i've always loved this paul simon line, and use it a lot or sing it in my mind. though i love to live by this motto, i still like to plan a little. haynes and i have made a list of places we want to see over the next three months plus and have placed those places into a geographically-intelligent timeline. now we will see if we can enjoy every space, nook and cranny.
to keep y'all in touch with our travels and give you the ability to enjoy these places with us (both through words and photos), haynes is going to join me on this history-keeping narrative on another blog (goldrushof09.blogspot.com). we will also keep up with the service aspect of our trip on different site (reducereuserecycleread.blogspot.com) as to provide an online resource for the elementary school children we will be speaking to. both of these can be accessed at your right.
for now, however, here is a highlight of our trip plans.
we will be heading out next wednesday on a formidable trip around the western U.S. and bordering Canadian provinces. i say formidable because of the list of places we want to see, and the only three months that we have to see them (this list has changed more than three times now and even once since i originally started this entry).
i will be based out of Tempe now until December so we have cut some time out of Arizona and southern Utah stops, knowing that we will have time to see those from this base. and we have a two week journey planned for July to head from a wedding in St. Louis to a wedding in Sacramento, a week apart, and then back to Tempe. so we can revisit or see anew some of the planned stops. with those possibilities and the restrictions of a few of haynes' grad school interviews and my graduation and two weddings in Georgia, we have planned to start on wednesday heading up to Prescott, Sedona, Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon.
from there to Zion and over to L.A. for haynes' first interview. then zigzagging over to Las Vegas, up through Death Valley and to Kings Canyon/Sequoia and back down to L.A. for haynes to fly out to Detroit. Then straight up the California, Oregon, and Washington coasts to Vancouver (with a couple more stops along the way, zig zagging to Yosemite, Lake Tahoe and other national parks, ski resorts, and cities along the way). Then to Whistler and Banff and down to visit friends in Montana and Grand Tetons in Wyoming before heading to a few more stops in southern Utah and back to Tempe for Pat's Run on April 18. And then across New Mexico and Texas to be back in time for graduation on April 25.
our next leg starts with some of the Mississippi delta to New Orleans and out to Savannah for a wedding. next to the Rockies front range in Colorado and up to Devil's Tower, Mount Rushmore, etc. and family and friends in Omaha, Kansas City, etc. and finally back to Georgia for a wedding outside of Atlanta.
all of this will have to be done by June 2 when i have to be back in Tempe for my job at the Pat Tillman Foundation. and that ends the trip (for the most part).
now a call for "hitchhikers" and additional volunteers - we have extra room in the car and will be doing some service along the way and so could always use the extra set of hands. we have committed to picking up 300 pounds of trash and talking to 15 elementary school classes along the way. i tell you all of this because if you are somewhere along the way, find haynes and i in our big white truck or noticeable red tent with an orange fly and join us for the journey.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
haynes is here
haynes just arrived this evening after driving the Celica the rest of the way back to Arkansas and hopping in the truck for the long haul over.
soon we will start our extended travels but for now i have to finish the work i am doing in Tempe. we are actually about to head over to suzanne's for dinner and then to hang out with katie and eric for the night, then this weekend will probably do some camping outside of Tucson. and then back to Tempe to finish up my work, speak to the Tillman Community on Tuesday night, and buy any necessities for the trip.
over the weekend we will be discussing the trip plans and will have something available for those who are interested soon. we have already changed the trip several times because of certain engagements, but have kept it in an itinerary to travel more efficiently. the best way to keep up will be to just check this site (or maybe another one which will be determined later) and look for our next stops.
peace.
soon we will start our extended travels but for now i have to finish the work i am doing in Tempe. we are actually about to head over to suzanne's for dinner and then to hang out with katie and eric for the night, then this weekend will probably do some camping outside of Tucson. and then back to Tempe to finish up my work, speak to the Tillman Community on Tuesday night, and buy any necessities for the trip.
over the weekend we will be discussing the trip plans and will have something available for those who are interested soon. we have already changed the trip several times because of certain engagements, but have kept it in an itinerary to travel more efficiently. the best way to keep up will be to just check this site (or maybe another one which will be determined later) and look for our next stops.
peace.
pay it forward, gift giving, and the forgotten surprise
i promised corissa, one of my coworkers (see 'c and s' under 'cocodrilos') that i would post this (and it is the only way that a handmade gift comes my way as well). so read below and pay it forward.
this is how it works...the first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a gift from me during this year. when and what will be a surprise. BUT, in order for you to receive the gift, you have to pass this message on to others first (through a blog, E-mail, conversations, etc.). so, you have to pay it forward. Understood? now let's see who will receive a gift from me.
it is ironic that i am posting this. not necessarily ironic, but hypocritical? maybe dichotomous? i don't know the word i am searching for, but my family will understand. i am not always the most gracious gift receiver. don't get me wrong, i love gifts, but i don't like holidays that "force" people to give you gifts. on top of this, i like spending a lot of time researching before i buy something - in short, i am not an impulse buyer. and so when i receive a gift i seem to always find something to comment on or find a way to reason why i don't need it or that i didn't want the giver to spend the money on it. i should trust that when people give gifts that they have put the time and thought into what they are giving, but i know from my experience that it is hard to work on a deadline to give a gift (without having to just ask that person what they want and ruining part of the special nature of gift giving in the first place).
which brings me to my next second point - surprises. i like for gifts to be surprises. and i am not good at keeping surprises or letting surprises happen. so if there is any hint that i am getting a surprise, i usually ask so many questions about it that i ruin it. and, vice versa, i easily crack and give details about a surprise when people ask. and so to be a surprise, there should be no mention beforehand about that surprise. but holidays which include gift giving take away part of this surprise, because you know you will be receiving something. just another reason why "forced" gift giving is hard for me to accept.
one way to address this, though, is one of the best types of gifts/surprises - the forgotten kind. so a mention of something (like the handmade gift that corissa will be giving me) and forgetting about that "promise" and receiving it later having forgotten that something was coming. it makes for all the better because in forgetting you have lost any hope that you did have after first hearing (accidentally or purposefully) about the gift/surprise, and so when finally receiving it your hope is restored which makes the gift more meaningful.
a final point is on types of gifts. gifts you can buy are great, especially if they are unique, handmade and specifically meaningful to the gift receiver (or to the gift receiver and giver alike). even better are handmade gifts by the giver. and equally as great are written words that either come with the gift or are the gift itself and are expressed on any sort of medium from the giver to the receiver. an all time great gift is just showing up to express these things in person. also on that all time great list is a gift that is a surprise to both the giver and receiver.
in closing, my ideal for gift giving and receiving is this: i like running upon something and that something reminding me of a certain person and then getting that something for that certain person and giving it to that certain person at an uncertain time.
this is how it works...the first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a gift from me during this year. when and what will be a surprise. BUT, in order for you to receive the gift, you have to pass this message on to others first (through a blog, E-mail, conversations, etc.). so, you have to pay it forward. Understood? now let's see who will receive a gift from me.
it is ironic that i am posting this. not necessarily ironic, but hypocritical? maybe dichotomous? i don't know the word i am searching for, but my family will understand. i am not always the most gracious gift receiver. don't get me wrong, i love gifts, but i don't like holidays that "force" people to give you gifts. on top of this, i like spending a lot of time researching before i buy something - in short, i am not an impulse buyer. and so when i receive a gift i seem to always find something to comment on or find a way to reason why i don't need it or that i didn't want the giver to spend the money on it. i should trust that when people give gifts that they have put the time and thought into what they are giving, but i know from my experience that it is hard to work on a deadline to give a gift (without having to just ask that person what they want and ruining part of the special nature of gift giving in the first place).
which brings me to my next second point - surprises. i like for gifts to be surprises. and i am not good at keeping surprises or letting surprises happen. so if there is any hint that i am getting a surprise, i usually ask so many questions about it that i ruin it. and, vice versa, i easily crack and give details about a surprise when people ask. and so to be a surprise, there should be no mention beforehand about that surprise. but holidays which include gift giving take away part of this surprise, because you know you will be receiving something. just another reason why "forced" gift giving is hard for me to accept.
one way to address this, though, is one of the best types of gifts/surprises - the forgotten kind. so a mention of something (like the handmade gift that corissa will be giving me) and forgetting about that "promise" and receiving it later having forgotten that something was coming. it makes for all the better because in forgetting you have lost any hope that you did have after first hearing (accidentally or purposefully) about the gift/surprise, and so when finally receiving it your hope is restored which makes the gift more meaningful.
a final point is on types of gifts. gifts you can buy are great, especially if they are unique, handmade and specifically meaningful to the gift receiver (or to the gift receiver and giver alike). even better are handmade gifts by the giver. and equally as great are written words that either come with the gift or are the gift itself and are expressed on any sort of medium from the giver to the receiver. an all time great gift is just showing up to express these things in person. also on that all time great list is a gift that is a surprise to both the giver and receiver.
in closing, my ideal for gift giving and receiving is this: i like running upon something and that something reminding me of a certain person and then getting that something for that certain person and giving it to that certain person at an uncertain time.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
returning the Celica across treacherousTexas
As work on my Capstone comes to an end and as Haynes' and I's trip around the West gets closer, it is hard to take another five days away from Tempe.
However, this past week/weekend was a great one and the adventure was just another addition to the life of a Riley.
I left last Wednesday at noon after getting the oil changed on the Celica, calling about my stolen bicycle (I got a lead that the Austin police arrested a thief and found a stockpile of high-end bikes), and finalizing the agreement with CGI U. I drove 11 and 1/2 hours, stopping twice for gas (once at an eerie station) and finally reached a rest stop outside of Big Spring, Texas, around 12:30 a.m. to stay the night. I slept well and woke up to an amazing sunrise and headed to my first stop in Anson, Texas, right north of Abilene.
There I did a whirlwind tour of the town and found the local breakfast hot spot - Mi Familia. I had contacted Rory Fanning, who is walking across the U.S. to raise funds for the Pat Tillman Foundation, about meeting him on his walk. This took me a little out of my way but was well worth it. I got two coffees and four breakfast burritos and headed on highway 180 to Albany where I met Rory at the intersection of highway 6. He hopped in the front seat and we chatted about the Pat Tillman Foundation, his life, my life, his walk, my planned travels, and his visit through Arkansas. If you haven't yet, check out his blog and read insights of an amazing journey (www.walkforpat.org). After an hour, I left Rory to the road and headed to Dallas to pick up Haynes and meet Wesley out for a happy hour drink.
After showering at the Bradshaws' apartment and doing some quick work, I headed to north Dallas with Haynes. We took over an hour trying to find the meeting place because of botched directions, Wesley's dead phone, and mostly because of Haynes' and I's impatience with each other. But when we finally arrived we got a beer and some nachos and enjoyed our time with a "gold" or "dear" friend.* And later that night we spent some quality time with Wesley and his wonderful wife, Holly. They (mostly Holly) prepared another great meal (I had another great meal with the Bradshaws last fall, so that makes it two for two). Eventually we left and headed to Waco to spend the night with Kelsey. We arrived around midnight to a house full of newly initiated Chi Omegas, watched an episode of the Office and caught some shut-eye.
I woke up in the morning to bring Kelsey to class and head to Austin to pick up Erin and Marie from the airport. While waiting for them I ran into James McKinney, a friend of the Clinton School and student at the University of Chicago - it was nice seeing James and we got to hang out some over the weekend. When Erin and Marie arrived, I dropped them off at their hotels and went to meet the Clinton School students in Austin. After a quick minute with them, I headed to lunch with Marie, Shawn, and Tillman Scholars Nikki Lewis and Christien Crynes. We had a Texas meal at Stubb's Barbeque before leaving the Scholars and heading to meet with a potential Foundation supporter. This meeting was extremely successful and set the tone for a very successful weekend. That evening we attended the opening session of the Clinton Global Initiative University conference and social reception before heading out for a brief night on the town with Molly Brunkow and Berto Noensie. The first event held at the University of Texas' Gregory gym is where I captured this photo of Shawn, Berto, Nikki, Christien, Erin, and Kelsey.
The morning came early and we all got to the Convention Center just in time for the opening session. This was a great panel and afterward Marie, Shawn, and I went backstage to meet with some of the panel members. This day went by fast and I was able to perform both my role as a Clinton School student and as Program Coordinator for the Pat Tillman Foundation. We met with and approached many potential partners for Foundation initiatives, I ran into many friends from Arkansas (including 15 Clinton School students and many Clinton School staff) and new acquaintances from Arizona, and I even ran into friends from last year's conference and other events (including Dani from California, Anya from Minneapolis, Stephanie from Minneapolis who was at Slate 60, and the Winkelman sisters). This day ended during the night with a few bar drop-bys (a great one with Carly's friend Lyric), a dying phone, and an exciting pick-up in a crammed Celica with Sonic.
We were up again early with some pan dulce from Christien's mother and on our way to east Austin for a service project at Rosewood Park and Community Center. I spent the day collecting trash and large pieces of metal - two shopping carts, two large metal light poles - from the creek with a group of other students. At lunch I was able to meet a few more conference attendees and have some great conversations before dropping Shawn and the Tillman Scholars off at the airport. This was an exciting morning with some notable volunteers in attendance.
With the conference over, I met my family members at REI and then parted ways with my sisters for the evening. Haynes and I got some barbeque at Stubb's and went to the Winkelman's house for an immediate redirect to restorative yoga with Eli and her mother. An hour of sleep-inducing positions and we headed to Frankie and Angie's for some pizza with the rest of the family. Then back to the house for some amazing tea and eventually out of Austin to Waco for another night at Kelsey's.
In the morning, we left and brought Erin directly to the airport, had lunch with Wesley and said goodbye until April, and pulled over for a motorcycle cop. After a disappointing speed trap ticket, Haynes dropped me off at the airport 6 hours early where I slept and woke up to Clinton's interview from the day before on CNN and then I began "hangin' with Mr. Cooper."
I finally made it back to Phoenix and Stephen, my roommate, picked me up.
Haynes will be here soon. Our trip around the West is about to begin. I need to tie up all of my loose ends here first though.
*Our mom has always told us this true sentiment, and I believe it is a good guide to relationships: "Make new friends and keep the old, one is silver, the other gold." Likewise, my friend Carly tells me that she refers to friends from a long ways past or of gold status as "dear friends."
However, this past week/weekend was a great one and the adventure was just another addition to the life of a Riley.
I left last Wednesday at noon after getting the oil changed on the Celica, calling about my stolen bicycle (I got a lead that the Austin police arrested a thief and found a stockpile of high-end bikes), and finalizing the agreement with CGI U. I drove 11 and 1/2 hours, stopping twice for gas (once at an eerie station) and finally reached a rest stop outside of Big Spring, Texas, around 12:30 a.m. to stay the night. I slept well and woke up to an amazing sunrise and headed to my first stop in Anson, Texas, right north of Abilene.
There I did a whirlwind tour of the town and found the local breakfast hot spot - Mi Familia. I had contacted Rory Fanning, who is walking across the U.S. to raise funds for the Pat Tillman Foundation, about meeting him on his walk. This took me a little out of my way but was well worth it. I got two coffees and four breakfast burritos and headed on highway 180 to Albany where I met Rory at the intersection of highway 6. He hopped in the front seat and we chatted about the Pat Tillman Foundation, his life, my life, his walk, my planned travels, and his visit through Arkansas. If you haven't yet, check out his blog and read insights of an amazing journey (www.walkforpat.org). After an hour, I left Rory to the road and headed to Dallas to pick up Haynes and meet Wesley out for a happy hour drink.
After showering at the Bradshaws' apartment and doing some quick work, I headed to north Dallas with Haynes. We took over an hour trying to find the meeting place because of botched directions, Wesley's dead phone, and mostly because of Haynes' and I's impatience with each other. But when we finally arrived we got a beer and some nachos and enjoyed our time with a "gold" or "dear" friend.* And later that night we spent some quality time with Wesley and his wonderful wife, Holly. They (mostly Holly) prepared another great meal (I had another great meal with the Bradshaws last fall, so that makes it two for two). Eventually we left and headed to Waco to spend the night with Kelsey. We arrived around midnight to a house full of newly initiated Chi Omegas, watched an episode of the Office and caught some shut-eye.I woke up in the morning to bring Kelsey to class and head to Austin to pick up Erin and Marie from the airport. While waiting for them I ran into James McKinney, a friend of the Clinton School and student at the University of Chicago - it was nice seeing James and we got to hang out some over the weekend. When Erin and Marie arrived, I dropped them off at their hotels and went to meet the Clinton School students in Austin. After a quick minute with them, I headed to lunch with Marie, Shawn, and Tillman Scholars Nikki Lewis and Christien Crynes. We had a Texas meal at Stubb's Barbeque before leaving the Scholars and heading to meet with a potential Foundation supporter. This meeting was extremely successful and set the tone for a very successful weekend. That evening we attended the opening session of the Clinton Global Initiative University conference and social reception before heading out for a brief night on the town with Molly Brunkow and Berto Noensie. The first event held at the University of Texas' Gregory gym is where I captured this photo of Shawn, Berto, Nikki, Christien, Erin, and Kelsey.
The morning came early and we all got to the Convention Center just in time for the opening session. This was a great panel and afterward Marie, Shawn, and I went backstage to meet with some of the panel members. This day went by fast and I was able to perform both my role as a Clinton School student and as Program Coordinator for the Pat Tillman Foundation. We met with and approached many potential partners for Foundation initiatives, I ran into many friends from Arkansas (including 15 Clinton School students and many Clinton School staff) and new acquaintances from Arizona, and I even ran into friends from last year's conference and other events (including Dani from California, Anya from Minneapolis, Stephanie from Minneapolis who was at Slate 60, and the Winkelman sisters). This day ended during the night with a few bar drop-bys (a great one with Carly's friend Lyric), a dying phone, and an exciting pick-up in a crammed Celica with Sonic.We were up again early with some pan dulce from Christien's mother and on our way to east Austin for a service project at Rosewood Park and Community Center. I spent the day collecting trash and large pieces of metal - two shopping carts, two large metal light poles - from the creek with a group of other students. At lunch I was able to meet a few more conference attendees and have some great conversations before dropping Shawn and the Tillman Scholars off at the airport. This was an exciting morning with some notable volunteers in attendance.
With the conference over, I met my family members at REI and then parted ways with my sisters for the evening. Haynes and I got some barbeque at Stubb's and went to the Winkelman's house for an immediate redirect to restorative yoga with Eli and her mother. An hour of sleep-inducing positions and we headed to Frankie and Angie's for some pizza with the rest of the family. Then back to the house for some amazing tea and eventually out of Austin to Waco for another night at Kelsey's.In the morning, we left and brought Erin directly to the airport, had lunch with Wesley and said goodbye until April, and pulled over for a motorcycle cop. After a disappointing speed trap ticket, Haynes dropped me off at the airport 6 hours early where I slept and woke up to Clinton's interview from the day before on CNN and then I began "hangin' with Mr. Cooper."
I finally made it back to Phoenix and Stephen, my roommate, picked me up.
Haynes will be here soon. Our trip around the West is about to begin. I need to tie up all of my loose ends here first though.
*Our mom has always told us this true sentiment, and I believe it is a good guide to relationships: "Make new friends and keep the old, one is silver, the other gold." Likewise, my friend Carly tells me that she refers to friends from a long ways past or of gold status as "dear friends."
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
happy birthday to my brother Haynes
this is a special post and shout out to my twin brother haynes, who through his ear for music, creativity, street wise, and straight talk provides great guidance in life
and who through his faith, curiosity, loyalty, and honest outlook on life is a great partner in adventure
these are two of my favorite photos with haynes - the first of us at RFK stadium before senior year for a concert and the second of us in Savannah with one of my favorite (and of course, now lost) hats and my belly relaxed (much to haynes' disapproval)
happy birthday haynes!
and who through his faith, curiosity, loyalty, and honest outlook on life is a great partner in adventure
these are two of my favorite photos with haynes - the first of us at RFK stadium before senior year for a concert and the second of us in Savannah with one of my favorite (and of course, now lost) hats and my belly relaxed (much to haynes' disapproval)happy birthday haynes!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
cheers to Arizona and a career?
I'll make this entry short, but it should break down my next year.
As I'm reaching 25, I at least have some clarity as to what I want to pursue for a career - working internationally (or for a U.S.-based internationally-focused institution) for either a government or non-governmental organization. My first focus will be the state department.
But that will have to wait...for now. As my last trip came to a close and I was finishing my application for the Foreign Service Officer Test, I received an E-mail stating that the February testing window had been filled worldwide, almost two weeks before the deadline. This was a knock to my plans, but after having all day on Tuesday (because the plane left without me) to think about it, everything worked out.
The Pat Tillman Foundation and its staff have been great. My time here has been productive and educational. And they have shown that they feel the same way towards me. So, when I returned to work on Wednesday I proposed to my boss coming back after graduation to help see through the initiatives I have been guiding. She totally agreed, and now here I am.
I will still go travel with Haynes in March and April and some of May (and with the encouragement of my boss) and will be in touch with the Foundation and kept in the loop throughout this time. Then in June I will come back to start full time, working on a contractual basis until December. I will still be focusing on the FSOT (also, with the encouragement of my boss) and will take that test in June. This all works out perfectly - it is times like these that God shows his direction for your life.
Now, I'm off to root for the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.
So cheers to Arizona, and to the semi-start of my journey into the real world!
As I'm reaching 25, I at least have some clarity as to what I want to pursue for a career - working internationally (or for a U.S.-based internationally-focused institution) for either a government or non-governmental organization. My first focus will be the state department.
But that will have to wait...for now. As my last trip came to a close and I was finishing my application for the Foreign Service Officer Test, I received an E-mail stating that the February testing window had been filled worldwide, almost two weeks before the deadline. This was a knock to my plans, but after having all day on Tuesday (because the plane left without me) to think about it, everything worked out.
The Pat Tillman Foundation and its staff have been great. My time here has been productive and educational. And they have shown that they feel the same way towards me. So, when I returned to work on Wednesday I proposed to my boss coming back after graduation to help see through the initiatives I have been guiding. She totally agreed, and now here I am.
I will still go travel with Haynes in March and April and some of May (and with the encouragement of my boss) and will be in touch with the Foundation and kept in the loop throughout this time. Then in June I will come back to start full time, working on a contractual basis until December. I will still be focusing on the FSOT (also, with the encouragement of my boss) and will take that test in June. This all works out perfectly - it is times like these that God shows his direction for your life.
Now, I'm off to root for the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.
So cheers to Arizona, and to the semi-start of my journey into the real world!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)