I COMPLETELY forgot about this blog...just happened to be reading over my Live Journal profile and saw the link. Yikes!
It's been more than five years since I last posted here. Wow. I'm a bad blogger.
I blog very infrequently on my personal blog as well. Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram... all of those are faster-moving and probably cooler (well, I don't know about FB), so we all spend most of our time on those sites. I miss the days when Live Journal was such a community.
Let me see if I can give a rundown of the biggest events from the past five years...
01. I lost my stepfather. :(
02. Adam lost his grandfather.
03. Many Disney trips, including one when I got to bring my Mommy! :)
04. Aidan growing into an awesome person. He gets straight As and just had a trip to DC for a conference.
05. Adam got his own car, a Toyota Prius. I still have my car as well, but I'm not sure how much longer she'll last. She's chugging along, though. She's a tough cookie.
06. I enrolled in yoga teacher training in 2012 and got certified to teach in 2013.
07. Adam sold a few more books.
08. I started writing again!
09. I took some acting classes.
10. I got to be an extra in movies and on TV shows.
11. My sister-in-law Cassidy had a daughter named Lola and Lola is soooo awesome! I love her so much!
12. Lots of jobs that have come and gone.
13. I've been doing work-trade for Moksha for a long time in exchange for free yoga.
14. I got a passport, but I haven't used it yet.
15. Met some A-list actors.
16. Traveled to Los Angeles, Atlanta, Orlando, Jekyll Island, and back home to visit family.
17. Met so many amazing authors!
18. Fi came to live with us and I am crazy about that cat.
I still have a like/hate relationship with Chicago. Weather, traffic, cost of living, crime, intensity. Those are things I still dislike. But I love Moksha, my yoga community, the opportunities to make money (working from home!) even though most don't seem to last as long as I'd like, the shopping, Millennium Park, Anderson's Bookshop, the cool people I meet, even if we just have one awesome evening together, cool places to eat. The friends I've made. I try to focus on those things when I get frustrated living there--and believe me, I get frustrated almost every day--or else I'd be even more depressed.
Anyway, that's all I can think of for now. I guess that was my five year check in. :) Hopefully I won't go so long before updating again. (Is anyone even reading this anymore?)
So long!
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Monday, April 12, 2010
Shifting Priorities
As Adam and I freewheel in our second year of marriage, our priorities are changing and shifting. I suppose it's only natural. I remember when I was so bored and frustrated in Columbus, but I am wondering how much of that was a "home is where the heart is" type of situation. Adam wasn't there, so I was unhappy. But now, I'm finding myself missing it very much.
Over the past several months, we've dealt with a few low blows, but they were more than counteracted with highs. We've met new friends. Adam's book I Kissed A Zombie and I Liked It is getting rave reviews and he's selling foreign rights like crazy! Things work out just the way they're supposed to.
Even thought I grew up in Cleveland OH, a big city, I am not used to the intensity of a big city. I'd spent 13 years in Columbus, which is a mid-sized city in central OH. I miss Columbus, even with all its Ohio State insanity. I miss not having to pay sales tax on groceries. I miss cheaper groceries (oh Marc's) and not being scared to drive without being honked at. I miss my friends and I really miss being close to Aidan. I'm pretty homesick. And for the love of God, I need to see lots of green grass and trees and flowers and stars at night.
We've been weighing our options. I went on Craigslist yesterday and compared housing prices there with housing prices here. The difference is astounding. Book checks would stretch SO MUCH farther there. And there is Aidan. He's there. I should be. And again, the fees and prices and nickel and diming here is outrageous. 10.25% sales tax. 13.25% for pop (which is part of the reason I stopped drinking it). Parking tickets. Parking in general. The fact that they make it SO inconvenient to own a car, yet threaten to shut down the CTA every six months. The competitiveness in the job market. Hoops, hoops, hoops. Having to jump through so many hoops for and during interviews. Taking 25 minutes to go three miles because there are so many traffic lights, cars, cyclists, and pedestrians on the road. People on top of people because dwellings are so close together. Schools aren't great. Crime's not great (I really am tired of people breaking out my car windows). Rush hour happens at any given time. You just never know around here.
And yet, I know that if I leave Chicago, I'll miss it. I like knowing I can hop on the Blue Line and go shopping on State Street. I like having the American Girl store be a 15 minute bus ride from the apartment. I can walk to the bank, to the CVS, to Subway, to the Italian grocer on the corner for a good sandwich (provided the line's not out the door, as it tends to get at lunchtime). I would miss the friends I've made here, and the opportunities for networking as an author are amazing. The downtown is beautiful, especially in the spring. There's the lake. I can walk to the yoga studio. It's not unusual to randomly see a celebrity walking down the street (this is more Adam's thing than mine, with his early morning walks and all). That kind of stuff is really, really cool. And I'd miss that.
So I'm really torn. I am scared that I'll go back to Columbus and get bored and frustrated again, but I am frustrated here as well. Adam and I weigh the pros and cons all the time. Of course, the family wants us in Ohio. It'd make sense financially. It's familiar (to me). Well, it used to be. I read old journal entries and I get sad because well, I don't remember those streets anymore although I used to travel them all the time. Finding freelance proofreading work there would be quite a challenge, as the market's already pretty saturated.
Once upon a time, Adam used to say he'd ALWAYS want to live in the city. But now, he's changing. And I change all the time. I think the best thing to do is to be open at what the Universe has in store for us. No matter what, it'll be what's meant to happen.
Over the past several months, we've dealt with a few low blows, but they were more than counteracted with highs. We've met new friends. Adam's book I Kissed A Zombie and I Liked It is getting rave reviews and he's selling foreign rights like crazy! Things work out just the way they're supposed to.
Even thought I grew up in Cleveland OH, a big city, I am not used to the intensity of a big city. I'd spent 13 years in Columbus, which is a mid-sized city in central OH. I miss Columbus, even with all its Ohio State insanity. I miss not having to pay sales tax on groceries. I miss cheaper groceries (oh Marc's) and not being scared to drive without being honked at. I miss my friends and I really miss being close to Aidan. I'm pretty homesick. And for the love of God, I need to see lots of green grass and trees and flowers and stars at night.
We've been weighing our options. I went on Craigslist yesterday and compared housing prices there with housing prices here. The difference is astounding. Book checks would stretch SO MUCH farther there. And there is Aidan. He's there. I should be. And again, the fees and prices and nickel and diming here is outrageous. 10.25% sales tax. 13.25% for pop (which is part of the reason I stopped drinking it). Parking tickets. Parking in general. The fact that they make it SO inconvenient to own a car, yet threaten to shut down the CTA every six months. The competitiveness in the job market. Hoops, hoops, hoops. Having to jump through so many hoops for and during interviews. Taking 25 minutes to go three miles because there are so many traffic lights, cars, cyclists, and pedestrians on the road. People on top of people because dwellings are so close together. Schools aren't great. Crime's not great (I really am tired of people breaking out my car windows). Rush hour happens at any given time. You just never know around here.
And yet, I know that if I leave Chicago, I'll miss it. I like knowing I can hop on the Blue Line and go shopping on State Street. I like having the American Girl store be a 15 minute bus ride from the apartment. I can walk to the bank, to the CVS, to Subway, to the Italian grocer on the corner for a good sandwich (provided the line's not out the door, as it tends to get at lunchtime). I would miss the friends I've made here, and the opportunities for networking as an author are amazing. The downtown is beautiful, especially in the spring. There's the lake. I can walk to the yoga studio. It's not unusual to randomly see a celebrity walking down the street (this is more Adam's thing than mine, with his early morning walks and all). That kind of stuff is really, really cool. And I'd miss that.
So I'm really torn. I am scared that I'll go back to Columbus and get bored and frustrated again, but I am frustrated here as well. Adam and I weigh the pros and cons all the time. Of course, the family wants us in Ohio. It'd make sense financially. It's familiar (to me). Well, it used to be. I read old journal entries and I get sad because well, I don't remember those streets anymore although I used to travel them all the time. Finding freelance proofreading work there would be quite a challenge, as the market's already pretty saturated.
Once upon a time, Adam used to say he'd ALWAYS want to live in the city. But now, he's changing. And I change all the time. I think the best thing to do is to be open at what the Universe has in store for us. No matter what, it'll be what's meant to happen.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
:)
Things very good.
I'm back to being a house husband for a while, as Ronni is back in the office (the GOOD one - there are so many horror stories of companies who have their heads in their butts). Cooking, cleaning, the whole bit. Still working as a tour guide and writer myself, and probably teaching a class out in the burbs in November.
Ronni is a kick-ass proofreader.
I'm back to being a house husband for a while, as Ronni is back in the office (the GOOD one - there are so many horror stories of companies who have their heads in their butts). Cooking, cleaning, the whole bit. Still working as a tour guide and writer myself, and probably teaching a class out in the burbs in November.
Ronni is a kick-ass proofreader.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
One Year!
Adam and I made it one year! And it was a fantastic year. He put up with my moodiness, my many "voices," my obsession with Disney and American Girl dolls. He makes me dinner. He does the dishes and the laundry. He surprises me with donuts. He supports me. He has my back. He cares about me. He loves me. I love him.
For our anniversary, he bought me an American Girl doll. I got him Punch Out for Wii, and boxing gloves to go with it.
He's a keeper. I'm going to keep him.
For our anniversary, he bought me an American Girl doll. I got him Punch Out for Wii, and boxing gloves to go with it.
He's a keeper. I'm going to keep him.
Friday, May 29, 2009
It's Been A While!
Adam and I are still settling nicely into married life. I can't believe that our anniversary is in less than two months! The year (even the everlastingly long winter!) seems to have sped by!
Adam takes really good care of me. He does most of the cooking, and he keeps the kitchen fairly clean. He also handles a great deal of the laundry. I love that he helps so much around the house. But that kind of stuff aside, he is just an incredibly supportive person. He's on my side, you know? And it's nice to know that someone will always be in my corner. After all, that's what being married is about. Having that partner. That commitment. Working to build a wonderful life together.
Since I last updated here, Adam and I went to Columbus to visit Aidan for Christmas, which was a lot of fun. Within that visit, we drove to Cleveland to see my mom and to see Andy. Aidan got loads of stuff. His dad was able to throw out all of Aidan's old clothes and replace them with all new things, that's how much he got. It was overwhelming!
Shortly after that, Adam and I went to Los Angeles to visit friends and family. We got to hang out with Eli and Melissa, Amy, and Tasha. I got to visit a lot of places--the Disney Studios, Griffith Observatory, Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles--and Melissa and Eli took us to Disneyland! Visiting L.A. in winter is nice, I'm not going to lie. But coming back to cold Chicago was hard!
Aidan's come to visit twice, and both times he was a complete joy. He'll be here for the whole summer on June 20th. At the end of the summer, we're taking a family trip to Disney World! I figure I should do it now while I can, and before he decides he's too cool for such things.
I'm looking forward to the summer. I hope to hit the beach more and generally do more stuff outside.
And I'll try to update more here! I promise! 'Til next time!
Adam takes really good care of me. He does most of the cooking, and he keeps the kitchen fairly clean. He also handles a great deal of the laundry. I love that he helps so much around the house. But that kind of stuff aside, he is just an incredibly supportive person. He's on my side, you know? And it's nice to know that someone will always be in my corner. After all, that's what being married is about. Having that partner. That commitment. Working to build a wonderful life together.
Since I last updated here, Adam and I went to Columbus to visit Aidan for Christmas, which was a lot of fun. Within that visit, we drove to Cleveland to see my mom and to see Andy. Aidan got loads of stuff. His dad was able to throw out all of Aidan's old clothes and replace them with all new things, that's how much he got. It was overwhelming!
Shortly after that, Adam and I went to Los Angeles to visit friends and family. We got to hang out with Eli and Melissa, Amy, and Tasha. I got to visit a lot of places--the Disney Studios, Griffith Observatory, Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles--and Melissa and Eli took us to Disneyland! Visiting L.A. in winter is nice, I'm not going to lie. But coming back to cold Chicago was hard!
Aidan's come to visit twice, and both times he was a complete joy. He'll be here for the whole summer on June 20th. At the end of the summer, we're taking a family trip to Disney World! I figure I should do it now while I can, and before he decides he's too cool for such things.
I'm looking forward to the summer. I hope to hit the beach more and generally do more stuff outside.
And I'll try to update more here! I promise! 'Til next time!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Marriage Survey
1. What is your spouse's name?
Adam <3
2. How long have you been marri
142 days
3. How long were you toget
Just over two years.
4. Where
Edgewater Beach, Lake Michigan (Chicago)
5. Where
Margie's Candies
6. Have you ever been marri
Yes
7. Who "wears
We share the pants.
8. Who is the "bread
We take turns.
9. Do you have any child
Not together. I have little Aidan from my first marriage.
10. Do you have any pets?
Two cats. One is currently sitting on my lap, purring, and putting his cold, wet nose on my hand.
11. How many times
We don't go out a lot, we hang out at home mostly.
12. Do you have separ
Yes.
13. What side of the bed do you sleep
Right
14. Who does the laund
He does most of it.
15. Who cooks
He does most of it. :)
16. Who clean
I do most of it, but he cleans the kitchen.
17. Do you share
We share one, but most of the time we walk, or take the train or bus.
18. Do you get along
Definitely. I love them!
19. Do you argue
Not really.
20. Are you good at pampe
Not so much. :O
21. What is your favor
His hair, his face, his lips, his butt, his stomach, his voice... oh man, he's cute. :)
22. Name one thing
*shrug*
23. Name a movie
Hmm. Juno. We saw it together in NYC just over a year ago, the first movie we ever saw at a theatre together. Wait, no it wasn't. Hairspray was. But still. Juno.
24. Do you own a home or rent a place
We rent a cool place close to downtown Chicago.
25. What is your weddi
July 27, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Wedding Pictures
This picture was taken by Kelly of Kelly Heasley Photography.
See more of hers and photographs of others here. :)
Significant Other Quiz
1. They are watching TV… What are they watching?
West Wing on DVD, The Simpsons, My Boys, How I Met Your Mother, or an old black and white movie.
2. You’re out to eat. what kind of dressing do they get on their salad.
Italian or Ranch or something new and different.
** (He says he wouldn't get Ranch)
3. What’s one food this person doesn’t like?
Okra.
4. You go out to the bar. He/she orders……
We wouldn't. But if we did, it would be some sort of beer. Or an Effen Black Cherry with 7up, if we were at The Liar's Club.
5. Where did he/she go to high school?
He went to two different high schools. One made him miserable, so he transferred to a cool alternative school.
6. What size shoe do they wear?
Wow, I don't know this one. I'm going to guess a 10 or 11.
7. If this person were to collect anything, it would be?
Music. And he's got a collection of Star Wars figures, and also weird historical stuff like Bull Moose party flags.
8. What is their favorite type of sandwich?
He likes just about every sandwich they make at Bari.
9. This person could eat __________ everyday
cereal or pizza
10. Favorite cereal?
Hmmm. I don't know if he has a favorite; he tends to rotate.
11. This person wouldn’t be caught dead wearing…
Pink. Unless I made him wear it.
12. Favorite sports team?
Cubs.
13. Who will he/she vote for?
Barack Obama. He's a very outspoken supporter.
14. What is their sign?
Cancer.
15. What is something you do that he/she wishes you didn’t?
Talk in a baby voice so much.
16. How many states has this person lived in?
Three.
17. What is his/her’s heritage?
Russian and I think German.
**(He says Irish and a buncha other stuff)
18. You bake them a cake for their birthday, what is it?
I wouldn't bake it, I'd get him an ice cream cake.
19. Did he/she play sports in high school?
No.
20. This person could spend hours…
Playing on the computer, researching history, writing, and reading.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
What Your Ideal Wedding Dress Says About You |
 Your Personal Style: Classic and elegant. You prefer to make a statement with a few quality pieces. Your Ideal Wedding: Traditional and formal, but not tacky. You think the most beautiful weddings are understated. Your Philosophy on Marriage:It's a serious commitment, and the couple entering it should be ready to work for their relationship. Your Perfect Marriage: Is calm, stable, deep, and meaningful. |
Monday, July 28, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wedding Stuff & Registry
Today, Adam and I went and got our marriage license. It was surprisingly hassle-free. There was no line, and we didn’t have to swear we weren’t drunk or there against our will. He did ask if we were related, though.
Anyway, the details consist of this:
Ronni & Adam’s “Elopement”
Date: July 27, 2008
Time: 10:30am
Location: Edgewater Beach (rain or shine!)
If you want a ride, Adam’s planning something with the Weird Chicago bus. Will probably meet at the Rock & Roll McDonald’s at 10am or so and head down from there. I’ll get clearer details on that soon.
Also, the Disney honeymoon registry is up. Disney's site isn't the most stable, so if it errs, try it again. Here's the url:
http://www.mydisneyhoneymoon.com/booknerds
And you can search for Adam Selzer or Ronni Davis, July 2008. ºOº
Anyway, the details consist of this:
Date: July 27, 2008
Time: 10:30am
Location: Edgewater Beach (rain or shine!)
If you want a ride, Adam’s planning something with the Weird Chicago bus. Will probably meet at the Rock & Roll McDonald’s at 10am or so and head down from there. I’ll get clearer details on that soon.
Also, the Disney honeymoon registry is up. Disney's site isn't the most stable, so if it errs, try it again. Here's the url:
http://www.mydisneyhoneymoon.com/booknerds
And you can search for Adam Selzer or Ronni Davis, July 2008. ºOº
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
New wedding date!
Hey, everybody!
No offense or anything, but we decided that rather than blowing a pile of money on a ceremony, we'd rather blow it on Disneyworld. So that's we're going to do.
We're moving the date to Sunday, July 27th. The ceremony will be a quick "before anyone asks for our permit" affair at a beach on Lake Michigan - probably Edgewater beach up on the North side. Some transportation from downtown may be available via the Weird Chicago bus.
We'll update with time, etc, very soon! Anyone who wants to come is welcome!
No offense or anything, but we decided that rather than blowing a pile of money on a ceremony, we'd rather blow it on Disneyworld. So that's we're going to do.
We're moving the date to Sunday, July 27th. The ceremony will be a quick "before anyone asks for our permit" affair at a beach on Lake Michigan - probably Edgewater beach up on the North side. Some transportation from downtown may be available via the Weird Chicago bus.
We'll update with time, etc, very soon! Anyone who wants to come is welcome!
Monday, May 5, 2008
Settling In
It's been a while since I have posted. (And Adam too, for that matter!) It's been weeks of getting settled in, looking for a job, and trying to figure out my way around here. Things are certainly interesting. The cost of living is definitely higher. I see it mostly in food and fuel, but I guess that's being felt by everyone everywhere. Gas here hovers at around $4 a gallon, so I try not to drive anywhere except the grocery store. Thank God Chicago has a decent public transportation system. Well, the trains are cool, at least. The buses--I've never been a fan of buses and here, give me the train any day.
We do most of our grocery shopping at ALDI. If I am DESPERATE for some Hunts tomato sauce or Doritos or Quaker granola bars, I'll go to Bari or CVS. The grocery stores here are not that cheap, but if you catch a sale on the things you need, it can work out great. The 25 oz. box of Froot Loops I got for $4 at Jewel-Osco? SCORE. The 65 cents for a can of Hunts tomato sauce? Unscore. :(
The job search is hard. On the one hand, I like taking my time waking up in the mornings, and having the day to do whatever. On the other hand, I don't like not making a lot of money. Bills don't stop just because you don't have a job, and the market is soooo competitive and discouraging at times. In a few weeks, I'll be poised to seriously panic.
So, I think once I am working, I will feel more at home. Plus, in a month, Aidan comes for the summer, which should be fun and interesting.
All in all, I'm getting there.
We do most of our grocery shopping at ALDI. If I am DESPERATE for some Hunts tomato sauce or Doritos or Quaker granola bars, I'll go to Bari or CVS. The grocery stores here are not that cheap, but if you catch a sale on the things you need, it can work out great. The 25 oz. box of Froot Loops I got for $4 at Jewel-Osco? SCORE. The 65 cents for a can of Hunts tomato sauce? Unscore. :(
The job search is hard. On the one hand, I like taking my time waking up in the mornings, and having the day to do whatever. On the other hand, I don't like not making a lot of money. Bills don't stop just because you don't have a job, and the market is soooo competitive and discouraging at times. In a few weeks, I'll be poised to seriously panic.
So, I think once I am working, I will feel more at home. Plus, in a month, Aidan comes for the summer, which should be fun and interesting.
All in all, I'm getting there.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
All Moved In
Well, all my stuff is moved in, anyway. Whether or not I am actually all settled is a whole different question!
The kitchen is unpacked. The bedroom and bathroom are pretty much set up... except there is some outstanding stuff that I need to figure out what to do with it. Will probably be in Aidan's/guest room for the time being. The office stuff/desktop computer will be the most challenging, I think. But I'll get through it.
Adam's home! See ya! :)
----------------
Now playing: Nelly Furtado - No Hay Igual
via FoxyTunes
The kitchen is unpacked. The bedroom and bathroom are pretty much set up... except there is some outstanding stuff that I need to figure out what to do with it. Will probably be in Aidan's/guest room for the time being. The office stuff/desktop computer will be the most challenging, I think. But I'll get through it.
Adam's home! See ya! :)
----------------
Now playing: Nelly Furtado - No Hay Igual
via FoxyTunes
Friday, March 14, 2008
A Meme??
1. How long have you been together? Time flies when you're having fun. ♥
2. How old is he? 27
3. How old are you? 33. I'm a cougar. :)
4. Who eats more? He definitely does.
5. Who said "I love you" first? He did. :)
6. Who is taller? He is.
7. Who sings better? He can actually hit notes sometimes. Me? Not so much.
8. Who is smarter? Well, he's full of the weirdest facts, but I have my own talents. I'm sure of it. :O
9. Who does the laundry? That remains to be seen. I know he likes to do his own, but I actually enjoy the washing and drying part. It's the folding and putting away that I'm not so great at.
10. Who does the dishes? I'm
11. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? You know, it'll probably be me. That side'll be closer to the bathroom.
12. Who pays the bills? We'll pay our own personal bills but he'll probably handle the household stuff.
13. Who mows the lawn? No lawn.
14. Who cooks dinner? He says he's going to do most of the cooking, which is probably a good thing. He'd be eating lots of spaghetti if it was up to me.
15. Who is more stubborn? Eh, I think I am.
16. Who kissed whom first? I kissed him first but he took over for the next ten or twenty. :)
17. Who asked whom out? Hmm, there really wasn't that. It was more "I like you. I like you, too. OK, then."
18. Who proposed? He did.
19. Who is more sensitive? I am.
20. Who has more friends? About the same, probably.
21. Who has more siblings? He does.
EEEEK! I move in just a few days! WOW!!!!
----------------
Now playing: Sara Groves - When the Saints
via FoxyTunes
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Panicky Me?
Today, Adam called just as I was getting into packing up clothing and singing Les Miserables. I asked him if I was panicking about packing, and he told me that I was. I mean, I DO have two weeks to get it together, but I really don't want to be rushing around at the last minute, throwing things wherever, making a mess. I want to be organized.
With that said, I have my high school graduation and my college graduation gowns still. Caps, too. For some reason, I can't bring myself to get rid of them! I'll see if they make the cut this time around. I guess if they fit into the knickknack bin, they can stick around for a bit longer. And hey, if I go to grad school, I'll already have a cap and gown for it. (My college cap and gown is black, the high school one is gold).
The hardest thing has been the OFFICE SUPPLIES. I had a lot of knickknacks on my desk when I worked at Nationwide. I need to get ruthless. I also found a stack of letters. I can never resist letters. Hmm, knickknack bin, I suppose. Oh, and I found my BoysIIMen CD with Motownphilly on it, plus a bunch of other CDs I'd "lost." Good times.
Anyway, this was a pretty pointless post, but the fact remains that two weeks from now, I'm going to be finalizing things for my move to Chicago. HOLY CRAP. Three weeks from now, I'll actually be living there. *gulp*
Send good and productive vibes my way, please! :)
With that said, I have my high school graduation and my college graduation gowns still. Caps, too. For some reason, I can't bring myself to get rid of them! I'll see if they make the cut this time around. I guess if they fit into the knickknack bin, they can stick around for a bit longer. And hey, if I go to grad school, I'll already have a cap and gown for it. (My college cap and gown is black, the high school one is gold).
The hardest thing has been the OFFICE SUPPLIES. I had a lot of knickknacks on my desk when I worked at Nationwide. I need to get ruthless. I also found a stack of letters. I can never resist letters. Hmm, knickknack bin, I suppose. Oh, and I found my BoysIIMen CD with Motownphilly on it, plus a bunch of other CDs I'd "lost." Good times.
Anyway, this was a pretty pointless post, but the fact remains that two weeks from now, I'm going to be finalizing things for my move to Chicago. HOLY CRAP. Three weeks from now, I'll actually be living there. *gulp*
Send good and productive vibes my way, please! :)
Sunday, February 24, 2008
On The Move
Heehee, yes, my finacé is right. And even though I should be up to my ears packing right now, I'm posting here. I will do some packing this afternoon. All my office and desk stuff, and all the clothes that are not in season, and my decorations is what I hope to have done by Tuesday of this week.
It really is not much longer 'til I'll be heading west for the next adventure of my life. OK, it's only about 400 miles west, but it's still west!
Am I nervous?
Heck yes! This is the biggest move of my life! The only other big move I did was coming to college. Even then, it was only from Cleveland to Columbus, Ohio. This is two states, a 6–7 hour drive. But people do much bigger moves than I do all the time. I know I can do it.
What am I nervous about?
1. Not having my place all packed up in time! I have a lot of stuff, and although I am planning to get rid some of it, it's still hard to get motivated to do something like packing. AND the bad thing is that I usually get motivated around 10am, while I am at work. By the time I get home, I'm ready to crash on the couch. But that's the life of the working person. I have to force myself to do it. I do not want to be scrambling two or three days before Andy shows up with the U-Haul. The sorting is going to drive me nuts. I already have a pile of stuff to give to Goodwill, but bags and shoes I don't use, and clothes I don't wear is easy. Stuffed animals and certain knick-knacks is what's going to be hard to part with. Keeping the big picture in mind helps me be more ruthless, though.
2. The drive out to Chicago. Adam will be with me in the car, and we will be able to switch off, which is good. But I have never driven more than 2.5 hours on my own before. And I have driven 3 hours... but 6–7 hours? I'm abit lot nervous. I think we're going to split the drive in half, or switch off every couple hours. I plan to make a MOVING playlist for the iPod. Anyone have any recommendations for songs to keep me awake while I am driving? Adam is threatening me with NPR.
3. Learning a new way of life in Chicago. Columbus is not very urban. I drive everywhere. The thought of driving in Chicago scares me a bit. There is almost always loads of traffic, and there are insane cabbies all over the place. And people are MEAN and aggressive. Columbus is full of either right assholes in big vehicles or people who trudge along at speeds well below the posted speed limit. Right now, I am pretty centrally located in Columbus, so I just hop in my car and 5–10 minutes later, I'm where I need to be. My commute to work is about 12 minutes. In Chicago, I am going to have to get used to twice that long, or 3–4 times that long if I'm taking the train or the bus, even if where I need to be is 2 miles from where I live.
I don't worry much about getting lost while driving. Not only is there Mapquest or Google Maps, but I have a decent sense of direction, and usually once I find my way somewhere, I can get there again without any help. But I'm going to have to learn public transportation all over again, and I can totally see myself going the wrong way on the trains or hopping on the wrong bus. Thank God I'll be living in a centrally located area in Chicago, but it's still a bit unnerving!
Plus, they make it such a pain in the butt to own a car out there. The whole "City of Chicago" sticker that is required of residents out there is just a money-making ploy. Parking for work downtown costs a ton. And just getting my license and registration transferred over is going to cost well over $100. But I doubt I'd get what I still owe on the car if I sold it, and I will not be paying for something I can't use!
I will be looking for a new job shortly after I move out there. There are plenty of opportunities that look interesting, but we're going into a recession and that worries me a bit. In the best of times, companies aren't that great to potential employees. But we'll see. I'd like to get a job doing what I do now, but again, I'll have to see what's out there, and who is willing to take me on. Just getting an interview proves challenging when the economy is like this.
My life has been one huge milestone after another since 2000, so this whole ordeal is just another one to add to the list. That's why I know I can do it, I know I WILL do it, even though my nerves sometimes try to overtake the excitement.
Chicago-bound 2008! :)
It really is not much longer 'til I'll be heading west for the next adventure of my life. OK, it's only about 400 miles west, but it's still west!
Am I nervous?
Heck yes! This is the biggest move of my life! The only other big move I did was coming to college. Even then, it was only from Cleveland to Columbus, Ohio. This is two states, a 6–7 hour drive. But people do much bigger moves than I do all the time. I know I can do it.
What am I nervous about?
1. Not having my place all packed up in time! I have a lot of stuff, and although I am planning to get rid some of it, it's still hard to get motivated to do something like packing. AND the bad thing is that I usually get motivated around 10am, while I am at work. By the time I get home, I'm ready to crash on the couch. But that's the life of the working person. I have to force myself to do it. I do not want to be scrambling two or three days before Andy shows up with the U-Haul. The sorting is going to drive me nuts. I already have a pile of stuff to give to Goodwill, but bags and shoes I don't use, and clothes I don't wear is easy. Stuffed animals and certain knick-knacks is what's going to be hard to part with. Keeping the big picture in mind helps me be more ruthless, though.
2. The drive out to Chicago. Adam will be with me in the car, and we will be able to switch off, which is good. But I have never driven more than 2.5 hours on my own before. And I have driven 3 hours... but 6–7 hours? I'm a
3. Learning a new way of life in Chicago. Columbus is not very urban. I drive everywhere. The thought of driving in Chicago scares me a bit. There is almost always loads of traffic, and there are insane cabbies all over the place. And people are MEAN and aggressive. Columbus is full of either right assholes in big vehicles or people who trudge along at speeds well below the posted speed limit. Right now, I am pretty centrally located in Columbus, so I just hop in my car and 5–10 minutes later, I'm where I need to be. My commute to work is about 12 minutes. In Chicago, I am going to have to get used to twice that long, or 3–4 times that long if I'm taking the train or the bus, even if where I need to be is 2 miles from where I live.
I don't worry much about getting lost while driving. Not only is there Mapquest or Google Maps, but I have a decent sense of direction, and usually once I find my way somewhere, I can get there again without any help. But I'm going to have to learn public transportation all over again, and I can totally see myself going the wrong way on the trains or hopping on the wrong bus. Thank God I'll be living in a centrally located area in Chicago, but it's still a bit unnerving!
Plus, they make it such a pain in the butt to own a car out there. The whole "City of Chicago" sticker that is required of residents out there is just a money-making ploy. Parking for work downtown costs a ton. And just getting my license and registration transferred over is going to cost well over $100. But I doubt I'd get what I still owe on the car if I sold it, and I will not be paying for something I can't use!
I will be looking for a new job shortly after I move out there. There are plenty of opportunities that look interesting, but we're going into a recession and that worries me a bit. In the best of times, companies aren't that great to potential employees. But we'll see. I'd like to get a job doing what I do now, but again, I'll have to see what's out there, and who is willing to take me on. Just getting an interview proves challenging when the economy is like this.
My life has been one huge milestone after another since 2000, so this whole ordeal is just another one to add to the list. That's why I know I can do it, I know I WILL do it, even though my nerves sometimes try to overtake the excitement.
Chicago-bound 2008! :)
Moving!
I've booked my ticket to Ohio to get Ronni moved out to Chicago next month. YYYAAAAYYYY!!!!!!
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