Keep Smiling :)

I'm super sleepy, and it is late. However, I don't think I will get a chance to post again for a couple of weeks, so I am writing a quick review/preview of events to fill you all in. I can't give much detail about the job situation considering my blog is public and viewable to anyone. I changed the settings so that it wouldn't show up on search engines, yet I'm still seeing it pop up when I search my name, lol. If you wanna know those details -well, you're just gonna have to ask. I will say that there are different possibilities for what may happen, and I am still working out the details. California is the only detail set in stone, carved, and glossed over. :)

Weeks are stressful right now because of the above, but weekends have been nice. This past weekend was eventful and much-needed. I went shopping in St. Augustine all day Saturday with Stacie and then went to a benefit concert at the Landing for Somer Thompson later that night. Her story: This girl lived near Orange Park (the area where my middle school is located) and was abducted, molested, and murdered while walking home from school one day this past October. They found her body in a land fill nearby and have been investigating ever since. They had a suspect in mind who was found guilty in the state of Mississippi for 50+ counts of child pornography & molestation, so they had him expedited back to FL as a person of interest in this little girl's case because he lived a few doors down from where she was taken. The good news is that the police arrested and charged this guy for her murder last Thursday. The benefit concert was already scheduled before this happened, so this news was a big deal to the city. Several bands played on Saturday, but I only knew two of them -Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and Molly Hatchet. The latter band wrote and sang a song for Somer, and her sister got on stage and sang "You Are My Sunshine" with the band playing. It was an amazing moment to hear her family stand up there and express the feeling of finding justice in their loss. I'm glad I went.

I also got to see Alice in Wonderland in 3D with Josh & Laura which was amazing. I was already excited for Disney World but now even more so. I leave the day after tomorrow -woo! I will be more happy to see and hug my family than anything. Bring on the fun! Oh, and 5 days in San Diego will be nice next week too! I have a jam-packed Spring Break and couldn't ask for more. Oh, and I found a Jimmy John's here in Jax. Freakin' awesome!!!! :P

Until next time.... keep smiling. :)

Hallelujah

My dad and sister will be here (well, Orlando) in 1 week and 2 days. Hallelujah! It's not like I'm counting down or anything. ;) I cannot wait to see them. I need them. The hotel allows pets, so Arnie gets to attend the family vacation too, thankfully. Boarding is expensive. I am lucky that my friend Erin is going to keep him for me the 5 nights I'm in San Diego. Hallelujah! Again, thankfully. I have appointments to go and look at apartments while I am out there. However, I don't know what this summer holds to be honest. I am having to take a couple of steps back and reevaluate some things. The job is what is holding me back. I'm not sure what to do, really. I will figure it out. Nonetheless, I will be in California soon. Hallelujah! The rest is TBA.... even to me.

My mind is doing a lot of running these days, so I try to keep myself entertained and stress-free. I recorded another song that I've been working on. I heard it on American Idol a couple of weeks ago & liked it, so I learned it. The song is called "Hallelujah".



Also to relieve some stress, I thought it would be wise to take a cup (not a breakable glass, lol) of wine out to the hot tub and relax. The water was nice and hot; however, the chunky girl in the thong bikini was not. That's right -a thong. A chunky girl in a thong. Gross! I wouldn't even want to see a skinny girl in a thong, especially in a public hot tub. She kept getting in and out which made it an even more awkward situation. Eeek. Not pretty.

Today, I am thankful for my job, friends, family, sunshine, Asti wine, good music, reality tv, mashed potatoes and corn (mixed together), tylenol, and one-piece bathing suits. Hallelujah!

I miss everyone.

MARCH-ing

Hello, March! Hello, Sunshine! Hello, Spring!

Winter is making its exit back to the North Pole where it belongs. It's supposed to be in the high 70s by the end of this week, which I'm really looking forward to. I laugh at the people wearing scarves and gloves to work in the mornings in this 40-50 degree weather because, to me, it is not that cold. It is, however, not Florida weather -so I guess I get it. Sorta. Floridians do love the sunshine & expect it all of the time. But, I mean, who wouldn't?!?!

Melissa came down from Cincinnati to visit last weekend -YAY! I didn't cry a single time on Friday (my mom's birthday) for the first year since 2005. That is a milestone. I'm starting to see the light of "it'll get easier with time" which I've doubted could happen. I am a firm believer now -it does get easier. Humans grieve, grow, and go on living! The latter is the choice that some people don't make. Those are the people who don't let life get easier. I'm not one of them. These past couple of weeks have been pretty normal yet still exciting. Melissa got to meet a couple of my friends here, and we all had a great time catching up on life. It was so nice of her to come & visit me. Fun, shopping, dinner, drinks, & the beach were only a few of the highlights of our time. The work week flew by, and this weekend was equally as enjoyable. I got to go the San Sabastian Winery in St. Augustine yesterday with Amber & Erin. The drive along the coast was worth the evening in itself. I bought a couple bottles of wine (don't worry... I'll drink it in moderation, lol) after the free tasting. We sat on the roof of the winery for a couple of hours while chatting & laughing & drinking HOT wine. It sounds gross but was oddly delicious. It was chilly out, so the hot wine was soothing & had a cinnamon stick to add to the taste -yum! Anyway, I always appreciate some quality "girl" time. We stopped and ate at a restaurant on the St. John's River called Cap's. I was craving some seafood, so it definitely hit the spot. We couldn't have beaten the view. That place would make for a perfect romantic date for any cute couple -or any cute threesome of good friends, haha! I love friends! :)

Today was a lazy day. Laura & I went to Target & sat down for a chat & a cup of tea at Starbucks. Yeah, that's right -we have a Starbucks inside of Super Target. Seriously, can it get any better than that?!? I'm not sure that it can! I bought some cheese to go with the new wine. Laura, Josh, & I watched a movie & had cheese & wine for lunch. It was scrumptious!

The only other news I have is that I booked a flight to San Diego for April 6-11th. I'll be at Disney World with Dad & Jenn the 1st through the morning of the 6th and will fly out west the same day they leave to go back to WV. It'll surely be a busy week, but I can't wait! I will have time there to get some business done as well as some play time. Woo-hoo!!! Until then, I shall work & play here in sunny FL. Cheers!!!