Hmm..how do I start this?
I've been thinking about my blog a lot lately. Maybe because I have no other place to truly express myself. It's been 7 months since I last wrote. If I post this, it took a lot for me to do so. Let's see, update is what y'all want right?
Disneyland/CA Adventure, May 2011:
Disneyland was fantastic, of course. I hadn't been since I was 11 so it was a completely different experience going as an adult (and with my wonderful boyfriend, Riley J). Our hotel room was fantastic, and with my Hilton discount, I was able to swing a suite for much less than the best available rate. WIN. We ate some excellent Indian food in Anaheim and most of the rest of the trip was spent at the parks. I can't wait to go back! Here are some of my favorite pictures from the trip:
Las Vegas & D-Backs, July 2011:
July took us to Vegas with a few of Riley's friends to celebrate a birthday, and, well, to go to Vegas. Riley had never been so it was pretty fun seeing his reaction to everything I had really grown accustomed to. I had never been as "legal" so the world of nightclubs was opened up to me. We put on our hot clothes and danced the night away and enjoyed a weekend vacation in probably one of the most exciting cities in the world. Since most of our trip was spent doing things that would be inconvenient to take pictures of, I really only have pictures from Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. Sorry!
After our weekend in Vegas, we drove back to Phoenix and went to the D-Backs game. Riley's parents get fantastic seats so it's always a good time.
Then it was back to Flagstaff and my two jobs. But I was starting school again with three online classes. It was awesome at first and then I couldn't wait until it ended! Who knew online classes would be so hard? ;) Just kidding. It was really my statistics class that killed me, but I ended up with a 3.0 in the end. As for future plans, I'll talk about those in a second but first...
Debt Paid, November 2011:
Wait, what?
Yep. $8,185.52.
Done. Fini. Fertig. Terminado.
It wasn't a big fanfare like I thought, but it was definitely relieving and helped me be able to say I did something with myself the last two years. As y'all know, it's been a very hard two years but thanks to the blood, sweat, and lots of tears I put into my two jobs, I was able to cross off my goal of paying it off by New Year's (it was actually by Thanksgiving). It was nice to be able to go to Phoenix to see Riley and his family for Thanksgiving debt-free and just enjoy myself.
  |
| The "kids" table at the O'Neal house. |
My computer broke down on me after 4 years of dedicated (using that word loosely here) service and I bought a new one. So beautiful and it's my signature color!
 |
| I named her Aurora Rose, after my favorite princess. |
Christmas, December 2011:
I was so happy for Christmas (and the end of semester), mostly because I knew Riley would be in Phoenix and able to see me at least twice, and my mom came out to visit me with my baby girls.
I decked the halls at my house and couldn't stop smiling while she was there.
 |
| I'm so lucky to have her as a mother. |
 |
| 10 year old Mollie. Biggest brat alive. |
 |
9 year old Sirah, who's going blind. Poor girl.
|
I also made some awesome friends through my work and I can't wait for them to get back to Flagstaff so we can paint the town!
Moving on, January 2012:
Now I'm embarking on possibly one of the hardest things I've had to do on my own: move cross-country to Cheney, WA. as of today, there are 60 days left until I head north and there are tons of things to do. In true Autumn fashion, I'm doing this very organized and ahead of time to save me headaches later. I won't bore you with the details but let's just say I've been getting rid of a lot of things I don't need to make things easier and less cluttered in the apartment I'll share with Mr. Riley.
It came as a shock to a lot of people that I burned my journals. 13 years of written record isn't something I'd throw into the fire easily. This wasn't an impulsive "get rid of everything" spring (winter?) cleaning frenzy that I'll regret. My 7 journals sat in a box for 2 years, barely read, barely used and I've been consdering burning them since I was 17. I wouldn't want anyone reading my journals. They're private for a reason and there's just things in there I'd rather never retell, even posthumously. Not saying that I'm planning to die anytime soon, but in the wrong hands, the words printed on those pages even cause me pain to read -- much more pain than happiness -- and were better off destroyed. It was time to kick back, drink a glass of wine, and let go.
As for this, looking at how I really want my life to go, I don't know if I could leave Riley for that long again. Maybe one day I'll visit all of those places but it won't be soon. We have a plan (no wedding bells yet, people, calm down) and for the welfare of our relationship, a gap year isn't the most fantastic idea.
Well, that's the update. I'm really excited for tomorrow because Beauty and the Beast is being re-released in theaters. Anyone else going this weekend?
