Original FG

Once upon a time there was a fellowship group, started by some of my dearest friends in the summer of 2007. I joined towards the end of that summer and it was one of the best things I've ever done. The FG multiplied like crazy after that because we kept growing and growing. Now there are probably 35 people who are/were apart of it and I think from that original FG stem 6 groups.

Anyway, this past Labor Day a couple of the current FG groups got together for a little picnic next to the Brooklyn bridge. When I got there they were playing Catch Phrase and I sat down and introduced myself to the people I didn't know. I met this one guy who asked me how I knew everyone. I said that I was in the original FG and he said something how I was one of the few! I then realized how special it was to be a part of that group and became quite nostalgic thinking about the good times we had. (Pictures below)

What does that mean? It's Friday night in NYC and I'm so excited to get back to FG!

I found it!

One of my dreams is to have a piece of art from every place I've lived (Greensboro, Boone, Long Island, NYC). I don't have any pieces yet but that doesn't mean I haven't been looking. These decisions take me a while as I want to be sure that I really love something before it becomes a permanent fixture in my home. I also have to have one of my famous "Ah-ha!" moments, where I know completely that this is IT. (Does anyone else have those moments or rely on them to make decisions?)

I've been looking for oh so long for my Long Island piece. Occasionally I would search LI paintings on the internet or window shop in Huntington. It wasn't until last week when I was visiting Ginna that I found it! While she was at work, I went into DC to visit museums and art galleries. I was at the Smithsonian American Art Museum exploring an exhibit featuring paintings from the Public Works of Art, a recovery program FDR formed in the Great Depression era.

It was an excellent exhibit and I was in there for quite a while listening to Bach and Yo-Yo Ma on my iPod, which was pretty much amazing. Then I happened upon it: a painting called Racing by Gerald Sargent Foster. He was an avid yachtsman and in this work, he painted a yacht race on the Long Island Sound. I stood there for a good, long while looking at it and just knew that I wanted this to be my LI painting. I raced (ha) to the gift shop and information desk asking if they had a print for sale, but no such luck. I'm hoping I can find it online somewhere. But isn't it grand? I would often take the boys to the beach and we would pass over the Sound on our way to Lloyd Harbor, so this seems appropriate.

I'm back!

After a week of couch surfing, I am finally in my apartment in Brooklyn! While I have to catch you up on everything, I have a busy day of laboring as I unpack and see my NYC friends!! After not having the internet for a good 5 days, I will hopefully update on recent events/news soon. But here are a few pictures in the meantime! :)

My roommate is so lovely, and so is our apartment!

What an awesome rooftop view.

Done and farewell

Something happened to me and my mom today that I will never forget. It was one of the most special, overwhelming and amazing experiences I never thought I would have.

After we gave out cookies to our nurses, PA's and the volunteers, Mom got her chemo. We sat there for about 2 hours like we had all summer. But when she was done, we quickly grabbed purses, baskets, pillows, etc and ran. No, really. We did. Once we got to the hallway, we could see the door and we just bolted. I had our poster in hand that 'We made it' and showed it to all those we ran by. Once we got outside the doors I burst into tears. My mom and I both cried as if we had just run a marathon and finally, FINALLY reached the finish line. It was extremely overwhelming and I was left feeling a sense of relief that I haven't felt in 4 months. No more chemo.

Life. We've been given life and we're so thankful for it. I realized this more when the thought came to us that her hair will start to grow again. Grow, hair, grow! Thank you Lord for life, a new outlook and new beginnings.



Good timing. Done with chemo today and headed back to NYC on Sunday. What a summer!

Not so hidden messages

So just recently have I noticed a few creative messages around me. I've had these items of clothing for a while, but haven't really looked closely at them.

Check it out:

- Flats from Urban: a tag sewed on the bottom says: fairy tales are true (Yay!)

- Khakis from J.Crew: the inside pocket fabric has the word spontaneous and its definition (This really made me want to be more spontaneous)

- Pants from Anthropologie: along the edge it says With clothes the new are the best, with friends the old are better. (True, oldest friend is Alpacs!)

Break

Sorry for the blog break- just needed to close it for a few days.

I will say this, if you read my blog I would love to know who you are! :) I don't want to make it private but might have to be more careful of what I write from now on.

But for now, CCC in NC (almost CCC in NYC) is back up and running.

Plans for the Fall

I'm headed back to New York City, baby!

It's been quite the stressor working out all of the logistics from North Carolina, but here goes:

It all begins next Friday when we will CELEBRATE my Mom's last day of chemo. I'll go with her to the cancer center one last time and look away from the needles one last time and thank the oncologist, PA's and nurses one last time for taking such great care of her. I will happily leave and not look back. We will then have a celebratory dinner as a family. Cancer, we kicked your ass this summer!

The next day I will head to Charlotte for Sara and John's wedding with Al, Gin & the guys. I can't wait. The next day, Gin and I will drive up to MD. I'll spend a few days up there with her, go to museums in DC while she's at work and offer to walk Bo Obama. I'll then head up to home sweet home, NYC. I'll pack up my stuff at Park Ave apt. and then head to Long Island for Labor Day weekend. That Sunday I'll come back and move into my cute little Brooklyn sublet. I decided that it's a wise decision to only commit for a month and look for a job, instead of signing a year long lease without any leads. Although if I do get a job, I will stay in the apartment the remainder of the lease. I've never met my new roommate, but she seems lovely and check out these pics of the new apartment. How CUTE! (And a good size for the 3rd annual FG Tgiving dinner!)

I was talking with Ginna earlier in the summer and I remember saying how I couldn't wait for my life to begin again. She looked at me and said, "Carrie, this is your life. Right now. Where you are. This is life." It was such a good reminder. For much of May and June I was missing NYC and then I embraced, if you will, my time here at home. I can honestly say it's been a wonderful summer. The first few months of my Mom's chemo was brutal and I never want to revisit those days. July was special because Al got married and I got to go to NYC and see friends. August has been the best, though. Wow, what a great month.

So those are my plans. We'll see what happens! So much is up in the air and when I find myself just wanting stability, consistency and a schedule... I have to remember that one day I'll have it. For now, I'll just go along for the ride, for whatever may come next. :)