Everything worth anything is both terrifying and beautiful.

I couldn't count my reasons for contentment in this moment. 

Very few things in life are more admirable than spontaneity. It's my running theme for 2013. Admittedly, there was a time when I would long for stability and one home and all of the things that would seemingly come with the idea of conventionality. But as I lay in bed on the cusp of this lazy Saturday, mentally walking through the whirlwind that is the past week's events, I just think...I'm fine.

Maybe I am still riding high on the fumes of newfound spring, but rarely does a day go by that I don't think about how happy I am with my decision to move to DC - even if the thought is only fleeting.

I thought I was going to write a post that outlined the week's events...about how a predictably routine five days turned into anything but...or how beautiful the cherry blossoms are this time of year, especially outside of the Jefferson Memorial at midnight...or I would write about how my boss was finally fired yesterday... and how everyone was so happy after the fact...and how sad it is that we were all so happy...or I was going to write about how I spontaneously bought a weekend plane ticket to Chicago...and how I should probably get out of bed and pack since I need to be at the airport in a couple of hours...or I was going to write about how I went to a baseball game and legitimately did not watch one inning...or how a simple happy hour turned into me walking into my apartment at midnight and finding my roommate passed out in our bathtub...or how after 7 months, I've finally met my neighbors and their names are Kingsley and Abe...or how I am very knowingly setting myself up for failure in an unrequited and nonexistent romance...or how I was woken up today by a man yelling through a loud megaphone outside my window with Soulja Boy playing in the background and I wasn't even mad...

All these things I could have written about, but I really think that my first sentence says it all. It's all that is important right now anyway. Plus, I have a plane to catch.

Roadtrippin'

Last year I was asked to photograph a wedding in Ithaca, New York. I can't say this enough - I am not a photographer. But...I also don't turn down these kinds of opportunities. I just love it. Being asked to photograph something of this magnitude in itself is a huge ego boost since photography isn't something that I actively pursue.  However, it can be pretty nerve-racking too. So of course, I asked my BFF Linds to come along for the ride and act as a source of positive morale. So she brought her butt all the way from Tennessee to DC just so we could make this road trip together. {PS - If you live in the same state as your best friend, I truly envy you with every cell of my being.}

The footage in the video below was shot during my birthday weekend (September 16 - go ahead, make a mental note), and I have just now had the time to sit down and put something together to highlight our adventure. It takes place during the peak of fall in beautiful upstate New York.

ENJOY!

song: intro by the xx


Oh - and don't worry...I didn't forget about the bride and groom. I was able to give them a photograph or two to remember the occasion ;)


9.15.12

And so the big move has arrived.

Goodbye suburbs, hellooooo D.C.!

Apartment hunting in DC proved to be more difficult than expected, at least on my part. We had two short days to complete the task, but we did. And how we got so lucky I will never know.

Yesterday was a whirlwind. Eliot and I made a few appointments beforehand via Craigslist, but I took it as a bad sign when our taxi driver did not recognize our proposed destination upon visiting our first location. I can't sugarcoat it - we ended up in the projects. It is entirely too scary how glamorous an Internet advertisement can make virtually anything seem.

Needless to say, we decided to alter our approach. 

After a bout of pounding headaches and renter's nightmares, we were able to eliminate certain areas that we knew we wanted nothing to do with as well as re-acclimate ourselves with the city. Thus, the majority of today was spent looking for vacancies in nice neighborhoods throughout the district. We were also fortunate to have a volunteer to drive us around the city. A chauffeur never hurt anyone, I know that for certain.

As luck would have it, a woman that works for the company that I formerly interned with lives in Washington DC's best kept secret and introduced us to her landlord.

Score.

Our new place is a quaint one bedroom apartment in the heart of downtown - walking distance from China Town, Verizon Wireless Theater, restaurants, bars, movie theaters, and so much more. I can walk to work to boot. The building is located on one of the oldest residential streets in the area and was built in the 1920's. It is a beautiful, well-restored, historic building - very "Carrie Bradshaw-esque" for all of my Sex and the City fans. I cannot wait to move in and to start my new life, but what is more, I cannot wait for all of my friends and family to come and visit us!

After yesterday's debacle I am so pleased that something worked out, let alone something so supremely grand.

I am so blessed. And oh so thankful.

Today Eliot and I are traveling to Washington, DC to look for apartments...by MEGA BUS.

The potential of this bus is huge in that it could cost as little as a dollar for a one-way trip; an extremely enticing option for your money savvy travelers...like us. In total, Eliot and I spent a measly $32.00 to get the two of us from Tennessee to DC and back again - what a steal. 

Our driver has approximately three teeth, but there is also free wi-fi. Win, win.

So our next feat will be to see if we can conquer finding an apartment and signing a lease in our two-day time frame.

Wish us luck!

Embrace Serendipity.

The Earth is what we all have in common.

Bonnaroo 2011, putting up the tent correctly, pleasantly surprised with Thursday sunlight, Neil Young, Neil Young making me cry, wishing every other person had seen Neil Young instead of waiting on Eminem, dust, shade, shade making all of the difference, My Morning Jacket, sleep, no sleep, dust, sunscreen, bandanas, tan lines, dust, soap?, Robyn's birthday, more dancing, disappointment from The Strokes, pretend you want to be there, forgetting essentials, neighbors, neighbors letting you borrow their essentials that you had forgotten, dust, dead cell phones, freedom from phones, Eliot gets a job, celebratory actions, dust, more dancing, Bonnaroo 2011.

"The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!"

- Jane Austen

(Hey Oh)

Today Eliot and I drove home for the Holidays; the part two of our D.C. trek.

The drive was going along at a relatively normal pace.

Chilly and overcast. Leafless trees, not much to look at.

We put in an old mixed CD, hoping that it played more than it skipped.

(It was a really old CD.)

Well, every song skipped.

Then, Snow by The Red Hot Chili Peppers came on, skip-free.

And this happened.

Out of nowhere!

Then, the song was over, and this happened.

What Have I Learned?

I've been in DC for nearly three months for an internship, and I've learned a lot of imperative processes that are sure to enhance my future potential employment. I've gone to Congressional hearings, I've researched and put together forums for clients, I've performed administrative duties, and I've dazzled the health care firm with my natural charm and wit.

Tonight, however, as I lie in bed on a lazy Saturday evening watching movie after movie, it has finally occurred to me as to what Washington D.C. has truly done for me. Thanks to the vast amounts of spare time that DC has inadvertently given to my weekends coupled with the endless array of HBO channels, I can not-so-proudly confirm that I can successfully recite 85% of the lines from He's Just Not That Into You.

Bearing in mind that I had yet to see this movie in full until I arrived in this city, tonight I found myself annoyingly reciting each line at a premature rate as I willingly sat through the film for the umpteenth time.

Runner up for most watched HBO channel movie is (500) Days of Summer, which, coincidentally, comes on in 30 minutes. This situation might be considered even more pathetic since I physically own a copy of the movie yet still feel the need to turn to it without fail if I see its presence on my channel guide.

It really isn't my fault that I've seen these movies so many times in such a short time frame. Truthfully, I cannot control HBO's repetitive scheduling. These are light hearted, relatable, girly films and if I watch one or the other three days in a row then it is my business alone. And if I watch one or the other twice in one day then so be it. And if the two movies happen to come on back to back as in tonight's situation then it may or may not be the highlight of my day...or week.

Truly, DC is a city of enlightenment (obviously), and as I only have one week and some change left in this mini adventure, I am beginning to notice all of the ways in which DC has or will leave its mark onto me.

Aside from the fact that I will never again be able to watch the aforementioned movies without thinking of my hole-in-the-wall apartment, I will also no longer be able to listen to Skeleton Key by Margot & The Nuclear So-So's without a faint remembrance of walking the sidewalks daily to and from the office.

Speaking of sidewalks, I will hitherto be conscientious of each step that I take in order to avoid unleveling grounds that are caused by over-developed tree roots.

A person need trip very few times for this lesson to permanently stick.

I've also learned to always wear walking shoes because the escalators at the metro station WILL be out of order, especially if it is raining.

I've learned that having a gym within walking distance doesn't necessarily mean that I will go. I've learned that no matter how hard I try I will never be able to figure out how to unlock the backdoor of my apartment. I've learned that I can eat caesar salads everyday and never tire of them. I've learned that I will miss my desired stop if I fall asleep on the subway. I've learned that I am sensational at catching a taxi. I've learned from the North Easterners that I do not carry the southern accent that is stereotypical of my Tennesseean roots. And speaking of stereotypes, I've also learned, to my dismay, that the "ignorant country bumpkin" prejudice still stands.

Though these past months have been challenging in terms of lacking a sufficient social life, I am content that I can soon return home with valuable and applicable experiences and knowledge (as trivial or monumental as it may be) that can be applied in and out of an employment office setting.

So thanks, DC! I think that I will miss you?

"I'm in love with Summer. I love her smile. I love her hair. I love her knees. I love how she licks her lips before she talks. I love her heart-shaped birthmark on her neck. I love when she sleeps.

I hate Summer. I hate her crooked teeth. I hate her 1960s haircut. I hate her knobby knees. I hate her cockroach-shaped splotch on her neck. I hate the way she she smacks her lips before she talks. I hate the way she sounds when she laughs."

Nashville Zoo, Through the Lens.

Yesterday's zoo extravaganza was incredible- educational and fun.

Eliot and I drove about halfway there until we realized that it would be a lot more fun to bring one of my little siblings along. Thus, my little sister, Sara, and two of her friends joined. It in no way cramped our style as Eliot and Sara get along amazingly well.

The best part of the entire day, however, was that Eliot was able to see the giraffes and elephants in real life. Perhaps now he could produce a more accurate interpretation of said animals the next time we get our Pictionary on.

Moving on to a completely unrelated topic, tomorrow morning I board a plane to D.C. for an interview for an internship that if received would last until the Christmas holidays. I am led to believe that this particular company has many connections with important figures throughout the career realm of which I hope to encounter and succeed in someday. If I can attain the position and work my little butt off then just maybe I could eventually gain a good recommendation and a potential job to boot!

Wish me luck!

100TH POST!

I made it to the century mark! The big one zero zero! 100 blog posts strong!
I've been looking so forward to this moment, and it feels fantastic that I have actually been able to keep up with this for so long!
And I am in no way slowing down, true statement.

Here are three photos that summarize in full my latest adventure to Destin.

More great news! My life is on its way to regaining its long lost stability. Aside from a mild upcoming relapse scheduled to ensue this week when I will be driving to Georgia for anticipatedly one of the greatest concerts ever (Arcade Fire), I have returned to my former place of employment and should be back on a regular schedule beginning next week!

I am so grateful at the moment, but it is only a matter of time before I am assuredly longing once again for my current life style- that of spontaneity and absolute carefree bliss!

Summer is ending soon.

Autumn approaches, 
and with great ernest.

Soooo.

So I guess I am going to Florida today.

With my dad.

Just my dad.

To meet up with my uncle.

Whom we just saw in Louisiana not two days ago.

You see,

His family is in Florida too.

And my dad cannot seem to fathom a summer without going to Florida.

Nobody else in my immediate family can/wants to go.

If I don't go, then my dad has to go alone.

Driving for that long by oneself doesn't seem fun.

Not at all.

Another road trip, here I come.

I would truly like to regain some normalcy in my life.

Real soon.

But alas.

I have to go.

My dad said so.

Besides.

Who in their right mind complains about going to the beach?

Not only going, but being forced to go.

I don't want to be that person.

My computer will be with me. I hate not blogging for an extended period of time.

 Dear consistency, 

I promise I will return to you someday soon.

Sincerely, Emmy

Shreveport, Through the Lens.

What a fun filled, fantastical weekend!
In case one isn't up to date, this weekend some of my family and I drove down to my birth town of Shreveport, Louisiana for a cousin's wedding.

This summer has been wedding fever; I've never been to so many in such a short span of time before.

And yes, I've loved them all.

Here, in brief, is what I and my family delved into these past few days!

1. My grandpa and I dug up some of my dad's old Rolling Stone magazines- you know, when it was in its prime. Such an amazing find! I'd like to frame some of these covers for my future home.

2. My grandma showed me one of her favorite handmade cards created by yours truly. She briskly walks up to me, hands me the piece of paper and says,
"Summa Cum Laude?"

Substitute "Grmol" with "Grandma" and "Viltin" with "Valentine" and it should read more clearly. Somehow though, I managed to catch the silent "k" in the word "know."

3. I got a chance to meet my new baby cousin- well, first cousin once removed I suppose would be  his technical title (in relation to myself). His name is Boston, and he is perfect!

4. Two of my uncles and my gal pal cousins, Leah and Ashley, went out on Friday night and had a bit too much fun.

5. Saturday night was the reception dinner- great food and great people along with beautiful, tear jerking wedding toasts. What more can I say?

My cousins and I sure have grown and matured since our last wedding together, huh?

6. Before the wedding on Saturday, I was introduced to the finest strawberry pie throughout the land (according to Southern Living) at Shreveport's original Strawn's Eatery.

7. Finally, the wedding ensued. And we all know what the best part of a wedding is, right?

The reception, of course!

During the reception I...

spent time with my beautiful sisters...(I say sisters because one of my brothers didn't come, and the other spent the entire trip, no exaggerations, on his Nintendo DSI.)

...caught a piece of the bouquet (to which I told Eliot this must mean 'I'm on the right track' ;))...

and danced, danced, danced!

(photo courtesy of my Aunt Vicki). Yes, I truly dance like this. And it's awesome.

Needless to say, we were all terribly pooped by Sunday morning, but we still had a 9 hour drive to embark upon. My littlest sister and I shared the back seat of the vehicle. During the trip we slept, listened to lots and lots of music, and made friendship bracelets.

My family is just way too much fun for words. I couldn't ask for anything better!
Thanks so much for contributing to a fantastic weekend!

Thank You Thank You

I have a couple of routine things to start this post off with.

First of all, a great big thanks to everyone who gave me their opinions on future new reading material and album buys. My goal is to read every single book mentioned as they all sound fantastic in different ways. And don't worry April, Harry Potter has had my heart since the sixth grade, and I do not intend on ever abandoning him ;)

As for the music, there were several artists mentioned that I knew of and loved already, but there were also several that I hadn't known of prior to hearing them from you guys so I cannot wait to explore them further!

And if you didn't get a chance to voice your opinion here then by all means please still do so. I have yet to spend my iTunes card, and I am planning to do so later tonight.

Secondly, did you notice anything different about my space? New banner, new buttons, new photo, new text! Yay!
It would be a dire understatement to say that I've had a little bit of time on my hands so I finally did something that I feel was actually productive.
Let me know what you think. Yay, nay?

_____________
And finally to the good stuff.

Tomorrow begins the journey!

I am so excited to be driving down to Louisiana with my ENTIRE family minus potentially my brother! We're going to be sqished like sardines, but that is alright because the occasion is worth it. My cousin is getting married, and in consequence, I will be able to see a large portion of my extended relatives outside of our annual in-between-Christmas-and-New-Year-reunion that is held in Texas at the end of each December.

This particular wedding is that of my older cousin, Justin, and lots and lots of family members are due to attend. My little sister is going to be the flower girl (a dream come true for that child), and my dad is a groomsman (I think?!).

The best part of the entire shindig will be reuniting with my cousins, Leah and Ashley. What is important to understand first and foremost is that there are 20+ grandchildren total in our family, and Leah, Ashley, and I were all lucky enough to be born within the same year. Growing up we were a hoot and the cutest little girls ever to be around. Of course, this information is coming from a bias source (I suppose).

Some of my older cousins might use different adjectives to describe the three of us together: annoying, loud, mischievous... to name a few.

But, whatever. We're awesome, and I cannot WAIT to see them!

The last time the three of us were at a wedding together was quite some time ago. Take a look at these old photos that I just so happened to dig up. These were taken in New Orleans at, alas, another cousin's wedding.

(I'm the one rocking the yellow shirt with frizzy hair and braces.)

Gotta love those awkward years! I'm guessing this was either the summer before seventh grade or the summer before eighth.

Anyhow, I do not expect to be able to blog while there so this could potentially be farewell until Sunday evening.

Be looking forward to a "Through the Lens" post recapturing the trip in all of its glory!

Love to you all!