Keeping Up With Old Friends

This past Saturday I was able to attend my friend Liz's wedding. I have been friends with Liz since high school, and we have been through a lot since then, to say the least. From surviving the IB program, to infiltrating pageants, to first (and second) tattoos, to plate parties at the Saucer...we have shared some pretty good moments. So of course I was so excited to get the invitation in the mail to share such important moment with her.

I do have to admit I was a little nervous because I knew I would go without knowing anyone there besides her family, but it turned out to be an intimate affair and I was really able to catch up with them. I also have to give Liz a number of kudos for the event. The ceremony was sweet and to the point. It opened with the sounds of a string quartet that sounded so lovely covering groups like Enya and Nine Inch Nails. (NIN's "Closer" to be specific...sweet.) This was all followed with wine, food and dancing, of course. She was absolutely gorgeous, and it was so great to see her. I only wish her and Chris the best on this new chapter in their lives.

I think I have to consider myself lucky to still have such good friends around. We may not always stay in touch as much as we should, but we have been there for each other. Plus, for once, it was not completely dreadful to sit through a wedding. I can only hope the one I have to go to in two weeks is just as good. -_^

Sidenote: I LOVE Moss Ave for a number of reasons. However, I have added a new one to this list. You have to love a house that you not only still have a key to after over a year of moving out, but that you can also go back to because you are pretty sure you still have stuff there...and you do. Plus, the people who live there now know you have a key and just tell you to show up whenever. Ha. I do not know what I will do when I do not know the people living there any more...

Nole Anniversary

Today was my official one year mark working at FSU. Crazy. Of course, this makes me think back over the past year. I find it hard to believe that a year ago I had just graduated with my master's degree, job searched, and moved alone to a brand new state. Now I have a year of professional experience (whatever that means in the world of Student Affairs...ha) and feel like I have found something of a niche here in Tally.

Professionally, it sets in even more because yesterday was my new grad assistant's first day. Last year I was relying on Chris to teach me about FSU, now here I am teaching Selby. Definitely a new adventure. I also think about all the connections I actually have across campus. Part of that revelation came with organizing my team to implement our new online student organization system. I actually have colleagues and friends on which to call.

Personally, I have some pretty great people to hang out with around here. I went out on a limb not long after starting here and went kayaking with a bunch of people I really did not know, save for one person. (Thanks Julia!) And I find it funny to think about how I have become pretty close with some people because of that. Plus, for various reasons, I have made some other pretty good friends. Of course, some would say I have fallen into one of the new professional traps in that the people I hang out with also all work at FSU. However, it seems to work. Plus, we try (although not always successfully) to not talk work all the time.

So here is to another year. I feel as though I have lots to come.

The More Things Change

Random thought for the day: I love that no matter how much things change in our lives, it seems we can count on some things to stay the same. For example, it can be amazingly easy to fall back into conversations with friends you haven't seen in a while...and back into old habits (read: the ability to judge everyone around you). They say change is the only constant. True. But I am glad to know that I can count on some people to be constant as well.

Sidenote: Thanks to Mer for a long weekend of crazy adventures. Truly, no one should go on a road trip with us...

More New Places

This is a huge shout out to some pretty awesome people for helping me move yesterday: THANK YOU Meredith, Adam, Mike, Aaron, and Billy (yes, even though you weren't in town, Dixie thanks you -_^)!! We were power movers yesterday...out of one apartment and into another in four hours. Sweet. And it was all done in lovely Florida weather. Seriously guys, thanks.

I am very glad to be out of the ridiculousness that is Blairstone. The new place is pretty cute. I am literally up the street from Meredith and Kinsley...and James and Jill. The neighborhood is nice, and the neighbors are pretty cool so far, too. It is one of four apartments in the building and is two beds, one bath. The second room will likely be a combination of an office and Dixie's room. Thankfully, it is also on the first floor. Plus I finally have recycling again! Maybe I will get some pictures up soon. The goal now is that I will not move again until I am leaving Tallahassee. Moving my stuff every year gets pretty old.

Now the fun part is unpacking so I can get to the real fun part of decorating. I guess blogging and staring at the boxes is not getting me very far...

Depp + Burton = Magic

As most people know, my celebrity crush is without a doubt Johnny Depp. Delicious. As an actor who tended to shy away from the more normal and popular roles (until the Pirates series, in which he is still pretty odd), he is always so intriguing to watch. Even in interviews, he has this down-to-earth sense about him that is really endearing. Of course, I am excited about his newest movie, "Public Enemies," coming out July 1.

However, I learned this morning that he is partnering with Tim Burton yet again to bring a twisted twist to another classic: "Alice in Wonderland." I saw the article from USA Today posted this morning by a friend on facebook, and I was immediately excited. Depp will play the Mad Hatter, and he will be partnering again with Helena Bonham Carter as the Queen of Hearts and Christopher Lee as the Jabberwock. The movie will also bring in Anne Hathoway as the White Queen, and a new star, Mia Wasikowska as Alice. Burton, somewhat like he did with "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" will put a new spin on the story by showing a tale of Alice returning to Wonderland 10 years after her first visit.

Along with "Peter Pan," "Alice in Wonderland" is one of my favorite stories. I love the idea of a world where nothing makes sense, but it is still somewhere you would love to visit. An escape from all things real with a girl who refuses to be tied down by the natural world. Magical and sometimes scary...and who does not love the Cheshire Cat? I cannot wait until March 2010 to see how cool and off the wall this film will be.