I got back from Greenville a few hours ago, and I already miss the people there very, very much.
The weekend was so wonderful.. I don't know where to begin. Thursday, Al and I drove up together (yeah sweet 90s jams..) and surprised Cory at camp :). Going back to camp was really wonderful, but really hard; I miss the campers dearly. I miss the joys and challenges of living in that special place... I would be so happy staying there all summer long. I know it's not where I'm supposed to be, though. I am supposed to be in Nashville, doing what I'm doing. I'm growing here in a new way.
That's not to say I don't want to go back next summer. I don't think my adventures there are done yet. Far from it, actually... I just love that place. ;)
Seeing Cory was great, and he totally didn't realize that I was coming... even better :). He was awkwardly holding a crow bar and turned around and looked right by me, then did a double take and gave me a very confused-yet-happy smile. Wonderful moment. And I loved seeing everyone else, too -- some of my FU buddies are working there this summer, which brings my heart joy. They're perfect for Spearhead.
Most importantly, the campers looked great. It was great to see the new and the old, falling in love with the same place and environment that I was blessed to thrive in last summer. You will never see so many happy people in one place.
After camp, I headed back to Greer with Cory's mom and spent the night with his family. They're such incredible people -- I haven't been able to go home in a long time, but they are so loving and warm that I get a bit of homesickness-remedy every time I visit.
Sitting around the kitchen table today with all of them brought me back to last summer, going home with Cory for the first time. We were in that "almost dating" phase, and I remember feeling like everything was so surreal... his family is wonderful, their farm is beautiful... I remember hopping on the back of the four wheeler and flying through the pasture together and wondering what I was getting myself into :)
Today we did the same thing -- except this time, our mission was to take pictures to frame and put around his house (funny how things change in a year). We drove around the big trees and bales of hay, snapping pictures of gates and grass and barns and anything that might look good blown up in sepia.
Speaking of his room (not in chronological order here -- sorry folks), Cory's house is amazing. I hadn't seen it since I left (we had just finished painting the living room and kitchen, and his floors were bing re-done), so Friday was the first time I got to see the almost-finished package. It's amazing. I'm so proud of him. I love it. All of it. My heart got warm-fuzzies when I walked inside.
Friday night was really fun (but a little crazy..); we grilled out with Kevin and Stephanie, then just sort of hung out around the house while people came and went. And we tried to install a ceiling fan. Poor life decision. I'll leave it at that.
Carrie Beth and John's wedding was beautiful; everything was so them, from the impressive bouquets of hot pink flowers to the swanky Frank Sinatra playing as we walked into the reception to the genuine love we could see at the altar. As cliche as it sounds, love was in the air. You could feel it :)
Leaving today was hard... I have more philosophical things to write in time, I just need to go to bed and ponder some more before I put them out there. More posts to follow, for sure.
And PS -- internet is back! Yeah! I can blog whenever and wherever... three cheers!
Gnite :)
Monday, June 23, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
vintage dress? check.
Today was absolutely beautiful.
I woke up in a good mood at 7:20.. and didn't have to really be at work until 9. I made breakfast, didn't spill any tea on me (part of my usual morning routine), realized the weather was lingering in the comfortable 80s, didn't hit any traffic...
It was a really unusually nice morning.
I think I'm just really excited about Greenville this weekend. The wedding is going to be wonderful, and I just cannot wait to see everyone. Al and I have a fun car ride ahead of us, too ;). I still have to figure out what I'm wearing, but that will come with time.
Speaking of dresses, I went vintage shopping at lunch today. Unintentionally, of course... but I managed to walk to the other side of campus and find a neat little shop in a more rugged, artsy part of town. And in the neat little shop was a neat little dress... and after bargaining $5 off of it (thanks for the sweet skills, boyfriend), it was mine-all-mine. I'll have to post a picture; it's adorable. It's the same cut as a dress I wore to a function last year, but its light green with a really cool, fresh blue and white floral print. And its from the 50s. HOW COOL!
I guess spending my grocery budget on clothes is the mark of a productive first summer living in a new city ;). I mean, if July rolls around and things are tight, there's always Ramen. I can eat Ramen in my pretty 50s dress and still feel okay about life.
Maybe it will be my magic dress. Maybe when I wear it, things will be okay. Maybe if I wear it tomorrow to work, coding vidotapes will become a little more magical and a little less tedious.
Who knew turn taking could be so complicated?
I did a lot of thinking yesterday. Mondays are my crazy day; I had to be at work at 7:10am and got off at 9:30pm (yuck!), but the night portion consists of helping with a parenting group (the main point of the study). This week, the parents learned about toys and how to help their kiddos learn how to appropriately play. The lesson was really good, but I find litening to the parents' stories even more interesting.
I am realizing how important social networks are. I had a thought earlier this summer that maybe God was calling me to mix it up for a bit... I'm used to having a tight, small social network of close friends. I like it that way; I like investing in my friends' lives and inviting them to invest in mine. I like the comfort that comes from realizing your friends can tell your heart by your facial expressions, the strength that comes from a close network of support.
I feel like this summer is going to force me to change that mindset; instead of pouring big parts of my heart into a few people, I have to pour little bits of my heart into a lot of people. Poeple I may or may not ever see again.
I have to find social sustenence in small talk.
The idea is terrifying but challenging. The little daily interractions I used to blow off have become very important to me. The parents I meet, the kids I work with... they are my summer purpose. They are the reason I am here.
It's all good for me, too. I always have been a large-pour type of gal, even to the point of wrecklessness. I trust people too easily. I'm learning how to guard myself a little better, to think a little bit more about what I pour and where. Granted, I'm not perfect.. my prayer life has kind of stunk lately, so I've been pouring my heart here, there, and everywhere.
This whole situation reminds me of growing up in Pittsburgh and passing fields where people would rent a little plot to grow a garden. It's like God has given me a new little patch to cultivate, a new place to get my hands dirty. As I grow this summer, I get to see my patch grow, too. Even if it's just a bunch of little plants. No big, impressive fruit trees. No shady oaks to hide under. Just a lot of seeds I'll probably never see bloom.
Ah, the invitation to faith. New form, same substance.
Back to turn taking...
I woke up in a good mood at 7:20.. and didn't have to really be at work until 9. I made breakfast, didn't spill any tea on me (part of my usual morning routine), realized the weather was lingering in the comfortable 80s, didn't hit any traffic...
It was a really unusually nice morning.
I think I'm just really excited about Greenville this weekend. The wedding is going to be wonderful, and I just cannot wait to see everyone. Al and I have a fun car ride ahead of us, too ;). I still have to figure out what I'm wearing, but that will come with time.
Speaking of dresses, I went vintage shopping at lunch today. Unintentionally, of course... but I managed to walk to the other side of campus and find a neat little shop in a more rugged, artsy part of town. And in the neat little shop was a neat little dress... and after bargaining $5 off of it (thanks for the sweet skills, boyfriend), it was mine-all-mine. I'll have to post a picture; it's adorable. It's the same cut as a dress I wore to a function last year, but its light green with a really cool, fresh blue and white floral print. And its from the 50s. HOW COOL!
I guess spending my grocery budget on clothes is the mark of a productive first summer living in a new city ;). I mean, if July rolls around and things are tight, there's always Ramen. I can eat Ramen in my pretty 50s dress and still feel okay about life.
Maybe it will be my magic dress. Maybe when I wear it, things will be okay. Maybe if I wear it tomorrow to work, coding vidotapes will become a little more magical and a little less tedious.
Who knew turn taking could be so complicated?
I did a lot of thinking yesterday. Mondays are my crazy day; I had to be at work at 7:10am and got off at 9:30pm (yuck!), but the night portion consists of helping with a parenting group (the main point of the study). This week, the parents learned about toys and how to help their kiddos learn how to appropriately play. The lesson was really good, but I find litening to the parents' stories even more interesting.
I am realizing how important social networks are. I had a thought earlier this summer that maybe God was calling me to mix it up for a bit... I'm used to having a tight, small social network of close friends. I like it that way; I like investing in my friends' lives and inviting them to invest in mine. I like the comfort that comes from realizing your friends can tell your heart by your facial expressions, the strength that comes from a close network of support.
I feel like this summer is going to force me to change that mindset; instead of pouring big parts of my heart into a few people, I have to pour little bits of my heart into a lot of people. Poeple I may or may not ever see again.
I have to find social sustenence in small talk.
The idea is terrifying but challenging. The little daily interractions I used to blow off have become very important to me. The parents I meet, the kids I work with... they are my summer purpose. They are the reason I am here.
It's all good for me, too. I always have been a large-pour type of gal, even to the point of wrecklessness. I trust people too easily. I'm learning how to guard myself a little better, to think a little bit more about what I pour and where. Granted, I'm not perfect.. my prayer life has kind of stunk lately, so I've been pouring my heart here, there, and everywhere.
This whole situation reminds me of growing up in Pittsburgh and passing fields where people would rent a little plot to grow a garden. It's like God has given me a new little patch to cultivate, a new place to get my hands dirty. As I grow this summer, I get to see my patch grow, too. Even if it's just a bunch of little plants. No big, impressive fruit trees. No shady oaks to hide under. Just a lot of seeds I'll probably never see bloom.
Ah, the invitation to faith. New form, same substance.
Back to turn taking...
Sunday, June 15, 2008
back from walking in memphis
Apologies for not blogging more lately -- or responding to e-mails, facebooks, etc. Comcast is down at the apt, so I've been stuck without much communication the last week. And then I was in Memphis.
Yep, went to Memphis.
I went to represent our chapter at the collegiate St Jude conference, which ended up being very nice. I wasn't thrilled to do another weekend of small talk with hundreds of new people, but I've gotten used to it at this point. I'm craving face to face conversations with old friends like you wouldn't believe... I like the adventurous side of moving to a new place, but I miss the comfort of having a home.
The weekend was emotional, too... lots of incredible, inspiring patients with beautiful stories. The hospital is amazing; the kids describe it as Disney-esque -- the doctors eat alongside the patients in the dining hall, the kids get taken everywhere in little red wagons instead of hospital beds. The counters are low, the doctors sit in little chairs so they can describe the procedures to their little patients. One father said that when marking his son's belly for an incision, the doctor drew a bunny rabbit. Another kid wouldn't take off his radiation mask because he thought it made him Spiderman.
On a more serious note, I didn't realize how urgent the care provided at St. Jude can be; we heard numerous stories of families who were told to get to Memphis as soon as possible, that their children would need surgery to remove life-threatening tumors that night. The families show up and don't have to pay a dime; they are given a place to stay, child life specialists to take them through the procedures, food, transportation. Many parents have to quit jobs to be at their child's side. St. Jude helps them to focus on their child's life, rather than worldly concerns. They save lives.
The weekend was really, really inspiring.
So I'm back with lots of fresh ideas to amp up our incredibly shabby yearly contribution to the hospital (some schools raise over $170k every single year... which still isn't much, considering the hospital must spend $1.3 million dollars EVERY DAY to keep its doors open).
I was having a rough emotional weekend to begin with -- my heart wasn't at rest, so I hadn't slept or had an appetite. Add on hundreds of adorable, suffering children with cancer... by Saturday night, I was a mess. So rather than attend yet another large social mixer, I went to my room, curled up in my pjs and a box of kleenexes, and sobbed my way through the Notebook. Three cheers for the Memphis blues...
Mind you, I never watch sad movies. I hate them. But I had too much on my mind to actually figure out what to cry about, so I gave myself a catalyst. Nothing like two old people in love dying side-by-side to get the ole' water well going.
I also got some very good advice from some very old friends. I don't know, things have changed a lot. This summer has helped me figure out how I feel and why. I think I've become more rational (despite my previously described Notebook episode), so even when things hurt, I try not to get depressed about them. I'm trying to just deal with what I can and let the pain take its course. I doesn't make anything any more fun, but it's better than hysterics.
I just miss home.
TRIAD has been really exciting, though. The autism assessments are incredible; watching researchers work with clinicians to develop and implement screening tools... so cool. And two year olds with autism? Even cooler. They're adorable. And many of them have this distinct habit of chucking toys over their shoulders when they're bored. While I'm learning how hard the diagnostic process can be for both the family and the clinicians, I have a newfound respect for research. It's nice to know my work is going towards helping give these kiddos the social tools they need to develop as holistically as possible.
And I've decided that all of the school will be worth it (if I can get in). I want to work with these kids forever and ever. And with the right education, I won't be doing data collection... I'll be able to design programs, work with families, establish new tools to push the field forward. So the trick is just finding the right education :)... and figuring out how to live a functional life at the same time.
:)
SO yes, off to do the Sunday thing. Busy week at work ahead... I'm cramming all 40 hours into 4 days so I can have more time in Greenville on Friday (YAY WEDDING!!)... I'm so ready to see everyone.
Have a wonderful week, all! I'll hopefully have internet again very soon. So many stories I'm leaving out!!
Yep, went to Memphis.
I went to represent our chapter at the collegiate St Jude conference, which ended up being very nice. I wasn't thrilled to do another weekend of small talk with hundreds of new people, but I've gotten used to it at this point. I'm craving face to face conversations with old friends like you wouldn't believe... I like the adventurous side of moving to a new place, but I miss the comfort of having a home.
The weekend was emotional, too... lots of incredible, inspiring patients with beautiful stories. The hospital is amazing; the kids describe it as Disney-esque -- the doctors eat alongside the patients in the dining hall, the kids get taken everywhere in little red wagons instead of hospital beds. The counters are low, the doctors sit in little chairs so they can describe the procedures to their little patients. One father said that when marking his son's belly for an incision, the doctor drew a bunny rabbit. Another kid wouldn't take off his radiation mask because he thought it made him Spiderman.
On a more serious note, I didn't realize how urgent the care provided at St. Jude can be; we heard numerous stories of families who were told to get to Memphis as soon as possible, that their children would need surgery to remove life-threatening tumors that night. The families show up and don't have to pay a dime; they are given a place to stay, child life specialists to take them through the procedures, food, transportation. Many parents have to quit jobs to be at their child's side. St. Jude helps them to focus on their child's life, rather than worldly concerns. They save lives.
The weekend was really, really inspiring.
So I'm back with lots of fresh ideas to amp up our incredibly shabby yearly contribution to the hospital (some schools raise over $170k every single year... which still isn't much, considering the hospital must spend $1.3 million dollars EVERY DAY to keep its doors open).
I was having a rough emotional weekend to begin with -- my heart wasn't at rest, so I hadn't slept or had an appetite. Add on hundreds of adorable, suffering children with cancer... by Saturday night, I was a mess. So rather than attend yet another large social mixer, I went to my room, curled up in my pjs and a box of kleenexes, and sobbed my way through the Notebook. Three cheers for the Memphis blues...
Mind you, I never watch sad movies. I hate them. But I had too much on my mind to actually figure out what to cry about, so I gave myself a catalyst. Nothing like two old people in love dying side-by-side to get the ole' water well going.
I also got some very good advice from some very old friends. I don't know, things have changed a lot. This summer has helped me figure out how I feel and why. I think I've become more rational (despite my previously described Notebook episode), so even when things hurt, I try not to get depressed about them. I'm trying to just deal with what I can and let the pain take its course. I doesn't make anything any more fun, but it's better than hysterics.
I just miss home.
TRIAD has been really exciting, though. The autism assessments are incredible; watching researchers work with clinicians to develop and implement screening tools... so cool. And two year olds with autism? Even cooler. They're adorable. And many of them have this distinct habit of chucking toys over their shoulders when they're bored. While I'm learning how hard the diagnostic process can be for both the family and the clinicians, I have a newfound respect for research. It's nice to know my work is going towards helping give these kiddos the social tools they need to develop as holistically as possible.
And I've decided that all of the school will be worth it (if I can get in). I want to work with these kids forever and ever. And with the right education, I won't be doing data collection... I'll be able to design programs, work with families, establish new tools to push the field forward. So the trick is just finding the right education :)... and figuring out how to live a functional life at the same time.
:)
SO yes, off to do the Sunday thing. Busy week at work ahead... I'm cramming all 40 hours into 4 days so I can have more time in Greenville on Friday (YAY WEDDING!!)... I'm so ready to see everyone.
Have a wonderful week, all! I'll hopefully have internet again very soon. So many stories I'm leaving out!!
walking in memphis . marc cohn
Put on my blue suede shoes
And I boarded the plane
Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues
In the middle of the pouring rain
W.C. Handy -- won't you look down over me
Yeah I got a first class ticket
But I'm as blue as a boy can be
Then I'm walking in Memphis
Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale
Walking in Memphis
But do I really feel the way I feel
Saw the ghost of Elvis
On Union Avenue
Followed him up to the gates of Graceland
Then I watched him walk right through
Now security they did not see him
They just hovered 'round his tomb
But there's a pretty little thing
Waiting for the King
Down in the Jungle Room
They've got catfish on the table
They've got gospel in the air
And Reverend Green be glad to see you
When you haven't got a prayer
But boy you've got a prayer in Memphis
Now Muriel plays piano
Every Friday at the Hollywood
And they brought me down to see her
And they asked me if I would --
Do a little number
And I sang with all my might
And she said --
"Tell me are you a Christian child?"
And I said "Ma'am I am tonight"
Put on my blue suede shoes
And I boarded the plane
Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues
In the middle of the pouring rain
Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues
In the middle of the pouring rain
And I boarded the plane
Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues
In the middle of the pouring rain
W.C. Handy -- won't you look down over me
Yeah I got a first class ticket
But I'm as blue as a boy can be
Then I'm walking in Memphis
Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale
Walking in Memphis
But do I really feel the way I feel
Saw the ghost of Elvis
On Union Avenue
Followed him up to the gates of Graceland
Then I watched him walk right through
Now security they did not see him
They just hovered 'round his tomb
But there's a pretty little thing
Waiting for the King
Down in the Jungle Room
They've got catfish on the table
They've got gospel in the air
And Reverend Green be glad to see you
When you haven't got a prayer
But boy you've got a prayer in Memphis
Now Muriel plays piano
Every Friday at the Hollywood
And they brought me down to see her
And they asked me if I would --
Do a little number
And I sang with all my might
And she said --
"Tell me are you a Christian child?"
And I said "Ma'am I am tonight"
Put on my blue suede shoes
And I boarded the plane
Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues
In the middle of the pouring rain
Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues
In the middle of the pouring rain
hey jealousy . gin blossoms
Tell me, do you think it'd be alright
If I could just crash here tonight
As you see I'm in no shape for drivin'
And any way I 've got no place to go
And you know it might not be that bad
You were the best I ever had
I hadn't blown the whole thing years ago
I might no be alone
Tomorrow we can drive around this town
And let the cops chase us around
The past is gone but something might be found to take it's place
Hey jealousy
You can trust me not to drink
And not to sleep around
And if you don't expect too much form me
You might not be let down
Cause all I really want's to be with you
And feel like I matter too
If I didn't blow the whole thing years ago
I might be here with you
Tomorrow we can drive around this town
And let the cops chase us around
The past is gone but something might be found to take it's place
Hey Jealousy
Listen to my heart
There's only one thing I can start
If I could just crash here tonight
As you see I'm in no shape for drivin'
And any way I 've got no place to go
And you know it might not be that bad
You were the best I ever had
I hadn't blown the whole thing years ago
I might no be alone
Tomorrow we can drive around this town
And let the cops chase us around
The past is gone but something might be found to take it's place
Hey jealousy
You can trust me not to drink
And not to sleep around
And if you don't expect too much form me
You might not be let down
Cause all I really want's to be with you
And feel like I matter too
If I didn't blow the whole thing years ago
I might be here with you
Tomorrow we can drive around this town
And let the cops chase us around
The past is gone but something might be found to take it's place
Hey Jealousy
Listen to my heart
There's only one thing I can start
Monday, June 9, 2008
ps we got attacked by a vicious coyote
I just realized that I have not blogged about Al and my Friday night adventure.
Short story: we were chatting it up in their hot tub when we heard a really strange noise -- kind of like a baby crying -- coming out of the woods. They have a fence surrounding the property because of coyotes and such, so we weren't really worried... but it was dark, so we couldn't see anything.
Suddenly, CRASH!... something hits the fence.
And it didn't stop. It was like something out of Jurassic Park -- CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!
Al and I were freaking out... I swivveled around the side of the hot tub so that I was sitting by her... and just as I moved, we heard a final CRASH -- and saw something scale the fence.
It was in the yard.
So we jumped out of the hot tub and into the pool below -- hoping to scare it off. But the crashing continued -- this time from the inside of the fence (the animal was trying to get out)...
We were so freakin' terrified.
After awhile, we sent Loca out to find the creature. Mind you, Loca is a mini-pug. A very ugly, very stupid, mini-pug. So she barked -- and barked -- and barked.
Suddenly the barking stopped. And the crashing stopped. And we heard the bushes rustling. And it was dark. We thought it ate Loca.
Eventually Loca came back (thank God), and we didn't hear the animal anymore. We're assuming it jumped back over the fence... but just be sure, we threw some mulch at the trees (we were pretty brave).
Basically, we almost got attacked by a vicious coyote.
Thought I'd share :)
Short story: we were chatting it up in their hot tub when we heard a really strange noise -- kind of like a baby crying -- coming out of the woods. They have a fence surrounding the property because of coyotes and such, so we weren't really worried... but it was dark, so we couldn't see anything.
Suddenly, CRASH!... something hits the fence.
And it didn't stop. It was like something out of Jurassic Park -- CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!
Al and I were freaking out... I swivveled around the side of the hot tub so that I was sitting by her... and just as I moved, we heard a final CRASH -- and saw something scale the fence.
It was in the yard.
So we jumped out of the hot tub and into the pool below -- hoping to scare it off. But the crashing continued -- this time from the inside of the fence (the animal was trying to get out)...
We were so freakin' terrified.
After awhile, we sent Loca out to find the creature. Mind you, Loca is a mini-pug. A very ugly, very stupid, mini-pug. So she barked -- and barked -- and barked.
Suddenly the barking stopped. And the crashing stopped. And we heard the bushes rustling. And it was dark. We thought it ate Loca.
Eventually Loca came back (thank God), and we didn't hear the animal anymore. We're assuming it jumped back over the fence... but just be sure, we threw some mulch at the trees (we were pretty brave).
Basically, we almost got attacked by a vicious coyote.
Thought I'd share :)
Sunday, June 8, 2008
stages
It was merely my own voice speaking from within my own self. But this was my voice as I had never heard it before. This was what my voice would sound like if I'd only ever experienced love and certainty in my life. How can I describe the warmth of affection in that voice, as it gave me the answer that would forever seal my faith in the divine?
I'm reading Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love... and the passage above really hit me today. Elizabeth (its the story of her life) describes a lot of the things I've been wrestling with this summer... finding God's place in my life, figuring out how to view the "old me," moving to a strange place... and her description of how she "found God" struck me.
She saw God at the same moment she most clearly saw herself. It was like a two way street had been opened up, and they had become one.
That's prayer.
I've been seeing myself a little more clearly lately. It's funny.. I did not anticipate a summer filled with intense soul searching -- in my immeasurable capacity for ignorance, I had assumed I got it all out of my system last summer. But alas, God's not done with me yet. Go figure. :)
I've realized how segmented I've made my life... there's the middle-school Bridgette, the one who fought with her parents and hated the world and went through a mildly-gothic stage when her two best friends moved to tokyo within a month of each other.
Then there's the Charleston middle school Bridgette stage... a pudgy yet fairly happy and rambunctious over-achiever with a group of inseparable yet continuously-dramatic pre-teen gal pals.
Then there's high school/freshman Bridgette stage.. the one that's harder to talk about. She had it all figured out... or so she thought :)
And then there's me.
But as I sat by the pool reading this book, I read Elizabeth describe her old self, addicted to a man who didn't love her:
"He looks at you like you're someone he's never met before, much less someone he once loved with high passion. The irony is, you can hardly blame him. I mean, check yourself out. You're a pathetic mess, unrecognizable even to your own eyes... So that's it. You have now reached infatuation's final destination -- the complete and merciless devaluation of self."
The depth of that passage didn't hit me until Mass tonight. I was sitting there, singing my little heart out... when I suddenly realized that I, like Elizabeth, had decided at some point that it was okay to set off a part of me -- one of my "stages" -- as pathetic. I, like Elizabeth, have said so many times ... "I would have hated me, too."
But is that really okay? Can we really hate our "old selves" -- or excuse others for hating our "old selves" -- even if for just a little "stage" of our lives?
No. I was, and forever will be, Bridgette.
No matter how great things are now or how shabby they were then... even in the depths of despair and the worst moments of life, we are still people to be valued with dignity and respect. Even during the stages we'd rather forget.
So in the middle of Mass, for no real reason at all, I fought back a tear for the first time in a long time. I realized that even my "old self" was worth something.
Rascall Flats says...
The Heaven knows those years without you were
Shaping my heart for the that day I found you
If you're the reason for all that I've been through
Then I'm thankful for the day before you
Now you're here and everything's changin'
Suddenly life means so much
I can't wait to wake up tomorrow
And find out this promise is true
I would never have to go back to
The day before you
Cheesy as the song may be, I like that he doesn't trash talk the days before... they were a time of shaping. And shaping is ugly, and sin is ugly, and life is often ugly (especially some of those 80s fashions. eep!) But in retrospect, it's also precious. All of it.
How will we ever clearly see God if we only selectively see ourselves?
Just a little thought :)
I'm reading Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love... and the passage above really hit me today. Elizabeth (its the story of her life) describes a lot of the things I've been wrestling with this summer... finding God's place in my life, figuring out how to view the "old me," moving to a strange place... and her description of how she "found God" struck me.
She saw God at the same moment she most clearly saw herself. It was like a two way street had been opened up, and they had become one.
That's prayer.
I've been seeing myself a little more clearly lately. It's funny.. I did not anticipate a summer filled with intense soul searching -- in my immeasurable capacity for ignorance, I had assumed I got it all out of my system last summer. But alas, God's not done with me yet. Go figure. :)
I've realized how segmented I've made my life... there's the middle-school Bridgette, the one who fought with her parents and hated the world and went through a mildly-gothic stage when her two best friends moved to tokyo within a month of each other.
Then there's the Charleston middle school Bridgette stage... a pudgy yet fairly happy and rambunctious over-achiever with a group of inseparable yet continuously-dramatic pre-teen gal pals.
Then there's high school/freshman Bridgette stage.. the one that's harder to talk about. She had it all figured out... or so she thought :)
And then there's me.
But as I sat by the pool reading this book, I read Elizabeth describe her old self, addicted to a man who didn't love her:
"He looks at you like you're someone he's never met before, much less someone he once loved with high passion. The irony is, you can hardly blame him. I mean, check yourself out. You're a pathetic mess, unrecognizable even to your own eyes... So that's it. You have now reached infatuation's final destination -- the complete and merciless devaluation of self."
The depth of that passage didn't hit me until Mass tonight. I was sitting there, singing my little heart out... when I suddenly realized that I, like Elizabeth, had decided at some point that it was okay to set off a part of me -- one of my "stages" -- as pathetic. I, like Elizabeth, have said so many times ... "I would have hated me, too."
But is that really okay? Can we really hate our "old selves" -- or excuse others for hating our "old selves" -- even if for just a little "stage" of our lives?
No. I was, and forever will be, Bridgette.
No matter how great things are now or how shabby they were then... even in the depths of despair and the worst moments of life, we are still people to be valued with dignity and respect. Even during the stages we'd rather forget.
So in the middle of Mass, for no real reason at all, I fought back a tear for the first time in a long time. I realized that even my "old self" was worth something.
Rascall Flats says...
The Heaven knows those years without you were
Shaping my heart for the that day I found you
If you're the reason for all that I've been through
Then I'm thankful for the day before you
Now you're here and everything's changin'
Suddenly life means so much
I can't wait to wake up tomorrow
And find out this promise is true
I would never have to go back to
The day before you
Cheesy as the song may be, I like that he doesn't trash talk the days before... they were a time of shaping. And shaping is ugly, and sin is ugly, and life is often ugly (especially some of those 80s fashions. eep!) But in retrospect, it's also precious. All of it.
How will we ever clearly see God if we only selectively see ourselves?
Just a little thought :)
Friday, June 6, 2008
wild friday night...
... at my apartment.
Yeah, this is going to be my first (and honestly, almost last) weekend flying solo in Nashville. There are only a few other weekends like this one, and I figured it would be hard... and it is.
I went to Walmart to get goggles (its too hot to run -- I'm going to swim!) and a cute little country song came on the radio about loving yourself. And I realized something simple that felt very profound... I have to live with myself. For the rest of my life.
Self awareness is important, and I've always realized its important.... but I very rarely focus on it. For some reason in that car, I realized that I have gotten to know myself pretty well over the last week. And I've gotten pretty excited about living with myself for the rest of my life, believe it or not. I sound a bit schizoid.
I haven't been to the main part of the city yet, but I saw the skyline for the first time from a distance today... and it was beautiful. But it felt big and bright and scary when I drove by alone.
I don't know... I'm just realizing how important it is for me to be okay with a Friday night with me (and George and Elaine and Kraemer at this moment... possibly Lorelai and Rori later...). I'm just not used to the quiet, slow-paced summer life. And I miss my family dearly ... it would be a lot easier if they were here, too :) I don't like living by myself.
On a lighter note, talked to mom today. Hilarious conversation... funniest part was discussing Eric's college search.
"We started getting brochures in the mail today."
-- "Oh yeah? Where from?"
"University of Juno. Alaska."
-- "Why there?! How'd they find Eric?"
"I requested information... I want him to realize that we can ship him off on a barge."
-- "A barge?"
"Yeah, you can't get to the school by land. He can take classes in fishery and Inuit medicine."
-- "Seriously?"
"Yep! I think it would be good for him."
Funny thing is, I can't tell if she's kidding.. but Eric in the middle of an Inuit tribe is a pretty fantastic image. If anyone in my crazy family would, it would be him...
And another funny story? Cory got a congratulatory call today because someone at camp heard he was getting married.
??!
News to both of us... but hey, that's exciting. :)
Okay, off to get some stuff done and have a little fun! Happy Friday!!! :-D
Yeah, this is going to be my first (and honestly, almost last) weekend flying solo in Nashville. There are only a few other weekends like this one, and I figured it would be hard... and it is.
I went to Walmart to get goggles (its too hot to run -- I'm going to swim!) and a cute little country song came on the radio about loving yourself. And I realized something simple that felt very profound... I have to live with myself. For the rest of my life.
Self awareness is important, and I've always realized its important.... but I very rarely focus on it. For some reason in that car, I realized that I have gotten to know myself pretty well over the last week. And I've gotten pretty excited about living with myself for the rest of my life, believe it or not. I sound a bit schizoid.
I haven't been to the main part of the city yet, but I saw the skyline for the first time from a distance today... and it was beautiful. But it felt big and bright and scary when I drove by alone.
I don't know... I'm just realizing how important it is for me to be okay with a Friday night with me (and George and Elaine and Kraemer at this moment... possibly Lorelai and Rori later...). I'm just not used to the quiet, slow-paced summer life. And I miss my family dearly ... it would be a lot easier if they were here, too :) I don't like living by myself.
On a lighter note, talked to mom today. Hilarious conversation... funniest part was discussing Eric's college search.
"We started getting brochures in the mail today."
-- "Oh yeah? Where from?"
"University of Juno. Alaska."
-- "Why there?! How'd they find Eric?"
"I requested information... I want him to realize that we can ship him off on a barge."
-- "A barge?"
"Yeah, you can't get to the school by land. He can take classes in fishery and Inuit medicine."
-- "Seriously?"
"Yep! I think it would be good for him."
Funny thing is, I can't tell if she's kidding.. but Eric in the middle of an Inuit tribe is a pretty fantastic image. If anyone in my crazy family would, it would be him...
And another funny story? Cory got a congratulatory call today because someone at camp heard he was getting married.
??!
News to both of us... but hey, that's exciting. :)
Okay, off to get some stuff done and have a little fun! Happy Friday!!! :-D
yummiest dinner EVER
I'm still trying to squeeze out a summer grocery budget of under $3 for lunch and under $3 for dinner (including drinks -- yikes!). I've figured out some super yummy cheap healthy recipies.. and I figured out my new fav :).
Cory and I went to Stax Peppermill for Valentines Day, and my dinner came with the YUMMIEST baked tomato ever... and since then, I've had this dream to duplicate this baked tomato. I had decided to saute enough chicken to use on salads and sandwiches for the next few days... so this vision of a chicken-salad stuffed baked tomato came to me.... and it was incredible.
SO I chopped up a piece of celery (.15), threw in some chicken (sauteed in garlic salt, pepper, and olive oil) ($1.25), a pinch of mild cheddar (.30), and a tiny squeeze of light mayo (.10). Tossed it all together with pepper, parsley, and dry mustard, then stuffed it in a hallowed tomato ($1) and sprinkled breadcrumbs (.05) and baked it at 375 for 25 minutes.
Incredible. AND $2.85. Made a cheap "chai latte" (Jessie style) by brewing a cup of vanilla chai and adding a splash of creamer and ice....
Yay, $3 dinners... and this one was HEALTHY! :-D
Cory and I went to Stax Peppermill for Valentines Day, and my dinner came with the YUMMIEST baked tomato ever... and since then, I've had this dream to duplicate this baked tomato. I had decided to saute enough chicken to use on salads and sandwiches for the next few days... so this vision of a chicken-salad stuffed baked tomato came to me.... and it was incredible.
SO I chopped up a piece of celery (.15), threw in some chicken (sauteed in garlic salt, pepper, and olive oil) ($1.25), a pinch of mild cheddar (.30), and a tiny squeeze of light mayo (.10). Tossed it all together with pepper, parsley, and dry mustard, then stuffed it in a hallowed tomato ($1) and sprinkled breadcrumbs (.05) and baked it at 375 for 25 minutes.
Incredible. AND $2.85. Made a cheap "chai latte" (Jessie style) by brewing a cup of vanilla chai and adding a splash of creamer and ice....
Yay, $3 dinners... and this one was HEALTHY! :-D
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
stumbles and falls
If I had never taken a very wrong turn, I would have never known I could do it.
That thought persisted through my head during the last 10 minutes of my run today.. namely because it was still in the high 80s and I had accidentally taken a rather lengthy detour pre-homestretch.. causing me to run for 10 more minutes than I had anticipated.
But I did it :)
Those extra 10 minutes (my penitential suffering for getting overly-confident about knowing my way around....) gave me time to think. And think. And I realized that a lot of my greatest growth has come out of trying to get home after a wrong turn or two. Some turns blatantly wrong, others just the result of a few hazy road signs and a lack of discernment. Thank you, original sin.
I used to think that faith was literally one path. If you got off the path, the goal would be to retrace your steps to get back on board. I've begun to realize that backpeddling ends up taking us father away, though... we end up going against a lot of traffic and never really seeing anything new. I'm starting to realize that maybe -- just maybe -- imperfection is part of the path. Maybe we can get closer to God by traveling along a hypotenuse or two. Maybe it's on those paths that we see the most, grow the most.
Maybe, because we're all sinners, the non-ideal, with the touch of grace, can be sanctified.
Ideally, we'd never get off the home stretch. At the same time, though -- we're fallible creatures. Redemption is part of the process. God meets us on those side roads and guides us back. Not backwards, just back. We can't undo. He meets us where we are.
And today, on that ridiculous run (I hate running when I haven't gone for awhile -- today was one of those days), I began to appreciate redemption.
I just kept thinking about where I am now, and how things have changed so much over the past few years. Lots of paths, lots of mistakes... lots of detours, lots of heartbreaks. Yes, I wish I had that saintly-pure perspective of faith and God and heaven... but in all of my wandering and all of my change, I've seen faith from a lot of different angles. I'm so thankful for the experiences along the way.
I would have never seen a few of those beautiful houses today without that detour. Nor would I have thought I could run that far on my first day off of a cold-stretch. But I did, and I did.
I would have never met my kids without those detours. I would have never grown in my relationship with my family. I would have never met Cory. But I did, I did, I did. And I am so blessed as a result.
So thank God for detours. :)
That thought persisted through my head during the last 10 minutes of my run today.. namely because it was still in the high 80s and I had accidentally taken a rather lengthy detour pre-homestretch.. causing me to run for 10 more minutes than I had anticipated.
But I did it :)
Those extra 10 minutes (my penitential suffering for getting overly-confident about knowing my way around....) gave me time to think. And think. And I realized that a lot of my greatest growth has come out of trying to get home after a wrong turn or two. Some turns blatantly wrong, others just the result of a few hazy road signs and a lack of discernment. Thank you, original sin.
I used to think that faith was literally one path. If you got off the path, the goal would be to retrace your steps to get back on board. I've begun to realize that backpeddling ends up taking us father away, though... we end up going against a lot of traffic and never really seeing anything new. I'm starting to realize that maybe -- just maybe -- imperfection is part of the path. Maybe we can get closer to God by traveling along a hypotenuse or two. Maybe it's on those paths that we see the most, grow the most.
Maybe, because we're all sinners, the non-ideal, with the touch of grace, can be sanctified.
Ideally, we'd never get off the home stretch. At the same time, though -- we're fallible creatures. Redemption is part of the process. God meets us on those side roads and guides us back. Not backwards, just back. We can't undo. He meets us where we are.
And today, on that ridiculous run (I hate running when I haven't gone for awhile -- today was one of those days), I began to appreciate redemption.
I just kept thinking about where I am now, and how things have changed so much over the past few years. Lots of paths, lots of mistakes... lots of detours, lots of heartbreaks. Yes, I wish I had that saintly-pure perspective of faith and God and heaven... but in all of my wandering and all of my change, I've seen faith from a lot of different angles. I'm so thankful for the experiences along the way.
I would have never seen a few of those beautiful houses today without that detour. Nor would I have thought I could run that far on my first day off of a cold-stretch. But I did, and I did.
I would have never met my kids without those detours. I would have never grown in my relationship with my family. I would have never met Cory. But I did, I did, I did. And I am so blessed as a result.
So thank God for detours. :)
the luckiest
I don't get many things right the first time
In fact, I am told that a lot
Now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls
Brought me here
And where was I before the day
That I first saw your lovely face?
Now I see it everyday
And I know
That I am
The luckiest
What if I'd been born fifty years before you
In a house on a street where you lived?
Maybe I'd be outside as you passed on your bike
Would I know?
And in a white sea of eyes,
I see one pair that I recognize
And I know
That I am
The luckiest
I love you more than I have
ever found a way to say to you
Next door there's an old man who lived to his nineties
And one day passed away in his sleep
And his wife; she stayed for a couple of days
And passed away
I'm sorry, I know that's a strange way
to tell you that I know we belong
That I am
The luckiest
Ben Folds. The Luckiest
In fact, I am told that a lot
Now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls
Brought me here
And where was I before the day
That I first saw your lovely face?
Now I see it everyday
And I know
That I am
The luckiest
What if I'd been born fifty years before you
In a house on a street where you lived?
Maybe I'd be outside as you passed on your bike
Would I know?
And in a white sea of eyes,
I see one pair that I recognize
And I know
That I am
The luckiest
I love you more than I have
ever found a way to say to you
Next door there's an old man who lived to his nineties
And one day passed away in his sleep
And his wife; she stayed for a couple of days
And passed away
I'm sorry, I know that's a strange way
to tell you that I know we belong
That I am
The luckiest
Ben Folds. The Luckiest
Monday, June 2, 2008
Would you go with me...
I like my new routine of sitting down with a beer at the end of the day and playing around on the computer. I like this 9-5 thing. I like not having homework.
I actually like Nashville.
I realized I'm feeling kind of like I did last summer at camp when I didn't really know anyone... which is okay. Things are just.. new. Soon they'll become familiar, and maybe eventually comfortable. But with "new" comes "exciting"... and I like excitement.
Work today was great; I had the whole day to look over the tests that we use and get settled in... tomorrow I start training for coding so I can be more useful :). I walked around on my lunch break; my office is right by a lot of restaurants and shopping, so there's plenty to do and see. I thought I had to work tonight but I got the dates messed up.. so I came home and read Mere Christianity by the pool instead. It was a lovely, relaxing day.
I like this independence, too. I know I'll get sick of it by the end of the summer, but for now, it's really nice to be able to relax and read and think. I'm looking forward to making new friends and spending time with the old, but there's something refreshing about spending time with myself. I haven't done that in awhile. I want to go to a park, so I go to a park. I want to walk to see what's around the corner, I explore around the corner. I want to nap by the pool, I nap. I do what I want. Ha.
Calls from Cory are so nice, too... they make me miss him (and camp) dearly, but I love the fact that this summer isn't a big ordeal for us. We're still dating, we're still in love... we're just in two different time zones. And by the end of the summer, we'll have memories apart and memories together. We'll have grown, and because of that growth, we'll have more to offer each other. I've never felt this confident or happy in a relationship before. I'm realizing how lucky I am.
No drama. It's beautiful.
Mind you, there is still drama in other areas or life -- point-in-case, Tri Delta accreditation. More nightmares today, of course, but I've just started to realize that there is absolutely nothing I can do about some things. The ironic part of this process is that my name goes on the last VPA's work, and someone else's name will go on my work. I'm taking this whole nightmare as a large, heaping dose of humility.. and I'm moving on :). It'll get done.
I wrote a post-it to myself today: "If there's nothing you can do, there's nothing you can do." I've decided that I am going to learn how to manage stress better this summer. I've gotten a lot better this past year, but I'd really like to be more laid-back about things. It'd be better for my cortisol levels :).
Worry stinks.
I need a good book for the summer, too... something light and fun. I want to bring a big blanket to the park (not the park with the crazies... a park downtown) and sip a big iced coffee and read :). I want to pretend I'm a city girl.
... gnite ...
I actually like Nashville.
I realized I'm feeling kind of like I did last summer at camp when I didn't really know anyone... which is okay. Things are just.. new. Soon they'll become familiar, and maybe eventually comfortable. But with "new" comes "exciting"... and I like excitement.
Work today was great; I had the whole day to look over the tests that we use and get settled in... tomorrow I start training for coding so I can be more useful :). I walked around on my lunch break; my office is right by a lot of restaurants and shopping, so there's plenty to do and see. I thought I had to work tonight but I got the dates messed up.. so I came home and read Mere Christianity by the pool instead. It was a lovely, relaxing day.
I like this independence, too. I know I'll get sick of it by the end of the summer, but for now, it's really nice to be able to relax and read and think. I'm looking forward to making new friends and spending time with the old, but there's something refreshing about spending time with myself. I haven't done that in awhile. I want to go to a park, so I go to a park. I want to walk to see what's around the corner, I explore around the corner. I want to nap by the pool, I nap. I do what I want. Ha.
Calls from Cory are so nice, too... they make me miss him (and camp) dearly, but I love the fact that this summer isn't a big ordeal for us. We're still dating, we're still in love... we're just in two different time zones. And by the end of the summer, we'll have memories apart and memories together. We'll have grown, and because of that growth, we'll have more to offer each other. I've never felt this confident or happy in a relationship before. I'm realizing how lucky I am.
No drama. It's beautiful.
Mind you, there is still drama in other areas or life -- point-in-case, Tri Delta accreditation. More nightmares today, of course, but I've just started to realize that there is absolutely nothing I can do about some things. The ironic part of this process is that my name goes on the last VPA's work, and someone else's name will go on my work. I'm taking this whole nightmare as a large, heaping dose of humility.. and I'm moving on :). It'll get done.
I wrote a post-it to myself today: "If there's nothing you can do, there's nothing you can do." I've decided that I am going to learn how to manage stress better this summer. I've gotten a lot better this past year, but I'd really like to be more laid-back about things. It'd be better for my cortisol levels :).
Worry stinks.
I need a good book for the summer, too... something light and fun. I want to bring a big blanket to the park (not the park with the crazies... a park downtown) and sip a big iced coffee and read :). I want to pretend I'm a city girl.
... gnite ...
:)
About the research I'm doing (from a FU Advantage post I wrote):
"A little update to supplement my shabby introduction.. I am working at TRIAD, Vanderbilt's center for the study of autism. We are evaluating an early intervention program called Hanen More Than Words, a promising option for families with children at risk for autism. The program is unique, as parents are trained with specific methods for interacting with their children so that they become the primary means for intervention. We are measuring both the child's behavioral progress as well as the parent's levels of depression, anxiety, and positive well being. This HUGE project (3 sites accross the eastern US) is funded by AutismSpeaks.
So far, everything has been amazing; I am working with a prominent teams of researchers from Vanderbilt, BC, and U of Miami (they're kind of rockstars in my psychology world). I have my own office at Vanderbilt's Kennedy Center, where I'll be working with data, coding videotapes, learning assessments, and doing literature reviews. I will also be assisting at the home and group interventions and videotaping sessions. Tomorrow morning is my first conference call between all of the sites; the researchers involved have written a lot of the tests used in autism diagnosis, so I'm looking forward to putting faces to names! I'm in nerdy psychology heaven :)"
Just for anyone who may want to know what I'm actually doing in Nashville...
"A little update to supplement my shabby introduction.. I am working at TRIAD, Vanderbilt's center for the study of autism. We are evaluating an early intervention program called Hanen More Than Words, a promising option for families with children at risk for autism. The program is unique, as parents are trained with specific methods for interacting with their children so that they become the primary means for intervention. We are measuring both the child's behavioral progress as well as the parent's levels of depression, anxiety, and positive well being. This HUGE project (3 sites accross the eastern US) is funded by AutismSpeaks.
So far, everything has been amazing; I am working with a prominent teams of researchers from Vanderbilt, BC, and U of Miami (they're kind of rockstars in my psychology world). I have my own office at Vanderbilt's Kennedy Center, where I'll be working with data, coding videotapes, learning assessments, and doing literature reviews. I will also be assisting at the home and group interventions and videotaping sessions. Tomorrow morning is my first conference call between all of the sites; the researchers involved have written a lot of the tests used in autism diagnosis, so I'm looking forward to putting faces to names! I'm in nerdy psychology heaven :)"
Just for anyone who may want to know what I'm actually doing in Nashville...
Sunday, June 1, 2008
summer schedule
So -- for all of you who are just counting down the days until you can come visit... here's my plans for the summer weekends!
June 7-9 -- fun concerts in Nashville...
June 13-15 -- Memphis for the St. Jude Conference
June 20-22 -- Greenville for CB and John's wedding :)
June 27-30 -- ??
July 4-6 -- Greenville for 4th of July?
July 11-13 -- Mom in Nashville (hopefully!)
July 18-20 -- Nashville
July 25-27 -- Kyle in Nashville!!
July 31 - Aug 3 -- Greenville
Aug 4 - 16 -- Charleston, hopefully interning at MUSC
COME PLAY!
June 7-9 -- fun concerts in Nashville...
June 13-15 -- Memphis for the St. Jude Conference
June 20-22 -- Greenville for CB and John's wedding :)
June 27-30 -- ??
July 4-6 -- Greenville for 4th of July?
July 11-13 -- Mom in Nashville (hopefully!)
July 18-20 -- Nashville
July 25-27 -- Kyle in Nashville!!
July 31 - Aug 3 -- Greenville
Aug 4 - 16 -- Charleston, hopefully interning at MUSC
COME PLAY!
funnies :)
Anyone want to explain what's going on here? Yet again, there are random townies in the park across from my apartment dressed as medieval warriors and beating each other with large bludgeons.... and on the sidelines are hippies with dreads doing headstands (and one woman dressed as a pirate with her baby).Oh, Nashville.
Today has been good... went to Mass this morning at the Cathedral of the Incarnation.. and it felt *so* familiar and I couldn't figure out why... then I realized it was where Sr. Maris Stella took her vows! Mass became even more special after that...
It's funny how at home I feel in the middle of the liturgy... no matter where I am. Mass is a hard place for me to be right now, but I know it's where I belong. It's just me... I feel more alive every second. Even the songs we sang today were ironically special... a lot of my favorites from when I was younger.
The readings had a lot to do with the things we build our lives on... what where we've set up roots. I'm starting to realize how shallow my roots have been over the past few years... I wanted to know so much but experience so little.. so my roots grew outward instead of downward. They're so close to the surface... I've lost a lot of my strength that comes from the depths of faith, you know? I'm starting to go deeper again.
I spent the rest of my day discerning life... and grad school. Clinical is looking like less and less of a possibility -- it's almost impossible to get in straight out of college, and I don't want to be in school until I'm 33. The idea of law has been crossing my mind lately -- it's what my mom has always wanted me to do :)... but child advocacy could be a really cool career. Some schools have joint JD/PhD programs, too... you graduate with a doctorate in developmental or clinical psych and a law degree. None of them are in the south, but that experience might be worth moving for.
I've never had to do this -- decide whether to "settle" for an easy degree, an easy option, or "fight" for my dreams... lots of big decisions to make. Soon. Contacts need to be made in the next month or so.. how terrifying is that?
Also terrifying (yet hilarious)? A sign Al and I saw in Hillsboro Village:
hillsboro village :)
First night out in Nashville :)
Nothing like copper high heels, a yummy martini, a chic neighborhood, and a lovely roommate... successful first night out in Hillsboro Village.
Al and I went to this fun little restaurant and strolled around the shops... it was so nice to catch up and celebrate the start to a special summer. Afterwards, we headed to Brentwood to her 'rents hot 50th bday party for a friend... we were the "cool college kids" hanging out with the 50s crowd.. but we actually had a ball.
AND apparently I shook hands with a pretty fancy person on the songwriting/management front... not too shabby :)
AND I love Allison. AND her family. AND her strange dogs...
:) Gnite..
Nothing like copper high heels, a yummy martini, a chic neighborhood, and a lovely roommate... successful first night out in Hillsboro Village.
Al and I went to this fun little restaurant and strolled around the shops... it was so nice to catch up and celebrate the start to a special summer. Afterwards, we headed to Brentwood to her 'rents hot 50th bday party for a friend... we were the "cool college kids" hanging out with the 50s crowd.. but we actually had a ball.
AND apparently I shook hands with a pretty fancy person on the songwriting/management front... not too shabby :)
AND I love Allison. AND her family. AND her strange dogs...
:) Gnite..
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