MegaBus... Or Mega Diaster?

Once upon a time, last October,  I was invited by one of my closest friends to visit her in Nashville, TN. Three of our other close friends were going to make the trek out as well so I was excited to see everyone! We were ready to explore Nashville and I couldn't wait to figure out my travel arrangements. Well I searched online for airplane tickets and tried to map out the drive from Indiana to Nashville but I decided that trying a new means of transportation would be an incredible journey! ... boy was I wrong.

It all started one day at work when I was trying to book travel information for my sales guy to go up to Chicago for the weekend. He said "Oh just reserve the MegaBus" and I was all "Whaddaheck is the MegasBus?" To which he explained this fancy, double decker, luxury, bus that has stations all over the USA including from Indianapolis to Chicago, Cincinnati and a few other spots. He promised that he had never had a bad experience and since he didn't have to worry about travel inconveniences while he rode, he could plug his laptop into the bus outlet, sign onto the free Wi-Fi and be in Chicago before he knew it.

I was intrigued.

So while I was trying to figure out the most cost effective way to get 7 hours southeast, I looked at their website. They had a line from Indy to Nashville! And only $28 each way! Booked!

I was very excited and had been reassured multiple times that everything would work out great. So I packed my suitcase and brought my laptop to watch a few movies and I figured I would be all set...

Well, come Friday, Blake thankfully offered to wait with me at the 'bus stop' (really just a random MegasBus sign in the middle of the street) so I wouldn't have to leave my car downtown while I was away. The bus was supposed to come at 5:30ish. But there was no sign of anything for close to 3 hours. 3. Blake had to go to the meter at least five times to put more change in, best Fiance ever. I made this while we waited:

It's a nature documentary. I borrowed my cameraman's coat.

Anyway so the luxurious bus rolls up close to 9pm and by this time I have already made friends with a woman who was waiting. She has a boyfriend in Nashville and takes the bus at least twice a month. She swore she only had one other bad experience. Unbeknownst to her, this adventure would top it.

This bus rolls up. Not even a double decker. Top of line bus system you say? More like busted up Greyhound. This bus was like if the worst of the Greyhound fleet mated with the metro that Jerry Seinfeld took to Coney Island in that one episode... completely wretched.

At this point I am already thinking I should turn back. Don't get on the bus, my conscious says, you'll be murdered at the gas station in Louisville. But I want to see my friends so bad that I walk past the obvious drug deal near the luggage rack and stagger all the way to the back of the bus. But unless I want to sit next to the 300lb cousin of the main character from Slumdog Millionaire who is humming some incomprehensible tune, I turn around and head back up to the front begging my new friend to let me scrunch in next to her. Before the bus even makes it to the highway I am choking back tears, praying that I will have the courage to ask the bus driver to drop me off at the closest gas station so Blake can pick me up.


Here are some of the luxuries I was accommodated with on this bus trip:

1. No working electrical outlets
2. Broken Wi-Fi
3. Heat stuck on 90 degrees
4. 3 week old baby in the front seat
5. Mother breast feeding her baby in the front seat (no problem with that) but Orangutan nipple makes an appearance
6.  This picture in the pitch dark, radiating off of this person's computer
7. Stopping at THEE sketchiest gas station for a half hour pit stop
8. No music because my phone was almost dead and no way to charge it
9. And the constant worry of where the heck this Hell Bus was going to drop my pitiful butt off in downtown Nashville. 

Basically any girl's worst nightmare.

So I have an awesome time in Nashville, trip of a lifetime with my best friends but I am absolutely dreading my return home. I almost consider just buying a plane ticket in order to avoid the inevitable. But I suck it up and get to the random bus stop and guess what is waiting there already? The conveniently advertised double decker luxury bus. It was like the bus right out of heaven's gate. I couldn't believe my eyes. And it was a Monday so it wasn't very full. I went up to the top deck and had a whole row to myself. I could look out the plexi-glass roof and plug my computer in. It was a miracle. 

So I enjoyed the ride to the pitstop with playlist making and then I was able to rent a redbox at the McDonald's to watch the entire length of the trip home. Oh, it was Katy Perry the movie Part of Me, 5 stars and no sarcasm. I loved it.

So I don't know what advice to give on this bipolar mode of transportation but be prepared for Jekyll or Hyde because, like I experienced, ya never know whatcha gonna get.





Boom. Still alive.... Posted.

Pumping It Up.

You guys want to know the secret to keeping your New Year's Resolution? Don't even make one! Just get your butt to the gym... or maybe the alternative...

Picture this: sweat is dripping from the ceiling, the music is blaring, bass pounding, arms flailing, legs jiggling , hair whipping back and forth... you think you are at a club? Nope. Zumba.

I never thought I would succumb to the intensity of a Zumba class. If any thing I thought it would be a pathetic attempt to learn who to 'dance' and I already learned that from the Kinect so.... But here I am, in 2013, and it's my second week! The first week... miserable. I was all over the place, always doing the wrong right leg when I should have been on the left. But sometimes I would find the groove and really feel like I was getting down and dirty.... but I know I just looked like this...

That's the trouble with these classes, especially when there are not any mirrors. Everyone thinks they look like J. Lo shaking their buns and gyrating their hips when really... they look like Molly Shannon in Superstar. (Look it up)

Tonight there was a smaller woman in front of me that was just laying it all out on the table. I mean she was really into it, similar to these twins dancing to the Wii (The right one especially):

I mean high kicking, power punching, and just flinging sweat to the wayside. She was a ZumbaPro. 

Let me tell you what it takes to be a ZumbaPro. All you need is to disregard any insecurities and take up full confidence that you are a Latin Loving Queen. Feel the beat of the rhythm of the night, forget the worries on your mind.... Okay seriously. I really don't like Zumba that much, but it's good for me and the people watching is just priceless. Like I said, unimaginable confidence and complete disregard to actual choreography skill. 

My favorite of the fitness classes is Turbo Strength. It gets my blood pumping and I am in the zone! I pretend like I'm punching the rude people I may have talked to on the phone that day at work or I envision myself in one of those 80's work out videos. Either way its a great stress release. 

Then I have been going to yoga on Thursday and needless to say... it was just like when I talked about yoga before in The Trumpet Section of Life, people fartin' up a storm and all. Oh well what are you gonna do... gotta find release somewhere (waaa waaaaa). 

Boom. Posted. 

Oh how the years go by.

I'M BACK SUCKAS!

That's right, I've dusted of the ole blog and this baby is back in business. A new year, a new challenge, and a new blog post every Wednesday? Can life get any better? I suggest that it cannot! (A little Brian Regan to bring in the new tone for ya.) Speaking of Brian Regan.... he was just in town this fall and my *ahem* fiance (yes, I'm engaged!) surprised me with tickets to my favorite comedian and the night was non-stop laughter. Some other 2012 highlights include:

January: New Year's in Scottsdale with friends (oh the drive home)

February: Superbowl visit to Indianapolis (watched it from our super cool living room fort!)

March: Won the crap out of retiree bingo at the old neighborhood (Literally made more money playing than working at that golf course...)

April: Return to Indianapolis for job interviews (End up having to go to another one after celebratory happy hour... needless to say it's not my current job. Also, Skyzone!)

May: New job offer and finally pack up for Indy (... and my new car Stella becomes a part of the familia!)

June: Recover from the Indy500 (yes it took a whole month to recover from the redneckery)

July: Birthday in Vegas! (and I walked/ran/mostly walked my first 5K, the Color Run!)

August: Back to Vegas for Summer Splash (why yes.... you can have too much Vegas)

September: Aurora & Sterling are born (Blake and my alternate personalities who are hipsters)

October: Built up o much excitement to hand out candy to trick or treaters... didn't even have one show up... (at least my Barbie zombie outfit was not entirely wasted... it lasted through a bottle of Riesling). Blake and I become obsessed with puppies we can't have or afford (and I'm allergic). Also, I went on the great adventure of the MegaBus all the way to Nashville (that's another post in itself...)

November: I said YES! (Blake proposed after 8 years of friendship, 1.5 years long distance, 6 months regular dating, some mistakes and forgiveness, and now we are getting married!) 

December: Moving Apartments, Mom & the Old Roommate came to visit, Picking out wedding date!!! Christmas Tea in D.C., Christmas vacation in Texas, and New Year's snow in Indy (I think I've had enough traveling for one year!)

  

OKAY, That was my 2012!! On to the next year with even more incredible memories! 

Blessed Beyond Belief.

There are many instances in my life where I have found myself to be extremely fortunate. This post is not meant to shove anything down your throat, so don't get any ants in yo' pants. Its merely a memoir of 3  special experiences I have had over these past 24 years and I know they are because of the Big Guy Upstairs. And maybe they could soften your heart enough to want to learn more.. maybe?

Number 1: Moving to Alabama.

My dad is a pilot in the Air Force and I have moved 16 times in my life. The latest one to Indiana was the first time in 24 years that I chose to move on my own. With this lifestyle I have learned to be outgoing and personable, and maybe a little bit funny, in order to make friends fast before it was time to move. Obviously I mastered the skill because I have so many awesome friends, but it took many years to to truly learn and adapt to my family's nomadic lifestyle. For example, par exemple: Move from South Carolina to Alabama, circa 2001.

We were about to leave South Carolina, our home of 3 years (longest anywhere before college), and move on to Alabama where I would be starting high school. My friend Megan, whose wedding I was in last September, and her family have a beach house in North Carolina. Our parents had planned a joint vacation for two weeks out there just before we were to bid our farewells. Right before we left, I found out one of my classmates, McSwain, was going to be at the same beach with a family who used to live in South Carolina so we made plans to meet up.

Now this was before the time of cell phones so the plan was that he was going to let us know the name of the house they were renting (beach houses have names you know) and we would ask Siri look it up in the phone book to try to meet up (oh yeah, the phone book). We look it up, plan a rendezvous, and meet up one night. Here is where the story gets interesting. Remember when I said we were moving to Alabama in just a few weeks? Well, it turns out, McSwain was staying with a military family who used to live in SC but now lived in AL. Their son, Jay, was my age and come to find out went to the same school I was enrolled to attend. Oh and they went to the same church my parents were looking into trying AND ON TOP OF THAT... they lived right down the street from the house we were going to rent for our 10 month assignment. Oh yeah, big coincidence right? Hardly.

Megan and I hang out with the boys the whole trip and I make plas to meet up with Jay once I move. We go to church with his family the first week and I meet almost 90% of the kids in my grade all during the summer before my freshmen year of high school. Pretty amazing experience and one that I have never had before or since.

Number 2: Moving to Indiana.

This is a much more recent account of how God always has a plan for you. During my adventure in moving from Arizona to Indiana, I ran into a point in my life where I was very impatient and frustrated. Patience is something I have forever struggled with and I was once voted 'most impatient' in my family. Go figure. Also grumpiest, hard to believe right?.... but regardless, it's a struggle.

I was hopelessly searching for jobs online with no direction or proper procedure. My resume was being corrected, ripped apart, and otherwise stomped on by everyone and their mother. And I was miserable being away from one of the people I care about most in this world. So after about 3 months of dilly dally online job searching I finally called up my good friend Mara to set me straight. We did a search of companies in Indy and found places to apply and some sort of direction to aim towards. I found a job with the Hershey's company that seemed awesome and I applied. Had my first phone interview, then my second, and then I realized the job was not for me and landed another interview with a different job in beer and wine distribution. Flew out to Indy, had my first interview, then my second, then my third, fourth and a shadow day. Had to make the decision to change my flight for the shadow day but was also influenced by another interview in event services, the job I have now.

It was late Friday night when Blake gets a call from his coworker explaining how he spoke to someone from the company and learned that they were hiring, mentioned that i was in town looking for a job, and Blake called to land an interview on Saturday morning. A Saturday. Who does that?? Couldn't have worked out any better.

Go home, decline an invitation to fly back out for the Hershey's shadow (really not as good as it sounds), and a week later I get offered the job. That simple.

Now the miraculous part is just beginning. That was just the tip of the iceberg. The remaining steps held much greater value;

My parents happened to have a trip planned for Arizona right before I was expecting to move. The decision for me to get a new car out in Indy was made and the phone calls began. My dad gets everything squared away, wires the money, and I buy my car in Indy the next day after I arrive.... in 30 mins. Literally! Not to mention we had to go to the DMV before hand to get a temporary Indiana license.

Also I had 6 pieces of luggage... all arrived on time. Then I had 6 boxes sent.. all arrived with just one casualty, an owl cookie jar :(. How can a move where one is trying to figure out if they are just really wanting to move or really should be moving, go so flawlessly? God. That's how.

Number 3: Reconnecting with Blake.

There was a point in my life where I was very devastated and depressed. A relationship that I was in for over 3 years abruptly ended and my life had made a 180 degree turn. Looking back, it all seems so trivial, but times like those can really test you. But I had hope that the future was bright and I just had to make it through the summer.

My family had just moved to Alaska and I was staying there until my Masters program started up in the fall. Having little to do doing the week, veg-ing out around the house became the norm and Nelson and I were discovering that we were so bored that even the gym was looking enticing.. and that never happens.

I don't know how it started but Blake and I started texting more often and long distance phone calling and then finally Sykpe-ing. Old friends just reconnecting and learning about what was going on in each other's lives.

How could I possibly know that within a year and a half, I would move across the country to be with him and start our futures together? I've realized that faith isn't supposed to be easy but it's worth it.

Love God and follow Him and you will find that your life will make more sense. Mine does. :)

Boom. Posted.

A Year Without 'Poo.. Shampoo That Is.

So I seriously just looked up in my calendar when I stopped using shampoo and it was actually almost 2 years (September 25, 2010) since I used brand name, chemical filled, and hair debilitating shampoo. Now this story has a happy ending for you, the disgusted reader, because I have to wash my hair here in Indiana... the humidity causes to much grunge.

It all started while I was getting my Master's and stuck at home all the time. Pinterest.com & stumbleupon.com became my new best friends, not to mention this blog! So there I was, stumbling away, when I came across a blog about the 'no poo' method. I was intrigued. You see, as unhealthy as I am, I wish I could be some all-natural, people loving, healthy eating, free love hippie... really! So I was interested to see how this 'no poo' idea would turn out. What did I have to lose? I was in a long distance relationship-- didn't have to smell good, wasn't working full time-- didn't have to dress up, nor was I ever working out-- no sweat to deal with! Perfect timing for an experiment.

This was a little too much grunge

Now if you were to read up on any of the no shampoo blogs, you would know that the first 2-4 weeks are a trying time. The lack of shampoo kind of turns your hair into a greaseball right off the bat. You also really need the perfect conditions to attack the 'no poo' lifestyle and grab it by the horns. I have complied a list of important factors if you are contemplating starting your own 'no poo' challenge:

1. Have no life-- preferably you should be in a long distance relationship and live with your grandma.

(Honestly #1 is cracking me up so much right now I am tempted to just leave it at that!)

2. Have no job-- Okay well no full time job at least, you can work 4 hours a week at your neighborhood golf course.

3. Live in Arizona --The dry heat really does wonders in zapping out grease, but don't stay out in the heat for more than an hour for fear of sweating.

4. Live 30 minutes away from friends --this really locks in any need to consider maintaining a social life and will insure Friday nights home with your own bottle of wine.

5. Ignore the haters-- Haters gonna hate, okay? We all know this. But even some of your closest friends will turn on you and your new lifestyle. Be prepared to defend your beliefs! (Lyndsie, Lucy, Amy, & Briana!) Also, when you do see your boyfriend once a month, he may think you are a little stinky... but don't let that deter you from your mission!

So there are you 5 easy steps. Also you need: long wavy hair, naturally not very much grease, and be able to do your hair in 15 minutes. 

This was a perfect amount of Grunge! Look how voluminous.

All you do is ditch the shampoo, wet your hair and massage it like you would if you were shampooing it (but you AREN'T!), put some conditioner on the ends, and boom! You're ready for the world, or the couch... whatever, I'm not one to judge.

Really, that's all there is to it! Your hair may be a little greasy around your face but there are many different remedies for that, many include baking soda. I would just suds up some of my bar of soap and rub that around my hairline.

Your hair will develop what I like to call a 'grunge' feel. Once you get used to it, your hair will be so manageable (no more hair falling in your face!) and it will have so much natural volume.

Don't hate it until you try it.. or do... I don't care... I'm just trying to make some money. Or wait, I don't get paid for this??

Boom. Posted.

Cross the Indy500 Off the List.

We having a saying in my family when we don't like something: "cross that off the list". Like the one time we went to this Chinese restaurant and the waiters just stared at us the whole time we were eating. Not to mention the fact that they tried to take away a plate from my dad while he was still chewing and not finished. He then had to make a bunch of grunts in order for them to set the plate down and back off and then he proceeded to explain to us that he 'didn't know how to say 'no' in Chinese'! Crossed off the list.

That was how I was feeling yesterday around 4pm Eastern Standard Time. Yesterday was the much anticipated Indiana 500 race which is apparently something of value to the Hoosiers, er I mean, 'us Hoosiers'.

If you know me very well, or even a little bit at all, then you know if I don't like something that is going on you're more than likely going to hear about it. Now this is something I have been working on fixing for many years and I honestly think I am getting better! But when lack of sleep is also factor, then it goes all down hill.. and quickly. So when I was informed that we would not only be attending the Indy500 (crowds, loud noises, hot sun & humidity, random people I don't know, and alcohol are all on the list of 'no thank you' for me now) but waking up at 4:30am to beat traffic... I gritted my teeth and put on my happy face, braced for the upcoming day.

Everything was going smoothly until about 2 miles away from the 'Coke Lot' (which I am hoping is referring to the beverage but never actually verified this) parking lot, when the traffic wasn't just slow, but completely standstill. We were stopped in the left lane trying to turn at the light for literrally an hour. The car was parked and off and the boys ran to go get McDonalds. Then once we made it through the light, there was another hour's wait through this neighborhood. The neighborhood, however, was full of 'lawn-sitters' with big "Parking for $10" signs out front so you could park on their grass lawns. Easily their biggest money maker of the year as each yard could park about 4 cars... a whole 40 bucks, woo!

We found a yard to back up into, lugged all of our crap to the track (it was at this point that I realized infield meant literally "in the middle of the track field"), and discussed where to set up camp. There is this really 'great little family-oriented, quiet, peaceful, and spacious' area on the 4th turn called the Snake Pit, and that's where we decided to set up camp. The Snake Pit is actually not described by the aforementioned adjectives. It was loud, crowded, raunchy and full of America's finest. BUT I had ear plugs, sunscreen, and a blanket... so all was good.


Close to the beginning of the race (did I mention that it was 8am and the race didn't start until noon?), we moved up to one of the grass mounds surrounding the litteral 'pit of snakes'. From there we could see the all the latecomers hauling their beer and sporting their 'USA' shirts with their Daisy Duke shorts... and those were the guys! One guy had on an American flag speedo and was using a dolly to push two, that's right TWO, kegs. That's dedication.

After a a little while, the empty space of grass to the left of us started to fill up with about 20 guys, each with a 40 pack of beer. Apparently it was a bachelor party and they had the HOOK UP. Canopy tent, 20 cases of beer, squirt guns, chairs, a pink inflatable kiddie pool for a cooler, and lots of charisma.

Blake and Ryan quickly planned how to get an in just in case our supply ran dry. Those guys definitely made the experience 'All American'. So the race started and the party continued. Some DJ was there and the rednecks were plenty. About 20 laps to go and it was time for us to go. We packed up and headed home, only to pass out on the couch for a few hours. I seriously had to google who had won. Then we watched the whole race on television, like we hadn't been there the whole freaking day!

It was a fun filled day but trekking it to the races was a one time experience and the Indy500 infield is crossed right off the list!

Boom. America....

Posted.

This One Time... When I Got My Permit.

...at band camp. Okay, for real. A long time ago, back when I was 15, I was living in Utah and cheating off of Blake to get my driver's license. Seriously. Never changed a tire and didn't do most of my study book because I went to Paris for my 16th birthday. Sorry mom and thank you, Blake!

So there I was, trying to learn how to parallel park, keep my hands at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock, and avoid getting flipped off on the freeway. That's right, the first time I ever merged from the on-ramp to the highway, I was flipped the big 'ole birdie by some jerkface driver. My dad, in the passager seat, with his foot on an imaginary accelerator, just laughed. 

For practice, my dad would have me drive to the bottom of the hill by taking the highway and then we would stop off at the one and only... KrispyKreme. But only if the red light of goodness was on. That meant they were hot, fresh, and fully lardified. You got a free one just walking in the door. Now that is quality service! ...and alo probably the reason why KrispyKreme exploded too quickly and went completely out of stand-alone-business in less than a year*. 

Got some donuts today... for throwback Thursday..? 

So my dad and I would drive to the KrispyKreme so I could get in all my required permit hours, a sugar rush, and we would pick up a dozen donuts. 6 regular and 6 assorted.  Every time. Then I would get a little chocolate milk and he would get a regular one, and we would sit in the lobby and eat 3 each before we packed up to drive back home. 

Utah was also the time in my life when I found the hilarious comedian known as Brian Regan. If you do not know of him... I suggest you introduce ya-self. Here is a little snippet about the very true dilemma in choosing the assorted donuts. Because, let's face it, those are the hardest to choose.

That was back in the day when I was allowed the pleasure of driving the 1995 Ford Contour, my dad's car, as to which we fondly named 'Old Faithful'. It was, for all intent and purposes, a car for me to drive my brother and me to school and then to gymnastics, but was never considered my car. Well it was considered my car when something bad happened. Like that one time that house next door jumped out in front of me...

Long story short, I used to park the car in the empty house next us carport. It was a single and helped shelter my car from being covered in Utah snow, so it worked. Well one night my dad parked the car and apparently put the wheel all the way to the left. That was a problem because at 7:50am when Nelson and I were running later for school, I was looking over my left shoulder as I was backing out to the driveway... completely unaware that the car was veering to the right, right where the side of the house was... And WHAMO, the house hit me. And for a long time in my life I could say that I had never hit a car, just a house. But unfortunately that is not the case anymore. My speciality is hitting non-moving objects, its a skill. 

So there's the story of why KrispyKreme is so important to me and my plight of driving. 

Boom. Posted.

*This is not a verified fact, check Wikipedia for real answers. 

Hoosierville.

I am now officially a Hoosier (Indiana-ian)! Got my Indiana driver's license in the mail and now I'm just waiting on my car plates. I had to take the Indiana state driver's test and I aced that thing no problem. Very much unlike when I was 16 and had to take my written test 3 times...

Almost two weeks down and nothing detrimental to report. Good news is that Blake and I still like each other just as much regular dating as we did long distance... phew! We even went out on an "let's kill time at the mall because we want P.F. Chang's" date.  It was after a very much miserable and failed attempt to apartment hunt. Apparently going to look at a couple of random, poorly researched apartments on a Sunday is a bad idea... who knew? But what we did know was that P.F. Chang's 'dinner for two' menu was an awesome deal, as well as delicious.

But before we did that, let's rewind to my first week of work! My new job at the Exhibit House is great! Its a fun, creative, friendly and fast passed environment. I like it so far! Just trying to learn a whole new craft and trying to adjust to East coast time... that was a bummer... is a hard process.  

 The environment is very modern and relaxed. There is a warehouse where old booths and such are stored and a huge shop for production. I have my own little office that I have been attempting to decorate. Its starting to feel like my zone. 

It is still very strange to not have to text Blake all day or go home to Skype with him. Its pretty great but we still send each other 'second good morning' pictures. I have compiled them below for your enjoyment:

 

Don't worry about my hair... that's just the humidity. Which all of my friends will be happy to know that the humidity is forcing me to wash my hair daily so that fight is over, they win! Soon I will post about my year and a half long experiment in a 'no-poo' lifestyle. You won't even believe it!

We were invited to a birthday jam this past Saturday and I got to meet some people our age (mostly couples) and everyone there went to Purdue. It is very interesting to see how much the midwest is starting to feel like when I lived in the south... oh great!  Good news was I saw my first lightning bug in like 5 years... and I caught him!



Another great thing about the midwest (well... I guess really everywhere other than the southwest) are all the trees. So weird to see so much green but it is very beautiful.

Blake's apartment complex is more like a town home complex (they are technically referred to as Apartment homes... ahem!). But there are a lot of families with younger children and these kids give me the creeps. They're all walking around with their basketballs trying to get to the courts and all. I know what they are really doing... killing all the squirrels probably... there's only a MILLION squirrels around here. The pool just recently opened up and you would think that would be a nice thing but I know those kids are all going to be in there because its summer break, splashing around, making all sorts of ruckus!

I am used to nice, quiet, old people. I need to start looking for apartments in retirement communities I think!

Boom. Posted.

Happy Mother's Day, Lady.

Happy Mother's day to all the wonderful mothers and to those who will never forget the impact of their mothers on their lives!

Last year I wrote an awesome poem, so I won't dare try to out do myself! BUT here is a favorite YouTube video that really says it all:

Tell me that isn't the cutest thing you have ever seen? "Happy Motha's Day Laaaadey," That's my family's favorite part!

Hope you not only tell you mom how much you love her but all of your loved ones!

Love you MOM! Thanks for being the best ever. :)

Boom. Mother's Dayed...Posted. 

The Adventure Begins... In the Fast Lane.

First class on Southwest... 

We made it! Our flight left Arizona at 2:50pm Mountain Standard Time and we landed in Indianapolis at 10:30pm Eastern Standard Time. When I said goodbye to some of my closest girls friends the common theme was "I hate 2:50!". It was bittersweet. Not to mention bidding my farewell to my ever loyal roommate (and you know when I say roommate I mean my grandma, right?)! And if you know me, even a little bit, you know I was crying. Time for the next chapter!

So after  a little under six hours of flying, watching the Dark Knight, and a layover in Chicago... we made it.

Check out this hysterical "How it Should Have Ended" for the Dark Knight. This YouTube channel had me sucked in for hours:

AND all the luggage made it... it was a moving miracle!

All eight pieces trekked over 1,700 miles. We were very blessed to make it all the way out here with very little problems. Actually, I can't even think of any problems! Not to mention we bought my car in less than a half an hour. Oh did I forget to mention that I GOT A NEW CAR?!? Courtesy of my wonderful father, here is the latest addition to the family:

The 2012 Toyota Corolla S (in Super White, i.e. 'not yo momma's white'). She's amazing. Drives like a dream and now I can be like Modern Family with my Bluetooth capability. That show really is hilarious.

I also got my temporary IN license at the BMV (THEE nicest DMV you will ever see) and I passed written test you have to retake no problem. Didn't even have to answer the last four questions. No big deal. 

I am starting to feel settled in my new temporary living space (Blake's apartment). I think he is realizing there is more of me than what he bargained for, in clothes and shoes that is! I've got most everything unpacked, just finding the space is difficult. Next weekend we plan to go apartment hunting for me which I am very excited about.

Anddddd, tomorrow is my first day of my new job! Very anxious to see exactly what I will be doing and for my new office. That's right, I get an office! 

More to come on that later, Blake and I are watching Planet Earth: Extreme Predators, because we can watch T.V. shows together now... and not over Skype!

Boom. Posted.