Blog Vomit

Let's real talk, friends.

I've been mulling about this post and brainstorming poor poetic titles for the better part of a week, and the most poignant thing I can come up with is "Blog Vomit".

Thank you Mean Girls for adding that to my vernacular.

So here's what's up - I did what everyone says you should avoid at all costs.

Yup. That's me. Single lady, moving from Madison, Wisconsin to St. Petersburg, Florida. I quit a secure, well-paying job for a somewhat less secure, somewhat less-paying job with which I believe I'll be completely enamored. And I couldn't be more happy, excited, nervous, and thrilled.

This is me, really getting along with Florida.

Let's take a couple steps back, shall we? Let's go back to our last coffee date.

I was kind of in dire need of a hug right about then. I was having an out-of-body experience of stress, confusion, exhaustion. And all I could do to keep from melting down was bow my head to my heart.

Along with a hug, I also needed a solid dose of perspective. I couldn't understand why I was so unhappy when everything in my life seemed to be on track. So I took a vacation, had a few cocktails, and went for a few long walks.

My grandfather, who is always a good source of both hugs and perspective, told me to remember a quote from Marcel Proust's Remembrance of Things Past:

"Always try to keep a patch of sky above your life. You have a soul in you of rare quality, an artist's nature. Never let it starve for lack of what it needs."

Keep a patch of sky above your life. When he said that something clicked for me. Surrounded by ocean, sky, and seemingly endless beaches, I realized that I felt unhappy because I didn't feel like I had that sense of both peace and potential on a daily basis.

And then that patch of sky opened up for me. I got an opportunity to go down to St. Pete and work for the Tampa Bay Times. An opportunity to work with a creative team in a new, exciting place and in a collaborative environment.

Needless to say, I took it.

Now I'm in the midst of piles, packing, moving across the country, finding a new place to live, and selling my belongings on Craigslist.

Perhaps one of the hardest things about this entire process is that I have been in a constant state of limbo. Being without of any semblance of a routine has resulted in sporadic runs, bike rides, or morning workouts with Jillian. I have also been alternating between a well-balanced diet of quinoa and green beans and avocado smashed on toast and kale chips. Not exactly the most thrilling dinners in the world.

All of my creative energy and been focused on moving myself and my belongings from point A to point B. Not as easy as it may look...

On the note of major life choices, I also succumbed to an intense craving when I was tailgating with my family in South Bend a couple weeks ago.

Yup. I ate ribs. And you know what? They were delightful.

Liza was very pleased that I decided to have a carnivorous day.

I won't lie - it is already fall in Madison and I'm feeling a bit nostalgic about the crunch of fallen leaves and that crisp, woody smell in the air. I packed most of my boots, coats, and sweaters and shipped them back to my house in Virginia. I love the seasons, and I think it will be a huge shock to my system to realistically lay on the beach next week.

And lay on the beach Christmas Eve. No snowy strolls this year.

But there is so much potential too. When the sun sets on one experience, a patch of sky opens up for another. I've seen the good, the delicious, and the tired/drunk/teary times in the Delta Sky Lounge while traveling around the country for work. I've loved eating at new restaurants, and exploring new cities, and meeting new people.

I've loved learning to ride my road bike here in Madison, and it has been a great addition to my exercise rotation.

But now I'm excited to cook more, since I'll be home for longer than three days at a time, and I'm looking forward to finding a network of people that will meet for a drink after a late night at the  office, since now those people are strangers in the Marriott bar.

Now I'm hoping that living near the ocean will give me a chance to learn how to swim in open water. Maybe then I can do that triathlon I've been talking about for the past two years.

The bottom line is that I'm really happy. Sure, I'm nervous about uprooting the life that I have established here, but I'm beyond lucky to have such a supportive network of friends and family. They've made this process unbelievable manageable, and I'm truly grateful.

So begins a new chapter - bring on the sunscreen.