As Is by Nick Cave

Today I saw my first performance art piece: As Is by Nick Cave.

It was an awesome experience. I felt like all of the emotions and ideas I've felt, particularly since I've been back in Louisiana, were exemplified through this art. The goal was to showcase the UNcommon people and talent of Shreveport, to highlight those in society that have been labeled and outcasted. I felt the visuals, and sounds, totally portrayed this image. The theme was clear. I left feeling a deeper sense of self. I left knowing that I must change all of my thoughts about social justice into actions.

Ever since I was a young girl volunteering at the nursing home, I knew I wanted to comfort people and hear their stories, particularly those society let slip through the cracks and who fell victim to derogatory terms. This performance enhanced that passion and desire to understand those who we have failed, who I have failed, as a fellow citizen.

The first piece of the performance moved me the most and set an incredible precedent for the show. The artist, Poetic X, spoke the most amazing poem I have ever heard. His analogies and forwardness were truly enlightening, especially with the visual of  Nick Cave being covered in the beautiful hand beaded blankets and the somber violin / piano tune accompanying the words.

The soloist, Brenda Wimberly's voice gave me chill bumps. Parts of the song even made me hold my breath. I didn't want to hear anything but the rawness of her voice. The echo of the word "Freedom" reminded me of all I have to be thankful for and of all the work we still have to do in order to form a more perfect union. This piece made me reflect on the Civil Rights Movement and the recent protests against police brutality. While modern times provide convenience and we are hopefully becoming a more just society, we need to revert back to a time of kinship and connectedness that might have been found in earlier periods of human existence. We do not need to be separated by different tribes, skin colors, or backgrounds, but rather unite and be thankful to be able to share in the joys of life.

The first pieces were reflective and filled me with much sadness as I thought about the people in my life who deserved justice instead of judgement. The 3rd piece started to change tunes. It started kind of ominous. Made think of putting my true self in darkness for fear of the real me being rejected. Then after casting out aside my fears my true, radiant, colorful self is able to emerge from this darkness.

After I've emerged I am able to find like people who accept themselves As Is. No frills, no hidden agendas. Just being a human and seeing humanity.

The last piece was a lot of fun and showcased the amazing talent in the performance. The performers showed how commonality and music can bring us all together to have a great time!

I would watch this performance over again in a heart beat. I absolutely loved it and am so grateful that a friend asked me if I was coming to the event. Last year around this time I reconnected with a former teacher at 'All Y'all', a local storytelling event. I have ran into him and his partner at several other events, so he has gotten a sense of what type of things I enjoy. This was an event I needed to see, so I am glad that an encounter that seemed coincidental has lead to a string of great happenings, making that chance encounter more than a coincident.

I hope you have a joyous week, reconnect with a dear friend, and have an eye opening experience. Thank you for reading!

Love,
Alyssa

Stini and me

I haven't written about a day in my life in a long, long while.

Things have been going well! I'm just staying busy with work, family, organizations, and hobbies. I've gotten to do some traveling. I still love my job in higher education. Life is just passing by quickly, too quickly!

I just wanted to jot down how wonderful the past two nights have been talking to my younger brother on the phone while watching 11.22.63 together. We are both loving the show, on the edge of our seat each episode, and cannot watch the next in line if we have more than one to watch. It is just so good!

It is so fun to be able to talk to him and interact while we watch. We live hundreds of miles a part, but these little activities really make up for that little inconvenience. I wish I was closer to him every single day... without these moments I would have to up and move back in with my parents!

I am so thrilled that my Stini and I have the bond that we do. Every now and then he calls when he's had an argument with mom, dad, or our older brother, Drew. We count down when I'm coming to visit weeks in advance. When I am in town we make the most of it, binge watching our shows, playing family games or video games, going on fun adventures. It is just lovely!

The day Stini was born was the best day of my life. I don't know who I would be without him.

Who are you grateful for in your life?

Hope everyone is doing well!

Have a beautiful week.

Love,
Alyssa

Jerry Lee Lewis, The Killer Live

Today I saw Jerry Lee Lewis live in Beaumont, Texas! It was an amazing experience with my housemates and partners in adventure.

The best part about it for me was simply being in the presence of the last great legend of the 50's. It was so humbling to watch him play and know that he was one of the founders of rock 'n roll. His sound and style started a revolution in music and society! It is just so cool to reflect on that and then look up and see him pound that keyboard just like he did 60 years ago.

His voice definitely isn't as strong as it once was, but he is very witty and still has a bit of a temper. About 5 songs in he got angry at one of the guitarists for playing the wrong chords, or so he thought, and he starts yelling out the chords. "F. C. E. A." Then when the song ends he says, "We have been playing this song together for 43 years and he still can't play it correctly. I don't understand it." They play a few more songs, and then he belts out "Great Balls of Fire". The performance of this song was perfect! It sounded so good. They play one more song, then start on "Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On" and about halfway through he kicks the seat back, his classic move, and walks off the stage (he doesn't storm off, he's 80), but he walks off with a standing ovation. It was, as Jerry Lee would say, "Mercy!".

Jerry Lee's sister performed as well and she sounded great! She could bang that piano, too! The guy that opened for Jerry Lee, Jake Rowley, had a nice Elvis sound, but seemed a bit egotistical to me. He was touring with the Broadway spectacular Million Dollar Quartet prior to this performance. I felt like he was definitely more of an actor than a performer.

As you can see it was an interesting and exciting night! I am just so thrilled that I was at this performance and hope that I carry the memories I made tonight with me til the end of my days.

I'm out for the night, with the sound of the piano in my head!

Until next time,
Alyssa

Things are grand!

Hey everyone!

Just wanted to post a quick update and say that things are going well! I really love the job and am staying busy busy.

I have helped with 3 college fairs, SGA elections, worked on lots of documents and brainstormed lots of ideas. I definitely feel higher education will be a passion of mine for my whole life and that this experience will provide me with great insight into people, higher education, and government. I am very excited to see where this journey takes me.

A couple weekends back I met my partner in Dallas for a fun weekend reunion. It is tough being long distance, but when we are together the time is more special and we make the most of it. We had a fun time experiencing Reunion Tower, hitting the roller coasters at Six Flags, and eating yummy food.

Pa and Laurie are amazing housemates and spoil me. We had a great weekend cleaning up the old homeplace and keeping my little cousin. We tried to see the super eclipse yesterday, but sadly it was too cloudy. I hope I get the chance to see it in 2033. Today they made some amazing marinated crab claws. This weekend we are going to see Jerry Lee Lewis for his 80th birthday bash...
Life is just really great!

I hope you take time to enjoy the people and things you love. Work should revolve around your life, not vice versa.

Have a wonderful week and thanks for sharing in life with me.

Love,
Alyssa

New job!

Hello friends!

I have started a new job at a technical college in the area. I am now their Coordinator for Student Success. Very exciting!!!

I have had an incredible first week. I am helping with everything student life at our little school--admissions, financial aid, student government, etc.--and I am charged with creating a comprehensive marketing plan for two campuses; which is right up my alley!

All of my passions and interests from my undergraduate career are now coming into play with this position. I am ready to see what all I will learn! This will for sure help me decide if I want to go the full marketing business route, or if I want to work in higher education.

Great things are in store! This job came out of nowhere, but it could not be more perfect. I have amazing coworkers and already feel right at home. The first minute I was on the clock I was put to work and have kept really busy! I love a challenge and being busy.

I am still working for my grandpa after work since I get off at 4. Its great to have the flexibility to continue that passion.

The weekends have been busy too. For Labor Day I traveled to the beautiful Hill Country of Texas. Last weekend I went to visit family nearby, this weekend I am meeting a friend in Texas. The next weekend my cousin is coming to stay with us. Then the weekend after that, I am going to see Jerry Lee Lewis! Lots of great things in store!

I hope you are thoroughly enjoying your week and that you have lots of things to look forward to !

Much love,
Alyssa

10,000 words!!!!!!!!!

Over the past year I've started about five different books. Two of them I thought had great potential and I was excited to start writing them. I wrote about 5 pages for each book and then set it down and haven't touched it. Very sad!

But! I had another idea for a book last weekend and started writing it. On night one I wrote 11 pages and 4,000 words. Now I am up to page 28 and just hit 10,000 words! I am very excited and wanted to remember this accomplishment! So what better way than to write some more on here?! I am listening to Lindsey Stirling Radio on Pandora, in my room at Pa's house, writing by lamp light, important items on me are my Claddagh ring and Elton John t-shirt. Inspiration is just radiating from me. You can't help but be inspired when you think the incomparable Elton John is in the room. The beautiful instrumental music really helps you to write too because your typing gets into the rhythm of the song.

I hope I can actually finish it. I have given myself a deadline of my 25th birthday to finish a book... so I better get to writing if I want it complete, edited, and bound before then!

Well I am going back to novel now. This was a nice little break to clear my head and record my life.

Find something you've always wanted to do and do it/start it this weekend! Best of luck to you.

Love,
Alyssa

Family time

Hello fellow humans, 

This past month I have spent many hours with my dear family. I got to spend 3 weeks in the Carolinas with my parents and little brother. I didn't realize how much I missed them until I got there. Mom and Austin came back to Louisiana with me for almost 2 weeks and it was extremely hard saying goodbye to Austin. 

He starts school in a few days after being out of public school for a majority of his life and I so wish I could be there to help him get his school supplies, see him off that first day, and be there to hear about his first day in person. I really hate the distance. But that is part of life and growing up... you sadly miss out on stuff. 

Sometimes I wish we were closer in age, but then I don't think I'd appreciate him as much or want to look out for him like I do with our age difference. I'm just grateful that we are close and hope that he knows I am always there for him regardless of how many miles are between us. 

I better stop talking on that subject or else I may tear up ! 

I also got to spend a week with my partner in July. We had a lovely time together, but as always it flew by too quickly. He flew into New Orleans so we enjoyed the city a couple of days, then visited some of his family near Houston, came to my home and enjoyed the lake, stayed with my aunt in a different part of the state, then our time was over. I haven't seen him in 2 1/2 months and hope that we do not have to go that long with a visit again. If you have a long distance relationship you understand how difficult it is to say "see you later" after a visit, and if you have never had to be long distance with your partner then count your blessings. It seems easy, until you do it. It is definitely harder than I expected, but doable. You just have to make an extra effort which helps you realize how much you really care about the person. :) 

Now I am back to work for Pa, starting back on some of my projects, and doing a little babysitting. I got to babysit the worlds cutest baby today. He is the easiest baby I have ever been around. Just happy all the time. It was a lovely day hanging out with his sweet little self. Humans are incredible... Especially when you get to see them grow. 

I am really looking forward to just being home and working. Vacationing was rewarding and fun, but it is always good to return to productivity. I am ready to get back on track and make some progress on my projects. Plus, I have to start seriously soul searching what type of job I want after this and start looking into it. Eeeeee. I think I have an idea, but we will seeeeeee.... my mind changes pretty frequently. 

Well, I have wrote a lot tonight. I missed writing and am glad to catch up. I hope you are doing wonderfully, enjoying life, are happy and healthy! 

See you on the next page, 

Alyssa

Reunited with the immediate family

Hello, hello, hello!

I am visiting my parents and little bro in the Carolina's. It has been a lot of fun the past 2 weeks. I will be heading back to Louisiana next week.

I didn't realize how much I missed it here until I got here. It will be kind of hard to leave, but then again I am ready to get back to work! I like to be productive and enjoy the work I do, so its a good feeling to want to go to work.

Everyday I am more thankful that my grandpa and Laurie have given me this opportunity. It has really helped me think strategically about my future and is giving me different areas of work to look into. Plus, I have the ability to develop new business ideas and work on my novel.

I just need to work on time management a bit more so that I can maximize my time.

But, we have lots going on here so I am going to get back with the family. Just wanted to drop a line and say hello to everyone!

Always pursuit something that makes you feel fulfilled and that you enjoy. Also, enjoy time with those you love! Sometimes its easier said than done, but you can find time to do something you love.

Much love,
Alyssa

Alyssa the Cleaning Lady

This week I have taken on the task of cleaning my grandma's home. I have put in 13 hours and still feel like I am not even 50% of the way finished.

When I walked in I felt like I was in the exotic city of Pompeii for about 5 seconds. The dust covered counters and items reminded me of the ash covered city. Instead of Mt. Vesuvius erupting it was just decades of neglect leaving the stain of time. 

At first I was kind of frustrated and kicking myself for even offering to do it. But then I thought about my poor grandma hobbling around on her bum ankle and the home that I have so many memories in deteriorating and was happy that I have taken on this second job. 

Now I am just ready to be done and see the fruits of my labor. I am already satisfied with my progress and will be happy to see the entire place complete. I am not just cleaning the surfaces but I am getting inside every nook and cranny, cabinet and drawer, to purge the junk and organize the treasures. 

When someone lives in a place for 50 years it is easy to accumulate a ton of crap. It is inevitable that one day someone will have to go through it. My wonderful, thoughtful mom will probably be the person who ends up taking care of the house when my grandma decides to move permanently out of town or when she's ready to let the house go. So, I just think about her when I'm cleaning and all she's done for me. If this small thing is something I can give to her then I am glad to give my time. 

It is kind of refreshing to clean. It's a bit of exercise that I need, and I have come across some old stuff. It sort of makes me feel powerful which is always fun. Like, "Hello Tupperware! You don't have a lid. Now you will meet the landfill." It just feels like a necessary part of life. We must clean out and refresh every part of our lives sometimes. 

I am learning some valuable lessons which is always important. While there are many other things I'd rather be doing--like writing on one of my books, visiting with people, reading, catching up on my TV shows, etc.--I know that I am growing and overcoming a challenge which are important things for me to do in every aspect of my life. 

I hope that you can find something that is a challenge to you and overcome it next week. I also hope you are not like me and never regret giving something as simple as your time to help another person... or if you are like me and did that initially I hope that you found the beauty in what you gave. 

Much love,

Alyssa

Returning to work

I have spent the last 3 weeks out and about then returned to work yesterday. I was scared that it would take me a bit to get back into the routine after being out of it for so long. Luckily it was just the opposite! I was so excited to be back to work, making the most of each hour, that I was really productive and have gotten a lot accomplished in the past two days. In fact even though my grandma took me on a long lunch today I have gotten all of my tasks done.

This is what I love about being 'self' employed. I can go and do, with my boss knowing that I will complete my projects. I think there needs to be more autonomy over your work and more flexibility with your hours. I am so much happier, efficient, and eager to work knowing that my work is meaningful  and that my boss respects me. I realize I have a special circumstance since I am working for family, but it still can be played out in every workplace. Some places need structure and can't be as flexible, but there are still better ways than the traditional 9 - 5 approach.

Things are just really great for me right now. I am so glad that I took the steps I did that got me here today. I know this will be one of the highlights of my life when I look back and tell the story of my post graduation experience. While many people may not see moving around and changing jobs an accomplishment, I certainly think this year has not only taught me a lot, but that I have accomplished a lot. I have seen that I can work in a variety of areas, and that I can also resign if they do not fit my values and goals. I am grateful of all of the opportunities I have had and am excited to continue this chapter of my life.

The beginning of May I got to go to the ole Alma Mater to see my dear friends graduate, visit with my partner's family and see his little sister graduate high school, then take a road trip back here and show my best friend where I grew up. It was a rich month full of love, laughs, adventure, and fun. I spent memorial day with my aunt hanging out binge watching American Horror Story, swimming, and surviving a storm. I did do a little work over the weekend and photographed a 25th anniversary wedding reception.

I have the best job ever and it is definitely going to be hard to leave and move on to something else when the time comes. The area isn't exactly where I would want to live permanently, but after being away for six years, it is so nice to come back home and get reacquainted.

If anyone has any ideas on how I can repay my grandpa and his beautiful wife for the amazing gift he has given me please leave them in the comments! I hope that everyone can find satisfaction in their job because you spend more time with your career than in your own home (unless you work from home... but you know what I mean!). Happiness, friendship, and the bare necessities are all anyone needs to live a successful life.

This weekend we are adventuring to a big Trade Days festival in Texas, then in the end of June we are headed up to see my family. I am so excited for that trip! I miss my little brother, mom, and dad very much and will be glad to see them in person. Skype just isn't cutting it.

I hope everyone has a lovely week, and enjoys the summer weather!

Until next time,
Alyssa

I have the best job in the world

Today I organized documents, pictures, stories, etc. into folders for each year of my grandpa's life. I love looking through and learning of his many endeavors and accomplishments. I learned today that  my grandpa spent 30 years as a weather adviser for our area. I think that is a neat accomplishment and I may have never known it had I not been assisting in filing this documentation!

One of the other beautiful things about this "job" is that I have the opportunity to get to know relatives that I do not know very well and learn about those who have passed. I have especially enjoyed getting to know my great grandpa, E.E. Gentry. He was an astounding man and seemed to be so much fun! Since he is the patriarch of my maternal side of the family I enjoy knowing that I can thank him for many of the lessons and values that I have learned over the years.

Now it'll be interesting to see how this intertwines with the bigger picture of my life.

I enjoyed the weekend staying with my aunt and enjoying her pool. I got quite sunburned again sadly, so I am going to have to get better about my sunscreen application. It's hard when you have to apply sunscreen every 30 minutes though! But we had a lovely weekend with delicious food.

I am thankful for the security and peace in my life and send positive energy to those who are enduring horrible tragedy in Baltimore, Maryland and Nepal. I hope that they find peace and are able to remain positive in the midst of all the terror that surrounds them. I wish I could fly out and help the grieving families in Nepal. That would be the ideal way I could spend my time if I was able.

Well I just wanted to post a little update. Take care and enjoy your week.

Love,
Alyssa

Week road tripping in Texas

My grandpa and Laurie Lou took my 9 year old cousin and I on a trip throughout Texas last week mainly to see the beautiful wild flowers but also adventure)!

Our first stop after leaving the house was Brenham, Texas, home of Bluebell Ice Cream! It was such a cool experience to see a factory--I had never visited one. The process of making the ice cream is really complex and neat, especially considering Bluebell originated as a butter creamery then started making 2 gallons of ice cream a day for the locals in 1911. Now they make thousands of gallons a day, and the gallons/cones/pints/etc. leave the factory within 6 hours of being packaged.  Super fresh! While in Brenham we also ate a delicious seafood joint called Sealand. I had a delicious grilled salmon and raw oysters. On our drive there we stopped at Washington on the Brazos where Texans signed their independence from Mexico. 

Beautiful Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrushes

     

Next we traveled to the town with German roots called Fredericksburg where we ate some pretty good German food, and where I met Robert J. Waller. Mr. Waller is a good friend of my grandpa and world known author. His most famous book is The Bridges of Madison County. He was incredibly intelligent! I enjoyed listening to him talk. He shared a song with us and the lyrics were beautiful, I hope it gets recorded by a well known, respectable artist. I loved his wife Linda. She was very free spirited, artistic, and lovely! On our way there we stopped at Camp Verde, which is the site of the U.S. Department of War's camel experiment during the 1800's! You can read more about it Here. We also visited Luchenbach which has a population of 3 and is a town known for country music. It was a very interesting place to visit. The hill country of Texas is beautiful! I love it and highly recommend visiting this area. 

From there we traveled to San Antonio. I had never been to San Antonio so I had a lovely time seeing this city. My Great Great Uncle ran a fish market there back in the 1940s/50s so it was cool to see the street and area where he would have been. It was also nice to see the Alamo, and learn of Texas Independence. Cool fact: The Alamo started as a Catholic mission back in the 1700's.  We were very lucky that there weren't many tourists so that I could get this lovely shot. 

We ate at this amazing Mexican restaurant called Mi Tierra which is located at the Marketplace. Oh myyy goodness! Those were the best enchiladas pollo verde. Then the next morning for breakfast we got some fresh pastries and cookies. They were all tasty! But I particularly loved the pina empanada. From our tasty breakfast we went to the San Antonio Zoo for a few hours and that was a treat! There were some amazing animals there that I had never seen or heard of. Like this amazing Okapi! It is it's own breed of animal, but has the head and similar body as a giraffe and coloring/legs of a zebra!                                                               

From San Antonio we went to Indianola which was once a major port back in its day. From 1846-1847 they had over 5,000  German immigrants come settle in the area. Two major hurricanes came through within a decade of each other and completely wiped out the town. There isn't much there to see or do, but I thoroughly enjoyed imagining the history and seeing the little bit of ruins they do have. Hope to go back in January with my favorite travel partners, Pa and Laurie! We went to an awesome county museum in Port Lavaca that had some great artifacts of the history of the area and a model of what Indianola looked like in it's prime. We stayed at a bay front property that was adorable! Perfect little 2-bedroom. While it was a rental there was a for sale sign. Since we like the area so much we looked into to see how much it cost... and you wouldn't believe it but it cost a wopping $292,000! There is literally nothing there...I can't imagine paying that much for a little 900 square foot home even if it is close to a "beach" and has a water view. The coastline has receded about 2 blocks since the mid to late 1800's so I hope there is still an Indianola in a few decades. 

Statue of LaSalle, French explorer of America who reinvigorated the area in the 1600s. Learn about here Here

Now we are on to our last stop, Galveston. We took the scenic route to Galveston and saw some cool things like Shanghai Pierce's grave and a historic old hotel. Once inn Galveston we ate some delicious shrimp at 'Shrimp and Stuff' then went and rode a few rides at Pleasure Pier. My little cousin rode his first rollercoaster! It was so fun to be on there with him and encourage him to ride! He is around the same age I was when I rode my first coaster. Such a great memory to make! The picture is hilarious of us coming down from the drop. I will have to add it to this once I make a digital copy of it. This was my first time seeing Galveston since the destruction of Hurricane Ike. It has really recovered since then! Looks even better than I remember it from my last visit about 8 years ago.

Pleasure Pier! 

The next day I took the cousin to the beach, then we walked along Seawall Boulevard. We went to the edge of the island and saw the ships moving stuff along. It was quite windy out and the sky was very ominous. We missed the rain luckily, but it sure looked gloomy. We ate at Rainforest Cafe for the boy, took the ferry across and headed home. 

This was a perfect trip because we saw many different places, experienced nature, learned new things, ate good food, and had great conversations. I am so blessed that I was able to go. I hope that I can treat Pa and Laurie to a vacation that is just as sweet. 

Words cannot express how fortunate I am to have this opportunity... I get to connect with my family on a deeper and get to do work I truly enjoy while having a flexible schedule! And my boss takes me away on awesome vacations! I am so glad this is where life has lead me. 

My work is coming along! I think we have at least 2 years of sorting, organizing, and compiling to do though! But that's a-okay by me! I love learning about my ancestors because I know I am still learning from them today since they shape my grandpa and mother into who they are today. I hope to start typing a little something that I have learned about my relatives *everyday. Not only for you to get a better sense of who they were, but for me to look back on remember this amazing time in my life. 

I will write soon! Hope you enjoyed hearing of my adventures and that you see the beauty that is the hill country of Texas one day if you haven't already, and that you can reminisce fondly of these areas if you have had the pleasure of seeing them.

Love, 

Alyssa

P.S. Please excuse typos and missing words... it's been a long day and I don't feel like editing just yet. :p  

Have a lovely rest of your week!

Family Fun Weekend

I had a lovely weekend with my aunt and cousins! We had nonstop dance parties, swam, ate tasty food, and had some adventures. The weekend just flew by.

In fact, this entire week has flown by! I definitely made the right decision coming here. My grandpa showed me how much he has already done for his story and it was really exciting to see!

We have a banquet Tuesday, seeing out of town family Wednesday, then this weekend we will have some fun Easter festivities! Then next week we are going on a little vacation to South Texas for one of my cousins spring breaks. But, I am getting up nice and early tomorrow so that I can go for a walk and get a lot of work done!

Just wanted to put an update on here. :)

Hope everyone has an amazing week! Follow your heart and do what you love.

Much love,
Alyssa

Louisiana Bound!

I am in the Charlotte airport heading to Louisiana! I am super excited to see my family and am ready for some productivity! I have a jam packed schedule and am excited to get into a good routine. 

It will be super fun to type up my grandpas many stories everyday, then I am also going to work on some art projects, blog weekly, and do yoga! If you have never tried yoga, I highly recommend it. It is so peaceful! I love exercise but hate feeling out of breath like with cardio, so yoga is a  perfect alternative. It is all about breathing, working every muscle, and finding your inner peace. I love it! I was doing it regularly in January and February, but the past weeks I have fallen off the yoga wagon. 

I think this will be an exciting chapter in my story. I feel so fortunate to have family that wants my help and that is willing to provide me with a little work when they know I am trying to find my passion. I am going into this move with an open mind, heart, and soul. Who knows when I will leave Louisiana or where I will go next, but that is all part of the fun! 

This quote sums up the way I feel about the journey I'm on: 

The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.

Christopher McCandless

I hope everyone has a lovely day! 

Much love,

Alyssa

Writing is fun, but difficult at times

There are a lot of things I am uncertain about in my life, but I know with certainty that I thoroughly enjoy writing. Growing up and on into my adult life I always enjoyed writing, whether it was creative, nonfiction, or research. It is absolutely freeing to put your thoughts and ideas into words. I love seeing something that began as a small, fleeting thought turn into a glorious story. 

The other thing freeing about writing is that no one can really judge me. My writings may have some awkward phrasing, incorrect punctuation or spelling, and do not appeal to everyone, but I like my writings and they have not yet been seen by the critics and remain pure. I somehow get a glimpse into my soul when I am hovering over a keyboard or pen, tirelessly putting out what is in my head. 

If I could finish a book and make somewhat of a living off my writings my life would be complete. Everything I love and want to do can be accomplished and shared through writing. Also, I thoroughly enjoy volunteering, afternoons outdoors (not in a stuffy office), and a flexible schedule which I can have by writing. So far I have started two books.. and it is really hard to stay consistent with my writing as well as mentally tolling to find the way you to say what you want to say. I do really well and knock out a couple of pages one day, then lose inspiration. The first book I started is a murder mystery, then yesterday I started a children's sci-fi story. I think starting the second book was a really good decision because it allowed me to completely switch worlds so if I get tired or bored with writing I can switch to a new world and be good to go, well, for a while.

I am afraid for the day when the critics do get a hold of my writings. I hate the idea of someone picking a part my each and every word thinking they have the right to demean my art. But, if the day ever comes that I do finish my book and it is being reviewed by a big wig in the New York Times, I guess I will deal with those fears then. 

That is what most of time consists of now-a-days. Helping mom around the house, running errands, playing Rollercoaster Tycoon, and writing my books! I am glad to find productivity in each day and hope that my momentum keeps increasing, my vision clears, and my work ethic pushes ahead so that I may finish what I have started. 

Wishing you prosperity in the things you love,

Alyssa

Hard to believe it's been so long since I've graduated

Sometimes I cannot believe it has been 9 months since I graduated college... I feel like I was just running weekly SGA meetings and seeing my friends on a daily basis. No one really explains to you what a hard adjustment it is from that life.. College is the place you meet best friends, learn what it is to be independent and a lot of times where you make your first home. Stetson was definitely home for me. It certainly has it's flaws, but you look past those at all of the good because there is just something different about the Stetson community. I really miss my ridiculously busy schedule, feeling like I could accomplish whatever I put my mind to, and my amazing friend group that became stronger each day.

Since leaving Stetson it's like starting all over again... I am reminded of our move to Florida my senior year of high school when I didn't know anyone and felt like I had no idea what I was doing. I hope that I will find my "Stetson" soon so that I can move on with my life and find productivity in each day. That is what is hardest for me... I feel really bad (in general and about myself) when I am not productive. I have got to find something to do that will keep me busy and help me fill the hours of the day. I feel as if I have accomplished a lot and grown but at the same time I feel completely lost and like I've squandered the past 9 months. I am nervous about what my family thinks about my decisions and hate the thought of my peers thinking they are better than me since I am taking longer to settle down.. But then I decide those things should not matter. I am happy and proud of myself for not settling. I have seen this beautiful country, discovered cool jobs and met new friends. Now it is just time to move along to the next thing.. just so I can find what else I don't want to do. Or maybe find the perfect fit! You never know.

While being home I wanted to work on art projects, help mom keep the house clean, and take photography nature walks but this cold weather makes me want to stay indoors! If you have any ideas about fun projects to start while remaining warm and inside I would greatly appreciate them- please comment on this post!

Anyways, I hope you are doing well and finding productivity and purpose with each passing day.

Until next time,
Alyssa

Bah Bah Bah Bah Bah I'm Bummin' It

I'm still living the gypsy life.

Trying to figure out this little thing called life... I've been helping my mom out the past few months. Between her surgery and moving I kept really busy from November through January. This month has definitely slowed down though. Time for me to really think about what I want to do and start moving forward with a career. I have applied for several jobs, but so far have no luck. Also, I don't want to get too settled because I don't know where I want to live just yet, so I'm taking things slow.

My grandpa has a project he needs my help with, so I decided I am going to head to Louisiana to spend a few months working with him. I have friends coming to visit in a couple of weeks so I'm setting early March as my moving date.

Then I have a friend in Tampa looking for a roommate, so I'm considering going to spend a year living there with her. I think it is important to travel and experience different things in this stage of my life before I settle down with a family. We were roommates in the past and had a blast together, so living with her is an opportunity I don't really want to pass up.

Overall, I am really enjoying this time with my family. I love helping my mom look for the perfect piece of furniture, and teaching Austin keyboarding. It has been a really good experience. My little Austy is going to be all grown up before too long, so I'm taking in all of the moments we are sharing together. I've also applied to volunteer with Girl's on the Run and a recreational area nearby.

I started writing a book this week, I have it all laid out so hopefully I can write it fairly quickly and self publish it. t is a suspenseful thriller novel! Once I'm finished I'll let you know! And hopefully you'll try a copy.

So life goes on! I'm having some good experiences and super lucky to have parents that support me and care about me discovering my dreams. I hope everyone reading is doing well and enjoying life! It doesn't matter what you're doing as long as your happy and making the most of your time.

Til next time,
Alyssa

Gypsy Life

I love the Lady Gaga song 'Gypsy'. Ever since I heard it I felt I could relate.. This particular verse kind of sums up my California dream and adventure.

So I just packed my baggage and
Said goodbye to family and friends
And took the road to nowhere on my own

Like Dorothy on a yellow brick
Hope my ruby shoes get us there quick
'Cause I left everyone I love at home

And I don't wanna be alone forever
But I can be tonight
I don't wanna be alone forever
But I love gypsy life

And it's true, I do love the gypsy life but there are several components you need to be happy. I thought I needed career fulfillment and adventure so I went about as far away in the U.S. as I could to find it.. But I had no one in my circles.. I met some awesome people and am glad to know them but it just wasn't the same. So, I am now living in Charlotte, NC with my family.  A major cause of the move is because my mom has to have surgery soon and while her illness is not very severe it was very concerning to me. I hated knowing that I could not fly home if something should happen. Plus, I really do have amazing friends and while we do not live in the same city it is nice to know that I can visit them. It's lot easier to communicate being in the same time zone as well! It was not an easy decision to leave California and resign from my second job in 5 months.. In fact I believed this made a failure and it just did not feel like me because I am a very committed person. But life is about more than tending to yourself and making money. So here I am in my parents townhouse, helping out with their move to Charlotte and helping my mom. I am a bit panicked about finding another job and being taken seriously. But I am a hard worker and have a lot to bring to the table so I just have to find the right fit since a work place is your home away from home.

I personally love change, but I also love a solid foundation and support system. I hope that I can find my foundation here in Charlotte and find change in other aspects of my life. I am so grateful for the experiences I have had, for the opportunity to learn about myself and to learn what is truly important in my life. I think that we put too  much pressure on ourselves to graduate, start a career and stick with it getting promoted over 30 years because that is the image of success that we have been given... But I don't buy into that. Success is being happy and surrounded by people you love. You do have to have an income and should be driven to continually learn and move up.. but a 20 year career can come once experience is gained in these first few years after graduating. I do not think it is a bad thing that I am experiencing different positions early on and learning what I do and do not want out of a job. In the end I will be able to be more successful in the work place because I will find what I love to do and enjoy going into work everyday. Although I am hoping that 3rd time is the charm and that I find a company and position I really love here in Charlotte. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Until next time!
Alyssa

P.S. I cannot believe it has been 2 months since my last post! But in all honesty... you didn't miss too much! I'll post pics of California once I get them off my phone, I did see some beautiful sites!

The Weekend Update

I have been in California for 2 weeks now! It's already been one month since I accepted this job. Hard to believe! Life is just moving at warp speed. The old saying is true, "time flies when you're having fun"!

Last week I was at USC where we did a water conservation pledge. We got a really awesome volunteer! She helped us table one day and was just super sweet. I hope that she stays involved and enjoys it. She was a freshman from India! I love meeting new people and learning about their background and culture. It's the best. Friday we worked from the office and just did planning stuff. It was really productive. I love how calculated and goal oriented this job is. I feel very prepared to do my job successfully.

This weekend was so much fun! Friday after work we went to this sushi place near the office that does happy hour everyday where certain rolls are half off, genius idea and absolutely delicious! Then the ladies and I went out dancing. It took a while to find a place but when we got there we had a great time! They had a photobooth that allowed you to take pics and email them to yourself (for free!), so that was a lot of fun. Only thing I didn't like was that my Malibu Bay Breeze was $11... So much for a splash of cheap rum and some juice! But they know people will pay it and there were a lot of people working who need to get paid livable wages, and there was no cover charge so maybe that's factored in. Anyways! I love my coworkers, they are so intelligent, caring, and fun! I already feel like I can talk to them about anything and they get it. It's great.

Saturday I just lounged around all day, did some work, and finished Orange is the New Black. It was a lovely and relaxing day!

Then today one of our coworkers who works in the grants department had us over for a BBQ! She was so gracious and had a variety of food for us-- delicious roasted corn and avocado salad, turkey/beef/veggie burgers, sausages, watermelon, and ice cream sandwiches. It was a perfect Sunday afternoon. We all told our stories as to how we got involved with The Public Interest Network so it was great to hear what inspires everyone and the different paths their lives have taken. The hostess has been in the network for 20 years and another woman (who hosted us last week) has been a part of it for 30 years. I want to learn more from them and more about what motivates them to live a life of activism.

Then I got to talk to my family briefly today and that was great! My mom has to undergo surgery soon on her esophagus so please keep her in your positive thoughts or prayers to whatever you believe in. It isn't anything mayor but she is very uncomfortable and surgery is....well surgery. My mom is the most thoughtful person I know and I hate thinking of her in pain... but she has a lot of good karma built up and has a lot of faith so I know everything will go smoothly and her recovery will be quick.

This week I will be canvassing.. which means I will be going door to door educating people and asking them to become members. I am kind of excited because this will really push me out of my comfort zone and because we are educating on a really great cause, but I'm also really nervous! People kind of scare of me because they can be cruel and I want everyone to be nice and like me! I'm silly. We are canvassing on the misuse of antibiotics on factory farms. I think I wrote about it while I was in training, but I'll give you the overview of the campaign. 70% of antibiotics available for human use in the U.S. are given to animals through their feed. So perfectly healthy animals are pumped with antibiotics even though they are not sick. This is allowing for superbugs to emerge that are now resistant to antibiotics that treat common illnesses- like pneumonia. The Center for Disease Control says that we could be entering a post-antibiotic era... which is scary! I know that antibiotics have healed me many times. The thought of them becoming ineffective because they allow animals to grow quicker (and get sick less often from the horrible conditions they are in) for profits makes me angry. So I am glad I get to work on this campaign because this needs to be addressed now. I'm going to keep that in mind as I knock on doors and start to feel uncomfortable. I want my little brother to be healed as quickly and easily as I have been my whole life so he is going to be my inspiration.

You know, I'm really enjoying myself.. I'm surprised by how much I love L.A. Everyone has been so friendly and I have not felt unsafe! I don't have to be into work until 11:30 a.m. this week so I am planning on going exploring before work. Tuesday I want to go to the Getty- an art museum! Well that is all from my midnight weekly update!

I keep thinking of "Oh the places you'll go". Thank you Dr. Seuss for inspirational stories and imagination!

I hope that everyone has an amazing week! Happy Monday. :)

Much love,
Alyssa

California Week 1!

Last week I packed up my bags and was driven to the airport by my family to fly to San Francisco. It was definitely hard to say "see you later" to my family, but I was immensely excited to come to the West Coast! I stayed strong during the goodbye but definitely teared up in the security line, then later on the plane. It takes a lot of strength to quit a good thing, and put distance between your loved ones, but it's definitely been worth it. The past week I have never felt like I was at work. It was so much fun! I helped get pledges in Berkley for 2 days, worked in the office on full-time recruitment, then flew down to L.A. to work at USC for the next 3 weeks on their recruitment drive. I love my coworkers and we have met some cool students! Today I get to visit Irvine! A PIRG worker that I'm staying with while in L.A. is the former chapter chair of Irvine so he is bringing me to meet the students I'll be working with! I am really excited. I think it will be great to hear even more input about the school and to hear about their vision for the year. Part of the next 3 weeks will be spent on me creating the schedule for each week this term. We have big goals to hit so I'm preparing how we are going to hit them.

Aside from work I've gotten to do some fun things! My coworker, Danny, was commuting from Moutainview to Berkley so I rode down with him last Tuesday so that I could see my friend Tyler! It was great to catch up with him and meet his mom. We enjoyed some really conversation even though it was a really short visit. Then yesterday I enjoyed some delicious fish tacos and watched Orange is the New Black, just felt like relaxing because I did work long days this week some of which was in this 90 degree Southern California weather. Then today I hiked the 2 miles up to Griffith Observatory! It was quite a trek... Plus I was silly and did not just 1 but 3 "no-no" things to do for a hike. I ate Chinese food/frappaccino right before, was wearing flip flops, and didn't bring water. It was rough. But it was worth it! I was proud for persevering and making it to the top even though I really really wanted to turn around. The views of L.A. were beautiful from up there and the observatory is incredible. It was build in 1935 and encompasses great history, space, art and architecture. James Dean's Rebel Without A Cause was filmed there which made my dad excited. Made me want to see a James Dean because I've never seen one. Luckily I'm in the land of cinema! A coworkers husband just worked on a movie with Andrew Garfield. That was cool to hear about. It's called 99 Homes. It's about foreclosed homes, and I want to see it now.

Anyhow! Things are really great! I Skyped my beautiful family today and have been in great contact with all of the people in my life who are steadfast and continually support me. I just feel so blessed that I am able to be here.. and that I'm healthy and happy! Just enjoy where you are and be in the present, that's what I've learned.

I'll keep you posted on how things are going! However, I'll be pretty darn busy so I don't know how often I'll be posting, but I'll try to stick to the title of the blog.

Much love and happiness,
Alyssa