I would like to thank...

Good Morning!

Today I woke up realizing Thanksgiving is only a few days away. This has never been my favorite holiday/day, but the older I get and the further I go from home I find myself counting down the hours until we can all say "Thanks!" I'm all about traditions and even more excited when I can start something new. This year, while I'm growing to appreciate Thanksgiving I will be smiling at everything I am thankful for. To give you a hint, here is a list (short and sweet):

- I am (so) thankful for Mike. I am thankful our paths crossed in a random city at a random bar, and we have had the will to be there for each other no matter what. I am thankful he makes me laugh, watches Glee with me, suppresses his cravings for sushi around me, drives me everywhere, tells me I'm beautiful, gives me my space, lets me stare at others without judging me (or showing his judgement), sings to me, laughs at my jokes, lets me play country music in his car, tells me he will cook for me one day, lets me iron if we're running late, writes me letters only one could dream of, and I can't go without saying > he shows me what it means to love your best friend.

- I am very thankful I was given the family I have. My parents are out-of-this-world amazing! They listen to my every word, support my actions, believe in my boldness, advise me when to step back, give me room to breathe financially, reply to my mass amount of emails (youtube clips, recipes, quotes, you name it), teach me lessons they've learned the hard way, won't let me fall, fly me home or pick me up when I'm homesick, purchased the life I like to call "mine" and above all love me!

- I am thankful for my friends! Whether one is reading a book with me, one journals with me, one cooks for me, one drinks coffee with me, one travels with me, one runs with me, one grew up with me, or one motivates me - In the end, they all are there for me!

-  I am thankful God created animals. Without having pets as a child, I'm not sure I would look at the world the way I do now. I hope to always be surrounded by love from a dog.

- I am thankful I have a personality that is influenced by others. I am thankful I want to learn from those who draw inspiration. I am thankful that while some people are cold, I am emotionally driven and don't stray far from people's needs/feelings.

- I am thankful for age/growth/maturity/wrinkles. I never want to look back on past years. I'm always looking ahead and with this I'm excited for future years. Give me 32, give me 102 ... I simply can't wait.

- I am thankful I have moved. I'm not sure what my life would look like if I didn't, but it's definitely a picture I'm glad was never painted. I have learned more about myself by packing up and saying goodbye than I knew was possible. I know what it means to be a friend, to make memories and to jump over (and maybe under) hurdles by testing out two new cities.

- I am thankful for nail polish, brooms and early bedtimes. When I want to relax, I paint my nails. I love looking down and seeing color. If my life seems to be dull, I'll realize my nails are painted clear. I enjoy cleaning, but I love sweeping. I don't like socks, which means I like walking barefoot = Together, this means I love clean floors. I am a morning person. I will never be night owl, nor do I care to be. I like going to bed early knowing the next day will hold all of my energy.

- And because I said this would be short and sweet, I am thankful for being me. I like everything I've learned up until now and the person I've become. I know my flaws, I know what I need to work on, and I know what is not worth my time. I know where I want to go and how I am going to get there. I love knowing wherever I'm headed or whatever I'm doing, I have the 8 things above with, by and forever supporting me.

Tres Month Update

This post has been a draft for 3 months. I apologize if it's short, boring and simply behind the times.


Here I am living, writing and breathing in the East. Say what? ‘Tis a true story. I met a guy (and not just any other guy), who quickly became my best friend. Our relationship began as pen pals, grew into visiting each other once a month over a year's time and now coincidentally enough I am living in his neck of the woods. I’ve dreamt about East coast livin’ (sorry Mamas & Papas) longer than I’ve known this guy, but of course nerves and miles away from home tend to play a larger role than I expected. I wanted to stay close, but have some room to spread my wings. As a result, I moved to Denver knowing I was a short flight from my mom’s hugs and Big City’s burritos. One state away, I was insured the challenges, but granted the gift of independence. Denver brought just that, challenge after challenge. Whether they were laugh-worthy or downright pathetic, I fought them and won. What would come next, is something I never thought I could do. I wasn’t sure when I would move on, but I did exactly one-year later. It struck earlier than my bank account could handle, but I picked a date, gave two-weeks notice, received help from my mum, packed up my room, cried uncontrollably, rented a u-haul and said my goodbyes. ugh.  


Three days of driving, close to 1, 700 miles and a prairie dog stop later, I made it to "Charm City." A the song goes, I’m just a small-town girl living in a lonely world. Okay, so Baltimore isn’t all that lonely. In fact it’s the opposite, but being further away from my parents, friends and “family” in Denver, I'm on a mission to make this city my new stomping grounds.  I wasn’t sure what my apartment held on the inside nor how I would pay my bills, but a few days later here I am loving the hardwood floors beneath my feet and fulfilling a dream working for Susan G. Komen for the Cure! Things work out for a reason and life falls into place when you least expect it. I’m now finding these words to be true.


I'm not sure why Mike and I met, I'm not sure why my youthful vision of living on the East is now out my bedroom window, and I'm not sure why gravity hasn't pulled me down ... yet. What I do know is I haven't been happier, I am feeling month-after-month as if I am "home" and to be honest gravity won't ever bring me down. 


I apologize if you were hoping for an elaborate, horse-drawn carriage type of update, but what I provided was what's important - 3-months of silence wasn't because I forgot, but simply waiting for the minute I could catch a breath of air from the glass half-full world spinning around me. 

Hon Image

Baby steps.

Please read the article from the link below, then read my rant. (Save yourself the trouble of ten pages and read the first five.)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/magazine/22Adulthood-t.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=magazine

My response -

We're trying to prove ourselves with the term those of a different generation, an older generation, define "adulthood." Unfortunately, we're underpaid and therefore can't afford to support ourselves, which contributes to why we are not in a rush to have babies and lean on the government. We don't have time to find a potential partner or dedicate the time we do have to the person we love, because we are struggling financially to support ourselves and seeking out various part-time jobs, which coincidentally enough takes up our time.


I think we're doing a-okay given the lack of trust we have in everything around us; We can't see a doctor or have our teeth examined. We have pathetic politicians who walk with a permanent red carpet. Society continues to highlight the equation between marriage resulting in divorce, but what about the spotlight on those who are happily married? We are told one offer when hired, but two weeks later when our first check is directly deposited we end up calling our parents for top ramen bucks. Our local "Serve and Protect" officers complain when "their city isn't what it used to be," but have the nerve to seek out a violation for overtime. We treat ourselves to dinner and drinks, but end up discussing how an expensive margarita at $7 will be $14 in no time.

Whatever it boils down to, we are a different generation from the minute we came into this world. We have grown up in a world where our TI-83's weren't quick enough, nanopets and furbies taught us responsibility, the ice cream man wasn't your friendly next door neighbor, but instead released from prison for child pornography, TV shows have become "reality," and to top it off we can't purchase our very first "Home Sweet Home" doormat, because our banks have failed us beyond belief. Our education system taught us more in 6th grade than we acquired from 4+ years in college. Internet and video games have become our teachers implementing the fundamental skills older generations have failed to provide (i.e. Sims = community development, Wii = focus on fitness, Sudoku = logic, Memory = enough said, World of Warcraft = noted for problem solving and reasoning skills, Second Life = social interactions because it's far too dangerous to play with kids in our neighborhoods, etc.). We're firmly encouraged to register when November rolls around, but what about encouraging us simple tasks such as using the register included in our checkbook?

I could go on about how we're unique and often greedy, but why? We've gained this image and mindset from our parents who "wanted to keep up with the Jones'." It's now our turn to want and dream of success. It might take us until we reach our mid-30's, but when given $20,000 a year for our worth, we aren't able to move out on our own, save or "achieve all five milestones."

Fork over some pesos and maybe you'll witness our very first steps into adulthood.

-Me

P.S. I know I need to update everyone on my life and all its changes...I promise I haven't forgot :)

Image taken from "Girls Just Wanna Have Funds"