The Sweet Life.

New experiences and new places are fascinating to any human being. Some people like to travel alone and soak up these new experiences in hopes of deepening “who they are.”

Having said that, there is also something to be said for traveling with a companion. This companion does not have to be a girlfriend, or a boyfriend, or even someone close to you. But find someone that you can trust and tolerate enough to share a possibly life-changing experience with. If you don’t know them very well, you definitely will once your trip is over.

My best trips and vacations have been journeys that I have taken with people that I love. To have someone along that I know will be interested and hungry to learn and know more about where we are is so exciting. Just think - when you have more than one person along, but not too many, you have the addition of view points and opinions and desires that you may have not thought of.

If you’ve only ever traveled with others, then consider taking a trip by yourself. It is enlightening to one’s soul to be completely alone with your thoughts and feelings about a new place. However, as a double-edged sword, if you’ve only ever traveled alone, then find someone that you would like to share your experience with. Show them what you like to do and be flexible and receptive to their new ideas and suggestions about what to see and where to go.

With new personalities on your trip, you will find yourself in places, eating things, listening to music, and doing things that you would have never imagined -or chosen for yourself- before!

A movie about getting lost in life, and then finding yourself in the perfect place.

Ridley Scott’s newest film, “A Good Year,” is about a stock broker whose uncle unexpectedly dies. They have lost touch, but as a child he had spent much time with this uncle in Province. If for NO other reason, this movie should be seen for the beautiful cinematography that displays a jewel of the world.

Based on the book by Peter Mayle, “A Good Year” is a beautiful story about finding what life is really about in the midst of life you have been living. The culture of the certain European people is, and has been for centuries, a relaxed and gorgeous approach to the things that truly matter. They take time to eat, drink and be with one another. They are passionate people about every aspect of life.

“A Good Year” starring Russel Crowe, is currently in theaters. Unfortunately, not in Stillwater, Ok.

This weekend was incredible. Since this semester has been so damn demanding, it was truly the first weekend that I really got to just absolutely cut loose and hang out.

I got off work Friday afternoon around the same time Kyle and John E. rolled into my driveway. I had to work on a paper that was due the next day, Sunday, at 4 p.m. so they cracked open a beer for me and turned the music on. Tiffany T and Seth arrived a little later, then Tyler T, then Susan. My toilet broke and it was mayhem until I was able to borrow the “necessary tools” from the neighbors.

I finally came to a stopping point around 5-ish and had to get ready lightening fast in order to try and make it to Aggie’s Big House in time for kick-off for Seth, which we didn’t. Regardless, I donned my only good pair of fit-me jeans, my black chucks, black beret, and bright red velvet blazer. It was fab, yet I was the only one not in orange.

We proceeded to get absolutely belligerent at Aggie’s and munched on chips, laughed, took lots of pictures, and went through lots of Aggies’ mugs of beer. It was such an incredible time. After a quick run back by my house, we went to Mike’s and the night slowly disintegrated into passing out.

Sunday morning found me - head aching & sick - still needing to finish my story before 4 p.m. Kyle, Tiff, Seth, John, AND Thompson were all sleeping on my floor covered in blankets and I can only imagine how freezing it was. I got up and did my story, but it was damn hard and only possible with frequent trips to the once broken bathroom. Phew.

Tiff and Seth had to unfortunately return to Tulsa, but John and Kyle and I made a run to El Tap for some seriously tasty Mexican food. We came home, they played guitar and we were all lulled into a fabulously late afternoon nap.

It is something to be able to look back upon, such a weekend with such friends. I considered for a moment that maybe leaving Stillwater wasn’t the best thing for me. However, I realized that this time I’d had was a temporal and rare occasion. I am the only one out of the bunch that still lives in Stillwater, and knowing I’ll be back comforts me to know that I’ll be returning to the most amazing people I have ever met.

After spending a grand total of 15 minutes on my Reporting mid-term (the mid-term that cost me $100 extra…) I left Stillwater and arrived in Oklahoma City around 2 p.m. I visited with my aunt and uncle for a while and then Karen took me to the airport.
I had already planned to drive myself, but since Karen got off around 5 and I didn’t leave until 8, she took me to the airport after pizza & gooey delicious brownie bites.

The flights were just as I’d thought. Tedious. I couldn’t study even though I tried. I read a little, and thought alot, and luckily arrived in Boise a tad earlier than planned.

I met Brad down at baggage claim and Boise vacation ‘numero due’ ensued.

I had an amazing time over fall break.

I got to get out of town for a little while and spend some time with Brad.

It was fall in Boise, and oh so beautiful. I came home with a sour attitude toward life back here in Oklahoma.

Crazily enough, I rearranged my entire schedule for next semester in order to be there…

The reason for this entry? It’s just a reminder that traveling does not always turn out to be just a get-away or just a break from the norm. Sometimes, going somewhere else can be just the boost or push you need to realize that you were meant to be somewhere else, or at least with someone else, all along.

Posted in L.O.V.E | No Comments »

BOIse!, Is this good!

Tuesday, October 17th, 2006

I found the most awesome tasty fall treat while I was in Boise.

Simply put: Pumpkin Ale & Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies.

I guarantee you that if you can get your hands on this combination, it is absolutely blue-ribbon. Add in the atmosphere of leaves of every color cascading down like rain, crisp cool air, and a handsome guy that you’re madly in love with, and I promise - it will become an INSTANT fave.**UPDATE!** Amazingly enough, I found that these delicious cookies ARE available to those not living directly in Boise. Here’s a couple ways to get them wherever you are.

1. Contact a little someone named “To whom it may concern,” at INFO@BOISECOOP.COM
2. Secondly, you can call Customer Service at (208)472-4500.
3. And thirdly, you can take a killer road trip and hunt these delectables down yourself! The address for the Boise Co-op is: 888 West Fort Street, Boise, ID 83702.

Posted in L.O.V.E, HodgePodge | No Comments »

Dog-gone crazy

Thursday, September 28th, 2006

Last summer I went south to Destin, Fl to live and work for the summer. It turned out to be a cool experience, although I had to live in a living room and sleep on my cousin’s couch for the entirety of my trip, not to mention I had to dodge two hurricanes.

While I was there my cousin had this burning desire to get a dog. We searched on the internet, found one, but it was in Tennessee. I had a day off coming up, so I offered to drive up there and get it. And so I did. I scooped up a friend from work & she made the journey with me.

We drove all day long starting very early in the morning in order to get there around 5 p.m. The drive back took well into the early morning hours and I had to do all the driving, while she got to cuddle and hold the new pup. We stopped almost everyhere to let the dog out and drank lots of Red Bull.

He’s still doing well (Roy AND Scooter) down in Florida and has grown so quickly. I hardly recognize him now when I see the pictures.

This is the perfect example of how a spontaneous road-trip took longer than expected, but was absolutely worth it. You never know when a spontaneous urge in combination with a desire to do something nice for someone can lead to an adventure and experience that you never expected to get in one day.
I mean, just look at this cute pup. He was named Scooter & my cousin loved him from day one.

Posted in L.O.V.E, Road Tripping! | No Comments »

The Wheel Deal

Thursday, September 28th, 2006

Most of you don’t know my mom. She’s great. What a cutie. She’s one of the only people I know that is in her fifties, but completely maintains the innocent, sweet, smiley, yet very on top of things attitude about life.

I decided that a post on her would be fitting, since she’s learning more and more everyday about getting up and going. With the raised gas prices over the last few years (mind you she is most economical) she decided that since she worked at home and traveled very little, but very close to the vicinity of our home that she would begin riding her bike more.

Well, being the awesome mom that she is, when I came to school this fall she gave me her bike that she had been using quite often to run errands. She recently bought herself a brand new bike that was fitted to her with a basket and “all the bells & whistles.”

Check it out…and tell me she’s not the cutest mom ever.

(picture coming soon)

Posted in L.O.V.E, Your own Backyard | No Comments »

Roma = Amore

Tuesday, September 26th, 2006

My first time in Rome was an interesting experience. I was on a family vacation meeting my mom and my brother, but I was also with my boyfriend, of whom I was in the process of falling madly in love with.

To make a very tense and long story short, I will say that Rome was an experience and a great place to visit, but it’s not the heart nor jewel of Italy like most people would think. It’s very touristy, and there’s loads of English speakers all around you - bleh!

I just thought that in the spirit of getting out and seeing the world I would share this picture with you… It was taken at 3 or 4 a.m. in front of the Pantheon in Rome. If you have ever been there you’ll know that there is a nice-sized piazza facing the pantheon. There are a multitude of little cafes that you can sit at under an umbrella and enjoy the dining or drinking al fresca. There is also a fountain that is almost centrally located in the piazza.

Brad and I had once again needed to escape from the anxiety of the ‘Tatroult family vacation’ setting. Luckily, our tiny hotel was not far from the pantheon. He and I went for “birras” at some Irish pub (I know right, an Irish pub in Roma?) and on the way home this picture was taken. Pretty good and drunk, and very much in love, we decided that going along with the theme we had going of taking kissing pictures, we would have to take one in front of the pantheon. I propped my camera on the edge of the fountain praying to god that it didn’t fall in. There was not a soul in sight. (If you want to have Rome all to yourself, creep out at night with all the other weirdos…there was NO ONE around.)

I set the camera on self timer and we ran forward and kissed in the moonlight.

I know, it sounds great, and believe me, it was. Maybe it was just my imagination, or the hopeless romantic 14-year-old that stays locked up inside of me, but I am inclined to believe that Roma, and all parts of Italy, are just as intoxicating as they seem to be in the movies. I can’t say that the atmosphere is always the same. There are always some things you don’t plan on like the gypsies, the garbage, the lack of beautiful instrumental violins playing Italian love songs… life isn’t a movie. However, this looks like a movie poster to me.

Posted in L.O.V.E, Europe | No Comments »

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