Hans wanted to eat at "The Pig Stand" while we were driving through Daytona on Sunday...

Since he doesn't know what the Floridians actually think of that part of the state, I went along with him. I'll admit. I have been slightly curious all these years. Once we got there, I found my favorite recycled artist dropped some of his chickens there!

Yes, one of the largest Harley-Davidson store in the world was next door.

No, we didn't go check it out. (We probably should have just for the experience!)

I'm just not one of those girls who gets excited about a Harley. Can I appreciate a guy who rides one? Sure, as long as I already appreciate him for things that have nothing to do with what is hanging out in his garage.

My former extreme distaste for the logo, was born of one too many days stuck in the middle of Myrtle Beach Biker Week traffic while in town visiting my customers. It is just not fun to see a guy who hasn't showered in days, shaved in months, or bought a shirt that fits in years accidentally flashing me as he leans over beside the handlebars to spit on the sidewalk.

My opinion has slowly changed over the past year. I'm sure my clean cut co-worker buying one and then Todd Bentley wearing Harley-Davidson emblazoned shirts has contributed to that.

For the foodies out there who are wondering if the BBQ pork was good: It wasn't up to Carolina's vinegar standards but the pulled chicken was delicious!

Brooke & Steve's Wedding!

My sister has an internship with this incredibly amazing fashion empire in New York City this summer.

We were visiting her this weekend. One of her new friends has been super excited about being able to go tour a REAL FARM. (For the few of you who don't know, my father runs one of the largest poultry companies in existence.)

Alisha leans over before church started on Sunday and says, "Jaine called yesterday and wanted to know if my family wouldn't like to go with her on the farm tour that afternoon. I told her that you all would probably just prefer to stay in the city."

Love those Mountainiers!

Welcome to Hebron Rock Colony which Garrett & Lauren Cho introduced me to (known to the locals like Matt as "the broken dam"... still unsure Ceeece knows where it is)


One of my next door neighbors (growing up at home AND at the beach), Lauren, brought her friend, Stacey, from App.

You climb up this low incline waterfall and have to find a way to jump from rock to rock. There were quite a few "I wish I had a stunt double" jumps!
The views down the mountain were GORGEOUS. The pictures don't even do them justice!

I LOVED THIS PLACE!! Seriously, you should go!
We had a few scary moments with the snakes. You are jumping from boulder to boulder and aren't expecting any wildlife. Lauren almost stuck her hand right on these two guys!

Thanks to Amy, Garrett, Shannon, Lauren Cho & Lauren Lewis who either provided the ideas or went alone with me!

WELCOME TO BOONE

I just got to Boone, NC and I'm hanging out here (aka WORKING for a few days).

My plans are to work hard during the day and then see the area once I'm in town. I just discovered "The Horn of the West" which is an outdoor drama but it doesn't open until June so I will just have to schedule another trip up here after the opening date.

I'm open to suggestions for what you Mountainers think I should do while I'm here!

Change of perspective...

I really have had a hard time blogging over the past year. My focus of what I have found interesting has changed. Priorities change.

Also, I can now share photos over facebook with people which is completely fun and was one of the main purposes of me starting this blog in the first place. I wanted you to explore my life in South Carolina with me while I was living down there as a way to stay connected to my friends & fam.

I'll be in and out but it probably won't be the same type of stuff.

Easter Egg Hunt in Wrightsville: A little family competition

That's my dad. The master of ceremonies for this event. In his wisdom, he added the rule that an egg was deducted from your final tally for every time you shoved a sibling.


John and Alisha were actually really sad about this new rule. I, however, was THRILLED. At 27, I just don't think I should be getting knocked down by my little brother.
That didn't necessarily stop him but those pictures are on my mother's camera. There were also no rules against stealing your sisters' Easter eggs during the count to see who found the most.

We don't know this girl but she was interesting.

I thought the Holy Spirit was on ORU's Side

Basketball brackets.

Completely Addicting.

The last three hours of my work day SUCKED. I knew it would be tough and purposefully didn't look at my bracket score until afterwards. I love this part where all the points start adding up while the games are being played. It is like watching your bank account increase instantaneously! Free money!

I opened up my computer...

I AM DEAD LAST. DEAD LAST.

DEAD LAST.

I'm #27.

People who have never been to a basketball game are doing better than I am. That's what I get for picking Oral Robert's University!

I'll keep you posted.

PAINFUL!! Thanks, Ceeece, for this material!

It had seemed a romantic and highly original way to propose to the love of your life with a £6,000 diamond ring. Lefkos Hajji, 28, wanted to make his engagement one his girlfriend would never forget, only to have his dreams cruelly snatched from his grasp by a gust of wind.

Rather than simply dropping to one knee before Leanne, 26, he told a florist to put her engagement ring in a silver helium balloon. But no sooner had he left the shop when his plans backfired spectacularly and the balloons blew away - taking the ring with them.

Keeping his prize in sight, Mr Hajji, from Hackney, London, pursued the balloons for two hours in his car across London before giving them up as lost. He told the Sun newspaper: "I couldn't believe it. I just watched as it went further and further into the air.

"I felt like such a plonker. It cost a fortune and I knew my girlfriend would kill me. I though I would give Leanne a pin so I could literally pop the question."

While Mr Hajji hopes the ring will still turn up, his girlfriend, as he suspected, was apparently less than impressed. Florist Helen Savva, of Cockfosters, London, told the newspaper: "I thought he was taking a risk. I said, 'I hope you hold onto it'."

Love the colored tights!

I am not AS EXCITED about the warmer weather as I am usually.

Why?


Because I became addicted to the fashion of tights and boots with dresses and skirts this season.






I'm not ready to go back to sandals...especially as a white girl who is really trying not to get a tan. Who wants skin cancer at 40?

I'm Telling You...Panera is the place!

Update: I just ended up at a social gathering where two of the people met at Panera.

Just remember, you heard it here first!

Facebook: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways?

I love thee to the height and depth and breadth my internet soul can reach...

Okay, just kidding.

I thought about ripping this fabulous Browning material for my internet addiction but then realized I don't love it enough to expend the creativity that would require.

There is a new face around here and there which I'm thrilled about...I am so sad that the rest of you are missing out on all the fun.

The Jerks...

Red paint splashed on UNC's Old Well
Vandalism comes on eve of tonight's NCSU-UNC game

"UNC-Chapel Hill police want to find out who splashed a cup of red paint onto the iconic Old Well early this morning. The paint was splashed on one of the white columns supporting the Old Well roof. It was repainted white at about 8 a.m.

The vandalism took place on the eve of UNC-Chapel Hill's ACC basketball showdown with N.C. State University. The Heels play the Wolfpack at 7 tonight at the RBC Center in Raleigh.
Graffiti chalked on the brick sidewalk surrounding the landmark were also removed, and wet red bricks were the only remnant of the vandalism.

"All we've got is very limited information," said Department of Public Safety spokesman Randy Young. "There was a cup [with red paint residue] that was left on the scene." The incident reminded Young of a similar act that occurred before the North Carolina/N.C. State game in 2005. In that incident, Young said he thinks police caught the vandals in the act of stenciling an N.C. State logo onto the bricks.

The Old Well once served as the only source of water for the Old East and Old West dorms at the heart of campus. It took its present design in 1897 under the presidency of President Edwin Alderman."

This makes me appreciate our Duke rivals so much more. Calling us names and breaking our favorite player's nose is one thing (Okay, well the blood was a bit much) but defiling the Old Well... that's something only our frat boys are allowed to do!

Because of Sandra's Post

I've been living and breathing work for the past twelve days. I officially have a reason not to read the local papers. (Not that I read them before. Let's face it, NPR and the BBC are my daily sources. If I were to read the paper it would be the Guardian...I'm wondering exactly when I am going to realize I need to face the facts of my heart and move to London.)

In the midst of all the work, I finished reading Vanity Fair (not to be confused with the magazine, folks) which is one of my all-time favorite books. I'm seriously considering Dr. Zhivago next and I'd really like to find a few friends who read the classics and THEN watch the movies with me for a slightly more informed movie night. (Cough. Cough. SANDRA! Cough. Cough.) Katye's already working on the book list! We could start with Jane Eyre ;)

I have a confession: I cry when I hear coverage on Hillary's campain. Actually, it could almost be termed "weeping". It doesn't last that long but it takes me by surprise. I have yet to discover why I'm crying which makes it even more curious but I do know the only other time I get this type of feeling is when I hear coverage on September 11th unexpectedly. I guess you'll just have to stay tuned to Election '08 to find if it is because I have some unconscious knowldege she is going to win or it is a premonition that she is the American embodiement of Sauron.

For all of you wondering where the young, single people are in the Triangle...they are hanging out at Panera working on their dissertations or having Bible Study. I've been working here a lot for the past three weeks and I've never seen anything like it. I guess it really is no lie that the way to a man's heart really is through his stomach. If you don't believe that, I'll just refer you to Jim's blog.

Mt. Fuji's for Lucinda

Lucinda, Sandra, Brittany and I after work on Friday in Brightleaf Square's Mt. Fuji. SO FUN!

I've done three straight days of Asian food. Two of which were spent at Shiki Sushi in my neighborhood. The sushi is great and it is BOGO every day. I'm IN LOVE with that place but if I go it can't just be once in a week.

I really do start to crave it! Char, Parrum and I went on Sunday and then Lucinda and I went back on Monday. Yum!

Only Guitar Lovers Need Apply

I love that Jon Eric captured the perfect picture of Mr. Ernie hanging out in his studio. That is the wall of everyone he's ever played with...look closely. You'll be impressed!

Gregorian chants, organ solos, candlelit santuarys filled with incense, and hot tea in the courtyard afterwards.

I have a new amazing way to spend the last few hours of Sunday evening...

"Set your minds on the things that are above, where Christ is." The ancient monastic service of Compline, the "completion" of the day, is offered in our church every Sunday evening during the university semester at 9:30 pm. An organ improvisation follows the 25-minute service. Come join us and put all of your comings and goings, your beginnings and endings, and everything in-between into the loving hands of God."

You should come with me one evening.

aXcess Encounter Friday, Feb. 2nd @ 7:30pm

aXcess Encounter is a monthly ministry gathering of singles and newlyweds















Friday, Feb 2nd: 7:30pm-10pm

KPIC Fellowship Hall


Purpose: To provide a window of opportunity for people to encounter Christ and one another in safety, honesty, and intimacy such that lives are transformed through worship, teaching, encouragement, prayer, and fellowship.
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Childcare provided.
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Need info? merr.cho@gmail.com

Two names you go by:
1. Kristinmichelle
2. KT (I've finally accepted it after 25 years of being annoyed. Once Jason, Matt, Sandra & Facebook mass media-ed it, there was no stopping fate and my childhood friends picked it back up. I realized I'd turned a corner when I went to Encounter and almost wrote it on the name tag bc it was so much easier.)

Two things you are wearing right now:
1. Long sleeve, navy T-Shirt with a white "Duplin Air" logo. Proof of the summer I took flying lessons before JFK Jr. crashed and I freaked thus ending one of my family's legacies of everyone having your pilot's license.

2. Marc Jacobs Perfume

Two of your favorite things to do:

1. Wake up early on Saturday mornings and then spend all morning in bed with my laptop, NPR, and whatever TV DVD series I'm working my way through.

2. Explore. I love exploring. Everything and anything...Roads, towns, shops, people, ideas, conversations, internet, books, countries, rituals, traditions...

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. A word from God that explains my current life in great and specific detail. I don't want the future...I absolutely abhore spoilers. Okay, maybe just a few future facts...

2. Indian food delivered to my house. So I can watch The Holiday while I eat lunch and before I start the day and meet Kim, then Ben & Michelle, then Jaimie and company and it is two am and my day is over.

Two people who will fill this out: aka My Wish List
1. Sandra (Because I think it would be fun.)
2. Jim (Because turning this type of mundane stuff into extreme entertainment is what he trumps all of is at...)

Two things you did last night:
1. Crashed on Jaimie's couch, rotted my brain by watching two episodes of 90210 (does anyone remember where all of Dylan's money came from), petted Lucy, thoroughly discussed what is wrong with all of you, and made our own wedding registry up for Kimberly.

2. Showed up around 9pm to have all my expectations for the night blown by Isabelle Allum's talk about God & the prophetic.

Two things you ate today
1. Some of Barbara's Peanut Butter Puffin's Cereal (dry)

2. I haven't gotten any further than that (I normally don't eat until much, much, MUCH later in the day on the weekends. Bad habit, I know.)


Two people you last talked to:
1. Ben
2. Does Han's voicemail count? If not, then the third to last person would have been Betsy.


Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1. Going to church and judging dance tryouts for the Campus Harvest Dance Team.

2. Spending time with awesome people (and keeping my fingers crossed).

Longest trips taken

1. For Work: Nine months in Charleston, SC and two months in Orlando, FL

2. For Pleasure: 20 days... Tie between this summer in Italy, France, Switzerland & England and a trip to the Dominican Republic when I still had summer vacations.

Your favorite holidays:
1. Groundhog's Day

2. July 4th

(I decided you all would cover the big stuff. I took the days fun traditions happen that take you by surprise.)

Two favorite beverages:

1. Rich, full-bodied red wine

2. Almost anything the last guy I dated was drinking. He had great taste, obviously.

HOWEVER, since I no longer do the alcohol thing

1. Skim, Sugar-free decaf lattes from Bean Trader's

2. Intensely frigid Diet Coke

Even as I write this, I am intensely aware of the definition of sacrifice.

Slight insight into family life...

Mom received a rocking ring for Christmas which Alisha and I picked out for Santa (with Char's help) since his reindeer are still in physical therapy.

With ten minutes, a few quarters, a creative inspiration, and the camera I generally carry in my purse, we suddenly had more than just a fancy ring box to give our mother.

This is part of the book my bella madre received along with her ring.

The Christmas Miracle























For those of you who don't know my sister, she'd probably appreciate me telling you that the idea hit on Christmas Eve at Best Buy so there was no time for hair and makeup.