i need to take myself away {jack peñate}

What I'm listening to on repeat lately. 

Jack Peñate.

I recommend you download his album, 'Everything is New.'

He's British...go figure. 

I do love all things British. 

I hope you like it too.

hot and dangerous {if you're one of us, then roll with us}

Tonight we're going hard, 

just like the world is ours,

We're tearing it apart, 

you know we're superstars,

We are who we are

We're dancing like we're dumb, 

our bodies going numb,

we'll be forever young, 

you know we're superstars,

We are who we are.

~Ke$ha (yes, I'm ashamed to type that name)

Last Friday night I spent an evening with one of my very bestest friends that's known me since the days of bad hair cuts and training bras. She's been married for almost 8 years and we live 6 hours apart, so needless to say, we really enjoy those moments when we can hang out minus husbands and impending school assignments. Last summer we saw each other every few weeks, spending days under the sun, eating birthday cake, classing it up in downtown Nashville, and this year we've both decided summertime hasn't played out exactly like we'd hoped. Somehow adulthood and responsibility has caught up to us despite our frantic attempts to avoid it for the lazy days of summer. 

So Friday night, Amelia and I met in Birmingham for a mini-girls' weekend. We lounged under down comforters and laughed loudly. We dolled up and caught up on daily events. We ate good food at Cheesecake Factory and got creeped on by the guy at the table next to us. We window shopped at Anthropologie (my first visit---SHOCK!) and we sped down 280 with mindless dance-music blaring. Sitting in her passenger seat, our faces reflecting youth and joy and Birmingham street lamps, I found something I've been searching for for a while. Dancing with my hands in the air and my new short hair bouncing, belting out the words to Ke$ha's 'We R Who We R'  at the top of my lungs I found me. I found that confidence and happiness and joy that seems to escape me more often than not. I found a feeling in the pit of my stomach that reassured me I'm going to be okay. I felt at peace with being almost 29. I felt at ease with the anticipation of new things and new friends and new beginnings. All in a 3 minute song at 10 o'clock at night in a town I don't know with a friend who'll always be there.

Amelia has an inner confidence that she's probably been working for a long time but the rest of us have just always seen it. It seems inate for her. And she's wonderful at sharing it with others. She's an encourager and uplifter and reassurer and supporter. She's comfortable with herself and it shows. She's a lover and she helps me to love myself more than I do. And for that I'm grateful. 

August 2008 when she helped me move to Knox.

And if it took a Ke$ha song to help me get there, then so be it. I'm going to stop talking about how old I am and start enjoying being young. Being 29. I've just begun having my fun.

twenty-something {graham colton}

One month today until my birthday.

My 29th birthday.

My last year in my twenties.

Wow. When did I ever get this old? It happened while I wasn't looking.

I think I'm ready to embrace being 29 though. Cutting my hair short again was my first step. I have yet to figure out my second step. 

So, being that it's a month until my birthday, I found it fitting to share with you my annual 'Birthday Wish List.' I think you'll remember last year's list. I wrote it with no expectations in mind to have almost all of my wishes come true! If only that would happen everytime I make a wishlist. There's no way I could top last year so I will keep it short and sweet.

Without further ado, I bring you my 

"29th Birthday Wish List"

I wish..

• To get lots of cards and hugs and well wishes from friends and family.
• To eat a piece of cheesecake from 'The Cheesecake Factory'
• To receive tulips on my doorstep
• To get a pedicure
• To get some 'Pink' shower gel from Victoria's Secret
• To fall asleep next to friends I adore
• To dance underneath the stars
• To eat a wedding cake snocone
• To soak up the sun next to the pool 
• To watch the sunset from the mountains

 

Riding the Train: Part 3 {because Mrs. Leta asked for it}

Riding into Chicago on the Amtrak was awesome.

You have a great view of the city and in the early hours of a Saturday morning everything seems quiet and peaceful and inspiring. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see any of Chicago apart from Union Station. The inside of Union Station is loud and bustling, much as I imagine the streets of Chicago are on any given day.

Riding the train home that Saturday night was deflating.

It hit that we really weren't going and our dreams of going to Portland, dreams we had nurtured since January, were gone. That night we sat in silence for most of the train ride home. I watched an episode of 'The Office UK' on my smartphone after watching Chicago pass us by in the twilight before giving up and embracing sleep on the bumpy ride.

We arrived in Memphis at 6 am. We were tired and dirty and saddened. Mom picked us up at the station downtown and we headed back home. Sam showered and hit the road for his return to East Tennessee and I cozied up underneath my down comforter and slept for hours. I awoke to lunch from my mom and I aimlessly watched TV before returning to the comfort zone of my bed.

Once I burrowed down in my bed, I curled up and cried.

The tears wouldn't stop streaming down my face. My heart felt broken and full of disappointment.

I could have stayed there all day. But finally reality set in. I could continue to lay there and feel sorry for myself and hide from the world, OR I could embrace a much-needed shower after 3 days and put on my new clothes and go to church to see dear friends and pick myself up. I opted for the latter and that night the tears still streamed, as I told those who inquired as to why I was there how my trip hadn't panned out, but I felt better.

That doesn't mean I didn't wear pajamas and sport dirty hair for the next couple of days, but I still felt better.

At least I got to spend time with this guy..and his smile made my sorrows disappear.

 

I spent the rest of that week in Searcy, Arkansas to visit Ames and do some shopping and sunbathing. A quick stop back in Memphis and I was on to Nashville to see Lacey and eat some fabulous sushi at RuSans. 

There is a bright ending to my story. I have a chance to redeem myself and my faith in traveling across America...Mrs. Garner has decided I will definitely be spending the week before my 29th birthday in July with her and Mr. Garner and baby Kirby in Chicago. I wasn't sure before if I could definitely go but now it's in stone. I'm excited about getting to see the city I marveled at from the inside of a train up-close.

Plane tickets have been purchased (this girl is flying by herself from Nashville to Chicago....prayers are appreciated) and the hotel room has been booked. So maybe I will have an adventure this summer. Or at least a good story about how I had to catch a taxi by myself from the airport to downtown Chicago.

Riding the Train: part 2

So...our trip is canceled, finito, no more. Thanks to high waters in North Dakota, we will not be riding the Amtrak from Chicago to Portland. Hence, we have been hanging out in Union Station since 9am...only 5 more hours to go until we catch the train back to Memphis.

I'm laying on the long, wooden pew attempting to nap and Sam is reading and listening to music. We should have been somewhere in Wisconsin right now.

Too expensive to fly and pay for extra nights at a hotel.

Too much time to take a detour on the train through the Mid-West and Sacramento. We would miss our conference completely.

Too much money and driving to rent a car.

And I just can't bring myself to even think about the greyhound.

So here we are...waiting. I'm hauling my 50 lb checked luggage and 3 bags and a pillow all over Union Station and we finally found these benches and some quiet time.

So what have we been doing?

We were approached by a pick pocket according to the food clerk, while in line for lunch.

I got stared at like I was hood when I was wiping my feet off with antibacterial wipes in the wait area.

I took a sponge bath in the restroom.

It's been exciting.

Super bummed about my trip but something good will come from it. I was never meant to be a world class traveler apparently.

At least I can take my Portland guide book back to Barnes and Noble.

P.S. I feel like I'm Elisabeth Shue's friend in 'Adventures in Babysitting' and I'm stuck in the scary train/bus station.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9

Riding the Train: part 1

Hi blog friends! It is approximately 12:15am on Saturday morning and I am sitting in a darkened Amtrak coach car, with Sam asleep on my left. I'm leaned back and watching the short-lived street lamps fly by as we speed through the pitch black of West Tennessee.

Firstly, I'm on a train to Chicago meaning our trip to Portland trip has arrived. Hard to believe its finally here. Sam and I have been talking about it for the past 5 months and now we are living it. Wow.

Secondly, the Amtrak sways a little more than I expected. We have been riding for about an hour and a half and it took a while to get used to the sensation. We're riding on the upper deck and at first I thought we might tip over {yes, I know that's ridiculous but you know I tend to be irrational when it comes to public transportation}. Good thing I packed that motion sickness medicine.

Thirdly, these seats are pretty comfy. Loads of room and nice footrests. A girl could get used to this.

Fourthly {not sure that's a word but it should be}, seeing that I got all my hair chopped off and my toes done, I feel like this trip is going to be the start of a new, wonderful stage in life. I'm almost done with school and this summer is going to be full of travels and friends and family. This trip to Portland is just the beginning of a new era in life: one full of risks and adventures and doing things I never thought I'd do.

Lastly, its Friday night and I'm on a train and blogging while listening to John Mayer. Wow, technology.

We just stopped in Newbern. Guess its time to hit the sack. I hope somehow this trip inspires you too, even though you're not here. Let's take risks together. Here's to a better life story. Even if its one that comes by way of a train ride across America with no shower for three days.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9