Ode to Moving

When I can't sleep and get in a creative mood, this is what happens:

Miles away from a Sonic

Or bars with cheap vodka tonic

You’ll find two Southern girls

Just trying to make it in the world.

In an apartment with a red door

Nothing is for sure

As to why they started careers

Before any of their peers.

As each morning comes with haste

They get ready with no space to waste.

And the girls make their toast

While adjusting to life on the East Coast.

A checklist is read as they make their way out

Just in case either girl may have a doubt

Then off to work the two go

At the will of only the metro

Hoping just to get a seat

To a commuter, a true feat.

They part ways at Union Station

Sometimes with hesitation

Asking whether they’ll make it through the day

Or just would rather just go outside and play.

Their mornings fly by

With no time for a sigh

But as the noon hour grows nearer

Tummy rumblings are heard clearer

And they eat a meal with their flock

Or sandwich out of a lunch bag and ziplock.

Then work is to be done

Because staying late is no fun,

‘Cause these girls would hate to miss

Which boy Ali gave the diss.

Or the nights they take a bat to a ball

On the Capitol Mall

Even to get home to just chat

(They never get tired of that)

And watching Friends on DVD

To forget about missing family.

Though their jobs are great

The weekends can be such a long wait

For some freedom to decide

Exactly how to spend their time.

The girls have changed quite a lot

Whether they realize it or not

But one thing they see

Is they are where they should be.

Birthday Weekend!

So I am apparently not great at updating this, so forgive me! But this past weekend was my birthday weekend, and really the first thing I think "blog-worthy" since my move. Of course I could put up pictures of my super cute apartment, but I am not ready to do so until my room is completely decorated, which, granted, means it could be a while.

I suppose before digging into the birthday, I could reassure you that I do love work. My job is less than glamorous, but it comes equipped with business cards and lets me talk to people all day every day, which, of course, I love. I also have the best co-workers anyone could ask for. Someone is always up for a laugh or cup a coffee, and they are all so willing to help others and seem to be genuinely nice people.

Back to my birthday weekend! Friday night after work, a group of us went and ate at La Loma on Capitol Hill. From there, a smaller group broke off and went to Alero U and sat outside.

Tori, Zoe, Tina, and me

The next day, Becca Bradley and I went to the pool next to my apartment complex to get a little sun before taste of the South, which is one of the biggest parties in DC each year. It's a black tie event with an open bar, and food from each of the 13 southern states. It was a BLAST! Though there was no air conditioning or fans, we danced alllll night long to this awesome 70s cover band called the Right On Band. Check them out; they were the most fun! And afterward, we took the metro to Capitol Hill to grab a drink. This was quite possibly the highlight of my life--as we're waiting for the metro, everyone started rapping, and oh, fear not, the party continued on the metro! Everyone was dancing and singing, as if in a really bad musical. Seriously, though, highlight of my DC experience thus far.

Me, Emili, Becca, Elizabeth, and Christi before TOTS

No picture could fully capture this, but this is my feeble attempt

to catch this spontaneous rap session.

..and the party continues on the metro. Apparently Ash and Quinten are

cracking up, and take note of Becca's hands. They

were on the roof the WHOLE time!

Welcome to the Real World

The day has come that the U of A finally said they'd given me all they could and that it is time for me to leave and enter into the "real" world. The world of working from 9 to 6, actually ironing clothes before leaving the house, and making sure ends meet to pay bills (the real kind, not bar tabs). So after a 3 hour graduation ceremony in Bud Walton Arena, the Razorback Class of 2010 officially became alumni.

Me and some of my KKG sorority sisters before the ceremony. At this point we were still in denial that it was happening. Flash forward through 2 1/2 hours of name calling and the Graduation March, which is still stuck in my head, and you've got graduation.

I can't tell if my family is more excited that the forever long ceremony is completed or that their money and patience with me for the past four years has finally paid off with a degree and a job for me! Either way, we were all in really good moods :)

After the ceremony we all went our separate ways for dinner--my family went to Bonefish in Rogers for a great meal--and then we reconvened at Powerhouse for a big celebration shin-dig on the patio. It was good to get to see everyone and their families one last time before parting ways for jobs, schools, and internships.

Then after we'd tired all of our parents out, we decided to hit Dickson Street for one last time all together as (semi-) undergraduates. It was definitely a great night out and great way to end a fantastic 4 years.

Now I'm back in West Memphis knee deep in boxes and dirty laundry. I've been sorting out what I should get rid of and donate to 8th Street Mission, what should stay in West Memphis, and what needs to eventually make its way to DC with me. As much as I claim to hate packing and cleaning, I really don't. Turn on some good tunes and I get in my zone. If I can rope Mom, Dad, or Clayton into sitting and talking with me while I do it, then it's even better! But so far I've really enjoyed being home and spending some much needed catch-up time with my family and old friends.

Changing Direction

When I began this blog, my intent was to reflect on quotes and words of wisdom I came across. Obviously, I've dropped the ball. So, now that my life is changing directions with graduating college, leaving Fayetteville, and moving to Washington, DC, it only seems appropriate that my blog should too. So instead of writing about other people's takes on life, I will talk about my own ideas and experience with my new job and new location.

For the first time in my life, I will not be within driving distance from my family or in the same town as the majority of my friends. The people I'm used to seeing daily (or hourly) that know every detail of my life will now have to be told things instead of experiencing them with me. So what better way to all keep up with our lives than to blog!

In three days I will officially be a University of Arkansas alumna. WEIRD. The past four years have seemed to go by within the blink of an eye. I have met the most amazing people, had the greatest experiences, and grown up so much while here. I can't help but think about the things I'm going to miss the most....

• Sonic Happy Hour everyday with Becca (the closest one to DC is like 50 miles away or something... YIIIKES!)
  
• Walking around campus never knowing who you'll run into
• The food!! Hammontree's, Noodle's, Flying Burrito, Feltner Brothers, Kosmos, Loafin' Joes, Hugo's, Patron, and Tim's...
• Working at Metropolis and all the girls there (and my free haircuts!)
  
• Going to Razorback football and baseball games
• Walking at Wilson Park
  
• Hanging out in the ASG office
  
• Sitting and talking/thinking/praying at Mt. Sequoya
• Seeing everyone you know on Dickson Street
• My roomies... and Duncan in general
• The Kappa house
  
• Free concerts every semester
• All of your friends living in about a mile radius of one another
  
• RUF and all of the preaching, singing, people, Bible studies, and random events that it encompasses
• The Traveler, especially the crossword puzzles
• Four dollar movies at Fiesta Square on weeknights
• Camping, hiking, and caving at Devil's Den
• Riding around listening to music and singing at the top of our lungs
• The "Brough Game"
• Greek with Yiorgos and Dr. Levine
• Shopping at Something Urban and Private Gallery
  

The list could keep going, but I should probably wrap it up...It has been a wonderful four years that I would not trade for the world. Filled with many laughs and the neatest people. Thank you, Fayetteville.

The Adams Family

During Christmas break, I was a chaperon for my old youth group for a ski trip to Winter Park, Colorado. Instead of taking the slightly more expensive yet much more leisure form of travel, flying, we chose to "bond" and charter a bus. Thus 40 hours in a bus (round trip), yields much time to read. A good friend of mine encouraged me several months ago to read David McCulloch's biography of John Adams, so this trip gave me the perfect opportunity to delve into the life of an all-around wonderful man. While I would love to post tons of quotes from the letters of John Adams to Abagail and his children (I cannot recall another person's words and life that have so captivated me), this one piece of advice from Mr. Smith, Abagail's father, has resonated with me.

"Abagail remembered her father saying repeatedly that they should only speak of 'handsome things' and make topics, rather than people, their subjects."

This philosophy caused me to reflect upon my daily interactions and conversations. Whereas I would like to say that topics are discussed more than people, I am convinced that is only partially true. There are some people that I could talk to all day about books, movies, politics, ambitions, etc... without ever mentioning people and the latest goings-on. Other people though, I find only discussing mutual friends and their lives. I wonder if the latter conversations are not due to more shallow friendships, because I like to believe that we all have pretty solid foundations, but rather society's focus. With Facebook, Twitter, and the internet in general, I feel like people have this increasing desire to be the first to know something and to be connected to as many people as possible. In the days when Abagail's father was giving this advice, the only way to keep up with people was by written correspondence or by living in close proximity, but definitely not access to information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I wonder how they would behave in today's world, and more importantly, I hope we can try to not get caught up in people, but rather heed Mr. Smith's advice and be educated on topics.