Expert Traveler

I love to travel anywhere, but man is it exhausting! This past weekend I flew to New York to visit my best friend Allison. She's been living in Brooklyn for a year and a half now. She has an adorable apartment, a great roommate, and tons of fun things to do all the time because, well... it's New York! Saturday I also got to see my pseudo big brother, Joel. He lives in Philly now, but took a bus up to NY for the day with his friend. We walked around the city, got coffee, spent some time in central park, and then met up with some of his friends for dinner. It was a short visit, but so wonderful to see him! I must make a trip to Philly soon, to see where he lives now. 

After Joel and his friend left, I was on my way to Union Square to meet up with Allison's roommate since she was at work. I had the funniest experience with an Italian man. I will give you a play by play.. you can't make this stuff up. (mind you this was all in an italian accent)

I was waiting for the light to change so I could cross the street, and I realized the person next to me said something to me but I didn't quite hear them, so I turned to see what they wanted.

As soon as I lock eyes with him, 

Italian man: Oh! Such a pretty face too! 

Me: nervous laughter, ummm thank you?

Italian man: Where are you from princess? I saw you standing there, and I thought she is the one for me! When you turned around, I knew that I loved you.

Me: Wow, haha, I'm from North Carolina.

Italian man: (the light has changed so he puts my arm in his and walks with me) Oh, you do not live here? 

Me: No, I'm visiting a friend.

Italian man: Oh! well, I give you my number, and next time you come, you stay with me!

Me: Well, I'm not really sure when I'll be back. I'm moving to California. 

Italian man: Luck is not with me tonight! I am so sorry princess. I will leave you be. I am so glad to have met you. (and he turns and walks away).

I had a good giggle about that all the way to Union Square. And no, he did not pick pocket me, which was my mother's assumption. 

After Allison got off work, her roommate and I went with her to a party in Brooklyn. Someone she worked with was having it, so she only knew one person, and we only knew her, but it was so fun! Everyone was really nice, and we all had a good time. It was also fun because we got to dress up! Everyone was wearing dresses and suits. Real  classy ;)

We ended up pulling an all-nighter because I had to be on a plane at 6:30am and there was no point trying to sleep. When we eventually got back to her apartment, I had just enough time to shower, pack up my stuff, and call a cab a 4am to take me to Laguardia to catch my flight. 

I flew to Charlotte, and met up with my Dad, then we both took a flight to New Orleans. The gate agents were super nice, and let my Dad and me have first class seats! I slept very well on that flight. We landed and one of my aunts picked us up and brought us to her house, where I took a quick nap and then got ready to attend the surprise 50th birthday party for my other aunt. 

There were tons of aunts, uncles and cousins of my Dad's that I've met probably at least 10 years ago, so I didn't know them but they knew me. I just kept hearing, "Oh! Is she one of Gary's?" and would say, "I sure am!" haha My aunt we had the party for was definitely surprised, and we had a great time celbrating. It was good to see my cousin Bryan and finally meet his girlfriend, and my grandparents. That night we spent some time with Grandma and Grandpa, and then Dad and I headed to bed since we took a 7am flight back to Charlotte this morning.

I worked this afternoon, and now I am beyond exhausted. This weekend was great though. I went all up and down the east coast, and got to see so many people I love!! I'm looking forward to next weekend though when the only place I have to go is a bridal shower.

In other news, I had my initial phone interview with the Cruise Recruiting company. It went very well and she invited to the final interview with Carnival in Toronto on Feb. 11th!! If that goes well, I will be working a 6 month contract with Carnival! I'm very excited, and I really hope I get the job. I will also get to see some friends from study abroad in Korea that live in Toronto that weekend. Can't wait.

And of course here are some pictures from my weekend adventures:

 Big Brother, Joel!

 Allison outside of her apt.

 My baby cousin Bryan

 Dad excited to surprise his sister

 Allison!

My beautiful Grandmother.

Happy Birthday Sister!

This past week went by pretty fast, I worked, read, and played guitar. This weekend my sister and brother-in-law were in town because my sister's birthday is on Monday. It's always fun having them here. We went to see some good friends and their clan of 6 kids on Friday. I love watching them as a family, there is so much love, understanding, and acceptance. I hope that if/when I have kids that I can be something like them. We played games on the wii, read books, played with toys, and were serenaded by a 6 year old holding a guitar. :)

Saturday my sister, her husband, and I all went to see Beauty and the Beast in 3D! All of these Disney movies from my childhood being in theatres again makes me seriously miss being a kid. I still laugh in all the same places I did as a kid, and Disney movies are still magical to me.

Alright 3D glasses!

Saturday evening was my sister's birthday dinner at Brixx. There were about 11 of us. Laughs and amazing pizza were had by all. After dinner we all went back to my parent's house and had coffee and key lime pie cupcakes that my mom made. They were heavenly! Everyone gave Lauren her gifts, I got her Disney wine glasses and I made this:

It's pictures of us from the last 6 or 7 years of significant life events like graduations, prom, her wedding, or fun trips we've taken together. I think she really liked it, and I really liked making it and remembering all of those fun things we did.

I love my sister so much. She is my only sibling and my older sibling, so even though I may have disliked her when we were younger, she has always been there for me. I am so happy that she is married to a wonderful man, works at a great job, and is the successful woman she is today. She is strong, smart, beautiful, and I definitely got lucky in the sister department. I know 26 will be one of the best years yet for her!

This Thursday I have a preliminary phone interview with the cruise recruiting company, and if that goes well I will have an interview in Toronto on February 11th. So this cruise thing might actually happen! Although I've found myself being a little torn between working on the cruise and moving to LA sooner. If I work on the cruise ship, I won't be able to move to LA until September, but I will save a whole lot of money. If I move to LA in May I might be out more money, but I will be in LA. I've kinda decided if I make it all the way through the interview process with the cruise and get hired, it's probably a sign that I should do it. LA will still be here when I get back, and I will be much more financially stable to make that move.  So, we shall see.  

This week, I might get my second job, and this weekend I'm going to NYC to see some people I love dearly. I'll be sure to pack warm!

Updates

Life is picking up.

Things are moving faster.

The kids I watch on Mondays are adorable. One is almost 2 and the other is 5 mos. so they are definitely a handful but I love watching them, they are so sweet. The kids that I pick up from school the other 4 days of the week are in 7th and 8th grade, they think I'm pretty cool. I drive them to and from their respective sports practices and other activities. It's a pretty chill job and they pay me very well. I'm also going to start watching a little boy I nannied for last year in the spring semester on Friday mornings. He is 3 and absolutely adores me. We have lots of fun together. :)

I have a job interview tomorrow at Barnes and Noble, so hopefully I will get it and then I will be making a decent amount of money most of which will be going into my savings account (or my LA account as I have been referring to it recently). I'm so thankful my parents are letting me live with them/eat their food right now while I figure out where I will be ending up next. Seriously makes saving money so much easier!

In other news, I got an iphone 4s last week, so I've been learning how everything works for it and thoroughly enjoying having an awesome piece of technology in my hands. I really wanted to get an iphone because if I am on a cruise for 6 mos. it will be easy to connect with people via skype since I will have it in my hand at any given time.

Tomorrow after my interview I am going to get head shots taken. I haven't had head shots done in a while, so it is definitely time to update them. I want to start auditioning for things when I move to LA so I'm getting all of my ducks in order right now. I'll be sure to put a few on here, assuming I like them. ;)


I've learned a few more songs on guitar, and I even made a video of one. If you'd like to watch it, click this here link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rneJBqBwkgY
I feel like I'm getting better with transitions and finger placement, but I have a long way to go before I would ever get up on a stage and play for people.

So I'm just trying to keep up with life as it keeps moving, and I'm working towards my goal of moving to LA.

I can't wait to live here!

Heather Lynn

This Thursday marks one year since a very influential person in my life was taken from this world. Heather, better known as H was my small group leader when I did my Discipleship Training School with YWAM in New York. I was 18 years old and had just graduated high school when I embarked upon this 6 month journey with 35 other people. I had no idea how much my life would change because of the experiences I had there.

I remember the first time I met Heather, I was sitting in the foyer playing UNO with some of the other students who moved in that day. She came running in screaming, "OH MY GOSH! THE STUDENTS ARE HERE!" If you knew Heather, you know that caps lock is must when quoting her. She was the loudest person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Throughout the 6 month school H became one of my favorite people. She just had this lust for life, and a way of making everyone she talked to feel like they were her best friend in the world.

I got to watch her minister to thousands of middle and high school students when we were on tour. She would be sitting at a lunch table with these kids making them laugh, and within minutes the crowd of students would double. Everyone wanted to be around her, because she was so full of life.

I remember when we were in Vegas, I got really sick. I went to the Doctor and they said I had tonsillitis, so they gave me some drugs to knock me out because we were about to drive to Orange County. I remember being miserable in the back of that bus for the drive. We finally got to the place we were staying and my fever was much worse. She set up my blow-up mattress in a room upstairs, and then she sat next to me and melted ice cubes on my feverish head and prayed for me (She also ate a few of the ice cubes). She never left my side until I fell asleep.

After our school ended, I didn't get to see H very much since she lived in NY and I was either in NC or FL. The last time I got to see her in person was at the YWAM reunion in fall 2008. I cherish that memory, because we sat by the elevator of the hotel everyone was staying at and talked for hours. We got to catch up and she went into small group leader mode and listened as I poured my heart out to her. She gave me some advice that night that has stuck with me forever.

I remember when I got the call that she had passed away. I stood stunned while her brother could barely speak on the other end of the phone.

 "Heather was in an accident," he said. "Lindsey... she, she died."

It was like the breathe had been knocked out of me.

 I was at a friends house and he looked my face and said, "Are you okay?"

"No, I'm not."

And then I cried into his shoulder for a while.

I flew to Ohio and then drove to Chicago with one of my best friends to attend her funeral. It was a beautiful celebration and remembrance of her life and her legacy. But, something changed in me that day. I still struggle with why God would take someone so beautiful and loving out of this world. Why Heather? I still don't have an answer to that question. And I may never have an answer.

What I do know is that Heather left a legacy behind her. I can't tell you the number of people her life has touched even after her death. You can see for yourself. Search for Heather San Parman on facebook, you'll see what I mean.

Heather lived and loved out loud for everyone to see. Her last facebook status said, "Don't pretend to love others, really love them." And that's exactly how she lived her life. When everyone was in Chicago for the funeral, her family had pulled out all of her journals and we were reading through them. I wrote this down from one of them. It inspires me daily.

"At the end of the day it's what you do and say that makes you who you are. Makes you think about it, doesn't it? Sometimes all it takes is one voice... Take what you want, steal my pride, build me up, or cut me down to size. Shut me out but I'll just scream. I'm only one voice in a million. You ain't taking that from me."

-h.

So I'm left with my memories of a beautiful life and a challenge to attempt to live and love the way she did. She will never be forgotten. I challenge you to do the same.

I'll leave you with some pictures and a song about Heather.

Here are the lyrics to the song that a mutual friend wrote about Heather:

                                                        A life like I've never known

                                                         A love like I've never seen

                                                         A spark to light up a room

                                                         A fire that caught onto me

 

 A friend who'll tell you the truth

When you don't know who to be

My God I don't understand

Why you had to leave

What is the measure of life

Is it time spent with family or friends

Or  what you've done

What is remembered of life

Is it all the things you said

Did you keep the faith or run the race

Well either way, you won

It's hard to go on living life the way it was

Without you here to cheer me on along the way

But I'll remember all the time we got to share

Try my best to smile through the tears

The loudest person I knew

Or had the pleasure to meet

A heart as big as the moon

A love song stuck on repeat.

you can listen to the song here if you'd like: http://soundcloud.com/seannypower/heathers-song


Miss you H. Thank you for loving the way you did.

A New Year, A New Me.

So it is officially 2012. It doesn't necessarily feel any different yet, but I have faith that great things are coming. The time between my graduation and now has been spent seeing family, eating unhealthy food, playing my guitar, going to Orlando to work at Disney, job searching, and moving out of my apartment. I got very lucky that I found a sub-leaser before January 1st, otherwise I would have had to pay rent for an apartment I don't live in. I found a girl at the last minute, so my Dad and I spent New Years Eve Day moving the rest of my stuff out of the apartment, and putting things in storage. I'm going to miss living there, I have a lot a great memories with wonderful friends in that apartment.

Here is an update on the cruise line situation:

I got an email from the recruiting company saying they would very much like to interview me for Entertainment (Activities) Staff on Carnival! :) She said she would be contacting me in about 3 weeks for the preliminary phone interview. I also found out that if make it through all of the interviews and I am offered a position, that the earliest I would be boarding a ship is March. Although this is later than I was hoping for, I'm still so excited for the possibility of working on a cruise ship!

In the meantime, I met with a family today and I am going to be driving their middle schoolers around 4 days a week. I'll be picking them up from school and driving them to basketball, volleyball, and swim practice. They are very sweet, and this is a great way to finally start bringing in some money. I've also applied to work at places like Petco and Harris Teeter for weekday mornings. I'll be able to start saving a good amount of money if I can also get a morning job, so fingers crossed!

I've made a list of resolutions for the coming year, and here they are:

1. Travel somewhere I have never been before. (this will be easy if I get the cruise job)
2. Get my sister tattoo with Lauren. (can't wait!)
3. Learn to play guitar. (already started)
4. Do something cardio at least 3 times a week. (this one will probably be the hardest)
5. Blog at least once a week. (I think I can, I think I can)
6. Move to LA. (DO IT!)
7. Learn how to make something instead of buying it. DIY (done! but I want to make more)

For number 7, I learned how to recycle t-shirts into cute woven headbands:

I even made bracelets.

They are super simple to make, and it was fun to do. I really like DIY stuff.

I may add some things to my resolutions list but for now, that is what I have, and I'm excited to do every single one of them!

I can't wait for the rest of my 2012 adventures!