Update 3: 400 B4 40

Before the specifics, I want to give a general update on stuff and things. I'll get into the details below. As you may have seen, Collin and I went to Colorado last week for my sister-in-law's wedding, which was beautiful. I saw a place that did ziplining but we didn't have a chance to do it.

I've been thinking about ziplining though, because I'm planning my 40 trip! I'm hoping that we can take a road trip to Key West. The only problems are 1) it's still really hot down there in September and 2) it's also hurricane season. So yeah, we're thinking about it. :-)

I've been really busy and noticing as usual that the first thing I let go of is the self-care. Urgh. But I'm going to SF in two weeks and that will be awesome. I'm not sure I'll be able to get healthy before 40, at least not as healthy as I would have liked, but I can definitely improve, so that's something to look forward to.

So. Updates.

Forty Playlists:

Oh my gosh it's getting so hard to make these mixes! Somehow I managed to cut 1983 from 5 hours to 1.5 but whew it was tough. 1984 started as over 6 hours!! I was just deleting like crazy - I can't even remember what I deleted honestly. It's all a blur. But not Blur. They didn't form until 1988. So far I am thinking this is my favorite "before 40" activity!

Year 0: 1977
Year 1: 1978
Year 2: 1979
Year 3: 1980
Year 4: 1981
Year 5: 1982
Year 6: 1983
Year 7: 1984

Forty-ish Films:

Still not making much progress on getting through the top 100 or even the 40ish I haven't seen yet. I brought the DVDs with me to Colorado but it has been really busy lately, and it's hard to watch movies while making playlists. :-)

1 (100): Ben-Hur
2 (99): Toy Story
3 (98): Yankee Doodle Dandy

Forty Defining Experiences:

Still thinking, but not as much. At least I'm being honest about it!

Forty Chores:

The list keeps growing but that's ok.

1 - repair paint on carl
2 - get NC license plate
3 - get ivy from trees
4 - remove dead weeds from walkway [I feel like I've done this a million times and they keep coming back. I think that's the nature of weeds, which makes me wonder if I should take this off the list...]
5 - trim azalea
6 - file all paperwork
7 - update blog background
8 - replace filter on cat fountain
9 - do something about the doors
10 - plant something?
11 - get a new passport (need to wait until after July)
12 - go to the eye doctor
13 - go to the lady doctor
14 - go to the dentist
15 - go to the dermatologist?
16 - find a real doctor
17 - cancel Foreign Affairs subscription
18 - update address at SFFCU and get new debit card
19 - hang plants from ceiling
20 - hang intentions board
21 - edit video footage of Louis from 2015
22 - edit video footage of Collin from 2016
23 - edit video footage of Devon from 2017
24 - renew library books and return books that can't be renewed anymore
25 - fix slow draining shower!!!
26 - Write May Minimalism Challenge blog entry
27 - edit video footage of Greer's wedding from 2017
28 - finish year 1 (SF) photo book! :-)
29 - photobook for Greer!
30 - take donations away from the house!
31 - clear out cardboard boxes from downstairs

Forty Unbroken Chains:

My previously gathered things are getting lonely. 

Forty Letters:

Hmm, need to do...

Forty Acts of Self-Love:

1 - facial steam (today)
2 - haircut
3 - rainbow mani-pedi
4 - massage chair at Collin's haircut
5 - lying out in the sun on the porch reading Borne

Forty Job Applications:

Ay caramba, I don't know how many I've done so far but I had two interviews in the past week (same place) so that feels pretty great!

Forty Photos:

2002 (age 25): Reynoldstown, Atlanta, getting ready for a Halloween party in the apartment I shared with my friend from college (the one dressed as Maggie the Cat) and her friend (not pictured). This was right around the time I started dating Collin (the first time). By the next Halloween my friend and I had "broken up" and so had Collin and I. 

2003 (age 25): Spain with Mom to visit Baxter, who was studying abroad. I love this photo. It was taken by mom in the beautiful Atocha Train Station in Madrid, less than a year before the bomb attacks here.

2005 (age 27): Surrey (England) with Mom, who was doing some consulting work there. I studied for my prelim in Social Movements while she was working and had shortbread and tea with milk every morning for breakfast. We went for a long walk on some of the walking trails around there and found this neighborhood pub, where a barman named James served me a delicious "bitter" with a smile. Also that was my Power Puff Girls watch, which I miss.

Forty Haiku:

No new ones!

Happy Campers For Real Though

A Drive Across the United States

Hawaii Slideshow!

Enjoy!

From Daddy's Camera: Graduation o'10

movies and b-s-.

Actually, I had a tough day today. Alison, Vaughn and I did some work on the coding scheme for our music consecration paper and it really took a lot out of me. It's been hard for me to get it up for sociology lately, what with all the doubts and concerns I've been having, and the mid-life/pre-career crisis I find myself in at the present juncture. I'm trying though. A friend of mine serendipitously got back in touch with me to give me comfort and encouragement about the dissertation. He recently got his PhD and has been helpful in listening to my grumbles and telling me that I can go to the Peace Corps maybe or get a job in North Carolina doing something non-academic, but that I really should finish my dissertation. Mom keeps telling me, too, but it's a lot of work. It's not just a matter of time wasted; it's emotionally and intellectually exhausting. But as I was telling Alison, this is closest I will ever be in this lifetime to getting my doctorate, so I should definitely do the work if I'm at all interested. Of course, I saw the chair of my committee today at school and I swear he gave me the evil eye...

I watched Dog Day Afternoon when I got home from school. It was pretty good. Definitely worth seeing, especially if you like Al Pacino; he gives a great performance. Of course, he's awesome, so that's no shock. But really a great performance. It's hard to say it was subtle, since it was about a bank robbery gone wrong, but it was in a way. You slowly become attached to Pacino's character, the tension slowly builds to an almost unbearable climax, turns in the story and revelations are striking, yet almost mundane seeming. I thought it was "ok" when it first ended, but the more time passes, the fonder I grow of it. I mean, it's no Man With the Golden Arm but hey, we can't all be perfect.

I rented Double Indemnity, and when I checked out my friend the videostore guy asked me about Dog Day Afternoon. I blathered for a moment then mentioned The Man With the Golden Arm. He recommended Anatomy of a Murder, another Otto Preminger film. I'll have to see it next. He claims it's his best, and I looked it up and it looks great. I remember it's one of those that's been on my list for some time but I keep forgetting.

Another I've been wanting to see is Pinky, which I almost got tonight. I've been wanting to see that for years! It looks fascinating. I'll just save it for next time I suppose...

charity :)

Oh, and the b-s- refers to the State of the Union address, which I tried to watch but was only able to endure for five minutes. That's when I went to the videostore. God, what have we done to ourselves...

me today.

Nicholas Celebrates Four Years with Us.

Today was Nicholas' birthday celebration. Lots of fun was had by all, but unfortunately I missed my nap afterwards. I don't normally take one of course, but after that party I needed one. Sitting in Borders, spacing out after gorging on pizza, mimosas, and cake, and exhausted after chasing 4 year olds around a small apartment for a couple of hours, I realized that unfortunately I am now too old for kids. I missed my window I guess. By like ten years. Lucky for me my friends have had kids, so I can still enjoy them and yet not worry about going to IKEA and chasing them around and around and around and around....



Just kidding. I actually like chasing kids around, but I prefer watching them chase themselves and/or each other around. Kids are so funny!

Anyway, good day, but not enough work done. As usual. :) Who cares? I had a nice day. I always love spending time with the Elliots, and I got a cheap coffee table and a nice file drawer on wheels from IKEA. I even talked to my dad on the phone for a minute. It's not all my problems, and I definitely spent more than $10, but it's a start.

I think tomorrow I'll watch Dog Day Afternoon. I'll let you know what I think.

charity :)

michelle and charity go to the mall aka possession.

Michelle was here this weekend for a conference and we got to hang out Saturday. We wanted to do something where we could talk all day, so we decided to go to the mall.

Michelle and I arrived at the mall only to be assaulted by the sight of the "pink pig" which comes out every christmas to brainwash the kids into buying more stuff than they need and can possibly use with money their parents are looking for ways to throw away, apparently. Again, it's not even Thanksgiving yet. Shouldn't this a time to be thankful for what we already have? No? It's a time for buying countless stuffed pigs that look like they are possessed by demons? Oh, ok, my bad.

Of course you also realize this means the mall was FULL of kids. The more time I spend around large numbers of children, the more convinced I become that I don't want them. Not because I don't like kids, but because their parents all seem to become possessed by spirits that force them to buy incredibly expensive strollers and toys and candies at every turn; they blindly allow their children to run around the mall eating chicken fingers and yelling at strangers, and for some reason still expect all of us single childless people to be jealous of them. I can't understand it. I just know that I don't want to join their numbers. Sure, some people might say "Oh, but I would never be like that!" But what if you can't control it? Yikes.


Anyway, here's me in front of the pig. This is why I will never be a model. The camera comes out and I begin to look like a goblin. Who can explain it? Ah, well. I blame the pig.


Michelle, on the other hand, is incredible photogenic. And beautiful.


The young woman in the store came up to me while still folding sweaters and said, "Excuse me, but you are NOT allowed to take pictures of the mannequins." I guess this must be a common problem for them. I thought she was going to confiscate my camera. Lucky me and you she didn't try, I guess. No wait, I mean lucky THAT BITCH.


Welcome to my nightmare! Thanks for stopping by! Leave your sanity at the door! You won't need it where you're going!

Be good! (Or beware the wrath of the pig! I'm just saying!)

Charity :)

Old picture of me and Michelle (December 2004).


Another old picture of me and Michelle (December 2004).

well, well, well.

It was nice to visit with Richard when I was home last weekend. He seems to be doing well, lately, and really enjoyed driving my mom's new (used) Avalon since she was in Egypt. (And I enjoyed sleeping in her comfy bed! Although sharing a queen bed with several stacks of devotional and Sudoku books still doesn't leave much room to stretch out... I miss you Mom!)


There's a new addition: Pumpkin-Jack. Too bad Richard is "not a cat person."


(Can you tell?)


Yoda did not seem happy about not being the kitten-baby anymore. However, he did better than Tubby, who wouldn't even come near the house, and instead tried to get me to let her into the neighbor's house. She sat next to her screen door, meowing and looking plaintively at me. Crazy lunatic.

I had a nice weekend. I visited with Richard obviously, but also a little with Isaac, and I spent Saturday night with Sarah and Daddy. Daddy and I watched 300, which kept making me laugh. I remembered that hilarious review I read about it. I posted a link to it on my blog I think. But anyway, it was so funny. And we got to see it in Hi-Def, which really brought out the six-packs and quadriceps of the good guys (sex-non-neutral language used intentionally). It also brought out the grossness of the bad people and monsters and gushing spurting blood, so there was also that. Good times.

Anyway, since then, I've finished my new favorite book: "The Late-Bloomer's Revolution" by Amy Cohen. I wrote a review of it on GoodReads in case you're on there. I've also finished 2 of the Harry Potter books of the 7 I'm re-reading. I have lost a bit of the steam, though, and might wait to read the rest. I was really inspired by Cohen's book to find another great new book to read. Sometimes life seems too short to re-read Harry Potter books. So if you have any good recommendations, I'd love to hear them. I'd like to read Slam by Nick Hornby. That will be good I think. And undoubtedly a quick read. Anyway, I'll let you know what I decide.

I hope you're all doing well. We moved from drought to cold dry winter and my skin is killing me. I'm going through lotion like it's going out of style, and to no avail. Remember the days when Atlanta was humid? I'm going to have to crank out my humidifier again, I guess.

Oh, and I got on Facebook. How silly!

Charity :)

Before heading home, I was lucky enough to catch a quick glimpse of this beautiful car! As far as I can tell it's a 1949 Coronet, and very shiny and pretty. I have a weakness, I know.

some recent pictures: mom on her way to Egypt

A nice woman sitting next to us in the airport took this picture of mom and me. She had a layover last night at the airport here in Atlanta, so I went to visit with her a minute. I missed the Office, but it was worth it.


Mom got a new camera from Richard for her birthday. He got her one a few years ago, but my younger brother has taken it over. Can you claim squatters' rights on a camera? If so, he would.


Mom waving good-bye from the security checkpoint. She's the one waving goodbye at the security checkpoint.


My dad posted this picture of me a while ago and I thought people who know me might get a kick out of seeing it.

Charity :)

some recent pictures: Halloween

Little Jack was a Hershey's Kiss, but he hated the hat, so he kind of looked like a silver shopping bag. But how cute he was anyway!!


Nicholas saw this picture after I took it and was fascinated by it. He made me show it to him again.


What a cute non-threatening skeleton!


Susanna and the skeleton.


Time to go!


The patience of this woman was incredible! Nicholas wasn't a bother, but some of those other kids were crazy annoying. Nicholas was looking over at his parents, rather than at the photographer. He seems skeptical of this whole process. And rightly so, in my opinion.


Nicholas liked my hat.


My babies were cats. :)

Memphis: Coward-Bucher wedding.

Susanna and I walking in Memphis.


"History is written by victors, but legends are written by the people."
Unknown, speaker at funeral of Francisco "Pancho" Villa.


How Piggly Wiggly changed the world.


Carrie and Jake tying the knot.


Michelle and Troy at reception.


Centerpiece and dancing at reception.

RV Show

I really like this photo of Mom and Richard; it was taken at the RV Show in Greensboro a few weeks ago. The truck we are standing on front of is a ginormous monster truck that people are meant to drive on the street in real life, carting around a trailer with a living space bigger than my brother and his wife's apartment in New York City and more expensive than some houses. Weird.

Anyway, I hope you have enjoyed the last twenty-something photos from me. Tomorrow I will post the photos from Carrie and Jake's wedding: the first photos from my new decade. Yay, thirty. This was a really tough birthday (and I pretty much ALWAYS hate my birthday), but I got some very sweet cards and phone calls, and I got to eat pizza and drink beer with some close friends on the night of my birthday, so it was pretty nice overall. Thanks to those who made it nice by spending time with me, or who were nice enough to call and probably suffer through me being a sniveling sobbing brat about it.

OK. As promised, the photo:



Be good,
Charity :)

Badin Lake

September 2007. The last photos taken of me and by me as a twenty-something.
Enjoy, for there will be no more. These were taken at Badin Lake, NC.


Here is a little pier that can be used for fishing when the water isn't so low because of drought and overuse that the shoreline has receded to beyond it.


A view of the treetops.


A lovely view even in drought.


Mom was kind enough to take my photo. I didn't notice all the dead trees in the background until now. I would crop them out, but I like the weird feeling it lends. Maybe they are supposed to be underwater, too.


Mom and Richard at the lake.


Richard and the lake.



Just Richard.

freaks and business: coney island.