Failte!

I'm excited to share my adventures with all of you! I want your first taste of my life in Ireland to be this poem that I wrote very late one night when I was a Junior in College. Its meaning seems eerily prophetic now. More than anything, I've created this blog to make the actualization of this life-long dream of mine visible to those I love: my friends who are my foundation, my endlessly supportive family, my mentors and co-workers who inspire me, and my former students who have given me enough satisfaction and fulfillment to last two lifetimes... Have the courage to believe that your wildest dreams can come true.

Is fhearr fheuchainn na bhith san duil, (It is better to try than to hope)

e
Mourn (A Seaside Peak in Southern Ireland)

The dark, earthen sod saturates her fair feet,
but briefly since she frolics fast in knee high
blades of greenest grass that blow dizzily in the Celtic-sea air.

Her wool skirt, stiffened by ware of evenings past
is splashed by cresting waves that break
against a beach blacker than her hair.
Those once stiffer fibers were loosed by nights upon nights
of hanging perfectly on his line before being wildly blown dry
by the crisp Hibernian salt air.

The pair sits to rest a while instead of dodging
breakers or skipping paler stones.

"Indian summer's here," he says softly,
but all of summer here feels like the edge
of autumn to her, even though she grins in agreement
as she dangles her pale, soft feet off Achilles' peak,
where Erin's vermillion-gold sky meets
an ocean that is grey with years.

She sleeps with her eyes closed tight most nights.
He asks her if she believes in Tier-Nan-Og,
and she asks him if he believes in anything eternal.
Outside the tide is rising, or it's receding—
She never can tell but for the strengthened smell of
salty freshness strained through his light, lace curtains.
She thinks to herself that he is like trying to hold the sea 
and she imagines the water running between her fingers--
clenched so tight.

And so, the night calls her out of her sleeping,
like daytime chides her into dreaming.
She slips her white fingers through the holes of an old loose scarf
that affords her more company than warmth
on these newborn autumn evenings. She is off-- 
Night clouds reflect emerald from land to sea,
And the tara that she never eyes from long hours of
staring too far into star blanketed skies,
feels cool against the thickening pads of her pallid feet.

Elisabeth Lewis (2005)

07 December 2011

where in the world i will be in 2012

So i pretty much make it the object of my life to be as happy as possible wherever i am. Currently, if you haven't heard, that is bed with a sinus infection for a week. While currently outside it is really freaking blustery. And I feel like I'm the only person who acts like it's freezing when I'm outside?!
I'm getting out of the house all day tomorrow for a much needed doctor's appointment, meeting with my Professor, and a little Christmas gathering of girls at Indra's on the North side. But the past 6 days have left me restless, all the more since I was holed up writing my papers the whole 2 weeks before i fell ill :(
Needless to say, I'm not feeling the winter wonderland at the moment...SO I'm allowing myself a little escapist activity! These are the five places I'm looking for jobs next fall! First of all, don't panic OR get excited. It might not be a long-term stay because I sort of want my first archaeological job to be on site, and it is of course, me. And, FYI, I haven't lived in one space for more than a year since 318 Tranquil Ave. (the house i grew up in for all of you who are not fortunate enough to be Charlotteans) Second of all, lobbying wont help your cause. I'm going where the jobs are.

So these were my criteria in choosing:
1) Must contain at least 5 people I love (that's EASY)
2) Must have ample opportunities for either A) fieldwork or B) Cultural Heritage Management
3) Must not have a LONG and/or COLD winter (sorry, Boston)
4) Must be able to drive around (Not that I was even considering you, New York)
5) Must not be somewhere I've already lived (Oh, you were so close, Carrboro)

Essentially I've learned: Cold + Lonely = SUCK. So with no further ado, and in no particular order...
Where in the world would YOU go?


5. San Antonio, Texas
The River Walk at night.

I am in love with this city. And NO, it has nothing do with the fact that it is my ex-boyfriend's hometown (though his family is divine). Although, it does have a lot to do with the fact that it is The BINKLEY Family's hometown. San Antonio is very warm, very outdoors oriented, it contains a best friend and a church built in, and SO MANY great cultural heritage opportunities! Lots of parks and museums and lovely, lovely DRY heat. I've always had some mysterious draw to the southwest. Maybe it's Cormac McCarthy, maybe it's being a cactus, I don't know, all I know is I love this place. Have you BEEN to  The Alamo? But I would be lying if I didn't admit it's the dark horse.

4. Asheville, North Carolina
What's up most favorite city ever!? The only drawback to Asheville is that I'd never leave. The mountains! The fresh air! Downtown! The Music--the life! If you've never been to Asheville, you're missing one of the most beautiful jewels of the Blue Ridge. Imagine warm days, cool nights, fog rolling in over the mountains, distant thunder. Perfection. Everyone knows I would live there in a second, with a big wrap around porch, and a barefoot, bearded, granola eating boyfriend. Asheville has some great Heritage Management sites as well. I worked with the Folk Art Center and Scottish Heritage when I was researching a Celtic cross there in Undergrad.
Definitely the contender.

3. Washington, D.C.
 The favorite of many. I think in 10 years there's supposed to be a high-speed train between DC and Raleigh, which is quite appealing for family purposes! Plus, SO MANY people I love live in the greater DC area, and I would be instantly welcomed with their warmness and generosity: two Liz's, an Anny, Gary, 3 handfuls of sorority sisters. It's certainly the reasonable choice--home to the Discovery Channel, National Geographic, a slew of museums and heritage sites, and a great need for commercial archaeologists. It's just weird I've never lived here because i have spent so.much.time. in this city. Applying will be well worth it, but...is my heart in it? AND WILL THE WINTER BE COLD? cuz in case you didn't get the memo, I'm done with that!

2. Los Angeles, I can't believe I'm typing this, California

The unexpected. I didn't mean to love L.A. I just do. Reminds me of someone else in my life (whose grandparents happen to live in Laguna Beach). There are A LOT of digs in Southern California, and though most would argue that frozen yogurt is the only culture in L.A., I looked into it and...there are heritage sites and they are hiring in Santa Ana and other towns outside of L.A. So this is CRAZY. I know. But it's making the list. Some things you just can't explain :D All I know is palm trees and deserts make me feel alive in the best way. Sort of like being in love?


1. Durham, North Carolina

Old Faithful. Well, there it is. The safety. That's not meant to be ironic. I know Durham is not the safest. But it sure is beautiful and big and CLOSE to my wonderful family of little ones, and FULL of people I LOVE and have loved for a long time. Yes, there are more jobs to be had in the other four places I listed above...but Durham is full of opportunity and familiarity. What a blessing when those twain meet :D




FYI- I was listening to Michael Buble's Christmas album on Spotify when I started this blog. HOW AWFUL? WHO continues to give him a microphone? Switching it up to Florence and the Machine's
new album, Ceremonials, was an excellent decision. If you don't have it- GET IT NOW. seriously.

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