Freight Train Runnin' thru the Middle of My Head

Quiet afternoon, windows wide open, rain the forecast
Left alone in Jason's house, while he goes fishing with his dad. Mother-in-law is at work. It's just me and the menagerie: 3 dogs, 2 cats, I think. There may be others that I've forgotten to add to the tally.

Supposed to storm off and on for the entire time we're gone, everywhere we're going to be. I don't mind all that much. It's about 15 degrees cooler here in KY than when I left the blazing hell of North Carolina. I will miss many things about you, NC, but the heat is not one of them.

Been working on a research project, a little presentation for the AATSP conference in Mexico. So far, I feel more motivated to lie on the Griffeys' couch and snooze with the dogs.

See you on the other side of the mountains
I'll try to write from KY and maybe again from TN. You never know. These family trips turn into wild Rummy tournaments, discount shopping marathons, and lots of eating. I could be busy. And I hear there is a chemical filled pool at my brother-in-law's place. And there will be minor league baseball with fireworks. It all seems appropriate, somehow, for Memorial Day. Even though with MY family (not Jason's), Memorial Day means going to visit relatives' graves and taking flowers. And then what we called a "weenie roast" (no joke), which is like a redneck barbecue without the grill. We'd just make a huge bonfire in the yard and roast hot dogs and marshmallows, despite the uncomfortable sensation of fire burning your face off and dropping at least one or two attempts at food into the ashes. Something about food and death. That's Memorial Day in my mind. How very primal.

On the Road Again
Been home from Ohio for oh, about seven days, and I'm leaving again. This time to TN and KY. It's never anything exotic; it's always those three states in some combination: OH, TN, KY, usually passing through WV and VA. At least it's a gorgeous drive.

Meanwhile, one of my friends is in England and another is going to Spain next week. Still others are headed to New Mexico, a state I've never visited. Someone else is going to visit family in Chicago, a city I can't believe I've never been to. It's sad, really. So here I go, uninspired, to TN and KY. Again.

Betsy's Book Club
Maybe it doesn't have the wild popularity of Oprah's (yet), but I'm starting a two-person book club, just for me and Kelsi. A result of brainstorming about how to keep her interested in books and reading while she is on summer vacation. She lives with my parents, who are too tired to really worry whether she spends her time in front of the TV or doing something a bit more educational. She's starting to write, and she likes getting mail. So, here's the plan:

I send her three books and a folder with pages that she fills out with the title of the book and her opinion (check: I liked it, I loved it, I hated it, etc.). Then she can write a little comment if she wants. After she reads and comments on three books, she sends me the form, and I send her more books. The beat goes on until school starts. It's a summer reading program, see. What's better than free books? Even a child can get into that prospect.

My first letter from Kelsi (age 7): a poem

Dear Besty
Today I am wearing
my new scurt
and my new shurt
out play in the
Durt

Thanke
You.

The heat is on
It's HOT in North Carolina right now, for those of you who didn't know. Regardless, I'm on a quest to become more physically active. Jason got me a subscription to Health magazine, which is truly my favorite magazine and the only one I can generally read cover-to-cover. It has inspired me to eat better foods (more veggies, yes, and drinking green tea are my current goals). It has inspired me to try and squeeze a bit of movement into every day, even when I'm hot, tired, and/or busy. I'll let you know how it goes.

In other news, still no word on the missing photos and memory card. I've gone from sad to angry at myself for losing it.

In still more news, Shrek 2 is great...super funny, even Antonio Banderas. Go see it if you liked the first one.

Crap
Back to Carrboro safely. A quick little plane ride from Columbus to RDU, no problem. I get up this morning after sleeping in, only to find that something is missing. The memory card for my digital camera, absolutely chock FULL of pictures from my trip!! I can't remember being more upset about something. I'm not upset about losing the card...I can buy another. But I can't replace those pictures. I have absolutely no idea where it is, and I've placed frantic calls to everyone in Ohio to see if I can track it down. We even checked the Columbus airport.

Please keep your fingers crossed that somebody finds it.

More from Athens
Somehow I agreed to teach a couple of classes while I'm here at OU. Being that they are upper level and Latin American poetry, I'm somewhat excited about it. The only thing is, it's supposed to be my "vacation." :( Today I'm teaching the poetry of Salvadoran Roque Dalton, a revolutionary who was assasinated in 1975 at the age of 39, purportedly by rival revolutionaries. Makes for an interesting discussion about poetry as a weapon, art and politics, the poet as guerilla.

The weekend was full of festivities and frivolities, despite the rain and cold that nearly ruined the International Street Fair on Saturday. Tim's birthday surprise was a success, though. One of the few times we've ever seen him speechless. Dr B is a saint to put up with all of us and the mad chaos that we always bring to his house. It was a reunion of sorts, and we had lots of good conversations about the old days and the days ahead. A huge (and wonderful!) surprise, I'm bringing home a gift from Todd, one of his enlarged, framed photographs of children in the Yucatan. It's gorgeous! I can't wait to hang it in my new place.

I'm sitting in an old haunt, the Alden Library on Ohio University's campus. It's weird to be here again, in the reference dept, just like old times. There's a new room in the library just for the International Collections, which is super cool. I'm going to check that out in a second.

Yesterday I just chilled out. We watched Love Actually, which I had been dying to see. The plot with the lovestruck 11-year-old was my favorite. It doesn't hurt that Liam Neeson is an adorable dad in this film.

I'm headed to Court Street, the Athens equivalent of Chapel Hill's Franklin St. Just smaller, and made of bricks. I'll be hitting all the coffee shops, trying to read. There are three to visit now. There will also be shopping in the weird little stores...a better selection than Franklin, especially for kooky gifts. I'm also on the hunt for an OU Alumni t-shirt. Here I go for cup of coffee #1.

What I Did on My Summer Vacation (Part I)
Spent countless hours in the garden of Tim and Brian near Wheelersburg, OH. Sitting in a porch swing and surrounded by gorgeous plants, a pond, and an old brickyard that they've converted into a beautiful home, I listened to frogs, woodpeckers, songbirds, and distant thunder. I wrote in my journal, talked to Tim (who I have been missing terribly), and relaxed. I've been so relaxed, in fact, that I've been going to bed early and sleeping soundly, waking up when my body tells me to. My perfect vacation.

I've petted roosters and baby goats, visited greenhouses, and potted dozens of plants for the aforementioned garden. I loved getting my hands dirty, the cool of the soil, choosing which plants to put in which containers. I may have finally found a new hobby. Thanks, Tim!

I've also dined at a Portsmouth establishment called Ye Old Lantern (maybe Ole or Ol', I don't remember). I had perhaps the finest burger of my life there, and an uncharacteristic Bud Light. It was the best of the choices on tap, and it surprisingly tasted great with the juicy burger and crispy fries. Heavenly.

Yesterday I was transported to Athens, OH, and I'm here now with another person I've missed terribly, Chrysty. She's at work and I'm lounging, trying to get out of vacation mode and into book review mode, since I have one due when I return to NC. Having a great time, wish you were here. Will write more soon.

Jason is graduating!
Tomorrow Jason puts on the funny robe and gets his Master's of Library Science degree officially conferred upon him. We have both been so touched by the overwhelming support that he's gotten and the warm congratulations from family and friends. We've had a whirlwind week with company, showing people around, and general celebration. Monday I leave Jason and the kitties to decompress and relax with the house all to themselves. So much to do before then!

Campus is dead
I sort of like it that way. I feel like an intruder, though, which is weird. So quiet, my building and my office both like tombs. It's so hot outside, too, unlike last year for my graduation, when it was cold, rainy, and disgusting. Ah, the wacky North Carolina weather. I'm confused. Is it summer? Or spring? Did we have one? A few glorious days, and that's it.

Tonight is the Durham Bulls game, always a good time. Baseball makes me happy, regardless of what else is going on. It de-stresses me like nothing else.

I'm also trying to pay bills, do laundry, and pack before my trip to Ohio Monday. Ten days with some of the best friends anyone has ever had, no exaggeration. I am lucky to have people who love me so much. And there will be frivolity, guaranteed! More on that when I actually blog on location in Athens, home of a different alma mater, Ohio University. Stay tuned!

Here come the people
One of our guests has arrived, Travis, an old old friend from way back when. We picked him up at the airport, went to the farmer's market for some strawberries (oooh yeah), then to the grocery store for other "necessities." What's more necessary than strawberries? I ask myself that nearly every day. But anyway, the guys made tasty salads and little sandwiches of tomato, mozzarella, and basil.

By the way, here are some of my recent discoveries (warning: shameless advertising coming up):
New Balance shoes. So comfy. No "breaking in" needed. I bought a pair over the weekend and I'm already in love with them.

Guittard chocolate. Ooooh baby. Jason bought some for me at Southern Season and one decent-sized bar of dark chocolate is only 50 calories!! If you know about the WW points system, it's only ONE POINT!!! That's almost free!!! And, it is some of the smoothest, tastiest dark chocolate I've ever had. Yummmm.

Damn this rain
I love the sound of the rain, but it's giving me a headache. Damn.

The weekend was insane. Between the yardsale washout, spending 3 hours in Dey Hall Saturday checking in grades, and today's marathon errand running, I'm pooped. Too bad tomorrow is Monday. Today we cruised around the new Target, where I made some unexpected purchases for Kelsi. The coolest ever reversible skirt, for instance. Butterflies on one side, stripes on the other. Amazing. Also bought some dress shirts for Jason at TJ Maxx (we love a bargain!!!), some shoes for both of us as the mall, and flourescent lights at Lowe's. And a Mother's Day gift to be named later. It was a day full of getting wet (again) and spending cash. The best part was Rockfish, which has tasty grub. I had the grilled salmon salad, which is simple but very good.

Otherweekend highlights: finally saw Pieces of April, which was great. Hit a bit close too home for me in parts, and I found myself getting teary at times, even though it is labeled a "comedy." Also caught the documentary about The Who on IFC, The Kids Are Alright followed by Tommy. Good, good stuff. Trippy, entrancing. Pete Townsend is a genuis.

EVERYTHING MUST GO!: The Yardsale

Hours spent cleaning out closets, cabinets, and the attic: untold
Hours spent pricing items to sell: 3
Money spent to buy poster board and a giant marker to make the signs: $6
Hours spent sitting on the lawn waiting for customers: 2
Customers: around 10
Money earned: $13.25

Getting all your old stuff rained on and deciding to shove it all in a dumpster (illegally)? priceless

p.s. What did I get out of the ordeal? A ham sandwich. Oh well. Better luck next year. At least I got rid of all the junk I didn't want. As a side note, the clothes were luckily rescued from the pouring rain and will be donated to charity.