tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79807793698750177842024-03-12T23:46:50.888-04:00Site now at AimOffTheRails.wordpress.com"The world is a book, and those who don't travel read only one page." -St. AugustineAimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-26157413167688219432013-09-14T23:26:00.000-04:002013-09-14T23:26:15.101-04:00Horseback Riding in Shenandoah National Park<em><a href="http://shenandoahvalleyevents.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/stp60202.jpg"><img alt="STP60202" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-575" height="314" src="http://shenandoahvalleyevents.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/stp60202.jpg" width="388" /></a></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I always get a bit giddy when I drive out to Shenandoah National Park, and it always happens at the same place. When I come down that hill by Joe Bowman Auto Plaza, the road opens up to landscape of mountains, and at that moment I am both mesmerized and, well, giddy. I'm on my way to play!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Shenandoah National Park is a playground for adventure, and it's not only a place to hike or camp either. You can horseback ride too. I adore the team at <a href="http://www.virginia.org/Listings/OutdoorsAndSports/SkylandResortStables/" target="_blank">Skyland Resort Stables</a>, and this past weekend, I went on my second 1-hour ride. What a neat experience. I'll definitely be going again, but I'm going to wake up extra early and go on the 2.5-hour ride, which starts at 8:45AM.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Matt, the Stable Manager, takes careful consideration of your background and personality before he places you with a horse. I rode Whiskey, and my friend rode Sunshine. Matt matched us perfectly because we thoroughly enjoyed our ride. All of the horses, though, are friendly, so that's never a worry!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We were lucky. Matt, the manager, led the tour, and what's absolutely great about Matt is he's a SINGING COWBOY!!!! He sang us several songs along the ride including "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" and "Happy Trails." Next time I go, I need to get a video of him singing. I tried, but holding onto reins, taking video, and having said video in focus (and not shaky) is quite difficult. Same thing with pictures! My pictures are awful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The ride is an out-and-back on the Old Rag fire road and Limberlost Trail. Matt said that often riders see wildlife, but we didn't spot anything on our ride. I'm hopeful, though, that next time I'll see a bear like many others have!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, if you need something to do this fall, plan a trip to Skyland Resort Stables. Matt's great, and so are Anthony and Mark! If you go, tell them Aimee sent you and said Matt would sing you a song. Happy Trails!</span>Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-11569344205128960272013-08-31T22:01:00.000-04:002013-08-31T22:06:50.047-04:00Rockytop Photos with Sassy Comments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"I'm tired. Are we there yet? Seriously, this shit is exhausting." A glimpse of The Poops as we near the summit of Rockytop. </div>
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It'll help to know this hike was 3 weeks ago. Brad says, "I swear, I'll never spit out your dry chicken ever again, let me live, let. me. live!" Yet...the little turd spit out chicken I made just this past week. Shoulda pushed 'em when I had the chance. In all seriousness, a unique opportunity for a very safe "cliff." shot. He was safe the whole time...he thinks.<br />
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Mother Nature, what a bitch. She always looks great. I think this was taken from a South District Overlook, or maybe it was a clear spot from the hike. Note to self, don't wait so long to post pics from hikes. You'll forget where you took them, kinda like the time you "forgot" to throw away the marinara bottle and left it on top of the flour.<br />
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"This lady is absolutely ridiculous. I am not taking another damn picture." The Poops towards the end of our 10-mile trek. We did it, though, in 4-or-so hours.<br />
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Another great adventure in Mother Nature's hazy playground.Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-6092463009456447932013-07-28T19:36:00.003-04:002013-07-28T22:45:02.208-04:00Five-Star FloraAt times, Mother Nature doesn't cooperate. Having hiked in downpours, severe thunderstorms, and ice, I know this pretty well. But there is no such thing as a hike without views.<br />
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On Saturday, Brad and I laced up our hiking boots for a much-needed trip to Shenandoah National Park with our favorite four-legged hiking buddy, The Poops. </div>
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We saw a bear cub run across the road soon after we made the turn for Skyline Drive. We kept our eyes peeled for momma or another cub during our 30-mile trip up Shenandoah National Park to the Buck Hollow/Buck Ridge parking area. </div>
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It was raining when we started, and it rained until we finished, but the smell of real meadow showers greatly surpasses the Yankee Candle scent by far. The Shenandoah National Park flora on the trail we chose? Stunning. And it was made all the more beautiful with the rain droplets that sat delicately on the surface of the flowers, plants, and leaves. </div>
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So many people (especially tourists) hike for the view at the summit or the view of the waterfall deep down in the holler, but they miss the beauty of the journey. Don't miss the beauty of the journey. Yes, the destination is sweet but getting there is sweet, too.<br />
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We were going to go hiking again today; however, we decided to give our body's a break. The hike was great but strenuous, and the 300-some log steps we had to climb from holler to ridge kicked our butts. </div>
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Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-54682309567603709832013-07-08T21:36:00.002-04:002013-07-08T22:02:33.786-04:00The Adventures of Scout Brasseur-Roberts<span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: inherit; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">I got out of my car to find my neighbors, Bill and Theresa, outside working on their urban garden. "Want a kitten?" Bill says, as he gestures across the parking lot. I turn around to find a tiny little ball of white fur meowing loudly from beneath a vehicle. Naturally, I chase after it, and it runs away.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">All of a sudden I hear that meow again. Louder. And louder. It's almost like it wants me to catch it, but I can tell by the devious look in his or her eye that he/she isn't going to make it easy on me. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;"><b>Kitten, A Timeline</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">11:30AM</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">At this point, I decide to call "it" a "her." Sexist? Maybe. The kitten makes her way towards Theresa and me, her tiny white paws gliding across the hot blacktop. She has a big black spot on the back of her head, brown-orange ears, a calico tail, and muted green eyes. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">11:36AM</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">Theresa and I decide that the kitten's hungry, so she gives it some lunch meat, and I run upstairs to get a lime green cereal bowl, which I then fill with water and present to the kitten. I sit still on the opposite side of the stoop in hopes kitten will be comfortable enough to drink the water. Eventually, she is. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">12:00PM</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">The kitten drinks water and ravenously eats the pieces of ham only after deciding she can trust said ham. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">2:43PM</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">My mother and sister come over for lunch, and after we finish, we go out onto the deck, I point to the kitten and my lime green bowl. Neither were spotted when my mom and sister arrived. Kitten's now playing with rocks. It's sad but adorable. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">3:12PM</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">I decide that I'm going to catch this kitten and proceed to inform all of my neighbors that there is a kitten hiding in engines and beneath cars, and they should take a good look around before starting their vehicle. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">3:14PM</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">I try to locate a home for this kitten for the night.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">3:17PM</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">I continue trying to locate a home for this kitten for the night.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">3:19PM</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">Nobody will take this damn kitten for the night, so I worry, and my mom and sister decide to accompany me on my adventure.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">4:07PM</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">I go out for ice cream with my family but before that, head to my parent's house to pick up a cat carrier and some cat food. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">5:14PM</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">We arrive back at the apartment, and I inform Brad, who recently got home from work, that A) I found a kitten and B) It's staying in our apartment for the night. He says, "Okay," and goes off to take a shower.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">5:14:30PM </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">I breathe a heavy sigh of relief. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">5:16PM</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">I start panicking because I can't find Kitten.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">5:17PM</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">My heart starts to race because I can't find Kitten.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">5:18PM</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">I hear meows and am grateful Kitten is still alive. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">5:19PM </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">We (my mom and me) put the cat carrier on the stoop near Kitten's food and water. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">6:04PM</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">We lure Kitten into cat carrier with milk. I'm too slow to shut the door, and the kitten runs away.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">6:07PM</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">Kitten comes back and proves she's a real tease. Coming close to carrier, running away, coming close to carrier, jumping in Brad's truck engine, coming close to carrier, jumping on neighbor's truck tire...etc. Repeat. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">6:37PM</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">Kitten is caught, subsequently named "Scout," and we celebrate with alcohol as she growls from inside the carrier that is now sitting in my living room. Yes, growls. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">6:45PM</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">My mom and sister go home. I put Scout in the office. She meets Rex from inside the carrier and fails at an attempt to kick his ass from inside her cage. Scout continues to growl, which scares Rex. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">That night, 7/4/2013, is one I will never forget. As I go to the store to find wet cat food and toys, Brad patiently lays on his belly and tries to coax this fearful kitten out of her cage. Don't worry, Scout's in the office away from Rex. I get home 30 minutes later, and Brad informs me that he left Scout alone so she could sleep. I, the impatient one, don't want to leave her alone and walk into the office, immediately trying to get her to play. She says, "eff that," and stays hidden in a tight spot behind our desk. Brad and I are able to lure her out with the wet cat food that I just bought, but Scout darts to another hiding place. We block the old hiding places with stacks of books and binders. Brad patiently lays on his belly again trying to coax Kitten out of her next hiding spot. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">After a while, we decide it may be best to leave her alone, so I do so for a bit, but then I decide to fall asleep to <i>The Golden Girls </i>on the futon in Scout's new room, a previously clean but now very messy office. I hope that Scout will learn to trust me overnight, and magically she does. When I wake up in the morning and feed her her breakfast, she climbs onto me, her paws tiny and soft. Scout starts to pur sounding like a little motor. We spend the morning together. She loves me, she trusts me, and I shove her back in that scary cage and drive off down the road with her in the passenger seat. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">The SPCA opened at 10AM, and they will definitely accept Scout because she was found in Harrisonburg or Rockingham County. All I need to bring is my driver's license. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">Scout and I arrive at the SPCA shortly after 10:30AM, and I forget to say goodbye because I'm so distraught. A woman takes Scout back into what I imagine is a sterile room, and I try my damndest to fight back tears. My voice doesn't tremble when I give them my address or when I state the conditions I found Scout in. I remember that I named Scout and give the nice woman behind the desk Scout's name, but then the nice woman behind the desk hands me a piece of paper and says, "By signing this document you are relinquishing rights to this animal and agreeing that she may be euthanized." She says these words as compassionately as she can, and I thank her, repeatedly, through sobs. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">I know they'd only euthanize Scout if she was sick, but I still completely lose the cool I tried so hard to keep in the initial encounter. The other woman, the one who took Scout back to the sterile room, brings out an empty cat carrier with Scout's tiny little lion and cow stuffed animals still inside. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">"Can you (pause) please (pause ) give (pause) these...to...Scout," I finally choke out the words. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">She smiles with her eyes and says, "Of course."</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">Whether my kitten's life lasted 10 more hours or lasts 10 more years, I set her up for a meaningful life. A name is so much more than a name. It has to carry meaning, which is why I named Kitten "Scout." </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; line-height: 24px;">Scout is "the narrator and protagonist of </span><i style="color: #424242; line-height: 24px;">To Kill a Mockingbird</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; line-height: 24px;">. In the book, Scout lives with her father, Atticus, her brother, Jem, and their black cook, Calpurnia, in Maycomb, GA. Scout is intelligent and, by the standards of her time and place, a tomboy. Scout has a combative streak and a basic faith in the goodness of the people in her community."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">Intelligent, combative streak, basic faith in the goodness of people. I definitely know I picked the right name. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">If Scout is healthy enough to be adopted, you can find her at the <a href="http://www.rhspca.org/view_pets.html" target="_blank">Harrisonburg-Rockingham SPCA</a>. I'm not sure how long it will take them to get her up on the website. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #424242;"><span style="line-height: 23.99147605895996px;">Here are some pictures! As you can see, she's precious and loves to talk...and is just as adorable as I described...now go adopt her. </span></span></span><br />
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Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-75675919712236329462013-06-26T01:04:00.004-04:002013-06-26T02:01:12.805-04:00Ohana Means Family<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crew before our departure, photo credit - Momma Rose</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After our weekend on the river, there was something almost poetic about our trip home from the Delaware Water Gap. The orange hue of the dark blue sky during lightning strikes. The Super Moon lighting up the Valley to the East, but what made it most special was having Brad in the passenger seat. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Trust me, I don’t always like him there. He tends to passenger drive, but this time it was different.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We don’t talk about Afghanistan. It’s an unwritten rule, but I thought about Brad's deployment a lot on the ride home, especially when we got into Maryland. A song came on the radio, and I started in with the quiet sobs. Brad must not have heard me or maybe he chose to let me have my moment…I don’t know. I breathed deep breaths and decided to leave Rihanna's "Stay" on the radio.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Poconos were my safe place during the summer of 2010. They were something familiar and fun. I felt surrounded by love and laughter, which gave me such positive energy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A summer to remember that’s for sure, and every once in a while it creeps up on me either in the form of a reminiscent smile, misty eyes, or both. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Brad’s deployment, Jan’s death, whatever else was going on, it inspired me to live. It was the summer of the Bucket List and the summer I gained a family.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Remember </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lilo and Stitch</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">? It’s an old Disney movie with a cute little alien and a sweet Hawaiian girl. Lilo is the pint-sized Hawaiian, and in the movie she says, “Ohana means ‘family,’ and family means nobody gets left behind.” It’s not about blood or, hell, a last name. It’s about how you take care of each other, and I owe so much to John Lohmann, Jessie Lohmann, and the Krueger family for never leaving me behind.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You may be wondering why Maryland set me off. I would communicate sporadically with Brad during the Summer of the River. Replying to an e-mail from Momma Rose Krueger’s desktop. Answering a phone call on my drive home. Brad called me one time, and I had just arrived in Maryland. I talked and drove until West Virginia, and then pulled over at the rest stop to concentrate on him and his voice. I hung up and proceeded the lonely ride home. I'm sure Mumford was playing in my CD-Player. That summer was the summer of Mumford too. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I arrived in Maryland on June 23, 2013, Brad was next to me, deary from the weekend of fun and the big meal we just ate at Cracker Barrel. </span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At the river, we grilled out. We put on plastic horse heads and galloped around a Stroudburg yard. We canoed. We bickered about my canoeing skills. We made camp. We grilled more. We laughed. We almost capsized. It was the perfect conclusion to a vacation. Brad got to experience the river like I did that summer he was gone, and he got to know the river family that he's heard so much about. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He learned that Jessie doesn’t like bees or Poison Ivy, and when you mix the two, it’s grounds for a possible boat rescue from the campsite. He learned that John’s limit is 5 Brad-caliber Captain and gingers because by then John's trying to capsize the tethered canoes by standing with no sense of balance. Brad learned that Bridgette and Hank are the freakin’ coolest and so are their horseheads. Momma Rose has the best damn listening ears and broccoli salad...ever. Nick likes drinking games more than campfire talk, and Mr. Krueger is a champ at navigating a pontoon boat, especially when he’s trying to spray you with water.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The pranks we pull, the jokes we make, it’s all out of love. Jessie pulls a dead fish out of the water, all of a sudden it’s in my face, and she screams “Ahhhh!!!” I scream back.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">John and Brad collaborate to put a fake snake in my sleeping bag. I nearly jump out of the tent and wake everybody up.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bucky tries to shotgun a beer for the first time. It takes him three minutes, literally...</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These memories are moments now, and now Brad gets to be a part of them instead of just hearing about them from me.</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>Please note, don't enlarge...pictures get all pixelated and gross, but I'm too tired to keep messing with it. :( It's still cute without being huge, though!</i></b></span></div>
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Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-3663908049752504802013-06-25T22:14:00.003-04:002013-06-25T22:17:19.799-04:00Reddish Knob<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's beautiful even in the Blue Ridge haze...</div>
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Interested in going yourself? Click <a href="http://www.summitpost.org/reddish-knob/151612" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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And the Briery Branch Dam, which we stopped by on the way back. </div>
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Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-33359434724378449572013-06-25T22:06:00.001-04:002013-06-25T22:06:11.380-04:00Blogging Moments - Kayaking the ShenandoahFor the longest time, I figured the only way I'd ever get to see a Bald Eagle was inside a cage in a zoo or aviary. But last Wednesday, as I paddled down the Shenandoah in my kayak, one of the first sights I witnessed was a Bald Eagle diving down into the water to catch a fish.<br />
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Brad turned around in his kayak and yelled back to me, "Is that a blogging moment?" Um, yes.<br />
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When Brad exclaimed, "What the hell was that?" I considered "that" as another blogging moment. A box turtle swam past him, "Look at that!" he said. Mr. Turtle cruised through the water with only his little turtle head above the surface.<br />
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The blue heron guiding us down the Shenandoah. The cows cooling off in the water. The ducklings swimming behind Momma duck. This area, the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, is full of "blogging moments." And for those beautiful landscapes you can't capture with the right words, there's always a picture, and they say that's worth 1,000 words. Maybe more.<br />
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<br />Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-78704315326270060392013-06-02T21:08:00.005-04:002013-06-02T21:49:44.434-04:00Free Time! What am I doing?It's been a while since I've posted. I'd be lying if I said I didn't have enough time to post. It's just that I've been so busy writing for other blogs that I've neglected my tried and true--Off the Rails.<br />
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I was walking down to the pool with Brad yesterday, and I said, "I think I'm going to retire Off the Rails." His reaction surprised me.<br />
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"But WHY?" He seemed genuinely concerned.<br />
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"It's just that I'm so busy writing for other people..."<br />
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"But Off the Rails is your place to write about <i>your</i> personal adventures..."<br />
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Brad was right. I can't abandon this blog. It's the 21st century version of a journal. It's a constant reminder that I live my life to its fullest.<br />
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So what have I been up to?<br />
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Well...I <span style="font-size: large;"><u>GRADUATED</u></span>...hallelujah<br />
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Horseback Riding</h4>
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The day after graduation, I went horseback riding with Jessie-formerly-Kreuger-now-Lohmann, my mom, and my sister. We arrived at the stables and were greeted by a wonderful group of people, including a song-bird cowboy and a former-Montana-ranch-hand-TEENAGER. I blogged about the experience for Kline May Realty. Yes, I get paid to blog. You can read more about the adventure <a href="http://www.klinemay.com/blog/index.cfm/2013/5/7/Shenandoah-Valley-Staycation--Take-a-Guided-Trail-Ride-in-Shenandoah-National-Park" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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Kayaking</h4>
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Brad and I went for a 12-mile paddling trip on the Shenandoah River. It was Brad's first time paddling, and it took him a while to get used to it. His kayak trajectory reminded me of a drunk person stumbling around. He couldn't keep the boat straight...whatsoever...for the first three miles. I thought I FINALLY found something he wasn't good at, but, alas, he perfected his form by the end of the trip. Damn. </div>
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The day we paddled, it was cool May Sunday, and we welcomed the clouds and their relief from the heat. The highlight of the trip? Nope, not the riverside picnic, but a new Brad-ism. Every time we encountered a rapid (however <i>very</i> small it may have been) Brad exclaimed, "Let's tackle these rapids!!!" We did manage to be only a few of the people who didn't capsize in a strong Class II rapid. Strong for Class II, not that Class II is too strong. I blogged about the experience for Kline May Realty. Yes, I got paid to write this blog too. You can read more about the adventure <a href="http://www.klinemay.com/blog/index.cfm/2013/5/21/Staycation-Tuesday--Kayaking" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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Hiking </h4>
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Since graduation, Brad and I have gone on three hiking adventures:</div>
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1) Big Run Loop in the south district. It's a 5-mile loop through the wilderness. The best views are at the beginning and the end of the hike, and the last time we hiked this trail, Brad pissed off Momma Bear. Luckily, no Momma Bear on this hike. Only Poo Bear. </div>
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Cute, ain't he?</div>
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2) Stony Man and Little Stony Man in the central district was the second hike we've done since I graduated. It's a very touristy hike to beautiful views. Less than 4 miles total walking for two hikes. I blogged about it for a new website that I'm helping get up and running, Shenandoah Valley Events. You can read more about the adventure <a href="http://shenandoahvalleyevents.com/2013/06/01/great-views-minimal-effort/" target="_blank">here</a>. P.S. You can tell how windy it was by my out-of-control hair. Talk about adrenaline rush sitting on that rock... </div>
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Photo credit Brad Roberts for the picture. Wasn't going to say anything, but he's sitting next to me right now and yelled, "I TOOK THAT PICTURE." </div>
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But I took the other two.</div>
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and most recently, 3) We hiked South River Falls in the central district. We hiked this trail yesterday in the 90-degree-ish heat. I was panting heavier than Rex at the end, and that's all I'm going to say about that. Oh, and I drove home with barefeet in a sports bra and shorts...and Brad was shirtless. Total redneck move, but we were THAT sweaty. I think we're officially Rockingham County residents now...</div>
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Rex also went swimming for the first time. He's not the biggest swimming fan despite his webbed feet. He gave Brad the cold shoulder for a good twenty minutes after he got out of the water. </div>
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A Wedding Weekend</h4>
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John and Jessie Lohmann, my brother-from-another-mother and now sister-in-law-by-another-mister-in-law, tied the knot last weekend. TALK ABOUT A FRIGGIN PARTY!!!</div>
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A river-side venue, rustic decorations, a hay-bale sectional with cloth AND pillows, two bonfires, one stacked with wood over 10 feet tall, dancing til 1AM, and the best company <i><b>ever</b></i> made this the wedding of the century. Yes, I realize I'm not married yet. Still...it was the wedding of the century. </div>
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The night before the wedding, the groom, the best man, the best man's best girl, Brad, and I dined on a late-night feast of mac and cheese and weiners. It made me feel like a kid again except, I enjoyed this meal with coffee laced with chocolate vodka. Umm...yum?!</div>
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The day of the wedding, a group of us set-up for the festivities (bride and her bridesmaids excluded), making sure the table cloths were perfectly knotted, the baby's breath tied beautifully with lavender ribbon to the "alter" chairs, and that the birch tree/purple mason jar lanterns/baby's breath centerpieces looked just right. Check out the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151679843169479.1073741840.330635084478&type=1" target="_blank">sneak peek</a> on the DBE Photography Facebook page for an idea of the venue and the awesome people in attendance. </div>
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The ceremony was beautiful and so personal. Jessie's cousin officiated, and humor was interspersed throughout the non-traditional vows. I laughed out loud and even teared up...a little...I guess. Fine. I teared up.</div>
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The dancing after the ceremony and awesome meal was straight awesome. I just watched a video of John and I dancing to Macklemore, video was recorded by Dan Emmerman, my like-a-father-but-not, who is owner of DBE Photography, at around 1 am. I need dance lessons...desperately. I really, really need dance lessons. </div>
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While the dancing crowd danced, Brad and I hung with the bonfire crowd, cuddled up by one of the two bonfires that burned that night, and when the party ended, we camped out on the river. We camped out on the river the next night too...waking up to foggy river sunrises in the morning and the company of some of the people we cherish most in this world. </div>
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Here is a pic of us from the wedding. Photo credit goes to the lovely and friggin' awesome Mary Dunkleburger. </div>
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<br />Cabela's</h4>
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On our way home from the wedding, Brad and I checked out Cabela's. It was our first time there. One of my co-workers at Kline May Realty said, "It's the Disney world of Outdoors Stores." He's so right. It made me sad to see the stuffed animals, though, but that added to the Cabela's experience, I suppose.</div>
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Miscellaneous</h4>
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Redbox movies, ice cream sandwiches, deck-chilling, barbecuing. Date nights, crafting, and more is what I've done since graduation. And I'm lovin' it. </div>
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What's crazy is I have fun during the work-week too. It's like life is my playground, and I'm realizing that the hard work really did pay off. I do miss all of my friends who moved away though. </div>
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Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-81186670804911125842013-05-02T01:49:00.004-04:002013-05-02T01:49:27.465-04:00A Different Kind of Woman
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You baked
your spice cake from scratch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I add
water and a can of pumpkin to a box mix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You
vacuumed your floors everyday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I don’t. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You wore department
store dresses and high-heels.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I wear flowing
skirts and flip-flops. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My up-do
much messier than yours, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yet we can
both appreciate</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Drinking a
hot cup of coffee on a porch swing</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Watching
the big trucks go by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Or so I’ve
heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-13083740341148168772013-04-26T02:03:00.003-04:002013-04-26T02:07:31.378-04:00The Macklemore and Ryan Lewis AdventureWe camped out for tickets...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jdalJnE42-8/UXoYFMQclVI/AAAAAAAABsU/jEoPGlhEPjo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-04-26+at+2.00.01+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jdalJnE42-8/UXoYFMQclVI/AAAAAAAABsU/jEoPGlhEPjo/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-04-26+at+2.00.01+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screen shot of Lisa's Facebook status about our campout! To make bigger, click photo. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
WRTC grad students in a sea of 2,000 or so undergrads. It was our last night to be "irresponsible college students." We kept reminding ourselves of that...at 9PM, at 1AM, at 1:07AM, at 1:11AM, at 7:30AM. At first, it was a rush. It didn't matter that the gas heater burnt a hole in the tent because we had a gas heater to keep us warm. It didn't matter that it was 20 degrees outside either. All I have to say is thank god for hot hands.<br />
<br />
For the majority of the night, we cared most about our time together, the awesome nachos with the fresh jalapenos, and Zoolander in a warm auditorium. But after the movie, our crankiness meter escalated with the cold. Bright side? We had a tent and had shelter from the snow. Others weren't so lucky.<br />
<br />
You couldn't sleep. Tent was too cramped. Neighbors were too loud. But after 14 hours of "waiting in line," we made it. In the University Business Office, I took off my gloves and held my Macklemore and Ryan Lewis ticket in between my fingers, the only 10 extremities I could still feel. Other 10? Not so much.<br />
<br />
Work was busy. School was busy. Life was just busy. Isn't it always?<br />
<br />
April 8th came, and I didn't want to go to the concert. I had a blog post due the next day. I was up for work early that morning, hadn't slept good the night before. Lots of excuses. I just wasn't feeling it. I wasn't feeling it through the opening act either until the guy said, "I'm not a rapper, I'm an English architect." I got chills. <br />
<br />
Never have I ever thought about rap or poetry in that sense before. I was mesmerized and started paying more attention to the man's lyrics. Then, it came time. Opening act finished, and he introduced Macklemore as an artist who is bringing content back to rap. I firmly believe that statement, and if you don't believe me just read <a href="http://jmugsa.blogspot.com/2013/03/why-socially-conscious-feminists-can.html" target="_blank">this blog post</a>. It's by a fellow WRTC grad student, and it's received over 1,000 hits on the Graduate Student Association blog that I edit. <br />
<br />
A few songs in, when Macklemore wore a concert go-ers beaver fur coat for "Thrift Shop," I kicked my lame self in the ass for even doubting my plans for the night. This song, that I literally CRANK-UP every time it comes on the radio was the reason why I waited 14-hours in the cold for a ticket.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
But that song was just the beginning.<br />
<br />
I witnessed history that night Macklemore and Ryan Lewis took the stage. Macklemore's introduction to "Same Love" brought tears to my eyes. I weeped at that man's concert because I am so proud of the generation that I'm a part of. Some say we don't have manners, that we're the "trophy generation." I see it on Facebook all the time: Everyone gets a gold star doesn't set you apart...just a bunch of spoiled college kids addicted to their iPhones and their computers. Nobody gets outside.<br />
<br />
Quite frankly, I think it's a bunch of crap. <br />
<br />
We're not changing the world, but we <i>are </i>making change. Walk to JMU or EMU's campus and 9 students out of 10 will be able to tell you a cause that they actively support: Animal rights, acclimating local refugees to the area, mountaintop removal mining, mentoring underprivileged children, marriage equality...<br />
<br />
Marriage equality. That's the cause that united thousands of us the evening of Macklemore's concert. "Same Love" was next in the set-list, and Macklemore said I want everyone to raise one finger in the air who believes that it's all the same love whether you're a woman who loves a man, a man who loves a woman, a man who loves a man, or a woman who loves a woman. The crowd roared. Cliche acknowledged, I could barely hear myself think. <br />
<br />
In unison, every member of that sold out concert raised that one finger in the air to symbolize that love is love, there is only one love and it's the same love. I've always loved JMU, but I never felt that JMU Pride that everybody talks about until Macklemore asked us to take a stand in this civil rights movement. Everyone literally <i>stood up</i> to listen to this...poetry.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
"Can't Hold Us" came on before or after that song.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
I can't remember. The night is an adrenaline-pumped blur, but I do remember feeling that neither the floor nor the ceiling could hold us. Everyone was jumping in the air. The convocation center had this insane energy that just permeated through your bones and into your heart. I'll never forget that moment. I felt pure joy. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dM-wIO-F5Kw/UXoX9LdYj2I/AAAAAAAABsE/x67XIdcSujw/s1600/526564_10151564306805991_1878724013_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dM-wIO-F5Kw/UXoX9LdYj2I/AAAAAAAABsE/x67XIdcSujw/s320/526564_10151564306805991_1878724013_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
As I start a new adventure in my life, I have this renewed enthusiasm about my generation and what my generation can offer to the "real world" that we're about to enter.<br />
<br />
Now I know why I waited 14 hours for a ticket. Macklemore isn't just a rapper. He's an artist who uses the English language to motivate and create social change. He's a role model for me, and I respect and support the direction he's headed. I hope that some day the words that I write can create that same magnitude of change. Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-90505752997515396902013-04-26T00:32:00.000-04:002013-04-26T00:50:30.210-04:00E-day<h3>
What's Going On?</h3>
<h2>
What's the Problem?</h2>
Environmentalists want to end mountaintop removal mining (mtr), a form of surface mining that blasts off the tops of mountains to access the seams of coal within. Below is a video of an mtr blast.<br />
<br />
<div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="250" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TBWU4A2PNH0?rel=0" width="445"></iframe></div>
<address>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>Mountaintop removal mining has leveled an area the size of Delaware. </i></span></address>
<br />
Mtr miners and their supporters want to keep mining despite the affects it has on the land and the health of people who work and live near mtr sites.<br />
<br />
End mountaintop removal mining and surface miners are out of jobs and must find a new way to support themselves and their family. Continue mountaintop removal mining and mothers give birth to children with genetic defects. Cancer rates continue to increase, and families lose their homes to rock-slides and flooding.<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
What's the Solution?</h2>
There is no perfect solution to solving the mountaintop removal mining problem. There will never be a winner in this fight, but a "better" solution is education.<br />
<br />
<div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="250" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AmtcSidgvi0?rel=0" width="445"></iframe></div>
<address>
<span style="color: #666666;">This brief video explains how I learned about mountaintop removal mining and the Keeper of the Mountains foundation as well as how education will affect future awareness about mtr.</span></address>
<br />
Education got me involved in the mountaintop removal mining advocacy movement. I learned about mtr because of a Legal Writing research paper, and now I am using the media skills I have learned in Writing for Nonprofits to create awareness for this cause.<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Who does this affect?</h3>
<h2>
</h2>
Mining for coal is a cultural paradigm in Appalachia, and it's damn near impossible to change a culture. Just ask Elise Keaton, the new fundraising director for the Keeper of the Mountains foundation. Keeper of the Mountains is a non-profit that aims to protect the Appalachian mountains and the people of Appalachia through education and environmental activism.<br />
<br />
Elise, a native West Virginian, was put in her position by the original Keeper, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-biggers/thousands-mourn-larry-gibson_b_1869435.html">Larry Gibson</a>. Gibson passed away in September 2012 of a heart attack at his home, Kayford Mountain. Gibson was shot at, arrested on multiple occasions, and ostracized in his community because of Kayford, but he believed in this fight. The land he lived on is worth a large sum of money to the coal industry, but Larry didn't want to lose his beloved Kayford Mountain to mtr.<br />
<br />
Gibson recruited Elise to the anti-mtr cause because he saw a spark in her. This fiery blonde with a West Virginia draw understands the coal culture: “I’m a Constitution carryin’ union worker’s daughter. I believe in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness just like the rest of ‘em," Elise said these words to me as we walked across a ridge that exposed a moonscape that was once a mountaintop. “I have nothin’ but respect for people that work to support their family, but when your rights infringe on mine, that’s when we have a problem.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
<address>
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: grey;">In this audio story, Elise Keaton, the fundraising director for the Keeper of the Mountains foundation discusses what motivates her to keep fighting for this cause.</span></span></address>
<address>
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: grey;"> </span></span></address>
The rights that Elise is talking about are one's right to clean water and right to clean air. Many Appalachians are drinking traces of selenium and even arsenic when they get a shower or pour themselves a glass of tap water. They're breathing in mercury and other carcinogens when they walk out for the mail or drive to the store with their windows down. Exposure to these pollutants causes astronomical medical bills and the lowest life expectancy rates in the country.
<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Why is this important?</h3>
<h3>
</h3>
The friends of mtr don't want to hear that the companies that sign their paychecks are also signing their death warrants. People, especially those of my generation, are processing the consequences of mountaintop removal mining, though. "The young people get it, Aimee" Elise sighed heavily, "They understand why this is important." Elise and I had this conversation as we studied a reclamation site. I use the term reclamation loosely. What the coal company calls reclaimed, I call a half-assed attempt at re-birth. The former active mining site looked more like a Christmas tree farm in July than a future habitat for animals. Besides the wind, the land was silent. "How many birds do you hear, Aimee?" "None," I replied. The silence broke my heart. I'm a hiker and spend my weekends in Shenandoah National Park. I see bears forage for berries, deer frolic in meadows, and birds chirp in lush green trees. This place was different. Since I got off the interstate earlier that day, this place reminded me of death, and I witnessed the wounds that caused that death: the razed mountains and the dirty water, plus the sad town that surrounded it all.<br />
<br />
<div>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="300" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/19177578" width="376"></iframe></div>
<address>
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: grey;">This slideshow has pictures and several statistics outlining the various consequences of mountaintop removal mining, including destruction of land, presence of chemicals in groundwater, and high poverty rates. </span></span></address>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
When will there be a solution?</h3>
<h3>
</h3>
Mountaintop removal mining is a wicked problem. Poverty is a wicked problem and so is cancer. War is a wicked problem too. Wicked problems are problems that don't go away. "Solutions to wicked problems are not right or wrong. They are simple 'better,' 'worse,' 'good enough,' or 'not good enough,'" Jeff Conklin, a non-profit scholar stated this in his article "Wicked Problems & Social Complexity."<br />
<br />
Education is a "better" solution when it comes to mountaintop removal mining. The Keepers family realizes that everyone can't visit Appalachia, so they brought their message to the road, traveling across the country to educate our nation’s college-aged youth about this form of mining. Connecticut, Kentucky, and North Carolina are just some of the states that Keepers speakers have visited as a part of their On the Road Again program.<br />
<br />
At On the Road Again speeches, representatives for Keepers tell personal stories to educate listeners about how coal affects the mountains, streams, ecology, health, and heritage of the area. The speakers hope that their stories inspire listeners to take action: action like sharing statuses about mountaintop removal mining on Facebook, unplugging a laptop charger from the wall when the computer has a full charge, and e-mailing politicians.<br />
<br />
I attended an On the Road Again speech at JMU in January 2013. If interested, please read my <a href="http://aim-offtherails.blogspot.com/2013/01/dear-adam.html">blog post</a> about the experience. The On the Road Again speech, as Keepers hoped it would, drove me to action: I've shared mtr-related Facebook statuses, I now unplug my laptop charger from the wall when my computer has a full charge, and I've e-mailed my congressperson and President Obama. I also joined a photo-petition organized by an environmental legal non-profit called Earth Justice.<br />
<br />
<br />
<address>
<img alt="photo-petition entry" class="alignnone wp-image-1129" height="300" src="http://sites.jmu.edu/wfnp/files/2013/04/Screen-Shot-2013-04-19-at-2.43.45-PM.png" width="450" /><span style="color: grey;"> <span style="color: #666666;"> </span></span></address>
<address>
<span style="color: grey;"><span style="color: #666666;">When I started researching mountaintop removal mining, the first thing I discovered was this photo-petition. After reading about the topic, I submitted my photo and story.</span></span></address>
<address>
<span style="color: grey;"><span style="color: #666666;"> </span></span></address>
This petition was innovative. Instead of signing at the bottom of a long list of names, I uploaded a picture and a short description on why I support the mountains, and I was 1 of over 13,000 people who signed the mountain heroes photo-petition. Other famous mountain heroes include Woody Harrelson, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Larry Gibson. The personal and educational stories that encourage mountaintop removal mining awareness take many forms:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="250" src="http://prezi.com/embed/lcalitte6lzt/?bgcolor=ffffff&lock_to_path=0&autoplay=0&autohide_ctrls=0&features=undefined&disabled_features=undefined" width="400"></iframe></div>
<address>
<span style="color: #666666;">This Prezi outlines the various ways that media is being used to create awareness for mountaintop removal mining.</span></address>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
What's Next?</h3>
<h3>
</h3>
E-day—it’s upon us, and the "e" is for education. Mountaintop removal mining may be a wicked problem, but if enough people become educated on the issue—through word-of-mouth or social media—these educated citizens will vote for politicians who believe in a sustainable future, a sustainable future that also helps any displaced surface miners transition to a new, healthier career.<br />
<br />
Those who want to see an end to mtr aren't arming our listeners with weapons, we’re arming them with knowledge. Education <i>is </i>power. Our arsenal includes personal narrative, supported by peer-reviewed studies, disseminated through the internet. Our strategy for a better solution? The pen is mightier than the sword, and so are viral videos, photography, and protest music. Thanks to what I've learned in the Writing, Rhetoric and Technical communication graduate program as well as Writing for Nonprofits, I understand how I can help Elise and the rest of the Keepers family create a bigger audience<a href="http://www.mountainkeeper.org/take-action-2/">.</a><br />
<br />
Click here if you want to help the Keeper of the Mountains foundation. If you like this post, please share it with others in the media channel(s) you wish: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, your own blog, whatever really. Keep resisting, friends. <b>Sources</b>
<br />
<ul>
<li>In-person Interview with Elise Keaton, fundraising director for the Keeper of the Mountains foundation</li>
<li>"Wicked Problems & Social Complexity" by Jeff Conklin</li>
</ul>
Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-87750485127239139352013-04-14T22:33:00.000-04:002013-04-14T22:36:45.060-04:00Conversations on the TrailI had too much homework to go hiking this weekend, so I'm hiking vicariously through this blog post. Brad and I hiked Sugarloaf Keyser Run Trail last Sunday. It's a Take 2 on this trail because last time we tried to hike it, we couldn't charm the very grumpy rattlesnake that blocked our path.<br />
<br />
This time on Sugarloaf/Keyser Road, we didn't run into any wildlife, but we did have some pretty wild conversations on our little 5-mile trek. <br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Conversation 1 </h3>
<br />
Context...we saw bear poop on the trail and started talking about bears.<br />
<br />
Aim: "Brad, how do bears know when it's been a particularly long winter?"<br />
Brad: "They just know."<br />
Aim: "But wouldn't they have to, like, wake up and see that it's nice out?"<br />
Brad: "No, they just know."<br />
Aim: "No...they gotta wake up, have a pow-wow or something."<br />
Brad: "Yeah, OK, they go to a bar and talk about the weather."<br />
Aim: "Maybe they DO have a bar!!!!"<br />
Brad: "And it's stocked full of mountain water and trout."<br />
Aim: "Minus the trout, sounds like a good bar. What do they call it?"<br />
Brad. "A beary good bar." <br />
<br />
<h3>
Conversation 2</h3>
<br />
Context...I wondered what Rex's accent would be like after a friend of mine said Rex looked regal. <br />
<br />
Aim: "Emily said The Poops was regal."<br />
Brad: "I'm a stupid infantryman who doesn't know what regal means."<br />
Aim: "A stupid infantryman but you answer all the questions right on Jeopardy? It means royalty."<br />
Brad: "Why couldn't you just say that?" <br />
Aim: "Shut up, Brad. What kind of accent would The Poops have if he could talk?"<br />
Brad: "He's from the 7-0-4, he'd be hood."<br />
Aim: "No he doesn't have a hood walk. He walks all proper and shit because he's regal, so maybe he sounds British?" <br />
Brad: "No, he sounds hood."<br />
Aim: "I bet he has a Southern accent. Do you think The Poops has a Southern accent?"<br />
Brad: "Watch out, SNAKE!"<br />
Aim: *SCREAMS* "I hate you. That's a stick."<br />
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And some fun pictures from the day:<br />
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Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-19731993474832136912013-04-06T14:24:00.001-04:002013-04-06T14:24:14.059-04:00Rose River Falls and Dark Hallow FallsLast week, Brad and I ventured into Shenandoah National Park sans Poopy McPoopington. :( He's our buddy, so we miss him when he can't join us. <br />
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You see, our dear sweet slightly stupid dog decided on Friday that his bed looked delicious, and while I was at work, he dined on one of his favorite delicacy's: stuffing. No, not the Thanksgiving kind. The rip open a kid's Teddy Bear kind. Don't ask why. He's Rex. It's the reason for/answer to any weird thing that he does.<br />
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Anyways, 15 puking episodes and an emergency x-ray later, we discovered that exploratory surgery was not in Rex's future, and he was on the mend. Because of dehydration, though, we had to leave Rex at home while we hiked without him. The look he gave us when he realized the backpacks were out, and he wasn't going with us broke my heart. <br />
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Side note: new bed has no stuffing, so we knew that wouldn't be an issue when we left him. <br />
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Shenandoah National Park is and has always been our happy place, but it's just more fun when we can share it with Rex. <br />
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Our destination for the day? A 5-mile waterfall hike. Rose River Falls with a side-trip to Dark Hallow Falls is an old favorite. The hike is not strenuous. There's an abundance of wildlife: On one trip we saw 6 different black bears. The views are stunning, and there's some history along the way--an abandoned copper mine.<br />
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The recent snow has been favorable to the rushing streams and flowing waterfalls of Shenandoah National Park, but the water was damn cold. This meant that we rock/log-hopped across creeks and rivers with extreme caution, and for the first time ever, I managed to not fall in. *pats self on back*<br />
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Falling into knee-deep snow, though, was a whole other story. For the first time in two years, we had to break out the microspikes, which is a device you attach to your shoe for traction in ice and snow. <br />
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Overall, a great day...a great hike, but we missed our favorite four-legged hiking buddy who was very, very happy to see us when we returned home.<br />
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Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-46713091507583189132013-03-07T15:59:00.001-05:002013-03-11T00:47:33.904-04:00Life SoundtrackAlmost every time I watch <i>Grey's</i> or some other equally awesome ABC drama (Nashville, Revenge, etc.), I make a mental note of what my life soundtrack would be.<br />
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Say some crazy director decided my life was <i><span style="font-size: large;">so</span></i> exciting that it just <i><span style="font-size: large;">had</span></i> to be made into a summer block<i>bust</i> starring a couple of B-rate actors. Well, maybe a couple of RomCom champs would volunteer to portray my non-husband and me. It is my fantasy after all.<br />
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Ryan Gosling would OBVIOUSLY want to be Brad. Who wouldn't want to be Brad? Just ask Brad. ;)<br />
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Me? I vote Rachel McAdams. It'd be like <i>The Notebook 2.0</i>.<br />
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So let's play with this hypothetical...<br />
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Free-spirited college student who is a caretaker for her sick mom while her significant other is deployed to Afghanistan as a combat infantryman. When he gets home, she's changed, he's changed, and these familiar strangers are on a journey to find their new normal, which is made easier by their neurotic but lovable pup.<br />
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It sounds like a compilation of Nicholas Sparks books, but it's not. Or maybe it is? You tell me.<br />
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These moments they defined me <b>then</b>, but my identity anymore is no longer wrapped up in being the cancer survivor's daughter or the infantryman's girlfriend. What I experienced three years ago was not tragic. What I experienced, I realize now, was nothing more than experience itself.<br />
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Personal and painful, but not tragic.<br />
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Life is life, and I'm just me. The girl who hopped a train from DC to LA to figure things out with a pen and a piece of paper.<br />
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I may spend too much money on adventures. And anymore my honesty is often perceived as harshness, and I semi-frequently overwork myself into pissy fits, but I'm proud of the life I've created for myself. I love life. I love the people in the life. What more could I ask for?<br />
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So, I'm back to my point. What music would supplement this story? My story?<br />
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"Thistle and Weeds"<br />
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Plant your hope with good seed is a phrase that I could see on a sign in the home goods section of T.J. Maxx. I love the sentiment and the optimism. The lyrics to this song got me through some really tough times.<br />
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"Set Fire to the Third Bar"<br />
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This song was used in the <i>Dear John </i>film for a reason. It's relatable. Like Savannah and John, Brad and I fell hard and quick, and when everything seemed to be going along smoothly, war happened. And that separation is just as mental as it is physical.<br />
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"Hopeless Wanderer"<br />
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"Be where you're at," is a piece of advice my uncle gave me recently. I've always tried to find home--a place--and I've realized in the past few months that for me home is, in fact, a person.<br />
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<i>"</i>Home"<br />
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I'm lucky enough to have a best friend who is my partner. I can picture my life with him 30, 40 years from now. He's not afraid to hurt my feelings, and when I call him a smug arrogant bastard he knows it's out of love, frustration-inspired love but love none the less.<br />
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That was that chapter. But now, I'm onto something new, we're onto something new.<br />
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Brad's officially out of the Army. March 6, 2013. I can't believe I'm saying that. I still feel like I'm going to jinx something. Now he's just a dysfunctional veteran that finds peace in nature. And I'm a soon-to-be communications consultant in an absolute panic over no homework and no lectures. More time for nature?<br />
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It's a new chapter in a familiar setting. To Be Continued is exhilarating and scary but beautiful.<br />
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But enough about me...what would your life soundtrack be?Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-60832939802934985222013-03-06T16:38:00.001-05:002013-03-06T17:55:04.958-05:00Roses are red...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Roses are red.</div>
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And snow is white.</div>
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I am, too.</div>
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Because #springbreakfail.</div>
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Apparently, Mother Nature didn't get the memo that it's March. Or maybe she did, and it got lost in her inbox because...</div>
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So the glitch is...snow</h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brad Blizzard...not the Dairy Queen kind</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aim Blizzard...not the Dairy Queen kind</td></tr>
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I'm glad I invested in some really cool hats from Plato's Closet. I mean, if I can't be tan might as well be the best hipster fashionista I can possibly be.Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-41259831803028200262013-03-06T03:25:00.003-05:002013-03-06T03:42:38.407-05:00SNOW DAY!!!!It's my last "Spring" Break at JMU, and I'm snowed-in in Harrisonburg...but that's okay. You don't get the chance to play in 6-8" of snow at 2AM every day. :)<br />
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The wind is really blowing now. Glad I got this blog post up before the power goes out because, let's be honest, it's probably going to go out.<br />
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Headlamps are at the ready, though, and there is plenty to read and plenty to eat.<br />
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If I get 200 views on my blog today, I'll post an additional five Winter Wonderland pics, so please feel free to share.Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-43777012859651345832013-02-28T12:24:00.002-05:002013-02-28T12:36:24.884-05:004AM<div class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">The heater jolts to life because the temperature <br /><span class="text_exposed_show"> dropped below seventy-two.<br /> <br /> It doesn’t disturb the dog but startles me. <br /> Every. Damn. Time. <br /> <br /> The intermittent cars whiz by the dark turn<br /> outside of my apartment building. <br /> <br /> I can hear Rex breathing through his cold black nose.<br /> I can hear Brad stumble to the bathroom. <br /> I can hear the black coffee fill my <br /> “Peace. Love. Books” mug. <br /> Mudslide k-cup with soy and Splenda. <br /> <br /> The busy Macbook on my lap gives me warmth,<br /> as does the blanket plugged into the outlet next to me. <br /> <br /> I get lost in the moment:<br /> I edit a picture, 12 minutes.<br /> I type up a blog post, 23 minutes.<br /> I get lost in a memory…<br /> <br /> Reading Facebook posts about a woman<br /> who is now with the stars.<br /> <br /> In a grey Jeep Cherokee <br /> with a familiar stranger home from war.<br /> “You look great,” he says quietly. <br /> <br /> Full-time job offer. <br /> Graduation plans. <br /> E-mail to Grandma. <br /> <br /> Before I know it, it’s 4AM. <br /> My body is tired,<br /> but my mind is wired.<br /> This is peace.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show">I was recently inspired by a friend to write poetry again. Thanks, Em. This piece came to me because of her tweet about an all-nighter that she just pulled. Silly girl. ;) </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show">In my warm bed last night, reading the first chapter of <i>The Happiness Project</i>...at 1:12AM, I thought about what makes me happy about 4.I love 4AM. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show">I get that this is not a typical blog post, but 4AM is a personal journey for me, which I can only experience when my mind wins out over my body. It's a beautiful moment of peace and quiet and really is a journey of sorts. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show">Anyways, hope you enjoy. </span></span></span></span></div>
Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-2236163899276937662013-02-26T04:39:00.003-05:002013-02-26T04:56:42.050-05:00Muddin'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I wasn't holding the keys to a brand new Chevrolet but to one with almost 100k miles on it...the truck Brad paid for in cash when he got home from Afghanistan. It's the truck that brought The Poops home. And the one that never transported The Poops again.<br />
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"I have leather interior. And my windows...they DON'T roll down..." Excuses.<br />
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Brad's stark white pavement princess is now accented with a beautiful reddish brown.<br />
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Muddin' when you leave off the "g,"has a certain air to it. A backwoods air. It brings to mind a blue collar job, a cold beer or several to celebrate the weekend, and a pretty woman in the passenger seat in cut off jeans. I'll say this right now, it was too damn cold for cut off jeans yesterday.<br />
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On a cabin-fever-inspired Sunday Drive, Brad and I took off for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reddish_Knob" target="_blank">Reddish Knob</a> to see the 360 degree views that we heard about.<br />
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We almost made it to the top.<br />
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But our guts told us to turn around. One lane roads covered in ice flanked by steep fiery plunges to imminent death just didn't set right with us. That's a picture from a safe-zone by the way. It was worse.<br />
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Ice, though, is how we discovered Plan B. The road less traveled by...the one with the mud...<br />
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Brad did the mud loop two or three times. He channeled his inner Tim-the-Tool-Man-Taylor. Manly man, arr arr arr.<br />
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And I giggled. Talk about stereotypes. Video is a video of a video...so not my greatest work. Technical difficulties.<br />
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When I thought we were finished this fun game, I asked Brad if I could drive. He said no and blamed "no one to call if we get stuck" and "no spare tire." I let it go. I was having too much fun to make something out of nothing.<br />
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He continued driving, away from the mud, and then he turned around to head back to the muddin' pit. He put the truck in park and got out. "Now I'm going to tell you what to do, you gotta listen to me."<br />
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"Hug the edge by that tree." and "Don't let off the gas when you're driving through the puddle." "This is important." I was a good student. I listened. I followed instructions.<br />
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When I arrived at the "finish line" after a gloriously (and very short) bumpy trip through the mud, I stepped on the brake and unbuckled my seatbelt.<br />
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A curious Brad asked, "Aren't you gonna go again?"<br />
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But I was good. I didn't want to press my luck. <a href="http://aim-offtherails.blogspot.com/2012/07/108-miles-per-hour.html" target="_blank">I once drove a car at 108 mph</a> and got away with it, and more recently, I didn't get Brad's truck (or us) stuck in the middle of nowhere with less-than-desirable cell phone service.<br />
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I'd rather keep an undefeated record than push the boundaries of good taste.<br />
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Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-26035965751576806112013-02-26T02:26:00.003-05:002013-02-26T04:56:18.422-05:00The Harrisonburg Farmer's Market<h3>
in pictures :)</h3>
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<a href="http://harrisonburgfarmersmarket.com/" target="_blank">Harrisonburg Farmer's Market Website</a><br />
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As you can see, you can buy local ALL YEAR ROUND. Check out the market this Saturday. It opens at 9AM.Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-44334843231960879552013-02-26T01:36:00.002-05:002013-02-26T04:56:50.714-05:00Thomas House RestaurantIt was Friday. Cue the singing angels...<br />
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and I was going out to lunch with two of my favorite people, my neighbor Emily and my boss Kathy. It just so happened that Emily was randomly chosen to be Kathy's teaching assistant this semester. Long story short, we're one big happy family.<br />
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So...the <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g57663-d1790946-r152010078-Thomas_House_Restaurant-Dayton_Virginia.html#REVIEWS" target="_blank">Thomas House</a>!<br />
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A wishing fountain filled with coins, women in skirts and sneakers serving lunch in old-order bonnets, a counter lined with pies and cakes.<br />
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Thanks to the women of Dayton, we, three (Kathy, Emily, and me), dined on a very moderately priced Mennonite feast served cafeteria style.<br />
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<br />
Feast is not an understatement either. With several main courses and over 25 sides to choose from, I had some decisions to make.<br />
<br />
Instead of being jealous of Emily's meal, I ordered the same thing that she did: a generous helping of green beans, an overflowing bowl of scalloped potatoes, a large spoonful of watergate salad, and a big ol' homemade cornbread muffin. The squash casserole looked good, but I figured I could just get it next time I came to Thomas House. Oh, trust me, there will be a next time...soon, too.<br />
<br />
And can't forget! Kathy graciously let me try one of her beets. Verdict? I like beets.<br />
<br />
Other side options included: mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and many more (x 18 mores to be exact).<br />
<br />
The wood paneling and China plates hanging on the Thomas House walls added to its quaint Southern charm. The post-Valentine's Day spirit in the restaurant was fading. The roses were wilted, and the balloons were deflated, but this place had plenty of character without those things. Poultry workers, painters, retired women, a mentor and her two mentees chatting about what the next chapter in the book of life might hold.<br />
<br />
It was a lunch surrounded by the hardworking people of this gorgeous valley (minus the Poultry plants...one across the street), and it was beautiful because well...on top of everything else, it was Friday and I was spending a beautiful Friday with two most beautiful people.<br />
<br />
Schedule a meal at Thomas House soon. Your stomach will thank me. Here are <a href="https://plus.google.com/106334420076135332249/about?gl=us&hl=en" target="_blank">directions</a>.Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-81751377068700959892013-02-06T23:24:00.003-05:002013-02-26T02:38:37.627-05:00Cupcake Company Crazy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T5MEUACmdQU/URMtYL6HJhI/AAAAAAAABbc/f5te9BP9aZg/s1600/579576_403905856366730_1618821510_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T5MEUACmdQU/URMtYL6HJhI/AAAAAAAABbc/f5te9BP9aZg/s320/579576_403905856366730_1618821510_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Caramel Macchiato. Cookie Mint. Vanilla Vanilla. Red Velvet. Banana Cream. Dreamsicle. Buttered Rum. Raspberry Merlot. Chocolate Overload. If you're as overwhelmed as I am right now, keep calm.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AzH24KLjMXg/URMe8CNyGLI/AAAAAAAABYk/M5isImGlFYg/s1600/Keep-calm-and-have-a-cupcake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AzH24KLjMXg/URMe8CNyGLI/AAAAAAAABYk/M5isImGlFYg/s320/Keep-calm-and-have-a-cupcake.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
<br />
Hop in your car, drive 3 miles east of Harrisonburg, and indulge in a box of cupcakes from <a href="http://www.cupcakecompany.net/" target="_blank">Cupcake Company</a>. But before you do, make sure this hidden gem is <a href="http://www.cupcakecompany.net/contact.html" target="_blank">open</a>.<br />
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My boss bought me four cupcakes on our way home from a photoshoot. Don't worry, I'm not a model.<br />
<br />
I limited myself to one cupcake a day over the course of two days. It was torture. What was more torturous, though? Having to share half of the contents of my 4-cupcake box with my boyfriend. <i>Sigh. Heavy sigh. Eyes welling with tears.</i> It was awful. I can't talk about it.<br />
<br />
I should have eaten the whole box on my way home from work, but then I would have had to go running for two hours, and let's be honest here. I hate running.<br />
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<h3>
My Cupcakes</h3>
<h4>
<br /></h4>
<h4>
Day 1</h4>
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Vanilla Caramel Macchiato. It's like if Starbucks and Betty Crocker had a love child. Delicious golden cake with a slight espresso flavor topped with a deliciously light caramel buttercream icing. Drizzled with a touch of caramel and topped with chocolate sprinkles.<br />
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Are you in your car yet? Don't read this and drive...it's not safe.<br />
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<h4>
Day 2</h4>
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Red Velvet. Luscious red velvet cake topped with a smooth and sweet cream cheese icing. The fondant heart would have melted my heart had my senses not been so consumed with the pure heaven I surrendered my tastebuds to.<br />
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And, no, I'm not being melodramatic. <a href="http://www.cupcakecompany.net/portfolio.html" target="_blank">They're that good</a>.<br />
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The one who shall not be named hogged the Cookie Mint and Vanilla Vanilla (left side of first photo). I would blog about them, too, but he robbed me of that privilege.<br />
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Oh well, I guess that means I just have to drive on back over and get me some more cupcakes. I could even bring friends. Emily Romito and Shauna Prentice, I'm talking specifically to you.<br />
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<h3>
Big news ahead. :) </h3>
Maybe I should start a Cupcake Company car pool from JMU? Charge my classmates in cupcakes??!!!! But wait...<br />
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They <a href="http://www.cupcakecompany.net/testimonials.html" target="_blank">deliver</a>. 432-CAKE.</div>
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You're welcome. </div>
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Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-65269662594870709432013-01-30T00:53:00.002-05:002013-02-22T10:14:20.192-05:00Dear Adam,<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-poYBVKQOiWQ/UQi0YM7IbjI/AAAAAAAABUA/rge7lq7Pj9s/s1600/57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-poYBVKQOiWQ/UQi0YM7IbjI/AAAAAAAABUA/rge7lq7Pj9s/s320/57.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
You don't know me. I sat in the back of the room during your <a href="http://www.mountainkeeper.org/on-the-road-again/" target="_blank">teleconference at JMU</a> in awe of your story and your courage to share it. You made me laugh, you made me cry, you made me mad.<br />
<br />
Unlike you, I don't have a personal connection to coal or mountaintop removal mining. I just have a connection to the mountains. They're my safe place, my <a href="http://aim-offtherails.blogspot.com/2012/10/backpacking-trip-overview.html" target="_blank">playground</a>, my home. I didn't even know what was happening until I googled "environmental legal problems" for a school assignment last year. From the search, I found the <a href="http://earthjustice.org/" target="_blank">Earthjustice</a> website. Then I found the <a href="http://earthjustice.org/mountain-heroes" target="_blank">Mountain Heroes</a> photo petition.<br />
<br />
And as I started to explore the Mountain Heroes website, I kept seeing the same man in the same highlighter yellow t-shirt all over the page. Then, in that same highlighter yellow t-shirt, I saw him again on YouTube. The date was September 15, 2012, just a few days after Larry's passing, and his video about his definition of a "hero" made me sob.<br />
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<br />
After that video, I wanted to see mountaintop removal mining for my self. I wanted to share in Larry's pain, so I booked a tour with Danny Chiotos. On my way to <a href="http://www.mountainkeeper.org/kayford-mountain/" target="_blank">Kayford Mountain</a>, I climbed a train car to see the coal inside. I even drove down a mine driveway before I had to back up real fast and go the other way. A coal truck was coming.<br />
<br />
The day was foggy, so I couldn't be witness to what fueled Larry's fire, but that didn't stop me from listening. Listening to stories about Larry being a firecracker. Longing to have had just one moment with this brilliant man. I kind of understood his legacy as I hiked around the Kayford Mountain property, but you embody that legacy. Bull horn in your hand or not, you are heard.<br />
<br />
Nothing will stick with me like your powerful narrative told over that spotty Skype connection.<br />
<br />
You said, "Take what I said, be mad, fight for justice--social justice, economic justice. Urge senators and congressmen to sign onto legislation that would help Appalachia."<br />
<br />
I remember every time I turn on a light, every time I plug in my iPod, or turn on my computer, it comes at a price to someone in your community. In the words of the wisest Kid President I know, it's time to do something. It's time for <i>me</i> to do something that makes Mother Nature want to dance.<br />
<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/l-gQLqv9f4o?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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So, I'll keep resisting. Even if it's just with words and an internet connection.<br />
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Thank <i>you, </i><br />
Aimee<br />
<br />
P.S. Elise, you did a great job!!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>To my readers, check out <a href="http://www.mountainkeeper.org/about-us/meet-our-board-staff/" target="_blank">Keeper of the Mountains</a> today. Like now. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://www.mountainkeeper.org/" target="_blank">Website</a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Keeper-of-the-Mountains-Foundation/128359103879217?fref=ts" target="_blank">Facebook</a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=keeper+of+the+mountains&oq=keeper+of+the+mountains&gs_l=youtube.3...691.3074.0.3216.23.11.0.12.12.1.148.822.10j1.11.0...0.0...1ac.1.DQgBRkS-HZQ" target="_blank">YouTube </a></b></div>
<b><br /></b>
Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-82091746284511029632013-01-22T19:26:00.000-05:002013-02-05T10:13:47.530-05:00To the Dogs<div>
In my Writing for Nonprofits class, I am no longer a student. My professor...no longer a teacher. I am a communications consultant for <a href="http://www.downtownharrisonburg.org/">Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance</a> (HDR), and my professor is my mentor. And he's not only my mentor, but he's a mentor for the other twenty-one students in my class.</div>
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And there's your context. We are Sean McCarthy's brilliant experiment in what rhetoric and communications can add to service learning. </div>
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<div>
Our first writing assignment in his class was to talk about a deliverable we wanted to produce for HDR in terms of the mnemonic HATCH, a concept proposed in a social media, social change book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Dragonfly-Effect-Effective-Powerful/dp/0470614153/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358898857&sr=8-1&keywords=dragonfly+effect">The Dragonfly Effect</a>. </div>
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Anyways, according to this book, when you're focusing on raising awareness for your non-profit, or anything really, you're going to need to hatch goal that will make an impact. </div>
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<div>
And to hatch this great idea, you need to understand your audience, you need to use short-term micro-goals to achieve long-term macro goals, and you need to identify metrics that will help evaluate your progress. You also need to create a goal that is clear and meaningful to you and your audience. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My possible deliverable to create? A Dog Lover's Guide to Downtown. I mean, why not bring your best friend on your Sunday stroll in downtown Harrisonburg? After all, some restaurants even let you dine in with your dog as long as you're sitting outside. Vito's, though not downtown, is one of those restaurants. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
So, for example, thinking about my doggie deliverable, I, the designer, must think about the humanistic, actionable, testable, clarity, and happiness (HATCH) elements of this project. I'm still in the very early planning stages, so I decided for the purpose of this exercise my focus would be on the content of this downtown dog guide. </div>
<div>
<br />
Okay...<br />
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<div>
<b>Humanistic</b> - My audience, unfortunately, isn't dogs because dogs can't read my guide. My audience then is people that love dogs that can/are willing to bring their four-legged friend downtown. </div>
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<div>
<b>Actionable</b> - I can make a list of the content that I want in my guide and break it up using appropriate headings. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Testable</b> - I can create a short survey about the guide's content that I can administer to the dog lovers of Harrisonburg, VA. Maybe my participants will have ideas that I didn't even think of! Hopefully, that type of thing would come out of the survey. </div>
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<b>Clarity</b> - I can administer the survey to 20 people. That's a clear focus. </div>
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<b>Happiness???</b> - Dog: Person's best friend. 'Ruff said. ;)<br />
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Pretty cool homework assignment, right? I'd have to agree. </div>
Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-77567881289873892032013-01-20T16:02:00.002-05:002013-02-22T10:35:27.923-05:00Rex's TailIn honor of all of the dog-related posts I've read on Facebook lately, I figured I'd show Rex and his journey a little love today.<br />
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Rex a.k.a "The Poops," our boxer mutt, was rescued from a hotel balcony in Charlotte, NC. He was bound to the rails with rope, which someone had tied around his poor little neck, belly, and paws. The weather was cold, and Rex was malnourished and dehydrated. Brad's mom found this then runt and took him into her home.<br />
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The little puppy from the balcony has since grown into a beautiful but neurotic dog.<br />
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We have put The Poops on Prozac and other drugs. We have taken him to acupressure treatments...desperate efforts to help calm his nerves.<br />
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Nerves that have driven him to "hide" under the bed for an hour because the baby gate fell down and made a loud noise.<br />
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Nerves that have also driven him to poop in my brand new car on the way to obedience lessons. Don't worry...no picture of that.<br />
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Some people would find these and Rex's other habits annoying. I mean, there's a 50-50 chance Rex will pee on his paw when he goes outside. And, well, he is destructive too.<br />
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He has destroyed bras, overflowing trash bags, figurines, t-shirts, dog beds, and remote controls. But the <b><i>THINGS</i></b> Rex has destroyed will never surpass the value of his loyalty and unconditional love.<br />
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Many of you know that The Poops came into our lives during a time of great transition. Brad had fallen in love with this crazy dog on his leave, and we decided that once Brad returned home from Afghanistan we would take this four-legged bundle of trouble off of Sande's hands.<br />
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WARNING! Moral of the story coming soon...get ready.<br />
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On our hike to Mary's Rock last week, Rex got more attention than ever before. Many different hiking parties commented on how pretty our pup was, and four of them made note of his curly tail.<br />
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After passing Brad and Rex, a female hiker in her best baby voice said, "Awww look at that tail," and used her fingers to draw an imaginary spiral. She hadn't noticed me at first because I was trailing behind my boys. But then she heard me laughing, and we laughed for a moment together.<br />
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Cute tail. Adorable tail. What a tail...we heard it all afternoon, but nothing was cuter than the three year old with the surprisingly deep and monotone voice who said, "What a beautiful dog you have." The boy was right. Rex is beautiful.<br />
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And his tail is well, special, like him. When The Poops is scared, the curl disappears in between his legs. When he wags it, it doesn't go back and forth but in a circle.<br />
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Rex doesn't realize he's not normal. He just knows that he's loved, and you know what? He's happy. Hussein Nishah, said to be the Fruit Loop in the bowl of Cheerios. Come to think of it, we're a family of Fruit Loops, and life couldn't be better.<br />
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Stylish, right?<br />
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Now, <a href="http://www.petfinder.com/">go rescue a dog</a>. Or hug the one you have. And don't be afraid to be a Fruit Loop.Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7980779369875017784.post-60756818572126263872013-01-07T00:56:00.001-05:002013-02-05T10:14:43.294-05:00Pizza & Beer<br />
<div>
I love food. And I love pairing food with yummy drinks. </div>
<ol>
<li>Coffee and a muffin. </li>
<li>French fries dipped in milkshake. </li>
<li>Wine and cheese.</li>
<li>Cereal with Silk. </li>
<li>Pizza and beer!!!!!!!!!!!!!</li>
</ol>
<div>
In my opinion, those are five of the most epic food/drink pairings in the history of human sustenance. And after meeting a representative from Oskar Blues Brewery at the job fair, I craved option #5: pizza and beer. </div>
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When I got home on Friday, I went on the search for <a href="http://www.oskarblues.com/the-brews/dales-pale-ale">Dale's Pale Ale</a>, Oskar Blues' claim to fame. Thanks to the brilliant people at Oskar Blues, they have a handy dandy beer locator on their website. Check it out <a href="http://www.oskarblues.com/about-us/beer-locator">here</a>. I stopped at Campus Corner first. They were out. </div>
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I went to Midtowne Market next, and I saw a great omen in the window:</div>
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I grabbed a six-pack of Dale's Pale Ale and headed to work. Luckily, I moonlight at an Italian restaurant that makes excellent pizza. Just check out the <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g57809-d1537820-Reviews-Vito_s_Italian_Kitchen_formerly_L_Italia_Pizza_Pasta-Harrisonburg_Virginia.html">reviews</a>. So, around 8:30PM, when I finally got off work, I came home to enjoy a medium pepperoni and sausage pizza, and a beer or two. :) </div>
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Most. epic. combination. ever. </div>
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Dale's Pale Ale is a bold beer with a beautiful hoppy finish that goes down nice and sweet. It complimented the slightly spicy toppings on my ooey gooey cheese pizza perfectly. Needless to say, I know what's for dinner next Friday, and the Friday after that, and the Friday after that. And...the Friday after that. And maybe a Saturday and Wednesday here or there, too.<br />
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P.S. Most awesome thing about a great canned beer? It's easy to transport in a backpack. Needless to say, I know what I'll be drinking with my Ramen noodles during Brad and I's next backpacking trip. </div>
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Go out buy some Oskar Blues! I already know some who have, and they've been very HOPPY with their purchase. ;)</div>
Aimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377744355518845211noreply@blogger.com0