Fresh Perspectives

So, I'm sure most of you have seen the television show Man v. Wild on the Discovery Channel, right?  I mean, this guy is completely nuts - he teaches viewers how to  make a fire anywhere in the world, survive the Arctic environments of Iceland, and even explains how drinking your own urine might save your life one day.  And somehow, he calls this fun.  Anyway....I was inspired by the Everglades episode and decided to go on an extreme outdoor adventure myself (Kendall vs. Wild:  it has a nice ring to it!).

First, I call up my brother, Kyle, who has just recently taken up mountain biking.  He agrees to take me on a few trails near his place in Charlotte.  (I know...some of you may be laughing right now.)  Mountain biking in one of the largest cities in North Carolina.  Yeah, I was laughing too until I found myself face down in dirt. (But I'll get to that later...)

We got up fairly early one Saturday morning, geared up, attached the bikes to his SUV and headed for the trail.  Now, I will admit I was pretty naive in my expectations about how this whole experience would turn out.  I imagined a quaint little trail through the woods at least 5 feet wide at all times, maybe a few foot bridges and a flower or two.  Needless to say, my imagination was WAY off that day.  This was hardcore over rocks, through the mud, up steep inclines kinda mountain biking.  And I was NOT prepared.

Now, I'm usually not the kind of person to complain or get scared.  And if I do, I try my best to put that in the back of my mind and 'go for it' anyway....so that's what I did.  I kept saying to myself, "C'mon, don't be scared, this is just a nice ride through the park."  However, regardless of what I told myself, I was never fully convinced!

Alright....so we get through the first half of the trail okay....no major catastrophies.  But then the action starts.  I'm cycling along, nuckles gripping the handlebars, and up ahead I see a huge dip and then a really steep hill with a huge tree trunk spliting the path through in the middle.  (Note to self:  when in doubt, always go right.  ALWAYS)  Of course...I take the left side, stall out at the peak of the hill, and have to put my leg down to stop the bike from rolling backwards down the hill.  Things can never be that simple though...instead of the normal dirt path, the ground is covered with red clay (which is muddy from the rain storm the previous night) so when I plant my foot down, it doesn't stay.  In slow motion, I slide down the hill on my stomach and somehow all I can hear is the cackle of my brother who's watching from behind.  I stand up, half-heartedly try to brush the dirt off, and slowly push my bike to the top of the hill.  Then I wait for Kyle, who takes the right side like a pro, still laughing all the while.

We keep riding for another mile or so, when I hear my brother yell out, "$!@* (use your imagination), my ankle's bleeding."  I stop for a minute to turn around and look, thinking, "You've got to be kidding, I know he's not complaining about a little blood."  But it wasn't just a 'little blood'.  A massive amount of dark red blood was running uncontrollably down his leg.  (Greaaaat....we're out in the middle of nowhere and my brother's going to die from loss of blood. What a great summer.)  << Those were my next thoughts.

We knew we needed to get back to the car quickly to clean off the cut and see if it was deep enough for stitches, so my brother took to lead to quicken up the pace.  We start going pretty quickly and the next thing I know I can't see him ahead, so I start peddling even faster.  I'm riding next to a little stream when all of a sudden there's a sharp turn.  My back wheel hits a root sending the bike to the right and me to the left.  (At least I think that's how it all happened!)  All I know is that I am lying face down, sprawled out in the dirt as if I'm attempting to make a snow angel on my stomach.  I look to my right, and my bike is upside down in the river.  I call out for Kyle to come back beacuse I can't lift my bicycle out of the water by myself.  By this time, we're both hurting and frustrated and just ready to go home.  And to make matters worse, my bike was messed up from the fall.  So, for the last quarter of a mile, I ran....holding onto the bike on the right side of me.  Luckily, it wasn't too far back to the parking lot.

To make a long story short, over the next hour, we debated whether or not my brother's ankle needed stitches and finally decided it was the best thing to do.  He ended up have 9 stitches in two separate gashes.  One of the first things he said afterwards was:  "Well, at least now I can get some sympathy brownies out of someone."  There's always something good to be made out of a bad situation.

As for me, I was alright besides a few scrapes and bruises.  Maybe mountain biking just isn't my thing.  I think I'll stick to hiking!  Speaking of hiking - back to the Appalachain Trail this weekend! More stories ahead... 

Posted by Kendall at 07:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Summer!  The sweetest season of them all is officially here, and thank goodness, right?  I mean, who doesn’t love summer (besides polar bears and weird people like my brother who prefer the average temperature to be closer to 60 than 85)?

Without a doubt, summer is my favorite season for countless reasons:  long walks on the beach, afternoon thundershowers, gently swaying with the breeze in a backyard hammock.  WAIT…Is it just me, or does that sound like the start of a bad romance novel?  Yeah, I thought so. 

Let’s try this again:summer is my favorite season for countless reasons: no school, trips to Charleston, sleeping late, cookouts, poolside gossip sessions with the girls, sundresses, 4^th of July parties, the beach, and of course flip-flops (or lip-lops as my mom says, referring to my inability to combine the letters F and L when I was younger).

All of these great things are a constant whether you’re in high school or college, however, after you’ve finished those first two semesters….there is one thing that will undoubtedly change.  In high school, you mainly spent the summers with the same 5-10 people, right?  Your ‘group’, ‘clique’, or ‘posse’ (if you prefer to think of yourself as rap artist, which I suppose some of you might?!). Anyway, by the end of the summer, there’s usually two of you who despise each other, or instead of 10 friends, it becomes more like 2 groups of 5…usually due to some childish argument that everyone knows is ridiculous but too immature at the time to admit it.  After that first year of college, it’s great to see all of your old friends again and time has probably healed any harsh feelings between members of your ‘group’.  Things go back to normal, memories are retold, inside jokes become hilarious again, but then….something strange occurs.  You start pining away for the amazingly wonderful people you met in college.  Whether it’s your new best friend who you still talk to every single day or the crazy kid next door that made beats on his computer until 3 a.m. causing you to wake up feeling like you have a metronome inside of your head (true story, by the way), you begin to miss all of the people you met in the 9 months you were away.

And THAT….is another new thing I love about summer!  Instead of feeling obligated to hang out with one small group of friends, you now have people all over the country to go see!  I just recently got back from Mechanicsville, Virginia (right outside of Richmond) to visit Meghan, one of my best friends while in college.  Mechanicsville….doesn’t that seem like the perfect name for a town in one of those creepy horror films.  I can see it now, young couple gets a flat tire and the local mechanic in Mechanicsville is some crazy ax murderer. (And of course somewhere in the movie there has to be the crazy cat lady who helps them out.) Hollywood Screenwriters Guild…here I come!

Okay, back to the point: summer is great and even better when you can visit all of the wonderful people you’ll meet in college.

So high school seniors, or rather high school graduates, enjoy your summers! And remember to plan for a few unexpected road trips next year.

Posted by Kendall at 08:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"In that cool mountain air on the Appalachian Trail....oh, life is better there." - Yonder Mountain String Band

I couldn't shake the words above out of my mind this past week as I hiked 35 miles along the Appalachian Trail in the Northern half of the Great Smoky Mountains.  It was an experience of a lifetime...one that I will certainly never forget.  I've hiked and camped plenty of times, even on the AT, but this trip was the beginning of something new - a chance to really explore.

My stepdad has been hiking different parts of the Southeast since he was my age, and I've gone with him on a few trails before....but this time, we started planning not just for a trip, but for a journey.  (At least in my eyes!)  We were on the trail 4 days and 3 nights.  And yes, ladies, that means 4 days with no make-up, no real shower (besides pouring water over your body and scrubbing a bit), no microwaves, and no cell phones.  This suburban girl was heading for the GREAT OUTDOORS!!!

My mom drove us up through Gatlinburg, TN after we dropped our car off at Newfound Gap, the only road running through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. By the way, 4 quick words about Gatlinburg....don't waste your time.  It was described to me as "Myrtle Beach in the Mountains" and that's precisely what it is - loads of haunted houses, air brush t-shirt stores, and fair food stands.  It just doesn't do the mountains justice.

Anyway, early Monday morning, my mom dropped my stepdad and I off at Cosby Campground (which has a trail of about 2.5 miles leading up to the Appalachian Trail).  After a few tears from a worried mother and a picture or two, we were off!  The first night we stayed in Cosby Shelter, and then Peck's Corner and Icewater Springs Shelter, respectively.  Now when I say shelter, don't get this confused with some kind of luxurious log cabin with a wrap-around front porch and smoke dwindling out of a chimney.  No...these were open-faced stone buildings with a wooden bunk going all the way across in the back so that people could sleep on top or below it.  The floors were either dirt or concrete where bugs, rats, and other rodents are sure to rome freely.  Even though the shelters weren't the greatest things in the world, it was always nice to interact with the other people staying there.  On average, about 10 people spent the night in the shelter.  It was really neat to hear each person's stories and get little bits and pieces of their lives.  Colonel Joe, 73 year old Santa Clause look-alike, had through-hiked the entire Appalachian Trail back in '85 and was still going strong.  Robert, the hypnotist with a heavy Boston accent, attempted to cast spells on other campers in an effort to help them quit smoking.  And Casey, the self-proclaimed, "liberal, feminist, vegetarian, from the backwoods of Tennessee" were just a few of the interesting people we met on the trail. 

Each day we woke up early, cooked a bowl of porridge (or oatmeal as most of the world calls it) packed up our sleeping bags and were on our way.  The hikes were long and tiring, but rewarding all the same.  There were miles of steep incline, straight-aways, and the beloved downhill slopes.  When I got tired, I had little one-on-ones with myself, trying to convince my legs that if they continued to move they'd eventually reach their destination.  My body held out pretty well though, even on our longest day of almost 15 miles.  Regardless, however, that sleeping bag felt great each night. 

The best things about the whole trip were the fresh air and amazing views.  Every so often, while trecking along a ridge, we'd come to a lookout, where the trees opened up revealing miles and miles of rolling mountains.  It was absolutely gorgeous and made me wish more people would take the time to see the beauty in nature.  Sometimes we'd discuss the peaks, guessing which mountain tops we were looking at, but mostly, we'd sit in silence, resting our bones and reflecting on how truly marvelous this world is.

Besides magnificent views, there was all kinds of wildlife to be seen.  I saw it all:  temperamental chipmunks, tiny snails, an evil bunny rabbit,  a buck (who came right up to the privy I was using, I might add), and even a baby black bear. 

This journey was one I will never forget. I only hope that my short descriptions will convince at least one person to turn off the t.v., log off the Internet, and take a walk in the woods.  It WILL be worth it. I promise!

P.S. Pictures coming soon...

Posted by Kendall at 02:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It’s hard to believe that this time just one year ago I was just about ready to walk across that graduation stage.  To all of you high school seniors out there, let me give you the most important advice I wish I’d have known for the big day…..MAKE SURE YOUR CAP FITS. 

So, I realize senior year is stressful enough……applying to colleges, AP exams, and worst of all - trying to fight off that senioritis that infects us all.  But on top of that, seniors have so much other stuff to worry about relating to graduation.  Invitations, caps and gowns, and so on – you have to stay on top of things and constantly meet deadlines.

Well, I was doing pretty well my senior year.  When cap and gown sizing came around a few weeks before Christmas break, I went on my designated day and picked up the order form like I was supposed to.  I chose the appropriate gown size and measured my head for the cap, and then turned the form back in before the due date.  Well…April came around and it was time to pick up our beloved cap and gown.  I wasn’t really in a hurry to try them on since Graduation wasn’t for another month, so I waited until about twenty minutes before I left the house for the actual Graduation to put them on. (Mistake #1)  What do ya know…my cap is way too small!  I’m not talking about just a little snug – it didn’t fit…period.  I don’t know if my head miraculously grew a few inches in those last months or if I just measured wrong but regardless, like any normal girl I start freaking out.  I decide to try to cut slits in both sides where the cap pulls down over your head. (Mistake #2)  So after putting away the scissors I hold my breath and try the cap on – this time, it at least fits on my head but falls off with the slightest move.  So I hurriedly threw some bobby pins in my hair, connecting to the cap, hoping it’d stay on.

I luckily got to Graduation with no huge catastrophes.  I sat on stage during the ceremony.  The opening procession went fine, but the real trouble began during the prayer.  As I bowed to pray, my cap slid backwards and was on the verge of falling off.  So, when everyone else looked back up, I had to pretty much stay bowed or else my cap would have fallen to the row behind me and caused a huge distraction.  So anyway, the first third of my graduation I watched with my head facing downward. (Bummer, huh?)

The time came when my row was supposed to stand up in order to walk across stage and receive our diplomas.  I used this as a chance to straighten my hat so that I could at least look up.  However, I was still forced to keep my head perfectly still.  I’m sure I looked like a Barbie doll when I shook hands with the principal.  (Either that or a broken neck patient.)  Instead of just turning my head a certain way, I had to twist my whole upper body, which I’m sure made me look pretty ridiculous. 

After it was all said and done, I was definitely ready to get out of there.  What do you know…the first thing I did when Graduation was over was take off that stupid cap!  To this day I look at that thing and laugh just remembering all the trouble it caused me.

So, seniors…..you’ve made it!  It’s finally time to graduate.  Hopefully my disastrous cap story will remind you to make sure it fits before walking across that stage!  CONGRADULATIONS!

Posted by Kendall at 04:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So college is great and all....but you know what they say:  with freedom comes responsibility.  And working for the summer is apparently all part of this growing up thing!  No longer can we sleep half the day and play the rest.  We miss the 2 hours of Dawson's Creek every morning (go on...admit it...we're all guilty of sitting in front of the TV growing emotionally attached to the lives of Joey Potter and Dawson Leery).  And worst of all....we're now forced to enter the world of taxes, bosses, and time cards.

Most of my friends have been scrambling around for the past 2 weeks in search of a summer job.  I, on the other hand, have been working at the same law firm for 9 months now and will continue slaving here until August.  (I'm only kidding about the slaving part.)  But I am going to have to do my best to positively describe this experience.  Let's see....I've learned how to use a phone with about 100 different buttons, I know where all the courts and government buildings are in the area, and best of all I now know I DO NOT want to work in a law firm ever again. 

So, needless to say, if any of you seniors out there are getting one last free summer, enjoy it while you can!!!

Posted by Kendall at 11:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ahh, summertime is finally here, and while most college kids begin their summers with a trip to the beach or a big reunion with their high school friends, I decide to 'cut' to the chase (no pun intended) and have a much needed and overdue tonsilectomy 2 days after my last exam.

Here...I'll start from the beginning.  Over the past 5 years or so, I've had tonsilitis probably 4 or 5 times a year, mostly during winter, but occasionally during one of the other seasons as well.  My tonsils swell up to where there's almost no air passage through my mouth and basically they just make my life miserable for about a week.  Time after time, I'd visit the doctor, and time after time I'd get the same antibiotic.  Finally, over this past Christmas break, I had tonsilitis and step throat all within a 2 week period and decided this just couldn't happen anymore.  It took some persuading, but finally I convinced the doctor to remove them once and for all.  (He said that usually the procedure is more complicated the older the patient is, but I didn't care at this point).  So, we set the surgery date for right after my last exam!

The next few months passed without too much thought about getting my tonsils taken out.  I finished up the semester and all that jazz.  Then about a week or so ago, I began really thinking about what was going to happen:  I was going to be put to sleep and someone was going to cut a part of my body out of my mouth.  Yeah...I basically started to freak out!  I went online and researched the different methods they use for a tonsilectomy including all of the instruments and cautionary procedures.  My advice: don't ever research too closely the kind of surgery you'll be getting.  Bad idea on my part, especially when I found out that 1 in every 16,000 people die from a tonsilectomy.

Anyway, the morning of the surgery came.  I got throught it without any major problems.  Cried a little, slept a lot, and now I'm in the recovery process.  I've watched more movies in the past 3 days than I have in the past 6 months.  Here are my reviews:
 
-Because I Said So:  great mother/daughter comedy (4 stars)
-Catch and Release: decent chick flick, but nothing great (2 stars)
-The Last King of Scotland: must see historical fiction movie (5 stars) 
-Deja Vu: I've seen better Denzel Washington movies (3 stars)
-Children of Men: still don't know what happened in that movie (1 star)
-Candy: depressing, but Heath Ledger is still hott (2.5 stars)
-The Holiday: SO CUTE, even guys should see this one (5 stars)

So besides movies and books, I haven't really had much of a summer yet.  It hurts to use my mouth in any way, so my mom's done a good job of picking up on my sign language.  I'm already sick of applesauce and pudding.  (Yes, I know, the vanilla pudding snack packs are so 2nd grade, but hey...it's about all I can eat.)  Hopefully after another week or so of recovery, I'll be back to normal.  The first thing I'm going to do when my tonsils (or lack thereof) are all better....is scream at the top of my lungs! (And then eat...a lot!)

Posted by Kendall at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

No, no.  This entry has nothing to do with something you drink out of!  It's about the infamous Carolina Cup, held annually at Springdale Race Course in Camden, South Carolina.  The 'Cup' as most of us call it gets everyone all antsy this time of year.  Girls search for the perfect dress and guys search for the perfect.....bow tie (maybe?!).

Yes, it's southern tradition at its finest.  The Carolina Cup is an actual horse race, however, most college students could care less about who wins the race or if they even get to see a horse at all.  To make it easy for out-of-staters to understand....it's like tail-gating for a football game in dressy clothes.  The field is scattered with tents and college students and I can't leave out those bright red Solo cups we're all familiar with.

But yes, the Cup gets us girls all frantic in mid-March when it's time to find the right dress.  I won't pretend to be fasionable, because I'm not.  (My mom still buys half of my wardrobe...sad, isn't it.)  But I'll do my best to inform you of the 'styles' seen at the race.  Fashion 411 for the Carolina Cup:

• Girls:
• sleeve-less, halter, or tube-top dresses are a must
• anything lacy or 'frilly'
• you can't go wrong with floral patterns
• big floppy hats 
• over-sized sunglasses (Is it just me, or do those things make you look like fruit flys?)
• and of course.....a 'Southern' girl's best friend....pearls
• Guys:
• anything pastel colored
• bow-ties preferred
• the beloved SEERSUCKER SUIT (say that one 5 times fast)
• croakies and sunglasses around the neck

Posted by Kendall at 05:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you're from Columbia, or anywhere near it for that matter, then you're probably familiar with the annual St. Patty's Day Festival in 5 points.  If you're not, however, I'll give you a little inside scoop.  First, I guess I need to explain what 5 points is, though, right?! 

Five Points is a spot in downtown Columbia where 5 different roads come together.  It's pretty much the center of the college hangout and night scene.  There are some pretty cool shops such as Luna, Loose Lucy's, Salty's Surf Shop, Papa Jazz Record Shoppe, a few Art Galleries, and much more.  Also, some of my favorite restaurants are located in 5 points:  Groucho's Deli, Yesterday's, Village Idiot Pizza and Pub, and a few others.  (If you're planning on coming to USC next year, you MUST try Groucho's Apollo Dipper....you'll wish they had a special meal plan for that one sandwich....it's THAT good!)  Five Points is also known for it's nightlife with bars such as Dr. Rocco's, The Saloon, Pavlov's, and Pour House (just to name a few).  However, as many of you know from news of 2 USC quarterbacks....these places can get you into a heap of trouble.  So, I'd suggest you use caution!

Now, to the real story (since last Saturday was March 17th)....the St. Patty's Day Festival.  Most towns have some sort of celebration for this day, but Columbia's is truly unique.  I've heard that we're ranked #3 in St. Patrick's Day festivities in the whole country.  The day starts off bright and early for a 5K run and 1 mile walk where participants strive towards the 'Pot of Gold' at the finish line.  Then, there's a parade and children's carnival, but in the afternoon the real fun begins.  With 5 stages set up, local and regional artists perform for big, loud, 'green' crowds.  I was there this year and let me tell you...people must hate getting pinched.  I saw not one person who forgot to wear green.  People were decked out with green pants, dresses, and even green hair.  And of course, for people 21 and over, there was loads of green beer.

And though St. Pat's Day and all the green was tons of fun, today I'm feeling a bit blue because of course my Biology professor would schedule an exam the first day back from Spring Break....so it looks like it's going to be another late night at the library for me!

Posted by Kendall at 08:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I should have been named Sports Fan of the Year after this past weekend.  I attended 2 basketball games and a baseball game, and I won't even mention the games I watched on TV. 

Earlier last week, I decided that I needed to get out of Columbia for a few days.  So, I arranged a little trip down to Charleston to see a few of my good friends that go to school there. As it turns out, my grandad was in Charleston this weekend too.  You see, his favorite team, the Davidson Wildcats were playing in Chucktown for the Southern Conference basketball tournament (that's the same conference that CofC is in and for those of ya'll who don't know, Davidson is a small school North of Charlotte). So anyway, my grandad invited me and a friend to go to the Davidson vs. Furman game on Friday night.  We went, not really thinking much of it, but ended up having a great time.  We got front row seats directly behind the players' bench. (Yeah, that's right, my Pops definitely hooked us up!) 

After that first game, we already considered ourselves Davidson fans, and didn't think twice about missing the championship game which was to be played the next night.  So, after an fun night on the town in Charleston and a layed back Saturday, we headed straight back to the North Charleston Colloseum for the Southern Conference Championship game.  Front row seats again...what can I say, we were ballin'! haha.  The game was head to head the entire way.  Meghan (my friend who went with me) and I were up and down the whole game yelling and cheering.  Davidson finally pulled it out, winning their conference title and getting a bid to the NCAA tournament. 

Now, I know there may be some concern about me pulling so hard for a team that's not USC.  But don't worry Gamecock fans, I actually did sport a Carolina shirt to the 2nd game!

Also in sports this weekend...do I sound like an ESPN newscaster yet?....USC beat Clemson twice on the baseball field.  Saturday's game was up at Clemson, but the game Sunday was right here in Cola-town.  I didn't have a ticket, but went anyway and got lucky buying one for less than face value from none other than a Clemson fan.  Yeah, those Clemson guys are always suckers for the Carolina girls.  As I've said before, I absolutely LOVE the game of baseball.  It felt so good to be in the stands Sunday afternoon.  We pulled out a tough victory in the bottom of the 9th, and even though I almost had a heart-attack, I love those kind of games.  They definitely keep you on the edge of your seats.

So, after a great sports-filled weekend, it's back to the reality of the classroom. Only 5 more days until Spring Break!!!

Posted by Kendall at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I know most of you out there can't wait to get away from home and finally experience college life.  With many of your senior years coming to an end, I'm sure you're all thinking, "AHHHH, my parents are driving me crazy."  Well....been there, thought that.  But now, I'm here to tell you differently. Guys, I don't care how 'macho' you are and girls, it doesn't matter if you're completely independent...you WILL miss home and you WILL look forward to going back for a short visit every once in a while.

This past weekend, I got the chance to do just that. I only went home for one night, but now I'm completely refreshed for a busy week with a huge English midterm and another Art test. And what did my one night and two days consist of...hanging out with my little sister and playing with our new puppy Pack (named after N.C. State's mascot, the Wolfpack).

Now, I'll have to admit, I'm still pretty new at the whole little sister thing (like I've said before, my dad got re-married last summer and I got a new little step-sister in the process). But, I just don't see how anyone could not want to have a younger sibling. (I'm sure that statement just got a few, "Oh, you just wait!" comments.) But really, you get an excuse to act like a little kid all over again!  I watched a Disney channel movie called "Big Fat Liar" that truthfully was pretty good, and I also tried out the new shoe craze sweeping through elementary schools across the nation.  The shoes are called Heelys because they have wheels on the heels.  I'm sure you've seen some kid scootin' around in the mall or on a sidewalk somewhere.  Well, yeah, huge props to those kids because I almost broke my neck trying wearing those things!

In addition to playing with Jess, I also got to meet the newest edition to the family....the little Pack-man!  As you can see from the picture below, he's just the cutest chocolate lab puppy in the world. 

So....that was basically my weekend.  And just as a reminder to all of you high school seniors out there:  spend a little extra time with the family before you head off to college because I promise, at one point or another, you'll miss them!

Posted by Kendall at 07:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Over the weekend I travelled to Ridgecrest, NC for a weekend getaway with a group of college kids from my church.  Ridgecrest is a few miles outside of Asheville, so basically, it's on the side of a mountain.  We went to Converge 2007, a Christian retreat for college students from all over the state.  There were kids from Winthrop, Francis Marion, and even Clemson there.  The weekend was tons of fun (even though there was absolutely no warm water for showers).  Yea, so imagine this....You wake up at 6 o'clock in the morning and the only thing keeping you awake are a few serene thoughts of the steamy shower you are about to experience.  You turn the shower on and wait...and wait...and wait some more.  Yeah...it never got hott or warm or even cool.  The water was FREEZING. Oh well...I did my fair shair of mountaineering for the weekend attempting to get clean!

Anyway, each night (Friday and Saturday) after worship, we got to attend some pretty fun activities.  Now, what do you think of when you hear the word Hoedown?  Either you need to get your mind out of the gutter or like most of us, you think of some lame country gathering with cowboy boots and plaid shirts.  Yeah, I had that same stereotype of Hoedowns until this weekend.  It was SO MUCH FUN.  I learned how to square dance and everything.  That's right, I 'promenaded' and 'dosadoed' and 'right and left granded' until the wee hours of the morning.

Saturday night we had a bondfire and the coolest part of that was eating smores. Ahhh, the perfect blend of graham cracker, marshmallow, and hershey chocolate swarming around delectably in one's mouth. Hungry now? Me too.  So, if you're part of my generation, it's almost inevitable that along with smores comes the quoting of one of the best movies ever made...The Sandlot.  Porter (one of the characters in the movie) gives perfect directions for making smores.  Even though I'm sure most of you know how to make them, I figure that repeating Porter's recipe advice is worth it for all those 'Smalls' out there.

Here's how the dialogue goes. (Smalls is the new kid in town, and the boys are about to cook smores):

Porter: Hey Smalls, you wanna smore?
Smalls: Smore what?
Porter: Smore? You want one?
Smalls: Smore what?
Porter: YOU'RE KILLIN' ME SMALLS.  These are smores stuff. Pay attention.  First you take the graham. You stick the chocolate on the graham. Then, you roast the mallow. When the mallow's flaming, you stick it on the chocolate and cover it with the other end. Then, you scarf.

And by scarf...he means scarf! I scarfed down about 4 of those things in no time!  Needless to say, I had a great weekend in Ridgecrest.  I am now a dedicated supported of square-dancing and a passionate lover of smores!  So the next time you're bored, here are some things to pass the time. 1) Turn on some twangy country music and get to dancin'. -OR- 2) Go get the smores materials, and enjoy. (NOTE: Don't burn the neighborhood down.  Microwaves on low power will work just fine!)

Posted by Kendall at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

One of the best things I did this Christmas holiday was spend time with my family.  It can be easy to take them for granted sometimes, but when it comes down to it, they are the people who matter most in my life.  We did the normal things....socialize, eat, open presents, and all that stuff but what I really want to talk about is the time I spent with 2 'new' family members. 

First of all, we have a new baby in the family..Tori (short for Victoria).  She is the absolute cutest thing I've ever seen; red hair and bright blue eyes.  My mom and I got to take her home for a couple of days (wow, I'm making her sound like a pet).  But really, this was a new experience for me.  I mean, of course I've done my fair share of babysitting but it's completely different having to look after an 'almost 1 year old' 24 hours a day.  It was loads of fun, but also exhausting.  Tori is a great baby though, she hardly cried at all.  We went shopping together, ate at Groucho's together (yummm....if you've never eaten there, do it! It's one of my FAVS!), I gave her bottles and baths, and helped put her to bed.  Basically, we did it all!  After those two days were over, I took a much needed nap! Even though she was a great baby, I found out that I definitely am not ready to be Mommy Kendall for a LONG time!  (Here's a picture of the cutest baby alive...TORI!)

Now, my second new experience of Christmas break involves my new stepsister, Jessica.  I was so lucky last year when my dad got remarried because I got a little sister like I have always wanted!  She LOVES the movie High School Musical, so one of her Christmas presents was two surprise tickets to see the concert that was at the Colonial Center here in Columbia.  I immediately agreed to take her but let me tell you, I did not know what I was getting myself into!

We arrive about 10 minutes before the show starts among a mob of young girls in 'I Love Troy' shirts (he's the heart-throb of the movie). We literally weave our way through the crowd of moms and kids and find our seats just before it begins.  When the lights went down and a few of the characters came out, I thought I was going to lose all hearing in both ears.  I have NEVER heard so many little girls screaming that loudly in my life!!!  Now, I'll be honest here and say that I did see the movie and I actually kind of liked it, but after the concert I am a full-on fan of High School Musical.  The audiences reaction (or at least the older people, including mine) was funny to watch.  At the beginning, I was just sitting there watching.  Then as it went on I clapped or tapped my foot. But by the end, I was out of my seat, singing and dancing with everyone else, and so were all the moms and dads!  It was definitely an experience and I'm so glad I was there to take my little sister because we both had a wonderful time!

Continue reading "Family Matters" »

Posted by Kendall at 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Christmas is over and I finally have some time to catch you up on all that happened over the past two weeks or so of the break.  But first of all, I'd like to make a quick observation about holidays.  Now, don't get me wrong, I'm definitely all about spending time with family and friends, eating all kinds of good food, parties, presents, and everything else that comes with holidays.  But they're just too short.  I mean, so much preparation and anticipation goes into ONE day, and when it finally rolls around, the 24 hours goes by way too fast.  So, basically what I'm getting at is that when I become the first female president (ha....I cannot even type this and keep a straight face) my first priority after taking office will be to make all holidays at least 3 days long.  Seriously, Christmas, Halloween, birthdays, and so on would be much more enjoyable if they lasted longer than one day.  (I bet I could definitely win an election with THAT as one of my main platforms, eh?)

 On a more serious note:  my break so far has mainly consisted of spending times with family and friends.  Every year of high school, my best friends and I have our annual Secret Santa party where we get together and exchange gifts.  We decided to keep the tradition going, and it was SOOO good to see all of my girls from high school.  Here's a picture of us after the party...

Yay (I can sometimes be technologically challenged, so I'm glad this picture worked!).  Next entry I'll tell you all about my time spent with the 'fam'!

Posted by Kendall at 11:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Merry 'almost' Christmas everyone!!!  Only a few hours until December 25th, and I must confess I just really haven't been able to get into the Christmas spirit this year.  No, I'm not turning into the Grinch or anything.  It's just that it's hard to think about Christmas when it's 70 degrees outside. Gotta love this South Carolina weather!

My break has been pretty good so far.  I won't go into any details or anything (YET).  I just wanted to stop by and say sorry for not posting in a while.  I promise to update everyone real soon.  Just wanted to wish ya'll a very Merry Christmas!

Posted by Kendall at 04:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

GO GAMECOCKS!!!  Our victory over Clemson on Saturday was definitely the icing on my Thanksgiving cake!  But before we get to the game, I'll tell you a little bit of what I did over the break.

First, I visited my Me-Ma (that would be my grandma) in N.C. and pretty much ate the entire time.  I had the normal turkey and dressing type stuff but also indulged (I love using fancy words like indulged...it makes me feel smarter!) in some 'scrumdidliumptious' pecan pie! Then I visited my other grandparents and ate more!  Friday night, I watched 'Wedding Crashers' with my grandparents. Ha! Writing this just makes me laugh. We've all seen the movie, so just picture the "You shut your mouth when you're talking to me" scene or Vince Vaughn and his "stage five clinger"!  Needless to say, I don't think my grandparents though it was as funny as I did.

Then with Saturday came the good and the bad.  I woke up extremely early...to go shopping.  Now, I'm not the normal girl when it comes to shopping.  I despise malls, simply because they're usually over-crowded and they smell like a mix between Chinese food and Cinnabons.  (Let me clarify this:  Chinese buffets are some of my favorite restaurants and I could die for a freshly baked Cinnabon right now, but the combination of the scents in a stuffy mall.....no!)  But anyway, I promsied my mom I'd go shopping with her so I could pick out my Christmas gifts.  We arrived at the mall at 8:00 am and shopped a good 4 hours.  I was dying by the time we left.  The USC vs. Clemson game had just started so we found a restaurant where we could eat and watch the game.  We are both die-hard Carolina fans, and I'm pretty sure everyone in the restaurant was thankful when we left at half-time so they could enjoy some peace and quiet.  The ride home was painful...we listened to the game on the radio, and I was literally about to jump out of my seat.  We pulled into my driveway with less than a minute left.  My mom and I ran full speed inside to turn on the tv just in time to see the Clemson kicker miss the field goal! It was so dramatic, you would have thought we each won a million dollars.  I don't think I've ever screamed that loud before in my entire life.  It was the best feeling ever...beating Clemson at their stadium! All I can say is.....it's about time!!!

So, yeah, my Thanksgiving was really great.  Now, i'm back in the dorm and I'm already stressed out again.  Three papers due and one huge test in the next three days!  (I need a prayer!)  So, I better get to studying....

 **REMINDER:  Don't forget to turn in your applications by THIS FRIDAY, December 1st!  Good Luck!

Posted by Kendall at 08:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

J...O...B!  I'm not too fond of those three letters, but you'll all be proud to know that I finally got a job.  My parents tried to force me to get one for the past two summers, but I made excuse after excuse and weasled my way out of it.  When I started college, they actually told me I didn't have to get a job.  It's funny how kids are more likely to do something when it's not shoved down their throats. (Parents: hint hint!)  Anyway, I decided a little extra spending money would be nice and something to occupy a few hours in the afternoon is probably a good thing for me.  So, now I'm working for a law firm downtown three afternoons a week.  That's right everyone, I'm being productive and contributing to society!!!

This is what my job consists of: answering the phones, taking messages, sending emails, going to the bank, post office, and UPS store.  It's really not too bad; the hardest part is remembering how to work the phone.  I never knew a telephone system could be so complicated (there has to be 50 different buttons on that thing!).  So far, I've been getting along fine, besides hanging up on a few people and a peculiar little man telling me he liked my eyebrows. (Never had that compliment before! ha).  It's going great though! Only one more week until my first paycheck (yay).

Any ideas about what I should spend it on??

Posted by Kendall at 09:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I spent the majority of my Fall Break in Clemson visiting some friends from high school.  I know what you're thinking...why in the world would you spend a break in the most worthless town in South Carolina? I almost felt like a traitor but I just had to go see one of my good friends, Katherine, who goes to school there.  You'll be happy to know that I didn't dare wear anything orange.  I wanted to cringe everytime I looked at that hideous color, but....I made it through.  And now, it's actually not so bad being back at school.

This blog was really short, but I have a busy day and I promised myself I'd manage my time  better now that I'm back at school.  So, now it's off to reorganize my closet with the 20 pounds of winter clothes I brought back...

Posted by Kendall at 11:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I spent this past weekend in historic Charleston, South Carolina, my favorite place in the entire world.  (Whether my mom approves or not, that's where I'm moving this summer!)  I'll admit it, I'm a dork when it comes to History, more specifically, American History.  And my favorite part of American History is conflict...wars...and I enjoy learning about the Civil War the most!  I just crave for knowledge of history, it's just short obsession.  To bad math books don't entice me the way history ones do!! But anyway, I just love Charleston for it's historic value.  Whether I'm shopping in the market where slaves were onced traded or on the Battery looking across the water at Fort Sumter, I always wish I could go back to different points in time! Alright though....enough of my love for history!

I went to Charleston on Friday to see Widespread Panic, one of my favorite jambands! I had a blast.  The band played two really great sets.  I stayed with a friend who goes to the College of Charleston.  She lives in an old Charleston-style home with about 25 other girls.  I got stuck sleeping on the floor, but it wasn't too bad.  Saturday, we went to the Citadel to see our friend's game who plays Rugby.  Although we didn't get to see him (he had cons...one of those Citadel things), I did get to see my first Rugby game and wow...it can get rough! The other thing I love about Charleston is that there's always something to do.  So Saturday night, I jumped around from place to place visiting old friends and meeting new people as well. After only a few hours of sleep Saturday night, I headed back home on Sunday for a long afternoon of studying psychology.  I guess it payed off though because I feel pretty confident about how I did on it!  I have a long two days ahead of me though before Fall Break.  Tons of work.....blah!  Off to do some studying.

 P.S. Someone needs to turn back on the heat outside because this cold weather is killin' me!!! 

Posted by Kendall at 02:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

             Friday night we ate a luxurious meal at none other than…Wendy’s.  You gotta love the 99 cent menu, and especially the crispy chicken sandwiches!  I can’t tell you how many nights Wendy’s has saved my life.  In high school, after being out doing whatever high school kids do late at night, all the girls would pile in one car.  We’d turn on one of those songs that everyone and their mom knows…you know, Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believing”, Lynard Skynard’s ‘Sweet Home Alabama’, or Tom Petty’s ‘Free Fallin’.  Then, we’d make our way towards the Wendy’s drive-thru.  After we got our orders, the car would be silent for 10 minutes while everyone devoured their food!  It was great!! Alright though, enough reminiscing about Wendy’s. (Can you tell I’m hungry?!)

            On Saturday, I went shopping, well more like looking since I didn’t actually buy anything.  Then I visited my grandparents.  We ate dinner at Cracker Barrel…what is it with old people and Cracker Barrel?  (I know…food again!)  But really, is it just me or do all old people like Cracker Barrel?  Who knows…

            Anyway, it was great to get away for the weekend, but at the same time, it’s nice to be back in good ole’ Capstone!  I have a busy week ahead of me with a huge English paper due Thursday and some math quizzes…wish me luck!

Posted by Kendall at 01:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, last night, I witnessed my first live birth.  Okay, okay, I know you're thinking eww, and if not ewww then, "Who had a baby?", right?  But, here's what happened...  I was on the other side of town dropping off some laundry at home.  (Thanks mom!)  And I decided to have dinner with one of my best friends, Eric.  We ate at a wing place and watched the Saints beat Atlanta at their first home game back in the Superdome in New Orleans.  Eric swears the game was fixed.  Anyway, we were catching up on things and he told me that his chocolate lab, Cookie, was probably going to have her puppies that night and that his mom had been frantic all day.  I decided I'd go by and see what all the fuss was about. Needless to say, I did not know what I was getting myself into.  I felt like I had jumped into an episode of one of those emergency vet shows on the Animal Planet.  Cookie was in full labor.  I got to watch as 10 baby puppies were born, and it was certainly a new experience.  Don't worry, I won't go into details, but let me just say this: the whole idea of 'instinct' is truly amazing.  The puppies all seemed healthy except one, who we named Wilbur. (Don't ask, just trust me that if you saw him, Wilbur would be the first name that came to your mind too.) Anyway, that was my new experience of the week! And to Wilbur: Hang in there little buddy, you can make it!!!

Until next time...

Posted by Kendall at 06:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)