2010: Time for learning, time for change

2010 has been a CRAZY year for me. Lets take a look back …

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Basically January till July I was exhausted from school and teaching group exercise. July till September I lost hope in my dreams of working in reproductive health advocacy. September through November my passion for advocacy was rejuvenated, but I was exhausted from the election, school, and being away from Kevin. November till now was all about wrapping up the loose ends.

At the beginning of the school year I had to make some difficult decisions. I had to decide to leave Columbus sooner than I originally planned. I had to quit my job, and begin trying to find something new. I was scared. I knew my way around Columbus, I had a job there, I had school, volunteer positions, and friends. In the end I had to decide what was important to me, and in the end decided the “easier” choice wasn’t the “happy” choice for me.

I hope to write a post about my experience with weight watchers and weight loss this past year. This was another point where I had to make a decision between what I was comfortable with, and what would actually make me happy.

I also will write a post on my engagement experience. It was an interesting transition going from girlfriend to fiancé, and it taught me a lot about myself, about my partner and my beliefs about relationships.

A lot of these experiences taught me to follow my heart and do what is best for me, no matter my own expectations.

Some of my good fortune this year was luck. Getting my job was part luck, but it was part me too. I can’t control what jobs are out there, but I can control my background of experiences, and the connections I have. I think if you work hard, the luck/being in the right place at the right time all comes together.

Also I had to take risks this year, I had to do something with out being certain what would happen. I am a girl who likes to plan, so doing something with out a plan scares me to DEATH, but I took a chance and everything turned out great.

In the end, I am so happy. I really do feel like the girl who has it all. While there are new challenges ahead, I just want to take this moment to feel completely and utterly thankful for all that I have in my life, and the amazing journey I have taken the past year to get here.

2011, here I come!

We’re not Detroit!

Good bye Columbus!

What a roller coaster of a day! The day started around 8am, with packing/truck loading started yesterday. Kevin and I packed our little hearts out, till ever last thing was out of there! Here is proof of the EMPTY apartment. Wait, who is that sneaking around the corner?

  

After packing, we were ready to go, but before hitting the road we went to Waffle House!

 

It feels like it has been forever since we visited the old WH. Back in BG, the staff knew us by name tandem, and now it has been months since we have eaten there. you can’t tell from these empty pates, but I am taking a vegan-cation till the end of the year. Still going vegetarian strong, but dairy has made its way back into the diet.

After everything was loaded we embarked on the wonderful drive to Cleveland. by wonderful I mean TERRIBLE, as I am not a fan of driving to point A Ohio to point B Ohio if the trip is over 2 hours.

After the long drive, we had about another 2 and a half hours of unpacking. Getting the bed into the apartment is a feat I am still not sure how we accomplished. This bed may never leave this room again.

After the unloading was completed we made one FINAL stop to Goodwill and then dinner. We DEVOURED our food at the Cheesecake Factory. It was AMAZING and not vegan. It was the vegan option possible probably.

Also, I discovered Bellinis, how fabulous!

Now here I am , in the mess of our apartment, filling out HR paperwork for my work orientation tomorrow, and I couldn’t be happier.

Good night folks, and here is your Cleveland moment of Zen:

Junk in the trunk

Today was a roller coaster of emotions. Around noon we picked up the truck and began packing. Here you can see me doing my best Vanna White to show off the many things we donated to Goodwill.

Kevin, our trusted driver, here taking one of our many trips to Goodwill.

Goodwill is an amazing organization and does a lot more than just manage the retail stores. I HIGHLY recommend volunteering with this organization! They go great work to ensure all people are able to live independently. Check them out here.

Soon our mood took a sudden turn for the worst. While packing, we had to make some hard decisions. Our truck was getting full and we just couldn’t take everything.

That is when we both looked at the tandem. Its so big, and hard to move and we have no place to keep it now. We both knew what we had to do, but neither of were happy.

 

We took it over to play it again sports and sold it. My face really explains the mood of the moment.

sad sad day … GOOD BYE TANDEM! You will never be forgotten

After all the packing we finally decided we could not get everything done tonight AND unload in Cleveland as well today. We decided to call it a night and go see the Black Swan.

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It was CRAZY! Check it out sometime this holiday, but be ready to have your mind messed with to the extreme!

Since the bed is already in the truck, Kevin and I created out own hibernation nest. You might ask, what is a hibernation nest. Well, as I mentioned before, we were worried about hedgehogs strange new burrowing in his bedding.

Turns out, when hedgies get cold, they start to hibernate. When they go into hibernation mood, they create nests! We decided to use Sand’s message and create our own nest!

And now, your moment of zen:

The crazy pony comes ALIVE

Lots to do tomorrow, night!

Last Day

What a day! I woke up around 6am to start my LAST day of work! I spent most of the day in basically Kentucky/West Virginia Southeastern Ohio checking posters. It was long, cold and terrible, as usual. I just felt so tired by midday.

Then, when I got back to the office at 4:30 I realized, oh my god, this is my LAST DAY! From then on it was all adrenaline baby! I got my last bit of paper work completed and I was outta there!

Good bye work! You were an interesting learning experience, thank you and good bye!

While I have been working my little heart out, Kevin has been doing a great job packing/cleaning. Just look at the cleaning job he did on this bathroom. It is amazing, I didn’t know he had such mad Mr. Clean skills.

 

Kevin v. Mr. Clean

 

(Mr. Clean source)

Yup, I’ll still take the fluffy one. On an unrelated note, the picture above is form the most disappointing Costco trips ever. What a retail FAIL on their part.

All in all, packing has been coming along smoothly. Things are getting done.

And other things haven’t gotten done.

Our plan is to get the truck tomorrow and start packing up. As of now we aren’t sure if we are driving up Saturday or Sunday. I am taking it one step at a time, and taking the night easy/resting.

All I know is, I am done! For the first time since school ended I finally feel DONE. I have completed my job, am starting a new one Monday, and am 75% ready to move! This is how I feel:

Now you might ask yourself, Ashley what is that hairy growth coming out of your head? Well, when one is truly relaxing, one puts their bangs in a pointy tail, making it appear as if your head is sprouting a small hairy tree, or a tail. Either would be interesting.

Weird pony tails is how I let loose. I eat Mexican food too, and maybe have a beer, or two. Don’t worry I still think most beer taste like socks, but this is blueberry flavored! Doe that even count as beer anymore?

Alright, bed time for me, and early to rise for these things tomorrow:

• Truck
• Packing
• 4 mile run (wait, what?)

Oh my, what a day!

The packing begins!

After piling all my belongings in the living room I decided it was about time I left home. First I went and got some boxes from Staples, and then headed to campus to do some printing/work. This is what I found.

   

Sh! Ohio State is sleeping! All the student are gone, and the snow cover added another layer of quite to the place. I headed to the PHIL lab, for one of the last times ever! It still feels strange that I am done with classes.

 

When I was finished printing (and talking to Amanda) I started my packing! I went from this (left) to this (right)!

  

Ok it doesn’t look like a lot is done, but trust me, for just a few minutes I really made a dent. Also note, among the packing boxes is a box full of condoms. Typical Ashley.

      

Look who helped! Beanie hedgie and Totoro were really the ones in charge here. Totoro also happens to be Kevin’s biggest fan.

To top of my day I got in my 2 mile run, bringing me to 13 miles total. Oh my god, that is only HALF of a marathon. Oh well, that is what training is all about, building that mileage base!

Night!