There's a lot of Talent Here

So last week I went of a road trip vacation. Went to see exciting places like Trenton, NJ and Groton, CT... Actually, I was highly entertained. The whole purpose of the trip was to help my mum with her genealogy research. I was fine with that. Any excuse to tool around, listening to my Ipod, and just checking out the local flora and fauna.

I noticed an unusual trend: any time I help my mum with this family history stuff, I find ridiculous amounts of information. The last time I went to an Archives with her, I found the ship manifests for my great grandparents' ships to the US. This time, I found the birth and marriage certificates for many family members. It was kinda cool, too. For a few hours of work and sitting around, I got to see some places I haven't visited on almost 5 years.

For the trip, we stayed in on-base housing. (I forgot to mention that my dad retired from the military and so has the privilege of being able to stay in the military's version of a hotel.) They were nice. The beds fairly comfortable, the cable working, and a lot of military guys just hanging around. My particular favorite was the housing in Groton, CT.

Groton is a naval submarine base. For the uninitiated, that means a lot of guys, few women(unless they were wives). All because the Navy doesn't have women on subs. I gotta tell ya, there was a lot of talent up in there. So much eye candy! It is a beautiful thing that these guy's jobs include having to be physically fit. As a single women, I felt like a kid in a candy shop. I was totally tempted to change my school aps over to only in the Groton area... Ok, not so much. The men are great, but the ratio of LDS to not-so-LDS is too great to make altering my educational pursuits an option.

More seriously, I am so stoked to be going back to school! So after chatting with my mum, (again!) I realized that we had a serious miscommunication going on. She thought I was stopping at my bachelor' degree; that I planned to be a social worker and that was that... My real plans are to get the master's and be a counselor. A bit of a pay grade difference, not to mention the whole extra pieces of paper thing... I had been going back and forth over where to go, and what to pursue, for some time. Still not sure where I'll end up, but the pursuit is finalized. I will be finishing up the social work bachelor's degree, then off to a good master's program. Hopefully I'll be able to use my marketable skills in the meantime. I have no interest in being the "poor college student" for long. At the least I will need some dinero to keep my car, The Silver Bullet, fed and doctored up.

Clear skies and smooth sailing ahead. "In the Navy" can be heard on the wind... Or maybe that is just in my head.

Please comment and share.

Thank you,

The Tallgurrl

The Third Wheel or How I Became Superfluous at the Party I Planned

My 2009 birthday consisted of being "kidnapped" by my friends and taken to Boston. My kidnapping was a very Patty Hearst type, in that I went willingly, but I definitely did NOT sleep with my kidnappers. (Get your mind outta the gutter!).
My friend Dom was one of the kidnappers, and his birthday was three days before the new year. We didn't get to celebrate it, as he spent it with his family, and then all the New Year's celebrating happened.

So, I decided to surprise him with some dinner, friends, and frolic. I made a "date" with him, and we took the "T" subway into Boston. Our destination: Fire and Ice, our favorite restaurant. I had previously arranged for some of our friends to meet us there. When we got there, "Surprise" "Happy Birthday" and all that. What followed was a loud, laugh-filled chattering dinner, where we closed the restaurant.

By that time, our group halved. Some had work the next day, and others were the rides. All that were left: Me, Dom, and a girl who used to date Dom-Songbird. I thought Songbird had gotten over the whole not dating Dom anymore thing and had moved on to being "just friends." WRONG! We were parked at the same subway station, so rode together. For the next 30 minutes she flirted shamelessly, and worked very hard to reintroduce herself into Dom's heart. Now, I have no interest in ever dating Dom in a serious way. I like casual dates with him, where we have fun. I like his company, but he is way too young in all things important to me for it to move out of "friend zone".

I think the clincher to when I was beyond uncomfortable was when she moved in as though to kiss him, but just not. Dom did nothing to either encourage or discourage her. That was irrelevant. Apparently so was I. If I'd realized just how much Songbird was still hung up on Dom I would never have included her in the group. I refuse to be the Yenta in my circle of friends any more. So that said, the fun friend evening I planned turned into a big Zuzu the Third Wheel night.

There won't be a next time, as this time next year I will be living in the Rockies. I think the thing that upset me the most was that they both know that, and that I will not be moving back to the East Coast. Vacationing to see family, but never to live there again. That night was the last big night out with my friends. I'm working too many hours and trying to fulfill too big a calling to stay out late with friends any more. Oh well... Maybe they'll send me a virtual postcard when I've moved.


PS. I realize this is a whiny post... Get over it. I'm sure this has happened to many people, just this is a first to me, and I wanted to put it into cyber-space. ;-p

The weather is murky, friendships strained, and a question hangs in the air. Perhaps the brisk wind will come down from the hills to clear the air.

Please comment and share. I love your thoughts.

Thanks,

The Tallgurrl

Speaking of Weather

So I was dreaming of a "white Christmas"... If I'd really been thinking about it, I would have made a clause that said that it all had to melt off by New Year's day.

Really, though, it is so beautiful outside that my breath gets caught... Wait, that's the cold and wind stealing my breath! So living in New England has been a trip and a half. And to continue in the tradition of living somewhere that gets a lot of snow, I'm applying only to schools in Utah and Idaho. So far, UVU, U of U, and BYU-I have received the benefit of my fine applications. I am hoping to hear positive things from them. I also plan to apply to Weber, Westminster, and maybe Snow. I just want to keep my options open, as well as to be sure at least one school in the Rockies is host to me.

So that's all I got... And: that's what she said.

Please give your input, as I love your thoughts.

Thanks ,

The Tallgurrl

Year-end Wrap-up (and many other hyphened words)

So to start... Or maybe its to finish: 2009 was a pretty good year. Lots of random dating. I met a few guys, dated them, and added yet another crop of men to my ever increasing collection of male friends. I was talking with one of them who had the exact opposite situation. Most of his friends are women. What does that say about us?

I tried a few new things. Went to my first-ever New England-style clambake. (I also decided that day that the best way to have clams is cooked over hot coals on a beach.) Another new thing, started to learn Argentine tango... It is kinda difficult to dance with a partner who is shorter than you, but I'm managing to learn. It looks so beautiful when experienced dancers are going at it... Somehow I'm making it look painful. I guess that is the learning process, though. I think the favorite new thing I did this year is taking a Zumba class. For the uninitiated, Zumba is a cardio class that incorporates the dance stylings of Latin dances, as well at hip-hop, and whatever else the instructor chooses to use for choreography. My best friend, in addition to being my partner in crime for all things involving revelry, is also a certified Zumba instructor. She started teaching classes for my Relief Society, and I just loved it. The work-out is more intense than sprinting for 3 miles, and more work than a day of skiing. It is a lot of fun, and the music is such that it makes you want to move.

I know that in past years I have scoffed at making resolutions. Instead saying I make revolutions. (Yes I have a bunch of guerrillas wandering with guns that make sure my goals are accomplished and demands met.) I'm making a resolution for 2010. In 2009, I both sprained and broke my foot. There was a several month space between each injury, but the result was the same... My exercise regime was stalled. Now I am not a fat woman, but I think I could gain to lose a few pounds and tone here and there. A trainer friend once told me I would never be a Kate Moss, but I have the potential to be a tall Scarlett Johanssen. With that in mind, my resolution-revolution is to gain more physical fitness for 2010. I would like to run a half-marathon some time during the year, and I really want to train for a tri. I have already found a few programs to aid me in my pursuits. Mostly I am concerned with stamina, but the distance running goals will have great spill-over into strength as well. I think I'll be able to do the leg presses I did when I played sports in high school, in the end.

Speaking of school... The year 2010 is the year I get myself back into college. Yes, people you read correct. I am re-enrolling, hopefully at BYU-Idaho. The plan is for me to finally finish my Social Work degree, and get to stepping on doing grad school. In a perfect world, I would be able to double major in social work and nursing, but I think that dream may not come to fruition. I'll just be a phlebotomy doing, salsa dancing, social worker/counselor. My biggest challenge is in writing all of the essays. For me, writing anything is very difficult. I definitely have the intelligence, and the vocabulary. But translating the verbal, vocal-ness into something written is akin to having a first year resident perform open-heart surgery. Not impossible, but very difficult, and a little scary. I am blessed with an amazing sister, though. She promised to take a look at my attempts and give me some notes. I'm hoping my writing skills haven't diminished too much from under-usage.

So to sum up: 2009 was a pretty good year. 2010 has a lot of potential and promise. I have a lot of work to do. My family and friends are the greatest. Faith and hope get me through the tough times.

The snow makes a blanket of white, and for interesting driving. Give yourself extra time, both to clean off your car and to arrive safely.

Please give your input and share.

Thanks,

The Tallgurrl

A cool new bike...

I would love one of these!!!!

Is There an Age Limit for This Ride?

Throughout my life people would mistake my age. In high school, I wandered the halls without a pass, because many people thought I was a senior. In junior high, people would ask me which college I was applying for and how I did on the SATs. I was never carded, until I was 21.

This trend is taking a slightly different bent now. I'm in my late 20s(OK I'll be 30 at the end of the summer). Now I get the other end of the spectrum. I have people constantly underestimating my age. I have a few patients who are convinced that I am 19 and won't hear a word different. Usually, I get somewhere between 23-25. While talking this over with my best friend I came to the decision that its a good thing. We are youthful, in touch with our inner child, fun loving... All while having the hint of responsibility in our makeup.

My question is where does the age limit get placed in the dating world? Does age really matter? I'm thinking not so much. As a very healthy woman, I intend to live a long and active life. One of the main contributors to my youthful appearance is that I keep the Word of Wisdom. It is a type of health code that was made a commandment. People often mock Mormons for their non-consumption of alcohol and tobacco. But the truth is, most LDS peoples live to old ages, and are active right up to the end.

By living this lifestyle, the body is better able to be maintained. In my case, I have such a young, not wrinkled countenance that yet again someone under-bid on my age. Sadly, this someone is probably put off by my age now. (He is 22, and still in college.) Now, I have a bit of a confession to make. While I am very open to dating anyone, I do actually have age limits for myself. I decided a very long time ago that I would never date someone who is more than 5 years younger than me... This guy, however, has me reassessing my outlook. We'll see if anything comes of it. But for now, I'm just going to enjoy the ride, and the ... Summer?

The air is warm, the skies partly cloudy, and the surf is medium. It is a perfect beach day, so enjoy it.

Please give your thoughts and feelings, and share.

Thanks,

The Tallgurrl

Signs of Spring

I follow the writings of my friend's mother in the NH Mirror. Her column is called the Single Cynic. It makes me laugh. I wrote a reply and much to my surprise, it was printed in the June edition. Here's an excerpt from what I wrote...


I was driving home from work the other day, talking to one of my "coupled" friends. She was complaining about how she doesn't have time to herself... How she is always busy, and I'm so lucky not to have a man in my life who takes up my free time.
Meanwhile, she is planning her August wedding.
As I listened to her babble on and on about how "totally rough" it all is, I looked at the spring beauties that I was driving past. I was thinking about the symbolism of them. Birth, togetherness, coupledom, marriage, new beginnings. The birds, flowers and little furry animals all seem to show hope...
Then Mother Nature gave me a blazing sign of where my romantic life is at the time. A huge, ugly turkey vulture swooped down to land near my car. I don't know if you've ever seen them, but turkey vultures are probably the ugliest, scariest, most nauseating creatures on the earth.
And that isn't even mentioning the fact that they are carrion birds.
Suffice it to say, I finally got it. YES, I'm single. Mother Nature has too much of a sense of humor for my taste. I think I need to look for signs of spring in a city from now on.


Now this isn't to say I'm bitter about the whole single thing... More to say, I laugh very hard at it... Then I get over it and hang out with my friends.

Please comment and share... You know how I love to know what you are thinking.

Thanks,

The Tallgurrl