Almost Famous

I just found out that this picture is featured on the Boone Chamber of Commerce Website

My boss is the one in the blue shirt and yeah I did notice that it looks like I'm standing way too close! This picture was also in the Mountain Times newspaper along with an article about the company a few months ago after we were given the award.

Simpsonized

This would be me as a Simpson's character. Everyone else is doing it...................
Look there is even a scar on my neck like the real thing (from my surgery). I'm even thinking about getting bangs cut now - they look pretty good on the Simpson Jessica!
http://www.simpsonizeme.com
Apparently this has become mighty popular so good luck getting through!



*Update: You could say that we are pretty much moved now. The sunshine gods were definitely shining down over the weekend since there wasn't any rain as it was forecast. My initial thought was always that "We don't have a lot of stuff" but boy was I wrong. When you start pulling it out of every nook and cranny it really adds up. I am just amazed at how much stuff was really in my apartment. When I first moved here everything I brought fit in my car which is little too. Finding a new place for everything in the house is a challenge in deed. But for now it's all coming together slowly but surely. The most important thing is that we are out of the apartment, we've been sleeping at the new place since Friday night. I've slept amazingly well so far which is great since I usually have somewhat of a hard time. Oh and this morning it took me less than 2 minutes to get to work! How awesome is that. Soon everything will have it's place but for now I can live with some boxes lying around.

Think dry thoughts.........

Please stop raining - I want to move!!!!!


(Picture taken on the Sims Creek Trail 05)

Let's do this!!!

This year for my birthday I would like to go to Vegas. For
1.) I've never been there
2.) It will be my first time to fly in an airplane
3.) It will be my first time going out west period
You don't have to tell me I'm lame cause I already know. But this is why I'm making up for it this year by going to Vegas to celebrate my birthday. I've tried to enlist several folks to meet us there so we can have some group fun. Jared is coming so far which is really awesome. Man, I can't wait - something to look forward to for sure. Who else wants to come!!!

Out with the old...............

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.

Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862)

*Last week was very trying indeed. By the time the weekend came we were beat beyond recognition although that didn't stop us from getting the job done. We have managed to get most of what was needed finished so this week is dedicated to moving stuff in. It will prove to be rather difficult since this time of year it likes to rain every afternoon. None the less we still gotta get out of there whether we like it or not.

I'm feeling a little indifferent about the entire moving thing. I will be leaving behind the only thing I've known since being here. Don't get me wrong, at the same time I am extremely excited that it is finally taking place. To sum it up - It just feels weird! As we move our stuff into the new place I find myself wondering if it is going to be everything I am hoping it will be. I know that I can't expect for this move to be what makes me happy but I'm happy that we're moving...................

I really can't wait until we are finally in because I am in desperate need of camping and/or something outdoorsy. I've been dying to take some pictures too - I've felt like something has been missing these last few weeks without my weekend detoxification. Looking back I now realize that's kind of what those little getaways on the weekend are all about. Getting back in touch with myself, since separating myself from work is extremely challenging sometimes but I'm working on that.

In with the new.

(Picture taken on the Boone Fork Trail 06)

Mid-week & Up-Beat

Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb.

Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)

*In a short period of time a tremendous amount of work has been put into the new house we are moving into. And I'll be the first to say that we have made some major improvements and you won't believe the difference it has made. I am so pleased at how it is coming together. Unfortunately not on the schedule that I intended but hey it's better not to try and rush it and stress myself and every one else out. Tonight we primed the walls in the living room while Carla was steady cleaning the bathroom which looks amazing by the way! Getting started seemed like the hard part because it was pretty overwhelming to walk into this house but we saw potential and it's shaping up to be everything we hoped. Well, with a few exceptions but those I can live without because it has so much of what I "do" actually want in a home. It's very peaceful at the new place - you can hear so many different bird songs, it's wonderful. I am definitely looking forward to making this my new home. Note to self: Stop being so cheesy!!

The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn.

David Russell



*Update: We found a house to move into if you don't already know - very excited by the way! So, this week will pretty much be dedicated to getting it ready to move stuff in by Saturday if all goes well. I'll post a picture soon so you can see the new place. This is the change I have been waiting for, it's definitely time to move on and away from Hill St. For the past two years Hill St. has been my landing pad in a way. When I first moved to Boone this happened to be the first and cheapest place we could find and afford. But I have out grown the simple comforts of this apartment. It is time to let go and move on to "bigger" and better things!

Where to next........................

If you reveal your secrets to the wind you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees.

Kahlil Gibran (1883 – 1931)

*After camping or at least being outside almost every weekend for the past few weeks has given me the most extreme case of wanderlust I've ever encountered. Thinking about what I'm going to do or where I'm going to go the coming weekend is what gets me through the week. Being amongst nature is what brings me back down to earth, it's what allows me to leave my cares behind. By the time Sunday rolls around I'm feeling as good as new and thankfully it lasts me a few days. I love the idea of traveling around, wandering from place to place. Our world is filled with so many things that I have yet to experience or be exposed to it's absolutely ridiculous! I suppose that it's been mostly my fault for not being more adventurous or curios up to this point but I suppose that it's better late than never. Although I've gotten a late start I plan to make up for it in the long run. The list of places I want to go continues to grow as the weeks go by. Exploring places close to home satisfies the need for now but soon as the hunger grows it will not be enough. I already crave more but I know that certain things limit my ability to do what my heart desires. Thoughts of buying a Motorhome excites me to no end-to quit my job-to travel the US-No fear-No looking back. Having so much to see and do could be intimidating if I were to let that happen but I will continue my path by taking one step at a time!

One the road again.....................

Ritual is the way you carry the presence of the sacred. Ritual is the spark that must not go out.

Christina Baldwin

*I am going camping this weekend and will be back some time on Sunday - Have a great weekend!!

Jess' Bambi

Love is a canvas furnished by Nature and embroidered by imagination.

Voltaire

*This is by far one of my most favorite shots EVER!! This past weekend we spotted so many deer along the parkway but this was nothing like the other sightings. For this was more than just a mere glimpse. We stopped at this overlook loop off the parkway that we had hiked through the night before because I needed to get a picture of this new flower I identified. But as we pulled in the parking area Cody spotted this doe and as I hung out of the window trying to get the shot we realized that we just had to get closer. I got out of the vehicle and slowly crept up to the field. At first he ran off, but then as I walked closer he darted out from behind a bush less than 7 feet away from me! Hidden behind the brush now we could only see the tail pointing straight up in the air as he/she could still sense our presence. Cody was flanking the left as I patiently waited for him to coax the deer out of the wooded area. Once it was confirmed that I was ready Cody ran up behind the little guy and he ended up in the clearing which was exactly where I was hoping he would go. It was truly exciting & I don't think I'll ever forget how cute the doe was. It was definitely the highlight of my weekend!!!!