Nat Geo!!!!

Earlier this fall I was meeting with my advisor/head of the department, and he asked what I wanted to do with this particular degree. I didn't tell him this, but I am hoping that this one might actually get used... so far, we're 0 for 2. But when I told him what I had been thinking, he told me about an internship that National Geographic has... you don't apply for a particular department, the departments decide what they need in an intern, and if someone meets those requirements, then they are picked. So I found out on Tuesday...

I AM GOING TO WORK (as an intern) AT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC!!!!

I mean, are you freakin kidding me? Because shit like this doesn't happen to me. The catch: I have to be there and working on January 18, 2011. The problem (or what was): I am flying home on December 11 and not flying back until January 9. So here's what's happening... a friend of mine is taking my apartment, furniture and all, I am coming back, packing up my clothes in the Jeep, cleaning out the few personal things she won't want to look at, and then turning around and spending 3 days driving back across the country to DC. I'm super excited, and there is a small part of me that hopes that a job will come out of this DC thing... at anywhere. We'll see what happens. I'll live with my bro in Fredericksburg, commute a few times a week, sleep on various couches a few nights a week (hopefully), hang with Manhands and those kids, see other people that have ended up there, and play a little ultimate. So... another major change in my life, but it feels things are finally looking up :) Stay tuned (all four of you) for updates. There may be another blog started specifically to share experiences with family and professors, so look for that. For now, I'm focusing on heading back south!

Tucker Max and "I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell"

Last weekend, while having possibly the worst experience I've ever had while flying, I picked up I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell by Tucker Max. This might be one of the most highly offensive books I've ever read, and the most hilarious at the same time. I mean... this guy is an ass... he's a bad person, period. He does things to women that no sane person would ever do, treats people like shit, and generally does some of the stupidest things I've ever read or heard about while drinking. And yet... hilarious. I sometimes felt like a bad person for enjoying the book, but it's funny the shit he gets into and does. Probably because it hasn't happened to me, but whatever. Some of the girls in his stories are asking for it. I was trying to decide why I thought this was funny, and I realized, that while I am not friends with anyone that is as terrible a person as Tucker Max, I have many friends that have one or two Tucker Max qualities. Seriously- most of the boys that I am good friends with have some of these qualities. And sometimes it's what I love about them and other times it's what I hate about them. But overall, it is what it is. The thing that does make all of it OK though is that my friends know who they are, and Tucker Max does too... he knows he's an ass and a bad person, and he's good with that. In the end, I have to respect him for at least admitting that the things he does make him a bad person. Better that than trying to pretend that he isn't like that.

Overall: A on the book... but skim some of the stories before buying. Like I said- fairly offensive, especially if you don't find that kind of stuff funny.

Defining Oneself

This past weekend I went to the University of Kansas for a geography conference, and while some may believe (well... all 4 of you) that I should regale you all with my tales of how dorky geography conferences are, I'm just not going to. The part of the trip that made the biggest impression on me was the car ride. I crammed my big ass into a 5 person car with 4 other adults for 2, 12 hour days (Friday and Sunday). I know, I've done this before for frisbee, but trust me, this was different in so many ways. Particularly the conversations we had in the car. I enjoyed it, and listening and learning about how different these other people have lived their lives, but one question that was posed stuck with me more than any other:

How do we define ourselves?

It got me thinking. How do I define myself? Is it geographically? The people in my life? The people that are no longer in my life? The kinds of relationships I've cultivated for the long haul or the one's that are more day-to-day? How I have or have not reacted to various situations?

I ended up thinking about this most of the way home, in a quiet, looking out the window, day dreaming kind of way. I thought about it enough that I think I've come up with a loose definition of who I am, but how can it ever be concrete when everything everyday changes who we are as people? Anyway- here is my definition of myself.

I'm a Tennessee girl first and a southerner second. I'm always an American, but Tennessee is where I was raised and it's a place I miss a lot, which surprises me at times. I love the outdoors and being outside in the woods, but I have developed into a city girl. I define this in this way because I use the woods as an escape- I don't think I want to live out in the woods anymore. I like cities. I like that I can be just as alone in a city as I can out in the woods or on a river. A nameless face in a sea of people works for me.
I am someone who has come to cherish my friends beyond belief, because they are my family. They believe in me and I believe in them, and the ones' that matter stick around through my rough spots. I don't always like the way I've reacted to various situations in the past, but I hope that I've learned from them and that I won't make the same mistakes again- whether it's how I react or continuing to trust people that don't deserve it.
I don't believe in regrets, and I don't have regrets. I believe that I have made or not made decisions for a reason, and I don't think I should look back with regret- instead look forward. I am not afraid (most of the time) to do something new and different, and totally off the wall (i.e.: moving to WY), but I never do things that could result in a broken heart. I keep that locked up inside me behind a wall that is 10 ft. thick. I don't know how to change this, but I'm working on it.
My family is the most important thing to me, whether they are blood or chosen. I didn't have a huge family growing up, so we made our own. I've continued to do that wherever I move, and I believe Atlanta is now more home to me than anywhere else.

I'm not sure how else to articulate what I'm feeling after that car ride, but that's it, kinda. I know that I know who is important in my life, and I've tried to cut out the people that aren't or are bad for me. I try to appreciated my parents and my grandmother more, and especially my little brother. I'm trying to work on my friendships from Memphis that still matter, despite the distance and time difference, and it's hard. But the thing I know the most, that I believe in the most, is that the people and relationships that mean the most are the ones worth working the hardest for. Because those are what truly define a person.

Atlanta: December 28-January 9

I've decided that while there has been lots going on in my life, none of it is terribly interesting, nor do I really feel like updating on the last month or so. Here is what you need to know: I've over scheduled myself, and barely spend anytime in my apartment. I miss it, and can't wait until the first weekend in November where I'm literally going to stay in my pajams all weekend and not leave from friday after I get back from frisbee until I have to work that Sunday.

Otherwise, I'm already making my list of things to do while I'm in Atlanta.
1. Eat good food- this actually deserves its own sublist because all I want is good food in the great variety that only Atlanta has. Taqueria del sol, Six Feet Under, West Egg, Radial Cafe, Fellini's, Mellow Mushroom, Figo, Osteria... the list just keeps going.
2. Have a kick ass NYE... doing something somewhere that I don't have to drive.
3. See as many people that I love and miss dearly as entirely possibly in just over 10 days.

July/August Books

34. Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon Hunting Soccer Mom: Julie Kenner

35. California Demon: Julie Kenner

36. Demons are Forever: Julie Kenner

37. Kitty Goes to War: Carrie Vaughn

38. Improper English: Katie MacAlister

39. Men in Kilts: Katie MacAlister

40. Blood Brothers: Nora Roberts

41. Second Nature: Nora Roberts

42. One Summer: Nora Roberts

43. Lybrinth: Kate Mosse

44. The Coreset Diaries: Katie MacAlister
45. The Hollow: Nora Roberts
46. Southern Fried: Cathy Pickens
47. Done Gone Wrong: Cathy Pickens
48. The Pagan Stone: Nora Roberts
49. Hog Wild: Cathy Pickens

I am afraid that this will be the end of my serious reading for the year. Grad school has started, and my time for reading for fun has been cut in half between reading for school and my addiction to Netflix Instant Q. We'll see. The next four months may be lumped into one reading post... I hope I can get to 60 still :)

A Small Ultimate Community

When I was 18, I moved to Knoxville, had one hell of terrible first month, and then found Ultimate (that is actually how it happened- more or less). It was great. It was a small ultimate community, mostly made up of college players from UT with some players that were in Knoxville living and working. It was a welcoming and opening community, with the club (non-college) players willing to teach and wanting to, with the boys from the UT men's team doing the same as much as possible, and in the summers, there were 3 and 4 hour pickup games three times a week! My first summer in Knoxville I learned so much about the game, how to handle, how not to freak out, how to really play. Then, I got to be in charge of my team, and whenever we had new girls come out (club or college), we were so excited! It meant we could go to tournaments and actually play! I remember the first time I went to Knoxville pickup- first organized ultimate (what I know now as ultimate)- I was asked to go to a tournament that weekend. Of course, I didn't go- I was way too intimidated by the game, but still hooked from the first point. It was amazing.

Now, 8 years later- and trust me, it's been a fast 8 years- I've gone to more tournaments than I can possibly keep track of, played with more teams that I can count, and gotten to know some of the best people in the world. I went from playing in Knoxville (at most, 4 summer league teams while I was there), to driving down to Chattanooga once a week for two summers for league and playing at tournaments with them, to moving to Atlanta- a community with over 32 summer league teams and 800 people. I went from a very small community to a very, very big one. And it was a great experience and frustrating at the same time. It's hard to be a good player in Atlanta unless you are the best. It's one of the many reasons that I put teams together for the fun summer and off season tournaments- so that I could play, and play with my friends. I was able to play club for two years, but there were 3 season between the two. It's just hard in Atlanta, especially once you are put into a certain box of what type of player you are- there is no getting out of that box. But I still learned a lot about playing there, and I got smarter about how I play to make up for my weaknesses (read: SLOW). I met some amazing people and some not so amazing people, and learned a lot about myself. It was Atlanta.

Now, I'm back in a small ultimate community. Very, very small. The team here in WY is very... young. The girls are trying to start a girls team (have i been sucked back to Knoxville circa 2002?) and the boys are... well- they're college boys. They play a very run-and-gun style of play, and it's all about athleticism for them. The girls that play are like that too. But in the end, small ultimate communities are the same-- they welcome anyone new, and want others to play. I met the captains of the men's and women's teams last Thursday, and once I explained my situation, that I would only be able to really practice with the girls and do open scrimmages due to ineligibility and working on Sunday's, the next questions they had was: "Do you want to come to a coed tournament with us this weekend? We're having a coed scrimmage tomorrow to get ready for it- want to come?" I was just flabergasted, I think because I just haven't been around a community like that in a very long time. So I went, with the knowledge that everyone knew I could only play on Saturday. And I had a great time :) I didn't do too much on the field, or touch the disc too often, but they boys played with the boys. And in this situation I understand that- they just don't know me. But I didn't drop the disc often or get D'd at all, I had one mini-layout, I got a D, and I threw a beautiful backhand break to the opposite side of the endzone. So, I hope I made a mark with these people, because I do hope to get to play with them (Saturday's only) for a few tournaments that are close by. I decided that I will help the girls team out as much as possible because it's the right thing to do, and it will hopefully take some of the pressure off the captains. So, I guess I'm playing ultimate again :)

Now the decision is this: Go to Boise, ID this weekend to play with Susie's team (10 hours, probably alone), go to Durango, CO to play in the Labor Day Hat (8.5 hours, probably alone), or stay here and do homework and go to the game. All of these are possible due to work being put off until Monday, but the first two are not as feasible as I would hope. Decisions, decisions...

First Day of School

Who ever thought that at 26 I could still talk about tomorrow as being my "first day of school"? It's such a foreign and silly concept at 26- or at least I think so. But there it is. Although, technically my first day of school is on Tuesday as all I have to do tomorrow is go look at a bike, go to a new tutor meeting at 5, workout, and do into my office and do a few hours of work. Really, that's a pretty good first day of school.

Other than that, there isn't too much going on. I made it back from Atlanta on Wednesday in one piece and not too long after I expected to make it back- I had to stop in Ft. Collins for Panera... those opportunities don't come up too often anymore- and found my netflix :) Hooray for netflix. That helped with getting over leaving Atlanta (again), and I haven't been too sad this week, or at least not any sadder than I think I should be anyway. Atlanta is a great place. I love it. Of course I'm going to be sad!

Friday I got to meet the other grad students in my program, which was nice. I feel like I'm finally starting to meet people, and last night we all (or almost all) got together at one of the other student's houses and he grilled the things we all brought, we ate, we talked. It was great to be in a situation like that- one that is super laid back, and we all just kinda got to know each other. Or rather, the previous group got to know all of us, and we got to know each other. It was fun. I think my favorite part of the evening (besides me finishing off an entire bottle of wine alone) was when they lit a fire and we had smores. Silly, I know, but there's just something about a fire- and shockingly it was cold enough that it was actually necessary. I loved it! It was fun, we all started making plans- a few of the other students know how to climb and ski so they are going to teach those of us that don't know how (yet). We'll see how this actually goes. But it should be fun.

Overall, it's been a pretty good week- even though my week was all of two days long. But things are starting to get busy, life is picking up, and we'll see where it takes me :)

What should have been a hiking excursion...

turned into a weekend in Atlanta! I know I said that I was going to hike on the weekends, but Jenn Penn decided to change my plans for me. Last week we were gchatting, and she basically told me that because I didn't have anything else to do over the weekend except watch Netflix (yeah Netflix!), finish unpacking, and hang out in my apartment, that I would be coming home for the weekend! So, hooray Atlanta! Off I went on Thursday morning to fly out of Denver to Atlanta.

It's been such a great time, and something I SO needed. I was able to surprise everyone on my team, and pretty much everyone except for JP and the Good Timer's that she told, at GOTW that I was back- that was super fun :) Someone told me "I'm so glad to see you, and super surprised to look up and see you in the crowd, but at the same time it's normal. You're supposed to be here". I guess I just haven't been gone long enough. Just you wait until December people when you haven't seen me in 4 months.... just you wait. Hehe.

SO yeah, good surprise. It feels good to know I'm loved by the people that are happy to see me. I do find it funny that within 24 hours of being back in Atlanta though I see 3 people randomly that I wouldn't normally run into (well- two of them anyway). I ran into Ben Spears while waiting on Marta to take me to JP on Thursday night- that was fun to have someone to talk to on the train, and just to randomly run into someone. I also ran into Rusty from Nooga while waiting on a friend by the capitol building downtown on Friday. What was weird was that we both thought it was the other, but were too afraid to say anything. Finally I did, and it was good to talk to Rusty. Then, when I was closing out my bank accounts here (see... it was a necessary trip), I saw one of the kids from the preschool and her mom. That was great. Atlanta is a lot smaller than I realized....

Friday was spent just hanging out, running EOS errands with Church, and going out. I loved getting to play with Stranger Danger one more time. 2 absolutely heartbreaking losses made Saturday hard, but I played well and had a great time, so whatevs. Rain shortened Saturday a bit, and we ended up not playing last round. Instead, impromptu party happened and we all danced for hours (I'm still sore). It was super fun, and I danced with all my friends all night. Best part is that dance floor was in front of the front door of the house, so there was no easing into the dancing... you walked in and you were dancing. No choice about it. It was a night of debauchery and ridiculousness. Awesome. Yesterday was disappointed due to terrible playing, but it was great to just hang out.

Today I'm trying to get some work done, but the internet at Panera is kinda terrible and won't let me connect to the Wyoming webmail system, so I can't check my school email or my work email... which means I'll have lots of hours to make up when I get back on Wednesday and the rest of the week... that's not how this was supposed to happen. Eh- whatever. This is my last weekend like this for about 4 months. I think I'm already counting down the days until I can come back over New Year's. Sad.

It's been such a great weekend, and I am so happy that I got to do this. I think I'm ready to really start living in Wyoming now- with classes starting next week and all the orientations over the next few weeks and other grad students getting into town (thank god- friend potential), and possibly meeting the frisbee team (still thinking this one over... don't want to fall into the same old pattern), it's time to get busy. And get time flying for Christmas break.

No matter what- Hooray for Atlanta! I'm not sure when this actually became "home", but there isn't any place I'd rather call that :)

Hiking Excursion 1: Libby Creek

I have made a decision that I am going to try and hike every Saturday until the weather turns bad and roads become impassable. So far, I've succeeded, but there has only been one Saturday to try this on. I'm not saying this is always going to happen, but I'm going to make the attempt.

This past Saturday, August 7, I did just that. I have bought a book of local hiking trails- some of them easy and just a few miles (7 or less), and some of them are much, much more difficult (multi-night camping and 20+ miles, some peaks). I am really excited about this book, and randomly chose a trail that isn't too far from Laramie and was less than five miles. I'm still trying to acclimate to the elevation, so I figured anything less than 5 miles was doable. Libby Creek seemed perfect- it is a 3.5 mile loop about 45 minutes from Laramie, directly west. I got up on Saturday morning, in no hurry, and made breakfast, a lunch for myself, a lots of water. I also made sure to pack a long sleeve, rain jacket, and a fleece vest, everything just in case.

When I got to the trail head, it was a balmy 57 degrees. (PS: I love this weather!). I paid my access fee, got all my shit together, and hit the trail. It was beautiful! I didn't see anyone else out on the trail, so that was nice. In the Smokey's you always end up seeing people on any and all trails. My friend Brian has been hiking the AT and he doesn't go a day where he doesn't see people he doesn't know hiking. So yeah, it was a little crazy for me to see no one. I was lucky and got lots of sunshine- I was hot hiking the inclines, but never hot enough to take off my vest. So kinda perfect. I got to hike through some small meadows filled with wild flowers (yellow and purple!), saw some really cool mushrooms, and lots of little streams. Eventually I ended up down by Libby Creek, and it was georgous! I love being near running water, and I could hear the creek way before I was able to see it. I think the last incline up back to the trail head was the hardest because I knew I was nearing the end and I really just didn't want to go up anymore!

When I finished with the trail I was able to sit in the picnic area (which also a a creek running through it!) and have my lunch, then I headed back. It took my almost 2 hours, but I wasn't trying to break any speed records and I was enjoying myself. So, IMO, it was a great day. Here is a link to the pictures I took.

Wait a second... when did I start liking working out?

When did this happen? I loath working out. LOATH it. Always have...

Ok... I'm going to start at the beginning.

I am not a naturally athletically inclined person. I know, weird right? But I'm not. Up until I was in college, I basically played basketball for 3 months a year, and that was kinda it. Then I found Ultimate. And that sounds weird too, but it's true. And even then, through 3.5 years with Tennessee, I rarely worked out outside of practice/leagues/pickup. I didn't have to- you could go 4 days a week playing most summers (well, the first one at least). So I didn't really see the point. When I moved to Atlanta, I did track workouts for a year and a half, but that was mostly a social thing- the running was kind of a bonus. Then I quit doing that because it hurt to run on hard surfaces- still does- then sprained my ankle.

4 months later I started working out again because I felt like I needed to strengthen up everything in my legs so that I wouldn't have recurring ankle injuries. That has helped some, but somewhere along the way working out became cathartic- it became therapy for me. And I didn't really realize that until I started working out again for the first time in weeks yesterday. I mean, once the ankle thing happened I realized I was going to have to workout to play ultimate. HAVE to- I have put my body through too much and not taken very good care of it in the last 8 years to not do outside of ultimate cardio and lifting. But yesterday when I worked out I felt good afterwards. I was able to sleep through the whole night without waking up for the first time in over a week. And I felt better emotionally and physically.

I know you're telling yourself (or rather Annie is, since she's the only one that reads this), "Caroline... working out does all of those things. Everyone knows that". And yes, I realized it too, but sometimes I forget. For the longest time I worked out because it was good for me, because I had to do it to keep playing ultimate, but now? I think I actually enjoy it. When did that happen?

From the ATL to WY

I'm here. I actually made it without my Jeep blowing up (and it was touch and go there for a while) and without too many tears shed. It wasn't easy- any of it- but I made it in once piece. I don't know if I'll be able to sum up the last month or so, but I'm certainly going to try. It's probably going to be a bit had to read and slightly disjointed, but this is me we're talking about. That's how I write about my personal life (it's kind of how I tell stories as well... I had to get something from my grandfather).

5 weeks of Atlanta

That is the only was to describe my summer. I went on a two week road trip starting on Memorial Day weekend from Atlanta to Orange Beach, AL for a Mom's side of the family family function, then headed from there to Memphis for a week of hanging with my Sarah and Lacey's wedding (it was fabulous, and I walked away with a thicker southern accent for a short period of time), then headed to Dyersburg for some quality family time fo

r a week, and last headed to Poultry days for my annual pilgrimage to the land of frisbee, chicken dinners, and general ultimate debauchery (with a Sunday evening sleep over in Knoxville). It was a great two weeks, but when I got back to Atlanta I had 5 weeks. ONLY 5 weeks! That sounded like such a long time when it started, b

ut it flew by, and up until the last week, I was working at 7:30, hanging out until all hours every night either because of frisbee or general hanging out with friends, and getting very little sleep. I also got to make a trip to Pickwick for more family and Cordova crew time which was totally necessary and I loved being there with the people I grew up with.

The time in Atlanta was the best I've had in a very long time. I got to play five great weeks of summer league and we did pretty well at MST, which was a nice change of pace! I spent countless hours with the people that I loved there and yet not quite enough time with anyone. Had a great going away get together that was super laid back but with so many people there I didn't get to talk to everyone! I hate that, because I loved it! Even Meredith was there, so I got some TN girl time in the Meredith and Taylor which is always nice. Saying goodbye to the girls and to a few others was one of the hardest things I've ever

done. There were lots of private tears (I'm super unattractive when I cry- there are a few people that can attest to this fact), but not necessarily tears of total sadness, but rather wishing t

hey could all come with me.

THE Drive

Once I left Atlanta, I drove to Nooga and got to spend some time with Abbie and saw all the Chattanooga people that I absolutely adore but only see a few times a year now- can't wait for Pdays 2011!!!! Fr

From there I went home and spent another wee

k with my Mom and Dad, and we did general "getting ready to move" things- collected and cleaned furniture, threw stuff away, packed, rented a trailer, learned how to drive and backup said trailer- and then I was on my way. I left my parents' house on Wednesday, July 28 and dr

ove 10 hours to Kansas City and spent the night with a friend of mine from Memphis. Then I got up at 5am the following two days- drove 10 hours on Thursday to Paxton, NE, passed out exceptionally early, got up and drove the rest of the way on Friday- but I finally made it. Thankfully met a few people that helped me move all my shit up 4 floors with no elevator, set up my futon and bedroom the first day, spent most of yesterday finishing moving stuff from my car up, went to Ft. Collins today for a Target run (giftcard... otherwise, no driving for a few days), and generally getting settled. I realized yesterday that I don't have basic things like garbage cans (and almost didn't have TP the first night... oops!) and sh

ower curtains and dishes. Hence the Target run- and I still don't have everything I need! I keep remembering things and adding them to my Walmart list. Yes I hate Walmart, but it's the o

nly option I have at this point.

So far I have met few other grad students (two from my department, others from various others) and have found the cutest (cheapest) coffee shop about two blocks from my building. Which is awesome since they are cheap and have free internet! I think I'll be spending quite a bit of time here in the next few weeks. I wish I had more to tell about Wyoming and Laramie, but so far most of my time has been spent unpacking and alone. Which while it makes me sad based on how social my last few weeks in Atlanta were, it's a nice change of pace. I figure I'll be busy enough soon, so I should enjoy it.

What I can say is that so far I LOVE the weather (compar

ed to the South, basically no humidity- it's all heat)- it's been getting up to the mid 80's, but that's it. And I have mountain views from my apartment. I think that is what I'll end with for now. I promised Annie I would update more, and I'm going to try-- as long as it's interesting. To end, I will say I miss everyone in Atlanta and Nooga and the South in general, but I'm off on my new adventure--- come and join me!!!!

Packing Induced Panic Attacks

It's the final countdown (and yes... I have the song now playing in my head). T minus 6 days until I head out of Atlanta with all my worldly possessions, or rather all my worldly possessions that I can fit in my car, and head out. From there I will be heading to Nooga for a night with Abby, Nooga SL, and hopefully some serious hanging out, then to Dyersburg for a few days. On the 28 I start "the drive", with stops in KC to see Kristen and one in the middle of nowhere Nebraska (hopefully only a few hours from the final destination). Then I move in on July 30. I have 2 days to get organized, unpacked, and somewhat acclimated; then I start working for 3 weeks until classes start. I'm hoping that I'll be busy enough to keep from getting too upset about being in a new place with very few friends.

That's what I'm thinking about these last few days in Atlanta. All of that, plus the thought that no matter how much stuff I throw away, give to Goodwill or my friends, or get my Aunt to transport for me to my parents' house to eventually ship to Wyoming, I am still not going to have enough room in my car. I have so much SHIT... it's ridiculous. And I swear I've gotten rid of massive amounts of it, but I'm still dealing with boxes upon boxes of stuff. How do people move across the country in only their cars? I don't understand.

Today while trying to do the final clean out of my closet, I realized I had an entire storage drawer system that I hadn't even touched- possibly in years! I started going through it and had my first "Holy shit, I'm moving across the country to a place where I have no friends, know nobody, I have to fit everything in my car!" panic attack. I had my first cry of this whole ordeal (which I'm proud to say is happening only 6 days left here... I make no promises for the next few days though), immediately went to Panera for dinner and Cami Cakes for dessert, came home, and wallowed for a little while. I did discover that cup cakes can cure almost any ailment, and now I feel much better. I've continued packing up my room, and while I feel like I am almost there, I also feel like I'm no where near ready. I'm afraid I'm going to have to go back through boxes I've already closed up and get rid of MORE stuff... which is something I'm totally not looking forward to. We'll see.

Oh- and I'm out of boxes... I can't decide if that's a sign and I should really start getting rid of stuff or if I should just ask my friends for more boxes... More boxes it is!!!!!!!!!!!!

May/June Books

25. Four Blondes: Candace Bushnell

26. Trading Up: Candace Bushnell

27. Same Sweet Girls: Cassandra King

28. The Falling Season: Hal Clifford

29. The Godfather: Mario Puzo

30. The Joy Luck Club: Amy Tan

31. Runaway Jury: John Grisham

32. Accidentally Demonic: Dakota Cassidy

33. Improper English: Katie MacAlister

Never Enough Time!

This past weekend, my best friend Lacey got married. Lacey is the only person besides my immediate family that has known me basically my whole life- this fall it will be 21 years since we met in kindergarten at Mt. Pisgah (back when it was K-8). It was crazy! I mean, I have friends that have gotten married... Josh got married last September, but he has been with Jennifer (his wife) basically since we were 16... honestly, we all knew it was going to happen. But Lacey... holy crap! She has always been someone that has wanted to be married, but to actually have her get married was a little surreal. And at the same time, she was so happy, not nervous, and absolutely beautiful. I loved every minute of it!

The whole weekend was amazing! I spent most of last week in Memphis with my Sarah, just being a great temporary roommate/visitor who cleaned up after myself, brought treats, and watched reruns of Friends all day Sunday while we were recovering. I got to see my brother for the first time in almost 9 months, Jerry and Karen, Mr. Bob and Mrs. Donna, Josh, Sarah, Ashley, Becca... so many people. But at the end of the weekend I realized that there just wasn't enough time! Josh's brother Rob didn't get to come because he had some health problems so I didn't get to see him, and except for lunch, I didn't get any time with Mr. Bob and Mrs. Donna! I just couldn't help feeling that even if I had had two weeks with all these people, it still wouldn't be enough!

And of course, all of the wedding festivities of seeing old friends (I even saw people from high school out on Beale Street-first time out downtown- which was a little Twilight Zone-y for me) made me realize that there's never enough time- even with six weeks left in Atlanta, it's not enough!!!!

March/April Books

11. Kitty Takes a Holiday: Carrie Vaughn

12. Kitty and the Silver Bullet: Carrie Vaughn

13. Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand: Carrie Vaughn

14. Kitty House of Horrors: Carrie Vaughn

15. Lady of the Forest: Jennifer Roberson

16. Flags of Our Fathers: James Bradley*

17. Raise the Roof: Pat Summit

18. Reach for the Summit: Pat Summit*

19. The Last Song: Nicholas Sparks

20. The Lightening Thief: Rick Riordan

21. The Sea of Monsters: Rick Riordan

22. The Titan's Curse: Rick Riordan

23.The Au Pairs: Skinny Dipping: Melisa De La Cruz

24. The Battle of the Labyrinth: Rick Riordan

*sometimes you start a book, and no matter how hard you try, you can't finish it. That's what happened with Flags of Our Fathers and Reach for the Summit. I made it over half way through both of these before I realized that I was bored to tears, and I've read Reach for the Summitbefore. So, I am counting both of them as books I've read this year... kinda.

WYOMING!

I'm moving. To Wyoming. WYOMING. Part of me is still having a small panic attack about the thought of it, and part of me is really, really excited. Here's how it happened.

So... most people know that I was looking at graduate programs this fall for a Masters/Ph.D. in geography. I searched high and low for a program in the Rockies or in the Northwest that would take me and matched my research interests. I finally found one when I met the head of the geography department of the University of Wyoming back in November at a conference in Knoxville. That was it... the program out West that matched me. So I applied, waited, and got excepted. The only problem was that at that point they could not offer me any funding. Between then and now I told them I couldn't afford to go if I did not receive funding, I was told there was a possibility of funding, and then this past Thursday, it happened. I had a phone conversation with the supervisor of the Wyoming Geographic Alliance and she basically told me "You have this position 100%. When can you be out here?" What?! So apparently I'm actually moving.

I will be working at the Wyoming Geographic Alliance, which is funded by National Geographic. Its goal is to work with K-12 teachers on geography education awareness. Setting up summer and weekend institutes, writing grants, sending out information on continuing education opportunites, and maintaining correspondence, the WGA website, and contact database the alliance. I am excited- it's exactly what I want to do, I'll hopefully get to work with the Education department on expanding the geography department's role in educating future teachers on the subject, blah blah blah. Basically- I'm moving. When? I have no earthly idea. I'm hoping I won't have to be there until mid-August. They said they could use me as early as July 1. Which is TOO soon. But we'll see.

Am I totally crazy?

Was cleaning out an old email account that I just can't bring myself to close and found this list of things... not only are they all still true, but I can now relate each one to someone different in my life (they either have said it to me or it makes me think of them). Hope it makes you smile!

Things it took 50 years to understand:

1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

2. If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings."

3. There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

4. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.

5. You should not confuse your career with your life.

6. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

7. Never lick a steak knife.

8. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.

9. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.

10. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.

11. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.

12. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above-average drivers.

13. A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention. It never fails.)

14. Your friends love you anyway.

Thought for the day:

Some people are like Slinkies... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs

2010 Books

At the beginning of the year, everyone posted things that they want to accomplish in 2011, resolutions, or reflect on what was accomplished in 2010. Christina facebook posted about the number of books she read in 2009 and I got inspired. For 2010 I am going to try and keep up with the books that I read so that at the end of the year I have a count. Here is my list for January/February 2010, and I will periodically update this list as the months go by.

*Disclaimer: I do not always read the most academic books, or the most critically acclaimed books. I read books for fun and honestly one's that get me the hell out of my own reality and into a made up one.

January/February:

1. Everyone Worth Knowing: Lauren Weisberger

2. Dead Witch Walking: Kim Harrison

3. The Good, The Bad, and The Undead: Kim Harrison

4. Every Which Way but Dead: Kim Harrison

5. A Fistful of Charms: Kim Harrison

6. A Few Demons More: Kim Harrison

7. The Outlaw Demon Wails: Kim Harrison

8. White Witch, Black Curse: Kim Harrison

9. Kitty and the Midnight Hour: Carrie Vaughn

10. Kitty goes to Washington: Carrie Vaughn

Horrors from a Preschool

At training on Monday, we were told the following story during a session on safety in schools:

We were talking about the dangers of children sticking things up their noses. There was once a little girls, say around 3 years old, who had multiple sinus infections. For a 3 year old, this is very odd. The parents took the child to the doctor over and over again, finding nothing out of the ordinary. Finally, the doctor ordered a CAT scan for the little girl. What did they find? WELL, the little girl had a tendency to shove random objects up her nose. Eventually she shoved a Lima bean so far up her nose that it was undetectable. It finally came to rest in a dark, warm, moist place in her nasal cavity and started to grow roots! By the time the doctors found it, it had grown roots into her sinus cavities!!!! The little girl had to have emergency surgery to remove the Lima beans and roots. She was ok eventually.

Gross right?

Procrastination

Oh procrastination... you are my friend and my enemy all at the same time. I love procrastinating. In college, this was by far one of my favorite things to do. I got so much done when I was procrastinating- I would clean my house (much to my roommates surprise), I would cook, I would read, I would call friends and catchup... there were just so many options. But the funny thing is while I was procrastinating doing something there was always something I was supposed to be doing. That is essentially the definition of procrastination.

Now is no different. I need to be finishing up my graduate school application. All I need to do is finish answering 2 or 4 questions for the application (instead of a statement of intent), make up an academic resume (whatever the hell that is), order my GRE score, and send in my Georgia State transcript. I have been meaning to do all of these things for 2 weeks almost... 2 weeks! Why am i procrastinating on this? This is something I want to do... I want to go to graduate school, out west, and start something new. Right? But when you look at my actions, it's hard to tell. And yet, here I am, blogging (which is my new favorite form of procrastination) instead of just finishing! Seriously... what in the hell is wrong with me? Why am I trying to sabotage this?

2009: a year in review

2009 was a good year, in retrospect. Overall, I had a good time, traveled some, played more frisbee than my back account could probably take, and made some amazing friends. I'm not going to do a month-by-month recap, because honestly my life isn't that exciting. But I will hit on the highlights and some of my favorite things.

Traveling:

Clearly this is one of my favorite things to do. I LOVE traveling almost more than anything. I wish that I could find a job that would pay me to travel and just experience life while traveling and the place I am in. Unfortunately I doubt I qualify for any of these jobs. I mean, I could try to get a job on someone's crew at the travel channel, but then I wouldn't get to do any of the fun stuff and I would have to travel with lots of other people. I like traveling alone as it turns out.

Once again this year I got to take one big trip that didn't involve ultimate and did involve an airplane (my new goal in life is to take one trip a year that meets these two requirements). I went to Washington D.C. to visit with some old friends and then to Fredericksburg to visit my brother. It was awesome! I got to see D.C., which is something I've always wanted to do, and I can't wait to go back to revisit a few places I didn't get to enjoy as much as I wanted (due to stupid people with no manners on how to act in public) and see my friends again. J-vo was a great host, and I got to see A-town, Rachel, and Jennie Yang while there. Hopefully next time Manhands won't lame out and Sarah will be in town. That sure would be nice :)

Other than that major trip, I mostly traveled for Ultimate. I didn't play as much as I have in the past, but it's harder to play all the damn time when you aren't in college and have to work as much as possible (instead of skip class on Monday because you got home at 4am). I didn't get home enough to see my family, but I did get to see three of my very favorite people get married this year, and I had 2 more get married (sorry I wasn't able to be there Amy and Matt!). I can't believe that of the three people I grew up with that Josh and Amy are married, and Lacey is getting married this next June. Hopefully only a few more trips for weddings in 2010 before I (hopefully, fingers crossed) move out west next year, for something.

Career:

My career is still on hold due to the terrible economy going to shit, but I have goals. I have decided that I want to go back to graduate school (third time's a charm, right?) for geography. At least that is what I thought before I finally got my Colorado teaching license (temporary). So now I am applying for both, graduate school and jobs. Worse case scenario: I get offers for both and have to choose. Best case scenario: I get offers for both and have to choose. The unthinkable scenario: I get no offers and have to stay in Atlanta for another year. Atlanta, I love you, but I can't stay in employment purgatory another year.

So that is that... you can almost say that my New Year's resolution is to get out west... for real in 2010. It's been time for something new for a while, so I'm exploring all options to make that happen. I mean, I have to start acting like a grown up at some point in my life, and the year I turn 26 seems like a good time to start (I think).

Ultimate:

I once again played ultimate almost every weekend from January until the middle of October, with a few more weekends dispersed from October until the end of the year. That was not the plan for the fall of 2009, but I'm glad it worked out that way. I got to play ultimate with an amazing group of people on a team called Midnight Train to Georgia. It was some of the most fun I've had (at least socially) in a really long time. Otherwise, I went to my usual tournaments, enjoyed myself, and didn't hurt myself-- shocking!. It was a great year for me and Ultimate. Hopefully this next year I'll get to play with some more new people, see all of my usual friends at tournments, and hit a few new tourney's as well.

2009 was awesome. I learned who and what in my life were important, and starting trimming away the things and people that aren't. I traveled and learned a lot about myself and will hopefully continue to do those things as well as find out who I am some more in relation to the people and places and things in my life.