Just Rambling……..

I just got back home from visiting my son and best buddy Adam in Wilmington, NC. Hard to believe he’s actually graduating UNCW next month. To say I am proud of him is an absolute understatement. I am going to be one proud Papa when I see him walk up and receive his diploma. His fluency in Spanish is going to be a great asset to him no matter what he pursues in life. I can see him teaching eventually, just like my Dad and I, but then again…who knows. He’ll find his calling eventually just like I did after a few years serving in the Army.

We had a great time last night hitting a few of our favorite pubs before having dinner. I really like Wilmington and can see myself retiring there in the near future. There’s so much more to do than in this little coastal vacation town I live in. I especially enjoyed looking at the art at the Bottega Art and Wine gallery and drinking Hoppy Otter Pale Ale at Cape Fear Beer and Wine. They have an awesome selection of beers from around the world and a very cool ambiance. I’m sitting here drinking a pint of Brown Ale I brewed last month. It’s tasting really smooth after sitting in my beer room for over a month. So yes…I can see myself packing up and moving to Wilmington in the near future. I have lived in Morehead City NC for over 20 years and it is time for a change. I just have to put in a few more years at Carteret Community College and I’m outa here. I’m not really complaining, its just that this New Yorker is ready to get on with the next chapter of his life. I want to direct more of my energy into more creative endeavors like writing, photographing and painting instead of teaching and administering the Distance Learning program at my college. I can’t truly explore and investigate my creative sensibility when I’m teaching, freelancing and administering 60+ hours a week. Again…not whining here - I am lucky and blessed to have so many career options and opportunities its just that I am ready to move into another direction with my life.

My daughter Andei is going to a language festival in Germany tomorrow. She apparently won an essay contest at her school to take this exciting trip. I miss her terribly, BUT I know she’s learning and growing so much going to school in Sicily and being exposed to so many wonderful cultural and creative opportunities. How many 15 year old girls American can say they speak fluent Italian and have had the travel experiences Andei has had. My week vacation is over and I have to gear up for work tomorrow. Two days of teaching and then I go to new Bern for the Distance Learning Alliance conference where I am presenting next Wednesday afternoon.

  So anyway…I’m just rambling here - its my Blog so if I want to ramble I can. Seeing all the ArT in Wilmington has inspired me to carve out some time to do some more mixed media pieces. I have some ideas for more journal paintings - I just need to get the paint and easel out and get with it. So much art to make and so little time.

On Vacation

I am enjoying a little time off from my primary teaching and Distance Learning job at Carteret Community College. I still have some freelance teaching commitments, but at least I have a little time to kick back and relax. I went on a day trip to Oriental, NC Saturday with my photographer friend Rebecca and took a few photographs. I got some (see below) I feel good about. I plan on doing some work on the book project this week and hopefully doing some more shooting. My creative spirit soars when I have some stress free time to write and photograph.

Oriental Landscape - I love the play of light and shadow on this metal building

Mrs. Davis Shop - This building has seen better days

This guy was a real character - love his beard!

I just liked the composition and texture of this image

 

St. Patrick’s Day Photo Exhibit & Beer Tasting

Attention all Ye’ beer (and art/photo) lovers….I’m exhibiting a cross section of my Ireland Photographs @ 911 Restoration, 911 Cedar Point Blvd (Hwy 24)in Cedar Point from 5-7pm tonight. They are having a Beer tasting in honor of that great Irish saint. The work will be exhibited (and for sale) through St. Patrick’s day.

Accordian Man, Ring of Kerry, Ireland 2006

Roosters, Aran Island, Ireland 2006 

Click here for more Ireland Photographs

Questions??

Erika Worden
911 Restoration
“Seize the Teas…Peruse the Brews”
www.teaandbeer.com
911 Cedar Point Blvd.
Cedar Point, NC 28584
252-354-7911 Office
252-646-4401

Front Page News!

When Sue, Laurie and I struggled up the Atlantic Beach bridge at around the 5 mile mark of the 1/2 marathon Saturday, we were slammed back by monsoon like winds and rain in addition to some hail. The weather was absolutely surreal to say the least. I reached out and grabbed the hands of my 2 very special running buddies as we fought our way to the top of the bridge. It seemed like we were not making any forward progress even though we were moving our legs. To top it off my IPod died from getting so wet and the great tunes I downloaded to keep my going STOPPED just before we made it to the top of the bridge. I was listening to the mad guitar riff from “Free Bird” when the music went silent and all I could here were the surreal sounds of wind, intense rain and a few cars driving by us. I looked up and there was the photographer Dylan Ray from the News-Times. He got down low and snapped off this shot which ended up on the front page of the Carteret News-Times. We all somehow knew that the photo he took would be published AND it was. I don’t know how we (I) finished the race considering the wretched conditions, but somehow we all made it to the finish line. It was God’s grace and sheer inner determination that got us all to the end of that race. We had to pull from WAY DOWN DEEP” to run 13+ miles in those conditions. Heck…I have never run over 8 miles in my life.

Front Page Carteret News-Times Sunday Edition

Yes I’m CRAZY!

I woke up to torrential rain, loud thunder and lighting this morning and remembered…..I am running in a half marathon. 13 miles! I must be absolutely insane. I suppose I am because I did get up after a restless sleep and headed to the Civic Center in MC to check in for the run. There were close to 500 runners milling about probably asking themselves the same question I was. Run 13 miles in 40 mph winds and rain…gotta be freakin NUTS. Runners for the most part are a bit manic so I was in good company. The rain subsided until 8:30am, BUT when the gun went off the rain came back in all its glory - in fact…by the time we got to the Atlantic Beach bridge it was coming at us sideways and the wind was blowing us back - I felt like I was standing still as I ran. Looking back to this morning I honestly don’t know how I finished this race in 2 hours. It was GOD and ADRENALIN the last 4 miles. It was great to see so many friends like my Racquetball buddy Jeff cheering us on and dishing out water and gatorade. I promised you all some photos so here they are. I’ve been told that Sue, Laurie and I made the front page of the local paper as we struggled running up the AB bridge - if we did I will post it tomorrow.

Thanks Rebecca for taking these great photos! 

Looks Like More Rain

A Posed Shot Before the Race with Laurie and Sue

Start of Race Before the Rain got Heavy

Almost at the Finish Line - I’m Hurtin!

Made it! A Goal Accomplished.

I am spending the rest of this weekend recuperating - it was well worth the pain, and enduring the rain because tonight I am enjoying some of the “grape and the grain”

cheers!

Running a Half Marathon - Crazy or WHAT?

   Yes…I’m running a half marathon tomorrow morning. Thirteen…yes - 13 + miles and it’s suppose to be rainy and windy. UhhG! When I’m not brewing beer and working 60 + hours a week teaching photography, art appreciation online AND running the distance learning program at CCC this crazy Irishman has been working out (cross training) HARD this past year. I made it up to 8 1/2 miles in my training so the last 5 miles for me are going to be all GUTS and GOD. I rode most of the course yesterday on my bike just to keep my legs loose and tonight after work hit the gym for a steam and hot tub to get my OLD muscles loosened up for the race. When I first saw the weather report for race day I must admit I was a bit freaked out BUT now I am totally jazzed and feel ready to do this no matter what the conditions are. My IPod shuffle has 2 hours of great rocking music (Flogging Molly, Drop Kick Murphy, the Who, Meatloaf …yes Meatloaf) and all kinds of great high energy tunes to help me along the way. Stay tuned for the photos to be posted tomorrow afternoon. Click below for map of race route.

Crystal Coast Half Marathon- Certification
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