Don't Give Up

Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swaps of the not-quite, the not-yet, and the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists.. it is real.. it is possible.. it's yours."
— Ayn Rand (Atlas Shrugged)

Understanding my economist

Until and unless you discover that money is the root of all good, you ask for your own destruction. When money ceases to become the means by which men deal with one another, then men become the tools of other men. Blood, whips and guns--or dollars. Take your choice--there is no other.
— Ayn Rand (Atlas Shrugged)

This summer I've been reading Atlas Shrugged. It's Ayn Rand's quintessential text, and it's one of my economist of a husband's favorite books. As I read this incredible book, I'm learning more about Bryan, his philosophy on life and progress, and how important choosing the right woman is.

The story is intricate, a sort of "crazy quest" as the lead Dagny Taggert, acting Vice President of Operations for Taggert Transcontinental Railroads, tries to solve the mystery of why people are pulling out of the market, why the greatest philosopher of all time is a cook at a diner, how to keep the American economy progressing despite efforts by public opinions and politicians in Washington constantly thwarting efforts sans any real evidence of necessity besides stale phrases about profit and greed. It's probably one of the best reads of my life. It's transforming me. I can understand why Bryan loves this book, and I would love to geek out about Atlas Shrugged with anyone else who takes on the challenge of the 1000+ page novel that shakes your ideas on how the world should function.

I will continue to post my favorite posts from my reading. There are so many wonderful passages. And I'm on my way to learning, "Who is John Galt?"

Happy Birthday, Brooke!

Happy 21st Birthday, Brooke!

Cleaning the Homeless

A lot of people have a hard time dealing with the needy and the homeless. When we pass needy people on the street, we don't give them money or food or love.

What my grandfather is doing is not only a hobby of his, he's changing the lives of these needy people in Orlando one load of laundry at a time.

Watch my grandfather Ernie Mander on the local news: http://www.clickorlando.com/video/23897041/

Wine.

A bottle of wine begs to be shared; I have never met a miserly wine lover.
Clifton Paul Fadiman

Magical Movery Stop #11

Stop #11: Gainesville
Friend: Fiorela Larrea

Like Allie, I've known Fiorela for forver. Like Allie, she's my best friend. We've got the same memories, the same thought process, the same IQ, the same love of Jeremiah's, the same need for the beach, the same curiousity and the same move-world-I'm-here attitude. It's just she was born in Peru and has a body to die for, and I was born here in Florida. There's other differences, too, but they are not as interesting as what I want to post next.

Rather than write a bunch of words, here are some pictures to tell a few thousand.







Three cheers for lifelong friendship. Oh, and road trips.

Magical Movery Stop #10

Stop #10: Tampa
Friends: Allie McKee and Robert Carlise

I've known Allie since middle school. We played softball on the same team for years, quit at the same time, took lots of nerdy AP classes together and graduated in the same year. We've liked the same boys, had the same friends and were victim to the same curfew. When we graduated high school, we went our separate ways, but we've always visited each other's campuses (FSU v. Clemson) and we've always maintained that level of intimacy you just can't form without years and years of history.


We hardly came without our best friend Fiorela. Pictured on the right.

She's my fellow Dane Cook lover, someone else who has Greg as an ex, my sufi friend and a silly, rational partner in crime. She was my bridesmaid, and she's my best friend. I am so excited to be visiting her in her new place in Tampa with her boyfriend Robert (who I also adore).

Bring on the good times.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy father's day to my Dad!



For the first time in awhile, I'm home to celebrate - and so are both my sisters. It's a truly awesome Father's Day.

Magical Movery Stop #9.2

Stop #9.2: Winter Springs, Florida
Family: Aunt Peggy, Uncle Ken, Kaleb and Jacob

Even more than visiting my parents and sisters, I'll get to see my two favorite cousins. Kaleb who is now eight, and Jacob who is now nearly two. They are growing so fast, and I hate missing out on their milestones. But, being the cousins that live the farthest, we somehow become the coolest. At least when we're in town.

And their parents are pretty awesome, too. They always order Chinese takeout when we come over and we talk about comedy, kids and how uncool everyone else is compared to us. You see, back in the day, before they had kids, they were the cool aunt and uncle. They had a big pink watch the size of a door hanging on their apartment's wall and my uncle had really long hair and tattoos because he was an undercover cop. They always had candy, and they drove sweet cars. They're still cool, but the baby thing sort of dampens the awesome what with their inability to stay out late or meet us somewhere on little notice.

I love them a ton, and I'm pumped to be visiting them. Plus, I gotta teach Kaleb a thing or two about Frisbee Dog.

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!