Don't Stop!

I was attempting during the past two hours to put together the most awesome portfolio for my upcoming job interview. But somewhere in the midst of Googling "MN Stockpot" and finding pics of foodshow displays I ran across my video archives from college.

Time Froze.

I was back in a crazy period of my life called 2004-2006.

Some people look back at the crazy, emotional times of high school and love it. Not me. No, I look back at those two years in college where everything and anything that happened was beyond incredible. Whether it was as simple as making a new friend to a (then) 'devestating' break-up(s). Sure at that time my emotions (and yes, friends will totally agree I was a nutcase. A lot.) were beyond anything but the feeling of 'fondness' at which I now have.

The best part is that it's only 2008 - not too long ago were these significant events, but thankfully they seem like ages ago. I say thankfully because it means that I'm cool with all that was past. Sure I made mistakes, people were dumb .... but overlook some of that silly stuff and there was real STUFF happening that has made me (and my friends) who they are today.

Watching these videos from my drive-thru experience with PopPop on our way to West Regionals, to The Boys being dumb at Music City Bowl to sledding avdentures with one of my best friends - I was in hysterics of laughter. I laughed so hard that at one point I about fell off of my bed. With all of this nostalgia I now find myself listening to Journey (shut-up....Sterbs Jukebox MEMORY!) and looking at pics. I don't think I'll calculate what was spent at the bar during those years (that would just make me cry) but I certainly wouldn't have changed that for the world.

There are some moments that will always be remembered.....

- Begging for $1s to put in the Jukebox at Sterbs
- The corner booth on Wednesday nights
- Water nights with Adj
- Thursday night rallys with the girls at Bullies
- The GREAT SmokeOUT!
- Music Mayhem
- Trudging through snow for Jimmy Johns
- Tour de Seven Corners
- Walks to the Dome
- etc.

And yes...I have now discovered about 1/2 doz pics of Ty in his underwear - BOOYA BUDDY!!

Payback is a __________ - well you get the picture!

So um, now I'm turning up the tunes for a little...."Just a small town girl, livin' in a lonely world....took the midnight train going ANYWHERE......"

From the Porch

It's a Sunday afternoon. I'm sitting on the porch watching & listening to the sounds of my neighborhood. There are teens on the baskball court shouting whatnots to each other, the buzz of Ridge Ave one block down, the neighbors TV and a few dogs barking in the back of our row. This is certainly not the sounds I grew-up with. I grew-up with cows mooing, the milkhuse pumps humming, a random tractor pull through the north part of the farm and ...... silence. Silence where, at times, all you could 'hear' was the breeze.

Not only has the sounds been bugging me lately, but also the sights, mostly, the stars. While driving to Atlantic City last night I saw stars for the first time in two weeks. We threw the moonroof open and zipped through the night with a ceiling of stars. It was amazing.

So two-and-a-half years later, I find myself wondering if I could take the new version of sound and sight any longer? Perhaps, but it's not cutting it for me right now.

Yeah, I'll miss the little neighbor kids peering out their mail slot at me whenever I come home and asking me where I've been. And that dog that wakes me up every morning howling/crying cause its owner left it for the day in a small, cramped house. And yes, I'll miss the neighbors friends who find our front lawn to be the perfect ashtray. Oh and lest we not forget the guy three houses down who thinks he's beyond awesome and showing it by revving his motorcycleat 11:30 pm. Yes, so much I'll miss.

Itch.

There was a moment when I wanted to just swing my car around, fill it with clothes and leave while on my way to work this morning.

I think I'm done.

End of a Chapter?

I have been around. Not around a lot of places, but have moved and a decent amount of times since my first move at the age of three....across the drive-way.

The last move was from DC to Philly. I didn't think too much about moving to Philly, just ticked it off as "another place to live when I'm young and unattached." I didn't think of a few key things because they were never a worry of mine previously - the number one being - the ability to make new friends. All I have to say, is when you live in a city that hosts a lot of people who were born/grew-up/gonna die here there is little room for a newbie. And I don't blame them. Why let in a new person who probably won't stay around too long? Anyhow, I have found around a handful of people I can call my friends in this current city. Ironically, they are all from somewhere else. But a handful just doesn't cut it in world of being me. I'm just a bit too much of an extrovert who ends up running the handful a bit tired of the needs for activity and time.

So beyond the 'Woo is Me' bit.......

I've decided to get over this place. I, for once, do not have a timeline but certainly am willing to take a looksy-loo around for future opportunities. I'm gonna be somewhat picky but certainly look at all options.

Ideas?

Options?

Networking will be taking place in the Midwest 'hood within a few weeks. Yes, I'm spending my vacation networking. I'm sad or awesome - you choose.

******

The Twins are killing me. In and out of 1st for the AL Central? Killin' ME!

******

Since when has board games at bars become so darn trendy?! Can't people sit around and have great watering-hole debates and conversations?

Breathe........or Stop?

I'm at the gym. I'm stoked about gettin' in a good workout but my regular machines are all taken (yes, I have no clue what they are called...just a mix between an eliptical & stairmaster). Anyhow, seeing that they are full I decide to cruise on the eliptical machine and there happened to be one that was open under the fan (SCORE!!). I hop on and tune up the Ipod.

Then I heard it. "GAHG!! GAHG!! AHHHH ARGHHHH!!"

The guy next to me. Not panting. No. He is literally gasping for life and grunting like a dog. I can't even fully describe how gross I felt being next to him. I've put up wiht bad BO, heavy breathing and the lady who moaned but never a grunting dog noise. There was a point when I wanted to turn to him and say, "Sir, really, if you are having this much difficulty on that easy of a level...you ought to go and visit a Dr. or just sit this one out." But I didn't and instead I just hit the volume button on my Ipod and rocked out to Jock Jams.

Though, speaking of hardcore gym moments (not mine, others) the following day I was there and back on my Eliptimaster and looked over to see my neighbor going to town on a level much harder than myself. As I was putting in only a 30 min. stint he was working toward an hour. After 30 mins he was on one of highest levels and had 5 mins to go..........his "Calorie Count" read 1185. YES! ONE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVE!! I about died - but then I saw that he was about to die and then I was perfectly fine with my measily 450 calories.