Author: Trish

Concerts, Conversations, and Girl Time in Memphis

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I’ve now spent two nights in Memphis, and it just confirms that choosing to hang out with Mallory is always the right choice.

When I arrived on Saturday, we caught up for a couple hours, then met up with Katelyn, who as a cat named Chesterfield who immediately let me hold him and then purred really loudly when I started petting him! !! !!  Katelyn is also great.  No, really, I like her a lot, and the three of us went out to dinner where I discovered I like her so much because she is a lot like me: she’s an INFJ who loves Vancouver and nanaimo bars, which is enough for me to consider her my soul twin.   Continue reading →

Sunday Summary #3: What’s on the Internet

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Three of my favorite topics represented today:  Christianity, feminism, and Harry Potter.  A good week for the Internet.

1|  Guillermo del Toro Interview with The Mary Sue

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Guillermo del Toro did an interview with The Mary Sue about Crimson Peak and his habit of making movies with competent women taking up most of the screen time.  I was initially interested in the movie because of Tom Hiddleston, but now I have an even bigger reason to get over my fear and watch the gothic horror/romance film!

2|  How I Pray by Nicole Cliffe

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The Toast is a new website I discovered because of my friend Elizabeth.  They cover a lot of topics, but this article by Nicole Cliffe about becoming a Christian and falling in love with prayer.  This is exactly the kind of Christian blogging I want to emulate, because she writes with passion and clarity, but never once alienates her potentially non-Christian audience.

Prayer has been one of the pleasant surprises of becoming a person of faith. It’s something I truly enjoy, and has been weirdly transformational to my life, I guess? I wish neither to oversell nor undersell it to you as something to do (I’m not a particularly talented or motivated evangelist, you may have noticed.)

When I first became a Christian (July 7th, 2015, The Jesusversary), Mallory’s dad told me that he thinks God gives a spiritual starter pack to new converts, like how sometimes you can get a way better deal on your phone plan if you’re a new customer instead of an existing one. That there will be long seasons in your life where you feel like God is ghosting you, and you’re just plaintively texting into The Void. That you just won’t feel like there’s anyone on the other end of the line. And those times will come and go, in the average life of a believer, but for this first six months to a year, many people get to feel great nearness in their prayer life, and it’s a gift.

3|  29 Hilarious Tweets About ‘Harry Potter’ 

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These kinds of lists are exactly what I want from BuzzFeed, 24/7.

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More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

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I can’t say I liked this book, but I’m so glad I read it and I want everyone in the world to read More Happy Than Not.  I read the entire thing in one night: it was wholly engrossing, and then the plot kicked me upside the head and I learned a new kind of desperation for MUST READ.  This is not a feel-good book, but it might leave you feeling….no I can’t do the cheesy “more happy than not” line.  Because honestly, I closed the book feeling more UNhappy than not.  I tend to expect my YA books to have happily ever after endings, and this one was serious is a wonderful but disconcerting way.   Continue reading →

Rooming with the Hughes Family

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The summer after the Union tornado, I lived with Jennie and Dusty Hughes.  At the time, they just had one kid: baby Hannah.  Now Hannah is speaking Latin and reading The Hobbit, and three more kids (Seth, Micah, and Jonah) have joined the family.  They’re my Jackson family, and they always make me feel totally welcome, despite the family habit of peeking around corners to stare at me with owl eyes.  This tradition is, I feel compelled to mention, always initiated by the parents.

I also got to spend time with Bill and Sally Smith, Jennie’s parents.  They were dear friends and pseudo parent/grandparents at Woodland.  Since they moved to Jackson, I’ve only seen them at Jackson parties.  The last four days, however, I got to have lunch at their house in a nice one-on-two conversation, and they stopped by the Hughes house every so often.  It was nice to feel like they were just….around, and not so distant as to need specific visits.

But back to the Hughes family.  They’re so weird, and I love it.  Jonah, the youngest, toddles around on his own, content to move chairs and eat grapes and drive toy trucks.  Continue reading →

Reconnecting to My College Life

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On Thursday I spent the afternoon at Union University.  I’ve visited the campus a couple times since I graduated in December 2009, but it’s always been on a weekend, so I never got to spend significant time with people from my school days.

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This trend almost continued.  I went to the Alumni Services office where I worked for three years, and four of the three desks were empty.  Offices surrounding the main area were full of people I didn’t know.  Luckily Sally was still around, and we sat and talked for an hour about how all the other staff that I knew had left for one reason or another.  It was pretty depressing, honestly, and I was sad to have missed the chance to see Katrina, Stephanie, and all the others.   Continue reading →

The Be Thankful Challenge

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be-thankful

White Walls & Wanderlust nominated me to take part in the Be Thankful Challenge!

Rules:
– Share this image in your blog post.
– Write about 5 people in your life you are thankful for.
– Write about 5 things in 2015 that you are thankful for.
– Spread the love and challenge 5 other blogs to take part.

5 People I’m Thankful For

  • Lindsay Wineinger:  She is an amazing friend, both in partnering with me in a fun new blog series (Letters Between Friends) and in planning a fundraiser for me.  I don’t know how I possibly deserve her.
  • Taylor Swift:  Gotta be real, what would life be without her 1989 album?  My road trip would be a lot more interminable, at the very least.
  • Stephanie Broach:  I’m still grieving the end of our weekend in Alabama.  I had so much fun with her!  I keep finding myself wanting to talk to her for hours, but it is no longer quite so easy.
  • Neil Patrick Harris:  He is awesome at everything, and I’m so glad he shares his awesomeness via TV, books, and movies.
  • Jennie & Dusty Hughes:  Staying with the Hughes family means lots of cute kids, but I’ll be honest – I’m mostly there for the adults.  There is always so much laughter, insults, and deep conversations after the kids go to bed.

5 Things I’m Thankful For

  • iPhones: Roadtripping is so much more enjoyable with a single device that allows me to talk to friends, navigate roads, listen to music, and listen to audiobooks.
  • Animals:  Seriously, nothing makes me happier than a warm cuddly animal that lets me pet it.
  • Sleep:  Every night I get my nine hours of sleep is a glorious night.
  • Hot Beverages:  Coffee, tea, hot chocolate?  I could drink them constantly.
  • External Processing:  Lindsay (see above for more thankfulness) linked me with the term, and it is so awesome to know that when making decisions or thinking through possibilities, I need to talk it out.  Seeing different friends every few days means I get to have the same conversations over and over, which is sometimes very helpful in confirming my beliefs and desires.

5 Blogs:

Thanksgiving is right around the corner!  It was fun to kick start a season of thankfulness with this challenge.  Thanks, White Walls & Wanderlust!

Oh Hey, Friday! #6 MEMORIES FROM UNION UNIVERSITY

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It’s another round of the Oh Hey, Friday! link-up from September Farm and 5 on Friday from A. Liz Adventures!  

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today’s five:  MEMORIES FROM UNION UNIVERSITY
Since I spent yesterday wandering around Union’s campus, meeting with old professors and coworkers and generally immersing myself into nostalgia, this topic seemed obvious!

1|  creating a Condoleezza Rice greeting dance for the 2009 Scholarship Banquet

I worked as a student aid at the Alumni Office for three years, and our biggest event was the yearly Scholarship Banquet.  Each fall someone famous came to speak to people who paid thousands of dollars for the privilege of participating….and me, a lowly aid, who went for free.  I would get dressed up (in the same black-and-white dress each year), go early to set up, and direct rich people around before getting my picture taken with the Famous Person.  One year Peyton Manning came to speak, and I walked him backstage with my boss.  He tripped on the stairs in front of me, and the enormous joy I felt from having better balance in heels than a millionaire football superstar was overwhelming.

But this is about Condoleezza Rice.  My senior year, I managed to get a job at the Alumni Office for my friend Stephanie.  At the Scholarship Banquet that year, we were assigned the task of greeting the U.S. Secretary of State at the door and escorting her to a particular room.  This job involved waiting for at least half an hour, so naturally Stephanie and I made up a dance with which to greet her.  There was a lot of spinning and 8-counts involved.  We were in the middle of rehearsing it when her security opened the door, so we scurried into professionalism just in time to shake her hand and walk her where she needed to go. Continue reading →

Letters Between Friends: EPIPHANIES AND ENCOURAGEMENT

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Last week I wrote to Lindsay on her blog, and today she has responded!  Our Letters Between Friends series continues!

LettersBtwnFriends_LogoDearLindsay

Dear Tricia,

Can we take that road trip to DC tomorrow?!

It has been such a crazy week!  I’m sorry that you’re even getting this letter so late in the day.  I’m aching for a break from reality.

This may come off as kind of serious, but I had a mini epiphany this week that I thought was applicable to both you and me.  With you and I both about ready to go though some pretty big changes, I think our brains HAVE to be allowed to freak out a little, but Tuesday, as we were leaving for Miss Julie’s to drop the girls off before work, this was Rue’s and my conversation…

“MOOOMMMY!  The Shun-shine! It’s on my eyes!”

“Babe, the sun hasn’t even popped up yet!  But look at the beautiful colors!  Isn’t the pink sky so pretty?”

“Yeah mom, that sky is red.  You put your arm up so it not get in my eyes?”

“No, Rue.  Just look at the pretty colors and throw your blanket over your face.” (No compassion, I know.)

Then I got REAL DEEP REAL FAST!

Even the anticipation of God’s glory is beautiful.

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As you gear up for your main event in January, the anticipation and fundraising and contact you are having with people is been divine and wonderful and something that you will never forget, I’m sure.  Then, when you leave in January, it will be the icing on an already iced cake (if you know what I mean).

I’m writing all of this to convince myself as well that this is true.  With changes coming my way as well, this is a reminder I need also.  God doesn’t do anything just because.  And he also doesn’t do anything half a**.  Can I say that??

I hope you are enjoying your time, friend!  Again…sorry for the late letter.

Miss you, but anxiously await your posts every day!

Happy Almost Friday,

Lindsay

Mini-Reunions from Senegal

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I’ve been seriously slacking on keeping up with my blog, which I blame on staying in a house full of entertaining and affectionately demanding children.  I now understand all moms who have ever bemoaned their lack of productivity, and I am beginning plans on a future “Mommy’s Blogging; This is Your Jail” room.

As of Monday, I have crossed into the past!  I’m in Tennessee, my college years home, and the number of people to see per city has increased greatly.  I will save the Hughes and Smith families for a later post, because today is about the Fatick friends I’ve had the pleasure of seeing!

On Monday, I drove up to Nashville and met Melanie at 5:00.  Melanie and I were in Senegal at different times, but we heard a lot about each other and hung out at a reunion a couple years ago.  We explored some Nashville hot spots, only the first wasn’t so hot.  Construction was all over the place, so we walked for several blocks in confused circles looking for anything that looked remotely fun.  In the end we drove somewhere else, and wound up eating at 12 South Taproom.  It was delicious, and I had a lot of fun catching up with Melanie.  It’s always nice to find a wandering soul kindred spirit.   Continue reading →

What Are You Reading Wednesday #WAYRW (5)

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What Are You Reading Wednesdays #WAYRW is a weekly feature started on It’s A Reading Thing. Everyone is welcome to participate. You can answer the questions in the comments section of the weekly #WAYRW post or link back to your #WAYRW post on your blog via the link up. You can grab the image above or create your own, just please make sure you link back to IART as the host for this meme.

How to participate:
Grab the book you are currently reading and answer three questions:
1. What’s the name of your current read?
2. Go to page 34 in your book or 34% in your eBook and share a couple of sentences.
3. Would you like to live in the world that exists within your book? Why or why not?

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1. What’s the name of your current read?

Girl at the End of the World by Elizabeth Esther

2. Go to page 34 in your book or 34% in your eBook and share a couple of sentences.

Papa George hands me the gift and leans forward, watching intently.  “Don’t rip the paper!” he warns.  “Save it and give it to your mother.  Maybe she can use it for another gift.”

I carefully unwrap the present.  In Papa George and Grandma Betty’s view, childish stuff like ripping open presents is intolerable.  Childhood is a time of serious preparation for Christian service and the End Times.

3. Would you like to live in the world that exists within your book? Why or why not?

NOPE.  Elizabeth Esther’s memoir is a haunting look at what happens to a child when caught in the visegrip of fundamentalist Christianity, and I want no part of that world.