Stone Mountain

When I was a kid, growing up outside of Atlanta, I loved Stone Mountain. It's the largest piece of exposed granite in the world. Essentially, it's a big grey rock. There's now a theme park of sorts that surrounds the mountain. There's a train that circles the mountain, a gondola to the top, and plenty of old fiddlers hacking into spitoons.

Back in the early 1900's the Daughters of the Confederacy, namely June Plane, wanted to show their appreciation to the Confederate soldiers their husbands were riding with and so commissioned a carving on the mountain. It took over 60 years to complete with many starts and stops in between. It was finished in 1972 and depicts General Robert E. Lee riding horseback along with Jefferson Davis and Stonewall Jackson.



Stone Mountain is where I experienced my first laser-light-show. That experience, with Pink Floyd in the background would grease the wheels for many a light-show in my day. I think back to those innocent times with longing. My biggest worry was whether or not my penny on the railroad track would get flattened by the little train. I haven't been back to Georgia since I was a Freshman in high school. That was 12 years ago. I wonder what things are like there now.

I'm not sure how many of you heard about this, but it snowed in Arizona. Crazy but true. I had the pleasure of hiking in the snow up the Peralta trail to the Freemont Saddle where there was at least 6-7 inches of the white stuff at the top. I have to say, I was a bit unprepared for this hike in the snow and ice. I pretty much scrappled my way up the canyon, taking out only a few tourists.

Here are a few pictures of the same hike just a few months ago. Sadly, Zack's camera busted right before we embarked on our winter expedition so I don't have any real proof of the snow. I'm sure you'll take my word for it though.

On to the photos...


The People Rocks


Duckhead. Can you imagine what this looks like covered in 7 inches of snow?


That is called the Weaver's Needle.
That lone little pine tree off to the right is one of the most photographed in the state.


Boulder vs. People Rocks

in the stars

I've been in the clouds the last few days so it's been slow on the blog front. Here, for your viewing pleasure, are a couple of old poems I wrote back in the dizazy of dizisco. Hopefully, they will keep you entertained until I regain my brain.

the summer sun
in New England
is tentative and shy
each warm day
and lazy afternoon
in June
is a blessing
respite from long winter
new life is responsive
and thrives
basking in light
and sky
days grow longer and
sun
feels at home
with warm breezes
from the West
and there is excitement
rebirth
release
and so far the water supply has been plentiful
and balanced
but the
sun
in all her glory
cannot
be contained
so soon she
shines
in the morning
relenting
only to desperate
stars eager
for their time
to shine
in this selfish fashion
the summer sun
commits to August
ever present
ever calling
each day
how quickly
disillusion sets in
Abruptly
altering moods
And so, she fades
to Autumn holding on
to summer romance
until at last
the sun remits
to winter

choices

I woke up this morning thinking about choices. I feel like my life has evolved into a long string of choices. Some of them have reprecussions and some seem to have none. There's no escaping choices though. Even when I feel like crawling under a rock I stop and decide whether or not I really will!

I choose when I will get out of bed in the morning. Today I happened to choose 10:30am and I feel like I've wasted half of my day. I have to choose what to eat during the course of a day. Do I want to eat bananas and yogurt or do I want In and Out Burger? I have to choose how much time to do work and how much time to dedicate to my personal life. Do I want to stretch myself thin or save up my energy for all things personal? I choose to smoke and drink. I choose whether or not to feed my turtle! I choose whether or not I should shave my armpits and brush my teeth.

Today it all feels a bit overwhelming for some reason.

lest we forget

crazy times, sigh.

oh the fennel

Last night I had the pleasure of cooking for a group of hungry men. I love how boys will eat anything. I mean I strive to cook well and last night, I have to say, was a true testament to my skillz. But, there have been times where the cooking hasn't been so good but has been consumed with zeal nonetheless.

I think one of the most horrific examples was the day that we moved from our house on Dennett Street to the Inn. Some good friends of the male persusasion were helping us out and to thank them I thought it would be a good idea to make lasagna. Don't ask me why I thought I would have time to make a lasagna from scratch on moving day, but I did. The result was a horrid casserole that had baked in the over for about 6 hours. The cheese was all brown and greasy and the noodles were complete mush. The boys ate it anyway. I mean they really ate it too in big heaping portions. Perhaps they were just humoring me but I still think back on that wretched lasagna with horror.

The meal last night was much, much better. We marinated pork chops and chicken in a hot paste of chili powder, garlic, oregano, sugar, and olive oil. It was really good and I got to use a shit-ton of chili powder which is always fun. Zack made this potato pie thing with thin slices of sweet and Idaho potato layered with onion and goat cheese. Awesome. The real piece de resistance was the salad. It started with a bed on endive on which slices of vinagretted pear and fennel were placed and was topped with toasted sweet walnuts. Yummers!

I was a little bit sketched about the fennel but it was awesome! I'd totally recommend this little salad to anyone who's looking for something new in that department. Goat cheese would have been good on top of that as well. But then again, goat cheese is good on everything.

this one's for jaclyn

I thought I'd write a post today about friends. Since I've moved to AZ making friends hasn't been at the top of my to-do list. As we get older our notion of self evolves. Our beliefs, morals, and interests become more well defined and definite. It seems too that we become more discerning about the people we allow into our lives.

There have been two periods in my life, in particular, where my blessings in the friendship department have been overflowing. The first was my freshman and sophomore year of college. It was an exploratory time for me. I immersed myself in philosophy, Phish, and partying. I fell into a group of friends there who were testing the limits of convention, of academics, of sobriety, of music, of love. My sisters there helped me to understand those things that make me who I am today. They are still a part of my everyday life, even though we are all separated geographically, and that I a wonderful thing.

The second time I felt totally safe and surrounded by my friends was during my time in Portsmouth. It was the first time in my adult life where I found balance between my social and professional life. I realized that it's possible to have dinner and barbecues and beers and beaches all in addition to a career. It was during this time where I formed many of the goals I'm still working towards. I also came to realize that friendship is something sacred and important and life-changing.

So I guess this has turned into a little thank you for all the brothers and sisters who have helped me figure out what I want and who continue to challenge and inspire me everyday.

jumpstarting my comeback

Most of you don't know that I used to play the violin. I played all through school up until my junior year of college when I called it quits. I really loved playing and practicing. It was competitive and I did pretty well. Some of my teachers were out there. I remember once Russian woman in particular who scared the shit out of me each week. I would walk shakily into her apartment and she would hammer out the beat on the music stand as I tried to keep up. She would routinely scold me in her harsh accent and chide me for my mistakes. It finally became too much for me when I discovered the world of boys and drinking.

Now that my priorities have evened themselves out a bit, I've decided to pick my ole' violin again. I went to the music store today and bought a music stand, a tuner, and a couple of method books. I really want to learn bluegrass fiddle. I LOVE bluegrass music and have spent countless hours twirling and dancing on big lawns to the rambunctious beat and folky melodies. My thinking is that since I've forgotten so much of what I learned, this is the perfect time to relearn in a different genre.

So I picked my ole' girl today, got her all tuned-up, and put the bow to the strings. Lord, it was ugly! I was horrified by the noises I produced, embarrassed that my neighbors were listening. I actually heard my upstairs neighbor leave! I hope it wasn't on account of the torturing shrieks coming from my apartment. This is definitely going to take some time, many many hours, perhaps an entire lifetime. However, I am optimistic that within the week I will master "Cotoneye Joe" and be able to play it along with the Mel Bay CD that accompanies the book.

Just be thankful this blog doesn't play sound.

I am on a lonely road...

...and I am traveling, traveling, traveling.

This week I was on my own again driving up and down the California coast. The drive from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara is absolutely one of my favorite short road trips ever. The hills to the East are rolling and kind of wrinkled, bright green and dotted with farms. There are cows and horses, vineyards and almond trees.



To the West is the pacific ocean. It shines bright azure blue in the midmorning sunshine. The beaches are flanked with palm tress of various sorts. The coast is rocky with high cliffs and little private beach coves.



Driving down the 101 listening to Joni Mitchell, now this is a place I could see myself spending a lot of time.

Today marks the official 1st birthday of Brinki*Dink. It's hard to imaging that an entire year's gone by but it has. This blog has documented quite a few important events in my life including my stint as an inkeeper, my induction to the world of html, my amazing trip to bonnaroo, my summer in Portsmouth, Zack's trip to MS with the Red Cross, my plans for running a goat farm, my my new job and my move to AZ. In addition this space has been a recepticle for much word vomit including innocuous cat stories, accounts of my cleaning frenzies, and my all too talked about tea obsession.

For year 2, the plans are even bigger. We've got big plans, baby! Plan to see bigger, better displays of graphic art and photography. Plan on reading more engaging fiction, smart political commentary, and wild poetry. Of course, we promise to include bigger and better lists and various other word vomit.

because you're the cat's pajamas

A meme for my girl, Cibi...

Four jobs I've had:
1. Barista, before the job was called Barista
2. Philosophy Dept. student worker
3. Executive Assistant at a publishing company
4. Innkeeper

Four movies I can watch over and over:
1. Romeo and Juliet w/ Leo and Claire
2. Labyrinth
3. Boondock Saints
4. Legends of the Fall

Four TV shows I love (I'm slightly embarassed about my response here):
1. Related
2. 7th Heaven
3. Gilmore Girls
4. Anything on the Food Network

Four places I've vacationed:
1. Hilton Head
2. NYC
3. Teton National Park
4. Acadia National Park

Four of my favorite dishes:
1. Anything curried
2. Buffalo chicken
3. Goo-balls
4. Soup

Four places I'd rather be right now:
1. Santorini, Greece
2. Northern Cali
3. Tennessee
4. Maldives

:)

Happy Valentine's Day Bitches

This morning on NPR I heard a woman, I can't remember her name unfortunately, talking about women and money. She said that over half of women over 50 do not have adequate savings for their retirement. She also said that many, many women rely on their husbands to provide for them in old age.

I think the most poignant thing she talked about though was the importance of money, sex, and communication in a relationship. You have to be able to talk about money and how you want to use in within your relationship. Discussion of your mutual goals and expectations regarding finances is essential. The same goes for sex. Without communicating about these two very important components of a relationship, your chances of a happy life together are slim.

I'm so thankful that I'm learning this lesson now when I'm 27 rather than when I'm 50 years old divorced and broke. Not that I don't think I could handle that possibility, but I'd like to try and avoid it if possible.

Happy Valentine's Day!

oh my sunburn

What a lovely mid-afternoon. Today, having a shitay morning work-wise I decided to go to the gym. After a brisk jaunt on the eliptical and 75 reps on the crunch machine, I took my slightly sweaty ass over to the pool. There, I ate lunch and talked on the phone for a while watching the gaggle of little girls scream and jump in the water. It totally made me flash back about 20 years to a purely innocent, giddy time in life where water and sun and little girlfriends were the only thing that mattered.

Then an old man with a mustashio and a grey lepord print speedo sat down next to me.