Sweet Home 'BAMA

I needed a vacation from my vacation at Tekoa. Little did I know that in Alabama it's pretty hard to do anything other than eat and roll yourself from the car to the couch because it's so ridiculously hot.

A week with the Johanson family showed me so much about Southern food that I did not know:
-meat and three is a way of life: Pick a meat and three vegetables from the line of overcooked, over salted, over delicious food.
-The Whistlestop Cafe exists! Iggie was not there, but the fried green tomatoes were about the best I've ever had!
-Another Broken Egg Cafe: Yes, it is possible to make french toast from cinnamon buns. And then cover it with cream cheese icing. And then cover it with banana's foster sauce. And then cover it with whipped cream. And then cover it with summer berries. And take all the calories out.-Impromptu brewery tours in Chattanooga are a great excuse to escape the heat: Terminal Brew House in downtown versus Big River Brewing... I have to admit, I liked Big River Better for the brews but Terminal had the atmosphere down pat.


The Hot Strings Bluegrass Festival welcomed me to town (along with the rain). I can certainly say that I have never listened to live bluegrass while sitting in a folding chair, but the bands were great and very talented. Even Richard was tapping his foot! Definitely worth putting on the calendar!

My favorite song was "Somebody in Alabama loves you"

When the heat was too much, we headed for the mountains and stopped at DeSoto State Park. There's a super nice place to stay run by the state with access to hiking trails at the back of the lodge.

DeSoto Falls:

Feet up in Little River Canyon. A beautiful canyon that is known for having a river than runs mostly on top of a mountain.
After a long trek, we finally made it to Mouth Park where the swimming hole was huge with perfectly clear water. You could see the fish nibbling at your toes here.
Back to the grind...
I am starting my last semester in school and finishing up with a residency in Raleigh before I head out to Tanzania in October. More coming soon!

How I love the things we do at Camp Tekoa...

Hendo (Hendersonville), NC: My long awaited return to Tekoa came not a moment too soon after the end of my endless summer semester of class. I used to work at Camp Tekoa and miss it nearly every day. There is a smell that is distinctly Tekoa-- I think it's Hemlock mixed with camp fire-- that makes my heart warm and get all mushy inside. Needless to say, I was thrilled to be their nurse for a week.

A week in review:
Number of campers to take care of: 250
Number of staffers to take care of: 60
Patients I sent to urgent care: 14
Safety pin surgeries to remove an embedded earring from a child's ear: 1
Pranks pulled: 2
Successful pranks pulled: 1
Hours slept that night: 2
Hours spent in the rocking chairs of the front porch througout the week: 40
4 square games that I dominated in: ALL OF THEM
Weeks until I can go back: 40 (I'm counting!)

Remembering Eve

copied via anawfulbeautifullife:

Eve.

I have this photo on my desk at work as a constant reminder to be more, do more, see more. To remind myself to not let little things bother me. To remind myself to focus on the bigger picture.

I may not be where I want to be yet but I’m continuing to learn from her and grow.

I won’t pretend that we were best friends because we weren’t. We were merely acquaintances who passed each other often, with many smiles and small talk exchanged here and there, at the Campus Y.

Despite our limited interaction, her absence continues to impact me to an extent that is difficult to explain.

I received an email this morning regarding her Memorial Collection and still, each time I see or hear her name, my eyes uncontrollably well with tears. I can only imagine the pain and loss her family and close friends continue to experience on a daily basis.

However, I hope they know that yes, she was irreplaceable. That she impacted a lot of people in a short amount of time. That she continues to impact me.

I hope she knows it too.

---------------------------

What's more, she is a Carson. My name means more to me than words can say. That is our bond. That makes her family. Eve continues to inspire people every day. I am one of those people.

Finals week: [insert procrastination here]

When I should be studying, I'd rather be doing hundreds of other things. Here's my superlative lists for your own procrastinating enjoyment:

Top places to study:
1. 5th floor Davis library (ah my love from undergrad... went back last week and had the most productive day ever! Bulk candy, hearing the bell tower chime, and a view of the Pit)
2. Looking Glass Cafe- great tables, good coffee, and they sell cereal by the bowl. Genius.
3. Open Eye Cafe- for when you don't actually want to study and would rather people watch the hipsters.
4. Weaver St. Market- one of the only places where the wireless extends outside
5. Caribou Coffee- because Starbucks charges you for wireless and I think that's ludicrous since I just spent $2.50 on a "tall" cup of coffee.
6. Bean Trader's- A great place to meet my Duke classmates halfway between Durham and Chapel Hill.
7. The UL- although not much studying goes on there


Top online dawdling:
1. postsecret
2. any combination of online shopping: old navy, zappos,
3. craigslist missed connections
4. reading the blogs of my friends who are also putting off their work
5. I try to avoid facebook because there is way too much unproductive procrastination that happens there (read: Farmville. ew.)
6. The Daily Tar Heel- not regular during the summer though
7. Looking for my next job- any leads?!?!
8. tv shows that I don't have time to watch during the week: Glee, Bachelor, Jersey Shore... you know, the smart, classy shows.
9. searching flights for any of the fantasy trips I would love to take
10. catching up on my not-so-secret love of music videos

The Staple Attire for a "study bum" day:
-shorts/pants with an elastic waistband
-giant men's dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up
OR
-hoodie
-glasses (can't bother with looking cute)
-ponytail (that becomes a side pony by the end of the day and that's how you know it's been a rough one)
-shoes & socks optional

When I finally get my work done and finish up for the semester (my last semester of class!!!) then I'm jet setting for a couple of weeks before coming back to start my residency.
Things to look forward to hearing about:
-Bradley's graduation: Atlanta, Ga.
-Tekoa camp nurse: Hendersonville, NC
-trying to impress total strangers: Birmingham, Al.