A Little Segue

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly a cat will hop into a suitcase when one is opened up

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I have so much to tell you all. Stories about what happened at my elementary school job, Irish dance, how Jon went from thinking about being a patent attorney to joining a business venture, to work on the inside of the house, the garden I'm actually working on outside, my new job, my new business (yes, I said business!) and so much more!

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However, those tales will have to wait as I'm packing right now for a road trip to Dallas.  My friend and I will be joining and hanging out with another friend, the lovely, talented and incredibly artistic Pascalle Lepas, of this online comic, who will be a guest speaker at A-Kon.  That's right, I'm going to be a groupie at a nerd convention, and I'm actually excited about it.  Nothing like getting out of town and hanging with some geeks to change up the routine.  I promise pictures and more stories to type (dear lord will I ever get through all of them?!) soon.

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Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Hard Work

Dancers practicing in Nashville during the Irish dance Nationals earlier this July. I love this shot. This is what working hard looks like. I saw so much of that during my five days in Tennessee, it really blew my mind. The dedication, the discipline, the amazing dancing... that's what goes into one's few meager minutes on stage at a major competition like this.

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And that is why I've begun practicing until my feet can't take it anymore! More pictures to come!

Irish Dancers Kick- Even on The Fourth

Okay so technically speaking these pictures were taken yesterday, but, there's a lot of dancing going on today, and the kick and 4th title seemed fun, so I rolled with it. Yesterday I, along with my dance friends, [pictured above] helped to break a world record. 652 dancers in all lined up in a big room, held hands, and did a jig for five minutes. I showed up at the last minute, thinking it was over, and managed to get there just in time! Dancing that long on concrete really stinks, especially in bare feet, but, it was to break a record and now I have that as a bragging right. Go me!

I don't know who the guy next to me was, but, look at his kick! I did get a spray tan by the way; it's impossible for me to look like that without chemicals and space age technology. I figured it would be better for all if I had a tan when I wear my swimsuit here. I don't want to blind everyone! It's vain, I know, but, don't judge me. Us pale people gotta do something to blend in with the general population. Especially, when the majority of that population are spray tanned as well, bouncing around in wigs. It's an Irish dance thing.
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Hope everyone is having a fun and safe Fourth of July!!

A Universal Truth

If there is a suitcase anywhere in the house, with or without stuff in it, a cat will find it and be in it. This is a scientific fact. At least, it should be.

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I'm in Nashville watching and photographing my friends as they get ready to dance at the Irish dance North American Nationals. This competition is HUGE folks. I've literally rubbed elbows with at least three world champions and have seen some amazing dancing. More pictures to come!

Travel Tips- As In I Need Them!

So my dear, wonderful, blogging friends I am in need of your help, advice, or just plain encouragement. I will take whatever I can get. I was planning on a trip to Europe in June. I'm thinking I can still manage to make this trip happen. Things depend on the tax refund. Anywho, I have friends all through France, one in Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Germany. I'd like to visit as many of these fabulous people as possible of course, but, how in the world do I plan for a trip like this?

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I should give you all some background here. Though I have traveled some I am practically a virgin when it comes to planning a trip, especially one that could potentially involve train trips after landing. If I am to go, who would want to see me? Where would I buy the train tickets for a reasonable price? How in the world do I go about seeing my friends, but, not burdening them with my inexperience?

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So if any of you have some advice to when is a good time to hop over the pond and go to Europe please share. Any information as far as what to expect cost wise (hostels and/or food), where to stay, what train(s) to take, and how to book all of this stuff please pass that my way. I think I can figure out how to get the plane ticket (looks like I'll be landing in Paris) it's just getting those other details figured out that I'm at a loss for. Oh and did I mention I don't even know how to make an itenerary?? Though, I'm sure you all had it figured out by now.

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Also, if you wouldn't mind seeing me then please let me know. I'd love to arrange some meet ups!! Go ahead and email me if you're more comfortable with that and be prepared for questions on where to meet up, stay and cost. I'm kinda on a 'shoestring' budget so I want to make sure I have my p's and q's lined up. But, hey, if you are willing to put up with that then have at it. I will bring pretty things from the states too. I promise.

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As you can plainly see, I need some serious help! Please give me some input if you are so inclined. I mainly need a starting point to build an outline of what to do and then I'll probably have some questions after that. I'm sorry to bother you with my naievity, but, anything will be a great help. Thanks so much!

And Back

So happy to be back! Missed my boys and my everyday routine. Though, don't get me wrong, getting out of the everyday was needed! I am too tired to type much up. Jon and I had a fantastic time in the Dallas area with our friends. I have plenty of pictures and stories to share. I will get caught up soon.

My Decision

The answer to the question I was pondering earlier is

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Yes.

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Absolutely, you all were right and I knew it when I read your comments. Yes, I want to go, live in Europe, and give it a try just because if I don't I'll always wonder, "What if?" I refuse to live my life with regrets weighing me down. I also feel that itch to do it and I'm drawn to go down that path for some reason or another.

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Coming to that yes nearly brought me to tears. I felt relieved as if a huge weight floated off of me. The other emotions were a mix of awe, fear, wonderment, and questions galore. I had to talk to Jon about this and I did. Unfortunatly though, telling him left me with even more questions and fears. Jon doesn't exactly share my enthusiasm for galavanting off to another continent. At furthest he'd considering moving to (at least at this point) is Vancouver, Canada.

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So... here I am with an idea to go, no clue what I'm getting myself into, and the definite possibility my boyfriend, who I thought I would marry, won't follow. I don't know what this all means for my future at all. However, I do have great, well informed, friends and I hope you don't all mind if I draw strength and knowledge from you fabulous people. Thank you for putting up with me to this point. Hope you don't mind helping me jump on this ride.

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Ps- Leo is doing much better! Back to his normal self. Thank you all for the kind comments and Leo appreciates them too. :)

Airfare Frustration

Last year I finally got my passport with the intention on making it to France that same year. I had been searching cheap airfare sites and was encouraged- tickets ranged from about $500-600 (USD) and I figured I could save and make it work by fall.

If you've been following my blog for any period of time you would know that so didn't happen. I recieved a promotion in fall making it difficult to leave for a week as so much needed to be handled (my position was created when I recieved my promotion). At the same time I took over rent and payment on one bill as my roommate had reached a high level of frustration with keeping her account balanced as our landlord tends to deposit checks up to a month after we give him a rent check.

All of those added up to a delay of savings as I had to catch up with rent. It seems while all of that went on new fees, taxes, something were added onto airplane tickets. I've been checking out the airline prices- OMG!! Now tickets are over $800 dollars on average. I found a $710 dollar ticket on AirFrance's website, BUT, because I would be flying out of the US they had to charge me $119.00 in fees/taxes (mind you this is not near as high as US airline taxes, typically those are about twice the amount for the ticket which makes the total price over $800) so again a ticket for over $800 and that in the off-season folks!

Obviously I'm frustrated. If the price were just a couple hundred dollars less I could manage that. As of right now I am trying to figure out some creative budgeting to save up in expectation of seperating with that amount of mula. Frankly I don't know what else to do! I don't have a major credit card so that's out. And honestly, I don't want to have to rely on a credit card too much as I have a general adversion to being stuck in credit card debt. On the flip side I really want to go to Paris and see my friends who I haven't seen in so very long. I'm not too picky on when I go- Ideally I would like to go to Paris in the spring, preferably mid-March or early May as it won't be filled with so many tourists and one friend who's attending a university there won't be entangled in finals and those times agree pretty well with my schedule.

I just want to go! I would love, LOVE to travel more especially around Europe, but, I'll take a week long trip in Paris for now! Anyone have any ideas, advice, words of wisedom? Or am I just screwed?

Forgive Me Blogger for I Have Sinned....

Okay so it's been a little bit since a new 'here's what's going on in my life' post. To be quite honest life just got busy and thus I was T-I-R-E-D. Too much going on, info scattered and jumbled in my brain, and lots of fatigue made it difficult to sit down and sort through it all on my blog. So I will try to give a little recap to catch everyone up on the latest and greatest. Again no pictures because yeah... the camera has just not been taken care of. I think I'm going to make some serious threats to Jon to get that thing fixed... stay tuned.

On with the show!

Thanksgiving was celebrated at Jon's sisters house on Wednesday night. Everything went well- and I didn't have to bake a thing! Jon's sis is amazing, very much like him, in that she LOVES to cook and she handled it all with calm and holiday cheer. If I had to be in charge of an entire Thanksgiving meal for 15 people I would be having a series of mini-meltdowns- at best! We ended the night playing Cranium with Faith's whole family plus a boyfriend. Jon and I totally lost, but, I did know the answer to a little known factoid proving once again I have way to much random information in my brain.

Thursday Jon and his father cleared out the way too small storage unit and dropped everything off at his house. This proved to be helpful come Sunday when the big move occured.

Friday Tia and I rented a U-Haul to pick up the piano in Broken Arrow (a city just south of Tulsa). Thank goodness for Tia's brother and father though! The piano is a spinet or console, meaning it's the smallest upright piano you can get. Still, that sucker weighs easily 300-400 pounds! Fortunatly man power (literally), wheels on the piano, and a ramp got the piano safely in the truck. Add some scarves (yes I said scarves! We didn't pack any rope- real smart move) and we got the piano safely into our house. I've been playing LOTS! The joy of having a piano in my home after 6 years of not having one has been bliss!

Oh and Jon braved Black Friday madness and bought a fridge and a couple of random items for the house. Give me piano moving any day over retail madness!

Saturday brought about moving two loads of small boxes from Jon's parents house to his new abode. That took all afternoon. So the evening was spent in proper style over at a friends house with Wii playing and pizza eating good times.

Sunday- ie "D-Day" ie "The Big Move". Four friends volunteered to help with the promise of two paid for meals as payment. Jon rented a U-Haul and I drove it. Yes, I drove a U-Haul around as I wasn't going to be able to be much help when it came to the heavy lifting- had to contribute in some way! Of course Sunday was cold and dreary with the threat of rain. Still we managed to clean out most of Jon's stuff from his parent's house and all the stuff that was stored at my place (due to the before mentioned storage unit being tiny). This was accomplished in about four hours and we beat the rain. Some doors had to come off their hinges, but, large items were put in place and our friends were rewarded with a large Indian meal bought at a nearby restaurante.

So to summerize... several days of on and off packing and three days of moving culminated in Jon finally out of his parents house and into his own place- FOR GOOD! If I hadn't been so exhausted I think I would've done cartwheels all over Tulsa. However, for me, the adventure didn't stop there. Monday I went down to Norman in a rental car (my roomie works for a large car rental company and it was going to be cheaper than filling the tank my big hooptie car) to see an aunt and uncle I haven't seen in over 8 years! They live in California and they were in town to see my cousin's family. So, I made the trek in hopes of reconnecting with more of my family. The trip was a success. Nothing major really went down, just lots of catching up, and helping with a project my aunt and cousin were working on. I finally got home around 11pm and in bed after midnight.

As a result of all of that 'activity', yesterday I woke up EXHAUSTED beyond comprehension. So that's why this rather long and drawn out post came today.

So there's what I've been up to! How are you all doing?

Woot-ness!

Oh yes, this is what it looks like!

My oh so lovely "I'm high as a kite" pic doesn't look so bad with all that shiney stuff!

Thursday, the 21st, I recieved an email from the State Department that my passport was being shipped off to me. and that it would be in my hands by May 25th; not too bad considering I turned in the form four and a half weeks ago. Naturally I was excited, but, content to wait a few days. Well, the damn US Postal Service (note sarcasm) had to be efficient and I recieved it the VERY NEXT DAY! Yes, you heard me right I recieved it early and only a day after being notified. Big kudos to the USPS!!

Thanks to this pretty little thing I can go wherever I want in the world- except you know, like North Korea and such. Now just to get the money to get my butt there!

Vanity

First off thank you for the comments. I'll continue to tweak with things, and of course you all are more than welcome to let me know what you think. I'm all about the freedom of speech.

So today after a couple of weeks of putting it off I went and got my passport photos. The reason for my procrastination was very simple: vanity. I wanted to look great for my passport photos, or at least better than last time (I was fifteen, had ill fitting glasses, and REALLY thick bangs). So I kept putting it off because it was raining, or my hair wasn't right, or I wasn't feeling well, etc etc. But, today I thought I looked decent enough and finally put some lipstick on and dragged my butt down to FedEx Kinko's.

The result? I look drunk, or sick, or something. My hair is sticking up ever so slightly in the back and my eyes aren't fully open, and my eyebrows look totally different (apparently my penciling them darker skills are SERIOUSLY lacking). Okay, to be fair, they aren't horrible. But, after all that time worrying over my appearances the photos come out less than stellar.

Anyone else sense the delicious irony here? I so am. So I'm sucking it up, sending the photos in, and living with it for the next ten years. Oh yeah... vanity you have served me well this day.

Something I've Been Working On

I am doing it. After staring at a mostly filled out form to get a copy of my birth certificate, I kicked myself into gear, applied, and about three weeks later got my birth certificate from theOklahoma Dept. of Vital Records. From there I have started to fill out my application for a new US Passport (my old one long expired as I got it when I was 15).

Why? It's true that in this moment I have no specific travel plans- yet. However, I am going to go to Paris, France in the foreseeable future. I have friends there who I haven't seen in far too long and a visit with them is, to put it mildly, rather overdue. Right now, I'm beginning to rearrange my budget to begin saving for this trip. How I'm going to pull this off with the student loan consolidation looming over me and the fact that I don't make a whole lotta money I'm not entirely sure.

At the same time, this is a trip I must take. When I get something whether it be a task, a goal, idea, etc under my skin and I can't shake or rationalize the feeling of 'must do it' away- I have to do it. This feeling is what got me to go to Japan as an exchange student, guided me to go to TU, gave me the insane idea doing two majors, and many other decisions that, yes have been difficult at time, I do not regret doing for one second. In fact, these decisions I believe have provided me with invaluable life lessons and I think I've become a better person for it. Well.... at least I hope!

No doubt, a trip abroad is a 'must do'. I hope to be in France within this year, but, if it takes longer it takes longer. Currently, I'm scouring cheap airfare sites, saving, and plotting. There are questions I have and while there's no way to know if this trip will provide answers, like I said, I just know I need to go and do it. At the very least, I will be in with friends, eating good food, exploring, taking pics and getting away from the norm. After all, who doesn't need that?

A Look Back to Help Me Move Forward

With above average warm temperatures spring is on its way in. I don't know what it is about the warmer weather provoking past experiences to surface. I guess with my desire to travel, especially back to Paris and France in particular, memories have flooded back of my past experiences abroad.
The second time I flew to France, I went by myself. First solo trip overseas in fact. (The first time I traveled with another girl my age) While my final destination was not Paris, my plane landed there. After I got through customs, my host father picked me up, picked his daughter up (she had stayed with my family and we were flying back at the same time, just different airlines), and whisk us off to the train station. My host sister, C, and I then took a TGV train down to La Rochelle to join the rest of her family at their country chateau.
When I was picked up at Charles DeGaulle (airport) we had to go to another airport. While we were winding through the crazy streets of Paris, the sunroof was opened and I had a fantastic view of Paris streets and buildings above and around me. Although it was the second time I had been to Paris I was still awestruck with what was all around me. Despite the jet lag, wretched traffic, and a near major car accident, I was still giddy and dumbstruck all at the same time. Looking up on buildings older than most at home, I felt like a child discovering something new for the first time. Thinking back on that now, I can still feel the raw emotions I experienced in that car nearly 10 years ago.
Isn't that what provokes us to travel? The intense waves of emotions at seeing something so remarkably different, while at the same time finding what binds us together as the human race on this planet? While I understand that my past experiences were unique to that very time, and that they will not be repeated again, I still want to go and experience it (Paris) and other places again. See places with older, and hopefully wiser eyes; and take in all the emotions and thoughts that go along with being away from home. I do believe that these kinds of experiences really help one grow and appreciate wherever their home is and the rest of the world. I know that I cannot speak enough of what traveling has done for my development as a person. Despite both negative and positive occurrences away from home, I want more of it- to help me gain more perspective and to store away precious memories.

Man I need to get myself on a jet plane soon!

In Mobile...

Just a quick entry. Got to Mobile yesterday and have been enjoying the 70 degree weather, but, NOT the 80 percent humidity. My hair is turning into a cotton ball thanks to all this moisture. My roommates and I are constantly washing our faces and trying to keep our hair from being fro-esque.

So far we have explored what downtown Mobile has to offer, which means a lot of quiant buildings(think New Orleans French quater), fog, and good food locations. Definitely a much better trip/location than last year. Especially since we are SO close to everything we need to be at for the bowl events. It's been nice, quiet overall, but, nice.

Tomorrow they're predicting rain and thunderstorms. Say a prayer that we won't end up either rain delayed or soaked to the bone.