Update

Still alive.

Cable and internet is now in my apartment!

[yet I am still blogging at work]

I have much picture uploading and TV show catching up to do.

Some highlights of the past couple of weeks:

1. Delicious Mexican food.

2. Spending entirely too much money on apartment related things. IKEA took a chunk of my soul. And I still don't have a proper couch, coffee table, or pretty bedside table.

3. Indian pizza! Yes. The Bombay Pizza Company in downtown Houston puts Indian food on pizza. But it's not typical pizza crust. What it is is MAGIC. Can't stop thinking about it.

4. Finding out that Chester is about to get a new friend. An orange cat showed up at my parent's house [almost exactly one year later after Chester was found. We apparently have a think for finding friendly orange cats around Halloween], and my mom is bringing him to me so Chester has someone to keep him company. Chester requires lots of attention, so this will make me feel better when I have to leave him alone.

Tomorrow is mine and Aaron's two year anniversary! We are having dinner, and apparently he has a whole day of activities planned for Saturday. I am quite excited. Since my new camera was part anniversary gift, I plan on utilizing it fully this weekend so I can have quality pictures like you other fellow bloggers!

I'm alive, I swear.

My absence from the world wide web has me severely distressed.

I got all moved into my apartment in Houston on Saturday, albeit without CABLE or INTERNET. Also, I have no living room furniture. So basically, my place isn't quite the hot hang out spot yet. However, I am loving having my very own apartment. Chester likes it to, though I think he's rather bored. He needs another feline friend to keep him occupied.

Yesterday was my first day of work, and it was OVERWHELMING. I know NOTHING about the oil and gas industry, so I'm basically having to get a crash course in it. I had no work computer all day, so I ended up reading financial reports and forecasts about O&G. Yeah, you're jealous. I know things are always crazy on the first day and I'm not expected to know anything, but it was scary. I hope I'm able to catch on quickly and be good at this Marketing Research. I may be using my degree, but it's been over a year now since I've been in school. Send good vibes please!

As you can see, I now have a work computer. Unlike my previous job though, I won't be able to spend my days surfing the net and watching TV. No, I can now only utilize such things at lunch. This means that I'll be really busy, which is good. I WILL be sufing the net, but it will be spent looking at the Bloomberg Economic Calendar and IEA Oil Forecast. I'm purposely not spelling out that acronym because I want you to think I'm fancy.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

First and foremost, does anyone know where I can get a kitty cat hat like this?! Chester obviously needs one. As an orange cat who was found but 9 days before Halloween, this is his favorite time of year.

In other news, today is my last day of work before the big move. I know this job has really been kind of pointless and has not helped advance my skills or resume in any way, but I will miss the people. There are some favorites I'll miss the most: Cindy, the clothing manager who would always come by my office just to chat and share gossip, and Mary Fran the beer-loving, restaurant connoisseur who reminds me so much of my mom. They've all been so good to me, and for that I am very thankful. Also, I will miss being able to catch up on TV shows, blogs, and Perezhilton all in a day's work. I have a feeling there won't be time for that with my new job that actually utilizes my degree. Time to grow up, I suppose!

October joy

My little heart is so excited because it's OCTOBER. This particularly favorite month of mine always evokes images such as this one:

Creepy? Maybe. But I will forever associate October with Halloween, spooky stories, crisp air, warm desserts, a constant feeling of excitement, and...wait for it...New England?

Yes.

In about the second grade in music class, our teacher showed us "fall" pictures that went along with the Halloween themed songs we were singing. I will never forget one in particular...it was of a white clapboard church with a tall steeple, surrounded by hills and trees that had brilliantly colored leaves. The caption said it was taken in New Hampshire or Delaware or somewhere in that New England vicinity. So ever since then, fall and Halloween are synonymous to New England in my mind.

Oh how I would LOVE to spend the fall in a quaint New Hampshire town. There's something so romantically spooky about it. Is that weird? Romantically spooky? I don't think so.

I wish I could fully explain the feeling that fall gives me! For a whole month I'm in a glorious mood!

So you can bet that I'll be eating too many pumpkin flavored things, reading scary stories, and DVRing EVERYTHING on tv that is remotely related to Halloween [History Channel and Travel Channel have the BEST documentaries and shows on during this time].

I hope everyone else will be enjoying this month as much as I plan to!

NEWS NEWS NEWS!

After over a year of trying, I finally got a job in Houston!

As things usually go, this came along right as I had settled into my life in College Station and had come to terms with not getting a job in the big city. But thanks to a dear friend, I can now move on to bigger and better things! And it's a job that actually utilizes my degree. Imagine that.

The hunt for an apartment begins this weekend, so I am hopeful that I'll be able to find the perfect place. Due to Houston real estate being crazy expensive [at least for someone who has been living in a VERY cost effective place for the past five years], I won't be able to live in the "hip" neighborhood I've been longing for, but this does not put a damper on my excitement.

Work starts October 11, so I will keep everyone posted!

*Any favorite Houston places? Restaurants/bars/museums/exciting sites? Most of my friends live there, but a fresh perspective would be nice!

*Also, does anyone have tips on the best way to learn how to use a Canon Rebel?? The boyfriend was way too generous and got one for me as a congratulatory gift. I have been covetting it for months, but now that I have it I find myself puzzled. Automatic settings are well and good, but I really want to use the camera to its potential!

Roomie Wedding

First, we celebrated her bachelorette party. This past weekend was her wedding. Our dear Natalie is a married woman! It was all a bit surreal being at the wedding of such a good friend and roommate. I still can't believe she's a Mrs!

Taylor was such a beautiful bridesmade!

Caroline and I vowed to rock this wedding. And we did.

Me and my hot date.

Even as a gorgeous, elegant bride she was able to let loose and show off her silly dance moves.

The TANCD house celebrating one of our own.

One of my favorite things about living with these girls were all the inside jokes and outrageous conversations we had.

After about 12 years of trying, I finally caught a bouquet. I find it fitting that it was at Natalie's wedding, considering she has heard all of my boy drama and been there for a great portion of it.

Leaving as Mrs. Lewis! Aren't the sparklers neat?

The whole wedding was so classic and so Natalie. We danced, we drank, we laughed, we ATE. It was a beautiful night for one of the most beautiful people I know!

Change.

If you are at all interested in everything going on right now with Don't Ask, Don't Tell, please go to this link. It is an article and video from MTV that features a good friend of mine.

Danny was discharged from the Marines under this senseless law, despite being one of the most proud Americans and servicemen that I have ever known.

He now works for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, and through his journey to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell has met Lady GaGa and worked with her to spread awareness.

[Hear his story here]

It breaks my heart to think that dedicated men and women, people who live to serve this country of ours, are not allowed to do so simply because of their sexual orientation. The branches of the military pride themselves on commaraderie and unity, yet they cannot find it in themsevles to protect some of their own. I am disgusted, and truly hope that one day SOON [starting today] all servicemembers will be treated EQUALLY.

I don't think I would be able to go back after being so unjustly discriminated against, but Danny can't wait for the day when he can once again wear his uniform. I pray that day comes soon for him and the thousands of others who are owed justice.