Have to catch up on my DVR

It's been awhile since my last post. After my epiphany 10 days ago, life seems a lot easier.

In the last 10 days I've:

• Made some new friends.
• Constantly made reference to the "everything's amazing but nobody's happy" skit I stole from Ramsey's facebook. "You're in a seat... in the sky!"
  
• Celebrated Melissa's birthday.
• Practically forced my friends to leave a karaoke bar because my eyes balls were getting burned out of their sockets from too much smoke.
• Caught up with some old friends.
• Thought about stealing a boat with Ryan.
  
• Solidified the belief that the field I've chosen to go in to is something I would really enjoy, even if it may take a few years or so to get to the place I want to be.
• Fell in love with up north Michigan all over again.
• Hung out with my aunt Merry and uncle Gary.
• Had my final snowboard of the season in 40 degree weather wearing leggings and my winter coat's liner.
• Rocked out hard core in a vehicle three times with three different groups of people.
• Felt totally embarrassed that I wanted to run away and hide.
  
• Went to the casino.
• Laughed so hard I wanted to cry, multiple times.
• Played with Katie's recording equipment.
• Had hours of good conversation with Kim at our (sometimes pointless) internship.
• Finished Kafka's The Trial, which turned out much better than I thought it was going to.
  
• Had an interview at a flower shop.
• Got my motorcycle insured and received a quote for new tires.
  
• Went out for St. Patrick's day on a Tuesday when I originally had decided to stay home.
• Drank green beer for the first time.
• Was in one of my best moods of the year with the help of 70 degree weather, flip-flops, beer on the patio of Shores Inn, great people, and the best steak dinner ever.

Lately I've been adding classic literature to my reading list. Hence the Kafka reference above. Through most of the books I've read of his, I would always think, "I bet Kafka is laughing at everyone who reads his work and thinks he's so profound, because I'm pretty sure he thought it was just one big ironic joke; he's saying, 'Ha I fooled those suckers!'" And maybe he's laughing at me now, because I ended up really enjoying it in the end.


On another note, I feel like I've been really coming in to single-hood. I think it takes awhile to adjust to it sometimes. Before my last break up, I hadn't been single for more than a month in about 2 1/2 years, and I think I'm just starting to truly accept that it has potential for a whole lot of fun!

I feel like I'm right at the beginning of a huge transition. I have been a student my whole life and now I'm about to step into the real world, without the help of student loans and my parents (for the most part). Add that to the economy taking a turn for the worst and I'm realizing that it's going to be a struggle at times to make ends meet, I know it.

I tie this directly to my happy decision to be single. I have no idea what is coming around the bend for me, and to be tied up in a relationship seems like it would be even harder. Now don't get me wrong, I have no opposition to hanging out with people and possibly dating, but a full on relationship sounds like the worst idea in the world.

Even though, in the back of my head, I know if something really great came around, I wouldn't hold myself back from it. I would probably fall in head first like I always do. But as that's currently not the case, I am very happy with the way things are now.



And to finish 'er off...

Lately I have been grateful for:

• People who are able to honestly laugh at their faults... or their less than perfect actions. I'm starting to really understand the importance of that in my own life.
  
• People who help others just because they like to.
• My mom, who always seems to persevere through anything life throws at her. I really look up to her.
  
• My aunt and uncle, who opened up their home for my friends and I, told us great stories, and above all, always makes me feel loved.
  

Waiting for the toaster oven to "ding"

Today I am grateful for:

• My hobbies. A wise person once told me that to successfully survive a Michigan winter, you should have enough things to keep you busy so you don't go mad. I've snowboarded a lot this winter, and last weekend I had a hockey tournament during the 36th blizzard this season.
• My winter gear. Along with hobbies, I decided a few years ago that I could only survive winter if I was properly equipped. I now own four pairs of "weather" boots, at least 4 winter coats, and multiple pairs of hats, gloves, neck warmers, long underwear, and knee-high scocks. However, I only own like one pair of flip-flops, one pair of shorts, and one bathing suit.
  
• My Internship. After re-vamping my resume last night, I think my experience over the past year (including the experience I plan on gaining in the next couple months) may actually make me look good on paper.
  
• My "go-to texters." I'm sure some of you have these. These are the handful of people I will text when I need a smile. I always know that their response will either be really nice or really funny. You might know who you are. If you don't, you should probably strive to be on that list.
  
• Those lucky few, who, for some strange, unknown reason, I am completely comfortable with, and never feel the need to hold anything back from.
• A great book. I've been on a reading binge. I think it's because I'm trying to hide from the bitter cold outside. Actually, I'm sure of this because when I do read, it's usually accompanied by a massive amount of blankets.
  

Merry Christmas

This blog is about my family.

We are a tiny family. Six years ago, my extended family consisted of 10 people. Over three years, it diminished to 7. Today we celebrated Christmas with only 6 because my cousin David couldn't get the time off of work to fly home from L.A.

I love my family because:

• They are always there for me... both emotionally and financially. I wish I didn't need the financial help of my family, but I seriously do.
  
• We have the best traditions. Christmas is celebrated like there is no other holiday. I just got done eating our traditional prime rib dinner and it was to die for.
• We are all interestingly different. I learn a lot of new things when I'm around my extended family.
  
• Even though we hardly see each other, we always try to keep up with each other's lives.
• We're dorks. Even though some of us can come off as overly intelligent or incredibly odd, we're all dorks underneath.
• They are the only true family I have, and I will try my best to cherish that fact.

Maybe it's because I have such a small family... but I've always attached myself to my friends as if they were related to me by blood. In a way, I want a large family and am trying to gain it through my friends. Maybe someday I will be able to achieve it on my own. I know I've said a lot that I'm not interested in having kids, or getting married, or starting a family... but I think a part of me has always wanted a tight knit family of my own. Maybe I've just been smart enough to know I'm not ready for it now.

I love my friends who are like a family because:

• They are always there for me, emotionally. I would never feel like a burden calling on these friends because I know that they would always be there to listen and lend their support.
• They have the ability to make me feel the most special.
• They have been witness to some of the most tragic events of my life, and have made sure I've made it through.
• In my heart, I know I will always be there for them as well.
• I'm not ashamed to show them my true self, which is a very empowering feeling.

Merry Christmas!

UDM I/O 09

This little bit of gratitude goes out to my graduate school cohort.

I love my group because:

• Most of them were my first new friends in Detroit.
• We are an exceptionally tight graduate group compared to some programs.
  
• They are the only people I don't have to explain what I/O Psychology is.
• They are accepting and knowledgeable of why I'm disappointed with our program.
• Along with that sentiment, they are by far the best perk of my program.
  
• They are accepting and supportive of my schemes.
• We work as a team better than any team I've ever worked with. While I'm sure a lot of times we are held back by "group think" and "social loafing," I think these people are some of the brightest, funnest, most interesting people in the world.
• A few of them always respond to my daily e-mails, and seem happy to show up for my group events.
  
• Some of them have become truly great friends. I couldn't ask for anything more.