And Now?

And what have I been doing in Vero Beach for almost two months you might ask?

Well, I've been calling it "reorganizing" by which I mean applying for jobs, researching grad programs in Counseling Psychology, Social Work and Marriage & Family Therapy and learning about topics I feel undereducated about (like personal finance, sailing and canning). I've also taken on some fun projects including fermenting many different foodstuffs and playing the violin.

I've been having a good time shaking up Vero Beach by cruising around town on my mom's bike (yes, it has a basket, and yes, I put my violin in it to get myself to lessons), and doing neighborly things like asking for a cup of sugar (wait - people actually do that these days?)

I've also been making waves with things like bike lights (I get a full lane clearance at night from the same motorists that crowd me into the gutter during the day - bike lanes? oh yeah, there's that one street...), being seemingly the only female between 17 and 45 (the attention I get is embarrassing - for Vero), and solo dance parties in my Grandma's furnitureless, rent-paying-resident-less condo (okay so that doesn't really shake up Vero Beach, but they're a lot of fun) - when I'm feeling fancy I even walk over to the ocean and dance on the beach under the moon.

Culinary Adventures:

At my mom's house (where I eat and perform culinary experiments), I have a "Projects Cupboard", which at various times contains some sort of fermenting thing including sauerkraut, kefir, kombucha (phase I & II) and sprouts.

(points for catching the Old-school TRiP Nalgene cameo)

Mmm, homegrown sprouts!

Of course, I've also been engaging in my favorite at-home passtime, cooking extravagant (definition: more than 4 adjectives in the description) dishes for friends and family.

Bacon-wrapped, Goat Cheese-stuffed Medjool Dates with Balsamic Drizzle

Spaghetti Squash in Brown Butter Sage with Nutmeg

Beef Short Ribs Braised in Chipotle Coffee Maple Sauce

Musical Adventures:

This is me playing "Yankee Doodle" Don't laugh, it's hard - for me.

Though I am thoroughly enjoying an awesome "How to Play Bluegrass Fiddle" DVD that was definitely first released on VHS in the late 80s/early 90s... great style.

Traveling Adventures:

I've also continued the trend of visiting friends from long ago. I saw JJ Grey & Mofro in Tampa with (trippie and former roommate) Raquel

went up to Atlanta for Peach's band (Jack of Hearts)'s show at the Earl (photo from local ephemera)

and stopped through Gainesville on my way to and from Atlanta to visit trippies. I stayed with Daniel Godwin and repeated last year's Boca Fiesta dinner with Kyle, Sully, Swanson, Jessie & Coop (and apparently failed to take any pictures). They reminded me of one reason I love trippies: they're always doing exciting things! (like going to Mali for the Peace Corps or taking care of bees at UF)

I even managed to track down Cuopli at UF's new, top-secret "East Campus" though I couldn't get him to tell me what it was really for.

Mud-related Adventures:

My last Florida Adventure for this round was the Warrior Dash: a 5-k race with obstacles (like mud pits, barbed wire to climb under and fire to jump over) where costumes are encouraged. In my "pre-race training" I realized there was no way I'd win any prizes for speed, but I found out there was a prize for most outrageous costume, so I went there.

Before

...and after. I raced with some TRiP friends and we donned our warrior hats for a muddy post-race group shot

Next on the itinerary, Virginia Beach to visit former Kripalu roommate Nikki for (aww) Valentine's Day, and then Canada to take advantage of cheaper routine healthcare visit family and reup my Wilderness First Aid certification.