the list : part two

I've been putting off this post (it's most definitely back-dated) because I doubt its interesting to anyone except me. But weirdly enough, I started this list to encourage myself to be brave. To do some of the things I've been wanting to do since I moved to the city in 2010 and to not let the excuse of feeling sick or not having someone equally excited about them stop me. And as I look back over it, I'm so thankful for this silly list, because this summer was a beautiful surprise. There are these lovely moments - watching the city lights from the roof of the Telephone Factory lofts, learning to long-board on the street outside the Mott's house in Grant Park, water-skiing for the first time with my sister - that I hope I remember for a long time. Everyday-life is hopeful and adventurous and full of inspiration, and for some reason I needed that reminder.

1. Go dancing (preferably at MJQ) - This didn't really happen. However, I did engage in an impromptu interpretive dance to Elton John's masterpiece "Your Song" in my sunroom with best friend Lizzy and Kevin at me and Jessie's birthday party. That is pretty much as good as it gets.

2. See a show at Eddie's Attic. Complete! The Lone Bellow and Sandra McCracken. Both were wonderful, and Eddie's atmosphere is beautiful to me.

3. Find a new not-so-well-known view of the Atlanta skyline. Found one of my own and one from Carolyn. But I'm still on the search for the best undiscovered spot that's all mine.

4. Share a meal at Murphy's and/or a Kevin Rathbun restaurant. Nope, but I've shared some wonderful meals with friends over the last couple months - Agave, Holeman and Finch, Quartino (in Chicago)...

5. Share drinks at Leon's (or Brick Store). Girl's dinner at Brick Store with my best friends from high school, and life - Liz, Mary Beth and Steph. Highlight: Steph was an hour late because of car trouble just because that's tradition at this point. 

6. Spend an hour at Emory Park. Balboa Park in San Diego works. Ashleigh and I extended a work trip into the weekend and spent two days in San Diego with my friend Chris that I met at L'abri. We biked to the park from Chris's house. 

7. Attend at least 3 of the neighborhood festivals. Dogwood and Virginia-Highland. More to come.

8. Roam through an art gallery in Castleberry Hill. No, but I did go the High, my favorite bit of architecture in Atlanta. And I toured the art museum at SCAD on a trip for work.

9. Throw a frisbee in the field by the skate park. This was planned, but it ended up being a party at the Mott's involving bocce, taboo, long-boarding, and some cheap tequila. Abby saved me from almost death involving the long-board and a parked car. Pretty thankful...

10. See a Brave's game (or a few) Complete! Three! Witnessed a game winning grand slam and then possibly the most boring game ever against the Nationals. Braves games define the start of the summer so no complaints here.

11. Finish my painting. Dammit. At least I tried...

12. Light the bonfire in our backyard Complete! Jess and I had a double-birthday party with cornhole, bocce, homemade ice cream, Monday Night Brewing's Drafty Kilt, and of course a bonfire. It ended up being a Perimeter Christian School reunion somehow, which is totally awesome. Covenant school for life.

13. Be overwhelmed by Dekalb Farmer's Market. No...but I did go to the Farmer's Market in San Diego and I think that's at least as cool. Ashleigh and I almost missed our flight back to Atlanta for it, but it was well worth it. Although the main thing I remember is the amazing breakfast burrito we picked up on the way there.

14. Share a food truck meal. At Dogwood with Jessie and Mandie. During our sugar-free diet phase. We might have cheated on the bread.

15. Pass the NCIDQ Exam. Success! I still have to take part 2 but I passed the Practicum! Huge relief! My friend Michele passed too.

16. Hug Abby, Rae, and Karl. No Karl. Canceled my trip to Colorado last minute. But I did see Abby and Rae. So happy to have Abs back in the states from the Gambia. I feel like me again with her here.

17. Bar hop in Athens. I got real sick the weekend I planned to hit up Athens with my college roommates. But Ash and I bar hopped in San Diego to make up for it. (the picture below is must definitely not a bar-hopping picture...but a gem I just found on my phone.)

18. Explore a used bookstore. Bought a book of fairy tales by Hans Christain Anderson at a used bookstore in Decatur. Who knew he wrote The Little Mermaid? And who knew she dies in the end of the real story??

19. Go running in Freedom Park. Biking. Much better. Carolyn and I biked from her studio in the Pencil Factory lofts to Across the Street for dinner, and back. A beautiful night. Carolyn is one of those people that inspires me every time we spend time together. She has an insatiable curiosity that makes the most common things feel like new discoveries. 

20. Ride on a motorcycle. Ryan's scooter. Way better. It was pretty much a dream come true.

21. Buy a vinyl album in Little Five. I hit up Little Five with Lindsey and bought The Postal Service album and Explosions in the Sky. My first two vinyl purchases. And I'm listening to Mumford on vinyl as I write this, thanks to roommate Mandie. 
On a side note: I was able to buy my record player because one of best friend's parents knew this year had been tough financially, with medical bills and a stolen car, and thought they'd help out. But they encouraged me to spend their gift on purchases that would help me get well - and they fully believed that music is a part of that. I agreed, but it wasn't until I had it all hooked up and was lying on my living room floor blasting Mumford's "Ghosts That We Knew" that I completely agreed with them. I'd venture to say everyone needs a record player.

22. See the Fernbank telescope. I will do this. As for stars, mom and I laid in the street outside our beach house with red wine, a wooden spoon and a pot (to scare off bears), and stared up at the most beautiful night sky I've seen in years. 

23. Post a blog (this one doesn't count) Success. 

24. Use my SLR camera. It broke...I have big plans for fixing it. But in the meantime I've been sketching. 

25. Spend a Saturday morning yardsale-ing. Jessie and I hit up an estate sale and found these little gems that now hang in the front hall.

26. Touch the Pacific Ocean. Yes! And the Atlantic. 

So I'm officially 26 now and my list is a lot shorter. Well actually, its longer now. That's Atlanta - the more I explore, the more I fall in love with this crazy city and want to know it better.