"What I'm Thankful For"

I feel like I need to do a reflective essay entitled "What I'm Thankful For" and in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I just might. I mean, I will.

Some people (hopefully most) know what it's like to have a good friend, maybe even a best friend, and maybe even more than one of either of those. I'm not bragging, but I am one of those people.

You see, many years ago, a group of high-school juniors decided to escape the self-inflicted table assignments and stupid gossip of the lunchroom. They went outside for fresh air and good company. Ten years later they still get together for fresh air and good company.

Two weekends ago the Rollers (yes we are awesome enough to have a name), had a reunion of sorts to celebrate our years of friendship as a group. I specify "as a group" because the friendships go back way longer.

Bonnie happens to hold the lucky title of "relative and friend." Her dad and my mom are first cousins and we go to the same family reunions. And I have gone to school with Beth since kindergarten, Brittany since fourth grade, and Jeta, Mimi, and Tucker since freshman year of high school.

Bonnie, Beth, Brittany,

Jeta, Tucker, Mimi,

and Me (for good measure)

So technically I'm celebrating a lifetime of friendships. I wouldn't be who I am, where I am, or anything in between without them.

We all met at Tucker's house in Raleigh, NC and it was the first time in a year and a half that all seven of us had been together at the same time. I apparently was so excited for the weekend that I was acting unusually giddy for the days leading up to it. Rightfully so. These are ladies that know how to have a good time. And not in the usual ways.

I'm going to go ahead and say that the number one goal of the weekend might have been to go to a bar with a mechanical bull. (Not my idea, but I'm a team player.) And I played. Twice. It was one of the funniest nights I've had in a long time.

It turns out it's really embarrassing, but also really fun.

We also played a great game that I feel inclined to share because maybe someday you will find the need for a cheap, time consuming, and super fun activity. Here's how it goes: Everyone has a ten dollar budget. Start at a thrift store and choose one item on which to build a wearable work of art. Go to a craft store with your remaining dollars and buy whatever else you need to create your masterpiece. Spend the afternoon crafting together and then wear your outfits at dinner. (Preferably in the comfort of a private dwelling, like your house.)

Example: Tucker during and after

It just goes to show that a) we still like to dress up and b) any kind of entertainment will do when we are together.

So I'm thankful for my friends.

For the laughs

,

the listening

,

the cooking

,

the fire hooping

,

the bull riding

and bar dancing

,

the creativity

,

the sincerity

,

the surprises

,

and the love

.

I know I'm getting cheesey, but if you knew these girls the way I do, then you would be too.

View, if you dare, more photos from the weekend of celebrating ten years as Rollers. Before you click, I will warn that there are a lot. I put them all up for the Rollers' sake.

when life makes you feel like you're in a movie

A couple good things about this working from home thing:

1. I wear my pajamas most of the day because they are warm and comfortable and no one else sees me.

2. My weekend is whatever day I want it to be, and right now there's a little bit of weekend everyday.

(See below for details.)

A couple of bad things about this working from home thing:

1. I get distracted by things like the internets and crafting.

2. I talk to myself and my cat. I need more people interaction.

(I am applying for part-time jobs)

Since we last spoke, October ended, which means Halloween happened.

For us, it was an authentic German halloween.

Andy found lederhosen in his closet and I borrowed this dirndl from his mom.

We were essentially his Oma and Opa since they wore these very articles.

The next day we went to a ropin'. Where cowboys and cowgirls rope calves. Andy's lieutenant invited us out to come watch the little competition and we had a great time! That is tough stuff and the cowboys have to pick up the calf after they lasso it to tie three of its legs together. The cowgirls just have to lasso. A little sexist but I'm okay with that because the calves weigh in the ballpark of 200+ pounds.

1. Getting Ready. 2. Racing out of the pin.

3. Pick 'er up and slam 'er down. 4. Tie them legs up real good.

The next day, Monday (see, I made my own weekend), we hiked Old Rag Mountain, which is part of Shenandoah National Park.

The road to the mountain.

Man was it beautiful. And the perfect time of year to go. A nip in the air and not a boring leaf in the house. Once we passed the tree line, the mountain becomes boulders. Big ones. They call it "the scramble" and you have to sit, slide, crawl, jump, climb, get a butt-boost (if you're short) to make it to the top.

Doing the ground scramble!

Not only are you going through this boulder obstacle course, but you remember to look up and out, and all you see are plumes of goldenrod, red, and green against the bright blue sky.

I really did feel like I was one of the tiny animals on the set of Fantastic Mr. Fox.

It was a beautiful day! And then we ate Thai food for dinner!

And then you clicked here if you wanted to look at more photos. Only if you wanted though.

a warm welcome

A few funny things worth noting have happened.

The first was last week and I kind of forgot about it.

I was doing work at Andy's house (I was there alone) in the living room. There are two desks, one that faces the front of the house and one that faces the back. I was minding my own business when I heard some shuffling noises. I turned around to see a little bird sitting on the desk behind me! A real, live, little bird had somehow gotten into the house and was flying around. He looked like he could have a panic attack at any moment, so as quickly and unobtrusively as I could, I opened the door in the back room. He took the invitation to go back to nature immediately. Afterward, I kind of wish I had thought to keep him or train him to stop back in whenever he felt like it. The incident initially startled me, but in the end it was fun.

The second was yesterday morning.

I finally got everything in order to go to the DMV and get all the car and license stuff taken care of. I went first thing in the morning to make it as painless as possible. It was 8 am and my windows were dewed over. I couldn't get them to stay clear so I rolled the windows down. At a stoplight, a woman next to me rolled down her window and complimented Leeny's pet, the cactus antenna! Then she asked if I lived here or was just visiting. I said I just moved here. She said Arkansas is nice and I'll just have to go back and forth now. Before the light changed, she gave me a warm "Welcome to Richmond" and my day was made.

Other things, less funny, are that I carved a pumpkin at my sister's house.

a.b.c.

a. It's like digging into a treasure box except you know what you're going to get.

b. The pumpkins carved by (from left to right) Sister, me, Steven.

c. My pumpkin, Mr. Monocle.

And that I went on an exploratory bike ride around my neighborhood today, specifically to find this house and this tree. I had seen them the other day, but did not have the proper recording tools on me. I didn't want to miss the leaves. And I nearly did!

Blue and orange. So pretty!

You better believe there are more photos here!

Richmond, I am here

So maybe life hasn't continued to be quite as exciting since I stopped driving hundreds of miles every couple days, passing through the changing landscape of our fine country. That's not to say it's been boring though! And since I've waited a couple weeks to share anything, it will seem even more exciting! (Ha, good trick Frost.)

Two weekends ago at the Gaylord National, MLG was there. Don't know what MLG is? Well, I might not have either until I was face to face with thousands. They are gamers. Major League Gamers.

All these boys wearing headsets, small backpacks, pajama pants, and black hoodies playing video games against each other.

And, no, I did not go to the Gaylord just for the MLGers. I went because my dad was there for a conference. He brought along my mom, and Sister, Steven, Andy, and I went up to meet them. We had some enjoyable family and friend time and played on this giant sculpture. I sat on a big toe!

It's called "The Awakening".

Since then, Richmond has been stocking my fridge and pantry, copyediting and proofreading (not to jinx it, but the jobs are coming in pretty regularly), and figuring out how to handle my unstructured days. Um, it's hard. And I'm not going to lie, I miss New York and I didn't have time to think about it while I was on the road, but now I do. That's hard too.

The first meal I "cooked" at my apartment. The second meal I COOKED at my apartment.

But time is helping the little hole I feel. Richmond has cool things to offer. Like Toy Story 3 at The Byrd for two dollars! And riding my bike (thanks again, Nancy!) around the neighborhood through the fallen, colorful leaves without being fearful of crazy drivers!

And receiving unexpected, special mail!

Beautiful cloth napkins from Aunt Terri!

And the Celtic Festival! Funny thing about the Celtic Festival: I brought my big camera (that's what I call my Nikon) and was all prepared to capture the moments, etc. I turned it on and there was a big E flashing back at me, laughing in my face. I had taken the memory card out and forgot to put it back! Idiot!

So these are courtesy of my phone.

That is a sheep herding demonstration, and a man humoring kids by sword fighting with them.

Those are hardly a taste of the costumes, I mean cultural dress, that we saw. That's a Mini Cooper for Del.

In closing, I think it will all come together and I think I'll eventually get used to suburbia again. And if any of you out-of-towners need a break, Z and I make great hostesses.

And one last side note, because I feel the need to confess this: I downloaded the entire James Taylor discography today. I might have been influenced by mail from Aunt Terri, but I just couldn't help myself.

If you can't help yourself, here are more photos.