Ahhh moving: boxes, backaches, books, and big pieces of furniture.  Never really a picnic.

I have a special distaste for moving – mainly because I have a bizarre combination of both a nomadic nature & a hoarding nature.  This means I carry a lot of random s*%t everywhere.  Remember the classic 80s movie featuring David Bowie, The Labyrinth?  I’m kinda like that scare bag lady that has lots of stuff on her back.  Scary.

In addition to large quantities of essentially useless things (and I swear I try frequently to simplify) I have ridiculous amounts of the following three things: 1) clothes.  2) BOOKS.  3) antique furniture.  As for the clothes…no big deal.  The antique furniture…usually not heavy, but awkward and tricky to move (especially with the fear that if I break or scratch it – anymore than I already have – my mom might kill me).  Now the books…

I don’t think you understand the sheer quantity.  They filled up the entire floor of the living room.

So, needless to say, I had a little bit of anxiety about moving.  For one thing, I work two jobs…when in the world was I going to pack?  Luckily my stellar roommate, Carley, assisted me a lot with this.  And since we weren’t going far, a lot of stuff we literally loaded into a shopping cart and trekked across the parking lot (in the rain).  Perhaps not the most efficient means, but certainly sufficient.

But despite all of the above hindrances, and despite all of my anxieties about moving, we succeeded!  Granted, it took about eight hours because we hadn’t really completely packed, as mentioned above.  Still, we had a lot of help (my baby brother even drove down to give us a hand – since he is a giant…) and we managed to get everything done without any major mishaps!

Despite remaining within the same complex and not going too far, our apartment feels completely novel   We LOVE it.  It’s amazing.  And you should come visit.  In addition to being absurdly large (I have a walk-in closet!!!) it’s in a more accessible location that is shaded by trees and next to the laundry facilities – even tho I have a washer/dryer hook-up inside the closet   So we’re pretty happy.  We did run into a few maintenance-worthy problems upon our move-in

Home Improvement

(see how we jerry-rigged the toilet to work?)but those have all been taken care of less than a week later!  And everything is unpacked & decorated…minus Carley’s room, but that’s because she recently graduated from college and thus has her possessions scattered to the four winds.  But this too shall shortly pass as we continue to settle in.

Speaking of settling in, here are couple of pictures to give you an idea of what we’re working with…but you should just come see it in person!

SPACE!

Magic happening?

I freaking love my bathroom.

So.  It’s July.  And tomorrow (the 14th) is my two year mark at work.

To celebrate, I got to lead team today.  Woo.  Hoo.

After this, Lauren and I decided to get a sandwich.  Downtown.  Naturally, we rode together.  In her car.  And naturally, as it looked like rain, I first rolled up the windows in my car.  Fast forward an hour and a half and…I’m back at my car.

And I realize I have locked my keys in the car.

And my car is running.

And has been running for 1.5hours.

And the gas tank had been on E right before I got to work anyway.

So, I call Triple A.  And since TCH is a confusing campus in which it is difficult to provide directions, I offer to walk to the entrance to meet him.  So I’m walking and texting Carley the lamentable condition of my morning while I’m cutting through a field.  Halfway through the field, I stop: I am walking through a straight-up minefield of bees.  Literally, easily over a hundred of them.  Swarming.  And I am walking.  In flip flops.  And I’m in the middle of the field, so I couldn’t exactly turn around.

But, I made it.  Maybe while mildly hyperventilating the whole time about the distinct possibility that one bee could sting me, causing a few dozen more to sting me until we’re in a situation quite similar to the tragic ending of My Girl.  It’s not like I’m *afraid* of bees, but there is something about feeling 30+ bee wings brush my skin and watching every footstep for approximately six yards that will inspire a gentle panic…

So anyway, eventually, the guy pops my door open.  La di da fixity fix.  But, now I’m out of gas.  So I call Carley up and proposition her for an adventure.  An adventure in which we go to the gas station, purchase a little gallon can, and fill it with gas.  And then try to get the gas in my car…

Which, needless to say, did not go well.

Carley and I still smell like gasoline.  I may have spilled some on each of us.  Repeatedly.  Maybe.

PS book review post coming soon!

Well dear ones, summer is officially here…which is pretty unbelievable.  I’m pretty sure it was only a few weeks ago I was wearing sweaters and knit caps.  But, I can’t ignore the signs any longer.  Aside from Sister Dearest’s charming blog post about the season, there are quite a few of those signs.  Probably my favorite is simply the smell of night summer air while driving.  It’s so North Carolina – one of the reasons I love NC.

Plus, the POOL is open!  Which means it’s tanning/swimming season (depending on how active you’re feeling).  Before you get started telling me all of the horrible things about tanning, relax…I know all of them.  But, I love Vitamin D.  A lot.  Plus, pale is really not my color.  It’s unfortunate.

So, I’m doing my best to enjoy the summer atmosphere – times of wine, margaritas, swimsuits, pools, Mexican food, dance music, tank tops, nail polish, flip flops, reading, iced coffee, etc etc.  But unfortunately, I only get to participate in the summer fun intermittently as I’m working my a$$ off.  But that’s actually ok – I really like the waitressing job folks.  And I REALLY like having a little extra pocket money (that I should be saving for graduate school…).  Still, I’m looking forward to VACATION NEXT WEEK!  3 days in Florida, 6 in Pittsburgh with small children.  Should be epic.

In the meantime, I apologize for the inconsistencies on my blog(s).  I’m just working a lot.  And that doesn’t really provide very good fodder for blog posts…also, it kind of leaves me somewhat incoherent and unable to string thoughts together.  Oops.  But, despite the busyness of this season, I would love to hear from you at any point in time   So don’t hesitate to call!

So, a few things have been crossed off the list, which is very exciting.  But somewhat disappointing is how many things I had In Progress that I have had to admit that I have not been keeping in progress – i.e., #55, tithing.  This is one of those I need to pick back up, among others.  I would maintain some of them for a month or even close to 2, but then would completely get out of the habit.  So, gotta start over!  However, to stay positive, these are the newly completed goals!  And actually, a fair number of these were goals I had to maintain for 2 months and feel as tho I have since achieved   So, here’s the update; bear with me as some of this stuff happened awhile ago, but I’m just filling you in! (For a reference, check out the entire 101 in 1001 list!)

#16: Throw a Christmas Party at some point for friends - So yeah.  This happened this past December.  I threw a Tacky Sweater Christmas party.  Now, it should have been an extraordinarily fabulous party, but there was a snowstorm.  So it was simply fabulous.  While attendance was down due to the weather, we still had a great time and wore some TACKY sweaters and ate some delicious food & had great drinks   Even the preparations for the party were fun, and I’m all for holiday parties on a regular basis!

#26: Get into a graduate school program – PRAISE GOD HALLELUJAH THIS HAPPENED THIS YEAR.  Third time’s the charm?  More likely, God is infinitely wiser than I am in His timing and more accurate in assessing my motivations.  Be that as it may, I have been accepted to Wake Forest’s M.A. in Counseling program, which I am THRILLED about.  Classes start in August.  I’m ridiculously excited.  Hallelujah.

#35: Take on my own car payments – Soooooo this is a less positive achievement, but nevertheless one that needs to be crossed off.  Instead of taking on my car payments when I was financially ready in order to achieve a new level of fiscal responsibility and ease my parents’ burdens…I totaled my car last September.  So the insurance paid off my car and gave me some extra $ and my parents were kind enough to loan me my father’s old car, which has no car payments as it is paid off.  So, I have no car payments to make at the moment, but rest assured that whenever this car gives out (which please dear Lord let it last through grad school) I will be taking on the new car payments of the next car…

#53: Begin writing a novel – Why is this one that it’s embarrassing to say I can check off?  Perhaps because you’ll note this is cleverly worded so as to say “Begin writing” and not “Complete” or “Publish”, and really anyone can begin anything.  So it feels a little bit like cheating.  But still, in my efforts to begin writing creatively again and pushing myself, I’m pretty pleased with even achieving a beginning   It’s not a novel proper as it’s not fiction, but it is going to be wonderful (even if only read by me!).  It’s going to be about the exciting life & times I’ve had as an RC.  Yes.  Epic.

#58: Do something alone and just for myself once a week – I have become SO MUCH BETTER at this!  And I love it.  Sometimes it’s nothing more than writing in my journal, or sitting on my balcony in silence, or lighting candles in the apt, or driving to B&N to drool, or taking a bath.  Sometimes it’s a massage or an (at home) pedicure or turning off my phone & computer super early or what have you.  I do wish that more often it was running or yoga or going to the gym, but alas…baby steps   It is so crucial for me to have my time by myself, and I’m finally getting into the habit of taking it…whenever I can lol.  Really helps with the burnout.

#65: Improve wardrobe and MAINTAIN dressing nicely on a daily basis – Again, this is one goal that implores you to be patient with my baby steps.  But this I mean a) stop wearing graphic t-shirts from high school and college on a daily basis (achieved)   b) don’t dress like one of my teenage cls every day of the week (achieved)  c) actually wear make-up and put effort into my hair/jewelry from time to time  d) wear things that are flattering.  However, this does have to be balanced against the fact that I work 5 days a week and can’t wear anything that is revealing, or that I will care if it is ripped or stained with either manure or bleach.  Also dresses & skirts are completely off-limits for work.  BUT, even within the strictures of my necessary work clothes, I feel as tho I have come a LONG way on this goal since I incorporated it into my 101.  I do make an effort!  Hurray!  Of course, I still have days where only a my ‘These clothes are good enough to drink in” t-shirt will do (oops can’t wear that one to work either tho…role model!)

#66 – Explore the shoe world and obtain some nice shoes – Again, this is one in which you have to bear with me.  My shoes have greatly improved.  And I have a variety of way nicer ones than I ever have.  But this by no means implies I have truly become a shoe connoisseur, largely because I have a troubled past in the fashion world as a whole, and specifically in the shoe world.  I truthfully was not aware of my accurate shoe size until literally three years ago.  So, I have come a long way   Also, again, this goal is hindered by not only my precarious financial situation, but also by the requirements my job places on my wardrobe.  Le sigh.  One day I’ll get to look nice at work…one day…

#81 Start and MAINTAIN washing dishes by hand more often than using the dishwasher to preserve the quality of the dishes – Kind of an anti-climactic note to end on, but yes!  I have done a much better job of this!  Usually only with pots & pans, but those were the ones I was most concerned about to begin with.  Pretty straightforward.  The end.

And there you have it…I’ve noticed that I seem to be having a somewhat difficult time crossing off those items in the “Just for Fun” category…hopefully in the near future I can work on those…

PS Book review post coming SOON!