2013

So, I figured I'd head here and get something down for an 'end of the year' post before I go and partake in the festivities tonight.  I don't really have anything too profound to say.  It's been a wild and crazy year, that's for sure.  I've been in Oregon for 5 months now, and that's hard to believe.  I miss my family.  Sometimes a lot, sometimes just a little.  Even though I was just there last month, it seems like a lifetime.  I am very grateful for all of the places I got to see and visit.  And for things to work out the way they did as far as being able to move back up here. 

I just took my final today for work (made a 98% over-all, woohoo!!) so I'm hoping to find out what my schedule will be for the next six months until the next shift bid (they have one twice a year.)  I've decided that early morning is not the most optimum work time for me so I'm crossing my fingers that a later shift will be available.  I'm ready for more living space.  After paying off my debt, that will be my next medium-sized goal.  

I'd love to say that I have all these wild and crazy plans for 2014.  But at this point in my life, things are so unknown, to stress or worry over it would be a waste of time.  I know that I am where I am supposed to be.  And in this moment is really all I can concentrate on.  The rest will work itself out.

Happy New Year everyone.  I wish you a healthy and prosperous life in 2014.

Love,
Karen

PS.  Andrew, I know you keep checking my blog.  I found an audience logger in the back end of the blogger website not too long ago.  And I know you're still in South Korea as of a few days ago.  Move on already.  I want a fresh new year without you lurking in the background...

Just chillin' in my 'hood'

Sike!!

Made you look....

hahahahahaha

bed time!

Snow!!

November

So....It's the 24th of November.

I start my new job tomorrow.  I'm excited.  Ready for the change that it will bring.  Definitely ready for the money, lol.

I've been in Florida for the last 10 days.  Funny how, now that I'm back, it seemed almost like it never happened.  I miss those people.  My family and friends.  But my soul cringes being in that town.  It never really seemed that bad.  I think it's the grass being greener up here.  The expressways.  The changes in season.  

2013, so far, has been quite the year.  When I think about where I started and what I've done this year, it gets a little un-believable.  I had a part-time job at Hallmark, waiting for my 3rd stint at Bookit to begin.  Worked there for 5 months to save money.  Vacationed with the family.  Vacationed with mom.  Drove back to Oregon with Kole. Spent the end of the summer relaxing (and stressing about a job, lol.) Got to visit more family (that I hadn't seen in multiple years.) Started a serving job while waiting for my new job to start.  Traveled to visit family again.  

And now here I am.  My last month in 2013 will be a good one.  Spending it with friends who have become my new family.  And hoping that in the new year, my sister and niece can come up here to visit me. :)

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and I am so very thankful for everyone and my crazy traveling life.

 

Less than a month :)

26 more days until full-time status!!

So excited and can not wait!  (Neither can my bank account, lol.)

In other, not so exciting news, I found out that my training class will be from 6am to 2:30pm.  So....SO LONG social life.  I need AT LEAST 8 hours to be functional.  Going to bed at 9pm is going to be an adjustment.  

10

10 am to 10 pm with a 2 hour break making my shift 10 hours long.  

My feet hurt...when do I get to just sit at a desk all day? lol

Life In Color

Amazingly fun and amazingly COLD!!

If only they could have heated up the paint, lol.

There is only this one pic of me b/c it was too cold to be posing for more.  I was soaked!

My life's frusterations....and my not-so-conventional answers

I've been a bit stressed lately.  The job search hadn't been going very well (more on that in a minute) and my dog/living situation hasn't been ideal.  To explain....

I moved into a small studio behind a house that has 2 resident dogs.  Girl and boy.  Sasha has, thus far, always lived and has been left in a house that has at least a few other animals to keep her company.  Unfortunately, she wasn't getting along with the girl dog in the house.  Fights that I'm sure where more noisy than they were actually hurtful kept breaking out but none of us wanted to 'test' the limits of either dog.  So...Sasha is going to have to stay back here in my apt.  You'd think she'd be ok.  Bed and 'couch' to sleep on.  All the water and food she could eat or drink.  Silence to catch up on her beauty sleep.  Not quite....

And all the while I am worried.  For her, for us.  I wasn't really sure if, because of the tension with the dogs, they were going to ask me to start looking for another place to stay.  
 
But after much deliberation and a hardy "go ahead" from my landlords, I looked at fixing the issue the only way I could see fit....

I got the dog a cat.

Ok, so maybe I've been making out really well with this arrangement too.  I can honestly tell you though, this is the best kitten/cat that I have ever had.  She took to the dog after only 2 hours.  And Sasha couldn't stop licking and grooming her.  

Over the last few days that I've left both of them here in the back, I've noticed that the dog isn't as frantic when I come home after having been gone for a few hours.  And as the kitten (I've named her Olive because of her green eyes) grows, I'm hoping that the friendship will stay in tact and I'll have to yell at Sasha less for playing too rough.

On the job front news.....

I got the job with Royal Caribbean!!  But....

They hired so many new people they had to split the training class up.  I am on the wait list for the most recent class starting on Oct. 14th.  I am a definite on the class that starts Nov. 25.  I'm hoping they can squeeze me in earlier but even if they can't, I'm part-timing at the fish house so I should be ok until then.

So...that's been my recent life.  The weather is definitely changing and getting rainy but I still love it up here. :)

Hope everyone is doing well!

Doors

"When one door closes, another opens."
"When God closes a door, he opens a window."
"Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open."

All I really want right now is to just get my hands on a key to open some kind of door!  

By Friday, if I haven't heard anything, I'm calling Royal Caribbean.  I'm pretty sure they don't know about the stress and forced patience I've been having to endure.  Life would be easy if I got that job.  No struggling.  Just learn my script and churn out 8 hours a day.  Benefits, decent pay.  

So then why do I feel like they're not going to call.  Like there are tons of other people out there better than me.  I mean, it would be par for the course.  I've lost count how many jobs and applications I've sent out and applied for.  Is working 2 part-times what I'm going to have to settle on?

I didn't want to live in this studio forever.  I want to make other plans and do other things.  I want to stay hopeful but it's hard.  

I just need that one phone call.....

    
 

Hopeful

I have an interview at Royal Caribbean. I smirk a little to myself every time I think of the possibility of getting the job and only YOU would know why, lol.  (You know who you are.)  How odd and crazy the universe is....

But on a more serious note, getting this job would mean a lot.  Another opened door into my future.  Life ever changing.  Constantly on the move.

Cross your fingers and say a prayer. :)

 

 

Maybe it's me?

Lately I feel like I have a 'kick me' sign on my back, for no reason.  I keep trying to think of the kind of karma/mojo/juju that I've been putting out there and honestly, I don't understand. 

I'm trying to keep my honest thoughts to myself.  I'm trying to be silent, like mother always says, 'If you don't have anything nice to say...'  I've been listening but only soliciting my advice when specifically asked.  

I don't know what's going on.  But I'm honestly to the point of distancing myself from these 'kicking offenders' as I see it to be a form of poisonous friendship.

So now that I've gotten that off my chest, here's what I've been up to!

Not much, lol.  

I have a job interview tomorrow (YEA!!) and I'm hoping I kick butt and take names.  Because I'm really starting to get brain mush.  I've taken to gardening.  As cheaply as I can.  I'm wrangling in the fast food and I bought a bike today (WEEEE!!!) so the weight should start dropping soon.  I'm reveling(?) in the fresh air and nature.  I'm hanging out with friends and hope to make some new ones once I get the job thing lined up.  And I'm hoping that the chance encounter with a man shows up in there somewhere too. ;)

I hope everyone is doing good!

Friday

It's gorgeous out today.  I should be biking.  I haven't found a bike yet, but honestly, if I had one, I'm not really feeling that well to bike.  Nothing major, just having an 'icky' day today.

My apartment is almost finished I feel like.  A few more things to tuck away and a final 'after set-up' cleaning and I'll be ready to take some pictures and maybe a video to show everyone. 

The work hunt has been slow and so far, uneventful.  I've applied to several places.  Just waiting to hear something back from any of them.  Who knows...I may just end up back at the fish house.

I have less than a week until I get to see my family and squeeze the heck out of my niece.  I miss her.  It's only a smidge easier since Oregon is so far removed from my life in Florida.  The circles don't over-lap.  Not sure if that makes sense or not.  

Sasha is loving that I'm home all the time.  Even now she's sitting out on the patio, watching the world go by.  She'll still be able to stay in the big house when I finally go to work, but she's getting to experience sheer freedom now and I always feel guilty when I have to leave her at home.  She is my perpetual toddler in a dog's body.  

Other than that, not too much is going on.  I'm walking a tight line of watching my money but not being too miserly that I miss out on life.  I'll be so glad when I have a steady income again.

Hope all is well with everyone. :)

 

Wow

3 weeks after my last post and I've come so far, geographically and in other ways.   I'm finding (or trying to find) my niche that I left just about 11 months ago.  Almost a year and it's an odd feeling.  On one hand, it seems like I never left.  And on the other hand, I did leave, and things change.  Just as they should but there's still an adjustment phase.

I'm currently living in a studio apartment behind the garage of a friend.  It's on the small side.  In my bedroom I'll have just enough room for a queen size bed (I refuse to get a double/full), a 4 foot long dresser that I will be re-finishing in the next few days, an end table that I will also be re-finishing to match the dresser and my laundry hamper.  The closet is nice and long and I'm thinking that all my clothes will fit just fine.  There is no real living room.  Unless you count the fabulous outdoor space that I have.  A covered porch and private back yard for Sasha are something that I would never have in an apartment complex or if I was renting a room from someone else.  I have a full kitchen (minus dish washer but, eh) and a place for a kitchen table and chairs which is currently being occupied by my ottoman that's doubling as a couch.  And then I have a 3 piece bathroom.  No tub, but I don't take that many baths anyway.  

The best part of all is that I've been given freedom, with the exception of knocking down walls, to decorate and paint anyway I'd like.  I've coated the whole place in paint and am now ready to finish up with curtains and misc.  

I haven't gotten to the park yet and I'm a little sad about that.  But I'm also feeling the need to nest and get settled.  I have been up to the fish house a few times to visit and see my friends.  And of course eat, lol.  

This weekend is D's wedding and I'm getting excited.  It seems to be a really fun time.  

So....eventually I will post pictures of my before and after projects.  Right now I'm just trying not to overwhelm myself and I keep thinking in the back of my head that job searching is just around the corner.  Hope everyone is doing well. :)

T-Minus 7 Days Until U-Haul Pick Up

So...I'm keeping sane only by thinking about life one day at a time.  Dwelling too much on the fact that by the end of this month I will be in Oregon is kinda freaking me out, I won't lie.

But every time I think I might change my mind.....every time I imagine staying in Panama City for my friends and family, I break out into imaginary hives.  This city has nothing to offer me.  And my family and friends cannot be expected to make up for this fact to keep me happy.  I would literally turn into an empty shell.

I have so much stuff to get from my storage shed and sift through.  Going to pick up the last of it tomorrow and re-pack for optimum space saving.  I'm really worried I won't have enough room for everything, so I may be doing a little minimalizing this next week as well.  

Wish me luck! lol

 

Can't decide

I haven't posted in quite a while and I think it's because of how I had my blog titled.  I decided to go back to the beginning.  Especially now that I really am going back to the beginning.  2 years ago, I was in this spot.  BUT, I know so much more now....  About myself, where I want to be and what's waiting for me there.  

I have a place to live.  My friend Kole is going to let me rent out her 1 bedroom studio apartment.  The bedroom is small, but I am so excited to be getting a kitchen and private bath. :)  She has also given me permission to paint and decorate (of course, after running colors by her) the whole space so that I get to make it 'mine'.  She is ALSO going to be flying down here a day before I leave to hang out, go to the beach and then ride back with me.  

I'm hoping my 5 months of full-time hard work can pay the moving bills and keep me steady for the first month or two up in Oregon.  I'm still see-sawing about getting a full-time job as opposed to a part-time job but I'm going to decide that once I get up there and settled.  

I will be posting more as the time comes and hopefully just as much when I get up there. 

Surrender

I believe in the concept of surrender. Not of values, principles or morals, but of circumstances and planning. How can you effectively plan for all variations of possibility? Why worry needlessly when your mind can create such unfounded turmoil?

I'm not saying it's easy to always go with the flow. It's taken me lots of practice (and I'm still working on it) to be able to ease up when things don't go my way.

I just feel that when I look back over my life I can't help but be amazed at how things turned out when I surrendered my life to chance.

Certain someone...

He's been on my mind a lot lately and I can't seem to stop thinking about him. I'm hoping the universe allows us to cross paths again. And I'm hoping he's maybe thinking about me too.

(Ps. Before I get a bunch of hate mail, I am not talking about Andrew. Haven't had any contact with him since beginning of December.)

Lessons

So while I sit here and wait for my newly purchased music to burn onto disks, I figured I'd come write a little.  Since I've barely written anything so far this year.  So strange how I feel no creative juices flowing while I'm here.  Coincidence?  Or am I consciously making that decision. 

I'm getting more and more set in my ways.  It worries me.  How will someone be able to fit into my weird quirks and annoying habits?  Who will want to deal with the ways that I do things? Don't get me wrong, I still have some flexibility.  But in 10 years?  20?

This last week I've learned:

Using electronic means of directions, ie. programming it into your gizmo, suck.  Give me a map!  Let me read signs!  I'm afraid that today's young people are so dependent on technology.  Even more so than I currently feel....it's sad.  Look up and experience.  Only get out your google maps when you are truly lost.

Unless my legs are broken, if we're going on a trip, I'm driving.  I don't care how economical your car is.  Period.

Ok, well.  It's done.  Just downloaded Swedish House Mafia.  Until Now (Deluxe Edition).

I can't wait to go dancing again with my girls...

 

Page Re-design

So, after having been immobile what seems like ages, I decided to turn my blog from one of travel to one of everyday life.  Any random thoughts, comment or insight that I might have, I will now come here and verbalize.  Maybe it will help me get back to writing.

Thought for today:

Let it all go.  Everything.  

When you let it go, it all seems to fall into place.

:D

Ta da!

Well, here we all are in 2013.  And honestly, I'm not really sure where 2012 went?! 

To start out the new year, I haven't decided on any resolutions.  I tried to start planning things, but then decided to take a more loose approached to how I want things to work out.  Maybe I should call them goals instead.  Hmmm.

Goal #1 - Save money/get out of debt!  I used up all my resources living and traveling back and forth across the US (4 times!!)  Not too much in debt now thanks to my parents since they're letting me stay with them for free.  And on Monday I start a new temporary job that will help with my money goal.

Goal #2 - Get back up to Oregon!  Currently looking at heading up there anywhere from April to July.  Reason being is.....

Goal #3 - Touring the East Coast before I become a permanent fixture on the West Coast.  Got to thinking about a few places I'd like to see still here in the Central/Eastern time zone.  Might possibly wrangle Mom into coming along for the ride.  We'll see how goal #1 works out. :)

Goal #4 - Be happy!  

2013 is going to be a great year!  Hope everyone out there is well and that your new year has started positively. :)