So on days I dont blog, Im going to photo blog. Today is one of those days.

This photo was taken in Kernsville, NC at Jason’s coworkers home. I like the pretty red about it.

There is a cafe style restaurant I drive by everyday. Its sort of out of place, somewhere you’d not really expect a restaurant. I remember seeing it when I drove home one day shortly after moving to my current home and wanting to try it. Be a fun thing to take a little walk to it and pick up a sandwich for lunch or something. I took many walks and always forgot to go in the way of the restaurant. Today when I drove to work I noticed there was a for lease sign up in it’s parking lot. I didn’t want to believe my chance had pass, that something else was for lease. The sign in the window and empty case that was still lit up said otherwise. Its a small thing, but I really wish I took the time to check out that little spot. Never would of thought I would have such a little window of time to be adventurous in a small way. I have nothing really profound to offer with this post. No cliché saying of letting the moment pass you by sorta sentiment. It does though encourage me to just do something instead of putting it on the another day list. Maybe in some way its a reminder that I keep myself too busy for the small stuff, like a place I pass by everyday that I didn’t take the time to check out. Id like to think theres a reason I pass the same things everyday, bigger than me.

Since the cable is still out, I made it a priority to getting my DVD player to work. I haven’t really had a need to hook it up or use it since moving to North Carolina. Even after moving to my current home, I didn’t have a TV when I first moved in and for many months was perfectly content without having a TV. I’ve never had a TV in my room so even now its sorta a strange thing I’m not completely used to. With cable, I never seem to have a need to use my DVD player, I just vegged on Food Network most of the time. Being I didn’t use my DVD player since, well, I lived in Alabama, the remote has seemed to of been misplaced. I know I saw it when I moved from California to North Carolina. I cant remember if I actually unpacked it once I was here. Along with the adaptor or plug-in thing, I’m not a tech girl at all, that went missing. I got one at Radio Shack but it does not fit.. Remember the really sad story about my boxes? How the UPS lost them? Yeah so I wont get into that, but remind the most of you that I got a DVD player in exchange for some of my photo albums. It still makes me sad when I go look for a photo I know I have but don’t. For some reason I still have said DVD player in my positions. I didn’t even think the darn thing worked but plugged in just to see since my DVD player was no avail. Of course it works. Of course the thing I have despised all these months works. All of this to say, I currently am enjoying one mallowmar along with the Gilmore Girls.

Susan posted about her experiance with some cockroaches this week. I started to share my story with her on her comments but decieded to share it with everyone. Its actucally sort of comforting to see someone else having cockroaches show up unwelcomed. I know Susan doesnt keep a messy house, so when I see these things I for some reason think the house is dirty and thats why they are here. So on with the story, two days ago I was in the bathroom when I saw a cockroach crawled up beside me on the bath tub. Ever since I moved to the south I have not been good with these sorta bugs. I dont really remember a time when Carla and I lived together that one made it into the house. Our stairs always had them during the summer. Its like they were having social gathering every night and careful not to step on one to break it up. I, of course, being a girl made a loud sound at the sight of the cockroach and went and got a cup. I put the cup over the cockroach to let it die over night bye suffocation. The next morning I got the bug spray from under the sink and went to spray the evil one down. I didn’t even lift the cup just touched it and it started to flip out inside of the cup. My roommate wakes up and asks “Was it you or Tana (other roommate) who put the bug under the cup?” I said “THAT IS NO BUG! THAT IS A GROSS NASTY BUG WHO MAY TOUCH ME!” She took the cup off, grabbed a tissue and flushed it down the toilet. Then she say to me “You are SUCH a girl.” She is leaving me for two moths too! What am I going do since summer is when these bad guys come out the most! Poor Jason, he may come over one day to dozens of cups spread through out my house with captured creatures.

When I met John Freeman, his hand was behind his back holding a very dirty diaper. He smiled embarrassed and said he’d be right back to properly met me, after opening his front door. Every interaction I’ve had with John has been such a sweet and usually funny one. That first meeting though, I gathered he loved working with youth. Our second meeting, the one more about getting to know me, I still very much got to know John. In the way he thoughtfully listened and asked about my life. Its been a great journey this past year to work and learn from him in the middle school group. Yesterday was his last day, which was bitter sweet. I was happy for him that his family is obeying the call God had placed at their life to move to another great church. It was just hard to know that was the last Sunday we’d share with him under the great big trees on the front lawn. Tuesday night dinners wouldn’t be the same John being there in the mist. I haven’t ever really been able to completely sort my thoughts about saying good-bye to one my favorite youth pastors. Maybe becasue I’m still in the process of it all. I hope to keep with me all that I have been taught by John and apply it to my future in youth ministry and in life.

Last night was the last episode of The Office until the fall. Sadly, I had to close last night so I drove over to Jason’s at 10:30pm to watch it on his TiVo. I had to put my hand (I do believe Jason’s hand too at some point) over my mouth to keep from squealing. Jason reminded me of the late hour and it would not be okay to scream no matter how excited I was. JIM! PAM! TOGETHER! Well a date, which we don’t get to hear about till after summer is over. Oh how long summer will be! YouTube and I will become fast friends again, finding Office jems that are neglected while the show is current.

I have to say how much I really loved Pam this season. Last season I fell in love with Jim, this season its Pam. Its not as though I didn’t like her before now but she has grown so much this past year. It was hard not to rout for her every week. Not in getting her together with Jim, but just in her own strengthen and bravery. Maybe its all the girl power that I love the most. I think women have a hard time being brave (myself including, I am learning) but that is a whole post for another time.

…Stars Hollow world that is.

It's time to bid farewell to Lorelai and Rory and Luke and Logan and Lane and Emily and Richard and Mama Kim and Sookie and Jackson and Kirk and Taylor and Babette and Miss Patty and all the other townies.

(I'm NOT including Paris and Michel in that list, because I continue to hold out hope that they will still give us a spin-off where the two of them room together while Paris attends med school and Michel pursues professional showdogging and in they solve mysteries in their spare time, and I'm also not including Christopher because I secretly think THEY KILLED HIM OFF AND FORGOT TO TELL US ABOUT IT.)

via Mamapop.com via Brandi

Im even going to a Buh-Bye Gilmore Girls Party tonight. Thats right, Im skipping out on the last youth group for the summer and the last one John will be at to be at this party and to watch the last Gilmore Girls. No I do not have a problem. And even if I did, its going away forever tonight so just leave me alone!

I got to watch my friends John and Emily’s kids today for a few hours. They are some of the cuttest kids on earth and I loved capturing some photos of them. Some of them I just have to share (to see more see my flickr. I did put thier photos on private so you need to be my friend to see them, just ask and I’ll add you if your not already).

Look Where We Are Now – Teddy Geiger
This Side – Nickel Creek
Reputation – Derek Webb
Desert Man – Jolly Napier
Zak and Sara – Ben Folds
Flowers in the Window – Travis
Girl in the Crowd – Popular Genius

Short set list today. Jason and I are going to my new favorite place to eat downtown, M’Coul’s. Well, its not new just new to me. Jace found out that they serve a brunch on Saturdays. I love M’Couls and brunch, what a great way to spend Saturday morning!

Today in my house Dana and I had our version of What Not to Wear and I played the role of Stacey. No gay men were readily accessible so we had no Clinton to banter with. Though, I was much kinder than Stacey, but I did do her proud by making my room mate get ride of every last wire hanger she owned. Let me back up a little here for those of you who don’t live in our house. Dana has a lot of clothes and by a lot, I don’t think the girl has every cleaned out her closet before. I saw a few months back that the beam that most of her clothes hang on was bending in the middle, I examined a bit further. These clothes were clothes Dana never wears and some outdated. I promised her a date to help clean out her closet and today was the day! She didn’t really understand my hatred for the wire hangers. Unless there is a marshmallow at the end of one slowly turning brown for my smores, I do not see the use for a wire hanger! They are not sturdy for clothing and don’t help hold your clothes shape nicely. Sadly, we don’t have the What Not to Wear budget, so wooden hangers were not the wire hangers replacement but plastic isn’t too shabby if you ask me. Rule of thumb I had Dana go by “When was the last time you wore this?’ and if she couldn’t remember or been over a year, into the pile it went. She was a little more attached at first, feeling like she had nothing left. I haven’t no connection to her clothes had no problem grabbing things from her hand. For example a very ratty, stained sorta white t-shirt she says she wears all the time. I’ve never once seen her in it and she shouldn’t wear it out anyhow. Then we got to the pants and oh my gosh, I think she had thirty pairs of jeans in her closet. THIRTY PAIRS. I told her whatever she could fit into she could keep. I think she’s down to ten. Good night that was a lot of jeans. I then tired to give some words of wisdom how investing into some nice clothes might last longer (a lot of her clothes were new but already not so nice or shrinking). Okay maybe I do sound a bit more like Stacey then I initially thought. By the end of it all we had 6 bags of clothes, one bag of shoes and one bag of handbags to take to good will. Thats 8, count them, 8 bags she got rid of today! I was so proud of her and her now very neatly organized closet. (Disclaimer: Dana knows about her clothing problem being blogged in case yall were wondering)

I Repent – Derek Webb
Majik of Magic – Cat Stevens
Chattanooga – Sandra McCracken
Made Up My Mind – David Grey
Complicated – Avril Lavigne
The King of Carrot Flower Part 1 -Neutral Milk Hotel
Night Air – Teddy Geiger
Lonely Holiday – Old 97′s

Today’s walk play list is pretty random, but enjoyable. I might have to make myself a “13 year old girl” music play list. Those songs make for good upbeat music to walk to. One of these times I will have to bring Owen along to take photos of all the lawn art I see. Some of them are just plan odd but others make me laugh out loud. I walked almost two miles today – missed the two miles mark by .20 But I got up earlier, well, 830 isnt real early but I got up and out of the house on my day off to walk! Good thing I went early becasue it looks like it might rain again today. I dont know what Im going to do during summer when its bloody hot outside.

In the secret of His presence how my soul delights to hide.
Oh, how precious are the lessons which I learn at Jesus’ side.
Earthly cares can never vex me, neither trials lay me low;
For when Satan comes to tempt me, to the secret place I go,
To the secret place I go.

Would you like to know the sweetness of the secret of the Lord?
Go and hide beneath His shadow: this shall then be your reward;
And whene’er you leave the silence of that happy meeting place,
You must mind and bear the image of the Master in your face,
Of the Master in your face.

This song was written by a women name, Ellen Lakshmi Goreh. I know it well thanks to Sandra McCracken redoing the music and setting these lyrics that was originally a poem to a beautifully slow banjo piece. So many of these lines grab me, but today I just get lost in the whole song. “You hide them in the protection of Your presence” Psalm 31:20

Everything But You – Glen Philips
Somehow, Someday – Ryan Adams
Thirteen – Jolly Naiper
Behind These Hazel Eyes – Kelly Clarkson
Let’s Get Into A Fight – Don Chaffer
Time Will Do The Talking – Patty Griffin
Mediocre Bad Guys – Jack Johnson

That is my playlist from my walk today, I let my iPod chose the music and it seemed to work out well. It’s short becasue it started to rain on me mid walk so I took shelter under trees on the way back. Thankfully my neighborhood is older so the trees are big and old and all over. I love walking around my neighborhood and looking at all the amazing houses and pick my favorite. It was cooler this morning and my hands were cold when I first started walking. Usually I can find excuses to not go walking, its cold or I dont know where my earbuds are. I dont know why I do that since I really enjoy walking once I get of lazy funk and go. Hopefully on days I have to work early I can still find time to take a walk. Lately I haven’t been listening to a lot of music. Maybe I felt a longing for some quite for a while but now I cant seem to get enough. Music really clears ones head, especially mine, than adding to the noise. I’m one of those people who can be moved to tears becasue of a song hits me where I hurt the most or where I’m most confused. Songs that I’ve listen to over and over again bring back a memory of when the song was new. Between a walk and music and little bit of rain, I don’t know what else could be better to clear my mind.

He spent another night in the hospital last night but came home today! During his trip he got 2 x-rays, fluid therapy, and an iv. They know something is wrong with his liver but not sure what (which you isn’t completely comforting). He was sent home with three prescriptions to take along with prescription food. My mom hopes he likes it, but if not she’s sure Rizzo, our other cat will like it. Apparently while Oreo was away Rizzo was taking his spots on the bed and being more cuddly – wanting to be an only syndrome maybe? Oreo is apparently sleeping off his drugs from the hospital on a pillow on the couch. Thanks to you who was concerned and prayed for the little guy. Really hope the machine he’s on heals his little liver. (And one more photo for good measure).

Heres the deal, I feel silly posting this, but at the same time I feel sad. My mom just called me and you know a conversation is never good when it starts “not to alarm you but…”. Oreo, my kitty, is in the hospital right now. He’s been moping around the house for a week or so my mom told me last we talked. Cats do that though, it wasn’t anything to really think twice about, you know? Apparently he moped enough to alarm my parents to take Oreo to the doctor. They have done blood work, urine test and x-rays. They think something effect his liver or kidney, my mom didn’t remember all the facts (she must be upset too). She wanted to know how big of a wedding I want someday since the budget has a little bit of a dent in it. Apparently Oreo is dehydrated so they are giving him lots of fluids and think he’ll recover. Still, this makes me sad and worried for the little guy. All I want to do is hug my kitty and hear his little meow (that is always more of a conversation than simple word). Please pray for Oreo, he’s only 8 years old and its sad to hear he’s sick.