Day 260

#np - Candy by Mandy Moore

Lets keep it going with some high school flashbacks.  

Day 259

#np - I Think I'm In Love by Jessica Simpson

If you've read this blog before, you may know that GenX radio is my favorite thing about Louisville.  It's a radio station that plays all favorite music from my childhood.  Boy bands, grunge rock, power girl rock, etc.  I have a 7 minute commute and I know it will be a good day when that time is full of music and not commercials.  Yesterday morning I heard this gem and it took me back to using a hairbrush as a microphone and dueting with Jon in the kitchen (yes, we were 16 and 17, so what).  Good times.

Day 258

#np - Mama He's Crazy by The Judds

I watched part 1 of Hatfields & McCoys on the History Channel last night.  It is fantastic.  I love wartime stories and feuds and the like.  BUt watching the mini series had me jonesin' for something "Kentucky."  Thus, you get The Judds, born in Kentucky and raised on country music.  I just love this song.

Day 257

#np - Chicken Fried by the Zac Brown Band

This song just reminds me a Memorial Day cookout.   That being said, this holiday isn't about cookouts.  It's about celebrating and thanking the men and women who have given the "full measure of devotion" to our county.  Be in through the military or civil service (police, firefighters, etc), this devotion is what keeps the rest of us safe.  Thank you to everyone who has ever served our country.

Day 256

#np - Dirt Road Anthem by Jason Aldean

Day 255

#np - Timebomb by Kylie Minogue

Day 254

#np - Hit and Run by Breathe Carolina

Time for a long weekend!  Let's dance!

Day 253

#np - Be Careful What You Ask For by Everclear

For the last few months, all I've wanted is to be done with school and have a job.  I chronicled some of my job search here and you know it was stressful.  Grad school was stressful, too.  I just kept dreaming of the time when I'd have a stable paycheck and a regular, professional job.  Well, be careful what you ask for.  I've been back to being a real adult for one week now.  After almost two years off, the transition has been difficult. For the most part, my job is 8am to 5pm.  They're flexible on when I get in (which can be bad since I'm used to hitting the snooze button) but it's obviously more structured than I've been used to lately.  When my mom was in town she helped me reorient my body clock.  That mostly meant making me do stuff starting at 9am so I had to wake up early and go to bed early.  I failed though because I didn't go to bed early so I just ended up sleep-deprived during my move and I ended up sleeping a lot this past Saturday and Sunday.  Now I feel like a walking zombie.  I'm doing anything I can to keep from napping in the evenings (but I'm failing at that too). So this transition has been difficult.  My job is great so far.  I'm learning a lot and I look forward to really diving into everything.  But right now, I'm just tired.

Day 252

#np - Only the Horses by Scissor Sisters

Day 251

#np - Now or Never by Outasight

So far this job has shown me that my days of reading lots of non-enjoyable material aren't over.  I'm trying to read everything I can about this field and I'm googling everything that doesn't make sense (which is a lot).  I'm hopeful that it all starts connecting soon.  Wish me luck!

Day 250

#np - The Fighter by Gym Class Heros (feat. Ryan Tedder)

Good song for a Monday.  It's my first working girl Monday.  I'm basically just learning everything I need to know to do my job.  My first trip out is still weeks away but I need to be prepared so I don't sound like an idiot in front of professional people.  

Day 249

#np - Country Girl by Luke Bryan

Day 248

#np - Tongue Tied by Grouplove

I had dinner with Brian last night out in Louisville.  I really wanted to eat someplace nice but local and we found the perfect place.  Harvest is a restaurant in NuLu that uses all local ingredients, meats, condiments, etc.  All the ingredients come from farms within 100 miles of Louisville.  The food was amazing.  Such flavorful food.  Even their alcoholic drinks used local producers when they're able to.  I had a cosmopolitan that used kentucky vodka.  Everything was so good.  I highly recommend it.  It's my hope that I can continue to find places like this in Louisville. It's a great way to get some good food and support the local economy.

Day 247

#np - Last Dance by Donna Summer

Rest in Peace, Donna Summer.

Day 246

#np - Family Affair by Mary J. Blige

Yesterday I was issued a work Blackberry and laptop.  Baller!  Today orientation will consist of signing up for insurance and retirement stuff.  Fun.  

I think I'm going to really enjoy my job though.  It's a little weird being back in the workforce.  I'm an adult again.  I got a little reprieve for grad school where I could postpone the real world but now I'm back.  No student loans to pay the bills.  This the the first job I've had since high school that hasn't been associated with UK in some way.  That's also weird.  I'm walking through the steps of life and moving on and up and I just hope I'm gleaning everything I can from every experience.  I don't want to miss anything I find value in, if that makes sense.  

Meanwhile, it looks like my first work trip will be to Washington, D.C. - one of my favorite cities.  Looks like I'm going to need my Metro map again!

Day 245

#np - Flashdance (Time of My Life) by Irene Cara

I just had to use this song after last night's Glee episode.  Loved it!  Also, I start my new job today.  Well, I start orientation today.  I'm nervous.

Day 244

#np - For Good by Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth

Five year ago, my world turned upside down.  Once upon a time, I was engaged to a great guy.  My first love.  And five years ago, we broke up.  The details certainly aren't for a blog.  Especially not one that he or anyone could read.  But suffice it to say, that day, and every day I knew him, changed me.  

Today, I am a strong woman.  I am smart and capable.  I am loved.  And what I didn't realize back then, toward the end of the relationship, is that I was this woman then, too.  For a while, this break-up defined me.  People walked on egg shells around me.  They hesitated to tell me about their relationships.  They tried hard to make me happy.

What I found, however, is that my happiness was inside me the entire time. I just had to find it.  And I couldn't find it with him because it wasn't meant to be.  We weren't right.  I wish I'd listened to my mind and heart and body telling me for so long that something was wrong with the relationship.  It just wasn't right.  

I'm thankful we both decided to listen to what neither of us wanted to say.  Because when you're someone's first love, you don't want to break their heart.  And I firmly believe that's why we went as long as we did.  

I found out recently that he's engaged (or possibly married) now.  We aren't facebook friends anymore so I don't get updates about this stuff (thankfully, I think).  But he's getting married.  To a girl that's not me.  And I've never met her.  I wouldn't know her on the street. But it's right that it's not me.

I do believe that I have been changed for the better.  Since our break up, I've earned my masters degree, moved to Louisville and tomorrow is the first day of my new job.  I couldn't be happier with how my life has unfolded.  I'm so happy we were able to make the decisions we made back then that would set courses for our lives that lead away from each other.  Changed for good.

Day 243

#np - It's Time by Imagine Dragons

This post was written early before my internet was shut off in Lexington.  I'm a planner.  I can expect that the past weekend was tiring and stressful with the cleaning and unpacking.  But I hope that I gave my mom a special Mother's Day yesterday and that she had a pretty stress-free day.  Today I'm getting my Louisville licenses and my internet connected.  Then I may need to buy some dress clothes for work.  It should be a good day.  T-minus two days until orientation for my new job!

Also, happy birthday to Sara!  You are wonderful, dear!

Day 242

#np - Momisms by Anita Renfroe

Mothers and daughters.  What a funny combination.  The perfect mix for the best and worst of days.  In my life, my worst fights have been with my mom.  Why are they the worst?  They aren't the worst because the meanest things are said.  They aren't the worst because fights or objects are thrown.  That's definitely not the kind of relationship my mom and I have.  They're the worst because I don't leave with a sense of satisfaction.  I don't leave thinking "Yes, I got her!"  I leave thinking "I just fought with one of the people who loves me unconditionally."  

The best days, man, those days are wonderful.  My mom and I can spend the day doing everything or nothing at all and it will be wonderful.  It's great to be around someone who you don't have to put up a front with.  My mom has seen me in every condition.  She's seen me at my worst and at my best.  And she doesn't judge me.

In thinking about today's blog post, I kept thinking about a new acronym my mom has started posting to my facebook.  PSG.  PSG stands for "Pretty, Smart Girl."  All growing up my mom called me "pretty girl" and it was honestly the moniker I loved the most.  Other nicknames may signify that you're a close friend to me but "pretty girl" was between me and mom.  Recently, she added the "smart" to it.  I'm guessing that she picked it up from The Help (a fantastic movie) and decided that she needed to acknowledge my studious side (although she's always been supportive of my educational pursuits and I've never felt like education wasn't a priority - I always knew she thought I was smart).  

I can't help but think about girls and women who don't get this affirmation from their mothers.  Mothers are so important to a girl's socialization and maturation.  I'm so lucky to have had a wonderful mom.  I know she doubts herself sometimes.  But she shouldn't.  She taught me to be compassionate.  She taught me to value love and knowledge.  She taught me to be a fighter.  

Day 241

#np - Blown Away by Carrie Underwood

Today is my last moving day.  I'm just cleaning my old (Lexington) apartment and then heading to Louisville to unpack everything we moved to my new apartment yesterday.  The move went fairly well yesterday.  I think the day was always going to be stressful though.  

It started with a 14 foot Enterprise moving truck.  I was intimidated when Enterprise called to sat that they didn't have a truck with a ramp but rather one with a lift.  That sounds good, right?  Well, sure, but it also sounds...intense...professional...complicated...big.  So I did what anyone would do.  I googled pictures of 14 foot moving trucks.  That didn't help.

The visit to Enterprise was a lot to deal with including training on diesel fuel, DEF something, and recycling exhaust.  Then I got 500 feet down the road and could get out of first when I freaked out, started crying and then their staff came running down the road saying they forgot to explain the slap shift to me.  Yeah, ya think!?  I never left first gear!

After that I hit a brick mailbox, and took several other curbs but luckily I got the insurance on the truck so it was all good.  The move actually didn't take long since I had five people helping me.  Driving the mini-semi-truck was pretty horrible though and getting gas was very confusing.  But I made it.  Now I just need to shut off my internet here and clean this apartment and Barkley, my mom and myself can head to Louisville!

Day 240

#np - Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol

Yesterday's part of my move to Louisville went well.  There were some tense times including possible food poisoning from one of my favorite restaurants but it's all good.  I like my new apartment (and so does my mom) and I'm really looking forward to starting my new job.  

Hopefully today goes well, too.  I mostly just want it to go fast.  I have 5 people helping me so it shouldn't take too long.  Fingers crossed!

Day 239

#np - Just Can't Get Enough by Depeche Mode

Moving Day #1

Day 238

#np - Move Along by the All-American Rejects

Well, the packing process is going well.  I basically just have my kitchen dishes left to box up and then everything that will be moved in bulk will be ready (for Friday).  Some stuff will be moved on Thursday when I go to sign my lease but Friday is the big day.  My type-A nature has pretty much planned this to a tee so now I'm just waiting for it to be under way.  

Anticipation is the hardest part of all of this.  After I got the job in early-April, I started thinking about my life in Louisville.  After I found an apartment and worked all that out, things became more real in my mind.  Now as I approach moving day, I am so excited to move along.  

Day 237

#np - Come Together by the Beatles

Day 236

#np - Moving Out by Billy Joel

Moving week!

Day 235

#np - Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw

Congratulations to everyone graduating at UK today!

Day 234

#np - Never Going Back Again by Fleetwood Mac

To school that is!

Day 233

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

#np - Dog Days Are Over by Florence and the Machine

These last two years have been amazing.  Quitting my job and going back to school was a big decision but not one that I regret.  I met some really amazing people.  The people that get MPAs and MPPs are truly inspiring people.  Government and nonprofit work isn't glamorous.  The jobs don't pay a lot and usually only your failures make the news.  But for two years I went to school with people who understood that while they could only make a small difference, it was a difference worth making.  

So, to my classmates, in the words of Elle Woods, WE DID IT!

Day 232

#np - Boyfriend by Justin Bieber

I'm sorry but it's been in my head since last night when Juanita and I danced to it in the car.  Don't worry about it, we have our Masters degrees now.  ;)

Day 231

#np - Funkytown by Lipps, Inc.

I have my last final this morning at 9.  Then I'm donezo. Done.  

YESSSSSSSSSS!

Day 230

#np - Should I Stay or Should I Go by The Clash

Should I study or should I not?  That's the name of the game today.  Yesterday I had a delightful day before my final IT presentation.  I went boutique shopping for Mother's Day gifts (haha, the suspense) and then had lunch at McAlister's with Juanita.  After our final we headed back to Chevy Chase and got Graeters ice cream for dinner. Today could be similar or I could spend it inside studying for a final exam.  It's hard when you already have a job and a course grade has no bearing on you exam for your own personal satisfaction.  I know I learned all the information but I'm not sure how well I will test on it tomorrow.  Yikes!

Also, it's finally May.  I feel like April was the longest month.  It started with UK winning the national championship.  Awesome.  It ended with me writing and giving the worst paper and presentation known to graduate student for IT class.  In between I got a job offer, signed a lease for an apartment in Louisville,  and finished and defended my capstone.  It was a full month but it looks like May might be even bigger considering I'm graduating, moving, and starting a new job.  At least I won't have homework to do though!