Shots Ring Out in the Memphis Sky

I can't believe I never posted this picture ... it is from last year in DC on Martin Luther King Day. I lived by the African American Civil War Memorial on U Street and fittingly there was a service going on there. These boys were so cute ... trying hard to keep up the paintings while the speech went on and on. So sweet.

On this day of remembrance ... this is a good video to sum it all up. Typical I know, but it always gives me chills thinking about how brave and amazing he was. Really, I feel honored to share his birthday (Jan. 15th for all those wondering what the real day is).

For those who do not know, there is a National Monument planned for Martin Luther King, Jr. The National Capital Planning Commission and The Commission of Fine Arts approved the site location for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. December 1999. They broke ground in November of 2006.

This is what it is going to look like:


And this is the future location - between Lincoln and Jefferson right on the title basin:


Its funny because I still feel like I will be back to DC ... I don't know how or when or what ... but I feel like my time is not over in DC ... maybe I am in denial still ... maybe this summer?? I hope!

survival mode has made me mute

I tend to gravitate towards news regarding socioeconomic and demographic subjects these days - topics that are really interesting to me. Culture, consumerism, citizenship, thoughts, actions, religion ... for those of you who read my blog (or at least used to read it before I went back to school and virtually barricaded myself in my room), you know these subjects intrigue me.

Although I am relatively young, I get a feeling that things use to be different. Now, I understand that nostalgia can be dangerous - there are some pretty ugly truths found in the past - but I still feel a sense of loss. Loss of values ... Loss of direction. Our culture no longer values things like saving, conserving, waiting, or sacrificing. I bring these up because they seem to plague my own behavior incessantly. I swear this rambling is going somewhere.

This is where the rambling is going: Another subject for another blog - "curbing my consumerism" or "sustainable living" (as in emotional, physical, spiritual, education, sustainability as well as the traditional sense of greening my life) - I will flesh these ideas out before the official start of the new year in order to take them on for better living in 2008.

I have been ill since Christmas Eve and coupled with the panic-feeling I have been living with since the beginning of Fall Term it has translated into a strange mood for me. I don't feel like blogging, sharing, reading, asking, or buying. I have been focused on picture hunting for my inspiration slideshow - think more design pictures like this, this, and this ... here are a few examples:

The transition of solid colors is pretty. The fun white chandelier looks great against the yellow.

Stripes and damask fabric (and my favorite free standing claw footed tub) = fabulous.

Check the square brick in the rounded fireplace ... love the contrast.

This is wallpaper on a fridge - love it.

I have also been doing lots of thinking ... thinking about self-improvement/reinvention/renovation/upgrade (whatever you want to call it) and how that can make me feel better. I have been hibernating, mostly trying to get better, but I think my sickness has just been a fortuitous event because I don't really want to be in the world right now ... what I mean is that I am evaluating and planning and not wanting to participate in real life just yet. It also helps (or doesn't depending on your point of view) that I have a dead-line for this behavior ... I have to jump back into life when I go back up to Oregon. Less than a week from today ... I need to start anew with me and with school. That is where the 2008 resolutions come in. More to be explored.

Coming to America

In case you can't tell in the terrible picture above - that is Tony Danza. Yes, the Boss from Who's the Boss ... he was the master of ceremonies at the concert on the capitol. This pictures was taken at the run-through given the night before - Tony was charming as ever.


The fourth of July is one of the best holidays for reasons so very accurately pointed out to me by a friend of mine - its a holiday that is celebrated by gathering with friends and loved ones eating BBQ, playing outdoors, talking/laughing ... and it does not require decorating or gift giving. And there are FIREWORKS. I love fireworks. They are soo fun.

Having lived in Utah and now DC/Virginia and away from California for some six years now, its interesting to see just how Country music is so integral to the 4th celebrations. I never knew this growing up in the OC. Ever concert given in UT/DC is heavy on the country music and this year was no different. People I have never heard of were playing twanging music and everyone was just bouncing around lovin it. They did however play a cover to a song I am familiar with - Neil Diamond's America.

Everywhere around the world
They're coming to America
Every time that flag's unfurled
They're coming to America

Got a dream to take them there
They're coming to America
Got a dream they've come to share
They're coming to America
America - Neil Diamond

Me and a few thousand of my closest friends

celebrating the birth of America on the National Mall

HAPPY 4th of JULY

oh, oh - we're half way there

The houses in the Outer Banks are crazy big. So fun to run around and see all the different ones that the Peeps were staying at. We took a picture in this house with the big sale boat in the window. You could see it from the street - it was great!

Matt, Bethany, April

Some other highlights include:

- theme song of the trip (it doesn't get much cheesier and good than this people):

Summer Love ~ Justin Timberlake

"tell me how they got that pretty little face on

that pretty little frame ... girl"

"let me buy you drinks, better yet rings"

"I can't wait to fall in love with you,

you can't wait to fall in love with me -

this just can't be summer love, you'll see"

- Lighthouse trip (you saw the pictures here)

- church with 800 plus people
- "secret, secret, I got a secret" (thank you styx)
- Livin on a prayer - Bon Jovi ... three times (I could sing this song all day long)
- Karaoke
- dance parties ... lots of JT

Me bustin a move in the karaoke bar.

- wide open spaces - the beach and houses are far removed from town, which is small anyway ... but it was nice to be out of the city.

- making memories with old and new friends.

- getting sunburned (oh wait - NOT a highlight)

Victoria, April & Bethany - we hit up all the parties together (hahaha)

I am so burnt ... it hurts just looking at the picture.

- what on earth is a Brew Thru? We saw tons of them! I was so confused.

- a sales girl at a surf shop commented on the fact that I was one of the only people she has heard pronounce the brand name RVCA correctly ... April informed her that I grew up in CA and it all made sense to her.

- the KFC/Taco Bell fast food place only had KFC! Ever since leaving the west I have come across many places that just don't have things at the moment - how strange is that.

- speaking of fast food - I started a new book at the beach ~ Fast Food Nation. Once again, it is incredibly interesting! More about economics than the food. Bet you didn't even realize how Fast Food changed America did you? - don't worry I will tell you all about it in future posts.

Last but not least on the list of highlights:

- being pulled over outside of DC by a Virginia State Trooper for speeding ... he thought that April and I were kids in the back ... until he saw our white trash Miller Lite portable cooler. Yeah - it had cut up veggies in it - not beer. And if that officer only knew what April and I were talking about back there! Ahhh, good times.

sweet caroline(a)

I think I could live in North Carolina. It is beautiful, open, breezy, warm, sunny, and simple. Granted I have only really been to the Outer Banks part of NC ... but I still think it is great. I would settle to at least be able to vacation there often ... preferably I will "summer" in North Carolina (if you are going to dream - dream big).

I didn't take many pictures on this trip. I just didn't feel like it. Not because there weren't good things or people to take pictures of, but because it just didn't ever seem to flow for me. I never wanted to stop and take out my camera. I was taking it all in I guess. Luckily for me (and for you all) I have a friend that LOVES to take pictures. When she gets her photos online I will be sure to post some of them. However, here are a few for your viewing pleasure until then. Details to follow.

Must. Sleep. Now.

This is what happens when you car hop and leave your camera behind ...
people take pictures of themselves.

This shot makes me think of the Nickel Creek Song Lighthouse.
"I am a lighthouse, worn by the weather and the waves."

Water pump ... I love rust.

Me and my BFF April.

I want a house with a porch just like this.

The lighthouse sight-seers.

Matt Fischer ... trying to relieve his sunburned feet.