SNOW-AWAY!

Dear Mother Nature,

I don't even remember the last day it DID NOT snow. I only have five more days before my very last spring break from college, which will also include my very first spring break vacation! I would like to just tell you that yes, everything looks serene and calming with a blanketing of white fluff, but after a while it is destroyed. Classes are not cancelled. Footprints in the snow begin the damage. But you see, after three weeks of living in this frozen tundra, snow-covered-everything is not so pretty. Piles of "snirt" are everywhere. This is a new buzzword for year 2010 describing the snow-and-black-dirt-mixture. Oh yeah, and the freezing cold wind-blowing-snow-sideways-thing needs to stop. Otherwise, I hope you can get out your spring flowers and warm sunshine for us in the near future.

Much appreciated,

Maggie

Favorites of 2009

Okay, so here are a few photos that I have deemed as my favorites from 2009. It was a fantastic year, between my internship at the Virginia Horse Center over the summer that was more than a mere life experience, as well as transitioning from a Junior to a Senior at Virginia Tech this year. Yes, it really has been a doozy! You will notice that I certianly am an avid equestrian and try to find beauty in the outdoors everyday. ENJOY!

June 2009 - Virginia Travel Guide photoshoot

Spring 2009 Dogwood at Chestnut Bay Stables

Random portrait shot of my horse buddy, Rachel and Miss Julia

August 2009, Miss Julia & Summer at Sunrise Stables in Lexington, VA, content in munching on some fresh clover.

December 2009, White House Christmas Tree and the Washington Monument

[I thought this was a wicked cool shot!]

Flakey 2

Flakey

Sometimes blondes are flakey, dry skin gets flakes, but the last two-weeks-of-life in Blacksburg... has been flakey. No, really. Loads of snowFLAKES have been falling and thus lingering about my little townhouse. Not only sledding but just not-so-sober walks home turns into a slippy-slidey drunken falling causing a trail of bruises down my thigh. But it is all in good fun, both the sledding and going out. So here are a few moments of snow-filled fun captured.

Winter White

I just want to report that there is a certain something about a cold, cloudy day. Grey clouds start to sprinkle a little wintery whiteness, a cozy blanket to cover Blacksburg. Nestled in the warmth of my townhouse, snuggled in a logo hoodie and sweatpants I gaze out at the winder wonder land outside my window. SNOW! I am so, very excited. How is it that this can make the most mature people turn child-like? Maybe because it is fluffy white powder begging to be romped about in? Maybe it is magic. I vote for a combination of the two. Maybe it is because tomorrow is a Saturday. SNOW. SNOW. SNOW.

Pictures of our blizzard to follow. =)

My old friend Baldwin...

Music has always been a big part of my life. Music is like food. Absence of it in your life leaves a hole. You can't survive without it. The same is why you spend so much of your childhood at your Grandparents' house. Because Grandma always has something cooking, and not just anything. It is her special recipe that is often imitated, but never recreated. Grandma knows exactly what spices to add, to avoid, how to fix burnt meringue or any fallen soufflé. And best of all, Grandma's food is inherently based on the culture of her own childhood. A New Orleans native, or as she says "Nawlins," my Grandma's specialty is cajun cuisine. Crawfish. Crabs. And of course the best of the best....Gumbo.

And recently I was able to rediscover myself, on the piano. As a child I took 11 years of lessons, got a little burnt out in high school. It was right at the time where life starts to pick up speed, and it is all you can do to hang on for dear life. I suppose the fact that this year, my life incurs another change whereas I have to leave the cozy nest of Blacksburg. So while at home, an old friend of mine and I reconnected. The best part about him is that he is always there, when you are angry, excited, joyful, or annoyed. He does not judge. His 88 ebony and ivories are like solid ground: a place to start over when it feels like life is ending. I picked a new song to plunk away at: 100 Years by Five for Fighting. And while this old dog is trying to teach her fingers new tricks, the old ones were always there. Old songs memorized for piano festivals, recitals and christmas gatherings fly out of my fingers' muscle memory. No music. No words. Just us. Me and my old friend Baldwin. He is nothing fancy, a dark-wooded upright with glossy mahogany finish. But we get the job done. On their website I found some of the most beautiful, and crazy pianos I have ever seen. For a pretty penny, $100 grand, *gulp*you could get any kind of grand piano you want! Even if you are into

zebra.... :D Like an animal hunting prey, I found holes in my schedule to spend in the living room bonding with my old friend Baldwin every day over Christmas Break. And now back at school, I am piano-less... and searching for a replacement.

what makes me smile

On rainy days where the temperature is not above 40* in a place where walking 15-20 minutes to classes from parking lot/bus stops is necessary, I wish there was actually a rain coat that would keep me fully dry. gah. Haven't found it yet. Note: Muck Boot Company's 'Hoser' boots I received for Christmas did hold up SUPERB today, and were warm & comfy too. A+ to you, MBC. So, to counter the gloomy, gray weather - I have made a list of things that make every word not just 'good' but FABULOUS.

-anatomy lab dissection....good [I know, I'm wierd! but they put me in such a good mood...]

-driving barefoot good

-red wine good

-Friday night good

-bubble bath good

-green mint ice cream good

-flip-flop weather good

-spa pedicure good

-underwear sale good

-convertible sports-car....good

-Virginia Tech football...................AMAZING!

Okay, so the last one is better than good. But all are things to make me, and hopefully you, smile on a dreary day. "And so shines a good dead in a weary world."