(no subject)
Now, for a short and sweet catch-up post...
I've come home from London and gone through some serious post-Europe blues. Although I was looking forward to seeing my friends and loved ones again, it was a bit overwhelming at first. Once I got over that weirdness everything became so effortless. It really feels good to be with my friends. I almost wish it wasn't that way. Now that I'm finally feeling settled, I'm getting ready to leave again.
**EDIT** I forgot to mention the most important event of these past months. Ben's already announced it on LJ and we've told everyone that we talk to on a regular basis, but we got engaged! I came back from London after four months and Ben and I visited my parents. Unbeknownst to me, one of the times I left the room Ben asked for my hand and had a heart-to-heart with my parents. When I came back, they let absolutely nothing on! Sneaks! The next week, Ben graduated on a Friday. I graduated on Saturday. We were engaged on that Sunday! He asked me by Lake Ella. I interrupted him twice before I realized what he was trying to do. When I did, I flipped out and started crying and laughing. "Are you asking me to marry you?!?!" My ring is a cute sapphire on a sweet white gold band. I did not want a diamond under any circumstance (so I'm sure Ben was like, SCORE!!!) LOL. So yeah, we're gonna' get married. We're going to wait until at least one of us is done with grad school (around two years) but I'm already looking at wedding stuff and getting twitterpated... First things first, though. We've got to get Ben through grad school.
Ben and I went to Philadelphia and found an apartment. It seems pretty great. We weren't sure about some details when we signed (which would ordinarily flip my lid, but this was a unique situation, as I'm sure you've read in Ben's journal). As a result, we keep getting pleasantly surprised. For instance, we thought that we would have to walk a block to the laundromat but there is a washer and dryer in the building! Woot! Man, we lucked out... because things could be so much worse. Some of the places we looked at were in the ghetto or so tiny and abused that I was envisioning some pretty dire scenarios... "Why are you staring at me?" "I have nothing else to look at..."
Philadelphia itself seems like it could be home. It's got all that big city stuff going for it, and for that matter, going against it. My home-sickness for London may be cured, but I know that I will soon be longing for the peace and quiet of Old Town and Tallahassee. I guess I can't win for the time being. Anyway, Tim and Beth helped give us a taste of the city so I'm looking forward to getting to know it better. And after walking all over it in search of a home, I don't feel quite as intimidated by the unknown.
People keep asking me if I'm excited about moving. Honestly, it isn't that simple. I am excited about making a home with Ben, but apprehensive about striking out as an independent adult. Luckily, Ben will be there with me through all the change. As never before we will share our burdens and successes.
Phew. Well, I'm packing right now. I don't like it. It is time-consuming and dusty and I have to throw away a lot of sentimental/impractical things (read: I am a packrat). I wish they made bedroom-sized Space Saver bags. You know, the ones that you vacuum out for easy toting? Meh.
I've come home from London and gone through some serious post-Europe blues. Although I was looking forward to seeing my friends and loved ones again, it was a bit overwhelming at first. Once I got over that weirdness everything became so effortless. It really feels good to be with my friends. I almost wish it wasn't that way. Now that I'm finally feeling settled, I'm getting ready to leave again.
**EDIT** I forgot to mention the most important event of these past months. Ben's already announced it on LJ and we've told everyone that we talk to on a regular basis, but we got engaged! I came back from London after four months and Ben and I visited my parents. Unbeknownst to me, one of the times I left the room Ben asked for my hand and had a heart-to-heart with my parents. When I came back, they let absolutely nothing on! Sneaks! The next week, Ben graduated on a Friday. I graduated on Saturday. We were engaged on that Sunday! He asked me by Lake Ella. I interrupted him twice before I realized what he was trying to do. When I did, I flipped out and started crying and laughing. "Are you asking me to marry you?!?!" My ring is a cute sapphire on a sweet white gold band. I did not want a diamond under any circumstance (so I'm sure Ben was like, SCORE!!!) LOL. So yeah, we're gonna' get married. We're going to wait until at least one of us is done with grad school (around two years) but I'm already looking at wedding stuff and getting twitterpated... First things first, though. We've got to get Ben through grad school.
Ben and I went to Philadelphia and found an apartment. It seems pretty great. We weren't sure about some details when we signed (which would ordinarily flip my lid, but this was a unique situation, as I'm sure you've read in Ben's journal). As a result, we keep getting pleasantly surprised. For instance, we thought that we would have to walk a block to the laundromat but there is a washer and dryer in the building! Woot! Man, we lucked out... because things could be so much worse. Some of the places we looked at were in the ghetto or so tiny and abused that I was envisioning some pretty dire scenarios... "Why are you staring at me?" "I have nothing else to look at..."
Philadelphia itself seems like it could be home. It's got all that big city stuff going for it, and for that matter, going against it. My home-sickness for London may be cured, but I know that I will soon be longing for the peace and quiet of Old Town and Tallahassee. I guess I can't win for the time being. Anyway, Tim and Beth helped give us a taste of the city so I'm looking forward to getting to know it better. And after walking all over it in search of a home, I don't feel quite as intimidated by the unknown.
People keep asking me if I'm excited about moving. Honestly, it isn't that simple. I am excited about making a home with Ben, but apprehensive about striking out as an independent adult. Luckily, Ben will be there with me through all the change. As never before we will share our burdens and successes.
Phew. Well, I'm packing right now. I don't like it. It is time-consuming and dusty and I have to throw away a lot of sentimental/impractical things (read: I am a packrat). I wish they made bedroom-sized Space Saver bags. You know, the ones that you vacuum out for easy toting? Meh.