The Transplanted New Englander

Slight Hiatus--potentially indefinitely?

2010-10-10T16:52:00.002-04:00

Tunes:"Windowsill"// Arcade Fire

Things have been a-changing. I'm unsure of where to begin--so instead, I'll summarize.
-No more dude, we're just friends. 4 hours and a staggering inability to talk things out have made this a necessary development. It's been a month since this has transpired, but I'm finally in a place where I'm sort of over it all.
-New boss? Rules. Love the woman. She's helped me really take ownership of my halls and my position at this school I'm still at. She's aware that I'm planning on leaving by the end of the year, which is also nice-- all my coworkers know that I'm intending on finding a new job after this year is over, and having that fully out there as common knowledge makes me feel 1) we're all on the same page with things & 2) that I'd better move my ass and find a new job come the spring, especially since everyone expects me do now. Motivation is good.
-I've adopted a kitten. I needed some constant company. His name is Delorean and is wonderful-- though kitten status makes for a really rambunctious cat and I sometimes want to just hold him and say "STOP RUNNING FOR 2 SECONDS!"...but he's adorable and fun to snuggle with. AND now I feel like I have someone/something to direct my thinking-out-loud to.
-"I'm doing me"...while quoting rapper Drake is sort of lame, it's very true. Since shifting my focus on that boy in Burlington, I have become increasingly more aware of the changes I should be making in my own life. So. Time for that. I'm completely vegetarian again, with intentions of going vegan come January...sooner if I can muster it (but I know that holidays will make no dairy or egg incredibly difficult). So far I've omitted eggs, aside from in any breads/baked good I might eat, and milk...all soy, all the time. Cheese is killing me, though. I love my salad at lunch everyday with some feta in it. But. I will allow myself to keep that little bit for a while and then come January, the gloves come off.
-Up next: Boston. I've decided to focus my job search 100% on Boston. I'm done screwing around. I want to be THERE. Not here. Not NH. Not Vermont. Not Virginia (though, that's sort of a lie...). BOSTON. So. I WILL find a job there. I WILL move there next summer and I WILL become an official Massachusetts resident-- if anything for a few more years.

Which brings me to the real point of this post.
It's time for a new blog. I am not transplanted. In fact, I am incredibly immersed in New England life and only see myself becoming more-so in the near future. So. I'll leave this blog to bookmark my post-undergrad years and start something new (probably a tumblr) for my post-grad years. That's the plan at least.

I hope to get into writing online more again. Whenever I did this in the past, I felt like I had more sanity. Here's hoping I can get it together. Thanks for reading, though. Family & friends--you mean the world to me. Find me elsewhere on the interweb! kbye!

moving forward. or trying to.

2010-06-10T11:00:00.005-04:00

Tunes:"taxi cab"// vampire weekend

Good lord, I am in a rut this week. I've hit the proverbial wall and just want to pound my head against it until I'm seeing clear again.

I'm fairly certain I hit this kind of wall once every year-- it's that space that exists when things are pretty much all going smoothly, but there's no excitement in calm waters and things that go according to plan.

There's a lot of little things behind this.

What's become the most painfully obvious is how alone I am all the time. And it bums me out most days. I have 3 friends here-- and they're really 3 co-workers. Everyone else that matters lives (what feels like) eons away. It seems as I get older my friends just keep spreading out wider-- like an oil droplet spreading over the water's surface. Spending a week in constant company of friends, GOOD friends who mean a lot to me, I find myself back in New England and trying to determine what's really left for me up here besides family. And family is worth it, but I have become so much of my own entity separate from them-- I need my own life besides my life as a sister/daughter/cousin/granddaughter/niece...lately, I feel like I don't have much of one.

In the summer I get bogged down by the day-to-day of living where I work because it's the same thing, day-in and day-out. I do paperwork. I answer phone calls from irritated parents. I sift through the mess of my office and try to find motivation to move myself forward on my 'task-list'...really, I just find myself to be listless.
I don't hate this job. I like it a whole lot, really. It's just that the victories and good moments are so small and so irrelevant to everyone else but me that it's not the things I share. It's the ridiculousness and the frustrations that my non-res-life counterparts can relate to. So I tend to dwell in those spaces when I talk about work with anyone. And at the end of the day, I live where I work-- so for better or worse, my life is my job. That fact has been making me so antsy and uneasy lately.

Missing from my life is more connections with people-- my own age, outside of my field. I connect with plenty of 18 & 19 year olds every day of the school year...and their parents...and my coworkers here and across the field. But I miss having regular friends around me, too. We like the same music and movies and I don't have to explain every reference I make. They have a shared past experience with me, so we're able to just move forward effortlessly. Is this what I have to look forward to as an adult? It scares me.

Where I'm living is essentially void of any community that I feel I could be a part of. It's easy for my coworkers with children and family nearby to feel at home here. But for me, I am young but am feeling forced to be a grown-up too soon. There is nothing about the community that is endearing to me. I feel disconnected AND disinterested because it is just another white, sleepy, boring town. They're a dime a dozen up here. It's why everyone moves to Boston. I am so not used to being away from things to do...from people my age or with my point of view. It's helping me see how important connectivity is in my own life and how I need to seek if out more in the future. But right now, besides Worcester--30 minutes up the road--this is all I've got.

And then I've found myself getting in this relationship with a boy who lives 4 hours away from me and who communicates really differently from me. It consistently intrigues me and challenges me and forces me to learn a patience that I have never known. He matters a lot more to me than he probably realizes--he's the most consistent part of my life. Everyday, when nothing goes right and when I eat shit all day for one thing or another, I at least know he'll be checking in to say hello and share the woes or victories from work and to talk about music and he'll laugh at my stupid jokes and he'll say things that remind me how sweet he is, which all work to make me feel less alone. But with 4 hours in between us, I'm barely able to hold his hand and smile at him. And that sucks. A lot. It would figure I find someone I could be with, and I can't really literally be with him very often at all.

People tell me that I'm doing the right thing-- I'm being responsible, I have a job, I have a salary, I have a roof over my head and wheels to drive me here and there. I have food in my cupboards and I have music and movies and I am not, by any means, discrediting any of these things or the accomplishments I've made--or the LUCK I've had-- but I keep finding myself wondering what the hell is the point without having people to share ALL of these things with. None of it matters if you're always alone. I've been told by too many people that 'things will get better' and that 'you can do anything for a year' but if I die tomorrow, will it matter that I was waiting around and doing the right thing? No. It makes no sense to wait around for your life to show up. You need to be living it, right? I'm trying so hard to find what it is that makes me tick--and I know it's not just one thing. So the big question is really 'what now?' and 'how?'...

It's all about moving forward these days.

oh hey, it's may

2010-05-15T14:29:00.005-04:00

Tunes:"the last lie i told"// saves the day

I had gone so far as to write this really long, drawn-out and (lets be honest) boring post about summer-- particularly in relation to my job...and I reread what I'd written and realized that no one would read it. Even if they wanted to. So. Here's the long and the short:

-I am still living & working down in Dudley, even though all my students are gone (8:30am-4:30pm everyday)
-Contrary to popular belief, there's things to do on a college campus in the summer. A lot, actually.
-Regardless of this, it still feels like I'm getting a break (no students & thus, no duty)

AND, even shorter: It's summer. Life is good.

I'm writing this as I sit in Panera, an establishment that has seen far too much of my patronage the last couple years (this location, and moreover the location in Harrisonburg...I haunted that place). I brought my laptop with me in hopes of getting a recommendation letter written, but instead I got caught up in people watching and drifting off into my own world. And here I be.

Since my last update nothing earth-shattering has occurred-- which is probably a good thing, right?
Just the same. A Quick recap...

-I successfully baked a batch of those awesome looking PB&J cookies. They were a pain in the ass to create. But, once complete, people (ie: my staff) couldn't get over how fantastic they were. Score. :)

-I've officially started seeing about a boy. He's kind of been in the picture since...November, yowzers. But it took us till March to really decide to see about it. And I'm glad. He's pretty great, is adorable, has his shit together and cares about music as much as me. He recently moved to Burlington, Vermont, so I'll likely be making a fair number of trips up there this summer.

-I turned 25 and celebrated in Boston with my best friends...I went to my first Red Sox game of the year/season, partied a bit in Allston with Mel, Margo & Jacqueline, hung out with the dude and finally tried Grasshopper (a vegetarian/vegan asian restaurant in Allston). A fantastic weekend to be 25. Ha.

[mel, margo & me]

-I survived my first closing at Nichols, emerged mostly unscathed and with loads of pride in my staff. Booya.

So, all in all, everything is great. All that I need is for the weather to keep on getting better. It's still been so cold! But the sun's out, and the sky is blue and there's iced coffee in my cup. Can not complain. :)

Hope this finds you well, wherever it finds you!
<3 Leigh

Take a Break

2010-03-15T14:43:00.005-04:00

Tunes:"The Rascal King"// Mighty Mighty Bosstones

2 posts within the span of a week?! Goodness, me. I know. It's almost too much. But I'm officially on "break"-- from students, and have the day off, and have been spending it lazily at my parents' house. So. Why not write a little in the blog, right? Right.

I plan on posting 3 recipes in this post. Now, I know-- I have a baking blog for such things. But since Kristen and I have yet to actually get "Bake to the Beat" up and running, I'm going to post the 3 cookie recipes I am most excited to try next. My staff usually benefits from the fruits of my cookie-labor, so I'm sure they'll be excited at the prospect of each of these...

Dinosaur Egg Cookies
Ingredients:
-1 cup (2 sticks) margarine/butter
-1 cup confectioners' sugar
-1 egg
-1 teas. vanilla
-1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
-1 1/4 cups oats (quick or old fashioned)
-1/2 cup cornstarch
-1/4 salt (optional)
-24 assorted bite-size candies (think malted eggs)
-Colored sugar/candy sprinkles

1. Heat oven to 325 F. Beat margarine & sugar in large bwl with electric mixer until creamy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Combine flour, oats, cornstarch & starch & salt, if desired, in medium bowl; mix well. Add to creamed mixture; mix well.
2. Shape rounded tablespoonfuls of dough into 1 1/2 inch balls. Press candy piece into center of each ball; shape dough around candy so that it is completely hidden. Lightly pinch one side of dough to form egg shape. Roll cookies in desired decorations until evenly coated. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 16 to 20 minutes or until cookies are set and lightly browned on bottom. Remove to wire rack; cool completely. Store tightly covered.

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich Cookies
Ingredients:
-1 package (16 oz) refrigerated sugar cookie dough
-1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
-3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
-1/2 cup grape jelly

1. Reserve three fourths of dough, wrap and refrigerate. Beat remaining one fourth of dough and cocoa in small bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until well blended; cover and refrigerate.
2. Shape reserved dough into 5 1/2 in. log. Roll out chocolate dough between parchment paper into 9 1/2 x 6 1/2 in. rectangle. Place log of plain dough in the center of the rectangle.
3. Bring chocolate dough up and over the log so log is wrapped in chocolate dough; press edges to seal. Flatten top and sides of dough to seal. Flatten top and sides of dough slightly to form square. Wrap and freeze 10 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 350 F. Cut dough into 1/4 in. slices. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased cookie sheets Reshape dough edges into square, if neccessary. Press edge of dough slightly to form indentation so dough resembles slice of bread.
5. Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately straighten cookie edges with spatula. Cool on cookie sheets 2 minutes. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
6. Spread peanut butter on half of the cookies. Spread jelly over the peanut butter; top with remaining cookies, pressing gently. (Makes 11 cookies)

Easter Nest Cookies
(pretty sure we had something like this when I was a kid...)
Ingredients:
-1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
-1 teas baking powder
-1/2 teas salt
-3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter
-2 cups miniature marshmallows
-1/2 cup sugar
-1 egg white
-1 teas vanilla extract
-1/2 teas almond extract
-3 3/4 cups sweetened coconut flakes, divided
-jelly beans, milk chocolate eggs

1. Heat oven to 375 F
2. Stir together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. Place butter and marchmallows in microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or just until mixture melts when stirred. Beat sugar, egg white, vanilla and almond extracts in separate bowl; dd melted butter mixture, beating until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour mixture, beating until blended. Stir in 2 cups coconut.
3. Shape dough into 1 inch balls, roll balls in remaining 1 3/4 cups coconut, tinting coconut, if desired.* Place balls on ungreased cookie sheet. Press thumbs into center of each ball, creating a shallow depression.
4. Bake 8-10 minutes or just until lightly browned. Place 1 to 3 jelly beans/chocolate eggs in the center of each cookie. Transfer to wire rack; cool completely. (Makes about 3 1/2 dozen cookies).

All recipes can be found in this cookbook:

(it was a Sam's Club special...I can't find it online)

Will keep you posted on how they all come out!

Is it spring yet?

2010-03-08T17:51:00.006-05:00

Tunes:"down on cripple creek"// the band

Is it me or does winter just drag. on. forever? Maybe I have forgotten what real winter is like, but this is just...old. Old and played out and I'm sick of it. The last few days have been stuffed to the brim with sunshine and blue skies and powder-puff clouds and frankly, it's enough to drive a girl bananas because- lets be honest- in a week or so, there will likely be another big snowstorm and I will be stuck once again in the grey, leafless, Blackstone Valley, wishing for nothing more than a tinge of spring to creep into my life. And that'll suck. Big time.

Alright. Enough with the dramatics.

It's been (most of) a winter since I wrote in here last. The cold months keep me like a grizzly bear, hulled up in my apartment with little energy to do more than bake a batch of cookies here and there, or do a load of laundry once and a while. With the last few days being so gosh-darn beautiful, I figured it's high time I updated this dang blog. But what to write?! I suppose it's been an eventful-enough winter. I saw a lot of old friends the past few months, had some fun with them as well as my family, dealt with some terrible things...but all-in-all, I've made it to March and it's been no great feat, but no small one either. It seems futile to summarize everything. Know that I have been pleasantly surprised at how old friends can find their way back into your life, how new friends can make you wonder how you ever got on without them and how collegiate folk can be absolutely ridiculous and I am counting down the days till spring (then summer!) break.

Whew.

There's no amount of preparation that can fully ready someone for their first year as a student affairs professional. I suppose that this could be said for anyone working their first year in their professional field, but I realize now that I had little-to-no idea as to what I was in for when I took this job. Not in a bad way. Just in a holy-moly, 'whodathunkit?!' way. I know many of you don't really get what it is that I do, but please trust: as a live-in, I work my tail off for a bunch of younger individuals who often don't see the value or the point of what it is that I do, and that I must continue to do. Ha. Every weekend there's something broken, someone punched in the face, somebody in trouble who I thought would know better. It's been a real labor of love to keep trying to think of ways to reach the students here. While the business mindset is still one that I don't quite understand myself, I am feeling much better about working with this population in that I feel confident in my ability to do so. I need to figure out more effective methods, though. In time, I suppose. I will be here another year to hone in on my craft. Haha, 'craft.'

I wish I had more to say here about my life besides work. With all of the things going on this spring at Nichols, there really is little else going on in my life. I have found lots of little things keeping me going through the day-to-day like... buying new sheets for my bed and cooking things that Mum or Mémère P. used to make...meeting up with friends whenever possible, turning the music up loud...doodling and laughing and singing...brewing strong pots of coffee...trying to forget certain boys, looking into other boys. Basically I'm Just trying to keep on keeping on. Not much more to say than that.

This weekend I felt so much older than I know I am--I went to a show in Worcester, The Ataris, and saw students of mine there who didn't know who they are. If you're reading this, you probably don't know who they are either. But when I was in highschool-- Sophomore year, to be specific-- Liam lent me their cd "End is Forever" and I never gave it back to him. I loved that album. I still love that album. I know every word. And when I saw them, after seeing them 2 times prior (in 2002 & 2004), it felt like no time had really passed. The singer's voice was still exactly how I remembered it, the melodies and guitar riffs just the same, too. And it was awesome. Then I looked around the community center and saw so many blank faces. What had happened? When did I become so old? When did pop-punk-rock kids stop caring about The Ataris?!

Likely a long time ago.

But still! It was just so weird. Regardless, I loved every second of their performance and was glad I had decided to stop in on my way home from NH. The company was good, too.

And there you have it. March. 2010. I'm here. I'm alive & well.
Anxiously awaiting spring and hopeful of what it has in store.

Much love,
Leigh

Coffeeshop Happiness

2009-11-03T21:21:00.003-05:00

Tunes: Iron & Wine

As most of the people who read this know about me, I'm a huge fan of local coffeeshops. It's irrelevant if they are local to a specific locale, I just like going to a place that is run by friendly folks and that isn't a cog in some corporation. I recently found one in Worcester called The Bean Counter over by WPI where the waitstaff is all hippie and wonderful, but there seemed to be something missing. How lucky I am then that today I was able to find a place called the Acoustic Java down on Main Street by Clark University. The man behind the counter, whom I assume owns the place, is so pleasant-- he seems to be a local professor, as well, which just means he is so much my kind of person. When I told him I had never been in here before, he smiled and was patient with me as I asked him about the sandwiches they serve and the coffee they roast. He later asked about where I'm from and what I do-- it was like being in the south again. People rarely ask those kinds of questions of strangers up here.

I've had the pleasure of watching an awkward first date take place between a raggedy, dirty blonde boy and a pretty, yet plain, blonde girl. They've chatted over their disposable coffee cups for a couple hours now-- as I have puttered away at a few letters of recommendation for past supervisees. I doubt they realize I've been watching them more than writing. They both seem to want to feel comfortable with the other, however most of what their both saying doesn't seem to be sitting well on the other end. It's tragic-- they want so bad for it to work, for the date to be successful. It just isn't going that way.

There's also a smart man in black trench coat in here. Well, he was in here earlier. He shares with me that he wishes he had enough money to collect so many books that he'd devote a whole room in his house to them. There'd be shelves from floor to ceiling, filled with stories and articles and philosophies, bound with leather, tattered, torn and well-loved. There'd be so many books he'd need a ladder that rolled along the edge of the shelves all the way around the room. Like in the movies. I smile and share his wish for a moment.

I look forward to frequenting this place. Perhaps with no work to work on. With a book to read, or a boy to meet up with. Here's hoping!

Rejuvenated!

2009-10-13T16:30:00.005-04:00

Tunes:"somedays"// regina spektor

This weekend was amazing. Virginia is where my heart seems to lie these days and going back there really helped me see that I need to get myself back to the south. I am not, however, allowing myself to do that until 2011 at least. So. New England can enjoy me for now.

Anyways, this weekend was wonderful because of all the great weather (and sunshine!) and old friends and haunts that I got to see. Nothing beats driving to the top of Reddish Knob with the foliage being red, bright yellow and bright orange. Nothing beats listening to Aretha Franklin late at night catching up with 2 dudes with whom you could spend DAYS talking music and life with. Nothing beats breakfast at The Little Grill in good company...or FLAXJACKS! Nothing beats pitstops in New Jersey to see one of your best friends. Nope. Nothing.

I feel rejuvenated. Seeing some folks reminded me of things I'd like to get a handle on in my life. Reminded me that I need to get more motivated. So I'm going to try and do that.

In the meantime, I wanted to share a quote I recently found from one of my most favorite authors, Edith Wharton. I have always loved her; she wrote House of Mirth and Ethan Frome...she was a revolutionary in so many senses, and at the same time she was a rebel...a guilded-age Riot Grrl, you could say. She wrote books-- often racy, often blowing the doors off of the sham-glitzy lives of the privledged-- and did so beautifully, in a time where men dominated literature. Men still do. She's STILL a revolutionary. Anyways. Here's the quote...

"Habit is necessary; it is the habit of having habits, of turning a trail into a rut, that must be incessantly fought against if one is to remain alive." -Edith Wharton

As if it were possible, I love her more now than before.

In any case, things are well, life is good and I am pressing onward. I get to see the family this weekend! Very excited about that. Tyler and I also have a craft project to get working on. Pretty pumped about all things. It feels good be be rejuvenated!

Back in New England...& back to blogging?!

2009-10-02T09:35:00.002-04:00

Tunes:"Walcott"//Vampire Weekend

Months have passed, haven't they? I have honestly lost count of the times I've sat and thought to myself, "I should really go update my blog. Uncle Dave and Uncle Claude read this and ask about it. You should really go update everyone on how life's been." And the one thing that's stopped be this whole time? My blog title.

Ridiculously enough, I feel sort of silly now that I'm back in New England to be writing in a bog entitled "The Transplanted New Englander"...as I am transplanted elsewhere no longer. Finally I have gotten over that, realizing I will likely be on my way living somewhere else eventually, so I might as well keep the same name on here.

That is not to say that I intend on leaving anytime soon. True, I miss Virginia more than I had imagined I would. Some days it almost feels to be an ache for the place; I wake up, roll out of bed and completely forget that there's no mountains outside my door or a valley to explore, with countless farms to drive through and get lost amongst. When I play my favorite Emmylou Harris record and bake cookies, I can swear I'm still in Virginia. But I am not! Now you can find me residing on the 3rd floor of Shamie Hall at Nichols College in quaint (tiny) Dudley, MA. My apartment is awesome. My coworkers are amazing. I'm only an hour from Boston (and my best friend! Ricker's in Allston these days, it's great)...life is good!

Living here has been filled with a-ha moments, challenges and fights, to be honest. The students I'm responsible for (all 377 of them) are great overall, but goodness- some of them just like to get into tussles. I have never encountered such an challenging group...probably because drinking here is also a lot more commonplace, especially since this school is pretty secluded, leaving students with little to do on weekends. My student staff is fantastic; 11 driven individuals who do the job without asking a million questions about everything. They understand that sometimes they just gotta do what's asked of them. I bake them cookies every week for our staff meetings. :)

Aside from work life, things are going well enough. I'm still getting my bearings living in Southern Mass. I go to Boston just about every weekend to stay at Ricker, Ryan & Katy's. It gets me off campus and gets me around the kind of friends I don't have to think much about being around...they've known me for years, so it feels so comfortable with them. I seem to have also met a dude, but it's nothing even remotely serious. He's real cute and I like being around him, but he's about an hour and a half north up near UMass...so we don't hang often. My best friend from Virginia, Bianca, moved up here in July-- she's living in Nashua, which is sort of awesome. But her Americorps job at the Nashua Red Cross seems to keep her just as busy as me. Bummer. Hopefully seeing her this weekend, actually. Whew.

I'm also planning a visit to Virginia for next weekend to see friends and get another dose of the mountains/south/little grill before winter time comes. Eugh. Winter. I forgot how much I enjoyed not dealing with snow and freezing cold. Although, I am totally enjoying the beautiful fall weather right now. Mmm. That crisp, cold air. Nothing beats it.

So, there.
A proper update.
I'll be sure to be more on top of writing in here, getting pictures up and everything, soon. Much love from Dudley...you should come visit me! :)

So many things have been happening!!

2009-05-12T11:05:00.004-04:00

Tunes:"On Her Own"//Ben Kweller

It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks since I last stopped and updated everyone on my life! I have the attention span of a small child at the moment, so I believe I will keep this short at sweet...

-I graduated from Grad School! Now when I make business cards for myself they can read: "LeighAnn M. Soucy, M.Ed" ...which I think is super sweet.
I have no pictures yet of myself and my cohort in our ridiculous, purple robes, but will be sure to post those as soon as I get them.

[CSPA Class of 2009- Cheers!]

That was a pretty amazing weekend. My family came down on Thursday and got to meet so many of my favorite people- Bianca, Josh V, Amanda, Chris & Ashley from Little Grill...and then my entire cohort. The program put on a super nice reception (where the above photo was taken) and they recognize each of us through reading excepts of letters that our supervisors have written about us. It was a really humbling and gratifying to feel like I made my mark here. And I got so many hugs from people that mean a lot to me.

Next thing to report:
-I got a job! I will be a Resident Director at Nichols College in Dudley, Massachusetts starting this July!

I'm pretty excited. My campus interview went really well and I got to meet the entire student affairs division as well as some students. The school is way small- about 1500 students with about 900 living on campus. My hall, Shamie, has about 300 something first year students...with laundry on every floor! My apartment will be on the 3rd floor and I can even have a pet, so I will be looking for the perfect dog this summer at local SPCA's. Best of all is that Dudley is only about an hour and 45 minutes from home. It's also only about an hour to Boston, Hartford and Providence, so I'll be close to home AND centrally located in New England. Such a great thing!

With this means that finally:
-I'm moving out of Harrisonburg this Sunday.

While I am anxious to see people back home and happy to have a job, I am not at all excited about leaving my NEW home completely behind. Alie and I talked yesterday about how I'll probably end up back here. I've come accustomed to life in the Valley-- the scenery, the people, the attitudes and ideals...I'm going to miss my friends, sure, but moreover, I'll just miss this place. Everything about it, tied together. I love the music here, the sunsets, the shops, the food, the coffee...

I'm already trying to plot out when I can come back here to visit and think I may shoot for a week in early June...come down for a long weekend then take my time heading back up to NH by stopping at Kristen's in Jersey and Mel's in Albany. We'll see how Summer pans out.

And now, I should probably start packing.
<3 you all (and I'll see you all soon!)
-Leigh

I said, "wait a minute, Chester, you know that I'm a peaceful man..."

2009-04-29T00:59:00.004-04:00

Tunes:Real Housewives of New York City

I am approximately 2 and a half weeks away from movin' on out of here. Reality has been slowly settling in as my to-do list actually (miraculously) dwindles and my shoulders relax more and more each day (I store all my stress in my shoulders, apparently). Reality also set in last week when I got my tattoo. I've been thinking about this bird since moving here and getting it was an act of closure while also serving as an act of tribute...

The last two years here have been the biggest and most important learning experiences of my life. While living at UNH served me so well and helped me become who I am, the last two years here in Virginia I have totally come into my own. These last two years I haven't been able to fall back on home being a half hour away or my group of friends always being around. I've had to really evaluate who I am. That is hard to answer when you're constantly surrounded by people who know you well and have always supported you. It's become clear to me that who I am when no one else is around is truly me, and who I should strive to be even when everyone is watching.

Chester-Kay, my Cardinal, is a reminder of all of that. It's wings are spread, like mine are, and it's flying onto wherever the wind blows. I've put him on my shoulder so I can easily look back and remember the people and places that have become such an essential part of my life here. "Chester" is a name I stole from a song by The Band. "The Weight" is the this song Lauren, a wonderful classmate and good friend of mine, introduced me to last year. At the end of our Group Counseling course, I organized a mix of songs for everyone in class. Each class member gave me a song that they felt really encompassed what they gained from the class. Lauren's pick, "The Weight," struck me more than any other. While explaining why she picked it, she alluded to the chorus of the song-- "take a load off, Annie, and put the load right on me."

These classmates and friends of mine have done this for me so often while I've been here. When the weight on my shoulders has been far too much to carry, they have found such simple and subtle ways to help take the load off of me, and carry it for a while themselves. "Kay" is per request of Lauren, and I had to oblige. I've gone through a lot with her and everyone else in this program, and Chester-Kay (as silly as this name sounds) will act as a literal mark on me-- to signify the mark that this experience and Virginia has left on me.

Today I completed 3 big portions of my to-do list (1 of these things I've been putting off since the end of last summer), had a really great evaluation meeting with my supervisor and got my staff super ready for closing the building. I have mentally prepared for Thursday- my trip to Massachusetts for my on-campus interview and met with my group for my final project. So productive today!

I feel like I have earned going to bed early, but at this point it's 1:30 am and clearly not early at all. I'm going to instead go to bed now and not feel bad about sleeping in. :)
Much love!
-LA

Birthday Weekend Recap! (Lots of Pictures)

2009-04-22T12:53:00.008-04:00

Tunes:"Foggy Lilac Windows"// Frontier Ruckus

The last week has been a pretty great one, minus the terrible sun burn I got this past Saturday. There's nothing fun about a sun burn's itchiness keeping you up at night. Last night was the first I slept soundly through since before Saturday...perhaps the long phone conversation with an old friend right before had helped. Not to mention rolling over at quarter til' 12, which rarely happens.

Regardless of the semi-sleepless nights, my past week was filled with good people, sunshine, fresh air, campfire, folk music, crafts, baking and singing loudly when no one's been around to hear me. All things I love, really.

Friday was beautiful-- sunshine, a warm breeze, a free schedule. I spent the afternoon sprawled out on a blanket at my favorite park reading Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris, followed by dinner with Alie & Emily up on the roof of Dave's Taverna. We haven't hung out just the three of us since last summer, really. So it was long over due. Saturday I slept in and eventually moseyed to the other side of campus for Festival Fest- an annual outdoor concert and Earth celebration here at JMU. It was BEAUTIFUL and the music was wonderful, as was the company...

[Alexis (right) & the crowd]

[Trent Wagler & The Steel Wheels!]

[beautiful ms. Amanda...loves pigs]

[Sunshine & Taylor...]

[Josh Vana & his harmonica]

After I watched the bands I had really wanted to see, I ran over to Walmart to pick up some things for a BBQ and met up with 12 or so friends to drive up to Reddish Knob. I used my birthday (on Monday) as an excuse to get people together up there, and it worked. We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows and took in the view. It was wonderful...

[Kim explores the mountain top]

[Savannah, Danny & Bianca watch Josh make the fire]

[Stacey!]

[Like a 7 year old, Danny enjoys some Kool-Aid...]

[Kristen beneath the setting sun]

[Bianca, Sarah & Josh- 3 of my most favorite people]

[Kristen, Myself & Stacey...CSPA love]

[The View...]

[Everyone!]

[The reason we go up there...the sunset]

I slept so soundly Saturday night. Sunday Kristen and I went to the Little Grill for eats to start our day off right (Mum- I'm going to bring you all to the Grill on the Sunday you leave! You need to experience it). Spent the day getting some work done and prepping for the RA Recognition Celebration (or "Rec-Cel" as we affectionately call it). My staff looked sharp and I think overall had a really fun evening being dressed up, snapping photos and sharing a nice meal all together. I know I enjoyed it, despite the sunburn and everything...

[Treehouses 08-09]

[Trees...again...being our goofy selves]

[Bianca and I]

[2 of my best friends here- Bianca & Amanda...& I]

[dynamic duo- Bianca & Josh]

[Justin, LaRhonda & Liz...in a staredown?]

[Matt & Sondra]

[Oh, Bryan...]

[Whole staff! Wish Paigey would open her eyes, haha]

[My favorite Jersey girl, Kristen & I]

Monday was my birthday. It was gloomy, but still good. I got a lot of sweet things in the mail from people I miss tremendously and phone calls from family...I can't WAIT to go back home!

Posting all of those pictures took a while, so I'm going to get a move on with the rest of my day. Thank you for all the birthday love!
Hope all is well wherever it is you are!
<3 LA

Spring! Sprang! Sprung!

2009-04-15T22:01:00.003-04:00

Tunes:"chinese translation"// m. ward

It's already been about a week since I updated last, hasn't it? This week began as most weeks do- and I felt completely overwhelmed by the amount of things I needed to get done in just the span of a few days. Also, as most weeks go, it hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be.

This weekend I was on-call for the campus meaning every RA needs to call me if any sort of emergency happens in one of the 27 halls. It wasn't as bad as it could have been (Easter meant lots of people went home) but I did have my fair share to deal with. Needless to say, I missed out on a fun weekend home with my family...which was a tremendous bummer. Not only was their Easter on Sunday at Aunt Joce's but Saturday night I missed Aunt Kim's 50th!
In trying to keep myself busy, I prepped and made a huge breakfast for my friend Amanda, her parents, her boyfriend- Josh (he's an HD here with me) and another girl I'm an HD with, Sarah. I was even impressed with myself; I wasn't sure if I'd be able to pull it off. But the Panuline's loved it and I felt really great being able to feed a bunch of people on a day that I'd normally be spending with family...they were my surrogate family for the morning. It was nice.

At current I am on duty for one of my RA's...sitting in the office, goofing off on my computer and doing rounds? I feel like I'm a sophomore again.
What's making this better is that I am eating lofthouse cookies...

Yes, the cookie IS as delicious as it looks. And yes, I have a lot of pride for the Sox lately...although they're kind of killing me. 4th to last place in the league?! Beckett suspended for 6 games??!! It's too much. I can not WAIT to be able to watch games on TV again.

Which reminds me, I got a phone call today from Nichols College up in Dudley, Massachusetts. And I will be visiting their campus/interviewing on the 1st of May! Exciting to feel like I'm making some sort of progress...even if they're the only on-campus I have lined up. I really like this school, though- so this really could be a great opportunity for me. Don't worry, I'll be sure to keep you all posted.

Tomorrow I'm going with Bianca to get her first tattoo...she even let me design it! While there I'll be talking to Margaret, the tattoo artist, about mine. She should have a sketch all ready for me and then hopefully I'll get it in the next few days!

There has been entirely too many exclamation points in this post. Sorry about that!!
ha.

Off to finish duty...and I'm going to bed EARLY.
so excited about it.

Much love!
-LA

Getting there...ever so slowly

2009-04-10T00:50:00.002-04:00

Tunes:"good enough"// westbound train

So close to the end (exactly a month away from graduation!), yet so so so much to do and get done. I feel like I have talked like this all year. But really, the light is shining at the end of the tunnel. It's just a matter of time (a month) until I reach it.

In the meantime, I am finding ways to have fun amidst all of things I need to accomplish. Last weekend here in Harrisonburg was MACRock. It's this annual college radio conference where a lot of popular, college radio bands play showcases all over town and the public gets a badge and can go to all the different venues to check out the different musicians. BEST weekend all year. The weather was beautiful, the company I was in was wonderful and the music was just fantastic. Nothing beats some good live tunes. Nothing.

Highlights were these 2 bands:

[maps & atlases]

[patten is movement]

It was the best release to not have to worry about things, walk around town in the sunshine, drink cold beer on tap, watch some rocking bands up close and just...be. I feel so often down here I am constantly stressing about what I should be doing or need to do eventually. Last weekend though, nope. I just existed and had some fun. Was good for my soul!

As my time here is, again, winding down, I've been trying to determine the specifics of the tattoo I want to get to commemorate my time here and sort of cap it all off. I've been planning on getting a Cardinal (the bird) since last year and now it's a matter of finding the right style/picture/place. I'm getting there. My friend Erin is drawing me something along the lines of this one: here
My hope was to get it on my birthday in a week or so, but I might settle for getting it either when my family's here (want to hold my hand, Mum?) or if and when Ricker comes down to help me move home. I want it essentially in the same spot- on the back of my arm so I can "look back on" it (and the experience, too!)...I'm excited about it.

Now that it is 1:30am, I am going to get to bed.
I'm helping with load-in for a concert tomorrow. Fun!
Much love from the (getting green) valley!

an update from the conference...

2009-03-30T00:14:00.002-04:00

Tunes:espn on tv (Brad's choice)

We (Stacey, Brad, Lauren, Kristen and myself) are sharing a hotel room here in National Harbor at the Gaylord where our conference (ACPA) is. It's this enormous and immaculate hotel that is charging us way too much to stay here (and not offer us a cot- so we're rotating sleeping on the floor) and way too much for food, so we can't eat here- almost literally. I have spent so much money this week, I get scared even thinking about it. Thank goodness for the enormous amount of money I am getting back from my taxes (and MUM for figuring that out for me).

So! I have been here 2 day's now, and have spent the majority of these 2 days in interviews with colleges and universities I could potentially work at. Yesterday was Siena, Hampshire & UMass Lowell. Today was SUNY Oneonta, Nichols, Keene, Salem State and Hofstra. Tomorrow I have 4 interviews- 2 of which (U of Southern Maine and Emerson) are first round. The others are second interviews (with Keene and UMass Lowell). I also was invited to go to a reception for SUNY Oneonta, which is just as good of a sign as the second interviews really. Hopefully I get a couple on-campus interview invites.

In short- this process is long and SLOW.

Today a lot more of the JMU professionals showed up, which made me feel more at ease. Tomorrow night they'll be having a reception and I am kind of excited to hang out with everyone dawning our Purple and Gold (duuuuukes). I may try and see Tyler on Tuesday after my interview with the School of Visual Arts. Yes, Tyler Kavanagh. I just really want an excuse to go up to DC.

I can not wait to go home on Wednesday, though. I am going to sleep so so so much.
It'll be glorious.

Miraculously the 5 of us in this little hotel room are still getting along so well. I thought we'd all be at each others' throats. But instead we're all being really gracious. And laughing often. I love them so. :)

Now, to bed.
Much love from National Harbor...

no rest for the weary...

2009-03-26T23:46:00.003-04:00

Tunes:the colbert report.

This week was a big, big week for me and the rest of my classmates. Portfolio was due Wednesday at noon. I worked on it at the library for 17 hours just this weekend and then countless more last week and this week. I stayed up until 4am Tuesday night/ Wednesday morning to finish it. But! It is done. I am pretty proud of it. I feel like I did as well as I could given my procrastination.

And what I thought would be a really huge moment in my graduate career was extremely anti-climactic. Figures.

Kristen & I made a celebratory cake Wednesday just the same and had a bunch of our cohort over for a champagne toast to the end of that mountain of work. And then I was so ready to just collapse into a heap until graduation...but no. I spent all day today shopping for professional attire to wear at the conference I'm going to this weekend.
It was the crummiest day ever. It was grey and rainy and BLUH and I wanted to crawl under a rock. Instead I meandered around JC Penney for the better part of the afternoon. I did end up finding things to wear- thank God. But this weekend cannot end soon enough.

I have 9 interviews lined up total.
3 on Saturday: Siena, Hampshire, UMass Lowell
5 on Sunday: SUNY Oneonta, Keene, Nichols, Salem State, Hofstra
1 on Monday: University of Southern Maine

Monday evening there's this reception just for JMU people which is supposed to be fun, and then in theory I'll be done Tuesday. I may get asked to a couple second interviews. I may find it difficult to share a room with 4 other people for 4 days. I may be seeing Mr. Tyler Kavanagh while up there (the conference is outside DC)...
In short, I may go crazy while I'm up there. Ha.

All I know is this time next week I will be so less stressed out.
In the meantime...cripes. I really should pack.
Lots of love to New England- I miss everyone so much!
<3 Leigh

PS. This weekend (after 17 hours in the library) I went to a late showing on Sunday night of "I Love You, Man" and it is absolutely my new favorite movie. Nothing made my weekend better than watching Paul Rudd flounder helplessly with modern lingo and slang. Ha. so so so good...and c'mon, the man's a fox (yup, I said it)!!

"it's only grad school"

2009-03-18T10:39:00.002-04:00

Tunes: http://tinyurl.com/austin100

I keep telling myself to stop making the task at hand greater than it really is...but it's impossible! However- the weather has been helping me stay sane...like right now- the sun is out and it's WARM...it's casting a long column of light onto my checked kitchen floor. Normally I need to have something on my feet to keep them warm, but today my toes are warmed by the light of the sun through the window in my door.

I was up at 6am with the birds, they're singing now, too.
To celebrate the weather I am determined to go outside and finish The Handmaid's Tale before my class at 3pm.

The next week and a half will either make or break me...but it's only grad school!

I've found sanity not only in the weather, but in radio. Lots of it.

Now, onto things that need to get done.
<3 LA

home, or something like it...

2009-03-10T13:25:00.004-04:00

Tunes:radio

Some of the main reasons why I love Harrisonburg is because of its numerous coffee houses and cozy places to get my work done. I've been generally disappointed with what home has to offer mainly because Manchester and Hooksett aren't exactly cozy, snuggle-up kind of places. Or so I had always thought. Until right now.

Yes, I should be working on my portfolio-- it's why I came out to the Queen City today, afterall. However, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the place that I have finally decided to try out today: Jewell & The Beanstalk.

My mom mentioned seeing it on Chronicle recently the other night, but I remember Amy B. talking about coming here for Valentine's Day with James forever ago. I also remember passing by it a few times while out gallivanting after while still in high school. Now that I am inside, I realize it is exactly my kind of place. It's big- bigger than their website makes it seem. There's essentially 3 seating places, lots and lots of antique looking knick-knacks and lots of charm. I hate that phrase, but it really is charming. All the tables and chairs are a hodge-podge of what is surely flea market and yard sale finds, and the decor is much the same.

The woman who is running around taking orders was incredibly nice and welcoming to me- I wish I knew her name as she has since introduced me to her husband and mother-in-law who are here eating. The short woman in the back, Amber-- who I presume is the owner (as her face is in on the cover of some of the framed publications up on the wall)-- has been frantically making things since I got her. I envy her spunk and her storefront for sure. There is so much about this place I already love- like how I don't have to order coffee, I get to just help myself. I know, it doesn't take much to sway me. It helps that it is Free-Trade Sumatra, which is probably my favorite. It smells like brownies right now, too-- which is also a plus. There's lots of baked goods up front, all from scratch I'm told (by my new, nameless waitress friend). There are fresh cut GERBER DAISIES on each table, and a bunch of home made treasures such as jewelery and bags all over the place for sale.
Also, the menu is KILLER. All home made, all made with love (I'm sure-- this place seems like a labor of love).
*Sidenote: no sooner had I written that, my waitress friend, after being asked by a customer how the Maple Balsamic dressing is made, explained that Amber makes everything "with love." "Right, Amber?" she hollered to the back. "That's right, lots of loooove."

...and well, now I'm in love. End of story.

Stacey, among a slew of my other friends, keep on urging me to open my own bakery someday-- which is something I DO want to achieve in my life, I've decided. But being in a place like this really gives me a pang of jealously. I could make a cool, cozy place like this. Decorate it with a bunch of my artwork, have my crafty friends sell their wares, collect flatware and dishes and glasses at flea markets and yard sales in the summer time, bake things that are different and quirky and just plain good...I want this. Haha. In time, in time- I know.

On a different note, I no sooner got home and we were pummeled with another snow storm. New England has a way of reminding me that life in Virginia isn't so bad most days, that's for sure. For what it's worth, today is beautiful weather out, but goodness. Yesterday had me wondering why I've concentrated my job search in the area, ha. Then again, lets be honest, seeing my little brother whenever I'd like would be amazing. Same goes for my besties...Ricker called during his lunch break from work yesterday. I find this to be oddly adorable. I spent an hour on the phone with Mel last night-- even though I will be seeing her on Friday. I haven't seen ANY of the girls (as in THE girls-- Amy, Amy, Beth & Nin) but I know that I will see them all super soon. This break doesn't quite feel like a break. But I think I'll live.

In the meantime, I have to send my resume to Hofstra and finish section one of my portfolio (I've already finished section 2). Happy Tuesday!
<3 Leigh

this post is unnecessary.

2009-03-04T13:40:00.002-05:00

Tunes:

I watched Jimmy Fallon last night and hated it.
I want Conan back now!

(I really just wanted to post this picture of me at NBC. ha)

the ball is rolling...

2009-03-03T17:58:00.002-05:00

Tunes:"brother sport"// animal collective

The last 2 days have been oddly productive, yet wouldn't seem like it to most anyone else but me, I'm sure.

I have lined up interviews with SUNY Oneonta (which is just an hour and a half outside of Albany) as well as SUNY Oswego (which is north of Syracuse, right on Lake Ontario). I have also sent information to:
-Emerson College & Northeastern (both in Boston...the top of my list!)
-Siena College(again, right outside of Albany)
-Salem State College (Salem, MA)
-University of Southern Maine (Gorham, ME)
-UMASS Lowell (Lowell, MA...clearly)
-SUNY Cortland (Cortland, NY...upstate, west of Cooperstown)
-Nichols College (Dudley, MA...in the middle of nowhere)
-Keene State College (Keene, NH...Go Owls!)
-Bentley College (Waltham, MA)

So, I'll be sure to keep on updating because as of now I have only heard back from 3 or 4 places. I'll be sending out my information to Hampshire College (Amherst, MA) and the School of Visual Arts (New York, NY) this evening. It's very exciting to know that in a few months I will be headed somewhere new- and closer to home and people I care about.

In order for that to happen however, I need to submit a portfolio on March 25th. I've known about it since starting the program, but in true procrastinator fashion, I have put it off to the last minute. My goal is to finish 2 sections of it this week (doubtful) and then 2 more over break (here's hoping)...I want to go home to see the bro- but as of now it's going to be a very short trip so I can utilize the days off to fully work on my portfolio. I COULD work on it at home, I just don't envision that happening. But in anycase- break begins this Friday evening and I am incredibly stoked to not have any obligations to attend to here for a full 9 days. HOLLER.

Now...I need to run. Staff meeting to hold, dinner to eat, a cake to buy (an RA's birthday is tomorrow)...things, things, things.
Thanks for reading- I miss everyone a lot!
Much love,
LEIGH!

surprise party- in pictures!

2009-03-01T18:22:00.004-05:00

Tunes:"valencia"// the decemberists

[tired from all the planning, and waiting for the birthday girl to arrive]

[the cake!]

[I love Stacey so so much]

[funsies on the front stoop...Miles, Me, Kristen & Lauren]

[CSPA 2009: Me, Brad, Josh, Kristen/ Lauren, Stacey, Kristen & Miles]

Life is good. I emailed 12 schools today in hopes of lining up interviews at the conference. I also filled in for a show at the station and had fun catching up with my old co-host, Phillip. We danced around while Animal Collective played. You would have, too! Check them out!

Welp. It's time for me to do things. What?
I'm not too sure. But only a week till spring break.
woo!

<3 Leigh

2009-02-28T11:36:00.002-05:00

Tunes:"Check Your Time"// Westbound Train

This week was a very quick one...went by super fast.
The majority of last Sunday, Monday & Tuesday I spent reading this book:

Phenomenal.
It's for class, but it didn't feel like it was for class, so I really was able to get into the reading of it and let it really affect me...which it REALLY, really did. Margaret Atwood is a genius. Her play on words, her metaphors, her simplicity and minimalism...it made me want to start writing..again, I guess.

I forget that I was once on the track to be a writer (journalist) of sorts...but I've been thinking more and more about starting to focus more of my attention on writing. I'm not interested in short stories. Or novels. I find that I am most intrigued by being able to accurately describe a short moment of time (like I often do in here, while at coffee houses or wherever I may be) and have it be something that's captivating to read. I'm afraid that there is no niche for that...but I may just create one for myself to dwell in. We'll see.

I've officially heard back from Marist College and they've already filled the position I applied for. But! I did get a call from Plymouth State University and will be doing a phone interview with them next week. Finally! The ball is rolling.

Thursday a friend of mine from undergrad, Amanda, came down here and stayed at my place while she interviewed for the same program I'm in. She and I were RA's together back at UNH and she's so sweet and wonderful...I hope she gets in.
I spent Thursday showing her around and catching up with her.
Yesterday I spent in a weird haze due to the dreary weather, but was able to bake a cake for Stacey's surprise birthday party last night. It was a Yellow Butter cake with light and fluffy chocolate icing and Strawberry/Amaretto compote as the filling. Everyone enjoyed it. Stacey's party was a huge success- she had no idea, she cried and we had a blast all evening (ending with a ridiculous dance party in the kitchen). I really do love some of these people I've chanced to be in the program with. Such fun, caring and supportive people. <3

Now...I'm trying to get myself out of bed.
I have things I could and should be doing. I think I shall.

sometimes, I am so unproductive. But I did write this really long post!

2009-02-22T12:26:00.008-05:00

Tunes:"my last mistake"// Dan Auerbach

What a long and draining week. I feel like I've been anxious and worried about things non-stop all week. One really awesome thing that I did this week was break down and buy a record player. They were on sale at Target, and it's a 4-in-One system with a cd player, tape deck, radio and even a place to plug in my ipod. So, I caved and got it and have been enjoying the vinyl I'd been collecting the last 2 years finally. My favorite thing to crank up loud (besides NPR on the radio) is this double live album by the Rollingstones. If anyone has any vinyl they don't want, don't throw it away! I'll gladly take it off your hands.

This week I spent a lot of time agonizing over the job-search process. When I read articles like this one though, I feel happy with my decision to make my career in Higher Education. When the economy sucks, everyone goes back to school. And what is needed to make that school run? Administrators. Like me (well, sort of like me). That thought is offering me enough relief to keep me going.

My weekend seemed to fly by. I've spent the majority of it under the fog of a tough headache, but I've also managed to bake a lot and clean my kitchen a bit. Friday, a day I normally have completely off, was spent in fake interviews all morning (to prep for real interviews in March) and then with the afternoon-long process of RA room sign-up. I enjoy this process because I get to try and sell certain dorms to certain RA's (and by "sell" I mean convince them to live and work there next year).

I've been unsuccessful in trying to catch up on sleep. It's really super frustrating.

Yesterday was the CoolAid craft fair to benefit the Harrisonburg Food Bank. It was a bit strange as it was moved from an on-campus location to a house off-campus where some radio station kids live. So it was way out of the way, and it was in this cramped little house. But it was oddly successful- I made about $25 selling magnets, record bowls, mini paintings, greeting cards and (my biggest seller) vegan cupcakes...

[cute tablecloth, hm?]

[oh, record bowls]

Chris Evans showed up and sat with me for a while- I never see him these days, and I miss him! It was nice of him to stick around amidst the awkwardness that was the craft fair.

Later when I got home, my headache was so much worse than it had been all day. I tried to lay down and nap, but I was antsy and anxious and instead watched Conan reruns online. Which reminds me- Friday his last show aired. I teared up- the man was so gracious, thankful and genuine and I just hope the best for his move to California.
Having said that, now seems like an appropriate time to post round one of pictures from my trip to NYC. These are from my cell phone- I hope to put my real photos up here sometime soon...but! In the meantime, here's what I captured on the camera phone...

[waking up in New Jersey...the railroad behind the Selheim's house]

[hot dog icons!]

[inside Gray's Papaya...best hot dogs I've ever had]

[times square!]

[we saw Isla Fischer later that afternoon!]

[outside 30 Rockafeller Center]

[obligatory shot of the ice rink at 30 Rock]

[Kristen in the NBC store, waiting to go up to studio 6A]

[me with the NBC peacock, after the Conan taping]

[wine at that fancy-pants dinner party]

[sweetest range I've ever seen at Kristen's Uncle's house]

[Mum, this kitchen reminded me so much of one you'd love]

[soon to be Mr. & Mrs. Covino- Bryan and Kristen are so domestic]

[the sunset over Baltimore...driving back to VA]

Now, I will attempt productivity...or maybe I'll sleep. We'll see.
<3>

New Jersey?

2009-02-15T22:44:00.005-05:00

Tunes:peter gabriel

I am in love with the place.
New York City, too.

I have so much to say about my weekend that I'd probably bore everyone who reads this. I'll try to keep it short and sweet...

Seeing Conan O'Brien live was something I'll honestly never forget being a part of. It was so (oddly) thrilling to be there in that tiny studio with him right there in front of me. The guests were decent- I laughed and hollered a lot. While I did not shake Conan's hand, I did share a moment of dorkiness with him while the musical guest was performing. He looked over at the audience and made eye contact with me, which I followed up with a thumbs up-- to which he responded with a smile and thumbs up, too. So good.

I told LaBamba how awesome he was and I waved to the Jonas Brothers as the exited the studio. I also asked on the way out if it was possible to snag a cue card. The stage manager got me THREE and now I have proof that I was there...

SO awesome.

Also, Kristen's family was so welcoming and wonderful. We went shopping on Saturday in Red Bank (where I got to extend my vinyl collection), and lounged around on real furniture. I even got to attend her Aunt Linda's 50th birthday party last night- which was really a 4 course meal thrown together by her Uncle. I got to eat Fois Gras AND Black Truffles in the same night- and I had sort of assumed those were 2 things I'd probably never eat! All this happened at a house in the same neighborhood where Bruce Springsteen lives. I KNOW, RIGHT?!

In short, coolest time in Jersey ever.
Now, back to reality. Job applications, here I come!

<3 Leigh

Reality is setting in...

2009-02-08T21:17:00.002-05:00

Tunes:"If I Have To Go"// Tom Waits

Well, I'm hitting the reality portion of grad school, it seems. Before I go to bed, I'm thinking about how I should have done more on portfolio. When I'm baking or cooking or doing dishes, I'm anxious about how I could be doing homework. I'm in two classes this semester, but it feels like I have a 5 class course load with the amount of worry I do.

I have begun to apply at the following schools:
-Marist College (NY)
-Johnson & Wales University (RI)
-SUNY Cortlant (NY)
-Bryant Univsersity (RI)
-Plymouth State University (NH)
-SUNY Geneseo (NY)

A ton more to do, but I can't do them all at once without having an anxiety attack. I'm hoping one from my early round of applications works out so I can stop sending my stuff to places in Virginia, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. But you know, I'd rather have a job than not, so I'll do what I have to (including applying for a full-time position here). I'll be sure to keep everyone updated on this for sure.

This weekend was decent. I am really excited for next, though as I will be going to New Jersey! In the meantime a lot of work awaits me. I'm doing a presentation tomorrow with 2 of my classmates on the topic "What Is Gender?" and I've engulfed myself in figuring out what to say about it all day. I also am reading this book for my Multiculturalism and Diversity class...

SUCH a great read. I am determined to finish it by tomorrow.
It'll happen. The author writes about her experiences trying to get by on minimum wage in a slew of different jobs, including serving in Key West and being a maid in Maine. Really, really interesting and not what you'd expect at all. I suppose it's only making my liberal heart bleed more, haha, but I'm glad I am being required to read it.

In anycase, hope all is well wherever you are.
Much love,
LA

sometimes, my life down here feels like I'm in a movie...

2009-01-30T19:13:00.004-05:00

Tunes:random Bluegrass band that just set up & started playing

I swear, if I didn't know any better, I'd say Virginia was a land of enchantment sometimes. If it weren't for the smell of the chicken processing plants, the sound of sirens everywhere, and the vast amount of pretentious, uptight college kids, I would tell everyone I know that this place is the ideal place to be. I'm beginning to understand how strong the traditions of Virginians are-- particularly in this little city nicknamed Rocktown. The 'burg is such a weird mix of people. The ones who make the place really exciting, vibrant and comfortable are the ones who are tied to the land, the ideals and overwhelmingly, the spirit and MUSIC of the area. I'm amazed at how much I still have to learn about Bluegrass music, but I feel like there isn't a week that goes by where I am not educated a bit about the roots, the foundations and the traditions of a music that continues to serve locals who need a way to forget about the week's trials and tribulations. They come 'round for a "fiddle and a dance," and they pluck their upright bass', banjos and mandolins hauntingly and in perfect syncopation. I am always a little awestruck when I am able to sit transfixed on a Bluegrass band playing live.

Like right now.

I've been working on my resume, and agonizing over the portfolio I haven't started, at this little tea shop called the Earth & Tea Cafe.

It's got this super warm, earthy (ha) vibe and it's filled with Indian tapestries and Chinese lanterns and old tea kettles. I don't come here too often- as I am sort of still in the honeymoon phase with my relationship with coffee, I tend to opt for caffination over relaxation. Tonight, this just seemed right. As I've been sipping Chamomile (much like Gwen Stefani would say), a group of older men and women slowly trickled in with musical instrument cases. I gather they're a Bluegrass band-- or maybe something more a kin to a group of friends jamming on a Friday night.

Either way, there's a short woman with long, flowing gray and white hair, who's wrapped in a wool sweater, and a pink strap fastening her acoustic guitar to her front. She's got these lazy braids holding back pieces of her hair, and there's this certain air of dreamy, knowingness about her-- especially as she sings, beautifully, about coal mines, cowboys and mountains.

There's another woman- choppy bangs cover her forehead giving her youth and playfulness in her face. She is sitting while harmonizing and playing the washboard. It's hypnotizing and sorrowful, the song they sing-- fiddle whispering beneath the steady strums of the banjo man. And so I sit here, squeezing honey from the honey bear into my tea cup and think about how I am on the brink, the cusp, the beginning of the end or end of beginning or...I'm just about to begin a new chapter? And it just feels like a scene from a movie. Weary girl's about to go out there and live life, or find life to live...something like that. And this band comes in and reminds her what her true love is- musica!

[edit: I found out these people call themselves the Keezletones, since they are from Keezletown-- which is a town away]

Last night was a reminder of this. I spent the evening (as I usually do on Thursdays) at the Little Grill Collective along with my usual LGC crew- and also Natalie, a friend from undergrad who recently got an internship down here (it was so nice to have a little taste of home). We took up this huge table and as open mic started, the place was just chaos and music and laughter and...sing a longs! And jaw harps, harmonicas, pancakes, bagels, maple syrup, lots of tea, inside jokes, crazy poems, some beatniks, some hippies and some beer. I wish I could have filmed last night, it would serve as the perfect illustration to what I love about being down here and why I hold LGC so close to my heart.

One thing for sure is this town and its music has seeped into me more than I ever thought it would. I will for sure move out of the 'burg, and I'll find my way elsewhere in the world, but I've definitely got a soft spot for this place now and I think I always will.

On a fairly unrelated note, my hair is getting long and it makes me tremendously happy about it. I can wear a bandana around my hair like a headband now without the hair sticking up all weird in the back! It's little things, everyday, that make us happy and keeps us going.

Now- it's time to celebrate Bianca's birthday!
Much love from the valley!
-Leigh

Inauguration 2009: I was there!

2009-01-21T12:19:00.005-05:00

[taken from the LA times]

Somewhere in that sea of a million or so people is my friend Erin and myself-- bundled in knit hats and fleece scarfs, wavin' a flag and chanting "yes we DID!" for the 20th time that day. I can honestly say that despite the cold, the wind, the long lines, the slow trains, the long walk, the half-frozen ground, the sore back, the runny nose, the numb toes, the tired eyes...despite all of that, yesterday was easily one of the most memorable days of my life. Not only was I a part of a campaign- a movement- that rejuvenated young Americans and their passion in their citizenship, but I was able to be a part of the culmination of all the time, effort and energy (and faith) put in by countless others like me-- standing on the mall, watching the sunrise over the Capitol and celebrating the end of one political era and the beginning of another. I WAS THERE!

[the end of the oath, and crowd reaction]

When my kids read about the first African-American, Bi-Racial President, they'll be able to ask me what it was like to be a part of that moment in history and I'll not only have an answer, but a story. Isn't that one of the biggest parts of life? Having a story to tell to others?

That being said, at the moment I have no idea where to start. So, instead of jumbling a bunch of words on the page here, I'm going to share the link to all my photos (and their descriptions) and encourage anyone who's curious about the experience of being at the inauguration to click through them and see what I saw... Operation Hope & Change

Also, it needs to be said that I am so happy to be lucky enough to have a friend like Erin to share the experience with. I feel like few people I know would have stuck it out like she did yesterday with me.

Happy Day One, everybody!
<3 Leigh

late night with conan o'brien!

2009-01-15T19:23:00.003-05:00

Tunes:

For those of you who know me pretty well, you know that there are a few things that I really, really adore. Lilacs, my mom's Chocolate Chip cookies, reading the comics first in a news paper, John Cusack movies, 80's music-- the list goes on. One of the main things on my list of things I really, really adore would also be staying up late to watch Late Night with Conan O'Brien on NBC. He's a red head, which is another favorite thing, plus he's a lover of all things Boston and totally liberal, ridiculous and hilarious. I have always wanted to see his show live, and as some of you may know, he recently was asked to take over the Tonight Show for Jay Leno. This involves him moving out to California and no longer taping in New York...limiting my chances of ever going to a live taping.

Until now! I emailed NBC tickets to be in the running to get tickets to his final 2 weeks of filming in NY and ACTUALLY GOT SELECTED to get tickets. I'M GOING TO SEE A LIVE TAPING OF LATE NIGHT!! AT 30 ROCKAFELLER CENTER!!!! February 13th! Over 10,000 people requested tickets...AND I GOT SELECTED.

Needless to say I am ecstatic.
Conan, here I come! Hooray!

I'm not buying what you are selling...

2009-01-13T23:16:00.006-05:00

Tunes:"Drink Deep"// HV

A brief recap in pictures of what my last few weeks have been...

[if you watch The Office, you understand how sweet this gift from Ricker is]

[my brother and I made home made pretzels!]

[my brother and I played Jenga!]

[my brother and I goofed off in the back seat of the car!]

[my brother and I shopped at Old Navy!]

[I enjoyed random photo-op's with Bou & Nin]

[I remembered why I've loved these chicks since I was 14]

[I was in a Jacq sandwich...while hanging with Raymond's finest]

[I got to be Jukebox Hero along with Mr. Hayes here, ha]

[I enjoyed the 'burg for a bit...sans students]

[I BOUGHT PINSONNEAULT POTATOES!]

[I hung out at Greenberry's...my most favorite of the coffee shops I frequent]

Lately I've been doodling a lot of owls. Heck if I know why. Some girl friends of mine from home have started a crafting swap with the intentions of having monthly crafting themes and swaps amongst us involved. I think this month's theme of woodland creatures has led to my unusual, new found love for doodling things such as owls, trees and fauna.

Being back on air this Monday made my week start off fantastically.
Listen if you can next week, and every week until May!
Monday's 12-2, "The Sounds Caught In Mason Jars" with me! Leigh
on WXJM Harrisonburg- 88.7 fm/ WXJM.org

Around noon today my cousin Candace called me while I was poking around Mercy House-- my favorite local thrift store. I haven't heard from her in months, and to be honest, I was so happy to hear from her I just got in my car and drove in circles around town for 2 hours while catching up. There is so much about her that inspires me to strive to be a better, more compassionate, giving and joyous human being. How lucky am I to have her as a part of my life. I look forward to a day or two this summer in the company of her and her amazing, beautiful kids.

It's like I'm attempting to find a balance. Lots of advice has been given to me lately...lots of things I can/should/better be doing. I just want to fly by the seat of my pants until I get somewhere interesting and full of enough life to keep me interested in staying for a while. The job search is daunting, but I am so ready. THIS moment in time-- where I can send out my resume, apply for jobs, interview and make big decisions-- is one I have been waiting for. 2 years in the making. Now it's time. We'll see where it all takes me...

A week from today is Inauguration Day! Assuming my supervisor gives me the okay to not be at staff meeting, I will be in the thick of all of it. Erin is hoping to drive down from Lowell and meet me in Springfield where we can stay with some family she has there. I am beyond excited at the prospect of such an epic adventure. I'll keep you all posted!

I think instead of staying up too late, munching on bad-for-me-food and being unproductive, I will head to bed.
Much love from the 'burg!
-Leigh

the last 5 minutes...

2009-01-08T16:00:00.002-05:00

Tunes:WNRN (the best independent radio station ever)

I feel very compelled to quickly update. I have some paperwork to complete, and instead of sitting in my apartment to do so, I decided to come to Old Dominion Coffee downtown.

As I waited in line at the counter, the women in front of me said-- while paying for her beverage-- that it was too cold for her outside. Mind you, it is about 38 degrees out right now which, granted, is chilly. But c'mon lady, this is nothing. Anyways. She goes on to say that she has just gotten back from Florida and she was not ready for this kind of a change in temperature. I chimed into the conversation as the boy at the counter chuckled and agreed with her observation. "I just came from New Hampshire," I say, "This isn't bad at all- it could be much worse." The lady had a semi-sheepish look on her face as she laughed and walked over to the cream and sugar, "Well, I guess I should stop whining, huh? Haha."
I order my coffee and head over to the cream & sugar as well. While fixing up my drink, she looks up at me and asks if I'm from NH. I explain to her yes, and how snowy and cold it had been the last month. She asks me as our small talk is ending if I had ever gone "to see [her] before." I was sort of confused by this, and my face showed it. She went on to say, "I'm the psychic from across the street. Haven't you come to see me before?" "No, I swear- I haven't" I reply. "Huh," she says, "Well- you have a twin in this town! And you really should come and see me sometime. Take care, sweetheart."

I was perplexed. I don't understand psychics. But all I kept thinking was, "isn't she supposed to know whether or not she's met me before? She's a psychic!"

In anycase, I'm thinking I may go see her sometime. Maybe it'll be interesting.
I'll bring a friend. Haha.

<3

So much for updating during break....

2009-01-05T15:44:00.003-05:00

Tunes:"Foreign Home"// Horny Vampyre

Well, my winter break is pretty much over. It's amazing to me how fast this break got away from me. However, I am so ready to get the show on the road. 16 weeks stand between me and my Master's degree and I am just really antsy and sick of waiting to get a move on with all this.

To get everyone up to speed, Christmas was good, hanging out with family & friends was great and New Years was ridiculous. See video below...

I saw Horny Vampyre on New Years, what'd YOU do? haha.
It was good seeing people I haven't seen in years- literally. All break I have been running into people that I honestly had sort of forgotten existed, or maybe more accurately, I forgot they were really a part of my life. Strange how distance and time doesn't remove the past from our lives.

Some times at the new year I don't make resolutions. Other years I make a ton of them and don't really keep them. This time around, I feel that since 2008 was less than great (haha) I need for 2009 to be awesome. I have a lot to accomplish this year, here's a few things I'm striving for:

1. Volunteer more. Life is too short, quit wasting it on making plans and preparing only for the future. Live in the moment more and do things for others right NOW because it's the only real thing that matters.
2. Stop worrying about things I can't control.
3. Put real effort into things I want to happen.
4. Be more organized with all facets of my life in the 'burg.
5. Procrastinate less.
6. Make my job a priority again, but also make doing meaningful things a high priority. I don't want to just sit around on a Friday nights because of how stressed everything that needs to get done makes me feel. Instead, I want to start being more productive in those moments because stressing doesn't get anything done.
7. Keep meeting people. New people make life interesting.
8. GRADUATE. and get a job-- but don't freak out if it's not the job you want right away. I'm going to apply to different things, attempt new things and will NOT underestimate myself.
9. Sew more!! Get a head start on certain projects that need to get done for certain friends' wedding showers that are fast approaching.
10. Keep the polaroid dream alive!
11. VEGETARIANISM!
12. Save money so living in Boston is actually possible...financially.
13. TRAVEL A LITTLE BIT! I know people in far away places...I should be taking advantage of them in the nicest way possible. haha.
14. Pretend that this is my last year on earth, so it's the best it could possibly be.

Speaking of resolutions- I need to get a move on one of them (not procrastinating as much) and get home for dinner.

Bonne Annee!
<3 Leigh

Phobias

2008-12-29T01:36:00.003-05:00

Today I discovered that my phobia, one that has been the reason of much ridicule from my friends and sometimes family over the course of my life, is a legitimate one and even has a NAME.

Globophobia is the fear of balloons. Which I have had, and have recognized having, since I was in elementary school. I even found this clip from the Maury Povitch show...

I don't know if this makes me feel better or worse, but it's nice knowing that I'm not alone in my craziness. Well, it's also comforting to know I could be much, much worse than I am.

I've also come to realize that I have Thanatophobia, but I have such a hard time talking about it without having a panic attack, so I won't go on.

It's interesting that these fears have names- but I think that naming these often ridiculous feelings of panic, fright and anxiety trick those plagued by the fear to think they can control it. Hm. Food for thought.

A happier post is hopefully coming soon!
-Leigh

home

2008-12-16T12:53:00.002-05:00

Tunes:none

Well. 3rd semester of grad school is done! I am, financially, in a much better place than I was this time last year. Well, essentially. My credit card is well below the maximum limit, my bills are getting paid on time, my car is running...all seems well with that. I am also back in Candia, where ice knocked power out for 43 hours this past week and where cable and phone only came back this morning (after being knocked out last Thursday). Glorious! I'm currently looking up wi-fi hotspots in the area so I don't have to drive up to Durham to do my portfolio.

In anycase, a more legitimate update (with music and pictures!) next time. Until then, happy December!

Americana, Mason Jars, and Grayscale Mountains....

2008-12-06T17:06:00.004-05:00

Tunes:"Boy With a Coin"// Iron & Wine

Currently, I'm sitting in Greenbury's. What I said in my last post about coffee shops being the place where I do my best thinking is pretty accurate. Actually, I'd say it's that I am more inclined to blog when I am sitting in a space such as this, or any other, coffee shop. There's bustling workers, side conversations and tasty aromas that I get to block out so I can best focus on whatever it is that's been on my mind to write about. It's sort of unfortunate that in order to fully focus, I need to be in a place where I can ignore the background noises, smells and sights.

In any case, sleeping in today was great. Kristen and I danced hard last night as we went to see my favorite 80's cover band, The Reflex, live at a local bar. I was exhausted when I got home and slept until noon. Amazing. I signed up for my radio show next semester- Mondays, 12-2pm. I really enjoy the Americana time slot too much to give it up...but I do like the idea of having it earlier in the week. Should be good. I'll also be on air this coming Tuesday from 6-9pm. It's three hours long because it's finals week, and it is also a Freeform show, meaning I will play anything and everything I want. You should listen! WXJM.ORG (stream from the website)...

I spent the majority of my day wandering Staunton alone. I found some fantastic vintage cloth & antique stores. At one, Jollyroger Haggle, I got a gift for my little brother as well as an old Mason jar. The blue tint to the glass is amazing. I have a weird fascination with the Mason Jar, or Ball Jar...Atlas jar...I like the Mason ones specifically. And particularly the old, blue hued ones. The way they catch sunlight really enchants me, which sounds incredibly silly- I know- but it's the truth. I want to fill it with buttons and change and marbles and put it on my front window pane.

The woman behind the counter was an interesting lady. Her hair was long and streaked with greys and whites. Her accent was odd and not typical of the valley. She spoke a lot to herself- outloud, and with great conviction. I imagine spending most of your days surrounded by such an immense amount of old, dust collecting things. There's so much in this building...3 floors of rusting hammers and trivets, cookie jars, depression glass, empty coca-cola bottles from the beginning of time, dull silver plates and chipped china, old books- browned and weather-worn, ceramic figurines, prints of sub-par paintings, photographs of people who have been long forgotten...it must be a heavy weight to carry around with you when you work in a place like that. It's like working with the undead...trying to breathe new life into everything that line the shelves, hang on the walls and dangle from the ceilings.

It's interesting how inspired I felt walking through the place. I snapped a few polaroids, and imagined all the ways I could decorate a house or apartment someday. I also thought of all the things I could create from all the junk, and how all the different glass ware and kitchen stuff could be so fun to use in my dream bakery someday. Serving cupcakes and muffins on pink depression glass plates. It's a thought that makes me think about why I am getting this degree, haha.
In fact, I think that a lot.

But anyway. I drove home taking route 42, which snakes through the western part of the valley. You can see lots of great views of the mountains, which is reason enough to drive that way. Winter's been making it's ascention into the valley and it was snow flurrying today. The Alleghanies, which are usually different shades of blue, were instead today shades of gray. It was beautiful. I had this vision of an amazing work of art I wanted to create, and I may try and do it next week.

In the meantime, dinner and then helping out with a show at the station.
-Leigh

Coffee Shop Freewrite...

2008-12-04T17:02:00.002-05:00

Tunes:"Silver Trees"//Rocky Votolato

Sometimes I wonder how it is that you can tell when someone is watching you. you know what I mean? It's such a random happening to have some sort of 6th sense for. How is it that the glance of another, or the stare, can be translated across the space that exists between the two people and can be physically felt by the other? Does the degree of intensity make a difference, or duration? Sometimes, I try to test both sides of these questions. Throwing glances and full-on stare downs, indifferent look-overs and thoughtful or questioning moments of being transfixed. It's an incredible phenomenon, I think. And one that has been rarely thought about. Which really impresses me. How is it that in a culture so obsessed with other people, so enamored with interpersonal relations, that this has not been discussed at greater lengths? It truly baffles me.

I do my best thinking in coffee shops.
I'm sitting in one right now, staring out the window at a boy smoking a cigarette. His hair is long, long, long. Curly, too. His shoes are brown and his shirt is green underneath an unzipped, heavy leather jacket. The weather is chilly, but he stares at the cross-walk hatches painted on the street while sucking the nicotine fiercely from his smoke. Looking up at the building behind him, I try to imagine which belongs to him. Does he keep blinds closed, even on dreary days like today? Does he stack picture frames, or jars of condiments on his window panes? Are the Christmas lights blinking on and off, draped in a haphazard way, in his bedroom? Or his living room? Maybe it's his kitchen-- he likes making believe that he's in his Mother's kitchen, which always smelled of pumpkin and nutmeg and cloves and cinnamon this time of year. She liked to have the Christmas tree set up just through the kitchen door, so she could feel the warmth of it's stringed bulbs seep into her skin and into her soul. Maybe having the lights set up as they are in the window frame, he can squint his eyes from across the room and believe that he's back home.
I romanticize the possibilities of this cigarette smoking boy, when in reality, I'm fairly certain his name is Carl and that he plays lead guitar in a local pop-rock band. It's not likely that the Christmas light window is his. What a shame, the Christmas lights could really brighten the place up.

I sip coffee from an enormous, over-sized cup. I laugh to myself when I remember how vehemently I hated coffee not too long ago. Now, I blissfully sip as I pretend to not be watching the old man sitting in the back of the coffee shop. He's been here before, sitting in the same spot-- an over-sized arm chair next to a small reading lamp and in front of a gargantuan mirror. He himself stares at the storefront doors of the coffee shop that open out to Court Square-- the center of this sleepy city. I wonder if he's waiting for someone, or instead waiting for nothing and just sitting his afternoon away.

Store fronts around here remind me of what New York City must be like this time of year- flashy but trite. Still, the second hand stores on South Main create scenes of wintery happiness, despite the recession and global warming and black-friday fatalities. The school year is just about over and my happiness about it is overwhelming. Going to bed happily every night doesn't however stop my bed from hurting my back, or my nose from running or my throat to ache from coughing.

The sky gets dark by five these days, making it hard to read the roman numerals etched in the stone of all the buildings, or the chalked prices of coffee by-the-pound posted above the ordering counter. Lights behind the counter illuminate the bottles of sugary flavors. Hazelnut, cherry, vanilla, caramel. All aglow in warm hues, much like the Christmas lights that still blink in that window four stories above me. Much like the lights strung carefully from tree limbs and porches throughout the city. This time of the year makes all of the tiniest of things feel immensely important, doesn't it? Some stringed lights in a window frame, some spare change tossed into a red bucket, some red sprinkles atop the whip cream on your peppermint white mocha latte.

I suddenly have the urge to clean my apartment.
xo,
Leigh

and now it's December??

2008-12-03T00:38:00.006-05:00

Tunes: "Magic"//Ben Kweller

Look at how savvy I've become-- I've discovered a way to add music tracks of what I'm listening to for everyone reading to also enjoy! Ha!

Anyways, I realize it's been about a month since I last wrote. Uncle Dave called me out during Thanksgiving back home, saying how much he looked forward to my posts and how he was so upset that I hadn't written one since gloating about Obama's win. Well, now that I am well rested from celebrating such a historic event, I think it's high-time I got back to writing in here more regularly. Also, this one's for you Uncle Dave! :]

The last month has been insanely busy. My school work, which has been steadily piling up, only got worse. Right now, however-- despite how I am currently using this blog as a means to procrastinate from doing work-- I am pretty devoid of work. While there are a few things needing to get done asap, I am feeling pretty good about it all. In less than 2 weeks, I'll be back in New Hampshire for a month! Which is great, seeing as I just got back from a week-long stint in the 6-0-3. I'm already anxious to go back. Go figure.

It seems as though I have nothing much to speak of in terms of goings-on.
I'm going vegetarian again, which feels like a good decision. I've been doing so much vegan baking lately, it just feels like the natural progression of things. I've been washing my face every night before I go to bed, I've been talking to people I miss and enjoy immensely and I've been driving around at night, looking into illuminated windows as I pass...not in a creepy way! There's something therapeutic about seeing how other halves live, and seeing glowing television sets cast blue hues through window panes. Christmas lights are strung along eaves and bushes, in trees and in doorways and I wear a knit cap whenever I can. The weather has been cold. In my spare time I've been working on crossword puzzles, studying French (Quebecoise) and trying to catch up on sleep. I've been connecting more with people from the radio station, I've seen Christopher Evans and Kristen Selheim a bunch in the last week, which in itself makes me very smiley...

Things are great.
I'll be sure to write more in here soon.
Much love from the chilly Valley!
-Leigh

procrastination...

2008-11-09T16:43:00.007-05:00

Tunes:"pajammin"//good luck

[this was the best thing to happen all week]

Aside from that momentous occasion, I have been feeling myself fall into a bit of a rut. A different rut than usual. I'm trying to decide how to go about getting out of it. Maybe more art, more sewing, more baking. It doesn't help that all my energy is spent worrying about my school work or my job. Yikes.

I baked a lot this week. I dreamt about riding a bicycle across town, twice. I also keep thinking about how badly I want to hike and climb things, but my wheezing has been getting bad. I still have cavities to fill and dents to make, I suppose.

I am excited to go home, but anxious about it, too.

All in all, this week was long, yet in the end, very good.

HAPPY ELECTION DAY!

2008-11-04T10:54:00.003-05:00

Tunes:bob dylan

I have been anxiously awaiting this day since February 2007. I almost thought that it wouldn't come! But here we are. Regardless of who you decide to vote for, please just exercise your right to do so! WE'RE ON THE BRINK OF HISTORY!!

[this video makes me so happy]

I will be playing Blue State Bingo, Election Day Pictionary and eating lots of delicious red, white and blue, Americana breakfast food at Alie's tonight where we are having a "Ballot Breakfast" themed election party! This is such an exciting day- I hope you're able to find a way to enjoy this immense occasion yourself!

VOTE VOTE VOTE!
<3 Leigh

pretty good week...

2008-11-01T12:26:00.005-04:00

Tunes: The Office

I'm not quite sure where to start!
This week involved a lot of good things.

Tuesday, our next president (Barack Obama) came and spoke at JMU! To ensure that I would get in (our convocation center only holds 8,000 people) and get a good spot (and because all my meetings and classes were canceled), Hannah and I went to get in line at 6am. Eight and a half hours later, after sufficiently chapping my lips, getting wind burn on my face, making lots of new friends and not doing any reading for class, the doors opened and I was able to have pretty much first pick of seats in the convo.

Once inside, we had to wait another couple hours for the event to start, but once it did, it was amazing. I can't really describe what all of it was like, it's a very larger than life kind of moment...it reminded me of what it must have been like to be AT fenway when the Sox came back during game 5 last month. Seriously, everyone was so EXCITED for this one man to step up to the podium and speak to all of us, the energy was incredible. And so was Barack.

My friend Mike took some amazing photos (he had a press pass) and I can not link them here, but check them out on his website: Miriello Photography

To make the day even better than it was, Hannah and I were featured on a local news station (abc 3) and I was quoted in the local newspaper (the daily news record). The article is actually pretty great.

So come Wednesday, I was exhausted and my face hurt, but I pressed on! I fed my staff homemade pumpkin pie at staff meeting, and then Thursday I had a "Tricks & Treats" themed radio show. The "trick" being that most of the songs I was playing were not the originals (all covers) and the "treat" was spooky-themed songs. It was kind of lame, but I enjoyed playing Bluegrass versions of my favorite pop songs.
My hall council ordered our hall t-shirts Thursday, too. They're going to be fantastic- and look just like the "Virginia is for Lovers" t-shirts, only they will instead say "Trees are for Huggers" which is pretty catchy, right? Haha.

I drove up to Arlington Thursday night and stayed with Aunt Joce at her fancy pants hotel in Crystal City. Such a good break after a tiring week. The bed in that hotel was amazing, too-- so I slept like a baby and got to catch up a little bit.

Finally, Friday (yesterday) was Halloween. Armed with polaroid film that Kate got for me (LOVE YOU), and attemting a sort of lame interpretation of Garth from Wayne's World (without a Wayne!) I headed out to the most grown up Halloween party I have ever attended. It was great- probably the first time I haven't been worried about whether or not I'd be running into underage people at a house party in...well, ever. I got to catch up with HD's I worked with last year, Becca and Jess, as well a few people from my program who happen to be associated to Becca and her roommates, too. It was fun, and I think I looked pretty cute at least...

Today is Homecoming here. I was going to tailgate with my cohort, but I'm just not feeling like it. Instead, I'm going to make some soup and get some work done here. How obnoxious that this post sounds very chronological and boring, but I felt like this week was so good it warranted a chronological re-cap. Haha.

Just a couple weeks to Thanksgiving!
Till then, much love!
-Leigh

BEST night in AGES...

2008-10-17T13:09:00.002-04:00

Tunes:"sawdust man"// ben kweller

At current, I am home! It is wonderful already as the leaves are everywhere and the weather is cool. I am still riding the high from yesterday, though-- which between 9 hours on the road, lots of walking, great vegan food, amazing show from Ben Kweller AND an amazing and unexpected WIN from the Sox..while I was IN Boston...was just a whirlwind of fun and soul reviving.

I left the 'burg at 7:30, and arrived in Brighton at 4:30...so I made GREAT time. I walked from Michelle's house on Dustin Street to Alli's place over on Sutherland Rd. We caught a bus to Cambridge for super tasty vegan food from this little cozy place called Veggie Planet...

Had some peanut curry rice dish...yum. Then we caught the red line, then the green line ("the destination of this train is: Boston College") over to The Paradise to see BEN KWELLER! We found a spot up on the 2nd floor and enjoyed...

BK was, as expected, fantastic. Easily the happiest performer I have ever watched play...he played my favorite, "Lizzy," amongst all his quintessential tunes ("the rules," "falling," "penny on a train track") as well as most of his new Country/Honky-Tonky EP. Alli, Nik & I danced and sang like fools. :]

After the show, while on our way out of the Paradise, Nik & I popped into the bar to see the score of the Sox game, as it had supposedly not been going too well. Top of the 8th, the Sox had pulled 6 runs up and were a run away from tying up the game. Clearly, as devoted baseball fans, we decided to watch the rest of the game. In the meantime, BK's band (bassist, drummer & slide-guitarist) came into the bar to see the score...Nik immediately befriended the dudes, got them drinks and insisted on high-fiving them incessantly.

THEN, after the most dramaticly long at-bat ever in the bottom of the ninth, Coco was able to tie it up, and THEN he brought the game to an end with his single in the 10th...8-7, Sox! It felt like when the boys were able to come-back in 2004 (remember "Cowboy Up"? haha) and I am so happy to say that I got to kind of be in the thick of it. We were all hollering at the screen, ooh-ing & ah-ing at every fouled ball, every strike, every ball. We all held our breaths and then erupted when we saw the players rush the field. We all slapped fives and hugges strangers, it was crazy. While I wasn't AT Fenway, a few blocks away I was celebrating as if I had just seen it in person...

[it was a little something like this, haha]

That's what is so awesome about Boston sports-- every game is like a championship win and every game is just as intense at a local bar or pizza place or convenience store as it is at the field. It felt so good to be a part of that silly baseball culture again last night; I don't get much of that in Virginia, that's for sure.

Then this morning, Pumpkin Coffee from Dunkins with Michelle before heading back here to the homestead? Mmm. Just the way to end a whirlwind 24 hours.

In short-- yesterday has rejuvinated my spirit in many senses, particularly in the sense of intensifying my resolve to come back here after I get my Master's next year. Ha, as if my resolve wasn't already pretty intense. The way I feel when I am walking through Sullivan Square or down Commonwealth Ave is something I can not compare to how I feel anywhere else. The cold air is crisp and the hustle & bustle is soothing, with the Citgo sign keeping an eye out from above Landsdowne Street. The traffic is insane and so are half the people...but it feels like HOME to me. I can't wait until I get to call it home.

In the meantime, enough computer time.
Much love!

DON'T VOTE!

2008-10-04T10:44:00.000-04:00

Tunes:wxjm

best political/celebrity video I've seen in a long time...

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

happy weekend!

this is what the world is for- making electricity!

2008-10-03T18:40:00.008-04:00

Tunes:"electric feel"// MGMT

firstly, I have listened to this song more times than I'd like to acknowledge this week. Collin came over on Monday night and we figured out the melody on my glockenspiel, and since then it is playing over and over in my head as well as on my iTunes. If you are unfamiliar, please check it out on youtube- disregard the trippiness of the video, I'm pretty sure the dudes that comprise MGMT are on lots of illegal substances, however, they have made some sweet tunes, so I guess that's excusable for the purposes of this paragraph.

anyways, I haven't been very good about showing everyone what my new apartment looks like and since I am so uninterested in working on my budget proposal, I figured that would be a good way to use up some time. :]

[living room, from front door]

[dining area, from front door...that doorway is to my bedroom]

[breakfast bar/ junk counter from front doorway]

[different perspective of living/dining area]

[my polaroid wall...my favorite thing in my living room]

[tv hutch & window ledge of pictures]

[big kitchen...with a mini-stove. oh well]

[my bedroom is too messy, but here's my dresser!]

[office I rarely use]

[tiny bathroom, but it's cool]

[my other door...this is what the residents tend to come to]

So there is your [virtual] grand tour! I feel like I have wasted a sufficient amount of time now. One more thing before I wrap up this post- I've been trying desperately to grow out my hair. I haven't cut it since the beginning of July...it's finally starting to look like I'm growing it out. Hooray!

Hopefully by next spring I'll be able to do more with it and look a little less ridiculous come job interview season. Not that I looked ridiculous, but I dunno- the "flying comet" look [as Ricker & Scotty affectionately refer to is as] is getting a bit old.

Now, I NEED...NEED to work on homework.
Which is what I'll be doing all weekend. Fabulous.
<3 much love!

reasons to love new hampshire...

2008-10-02T18:41:00.007-04:00

Tunes:"Cherbourg"// Beirut

I was trying to work on my Budget assignment for SimU, but instead found myself on Wikipedia reading up on the demographics for NH versus Virginia, among other factoids about the 2 states. What follows are some of my favorite fun facts!

NH...
-The first permanent settlement was at Hilton's Point (present-day Dover). By 1631, the Upper Plantation comprised modern-day Dover, Durham and Stratham; in 1679, it became the "Royal Province.
[my favorite part of the state- dirty dover!]

-The largest ancestry group in New Hampshire is 26.6% French (French or French Canadian). New Hampshire has the highest percentage of residents of French/French-Canadian ancestry of any U.S. state.
[damn straight!]

-A survey suggests that people in New Hampshire and Vermont are less likely to attend weekly services and are less likely to believe in God (54%) than people in the rest of the nation (71%). The two states are at the lowest levels among states in religious commitment.
[ha, interesting]

-According to the Energy Information Administration, New Hampshire’s energy consumption and per capita energy consumption are among the lowest in the country.

-The House of Representatives in Concord is the fourth-largest legislative body in the English speaking world with 400 members. Only the United States House of Representatives, the British House of Commons and the British House of Lords are larger.
[talk about adequate representation, huh?]

-New Hampshire is an alcoholic beverage control state, and through the State Liquor Commission it takes in $100 million from the sale and distribution of liquor. The state also leads the country in per capita sales of all forms of alcohol.
[haha]

-As of January 1, 2008, civil unions are legal in New Hampshire, giving all the rights associated with marriage in the state to same-sex couples. New Hampshire was the first state in the country to deem civil unions legal without any court action to prompt the decision.
[so proactive!!]

-New Hampshire has been known for a Libertarian-like political tradition that values individual freedom and limited exercise of state governmental powers. The Free State Project selected New Hampshire as its destination due to its "Live Free or Die" libertarian-esque heritage.

...

I was going to post fun facts about Virginia, but the fact of the matter is that facts about Virginia are kind of boring- the state is big, the median income is around $60k, while NH's is around $37k, african-americans make up 19% of the state's population and 8 presidents were born here. It's just too big to really think abut any of this stuff as cool. Ha.

Maybe I'll go do work now? Maybe.
xo

ps. I'm at the big, fancy new library on campus and I just burped out loud...how embarrassing.

What a positively positive week!

2008-09-27T21:32:00.003-04:00

Tunes:House M.D. (marathon!)

Well, it has been a HECK of a week. A good week, but still a heck of a week. Ha. In case you're interested, here's a quick recap. I'll add pictures to make it seem more interesting. :]

I managed to have 5 incident follow-up meetings on Sunday. Bang-em out! Monday, I finished my first portion of my Simulation University project. Which allowed me to feel absolutely relieved for the remainder of the week. I aced a quiz in Stats on Tuesday. Wednesday went by quickly- the class that I teach went well, my 1:1's were great, and our staff meeting was goofy and went by fast. I spent a few hours freezing my butt off up on the other side of campus talking with Collin- but it was ok. "Time well spent." Right on.
AND THEN MY LOANS CAME THROUGH! [and I felt a weight be lifted from my shoulders]
Thursday, I got coffee with the wonderful miss Kelly McKew, who lived in Shorts last year. My radio show went well- I was able to play some requests for the likes of Mel & Phil Walton. Then I spent all afternoon, gallavanting with Chris Evans whom I miss more than I like to admit. We went to the mall in Staunton, which is really more like a mini-mall. I got fantastic room fresheners there and now my room smells like Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin. If you can, go to Bath & Body Works and snag yourself one of these:

ALSO, Chris and I watched the season premiere of The Office (which I have waited all summer for!!) annnd it was the best hour of television I've watched since last spring. Not that I've watched a lot, but it was great. JIM & PAM ARE ENGAGED! It's sad that a television couple makes me happy, but I can't deny that they do. haha.

Yesterday, I caught some "Tunes at Noon"- which is this new thing TDU is doing which is sort of awesome- with, again, Phil Walton. Then Hannah and I drove the hour and a half drive over the mountains to her house. Mmm. Eating food made by a Mom (not my Mum, but a Mom nonetheless), sleeping in a real bed and having no one to worry about was exactly what I needed. We then spent all day today in a positively liberal way, meandering around the 2008 Vegetarian Festival in Charlottesville.

Being in that environment, surrounded by those kinds of people, really made me want to go veg again...or at the very least, continue along the more creulty free path I've been on the last month or so (limited meat consumption, and limiting my meat to free range or local). I got to eat a lot of meat-free, dairy-free stuff this weekend. And! I discovered some new must-haves for myself, including the following...

[the best tofu I've ever eaten!]

[legitimately is better than cream cheese]

[GINGER iced tea. best ever]

[yes. this is a new must-have. I am so determined to get a Beagle after yesterday, it may legitimately play a role in what schools I apply at next year. well, yeah. maybe...the festival was also an adoption center for locally fostered, homeless pets. so bummed we couldn't help one]

In short, I am in such a happy place.
I'm going to go watch another few episodes of House, find some good recipes and tuck in early for the night. Much love!

update: albums snagged at an atique shop today!

2008-09-20T20:38:00.002-04:00

Tunes:conan o'brien

I put off my homework further today by going thrifting with half of my staff. We went to Stump's Antiques (my favorite antique place in the valley) and I found tons of records to help me build my collection...and they were cheap, too!

[pretenders II]

hooray.
xo

Things I've been doing & Things I'm looking forward to...

2008-09-20T10:44:00.004-04:00

Tunes:"riverside"// trent wagler & the steel wheels

The weather is so chilly these last few days, it is FANTASTIC. It's compelled me to plan for a weekend home in October so we can go apple picking and I can bring my brother to a movie or bowling and so I can soak in that crisp New England air. October 17th!
I'll actually be heading up to New England the day before (Thursday) and staying the night in Boston. Alli-- my RA from my freshman year at UNH, past co-worker & great friend-- lives there, and that night Ben Kweller (a musician I have loved since high school, yet who I've recently re-discovered) is playing a show at the Paradise and she and I are going to go!!

It's pretty ridiculous that I'm going to drive 10 hours to get there for 9pm to see BK, but it'll be so worth it. I haven't seen Alli in a year and a half, so this makes the weekend I'm going to have at home even better. I am extremely excited- Boston. Alli. Ben Kweller. HOME. Little Brother. Mum & Dad. Apple Picking. Long drives up north. White Mountains. Leaf peeping. Sweatshirts & sneakers. Red Sox! HOME.
I think you get the point, I'm stoked. Ha.

Speaking of live music, last night Hannah and I went to our favorite place in town-- The Little Grill Collective-- to see Trent Wagler & the Steel Wheels. They are this amazing americana/folk/bluegrass band whose home base is actually Harrisonburg, which is pretty cool. Collin & Collen joined us after dinner and we all danced in our seats (and eventually standing up) for a good 2 hours. I encourage anyone who has a stigma against americana music (banjos, mandolins, etc) to give Trent a listen. The talent of these musicians is incredible and Trent's voice is so great, I doubt many people could dislike them...

All week I have been trying to get work done on an enormous project I have due Monday. I have about half of it done, and I can not make myself work on it. I told myself to NOT let it wait until tomorrow...and I am trying so hard to be good and get it done, but my staff wants to hang out today, so I'm going to limit myself to hanging out until later today and then I'll come back and do work all night. Really.

In the meantime, I should get ready for staff hang out time.
Call me sometime! Miss you all!
xo

"Most happenings are beyond expression; they exist where a word has never intruded."

2008-09-15T23:54:00.003-04:00

Tunes:kathy griffin

"You are so young, so much before all beginning, and I would like to beg you, dear Sir, as well as I can, to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer."
-Ranier Maria Rilke (1875-1926)

Mati and I have been bouncing ideas back and forth today on the "answers" to the big "questions" and he sent this along to me. I found it so simply put, it really changed my perspective on all this. So thanks to Mati for that, and thanks to Ranier Maria Rilke for penning such insightful words in 1903.

late night

2008-09-07T02:45:00.003-04:00

Tunes: "forever"// meego, walter

The last few days have been super unproductive for me. I get into this funk typically at the beginning of a year- I'm still trying to switch over from summer and no real things to get done-- academics-wise. I'll get on all of it eventually, I know. It's the transition teamed with my mounting anxiousness to be back in new england.

It feels like I must sound like a broken record. Or at least like a baby- still whining about missing home. I just find myself feeling lonely here a lot. Better than last year, but now that I'm back to living in my own apartment, supervising student staff, with Chris & Em being 15 minutes south and Alie being a full-time person at the lab, I just feel like I'm spenging a lot of time alone. Sometimes I like it, or rather I don't mind it at all. But when whole days go by where all I do is sit here, baking cookies or something to pass the time, I look back on the day at the end of it and wonder what if that was my last day? How sad that I spent it alone.
And today wasn't even that bad- Hannah came over to bake cookies with me. We watched "Stranger Than Fiction" which is probably what's fueling my mood at the moment. I love that movie so much, and ridiculously relate to Maggie Gyllenhaal's character as much as Will Farrell's. At one point during the movie, Hannah turned to me and said, "Leigh, lets not be Harold Cricks"...which was to say, lets not lead lonely, habitual, unhappy lives. Why would I ever want to? I hope I'm not setting myself up to.

I also should't let myself be so thoughtful while alone at this time at night. It doesn't help when Patrick is texting me, or when I read Josh Croteau's blog about his new place in Allston and how much he loves it. Or when I talk to my brother and how he's not doing anything all day...I want to go bring him bowling! And play frisbee!
Alas. I spent the day here, unproductive and unmotivated. At least I didn't spend all of it alone. Goodness. I am talking in circles.

On an unrelated note, the new Metallica song? Amaazinng.
And the band M83? I love them.

I need their album. It reminds me of every great movie from the 80's all at once. Which is such a great thing to be reminded of with the listen of just one song.
Oh, which reminds me. Radio show. This Thursday. Noon.

And the girls who live upstairs? ARE SO DAMN NOISY.
You'd swear they were doing jumping jax all night long.
Actually, I wonder if that's actually what they're doing.

The weather is weird, but telling of the fall that is on its way.
I'm trying to make it home a weekend in October. I realized once my loans come in, I will be rather "comfortable" in my finances (although it'll be a false comfort as I'll just be in more debt) so I should be able to finangle a trip home no problem. I realize after the year I had last year, that I need to take advantage of the 4 nights I am allotted off each month. So come October, I will be doing just that.

Goodnight!

group shots, flowers & west virginia...

2008-08-30T13:43:00.009-04:00

Tunes: "This Love"// Younghearts

Happy end of summer!
Since I last wrote in here, my RA's have moved, been trained and have moved in all of our residents. The Treehouses are a thriving community of first years & transfer students, and even a bunch of International Students. But before I get ahead of myself, here's a photo recap of the last month or so...

[Lake-Sky: our Hall Director staff, showing JMU pride!]

[Lake-Sky's superhero day...I was The Tree Hugger]

[The Village Hall Directors...on nerd day-clearly, ha]

[The Blue-Hill Hall Directors]

[JMU Hall Directors 08-09!]

HD training ended 10 days after it began. The following day, 7 of my RA's moved in. For the next 10 days, I was busy with their training- coming up with theme days, answering questions, coordinating and delegating. What fun! Our theme days included The 7 Deadly Sins, Highschool Stereotypes, Nerds, Staff shirt day & Landscapes. We had a ton of fun with it, and I'd even argue that my RA's learned a lot, too!

['Which way do we go?!'...2 of my RA's, Justin & Sondra on nerd day]

[Treehouse Nerd Day!]

[Training is 'Risky Business'...Chappelear Hall staff]

[Day 1 of check-in/move-in at the Trees...]

[yes, we have lake-front property...Sondra loves the Trees]

Once move-in was over, I really needed a day away from campus- the move-in process is about a week long with staggered move-in days for the different houses comprising my hall. Everyday we had to be up at 8am and we had to staff the check-in table until 4pm. Needless to say, we were all pretty pooped out by the end of the whole thing. So last Saturday I spent the morning with Christopher down in Staunton and Bridgewater (the college he works at now), where we checked out the amazing farmer's market downtown. We got farm fresh eggs and amazing (amazing) Italian herb bread from a sweet Mennonite lady. We went back to Bridgewater where we made breakfast and played Tetris all morning. I miss him, so it was a needed dose of Chris antics for sure. Afterwards, instead of heading right back to campus, I found some backroads I hadn't had the opportunity to explore and did just that.

How happy was I to then come across this amazing field of sunflowers?! I was incredibly happy. This is something I had always wanted to see in person- a field of sunflowers. Since it reminded me of my Mum, I made sure to get out and take a TON of pictures. Here's the better ones...

[The firleOttobine, VA]

[bumble bee]

The day before classes started (last Sunday), I met up with one of my RA's from last year, Hannah, for coffee. It was absolutely beautiful out, and sensing that the week would be pretty busy and crazy I asked her if she wanted to go for a drive. We ended up in West Virginia (of course) and wandered into the deep woods and atop big mountains- all in my car! Here's some documentation of our adventure...

[A drive-in movie screen?! In the middle of nowhere!]

[deserted snack stand]

[the front of the theater]

[a church on a hillside]

[Reed's Creek Fish Hatchery...]

[Baby golden trout! We thought they looked like banana peppers, ha]

[big fish...trout, I presume]

[grown up golden trout]

[they have CRAZY googly eyes!]

[goats]

[Hannah, defying the sign]

[I love these old, rusty bridges]

[classic West Virginia]

[Uli, my Volvo, is such a trooper]

We almost made it up to Seneca Rocks National Park, but got tied up on some dirt back road beyond this place called Smoke Hole state park. It was a long, yet beautiful day seeing some of the prettiest scenery that you'd ever see.

On a more mundane note, classes have started and I think they will go well. I don't feel terribly intimidated about them- thank goodness. Simulation University will be more fun than it seems right now, I think. I am the 'Director' of the Academic Advising department at this fake university. Ha.
I am also taking Psych Stats, which I think will be very useful when I need to assess and evaluate programs that we do in my simulation department. Lastly, I am taking group counseling (yes, as a class) which will be interesting. All of us in the class are in the same program, and 6 of the 7 other people in the class are the people I am closest to of my cohort. Here's hoping we don't ruin any friendships in the class- we've heard some pretty nasty things about it from the cohort who had the course last year.
This semester I am teaching a class, too! Which is pretty exciting in its own right. It's a Psych 100 course, which is the class RA's are required to take on community development. Every Wednesday after my group class I'll be doing that.

Lastly, my radio show starts this week: Thursday from Noon-2!! Make sure to check it out if you can- WXJM streams on the web:

[click on the monster radio in the top left, and select your connection speed]

Now it is the weekend. I spent the majority of last night at The Little Grill Collective with Danny & Bianca, listening to amazing old timey music by Red River Roller Coaster as well as the gypsy tunes of Accordian Death Squad. That place always gets me in touch with my pseudo-inner hippie, so I spent today finding Vegan cookie recipes and tonight I made a batch (Oatmeal Chunky-Munky I call them...they're oatmeal banana with raisins and mini kisses. SO good, you'd never know they're vegan!). Tomorrow I am making spaghetti for some old residents. I am very excited to catch up with all of them.

And now, you are all caught up with the life of Leigh.
Exciting, right?

Hopefully this finds you all enjoying the end of summer- It's labor day weekend! Best wishes on first days back to school and have a safe and happy long weekend. I love and miss you all (especially you, little brother!!).

Much love from Virginia,
Leigh

And so it begins...

2008-08-04T00:32:00.002-04:00

Tunes:"for the first time"// westbound train

Back on campus, in my new apartment, on a real mattress- life is good. I have yet to find the motivation to finish unpacking- all I want to do when I get back here each night is sleep. Our training days, which started last Thursday, are long. Usually after dinner each evening, a big group of the hall directors get together for what we call "HD Bonding Time." Volleyball is our usual fall back (I've gotten loads better from last year), last night was capture the flag (I was the flag holder...the boys thought us girls cheated...I kind of feel like they were right, haha) and then tonight we played a game called sardines, which is really like reverse hide and seek- AMAZING. I love feeling like I'm in elementary school again.

I'm bummed that I don't get to see Alie, Emily or Chris everyday like I have been, though...although- I have seen them all just about everyday since moving in Wednesday. It's just an adjustment to be living alone again. Chris has started cycling and will be stopping by each morning for a water break before making the 8 mile trek back to Bridgewater. Bless his heart. I met up with him and 2 of his friends last night to see a sweet band from New York play live at Clementine Cafe...

[Jupiter One]

They were a really enigmatic bunch of musicians- their lead dude K was all over the place and playing the synth, guitar violin and that cool mouth thing like Peter Frampton. So bad ass. We rocked out in the back while enjoying some beer and music talk. It was a great evening.
Check out the band- Jupiter One on Myspace!

Now I am pooped out, and I need to be up for another day of training starting at 8:30. But my staff has designated tomorrow as Hat Day, and thusly, it'll be fun.

I'm missing you all a ton- especially you, little bro. We'll have more book talk soon! Much love!
-Leigh

Greetings from Michigan!

2008-07-26T21:40:00.003-04:00

Tunes:"red rain"// peter gabriel

I don't update this nearly as often as I had intended when I began it.
Let's try and catch up on what's been going on!

First thing first, since I probably talk about him enough, and not everyone who reads this has met him, feast your eyes on the ridiculous boy whom I call my best friend- Andrew (Ricker)...

[showing off all of his winnings from the arcade, ha]

I meant to post that picture last post. It's obvious why I keep him around, isn't it? You got it- the eye patch is really just so endearing.

Anyways, I'm writing this from my hotel room in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where I have been for the majority of the past week. I came here with Ted as well as 2 students whom I know from working in the Center for Multicultural Student Services on campus (Jessica & Aishah), for a conference on this sort of up-and-coming teaching pedagogy called Intergroup Dialogue. It's a curriculum that's being pioneered by a group of professionals across the country, but has it's roots here at the University of Michigan. While the IGR (intergroup relations) program is 20 years old itself, it is finally beginning to be implemented across the country across the collegiate realm- in the form of classes, workshops, co-curricular opportunities...it's really quite amazing.

The idea behind intergroup dialogue is to bring together groups of people based on their differing social and personal identities. For instance, having a dialogue group consisting of 16 students- 8, men & 8 women where half of each group of genders identify themselves as black and the other white (so 4 white males and 4 black males). They are then lead through a 4 staged program that gets them to evaluate and reflect upon their identities as well as the stereotypes that they have for others, and eventually create from their seperateness a community of individuals positioned to take action and make change. It's an incredibly intense, despite its intentionality. It also seems so empowering for those participating and facilitating. We got to simulate the stages througout the 4 day conference and got tons and tons of information to help us in attendance determine how we will bring back these concepts to our home universities. It was overwhelming, but I met some absolutely amazing professionals from all over the country, and made some really solid connections- which will be especially useful when I'm job searching in a few months. I now have contacts at institutions varying from Stanford, University of Michigan, University of Illinois at Chicago, Emory University and Syracuse. I even met some people from Northeastern!
Overall, a fantastic experience. I need to figure out how I will personally take what I learned and apply it to my work at JMU. I do plan to continue working with Aishah and Jessica on their projects, and we'll see where we end up in a few months!

Here's some crappy camera-phone photos that I took to help me document my trip...

[Proof I was in Michigan, ha]

[the State Street theater in downtown Ann Arbor]

[just one of the many murals of downtown. It's an eclectic community]

[my new friend, Jacob, was right- this place made THE best sandwiches ever]

[their coffee was pretty fantastic, too!]

This week has got me thinking about how unique each person's experience in their life is, and how much that shapes their respective reality. I was in the company of some really important people this week- including this dynamic 28 year old, "D.A." who happens to be a professor at Princeton. What stuck me most about the uniqueness of every person I met was that regardless of their title, or their role at their university, despite their age or race or gender, I felt a sense of "kinship" with them, an incredibly commonality existing between all of us. It made everything we learned about sort of fall into place. I'll be mulling on the happenings of this week for a long time to come, that's for sure.

We fly out in the morning. I am so happy to be going back to the burg. I will say, however, that I am a little nervous about a couple things- mainly how it's going to be as a returning HD and also how I'm going to pay for anything in the next few weeks. In the whirlwind of me traveling out here and trying to keep my finances on lock, I managed to completely miscalculate what I had. I find myself in the red all over the place, and only further perpetuated by the overdraft fees that are absolutely absurd. I need my loans to come through so badly, it makes me sick in the pit of my stomach thinking about the next few weeks with zero funds. Although, I'm not feeling as bad about this situation as I was feeling this morning- talking with the women in my group at the conference put some of my anxiety at ease. They all shared with me how horrible grad school was for all of them, too. They reminded me that at the end of the tunnel I am stuck in at current shines a light- a light that will outshine all of the dark and dreary moments of financial woes, interpersonal drama and homesickness. I just gotta push through!

On a final note- being able to work with the likes of Aishah and Jessica has been truly...amazing. I find myself every night here being so inspired by them in so many ways- they have this infectious energy and fire in their hearts for making change in the world. I hope to follow their lead all year because working with students- people- like them is what makes this profession, and this life choice- of allowing yourself to be involved, engaged and invested with students- worth everything. I cant wait to see what comes next!

In the meantime, I need to sleep.
Much love!
-Leigh

long over-due photos: Reddish Knob, the 'Burg, West Virginia & Driving Home...

2008-07-17T13:55:00.008-04:00

Tunes: Bob Dylan

A post of this caliber was long over due. As I am skipping out on being at the office today, due to my lack of motivation to get up on time and my disdain for wasting beautiful days stuck inside a back office with no windows, I figured it's time to get it done.

Enjoy!

[my roommate, emily]

["the closest to heaven" is atop Reddish Knob]

[my initials looking out from the top of the world]

[obligatory "we live with each other" picture]

[Brian is looking out over the hazy Alleghenies]

[old feed building downtown...Ted & Dana live here!]

[the sun sets in the Valley]

[I thought about buying it. ha.]

[where all the vegan kids eat]

[the infamous Dana & Ted]

[4th of July, journaling off route 33]

[West Virginia wildflowers]

[middle of nowhere, West Virginia]

[looking west from Shenandoah Mountain]

[some remains of confederate trenches on Shenandoah Mountain]

[100 mile view over the Green Mountains of Vermont]

[I love kitchy places like this]

[crossing the Connecticut River into New Hampshire...HOME!]

As you can see, I have been utilizing my pretty easy-going summer and my flexible job hours to have as much fun and enjoy my time not in classes as much as possible...

Going home last weekend was exactly what my spirit needed. I got lots of time in with Ty, as well as Mel & the rest of the family. Highlight of my week would definitely have to be going to Hampton with Mel, Ricker & Scotty where we enjoyed Fun-A-Rama's SkeeBall, fun prizes redeemed with tickets earned from said SkeeBall, and of course an amazing Ska show at the Casino Ballroom!

I honestly love that kind of music so much- it's like pure summer to me, and brings me back to the days of going to local shows and shows in Worcester at the Palladium with Amy and Nicole. I'd say "good ol' days," but that makes me sound so much older than I am. Ha.

Here's 2 videos from the show- the first is Big D and the Kids Table (Boston's finest ska-punks) performing one of my most favorite songs, "New England. The second is Less Than Jake (Gainsville, Florida's pride and joy) performing the fastest song they ever wrote. Sorry if the quality is lacking, I didn't take the videos- but I was there!

Good times, good times.
For now, I'm going to go nap and gear up for the midnight showing of this movie:

I'm going with Chris Evans, Alex Waldie & a few other boys I don't know.
Should be awesome!

Much love to my Alaskan bound family!
Till next time!
xo -Leigh

there's nothing you can do, but you can learn how to be you in time, it's easy...

2008-07-06T17:24:00.002-04:00

Tunes:the beatles

this post will be brief.
I'm currently reading Jack Kerouac's On The Road which makes me ache for a time when I have more dispensable income to use on filling my gas tank. Driving around is one of my most favorite pass-times, and more importantly it is a means for me keeping sane in all of my long and lonely days here in Virginia.
That sounds dramatic, my day's aren't typically lonely.
But some days really, really are.
On these kinds of days, instead of seeking out others to help me feel less lonely I seek out a way to be as alone as possible. Counter productive you say? No- more like embracing how I'm feeling and running with it. I think sometimes we need to let emotions run their course through ourselves. Yesterday I would up at the top of Route 33, where the line between West Virginia and Virginia meet. There's a pull off near a hiking trail that I parked at. I spread a towel out on the ground near some wild flowers and sunbathed while writing. It felt good. I also drove through most of Eastern West Virginia. More on that tomorrow.
For right now- Kerouac is so well known for a reason. His main character, Sal, embodies this sort of craving many people my age have about finding themselves out in the great, wide-open somewhere. I'll be done it by Tuesday.

time for wine!
more tomorrow,
Leigh

movies, etc.

2008-07-02T12:28:00.003-04:00

Tunes: "girls not grey"// AFI

It's odd to me that the 4th of July is pretty much already here. It doesn't feel like it- I guess that's a part of growing up; things you used to look forward to lose their magic over time. I also didn't have camping and a lobster bake to look forward to like I have most summers of my life, so that definitely makes this upcoming 4th look like it'll be an unimpressive one. We don't even have plans! I think I might spend the weekend attempting to do some papers I need to do for my program, that way by the time I'm in new classes in the fall, I have a leg up on the portfolio.
Anyways. My sure-to-be-boring 4th and classwork was not my intended subject of this post. Far from it. I was going to use this post to babble about movies that I've seen the last few weeks, thanks to Alie's new Blockbuster card. It's made not having cable bearable.

This summer has been the summer of John Cusack in my apartment. Happy day for me, as the man is my number one favorite actor. We've since watched all the movies I own with him in it, and this week we rented both "Martian Child" and "Grace is Gone".

I'm pretty sure my family thinks I'm ridiculous with my love for John, but honestly- the man is phenomenal actor. It's interesting to see him in these newer films, too because he's completely evolved as a character since his "Better Off Dead" days. Instead of being the guy chasing after love, he's turned into the guy who's losing love and trying to adequately deal, or even fill that void. In "Martian Child" his wife passes away, and he wants to fulfill the hopes him and his wife had once had about having children. So he goes through the process of adopting Dennis, a child who's been abandoned by so many people has the learned coping mechanism of thinking he's a Martian from outer space only visiting Earth for a mission. Such a great movie, the Dennis kid reminds me a lot of my little brother. AND the kid is obsessed with polaroids, so clearly- he's a child after my own heart.

In "Grace is Gone" I got to see John in a completely (completely) different role that I'm used to. After making the film, he spoke with James Lipton on Inside the Actors Studio and was complimented that this film was his best ever. John expressed that the role was powerful for him, and emotional. It's interesting to watch this when knowing his very outspoken stance against the war in Iraq, as well as our presidency. In this film, he plays the sort of proto-typical Republican father of two little girls from middle America, whose wife dies in battle in the Middle East. Heart wrenching, yet still so so amazing. Watch it.

Moving on to...an equally depressing, yet in a different way, movie, "Half Nelson" features the attractive ex-mousekateer, Ryan Gosling, as a coke-headed middle-school history teacher. Ridiculous premise, right? It works. It ends oddly, but poignantly. It's not what I expected at all, but goodness. It was amazing to see the juxtaposition between his addiction and his focus on his students.

Lastly, we rented this movie because we'd seen previews for it on a bunch of other recent rentals. Plus, anything with both Phillip Seymore Hoffman as well as Laura Linney seems like a great idea to me. In a story about siblings, an aging father and intersecting life lines, "The Savages" was great yet dismal.

The ending saved me from not liking the film. I really loved Laura Linney's character, she seemed so real and reminiscent of so many people I know- or feel like I will know by the time I'm in my late 30's. Ha.

On a completely unrelated note, I just found out I'll be going to a conference up in Ann Arbor, Michigan the 2nd to last week of July. It's for the National Institute of Intergroup Dialog which will help me as a "student affairs professional" to work with students and to understand the intergroup dynamics that exist in and outside of the classroom. Sounds exciting, right? I think this will be great to supplement my experiences in CMSS and my upcoming year over in the Treehouses (talk about intergroup diversity, freshman at one end of the row, and sorority sisters at the other).

All of this writing has made me realize I should get back to work.
This time next week, I'll be at home!
Peace,
-Leigh

sunday, take two: staunton

2008-06-29T16:28:00.003-04:00

Tunes: coffee shop sounds

This morning I sounded like such a drip. I'm feeling better now- I think I just really needed to get up and do something. Making breakfast for myself and the roomies did the trick- I found a great recipe for low-fat pancakes made with applesauce, instant oatmeal and sour cream. I opted out of using sour cream (mainly because we don't have any in the fridge) and went with the only things I had that was comparable- cottage cheese. Believe it or not, that substitution worked really well. They were pretty heavy and filling, but not out of richness or fattiness. Delicious!
If you're interested in the recipe, just follow this link: pancakes!

I'm currently sitting and writing at a coffee shop in downtown Staunton, Virginia called The Daily Grind. It's a welcomed change of scenery from our normal coffee shop haunts in Harrisonburg. Really, just being in this town is a welcome change from the 'burg.

Staunton, Virginia is like Portsmouth in the middle of the Valley. It's where Woodrow Wilson was born, and is referred to as the "Queen City" of the Valley...not much like the Queen City I'm familiar with, it's still charming enough to warrant a 40 minute car ride down route 42 on a Sunday, when we know damn well not very many places are open. There's a fantastic Antiques shop that I went to once in April when Mum, Dad & Ty were down to celebrate my birthday. I found some great vintage fabric which I have since used to make a laptop sleeve for the macbook, and plan on making a dress with. We'll see if and when the motivation to do that strikes me.

While sitting in this coffee shop, Emily has registered to run her first marathon in January. I'm so excited for her! It's probably the best location for a marathon, too: Disney World. I was excited at the potential possibility to go root her on, but sadly I need to be on campus- it's the same weekend Winter break ends. The three of us are however talking about going to Memphis for Spring Break next March- which would be amazing. If you know me at all, you know that I have been wanting to go to Tennessee for years. Memphis intrigues me on so many levels- the music, the culture, the food. This trip would be fairly cheap, too, as we're looking into staying at a hostel in downtown which only charges $10 a night per person. It's an 11 hour drive from here, though- so we would probably stop after 6 hours of driving in Knoxville and stay with Emily's friend, Matt who goes to school there. I am totally getting ahead of myself here- who knows what'll be going on at that point in time next year, but it is fun to give myself something to look forward to.

In the meantime, I'm going to spend some time reading instead of clacking away on the internet. One last note, however- Recently my interest in Peter Gabriel has been rekindled. Coincidentally, there's a great rumor going around internet music blogs about how he may do a cover of a Vampire Weekend song, "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa." Such great news! If you like Mr. Gabriel as much as me, check out the Vampire Weekend song below so you can get a feel for what one of his upcoming projects will be!

http://www.mediafire.com/?eend9mjlmjd

Cheers!
-Leigh

recent reads

2008-06-28T11:14:00.000-04:00

Tunes: "Bag of Bones"// Owen

I recently finished How to Be Good by Nick Hornby, who is one of my favorite authors. He's the same author who wrote Fever Pitch, High Fidelity, About a Boy and Long Way Down- all of which are fantastic, especially Long Way Down. How to be Good was interesting in that he wrote the book from a female main character's perspective- and quite well. What's more is that it touches upon the interesting perdicament that liberals find themselves in- how liberal is too liberal that you're just plain ridiculous. The story focuses on the post-modern family in a world where they are caught between deciding whether or not they should feel guilty for the advantages and accomplishments they have- and what this guilt will make some family members do. It's great.

Read it.

Today I finished Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees. Finally. I started it before school ended, but got caught up in end of the year stuff, and then new apartment stuff, and then I lent it to Alie while she went to Scotland, and Emily so she could read it at work. Anyways. It was just a great coming-of-age story based in the South (Tilborn, South Carolina)...2 of my favorite story elements, really. Best part was how it took place during the summer the Civil Rights Act was passed (1964), and I find myself drawn to anything that will give me more insight into that tumultuous time in our country (going to Alabama in April really helped spark that interest). Great story- made me want to eat honey more often.

One of these days I'm going to figure out how to post mp3's of the songs I'm listening to up here. In the meantime, pictures of books will have to do!

Much love!
-Leigh

coffee & internet

2008-06-23T17:41:00.004-04:00

Tunes: Billie Holiday

I'm writing this from the outside seating at one of my favorite spots in the 'burg, The Artful Dodger. What's been pretty obnoxious about our subletting situation is that we don't have cable- or internet. It's something that is totally and completely manageable. We rent House M.D. on DVD or watch one of our many movies from our shared movie collection (aka: we watch "The Producers" over and over again). So, this predicament leaves me having to steal internet from our unassuming neighbors (it's what you get for not securing your wireless!), or having to hike downtown to use some complimentary wireless from any various establishment. Like right now.

The beauty of sitting at The Dodger is that it totally transcends coffee shop & internet cafe. It's a cocktail lounge, that also serves great food, offers a weekly salsa night and sells artwork from local artisans inside.
Truth be told, it is fabulous. Extremely reminiscent of Portsmouth's Friendly Toast, only with a more...earthy, worldly vibe, and with less punk-rock sassiness from the staff. Which is fantastic.

Anyways. It's Monday, and it seems like one hell of a weekend has just concluded. Between seeing The Reflex with Alie & Rachel on Friday and then Summer Freedom Fest in Richmond both Saturday & Sunday morning, I didn't get much rest. It was well worth it, though.

The Reflex is my best excuse to liberally apply eye makeup and wear some of my favorite out of style clothing (the stuff I would wear anyday, but probably shouldn't, as I look like a goon). Alie and I always get decked out and dance our pants off. How can you not when the music selections by this band range from Journey's timeless "Don't Stop Believing" to Cyndi Lauper's tongue-in-cheek "She Bop"? We didn't stay late as the bar they were playing at is lame and the crowd was pretty stupid. At least Al and I looked cute.

Summer Freedom Fest is this ridiculous 3 day celebration that my roommate Emily's brother, Matt, puts on every year at the beginning of summer. He's a school teacher in the Richmond area. Once the school year is done, he and his group of teacher friends spends Friday evening, all day Saturday and Sunday morning/ early afternoon relaxing, drinking, eating, laughing and being simply ridiculous. We participated as best we could, only joining the party around 6pm Saturday. Matt and his fiance live in this amazing apartment in Richmond in a neighborhood that resembles the French quarter in New Orleans. The houses all have great little front porches and yards with fences seperating them from the sidewalk. Their bathrooms still have the original sinks and faucets, along with claw-footed bathtubs. The floorboards are wide and creak when you walk across them. It's pretty much the kind of house I dream to own someday.

We finally decided to get to bed around 3:30- only after a good amount of debauchery, most of which Matt filmed. Which is great. We were up again and out the door by 10:30 for "recovery breakfast" at Penny & her partner's place. Alie, Emily & I had so much fun. I especially enjoyed making friends with the likes of Noelle, Brianne & Heather- who are all 30 something, and have settled into the teaching profession by being cynical and still 20 something at heart. We ate some incredible southern cooking, courtesy of Penny (biscuts and sausage gravy? yum) and enjoyed the humid air beneath this enormous tree in their backyard.

I also managed to finish the book I was reading this weekend. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who's as fond of modern coming of age tales as I am. Not good for people with a low tolerance for cussing, or grotesque language use. If you're familiar with the Chicago youth counter-culture during the late 80's, or if you enjoy Ska, Hardcore and Oi- it might be right up your alley...

The macbook's battery is dying, so I suppose it's time to wrap it up. Before I do, though...

[another reason why I love the sox so much]

and lastly...

[may you rest in piece, mr. carlin]

Peace & Much Love!
-Leigh

Everybody's working for the weekend...

2008-06-18T12:33:00.008-04:00

Tunes: "level one"// the governess

This past weekend was fantastic. Between a BBQ & leaving our mark on Reddish Knob to going up to Fairfax for Emily's graduation party, I came home Sunday pooped out...and with a new appreciation for acrostic poets and Jello molds.

The weather the last couple weeks has been absolutely oppressive. Normally back home, it's just plain summery at this point of the year, not dog-days-of-summery like it's been in the Valley. I think that the humidity has actually been good for our front stoop flowers, though. Which is a fair enough trade off for the sticky weather, if you ask me...

[beautiful, huh?]

In the meantime, I should get back to work. Seeing as I am at my job right now.
More Reddish Knob photos to come!
Much love,
Leigh

swimming holes: no. 1

2008-06-13T16:05:00.011-04:00

Tunes: Neil Young

Since moving down here last August, all I have heard about is how great this nearby swimming spot called Blue Hole is. My RA's went there during training, a lot of my residents went there, too. Given that I am generally uncomfortable in my bathing suit in front of people I don't know, I wasn't exactly jumping at the opportunity to go down there and check it out myself. Last weekend however, the oppressive nature of the weather became so unbearable that I couldn't put off going any longer. I suggested it to Alie and Emily (my summer roommates and best friends down here), who were totally on board, and also got Seth- our favorite neighbor- to come along.

The drive out to Rawley Springs (which is actually where this Blue Hole place is) was beautiful. In about a year's time, you'd think the novelty of living in religious, farming community would wear off. No way. My appreciation for it has only grown since summer has descended into the Valley. There's something to be said about the comfort felt from the subtle smell of manure, and the warm glow of the green fields as you drive past them- even on the hottest and most humid of days. My windows stay down on days like these, and my sunglasses remain a constant fixture on my face. It's so great.

This Sunday the weather was perfect. Hot, humid air, blue sky, puffy clouds. Arriving at Rawley Springs, we parked along the edge of the road, and gathered only the bare necessities before hiking down to the river. All I could think of while making this treck was how my family would do something very similar to this when I was in middle and high school. We'd find a great spot to park up on the side of the Kancamagus Highway in northern New Hampshire. Like a classy Budweiser print ad, my mother and aunts on the river's edge would be in charge of tossing beers to my uncles who were wading in the river. Often times this would include dramatic retrevals of runaway beers and big splashes. My cousins and I were generally preoccupied with more important matters such as attempting to move boulders on the river bed so when we let the current take us down a slight incline, we wouldn't break our tail bones. Those were the days.

Anyways, back to Sunday. Blue Hole was pretty packed. Lots of people, lots of dogs, lots of noise. All of this really just made it more endearing to me. The sun was brutal, but the water was amazing- clear and cool. Had the enormous Golden Retriever hadn't been wandering around and rubbing up against me everytime I was on the banks of the river, it would have been perfect.

The best part about Blue Hole is that it completely lives up to the name. The main swimming spot is located where this enormous blue...hole is found in the water. It seems like the enormous boulder on the north edge of the river (where everyone jumps from) was pulled up by people at some point, leaving this massive deep spot in the water bseide it. Emily & Seth jumped hand in hand at one point, ha, and Alie and I played Mom's by sitting in the water on a nearby boulder holding their things.

We left fairly early as Emily needed to work. But after getting back to the apartment, the three of us who didn't have to work decided to go and find another swimming hole to beat the heat. The drive that followed was even more beautiful than the one earlier in the day- we drove through Mossy Creek and down this back road into the Geaorge Washington National Forest. Seth was determined to have us check out this cliff-jumping spot he's super fond of on Todd Lake out there. The roads we drove on were more like big, gravel trails and my Volvo was probably pretty annoyed with me for making her drive down there. We arrived at this dam in the middle of the woods and hiked up the side of the hill that meets the lake. It was unnerving- the trail was small and uphill- which meant the edge of the lake sunk further and further away from us and soon enough the hill we were on turned to a sort of ledge with trees. I forget how afraid of heights I am because I don't often put myself into situations to be up high. As we reached the platform Seth has jumped from, my legs and hands were shaking- and not just from the little hike we had done to get there. 60 feet seems a lot further down than it sounds. Thankfully, we opted to drive elsewhere to swim as the lower platforms to jump from were swarmed with a bunch of Ukranian people.

We ended up in the town of Stokesville right outside of the National Forest; under a one lane bridge and swimming along side this adorable Virginian family that had thick accents, floaties and the obligatory Budweisers in a foam cooler...

This is Seth & our new friend Amos. A fearless nine-year old, Amos didn't hesitate to strike up conversation with us- especially Seth. He even let him use the coveteted innertube- only to flip Seth over moments later. So great. His little brother, Mickey, was even more adorable.

Really, the most beautiful, relaxing and summery day thus far. More to come, for sure.

Now, it's off to Reddish Knob for dinner and the sunset and marshmellow roasting!

Here's to a great weekend.

Peace!

-Leigh

obligatory first entry to introduce myself...

2008-06-12T15:02:00.004-04:00

Hey, all. The name's Leigh, and while I am new to this Blogger site for sure, I am by no means a newbie to the world of online journaling. After having kept a personal livejournal for 6 or 7 years, I figured I'd take a step away from divulging all of my inner angst and turmoil and adopted a public blog that I could send to my family as a means for them to keep up with me (cause I'm sure they're dying to know about my silly life as a graduate student). I also hope to use this as a means to voice my viewpoints on things that I notice down here in the Shenandoah Valley as the transplanted New Englander that I am. So this will be most comprable to a personal travel journal, although my traveling will be fairly limited to the Alleghany & Appalachian regions of Virginia & West Virginia. I will post pictures, thoughts and, of course, the music that is serving as the soundtrack to my (not-so)fabulous life down here.

There. That serves well as a first entry.
Lovely.

Until next time!

-Leigh