Romance is in the air

Surprises are usually surprises and aren't always great. But good surprises, not bad-the tire just blew out, or dog just died surprises-but the nice ones that make you giddy for hours and hours and your face hurts from smiling because you just can't help it. Well, even when it's not specifically for you it's hard to not smile too.
That's how the past couple days have been.

First of all, I have become enamored with The Pioneer Woman. She is a blogger who has a new cookbook and just came to my store. So I looked her up because people are freakish about her-they LOVE her. And I know why-she's a real person with a real love story. She did a series of blogs about how her and her husband met and fell in love and got married. And let me tell you-a cowboy is the way to go! I was shocked when I started reading this-it was just too good to be a true story. I mean he walked right out of some romance novel and seems perfect. And if you're saying-well no one's perfect-you're right. However, meeting these people, seeing their family, they are truly a love story. Their family is so cute and he is so supportive of her, and The Pioneer Woman said it herself, he's not perfect, but he's perfect for her. And she's probably right-and now I'm looking for my own cowboy. I've always had a little thing for cowboys but I thought that in reality they'd probably be a little on the chauvinistic side, perhaps a little more conservative than I'd be able to handle, but boy oh boy-I'm hooked-I don't care-I'll take 'em-faults and all!

Then seeing two people who are so happy to see eachother. One having been surprised by the other-they live in separate states. The sheer giddiness and happiness that radiates from them is intoxicating. It shows you that you really need to appreciate the time you have together. The surprise is always great, and sometimes tearful, as the one realizes that someone went so out of the way for them. Made a long trip, time, money, tear and wear, and all for them. The hands that can't separate, or when they do not for long, for fear that they'll disappear. The looking out of the corner of the eye because to look completely away would make the other disappear. The glow. The glow of love and joy that radiates from the faces of the lovers. Drunkeness!

Oh Romance-forget Valentine's Day-Fall-heading into winter-heading into the magical holiday season is when these things happen. I love the magic of the holidays. Look for those moments, those interactions between people who just enjoy eachothers' company freely and happily. Drink from that cup, share it with your friends, and block out the ugliness that may try and invade.

BTW Ree Drummond is The Pioneer Woman-check out her site-Google her and you'll find her. It's great!

Update!!!!

Well, I'm not sleeping on the floor anymore. So those chronicles will have to be something else. I did sleep on the floor for a couple weeks though-until I discovered another air matress in the basement! So I carried that upstairs-but the better news is I now have a real bed! Yeppers! The landlord was going to clean out the basement of anything that wasn't marked-and well this bed was a recent addition to the basement. I don't know if Deb left it or it was one of the girls' from upstairs, but it's mine now! And I'm diggin it! Free bed!

I also have a niece-who I am totally in love with. She is the absolutely cutest thing in the world! And I am terribly territorial with her during the 2 times I've been home. But she and I are kindred spirits-she almost makes me want to move back home-almost.

So all in all-the rough time of September is almost over. The new roomie is moved in-we're slowly building our collection of stuff for the house (furniture and the like). I'm on the lease for at least a year, and if I decide to move will actually have deposit money coming back to me-so it'll be possible to move if I want! Gosh I'm almost a grown up!

Welcome Fall-may your colors be as bright and various as the possibilities in the world endless.

Sleeping on the floor chronicles 1

I'm not sure what else I can do? I'm really trying here-I'm trying to save up, make it, not get depressed or frustrated. But it's getting really difficult.
I know-in a few years, or months (hopefully) I'll look back on this time and laugh. Well, I'm hoping so.
My airbed-my island of wonderfulness-has a leak. Now I would have fixed this leak-covered it with tape or something; but I couldn't find it. I was hoping I was wrong and that I had accidentally left the valve open-but alas-it has a leak and will not stay filled. I don't know what recently happened to cause this-since it's been up for over a week now and hasn't had an issue. But it happened.
I feel like giving in-I feel like throwing the towel. The saving grace is that I can't. I have not job anywhere else. So, I have no options but to make this work. And I'm going to-I just don't want to sleep on the floor for the next 3 months!
But I'll laugh about it later. I'll laugh about it later.
I'll laugh about it when my neighbors shut up and let me go to sleep on my little bed of blankets and comfortors!

It continues

I have been in Chicago almost 2 years now. My how time flies. I've been in my store for a full year now! No more hopping around! I'm probably more excited about life here at this point than when i was when i got here.
I'm about to sign a lease, have a new roommate and be a bit more independent than I was. I have friends, new and old, here now. It's a melding of my worlds from different points in my life, which I think would be awkward, except that it's the thing I've been waiting to happen since my arrival.
I'm about to become an aunt in a month! Which is a whole new role and challenge with living away from my family. So, yes it's a bittersweet thing, but no I'm not moving back. I appreciate my friends and fmily more now, and know that I'm on a path that will probably veer from their location often. Doesn't make me love them less, just makes me not take the time we have together for granted.
I'm looking forward to this new beginning. I used to hate change-it scared me, but there's nothing left to do at the moment but embrace it. Thanks to recent additions to my friendscape here-I had someone remind me how good it is right now. That we're making it, we're having fun and enjoying life (even on a budget). Don't stress the hard stuff-it doesn't help, and you'll figure it out (I mean there's usually no choice so you just gotta do it).
And the weight on my shoulders is a little lighter.

The Waiting Game

I hate waiting. Patience was never my virtue. Loyalty I think is-which helps with the patience. But I'm still twiddling my thumbs a lot and tapping toes, waiting waiting waiting.

Waiting for???
Well, that's an excellent question. Waiting for the lightbulb to go on. To be out of debt. To get promoted. For the other shoe to drop. For Mr. Right to walk in the door. To be appreciated.
For my life to figure itself out. Whatevs.

I'm betting we never truly "figure it out" anyways. Whatevs. It's all about the people-the relationships you have. The people you and the impressions you leave on them. Hopefully a positive one. I mean that's really all I want to do with life. I just want leave a positive impact on the people around me. Now if I could just remember that in my weaker moments/days.

Saturday Night

Saturday night/Sunday morning. It was a great time tonight. Hung out with Laura and Joe, and some of their friends. Blue Agave, and then some place in Wicker Park that was way cool. Cortland Lanes or something...not sure. Anyways, good times! And I may have found a new roommate in Joe! Which would be awesome-cause-well I know him already, and he is a blast, and he has furniture, and I'd probably see Laura some more.

But tonight was the stress reliever I needed. And Joe has some good friends. Jackie, Andy, and Mike-just really nice peeps. But I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I just needed to destress a bit.

Joe was pretty drunk. Very drunk. He reminded me of those blow up life size people with weights in the bottom and rock. You can punch them and they don't fall over. Think Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2-in the toy store.

I'm way thirsty! Way tired and way going to bed! Goodnight!

Lemonade

I'm willing summer to be here by putting lemonade in the fridge. I even cut up real lemons to put in the pitcher (cause i use country time lemonade mix). It's yummy!

I find myself more excited about life recently. Eventhough not everything's perfect; I mean I don't really know where I'm living come September. There's a few people I need to talk to to figure that one out. And well, I still have bills. And I still live on a budget. But really some of those things I would like to live without (ex. bills) aren't really realistic if I want to be able to plug stuff in and have it work. And eventhough my Au Gratin potatoes are more like potato soup-it still tastes pretty good. So what the heck.

And I have visitors coming this month! Makes me happy! Seeing as none of my family or friends have been here since I moved. (well Missy was but she was here with work and didn't see my house, Andrea was, but she was really visiting her boys, and Shawn was but he was really here for a convention...) Anyways, I'm excited for visitors-and hope to keep them coming. It makes me learn new areas of Chicago that I haven't seen/explored yet.

Blowing off the bike ride till Wednesday-cause I have laundry to do! And a book to read, and since I'm doing the split today I don't want to tire myself out.

Exciting times at work (as always). Down managers, up managers, down managers, training managers, it's crazy. It's my own personal theatre experiment i think. And I still maintain that retail establishments would probably make a great place to have a reality television show. Just sayin!

tis all for now