Sunday, June 20, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
On Family: Oh, the technicalities
I have been absent for the last few weeks. Getting ready to graduate from undergrad (very weird sensation), and tons of other obstacles of life getting in the way. With each obstacle, I had support coming from every angle. Which led to me think about my last four years and how much things change each year. I started thinking about all the memories I've made with so many wonderful people, and then it made me think about my family.
Definition: (thanks Webster) there are actually several definitions; here are a few.
1 : a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head
2 a : a group of persons of common ancestry
5 a : the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children
If you know me even the slightest bit, you know that the people in my life that fall under this definition (Parents, Sister, Grandma, dogs :), etc) mean the world to me. Without them I wouldn't be who, or where, I am today. So thanks to them, and a big hats off for really being the most incredible people I could have the pleasure of knowing, let alone sharing genes with. However, this blog is not about them (sorry). This blog is about the people in my life that don't fall under these definitions. What about the people who have seen me through breakups, bad tests, this entire past year of challenges, and all the little snags along the way? What about the people who have listened to me, sometimes for hours, vent about what's going on in my day-to-day? What about the people that I can have fun with no matter the occasion, with whom I can be completely, 100% myself? Well, we may not share common ancestry, or parents, and I don't live with most of them, but boy have you important people been my family for the last four years in Athens. I am admittedly not always easy to be around, but you stick around. You watch me stress (as I inevitably do) about the little things, even though everyone tells me not to sweat the small stuff. You have seen me through the loss of the dearest of loved ones. And most of all, you have been yourselves. You have been open. You have been FUN: from craft fairs and flea markets, the dog park and long walks, vacations and staycations, study dates and wine dates, dinner parties and picnics, all the way to a quick chat on the phone that means more than you know. So, for those of you who are "undefinable" in more ways than one, I thank you for giving me, and sharing with me, the best years of my life. You have changed me for the better and helped me grow closer to the woman and friend I want to be. Cheers to my family, genetic and otherwise.
Definition: (thanks Webster) there are actually several definitions; here are a few.
1 : a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head
2 a : a group of persons of common ancestry
5 a : the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children
If you know me even the slightest bit, you know that the people in my life that fall under this definition (Parents, Sister, Grandma, dogs :), etc) mean the world to me. Without them I wouldn't be who, or where, I am today. So thanks to them, and a big hats off for really being the most incredible people I could have the pleasure of knowing, let alone sharing genes with. However, this blog is not about them (sorry). This blog is about the people in my life that don't fall under these definitions. What about the people who have seen me through breakups, bad tests, this entire past year of challenges, and all the little snags along the way? What about the people who have listened to me, sometimes for hours, vent about what's going on in my day-to-day? What about the people that I can have fun with no matter the occasion, with whom I can be completely, 100% myself? Well, we may not share common ancestry, or parents, and I don't live with most of them, but boy have you important people been my family for the last four years in Athens. I am admittedly not always easy to be around, but you stick around. You watch me stress (as I inevitably do) about the little things, even though everyone tells me not to sweat the small stuff. You have seen me through the loss of the dearest of loved ones. And most of all, you have been yourselves. You have been open. You have been FUN: from craft fairs and flea markets, the dog park and long walks, vacations and staycations, study dates and wine dates, dinner parties and picnics, all the way to a quick chat on the phone that means more than you know. So, for those of you who are "undefinable" in more ways than one, I thank you for giving me, and sharing with me, the best years of my life. You have changed me for the better and helped me grow closer to the woman and friend I want to be. Cheers to my family, genetic and otherwise.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Everything- Even the Kitchen Sink: J&J Flea Market
Yesterday Courtney and I ventured out for what started as a class project (for Court's Rec and Leisure class) and turned into a very fun day and a photography adventure for me. We went to the J&J Flea Market; they sell EVERYTHING, literally. We even saw a booth with a couple of kitchen sinks. In addition, there were booths of every-day items like socks, and then the not-so-every-day odd antiques (or junk in some cases). There are activities for the little ones: a train ride and pony rides. There are several restaurants on the property including a taqueria that was screaming my name. It is only about 10 minutes outside of Athens, but it feels like a totally different world. There are people from all walks of life, and I think that's what makes it so special. Unfortunately, not everything is happy. There are people selling (or giving away) puppies and other animals in not-always-great condition. Some of the puppies we saw were in a crate that was too small with soiled newspaper, not fun to see. Despite these sad images, though, the day was a lot of fun, and it looks like we've found a fun place to take adventures. The pictures below are some of my favorite ones from the day. You should definitely check out the J&J Flea Market (Georgia's largest flea market, by the way), 11661 Commerce Road, Athens, GA 30607. It's only open weekends so that makes it even more special. Should you decide to go, don't make the same mistake we did and forget cash; the vendors (including the restaurants) do not accept check or cards. Note: I've just started playing with Photoshop again, so these aren't perfect. Also, the images look different online than in person
This sign displaying the odd speed limit was too good to pass up, signs like it are posted all over the market.
Courtney discovered these pretty horseshoes, and it turns out a lot of the other knick knacks on this table were just as alluring (the green pitcher and the handkerchiefs).
There are lots of booths covered in toys (target market: the children whose parents work at the flea market; they are running around everywhere). This booth had hundreds of toy cars and a few dolls.
These chickens were in the animal area for sale along with other fowl. This area is also where they sell the sad little puppies that I couldn't bring home.
This stand had surprisingly pretty flowers. Court and I spent some time admiring them.
These orange-looking snacks do not taste like oranges. They sort of taste like pork rinds. These chicharrones must be a pretty special Mexican snack; they are sold all over the market. Alongside the bags, the vendors put hot sauce and lime juice as a topping. The hot sauce is not an American brand; it is this special Mexican hot sauce that tastes amazing. Most of the vendors selling these were Spanish speakers so it was really fun to practice my Spanish with them. Another great reason to visit the market!
Court is admiring the teapots and other ceramics on this table. These were our favorite booths- housewares. I know you are shocked.
There is a covered area at the market that houses Taqueria Mi Tierra and other shops. This little stand looked super authentic (it had to be because not only was the menu entirely in Spanish, they also sold tacos stuffed with cow tongue, yes, tongue; it's a pretty common food in Latin American cuisine). It smelled even better than it looked, I can't wait to try this place!
This gentleman has a booth in the covered area of the market. Most of his profit goes towards a mission program in Athens. A veteran of World War II, he had so many stories to tell. If you look at his face and hands, it's as though you can see the stories. He has been at the market since 1958 so he has seen a lot of change which is so neat. I think he could have talked to us for hours (and I think the same goes for us). I hope to meet him again.
The storyteller in action.
This sign displaying the odd speed limit was too good to pass up, signs like it are posted all over the market.
Courtney discovered these pretty horseshoes, and it turns out a lot of the other knick knacks on this table were just as alluring (the green pitcher and the handkerchiefs).
There are lots of booths covered in toys (target market: the children whose parents work at the flea market; they are running around everywhere). This booth had hundreds of toy cars and a few dolls.
These chickens were in the animal area for sale along with other fowl. This area is also where they sell the sad little puppies that I couldn't bring home.
This stand had surprisingly pretty flowers. Court and I spent some time admiring them.
These orange-looking snacks do not taste like oranges. They sort of taste like pork rinds. These chicharrones must be a pretty special Mexican snack; they are sold all over the market. Alongside the bags, the vendors put hot sauce and lime juice as a topping. The hot sauce is not an American brand; it is this special Mexican hot sauce that tastes amazing. Most of the vendors selling these were Spanish speakers so it was really fun to practice my Spanish with them. Another great reason to visit the market!
Court is admiring the teapots and other ceramics on this table. These were our favorite booths- housewares. I know you are shocked.
There is a covered area at the market that houses Taqueria Mi Tierra and other shops. This little stand looked super authentic (it had to be because not only was the menu entirely in Spanish, they also sold tacos stuffed with cow tongue, yes, tongue; it's a pretty common food in Latin American cuisine). It smelled even better than it looked, I can't wait to try this place!
This gentleman has a booth in the covered area of the market. Most of his profit goes towards a mission program in Athens. A veteran of World War II, he had so many stories to tell. If you look at his face and hands, it's as though you can see the stories. He has been at the market since 1958 so he has seen a lot of change which is so neat. I think he could have talked to us for hours (and I think the same goes for us). I hope to meet him again.
The storyteller in action.Thursday, April 8, 2010
So, you hate pollen
Yes, I know. Pollen is a horrible allergen that sends so many of us into a fit sneezing and misery for about two weeks a year. I am a pollen sufferer, and I am always glad for a good rain like today's to wash it away. However, as we enjoy all the beautiful flowers and green that comes with that wondrous season we call spring, we need to remember that pollen is the reason for the season. You may not have thought about it, but all that nasty yellow dust is what brings new life to our plants and, ultimately, us. Without all those trees, breathing would be pretty durn tough (although breathing is pretty durn tough with pollen around if you ask me). I am a self-professed science nerd (that's probably good since I will be "forming young minds"), so when I see pollen and season changes I can't help but think of all the biological processes that are going on. This is not an instructional blog, nor do you care to hear my nerdy ramblings, but this stuff is pretty cool. Yes, I hate it, but I have to appreciate it at the same time. So, Pollen, here is some appreciation for the things you do (now that I've been so nice, please get to your intended target, not my nose, thanks). The pictures below are from the December 2009 issue of National Geographic. My dad shared them with me, and I think they are pretty incredible. They are taken with a very special microscope fitted with a camera. What I love about them is that the photographer took them artistically (thought about lighting, etc) as well as scientifically (how cool!). May looking at these will make you despise pollen just a little bit less. Enjoy! The entire gallery of photos is available HERE at the NatGeo website.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
I love Spring!
It is so weird how just a date (March 20) can change your entire mood. As soon as the season officially changes to spring I am a new person. I feel refreshed and ultra happy. I also love seeing everybody creep out of their houses like little animals emerging from hibernation. I went to the IM fields on campus for a run on Saturday, and it was absolutely bursting with people, dogs, and a few new flowers. I'm also happy to report that the cherry trees are blooming (probably my favorite trees, second only to dogwoods). That also means that the stinky Bradford pear is in bloom as well, but I'll take it, at least they LOOK pretty. Spring also means spring colors on clothes, and SANDALS! My feet are so happy to breathe the fresh air after being cooped up for what seems like an exceptionally long winter. I'm sure there are few more brisk days in store, but with weather like today's (and the forecast for tomorrow) I can't help but shrug off any potential chilly days. Another thing that makes spring great is EAGLE! He absolutely loves being outside, so even if I don't want to be outside (which is rare) he does, so I must. He is so happy to see other dogs and runners. He is just the happiest little pooch. I'm so excited for this spring because it also includes graduation and lots of other special events that I'm looking forward to posting about. Hope everyone else is enjoying Spring!
Cherry tree in bloom
Dogwood in bloom, we have a few in our backyard at home that make Easter so beautiful!
Cherry tree in bloom
Dogwood in bloom, we have a few in our backyard at home that make Easter so beautiful!
The stinkiest of trees, the Bradford pear. Deceptively pretty, right?
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Hello Again
Hi all (all meaning Jessica, my one follower haha, love you for that). I know I keep saying this, but I really do want to blog more. I've recently discovered how to blog from my phone, which, as I've mentioned, makes things a lot easier. Lap tops are not nearly as portable as people make them out to be, hence the no blogging. Life is really good right now. I got in to grad school here at UGA in the MAT program (Master of Arts in Teaching) in the College of Education for Math and Science. This is a really amazing program, and I can't wait to get started. I can't believe graduation is less than two months away. This past four years has really flown by. I am so thankful for the people who have stayed in my life for the long haul. There is no way I can truly express how much of a difference they have made in my life. Thank you for sticking around. I love you guys. Although I'm a little sad that some people are moving away after graduation, I am so proud of them for their accomplishments. It also means that I have plenty of places to visit next year. I can't wait to see how everyone's life unfolds. This is a big year for us. Still happy it's 2010.
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