HAPPY BIRTHDAY GINGER!!!

That's right...my dear Ginger is another year older today!

Ginger...on your birthday I just want to thank you for being the "Bestest"! I would have never survived this place if it hadn't been for you. We may be moving miles apart...but I'll be by your side forever!! Happy Birthday! Hope you like the redneck birthday cake...what was that saying? "You say beer, I say yes!" :)

Is Ginger's Boyfriend on American Idol?!

Ok...maybe it's just me, but every week when I watch American Idol I think to myself "Who does that guy remind me of?". Well, I think I figured it out. I think that Ginger's boyfriend Eric may be posing as Elliott Yamin on American Idol. Eric, I wish you would have told me you could sing like that! Ginger...what do you think?



And just on one final note: Chris rocked my world again last night!! OMG...I just can't get enough of this guy...I think I have a grade school crush on this guy. I have him singing "Have you Ever Loved A Woman" by Bryan Adams playing on my computer...can we say HEART MELTING!! :)

Today's Inspirational Quote:

Considering how many of my friends (and myself) are in the midst of huge life transitions I felt this was particularly fitting...especially considering I'm about to head to Chapel Hill.

"At any moment, we must be willing to sacrifice what we are for what we are capable of becoming."

-Roy Williams

The Digestion of Reality

Hey guys! Well, tonight I'm just sitting down to type my thoughts. It's been a long but fun day...but also one filled with serious conversations and big decisions. For those of you that haven't heard, I accepted a job this week with Dr. Scott Randell at UNC-Chapel Hill in the Cystic Fibrosis Center. I really loved the people I will be working with and Scott seems very passionate about his science, but yet still down to earth (aka. he realizes I want and need a personal life). I told him I would commit to a start date on Monday...but it will probably be the first or second week of June. My plan is to live in Burlington. In fact, I'm looking at the very apartments that Mike and Lara lived in while they lived in Burlington (Mike was at Wake and Lara was working in Raleigh). But things are happening so fast. They are full, but have one two bedroom apt coming open the end of May...so I think I'm gonna jump all over that one on Monday. Then today my car is starting to finally announce that enough is enough. So it looks like I may be buying a new car as soon as next weekend. As ready as I am to pack up, get moved, start my new job, make some money, and be driving anything other than a Buick...it's all just hard to emotionally digest. It's me having to finally accept that life is changing...instead of Ginger and I seeing each other for 2 hours a day like we used to...it will now be a hunt to track each other down on the phone or maybe a few moments during experiments saying hello over Google Talk". To make it even better, I started a five week spring season of volleyball tonight...obviously, my last and I will be missing the last week because I'll be in the Carribean (not a bad reason to miss though!). Poor Cory is all twisted up in a knot trying to decide on a job...he got a fantastic offer this week...but it's in downtown Winston. He is trying to schedule an interview with a CPA firm in Burlington...but I think both of us know they probably can't pay him what he's worth. But the thought is that maybe after my time at Carolina, I could make a return back to Winston and at worst, live off of Cory's huge salary. hehe :) So I'll keep everyone posted as the bits and pieces come together.

On a lighter note, I met Cory out at his client in High Point today for lunch and decided to go furniture shopping while I was out that way. So I had a good time wandering FurnitureLand South this afternoon. Check out the picture! This is why I spent the DAY there...fantastic...I have picked out couches, desks, beds...you name it...I'm just gonna have to buy it a piece at a time.

A Note From Erin:

Hey Allyson - Just in case you didn't find this comment I thought I'd post it so you'd be sure to read it:

If Allyson lives any closer to Whole Foods this time she'll be in aisle 5! :) Congrats, dude - can't wait to visit you out WEST!! - Erin

--Posted by Erin to Brief Trips to Sanity at 4/15/2006 11:42:39 AM

How true Erin!! Erin, I can't wait to hear details about life in Atlanta. Any more photo ops with hot TLC show hosts?! :)

I miss my Hokie crew!!! Luv you guys!!!

Congrats Tamara & David!!

I've been meaning to say a quick congrats to my friend Tamara and her new hubby David. They were married in Jamaica on April 1st and we will be celebrating with them here in a couple of weekends. Just because I can't resist I will show you just how impressive Tamara is when it comes to "cleaning herself up" for a special event.

Before:














After:










Congrats Tamara & David! I pray that you have many years of happiness ahead of you...may God bless your path together!!

Happy Easter!!

Mom and I are headed to Virginia this afternoon to celebrate Easter with my family. I haven't seen any of them since Christmas, so I'm excited to be making the trip. I hope each of you have someone special to share this weekend with as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. Sometimes, people give criticism to those that show up in church only on Christmas and Easter...but if you feel so inclined this holiday, God is more than excited about a visit and won't ridicule you for not being there last week.

On a lighter note, Ginger sent me this and I thought it was pretty funny:

It hopefully looks like things will be coming to a close on my job hunt in the next couple of weeks. I will let you guys know when I know something. I am so ready to move already. There are people I will miss, but I'm just ready to get on with life. If only I could earn a living without having to work...but unless I decide to start playing the NC lottery that is unlikely to happen. :)

Mama Peggy Is Headed to Winston!

Much to my delight, my mom is coming into town on Monday morning. This is the week of spring break at my old high school...where my mom still works, and so she is gonna get away for awhile and come hang out with her umemployed daughter. I think we're gonna wrap up the week by heading to Appomattox, VA next weekend to see my mom's side of the family. I'm really looking forward to eating my grandma's cooking...they don't make vegatables with fat back and 2 lbs of butter the way they used to!! :) I'm not sure what we're gonna get into yet...but I'm sure there will be lots of just "catching up"...trying to catch up on life over the phone is just never the same...and well, e-mail...not an option. Handing my mother a computer is about as useful as handing me a tire iron...not really useful unless I decide to hit someone with it.

And on the other direction, heading out of Winston...Ginger is heading to Philly to look for an apartment.

I guess reality is starting to set in. Times are a changing and things are just never gone be the same again...doesn't mean things aren't great, but it's always hard to close chapters in our lives. There are certainly people from my time in Winston that will go down in my life's storybook...some as friends and some as foes (and some that managed to hit both of those lists)...but they are all what made my life interesting. Even those that have hurt me the worst have managed to teach me a thing or two along the way...so in the end you still have to look back on those memories and smile and be thankful that in some weird way they made your life a little richer.

Finally a Reason to Be an "Idol" Fan...

I will totally admit to listening to a few sappy Clay Aiken songs thanks to Ginger and I do enjoy Kelly Clarkson's CD, especially when I'm feeling sentimental about all of the up and downs of my life for the last few years. However, as far as the show was concerned it didn't really hold my interest. Well...not until the NC local Chris Daughtry came along. OMG Ladies, this boy is HOT!!! He may already be a husband and a father...but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate God's handy work on this one. I don't feel too bad about my Tuesday night lusting considering Cory is next to me drooling over Kellie Pickler. However, I do often remind him of my favorite wisdom nugget: "Beauty is fleeting, but stupid is forever!". :) I could use a squeeze of those sexy arms and a rub or two on that hot bald head. What is it about a shaved head and a goatee that really drives me nuts?! Did I mention he's not a half bad singer either?...hehe


If you want to check him out...and maybe listen to his music you can go to MRDAUGHTRY.COM. Start voting for my boy on Tuesday nights...you wouldn't want me to be disappointed!

Fun But OUCH!!

Boys and Girls...I am struggling today! I was reunited with the flag football crew yesterday...but this time it was Flackle. And yes...I did tackle a guy...taking someone down is easier (and much more fun) than getting ahold of that pesky flag. (Another note to self: watch what you grab when you go for that flag...hehe) Considering Nicolle and I were the only two girls playing... I was matched up with guys twice my size for most of the game (and reminder: full contact football...ok...now you're with me). These guys are pretty hardcore! Two hours later I hear: "two minutes to halftime". WHAT?! Halftime...oh goodness...can I take another half of this. Well, I did survive all 4 hours of body slamming with the boys...but I'm moving slow today. Every muscle in my body hurts and my only saving grace is that apparently the youngens (yep...that's you Nicolle and Kevin) are hurting as bad as I am. I think Nicolle has learned that if she rewards me with Mexican food and cheese dip I will do just about anything!

Note: If you notice the time you should think...shouldn't you be watching the big basketball championship tonight...hmmm...well, maybe if it wasn't a blow out. Oh well. Maybe the women's game tomorrow night will bring a little more excitement. Go Lady Terps!