Travel Tuesday no. 2 _ Orlando/Oviedo, FL (MY HOMETOWN! YAY!)

This week I am so excited to have my best bud give us a little '411' on a place that is

sacred

cherished

charming

and

SO

dear

to me!!!!

He's my best friend from home and he moved back to the NE side of Orlando (Oviedo) when he was done doing the tomahawk and being a Seminole in Tallahassee!!! He's married to his high school sweetheart, who I am fortunate is another gem in my life as well.

I truly can't describe how special this place is to me or how treasured these newlywed friends are, but I think they have an idea of just how groovy I think they are.

So, meet Justin... and maybe sometime soon we can get a little one-on-one from the Mrs. (She's a doctor in training, though, so she keeps busy! Giving us a tour around Orlando/Oviedo was a little more convenient for the Realtor in the marriage!)

Name: Justin Core (and his wife, Megan Bevis Core)

Occupation: Realtor

Blog: CoreRealEstateGroup.blogspot.com (click to link)


Location: Oviedo, FL (Orlando)

Connect with me:

scan your SmartPhone here to be connected to the best Realtor on the block!!! To DOWNLOAD the app click here  -bjj

What major cities or landmarks are your city close to? Anytime I'm asked this question, Disney is the obvious answer and out-of-towners assume I venture there on a weekly basis. Truthfully, I could not recall the last time I made it to the "happiest place on earth" until we decided to go last weekend for my wife's birthday. After a morning full of the classic rides at the Magic Kingdom with surprisingly reasonable wait times, we hopped on the monorail for a quick trip over to Epcot to drink around the world. We began in the UK with a beer sampler, stopped in Germany for a Flight of Wines, and ended gracefully with Margaritas in Mexico. Disney is a good 45 minute drive from Oviedo and well worth the drive but expect it to be an all day adventure.

The University of Central Florida is also minutes from downtown Oviedo but somehow the 50,000 students who flock to the campus every fall and their brand new stadium do not spoil the quaint feel of small town Oviedo.

downtown Orlando from across the beautiful Lake Eola

How long have you lived there? I've lived in Oviedo since 1994, with the exception of my 4 year stint for college in Tallahassee (FSU).

If you moved here after living in a different city, where did you move from? I was born in Huntsville, Alabama and moved to Florida when my dad was transferred for work. All of our family is still in Huntsville so we have always visited regularly. Although Huntsville is not a small town, it has many small town tendencies and aspects. We found the same thing in Oviedo when we came here and it is really what has kept us here for so long. Although Oviedo doesn't have a lot to offer, in the way that a town like Orlando does, it does have a very quaint atmosphere.


For instance, Oviedo is known for chickens that roam freely throughout the downtown. There are bumper stickers all throughout Central Florida that say "I brake for Oviedo Chickens," and that's how our town is known. Growing up in a town like Oviedo, you do everything you can to find your way out. I did find my way out for four years and at some point during that time began to fall back in love with the town for all new reasons. I did move back and began to see it in an all new light. It has something for everybody because it is a small town that is so close to a major city and all of the tourist attractions that go along with that.

What's the climate like? Hot, humid, and muggy. Winter is cool and dry but short, and fall is nice but hurricanes are frequent. Spring is the time of year to come if you are going to the parks and summer is the time of year if you are coming for the beach.


Personally, I find cold weather miserable unless I'm in the Rockies skiing and to me. There are a few weeks in late January and February that are bitter cold, but it is not uncommon to venture over to the beach New Year's Day to enjoy the occasional warm sunshine. When it is cold however, I dream of the days of the scorching summer heat, but I seem to remember once again how HOT it can really get once summer rolls back around. Late summer, around July and August, we have temperatures over 100 degrees with 100% humidity. That's hot!

What are some of your favorite weekend things to do in your town? The best thing about this area is that there truly is something for everyone. For a relaxing Saturday morning, the Winter Park Farmers Market is a must. Just off Park Avenue there is a farmers market that draws vendors from all over Central Florida on a weekly basis. The streets get crowded so make sure to get there bright and early to beat the crowds and the heat.

Winter Park Farmer's Market

New Smyrna Beach is a local favorite and still remains a hidden treasure, unspoiled by the heavy tourist population that invades the Florida coastline every summer. New Smyrna's Flagler Avenue is just two short blocks from the beach and is truly a relaxed beach town. You can drive on the beach and stop on your way out of town to visit a long-time local favorite Frozen Gold for a sweet ice cream treat. You're guaranteed to enjoy yourself at the beach, the food, and the atmosphere.

For the sports fans (or those just looking for a good time), an Orlando Magic game (during season) is a must. The Magic have always had a great fan base, atmosphere, and venue, but all of that has increased as of late. The Magic have played in two straight Eastern Conference Championships and are putting their final touches on their new state-of-the-art Amway Center. The intensity is higher than it has ever been and the entire City of Orlando is ecstatic about the outlook of the team.

What is your town known for?

Free Roaming Chickens! And we love it.

What are some of your favorite restaurants in your city?

Oviedo:

Breakfast - Big John's Country Cookin' & Townhouse Restaurant (in a close second)


Lunch - Tijuana Flats


Dinner - Gino's Pizzeria, Froggers

Winter Park/Orlando:


Breakfast - Uncle Henry's Country Grill, First Watch


Lunch - Four Rivers Smokehouse


Dinner - Dexter's, Boston Fish House, & anything on Park Avenue in Winter Park

Tell us why you love your city? Oviedo is everything you could want from a small town within minutes of a larger city. It is close enough to the tourist attractions to venture often but not so close that it feels like one itself. Oviedo loves it's high school football team, sweet barbecue, quiet backroads, pick-your-own strawberries, and you'll never forget the smell of orange blossoms in bloom. On any given day you eat a $3 breakfast at Big John's and spend a bundle on dinner at one of the top tourist destinations in the world [Disney] or walk on the most famous beach in the planet [Daytona Beach]. Oviedo is a great place to live and vacation.

I would love the opportunity to answer any questions on Central Florida, and I want to thank my beautiful wife for her input and creativity on the post. Check out her blog as well describing her journey and tribulations as a third year medical student meganandjustinc.blogspot.com

Thanks Baily for the opportunity.

 --------------☮☮☮☮---------------

I have mad love for that guy and his wonderful wife.  It truly has been a wonderful journey together and the best part of about it is that it continues to bloom - I'm sure if you have been a reader this summer then you have witness me give my hats off and salute to them for being a true example of friendship, true love, and a well-balanced life. 

I hope they know how much they mean to me, and I am so glad that I got to feature him on my blog as part of TRAVEL TUESDAY!  The Core's are one of my favorite things about my quaint and charming little town in Oviedo and they are like me - they went away for school and found that pull of the ole heartstring that comes from the old stomping grounds.

I tease them that I am their friend that will be an "Old Maid" while they are the happy little newlywed couple.  They take care of me, though... and I know who to go to when I need to buy that hometown one-bedroom house ;)

THANKS JUSTIN!

And Megan, I hear you were "Editor In Chief" so thanks to you too!

Follow them both :)

peace and love

baily jordan jones

I love my hometown! :)

quotes

oh, while I was off being happy about the way things are turning out for me, I forgot to add my fav quotes from EPL.  I mean, did you really think you were going to get off the hook without a quote in a blog post signed by me? peace and love and quotes... that's right. I've been slacking on the Bai quotology huh?? Here's some about being happy...

oh rays of sunshine.
p&l
b

"My Guru says that people universally tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will maybe descend upon you like fine weather if you're fortunate enough. But that's not how happiness works. Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it." -Eat.Pray.Love


"When you sense a faint potentially for happiness after such dark times you must grab onto the ankles of that happiness and not let go until it drags you, face-first, out of the dirt... his is not selfishness, but obligation." -Eat.Pray.Love

i have a surprise for whoever leaves me some love and comments on their fav. quote.

a blog of random thought

Here's the thing... wait, everyone is aware of my obsession with Elizabeth Gilbert, right?

Refer to this picking wildflowers blogpost if you aren't aware that I'm emotionally and spiritually connected to the woman for all thing subject to my crazy, sometimes tragic, beautiful, awfully wonderful life and it's never ending series of life's cross-roads during this twenty-something phase.  Is it too much to hope that my sunshine after the rain isn't in my thirty-somethings because that's seven more years.  Haha, Mom and Dad - it's been a fun seven years already hasn't it... to think I turned 16 exactly seven years ago.

Sorry, but I was a cute little Florida girl in my black Accord coupe.  Jetting across town from cross-country practice to club soccer practice and always having a loving home to  go home to every night when it was all over for the day.  Or rolling up with my best friends to high school soccer practice at the fields we shared with the fellow Varsity lettermen, us being the Varsity letterwomen and knowing that you had your best friends with you every day, day-in and day-out... at school, and while you were kicking ass and taking names in suicide-drills, and if they weren't then they were two goal boxes away training with the rest of their team and the core group of your guy friends.  I was protected at all times... but that was seven years ago.

It's totally diff these days... but like I always say, the fact that I've still got a grip on the world and I'm standing on two feet and I've had my share of tragedy, heartbreak, and curveballs that have been thrown at me by life's ace pitcher. 

God.  Thanks for Him, huh?

I thought it was particularly groovy that yesterday at church I finally got to hear a sermon from the series on prayer over at FBCT.  Buddy preached on prayer of petition.

I thought of Elizabeth Gilbert and her prayer in the movie; the prayer that is out of such desperation and longing for true understanding of herself.  She humbles herself, she gives thanks, and she asks.  I guess sometimes prayer of petition can be a hard thing for us to do.  We have to admit that something is bigger than us, we have to realize and say outloud that we cannot do by ourself whatever it is we are in need of, and we ask, beg, and bargain.

But the Bible tells us to.  It's otherwise foolish to think that we could get through this life without Him.  I have a belief that is withstanding.  I don't try to go walking into situations that can potentially impact my spiritual life in a negative way - with people, places, things, ideas, and theory.  I'm simply who I am for a number of reasons and in large part to God, who I believe with firm acclamation is my Maker, Giver, and most amazing Love.  So, to see that movie and to know what she is feeling when she soaks her face in tears and cries out in dire reverence to her Spiritual Master is to have a better understanding at life.  Once I hit that wall in my own life, once I turned it over to Him time and time again, I live a life much like that in the book of Romans - He shows me my way, His way, our way, out of the darkest hour and where I am in clearer visibility to see the light. 

I'm a wanderer.. there are places I want to see.. there are people I want to know and I believe there are people who want to know me.  I'm like a Matryoshka doll - you know, the Russian dolls that fit inside one another, and represents the stages of life.  Well, instead of being a baby - the smallest and continuing into the outermost doll which is the grandmother, I am more like the also-called Babushka doll in the sense that I am not just the girl you get skin deep, or even by acquaintance, or even by friend.  There are the rare gems in life that I develop a connection with past the normal bounds set by the societal view of "friends." But at whatever Russian, Matroyoshka, or Babushka phase I am in right now, I may not have a delicately painted face, and a ceramically permanent smile painted on it, I do find reasons to smile and that just goes to show that I may not have wandered too far from what has become 'comfort zone central' but I've turned the page, turned my angle to the sun, and have a whole new perspective of life from where I'm at for now. I'll wander later...

Umm.. I just re-read that paragraph and realized how funny that line is right here: "I may not have a delicately painted face, and a ceramically permanent smile painted on it..."

HAHAHAHAHAHA! If you know me - you're laughing with me.  Fabulous blog-friends who don't - I have six fake teeth that are made of some mess of porcelain and ceramic.. ceramic caps and porcelain veneers? I don't have the slightest friggin' clue because I'm usually a LOOPY mess when I'm in the dentist chair where I feel like I have spent half of my life.

The youtube sensation "David goes to the dentist" is oddly familiar of the sh!tshow I used to give my parents upon one of my bajillion tooth surgeries.  They used to call me Bubba from Forrest Gump because of the metal mouth and satellite I became with all the silver bling blang I rocked during my awkward growing up years. 

Anyways, tis a delightful journey - at the end of the day.  My facebook status just changed to eating bean soup (made up by my roommate) and having a Flying Dog brew or two and kicking my legs up on the coffee table and listening to Janis.... yes, this E loves some Janis J!

Harmony has come to exist and that peaceful mind I've wanted isn't wandering too far... well, just to the Atlantic seaboard. But I promise that blog will come soon!


peace and love
bee jay jay





 

room tour

So my internet has been out here at my little village of apartment buildings and I have been unable to get my hands all over this construction zone of a blog.  I'm going to keep it real with myself and not get all bent out of shape over it though (those of you that know me are aware of my spazz mode - let's not go there...) It doesn't t.o.t.a.l.l.y. look like Ground Zero so just give me some lee-way and I will have it looking killer sharp here soon! :)

Because of the internet being out - I have had two days of full-on iTunes.  Yes, I did go to Birmingham this past weekend to pick up my things from Sissy's house but after the two hundred trips to my car and back, I was not about to set-up ole' Crosley last night.  I have a request from my roommate on my facebook page for the vinyl to come out... I wonder if she knows what she has gotten herself into.  Elena (old roomie) wasn't one for much 'hippie music' like Jackie and I were.  Jackie was gone this summer and Elena moved downstairs next to this one right here and me and Janis Joplin about drove the stress-prone girl absolutely crazy.  She loves me long time, though. I miss her.

The new roomie, the new "E", literally - her name is Emily - is wonderful company.  I felt bad moving in on her apartment like I did but I jumped on when I saw her Widespread Panic shirt and the way she had the place decorated.  I dug it, and she looked normal.  Now, come to find out - I have met my match. 

Ok, I know I keep saying it- but that is a whole 'nother story in itself - so let me fill you in on the eerie similarities between the two of us soon. 

I don't know if I made you all aware, but my new digi-cam that mom and pops generously provided for me after the fire is getting fixed.  When I went home to Florida 2 weeks ago I was running around getting ready for my fabulous night on the town with the ladies and I realized that my SD-card was missing from my favorite memory catcher I've ever had. (I go through cellular devices and digital cameras like I do socks so I have many to compare it to, alright, ha) Anyway, my dad - who never wants us to anything but set with everything we need and want - ran to the Target about 2 miles away from our house while I was poppin' lipgloss and straightening my hair.  He had time, even though he was a little put out with me for waiting until the last minute - but I wasn't going anywhere until my poofball of hair was somewhat decent for sushi and cocktails in Baldwin Park and downtown Orlando.  Well, the D.A. (short for, well...) that helped him didn't do anything but piss me off when it turns out he messed up my perfectly fine and dandy little camera.  So, I'm back to the CrackBerry camera.

Good news - I got a new CrackBerry.  I think I did tell you this.  The 'Tour" is wayyyyy better than my "Curve."  Oh how I loved that Curve... but despite having it for over a year I never learned how to free up the memory space.  So, like, every 12 pics I had to go thru and delete them.  This was something that would ordinarily bother me, but I just had to do it if I wanted to snap photos, but it did get under some people's skin when I wouldn't listen to convo because I had to focus on my maintenance issue.  Well, the "Tour" has provided me with the convenience of NOT having this issue at all.  Oh, the little things in life that make me so damn happy.

I don't even know how many pics I can take before I have to free up some space - I haven't even gotten there yet!!! Goody goody gumdrops of a feeling...

Here are some pics of the new room. And a couple random ones that I might throw in there... depends on what comes up and distracts me away from my laptop.  My roomie is currently giving me a fashion show on dresses she's going to wear to see her long-distance lover next month.

Anyways, check out pics. I have been tuned into my iTunes and of course my main man Van was singing to me and then I kicked into total "Carolina Girls" mode and have not stopped listening to my Embers Greatest Hits, a little Steely Dan, and now a North Myrtle Beach online radioshow that I am a registered user to.  You can't help what you're born into and what makes you who you are.  There's a little piece of paradise over there on the Carolina coast that taught me how to laugh at myself dancing (I'm a flowerchild and line-dancing country girl, I'll leave the Shag two-step for later mastery - I'll just watch my mom and dad for now). It was my first vacay. It's got the baddest music on the block. The best fried seafood in the world (sorry Gulf Coast)  - I was born and raised with a love for all things Callabash.

I'm working on a little creative writing that was inspired by some big love for beach music, boys in seer-sucker, and slaw/chili dogs on a pier.


tour de la bachelorette pad
you'd think i'd be pretty good at putting simple pics on blogger with the basic uploader thing - no. my mood just went up and down like a roller coaster the entire time i was putting these on here.

they are in NO particular order. last time my mood was good was when i had them all in somewhat order... then, boom, random happen-chance order without the click of a button - blogger works mysteriously like the good lord and does it just to test my patience. overrrrr it.
enjoy!! :) haha

the place of beauty rest

to do: a d.i.y. necklace hanger... any ideas creative people? :)

where the studying, thinking, chatting, journaling, and blogging go down

i named the ducks thelma and louise. vintage, pretty, and random. sounds like my thing :)

my aunt made me this "creativity chair" for my birthday. it has all sorts of pearls of wisdoms, little quotes, aunt-to-niece advice, and other little frills. I just can't get over it - I love it.

i love my lamp that i found shopping in tuscaloosa with mom and dad this summer

for hire: cute boy to help me build white ikea desk to go under this mirror.

i feel pretty when i get ready in front of this dazzling little decorated mirror.

wash up stuff, headbands galore, and the 'Bans I've been rockin' since my Wayfarer's have been missing.

My amazing mother found the missing pair in Orlando - woo woo!!! :) Hurry up, FedEx!

more of the little girls' room

more...

this has stayed surprisingly clean.

this little guy was my first house-warming gift.  my mother bought it for me during the Fall of 2006 when I moved from the dorm to my first little collegehood apartment.  Yorktown Commons 512.  Little Al sat on the entertainment center and kept the apartment very Roll Tide like since the two of us decorated so girly-like and had Carolina basketball posters and prints on the walls along with our beloved Daniel Moore 'Bama football prints. haha, our man's cave for girls. He was named after Alabama's mascot Big Al - and yes I name everything and since people already have names I give everyone a nickname or two or thirty six, you love it or hate it right?) Anyways, he is the only survivor of the Fire of 4.13 that I will allow in here other than the  vinyl records, a couple books, and the clothes I had on my back that night.

made by my aunt as part of my gift, as well. lover of quotes, I am indeed and I love love love the thoughtfulness and creativity behind it all. and of course, a little pearl of wisdom sent from my aunt via bear bryant? umm... sounds perfect to me.

oh, my little millie-pig, I miss her so much. I found this absolutely retro and absolutely groovy pig at TJ Maxx HomeGoods store in Lake Mary, Florida.  I was in heaven and have started a pig collection.  My mom has a collection and so will I.  You know how women always have 'that animal'?  My aunts was roosters, mine used to be horses (and hilarious to Will Pappas I also was obsessed with dolphins) and my mother's is pigs.  I thought I was going to start an elephant collection, but don't mind if do when it comes to having two animal collections haha. whats yours?

this is the other pillow that aunt paula made me. i figured i'd give it to ya here at the end since it's the best quote of all time that isn't spoken by forrest gump or ms. gump.

;)

peace and love

baily

check back later for my carolina in my mind post

NEW LOOK - same Daisy :)

please pardon the blog construction

peace and love

baily

fill in the blank friday (oops - it was my birthday!)

brought to you by Lauren. cLiCk hErE to play along.

(I got this via Becca's blog - thanks girlfriend!)

1. The most adventurous thing I've ever done is make a deal with myself to always stay true, have fun, and live for the experiences all along the journey.  Ever since I made that promise to myself, life has been an adventure in general!

2. If I were a pair of shoes I would be cowboy boots or brown leather Gladiator sandals.  Not only because I am either in one of the two at all times - or bArEfOoT - but because that's who I am... comfy, something born of the past, and totally a love it or hate it type thing.  Seriously - you either love Cowboy boots and/or Gladiator sandals or you absolutely hate the things... much like me I guess.. haha.
 3. My preferred mode of digital communication is texting. Like, this has caused feuds before.  It's 2010 though, for all you 'non-texters' out there, get with it already.
 4. I feel happiest when my mind is at peace, good music is on, friends and family are all in harmony, and the sun is shining down! :)

5. A little dream I have for my life is to have horses, Southern stables, and a place to have a summer camp for children with disabilites and horse therapy.  So cool :)

6. The one modern convenience I could NOT do without is my cell phone.  I can chat, text, facebook stalk, tweet, shoot emails, take pictures, shop online, navigate my way around, blog, wake up on time for class, and make music playlist all my CrackBerry.  AND, I can press 'ignore' and do jUsT tHaT when my loser ex-boyfriends try to call!

7. Music, movies, TV or books: my mother and sister think I'm a weirdass for not watching TV very much.  I turn on ESPN in my room and put it on mute, then I have my iTunes going, and sometimes I trade my iTunes or the TV for a movie.  I've aLwAyS been a MOVIE FREAK.  But, not in the way that I have seen like 347350973407 different movies.  I get hooked on a movie and watch it, constantly, for like 2 weeks until I get nauseated sick of it.  SoMeTiMeS I will get really hooked on a television show.  Like, I was oBsEsSeD with Ali's season of 'the Bachelorette' and I made every episode of Dancing With the Stars this last season a LiFe or DeAtH situation for me and anyone or anything that prevented me from watching Pam, Erin, Ochocinco, and Evan. 
 

peace and love

baily

two pics from my birthday

me and emily (my new roommate)

me and kathleen (bff)

one hand in my pocket

i'm broke but i'm happy
i'm poor but i'm kind
i'm short but i'm healthy yeahhh
i'm high but i'm grounded
i'm safe but i'm overwhelmed
i'm lost but i'm hopeful baby

what it all comes down to is that everythings fine, fine, fine
because i've got one hand in my pocket and the other one's giving a high five

oh yeah

and what it all boils down to my friend, is that everything is quite alright
because i've got one hand in my pocket and the other one's giving a PeAcE sign

ya, i've got one hand in my pocket and the other one's giving a high five

i love when my american idol homegirl (crystal) sings that song. i just felt like writing the lyrics, that's all. and i may or may not have sung it in the shower every single day this week.

i wish i was getting to see crystal bowersox at golden gate park in san francisco at the power to the peaceful festival.  isn't this festie logo the best you've seen lately? if i were there, i'd buy the tee-shirt, on the real.

download bowersox's  'up to the mountain'

if you like a little soul music that reminds you of amzing grace on sunday mornings

peace and love

baily 

TakE a LooK

cousins

amy . zac . baily . ashley

sisters

baily . ashley

bro & sis  in-laws

baily . tyler

my first hometown

asheville, n.c.

my new bachelorette pad

a sneak peak at least

i started a few new blogs that i will be posting in the next day or two

one is about my new living situation

another is about  the fine line between friendship and love

and the other is about some other pretty groovy things happening in my life lately

(you didn't think i was going to give away the suspense all at once, did you?)

3 hours and 45 minutes left of being 22 years old (Central Standard Time)

listen to: phish - backwards down the number line

peace and love

baily jordan jones

friend quote

"Wait for the man who pursues you, the one who will make an ordinary moment seem

magical, the kind of man who brings out the best in you and makes you want to be a better

 woman. Wait for the man who will be your best friend, the one who will drop everything just

to be with you. Wait for the man who will make you smile like no other guy can make you

smile. Wait for the man who respects and loves you for who you are, not who everyone else

wants you to be. Wait for the man who wants to show you off to the world when you are in

sweats and no make-up, but loves it when you get all dolled up for him. Wait for the man who

praises God ...for you, and encourages you daily in your walk, and most importantly,

 wait for the man who is more in love with God than he is with you!"

one of my fab girlfriends sent me this today.

it was sort of a weird day to wake up to that in my facebook inbox, but i dig it.

dontcha?

sometimes we forget what is important. you know, when i was 16 the only thing that really mattered to me was the guy's baller status.  i mean, i went to a sports power-house of a high school (go lions) and yeah, i wanted the stud-muffin to be the one driving me up to the beach on teacher work days.  duh.

then in college i went through my awk stages of boyfriends. haha. there are a couple that i am like - 'what in the HELL was i thinking?' - but then there are a couple that i have a

serious LoVe/HaTe relationship with. ohhhh, boys....

i've only known one special one that i thought i wasn't compromising for anything less than those things in that quote. but here i sit as single as jennifer aniston and only wish i looked as pretty and glowy everyday as her.  beggars can't be choosers though, i'm happy to be standing up after life's brutal beating this summer.

speaking of, i have a new place, a new routine, a new life, a new roommate, a new schedule, a new way of doing things, a new heart, and a new little sass if you will.

i'll tell you all about it LATER.

gotta step away from blogger role and back into my college student role.

p and l

b

speaking words of wisdom, in the music

I have been in a pretty moving relationship lately.  There isn't just one guy though; there are several of them! Ohh yaaa.  I spend my time with some of them when I'm studying and I've developed such a need for them when I hit the books.  Some of my time is spent with them right before I go to bed, I let them put me to sleep.  Others I get to spend time with on random chance, because I hear from them when I'm driving 'Buster' around town. 

My boyfriends lately have been, John, Kurt, Jack, Trey, Joshua, and Tom.

Then I've had a little girl action from Norah and Ingrid and Miranda.

I'm having a pretty loving and steady relationship with my music here recently. 
My tunes seem to keep me focused on school, and they sing me to sleep from my laptop's speakers, as well as entertain me on my daily commutes via the radioshow.
Ohhh, I miss my vinyl though. :(

John Lennon, Kurt Cobain, Jack Johnson, Trey Anastasio & Phish, Joshua Radin, and Tom Petty.

My lesbian lovers have been Norah Jones and Ingrid Michaelson and Miranda Lambert.

When I listen to them, they make it okay that I'm one of those girls that didn't quite "get it" the way the rest of the crowd seemed to.  They sing to me and make me feel like it's okay that I am the way I am, and that it's all good that I have a way of seeing things that everybody else is just afraid to dream of.
They make me feel like I should embrace that face that I'm to the girl with her belly-button showing, that wears Old Spice deodorant, and has an extremely raspy voice.

Everyone's life is a playlist of all sorts.  I've blogged about my unusual, unpredictable, and completely random genre of music interests.  My life's playlist is full of country, oldies, bluegrass, feminism, and free-spiritedness.  It's happy, sad, confusing, exhilarating, inspirational, honest, ridiculous and soul-filled; and the best part about it is that it all means something to me and makes me who I am. 

It's what everyone is talking about when they refer to dancing to the beat of a different drum.  I'm the different drummer.  I'm the painter who abstractly throws paint in a chaotic mess of color and darkness and I leave some sort of blankness in order to recognize the unfinished business I have in my life journey.  The songs I haven't yet mastered... the ones out West, or up North, or in the LoneStar state, or under the mother sun at home or near home in la Floridad. Who knows... and WHO CARES?

The first year of this blog it was all about WHERE AM I GOING? And, HOW AM I GOING TO GET THERE?  And I made myself sick of hearing myself say "WHO AM I? WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NEXT? WHO SHOULD I BE WITH? SHOULD I LOVE HIM OR LOVE HIM?"

My music has spoken and it's time to do this: let it be.

Yep, the Beatles have spoken and though shall listen to something as BIG as them, right!?

So along with - LET IT BE - I also learned that all we need is love and that when I think of yesterday and while my guitar gently weeps, I must remember that all things must pass.  They've also taught me to don't ever change and that it feels good to be free as a bird.  I know that I'll be on my way if I'll follow the sun. I've got a feeling that this won't be the last tough time I will have in my life, so that's all right, I've had a revolution with myself and I'm ready to go across the universe to find a ticket to ride the long and winding road.  I have the inner light that I need to the end.  There are things I wish I could tell others, but maybe I can leave what the Beatles have taught me with this....
to know her is to love her
tomorrow never knows
i should have known better
and I get by with a little help from my friends.

I'll tell you about some of my other boyfriends and what they sing to me tomorrow.

peace and love
bai

lately

reading.

traveling.

family time.

moving in.

bonding with new roomie.

praying.

dancing.

humbling.

laughing.

missing friends who have moved away.

anxiously awaiting KICK-OFF!

cooking.

decorating.

singing.

wishing.

kicking ass.

holding on to this twenty-something year for one more day - tomorrow's 23!

peace and love

baily

Travel Tuesday no. 1 _ Springfield, Missouri

welcome to travel tuesday my friends

I'm really pumped that I am starting a new series over here; it's just another musing of mine.

I've told you about my blog-friend (and now Facebook and Twitter friend) Becca, and if you don't remember her she is the host of 'Travel Tuesday' on her blog, Life in Technicolor.  Last week, I was her fifth interviewee.  Her ambition for this series is to meet people who blog all across the world.  I think it's a pretty groovy and nifty thing,

so I told her I was going to let it inspire me to do the same. 

It would only be appropriate for me to open up this series on my blog by having

BECCA

as my first interviewee.  Plus, I got to learn a little bit more about her unique little city in MiSSOURi by reading what all she had to say about it.... and it sounds like a quality place! :)

You know, I've always wanted to go to St. Louis, and now I'm interested in other places in the state because of my fellow 'wildflower'... so maybe a visit to Mizzou is in store for me!

 

Turning it over to my Beatle-loving, crafty, and super cool blog-friend...

be sure to check out her blog when you're done learning about her world!!
(click on the image to see Life in Technicolor)

Name: Becca Dickson

Occupation: Assistant Editor for AG News and The Council Today

Blog: Life in Technicolor. (http://beccanicole05.blogspot.com/)

Location: Springfield, MO

What major cities or landmarks are your city close to? Springfield is about an hour from Branson, and 3 ½ hours from St. Louis and Kansas City.

How long have you lived there? 5 years. I moved to Springfield to attend Evangel University, and as the alums say, I “got sucked in.”

 If you moved here after living in a different city, where did you move from? How did you find your city? I moved from Pittsburgh, PA, where I was born and lived for 11 years. After that I lived in Louisville, OH (between Canton and Cleveland) for 8 years.

What's the climate like? The weather is so varied here from day to day. Spring is hot one day and cold the next and it's crazy storm season. Summer is very hot and humid and osrt of miserable if you have allergies. Temperatures are usually 90-100 in July/August, and can get up to 115 with the heat index and humidity. Fall is amazing and breezy. Winters don't get very cold and there is no more than a foot of snow or the city would shut down, ha. However there are severe ice storms that can last for a week.

What are some of your favorite weekend things to do in your town? Go to the Springfield Nature Center, enjoy Andys Frozen Custard, First Friday Art Walks, mini golf at Fun Acre, ice skating at Jordan Valley, thrifting at antique flea markets downtown.

What is your town known for? Springfield is known for cashew chicken, a combination of fried chicken chunks covered with Chinese oyster sauce, a handful of cashews and chopped green onions. I think it's disgusting, but Springfield-style cashew chicken is still being served at over 70 Chinese restaurants, as well as many non-Chinese restaurants, in and around the Springfield metropolitan area.

What are some other fun facts or history tidbits?

Fun Facts:

• Brad Pitt's family lives here (seriously!)

• Lucas Grabreel from High School Musical was born and raised here

History Tidbits:

• Missouri was included in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Soon after, the Delaware received treaty land where Springfield’s Sequiota Park and the antique stores of its Galloway Village stand today.

• The Trail of Tears traveled through the Springfield area via what is known today as the Old Wire Road.

• In the wake of the Civil War, Springfield helped give birth to the Wild West era. In July 1865, the town square was the site of the nation’s first-recorded shootout, between “Wild Bill” Hickok and Dave Tutt.

• Officially recognized as the birthplace of Route 66, it was in Springfield on April 30, 1926, that officials first proposed the name of the new Chicago-to-Los Angeles highway. Traces of the Mother Road are still visible in downtown Springfield and along the city’s northern boundary. Travelers still see traces of history along the famous thoroughfare. In some areas, early gas stations and cafés are still in operation, sitting alongside antique stores and flea markets.

What are some of your favorite restaurants in your city? Ruby Tuesday is our favorite, but that is everywhere. So I will say Cheddars — it's all american food — they have burgers, chicken, pasta, and yummy honey butter rolls.

What are some touristy attractions that readers would want to check out if they were in town for a visit? If you are looking for touristy attractions, you belong in Branson. Seriously. On the main strip there are tons of cheesy shows, mini golf, bumper cars, and attractions like the Hollywood Wax Museum and Titanic Museum. There is also Silver Dollar City (theme park) and White Water (water park).

In Springfield, there is the Dickerson Park Zoo, Art Museum, Bass Pro Headquarters, and caving, to name a few. Fantastic Caverns is America's largest cave, big enough to drive through.

Tell us why you love your city! There are so many things to do in Springfield and the surrounding areas.My city offers a unique blend of metropolitan charisma and Midwestern charm in the United States. Snow in the morning and temperatures in the 80s in the afternoon could only happen in my city, and I think it's hilarious.

 

Anything else we should know about where you live? Did you know that Bob Barker used to live in Springfield, attended Drury University, and there's a street named after the famed game show host?

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I dig it! Tell me what you think!

Tell me where I should interview next, or if you are interested in becoming a part of

TRAVEL TUESDAY

and be sure to learn more about Becca and why I think she's like a

gem in my Bloggy treasure chest!

peace & love

and

'safe travels to you'

baily j jones