Keri's blog

America needs more Jimmy Carters and Porch Talks

Keri — Wed, 9 Apr 2008 21:37:09 -0500

This past weekend, some three hours outside the bustling city of Atlanta in the rural community of Plains, Georgia, I sat in a hand crafted wooden rocking chair and participated in one of small town America’s finest traditions – the good old-fashioned porch talk.

The front porch – where I spent...

Bonafide hustler making my name.

Keri — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:28:15 -0500

The 2nd Round Low-Down on how to Throw-Down in Atlanta *on a budget:

1. Piedmont Park: Walk anywhere along Piedmont Avenue in Atlanta on a weekend afternoon and you'll feel like you've encountered a little piece of NYC in the south. In fact, you wouldn't be too far off in imagining such a thing...

José González

Keri — Mon, 3 Mar 2008 18:53:10 -0600

José González, the classical guitarist with Argentine and Swedish roots, put on an incredible show last night at Atlanta's Variety Playhouse.

Just wanted to recommend his music to any folks living in/traveling to his upcoming tour spots. Check him out!

Here's a taste! (you San Fran folks will love the...

Beast Feast

Keri — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:37:21 -0600

To all you writers out there: this one's for you! Here's an easy story: Think church, think guns, think gun sales at church, think Jesus, think heaven/hell. Think: This should be easy.

I've had a fascination with BEAST FEASTs for four years now, though their history spans back at least 10 (based on my...

Let me clear my throat.

Keri — Sat, 9 Feb 2008 20:00:55 -0600

Just one month ago our team of 35 assembled in Atlanta, GA to tirelessly and selfessly promote the dreams of a little NGO in a big ol' world. Friends flew all the way from Sweden, Thailand, Japan, Ireland, Scotland, Cambodia, Honduras, England, Venezuela, Jamaica, etc. to make use of the...

Re-birth*

Keri — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:22:55 -0600

A Super-Bowl in Callahan, Florida?

The rationale had something to do with exposing small town U.S.A. to the world. To me it just seemed impossible. Traffic was already at a stand-still and we still had a week before kick-off.

It took a few days before I finally warmed up to the...

Can you sense the creator, world?

Keri — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:24:19 -0600

I was probably Frederich Von Schiller in a past life. I know that's against the rules - to choose someone cool and claim common ancestry - but I'm gonna do it. My brother tells me that we could be fulfilling things in this life that maybe when we were a mosquito we couldn't quite get around to....

Germany is cold.

Keri — Tue, 6 Nov 2007 13:05:45 -0600

Germany is cold but I've got friends. That's the good news.

Believe it or not, I ventured all the way to Germany in the fall without a coat. Our plane landed in Cologne at 7:00 in the morning. The sun was just peeking its way over the trees and I could see ice on the wings of the plane. I was wearing...

Thoughts on American Pride

Keri — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 19:24:18 -0500

Spend a little time in Latin America and you’ll quickly pick up on an unspoken phenomenon: *Studies show American travelers abroad feel a severe deficit in national pride. Instead of experiencing nostalgia for home and the loss of routine from our recent past, we somehow link on to a new country and...

Only in Jacksonville, Florida...

Keri — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 22:18:21 -0500

…can a victim of domestic violence be charged with domestic violence. In a remarkable turn of events since Monday night’s incident, Elaina Moran (wife of Chief Circuit Judge Donald Moran Jr.) will be charged with the events that led to her bloody face and loose teeth, also known in this...

Bombs, Weddings, and YKK in Bolivia! (Part 2)

Keri — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 08:17:31 -0500

July 14, 2006: Potosi and Lake Titicaca, Bolivia

We left Uyuni on a bus to Potosi, Bolivia and departed with a fair number of people, although several empty seats remained. I leaned my head against the window,...

Argentina to Bolivia or Bust! (Part 1)

Keri — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 02:29:16 -0500

This is Part 1 of my July 1 - July 28 trip through Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. Before I took this trip, I emailed friends for route advice. Here’s one to add to the pot…

July...

I'll fly away in a go kart...

Keri — Sun, 9 Sep 2007 10:51:37 -0500

While reading the local newspaper last week, I happened upon a picture of my dad's friend in his new power parachute. He's a professional pilot of the machine locals refer to as "the flying go kart." In other words, he's living the B.I.

Of course when I read the article...

Texas Two-dollar Bills: Bringing sexy back

Keri — Tue, 4 Sep 2007 22:04:00 -0500

Occasionally, Utne magazine floats through the Libby household. To be exact, the mail-lady drops us a new one six times a year. It wasn't until a week ago that I actually opened the magazine for a first-time read. Unbelievable. Utne magazine puts out some of the best fun cultural news in the media. Check...

Tale of the Badass Initiative

Keri — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 00:25:02 -0500

This blog is dedicated to Lori, Jenn, and Butch. I hope this finds you well.

The Badass Initiative became official July of 2006, when self pity over a failed relationship quickly morphed into the necessity to become the biggest bad ass to ever walk the face of the Earth. As one can imagine, this...

Boston in Four Days

Keri — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 11:04:17 -0500

How can a hot dog be this good??

Two minutes before the bus pulled away from Canal Street in New York City, I bought the biggest, fattest, juiciest hot dog of my life. The odd thing about this pup was its simplicity. The hot dog sat on a bare bun with just a dazzle of ketchup on top. One bite and...

Easy as riding a bike.

Keri — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 22:10:07 -0500

What it's like to have the best job in the world:

In my last blog, I explained how I had become a professional beach cruiser. No one took me seriously - not even my family and closest friends - until I disappeared for seven days, only to be seen in local newspapers in a flash of neon green.

The...

The Hip, New Form of Travel: Beach Cruisers and Lawn Mowers

Keri — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 18:55:55 -0500

What do four years of college, over 100k in tuition/fees, and a degree in political science get you? Besides a growing distaste in U.S. politics and an uneasy feeling about the condition of the modern man (should have stayed in the hut!), the answer is NOT MUCH.

I made a good-hearted effort to find...

Beach for the sake of beach guide to Costa Rica

Keri — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 15:40:53 -0500

If you don’t surf and you don’t enjoy sprawling yourself out in a beach chair all day in hopes of getting cancer, you may enjoy this, a beach for the sake of beach guide to Costa Rica.

Tamarindo
Most visitors to the western coast of Costa Rica arrive in Tamarindo. I don’t knock this decision;...

La Barra and Salsa Dancing in Costa Rica

Keri — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 14:35:29 -0500

Just in case I didn't do enough promotional work for my friends at La Barra in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, this blog is meant to pay my final dues.

Here's the deal: La Barra is located on the main strip in town. During the day, you may be able to stop in for a sandwich and a smoothy, but don't expect to...

Red Eyes and Bloody Bones: A story about Bonnie

Keri — Sat, 7 Jul 2007 15:29:59 -0500

This is the first in a series I will be doing on Kings Ferry, Florida.

Before I begin I will say that I have been home exactly one week from a wild four year adventure called college-and-then-some. I visited Kings Ferry periodically during these four years, most often for holidays with the biggest...

Todo tiene su final

Keri — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 01:27:00 -0500

Little ditty about what it's like to teach English in Costa Rica:

One day someone stole my money from my house. In reality, they stole just about all the cash I had set aside for my two month stay in Costa Rica. As one can imagine, I was pretty upset and knew I needed to take some immediate action...

Costa Rican Elementary School Band

Keri — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 00:58:12 -0500

The Hatillo School has about 80 kids.
The Hatillo band has about 45 members, ranging in age from 6 to 11 years old.

This is a blog dedicated to my fellow teacher and friend, Mauricio. Mauricio has only worked at Hatillo for two years. His students in grades 1st through 6th grade know how to read...

Imperial times

Keri — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 00:30:17 -0500

I went out for a drink or 12 (!!!) with the teachers from school the other day to celebrate my departure from Costa Rica. School let out early at 2 pm and my fellow crew asked if I would like to join them for a drink at the nearest bar, which was conveniently located 30 minutes away. Claro que si, I...

Closing Time in Costa Rica

Keri — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 12:08:12 -0500

It was 5:00 in the afternoon. The sun was just about to set. The sky was clear. And I was galloping on the back of a horse at Playa Langosta in Costa Rica.

There are some things I will never forget in life: my first bike with colorful beads on the spokes, the first (and only) time I rode a...

¿Que hiciste?

Keri — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:55:52 -0500

Every Wednesday night I make my way to La Barra to join friends for a night of Salsa dancing. Every Wednesday night my life is also somehow put at risk.

1) The first obstacle is always to bus out of Hatillo. My one option out of town is an old, beat-up bus that I am sure would fail all safety...

My Costa Rican Family

Keri — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:32:52 -0500

As many of you may have noticed, I have revealed little to nothing about what I spend the majority of my time in Costa Rica doing. And while I love keeping what I hold most dear a secret, I will admit it a shame that so few know what gives me the drive to start work each morning at 6:00 and what makes...

Sour Milk and Rodeos

Keri — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:10:22 -0500

It´s a good thing the Foundation hooks us up every weekend. Life in Costa Rica with no money is a little tough. I´ll take anything free someone can throw my way.

Last weekend the Foundation threw a trip to Rincon de la Viega into the mix. They dropped us at a pretty nice hotel and said they would...

Hilliard, the big timer.

Keri — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:37:47 -0500

The other night I heard the most obnoxious HO-LA I have ever. We were walking to La Barra (yes, we are Wednesday night salsa regulars at this point) when I saw two guys walking our way. What else was I to expect? We were in Tamarindo. The home away from home for Americans.

We gave no reply. Then came...

I´m swelling.

Keri — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:32:06 -0500

This is a quick one but I just wanted to say that my mama tica told me last night I was poniendo bonita because I gained a belly. She told me I might need to stop eating dinner but that I looked prettier. hahhahah.

STOP FEEDING ME HOTDOGS AND CHEESEBURGERS FOR BREAKFAST!