Back to Good

 The last few years have truly been a roller coaster.  From getting my Masters, to quitting GRMC, to getting hired overseas, to living in Korea, to coming back, living back home, losing R and being ghosted by E, coming back to TX, getting situated again in my own apt, figuring out life in Fort Worth while working in GR, dating, becoming exclusive, getting comfortable in my new role at work, and catching up with friends... it's been a LOT.  Funny thing is, I was right - it takes about 6 months to get settled and feel like everything is going to be ok.  Sept 20 will be my 6 month anniversary at GRMC and I'm feeling settled and secure in my routine and ability to fund my life.

I did make a mistake the other day.  I went out to start my car on Thursday and it didn't start.  Took a while for it to unlock and then once it did, I turned the key and... nothing happened, no rrrrr noise, nothing.  I did have lights, so I assumed it was my starter.  I posted on FB, learned I could still work on my laptop, and made an appointment with a mobile mechanic for later that day.  My mistake?  I forgot that I'm not alone.  My friend came over with a jump box, jumped the car, and we went on an adventure that involved 2 AutoZones, and one exceedingly helpful technician.  We got the new battery in the car, and she's been fine ever since.  I'm soooo grateful that my friend was able to come help me, and I felt like an idiot for not realizing that I didn't have to assume that I was SOL and on my own.  I guess at a certain point in life we get so used to dealing with crap by ourselves that we forget that we have amazing people in our lives who are ready and willing to help us.  The day wasn't even ruined - my friend got tacos from one of his favorite places and I learned I can work from home if the situation calls for it.  *cheshire cat grin* I promise not to use misuse this privilege.  Muah ha ha haaaaaa.

As a side note, certain things are inevitable.  I was finally able to open a savings account and the whole car thing ended up taking... everything I put in the savings account.  LOL - cars can sense when you're becoming financially stable and go "Sweet, NOW is the time!"

We are in the final planning stages for our trip to Santa Fe at the end of the month.  We have the hotel, now we need to figure out which car to take and what our 'must-do' list consists of.  I'll tell you now I'm super excited about the Margarita Trail, Chuck Jones Gallery, and the Loretto Chapel.  We are also going to swing down thru Albuquerque on the way home to see the hot air balloons and have a hot dog.  (L is a big foodie and A and I also like food - everyone wins!)  It's gonna be nice to get away for the weekend and I'm hoping we can coordinate a visit with my aunt.

Can I just take a min to gush about how proud I am of my weight loss planner spreadsheet?!?  I have planned meals, fasts, tracking my gym days, including what the workout consisted of.  I've got places to talk about my progress, my attitude (still not great), places to put in my weight (only weighing 1-2x a week cuz otherwise... eww), it's color coded... I mean, it's BEAUTIFUL!  Hehe.  I've also got all my weight goals and (non-food) rewards for when I hit them.  Nothing says "I'm serious" like a friggin' SPREADSHEET!  LOL.  Also, I found this the other day and thought - yep, that's a good thing to think about.

Trying to keep my motivation.

Again, a thought.

Anna Kendrick understands.

Healing from the past, living in the present, and looking forward to the future.  This life thing might not suck so bad after all.  

I've restarted my French tutoring software, so now I just need to find someone to practice with.  I've been thinking of starting in on Spanish as well cuz... duh.  If I do that, my older sis and I can practice with each other.  I still want to eventually work for the gov, if not as a Foreign Service Officer, then in the civil service.  Of course, there's a part of me that would love to stay at GRMC and work for my current bosses (or my old boss), for the remainder of my working years.  I think I've gotten tired of moving and changing jobs all the time.  Well, I say that now... just wait until 3 years down the road when my feet start getting itchy.

Remember, when reading or watching vampire stuff, pair it with red wine.  Hehehe.

I've seen some typos in books, but I've never felt the need to WRITE in it to correct the author.  I hate to say how often I've read this book, and it never annoyed me so much that I had to correct "vernal" to "autumnal."

So L and I went to find kimbap and we DID!  This was SOOO GOOD - almost exactly like Korea, except there they sell it in a roll like a burrito.  

Then we went to the Super H Mart, which had a food court!  I was tempted to have a little something but was full from lunch.

Texas kimbap.  LOL - of course.

So much Korean food.

And Soju.  I never saw this many flavors in Korea, tho.

EVEN A PARIS BAGUETTE!!!  Tho they didn't have my favorite pastry.

Had to try some stuff.  Goood latte, too.

We split a couple things.

And L gave me a honeydew that he GREW!!  It's sooooo cute!!!

The next day I went Halloween shopping for fun and to get out of the apt.

Halloween on top, Christmas on bottom... so American.

I want a yard so I can go crazyface with this stuff!!

All the Halloween stuff and the most disturbing thing I saw was... Mermaid Santa.

Tempting... SOOOO tempting.

Again, I want.

I'm thinking I may need to go get these - they have SPARKLIES of RHINESTONES!!

Spirit understands.

I also want these :)

And this.

Tempted on this one too... I mean, I can't afford all this, obs, but it's SOOOOO tempting.

I did get this - it was cheap and it looks soooo good next to my lamp.

Anyway, that's pretty much all that's been going on.  I'm enjoying being back in TX... and Oktoberfest is coming up!!!