I Guess It's Time For a Portland Post

{Currently listening to: Bon Iver}

Tom and I are moving to Portland, Oregon. October 16th.

Tom has talked about leaving Atlanta since we met. I decided I didn't want to live in Georgia for my entire life when I started high school, I'm sure that's when he made that decision also. We have been talking about moving to the west coast for a while, but we made it official this summer when we decided to move to Portland together. As some of you may know, reaching this decision wasn't easy for either of us. We both understand how serious it is for us to do this together, it is a huge leap forward in our relationship. Moving across the country is already a big decision, but it seems like nothing compared to deciding to do it with your boyfriend. Entertaining the idea of moving on individually helped us both to see that is the last thing we want. We are in this together. Sooo, Portland, here we come!

October 16th is about 6 1/2 weeks from now. That time is going to fly by. We have made some plans, but not everything is set in stone yet. Tom is meeting me in Portland September 18th so we can explore the city and hopefully sign a lease. We have researched the neighborhoods of Portland to get an idea of where we want to look for a place to live (Northwest, Mississippi, Hawthorne). We haven't seen each other since May so I'm expecting this four day vacation to be the best we'll ever have. Seriously, I have so much respect for couples who make it through long distance relationships. IT SUCKS.

So Sept. 18-22 we'll apartment hunt and check out some restaurants. I'm going to email my resume and/or application to a few places and try to set up a couple interviews for while we're there. It would be so great to have a job already lined up for when we move, I know that will save me a lot of stress. Stupid money. Tom plans on staging (a working interview for BOH) at a couple restaurants as well. So unfortunately we will spend a little time apart, but we need to do it.

When we get back I will have three more weeks to work and get everything ready to go. Which means dropping off loads at Goodwill, cleaning the apartment, and packing everything to go. I'm going to ask off for some days so that Tom and I can eat out and go to some Braves games, etc. There is so much we want to do in Atlanta for three weeks, I know we won't have the time and money to do everything so I need to start deciding what is on the top of my list. Of course we both have a billion restaurants we've wanted to try that we won't make it to, but oh well.

October 15th is my last day at La Tavola. I'm pretty upset that I have to leave such a great place of work behind, I have really enjoyed my time there. The staff is amazing, the guests are great, and the money is good. I'm sure I can find something similar in Portland, but I'm still sad to go.

October 16th is the day we are planning to get in our cars and go. Tom is taking his Jeep and I'm taking my Acura Integra. We don't want to pay for a moving truck or trailer so we aren't taking any furniture, just the essentials. Clothes, kitchen stuff, etc. And Roxy, of course. She will be in my passenger seat. I wish Tom and I could ride together, I'm really bummed that we have to drive separately. It is so far. But we will stop at night to camp out, and I'm sure we'll take breaks during the day. I'm going to try to convince him to get a blue tooth so we can talk while we drive :) . Right now we are planning on stopping the first night in Fort Smith, Arkansas, the second night in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the third night/next day at the Grand Canyon, and then the next day in LA. After that we are going to take I-101 up the coast through California. We don't have that part of the trip planned yet. But I'm sure it will be easy to find places to camp out on the coast. Hopefully on the beach one of the nights! Camping is better so we don't have to pay for a hotel, especially having Roxy with us. Plus I think that makes the adventure more of an adventure. We will stay in a hotel in LA, but that's probably it. My friend Dillon lives in LA so we are going to meet up with him! And I can't wait to see the Grand Canyon again, and Tom has never seen it! Roxy will enjoy doing some hiking too.

So. That's about all we have planned. Plus the going away party on September 30th. Basically I invited EVERYBODY I know to stop by at some point that night. I'm really excited to see some old friends and have all of my best friends together to see me off. This is definitely a cause for celebration :)

A Month of Reading

I literally spent around three weeks of July reading. If I wasn't at work I was at home with my face buried in Harry Potter. When I had a day off I would have a list of things to do, and then I would look up from my book at 10 pm and realize I had wasted another day reading. I don't consider it a waste though. It was a great month. The books are amazing, and it was such a nice break from reality. So after I finished the books I didn't really know what to do with myself. And here I am. I actually just finished Where The Red Fern Grows (what a wonderful children's book that can be enjoyed as an adult!) and now I'm going to pick up Kitchen Confidential again since I never finished that. Yay for reading!

I wanted to update on my hair. For a month I've only been using baking soda in the shower, no conditioner. My hair has finally adjusted to life without product, and it looks great! I've let it air dry with no product a couple times this week and it wasn't a giant frizz ball! I still want to try using aloe to make it look nice and smooth, but I'm just so happy that I can walk out of my house without any chemicals in my hair. Wonderful.

I think that's it for now, Roxy is pestering me to go out.

Four Years Ago

I haven't blogged in a month. Oops. That was a fast month though, it doesn't feel like it was that long ago. Which is great because I want this summer to continue to fly by so I can see Tom. One month and four days to go.

I'm writing because I was about to make a facebook status about how fast life changes, but that is hard to summarize in a "status update" or "tweet." I came across some old pictures of old friends on facebook, and it made me feel... weird. Because four years ago I was hanging out with a group of people I called my best friends, and I don't talk to some of them anymore. I was spending the majority of my free time with these people, and when I think about those times it feels like it was yesterday. But it wasn't. The summer after high school graduation ended four years ago. Don't get me wrong, so much has happened since then that it feels like worlds away, but looking through these pictures and reliving those moments in my mind remind me that those relationships were real. They were my life then, and it's so strange to compare that time to the present. I am starting to realize that this is how it will always be. Even though a relationship is real, and strong, and happy, doesn't mean it will always be there.

And that's okay. Because I remember them fondly and continue on. It makes me realize how important the lasting relationships are. I'm skyping with the girl who I thought was a stuck up dancer in honors World Lit because even though she lives hours away she is still my best friend. Always picking up where we left off with the cheerleader who is too busy to call sometimes. Reading to the daughter of the girl who trained me as a hostess at a steakhouse. Making fun of my mother's laugh at family dinner and making her cry from the laughter every time. Calling my oldest friend because I look down at the tattoo on my wrist and remember why I got it. These relationships have changed and evolved, but they are still there. And I will hold on to them with everything I've got. Tom and I are moving across the country, but I will carry these people in my heart. And thank God for Skype :)

I feel better now after getting that off my mind and into writing. Those of you who are my closest friends, I love you and I can't wait to see what the future holds for us. Thank you for reading this, and thank you for caring.