Carpe amorem.

Moving Forward.

2012-07-07T12:55:00.001-05:00

I'm moving again...hence, I started a new blog.

Check it out:

www.ameliatritico.wordpress.com

I'll be posting from the new blog from now on. Thanks for reading!

Love and peace,

Amelia

Aaaannnd...I'm back.

2012-02-14T15:38:00.000-06:00

Another two months have flown by without me blogging, and all I can say is:

I'm busy...so sorry.

After the spider bite debacle, Christmas came...then New Year's...then I was changing jobs...

then my best friend from high school got married...

then I went to Philadelphia for a weekend...

and now.....I'm just working...

Here:

It's pretty amazing. Though I definitely don't hold any grudges against the first coffeehouse I worked in upon moving to Chattanooga, I'm kind of partial to this new place. I love my new co-workers, the atmosphere, and the fact that I can listen to whatever music I want while working! :-) It's been a good change.

I love my life. I really just can't say that enough. The past few weeks have shown me how truly blessed I am. When the going gets tough, God has placed these amazing people in my life, old and new, to help me get through it. Stress was my closest companion for a while, but I had people there the whole time telling me it was going to be okay...just a few more days...

Letting other people bear my burdens is not one of my strong suits. I tend to just carry everything that's weighing on me like a pack mule ascending to Machu Picchu (I want to go there!) in the middle of the winter while fighting a hellacious cold...okay...that's probably an exaggeration, but you get my drift.

I feel like God has really been showing me lately that it's time to stop. I need to let other people help me. I need to learn how to share my burdens because that's what I'm called to do for others.

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

Galations 6:2

Things are good now...the stress has passed for the time being, but it will come again, and it's coming for those close to me right now. Today is Valentine's Day, and in the United States it tends to become all about flowers, candy, and cards...but I distinctly remember celebrating this day four years ago in Costa Rica and absolutely loving it. They celebrate El Día de Amistad y Amor...the day of friendship and love. This is what today means to me. It has nothing to do with romance and everything to do with the fact that I have to best friends and family in the world...I seriously couldn't create a better support system for myself if I tried.

Thank you to everyone that loves me...I love you all, and I pray that I can show you a smidgen of the love you've shown me. :-)

Peace and love,

Amelia

P.S. If you ever have a chance to light Chinese lanterns, do it. It's magical. :-) My new friends John Somerville and Molly Gardner took some awesome pictures of it.

©John Somerville

©Molly Gardner

Madness.

2011-12-07T15:49:00.000-06:00

Um....yeah, it's been a hot minute since I last wrote.

Why?

Two words:

Black widow.

For those of you who are squeamish, I won't post pictures. I'll just let you use your imagination to conjure up an idea of what a black widow spider bite looks like. Let me tell you...it ain't pretty, fun, or conducive to blogging regularly.

Around mid-October, I noticed a small red spot on my leg. It didn't hurt or anything, so I just thought I'd bumped my leg on something without noticing. A few weeks later...it was throbbing. One of my new friends down here in Chattanooga took one look at it and immediately made a phone call to her doctor pretending to be me to get me an appointment.

The initial diagnosis was a spider bite, but the doctor didn't seem too worried, so she prescribed me an antibiotic and sent me on my way. Ten days later...my leg was worse. I went back to the doctor which resulted in another prescription for a second antibiotic and a second diagnosis. This time, however, it wasn't a spider bite, it was a Staph infection.

5 a.m. the next morning...hello emergency room! My poor roommate was awakened to a phone call from me gasping for breath in my room as I suffered through an allergic reaction to the second antibiotic. So off to the ER we went! (My roommate is awesome and a trooper...I'm so thankful that I live with her.)

After 4 bags of a third antibiotic, 2 EKGs, a chest x-ray, countless blood samples, and an overnight stay in the hospital...I was discharged with a prescription for a 4th antibiotic and the continuing diagnosis of a Staph infection.

Ten days later...my leg was still not better. Back to the doctor I went! This time, she sent me to get an x-ray of my leg. When everything came back normal from that, my dad had me come back home to Sparta to see my regular physician.

Diagnosis:

Black widow spider bite.

Finally....finally....finally....

My leg is getting better. Instead of antibiotics...I've been taking steroids which seem to do the trick.

Um...yeah, my life has been madness for about six weeks. In between all of the doctor visits and the hospital stay, I've been continuing to work and finish up applications for graduate school.

So...life is crazy. You never know what it's going to throw at you. I still can't really wrap my head around the fact that a tiny crappy spider turned my entire world upside down. I'm ready for some peace and quiet, but I'm also quite restless...

It's getting cold here in Tennessee, and you all know how I feel about cold weather. I need some palm trees and a drink with a little umbrella in my hand....all of this work I've been doing to fill out graduate school applications has me thinking about my future again and where I'm headed.

What to do...what to do? Is there ever a 100% correct decision? Can I just move to a tropical island, sleep in a hut on the beach, and watch the waves roll in?

I think not.

Overall, everything is okay. I get to see this beautiful bridge with flashing snowflake lights everyday.

I have some amazing new friends. My little bro is graduating from college in a week and a half...oh my goodness...and I'll get to see some of my awesome family members as we celebrate his achievement. Graduate school applications have been sent off, so I'm done with those unless I decide to apply to more...we'll see...

Life is pretty good....as is the Chai Tea Latte I'm currently enjoying.

Right on.

Peace and love,

Amelia

P.S. If I don't post again before Christmas...

Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, and a Happy New Year!

Identify...Identity.

2011-10-22T13:16:00.001-05:00

My good friend and writer, Anica, recently posted an inspiring blog identifying herself. As an avid barefoot runner, it made sense for her to purchase the Road ID, a band that runners wear around their wrist while running identifying themselves should anything bad happen to them during a run.

Being the creative writer that she is, Anica was moved to write a blog post identifying herself in life. Of course, I love anything like that with quotes and thought-provoking material...so I clicked "like" on Facebook when she posted the link.

With that, the challenge was issued: "Amelia Tritico -- how do you ID yourself?" I love a good writing prompt...so here goes nothing!

I'm a Barista, a writer, a publicist, a musician, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a student...

I love love. I fail at it daily, but I want to live my life with as much love as possible. I want to love and be loved. If I'm doing a poor job at loving you...tell me, I'll do everything I can to fix it.

I'm addicted to traveling. Short distance, long distance, you name it, I'll do it. I love going places, meeting new people and having adventures.

Sunshine puts me in the greatest of moods, but I love a good thunderstorm.

Music fuels me.

I'm incredibly indecisive, but tend to make split-second decisions when I get frustrated with making a decision. It keeps things interesting. :-)

I love making friends.

I love my family. I've moved a lot, but through it all, I had the support of my incredible, loving parents and the friendship and fun of my amazing brother.

I am a Christian...I try to be more spiritual than religious, and I can't deny my love for my Creator and His love for me. I love how He loves me.

I have the best friends on the planet. Seriously...if you're my friend, you're amazing. If you're not my friend, we'll probably be friends soon because I love making friends! :-)

I just want to be happy in life. I have no clue what I'm doing, but as long as I'm happy, I don't care.

I'm still learning things about myself that I didn't know. I've learned more about myself in the past 2 years since graduating college than in the 4.5 years during college.

I believe it's important to know who you are, what you stand for and what moves you.

You can't expect others to understand you if you don't understand yourself.

Thank you for the challenge, Anica! I pass this challenge along to all my readers. Make a list of the things that you feel identify you.

Know who you are...inside and out.

Love and peace,

Amelia

P.S. Yay, pumpkin carving!!! :-)

Abundant Sunshine.

2011-10-01T14:58:00.000-05:00

The forecast today called for "abundant sunshine."

I concur.

Note the beginnings of the leaves changing on the left hand side. (Yes, I take pictures while I'm driving, and I know it's dangerous, but when I see beauty...I want to capture it.) The leaves are changing, the sky is blue and the clouds are a perfect, puffy white accentuated by abundant sunshine.

I love where I live, I love the new friends I'm making and I love who I live with.

I feel abundant sunshine everywhere.

Sometimes I wonder, if I never tried to make a plan...if I just let everything go and allowed life to happen, would I get to experience this sunshine all the time? Do I try to manipulate the course of my life too much?

I took a drive up Lookout Mountain today to encounter the abundant sunshine the forecast called for. I just drove. I took roads I'd never been on not knowing where they would lead. I was probably lost, but I didn't care.

Eventually I wasn't.

I love my life. I really and truly love it. No, it's not always perfect. Some days are better than others. All in all, though, I love it. I'm becoming a person I like. I'm the same, but different. In four months, I'll be 25 years old, and though to some people, I'm not where I should be, I feel like I'm exactly where I need to be.

"I want to keep walking away from the person I was a moment ago, because a mind was made to figure things out, not to read the same page recurrently."

-Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz

Peace and love,

Amelia

P.S. It's candy season!! :-)

My story.

2011-08-29T16:21:00.002-05:00

"We get one story, you and I, and one story alone."

Donald Miller, Through Painted Deserts

The days are passing me by quickly as I begin this chapter of my life in Chattanooga. I work. I sleep. I work some more...and hopefully I get to catch the sunset once a week or so down by the Tennessee River.

I'm busy.

I love it.

I'm exhausted 93.8% of the time.

I don't love that.

I've started settling into a routine now that school has started for the majority of my friends. Their schedules are now filled with classes and homework, so their visits to see me in the Scenic City have slowly tapered off. It's been a little lonely, but I'm cool with it. I know that this is a challenge for me to step outside of my comfort zone, make new friends and have some adventures.

Today, for instance, I decided that instead of sitting in the apartment on my day off, I should venture out into the St. Elmo district of Chattanooga and try out another coffee shop I've been hearing so much about, Pasha. In the past three hours, I've made new friends, heard some awesome stories and found a great place to do my work for The Dirty Guv'nahs.

I'm ready for this challenge...but last night, I wasn't so sure.

I was having doubts thinking, "What if I shouldn't have moved here? I need community and deep friendships...is that going to happen for me here?"

It will.

It's going to take time, all good things usually do, but I'm going to be alright.

I've been reading a lot of Donald Miller lately. I started with Blue Like Jazz, fell in love with his writing style and upon finishing it, immediately drove to McKay's Used Books to purchase another of his gorgeous works. Though I want to read everything he's written, I decided to go with Through Painted Deserts next. I took the quote at the top of this post from this book, and I've recently made it my mantra.

This life I'm living is my story. I only get to live it once, and it's my duty to do the best I can with what God's given me and with the opportunities that I create for myself. If I'm sitting in a rocking chair fifty years from now on my front porch full of regrets, I don't think I could bear it.

We only get one story.

I want my story to be filled with love, life, adventure, fun, excitement, warmth, and maybe a little sadness...just to make sure I know how to be thankful when there isn't sadness.

I hope all of you are well. I love you all!

Peace and love,

Amelia

P.S. Here are some pics of what I get to see on a pretty regular basis. Man, I'm blessed. :-)

A view of the sunset from the banks of the Tennessee River.

The scenic lookout right off TN-111/US-27.

Alive.

2011-07-12T14:43:00.002-05:00

A year ago, I was struggling. It had been 6 months since I'd graduated college, I didn't have a job, I had no clue what I was doing...I was depressed. I remember writing a blog post about July 4th expressing my joy and love of fireworks and how they made me feel alive.

I've come a long way.

For July 4th this year, a few friends and I went to a Chattanooga Lookouts game. (I love baseball!!) What could be more patriotic than attending a baseball game on July 4th, eating peanuts and Cracker Jacks? After the game was over, we enjoyed the fireworks show while sitting in right field on the grass. :-)

As I watched the fireworks exploding in the sky this year, I began to contemplate my current state in life. I've started a new job that I love, I'm living in an awesome city, my friends and family are amazing, wonderful and supportive...I am blessed.

The fireworks didn't make me feel alive this year. They were an outward expression of the life I feel sparking inside of me. I looked into the sky as I celebrated our country's birthday and felt like the luckiest gal on the planet.

I love feeling alive. :-) From depressed to blessed in one year...I was blessed all along, but it took me a year to see it.

Thank you to everyone that helped me get here. I love all of you!

Love and peace,

Amelia

P.S. Congrats to my dear friend Amy and her new husband Tyler! I was so honored to be in your wedding this past weekend, and I wish you all the best in your new life together! :-)

A Suitcase and a Job.

2011-06-20T11:37:00.012-05:00

It's been a crazy month...my apologies for neglecting Carpe amorem.

I watched a few of my best friends graduate from TTU and bid farewell to my wonderful community in Cookeville as it was.

I resigned as a tutor for Migrant Education in Tennessee, a bittersweet feeling. It was heartbreaking to say good-bye to those kids. I'll never forget how excited they were to see me every week and how sad they were when I told them I wouldn't be coming back.

I received a phone call for a second interview at a neat little coffee shop called Rembrandt's in the Bluffview Art District in Chattanooga and was asked to come for orientation the next day. I started working the day after that...with only one suitcase of clothing. So, I moved to Chattanooga with one suitcase and a job.

Four days later, I headed to Edisto Beach, S.C. for family vacation. A peaceful little beach town catered to families and those in search of a few days of experiencing life a little slower than usual, it was definitely soothing to my soul and a much needed reprieve from the hectic life I've been leading.

We also went to Charleston, S.C. for a couple of days to do some sightseeing. Such a beautiful coastal city!

I love the plantation homes and history that the South has to offer, and I love being Southern.

:-)

It's been craziness. I don't think I've ever been pulled in so many directions with so many things to think about and so many details needing my attention. I think the craziest part, though, is that I'm okay with it. For those of you who know me best, you know that I'm prone to brief, freak-out moments whenever change starts coming...well, things are changing, and I'm not freaking.

I feel strangely at peace with everything going down in my life right now.

I'm officially living in Chattanooga.

I have a job, and my suitcase is unpacked...plus a few more.

Life is good.

Love and peace,

Amelia

P.S. I love Snow Cones. The ice cream truck traveling around Edisto Beach sold these. :-)

Empty Bookshelves.

2011-05-15T23:52:00.005-05:00

As I sit in the room I've been living in for almost two years and look at the near empty bookshelves, the inevitable winds of change seem to be ever blowing. It's the end of an era, and I'm surprised to say that it's bittersweet. For a year and a half, I've done nothing but complain about how I wanted to leave Cookeville and start my life. It's funny how things are put into perspective when the thing you wanted most is actually happening.

That's right...I'm moving. Not too far, but far enough that Cookeville and Tennessee Tech will no longer be right outside my front door. No more late night trips to IHOP or Big O's Donuts. No more chimes from the bell tower at Derryberry Hall. I won't be within walking distance of all my best friends, and the amazing community I've become a part of over the past 5 years will no longer exist as I know it.

You'd think that as many times as I've moved, and as much change I've dealt with in life, I would be used to this by now. But...as I say goodbye to friends (old and new), drive all the backroads just because I know where they are, and hit every pothole on Dixie Avenue, I'm beginning to realize how much I'm going to miss this place. I never thought I would say that. Cookeville, you've been good to me. I know I hate on you a lot, but it's been a pretty awesome 5 years.

I know I can't stay, and I don't want to. It's time to be moving on; time to start the long-awaited next chapter in my life. I'm excited, scared, relieved, optimistic, and slightly melancholy.

Here's a picture of my new home:

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Isn't she pretty? I'm not sure exactly what I'll be doing there, yet, or for how long I'll be there, but I'm moving in with a great gal, and I'm so eager to see what's going to happen next!

God is good. Sometimes, I have absolutely no clue what He's doing, but He always knows, so I'm just going to worry as little as possible, and dig in to life.

When the bookshelves are empty, they're just waiting for new books to fill them...I've got my pen, and I'm ready to start writing.

Love and peace,

Amelia

P.S. I sang karaoke for the first time in years while visiting my new roomie in Chatty...man, it felt good to sing in front of people again! :-)

Analytically Sound

2011-04-12T12:51:00.003-05:00

I spend the majority of my days locked in an intense mind battle.

I never win. I never lose. I just fight.

I've always thought that the answer to a problem was just one good thought process away, but the older I get, the more I realize that there's a distinct possibility that sometimes there isn't an answer. There are very few certainties, and gray areas tend to exist much more frequently than the black and the white.

I've come to recognize lately that I live my life in fear. My faith tells me that fear doesn't come from God. Therefore, fear is not what He desires for us.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:9

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

2 Timothy 1:7

I can analyze my life until I'm blue in the face, but the truth that I'm slowly coming to is that the longer I analyze, the more fearful I become. The more possibilities and answers I come up with only illustrate more ways I can screw up...and it freaks me out.

I think I'll stop thinking.

In other news, tomorrow I'm going to get set up to be a substitute teacher. I'm excited to have to opportunity to save some money and get out of the house more often! Life is going well...we celebrated my little bro's 22nd birthday yesterday (I can't believe he's 22), and April showers are in full pour, which means May flowers are just around the corner! I love good weather!

Hope all is well with everyone!

Love and peace,

Amelia

P.S. Check out Soul Pancake. Though I don't agree with all its religious views, and I'm trying to analyze less, I think this website is worth checking out. It's important to know what we believe, how we think, and who we are. Asking hard questions sucks sometimes, but the results are worth it. :-) Plus, the founder of the website and main author of the book is Rainn Wilson from The Office...I love that show!

I don't know.

2011-04-04T20:28:00.007-05:00

One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree.

"Which road do I take?" she asked.

"Where do you want to go?" was his response.

"I don't know," Alice answered.

"Then," said the cat, "it doesn't matter."

~Lewis Carroll

I don't know. These seem to be the only three words in my vocabulary recently.

"Where do you want to live, Amelia?"

I don't know.

"What do you want to do, Amelia?"

I don't know.

"How are you going to make money?"

I don't know.

Maybe it matters, maybe it doesn't.

I'm weary. I'm tired of trying to figure everything out, and my brain hurts from analyzing every single detail of my life. Sometimes I think I've made a breakthrough and cracked the life code, and then something comes along to scramble all the numbers again, and I'm back to square one.

Can I just go sit in the sandbox...

Or play with Play-Doh, please?

I'm sure everything's going to work out just fine...

In other news, here's a pic of another one of my cooking fails. These were supposed to be the best brownies ever, but something happened in the baking process to suggest otherwise. Despite their appearance, they did, however, taste very delicious. They just didn't look very pretty. :-)

"What happened to the brownies, Amelia?"

I don't know.

Love and peace,

Amelia

P.S. If you're looking for a great book to read, check out The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. Yes...they're written for young adults, but I'm in the third book, and I just can't put them down. :-)

Worst Pancakes Ever.

2011-03-25T12:22:00.011-05:00

These were quite possibly the worst pancakes I have ever eaten. Imagine pancake-flavored rubber with a hint of vegetable oil and cinnamon and then imagine trying to chew it...yeah, worst pancakes ever.

My attempts at cooking for one are hit and miss, and this morning it was definitely a miss, ha ha. I promise I can cook...just not in small quantities apparently. The coffee, however, was delicious. :-)

In other news, life continues to be awesome in Amelia-world. I am so, so blessed, and thankful! My Mom and I took a little one-night trip down to Athens, Ga. to check out the University of Georgia and have some quality mother-daughter time together. It's a neat college town, and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit. We ate at a fabulous restaurant called the Last Resort Grill, if you're ever in Athens, you should check it out, and we gave ourselves a little self-tour of the UGA campus.

(After touring UGA and LSU and seeing their football stadiums, I think I might become a bigger fan of SEC football...it's a tad ridiculous, but I can't imagine the excitement one must feel attending a game in such an edifice.) :-)

I was also able to spend some time with my Dad and my Uncle Sam and Uncle Pat. My Uncle Sam told us about some great studio musicians that were going to be playing at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville, so we drove over there to check it out. They were incredible! It was Phil Keaggy's birthday, so he and a bunch of other insanely good musicians decided to play a set of cover songs...they had only practiced together once before the show, and they played most of the songs better than bands that practice for weeks. I'm in awe of Phil Keaggy's talent, and I love that he chooses to use his talent for the One that gave it to him. If you haven't heard of him or heard him play, please check out this video.

Life is good...freaking out about making some big decisions, but life is good...

Hope everyone is doing well!

Love and peace,

Amelia

Nostalgia.

2011-03-17T11:29:00.010-05:00

Granada, Spain

Bocas Del Toro, Panama (I'm the one in the black and red dress. This was about 10 minutes before we realized we were lost in the Panamanian jungle...scariest 4 hours of my life thus far.)

San Jose, Costa Rica

Ghandi graffiti :-)

Volcano Arenal, Costa Rica

Progreso, Mexico

Barva, Heredia, Costa Rica

Miss this...

I need some new stamps in my passport.

Suggestions?

Love and peace,

Amelia

P.S. It's 70 degrees in Cookeville right now...I'm a happy girl! :-)

Carpe amorem.

2011-03-13T13:26:00.002-05:00

While reading through past blog posts, I realized I've never fully explained the title of my blog, Carpe amorem. (Seize love.) Allow me to remedy that situation! Don't worry...this isn't another post about being single. My blog is actually catered to a more general type of love...

Recently I've been reading this terrific book called The Five Love Languages: Singles Edition by Gary Chapman. It focuses on how we all need love. (If you haven't read one of his books about love languages, check it out. It'll change how you look at the people around you.)

"Married or single, young or old, every human has the emotional need to feel loved. When this need is met, we move out to reach our potential for God and our potential for good in the world." (Chapman 12)

After reading this book, I began to ponder to myself: How do you show love to people? Do you make a conscious effort to love? Have you felt really lonely and wanted someone to take time to tell you how important you are? Do you feel appreciated? Do you make others feel appreciated? What do you love? Do you like it when others acknowledge what you love? Do you acknowledge what other people love?

I'm still asking myself all of these questions; I'm not preaching them to anyone. I'm far from reaching my potential as a "lover." I have a pretty awesome Teacher, though, and even when I feel like I'm flailing uncontrollably in this ridiculous maze called life, He puts someone or something in my path to remind me that I am loved.

I appreciate and love every one of you that are reading this. I want to love you to the best of my ability, and I want to learn how I can love you better. I want you to feel loved like I feel loved. I want the love that I have been so freely given to spill out onto you.

This blog is an extension of everything I love in life and the love that I feel from my amazing, beautiful friends and family: I'm so blessed.

Seize love, my friends. Give a hug, write a note, help someone clean, listen intently, set aside quality time...do whatever looks and feels like love to you...show some love.

I truly believe love can change the world...love and good communication, but that's a whole 'nother tangent... :-)

All you need is love. :-)

Love and peace,

Amelia

P.S. Here's a picture of something I love...I know, I'm a dork. :-)

Poetry.

2011-03-08T22:56:00.011-06:00

On the mountaintop I'll scream

From the valley I'll declare

There are none like you in all the land

In my heart you lay me bare

No other sang so beautifully

No one else can captivate

With no one else would I like to dance

My soul is yours more each day

Deep calls to deep

In the roar of your falls

Your breakers and waves

Flow over me

The sun, the moon, the stars they shine

But your love for me is all I see

Psalm 45:1

"My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer."

Short but sweet. :-)

Love and peace,

Amelia

The single woman.

2011-02-27T01:56:00.009-06:00

I meet so few of these nowadays it seems. From my dear close, friends that are in committed, long-term relationships to others that seem to be in my dugout, the committed, long-term relationship team is quickly gaining ground and rounding third on its way to home base.

I guess it's that time of our lives...the time when we're supposed to be meeting a special someone, putting a ring on it and walking down the aisle. Don't get me wrong, I'm 100% all for it...someday.

In the meantime, I'm finding it difficult to be a single woman in a high-pressure world that screams at me everyday: "You're inadequate; you should have found your man by now."

What should a single woman look like? Does being single mean I should hit up every happy hour at the local bars? Does it mean I should be updating my online profile daily to ensure the best matches? Do I need to ask all my friends to set me up on blind dates? Should I be frantically introducing myself to all the single groomsmen at weddings?! I just can't live my life like that.

Sometimes, I even start questioning what exactly it is that men find attractive. In one of my pity party moments recently, I asked my roommate, "Are all of my family and friends just telling me I'm beautiful because they love me? Am I actually really ugly and all of you guys just can't bear to tell me?"

Ridiculous...I know, and we laughed about it as soon as I said it, (I believe she may have mentioned something about me being dramatic as per usual...), but sometimes it can seem that way. For all of us single girls that aren't too keen on the bar scene or really just don't have any interest in habitual dating, what does the single life look like?

Lately, for me, it's pretty much just been work and watching countless TV shows and movies on Netflix and Hulu in the warm cocoon of my room. Lame...I know, but it's comfortable. I've never been a fan of putting myself in uncomfortable situations, and dating has always seemed like an uncomfortable situation to me.

Yes, I am 24 years old and single.

No, I'm not actively searching for someone to date.

Yes, I do want to meet someone eventually.

No, I don't know how I'm going to meet him.

No, there's nothing wrong with me.

A verse that's always stuck with me whenever I get blue about being single is this:

Proverbs 31:30

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."

At the end of the day and at the end of life, if I never get married, it won't matter. Men will always let me down, but He never will.

For all you single girls out there that would like to be eyeing home plate with the other team, take this into consideration: being happy doesn't depend on being in a relationship. As cliché as it might sound, you are gorgeous. Do things that you enjoy, live life to the fullest and find joy in the love that you do have.

Also...love yourself. :-)

Love and peace,

Amelia

P.S. For all my dear, close friends in a long-term, committed relationship: I am truly happy for you. I want to celebrate your love with you because you all give me hope. :-)

New video upload.

2011-02-12T01:18:00.003-06:00

New videos uploaded here.

Amelia and The Guys performing "Montezuma" and "Heartbreakin' Love."

I wrote "Montezuma" about my favorite place in the entire world, and I wrote "Heartbreakin' Love" while contemplating love gone wrong.

Enjoy. :-)

Peace and love,

Amelia

P.S. It's going to hit 60 degrees next week here in Cookeville...I'm ready for the thaw. :-)

I want to be an acacia tree.

2011-02-07T17:45:00.010-06:00

I was going to blog about my thoughts on love and all that jazz (I still might later this month), but instead, something else has come to me.

I was speaking with one of my best friends on the phone this afternoon, recounting some things I'm dealing with in life at the moment, and I was able to talk it out a bit, which is always good. I've been frustrated with things...the new job, though awesome, isn't as financially stable as I thought it would be, and May is looming over me like a giant thundercloud because when May comes, both of my roommates will be moving out and moving on, and I still have no clue where I should go to move out and move on. In essence, I feel as though I'm spinning my wheels, slinging mud everywhere, going nowhere, and running out of gas in the process.

Right after I got off the phone, I decided to delve into some much needed alone time with my Teacher and see what His perspective on the matter is.

This is what I got:

An acacia tree. Random, I know, right? I love the way God speaks to me. :-)

In the book of Exodus, God gives Moses instructions on how to build several things such as the Ark of the Covenant, the poles that hold the Ark of the Covenant, and the altar to Him. He specifies that each of these things be built out of acacia wood.

Acacia trees are known for surviving through drought and famine. They have deep roots that find water and nutrients when water and nutrients are scarce. Throughout history, they have been a symbol of stability and resilience. Acacia wood is one of the most durable woods on the planet and is used for all kinds of things from making furniture to gum to food to medicine to tannins.

Life is never easy, and it's never what it seems. However, I truly believe there's a reason for every season: the good and the bad.

He's making me into an acacia tree, and an acacia tree is what I want to be.

Strong, durable, stable, and resilient.

I love my life, I love being happy, and I love that I'm always learning. :-)

Love and peace,

Amelia

P.S. I love giraffes...and elephants.

The beauty of friendship.

2011-01-22T12:59:00.014-06:00

Since I have quite a bit of free time lately, and she had a snow day from student teaching, one my best friends, Kristen Methvin and I decided to do a little shopping. Shopping was uneventful...frustrating as I quickly realized it's been too long since I went shopping, and I no longer recognize the "in" style. But I digress...

The important part of this story happens after shopping. Only Kristen and I can get into the most awkward situations that no one else thinks are awkward. Only we could have the most hilarious moments that no one else thinks are funny. Some of you, actually most of you, will read what I'm about to write and think, "That's not that bad..." but for us...it made the night.

Since we hadn't yet eaten dinner after shopping, didn't want to eat in the mall, and Kristen has a new iPhone with a handy-dandy Urbanspoon application, we decided to venture out to a previously undiscovered (by us) restaurant. We decided on Italian food, Kristen hit scramble (or whatever it's called in the application), and Naples Italian Restaurant popped up. We were off!

First and foremost, Google Maps is never as good as you think it is...especially as a GPS when driving. So, of course we got slightly lost for a few minutes. From West Town Mall it's 3.1 miles to Naples Italian Restaurant (yes, I just used Google Maps to figure that out, so it could possibly be a little off), so how did we get lost, you ask? Only us.

Back on track and still craving bread and Diet Coke, we continued on our way. After attempting to figure out how to park at Naples (there seems to be a small parking lot from what we could tell), I backed out of a not-so-inviting alleyway and parked in front of the furniture store next to the restaurant.

Before I continue, here's the review Kristen saw on Urbanspoon for Naples Italian Restaurant:

"Tantalizing daily specials--like lobster ravioli--from this Knoxville classic frequently voted Best Italian and Best Romantic Restaurant in Metro Pulse's Best of Knoxville reader's poll. Full bar. No checks."

(Metro Pulse Knoxville)

Yes, Kristen led me to the most romantic restaurant in Knoxville...I'm pretty sure she forgot to mention this part of the Urbanspoon review until we got there because we were both thoroughly surprised to be asked if we had reservations and equally sheepish when we replied no. There were tables available, however, so we were promptly seated.

As we perused the menu through dim mood lighting and ordered our slightly small glasses of Diet Coke, the first of the fur coats passed by. Now, I'm not an animal rights activist, but fur coats aren't exactly my style, and I don't think I've ever seen that many in one restaurant at the same time. Fox, mink, some blackish-brown animal...you name it, it was there.

The loaves of complimentary bread kept coming as we attempted to figure out if our slightly small glasses of Diet Coke that cost exactly $2.19, according to the menu, were eligible for free refills. When our meal arrived, the fits of giggles subsided, and Kristen volunteered to say our evening meal prayer.

As we bowed our heads to pray, the waiter decided it would be a perfect time to refill our water glasses. I heard the clink of ice in the glass and Kristen stopped speaking, so I glanced up thinking, "Oh, we'll just wait until he's done and then we'll finish the prayer." When I looked up, Kristen still had her head bowed, was trying desperately not to laugh, and I was left looking awkwardly at the waiter as he refilled our glasses. I quickly ducked my head back down over my plate and listened to him finish filling the glasses, as Kristen waited to continue praying. The giggles returned as soon as the prayer ended.

Okay, so like I said, to most of you reading, this situation probably isn't funny in the slightest.

The beauty of friendship is that it doesn't matter whether or not anyone else gets your jokes, feels your pain, or understands your quirks. Awkward moments are the spice of life, and having a good friend there to share them with you, only makes the lasagna taste better.

"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked."

(Bernard Meltzer-- American Radio Host)

Love and peace,

Amelia

P.S. In two days I turn 24...bring it on. :-)

New song.

2011-01-16T17:16:00.004-06:00

While I was in Louisiana, Lilli Lewis of The Shiz recorded one of my new songs for me. Check them out and then check out my new song here or here.

It's called "Heartbreakin' Love."

Enjoy!

Also, I've changed my background to reflect my hope that spring will arrive soon. :-)

Love and peace,

Amelia

A bit of traveling.

2011-01-14T18:05:00.012-06:00

By plane:

Nashville to Houston to Portland to Houston to New Orleans to Houston to Nashville.

Total:

Sparta to Nashville to Houston to Portland to Zigzag to Portland to Houston to New Orleans to Hammond to Baton Rouge to New Orleans to Houston to Nashville to Sparta to Cookeville.

Whew...I suppose I've done a bit of traveling recently. After a relaxing Christmas, I had a few weeks off before starting my new job, so I decided to visit some family I hadn't seen in a while.

First stop: Oregon

My uncle and aunt have a beautiful cabin up in the mountains close to a little town called Zigzag, and my dad, bro, and I headed up there to enjoy the peaceful serenity of falling snow and bright green trees. We spent some time snowshoeing, hiking, and skiing. I was pleased to discover that I still know how to ski...it had been over 10 years, but it was just like riding a bike, ha ha.

I played at an open mic night and my uncle backed me up on bass guitar. Always fun to play music in a new environment! We also had a chance to visit with my cousin, her husband, and two kids...loved seeing them and meeting Kai and sweet Waverly for the first time. :-)

Second stop: Louisiana

Though over half my family is from Louisiana, I hadn't been there to visit them in over 10 years (sad, I know). I figured it was high time for a visit, so I stopped there for a few days after Oregon!

I had a chance to tour LSU (one of my possible grad school choices) and visit with my family. I loved seeing all of them and meeting my new cousin Blake! Such a happy baby!

More music was played and recorded...I haven't figured out how to put that up, yet, but as soon I do, you'll hear it!

All in all, it was a great trip. It's been a while since I was able to travel, and of course, I remembered how much I loved traveling. Sometimes I don't even want to come home ha ha. There's just something about the thrill of seeing new things and creating new experiences. My spirit tends to become restless when I'm in one place for too long.

New job starts tomorrow...good things are happening. :-)

Peace and love,

Amelia

P.S. Check out a clip of my uncle and I playing "Hot Coffee and Turbulence" at the Skyway Bar and Grill here... http://www.youtube.com/user/amtritico.

Only one way to find out.

2011-01-05T01:36:00.003-06:00

Once upon a time there was a girl, nix that, a young woman, trying to find her place in life. She looked to melodies and found beauty and comfort but never quite a sense of peace. She looked to cultures, learning to speak and interact as one of the locals, but she never quite felt at ease. She looked to the “dream”, trying to fit into the life so many others had sought before her and found nothing but despair.

She searched and searched, looking high and low, never keeping her balance for long. Then one day, she remembered that she used to know how to write. She dusted the cobwebs and sharpened her ax. Poems and songs, fiction and fact…the words began to flow. As the ink dried and ideas emerged, she viewed life from a different perspective.

A comma goes here, no “it’s” not possessive, a lot is two words, and definitely only has one correct spelling: her eyes had new vision. Writing became an art, and she became an artist.

As she fell more in love with the paper and pen, she began to have questions. “Do people even read anymore?” she thought, “Would my words even be welcomed?” They were difficult questions with no clear answer. Difficult questions that needed a concrete response. “Is there room in the world anymore for loving what you do and doing what you love?” she mulled.

Only one way to find out.

Love and peace,

Amelia

P.S. Never pay more than $5 for sunglasses. :-)

The silver lining.

2010-12-29T13:37:00.010-06:00

I was recently asked to choose my top albums of 2010 to bring in the New Year, so I thought it would be kind of neat to write about my top moments of 2010. I'm not a huge fan of rankings, so here goes nothing in no particular order! (Okay, maybe it's chronological...there has to be some semblance of organization. That's how I roll.)

Playing keyboards for an eclectic, musical production of Batboy. (At the time I was overcome with the magnitude of learning 30+ songs in less than two months, but it reminded me how much fun playing music for theater can be!)
Watching one of my best friends get married as her maid-of-honor. That was pretty amazing...I can't believe they're coming up on their one year anniversary! Congrats guys!
A memorable camping trip in Key West which included: a 12-hour drive to Merritt Island, FL, 3 hours of naptime followed immediately by a free ticket to Disneyworld (awesome), another 7-hour drive to Key West followed immediately by setting up camp, being woken up at 6 a.m. by the thunderous sound of Navy pilots doing flybys in fighter planes (I neglected to find out that our campsite was right next to a Naval Base before I booked it. Lesson learned.), and four fun days spent enjoying the sun, sand, and friendship.
Becoming a legit journalist...that's pretty high up there in my top moments of 2010 list. I got to write for two great online magazines this year: Strum Magazine and Interference.com. Seeing my name on the by-line of an article is so cool. :-)
Experiencing the deep, southern charm of Savannah, GA. I definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a weekend getaway.
A return to mi segunda patria (my second home), Costa Rica, with my entire family. I was so excited when by brother decided to study abroad in Costa Rica, too, and that my parents wanted to go down there with me to pick him up. Montezuma was as gorgeous as I remembered it, and I loved being around Ticos again!
Seeing Paul McCartney live. Childhood dream fulfilled...one more thing checked off my Bucket List.
Discovering a great band, seeing them 4 times in one year (that's a record for me), and then getting an internship as their publicist. (What?!) Here's my shameless promotional plug for an incredible up-and-coming rock 'n' roll musical force: The Dirty Guv'nahs.
Opening for Mike Farris and The Cumberland Saints at the Backdoor Playhouse in Cookeville, TN. What a great gig!
Getting a steady, well-paying job that taught me how to really be an "adult," and then quitting it three months later, because I realized I didn't want to be that kind of adult. (To all of those people out there that work at crappy jobs 40 hours a week and maintain emotional sanity, kudos. I just couldn't do it.)
Really and truly knowing that God loves me...4 days after quitting that crappy job, I was given a new one. :-) Man, He's good to me. Some might call that a coincidence or an accident, but I don't believe in accidents anymore. From my perspective, things happen in life based upon your actions, other people's actions, and some unseen guiding force behind the two. I choose to believe that guiding force is God.

Wow...I guess 2010 wasn't as bad as I thought it was. I've been anxiously awaiting the approach of 2011, excited to have a clean slate on which to start over, but I hadn't actually sat down to consider all the great things that happened in 2010...the silver lining behind all the not-so-great stuff. It was a year of learning, a year of difficulties, a year of discovering who I am and what I'm capable of, and a year of great friends and family. Thank you to everyone that made this year great for me!

Love and peace,

Amelia

I missed Blogspot.

2010-12-22T23:02:00.006-06:00

After trying tumblr for about 6 months, I have sincerely missed blogging on blogspot. Though tumblr has it's neat trinket-like operations...I've missed the simplicity of just a blog. If I need to post a video, I'll use tumblr, but for writing...I think I'll stick to blogspot.

For my inaugural post on this new blog, it's time to share some exciting news.........

I NO LONGER WORK AT SUNTRUST! YAY!!!

Y'all...God is good! Sometimes I hesitate to speak about my faith for fear of alienating those who don't believe in the same things I do, but I can't contain my praises for my God at the moment. During the past 3 months, God has really shown me that whether or not I believe in Him, He's there, and all it takes is a little faith to make magic happen. Though I was extremely thankful to have a well-paying, steady job, the honest truth is that the day-in, day-out activities of a call center were sucking the life out of me.

The reason I'm singing praises to God:

I already have a new job! I'm going to be working for a non-profit organization through the state of Tennessee tutoring Migrant Workers' children in English/Spanish. I am so, so, so excited to do a job that

A. uses my degree

B. is emotionally fulfilling

C. is one in which I won't be sitting in a chair for 8 hours everyday.

My last day at SunTrust is Friday, Christmas Eve, so...Merry Christmas to me! I feel like a new person, like the weight of the world has left my shoulders, and I'm looking forward to the new year.

Christmas festivities around the Tritico household have commenced with a wonderful story-telling session from my Dad and a laugh at the end when my brother, Frank, said, "Who writes the script for your life?" (He then proceeded to feed the dog, Chaco, peanut butter. Watching dogs eat peanut butter is HILarious.)

I love my family. I love my life. I love my God.

Peace and love,

Amelia