One of the coolest things about Asheville is the fact that a 30 minute drive (or less really) will afford you some amazing hiking. Wednesday night after Wesley and his coworker Patrick got off work at 5:00 we went for a three mile in/three mile out hike at Looking Glass Rock. At the top of the hike there is a bald overlooking a spectacular terrain. The weather was perfectly mild and the trees are the greenest they will be all year.

We stayed on the bald until sunset thinking that the hike downhill would be a quick one. It were about halfway down the switchback trail when it got so dark we had to pull out the one headlamp we had. The trail looked like a whole different place at night. The lightning bugs made me feel like I was in a fairy tale; the crying cougar made me realize I was not. The silence was peaceful but there was so much life in the woods that I never felt isolated. It was quite an adventure and I can't wait to go camping up there.

One Step Closer

I packed today. Not everything, mind you. I packed my dishes, the few decent pots and pans I have, my nic-naks, and all of my wall art. Next week Wesley's apartment is going to have so much 'Eryn' in it he won't know what to do with himself (or his utter lack of closet space).

It was a beautiful day. I opened the windows and let the warm spring air push winter out of the house. I cranked up the classic rock and I took a major step towards the next chapter. You should have seen me dancing to 'Mustang Sally.' I was on a roll! Ha ha.

I look at the boxes lined against the kitchen wall and I grin from ear to ear. Once I get my things to Wesley's apartment, Asheville really will be home and Mississippi really will only be a temporary landing spot for me. In May I move my furniture to Asheville and I'll come back to stay with my grandparents in Jackson while I wrap up my summer semester.

I'm excited that I will get to spend a couple of months with family before I head off. My grandparents are like those active seniors you see in mutual fund commercials. They ride horses, travel, tile the house, email, and simply put, never slow down. It's great. Plus, when I need a quiet house to study, I know that they will understand. I can't let off until I pass my last class. No rest for the weary, eh?

On the mend

The worst thing about surgery? The waiting. I'm ready to be back 100% again. The drugs are good though. Hooray for Percocets keeping me out of pain and out of my mind. My roommates thought I was bad about telling stories twice Before! HA! I'm twice as bad now. I'm twice as bad now. Heh.

I've had this irksome ovarian cyst for about a year now. It was painful and annoying and pushed on my bladder, and elevated my cancer antigen markers slightly so we finally decided to take it out. It was supposed to be a simple operation and my doctor made me feel like I would be doing cartwheels the day after surgery. It was not to be so. A week later and I still can't stand up for too long and have to sleep on my back (which is a bummer).

Everything went well for the most part. Wesley took care of me all week, with some help from his mom, dad, and stepmom. He did a fantastic job and kept me comfortable, well-fed, and rested. He also showered me with sweet kisses- known to make any girl on the mend feel better.

Today was our first day back in class. My friend Jenni picked me up so I wouldn't have to drive. She also brought me homemade chicken noodle soup after my surgery. It's really great to have true friends who will take care of me. I have a lot to be thankful for this year.

Bragging

Wesley has been updating his photography website. He has been working with both digital and film these days. I've gotta say... The man has an eye for beautiful things. Don't you agree??

Correspondence

Yesterday morning I sat down at the kitchen table and scrawled a small note into a pretty green card with floral patterns. The card was my first official piece of wedding correspondence.

It was a thank you in response to the card Wesley's grandmother Margaret sent me. Hers spoke of good decisions, love, and luck. In it she welcomed me to the family. Mrs. Wesley is a Southern matriarch, a Grande Dame, if you will. Her elegance is unsurpassed, her love for her family unmatched. Reading her card, I felt like I was joining lineage with royalty. So I sent my gratitude.

Even though I didn't request it, the postman gave me the 'wedding stamp' to mail my card with. I think it is a sign of good luck. Don't you agree?

holding my breath

I have been waiting and waiting to be able to write this post. It has felt like holding my breath for the past couple of months. Part of the reason I have been posting less is because everything has been wrapped around this one BIG secret. What's the secret you ask??

Here's a hint- it had to remain a secret (or quasi-secret truly) until a conversation was had with my dad.

Figure it out? Of course you did, you are smart people. I'm getting married!! [insert girlish giggle here]

Wesley asked my dad for to give his blessing to our marriage, a date has been set, a city has been decided on, colors chosen, priests called, and family members told. We are on our way! Before you ask, I don't have any compressed carbon weighing down my left hand just yet. And may not for a while to come, but who cares? What matters is that Wesley thinks highly enough of me to make me his wife and mother of his children (NOT anytime soon!!!). I am having so much fun day dreaming about our life together, seeing how good we have become at making decisions and resolving problems together, and feeling so loved that it wouldn't matter to me if the the ring could came the day before the wedding. I get to spend the rest of my life with my greatest love and my best friend. Nothing else in the world matters... well, except getting out of nursing school alive but that's another story.

Over the past two months, wedding has taken over my mind, conversations, and free time like kudzu takes over a field. I have scoured theknot.com, theweddingchannel.com, and many others like them, as well as wedding dress websites, and anything else wedding related on the internet. I have tried on dresses, which is SO much fun! I haven't found the right one, but it's a blast to wear five or six gowns in an hour or two. It's a great pick-me-up when I am feeling stressed out. I will almost be sad when I DO find the right dress because then I can't try them on anymore when I need a break from the mundane life of a student nurse.

I've looked at bridal magazines (all dresses and no substance), books, planners, all of it. It's a blast but at times it can be quite overwhelming too. Luckily, I've got my mom, four aunts, grandmothers, and some truly fantastic girlfriends to buoy me up and keep me grounded all at the same time. Not to mention how fantastic and involved Wesley has been already.

My aunt Sally and I have been emailing back and forth for a few days now. She is as excited as I am. It has been so uplifting to tell her about plans and ideas and have her ask questions about this and that. She has even offered to grow Rosemary for me to use in my bouquets and centerpieces. It feels so good to have her support and excitement.

So I should warn you that over the next year, this blog, like the rest of my life will be taken over with wedding-kudzu as I try to plan an event that is 75% sacrament and 25% party to start off what I hope to be the best and longest chapter of my life.

Distractions

You know how when you have something really, really important to do ALL of those other things you could be doing become really, really even More important?

I've got it BAD this semester. We just started back last week after a three week hiatus. I am taking Obstetrics and Pediatrics which I have been looking forward to since I started the program. Unfortunately, after my summer semester I am simply burned out on nursing school. I am just having a hard time mustering up a good givafuck.

Instead, I have been enjoying hanging out with my two spectacular roommates, having fun discussions with Wesley about this that and the other, and virtually anything I can find to do that doesn't involve studying or working on careplans. Truth is, I don't care how many centimeters a woman's cervix can be dilated and labor still be delayed (up to 4, by the way). Or maybe I do. I know I at least care about graduating seeing as how the rest of my life depends on it and all.

In other news, Wesley and I are going to Jackson for the weekend. It is our four year anniversary since our very first date. As a matter of fact, I'm sitting at the table next to the one we sat in on our first date at this coffeehouse (where I came to study). We are going to see my mom and step-dad, my dad and brother, my grandmother, and my surrogate family throughout high school, the Hall-Shaffery's. It should be a blast of a weekend with mimosa brunches, boat rides, barbeques, and a hot date on Saturday night. Wesley also says he has a surprise planned for me. I have no bloomin' idea what it is and am dying to find out! All I know is that it may or may not have something to do with a microwave... I know. Your guess is as good as mine.

The alarm goes off at 5:15 Monday morning. This is early. I mean, hot damn, way early. I somehow manage to get myself out of bed and into my whites knowing that it's going to be a long day. By the time I arrive at the hospital I am alert and ready to go.
I got to see all sorts of awesome-grossness and do all sorts of nursing-type things. It was a blast. I did a double-clinical so that I could have Thursday off and come to Asheville early. I didn't leave until 11:00 that night. I came so close to doing my first 16H shift. I was only slightly delirious by the time I got home although I did manage to snap at a classmate for asking a stupid question (she understood) and make a slightly lewd suggestion to my professor regarding our one male classmate. That was about the time we were let off the hook early.

After a few hours sleep I woke up at the same time on Tuesday. I was supposed to move the clothes to the dryer. I didn't. And now I have a random assortment of mismatched clothes with me. I got to school early and took my psychology midterm that was given to the rest of the class the night before. My psych professors have been graciously accommodating. I couldn't do it without their help. After that was the Med-Surg lecture at 8:30.

12:30 comes and it's finally time to get out of dodge. I hop in the car, find Tom Petty's Saving Grace on the Ipod, roll down the windows and hit the road. I get about fifteen miles outside of town when my car just decides that she has had enough. The engine is still running, but not getting gas. I slowly decelerate until I am stalled on the side of the highway. Need I remind you that this is Mississippi in July. It takes about 2 minutes before I am sweating like a linebacker. I wait, call Wesley, call Dad, curse my luck and try to turn the car on again. It cranks. It goes. It stops. I think I might have made the sailors on the coast blush- I'm sure they heard me. I call AAA. I call the roommate. Roommie comes to get me and take me back to the house. Mom drives from Jackson and takes me to my grandmother's never-used car, and the tow-truck picks up Jezebel (yes, that's her name). Ok, things are moving along. {Thanks Mom, Dad, and Courtney for all of your help!) and I get on the road at 6:00 PM. Luckily, Mamaw's car is a very comfy 2003 Accord and the drive was uneventful from Jackson on. I made it to Asheville around 3:30 AM, exhausted and hyped up on Sobe energy drinks.

Part II to come.

Update

Oh goodness. So much has happened. Last Monday Courtney called me and told me that roommate that was supposed to be here for the summer up and left over the weekend with nothing but a note on the counter. Courtney IM'd me around one, by five o'clock I had all of my furniture at the new place. By the next day I had most clothes, books, and things over here. The roommates are fantastic, the house is superb, and the six foot wide window looking out over the backyard gives me all the sunshine my little heart could desire.

Wednesday we 'picked up' our patients for Thursday clinical. We went to the hospital at three, dug through the charts, gleaned information and the five of us in my rotation came back to my house and worked on our clinical paperwork. I was up until 2:00 looking up drugs, analyzing lab reports, writing a careplan, and eating pizza (very important part of the process). Going through the chart was fascinating. I got to see how lab reports will correlate with each other and how they can be used to diagnose. I got to see very clearly the effects of lifestyle on one's health as aging occurs. Cool stuff.
The next morning we were at the hospital at 6:30 for pre-conference where the professor picks over our work and asks all about the information we found. By 8:30 we were on the floor. Three of us had one patient. He was the nicest, most patient, most easy-going man I could ever imagine being in a hospital. It was such a joy to work with such a pleasant patient on my first clinical. My classmates and I worked very well together and got things done quickly, effectively and with little fuss. The whole experience was very calm and will be one that I rely on to get me through the rough days that I am sure to come with clinicals.

AND THEN

Wesley came to visit me. We had a very busy but simply wonderful weekend. We went to a wedding on Saturday. It was a very nice wedding in a beautiful church but it did offer us a chance to notice some things that we don't want to happen at our wedding (oh, did I just say that?). For one, there was a very harsh woman with a clipboard standing at the church door directing people on when they should walk down the aisle. It was extremely unattractive. Then there was the industrial strength camera crew and the photographer with the clicky-noise turned on. Eesh. But when you are busy coordinating flowers to dresses to tuxes to hair styles to ring cushions to church colors I guess there will be little things that slip through the cracks. I just hope that my wedding will be personal and not look like something out of a catalog. And I plan on having a bang-up reception.
Sunday we went down to the coast and visited Wesley's dad and stepmom for Father's Day. We went to church with them and then had yummy po-boy's for lunch. I simply love this couple and always enjoy visiting with them. After that we stopped by Wesley's mom for a quick hello and then came home to start the barbecue. My dad and my brother came down and Wesley cooked some crazy-good steaks for all of us. The roommates were here too. I love having a full house and having the three main men of my life together. There were several times during the night when I just stepped back and watched for a second and let the happiness wash over me.

I've had a very blessed week and I hope you all have as well.

Wesley

Wesley is coming to visit me in a week. It is so sweet of him to take time off from work and drive down here just to see me for a few days. We are going to go to a wedding of a high school friend of his while he is here. It will be our first wedding to attend together. The thing I am most looking forward to is dancing at the reception. I love to dance but it's not really Wesley's favorite thing.

It's when he does little things like dance with me or let me cook squash that I know he really loves me. I hope that he knows how much I love him. We've been together for so long now, I don't think there is anything or anyone that could destroy our love for each other. It's a wonderful comfort to know that we have a hardy connection and fondness for each other that will keep us going long after other relationships die away.

Another thing I love about our relationship is that we enjoy doing so many of the same things. We have the best times hiking, doing photography, reading to each other, cooking for each other, and simply being together. It has been a joy to grow together and learn so many amazing things about Wesley over the past four years. I truly believe that we have something special and I'm a lucky girl. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I LOVE YOU WESLEY AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU!! XO!

Back Again

Can't really put sentences together right now. I'm exhausted. But I had a wonderful visit with Wesley. We ate tons of yummy food, spent time outdoors, fixed up his apartment a bit, relaxed, and spent lots of time snuggling and making googly eyes. It was just what the doctor ordered.
I feel like I am in an alternate reality being back here, feel lost without him being close. But school gets in full swing tomorrow and hopefully I can just race through the summer with my head buried in my books. I'm sure my professors won't mind obliging me.

And for my next trick I'll sleep like the dead for the next several hours. Maybe later on this week I'll be able to tell an actual story or two from the trip. Goodnight.

After the Rain

When I woke up yesterday morning the sky was falling. The cats were freaking out and eventually the tornado siren went off. Luckily Hattiesburg is in a geographic bowl (or protected by an Indian blessing, depending on who you ask) and the only tornadoes that I've ever heard of coming into the city were during Katrina- which was eerie as all hell. The storm eventually passed, taking the tornado (they are only called twisters in the mid-west) with it. Once it moved on the sun came out to create a gorgeous afternoon. I walked over to campus and took these photos.

I watched Lost in Translation the night before last. I like that movie more every time I see it. I hated it the first time I watched it. I felt particularly in tune with it this viewing. The story is about a young woman who befriends an older man while her new husband is out pursuing a career and having a social life separate from their relationship. They love each other but they are living parallel lives, not a simultaneous one. Wesley and I are going strong, but I can relate to the female lead. Walter, my gay, blind, middle-aged neighbor, has become my Bill Murray- minus the odd sexual tension. Besides the similarities in two the relationships Scarlett and I are having, I think we are a lot alike in how we view the world and ourselves. There is one example I am thinking of- that will make this ramble cohesive with the rest of the post once you read it- that talks about photography.

Scarlett Johanson says "My pictures are very 'Girl goes through photography stage.' " I laughed hard enough to garner the cats' attention. She captured how I feel about my photos to a T. I still feel like my photos are missing a certain panache. I'm going to try and start carrying my camera everywhere with me. Maybe then I will be able to take more inspiring pictures.

Any suggestions are welcome.

The Magic Paperclip

I'm going through withdrawals. I tried to satiate it by buying a 12-pack of coke, a rare treat. It didn't help (big surprise there). I miss him terribly. It's not that I'm lonely or bored or any of those things; I just miss him. It's tough being apart. It's worse right after we see each other than right before we see each other because at least before I have the anticipation to keep me company. When the memory of his warmth is so real I can feel him hugging me if I sit still long enough, it's hard not to wish I had the real thing again.
All I can do is stay positive, look to the future, and delve so deeply into my schoolwork that I don't have much time to think about it.

Good News

My journey to Richardson Springs resort, near Chico, California began at 2:30 Thursday morning. I drove from my apartment to the Jackson airport and got on a plane at 5:45 AM. I had a small layover in Dallas and then flew another 3.5 hours across the West to California. I listened to Harry Potter on my Ipod and watched the desert become mountains. It was amazing. I've never really left the eastern side of the country so the vista was fascinating to watch. I found it so amusing that in the middle of miles and miles of desert there would be a lone mountain with snow on it's peak. I think I have it in my head that all mountains should roll together like the Appalachians do.

I landed in Sacramento and Wesley picked me up soon thereafter. We drove up a country road to Chico, passing cherry and pecan farms. The cherry blossoms were in bloom and looking very serene. Once we got to Chico we stopped at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. We toured a very small portion of the factory and then had beer and lunch in the restaurant. I had the Blonde and Wesley had the IPA. The food was top-notch, just what I needed after all my traveling. After meeting up with two more Vocatis, we went to the conference center.

Tucked away in a valley that conjures ideas of Ireland, Richardson Springs was a classic resort that had been converted to a conference center. The grounds were awe-inspiring and the hotel was creepy as hell. I knew that at each turn there was going to be a little boy riding his Big Wheel down the hall, or a set of twins asking me to come play with them. The elevator was at least 60 years old, the type that had a metal gate that slammed shut and a real door leading to each floor. After someone made faces and loud noises as Wesley and I passed the second floor, I starting taking the stairs.

The business meetings went very smoothly, lacking the drama that sometimes plagues anything Vocare. The community was strong and there was an all around good vibe the whole weekend (if you discount the creepiness of the hotel). My big news is that I got elected to the steering committee for Vocare International as an At-Large Representative for the next two years. I know that I will be involved with decision making for Vocare, but I am still feeling out exactly what my role is. I'm really excited to really get my hand in the pot and be involved with something so important. I am also so excited that this group of people had enough confidence in me to give me this position.

I have contacted the people involved with the Vocare in Mississippi and expressed interest in re-entering the community here. I went through Vocare here several years ago and have since lost touch with the local Vocatis. I am going to Jackson this weekend for a Cornerstone event (which is a sort of Vocare reunion) where we will do a philanthropy project of some sort.

I am also being confirmed on Sunday at my local church. I have been a practicing Episcopalian for years now, but my letter is still officially with the Methodist church. All of these new doors opening have really lifted my spirits. That combined with the amazing support I've been getting from Wesley has been the just the thing I need right now.

My photos from the weekend can be found here.

Update

I got to see snow- real, powdery snow- for the first time. Saturday night it snowed in Asheville. Wesley and I had gone walking around downtown when it first started coming down. It was soft and subtle, and I dare say, romantic. We went to see Casino Royale (awesome, btw) later on in the evening and then stayed up playing poker (for chips, not clothes) until around 3AM when I noticed that the snow was really starting to accumulate. Wesley was so sweet. He put on his coat and hat and took me outside to play in the fluffy white goodness. He even let me hurl a few snowballs in his general direction and made a snow angel for our amusement. The whole experience was had a dreamy quality to it.

I drove home to face reality yesterday. My first class of the new semester was last night. I can't believe I am taking 14 (which counts out to 19) hours this trimester. I must have lost my effing mind.

This is the semester I have to retake Dosages and Calculations, the class that put me six months behind when I made an 86 on the first test thereby failing the class. Today was the second day of the semester. I spent all morning in class and all afternoon in the library. Then I came home and did some more work tonight. I haven't even touched my Dosages yet (don't worry, the first test isn't for another 2 1/2 weeks).

Not one to leave well enough alone, I am flying to California at 5:45 Thursday morning. I will drive the hour and a half to the airport early in the AM and I will be gone until Monday night. I am looking forward to the trip and seeing my friends that I met at the Episcopal General Convention last summer. I am also looking forward to seeing Wesley again so soon and getting to see what the other side of the country looks like. The furthest west I have ever been was Dallas, TX and Lincoln, NE.

Oh! And I got my grades in. I made A's in Pathophysiology and Professional Nursing. I worked very hard for those A's and was ecstatic to see it pay off. Claire, I made an 88 on the APA paper. All of my red marks were on the References page because I used the wrong style example for my online journals. Not too bad for my first APA paper, if I do say so myself.

guest post

hey hey,

this is wesley. how is everyone? eryn is busy packing up for her drive back to mississippi tomorrow so i was invited to put up a "Special Edition: Wesley Writes" entry.

so tonight we went to the Grove Park Inn and had a splendid dinner. included in the dinner was a nice cabernet; a portobello stuffed with artichokes, red peppers, and boursin cheese (divine, just amazing); local trout with a crabmeat stuffing; a just kickass 9 oz tenderloin; and one heavenly apple crisp with ice cream and hot chocolate. it was a great experience - even the penne and broccoli sides were topnotch. the conversation was quite deep and enlightening (for both people i believe), the view of asheville's skyline and mountains were just right. all in all a fantastic time.

so now i think she's almost done packing and i bid you all adieu. have a great night.

Bowled Away

I'm in Asheville with my Wesley. I have seen three waterfalls, created a Mii on a friend's so-very-addictive Wii and gone bowling.

With most sports, I accept the fact that my short, scrawny stature limits me from becoming an All-Star. For some reason, I have delusions of grandeur that I will be able to chunk a twelve pound ball down a long alley with the force of a heavy-weight punch and the directional prowess of a Formula One driver in order to knock down ten measly little pins.

Even if I have thrown the ball directly into the gutter six times, broken one thumbnail and convinced my friends that I am going to throw my wrist out of socket- I am SURE that THIS TIME I am going to get a strike. Can't you just see it? Pitiful.

Good thing I had some tasty Yuenglang to convince me that yes, I DO have a chance of making a 73 point come-back on the last frame.

I hope everyone has a blissfully happy New Year and fantastic trans-annual kisses.

The Letter Game

Here's how to play: Comment and I'll give you a letter; then you have to list 10 things you love that begin with that letter. After, post this in your blog, and give out some letters of your own.

Mad Cabbie gave me the letter 'W,' so that I would be sure to have at least one easy answer. So here it goes:

1. Wesley DB- Through thick and thin, we've only ever grown stronger. I can't imagine what life would be like without him.

2. Wedding fantasies- Like a true southern belle, I have been planning and re-planning my wedding since elementary school. It's almost a game I play. The fact that I might actually get married sometime in the not-so-far-off future is still a little surreal.

3. White Stripes- They are my dirty little secret. I just love this band. I like to listen to them while I clean house.

4. Wine- I once only drank whites because reds made me sick, but the new, lighter reds are quite enjoyable.

5. Writing- I've been keeping a journal since I was ten or eleven. I was once a journalism major (if you can believe that).

6. Water- ha ha. Just kidding. I hate swimming.

7. Wrapping presents- As much as I hate Xmas, wrapping the presents is a very zen thing for me.

8. Waffles and peanut butter- Oh. My. God. Good.


9. Working- If my schedule isn't busy enough, I sink into a deep funk quicker than you can say 'Boo!' But on the other hand, if I'm tired, there is nothing you can do but let me sleep. I'm useless.

10. Walking- I could never have a desk job; it's one of the many reasons I switched to nursing. I have to be on my feet or I get fidgety and start feeling trapped.

So there you have it! Eryn in a nutshell. Anyone else want to play?

Weekend get-away

Wesley and I met in Atlanta this past weekend. I like to think of it as 'our holiday from the holidays.' I had a wonderful time. As close as Atlanta is (5-6 driving hours), I've only ever passed through and never visited.

We went to the Georgia Aquarium on Saturday. It is the world's largest aquarium and simply amazing. I reverted to child-like fascination from the moment we stepped inside. I loved the underwater tunnel where you could watch the whale-sharks and rays swim above you. The rays were graceful and mesmerizing to watch. The otters were the most playful of all the animals. I tried to get some pictures of them, but they moved too quickly and the glass between us was dirty.

After the aquarium, we went out to dinner with Wesley's brother, who lives in Atlanta, and his date. The tappas bar was another new experience for me. The food was great; I just hope I didn't take more than my fair share. I can be quite greedy for good food. At random intervals, 'performers' would come out and do their thing. There was a drag queen, two clothed strippers, a man and son spinning plates, and artists who would paint in stations around the room. The place was so hip it couldn't stand itself.

Intermezzo, on the other hand was a genuinely cool place. It was a coffee shop that served coffee, tea, coffee and liqueur, and a broad selection of amazing cakes. The atmosphere was very warm and elegant. I wish I could have taken a picture, but even if I could have I don't think it would have properly captured the feel.

Sunday morning we had breakfast delivered to the room. It was a very romantic little luxury. Wesley was doing sweet little things all weekend that made me feel quite pampered and taken care of. It had a very calming effect on me, as I could just relax in the comfort of knowing that I was loved.

That afternoon we went to Ikea. We had a lot of fun going through the furniture and decorations and picking out what we could see in the imaginary home we will one day share. It was a great catalyst for other conversations about how we see our life playing out in the future. I imagine it was a little challenging for Wesley to not try and change the subject at every turn, and I appreciate his willingness to discuss these things with me. I am beginning to see that maybe he really has turned over a new leaf, and I like it.

I was supposed to drive back home from Atlanta Sunday evening, but I was so sad at the thought of parting. I, instead, followed Wesley up to Asheville and stayed the night, to get up and drive early the next morning. I think it was a great decision. When I'm in Asheville with Wesley, it feels like home.

We went to a concert at some hip little club. The opening band Aberdeen City was incredible. The lead singer had a great voice, the drummer had boundless energy and great talent, and the sound was hard, but clean.

Then came Rasputina. The band is two ladies with cellos and a drummer. They have a unique sound, and bring quite a unique following. The goth kids came out in full force. The brave ones were loud and annoying, and the others would have made themselves smaller if they had the super powers they probably read about in fantasy novels. I guess when you live in a city that is pretty rebellious against The Establishment already, you have to work even harder to rebel against the people around you so that you can stand out and get some attention.

It was hard to come home, but I am so grateful that Wesley and I have been able to see each other as much as we have since he moved. All in all, I think I'm a pretty lucky girl.

*I should have pictures of the aquarium up in the gallery soon.

Clouds and Babies

I woke up in Raleigh this morning (Cary to be exact) at 5:45 EST. I did not want to get out of bed. It feels so right to be there and to be loved, and it feels so wrong to be here where it is cold and all of my hugs are hundreds of miles away.

I had breakfast in Memphis at around 8:30 CST after having a short but fruitful nap on the plane. Once in Memphis I was told there would be an hour delay, told there would not be an hour delay, told to go to another gate and finally put in the air at around 9:40.
The clouds were amazing today. We flew low for a while and skimmed the top of the cloud cover. I could see no ground and the clouds made a spectacular geography of canyons and cliffs. It was like being lost in a fantasy world; esoteric, if you will. I half expected to see angels resting on the shelves beside us.
I arrived in New Orleans and drove through nasty rain to get to the Burg. I went straight to class, only getting there about five minutes after one; much better than I thought I would do. After class I had enough time to change shirts, eat a meal and clock in at 5:00. I worked until about 7:30; it was a slow night thank goodness.
I then drove across the street to meet my neighbor Hillaire's new son Julian. He is a gentle and sweet little boy with long, dark hair and long legs. Hillaire was in labor for 23 hours and had Julian at 2:00 today. I know she has to be tired, but she looks beautiful and is doing well. She was so proud to tell me that Ricky was very helpful during the labor and hasn't taken his eyes off Julian since. I hope that this is a sign of things to come for the three of them.
I only got to hold Julian for about 30 seconds. Ricky's dad handed him to me and almost immediately he started trying to nurse on me. Apparently Hillaire had been trying to get him to nurse since 2:00 and he wouldn't. So I handed him over and he had his first meal. I have to admit, it gave me the baby-bug a little bit for him to reach for me like that and it's a good thing my visit to NC is over.
So now I'm home and I've got chapters to read. I wonder how long I will last.