New and Still Improving

When I was younger, my dream was to be a novelist. How I went from aspiring writer to my current profession, school counselor, is a long and slightly emo story. Don't worry, I won't go there.

                 Things I love, including, but not limited to: coffee, succulents, family, my fiance, and H&M--I love H&M for real.      

But I will say I am pretty happy with my life, through all of the transitions in 2011. (It's January 31, so technically it's still ok to write about last year, right?) A lot of really wonderful things happened--getting engaged and graduating with my master's degree, which only took about 87 years! I started a new career, which has been challenging in ways I never could have imagined, but also more fulfilling than anything I have done professionally. I am learning more about this job, about people, and myself every day.

Not so awesome things in 2011: taking a million tests to get licensed, certified, etc., and freaking out after each one; a summer of unemployment and job searching (gross); the growing pains of aforementioned new career; and losing someone who was very special to me and my family.

Also, I am now an only child again, at least geographically. My sisters are both living in Texas, so I get Mom and Dad to myself. This means trips to Costco and the Navy Exchange, and Mom dates to different buffets followed by shopping!  It's fun, but it can be a bit lonely. Who else is going to wake up at 4 am with me to watch a royal wedding? Oh, nobody, that's who! (Hi, Ronni!)

 That is what you get, Ronni, for leaving me!

I am super lucky to have Zach, and it feels like we just started dating even after 4 years together. I'm also kind of surprised he has vowed to put up with my tomfoolery for the rest of his life. Amazing.

                                                                                      Me and my love.

My family is healthy and the best family in the world, I have awesome, giving, creative girlfriends who make me laugh, and I'm going to marry my best friend. Those are the important things to remember, especially when I am walking around like this:

To end this rambling post, I leave you with a random picture:

I spotted this mint green Vespa across the street from my alterations lady (a necessity for the short girls of the world). The color makes me really happy and I like the leather bag attached to it. Weird thing is this was outside the Social Security building. So many questions. Anyway, I took the picture from inside my car, just like Kema from The Wire on a stakeout, but without the annoying Herc and Carver. This will be an entire separate post, by the way.