Steph Lloyd

I’m thankful for America.  Taking into consideration all of our issues, we still have it easy compared to most out there.  We are so fortunate.  And I didn’t do anything to deserve it.  I was born into it.  I could have been born in so many different places, but I was dropped off in the heartland of America.  I’m not sure why.  What purpose it serves.  I do know that I’ve been feeling more and more of a responsiblity to take what we have, build upon the good and strip away the bad.  Change is hard, especially with such a diverse population, but I know it’s possible.  Slowly, but surely, we can witness a shift.  I already see things changing around me, and it’s exciting.  But I want more.  More for our country and more for the world.

[Photo from Martha Stewart]

I thought I’d start writing posts from time to time on what music I’m listening to.  It won’t happen all that often since I’m “one of those” who listens to the same stuff over and over until everyone goes crazy.  And then I keep on listening.  Haha.  I normally find an album that I love and listen to it, almost exclusively, for a month.  After that, I start looking for a new one. 

Meiko is an artist I can’t get enough of.  I have been listening to her album for a couple of months now.  Her stuff is chill and easy to listen to.  I get into it no matter my mood.  She was indie until she signed a deal last month, so you might start hearing her name around.  Listen to her.  She rocks.

I’ve gotten lots of compliments about my purses lately. I bought two of them from this woman in Cambodia. Isn’t she great? You can’t see the ones I bought, they were hanging out in the front, but as you can see, she had quite the variety.  I also bought several scarves (to the right, in the picture) from her. She was very cheerful and so patient as I considered which colors to get. It was hard because I’m indecisive she had every color imaginable! I knew I wouldn’t be back anytime soon and I wanted to wear/use them like crazy.

I’ve been happy with my two purses… but I’m afraid I picked some funky scarf colors. I’ve worn two of them like crazy, but the others are packed away, waiting to be used one day.

My only regret is that I didn’t bring larger luggage so that I could have brought more things home for friends. How can you go wrong with a purse you paid a few dollars for? Most people think I got them from Fossil. I wonder if I could import them?!?

I was locking the door, balancing my helmet and purse in my arms, when I heard a car passing by. I turned to look and was surprised to hear some guy saying “Daaammnnn.” Oh God. He proceeded to stick his upper half out the car window so he could look the rest of the way past our house as he yelled, “Hot damn!”

What in the world? I don’t get it. That does not make me feel good. I mean think it, whatever, just don’t scream out the window like some wild animal. Especially when you’re not hot. Haha! I kid, I kid.

Three words: Around the world.

Oh man! I want to get Matt and I some RTW tickets and go. There are so many people out there traveling around the world and blogging about it. The pictures and stories are awesome. I can’t get enough!

It isn’t feasible for us to do it anytime soon, because I don’t want to do it while we still have student loans or debt, BUT once everything is paid off, we are so gone! Originally I wanted to do it before we started a family, but now I don’t care. There are tons of families out there traveling together. What an awesome experience! What will we do with our careers? I’m not really sure yet… Where will we put our stuff? Not sure about that either. Honestly, none of that really matters to me because, as I told a co-worker the other day, when you are standing on the Great Wall, taking it all in, envisioning all that has gone on in that place, throughout history, nothing else really matters. To be there, with the one I love, was awesome, in the truest sense of the world.

Lots of thoughts swirling around this little head of mine today. A lot of the thoughts started about two months ago but I’ve been pushing them away…

After we had made our decision to come back to America, we told our friend (and former boss) Ron about it. He lives in South Africa and travels around like none other. He said many things, but the things that stuck with me were along the lines of: Living abroad changes you forever; It’ll never be the same; and You won’t be able to stay home for too long.

At the time I heard what he was saying but I thought that maybe he was speaking more about his life and his journey rather than my own. BUT after having been back for nine months, I can honestly say that he was right. It did change me. Things that I came home for are no longer important to me.  That is not to say that we are picking up and moving.  The real struggle for me is that I really have nothing to complain about. I live in the best part of Tulsa (in my opinion), I have a really cool job, working for a really great boss, my husband and I are doing well, I’ve reconnected with so many friends. I can’t think of one negative thing in my life… besides knowing that there is a big old world out there that I’m not experiencing.

I spend most of my free hours planning trips online. To Bali. To Peru. To Japan. To Thailand. To South Africa. To Turkey. I can’t stop myself! I sit here dreaming of the next trip and how amazing it’ll be, but then end up feeling sad that it’s going to take so long to get there. Between finances, vacation time and Matt’s schedule, it seems the trips get pushed further and further into the future. I’m thankful that we will have the opportunity to go eventually… but I can’t help wondering if I’m okay with that.  Really, really okay with that.

I feel very fortunate to be in the place that I am and will keep moving forward in it… but I’m not going to push away any of these questions that keep coming to mind.  I want to know the answers and I know that I’ll be happier in the long run if I get them answered.  Things are always changing… so I really don’t know what the future holds… but I am excited because there are so many possibilities… and everything is just waiting on a choice.  Do this or do that.  Live here or there.  Eat this or that.  It all comes down to do it or don’t.  For everything.

Now I just need to figure out what is most important to me… more questions… hehe.

I have always thought George Carlin was hilarious. I was sad to hear he died and so decided to honor his memory by watching hours of his stuff tonight. The last thing I watched was him on Inside the Actor’s Studio. Such a neat guy.

George Carlin, you will be missed.

Every other sect supposes itself in possession of the truth, and that those who differ are so far in the wrong. Like a man traveling in foggy weather they see those at a distance before them wrapped up in a fog, as well as those behind them, and also people in the fields on each side; but near them, all appears clear, though in truth they are as much in the fog as any of them.

I really need to find a place to go when I need alone time. When I was younger, there were plenty of places, when I was in college, there were plenty of places. I’m sure there are plenty of places for me now but I have yet to find them. I really need to get away now and then. As much as I love living in the city, the hustle and bustle often gets to me. I want complete silence but I can’t find it. Not even in my own home. There are sirens and neighbors, crazy motorcyclists and construction. Ahhh!

I’m feeling the need to read and drink iced tea. To soak in the heat until even my bones are warm (it seems I always have a chill). Wouldn’t this be the perfect place to get away? I love it.

[Via Design*Sponge]

Even though I’m happy that both batches of soap didn’t turn into pounds of slop, I’m upset that they didn’t turn out exactly as I had hoped.  Grrr.  The lavender is pretty much perfect, they are just a little bit short, but they do have girth, so I guess we’re fine.  No, I didn’t.  Hehe.  The peppermint soap smells amazing but I’m afraid I put way too much colorant in it.  I was worried it’d be a pinkish color but when I uncovered it this morning, I was amazed to see dark, dark red soap.  I had considered leaving the colorant out but stuck it in at the last minute.  I kind of wish I wouldn’t have.  Dang it!  Who knows, maybe people will like it.  I know I don’t!  I’ll get some pics after I cut them into bars tonight.