When I started this blog, I was in a very transitional phase of my life. Picking up pieces of who I was and trying to combine them into some image that made enough of a whole to move forward.
Tomorrow will be 2 years to the day of when I walked away from my life as I knew it. Literally just walked out. And set myself along a very rocky path that has been the last two years. A slew of fallen through plans; a veritable Boulevard of Broken dreams (not sure why I feel intent on making a Green Day Reference...I guess it was something unpredicatble but in the end, it's right). But it's been a long journey and Cindy Lou Who has been a very meaningful practice in transparency and reflection.
And while I have never considered myself a writer, I've used this medium as a therapy several times throughout my life, and it's always been a fantastic outlet. Cindy Lou Who has been no exception to this rule. But now, as I am closing the book on the last 2 years, and looking forward to the next however many years it may be, I've realized that I don't feel the need to write as much.
Now, I'm sure that I just ruined your week with the thought that you might not get to read about my glamorous life, or the hysterical musings of my Mickey. But that's not what I'm saying at all. This is a good thing. I feel bright and shiny again. Not dark and twisty. I went back and read a lot of my posts from last fall, when I first started writing again, and I don't recognize that girl. But not in a bad way, very much in a good way. I had goals for things that I wanted to learn how to do, how to make myself better, and how to set myself up to move forward positively. And I really think I've done that.
And as I'm coming up on what is a big anniversary in my personal life, I have to go back further. I may not recognize myself from 10 months ago, but I really have NO idea who that girl from 2 years ago was. Or where I lost myself so much along the way. But I guess it's easy to lose something that you had never really found. All I mean to say here is that I've been quiet because I've been good. Not much on my mind, just doin my thang. Learning my new city, enjoying some new friends and really just doing whatever I feel like.
So here's my dilemma. I don't want to stop writing. But I want to change the direction of Cindy Lou Who. Give it some focus and write about something FUN that's more than just a space for me to rant and rave. It might be a food blog, it might be a beer blog to go along with the newly forming beer club I'm working on with some friends. It might be a things to do in Richmond blog (but then I start losing some of my Atlanta base). Maybe I'll just post daily pictures of Mickey dressed up in funny outfits. Really, this could go lots of ways. But stay tuned, there will be some overhaul to the site. Much as there has been to myself- so you can atleast be sure that it will be for the better!
Monday, July 16, 2012
Sunday, July 1, 2012
An Atlantan's view of Richmond
Well, I'm 2 weeks into life in Richmond. And it's been a packed 2 weeks. Busy with work, which is a great change of pace. Loving my new living space and enjoying the comforts of downtown living for once. Getting to know the Richmond social scene, seeing some old friends, and making some pretty awesome new ones all along the way.
But, there are a few things that stick out here in this foreign land that I can't just ignore. Well, I guess I could, but then I would have to write another post about my dog and even though I know you all love reading about Mickey's exciting adventures, figured maybe some varied content would be welcomed :)
Despite going to college in the Richmond area for 4 years, I did not realize that I was never truly immersed in the Richmond culture. But now that I am more so, I've had a little culture shock. So I thought I would compare and contrast these two cities a little bit. And maybe if you play your cards right, there'll be a venn diagram in it at the end for you visual people (but most likely probably not).
Area Codes
ATL: There are 3- 404 (the original), 770 (the OTP), and 678 (for newbies)
RVA: Only 1- 804
Why it matters: As best as I know, all phone numbers are 10 digits- AREA CODE + #. Since there is only the 1 code, no one leads with an area code. It sounds small, but man it throws you off. It took me about 5 tries to dial out from my work phone to a local number last week because I kept including the area code and getting the wrong number. Also, when you see a 7 digit phone number posted up on a sign, it might as well be an internation phone number- it just doesn't compute.
Speed Limits
ATL: 10 over whatever is posted is pretty much the bare minimum not to get the finger
RVA: 10 under is the maximum that anyone will go, and they will do it dead even with the car next to them creating a brick wall of frustration that cannot be overtaken.
Why it matters: Road rage is real. And I have it. But IF I have the chance to even make it to the speed limit, I feel like I'm flying at 100 MPH. Speed it up, Richmond, or I'm going to start a petition to have your Raceway removed because clearly you are learning NOTHING from it.
Traffic
ATL: The source of the aforementioned road rage
RVA: There just isn't any
Why it matters: Assuming I can get away from the drivers going strictly 10 MPH, it's just nice not to spend a half hour to go 2 miles. Even this week when the storms knocked power out all over the city, it was more bearable than going ANYWHERE on a Friday between 3pm and 8pm in Atlanta.
Atlanta's nickanme
ATL: As a native Atlantan, the only acceptable nicknames for our beloved town would be ATL or A-town
RVA: People think that using "HOT-lanta" is clever and cute
Why it matters: I'm not sure that I have made good enough friends to call someone to bail me out on the assault charges that will be pressed if I hear one more ASS CLOWN refer to Atlanta as...I can't even re-type it. It's awful and no self-respecting Atlantan would EVER use this horrible term.
**Point of clarification, I think this plagues many cities other than Richmond, but since I'm getting it here, I'm willing to discriminate.
Pro Sports teams
ATL: Braves, Falcons, Hawks
RVA: Nada.
Why it matters: It makes me question how people pledge their allegiances to teams that they can't regularly follow. Even this week during the Braves/Nationals series, I couldn't see all the games due to regional black outs. So any Nationals fans are just default fans...and that's no fun.
Those are the big glaring issues right now for me. I'm sure that there will be a Part 2 of this post coming in the future weeks as I have a chance to explore and learn some more. Stay tuned!
But, there are a few things that stick out here in this foreign land that I can't just ignore. Well, I guess I could, but then I would have to write another post about my dog and even though I know you all love reading about Mickey's exciting adventures, figured maybe some varied content would be welcomed :)
Despite going to college in the Richmond area for 4 years, I did not realize that I was never truly immersed in the Richmond culture. But now that I am more so, I've had a little culture shock. So I thought I would compare and contrast these two cities a little bit. And maybe if you play your cards right, there'll be a venn diagram in it at the end for you visual people (but most likely probably not).
Area Codes
ATL: There are 3- 404 (the original), 770 (the OTP), and 678 (for newbies)
RVA: Only 1- 804
Why it matters: As best as I know, all phone numbers are 10 digits- AREA CODE + #. Since there is only the 1 code, no one leads with an area code. It sounds small, but man it throws you off. It took me about 5 tries to dial out from my work phone to a local number last week because I kept including the area code and getting the wrong number. Also, when you see a 7 digit phone number posted up on a sign, it might as well be an internation phone number- it just doesn't compute.
Speed Limits
ATL: 10 over whatever is posted is pretty much the bare minimum not to get the finger
RVA: 10 under is the maximum that anyone will go, and they will do it dead even with the car next to them creating a brick wall of frustration that cannot be overtaken.
Why it matters: Road rage is real. And I have it. But IF I have the chance to even make it to the speed limit, I feel like I'm flying at 100 MPH. Speed it up, Richmond, or I'm going to start a petition to have your Raceway removed because clearly you are learning NOTHING from it.
Traffic
ATL: The source of the aforementioned road rage
RVA: There just isn't any
Why it matters: Assuming I can get away from the drivers going strictly 10 MPH, it's just nice not to spend a half hour to go 2 miles. Even this week when the storms knocked power out all over the city, it was more bearable than going ANYWHERE on a Friday between 3pm and 8pm in Atlanta.
Atlanta's nickanme
ATL: As a native Atlantan, the only acceptable nicknames for our beloved town would be ATL or A-town
RVA: People think that using "HOT-lanta" is clever and cute
Why it matters: I'm not sure that I have made good enough friends to call someone to bail me out on the assault charges that will be pressed if I hear one more ASS CLOWN refer to Atlanta as...I can't even re-type it. It's awful and no self-respecting Atlantan would EVER use this horrible term.
**Point of clarification, I think this plagues many cities other than Richmond, but since I'm getting it here, I'm willing to discriminate.
Pro Sports teams
ATL: Braves, Falcons, Hawks
RVA: Nada.
Why it matters: It makes me question how people pledge their allegiances to teams that they can't regularly follow. Even this week during the Braves/Nationals series, I couldn't see all the games due to regional black outs. So any Nationals fans are just default fans...and that's no fun.
Those are the big glaring issues right now for me. I'm sure that there will be a Part 2 of this post coming in the future weeks as I have a chance to explore and learn some more. Stay tuned!
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