Driving, surrounded by mountains and trees

Today was good.
It was mostly uneventful, but really nice.
And so I will tell all about it, complete with beautiful, mundane details.

I woke up lazily, rolled out of the daybed in Dana's magic attic, climbed into the rocking chair and lolled around on the computer for a while.
I got cleaned up, and called an old college friend who lives near Dana's folks.
Dana and I went on a consumer mission, and I found excellent deals on memory (card for camera and stick for computer).
We had lunch from the Sheetz, which I have to say is just as exciting as I had heard. That ordering kiosk is fancy.
Then I put practically my whole computer on my newly acquired flash/jump/thumb drive.
Mid-afternoon, I headed out of Roanoke on I-81 North, hit I-66 East, and drove curvy, hilly roads passing numerous cows.
On the drive, I listened to Ben Kweller and Ben Lee. (I decided that the Bens -- Lee, Kweller, Folds, and perhaps Harper -- should get together and have some collaborative efforts. If they already have and I am oblivious to the existence of what is no doubt magical music, someone had better clue me in.)
I also utilized some drive time to call some friends. It's always good to catch up with folks, and it's especially nice when you are making plans to see them soon.
At some point, the sky started to darken as the sun set, and the mountains and the clouds began to blend together. I love that. I stopped at a rest area, ran across the parking lot, jumped on top of a picnic table and got some photo documentation of the blending.
I stopped at Target. I heart Target. I bought some champagne, a purple table runner (on clearance after xmas), and some Cheerios.
I proceeded to Beth and Kevin's house in Springfield, the next stop on my journey. Beth is all pregnant and gorgeous and lovely. And I get to hear her preach in the morning.
I drank the rest of their milk with my ham sandwich, so I went out to the grocery store while Kevin went to bed and Beth set out to finish her sermon. I bought the milk, and picked up more champagne. (I really like champagne, so I might be a little extra excited about New Year's Eve tomorrow.)
And now, I'm sitting in the papasan in Kevin's lime green office while Beth types away, listening to Christian music.

I love this roadtrip so far. It was a very good idea.
This morning, Dana and I counted up all the people on my "to see" list and I had at least 19 people on there from several categories/arenas of my life -- Candler people, college friends, high school friends, and relatives (both mine and those of my friends).
The stops on my whirlwind week and a half adventure include:
Roanoke, VA
Lexington, VA
Springfield, VA
Middleburg,VA
my aunt's house in Maryland just north of DC
Richmond, VA
Greensboro, NC
Mooresville, NC
(possibly Raliegh, NC)
and Lancaster county, SC
Then back to the ATL.

I really love Atlanta, and I am glad my parents live closer to Charleston and the ocean now, but there is just something about the mountains. You know on those old profile emails that used to go around like crazy, one of the questions was usually "Mountains or Beach?" I always had a very hard time deciding. I love them both. There is a serenity and beauty about the rolling mountains, the various shades of green (or blue in the early evening), the old and new farmhouses, the cows and their paths along the side of the hills, the twisty roads... And a similar peace and beauty comes in the warm sand, the roaring waves, the birds walking along the water's edge, the sea oats blowing in the warm breeze...
Here's the thing. I just love the world. I love being in it. I love travelling. I love seeing people, sharing stories, laughing over how things were and how things have changed.

Tigger in the Christmas tree. She would jump in the bottom branches, wind her way up, resting just about here... before flinging herself off the tree and across the room. 

Mom's kitten Tigger at Thanksgiving. She likes holidays... 

In Virginia Now

Had I written this at 4:30 yesterday, I could have said
"I've been comfortably in three states in 24 hours"
which would mean that I was hanging out at Grandma's in Florida
until about 5:00pm on Wed.,
slept Wed. night and had breakfast Thurs. morning at my mom's house in SC,
and got to Dana's in VA in time to shop a bit before dinner yesterday.
Since I didn't write this yesterday at 4:30pm, however, I will just write random stuff.

I have some fun and/or lovely pictures.
I will post them, never you fear.

Things:
- My brother got his bi-annual haircut. Praise the Lord.
- I did get to see some of my cousins, which was lovely.
- Not only do I really like brunswick stew and london broil, I'm also a big fan of honey-ham and delicious turkeys named Hank.
- I need to get another memory card thingy for my camera, some conditioner, and toothpaste.
- My winter coat (the new, fun purple one) is, as Anjie would put it, janky. The zipper got stuck last night, and will not get unstuck.
- Dana's parents have a whole room that is their shower, with no door.
- My one aunt gave me a subscription to Money magazine for Christmas, and another aunt gave me a cactus.

Today, we (Dana, Sara, and me) are going to see Craiggers!
We're having lunch, taking a tour of his historic town, and meeting his grandmother.
I'm stoked.

Here are my top albums right this minute
(which might really mean Top Roadtrip Albums right this minute):
Despite Our Differences by the Indigo Girls
Taking the Long Way by the Dixie Chicks
In Between Dreams by Jack Johnson
Awake is the New Sleep by Ben Lee

Christmas in Florida

Here are some things:

1. I like brunswick stew.
2. I like london broil.
3. I do not need to eat beefaroni again this week.
4. My brother has weird longish hair.
5. My aunts are plotting to marry me off to a guy from Grandma's church. (Never mind that he lives 7 hours away from me and is moving to New England, and I don't know him very well at all, but they think it would be soooo cute, and wouldn't it be great to unite our two good families from the church they all grew up in? I tried telling them that I'm 28 and can handle this sort of thing... )
6. I love my new purse that my dad gave me (that I picked out and that is quite similar to one I already have.)
7. I got some odd presents from the relatives.
8. I will not get to see all of my cousins this Christmas, and I got them really awesome gifts.
9. My brother and I are making delicious burgers tomorrow. I am stoked.
10. I'm going to Virginia on Thursday.
11. My aunts, brother, grandmother and I saw Happy Feet today. It was cute, and Sara was right -- she would love it.
12. Dinner was too big and I could not have reasonably been expected to eat pie.
13. I'm going to have to leave this house soon, get some air.
14. We are supposed to clean out the attic tomorrow. That does not sound fun to me. And it does not sound like I'll get to leave. Unless, of course, I follow my aunt's plan to stalk that guy in the church directory and get him to go to coffee with me.
15. My grandma has been officially diagnosed with Alzheimers, which explains some things and makes me very sad.


Merry Christmas, folks.

Finally Finished

I turned in my last final of the semester this morning.
Rock on.

We are watching a Gilmore's from a couple weeks ago,
and we're going to watch Christmast movies in a minute.

That's a fresher.
I'm going on break.

It's the middle of the night

and I'm working in the main Emory library for the first time since I started school here 2 and a half years ago.
I'm sitting with Candace, Sara and Parker on the main floor near the elevator, and it keeps dinging.
These college chickadees with their 80s throwback clothes and hair make me think Molly Ringwald is going to stop by any minute and put on lipstick with her cleavage.

More stuff I've learned:
* It's hard to be sneaky in cordoroys.
* I want some cookies.
* You know how in movies when they show college libraries, they have a huge room with rows of long tables with little lamps on them? Well, it's true. I was there, in that room, earlier.
* Snacks are helpful when trying to stay awake and write. (Sara and I took a field trip.)
* They will kick you out of the library for being too loud, but not for doing lunges while you walk.

oy with the exams already

I am:
- sitting at one of the new tables in Brooks Commons
- working on Theology of Wesley
- trying to finish this one essay before dinner at 6
- listening to classical music on my ipod, which I thought might be broken (it's not)
- getting restless

I have learned:
- that I like Schubert better than Tchaikovsky
- that my back hurts if I sit in these roll-y chairs too long
- John Wesley had quite the love ethic, arguing that love existed before faith and endured when faith fails
- that not many people are in Brooks on a Sunday afternoon

I wish I was:
- napping
- playing frisbee in the nice weather, though the sun is now setting
- going to the movies
- lying on the couch eating cookies
- able to finish this stuff quickly

I am ridiculous

I have LOADS of writing to do.
Tonight, we're having dinner with friends who can pry themselves away from their books.
Tomorrow, I have church and Wesley dinner.
Monday, I have a lunch for work.
And then everything is due Monday by 5:00.
I mean, holy crap.

And, I'm off!

Put some Poetry in my Life!

The Crazy Woman

I shall not sing a May song.
A May song should be gay.
I'll wait until November
And sing a song of gray.

I'll wait until November.
That is the time for me.
I'll go out in the frosty dark
And sing most terribly.

And all the little people
Will stare at me and say,
"That is the Crazy Woman
Who would not sing in May."

-- Gwendolyn Brooks



little tree
little silent Christmas tree
you are so little
you are more like a flower

who found you in the green forest
and were you very sorry to come away?
see i will comfort you
because you smell so sweetly

i will kiss your cool bark
and hug you safe and tight
just as your mother would,
only don't be afraid

look the spangles
that sleep all the year in a dark box
dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,
the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,

put up your little arms
and i'll give them all to you to hold
every finger shall have its ring
and there won't be a single place dark or unhappy

then when you're quite dressed
you'll stand in the window for everyone to see
and how they'll stare!
oh but you'll be very proud

and my little sister and i will take hands
and looking up at our beautiful tree
we'll dance and sing
"Noel Noel"

-- e.e. cummings




Hey, Bacon!

The moon like:
mischievous bacon
crisps its desire

(while)

I harbor myself
toward two eggs
over easy.

-- Richard Brautigan

A Middle of the Night Collaborative Procrastinative Story

(A friend, or two, and I wrote this between 1:30 and 2:45am. Just guess which parts I wrote...)


When Alicia was 5 years old, she loved to climb trees.
One day, as she was climbing the tallest tree in the forest, she was attacked by a mutant super monkey who lived at the top of the tree in his high-tech simian lair.
The monkey's mutant trait was an excessively sophisticated wit, with which he verbally assaulted the startled but amused little girl.
Along with his wit, he was also a ninja monkey whose goal was to lead a primate rebellion and wipe out all of humanity, leaving himself as ruler of the world.
Luckily, young Alicia's strange childhood provided that she had several things going for her in this seemingly desperate situation: her mother was also a ninja, not to mention a mediator in the courts, and her father a gymnast, both of whom rigorously trained Alicia in their specialty arts from birth; her youth and small stature made her a quick, tiny target for the bumbly mutant ape; and her laughter was infectious.
Yes, the infectious laughter. For young Alicia had also been trained to use her voice as a weapon. It's sub-harmonic registers playing havoc with the monkey's inner ear.
But the monkey was prepared for this eventuality. He had tangled with Alicia's family before, as they were the only thing between him and his goal of conquest. The monkey activated his sonic dampeners. He then called for his gorilla henchmen to take care of the pesky Alicia.
What he didn't know is that Alicia, a very smart child whose grandfather was a zoologist, spoke gorilla and that she had befriended these gorillas on her way into the forest, when she had stumbled on an injured baby gorilla wedged under a log and had helped it become untrapped.
Unfortunately, this "baby" gorilla was a sleeper agent, whose task it was to insinuate himself into the good graces of Alicia's family. The Mutant Super Monkey had been searching everywhere for Alicia's grandfather, who had gone into hiding as he researched the secret of the monkey's power. The monkey knew that Alicia's grandfather, indeed her whole family, must be stopped.
"HMPH!" said the monkey.
Unfortunately, the infectious laughter was no laughing matter. It made it's way through the town below which is the reason Alicia climbed the tree in the first place. The people below belonged to the evangelical church that loved to laugh. They laughed so much, and blamed it on some deity mind you, that they all ended up dying. Twas a sad day indeed. The few remaining went to the tree on which Alicia climbed to find her...they were not pleased with her "infectious laughter Disease" in the least bit. And don't even get me started on what the monkey did when he got ILD.
When the townspeople arrived, however, Alicia knew she had a lot to deal with, especially for someone of her age. Unfortunately, the monkey's territory got so overrun by the townspeople and he was so affected by ILD that he didn't know where to start. The townspeople tried to grab Alicia, and the monkey tried to work his ninja moves on her. But no one could grab her. Rather their fingers all just grazed her, and Alicia was incredibly ticklish. Again, her laughter rang through the forrest, and the "baby" gorilla sleeper agent she had rescued fell victim to ILD. Alicia was distraught. She didn't like for anyone to be hurt, especially not at her own doing.
As the townspeople were tearing themselves apart, destroying their civilization, sinister alien forces were watching, waiting for the opportunity to strike. Little did Alicia know that she was the Earth's only hope, and a slim hope it was.
She was certainly slim, for her parents were health nuts and made sure she ate well and exercised plenty for her age and height. Regardless of her size, she possessed a wellspring of hope that had always impressed all who met her. She bubbled with joy, which, sadly, only increased the ILD. At this moment though, the one weapon she most regretted having -- laughter -- might be the only thing that could save the planet. If only she could convince the ninja monkey that they could work together, that her grandfather was not trying to harm the animals of the woods but wanted to find ways to use their collective powers for good. For she had learned much from her grandfather about love and kindness to others.
As she said these things to the monkey, she realized what a dirty hippy she truly was. "Oh my," said Alicia, "I sound like a nutjob."
Unfortunately, the aliens chose this moment of self-doubt to launch an all-out assault on the planet.
Since she was five and had no idea what the word "nutjob" could mean, it sounded incredibly funny to her. As tiny little kids often do, she couldn't stop laughing once she became amused with this word. She couldn't stop thinking about the acorns and pecans in her yard putting on clothes and going to work. And as she laughed, a strange thing happened. The aliens were not affected in the same way as humans. That is, it didn't kill them or cause them to thrash about as if in a demon-possessed trance. On the contrary, the aliens froze, listening to the magical sound of Alicia's laughter. Since they had been farther away before, the laughter had not reached them until they came close enough to launch their attack. Something began to change in the aliens. It was quite mysterious, and they couldn't quite explain it, though one tried, saying something about the "lifefluid-pumping internal organ" in his chest "becoming oddly less chilled." Sadly, the laughter was the end of the deranged ninja monkey. But the aliens had a change of their strangely warmed hearts, and simply picked a few flowers and grabbed one dog to take back with them to their own galaxy. Alicia climbed down from the tree, skipped home, and told her story to her parents. Interestingly enough, they did not believe her, which is a common problem for five year olds with incredible stories to tell.

Just a Few Things

* Dana says I am a bluebird, if I were to be an animal that is. She says I am generally cheerful, and I flit from place to place. I contend that I am a cat. Evidently, I have a different image of cats than other people, because she said "nooo" and squished up her face in that Dana way. Here's my case: I like to climb things and I have a compulsion to try to fit into small spaces (like I always want to crawl under my desk in my office -- I know I would fit). Also, I have lots of energy and curiosity like a kitten, and I like to wander like an outdoor cat. Although I am usually pretty happy, I can be finicky and it's pretty easy to tell when I'm upset or unhappy (I don't hiss, but I may growl a little from time to time). I like to be near people (but I don't need to jump all over them like a dog, just graze them and perhaps get a bit of attention or affection, maybe curl up next to them). Although I like to be active and adventurous, I can lie on the couch for hours on end (usually watching some reality tv marathon or Gilmores on dvd).

* The Christmas party tonight at Wesley was fun, and we made a huge mess. Also, I am not good at estimating how much food we'll need. I have a really good group of students.

* I really like my Christmas tree. It's fake, but I so don't care because that just means I get to keep it. It has white lights and silver and red ornaments and a big star on top, and I love seeing it through the window when I get home and walk toward the apartment.

* It's really hard to find gingerbread houses, and even harder to find gingerbread people.

* My fingers and wrists hurt right now. They don't usually anymore, so it's startling. I wonder if the weather is changing.

* I'm excited about my plans for break. After spending Christmas in Florida with family, I'm hoping to head up to Virginia around New Year's to visit a lot of folks I know from different stages of my life who are all connected to this one commonwealth. I'll stop by G'boro on the way there or back and hopefully get to see a lot of wonderful people that I love and miss. And maybe I'll get to meet a Hokie chicken. ("You put your right wing in, you put your right wing out...")

* I'm going to need to watch some Christmas movies soon. Here's the list: It's A Wonderful Life, White Christmas, Love Actually, Home Alone, Mighty Ducks

I'm halfway normal, according to this quiz

Your Quirk Factor: 49%

You're a pretty quirky person, but you're just normal enough to hide it. Congratulations - you've fooled other people into thinking you're just like them!

How Quirky Are You?

It's the last day of classes

And I skipped them.

I have a paper to write.
Huge surprise.
And I haven't been able to make myself do it.
Again, shocking, I know.

I have half a page out of 5.
I'm 1/10 of the way there.
Awesome.

Ugggh.

Some tidbits

* In the last week, I drank 256 oz of orange juice. That's 2 gallons. That's 32 glasses, which averages out to 4.5 glasses a day, but really it was in more concentrated bursts than that. Like some days I drank 8 glasses and today I just drank 1 and a half.

* Today, I have eaten about a half a box of Andes mints. That's about 14 mints. According to the nutrition facts on the back of the box, that's less than 2 servings.

* I am only halfway finished with my tiny little 4 page paper, but I am out of things to say.

* It has gotten really cold here. Like freezing. Seriously, it's 32 degrees in the ATL right now.

* I'm over this semester. I'm not technically finished with stuff until the 18th, though, so I have to find a way to keep my head in the game for two more weeks! But really just through the end of this week, and then it's reading week and I will have spurts of productivity as things approach their due dates.

* I'm kind of stoked about the Fall Social on Thursday, which is really just a coffeehouse with Candlerites performing. There will be desserts, though, and I'm bringing my alltime specialty. That's right, the Rice Krispy Bars will make an appearance.

* This is US-2 week in the ATL. Three former US-2s are converging upon the city, and I get to hang out with them! Super stoked about that!

* Please please please go to www.mississippibelieveit.com. Read some of the ads. It's worth it. And be sure to check out the store. The drinkware category made me laugh aloud.

4 Pages

I have a paper to write.
Only 4 pages.
Not that hard.
So why can't I start it?

Ugh!

So it's possible that you can't believe this

but I'm still sick.
I think I'm finally on the upswing, though.
My voice is considering negotiations
after going on strike yesterday.

Here's the update:
When I went to the doctor on Friday, she said that it was a turning point day.
She said that I would either get better or worse, and that I would know in 48 hours whether I should fill the prescription she gave me for a z-pack.
She was right. I knew.

Now, admittedly I did sing along to a few songs at the Dixie Chicks concert on Saturday, but I did hold back on most of them -- I either just listened or silently mouthed the words along. But I woke up Sunday morning with no voice. Well, perhaps with the voice of a frog. Ribbit.

Then yesterday, I was supposed to serve communion at church. So, I went and found the lady who coordinates communion.
In my froggy voice, I said "I'm supposed to serve communion, but I'm sick."
She said "You certainly are."
I said "What should I do?"
She said "I think it would be best if I take your place. It's very considerate of you to forego this opportunity so that others don't get sick."
And then she told someone else that I was going home.

Instead, I planned the Love Feast service for Wesley last night -- even typing out the prayers I would use and what I would say at transitions, which was helpful since Matt had to read most of it.
I think the service went well, though, and Dana sharing about her tradition gave the service a deeper significance and broader context.
And the cider and hawaiian rolls were delicious.

Here's some other news:
-- I like wearing scarves. Flowy, solid-colored ones.
-- I have a lot of work to do. Tomorrow, I have a presentation, a paper proposal due, and a paper due. Wednesday, I have another paper due.
-- I have been drinking a LOT of hot tea and orange juice this week.
-- This is the last week of classes.
-- It's cold.
-- It's also bright and sunny.
-- The little old lady who volunteers in the office at my apt complex is both grumpy and really funny.

Rock on.

Tis' the Season!

It got cold today, like the weather knew it was December now.
Yesterday it was hot. In fact, this morning it was hot.
But now it's colder.

I just put up the Christmas tree.
We have yet to decorate it,
but I'm listening to Burl Ives.

Christmas is coming...




p.s. I'm still sick. But I went to the dr. and she said that fluorescent snot is normal at this stage...