I have found myself this morning in a most curious gap in space and time; I have found myself standing before a rare realization: I have a blog! So easily I forget that I have this convenient media canvas to have my way with, whenever I want. Summer has begun with a flurry (A very hot & sunny flurry), and I'm busier than ever with music. 

It seems that I have woken up earlier than necessary on this cloudy Sunday morning. What better time to write than at 8:00am? I've found that sometimes my written expression improves by leaps and bounds whenever I'm slightly foggy from sleep. This morning, I am the human embodiment of foggy!

So, I went camping with my father and two strapping brother-in-laws for a night in Jones Gap this weekend. Jones Gap is a beautiful little nook in the Blue Ridge Mountain system. Whether or not "system" is the correct term in this situation, it is no matter to me. 

Here are the highlights of the expedition:

• Upon our arrival and set-up of camp, the heavens opened up and released two hours of rain. Luckily, we came prepared. The four of us sat beneath our blue 8x10 tarp, cooking dinner, playing guitar and singing, and talkin' smack. 
• After the rain subsided, I took a mini-hike with Justin (one of the two aforementioned strapping fellows) in search of the fabled "Jones Gap Falls". We never made it to the falls. Instead, we found a bridge. I insisted on stripping down to my undies and taking a dip. I am certain that if I stayed in the water for any amount of time longer than the .95 seconds that I was submerged, my heart would have failed me. I put a poncho on over my wet, freezing, nearly naked body, and we trudged back to camp along the winding mountain trail.
• We had intriguing theological discussion round the campfire before bed, whilst munching on Pop-Tarts and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.
• I awoke the next morning to discover my right eye swollen closed. It is still swollen, 24 hours later. I am convinced that a furry caterpillar had his way with me. 
• After packing up our campsite, it began to pour! However, the rain took a break after about an hour, giving us a perfect window of time to hike for a couple of hours. We made it to the falls, at long last, and spent some time hunting the river for creatures, to no avail.
• We ended our journey at Zaxby's.  I can't think of any better way to conclude an outdoor extravaganza.

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In other, not so interesting news, I turn twenty-one on Tuesday! What does this mean? Nothing especially different, besides the fact that I can now legally buy alcohol and legally consume it in bars with the rest of the trashy bar-going demographic in Nashville, TN (Nothing personal, to any honky-tonk bar goers that may be reading my blog......)

It seems that my stomach has woken up as well, and it longs to be appeased by Breakfast. So here is where I shall end my useless narrative. I'm going to make some peanut butter toast.

At long last, I am done. 

After a semester that I never thought would end, I am finally entering a summer that I never expected to arrive.

I drove from Nashville to Greenwood yesterday, early in the day.  Upon seeing my forest green automotive steed sputtering up our gravel driveway, my mother, giddy with delight and surprise, ran out to meet me as I exited my car. I only informed my father of my arrival, and successfully surprised the rest of my family, and a few friends too.

My twenty-first birthday is on May 19th. This will be the first time I've actually been at home for my birthday since my 18th. I guess that's good. 18 & 21 are important ones.

I'm gonna be changing things up pretty soon.

Ghent, West Virginia

I am sitting in the lobby belonging to the Appalachian Inn in Ghent, West Virginia. It is Spring Break '09 (My how the time flies!) and the Kopecky Family Band is on their first tour of the east. A small tour, but a tour nonetheless. Much to my delight, Joseph LeMay (Pictured far left) is traveling with us and opening up for us on all shows except our last, which is in Greenwood, SC. Davey Krohn is the one in the middle. He plays drums for the band. Our first show was last night, here, in Ghent. We were invited to perform for a youth retreat, and it has been loads of fun. 

I think we'll probably hang out here for a little while until leaving for Wilkesboro, North Carolina, to play at Joe Hutchinson's house (A fellow Belmont student).

Anyhow, I am tired of typing. I don't feel like I have much else to say. Maybe later?

Stealing Bases

It has been a thoroughly plaguing 24 hours for me. 

At this moment, I am sitting inside Bongo Java. Thank goodness, for if I were outside, I would be soaking wet. It is raining ponies and chickens outside, about as literally as literal can be. I'm sipping on a cup of coffee that has nearly hit empty, and I could seriously use 50 cents for a refill. 

Let me now explain my distaste for the Public Speaking class that I am enrolled in this semester. I have yet to give my first speech, but I can already feel the knots being tied in my stomach, and my tongue is starting to roll around foolishly, assuring a disturbingly clumsy oral delivery. I honestly am not as worried as I seem to be. I often find that it is more amusing to be cynical, if only to amuse myself. I'm not sure if anyone else picks up on the humor in being completely negative, but I nearly always do. Let it be known that I am loving life, and the speech class isn't so terrible. 

#2

She's Got One Magic Trick...

...One, and that's it.