Wednesday, December 31, 2008

From a Saint to a Cowboy to a Steeler

Well! Last weekend, Carrie flew me up to Pittsburgh for the weekend. I loved seeing her and had a great time. It is beautiful up there; that's the farthest north I've been in the U.S. I would love to go back.

Lots of airport drama, including having a cancelled connecting flight in Philadelphia, on my way home Sunday. Contrary to that TV show, it is NOT always sunny in Philadelphia, heh... it was grey and very windy... but I did get a free hotel room and a meal. Sweet. I spent the night Benadryled-up, watching HBO movies on a very large bed. I felt like crap and still feel like crap... or "toasted shit," as I told Carrie today. It's "Sinuses Gone Wild!!" hehe...

There were bridges and rivers all over the place.

I know, I probably totally looked the tourist, taking pictures of everything... it was just so nice and even REFRESHING, to see something besides flat Louisiana.

Carrie and I went out to West Deer Township where her grandmoher's house is. It kind of felt like an in-the-sticks place but it really wasn't far from civilization.

Saturday night, though, Carrie took me out in downtown Pittsburgh to Mount Washington. It was beautiful, and the most romantic evening I've ever had in my life. True dat.

At dinner, Carrie asked me to wear her grandmother's ring. I cried, and have not taken it off once since then. So wonderful... I have never been this much in love and it's exciting to know that she feels exactly the same way. Love is such a precious thing, and I do not take it lightly. My breath has been permanently taken away.

After that, we went to Moondog's in Blawnox, PA. Carrie worked as a bartender there, years ago, and again recently when she had to spend awhile up there. They have all kinds of great live music. That night, a guy called Guitar Zack was playing. He was INCREDIBLE. Here is Guitar Zack:

There are dog caricatures painted all around the place, representing musicians who've played there and also the regulars... it really has kind of a "Cheers" atmosphere. ("NORM!!") hehe

And that sag in the ceiling is a hole that Moondog himself just will not fix... but still the people come... it makes for conversation if nothing else.

Ooh, here's me! Damn if I don't just show up everywhere, like the traveling gnome... heh...

We might be gathering all the "kids" and going to stay up in Pittsburgh for awhile together while Carrie handles details with her grandmother's estate. I love my girl. Circumstances sometimes make curves in the road of life but, as long as you're walking it with someone you love, it's all good. I love my Carrie Lynn.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Could I maybe REALLY??

I am at CC's... pedaled here... call it being "green" or call it an attempt to justify what I knew I would consume once I got here... hehe..

To be honest, I have had a pretty sucky-feeling day today. Worked on a few projects, cleaned up a little in the house, took a nap... but mostly felt blah and uninspired. My sweet, sweet Carrie is in PA again... her grandmother passed this week and she was able to get up there in time to be with her for most of a day before she slipped away into surely a much better place. My poor sweet girl... her 2nd loss of such a huge, hit-home nature in one year... her father passed away this May. I miss her and wish I could be with her, but she knows I love her. I am taking care of all our "kids"... and thinking of her constantly.

Finally, mostly because Rocco would not stop squawking or screaming or whatever you want to call it, I decided I needed to get out of the house. So I came here, and decided I wanted to find something on the internet to inspire me or cheer me up.

I came to the realization a few weeks ago that I would love to earn a degree in Art Therapy! I mean, I really would love that. I feel a passion for this idea and that is a huge deal; as in, I didn't have a drop of passion for the BA in Social Work I earned as an undergrad. I just needed to declare a major, so I picked what 2 of my friends had picked. It was interesting and I liked most of what I studied, especially the psychology classes, but I never had a driving passion to BE a social worker. Maybe a mild desire... nothing more. I guess that's why I've never felt an overwhelming urge to trudge my little feet through the forest called grad school to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

But NOW!! Now, I finally feel like I know what I want to be when I grow up. Aye karumba, this is a great feeling. Carrie bought me a book on Art Therapy for my birthday and, this evening, I have researched where I can go to attain such a degree. Most of the schools... I'd say 80-90% of schools with an Art Therapy program... are in the north. There is one I found at the University of Florida... but I hate hot weather as much as Carrie hates cold weather... so maybe if I can go somewhere in-between...?? Seriously, most of the schools are in Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania... Pennsylvania, the cold and snowy place Carrie fled for the hot humidity of New Orleans.

We'll see. It's a bit of time between here and there; Carrie is going to start a program down here that she has the same passion for; she wants to be a forensic anthropologist. I love her and want her to reach this goal and dream in her life. There are courses I'm sure I can take in the meantime, down here (meaning Louisiana, or online, or who knows...); credits to apply to an Art Therapy program later on. We'll see. I read a scripture today that said "With God, NOTHING shall be impossible." And nothing... means NOTHING!! hehe So we'll see how this pans out in the scheme of things.

I am grateful for Carrie! Between us is a strong love and a strong sense that either of us would support the other 100% in what we want to achieve in life. That's a great thing to feel and to know.

I miss her and can't wait to hug her for a long time... it will be cold when she gets back here and I will hug her warm. :o)

God is very good to me. You know what else the Bible says? "'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you; to give you a future and a hope.'" THAT is AWESOME to know!

I am totally doing the Snoopy dance inside!! hehe...