Alligators, Raccoons and Dunns...Oh My!

This past weekend was the third annual Dunn Family Vacation, hence the reason this blog is being posted at a later date. Our venue for the past two years has been Crystal Beach, where we all spend the weekend on the beach, standing in the breeze and breathing in the salty sea air. This year, due to the high frequency of people wanting to rent out ginormous beach cabins, we were unable to grace the Bolivar Peninsula with our overwhelming presence. (Their loss!) Instead, a new location was selected at The Retreat at Artesian Lakes.

Picture this: You’re winding down a long gravelly road, through moss-covered trees, in some heavily wooded area in Texas. You look to your right, you see a small body of water and oh! what do we have here but an alligator swimming around, minding its own business. Continue down said path and look to your right and yes, you guessed it deer and there goes a raccoon the size of a badger trotting across the road. Oohh, look a bunny! Let me just swat this bug out of my face and then proceed to wipe the sweat accumulating on my brow. 

This was just a small taste of my experience this weekend at the Artesian Lakes. Now, those of you who know me know why this is funny. Those of you who don’t, allow me to enlighten you. My name is Alex and I am a wildneress-phobe. Yes, I hate the wilderness. Okay, so maybe I wouldn’t go so far as to say hate because I do enjoy the tranquility of moss covered trees and still lakes but throw in some bugs and animals and we have got a panicked Alex trying to figure out what to do with herself. On the drive in I looked at my Dad, eyes wide and said, “There’s so much wilderness!” It just sort of terrifies me to be in the deep woods somewhere, with no cell service (though we received excellent cell service on this trip), sweating your butt of, being constantly attacked by bugs, surrounded by forest creatures and no way of contacting other human beings when someone tries to come and murder you! I watch a few too many episodes of Criminal Minds, but still. I have just never been an outdoorsy girl. Throw on a t-shirt and a pair of shorts and let’s go hike! Heck no!!! How about throw on some 3-inch platform heels and a sequined skirt and let’s go to the movies! It’s a nice indoors-y place! 

So after explaining my dislike of the great outdoors, you will be happy to know that I allowed myself to have a few outdoors-y experiences while vacationing with my big, extended family. First, let’s face it, staying in a cabin on a lake in the middle of the woods was a big experience! Our cabin was not your typical cabin but instead a pretty good sized house on stilts referred to as ‘The Big Easy’. There were several bedrooms and around 23 of us stayed in the house, several others stayed at another cabin down the road. Lots of comfy beds, warm hot showers, a big kitchen…we definitely weren’t roughing it!

Experience number two would have to be…the alligator. Now when I say ‘the alligator’ I’m talking a giant, close to 6-foot long, full grown gator just chilling…right next to the deck of the cabin…waiting to munch on one of us as a midnight snack. When I first encountered the gator, I was immediately spooked. That thing was enormous! And it was only a few feet away! My cousins decided prodding at it with a fishing pole would make it like us more so after a few gentle taps on the nose, the gator proceeded to open its giant mouth and hiss at us! Yes, hiss!! I screamed and ran!

 The third experience would be canoeing. My brother and I, being amateurs, sought out assistance from a few cousins who coached us on how to get into the canoe without tipping it over and landing in the water, as two of my cousins found out the hard way earlier that day. We began paddling and talking to each other, good teamwork and all. The thoughts running through my mind were ‘Paddle, Paddle, Paddle’, ‘Where is that damn alligator?!’, ‘That alligator is going to bite my paddle at any moment!’, ‘Please don’t make us tip!’, and finally, ‘This is so badass! I totally feel like Pocahontas right now!’. We made it safely back to shore with no mishaps. 

Later I went swimming in the pool with some of my cousins. When they decided to go swim in the “swimming” lake I declined their offer to join. No way was I setting foot in water that could have gators in it! No one got bitten… in case you were concerned… which I’m sure at this point you really, really were.  My Mother and I walked back to the cabin, in the wilderness, and relaxed until the Washer Tournament. My Pepaw and I ended up being partners and lost our first game, thus kicking us out of the tournament…not a fun experience…I hate losing. Then we had delicious barbeque and all sat around watching home videos.

Our nights consisted of cousins playing charades which was extremely hilarious, telling funny stories, interviewing family members for next year’s video and just hanging out with each other. The last morning we had breakfast together followed by the 2^nd annual Dunn ‘D’ Awards. After that, everyone started packing up, saying their goodbyes, and heading home. 

All in all, it may sound like just a typical family get together, but for us Dunns, it is something so much more than that. It is tradition. It is fellowship. It is the chance to all come together and make memories that we will talk about at the next gathering and the one after that. The fact that a big extended family like ours can come together for a vacation is something so rare. I really had no idea how blessed I was until my great-grandmother’s funeral. Someone said they thought it was so great that a big family like ours managed to stay so close to one another. I had never thought about it before. I just assumed everybody got together with their 5 great aunts and uncles and 30 sum-odd cousins  for Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and summer vacations like we do, but evidently that isn’t always the case. What we have is so special and I thank God each day for the bond that we share. We owe our strong foundation to my great-grandparents, King and Eloide. Though this was our first big gathering without either of them, their presence was still felt and though they are gone from this world and onto the next, I know they would be proud of us for continuing the traditions they started. 

My family has always been an enormous part of my life and I cannot imagine how different my life would be without each and every single one of them. We laugh together, we cry together. We joke around with each other and poke fun at each other’s mishaps. But most importantly, we love each other. Because that’s what families do. They love unconditionally, forever. 

Despite all of the bug swatting, sweat, alligators, and wilderness, roughing it in the wild, figuratively speaking, with my amazing Dunn family was a memory I will hold in my heart forever.

Never take for granted the wonderful people in your life, especially your family. Through thick and thin, they will be there to support you and love you no matter what. If I am fortunate enough to have children someday, the biggest lesson I hope to teach them is the importance of family and love. 

Until next time,

Alex

New York, I Love You

New York is a city I hold very close to my heart. In the 20 years of my life I have been blessed to travel to the Big Apple four times! I credit these travels to my Nana who started me on live theatre at a young age. Her love of NYC led to my love of the beautiful city that never sleeps. I have now seen twelve shows on Broadway, all of which have been truly memorable. 

New York City is home to so many different cultures and so many people trying to become something and find themselves. There is truly a place for everyone in this big city. Walking down the street you can admire the hipster chic guys or the men in khakis or perfectly tailored suits. On my last visit while standing in line at Starbucks, a wonderfully delicious tall blonde comes in and takes his place in line behind my Nana. He had khakis and a long-sleeved button-up shirt with a red tie, his biceps slightly visible through the shirt and beautiful piercing blue eyes. He was on a coffee run and absolutely gorgeous! When the lady asked for my order I almost said, "Ummm one of him please!" When we left the coffee shop I asked Nana if she had seen the beautiful man my mother and I had been gawking at and she said NO!!! I couldn't believe it! Then we walk down the street and see nearly a hundred other gorgeous guys in suits...just a typical day in New York City!

Traveling to a city as big as New York means never having to do the same thing twice, if you don’t want to that is. Each trip can be unique and different! There is so much to do and so much to see when in New York City! I decided I would give some suggestions for anyone who may be traveling to the Big Apple sometime in the near future and also share some of my experiences from my recent trip in June.

There is nothing like stepping into the heart of Manhattan, Times Square. Times Square resides at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue. It is the quintessential New York picture! Flashing billboards, glitz, glamour! Never a dull moment! From the Naked Cowboy to eccentric street performers, Times Square is always full of hustle and bustle! Thousands of people pass through Times Square each day! (One of the reasons I sometimes get panicked walking through…I have serious crowd issues! The thought of being separated from my group in the midst of all those people is terrifying!) But, one must suck up the crowds and walk through this New York icon, if only to get a picture. There is truly nothing like Times Square!

Central Park is another one of my favorites. The park itself covers nearly 843 acres of land right in the middle of the city! This giant green expanse is truly a sight to see. Walking Uptown along Fifth Avenue, window shopping in places like Harry Winston or Louis Vuitton and suddenly, a ginormous park is right before your eyes! On my recent trip to New York, my Mom decided she wanted to find the Bethesda Fountain, a Central Park landmark I had yet to see on my several ventures into the lush green abyss.  It has been in several movies including the Disney movie Enchanted, where Giselle puts on a fantastic musical performance ending right in front of the fountain. When we finally found this beautiful monument, I was mesmerized. It was so beautiful! So idyllic! The Boathouse sits on a lake to one side and the Bethesda Terrace on the other. Once we took in this sight, we proceeded through the ornate Terrace and onto The Mall, the sweeping trail of trees that arch over the sidewalk into a whimsical, dream path. The Mall has been shown in many a movie as well and I hope one day to see it covered in snow. Needless to say, find the Bethesda Fountain and walk down The Mall. You will not be disappointed!

 New York City is well known for its extensive array of restaurants. You can find any type of cuisine you could possibly desire in this city! There are even food tours for people who want to be ushered around the city, tasting foods from many of the local restaurants. I am a very picky eater so food isn’t really one of my main focuses but I have had several memorable dining experiences. One of my favorite places in New York is the famous Serendipity III, a teeny, hole-in-the-wall restaurant situated on a street in the Upper East Side. The inside is absolutely adorable. The walls and floors are mostly white and colorful Tiffany lamps hang from the ceilings, drawing focus to their unique craftsmanship. While the main courses are delicious, everyone knows you go to Serendipity for the enormous desserts. Their signature Frozen Hot Chocolate is absolutely TO DIE FOR! It is big enough for two to share, possibly three, and it is like Heaven in your mouth! It tastes just like hot chocolate…only cold…which is strange…but tasty. They also have a variety of other desserts including many different types of sundaes and ice cream treats as well as the most expensive dessert in the world, the $1,000 “Golden Opulence Sunday”. Make a reservation because you WILL have to wait in line to get a table, and who wants to waste time in New York! Another wonderful restaurant is Ellen’s Stardust Diner, a retro 1950s theme restaurant right on Broadway in Midtown Manhattan featuring a wonderfully talented waitstaff. The atmosphere in the Stardust Diner is fun and energetic. The food is great and who doesn’t want to see their waiter or waitress jump up on a table and belt out a song! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and fun dining experience. Last I would like to address New York pizza. I will admit, I have only eaten at one pizza place in New York… and I would be perfectly content never trying another slice in the city. John’s Pizzeria on West 44^th is my absolute favorite! I order cheese pizza (picky eater, remember!) and I eat at least three giant slices! I am not ashamed! This pizza is delicious!!!! Brick-oven, thin-crust just like New York pizza should be…I even fold it like a taco, just like the New Yorkers. Go to John’s and eat the pizza. Prepare to have your taste buds say, “Thank you.”

 

The main reason I enjoy going to New York City can be summed up in one word…Broadway. I don’t care who you are, I absolutely do not believe you can set foot in Manhattan and not feel the urge to go see a Broadway show! It just isn’t possible! Maybe it’s because I have a great love for live theatre but I truly can’t imagine going to the city and not seeing a performance. So, GO SEE SOMETHING! I am more than happy to provide recommendations, just ask! But you must see something! There are plenty of ways to get discount tickets and honestly, it is a wonderful experience! I saw Rock of Ages on my last trip and it was one of the craziest musicals I have seen in New York! We had so much fun and all I wanted to do was dance afterwards and sing ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’!

A few other tourist attractions everyone should experience are the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Plaza, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Chinatown and Little Italy, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You can go to a taping of a Morning Show or Late Show, shop all day long, go to Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, or anything else your little heart might desire. Again, these are just a few NYC sights I have been to and thoroughly enjoyed. There are many, MANY others! I also highly recommend for first time visitors to get a hop-on, hop-off double-decker tour bus pass! It is the best way to see the entire city and it isn’t overly expensive. The tour buses aren’t the best way of transportation so unless you just want to see the city again I wouldn’t recommend buying a pass if you are a repeat visitor.

 So there you have it! Some of my favorite New York haunts and hideaways…okay so they aren’t exactly hideaways and most are quite well-known BUT these are still some of my favorite places in the city and I highly recommend putting them all on your itinerary! When going to New York City the great thing is you can make whatever kind of trip you want! You can focus on food or on theatre or even shopping! So ask around, Google lists of New York attractions and make your trip to New York City memorable!

XOXO,

Alex

Roaring 20's

As my 20^th birthday draws near I have begun contemplating what the next decade of my life might hold. No doubt the past two have been quite extraordinary and have only shaped me into the smart, kind woman that is about to waltz into her 20s.

Your 20s are unmistakably the years that may define you. Most people graduate college, get married, start having babies, and do many other monumental things in their 20s. So quite frankly, I feel like turning twenty is quite an important birthday. I never thought so before, even thought it was rather insignificant, but after recently reading a novel by Emily Giffin titled, Something Borrowed (later turned into a film of the same name with a very attractive lead male and a charmingly, witty John Krazinski), I realized 20 is a big deal. It is a threshold to perhaps the most important and defining years of a person’s life.

The novel opens with the main character, Rachel, turning 30 and being all depressed about reaching this age husbandless and childless. At first I thought, 30 truly isn’t that old and she still has plenty of time to find true love and happiness. Then I thought, Holy Mess, I don’t want to be 30, husbandless and childless! Which then prompted me to think, these next few years of my life are crucial! I always envisioned myself getting married around 23 or 24…well HELLO!!! That is only a mere 3 or 4 years away! That honestly doesn’t give me much time to find my soul mate and have a healthy 2 year relationship, followed by an intimate and romantic proposal, preceded by my dream wedding filled with love, tears, and close family and friends.

As the character development of Rachel continued to unfold, we learn that she is living in New York City, doing a job she hates, letting her best friend, and pretty much everyone else for that matter, walk all over her, never standing up for herself, single, unconfident and unhappy. Of course, then she goes and falls in love with her best friend’s fiancé…you’ll have to check out the book, or movie, to find out what happens next. J But I realized that, a lot of traits Rachel had, I possess! I could very well be 30 years old, living in New York City, working a job I don’t love, letting people walk all over me and never standing up for myself, single, unconfident and unhappy. 

I expressed my concerns to my mother who immediately laughed at my melodramatic outburst (these happen often) and she assured me that I would not be like that. And I realized though she may be wrong about that, I was the only person who could control that. I am the only person who can control my happiness. And guess what, perhaps I wouldn’t be happy getting married at 23 or 24, perhaps I would be way more content with my life getting married at 30 or something. Just because I always planned on it, doesn’t mean that’s how it has to happen or how it should happen. And it most certainly doesn’t mean that my life is a failure. My biggest philosophy in life is this, “Everything happens for a reason, the good and the bad.” There is no point worrying over when I will get married or what I will be doing at age 30. If we dwell on the future, we will completely miss all of the wonderful moments that are happening RIGHT NOW. And right now, I’m turning 20 years old and feeling pretty darn good about it!

I have wanted to start a blog for a long time but never really knew how to start or when to start. Since I am about to celebrate my 20^th birthday and begin a new decade of my life I figured, why not start now! I want to use this blog to put in words my views on topics such as films, fashion, television shows, world events, pop culture, history, the arts, far of places, my inner thoughts on random things, and many other pointless, yet interesting, topics. I want to share my thoughts to anyone and everyone who might stumble across this little blog. I generally have no filter, so I will strive to put my exact thoughts into these posts and not sugar coat.

I want to make people smile or laugh. I want readers to come to this blog, read a post, and just think “Ahhhh, that’s what I needed today!” I will share my wisdom and knowledge on all things I believe I posses wisdom and knowledge about…which may not be much at such a ripe young age of 20, but it may be more than you think!

I believe in living each moment to the fullest with no regrets. I believe in love and having love in all things that you do. Starting now, on my 20^th birthday, I want to live each and every moment to the fullest and I want to love everything that I do. XOXO, Alex