Lucy Dabney

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When it's 1:45 and you can't sleep.

Here are some of my random thoughts in list form at this odd hour because let's be honest: this is way more productive than scrolling through Instagram for the eighteenth time in 45 minutes. 

1. Today, one of my roommates was determined to find out who my doppelganger, after I assured her that I truly do not have one. In hopes of proving this wrong, she used one of those online "celebrity look-alike" apps, which I assumed had improved since their circa 2009 popularity.

I was mistaken. Why, you ask? Because my celebrity match was BEYONCE. 

Now, don't get me wrong.. I LOVE Beyonce. This is the biggest compliment that I have recieved in days, years, my entire life if I'm being geniunely honest. But, alas, there is no way this is true. I'm a 21-year-old white girl and while I do like to sing, I can't dance like Queen Bey to save my life. But hey, thanks for the good laugh. 

2. This past weekend we beat CLEMSON. Can I get a GO DAWGS?! But even more importantly (YES, I said it) was our house hosted a tailgate, complete with cover photo titled "Tailgate at the Taj" and people actually showed up. I was in shock and am still pinching myself that the Taj JAMMAL roomies actually pulled this off. 

Up Next: House Party: TURN UP at the TAJ*

*Doubtful, but the alliteration is killer.

3. I'm attempting to begin this awesome 30 day Design Challenge I found, when perusing online for ways to enhance my portfolio. In all honesty, it looks sub-par right now, which is why I'm working this year to build it up to positively reflect my skills for when I'm applying for jobs. Expect a future post on this as the time grows closer to the big G word. 

Graduation. 

There, I said it. Enough on that for now.

4. I recently got a Wacom Tablet and am OBSESSED. I'm still pretty bad at using it, but it's already been life changing. 

Random Tangent: I'm a stickler for word choice, so it may seem strange that I used the very dominating phrase of life changing to talk about a dumb graphic tablet.

Last December, I was home in Charlottesville for Christmas break and went to see the movie Gravity with both of my parents. You know, that Oscar winner where Sandra Bullock is literally lost in outer space for two hours, unsuccessfully reaching for things? Anyways, as the movie ended and we walked out of the dark theatre into the blinding sunlight, I thought that the movie was decent, something that I would sit through again if I was trying to impress someone, but would never voluntarily choose to see again.

My father's response? "That film was life changing."

My mom and I looked at each other, bewildered, but with the same thought. Nothing about this movie was "life changing"... but we let Dad have his moment.

This is a completely pointless tangent, but I promise that it relates ever so slightly to my original point.

I'm not one to exaggerate, especially with word choice, but I stand by my original statement. My new Wacom Tablet is life changing.

5. Before I stop writing the most pointless -but mildly entertaining- post ever, I will add a picture or two for some nice visual contrast.

Because - to quote the title of the best / worst dissertation I ever read- Pics Or it Didn't Happen.*

*Yes, some rando actually named their dissertation "Pics or it Didn't Happen". You're in school for 4-plus additional years and you decide to title your final, pivotal piece of writing, your legacy "Pics or it Didn't Happen"?

Good luck with that.

Gems from this weekend:

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My post-work visit to Star Provisions ended with some colorful moments, sweet notes for friends, and a delicious gluten-free brownie. Happy day, indeed!

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Why Fundraising is Fun

Mom has this endearingly precious habit of cutting out newspaper clippings and sending them to me along with a sweet note. It usually takes me a while to get around to reading them, but one way or another I always do. 

Today, I received a note from her, written on the dog Christmas stationary I got her last December (interesting choice considering it's June, but we'll get to that another time). Included in the letter was this awesome article clipped out of the New York Times. For once, I read it immediately and its relevancy to my life got me thinking.

Something intriguing that I’ve come to realize is the perplexity and individuality of each person’s conception of what in life is fun. Where I’m living this summer, the majority of the students I’ve met are industrial engineering, biomedicaI engineering, or computer science majors. I think I met one person who was a business major, but was quickly told that such a major is looked down on, simply because it’s stereotypically an “easier” major. Yet, the baffling part of this is that all of these majors are by choice. They like engineering and find it enjoyable because it’s something that they’re good at, which I think is beyond admirable. Oh the life of an Advertising major. 

Yet, I was pondering earlier today about how incredible it is, that something so difficult and dreadful in my mind can bring others so much joy. And this brought me to fundraising.

Three years ago, if you had told me that I would one day come to find joy in fundraising, I think I would have laughed and awkwardly averted my eyes out of sheer confusion. Lucy three years ago had just graduated high school. I had just begun the life-long journey searching to grasp just a flicker of my very identity and image. I was a rising freshman at the University of Georgia, swimming my way through registering for classes with Oasis and the land of neck wallets. 

Yet here I am, a rising Senior. It would be a vast understatement to say I’ve grown a lot in the past three years because what college student doesn’t grow up a little. For me, I think it’s more important to focus on the things discovered, the knowledge soaked up, and the foundations of my identity that will continue to shape me within the years to come.

The summer after my freshman year, I decided to go on a Cru Summer Project to Miami. This changed my life in countless ways, but for starters it was my first encounter with raising money. And to be honest, I hated it. I hated asking people for money. I found it to be awkward, morally wrong, and uncomfortable on so many levels. It put me out of my comfort zone and my family wasn’t particularly on board, which deemed it to be out of the question ever again.

It’s funny how God works. He must have been laughing at me and my fear of raising $2900, as I had no idea of what was to come. God used that summer in Miami to completely change my heart towards raising money. I began to find joy in the opportunity that he had given me to ask people to support a cause that I believed it. He changed my burdens into joys.

The next year, I raised money to go to Brazil on a mission trip to Rio de Janeiro. For most of my fundraising here, I did photography for friends and family to raise support, babysat, hosted bake sales, and just worked odd jobs. On the plane ride to Rio, I have vivid memories of working on my application to be on the Executive Board for UGA Miracle. After spending two years involved with Miracle, I was eager and desperate to serve more and be a part of Exec in any position. But I didn’t know where I would fit. I knew that I would be happy in any position, but I was only able to see myself in roles that I was familier with due to my own lack of information. I finished my application on the plane ride home, promising in my application to serve in any role that the Executive Council saw fit, as I honestly wasn’t sure of exactly the best position for me.

In late March at 1:45 AM, I received a phone call that would forever change my life: I had been chosen to be a part of UGA Miracle’s 2013-2014 Executive Board as a fundraising co-chair. I remember jumping up and down screaming, with tears running down my face. It was nothing short of a dream come true. Yet, it was only when I had calmed down and stopped manically grinning from ear to ear that the irony of this new role sunk in. Me? In charge of fundraising? This will be interesting.

It is only through Jesus that the thoughtless can become thoughtful and menial tasks become joyful works of the utmost promise.

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." -Colossians 3:17

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Summertime Tunes

Despite the occasionally abysmal Atlanta heat, I actually love Summertime.

To me, Summer is wearing chacos on concrete or unfamiliar terrain, trekking through creeks and exploring creation and beauty.

It's eating popsicles in the park, blackberry juice staining your T-shirt, despite your valiant efforts striving for neatness.

Summertime means endless, sticky, sweltering days, followed by cool, crisp, breezy nights. It's sleeping in hammock on cooler nights and blasting the A.C. when your fan just won't cut it.

Summer is a time of trying new things, taking chances, seeking out risks, and letting go. 

But most importantly, Summer is cruising down winding roads with the windows down and fresh air out, blasting sweet music that satisfies your innermost being, serving as a reminder of all that is to come.

So here's a playlist for just that. All of these songs have been what I like to call "Roadtrip Approved", which is perfect for these days of Summer.

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Yesterday, at the encouragement of a friend, I purchased roller skates. 

Today after work I ventured to Piedmont Park to put my newest set of wheels to the test.I think I may have roller skated before I walked. I was always the kid at the DeLand Roller Rink who would come in on Saturdays for free skate, eye on the prize: winning the weekly race for my age group and the glory of the free soda coupon to be redeemed by the victorious at the snack bar. Despite my unathletic nature for most sports, I oddly excelled at roller skating and later on figure skating, allowing for me to find my true calling in a childhood on skates. 

Until today, I think the last time I had skated was my last day of speed skating practice in sixth grade. We moved to Virginia a few days after that, ending my short-lived elementary roller skating career. 

Yet, it came back quickly, as though I had never stopped; it was just like riding a bike. Well, actually no. It was just like roller skating, but similar to that silly saying, it is something that you never truly forget or grow out of. 

Piedmont Park is quickly becoming one of my favorite places in Atlanta. It's the one place where everyone takes a moment away from their busy lives to just live and enjoy being outside.

And with gorgeous scenery like this, who can blame them. 

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Back to the old grind

After a long hiatus, I'm officially back. I only chose this title because grind makes me think of coffee, yet it's much to late for coffee at this hour, which is a bummer.

I'm currently taking bets to see how long I'll actually keep this blog up. The goal is to write somewhat regularly (so 3-4 times per week) for the entirety of the Summer, at the very minimum. 

Because let's be honest. For once I actually have lots of free time.

Prior to this Summer, I was anxious about only working 10-4, Monday through Friday. Historically, I'm bad a free time. It's too much time for me to think, which is something I need to get better at. I like staying busy and constantly going.

But it's actually been kind of nice. Being in a brand new city and not being surrounded by familiar people, places, or experiences. For me, loneliness leads to determination. Determination leads to adventure. And adventure leads to memories, which is all that I can ask for. 

Summer is filled with memories and memories are to share.

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Proud to call the Classic City my home.

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Here in Athens, the alleged spring break is just three sleeps away! Yet, it's hard for us to imagine this, simply because it feels like we live in the arctic. I'm attempting to study for my marketing test tomorrow, yet am distracted because the temperature in my house is probably about 40 degrees. Living in an old house may be super hip and trendy, but dang, when it's cold outside any bit of artsy flair goes out the window as I attempt to bundle up. I'm currently swaddled in my patchwork multicolored blanket, alternating between drinking a smoothie and coffee. It's moments like this when I think the cold will last forever that I see tiny glimpses of Spring, just when I least expect it. Flickers of the future and moments of hope and of promise. That's just the way life is. Just when we think that we're never going to get through a moment, that this season will prevail over us, the Lord comes through and changes the Winter to Spring, the old to new. I can see it coming and I know it's going to be good.

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Dear Ellen: I dream that one day, I too will take a selfie that will become the most retweeted item in the history of Twitter. All while casually eating pizza with my best friends, who happen to also be at the Oscars. But until then, I will Snapchat in subtle solitude, awaiting the day of which I reach this level of stardom.

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My weekend in Savannah, captured marvelously by the wonders of iOS 7. The day after Dance Marathon, my computer decided that it needed a brief siesta, hiatus, retreat, whatever you want to call it... The point is, my computer in Apple terms overheated, due to the fans breaking, which in turn caused damage to the logic board (motherboard, for you PC lovers). This has been a struggle, but I'm thankful once again for the Lord's timing in this technological downfall, as this week is much less stressful and the best time possible for me to be computer-less. So thus here are my lovely iPhone pictures, which are all that I can share at this moment in time. One day soon, I will have my precious macbook back with me recovered from its brief absence and ready to allow me to upload pictures to Lightroom. But for now, this is the best that I can do.

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It was at this very coffee shop, sixteen minutes ago that I decided I wanted to get back into writing. Gallery Espresso, I owe you one. The last time I visited the beautiful, southern haven of Savannah, Georgia, I was eleven years old and thrilled to be on my first overnight field trip with my fifth grade class. It was one of those trips that the kids love, while the parents are casually daydreaming of ways to slyly leap out the bus window to get away from the insanity. We left early Friday morning, Mom had allowed me to stop at the gas station for Cheetos and Mountain Dew (OMG!) My fifth grade self was in heaven as we made our way up I-95 to the historic landmark of Savannah. Mom was a chaperone (God bless her) and her favorite memory to retell is how one of the other mom’s was devious planning the ways that she could sneak away from the group to go and get cocktails… Like I said, everyone was going crazy. Yet, the real reason I write this is not to go on about growing up in small town Florida or the strange antics of my childhood. Don’t worry: those will come indeed, but now is not the time. As fate would have it, that hectic fifth grade trip was the first time I ever spent time in the state of Georgia, which I now love more than anything and consider my true home. It’s funny how life works that way sometimes. Maybe my eleven-year-old self knew that I would one day be back in this state and taking a spontaneous trip to Savannah, on a random weekend in March. So why now? Why do I suddenly want to write again? Because I have a lot of thoughts, a lot of dreams, and most importantly: I see the world as a collection of stories. I see people for who they are and I love nothing more than sharing stories. I’m moving from my lovely Wordpress site, which I initially established to get away from the teenage angst often falsely associated with Tumblr, yet barely posted on because I was constantly frustrated with the lack of customizability. Here I am, tumblr, humbly trudging back three years later. And I don’t hate it in the slightest. Thank you to Savannah, the artsy scad kids, and picturesque locations for inspiring me. I think I owe you one.