Moving Day! August 20, 2008
Posted by NettyD in From the blogger, Travel.1 comment so far
In less than 8 hours I will be driving myself to New Hampshire! I’m so incredibly excited. For those of you who have my number, you should definitely call me while I’m driving (Wednesday, August 20th). I might need some extra company on the long solo drive up there!
Yippeee!
“My Date with Drew” August 14, 2008
Posted by NettyD in Arts & Entertainment, Reviews.1 comment so far
At my mom’s house I get every single television channel imaginable in the world. My brain is over-stimulated and my thumb is calloused.
That being said, I woke up this morning and watched the documentary “My Date with Drew.” It’s the story of this guy who wins $1,100 from a game show, and decides to take the money to make a movie about his 30 day quest to get a date with Drew Barrymore.
I LOVED IT! It was smart and funny and totally inspiring. My heart now feels all warm and fuzzy. So of course I decided to log on here and share.
Watch it!
Cody’s Baptism! August 12, 2008
Posted by NettyD in Family, Lifestyle, Religion.2 comments
This past weekend was a total time warp for me. Even though I had just visited Virginia Beach during the 4th of July weekend, this past weekend was more emotional and memorable.
First, I stayed at Brenda’s parent’s house – a house I pretty much grew up in until I left for college. They had made some changes to the house, but for the most part everything was still the same. As I walked through different rooms, I would remember different memories from being a kid. HEAD TRIP!
Then, Brenda and I took Cody to see Brother Damian (Alex) and his mom at their house down the street. We lost Cody for about 10 minutes as he was being passed around a hoard of Filipinos! Too cute. We got a hot tip that Joy was in town this past weekend to help her parents pack up the house they just sold. We showed up in the middle of the chaos for a mini-reunion. Joy hadn’t seen Brenda or Damian in a long time, and hadn’t met Cody yet. It was great to chit chat and catch up.
The day of the baptism brought another trip down memory lane when we showed up at the church where I used to spend every Sunday. Of course, for Brenda’s sake I went through the motions of Baptism rituals. But I have to say that I was really weirded out. In the middle of the mass, it started to downpour outside and the lights started to flicker inside the church. I swear it was because I was in the house. hehe.
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Okay, my baby’s baptized. Now it’s time for mama to relax!
My last week of vacation in New Hampshire August 12, 2008
Posted by NettyD in Environment, Family, Lifestyle.add a comment
I’m back at my mom’s house in NOVA again. I’m detoxing and focusing. This blog has been suffering a bit, but now I’m ready to get back on track! I’ve got lots of pictures to show from my last week in NH, so ch-ch-check ‘em out!
Brenda chopping wood in her front yard while wearing flip flops.
Mike jumped in and was like, “okay, you’re done.”
We had a yard sale, and on the down times there was a lot of goofing off. Here’s Bren in a noodle battle with Mike’s brother, Buddy.
Trying to sell the exercise machine with his sexiness.
CODY!
I went to the Craftsman’s Fair with Mike’s cousins. It was at the Lake Sunapee Ski Resort. We took the ski lifts up the mountain to see some views. Here’s a foreboding rain cloud.
Beautiful or what?
Deer!
Feeding the kid 
Spur of the moment rain gear!
Cody post bath! Seriously, is there a cuter kid out there?
Road trip to Virginia Beach for the weekend! August 7, 2008
Posted by NettyD in From the blogger, Lifestyle, Travel.add a comment
Hey all! Just wanted to let you all know that I’ll be heading to Virginia Beach this weekend for Cody’s baptism. Seems strange to be going back there already! Mike, Brenda, Cody and I are driving 12 hours through the night from New Hampshire. Yay for road trips!!
Then on Monday, it’s back up to Northern VA for a week to organize my stuff, pack it in a car, and drive it all back up to NH! I love the idea of a solo road trip. Crankin’ the music and thinkin’ happy thoughts about what my new life will be like!
I have more pictures to post from my last week or so of vacation too, so stay tuned!
HAPPINESS!
Goofing off, chilling out and appreciating what you’ve got. August 1, 2008
Posted by NettyD in Environment, Family, Lifestyle, Sociology, Travel.2 comments
When I started my travel journey this summer, I knew that at the end of it I would have to eventually find a place to land for awhile. For the most part, I was going to let it be revealed to me by paying attention to signs and symbols. You know, not trying to control it. In the back of my mind though, I secretly knew that I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I decided to just re-plot myself in a place where I’d lived before. While I’ve been spending time in New Hampshire, I’ve discovered a place like none other I’ve lived, or maybe have even visited.
Most notable about my time here is the sense of community and family I’ve felt a part of, especially in just a few short weeks. I hadn’t consciously realized it, but suddenly I was a aware that what I’ve really been searching for is a community to belong in. I get that here. And it’s in abundance.
So, I’m going to ride this wave for awhile and see what happens. Yay!
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Fun Friday night house party. Brenda was in rare form!
She is going off about something here. Apparently really funny.
Reunited with her son at the end of the night. “Wait kid, I need me some brownies”
I spent the next day out on this boat. This is the Blackwater River. So beautiful!
CAUTION: The following is a random selection of photos taken among the not so sober.
We take no responsibility for the way we look or behave
Kelsey and Tyler – a pair of really good people.
Oh, boys and their wrestling. Here is Mike with his brother Matt. At first it looked like Matt, the younger brother, was going to win it.
But then, Mike ended it all in one swoop. haha!
This was the billiard room I woke up in the next morning. This view is from the couch I slept on.
It really was a beautiful room.
A couple of nights later, I went on a 2.25 mile hike and ended up at the base of a water tower. I climbed the water tower, and got some of these views of the Concord area at sunset.
76 very steep and narrow steps up the water tower. But totally worth it
By the way… July 31, 2008
Posted by NettyD in From the blogger.1 comment so far
I’ve decided to move to New Hampshire!
Life is really exciting for me right now.
Woot Woot!
Details to come
Observe the noise. Spew in silence. July 29, 2008
Posted by NettyD in Music, Philosophy.1 comment so far
You know how there are things you know about yourself, but it’s only when you pay attention to them they really exist? Sometimes I blow up or get really emotional, and then on the come down I say to myself, “You know how you get, so why do you let yourself get like that?”
I hate having this conversation with myself. For every moment I consider myself a logical thinker, there are five moments when I know I’m just an emotional retard.
So lately, I’ve recognized these conundrums I’ve been putting myself in and deciding that I’m going to catch them before they happen. For me, that means being vocal in silence and then shutting my mouth in the noise.
I had two synchronous moments a few weeks back that prompted the same idea. One moment was during the Ani DiFranco concert. I realized that even though it was very loud in the arena with the live music and the crowd’s reaction to it, I was personally having a moment of silence. There was a stillness coming from within while I was in this environment. The other moment was while listening to a new song that contains the lyric, “An uncomfortable silence can be so loud.” That line struck a chord with me because it’s so damn true.
Anyway, I realized how the two moments related, and it uncovered something that can help me in my emotional moments of madness: Observe the noise. Spew in silence.
The natural New Hampshire! July 25, 2008
Posted by NettyD in Environment, Family, Health and Well-Being, Travel.3 comments
Finding a more natural (and healthier) routine July 23, 2008
Posted by NettyD in Environment, Health and Well-Being, Lifestyle, Theories and Thoughts.2 comments
(image courtesy of crytalinks.com)
Even if my stay in one place is no more than four or five days, I’m finding that I will develop a routine in some way. What I’ve enjoyed most about being on vacation is not having to get up at a certain time every day. I feel like I can take my time getting up. No one is expecting me to do anything. It feels great.
During this freedom with my time, I’ve discovered my own natural biorhythm. I feel like I’m listening better to what my body is saying to me. I wake up late and go to sleep late. It’s natural.
I’ve diagnosed my problem with mainstream working America and it’s that I don’t fit into its schedule.
I let my body sleep as long as it needs. I stretch and walk, and have been doing a little hiking up here in New Hampshire too. When I want to write something, I write it. I don’t try to compartmentalize the things I want to do into time slots. I just do things when I think about it.
I think it would be better for me, and for the people around me, if my time wasn’t controlled by someone else. Now, I just have to figure out how to do that successfully. Suggestions?
