…that’s pretty much my life right now. I’m really, really, good with it:
World Cup time is totally awesome. BLR Play It Forward time is totally awesome.
Happiness.
How do you work and play at the same time?
#WorldCup #SoccerRules #GetOutAndPlay
…and be like these guys. For real:
What makes you boogie?
#ShakeWhatYourMammaGaveYa #DropItLikeItsHot #Dance
Whoop!
It’s been busy behind the scenes of BLR with BLR Play It Forward 2014 planning. We are less than 1 month away now from our 3rd Annual Event in Southern Vermont.
Mark your calendars and join us for Friday & Saturday festivities July 18th & 19th. All are welcome.
Also:
I’ve had several requests to purchase 2014 BLR Play It Forward jerseys:
1.) Yes! I can ship anywhere in the USA, or you can pick up day of Alumni Game (7/19) at Howard Park.
2.) $20 donation gets any size kid or adult shirt. All donations go to the BLR Memorial Travel Scholarship Fund.
3.) Get order in by July 1. Donate online with PayPal.
…and note what size you’d like- or send a check to the Blue Lollipop Road office:
305 W Morehead St.
Charlotte, NC 28202
Any questions? Email me:
Diane(@)bluelollipoproad.com
How do you play it forward?
#BLR #PLayItForward #PlayForwardGiveBack
Sitting here with tears in eyes and shaking head from news of a shocking loss. Three old friends and soccer sisters just lost their mother in a terrible accident. I’ve back spaced about 10 times at this point trying to write them a message and send condolences, but what the do you say besides sharing that your heart literally hurts thinking of what they must be going through? I keep wondering why these kinds of things happen to the good people. The ones that are happy and healthy and absolutely loved by their community for always being those generous, joyful, smiling people. Not fair. Simply not fair.
Ironically having a conversation today about the future of Blue Lollipop Road, when I got this news. Full-on conversation about should I keep the scholarship going, how can I raise more money, why it is so important for me to keep writing and babbling my travel stories and about life, why I want to continue honoring my lost friends and their zest for life- but how it is so much work too, and often feels like I am not doing enough or not touching enough live’s to make a difference.
This news comes in as I’m having the above specific conversation and I think- holy shit. This is why I “do” Blue Lollipop Road. I write because it helps me keep perspective, it helps me still cope with the loss of people I love even though It’s been close to 20 years. It gives me a platform to express my passions, hopes, and dreams. Blue Lollipop Road reminds me that days are short and I better do all I can to enjoy time, people, and say I love you because accidents happen and you just never know.
Today, to my hometown friends and soccer sisters who’ve just lost a most incredible woman, I am so very, very sorry. I can’t offer you much but love and hugs from afar, and maybe some kind of solace to know that all who knew her, will never forget her smiling face and sweet way. To live in our hearts forever, is not to die.
Here’s to the memories of quality time with people we love, and seizing all of our days together.
Yeah. I pretty much belong on the road. But if I am going to be somewhere laying my head on a bed at night instead of in the front seat in my Honda Civic- this ain’t half bad.
Where do you find home?
#OperationCharlotte #Sunset #LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad
…and who said brewery facilities weren’t inspiring?
#StayInspired #PicturesInBathrooms #WhyNot
I do.
Then again- I also believe and agree with the following:
“Good things happen to those who hustle.”
~Anais Nin
Sometimes I feel like I am barking up a bare tree, knocking on empty doors, and shouting from the wrong rooftops with all this…I want Blue Lollipop Road to provide travel scholarships to young people in financial need so they have a chance to see outside their small world into a bigger one for educational, self-empowerment purposes, stuff. I push and push and push, and occasionally I manage to squeeze one drop of blood out of a stone that should be drowning in the red stuff.
I’m frustrated.
Over the years, I’ve felt disappointed and pissed off at people, the world- everything. Then I think of these two girls who’ve been gone nearly 20 years now, that inspire me to be thankful for every day I have, and that trip to Germany I scraped babysitting money together for, in 1994. I think of how that summer rocked my world, changed my life forever, and how I promised to never forget it. I look at this I’ve had branded on my left wrist- that I put there for many reasons, but mostly as an additional reminder of what kind of life I want to live, and legacy I want to leave:
…and all of these above things keep me hustling through these times that feel like there’s nothing but a brick wall in front of me, and that no one out there really gives a shit.
I need help to make The Blue Lollipop Road Memorial Scholarship grow. I need help getting people to listen.
Even with my tried and true efforts, I somehow have not hit my stride/done whatever I need to do to be magical/what’s best and smartest to get this all to go boom, but I sure want to and I’m not afraid to work even harder than I already have. I hate asking for help more than anything, but I’m tired of trekking this train alone, scraping by with pennies in the BLR bank account, and being in debt personally, piecing together random work- so I don’t have to take a 9 to 5 gig that on one hand could provide me with steady income, but on the other, suck me dry of energy, hours, and momentum required to make this as big and as awesome as I know it can be.
Maybe “reality” really does, bite- but at almost 36 years old, I’m still hoping not.
The mission of Blue Lollipop Road is to encourage a commitment to an active lifestyle and to support travel for education and self-empowerment. I’m on a mission, people! Can anybody out there help me…please?
#WorkThatMatters #Travel #CryForHelp
As promised…our road trip to New Orleans!
The weather was perfect for our trek to The Big Easy the first weekend in May. We rolled in for our long weekend on Friday:
…dropped our bags off at the hotel and walked (safety first!) with mimosas to to Jazz Fest. Pit stop at Whole Foods for the bathroom along the way, and naturally I couldn’t resist this photo from their bathroom:
Can you see the “dance flo” text? BHAHHH! (I’m easily entertained. Translation; cheap date:)
Onto the festival, with people, parades, and music- oh my!
Relaxing Jazz Tent:
I would’t necessarily think of Christina Aguilera when I think of jazz, but that girl with her big pregnant belly got me dancing:
Great long day at the festival, trolly ride back to hotel, and sunset:
After a shower and prep for dinner, we ran into this crazy fun and awesome parade of a wedding party one block off Bourbon Street, celebrating their nuptial NOLA-Style:
The next morning, completely random tree/sky/building “up” photo as we wandered around:
(If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I became slightly obsessed with sky/skyscraper/cloud photos while living in Chicago, and took a lot of photos there.)
We probably walked 20 miles on Saturday, just wandering…people, streets, and food:
…which is a good thing, because we at beignets 3 times that day. Three. Oh the heavenly beignets at Cafe’ Du Monde:
Jackson Square was a fun stop:
…for a balcony glass of vino and a perfect people watching spot at Tableau:
..and of course, a most random street “band” for entertainment:
Next up was R Bar where we met hometown chef Newton Blanchard, stirring up an enormous pot of gumbo:
This guy pulls to the side of the street, every Saturday, preps this giant serving of New Orleans best that’s ready for the taking “around 6pm” and people flock. No charge, just a donation. We chatted with Newton and sat around outside for a good 2+ hours and stuffed our faces. I mean stuffed:
My sweet, sweet, boyfriend, who’s straight from French-Cajun Country himself- was in heaven:
(Yikes…I think this is the official first photo of us I’ve posted on BLR. Actually, I think this is the first photo I have ever posted of my love life here and It’s been nearly 6 years. Clearly I’ve held out for someone who was well worth the wait:)
The food was super hot (temperature & spice) I could barely take little bites, but I had to dig in immediately after Newton served us:
I will say it here first. I have eaten and posted here about a lot of food over these years, but holy moses was this roadside, stirred from something that looked like a shovel and served in a styrofoam bowl with a plastic fork some of the best ever. (Good thing I’m living with a Cajun. I’m sold!)
*Side note the striped can in the background above is my total summer favorite. It’s Radler actually, by Stiegel. Beer + grapefruit extra cold = heavenly delicious and refreshing. It’s hard to come by, so if you can get your hands on a can- do. Then bring me one, please.
After the feast and time with the locals, I played with sidewalk chalk at the Frenchmen Street Market:
…and laid on the ground because it seemed like a good idea at the time and I was already filthy from walking around all day, anyway. I’m not scared of a little New Orleans, funk:
Love me some life on the Blue Lollipop Road!
One last stop for our 3rd round of beignets after-dark and our day was complete:
We made a good samaritan practice while noshing round 3, and tracked down a guy who had left his wallet at our table. He came back, the group next to us cheered, and missing wallet man from Tennessee gave us hugs. All love at the end of a day in The Big Easy with a full belly, a face full of powdered sugar, and the best travel partner in crime by my side.
I’m already ready to go again.
Where are you traveling to?
#NOLA #JazzFest #LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad
I took this photo last week, just north of Charlotte. I have to say, this Peacock (thumbs pointed in) wound’t be interested in this line of work:
…but hey, hats off to this guy. Always fun to randomly stumble upon someone who shares your name.
Who shares your name?
#BirdsOfAFeather #Peacock #NameShare
Oh the places my little BLR-Mobile and I have been together. We’re nearing 200k and It’s just the beginning. I took this today:
It shouldn’t take me much longer to rack up another thousand. Maybe Honda will sponsor another one of my road trips soon. (Wink, wink, nudge, nudge, Honda…:)
Here’s to the road!
Where are you driving?
#HondaLove #RoadTrips #LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad