Nostalgic?

When I graduated from law school In 2005 I moved to Philly...let's just say it was an eye opener for a naive country girl to move to the big city.  I lived there for about a year and then moved to Biglerville, PA (near Gettysburg) for work...after a year out there I headed back to the city.  I actually lived in Jersey for a year but I worked in center city...I then moved back to PA and got a little apartment in the Art Museum area of Philly.  

It was pretty awesome (other than parking)...I walked to work everyday, I lived in a safe neighborhood and had everything I needed within walking distance.  I really didn't even have to move my car if I didn't want to.  And sometimes it say for weeks at a time.  I had great friends to go out with on the  weekends (usually in DE bc they lived down there) but every now and again they'd come up.  All in all, I vote awesome.  

Then one by one they started moving away so I started to re-evaluate staying in Philly.  Once your friends kind of disperse its hard to stay in a place like that.  A big city, with everything it has to offer, can get lonely and can be overwhelming when everyone you are close with arent there anymore.  Remember, I'm from small town PA...

I was getting tired of the city and seemed to be getting angrier and angrier by the people and the nonsense of it all each day.  Just as I was reaching my breaking point, I found out I was losing my job and at the end of the summer my lease was up so I decided not to renew and take my chances elsewhere.

My original plan was to move back home until I could find a job and then proceed from there.  Citibank wasn't budging on my loan payment each month (so glad I went to law school) so I didn't have many options in order to keep paying on my obligations.  

So end of August comes and I move out (during a hurricane!)...I set out for an adventure to St. Paul/Minneapolis (a friend of mine from school lives there so it wasn't a totally random choice on my part, a little, but not totally random.  I had some interviews with some temp agencies and then I got an email about a project starting Pittsburgh that was slated to last for 5 months.  (I suppose I should've told you that I was working as a contract attorney-not what you think- but I'll explain that at a later time).  So I was like, hey I could go to the 'Burgh!  I know people there!  So I emailed the agency and told them I could be there by Friday to start on Monday.

So on the road again...

Go to Pittsburgh, started working and then when that project ended was going from project to project for a year...I wasn't used to this kind of bouncing around for work (it's both scary and exhausting).  I don't recommend it.  Because of all of this instability I wasn't able to go back to Philly to visit anyone that was still there.  I'd make it back to some of burbs but never made it back to the city until this weekend.  Almost a full 2 years and I finally made it back!  

Wow!  I have to say I surprised myself this weekend...I missed it!  I never thought in a million years that I would miss it.  I was so ready to be out of there when I left that I didn't really think I cared that much.  

Turns out I was wrong.  It was so weird for me to see how things had changed but also stated the same.  I just wondered around the city with my friend Kelsey, going to a few different restaurants and bars to have drinks, food, catch up and people watch.  It was so relaxing and I kind of felt like I was home.  I don't even know if I felt like it was home when I lived there.  

I drove through my old neighborhood and saw my old apartment building and took the same routes around that I always used navigate...it was the same old neighborhood with people out and about enjoying a gorgeous summer day. It was so weird how I immediately reverted back to being a Philadelphian.  I remembered the back way into the city (the Schuykill was a parking lot) and suddenly I was back to being a Philly driver, walking through the streets I suddenly had my attitude back. ;)  I saw a rat and didn't freak out,  just lifted my feet and was "oh shit that's a rat!"  

Now I'm not sure if I'm wearing rose colored glasses or if I'm feeling a little nostalgic but I missed Philly.  Like for real missed it

To my amazement it made me a little sad to leave today but excited for my next trip back!  Thanks Philly! 

-I'mJessSayin'

Lazy days of summer...

Lazy summer days are the best.  I know it's not officially summer yet but today was super close...

So my original plan for the weekend was to attend the art festival downtown...well that ended up being a bust so day drinking was the next obvious choice.  Day drinking is a summer past time from the days of Yore.  I'm not actually sure if that is historically accurate but I believe that it probably was.  Anywho, off to the Southside we went!  

Fatheads for lunch (yummo); then a little retail therapy; then off to Local for a yinzerita and people watching...

I just want to say when it come to people watching, Pittsburgh never let's me down.  There is always someone interesting to watch.  Today I saw a man walking around with a stuffed gopher (in his defense there was a pub crawl event and I think it was a little Caddyshack action with that), and I got ooga'd by a dude in an old style car.  I also got to see a grown man wearing jeans (belted) that legit hung below his ass (I have a lot of thoughts on this one but that is for a different day.)

Relaxing and chatting and just having fun with good friends is the best way to spend the summer.  If this is what I can look forward to for the  next few months I'll be a happy camper! 

Today was a beautiful sunmeresque day with sunshine and warmth.  First day drinking event of the summer...success! 

-I'mJessSayin'

Mud Runs & Colors, Oh MY!

So, a few months ago I got the bright idea to sign up for a 5k Mud Run & a 5k Color Me Rad...turned out they were the same weekend.  This past weekend to be exact. 

In case there was any confusion, it's really me.  I survived!

1)  Saturday was the Dirty Girl Mud Run, my first mud run ever!  I don't even like dirt or mud, so obviously a mud run was a great choice.  But once you're in it you might as well just get dirty!I was nervous...ok, I'll own it, I was freaking scared!  I was like, "holy shit, what the eff did I get myself into?!?!?!"

I didn't know what to expect or if I could even do any of the obstacles.  I'm not exactly known for agility and grace.  More like clumsy and awkward, except when I dance (that's just amazeballs), but anyway I digress... 

So we arrive at the event venue.  After we checked ourselves in and checked our bags, we ventured over to the starting line.  We had to wait a few minutes in the starting line and good thing for us because they played one of our hip hop class warm up songs so of course we did our hip hop routine.  And it totally worked...legs warmed up and ready to go.  And a few minutes later we were off to the races.  We had 12 obstacles to make it through the entire race.  I will admit, I was a walker but I tackled all of the obstacles head on. 

This has to be on the of the best experiences of my life.  And I'm not even being a jerk here.  It was kind of amazing for me because I learned so much about myself in a measly few hours.  I learned that I totally underestimate myself and my abilities and that I am way stronger than I give myself credit for.  A year and a half ago I started working with a trainer (best trainer ever!).  So, you would think that after that long I would have some idea what I could be capable of, right?  Um no, I still surprise myself!  I'm afraid of heights and I totally climbed a cargo net...I was completely terrified once I got to the top but once you go up you gots to come down, so I did and it was awesome. 

This isn't something I could've done by myself and I can't thank my girls enough for a) making me do it and b) hanging with me!  We are forever friends after this!

2)  Sunday was the Color Me Rad.  I wasn't sure if I would be able to move but we had a 9am start time so I was forced to get up early and face my second race.  I had my white shirt and tatted up with my RAD temporary tattoo (that was a biotech to remove) and got my CMR sunglasses and off I went.  This one was fun and light-hearted.  It was a basic 5k (you could run or walk--again I walked) and there were color bombers to throw and/or spray you with a variety of colors.  So at different intervals you were doused with color.  It was a fun time and I survived! 

Two 5ks in two days...Boom!

  

Dry clean only

What's the worst part about dry clean only clothes?  

Being a spiller!  

-I'mJessSayin'

Seriously, what can't I do?

Okay, so I know I've been gone a while but hey, I was busy so deal with it. 

I must say that I'm not usually one to toot my own horn, I'm a pretty modest person and very self-deprecating.  But right now I just have to ask...is it me, or am I super awesome at everything I do?  I'll answer that for you...I am super awesome at everything.  NO JOKE.

Here are just a few examples:
I sing (awesome); dance (totally awesome); funny(duh) and people flock to my sparkling personality!  I mean I gots a sunny disposition like no other.

But now, even I'm a little amazed.  I mean seriously I've done it.  The one thing in life I've always hated; the one thing in life I VOWED I would never be attempt....

Oh that's right people...I AM an ARTIST!  And by art I mean legit, painting.  Now granted I've only had one class, and it was one of those everyone paints the same thing kind of class but I am for reals AMAZEBALLS.  I even grew as an artist IN CLASS!  By the end it was freakin' perfection!

From the start of class (top left corner), I was a little timid and hesitant about my choices in color and positioning but I persevered...and so, I began my journey into artistry.  You can see how the colors I selected compliment each other beautifully and flow together as if they were meant to be throughout the entire painting.  It's almost majestic.  By the end of class (bottom left corner), I had finally come into my own.  NAILED IT.  BOOM.

-I'mJessSayin'

PS-You're welcome...

BRILLIANT!

 

OMG So much is happening!

SO much to talk about!

1)  So a few weeks ago I started a new job...FINALLY!  It's so good to get out of the house and be around people!  Who would've thought I'd miss people?  And I'm talking about nice and inviting people, not pompous jerks that like to talk just to hear themselves talk...and tell you and everyone else within earshot how brilliant they are in their lawyering skills (UH PLEASE!).  New job is great, people and atmosphere are great... I'm SUPER PUMPED!

2)  I also am battling my second illness of this winter season.  I hadn't actually been sick since 2005 so being down and out twice in one winter totally blows...I'm totally over having this cold so it can disappear at any time now.  I seriously do not know how it is possible to produce so much mucus.  I mean for reals!  I'm legit going through boxes of tissues...enough already!

3)  I just started a fitness/health challenge with my friends from my HIP HOP class.  Our instructor is a beach body coach and she totally kills it so she set up a challenge for us to keep each other motivated to eat healthy and get our workouts on.  I'm pretty pumped about this because I need to get my motivation back.  The past few months have been really crappy with the not working and such so I haven't been on my game...my trainer's probably going to be mad.  YIKES!  I'm super out of my routine so I'm hoping this challenge will be what I need to get me back on track.

ok...I'm tired.  I probably should Nyquil it up and go to bed. 

-I'mJessSayin'

Yoga... say what?!?!

So me who is all "yoga is for hippies" tried it and I think I might be hooked.

Open mouth, insert foot...and due to yoga that just might work!  Haha...

-I'mJessSayin'

i'm sending fruitbaskets

I think I'm going to start sending fruitbaskets after job interviews.  Thank you notes don't seem to be cutting it because no one will hire me so I've gotta start thinking outside the box. 

I wonder if it's been done and how would I find this out...I'd kind of like to be the first.  I feel that this will make a mark...

or maybe I'll start taking the George Costanza approach and just start freaking spewing off at the mouth.  Being nice isn't working for me either.  Maybe I should try a combination of Costanza and fruitbaskets...they won't know what the hell hit them!

I think I'm on to something...

-I'mJessSayin'