Sweet Home Chicago!

Yep.  I'm moving to Chicago.  I figure if I keep saying it to myself, it'll eventually sink in.  I was offered a position a little over a week ago as the Director of Sales for an AV company at a large airport hotel just outside of Chicago.  Holy crap...someone thinks I'm qualified to be a Director of something.

Hello Home!!!

This, of course, thrilled me to no end and it took everything in me not to scream "YES!!!" when I got the email. Actually, the offer could not have come at a better time.  I was having a horrible day with a horrible group in house and just wanted to walk right out the door and say "screw it."  Then I got the email...and I'm not ashamed to say that I cried.  And then, I called Stacia.  I think she made me deaf she was screaming so loud!

After a little bartering, I signed the offer letter (I think they get my first born) and told my current employer that my last day will be March 5th!  Of course, it's impossible to keep a secret when working in a hotel, so everyone knew about it by the time it was announced.  I really couldn't have asked for better responses from my leaders and co-workers.  I was really nervous about how they'd react, but I got big hugs and "I'm so happy for you!"  Thank God for that.

So the game plan became this:
- Last Day of Current Work:  March 5th
- Leave for Chile to be in cousin's wedding:  March 6th
- Return from Chile:  March 15th
- Pack up all my clothes/needed stuff & going away dinner with my faves: March 16th
- Drive to Indy: March 17th
- Move in with my Uncle (who lives in Chicago): March 18th
- Start new job: March 22nd

Schnikes.  That's a lot to do.  I'm going to be living with Drew & Mark for a few months because it's cheaper for my roommate and I to ride out our lease than to break it (don't get me started).  All of my furniture will stay in our current apartment and I'll just take clothes and valuables (I live in the 'hood) to Chicago and fly back and forth as needed to pack/move around July. 

So my parents came down this weekend to celebrate my 26th birthday and take some of my stuff back to Indy.  My mom gets here and immediately the next morning gets to work tearing my apartment into pieces and freaking out about how much there is to do!  I said "welcome to my party" and started throwing crap in boxes.  Then we turned on the TV.  Oh?  What's that on CNN?  An 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile?  Aren't I supposed to leave here to fly there in A WEEK!?  Are you freakin' kidding me!?

After we found out my cousin, her fiance and his family were all ok (thank you Lord!), we started looking at options.  I'm a bridesmaid for Sarah in Chile and want to be there for her.  However, I think the force majure (Act of God) clause would come into play for this.  As of right now, it looks like wedding plans are continuing and Santiago wasn't entirely affected.  I have mixed emotions about this and will possibly change my flights to be there for less time.  Who knows. 

Can I just say that I hate not having a plan!!!  I plan for a living so it's really hard for me to "just let things go" or "wait and see!"  Yeah...that just stresses me out and then I'll either lose my cool or start crying.  Either way, it's not pretty.  So this whole earthquake, not speaking the language, traveling by myself while uprooting my entire life-business is NOT fun for me.  I need to pack and plot and relax.  Guessing it's not going to happen.  Oh well.

The best part about all of this?  I'm moving to Chicago.  Where I always wanted to be.  Where I'm close to some of my best friends.  Where I'm only 2.5 hours from home AND 2.5 hours from my lake.  I could cry thinking about it because I'm SO happy.  But, it's such a bittersweet time.  I'm going to miss my friends here more than anything.  I've said it before, but I have the BEST friends here.  It's a good thing Jen's birthday is coming up!  Hopefully they'll come visit for a long weekend right after I move into my own place!

Anyway, it's late and I'm rambling.  I'm just thanking God for answered prayers...and hoping they don't shoot single people in Chicago.

"The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them."

It Ain't Easy...

So...today is Valentine's Day.  It's never really been a big deal for me because my birthday is ten days from now.  (For the record, NO you cannot combine Valentines and my birthday present.)  On Friday, my dad sent me a dozen roses at work with a card that said "Be My Valentine (for the 26th year)?  Daddy Loves You."  When I got home tonight, I had a package from my mom.  She sent me a box full of candy and the first season of Glee!  Her card said "Happy Valentines Day, Baby Girl."  I immediately started crying.  I'm so blessed to have two parents who love me enough keep me in mind because they know it's been a little rough lately and they don't want me to feel alone.

I then made the stupid mistake of looking through my memory boxes.  I have a habit of keeping little things from random times in my life...relationships, movie tickets, fortunes, etc.  I pulled out the "life after graduation" box and started reading.  Stupid mistake.  I apparently thought it was a good idea to save all of the little notes J left me when we were together.  I also thought it was a good idea to read them early on Valentines morning when I have been single for over two years.  Stupid mistake.  The crying continued.

I realized that being single is not easy.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm content in my life and I'm incredibly blessed in so many different ways.  There are millions of people who would kill to have my life...and I'm aware of that.  That doesn't mean that life is easy. 

J & my relationship was not a good one...but that doesn't mean there weren't good times.  All of the notes were incredibly sweet and said things that I fully believed at the time.  Unfortunately, he wasn't who he said he was and it was right for us to end things.  Again, that doesn't make things any easier.  Our break-up was hard.  Two years later...it's still hard.  I still wonder if I made the right decision and what my life would be like if we were still together.  Ultimately, he wasn't the right person for me and I had to learn a lot of hard lessons.  I've moved on and have tried to make myself a better person than before.

Anyway, back to my point.  Being single isn't easy.  Sure, there's a lot more freedom, a lot less accountability and I don't have to justify buying my pretty Steve Madden pumps.  But at the same time, I'm on my own.  I have to depend on myself to pay my bills, get my oil changed, fill up the tank with gas, take the dog out, cook dinner and do the dishes.  If I don't do it, it doesn't get done.  Quite frankly, it's exhausting.  I work all day long (sometimes longer) and come home to my adorable puppy who loves me unconditionally and occasionally catch-up with my roommate.  But no one is here when I'm homesick, no one is here to calm me down when I'm losing my mind, and no one is here to reassure me when it's been a sad day.  I'm on my own for all that as well.  Sure, it's made me a stronger person and I've had to learn a lot about myself in the process.  But it sure would be nice to have a partner through all of this.  I know that everything happens in God's timing and I have full faith that His plan is better than mine, but patience is not always my strong suit.  It's something I'm working on.

I'll say it again:  being single is hard!  If you're married, be thankful that you've found someone to support and love you through all seasons in life.  And if you're single, know that it's not easy and it's not always ideal, but life in general isn't always easy and ideal.  Sometimes, we just have to deal.

Anyway, Happy Valentines' Day!  I'm going to watch some Glee and eat some candy...

"I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends"

So tonight I had a fabulous dinner date with my wonderful friend, Stacia.  I met her at work a few years ago, but didn't really get to know her until she moved into the cube (yes, we're cubicle monkeys) next door to mine.  After quite a bit of drama (which I'll be sure to post at a later date), it became a trio of Jen, Stacia & I. 

Jen is 27 years old.  She is from Vardaman, Mississippi...the sweet potato capitol of the world.  No joke.  Jen married Matt (who is too hilarious) when she was 21 (he was 23) years old.  They now live in a wonderful house in Mt. Juliet.  About 10 months ago, they produced a little Babykins (my nickname for him).  Babykins is the cutest baby ever and I adore being his Aunt Linny and hope to soon spoil him beyond belief. 

Jen & Matt - NYE '08

Babykins in all his adorable-ness.

Stacia just turned 29.  She is married to a wonderful engineer - Charlie.  They got Maui-ed in Hawaii and have some of the most beautiful wedding pictures I've ever seen.  They bought a gorgeous townhouse in Pleasant View (this house has like 8 sets of stairs...seriously) that is about five minutes away from her amazing mom.  Stacia just recently quit working in order to deveop plans to open her own bakery right next to their house.  She is an AMAZING baker and I expect to get lots of free macaroons in the near future. 

Staca & Charlie got Maui-ed :)

Anyway, the reason I tell you all that is to tell you this story.  I moved to Tennessee for my job and I was thrilled beyond belief.  It was my first job out of college and my first chance to live alone.  I moved down here, started my job on a Tuesday and the next Monday, I met my boyfriend.  I never looked back.  I spent the next two years wrapped up in him and never allowed myself the chance to have a life outside of our relationship. 

Fast forward two years (and yet more drama I'll get to eventually).  The ex (J) & I had a very messy break-up.  I had to start over again from scratch.  Literally.  I was in a job that I didn't want, with people I didn't want to work with.  Unfortunately, the feeling was mutual.  I was hated (and they'll tell you that too) by everyone in my department and I was horribly depressed.  I had no social life and was going from bed to work to bed every day.  I had an amazing roommate (Jenna) from college that kept me from being a total hermit.

Then, Jen got transferred into my department.  I had no clue who she was, but the more I sat in meetings with her (we go to a lot of meetings), the more I wanted to know her.  We had the same sense of humor and seem to have the same temperment.  Eventually, we were hanging out outside of work and I got the chance to get to know her husband, Matt.  I eventually got to know her Mom, Dad & sister and they were equally as wonderful.  They made me feel at home and I was so grateful to have someone to talk to.

A few months later, Stacia got promoted into our department as well.  Soon enough, we were all three friends.  We would have girls nights or we'd all go out to dinner, husbands included.  When I hang out with all of them, I never feel like the fifth wheel.  Their husbands are amazing and I'm blessed to know them as well.  For the first time in a long time, I found myself laughing so hard my stomach hurt.  I was able to go out after work and not feel completely exhausted.  The past two years have been a rollercoaster for the three of us individually; Jen called us when she found out she was pregnant, Jen & I were there while Stacia went through the most horrible thing she'll ever have to deal with and we would commiserate about the crazy clients we had to deal with. 

I fully credit them with bringing me back to life.  They were patient, kind and honest with me.  Just recently, I went on a horrible date (more on that at a later date...pun intended).  I was telling them about it the next day and Jen pointed something out to me.  "Two years ago, Lindsay would have gone out with bad-date-boy quite a bit longer because she wouldn't have been true to her feelings."  Wow.  I almost cried because she was so right.  I've come so far in the past two years...and I owe the majority of it to these two ladies (and their husbands and babykins.)  They make me laugh, they talk in strange voices to me, they invite me over for family meals or to watch crappy TV.  I would be utterly lost in Nashville without them.

Linny, Stacia & Jen NYE '08

So, that brings up dinner tonight.  Stacia and I grabbed some yummy dinner at the 1808 Grille at the Hutton Hotel where Pioneer Woman stayed!  Jen, unfortunately, couldn't join us because Babykins has a nasty case of the Chicken Pox.  Stacia was asking me how my job-hunt in Chicago was going.  She's notorious for sending me random jobs in Nashville in order to get me to stay.  Jen does the same.  They've both been very vocal about not wanting me to go.  I posed the question to Stacia, "What is here for me?"  Her answer?  "Me, Charlie, Jen, Matt & Babykins."  This got me thinking.  Are they enough to keep me here?

The thought of leaving all of them and starting fresh somewhere I fit in flat-out kills me.  They are part of who I am.  They are my family here...literally.  But at the same time, they all have their own lives...their own families, kids and other friends.  Is it fair for me to stay here for them?  I'm so torn because I start crying when I think about missing Babykin's first birthday or the opening of Stacia's bakery.  But at the same time, if I take them out of the equation...I have nothing but a job holding me in Tennessee.  I know that I deserve to be as happy as they are in their marriages and lives...I think I'm just scared to actually go after it. 

So, for now, I'm applying to every job I'm remotely qualified for in Chicago (and some in Indy).  I know that no matter what, the three of us will still be friends.  I'll still be Aunt Linny, will still be able to talk to Stacia in stupid voices and come up with stupid nicknames for people in the office.  And I think they understand that too.  At this point, it's up to God...and I'm ok with that.  He knows better than the three of us.

Oh Bachelor, Why Must I Be Addicted to You?

I watch The Bachelor on ABC.  I'll admit it, but I'm not proud of it.  I never watched it in the beginning (I caught the end of Trista & Ryan's season b/c her parents lived behind my Sorority House, but that was it, I swear).  I somehow ended up watching again it during Deanna's season...and I was hooked.  (Side Note:  I about DIED when she chose Jesse...really Deanna!?)

Then, Deanna's rejected Bachelor Jason got his own show.  Oh how I loved Jason.  He was so sweet!  What a great dad!  And he was crazy about my favorite girl - Melissa!  They were going to live happily ever after and be cute as ever! 

Wrong.  I made the mistake about 3/4 of the way through the show of reading Reality Steve's spoilers.  I was D-E-V-A-S-T-A-T-E-D!  My friend Jen & I debated for hours over whether or not Jason was going to dump Melissa on the "After the Rose" show and go for the second place girl - Molly.  Welp, he did it.  Jen swore off The Bachelor forever...and I swore it off until next season.  I watched Jillian & Ed with a small chip on my shoulder.  But they're happy and I'm ok with that.  They gained a little of my trust back. 

Fast forward to this season.  Jake.  Yum.  Jake is a very handsome man.  I had forgotten that it was premiering and managed to catch the first episode.  I believe my Facebook status read "The average age of these girls on the Bachelor is about 25. That's how old I am and I think I'm a helluva lot smarter than these bimbos. Just sayin'."  Needless to say, I was NOT impressed with many of the girls, but I really liked Ali, Corrie & Ella.  Within the first two minutes, I knew Michelle was crazy and Vienna would be the hated one.

So now they're down to the final three...and again, I'm not impressed.  Reality Steve is telling me my worst fears are coming true and Cutie Pilot Jake (that's his full name, I checked) is chosing the hated girl.  Ahem, Jake?  Yeah, if ALL the girls are telling you she's evil, it's not because they're jealous. SO depressing.  Plus, Ali chose to leave tonight because she had to chose between Jake & her job!  That totally sucks.  I was a huge fan of her and will probably not watch the rest of the season (until the "After the Final Rose" show). 

The thing that makes me so skeptical about the whole thing is the way the girls express themselves.  "Oh my gosh!  I'm totally falling for him!"  "Oh Jake!  I'm so totally, like, in love with you!"  I'm sorry, but you've known him for all of two months AND he's dating other women at the same time!  Really!?  But the crap of it all is that he's doing the same thing!  "I'm falling for four different women at the same time!"  Again, I say really!?  All three of them are completely different, so how can he know what he wants out of his relationship/future fiance?  Again, I can't see how this is going to turn out well.  Not to mention, this is NOT giving much hope to this single girl! 

Oh Bachelor...I think you've lost me for good this time.  Anyone else know of a good crap reality TV show?

A Little About Me:

I’m originally from Indianapolis. I lived there almost my entire life. I graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Hospitality & Tourism Management. I miss my college life and my Purdue friends more than I could have ever imagined. I work for a large hotel in Nashville. My job pays the bills, but I've met some of the most amazing people while working there.  They make me laugh, commiserate, share success and talk to me in silly voices.

I have the most adorable dog ever, Lexie.  She's a Maltese/Yorkie mix that weighs about 8 pounds soaking wet.  She has more personality than an eight pound dog should and enjoys terrorizing my roommate's lab mix daily.  She's my sidekick and I love coming home to her!

I have 25 first cousins on my dad's side of the family. Five of them are over the age of seventeen….its mass chaos every time we’re together and I LOVE it.  I hate being so far away from them and missing out on their life events. Growing up, I spent my summers at our family cottages up in the southern part of Michigan. If I could spend the rest of my life in one place, I'd pick the lake. Hands down.

I have an awesome “little” brother (he’s 23 and WAY taller than me) who is 200% different than me and kicks-ass at extreme sports (wakeboarding, surfing, rock climbing, etc) and has such an interesting view on life. My parents are awesome and love to kick back and have a beer with their kids. Our family dog is our baby and I’m not sure what we’ll do after she’s gone.

I love to travel to new places and experience what the world has to offer.  My goal for right now is to move to Chicago.  I L-O-V-E city life and even though I'm trapped in the South, I have to get my city-fix at least every few months!

In all, my life is wonderful. I couldn’t have asked God for more. I’m surrounded by great people in a place I never thought I'd end up. I have a HUGE family who loves me no matter what and God has blessed me with SO much to be thankful for…and I am, every single day.