Leigh Kramer

What I'm Into (July 2015 Edition)

What even is my life? Housesitting is the best.

I've been in San Francisco for a little over a month now. July was filled with All Things New: new city, new job, new friends, new bus routes, new restaurants. Everyone handles transition differently and I know I do best when I make forays here and there, then retreat to the comforts of home and a good book. So far, so good.

 

Read and Reading

The Word Exchange (Graedon) is already on my Favorite Novel list for this year. It's a bibliophile novel, perfect for any book or word nerd. What if books and libraries were a thing of the past? What if our iPhones did everything from diagnose our illnesses to paying our taxes- automatically? What, then, might happen if the word flu spread causing people to speak gibberish and then die? An interesting look at our dependence on technology and social media, this novel gives us an ode to the written word and was a fun ride from start to finish. More please.

I didn't know what The Girl With All The Gifts (Carey) was about before I started and that's how it should be. I could barely put it down and once I figured out what was happening, I was like, "WHAT?!" and then I was glad I hadn't known what it was about because this is not my normal genre and yet it was so captivating. The ending was a bit much for my taste but it's well worth reading.

Lion Heart (Gaughen) was a satisfying conclusion to the Scarlet trilogy. I loved seeing how Scarlet grew as a character and it was such a fun and imaginative reinvention of Robin Hood.

I would like anything Tara Austen Weaver writes but Orchard House especially blew me away. It's a beautifully rendered exploration of how gardens grow and families learn to connect. (The imagery alone!) Though our stories are different, this memoir resonated in a powerful way. Highly recommended. Side note: you may remember I got to spend time with Tara while she was in Nashville for a book signing a few months ago. I had literally just decided to move to SF and the story spooled out of me as we drank tea. Tara grew up in the Bay Area and had such wonderful advice. She references SF a number of times in Orchard House and offers her experience of forging community in Seattle, which made reading it now that much more perfect.

Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church (Evans) was a breath of fresh air and a balm for my soul. This is RHE's best writing yet.

Michael Pollan never ceases to inspire me and Cooked was no exception. I loved learning more about the science behind cooking, as well as his process of incorporating water, earth, fire, and air into his cooking methods. It made me want to braise all the meat and bake all the bread posthaste. It might have convinced me to start fermenting foods other than pickles, too.

 

 

We'll be discussing Once Was Lost (Zarr) this month on The Red Couch. If you need an excuse to read great YA, here you go!

 

You can see all the books I've read at Goodreads. 

Currently reading: Embracing the Body (Owen), Here If You Need Me (Braestrup), Spinster (Bolick), The Good Luck Of Right Now (Quick), Once Was Lost (Zarr), The Silver Witch (Brackston), Fire Shut Up In My Bones (Blow), Wild In The Hollow (Haines)

 

(I read 15 books this month.)

 

TV:

Must-see TV: So You Think You Can Dance, Real Housewives of New York, Real Housewives of Orange County

 

I am loving this season of SYTYCD! Is there anyone who isn't #TeamStreet? They are all so incredible.

There's no cable where I'm housesitting so I've taken this as a sign to finally watch The West Wing for the first time. I've only ever seen a few random episodes and I'm still not sure why I didn't watch when it was first on. (Probably because it started when I was in college and I was sidetracked by shows on the WB.) In any case, better late than never. I'm on season 3 and loving it. Every episode is so good and depressingly still relevant to current events, even if they can also be tone-deaf at times regarding race and the LGBTQ community.

I'm also re-watching The Hills because I'm a sucker for Lauren & Co. No matter how many times I watch, I'm always horrified by Spencer and his vileness.

 

Podcasts:

New subscriptions: The Robcast, Another Round with Heben and Tracy, Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert

Highly recommend Marc Maron's interview with President Obama, no matter what side the aisle you're on. A fascinating listen the whole way through. Also worth listening: the episode about how the interview came to be.

Congrats to the Popcast on 100 episodes! They're the coolest, even when they're oh so wrong about things. I'm looking at you, Knox McCoy.

This Sorta Awesome episode about hospitality was fantastic. I love hosting people in my home, even though I rarely did it while I lived in Nashville. I'm anxious to get back in the habit.

Tsh of The Art of Simple relaunched her podcast as The Simple Show and brought back the episode I recorded with her last summer about the Enneagram. If you missed it the first time around, have a listen (it's episode 6) and then check out the rest of the podcast.

 

Things I Love:

• Eating at these amazing restaurants (and the friends with whom I ate): Outerlands, Bun Mee, Rusty's Southern, Modern Thai, The Chairman

• Ezra the Cat: he is a purring, snuggly lovey

• Spending the morning with one of my coworkers Florence: talking about life, learning about the work I'd be doing, and eating yummy (dairy-free!) pastries from Arizmendi Bakery

• Cara took me on a driving tour of the city so I could start getting oriented. It's still a blur but it was so helpful and so utterly kind of her.

• Fourth of July with Cara's family: we hit up Jack London Square and had amazing Filipino barbecue for lunch and then headed over to her neighbor's house for a barbecue that night. It was one of the best spreads of food I've seen in a while and I had a blast talking with all the neighbors.

• Brunch with my cousin Clara, her husband Wallie, and their kiddos. It is so wild to live in the same state now! We kept marveling over it. I adore them.

• I started my job! I'm the Children's Ministry administrative assistant for City Church. I've been there a month now and feel like I'm getting the hang of things and actually making a contribution. Everyone has been super welcoming and I've loved all the lunches and coffees I've had with everyone. They are my people. Plus, Thursday afternoon debrief (aka Happy Hour) is the best way to end the work week. (I work Sunday-Thursday.)

• We missed out on cruffins but my coworker Laura and I had a great time getting donuts and other pastries from Mr. Holmes Bakehouse. Since it's near work, cruffins are assuredly in my future!

• Hanging out with my cousin Nick! We hadn't seen each other in 15 years and probably only saw each other a couple times before that. He grew up in Oregon and so we're family but we don't know each other super well. And yet, it was just like talking to an old friend. I'm so thankful to have him nearby and that we have a chance to build a relationship.

• Last-minute dinner invitations from new friends

• Peanut Butter Oreos

• My latest Stitch Fix! I kept 4 out of 5 pieces- 3 cute tops and a pair of jeans. Another home run.

• Finding a good bus route to work. There was a lot of trial and error involved but I figured it out and even started reading on the bus earlier this week. Victory!

• Facetiming with my best friend and her kids. Technology is the best.

 

• I can't stop taking pictures of this view. Just a small sample of what I come home to. I'm looking forward to finding my own place (with a roommate) but this is truly the life.

• THE WEATHER! I cannot believe it is July and I wear jeans and a cardigan almost every day. It is beautiful. It hasn't gotten higher than 80. This weather is my favorite.

 

 

Favorite Instagram:

I broke bread with a new friend tonight. The conversation was easy and the food a delight. I hope this is a harbinger of what's to come.

(If you want to follow me on Instagram, my user name is leighkramer.)

 

On The Blog:

I shared the Best Podcasts for a Road Trip, complete with specific episode recommendations. You're welcome.

 

 

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An InLinkz Link-up

 

 

What have you been into this month?

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What I'm Reading in 2015: Six Month Update

I've read a ton of books so far this year and I'm making good progress on my 2015 reading list. This is the first year I've mapped out and prioritized books to read and I wasn't sure whether I'd feel hemmed in by it or glad. So far, it's a mixture of both. There are a few books on the list I'm not really feeling and if I hadn't included them here, they'd probably linger on ye olde To Read list for the ages. I suppose if it turns out I really enjoy them, I'll pat myself on the back for following through.

For the most part, though, it's been really helpful to refer back to this list. I derive so much satisfaction from checking books off. I like being intentional in what I read, especially when there are so many books to choose from. This list has given me focus and that's not a bad thing.

Here's where I stand six months in.

 

Modern Mrs. Darcy's 2015 Reading Challenge

A Book I've Been Meaning to Read:

Fiction: The Alchemist- Paulo Coelho (slated for September with The Red Couch!)

Nonfiction:  The Beautiful Struggle- Ta-Nehisi Coates

I've been following Coates's writing for a few years now and am glad I finally had a chance to read his stunning memoir. Brilliant writing. I cannot wait to read his new book Between the World and Me, which is out today.

 

A Book Published This Year:

Fiction: The Girl on the Train- Paula Hawkins

It didn't enthrall me the way Gone Girl did but the presence of two potentially unreliable (and frankly, unlikable) narrators hooked me in. I did figure out the twist about a hundred pages from the end. However, I enjoyed sifting through the characters' memories and experiences and trying to figure out exactly what they'd seen and done.

 

Nonfiction: Searching For Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church- Rachel Held Evans (in progress)

 

A Book in a Genre I Don't Typically Read:

American Born Chinese- Gene Luen Yang

I've never read a graphic novel before but I saw Yang speak at the Festival of Faith and Writing last year and resolved I would give this a try. I'm so glad I did!

 

A Book From My Childhood:

A Wrinkle in Time- Madeleine L'Engle (plan on re-reading this in the next couple of weeks)

 

A Book That Was Originally Written in Another Language:

One Hundred Years of Solitude- Gabriel Garcia Marquez

 

A Book "Everyone" Has Read But Me:

Seabiscuit- Laura Hillenbrand 

 

A Book By a Favorite Author:

Fiction: The Lake House-Kate Morton (Out October 20, 2015)

Nonfiction: Wearing God: Clothing, Laughter, Fire, and Other Overlooked Ways of Meeting God- Lauren Winner

 

A Book Recommended By Someone With Great Taste:

The Boys on the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics- Daniel James Brown

I was on the crew team for a couple of years in college so I was positively enthralled by this story, not only for its historical value but going down rowing memory lane. Even those without crew experience should find this story interesting. Written in the vein of Unbroken, The Boys in the Boat takes us back to the Depression era and the years leading up to WWII, all the more notable because of where the 1936 Olympics took place. The book centers on Joe Rantz, which is a wise choice in that the narrative keeps moving and provides the book its heart. We still learn about his fellow rowers in the process and see how they become a true team and where that eventually led them. Highly recommended.

 

Hollywood Housewife's Book Club

I've read six of the ten books Laura selected, which surprised me. I re-read To Kill A Mockingbird for last week's discussion and will possibly join in on Their Eyes Were Watching God (Hurston) next month.

 

 

New Releases

Out of Sorts: On Being Comfortable With Unanswered Questions- Sarah Bessey (Out November 3)

 

Lessons in Belonging from a Church-Going Commitment Phobe- Erin S. Lane

I first heard about Lessons in Belonging from the author herself while hanging out at the Festival of Faith and Writing last year and immediately knew I needed to read it. I was right. Lessons in Belonging deeply resonated with me as I continue to sift through my relationship with faith, doubt, and all things church. Erin's honesty is compelling and while I didn't agree with all of her conclusions, she gave me good food for thought at every turn. Her thoughts on community and belonging were especially insightful. Recommended for anyone with a complicated church history or who is looking for a place to belong.

 

God Help the Child- Toni Morrison

I'm not sure how this happened but I've never read Morrison before. The story drew me in from the start but I am not quite sure what to make of it. This would be excellent to discuss in a book club. There are compelling reflections on beauty, skin color, and family, to be sure.

 

Spinster- Kate Bolick 

 

Veronica Mars #2: Mr. Kiss and Tell- Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham

I just love Veronica Mars. These books are pure fun and I can't wait for the next one!

 

Fairest- Marissa Meyer

What makes a villain a villain? Could Queen Levana have turned out differently if she'd had a different family or upbringing? This slightly longer novella would argue yes. Overall, Levana is emotionally stunted, which is good to keep in mind as you see the choices she makes and why she reacts the way she does. Or just think: spoiled teenager. It will still be true once she has left her teenage years. This made me all the more excited to read Winter! 

 

Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives- Gretchen Rubin

I loved Rubin's first two books but I tried to keep my expectations in check before I started this one. While it was interesting to learn about the Four Tendencies, the overall tone and content of the book was disjointed. In her previous efforts, she could move seamlessly between research and personal anecdotes. Not so much here. It would have been much stronger if it had been more firmly a memoir or a book about habit formation.

 

Wild in the Hollow: On Chasing Desire and Finding the Broken Way Home- Amber Haines (Out July 28)

 

Mademoiselle Chanel- C. W. Gortner

An interesting and sympathetic look at Chanel's life. The author has taken certain liberties- it is a fictionalized tale, after all- and the result is one I'm sure the House of Chanel is pleased with and yet it strays fairly far from the truth, in terms of the less savory aspects of Chanel's life, such as her relationship with the Nazis and her failed attempt to spy on their behalf. Still, it's an enjoyable read. If you want the real story, read Mademoiselle: Coco Chanel and the Pulse of History.

 

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear- Elizabeth Gilbert (Out September 22)

 

Embracing the Body: Finding God in Our Flesh and Bone- Tara Owens (in progress)

 

 

Additional Books by People of Color

Birmingham Revolution- Edward Gilbreath

 

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness- Michelle Alexander 

 

One Church, Many Tribes- Richard Twiss

 

Just Mercy- Bryan Stevenson 

I commend Stevenson for the good work he's done through the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit legal practice dedicated to serving the poor, the marginalized, the downtrodden. And I commend him for the good work he's given us here. The book is part memoir, part treatise on the state of the legal system. We follow the story of Walter, a man on Alabama's Death Row who proclaims his innocence, and meet Stevenson's other clients as he built his practice in the 1980s and the subsequent areas of injustice they've battled to this day, including death penalty sentences for children and the treatment of the mentally ill. This book is a game changer, a must-read.

 

Half of a Yellow Sun- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

 

Bad Feminist- Roxane Gay

Worth reading for the essay on The Help alone.

 

Sacred Pauses: Spiritual Practices for Personal Renewal- April Yamasaki

 

Cutting for Stone- Abraham Verghese

 

Intern: A Doctor's Initiation- Sandeep Jauhar

An inside look at medical residency and the world inside hospitals. I was a medical social worker for several years so I was not surprised by much of what Jauhar encountered, although some improvements have been made since he completed residency. There's still much to be done! The book might have been stronger had Jauhar not waffled so much about his chosen career and calling but still, I'm glad he decided to lower the veil for those who do not work as doctors or nurses. 

 

I also read The Dead Emcee Scrolls: The Lost Teachings of Hip-Hop (poet Saul Williams), Life In Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina (Misty Copeland), The Buried Giant (Kazuo Ishiguro), The Precious One (Marisa de los Santos)

 

What are you reading this year?

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Best Podcasts For a Road Trip

I just undertook the longest road trip of my life: over 37 hours, moving from Nashville (by way of the Chicago suburbs) to San Francisco. I stayed with friends along the way so most days I drove no more than 9 hours. Still, that's a lot of collective time on the road by one's self.

Though I am a voracious reader, I cannot pay attention to audiobooks for the life of me. Instead, I turn to music and podcasts to fill up the hours of driving time. (Also, some periods of silence. There's nothing like an open road when it comes to introspection and reflection.)

I listen to a variety of podcasts but not all are conducive to long drives. For a road trip, I tend to think longer episodes are better. When else will you have so much uninterrupted time to listen? Unless you have a bunch of shorter ones saved up and they don't need to be listened to in a particular order. After all, you need to stay focused on the road, not glancing down at your phone to cue up the next episode.

These are the ones I turned to while moving across the country.

(Note: While the topics and people interviewed tend to be diverse in the shows I subscribe to, the podcast hosts are primarily white. I'm working to broaden my podcast subscriptions and if you have any suggestions of podcasts hosted by POC, I'm all ears. Pun intended.)

 

Related:

More Favorite Podcasts For A Road Trip

 

 

Best Podcasts For a Road Trip

 

Longform Podcast

I found out about this one thanks to an almost 2 hour interview they did with Cheryl Strayed (episode 144). She said something about an hour in that instantly resonated with me and will likely be my mantra as I settle into SF life. (I mentioned it in my What I'm Into post) Most of their interviews are around 1 hour long. I went through the archives and downloaded anyone I recognized or who sounded interesting. I especially recommend their interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates (episode 97).

 

 

 

 

Sorta Awesome

I'd like just about anything Megan Tietz does but she has truly blown me away with her podcast from the beginning. Not only does she have the perfect voice for this medium, her co-hosts are fantastic and I love the variety of topics they tackle. I listened to two episodes during the drive: one on friendship and one on Myers-Briggs. I've been turning their discussion over in my mind ever since. It is truly awesome.

Don't forget: I got to be a guest co-host last month when Megan and I discussed all things Enneagram.

 

 

 

 

 

You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes

Pete Holmes is a comedian but I didn't know of him until he interviewed Richard Rohr, which was an amazing episode and I'm not just saying that as a Rohr fangirl. He primarily interviews fellow comedians but has started interviewing the occasional person of faith. Episodes tend to be 2 to 3 hours long, which makes them perfect for long stretches of driving time. Episodes are more conversation than interview and you learn just as much about the person being interviewed as you do about Holmes. Other favorites: Rob Bell, Ellie Kemper, and Demetri Martin.

 

 

Pop Culture Podcasts: Slate Culture Gabfest, NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, The Popcast

I love pop culture to the point of listening to 3 pop culture podcasts every week. Slate Culture Gabfest and Pop Culture Happy Hour discuss an array of topics and mediums and offer insightful critique. (I'm especially partial to PCHH because host Linda Holmes is super smart, yet also has a weakness for Hallmark movies.) My friends Knox and Jamie host The Popcast and their episodes kept me going through Iowa while I internally ranted about all the ways they were wrong, especially when Knox said Gilmore Girls isn't that great of a show. THE NERVE.

 

 

Death, Sex, and Money

This show tackles the topics most of us avoid discussing. Host Anna Sale has a way of getting interview subjects to open up to her and we are better for it. Episodes vary in length, anywhere from 25 minutes to an hour. I cannot get enough of it! Recommended: This Senator Saved My Love Life, The NFL Made Me Rich. I Won't Watch It Now., Ellyn Burstyn's Lessons On Survival, A Funeral Director's Dead Reckoning (featuring my friend Caleb Wilde!), I Killed Someone. Now I Have 3 Kids., Where Is Lisa Fischer's Backup?, Cancer Changed Ken Jeong's Comedy, and W. Kamau Bell Wonders How Much Is Enough.

 

 

 

 

NPR's Fresh Air

I always enjoy listening to Terry Gross's take on a variety of people and subjects. She is a master! The archives stretch pretty far back so download whatever and whomever interests you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TED Radio Hour

This podcast looks for common themes amongst the best TED talks and then host Guy Raz interviews the speakers to go further and deeper on the topic. I still regularly think about The Source of Creativity from last fall, and not just because we get to hear from both Sting and Elizabeth Gilbert. It's a great way to stay up to date on the best TED talks and learn more about what inspires the speakers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wait Wait Don't Tell Me

I like to save up episodes of WWDTM and listen to them all at once. It always makes me laugh out loud, especially when Maz Jobrani is a guest. I wish I would have gone to a taping when I still lived in Chicagoland! It's a great and fun way to stay up to date on the latest news. (Their site hasn't been updated in a while but they regularly post new episodes on Facebook. Or you can subscribe to the show feed in your favorite podcast app.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

This American Life

Would any list about podcasts be complete without TAL? I don't know how Ira Glass and his crew come across such interesting stories but we are all better for it. Recommended: Three Miles, Cops See It Differently, Part 1 and Part 2, Harper High School, Part 1 and Part 2, and Taking Names.

Unfortunately, if you want to listen to archived episodes, you can't do it through the Podcast app. Their website has them all, however.

 

 

 

 

 

Honorable Mentions:

On Being with Krista Tippett

This is one of my favorites. I've gone deep into the archives just so I could listen to more of Krista's interviews. I adore her and the people she talks with. However, she has a soothing voice, as do many of her guests. (Same with Dear Sugar.) When it comes to lengthy road trips, I will listen if I have a sense of how rousing the conversation will be, such as the Indigo Girls, Nadia Bolz-Weber (lost track of how many times I've listened to this one), Reza Aslan, and John Lewis. Otherwise, I'll listen when I'm not at risk of falling asleep. (Don't worry. I've never come close to falling asleep while driving.)

 

 

 

 

 

Invisibilia

There aren't any new episodes but if you haven't listened to this one yet, you absolutely must. The stories they share and the connections they make are fascinating. Listen to alllllll of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What podcasts would you add to this list?

What I'm Into (June 2015 Edition)

  The sunset where I'm housesitting. Glory.

In the past month, I packed up my entire house, loaded most of my belongings into a storage pod that I won't see again for a couple of months, drove back to my hometown for a week, and then drove more than 2300 miles across the country to move to San Francisco. I cannot even believe this is my life!

 

Read and Reading

Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town (Krakauer) is not an easy read but I do believe it's one of the most important books I've read this year. Krakauer's exploration of date rape on a college campus often made me angry. It was horrifying to see the ways the victims were marginalized, dismissed, not believed, and then on top of that, had their characters misrepresented and smeared, especially when their rapists were football players. Krakauer's approach in writing this is excellent. The book is powerful. It exposes the secrets of our justice system, college sports, and power dynamics. It should be required reading. Maybe then things would start to change.

You don't need to know anything about basketball or the SEC to enjoy Strong Inside: Perry Wallace the Collision of Race and Sports in the South (Maraniss). Perry Wallace was the first black athlete at Vanderbilt, thereby integrating the SEC. While Vanderbilt is to be commended for integrating, it was disheartening to read about the lack of support black students received once on campus. Integration is not enough to build understanding and relationships and this becomes especially clear when Wallace played at more overtly racist schools and his coaches and team did little to acknowledge what was happening or, in some cases, protect him. I really enjoyed learning about Wallace's life in the years leading up to his decision to go to Vanderbilt and all he's accomplished since then. Such a remarkable man!

I've been reading more actor memoirs lately but haven't delved into any biographies. I was super intrigued when De Niro (Levy) became available as a review copy. I respect De Niro as an actor, though I knew little about his personal life before this book. He declined Levy's requests for an interview, as he declines most interviews. This could have translated into some juicy "tell all" but it is nothing of the sort. Levy is fair and balanced in his approach. The book really centers on De Niro's acting: what roles he took, his meticulous preparations and approach to each role, how his career has changed over the years. It was fascinating to go behind the scenes, even though I haven't seen most of his more famous roles. (He tends to pick violent movies and I have a very low tolerance.) I also enjoyed learning more about his relationships, especially with his parents. I had no idea he was such a womanizer! Levy becomes more critical of De Niro when he started acting in movies like Meet the Parents and The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, and this section of the book faltered for me. But that's a minor note in this solid exploration of De Niro's life and career. (Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book through Blogging for Books in exchange for my fair and honest review. Opinion is my own.)

 

You can see all the books I've read at Goodreads. 

Currently reading: Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church (Evans), Cooked (Pollan), The Bookseller (Swanson)

 

(I read 8 books this month.)

 

TV:

Must-see TV: So You Think You Can Dance, Real Housewives of New York, Real Housewives of Orange County

I finally got to watch Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and now understand what all the cool kids have been talking/laughing about. It was uneven for me but I loved every scene with Titus.

I am thrilled SYTYCD is back! Still not sure about this current judge combo though. I hope Mary Murphy will make an appearance at some point.

 

 

Podcasts:

This month a dream came true! I got to be the guest so-host on Sorta Awesome. I had an absolute blast talking to my friend Megan Tietz about all things Enneagram. I'm crossing my fingers and toes she asks me to come on again someday.

I really enjoyed this Longform Podcast interview with Cheryl Strayed. She said something about halfway through that is going to set the tone for me in San Francisco. Before the movie version of Wild premiered, she told herself, "you will not shrink from this but you will rise to the occasion." YES.

I found out StoryWonk started a Veronica Mars watch-along podcast: We Used To Be Friends. Excellent commentary on the show! (This is by the same people who do The Scot and The Sassenach, which is a commentary on Outlander, which I also like listening to.)

 

Things I Love:

• Watching the season premiere of SYTYCD with Kelley. I'm so sad we won't be able to watch the whole season together!

With Abby at the game. Note: I am wearing my White Sox sweatshirt.

• My first Nashville Sounds game, thanks to gifted tickets from a friend. Minor league teams are fun and the new stadium is fantastic! I might have developed a crush on the tattooed 3rd baseman.

• My nephew-in-love turned 1! I'm so thankful I could be there for his party before I moved away.

• Quickie ice cream date with my niece-in-love. Love her so much! I cannot even fathom not seeing her or her brother every week.

• All the friends who helped load the storage pod: Tracy, Joel, Chad, Julie, Julie's mom, Abby, Alece, Kyla, and Chaz. I could not have done it without them!

• Sleeping over at Tracy's house

• Dinner at Fido with the family I nannied for.

• Coffee at Edgehill Cafe with Alece

• Housesitting for a friend. I adore her house and I adored having a comfy place to sleep until I left town!

• Happy Hour at Holland House with Kelley and Amanda. I don't know how I never made it over there before but it was well worth the wait. Cheers to their gin gimlets!

• Taco Mamacita with Abby and Emily on my last night in town

• Walking a labyrinth with Anne Bogel

• Getting to spend time with my parents, brother, sister-in-law, and sweet niece!

• Front Street Cocina with Donna, Jill, Jill, Annie, and Heather

• Coffee with Laura and Ellie

Taking a break from the dance floor, where I succeeded in getting most of my relatives out there

• My cousin Pat finally married Kerri. I'm so happy for them and thrilled I could be there! Such a great night.

• Day o' fun with Erin and her crew, which included the French Market, Pitch Perfect, and tapas. Perfection.

• My parents had everyone over for Father's Day, ostensibly to honor the dads but really it was so people could meet my niece.

• My niece is 5 months old now and her smile is EVERYTHING. I need more snuggles.

•  Two of my good friends from college drove down from Wisconsin for lunch. Melissa and Danielle deserve all the gold stars! So great catching up with them.

• My friend Megan hosted a lovely evening for me, including a delicious specially concocted drink: Leigh's Bittersweet Goodbye. Joy and Chris Ann drove in from their respective states and it was such a treat to be with some of my favorite people. I couldn't stop smiling!

• By pure magic and happenstance, Tracy and the kids were in my hometown the day before I left and we got to meet up for lunch at Portillo's. It was near impossible to say goodbye to them so I'm glad we got a reprieve before they headed back to Nashville.

• Driving across the country without any major trouble. I'm proud of myself!

• A jar full of encouraging notes from my Life Council for my road trip

I stood in this same spot and took countless pictures of The Slough when I was a student. It's gorgeous in the fall!

• First stop of #LeighvingNashvegas: my alma mater! My friend Kelly works for the college now and took me on a tour so I could see all the ways it's changed and all the ways it's stayed the same. Then our friend Trisha met up with us for lunch. I don't know the next time I'll be back on campus so I'm extra glad it worked out.

• Second stop: Lincoln, NE. I had delicious Thai food with Michelle DeRusha and slept over at Deidra Riggs's gorgeous house. I loved every moment I had with them!

Colorado is a show-off

• Third stop: a slight detour to Colorado Springs to see my friend Suzanne and her family. I loved hanging out with them! I could not get over the mountain view from her backyard. I really wish I could have stayed an extra day to explore.
• Fourth stop: Salt Lake City, UT, which did include an extra day. Loved spending time with Nish and getting to meet her husband and kids at long last. She took me out for amazing dessert the first night and the next day we visited Temple Square, hiked to Bloods Lake, enjoyed a whiskey tasting in Park City, ate delicious Indian food, and watched Going Clear. It was just what I needed.

• Also great: arriving in SLC to find out about the Supreme Court's decision on marriage equality! Love wins.

• Fifth stop: Martinez, CA. It took 11 hours to get to this point and I'm so glad I planned to stay at Arianne's house instead of pushing myself straight to SF. Plus, we had such a magical evening together!

New home

• Final stop: San Francisco. As a reminder, I've never even been to California before. I could not believe my eyes when I drove into the city. GORGEOUS. I am housesitting at an amazing place with an ocean view. The sun was shining all day long. What a wonderful welcome!

• Also welcoming? Cara, who brought me an amazing burrito and guacamole and then took me to her favorite butcher and drove me so I could get a closer look at the ocean. So much fun to live in the same state!

• Bree Newsome. She is my hero!

 

Things I Didn't Love:

• Saying goodbye to Nashville friends

• Packing
• Giving back the key to my best friend's house

 

 

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