FlashBack

Today my little (ok not so little) brother, graduated today. I went back to my high school and saw them walk across the football field, and see them all so excited. It just amazes me how much time has past since I was in their place. I can remember sitting in those chairs, listening to my class song being sung, listening to the speeches about what life held for us, and being so excited that I was finally leaving the life that I had lead.

This also led me to think about how much has changed since I gratuated two years ago. I have lived in a city by myself, I have made a completly new friend base, for goshs sake I lived in europe for five months. I have become so much more open minded, liberal, and so much more care free. Its just weird to see all the ways life can change so quickly.

This all makes me think back to high school, when things were simple, I had no worries and I just wanted to stay in my bubble forever, with my friends and my life.

I'm going to steal this from the graduation tonight becuase I like it so much.

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,

Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,

You never need to carry more than you can hold,

And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,

I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,

Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,

All the ones who love you, in the place you left,

I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,

And you help somebody every chance you get,

Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,

And you always give more than you take.

To remembering where we came from and excited about where we are going.

Congratulations Class of 2007

Fireflies

My favorite thing in the world is to drive down the country roads in the beginning of the summer, at night, and watch the fireflies in the fields. It is gorgeous. These pretty twinkling lights in the moonlight and smelling the honeysuckle. Its just something you can't get in a city.

If heaven was an hour,

It would be twilight

When the fireflies start their dancin on the lawn

Bummy Beach Day

Today was wonderful.

I woke up around 11, had some breakfast, read the newspaper, and then my friend called and we went to the beach.

We played football, tanned and such. Then went to taco bell and came home. Later we are going to another friends for a sleepover.

I love today.

A slew of ID's

So I thought I lost ID so I bought one last week when I was at LaSalle.

Yesterday I found the old ID that worked.

I also got a letter in the mail from my gramma, inclosed my original ID.

So now I have three. If only one of them would actually work to get me into Basil.

A Maryland Tradition

I am officially home. You want to know why? I had crabs tonight. Delicious Beautiful Maryland Blue Crabs. Steamed to perfection doused with Old Bay and served with melted butter and vinegar. It was one of the best meals I have had, in basically forever, since the last time I had crabs.

Now to explain the tradition of crabs in St. Marys County. First you have your choice of about 10000 seafood places in the area, however you must be careful when you would like to have your crab feast as many are closed Monday and Tuesday and sometimes even Wednesday. So you decide on your place, today it was Captain Leonard's. Personally my family's favorite. You walk in and if you are from the area you probably know the hostess, the waitress and the cook, which was no different for tonight. As you are seated at your table, you may ask where is the table cloth? This table isn't ready? Actually it is. Your table is covered with brown paper, with newspaper underneath. Bring your own crayons and such to color with. As a kid my mom always had pens and markers and such, which led to tick tac toe and the dot game.

Next to the food, you really don't need a menu. You know what you came for and you know how to order. "A dozen steamed crabs" That's it. Well maybe you get a beer or for the younger crowd sweet tea or lemonade. Or maybe a cup of creamed crab soup. But that's it. So as you wait for food, and your coloring on the table, you may look around to see the decor of the classy restaurant you are eating in. Behind you the waitress is cleaning the table, not busing, cleaning, literally taking everything off the table, including the cups, silverware, plates, everything including the table cloth right into a trash can. Love it, enjoy it. Surrounding you are southern accents, anchors and ropes adorning the walls, and pictures of boats and sailors. Again, Love it, enjoy it.

The crabs arrive. A heaping pile of crabs, now red from the heat, dowsed in old bay, also on the plate, a couple of wooden hammers, and some little knives. So you grab one and say to yourself, how the hell do you eat this? Well lucky I am here.

Liz's Handy Dandy Guide to Eating a Maryland Crab
-Flip the crab over - Place your fingernail into the little point and pull back - Then Put your finger in between the back and front and lift of the top shell - Then Break off the eyes and remaining legs - Following this, scoop out the mustard(guts) and the lungs - Then break the body in half, so you have to separate sides - Next take your knife and cut the sides in half- This will reveal luscious meat so good you think you have gone to heaven.

Now you have discovered the true goodness of the Maryland Blue Crab. The only way to know for sure you have throughly gotten your fill is if your lips are tingly and burning from the Old Bay. Wasn't that fun? Haha not as fun for you as it was for me tonight. Because you just had to read about it. My suggestion, everyone come to my house one weekend, and we will have a crab feast. Crabs, beer, games, and a bonfire. Sound good? Let me know. We can caravan.

I love St. Mary's County!

Mind Set

Apparently, my brain still thinks I am in Europe. I have been home for about a week and half now but I guess I am still not used to being on this side of the Atlantic.

Last night I had a crazy nightmare. I was on a bus in Italy, trying to go somewhere, and I got off the bus because it was a stop or something, but I was getting back on. So I left my purse, but when I got back, It was gone. So I start freaking out because my passport was in there and now I wouldn't be able to get back to Ireland or even to the United States. I then went running around speaking broken Italian trying to find my purse. I woke up in the middle of the night sweating because I had lost my passport.

Mamma Mia! I need to convince my head that my passport is no longer my most important possession.

Being Home

Its so funny how coming home can change your attitude on life. I don't mean coming home, like from Ireland to the United States. I mean coming home to SMC. It may be the most boring place in the world but it is home. I am like that I am finally starting to appreciate this as home. When I was driving down the street passing a horse and buggy, smelling the honey suckle and looking at all the fields I realized I was happy here. Its where I spent my childhood, its where some of my best friends are but more importantly its where I grew up.

I'm happy I did this all in such a rural place. Sure at times I wished I grew up in a city, but I think there are so many benefits to growing up in good ole st. marys. I was never scared in my neighborhood, we can go boating whenever we want, we get fresh corn once a week. There are so many benefits. I'm happy I can appreciate this now, because when I went to school I was very much in the "Screw hickville" mentality. I love the city I really do and obviously that's where I am moving after school, but its nice to be able to come back to this backwards place. even if it only is for two weeks.

It makes me sad that eventually all my friends will move away, my parents even plan to move after my sister graduates, and there's a chance I could never come here again. I hope when I get older I'll remember this and come back like once every ten years or something.

Home

Back home

Where the memories all have gathered up

And slowly turned to gold

And I carry them along with me wherever I may go

And I feel fine

So fine

In knowing that this road I'm wandering on

From time to time

It always leads me home

Back home

I also like that I can listen to country music :-D

Thinking

So I am back from Ireland, and thought I would try and continue to keep this up. If you want to read the Ireland blog, the link is in the previous post.

So I have been thinking alot lately, about home friends, guys, lasalle friends and life in general. And I've decided I am happy where I am. I wish I could spend more time with both friend groups but it's kinda impossible. There is no way to spend equal amount of time with both, as much as I try. It stinks I want everyone to be together all the time.

For guys, I finally had some one flat out tell me some thing I think I have known for a really long time, I don't want to be in a relationship. Not at least right now. So I have told myself Im not going to go looking for one, If one comes along and it happens to be great then I'll go for it, but I am not going to force anything. There is only one guy who I would want something serious with and well I don't know if that will ever happen, but we shall see. So for me thats going to be this summer/next semester. Not to go looking for anything, and just be happy as is.

Why look towards the future when you can enjoy today?