Busy little so-and-so

I've been going, going, gone this entire month in a whirlwind of trips, family and friend obligations, and vacations. It doesn't look like it'll end until some time in July either, oy.

I'll lay everything out for this month and you can see what I mean:

• First weekend was apartment hunting, planning for bridal showers, and generally getting my crap together for the month
• Second weekend was apartment hunting (FOUND ONE!!), organizing finances, and finishing up preparation for the bridal shower
• Third weekend I flew home to throw the soon-to-be sis-in-law her first bridal shower, getting there late Friday night after work, rocking out all Saturday, then flying out early on Sunday
• Fourth weekend, I helped with and attended a bridal shower for my roommate, promptly drove up afterward to VT to see Tex and chill with his fam and friends, and didn't get home until late Monday night
• Fifth weekend is a seven hour drive down on Thursday after work to the coast of DE for the soon-to-be sis-in-law's bachelorette party

Is your head spinning yet? Because mine certainly is. That's just May. June is equally packed with random tidbits, including my birthday (wahoo!), a Sox game, and another bachelorette (this time for the roomie). It's all great stuff, spending time with family and friends and having a great time, but admittedly, I'm a bit exhausted.

Of course there are plenty of worse problems, so mostly I'm just complaining so I can remember this crazy time in the future when I start to think I'm getting bored.

Anyways, thanks for being patient/understanding with the sporadic posts. Got to go now, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late for a very important date!

Before you start pouting...

I appreciate the difficulty inherent in a long distance relationship, having done one for over a year myself (me studying in England while the bf at the time was in Rhode Island at college). I quickly learned that it was a situation I pretty much NEVER wanted to be in again. Having said this, my friends have critically marveled at my complete lack of sympathy when a couple has to spend a month or two in separate locations. It's sort of like when you've been through the war (and you're on a high horse), a little blood here and there from small scrapes is hardly anything to fret about.

Yet, I was caught by this article in the Boston Globe: The heart pines, and now the wallet wails

It's about how as gas prices go up and airlines crash into bankruptcy, travel is increasingly expensive and becoming slightly out of reach for some couples living in different states. Stress about the cost and the time apart, in combination with a severe reduction in spontaneous trips means that several relationship hopes get dashed on the hard rocks of reality. As one person in the article states, "The gas prices could be the deciding factor."

If my year and change was war, then the constant struggle for these couples—with no end in sight—has gone nuclear. Certainly puts pouting about not seeing my boyfriend this weekend in perspective...

I always enjoy those shocks of reality that are both thought-provoking and high horse destroying. What have you seen/heard/read/found lately that's done the same to you? Leave a comment, let's get our share on :)

What in the world is going on??

I wanted to write an update on my situation but honestly, I don't feel like I can write my normal tripe in light of all the recent tragedies. It's one after another after another. If things happen in three, hopefully the cycle is over after the tornado in the midwest, the cyclone in Myanmar, and now the earthquake in China. Enough mother nature, we surrender!

Found these three articles in the New York Times that provide a global/larger look at what this blog is usually about. It's sometimes good to look outside your own door, even if it's a difficult and different picture out there.

In Delusions of Romance, a Genuine Comfort: An article about a cancer patient with Schizophrenia who finds love and peace before the end

And a two part series about romance and dating in the Middle East:

Young Saudis, Vexed and Entranced by Love’s Rules

Love on Girls’ Side of the Saudi Divide

Every day?

Still no luck on the apartment hunt front. The place I saw yesterday was the perfect price but no larger than a closet and had NO privacy, ugh. Most of the realtors I speak to say they don't have any listings "yet" or have some that far exceed my price range OR (and this is my fave) they have a great two-bed if I only had a roommate....

Well no roommate in sight, at least not for another six months.... Tex and I had the convo last weekend about it, and both of us came to a similar conclusion: We'd love to, but it might be a tad bit early yet and put undue strain on the relationship. Aren't we ridiculously mature?? The matter is to be discussed again in another half of a year, and then who knows?

Which is both exciting and feels like I'm taking on a kamikaze mission. My parents, especially my mother are VERY against living together before marriage. Mom was even pouty about my bro moving in with his fiancee this past winter, even though their wedding is set for Sept.

It's not like I need their permission for each decision I make, but this is seriously coloring outside the lines for my family. But then again, maybe in 6 months, with their son married, and their daughter another year older, and Tex known and loved by everyone in the fam (and extended fam) they will be chill about it. Here's hoping...

Even as I write that I feel a bit like an addict saying "I can quit anytime I want!" believing that things can change just because I say so. But stranger things have happened.

The six month buffer (real or imagined) is comforting in a sense. Moving in together, in my head, is a HUGE step. I talk a pretty good game about wanting to get engaged, but get kind of overwhelmed (albeit happily) as the road progresses steadily towards that outcome. Again, thankfully, Tex is right there with me so we can joke about it to waylay the nerves. (Damn, think my hopes are high for this kid or what?? ridic)

Maybe I'll just start by giving Tex a key to my new apartment. Baby steps...

Quick thoughts on a Friday/Apartment search

Okay, even before I talk about the trip out with the realtor yesterday, I have some thoughts to blab about:

- There are some freakin' CREEPY people riding the T. No joke. My faves: one dude last month mouthing words at me from across the aisle. Needless to say, I avoided eye contact like a champ. Second dude was this morning (IN ANOTHER CAR!), who was staring at me through the window and gave me this crazy as hell-I'm going to eat your babies and throw you in a pit-smile. Freakin' yikes!

- Today small fires errupted near where I work. Had I known there would be fires, I would have brought marshmellows.

Now the realtor trip: Swiiiiiiing and a miiiiiiiiiiissssss! Saw one decent studio but it would cost $4000 right up front and the kitchen was tiny, plus it was right next to a bar and you can hear them desposing of the bottles in the AM, aka no thanks. The other two places were a mess/completely not what I was looking for.

Part of the problem was that the realtor hadn't really been interested in what I was looking for in the first place. Listening skills are a minus evidently.

Ah well, I'm still plodding on. Sent out some emails through craigslist to some promising places, but who knows? All in all, first trip wasn't a complete waste, I learned, I laughed, no tears thank goodness.

Just in case you were wondering, here's what I'm looking for:
- 1 bed (or very big studio)
- Anywhere on the Red Line (within a mile of the T station)
- Looking to lease for a year, and can pay up to $1,100 (OUCH) but some utilities must be included
- Have a fat, lazy, but perfectly potty trained cat
- Need a parking space (off or on street as long as it's free or incl. in the rent)
- Would love it if laundry was in the apt or building at least
- Sunny is also a plus
- Can move either July 1 or August 1 depending on what's available

Doesn't sound completely impossible to find, does it???

Positive thinking is going to help immensely in this venture...just a guess.

Back to it then

Giggling fits are not conducive to romance or sex. Consider that a warning. My grandfather always used to say, "A big laugh makes a big cry," when his six kids were acting up at the dinner table. But I think it applies to most facets of life. Tex was wonderfully patient with me though (yep, almost six month in and we're still together, wahoo!). Just...couldn't...stop....laughing....phew!

This last month has been busy, but my cousin was kind enough to remind me to update this blog (a very needed prod in the bottom, thanks!), and get everything out of my head. Where to start....

Well, the kid I was supposed to be moving in with (the ridiculous neighbor that took me to the hoot) completely backed out so.... I'm searching like mad for one bedrooms that aren't exorbitantly expensive and allow a fat cat. Meeting with Realtor 1 today--keep your fingers crossed for me. I would really like all this wrapped up by the end of May and today's trip will serve as a good indicator of whether this goal is realistic. I've also been in touch with a couple nice apartment buildings (many of which include utilities in their lofty prices).

But I have to be honest, I look at this apartment as a the happy interim in solo land before acquiring a very permanent roommate situation. Big dreams make the stress a little easier to handle. Why so ridiculously hopeful? Well, I went up to VT last weekend with Tex and met his clan. All three brothers, two wives with two baby nieces, his sister, her husband, two parents, and a grandma were there to test my mettle. My armor? Chocolate chip cookies (devoured in a day--half the plate by his dad, the rest by the brothers/wives) and a rose plant for his master gardening mother. The wives gave me a bit of the third degree, but were also very sympathetic and had a lot of good advice/comforting words on dealing with a big family.

Little do they know that my mom and I hosted a 40-person Thanksgiving two years ago. 11 people talking all at once is nothing. Side note: Although my disdain for other people's children/children in general is still fairly strong, his little nieces were absolutely adorable, and I wanted to take them home (at least until they started crying, then I was happy to hand them back to their moms). Playing with babies all weekend just puts a person in a good mood. True story.

New job is going really well. People in my office are very nice and I'm learning a ton. It was a rough/shocking transition from the old place, mostly because it was weird to come to work and not see some of my best friends every day. Although the comfort level has changed, taking this job is one of the best decisions of my life I think. It gives me a million opportunities to grow professionally, earn another master's degree for less than $500 (more on this idea in a TBD post), and will open doors for the rest of my career.

The old place was very graceful about me leaving, and incredibly supportive. Because I wasn't leaving for another/competing publishing company, the whole thing was easier. I have no doubt that I will be in touch with many of those people for a long time. Definitely has taught me the value of professional contacts as well. It's always weird to leave a place where you experience some aspect of growing up (think of the transition from high school to college, then college to real world/beyond). Nostalgia and fondness are likely sentiments, but in the end you know it's better to keep moving forward.

Still having weird health issues, but nothing as severe as this winter. Now I'm just waiting for my new insurance cards to come in the mail, and hopefully everything I need can get taken care of. Been running off and on, but even more than that I've been walking around the city like mad. 5-mile trek a couple weekends ago, a mile every day, 3.5 yesterday...and I take the stairs every day to my sixth floor office. I guess if I can't/don't run at least I'm still moving. Looking to get a race on the calendar though for June so that I stayed motivated to train and condition more.

Busy busy summer, starting now really. Wedding showers/bachelorettes/ceremonies, moving, trips, Sox games, etc... I will try my hardest to keep updating the page. Both for my relief and for reader considerations :) Stay well until then!