel at home, at ease, and comfortable

*coming up with new drinks/bakery type stuff

*hopefully bringing more life to a community or at least become another resource for people

There's much more that's run through my head, but those are just a few things/reasons that came to mind, again, after chatting with Ms. Mean Jean herself.

So, yeah. There it is for what it's worth. Here's to small town's like Lake City that remind me what it's like to slow down, just a bit, and enjoy what summer there is left.

And I gladly stand up...next to you...

Happy fourth, everyone! I hope this finds everyone well and ready to devour some watermelon, enjoy fireworks, and indulge in lots of laughter.

I'm spending my fourth this year at Cave Springs in good ole' Quapaw, Oklahoma. Right now, I'm hanging out in the camp office with my new friend Erica. We're listening to music, chattin', and swatting at any fly that comes within a 1/2 inch radius of us. We had riblet sandwiches1 for lunch.

Well, the red-white-and blue paraphernalia is up all around camp and the prep for the fireworks show later tonight is mostly ready to go. I think we'll be having the show near the springs on camp, but I'm not sure. Maybe not. I should probably know that. American flags are lining the walkway into the office and campers are decked out in the most decorative color-scheme they could put together. Much of which consists of some type of beadery they received from a parental through the postal service. I believe we are ordering in some fried chicken, pizza, and all the fixins' for tonights celebration. I'm excited about that.

I head to Colorado on Sunday and I am looking forward to that trip a lot. I am looking forward to walking through the airport, sleeping on the plane, reading, and just traveling. And I'm excited to reunite with some top-notch friends. Here we go Rockies, here we go...

Happy 4th!

1 - Meaning PB sandwiches for us.

El Verano

Hey- maybe I should update. Yes? No? I am. Deal with it.

Well, summer is moving quickly. I've said this before, but I'll say it again just to make it official: summer is my favorite season of the year. There's always so much to look forward to. I love the warmer weather, the smaller amount of clothing I have to wear, 4th of July, swimming, grilling out...the whole works. And I really love that I'm in the environment where I get to enjoy most of this season outside. (Where you all should be).


Oklahoma has proved to be my home-base for most of the summer and I would have to say I've enjoyed this place even more than I thought I would. My first few weeks here were scattered with lots of mullets, braided mullets, funny children, camp, and bbq joint's/casinos/gas stations. And yes, the / indicates that those three things were all located in one place. And by one place, I mean the same building...just separated by a few doors. It was also in these first few weeks that I broke my year(s)-long record of not eating at a McDonald's. To add insult to injury, we realized there was a Subway in our small little town just 5 minutes down the road. We never knew.

Now I type from the comfortable, log-cabin type office at our summer camp in Quapaw. Even as I sit here just thinking about how fast summer has gone by, I can't help but to also realize how good it has been. And as I quietly sit here for a few moments today, I feel gently reminded of how my plans aren't necessarily the ones I need...and from this chair...what I truly want. It's so funny how we come up with these extravagant ideas and thoughts about how things should go only to come out on the other end more thankful that we could've imagined.

So for now, I'll leave this chair and head on over to a cabin and have a chat with some excited campers. And then I'll play Mission Impossible. And maybe Gypsy* will paint my face like an "Indian" again. Who knows.



*Gypsy is the name of one of the girl campers this week. Last night we had Girl's night and she asked if she could paint my face. She told me it was a surprise and that when I looked in the mirror to "think Indian." Oh man.

Tan lines and Burdens...

Well, friends...another season of OE is coming to a close and I find myself anticipating the last day of our very busy year (which just happens to be tomorrow). As I write, I am joined this evening by a bowl of vanilla ice cream and dark-chocolate chips, funny conversations with my roommate, and the tunes of today's top 40 hits. I'm inspired.

This week has been really odd, but funny at the same time. We've had lots of day groups in at camp which generally equals out to lots of high ropes activities, challenges, channel 3 radio conversation, and a whole bunch of pool time. Luckily, I'm certified in all the right ways to see that these things are carried out in a safe and enjoyable manner.

Last night was my last night to be at work for the year. I had the pleasure of joining the legend, Grandpa, and the newly retired, Courtney Wilson in leading some 4th graders in a "life-size version of Clue!!!" and the life-changing, not quite volleyball game, known as Nuke 'em. There are some unspoken rules within our OE department and one of those rules is that when running a night of Clue/Games, Grandpa runs Clue. Don't question this; it works. So that left Courtney and I to battle the sand courts and teach these students how Nuke 'em is played. We split the campers into groups (boys and girls) and we start off with the boys at games. Courtney and I are quite convincing as we explain the rules to this sacred game and off they go. Sand flies, sweat pours, and our authority as Nuke 'em connoisseurs is challenged. One boy in particular (we'll call him Bradley) confronts me after a certain call I made. I promptly point out to him that in the rule book, on page 2, that he can find said rule documented. He's not convinced and then proceeds to tell the rest of the team, that I am a part of, to "GET HER OUT! SHE IS A BURDEN!!!!" Oh man, I am laughing even now. 4th graders are hilarious.

My day today consisted of facilitating some type of flag football game??? I still don't get it all. However, it was fun. Lots of sun that contributed to my uneven tan lines. My arms appear to have a gradual increase in tan, thus creating a series of lines from my hands to my shoulders. Fabulous.

Tomorrow is technically the last day of the season and I plan on celebrating. That's right. I'm going swimming and you're invited. We even have a trapeze.

What really is a Chaparral? (and other things I'm still learning)

There have been so many things I've learned since moving to Texas. Important things like pick-up trucks being the main source of transportation -- the ability to consume salsa out of your OWN dish at mexican restaurants -- and then there's new words like "janky" and "chaparral" that have slipped into my vocabulary courtesy of my environment. Let's be honest, I've maybe used the word "chaparral" a handful of times, but besides hearing about it from the book Lonesome Dove and reading it off the sign for a two-stepping club off of I-20, I had know idea what a chaparral* was. More on that later.

My sister graduated college last weekend. I was able to take a few days off of work and head on over to Tennessee for such a celebration. I flew in late one night and stayed until the weekend was over. I really enjoy visiting and hanging out with my younger sibling and this time was no different. There were bouts of singing, dancing, really good conversation, watching Juno, shopping, laughing, and all those wonderful thing sisters are blessed to do with one another. I found myself the night before her graduation writing her a card and realizing how much growth she's had over these past four years. My sister is a phenomenal human being and I am continually encouraged by her love and service for others. Big life moments like her graduating college really allowed me the chance to stop and take in all that she's done. Our mom came in the next day for the actual graduation and joined in on the festivities and then that Saturday, we took a trip over to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, TN. Dolly Parton's hometown. I am enjoying my family more and more as time goes on.

This past weekend was full of a whirlwind of activities. On Friday night, a few of us from our department had our end-of-the-year staff party at an all you can eat catfish restaurant (booyah!) and then took part in some wonderful games at none other than FIRE MOUNTAINNNNNN! Try saying that in your best "Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!" voice. Entertainment for hours. I felt like a little kid because all day I couldn't stop thinking about the chance I would get to ride the bumper boats. I was not let down. I feel like this has been a very quick (overall), good, challenging year for our department. I've been getting quite nostalgic over the past few days just thinking about the people I've been so blessed to have spent time with over this past year. We all have lots of fabulous memories and stories that could probably serve as the next New York Times #1 Bestseller if written down. I've been thinking about these times and then I get nervous about what's the come for this next year. I'm excited, but anxious to see how it all goes down.

One of my dear friends, Jansen, had a surprise birthday party last night. Full of yelling (on his part), eating, slap-bracelets, and good times on the dock of the Binder house. We'd all been good secret keepers about this impending party over the past week and we were finally able to see it through last night. He was surprised. We win. We all ended up on the dock after I caught everyone a delicious dinner full of catfish (ahem...sike!) and then the spontaneity happened. We decided to go two-stepping at this really shady dance club that we pass most every day on our way to work. Usually when these kinds of ideas get tossed around, a lot of us punk out based on our ability to stay awake past 10:30pm. However, last night was different. A bunch of our staff stayed out dancing til early in the morning and it was some of the most unexpected fun I'd had in a while. I'm almost positive I said the phrase "I love dancing" about 83 times. I didn't grow up two-stepping in the mountains of NC, but I absolutely loved taking part in yet another Texas tradition. So here's to dancing, friends, and me getting sentimental once again.

*Main Entry: chap·ar·ral

Pronunciation: \ˌsha-pə-ˈral, -ˈrel\

Function: noun

Etymology: Spanish, from chaparro dwarf evergreen oak, from Basque txapar

Date: 1845

1: a thicket of dwarf evergreen oaks; broadly : a dense impenetrable thicket of shrubs or dwarf trees

Blogging ADD

Lately, lately...

My apologies for taking so long to post.

Lots of things have been going on and there are lots of things that will be going on in the near future. Good stuff. Let's see. I will begin with last weekend. We'll call this part Dallas.

DALLAS
So last Friday, a few close compadres and I embarked on a journey to the large metropolis known as Dallas, TX. We had been planning/talking about making a trip over there off and on for a while now. You see...my dear friend Rachel has a wonderful, welcoming family (the Rhea's) that reside in this town and they have hosted us many a time before. They are always so good to let us enjoy their company, relax on their couch, consume their patented Rhea family coffee (known to us as "mmmm...FLAVIA!!!"), and basically let us take part in a quick vacay from our East Texas lives. This was one of those planned activities that carries you on through the week.

Our trip to Dallas once again proved to be brilliant. The first night there, we all trekked over to a local sushi restaurant (my first time ever eating sushi!) and took part in some fabulous cuisine. I have always wanted to try legit sushi and for whatever reason I haven't been able to accomplish this goal until last weekend. And the verdict is in: I really like sushi. The Rheas let all of us first-timers try some typical sushi rolls that people order and then let us choose our favorite from there. It was such a fun night. Pairing good food with great people is one of my favorite things that I feel blessed enough to enjoy on a pretty frequent basis.

The rest of the weekend consisted of sleeping in, hot-tubbing at all hours of the day, drinking more coffee, good conversation and shopping. Oh, let's talk about the shopping. I am absolutely blown away by the shopping options in Dallas. I literally felt ignorant, and somewhat out of place, walking around the mall and seeing all the shops I did. Now don't get me wrong, I really don't mind my ignorance in this facet, but it was just humorous to traipse around and realize how much I haven't been exposed to...in the world of malls. Asheville has all your staple stores: Gap, Old Navy (newly added), American Eagle, your typical department stores, Target (separate location), and a few fun ones on the side. Once viewing such stores like The United Colors of Benneton, Coach, Louis Vutton, Sephora, BCBG, Betsy Johnson, Versace, Gucci...I was floored. All the designers were out to play in Dallas. And play they did. I just sat the bench.

Before we left, we all traveled to Denton for an outdoor jazz festival! I loved it! Outdoors+music= good combo. Being at the festival provided a nice dose of reality to my life. There were all sorts of people there from all sorts of backgrounds enjoying all sorts of food at the same place. That kind of diversity was refreshing in and of itself.

Great weekend that started my week off to a great start. Next week I'll be traveling to Tennessee to celebrate my sister's graduation! I am looking forward to having some quality time with her. I'm sure by this time next week, we will have had numerous dance parties, conversations, and laughs. Lauren (the sister), my mom, and I plan to make a stop by Gatlinburg, TN on our way into Asheville to do some hanging out. I'm looking forward to it.

That's what has been going on! Today I plan to call some friends back, do some reading, and possibly make another trip to the laundry mat. Oh yes.

Post Script

I received a letter in the mail this past week from one of my good college friends who goes by the name of Helen. Helen lives in the state of Arizona now and I live deep in the heart of Texas. She and I both worked at Outdoor Adventures, the outdoorsy part of our Campus Recreation Department. I did the marketing and she ran the trips. One of the best jobs I've ever had. We have done a wonderful job of playing phone tag and having scattered calls here and there since we graduated, but it wasn't until the New Year that we decided upon a new means of communication.

Letter writing.

Oh yes.

Writing letters is one of the best and most fun ways to communicate. With pen and paper being one of the new, up-and-coming ways to keep in touch, I'm hoping to use it for what its worth. I mean, really. How exciting is it to walk in the door and see a letter, not some Visa credit card application, but a real-live, from an actual person letter waiting for you?!? I'll tell you how exciting...way exciting.

This letter was a step beyond the normal letter sending. I walked away with some personal SWAG. A new sticker to put on my Nalgene, Mapquest directions from here to AZ, and a newly burned CD!!! Nobody burns CDs anymore! What's up with that?!? I acquired a mix of tunes from the likes of Nickel Creek, Mos Def, Joni Mitchell, John Denver, Ben Harper, Phish, Dave Matthews, and a little bit of T-Pain. Booyah!

So if you're wanting to contact me these days, don't go the cell phone/email route. I'll be waiting with my pen, paper, and a good 'ole stamp from the U S of A.

Bees, Backpacking, Battlestar Gallactica

Having two days off from work has been absolutely phenomenal. Glorious, even. I think my body has had an overload of Twinings English Breakfast tea and the proper dosage of staying up late and sleeping in. I feel young again.

My days are kind-of running together at this point, but one morning I found myself completely sucked in to some show on the Travel Channel. Okay...seriously, that channel is addictive. Before I knew what was happening, I was taken on a tour of Italy. Sipping coffee out of miniature cups, tossing coins in the Trevi fountain, and "getting drunk while having my shoulders rubbed"...(recent joke made by the great, David Lankford...ask me for the story). Yes, that's right. All this from the location of my living room. It was amazing. And I place all blame on extended-basic cable. Watching a show about a foreign country is absolutely inspiring. Watching the "travel-channel-lady" maneuver about the city made me want to be there so bad. Having gone to Africa this past summer and to Mexico a few summers back, I had reminiscent feelings of what it's like to get out and travel. I miss it and my travels weren't even that long ago.

When I graduated college, I set a goal for myself. Each year, my aim is to visit at least one place I've never been to before. Of course, I would love for that place to be over the pond or in some other country, but even if I'm able to explore another state...that's what I'm going for. I've stuck to this goal so far. One thing I really gained from my trip to Kenya was the realization that our world is relatively small. You can get to another country within a days travel. I am humbled by the interdependence we have with one another. (That one sentence is worth another post at a later time). No matter if I'm from East Texas or East Africa. I believe that one of the most addicting parts of traveling is the interaction you have with everyday people. There's something about those small encounters that increase your awareness about yourself and the world you're apart of. Addictive...just like dark chocolate.

So, bees. I had lunch today with my some friends. $5.95 soup, salad, and bread-sticks at The Olive Garden. Italian food. I'm telling you...I was seriously influenced by the Travel Channel. On the drive there I heard this buzzing in my car. I couldn't tell if there was a bee stuck in one of my air vents or if this life-draining insect was flying around the car unnoticed. The sound dwindled for a few moments, but quickly resurfaced almost as if the bee was eavesdropping on our current conversation about him/her. To make this short story, shorter...the bee was in my pants! Exclamation mark and all. I have had a bee stuck in my hair before, but never my pants. I mean, what do you really do? I took the wheel at 10 and 6 and whipped into a local gas station and thought I was going to have to drop my pants right then and there. However, I was able to release this animal of venom successfully out of my pants and back into the only part of the world it belongs to. Sheesh.

Battlestar Gallactica. I'm not quite sure if anyone really knows what Battlestar Gallactica is. Anyone besides sci-fi loving kiddos(to each his own), but all I know is that it reminds me of The Office. And we have 9 more days, count 'em, 9 until we are graced once again by Jim Halpert, "that's what she said" jokes, and inappropriate watermarks.

I can't wait.



Trevi Fountain

Last Wash - 9:30

And it begins. The time has come for me to try out this whole blogging thing. That's right. I have a blog name, a template, and a first post I'm working on. Check me out. Really, it's quite funny how indecisive I've been about this whole thing. I mean, this will be read by loads of people so it's only normal that I be on top of my game. Here we go...

The laundry mat has become a common staple in my life. My awareness of how many quarters I have in my wallet has increased dramatically, as well as the income that the local Starbucks makes from such ventures (that is ever-so-conveniently located next to said laundry mat). My roommate are lucky enough to have a dryer at our house, but unfortunately the mate to this machine is still on a hiatus. There are, of course, times in which I wish I had a washing machine at my house. You know, the whole "love/hate" deal. However, days like today make me thankful that this modern day luxury is a 10 minute drive away.

Reason #1- Why I love the laundry mat: People watching. Today there was an old man walking in behind me with a tattered, 80's style baseball cap on carrying a tin cup with some change in it that followed along beside him as he slowly made his way inside. I held the door open for him and he muttered something I couldn't really hear or understand, but it was enough to make me laugh. And as I was leaving with my 23,409,238 pounds worth of wet clothes, a nice long-haired man opened the door for me so I could successfully exit this stain-free mecca. Somehow these constant visits connect me back to the community I live in. And I like that.

Reason #2- Why I love the laundry mat: Starbucks is next-door. During this 24 minute wait, I can walk over and grab a cup 'o joe (more like hot tea these days) and take some time to relax and catch my breath. I love this time because it gives me a chance to read, write, or catch up with people. Today I was on the phone and trying to pour some honey in my tea when the top ex-PLOded into my cup, spilling all over the table, and partly on my legs. I was able to get another cup of tea and the barista told me he didn't think he'd trust me with the honey bottle again.

So here's to laundry mats and missing washer and dryer sets!

I hope this first post worked its charm.