Love Is In The Air ♥

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Chapter 30: A Quick Update, Once Again

So, time for a quick update, because I am bad at this blogging thing and don't keep up with it like I should...

1. I am loving city living. There is always something to see and do. There is always people buzzing about. I am able to walk out my front door and find something interesting within a half mile.



The only complaint I have is the apartment company we chose. But, that's not a problem with city living; it's a problem with them alone.

2. I signed up for, and was approved to join Big Big Brothers Big Sisters!





I'm so excited! My "Little" (that's what they call the kids; the adults are "Bigs" or "mentors") is 14 years old, very smart, and likes sports and animals. Her mom feels more comfortable with her being in the site-based program, so, instead of taking her out to the mall, movies, bowling, etc, I will meet with her for an hour per week at her school. (If her mom feels comfortable with it, there is the potential that I will be able to take her out and do the community based program with her at a later point.) So, since I will be meeting her at school, the program doesn't officially start until September, when school starts back up. I asked BBBS if I could meet her beforehand (I don't want to wait a month!) and they set up a meeting between us at their office. During the summer, she and I will be able to talk on the phone and do pen-pal writing.

This is a program that I have always wanted to get in to, but never had the opportunity because I lived so far from the city. Now that I'm here, I'm ready to make the most of it!

3. I have lost 20 pounds since January! I am so happy! I think it's the fact that I'm out more and walking around more. Plus, warmer weather is a big motivation for me. Let's keep it up, Grizzly Girl!


4. I am in charge of updating the website at work! I get to choose the Pet of the Month, and also write articles pertaining to pets' health, among other things. I also update the work calendar with events and goings-on at the hospital. AND! I got a raise! The only person to get a raise after reviews. I am pretty damn proud, if I do say so myself! :)

5. I got a new tattoo! The "Live Free Or Die Tattoo Expo" was this past weekend, and I went with a couple of friends. I was able to get the same artist as before, and I LOVE the work he did for me!

This picture is from the day I got it. It looks better now, because all of the stringy things hanging down have been washed off.



You movie nerds out there might recognize this as the same tattoo Captain Jack Sparrow had on his arm in Pirates of the Caribbean. Correct! While the movie has a large part in my life, the design also has more meaning than just Captain Jack...

Sparrows are resilient birds. They handle things in the toughest weather and conditions, and always seem to make it out alive.

It also plays upon Jack's infamous saying, "Bring me that horizon". You can make of it what you will, but I take it to mean "there's more out than there just this. More possibilities. The world is limitless".

Needless to say, I am very happy with the tattoo.

That's it for now! I always say that I am going to try and get better at updating this, but I never do. So, let's just say that I'll see you when I see you! :)

-Grizzly Girl

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Chapter 28: Home Sweet Home

I finally got around to taking pictures of the new apartment. I was waiting for us to get everything unpacked.

Also, we have some "feline house guests", as B is calling them. We had to do an emergency c-section on a cat at work, and the owners were very unfit to keep them, so they signed them over to us, and now I'm fostering them. Mama kitty had gone into labor 12 hours before they came in, and the whole time, the owners could see a kitten stuck in the birth canal, but didn't do anything about it! Needless to say, that kitten died, and so did one other, but she has one kitten that survived! We have called her Mama, and the kitten is named "Dude". We call him that, because when another tech and I were trying to keep him alive, we were saying, "Come on, Dude! You can make it!" He would stop breathing, and the only time he would start was when we called him "Dude"! So, Mama and Dude live with us right now, until they are both healthy and old enough to find a home, or until I decide that I they are just going to live with us forever (I'm finding it hard not to get attached).

Anyway! Here is our lovely abode!

 Here we are! Good ol' number 3!
 
 This is after we've stepped in from the front door (seen on the left). I call this room the "entryway", but I guess it's just a typical sitting room or something. We have our bookcase and the linen cabinet, and then the recliner in this picture.
 
 The other half of the entryway. The heater is the large black thing on the right. The door on the right leads into the office, and straight ahead is the kitchen.
 
 This came out a little darker than expected. Out table is on the left with our vine plant and microwave on top of it. The door straight ahead is our pantry room. The door in the top left corner (hard to see here) leads out to the back porch.
 
 Stepping in from the entry way into the kitchen. The oven is on the left, and the fridge is on the right. The doorway straight ahead leads into the bathroom.
 
 This is the pantry. We also use it as storage.
 
 The small room to the right is our laundry room where the dryer and some cleaning supplies are. The washing machine is actually in the kitchen, right outside of the laundry room.
 
 Looking out from the pantry.
 
 A better view of the laundry room.
 
 Standing in front of the sink and looking into the bathroom.
 
 We really do have a shower, I promise! It's to the left of me. This is the view from the back of the bathroom, heading to the kitchen.
 
 B's computer desk in the office.
 
 The closet in the office. We're kind of using this area for some small storage until we're able to get more furniture that we need. You can also see Mama in the bottom of the picture!
 
 My computer, and Mama and Dude's little area. (Dude is the darker, tiny orange spot on the bed!)
 
Standing in front of the closet door.
 
 Going from the entryway into the living room.
 
 Our living room, standing in the bedroom doorway. The entryway is to the right.
 
 Standing near the TV, and looking into the bedroom. Now the entryway is on my left.
 
 The bed.
 
 Standing in one of the closets. The door in the top left corner is the door to leave the apartment in the entryway. The door behind the bedroom door is our clothes closet.
 
 This is our second closet... thing... we're using it as storage, because it's shaped like a triangle, and it's not a good clothes-hanging closet.
 
In the triangle closet, looking at the storage. We've hung a curtain in front of the storage to hide it. Ha ha!

The last 2 months have been an exciting journey for us! New and great things are coming our way!
 
-Grizzly Girl

Chapter 27: Words To Live By

I just found this online, and thought I would share with all of you.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

- Max Ehrmann

-Grizzly Girl

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Chapter 26: Memories Of Yesteryear!

I want to start by saying that I haven't updated in a month because we've been too busy with moving, unpacking, and work. Things have been going really good with the new apartment! I love living in the city!

Here's a survey thing I got from a blog I follow (True North). Feel free to take it if you would like!

Part 1~~ 2010 questions:

1. What was your most significant accomplishment in 2010?

Growing up. No joke. I got a full-time job that I was able to keep and actually excell in; got bills (things of which I had never really had before) and paid them all on time; and got my own (well, shared with my boyfriend) apartment. (We didn't actually move in until January 1, 2011, but we signed the lease and everything on December 31, so I think that counts!

2. Is there any one choice you made that you would change in 2010?

Hm... Not that I can think of right now, but I'm sure that, as soon as I finish this, I'll have a million things pop into my head. That's how it always goes.

3. What was your favorite band/singer in 2010?

Oh man... I don't know if I could put my finger on just one person or band - I really discovered a lot of music that I liked during the past year.

No, wait, I take that back, I think I know who my favorite was. Please don't kill me... Ke$ha!

4. What was your favorite movie of 2010?

That would definitely be The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo!

5. What is your favorite food/dish in 2010?

My favorite food has been, and always will be, potatoes! As for 2010? I would have to say asparagus! I discovered this little gem sometime later in the year, and now I can't get enough!

6. Favorite Restaurant in 2010?
TGI Fridays is always my go-to place!

7. Favorite and worst tv show in 2010?

Favorite: Dexter!

Worst: Jersey Shore. Ugh. If there ever was a way to waste an hour of TV time, this would be it.

8. Favorite Clothing Store in 2010?

I don't really know. I basically only shop at one store, so I'll say "Lane Bryant".

9. Favorite activity in 2010?

I know it's not really an "activity", but I really liked trying all of these new things with B. We started eating (mostly) vegan; saw some new movies we wouldn't normally watch - and ended up loving them; and we went out a lot more, whether it be to dinner, a movie, or just to a relative's house.

10. Describe yourself in 5 words for 2010.

Oh boy... I don't know. Let's say "focused", "maturing", "humble", "fun-loving" (does that count as one word?) and "quiet".

11. Your style in 2010?

Scrubs. That's what I wear 90% of the time. After that comes pajamas. That makes up about 8% of my style. And then you have the jeans and a t-shirt category. Haha!

12. Most common sounds in your home in 2010?

Mice, rats and squirrels chewing on the walls. No lie.

13. What's on your bedside table in 2010?

A lamp, a clock, a book I never finished reading, and my pajamas.

14. Your favorite thing hanging on your wall in 2010?

We didn't hang that much, but I would definitely have to saw the wall mural I ordered though a catalog. Here's the generic picture they have in the catalog, but I had it personalized with our names.



15. What kind of calendar did you own in 2010?

We didn't own one, which was pretty irritating. But, obviously not so irritating that I went out and got one. Ha ha!

16. What was the first thing you did when you got up in the morning in 2010?

Hit the snooze button. Then went pee and got dressed.

17. What is the most expensive thing you owned in 2010?

Uh, I don't know. Probably my phone.

18. What item you own holds the most value for you in 2010?

The most value? I'm not fully sure I understand this question. I would probably say my phone, though. I use it as a form of communication, as a planner, as a stress reliever... I love it!

19. Your favorite book of 2010?

I don't read as much as I would like. I think the only book I read was "The Kite Runner", and I didn't even finish it (even though it was excellent!). 




Part 2 ~~ Your life

1. If you could change one life choice you made, what would it be?

For my whole life, or just this past year? For the most part, there are lots of things I would like to change, but then again, I figure if I were to change something in my past, I wouldn't be where I am today. And I don't want that, because I am pretty happy with where I am today.

2. Who (in your life)  are you are most like?

I'm realizing I'm more and more like my mother each day. This terrifies me, but is also very humbling.

3. Who is the most influential person in your life?

I would say B and my mom are tied on this one. I repsect both of their opinions greatly, and do what I can to please both of them.

4. Name 3 best friends you have had in your lifetime. (And tag em' if they're friends!)

Bryce
Amanda
Liz

5. Favorite family heirloom?

Hmmm... we don't tend to keep a lot of things like that. Although, I'm sure B would say that I love the blanket my grandmother always had. I've slept with this thing for a long time, and love it!

6. Favorite childhood keepsake?

My mom and aunt used to paint ceramics. They held classes, and painted and sold their items. They actually painted about 20 of the Disney characters for me, and I still have them to this day!

7. What's your dream job, and are you doing it?

My dream job is to be a veterinarian, but school costs WAY too much. I do believe, however, that I have found the next best thing... I'm a vet tech!

8. If you didn't have to work for $$ what would you do with your time?

Travel. Be a vet tech. Do lots of arts and crafts.

9. What are you most thankful for in 2010?

My family and friends.

10. What celebrity do you admire in 2010?

I don't think I can pick just one. There are multiple celebrities that I adore.




Part 3~~ This Year (2011)

1. If you won the lottery this year, what would you spend it on??

I would buy a Smart Car first. Definitely a Smart Car. Then I would pay off all of mom and dad's debts, and then B's debts. I think I would put the rest in savings, to be honest.

2. What do you want to change about your life in 2011?

I want to go out more and meet new people. I want to travel more. Other than that, I think things are going pretty well!

3. What do you want to accomplish in 2011?

I kind of think that this is similar to the previous question. So, I guess my answer would be the same.

4. Describe in 5 words what kind of person you want to be in 2011?

"Responsible", "caring", "fun-loving" (again, does this count?), "passionate" and "well-rounded" (same as 'fun-loving'... one word?).

5. What is one quality you want to change about yourself in 2011?

I want to be more motivated. I have a gym membership, but haven't gone in months. I want to see and do things, but never take the initiative. I NEED to be more motivated.

6. What is your new years resolution for 2011? (If you have one...)

I have a couple. 1) Lose weight; 2) be more social; 3) grow-up; 4) be who I want to be; and 5) get more cultured on things. 2011 is here and not going anywhere any time soon, so I better man-up and start taking charge of my life and becoming the person I know I can be.

-Grizzly Girl

Friday, December 31, 2010

Chapter 25: A New Day Has Begun

We signed the lease today! And we're moving everything tomorrow! I'm so excited and so tired! Ha ha!

-Grizzly Girl

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Chapter 24: Away We Go!

So, I began my quest to find an apartment so we could move. I began this quest 2 weeks ago. And now, we have one week to move into this place.

It all went so quickly!

I started looking, and replied to a few things I had seen online. I set up a showing of one of the places, and within 5 days, we had applied and been approved for it.

They even gave us a really great offer: move in January first, and pay the security deposit (which is a full month’s rent) and HALF of the month of January… how awesome is that?!

And this new place is exactly 6 minutes from where I work.

I could not be more excited!

So, needless to say, this next week will be full of packing and getting things ready to move. I probably won’t be on here during that time, since I have to work from 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM Tuesday through Thursday.

I almost feel like we don’t have enough time to pack things up!

And it really doesn't help that we're supposed to get almost 2 feet of snow overnight tonight. Ha ha!

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas

-Grizzly Girl

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Chapter 23: 'Tis the Season

Christmas is just over a week away, and I haven’t even put up our tree yet. It makes the apartment look sad and empty. It makes me sad and empty. Or, rather, more sad and empty than I already am.



B and I had a lengthy talk (when I say lengthy, I really only mean about 30 minutes) about how unhappy I am here. About how I hate living in New Hampshire – even though I’ve lived here my whole life – because I feel like there’s nothing here for either of us. About how, if he happens to lose his job, he won’t have anywhere else to work, because he works in the printing business, and all of the printing companies in the area have shut down because more and more people are relying on the internet for their advertisements. About how my career choices are restricted in this part of the country, because all I really want is to work in a zoo. About how the cold weather kills my body because of my fibromyalgia. About how hard it is financially to live in this part of the country, because even a studio apartment can cost upwards of $800.

I need out of this place. For my happiness. For my health. For every reason you can imagine.

But B becomes panicky is you mention change.



Change of diet? Panic. Change of work schedule? Panic. Change of location, which involves moving more than halfway across the country? Total meltdown.

Yes, halfway across the country. I believe “Inception” got the wording right…

“What is the most resilient parasite? A bacteria? A virus? An intestinal worm? An idea. Resilient, highly contagious. Once an idea has taken hold of the brain it's almost impossible to irradiate. An idea that is fully formed, fully understood. That sticks, right in there somewhere.”

Prescott, Arizona has become the resilient parasite in my mind.












I need to live there. I have to live there.

And who planted this nasty little virus? B, of course. With my help, undoubtedly. But he still gave me the idea.

How, you ask?

About a year ago, I asked him, “If you could live anywhere in the United States, where would you live?” He gave me 3 answers, and Prescott was one of them. This, in turn, gave me permission to look up these three places, and to choose which one I liked the best. (Or, so my mind told me.)

Prescott was the obvious choice. It was a small town, had everything we needed, had the best geological placement, and would mean that we could start over. The housing was cheap. The town itself seemed perfect. The only thing stopping us? His fear of change.

Don’t get me wrong – I totally understand where he’s coming from. You can’t be certain that you’re going to be happy and able to thrive if you just pick up and move. I get that. But I had a plan for that, as well.

We would save up money and take a lengthy vacation. 2 weeks or so. Go out. Explore the area. Look at places to live. Find places to work.

Once we found everything, we could move.

(Understand this: we would do our research before we even left for the vacation. We would contact potential employers and set up our interviews before we even got there. The same goes for housing. We would plan our life before we even got to our destination.)

But this still made him shy away from the idea.

So instead, we talked.



He understands that I’m not happy here with a lot of things, but he doesn’t equate happiness with where you live. And that totally baffles me.

He figures, if you’re unhappy with your life, you should do something to change it. (Um, hello! Wouldn’t moving change it?) If you’re unhappy with your job, find a new one. If you want more friends, go out and make them. If you’re unhappy with your house or apartment, find somewhere else to live.

This, coming from a man who is all of the above, but has done nothing to change it. Makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it?

And so, again, we talked.

And so we’re going to move. But not to Arizona. We’re going to move closer to the city, and find a better apartment. One that doesn’t have mold on the ceiling. One that doesn’t cost $300 per month to heat because the insulation is so poor that it just seeps right out of the house. One that isn’t almost an hour away from any normal civilization. He’s open to that. A lot more open to that than moving 2,700 miles away from here.

And so my search has begun.

I have been given permission to look for other housing options. And boy have I been looking.

And this looking basically hit a wall yesterday – a wall that I totally understand, but am not happy about because I want these changes in my life right now.

He wants to wait until Christmas and the holiday season is over.

Okay. I get that. The holidays are stressful.

But it doesn’t mean that I have to like it.



And so, on to other news.

I got home from work the other day to walk in the door and find one of my Christmas presents sitting right here on the floor. It irritated me, but excited me. B had ordered it off of the internet, and the company decided to ship it in a box that has the product’s name written all over it.

How genius is that, especially in the holiday season?



I panicked. Thankfully, B wasn’t home, so I had time to figure this situation out.

I couldn’t just leave it there on the floor. It was literally right inside of the door. He would know that I saw the packaging, and that I would know what my gift was, and he would be upset.

I took 10 minutes to figure out my plan.

I brought it back over to the landlords’ and asked them if they would keep it at their place until B was home and I was not. This way, it would look like I had never seen the package, and b could have substantial time to hide it from me.

My plan was perfect, and as far as I know, the package is now sitting upstairs – a place I dare not go, since our staircase, if you can call it that, is at an almost 90 degree angle, and I am constantly falling down them.

So what am I getting, you ask?

A Keurig coffee brewer!



You know, those newfangled coffee machines that make a single cup of coffee from those tiny little plastic cups? Yeah! One of those!

I’m so excited!

Although, knowing that I have one just sitting and waiting for me is horrible. I know I have access to a coffee machine, and my body is now craving coffee. It’s unfair, I tell you!

And I know it’s totally mean, but I have seriously been fucking with his head now.



I got home the other day (right after they would have brought it over to him) and I asked, “Did I receive a package in the mail today?” This is a completely legitimate question, because I’m waiting for our Christmas cards to arrive! But, the look on his face was priceless. He got all nervous and said, “Uh… no… um… why… why would you be expecting a package?” Ha!

And every now and then, I’ll calmly say, “I could SO go for a cup of coffee right now”.

And I created a “Wishlist” through Amazon and e-mailed him the link to it, even though I knew he had gotten me something already. He had created a wishlist and emailed it to me beforehand, so my reply was, “Oh, and here's MY wish list. Take a peek. It'll help you shop, maybe?”

I keep having the urge to begin going up the stairs, just to see what his reaction would be.

I’m evil, I know.

-Grizzly Girl