Here I am in the lovely Bozeman, MT. I leave in an hour and fifteen minutes for Yellowstone on one of their Greyhound shuttles. It's about a three-hour drive. This is a beautiful country! Bozeman is surrounded by mountains--the ones far off are black and snow-capped, and the closer ones are green. It seems like the town is full of young people who ride bikes and are sweet and down-to-earth. Downtown Bozeman is safe, cute, and small, but it's got an artsy flair--lots of flyers for small bands playing at local joints.
The lady sitting by me on my plane from Salt Lake City (gorgeous) to Bozeman is probably in her late sixties and she is also working at Yellowstone :). She's a neat lady. Her husband passes away eleven years ago, so she's tried to stay active and involved since then, taking trips to Europe and now working at Yellowstone for seven weeks. She's from Georgia, so we had the South in common. We actually ended up staying in the same motel room last nigh--it was more of a suite--we had separate bedrooms.
More later. I can't believe I'm (almost) here!
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Friday, June 02, 2006
Attractive Lifestyles
Forget "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." I'm more interested in the lifestyles of the poor and unnoticed. These are keywords for some of the lifestyles that strike my fancy, or interest me long-term.
Simple--not necessarily poor, but not excessive. Maybe a lifestyle with no electricity? But what about laptops... I like my little Mac. Did you ever have Dr. Rhonda Galloway for an English class? I had her for American Lit. my freshman year at Bob Jones. She told me about her sister and brother-in-law who lived in a TENT in California for a year--with their family! Today they enjoy all the luxuries that come with modern civilization, like computers, but for a year they separated themselves from that. That's hot :). Ask her about it sometime.
Natural--Have you ever been to Whole Foods? The people gracing that store are so natural--they eat only organic foods. But they're pretty much all wealthy. The hippies at LEAF--so natural and beautiful. The girls don't shave, but you get used to it. It looks fine. My friend Hannah--whom I've talked about before--is working on an organic farm in Virginia this summer. She's such a natural girl. She doesn't wear makeup. She bakes her foods completely from scratch. Anyway, Hannah's my hero, along with her roommate Biz :).
Generous--My parents' pastor and his wife at their church in Norfolk would eat macaroni and cheese for dinner and give their savings to missionaries. Doesn't that almost make you want to cry? Wow--that's so giving and sacrificial. There's something good about that--why? I think it has to do with God's nature and example through Christ. Foot-washing, literally sacrificial, gracious. Feeding the hungry. People who tip well understand the importance of generosity.
Purposeful--missionaries fascinate me. They live for a cause greater than themselves. They understand the brevity of life--that "only what's done for Christ will last."
Thoughtful--I mean "thoughtful" both as in perceptive of others and reasoning and analyzing--I think of Francis and Edith Schaeffer as a thoughtful couple--in both senses. My mom is also one of the most thoughtful people in the world. She goes to the post office probably three times a week to send off little care packages, etc. I love good, thoughtful conversations.
Active--The opposite of sedentary. All people from Colorado. Have you ever seen an overweight Coloradoan? People who would rather rock climb than read the latest "People" magazine are active. My aunt Kate is so active. She's fifty-five and was known to go camping in NM with her golden retriever Okie-dokie, before Okie-dokie died. She's a hiker and a salsa dancer--always on the move. My sister Jessica and her husband Joel have saved up their money, quit their jobs, and are going to hike the Appalachian Trail for the next six months! That's pretty active and adventurous, don't you think?
Happy--My Aunt Tricia and Uncle Doug just laugh all the time, and make everyone around them happy. They enjoy life and each other. They're warm people--non-pretentious, transparent. Even through hard times, they seem to have joyful hearts.
Simple--not necessarily poor, but not excessive. Maybe a lifestyle with no electricity? But what about laptops... I like my little Mac. Did you ever have Dr. Rhonda Galloway for an English class? I had her for American Lit. my freshman year at Bob Jones. She told me about her sister and brother-in-law who lived in a TENT in California for a year--with their family! Today they enjoy all the luxuries that come with modern civilization, like computers, but for a year they separated themselves from that. That's hot :). Ask her about it sometime.
Natural--Have you ever been to Whole Foods? The people gracing that store are so natural--they eat only organic foods. But they're pretty much all wealthy. The hippies at LEAF--so natural and beautiful. The girls don't shave, but you get used to it. It looks fine. My friend Hannah--whom I've talked about before--is working on an organic farm in Virginia this summer. She's such a natural girl. She doesn't wear makeup. She bakes her foods completely from scratch. Anyway, Hannah's my hero, along with her roommate Biz :).
Generous--My parents' pastor and his wife at their church in Norfolk would eat macaroni and cheese for dinner and give their savings to missionaries. Doesn't that almost make you want to cry? Wow--that's so giving and sacrificial. There's something good about that--why? I think it has to do with God's nature and example through Christ. Foot-washing, literally sacrificial, gracious. Feeding the hungry. People who tip well understand the importance of generosity.
Purposeful--missionaries fascinate me. They live for a cause greater than themselves. They understand the brevity of life--that "only what's done for Christ will last."
Thoughtful--I mean "thoughtful" both as in perceptive of others and reasoning and analyzing--I think of Francis and Edith Schaeffer as a thoughtful couple--in both senses. My mom is also one of the most thoughtful people in the world. She goes to the post office probably three times a week to send off little care packages, etc. I love good, thoughtful conversations.
Active--The opposite of sedentary. All people from Colorado. Have you ever seen an overweight Coloradoan? People who would rather rock climb than read the latest "People" magazine are active. My aunt Kate is so active. She's fifty-five and was known to go camping in NM with her golden retriever Okie-dokie, before Okie-dokie died. She's a hiker and a salsa dancer--always on the move. My sister Jessica and her husband Joel have saved up their money, quit their jobs, and are going to hike the Appalachian Trail for the next six months! That's pretty active and adventurous, don't you think?
Happy--My Aunt Tricia and Uncle Doug just laugh all the time, and make everyone around them happy. They enjoy life and each other. They're warm people--non-pretentious, transparent. Even through hard times, they seem to have joyful hearts.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
brat
Sorry, that last post was really bratty of me. I'm complaining because my dad cares a LOT for me? I'm such an ungrateful kid.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
The best-laid plans
Tomorrow I was supposed to take a Greyhound bus to Bozeman, Montana. It would have been a 2-day, 9-hour journey. I would have stopped in Atlanta, Chicago, Milwaukee, Fargo and about 11 other major cities on the way. I would read some great books on the road. I was excited to spend the money I saved by not flying on a video camera and documenting my trip across America and my summer in Yellowstone. I wanted to meet interesting people on the Greyhound--people I wouldn't ordinarily come in contact with. I heard a "This American Life" broadcast a long time ago about a guy who Greyhounded across America and tape-recorded conversations with interesting (and surely some creepy) people. I was inspired.
However, as of yesterday, I am no longer taking a Greyhound bus to Yellowstone. I had checked with my mom on the Greyhound idea and she "ok"ed it. But my dad wouldn't be able to forgive himself if anything happened to me--which is VERY caring of him. I'm thankful for his care for me. So he bought me a plane ticket to Bozeman. I'm leaving Saturday morning at 6:30. With the money he's spending plus the money I've already spent on the Greyhound ticket, I'll hardly be making anything in Yellowstone, which was one of the main reasons I chose to go to Yellowstone as opposed to, say, visiting my friends in Europe this summer. Some dear friends I met in South Africa are gettin married in Sweden July 29th. I feel very juvenile--both for my dad's protection and for my attitude towards not getting my way. I guess that can be way # 101 that I'm selfish.
I don't know if Robert Burns' poem applies more to people like me--people who don't plan very well (ie: check with their dads before purchasing a Greyhound ticket)--or if it applies to everyone equally. Probably MORE to people like me, but it does say the "best-laid" plans go oft awry. I've found this to be true so often in my case. "Is God usually sovereign or always sovereign?" I have to ask myself.
However, as of yesterday, I am no longer taking a Greyhound bus to Yellowstone. I had checked with my mom on the Greyhound idea and she "ok"ed it. But my dad wouldn't be able to forgive himself if anything happened to me--which is VERY caring of him. I'm thankful for his care for me. So he bought me a plane ticket to Bozeman. I'm leaving Saturday morning at 6:30. With the money he's spending plus the money I've already spent on the Greyhound ticket, I'll hardly be making anything in Yellowstone, which was one of the main reasons I chose to go to Yellowstone as opposed to, say, visiting my friends in Europe this summer. Some dear friends I met in South Africa are gettin married in Sweden July 29th. I feel very juvenile--both for my dad's protection and for my attitude towards not getting my way. I guess that can be way # 101 that I'm selfish.
I don't know if Robert Burns' poem applies more to people like me--people who don't plan very well (ie: check with their dads before purchasing a Greyhound ticket)--or if it applies to everyone equally. Probably MORE to people like me, but it does say the "best-laid" plans go oft awry. I've found this to be true so often in my case. "Is God usually sovereign or always sovereign?" I have to ask myself.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
90 days
The other day I ran across my old CIT notebook from exactly four years ago. I remember being assigned to write down 100 ways in which I was selfish. I was amazed reading over the list at how little I've changed in four years! I'm still impatient with my mom. I still don't fill the gas when I'm done using the car. Some "selfish habits" have become obsolete: Alice and I have no reason to fight over who gets to talk on the phone at night; we have cell phones now. The foundational habit I hadn't formed then was consistency in reading the Bible--and I still haven't formed it. So, they say it takes 90 days to make or break a habit. (I wonder if that's scientific or if it's just a mind-over-matter thing.) So, I'm starting to read the Bible every day, even for just five minutes, and am planning on keeping it up for ninety days. I don't want to look back in four years and still be where I am now. Sometimes I'd rather read Francis Schaeffer or C.S. Lewis than the Bible, honestly. But "apologetical books" like Hebrews are exciting--Hebrews is where I'm starting my journey into consistency (consistency as opposed to spontaneity?). I want my love for the Word to develop--and with it my love for Truth.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
LEAF
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.
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 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.
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