Good friends and old hobbies

Well, my friend from Chattanooga is coming to visit next Tuesday. I can't wait to see her. We were roommates this past year, and it's been strange to go so long without seeing her. Now the goal is to get her to my house without getting her lost. This sounds easy I'm sure. After all, Chattanooga is only about 200 miles away. However, when we went to Tampa for spring break last year we managed to get lost in Atlanta on the way there. So, what sounds simple may become complicated but hopefully not. I'll let you know how it turns out. Here's a picture that I took on spring break last year. My friend and I caught a ferry from Fort DeSoto Park to Egmont Key. This is the lighthouse at the pilot's station on Egmont.

In addition to talking to friends, I've also been shopping for a new pair of roller blades, which is always a challenge. I'm a skater, and I always have been. I'm pretty tough on my skates though, and after a good seven years of abuse my poor Tecnicas have had it. I replace the wheels every three to six months, depending on how much I use them. I go through stoppers so quickly that my skate store has to order them in bulk for me from the manufacturer, and I repack my bearings once a year. Not to mention doing regular maintenance on them like rotating the wheels and cleaning the bearings. About a year ago the velcro strap that fastens across the top of the boot began to come unglued. Then, at the beginning of the summer the laces on one of them broke, and I've been using a figure skate lace on it since. It works well, but it's way too long. Also, the current pair of wheels are beyond hope. I'm skating on plastic. I've been holding off on repairing everything because, to be honest, I just need new skates. My skate store has pretty much stopped carrying Tecnica parts and my boots are pretty decrepit anyways.

So, the search has begun. I've found what appears to be a a good store in downtown Nashville. I'm hoping to go in later this week to see what they have. They have pictures of their skates online, but they don't offer any details about them. I'm picky and I need to see them up close anyways. I'll let you know what happens with the whole situation. Until then I'll just keep skating on plastic for as long as I can. This is one of the skates that I'm looking at. Hopefully it'll last at least five years...maybe.

That's all I have for tonight from my small world. I don't have to work for a week so we'll see what comes of all that free time, probably nothing fruitful though. Right now, I'm pretty much just living for Tuesday. I have summer school beginning in July, so the idea that June is over is a little disturbing to me, but I'll adjust. Enjoy the rest of the summer, and I'll catch ya tomorrow.

Big plans

Okay, so my plans aren't that thrilling. Regardless of what my future plans may be, tonight is my last day of work until next Friday. That's right, I have an entire week off!! So you might be wandering what my big plans are. Well, my parents and I joined the Percy Priest Yacht Club in Nashville a few weeks ago, and they're having a dock party next Tuesday followed by a raft up to go see the fireworks at Nashville Shores. I was supposed to go sailing earlier this week, but I had to miss it because of work. It's alright though because come Tuesday I'll be at the lake, and then, of course, Wednesday's the fourth. One of my roommates from college is also coming to visit next week. It looks like I'm becoming busy, at least for a week, but I like it that way. Well, I have work in an hour and some e-mails to send about the USF exchange so I'll see everyone again tomorrow. Happy Friday!

Here's a picture that was taken at the fireworks last year.

What it's all about

I suppose the purpose of this blog is really like all of the others out there, to fill you in on the happenings of my life. Before we embark on this little (mis)adventure though, I must tell you that I make an honest effort to keep my happenings a bit interesting. If you wander over to my profile you'll find that my biggest fear in this world is a boring life. It's not so much that I'm afraid of a lazy day or anything like that, but rather I'm terrified of ending up some 35 year old divorced soccer mom with an SUV that I can't drive, a house that's so big that I don't have enough furniture to fill it, or the perfect job that requires all of my time and attention. I've learned though that just because I know what I don't want doesn't necessarily mean that I know what I do want, but here's what I've figured out so far.

I'm currently set to graduate in May of 2009 along with all of the other five year plan college students. If my upcoming exchange goes well then I plan to move back to the Tampa Bay area after school. I'm considering grad. school, but nothing has been decided. The only thing that I'm certain I want is a sailboat. I've always wanted to learn how to sail and last summer I finally did. This would be the "pursuing old dreams" part of it. So, as long as I can get to Florida and own a boat I'll be a happy kid. That's my master plan thus far, but you will quickly learn that most of my "plans" turn out to be only intentions, and so it goes.

My only real goal is to live well and die happy. That sounds simple enough. As mentioned above please stop by frequently and leave comments when you do. Even if I don't know you, I'd still really like to know what you think. I'll try and update everyday, but I can't promise profound thoughts or exciting adventures every time. I'll do my best though. Have a good one.