Settling In

Well, it's been about a month since my last post and lots of things have happened in that time. Most importantly, I am starting to feel settled into my new house and my new life. I've been getting a schedule arranged between work and exercise and other things. I'm starting to feel like I'm getting my life back to normal. I miss my friends out west but have enjoyed meeting many new people in Ohio and many more to come.

What have I been up to?

I drove across the country with a packed car with a dog and 2 cats. The AC in my car went out somewhere in Montana on the first day, which lead to a loooong and hot 3.5 days of traveling to Columbus. I did take some pictures in Montana b/c it was so beautiful... Big Sky Country is right!

Along the way, I stayed in Rapid City, SD, Shawnee, KS, Terre Haute, IN and even spent a night in Columbus, OH b/c my house closed a day later than it was supposed to. JERKS!

It was great seeing the country again but stinky that it was so hot in the car for me and my hairy kids. We had to hang out in a park for 2 days in 95+ degree heat and crazy humidity waiting to hear the final ok from the bank on my loan and closing documents. This was a time when being a grown up super sucked!

I was able to get into my house on Thursday night. The next day the movers showed up with my stuff and my cable/ internet was installed and I started my first big girl job on Monday!

I've been working for 3 weeks and even earned my first pay check today!! It was very exciting to see a number more than double what I was used to in grad school. I guess going to school for that long is going to pay off after all! :)

Since I've gotten in the house and my stuff, it's been a full fledged effort to get unpacked and settled. I've purchased many things and am still waiting on my loveseat to be delivered. Other than that, I'd say it's just little things now that my parents brought me a load of furniture from my grandparents' shed which contained end tables, kitchen/ dining room tables, dressers and 2 twin beds for my second spare room upstairs. Once everything looks nice and all unpacked, I'll take pictures for you.

Also, my concert going has started up again. After I was in Columbus for a week, I drove home to Youngstown and saw a concert with my sister! We saw Emphatic, New Medicine and Halestorm at a small venue called The Cellar in Struthers,OH. Here are a few pictures from the night.

Emphatic

Emphatic

Dan of New Medicine

Brady of New Medicine

Jake of New Medicine

Halestorm

Arejay of Halestorm

Lzzy of Halestorm on the piano

Me and bassist of Emphatic

Me and Brady of New Meds...LOVE HIM!

The billboard

Since the concert, there have been lots of hanging out with the kids and I have been posting lots of pictures like the following on facebook and twitter...

My new couch

Kitties enjoying the couch

Heif sacked out on the floor with his new pillow

Oven and microwave

Fridge and baker's rack

Just to give you a bit of insight about my kitchen, I special ordered that fridge to fit in the space where the microwave is and it still wouldn't fit. Turns out that the walls get skinnier as you go up the wall! It was a major bummer but I think it's ok where it's at now. I was just happy to have appliances! :)

Ok. That's enough for now. I think you're pretty much caught up on the craziness that has been my life for the past month. I will be posting more. I PROMISE!

OH!! Another thing that I want to announce is that I have been selected to be a Hot Chocolate Columbus race Ambassador for the race in November. If anyone is interested in coming to town to run, I would recommend it since I did the one in San Diego in March and had an awesome time!! I have a special code for you if you are going to register. Please email me or tweet me @vbace18 and I will send it to you!!

I hope to see many bloggers/ readers/ runners out there!

Would you run for chocolate?!