Beauty and the Beast

Sunday I realized how much fun doing something you really don't want to do can be fun. Being that it was father's day, I had lunch with my pops at Hooter's. Not much first choice, but, because I love my dad, I went anyway. And paid. Yeesh.

Even though I didn't want to, it made my day to make his.

That night I went to see Beauty and the Beast with an awesome friend from Disney, a friend that isn't really into stage shows. A friend that also really wasn't into Memphis, but decided to join me anyway on the many Memphian adventures we have had. He always says he has never made a bad decision to try something local with me and I have often wondered if I would ever be as open as him.

Hooter's is a small but important first step I guess, ha!

And he loved Beauty and the Best.

And, of course, the local place we ate at (Local on Main Street, yes, it is called "Local"). Great crabcakes and fish & chips.

It was a nice last night in Memphis. It was crazy to think that the next time I come home, I will have already been to France.

I think my dad was a bit upset the next morning as he hugged me by. Before I headed to the airport, I made a stop with another friend by our favorite local and greasy mexican restaurant, La Hacienda.

It's tradition.

My first night back in Celebration was spent, well, celebrating! I enjoyed one of the longest and most beautiful nights at a restaurant of my life with my roommate and a neighbor. At "Tavern" they serve great Sangria and even better spinach and artichoke dip. We spent hours on the patio talking over dinner before enjoying the best strawberry shortcake I have had in a LONG time.

Nothing makes dinner better than spending it in deep and varying conversation in the atmosphere of a great summer night overlooking the lake. I could feel the ebb and flow of everything involved that night, the pulse being our simple conversation. I realized how human I am that night.

I love those moments.

The ones that make you human.

Not just a working robot.

Run in the morning. Work in the day. Run in the evening. Sleep. Chores and chatter in between.

Malcolm Gladwell described this flow in his book "The Tipping Point." If I had it here in Celebration I would love to cut a chunk out of that section for you.

I guess you should go read it, ha!

Discovering balance in your life is wonderful.

There is beauty.

And beast.

In everything.

Everyday I realize the world is more gray than we thought.

Sure my job at Disney is monotonous, but together with my fellow cast members, we make it a great place. Maybe hooter's isn't the finest of dining, but the company is what means the most. For all I know, Tavern has horrid food, but the atmosphere was awesome. Last night I went to a SAK improv show in downtown orlando with a friend ($2 lab rat shows on Tuesdays!), but I doubt the show would have been as funny had I been there alone or with different company. I realized that Memphis has a much better downtown scene (granted it was a Tuesday), and I much as I used to want Disney in Memphis, I realized last night, it takes away from locals. And I wouldn't change my hometown for the world. Sometimes I hate running and feel as if I don't get any decent reflections out of it, but in the end, during my cool down. It was all worth it. (Especially when I dropped down a size this week!)

Much love.