North Carolina

whoop whoop! this makes 1,001 posts

Whoa. It just dawned on me this morning that I might be nearing the ONE THOUSAND mark and I’ve already hit it! (I’m patting myself on the back right now.) This has been such a labor of love for me. I’ve relished in every minute of creating this thing that has taken on a life of it’s own. Funny, this morning I’m sitting in a coffee shop tapping away at my keyboard as I realize the 1,001 number. I actually haven’t brought my laptop out of the apartment for a few weeks because schlepping it around the city for an entire day while I fight my way through public transportation isn’t the most fun thing to do. I ran out of coffee to French press at home this morning, so here I sit out. I’m glad I hit over the 1,000 mark out during quiet coffee shop time. Coffee shops have provided me hundreds of hours of writing time.

I’ve tapped and typed away on this same laptop since the inception of BLR. I’ve driven to Alaska with this machine, posting all the way. I’ve moved 876 times, changed relationships, jobs, states, hair, mind-set, goals, and more since post #1. I never knew what any of this would be. What I do know is that by committing to this I have gained insight to things I never would have otherwise gained, I’ve kept expanding my mind in ways I never knew I could, I’ve shared every bit of dirty laundry I’ve ever had and liberated myself, and I’ve become utterly fearless discovering that we all really can actually do and say whatever the heck we want to.

Besides the above, one of the the biggest surprises has been the sense of trust and community this has created. I’ve made connections with incredible people that I would have otherwise never met because of this project. I’ve kept in touch with friends that may have otherwise fallen off the bandwagon of life. I’ve started and maintained what I know will be life-long friendships with complete strangers who’ve found this and followed daily. Funny enough the photo I planned on posting today was sent by one of these complete strangers, who over the course of 2 years become a fantastic, generous friend and a really fun dinner buddy.

Jukebox from Charlotte biker bar

(Thanks for the photo B! I love it when readers see ridiculous things and think of me.)

…another one of these perfect strangers turned friends who I got to meet last summer, emailed me yesterday excitedly asking when I could come visit and meet the baby she’s about to have.

How cool is that? Learning from and connecting to each other- that’s what it’s all about.

Here’s to the next 1,000 “posts” in the story, and for us all staying excited to see what else is down the Blue Lollipop Road…

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thanks mom

Dear Mom,

Thank you for raising me in a beautiful, safe place where I could run and play:

Front yard in Hidden Valley

Thank you for encouraging me to travel and explore:

Me at the Taj Mahal: November, 2008

Thank you for giving me 3 of the best siblings, who have turned into my best friends:

The Kid and I, Wilmington, NC: March, 2009

Brad and I on bus in Argentina

…so one of those siblings could give me a great nephew:

With DJ and Mason: June 2009

Thank you for telling me to go for it, and always follow my dreams:

I made it! At Alaska border 8/8/1: State #50

Thank you for sharing doughnuts with me on our special breakfast dates:

Blue Benn Diner breakfast with Mom

Thank you for being my friend, and the one person who I know will love me with all of her heart forever:

Mom and I at Seadog Brewing Company, Maine

You are the definition of what a mother should be. You are the reason I will always believe anything is possible. I am so, so, very lucky to be your daughter. I love you Mom. Happy Mother’s Day.

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a beach mood on cinco de mayo

As I freeze my tail off here in the Chicago spring still wearing winter coats and scarves everyday, I fantasize about sitting on the beach all day until sunset, with an icy cold corona in my hand. Naturally I had to go back into my photo archives to find something to fit my mood on this day observed in the U.S to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage. I took these in the Outer Banks, North Carolina last July, arriving just as the sun was going down:

OBX at sunset, July 2010

…and sitting through a magnificent sunset:

OBX at sunset, July, 2010

Cheers to celebrating Cinco de Mayo and being lucky enough to sit on the beach during a sunset like this!

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february beach time is just as good

Somehow even if it is winter cold and cloudy, the beach is always be gorgeous and peaceful. In my 1,050 miles in the reliable BLR-Mobile this weekend, we stopped off to face the ocean and listen to the wind and waves for a few minutes at Wrightsville Beach.

BLR- Mobile at Wrightsville Beach, NC

(Yes I saw the sign. Don’t worry- we didn’t park there for very long. Occasionally I do follow the rules:)

Sand and salt water; Another example of a free and simple pleasure.

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i’m calling for a heat wave

I don’t know about you but I am so over this winter. By that I mean SO OVER this winter. It seems like the skies are more grey and the temperatures are consistently colder than previous winters. I cannot wait for the heat and sun again. As I was daydreaming of the summer, this photo I took of my morning coffee overlooking the beach in North Carolina’s Outer Banks came to mind:

View from my coffee in OBX

Off in the far distance? Yep, that’s the beach….the warm, warm beach…

Come back to us warmth, come back I beg of you.

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don’t stop get it, get it

(I love that song.)

I’ve got surprises coming throughout January and a new BLR look coming on Monday!

CHEERS!!! (I am raising a glass and clinking here.)

***My new favorite cocktail for a celebration like New Years Eve:
*2 ounces vodka
*4-5 ounces of fresh lemon and simple syrup or store bought lemonade
*Shake over ice
*Pour in martini style or fun glass of your choice
*Drizzle 1 ounce of red wine (pinot noir best) over the back side of a spoon onto side of glass (this will make a pretty red ring around the top of glass.)
*Top off with drop of bubbly. (I’m a big prosecco fan.)
*Sip and enjoy!

Not the greatest photo, but the Crackberry only does so much:

Cocktails for NYE at Stefani's

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!!!

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you beat me

As an answer to my slurping down the mega de-lish mocha java shake at Port City Java the other day in no time, one of my readers Bibb sent me this photo:

Bibbs after mocha java goodness

My shake was gone within 5 minutes. Bibb said his was gone in about 35 seconds. Now that’s some devotion. I am impressed with this photo too. With one glance you can almost feel the chill and taste all the melty goodness of this perfect summer treat.

Thanks for sending Bibb!

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coverages

When I look at my friend pool and people I like spending time with, it never fits anywhere close to one category. I have the most schizophrenic looking contact list. It’s great. I have friends that are 20 year old college students and 40 year old firefighters, executives who live in big cities, and bumbpkins that live in the country. I’m even pals with my previous auto insurance agent who I’d only actually met once face to face. I guess after calling and emailing him about 560 times within a 10 month time frame last year helped us to get to know each other. Turns out those commercials are true. They really do care and will be there when you need them.

This agent and I have broken up. That is, in the way of auto insurance. I’ve moved away and switched agencies, but we still stay in touch. We went to lunch the other day while I was in town. During our chat over yummy Thai food, captain safety/big brother kicked in. (I can’t say I’m surprised as he is married with a couple of kids and that seems to always make guys even more hyper-protective.) Like several other of my male friends he inquired about my road survival kit and supplies. I told him that I was not carrying a gun at this point (even though that has come highly recommended by several people in the past week or so.) I gave him the full run down of what I do have with me; “I have a knife and Swiss army knife, spare tire, maps, AAA card, compass, flashlight, can, bottle and wine openers (these are among the most important of course along with a nail file) cooler, lighters, matches, blanket, cell charger, water bottle, pens, paper and…”

“Don’t forget the condoms” he interrupts.

Laughter.

Me; “What?! Ok, so that wasn’t top of my list but thanks Dad. Safety first!”

More laughter.

Well Crager, seems you’re in the perfect line of business.

Thanks for lunch and cracking me up.

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mocha java shake; revisited

Once again I’m slurping down the best shake I’ve ever had; The Mocha Java from Port City Java in Wilmington, NC.

I wrote about his indulgent shake a bit over a year ago when I lived in Wilmington. 16 months later when deciding on where to camp out and work a bit, there wasn’t even a question, so here I sit. I’m thinking there might be crack in these things. Heavenly, mouth-watering, scrumptious or lip-smacking can’t even come close to describing how these things taste.

I’m glad I snapped this photo quick because as I type this now 5 minutes later, my cup is empty. Ahhh…

If you are every anywhere near a PCJ, do yourself a favor and drop in for one. With the combination of this treat and the always friendly staff here, it’s comforting to know that some things never change.

Mocha Java shake- Port City Java. YUM!

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