Friday Five: Things I Miss About North Carolina

Image Credit: Bojangles.com

 Bojangles — If you’ve never dined at this cajun chicken establishment, you are seriously missing out. It’s greasy and crunchy love at it’s finest.  We have Bojangles french fries seasoning at home and put it on everything.

Image Credit: Little Miss Sunshine

 Sunshine — Yes, I know that Seattle is known for constant rainfall.  It actually doesn’t rain as much as you think it might.  But, the sunshine is few and far between.  I miss waking up to the Southern sun.

Image Credit: Rebecca Lipscomb

 My Parents – They make me a little crazy.  But I miss having them drive up whenever I want, and even unexpectedly. I miss having them yell at me about stuff that’s not my fault, neurotically clean my house, and showing up with random animals.

Image Credit: Derivadow.com

 Strangers — So everyone here is super nice.  But mostly people keep to themselves.  People are polite and I have had some great conversations with strangers.  But it never seems to be anything besides polite conversation — and this is weird, but I never see the same stranger twice.  I miss the cashier at my local Harris Teeter, the barista at my favorite drive-thru Starbucks, the waitress at the Chinese restaurant near our old house.  I miss chatting with strangers that later become familiar faces — or bother to remember my face.

Southern Accents – Weird, since I don’t have one. But I miss the Southern twang.

Friday Five: My Favorite Blogs

I read somewhere that to be a good writer — you have to be a good reader.  I normally do a little research on a theory before I go all out and follow it – but this seems like a safe one to believe.  I have an incredible appetite for reading, with very little free time — so blogs are fun and easy reading for me.  I use the following criteria for deciding whether or not I’m going to keep reading someone’s blog: 

1. I like the pictures.
2. I consistently learn something new. 
3. I laugh. (Shooting coffee out my nose is a big plus).
4. They are people I might want to stalk have coffee or a beer with in real life.
5. I’m inspired.

One or more of these criteria usually means that I will subscribe to your blog and read it every chance I get.  Here are my favorite FIVE (in no particular order — I lurk these sites with equal creepiness):

Penelope Trunk  She’s superbly interesting, honest, and inspiring.  I secretly want to be her.  Minus the Farmer. 

Seth Godin  Lots of reasons to read this blog.  I just like his bald head (and some of the ideas that come from it). #dontjudgeme

Decor8  In my dream life, I have a beautifully decorated home.  I visit this site to steal bits of inspiration and pretend I’m closer than I think.

Bookwoman  I actually have had coffee…and food…and more coffee…with Lisa Rosen.  Well, actually she drinks tea — I drink coffee.  She’s a fabulous writer (she’s written a novel and is working on her second) and an even fabulouser (not a word but whatever) person.  Her blog is about everyday life, heart disease, running, mothering, and she shares some really great recipes. 

Amber Austen I haven’t met Amber IRL — but we have exchanged emails.  The translation of her personal story is lovely.  I hope to go dancing with her someday.

My Friday Five: Things I Can’t Live Without

(in no particular order)

1) Internet. I’ve struggled this week with limited connectivity. I planned to catch up on work items, personal things, emails, etc. this week and haven’t been able to do anything. I depend on the Internet as part of my every day.

2) Childhood friends. I have caught up with a handful of childhood friends this week and am excited to see and spend more time together tonight. They are an important part of who I am today

3) My husband. He’s been gone for three weeks for work. I don’t want to be separated for much longer.

4) The beach. I grew up only a very short drive from the water. The ocean and the sand change me…not in a vacation sort of way, but in the quiet and calming way that an hour of yoga centers me.

5) Family prayer. Every night at dinner on this family vacation, my father is careful to let my youngest niece say Grace at dinner. We end the prayer with a LOUD: “AAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMEEEEEN” ….there are six adults and eight children. “Amen” comes out sounding more like a cheer of “Go Team!!!!” In many ways, it is our cheer. Despite living in different places, having very different lives, different struggles and concerns — prayer is the one thing we have in common and pass on to our children with no hesitation or doubt. Language and culture are sometimes lost from one generation to another, prayer, when emphasized as a family ritual, is not.