“You’re braver than you believe,
and stronger than you seem,
and smarter than you think”
-Christopher Robin
Monday, March 31, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
San Juan, Puerto Rico
My favorite stop along the cruise was San Juan, Puerto Rico... it is definitely a place I'm going to plan a return visit.
While in San Juan, we toured their Spanish Fort which held the island for over 600 years from foreign invasion until the early 1900s when the United States took control of the providence. The fort was really cool - 18 foot thick walls and built upon a cliff. We only had about 45 minutes to explore when it was a building that could take up a whole day so it left me wanting more.
That's my brother-in-law, Will, jumping in my picture...
While in San Juan, we toured their Spanish Fort which held the island for over 600 years from foreign invasion until the early 1900s when the United States took control of the providence. The fort was really cool - 18 foot thick walls and built upon a cliff. We only had about 45 minutes to explore when it was a building that could take up a whole day so it left me wanting more.
That's my brother-in-law, Will, jumping in my picture...
After touring the fort and the Bacardi rum factory, we had the best meal of the trip. A little, local seafood resturant. Seared tuna sandwiches, fresh calamari, snapper ceviche and watermelon sangria... my stomach is getting happy just thinking about it. We all agreed that it was one of the better parts of the trip.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Stop Sign Stand-Off
I love being back in Monroe, I really do. I loved Chicago too. It was a great experience and I met some great people, lived in a great building, woke up happy every day and got to have a real winter. Love it all.
But there are some things about a small town that you just wouldn't ever see in any big city... no matter where you are. They are unique nuiances to a slower pace of life and I get a kick out of them.
The first one is the Stop Sign Stand-Off... everyone stops and waits for anyone else to go. They never want to be the first person to go. I think some people are taking defensive driving to a new extreme in some cases... wanting to make sure they aren't going to get hit, wanting to make sure the car is going to turn or go straight as indicated by the driver. But I like to think that it's also the overly politeness of the drivers, wanting the other person to have the option to go first if they'd like to... It's cute, it's quaint and it drives me nuts when I'm sitting there! I talk to other drivers all the time (I don't have road rage, just a running commentary) and I'll encourage them to drive with a mission. And I have no problem going, even out of turn, just because I know that sometimes you can sit there all day waiting for Farmer John to decide to mosey on through the intersection.
It's great. It's frustrating. It's something you never saw in Chicago and it's one of the reasons I'm glad to be home.
Seeing is Believing
Last night as I drove home from Athens to Monroe after a great dinner with my girlfriends, I saw a shooting star. I've seen hundreds of shooting stars - the camp I worked at in California was a haven of them - and yet it doesn't stop me from being amazed at each one and I always have a chill go up my spine when I see one. It put a smile on my face. There's always something small like that in life that reminds me all is good and no matter how bad things seem, it's going to get better and that all is well with the world.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
I suck, Tell me something I don't know
I'm sorry. So sorry...
I know that I said I'd be back to write about the cruise... but now, almost a month later I'm very unmotivated to do so. Let me get psyched up for that and I'll get back to you. I hate that this gap has gone by again. I'm like a baseball player who can only play with his one lucky glove or whatever. I can't use another person's computer to do what I need to do on a computer on a daily basis. I hate it but I just can't.
My computer is all set up for my personal enjoyment and comfort. (For someone who has never consider herself a creature of habit, I am strangely finding myself enjoying and creating daily routines for myself.) I have my desktop icons in a certain places to make life easier for myself. I have my favorite websites in a certain order so I can go down the list in order and not have to hunt for anything... it's all perfect. And I just don't enjoy having to do so on another computer. Plus my dad has his auto-fill working on his computer and I HATE auto-fill... it's one of those "time saving" ideas that actually creates more work. By trying to guess what word you are typing in and going ahead and doing it for you - I bet it has a 12% success rate because it seems to never be right for me. I should do a scientific study but I dislike it so working on my dad's computer is irritating to me.
And my computer wasn't working at the house or in my new office... we had new offices for my dad's business wired for DSL and all of them worked EXCEPT for the one assigned to me. It's moments like those when I feel the world is out to get me... Especially since my first project is to design a website. Can you imagine how frustrating that was? Massive sighs, compliants and long tirades did nothing to help the situation. One computer dude showing up and plugging the DSL line back into it's magical box did.
So, all is well now, my job is rolling along and my computer can now connect to the world wide web with the click of a button.
Hence, my long absence from the blogger world. When I first started this blog, it was like starting a new exercise routine... "I'm going to write every day, it'll be a great creative outlet for me", then it became if I write 3 days a week, that's good enough. Now I feel as though it's a good if I just put in an appearance. But I promised I'm going to make a comeback. That after all, was my New Year's resolution... make the daily changes that add up to the big changes. I'm working on it still but life is always a work in progress.
I know that I said I'd be back to write about the cruise... but now, almost a month later I'm very unmotivated to do so. Let me get psyched up for that and I'll get back to you. I hate that this gap has gone by again. I'm like a baseball player who can only play with his one lucky glove or whatever. I can't use another person's computer to do what I need to do on a computer on a daily basis. I hate it but I just can't.
My computer is all set up for my personal enjoyment and comfort. (For someone who has never consider herself a creature of habit, I am strangely finding myself enjoying and creating daily routines for myself.) I have my desktop icons in a certain places to make life easier for myself. I have my favorite websites in a certain order so I can go down the list in order and not have to hunt for anything... it's all perfect. And I just don't enjoy having to do so on another computer. Plus my dad has his auto-fill working on his computer and I HATE auto-fill... it's one of those "time saving" ideas that actually creates more work. By trying to guess what word you are typing in and going ahead and doing it for you - I bet it has a 12% success rate because it seems to never be right for me. I should do a scientific study but I dislike it so working on my dad's computer is irritating to me.
And my computer wasn't working at the house or in my new office... we had new offices for my dad's business wired for DSL and all of them worked EXCEPT for the one assigned to me. It's moments like those when I feel the world is out to get me... Especially since my first project is to design a website. Can you imagine how frustrating that was? Massive sighs, compliants and long tirades did nothing to help the situation. One computer dude showing up and plugging the DSL line back into it's magical box did.
So, all is well now, my job is rolling along and my computer can now connect to the world wide web with the click of a button.
Hence, my long absence from the blogger world. When I first started this blog, it was like starting a new exercise routine... "I'm going to write every day, it'll be a great creative outlet for me", then it became if I write 3 days a week, that's good enough. Now I feel as though it's a good if I just put in an appearance. But I promised I'm going to make a comeback. That after all, was my New Year's resolution... make the daily changes that add up to the big changes. I'm working on it still but life is always a work in progress.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Moving on Down the Road
As I've already stated, moving sucks but it's made much easier by two strong men who show up to move your boxes and furniture for you... I've never seen a truck get loaded so fast. In less than an hour, I was ready to hit the road. So nice.
Unfortunately, the road has been not so nice. Between the potholes, big trucks, and the weather... the drive has been very stressful. It'll be ok and I hate to complain but I'm so tense as I drive my Penske truck. The truck itself is nice and a comfortable ride so I'd recommend their vehicles to anyone.
I have learned a lesson in all my moves across the U.S. - changing the scenery doesn't change your problems. I'm needing to address those and focus on being the person, a better person than I am - someone who I want to be.
So I found this on the internet and I think it's applicable to my situation. If nothing else, it made me giggle:
Unfortunately, the road has been not so nice. Between the potholes, big trucks, and the weather... the drive has been very stressful. It'll be ok and I hate to complain but I'm so tense as I drive my Penske truck. The truck itself is nice and a comfortable ride so I'd recommend their vehicles to anyone.
I have learned a lesson in all my moves across the U.S. - changing the scenery doesn't change your problems. I'm needing to address those and focus on being the person, a better person than I am - someone who I want to be.
So I found this on the internet and I think it's applicable to my situation. If nothing else, it made me giggle:
Monday, March 3, 2008
Moving Sucks
There is nothing I hate more than packing and moving... unless it's moving and unpacking. And this is how I'm choosing to spend the rest of my week. I can't believe it. Ugh. My apartment is knee-deep in boxes and packing supplies and tape. Lots of tape...
It's been a busy day, I went to my volunteer position to do a little work and say goodbye. I worked until 1PM and then cried when I went to say goodbye. I hate crying in public. I hate showing my emotions that way. And while the goodbye was sad, it was great to have the support and positive feedback I received. They were all supportive and encouraging for me to move on in my life, it was just sad too.
I remember a friend one time saying that she wished she could create her world with the people she loves the best all in the same place... anyone who has brought different areas of their life together for whatever reason knows that doesn't always work out best. But it's a great idea in theory... There are definitely some people at my last position who I'd love to take along with me.
Then I went and picked up my moving truck which is an adventure... driving myself home in that vehicle after not being an active driver for 8 months will be interesting. I've moved myself cross country several times and each time offers a different challenge. I need a safe journey home because I didn't buy the insurance for an additional $104.00 - it seemed like a rip-off to me. So cross your fingers for me!
Some friends showed up this afternoon to help me pack and say goodbye... these are girls who are firmly in my life and will be forever so although it was sad to say I was leaving, I know I'll be back and see them again. I appreciated their help packing because my brain just doesn't work well at making the most fit into a box.
You'd think after 8 cross country moves, I'd be better at this but nope, I suck. My philosophy is to cram as much as possible in there and then throw the rest of it away. It's worked so far but I own more stuff now so I needed a better plan.
So it's almost 10 o'clock and I'm tired, I've been going non-stop since 7AM and I'm ready for bed. And of course, I've already packed my external hard drive so no cruise story today because I can't get to my pictures. I'll get there, I promise.
On a side note:
In the past month, I've been told by several different people that I hide myself and it would take work to "chip away" at the layers that are in place. I was meaning to ask my BFF if she thinks it's true. I find it suprising because I see myself as an open book... I generally don't have a filter and I say what's on my mind the majority of my time. But maybe I've just been fooling myself this who time... maybe that's what I need to adjust in my life... maybe that's what's holding me back.
"There's no getting over it, you have to come through it." - I just heard this on the tv show I'm watching... interesting because the girl was trying to work through her emotions. Struck a vibe with me because I know there are things I have to work through.
Here's to not standing still!!!
It's been a busy day, I went to my volunteer position to do a little work and say goodbye. I worked until 1PM and then cried when I went to say goodbye. I hate crying in public. I hate showing my emotions that way. And while the goodbye was sad, it was great to have the support and positive feedback I received. They were all supportive and encouraging for me to move on in my life, it was just sad too.
I remember a friend one time saying that she wished she could create her world with the people she loves the best all in the same place... anyone who has brought different areas of their life together for whatever reason knows that doesn't always work out best. But it's a great idea in theory... There are definitely some people at my last position who I'd love to take along with me.
Then I went and picked up my moving truck which is an adventure... driving myself home in that vehicle after not being an active driver for 8 months will be interesting. I've moved myself cross country several times and each time offers a different challenge. I need a safe journey home because I didn't buy the insurance for an additional $104.00 - it seemed like a rip-off to me. So cross your fingers for me!
Some friends showed up this afternoon to help me pack and say goodbye... these are girls who are firmly in my life and will be forever so although it was sad to say I was leaving, I know I'll be back and see them again. I appreciated their help packing because my brain just doesn't work well at making the most fit into a box.
You'd think after 8 cross country moves, I'd be better at this but nope, I suck. My philosophy is to cram as much as possible in there and then throw the rest of it away. It's worked so far but I own more stuff now so I needed a better plan.
So it's almost 10 o'clock and I'm tired, I've been going non-stop since 7AM and I'm ready for bed. And of course, I've already packed my external hard drive so no cruise story today because I can't get to my pictures. I'll get there, I promise.
On a side note:
In the past month, I've been told by several different people that I hide myself and it would take work to "chip away" at the layers that are in place. I was meaning to ask my BFF if she thinks it's true. I find it suprising because I see myself as an open book... I generally don't have a filter and I say what's on my mind the majority of my time. But maybe I've just been fooling myself this who time... maybe that's what I need to adjust in my life... maybe that's what's holding me back.
"There's no getting over it, you have to come through it." - I just heard this on the tv show I'm watching... interesting because the girl was trying to work through her emotions. Struck a vibe with me because I know there are things I have to work through.
Here's to not standing still!!!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Bon Voyage!!!
After seven days of blissful weather and family togetherness, I'm back from celebrating my grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary in the Carribbean. I took over 200 pictures on this vacation so be prepared. I'm making a photo book from Snapfish for my grandparents as a present so I was really into documenting the vacation. It was fun and I got a lot of great pictures. So it was worth being a little annoying to everyone else.
But first the obligatory cute picture of my nephew... he discovered his tongue this week and was constantly sticking it out and making faces with it much to our delight.
And now, my grandparents. We suprised them with a cake and a song from the crew one night at dinner. Aren't they cute? So fun. And the rest of the dining room joined in the celebration. There was a lot of love going around the boat, 3 different couples were married while on board and we witnessed an engagement one night. Instead of the "Triumph", it should have been called the "Love Boat" (cue theme song here).
But first the obligatory cute picture of my nephew... he discovered his tongue this week and was constantly sticking it out and making faces with it much to our delight.
And now, my grandparents. We suprised them with a cake and a song from the crew one night at dinner. Aren't they cute? So fun. And the rest of the dining room joined in the celebration. There was a lot of love going around the boat, 3 different couples were married while on board and we witnessed an engagement one night. Instead of the "Triumph", it should have been called the "Love Boat" (cue theme song here).
Our boat made four stops:
- Moon Cay, Bahamas
- St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos
I'll have a post for each destination and include pictures but please be patient with me. I've decided to uproot my life and move it back to Georgia now so between packing, moving, saying goodbyes, and driving south, I may be a little busy.
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