My List

To do list that is. Since I've been home for almost two weeks now, I've decided it's time for some productivity/self improvement. Don't get me wrong; sleeping for 12 hours every night and watching reruns of scrubs has its appeal, but I'm pretty sure my parents are beginning to wonder why their daughter has turned into a couch potato. So, with the weeks spanning ahead of me filled with waiting to see what I'm going to do at this point in my life, I've put together a to-do list to pass the time and, if I'm lucky, make myself a bit better of a person. So here it is:

1. Maid of Honor Duty: With less than a week before my Reesy gets married, I've managed to procrastinate on all my little jobs I need to do. Fortunately, I have FINALLY found my dress. I'm not crazy about it, but hey-it's her day and it's okay if I don't look perfect-right? Right. Still coming to terms with it. Anywho, now I need to put together the slideshow for the rehearsal dinner, finish planning the bachelorette party, practice Therese's makeup, and write my speech. No big deal. Gulp.
2. Go back to work. Gah. Yes, my on again/off again relationship with Malcolm's will be on...again. Turns out I have my credit card and student loans that won't pay themselves off. Plus I need to start saving money for my future life plans, whatever they may be. Waitress Shivonne is once again making an appearance...get excited.
3. Get in shape. Somehow I managed to work out a total of like three times during my period abroad. Oops. So I'm taking advantage of our family gym membership and lifting weights and putting in some time on the elliptical machine. I couldn't walk for about a week, but I'm getting there.
4. Get my nose back in the books. No, not school books (as if. I barely made it through college the first time). Since I've been home, the lure of satelite TV has taken it's hold on me, and it's not a pretty sight. After not having television for five months, I've gone a little overboard. So, I need to find other options for my free time and I've decided to take the literary route. Right now I'm reading a really interesting book called The Beautiful Fall-it's an expose on fashion in the 70s centering around Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld.
5. Get in more quality family time. Since this will be the last time I live at home (hopefully) I need to take advantage of the proximity of the fam. Therese is moving into her cute new house here in Amarillo after the honeymoon, so I can help her with that. Noah and I have been getting in some good guitar hero playing, and it's nice having dinner with the parents again. It's so easy to to take the people closest to you for granted, and I'm going to try my hardest not to do that.
6. Visit my girls. Luckily Whitney was able to make it to Amarillo for a couple of days which was AWESOME....gotta love the former rooms. But I need to make trips to Austin, Richardson, and Houston to see everyone with their new lives/apartments/jobs/etc. Wish it just didn't cost so darn much. Gah.

So there's my list as of now. Now that I have the list, I better get to working on it. Wish me luck!

Underneath this Amarillo Sky...

Coming home is an odd sensation-I feel as if I haven't been away, yet so much has changed. Why do humans have this egotistical way of thinking that life stops in their absence? It's so irrational, but I always expect life to pick up exactly where I left it even though time and time again I'm proven wrong. Since I've left my bigger brother has moved away to university, my older sister has temporarily moved home in preparation for her wedding, our family car of the last 15 years has been replaced, and I won't even start on how different the house looks. But despite all the new, despite all the different, I'm happy to be home.

My trip home was tiring but, thankfully, mostly uneventful. My reservation was lost for my first flight but in an uncharacteristic move I was actually prepared for once and arrived three hours early at the airport so all was well. Other trip highlights: I slept on the plane! Ok, this might not seem like a big deal for most, but I never am able to sleep when I fly, and I mean NEVER. On a twenty-three hour flight to New Zealand I dozed a total of 20 minutes despite taking a full dosage of benadryl. So after two movies, a two hour nap, three screaming kids, a very nice but very chatty seat neighbor. and a good portion of my new book I arrived back in Texas via the Houston airport. As I walk into the terminal, I'm exhausted (by this time it's three o'clock in the morning my time), hot, and not looking forward to my layover. That is until I saw Schlotzky's. There I am, in the middle of a group of people scurrying off to claim baggage/catch a connecting flight/etc and I seriously stop dead in the middle of the walkway and say, outloud, YES! After a few odd stares I jumped in line and got my first American meal complete with BBQ chips. Mmmmmm. Afterwards I caught a few more z's-on the floor of the airport, and I'm not even ashamed (although I did hear a girl through my semi-comitose state ask her dad why that girl is laying on the floor). Two hours later I landed in Amarillo met by my awesome family. It is so good to be home.

Since I've arrived, I've had a great dinner with my grandparents, managed to see Whitney for a few minutes as she passed through town for her big concert (so jealous btw), spent some quality time with the fam, played with the dogs, and slept A LOT. For some reason my jet lag this time around has been so much worse. Today I'm off to Dallas with my Mom for my cousin's girlfriend's baby shower. Oh, and I still haven't found my bridesmaid dress despite searching through over 25 shops on Oxford Street in London. Gah. Wish me luck, because I'm getting pretty desperate.

So I'm home, but I cannot wait to see everyone else. I hate that we're in the same state yet still so far apart. I'm going to try to work the least amount possible so I can get visits in with everyone. I still miss you all...

Homeward Bound

Remember that movie with the cute talking animals who get lost in the wilderness and then have to find their way home? Well, I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about ME! Yes. That's right. In mere days I will once again be in the great state of Texas and surrounded once again by my wonderful family and friends.

So first things first. Yes, I am still alive. I acknowledge that as of late I may have neglected my blogging duties being as I haven't written anything in over a month. My only defense it that once I started to let the days build up, I just felt overwhelmed with all the catching up I would have to do. And you all know me...I'm kinda an all or nothing person. But I promise to try better in the future. My sincerest apologies.

So what has happened in the past month? Well, I finally sent off all my visa paperwork a little over a week ago and I'm keeping my fingers crossed and, more importantly, saying my prayers, that whatever is meant to be will happen. This is the most stressful part about coming home and leaving my life here-all the uncertainty. I don't know when and if I'll be able to come back, and the not knowing is driving my crazy. I know I need to just let go and trust in God, but sometimes it's difficult to do. In the meantime, I'm just focusing on all the positive things like, I don't know, how AMAZINGLY excited I am to see everyone! Y'all cannot realize what a postive force you all are in my life. Get ready for some awesome reunions and good times to come soon. I love each and everyone of you. Sigh. I'm a lucky girl.

So my plans for the next few days are as follows: Tomorrow (Sunday)-work. Yes. On my last full day in Scotland I will be working. That's what happens when you are understaffed in the summer season. Oh well, it's not too bad I guess. I have some last minute things to do but I can try to squeeze them all in on Monday. After work tomorrow, Veronika and I are going to visit our old friend Monika at her new job (which just happens to be at a pub) and have a farewell drink (or two) together. Then I need to finish packing (I just have clothes left-still a pretty big undertaking considering the quantity of clothes I have not only brought but obtained in my time over here). Monday-Chris was able to get the day off so we could spend it together. Hopefully I'll have most everything done (besides a few last minute errands I have to save for a day off) so I can relax and not be too stressed out. Then Monday night I'm off to Stirling to catch the sleeper train to London at 11:59. Tuesday-I'll spend in London, searching desperately for a tea length navy bridesmaid dress (don't worry reesy, I promise I'll search hard). Told you I procrastinated. Wednesday-I fly out of London Heathrow and arrive in the ATX (that's Amarillo, not Austin) at 10:49pm haggard from traveling, but happy to be home again. So if I don't get to blog (or you don't get to read this) in the next few days, hopefully, the next time you hear from me, it will be in person. Get excited....(I am!) Muah!