Groove back

So, I'm going through a "something" as far as the blog goes. I've been reduced to a photo-blog! I feel I've lost my voice. Blogging has been so TRYING, especially since, lately, I want to grow and be a little more than a retrospective. I feel I can't document my life in plain black and white.

Maybe it's because I'm aware that I have an audience, however modest it is. I've allowed the audience to dictate content. I tried to keep the grit of politics & religion out of FEAR ANTS because I thought, up until now, it to be boring, rude, off-limit topics, but, to whom? You lot? In this day & age, it is the elephant (or donkey?) in the room that we can't ignore, in "real life" and here.

I'm extremely political & am sensitive to the goings on in my community, the nation & the world. I dedicate HOURS a week reading and watching news, trying to sort through copious amounts of information and trying to glean the facts from the spin and ridiculousness & I don't always get it right. It's a lot of work, but it is a passion. I pester ATM, KMHD & Alannah to engage in conversation about everything and I am pleased to say that I learn a lot from them and I hope that they, at the very least, enjoy our discussions. Fundamentally, we agree on a lot, but we still disagree on numerous things, too. It's a beautiful thing. I can be so unsophisticated on a lot of topics and reserve the right to change my mind. Sometimes just LIVING dictates that. You experience things, it can change your worldview. But, I feel that I am a responsible citizen, trying to make my corner of the world better by living my life in a way that I feel improves quality of life for myself, my household, my neighborhood & so on. In my view, everyday life is politics. I find it so weird that I've managed to whitewash it from my own blog!

Alannah and I have talked extensively about the "struggle" of blogging and how hard it is to choose between what we want to write or what we feel we should or shouldn't write, just to preserve the relationship with readers. You would think the answer is obvious, but it isn't. I don't want to blow out of proportion the torment, but it's not always easy to present the real me. But, Imma try.

It'll be a learning experience & a challenge for me because I struggle with putting my ideas and feelings into words. I think this is a good place for me to develop my writing skill.

Anyway. I feel better already.

18th floor

Bon. Muy muy bon.

Citizen! This is the last day to early vote! Get out there! We will be attending Lt. Gov. Halter's watch/victory party @ the Peabody tomorrow evening, if anyone is interested in joining us.

KMHD & I early voted together. I got mayonnaise all over my sample ballot. Typical.

The prize. I asked for an extra to wear on election day:

-----
So, this past Saturday, kid sister KMHD threw ATM & I a little engagement party. It had all the correct elements: most of my best mates, catered Whole Hog BBQ, an ice cream cake from Baskin-Robbins & karaoke! I had a freaking blast! And I didn't know how many closet karaoke junkies that I pal around with!



Donna went the distance with the wrapping of our presents:




We didn't get the desired cake wreck we hoped for, but to be fair, we really didn't give them much to work with. I should've said that I wanted 80s Michael Jackson on it. Whatever, though, it was so good. I'm this close to wanting ice cream cake for the wedding party itself:


Ben, about to "give it to us":


Jeremy:




ATM:








Donna:


Matt, the wild card. He left a lot of us scratching our heads, wondering why he isn't in a band already:


THUNDAH! Micah doin' some AC/DC:




Zachariah, better known as Prince:


Duet w KMHD:




Nate, the late arrival. Believe me, the crowd may've dispersed, but the energy did not. I *wish* there was footage of me trying to emulate Michael Hutchence, Jim Morrison & Fred Schneider. It felt good, so how could it not be?!!!


Many thanks to both KMHD & Zach. As I told everyone before, ATM & I can't do this w/o the help of our friends & family.

(xtras)

The rooftop @ Henson & Will's place (photos by KMHD):




Trav's game w the best backdrop:


Waffle House. They have gravy now!

Private Spring Break

05/03/2010

We had a weeks-long trial go off @ work, so the law clerk asked the judge if we could split up the time & have a our own spring break. He said yes & this week's mine! Mine has been nice & boring, but in the most excellent way. I've done some housekeeping, gone on a day trip & watched a LOT of 30 Rock. The only thing I *really* need to plan for is the mother's day picnic & hike. EASY!

-----

05/10/2010

Anyway...

Alannah visited the Friday before last. She was with her international students, so her visit was brief. We were able to get a meal & belated birthday celebration in & she came over to get in some (kitty) hang time, but we did have to deal with ridiculous stormy weather. The kind that strands people (against their will?) at your home & cancels business and camping trips.

Here's Alannah (w/ Hot Dog), doing some field work:

Last Tuesday, Day 5 of my private spring break, I took a solo day-trip to Hot Springs. The first thing I did, because I didn't really have a plan, was go to West Mountain Scenic Drive & Trail and figure out the plan. I mean, I knew I was going to hike at Garvan Gardens, but I didn't know what I was going to do after that. West Mountain had such a mixed bag of visitors that morning. Traveling elders, park rangers, people just needing a quiet place to park so they could sleep in their car, hikers & pot smokers. Oh, and me. It was a really beautiful, mild day, so I couldn't blame any of them for wanting to hang out up there. After taking in the town view and loosely coming up with a plan, I drove over to Garvan Gardens. ZOMG. Elderlys everywhere. And they can keep up! I gave up listening to music through my headphones because they all wanted to chat. Everyone was really sweet & it's nice to be amongst folks who love that sort of thing. Gardens.






Japanese maples, looking up:


Jasmine:


Wild strawberries:





Instead of eating at the usual Rolando's, I tried Cafe 1217. Thumbs way up! Fresh & tasty. I wonder why we've gone this long w/o eating there. One of the lovely things that they do is offer a peach/mango iced tea with a sprig of mint. Mwah! Apparently, the owners of Cafe 1217 own the Mexican restaurant next door, so put that down on ye olde to-do list. After some cheap retail therapy & exploring Lake Catherine State Park for possible future camping/hiking, I went home.

Sometimes I think about the large quantities of time that KMHD & I will be spending in Hot Springs when we open our hotel. I don't think we will hate it. We know a lot of sweet spots & I can totally envision myself hiking the gardens and sipping lots of peach/mango tea. This makes me happy, even much more when I realize I have lots of pleasant little things to look forward to. Well, in addition to a lot of back/soul-breaking work. But, still. Little things.

We celebrated Mother's Day on Saturday because mum had to work on Sunday. We packed a picnic & drove back to Woolly Hollow State Park. After a fine meal of grilled hot dogs, baked beans, potato chips, and strawberry shortcake, we hiked the cute little trail. Mom told us that she hasn't gone hiking in 10+ years, but she did so well. It was the best thing ever to walk with some of my most favorite (crazy) people, discussing politics & plants. We also discussed the wedding; it looks like the whole Viet clan are going to attend. I mean, I am the first of my generation to get married, so file this under BFD. When my mother informed me of this, it literally took my breath away. Now, I'm super scared & don't want to plan anything. If you knew a couple of my aunts, you'd understand.

Mum, KMHD:


On the trail:


Mum:


KMHD, ATM & mom, doing a Mother's Day activity forced upon them by me:

The last week has been a pleasant blur. I love time off! I didn't even know how badly I needed it until I had it. Make time for yourself.

On our calendar:






The future: Island camping, Slade-Welch nupitials