sitting, waiting, wishing...

"There is no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream." -Author Unknown

At the beginning of this life-changing epic adventure, I had no idea what was in store. All I knew was that it was better than the alternative. According to our culture, at my age I should be throwing myself into the grind of work and paying bills without question. A majority of people in this world believe that this is the only option. You find your little place to live, you get the job, you pay your bills to live in your little place, rinse, repeat. I threw all of this out the window. I wasn't happy. I wasn't even slightly satisfied with what this life had to offer.

I have been on this road curving and speeding away from the known into the great unknown. Tomorrow is a question and even today can be uncertain. It has been nearly two months since this blog has seen any action and that is unfortunate but so were the circumstances. After much trial and error, our VW guru Eddie has finally brought the bus back to life! It has not been easy being stuck in Guntersville while the summer goes on around us. Matt and I had to forego a lot of the plans we had made this summer to get the bus back in running condition. If you know us at all, we still had a good time. We were able to attend the Bonnaroo Music Festival for free and see some of our favorite bands including Mumford and Sons. Most of the time, we worked odd jobs and hustled for money. Just recently we traveled down to Birmingham to sell art at What's on 2nd? and Matt received the good news that one of his art pieces was bought by the Birmingham Museum of Art.

There were moments that came as a great test for our ability to persevere. For the two weeks that we were without the bus, we lived in a tent outside in the Alabama heat. With no bus to work on and hardly any jobs for us to do, it was not hard for us to begin to resent the situation just from boredom. One morning, we woke up in a terrible mood. As far as we knew, no progress had been made on the bus for over a week and a half and our monetary situation was looking dire. At this point, both of us were upset, hot, and feeling pretty helpless. Matt and I decided that we were not holding up our end of the bargain. Through the strange workings of the universe, our situation was not getting any better because we had said we were going to be making art and working hard and instead we were just moping. That day, we turned our frowns upside down and began painting again. I guess the cosmos had it in for us because the next day we received a call from Eddie that said he had figured out what the problem was with the bus. Although our immobility this summer could be seen as a curse, we have quickly worked to make it a blessing and we are more motivated and inspired than ever.

The next few weeks are crucial ones in our relationship as well as our first test for the life we have planned on the road. Our plans are simple because there are no plans. We have things in mind we would like to do and will do our best to work towards achieving those goals. This weekend is one of great importance because we will be heading down to Eddie's in Gadsden to do the final repair work on the bus before packing it up and finally becoming the gypsies we hope to be. Over the next few weeks, we will be traveling around the South doing everything from seeing Furthur play in Atlanta to selling art on the streets of New Orleans.

I felt the quote at the top was very fitting. Dreams are not unobtainable but they do require the extra effort to pull yourself out of the ordinary and launch into the unknown. The miles may be many and they may even be endless but I believe it's much better to be on that road than sitting, waiting, and wishing.

to feel the free wind on my face

The Renovation Station!

The gutted inside (before cleaning)

Matt's stealie stencil on the engine tin

The engine in process

So sitting in the back seat of a Mustang with the windows down on a 9 hour drive to Florida was not exactly the "free wind on my face" I was looking for but I have the good company of two of my best friends and the journey will be worth the rewards. It's been a few weeks since I said goodbye to Birmingham as my home and I feel like the fears I had in the process have all pretty much dissipated. The world has begun to work in mysterious ways. It's as though any time I feel like things are going tough I am handed the tools to make it better. I guess it's a bit like grace and grace has helped my patience grow.

So much has happened since Matt and I left Birmingham to begin a new path in our lives. As soon as we arrived in Guntersville we began working on pulling out the old engine in the bus and putting in the new. We took our time and I feel like we put a lot of love into that engine. I will strongly suggest that if you ever buy an air-cooled Volkswagen that you take the time to learn every in and out of the engine. We have a little bit of work to do as it still will not run. I think we have narrowed down the problem but we hope to have a VW guru to double check before we throw another new part at it. To make the time pass, we started on the interior renovations and gutted the inside yesterday. The new floors inside the bus will be laminate hardwood for easier cleaning (and beauty!). We are also re-doing the larger cabinet to suit us better. We tore out the old canvas top and I have plans to sew up a new one made out of old sailboat sails and part of an old tent. Not much longer and the bus will be worthy to be called our new home.

I think my mentality has survived well through all the setbacks and crazy adventures life has thrown my way recently. I keep waking up in the middle of the night occasionally not knowing where I am. The first week in Guntersville I kept thinking that I was still in my old bedroom back in Birmingham. Although I am disoriented sometimes, I feel like I am exactly where I should be. It's been tough work too--we usually get up fairly early in the morning and work until the sun goes down. With all the aching muscles and exhaustion, I could not be happier. I feel like I have finally arrived in my life and can begin being fully involved in it rather than just going through the motions. It's here. It's happening. I feel a free wind blowing on my face.

what a week can do...

The past week of my life has been a roller coaster ride and I'm glad that I have kept my plans flexible. Life threw a lot my way but probably the most tragic were the tornadoes. After watching bits and pieces of Tuscaloosa rain down over my house and a near miss here in Southside, I was blown away to see all the destruction that has occurred in the my wonderful home state. I'm sad that in my current situation I cannot help much. Once we are out of Birmingham, Matt and I plan to help my mom clean up in Guntersville for a few weeks. It'll give us some breathing time to do all the renovations for the bus as well. We did have to cancel our first trip to Wakarusa but I honestly think that it's for the best.

It was also sad to learn last week that my brother (who is also my roommate) lost his job at the J.Clyde where he had been working for nearly 3 years. It was also exciting to know that in two weeks he had found a new job in Atlanta and a new place to live with his girlfriend. This made things a little hectic for us at the house since we are having to move EVERYTHING out instead of leaving most of it for him. Because of this, I am not going to be able to paint the mural in Birmingham.

It's nice to see these seemingly awful events as blessings in disguise. Although I may not have the free time I thought I would while still in Birmingham, the busy schedule is making the time fly. May is always a crazy month and it helps me to keep a good attitude and take things one day at a time.

to pass the time...

It's been a crazy winter and it's already turning out to be a crazy spring. I'll feel like I can breathe again when Birmingham is permanently in my rearview mirror. I've spent the past couple of months preparing myself for one of the boldest moves yet. I think I have finally come to terms with the fact that I am choosing to be "jobless" and "homeless". I put the terms in quotes because I know I will always have a home and regardless of whether or not I will be fully employed, I will always be working.

So how does one go from working full-time and living happily in a place for two years to going on the road indefinitely? I can tell you it's not easy. First of all, you've got to save money. That's the hardest thing to do when you are still paying bills and will still be paying bills even when heading for the hills. Second, you've got to make sure all debts are paid. This one has been hard for me as I incurred some pretty awesome debt last summer. I am finally gearing up to be able to pay all this off and live a debt-free lifestyle. Beautiful, isn't it? The third thing I had to do was find a partner in crime. This was not as easy and straightforward as the first two although I think I couldn't have made a better decision. Matt is very savvy when it comes to matters of the road plus he makes a very good bodyguard. I don't know if I could do it without him. Once all this was done it seemed like the plans fell into place and we actually have quite a summer ahead of us.

Many have asked me where I plan to go and I usually respond "everywhere!" but there is a plan. In a few weeks, the bus will be fixed and very shortly after it arrives here in Birmingham I will be leaving. Our first "stop" is my mom's house in Guntersville to do some much-needed cosmetic repair to the bus. This includes making a new canvas pop-top and a few minor things in the inside. This will also help me a bit because I'll be able to visit with my family before I go. Our first place we are locked in for is Wakarusa in Arkansas. Matt and I plan on volunteering for the festival in return for the price of tickets. After Waka, we have talked about heading up to St. Louis for a bit to visit some friends that he has up there. If we have some time to kill, we'll head over to Appalachia for some hiking before heading to the ROMP bluegrass festival in Kentucky. There's a few weeks between that and our next stop, All Good Music Festival. We plan on doing some more hiking and possibly visiting NYC to see my friend Allison. We are also volunteering at All Good and then heading from there to the largest rainbow gathering in Pennslyvania. After that, the schedule is unknown. We may stop back by Alabama for some rest or head straight out west to see Colorado and Utah and the like. I'd like to leave my options open for the opportunities that arise and see where the wind wills me.

For the time being, I am waiting...patiently. I have been doing a lot of art and taking on some projects too. My co-worker, Spencer recently offered wall space at the musician's co-op where he lives. I think it's appropriate that Birmingham will get one last "Laura masterpiece" the size of a two story building before I leave. There's a few odds and ends that need mending before I go but otherwise my heart is ready for the road.

ideas, dreams, plans...

We all have them. First that little inkling of an idea that the beautiful days outside would be better spent outside rather than doing this daily grind. Usually, I would call in a personal health day but that was more easily done when I was in school and allowed a few days to skip out each semester. Then you get the idea that there's more to life than this daily routine you stick to religiously sometimes. Get up, go to work, come home, veg on TV, go to bed...a little variation here and there but let's not kid ourselves. This isn't life. It's a set of motions. I fear that people think this is a place of security. The stricter you become with your routines, your diet, your social interactions, your way of life, the less stress and worries will be come your way. To quote from my blog title, maybe I'm just young, crazy, and totally in love with life but if I were subjected to the 9-5, Monday through Friday job that most people build their own lives around, I would go nuts.

This is one of the many driving factors toward my reasons for leaving the "comfort and safety" of the so-called plan that most people see as life (get a college degree, start your career, find a husband, pop out a few kids, and sign that 30 year mortgage). That, my friends, was never my plan. I realize I have worried my near and dear to death with these crazy ideas but I can only say that once you throw out THE plan, most people fear you have gone off the deep end. It's also sad to say I haven't been able to do much to console my loved ones for I fear too that I am stepping off and into the deep end. I hope I can swim.

I have a plan. Who knows how good it is. Untested. Untried. All drawing from the minds of both Matt and I. I can tell you it will be as good as our smarts and talents and I'd say that both of us are pretty smart and talented people. We'll get by.

As for now, the story of the Lady Wendy continues. She is currently in the shop getting fixed up with a rebuilt and/or brand new engine and will be road ragin' by April. The mechanic that is working on her is apparently the son of the guy that used to work on my grandfather's bus. I'm happy to know she is in good hands although they are not mine. I still have a few renovation plans for the cosmetic parts but this will pretty much set up the bus for the road trip of a lifetime.

The dreams keep coming...the ones where I'm driving that big green bus through shrouded mountain sides and camping in it surrounded by wonderful, happy people. The road is calling and I am answering in earnest.

the adventure of the great Westfalia Part II

Ah...the joys of owning a car nearly ten years older than I am. My Volkswagen Westfalia, dubbed the Lady Wendy, has been sitting in my driveway not running for nearly 10 months now. Originally, I took it to Jim's VW out in Leeds where he fixed the fuel injection but it was still only running on 3 cylinders. He offered to "patch" it for $1200 but I graciously declined. I got the lady towed back to my house where it sat in the driveway from January until a few days ago. I talked to many people about the possibility of coming by the house and taking a look over the bus to see what sort of undertaking I had ahead of me. I was never able to get a single person to come lend me a hand until the end of July. Through some miracle, a man in Alabaster posted his info on thesamba.com and I e-mailed him a brief story of my situation. Within an hour, he called me back on my cell phone and we talked for the better part of an hour going over what I could do in my driveway, the story of the bus, and learning what he could do for me. I called him several times and got an answer each time with the good advice to go along with it.

A week ago, I sold my Camry that I've had since 2004 and finally had the money to put an overhaul on the engine. I called up my new go-to guy and gave him a run-down. I caught him just in time too, as he is taking a full time job at a Honda repair shop and would not be working on VW's in his driveway anymore. He offered to come up to my house after the weekend and take a good look at my bus to see if he could fix the problem in my driveway. When he got here, the first thing we did was test the battery, which was nearly dead. We drive to the auto parts store and buy a replacement battery (about $100). He hooks up the battery and I hop in the front to fire her up. Voila! She's alive!!! Still running poorly though...I shut her off. We take a look over the engine again, checking all the connections and parts and find one thing unplugged to the fuel injectors. Plug it in. Start the bus. Perfection.

If there was ever a happy camper, it is me and the Lady Wendy. I've been driving her daily since Monday and I am proud to say she is running beautifully. It's time to hit the road, folks.

creating...working...

I believe the best feeling is the big sigh I take at the end of the day knowing that I've filled it with everything I can to make myself happy. Today is definitely one of those days I will take that sigh. I've actually been having a lot of those days lately.

The festival is moving along rather smoothly. This past week Matt and I went up to Guntersville to get a perspective on what we need to do to raise the money to put it on and talk to the people involved in the planning and whatnot. As we drove around Guntersville doing the footwork to talk to all the necessary people, it was beautiful to see some of their faces light up when we told them what we were doing. The best face we saw all day though was the lady at Mountain Valley Arts Council, to whom we are donating the money. We walked into her office early in the morning, sat down, and told her what we were doing. Her first question was "who are you?" We both laughed and told her if she could keep a secret, we are two kids who just wanted to do it. But really, how hard is that to believe?

I feel more and more like a little kid every day. I feel like I'm shaving the years off of my life every day when I open my eyes and begin a new day. Maybe this is the secret to the fountain of youth...

learn something new every week...

One lesson that I feel I should add to the list below is to learn something new every week. It's more difficult than it seems when you get stuck in the routine of life. You wake up and go to the same job every day, cook the same things every week, hang out with the same people all the time, and drain your brain with television to help you sleep at night. I've even caught myself making the excuse "when would I have time to learn?" Sometimes the little things are those you learn and you won't catch them until you are looking. I learn new things about myself every day and the lesson I learned today is that I can get up at 6:30am to drive 3 hours to Atlanta, shoot a whole wedding, drive back, and still have the energy to do the things I would like to do tonight. I feel that's pretty substantial for how much energy I've put into the last week of my life. I should be exhausted by now but instead I am energized by the passions I have. Good thing to know.

To the more concrete things, I picked up a banjo this week. I've always wanted to learn how to play but have put it off due to excuses (I can't afford a banjo...I'm not musically inclined...What would I do if I did learn...) and honestly, I'm not that bad. Okay, so I've got a lot of work to do but it's nothing I can't handle especially since I'm planning a music festival, working towards touring next summer, and I have two jobs. If life wasn't so good, it'd be hard.

So if I can find the time to learn, so can you. Think about the things you always wanted to do but put off due to excuses. Change your mind and the circumstances will follow.

Taking it all in then letting it all out..

Sometimes I feel like I'm standing on the precipice of greatness. The feeling reminds me a lot of some things I picked up from What The Bleep Do We Know?. In the book, there is a reference to the question "what is reality?" and one thing discussed is how we wake up every morning and just assume that when we get out of bed and stand on the floor, there will be a floor there and not the edge of some cliff. We know this because every day we wake up and reorient ourselves with our surroundings and the floor is there and solid (can be detected by all our senses). But what happens when you wake up your life? Is there going to be a floor to stand on? I think this is where I am. I've woken myself up but each step I take is nearly a blind one. Instead of using sight, touch, smell, etc to make my way, I have to rely on intuition and experience. I've already stumbled before and it wasn't pretty. I'm not trying to prevent that again but it's scary to not know when you might dive off into that cliff. All I can do is go confidently and hope my choices will lead me in the right direction.


One thing that I am taking on and finally moving forward with is my dream of hosting a festival. My friend, Matt planted the bug and since then I have sorta run with it. I'm beginning to realize how much work goes into it but also how much I enjoy the work that it is. It's a test run for me. A trial. If I love it and get out of it what I put in, then there's always room for more. It's scary to think that two people with out a whole lot of experience putting together something like this are going for it. The good news is I've already been talking to a lot of people about it and every one who I've talked to has been enthusiastic about helping or the idea in general. Oh and while you're here, check out the fancy facebook link on the left.

In short, I'm so ready to make my dreams a reality.

a few lessons

So as most of you know, or could read from my blog, the past few months of my life have been some of the most difficult times I have seen yet. The work is not done and more obstacles lie ahead. I feel have gained more clarity about what I seek in my life and the feeling is one of rebirth. There are a few lessons that I have learned that I would like to share.

The first is of greatest importance to me and what I live my life by. It is the mantra that I repeat to myself nearly every day. This is to have fun. Regardless of the situation or how low you may feel in your life, seek the positive. I don't have to pull myself out of bed every day because I know that each day brings with it new opportunities.

Another great lesson that I have learned is to seek what is important in my life. After living with great financial hardship, I know that the material world around me is less and less important and that the intangible things that most take for granted are those that are irreplaceable. I hold my relationships with others in highest esteem. I am slowly learning to take my health at great importance too, but this is certainly one that is harder for me since I have developed so many bad habits. I am discovering new blessings in my life every day that I have been ignorant of for so long. Sometimes, I just need to keep my eyes open.

I have also learned that I cannot sit back and wait for my dreams to come to me. There are things that tend to just walk up to my doorstep but I cannot rely on this. To achieve the dreams that I have, I must work hard and bring with me all the good that I have. Although I am taking the small steps every day to bring me closer, the hardest part for me is to learn patience. For so long I have taken the attitude that I want it all and I want it all right now. I need to learn to listen to my inner voice and wait for the right moment to begin.

The last lesson that I would like to share is one of love. We've all heard it before..."love conquers all"..."love is the gateway to great things"...and blah blah blah. I believe in the power of love but it is more than just the romantic bullshit most people make it out to be. The most important thing I have learned is to know myself and then to love myself. Without this, you cannot even begin to love anything outside or yourself. Start with small things. Love the way you sleep funky at night and wake up with bed head. Love the freckles that appear on your face when you spend too much time in the sun. Love the air you breathe in, the way you spend your time, the books you've read, and the small things that make up who you are. Only then can you begin to look at those around you and love the little things that make them who they are. Think of how different the world would be if only we would hate a little less and love a little more.

Take these lessons for what they are. They are not rules, they are not wisdom. They are simply what I have learned from my experiences.

it's a job...it's an opportunity

I try so hard not to forget how blessed I truly am. Each day there are little reminders. Today my reminder was some leftovers a friend brought me from the restaurant she works at. It became lunch. Someone once told me "Accept food when you can. You never know where your next meal will come from." Wise words. A couchsurfer's words.

All my hard work in looking for a job has finally paid off. I have learned, though, that a job does not define who you are and it certainly does not define what I do. My job description is often pretty fluid. Lately, it's been mostly "artist". I am finally inspired and devoted to becoming what I have always believed I wanted to be when I grow up. Now as for what's making the money at the moment, I am so blessed to have joined a little pizzeria in Liberty Park as their newest server. It is nice to walk into a job and instantly feel like you are home. I am a little out of my element but I am excited to accept the new challenges that come with it.

My friends have helped me out tremendously during the past few months and I am slowly working towards showing them my appreciation. I may never be able to do what they have done for me but I will at least try to give back some of what has been given to me. Some of it may be paid forward, some of it may be small, and some of it may be all. I am excited about this coming month as I slowly began my ascension again and hope there will be others to join me in this great journey I call life. It is always much more amazing to share the road with those you love than to try and go it alone. I have dreams, I have goals, and I want for all my friends better than what they may have now. If you know me at all, I am not talking in the material sense. I am trying on a day to day basis to help all those around me enjoy and love their life as much as I do. This is why, no matter what the occasion, I always tell people to "have fun." It's a mantra. It's a philosophy.

still here

It's amazing what you realize you can live without, what you can pare down in your life. There are a few things I found I absolutely cannot live without.

1. Art. There is no way I could ever quit making art. I could be left with nothing but a pen and an old shabby notebook and still attempt at making something beautiful.

2. Food. Yes, and I do list this second.

3. Books. It's a good thing that most books are passed around freely and willing to be shared.

4. My friends and family. Last but not least, they are my heart and soul. I would be lost without them.

I have learned that the little money I do have should go to those things that are not necessary for me to live but rather to mobilize myself (gas in the car) or get food when it is unavailable to me. In the last few months of my life, I have been living by a very spare amount of money and it's nearly amazing what you learn about yourself when you are poor. As miserable as some moments have been this summer, I would not trade the knowledge gained about myself and the world around me for anything.

Now is the time that I stop digging the hole and start to pull myself out. I have come to terms that it will not be easy and I will still have to live sparingly in order to do it but I am fully prepared to accept this in order to achieve my dreams. I think before this summer that I would not have gained the determination that I have now. I am thankful for all the blessings my life has given me although the road to this appreciation was wrought with pain and difficulty. I am still here. I am still alive. I am still totally in love with my life.

the magnitude of kindness

People never cease to amaze me. Maybe that's why I like them so much. I had yet another astounding couchsurfer experience this past Thursday night which keeps me blogging! When someone says they are driving nearly 10 hours to your town to see some band you've never heard of, go hang out with them. I had three wonderful people drive all the way from Florida to go see Kay Kay and the Weathered Underground at Bottletree then crash at my house. The night started off normal enough--I went to Bottletree to meet up with them before the show started. I did not intend on sticking around to see the band play because of several reasons (money, didn't know who they were, and I had some things I needed to do). Well, my plans changed quickly when a few members of the band came over to our table and started talking with us. Before we knew it, we were being added to the guest list and after talking with the drummer, I was really curious about what the music was like. From taking pulls of very warm but very good scotch in the parking lot to taking the entire band and my friends from Florida to Al's after the show, I was floored by how different from my expectations the night turned out to be. The band even gave me a copy of their single released on vinyl with some wicked artwork on the cover. I hope to eventually do some artwork of my own for them since they loved my psychedelic style.

Speaking of art, I'm so glad I've pulled myself out of the post-graduation rut that I have been in for nearly two years. How could I have let myself deny my art for so long? Having my photography up on the walls at Bottletree last weekend really inspired me to go forward with my artistic endeavors and so far it is paying off. I sat down this past week and hashed out the two posters that I plan on selling at the Phish concerts next weekend. I still can't believe they look as fantastic as they do. I just hope the fans like them as much as I do. A friend of mine also offered to build some nice frames for the pieces that I did for the Bottletree show. I'm calling it a collaboration of talent because Kevin is amazing at carpentry. He's been wanting to build furniture too but doesn't quite have the design knack so I may start drawing up some ideas for that soon. I guess that's the one thing I love so much about art--the people and the talent involved is so great that everyone's willing to help each other out.

banana pancakes for the artist

When I gain clarity, I'll let you know.

Otherwise, I'm still putting one foot in front of the other working slowly toward a goal that seems infinitely far away. Leaving Birmingham? Did I really want to be here in the first place? I think it's been a good stepping stone for figuring out where I want to make my mark in this world. I have learned so much from the people around me and the few that have passed through. Couchsurfers have a good way of giving me a reality check. My last one, after we both had a few beers, gave me one of the best reality checks I have in a good while. The conversation went as thus:

Dan: "So how are you going to eat this weekend?"

Me: "I don't know--I'll figure something out."

Dan: "No, really. how are you going to eat this weekend?"

Me: "Well tomorrow morning I'll wake up and eat the rest of the biscuits that I made earlier today and then I'll head over to the Bottletree to help put up the art show and I think there will be food there. My mom's coming to the art show and she'll probably buy me dinner. On Sunday I'm going to an expo and generally they have free samples there and after that I have dinner plans with a friend who's paying."

Dan: "So you have plan?"

Me: "Always. I know how to survive."

Dan: "Can I take you out to breakfast tomorrow morning?"

The good news is with a dollar in my pocket all weekend, I ate pretty well. Breakfast with Dan at the Pancake House was delicious...we both had banana pancakes with blueberry topping.

The reality check gave me two things:

I am a starving artist.

The kindness of people never ceases to amaze me.

It's the little things that get me by and keep a smile on my face. I will never quit loving my life and I will never quit loving those that are there to enjoy it with me.

becoming an adult

Of all the adventures I think growing up might be the hardest. The real world seems to take no prisoners when it comes to kicking you while you are already down. I count my blessings everyday though. I have amazing friends that help me when things are going my way and I intend to fully repay them for their kindness. Recently, I lost my job at J.Clyde and once again had to join the many many people that are searching for jobs right now. I was lucky and within a week of my last day at J.Clyde I already had two jobs that looked promising. So the good news is I'm now working as an agent at SelectMySpace which is a free apartment locating service in Birmingham. The hours suit me better as I can make my own schedule and don't have to work until the god-forsaken hours in the A.M. I already knew I was a morning person and my mood seems way better when I wake up early and go to bed (fairly) early. I enjoy the work, too. I love that it's a people-based industry where I get to show clients apartments and help them make a difficult decision. The people that work in my office are pretty stunning too. Despite some fierce competition, we tend to joke around and generally have a good time while working. It's rare that anyone is in a "fml" mood.

I'm also trying to play as hard as I can despite some financial woes. A few months ago I started dating one of my old friends from Camp McDowell, Mark Drake. He got me started on my new addiction of playing disc golf (Check out http://www.pdga.com/ for more information). I joined the league here in Birmingham and have already played several courses in Alabama. It's relatively inexpensive to begin playing with most discs costing under $10 plus there are no course fees. Mark and I also share a love of camping and have gone to Sipsey Wilderness several times. As if I was having enough fun, I've been going to nearly every concert or festival that I can. That list includes: Umphrey's McGee, Yonder Mountain String Band, RJD2, Trey Anastasio Band, Wanee Festival (with Widespread Panic, The Allman Brothers Band, Derek Trucks, and tons more). Tonight I am going to see Lotus play at WorkPlay and already have plans to see three nights of Phish in July with Mark.

I may be in a funk right now and possibly having one of the worst weeks of my life but the only things I can say is that I'll keep on truckin. It's all I can do. :)

the adventure of the great Westfalia

So....I bought my dream car. A 1978 Volkswagen Westfalia. It's beautiful. What is even more beautiful is the adventure that I embarked upon just a few short days ago to retrieve it from its previous owner. At a ridiculously early hour (try 5am) on Monday morning, my friend Matt and I headed out of Birmingham heading towards Asheville, NC. Generally to get to Asheville, I-40 is the fastest way but alas, a land slide has occured between Knoxville and Asheville closing down I-40 and making the short drive a much longer one so I opted to go the back way through Ocoee, TN. Little did I know that Highway 64 has also been closed due to, you guessed it, a land slide. So a little quick configuring on my Tom-tom and we have a detour. Well, Tom-tom is not always the smartest little navigator and he began to tell me to turn on these tiny back roads in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. If I was looking for the scenic route, Tom-tom gave it to me complete with a dead-end on a gravel road about 2 hours into the back country. After much frustration, two funeral processions, and several car accidents, Matt and I arrived in Asheville and began the initial meeting with the Westy and its owner. All went well and we went on our way to sit down at Barley's Taproom to enjoy a good local brew and a much-needed dinner. I recommend Pisgah's Belgian-style tripel named Solstice. After filling our bellies, we did some quick shopping around Asheville that included Hops and Vines where I spent over $50 on some brews not yet available in Alabama. I also bought some sweet knit hobo gloves at a head shop that turned out to be perfect for driving the Westy in the cold. We finally checked into our room at the Arthaus Hostel and enjoyed a beer and some fine guitar picking from Matt before getting some shut-eye. The next day was filled with excitement of banks and paperwork of actually purchasing the bus (really, it was exciting but I'm sure no one wants the gritty details). Once said and done, Matt and I got into our respective rides with Matt driving my Camry and me taking the Westy for her maiden voyage to drive up to my favorite place in the mountains known as Max Patch. This is where I-40 plays a trick once again. The exit that I know how to get to Max Patch from is in all reality where the land slide is. Bummer. Tom-tom also screwed up again and took me to a Wal-Mart that doesn't exist anymore. Instead, we shop at the Food Lion next door which was a trip especially all the wonderful stares I was getting for being a slightly dirty-looking hippie with an armful of food (which if you've ever been in back country North Carolina, people are pretty interesting around there....I mean, really interesting). With a quick phone call to my mom, I get the details on the way to detour up to Max Patch but end up getting lost again and I have to three-point turn my Westy on a mountainside with only a gravel pull-off. Talk about an adrenaline rush. After I find my way and finally know how to reach the destination, I pull off at a gas station to top off the oil and have a quick talk with one of the gas station employees (another really interesting North Carolina resident). He asked the usual questions of "Are y'all hiking the AT?""Do you think this thing will make it to the top?" and a definite quote from him: "I saw you drive past here just a minute ago, fairly certain I heard you coming back and knew you musta gotten lost on your way." Oh, to be heard. Anyways, we finally make it Max Patch just after sunset and it is incredibly cold but incredibly beautiful. The moon was out and allowed enough light that we didn't have to use a flashlight. There were little patches of snow on the ground and a wind strong enough to blow you flat over. We stayed out as long as we could stand with the cold before hiding from the wind in the Westy for the rest of the night. All night the wind was shaking and howling against the side of the bus. We woke up to gray light and more nasty, cold, windy, and wet weather. Once our trek down the mountain was complete I stopped at the gas station again to encounter yet more interesting people who I am pretty sure think I'm nuts at this point. After getting advice from the locals on how to dispense my gas, we start our long drive back to Birmingham. Although the drive was long, it was rather uneventful considering I was driving a vehicle over 30 years old. I was a little nervous about not having a valid license plate but I passed several sheriffs and two state troopers with no flashing lights in the rearview so I wiped a little sweat off each time. The only incident I can say happened was at the rest stop just inside the Alabama state line where my starter refused to work. I was lucky that Matt found the solution in a fabulous book that the previous owner left me called "How to Keep Your Aircooled Volkswagen Running Forever." So as the advice went, I popped it into third gear and got out to help Matt push the Westy a few feet back (the thing is heavy and we actually had to have a good Sumaritan come help push). And holy of holies, it started right up. So 8 hours of driving, $30 in gas, and one sore butt later, the Westy pulls into Birmingham and is officially my dream car come true.

less than a week away from a new year

The view from the back porch of the apartment

David and I before hiking in the Sipsey Wilderness

Hiking at Moss Rock in Hoover

The creepy portraits David and I found at the antique mall

My new study area

In just a few short days, I will be a 23 year-old woman. Now, 23 is not a very exciting age. Nothing new really happens like being able to drink or rent a car but I am ready to enter a new year. I can hardly wait for the next day to start every time I'm ready to retire for the night.

I feel like Birmingham is becoming more like home with every day. I'm starting a garden on our back patio/porch and I've already acquired some mint and rosemary to plant. This weekend my roommate and I are also planning do to a little pruning in what we've come to lovingly call the "secret garden." It's just a little overgrown and we are planning on having a few people over for a birthday party. I would love to get a hammock to set up back there too as a little reading and relaxing place for the summer. In the dining room, I've set up a nice study area from some pieces I picked up a the most amazing antique mall I've ever been to. Since I haven't put many photos up lately, I thought I'd leave the rest of the update to speak for itself.

the highest highs and the lowest lows

This past month has been a mixture of so many emotions. It's nice that the weather has warmed up and I'm finally able to go outside without freezing my patootie off. I've been hiking a bit with David and planning on doing an overnight trip next weekend in the Smokies with him and Sam Taylor. It will be nice to have some time away from the craziness that Birmingham can be. I'll be even more excited when its warm enough to go swimming.

The apartment is coming along nicely. Pretty much everything is set up except the dining room and we are still making little adjustments elsewhere. I've been working a little too much lately to be able to do much to it but I have used some of my days off to clean and decorate a bit. I'm really loving J.Clyde's. It's a nice reprieve from what I've been doing pretty much all my life. To just be working and not worrying about school or anything is actually kind of relaxing. I'm happy though that I can go back to Montevallo and use the resources down there to continue working on my photography. I've been invited to go on a trip to Romania this August with Karen who travels there frequently and knows the territory well. I'll just have to save enough money to afford the plane ticket and a few expenses. I think I'll be able to do it.

I'm very happy to feel like I am in the place I am supposed to be at this moment. Although this past month has been very difficult for me, I feel like I have made the right decisions. It is in the toughest hour that I feel my most unbreakable and intangible.

it's nice to have you in birmingham

so it seems that life in birmingham is going fairly swimingly. I'm enjoying being able to kick back with friends and enjoy the "after college" life. It's the real world, but who's counting? So instead of working at Jackson's, I managed to get my foot in the door and J.Clyde's. Server extraordinaire at your service! My sleep schedule suffers for the late nights and my feet suffer from running around all the night but its worth it. The people are pretty fantastic and I don't mind a few drunks every once in a while. It's also nice to have a bed to come back to in birmingham every night. I definitely don't miss the couch-surfing days. The apartment still hasn't quite gotten together yet. We have a few boxes left to be unpacked and cable/internet hasn't been hooked up yet. Hopefully within a month everything will be set up and looking mighty fine so we can start entertaining.

I am still a little disappointed about the Peace Corps but I think that at least a year working on my own will do some good. I'm already learning alot about how I cope with managing money and the little surprises that life seems to spring on me (like getting my debit card number stolen, oh my!). The real world seems too surreal to actually be real yet. Its also a little too fun.

More updates when the internet gets set up!

a new lease (on life)

I've found that decisions aren't always that easy but sometimes once you make them, things start to fall into place. I decided to defer my Peace Corps application and move to Birmingham. It's a scary thought with the negative attitudes about the economy and job security but I've done some pretty scary things before and made it through relatively unscathed. I believe I work out my problems through words and conversations. I've talked with many people who are important to me in my life about the decision to defer and most of them were pleased with the idea. They did not want me to give up the dream but at the same time felt it would be a smart move to take a year off to get my head straight. I guess the thing I am most worried about is that I have never truly lived on my own. The good thing is that my parents have provided me with the tools I will need to do it. I've learned from them how to budget, save money, be respectful to others, and work hard. This gives me a little more confidence when taking the full and total flight from the nest.

As for Birmingham, I have discovered in a week that I can find a roommate, a job, and an apartment. Well, the roommate was a given. I'm very excited about the new place I am moving into THIS WEEKEND. It's got all the character and charm that I love, two separate bathrooms, and a city view from a private deck and porch. It will also be the first lease I will ever sign without a cosigner. (I have credit! I feel like a real adult!) The job is at Jackson's which I believe I got with plenty of help from my brother. It will hopefully be temporary as I have an interview this week with a new hotel opening up in April that can offer full-time plus benefits. It seems that Birmingham will be my home for at least a year and to be honest, I am okay with that.