New York and Jamaica Bound

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Negril, Jamaica 2010

I just finished work and am almost 100% packed to head to New York! I will be staying with Liz in Park Slope and visiting with friends until the 25th. I am super excited to get to see everyone and to be back in my old neighborhood for the week of Thanksgiving. My friends Jodi and Oniel have a big party/feast every year and there will be plenty of faces at the table I am thankful to have in my life.

On the 25th, I’ll be heading to Jamaica with Jodi and Oniel and meeting my friend Jessica at the airport in Montego Bay. Oniel is from Negril and I went with them in 2010 and had an amazing time. My plan is to do a whole lot of relaxing, soak up the sun, and to find a rum punch shortly after my arrival.

There is nothing like a good old vacation to make you smile and I am so happy mine is here. Later!

Z

 

 

 

To Rise Above Conflict

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For the Ride

Hand to my head
Hard to believe the words that were said:
Quantifying, analyzing, criticizing;
Destructive.

I held your hand
You pushed it away
Can the opinions and beliefs we carry
Really map out the way?

I was going to show you how love
Can be powerful, too
But, useless, it felt,
Judging by the response from you.

Then, a shift, a lean, a bend came along
Your side of the story soon came into view
Mine pulled up beside yours,
Four arms stretched and our differences withdrew.

Your head, in my lap, made me realize
The miles I would travel to be by your side
You’re a piece of the puzzle;
Still here. For the ride.

  • Listening to Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14 in C Sharp Minor. Sometimes, life is not joyful and gets sad and the key turns minor. True friends hold all the keys.

Wandering in the Night

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Moonlight in Duluth

Running with the Moon

Tonight, I ran beneath the moon —
A perfect workout partner, I must say.
Walked some, not only ran,
Streetlights glowing down the lane.
Amazed how far I was going, I remembered
Feeling the way I felt tonight.
Something familiar began to happen:
I was still breathing. I was alright.
From somewhere off, probably a mile away,
The smell of fire brought me back.
I raised my head up to the sky;
Stars were shining strong against the black.
A sudden smile ran across my face and I thought,
“Maybe I could get used to nights like these.”
Fall weather, a little running, a happy time,
And a gentle breeze.

Tiny Pumpkin Season

Devil Pumpkin

Tiny Squash
Every October, I look forward to going shopping for pumpkins — specifically, smaller ones. I think they are so adorable and I even decided to attach some devil ears to one of the ones I brought home tonight. Just a little Sunday crafting to report for now. I am trying to make the most of summer being over; tiny pumpkins do help.

Z

New Season, New Domain

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The tree in front of my apartment in Brooklyn, last October
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Autumn in Prospect Park, Brooklyn

Fall has arrived and I realized the other day that my blog is a year old. To celebrate, I have purchased the domain zacdaq.com. This might only be exciting to me, but I am excited, nevertheless.

I am headed to New Orleans in a couple hours to celebrate my brother Brandon’s bachelor party weekend. I have never been before, so I am sure I will have a few pictures to post early next week.

Here’s to a wonderful, adventure-filled weekend!

Z

The Gold

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The Gold

Maybe it’s not meant to be,
Not this time around.
Maybe I should just sit back, for once
And listen to the sound:
A singing, ringing, live music in my ear.
Let go of trying to control,
And say goodbye to fear.
What’s meant to happen will happen,
As I’ve oft been told.
No need for seeking rainbows —
Each moment holds the gold. 

Burning Leaf

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Burning Leaf

All the confusing
Things that are things,
Missing excitement,
Given requirements that you state.

Like fire, clove, and cinnamon,
On a nice autumn day,
With a chill breeze on my bare knees,
This feeling is here to stay.

Burning fire,
Burning piece of me,
Burning to the ground.

All the excitement, all the rage.
Ignites all of the decay.
Am I okay?
I ask today.
The answer is in the flames.

Burning leaf.
Burning inside me, burning through today.
A piece of me is burning in there,
Hot and on display.

A leaf in flames,
Wanders away.
Carries on,
Blowing along its way.

Like fire, clove, and cinnamon,
On a nice autumn day,
With a chill breeze on my bare knees,
This feeling is here to stay.

 

Grandma Liz’s 90th Birthday

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Assortment of cards and letters from Ed and Liz Seurkamp (the BEST grandparents).

Today is my Grandma Liz’s 90th Birthday. It seems like we were just celebrating my Grandpa Ed’s 90th and I still can’t believe he’s gone. We had a big celebration for Grandpa’s birthday, but I am sure Grandma is being well taken care of in Cincinnati.

I have saved every single card and many odds and ends my grandparents have sent me since I was old enough to think about saving something. In honor of Grandma Liz, I have photographed all the cards and letters from over the years and can hardly wait until I get to hug her and wish her a Happy Birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANDMA LIZ!

Z