Happy New Year - Week Four

I can't believe it is 2012. I rang in the New Year with an amazing kiss from the sweetest boy ever. (Mushy-yes. Do I care - No.) Last year was one of extreme transition. I moved, twice, finished grad school, changed jobs, turned 30...sheesh! It was a big year.

Sarah and I

I am happy for a bit more stability this year. I'm looking forward to solidifying my career, home life, and general well being. I feel like an adult these days. I have a one bedroom apartment and I'm living all alone. This is different for me. I've had Sarah by my side for so long, I feel like I've lost a limb.

Fun times on the pier with Harper, Sarah, and Alan

Thankfully, this weekend, Sarah and Alan came down with Bentley to visit and see the beach. It was so great to laugh with my sister again. Friday afternoon, Harper came down and we walked on the beach and the pier then ended the evening eating oysters with Sarah and Alan.

Saturday, Harper and I drove down to Edisto to meet his friends for a New Year's Eve party. It is always amazing to me that I lived above Angie for a year and ended up meeting Harper through her because of a Tweet-Up. (Long story for a later blog.) His friends welcomed me and we all had an amazing time ringing in 2012! Time has certainly flown by. I can honestly say, this was the best NYE of them yet!

Harper and I

Sunday morning, we drove back to Charleston and walked through the markets for a few hours. It was so wonderful to learn so many new things about a person. This is what I love about us; there is so much to learn about each other. There are so many stories to tell and hear. This is what makes the beginning a relationship so exciting. On top of all of that, I get an awesome group of new friends to learn about as well. I'm certainly the outsider, but I'm grateful for their kindness and welcoming attitudes.

Week Five - Time is flying

I'm starting to see that I'm becoming accustomed to this place. I'm starting to venture out alone, make some friends, and meet new people. I'm also not blogging as much. That's a good thing. In Charlotte, I rarely was ever home. I worked from 8am to 6pm left work to meet friends, got home late and got up to do it all over again. Here the schedule is a bit different.

Folly Beach

5am - Wake up
6am - Leave for work
6:30 - Start work
3pm - Leave work
3:30 - Get home from work
4pm - Nap
6pm - Dinner
8pm - Bed with tv

Thank God for my BFF Jen, she's been down a lot to keep me from going too crazy. I go home quite a bit too. This weekend, I got to go to the mountains with Harper. We had a wonderful doing absolutely nothing. I left work early Friday (I LOVE flex time) and got to his place about 5. We headed straight out and he won major brownie points for having a Cheerwine and Almond Joy waiting for me in the car. He's wonderful. We lounged around all day Saturday and did absolutely nothing besides play cards and watch football. It was a great trip.

Monday I headed home - I actually am starting to refer to Charleston as home. I've caught myself saying it more than once. My tiny little apartment is beginning to become mine. One day I might even unpack the rest of the boxes...

Week Three

Week two of the job was exciting and helped me understand why I packed up my life to move to Charleston, SC. I can honestly say I do love what I do. I do love this new position. I did make the right choice by moving here.

These things all kept me awake at night for weeks trying to decide if moving here was a good idea. I extracted every bit of advice from every person I knew.

Is this a good move for my career?
Is this a good move for myself?
Will I fail miserably like I did in Korea?

All these were answered by my friends and colleagues. Yes, this is an excellent career move. Yes, this is a good thing for you to do at 30. As I am single, with no children, now is the time to make this move. This isn't the type of risk you can take with a husband and children to uproot as well.

Will I fail like I did in Korea..... This was far and above all other questions I was asking myself. For those who know me and those who don't, I consider - although I shouldn't - my Korea experience a total life failure. I'm constantly reminding myself, without Korea:
I would still be working at Children's Theatre (aka - broke)
I would not have my Master's
I would not have the depth of friendships I have developed
I would most likely still be in an abusive relationship, thinking it was, "ok," or, "not that bad"

Korea wasn't a failure. It was a short chapter in my life that propelled me into new lands. It helped me find a career. It was a small stepping stone that led me here.

As I begin Week three on the job, I am encouraged by the wealth of knowledge that surrounds me in this new path. I still have so much to learn, but I'm excited that the leaders in this division are open to new ideas and I feel I have a voice here. I feel I have a lot to learn and a lot to offer.

Charleston, Week Two - Graduation and a New Job

So, I've officially made it longer than I did in Korea. I have the place set up...mostly, still a few miscellaneous boxes to unpack, but over all it is great.

Jen and I at The Brick House Kitchen

Jen came down last Friday to spend some wonderful girl time together, we went to what is now my favorite bar, The Brick House Kitchen They are so great, I'm starting to feel like a local when I walk in, because people there know my name. $12 buckets of steamed-in-front-of-you oysters, amazing local beer by Holy City Brewery It reminds me so much of my beloved bar in Charlotte, The P-Stone. It is my home town bar these days.

I started work on Monday...to say the least it was overwhelming! Not having the military background and not really having a full understanding of my job title left a lot to be desired. I came home from Day One feeling like I'd made an awful mistake, I was really scared. Day Two proved to be much more positive! It was so much better. I was able to get a great understanding of my actual job and I'm happy to report that my team, job, and employer are all amazing. I still have so much to absorb, but they are all patient and kind. I was invited and attended the USCG Christmas party and had a wonderful time getting to know my co-workers. They truly are a great group of people to learn from and work with.

On my daily walk to watch the sunset

As for my week, I get off work at 3pm so I make it a point to do my 'gym' routine on the sand, by the surf. Hey, I do live 3 miles from Folly Beach, so when in Rome....

The ocean is so calming to the soul. It really puts into perspective how minimal your problems are when you look at the vastness of the ocean. You really are a tiny part of this world. That is so comforting to me. I feel that I need to buy a drum and really bond with the guys in the drum circle down there.


After work Friday, I drove home to Charlotte to see some of my peeps and catch up on the missed events of the last few weeks. I've never claimed to be psychic, but I had this feeling in my gut all day that something would happen on that drive. I'm sad to report that I was correct. Because of this gut feeling, I was driving much more cautiously, I had angels watching out for me. About 30 minutes from Jason's my tire air pressure light came on. This has never happened, so I got in the right lane and planned to check it at the next exit. This caused my car to swerve irratically and I finally was forced to pull off to the shoulder. I had my back tire blow out. I was panic stricken and really shaken up. I do know how to change a tire, however I can't do it in the dark, alone, with trucks and cars screaming by going 80 mph. (Note: I need a flashlight in the car.)

The damage

Yes, I have not one but two roadside assistance plans. One through Hyundai --- worst story EVER and another through Geico. I've used the one through Geico before and it took forever, so I made the mistake of calling Hyundai. Long story short, he called after an hour to tell me he wasn't coming. I called the Highway Patrol to come sit with me until he arrived. This is an important thing for all women to know. The HP will not only sit with you until help arrives but are equipped to assist you if you want them to. Thanks to my Pap-Paw's good planning, I know how to change a tire. After a freak out -- crying hysterically to the HP and the boyfriend, who, by the way drove 100 miles round trip just to help me -- the HP arrived. My luck was that he had a bum knee and could only hold a flashlight for me while I changed the tire on my SUV, but I did it. I put the spare on, all by myself. I did it moments before the boyfriend showed up. I didn't know he was coming, but I guess my freak out sounded way worse over the phone. Either way, I have to say I am the luckiest woman on the planet!

In line to walk into the ceremony

Saturday I walked for my Grad School commencement. It was so incredible to have my Grandmother, Sister, and significant others there to cheer from the bleachers. I can't believe that it is over. I worked so hard for what seemed like forever and now it seems like I just started. Life really does speed up when you get older. My life is light years away from where it was when I began this journey. Who'd have thought that the failed attempt at living in Korea would have led to all of this? I couldn't have predicted it. I would've never believed even last year at this time that I would be living in Charleston, SC, working for the Coast Guard with the most awesome life I could have ever imagined.

Charleston, Week One

The beautiful flowers from Jason.

So the move was awesome. I have the greatest people in my life ever!

1. Anna flew down to help. Super bestest friend ever! How did I get this lucky?
2. Joy drove down, just to help. My extended family cannot be beat.
3. Hiring movers...best idea ever!
4. A bouquet of flowers waiting outside my door when I arrived = best boyfriend on earth!
5. All the neighbors have come to my door to greet and welcome me. Everyone I've met has been so friendly. I'm spoiled.

Joy and I at my Going Away Party

I can't believe I live in another city. I tried this before, and it didn't work. For this reason, I signed an 8 month lease. I admit it. I'm scared. I'm alone here. I don't know anyone. I know I'm great at meeting people, I know I'm outgoing and friendly, and I know I'm going to be ok.

I am allowing myself to be ok with being scared.

I am allowing myself to miss Charlotte.

I am allowing myself to believe in the possibility that this could be permanent or temporary.

I am allowing myself to be open to possibility that this is a great idea!

I am allowing myself to do what I need to do to be ok. If this means, a few miles on the treadmill watching When Harry Met Sally or stopping at the Hot Doughnuts Now sign, so be it. It will all even out.

Anna Bobanna - BFF

I will be ok!

Everything I've wanted is within my reach. I've met the most amazing man ever, I have the job I've wanted since beginning Grad school. I live 3 miles from the beach.

My life is amazing and working out the way it should. I've moved past my past way of thinking - waiting for the other shoe to drop. I'm expecting incredible things -- and those things are coming my way. I end this post with my favorite quote from Mr. Mark Twain:

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

Do not force, allow.

Quote of the day:

I said to my soul, be still, and wait without hope
For hope would be hope for the wrong thing; wait without love,
For love would be love of the wrong thing; there is yet faith
But the faith and the love and the hope are all in the waiting.
Wait without thought, for you are not ready for thought:
So the darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing.
-East Coker

Ponder this one, roll it around in your head, think on it. Down deep, it is brilliant. Nothing in life can be forced. Open yourself to receive greatness and greatness will come to you.
Expect the good to happen, and it will.

You're welcome.

-Sam

Last night, I was prompted in conversation to come up with a random fact about myself. After coming up short, I found an older post and updated it. Here are 25 random facts about myself. Enjoy.

1. I've always wanted to be an author more than anything else.
2. I am deathly afraid of butterflies. I'm serious! They have an erratic flight pattern. It freaks me out.
3. I've recently learned that I am a feminist and didn't know it. Seriously, research the actual definition, you probably are too.
4. I'm usually really good at anything I try.
5. I don't honestly know about my feelings concerning reincarnation. I do however have a very strong feeling that I was killed in a car accident in the 1950's.
6. I LOVE Teen Mom. I know it is awful. And, I love it anyway.
7. My father died of a heart attack at the age of 42, I'm concerned.
8. I dream in color, most nights, and generally remember my dreams.
9. I frequently dream of losing all of my teeth.
10. I adore cleaning a serger. If you've done it, you would understand.
11. I can put snaps on faster than most people I know.
12. I once had a poem published in the newspaper. I was 8.
13. I wanted my name to be Stephanie. I like Samantha now.
14. I have made out with Billy Currington. He's a country singer. Most haven't heard of him, but look him up, he's hot!
15. When I was 6, I wanted more than anything to marry Patrick Swayze. Until his death, I really felt this was possible.
16. I was the president of my Chess Club.
17. I was a Mathlete.
18. I hate time-travel themed movies and books. It confuses me and I don't like being confused.
19. I am 100% certain that kissing should be a daily requirement for healthy living. Now, I have to find someone with the same view to connect with.
20. If I get sick, I am serious about this, take me to House!!!
21. I cannot swim because I almost died in a pool as a child.
22. I went to one day of nursing school. I pass out at the sight of blood.
23. I've never been to jail, but I have puked on a police officer's shoes.
24. I have a deep belief in the afterlife and the ability of those who are gone to communicate with us who are still here. My grandfather "haunts" my home now. I've also been told a small native american lady follows me around and is my guide.
25. My great-great-great etc. grandmother was born on the trail of tears and was adopted by some white people who found her on their doorstep.