It's Been Awhile

Two months, actually, since I last had a blog post. You see, my laptop had the "blue screen of death" a little over a year ago. When I asked friends on Facebook for tips on new laptops, my friend Doug offered to let me use his until I bought a new one.

I borrowed it for over a year.

Then Doug wanted it back because he was having a garage sale and wanted to sell the laptop (I had already told him I would pass on his because I wanted something new; lame considering I used it FOR A YEAR! So I gave it back to him.

And didn't buy a laptop. You see, I had just bought a home and was in the throws of packing and all that. Did you know it's expensive to move? The rental truck and the hook-up fees for new services and all the new items I needed (and still need) for a bigger space. So the laptop just went on the backburner.

I missed blogging. But I also missed looking at a big screen for some of my tasks - checking routes on Google Maps, checking my budget, researching items, etc. My phone can get me by on most everything, but sometimes that big screen is nice.

So today I did it. I had asked around and decided that a Chromebook would be just the thing for me - I'm not a student anymore so I don't need my computer for writing papers/making presentations/making spreadsheets; I'm not a gamer; and I can watch Netflix and Amazon Prime on my t.v. I just need something fairly simply.

All this to say that I am now back in the blogging world. Most everyone who reads my blog is also friends with me on Facebook, so y'all know what's basically going on in my life. However, I like my blog as a place where I can go more in depth (especially with movie reviews! I have a lot to say about this summer!).

A Box of Memories

I've been at my new job for almost six months now. Today I realized it was high time I decorated it. Like put pictures on the walls and all that. I have some pictures already sitting on top of the credenza (is that what it's called?), and I have a large map of the bike network staring down at me. But my bookshelf is mocking me with five measly books on it.

So tonight I pulled out some boxes from under my bed (because I was looking for knick-knacks that I used to buy a lot...so they could clutter up my office instead of my home). I boxed up everything I own six months ago; most of it was unpacked. But these boxes have just been sitting under my bed, so clearly they weren't all that important. I opened one and was surprised that it was filled with photos.

Everyone takes photos now, because we all have smartphones with cameras. But that wasn't always the case. I was the random person who took their camera to everything and snapped photos. Then I got a digital camera, and instead of printing out rolls I'd download the photos to my computer. Cameras and photos have always been important to me, so I literally have boxes of photos in those envelopes you'd get when you developed your film.

I also came across a box that was used to deliver my undergraduate Graduation Announcements. Yes, it contained some announcements and envolopes and address stickers. I graduated with my Bachelors in 2007. The box also contained cards sent to me from people I love, mostly from the time frame when I lived in NYC. It was a nice little stroll down memory lane. I literally keep every card that is sent to me. I need to figure out what to do with them....

I also found an old Peter Brienholt cd. I am listening to it right now, and I feel like it is 2008. I am even sitting on my bed while I type this, just like I used to do when I lived in NYC and in Sugarhouse. I'm a sentimental fool.

I used to blog a lot. It was a good way to get my thoughts out into the universe, and to keep family and friends up to date on what was going on in my life. With the increase of social media to stay in touch, blogs have kind of gone by the wayside. I miss blogging, though. For me it has been a good way to sort out my thoughts, instead of just posting a photo on Instagram. I feel like my writing skills have severely been affected by blogging less.

No one likely reads this anymore (except for my awesome cousin Phaedra, because she also still blogs), but I'm going to keep posting!

Do People Still Blog?

Many of my friends and family who used to blog regularly now never blog. What has happened? Have their lives become less interesting? Have their lives become too busy? Have they lost the use of their fingers and don't want to learn how to use a voice-activated keyboard?

I'm blogging less, too. I used to compose blog posts in my head at work and during events. I rarely if ever do this anymore. And I should be blogging because I live in a different state than my family and many of my friends and they (maybe) want to know what is going on in my life.

As my cousin Erica stated, #InstagramAteMyBlog. Perhaps this is true of mine, as well. Whatever the reason, I will attempt to blog more.

Weird Blog Things

Have you ever checked the stats on your blog and noticed that a completely random website is one of the referring URLs? I expect to have my blog checked by family and friends, basically the people whose blogs I also check out. I even expect a few random ones from people who go down the rabbit hole and end up clicking on mine from a common friend's blog (you know you've all done it!) But it's the complete random ones that I find strange. Like today there was an online psychology degree website that had checked out my blog. Very strange indeed.

This is almost as strange as when people I do not know, sometimes living in a foreign country, comment on my blog.

Seriously, who does that?!

New Blog

I realized that my blog was in dire need of an update today as I read my friend Jeff's new blog. As much as I loved my owl and pussycat template, a change was needed. This new one is called "Keep Dreaming."

I'm looking for a cool, every-day-on-that-day-I-blog-about-something-specific idea, because then I would at least have one blog a week. My friend Pam has her "A List for Tuesday" and my friend Jeff has "Hoffmann of the Month". What should mine be? Suggestions??

Day 3: Perfect Date

My description of the perfect date. Hmm. I feel like I'm a fairly simple girl when it comes to dating. I don't need big elaborate dates that require a lot of work. I'm really just a dinner and a movie type of gal. I guess the date would be pretty perfect if we saw an awesome movie together that we were able to discuss over dinner (or lunch). Then we'd go for a walk, maybe get some ice cream (or gelato!) and just talk about random things. At the end, when he's walked me to my door, we'd have that awkward moment that I really hate. But hopefully we have a great hug and he says something about wanting to do it again. That would be pretty perfect.

Day 2: Food

Day 2: A picture of something you ate today.

I LOVE almonds.

Here's the 30-day Blog Challenge if anyone else wants to do it, too!

Day 1 – A photo of yourself and a description of how your day was.

Day 2 – A photo of something you ate today.
Day 3 – Your idea of the perfect first date.
Day 4 – Your favorite photograph of your best friend.
Day 5 – A photo of yourself from high school.
Day 6 – A photo of an animal you’d love to keep as a pet.
Day 7 – Your dream wedding.
Day 8 – A song to match your mood.
Day 9 – A photo of the item you last purchased.
Day 10 – A photo of your favorite place to eat.
Day 11 – What’s in your makeup bag?
Day 12 – A photograph of the town you live in.
Day 13 – Your favorite musician and why?
Day 14 – A TV show you’re currently addicted to.
Day 15 – Something you don’t leave the house without.
Day 16 – Your celebrity crush.
Day 17 – A photo of you and your family.
Day 18 – Something you crave a lot.
Day 19 – Another picture of yourself.
Day 20 – The meaning behind your blog name.
Day 21 – A photo of something that makes you happy.
Day 22 – A letter to someone who has hurt you recently.
Day 23 – 15 facts about you.
Day 24 – A photo of something that means a lot to you.
Day 25 – What’s in your purse?
Day 26 – A photo of somewhere you’ve been to.
Day 27 – A picture of you last year and now and how have you changed since then?
Day 28 – Your favorite movie.
Day 29 – Something you could never get tired of doing.
Day 30 – A photograph of yourself today + three good things that have happened in the past

Day 1: Me

The other day I was lamenting to my co-worker that I hadn't blogged in over a week. She told me that she's even worse than that at updating her blog, but said she was trying this "30 Day Blog Challenge". So I'm going to give it a try.

Day 1: A photo of yourself and a description of how your day was.

My day was pretty much like all the others. I got up after hitting my snooze button a few times, got myself ready, was thankful my nighttime self got my lunch and bookbag ready the night before, and headed off to work. My work is NOT exciting. But it pays the bills and allows me to go to school. So, good thing. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I leave work for two hours to go to class. I really like this class. Last week we talked about Baroque city structure and it was fascinating. We talked all about Rome, last week Venice and Florence, and today Paris, and I always leave with my travel bug just itching!

Today was also weigh-in day for our company-wide Biggest Loser competition. Mine did not go well :( I'm also taking part in my department-wide Biggest Loser competition. Weigh-in is tomorrow morning, so I'm trying to work out tonight, but am distracted by my new ipod touch. But seriously, I need to get motivated because I don't want to pay anymore money and I want to feel better. Any idea for getting motivated??

My class tonight was canceled, so I came home and spend a lot of time fiddling with my new ipod touch. I seriously can't get enough of it. I had had my old ipod for over fours years, and it was so ancient that it was only 1GB! That's about 250 songs total!

And now a picture of myself:

This picture was taken during my trip to Europe after graduating college. It's nearly four years old, but I love this picture for a few reasons. One, I'm in Rome and that is awesome. Two, those were my favorite sunglasses ever and I lost them a couple years ago. Very sad. And three, I just think I look good. And I'm happy.