Blogging Anniversary-The Year in Review

Today is the one year anniversary of when I began my blog. I have a penchant for milestones, as they foster reflection on time and break up the monotony of life.

The only thing that comes to mind is how rapidly my life has changed since I began writing this blog.

A year ago, I was living on my friend's couch in Decatur, GA. I was impatiently awaiting news on my dissertation prospectus and trying to figure out if I was going to remain in school. I was still with my bastard ex boyfriend. I had just returned from a summer in LA in which I had started working in market research and reconsidering my life options. I was an anxious wreck and had no idea where life was going to take me.  I was so angry and resentful of academia, that I envisioned my blog to be an ongoing criticism of the university system.

Since that time, many things have happened that have altered the course of my life probably forever.

That fall, I flew back to California, drove my truck out to GA, and figured I would be staying awhile. I changed my dissertation project out of desperation, started hanging with my roommate and partying like a madwoman. I developed a shopping addiction. I went to Chicago to see my friend Mitch for Halloween. I had a terrible horrible heartbreak and break-up with my ex. In the midst of all that, I met the wonderful man that I am with now.

Chicago

I went to New Orleans for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. I brought in the new year with my new man and started falling in love.

That February, I had the best Valentine's Day to date. I left graduate school with an MA in women's studies. Not what I had hoped for, but part of me was very relieved to be finished with school. After a trip to Washington DC to see my brother, I thought for a while that I would go back and do my PhD elsewhere.

On March 2, I moved to New Orleans. I basically came for Mardi Gras and fell in love with New Orleans. My roommate came out for the festivities
                                                                               and we had a blast.

Mardi Gras with my Roomie

I started a job hunt that never seemed like it was going to end. I sold books online to make extra cash and founded my online bookstore, Valley Girl Books.

I went to California for a visit and visited my father's grave on the anniversary of his death. I hadn't seen it since it was set in the ground, because I had avoided going home for nine months so that I wouldn't accidentally see my ex or even consider taking him back after how he had treated me.

In early June, I took a road trip that lasted three weeks. I drove from Louisiana to California, through Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon and California. Then I flew to Dallas for an interview. I visited my girl Patty in Dallas and had a blast with her. I came back to New Orleans for a few days to see my man, and then went back to California. I got sick for ten days when I got back and has the worst fever I can ever remember having.

First Crawfish Boil in New Orleans

At that point, I decided that I was going to go back to school for a teaching credential. I spent 3 weeks in Los Angeles and then drove back to New Orleans alone. I went through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas. Caught up with some friends along the way. Saw Santa Fe and Dallas (again), and then came back to New Orleans.

Santa Fe-Road trip #3 this year

When I got back, I realized that the teaching credential wasn't going to work out and started looking for work again. I was a little freaked, considering I turned down 3 jobs (in Dallas, New Jersey, and Detroit) to come back here.

Hanging with my old friend in Dallas. Aren't we hot?

But, things quickly worked out. I am now teaching sociology at community college and working as a freelance writer for a market research firm.

It has been a crazy and very eventful year. I am glad I left Emory, moved to New Orleans, and only made a slight career change. I am so happy with the person I am with now, it is hard to imagine the heartache and drama that I was experiencing last year around this time.

The bottom line is: change is good. Even when we think it may be going in a terrible direction, sometimes a new path can make a person feel new again. =)

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