Sick

Unfortunately, with everyone at home and at the office being sick, I myself have become run-down with a mild fever, sore throat and hurting sinuses. I spent today in bed-- and to the doctor I go tomorrow! :( I hate being sick, primarily for the Opportunity Costs. No energy, no appetite, no goals for the day except to nurse my symptoms. I will probably head to see the local herbalist, Dr Eli, tomorrow to see if she has anything to help me get well. Hope you're all healthy out there!!

Last weekend my mum and I took the dogs on a hike at Red Top Mountain state park. :) The weather was beautiful and we had a great time. (The only thing that really put me off was the snack selection at the park information lodge... there was one kind of granola bar and ten or more kinds of chocolate bars. I won't even elaborate on how I feel about that). This weekend we had some family visit from Ontario on a whirlwind Country Living and garage saling trip. My Aunt Rachel and her mum came to visit for 3 days to look for stuff for my aunt's barn shop up in Ontario. She finds the coolest antiques and chique things from estate sales and local artisans to sell at her store. We had a great time running from place to place searching for the "lucky finds"... and the jokes we made and the great people we met along the way were just wonderful. It was a great weekend. :)  I put a few pics below... but I'm waiting for my iPhone to charge so I can post the rest!

^ fresh air

^ beautiful lake

^ view from walking along the trail at Red Top Mtn

^ dinner and drinks at the country club with the ladies :)

Not only is work really busy this week, I'm doing a lot of thinking and research regarding where I want to be next year. I'm looking into everything from how to re-enact my Ontario health insurance (which involves moving back up there) to studying at Queen's or Oxford or wherever else... to traveling again to find myself. I also have to think about applying for jobs-- where, when, and in what field? Things have gotten a lot more complicated. I am, however, thankful that the world is literally at my feet. I just hope that I can figure things out and be able to afford my next step in life.

Until then, here's a new song from a favourite of mine, Benjamin Francis Leftwich... who will be playing in Atlanta on Dec. 19! :)

Fall Creek Falls, TN

This weekend I drove up to TN to hang out with some friends. Here are some pictures from our trip up to Fall Creek Falls in Pikeville, TN. What a fun dayyy!

^ awfully close to the edge...

^ gorgeous fall colours :)

^ long way dowwwwn

^ FALL CREEK FALLS

^ view from the bottom

^ run Bambi run!

^ we're coming back here in January

^ these mountains are part of the Eastern Ridge of the North American continental bowl;

the Rocky Mountains are the Western Ridge. :)

^ Em and Kristin 

^ yodelling and dancing to mother nature at sunset 

^ last look while driving home

This Week

Happy Sunday morning!  :D

This week was a busy one at work. No time to eat lunch, let alone keep all of our clients' huge amounts of printed data straight. It was crazyyyyy. By Friday after 6pm Holly and I were very ready to be done. But, we made the deadline despite numerous setbacks...and kept our sanity (well, most of it). Who is really 100% sane? ;)

Anyway, this week I took a (free) class at REI, which is an outdoors/hiking-type store. The class was called Bike Maintenance and Repairs. It was really informative and I learned a lot of basic tips about maintaining my bike. I really need to get out and cycle more. The Silver Comet trail, which starts in Smyrna, goes all the way into Alabama. I love that trail. :) Too bad the roads are way too dangerous to ride around here.

Yesterday I finally upgraded to a smartphone. It took a long time... and a lot of persuading. But, by the time my little flip-phone required charging twice a day and gave me electrical shocks while talking on it, I decided that upgrading was a necessary evil. I went into the Verizon store with my arms crossed, ready to walk back out with the same ol' phone I've been using for 5 years... but my Dad was too determined to see me with modern technology to let that happen. Let me just say, however, that the iPhone is an amazing contraption. I am loving it so far. :)

Yesterday my brother got a new car, a Jeep Commander. It's awesome and I'm super jealous. I'd take it camping and on all sorts of outdoors adventures if it were mine. Does theft count if it's amongst siblings? ;) jk.