Greetings!
Just a warning: this may end up being a rather long post. I haven't truly updated in quite a while, so the rambling may get out of hand. And I think I'm going to update my 101 list while I'm at it. I'll spare all of you the Project 365 update. If anyone is truly interested in seeing my pictures, just check out my myspace profile pics - the project has its own folder in there.
So, hello! I hope everyone out there is doing well and feeling fine. I kept up with reading over the holidays, for the most part, though I fell completely behind on the commenting. I apologize - I swear, I do still care, and I am still alive! =) Most of you know how it goes, though, so I'm pretty sure there's no hard feelings. I hope.
As for the holidays, I had a great time this year. Spent about 9 days with family in Texas, and loved every minute of it. Lots of good food, laughter, love & Scrabble. And a gigantic, soft, wonderful bed to sleep in - woot! Very relaxing. (My bed here at home is a 30+ year-old twin mattress & boxsprings set. I'm getting a platform bed as soon as I move.) Christmas itself was very lucrative this year - I really feel like I got too much, but I really needed a lot of what I got. New clothes that actually fit FTW! I also received a crock-pot & a "Fix it and Forget it" cookbook that I'm excited about testing out. I'll let you know how that goes. (For the newer people out there, my domestic/culinary skills are practically nonexistent, so new experiments are always an Adventure in Learning.)
Anywho, yes, great time in Texas. I only get to see my folks about once per year, so I try to absorb every minute of my visits. Every time I visit, I consider moving to the area just to be closer to them. I don't usually regret my decision to move to Ohio, but I do sometimes wish I could have gotten my head on straight without having to leave the family behind. I also wish I'd made a bit more of an effort to be part of the family while I still lived there. Too busy running the roads with my friends. I have some wonderful, life-long friendships because of that, and a lot of fun memories, but I know I pushed myself out of the family circle a bit, and missed out on some bonding opportunities & memories. I know I can't go back & change things, and I know my family doesn't hold it against me, but I know I could have done better. Maybe that's why I miss them so much now. Who knows?
In any case, this wasn't meant to be a melancholy post, so let's pull it up a bit, yes?
Flew back to Ohio on the 30th of December. I was supposed to fly back the night of the 29th, but after arriving at the airport (and checking in, and sitting at the gate for an hour...), I found out that my flight had been suddenly cancelled. Wtf? Apparently another plane had electrical issues, so the airline replaced it...with my plane. Okay, sure, no sweat - I can just get on another flight, right? Wrong! Nothing else can get me anywhere near Ohio. Argh. The lady at the counter was very helpful and apologetic about the whole thing, and she got me on the first flight out the next day - a 6 a.m. redeye. I had to be up by 3:45 a.m. to get to the airport in time. Yuck. Luckily, things went smoothly the next day, and I made it home safe and sound. Not only that, but when I called customer service like the lady recommended, they apologized and sent me a $150 travel voucher. So, all's well that ends well.
New Year's was rather uneventful. I ended up having to close at work, which is not unusual. Went out to the bar afterward and ended up staying up until the wee hours of the morning with a bunch of friends. Good times. Spent the next day recovering, of course. =) Did the same thing for my birthday a few days later, which was also a grand ol' time. I'm pretty easy to please - give me a few strong drinks & a good crowd to hang with, and I'm a happy girl.
Speaking of birthdays, yup, I'm 29 now. For some reason, 28 kinda freaked me out, but turning 29 hasn't had the same effect. I know I'm closer to 30, but when I really think about it, what's the big deal? We get older - it happens to everyone. I think I'm aging okay, though I know I could take better care of myself. I have friends who freak out about wrinkles and grey hair, but those things don't bother me. Well, they won't bother me, anyway - haven't started going grey yet, and it may very well be a long time coming. My grandmother was in her 50's or 60's when she started turning, and she never dyed her hair. She has the neatest little fluff of white at the front of her hair now, and the woman is 89 years old. Regardless, though, I don't think grey hair is anything to freak out about. The worst part of aging is the achy joints. I really, truly need to be more active. But that's an old song I sing on a regular basis, so....
Okay, I'm going to cut this & post seperate entries. I know, most of your eyes have glazed over by now, but that's okay - this is mostly for my recollection & whatnot.
So, hello! I hope everyone out there is doing well and feeling fine. I kept up with reading over the holidays, for the most part, though I fell completely behind on the commenting. I apologize - I swear, I do still care, and I am still alive! =) Most of you know how it goes, though, so I'm pretty sure there's no hard feelings. I hope.
As for the holidays, I had a great time this year. Spent about 9 days with family in Texas, and loved every minute of it. Lots of good food, laughter, love & Scrabble. And a gigantic, soft, wonderful bed to sleep in - woot! Very relaxing. (My bed here at home is a 30+ year-old twin mattress & boxsprings set. I'm getting a platform bed as soon as I move.) Christmas itself was very lucrative this year - I really feel like I got too much, but I really needed a lot of what I got. New clothes that actually fit FTW! I also received a crock-pot & a "Fix it and Forget it" cookbook that I'm excited about testing out. I'll let you know how that goes. (For the newer people out there, my domestic/culinary skills are practically nonexistent, so new experiments are always an Adventure in Learning.)
Anywho, yes, great time in Texas. I only get to see my folks about once per year, so I try to absorb every minute of my visits. Every time I visit, I consider moving to the area just to be closer to them. I don't usually regret my decision to move to Ohio, but I do sometimes wish I could have gotten my head on straight without having to leave the family behind. I also wish I'd made a bit more of an effort to be part of the family while I still lived there. Too busy running the roads with my friends. I have some wonderful, life-long friendships because of that, and a lot of fun memories, but I know I pushed myself out of the family circle a bit, and missed out on some bonding opportunities & memories. I know I can't go back & change things, and I know my family doesn't hold it against me, but I know I could have done better. Maybe that's why I miss them so much now. Who knows?
In any case, this wasn't meant to be a melancholy post, so let's pull it up a bit, yes?
Flew back to Ohio on the 30th of December. I was supposed to fly back the night of the 29th, but after arriving at the airport (and checking in, and sitting at the gate for an hour...), I found out that my flight had been suddenly cancelled. Wtf? Apparently another plane had electrical issues, so the airline replaced it...with my plane. Okay, sure, no sweat - I can just get on another flight, right? Wrong! Nothing else can get me anywhere near Ohio. Argh. The lady at the counter was very helpful and apologetic about the whole thing, and she got me on the first flight out the next day - a 6 a.m. redeye. I had to be up by 3:45 a.m. to get to the airport in time. Yuck. Luckily, things went smoothly the next day, and I made it home safe and sound. Not only that, but when I called customer service like the lady recommended, they apologized and sent me a $150 travel voucher. So, all's well that ends well.
New Year's was rather uneventful. I ended up having to close at work, which is not unusual. Went out to the bar afterward and ended up staying up until the wee hours of the morning with a bunch of friends. Good times. Spent the next day recovering, of course. =) Did the same thing for my birthday a few days later, which was also a grand ol' time. I'm pretty easy to please - give me a few strong drinks & a good crowd to hang with, and I'm a happy girl.
Speaking of birthdays, yup, I'm 29 now. For some reason, 28 kinda freaked me out, but turning 29 hasn't had the same effect. I know I'm closer to 30, but when I really think about it, what's the big deal? We get older - it happens to everyone. I think I'm aging okay, though I know I could take better care of myself. I have friends who freak out about wrinkles and grey hair, but those things don't bother me. Well, they won't bother me, anyway - haven't started going grey yet, and it may very well be a long time coming. My grandmother was in her 50's or 60's when she started turning, and she never dyed her hair. She has the neatest little fluff of white at the front of her hair now, and the woman is 89 years old. Regardless, though, I don't think grey hair is anything to freak out about. The worst part of aging is the achy joints. I really, truly need to be more active. But that's an old song I sing on a regular basis, so....
Okay, I'm going to cut this & post seperate entries. I know, most of your eyes have glazed over by now, but that's okay - this is mostly for my recollection & whatnot.