An enormous thank you to all of our family and friends who came out to our Bon Voyage BBQ Bash!! It was such a fun day and night. Everything went as wonderfully as planned :) I will be posting names according to the sign in sheet as soon as I get my hands on it (it's hiding in Chanel's car somewhere).
It really meant so much that you all came. Really, really.
And thank you also to those who we know support us but couldn't make it! We know we have your love and that's more than enough! But you are required at the "we're back" party..we will use coercion if need be.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
A rambling thank you
A few mornings ago I woke up and as I walked out of my room into the stunning morning light this house has, something was brought to my attention. That something was remarkable. A true gift. But its sentiment was more. What it made me feel and think, was more.
Recently, I went into Goodwill looking for a very specific item. It was shirt. I saw a version of it in a magazine. I drew out exactly how I wanted it so I'd know what to look for. I had the image in my head and on paper, very clear. And it was one of those very rare moments (for me, maybe for all) that I know exactly what I want and I go with the intention of attaining it..and there it is. Just waiting on the hanger. As if I had manifested what I desired. Not one thing different.
A rambling story, I know. But that excitement at the finding of perfection became as clear as my drawn image the other morning.
I can't type any words that will make anyone reading this feel what I feel when I think those same words to myself. It is such an overwhelming relief. It feels like salvation. When you need something or long for something. I guess I mean someone. And you know exactly how that someone should be. Their characteristics, their thoughts, words, perspectives, experiences, advice..the feeling the person has to them. And I don't just mean this in leading to very close or romantic relationships.
We need many things through our days, from a variety of people. Perhaps you need someone who will understand your tax situation. Or a boss who will understand some unpredictable (and legitimate) quality of your life. A supermarket attendee who knows exactly what you are looking for when no one else does. Or any sort of mentor who can understand any part of you. For me, I guess most times it is about finding someone who understands you. You can cut out many of the words. The unnecessary explaining and repetition. The uselessness in most cases.
Its not that I felt totally alone in the world or incomplete before the person. Nor was it that I felt crazy for believing those characteristics could be united. I guess..I just found a path around their existence in my brain while having the need and not the understanding. I told myself that one cannot expect to find perfection under a bow when it comes to people in this life. When it comes to much of anything really. There is no perfection. There is no flawless. There is what is present and what is not. And those things change. The two move through the rotating door of our beings with constancy. And who am I to say that something is perfect? The word came to seem..inhuman. And useless in itself. Because what could ever do the word justice? Why have a word that nothing can be?
I have found perfection. I have found it twice before. Each in very different contexts than the other. And maybe the perfection won't last. I do still believe each component that yields such found..I'll use "beauty" here. Such found beauty. Because, of all the things I could witness while here and how distancing and confusing the world can seem, connections like these are something I would call beautiful. Back to what I was saying. I do still know that each component that adds to the feeling of wholeness can and probably will change. As may my opinions of these traits even if they remain unchanged.
But for now, when I came across you, when I needed, you were perfect to me. You appeared when I had successfully convinced myself that you could not, that you would not. And I feel more alive, more on fire, knowing you exist. The "AH-HA! I knew it! I told myself so! Uh-huh uh-huh oOoOo!" dance that I can do now, gives me faith, unknowing and blind faith, that there is more perfection to be found. I just have to know there will be moments that send me back into my cave because I prefer the dark and the isolate to the colors outside that fully please no part of me.
Thank you. Endlessly, thank you. Your breath sustains me too.
"The essence of faith is the knowledge that all flows and that everything must change. The growing man is Man Alive, and his "philosophy" must grow, must flow, with him. . . . the man too fixed today, unfixed tomorrow - and his body of beliefs is nothing but a series of fixations.” -Thomas Wolfe
A rambling story, I know. But that excitement at the finding of perfection became as clear as my drawn image the other morning.
I can't type any words that will make anyone reading this feel what I feel when I think those same words to myself. It is such an overwhelming relief. It feels like salvation. When you need something or long for something. I guess I mean someone. And you know exactly how that someone should be. Their characteristics, their thoughts, words, perspectives, experiences, advice..the feeling the person has to them. And I don't just mean this in leading to very close or romantic relationships.
We need many things through our days, from a variety of people. Perhaps you need someone who will understand your tax situation. Or a boss who will understand some unpredictable (and legitimate) quality of your life. A supermarket attendee who knows exactly what you are looking for when no one else does. Or any sort of mentor who can understand any part of you. For me, I guess most times it is about finding someone who understands you. You can cut out many of the words. The unnecessary explaining and repetition. The uselessness in most cases.
Its not that I felt totally alone in the world or incomplete before the person. Nor was it that I felt crazy for believing those characteristics could be united. I guess..I just found a path around their existence in my brain while having the need and not the understanding. I told myself that one cannot expect to find perfection under a bow when it comes to people in this life. When it comes to much of anything really. There is no perfection. There is no flawless. There is what is present and what is not. And those things change. The two move through the rotating door of our beings with constancy. And who am I to say that something is perfect? The word came to seem..inhuman. And useless in itself. Because what could ever do the word justice? Why have a word that nothing can be?
I have found perfection. I have found it twice before. Each in very different contexts than the other. And maybe the perfection won't last. I do still believe each component that yields such found..I'll use "beauty" here. Such found beauty. Because, of all the things I could witness while here and how distancing and confusing the world can seem, connections like these are something I would call beautiful. Back to what I was saying. I do still know that each component that adds to the feeling of wholeness can and probably will change. As may my opinions of these traits even if they remain unchanged.
But for now, when I came across you, when I needed, you were perfect to me. You appeared when I had successfully convinced myself that you could not, that you would not. And I feel more alive, more on fire, knowing you exist. The "AH-HA! I knew it! I told myself so! Uh-huh uh-huh oOoOo!" dance that I can do now, gives me faith, unknowing and blind faith, that there is more perfection to be found. I just have to know there will be moments that send me back into my cave because I prefer the dark and the isolate to the colors outside that fully please no part of me.
Thank you. Endlessly, thank you. Your breath sustains me too.
"The essence of faith is the knowledge that all flows and that everything must change. The growing man is Man Alive, and his "philosophy" must grow, must flow, with him. . . . the man too fixed today, unfixed tomorrow - and his body of beliefs is nothing but a series of fixations.” -Thomas Wolfe
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Bon Voyage BBQ Bash
What fun awaits us :)
On August 26 (less than two weeks, ahhh!!) Chanel and Sido and I will be hosting a Bon Voyage BBQ Bash at the Gaudé house to benefit the trip! We are so excited to get so many friends on our property at once!!
I don't know what the equivalent of the kitchen sink is when it comes to people but...bring everyone!! Though...it still applies. *Please do not bring your kitchen sinks to the party*
There will be
There is a $15 entrance fee. Parking space is very limited so try to carpool! Bring an extra set of clothes if you plan on partaking in any of the messy and awesomely child-like activities we have planned.
To make more sense of this, the party is BYOB but!! there will be (as we know of now) at least 1 keg provided. And that is a beer-drinker's reason to show up early. First come, first pump, and first pour/serve kind of thing.
I will update as more information comes up! Thank you all so much!
On August 26 (less than two weeks, ahhh!!) Chanel and Sido and I will be hosting a Bon Voyage BBQ Bash at the Gaudé house to benefit the trip! We are so excited to get so many friends on our property at once!!
I don't know what the equivalent of the kitchen sink is when it comes to people but...bring everyone!! Though...it still applies. *Please do not bring your kitchen sinks to the party*
There will be
- Food (BBQ'd meats, kabobs, roasts, veggies, salads, desserts, chicken salad, and much more yummies) *we will have vegetarian and gluten-free options! Yay!
- Music
- Baby pool, a slip-n-slide, a sprinkler set up
- A paint throwing party
- Two piñatas
- Pin the point on the map (our attempt at the donkey version)
- Twister
- Several ice chests for your BYOB bringings (if you plan on drinking an entire ice chest-worth, perhaps you should bring one to ensure that your beverages maintain a refreshing temperature)
- Keg
- Slackline
- Outdoor pictionary
- and bunches o' fun
There is a $15 entrance fee. Parking space is very limited so try to carpool! Bring an extra set of clothes if you plan on partaking in any of the messy and awesomely child-like activities we have planned.
To make more sense of this, the party is BYOB but!! there will be (as we know of now) at least 1 keg provided. And that is a beer-drinker's reason to show up early. First come, first pump, and first pour/serve kind of thing.
I will update as more information comes up! Thank you all so much!
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Apologies and additions
First, I have a very sincere apology to give to any of you who have checked this blog here in the past few months. This summer has been one of tests (literal and metaphorical), obligations, over-extensions, and sleeplessness, given recess only by brief moments of forced relaxation, which felt a paradox to me, only so I didn't fully lose my sanity and self. It was a time that required to me to shun the unnecessary or "not right now" so that I could accomplish the "this must be completed now or you shall fall into a never ending deep abyss of graduationlessness". And I did accomplish the necessary. I did finish my undergraduate coursework. And I will graduate in December! (Take that incessantly troublesome summer course! IN YOUR FACE)
So, I apologize many times over.
Now, there are many a thank you's to give since I denied my blogging responsibilities for such a time!
Here is a giant and glorious thank you to:
So, I apologize many times over.
Now, there are many a thank you's to give since I denied my blogging responsibilities for such a time!
Here is a giant and glorious thank you to:
- Sido and Will and all the helpers of the Cajun Invasion fundraising event held in Chicago in May!! They helped raise Chanel and I over 2,000 buckaroos!! In one night! That amount far surpassed what I was expecting but most importantly it brought us 2,000 dollars closer to Asia!
- To all of the attendees of the Cajun Invasion Crawfish Boil (please excuse any misspellings!):
- Emily D’Andrea
- Alex Rabalais and Bill Morrissey
- Brandon Binkley and Jeneca Onikoyi
- Matt and Jen Welk
- Seth and Michele Tucker
- Allison, Rob, Reeve, and Gabriel Coleman
- Dare Millet and Pam Lamaster-Millet
- Kara Braud
- Kevin Steward
- Jake Bondhus, his mom Mrs. Bondhus, and Katie Glottinyer
- Arnold Lagos
- Gaby Lagos
- Cathrine and Adam Reach
- Jonathan Cantreus
- Tess Kisner
- Khalfani Faulkner
- Hannah Wilson
- Michael Singer
- Jeff and Cynthia McIntosh
- Patrick and Jordan Lynch
- John Huston and Cynthia Castiglione
- Cathy Rigod
- Casey and Rey Serantes
- Chris and Sandy
- Billy and Tiffany
- Joe D.
- Shellie, Meg, and Russ
- Lee Gordan
- And the countless others who were having too much food and fun to stop and sign in!
- Mr. Richard and Jackie Henke, you have both always been so kind to me. Thank you for helping Chanel and I do this. I think of you often and wish the best for you both!
- Thank you Dan for your donation on GoFundMe and the kind words. The words help as much as the donation, if not more!!
- Armand Dozie, thank you!! It was so kind of you to do this for us!
- Dave and Elizabeth Wiesenmayer, thank you thank you thank you!
- Courtni Guidry, you have given me such piece of mind over the past few years. I was thinking about you the other day and realized you had become more of a friend than an academic adviser. You were always there for me. Always always. You helped me relentlessly to feel comfortable in the midst of collegiate chaos. Thank you for who you are and the donation!
- Rachel Richardson, thank you for your donation! I hope you (and all who donate) understand that I (we) take your donation as faith. You have faith in what Chanel and I can accomplish. The lives that we will change and the lives that will change ours. Thank you!!
- And a thank you to a certain friend of mine from LSU's campus, Kendall. You have been a pleasure to get to know. From my honest heart. Thank you for your donation and for always saying hi. I wish you all the good things life can give.
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