railroad revival

Edward sharpe and the magnetic zeroes, old crow medicine show, and mumford and sons finished up their Railroad Revival tour last night in new orleans. What an awesome tour!  Starting in Oakland, they traveled to 6 cities, all by train. how much fun?!?!
if only it'd been on a weekend OR the railroad extended east :(

Ben Lovett (M&S) and Willie Watson (OCMS) on board

Dwane (of mumford and sons) and his broken bass

Willie Watson (OCMS), Cory Younts (OCMS), Winston Marshall (M&S), Ben Lovett (M&S), Gill Landry (OCMS)

and a sing-a-long led by Jade and Alex of Ed Sharpe! 

and some songs for your listening pleasure:



Create a playlist at MixPod.com

girl crush

Ok, it's a known fact that I have a huge crush on Blake Lively... but to help it even more... she is now one of TIME's 100 most influential people!  Who doesn't love sisterhood of the traveling pants?! or gossip girl?!

back in the saddle

I don't know how to explain what it was like to be back in the saddle this weekend...
but maybe this video can give you some idea...

and in montana on a friesian stallion with nothing but a halter and lead line...

not many places where I'd rather be...

go hawks

The hawks came back to atlanta (1-1) to take on the magic for games 3 and 4 of the 7 game series.

DWIGHT out

kryptonite glow sticks

superman vs the hawks

ahh so cute

And in the 4th quarter... zaza got into a fight with orlando's jason richardson leading to a suspension for both of them in the next game (sunday).

Then, the game ended with a buzzer beater! Everyone was going CrAzY!
(If you look at the bottom left of the screen, you can see our section. The fool jumping up and down would be nate)

and hawks WIN!! 88-84

We also went to the game on sunday to cheer them on to another victory! WOOHOO!!

All 3 of their winning games of the series ended with a hawks score of 88 [88-82, 88-84, 88-85]

funday quote

Because it was Easter Sunday, I figure it'd be appropriate to do a Biblical quote... and finals are also approaching... ahhhh

example of God's beautiful wildflowers– even in the hills Tibet

look at me now

This is so impressive! love it

what it's all about

Not only does this video make me wish I could surf... but it's so refreshing to see good people sticking to their guts in a world where such a thing is hard to do.  I so admire Patagonia and the Surfer's Journal and especially people like Yvon Chouinard for staying true and recognizing what's important in the world and sticking to that.






BTW if you haven't already seen 180 South, you're really missing out. Go watch it!  It's a favorite of mine that I don't think will ever get old. But just a warning– it will make you want to quit your jobs and roam the world. At least for me it did!

what's your sign

So I've been in a funk recently... surprise, surprise.  But Meredith always talks about horoscopes and all that jazz, so I decided to finally look into it more than just what the back of the newspaper says.  Mine is so incredibly spot on!
here's the profile:

Aim high your arrows, Sagittarius. As the Zodiac's Hunter Goddess, you were born on a quest for wisdom and the universal truths. You’re the eternal student, and your mind is endlessly curious, thirsting to know the why and how of any subject that fascinates you. You have a finely honed BS detector and will quickly (and publicly) cry foul if someone's being unscrupulous. Fiercely independent, you thrive as an entrepreneur or a consultant or in a job that allows room for endless creativity. You simply must be passionate about the work you do; anything less would be deadly to your pioneering spirit. Mobility and variety are essential. You're the sign of the traveler, collecting experiences, knowledge, and friends from every part of the globe. People are people as far as you're concerned, and your roster of friends is a rainbow coalition unto itself.

A fire sign, you heat up quickly when something (or someone) turns you on, but the blazes may die out just as quickly. To say you have commitment issues would be putting it mildly. At the first sign of boredom, you're ready to gallop off to greener pastures. Learning how to stay put during the dull phases of a relationship is one of your greatest lessons. Sagittarius, most people can't be "on" 24/7. Even you require downtime to refuel your tanks—although you're probably lounging around in vintage marabou slippers, teaching yourself conversational French as you plot an upcoming trip to Paris. No, Sagittarius, you'd never be labeled boring, although you can be infuriatingly self-possessed. Be careful not to steamroll other people's ideas as you pursue your own vision quest. If you do, it’s unintentional, and you snap back to reality when a friend delivers a tough-love wakeup call. Your comic timing is also superb. Just as tension is coming to a head, you crack one of your famously off-color jokes or impersonations, leaving everyone in stitches. Ruler of the hips and thighs, you release tension through regular rounds of booty-shaking, nature treks, and lengthy urban hikes.

crazzyyy!! Go check out yours here!

funday quote

"Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes.
The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo.
You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them, disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them.
About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things.

They invent. They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward.
Maybe they have to be crazy.
How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art?
Or sit in silence and hear a song that's never been written?
Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels?
We make tools for these kinds of people.
While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think
they can change the world, are the ones who do."

giddy up

Last week I got a call with an offer from one of my dearest friends, Beth to drive her brother and 4 of his friends to the Atlanta Steeplechase in exchange for a ticket and gas money.  Well sign me up!
The event was Saturday, and what a fun time!

the crew

ms kim!

Beth and I were best best friends growing up and spending time with her family again was like coming home. I love all of them!

the diaries of dirtbags

Dirtbag Diaries are fun podcasts into the lives and stories of outdoor enthusiasts.

What is Hardcore? is one that I've listened to a few times, and each time more and more inspiring.  It's funny how we strive to be hardcore, yet run from the label–there's always someone out there pushing the limits further and further.  "It can be pursued but never achieved" ...

hardcore rules:
1. do not talk about being hardcore
2. suffer in some imaginable way
3. know somebody who is hardcore
4. do not complain

What/who do you think is hardcore??

hike for cam

Charlie and Randy are finally setting out onto their Hike for Cam on the AT today!  They were supposed to depart a couple weeks ago (march 22) until Randy got into a dirt bike accident that crushed his collarbone the Sunday before their Tuesday departure... such bad timing.  But, after surgery and stitches, they are back on track and ready to hit the trail!

Cam Street is truly an inspiration to everyone that knew him and and his family.  Unfortunately, cancer finally took over his struggling body and after 3 years with it, he passed away in 2009.  I think of him and his family often, reminded of the great strength they possess.
Both Charlie and Randy graduated from Lovett and were Eagle Scouts (as was Cam).  Their goal is to hike the 2,179 miles from Georgia to Maine to fight childhood cancer and raise funds for Boy Scouts of America and CURE Childhood Cancer.  I worked with CURE throughout high school and am truly blessed for the experience to see the works and passion of people in our community for childhood cancer– as well as the growing passion for it!

Best of luck, y'all! What an amazing experience!

So while they are spending the next few months in the woods, there are a few things we at home can do too!  You can follow their journey and donate directly to Hike for Cam on their blog/website: http://www.hikeforcam.org/.
And if you're a fan of mellow mushroom... go eat at the Vinings mellow mushroom every monday and wednesday (until their trip is over) and put your receipt in the Hike for Cam jar at the front cash register.  mellow mushroom will donate 10% of every receipt in that jar to Hike for Cam.  Time to crush some pizzas!!
American Mountain is also doing a 40% off sale. So put "hike4cam" in the promotion code box at checkout!

just so much neatness

So these videos have been floating around for a while now, but I figured I'd post em up for a good laugh or 2.  enjoy!

havin a good time

I had the most fabulous weekend in Asheville, NC! It [widespread panic] was Meredith's first experience with any sort of jam-bandish/dirty hippie event. fortunately, she loved it. as did I, of course.
We stayed with her cousin's gf, who is one with the awesome quote on the fridge.  Her house was so lovely (with everything from either yard sales or ikea) and not to mention all her fun toys– kayaks, bikes, bb gun, climbing training board, a kiln (what!).  Needless to say, it was so great.

rules of the house:
I will not play at tug o'war
I'd rather play at hug o' war,
Where everyone hugs
Instead of tugs
Where everyone giggles
And rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses
And everyone grins
And everyone cuddles
And everyone wins

welcome to Asheville: hula hoops and drum circles. yes.

coffee and truffles at the chocolate lounge. complete with live jazz

aren't they precious!

more of Loni's sweet ass house

Enna came over to play us some music

look at those cute little fingers

just for you, mom

And yet another fabulous weekend with awesome music, great people, and lots of laughter and fun!

And for Panic's setlist 4/9: 

Set 1 (9:04): Ribs and Whiskey, Rebirtha > Send Your Mind, Tall Boy, Can't Get High, Shut Up And Drive > You Got Yours > Machine > Barstools and Dreamers

Set 2 (10:45): Papa Legba, All Time Low > Biltmore Jam > Little Lilly > Quarter Tank of Gasoline^, Visiting Day > I Walk On Guilded Splinters > Drums > Chilly Water > Arleen > Pilgrims > Chilly Water

Set 3 (12:11): Dirty Side Down, I'm Not Alone > Fixin' To Die

funday quote

In Asheville, I found this quote stuck to the refrigerator that belongs to one of my new favorite people. I think it's so awesome and would love to look at it everyday.

"Do not burn yourself out. 
Be as I am - a reluctant enthusiast….a part time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. 
Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here. 
So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks. Run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, that lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. 
Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much: I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk-bound people with their hearts in a safe deposit box and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. 
I promise you this: You will outlive the bastards.” 


— Edward Abbey

a day in the life

7 alarm goes up with the intention of finishing homework

8 actually get up

845 breakfast–the classic oatmeal, almonds, banana

930 international affairs class. midterms returned...

11 gorp stuff

1145 meet with mentor/listen to him brag about himself

1230 geology class. pop quiz, yay

2 history class. all i got from it is that the person in front of me got a record on angry birds

330 Jorge Cham lecture– artist of the PhD comics

430 squash. almost won but didn't

6 shower at the gym. forgot a towel

630 take Avery to see Fresh (with delicious refreshments-- and beets!) at botanical gardens

9 downtown and REPTAR at the 40 watt

wee hours of the morning = bed. finally. then the fire alarm went off in the dorm.



and drove up to Asheville for widespread panic. i am so ready! i'm gonna be "havin a good time"

a world away

Sudanese refugees and their reactions to America.  Airplane food... mall santas... priceless

bear dog

A couple months ago now, Bear destroyed Mom's finger on a walk... she recently had surgery to fix it just before the 6 week mark and now looks something like this:

see the cute little button on her pinky finger? lovely

Who knew there was terror behind those big brown eyes??

Even cuter is that Nate made dinner for Mom and some other ladies on Monday- homemade tortilla soup.  awww!  At least I had some usable influence on him... maybe

friday

no, it's not friday yet, but i figured you should watch this if you haven't seen it yet

So, rebecca black's youtube hit, Friday has been played nonstop on campus the past couple of weeks. as terrible as it is, the best thing that has come from it is seeing stephen colbert sing it!

enjoy!

funday quote

because i spent my weekend surrounded by beautiful trees...

spring break art project

I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,	5
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.	10
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree. –Joyce Kilmer. 1886–1918

springer mountain

This weekend's backpacking trip was just what i needed! a nice getaway in the mountains. we hiked on springer mountain, which is the beginning of the appalachian trail. (and met a lot of thru hikers just starting out– good luck to them!) Chilly weather at the top, but clear skies and great laughs throughout!

 

pretty ladies!

awesome group

strike a pose for GORP

with lots of down time, what better to do than pictionary, ninja, and other games?!

cookin dinner

yummy wegetables

good morning

what a view
(photo cred to chris)

maybe one day i too will be starting out on a thru-hike...