...someone has been wearing the stupid hat all day.

First of all, I'm writing this post on my lovely Mothers birthday.  She's only a few hours late, our dinner reservations were for 7:30 (currently 7:36) but guess what?  It's her birthday and none of that even matters.  So, as I await her call so I can finally go get my car from Farmhouse 18 and bring my friends' stuff back several hours past the time I told them I would have it (this will all make sense if you just keep reading...), I do have a great little story to tell you.  It involves some great friends and colleagues, S'mores and me attempting to be a sheep dog.  Intrigued?  I hope so.

Friday night to Saturday afternoon the RAs from Taylor went away for a weekend retreat- I wasn't quite sure what the plan was, but it ended up being a lot more chill and relaxed and not so much setting goals and Title 9.  I appreciate a mixture in activities, so I could have gone for a little more content, but I still had a blast. 

We had our retreat at the OSU Retreat House, which is something that actually exists in this world.  It's really an old farmhouse that employees can rent out for a retreat, the concept is really awesome.  The best part?  The sign on the door listed this OSU-owned property as Farmhouse 18.  Do you know what that means?  Farmhouse 17 and below exist as well.  Where are they?  No one knows.

It was a three bedroom one bath house with bunk beds in each room (more on this coming up later) and a nice rustic charm.  Because I have the genes of a 45 year old gay man I was automatically planning the space for when I bought it and lived there myself.  I was going to make a cozy seating area near the fire place while still allowing for traffic around the room, and I would have made the room we didn't really use the den and office space.  If it was given to me I could make this a really nice little house.  It's only 15 minutes from downtown so I can't imagine it's real estate value, but I should digress and continue on with how I ended up murdering people until 3am...

I got you again, didn't I?  I keep pulling out all the stops. 

We got settled into the house and almost immediately set out to make S'mores.  I mean, duh?  I was running around the property with a miners light on my head (pictures below) trying to rastle' up sum fire wood.  I eventually was just breaking limps and twigs off of trees and bushes, but I felt really manly doing it.  With several of us babying it, we finally got the fire to take off.  (Genie, if you're reading this, throwing leaves on the fire didn't help at all. And Katie you gave the fire too much air and actually blew it out.  And Martin I am still not sure what kindling is.)

So naturally I was already trying to find some sort of stick to roast marshmellows on, and Taylor was getting the S'mores fixin's ready (we used the trunk of my car as a sort of table) and it was on.  I made my first S'more with two marshmallows and was patient and roasted it was it was perfectly golden brown.  It was a thing of beauty.  I made my second S'more the same exact way, but this time I doubled up on the chocolate.  So good. 

After digesting all of that I ate 6 more roasted (read: burnt) marshmallows two-at-a-time right off of the stick.  I made this noise each time that I literally couldn't contain... so good.  I think the Native Americans were on to something in having those fires all the time. 

We played this really awesome game called Murder in the Dark as a group... the idea is that 2 people are the murders and like the game Clue you have to figure out who the murder is.  I loved it, I think a lot of that is because I was on a sugar high.  Martin made us warm spiced apple cider (so good!) and I also ate more food.  We slept upstairs and my friends who I shared a room with were all about the pillow talk. 

Saturday afternoon we were ready to leave when I decided it would be a good idea to go pet the sheep who were in the pasture area near the house.  Well... the sheep were not having any of it, so I was running around and trying to herd them and such... and I lost my keys.  I'm not sure where they are in that sheep pasture, but I went back today and searched for 3 additional hours and couldn't find them.

The best part?  I realized I left my wallet and my flashlight at the Farmhouse, and although those aren't really a huge part of this saga I still feel like the world was out to get me this weekend.  Murphy's Law came back to bite me once again. 

On the bright side?  I was able to see my Mom and family twice in two days, I did find my wallet and my flashlight, and I have been nursing my cold and drinking tea and Emergen-C trying to get over it.  There is a lot more to this story, but I'm feeling sleep calling my name. 

Goodnight friends.  I love my life.
Logan

Love or hate?

I either love this or hate this.  Its a necklace and the center black/pink/gold piece is the middle and both sides will have 4 strands of seed beads going up and the green strand will have the gold flower caps you see here. 
You have to be totally honest and tell me if this is stunning or tacky.  Totally honest.

New life to an old favorite

So, I bought this bracelet (it's the pastel colored one I have pictured in this post) while I was in Washington DC in 2010.  I was at Eastern Market with my PA friends and this woman had a bucket full of bracelets- I don't remember exactly, but I do recall this specific bracelet jumping out at me.  You know those moments where you see something and you realize that is literally meant to belong to you?  That no one else in the world but you would ever love it as much as you will?  I had that moment.

I remember haggling with her and got her down from $10 to $8... and when I opened up my wallet all I had were $20 bills.  I was frustrated and I just wanted to have it on my wrist, so I handed her a $20, she handed me a $10 back with a sly smile and I walked away.

I wore the bracelet on each opening day for the CWF program for the rest of that summer.  My sister has worn this bracelet a few times.  My Mom wore it to Thanksgiving dinner one year and my Grandma actually complemented her on it.  My Grandma does have good taste.

Needless to say this is one of the pieces in my collect of bracelets (and if you know me, you know there are many in my collection) that I love.  It's been with me for so much.

I was heartbroken when it fell apart at the Fair this summer.  I was just walking along and I clapped or something and BAM! all the beads fell to the ground.  My friend Sam and Julian helped me pick up the pieces and I didn't start crying.  I held it together.  There is no time for tears at the Ohio State Fair.

So this evening I got out my supplies and pieced her back together.  This time I used beading wire instead of elastic cord (I prefer elastic, but heavy ceramic beads require something more sturdy) and a beautiful gold ring and bar closure I bought recently.  It fits my wrist perfectly.

It feels good to have it back again.

 I'm also working on a few pieces for an upcoming jewelry/art show/fair/sale that my supervisor's supervisor Janet asked if I would like to make.  I'm very excited, I'll make sure to post pictures soon.  One will be mostly black with a mound of beads in the center, and the other I've started has a vintage inspired center pendant with green/pink and gold beads.  I think they'll turn out beautifully.


Have a lovely weekend,
Logan

Last days wrapped up in first days

Just as I ended my internship with the Ohio State Fair this summer I was thrown right into training for my RA position here at OSU.  I really wouldn't have it any other way- I love keeping busy.  I just wanted some time to sleep after the Fair ended.  No such luck.

Now classes have started up, I'm finally getting settled back into my life here at Ohio State.  It's amazing to me that a year ago I was still finding myself after the mess I left back at Bradley.  What a difference a year can make.

Lindsey is all moved into OSU as well, and I hope she's finding her footing and enjoying her first few days.  I'm having dinner with her tonight, which is awesome to me- we're both right here in Columbus just a few hundred feet from one another.

I'm looking into my future- considering Graduated School, GRE, jobs/careers, the Peace Corps.  But for now I think I'm going to settle into my life at OSU and just be cozy for a little while.  My birthday is in one week, and that brings on a whole new set of emotions and things to deal with. 

I may complain a lot, but I live a charmed life.

More later, friends.

I love these pictures.

 Petunias are always so photogenic and are a summer staple.  I love the shades of purple here.

One of my favorite Columbus buildings.  Plus the attention to detail along the doorframes.

 These pictures are just about to only good things that came out of Pride weekend.  Haha.