Five Randoms for Friday

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I just realized I haven't really written a real post in, well, quite a while. Sorry! I'm glad you're all still here though - I seem to have gotten vacation brain, or something. So, since there's so much going on in my brain and there is no way this post would be anything other than incoherent, I'll give you 5 random things for today.

1. I go back to Budapest tomorrow. Seriously. Where did my vacation go? Where was my free time? I still have so much to do - namely all those papers and assorted assignments that need to get done, packing (so I can have clothes and things in Budapest), and spending time with my parents and my cats. I'm seriously at a loss for how fast 4 weeks went by.

2. Starbucks has revealed their new logo for 2011. It's kinda chic - if not identical to the old logo, just without the text. I guess their logo is known pretty much worldwide at this point, so there really is no need to actually write out "Starbucks Coffee" on it anymore. I kinda like it, though it will take a little time to get used to. The old log was very self-contained, and the new one seems to just float on the cup. Any thoughts?

3. I'm thinking of maybe doing some sort of weekly prompt thing. I want it to be fun and simple. Probably something to do with music - maybe a "Just Another Music Monday" or something where you can share your playlist must-haves for the week. Maybe even have themes every now and then? You know a workout list for the week, or a driving list, or something. Who knows really. It's just that I'm such an eclectic listener, it would be fun to see all the new and old favorites out there - you know, expand my horizons some more. My iPod is getting a little tired of the same-old, same-old. This means I'd have to learn that McLinky thingamabob, but it can't be that hard, right? Would you want to participate? Link up?

4. We have herds of wild turkeys that go through our yard each day. Today dad and I stopped counting at 100 and said at that point it was just "too many." And really - it is. It was funny when there were like 5-10 out there, but this is just crazy. And you know what? They're mean birds. I don't know what Franklin was thinking when he wanted to make them the national bird. Mom or Dad will throw out a cup of corn for them and they will attack each other over a piece of corn. I mean, I get survival of the fittest and all that - but let me tell you, these birds are FAT fit. They're ugly too. And they flood our yard every.stinkin'.day.

5. Me, Sam, and Neely are in cahoots (best.word.ever.) to come up with a blog challenge come February 1-14 (and possibly culminating in a swap!). Now, while it is Valentine's Day time, this will be for singles and takens alike, and will shy away from the squishy mushy stuff. But it will surely be fun, so be prepared!

Back, Finally!

Wow, summer has been such a whirl-wind for me this year. It's been high-octane, never-stopping, and I have loved every.single.minute. of it.

No joke.

Again, I'm sorry for disappearing from the real-world/bloggingsphere for the summer. It's not that I didn't want to document all my craziness, I just simply couldn't.

It has possibly been the best summer of my life in many years. I made some amazing friends, that I'm sure will last me throughout my life time. And I met some awesome people that, though they may get lost along the years, I am glad to have had the opportunity to know. I believe wholeheartedly that people come and go in your life, but they teach you things and help you grow. Their purpose may not be to be with you forever, but their purpose is no less great in the whole of your life.

And the memories - oh goodness, the memories! I dressed up as a Knight and a Pirate, took a group of kids to my old fencing salle, helped with a 4th of July party, went on 2 (!) Sunrise Canoes, used the camp name of "Bean" (from the Ender's Shadow series), took a trip to Canobie Lake Park, Made a bajillion friendship bracelets, and so much more.

It was amazing, intense, and I really hope that perhaps next year I can do it again!

Here I will leave you with some more pictures of my summer!

The next blog will be a recap of the 3 (yes, THREE) weddings I attended this summer (I was in 2 and just attended one). See, I told you I had the craziest busiest summer!

Camp Life

Hey Everyone!

Camp has been amazing so far - I'm really loving being here and all the girls and the people that I'm working with! It's been quite the life experience; complete with stressors and adventures and everything in between.

However, it eats up every single minute of every single day. But it's worth it.

I've got to get going - however, I will leave you with a few photos:

Yep, that's me with a hawk :)

Camp Life

Hey there all!

I'm not dead!

It's been a crazy few weeks here at camp.

But let's see what I've been up to:

I'll try for a real post soon, kay?

Catching-Up: US Style

So, the last time I posted - like really posted - I had been home for only five short days. It's been over a month - and what a whirlwind of life experiences that has been! Though, it is kindof nice to be back in the dorm and be able to sleep in until I want and live at a more relaxed pace - it was a trip that I wish was still going on!

So, after being at home for a few weeks and enjoying the beautiful New England weather - which I was blessed to have - because as anyone who lives in New England knows, April weather is look-out-your-window weather. It can snow, hail, rain, be 90+ degreres out - and all in one day! Case-in-point, the week before I came home they had rains that flooded out roads and bridges and such. I, fortunately, had none of that!

As you also read, in a tiny post, I went to NC for a week! I love that state. On the way down I stopped in Baltimore to visit with an old friend. I should have got there about 6pm - but stupid I95 decided to sit in place for no reason - twice - and I didn't get there until close to 9! Didn't matter though, Jes and I met her hubby out at a bar, where he was hanging out with some friends, and chatted there some. And then went back to her place and proceeded to chat until about, oh, 2am! I miss her every time I talk to her! Oh to be back in the states....

After a bit of sleeping in, I left for NC. Thank God for audio books though! What A drive that is. But I really don't mind it. I'm pretty at ease behind the wheel and let a lot of sill traffic things roll off my back (but yes, I do have my driving pet peeves....) However, what makes the drive most worth it is the part where it's about to be over. Every single time I drive back across the town line into Chapel Hill I wonder why I left. Which is probably a good thing, right? That I didn't just love it while I was there, but it truly became a part of who I am and what I love.

oh Chapel Hill, you are my heart!

I stayed with two friends who got married in August (and I, *gulp*, missed their wedding because I was in Budapest...) for a few days. We went out to dinner, went to the zoo, threw a baby shower, and all around had an awesome and amazing time. It was so nice to reconnect (in person) again. Email and phones are great, but there is nothing better than sitting across the table from an old friend over good food and just laughing the night away.

Carrie at the NC zoo :)

After the weekend I stayed with my old roommate/best friend/etc. She had to work most days, so our catching up was done in the evenings over food and small events. I've missed her so, but at the same time it feels like no real time has passed when we're together. That's the mark of a good friendship, I've decided at this point in my life. To be away from each other for months at a time and to come back together and just fall back into place. While in CH I also: went fencing, went to aerials, went to lunch with old professors, old friends, and other assorted people. I drank way too much coffee, ate far too much of the food I've missed, and stayed up way too late.

Me and Lori, right before I was going to hop in the car to drive north.

I also did a mass amount of research for my thesis. Which is awesome. But even more important than that, academically, I made some awesome connections. And these connections led to other connections - which have left me emailing with the TOP GUY in my field of study. Who, not to pat myself on the back too early, thinks my research topic/idea/hodgepodge is amazing and wishes he could be my advisor as well! There is nothing like the affirmation that what you're doing is both interesting, worthwhile, and meaningful. So. Happy.

And then I headed back north. With a stopover in DC this time - I got in around 6 (no real traffic south-north, fortunately) and met my old college/fencing friend Sallie at a place her boyfriend's band was playing. We listened to them (who are an awesome cover band) until they were done at 10 and then went back to her place to just chat, laugh, and sleep. I really hate that all my friends are so spread out now! College was so easy with everyone in one place. But, I guess that just means I have great places to visit now!

And after a second stopover in CT to meet my mom and visit with my great-aunt (who's 94th birthday was the 4th of May!!) I finally got home - just in time to pack me and my dad up to go to Paris!

But, that is for my next post.... :)

Baby Shower Help!

Okay guys, I need your help!

I'm going to/helping throw [kinda-sorta-maybe-a-little] a baby-shower this Sunday, for a friend of mine who's 23 and having a little boy in early June. His name's Issac Perry and so far Momma and Baby are doing just fine. However, this is my first friend-with-child and therefore my first baby shower.

What I need from you guys (because, seriously, you're all my closest-to-having-babies people I know, and besides you guys rock!) are baby shower games that:

a) aren't gross (yes, i've heard of the guess what the brown gooey stuff in the diaper is - and no, we're not going to be playing anything like that. thankyouverymuch)

b) are suitable for playing with a soon-t0-be young single mom

c) are fun and interesting, but not dumb and dumber

d) don't involve too too much pre-planning

Thanks all! I'll write a little more about my time home so far soon, promise!

Home Again, Home Again...

Well, I've been back in the States for five days now. Five glorious days. And I've done next to nothing (which sorta explains the "glorious' part, no?). I am loving this, but I know it can only last so long. Sigh.

The flight back here was, well, it was long. 9.5 hours from Budapest Airport to NYC (JFK). Dear Delta - get some new airplanes. The ones with only a few TV's for the whole coach section? Not cool. Every other international airline (except the Russian Aeroflot - but let's not start in on them again, that was an experience I'm willing to forget) has little self-controlled TVs in the back of each seat. I had close to ten hours and only watched a movie on my iTouch because I could not see one of the big TVs (plus, let's admit that I'm a control freek and would much rather be able to select what I watch, when I want to watch it, and be able to pause/rewind/stop when I want!). Oh, and Delta? Your food sucked too. Oh well, I got to the States, right? And that was the important part! Customs went quick (though they make you get your bags, drag them through a checkpoint, and put them on another conveyer belt yourself.)

Then the four hour layover in NYC? Not so fun for someone who had been up for close to 20 hours (I only napped on the plane, which is unusual for me, usually I can sleep a majority of the way - but the seats were tiny and my isle partner, though skinny, managed to still take up her space and half of mine as well!). I got some Chili's (YAY HAMBURGER!), a Starbucks (YAYAYAYAY!), and enjoyed listening to announcements in ENGLISH. The flight to Boston was short, my bags got there in time, the bus ride to my town was fast (and had internets! hence the "Budapest, I Love You" post). And then I slept till mom woke me up for Easter Church.

Easter was nice and quiet. Just the way I like it (well, the way I liked it this year in a hazy, sleepy state). Church was nice. Breakfast with mom and dad was nice. Got a Starbucks card to gorge myself on while home, a new Napster card to support my music habit abroad, a chocolate bunny (because what is Easter without a chocolate bunny?), and some flowers from dad (that I think mom has semi-stolen from me). I napped. I sat on the porch swing with a book. It was awesome.

The only other news of this vacation so far is that I've started Bikram Yoga. Yes, you read that correctly. Bikram. Yoga. As in - HOT yoga. As in it's around 105 degrees in the Studio during the whole class. It's the most insane thing ever, and yet I love it. I've gone 3 mornings so far (and will go again in the morning). The trick is getting past the first class. I spent at least half the first class sitting on my ass trying not to pass out while watching the sweat drip, no, pour off everyone else in the room. It was intense. I was gross. I wanted to cry and run out the room and never come back. But I forced myself to go back. And it's been so worth it. Even only three classes in and I feel amazing. I'm sore in places I've never been sore. I feel more alive the whole day when I start my day at 9AM with a 90 minute sweaty class.

If you haven't tried it, no matter how old or broken you may think you are, you really ought to. They were talking about a student today that comes to the studio. She's 65 and she has an injury to her elbow that she sustained when she was 14 that has left her unable to straighten it past 90 degrees. She's been doing Bikram for 6 months and she's at 170 degrees and close to being able to fully extending it! Some of the other older students have told me about how they used to have intense joint pain and now it's gone and their flexibility and strength have improved remarkably. And some others have even said they've lost 50+ lbs by just adding Bikram into their lives. It's intense. You'll try to convince yourself to quit. But do this - go for three classes (in one week) and then make your decision about it. If I had made my decision after one class I wouldn't be doing it any more.

Okay that's my life over the past few days! Now, back to reading a fiction book of no consequence and early to bed! Night all!

Do You Know Me [John Mayer]

"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best," and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called.

[A.A. Milne]

I’m really a quote-aholic. For some reason I find it calming to find reason in the words of others. Because, though I love my words a lot, sometimes other people seem to just get it right. Sometimes a few short words of others take the place of what could be a rambling and incoherent mess of my own.

So, this Winnie-The-Pooh quote really does it for me at the start of this new decade. I’m here, standing at the edge of my life and I have no words to explain what it feels like to be here. In an odd way, I feel like my life is really just beginning. I know I should have had this feeling before I moved to Budapest, but I think there were so many things going on at that time, both with the move(s) and some unresolved things I felt like I was leaving behind me, that I couldn’t just sit back and feel what was happening to me.

And now, I am feeling it. I really, really am.

It’s been a few weeks since my last real post. And I guess I owe you all some sort of update that doesn’t include my favorite Christmas movies or commercials (though, it was fun to go back and look at all those things again). Coming back to the States threw me for a loop, and not because of any reverse culture shock or anything, but a loop of love from my family and friends. There are so many people to see, and not out of feelings of obligation, but people I really want to see and who really want to see me. I cannot count the number of times I’ve been forced to take a step back and realize how truly blessed I am to be so loved by so many. If it’s true that you can measure someone’s wealth and worth by those who love them, I must be wealthier than Microsoft.

I got back into New Hampshire from Budapest (via Zurich) on the 15th. Well, it was almost the 16th by the time I found myself tucked in and exhausted in my bed. The flights were fine. In my usual manner, I made fast friends with the woman sitting next to me. She was this 81 year old woman from Krakow, Poland, and she has to be one of the sweetest little things I have ever met. I helped her get to and from the lavatory since she had a hard time walking, and chatted with her and shared a bottle of airplane wine with her. She gave me her address and phone number and made me swear that when I finally get to Poland (which, being Polish myself, she said I absolutely had to go no matter what else I did in my life) I will call her up, visit, and she will cook for me all the glorious Polish food I could dream of. You can bet I’m going to take her up on it, I love meeting new and interesting people like her.

And then, the 17th I took off for my beloved North Carolina. I made it to Baltimore that night and stayed with some friends of my friends from the Carolina Fencing Family. They were very gracious to have me over in the middle of Hanukkah and especially because of traffic I got there so much later than I planned! But I had a wonderful time talking to them and seeing their beautiful children. And to avoid bad weather and traffic I had to leave early the next morning. But I was so glad to get to NC - it has truly become my second home over the past six years. I expected to feel out of place, like life had gone on without me. And it has, but I didn’t feel it in a bad way. It didn’t hurt. And I think that’s because all the people who made NC home for me are still a major part of my life and my adoptive family. I visited my old work, had lunch with my old co-workers, hung out with my old roommate, went to a party at Carrie’s (and spent a while re-apologizing for missing their wedding!), finished my Augustine paper, met up with my favorite old professor - Brett, went to aerials, took a much missed ballroom lesson, and just pretended I still lived in the happiest place on earth. The drive home again saw me in Baltimore, but with other friends who I haven’t seen in far too long. Jes and David and Jes’s mom and I shared a bottle of prosecco and chatted. Then Jes and I chatted until far too early in the morning, I napped for a few hours, and then sleepy-eyed got on the road by six (potential for bad weather and a long drive made that decision for me).

After a mad rush to buy Christmas presents, Friday came and brought Christmas with it in a brightly colored boxes and happiness sort of way. It was an odd year for presents, as the parents did not want to buy me things that would either take up too much space to go back with me, or would remain at home untouched until I’m gone from Budapest (and my things are gone from their house) for good. So I ended up with a lot of CD’s (burned to iTunes), DVD’s (Blu-Rays that dad can keep for now that come with digital copies, burned to iTunes), and books (I’m a sucker and cannot live without them). I also got a new sweater, Uggs (which make me feel like a sellout, as most sorority girls at UNC wear them in the dead of summer with mini skirts, I swore I would never own them. But since I now again live in a place that has a real winter and a need for warm footwear, I caved), and giftcards for massages and haircuts. I’m happy with them, as they’re things I need and will use. Plus, just being home is the best present in the world.

I also have fenced in two tournaments since I’ve been home. Let me tell you, the happy feeling that started with fencing in Budapest has picked up steam back at home. I have not been this happy fencing in years. I know college fencing leads to burn out, but I am so happy that my love for the sport is coming back to life. I got to hang out with old friends and fencing family and just fence for the fun of it again. I’ve reconnected with people I assumed were out of my life for good, and am so glad that they’re not! I won a little women’s epee tournament (6 people), came in 6th in a mixed epee at the same place (of 24 people, I think), and came in the top 16 as the highest female finisher at the Hangover Open for epee (of 42, and the spot came with a bottle of Champagne - the first one I have been of age to actually take home with me!). I’ve been told by countless people that I look happier right now than they’ve seen me in ages. It has to be true, because I am feeling more like myself and happier than I have felt in ages. It’s an amazing feeling and I hope it never goes away.

There’s so much more, but I’ve already written a short novel here. More later, promise!

Always,

Courtney