Walking with the Dogs

Yesterday, I went all the way to Wilmington to walk about 1 mile in the park.

Pretty nuts--I should of brought my dogs too because it seemed like every person/maybe every other person had a dog.

I was walking in Wilmington for a Walk-a-thon for those who can't walk or need help walking with service dogs.

I saw the biggest dog I've ever seen, a bull mastiff (the Sandlot dog) take on a black lab--obvious winner there. I was walking behind a team of Boston terrier rescuers at one time--probably about 20 carbon-copies of those dogs surrounded me. The other half of the time was spent talking to a little old lady from Wilmington about dogs (my basenjis, her dogs) and the smell of dog waste in the air from the overwhelming numbers of them in the park.

We were fed free food from Papa Johns and McCalisters Subs. They were even handing out free doggy poop bags all along the trail...

Free t-shirts too! Large T-shirts and Extra Large T-shirts. This I do not understand. Every free event I ever go to--oversized t-shirts. The majority of the population wears small or medium, right? Do they think that there will be much advertising success in nightgown-wear? How about on Salvation Army racks? If people could actually wear these shirts in public, they might be able to sell a product or sell an event for the future--just a thought.

Terrible pictures this time, sorry! It took me awhile to figure out that the camera was on video setting, in which, I was merely snapshooting--so no video really either.

Here's what I got:

Notice the nightgown the girl is wearing...


Next Week:
Easter Week: I'm taking off.

Next Event:

1. The Newport Pig Cookin':The annual Newport Pig Cookin'Contest is a tradition in eastern NC. Try the "best of the best" eastern NC style barbecue in Newport Community Park. Rides, food, pretty much a festival again, but some really good bbq.

That's all that's listed that I'm available for. The following week looks to have a lot though--I'll post that as a poll to vote on later this week--after a little more research.

Mountain Time--Boone, NC

I'm a week behind--shame on me!

Last weekend I went camping in Boone with 11 people--some I knew, some, not so much.

Perfect weather, perfect mountains and scenery, and good company.


The campfire chats were interesting, although, half of it was a foreign language--so many movie quotes. I'm learning that my social/conversation skills are quite inadequate in the group setting--perhaps on the level of cavewoman. I go off into fly-on-the-wall mode, the observer mode; when the conversation is over is when I realize I haven't said a word. I get so caught up in what people are saying...

Besides all that nonsense, we hiked all of Saturday along the river and trails, skipping and jumping from rock to rock. We lost the trail several times--hanging on trees due to the steepness of the mountains.





The hiking was tiring and re-freshing all together--I felt like I was related to Dora the explorer, minus the hispanic part.

There's something about nature that puts me in the contemplative mind, gets me reflecting on my life and the greatness of where we are and the possibilities God holds for us. The hiking did that for me.



The very dorkish thought did come to mind on the hike...

The Fellowship of the Ring. A team of people jumping boulders and rocks along the river... We were practically replicating it.

Yeah, I romanticize everything.

I could probably add that we were crossing lots of fallen trees over the raging river, just like the Goonies--Slick Shoes!

Great weekend and great car ride conversations and singing!

Irish Jig Fesitival

There was a slight win towards the Belly Dancing in last week's poll, but due to my Raleigh friends inability to attend with me, I decided to go to the local 19th annual St. Patrick's day Festival instead. 

It was a close race, so I didn't feel too guilty.

During the week, someone requested that I perform an irish step every 30 minutes that I was there, for 30 seconds.

 


I found it strange that at an Irish Festival, there wasn't any irish music, or food for that matter. I was stepping to Raggae and country music and there was Polish and Italian food being sold in the booths. Odd? Yes!

I think my dancing would have been better with the irish music, but regardless, maybe I should just stick to the singing...

It was an overall fun day, but only because I had called up a new friend, Elisha, from EI to meet up with her there--ends up she had a whole group of people there too (many I had met before). It would have been terrible without the company--it was just food vendors, a few rides, and a beer tent. Afterwards, we went over to Elisha's house and conversed for hours on politics, religion, sports, and personal lives.

Next Event:
Camping in Boone with 20 or more Morehead people! Im roughing it without a tent in March...

Following event:
Your choice still: Look to the Poll on the Right.

Easter week:
I'm not planning anything because it is Easter, but I may blog on whatever springs up.

Ultimate Beach Frisbee

Discover Morehead City doesn't merely mean discover a place--for me, it means rediscovering it's people and culture.  It's so much more than the physical realm. 

So, when people get in the way of my "events", I embrace and follow along like a little new puppy. 

To the point now:  I have missed my event again. 

My own made-up event at that. What happened to my own accountability?

Well, I suppose that on Saturday I was semi-disappointed that no one wanted to go collect cans with me door-to-door (which is becoming a pattern btw).  Because of the lack of sufficient camaraderie, I got in the mindset that I could slack on the start time.  The time comes around, and I tell my mom my genius plan of pushing the wheelbarrow down the streets of Morehead, collecting cans in them.  She proceeded to demolish my dreams (which happens to be commonplace due to my everyday silly ideas). 

"It's too rusty" "That thing is an eyesore"
"You'll look ridiculous"  (Mom, I already look ridiculous)
"You're going door-to-door with a wheelbarrow?" (Yes, maybe?....)

Well, what did you do with my radio flyer little red wagon, mom?  It's not here anymore.

I suggest that I go buy one and ask her for a cost estimation. Her cost estimation: $40-60.  Mom decides she'll go halfsies with me because my niece will surely visit again.  Alright!

Not alright :(
I go to Walmart and search the toy section and garden section = none
I go to Lowe's and ask someone right off the get go = they only have garden wagons
I go to K-Mart after the lead from Lowe's guy = no wagon again

I go on to Facebook and ask "why are there no more radio flyers anywhere?" and get a lead to hardware stores = percieved success. 

I call William's Harware and they have one....except I find out when I get down there, that it practically could fit on someone's desk.  My foot could fit in it...

Then I call three more hardware stores; two had them.

Mom's quotes = completely not even close.  One = $90  Two = $169

That's a no go on reliving my little red wagon days.

Suffice to say, I'm not telling my mom my ideas anymore--she seems to bewitch me into doing the logical.  I love you, mom!

I spent so much time on searching for a wagon, that the afternoon went by.  I decided to postpone my trip around the neighborhood for the next day after church and some beach frisbee--with my wheelbarrow too (I don't care how ridiculous I look this time).

When I knew the Event wasn't happening:

After church I was planning on hanging out (ultimate beach frisbee) with some new friends I'm making, but I did not realize that that meant literally the whole afternoon. 

We started at 1 and went until 4---three hours of running, and some walking, on the beautiful, windy, beach.  Seven v. Seven.  My knees are old and tired--thanks to all those years of soccer.  Surprisingly, I was not that much out of breath with two years of inconsistant work-outs.  Touche, respiratory and circulatory systems!

Now until May, I will be taunted by the desire for summer all because of today's outing....

Well, I am still going to attempt the can collecting during the week if I can squeeze it in with my work schedule and a test I have. 

Next Event:
It's still in the air! Vote is continuing now between Belly Dancing and St. Patty's Day festival.

Following event:
Camping in Boone, NC area with 20 or more Morehead people. 

Next Vote:
1. Drum Circle: Brad Fischer will hold a Drum Circle on Friday, April 2nd from 6 – 7 pm. Bring your favorite percussion instrument or borrow one of ours. All ages welcome. Cost: free.

2. I cannot believe I have the guts to list this, but here it goes! I'm foreseeing fainting spells just thinking about it. I've never attempted anything even in the same category of acting.
Auditions - 2010 Season

Saturday, Mar 27 9:00a to 5:00p
at Opera House Theatre Company - Lucille Shuffler Center, Wilmington, NC
for the productions of "Five Guys Named Moe," "Fiddler on the Roof," "The Music Man," "Anything Goes," and "The Secret Garden."  Children 13 and younger will be from 9 to 11 a.m.; Adults and teens over 13 will begin at 11 a.m. For auditions, bring a prepared song and sheet music (an accompanist will be provided).

3. Walk for Those Who Can't
4th Annual Walk for Those Who Can't. Two of the cast members from the Lifetime TV series, "Army Wives" will team as our Master of Ceremonies for Carolina Canines; Sally Pressman (My Best Friend’s Girl) who plays the sexy and sassy ‘Roxy LeBlanc’ and Rhoda Griffis ("Walk The Line, Run Away Jury") who plays Lenore Baker, that catty character we love to hate …... So come out and meet the stars, come early and get a signed T-shirt and bring your dog….It’s a walk for those who can’t.