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Wednesday, August 6th, 2003
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12:15a - Back...for real now.
For a long time, I've been neglecting this journal. I've been trying to update it for awhile, and I just haven't had the time. I've been so busy lately, and I don't know what my deal is, seriously.
I've also been wanting to delete some of my entires just because I look back at them and realize they were just plain stupid. I suppose it would reflect the moment that I wrote it, but at the same time... wow. I guess I've grown.
Speaking of growing, I feel like I keep doing that. Growing in a lot of different ways. This past year, so far... it seems like it's gone by so fast. It's amazing to think that only a couple of months ago Brooke and I were celebrating new year's, and now Christmas is rapidly approaching. I'm not trying to be impatient and look too far in the future, but with working retail it's hard not to look ahead.
I don't have any regrets with anything that happened in my life. This spring was the best quarter I've had, as far as life in general, of any other quarter in school. I don't think I have ever been more content and happy.
This summer has been a whirlwind. It seems like I just jitter around from one thing to a next, class to work, and then dividing time between my friends as well as my family. For once, I would love not to work and have an open schedule... but at the same time, I find if hard not to work. I think the drive to work and to be better than what I already am is instilled in me. And it's not a bad thing.
And I look back at the summer so far, and though it could HARDLY match up to last summer whatsoever, it's been an adventure, as life always is. :-) July fourth was an awesome time with my best friend Brooke and her family, the day after was great with her and her uncle from Cali. It's always nice to know that other families are just like mine in many ways- they're different, yes, but they all have their individual quirks that make them so similar. I've been glad to share so many early afternoon lunches with Chris, who always enjoys hearing about what's going on in my life as well as adding his big brotherly advice. ;-) Karen, who I've enjoyed multiple chick flicks, random trips to the mall, ice cream and dinners. Adam and Sarah, who I can always count on to be there to make the trip to Easton just to enjoy the weather and enjoy Max and Erma's as well as Adam's goofy humor. Jenn, with her charisma and blunt humor, for Smith and Woolensky and nights out around Easton, as well as her sisterly love, comfort, and support- and I have to give her boy Jason for always giving me compliments on how nice I look! It makes me feel great.
I've become closer with coworkers, like our new manager Tracie- we bond over the shared love of the South, Cache tunes, visuals, and humor. Sarah and I have become closer too- we share similar coincidences in life, and we're able to equally provide each other with a friend, an ear, humor, clothes, and fashion advice.
Kelli and I have grown closer and then further apart. I respect her for the person she is, and I will always cherish her advice, no matter how terrible it may be (jk). Yet, due to mutual acquaintances, I have chosen not to see her as frequently. It has caused too much drama that I do not want to be a part of. Lissa and I have bonded over our mutual strength, our mutual eagerness to live without Kelli's drama, and of course, driving her Dad's boat. ;-)
I am really grateful to be hanging out with Kristen more. She has such a beauty and strength that really shows through her that she fails, or won't let herself see. She's one of the strongest people I've met, and she neglects to see how much her words and her outlook on life and on other people's life affects others, especially me. After the four and a half hour talk about faith, life, love, change- and everything, I have never felt so comforted and strengthened by someone.
And I also have to give a hand to my best buddy Jake. Though at times he can be a little bit annoying, and persistant for me to set him up with a sorority sister, he's Jake. I enjoy his humor, the fact that he just doesn't care about the petty things in life, and takes things as they come. He always says that he's not into looking at life very seriously, and you know what- he's right. He keeps me level headed about things, and it's nice to have him as my big brother because I know he's going to be there to make sure I'm okay and not getting hurt. Then there's Alex, Lauren, Lauren's brother Brandon, Jim and Kelly- who I enjoy with Jake's company.
And then to my best buddy Trouble- though I got to spend oodles of time with you at the Irish Fest (where Jeff and Pat were MIA), it was not enough time. Between mosh pits at the Flogging Molly show, as well as Seven Nations, Horn Girl, Kettle Corn, crazy crazy drunks, Capt. Ron and his skipper, Drew, Jean the driving machine, and raiding cocktail tents with fellow Coffman grads Sam and Steven, it was yet another fun year! Can't wait for next year! That, and I put in over 20 hours of community service, and it's always great to be told how much you're time is appreciated, especially if you have fun while you're helping! BTW, Chris and Rebecca... I'd better see you guys there next year! Coincidentally, I ran into Lewis in the same spot as I ran into him last year...
And of course, I miss a lot of people that I don't see that I consider a major part of my life- to list a few, Scuba Steve, my little Corin, my big Princess Amanda, Mega, Toy, James, Hannah and Erik. I love you all and miss you lots!
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. -Hebrews 11:1
As far as the daily rant goes, I have come to the conclusion that retail is a terrible way of life. It can drive you literally crazy because by the time Elizabeth got there, Tracie and I were going crazy. Between 10 special orders, with 4 unfilled because they were damaged, as well as high maintenance customers, shipment, and the store looking terrible and needing a definite face lift, we were on our feet all day. I think I had a 10 minute break for working a 6 hour shift, which is fine with me because I had to get things done. But at the same time, I don't understand how anyone can settle with working retail without becoming crazy. It's just as bad as the food industry. Between Kelli, Mike, and Lissa's stories, as well as personal experiences, I would never want to work in food either. It makes me excited to get into a field that I actually enjoy, and I love poli sci. :-)
I'm yearning to be down South. Kristen and I determined that the South is just a different world, and some people, though not born in the South but with it in their blood, have it engraved in their heart. I feel that way. I feel at home when I'm down in the South- I love my extended family, I love their quirkiness, I love their hospitality and their nature. I love horseback riding in the large open fields by the Chatahootchee River knowing that there isn't a city in site.
Yet, at the same time, both Kristen and I are also city girls. And on my closing thought, because I'm getting tired, all city girls have a little bit of country in them. Some may think otherwise, but someday in their lives they'll get in touch with it. :-) More later.
current mood:  bouncy
current music: This Love -Maroon 5 (comment on this)
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12:53a - One quick dedication...
These people made my smile, so I would like to dedicate songs to them- in specific, oldies, because I'm in an oldies mood:
Lissa, also known as 'lissabug'- The Foundations's "Build Me Up Buttercup"; for your kind words when you just called to say hi...
Chris- James Brown's "Play that Funky Music White Boy" because it's a damn good song; for your humorous words this evening...
Abby- Johnny Rivers's "Secret Agent Man"; for our secret missions at the Irish Fest...
Mr. A ;-) , The Shondells and Tommy James' "Crystal Blue Persuasion"; for solace...
Sarah, aka Stinkerbell, Aretha Franklin's "Say a Little Prayer for You"; for good luck with Burt, and my anticipation to hear the details...
Brooke, "If You're Going to San Francisco"; because I miss you and I'm thinking about you while you're in Cali...
Night all.
current mood:  sleepy
current music: Say A Little Prayer- Aretha Franklin (comment on this)
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11:50a - traveler's notebook
I was reading in an older issue of Town and Country magazine about a part of Italy that I would love to travel to. (For those that are unfamiliar with magazines, Town and Country is a pretty well known magazine with articles on high-end travel, fashion, beauty, etc. in the US, but mostly abroad. It's up there with the likes of Vanity Fair, and happens to be one of my faves. :) ) Anyways, it talks about Umbria, the only completely landlocked region in central and southern Italy. The pictures are absolutely gorgeous, and attractions priceless. The sites have a very medieval monastery-type feel, even the four-star hotels. It's amazing to read that most of the owners have left the 13th century churches unrestored- roofless with amazing views.
Eventually, once I'm finished with undergrad as well as law school and settle down with a stable job, whether it be in corporate law or the financial field, I want to have a lot of time devoted to travelling. I'm intrigued by foreign countries, especially. At the Irish Fest, Franz was telling me about his honeymoon that him and his wife took to Asia. It sounded like an intriguing trip- he visited Tibet, walked the great wall, etc. etc. I want to enjoy that, and have someone to enjoy it with. I don't want to limit myself to staying in Ohio and never getting out. I could live here, yes, but at the same time I want to travel- a lot. I want to experience new things, see new things, and go everywhere. At the top of my list include Italy (especially Milan and southern Italy), France, London, and then of course, the Grand Cayman Islands. Staying in the United States, I would love to go to San Fran- I'm intrigued by the city based on what I've read, and I love L.A. NYC would be a frequent stop- you can't *not* like NYC. And of course, South Beach and Miami area.
There's an ambiance that all these places have that I have some sort of interest in. It's a different lifestyle, just like when people come up here they say it's different. I mean, even going up to Cleveland you feel like you're in a completely different world- it's not the same as Columbus, and that's the great thing about travelling.
Yet, the best place on earth is still the South. There's a feel down there that you don't get anywhere else, especially up North. And if you've never been down South, that should be next on your list. I'm not talking West Virginia, or even Kentucky. I'm talking deep South, in the heart of the Chattanooga. If you haven't went tubing down a river (whehter you've pulled your father down with you because he was lazy and just enjoyed sitting in the tube despite getting caught and stuck on rocks), or went riding in an open field at the fastest pace your horse could go, driven a 1500 pickup truck through the hills, endured the sightseeing and the warmth of small town, Southern people, or Atlanta traffic, laid on the beach until the sun sets- then you haven't lived.
Irish Fest note: to all the Dublin workers that I saw again, I'll join in your trend next year and bring my cowboy hat. The black one. :-P
Next on my list: The Southern States- Georgia, Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina, and Texas. I'm coming home y'all. :-)
current mood:  artistic
current music: Drive- Alan Jackson (comment on this)
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