Laughing With The Sun

Location, Location, Location

2012-01-18T14:32:00.001-05:00

Location, Location, Location

I could have kissed you
under cherry blossoms,
pale petals drifting down
like the trees wanted to
pretend they could be
snowclouds.

I could have kissed you
in the rain, drenched to
our bones and not even
caring that the skies
opened up above us
and tried to wash us out.

I could have kissed you
in a clearing in the most
secluded woods, with
just the sound of wind
rustling through the leaves
and a few voyeuristic
finches peeping at us.

Instead, I kissed you
in the parking lot of a
Waffle House, just shy
of 2 a.m. in the middle
of a hectic week, with
our waitress grinning
at us from the other
side of the window,
because, honestly,
how could I not?

This poem © Gabriel Gadfly. Published May 11, 2011

http://gabrielgadfly.com/poetry/location-location-location

Jockey Hollow, NJ 1/1/12

2012-01-01T21:14:00.000-05:00

Today, I convinced my friend Vivian to put on her New Years Eve gown and wander around an orchard and woods in Jockey Hollow, NJ. I am trying out a new lens (Canon 50MM) and I needed a willing subject. Vivian was a good sport (I did not include the photos of her scowling at me, or laughing at me haha). Hopefully I can find some other ~~victims~~ subjects since Vivian is headed back to Nashville next week :(

All images featured on this blog are the property of Emily Galbraith.

Any use without permission will be considered copyright violation, and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Have a nice day!!

The 9 Goals of 2011

2011-12-28T17:08:00.003-05:00

1. Learn to sew!
CHECK! I can make blankets, bags and pillows (easy stuff) but I want to work on it more so I can make nice gifts for everyone who is having babies <3

2. Get my stuff out of storage.
CHECK! I have a great apartment that is one house down from work - I walk to work every day, plus can run home when I forget things.

3. Get in shape/loose the weight. Goal is 160!
CHECK! I weighed in just before Christmas at 159 - hello! I was at 184 a little over a year ago, wearing size 14 jeans and was generally grumpy all the time. Now I am in a size 8 (ARE YOU KIDDING ME) and I am happy and healthy!

4. Save money!
CHECK! Well, up until I moved in September I was saving lots of money - but I am trying to be careful with what I spend - big ticket items are going to be a Ski/Boot Lease from Pelican this week, a trip to Nashville & NC this spring

5. Read 20 new books in 2011! I read 16 new books in 2010.
CHECK! 21 Books with 3 days to go! Working on #22, but its a tough read, so I am slogging through it. Also I just got Skyrim, so that is burning up my free time.

6. Finish Decorating the Apartment
CHECK! Its cute and has great orange accents - perfect for me! And I finally have rugs!!

7. Wear fewer t-shirts.
FAIL Well, I do try to dress up a little bit for work (Not today, however, as I am in Leaders sweatpants and a Wawa T-shirt - whoops)

8. Reconnect with old friends
Meh - I see the people I want to see, which is good. And I have made some great friends working here at the Y, which has been awesome.

9. Run a 5K
FAIL. Whatever, still cant get the hip to cooperate, but I am doing "Couch to 5K" here at the Y, and hopefully doing a 5K in Nashville this May.

Things like this. . .

2011-12-08T23:26:00.001-05:00

My heart breaks for this child. Why do we teach such HATE?

Favorites

2011-11-26T15:49:00.001-05:00

Treepocalypse 2011

2011-11-05T17:58:00.000-04:00

(Insurance company totalled the car - crushed hood, crushed roof and bent frame)

My parent's lost power at about 3:00pm on Saturday, and got it back at 3:30pm on Friday. The branches have been moved out of the driveway and cut up a bit, but our tree service wont be back for a few more days - just way to many trees down. We are going to have to take at least one tree down as a result of the storm - it actually wasn't badly damaged, but it revealed that it is hollow inside (yikes).

But besides a bruised shoulder on my part (HUGE chunk of wet snow came down out of a tree while I was out walking - OW) everyone is fine.

Cleaning up after the storm

2011-11-05T13:29:00.002-04:00

These past two weeks have been a little crazy. Work, Weather and having my parents stay at my 1 bedroom apartment with me because they didnt have power last week have kept me away from the computer. I have photos to post from the treepocalypse that was my parents house, and hopefully I can get out of town and hike tomorrow.

Kitten Face

2011-10-15T09:11:00.001-04:00

Framed

2011-10-06T12:09:00.001-04:00

Went to ikea and got a frame for bike picture...not happy with the mat, so I may have to go get one cut. Would also help if I could mount the picture correctly and not at a slight angle :(

Glimpses

2011-10-05T23:33:00.001-04:00

Just wanted to give you a glimpse of my new apt. Here is my little bedroom with new bedspread - LOVE IT :)

In my new house

2011-10-01T01:47:00.001-04:00

Sleeping in my bed :-)

Why the Panda is Black and White

2011-09-20T08:58:00.001-04:00

tribute

2011-09-14T00:32:00.001-04:00

10

2011-09-11T21:19:00.000-04:00

Down the Shore

2011-09-11T16:21:00.001-04:00

Pictures from the weekend. It was so nice to go down the shore and not have to worry about the whereabouts of 30 campers. :-)

Yes, this is a bicycle built for two! My brother and I rode it and got about 10 feet before the front tube blew out - whoops. This photograph will soon to be a nice print for my new apartment! I get the keys on Thursday, big moving day is SATURDAY!!

This is going to be a 16x20 canvas print. I think it will look nice in my bedroom.

We stayed at a house in Bay Head, NJ, 2 blocks from the ocean and 3 houses from the bay. It was a beautiful day on Saturday! Played in the VERY ROUGH ocean, laid out on the beach, looked for sea glass (still have never found any) and rode beach cruisers around town. Overall a spectacular day!

Summer 2011

2011-08-26T23:37:00.002-04:00

So many great memories from this summer... more photos coming soon :)

Fireworks at the Lake

2011-07-04T22:01:00.000-04:00

The community where we own a lake house (we being my parents, that is) had its annual fireworks display on the 2nd of July this year, so that they could have the boat parade (which we missed). The fireworks are shot from just down the lake from us, and they were awesome! We were able to watch from our dock with some friends who also have a house in the community. It was great, and I can't wait to do it again next year!

(we warmed up with some sparklers)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY USA!

HARRRYY!!!

2011-06-17T00:39:00.002-04:00

Dingo

2011-05-27T08:26:00.000-04:00

Last night I got a phone call from one of my best friends from NC - DINGO! (Aka Gabe the Dirty Foreigner!) He had missed a connection and was stuck in NJ for the night! So we did it right, going to a NJ diner for dinner, then catching up on whats been happening in our lives. It was great to see him (although next time he has to bring up his wifey, Tara, so that we can make him say "Haych" instead of "H" and drink way too much starbucks). I miss my NC family, and hopefully can go down to visit them soon :)

Sweet project I am supporting - check it out!

2011-05-06T11:53:00.002-04:00

New Digital Fonts from Rare Letterpress Wood Type Kickstarter Video from Bearded Studio on Vimeo.

1 in 7,000,000

2011-05-06T00:35:00.000-04:00

Spring

2011-04-23T17:47:00.002-04:00

iPad!

2011-04-12T02:13:00.001-04:00

I got my iPad today! I am a little disappointed that many of my favorite apps are not designed for the larger format, but I think by the end of the year there will be a lot of good apps out. So far I havent done much- i didn't get home from work till 11! Tomorrow I will have a chance to play with it some more :-)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

2011-04-10T00:46:00.001-04:00

2011-04-05T02:18:00.001-04:00

Two Kisses For Maddy

2011-04-02T16:35:00.000-04:00

So this morning I awoke to a surprise package from my favorite online book seller - Matt Logelin's memoir: Two Kisses For Maddy. I am a huge fan of his blog Matt, Liz and Madeline, so buying his book seemed like a logical choice.

The book is so much different than I expected. The writing style of his blog is raw, emotional and highly stylized, leaving you breathless, but often is only the emotions of the day. The book fills in those holes the blog leaves. The back story of Matt and Liz's beautiful relationship, the full birth story, how he coped with the first year of life without Liz, his relationship with his in-laws, parents and friends, and how he started the Liz Logelin Foundation are brought to life in this book.
It was a beautiful and easy read, candid but polished, and left me hoping that Matt will continue to write and share his amazing story. You do not have to be a blog reader to get into this book, but I guarantee that after you read this, you'll be following Matt's journey to see what amazing adventures he and his daughter will have next.

5K

2011-03-31T09:48:00.001-04:00

So I have a new goal and that is to run a 5K. I have a few friends who are quite the runners and I think it would be fun, especially because there are such great causes that hold 5Ks as fundraisers. I am a little worried about my joints - rugby 2 weeks ago was fine on my knee but murder on my hip - which is an old injury that I thought was long healed. But hopefully rugby next week will be better and I also get some running in between now and then.

I am so frustrated by my joints. I know most people would be like "suck it up" but I could hardly flex my leg last week because of my hip, and it made work horrible. I am going to load up on the anvil before I run and stretch/warm up a lot. I just wish that i could be normal and not have these weird injuries.

Any runners out there with tips?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

No heat

2011-03-29T12:27:00.000-04:00

Our 1989 furnace has finally quit. So I am at my mom's computer, in front of the fireplace wrapped in a blanket. We have opted to have the furnace replaced because the repair is going to cost over $1000 and its really time to get a new furnace. The company that we have a heating and cooling contract with is going to bring over some space heaters today so that we wont freeze (its 41 out right now - but going to rain/snow all weekend). Needless to say, I will be at work for a long time today because its just not that fun to sit in a cold house.

2011-03-26T10:46:00.002-04:00

today

2011-03-19T17:50:00.002-04:00

Today is a PJ kinda day... but the light out right now is pretty and we have crocus coming up so I will be putting on some non-bright-orange pants to go out in the front yard in.

grumble grumble

2011-02-16T23:04:00.000-05:00

Just did some photo editing for my mom. Photos were from the trip they just took to St. John in the US Virgin Islands. Soooo jealous...

ohh crafty

2011-02-07T23:27:00.001-05:00

http://www.homemade-gifts-made-easy.com/how-to-make-friendship-bracelets.html

Ice Ice Baby

2011-02-03T21:20:00.000-05:00

Rest in Peace

2011-02-01T18:33:00.002-05:00

Rest in peace, Liam.

http://www.princeliamthebrave.blogspot.com/

Worst Haircut EVER

2011-02-01T12:10:00.000-05:00

This post inspired me to write about MY worst haircut ever, which happened during the last 3 weeks of 8th grade.

When I was in 8th grade, I had long thick dark hair, which I wanted layered (like Rachel from friends). My aunt took me to her very fancy hair salon, where the owner, a man named PACO - WARNING SIGN #1, was waiting. He sat me on an elevated platform in the back of the salon, in front of a mirror that looked like Cinerella's (WARNING SIGNS 2 and 3) and started to chat. He told me all about living in Key West, and the time he broke his neck falling off a curb in NYC. (WTF?)

Then he put my hair up in a high pony, AND CHOPPED IT OFF.

You can't fix that. There is no going back once you cut a FOOT of hair off someone's head. I started to cry almost immediately. It was horrible. My aunt kept saying "he'll fix it!", but when I left the store I had a very, VERY short PIXIE. My mom came to pick me up and attempted to comfort me, however I think she was convinced I was going to throw myself out on the highway during the drive home. (She kept her hand on my leg the entire ride, as I sobbed into the window). Now imagine being a tall tom-boy of a girl, who then shows up for the last 3 weeks of 8th grade with a BOY'S HAIRCUT. I was mortified and wore a lot of hats that summer. The cut was actually really becoming in retrospect, but seriously, who does that to a MIDDLE SCHOOLER?!

(pics coming soon)

2011-01-28T02:22:00.001-05:00

so dang cute

2011-01-28T00:19:00.001-05:00

Violet, 7 Weeks Old from Jason Zada on Vimeo.

:-)

2011-01-23T01:54:00.003-05:00

http://www.paper-leaf.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/ct_1440.jpg

http://www.loiterink.com/photos/products/362_6399_500x500.jpg

I like this one :-)

2011-01-19T00:01:00.001-05:00

http://photoshopetiquette.com/

It's my birthday!

2011-01-16T23:50:00.000-05:00

Another year older. Another year wiser? Probably not, but I can say that this was a pretty good year for me. Started with spending tons of time with some awesome friends, moving back home, working all summer, making some important decisions in my life, and getting a good job that I am really enjoying. I am not sure what this coming year holds for me. But I know that I have my family and friends to help get me through, and I am a lot tougher than I thought I was.

Me and my dad (his birthday is on the 18th - I was a great birthday present to him 28 years ago!!)

I also wanted to share this:

Best birthday present ever. <3

Thank you, Jon Stewart

2011-01-11T12:17:00.000-05:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Arizona Shootings Reaction

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor & Satire Blog

The Daily Show on Facebook

Comic Sans

2011-01-03T00:38:00.000-05:00

This just made my day

Are you a Comic Sans Criminal?

I hate comic sans.

<3

more lily

2011-01-02T16:20:00.000-05:00

cuteness overload

2011-01-01T16:57:00.000-05:00

while there is a cuter picture than this, it is going to be the 2011 family holiday card, so you'll just have to wait.

but man, this dog loves the snow, and is photogenic...

2011-01-01T13:23:00.002-05:00

confessions of a typeface collector

2010-12-30T22:00:00.000-05:00

Since First Grade

2010-12-27T19:08:00.000-05:00

My best friend and I have been friends since we were in first grade.

And being the awesome friend, I failed miserably in the remembering her birthday department. I did send a happy birthday on Facebook, with full intentions of sending a text later that day, but it didn't happen.

Em = suck-y best friend :-(

Sorry Lindsey!!

a little bit late!!

My Etsy Taste Test

2010-12-26T13:30:00.002-05:00

Fairly accurate I think :-)

http://tastetest.etsy.com/#/recommendations/e8db1c30-f34b-012d-25ca-12313b031b47?self=true

redesign

2010-12-06T12:59:00.000-05:00

I am not 100% happy with my blog. Almost a year ago, I trashed my blog, deleting the negative, the painful memories and the things that reminded me of what was but could never be. I have been trying to redo and recreate what I loved about blogging in the first place. But its so hard. People never comment anymore. I miss the feedback that I got from other bloggers. I am thinking of going tumblr but I love that I can use my blog as a jumping off point for the other blogs I keep up with. (I know, I can get a reader, but I HATE when the RSS feed takes the design out of a blog. Some people spend a lot of time making their blogs look nice, and I appreciate that). I guess I need to re evaluate what I want/need from the internet and from blogging.

blackbird singing in the dead of night

2010-12-02T20:37:00.002-05:00

my front yard, a few days ago

fields

2010-12-01T00:53:00.001-05:00

When I am cold or feeling a little blue, I set my desktop on my computer to this image, which I love. It makes me remember the random, silly things in my life. It makes me appreciate little details, and the amazing ability nature has to produce a million shades of green. I ignore the fact that it was raining when I took this photo, (but that actually made the entire trip more fun).

I love images of fields, and if hunting season would ever END in the park near me (yeah) I would go and take some more photos of a winter field. (and I can't wait for some good NJ snow, so I can take some with grass sticking out of a snow bank...)

(and don't worry Linds, the bronx bombers background is still my default desktop)

2010-11-25T23:53:00.001-05:00

Lots going on

2010-11-23T19:15:00.000-05:00

I have a ton of stuff going on in my life right now; new, crazy and exciting stuff, but I am not quite ready to let the cat out of the bag yet. Some people know, so if you do know already, please just keep it to yourself! Other than that, I am mostly editing old photographs, hoping to take some good ones this holiday, and spending lots of time with my family, which is awesome. (and a little trying at times, you know how families go!)

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving everyone!

123roses

2010-11-20T00:55:00.001-05:00

1.

2.

3.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Fall, from my phone

2010-11-20T00:52:00.001-05:00

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The lake

2010-11-20T00:39:00.001-05:00

The lake at sunset, using hipstamatic

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

National Novel Writing Month

2010-11-07T17:20:00.000-05:00

OMG this is fun, but hard. I am only a fraction of the way in, and I seriously doubt that I will actually write a novel before the end of the month. But the idea is to make it work. You just write, without much planning. I can always edit it later ;-)

The working title is "Friend of the King" and its a fantasy (think LOTR not vampires...) Main character is the youngest daughter of a king, who sets out to avenge her mother's death. She learns that those who killed her mother and are reeking havoc on her kingdom and the kingdom to the south of hers are actually being enslaved. She must convince the king that they are not all bad or the same and then rescue them from their master.

Anyway, its fun. So hopefully sometime by the end of the month I will have something share :-)

Fall Color

2010-10-28T01:43:00.000-04:00

Pre-Op

2010-10-27T16:24:00.001-04:00

**Edited**

My mom made it through surgery with flying colors - they ended up taking the skin from her calf instead of thigh, but besides that she's doing great! Tonight she enjoyed some au bon pain from downstairs in the lobby (yeah our hospital is fancy like that) and now we are watching NCIS.

We still don't have a discharge date, but we're hoping she'll be home before Sunday! Keep your fingers crossed!!

Original Post:

So today my mom is having her skin graft, so I am hanging out with her in pre-op. So far, she's had a new IV put in (#3 and she has been here for like 36 hours... thats not a good record), and thats pretty much it. They put her in a curtain area that is decorated with fish and has pretty ceiling tiles because its the children's area; they also have big bookshelf of books and legos on one wall. The pre-op area is pretty boring - if its an emergency you skip this place all together, so everyone here is a scheduled surgery.

The surgery is pretty non-envasive. They are taking skin from her thigh and grafting it over the vascular wound on her ankle (her leg looks like a burn so they are kinda treating it like one). And thats pretty much it. It should take an hour, so I guess when she's out I'll blog again.

winner winner chicken dinner

2010-10-15T15:14:00.000-04:00

Aiming Low has started hosting a little photo contest once a week, where they ask for submissions on a theme and then pick the top 5 that they think stand out. Its silly and fun, but on my first submission, bingo, I was a top five! woot! The theme was lens flare - the real not the photoshopped, and I just happened to be using flare a lot in my photos lately. It was awesome to see some other photographer's take on lens flare - man people are freakin' creative! I like that there are little contests like these to inspire me to take some better shots, and to see what other photographers are doing :-)

If you lived here, you'd be home by now...

2010-10-14T18:17:00.002-04:00

I went back to AZ last weekend... my college roommate's wedding and the 30th Annual Flagstaff 10's Tournament - How could I pass that up?! Needless to say, it was amazing. I saw some old friends, got to see a beautiful wedding, basked in the AZ sunshine (it was a beautiful weekend) and tried to remember why I ever moved away... (ok, I do remember, it was for quite a few reasons).

Oh and for the record, I did not go to school in the desert. We have snow (record snow fall last year actually) and trees (Ponderosa, Cottonwood and Aspen) and our mascot is Louie the LUMBERJACK! Go Jacks!!

Yes, the sky is really that color. There were no clouds, just endless blue skies all day.

SNOW ON THE PEAKS!!!

New dining all wing... and Louie!

Of all of the Lumberjack statues on campus, this is the only one that isn't creepy

Old Main steps

My teammate Rachel, getting her, um, war paint on?

I bet you are...

My home away from home for 4 years, with new windows and a new sign!

Wildflowers on campus

I think this plant is poisonous...

**Edit: It is poisonous!**

It's in this genus of plants: Datura; I knew I learned something in my AZ Forests and Wildlife class at NAU! (it was such a great class)

everything in AZ is either poisonous or has thorns

HDR sunset from Sunset Point on I-17

The Simpsons....

2010-10-14T00:39:00.001-04:00

Weird

2010-10-06T23:13:00.000-04:00

So last week my neighbor's dog was stolen. Apparently when little Roxy got out, a random person lured her away and took her to Newark, NJ. When they figured out that she was fixed, they dumped her at a pound. She's a purebred dog, so they figured she would make good breeding stock for a puppy mill. I guess this has been happening a lot, so the pounds in Newark know to contact the pounds in the suburbs about lost purebred dogs. Roxy is safe at home... but seriously, it creeps me out that people are driving around stealing dogs.

Travel Plans

2010-10-05T18:22:00.000-04:00

The next few weekends are going to be a little crazy around here. This past weekend I spent hanging out with the Teen Leaders up at Fall Rally. It was a great time, we volunteered, we played games and sang songs and it really energized my own teens for this coming fall (everything a rally is supposed to do!) This weekend I am off to AZ to see my roommate marry her long time love (it was love at first sight for them, but took a few years for them to actually get together - so sweet) and reunite with the Timberdoodles up at NAU! I am so excited to see everyone, check out how much NAU has changed and watch some rugby!! I am not playing, because a: I am out of shape and b: Crystal will kill me if I show up at her wedding with a black eye or something!

The next weekend I am staying in the area but hopefully going down to Philly to bother (I mean hang out) with Lindsey, then to a baby shower for a good friend. After that, my cousin is getting married in the Southern part of VA, so I might just spend the rest of that weekend in NC visiting and harassing the rugby team.

Still dont have a dress to wear to Crystal's or my cousin's wedding... better get on that lol

7

2010-09-29T09:00:00.012-04:00

Peter M. Wood 9/29/03

When he shall die
Take him and cut him out in little stars
And he will make the face of heav'n so fine
That all the world will be in love with night
And pay no worship to the garish sun.
~William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

I think about you everyday, which is weird, because its been quite a while buddy. I hope things are good where ever you are.

With love, Em

If you or someone you love is considering taking their own life, please visit

http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Tiny Tomatos... and other things in the yard

2010-09-23T19:18:00.001-04:00

I know what I am doing November 19

2010-09-22T23:22:00.000-04:00

http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/harrypotterandthedeathlyhallows/

whoa.

Books and Things

2010-09-20T01:09:00.000-04:00

After I graduated from Northern Arizona and moved out to NC, I found that I didn't have enough time to actually take pleasure in reading. My English classes at NAU let me basically spend days reading novels, memoirs, essays and poems - it was awesome. But being an art student, I was reading art history, staying up late drawing the interior of my apartment and finding myself so burnt out from hours of lecture the only thing I could do was sit in front of the TV. Being home (and unemployed), I now have as much time as I want to read. I am a big re-reader, so since moving back from AZ I have re-read the Harry Potter and the LOTR series, random novels from my childhood, plus 12 books that are listed on the side of the blog. My latest book? The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. WOW. I read it in one sitting (about 5 hours) and it was great. My friend recommended it, and without knowing she picked a book that is in one of my favorite genre's of writing - post apocalyptic/post american society. I know, I am weird, but books like The Handmaid's Tale and The Road are among my absolute favorites. The Hunger Games is the first in a trilogy (should have gotten the boxed set at Target when I was there!) and this first book was descriptive, well paced and completely entertaining.

I will definitely be buying the rest of the series tomorrow...

What do you say?

2010-09-16T17:12:00.001-04:00

So today, one of my closest friends called me to tell me that her friend got horrible, devastating news yesterday. Her little boy has cancer. The bad kind.

(pause, breathe)

I've met this friend, and her little boy. I actually didn't hold him when we were visiting because babies tend to SCREAM when they are in my arms (also they scare me, because they are so small and I drop small things a lot -- you know, cellphone, keys etc... so yeah didn't hold him).

But what do you say? I don't even know what to say to my friend, and its not even her child. I am the kind of person who wants all the facts. When K's mom had cancer, I needed to know EVERYTHING. I am sure that it drove her nuts, and she probably thought I was insensitive, but when I see a problem, I want to find out solutions immediately. It's how I deal.

This cancer is one that I am familiar with. While I have never experienced it first hand, I have read, researched and cried about it on more than one occasion. And while I dont know her very well, I feel like I can be of some support, and I want to.

But what would you say? What would you send? I also need to be there for my friend, but I don't know what to say to her either...

cancer sucks.

A Cause Worth Fighting For

2010-09-12T15:28:00.001-04:00

Here are two of the many MANY organizations dedicated to finding cures, treatments and providing support and hope to children and their families.

Cure Search

Alex's Lemonade Stand

PS - Do you want a cool image? new header?
I'm bored and I love making them, so let me know.

2010-09-11T19:16:00.001-04:00

I hate living at home.

Some work

2010-08-31T00:55:00.000-04:00

Just some photos I have been fooling around with.

A Life Well Lived

2010-08-30T00:39:00.000-04:00

“Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy shit…what a ride!’” ~Hunter S. Thompson

On Saturday, my family and I attended a beautiful memorial service for a member of our church, Ron Menendez. Ron was the smiling, name remembering, youth inspiring, bright, funny, problem solver at our church. He had the uncanny knack to remember everyone, was always ready with a smile and a hug any time you saw him. He died suddenly and unexpectedly, and his absence will be ever-present in our community. Rest easy Ron.

I wish.

2010-08-22T23:52:00.000-04:00

Je tiens je parlais français.

Adventure Aquarium

2010-08-16T22:32:00.002-04:00

Photos from Jockey Hollow

2010-08-15T18:32:00.002-04:00

Spent the day playing at Jockey Hollow with Viv. It was perfect weather for photography (well, before it started to rain anyway) and Viv even sat for me while I took her picture in the orchard. Thanks Viv!!

Adventures

2010-08-14T15:17:00.000-04:00

I just got back from a great trip with the camp that I work at. We went to NYC, Philly and DC. Here are just a few of the hundreds of photos I took (325 was the grand total!) Enjoy!!

Philadelphia

30th Street Station

Dragons in Chinatown

Flowers near the Liberty Bell

Flowers outside of our Hostel

Horses from the stable near our Hostel

Independence Hall

The Magic Garden

Standstill....

2010-08-01T00:34:00.000-04:00

I am decompressing after three of the busiest weeks of my life. My ankle is much better, I own a new orange shirt that I LOVE, and I am still trying to figure out what I am going to do after August. I am so up in the air about what I want to do... really, in my heart, I want to work with youths in an outdoor setting year round. But what degree do I need for that? What opportunities should I be looking for? Did I just waste the last 4 years of my life? I have been trying to live with no regrets, because even though I probably should have never stayed at UNCG after I dropped out of the nursing program, because I did I am now involved in Teen Leaders. Do I have what it takes to get into a graduate program? Is that what I should be doing? Perhaps I should be looking at year round camp programs, but where? A good friend of mine is moving to Pittsburgh in a few weeks. Maybe he has the right idea. Far enough away that he can start something new for himself, but close enough that if he needs to be home for something, he can be. (ps, I love Pittsburgh, so I am really jealous that he is moving there). What if I can't find a meaningful and fulfilling job? Should I do some soul searching next summer? I was planning on a two week vacation to Europe - hitting up Germany, France and Spain. Should I go for longer? I have terrible language skills, but I like to be independent, so maybe it wont matter. Should I just go and stay in youth hostels and with my friends and be a bum? Take a summer for me? Or have I done that enough? I think its living at home and being so uncertain in my plans that is making me question everything.

Hopefully this coming week will be an easy one, and a bunch of my questions will be answered. And if not, I have some long train rides ahead of me the week after that will give me some time to think.

Summer Time

2010-07-11T16:53:00.000-04:00

This summer certainly has been an adventure, and its only the beginning of July! We are starting our third week of camp on Monday, and my co-counselor B and I are taking some kids on an adventure on Lake George! I am very excited and hope we have some awesome weather. The heat from last week basically made our kids LOOSE THEIR MINDS. We took them to an amusement park on Wed and they were quite a handful. They just couldn't control themselves, and at one point they actually were trying to cut in line while I was watching. Needless to say they got a lecture from me about that! We did get to ride on almost all the rides we wanted to, plus because of the heat, there were hardly any lines! That night, however, I managed to miss some steps while I was headed to bed and sprained my ankle really badly. Yay midnight visits to the ER! I am doing better and hopefully it wont hinder my fun on the lake this week.

I havent been taking many pictures this summer, but I did mangage to take some while the kids were biking on Friday. Obviously I didnt get to ride (BOO) but it was a beautiful day none the less.

Hope everyone has a great week!!

First Sunset of the summer

2010-06-27T22:44:00.000-04:00

Special thanks to scrappy doo for the awesome day of driving/catching up...

I needed it like you wouldn't believe!

preview of things to come....

2010-06-15T00:14:00.001-04:00

iphone photos from the wedding.....

iphone photos of other things...

updates about the summer....

Bloggin'

2010-05-06T11:56:00.000-04:00

Wow, I haven't been on here in forever. Nothing seems that blog worthy at the moment, plus I have been really busy moving back to NJ, going to the lake, editing photographs and getting frustrated, and trying to get ready for DC this weekend.

Invasion of the Crazy Cloud...

2010-04-06T20:14:00.000-04:00

Yesterday a really big cloud decided to hang out just north of my apartment durring sunset. Of course, I only had my little kodak point n' shoot so the pictures aren't as good as they could have been. But it was pretty in person...

Lil' Pittsburgh

2010-04-06T19:56:00.001-04:00

I was playing around in photoshop and decided to try some tilt shift techniques on the photos I took of downtown Pittsburgh. Enjoy!

Click on the images to make them larger!!

Spring is in the air!

2010-03-30T17:53:00.000-04:00

Its finally spring here in NC, and we're expecting temps in the 80's this weekend (of course, I am going to be in Pittsburgh). More on WHY I am going to PA later.

Vampires

2010-03-26T01:47:00.000-04:00

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Snapdragons

2010-03-17T18:57:00.000-04:00

I planted some snapdragons in the pots on my deck. I absolutely love snapdragons, they are one of my favorite flowers :-)

Tried to get some pictures of Symon... he didnt want to cooperate!

Elizabeth City, NC

2010-03-07T19:00:00.001-05:00

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Utah Day 4

2010-03-06T00:50:00.001-05:00

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Utah Day 3

2010-03-03T17:10:00.001-05:00

Snowy day at Deer Valley

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Utah Day 2

2010-03-02T22:34:00.001-05:00

The Canyons, Utah

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Utah Day 1.1

2010-03-01T23:26:00.001-05:00

Main Street Park City, Utah

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Utah day 1

2010-03-01T19:13:00.001-05:00

Deer Valley Resort, Utah

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Utah Day 0

2010-03-01T00:34:00.001-05:00

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Say Yes

2010-02-18T02:14:00.000-05:00

Say Yes

Andrea Gibson

when two violins are placed in a room
if a chord on one violin is struck
the other violin will sound the note
if this is your definition of hope

this is for you

the ones who know how powerful we are
who know we can sound the music in the people around us
simply by playing our own strings
for the ones who sing life into broken wings
open their chests and offer their breath
as wind on a still day when nothing seems to be moving
spare those intent on proving god is dead
for you when your fingers are red
from clutching your heart

so it will beat faster

for the time you mastered the art of giving yourself for the sake of someone else
for the ones who have felt what it is to crush the lies
and lift truth so high the steeples bow to the sky

this is for you

this is also for the people who wake early to watch flowers bloom
who notice the moon at noon on a day when the world
has slapped them in the face with its lack of light
for the mothers who feed their children first
and thirst for nothing when they’re full

this is for women
and for the men who taught me only women bleed with the moon
but there are men who cry when women bleed
men who bleed from women’s wounds
and this is for that moon
on the nights she seems hung by a noose
for the people who cut her loose
and for the people still waiting for the rope to burn
about to learn they have scissors in their hands

this is for the man who showed me
the hardest thing about having nothing
is having nothing to give
who said the only reason to live is to give ourselves away
so this is for the day we’ll quit or jobs and work for something real
we’ll feel for sunshine in the shadows
look for sunrays in the shade

this is for the people who rattle the cage that slave wage built
and for the ones who didn’t know the filth until tonight
but right now are beginning songs that sound something like
people turning their porch lights on and calling the homeless back home

this is for all the shit we own
and for the day we’ll learn how much we have
when we learn to give that shit away

this is for doubt becoming faith
for falling from grace and climbing back up
for trading our silver platters for something that matters
like the gold that shines from our hands when we hold each other

this is for the grandmother who walked a thousand miles on broken glass
to find that single patch of grass to plant a family tree
where the fruit would grow to laugh
for the ones who know the math of war
has always been subtraction
so they live like an action of addition
for you when you give like every star is wishing on you
and for the people still wishing on stars

this is for you too

this is for the times you went through hell so someone else wouldn’t have to
for the time you taught a 14 year old girl she was powerful
this is for the time you taught a 14 year old boy he was beautiful
for the radical anarchist asking a republican to dance
cause what’s the chance of everyone moving from right to left
if the only moves they see are NBC and CBS

this is for the no becoming yes

for scars becoming breath
for saying i love you to people who will never say it to us
for scraping away the rust and remembering how to shine
for the dime you gave away when you didn’t have a penny
for the many beautiful things we do
for every song we’ve ever sung
for refusing to believe in miracles
because miracles are the impossible coming true
and everything is possible

this is for the possibility that guides us
and for the possibilities still waiting to sing
and spread their wings inside us
cause tonight saturn is on his knees
proposing with all of his ten thousand rings
that whatever song we’ve been singing we sing even more
the world needs us right now more than it ever has before
pull all your strings
play every chord

if you’re writing letters to the prisoners
start tearing down the bars
if you’re handing our flashlights in the dark
start handing our stars
never go a second hushing the percussion of your heart

play loud
play like you know the clouds have left too many people cold and broken
and you’re their last chance for sun
play like there’s no time for hoping brighter days will come
play like the apocalypse is only 4…3…2
but you have a drum in your chest that could save us
you have a song like a breath that could raise us
like the sunrise into a dark sky that cries to be blue
play like you know we won’t survive if you don’t
but we will if you do

play like saturn is on his knees
proposing with all of his ten thousand rings
that we give every single breath
this is for saying-yes

this is for saying-yes

Vegas Photos 1

2010-02-14T23:17:00.005-05:00

These were the ones taken on my iPhone using the Shakeit app - gotta love the vintage Polaroid look!

Viva Las Vegas!

2010-02-08T23:47:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to be heading to Las Vegas this week! Friends, Rugby and some yard long drinks! I am missing the charger to my camera - so hopefully tomorrow I can get a replacement at the camera store in town... if not, anyone have a charger for a Canon 40D?

Anyway, thats all thats really going on in my neck of the woods. I got my new computer, cleaned off my desk, got some needed programs, did laundry, helped out a friend, ate pizza, went to practice, helped out another friend, contemplated getting a tattoo, decided I needed a job to pay for this tattoo, played a game, procrastinated by blogging, and now am going to watch a movie and try to fall asleep :-)

Snow!

2010-02-02T02:15:00.000-05:00

Here are the weird adventures of Em and Courtney as we traversed the snowy landscape of Greensboro, found a toilet and weird pigeon graffiti all while waiting for some pizza!!!

cool pixar connections

2010-02-02T01:31:00.000-05:00

Pixar Connections

editing some photos - check back in a few...

...minutes!

Some more snow shots

2010-02-01T00:03:00.001-05:00

I haven't finished playing with/ processing the photos I took with my big camera, so enjoy these for now :)

Dude, where's my car?

Friday night

Sunday night

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