Disclaimer: My apologies. I want to apologize to all who read my blog for always writing about myself. I promise that typically I do think and talk about more then myself. Lately I feel very selfish. Like all I have been worrying about is me. Trying to get back into the swing of things, deciding where to live, where to work...that kind of thing. I know how boring it is to read about someone who always uses the word "I." So, if you start reading and click back or close, I completely understand and am in no way offended (promise I won't even know ever.)
Right now I feel like this is my journal. Trying to organise all that is going on my life and remembering some of the highlights. As I was sitting at my temp job yesterday (that ends today) I realised in the past three months sooo much has happened. In fact in the past three weeks my life has taken me from one direction to a complete other. Here are some of the highlights in no particular historical order:
1.
Employed by two companies - The first, my temp job, pricing in cheese in the dairy department of a private labeling company (did you know you make A LOT of money pricing cheese as a temp in the private food labeling industry? I had no idea.) The second, a public relations firm in Hoffman Estates, IL.
2.
Began my PR career - Pretty much my dream job come true. It's PR, my boss is awesome, I can wear jeans to work, it's 8-4 or 9-5, I can pick. It's salary, full benefits including medical, dental and 401K. Rad, huh? And the accounts I will be working on and the clients sound fascinating.
3.
Lived in Oak Park, IL (downtown Chicago) for week - My good friend Marta Rydin Hill's husband was out of town for six weeks, so she invited me to come and play with her. The invitation was extended right before I got my temp job. I don't know if it would have been if she had known about the hours. I was gone from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. everyday. But, I got to ride the L in and rub shoulders with all the intense Chicago business commuters. And after one week of this I was happy to be done.
4.
YSA conference - I was called to be the Young Single Adult representative in my branch just a few weeks ago. Now, I NEVER wanted to go to a Singles unit of any kind. The movie, Singles Ward kind of did it for me. But, the day I was released from being a missionary, my stake president asked me to, so I said, yes. Then the YSA rep calling came and of course I said yes. Two weeks from the time I was called there was going to be an 8-stake YSA conference. I had no desire to attend, but because of my calling I was forced into it. I ended up having a blast. The Lord knows what He's doing. (Side Note: Despite of the fun I ended up having, you married people, be so grateful.)
5.
Almost moved downtown to Evanston, IL - Orginally when I took the cheese temp job I didn't have any PR offers and there were absolutely none in sight as far as I could tell or believe. The cheese job was temp to hire and it was very good money. That money might be able to replace my passion for PR, or so I thought at the time (I found it can't.) Right after the offer came I met two awesome girls, Lisa and Jenna who were visiting Chicago from Arizona. Lisa was planning on going to Northwestern in Evanston, IL and was looking for apartments in that area. I told her I'd look with her. And then it clicked that Skokie (where my job was located) is 10 minutes away from Evanston. I love Evanston. I always have. It is a beautiful, beautiful area right off the lake. It's got personality and character. We found some great apartments, but in the end...PR in Hoffman Estates won out and the hour-plus commute just isn't worth it.
6.
Good friend got baptized - I met Laurie Hulton a week or so after I got home from my mission. She had been investigating the Church for a over a year. On July 12, she was baptized and it was one of the high points of my summer. She is an exmaple to me.
7.
Bought my first car - She's a beaut. A black '98 Toyata Camry and I love her. She is not my dream car, by no means no. But, in no way do I feel like I'm settling. She is everything that I could have ever want in a first car. She will live for at least five more years. We've talked about it. She has asked me that when she goes will I please buy a nice red Infinity G35. Not to replace her, but to continue to expand my horizons and speed. She cares about me a lot. The savings for my Red begin immediately.
8.
Turned 24 - It was a great day. My family and I were lazy in the morning. Something I love doing on occasion, because usually I'm not. Laurie stopped by. My sisters, Mom and I went to see the Kit, the American Girl movie. Now, I know it was originally probably intended for 6-year olds, but I loved it. Partly that may be due to the fact that I have loved American girl dolls since I was six and partly it may be due that Chris O'Donnell plays the father and I have probably been in love with him since I was six. After the movie we went birthday shopping and then my family went to see a minor league baseball game, because I LOVE baseball. I love the Cubs #1, but since it is impossible to get seven tickets for under $5000 this season, I was more then happy to see a minor league game. Their games can be exciting too. You get to see some great baseball, which I think to a large extent may be due to the young, growing (for the most part) passion of the players. After the game there were the best fireworks that were coordinated to patriotic songs. My favorite was "I'm Proud to be an American. " Such a good, good song. My favorite presents were Rascal Flatts tickets from Rebecca, this awesome make-up kit from Michelle and a raincheck for a pair of rockin' rollerblades from my mom.
9.
The 4th of July - The 4th is one of my most favorite holidays, but this 4th was really boring. Maybe that's because it can't get better then being a missionary on the 4th of July. Last year, we went to one of our investigators block parties and got to see a man eat fire. That was awesome. Still, just because this past one couldn't live up to watching the fire eating man, I was still able to reflect on how proud I am of my country and my graditude of all the immense liberty and happiness we enjoy because of the many, many sacrifices of great men and women past and present.
10.
Natalie turned 15 - My baby sister is no longer a baby. She is this young, mature, athletic, artistic, beautiful, goregeous young woman. We went lazer tagging and out to eat as a family. The sisters and my Mom (minus me, I was busy unfortunately.) Natalie is so unique, because she is ridiculously athletic (at least for my family, anyway) so you think she would be a tomboy, but she is so girly. And because she is artistic she is a fabulous dresser, very trendy and fashionable. She puts me to shame. Before I leave the house she'll do a quick scan of my outfit, accessories included. More often then not she says, "Hmm...let's change a few things." And then I always come out of her room looking and feeling better about myself.
11.
Went to a concert in Millenial Park - Millenial Park is a park in the middle of the Loop (the heart of the city) downtown. It was created when I was a girl I think to make Chicago seem more inviting and attract tourists. They have an outdoor concert hall that has some of the best acoustics in the entire world. Every night during the summer they have a concert. The other night I went with some friends. It was fantastic. It was a symphony. Can't remember who, but they played some new age stuff and some Beetohven. It was nice to just sit on this huge lawn surrounded by hundreds of people who are drinking in the scenery and music together, for the sole purpose of enjoyment. I didn't have to think about life and decisions. I could just enjoy.
And that's those are the highlights! Of course much, much more happened. some non-interesting, some I'd never dare make public, some that is so interesting it could cause a scandal, some it just doesn't matter. I'm excited that my life now has some sort of stablity and sense of direction instead of two million possible directions at once. The past three weeks though confusing and packed have been quite wonderful, because there is now a light at the end of the tunnel. And for that I am grateful.
