The Swan Story

Oh, what a Wednesday!! It all began on Saturday when my Mom and I came up with the bright idea to get my Dad swans for Christmas. Over the past year or two, we have heard my Dad casually mention that he would enjoy having swans at the pond at our farm. On top of that, we went to a family friend’s beautiful wedding in October 2010 that had swans in the background of the reception. So, with those ideas in mind, we found a great and reputable waterfowl breeder online, and the rest is history.

We made the commitment to purchase a pair of swans on Monday. Meanwhile, my mom and I are looking at each other like “Are we really doing this?!” Needless to say, we really did. Never a dull moment. In trying to decide which swans to get and how old they should be, etc., the breeder told us about the perfect pair we actually ended up with. They are 3 years old (FYI- Swans mate for life, and they don’t usually breed until their third spring.), and they have also been raised around young children. Not only will they eat from your hand, but they also allowed the breeder’s young sons to pet them. EKKKK! Hopefully, these lovely birds will come to love us as much as did their original family and will pet them and love them all the same.

Wednesday’s adventure began at 8:20 am when we hit the road to Valdosta with dog carrier and swan food in the Escalade. Never did it once occur to us that maybe we ought to have taken a pick up truck, where the swans would not have been in an enclosed space with us. Along the drive, Mom and I periodically burst into hysterical laughter because we could not believe that we were actually buying swans! SWANS!

We met the breeder in Valdosta, halfway for both of us, in the Krystal’s parking lot. Only good things happen in the Krystal’s parking lot, right? Right! Well, we switched the swans from his dog carrier to ours. As the breeder said, “Now, they are going to be a little sassy, since they aren’t big fans of being in the carriers.” Mom and I looked at each other thinking, “Great!”

The swans did pretty well on the hour and half drive home. They didn’t really hiss or freak out, which was a great sign for us. The whole way home the swans would make a peep here and there—Nothing too crazy. Until…..Yep, until we heard the dreaded sound. I’m going to try to keep it as clean as I possibly can here. Let’s just say we heard a farting noise. (In this case, “farting noise” is clean for what it actually sounded like.) As the green fog filled the inside of the SUV, Mom and I could not roll down our windows fast enough to inhale the clean air. At one point, I thought for sure I wasn’t going to make it without throwing up. Our solution- We rode all the way back to Albany with the windows down, sunroof back, air blasting, and seat heaters on full force. By the time we pulled in our driveway, our noses were sore with the smell and little white feathers were everywhere!!

The next step of the plan was to get the entire Carr and Lane crew out to the farm for the big unveil. This is much easier said than done. Of course, the swans were literally freaking out on the 15 minute drive out the farm. Bless their hearts, they were so ready to get out of their carrier. And, of course, it starts pouring (I mean pouring!) down rain right we turn into the farm’s entrance. Mom, Matt, and I are scrambling to hide the swans in the back of the car from Dad, and we were waiting for Kelly and Abigail to get there. Whew! I don’t know how we pulled it off, but we did. Kelly, Abigail, and I kept Dad preoccupied in the cabin while Mom and Matt unloaded the swans in the kennel to the dock, where we would set them free, where we would release them to their new home.

It was truly a great Christmas present moment. Everyone walked out onto the dock, checked out the swans, and then, we let them go. I know they could not have been more excited to get into that water. Dad was utterly surprised, and Abigail was trying so hard to figure out what these big white things were. Since she can’t say “swan,” she said “bird” instead. We’ll work on “swan.” After we released them, the pair swam around the pond checking it all out. It was so sweet to watch because they stayed side by side. We could just tell they would be happy. Yay! 

For those of you who don’t know, Carr Farms, the farm that has been in the family since 1989, has a beautiful pond on it. Carr Farms means more to our family than I can even put into words. As I told Dad tonight, I can always go there, and it feels like home. Stephen, Kelly, and I grew up there, and passing on the tradition, it is so fun to watch Abigail grow up going there as well. Now, we will have two more fantastic reasons to spend time at Carr Farms. We all cannot wait for these swans to become part of our family and for the swans to start a family of their own on the farm. 

Twilight finally done right!

Bravo, Bill Condon!

Thank goodness a director finally got a Twilight film right! I have been a fan of the Twilight series ever since I started reading the first book. Then and there, I got sucked in. No pun intended. I know that makes me a nerd, but I don't care. The books are truly wonderful, and they are (were?!) different literature that no other author had provided. Many critics have compared them to the Harry Potter series....what idiots! There is no comparison to the Harry Potter series. All that aside, the books really are a treat, and I recommend them to anyone, except men. My favorite is book number four, Breaking Dawn, which was just released in theaters today. All the books are great in their own way, which, in my opinion, characterizes a great book series.

Like today for Breaking Dawn, I have seen all of the other Twilight films on their opening weekends. Honestly, they have been horrible. The acting was so awkward at times that there was nothing else to do except squirm in your seat and look away from the screen. Today was vastly different. After four films, the director, Bill Condon, actually portrayed the movie with the essence of the book. There were a few changes-- as there always are, yet it was fantastic. It effortlessly encompassed everything it should have. I don't want to ruin it for any Twi-hards that haven't seen it, but I feel that anyone could enjoy it, even if they aren't a fan of the books.

OH! Plus, the previews are fantastic. I just knew it was going to be a good movie when the Titanic 3D preview danced across the screen with Celine Dion's famous lyrics. My heart will go on and on for Titanic; it never gets old. I cannot wait to see it in April again on the big screen...even if I will look like a loser in my 3D glasses. Also, I saw the trailer for The Hunger Games! I just bought The Hunger Games trilogy to read over my Thanksgiving Break. Everyone who has read them seems to be obsessed, and the movie trailer interested me just that much more. I can't wait to read it, and I can't wait to see it! YAY!

It's the most Wonderful Time of the Year!

It's officially holiday season...aka my favorite time of the year. Thanksgiving and Christmas are my favorite holidays. I don't discriminate between the two; I love them both. However, I do think they deserve their separate times. In other words, I don't decorate for Christmas until after Turkey Day.

In 4 days, I will officially be on Thanksgiving Break. Well, that's if you don't include the huge paper I have  due on Sunday. No worries- It will get done. It always does! I get the entire week off for Turkey Day. I am so excited. Mom and I started planning our feast last night. I am already drooling.

It is only a few days after the Turkey celebration that I will be on Christmas break. Come December 6th I will be free of everything that this hellacious semester entailed. I will have 4 weeks off from school. That may sound a little excessive, but I wholeheartedly disagree. It is just enough, especially since I haven't really had a break since last Christmas. This break will be filled with lots of family and friend time- YAY! It will also include the fabulous wedding of 2 friends, a 5 year high school reunion, the renovation of our lake house, and who knows what else. It should be a fantastic few weeks!!

New Year's Eve will be spent with my girls in Atlanta. I have no doubts that it will be an interesting evening to say the least. When we all get together, there is never a dull moment. We might tend to be a little outrageous. ATL should be afraid...very afraid.

As I said, this holiday season is my favorite. I love that people all come together to celebrate no matter what else may be going on. This time of year always makes me so thankful for everything I have. It makes me proud of the things I have achieved and proud to be a part of the family and friends that I have. I hope everyone has a great holiday season and enjoys it as much as I do!

Happy Holidays!!

11.11.11

Today has been such a great day so far!

First and foremost, Happy Veteran's Day. I am one of many who is so very thankful for our veterans past, present, and future. As many people are saying today, freedom is not free, and we can thank our soldiers for paying the price.

This morning I was so very lucky to be able to sleep in and eat breakfast in bed. I missed my TV shows last night because I was actually out and about in Columbus...Shocker, I know. It was a ball!! So, I watched my two Thursday night shows, The Vampire Diaries and Grey's Anatomy, while I sipped coffee and enjoyed a morning where I didn't have to rush, rush, rush.

After cleaning up the kitchen from breakfast, I scooted off to Wal-Mart to buy Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II. This was a very bittersweet moment, seeing that this is the very last of the Harry Potter movies. I know, I know-- I'm such a nerd.

Now, as I am watching my new purchase, I am cleaning up my apartment because my Parentals are coming in town this afternoon. Tonight, I have an induction ceremony for an honor society, which I am actually excited about....I know-- Like I said, total nerd. Mom and Dad are coming to town to watch and celebrate. They are also bringing Lexi and Kooper, and I can't wait to see how the pups react to a new environment. Hopefully, Koop de Doop won't freak out too bad. Ha! I am so glad that my parents will get to meet my grad school friends, cohorts, and supporters tonight. After all, they have gotten me through this program as much as my family has. The ceremony is at six tonight, and afterwards, we are going to what I'm sure will be a fantastic dinner at Buckhead Grill. We haven't eaten there before, but the menu sounds amazing. Can't wait!

So, I have a great 11.11.11 today, and I'm sure the weekend will get even better tomorrow! We have Abigail's 2 year old birthday party. It's circus themed, and I am painting faces. It should be fun! Haha!

Oh yeah!!!

I have a graduation date!!!!!

Mark May 7th on your 2012 calendars!!

Ahh...this is so exciting.

The countdown begins.

Abigail

"You is smart. You is kind. And you is important."-The Help

Back to School (Remember When...)

It's that time again! That time where parents are thrilled because the summer days are dwindling or are completely gone. It's time for all of the little kiddos to go back to school. I usually love this time of year because I have an unhealthy obsession with school supplies. I just love it!!! I was also a complete nerd who loved school and couldn't wait to get back on a schedule....Yes, I admit it. Not only are children going back to school, but recent high school graduates are headed off to college. Oh boy! I was in Target yesterday, watching all of the new freshmen buy lamps, laundry hampers, USB drives, and kitchen necessities. Taking all of this in, I couldn't help but remember when I was there. Luckily, I have an old article from my Journalism class senior year to remind me, and it goes like this-

Bye Bye My Little Bubble

I have attended the same school for thirteen years, been friends with the same people, and gone to the same church all my life. I have never been placed in a situation where I did not know anyone, but that awkward situation is about to take place. I am on my way to Auburn University where I know less than ten people. I am terrified, yet I am ecstatic.

Albany, Georgia, my little bubble, is about to pop. I am leaving my parents, my sister, my brother, and my home. Come August seventh, I will have to completely readjust to my surroundings, make entirely new friends, and refrain from becoming homesick. I know that I will survive, but I can feel in my gut the emotional, personal battles and issues coming that will take place throughout the fall.

Many students make fun of us students who attend Deerfield because it is a private school. According to public school students, those who attend any private school have always lived in a bubble, where they have had everything handed to them. Public school students do not realize that we, private school students, deal with the same real life issues as they do. Even though I somewhat disagree with some public school students’ theory, I cannot help but wonder if the rumors are true. I ask myself the question of whether I believe them or not every day.

I have always made it through any battle or conflict that has been put on my shoulders, but because I have never lived any where besides Albany, I am nervous not knowing what to expect at Auburn. I hope that I will easily make new friends and fit in with many of my future peers. I hope that I keep up my grades while maintaining a full social calendar. I hope my roommate and I get along and that dorm life is not as bad as it may seem. Ultimately, I hope that I will survive living without my family in Albany.

Reading that feels very strange because so much has changed in the five years since I wrote that article. First and foremost, we lost Stephen that June. Goes to show how life can blindside you- My bubble popped June 17th, not August 7th. AND I ended up not being the biggest Auburn fan. All things aside, those things made me who I am today, and I ended up having a great college experience at UGA. No, it wasn't the "normal" college experience, but who wants to be normal anyway?! As I am thinking about all of this in Target, observing the wide-eyed, eager freshman, I cannot help but wonder what will happen to them, who will they become, and are they ready. Good luck to all the fresh meat, I mean freshman, out there. I hope your college experiences are everything you want them to be. 

The Help

Just finished reading The Help. I’ve been on a reading binge during my two-week break. It has been so nice to not have any textbooks making me feel guilty for reading other goodies. My mom read The Help a few weeks ago and told me I had to read. My friend Sarah Heldman has been telling me for months to read it. Then, Cristin Kirbo confirmed my need to read it as well. With all these recommendations, I thought I would give it a try! Not to mention, I wanted to have it read by the movie’s release date this Wednesday.

The book ended up being great! It was very different than my normal reads, but different in a good way. It is hard for me to believe that it was Kathryn Stockett’s first novel- Bravo, Kathryn! The book is written from three different perspectives- one White young woman and two Black maids. I loved the different dynamics the three perspectives provided. Plus, I never got bored. Other than the books themes of racism and equality, the book offers unique insight into friendships and loyalty. Just as my mom and friends recommended the book to me, I recommend it to all of you! Read it- you won’t regret it!

The Help got me thinking about my childhood and our Black housekeeper named Gene. Oh the good memories of Gene I have! She made the best grilled cheeses in the world- no contest. There is really no telling how many of her grilled cheeses I ate in my younger years. I’m sure she had to have gotten tired of making them. Gene worked for my mother’s parents for several years, starting when my mom was about 12 years old. She moved on from there to help my Aunt Kathy with her three children, and then she helped my parents with my brother, my sister, and I. We were three energetic kids 5 years old and under. Needless to say, my parents and Gene had their hands full. A funny memory I have is when we all had chicken pox at the same time (not the funny memory), and Gene had the old remedy of putting cornstarch on us to relieve the itching. Well, one of those itchy days when my cornstarch had worn off, sweet little me walked up to Gene scratching everywhere and asked, “Mama Gene, will you please put some more creamed corn on me?”  Apparently, Mom and Gene died laughing and never forgot it. A quote from the book states, “They say it’s like true love, good help. You only get one in a lifetime.” This stuck with me because it made me think of the love and appreciation we had and still have for Gene. My mom even said the other day how bad she wishes Abigail could have someone in her life like Mama Gene. These days, so many parents have babysitters and housekeepers to help with raising their children because of work or other life commitments. Because of this, I think so many people can relate to the book, even though the times are very different.

Review of "A Stolen Life"

So I just finished Jaycee Dugard’s A Stolen Life, and all I can say is wow. I am having so many different reactions to her story that it’s hard to sort through all of my thoughts. To say she is a survivor is an understatement of epic proportions. There were points in the book where I could not help but think- that’s it, that’s when I would have given up right then and there. She didn’t give up though, and how I don’t think I will ever be able to comprehend. This incredible person kept going and enduring for 18 years. 18 years!

Jaycee’s positive outlook on what happened to her is astonishing. I am thinking how I have so much hate for these people that abducted and abused her as I am reading, yet Jaycee’s reflections share that she has no hate because she doesn’t want to fill her body with that toxin. She makes the healing sound so easy. The book does give details of her physical and sexual abuse, and for that reason, I don’t think that the book is for just anyone. However, her thought reflections and explanations of her therapy make the book so worth reading. She truly paints a picture of strength, perseverance, faith, and love.

Jaycee’s story is beyond inspirational. I recommend the book to all with the caution that is a tough, emotional read. After reading it, it’s hard not to be super paranoid about the people around you and not to wonder if this could ever happen to you. Although, I don’t think those were the reasons Jaycee shared her story with the world. One of her goals had always been to be a published author. In my opinion, A Stolen Life was the perfect outlet for her to heal while achieving that goal. Getting all of her thoughts down and sharing them with the world provided accountability and validation for all of the thoughts and emotions she was feeling and dealing with. I am thankful that I read the book, just as I think any other reader would be as well.  

Bittersweet...

Today was very bittersweet for me. I finished up my practicum at Phoebe! On one hand, this is a major Woohoo moment because it is such an accomplishment to be done. On the other hand, I'm so sad because I am sincerely going to miss the people I worked with and the nature of the work I was doing.

Going into this practicum, I was very hesitant, scared, and nervous. I was really unsure of how much I would enjoy and how well I would do working in an inpatient psychiatric facility. Quite intimidating! Much to my surprise- the entire experience was nothing less than wonderful. In the past seven weeks, I feel like I have grown so much personally and professionally. This was such a unique cliental population to work with, yet it was not a difficult as I expected it to be. Challenging- yes, but in a good way.

I am so incredibly thankful that my internship went so well. I genuinely felt like I was a part of the team at Phoebe. All of the staff seemed to just take me in as a member of the family. If I ever had any questions or confusion, it wasn't a bother to answer a question or clear something up. Everyone- staff and patients- were conducive to my intense learning experience this summer. I truly hope that I am able to go back and work/volunteer with these people again.

Weekend Recap

With such a busy week last week with two tests, I was eagerly looking forward to having a super long weekend with Friday and Monday off. The Fourth of July has always been a favorite holiday of mine. My family and I always spend the weekend at Lake Blackshear. This has been our tradition since I can remember, and I love it!

Essentially, my weekend started on Thursday as soon as I got done at Phoebe. I was having severe withdrawals from seeing my niece, so I knew sweet Abigail would be a part of my Thursday plans. Luckily, Kelly asked if mom and I would watch her for a bit while Matt finished up working and she went to bunko. Let's just say Kelly really had to twist our arms! For some reason, on this Thursday, Abigail gave me a second wind when she came over. We played hard!!

After a night of babysitting, it was time to get ready for the Lake and to head that way! Friday night was a major low-key night for the crew at the Carr house. It was Mom, Dad, Matt, Kelly, Abigail, and me. Oh! And we can't forget the three dogs- Lexi, Kooper, and Katie. We all ate Boston Butt sandwiches (Craig Burson cooks the best Boston Butts!) until we were stuffed. I'm confident we were all in bed asleep by ten! Ha!

Saturday was filled with boating, swimming, and more eating! We started the day off by playing with Abigail in her awesome "baby" pool. The pool was awesome because it was complete with cup holders for not-so-baby beverages. Abigail had a ball! Then, we all loaded up to go to Booger Bottom for burgers, which is always a delicious decision. After lunch, we idled around the lake checking things out, and after some fun in the sun, we had to head back to make sure the sweet baby girl got her a good nap in.

Now, dinner for Saturday night is a heck of a story. My Dad, who I dearly love, has some of the most off the wall ideas sometimes. This is an enduring characteristics about him we all love. His brilliant idea for this Fourth weekend was to cook a goat for a meal. Well, at first, we thought this idea would pass. It didn't. So, the previous Monday, we find out that Dad has called all over trying to find a goat to buy. He apparently talked to the best in the business to figure out what exactly to buy and how to cook it. He ended up buying not one, but two Australian goats from someone. Dad said, "They're going to be great. They serve these in Atlanta." I wasn't so sure. He also found an experience goat chef in Smithville to handle all the cooking for us. Tad-ah! Goat was served Saturday night for dinner for all of us and some close friends. We had goat pulled with BBQ sauce and goat ribs. I will admit that the pulled BBQ goat was actually pretty good. I never tried any of the ribs because they simply just freaked me out. They were a little too obvious on the goat-front. I think this whole ordeal is something none of us will ever forget. Like my mom said, "I just hope everyone stops calling your dad Goat-Man because I dang sure don't want to be Goat-Woman." Love it!

After the goat, we set off some fireworks ourselves, which turned out not to be too much of a show. I still think Mom and I did a pretty good job picking out the fireworks though! We made notes for net year's show!

Saturday night's festivities paved the way for a slow-moving Sunday. We eventually got going around lunch of so. We road the boat some more and played in the baby pool some more. Sunday night's dinner was a scrumptious low country boil! It was such a good, easy dinner with minimal clean up. After dinner, we all got out on the dock for the famous Knight's firework show. This is definitely a tradition as well! We love to watch all the boats line up in front of the Knights' house with immense anticipation of what the year's show will bring. I think this year definitely topped them all! I swear we said, "This has to be the finale" at least ten times. That is always a great sign! Can't wait to see what they do next year to top this one....I just don't know if it's possible.

It turned out to be a fun and hassle-free weekend. Yay! I hope that everyone else had great Independence Day weekends as well!

AHHH! Overwhelmed!!!

So, wow. I am two and half weeks into my summer classes and summer internship. I think I may have bitten off a little more than I can chew. Two classes and an internship that consists of 100 hours worth of work in addition to extra supervision hours. Good grief! Did I say that all of this had to be done in 7 weeks? Awesome!

I feel like I'm the little engine that could right now. I just keep telling myself that I can get through it! Stay positive, right? Right! Thank goodness for the love and support that my family and friends give me! Not to mention all of my fellow students' support who are going through the same thing.

Even though I am very overwhelmed, I am absolutely loving my internship. I can only say so much about it because of confidentiality reasons; however, I can say that I am learning tons and that I am finding the entire experience very rewarding. It is so nice to be putting the things we've been learning in class into practice....This makes it feel like all of this is actually worth it.

Now, back to studying for me! Two tests this week! Whew! Thank goodness for the Fourth of July weekend coming up. Yay for some rest and relaxation.

5 years. 5 lessons.

Today marks the five year anniversay of my brother Stephen's death. Wow. Hard enough to believe it ever happened. Now, it is even harder to believe that it has been five years. To those of you who knew Stephen, you all know how blessed you are to have known him. He truly made the world a better place, and he always put a smile on the face of anyone he ever met. If you knew him, I am obviously not telling you anything you didn't already know. If you didn't know Stephen, I hope you are lucky enough to meet someone in this world like him.

Stephen's outlook on life and his personality taught me many things. I also think many others learned from him as well. Among these many lessons, I will share five of my favorite with you. These are the important things that everyone should know if they don't already. Unfortunately, it takes losing something to really recognize the lessons that were being taught.

5.) Laughter makes everything better. Stephen laughed at everything, and usually in a good way. He always joked around, giggled, chuckled, snickered. This is something I have no problem doing. I laugh at so many things, and my sweet niece Abigail is the same. As Stephen believed and practiced, laughter truly makes everything better. So laugh!

4.) Seize the day. Take advantage of every opportunity you are given. Afterall, some opportunities only come around once. Do the things you love, even if you think you don't have time. Make time.

3.) Let loyalty be one of your defining characteristics. Stephen was always loyal. He would never say something he didn't mean or make a promise he couldn't stick to. He was such a role model in this aspect.

2.) Friendship makes the world go around. Stephen was friends with EVERYONE. Let's just say he never met a stranger. He never judged, and he always saw the good in people, which is definitely something I try to do.

1.) Live your life for you. Sometimes it is so easy to please others all the time in scarificing your happiness for others to be happy. Stephen struggled with this. He seemed to always want to please others, even though he knew he should do some things for himself. Because this was something Stephen struggled with, I try hard to do it. I fail at this often, but I still do try...for Stephen.

Ode to Woodlands 307

On Sunday, my mom and I went to Athens to check on my now vacant college apartment that is listed on the market. I lived there for a total of three years, which really made it a home for me. Sarah Ary lived there for four years, so I know she also called it home. During that three and a half hour drive there, I was incredibly anxious about how I would feel seeing this apartment completely empty. To me, there is sometimes nothing more depressing than a house that's vacant because, then, the house is nothing but walls, a floor, a roof, and the memories left behind.

Walking in, I was hit with that apartment's familiar smell. Every house has it's own unique smell. If you didn't know this before, you know it now. From my house in Albany to the apartment in Columbus to any of my friends' houses, all the smells differ and are all characteristic in their own way.  This smell triggered a flood of fantastic memories of good times (maybe a few bad) in that apartment. A lot happens in three years, so, of course, a lot happened here.

Birthdays, a bachelorette party, late night talks, movie marathons, and food network cooking experiments are events and celebrations that only skim the surface of what happened in apartment 307. My friends and I grew closer there, and I also gained a new, very close friend there (I call her Moogie). All of us grew in our own unique ways. This is the place where we studied and got those nerve-wracking test scores and grades back. This is where we made and broke relationships. This is the place where we made the important decisions about our futures. This truly was our home away from home. To see it empty was a harsh reality that we have all moved on- to grad school, to NYC, to medical school, to an accounting firm, to ATL, to whereever we had planned to go.

You know how so many people say you don't know what you have until it's gone? Well, this is definitely one of those cases. While we still have all of those memories and recollections, our undergraduate years are gone. Now, I'm a firm believer in that this doesn't not mean we have grown up. Growing up comes much, much later. We all have simply closed one chapter, and we have all adventured off from Woodlands 307 to start new ones. Good luck to all of my lovely ladies on all of their ventures, escapades, and shenanigans. I love you all, but don't ever forget to remember when...

This is when we moved my mattress in the living room for a major 2 day movie marathon.

More mattress movie madness!

Kelly's Bachelorette Party

One roomie pic

Another rommie pic- The original rommies

Another group of roomies

Steeplechase 2011- Nashville, TN

So this post is oh so late, yet ever so important. Not this past weekend, but the weekend before, my friends and I attended the 70th Iroquois Steeplechase Horse Race. Words cannot describe how much fun we all had together.

In the time leading up to our big Nashville trip, we were all chaotically preparing our hats, dresses, tailgating necessities,  and hotel accommodations. While our excitement built up the closer the race came, the stress of everything working out did too. During the week of, us girls finally just decided to throw our hands up with the idea that whatever happens, happens. If it rained, it would. We wouldn't melt. If we ran out of food, we would make it until dinner when the race was over. We had tried our best, and that was all we could do.

Hays, Morgan, and I were lucky enough to be able to head to Nashville on Thursday. Sarah Heldman had made reservations at a sushi place called Virago, and another good friend from UGA Margaret Dodson met us for dinner. I was SO excited because I had not seen Marge in probably 2 years. The sushi and drinks were absolutely delish!

Friday was a day spent running errands and making sure that everyone one was getting in town safely. We had friends scattered all over Nashville. The central meeting location that evening was Urban Flats, another fabulous restaurant. Table for 24 please! It was like a huge college reunion. I saw so many faces that I had not seen from several months to over two years. Such a treat! Dinner ended up being so good, as I knew it would. From there we went downtown, starting out at Paradise Park. Here, we thought we would hear great country music. Boy, were we wrong! Following the first song by some horrible, heavy metal band, we quickly closed our tabs and relocated to another downtown location. I think this one was called Rigby's?! Whatever the name was- It was still fun. We ended up calling it an early night, knowing we had a long Saturday ahead of us.

5:45 am- Good morning! Six girls, one hotel room. We had to wake up early in order for us all to be ready on time. Success! We were all ready with some time to spare, even despite some issues with the shower not wanting to heat up properly. We met three other cars at the gas station. After making sure everyone had ice and had eaten breakfast, we started our five car caravan to Percy Warner Stadium in Brentwood. It was so neat winding our way through Brentwood, seeing all of the huge houses and estates. Each one surpassed the one before. What a great way to start the day!

We arrived to our tailgating spot on time. YAY! I had been really skeptical that would happen. Setting up the tailgate took no time since everyone pitched in. From then, I mixed my mimosa and double checked to make sure my hat was angled just right. Let the fun begin!

The weather cooperated for most of the day. However, when it did not, we all packed under the tent or in the cars to stay dry.

The horse races started much later in the day. This being my first ever horse race, I was so excited and clueless on what exactly to expect. These horses were HUGE. I mean ginormous, yet so beautiful at the same time. None of them got hurt, thank goodness. A jockey did fall off his horse, but we were updated later that there were no major injuries. This all was such a neat experience, certainly one I will never forget. All of the hats were definitely a spectacle to take in.

We wrapped up our time at Steeplechase around 4 that afternoon. Since we had been there since 9:30, we had already had a good day, yet it was only getting better. Here was where my major contribution came into play. Assuming no one wanted to drive the 30 minute journey back downtown, I rented a party bus for us to use. This was not just your average party bus either. You all know me; I have to be a little different. It was an authentic, double-decker bright red bus named "The Majestic." Holding 40 people, it came with strobe lights galore, a VIP lava lounge, and a DJ to serve all of our music needs. This bus was awesome! Everyone had a great time! Since the bus was a double-decker, there were obviously stairs aboard. While I knew I would probably fall, I really didn't think that I would be the only one. Out of 40 people, I'm still the clumsiest. My bruise on my hip is now almost gone, and my bruised rib gets better each day. It really only hurts when I sneeze. I didn't let this fall ruin my evening, even though it gave me quite a scare at first. Thanks to my good friends, who made me feel better!

After the bus ride, we grabbed a good dinner downtown and went out for a little while. Most of us were home and in bed by 11:30 pm though. Such a fantastic day where so many memories were made. I cannot wait until next year to do it all over again, except for the fall.

Movie Review: Something Borrowed

As some of you know, I was so thrilled about this movie coming out that I saw it the afternoon it was released. Now, I'm not too hardcore of a fan because it was the second showing...but oh well.

With all movies where I have previously read the books, I tend to be a little skeptical. I'm a big believer in the aspect that nothing can beat your own imagination; however, that notion may be a little extreme considering that my imagination is insane.

Now, onto the movie! I give Something Borrowed 5 stars because I think Emily Giffin paves the way for new inventions in the world of cheesy romances  and chick flicks, which is a world I love. When viewing the movie's trailer, you could easily assume that it takes on the usual "happily ever after" plot. Well, in this case, you would be wrong. (Don't get upset. I'm not ruining anything!) The movie has so much more twists and turns than that. You won't be disappointed because its a love story that is refreshing with its unexpected details. Let's just say that I would definitely buy another movie ticket to see it again! Hope everyone goes to see it and enjoys it! After all, if it does well in the box office, they are going to film the sequel Something Blue, which is my favorite book!

Royal Wedding Obsession

HAPPY ROYAL WEDDING DAY!

I was totally one of those obsessive-compulsive freaks that woke up at 5 am. So worth it. I loved seeing the parade of one-of-a-kind hats walk down the red carpet into Westminster Abbey. I must admit- I am so upset and jealous that we don't dress like those Brits.

My mom and I, along with the two pups Kooper and Lexi, were anxiously awaiting for Kate to be revealed. Of course, we completely spazzed out with joy when she appeared. Kate, or Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, was truly a stunning, classic beauty today. She looked magnificently beyond royal. I loved that she could not stop smiling. Her happiness just radiated, showing her true delight in being William's bride.

Her dress was so elegant, regal, and the just epitome of class. Kate's sister Pippa looked just stunning as well. I found it incredibly interesting that she wore ivory. I'm one of those fuddy-duddies that thinks no one should wear cream, ivory, or white to a wedding other than the bride. So, it's almost perplexing to me that Kate would choose that color for her sister, her maid of honor. She looked gorgeous none the less.

In the rush of all the wedding news and festivities, I made sure my sweet niece Abigail was aware of it all. Yesterday and this morning we sang in celebration of William and Kate's nuptials. Abigail requested that I share the picture of her in her very own tiara. She wants everyone to know that she is just as excited as everyone else to be witnessing this event of history in the making.

Relief...Ahhhh

Today, I can breathe. It is the first day of the semester that my body is not knotted up in tension from extreme stress. Why? Well, all of my huge papers of the semester have been turned in! That's why! They are officially out of my hands.

Thirty pages full of Adlerian therapy and eating disorders was handed over Tuesday night. Thirty! The same night I had to take that same class' final- mind you. I don't know that I have ever had so much anxiety over a class in my entire life. I honestly was unsure if I would survive. I looked to my cohorts in class saying, "I'm either going to pee my pants or projectile vomit at any second..." They agreed with slight nods and eyes bulging from fear. Thank the Lord none of us did.

Wednesday was the day dedicated to my research proposal on cyber-bullying. That lovely assignment totalled up to about 19 pages. And yes, it was painful. Anything to do with research is painful. I topped off Wednesday evening with another 9-pager on eating disorders. I strategically chose the same topic for two classes to preserve my sanity....I think it worked. Ha!

58 pages. 2 days. Wow. The important thing about it now is that it is done! Woohoo! Yay! Sweet! Awesome! Etc. Etc. Almost time to celebrate. One more final, and then I will officially be done. Done with the weed-out semester. Done with the semester from hell.

One year down. One year to go.

As one of my classmates said, "Whoa, we're halfway there. Whoa, we're livin' on a prayer! Take my hand, and we'll make it I swear. Whoa, we're livin' on a prayer..."
(Feel free to sing along with me!)

New Favorite Commercial

I am one of those people that gets extremely frustrated with annoying advertising. This frustration is so extreme that I usually sigh, groan, growl, etc. when an irritating ditty, rhyme, slogan, or tune comes through the speakers. I get so annoyed with bad commercials, both on TV and the radio, that I only listen to my ipod or XM radio now. If a car commerical comes on TV, forget it. I don't care if you're "Tall on service, Short on price." The channel is changing.

Now, that may seem a little rash, but it's what makes me happy! While most of the time I do not find today's commercials effective or entertaining, every once in a while, there's a good one. Once every blue moon, there's a great one. I feel that these are the commercials that required true creativity, investment, and inspiration to compose. These are the commercials that deserve recognition.

Of these commercials, here is my latest infatuation.

Something Borrowed

First and foremost, Emily Giffin is one of my favorite authors of all time. I absolutely love losing myself in "chick lit" books- in the romance, in the gossip, in the social scenes, in everything.  Emily Giffin's novels accomplish all of this and much more. Not only can you get escape your own reality in her books, but you somehow also find a way to completely relate to her characters at the same time. I read all her books the day they are released, and I always find myself waiting on the edge of my seat for her to release another masterpiece. Well, masterpiece in my eyes. Some critically-acclaimed, snobby book editors or critics might not agree...but who cares about them anyway.

If you have never picked up one of her books, you must do so immediately! When I say immediately, I mean get on amazon.com and order Something Borrowed right now. No excuses. Something Borrowed is the best one to begin with, and I promise you will not want to put it down. Next in line comes Something Blue. This one happens to be my favorite. It's a tough one to start, but it is well worth it in the end. With the first two down, feel free to read the others in any order you want to. Baby Proof,  Love the One You're With, and Heart of the Matter are all great reads, especially for the beach or the pool. You won't be disappointed.

May 6th is a very exciting day for me and all of my friends. Why May 6th you ask? Well, Something Borrowed is coming to theaters. I saw the trailer for the first time the other day, and I swear time stood still. I am overjoyed that they have made this fantastic book into a movie! WOOHOO!

The film features none other than the talented actors Kate Hudson, Ginnifer Goodwin, and John Krasinski. Also, Colin Egglesfield is in the film and new on my radar. Whew! Let's just say I cannot wait to watch him on screen for over an hour. Anyways, back to my point. I cannot wait to gather up all of my girlfriends for a trip to the theater the day the movie is released. I've attached the trailer, so you all can be excited as well!

One of My Many Obsessions: MOVIES

While many of my friends know this about me, many people also do not. I am absolutely obsessed with movies. Getting lost in another's world, if only for 85 minutes, is one of my favorite ways to relieve stress and relax. Movies are my perfect and optimal escape from my own reality. 


I am a lover of all movies types, ranging from old films, period pieces, cheesy romances, Oscar classics, and Disney's cartoons all the way to law dramas, documentaries, and action packed thrillers. Well, I guess I should of said almost all movie genres. Scary movies are the exception.  However, when it comes to scary movies, it is as if I don't feel like they should be considered movies at all. I guess to each his own in this case. 


Something else related to my movie obsession- I am one of those people, who loves to go to the movie theater alone. This all stemmed from getting my hopes up about going to see a new movie at the theater, only to be let down by a friend or family member canceling the plans. While they shall remain nameless, those friends and family know who they are! So, to solve this issue, I decided I wouldn't wait on others to see the movies I wanted to see. This was going to be something I would do for myself. 


Going to the movie theater alone is the most exhilarating and liberating experience. My first trip was one of the times in my life that I have felt so very exposed. While this experience can be both exciting and scary, I challenge anyone to do it, if they have not!


Even though my most recent movie theater adventures have not been solo, they have included some noteworthy films I recommend seeing. In order from my least to most favorite, here they are...


Limitless- While the film's trailer had me completely pumped up with Kanye's "Stronger," I have to admit I found the movie a little disappointing. Yes, the movie has been #1 in the box office, but I see this one as a renter. Save your popcorn for another flick.

The Lincoln Lawyer- Fantastic movie. This one has something to make everyone happy, unless of course you wanted something scary or horrific. Suspense. Romance. Little bit of violence. Matthew McConaughey. Lots of good stuff. Moral of the story- See it!!

The Adjustment Bureau- GREAT movie! Five stars! This movie is now one of my favorites. In other words, it will definitely be a part of my collection one day. Matt Damon and Emily Blunt mesmerize you with their undeniable chemistry on screen. This one trumps McConaughey's flick only because it leaves you thinking. Fate? Destiny? Do they exist? How much power to we really have in our life choices? Did I really lose my keys? Or was that a higher power making me think I lost my keys? To understand the last two questions, you must see the movie. Although, you all must see the movie anyway. In fact, I would make a return trip to the theaters to see this one again!

An End In Sight

Today was a big day for me. It was one filled with high anticipation and anxiety, followed by intense feelings of relief. Today, I found out my official graduation date for grad school! Summer 2012. Alas, the end is in sight.


After a few weeks of stress and worry, I got accepted to do my practicum this Summer, instead of the Fall, which would of left me with the graduation date of December 2012. Frown. That would not have made me happy. With this great opportunity, I will get to have working experience in a community counseling setting along with a school setting, which will ultimately help me do my job to the best of my ability. I am a very lucky, fortunate girl to have been chosen.


While I sit in my quiet apartment at the end of the day, it hits me. A wave of consuming peace moves through my body. I could literally feel my body relax from my head to my feet. In processing the days events, I came to this peaceful realization that I am moving forward. My hard work is paying off. For once, I did not feel like life was passing me by while I'm under the constraints of my schoolwork. 


It was such a fantastic day. With this newfound tranquility, I can rest easy tonight. 

St. Patty's Day Substitute

While I didn’t get to sip on green beer, I did get to wear green this St. Patrick’s Day, only to avoid be pinched by multiple middle and high school students. Getting dressed for work that morning, I could just imagine the consequences of a substitute teacher not wearing green. OH the Horror! To avoid all violent situations, I dressed in an obviously green shirt for all to see.

This Thursday I was lucky enough to be Art teacher for the day. Woohoo! Easy day. The Art room seems to be a therapeutic environment for all students, where they feel free to dish out any and all gossip on other teachers and students. I knew entirely too much information about entirely too many people by the end of the day. For instance, I do not need to know details of a person’s body odor.

With prom and spring break fast approaching, the chatter on the subjects was quite delightful to overhear…
       …He is taking who?!...OMG- I just love your dress!...I don’t have a date, so I refuse to go!...Prom is stupid!...

Those were the days- when your main concerns were what to do with your hair for prom or what color nail polish goes best with your dress.  Listening to all of the distress in their voices, I just couldn’t help but laugh.

In the spirit of the luck of the Irish day, I was lucky enough to be asked to sub again on Friday. Lovely. There went my plans of basking in the sun beside the pool.

Well, I started my Friday morning off by having a seventh grader say, “Ms. Carr, You don’t look a day over 30.”

Awesome. There were no words of response. I just tried to distract myself from the fact I look eight years older than I am.

The day went smoothly from there- not. My duty was to give and monitor five middle school science tests and hold two middle school study halls. No free period. While the tests went ok (no cheaters), having two middle school study halls is literally murder for a teacher. Not to mention they were one right after another.

Study hall activities are not limited to but include playing with a tennis ball, fixing one’s toga for a Greek feast, showing a half-naked girl on a cell phone background to the substitute, writing one’s name on the board 83 times, throwing chairs at one another, writing love letters, and filling out March Madness brackets.  I’m positive that my students were the most productive of the day. Also, I had a mild panic attack when the school secretary walked in to deliver a note to a student. Fingers crossed that I won’t get in trouble.

Substituting- never a dull moment.

Spring Break

Spring break as a graduate student should probably be spent relaxing and doing things that require no energy at all, possibly on a beach somewhere. Not for me. Where did I beg my mom to take me? Yes, I said my mom. Of course, it had to be the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Disney World. This is not a joke.

We set out on our trip on a Monday with our Fodor's guide to Orlando only to return the following Friday with a wand and tired feet. I had taken the liberty to plan out our itineraries for each day and made dinner reservations for each night.

Because we got there so late on Monday, I had made my mom and I dinner reservations for the early setting at the famous Victoria and Albert's restaurant inside the Disney walls. Complete with a six course meal, a formal dress code, and a rule for no children under ten, we knew we were in for an adventure. We started off with a lobster amuse-bouche that was delish and a good sign about the rest of the meal, which was followed by a cold appetizer of tuna and octopus. Next, our favorite course of the night- vegetable ash-crusted Halibut. Before then, I have never had Halibut, but it is now one of my absolute favorite dishes. Fourth course was a chicken, truffle, and wild mushroom creation that was divine. I die for anything with truffles in it. The main entree was veal tenderloin for me, which just melted in my mouth. Now, by this point in the meal, we had consumed a good bit of wine, so when I took a bite of the sweetbread on my plate, I wasn't exactly comprehending what I was eating. By the time the realization hit me, it was too late. I can now say I have eaten cow brains. Wow. My stomach still flips when I think about it. Although, they were quite appetizing. We finished up the dinner with an amazing Creme Brulee and without a doubt the best coffee either of us had ever had that was brewed for us at our table.  This dinner was an experience that my mom and I will never forget and one I would recommend to anyone. Of course, the personalized menu, two waiters, and red rose after dinner helped!

Tuesday- The day I have been waiting for. The day I would see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I forced my mother to wake up bright and early, so we could be at the park right when it opened at 9, which is exactly what Fodor told us to do. I truly don't know if I have ever been so excited; there was no comparison on the excitement level between me and a 10 year old standing next to me. We rushed to Hogwarts Castle where the major ride attraction for the park is in attempts to beat the crowd. After winding through the castle filled with all sorts of Potter memorabilia, we jumped on the virtual ride where we faced a dragon, giant spiders, and flew on a broom with Harry and friends. Mom and I got off the ride laughing hysterically and ready to do it again, which we did later that day. Getting a wand was a major objective for the day, so we got in line for Ollivander's Wand Shop for which we waiting longer than any ride. To my surprise, when we went inside the shop with 35 other people, Ollivander chose ME to find a wand, or rather have a wand find me. I was thrilled that I was chosen over all the other children and teens in the room. After all, I have definitely known and loved Harry longer. With a huge smile on my face, I clutched my wand of Holly with a core of Dragon Heartstring while we waited in line to purchase it. Yes, I realize I am a huge nerd of epic proportions, and I don't care. The day was truly fantastic and unforgettable, and I am so thankful that my mom was so very patient with me and my childish enthusiasm throughout the day. Dinner at Narcoossee's, a great seafood restaurant, was a lovely way to end the day, where I had Swordfish and mom ate Crab-crusted Mahi Mahi.

Wednesday was the day for Epcot, where neither my mom nor I had been. Our timing for our trip was perfect because they were having their Flower and Garden Festival. In other words, we got to see all of our favorite Disney characters sculpted out of ivy, moss, and flowers, which was really neat. In Epcot, we walked around the World Showcase tasting and sampling food and, of course, alcoholic beverages from a variety of different countries. It was a day filled with cultural experiences and tons of laughter, which I'm sure the alcohol had nothing to do with. It is unreal how Disney has recreated the charm of other countries in such exquisite detail as they have done so in Epcot.

Even though our feet were so very worn out after all the walking, we had a big night planned. Tickets to the Cirque de Soleil show La Nouba was on the itenerary. We grabbed an easy, casual dinner at the Wolfgang Puck Cafe in Downtown Disney and parked it at the House of Blues for some music and drinks before the show. Here, we also watched people scatter for shelter from the thunderstorm that passed through. We didn't make fun of anyone at all. I promise. There are no words to describe La Nouba. All I can say is that you must see if for yourself to appreciate it. From here on, I will take full advantage of any chance I get to see any Cirque de Soleil show. Cannot wait for the next one!

Our last day in Orlando was filled with revisiting old memories of our childhood. We spent the day in the Magic Kingdom, which I now believe is still magic no matter your age. We rode It's a Small World, Peter Pan, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Space Mountain, all the while giggling like we were seven. New to the list was Buzz Lightgear's Space Adventure, which was the highlight of the day! It was so fun to take out space enemies with my own light gun, just like Buzz's. We watched the parade, where we got to see all of our Disney favorites, including all the princesses, Mickey, and Minnie. To finish out the afternoon, we parked ourselves on a bench in front of Cinderella's Castle with a Mickey Mouse ice cream to people watch. Absolutely hysterical.

Friday. No fun Friday. While we were ready to get back home, we were sad and nostalgic driving through the resort one last time. Mom and I do have a complete list and plan for when we return with sweet Abigail for her first Disney trip. All in all, it was a great, fun-filled, and stress-free trip- easily one of my top 3 favorite spring breaks!