Ready for a Road Trip

If you have known me very long at all, you probably know that I love to travel. I especially like to take a road trip. There's nothing better than loading up the car and hitting the open road to Destination Unknown. No agendas. No appointments. No commitments. Just enjoying the scenery and discovering new places.

Some of my road trips have ended up in major cities -- Minneapolis and Albuquerque, for example. Others took me to small burgs that provided a beautiful backdrop for a few days of quiet reading and thinking. Most of the time, summer vacation is when I'm able to hop in the car and find my way to an open road.

This summer has not been the normal summer vacation for me. Don't get me wrong -- it has been wonderful! I have thoroughly enjoyed being with my family and enjoying the love, laughter, and food with them. But it has been a stressful summer as well. I came home to uncertainty due to health complications Mom was experiencing. There were seasons of conflict. We prepared to say goodbye to family members who are moving farther away from home. There were the numerous doctors appointments that naturally come with caring for the Geriatric Ward as well as cataract surgery and the recovery period that followed. My summer included my own injuries, too.  At the beginning of the summer, my concern was related to my hand. Much of my time in Arkansas was devoted to resting and recovering from that frightening injury. Now, as my vacation comes to a close, I'm dealing with a sprained ankle -- actually the second in as many weeks -- that simply does not want to heal and has definitely put a damper on my normal level of activity. Summer has been a good break on one hand, but I am definitely ready for things to return to normal. In the process of all this activity, I haven't had an opportunity for a road trip.

So I'm just keeping my eyes peeled for the first long weekend to come along in the Fall semester. That's when I'll hit the road and spend a few quiet days alone. I'm not sure where I will head or what I will discover.....but that is part of the fun of the road trip. And I honestly can't wait!UIKEYINPUTUPARROW

Lost and Found

Lots of things have been getting lost around here lately. We lost Internet access for a couple of days...I had forgotten how frustrating rural Arkansas can be sometimes! (That explains why I haven't been very "present" in cyberspace this week.) I lost my breath during a severe allergy attack. I have lost my patience with circumstances this week and feel as though I have lost am losing my sanity. The frightening thing is that the inspiration for this post happened before any of this week's events hit. Here's a story from last week's whirlwind of a road trip.


On Friday afternoon, I was whipping through eastern Oklahoma on my way back to Arkansas. I had stopped for lunch a few hours before and then fought traffic through OKC during rush hour. From all of my travels, I avoid stopping in metropolitan areas for "pit stops" and seek out rest areas and travel stops along the interstate instead. On this particular patch of I-40, I was facing the demands of my bladder and needed to make an exit quickly. I noticed signs for a series of fast food restaurants, so I decided this would be a good place to stop.


How wrong was I?!? I guess I misread the signs and managed to exit onto a toll road instead. If you've not experienced Oklahoma toll roads, let's just say they are unforgiving. Once I entered the toll road, there was no opportunity to get off until after the first toll booth -- some 45 miles south of the interstate. By this point, I'm sweating bullets because the rental car doesn't have a navigation system and my bladder is about to explode! I exit and plan to re-enter the toll road and head back to I-40. Foiled again! The entrance ramp to the toll road is under construction and a "back road" detour is the only available option. This is definitely not what I had in mind.


Nearly an hour later I have finally wound my way through the twists and turns of Oklahoma Highway 9 only to get lost in a small town. (Why didn't I use my phone at this point for directions? My phone had no reception in this area and couldn't access the GPS!) However, in this little town I DO manage to find a restroom. Now that my mind isn't swimming any more, I'm able to think a little more clearly and make some choices -- lucky guesses, maybe -- and finally arrive back at I-40. Only problem....I've somehow managed to enter the interstate a few miles BEFORE arriving at the toll road exit I had originally taken. (I truly have no idea how I managed to do this. I suppose it is a special kind of talent that I have.)


Doesn't that sound just like our lives sometimes? We are on a path that we are very familiar with and we're confident that we know where we are headed. Then an unexpected detour pops up and we find ourselves in unknown territory. We start to panic and find that what had been certain and dependable is no longer available to us in the moment. Rather than stressing out and assuming that the worst is going to happen, how much better would the trip be if we paused long enough to look at the situation to see the opportunities around us in the detour. When I finally paused on my road trip and stopped freaking out, I discovered a gorgeous part of Oklahoma that I had never seen before. My unexpected detour -- my moments of being lost -- turned out to be a favorite part of my trip because I found something new. I hope that in the days ahead, as I begin to feel "lost" in my life that I'll take the time to see what I might "find" in the unexpected.

Impressions of West Texas

Last week, I made my way to Plainview, Texas for a job interview. Plainview is a small town in the Texas panhandle, between Amarillo and Lubbock. Although I have driven through the area before, I haven't spent much time there. I don't necessarily know what I expected to find when I visited, but here were my first impressions of the region.

• The sun is always shining! Apparently after I left, a major storm rolled through the area. While I was in town though, I was struck by how late the sun set. From what I understand, this area is on the western border of the Central Time Zone. That means that the sky was still bright as dusk approached around 8:30pm! I quickly appreciated the importance of black-out drapes in my hotel room.
• Things are very flat in Texas. I don't think there was a single hill in sight. It wasn't a desert either.....although everyone I met commented on how lucky I was to come after the rains had made things look so green. In a lot of ways, the topography reminded me of home.
• History is important to the community. I thought it was charming to observe how the old town co-existed next to the modern. The historic downtown was actively being developed. It was nice to see businesses succeeding in this part of town.
• Texans are really friendly and welcoming. I've spent lots of time in the Houston area throughout my life, but I was really impressed with the general spirit of the people I encountered in Plainview. People were warm and it seemed as though an attitude of "live and let live" was practiced by the majority of the citizens.
• City and country can co-exist. Plainview is not a bustling metropolis by any means. It's not just a spot-on-the-map either. The city had a nice, relaxed feel that you would find in small town America while still offering some of the conveniences of the city. And to make life even better, it's comforting to know that both Lubbock (population 239,000) and Amarillo (population 196,000) are relatively short drives away.

It looks as though I'll have some exploring to do as I begin the next chapter of my life as a resident of Plainview, Texas! There's a lot of work to be done in the next month preparing for my move, but I'm certain I'll have plenty of stories to tell as I continue Livin' Life.

Mini-Vacation to Little Rock

A few weeks ago, I was in desperate need of a vacation. My schedule was packed and I could only spare a few days away. I decided to visit the state capitol since I had never been to the city and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Ever since returning home, I have intended to share the highlights of my trip in a blog post; as things barreled forward, I'm just now finding a moment to sit down and put my thoughts together. When you find yourself with some time in Little Rock, here are some of the places I recommend.

The William J. Clinton Presidential Library - It is probably no surprise that I was not a huge fan of Arkansas' first son while he was in office (and I desperately hope that his wife is never elected to the nation's highest office), but I really enjoyed visiting the Presidential library. Not only was it interesting to reflect on events that occurred during his administration, I found it fascinating to have access to correspondence and early drafts of major speeches. I went to the library on the first afternoon of my visit and I probably wasn't in the best frame of mind for the visit, but I was impressed with the quality of the exhibit. I fully intend to return for a more thorough exploration when my mind is in a better place.

Arkansas Arts Center - This charming museum was one of the unexpected treasures on my trip through the state capitol. The facility is not enormous and I had very low expectations upon pulling into the drive. Thankfully, this is another example of the truth of the adage that "you can't judge a book by its cover." Upon entering the AAC, I was met by a knowledgeable staff and a wonderful collection of works. Among the treasures of the museum's collection are the watercolors and drawings of Paul Signac. I was unfamiliar with the work of this French master, but quickly found myself mesmerized. Portions of the collection are cycled through a small gallery devoted to the artist, allowing for uninterrupted viewing and easy comparison between the vivid colors and simple line drawings.

In contrast to the beauty of the Signac collection was the traveling exhibit 30 Americans. This exhibition that left the AAC earlier this week featured works by African-American artists. Some were beautiful; others were terrifying and thought-provoking. Perhaps the most striking work on display was "Duck, Duck, Noose" by Gary Simmons. This disturbing work features a circle of white hoods sitting on wooden stools. In the center of the circle is a course noose hanging from the rafters. Simmons' work clearly is meant to evoke memories of the Ku Klux Klan and the horror of living in the American South. As I thought about the title of the work, I began to understand that a question was being raised about the origins of racial hate. By using the reference of a childhood game, Simmons seems to suggest that discrimination and bigotry is learned by the individual. The image has been permanently seared on my mind and made a lasting impact upon me.

Arkansas Repertory Theater - Commonly known as The Rep, ART is housed in a charming building in the heart of historic downtown.  I treated myself to a production of August: Osage County and was extremely impressed. The sets were stupendous. The troupe featured actors from around the country whose bios read like a proverbial who's-who of the stage. The Rep plays in a very intimate house; I can't imagine a bad seat in this facility. Tickets were reasonably priced at $40 and the upcoming season appears to be full of exciting productions. For this theater lover, The Rep may just be the hidden gem of the Natural State.

Traveling Alone

I love to travel. It doesn't have to be extravagant at all. I just like to go somewhere and get to know the place a little better than I did before. Traveling with family is wonderful for strengthening bonds. Few things cause me to laugh quite like a trip with a small set of good friends. Despite the positive aspects of traveling with a group, I'm discovering that there are benefits to traveling alone.

• No itinerary is required. When I travel with family, it is certain that the responsibility of scheduling our activities will fall to me. Partially this is because I'm pretty good at it. The other reason is that no one else really wants to deal with the headache of trying to please everyone. While traveling alone, there is no agenda because spontaneity is the rule of the trip.
• I don't have to worry about upsetting someone. For some reason, whenever I travel with friends, someone gets upset. Somehow I didn't make my plans for the trip clear from the outset and now you're upset because you didn't listen. (Hmmm.....I'm specifically thinking about trips to NYC and Hawaii here.) When traveling alone, I get to be as selfish as I want -- without condemnation -- because the only person impacted by my plans (or lack of them) is me!
• The trip can be exactly what I need. Most recently, I returned to Pigeon Forge by myself. In one of my past visits, my main concern was fun. I was in the amusement park and acting like a kid. Another visit was simply a chance to hibernate. I spent the majority of my time in the hotel reading, watching television, and sleeping. This visit was all about relaxed exploration. I checked out shops I had avoided in the past, visited new restaurants, and took a long, winding drive through the mountains.
• Messiness is perfectly acceptable. Laundry covers the floor. My books, papers, and tablet are strewn about the hotel room. It looks as though my suitcase exploded. Here's the great news . . . it doesn't matter because no one will see it except me (and housekeeping)!

Eureka Springs Highlights

At the end of last week, I slipped away for a quick trip to Eureka Springs, Arkansas.  I first visited the city a few years ago and enjoyed the relaxed pace and friendly people.  This trip was much shorter but exactly what the doctor ordered.  Two things stood out that I want to tell you about in case you ever find yourself visiting Eureka Springs.

In a tourist town, food can be very expensive.  It can be hard to find a laid back restaurant that has
great food. After talking to a few locals, I found a great diner in Sparky's Roadhouse Cafe.  Conveniently located on the main thoroughfare, Sparky's is a bar and grill that features an amazing burger.  The meat is freshly ground and exceptionally moist. I had the Bistro Burger -- piled high with ham and brie. (The burger is also supposed to have mushrooms; not for this guy, though!)  All I can say is "Wow!"  With a huge side of fries and a soda, the meal was just over $10 and incredibly filling.  I'll definitely visit Sparky's on my next trip to Eureka Springs.



The absolute highlight of my trip was a session at Eureka Massage Center.  I only had one day in town, so I took a chance and emailed
Dominic Fabis to see if he might have an opening the next day.  Dominic's reply came quickly and was very helpful in providing directions.  The facility is a renovated home; the lower level has been transformed into a spacious studio.  After a brief consultation, I was treated to the best massage I have ever experienced.  The use of hot oils, aromatherapy, and deep tissue work relieved tension in muscles that I was not aware of!  Dominic was very sensitive to my comments about pressure while relying on his vast experience to identify the source of problems and address them thoroughly.  Surprisingly, this amazingly relaxing experience lasted for 90 minutes and cost only $65! I pay that regularly for 60 minutes with a much less talented practitioner in one of the spa chains.  If for no other reason than a massage, I'll certainly be planning a return trip to Eureka Springs later this summer!

On the Road Again

I spend a lot of time in my car. While I'm still waiting, hoping, and praying for a full-time position, I'm making the best of things and piecing together a career with a few part-time jobs. On most days, I drive 85 miles one way to work. The miles add up, but I'm finding that the benefits of all of my driving greatly outweigh the negative aspects.

My drive time forces me to stay organized. It's no longer an option to run home and pick up a file that I forgot. To get everything done, I have to keep my eyes on the big picture throughout the week and constantly plan ahead. That means I'm practicing when I'm near a piano, grading papers at the computer, and returning phone calls on the road. My time has become very valuable and not something I can afford to waste.

My commute also helps me maintain my daily routine. If I'm going to make it to my next appointment on time, I have to stay on schedule. This necessity demands that I effectively manage my time and that I work smarter. I only have certain hours at MSCC; while I'm there, I have to identify tasks that need immediate attention while avoiding distractions. When I have a short break at Union, I have to identify the passage of music that will most benefit from a few minutes of practice or acknowledge that my body needs a rest before moving to my next project.

What I love most about my drive time is that I get to spend time in a personal sanctuary on wheels. As the road passes under me, I have quiet time to spend with my thoughts, my prayers, and my God. It's a wonderful opportunity to meditate on Scriptures, work out lesson plans, sort through my thoughts, or just listen to the beautiful sound of silence. My time on the road allows me to change hats and prepare for the next task that is ahead.

Don't get me wrong…..there are days that I really don't want to drive another mile. Those days are few and far between because I know that this situation is only for a season. There will come a day (hopefully in the not-too-distant future!) when I will long for the break in my work day that commuting provides. Until that time arrives, I'll keep my seat belt fastened and my cruise control set as I enjoy my quiet times traveling along the roads of Tennessee.

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Currently I am reading Winter of the World by Ken Follett. One of the characters, Lloyd Williams, finds himself leaving the comfort of his Wales existence to join the volunteer army in Spain to fight against Fascism. Follett introduces his relocation with this beautiful paragraph:

It was amazing, Lloyd Williams thought, how quickly you could come to love a place. He had been in Spain for only ten months, but already his passion for the country was almost as strong as his attachment to Wales. He loved to see a rare flower blooming in the scorched landscape; he enjoyed sleeping in the afternoon; he liked the way there was wine to drink even when there was nothing to eat. He had experienced flavors he had never tasted before: olives, paprika, chorizo, and the fiery spirit they called orujo. (Follett, Winter of the World, 244)

I immediately identified with Lloyd's ability to passionately adore a new location despite only being there for a short time. So I began to reminisce about the places I have visited that hold the greatest piece of my heart.

At the top of my list has to be the greater Los Angeles area, specifically Malibu. I lived in the area off and on for 8 years while attending school and beginning to figure things out after graduation. Why does this place hold such attraction for me? Of course there is a connection with friends and beautiful memories. I also adore the weather! The fresh breeze coming off the ocean did wonders for my allergies as well. (Reducing the amount of sneezing that occurs in a single day is a priceless treasure when you can find it!) Los Angeles was also a place of exploration for me. I became aware of music, shopping, film, and theater in a way that had previously eluded me. LA will always be associated with growth, freedom, and excitement in my mind.

My two week visit to southern Germany forever changed my view of the world. This was my first trip across the ocean and I was amazed to learn the value of a relaxed approach to life. My visit was centered in the quaint Bavarian town of Marktoberdorf. Even though days were filled with music lessons and rehearsals, there was plenty of time to explore the town's treasures and interact with the German people. My weekends saw trips to Salzburg and Munich. Even though I saw a lot of wonderful things in each of these cities, I was still enthralled by the calm approach to life found in Europe. I fell in love with the geography and architecture. I desperately want to return to this part of the world and explore more countries while learning more about the people, their cultures, and myself.

I could go on down the list. NYC and Honolulu hold fond memories (some of which are associated with the cities while others are linked to a dear friend). Texas is becoming more interesting to me as I spend more time there with the freedom to hop in my car and go exploring. Then there are the cities of San Diego, San Francisco, and Portland....my only complaint is that I never seemed to have enough time in any of these places!

What places have you visited that grabbed your heart and imagination? Which are you most anxious to return to? Where have you dreamed of going that you haven't yet visited? I'd love to hear from you in the comment section below. Who knows....maybe we'll begin to make travel plans....

Remember When....

I love thinking about exciting experiences I have had throughout my life. It's fun to recall the good times I've had. So many of them are associated with friends and family and often resulted in some outlandish story that I never thought I would find myself in.

What I am horrible about is remembering WHEN things occurred. I was reminded of this fact earlier this week when I was having a conversation with a friend via text message. She and I have made two trips to New York City together. The first trip was with a couple of other friends who were attending a wedding in the area; the second was a crazy trip with just the two of us. We were trying to recall when we went. I was at a total loss!

I could tell you things that happened on each trip. The first trip's highlights included seeing Bernadette Peters in the revival of Gypsy (which places the trip in either 2003 or 2004) and the "nickel tour" of NYC while the guys were at the wedding. This was the trip I first saw Lady Liberty, the NYC Library, and Ground Zero.  The second trip was a welcome introduction to some places not necessarily on the beaten path. I experienced Hogs and Heifers in the Meat Packing District, did some shopping in Soho, and ate my way around the city. (The profiteroles at Balthazar Restaurant and the Symphony of Dessert from Fred's Madison Avenue inside Barney's are still wonderful memories.) Even though I didn't get to see a performance, walking along the fountain of Lincoln Center was a moment I'll never forget. I'm still waiting on a return trip to see a live performance in this important venue....all in due time, I'm sure.

All of this reminiscing has me itching to travel again! I know I just got home from vacation, but I'm ready for a slightly more cultural outing. When I have the time to travel, all of the major performance venues seem to be on break as well. I'm definitely looking forward to visiting Chicago at the end of the summer, but there may be a trip before that. I hear Santa Fe is beautiful at the moment....and the city's music festival is coming up in July and August. Hmmmm..........

A Tale of Two Servers

Whether I like it or not, my lifestyle at the moment demands that I eat most of my meals in restaurants. My waistline attests to the sad fact that most of them are eaten in the driver's seat of my car and are of the fast food variety. When I get the chance and have to eat on the road, I try to make a healthier choice in a dining establishment. I have discovered that there are good and bad servers everywhere....and I tend to get seated in their sections without fail. I never have a so-so experience with a waitperson. They are either incredibly talented or someone desperately in need of training!

Last week, I experienced both extremes during lunch services. In both cases, I was dining during non-peak hours (11am and 1:45pm) when the room was not terribly crowded. There were some similarities. In both settings, I brought along my iPad to do some light reading and was not pressed for time. The differences were in locations as well as the servers' gender and ethnicity. (I am not claiming that servers of a certain gender or race are better at their job; I simply stating the facts of these two isolated cases. The names of servers have been changed to protect the guilty as well as the innocent.)

First experience occurred in the Chili's on Vann Drive in Jackson, Tennessee.  I was seated in a booth and was promptly joined by Jeremy, a young Caucasian man, who would be helping me. Jeremy was very relaxed and full of energy. He actually plopped down in the seat across from me. Normally this would have irritated me, but Jeremy quickly began a friendly conversation and established a very relaxed environment. Once my order was taken and Jeremy left, I began to read to pass the time. A few minutes later, I look up to find that my drink has been delivered without any distraction. That rarely happens and readers (like me) really appreciate it! Jeremy walked by later while I was taking a break from reading, asked about my book, and assured me that my food would be out soon. This was turning out to be one of the highlights of my week.

Contrast that with my experience on Saturday morning at the Colton's in Marion, Arkansas. Kim, a female server of Korean decent greeted me and led me to her section. The menu was thrown at me and I was told she would be right back with my water. Having been to this establishment many times, I knew that water was not served unless requested. When she came back and I asked for a coke, Kim told me that I couldn't request another drink once I had been given water. Really? I keep my cool (surprisingly) and ask a passing server that I knew to please bring me a soft drink. I struggled for a few more minutes with Kim's thick accent, but we managed to get the food I wanted ordered. While I was reading, Kim came to the table and actually PLACED HER HANDS on my iPad, asking what version it was. She then proceeded to tell me how badly she wanted one and that since I could afford an iPad, she was sure I would leave a good tip. I abruptly ask her to check on my food and to bring the check when she delivers the plate since I won't be staying long.

I attempt to be a fair tipper, even to those servers who don't do such a good job. If you really are bad or you mishandle my party so badly without an apology, I'll lower my tip. On the other hand, if you do an exceptional job, I'm more likely to increase your tip. Both meals were around $12 and I used a $20 to pay for each. For one meal, I put down the bill and left the establishment very satisfied; in the other situation, I waited for the change, pocketed the coins and all of the bills except a single bill (of a very low denomination). I'll let you figure out which server got which tip.

Recovering...

It's been a busy few weeks for me. Lots of performing and grading. I was able to escape for a few days before coming home to face the responsibilities of Holy Week.  Now that Easter has come and gone, I'm getting to enjoy a little time of recuperation.

My recovery will have to be quick though, as I return to Union tomorrow to pick up rehearsals before traveling to Western Kentucky University this weekend to play at the regional NATS competition. After NATS is over, my focus returns to the classroom and finishing another semester of instruction with my students at the end of April.  May means I'll turn in grades early in the month before playing for voice boards (aka juries) at Union.  Once May 12 rolls around, I'll be done for a few weeks....and plan to take a little more time to devote to recovery.

Of course, my life doesn't just include the things I've mentioned here.  There's still another recital later this month, opera workshop, and lots of playing on departmental recitals in additional to my regular responsibilities at the church. I suppose I can't forget about family commitments either (although I would like to sometimes! Ha!) I'm not complaining. It's the life that I have chosen....and I really do enjoy it.....most of the time! When the calendar starts to get full and things begin to conflict with each other (which seems to be happening more and more this semester), I find myself stressed out and looking for any moment of rest I can find. So I'm gonna head back to my mindless activities for the rest of the day, try to rest a bit more, and look forward to another departure (hopefully more extended) on May 13.

Family Vacation 2012

Last week, my parents and I went on our annual summer vacation. For the past few years we have opted to visit cities we have never been to rather than continuing our tradition of visiting family. (We still plan to visit our beloved family, just not as our major vacation for the summer!) This year's trip took us to Charleston, South Carolina with a short excursion to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

All of the mapping programs recommended a southern drive to Charleston through Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.  Since we had taken that route a few years ago on our way to Savannah and since the northern route only added about 45 minutes to the total drive, we decided to take I-40 to I-26. I was also eager to travel this path since I am much more familiar with the roads through Tennessee.

After a morning of church, we set out on our adventure with the plan to drive as far as we could before stopping for the night. In my mind, I hoped to make it to Pigeon Forge since I wanted to show Mom and Dad a bit of the city as well and measure their interest in visiting there in the future. Little did I know that they would love the area and plan to return before this vacation was over.

When we finally arrived in Charleston, I found it a very difficult city to navigate. All of the waterways and bridges made travel confusing and difficult to quickly correct. After a few days, I began to get a better sense of the lay of the land and wasn't quite as dependent on my GPS -- always a good feeling!

Everyone always asks me what we actually DO when we go to these new cities. The top priority is always the same: REST! We allow lots of time to lounge in the hotel, reading or catching up on sleep, but we also find the leisurely pace gives us a lot more energy to get out and explore. This year we visited lots of interesting places. Some of my personal favorites were the historic downtown houses and parks, Market Street, the South Carolina Aquarium, and Magnolia Plantation and Gardens.

This eagle was the first thing we saw upon entering the Aquarium. I loved being able to get this close to the animal and seeing things in such detail. While the facility was smaller than I expected on the whole, I was quite impressed with the quality of the exhibits and was pleasantly surprised to find that I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.

It wouldn't be appropriate to talk about our vacation without at least mentioning the food. Charleston has some amazing eateries and we sampled what we could! Our personal favorite was located directly on the harbor and was called California Dreaming. Specializing in steaks and fresh seafood, this restaurant combined amazing food with a beautiful view. During lunch, Dad even spotted a couple of dolphins playing in the waters of the Atlantic inlet while enjoying his Oyster Po-Boy sandwich. 

Pigeon Forge was an unexpected addition to the trip and a fun adventure for everyone. We took in two shows: The Smokey Mountain Opry and The Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Theater. I'm happy to report that I survived both shows and didn't slit my wrists while attending! I actually found both shows fairly entertaining, but I would only revisit the Opry by choice.

A trip to Pigeon Forge wouldn't be complete without visiting Dollywood. My parents wanted to check out the shows, so I planned the easiest way to see the most shows in the shortest amount of time. What I didn't think through was that the first show was all the way at the back of the park. By the time I got them both back there, I knew this was going to be a short day, but we didn't head back to the hotel for five hours! When I finally got them back, I went downstairs for a few minutes. Coming back in the room, I heard Dad napping in the bedroom and found Mom here:

I suppose this was when I feared that I had "broken Mom" and had to send emails to my siblings! (The rhythmic puffs that you hear are coming from the left side of Mom's mouth! I had never seen her sleep like this and was cracking up while making the video.) I have to admit I was a little relieved that they were so tired because I was exhausted too. It was after these power naps that they told me they were ready for a second round of shows that evening. Phew!

I don't think any trip through this area of the country would be complete without a visit to Smokey Mountain National Park. We spent our first morning on vacation driving through the area and taking lots of photos while looking at the beauty of God's creation. This is a trip I won't soon forget even though I'm already looking forward to beginning the planning for next year's outing.

Lazy Days Are Here Again

It feels as though I only post to this blog when I'm on vacation. I'm not sure if that's because I've convinced myself I have no time to write (which is true) or that I have nothing to say at the moment that will be interesting to a wide majority (which may also be true). As I found myself drawing closer and closer to Spring Break, I realized that I had waited too long to do my standard trip to Los Angeles since plane far was over $800! I also had to admit that while my southern California trips are wonderful, I often come home just as tired as when I left from trying to see as many friends as possible. This spring, I needed something different.

On Sunday afternoon, I headed to Biloxi, Mississippi after finishing my responsibilities at the church. Located on the Gulf Coast, Biloxi has proven to be a charming community with a constant breeze and the smell of the sea in the air. I'm finding myself at home! As soon as I arrived, I realized this trip would not be quite what I expected. My hotel sat directly across the street from the Beau Rivage Casino and Resort. In case you don't know, I have had many fond memories at casinos (in Las Vegas) with close friends over the years, but not for the reasons you would think. While I am fascinated by the gaming, I don't generally spend much time playing. What I love is people watching, taking in the shows, and eating the food.

After grabbing a quick bite to eat at the Hard Rock Cafe, I decided to call it a night and head back to the room. Monday morning got started much later than I expected; I slept for 11 hours! Needless to say, I was feeling GOOD on Monday. I don't guess I realized how little rest I had gotten recently. Since I was so rested, I decided not to make any major plans for the week's activities and just see where things led; I also knew that I wanted to have lots of comfort food around.

I began the day with the first of 2 buffets. Breakfast at the Hard Rock Casino left a little something to be desired, but the atmosphere and pastrys were EXCEPTIONAL! (You got it, as long as the desserts are good, I'll keep coming back for more and more and more!) After having purchased 2 soft drinks from the vending machines, I knew I needed to buy a 12-pack to get me through the next few days. While checking out, I asked the clerk what else there was to do in the area other than visiting casinos. She and the young mother behind me in line gave resounding praise to the Washington Avenue area of Ocean Springs. What a great tip!

Washington Avenue is a quaint section of the city that is filled with lots of vintage shops. I loved checking out the local artists, restaurants, and toy stores. I almost headed home with 2 dolls: a Scarlett and Rhett that each stood 18-24 inches tall. They were beautiful, would have made a great Christmas present, but I was frightened at the prospect of having enormous sticker shock.

While on Washington Avenue, I visited the WAMA (William Anderson Museum of Art) that I had see in several guide books from the area. William Anderson was a local artist in the 1960s who was a bit of a hermit and took his inspiration from the wildlife of the area. His work is highly geometric and has a native, almost tribal, quality to it. While I did not like much of his work displayed, the painting of the Koi and the Birds of Paradise were exquisite! As I found myself in early afternoon, I still wasn't hungry (especially after the breakfast buffet), so I decided to simply follow the road without any direction. This turned out to be the highlight of my day as I found my way to the beach.

This section of the Mississippi shore was near the marina and was marked with several piers jutting out into the muddy waters. The pier on the east side consisted of 2 watch areas housing wooden benches. The furthest watch porch was empty, so I quickly made my way out. As I sat there alone, I was able to empty my mind, do some quiet reading, revel in some memories and simply breathe. For some reason, I always forget what an important role the water has played in my life over the years. Even though I can't swim and don't find myself playing in the water, it always provides a respite from the storm....a place where I can simply "be" while the world continues around me.

After sitting on the pier for an hour or so, I noticed that I was tired again and headed back to the hotel to rest. Following an afternoon of napping, reading, and watching television, I headed across the street to the Beau Rivage Casino for dinner at the buffet. AMAZING! That's all I can say about it! The only way it could have been better was if I could have followed the entrees at Beau Rivage with the desserts from the Hard Rock.

Today's plans are questionable. It's a beautiful day, but extremely windy. With winds gusting up to 45 mph, driving, sitting, and walking can be treacherous. I'm planning to finish reading The Hunger Games today and trying to visit the Center for Marine Education in Gulf Shores. Beyond that.....I have no idea. We'll just see what the day ahead holds. I'm certain of this one thing though: above all else, this will be another day full of rest and relaxation.

A Summer Escape

Last Wednesday saw the ending of two major commitments in my life.  Late Wednesday morning, I turned in grades for my summer class and then headed straight to the church where I taught the final installment of the intergenerational Bible study I have led for the past twelve weeks.  Since the bulk of the responsibility had been lifted from my shoulders for a while, I decided to take a few days and get away for rest, relaxation, and repair.  When I climbed in the car on Thursday morning, I wasn’t certain where I would head; finally I decided to visit Hot Springs, Arkansas.  After driving for a few hours and sitting in some long traffic tie ups, I finally arrived in Hot Springs and immediately thought “What was I thinking?”  The place looked run down and completely uninteresting.  I had heard much about the historic downtown area, so I decided to venture on before bolting for another destination.  As I rolled into the historic district, my mood and attitude shifted and I spent two days checking out the sights, sounds, and tastes of Hot Springs.

The weather was extremely hot and humid as I rolled into town and there was no hope for relief.  That meant that my normal mode of exploring the city and its activities on foot was out of the question.  These excursions are what tend to suck up the majority of my travel budget; since I knew I would spend a large amount of time at my hotel, I decided to splurge for a room at the Arlington Hotel and Spa.  The Arlington was conveniently located at the edge of the historic district and was a beautiful building from a time gone by.  I especially enjoyed the relaxing mineral bath available in my suite; not only were the warm waters from the mountain springs refreshing, the 6-foot tub was a welcome addition. 

Despite the heat, I couldn’t just sit in my room on Thursday afternoon, so I opted to take a leisurely (and sweaty) stroll along the historic avenue.  Known for its numerous antique shops, I found them to contain more trash than treasure.  What I did enjoy the most, however, were the numerous art shops featuring the works of local artists.  One piece in particular caught my eye – an exquisite blue tile butterfly with copper wire detail.  I nearly walked out of the shop with the piece because the price was right and I like to pick up some sort of decoration to remember my trip.  That’s a neat type of “scrapbooking” that was suggested by a friend while visiting Hawaii last spring.  I talked myself out of the butterfly since many of my pieces are piled in corners because I don’t have a place to display my treasures in my parents’ house.  (As luck would have it, I discovered that my folks had spent the weekend FINALLY clearing my Dad’s stuff out of my bedroom and freed up the walls.  Now I have a place to put all of my decorations – which sadly does not include the blue butterfly!  Oh well….no time for regrets…..)

On Friday morning, I decided to visit the Museum of Contemporary Art since I had been so impressed by the art shops the previous afternoon.  I should have known I was in trouble when I walked in and the curator explained that “contemporary” referred to living artists rather than any type of artistic movement.  Despite my instincts, I decided that the $5 admission fee combined with the excessive heat were reason enough to at least give it a try.  What I discovered there was sorely disappointing.  With the exception of two pieces – a sculpture and a photograph – everything was either kitschy or a bad recreation of a famous work.  As a performing artist, it was frustrating to realize that Hot Springs is a tourist destination and that the MOCA would be a representation of the Arkansas art scene for people from around the nation.

After viewing the “art” in the MOCA, I decided to take a short hike through the National Park area back to the hotel so I could observe some of God’s natural art.  The hike was challenging without being overly strenuous.  I think I would have really enjoyed walking the paths through the wooded areas if the heat had not been so oppressive.  If I ever venture back to Hot Springs, I will definitely make it a point to make time to explore these in greater detail in the morning.

No vacation would be complete for me without exploring some of the food the city offers.  On my window-shopping trip on Thursday afternoon, I noticed several interesting restaurants along the street and decided to check one out on Thursday evening:  Belle Arti.  I was disappointed.  The staff was more interested in their group conversation than serving the handful of patrons present and the food was mediocre.  While this was a let-down, I did find some really good food in the city from some unexpected places.  Those who know me best know that I have an insatiable sweet tooth, so it comes as no surprise that I would find The Fudge Factory!  Upon walking in, I knew that this store could be trouble for me personally – over 30 different varieties of fudge in addition to other treats.  I showed some restraint and decided to have a piece of marble fudge; it combined vanilla, chocolate and peanut butter fudge into a single, Heavenly experience.  The serving was ample and reasonably priced.  I was tempted to return before leaving to sample another fudge and bring home some of the sugar-free treats for Dad, but decided against it in the end.

The Pancake Shop sits across the street from the Arlington and serves nothing but breakfast every morning until 11:30am.  As I prepared to leave the hotel, I asked several members of the staff for recommendations and everyone told me I needed to visit this place.  There was nothing extravagant about the décor and the menu was simple; the food, however, was quite good and explained why The Pancake Shop had been named best breakfast in Hot Springs for several years.  I ordered the small ham and eggs.  I was treated to an ENORMOUS slice of bone-in ham that covered my plate.  Eggs were carefully balanced on the side of the plate and served as a respectful accompaniment to the featured ham.  Served with toast, I was surprised to find that the real star of the meal was the apple-grape jelly and apple butter that was brought out.  AMAZING!!!

While my trip to Hot Springs was not one of my favorites, it was a great time of rest for me.  I had the good fortune to sit quietly in my room and read a biography of Gustav Mahler while I watched people from my 7^th floor window.  When it all comes down to it, I suppose that is the true merit of a successful vacation:  getting away from it all to do the things that bring you personal pleasure, relaxation, and enjoyment. 

On the Run

It's been a busy week!  Who am I kidding.....my life has been extremely busy for the past few months, but I don't want to dwell in the past.  Just got home from Texas a few hours ago.  My parents and I visiting family in Conroe, Texas was the "official" reason for the trip;  my second performance with the Collage ensemble was an excellent side benefit.

Collage is an ensemble spear-headed by Jere Douglas, an exceptional clarinetist in Houston.  Jere and I met last year during the inaugural performance in the series.  Since we enjoyed working together, we opted to present another recital this summer.....and that was just performed last night to rave reviews from our audience.  The program featured sonatas by Poulenc and Saint-Saens in addition to works by Schubert, Schumann, Vaughn Williams, Finzi, and Barber.  Discussions are already under way for another recital in the Houston area with repertoire by Barber and Beethoven.  (Could it be an all "B" night?  Who knows?)

Since I knew I would be in rehearsals with Jere daily while in the Houston area, I persuaded by parents to travel by plane this year instead of driving to our destination.  The roadtrip is roughly an 11-hour adventure that ends in total exhaustion.  My mother was the one I really had to convince since she has never been a fan of air travel.  As we drove home today from the airport, I asked if she would consider flying again.  You can't imagine how elated I was when I heard her reply of "YES!"  (As a side note, Mom had already begun investigating other locales serviced by Southwest Airlines.  The one that has her most excited?  VEGAS, BABY!)

Summer school starts in a week, so I need to finalize my syllabus this week.  However, I learned on Wednesday afternoon that I am needed in Oklahoma City for an audition on Monday morning.  I'll provide more details about this later -- right now, I want to keep things under wraps.  Sadly, there are no economical airfares that fit my schedule tomorrow, so I'll set out on Interstate 40 tomorrow afternoon immediately after the morning services at Abundant Grace Ministries in Collierville, Tennessee.  It's been several years since I've made a major road trip and I am surprisingly looking forward to the journey, yet dreading it all at the same time.  Oh well......at least I'll have some new stories from the road!

Roadtrip Anyone?

I love to travel.  Doesn't matter whether I'm going to the mountains or the beach, visiting friends or spending time alone.  Give me a few days off and I am making a run for it.  Give me half a chance and I'll find a way to make a trip happen.

I first discovered my passion for the open road during college.  Attending school in southern California gave me lots of opportunities to see new things.  It also meant that I would spend a few weeks every year driving cross-country to be home with my family.  These trips gave me confidence that I am self-sufficient and taught me that some of the greatest memories are not found at the final destination, but on the journey.

When do I travel?  I tend to make a trip whenever I begin to feel overwhelmed and that I can't take it anymore.  When I travel, though, I rarely am resting.  I am trying to fit in as much as I possibly can while I'm away.  I can rest at home;  I have to get away to play.

It's time for another trip.  It will not surprise many of you to hear that I am going to Los Angeles for a few days next month.  I'll be seeing friends from school and making new friends as well.  Most importantly, I'll be escaping the regular routine of my life.  The fall is such a busy season for me;  this annual trip is the way I survive.

I'm grabbing my map, suitcase, and sleeping bag and getting ready.  It may be a short trip and might be the only time I can get away for a while, but I'm going back to the place I left my heart...and I'm already counting down the days!