Dirty Words

I'm sitting out in the sun as I write, and it's beautiful here in Vermont.  I have been running the last few days and jogging by all of the rivers and streams, looking at the mountains, I realized that there were some things I missed about my home state.  However, every time I run I see at least five or six cars drive by with familiar people and I remember exactly why I can't be here anymore.  They all look at me like they recognize me which really bothers me for some reason. I feel very anxious when I am constantly surrounded by acquaintances and familiar faces and I love the freedom of being unknown.

Speaking of freedom, it was very liberating this summer having so few possessions that I have begun to get rid of things.  Yesterday I filled two garbage bags with clothes that I rarely wear to give to charity and I plan to do the same with many of my random belongings strewn about the house.  My goal is to get to Trieste with only my big backpack and my travel guitar.  We'll see if I can pull it off.

My Dad and I are driving to Boston tomorrow to try to secure my Italian visa.  The process has been a giant headache, and I hope I have the right paperwork with me.  If they don't give me the visa I will probably curse at them in English because I don't know any Italian profanity.  In fact, that is going to be my first order of business when I get over there, I need to have an arsenal of dirty words at my disposal, and I hope I meet someone who is ok with swearing at me until I learn them all.

Home

I arrived home in Vermont in one piece at 2:30 this morning, unpacked the car in the 40 degree cold at Sam's house, and promptly fell asleep at about 6 a.m.  I came home to meet my parents on their lunch break and it was great to see them.  My house is a bit different, the old dilapidated shed to the side has disappeared, my apartment is the cleanest it has been in decades, and there is a new washer and dryer in the laundry room which my parents are ecstatic about (they mentioned it to me on the phone a number of times when I was in NC and they insisted that it be the first thing I see when I walked into the house).  

Unfortunately, my Great Uncle Stuart passed away on Tuesday.  He has been battling health problems for a long time, so I hope that he is at peace now.  I will always have fond memories of him driving his custom coach all the way from Oregon to come see us, and he absolutely loved my family.  I was definitely the closest with him out of all of my Grandfather's siblings and he will be missed greatly.

Speaking of missing things, I am missing Elon already.

It's nice to be home, and with my Italian trip approaching, it's hard to complain, but I wish I could have spent a few more months in North Carolina with my new friends.  I feel like I was really just starting to get to know people, and my last month in Elon especially, was ridiculously fun.  I hope that everyone there knows how much I appreciate them for making me feel welcome, and we better keep in touch, or else...

Some of my fondest memories of the summer are listed below in no particular order:

Bonnaroo '08

Garrett's Birthday in Chapel Hill

Tom Petty and Steve Winwood in Raleigh 

(thank you to Anthony for being a DD)

Cheap Trick/Heart/Journey in Raleigh

(thank you to Sara Beth for being a DD)

Late Night Games of COOKE 

(a game that is strikingly similar to HORSE played with a beer in hand)

Hangin' with Steve, the Coolest Puppy of all Time

Kegs and Buckets at Maple Ridge

Brian's First Time Watching Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle

Visitors, Including Sam's Family, Monti, Howard, and Brett

Brett Getting Sam's ID Taken Away at the Bar

Brett Getting Kicked Out of the Bar

Hanging Out With and Giving Life Lessons to Darrell and Jamal 

Working the 3:30 Serving Shift at Sidetrack and Making Eleven Dollars in Tips

(on a good night)

Awkward Staff Meeting with Chad

Road Trip Home with the Tripod

Chapel Hill

Friday night was fun.  Our friend and neighbor Garrett rented a stretch Hummer for his 21st birthday that took us to Chapel Hill and back.  After trying a couple of bars that were less than spectacular, we found ourselves at Top of the Hill, which makes their own beer and has an amazing view of Franklin Street.  Definitely one of the coolest bars I have ever been to, I hope I can make it back some day.