I never intend to stay away for so long. Certainly not over a month, like this time. And it's not that I don't have things to write about it. It's just that I wonder if they're interesting anyone else but myself. And when I sit down to write about said things, they seem to lose their luster once on paper. But I'll forge on, if only because this blog has always been the best way of sorting my thoughts.
So what has happened in the past month?
Oh, yes. I turned 26. This past Monday as a matter of fact. I don't feel any different. I wondered if I would, since now everyone is making jokes about being on the downslope of my twenties. I think 27 scares me more than 26. Because at 27, there is no turning back. There is no more gravitating back to your college days. You are a grown up. You are expected to act and behave like a decent human being, like a contributing member of society. One could almost say this occurs once you hit 25, but even if it did for me, I clung to my early twenties. Now, birthdays aren't that exciting and it's not even fun to obnoxiously countdown to anyone I know exactly how many days until my birthday. I'm sure they're all tired of it by now anyway.
I also quit smoking. This is a feat I've attempted before, as many smokers will relate. September of '05 was the first attempt and I did well with it, until we started planning the move and I attended a lot of going away parties that involved a lot of alcohol. The stress and the bars, that's what did me in. But this time, I gave it another go and as of today, I have been smoke free for a month and a half. And it feels good! Damn good. It was rough at first, since I decided to quit cold turkey, unlike the Baron who has been using the patches. I wasn't doing that to be the martyr or to make a point. I just chose that route because I had done okay with it before and I didn't smoke a lot during the day anyway. I kept having to remind myself that it's a mind over matter thing. When I would crave a cigarette, I repeated over and over to myself that I was not smoking anymore and would go find something else to occupy me until the craving passed. And eventually, it got a bit easier to the point now where there are very few times where I actually still crave one. And that makes me proud and happy about the fact that I can walk up the stairs without my lungs burning.
Because I am a genius, I thought it would be awesome to start counting calories and watching what I ate around the same time I quit smoking. Unfortunately, just recently, I've had a bit of a relapse but these past two weeks have been tough. In doing this, I managed to cut my caffeine and soda consumption down drastically within the first few weeks. Remember, this was the same time I quit smoking. So while I was feeling better physically, mentally, I was dragging and miserable. But I even managed to get over that. I was drinking ALOT of soda each day and I just got to the point to where it provided no more satisfaction. Just that first bubbly carbonated sip got to me, then I had to choke down the rest. So I got my little purple Migo mug (fabulous! and bought because Izzy had one like it on Grey's and I want to be cool like her) and began making numerous trips to the water fountain. And it helped. And I got used to the water. And then I discovered the joys of Crystal Light On The Go Fruit Punch. Yum! Like heaven wrapped into a little red powder. So while I haven't been that diligent, I have been started off slow and making subtle changes. And once things settle down a bit from the chaos that has ensued these past few weeks, I'd like to be a little more stringent and hopefully work up to where I'm actually eating better and following a healthier plan for food consumption and exercising.
The spring weather here in Charleston has been wacky so we play roulette with the weekends. Making plans isn't always the best idea since storms can pop up at any time and being outdoors in a thunderstorm isn't always the BEST idea, even if it can turn into one of the most fun. As a matter of fact, last weekend they were calling for big thunderstorms all day on Sunday and I was actually disappointed when all they turned out to be were a few thunderclaps here and a bolt of lightning or two there. I was looking forward to a day of hibernating inside with the rain pelting the windows. No such luck apparently.
Regardless, we have been making the best of the nice days by spending a lot of our time outdoors. The Baron has gone fishing quite a few times and we spent a couple of weekends just walking the beach, one those days being particularly windy which was interesting to say the least since I forgot my hair tie and couldn't see two feet in front of me because of the hair covering my face. I totally outdid Cousin It that day! There was trip to the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia and to the Caw Caw Interpretive center (we like nature and animal themed excursions). The Baron entered a Jeep show and we spent the entire day there checking out the other Jeeps, drinking beer and just enjoying being amongst people.
And we've played a lot of video games. It's how we bond. And we distract ourselves from smoking.
We also had some friends in for a visit over Easter weekend and we had a glorious time. It didn't go over without incident but it never does apparently. We make the phrase 'this is why we can't have nice things' come true. Aside from that, we did have a lot of fun and even had a very nice Easter dinner at my parents house. I also went to church for the first time in years as a favor to a friend and well, that was interesting to say the least.
Aside from that, we've just been chugging along and living life. Getting up and going to work then coming home only to do it all over again. It's life and it works.
We celebrated our one year anniversary of being here in Charleston on the 14th. It seems so strange because at times, it feels like it's been forever since we left Pennsylvania. Other times, it feels like we just left and I can hardly believe it's already been a year. There are times, of course, when we miss it because both of us are still out of our element. I spent a good deal of my childhood in this city but most of my influential teenage and early adult years were up North and I had made it my home. So even now, a year later, we still struggle at times with things to do and people to hang out with. And it's hard, particularly because we have to rely on each other so much. But it's been a good year and I will do everything in my power to make sure the next one is just as good if not better.
There is tons more I want to say but I think I'll save it for other entries. This was I don't exhaust my topics all in one entry then disappear for another month. But I'm alive and well, so not to worry. I wouldn't just up and leave like that.
Then where would I get the attention?