I'm back...

If you noticed, I took a bit of a vacation from blogging. 3 months to be exact. In those 3 months, I did a lot of living, a lot of traveling, and a whole lot of nothing (and everything at the same time), which was wonderful! It was good to have a break and not have much to worry about besides work, Jordan and life in general...but I can safely say, I sure have missed the reflection that blogging brought me...so I'M BACK! :)

I'll give you a moment to collect yourself and stop giggling in pure excitement.

So, life...

I have done a good bit of traveling lately...you know how they say be careful what you wish for? Well that's something I should have paid a bit more attention to growing up. A few trips to Dallas, a trip home, New Orleans, Oklahoma City and a few more adventures in the upcoming months...this girl is traveled out. I joked with a few people that I was going to give up traveling for Lent...too bad they didn't realize that there was some truth to my joking. Maybe I should have been a bit more specific and emphasized overseas travel...I could be ok with that.

Somewhere mixed in with all that travel, I won an award--Outstanding New Professional for Region IV of NODA. I was excited and embarrassingly surprised. I love the people I work with SO SO SO much. Thanks for letting me shamelessly indulge in my awesomeness.

I am so ready for March, I just about can't stand it. March has become my favorite month since I moved to Arkansas, because it always means a visit from the family. AND I CAN'T WAIT! In my absence from blogging, I neglected to share some super important fantastic news--Stephanie and Jason are having a baby! A baby BOY to be specific. Which means I am beyond excited to be an aunt again...especially if this little one is as awesome as Claire...which we all know is a given, since they will both share me as an aunt! :) So, when all this went down, we weren't too sure if Stephanie would be able to travel since she is preggers and due a few short months later...but the doctor has cleared her for takeoff and as long as nothing goes wrong between now and the last week of March, I get to see them all, my sister, niece, mom and dad. Yep...I'm just a little bit excited!

NODAC: New Orleans

Let me tell you, New Orleans is a wonderful, wonderful city...and I must go back...soon.

I've been to New Orleans multiple times, some for fun and some for service. It's just a beautiful city with a lot of life. Luckily, we had time to venture out from the conference and partake in that city life. We did all the touristy things--Cafe Du Monde, The Presbytere, Jackson Square and of course Bourbon Street...despite a minor incident that ended in gun shots, we survived...no big deal.

I got to catch up with some of the loves of my life over good food and drinks and got to extend my network with new friends. I love traveling...especially when it includes people that I love...I just wish Jordano could have joined me.

We also got to go to the "Living with Hurricanes, Katrina & Beyond" exhibit in the Louisiana State Museum. It was incredible. It definitely brought back memories of Hurricane Katrina and the clean-up trip that I got to go on with my church in Auburn. Overall, it was very powerful and presented quite an accurate story of the failed communication and devastation that consumed NOLA after the storm. It also brought up images and emotions from the Tuscaloosa tornado earlier this year...while the devastation paled in comparison, it still wrecked a place that was near and dear to my heart. The artifacts, videos, testimonies and just plain wreckage reminded me of the people behind the storm and made me kind of long for a pre-Katrina, pre-Tuscaloosa life. It's probably because I was younger then, but everything seemed so much simpler...so much clearer.

The only thing that makes me sad about this trip is how close to home I was...so close, but not close enough.

Life (recently)

I am trying to get back into the swing of blogging more. I think sleep took priority over sharing my riveting life with you all...shoot me. :) But I have definitely missed the reflection and therapy I got from blogging, so I hope this will be the refocusing I need. If not, I'll just power through and deal.

Life is crazy hectic, per usual...but I think I am somewhat adjusting. Jordan starts on his movie tomorrow, which is super exciting but equally tragic since that means I am without him in my life for the next 31 days. Because of this, I was uncharacteristically pessimistic today....which I really didn't like...and a lot of people noticed. So, in an effort to rectify this...here's a post about the fun things I have been up to lately. Disclaimer: Some of these may possibly (most definitely) be more than a few months old...but they're still fun!

1. 4th of July with Jordan and his fam. There were sparklers...fireworks and these awesome lantern things. So cool...and peaceful...until the fireworks.





2. Naturals game! A group of us "chaperoned" a Natruals game...and it was awesome. I love the people I work with....and Jordan got to come! :)







3. I had my first employment birthday at the University of Arkansas...and came to the office to find this! Have I mentioned that the people I work with are beyond awesome?





4. I moved! So far, so good...no complaints! And they have ducks!!! Which Claire and I fed when they visited in August. I miss that kid like no other.





5. I gambled for the first time ever. Seriously overrated.



6. GIRL TALK. Yes, I got to go to a Girl Talk concert...and it was epic, of course! Be jealous.





5. I finally went to the Fayetteville Farmer's Market. And it was awesome! I bought these beautiful flowers....too bad this was the only pic I have.



7. Football. The best season there is.

Getting back in the groove...

You know when you have one of those days when life is just hectic? And no matter what grand plans and good intentions you have, you just can't please everyone or get everything done? That's been my life for a little bit. Up until today, that annoyed me....but then I just kind of seemed to get over it. It was odd, but quite refreshing.

Family Weekend is over, and despite some hateful rain and a heck of a lot of people, I consider it a success. Of course there are things that I want to improve upon...but there's always next year...and then the next year and so on and so forth. Progress, people....progress.

I attacked my to-do list this last week and a half and am pleased to say that I officially finished a work to-do list for the first time ever without having to rewrite it for legibility issues or space constraints. IT FELT GOOD! And because it felt so good, I have made a to-do list for my personal life too. I guess you could say that this is a little bit of a "get it together" month, reminiscent of the one I had in March...yet this one is much more calm and laid back, which is A-OK with me.

Basically, I guess what I am trying to say is that I am pretty fricking excited about where I am in my life. Sure, there are things that need attention in the near future, but regardless...I have a good job, wonderful friends and family and an amazing boyfriend. Life is slowing down and I do have the time to work on the areas that need improvement and attention....specifically my sad(ish) apartment and my non-existent work out regimen. There is no longer tons of excuses or late nights at work. I can get stuff done and that has left me pretty pumped, extremely satisfied and ready.

I'm awesome. I think I'll have a glass of celebratory wine...I deserve it.

Blessings

Apparently long lost and neglected is my blog's new style....it's the latest fall fashion.

Life is tough. In case you didn't know. Especially at work, in Arkansas, during the month of August in particular. We have a large amount of work for ourselves in the next month, which I dreaded/freaked out about until this evening...about 5 minutes ago to be specific.

I realized, while encountering Lucille who was waiting for me/welcoming me home (even though I was super late), while talking to Jordan and having him listen to me rant about life and mainly my stupid work computer breaking, while walking into my new, cheaper apartment that my awesome parents and sister (and niece!) set up for me, that it's all about perspective. Yes, there are sucky things about my life right now...mainly the entire month of August...yes, I have developed a (not so) small eye twitch that is somewhat (very) distracting....yes, I have worked more than a few late nights in the last few weeks. BUT there are SOOOOOO many awesome things about my life that I am shamefully overlooking. I have a wonderful family, complete with the cutest niece in the world. I have a boyfriend who loves me enough to listen to me relentlessly complain about how electronics are the bane of my existence...and he's cute. And I have a roof over my head, a car to transport me, food to nourish me and Lucille to annoy me (keep me company). I AM BLESSED.

To motivate myself through this month of hell, I need to gain/keep/harness my perspective. Use it as fuel for my work. But most of all, throughout the stress, nonsense, changing of minds, lack of decisions, emotions, long nights and whatever else comes my way, I need to remember why I do the things I do...who those things are for....and why those things are important. And most of all, let the people/things in my life know that I appreciate them, more than they could EVER, EVER know.

Moving!

I could coax you all into blaming Jordan again for my lack of posting....or I could apologize profusely. Or I could just move on and get to writing....which I am sure would be the most logical option, considering that's what we're here for any way.

Since the last time I decided my life was calm enough to post, I was hoping to move, then definitely moving, then definitely not moving and then finally moving....which is where I stand now. And I promise you if anything happens between now and Monday, July 25th, I will begin embarking on a series of conniption fits....and Fayetteville (yep, that's right--all of it) will fill my wrath. It's been a long process, but I think it's all going to work out quite nicely. I'm at a good apartment complex....a whole whopping 3 minutes (if you're driving -18) away from where I currently live. How I have lived so close for almost a year and it's gone unnoticed is beyond me, but that is unimportant now. They take pets and had two bedrooms available, situated nicely within my price range. So all is well! My savings account is so thankful! And thank goodness for Jordan Hughes and his angelic friends who are not just helping me move, but moving me while I work! They're awesome....beyond it.

I guess the main conundrum is the lack of packing I have done. I move in five days and have one box semi-packed. Sure, I have "gone through" some stuff and I have "purged" a few things. Yep, I have "cleaned" my closet and taken things off the walls....but I have not wrapped, packed, stacked, sorted, organized or transported a single thing. This weekend sure is going to be fun.

And the following conundrum after that....my parents are making the trek back to Arkansas...2 DAYS AFTER I MOVE! Who thought this was a good idea? We all know it wasn't me! Just to set the stage a little bit....when my family has come to visit me in the past, this is how it goes:

Alison cleans - Alison cleans some more - Alison doesn't sleep the night before because she is still cleaning - parents arrive - parents start cleaning because the apartment isn't clean enough - arguments ensue

So, I am just gearing myself up for the catastrophe that awaits me on July 27th. Hopefully, since they know about the whole moving thing, they'll understand the chaos. If not, I will just lock my bedroom door and hold my niece captive with me.

Lucille is adjusting to the idea of moving quite well--this morning upon waking up and readying myself for work, I walk into the living room to find that she had gotten sick (that's the nice way to say that she threw up) all over my couch. Thank you, Lucy...thank you.

On a happier/less gross note...I have resumed reading again. And no, it isn't and never will be Harry Potter. I've purchased at least four books since moving here, thinking surely that I'd have some free time to read...but it hasn't been the case. Nothing has really changed much, except I am forcing myself/not allowing myself to read/make excuses. So, I've been reading The Help recently, and I must say, I was a little lulled by the first few chapters. I mainly blame that on my mindset and my fake ADD because since then, it has definitely picked up and I am more than pumped for the movie to come out...even though I know the book will be better than the movie.

Too bad reading doesn't equal packing; otherwise I would be in a much better place than where I am currently...

Blame Jordan...

Hello, long-lost, neglected blog (you'd think that I changed the name of the blog to that).....I would apologize for not blogging more often, but that would mean that I have to accept blame for not blogging and that, I cannot do. I blame Jordan. So, you should really direct your anger towards him. He deserves it.

In all honesty though, it's been a while. And I am saddened by this fact. So much so, that instead of laying my head upon my heavenly pillow and counting sheep until sleep happens, I am furiously and fervently typing away....probably making little to no sense. I will apologize for that one.... :)

Life has been a roller coaster, per usual. Very busy due to Orientation and the influx of concerned parentals that have recently entered my life......BUT I LOVE IT!!!! This time of year always renews my passion for Student Affairs and my job in general. It gets trying at times and there are some tears, but all in all, my love prevails thus making all things right in the world.

I am preparing to move...or should I say, hoping to move....my lease is up at the end of July and after more than a few failed promises and unreturned phone calls, I began my search for new (by new, I mean something that is not Mountain Ranch + awesome + affordable) housing. The problem I am facing is that new (something that is not Mountain Ranch + awesome + affordable) housing is not attainable in the Northwest Arkansas area. How unfortunate. But I have not given up hope just yet....I will be successful....I have to be. I promise to post pics of this apartment before I leave, so you can reflect fondly and envision the interesting life that is mine. I know you're jealous--as you should be. And yes, I know I've made this promise before....don't hate.

BTW, who knew owning a cat/pet could put you in such a predicament.....the main issue I find in apartment hunting is Lucille. If she wasn't so awesome/hateful, I would consider allowing Dionne and Geraldo to be graced with her presence in Alabama, but alas, she is and I would be broken and alone without her. Probably because she would shank me if I temporarily reassigned her housing arrangements, but whatever. Forgive me for thinking that a $300 pet deposit plus an ADDITIONAL $25 a month is a little bit beyond ridiculous. So, hopefully the magical house fairy will think of me and open up a nice apartment/townhome/duplex that's pet friendly, has 2 bedrooms and is not sketchy as hell in the NOT EXCESSIVELY EXPENSIVE price range. Until then though, I guess I will always have my dreams.....