fresh

how does one try to come of a 3 1/2 hour drive and go straight into a more formal 50th wedding anniversary celebration without looking like they just drove 3 1/2 hours?

Welcome to the neighborhood!

One of the first few weekends in my new town and I think I finally found a church.....

Today was the first time I attended, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. It reminds me of my parent's church so that is comforting....

Ten minutes into the sermon an older man comes into church late and sits next to me. Afterwards we are walking out and he begins to ask me questions and when I realize that I forgot my umbrella in the pew we say our polite good-byes... or so I thought.

As I am walking out umbrella in tow I notice he is standing by the exit... Odd okay... maybe waiting for rain to slow down, good that I have mine. As the nice and respectful person I am I graciously offer to him to his car with my umbrella... we're at church and he's an older man.

As we walk, he begins to tell me how he is single... I am sure my face flinched.

When we get to his car (he wanted to walk me to mine, no thank you).... he asks me if I have a business card. Someone once advised me to carry my business cards -- sometimes it's good not to have them I say.

When I say I don't have them with me, he then asks me for my number. I politely decline again.

They have a greeting session for all new members after church, but I don't think this is what they were talking about... He won't keep me from going back, but maybe I'll make more of an effort to attend an earlier session.

realized when i was preparing for a long trip - while i throwing my fruits, veggies and milk away i was holding a glass of wine - trying to finish the rest of the opened bottles...

Has learned that sometimes home is where your toiletries are...

i can always count on coming to my parent's home to ruin any sort of diet... :)

The neighbors -

Am trying to adjust to my new neighbors, the birds.

Their chirping schedule effects my sleeping schedule and it is just not working out. I've thought about moving or how I could move them...

Ear plugs are not an option as I need my alarm in order to get me up at a decent time in the morning.

Remote Google -

Not a week goes by without a friend reaching out to let me know that they are in 'my old 'hood' thinking of me, or want to know where they should get drinks, dinner, out, etc...

Well guess what... I'm not living there right now and have started to create a new list for my new hood...

So until I get back... stop rubbing it in!! :)

Trying to figure out....

If I had KFC at a posh expensive restaurant, would it taste better than if it were out of the bucket at home?

NEW

This morning I woke up and, before I opened my eyes, I thought for a minute that I was in my condo in Chicago. I felt my silky Calvin Klein sheets that I had also in Chicago, my nice new mattress.... And then I began to realize and list all of the things in my life that are new...

In the last 6 weeks I have a new....

- Job and all that is related to it - office, job, expectations, commute, field staff, etc. (although same company)
- Apartment
- Car
- Car hood, grill and bumper (whopsie)
- Tenant (renting out my condo)
- City
- Gym
- Floors in this apartment (carpet installed, kitchen & bath coming early next week)
- Work computer - I was somewhat attached to my old Dell... it's been 3+ years!!
- Workberry
- Nail salon - although I still haven't found one I love
- Grocery store - although I miss the my organic yogurt, granola, Starbuck's Sugar Free Double Shots -- I'll be schlepping those down!
- Friends... Jenny!!! And my new coworkers...
- Cable service provider - lol...

And the list goes on.... I have had more major and minor change in the last several weeks than I have in a span of years and it's quite unbeliveable to me.

In the beginning of this year, I had set and firm goals and it's crazy that so much has changed in this short time. A lot for the good and some for the not so good... but through it all I never take for granted and appreciate that much more - my amazing and supportive family and friends.

I was thinking today when I saw a picture of Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler... from Brad Pitt to Vince Vaughn to John Mayer and now to Gerard Butler.... maybe this isn't so bad. Sure does change the perspective of "old maid with cats"

Luggage?

Recalled a story today after my girlfriend commented on my luggage this morning...

When I was in college, I decided to stretch my budget and buy a black 4-piece Samsonite luggage set. (It was from Sam's Club -- so even if it wasn't deal, I feel like anything you buy there is a deal even even if you have 11 more than you needed).

I came home with the huge box of luggage and my mom thought I was a bit crazy.

I defended, "I'm going places, Mom. And this will last me forever..."

Could not have been more insightful as I've traveled throughout 3 continents (4 hopefully by next year) for work, but mostly for pleasure since that conversation. Including a 3-month stint studying and traveling in Spain.

The handle of the carry-on, the most used piece, broke on my way home from Germany and the Czech Republic, and the least used piece is now my weekend bag in the city...

I plan to get the broken piece repaired, so I can actually try to use it forever :)