Lunch

Being italian automatically insinuates that I have an inherent love of food—no denying that. Last week sometime when I spoke with one of my favorite italian men in the entire state of Illinois he suggested that we go to lunch to catch up before I leave for Ohio. I happily accepted since, well... he's Dino and I could not possible say no to the man that deemed me as the other "half-breed." Half the greatest nationality in the entire world and well... half... not. Oops! This is what I love about being italian... No matter the occasion, you eat. Funerals, holidays, made up holidays like St. Joseph's day or just because it's Sunday - that one's my favorite. Food, for us is like the lights on a Christmas tree (oh, yeah, we eat when we decorate the tree, too!)—it just connects everything and everyone together. 

Unfortunately I was not able to have dinner with my favorite dago, but my favorite Irishman, Mr. Lobbsinger, was able to join my good friend Heather and I. 

These awesome people have blessed my work life in so many ways and I am just so thrilled to have met and become such good friends with them. They are just "good people" as Dann refers to us as, and good people as what they are. I would even go as far as to say that they are great people. 

I am having the most bittersweet of feelings right now... 

Breaking up with Illinois

Dear Illinois,

Things just really aren't working out that well between us. Yeah, there have been some good times, but I just feel like I do all the giving and frankly, I'm not too pleased with how things have progressed. 

Positives:

1. The weather is much more mild than NY, but you guys gotta learn how to plow that snow - good grief! When some snow or rain comes along you people head for the hills like it's doom's day. 

2. Shopping! Yeah yaaaaaa! Yeah, you've got it goin' on. I'll just leave it to that. But you drain me like it's no one's business.

3. Starbucks - there's practically one on every corner and I never have to strain my brain trying to think of the nearest one. Oh, caffeine, how i love thee. 

4. Speed Limits, or the lack there of! While I like speeding as much as the next 24-year old female adrenaline old junkie, the poor ol' Saturn just can't handle it any more. It's conscience is really knocking on age's door and well... the thought of an exploding transmission on 88 in rush hour traffic and the wrath of all the minivans and middle-aged, middle managers is just something I'd rather not ponder about.

Negatives:

1. Wegmans. Yes, that is right... I've longed for my Wegmans. Yearned for it. Dreamt of it. Yey all you have is crappy Domincks and Jewel, which by the way is NO jewel. 

2. Rent? What the crap is this, Illinois! 700 buck-a-roos for a mere 250 sq. ft.????!?!?! This isn't like leaving your "Sox" near the hamper or the towel on the bathroom floor. This is blasphemes! 

3. Giant SUVs. I've already ranted on about this one... In one word... ah...Excessive!!!

4. Laundry. This kind of goes along with the whole rent thing. I just need something more... something that resembles my own washer and dryer while still being about to eat my Ramen noodles and store brand Insta-spuds.

5. Jerk police officers - yeah, you!

Yeah, so, Illinois... we've had some good times, but all in all, it's just not working for me. I need some stability. I need a state like Ohio. It offers me a good solid fanatical fan-base of Buckeyes, shopping comparable to that of yours, and oh did I mention Sam. Yeah, we've been together for a while now and I just think that he's a better long-term decision for me. 

Hey, but on the up-side. Here's what I did get out of our relationship... My independence. But not only that, but I found what I was looking for. I know that I can do it. I know that I can live my life and take care of myself. It's a great feeling—I'll tell ya what! While I am no feminist, I can say that living on my own has certainly taught me that taking out the trash can be, at times, gratifying and just the thought that I can do it myself makes me a happy girl/woman.

Don't be sad, Illinois. You gave me something no one else could... to know what it was like to have to solely depend on myself. To love myself for myself. To stand tall and proud of the person I am. To defend my ethics, morals and intelligent compassion through my actions and my words. You gave that to me! And I could never repay for all that you've done.

Anyways... can we still be friends? I'll come back and visit—I promise. And hey, I might even end up moving back someday. 

Yeah, this could have been us, Illinois :) (Courtesy of Arria)

Sincerely,

The girl that could have been yours 

not quite sure

I love the simple. Simple wardrobe (classic is well... always classic). Simple happiness. Simple love. Simple home. Simple life. 

I do not truly thrive when life gets conflated and, well, dirty for the lack of a better word. A good example of this is my lack of an ability to follow a good, gossipy controversy. I.e. today at our production meeting, I was trying so desperately to follow a coworker's troubles with a logistics company that we use quite often. I know that I am leaving at the end of the week, but I truly care about what she is going through and want so bad to understand what the heck she's talking about, or more specifically, what the issue is. It's not that I do not understand the issue - that is not the problem. It's that I can't follow the who said what and all the he said she said stuff. My head just starts to spin and I swear that I must be sweating bullets! My brain goes into overdrive, my sight narrows, all of my attention is focused on what she is trying to convey to us. I guess there are two ways of thinking about this. Either I understand the drama and chalk it up to be of little interest of me and cannot see the big whoo-haa or maybe I'm truly missing something... I have yet to figure this out. However, despite the over-understanding or complete lack of it, I still get slightly frustrated by it all and I am pretty sure that it I continue to not understand this concept of drama they may take away my woman card and deem me as unworthy to bare the gender.

We've Got a Sick One on Our Hands

Soooo... someone decided to try to pass some kidney stones. Hmmm—I can only image who might be trying to do this. His name has three letters and it starts with an 'S'. Oh, yes, that would be Sam, my on again (this time it's for good —until we get married, that is) fiancée.  Nice try, Hon, but I'm moving this weekend and well, these arms not going to move that sofa by themselves. Actually, he's quite a sick kid... Good thoughts and smiles are always welcome. I promise, they'll make him feel better :)

It's A Date!!

Oh, my! Ladies and gentlemen! They have a date! It only took her a year to settle on! It's January 24th! Yeah :) I'm gonna be a Kendall! Oh, and speaking of Kendalls... congratulations to my soon-to-be aunties, Lori and Tisa! I am so trilled for you both!

Update

Whewwww... It's been a while...

Alrighty! Here's the scoop. I'm moving to Columbus to be with my future husband and in-laws. I don't currently have a job lined up, but I am a woman of faith and I believe that something will find me. 

The reason(s).  1. Ahhhh... I want to be with my soon-to-be husband (we're thinking that a winter wedding will be nice). 2. I desperately tried to establish a life for myself, but found that without family, a 2-income household and having a less-than-great working situtation that life was just not as happy as it could be. 

Anyways... the move date is June 28th. 

PS. Linds and Michelle... I've been meaning to say this for like a month... I totally get the whole minivan thing :) love ya!

EP