Wow, it's been a rather long time since I've posted.  I could look at the gaps in my LJ posting throughout the years and try to analyze the patterns- but um, that's a horrible way to spend a day off.  No offense meant if you'd actually be interested in seeing the results of that, as I'm sure I'd enjoy it as well, providing someone else did the research.

In any case, life sans Harry Potter, Arkansas, 20 lbs of fat, and depression is going really well.  I hate to lump HP in with those three other unfortunate things, but I felt I had to purposefully distance myself from the fandom in order to get away from my old, less awesome self, and usher in a new attitude.  

Moving along... 

The job is still going really well!  As with any activity requiring you to make money for performing certain tasks and being supervised by a higher authority, there are some unfortunate aspects.  I'm still far happier and more satisfied than I've been in the professional portion of my career.  I'm living my dream, which is the dream shared by a lot of other people who would be more than happy to take my job and salary without a peep of complaint, so I'm not looking to screw this up with petulant behaviour. 

Other life bits:  I'm adjusting to the ATL really well, which is another reason for my lack of online presence.  There's always something to do, somewhere to go, cute vintagey things to buy, friends to hang out with, stray animals to feed, and strange men to avoid (note: remind me to tell you all about my horrible encounter with the toothless Cuban chef).  

I still have a presence online, which is only natural since 97% of my job is done on a computer.  I have a football/soccer journal (I hate the word blog, though that's exactly what it is) that I'm growing at the moment, as well as another site where my essays will eventually reside when I FINALLY get around to uploading them in free e-book form.  I'm still something of an insomniac (it's getting better!) so to put my brain to bed, I write reviews for ESPN's Soccernet site.  If I'm not tuckered out by then, I listen to The Bugle- an amazing fake news podcast featuring John Oliver from The Daily Show, and laugh myself to unconciousness.

So yeah, things are going well here.  How're you?  Kelly, I'm outraged that you didn't come to Atlanta.  If any of the rest of you are even THINKING about flying through here (I finally live in a major airport hub!) you must let me know, ASAP.  Those of you in England- I'm coming in May.  Yes, I can cross the "getting my damn passport" off the new year's resolution list.

Oh, I can't stop listening to this song.  I was festering away in Arkansas when this came out, which is why I never got to hear it and am just revelling in the infectious bass beat a year and a half later.   That's another thing- I missed SO MANY THINGS while living out there!  When I came to Atlanta, I realized I had no idea what clothes were fashionable anymore, much less what people in their 20s were wearing, since I'd spent so many hours admiring the sensible pantsuits of the Golden Girls.  I'm happy to report that I'm wearing age-appropriate clothing once more, AND it's a couple sizes smaller now, thanks to Haley's boundless enthusiasm for workouts, and my boundless enthusiasm for herbal teas and complex yoga poses.

This entry is mammoth sized, but you must admit, I had a lot to catch up on.  There's plenty more as well, so I'll try to be a bit better at playing catchup in the future.

No promises, of course.

 

I made it here in one piece. Poor Sam (my cat) was fairly traumatized by the whole flying experience, but he's now recovered and has been happily strutting around our new, empty apartment.

Guys, I live in an amazing place.

After 3 years of living in Augusta, Ga and Little Rock, Arkansas I'd forgotten what a real city looks like! I live in the Vinings area of Atlanta, which features lots of high end shops and restaurants, complete with millionaires and famous people wandering around. Buckhead, one of the trendiest neighborhoods, is adjacent to my community and there is already so much to do and see that my head is spinning. My apartment complex is very pretty, and the apartment itself is beyond adorable and cozy.

Also- tonight I found that I can WALK to a freestanding Banana Republic. That may not be much to you, but it's pure heaven for me.

I'm still exceedingly nervous. My first day at work is tomorrow, and I've laid out my clothes in preparation, and did a "test run" driving different routes to the CNN Center. I love the GPS in my rental car (which is a hideous poo brown Taurus- my first unnattractive rental), because I can drive around, stress free and cheery.

So far, so good.

I'm still nervous as all get out, but I'm not immersed in floods of tears like I was in previous entries. I desperately miss my parents, but Haley lives literally a few doors away from me, and my other ATL friends have all gotten in touch, so I'll be okay.

Thank you so much to the lot of you who offered up kind and comforting words. You don't know how much it means to me, really! This is a terrifying time of life, but I'm going to do my damndest to enjoy it and kick a little ass along the way.