Life is a Highway

I know I owe an update to a lot of people. But please try to understand how busy and distracted I have been in my last week. So now that we all agree I'm forgiven, I shall proceed :)

The transition to Richmond has been...seamless. It's odd really, that I feel as though I have just slipped into a new routine, a new belonging, a new way of living and it doesn't phase me. Perhaps this speaks to my high apptitude for adaptibility...or more likely, that it just hasn't hit me yet. But I actually think that I can liken this feeling to the traffic patterns that I have expereinced in my week of commuting 12 miles each way. Every morning at 8:15 when I hit I-95 North to the Parham exit (pronouned Pear-am, NOT Par-ham...very important distinction I have learned, btw), there is no traffic. I keep driving, accelerating, and waiting for the inevitable block in the channel. But I don't hit it. I've been so conditioned by my previous life experience that the road block is coming, there is an inevitable barrier around every turn, but not here. No traffic. Ever. And even if there is...I can take a side road, and still move. It makes NO SENSE. It has quite literally redefined everything that I know about commuting.

Now is this a greater metaphor for my life? Probably not, it's most likely attributed to living in a city with better infrastructure and a mere fraction of the population, but it's a fun parallel to draw given this pretty significant life change. What if this is the end to my roadblocks, and there's nothing but clear highway ahead upon which I can continue to accelerate? A life where Mickey and I really can just roll the windows down, turn the music up and just cruise along... of course at a very safe speed and with our seatbelts on because otherwise he would be far too scared. I'm willing to entertain the idea given that I just sat in a whoping 7 hours of cluster truck traffic overnight on I-285 (which actually happened, little known fact). No more Saturday afternoon spin outs while racing on the freeway.

Ok enough, of the intersate allegories...and onto the facts. My first week in Richmond has been pretty good. I've reconnected with some old friends, I've tried some new activities (such as taking yoga classes), I've pushed myself to make some new friends (had my first happy hour- $12 tab for 2, not bad!), found a new dog park, walked to some restaurants, and already feel more accomplished in my new job than I did in a year and a half in my old one. I'm in the process of responding to my first RFP, I have about 5 trips in the next 3 weeks, and my own intern at my beck and call :) All in all, I don't have much to complain about right now. Which is good given that I took a chance and moved my whole life in a small U-haul truck and my Hatchback for this opportunity. I feel reaffirmed, I feel confident. And this is all I really hoped for out of this experience. Even if for some odd reason I only get this week, it was totally worth it.

I won't go as far as to say that I feel complete, or whole again, but man do I feel hopeful that maybe there's a chance I can get there someday. And hopefully I will be the better for going after something that I really wanted and having it turn out to be as great as I knew it could be. I overcame a lot of fears, a lot of traffic to get to where I am right here, right now. So now, if you don't mind, it's time to put on my classiest shades and roll down the windows so that Mickey can feel the breeze in his ears, and put the petal to the metal.

"There's a world outside every darkened door

Where Blues won't haunt you anymore

For the brave are free and lovers soar

Come ride with me to the distant shore"

My Musical Note

There's a song that reminds me of you
And there's one that I know reminds you of me
There's a song that makes me miss you
A song that makes me wish I could kiss you
One that makes me sad for you
And one that makes me smile.

And the chorus of this music makes up the story of my life.
The story of my days
The tale that I will one day tell.
And I sing this song every morning when I rise,
Every night when I slumber
And in the moments when I wonder.

So if you sing me a song, I'll try hard to listen. But I may not hear you over my own tune.

A Fresh Start

This has probably been my longest break since I started blogging at the end of last summer. So much has been going on with my recent move to Virginia, starting a new job, and just living a whole new life in general.

I haven't really had time to stop and think about anythiing for almost 2 weeks it feels like. But now, I'm mostly moved into my apartment, Mickey has taken up residence in a new closet, and I finally have groceries in the pantry, that's how I know I've really arrived.

Even though I've only had 2 days at work, I've been more mentally drained from my two days here than I was from my last year and a half combined. I honestly believe that. I think after my last post, my poor brain wasn't anticipating ever being engaged again. Wake up call!

And while I have so many things lingering on my mind, whether it be the sadness about walking away from my coaching gig, missing my nephew's birthday pool party, or just the general feeling of living somewhere that I don't have a comfort zone, they have all taken a back seat to how do I get home from work, where is the local DMV, and what do I need to do to get my insurance policies rewritten?? I'm excited to be here and still totally convinced that this is the right decision, but also totally fearful that I am going to wake up in 2 weeks and realize that I'm a lot more lonely than I thought.

It's hard to make new friends at my age without a cover for it. Everyone at work is already buddied up. I found a tennis team but they have cancelled all upcomming practices due to the heat (don't even get me started on this) and I don't think that going out to a bar all alone is really the best idea for a single girl in town. I'm relying heavily on my connections in the area, and trust that these will serve me well. But for now, for tonight, I am putting all of this aside and relying on the fact that I am so wiped out from this week already that my best option is to go to bed so that I can get up early in the morning for my workout and run.

I hope I don't wake up 5 years from now and realize that's how I've gotten through the last 5 years though...

My Atlanta Bucket List

Alright, so now that the news is all out there to everyone, I can stop being so mysterious about my move to Richmond coming up next week. However, before I fully make the transition from Atlanta to Richmond, I have some unfinished business here in the ATL.

Thus, I present to y'all (because that's the only way to say it here in the A), my Atlanta Bucket List. The things that I have always wanted (or atleast recently wanted) to do yet have never done in my 26 years as a native Atlantan.

Climb Stone Mountain

Yes, I'm serious, I have never climbed Stone Mountain. Despite all the class field trips, cheesy group picnics, weddings, and team outings. What better icon of true Southern Pride than a 1,686 ft high rock with a Civil War homage etched into the side upon which one can catch a nightly laser show to prove your Atlanta-ness? I've been to the park, I've been to the laser show. I've yet to tackle the mountain Woman-to-Rock. At this point, it's more of a tradition than a desire, and one that I have not had the joy of experiencing.

Eat at Antico Pizza

This one is just shameful, I admit. Even though it's only been open for a few years, Antico has quickly established its name on the map as not only one of Atlanta's top restaurants, but also as a nationally recognized pizza joint. The hype surrounding the allegedly fantastic Neopolitan style pizza that Antico turns out knows no limits. This one has been on my radar for MONTHS now, but I just haven't made it out there. I love communal tables, I love BYOB, I love good pizza. What on earth have I been waiting for?!?!?! Oh ya...company...

Visit Sweetwater Brewery

Again, yes I'm totally serious. It's something I've been meaning to do for years...I just haven't quite gotten around to it yet. And given that the brewery tours are only at 5pm on Fridays, it looks like this is one that I may have to save for a visit home one weekend. It's just something that I have to do. When in Rome...

The Clermont Lounge

One of Atlanta's classier treasures...The world famous Clermont Lounge. Where strippers go when their careers have been over for 10 years. Now, there's an obvious reason that I've never actually been here. I'm not exactly one to frequent strip clubs, nor am I one to frequent sleazy night clubs. BUT, again, this is just one of those staples of the city that everyone has been to at one time or another. Usually as a result of a late night group decision to go see Blondie (I'll let you Google that one). I mean...does anyone ever really PLAN to end up there? I guess there's always time after my going away party. How about it, gang??

 99 Cent Draughts at Park Tavern

I'm not even 100% convinced that this one is real. But urban legend has it that any time it rains, all draughts at Park Tavern are only 99 cents. And while Park Tavern is a lovely venue settled right on the edge of Atlanta's Piedmont Park, why would anyone want to go there on a rainy day? Well, 99 cent draughts of course! This one is perhaps a spur of the moment rainy day type activity that doesn't lend itself to being a common stop on many lists unless you just happen to live close by, but it's something that I've always wanted to try! Hmm, it's raining right now...

See a Concert at Chastain

Again, this one is almost embarassing as a native Atlantan. Everyone has been to a show at Chastain. Everyone. Except me. Poor, little ol' me. Something I always wanted to do and meant to do but it just never quite panned out. Whether it was the Goo Goo Dolls tickets that I bought and messed up the date on, the Dispatch tickets that I wanted to buy but couldn't get any takers, or the Elton John/ Billy Joel combo that my father stupidly turned down 15 years ago (Yes, Dad, Mom and I have NOT forgotten about this). I just haven't made it to Chastain. That's ok, even if I made it, I probably couldn't find anywhere to park anyway.

Attend a game at Sanford Stadium

While this one isn't technically Atlanta...well...deal with it. As big of a UGA Dawgs fan as I am, I have never actually seen them play live. I've watched almost every game on TV for a lot of years, but I have never seen them in person. I've seen Ga Tech play at Bobby Dodd (usually when Miami is in town) but the only sporting event that I've caught in Athens was a softball game last Memorial Day weekend when UGA played Baylor in the World Series Super Regional. This is one that will certainly haunt me, but hopefully one day I can make up there. Especially since it will be much harder to follow my Dawgs this fall without the leisure of local Atlanta programming. 


I'll work on crossing some of these off my list in my last days here in Atlanta, and it will give me something to aspire to when I come to visit family and friends. If there are any other must dos in Atlanta, do share. But I've had a good run in this city, and we have a lot of memories together. With the exception of the few items listed above, if I haven't done it, there's probably a good reason for it.

But rest assured, Georgia will always be on my mind!

Already Gone

Heard this on the radio yesterday and it just works right now.

Already Gone by Sugarland

My momma mapped out the road that she knows
Which hands you shake and which hands you hold
In my hand-me-down Mercury, ready to roll
She knew that I had to go

And hang out, make lots of noise
And lay out late with a boy
Make the mistakes that she made, ‘cause she knew all along

I was already gone
I was already gone
I was already gone
Life is a runaway train you can’t wait to jump on

They say the first time won’t ever last
But that didn’t stop me the first time he laughed
All my friends tried to warn me, the day that we met
“Girl, don’t you lose your heart yet”

But his dark eyes dared me with danger
And sparks fly like flame to a paper
Fire in his touch burnin’ me up
But still I held on

‘Cause I was already gone
I was already gone
I was already gone
Life is a runaway train you can’t wait to jump on

Last time I saw him, I packed up my things
And he smiled like the first time he told me his name
And we cried with each other, we spread the blame
For the parts that we couldn’t change

Pictures, dishes, and socks
It’s our whole life down to one box
There he was wavin’ goodbye on the front porch alone

But I was already gone
I was already gone
I was already gone
I was already gone
I was already gone

And hang out, make lots of noise
And lay out late with a boy
Make the mistakes that she made
Life is a runaway train you can’t wait to jump on