Moving to Utah

I keep saying I'll give you the details about us moving to Utah, and then I don't. Sorry! Well, here it is.

You may not know, but for our school we have to do internships. We have the opportunity to work in restaurants and hotels all around the country, and sometimes outside of the country. Grant has been very lucky with his internships. Last year he had the opportunity to go to work in a private club in Florida. He learned a tremendous amount! (and got to sit on a beach while I was freezing in snow up to my belly button here in VT) This year he was offered another fabulous job/internship with a great restaurant in Park City, Utah. He asked me if Utah sounded like a good place to go for 6 months, and I said "heck yes!" I've only been as far west as Kansas, and that was only for a few days. I actually get to go live out there for 6 months now!

Luckily I am done with school now, so I have nothing holding me back from going with him this time. Too bad they get more snow there than we do here... Oh well, maybe next year we'll go somewhere warm. We have plenty of time to think about it.

I do not have a job out in Park City yet. Most places want me there for the beginning of December, the start of the busy season. There are too many things I'd miss by going out there early, so I have decided that is not an option. I'd rather have a job before we get out there, but at the same time I know that if I don't it really won't be long before they have an opening somewhere worth working at. The hospitality industry has the highest employee turnover.

We also don't have an apartment yet... that is making me nervous! We're looking every day, though. Most people just haven't started placing ads for apartments available in January yet. If anyone knows of anything, feel free to pass it along!

I Love my Job, But my Boyfriend More

Conversation with Grant that took place the other day:

Me: I really love my job! My supervisor is finally noticing everything I do at work, and he's really appreciative. He said he's not looking forward to me leaving next month. I like the people I work with, everyone is so helpful and nice. The resort is beautiful and most of the time the guests are laid back and relaxed. How am I going to find a job just as wonderful in Park City?!

Grant: I'm going to be the good boyfriend here and tell you something you already know, you don't need to go to Utah with me. We can do long distance again if you want to.

Me: You're an idiot if you think I want to be away from you for 6 months again. It's just a job, I know I'll find another!

He really is wonderful. He didn't have to say that I had the choice not to go with him, I already knew that. He also already knew I had made the decision to go wherever he was going a long time ago! Being in a long distance relationship with him for 6 months was one of the hardest things I have ever done. It was worth every second when I finally got to be in his arms again. I am very excited to be moving to Utah with him!

Something I realized a while ago was that people will always take precedence in my life. No job will ever be more important than my family. Grant is definitely considered family to me, and being with him is more important than a job. Does this mean I have bad work ethic? No. I arrive at work early every day, I work my butt off while I'm there, and then I happily get my butt home when my work day is done! Coming home to him is one of the best parts of my day. :D

One Minute Mystic

I found this article and I felt the need to share. It is called The One Minute Mystic and I think it really shows that we can stay connected even in the midst of our busy days. I know that even on days where I'm not "busy" I find myself unable to sit down and meditate. We should all take a few moments from our day to appreciate what we have and the beauty of the universe around us. This is something I have personally been struggling with lately. I haven't done yoga or meditation in months, probably close to a year. *sigh* I remember when I did yoga and meditated almost every day during my senior year of high school. I felt so much more in touch with the world around me then! I need to train myself to get back to that, even if it's just a few moments a day.

Looking to the Future

That last post was really just a big rant, so I apologize about that. I really am very thankful the last year is over with, though. Time to look to the future!

In my immediate future: Work, cleaning the house and stressing about money, finding an apartment, and finding a job. That's a daily basis thing for me.

My sister, Tia, is turning 16 on December 3rd. Exciting! And nerve racking. She's my baby sister... so I have a lot of mixed feelings about this. To celebrate we are going to the resort I work at and we are both getting massages. This is going to be such a treat! I've been working there since April and still haven't taken advantage of the $40 50 minute massage... and that's including gratuity. It's mostly because I would rather spend my money on other people rather than myself. Which is why the only way this was going to happen is if I was going to the spa with someone. We'll be celebrating the day after her birthday, as I know the spa is much slower and in need of business on Sundays than they are on Saturdays.

Also MY birthday is coming up on December 14th. More specifically my 21st birthday. I am excited and happy, but less so than I thought I would be. At least for the actual night. I'm not really into partying. And getting so drunk I throw up does not sound fun at all. I am much more excited for the following Sunday when Grant and I will be taking advantage of another perk from the resort I work at; the employee room rate! $100 on Friday and Saturday, $50 every other night. For a 4 diamond hotel that is fantastic! Just a night away with him and no other worries sounds perfect to me. :)

My last day at work is going to be the 21st of December. Then I'll be packing and seeing family for the holiday, then it's time for the big move! That's for the next post, though. ;)

I Deserve a ******* Medal

Excuse the implied profanity, I don't actually swear that often but I think it fits perfectly with the feeling of this post. Can I just say thank GODS the last 6 months are over with? Wait, scratch that, thank Gods the last YEAR is over with. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad, just stressful. I wouldn't change a thing. Well, maybe a couple of things. But I learned, and that's what's important. Shall I start at the beginning?

This time last year I was a full time BA student taking 7 or 8 classes at the same time and each one giving me hours of homework. I was stressing about that and the fact that my boyfriend was going to be leaving shortly to move to Florida for 6 months. Boo. :( Fast forward to a crappy 20th birthday, a sad Christmas and New Years, an even sadder Valentine's Day, and just me continually being stressed out and dealing with a long distance relationship. Then, BOOM! On-ground classes are over, I'm still technically a full time student, but it's just online class, and I got to go to Florida to finally see Grant again. Florida was AMAZING. Warmth, sun, palm trees, cute little lizards, the whole shebang.

I come back to VT and live with a crazy lady for a little while since Grant is still in Florida and our future roommates can't move in with me until June. I start working full-time at an awesome resort and I love my job.

June rolls around and I get to fly to Kansas and drive back to VT with Grant. Road trips are fun! We move in with our roommates with, yet another crazy lady. We move out before July comes. What a hellish month that was. We found a great apartment, though! Since then I've been working full-time still at the resort, going to class online, cleaning our tiny apartment after our messy roommates, and taking care of Grant and myself.

Yeah. I'll repeat. I deserve a medal.

I am 100% done with classes now. I can have a life again!

Next up on my agenda: spa day with my (not so) little sister. She's turning 16 soon, and I'm taking her to the spa at my resort. :) More on that in a later post. Also getting ready to move to Utah! I'll have another post about that as well.

Meet Grant

Hello everyone! I said I was back, but disappeared again. Well I'm going to do that a lot probably... Life is crazy busy. But it's going well! This post is both an update and an introduction. I want to tell you all a little bit more about my boyfriend Grant, since you'll probably hear a lot about him.

There we are! We took that picture of us at a mall in Florida when I went down to see him. He was down there for his internship at a private country club. Other than those short 5 days of heaven, we've been apart for almost 6 months now. But, in 4 days I will be flying down to Kansas (where he's been visiting friends and family for the last month) and I get to meet his family and friends. It will be nice to be with him again, and finally put an end this long-distance thing. I've missed him like crazy.

How we met: He went to NECI for the culinary program, he started much later than me. We met last summer in August. He is still attending school, and has just completed his first internship. He'll be back in VT soon to finish his AOS degree and then he is going to continue with the BA Culinary program.

He is an amazing cook! I will probably be posting a lot about the things he makes that I get to eat, but if you'd like to see some past meals and hear from his own mouth about his creations you can check out his blog. He is very dedicated to his school and work. His blog is delightful to read. Yes, I'm biased, but I'm also telling the truth.

He is 25. He shaves his head, in case you were wondering. He has gotten me hooked on Dr. Who! He's a geek, and I love it. He's going to teach me to play a game called 40k, and while he's been home he's been playing D&D with his friends. He loved books and reading just as much as I do. I can talk to him about anything! The first night we hung out we talked for hours about everything we could think of.

This blog used to be an outlet for me to talk about my spirituality. I now have Grant to share these things with, which is wonderful. He supports me in everything I do, and makes me want to try even harder to do well.

I could go on forever about him, but I'll end this post before it gets too long and boring for you all. You might not hear from me until we get back from Kansas. We're driving back up and then moving into a house with our friends. I will have pictures of the gorgeous house we'll be living in, and probably some pictures of delicious food. Until then, TTFN!

Things I've Been Enjoying

Random update for you all. Little fun things I've been enjoying recently.

Wayward Sons: Legends
This webcomic is very entertaining to read- especially if you know your mythology! It has a great story line and funny, semi-related, updates on the weekends.

Food Porn Daily
Appropriate for work! Just maybe not if you've missed your lunch break. These food pictures will make you drool and your stomach rumble. I can sit for hours clicking and staring at picture after picture of delicious looking food.

Post Secret
I think most people know Pose Secret. It's a fun website to read on Sundays.

Plants vs Zombies
I have this game on my iPod and I love it! It has become my go-to game for de-streesing and blowing time at night before bed.

Angry Birds
Angry Birds is such an addicting game! I was addicted to it, then I beat all the levels and lost interest. Still, it's fun to play!

Those are the main things that keep me amused when I'm not talking to Grant, hanging with friends, watching movies, reading or, of course, doing homework. Oh- add working to that. I got the RA position! And I am working at the school's restaurant now, running food and backwaiting. Did I mention that? It's almost bed time, so forgive me. Hope you guys are enjoying the random life updates!

What I've Been Up To

Since I've been gone for so long I thought you may want to know what I've been up to for almost a year! You probably know most of this if you are my Facebook friend.

•I have been stressed (haha, not unexpected and not so different from this time last year)
•I have been doing very well in school (if I may toot my own horn, also not unexpected or different)
•I have an awesome boyfriend of almost 6 months now
oI have never met anyone as amazing as him and he makes me happier than I have ever been
•I miss my pets
•A year and a half straight of living in the dorms is kind of making me crazy
•I am applying to be an RA for my last month and a half of living here, fingers crossed, I should hear back on Saturday
•I’m starting to read more books, working them into my small amount of free time
o7 Habits of Highly Effective People
oThe Radical Edge
•I’m watching a bunch of movies lately (Grant and I have movie dates from 1300 miles away, cute right?)
oCurrently making my way through the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, wicked long movies, but good
•Music has kept me sane, I can listen to it while doing my hours and hours of homework
oJack Johnson, Cartel, and Train are my latest favorites, anything country still holds my heart, though
•I miss cooking meals and baking goodies
•Grant and I are currently planning on going to New Zealand or Australia during his final internship

Yep, so this is what's new in my life. Less generic posts to come soon! Maybe some stuff I've been learning in class. :)

I'm Back!

WOW! So, life is crazy. I am now in the final 2 months of my residency at NECI. I am a MOD 6 (just means how long you've been here, like being a senior) and I am very much ready to be DONE! I love school, but I can't wait to live in my own apartment and work somewhere wonderful. I won't be going far, though. In fact I most likely won't be leaving the town. My boyfriend, Grant, is currently in Florida for his internship. He will be back in VT for his next residency portion of school in June, so I don't plan on leaving. I have never been this happy before, and I wouldn't give it up for anything.

Yes, though, I am back to blogging! I have missed it. I need more than just school and talking to Grant in my life. That's all it has been for the last 2 months. Most likely you won't hear from me too frequently. I still have another month and a half left of classes! And it's going to be the most hectic month and a half of my life so far. I need to find an internship, earn money to be able to afford an apartment, find an apartment, and still deal with my crazy classes and large homework load.

I really am loving my life. I get demotivated at times, but then I remember why I'm doing all this: I wouldn't want to be doing anything else. I love this crazy industry I'm planning to work in. I want to make people happy through good hospitality. I love food.

Just as an example for how infrequent my posts will most likely be, it has taken me a week to write this one! I can't wait to begin blogging again. :)

Happy Summer Solstice!

Hey all! I'm alive. Busy, sad, stressed, frustrated, but alive! Hopefully with this turning of the wheel my luck will change? Everything else is changing, so who knows.

Anyway- I want to wish everyone a Happy Summer Solstice! We couldn't ask for a more beautiful day here. Too bad I have work. I hope you all have nice weather and the time to enjoy it! If I'm not dead tired when I get back tonight I'll be going for a walk. It will be dark by then, but it should still be nice out. It's supposed to be a clear night. :)