thanksgiving reflections

Somehow, my family managed to pull off one of the best Thanksgivings we have had in years. Everyone was nice and loving to each other, we sat at the dinner table for close to 3 hours talking, telling stories, and sharing little tidbits about our lives. The whole clan was captivated. 


With all the craziness in life and finals coming up, I feel like its important to remember and reflect on those seemingly perfect moments in life. 


I was listening to Miranda Lambert's House that Built Me on my drive home. Even though I've moved around my whole life, I really like the sentiment. "Out here it's like I'm someone else, I thought that maybe I could find myself..." Nothing like being with family and just getting to be who you are, unapologetically. 

thanksgiving come early

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. This year I'll be driving up to DC from the land of sweet tea for a few days and then continuing north to Haddonfield, NJ to visit with my mom's side of the family. For me, it's the way Thanksgiving should be. We drink gin and tonics, graze all day, laugh a lot, sit in front of a fire place, and watch football. Its magical. 

I get reflective around Thanksgiving. So much has happened since last year when I was in the middle of grad school applications, working full time, and spending the holiday with my then boyfriend while plotting what was to come. The future was a big question mark. Now that I can see the view from this side, I can say with confidence that it is beautiful. People say that everything always works out. Sometimes you just have to trust the process and let it happen. I wasn't disappointed. Life is never perfect, but when I can look around and see that it is my own, that is something to be thankful for. 

One last thing. This year I am particularly thankful for friends. Old home crew friends who know me better than myself, college roommates that I shared closets and secrets with, DC friends I made in the last few years that I count among my closest confidants, and the new group of girls I've come to know here in North Carolina and have me laughing every day. Life wouldn't be nearly as sweet without them. So thank you, to those who may be reading this, for being part of my life. I couldn't do it without you! 

Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday. See you next week. 

possibility

Possibility is one of my favorite words. 

"I used to feel so alone in the city. All those gazillions of 

people and then me, on the outside. Because how do you meet a new person? I was stunned by this for many years. And then I realized, you just say, 'Hi.' They may ignore you. Or you may marry them. And that possibility is worth that one word."

Augusten Burroughs

good advice

"It will all work out. Maybe not this week, but it will."

happy friday!

I couldn't help myself. This is ridiculously cute.

Just a silly paper between me and the weekend, which will begin with watching the Carrier Classic. This might be the first/last time I ever talk about sports on this blog, but I think the fact that the UNC basketball team is playing the first ever game on an air craft carrier for Veteran's Day bears mentioning. It's on at 7pm EST. Go Heels!

why i am here

Days in grad school can be long. Classes start at 8:30am and run until 6pm, just to lead to coming home and starting homework. In an hour I have to go out again for some volunteer work. It can all start to wear on you. The assignments. The hustle. The go go go. 


I came home and tried to take a bath. I was sore and it was all I wanted. I realized simultaneously that the tub wouldn't stop up and that my hot water went out. Sigh. Fail. 


As I started poking around the kitchen trying to figure out what to have for dinner I remembered how I felt this morning. I was in a class that is normally hum drum, but we had a guest speaker who was incredibly engaging. As he discussed work in family planning and reproductive health, public-private partnerships, and arguments across every discipline to advocate for resources and political commitment, I was excited. Pumped. Jazzed. I thought, "I want to be like you when I grow up." 


In the face of the mundane assignments and statistics quizzes I had to remind myself to hold that feeling close. This is why I am here. 

i want to party with florence

I think in my next life I'd like to come back as Florence Welch. I could do worse than be reincarnated as a 6 foot tall soul singing British red head. 


Shake it Out popped up on my radar today: 


These lyrics are perfect for my week:
And I’m damned if I do and I’m damned if I don’t
So here’s to drinks in the dark at the end of my road
And I’m ready to suffer and I’m ready to hope
It’s a shot in the dark and right at my throat
Cause looking for heaven, for the devil in me
Looking for heaven, for the devil in me
Well what the hell I’m gonna let it happen to me


Sometimes it is good just to remember that as much as you plan for things, sometimes life just happens. Cheers. 


Now go dance around your kitchen and listen to this song. 

people and community

I like meeting new people and connecting with them. Even if it's convincing the middle age woman at the mall that she needs those leopard pumps for her holiday parties. I liked meeting one of my friend's parents this weekend-- she and her mom have the same laugh--amazing. I enjoy hanging out with someone you know a little, and after one night you feel like you know them so much more. Those nights are pretty cool, especially when I think about how I used to coexist in an office environment everyday with so many people I knew on a superficial level.


I guess what I am trying to say is that for an extrovert like me, this little southern town fits. People want to know each other. Barriers aren't quiet as defined as they were in the big city. It's refreshing. 

not quite perfect

After turning in a giant assignment for school last night, I decided that today, Saturday, I will just do things that I like. I slept in, I went to the gym, I made eggs and waffles for breakfast, and then I read this. I stumbled across the article from Cup of Jo, one of my favorite reads. 


It's a love story. For the past few months I've stayed away from love stories. They still feel too implausible after one day being in love, and the next day having that taken away. But lately, I've started to have a bit of hope. I've been spending time working on myself. Arranging the pieces in my life in a way that is pleasing to me, so that when the time is right I'll be ready. 


Read the article. I don't want to spoil it for you, but I think if you have ever had a crush or an amazing love story that just wasn't quite right, you'll feel this deep in your bones. I know I did. 


With hope, today I go shopping for date clothes. 

southernisms updates

There was I was, walking through Harris Teeter, just looking for some skim milk and I came across this: 

Um. WHAT? I thought the Turducken was an urban legend. Apparently they sell it in grocery stores in North Carolina. 

Is anyone else totally grossed out by this concept?

Also, it took me 26 years to realize that a "tail gate" is the back part of a pick-up truck that folds down. I think that says something about my urban upbringing...