wall-to-wall

this page is where you get to discover all those posts, ideas, and thoughts that just cannot be categorized anywhere else. perhaps we could call this the sporadic stream of consciousness? i suppose we will soon find out.

the best week of my year

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this past week i was disconnected from reality.  where was i?  knoxville, tennessee.  every may the global finals for the program destination imagination are held here, and as a volunteer, i have the honor and privilege to work with some of my favorite people.  it always passes too quickly, and there is a week of saddening withdrawal when i leave.  but in those several days, when we are on our feet from sunup to sundown and catching only winks of sleep, i am the happiest i can be.

i grew up participating in destination imagination throughout grade school, nine years to be exact.  the program truly did change my life, and the lessons i learned and experiences i had molded me into the person i am today.  this program teaches kids of all ages how to work on a team toward a common goal, how to compromise and encourage ideas, how to manage time and people, and, most importantly, how to accept others and themselves for all the things they are.  destination imagination is a program i believe in with all my heart, and i hope i can continue to be a part of it as long as they will have me.

this year i had the pleasure of reconnecting with friends from all over the country and the world, including jamie baby from michigan, brian from westfield, maria from illinois, megan and avery from pennsylvania, rachel from texas, hector from puerto rico, and adam from pittsburgh.  it was also a riot to meet all my new friends like pete from denver, olivia from indiana, bailey from wisconsin, kevin from chicago, and bri and misti from arkansas.  (my sincerest apologies to any folks i may have missed!)  these people are my once-a-year family, and they understand me through and through.  we get each other in a way that other people simply cannot, and saying goodbye to them at breakfast on sunday is always a sad moment.  good thing we have memories from our challenge rooms, chicken lunches, teamwork, mug clubs, rose and the door, tony williams, #shame, RAD, james cameron films, beginning the day late and finishing early, duct tape, and an officials party that was the best yet.  yes, these are all inside jokes, and no, you probably will not understand a single one of them.  however, this post is for them, and this week was one for the books.

to my destination imagination family out there, i miss you all already.  until next time, judy dadah!

birthdays are better with friends

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recently we put together plans to celebrate bank’s birthday.  i mean, turning 26 is a big deal!  i let bank and his wife liz hijack nrw so that we could get together in his honor.  somebody else is going to plan an event?  that’ll work for me in a jiffy!

after work wrapped up for the day, bank and liz invited us all to their apartment for some pre-dinner spirits.  the homemade salsa went well with the hand-crafted, and strong, margaritas.  good thing i had a ride for later!  it was quite relaxing to just hang out with everyone after a long day in the office.  i’m usually so excited being here, there, and everywhere that i forget taking time to slow down is sometimes just as enjoyable.

after everyone finished their drinks, we piled into a few cars and made a short drive to the restaurant.  kyle, vinh, and i were in the “fun car,” if you ask me.  i mean, who wouldn’t want to roll the windows down and serenade the streets of buford highway with off-pitch renditions of “let it go” and “part of your world”?  that’s what i thought.

ten minutes later we rolled into the don pedro’s parking lot.  bank had mentioned this place was quite casual, just one dollar sign, something that was right up jon’s alley.  don pedro’s is no-nonsense, so much so that you might not look twice when passing by.  bank and liz had raved about it, though, which was enough to invite us along.

the don pedro’s menu is very straightforward, as in it is a picture menu, with the dish title as the only indication as to what each may be.  we were all packed in close as the line, and our appetites, grew.  although the whole fish looked interesting, i made a simple choice with the burrito plate.  the staff helped out all fourteen of us and extra tables and chairs were scooted around so that we could all sit together.  our large group took up, i’d say, about a third of the dining space.  we are quite a sight when we are all out and about!

order numbers were soon called out over the intercom, and plates loaded with rice and salsa and tortillas quickly covered the tabletops.  just looking at the sheer amount of food in front of us made me full.  i dug into my meal and between bites, the margaritas from earlier in the evening kept conversation exciting.  i was on quite a roll that night, just ask alison and kari, for they were lucky enough to sit at my end of the table.  my steak burrito was fine, as were the refried beans and rice.  i would say the company of the folks around me, though, is what really made the evening special.

we finished our dinners, scraped our plates clean, and headed back to the apartment.  birthday cake for dessert was still in order!  kari and i were the last ones to return, and as we walked in the door, i saw everyone standing around bank.  i looked at him and asked with worry, “did they already sing ‘happy birthday?'” i was afraid i had missed it!

“no, but it’s okay.  i don’t want any singing.”  the last words were barely out of his mouth as i sang aloud to lead everyone in song with me.  bank simply turned to me with a look of embarrassment.  i returned with a wink and smirk, “you should know better than to tell me that after eight years of our friendship.”  although he said he hadn’t wanted us to sing, i think he was glad we did.

liz cut into the cake and passed slices around to us all.  she had baked a strawberry layer cake that was just divine, and the middle chocolate layer was delicious with the vanilla icing.  a sweet treat with sweet friends to end a great gathering.

oh, oprah

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mom, clark, and i rolled through the starbucks drive-thru recently to grab some refreshing treats before the braves game.  after placing our orders, i pulled forward to the window and was pleasantly greeted by the employee.  upon returning my card, she asked if we would like to try the oprah chai tea, a new creation made possible by the crafty hands at teavana.  never one to turn down a new experience, i cheerily replied, “why not!”  the employee recommended it over ice since the sun was out and warm that afternoon.  the chilled drink was sweet and spicy, just how i like my chai.  i highly recommend you give it a try in place of your usual double, skinny, sugar-free vanilla latte with whipped cream and nutmeg.

along with oprah-inspired chai, your cup will be hugged by an inspiring sleeve.  the sleeves are a part of oprah’s steep-your-soul movement, one that encourages us to pause and reflect during our day.  to no one’s surprise, i was hooked.  i’ve held onto the three sleeves we were given for nearly two weeks now because i like them so much.  here are the wise words that were shared with us:

“the only courage you ever need is the courage to live the life you want.”

“know what sparks the light in you.  then use that light to illuminate the world.”

“live from the heart of yourself.  seek to be whole, not perfect.”

whether it’s a stroll around the block or an actual mid-afternoon frappuccino break, take some time in your day to pause, reflect, and give thanks.  sometimes the days are so beautiful that our busy lives cause them to pass by.  inhale.  exhale.  smile.  repeat.

dear diary

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diary

i took some serious elbow grease to the condo this weekend, cleaning that thing from top to bottom and left to right.  in the midst of dusting my bedroom bookshelf, i stumbled across an old spiral journal and couldn’t help but smile.  my old diary!  one of many, i assure you.

it was a gift from my aunt tutti and cousin hannah, how many years ago i do not know.  wait, i take that back, i’m going to guess eleven years ago since the first entry is dated february 2003.  dang!  i’ve held onto this little guy for just a bit, yes?

i read the first few entries and took a deep walk down memory lane.  i literally wrote about everything in my day, from school to band practice to what my brothers were doing to what we were eating for dinner to what we watched on tv.  i cannot help but picture fourteen year old kelsey writing diligently in her diary each evening, recapping her day and reflecting on all the problems that freshmen high schoolers have.

it was fun to see my handwriting change throughout those years, from very precise to very girly to very cool and artsy.

the daily entries were interrupted every now and then by other thoughts and feelings and aspirations.  one page contained a list of “things to do before i die.”  well, i was quite ambitious then, wasn’t i?  it included the following:  roll a house (done), bungee jump, go abroad (next year – fingers crossed!), have the perfect kiss (ah, such a romantic), give blood, ride a train, and go to college.  the list goes on and on, but i’m not looking to embarrass myself too much today.

i apparently was also a quote fanatic then.  there are pages and pages of inspiration and wisdom here!  below are some of my favorites i had jotted down.

“the place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”  frederick buechner

“all our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”  walt disney

“always do right.  this will gratify some people and astonish the rest.”  mark twain

“the measure of a man’s character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.”  thomas babington macaulay

i’ve carried the journal around with me all week, and when i see it peeking out of my bag, i cannot help but smile.  it tickles me to read about my high school days and everything that came with them.  it makes me even happier knowing that i kind of get to keep a journal or diary here with you all.  as all my friend and boy and fashion problems come to mind, i’m sure you’ll get to read all about them.

this post is for the ladies

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well, now that i think about it, it might be for the fellas, too, considering the picture.  if any of you women are athletic or active in any way, you know the importance of well-fitted support.  especially my busty sisters out there.  after years of generally uncomfortable bras, i decided it was time to spend a little dough on something better.  you get what you pay for, right?

i figured what better place than victoria’s secret.  i popped in, wasted no time, and quickly waved down an associate to lend a hand.  she was quite helpful once i told her what i was searching for, and it was only a matter of minutes before i knew i had found the one.  the incredible by victoria’s secret sports bra is supportive, curve-hugging, and keeps everything in place, just where they should be.  i picked out two fun colors and have been wearing them during my workouts for the past couple of months without complaint.  if you’re looking for new athletic wear, ladies, your search ends here.

p.s.  at check-out i was given a sample of the bombshells in bloom fragrance.  it is sweet and delightful and i have ordered a whole bottle for myself.

p.p.s.  just to clarify, that picture is not of me, and although i may be envious of this model’s smoldering looks, i know she is jealous of the unbearably exciting life i am leading here in atlanta.  surely she is!

no limits just epiphanies

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park

today we all met up for brunch in the kirkwood neighborhood at a lovely little place called sun in my belly.  the food is filling and decadent, just ask any one of us if you like.  on the ride home, i rolled the window down and found myself in grand awe of how beautiful the day was.  the sun was out, the clouds were away, a slight breeze refreshed the air.  a picture perfect weekend afternoon in late march.

as kari wove us through the local backstreets on the way home, i felt a bang in my gut, something that traveled and tingled through my whole body.  how can it be that we are so lucky to be alive at a time such as this?  at a place in our lives when the bright blue sky is the only limit?  at a time where nearly anything is possible and it is all ours for the taking?  how lucky, i say!  my heart nearly leapt out that open window.  it wants adventures and experiences and stories to tell!  it wants more than a nine-to-five work week that holds me captive inside a six-by-six cube.

i sit here now, in the grass with an apple and water and notebook, wondering where these winds have been before they swept and swirled around me.  how far did they travel to arrive in this moment?  what places have they been?  who else in the world has had these same suspicions that there’s more to us, that we are capable of quite a lot?  who do we give permission to say what we can and cannot be, what we will and will not see?  i suspect it is our own self; we are the ones who put stoppers and starters around the lives we will live and the people we will become.

i will explore this world one day.  i’ll pack up with my one-way ticket to the unknown and discover myself.  until then, my days will be spent looking for new things, asking “why not?” rather than creating flimsy reasons in place of it all.  i can be whoever i want, create and uncover parts of myself i never knew were there.  i hope to never stop growing and learning and reaching for more.  everything i don’t do or see is mine to lose, and with so much out there,  it’d be quite a shame to miss out.

my name is kelsey, and i love coffee

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in high school and college, i had the fortunate experience of working in a coffee shop.  during high school it was at cambridge coffee in the lee branch shopping center of birmingham.  through my junior and senior years of college it was in the student learning center’s jittery joe’s.  i wouldn’t trade those shifts for the world, they were such a blast.  some of my best memories are when i played barista.  there’s a special camaraderie forged among you and your coworkers and the customers, and whenever i find myself at a coffee shop, i often reminisce about those days that seem so long ago and so far away.

at a coffee shop, you have several kinds of customers.  the people who like the smell of coffee but not the taste, so they order hot chocolates or mochas without espresso (hint hint, they’re the same thing); the people who only drink black coffee because they are “coffee purists;” the people who order fat-free, sugar-free lattes but absolutely want the whipped cream on top (they might be my favorite); the people who pronounce it “expresso” (there is no ‘x’ in the word!); the people who think a starbucks macchiato is a real macchiato (i promise you that it is not); the people who order large coffees five times throughout the same day (what do you DO?); the people who have been waiting in line for ten minutes but still do not know what to order when they arrive at the counter; the people who, after you announce a drink, repeat it right back as a question, as if you might be wrong; the people who order soy cappuccinos (i just, i can’t).

yes!  it’s true!  these people actually exist.  and in all honesty, the only reason i get a kick out of some folks is because i have the knowledge and expertise of what it is like to work behind that machine and counter, cranking out lattes and frozen, blended drinks for hours on end.  i hold nothing against coffee drinkers who don’t know what i know; i just like to smile to myself when they come by the counter.

regardless of what customers are ordering or who they might be, working in a coffee shop is an absolute pleasure, and if i could make a decent five-figure salary as a full-time barista, i’d be signing up tomorrow.  there is something special about seeing your regulars and calling them by name, catching up on their whereabouts and recent life events.  you have this strange, exclusive connection with the customers that they might not even share with the people closest to them.  believe me, if you will listen, people will talk.  but, considering that i am quite the people person, i have no qualms about it whatsoever.

someday i hope to start my own coffee shop or bakery or combination of the two.  i love coffee but would not call myself an expert; i’ll let someone else in the business handle that.  i want to be head baker at this establishment, deciding that morning just exactly what we are in the mood to make that day.  i want to be up in front with the patrons, sharing a friendly smile as they start their day or wind down their evening.  it’ll be an eclectic place, local art on the walls, a community bookshelf for the readers, funky tables and chairs that, although they do not sit quite level, are incredibly comfortable.

the staff will be warm and friendly, happy to have you in our shop and not irritated that you just had to stop by before that 10:00 a.m. meeting.  you’ll be able to bring your friends for a catch-up date but also spend alone time here as you read or write or people-watch.

is this a place you would come?  does it sound nice and inviting?  i hope so, because i keep my fingers crossed each time i stop for a cup that i’ll get to create that kind of space for my family and friends.

oh, ooh whoa, the sweetest thing

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i, like most folks, had a bit of a time adjusting to the lesser hours of sleep with the arrival of daylight savings time.  my monday this week wasn’t too horrendous, but that sluggish feeling was quite thick throughout the office.

i had eaten my lunch that afternoon and found my way back to my desk, ready to tackle the rest of my day.  my co-workers philip and amy returned soon thereafter and presented me with the sweetest token:  a thin mint cupcake from gigi’s!  it was the kindest and most thoughtful gesture.  they were being kind simply because they wanted to be.  perhaps that is something we could all strive to do a little more often.

gigis