a little more

2 more things...

I posted a bunch of pictures on Flickr. See link on right ---------->
Mostly of NYC. I LOVED that trip.

A couple music finds. Zach posted today with amazing suggestions.

I immediately loved this one. "It's Not True" makes me think of a swimming in a pool surrounded by shafts of light from the sun and a million different fish of bright colors swimming by. I want to make a movie just to be able to use this song.... The rest are too good too. itunes may be getting some of my $$ tonight.

Then this one. I already like his old band, so this was a fun find.

And a couple favorites have new stuff.
Schuyler Fisk.
Cary Brothers ("Ride"is one of my all time favorite songs.)
And just because I was listening to his CD for the millionth time today.

This one is for you, Amy!

Look what my sweet cousin sent me in the mail today! She read my blog and saw my addiction and sent me a copy...how awesome is that?! Thanks a million, Amy! I'm glad we share the same love of Disney Channel fun even at our old age, eh?!
Okay, who wants to have HSM viewing party with me? We can even do the dance off and karaoke. You know you want to...

It can't be over already can it?

Found these today while I was proofing some pictures. I can't believe that a whole summer is over already. I love Fall, but it always bring winter behind it. Somehow that just sours the whole season. Boo for cold weather!

Um, yeah....it was freakin' awesome

Surreal. That's what we kept saying. It's really the only word that truly described it. Letterman is my bedtime, PJ's, about-to-fall-asleep-with-a-laugh show. It makes me smile right before I close my eyes. It's a special treat when I can manage to stay awake till midnight. I love seeing him walk out onto that stage and love even more when he goes behind that desk and comes up with something completely ridiculous to make me laugh.
So, when we finally walked into that theater it was surreal. I was standing in the room that I had watched on TV hundreds of times. It was MUCH smaller than I expected. I know the TV makes everything look bigger (you know the whole it-adds-10lbs thing) but good gracious. That room only held about 200 people tops. The backdrop of the city that he has as the background was gorgeous! It's a model sparkling and all lit up to perfection. Then I saw his desk and the chairs the guests sit in. His desk! Then one I've watch him pound his pencils on and set his coffee cup on a million times.
I could go on with a million other details, but I won't. Here's a couple things that I just loved.

Paul and the CBS orchestra are amazing. The band is so fun and kind and loves the audience to enjoy their hour there.

David is freakin' hilarious. He really is "that funny" in real life. He was also very kind. He came out to talk with us for a couple minutes before we went on the air. He let us ask questions. That's where the whole heart shaped potato thing came from (if you watched the show). This woman brought a heart shaped potato to show him and he used it all during the show. He only got it about 3 minutes before they taped. He really, truly seems to enjoy his job. And he seems to treat everyone with respect.

His staff is fun. It's was so cool to see Alan, the famous Biff, and the tall white haired guy (can't remember his name). They were running around like little busy bees while he was taping.

Jamie Foxx is both funny and handsome. I was so excited to see Dave that I forgot it was going to be fun to see the guests too.

It's crazy that the whole show is performed for about 200 people sitting there in the audience. I think, when I watch it on TV, that it's for me the viewer at home. But when they are taping, it doesn't feel like that at all. Again, surreal.

I just stared at all the people scurrying about on stage during the "commercial" breaks. When I watch TV, I always wonder "what do they do during those 3-5 minutes. Well, the Late Show band plays music for the audience. Dave talks to his producers and comes up with more funny stuff to say. It's so cool to see the behind the scenes. I LOVE that kind of stuff. But then again I'm also the nerd who has watched all the hours of extra behind the scenes stuff on the LOTR's DVD's.....more than once....

It was so fun. I would totally go again. And if you enjoy Dave, sign up and go! The tickets are free. You just have to wait for them to call.

And so I close with the pictures of the two nerds who were VERY VERY excited to go see David Letterman and cross #27 off of their list of things to do before they die. Don't judge our smiles too harshly. We were over the top excited!

my favorite fall tradition

(click on the picture to get the full effect)

Ren Fest. It's like Disney World on crack. The freaks come out to play. Got to see my favorite troupe perform twice. These guys perform Shakespeare in an almost improv way. Their specialty is to do one of his plays in 20 minutes or less. I look forward to it all year. We sat in this theater for 4 straight shows. Last one was a hypnotist. CRAZY! We also got lots of yummy food. Mmmm, the food....
The Renaissance Festival has become one of my favorite fall traditions. Thanks for introducing to me, Leah!
I'm off to get my beauty sleep for my big day tomorrow. Letterman, here I come! NYC all day! Does it get any better?!!

Buffy quote of the day

"I was brought up a proper lady. I wasn't meant to understand things. I'm just meant to look pretty, and then someone nice will marry me. Possibly a baron."

photo love

If this (click the photo)doesn't make you want to pick up your camera and shoot, I don't know what will! Saw it on Tara's blog a couple months ago. Re-found it here (a favorite photo site).
What hobby are you loving today?!

p.s.... yes, I will be seeing David Letterman in person! I got tickets to the Monday night show. Wish you could have all heard the screams of joy after I hung up the phone with the Late show. I'm beyond excited!!!!

my date for Monday night

likes to wear suits with loafers.

from ellicott city

i've missed you too, friends....

...I've missed you too. I know it's been almost a week since I've posted. And not only that, but I've been very lax on my posts in general. Well I am feeling much better about life and am very happy to be back in the posting mode. I'm finally crawling out of this pit it seems like I've been in for a couple days, no, take that back, weeks. Let's all say it together...ahhhh.....
So, where have I been, you ask? Here goes....
Work, mostly. And I do mean a lot of it. Like a solid week straight with no break until this past Friday when I took the day off to actually goof off.
I went to a really cool city not to far away to take some pictures with my brother. I'm in the process of proofing them, so you'll have to wait a little bit. It was a lovely trip though. That night, I got inspired to de-clutter my room. I'm the type of freak who LOVES to organize. I just love when everything is in it's proper place and clean. So my closet is oh, so much better and I have boxes and bags to give to Goodwill. It feels so good to get rid of things I don't use or need anymore! Try it!
I went to church on Sunday. Again reminded how much I love my church and how they are constantly forcing me to re-evaluate my relationship with Jesus. Is it where it needs to be? If not, why? Where am I headed? All good questions and so refreshing after missing last week because of work.
I've been gone since Sunday on a staff retreat. We did a swap with another camp. They came to us last week, and we went there this week. Let me tell you...this camp is incredible. Their camp is in the mountains, while we are on the water. Two totally different types of camps. Two completely different programs. Two very different sizes (in the number of kids and the actual acreage. we are MUCH smaller). But their staff and ours seem to mesh really well. Their staff is like one big family, very much like ours. We were excited to see them again and get to know them a little better and just chat with them. They really humbled me in the way that they served us and made us feel special and important and welcome. They are super busy like we are, yet they took the time to do lots of activities with us (zip-line...to cool! paintball...yeah, I sat that one out. gocarts...heck yeah!) and just sit at every meal with us and talk about whatever. God is doing amazing things at there and it was an honor to see Jesus working through each of them. It was a wonderful couple of days. Thanks so much River Valley!
Now, I'm home and happy to sleep in my own bed. I missed my computer and all of my daily blog reads. I missed the Emmy's (oh, the horror!). But...it was really good to be away from it all and to detox for a little while. I'm still working through a lot of stuff in my head, but happy that God is faithful and right there along side of me. I'm hoping to do lots of fun things this weekend including one thing that will just be over the top, incredibly cool and on my list of things to do before I die. We'll see if it works out or not!

camping

Growing up, we didn't take big trips to far away places on big boats or in planes. After one flight to FL to see my grandmother when I was in elementary school, I didn't fly again until I was a junior in college. My family chose to pull our home behind us when we traveled. We saw the east coast from the seats of our van (and then Suburban) with our cocker spaniel's nose pressed against the glass next to us. We ate sandwiches from the cooler and only stopped for gas before tumbling out of the vehicle with either the beach or the mountains before us. Our traveling companions, either friends or relatives, would get the campsite next to us. The week was filled with fun, campfires, hammocks, naps, walks to the beach, sitting in lawn chairs, reading and whatever adventures we could find at the place we had stopped.
Camping is like home to me. But not tent camping, oh no! We had a camper with air conditioning and a refrigerator. THAT was camping. I love listening to the rain on the roof (still one of my favorite sounds in the whole world). I love the screen door leading out to the green carpet with the awning adorned with warmly lit lanterns in the evening. I loved seeing Lady, our beloved cocker spaniel, sitting in the doorway watching everything going on around here. I love my family all together even when we drive each other crazy, which we always did by the end of the trip. Close quarters for too long can drive anyone to madness!
I went camping a few weekends ago with my parents and friend. We went to a campground that we have been going to since I was a little tyke. It was a perfect weekend of naps and shopping and bike riding and just doing nothing. That's what I love most about camping, I think. The doing nothing. And knowing that everyone else in the campsites around you is doing the same thing.

one year ago today...

I was in Washington celebrating her birthday. I got the honor of babysitting her little ones. I spent 3 fun days just chatting with her and her lovely family. I adore this girl. She makes my life brighter. She LISTENS. She cares. She prays. She wants the best for me and isn't afraid to give it to me straight. Her friendship is one of the most important relationships in my life. I miss her desperately and wish every day that we weren't a whole country apart. Happy Birthday, Rach! I.LOVE.YOU!!!After a few days with her, I left on the west coast cruise. I still think about this trip every day. My mom, dad and brother and I all say that is was one of the best trips we have ever taken. I loved every spot we went to. Vancouver, Victoria, San Fransisco, San Diego, Catalina Island, Los Angeles. Has it really been a whole year? It just feels like yesterday. The pictures still make me stop and stare when they pop up on my screen saver.

(yup, the Friends set)

Mom, Dad, bro...ready to go back?!!

can't think of a title

My brain is still in frozen mode. I've been working like a crazy person and am tired, tired, tired. Guess that's why. Every time I try to type out coherent words, they sound ridiculous when I read them back, so I've given up.
Instead of nonsense, enjoy this video I found today on J Crew's website. Makes me want to jump on the next plane to Paris!

hi

my brain isn't in the writing mode today. can't put two coherent thoughts together. try again later....

day off

Took today off just because..... Got lots done. Spent some "valuable" time doing my own little photo shoot. I'm in love with my new hoodie. Then even more time in Photoshop. There are couple shots on Flickr. Helped my mom and brother paint his room. Drank lots of ice tea with fresh mint leaves. Mmmmm....

And got my hair choppped: It feels so wonderfully healthy and short. My hair grows super fast, so I have to enjoy it while I can. Short, little ponytails and all!!Night, night, all.

i can't help myself

When I couldn't find it in the previously viewed rack at Blockbuster, I resorted to watching it online (btw....is there anything you can't find online?).
It's an addiction. My obsessive compulsiveness takes over when I find a TV show I love (yes, I know this isn't exactly a show, but do we need to be that nit-picky? I think not.). Here's a couple samples for you to love as well:

One (my fave)
Two
Three

Don't judge me. There are worse things to be addicted to. I'm sure you have a silly addiction too. Do share, so I don't feel alone....

stories

I finished it today. I closed the cover, but the story hasn't left my mind. I love books like that. Biographies are one of my favorites to read. This one is now in my top 5. Such a powerful story of love, knowledge and the search for God. It's inspiring and intelligent and perfectly written filled with direct quotes from each of the "characters." To read how the loss of the love of his life crippled him until he realized God was there in the midst of the excruciating pain he felt in her absence. To see God through the eyes of someone who knew that God loves us greater than we shall ever understand. To see how their match was short lived, but so very powerful. I loved it. It moved me. And I recommend to you: get your hands on it and read C.S. Lewis through the Shadowlands.

"God has not been trying an experiment on my faith or love, in order to find out their quality. He knew it already. It was I who didn't. In this trial He makes us occupy the dock, the witness box, and the bench all at once. He always knew my temple was a house of cards. His only way of making me realize the fact was to knock it down..." - C.S. Lewis

Symphonic weekend

We had perfect weather this weekend. Perfect. Perfect timing for the last concert of the summer at a near-by park. The bro and I made the trek out to see a local symphony play some delightful music. The sun slowly slipped behind the trees as we enjoyed a variety of classics. It was so nice to just lay on the grass and listen to the music fill the air.
When it finished I got to do one of my favorite things, try and leave a venue with an enormous amount of people all at the same time. I love the hustle and bustle as people race to their cars. I love hearing what people are saying about the event they just witnessed. I love seeing the little kids being carried on their parents shoulders. I love seeing how many different types of people enjoy the same things. Young, old, American, Hispanic, rich, poor, those who sit in chairs, those who (like us) just stick a blanket in their backpack. Then you get to your car and are forced to sit and wait. Oh, the horror! You are forced sit and think about what you just witnessed and discuss with your co-riders. I love that the moment doesn't end until you have left the venue and are back "on the road" to home.
I especially love this at Disney World. (And those of you who guessed Disney are correct for my December vacation. You know me so well!) After you go to a fireworks show at a park, it turns into a sea of people all trying to get on trains, boats and cars to get home. I used to grab the family member in front of me and hold on for dear life as we wound our way like a catepillar out of the park to get back to the camper. I loved the thrill of the 1,000's of other people jam packed into the same spot laughing, talking and enjoying the show the just saw. I loved seeing the kids in the strollers sound asleep not know at all what was going on around them. (I can see my brother as one of those kids so vividly, and can't wait for Luke to be one of them too this year! When our family went to a park, it was from "open" to "close." Naps were in strollers and bedtime too.) I loved the huge masses of people. Weird, I know, especially since I'm claustrophobic. But there is something electric in the air in moments like that. Can't wait to have that experience again!