Humbled in Mt. Pisgah

I am typically a person who likes to lead, but this past Thursday I gladly followed this wonderful woman as we hiked Mt. Pisgah off the Blue Ridge Parkway. She is an amazing person and is in an amazing time in her life. I just wanted to honor her here and some of the beautiful views of N.C. mountains.

Oops, I did it again

No, no, not the Britney spears "did it again," but rather the Mary Kay version. What am I talking about? Well, per request of a very sweet friend of mine, I attended a Mary Kay party. I will pause now so that those who know me, may laugh uncontrollably.

It's not exactly "my scene," but I am a girl, I do where make-up and use skin stuff, and thought I would just go for it. I should not be allowed at these things because my critically reflective eye is on full alert at these things! I just sit there decontextualized and decoding all the jargon, pamphlets, language, behavior, etc. and have a hard time moving past the fact that we are sitting there feeding into what society tells us a woman should be, do, look like, and so on.

On the other hand, I do use some of these types of things (not Mary Kay brand) in an effort to take care of myself. It's quite perplexing for a person like me--sitting on my high horse of "this is all ridiculously silly" while also thinking "oh, I do need to work on the wrinkles around my eyes."

Ugh. It makes me sick that I am even posting about it, but there it is. I have gone to these before, experiencing the same internal tug-of-war. And yes, I did it again! Why do I do this to myself?

Writing into the day...

So at the UNC Charlotte Writing Project, we write ourselves "into the day". It's a time for us to sit, breathe, and use the act of composing to bring us into the moment. I've been writing into the day since summer 2005. I do it everyday in class with my students. I do it in almost every workshop or presentation I give. Here is what happens when we "write in":

The room is quiet or, if the audience is willing, music might be playing. Daybooks or laptops are out. Thoughts flow from all over the place, generally no prompt or idea of what to write about is given. Minds are free to wonder wherever is needed.

Sometimes I write about nothing. Sometimes I write about how happy, mad, curious, nervous, frustrated I am. Sometimes I write about how hungry I am. Sometimes I write about how much I hope what we do in class that day "works". It is a moment--to explore, to see, to think, to write.

I value these moments, though I'm not always sure why. Offered like an open hand, allowing me to hold or approach the day how I see fit.

What is my "tree within"?

Introduced to Octavio Paz's poem "A Tree Within" today. It's seems important (not really sure why) and I like the drawing this guy couples with the piece: http://www.incli-nation.com/2007/05/a_tree_within.html

Workout Playlist

Thought I would share what is keeping me moving during my workouts these days. Particularly enjoying the addition of M.I.A. For more ideas on playlists, I found this interesting site on Military.com Ain't gonna lie, I'm a little scared of the "Shoot to Thrill" title.


Bucky Done Gun M.I.A.
Fancy Footwork, Chromeo
Shook Me All Night Long, AC/DC
Pour Some Sugar on Me, Def Leopard
SexyBack, Justin Timberlake
U.R.A.Q.T. M.I.A.
Mr. Brightside, The Killers
Ray of Light, Madonna
The Way You Move, Outkast
Shut Up and Let Me Go The Ting Tings
Sweet Emotion, Aerosmith
I Bet You Look Good On the Dance floor, Arctic Monkeys
Runaway, Dee-Lite
The Valley, Duran Duran
Fergalicious, Fergie
Are You Gonna Be My Girl, Jet
Purple Haze, Jimi Hendrix
Dr. Feelgood, Motley Crue
Such Great Heights, Postal Service
Edge Of Seventeen, Stevie Nicks
Little Dawn, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
I Believe in a Thing Called Love, Darkness

Reunited and it felt so good

I recently visited my alma mater, East Carolina University. It was a quite strange experience, compared to my past visits, for two very important reasons: 1. I went for professional reasons (that word was not even in my vocabulary from '96-'00), and 2. I went without my girls (can I get a shout out to the ECU Women's Soccer Team?!).

I want to share my trip via pictures because I think it will capture it best. For my soccer girls, you will nod knowingly and laugh. For anyone else who has never visited Greenville or never attended ECU, well, you're just outta luck on this one!

First, getting to Greenville has never been easier, so I captured my excitement with the road signs that let you know...you are about to enter a part of N.C. that has nothing else, and I mean nothing, besides ECU.



Then I had time before checking in to take a quick tour and found some familiar landmarks. Note: tour lasted all of 10 minutes...ah, I remember thinking how big and far things were! Nope, Greenville Blvd., 5th St., 10th St., Memorial Dr., Evans, Arlington, Red Banks, and that's it!

THE Krispy Kreme (now within a block of a Starbucks). THE sleek new buses (that we hated b/c they were too slow and never came when there were supposed to, or we loved b/c they graciously waited to take us back to College Hill on certain nights). Speaking of the hill...

It's still really, really, really long. Was it the 4 mile loop that included this? Ugh.

Okay, back to our cute downtown. I only recognized three names: UBE, Boli's, and Alfredo's.

And good old Dowdy Ficklen, where I think I spent more time "snaking the stadium" than attending football games in it.

Where the glory began and ended. Still no lights. Still called Bunting. Still as close as one can get without actually being directly behind home plate of the baseball field..."Fly ball! Look out!!"

Despite all the things that have not changed, I was shocked at one thing that had changed. I am proud to say that Greenville is now serving more than just South Paw and Bud Light.

But no matter how much Greenville tries to change and join the modern world, it will still be the one and only G-Vegas. Go Pirates!

Movie Joy

I am a movie lover. As a subscriber to Netflix, I get very excited when I see one of the red envelopes poking out of my mail slot. "Yeah, I have a movie!" Usually, because I constantly add and rearrange my queue, I have no clue what movie awaits until I tear open the envelope and reveal the title. About a week ago Dan in Real Life, unknowingly waited for my viewing.

I remember when this movie came out in the theaters. Steve Carell was the big selling point for this movie, and given his success with "The Office" and other movies (Evan Almighty, Little Miss Sunshine, 40-year old virgin) I figured this movie would do well in the theaters. But as soon as I remember it coming out, it was gone. Yet, I clicked "add" and here it was, entering my DVD player.

As soon as the light, simple, kinda goofy-smiley feeling music of Sondre Lerche provided Dan (Steve C.) as he hops out of bed with "Yep, okay!" and begins the first scene of his widowed, single dad of 3 girls life, I knew I was going to dig this movie. A stellar, yet subtle cast (Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook, John Mahoney, Dianne West, and so on) was so inviting as the movie is based on the annual family get together at the grandparent's house. All seems like it will be a normal, loud, story and food-filled weekend until Dan meets Marie (Binoche) at a local bookstore, has one of those "I can't believe I'm telling you all this when I just met you" conversations, only to find out that she is...well, I won't give it away, though any previews you read may do just that, because I think this part is one of the best.

Steve's knack for perfect timing and add-libbing dialog ("This corn is like an angel") had me laughing out loud. Something I don't often do. The premise is that this movie is just like "real life," and we all know that most movies don't really pull that off. However, this one felt just like home and I imagine others would feel the same way. I watched it twice, all the special features and commentary, and purchased music from the soundtrack (Lerche is pretty much the main music guy and purposefully so). So rent it, Netflix it, whatever you do, go watch this movie. *Insert picture of me and two thumbs up