When you are in a different place alone, you discover many things. I consider myself a thoughtful person most days. By thoughtful, I mean I spend too much of my time thinking. Just ask those that have to deal with the aftermath..they know what can happen :) . I spent a lot of this last year by myself doing various things. I don't mind going out and doing activities alone, yet sometimes it is nice to share thoughts with someone when all is said and done. I go to many of the same places in Parker, see the same people normally at the same time of day. I believe some might call this routine. I interact with the same people most days. Yet, I went to the Farmer's Market this morning and my goodness, I couldn't wait to get out. This was hard for me because normally I love crowds and people. When I was in Portland, my favorite pastime was spent at the Starbucks at Pioneer Square in downtown just watching people. Watching them interact and conduct themselves made me wonder what other people see when they watch me. Not that I particularly care what the people of Portland thought, however, it was a good self reflection. I seem to feel more comfortable sitting in the corner watching from a far rather than being in the middle. What is this? Have I lost my security of being a loner?
Everyone should have a level of comfort in themselves, but where does that cross over into being a hermit? I can see how easily it happens. In conclusion.. I need to start meeting more people or I risk the status of a hermit. :)
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Hot vs. Cold
Some might call me a sentimental type. Wear my heart on my sleeve..emotions written all over my face..have a hard time hiding my feelings..Ok ok, you get the point. However, I do believe I am not dramatic nor alone in my feelings about traveling and sunsets. Lets be honest, few things beat a beautiful sunset. Since my move to Colorado, I have seen more incredible sunsets behind the mountains than I have in my previous 19 years of life. I also enjoyed the few sunsets I stayed up late to see in Norway. (The sun is only down there for about 4-5 hours) So then here is your question. Which is more beautiful, sunset on the beach or sunset behind the mountains? I've seen and been moved by both. As a side note, can I just say "What people see sunsets like I've seen and STILL don't think a God exists." That is so beyond me. Anywho, back on topic. So are you hot or cold? I find myself choosing mountains over beaches because I prefer being cold and snuggled up rather than in minimal clothes on a hot beach. I enjoyed a recent conversation with my friend, Jessica about how she loves living in Alabama because of the beaches and warm weather. I told her how much I love Colorado for the mountains and lots of snow in the winter. We have definitely ended up in the right climates. :) So would you rather travel and see a tropical sunset across the vast waves of the ocean or watch a red/orange sky set behind purple/blue layers of mountains? Me....I'll be content drinking in my mountain sets for quite some time I think..
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Coffee
Ah..my beloved drug.
It was a perfect time for me. I was taking my first big trip on my own and my destination was java town USA: Seattle, Washington. I give full credit to my brother, Jake for getting me started. I remember going to Starbucks with him last summer to chat about my recent trip to Norway, rejoicing inside as I ordered the same drink as him. Can the type of coffee drink you order truly give you a good feeling of self worth? In my world, yes. It truly is that simple to please me. :)
Okay, lets back track. I have a distinct memory in my mind of driving to my best friend, Meg's house and she was talking about how she drank coffee with her dad sometimes. I was in shock. Really? How cool and grown up was that!? Coffee was something I always associated with a type of person. It was sophisticated, worldly, and classic. I realized I wasn't too far off with my conclusion when McDonald's came out with their McCafe commercial. It displayed two guys in a coffee shop wearing glasses and scarfs reading books trying to fit a stereotype because they enjoyed coffee. Then thanks to Mac Shac, everyone can now enjoy their cup of joe like the average joe. Click the link to check it out. McDonalds Coffee Commercial . They weren't far from the truth were there? Coffee is so awesome it actually defines what kind of person you should be. Now that ladies and gents, is power. Also, doesn't what we order say a lot about our personalities as well? For instance, think of all the old men who sit in the cafes or Hardees in the early morning drinking their black coffee solving all the worlds problems. They drink it like they did as kids. It was used to get you going in the morning, not as a pleasure. Then you have those like my mother who has more cream and sugar than coffee so basically you are enjoying a coffee flavored milk drink. The young kids order a Mocha or non drinkers like my father enjoy a smoothie. Then you have those like my brother Jake, who gets an Americano, which just fits his classy nature. My drink of choice? I've evolved from my Mocha days to black coffee with cream. So as I evolved over the past 7 years from drinking java like my mother to being able to order a black coffee with pride, I have concluded coffee is power. It is a reason for people to get together. It allows the small town gossip to be passed, old men to reminence about their glory days and brings old or new friends together. It can even ruin relationships for those who chose the local cafe as a safe place for a broken heart. It acts as that extra fuel for many like the college students cramming for that exam in 5 hours, lawyers trying to crack their case, and even keeps our boss from growing the horns and tail we are positive they have somewhere buried in their soul. Coffee even reaches so far as to be cultural..This however, opens a whole new topic for me. So I leave you with these three words...To be continued...
It was a perfect time for me. I was taking my first big trip on my own and my destination was java town USA: Seattle, Washington. I give full credit to my brother, Jake for getting me started. I remember going to Starbucks with him last summer to chat about my recent trip to Norway, rejoicing inside as I ordered the same drink as him. Can the type of coffee drink you order truly give you a good feeling of self worth? In my world, yes. It truly is that simple to please me. :)
Okay, lets back track. I have a distinct memory in my mind of driving to my best friend, Meg's house and she was talking about how she drank coffee with her dad sometimes. I was in shock. Really? How cool and grown up was that!? Coffee was something I always associated with a type of person. It was sophisticated, worldly, and classic. I realized I wasn't too far off with my conclusion when McDonald's came out with their McCafe commercial. It displayed two guys in a coffee shop wearing glasses and scarfs reading books trying to fit a stereotype because they enjoyed coffee. Then thanks to Mac Shac, everyone can now enjoy their cup of joe like the average joe. Click the link to check it out. McDonalds Coffee Commercial . They weren't far from the truth were there? Coffee is so awesome it actually defines what kind of person you should be. Now that ladies and gents, is power. Also, doesn't what we order say a lot about our personalities as well? For instance, think of all the old men who sit in the cafes or Hardees in the early morning drinking their black coffee solving all the worlds problems. They drink it like they did as kids. It was used to get you going in the morning, not as a pleasure. Then you have those like my mother who has more cream and sugar than coffee so basically you are enjoying a coffee flavored milk drink. The young kids order a Mocha or non drinkers like my father enjoy a smoothie. Then you have those like my brother Jake, who gets an Americano, which just fits his classy nature. My drink of choice? I've evolved from my Mocha days to black coffee with cream. So as I evolved over the past 7 years from drinking java like my mother to being able to order a black coffee with pride, I have concluded coffee is power. It is a reason for people to get together. It allows the small town gossip to be passed, old men to reminence about their glory days and brings old or new friends together. It can even ruin relationships for those who chose the local cafe as a safe place for a broken heart. It acts as that extra fuel for many like the college students cramming for that exam in 5 hours, lawyers trying to crack their case, and even keeps our boss from growing the horns and tail we are positive they have somewhere buried in their soul. Coffee even reaches so far as to be cultural..This however, opens a whole new topic for me. So I leave you with these three words...To be continued...
Monday, August 9, 2010
Types of Traveling
Everyone travels.. You travel to families gatherings, holiday get togethers, travel through history and even travel for vacation. Imagine that :). I mean, even if you are from a small little town like Concordia, Missouri you travel to Branson, Missouri for most family gatherings, holiday get togethers, vacations, camping...you get the picture. So then I guess my point is what does it mean to be a "traveler?" Do you have to travel outside of the country to be say that you have "traveled?" The parents in my new job travel for work quite a bit, yet I have a hard time believing they consider themselves, "travelers." So lets break down these different travelers. Firstly, you have your business travelers who go only for work. You have your home bound/holiday travelers, your vacationers, and finally, you have your adventurous travelers. Have I missed any? So yes, most everyone is a traveler, however what can we call those who are out to discover the world through adventure and experience? Any ideas? I'll have to work on that one....
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Where It Started.
It all started when I started saving all my hard earnings for a trip to Seattle, Washington to see two of my older brothers, Dan and Jake. This marked the beginning of two habits for me. 1. Saving all my earnings to buy a plane ticket somewhere, buying it, and then scraping whatever earnings I had for "spending" money. And always returning home broke and satisfied. 2. My love of traveling. It also marked my addiction for coffee, however, we'll save that for another time.
I remember having a discussion with my friend, Josh about how I felt like a kid in a candy store whenever I got to travel. Everyone always seems to complain about long layovers and delays at the airport. I say, "bring it on." I mean that just means more time to sit and watch people. And no, I am not that creepy person in the corner staring at everyone. I am the one who laughs with you as you drop your bag for the 10th time or helps keep the mother with 3 kids from leaving a child behind. It is amazing what you can learn from just watching people. If you ever want to learn anything, go sit on a bench in a mall and just watch. It will reveal probably more than you want to know about today's society.
So from the time I took that first, independent flight to Washington, I caught the "travel bug." Best thing to ever happen to me. I've never been one to read or learn something in a book when I could possibly do or see it in real life. For instance, I learned more in an afternoon at the Mayan ruins of Tikal in Guatemala than I did in an entire semester of Mr. Beerman's Geography class. So yes, I chose to skip out on college and be a nanny. However, I pray that God allows me to get my education in life and experiences. They seem to stick in my brain more than the square root of pi. ; )
I remember having a discussion with my friend, Josh about how I felt like a kid in a candy store whenever I got to travel. Everyone always seems to complain about long layovers and delays at the airport. I say, "bring it on." I mean that just means more time to sit and watch people. And no, I am not that creepy person in the corner staring at everyone. I am the one who laughs with you as you drop your bag for the 10th time or helps keep the mother with 3 kids from leaving a child behind. It is amazing what you can learn from just watching people. If you ever want to learn anything, go sit on a bench in a mall and just watch. It will reveal probably more than you want to know about today's society.
So from the time I took that first, independent flight to Washington, I caught the "travel bug." Best thing to ever happen to me. I've never been one to read or learn something in a book when I could possibly do or see it in real life. For instance, I learned more in an afternoon at the Mayan ruins of Tikal in Guatemala than I did in an entire semester of Mr. Beerman's Geography class. So yes, I chose to skip out on college and be a nanny. However, I pray that God allows me to get my education in life and experiences. They seem to stick in my brain more than the square root of pi. ; )
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