On Vacation

Here we are a few days in, and you know something, Gentle Readers?  I LOVE vacation!

I honestly haven’t taken a real vacation in years.  I don’t mean like the vacation you take just to get away from work, where all you do is stay at home just to be away from work and take day trips.

I mean a real, God’s-honest vacation.  The kind where you leave the state, and possibly the kind of civiliazation that you’ve always known, and you lay on the beach all day, and you swim in the hotel pool at least 3 times a day.  And you lounge around and do nothing productive.  And it’s amazing.

Except I am being productive.

In case there were those out there who were not aware, I had plans to move to Florida.  There is a whole thing about job transfers that makes moving to a much warmer climate VERY EASY.  And that’s what I’m looking to do.

But for now, I’m on vacation, and quite enjoying myself.

Chriso and I ate at Sonic for the first time EVER.  We’ve seen commercials for ages.  Heck, who HASN’T seen those commercials?  Seriously.  And we swam in a bay.  And we drove around in the convertible with the top down, because it hasn’t been raining like it has been back in Boston.  Or so they tell me.

But I’m enjoying myself.  It’s a good time.  And for now, that’s all I need.

OH!  AND I’ve gotten some color all over.  I’ve been tanning like crazy.  But who could blame me… the weather is nice enough, so why not?

Chriso and I get ice cream: A Photo Essay

*This is actually my first try at a photo essay, so please bear with me.  I don’t have any fun or clever captions just yet.*

So, Chriso and I stopped for ice cream after church on Sunday.  We normally just go to the movies, but there was a lot of time before Public Enemies, and also we hadn’t decided that we were going to see it yet, so we stopped.

Actually, we drove by a little farm/ice cream place and turned around.  It was actually a cute little farm that we’d driven by quite a few Sunday’s after church, that we never thought to stop at.  But we were in the convertible.  And it was a beautiful day  And who doesn’t love ice cream?

Before we even got to the ice cream part of the farm, there were so many other things to look at:

my shadow and me... and water... and ducks

The little waterfall thing was cute… I like taking pictures of things that LOOK interesting.  I am definitely attracted to things that are architecturally pleasing.  And waterfalls.  And ducks, of course.

And then there were chickens.

holy chickens, batman!

There were a few more chickens, but they kept hiding in the pen.  But it wasn’t the  chickens that were menacing… it was those damned turkeys.  At work, when they’re loose, they’ll chase after people.  They really don’t care.  It’s freaky.

so glad these turkeys were penned... they TOTALLY wanted to kill me

And then we saw the this:

to EMERALD CITY!

Chriso promises he saw this when we drove in.  I only saw it after I’d been dancing around the parking lot eating the best peanut butter reeses ice cream ever.

And then Chriso and I had this conversation:

                    Me:  I TOTALLY could have been Dorothy!

                    Chriso:  No, you couldn’t have.  You were too old.

                    Me:  Wow. 

                    Chriso: I didn’t mean it like that…

                    Me:  Okay, NOT-Pippin!

I’m pretty sure that conversation went on a little longer, and in more detail about why I wasn’t Dorothy, and why Chriso’s new name is Not-Pippin… but, really?  Didn’t matter.  We had ice cream.

And seeing how enticing and curious the painted sign on the road was, we decided to follow it, and ended up here:

follow the yellow brick road

There really wasn’t any yellow to follow, much less bricks, and it was more of a dirt path… but come on.  When there are signs painted on the ground, how can you NOT follow them?

Oz...?

ANNDDD…. THIS was Oz.  The path really didn’t go on much further.  There was a tractor at the end of it.  But it was really nice to look at. 

I asked Chriso if he wanted to own a farm… I don’t think we’re ever going to have farm animals.

But ice cream was fun.  And following the yellow brick road was fun.  And the movies later were also fun.  Let’s face it.  Chriso and I have had some pretty amazing dates.  And the pictures always come out awesome!

On Becoming an Adult OR The One Where I Update Everyone… Again

I’ve been contemplating creating a new blog.  One that is more… personal.  And then I realized.  I ALREADY have one of those.  I just haven’t written in it in years. 

Since 2007, actually.

And looking back at what I’ve written, it’s weird.  And a little unsettling.  And a little comforting. 

I am in a VERY different place now than I was 2 years ago.  2 years ago next month.  I was with a man who was abusive.  I didn’t see it then, but I can certainly see it now.  I lost my crappy job.  I was significantly overweight, and terribly unhappy.  And I pretty much thought I was going to die.

BUT, I survived.  I came out the other side as a whole person.  I’m doing bigger and better things than I ever thought possible.  And most importantly, I’m with a man I love more than anything else in this world.  I survived. 

There was a long period of time where I thought I would never pull through the depression.  I had even considered seeing a shrink.  I have nothing against the idea, or those who do, but something like that would certainly NOT be beneficial to me.  And I’m okay with that.

I learned a lot of hard lessons.  And a few easy ones.

And here I am.  2 years later.  Getting ready to do all the things I said I was going to do 2 years ago. 

For starters, Chriso and are I moving.  Not to California, but we are definitely moving.  And we’re getting married, and we’re planning on starting a family.  And all of this is so very amazing.

To be perfectly honest, gentle readers, I really should have done all this sooner.  I’m in a constant blog-identity struggle, where I don’t want to make my AWESOME TV-blog too personal, but at the same time, I need an outlet where I CAN be too personal. 

But I’ve grown up.  I’m growing up.  I’m 26 years old, and I don’t think I’ll ever really feel like a grown up.  But you know something?  I’m perfectly okay with that.  It might mean I’ll be a better parent to my kids someday because I’ll still be able to relate.  It might mean that I will be perpetually laid back, and life a stress-free life.  It might mean I’ll be a happier person.  I don’t know, but I’m so ready to find out.

So, gentle readers, welcome.  And welcome back. 

It’s not about where you’re going, it’s all about how you get there.  And I plan to enjoy the ride.

Anywhere But Here

Time to have a quick game of Anywhere But Here.