travel spontaneously.

I was talking to my dad the other night and he used this quote...

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.

These are words I take to heart. What I want most, at any given moment, at every opportunity, is to travel. When I have a little padding in my bank account, I wonder where I could go and who would go with me, or who I could visit. One of the great luxuries of college was that I never had classes on Fridays - infinite three day weekends. I was on the go - home, New York, wherever I could get to. And summer vacations with Dad and Stef. Spring Breaks with Justin.

Traveling gets harder as you begin climbing your career ladder. You have more obligations and less padding in that bank account. But it is so important to keep traveling high on your list of priorities. I know I do. Jump at the chance for a weekend away - even if it's to the casinos in Indiana with your girlfriends or to Milwaukee to visit your boyfriend's parents.

This Friday I'm hopping a flight to NYC to celebrate Kristen's 24th birthday! It was a relatively spur of the moment decision [a couple weeks ago], and I'm pretty sure she would have gone even if no one could join her. But it turned out to be fate, because Erica and I were both able to go along. And Leanne will be anxiously awaiting our arrival. Sometimes you have to sacrifice a day of work for things that are much more important. I couldn't be more excited for a cliché girls weekend in the city. Not to mention that once again I will get to see my fave gal pal Shay! Love her to pieces.

A preview of what's to come.
That's the birthday girl on the right, looking mischievous, with two of her accomplices.

call it what you will.

I've realized that to the average blogger, my blog title may sound like a contrived pairing of words that could be found using one of those "What's Your Emo Band Name?" generators online. I hate to disappoint, but it is much simpler - and way dorkier - than that.

In 1968, NBC aired a television special titled simply and appropriately Elvis. The program was put together to bring Elvis back into the spotlight as a musician, after years of Hollywood formula movies and soundtracks.

"Only thing worse than watching a bad movie is being in one."
Elvis Presley
(Don't worry Elvis, I still own - and watch - all of your movies.
Including Harum Scarum.)

After the success of the TV production and the rejuvenating boost it provided to Elvis and his career, it became commonly and lovingly referred to as the '68 Comeback Special.

Work hard for the money.

young and healthy.

"I'm young and healthy,
And so are you...
When the moon is in the sky
Tell me what am I
To do?"

Let me just say that I have an irrational fear of gyms. The people that go to gyms freak me out. Trainers give me the creeps. It makes me panicky to see 40 people running side-by-side on machines with light up screens that flash at you if you don't know the right combination of buttons to push. What happened to just pressing "Start" or "On"??

That being said. I have done the unthinkable. And it was a battle. What do I dislike more: douche bag trainers with bad hair or my waning metabolism? What makes me more uncomfortable: overly toned women with bad fake tans or my pants? What should I really be concentrating on: this irrational fear or getting myself to be more active? It's really not about any sort of weight gain - it's about being softer in areas where I used to not be soft. And things that jiggle when I walk down stairs that are supposed to be stationery.

So I did it. I... joined a gym. There is an Xsport Fitness that I pass everyday on my way to work, and again on my way home. It has a pool, and a hot tub, and a rock climbing wall, and a spa... and weights and stuff too of course. If it wasn't on my daily route, I was sure that I would never be able to convince myself to go, so this had to be the one. Todd and I joined on Monday and worked out together that evening for 2 hours. It was not as scary as I expected. (That's a lie, I was still really anxious the whole time.) But we explored most everything that I would use, and I even felt comfortable enough to go back on Tuesday all by myself. I've been swimming, running, stretching and using the weight machines.

This is a pretty giant step for me. I don't ever see myself being hugely health-crazed or anything, but this is a good start down the road to equalizing what I'm putting into my body and what I am working off. As long as I can burn the total calories found in 2 cans of coke, a Chipotle burrito, and a 3 piece Chicken Select meal with buffalo sauce from McDonalds, I'll be happy.

Muscle Beach, 1950s

2010: the year of the wedding

Not mine of course. Let's not get ahead of ourselves.

My beary vest friend, Ms. Katherine Coe Stopa, is engaged to be married! It will be a Christmas wedding on December 18, 2010. I'm so excited - finally an excuse for all those hours I spend watching "Say Yes to the Dress" and "Who's Wedding is it Anyway?", and perusing theknot.com!

So much love going around. Who will be next??