It was nice to find out we both had mixed feelings...

I was reunited with my long lost love just a few days ago.  Sometimes I think I have forgotten what it is like to hang out with girls.  This is what made me nervous.  So nervous that the feelings of excitement had to take a backseat for a moment. 

May I just say, she is more beautiful than I remember.  (I know she thinks I am writing this because I know she will read it- I would write it anyway, dear friend). We had plans for the day and though we made it through only half of them (thanks to great conversation and Bad Girls Club on demand), it was still fantastic.  I look forward to the next time we get to reunite (soon, please). 

I am counting down the days until I get to reunite with one of the most important people in my life.  We have let distance pull us apart but I cannot wait to see her again.  

SO LOOKING FORWARD TO TUESDAY. 

It is spring break.  FINALLY. 

I made a New Years resolution that brought this blog into existence.  It was my intention to blog everyday and I didn't even make it half way through the year.  Maybe I had unrealistic expectations.  Maybe in the past few weeks of chaos and stress I chose to focus more on the things that were bringing me down than the beautiful things that were happening despite the waste of energy on negativity.  I want to promise myself that I will keep this up but I don't want to let myself down again.  Great things did happen this past week. 

I realize this entry sounds depressing.  I am not unhappy.  Like I said, it is spring break! :)

Good is coming I can feel it.

Day 101?

I am sad I missed Day 100.  That should be like a milestone or something.  However, there are NOT 100 entries... 

I am back, though.  I have come up from air from my jewelry making after my most wonderful boyfriend "hounded" me for days and days.  That's not true.  But, like any awesome boyfriend should, he did ask me several times about it. So here I am.  Not out of obligation.  Not because Gabe asked for it.  

Because I want to be.  :)

Day 96- Octopus

Sometimes things creep their way into existence in my mind.  

Sometimes they are forced. 

Sometimes, by chance, I run into them in numerous unrelated instances.  

I saw this octopus pendant on eBay.  It was quite beautiful and I added it to my watch list, unsure of my intentions.  That day (this was actually yesterday) while stumbling through pictures on facebook, I saw this same pendant being worn by a friend of a friend.  

Tonight, while looking at some other pictures (yes, I realize this paints me as a facebook-picture-stalker) I saw this same pendant again.  I don't know what is creepier- me stalking facebook pictures or seeing this odd, rare, octopus pendant 3 times, randomly, in a 24 hour period. 

Yes, perhaps this is the "new car" syndrome in which you suddenly notice something common, now important, when it was always there before. 

Yes, perhaps this is a sign that I should buy this pendant and it will bring me good fortune.  

But...Most likely, I will not buy it and will forget it in a few days.

Day 95- New Music, for Me.

Day 93- Old Town, New Town

Since moving to Forest City I must say I have been less than impressed with my surroundings.  I must also  say that I did not have high expectations to begin with, so I was really not too let down.  But I am happy to have moved out of old places where people were more ugly than I expected- not ALL people... some.  

Today Gabe and I went out on an excursion through the downtown of Forest City.  We loaded our bikes in his truck and really had no idea where we were going to ride. We settled in a parking space in the middle of downtown.  While taking back alleys and side streets to nowhere, we found weathered, dilapidated, beautiful places.  An abandoned old factory parking lot was one of my favorites.  Black asphalt lying next to a not-so-old yet not-so-new factory with slight inclines felt like the best find in this town.  Along with this were the back doors and boarded windows with pigeons that became perfect photos in my mind. 

While riding back to the car I shared my new found love for this city with Gabe.  I saw many stores, nooks and crannies that I did not know even existed.  I am looking forward to "branching out" and trying new places in this town that is feeling more and more like home, finally, after 6 months. 

Day 92- Man, I am slacking here.

I had a super fantastic weekend. 

Friday night was our normal "date night."  Every Friday we indulge in some delicious Mexican food at a place that knows our orders by heart and brings us complimentary Sopapilla.  I look forward to this all week.

Saturday I had the privilege to take my dad to play laser tag for his birthday.  First of all it is awesome that he even suggested this, but more than that it turned out to be the most fun I have had in a long time! Afterward I went shopping at Michael's for jewelery supplies and finished out at Olive Garden- YUMMMMM. 

Today my sweetheart treated me to a healthy, delicious breakfast.  We took a bike ride in perfect weather to ICC and visited their duckpond. 

So, really... Could it get any better?

no.

Day 90- Happy Birthday Dad!

My dad called me a "lotus flower" today.  :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

Day 89-Bye Bye Bye

Today I feel more like myself.  Not that I didn't feel like myself before- I guess emphasis on the more here.  I have taken the next step to my super short chic haircut and took off several more inches.  I love it, but more importantly, I love the way I feel. 

Day 87- Questions...

Sometimes it takes talking to someone who is lost to realize how "found" you are.  Listening to someone ask themselves and you unanswerable questions causes you to reflect upon who you have become and the things and people who mean the most to you.  I am happy to think back on a few years ago when I was so unsure who I was supposed to be. I am happy because I have become someone so much better than I ever could have thought possible.  I may not be living where I would like to be and I may not have everything figured out, but I am happy- and that is all I need. 

Day 86- NEW HOBBY!

Today I made my first 2 necklaces.  I was fun and I was very pleased with the results.  I will post pictures. 

Day 85- A Little Late

Online Karaoke with Gabe. 

The best part is that you can record yourself and then laugh to tears when you listen.  Love it. 

www.karaokeplay.com

Day 84- Bragging? Yes.

I had a wonderful post conference with our principal today.  It was a conference for my unannounced observation earlier this week.  Not only did I score high marks, but I also was told the following things: 

"I could sit in your classroom all day"

"You have one of the most comfortable, nurturing, learning-friendly environments..."

"You are one of the best first year teachers I have seen"

"There really is nothing I can say needs improvement"

It is nice to get a job well done.

Day 82- Winner

Who won the Marion School Biggest Loser competition? yeah... that'd be me.

Day 81- Lovely Day

Today the weather was perfect.  It was perfect for being outside or inside with the back door propped open and windows raised.  It was perfect for driving with the windows down.  I wish it would stay this way.

I enjoyed a nice drive into the country, full of yellow fields, with Gabreal today.  He is such an exceptional listener when I go on tangents that pigeon walk from one subject to the next for 10 minutes at a time.  I know I filled his ears with school nonsense and silly ramblings, but he didn't seem to mind.  I hope he didn't mind...

Day 80- hoot

This beautiful necklace came in the mail today. :) 

Day 79- On a String...

I have been in desperate need of a hobby. 

I have settled on making jewelry.  Most likely this will be for fun and for myself, but who knows... 

I am just craving a creative outlet and have been researching this and obsessing with supplies on ebay. 

I'm EXCITED!

Day 78- Da Feet

It counts as today because today started at 12 am.  I was the recipient of a ridiculously excellent foot massage last night. Kudos also to Pandora for the fine tunes that helped make this foot massage so perfect.

Day ?- Hiatus

It was not by choice.  It was not on purpose.  It was inevitable.  

Our "free" internet decided to turn on us.  It once welcomed us with it's open, high speed, arms.  With no warning, it left us high and dry. I was nearing an intervention anyway.   I must say for a day or so I was a little lost, which is ridiculous seeing that a few months ago I was on a 3 year run with no internet.  After getting over the initial withdrawal symptoms, I rediscovered some simple pleasures in my life.  They are as follows...

1.  Morning walks

2.  Video Rentals

3.  Baking Brownies

4.  Eating dinner with the main entertainment being conversation

5.  Eating dinner on the back porch

6.  Hard Boiled Eggs (I do have a problem with boredom-eating)

7.  Thinking.

8.  No school email at home

...I will probably be adding to this list, my eggs just finished boiling . Seriously.  Cage Free, baby.