michael jackson

Columnist Andrew Sullivan, on his blog for The Nation magazine, wrote that he grieved for Jackson "but I also grieve for the culture that created and destroyed him."

"That culture is ours, and it is a lethal and brutal one: With fame and celebrity as its core values, with money as its sole motive, it chewed this child up and spat him out," Sullivan wrote. "I hope he has the peace now he never had in his life. And I pray that such genius will not be so abused again."


Taken from the 6/29 CNN article "Michael Jackson and the 'extreme' price of fame"

Summer reading

During my trip to Spain I read three books – Revolutionary Road, Atonement, and The Last Queen.

I read the first two books because I wanted to read books that had also been made into film, even though I had already seen Atonement last spring.

Atonement is about two lovers torn apart by a young girl’s disastrous misunderstanding. As a reviewer put it, “it will break your heart.” It bewitched me. It pulled me in. It is exquisitely written. I wanted to read a love story, and in Atonement, I found a love story more passionate, more heartrending, more incredible than I’ve ever experienced. My heart broke for the lovers, rejoiced with the lovers, and was melted by the lovers, Robbie and Cecelia. Perhaps this is because I am in a relationship of my own, more loving, more real, more passionate and consuming and deep than I’ve ever been in, but I found myself relating to their desires and desperation to be together and the elation they found together. Since I knew what was going to happen, I found myself hesitating a hundred pages in, not knowing how the author was going to unfold their story, not knowing if I could stand watching it unfold in my imagination page after page but I am so glad I did. It makes me so grateful for the one I love, for my family, for my situation, that it is not wrecked by hardship or war or separation or schisms caused by lies and betrayal. The author Ian McEwen has a captivating way with words and can arouse emotions, unfold situations, and weave drama second to none. WOW. Atonement was incredible. It has left a lasting impression on me. I will never forget Atonement. One line I especially liked and could relate to was this, “the closeness of a familiar face was not ludicrous, it was wondrous,” because like Robbie and Cecelia, Clint and I have known each other since we were young, and his face has been a familiar one to me for ten years now –“she returned his gaze, struck by the sense of her own transformation, and overwhelmed by the beauty in a face with a lifetime’s habit had taught her to ignore” – nine of which I had spent ignoring him, taunting him, interested in him, or separated from him, and one of those years I have spent loving him. One quote that has also stuck with me said how our bodies are material things that are easily torn but not easily mended, and just thinking how that applies to matters of the heart makes me mindful of how people can easily be broken, hearts can easily be broken, and it takes great effort and time and love to heal those hurts.

I read Revolutionary Road before Atonement and like Atonement better because of the LOVE. Revolutionary Road is about a couple in the 1950s who are bored with suburbia and are emotionally bankrupt. They’re bored. They’re unsatisfied. They think happiness is just one - you name it – away: one affair, one promotion, one friend, one drink. They remind me of Dasiy and Tom from The Great Gatsby and the haunting quote about how they retreat back into their money or carelessness or whatever it is that keeps them together, because the couple from Revolutionary Road are just that - wreckless, irresponsible, selfish. It’s really rather sad and pitiful, and if it hadn’t been so well written I would have stopped reading it because it was depressing, a downer, not at all uplifting or redeeming. It made me grateful that they are not real people, I do not know the characters in the book, and that my family and friends aren’t like them. I still may watch the movie but I’m thinking I may not, since the book just leaves ya feeling sad, or it did me, at least.

The Last Queen was about Queen Juana of Spain who inherits the crown after her mother, the famous Queen Isabel, dies. It was really neat reading this while in Spain after visiting the Alhambra that Queen Isabel and her husband took from the Moors after defeating them in 1492. Boy, did Queen Juana (known as Queen Juana the Loca) have trials! I like princesses and Clint often says I wish I was a princess, but this book shows how much ambition made being at the top of the ranks a rough place to be, especially for a female back in those days, and it was not all it is glamorized to be. Usually the queens’ husbands had frequent affairs, and they were married for political alliances in the first place, and there are so many people vying for power that it is so hard to trust anyone – even your own husband, in Juana’s case. This book, though not as poetic and magical and well written as Atonement, was still a very good story in its own right. The author went to great care researching and developing Juana. I found it interesting that she was known as Juana the Loca and her husband was known as Phillip the Fair. I thought his fairness was the supposed cause of her craziness and that she went crazily jealous – which she did, as history records her as ripping some of her pearls off her husband’s mistress at a party that her husband had given away to be a true account – but craziness was what her enemies schemed to have her labeled so she would be seen as unfit to rule (which reminded me of how King Henry said Ann Boleyn had bewitched him, in order to justify beheading her – The Other Boleyn Girl was a GREAT read!). Her fate is very sad, but she protected the crown of Spain. This does not have a movie set to the book but I know there are books out there about Juana and her family. A fine read indeed, especially having spent a holiday in Spain!

stuff white people like

Turns out, I'm really white. Big surprise there.

"Stuff white people like" (stuffwhitepeoplelike.com)= HILARIOUS & SO true.

Found myself thinking - I like that! ...and that! ...and that!

The #1 thing white people like? Coffee. :)

"There is no doubt that white people love coffee. Yes, it’s true that asians like iced coffee and people of all races enjoy it. But I promise you that the first person at your school to drink coffee was a white person. You could kind of tell they didn’t enjoy it, but they did it anyways until they liked it – like cigarettes."

Good news! White people like lawyers, too. :)

"A common characteristic amongst white people is the need to over analyze things, so they partake in activities such as therapy, writing a blog [yup, clearly I do this], or becoming an arts major. So its rather obvious why white people love lawyers so much as it is the one profession that has mastered the art of “over analyzing things”. Even though most disputes can be resolved through reason, unselfishness, and / or a google search, white people would prefer to take things to court or have something in writing. Lawyers are seen as the ultimate problem solvers and “the law” is seen as the be all, end all, of resolving all the world’s ills. In fact white people tend to have better relationships with their lawyers than with family members or friends. Please note that when around white people, that it is social suicide to admit or state that you don’t have a regular lawyer.

But perhaps the one main reason why white people love lawyers is the sense that they are giving back to the community. Most white people major in the arts, and law school is pretty much the only option for anyone with a BA that wants a decent paying job [ouch. touche]. Basically this love of the law is keeping the demand for lawyers much higher than it should be. So paying lawyer fees to settle the smallest problem, is the white person equivalent of Warrick Dunn building homes for low income families."

Below is the extensive list...see how you compare.

Do I like these things?


#126 Vespa Scooters -neutral
#125 Bob Marley -neutral
#124 Hating People Who Wear Ed Hardy -yes
#123 Mad Men -neutral
#122 Moleskine Notebooks -yes
#121 Funny or Ironic Tattoos -NO
#120 Taking a Year Off -yes
#119 Sea Salt -yes
#118 Ugly Sweater Parties -YES
#117 Political Prisoners -neutral
#116 Black Music that Black People Don’t Listen to Anymore -YES
#115 Promising to Learn a New Language -no
#114 America -YES
#113 Halloween -YES
#112 Hummus -YES
#111 Pea Coats -YES
#110 Frisbee Sports -yes
#109 The Onion -yes
#108 Appearing to Enjoy Classical Music -YES
#107 Self Aware Hip Hop References -yes
#106 Facebook -YES
#105 Unpaid Internships -YES (hahaha)
#104 Girls with Bangs -no
#103 Sweaters -yes
#102 Children’s Games as Adults -YES
#101 Being Offended -YES
#100 Bumper Stickers -yes
#99 Grammar -yes
#98 The Ivy League -no
#97 Scarves -YES
#96 New Balance Shoes -yes
#95 Rugby -neutral
#94 Free Healthcare -NO
#93 Music Piracy -YES
#92 Book Deals -YES
#91 San Francisco -YES
#90 Dinner Parties -YES
#89 St. Patrick’s Day -YES
#88 Having Gay Friends -YES
#87 Outdoor Performance Clothes -yes
#86 Shorts -YES
#85 The Wire -neutral
#84 T-Shirts -yes
#83 Bad Memories of High School -YES
#82 Hating Corporations -neutral
#81 Graduate School - YES
#80 The Idea of Soccer -neutral
#79 Modern Furniture -neutral
#78 Multilingual Children -neutral
#77 Musical Comedy -no
#76 Bottles of Water -yes
#75 Threatening to Move to Canada -yes
#74 Oscar Parties -yes
#73 Gentrification -neutral
#72 Study Abroad -yes
#71 Being the only white person around -no
#70 Difficult Breakups -YES hahaha this description's funny
#69 Mos Def -neutral
#68 Michel Gondry -neutral
#67 Standing Still at Concerts -YES
#66 Divorce -NO
#65 Co-Ed Sports -no
#64 Recycling -YES
#63 Expensive Sandwiches -yes
#62 Knowing What’s Best for Poor People -yes
#61 Bicycles -YES
#60 Toyota Prius -neutral
#59 Natural Medicine -no
#58 Japan -no
#57 Juno -neutral
#56 Lawyers -YES
#55 Apologies -yes
#54 Kitchen Gadgets -yes
#53 Dogs -YES
#52 Sarah Silverman -neutral
#51 Living by the Water -yes
#50 Irony -yes
#49 Vintage -yes
#48 Whole Foods and Grocery Co-ops -yes
#47 Arts Degrees -yes
#46 The Sunday New York Times -neutral
#45 Asian Fusion Food -neutral
#44 Public Radio -yes
#43 Plays -yes
#42 Sushi -YES
#41 Indie Music -neutral
#40 Apple Products -yes
#39 Netflix -neutral
#38 Arrested Development -neutral
#37 Renovations -yes
#36 Breakfast Places -yes
#35 The Daily Show/Colbert Report -yes
#34 Architecture -yes
#33 Marijuana -no
#32 Vegan/Vegetarianism -yes
#31 Snowboarding -neutral
#30 Wrigley Field -neutral
#29 80s Night -yes
#28 Not having a TV -YES
#27 Marathons -YES
#26 Manhattan (now Brooklyn too!) -neutral
#25 David Sedaris -neutral
#24 Wine -YES
#23 Microbreweries -yes
#22 Having Two Last Names -no
#21 Writers Workshops -yes
#20 Being an expert on YOUR culture -yes
#19 Traveling -YES
#18 Awareness -YES
#17 Hating their Parents -NO
#16 Gifted Children -yes
#15 Yoga -yes
#14 Having Black Friends -yes
#13 Tea -yes
#12 Non-Profit Organizations -YES
#11 Asian Girls -neutral
#10 Wes Anderson Movies -neutral
#9 Making you feel bad about not going outside -YES
#8 Barack Obama -NO
#7 Diversity -yes
#6 Organic Food -yes
#5 Farmer’s Markets -yes
#4 Assists -yes
#3 Film Festivals -neutral
#2 Religions their parents don’t belong to -NO
#1 Coffee - YES

Yep, I'm just plain white. Ha ha.

summer update

GOD IS GOOD!

I cannot believe the ways in which he has provided for me. Next year I will be living with my best friend since preschool the very lovely, very wonderful Robin Christina Warren!

Robin got a nursing job at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, which is also a Godsend because she has always wanted to work with kids that have cancer. Her dad died of cancer when she was in 5th grade and so she can really minister to kids in similar situations. Robin and I will be living on Mud Island, using a lot of my family’s old furniture and artwork, and her mom is making us curtains and pillows! It’s going to be a very nice young lady apartment!

I am very excited about life in general right now. I cannot wait for SPAIN with my family (I fly out Friday) – our first family vacation in six years! This Thursday Clint and I are celebrating our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY (nine days early) and it’s looking to have a home cooked dinner, champagne, hot tub, and the surprise gift I’m giving him that I am SO excited about! It has been so WONDERFUL being able to see him on a daily basis, having him as a fixture in my life, being able to just “be” instead of talking on the phone. Then, when I get back from Spain, I am having a reunion with my best friends Megan Flynn, Megan Spencer, and Robin! And, I am going to see Legally Blonde The Musical again. And the next weekend is 4th of July at the farm! Yaaaaaay. Hopefully I will get to see some of my Furman friends then. I miss them very much.

My internship is going well and the new hours have helped me beat traffic. I can run about 3 miles now and my new shoes are good.

Prayer requests?

MS; that God would send an angel to be with her, minister to her, and give her wisdom and love during this time.
MW; that God would give him strength and would provide an open door.
CW; that God would provide summer work and peace during the search.
Safe travels for the Renfranos.
That I would learn to pray when I start to worry and PATIENCE! ("God doesn't give us patience, but opportunities where we can learn patience"...groan ;-p)
Thanksgiving that BL is “free” after 12 years!

Lord of all to Thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise!

Heard this song this morning and it made me think of babe…

On a Monday, I am waiting
Tuesday, I am fading
And by Wednesday, I can't sleep
Then the phone rings, I hear you
And the darkness is a clear view
Cuz you've come to rescue me

Fall... With you, I fall so fast
I can hardly catch my breath, I hope it lasts

Ohhhhh - It seems like I can finally rest my head on something real
I like the way that feels
Ohhhhh - It's as if you've known me better than I ever knew myself
I love how you can tell
All the pieces, pieces, pieces of me
All the pieces, pieces, pieces of me

I am moody, messy
I get restless, and it's senseless
How you never seem to care
When I'm angry, you listen
When youre happy, it's a mission
And you wont stop 'til I'm there

Fall... Sometimes I fall so fast
Well, I hit that bottom
Crash, you're all I have

Ohhhhh - It seems like I can finally rest my head on something real
I like the way that feels
Ohhhhh - It's as if you known me better than I ever knew myself
I love how you can tell
All the pieces, pieces, pieces of me

How do you know everything I'm about to say?
Am I that obvious?
And if it's written on my face...
I hope it never goes away... yeah

On a Monday, I am waiting
And by Tuesday, I am fading into your arms...
So I can breathe
(Ashlee Simpson – Pieces of Me)

lost & found

The sermon this morning was about how easy it is to get lost, to make a god out of something other than God.

Rev. Wright used the analogy of happy meals, that often we think happiness is only one happy meal away, one purchase or promotion or pound or relationship away.

He emphasized that our value is in who God made us to be, and nothing we do diminishes that value, that we should find our value in Him, and in this truth is where our identity can be found.

To keep from getting lost again, we turn our eyes on the Shepherd & He gives us the strength to keep our eyes on Him. Because that is what will make our lives and our hearts full.

I love the hymn “Turn your eyes upon Jesus” … turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace…

One version I like also says “isn’t he beautiful? Isn’t he wonderful? Outshining sun and star, it’s indescribable how breathtaking you are.”

Today’s lesson on how to worship God when he seems distant from “The Purpose Driven Life” says:

Remember what God has already done for you. If God never did anything else for you, he would still deserve your continual praise for the rest of your life because of what Jesus did for you on the cross. God’s son died for you!

…Jesus could have saved himself – but then he could not have saved YOU. Words cannot describe the darkness of that moment. Why did God allow and endure such ghastly, evil mistreatment? Why? So YOU could be spared from eternity in hell, and so YOU could share in his glory forever!...Jesus gave up everything so you could have everything. He died so that you could live forever.

lessons from boys & men

Well last night I was having Bible study with Clint I let him borrow a Bible because we were at my house. To my utter dismay it had two pictures of my old boyfriend Brian, who I dated 6 years ago, in it, which is strange because it is my sister's old Bible. Clint was a great sport and laughed it off. I think I am going to send those pictures to Brian’s mom. Anyways, I was quickly reminded why I am not dating Brian anymore, and utterly, eternally grateful that I am not.

Though painful at the time, failed relationships can help show you what a man definitely should and should not be, and help you get closer and closer to someone with a combination of the most desirable qualities possible. Here, from experience (unfortunately! hahahahaha), is what I have learned a man should and should not do. Clint is the inspiration for most the shoulds, and my exs are the inspiration for most the should nots.



Should
Love you despite your quirks (and maybe even appreciate them because they’re what make you special)
Let you spend time with your friends
Encourage your spiritual growth
Think you’re beautiful no matter what you’re wearing
Join you on your workouts without slowing you down
Pay for things – not all the time – but carry his weight
Make you laugh
Bring out your best qualities
Let you kiss him or hold his hand whenever you want
Tell you sweet things randomly
Call when he says he’s going to
Go out of his way to spend time with you
Go out of his way to get to know your friends and family
Know when to stop talking
Be refreshing, not draining
Listen to you, instead of trying to get the next word in
Dance
Be loving to his mom, close to his dad, and good to his siblings
Able to admit when he’s wrong and say – and show – he’s sorry
Be on time
Have his own interests and be interesting
Have goals
Have a strong work ethic
Define the relationship and let you know how he feels about you so you’re not left guessing
Treat you like you’re the only woman in the world
Plan fun and romantic dates
Be your intellectual equal
Be patient and kind

Shouldn’t
Cry when you are spending time with your friends instead of him
Act too cool for you (or ignore you) in front of his friends
Cheat
Call to tell you he cheated when you’re on vacation with your family
Make you feel bad for not being physical with him when you’re not ready or even going to
Get mad at you for being honest
Yell at you
Talk bad about your family or friends
Tell you how bad your life is going to be without him once y’all break up
Check out other girls in front of you, flirt with other girls in front of you, or tell you how he thinks other girls are “hot”
Let himself go once y’all start dating
Take you to Subway when you’re in Charleston
Be cheap on Valentine’s Day
Befriend one of your exes and hang out with them in front (or instead) of you
Lead you on once you’ve broken up
Do drugs
Get mad at you for wanting some down time or time with your friends
Gripe about how much he spends on you
Hold your past against you
Go to prom with another girl while he is dating you

workin in the real world

Man, I have a lot of respect for working people.

Internships (such as the one I’m in right now) give me a glimpse into the 8-5 (give or take a few hours) working world.

It feels like there is not enough time in the day.

So, if possible, I think I am going to start arriving earlier to my internship. I’ve been coming in from 8-4:30. My supervisor doesn’t come in ‘til 9 usually, but since the staff will be out of the office this week, maybe I’ll give it a trial run of coming in at 7 or 7:30 so I can leave earlier, and perhaps beat the traffic (and be able to drive in the HOV lane – tee hee). And, be able to have more hours of daylight for all I’d like to do. Feels like, by the time I get home, after working out and eating dinner there’s only a few hours to chill out before I have to go to bed (10:30 is ideal).

I really need to put away some clothes, do laundry, haven’t been on a pug parade in a while, and am a few days behind in “The Purpose Driven Life.”

Come in earlier to work and be home earlier in minimal traffic? I think yes.

who we are instead

This is one of my new favorite songs. It has a great beat and an even better message.

"And the trouble is we don't know who we are instead."

I saw this on a blog today that relates:

You are beautiful.
Accept it. Believe it. Embrace it.

Last night in "The Purpose Driven Life" its question to consider for the day was this: “Since I was made to last forever, what is the one thing I should stop doing and the one thing I should start doing today?” because there are so many things that seem utterly insignificant in the light of eternity, yet consume my life. Like trying to loose weight. And worrying, mostly about money, or seeking approval.

So since part of my identity is that God created me to last forever, in order to let those things that are hindering me from fully embracing that truth, I will be aware of them so I can unlearn those tendencies I've developed over the years.

"And the trouble is we don't know who we are instead."

As Christians, we are God's beloved, God's masterpiece, God's friend, heirs to God's kingdom, & saints, beautiful & accepted by God & freed from sin & created to live forever to be delighted in by Him forever.
Accept it. Believe it. Embrace it.

Because that's who we are instead.

The trouble is when we don't know who we are instead.

My wings don't sail me to the sky
On my own these wings won't fly
Jesus told me so
Still I'm not so sure that I know
Can't find no rest for my soul
Can't find no rest on my own
Jesus told me so
Still I'm not so sure that I know
Man, the trouble is
We don't know who we are instead
Man, the trouble is
We don't know who we are instead
I'll keep runnin' the other way
My heart ain't built to stay
My heart ain't built to stay
And the world just ain't that way
Man, the trouble is
We don't know who we are instead
Man, the trouble is
We don't know who we are instead
We don't know who we are instead
My heart ain't built to stay
My heart ain't built to stay
Jars of Clay- Trouble is

a peek into GBBF land

Aren't these pictures precious? Kids with their books. And I got a big kick out of this one - things a Governor should know, by an Elementary School classroom. :)

A governor should know how to:
be organized
be polite and kind
drive safely
write and read well
dress fancy
be cool for the girls
protect people
cut meat
tie his shoes
cook for big parties
call the president
make people happy
do important stuff
be a good listener
spend lots of money
work seriously hard
not get arrested
read a map
tell time

Day 3 of my internship. I'm really liking this gig.

Today I'm learning how to use Flickr in order to upload and organize pictures by county for the GBBF website. I've also organized a list of all the Tennessee State Senators and Representatives, taken calls from mommys and daddys about the Imagination Library books, and got my picture taken for my temp State Employee badge (and received the badge too!), among other things. Still enjoying the view of the really big map of Tennesse from my office on the 11th floor.

Tonight I'm going to Centinnel Park's summer treat "Movies in the Park" tonight with Clint. Kung Fu Panda is playing. It's another lovely, sunny day in Middle Tennessee! Perfect for a picnic.

Summer Update: summer so far! :)

It’s three weeks into the summer already! Geeze Louise, time is flying by.

Today’s my first day at my internship – the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation, in a building at the foot of the state capitol with a lovely view of the Bicentennial Mall and the really big map of Tennessee from my office. I’ll be assisting the communications director for this fabulous program that, in partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, provides any child in Tennessee a free book each month from birth to age 5! So far so good! I really like working downtown. The people in the office are super nice. Ya, it’s been a smooth, good first day.

I am just tickled at how great the weather has been. In Seaside, FL, this past week, we had sunny days every single day and the past few days at home have been sunny and pleasant (high 70s, low 80s) and have gotten cooler at night. Out my window there is hardly a cloud in the sky which will make for a good post-work pug parade or run/walk. Yes, run/walk. I can’t run too far these days. I ran 4 miles in Seaside (as the day heat began to creep in, might I add haha) but need to take it easy. I think I’ll try to get some new running shoes soon; the ones I have are a year old at least so they could be the source of my injuries (and my church is collecting shoes on Sunday so I can donate them to people in need!).

In Seaside I read “The Road Less Traveled” and began “A Purpose Driven Life” yesterday, and it spans over the course of 40 days like a devotional. Still looking for something else to pick up, pair with it. Historical fiction or inspirational are my favorite genres. I LOVE reading for fun! I am also about 80 pages into “1L of a Ride” about the first year of law school written by a Memphis law professor. Gulp. It makes the anxiety creep up for sure. My uncle said I could look at some of his law books and outlines. Not really pleasurable summer reading. I did get a Pomeranian book this summer, but I have already read through it haha.

Ok, enough ramblin’, so what in the world have I been doing this summer so far?

I drove back from Furman after graduation and moving out on Mother’s Day, and the next morning I flew to Chicago to visit one of my best friends ever, Megan Flynn. We had a ball!

We went *shopping* at TJ Maxx-esque stores Filene’s Basement and Nordstrom Rack (and TJ Maxx itself of course). I got a new Lilly Pulitzer skort (green and white flowers), a pink dress with a really flattering fit and color that I just love, a pink and white polkadot Lilly Pulitzer bikini, and Vineyard Vines flip flops for Clint’s birthday with shamrocks on them because he loves being Irish – all at least half off the original price.

We had lunch in a French café. We went to the Harry Potter exhibit at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry and also explored the museum and saw baby chicks hatch out of eggs and the Fairy Castle dollhouse. We strolled around downtown LaGrange and had margaritas and divine Mexican. We had dinner with her family and roasted marshmallows by the fire her dad made. We caught the train and a cab around the city. We watched movies and talked and talked and talked and it was glorious. Chicago is a fun city, and is SO much fun with a gal like Megan Flynn!

I loved getting to see and spend time with her. We go way back and have so much shared history, have played major roles in each other’s stories, and have been a major player in accentuating and sharing each other’s joy and soothing each other’s heartbreak.

The week after my visit was my training for my internship. That Saturday I took Clint to the Renaissance Festival for his birthday. We saw jousting. Two knights were knocked from their horses. We dressed up a little (I wore a shirt with flowy, princess sleeves and he altered his Jack Sparrow costume to make it like a Renaissance townsman) but were not, by far, the biggest weirdos (my family laughed at us all dressed up)! There were many vendors with cool things like swords and tiaras and jewelry. That night I took him to Flemings, a delicious steakhouse and wine bar for his birthday dinner. The service was impeccable as was the food and the atmosphere. We ordered a bottle of wine (Riesling, mm), mozzarella salad (cheese, tomatoes, basil: my favorite!), a delicious steak that they “butterflied”, and they brought out free truffles because it was his birthday. After dinner we strolled around Centennial Park – a fine time celebrating a very fine man!

Clint’s sister Hailey graduated Sunday and her party in the Wickles’ backyard was SO much fun, as my brother Jay’s graduation the next day. Jay received the Founder’s Award from Brentwood Academy; I am so proud of him and that is quite an honor. He was picked by his class to give the graduation speech and I loved his speech (hence, including it on my blog as the post prior to this one). After most our guests had left I dipped my feet in the hot tub and had some champagne with my parents and their close friends the Russells, Glasglows, and Teichmanns.

The next day mom, Jay, and I woke up early, picked up my grandmother, and drove to the Seaside, FL, area for some fun in the sun! We arrived around 4 and I immediately hit the beach and joined my cousins in the waves. That night my uncle Bob made us dinner (he’s a GREAT chef!!!) as he did the following two nights (we had scallop/seafood pasta, homemade sushi, tuna, grouper, big bright salads – all the seafood was fresh and so so delicious. The final night we biked to The Red Bar and had crabcakes!! Good eatin’ for sure. We did a lot of bike riding, had a lot of beach time, saw most the sunsets, putted around downtown Seaside (and I participated in doing silly dares with the cousins that consisted of Jay running around like a raptor, playing duck duck goose with a group of random girls, and forming a circle around a random teenager and joining hands, dancing around him singing “the cheese stands alone” – yeah, we’re strange! Haha) , went to Modica Market, Frostbites (for shaved ice, pineapple flavor is my favorite), the Shrimp Shack (a new seafood place next to Pickle’s in downtown Seaside), and enjoyed our spacious, beautiful house and its heated pool. Most nights we went to bed rather early (10:30 or so) and woke up early to greet the day! It was such a FUN trip and ended much too soon (Saturday).

Yes indeed, we came back May 30th on Clint’s actual birthday and I totally surprised him – he had NO idea I was going to be in town! I was waiting for him at Chilis when Pat and Courtney showed up with him. He was genuinely surprised and very happy to see me. It was a sweet moment. We had dinner and drinks at Chilis and went to Dan McGuiness on Demonbreun for more drinks and dancing. I wrote a poem about the night and Clint. (See below)

It's your birthday in the summer
And it's Saturday night
It's one of those moments, one of those evenings
When the world's never felt more right

I'm in love with you
And you're in love with me
The band is playing
Our friends are laughing
And I'm as happy as can be

Life with you has love
Life with you has laughter
Life with you is a celebration and happily ever after

You lead me to the dance floor
You take me in your arms
Your love's a sensation that's exhilerating
Yet my heart is completely calm

You were the one I always wanted
You were the one that got away
Now that I have you
Now that you love me
I know love is here to stay

After wandering in the desert
You led me back to a life at sea
After carrying around so much baggage
You helped set my heart free

So say hello to love every day for the rest of your life
Say goodbye to loneliness - you've got a companion for times of strife

I've found the one my heart loves
And that someone is you
You're the answer to my prayers
You're a dream come true

So, so far an activities-filled (just how I like it!), very great summer! Looking forward to seeing what the next few weeks will hold!