Irvin House Wines and Firefly Distillery

Today my mom and I traveled to Wadmala Island to visit this local winery and distillery.  It was a gorgeous day and a fantastic trip!  They are the makers of Firefly Vodka along with several wines. Firefly Vodka Sweet Tea is a local favorite and well worth trying, in fact...  I think it's one of the best drinks around.  The tea is made with vodka from this distillery and tea from a local plantation too, the only thing in it not from here in Charleston is the raw sugar cane used from Louisiana.  All in all a true southern creation.  The same distillery is also a winery that uses the native muscadine grape  (in four varieties) to makes some terrific wines. Cool little fact, the muscadine grape is the only grape variety with one extra pair of chromosomes.  It is quite literally the smart grape, and as such is immune to all known grape diseases.  This means they can be grown and harvested without pesticides or chemicals. Muscadine grapes also have 8 times the amount of antioxidants and some other good for you thing than any other grape which makes this wine actually good for you!  What better excuse do you need to enjoy a wonderful glass! Check out the video below...

Celebrating 50 Years of Alvin Ailey

Last night my mom and I went to see the Alvin Ailey company's performance at Spoleto. The production was chronicling the past 50 years of his Alvin's choreography and work. It was incredibly beautiful, moving, and left the entire audience in awe. It was one of the best dance performances I have ever seen, and a true experience. I have always wanted to see this company before and they far exceeded my expectations. Check out the video clip and pictures below from the performance!

Spoleto Sand Sculptures

Hello Blog Buddies!  I'm on vacation and enjoying my time at home in Charleston so much! I got here a few days ago and spent the first couple days sleeping, tanning, grilling out, and meet up with old but still great friends.  Yesterday a famous art festival here in Charleston kicked off.  It's called Spoleto, and it is this huge festival that lasts a couple weeks. Yeah, a couple weeks cause it's that awesome and my favorite part is that it includes all different types of art: music, dancing, visual arts, sculptures, acting, and more.  Today I went over to Isle of Palms to check out the sand sculpture competition (which you probably read about on my twitter- if not follow me, my sn is travisyork).  Here are some photo's I snagged...

Best in Show, it was pretty sweet.

Best Architecture! I really liked it.

Peace

This is a replica of a light house off of Folly Island.

Corny!

The SC Quarter, very South Carolinian!

I loved this Sea Serpent! His name is Sam.

I liked the boat with the dock... it was a good idea.

I kept wanting a coke after seeing this polar bear!

My grandmother will love this one... she loves pigs, and this one's got wings!

 

Her Morning Elegance

Check out this new artist a friend of mine introduced me to this past weekend... Awesome music and an incredible video!

DAZE

     There are times in life when so much is going on that I find it hard to really enjoy each minute.  Times when I am running from one event to another, from one meeting to another, from one moment to another... and when I lie down at the end of the day already thinking about the deadlines, preparations, events, finals, and work that the next day holds.  All this spinning puts me into a daze.  

   I am thankful for the times when I hear that still small voice calling, when creation itself halts me in my tracks and reminds me just how small I am and how completely connected I am to everything else.  Those are the times when I can step outside of myself and embrace the present for what it is... A glorious opportunity to enjoy life.   To actually live the life within and around me.  Yes those deadlines are still there, my finals will still happen next week, but they'll also be over after that.  The semester is closing and there are a million things to be done, but they will also be done soon enough.  If I don't slow down enough to live through it, all of it will simply pass me by.   It will be time spent not time enlivened.  

   I find it curious that we even speak of time in this way.  Always in the terminology of currency.   Time is spent, saved, passed, lost, used, invested...   Those are all things we do with money.  I want to start enlivening my time... to view it as a chance to live and be lived in.  The ancient Greeks had a separate word for time like this... Kairos.  It's a word for time meaning a moment or an event- this is opposed to Chronos or chronological time (I always wondered how we go that term!).  A Greek statue named Kairos shows a man with winged feet who has long bangs and is bald on the back of his head.  The Greeks say this is a lesson in appreciating time, opportunities must be grabbed onto (bangs) as they come, for when they pass there is nothing to grab onto (bald).  

   Don't let your life pass you by, it's the only one you have.  Enjoy every moment.

Weren't that we had died in Egypt

These are the words of the Israelites as they wandered through the wilderness and came up on the promise land.  They wouldn't return for many decades to come because their lack of trust in God's faithfulness and provisions.  The book of Numbers even reports them as saying, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt!  Or would that we had died in this wilderness!  Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?"

It isn't with judgement that I read over the actions of the Israelites, it is with sadness and empathy.  The saying hindsight is 20:20 is made overwhelmingly poignant in situations such as this.  Knowing that God would give the promise land over to the Israelites despite the seemingly overwhelming odds makes it easy for us to think poorly of them for not trusting in God.  But how often is this very theme displayed in our own life?  

God always keeps his promises, not matter what, and fortunately for us he doesn't always punish because he leaves room for repentance and grace.  God is a good father, his mercy and grace strike me to the core and fill me with awe in a way that nothing else in the world ever has, and like nothing I can imagine ever will.

A Person is a Person

Abortion is a tough issue... For some reason this issue has come up a lot in my life in conversations with other or through related media in the last six months of my life. As a result I have been forced to think critically about this issue and the complexity of the problem that exists. I say complexity because I believe that when discussing abortion there are actually two competing issues that are being addressed. 

The most prominent issue is certainly about the rights of a child vs the rights of the mother/parents. Who's rights take precedence? How are these rights awarded? Is the very notion of rights a social construction, or are they imbued or granted by an external? If they are innately a part of some one's life, then when does life begin? Does life begin at conception, does it begin at some point of consciousness, or does life begin in a theoretical way at possibility or potentiality of life? As of this issue isn't complex enough we now add another issue that is inextricably tied to this one. Despite where you come down on the issue of priority of rights, a separate question is whether or not it should be the government or public's role to limit in any way the rights of any party? In my opinion I find this question easier to tackle... and perhaps it is through first handling this issue that informs my decision on the primary issue of rights. I believe that one of the primary and most foundational responsibility of Government (and hence the public) is to protect the rights of those that cannot protect themselves. In this case, through no fault of their own by through the decisions of others a fetus is conceived. This fetus, which I believe has life at the very least at the point of conception, I believe does have rights. I believe that it is the government's job to consider how and seek to protect that life from the harm of others.

What about a mother who is wrongly taken advantage of and thus has had pregnancy imposed upon her for some reason other than her own decisions (such as rape)? We can address this in our legal system! All laws have caveats and particularities. By the way, instants of abortion related to these causes are about 1% o all the abortions that occur. This percentage is certainly manageable and not a viable cloak for others to hide behind to maintain their oppression of others.

So, back to our question of who's rights should be exonerated? I have to side with the child in this case. Clearly this is a tough issue no matter how you come at it. But I think that abortion for many has become another way for people, especially young adults or children, to disengage with the reality of their actions. While carrying a child to birth can be a very impacting process for any woman research has shown considerable damage or impact up on participants of abortion, both physical and moreover emotional. The option of adoption is certainly a better choice for all involved. I think that at this point in time there are others that can give more information and justification for this point of view... and in fact I have a short clip to show how one incredibly thoughtful and engaging twelve year old has done that. Check out her clip:

Even though you can't hear them or see them at all, a Person is a Person no matter how small.   ~ Dr. Seuss, Horton Hears a Who

What do you think?

New Generation

Thank YOU!

Hey blog buddies! I know it's been a while since my last post when I get a friendly reminder from my mom saying that I need to post. (By the way thank Mom!) So i looked back at my last blog thinking it's probably been a few weeks. WRONG!

Yeah, my last blog was right after MLK day! Sorry I suck at keeping this thing updated. So often I feel like its not a big deal if I don't post because for some reason I think no one reads my post. But then I hear from wonderful friends who encourage me to blog more. So this Blog is really a little thank you note! I was recently talking to a friend over dinner and she and I were discussing the development of gratitude in people. She made a comment about keeping a "grateful journal" (basically a journal where you commit to writing down something your grateful for everyday. I can barely remember to pray every day, so I'm not ready to start this venture! But her mentioning did remind me of one of my professor's wives at Geneva who did this. She said it was really easy at first because there are so many big things we are grateful for like our family and stuff; but after the first month she said that she really had to think about things and then she started noticing that she was looking for things throughout her day that she was grateful for. This attention began disciplining her thought life into noticing all things in her day to day life that she was truly grateful for.

In that spirit, I would like to say that I am grateful to my blog encouragers. In an attempt to really show you my gratitude, I am going to make a bold and dangerous move by naming you: Jan (aka Mom), Danny Clapp, Christian Lorey (MFU), Rachel Menke (BT), Rachel Hundley (even though you encourage me more to reply on facebook), April Emery, and YOU! Okay, Before I go any further, please, please, please... If I have left you out, I am deeply sorry! My biggest deterrent to mentioning people directly was the fear that I would forget important encouragers like you. So, if you're reading this and thinking, "That jerk, what about me!" You are the YOU at the end of the list. And the fact that you are even reading my blog is a HUGE encouragement to me! So feel free to comment, subscribe, or just keep reading, because I am grateful for your prescence here.

Celebrating an Icon: Inspiring a Better Future

Thursday night I was honored to be able to go to a gala Penn State hosts each year to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was a night that remembered not just the actions of a man who caught the world's attention; but the ideals and truth his actions were based upon. What was so special about Dr. King? How was he able to communicate so effectively to so many? What is the true measure of his impact?

He was one person. One person who realized he was called to do something beyond himself. One person who's thoughts went beyond himself and toward his neighbor. One person who decided to speak for those without voice; to act for those with out power; and to remind humankind, not of something they didn't know, but of a truth they really did. There has never been any question about how Dr. King was able to stand up to such adversity. Dr. King was sure of what he could not see, he was knew that his dreams were that of the creators and there was promise for that reality. "For if God is for us, who can be against us." (Rom. 8:31) Upon thinking about Dr. King and his gift of public speaking, I am completely captured by part of a speech he made to a group of students in 1959. A proposal that I pray I am able to give to the people in my life.

Quote comes from a speech Dr. King made to a group of students in 1959

Whatever career you may choose for yourself -- doctor, lawyer, teacher -- let me propose an avocation to be pursued along with it. Become a dedicated fighter for civil rights. Make it a central part of your life.

It will make you a better doctor, a better lawyer, a better teacher. It will enrich your spirit as nothing else possibly can. It will give you the rare sense of nobility that can only spring from love and selflessly helping your fellow man. Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.

The fight isn't over. The war isn't yet won. As far as we have come, there is still work to be done. And it is work that is too valuable to give up on. Slavery isn't dead. In fact, there are more slaves in the world today than there were during the 1800's in America... 27 million to be a little more accurate. Equal rights for all humans are not yet a reality; not even in our own country. But do not be discouraged beloved, you are a special one who has purpose. Yes, you are one. You are one person. One person who can think outside of themselves and act. One person that can speak for those without a voice. One person that can act for those without power. One persona that can change the world. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

Believe in the beauty of your dreams and make a career of humanity.

Let it Snow!

Hey fans... So when I went into work this morning we had about 2" of snow on the ground from last night.

It's 5:00 p.m. we now have about 6"... It isn't supposed to stop until midnight tonight.

I'm both delighted and appalled.

New

Wow, what a holiday season! I had the best intentions of posting, thinking that while I was on vacation I would have plenty of time to do so. My family, and by family I really mean my mom, even asked a couple of times, "Have you made a new video?" But as I was thinking about taking the time to do so I became exaughisted by the idea... I really just wanted to relax and spend time with the ones I love. So, that's what I did.

Now, that I'm back into the swing of things I can blog all about it! So the quick and dirty on my vacation: Christmas at home in Charleston - AMAZING! It was 76 degrees on Christmas day and 78 the day after. Jesus was really blessing me with the weather. It had been almost a year since I'd been home and I was sorely missing the beautiful environment of my childhood. I spent mornings walking on the beach with my mom and our dog rivers, evening catching movies with my stepdad. A couple afternoons with my sister, and a whole day with my dad (which even included a mad dash to the toy store for a replacement for my little brother's gift from santa--a big deal and a lot of fun)! All in all it was so good. At the end of my time there I ended up getting sick with some throat disease, but after a z-pack and some advil I was good to go!

New Years was spent in one of my favorite cities... The Big Apple. And even better it was spent with one of my best friends. Rachel, who has just moved to Manhattan with a sweet law firm doing international law, got us great VIP tickets to an Irish pub right off time square. At 11:30 we ran down the street caught the countdown and the ball... sang Steve Wonder's "It's a Wonderful World" and then partied on. Another treat was that my uncle was in town and so I got to spend some really wonderful time with him, and even got to go hangout in the Zegna showroom. It was beautiful and there were several coats that I fell in love with! Ex.A...

So the holidays were great. I'm now back at home, back at work, and back at school. Speaking of which, I already have an assignment for my new phd course on curriculum. I'm really excited about the course, the prof is one of my favorite in the program and from the reading it seems like the class will be challenging in the best of ways! Thanks for taking the time to catch up with me~ Read. Think. Respond> leave a comment.

Happy Holidays

Hello Blog Buddies!
Sorry I've been out for a few weeks. Work got crazy and then I went on vacation for Thanksgiving. Speaking of.... I hope all of you had a fantastic Holiday. I was able to share mine with some close family members. That's right I packed up the jeep and headed to a little piece of paradise known as "Rockin' Chair Farm" aka my grandparent's house.

Yes, yes... Mom and Papi (my grandparents) are doing well. I am blessed to have them in my life and enjoy every moment I get to spend with them. Along with the great time I had with them my sacrificed the warm waters of Charleston to brave the cold tundra above the Mason Dixon line! Thanks Mom! Additionally my uncle/godfather flew in from NYC. Getting to spend a few days with them was really fantastic. Here's quick play by play:

Day 1- Arrive to the farm-get greeted by the fastest tongue in the north east (Hiedi our german short-haired pointer)
Day 2- Horseback riding and vino
Day 3- Horseback riding (this time in the snow) Italian Dinner (done the right way by my uncle and I)... and more vino
Day 4- TURKEY AND PAPI'S FAMOUS STUFFING.... and the best Vino I've ever had in my life (Howell at the Moon Cab. Sav.)
Day 5- Everyone says emotional good byes and heads home... This is when I actually needed some vino.

Not to be disappointed my mom grabbed some sweet shots of the horse and me... He doesn't seem so small when your standing next to him....

The First Case of Cured HIV

It seems like this past months has been full of firsts for us as humankind. The election of the first black man (GO OBAMA!)as President for the US, the first Female President of Liberia, and now the first person cured of HIV/AIDS! Tremendous strides are made everyday by ordinary people doing extraordinary things. May we all take strength and courage from these people to continue such acts. Check out the story below. Even though it's is small step in the process; it is a magnificent breakthrough and provacator of Hope!

Twilight Series

It's getting cold outside... Check out what I've been reading as I settle in for a long winter.

Haze: A documentary on College Drinking

Do you think the drinking age should be lowered? It's an interesting idea, but I'm not convinced it would help with the current status of student culture. This film shares the devistating reality of student drinking. And take it from someone who knows... this isn't an exageration.

Celebrity Encounter...

Hello, I know it's late but I had to blog about my night.
I think I'm starting to get the hang of this video blogging thing. I hope all of you have a great night's sleep!

Video Blog Experiment

Hello Everyone!!!
So, today I'm trying to figure out how I can video blog. I know it can be done and its probably not that hard, but I have no idea how to do it. What I do know is my new Mac ROCKS, so it has the capability, I just have to get the know how. If all goes well, you'll see a little test video I made? Please comment if you can or cannot see the video, so that I can try to work out any kinks in the system. ~Ciao!

Tina Fay does it again!

Another home run... my favorite part is the direct quote from Palin's actual interview!

SNL Tina Fey and Amy Polar

I imagine most of you have seen this.  I have several times... it is probably one of the best SNL sketches of all time!