A tribute to the best home and one of the best friends I've ever had...

"I try to keep it simple, 'cause i hate goodbyes, and i try to keep it simple by telling myself that I, I Will remember you and all of the things that we've gone through.
There is so much I can say, but words get in the way, so when we're not together, I will remember you." -Ryan Cabrera

"Once there was a darkness, deep and endless night
You gave me everything you had, oh you gave me light
And I will remember you" -Sarah McLauchlin

It seems silly to love a car so much that you give it a heartfelt tribute on your blog. Maybe it is silly. But Stevie is more than just a car. He's a feeling. He's freedom. He's an escape. He's salvation.

I've never felt happier than I do when I'm sitting behind the wheel of my car with open road before me. Though I know that in the end I'll turn around and go back to where I came from, the knowledge that if I choose I can drive to the end of the earth has kept me sane. It has kept me free. It has kept me whole. Knowing that I'll lose that feeling on Monday has taken my breath from me. I owe more to a piece of Japanese machinery than I could ever explain to you. So here's to you Stevie, the best friend I could ever ask for, the closest thing to home that I have right now. Tonight, we'll sit and drink together for the last time. Who knew that life would never be better than it was when we drove the open roads, with no end in sight?

"Behind us lay the whole of America and everything Dean and I had previously known about life, and life on the road. We have finally found the magic land at the end of the road, and we never dreamed the extent of the magic." -Kerouac

The fine line between self-control and self-abuse.

Once upon a time, there was an island. It was long. Blessed with the gift of originality, its founders named it "Long Island".

It was a silly place. The indigenous people there had obnoxious accents. You couldn't use your discover card. Caramel Macchiatos cost $5.25. The Wall Street Journal was nowhere to be found. Liquor stores stocked only liquor and wine, no beer. The beaches were chilly, the speed limits were low, and no one could ever park their car for fear of getting a parking ticket. There was no place to get a good pizza, and the people were rude. Life on the island was hard.

One day, a group of visitors snapped. They just couldn't take it any more. They went to the nearest liquor store, stabbed the owner with the keys to their Bentley, and stole a bottle gin, a bottle of rum, a bottle of tequila, and a bottle of vodka. Now armed with their friends Jose, Captain Morgan, Mr. Smirnoff, and Gordon, they were ready to face the world. Or so they thought.

After many shots and mixed drinks, they realized that they still were not yet able to handle life on the island. Brilliantly, they decided to mix all of the bottles together. It was a delicious and lethal combination.

They, also blessed with the gift originality, called it a "long island iced tea". It became a survival tool. And survive they did.

They lived happily ever after...until their livers failed.

As if we could progress.

Above is a keg.

This keg was purchased by my father for a bbq we hosted before leaving franklin.

Again, it's a keg.

Although filled with Sam Adams instead of Natty, it's the same thing you'd find at any frat party.

Proof that we never grow up.

But really, if this is what the future holds, I'm certainly not complaining.

Home is wherever I'm with you.

dearest friends,

this past weekend i went to lady gaga in franklin with bfff steph and christina. the music blared. the lights shined. my ass shook. life was good.

i then ventured on to martha's vineyard with marushka. the dogs barked. the toilet flushed. the wine flowed. and life was good.

the weekend ended in nyc in kayalyn's fab-u-lous apartment downtown with the lovely kayalyn kibbe, blaine edens, lizzie simonofsky, and becca grayzel. our feet dangled out the window. the american spirits blazed. the beer bottles clinked. our shopping bags buzzed. and life was good.

home is not about where you are. it's who you're with. and who you are when you're with who you're with.

so drink up, light up, and dance yo' ass off.

life is good. i promise.