Oh pollen...How I hate thee!

I have loved North Carolina for a very long time, and always dreamed of living here, but I never expected Spring to be like something out of a Stephen King novel...Everything has been coated in a fine layer of yellow dust for weeks now. My future-mother-in-law's (henceforth known as FMIL) yellow car...is well yellower.

I used to love yellow, but I now see it as the color of hate...And I hear that's not all NC has to offer either: SPIDERS THE SIZE OF DOOR KNOBS! Okay, so maybe they aren't THAT big, but from the cell phone pic FBIL showed me, they're pretty monstrous, and apparently pretty common. If you all remember my spider/'pider post, you will know just how well I will get along with those beasts...le sigh. I am doomed. I should have known Utopia doens't exist.

I just looked down at my flip-flop-clad feet and my pink polish has a fine yellow dusting. As if having bad seasonal allergies isn't enough torture, I apparently am in the one state that is being taken over by flowers and other polleny things. *Sigh.* I honestly wouldn't be so bitchy if I didn't have a pollen-induced migraine of a head ache right now...Honestly.

This post is rambly and poorly contructed, so if you made it this far, THANK YOU :)

Ta Da! I am back, and better than ever...okay, maybe not.

I know, I know...I have been gone for a really, really, really long time and I hadn't realized just how long until a friend (yeah, you, Christina!) pointed out how she missed my writing. You know what? I have missed it too. A lot. So I most likely have lost the interest of whoever read this thing, but who cares? I am starting anew.

So pretty much here's my year (2009) in review:

1. I found my niche.
2. I got my dream job working at an at-risk youth shelter.
3. I lost 165 lbs (i.e. ending things with my now-ex who I finally realized was never going to treat me better, make me happier, or love me more).
4. Got my priorities straight.
5. Had a not-so midlife crisis.
6. Rediscovered my creativity, motivation, inspiration, and passion.
7. Found happiness within myself.
8. Started dating.
9. Started writing again, and now have countless novel projects, but am focusing on just one :)
10. Had the most incredible summer.
11. Realized who my true friends are.
12. Made some mistakes.
13. Learned from them.
14. Grew up a little, but not too much.
15. Met some incredible people.
16. Learned to cook a little more.
17. Went cliff jumping, to concerts, and had countless adventures with B and my other friends.
18. Made some self-discoveries.
19. Worked on improving my relationship with God.
20. Overcame my fears, but not the fears of spiders, or Lady GaGa...understandably.
21. Met the most amazing person who quickly became my best friend, ACL.
21. Fell truly, deeply in love with ACL.
22. Took my first vacation in years--5 1/2 incredible days with ACL.
23. Passed a math class! And let me tell you, that's like me syaing I got accepted to Harvard. I well, and truly, suck at math, so except the four horsemen and rain of fire anyday now...
24. Got pulled over...twice. Oops!
25. Taught B to drive, and what a harrowing experience that was...
26. Made a roller coaster out of a gravel road...Don't ask, haha.
27. Danced in the rain, witnessed countless sunsets, walked in the forests, strolled on the beach, gazed at the stars, admired the moon, watched a meteor shower...Appreciated life.
28. Truly lived.
29. Got really sick, and ended up in the ER :(

It was a crazy, beautiful, incredible year and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Here's 2010 so far...

1. Was sick over New Year's, but ACL and I talked until after the ball dropped :)
2. My grandmother passed away.
3. I moved to NC abruptly three days later to be with ACL, and hopefully put to rest my family issues.
4. Apparently that didn't work since my parents reported me as missing, and B won't talk to me.
5. Went to the beach a few times.
6. Rode my first motorcycle and dirtbike with ACL.
7. Went to my first drag race.
8. Took up painting again.
9. Worked harder on my novel.
10. Went to an Army retirement ceremony.
11. Watched paratroopers (including ACL's dad) jump from airplanes.
12. Got engaged :)

So now that we've caught up, I am going to share some of my goals...

-I want to actually work out. Yeah, at a gym. And you though those four-letter words were bad...
-I want to find a job.
-I want to plan a wedding before August without going crazier.
-I want to finish my novel, or start sending chapters out to publishers.
-I want to reopen my Etsy shop, and start crafting again, and actually make some money (pocket change even!) doing something I like.
-I want to buy a Nikon d40, or perhaps the new generation, and do something with my photography.
-I want to actually keep up with this blog.

And that's just a start :)