List of Lessons Learned From a Month on the Road

-You can never pack too many pairs of underwear.
-Contradancing is like anything else; practice makes perfect.
-Drinking and eating out will make you gain weight. Just accept it.
-There's nothing more wonderful than visiting old friends and making the same old jokes.
-Gas is way cheaper than a plane ticket.
-95% of my and Bryan's friends were/are improvisers.
-Toilet paper can be rolled over or under.
-Make no leg of a road trip longer than five hours, and you'll be happy.
-You can never have too many mix cds.
-Eat the food that a region is known for; it doesn't get better than that.
-Plan to get very little sleep. Late night conversations/debates/jokes/dancing are the
gluesticks of friendship.
-Don't say goodbye. Say see you later. And mean it.

After having spent more than a month on the road, I can say both that I'm glad it is over and that I wish I was still visiting friends. It was the best summer I've ever had, and I would highly, highly, highly recommend you take the time to map out your own road trip to see your friends. They probably miss you, and I bet you'll have an amazing trip.

Oooooooooooooklahoma

We made it. We're home in Oklahoma. Finally.

I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

During our Magical Movery Tour of the East Coast, we visited almost every friend we have. We visited Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Carrboro, Greenville, Easley, Charleston, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, Gainesville, Clemson, Indiana and Kentucky.

Along that trip, we asked our friends to give us advice for Oklahoma. Here it is.

Advice from Friends from Bryan and Alyssa on Vimeo.

Magical Movery Stop #9

Stop #9: Winter Springs, Florida
Family: my parents, Caralyn

In the past five years, my visits to family have been pretty infrequent, probably four times a year. It's sad when you think about it because for 17 years of my life, I was there everyday. I don't think I realized when I went to Clemson that, starting that fall, my visits home would really be just that: visits.

As the years have passed, I've become more attached to these visits. I firmly believe in at least three visits a year: a winter holiday, a summer vacation and a random visit. How else can I play a competitive round of Balderdash or compare wines or watch my father play guitar or see all of Cari's progress or help my mom with her hair? I love my visits home.


It's going to be a good stop. One of those long visits where we stay for a full week. My mother is so excited that she's taken off work for the whole week. She wants to take us to the beach, to get seafood and to Disney. I don't know if we'll have time for everything, but her excitement is too contagious for me to even care.

The next time I see my family, it will be Christmastime. I've got to make this trip full of Winter Springs things like Jeremiah's Italian Ice, attending my family's church, eating Tijuana Flats, walking Michelle's dog, visiting my grandparents three streets away, making mixed drinks with Caralyn, playing Wii Sports Resort like it's the Olympics, playing cards, playing board games, eating yummy food grilled by my dad, making a mess of my old room and running my old high school route. Three cheers for being home!

Magical Movery Stop #8

Stop #8: Jacksonville, Florida
Family: Michelle

It's not everyday that your littlest sister is living on her own, working full time and taking two semesters of summer school. Michelle wasn't always the girl who could buy herself a Jeep convertible or the girl who has been waiting six months to have her brother-in-law buy her sushi.

No, Michelle was the baby, the youngest of three very clever girls. She used to be the one my sister Caralyn and I would pay a dollar to go admit she ruined the carpet with grape juice or she dropped the phone in the pool. Michelle was the easy-going kid who really just wanted to play Lion King in her room, alone.

I guess I never really considered her more than a child, but over the past three years, she's grown up to be a kickass person and my best friend. She has worked her way from Steak-n-Shake to a chinese restaurant to Bahama Breeze where she is Assistant Manager, all at the age of 19. Plus, she's enrolled at UNF as a full time student. She amazes me with her ability to maintain friendships, build wealth, purchase a car and still be involved with family.

Because she's taking summer classes, she can't skip them to be home in Orlando with me and Bryan. So, we're bringing ourselves to her. We'll get to see her dorm room, meet some friends and take her to sushi. What more can you ask for?

Magical Movery Stop #7

Stop #7: Charleston, South Carolina
Family: Shawn & Jessica Campbell
Friends: Zach & Brooke Burroughs

This weekend, we are visiting my favorite city in all of the United States, the combination of all things wonderful: the South, the beach, seafood, history and proximity to family and friends.

Our lovely hosts for the 90 degree weekend are Bryan's cousin Shawn and his adorable wife Jessica. We haven't seen them since Christmas, and it will be so nice to catch up - and hang out without all the rest of the family.

We're hitting the beach Saturday with Zach and Brooke Burroughs. This powerhouse of a couple is killing med school. Zach is nearly Dr. Burroughs, and Brooke just graduated number one in her nursing class. If I get bit by a shark or stung by a jellyfish or torpedoed launched by a submarine, I will probably survive in their company.

Three days in Charleston is not nearly long enough to enjoy the crab cakes and the beautiful beaches and our dear friends, but it is all our schedule allows. I plan to live (and drink) it up.

Magical Movery Tour Stop #6

STOP #6: Greenville, South Carolina

Family: Bryan's parents and Brooke

Friends: Jason Underwood and Meg Pierson

We can't wait to be back in upstate South Carolina. It will be nice to see Bryan's family again, to wash our clothes and to relax in a big house with a big tv. Bryan's dad is great with his grill, and we're looking forward to burgers, steaks and chicken. We're looking forward to playing Rock Band with Brooke, watching the many movies of the Buckley collection and catching up on our internet!

It will be awesome to once again see Bryan's best friend Jason Underwood. These guys have known each other for eight years, and you can tell. There's no other man (besides Bryan) that I'd rather hang out with than Jason. He's hilarious, weird and always fun.



I know they'll be filming some new Food Review videos, writing sketches and planning new comedy adventure. I'm excited to hit G-vegas with them and have some good nights.



Also in Greenville is the lovely Meg Pierson. This summer she is starring in the title role of Romeo and Juliet as a part of Shakespeare in the park. We're going to see her play the tragic Juliet in downtown Greenville, and I'm excited!

Meg is also going to show us around the museum and grab lunch, as we often do when we're in the same city. It feels like it's been a long time since we last saw Meg, probably since Christmas, and it will be so nice to catch up!

We're breathing again. Halfway through the Magical Movery Tour. Less than a month until we're living in Oklahoma!

Magical Movery Tour Stop #5

STOP #5: Carrboro, North Carolina
Friends: Jeff Brenman, Zannie Gunn, Molly Buckley, Colette Henderson, Joey Z, PT Scarborough, Tom Keller, John Reitz, Zach Ward, Greg Brainos, Kit Fitzsimons and everybody else!



This is one of my favorite places in the whole world. I love this place! I visited every February when I was in college, and each time had the best time. I moved right after graduating from college to perform and teach for DSI. And I lived there for a year living it up, performing it up and hanging out with some of the funniest people in the world.

I am PUMPED to be visiting on my birthday, for the third year in a row. When I knew we were road tripping, I planned this stop for June 6 first - and planned the rest of the trip around it. THAT's how much I love this place.



I can't wait to catch some shows, sneak into performing in one, grab drinks and laugh it up with my friends. Jeff Brenman, tech genius and improv hilarity, is hosting us again. I'm so excited to see my girl Zannie Gunn! and Molly Buckley! and Colette Henderson (and your new house)! Tom Keller! I'm excited to see all the boys on my old Harold team the 708. I'm excited to talk about Tahlequah Oklahoma with Joey Z who went to NSU! I'm excited to catch up with the man, the legend Zach Ward! I'm excited to eat some Asia Cafe, to smoke by the train tracks with PT, to get a million hugs and to laugh so hard I have to pee.


If you couldn't tell, I am excited!

Buckley Magical Movery Tour

REMINDER: Today starts the Magical Movery Tour.



See you soon!

Small Town Love

When Bryan said he was interviewing for a university in Oklahoma, I was sure it wouldn't be the one we chose. When we flew out west for the campus interview, it still didn't seem real. During our four day visit, we went from "No way we could live in a town this small" to "Oh, this place is so cute! I want a house like that one." An offer, a long talk and some signatures later, we decided Northeastern State University of Oklahoma was it.

In three days, we're moving from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the fifth largest city in the United States to Tahlequah, Oklahoma, America's friendliest small town. It's going to be very different.

There's only one grocery store: Reasor's. And we're lucky because the Reasor's of Reasor's lives in our new town. They're like royalty there, "The Reasor's will be attending the summer production of Oklahoma." "Why then, we should all attend!"

It's going to be cheaper. Both renting and buying houses (the greatest cost of living) is nearly 50% in Tahlequah. When we met with the realtor, I told her how much we're paying in Philadelphia and she said there's nothing we could rent in Tahlequah at that price. Our new home is half our old rent.

Traffic is a mythological creature. When we visited, we were with the realtor at 5:30 and she called a full row of cars stopped at a red light rush hour. We were only slowed by the "traffic" an additional two minutes. Driving into the city on a Friday evening, we can take the same thirty minute route (on weekdays) and not arrive for two hours due to the many, many Philadelphians on their way to a good time in the city.

The internet is slower. Or maybe just the internet user. I've noticed a difference in response times between the East Coast and Oklahoma: it's slower. Also, the Craigslist in Tahlequah is as sparse as 2002.

There's not as much to do. When you compare Tahlequah to Philadelphia, you just won't win on activities. Tahlequah does offer a new festival every month from the Balloonfest in August (I assumed regular balloons to be on the safe side, but they're hot air balloons!) and the Taste of Tahlequah in November (all the restaurants give out samples from their menu, similar to Fall for Greenville).

There's no giant YMCA. I grew quite attached to our large gym here, and it will be hard to find something to replace it. I guess I'll have to use the university gym and work out beside those young sweaty college boys...if I have to.

Town gossip. I've already heard a lot of gossip from our one visit. Gossip seems to be a much bigger thing in Tahlequah than anywhere I've lived, even Clemson. It's the "everybody knows everybody" phenomenon. Which worries me because they don't know the Buckleys, and I doubt they'll be using Google to learn about us. We'll be unable to escape the "new in town" title and questions. I'm excited about being the new lady in town, but if you know Bryan, he's just ready to have his routine and handful of friends with which to kick back.

Visits will be fewer. I am blown away when somebody says he wants to visit us in Oklahoma. I understand if you never visit us out there. It's okay; who has "Visit Oklahoma" on their bucket list? Our home will be bigger, so we'll be able to fit lots of guests. Also, we'll love the company. July is already booked, with our craziest friends visiting each weekend (Jason, Sheryl, Alex, Russ).

They still have internet in Oklahoma, so I'll continue to hold my relationships with people in Philadelphia, Carrboro, Clemson, Florida and elsewhere in the world through skype, facebook, twitter, reader and my blog. In the words of our dear friend Mac, I love you, guys.

Buckley Magical Movery Tour

Although this was not initially planned as part of our road trip, we are hitting a special destination two weeks early!

STOP #1: White River Junction, Vermont
FRIEND: Erin Jenkins Smith and Matt Smith

Erin at our wedding, 2008 Meg, Bryan, me and Erin at her wedding, 2009

We are pumped to spend the weekend with them!

Uncertainty and Creativity.

The future is uncertain, but this uncertainty is at the very heart of human creativity.
Ilya Prigogine

Reality hits.

A friend of mine was telling me how incredible it is that I have already lived in four states (moving to my fifth) before I have even turned 23. When she pointed it out, I realized how different my life is than my friends. I married young, moved every year and maintained friendships from each place. My girlfriends and I talk a lot about relationships and men and marriage, but we never talk about moving.

Everyone has to move. At some point in life, you have to pack up your place and move to a new place. Having experienced moving to a new place on my own five times, I will be blogging through my sixth move. I've learned so many things with each move, and by the time we get to Oklahoma, I'll be a pro.

Current Move Countdown: 55 days

Magical Movery Tour

So you've heard the news: the Buckleys are moving. And we're moving for "semi good." This is the summer of fun, summer of friends, summer of east coast love.

This may be the only time we see this many of our friends in this quick of a succession. We're young, we're crazy and we love our friends, so we're doing it! Figure out when we'll be in YOUR city and clear your schedule. Let's get real, y'all.



Advanced ticket sales are through my email. I already have dinners and brunches and sleepovers planned. Get yours today!

I'm Moving!

One awesome part of being married is that your spouse's opportunities are also your opportunities. I knew marrying Bryan meant moving all over the country, something I am a huge fan of. I love to travel - and what's more, I love living in new places even more.

He's done it again! Bryan has landed a new job, this one even better than his current one. This one means we'll be living in this new place for at least three years, five to six if he wants to go for tenure, longer if we love it. So, I am totally unpacking my heart in this new town. I'm really excited. I love change; I find it refreshing, renewing, exciting. I love meeting new people, learning new cultures, eating at new places, hosting parties and decorating. I'm totally ready for this.

Are you ready? Watch our video where we drop the news of where we're moving and what we'll be doing this summer.

The One Where We Move from Bryan and Alyssa on Vimeo.