Ass Back Home

Open this to listen to while you read :)  I really want to learn how to sign this whole song, but they rap to fast!

I have a job interview July 16th in Charleston, SC, and another one lined up for sometime that week :) It is for a high school math teacher, which is what I originally went to school for.  A regular Ed classroom though.  I really want to teach in sign language, to awesome deaf kids, but I guess that will have to wait.  Its more important for me to get my foot in the door, get in the district, and then search out the job I want for next year.  What they do in most districts is take all of the applications for teachers that are already working in the district and need to be moved around, or want to be moved around first, and interview them for all available positions.  Then they start considering new applicants.  Since I am a new applicant, new teacher, and do not have my SC license, I am the last on the list.  Luckily this place seems to really need math teachers.  So I have to do a damn good job this year, and hopefully will be a shoo in for an inclusive deaf classroom next year.

I have been emailing people about apartments like crazy.  Its not so expensive to live down there, so hopefully food wont be either! I originally wanted to live alone, but I think it would be better for me to live with some girls (pray for drama free and clean) to be able to make friends faster and not get super lonely.  I think it would be awesome to be able to walk around in just a towel and cook in my underwear, but that will just have to wait til later! I'm excited though because I know I am going to have a blast down there, and get to walk the beach again.

I start today at Hapa Sushi.  I'm actually really nervous.  I laid out my clothes/uniform last night and have everything ready to go.  I train for a whole week at all of the different positions and have to take a super long test at the end! Crazy! They give you a blank menu and you have to write all the names and ingredients down! Its like 5 pages! And you have to know the Japanese for a lot of it too!! I have to work 3 doubles this week and then one more on Sunday and then I take the test.  I'll only be working there for a little over a month, so this will be interesting! I hope I make some good money though, I am pretty darn broke right now.

So last night Sam and Chelsea left me home alone while they went to Jazz in the park (my stupid dumb ass back hurt so I didn't go).  What happens when you leave Anna home alone? She cuts her own bangs.  Now I had side swept bang things that I used to cut myself in college, and they were cool and all, but I always looked so young and kinda snotty. haha I think I had normal bangs when I was super little, and I probably cut those myself too... Well, I decided I needed to do something new on Saturday, had to make a change to help me deal with other stuff, and bangs was the answer! I watched a youtube video and then cut away.  Now my hair looks even white/blonder, making me look even more like a tow head :)

Mission Impossible *A Two week trip to the Rocky Mountain, Grand Canyon, Arches, and Back*

So about 2 weeks ago Keysa and I left to start our adventure, and her vacation time. The first stop we made was in Rocky Mountain National Park.  We set up camp and quickly realized that our tent had no poles, so we rigged it up to a tree in our site.  We met two awesome guys who were camping near by, and ended up giving us the rope to secure our tent. We hung out at their site drinking some beers and talking about life.  One was a firefighter and just the right age for Keysa, and I tried to hook them up, but you can only do so much being the youngest. Its not my fault he didn't utilize the fact that I gave him her number!

We stayed for a night and did a sweet hike on the bear lake trail up to about 12,000 feet where there was lots of snow.  The original plan was so to hike Greys and Torreys the next morning, but at 14,000 feet at the peak it would be way too cold! And snowy! So we changed direction and decided to drive to some Hot Springs, on recommendation of the firefighter.
We rolled into Hot Sulfur Springs and realized very quickly that it was one of the sketchiest places we had ever been to.  The springs were basically straight out of the 70's and clothing was optional after 9 pm.  It also was like $18 just to get in, so we thought maybe we would just set up camp instead. We couldn't figure out where to pay and went to ask a fellow camper. Creepiest man ever, the first words out of his mouth were "Sexy Legs..." Eww  He was holding a glass of "orange juice" and had a monstrous beer belly.  We escaped from there pretty quickly, and headed for Steamboat Colorado where there are even better hot springs.  We managed to find a sweet campground with a fox that kept walking through our site and didn't have to pay.
We went to the Strawberry Fields Springs the next day, and were accompanied only by old people, asians, and couples.  Quite the experience.  At least we got to get our hair wet, it had been 3 days... 10,500 feet definitely gets to you after a little while and starts to make you feel funny, so we started on our way back to Boulder and got to Kate's by 9.  Perfect timing.
I went to the Bon Iver and Feist concert on Thursday night, which was totally amazing.  Bottles of wine in the parking lot with Heather and Jen, it was a great experience at Red Rocks.
We left the next morning for the Canyon. We stopped to get a real tent from Dave's parents house, this one had poles. Then stopped in C Springs to see Alec who just arrived! YAY.  Now for a 12 hour trip... We tried to find camping that night, but every where we stopped was super ghetto or creepy.  We ended up sleeping in a Walmart parking lot in Durango, not so bad.  We debated setting up the tent, but decided that may not be safe enough.
Saturday we started early after a brief stop at a coffee shop, and me launching one of our coffees off my trunk.  We made it to four corners, which connects Colorado, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico at about 11, and had a blast there.  I think most people just stop in, but we stayed there for a while taking pictures, meeting sweet old guys (one was a bio teacher for 16 years and then up and quit to move to Denver because he had had enough!), doing a 4 Corners WOD, and buying sweet jewelry.  Four corners was definitely a great experience.

An Elk waiting for the mens bathroom!

We made our way to the Canyon which was only about 3 hours further.  Its so wonderful  and breath taking there.  My favorite part was how quiet it was at our campsite even though there are so many other people around.  Its like everyone just knows to be quiet.  We did the Hermits Rest hike which was about 5 miles total to the springs we went to and back.  And in the morning went and got backcountry permits to go down into the canyon along with a campsite.  We met two guys on the bus back to our campground, and that night ended up staying up way to late with them laughing around the fire and hula hooping/jump roping under the full moon.

We had to be up at 5 to start our hike into the canyon so we could catch the right bus to the trail and get some distance before the sun became too strong.  We should have woken up at 4... The difference in degrees was about 30 degrees more from the top of the canyon down into the middle.  Holy Lord I was sweating my butt off.  We finally made the 7.1 mile down the South Kiabab Trail hike down to our campsite after about 5 1/2 hours, and a little bit of rest.  It was so ridiculously hot at the camp, about 114, and all I wanted to do was sleep.  I laid down in the tent on my sleeping bag and basically just sweated on it for hours and got a bit of rest. Then I laid in my hammock and tried to read, but finally fell asleep for a while. Keysa hung out in the freezing cold stream, brilliant idea.  When I woke up I sat down in it and dunked my head in and it felt so good! I just continuously got my hair wet for the rest of the day and after a dinner of tuna and avocado we finally fell asleep.
We woke up at 4, an hour late, packed up, and headed out of the canyon.  We wanted to get as far as we could up the 9 mile Bright Angle Trail before the sun came on to strong at 5:30.  We granny shuffled our butts up the trail for a full 7 hours, and finally reached the top when it was still morning. We got our heads wet the whole way up, so at least we looked presentable, we were on day 5 of not showering... We had the car packed already and ready to go, so we headed out for Arches National Park. Keysa slept the 6 hour drive up, while I listened to a book on cd and surveyed the beautiful scenery.
We got an awesome campsite near the water, and paid $12 for two nights. Wednesday morning we woke up, hit up the central market, bought some steak, shrimp, vegetables, and post cards. We used the parking lot for our own personal training room, and were photographed by a sketchy guy who told us we were "sexy". Yikes!  We kept our food super cold all day in the truck by wrapping it with blankets like my mom taught me.

Cool Cool! Again!

Arches National Park is amazing. We did a great 4 mile loop hike to see the Double O Arch and climbed on top of it to form our own arch doing back bends. I was doing for a picture with Keysa and these Asians saw me and yelled "Cool Cool! Again!" So I made Keysa do it with me so we could get a great picture!  That night at our campsite we met two guys from Boston.  Two super tall guys, one was 6' 3" the other was 6' 7"! After we made dinner we went over to hang out with them and sat around the fire for hours laughing and making them talk in their "library voices".
The next morning they came over for breakfast and we had a gigantic feast of left over steak, eggs, and bacon.  The bacon destroyed the pan that the boys brought, so we didn't actually end up eating it. We went to wash off our dishes in the stream and found this fantastic wall of rock that had old petroglyphs on it.  Sadly a bunch of stupid kids had carved some of their own initials into it also. The sign explained that back in the day, to get to higher ground, the men would put logs into a large crack in the wall in a diagonal pattern and use them to climb up.  Well this 5 foot deep, 50 feet tall crack that we found with logs in it seemed possible to climb up and it was obvious that others had done it before us.  We had the boys go first, with Keysa third, and me pulling up in the rear.  One of the logs I needed to reach didn't have anywhere for me to put my feet so I actually did a full muscle up to get up onto it! Super sweet.  At the top, the very last one, I pulled myself up, and got my feet up there, but was off balance with my big booty sticking to far out behind me. I started falling backwards, and in one of the absolute scariest moments of my life thought I might not make it. Out of no where, Jim stuck out his hand and grabbed mine and pulled me up.  I couldn't believe it, my heart was super pumping.  The way back down was very intense also.  I went second to map out a path for keysa, and was definitely in some very scary and sketchy positions at moments.  I made it with Matt, the super tall one, giving me a hand.  We walked back to the car and said good bye to our new adventurous friends, as they were headed to Yosemite, and we were headed home.











 What seemed like an impossible mission, traveling all over the place in two weeks, sustaining, not fighting, having a blast, and making WHAT?!?! poses all over the place turned out to be a blast.  I'm so glad Keysa flew out to travel with me.  And that I made enough money bartending at Bob's to finance myself. It was super fun, and I hope more people have the chance to camp in random areas, and hike down into the Grand Canyon with super heavy packs on their backs and not enough sleep :)

Blogging from Steamboat

Keysa and I are in Steamboat Springs Colorado. We slept in a tent for the second night in a row and froze our butts off!! We went to Strawberry Park Hot Springs this morning and are now enjoying coffee together in the sun:)

Taking a break from the Social Scene

I've been told and have noticed myself that my activity on facebook has become to lengthy.  Why look, its 7 pm on a Friday and I'm on my laptop.What is this?!?! A catastrophe is what!! Therefore a break from facebook is what I will have, and I will enjoy it :)

 I just went for a long walk with Sammy and Scarlet in the stroller to check out an apartment to sublet for the summer.  It was cheap, and cute and small, but smelled! So, no apartment for Anna.  That was a clear sign that I should just stay here for the summer. A big, clean, non-smelly apartment for me to sleep in, and perhaps set up a bed out on the porch. It should hopefully be nice and peaceful and give me tons of time to think clearly and concisely. Even look out at the stars. 

I think tonight I am going to go out to Wash park, or up onto the roof.  Chelsea should be home with her family later, so maybe we will even go out to downtown Denver. Still not sure.

I found out today that my New York State Teaching License will transfer to South Carolina.  That's pretty dang awesome.  I just gotta fill out some lengthy application and then pay a small fee (instead of taking 4 tests that each cost 100$) and get fingerprinted and an FBI check.  Way easier than what I thought I was supposed to do.  I'm really excited about moving down there.  I'm glad that my plans after undergrad of moving to one of the Carolina's to get my masters is finally coming true. Except that I already have my masters, so that makes it way better! No more homework for Anna! Except when I have to assign it to my students and then grade it... But that's high school level math.  No big deal. I can't wait to play beach volleyball! There's a lot that I'm excited about.  If I go to Wash park right now I could probably jump in a volleyball game, that's a good idea. 

Back on track

I just read someone's facebook status that said "Life never asked me what I wanted."

Really? It is supposed to ask you? Like "Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to get this job that you're applying for?"  I feel like Life would have a deep but creepy voice. hmmm  I don't know about this status though.  If you want something you should go get it.  Move to a new place for it.  Try harder to get it. Play harder.  Work harder.  Want to be in shape? You have to work at it! Everyday! Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Consciously decide to not have extra snacks before bed... everyday. Once in a while may be necessary for sanity purposes.  I don't know, I've worked so hard I have never even thought about asking Life for what I want.  Well not true, yesterday I was walking with Ava and it started to drizzle. We were still on the other side of the park and I basically begged for the rain to not come.  We got lucky and it held off til later.  Ava had just finally fallen asleep, and I would have been so sad to see her get wet with cold rain.

I think its different with religion, and praying, and talking with your chosen "higher power". Now while currently I do not have a higher power of choice, and I don't pray so often, and church is not in my realm of weekly actions, I still know that religion may have some insight into Life taking into consideration what you want.  I learned that whatever is supposed to happen to you will, and if you are a good person, do good things, make tons of sacrifices, don't eat an hour before mass, no meat on Fridays, say your prayers before dinner, and always put others before yourself, then Life will work out in your favor.  Now, I haven't quite seen that work out successfully for anyone yet, but its what I was taught.  I like the idea of asking for things that you want, and saying thanks for them before they are even there. Being grateful for what you do not even have yet, and then unexpectedly they may turn up without you realizing it. I like that idea.  But Life is just supposed to ask you what you want? No way! You need to do the work and put in the effort.  Make it happen.

It turns out for the Charleston County school district that I have to reapply. By tomorrow. But they should have about 100 job openings next week, so I am pretty pumped about that!

*The Mile High City*

I am now a part of Denver and therefore a part of this mile high city.  Aside from learning what it really was that was making me so upset last week, I have accomplished a great deal since I have gotten here.  I am now the newest server at Hapa Sushi in Greenwood Village. Its a sushi bar, and is very nice, modern, and sophisticated. Its right near the Denver Tech Center, so my guess is there should be some people who actually are making some money coming in to tip me! Its also right next to an Irish Pub. Perfect.  This will be a new a fun experience, and hopefully I get to eat lots of good sushi all summer! That's the big hope, save money on food :)

The best thing that has happened to me so far is going up to the roof of Sam's apartment.  Sam and Chelsea have been letting me stay on their couch for the last week, and I have loved every second of it.  It is so nice to be able to hang out with Sam all the time again, its like we haven't missed a beat. We've already gone on 2 runs this week, and she is even pushing me! Its amazing. Monday we went onto the roof of her apartment after our run, and did a mini crossfit workout.  Push ups, squats, and jump rope; all while looking out to the mountains which were beaming because the sun was almost completely down.  Chelsea is right, she and I are quickly also becoming two very good friends, she even said she is going to be super sad when I leave!

Back to the roof.  Oh my gosh its amazing. Romantic dinner amazing. Dance party amazing. Star gazing amazing.  The first time I went up there was last Wednesday after my semi major break down.  Sammy and I just sat up there, talked it out, and looked out into a much bigger world than just the two of us.  Its so important to remember that there is so much else out there, you are just one small piece in the equation.

We also went up there to watch the eclipse.  Watching three good friends and a small baby smile away while dancing to MGMT really made a lasting impression.  Chelsea yelled out over the other apartments "I love this!!!" and its right.  Look where we are in the world, its priceless.

I'm trying my best to keep my things out of the way, and work on not hurting other peoples feelings.  What is up with feelings? And emotions?  It seems like people don't so much mind anymore about other people and just think a lot more about themselves.  A lot more about what will make things more convenient for them, or so they can have a better time.

For example, text messages. Now I remember the exact moment in the car on John Carl Road when my brother Andrew told me 'He will never get into the texting phenomena'. "I just dont get it" he said, "Why is it so hard to just pick up the phone and call someone.  If I want to talk to them, I would just call." He retracts that statement now that he sees how important and vital texting is in the 21st century, but still, why is calling so hard? Or just taking the 5.6 seconds that it takes to send a text message? (that is an average calculation, but I timed a bunch of my messages and this was the mean time). Its so hard when you are waiting for someone to call you back, about information for a party, directions, or plans for the evening, and you just hear nothing.  Or maybe you want to say good night to a certain someone, so you shoot them a text, and even still in the morning there is still no response.  I don't get it, it only takes a few seconds to make someone else feel better and more secure. Enough about my own personal problems. the root of the equation is coming.

Last night I was sent a text that an excellent girl friend needed girl advice.  I jumped on the phone and called her ass back. He told her to text while he was away on a business trip, so she did, and 4 days later still no response.  4 DAYS! Geez and I'm worried about 1 day.  I told her to punch him, but that didn't seem like the best solution. What does this mean, this no response method? His phone broke? He really doesn't have time? (cough bull shit) He is taking the easy way out and not talking to her in hopes that she'll go away? (grow some balls dude!) What the heck? It takes two seconds to text!  I like how she put it though, "I am needy and I know that, and I am very up front about it" Damn, good point. Girls are needy. Most anyway. Sometimes you just need a freakin text! "Hey I'm real busy today, but that doesn't mean I'm not thinking about you.  Have a great day and I'll call you when I get the chance"  I've sent messages like that. wow 7 seconds to type that. I'm messing with my average here.

Anyway.  This mile high city is amazing and has amazing people in it.  I have already added to my list of excellent friends.  New girl friends that will stay with me for a life time.  There are more adventures to come, and less stress to follow.

Sometimes you just know

Its funny hearing my dad say that to me on the phone, 1800 miles away, sitting in his office in NY, in between yelling at the dogs to stay in the yard. I can picture when my mom knew, sitting in a dorm room at RIT, my dad playing a sweet tune on his bass, and my mom feeding him popcorn by the handful. That is one of my favorite memories of my masters, when my mom came to visit me and she told me what it looked like 40 years ago when she was at school there.  The building I was taking classes in was just being built, and the dorm she was in is still exactly the same.  The smile on her face while reliving the memory was really a great moment in my life.
Sometimes you do just know.  My dad gave me one of his mini inspirational lectures this morning, telling me to look at the big picture and not what is just in front of you right now. Look at where you are, but also all of the wonderful people and things in your life. Maybe something is scaring you right now, or making you very sad, but try to look at the bigger picture.  Its ok to be sad, and maybe in disbelief that certain things are happening not like you had expected or want them to happen, but life is really great.
Life really is just great.  Even when you have a $614 school loan payment, it will work out.  Who gives a shit? As my dad says about my loans.  Who cares if I have to pay them forever by lowering the payment.  I'm going to just enjoy things as they come.  Enjoy things right now. I am in a great situation, and I need to appreciate it.  I know a lot of people that are in great situations.  Watching my friends fall in love out in Horseheads. Learning that another just got tenured up in Saranac Lake. Beautiful baby girls are growing up so great.  Selling your motorcycle for more than you thought you would get. So many great things happening. It just makes me smile. 

And yes dad, you're right. Sometimes you do just know...

Sometimes all you need is chocolate

Or to go on an awesome run.  Lungs burning. Heart pumping. Legs moving far faster than normal. Getting out all the unexpressable emotions that are trying to make themselves prevalent in everyday life. Then you get home and realize you've ran 4 miles which is farther than you've run in more than a year.
Sometimes all you need is to have a good day.  A day where things really seem to go right.  Perfect amount of sun and shade, weather that is just the right amount of wind and warmth.
Or maybe you just need a call from a best friend. Your first friend in high school and forever a best friend. 
Maybe that's just what I needed.

Experiencing the Extraordinary

This may or may not turn into a huge cycle of venting with these next lines that I type.  I have been trying to write it down in my journal but I have been having trouble picking up a pen.  Ava is asleep in her crib right now.  This sweet sweet baby who's sole goal in life is to eat as much as possible, sleep as much as possible, stare at things, poop right out of her diaper, and wait to pee until I am changing her, every time.  I've been spending all day with her since Monday.  Yup, this is day 4, and I already feel it.  This is why I didn't want to become a nanny when I came out here, the seclusion.  I spend so much time thinking about my future, money, loans... the list goes on.  The rest of the time I am signing, talking, dancing, and signing some more with this 6 month old baby.  I bet she could pick me up a guy in two seconds.  Its obvious that I didn't have her myself, all the other moms that I have met walking have noted how there was no way my body could look like this so soon.  I think they are just jealous of my knee socks. I bring her to the coffee shop, and for walks around the park, but who do I end up talking to? Mostly myself.  She isn't looking at me half the time, so all the words that are flying out of my hands become a conversation with myself.  She is too busy loving the outside world and all it has to offer.
It seems like things right now are just building up and up and up inside me.  I spent way to much time alone and dwelling in my own thoughts, that now I am having some trouble expressing them.  This summer was supposed to be about having a blast with my girl friends.  I saved up just enough to almost get me by, as long as I have a job. Well, its like plans can never go as they are supposed to, and I get caught going 12 miles over the speed limit, for an extra 200 dollars and 4 points, and then apparently I talked for 743 minutes on our 700 minute plan. The total for the month was 988 minutes, for a total bill of 295. Shoot me. And it was just as I was in the car starting to feel really down and shitty when my mom called me to tell me the verizon news.  That was the end of it, the flood gates opened.  Why am I even in Colorado right now?  I don't have an apartment, my school loans will start pouring in next month.  I don't have a real job. I'm supposed to be a grown up. I am unhappy right now.  The one person that I wanted to call who I thought would support me and just tell me that it was going to be ok was at work with his phone off.  I don't know if I can do it.
I don't know if I can hold on and stay strong, when it seems like the other side of the equation isn't reassuring me.  What happened to all the good times? I remember every second of every moment and how happy I was. Its like something is attacking me inside and I don't know how to battle it.  I want to go to my friends for help, but its so hard, and I don't want to put all of this on them. I don't want to be miserable all the time when this summer was supposed to be so different.  I guess I didn't plan on getting in a relationship. Maybe I should get out of it. I don't think I can do it.
I don't think I can stay strong and put in 110%. That's what it takes and I know that. I don't know what to do. I keep saying to myself that I want to go home, but what does that even mean? I just want to move somewhere and start my life.  Be established somewhere.  Make some friends who are interested in exactly what I am interested in. Play sports. Go running.  Do yoga. Meditate. Read good books, And Drink good coffee. I know a few places where I could start. I could pick up and go there and start my life, get a sweet job, meet some awesome people, be happy and fine. One of those places is Charleston.  It would be so amazing to move there. I have looked into it so much and checked out their school system, which is awesome. The night life. The people. The living situation.  It would all be great.  Get my own sweet ass apartment, decorate it with things I already have.  Buy a comfy bed.  Meet my next door neighbors. Start throwing sweet ass parties. Get in great shape. Feel great about myself. Maybe even fall in love. Everything would not go as planned of course, as things never do, but look at what I've done so far?
I moved to Australia and didn't know a soul. I instantly had two best friends, within a week met an amazing guy, by the end was blessed by a third best friend, and over 4 months met and made so many other friends by just being me.  They weren't even people in my program or people in my building.  I met them out, on the beach, the bars, running, flirting... And I did it on my own.
Got into a masters program where I didn't know anyone, didn't know sign language, and all anyone around me did was sign. I met some awesome people, got great grades, even had a boyfriend who happened to be deaf so my skills greatly improved, and again made a best friend.
Then there is Colorado last year, where I drove across the country to be in a living situation where I would know no one and in 3 months I was cruising, partying, and snowboarding with some awesome people.
Same in New Mexico, I even got an extra job coaching track. Got phone number after phone number every weekend at every track meet. I was fine. And I was pretty dang happy.
I would love to start somewhere fresh. Make my life my own without things catching up to get me.  I like that I have friends all over the country.  I want more.
I want more. That just reminded me of the book I just finished reading.  A Million Little Pieces. Fucking Phenomenal.  I swear on purpose because I mean it.  Yes, Yes, the author was on Oprah and she called him out on the majority or the story not being true, but holy crap, its still such a good book! I'm reading the sequel now, My Friend Leonard, also amazing.  I recommend you to read both, in order, you wont be disappointed. And if you are then that's stupid.
I guess I'm just a little messed up.  I've been living my life, and have been through some stuff, stuff that can mess someone up.  I have trust issues, I'm insecure, I just want to be loved.
I'm going to stay in Colorado until the end of July, and then I am going to move to Charleston, and I am going to move there for me.  No prerequisites. No pressure. No hard feelings. Just love. I like that. Just love. And Freedom.
Live Free - Breathe Deep.  I gotta take my own imprinted advice more often.

And that whole relationship thing? I'm just overreacting. I wouldn't get out of it for the world.  Long distance isn't my thing, but I am certainly willing to try.  I've made it a month so far, let's see if I can do two more.

Internal Struggles

I couldn't tell you how many times I have given people advice, or shared stories from my experiences in hope that I could help someone make a better decision themselves.  I think I am not the best at taking peoples advie though.  I love getting it though, and sitting down with friends and discussing things that we feel are of importance to us.  For right now the thing that seems to be popping up the most is relationships.  It quite possibly could be the only thing thats been talked about lately in all reality.  I'm head over heels for someone and just drove, by myself, in the car for close to 40 hours.  Now that is a lot of alone time with yourself.  So what do I do? Day dream. Wild, crazy, awesome, amazing day dreams. I basically planned out the next 20 years of my life and a million different ways on how everything could work out.  I just got some really good advice though... Be careful setting your expectations so high. You could end up setting the bar so far up that when reality happens, and has the potential to be perfect and amazing, you will still not be satisfied because it doesn't add up to that extra oridanarily amazing expectation that you had planned. Be happy with what you have and the opportunities that present themselves to you right now. And then when the time comes for those awesome amazing planned out things to happen, be happy with them. And if the time is right, and the person is right, then it will be perfect.

I always think so far in advance! Sometimes I really wish I would keep my mind in the here and now, but boy oh boy is that tough.  I know this summer is going to be so fun, but I really I just want to get going to the amazing stuff that I know is in store for me... I know its out there waiting and it is all just going to work out! And it is going to be great! so great.

Right now is great.  I'm at Sammy's alone with Scarlet. I figured Chelsea and Sammy should get some grocery shopping done alone.  Scarlet just woke up from a nap and now is dancing around the living room with me to Florence and the Machine. She's coloring and playing with her play set.  Its a perfect arrangement really, and I am so happy here with her.  I really should open up my own day care.  I just need an outlet to the outside world too... I just read an awesome email from Jordan, who should hopefully be surfacing in a day or so, cross your fingers! And tonight I am going up to Boulder to hang out with awesome people and celebrate a birthday. 

Take other peoples advice. Sometimes their advice may not be the best, but its good practice anyway.  Don't plan to much for the future.  Instead, just make your future happen. Make it the very best that you can, and I bet that will be pretty good

Metaphors

I'm excited to sleep in a real bed again. It is so nice here, and I am lucky to have friends like Sara. (their bed in the 2nd bedroom is basically like sleeping on a cloud) I hope in Colorado I have a real bed, not a couch or blow up mattress the whole time.  Did I ever tell you how important that is to me? I talked to Sara for a long time about it today.  What I want most in the world, other than a family and a happy marriage, is a bed of my own.  Over the last 6 years I haven't slept in the same bed for more than 4 months at a time, and never in those 6 years was it actually my bed.  Well, my bed at home is "mine" but it was passed down to me by an older sibling like 20 something years ago, so I don't think that really counts.  My beds in college were always some other college kids bed before mine, and my bed at my apartment that I had for a year, but moved home for 4 months during the summer, was also not my bed, it was someone's bed that they let me borrow.  So really my long life of beds is pretty non committal.  Sounds like a bad relationship. Wait, it is the same with my past relationships. 4 months was my longest, and probably the longest I've had a bed. Wow.  But I want that to change.  I want a real bed.  This summer will be my true test, and by the end of the summer I should know if I can purchase a real bed, my own real bed.  (I hope you are picking up my metaphor here...) But also the whole story about the bed is true too:)

Traveling

**Note** I took so many pictures, but they are on my i-product, and since I do not have wireless here I have no way of uploading them.  Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

So here I am in Missouri. I am at Sara's place in Rolla, its a super awesome apartment, two bedrooms, huge living room, great kitchen, two bathrooms, the works.  And probably pretty cheap too since we are in Missouri...

Traveling so far has been great.  I haven't written here at all because sadly, and honestly, I have been emailing Jordan so much that I just don't feel like typing any more.  I pretty much detail out my day for him and ask lots of (most likely annoying) questions, and talk about anything and everything.  Then I am done with typing and so my blog gets the short end of the stick.  Also, in case all you skeptics were wondering, I'm still going strong. Have faith in me!

Being at home is so rough for some reason.  I don't know why, but I just really struggle to be there. So I left.  I went to Albany/Ithaca/Cortland/Binghamton/Horseheads/Long Island for almost a week. Then I was home for only a day and left for Boston for three.  I love going to Boston.  I have the two best most interesting, funny, and awesome nephews. My niece is freaking adorable, and I could hold her and have her make faces and smile at me all day. While going to visit them is awesome, and I have my own room there, I also love hanging out with my sister, Angela, and Ben is great too.  We always stay up late talking and I share all of my stories with her.  Its awesome. I tried to convince her to talk to me about sex, it didn't work out as well as planned. I guess older sisters don't want to hear about their little sisters endevours.

I came home for about a day to pack up my life, and left again for Philly the next morning.  I got to spend two nights with Arin and Andrea, which again was awesome. I drove down and met them out with some of their friends, and then took the train to see Sean's band play at the World Cafe.  Super awesome place.  The band was amazing, I totally enjoyed it, and am now equipped with two of their cds to listen to on my journey.  The band is called Full Service, and I advise everyone to look them up and have a listen.  Each song is different from another, and they are all cool in their own way.  Sean plays the bass which is super cool and reminds me of when I used to see my dad play with his siblings.  Its been a while since I have seen that though.  I got to play whiffle ball the next day with the band which was SWEET! I can't wait to live somewhere and make friends and do cool stuff like that.  I guess they are always playing pick up games of soccer, volleyball, whiffle ball you name it, and I am just so jealous.  I had so much fun playing, and it made me miss organized sports really really bad. Even being on the road on tour these guys always make time to work out and have fun.  Exercising in different ways is so important, and it made me want to go to a plain old gym so much less.

I left Philly after a good night of hanging out with Arin (we didn't go out for Cinco De Mayo) and started my way across the country.  It was Sunday and apparently the camp site that I was planning on staying at was closed.  I decided to make it more fun for myself and instead drive when I wanted, take naps, and take long breaks.  I cruised through Pennsylvania, and then Ohio, and then West Virginia (which was like a flash), and then into Indiana.  I decided to sleep in my car at a rest stop on i-70 just outside of Indianapolis.  I think it was pretty safe, I didn't feel scared all night, and in a red prius next to me there were two people sleeping also.  I am assuming it was two girls because about every hour or so all night I would here the beep beep beep of their car being locked, but I never heard a door close.  Must have been scared that it magically unlocked itself during the night.

I woke up to a beautiful pink sunrise, and snapped a few photos with the truckers in the background.  I wanted to beat the traffic into Indianapolis so I departed and listened to a Stuart Woods novel on cd.  Oh Stone Barrington, you scandalous man you. I had an awesome time at a rest stop in Illinois where I did 5 rounds of push ups and dips on a bench, did a lot of jump rope, and read a bunch of my book.  I want to hula hoop during my next set of travels which begins tomorrow.  I was too embarrassed so far to do it, but I need to get over that.  I am not normally a shy or easily embarrassed person, but sometimes it just strikes me rough.  I drove sweaty the rest of the way to Missouri and here I am now.

Sara and I went to some wineries today and bought some awesome wine.  We drove into Herman, MO which is a beautiful place on earth. On the way we passed a turtle making his way across the road.  Yes, we turned around and I jumped out and saved the poor little guy. We are watching We Bought A Zoo, really great movie, and then waking up to do some sunrise yoga.  Then I have to hit the road.  Tomorrow is gonna be a long day.

To traveling... cheers

Blogging about a keg ba que

I love my friends. The lovely woman in the middle is katina an I just met so many other people. I've been drinking since 4. After a 5 hour trip to get here, it's still totally worth it! Going on a bar crawl soon :) I love my life

Traveling makes me tired

Seriously. I'm exhausted right now!! It's fun to visit all my friends and see so many people in such a short time, but it's totally wearing me out.
I wish my I product would allow me to turn it sideways when I blog. It's so annoying that I can only type with it up right when I tend to mess up a whole lot more.
My brain is tired right now so in seeing cross eyed. Probably not good. I'll write more again when I have my laptop. Much more efficient :)

Underway

Jordan left this morning for a 3-4 week underway, so we will only be able to email for that entire time. It will certainly make time go faster, and then when he gets back it will only be a month and a half or so before I get to see him in Charleston. That trip should be awesome with tons of celebrating and exploring a new place.

Two of the bestest friends I will ever have

By that time I will be in Colorado also, and Heather will definitely help me keep my shit together.  We have two scheduled concerts already, and I have a race scheduled with Geoff in the mountains.  I'll be able to spend quality time with Sammy also, which will be amazing, and to be a part of her daughters life too.  I hope I can help her with babysitting and dinner so she can go out on dates!

Also, Keysa is coming out for two weeks, and we have a big trip planned out through Utah and down to Arizona and the Grand Canyon.  That will definitely be a fantastic time.  I am not exactly sure what my living arrangements are yet, but hopefully I wont be doing too much sleeping in my car.  I have some great friends out in Colorado, so I better get some good cuddling!

After a night on the town.  You can tell we're party animals...

At China Man's Hat, with the ridge line of the volcano behind us

Its gonna be hard not hearing his voice for so long...

Eating Healthy

Salad, salmon, lemon, and ginger root

 I went into Saugerties and hit up the library to make copies of my certifications and test scores, and then finally mailed them off.  Hopefully I get some sort of news sooner than later about the job.
After that I went to Price Chopper to buy some lunch/dinner items.  Its really not that much more expensive to buy the yummy healthy items at the store, plus it fed my mom, dad, and me.  Mom had homemade black-cap vinegar which made a great dressing.  That was at 3 and I'm still not hungry.  Except I know I will be starving at like 10 again, but totally worth it. 
I wonder what I'll make for food tomorrow?

I meant to take a picture before I started it, but it was too yummy!

Impatience is killing me

I am patient is the thing.  I'm super patient with little kids, and patient in the car, even in traffic.  But impatience these days is driving me nuts.  Hopefully time will go fast and it will get better.  Katina says it will, so I am sure it must be true.  Cassie says I'll get used to it, so I am sure that is true too.

I spent the weekend with Cassie and her family.  What a cool family.  Always asking if you need something else, or if everything is good.  There was a Kuerig in the house so I had as much tea, coffee, and hot chocolate as I wanted too.  That was awesome.  And it works so fast!  I love hot drinks, they never hurt my teeth, so being able to have them whenever is awesome.  Maybe I will get one of those someday when I have my own place :)

I need to make a plan or a schedule.  I don't like having all day with nothing really to do.  A lot of people I know would love sitting in front of the tv, or just vegging out, but then there are those other people, the ones that I happen to be closer with that would get stir crazy.  I really like yoga.  It kinda forces you to sit still and rest your mind.  My mind is always trying to race off to some other place, no matter what pose your in, and its so nice when it goes quiet for a second.  Peace.  No thinking about the future, just quiet. 

I'm going to hula hoop tomorrow.  And jump rope.  Throw in some double-unders for sure.  Before that I am going to finish printing all of  my things for Charleston and send them in.  I should check on Boulder and see if there is anything else I need to do for that school district.  I should just keep sending random stuff in so I stay on top of their piles.

Be patient.  Take a deep breath. 

Enjoying what you have - Don't take it for granted

Let me start with saying that there are over 100 people who read my blog.  That is just so cool.  There are people from 5 different countries, of course most from the US, but still, super awesome and it makes me feel like I should write something worth while.

I'm at Cassie's Aunt Beth's house for the night, so that we can wake up early and enjoy the day tomorrow, do some yoga, get massages, and spend some necessary time with her awesome grandpa.  How is it possible that you can be so healthy, take care of yourself, eat right, work out, do awesome things for other people, live a great life, do amazing deeds, and still have something that takes you earlier than necessary.

Life is so confusing that way, and I just don't really understand it.  I never really knew my grandparents, and have really never known anyone very well that has died.  I guess I haven't really been to too many funerals, and even if I have, its always been for someone that I wasn't really that close with.  I struggle to wrap my mind about it, so in turn I get very awkward when I am in situations when people are talking about it.  I never know what to say.  Thank goodness for hugs, because I have found that to be a good way to escape things, I hope I can keep it like that, and not say the wrong thing in the wrong situation.
What I am getting at here is that I need to enjoy what is given to me a lot more.  I feel like I am cheating the system by all of the things I have been able to do, and all of the things in my future.  I wish that everyone could appreciate the now instead of dreading it.  Who knows what is going to happen today tomorrow or next week.

My original plan for this post was to talk about Hawaii.  A lot of people have been asking me about Why I  left Hawaii, Why I didn't stay, and Will I go back? Well here is the long and the short of it.  I left because I knew this summer in Colorado will be amazing, and I just felt it was my time to go. I would love to go back and visit, but I don't think that I would ever move there, or stay for longer than I already did.  I noticed after a very short time that I wasn't necessarily appreciating what I had right outside my door.  I think this would be the problem with living in Hawaii.  Where do you vacation when you live in paradise?  I loved it loved it there, don't get me wrong, but I loved it there for some very important reasons.  My awesome sister, a new best friend and an amazing boyfriend that found me.  I loved it there because there are SO many things to do, and I would continue to do as many things as possible, but let's be realistic, I was unemployed for the last month that I lived there.  Once you are employed time seems to slip away, you no longer can just go out any time of day for a hike, and convincing your sister to call in sick from work means you also would have to call in sick. Weekends are then your only free time, and it is definitely hard to get yourself out to the beach every weekend.  Weird I know, all of you mainlanders are saying.  But that is true business.  I think I went almost a month with out enjoying the full beauty of Hawaii's finest beaches (which is .5 miles from my apartment) and that was only because I was exhausted from working about 14 days straight and then 11 more after that.  March was rough as you can tell from my inability to blog.  I guess what I am saying, to all of you who ask me why I am back in NY and not in HI, I may look like I belong there, and totally fit the blonde, surfer babe part, but its just not my home.  I need to make myself a home. I want a bed. That bed is in my future, and I see it coming!

Words of wisdom from Aunt Beth - Don't bring drama into your life.  Just live in the here and now, and don't worry so much about the future.  When the future comes you can handle it and embrace what comes. -  I have been worrying so much about the end of this summer and where I will get a job.  I have been working my butt off for the applications to Charleston to be 100% complete and sending in all of my necessary stuff.  Apparently I am still missing a few things and I am so worried that is going to ruin my chances of getting a teaching job there.  That would be worst thing.  But really what am I so nervous about?  I am ecstatic after a 20 minute conversation with a certain someone and giggle the entire time.  I shouldn't be so worried about what the end of this summer will bring.  Maybe I will get hired, maybe I wont.  If I don't, I shouldn't even worry, I'm Anna Banana and I will get a job no matter what.  Like Aunt Beth said, I'm just gonna live in the now and enjoy it, and see what it brings me :)

Effort

I noticed that the date says friday april 20th. I'm confused so just clarifying. It's actually Wednesday April 25th:).

So it turns out that my current writing effort seems to be going more into Jordan's emails than my blog. Interesting! I made it to Albany yesterday and today I'm staying with Allyson. So super great to be able to just show up at my friends houses and feel like we haven't missed a beat. Turns out she's been living with Tony for two years. Two years! Where have I been?? And she gets her masters totally finished in two weeks. Wowza. I feel like ive been missing so much lately. Well technically I have. So its so nice to have friends that accept my excuse "I was across the country" it's no lie really.

So let's talk about showers. Have you ever realized how many different types of showers there are?? So many! And I'm just talking about the shower head here. Ones that are soft and some that spray super hard. Some that spray wide and others that only get you in one area. But then there is this type I just encountered. It's like a mist, and it doesn't feel hot by the time it hits your body. It even creates wind in the shower. Like a super powerful mist. Hmmm what can I relate that to, like getting sprayed in the face by a garden hose when it has all those different settings like my moms and one is I think called must, but all you want it to take a drink from it, but instead it just sprays you in the face and kinda hurts. Yeah, like that.
I prefer a shower like Mary's where it is like a jet stream and pounds you in the head at full blast, stays warm or even hot the whole time, and washes your hair out super fast! Yeah, those were awesome showers I took out there. I don't like the weak kind that barely do anything and your just chillin waiting for the water to rinse you off. Takes way to long. Did I mention that I hate showering to begin with? Call me weird but I've always disliked it. I'm just being picky now for sure:)

understanding the un-understandable

Its definitely pretty hard being home because I just don't get my parents.  OK, so we have these three massive dogs here, and they are pretty dumb, I mean like super dumb.  They knock plants over all the time, and jump on things and I caught one curled up on the reclining chair today.  These aren't like house pets, they are big, furry, smelly, nasty, huge dogs.  The biggest one sticks his excessively long nose all up in your private space all the time and wants to smell your butt.  He would get right up on in there for a better sniff if he could.  They don't even actually have real names, because apparently my mom couldn't decide what to call them every time she got a new one.
 I stick with Black dog, White dog, and Brown dog, and Rob has been calling them Brown Lassie, White Lassie, and Black Lassie.  All appropriate names.  I was having trouble because my mom tried to name the brown one Doobie which is the name of our last dog who died in a very sad car accident.  I am sticking with the claim that you do not name your next dog after your last dog. Not cool.  AND instead of brushing them herself, she takes them to get groomed...  weird.  I remember her doing that while I was growing up, its not like there is less free time and more money to be had, so I am not really sure how this is possible.

Really I'm just venting about the dogs because my dad doesn't want them in the house or near the house or in our possession at all really, and my mom wants them in the house spending quality time with her like watching tv and eating dinner and reading.  I get stuck in the middle with one telling me to let them in and the other telling me to keep them out.  I don't like being put in the middle of things.  What I hate more is super loud barking dogs early in the morning.  I feel like everyone in God's country can here them barking and that it must be annoying to the neighbors and embarrassing for us.  Then my mom will yell at them to stop barking which only adds to the noise and does not make them stop barking. haha oh coming home to your parents.  All the stuff I love getting away from is always put on a platter in front of me when I get back.  I would be ok with it if it didn't seem like I had to take someones side in the whole dog thing.  I'm pro animals, but it would be better if they were trained, had names, and weren't stickin their noses in my space.
Rob came over for a dinner that I cooked which was cool and then we went for a walk deep into the woods to check out all of the trees that had fallen and broken in the storm this past summer.  We talked for hours about our relationships and how confusing they can be at times.  He has an awesome girlfriend, but boy is she a tough one to understand sometimes.  I'm glad we have each other to talk about that stuff with.  Its nice to have a guys perspective instead of only my girlfriends.
I need to start going to bed earlier, I was all tucked in at 9, but here I am at 11 again.  At least I am reading an awesome book "The Bean Trees" super duper good. Everyone should read it!