Radom Things I learned This Week...

1) When someone is sick you call the "ambulance" everywhere else in the country...apparently no one else else says "squad" except in Perrysville or Ohio.
2) Not everyone had 50cent vocab words in grade school and when you compliment a coworker on their use of them, they don't get it.
3) In Boise Idaho they don't eat their own potatoes but instead potatoes from Cali. Weird.
4) I've really missed hanging out with guy friends. Luckily I just adopted Sarah's boyfriend as my new BFF.
5) A positive attitude can make a huge difference in a lot of things.

St. Paddy's

I know some people can't really get into St. Patrick's day, but for some reason or another it is one of my favorite days. I mean, how could I not love it? I get to wear green (my favorite color), I get to drink green beer and shamrock shakes (I'll even admit to having a green bagel, ok that was a little over the top but I can't help myself!) and even though I'm not really Irish, it's still a fun day to be a redhead.

Every year I have big plans for the big day, and every single year they fall through. It doesn't matter though because they always turn out alright. Two years ago I was on Spring Break in Cali and although we didn't go out, let's just say we had enough fun. Last year's plans fell through and we just ended up grabbing a green beer at dinner. It wasn't anything wild and crazy but Heather and Beth were out here visiting on their Spring Break so of course it was still a good time.

This year came a little closer to plan. I had intended to take the 18th off with another co-worker, Sarah, but due to the board meeting we couldn't and had to keep our celebration minimal. Everything worked out in the end because we went to the Coach House for some green beer and hung out with some Fiesta Bowlers. There was a table of older guys there showing us their magic tricks and they even bought us flowers for putting up with their jokes. Go figure I get roses on St. Paddy's Day instead of Valentine's day! No wonder I like the green holiday much better than that sappy pink and red one ;) It was just a great day/night and my abs actually hurt from laughing so much. (so that burnt off all the calories from the shamrock shake right?)

Expanding My Network

Ok so apparently my avid readers are hungry for a new blog (calm down mom haha) so I'm finally back at it. I didn't really think that I had a lot to write about since nothing out of the ordinary was happening, until I started to reflect back on how much my life has changed. Moving out here was a huge step and I did it without really freaking out. But sometimes as I'm driving around in the sunshine and pass the palm trees and mountains, I think to myself "Wow, I really did it!".

At first it was hard to adjust to a clean slate. I had to build up a life from scratch. It was a lot of work sometimes but suddenly I can see all that I've accomplished. I have great reliable friends here that I can always count on. We have become each other's family and it's nice to have that. I've also worked really hard to expand my social network and I think I've finally started to achieve that. I've been making friends at work, ballet class, and Latin dance.

Speaking of dance, I am proud of myself for getting involved. It can be scary to start something new by yourself, but I have. I now take multiple classes a week and didn't know anyone when I started. Now I have a good friend in each class and I find myself chatting with them for over an hour after class is done. It reminds me of the great friendships that were created from dancing in school.

This doesn't seem like a huge accomplishment, but looking back at all the little things makes me feel good. It definitely isn't an easy and fast task to set up a new life on the other side of the country, but if you push yourself to get out there and try new things everything will eventually fall into place.

Things I've Learned From Having a Convertible

1) You have to keep your car clean in case you put the top down. No one likes a litter bug!
2) Make sure you look decent (preferably cute) because when the top is down you are exposed and people will notice or stare.
3) Just know that the music you are listening is also audible to others.
4) If you are pale, consider sunscreen before driving around.
5) It can be the most therapeutic thing when you need to think or just breathe.

Fiesta Bowl 2009

Pre-Game at the 2009 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl

The Buckeyes made it to the Fiesta Bowl this year and thankfully my friends hooked me up! I was able to get me, my brother, and uncles tickets to the game as well as some pregame party passes. Basically I have great friends in high places :)

The Family

The guys heading to the stadium

Although the game didn't end the way we would have liked, it was still a good one. I can never complain when I'm surrounded with scarlet and gray, hear the hearty cheer of O-H and I-O, get to see the best damn band in the land, and witness the sweater vest in action. It's also so nice to spend time with my uncles and brother (who never misses a game).

I Love Brutus! Right after I took his picture he pointed right at me. Swoon! haha

Drum majors for the best damn band in the land!

They are awesome.

Me and Keith inside the stadium during the game.

Goodbye Mali...Hello Roxie

It is with my saddest regrets that I inform you that Mali and I had to part ways. She was a great car who got me to many places, including Arizona. Unfortunately, she came down with a bad case of engine disease. The “doctor” told me he wasn’t sure what her life expectancy was and “she could go forever, but she might die tomorrow”. Also, he informed me to avoid using highways and to just ride with friends as much as possible. The medical bills to just do an exam on Mali would cost a pretty penny without even a cure involved. It was time to put Mali down. It was a very sad experience as I had many memories with her, but I know she will be with me in spirit.

The sudden need for a new car led me into a panic/obsessive mode to fix the problem. I dove into researching cars, figuring out my budget, making a list of needs, and educating myself on car buying tactics. I must say I did a good job of knowing my stuff and even though I had to take my uncle along for moral support, I did everything myself. I guess that makes me a little bit of a grown up, huh?

Even though the actual car shopping process was not fun, the end product was well worth it. The goodbye to Mali was sad, but driving off the lot in Roxie was a nice experience. I tried to be practical in my decisions, but for this one time in my life, a convertible isn’t actually considered impractical! With no kids and nice weather year round, why not take advantage of it ☺

And thus, I now have a white 2008 Chrysler Sebring and she’s beautiful! It’s so much fun driving around with the top down and everyone should come visit so I can take you for a ride.

Roomates Reunited in PHX

The coolest college roommate ever, Brandi M. Killinger, came to visit me in Phoenix. On New Years Eve Day she departed from Cleveland, I departed from Columbus and we raced across the country to land in Phoenix. (I won by the way)

Her entire visit was a whirlwind and it flew by way. Right after we got home from the airport, we threw down our bags, did a quick change, and then got a ride down to Mill Ave for the Tempe Block Party. Thanks to my wonderful friend, Maureen, we had VIP wristbands which entitled us to free food and drinks and to hang out with the lovely people at the Fiesta Bowl.

I think we got more tipsy off of the excitement of being together in PHX than from the wine and margaritas. It was a great way to start a new year. I think I had as much fun on the walk down Mill and our cab experience than I’ve had in a whole year. Nothing is mundane or boring with Brandi in the picture haha.

New Years Day we set out to let Brandi experience the desert life. We went to Papago Park to climb to the Hole in the Rock and then went to the Desert Botanical Gardens to see the Chihuly Exhibit ( I highly recommend it by the way).

Brandi liked how this glass matched my hair.

Brandi with a real live cactus!

After our exercise we needed nourishment and what better than to introduce Brandi to In & Out Burger? And since we were in the area, we might as well stop by Tempe Market Place for a little shopping. This shopping trip actually spurred one of Brandi’s big ideas. (You know the ones that she gets really excited about and there is no turning back? Yeah one of those exciting ideas haha). She found some baskets that would go well in my room. When she tried to buy them for me and my argument was that I didn’t have room, so proclaimed we would rearrange my entire room. She wasn’t kidding. Brandi is the master of arranging rooms and creative projects. I felt guilty letting her clean and organize my room on her vacation, but like I said, there is no stopping her once it’s in her mind. We worked for hours, moved around all my furniture and did some heavy lifting, but by the end of the night my room had 3 times as much floor space, was clean and actually felt like a room I wanted to spend time in. This was just one of the many things Brandi improved in my life when she was in town. I don’t have room to list them all, but seriously, how did I live without this girl in 2008?

The rest of Brandi’s trip was slightly dulled due to my car (Mali) becoming seriously ill. She had to put up with my distress over what to do and we had to take more cab rides, but we still managed to go out on the town and have a blash. When you have Brandi, you end up making friends with pretty much everyone in the bar and we met some fun people. We even made Keith (who came out for the Fiesta Bowl) hang out with us at Dos Gringos (but we had to promise him there would be no dancing).

Brandi and I on Mill Avenue

These two had never actually met until they both came to Phoenix haha.

It was one of the saddest things to take Brandi back to the airport and send her back to the frigid North. Why can’t she just move out her to AZ and live in the sun with me? Brandi, I think you should seriously consider this ☺.