Six More Weeks of Winter?

Y’all, how can there be any winter left after all this snow?  This is nonsense.  And why would anyone trust a groundhog to forecast the weather?

Anyway, hi, buddies!  I’ve been MIA without any decent excuse besides how busy and forgetful I am.  This isn’t news.  What is news, however, is that cable and internet are coming to an apartment near me next week.  Enjoy the next week of silence from me.  God knows y’all won’t have much more of that after next Tuesday.

Things are going well — very consistent, very stable, very normal.  All is well.  It’s been a busy month since I came back, but it’s good for me.  Y’all should know that I’m a huge proponent of keeping busy; I think it’s good for you.

In new-ish news, it’s official:  I live in Virginia.  I have license plates and a driver’s license to prove it.  It’s surreal.  I fully expected to lose my car in the parking lot after I changed the plates — not yet.  I suppose I was more prepared for such things than I thought I would be; it’s still weird.  Like, this is real.  There can be no more denying that I live in Small Town, USA.

I mention this a lot, I know, but it’s the truth:  Moving here was good for me.  It’s taken me a long time (almost seven months) to come to terms with the move and make peace with the decision.  The homesickness will never go away, and I will never stop wondering what would have happened or what my life would have been like had things worked out differently.  However, that wasn’t the plan.  God had something different in mind, and even though I had MAJOR doubts about how this would all shake out, it’s worked.  And I’m very happy.

The funny thing is that even though I’m further away from everyone I love, moving has provided much-needed perspective about a lot of the relationships in my life.  A lot of people promised they’d love me and still be my friend if I moved this far away; as it turns out, not everyone meant that.  And somehow, in an odd turn of events, this move has allowed me to get closer to people who are really important to me.  So many of the lessons I’ve learned have come about in an incredibly difficult and painful manner, but I’m really grateful for them.  It’s weird how the things that suck the most are often the things you learn the most from and end up needing the most.

So … that’s all I’ve got.  My brain hurts from Lost.

View from the Terminal

Three hours and forty-seven minutes of layover translate into one cross-airport search for purveyors of chicken biscuits (I’m not at all ashamed.), two phone calls, and at least one hour perusing social networking websites, courtesy of free wireless.  And the layover goes on, my friends.  My flight doesn’t start boarding for another hour and ten minutes.  Cheaper flights trump inconceivably long layovers.  Frugality sometimes trumps comfort and practicality — a weird thought considering frugality is usually hand-in-hand with practicality.

Anyway, here I am, holed up between a trash can and a pillar at the gate at Charlotte’s lovely airport.  My carry-on bag is being used as a makeshift desk, which is the second time tonight that this bag has doubled as something else besides a suitcase.  Shortly after arriving at the gate in Indianapolis, I noticed that there were no available seats at the gate.  (This is because people are rude.  When you see that there are still people arriving at the gate, I think it’s high time you realized that your purse doesn’t need its own seat.  Ahem.)  I wheeled my little suitcase into the aisle and used it as a chair.  Maybe a little inconvenient for those boarding before me, but so is being rude.  True story.

Oh, and speaking of rude, PEOPLE, you must learn to cover your mouths when you cough or sneeze.  Think about the transmission of swine flu!  The gentleman sitting next to me on the flight to Charlotte pretty much coughed into my Diet Coke on the plane.  Gross.

I wish I could tell you funny stories about the plane ride or being at the airport for so long.  Unfortunately, the only thing I can think about is how people dress badly when they travel.  And inappropriately.  I mean, if you’re coming back from Florida and ending up somewhere that respects the time-honored tradition of seasons, you might not want to be wearing shorts and sandals.  I’m just saying.  Also, dirty, holey sweatpants?  No.  Come on.

Oh, and I just thought about having two weeks of mail back at the apartment.  I’m trying not to be too excited or hopeful that I’ll have something good waiting for me, but I kind of hope I do.  Christmas, Part Deux would be lovely, but I imagine two weeks of mail will look more like junk mail mixed with ads.  Lame.

Also, here’s a fun fact for you:  No matter how old I am and how often I am forced to do it, I will never not cry when I say goodbye to my family.  If not crying at goodbyes makes you a good grown up, I will never be a good grown up.  And I will never apologize for that.

Okay, I’m freezing and going on a caffeine hunt.  Y’all stay warm and be good.

I Still Like Lists.

Sinus pressure is getting the best of me and my sleep habits, so here’s a new list!

1.  I want to paint something in my apartment.  I don’t suppose my landord would be pleased with that decision, but a girl can dream!

1b.  My family and I watched 500 Days of Summer a few days ago, and Tom, Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character, has a chalkboard wall in his bedroom.  (His headboard is drawn on it.  Charming!)  I was perusing Apartment Therapy last night, and they were talking about chalkboard walls.  Tempting but probably a bad idea for a studio apartment with one window.

2.  I want to learn to knit.  Surely it’s not that difficult to learn, is it?

3.  Somehow, I managed to pick the most inconvenient flights ever.  The first one had to be rescheduled, so I just told the lovely, incredibly helpful woman with the airline to put me on the first available flight on Sunday.  (First available, you say?  How’s 5:30 in the morning?)  This flight leaves at 5:30 in the evening … and has an almost four hour layover in Charlotte.

3b.  Have I mentioned how much I love Charlotte?  Seriously.  Y’all know I’m dead-set on moving back to Tennessee (Memphis, specifically), but with some convincing, I would consider moving to Charlotte.  It’s wonderful.  It’s beautiful and friendly and clean and has really good shopping, including Ikea.

3c.  Do you know how much torture it’s going to be if I have to be in Charlotte for four hours tomorrow without any opportunity to go to Ikea?  Cruel and unusual.

3d.  Did y’all know there’s a Bojangles in the Charlotte airport?  Guess who’s gonna have a chicken biscuit for dinner tomorrow?  This girl.

4.  Part of me is really ready to go back to Virginia and to get back to work.  The other part of me is not at all ready to leave.  I don’t want to stay in Indiana, mind you, but I wouldn’t mind just a little more time with my family.

5.  My parents are thinking about coming to visit for Easter.  Does this mean cooking Easter dinner is officially my responsibility?  Am I going to be hosting my first holiday meal?  Holy mac and cheese, that’s grown up.

Okay, that’s it.  I’m finally feeling less like my head is going to implode and more like I’m going to sleep peacefully.  Sleep well!

Happy New Year!

Hello from 2010!

I hope y’all had wonderful times celebrating the end of 2009.  We did it big at my parents’ house — Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, pajamas, and champagne.  It was really very glamorous, so please contain your jealousy.  That’s just our tradition:  We always watch Dick Clark, and I kind of hate being forced to watch Ryan Seacrest.  Isn’t there somebody else who could host?  What about Ellen DeGeneres?  How much fun would that be?

Anyway, I’m still sick and am in that sinus pressure, stuffed-up nose phase that, with any luck, is marking the end of this cold.  I fly back to Virginia tomorrow night, and I can’t imagine that being sniffly and stuffed up on an airplane is going to be much fun.  Work your magic, Sudafed Daytime.

So!  Let’s talk about 2009 for a second before we lay it to rest.  I like to refer to it as the worst year of my life, and truthfully, it probably was.  I seem to remember 2003 not being a picnic, BUT 2009 takes the cake.  However, despite the seemingly constant suckfest and wondering how/if I’d make it, lots of good things did happen.  And I’m grateful, really and truly, for everything that happened.  I made it, though, so 2009 can suck it.  Plus, things were taking a definite upswing toward the end, so that’s a positive sign, is it not?

(And although it didn’t seem like this for a long time, my new job is the best thing that happened in 2009.  I love everything about it — except that I had to move seven hours away from my old life, of course — and I’m very happy there.  But don’t tell my coworkers.  It’ll go to their heads.)

(And I mean that it didn’t seem like moving to Virginia and leaving everything was such a good idea when it happened, not that I didn’t like my job.  Not the case.  I’ve always loved my new job, and continuing working in admissions is a blessing.  Moving seven hours away?  Blessing in disguise, as it turns out.)

Anyway, that was MY best thing in 2009.  Does anyone have a best thing of 2009 to share?  I’m all ears.

I hope y’all have the happiest of  new years and decades this time around.  If your 2009 was fabulous, may your fabulousness continue into 2010 and BEYOND.  If your 2009 was like mine, don’t you worry:  I think 2010 will be wonderful.

I Like Lists.

A few things:

1.  I almost typed “I like Lost” as the title.  Both are true.

2.  My immune system is failing me, I think.  I used to go insanely long periods of time without getting sick, but it’s happened a few times this year.  I’m currently staving off a cold with Zicam, and let me tell you:  Zicam is disgusting.  The first one’s not so bad — much better than chewable, orange-flavored vitamins, that’s for certain — but after about fifteen of them, I’m over it.  Plus, you can’t eat or drink for at least fifteen minutes after you take it.  (If it’s citrus-based food or drink, you have to wait thirty minutes.  I think.)  Mad props to the creators of Zicam because this stuff does work quite well, but holy mac and cheese, can y’all maybe do something about the flavor?

3.  I woke up in the middle of the night with crazy sinus pressure.  It felt like someone kicked me in the face.  Should I be sleeping differently?  Maybe I need to keep my sinuses elevated.  Hm.

4.  I woke up this morning because I was dreaming that my parents were trying to replace me.  My subconscious is clearly trying to work out some deep-rooted psychological issues.  Maybe I’m not so well-adjusted for a middle child after all.  (Just kidding.  I’m super well-adjusted and normal for a middle child.  No Jan Brady syndrome here.)

5.  My sister and I went to the mall this afternoon, and I’m concerned about how high school aged girls are interpreting fashion these days.  Darling girls, leggings are NOT pants.  If you wear leggings, kindly remember that they’re more like tights.  Unless your mamas are okay with y’all dressing (and/or behaving) like Lady Gaga, I seriously doubt you’d go out of the house with tights and a shirt on.  Cover your butts, ladies.  Please.

5b.  I was in elementary and middle school in the 1990s.  It wasn’t a good time for fashion, so let’s don’t revisit, shall we?  I know you probably think it was, like, super awesome, but you were barely there.

5c.  If you’re still in high school, please don’t talk about how “totally wasted!” you’re going to get tomorrow night.  No, no, sugar.  That’s a crime.  For real.  For a lot of people, most seriously those who provided the alcohol for you.  Behave yourselves, enjoy the sparkling cider, and leave the champagne for the legal grown-ups, s’il vous plait.

6.  Don’t tell anyone, but I’m almost ready to go back to Virginia.  I miss being productive.  Also, I bought two new dresses today (I only spent $35 for the two of them, but I seriously have to invest in other articles of clothing at some point.), and I’m ready to show them off!  I’m a sucker for a compliment, particularly on my clothing choices, so … come on, Monday!

6b.  I’m going to miss my family a LOT when I leave.  I’ve gotten spoiled by having them around so much, and going cold turkey is going to suck.  Boo.  Stupid adulthood.

7.  I’m on the hunt for artwork for my apartment.  My walls have been empty for almost six months, and I fully intend on staying in my apartment for the next six months — Apartment-wise, 2010 already looks more promising than 2009. — and probably longer because the thought of moving again makes me want to vomit.  So!  Tell me where to find cheap artwork, please.

Okay, that’s it.  Bye.

Merry Christmas!

Did everyone have lovely Christmases?  Did you get what you wanted?  Personally, I’m more of a “‘Tis better to give than to receive” kind of girl, but there’s something kind of wonderful about getting Christmas presents, isn’t there?  I think it’s the idea of getting something coupled with being able to give gifts and the fact that everyone is doing the same thing.  Plus, I didn’t have much of a birthday this year (I may have mentioned being forced to spend it alone?), so it was nice to be able to spend some unwrapping time with my family.

This year seemed a little bittersweet, though.  My brother and sister are both graduating this May — from law school and college, respectively — and I know the week of Christmas togetherness is coming to an end.  “Everyone knows it sucks to grow up,” indeed, Ben Folds.

Anyway, Christmas was lovely.  Christmas dinner was hilarious.  We somehow managed to get on the subject of TLC’s I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant (Appropriate Christmas dinner conversation?), which none of us, excluding my sister, have seen.  My sister offered a basic overview of the show, and the entire conversation was completely ridiculous.  I laughed so hard it hurt — although I am pleased to report that my ribs don’t still hurt from it, unlike a recent laughing fit.  Oh, man.

Also, in an unfortunate display of my lack of coordination and ability to break anything, I dropped my cell phone down the stairs on Christmas Eve.  Two bounces and a snap later, I am in possession of two very distinct pieces of cell phone.  Fortunately, this is the sort of thing that has happened to me before (and truly the sort of thing that can happen to anyone), so fewer tears were shed this time around.  Also, my dad saves old cell phones for these occasions, so all’s well that ends well … except I may or may not have forgotten to save all my phone numbers to the SIM card.  Awesome!  And then I got all of these lovely “Merry Christmas” text messages from people, and I had to respond with, “I broke my phone in half and lost all my phone numbers.  Who is this?”  Nice.

On the bright side, this phone has sudoku and Bubble Breaker on it, so I think we know how I’ll be passing time on that awful layover in Charlotte next Saturday …

Merry Christmas again — may your days be merry and bright :).

I’m a Terrible Blogger.

Blah, blah, blah.  I’m apparently irresponsible and forgetful.  Honestly, the forgetfulness probably would have ensued had I not watched Julie and Julia this past weekend.  I couldn’t help thinking that Julie Powell was much more devoted to her blogging than I could ever be; maybe it’s because her blog has a clear theme and vision whereas mine is just me telling you that work is fabulous and I’m boring.

(PS:  Work is fabulous, and I am boring.  However, things have happened, and I will share them with you in due time.)

Anyway, I’m on Christmas break.  Getting to Indianapolis ended up being quite the process, thanks to heavy snow.  Despite the mini-breakdown I may or may not have had in my office, getting a foot of snow and subsequently rearranging my travel plans ended being wonderful.  This past weekend made me feel like moving to Virginia wasn’t the most horrible thing in the world; in fact, I’m a pretty lucky girl and have found myself surrounded by some fabulous people who make me laugh quite a lot.  As far as happy accidents go, this is the best.

I think my whole experience in Virginia (thus far) can be chalked up to one big happy accident.  This year has often seemed interminable, which has led to me thinking — on an unforutnately regular basis, “When is this going to be over?”  On the bright side, this year has brought many a pleasant surprise, and the last part of the year, though certainly not without problems, was significantly better than the first.  Not that it takes much to be an improvement, mind you, but it was an improvement nevertheless.

Maybe I should do a lovely recap of the year for all of you.  Maybe I will.  I won’t promise anything because I am clearly unsuccessful at following through these days.  I smell a New Year’s Resolution a-brewin’.

Anyway, I do promise to update more over break.  I have plenty of stories for y’all — some old, some new, some detailing what I got for Christmas, perhaps the return of Crush of the Week.  We’ll see.

Many thanks for your patience and for the two or three of you who still wind up here every day.  I love you.

One Month and One Day Later …

I’m back!

In the month and a day that has passed, travel season has ended — kind of sad, really — and I’m back in the office full-time for … a long time.  Spring has a much lower amount of travel.  I think I’m okay with that; maybe the restlessness I felt in Jackson was because my office was less wonderful than the one in Virginia.

Anyway, no, I still haven’t called the cable and internet company.  Somehow, the thought escapes me while I’m actually able to call.  I doubt anyone there is waiting for my phone call at eight at night.  I promise I will, though.  I think it might be nice to be able to watch something on TV in the comfort of my own apartment.  It’s the little things, right?

Moving on:  Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope your days were wonderful and filled with family and friends and food and everything else that’s lovely about the holidays.  Also, I hope that you found some sweet deals during Black Friday — that is, if you chose to brave the crowds and early morning crazy.

I think I’m going to load everyone up with a couple of entries over the next two days.  I’ve got to head back to Virginia at some point tomorrow, but before I go, I promise I’ll write something substantial.  Until then, though, I need some advice!  Don’t you want to help?  Doesn’t helping someone out put you in the holiday spirit?

Okay, here goes:  I have two weeks off for Christmas.  (Hooray for working in higher education … and using vacation days.)  Since moving, I’ve felt like the child of divorced parents because I have to split long weekends and breaks between Jackson and Indianapolis; because I have a little bit more time, I can, in theory, spend time in both places, but I don’t know how to make that work.

Here are the options:

1.  Fly to Indianapolis after my last day of work and spend the whole break with my family and (like, two) friends in Indianapolis; plan a visit to Jackson/Memphis another weekend when I am bound to see (mostly) everyone
2.  Fly to Indianapolis after my last day of work and spend a week and half-ish with my family and (like, two) friends in Indianapolis; fly back to Virginia, rent a car, and drive to Tennessee for New Year’s weekend
3.  Fly to Indianapolis after my last day of work and spend a week and half-ish with my family and (like, two ) friends in Indianapolis; fly back to Virginia; convince friends to come visit me!

Help, please!

And It’s Even on the Right Day!

Happy Crush of the Week Day!

This crush is way more than a flavor-of-the-week type of situation.  During my senior year of college, in a really roundabout kind of way, I discovered the glory that is Will Hoge.  He is quite possibly one of the greatest musicians ever to grace this earth, and I hardcore love him.  I’m not even kidding.

Will is one of the hardest working musicians in the industry, not to mention insanely, unbelievably, unfairly talented.  He writes some of the most genuine songs I’ve ever heard — songs that will hit a little too close to home, songs that will make you cry hysterically, you name it.  Plus, he shares so much of the process with his fans.  His website is full of updates from the studio and from the road, so you really know what Will’s up to.  As an added bonus, his updates are often pretty funny and make me feel vindicated for hating mayonnaise.

Oh, and he’s also pretty much a super badass.  (Sorry for the langauage, Mama and Daddy, but there’s no other way to put it.)  Will was in a serious accident earlier this year, but he got better, got back to the studio, and got my heart, lock, stock, and barrel for creating my favorite album of 2009: The Wreckage.  Please do yourselves a favor and download that on iTunes.  (Or you can listen to it on his website, but you’re going to want to buy it.)  It is magnificent.

Now that y’all know who I have a crush on this week (and for always), let me tell y’all a few people I don’t like:

- Creeper high school students who think it’s acceptable to ask an employee of a college if “partying” is a major
- Creeper high school students who spend a little too much time reading my nametag (I know what you’re doing.  Stop it.)
- Creeper high school students who make fun of the way I talk (Of all places to be told my accent was “country,” how in the world would it be rural West Virginia?)

Occupational hazards, all of them.

Two for One

Here are your two crushes of the week — a day late, yes, but crushes of the week nonetheless.

First up, we have Joseph Gordon-Levitt.  Did y’all see 500 Days of Summer?  Who would have thought that the quirky little kid from Third Rock from the Sun would turn out to be both extremely talented and adorable?  (The adorable part we might have guessed.  He was a pretty cute kid, long hair and all.)  500 Days of Summer is quirky and real and lovely, and Joseph’s performance in it is fabulous in a bless-your-heart-you-poor-thing kind of way.  He made me want to crawl inside the movie and give him a hug; besides wanting to put you in my pocket, that’s one of the highest compliments I can give, so there’s that.  Oh, and let’s not forget this:  Any man who can dance is great, but any man who can and will perform a choreographed dance routine to Hall and Oates is downright wonderful.

Second up, there’s Jon Hamm.  As a Mad Men fan, this one’s a no-brainer.  Don Draper isn’t really my type, what with all the womanizing and sketchy past.  However, an older episode of The Tonight Show was on last night, and Jon Hamm was a guest, and I LOVED it.  Jon is absolutely hilarious — He did a great job hosting Saturday Night Live, too, if I remember correctly. — and he seems so normal and well-adjusted.  And if there’s anything anyone in Hollywood should aspire to be, it should be normal and well-adjusted.  Way to be ahead of the game, Jon Hamm.