Day 13 - May 28, 2010 - Soaking up Genius

"I just write what I wanted to write. I write what amuses me. It's totally for myself."
-J. K. Rowling

J.K Rowling has taken the world by storm with her Harry Potter series. It's easy to see why. The storyline is powerful, the characters are engaging, and the books appeal to a wide audience. Who would have guessed she began writing these novels on napkins in this Edinburgh cafe called the Elephant House? I never knew. The best ideas come in the oddest packages and at the strangest times.

Rowling wasn't writing to please an audience, either. She simply started writing what she wanted to write about. It didn't matter who read it when she started jotting lines down on her napkin. It was the expression of an idea; the manifestation of characters and actions that formed themselves in her mind. The world of Harry Potter and Hogwarts was cooked up in the mind of one woman who happened to be eating a panini and drinking coffee while looking at Edinburgh castle. Who knows what kind of ideas spring into the minds of people worldwide every day? They simply have to have the courage to bring them into existence; to create regardless of who is watching, reading, or listening. Great artists create from within and ignore the demands of the masses. We remember them because they are different from all the other voices out there. Their perspectives teach us about ourselves and about things we've never ventured to think about before. That's what makes them great.

Day 12 - May 27, 2010 - A Little Mood Music

"O Caledonia! stern and wild, Meet nurse for a poetic child! Land of brown heath and shaggy wood, Land of the mountain and the flood, Land of my sires! what mortal hand Can e'er untie the filial band, That knits me to thy rugged strand!" - Sir Walter Scott

I have always rooted for the underdog in impartial situations. If two sports teams are playing one another and there is a clear disparity between the two, I tend to cheer for the team whom the odds are against (unless it's the Los Angeles Lakers, Dodgers, or Kings of course!). Scotland and Ireland are the underdogs of the British Isles. They've been trampled on by the English for hundreds of years. Perhaps that is why I connect with the people and their cultures.

Bagpipes are an odd instrument. They can easily become grating to the listener under certain circumstances. They produce a shrill noise to say the least. Yet, when I hear them, it is easy for me to sense the pride that courses through the Scottish people. The national anthem and "Amazing Grace" are frequently played by street performers. The songs sound stately, proud, and beautiful. The bagpipes are the voice of the people and the land they inhabit. Truthfully, they are the voice of my ancestors; my past. I am from the United States and happy to be a citizen of its shores, yet I cannot disconnect myself from this place. My family tree is deeply rooted here and the people who preceded my left behind a strong legacy for me to stand upon. Thank God for them, and thank God for the opportunity I have to reflect upon their existence; their role in my life as I move the family line forward into the future.

Day 11 - May 26, 2010 - A Bigger Picture

"The soul never thinks without a picture." -Aristotle

This is Lochness. Well, this is how I used to perceive Lochness before I actually saw it. I've never been near a particularly large lake. I used to go fishing with my papa when I was younger. I thought the lake near my grandparent's house was huge. I had yet to see how massive a lake could actually be.

I've lived near the ocean for 3 years now. Growing up in Texas, I had little concept of how massive the world could really be. Now, I feel that I'm grasping wildly to take in the sheer grandeur and vastness of the world. I'm attempting to move away from my narrow vantage point in order to see the full picture. From what I can see, it's amazing, terrifying, beautiful, and truly enlightening!

Day 10 - May 25, 2010 - Hostels aren't so hostile

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” – Martin Buber

Traveling leaves you in both amazing and odd places. I've come to discover that hostels fit within both of these categories. So far, we've stayed in two hostels on this trip. Both were intriguing to say the least. The first one had a rather interesting bathroom. The shower was not separated from the rest of the room. We joked that there was a toilet in the shower... well, there pretty much was. The next hostel had 10 beds in one room and it was nearly impossible to move around. Someone was definitely snoring, and another girl was talking. The talking was amusing, though.

Not everyone is cut out for the hostel experience. I heard a chorus of complaints from others on the trip. Yet, they teach you something very interesting about the difference between wants and needs. Each hostel has a shower, bathroom, beds, and a free breakfast. Beyond that, they can be pretty paired down. Travel isn't about glamor. It's about experience. To experience a place, you don't need a large suit case, novelty souvenirs, or even 1,000's of pictures. You simply need an open mind, two feet, and a well-marked map. What happens next is up to you!

Day 9 – May 24, 2010 – Take Time to Smell the Flowers

"God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December." -James M. Barrie

We’ve been on a tight schedule throughout the majority of this trip. It has been difficult at times, but we have covered a lot of ground. We are only in Belfast for one night. The thought was slightly discouraging at first. Belfast is a city that you want to spend extra time in. Fortunately and unfortunately, we are heading to Scotland tomorrow. Yet, we still managed to take some time to see, smell, and taste Belfast. We visited the botanical gardens, hung out at Queens College, and ate soda bread at a local restaurant. Although it hasn’t been much time, I feel like we’ve made the most of the time given to us. That’s what truly counts.

Day 8 – May 23, 2010 – One Wish

"We can change our lives. We can do, have, and be exactly what we wish." -Tony Robbins

Are dandy lions a weed or a flower? My parents never particularly liked them. We had dandy lions like this one all over the backyard. I was allowed to pick them and blow the seeds all over the place. I’d make wishes, as children often do.

Out at Yeat’s estate, there were tons of dandy lions. As I strayed away from the group, I found myself in a field filled with them. On a whim, I picked one and decided to make a wish. I won’t tell what the wish was. I sincerely hope it comes true some day. What better place to make a wish, I thought: beside an old castle that used to belong to a famous writer in the middle of Ireland. Hopefully, a little luck will accompany that wish. Someday, we’ll see!

Day 7 – May 22, 2010 - Some Old Friends

"If I had to sum up Friendship in one word, it would be comfort." ~Terri Guillemets

When I was a child, I absolutely adored horses. As is typical with a growing girl, my tastes changed rapidly. One minute, I wanted to play with stuffed animals and the next I was listening to boy bands. My horse affixation faded away as new dreams and desires replaced the old ones.

We passed by several small farms today en-route to the cliffs of Dingle. As we were walking out to some old Celtic ruins in a field, I noticed this small Irish pony lurking by the fence. I think he thought I had sugar cubes in my pocket. He kept poking his nose through the bars and licking his lips. I was immediately enthralled. I went over and began to pet his nose. I felt like a small child again. It is interesting to see, as I grow older, what parts of me change and what things remain the same.

Day 6 – May 21, 2010 – Small Town Roots

"A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots." - Marcus Garvey

We arrived in the town of Dingle today. After Dublin, it was a breath of fresh air. Don’t get me wrong. Large cities have their place. They are centers of culture and commerce. There’s always something to do and people to meet. Dingle feels like a home town; my home town. I grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas. There weren’t crowds of people and continuous movement. No flashing lights and tall buildings pervaded the scene. It was small, filled with simple folk, and easy to navigate.

The action of the city can be exciting, but when we slow down and delve into the meat of a place, we learn much more. People flock to large cities, but perhaps escaping the throngs of people and noise is best. Dingle fed my soul profoundly. It was truly magical.

Day 5 - May 20, 2010 - Miles

Can miles truly separate you from friends... If you want to be with someone you love, aren't you already there?
Richard Bach

We went to an Irish house party today. It was a great deal of fun. In order to reach the house where we would enjoy the music, food, and fellowship, we had to walk a substantial distance. About 3 miles. At one point we were lost. It was at that point when I decided to sit down and take this picture.

Although our detour seemed long and kept us from our ultimate goal, it was grand nonetheless. At the time, it was tedious. Yet, when we reached the house, we were hungry and excited to enjoy the evening. Journeys are often strenuous, no matter what the variety. In the midst of them, we often long for the ultimatum. Journeys are what allow us to understand true happiness. We may feel tired, alone, and down trodden on our journeys. We forget just how close the arms of our friends really are. Without the difficult times in life, how would we ever learn to be grateful for what we have? How would we ever appreciate the friendships we form or the people we love most dearly? Journeys condition us. They teach us to be happy when we have both a lot and a little.

Day 4 - May 19, 2010 - A Closed Door

"Knowledge of what is does not open the door directly to what should be." -
Albert Einstein

When you see a closed door, you automatically wonder, "What's behind it?" Well, maybe not everyone is curious about the contents of a room or a building. I frequently am. Dublin is famous for its colorful array of entryways. You'll be hard pressed to think of a color that cannot be found on Dublin's doorsteps. Red, yellow, pink, green, blue, gray, black, orange... every door is different. Each one generally has a unique looking handle and brass knocker as well. What would a door be without a way to open it? A locked door is discouraging because we know its potential to be opened. Sometimes when you try to open it, the door may be locked. More often, when you manage to open the door, the results look differently than you imagined. Doors open and close all of the time. Does that discourage us from finding the right key to open them once more?

Day 3 - May 18, 2010 - A Walk in the Clouds

Above the cloud with its shadow is the star with its light. Above all things reverence thyself. - Pythagoras

I can't say I'm a fan of flying. I wish I were. Today was long and consisted mostly of travel. We chased the sun around the earth. When we left Chicago, we watched the sun setting over the eastern shore of Canada. As we flew over the Western coast of Ireland, we saw the sun rise once more. The clouds obscured our initial view of the Emerald Isle, but they soon vanished as we descended into Dublin. Clouds are like fear. They look real. Solid. But you pass through them eventually. When you do, you taste success. You experience something new.

Lemons and Lemonade

A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken. ~James Dent

Summer is upon us, and I'm quite thankful for the well-needed break! The next few days, I will be travelling. I haven't had much of a break from packing, unpacking, making phone calls, and making plans yet.

These lemons are from one of our family friends. They're a good reminder that, although I'm stressed, there are always friends around to brighten the situation. There's always another loved one around to help you turn lemons into lemonade.

Although I'll be travelling soon, I look forward to sitting outside of my own house, and relaxing with a cold glass of lemonade this summer.

Raise your glass! Here's to summertime!

Day 1 - May 16, 2010 - Walk with me a while.

Walk with me



“Few people know how to take a walk. The qualifications are endurance, plain clothes, old shoes, an eye for nature, good humor, vast curiosity, good speech, good silence, and nothing too much.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

These shoes aren’t particularly old. They’re not expensive and flashy either. I purchased them on sale at Payless for about $11. I’m sure that within a few months they’ll look a lot more worn out than they currently do. I’m pretty rough on shoes, and all my clothes for that matter. I expect these shoes to accompany my feet through city streets, around my college campus, along sandy beaches, into subway trains, onto playgrounds, through forests, over fields, and off the beaten path. When I see a pair of shoes, I wonder where they’ve been. Where did they have to go to get to the place they are today? Who wore them? What was the journey of the wearer?

Journeys may be difficult and tiresome, but they are always rewarding. In fact, the journey itself is often worth more than the end result. Perhaps good silence is worth its weight in gold in a world filled with unending noise. Maybe plain clothes and old shoes will take you farther in life than Gucci and Prada. Maybe a genuine spirit lives more deeply than one surrounded by extravagance and pretense.

Well, let’s get to walking!

Humming a Tune.

I have spent my days stringing and unstringing my instrument, while the song I came to sing remains unsung. ~Tagore

365 Days to Sing.

Today, I became a college senior and in 365 days, I will graduate.

I’ve decided to start a 365 Day project because I want to do more than string and unstring my instrument over the next year. I want to live life singing boldly.

Music is for everyone, and it is a part of the human experience. We do not ask our friends, “Do you like music?” We know the answer. Rather, we ask, “What kind of music do you enjoy?”

All of us make music throughout our lives. When we’re young, we drum on pots and pans while playing on the kitchen floor. As we age, we sing in the shower and hum popular tunes we’ve heard on the radio while we work. Some people learn to play instruments or join choirs, while others simply sing in the car while driving to the super market.

Whether you consider yourself a skilled performance artist or an amateur karaoke star, you can claim the title of musician. So what if you can’t carry a tune? You’re making music every day. Life is a tune. You’re making it up as you go. We only fail to create beautiful songs when we stop trying or when we forget to try.

For the next year, I want to track the melody I’m creating through pictures and words. I will try to post as consistently as possible. I will not pose, edit, or craft images with photo shop. I will record reality. I will capture what i see in front of me and write what I feel.

That’s about it. Back to singing. Back to living.