I can't breathe . . .

So much happens so quickly.  Making dreams and opportunities a reality is a HUGE step.  What began as a bunch of questions to Jason quickly became research into international teaching websites, associations, job fairs, and schools.  I filled out the paperwork, mailed in the contracts, secured the references and paid the $$$.  Today I bought the plane ticket which REALLY made it real.  I'm so glad that it's in San Francisco where Abby is.  So good or bad - I'll be able to get her advice or just be comforted by the fact that I'm with one of my best friends and not be so nervous.

I took a tour (as I do many Sundays) of the possible schools that I could be interviewing with today and I'm narrowing down my realities.  Many countries sound amazing, but I just don't know if I could spend two years living there.  But so many more I could totally see myself living and teaching and possibly coaching in. So . . . we'll see.  I just now have this anxious feeling that is all around me.  I have so much to do.  Copying resumes, reference letters, getting head shots, getting my suit tailored, ugh . . . so much.

On another note - I was able to spend the weekend hanging out a little with my cousin Ashley and her boyfriend Will.  I've met him a couple times at family stuff, but it was nice to really be able to just get to know this guy that she loves so much and get a glimpse of what she sees.  They're so cute together.  I'm so happy that she found someone to brighten her days.  It makes such a huge difference in life to have someone to share the experiences with.

Busy week ahead.  Baseball tryouts start tomorrow and I start Romeo and Juliet in my classes.  Two of my favorite things!  I love weekends.  There's no way that things would get done if we didn't have days off.  Here's to February.  Although you are the shortest month, I hope you fulfill my days with opportunity and hope!

Birthday Weekend 2010!

This past weekend I spent with my two oldest friends in Fort Collins, Colorado. Libba lives there and Stacy and her new fiance (David Gene Tapp) and I all flew out there to celebrate both mine and Libba's birthdays!

We all arrived Friday morning and Lib took us up to CSU so that David could see the gym floor and hit up the bookstore for some swag.

Saturday was my 33rd birthday! We had a late breakfast at Lucille's and I appropriately ordered Jen's Eggs, beignets, and had some AMAZING orange juice! My breakfast was an eggs benedict with spinach and avocado - SO YUMMY!

After cleaning our plates, we headed on our brewery tour beginning with New Belgium Brewing Company. Home of Fat Tire and Skinny Dip beer, we tasted the beers for a while and I fell in love with Tom's beer. So sad that I can't order it here in the South.

We headed on to O'Dell Brewing Co where we had tasters - bigger shot glasses full of six different beers like 90 Shilling and IPA.

A few bars later and still happy, we ended up at The Steak Out - Libba's friend Tim's sports bar. It was almost time for Libba's birthday :)

Sunday, after such a LONG day Saturday, we actually got up, and left at 6am to head to Steamboat to ski for the day. The drive was beautiful and I actually got to see a couple of moose - my favorite animal! After arriving at Steamboat, we rode the gondola up the mountain and didn't return to the bottom til the end of the day. The powder out West was so much better and more beautiful than here on the East coast.

In all, the trip was one that I won't forget. It's been years since the three of us were really able to hang out. There's a real beauty in old friends. They're unforgettable, they let you do stupid things, and they're there for you - for the good and the bad every single time.

"It takes an old time to grow an old friend" ~ John Leonard

let there be peace on earth (and wherever I go!)

Today I just have to vent. I like the old days - or what is portrayed in the old days - where people were polite and genuine and didn't criticize people for their faults. Especially here in the South, we're supposed to be polite, but most Southerners I know have just perfected the art of insulting you right to your face as long as the sweet Southern drawl is dripping with sweet. It's out of control. We hurl insults at strangers, curse out our best friends, and sit on the edge of our seats sometimes waiting for someone to bait us. It's almost as if anger management should have been a class in high school - now there's an idea!

We're all guilty of it - lord knows I am. Anger and stress built up from one source gets re-directed towards an innocent victim who's punishment usually doesn't fit the crime. Sometimes I even have the intention of being nice to everyone and honestly get baited into a skirmish. Or as much as I really want to play nice, I HATE that feeling that someone is getting the best of me and I just can't resist the urge to defend myself and save face. And I end up regretting bringing that drama into my life.

I know that there are friendships and relationships that I try REALLY hard to maintain. I try really hard to think before I speak and not hurt feeling and be as honest as I can without hurting feelings. I'm not 100% successful even at these, but the beauty of the relationships is that the mistakes you make are apologized for and everyone moves on.

I just wish that I had the energy to try this hard with all people that I meet on a daily basis. And I wish that everyone made the same effort all the time. What an amazing world it could be. Have far would it reach to make the world a better place?

Out with the Old, In With the New

Change is inevitable; therefore, this year I'm going to try and have a little more control in the changes in my life. Atlanta has been good to me for the past decade, but now, I believe that I want a change in venue. I'm not exactly sure where, but I am excited about the possibilities. Recently I've been looking into teaching abroad and the first thing people ask is "where?" I honestly don't know. I'd like to believe that I'd be open-minded and go anywhere safe, different, and with a chance of adventure. I'm in a great position in my life to take this chance.

If it turns out that this doesn't work out this year, my thoughts have also been on moving back home. Most of my old friends are still there, my family is there, and after spending time there, I miss the comforts of a small town.

So as 2010 begins, I'm looking forward to a change for the better.