In the least couple of years, things have changed for my family... the biggest being that my parents moved out of the house I grew up in (and out of the neighborhood too) and moved to literally the middle of no where. When I say the blacktop ends at their driveway, I'm not being factious. But with that move, some of out holiday and family traditions changed as well... not least of all Christmas.
Pre-Christmas 2006 (so Christmas 2005 and prior):
I would work Christmas Eve at the Gap (for four years... it wasn't too bad... that is when all the hot boys would shop). My family would do whatever they would do until I got off work. We would then usually head to a friend's house for a Christmas Eve party of some sort, go to 8pm Christmas Eve service at Advent, go home and watch a movie, and at least my mom and I would go back to 11pm service (if we could talk my dad and brother into it, it was a miracle). Oh yeah... and we would always open our Christmas Eve "presents" between services. The dialogue would go something like the following:
Momma McClure: OK Caroline and Wells! Come downstairs so we can open our Christmas Eve gifts!
Caroline and Wells: Uh... I WONDER what it could be? [sarcasm sarcasm sarcasm]
Momma McClure: Ya know... one day I am going to get you something different, and you'll feel so bad for giving me a hard time!
Well, needless to say, we always get pajamas on Christmas eve... and we love it. The above dialogue is part of the tradition around our house.
So, we'd wake up on Christmas morning, do our present thing, and the start making dinner, so be served around 1 or 2 in the afternoon. After a small nap, Wells would go on his way to see his friends, and my friends would usually make their way over to my house to hang with me and my parents.
Christmas 2006- present:
Mom and Dad currently live in Dyersburg, TN. If you don't know where that is, that should tell you everything you need to know (it is North of Memphis, about 20 minutes from the MO line... aka: Bumble). We show up, and usually spend at least three days outside of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day sleeping, eating, and watching lots of TV (with hunting for Wells and baking for me thrown in there for good measure). We don't know anyone up there, and it is hard to get to Memphis, although we usually spend a few days there prior or post coming to Dyersburg. Anyway...
Our Christmas Eve traditions have changed a bit since 2005. The pajama drama is still the same. Other than that though, this is basically what happens: Wells and Dad hunt, I bake, Mama Hope (grandma) cooks, Mom makes Walmart runs and wraps presents up until we open our Christmas Eve pajamas, and we eat finger foods all Christmas Eve. The biggest change is that instead of going to church, we change into our pajamas, drink wine/other adult beverages, and play cards. This usually ends up with me and mom vs. dad and wells, and it usually ends up with dad and wells getting cocky and winning, and me and mom cussing at them and getting a little tipsy. And then we go to bed and and do the same Christmas day routine, except without the friends.
Overall, I don't know if the tradition is improved or evolved, but I'm a pretty big fan of it. I don't know how other people spend their holidays (please enlighten me), but I'm a fan of mine. It's not family unless you can drink with them on a holiday, right? :P
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
History Witnessed
Tonght, November 4, 2008. History was made. Barak Obama was elected President of the United States of America. I sit in my house, in Atlanta, Georgia and think about how much has changed in the history of this country. I think about how in my family, people that I would not have expected voted for Obama, not because he was or was not black, but because he is everything this country is so in need of right now.
And I know that there are many people out there who still don't believe in what is happening in this country. I am very happy to not be in Memphis right now,because I don't know what I would say to many people that I love. I hope that one day, hopefully soon, they will understand that sometimes it isn't about skin color, it's about the person underneath, and the hope that they represent for change and prosperity. That life isn't about color, or religion, its about what is inside and what one believes is right and wrong in this country.
And I believe that tonight, November 4, 2008, is the step in that direction for the United States. I hope that things start to go up, because we can't go anywhere else but up. So here's to 2008, Barak Obama, and change.
And I know that there are many people out there who still don't believe in what is happening in this country. I am very happy to not be in Memphis right now,because I don't know what I would say to many people that I love. I hope that one day, hopefully soon, they will understand that sometimes it isn't about skin color, it's about the person underneath, and the hope that they represent for change and prosperity. That life isn't about color, or religion, its about what is inside and what one believes is right and wrong in this country.
And I believe that tonight, November 4, 2008, is the step in that direction for the United States. I hope that things start to go up, because we can't go anywhere else but up. So here's to 2008, Barak Obama, and change.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Looking back
I never thought I was one of those people that looked back. Recently I have learned differently.
When I graduated from high school and moved to Knoxville for school, I did not have the easiest transition, but I made it through a rough month or so of not belonging and living in hell that is Humes (for so many reasons that I am just not going to go into here), I started playing ultimate, and never looked back, only going back to Memphis for breaks and never being in town for longer than three weeks one May and every Christmas. I was in Knoxville more than anyone I had grown up with-- I actually lived in Knoxville during college. I didn't just go to school there.
When I graduated from college in December 2005, I was done. I packed up my teeny-tiny apartment before graduation, I cleaned it, I moved what I needed down to Atlanta in shifts over the course of the months of November and December. I was done, and a few hours after I walked across the stage in Thompson-Bowling Arena, I was outta there. Two days later I showed up in Atlanta, unloaded my car, and then a few days after that I went home for the holidays. In January I started possibly the worst job ever, and since then have gone through many changes (job, life, emotional, ultimate), but I haven't looked back. I was done with Knoxville that day i drove out with my car full and ready to start again.
Since I have moved to Atlanta, I go back to Knoxville occasionally, usually for graduations or ultimate related events. I have only gone back to Memphis to see Lacey and her family, but with my immediate family elsewhere (or should i say, the middle of no where, TN), I had no other reason, and the trees have become more infrequent. I can honestly say that I haven't ever looked back with regret on anything I've done or with longing for something that is no more.
Until this past weekend. This past weekend I drove to Rome, GA for my friend Matt's engagement party. A few things that must be known before I go on:
1) Matt and I grew up together in Memphis. We went to the same high school. We went to the same church. We were on PYC together. And we grew up within five square miles of 95% of the people we also grew up with.
2) Matt falls into my pattern of friends that are of the male persuasion: sarcastic as hell, and yet I continue to be friends with him. What does that actually say about me?
3) No matter what, we can always pick up where we left off from the last time we hung out/talked on the phone.
So yeah... went to the party. I knew four people there: Matt, Brian, and Matt's parents. I've met Matt's fiance before, but I don't know her all that well. So I hung out with Brian and Matt's parents for most of the night (Matt was otherwise engaged). It was awesome, but also really weird. It was good to see two people that have known me since I was in middle school, but at the same time it was really hard (mostly getting a lecture on a life choice). The hardest part was the thought that struck me on the way home though:
I actually miss it.
I miss the people I grew up with. I miss the fact that they have known me for a long time, and know my past mistakes. They know my family. We all share something that my friends since then don't share with me: memories of those super awkward years. Memories of pranks, trips, and Sunday evenings. Of high school. But at the same time, except for a handful of those people I grew up with, they also don't get me now. They don't understand who I am, and many of them don't even care. And that is the hardest part: some get me now, some don't. Some didn't get me then. Yet- I miss that.
Looking back isn't as bad as I thought it was. I used to think to grow and move on in life, that I couldn't look back with fondness on the people and things from my life growing up. I learned that it is OK to look back. It's just hard to come to terms with what looking back reveals about oneself.
When I graduated from high school and moved to Knoxville for school, I did not have the easiest transition, but I made it through a rough month or so of not belonging and living in hell that is Humes (for so many reasons that I am just not going to go into here), I started playing ultimate, and never looked back, only going back to Memphis for breaks and never being in town for longer than three weeks one May and every Christmas. I was in Knoxville more than anyone I had grown up with-- I actually lived in Knoxville during college. I didn't just go to school there.
When I graduated from college in December 2005, I was done. I packed up my teeny-tiny apartment before graduation, I cleaned it, I moved what I needed down to Atlanta in shifts over the course of the months of November and December. I was done, and a few hours after I walked across the stage in Thompson-Bowling Arena, I was outta there. Two days later I showed up in Atlanta, unloaded my car, and then a few days after that I went home for the holidays. In January I started possibly the worst job ever, and since then have gone through many changes (job, life, emotional, ultimate), but I haven't looked back. I was done with Knoxville that day i drove out with my car full and ready to start again.
Since I have moved to Atlanta, I go back to Knoxville occasionally, usually for graduations or ultimate related events. I have only gone back to Memphis to see Lacey and her family, but with my immediate family elsewhere (or should i say, the middle of no where, TN), I had no other reason, and the trees have become more infrequent. I can honestly say that I haven't ever looked back with regret on anything I've done or with longing for something that is no more.
Until this past weekend. This past weekend I drove to Rome, GA for my friend Matt's engagement party. A few things that must be known before I go on:
1) Matt and I grew up together in Memphis. We went to the same high school. We went to the same church. We were on PYC together. And we grew up within five square miles of 95% of the people we also grew up with.
2) Matt falls into my pattern of friends that are of the male persuasion: sarcastic as hell, and yet I continue to be friends with him. What does that actually say about me?
3) No matter what, we can always pick up where we left off from the last time we hung out/talked on the phone.
So yeah... went to the party. I knew four people there: Matt, Brian, and Matt's parents. I've met Matt's fiance before, but I don't know her all that well. So I hung out with Brian and Matt's parents for most of the night (Matt was otherwise engaged). It was awesome, but also really weird. It was good to see two people that have known me since I was in middle school, but at the same time it was really hard (mostly getting a lecture on a life choice). The hardest part was the thought that struck me on the way home though:
I actually miss it.
I miss the people I grew up with. I miss the fact that they have known me for a long time, and know my past mistakes. They know my family. We all share something that my friends since then don't share with me: memories of those super awkward years. Memories of pranks, trips, and Sunday evenings. Of high school. But at the same time, except for a handful of those people I grew up with, they also don't get me now. They don't understand who I am, and many of them don't even care. And that is the hardest part: some get me now, some don't. Some didn't get me then. Yet- I miss that.
Looking back isn't as bad as I thought it was. I used to think to grow and move on in life, that I couldn't look back with fondness on the people and things from my life growing up. I learned that it is OK to look back. It's just hard to come to terms with what looking back reveals about oneself.
Friday, October 10, 2008
The End of an Era
Big Orange Screw and Agent Orange
Itchfest 2002
Until now. The girls are totally different, and that's OK. The current captain this year is someone who doesn't really know the alumni that well, and i don't think she particularly wants too either. The only alumni she really knows are Erin and Nikki, but she isn't the same kind of player or leaders as either of them. The team this year has a more serious vibe, along with a more serious coach, and hopefully they will perform better and more competitively than past teams... lord knows i talk them up around ATL, so hopefully they'll live up to the hype that i continue to spread around.
Big Orange Screw: Joint Summit 2004
But it makes me sad to realize that this isn't my team anymore, and it doesn't resemble any team that I was a part of, or the one's that came directly after me at all. These girls are doing things that I only wish I could have done with my team, but they are doing things that I don't get at all. Not going to Itchfest is one, but also not letting alumni practice (or Knoxville women for that matter). I guess it is a difference in times and numbers: during my time as captain, we were lucky to get enough out to scrimmage 6 vs 6, and that was with help from the local club women. My first year as captain, we played hotbox after running drills and learning plays because we just didn't have enough for anything else. And we always let alumni come and practice with us if they were in town... always. I mean really practice: drills, scrimmage, everything.
But times have changed, and it is hard to watch something that I worked so hard to keep together and that Erin fought so hard to build to what it is kinda go in a completely different direction-- or at least a different direction vibe wise. We all hoped that UT would be this competitive (mostly because we all were on the inside), but we always wanted it to be the fun, welcoming team that it was for us. I guess at some point you have to let it go and watch it grow, no matter the direction. But I'll always be a Big Orange Screw supporter and groupie.
Big Orange Screw and Brutal Girls: Itchfest 2002
Thursday, October 09, 2008
geography change
I am still unemployed, as all of the three people that read my blog very well know. I have been out of graduate school since the very beginning of July. I have two degrees (both of which are turning out to be useless- not just the first one like i thought). I am certified in four subject areas to be able to teach- two middle school and two high school. And yet NOTHING.
A while ago I started freaking out about this, having slight panic attacks even just thinking about the fact that i have no income and bills that need to be paid (or paid off). And then I realized that this is the perfect opportunity for me. I mean, outside of the amazing friends I have in Atlanta, and my family here, I have nothing keeping me here. I've always told people that I don't ever want to be tied down; that when i decide to up and move, i can without too many problems. And since, like i said, I don't really have a job holding me in Atlanta, I'm going to do something that I have always wanted to.
I'm going to move to Colorado.
I have wanted to live in Colorado since the first time I went out there when I was 15. There has always been something about it that has drawn me there-- there is something about the West that just does that anyway. But since Colorado was always the dream, that is where I'm going to start (much to Lauren's dismay).
Here is the plan: for the next 8 or so months, I am going to sub (since Dekalb county FINALLY emailed me about becoming a sub, for real), work at the preschool, babysit my ass off, and do just about anything else to pay off some bills and save money. I'm going to work on getting my initial Colorado teaching license, and work my ass off getting a job in Colorado, and move out there sometime July next year. Even if i don't have a job, I'm getting out there and looking for one doing whatever, I don't care. But i feel like it is time for something different, and Colorado seems the best choice. I mean, why not? and I know if I don't do this now, I won't do it at all, and I'll regret it forever. So here we go.
A while ago I started freaking out about this, having slight panic attacks even just thinking about the fact that i have no income and bills that need to be paid (or paid off). And then I realized that this is the perfect opportunity for me. I mean, outside of the amazing friends I have in Atlanta, and my family here, I have nothing keeping me here. I've always told people that I don't ever want to be tied down; that when i decide to up and move, i can without too many problems. And since, like i said, I don't really have a job holding me in Atlanta, I'm going to do something that I have always wanted to.
I'm going to move to Colorado.
I have wanted to live in Colorado since the first time I went out there when I was 15. There has always been something about it that has drawn me there-- there is something about the West that just does that anyway. But since Colorado was always the dream, that is where I'm going to start (much to Lauren's dismay).
Here is the plan: for the next 8 or so months, I am going to sub (since Dekalb county FINALLY emailed me about becoming a sub, for real), work at the preschool, babysit my ass off, and do just about anything else to pay off some bills and save money. I'm going to work on getting my initial Colorado teaching license, and work my ass off getting a job in Colorado, and move out there sometime July next year. Even if i don't have a job, I'm getting out there and looking for one doing whatever, I don't care. But i feel like it is time for something different, and Colorado seems the best choice. I mean, why not? and I know if I don't do this now, I won't do it at all, and I'll regret it forever. So here we go.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Vice Presidential Debate Drinking Game
Vice Presidential Debate Drinking Game
First the Presidential candidates debated, and now it's the Vice Presidential candidates' turn. Tonight is the Vice Presidential Debate between Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin in St. Louis. As entertaining as it might be on its own, why not make a Drinking Game out of it? Here are they key words to listen for so you can take a shot! (I would suggest only choosing a few of these phrases/words, otherwise, you won't be making it to work tomorrow)
my opponent
any old-school female reference (honey, doll, sweetheart)
Obama/McCain
Alaska
Russia
Bridge to Nowhere
reigning in
shore up
microchosm
Clinton
shake up Washington
change
Vice-President
anytime Biden goes over alotted time
economy
any reference to age
fundamentals
experience
hockey
Mom
pipeline
Maverick
Main Street or Wall Street
good ole boys or old boy network
the ticket
calling Moderator by first name to stall for time
Senator
recession
This could be hilarious!
First the Presidential candidates debated, and now it's the Vice Presidential candidates' turn. Tonight is the Vice Presidential Debate between Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin in St. Louis. As entertaining as it might be on its own, why not make a Drinking Game out of it? Here are they key words to listen for so you can take a shot! (I would suggest only choosing a few of these phrases/words, otherwise, you won't be making it to work tomorrow)
my opponent
any old-school female reference (honey, doll, sweetheart)
Obama/McCain
Alaska
Russia
Bridge to Nowhere
reigning in
shore up
microchosm
Clinton
shake up Washington
change
Vice-President
anytime Biden goes over alotted time
economy
any reference to age
fundamentals
experience
hockey
Mom
pipeline
Maverick
Main Street or Wall Street
good ole boys or old boy network
the ticket
calling Moderator by first name to stall for time
Senator
recession
This could be hilarious!
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Tippin with $10-ers-- It was that kind of a weekend
Yes, I realize that this is the same title as my album from my past weekend of events, but hey... it describes the weekend more perfectly than any other phrase.
Auburn vs. Tennessee weekend. The battle of SEC orange. I've been waiting for this weekend for years, basically since I became an Auburn groupie, and it was about damn time it rolled around. I've been looking forward to this weekend, like I said for years, and I've been talking about it for weeks. And, while talking about it, acquired more people to go with so that I not only got to go, but didn't have to drive and got to split gas! (always a plus these day). too bad the Vols couldn't live up to the hype in my mind.
Needless to say, outside of the sad showing that is currently TN football, the weekend was a complete success. It started with happy hour running into the rest of the night, all at the same bar... 8 hours at the same bar. Well, around 8:45 Stacey tells everyone to buy two more drinks, only 15 more minutes to $2 well drinks... that's right, I said $2 well drinks. so needless to say, there were more vodka waters siting on the table than entirely necessary to keep anyone buzzed for the rest of the night, but hey, it happens. So eventually, I make it home around 5 am, where i call Amy 25 times in about 15min until she finally comes downstairs and lets me in to the apartment.
Fast forward to the next day, post 3.5 hours of sleep, post tailgate wandering, post Tennessee losing a game that Auburn tired to give us (I still don't want to talk about it!!!!), and enter into the party that Amy decided would be a good idea... the Phallus Phood party. that's right. just imagine: too many ultimate kids in one place with too much beer, and lots of food that resembled... well, a phallus. It was amazing and ridiculous, and at some point broke down into a round of waterfall, shotgunning, and a dance party. And I went to bed at 1:30-- that's right. That's what happens when you are up for 22 hours Friday, sleep for 3 hours, then party and drink all day.
SO, in conclusion: good weekend. Typical, crazy, ridiculous, good weekend. In the words of Amy: "This is Auburn"
Pictures:
Tipping with $10-ers
When I grow up I want to be a professor... and a Cougar!
Auburn vs. Tennessee weekend. The battle of SEC orange. I've been waiting for this weekend for years, basically since I became an Auburn groupie, and it was about damn time it rolled around. I've been looking forward to this weekend, like I said for years, and I've been talking about it for weeks. And, while talking about it, acquired more people to go with so that I not only got to go, but didn't have to drive and got to split gas! (always a plus these day). too bad the Vols couldn't live up to the hype in my mind.
Needless to say, outside of the sad showing that is currently TN football, the weekend was a complete success. It started with happy hour running into the rest of the night, all at the same bar... 8 hours at the same bar. Well, around 8:45 Stacey tells everyone to buy two more drinks, only 15 more minutes to $2 well drinks... that's right, I said $2 well drinks. so needless to say, there were more vodka waters siting on the table than entirely necessary to keep anyone buzzed for the rest of the night, but hey, it happens. So eventually, I make it home around 5 am, where i call Amy 25 times in about 15min until she finally comes downstairs and lets me in to the apartment.
Fast forward to the next day, post 3.5 hours of sleep, post tailgate wandering, post Tennessee losing a game that Auburn tired to give us (I still don't want to talk about it!!!!), and enter into the party that Amy decided would be a good idea... the Phallus Phood party. that's right. just imagine: too many ultimate kids in one place with too much beer, and lots of food that resembled... well, a phallus. It was amazing and ridiculous, and at some point broke down into a round of waterfall, shotgunning, and a dance party. And I went to bed at 1:30-- that's right. That's what happens when you are up for 22 hours Friday, sleep for 3 hours, then party and drink all day.
SO, in conclusion: good weekend. Typical, crazy, ridiculous, good weekend. In the words of Amy: "This is Auburn"
Pictures:
Tipping with $10-ers
When I grow up I want to be a professor... and a Cougar!
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Thoughts
I have to remember that when you are unhappy in life, it is up to you to do something about it. Locate the problem, slove it, change it, fix it-- do whatever! But the only way to find happy again is to become an active participant in life... you can't just wait around for opportunities to find you. Go find them.
School systems are stupid... they actually have no idea what is going on within the school.
If someone is a "previous employee" there is a reason. Hire someone new!
I currently do lots of things well. None of which generate income.
(who can guess the theme here?)
School systems are stupid... they actually have no idea what is going on within the school.
If someone is a "previous employee" there is a reason. Hire someone new!
I currently do lots of things well. None of which generate income.
(who can guess the theme here?)
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Slowly becoming stupid-er
Yes-- that's right. Because all I do is watch bad TV during the day, read a little, and I have just started waking up at a decent time so that i can "work" I feel like I'm becoming dumber with every passing day. I mean seriously-- I just realized recently that in movies, on TV, and in books, whenever a phone number is used it begins with "555". Yeah-- I JUST realized that.
The solution: SOMEONE GIVE ME A JOB!!!! for all that is dear and holy...
The solution: SOMEONE GIVE ME A JOB!!!! for all that is dear and holy...
Monday, September 01, 2008
Title Reclaimed!
This weekend I did it. I reclaimed my title from manhands. I am officially the Ultimate Whore again!
It was Labor Day weekend '08, Shawn Adams Memorial Spirit of the Game Ultimate Tournament 15, and my sixth year playing at this tournament (and basically the anniversary of me playing ultimate at all). I am not playing competitively this fall, so how did I reclaim the crown of the ultimate whore you may be wondering? I ended up playing seven games between two divisions over the course of the weekend.
Saturday started out with two games with Hot Box (Huntsville women), changed to the mixed division and played two games with Potluck out of Athens, then Sunday morning played the first game with Potluck, then the last two games of the day with Hot Box again to win the women's division (kinda). I got shit from everyone I knew at the tournament for it, and i don't care. It was the most fun I've had in a really long time, i got to play with people I've known for years and people that I just met this weekend, and play ultimate. And before this weekend, I had forgotten what that was like.
So long live the ORIGINAL ultimate whore!
It was Labor Day weekend '08, Shawn Adams Memorial Spirit of the Game Ultimate Tournament 15, and my sixth year playing at this tournament (and basically the anniversary of me playing ultimate at all). I am not playing competitively this fall, so how did I reclaim the crown of the ultimate whore you may be wondering? I ended up playing seven games between two divisions over the course of the weekend.
Saturday started out with two games with Hot Box (Huntsville women), changed to the mixed division and played two games with Potluck out of Athens, then Sunday morning played the first game with Potluck, then the last two games of the day with Hot Box again to win the women's division (kinda). I got shit from everyone I knew at the tournament for it, and i don't care. It was the most fun I've had in a really long time, i got to play with people I've known for years and people that I just met this weekend, and play ultimate. And before this weekend, I had forgotten what that was like.
So long live the ORIGINAL ultimate whore!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
The best part about college
What's the best part about being in college that you can never get back? Well, there are so many things, but as I am sitting here on the the couch in Atlanta, I realized what I miss most about being in college.
You can't walk to get ice cream at all hours of the night.
Being able to go out at 9:00, 10:00. 11:00... when ever, and get ice cream with my roommates. Seriously. We were an ice cream eating bunch, me, Nichole, Emily, and Jenna. We were the roommates that fed off the the cravings of the other three. If one person had bought ice cream, at some point or another, all three of us would see the one eating it and immediately start craving it. It was really weird, and really funny (now at least). We especially loved Ben and Jerry's Fish Food... OMG... there are absolutely no words. And on more than one occasion in the two years the four of us lived together (with various other roommates) we would walk down to the 18th street IGA (yeah-- the super sketchy one) and each buy an outrageously expensive pint of ice cream. And then we would proceed to walk back to our house, a house i miss so much with its giant rooms and fireplaces and my own spaces, and we would eat our ice cream sitting on the front porch, or more often than not all piled into the sofa with millions of blankets and huddled around the heater.
After college, you don't get to do that quite as often I am finding. You can't make midnight runs to the 24 hour Kroger to get groceries (best time ever... no one is there except other college students), or realize that you can stay up until 2 or 3 talking to you roommates, get up in time for an 8am class, come home, nap, work, practice, and still have time to do homework at the library (stinky from practice of course), all before midnight. Or the spur of the moment rafting trip to the Ocoee, or anywhere for that matter. I coming home from a Frisbee party around 3am, grabbing some popcorn, and sitting in my dorm room with Heather and winding down talking about the night until one of us nodded off (usually me). I miss being able to walk 90% of the places I needed to go, or calling a friend five minutes before you are heading to lunch to realize that they are heading there too.
OK, so I'm not sure what prompted this impromptu stroll down memory lane-- i think it was because I wanted ice cream right around the end of Ugly Betty, and realized that after college, all of your friends start to have real jobs and can't run out for ice cream at 9pm, and none of them live close to me for it to be plausible on a Thursday night anyway. It just isn't possible, and you have to work a lot harder for those moments of randomness. Damn... this got sad really fast for me. That wasn't supposed to happen...
You can't walk to get ice cream at all hours of the night.
Being able to go out at 9:00, 10:00. 11:00... when ever, and get ice cream with my roommates. Seriously. We were an ice cream eating bunch, me, Nichole, Emily, and Jenna. We were the roommates that fed off the the cravings of the other three. If one person had bought ice cream, at some point or another, all three of us would see the one eating it and immediately start craving it. It was really weird, and really funny (now at least). We especially loved Ben and Jerry's Fish Food... OMG... there are absolutely no words. And on more than one occasion in the two years the four of us lived together (with various other roommates) we would walk down to the 18th street IGA (yeah-- the super sketchy one) and each buy an outrageously expensive pint of ice cream. And then we would proceed to walk back to our house, a house i miss so much with its giant rooms and fireplaces and my own spaces, and we would eat our ice cream sitting on the front porch, or more often than not all piled into the sofa with millions of blankets and huddled around the heater.
After college, you don't get to do that quite as often I am finding. You can't make midnight runs to the 24 hour Kroger to get groceries (best time ever... no one is there except other college students), or realize that you can stay up until 2 or 3 talking to you roommates, get up in time for an 8am class, come home, nap, work, practice, and still have time to do homework at the library (stinky from practice of course), all before midnight. Or the spur of the moment rafting trip to the Ocoee, or anywhere for that matter. I coming home from a Frisbee party around 3am, grabbing some popcorn, and sitting in my dorm room with Heather and winding down talking about the night until one of us nodded off (usually me). I miss being able to walk 90% of the places I needed to go, or calling a friend five minutes before you are heading to lunch to realize that they are heading there too.
OK, so I'm not sure what prompted this impromptu stroll down memory lane-- i think it was because I wanted ice cream right around the end of Ugly Betty, and realized that after college, all of your friends start to have real jobs and can't run out for ice cream at 9pm, and none of them live close to me for it to be plausible on a Thursday night anyway. It just isn't possible, and you have to work a lot harder for those moments of randomness. Damn... this got sad really fast for me. That wasn't supposed to happen...
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Women's basketball... not competitive?
So I'm sitting here watching the U.S. women's basketball team play New Zealand during the Olympics, nice relaxing Sunday morning right? NO. It was, until while i was partially watching the game and reading a book, I heard one of the commentators say that up until 10 years ago women's basketball wasn't that competitive, that it was more of a social sport. Is he fucking kidding?
This statement completely blows my mind, because if he had ever followed women's basketball, or did any research on the sport at all, he would know that women's basketball is just as competitive as men's. The reason that no one knows this is because no one has taken the time until recently to actually watch the game and follow it. I've been following women's basketball since I was in middle school, especially the Tennessee Lady Vols, and if anyone has ever turned on a game, or read anything on them or Pat Summit, they would know that women's basketball is just as competitive as men's, sometimes even more so. The Lady Vols have won 8 NCAA national championships, have been to the NCAA tournament almost every year since Pat Summit started coaching them (and since it's inception). They have been to the final four 18 times. How can someone say that a team like this isn't competitive? They have produced two of the greatest female players in history, along with more all stars and all Americans that can be counted. AND Candace Parker is the first woman who can dunk on a regular basis. Seriously?
OK... that was my Lady Vols tangent-- I am a fan. Can't help it. But in general, how can someone say it isn't competitive? Up until 10 years ago, women played because they loved the game, they were good at it, and for many it was a way to get an education at a top notch college. And then nothing. Most women, if they were good enough, would play in the Olympics every four years, maybe go overseas to play on European teams, and a very select few would continue to play on the National Team. The majority of female players, post college, didn't play competitively again. Does that make it a non-competitive aspect of the sport? No. It's just the way things were. With the WNBA, things are a little different, but it still isn't as respected as the men's side, but that's OK. It is a way for women to keep playing after college, just as the NBA is a way for men to keep playing.
Another example: My junior year of high school, church league rec basketball. CHURCH LEAGUE. it was the tournament, and we were playing the team that we all hated... and i mean hated. On our home court. And somehow, between my team, our parents, the other advent girls team in our age group, their parents, and all of our friends (advent or otherwise) we filled up the gym so much that there was no where for anyone to actually go. NO WHERE. that was the loudest and the most people that have ever seen me play basketball, or any advent team. And even though we lost, it mean a lot to us, and our friends and families. So, uncompetitive? Try asking anyone that played that night if we weren't competitive players, even at the rec level.
I guess, what I'm saying is don't knock the women's side, because more than likely, they are going to beat you anyway. And if you really want to see how the game is supposed to be played, watch the 2008 NCAA women's final. Watch TN's all star, Candace Parker, have a hurt shoulder, and score the least number of points in the season, if not her career. And then watch the rest of the team step it up on defense, literally watch them do it, and beat Stanford 64-48, It wasn't a flashy win, but it was the most decisive example of what basketball and a team should be.
I mean-- I'm just saying.
This statement completely blows my mind, because if he had ever followed women's basketball, or did any research on the sport at all, he would know that women's basketball is just as competitive as men's. The reason that no one knows this is because no one has taken the time until recently to actually watch the game and follow it. I've been following women's basketball since I was in middle school, especially the Tennessee Lady Vols, and if anyone has ever turned on a game, or read anything on them or Pat Summit, they would know that women's basketball is just as competitive as men's, sometimes even more so. The Lady Vols have won 8 NCAA national championships, have been to the NCAA tournament almost every year since Pat Summit started coaching them (and since it's inception). They have been to the final four 18 times. How can someone say that a team like this isn't competitive? They have produced two of the greatest female players in history, along with more all stars and all Americans that can be counted. AND Candace Parker is the first woman who can dunk on a regular basis. Seriously?
OK... that was my Lady Vols tangent-- I am a fan. Can't help it. But in general, how can someone say it isn't competitive? Up until 10 years ago, women played because they loved the game, they were good at it, and for many it was a way to get an education at a top notch college. And then nothing. Most women, if they were good enough, would play in the Olympics every four years, maybe go overseas to play on European teams, and a very select few would continue to play on the National Team. The majority of female players, post college, didn't play competitively again. Does that make it a non-competitive aspect of the sport? No. It's just the way things were. With the WNBA, things are a little different, but it still isn't as respected as the men's side, but that's OK. It is a way for women to keep playing after college, just as the NBA is a way for men to keep playing.
Another example: My junior year of high school, church league rec basketball. CHURCH LEAGUE. it was the tournament, and we were playing the team that we all hated... and i mean hated. On our home court. And somehow, between my team, our parents, the other advent girls team in our age group, their parents, and all of our friends (advent or otherwise) we filled up the gym so much that there was no where for anyone to actually go. NO WHERE. that was the loudest and the most people that have ever seen me play basketball, or any advent team. And even though we lost, it mean a lot to us, and our friends and families. So, uncompetitive? Try asking anyone that played that night if we weren't competitive players, even at the rec level.
I guess, what I'm saying is don't knock the women's side, because more than likely, they are going to beat you anyway. And if you really want to see how the game is supposed to be played, watch the 2008 NCAA women's final. Watch TN's all star, Candace Parker, have a hurt shoulder, and score the least number of points in the season, if not her career. And then watch the rest of the team step it up on defense, literally watch them do it, and beat Stanford 64-48, It wasn't a flashy win, but it was the most decisive example of what basketball and a team should be.
I mean-- I'm just saying.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Thoughts for the week of August 10-16 2008
So... i figured that this is as good a time as any to start this. so, every once in a while, either once a week or when the mood strikes (whichever comes the most often), I am just going to type up some of the random thoughts or angry tangents from the week.
No matter how bad the day, a glass or red wine can cure all problems and stresses.
If you are going to go to the gym, work out. Do NOT sit on a machine, an actual wight lifting machine that someone is trying to use (especially if it is the ONLY one) and read a newspaper for ten minutes, lift once, read for another ten minutes, etc. Actually work out. If you want to read your newspaper, go sit on the incline bike. No one who is actually trying to get a workout is using those.
There is a difference between being friends with someone and being friendly. Don't get the two confused.
Sometimes, they just aren't interested.
My list of stupid boys keeps getting longer, but the list of nice, sane boys keeps getting shorter, no matter how many new people I meet. This does not bode well for the future.
I love seeing friends from my past-- especially when I get to gossip and be slightly bitchy with them.
I'm going to hell, but it's ok. I'll know LOTS of people there.
No matter how bad the day, a glass or red wine can cure all problems and stresses.
If you are going to go to the gym, work out. Do NOT sit on a machine, an actual wight lifting machine that someone is trying to use (especially if it is the ONLY one) and read a newspaper for ten minutes, lift once, read for another ten minutes, etc. Actually work out. If you want to read your newspaper, go sit on the incline bike. No one who is actually trying to get a workout is using those.
There is a difference between being friends with someone and being friendly. Don't get the two confused.
Sometimes, they just aren't interested.
My list of stupid boys keeps getting longer, but the list of nice, sane boys keeps getting shorter, no matter how many new people I meet. This does not bode well for the future.
I love seeing friends from my past-- especially when I get to gossip and be slightly bitchy with them.
I'm going to hell, but it's ok. I'll know LOTS of people there.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Life After Graduate School (ok... i'm noticing a theme here)
So... finally officially graduated from graduate school! i know, i know: I've been talking about this for weeks, most people are pretty sure i finished about a month ago, and that is just not true. what actually happened is that i skipped my last class about a month ago, making my last CLASS of graduate school a month ago (and then i quickly skipped town for a week). then about two weeks ago i finished my last project, turning it in literally the last minute it could possibly be turned in for full credit, thus finishing my last assignment for graduate school two weeks ago. and this week i got all of my grades, and NOW i am officially done with school, with a 3.78 in graduate school (Magna cum laude!). so DONE (haven't gotten the diploma yet, but whatever... close as I'm going to get at this point)
So what happens after graduate school? I'm not sure,because what is supposed to happen hasn't for me yet. I know i sound like a Debbie downer, but I'm not. Not really anyway. I haven't found a job, and that happens-- apparently it has happened to over half of the people in my program. my professional life isn't the only one suffering apparently :) so I'm just hanging out, making sure i have paperwork in and stuff for more counties, subbing, and the counties i actually want to work in. I'm also doing some odd job stuff at the preschool, and will probably become someone's filing bitch here in the near future, just to make ends meet.
Other than that, I've been contemplating whether or not to move. One of the guys in my grad program is moving overseas to teach. Should i do that? i don't know. i have no idea if i should do this, but is definitely something I have always wanted to do. I've always wanted to live overseas, and a very very very long time ago i seriously wanted this. It was part of the dream, the goal for life. but now... i don't know. I can't imagine leaving Atlanta yet, but at the same time i do not want to get sucked in. And the sad thing is is that I can feel myself getting sucked in. So... do i go ahead and apply through some of the online systems for teaching overseas and see what happens, or do i just wait until I'm ready? i have no idea.
basically, life after graduate school revolves around having no earthly idea what I am supposed to be doing, or anyway to do anything i do want to do. basically.
PS: on a side note i realized how good a friend manhands is. as my cousin put it "you know you have a true friend when she will boy stalk for you". hehe :)
PPS: I caught a callahan at EOS!!!!!
So what happens after graduate school? I'm not sure,because what is supposed to happen hasn't for me yet. I know i sound like a Debbie downer, but I'm not. Not really anyway. I haven't found a job, and that happens-- apparently it has happened to over half of the people in my program. my professional life isn't the only one suffering apparently :) so I'm just hanging out, making sure i have paperwork in and stuff for more counties, subbing, and the counties i actually want to work in. I'm also doing some odd job stuff at the preschool, and will probably become someone's filing bitch here in the near future, just to make ends meet.
Other than that, I've been contemplating whether or not to move. One of the guys in my grad program is moving overseas to teach. Should i do that? i don't know. i have no idea if i should do this, but is definitely something I have always wanted to do. I've always wanted to live overseas, and a very very very long time ago i seriously wanted this. It was part of the dream, the goal for life. but now... i don't know. I can't imagine leaving Atlanta yet, but at the same time i do not want to get sucked in. And the sad thing is is that I can feel myself getting sucked in. So... do i go ahead and apply through some of the online systems for teaching overseas and see what happens, or do i just wait until I'm ready? i have no idea.
basically, life after graduate school revolves around having no earthly idea what I am supposed to be doing, or anyway to do anything i do want to do. basically.
PS: on a side note i realized how good a friend manhands is. as my cousin put it "you know you have a true friend when she will boy stalk for you". hehe :)
PPS: I caught a callahan at EOS!!!!!
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Life After Ultimate
Recently I have rediscovered the things i did before i played ultimate. i know, i know-- those things have still been around, so it's my fault that i had forgotten what those were. But in my defense, ultimate is a very soul sucking sport, because i love to play, it is the only thing I've ever been particularly good at, and the people are amazing, and the traveling, and the tournaments... the list goes on and on, and you kinda get the idea. I love the game, more than I've ever really loved anything or so I thought.
About two weeks ago i got to go and be a counselor for a middle school trip for the church i grew up in. It was AMAZING! first, i got to go and spend seven days in the woods with no drama, no email, and no telephone (unless i wanted it that is). I got to hang with 30 11, 12, and 13 year olds and watch them go through do some amazing activities that i did when i was their age (yes, i am old and I've dealt with that) and they are also some awesome kids, or at least most of them were. I also got to do some of my favorite things that i haven't done in years: rappelling, ropes course, rafting, hiking, kayaking, even mountain biking (still scary). I also got to hang out with some amazing other counselor/adult type people. three of them have known me since i was a kid and we grew up together, but i also met some people who totally get me, even though we area all totally different, and they don't know anything about my life here which i really important to me.
so i guess what I'm saying is that while on this trip i realized many things about my life:
1. I do still believe in God, I'm just not a church person currently.
Those two things are not mutually exclusive, and I had forgotten that, so it was nice to be reminded in a setting that was OK with that, and people who understand that concept.
2. I have other things (and people) in my life that are just as fun and important to me as ultimate!
I KNOW! it is true-- i like other things besides ultimate! I realized this while kayaking, and camping. I love being outside in nature, and before i started playing ultimate so much, I did kayak a little-- even though i wasn't very good at it and too scared to try anything terribly exciting-- but still. and the fact is i need to do these things, just to be rounded in my life and how i feel. I mean honestly, as dorky as it sounds, when i get away to the mountains, i am a much happier person. Also I need to remember that there are other people in my life, whose function as friends are just as important to my well being and happiness as my ultimate friends. And I need to remember to appreciate them, and spend time with them as well.
3. There was life before ultimate, and there is life after ultimate.
I mean seriously. I know this. I've always known this. I am not playing frisbee this fall, because honestly if i can't commit myself 100% to a team, practice, be there, all that jazz, then I'm not going to play at all. I would much rather spend my money and time doing other things that i love to do instead of playing for a team that isn't going to win many games and that i don't particularly care about. I mean, I'm still slightly pissed that i didn't make a team, and it is kinda bull shit, but ya know what? i shouldn't take that out on others, which would happen, but also i am now open to spend time doing other things that i love with people that i basically have blown off for the last few years while i was devoting my life to ultimate. so there is life after frisbee-- i just have to remember that more often, and take the time to enjoy that life.
So if anyone wants to head to the mountains, or needs someone to go with them, call me up. I'm totally down :)
About two weeks ago i got to go and be a counselor for a middle school trip for the church i grew up in. It was AMAZING! first, i got to go and spend seven days in the woods with no drama, no email, and no telephone (unless i wanted it that is). I got to hang with 30 11, 12, and 13 year olds and watch them go through do some amazing activities that i did when i was their age (yes, i am old and I've dealt with that) and they are also some awesome kids, or at least most of them were. I also got to do some of my favorite things that i haven't done in years: rappelling, ropes course, rafting, hiking, kayaking, even mountain biking (still scary). I also got to hang out with some amazing other counselor/adult type people. three of them have known me since i was a kid and we grew up together, but i also met some people who totally get me, even though we area all totally different, and they don't know anything about my life here which i really important to me.
so i guess what I'm saying is that while on this trip i realized many things about my life:
1. I do still believe in God, I'm just not a church person currently.
Those two things are not mutually exclusive, and I had forgotten that, so it was nice to be reminded in a setting that was OK with that, and people who understand that concept.
2. I have other things (and people) in my life that are just as fun and important to me as ultimate!
I KNOW! it is true-- i like other things besides ultimate! I realized this while kayaking, and camping. I love being outside in nature, and before i started playing ultimate so much, I did kayak a little-- even though i wasn't very good at it and too scared to try anything terribly exciting-- but still. and the fact is i need to do these things, just to be rounded in my life and how i feel. I mean honestly, as dorky as it sounds, when i get away to the mountains, i am a much happier person. Also I need to remember that there are other people in my life, whose function as friends are just as important to my well being and happiness as my ultimate friends. And I need to remember to appreciate them, and spend time with them as well.
3. There was life before ultimate, and there is life after ultimate.
I mean seriously. I know this. I've always known this. I am not playing frisbee this fall, because honestly if i can't commit myself 100% to a team, practice, be there, all that jazz, then I'm not going to play at all. I would much rather spend my money and time doing other things that i love to do instead of playing for a team that isn't going to win many games and that i don't particularly care about. I mean, I'm still slightly pissed that i didn't make a team, and it is kinda bull shit, but ya know what? i shouldn't take that out on others, which would happen, but also i am now open to spend time doing other things that i love with people that i basically have blown off for the last few years while i was devoting my life to ultimate. so there is life after frisbee-- i just have to remember that more often, and take the time to enjoy that life.
So if anyone wants to head to the mountains, or needs someone to go with them, call me up. I'm totally down :)
Monday, May 12, 2008
Offical Oregon Post (minus pictures)
So Oregon. I don't even know where to begin, because it was just the most amazing trip EVER.
Ok, I'll try to explain the trip quickly, and I will add pictures once I've downloaded them off of my camera.
May 1st: Left Nashville at 6am, landed in Portland around 12:45, caught a ride to the train station from my neighbor (from the flight) and her son, rode the train to Eugene and got there around 6:00PM. Lauren came a picked me up, we hung out a little, drove around being excited to see each other and because I actually finally made it out West, and trying to decide where my first Oregon meal would be. Bought Wailers tickets, showered, went to the Wailers show, and then went out. At some point I started to nod off at the bar, and we realized that I had been up for 24 STRAIGHT hours, and it was time to put me to bed... after we rode our bikes home.
May 2nd: woke up late and just hung around Eugene for most of the day... went to campus, rode bikes, art walk, bars. nothing big.
May 3rd: Paddling day! went paddling on the Willamette, wandered while LP had to do some job training, then drove north of Hobbit Beach on the coast and car camped.
May 4th: BIRTHDAY!!! woke up on the coast which was amazing!!!! so beautiful. Woke up to the "cliffy" Oregon coast, then drove to the sand dunes of the Oregon coast... super awesome. Dropped LP off for more training, went back to Eugene and played some Birthday ultimate, hung with Alison Hopscroft (nooga!), then passed out really ridiculous early.
May 5th: Drove to Bend and stayed in a B&B for the night and just wandered.
May 6th: Drove around central Oregon some more, stopped every chance i could so that I could take pictures, snowshoed near Waldo Lake (couldn't actually make it there because it was a 9 mile hike and not only did I not have the time, but snowshoeing isn't easy either. so just hiked for about an hour, tried to take some pictures, then went back down to the car to drive some more. Got back to Eugene, went to Blue Grass night-- not bad.
May 7th: street fair on the UO campus... pretty sweet. Cheap stuff and very Oregon. Also went and played Beer Bingo with Grant and disc golf with some of the UO Frisbee boys. Again, i can't seem to be decent at urban disc golf, but i love playing so i don't actually care. I did not terrible, but i did fall once and made an ass of myself. on top of that, i was still finding mulch embedded in my skin the following two days.
May 8th: Last day in Eugene... very sad. Hung with LP in the morning, went to Rail Jam in the afternoon. Rail Jam is a snow boarding contest that is held on the UO campus (it's actually a tour sponsored by Cricket and Cliff Bar... all over the west) and snow is trucked it. It was kinda awesome for this southern kid, and the mascot dropped in a couple of times.
May 9th and 10th: hung with Parag in Portland! it was so fun, and Portland is pretty cool. Chinese gardens, Pearl District, Hawthorne district, and the coolest bar ever! It is called Ground Kontrol, and it is a bar with full of old school arcade and pinball games. so fun... maybe the best bar the whole trip.
May 11th: flew home, but ended up spending 7 hours in the Chicago O'Hare airport because they kept canceling my flights! finally made it home today from Nashville and then had my first May-mester class tonight... it was awful...
any other details are unlikely to follow-- a phone call will be necessary.. there will be pictures with some explanations I'm sure... as soon as i get around to downloading them.
Ok, I'll try to explain the trip quickly, and I will add pictures once I've downloaded them off of my camera.
May 1st: Left Nashville at 6am, landed in Portland around 12:45, caught a ride to the train station from my neighbor (from the flight) and her son, rode the train to Eugene and got there around 6:00PM. Lauren came a picked me up, we hung out a little, drove around being excited to see each other and because I actually finally made it out West, and trying to decide where my first Oregon meal would be. Bought Wailers tickets, showered, went to the Wailers show, and then went out. At some point I started to nod off at the bar, and we realized that I had been up for 24 STRAIGHT hours, and it was time to put me to bed... after we rode our bikes home.
May 2nd: woke up late and just hung around Eugene for most of the day... went to campus, rode bikes, art walk, bars. nothing big.
May 3rd: Paddling day! went paddling on the Willamette, wandered while LP had to do some job training, then drove north of Hobbit Beach on the coast and car camped.
May 4th: BIRTHDAY!!! woke up on the coast which was amazing!!!! so beautiful. Woke up to the "cliffy" Oregon coast, then drove to the sand dunes of the Oregon coast... super awesome. Dropped LP off for more training, went back to Eugene and played some Birthday ultimate, hung with Alison Hopscroft (nooga!), then passed out really ridiculous early.
May 5th: Drove to Bend and stayed in a B&B for the night and just wandered.
May 6th: Drove around central Oregon some more, stopped every chance i could so that I could take pictures, snowshoed near Waldo Lake (couldn't actually make it there because it was a 9 mile hike and not only did I not have the time, but snowshoeing isn't easy either. so just hiked for about an hour, tried to take some pictures, then went back down to the car to drive some more. Got back to Eugene, went to Blue Grass night-- not bad.
May 7th: street fair on the UO campus... pretty sweet. Cheap stuff and very Oregon. Also went and played Beer Bingo with Grant and disc golf with some of the UO Frisbee boys. Again, i can't seem to be decent at urban disc golf, but i love playing so i don't actually care. I did not terrible, but i did fall once and made an ass of myself. on top of that, i was still finding mulch embedded in my skin the following two days.
May 8th: Last day in Eugene... very sad. Hung with LP in the morning, went to Rail Jam in the afternoon. Rail Jam is a snow boarding contest that is held on the UO campus (it's actually a tour sponsored by Cricket and Cliff Bar... all over the west) and snow is trucked it. It was kinda awesome for this southern kid, and the mascot dropped in a couple of times.
May 9th and 10th: hung with Parag in Portland! it was so fun, and Portland is pretty cool. Chinese gardens, Pearl District, Hawthorne district, and the coolest bar ever! It is called Ground Kontrol, and it is a bar with full of old school arcade and pinball games. so fun... maybe the best bar the whole trip.
May 11th: flew home, but ended up spending 7 hours in the Chicago O'Hare airport because they kept canceling my flights! finally made it home today from Nashville and then had my first May-mester class tonight... it was awful...
any other details are unlikely to follow-- a phone call will be necessary.. there will be pictures with some explanations I'm sure... as soon as i get around to downloading them.
Friday, May 09, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
oh the drunk dial
Last night was the second annual East Atlanta Village Bar Golf... and while it was way less crazy than last year, it was still really really fun :) I decided to "play" a few holes, and in the process had my first (two) car bombs ever... i was pleasantly surprised by the deliciousness. But in the process of the night, I started talking about drunk dialing vs. drunk texting. It seems that drunk texting is what most people do now when they get to that point in the night, but i don't understand it. I used to be a notorious drunk dialer... it was pretty bad, and i used to leave some RIDICULOUS messages on my friends voicemail. I think my favorite was after going to Tuscaloosa with Stacey a couple of years ago, we were on our way to lunch before I headed back to Knoxville, and my phone rang. It was Lacey, and as I looked at the phone, in my head I thought "Oh shit... did I all her last night?", immediately followed by "What did I say?!" Phone conversations never end well when they start with those two thoughts/sentences.
---
---
But at the same time, somewhere along the way I was able to cut down on the instances where people received alcohol induced phone calls, and while some were a little upset because they find these times extremely entertaining, many more were OK with this. Well, last night I felt all the missed drunk dial opportunities building up in my system, and I knew that I would probably either make a massive number of phone calls and make an ass of myself, or I would make only a few calls and talk to long and possibly say something that I would regret the next day.
----
How do you solve this problem? You give your phone to someone else! And Rachel became the enforcer, and promised not go give me my phone back, no matter how many times I asked for it. Well, this worked, until she decided that it would be kinda funny if I was allowed to call one person in my phone. So she took my phone out, found this person's phone number, and I called. We had a fairly uneventful drunken conversation, and while Rachel was not paying attention, I made another phone call, one that I would not have made if I was not slightly intoxicated. And i don't really remember what we talked about (surprise), but I do remember Rachel trying to wrestle my phone away from me in the middle of the sidewalk. It was pretty funny... until I got the phone call today. "Oh shit... ", immediately followed by "What did we talk about?!"
Lesson from this journey into drunk dialing: still love it, still always a good idea (at least at the time).
----
How do you solve this problem? You give your phone to someone else! And Rachel became the enforcer, and promised not go give me my phone back, no matter how many times I asked for it. Well, this worked, until she decided that it would be kinda funny if I was allowed to call one person in my phone. So she took my phone out, found this person's phone number, and I called. We had a fairly uneventful drunken conversation, and while Rachel was not paying attention, I made another phone call, one that I would not have made if I was not slightly intoxicated. And i don't really remember what we talked about (surprise), but I do remember Rachel trying to wrestle my phone away from me in the middle of the sidewalk. It was pretty funny... until I got the phone call today. "Oh shit... ", immediately followed by "What did we talk about?!"
Lesson from this journey into drunk dialing: still love it, still always a good idea (at least at the time).
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
this is for you manhands
So, recently i received the following facebook email from a "friend":
____________________________________________________________________
1) I wish you updated your blog more. If you do that, I'll try my best to drink and post on the forums to keep you interested.
2) speaking of blogs, my new address is:www.blahblahblah.org I thought it was dumb to have my real last name in the URL and JonCulver convinced me .org is the way to go!!
3) are you finishing grad school next month?...if so that is CRAZY!! Look at you little miss smarty pants (almost) with a grad degree.
I don't know when we'll cross paths next, so here's the "congrats"
If you happen to be bored tomorrow, come to auburn between noon--???...we'll be dowing pitchers of booze at momma gs!!!!!!!!
anyways, i'm bored and need to try to write a boring paper and pretend i know what i'm doing
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I figured that if someone told me that i needed to update the blog more often, then maybe i should do this. actually... i've started this many many times, but because of school and my indentured servitude at Grady, i haven't had all that much time. i know... it is so sad the kind of hit my social life has taken because of graduate school... ah well-- summer is a-coming :)
So where is my life currently? i am so close to being done with grady that it hurts... just giving a test tomorrow and friday, and next week I am basically just showing up because i have to... no lessons to teach, just required to be there. Unfortunatly, because I have been the queen of procrastination, I have to work on my giant history project next week. I have put it off so long, that even though I am having trouble finding enough primary sources for it, I don't have time to start over. guess i'll be winging it as usual. AND i have to write the last essay (because at this point in my life, 4 pages really is an essay) because I've made B's on the first two. You might be saying "Caroloopy... B's aren't bad. They're actually pretty good!" And while normally I would agree with you, I'm pretty set on keeping my mostly A status as a graduate student (stupid EXC...), so a ginormous project and one little tiny essay left, all due two weeks from today... before I head to oregon! yeah for vacation!!!
Let's see... what else? Not too much really. Today i made the decision that susie is now offically in charge of most of my decisions... or least in charge of editing them before they are actually made. It may sound weird, but it is much easier to step back and edit other people's decisions than it is your own... that whole not actually being involved thing. Especially when it comes to boys... i definatly don't make good decisions there-- so susie= in charge.
Besides that there isn't too terribly much going on. My life is school everyday, happy hour every friday, spring leage (4-0!) every saturday that it DOES NOT rain, and then playing catchup on sundays and watching bad movies with my cousin. it works out pretty well. no exciting stories of me going to auburn and making an ass of myself... makes life way less interesting at the least. Although... bar golf is coming up this weekend... there are sure to be stories from that.
the end.
____________________________________________________________________
1) I wish you updated your blog more. If you do that, I'll try my best to drink and post on the forums to keep you interested.
2) speaking of blogs, my new address is:www.blahblahblah.org I thought it was dumb to have my real last name in the URL and JonCulver convinced me .org is the way to go!!
3) are you finishing grad school next month?...if so that is CRAZY!! Look at you little miss smarty pants (almost) with a grad degree.
I don't know when we'll cross paths next, so here's the "congrats"
If you happen to be bored tomorrow, come to auburn between noon--???...we'll be dowing pitchers of booze at momma gs!!!!!!!!
anyways, i'm bored and need to try to write a boring paper and pretend i know what i'm doing
_____________________________________________________________________________________
I figured that if someone told me that i needed to update the blog more often, then maybe i should do this. actually... i've started this many many times, but because of school and my indentured servitude at Grady, i haven't had all that much time. i know... it is so sad the kind of hit my social life has taken because of graduate school... ah well-- summer is a-coming :)
So where is my life currently? i am so close to being done with grady that it hurts... just giving a test tomorrow and friday, and next week I am basically just showing up because i have to... no lessons to teach, just required to be there. Unfortunatly, because I have been the queen of procrastination, I have to work on my giant history project next week. I have put it off so long, that even though I am having trouble finding enough primary sources for it, I don't have time to start over. guess i'll be winging it as usual. AND i have to write the last essay (because at this point in my life, 4 pages really is an essay) because I've made B's on the first two. You might be saying "Caroloopy... B's aren't bad. They're actually pretty good!" And while normally I would agree with you, I'm pretty set on keeping my mostly A status as a graduate student (stupid EXC...), so a ginormous project and one little tiny essay left, all due two weeks from today... before I head to oregon! yeah for vacation!!!
Let's see... what else? Not too much really. Today i made the decision that susie is now offically in charge of most of my decisions... or least in charge of editing them before they are actually made. It may sound weird, but it is much easier to step back and edit other people's decisions than it is your own... that whole not actually being involved thing. Especially when it comes to boys... i definatly don't make good decisions there-- so susie= in charge.
Besides that there isn't too terribly much going on. My life is school everyday, happy hour every friday, spring leage (4-0!) every saturday that it DOES NOT rain, and then playing catchup on sundays and watching bad movies with my cousin. it works out pretty well. no exciting stories of me going to auburn and making an ass of myself... makes life way less interesting at the least. Although... bar golf is coming up this weekend... there are sure to be stories from that.
the end.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
I heart Savannah
Here is the fabulous beach house that me and 23 of my closest friends are renting for Memorial day weekend: http://www.mybeachhouseontybee.com/rentals/mybeachhouse_msl.html. And yet... that is SO far away for me at the moment. You think that if I close my eyes and wish hard enough it will be Memorial Day weekend, and I'll wake up on the beach with a cold beer in my hand?
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Tornados and Why I Heart Ultimate
College Terminus was yesterday-- was was supposed to be today as well. Anyone watching the news though would know that Atlanta has survived two days of thunderstorms and five tornadoes since Friday night. It has been a crazy two weekends of weather here. First, on Club Terminus weekend it was snowing SIDEWAYS Saturday morning, and basically gusting up to 25mph winds all weekend. It was totally ridiculous, especially since the weekend before had been beautiful and perfect weather wise.
This weekend was College Terminus, and my Tennessee girls were going to get the chance to play with everything to prove and nothing to lose. It was supposed to be amazing. And then Friday night it started to storm, and I thought that's all it was. When I got home that night after going out, it realized that downtown ATL had sustained MAJOR damage from apparently a tornado. Saturday morning I wake up too early for a Saturday, then head to the fields in the grayest morning ever. Get to the fields, and I think the day is going to turn out ok. I do some of my volunteer duties, then head off to watch the TN girls play FL in their first game of the weekend. The girls play well, are even up for a little while, but eventually lose 6-8 on the cap (just like at CCC- with the same score). It was heartbreaking to watch. They are on a bye for the second round of the day, so I go to watch the Auburn girls in their first game of the day. As I watch, the sky is getting darker and darker as the clouds role in. At 11-11, the horn is sounded because of a lightening sighting, and everyone starts to clear the fields. I had to tell the Iowa State girls to get off the fields... apparently they haven't ever encountered this kind of situation. So we hang out for a little while, then head to Moe's for lunch and some margaritas... might as well make the best of a situation I can't control, right? :)
Well- this all started at 12/12:30. around 2:30 we are told to head back to the fields because games are going to resume at 3:00. We get there, and it starts to rain again and hail. Hail that is the size of golf balls. Well, I head to the YMCA for some cover, and because it was super close. We get there, wait about 20 minutes, and then head back to the fields because we are told games are going to resume again. Games start, third round (the round that was supposed to start at 12:20... it is now after 4:00). Almost halfway through the games, another lightening strike. People run for cover, most to the tent, and everyone is kinda pissed at the situation, and frustrated. The TN girls are frustrated and in bad moods and in their cars threatening to leave, and getting pissed at me (and I'm not even on the team anymore!). I head to the tent, call them to make sure they don't leave, and hang out under the tent. At some point, the Oklahoma men's team puts on some crazy song (and if anyone reading this knows which song I'm talking about-- and you would have had to have been there or know them I guess-- please tell me what it is) and start dancing... and it takes over the tent. Or at least a majority of the people under the tent. It was awesome, and reminded me why I love ultimate and the people that play the sport.
Ultimate peeps seem to know how to make the best of probably the worst tournament situation EVER. Only one other time have I ever been in a situation where the weather was even close to this bad, and it was at SMUT a couple of years ago. We were able to keep playing at the end of the day, but games were called twice because of lightening, but everyone just hung out and chilled. And that is what the OK boys did, and it totally changed the mood under the tent. At some point even I said fuck it and started to shotgun beers because what else were we going to do?
All in all, the games went on, but eventually someone from the fields showed up and kicked us off for the rest of the weekend. Which sucks, because that means that the tournament was canceled for the rest of the weekend, but who cares? People were pissed, but it isn't something that anyone in charge or in Atlanta can control, so I hope everyone went to the party last night and had a good time... no one had a reason not too. And it gives me today off... which i like.
So overall, not anything that could have been controlled, everyone survived and is fine, and the OK boys are awesome.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
"I Fly"-- interesting
I fly
I fly up, out of my body
Looking down I see this girl-
Average on the outside, nothing that jumps out and yells “Look at ME!”
She walks through life at a pace steady and true
Not quite knowing who she is
I see her sadness that she keeps deep inside
Under the mask that is her life
She wears a smile that the world believes is true
But deep down inside is a wall
Too high to climb and too thick to break through
The pain and hurt from the past are building higher, thicker walls
She is afraid of life, of the hurt and the pain
She is sure no one sees her
Underneath the mask is a girl
Who loves and smiles and knows happiness
Who lets others see her deep darkness
The girl afraid of the world, of allowing others to love her
Because no one ever has
No one loves her
For her pain and hurt
For her insecurities
For her wall
For her true self
No one understands how thick the mask is
The mask of outward happiness
It is believable, to everyone including the girl
But I can see it, flying overhead
And as the day ends, I float back into my body-
For I am the girl, and I must live the life I see from above, of lies and pretend
I fly up, out of my body
Looking down I see this girl-
Average on the outside, nothing that jumps out and yells “Look at ME!”
She walks through life at a pace steady and true
Not quite knowing who she is
I see her sadness that she keeps deep inside
Under the mask that is her life
She wears a smile that the world believes is true
But deep down inside is a wall
Too high to climb and too thick to break through
The pain and hurt from the past are building higher, thicker walls
She is afraid of life, of the hurt and the pain
She is sure no one sees her
Underneath the mask is a girl
Who loves and smiles and knows happiness
Who lets others see her deep darkness
The girl afraid of the world, of allowing others to love her
Because no one ever has
No one loves her
For her pain and hurt
For her insecurities
For her wall
For her true self
No one understands how thick the mask is
The mask of outward happiness
It is believable, to everyone including the girl
But I can see it, flying overhead
And as the day ends, I float back into my body-
For I am the girl, and I must live the life I see from above, of lies and pretend
Thursday, January 03, 2008
The End of 2007 and The Beginning of 2008
I can hardly believe that 2007 is over- it seriously feels like yesterday that I celebrated the end of 2006 and beginning of 2007 in Athens last year, and Kevin's birthday at the same time. Had a great time, and it was the perfect way to bring in 2007. Here are some of the highlights from 2007 for me:
1. I FINALLY made my first trip to Europe (first actually being the key word in that sentence). It was perfect and awesome, and better than anything I've ever done. I got to go with my favorite, saw Ellen, and went to Italy, France, and Spain. Lots of good time. Unfortunately it fueled my need to travel even more than usual.
2. I got into graduate school. I took the GRE, passed, and got into graduate school at Georgia State University in downtown Atlanta for Education. Now all I have to do if finish without having a serious anxiety attack from stressing out about all the little things in the program that drive me absolutely crazy!
3. I finally feel totally comfortable in Atlanta. It has only take two years, but I am finally comfortable in Atlanta. Not only in getting around and knowing how to get places, but in places and with the people that I hang out with as well. I have more friends than just my clique, and I actually see people around Atlanta pretty randomly (I saw Ellen today at Lenox Mall! It was Awesome!).
2008 definitely came in with a bang. I started my newest thing, which is my traveling Barbie. She made her first appearance at McCargo and Simpson's Luau New Year's eve party, and apparently her adventures that night were a big hit. She will now continue to have adventures in 2008, and be like where's waldo. More appearances to defiantly come!
Here are some of my expectations for 2008 (I don't like resolutions):
1. GET BACK IN SHAPE! this is defiantly my biggest goal. I stopped playing ultimate in July to rest my knees after five years of doing the exact opposite, and then in October I sprained my ankle pretty badly, and wore an air cast for 7 weeks. I am now determined to spend the next few months strengthening my knees and ankles and core, and getting back into ultimate shape.
2. Play MORE ultimate. I didn't play nearly as much as I would approve of last year, but I am going to fix that problem. Once I get healthy and in shape, I am going to play as much and as often as possible. I am also captaining a women's winter league team, and probably a spring league team. we'll see how that goes.
3. Finish Graduate school, get certified, get a job, and my own apartment... and hopefully a new car (this may be a 2009 goal). All of these things are completely connected and dependant on the one that come before. They need no explanation.
4. Travel more! I know- i already travel more than anyone else I know, or more than is entirely healthy for my bank account. I don't care. I love traveling, and it is time to start hitting the places on the list of places I haven't been yet- and there are a lot (and I'll probably keep going to my favs- Savannah, auburn, Nooga, Knoxville)
5. Spend more time with the people that mean the most to me. I know that I need to spend time with my family more... and I want to. I also need to spend more time with my friends that are important to me, and I need to learn to let them know that they are important to me. I also need to learn to let the things to don't effect my life anymore go. They, and the people involved, don't actually mean anything anymore, and I need to stop and let things that don't matter go, and tell the people that do matter exactly that.
I think that may be it... I know that there are more, but I can't think of anything else at the moment... I guess I'll have to live it to see how it works out!
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