Saying Goodbye

Holy poo... I'm moving tomorrow!

This week as been gone a bit like this:

Pack.
Say goodbye to friends a, b, and c.
Pack.
Say goodbye to friends e - v.
Stall packing by watching Saved by the Bell on Netflix.
Cry and freak out about moving.
Celebrate and get giddy about moving.
Pack.
Pack.
Say goodbye.

It's been a bit of an emotional roller coaster.
Just when I'm excited about moving to Portland and thinking about all the fun stuff I'm going to be doing, I meet up with another friend to say goodbye and I'm sad again.

Last night I had dinner with the two lovely ladies in the image above.  We met while training for a marathon together 2 years ago.  We ran a billion miles together and shared a lot of our lives (because you quickly run out of things to talk about on a 4 hour run, so your family is going to come up!) with each other.  We've kept close over the last few years and been there for each other through it all.  I'm going to miss these lovely ladies.  I'm going to miss all my friends.  But I'm excited for this new adventure in my life.  At times it will be difficult, and at times it will be amazing.  This is the stuff life is made of, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

30 Day Photo Challenge Take 2 | Day 18

Source

 

Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity

30 Day Photo Challenge Take 2 | Day 17

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

I grew up a reader, visiting the library at school regularly, asking for (and receiving) large boxes filled with books for birthdays and Christmases, spending my summer days lounging in the shade of our gigantic yard devouring story after story and living vicariously through character's lives and my own imagination.  Later I completed my Bachelors Degree in English Literature and even spent three years as a Children's Librarian.

Over the past few years reading has slowed for me though.  I find myself catching blog updates on the web here and there and every so often stumbling across a really great novel, but nothing close to the "old" me.  (Throughout high school and college it was quite common for me to have 3 or 4 books going at a time - one in my purse, one in my car, one in my room, and one in the, uh, well... bathroom).

Recently I've been forcing myself to leave the computer at home and take a book with me to the coffeeshop.  It's scary how many hours I can waste just playing around on the internet - mostly facebook!  I've been reading all sorts of great stories, self-help books and business planning guides.  I'm loving my re-kindled love affair with literature and always looking for suggestions, so if you have any must-read on your list, please share!!

30 Day Photo Challenge Take 2 | Day 16

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you

Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS shoes.   Someone who saw a need, found a way to make a difference and stuck with it through the ups and downs.  Quite inspirational.

30 Day Photo Challenge Take 2 | Day 15

Source

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die

This one is two-fold.

1 - I want to become SCUBA certified
2 - I want to explore the Great Barrier Reef in Australia

Someday!!

30 Day Photo Challenge Take 2 | Day 14

Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

Yeah, you all saw this one coming...

30 Day Photo Challenge Take 2 | Day 13

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist

Sigh...

30 Day Photo Challenge Take 2 | Day 12

Day 12 - A picture of something you love

The little munchkin in the picture with me? Coolest kid ever.  End of story.

Joie: did you bring me a present?
Me: I might have. Do you like presents?
Joie: oh yes, they are my favorite! Rainbows and butterflies are my favorite too. And also veggies.
Me: veggies? What's your favorite veggie?
Joie: ham and cheese.

30 Day Photo Challenge Take 2 | Day 11

Source

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate

I hate politics.

30 Day Photo Challenge Take 2 | Day 10

Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most crazy things with 

This is a tough one.  I don't feel like I do things that are all that crazy...

Hahahahaha... who am I kidding?!  My friends and I are all sorts of crazy! 

30 Day Photo Challenge Take 2 | Day 09

Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most

My good friend Richard is the best friend a girl could ask for.  He's always there for me, and is able to quickly pull things into perspective.  He's an amazing person and I am eternally grateful for his friendship and love.

30 Day Photo Challenge Take 2 | Day 08

Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh

Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!  My niece loves to play with the Photo Booth app on my computer.  Anytime I pull my laptop out to work, she starts asking if we can take "funny photos."  Our favorite is the Alien setting.  It's HILARIOUS!!

30 Day Photo Challenge Take 2 | Day 07

Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item

Hands down, by-and-far, coffee in my most treasured item.
Ok, ok, so of course I'm kidding!
(Although it is high on the list...)

LOVE

Love is my most treasured item.  Things fade, but people, connections, relationships and love lasts forever.  Love shapes us into the people we are, and we are nothing without it.  All is love my friends... all is love.

30 Day Photo Challenge Take 2 | Day 06

Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day

My niece, Joie.  Oh to be 3 again.  Life is simple, love is big, and everything is a new and fascinating experience.

30 Day Photo Challenge Take 2 | Day 05

Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory

I cheated again.  I included waaaaaayyyyy more than 1 picture, but I just couldn't help myself.  At least I set them to music so it's more entertaining... right?

I still can't believe we did it.  A full marathon.  All 26.2 miles of it.  Up and down the San Franciscan hills, through the rain, and smiling the whole time.  (ok, so maybe not really smiling the whole time, I do remember being quite over it all miles 16-23, but smiling most of the time!)

Proudest damn day of my life.

30 Day Photo Challenge Take 2 | Day 04

Day 04 - A picture of your night

I'm cheating on this one.  These pics are from Saturday night (two nights ago) during our last night in the desert.  My aunt and I went out for a night of cocktails, dinner, decadent dessert and the Kelly Clarkson concert.  It was a great evening with wonderful entertainment.

30 Day Photo Challenge Take 2 | Day 03

Image Source

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show

Once Upon A Time is currently my new favorite show.  I love the twisted plot that brings all the fairy tale characters together, and trying to figure out who everyone is.  Explaining the storyline would be far too much work for this late at night, so if you're interested, google it.  It's bound to be a good read...

30 Day Photo Challenge Take 2 | Day 02

Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest.

My momma.  She's my best friend.  It hasn't always been that way, and like most teenagers I fought with her more than talked to her while growing up, but my mom is my rock.  She's always there for me, no questions asked, no judgement made.  It's amazing just how much she's willing to sacrifice for her children and the ones she loves.  I hope that if I'm a mom someday, I can be half the mom she is.

30 Day Photo Challenge Take 2 | Day 01

I've missed blogging.  So in an effort to blog more regularly, I've decided to take up the 30 Day Photo Challenge again!  I did this last February/March and loved it.  I think it will be fun to compare the two challenges to see what remains similar and where I've grown or changed.  In order for it to be more organic, I'm not allowing myself to see what photo/caption I posted last year until the challenge is over, but feel free to compare yourself by viewing all the posts here.

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with ten facts

1. I am currently in the last year of my 20's.  While some may find this depressing, I find it exhilarating.  My 30th is a birthday I've looked forward to since I was a teenager.
2. I am a photographer and view the world through my internal lens.  My favorite camera at the moment is my iPhone using the Instagram app.  I can't get enough of it.
3. I'm embracing the mindset of "life is too short." I'm finally owning my own destiny and living a life of design, not default.
4. As a result of #3 I am moving to Portland!  This is something I've been wanting to do for a couple of years and the timing is now right.  
5. I'm training for a triathlon, my third event with Team In Training. After this event I will be a "Triple Crowner"  - very cool.
6. I am currently rocking a very pink "tan."  I've been in Palm Desert the past week and swimming outside everyday.  It's a little piece of Heaven.
7. I've not had a place to call "home" (in the traditional sense) since January 1.  I quit my job, went full time with my photography studio, moved my stuff into my little brother's house and have bouncing back-and-forth between Boise, NorCal and SoCal ever since (helping my aunt during her chemo treatments). 
8. I have the spirit of a vagabond and am very content with #7.
9. I have an overwhelmingly large group of people I'm fortunate to call friends, family and supporters.  I am very, very blessed.
10. I am excited for the future.  I have no idea what the world will look like 30 days from now, and that makes me happy.