Oh the joys of discovering new music! This weekend I did just that (and so much more) at Lake Eden Arts Festival, a semiannual "hippie fest" in the hills of North Carolina. The first time I experienced LEAF was about four years ago with the family I baby-sit. Sid, the kids' dad, is a lawyer; at the time Alison didn't let her daughter wear jeans outside the house in the summer--only matching patterned shorts from some yuppie boutique like Moppet's would do. Miles wore those little one-piece outfits with a train on the front pocket and matching socks. I didn't know back then, but you're not supposed to wear preppy pastel purple collared shirts with khaki shorts at a music festival, even if the shorts are cutoffs.
My family is known to have slight hippie tendencies, but we're nothing compared to LEAFers. Everyone at LEAF is a pretty hard-core hippie, with dreads and amazing broomstick skirts (even on the guys) to prove it. OK, not all the guys wear skirts, but you're bound to sight two or three. I saw more Chacos than I've ever seen in my life. Showers are communal. Love is free. Camping is a must!
Biz and I met Hannah at LEAF Friday night. We set up camp then headed to hear one of the bands at Eden Hall. Hannah told me the second band grace our presence would be great--the lead singer sounded like Alison Krauss. Biz and I planned on meeting up with Hannah for contra dancing after a few songs but we couldn't escape from the magical music of Crooked Still! The group is from Boston and plays the smoothest newgrass I've heard. Vocals: smooth, clear, and soft, no nagging. Aoife (Ee-fah) is accompanied by a cello, a banjo, and a string bass. The cello--wow. Aoife's boyfriend Rushad plays it, and he's awesome. How does he move his fingers so fast? He's this half Indian guy who dons elf shoes and a silk hat as he plays. He puckers his lips when he gets to the intense parts of his solos. He's entertaining to watch. The banjo's pretty sweet, too. The bass' carries the ocean of sound along. If you like bluegrass at all, check these guys out!
Hannah, Biz, and I decided it would be an all-girls weekend. I'm glad it was, even though we talked about our guy woes the whole time--guys and food. We ate a ton of healthful delicacies like vegetables dipped in ginger dressing, apple muffins, and sweet potato fries, stuff you'd buy at Whole Foods. No Happy Cow, though. We ate some pretty unhealthful stuff, too. S'mores--cold. Mmmmm... We danced the night away on the contra stage. After listening to some cool girl CD on the way up, Biz and I decided to start a girl band at Clemson. That's just what Clemson needs, in my mind. Not like the Spice Girls--more like the Indigo Girls. Too bad none of us plays guitar, or sings, really.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Happy Cow chocolate milk
I bought it today at the new Whole Foods store down the street. It's the best chocolate milk I've ever tasted, besides the old Bob Jones chocolate milk before they sold the farm. It's a close contest, anyway. Alice says I'm her favorite sister now... YES.
spontaneity
A respected teacher once said, "Spontaneity is what my grandson does in his pants." Although I see where he's coming from, I think spontaneity is a lot more than that. Spontaneity is the spice of life--it's what makes fun people fun, colorful personalities colorful! Without spontaneity this world would be pretty boring.
Spontaneous moments in my last few weeks: I was bike riding on the Issaquena Trail the Sunday before I had a big paper due for a class (2 weeks ago?). I should have been writing--I know. But I'd already committed to biking, so I couldn't back out of it. I also had an RA banquet that night, so I had to get back in time to shower and get ready. We rode along Lake Hartwell and basked in the glorious view of the shimmering water. About three-fourths of the way through the ride, my friend discovered a rope swing. I had 20 minutes to be back in order to get my shower, and that would have been pushing it, but we decided to do the rope swing instead--in our biking clothes. Oh, it was so fun. I went to the RA banquet with hair still wet from the lake, but it was worth it. And the paper--it's over. What will I remember 10 years from now: spending my Sunday afternoon writing an essay, or swinging on a rope swing? Easy answer ;).
Another spontaneous moment: A friend and I went running at 9:00 one night--a little late to start running, honestly. We ran to the Botanical Gardens, hung out in the 80-ton bird's nest sculpture (It really looks like a bird's nest, but it's made of tree trunks! Amazing.), kept running around the gardens, talked about honeysuckles and philosophy, got back to Stadium Suites and dived (I mean dived) onto the grass, fresh and warm, waiting for us to gaze at the heavens with it.
Moment number three: Late night grits at Waffle House then driving around town—of course I want to keep driving.
Spontaneity makes for some unforgettable moments.
What is it in us that loves surprises and spontaneity? I think God likes to surprise us and glory in His own creativity. Look at His good creation--from the micros to the cosmos, beauty and creativity can be found in everything. We're His image-bearers and we draw pleasure from surprising each other, as well. What do you think?
Spontaneous moments in my last few weeks: I was bike riding on the Issaquena Trail the Sunday before I had a big paper due for a class (2 weeks ago?). I should have been writing--I know. But I'd already committed to biking, so I couldn't back out of it. I also had an RA banquet that night, so I had to get back in time to shower and get ready. We rode along Lake Hartwell and basked in the glorious view of the shimmering water. About three-fourths of the way through the ride, my friend discovered a rope swing. I had 20 minutes to be back in order to get my shower, and that would have been pushing it, but we decided to do the rope swing instead--in our biking clothes. Oh, it was so fun. I went to the RA banquet with hair still wet from the lake, but it was worth it. And the paper--it's over. What will I remember 10 years from now: spending my Sunday afternoon writing an essay, or swinging on a rope swing? Easy answer ;).
Another spontaneous moment: A friend and I went running at 9:00 one night--a little late to start running, honestly. We ran to the Botanical Gardens, hung out in the 80-ton bird's nest sculpture (It really looks like a bird's nest, but it's made of tree trunks! Amazing.), kept running around the gardens, talked about honeysuckles and philosophy, got back to Stadium Suites and dived (I mean dived) onto the grass, fresh and warm, waiting for us to gaze at the heavens with it.
Moment number three: Late night grits at Waffle House then driving around town—of course I want to keep driving.
Spontaneity makes for some unforgettable moments.
What is it in us that loves surprises and spontaneity? I think God likes to surprise us and glory in His own creativity. Look at His good creation--from the micros to the cosmos, beauty and creativity can be found in everything. We're His image-bearers and we draw pleasure from surprising each other, as well. What do you think?
Thursday, May 04, 2006
deliberating
The sun is rising and I'm setting. This has happend about 80% of my nights in the last three weeks. All-nighters, but tonight was a good one, no term papers or anything. Just talking to some crazy new friends I've met just this semester. I'm imagining where I'd be if I hadn't been placed as an RA here at Stadium Suites. I've met some of the coolest "kids" ever. Oh, I have an exam tomorrow, but it's at night. I've got time to study, hopefully.
I think I'll go watch the sunrise.
I think I'll go watch the sunrise.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Sleeping in the library
I don't remember the name of the book I read in third grade, but the main character in the story escaped her awful family life by living in a museum. She stood on top of toilets in restroom stalls so when security checked under the doors they wouldn't see someone was still hiding in the museum. She hid out there for several weeks. I don't remember where she slept, but I always thought it'd be exciting to evade the eyes of security and camp out in a museum.
A library was the next best thing. Last week, I guess it would have been early Wednesday morning, I finally fulfilled my dream and slept in the library. I hit the books around 2:00 am and studied with Will and Lena till around 4. I finally had to crash. So I put two cushy chairs together (they're more of a couch/chair combo) and slept in the library. It was fun! My backpack and purse were my pillow. It was one of the best sleeps I've ever experienced. It kind of stinks, but security doesn't care if people sleep in the library. I see people doing it all the time. I still felt audacious, adventurous and cool.
A library was the next best thing. Last week, I guess it would have been early Wednesday morning, I finally fulfilled my dream and slept in the library. I hit the books around 2:00 am and studied with Will and Lena till around 4. I finally had to crash. So I put two cushy chairs together (they're more of a couch/chair combo) and slept in the library. It was fun! My backpack and purse were my pillow. It was one of the best sleeps I've ever experienced. It kind of stinks, but security doesn't care if people sleep in the library. I see people doing it all the time. I still felt audacious, adventurous and cool.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Engagement
Rebekah and John are to be wed October 14 of this year! She took cuts from classes today and they rose before dawn to journey to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Here's Rebekah's story: "I was a little suspicious that he might be proposing, but didn't want to be disappointed if he didn't. When he started taking pictures of the sunrise ("before pictures," in his mind), I doubted this would be the day he'd ask me. John's been re-reading John Piper's "Desiring God" and was reading me some quotes from it. He told me there was a section on marriage he wanted me to read and gave me the book. I flipped over to the page where the paragraph was and he had cut out a section of the book to fit the ring into!" She said yes this Good Friday the fourteenth of April in the Year of Our Lord Two-thousand and Six.
A note: Rebekah and I have been kindred spirits for about the past three years. When I think of a "faithful" friend, I think of her. She and John fit each other in their desire for truth, their analytical minds, and their love for people. Rebekah never ceases to sharpen me in our conversations. By that, I mean she happens to bring up the topic I've JUST been thinking about and she'll push me to developing it lightyears further than I could on my own. This has happend I don't even know how many times! I appreciate that. People meet John and are swept away by his humility, thoughtfulness, and sharp mind. We joke around that he must be perfect, but I'm sure he's not, somehow. It just seems like he is. When I think of the two of them together, my heart rejoices! How exciting to see how God will use them together to glorify Himself!
A note: Rebekah and I have been kindred spirits for about the past three years. When I think of a "faithful" friend, I think of her. She and John fit each other in their desire for truth, their analytical minds, and their love for people. Rebekah never ceases to sharpen me in our conversations. By that, I mean she happens to bring up the topic I've JUST been thinking about and she'll push me to developing it lightyears further than I could on my own. This has happend I don't even know how many times! I appreciate that. People meet John and are swept away by his humility, thoughtfulness, and sharp mind. We joke around that he must be perfect, but I'm sure he's not, somehow. It just seems like he is. When I think of the two of them together, my heart rejoices! How exciting to see how God will use them together to glorify Himself!
Das Haus der Waffeln
Otherwise known as Waffle House. I hadn't been to the one in Clemson till this week when I went twice, both times with "cool DCF people." Maybe it's something about the smoky, flourescently-lit atmosphere, or the stale coffe that, when mixed with sugar and cream, "tastes like candy," but the place breeds good discussions and laughter. Maybe it's just the feeling of being a college student with the world as your oyster that breeds those discussions, and Waffle House breeds that feeling. Ok, so maybe it's just the people you're with. But I'm very much a college student when I'm there. Yeah, I live on a cheap budget, and so do all my friends. Sure, I like eating breakfast any time of day, especially after 12. I have homework due tomorrow, but that can wait. There are more important things to concern myself with, like the present.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)