it's been a couple of weeks now, and i'm happy to report that the land of enchantment is precisely that. i'm still growing accustomed to this dry air and abundant sunshine, and i find myself distracted by sunlight on a pretty regular basis (as it turns out, some things don't change). i started work at the albuquerque store last week, thank GOD. i was starting to drive myself nuts. although i wouldn't trade the two weeks to properly move and settle in - which i've never done, ever, and it was worth every minute - i was pretty stir crazy... Continue reading

autumn is officially here, although that's seemed to take on a different meaning in new mexico. it was legitimately hot today, not that i'm complaining. i head back to work tomorrow (at last!), and i used the warm weather and my last official day in situ to get some housekeeping items resolved and lace my running shoes back up. autumn, winter, spring - it's all running season for me. i've never tried running at such a high elevation before, and i should note that i'm not a very skilled runner anyway. i have terrible form, a lumbering pace and i... Continue reading

my mailing address is officially albuquerque, new mexico. how cool! and strange. all things considered, the road trip from richmond to chattanooga to memphis to oklahoma city to albuquerque at last was a reasonably pleasant and uneventful one. i think about the things that could have gone abysmally astray - my sweet subaru, which groaned along pulling the trailer filled with all my keepsakes, could have said "nope!", which blessedly it never did. billy and i could have lapsed into an argument of epic proportions, because no one in their right mind wants to spend that much time in a... Continue reading

the road trip is underway, with two days of driving down and two more to go. after a couple of days of frantic and occasionally frustrating packing, a killer evening of music at the RVA music fest, and 800+ miles in the subaru, i'm definitely anxiously awaiting a more permanent stopping point in albuquerque. however, along the way i've managed to collect some pretty epic brochures at the various tennessee welcome centers, INCLUDING... the renaissance center of tennessee will meet all your needs! it features shopping...nature (check out the old dude in the tube socks, au naturale)...also laser lights, relaxing... Continue reading

i officially have two weeks left at work at my store in richmond, and (i'll admit it) it's bittersweet. my manager posted my position, and they'll start interviews for that next week. i started the process of selling off a few of the things that i own that are space consuming - including my boat, which is more than just a little tough. i've moved enough times at this point to know better...but i still want to take everything. although i was glad for the opportunity to say goodbye to the ocean in person, last night i went down to... Continue reading

after a necessary hiatus, the blog documentation is back in action, and in for it's originally intended purpose! it's been a several week whirlwind, but at the end of it all i have some good news. i don't think it's been any secret really that i've been actively applying and interviewing for jobs over the last six weeks or so. i deeply appreciate the culture at REI and, if i have my way, i'm not leaving this company anytime soon...or ever. but, as with lots of things, especially lots of things with me, change is healthy and good and necessary,... Continue reading

a blessing for the traveler every time you leave home, another road takes you into a world you were never in. new strangers on other paths await. new places that have never seen you will startle a little at your entry. old places that know you well will pretend nothing changed since your last visit. when you travel, you find yourself alone in a different way, more attentive now to the self you bring along, your more subtle eye watching you abroad; and how what meets you touches that part of the heart that lies low at home: how you... Continue reading

against my better judgement, and all common nutritional knowledge, i had a pot of coffee, 2 extra strength tylenol, a melatonin supplement, a sudafed tablet and 11 hours of sleep for dinner last night. i feel like i should grab a pack of cigarettes, open some hygienically suspect bar in a two star hotel, and call it a life. (i'm very, very pathetic when i'm sick.) Continue reading

after 14 days away from my own bed, my sacred pile of pillows, my perfectly adjusted shower pressure, my coffee grinder, and my own unique pace in all things, i'm home and i'm glad. traveling challenges you in almost every way - you are physically taxed by time changes, irregular (and sometimes really tragic) meals, long treks through unfamiliar cities with too much baggage in tow, cursing yourself for not packing lighter, and cursing everyone around you for being right in your way all the time, sleep deprived from nights spent on beds with weird lumps, neck aching from those... Continue reading

last week, i had the really treasured opportunity to represent my store at the anderson award event. each year, REI employees at our retail locations, distribution centers and AHQ departments nominate their peers and eventually select at least one person in their work group that they feel best represents our core values of respect, authenticity, service, integrity, quality, and balance. the selected individual receives the anderson award for that year, so named after the founders of REI, lloyd and mary anderson. it's a huge honor to receive an anderson award, but there's a terrific reward that accompanies it as well... Continue reading

we're here! we're here! the long awaited and anticipated trip to scotland is underway - but, of course, not without a couple of interesting exchanges with the people we encounter along the way. first things first, i drove down to charlotte so that claire and i could fly out together. wednesday morning we arrived at the airport bright eyed and bushy tailed and boarded our connection to atlanta, where i immediately proceeded to pass the eff out the second the plane took off. i believe i've cultivated a unique coping mechanism for my paralyzing motion sickness: sleep. obviously i travel... Continue reading

i don't think i was initially concerned when i decided that it would be a good idea to develop a summer reading list. but, now that i've agreed to read all of the books on my sisters summer reading list in order to read along and be a resource to her, i am starting to consider that perhaps i should look into...making some friends. or getting a hobby. or moving from this hellhole, immediately. in any case, i've just finished the most recent title on my personal list - the intuitionist, by colson whitehead, and while i didn't enjoy it... Continue reading

summer solstice isn't for a few days yet, but the truth is...it's irrelevant this year. in fact, summer hit us this week like a ton of bricks. i suppose i should have known it was all too good to be true - all that wet, fragrant air, sitting outside on may mornings in a sweater. we got such a magnificent springtime, i had hopes for a gentle transition into summer, but as it turns out - as soon as we crested the memorial day hump, summer was just...here. and in full force - hot, blazing sunshine and suffocating humidity. in... Continue reading

i love TED talks, especially when talking takes a different form. inspiring and absolutely lovely. Continue reading

i believe i've discovered the fundamental flaw in the way that i approach cultivating happiness and fulfillment. example: i wrapped up my work day on sunday, threw a duffle bag and my pup in the subaru, and hightailed it straight to north carolina. i needed a haircut (DESPERATELY), i needed some quality time with people that i love, and i needed to be in a nice city. i'm not sure if that last part makes sense, but for those of you that have been to charlotte and richmond, perhaps you'll understand what i mean when i say that richmond is... Continue reading

okay, the truth is, this weekend was supposed to be this epic musical experience in richmond, complete with the dominion riverrock festival on brown's island, an evening with amos lee, and the flaming lips at the national. in an unexpected turn of events, by friday night i came to the clear conclusion that i really didn't have the energy for any of those things. wimp out? i guess. (i did go to riverrock on friday evening, laughed really, really hard, consumed a sickly delicious milkshake and had a wonderful time, thus relinquishing my obligations to the rest of to weekend... Continue reading

i'm not sure (exactly) what it is, but there's some quality to the cosmetic aisles at stores with general wares that makes me emotionally regress into this tightly wound knot of insecurity. is that normal? i start out basically enjoying the process of browsing aisles filled with fun little containers of lip stain, foundation, blushes, creams. i think it's somewhere around mascara that i start getting a little unsteady, and by the time i reach basic pressed powder i'm a complete mess. i find myself stealing glances of myself in every one of those magnified cosmetic mirrors (a horrible, horrible... Continue reading

it's been a little while, so i thought i would drop in and say hello. i wish i had more to share, but as it turns out, i've just been living my life without glamour and with pretty limited distraction. work continues to fill my days with an infinite depth of really rewarding moments as i watch my boos grow and blossom and move on to the next right thing, and (just as important) it continues to provide an abundance of truly fun experiences and opportunities for great dialogue and laughter. i feel lucky that even on the shittiest of... Continue reading

whether by it's own consent or not, spring is here. the weather has started it's mercurial transition towards warmer days - one blazing hot day, followed by a dreary, frigid one. i don't mind, not that my permission has anything to do with it. mostly i'm just glad that i can see my favorite season take shape, slowly, in the form of bright green leaves and blossoms and pollen everywhere. this winter has been too damn long. i went to shenandoah national park this week and took a long walk on one of my favorite circuit hikes. everything was super... Continue reading

the good: i've had the last two days off, and it's been positively delightful. i feel like i've finally had time to snuggle with my dog, catch up with friends, plan some upcoming travels. the most recent series of hoop dancing classes at dogtown dance started this week, and i'm already stoked to fire hoop at the end of april. :) i went to the picasso exhibit at the virignia museum of fine arts yesterday afternoon, which was lovely and mind blowing. this particular exhibition is mouth watering, since it's the only east coast venue on it's tour around the... Continue reading

alright, alright! i've been terribly neglectful of this blog over the last couple of weeks. i'm sorry! i'll be better, i promise. geez, BLOG. just because i don't call every week does not mean i don't love you anymore. AND STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT. i won't be taken in by your firm but loving stare. it should shock no one that i've been shamelessly avoiding the process of moving into my new place. here's the truth: i'm effing TIRED. totally wiped. so, coming home at the end of the day, even the prospect of looking at a box... Continue reading

ushering in the first saturday of march, i feel like there's something here that's worth celebration. it's not quite springtime yet, but we're really close and i can feel it on the way. sure, the temperatures are rising, and so is the humidity, and my sinuses are certainly anticipating and responding to the early blooming happening outside. but, there are some intangibles there too - a true freshness to human encounters, an eagerness to explore, an willingness to leave the past in the past because, dammit, a new season is on the way and we're all ready for it. i... Continue reading

so, recently i've been experimenting with scones. baking them, that is. i love to cook, a well known fact in all circles except for (apparently) my familial circle, and i've wanted a breakfast pastry in the arsenal for a long time. muffins don't count, and things like danishes are too sugary for me to consume on a regular basis. plus, i don't like congealed things, like jellies. so scones seemed like a very logical choice, at least to me. i've tried all varieties of fruits at this point, and so far raspberries provide the most delightful balance of sweet and... Continue reading