Pages

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Currently Craving...

I'm having some weird cravings today. Normally I don't share my cravings because I feel like it makes me sound ungrateful. How can I want things when I have this ridiculously rich and amazing life? But these are silly things and I acknowledge how incredibly blessed I am, so why not?

A Turkey Club from Cafe Meridian. Seriously, this is the best thing about Durham. I could eat this sandwich every day of my life. Yummy turkey,  TONS of bacon, swiss, dijonaise on toasted bread...perfection. There are few things I miss about the Dirty D. This is definitely one of them. Too bad it would take me my whole lunch break to drive there and back.



A run. Now this is weird for me. I don't really like running. At least that's what I think. But I'm competitive. Super competitive. And I ran a 5k the other day and all I could think was, "I want to do this again immediately. I want to train and beat my time." Runs also make me feel detoxified and healthy which is something I need right now.






 Los Angeles (and surrounding areas). I read a blog this morning that included pictures of LA and I was immediately filled with nostalgia. It's funny. I've been so blessed to have a wonderful family that has allowed me to travel since I was young. They've taken me all over Europe and America, I've eaten at the best restaurants and had the best wines. But LA represents something completely different to me. I traveled to LA twice the summer after I graduated from college. My boyfriend at the time had moved there for an internship. I had no money, but I knew I had to get out there so I did odd jobs to get money. I babysat, I (gasp!) cleaned floors, I organized the pantry... anything I could do to get money. I was young and in love and counted down the days to see my best friend. Once there I barely had any money to do anything. But it didn't matter. We drove around and I immediately fell in love with the scenery - everything from the laid back beaches to the ridiculous night life. We didn't have money for fancy restaurants so we'd sit on the couch in our hotel room and eat cheese and crackers and sip rum and diet cokes. I have never been so poor or so happy.

Relaxation Station. Lucky for me I get to fill this craving in about 48 hours. The relaxation station is basically the greatest invention ever invented. You get to relax all day, drink beer (normally I'm not a beer drinker, but lake/ocean beers are totes a different story) and forget that you have a life other than that. Perfection.
Basketball. I played basketball for 13 years. I have never been particularly athletic and basketball was something I knew how to do. I was never great, but I was always an important part of my team. I miss the confidence that gave me. I miss the competitiveness of basketball. I miss hanging out with my teammates.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Literary Inspiration...

I have been reading a new book, Grace (Eventually) by Anne Lamott,  and have been touched by some of the quotes in it.

"See, sometimes, if you're lucky, you get to a point where you're sick of a problem, or worn down by tinkering with it, or clutching to it. And letting it go, maybe writing it down and sending it away, buys you some time and space, so maybe freedom and humor sneak in -- which is probably what you were praying for all along." 

Goodness gracious, how true and how powerful!

"These are the words I want on my gravestone: that I was a helper and that I danced."


I'd add one more: that I thought with my heart. It's one of my biggest strengths and biggest weaknesses, but it is who I am.

"Perhaps everything terrible is, in its deepest being, something that needs our love."


I believe this 2,000,000 percent.

I'm so grateful for the ability of other's words to touch my heart. Reading is such a gift!

What books/quotes from books have spoken to you? I'd love to hear them! 

Monday, May 9, 2011

Thanks Mom :)

I realize this is late, but I spent the weekend at the beach with my mom, so I think she'll forgive me if this post is a day tardy.

You know those things you don't realize until your older? Like the fact that bangs are generally a bad idea, middle parts only work if you have a professional hair stylist, cheap liquor is not your friend and nothing beats a quiet night at home with your head in a book and your face covered in a thick, night cream? Well, I think how great moms are is another one of those things.

Sure you love your mom and depend on her for everything (literally) when you're young, but there are just some things that you learn to appreciate as an adult.

My mom sacrificed a lot for me when I was young, but I had no idea. She never complained, I never went without and she always had a smile on her face. She let me make "cakes" (concoctions of whatever I wanted to mix together from the spice cabinet, refrigerator and pantry) when money was tight, she played with me every afternoon after a long tiring day in the office and she made me the center of her universe day in and day out. That is an amazing mom.

My mom is everything I want to be when I grow up (I've pushed my official grown-up start date back to 30...). She is beautiful. She is smart (so incredibly smart). She is kind. She is gracious. She is fun. I hope one day I'm half the mom to little Leighton and Campbell (my latest future kids' names - unisex) that she has been and continues to be to me.

Even as an adult, I've relied on my mom. I've probably relied on her more as an adult. I seek her wisdom and counsel and know I can go to her without fear of judgment. She is amazing.

Thank you mom for being my guiding light, my role model, my inspiration and my best friend. I love you very much. :)

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

I'm TJ Yates and I'm a ... Houston Texan

The NFL Draft wrapped up over the weekend and the Tar Heels had a record-setting 9 players picked, including, sweet baby Teej. TJ went in the fifth round to the Houston Texans and I could not be more excited. It seems to be a good situation for him and Houston plays an offence almost identical to ours.

Obviously, I'm now the world's biggest Houston Texans fan! I'm so grateful he didn't go somewhere gross like New York or New England. Let's keep Teej in the South where he belongs. Next unnecessary purchase: A "Yates" Houston Texans jersey, obv. :)