Latest Tattoo

My new tattoo (neck) with Misty's first tattoo (wrist)...

Packing & Being an Emotional Wreck

So, I've been packing today. I hate it. Seriously. I've always hated packing even for small trips, and now I have to pack my entire life into boxes... I just hate it. It's been about 5 years since I've had to do this. Even though I switched apartments last year, I stayed in the same building and basically carried armfuls of my things from the old place to the new one. Now I have to go through everything I own... The act of purging useless stuff is good and somewhat therapeutic, but gosh... it's exhausting. I wish I could snap my fingers and be done with it. And come on, what I have to look forward to is... UNPACKING! :( (Yes, there are more things to look forward to, but wallow with me for a minute, okay?)

I think it's really starting to set in as reality that I'm moving several hundred miles away. I have been tearing up and crying at the most ridiculous things, like Ghost Whisperer. I also got a new tattoo, which is always a sign of emotional instability. :) (There are some pictures floating around; I'll post some when I get my hands on them.) Anyway, this phase is good and bad, I guess. It's good that there's something to feel sad about... that there are people here who I'm sad to leave... But, it's emotionally exhausting, and I'm always glad to get over this "hump". The good news is that I know I'll get over it. :)

In other news, I'm taking bets on how many wardrobe boxes I'll fill up... :-D

Movin' on up

I finally have a major event in my life to write about! Hopefully this will kick-start me into writing more on this thing. So, my news is...

I am moving to New York! I have fantasized about this for years and honestly never thought it would happen. It's so expensive to move and live there, and it was hard for me to imagine doing it on my own. I decided to take a job with my client who I've worked with for over 4 years, and they really value and appreciate me - enough to pay for my move and give me a generous salary. I found my apartment last week, and I'm counting down the days until I leave Atlanta (22 days to go)!

I have so many mixed emotions about this move - it's hard to express them all. I am so excited about this new chapter in my life, but each time I do this, it never gets any easier. It's difficult to embark on a new journey alone, and while I know I can do it and do it well, there is always a loneliness factor involved... I am leaving a lot of good friends behind, not just in Atlanta but all over the South, and I am beyond sad about how this will impact those friendships. I have faith that some will come visit and we will maintain good relationships even from a distance, but I know others will slowly crumble... and that makes me sad. I also know, deep down, that I will make new friends in NY. I am very excited about meeting new people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and opinions, but these new friends will never replace the old. I really hope the friendships I have now have staying power; these folks mean a lot to me, and I will miss them more than I can say! I try not to get down about the sad parts because I know there are so many positives about this change! Hopefully I can keep this blog updated with those positive things, because I'm confident they will be worth sharing. :)

I'm off to start packing!