2 Years Down...14 months to go.

I know I've said this a lot, but I cannot believe how fast these past 2 years have gone! I was reading through a few old posts today and also realized how very different my life was 2 years ago. (Warning the following is mostly a sentimental break down of the past 2 years that no one is probably interested in but me...but since it's my blog I'm putting it out there.)

2 years ago today I stepped on an airplane in Syracuse not knowing what a Mormon was, having never lived more than 400 miles from home and knowing that when I landed I had yet to secure a place to live and a vehicle. It was all very overwhelming. But I managed to get through it. The first year consisted of me mostly finding my feet and my wings...I had to make friends, learn about my job and what was expected of me and somehow find a way to deal with these Mormon folk. I was secure in the fact that I was dating a guy that assured me he would be there forever and always support me and my career, even if he was 2000 miles away. Well apparently forever is about 4.5 months. That fiasco ended and it was probably one of the best things that could have happened. It forced me to live the big girl single life wondering if I was going to die alone with my cats. I did go on a couple of dates...unfortunately all those dates were in New York...so not the ideal way to start a relationship.

The job was also frustrating at times. I felt like I wasted my time getting my masters and that the things I was doing I probably didn't even need a college degree to do...or at least not my college degree...sometimes I wish I was an engineer so I would understand some of the jargon. I worked on several different programs before they finally settled me on the one I continue to work on today. I was fortunate enough to find a "Utah dad" and he has become the one person that watches out for me. Not that I need someone to baby sit me, but it can be intimidating as a single girl living alone (especially when one of your guy friends goes loco and talks a lot about his guns.) So it's comforting to know that if I don't show up to work...he would be calling and finding out where I am within the hour.

I made an awesome group of friends in year 1. Unfortunately at the start of year 2, they all moved. So I made another awesome group of friends. I got the full Vegas experience and I got dragged out against my will once every weekend to hang out. It was exactly what I needed. Unfortunately some of them have moved too...but I still have a few friends hanging around.

At the end of year 1, I was so ready to be out of here. Then I started really traveling. To date I have been on 117 planes since August 24th 2006. That's kind of a lot of traveling (considering most of my trips are at least one week long.) I started to wonder why I had an apartment...I should really just live in a hotel. During this time of insane travel I lost one of my biggest cheerleaders, my grandmother. She loved this blog and always told me I should publish it cause she was going to be the first one to buy a copy of that book. It was incredibly hard being 2000 miles away and getting that phone call and knowing that I might not make it home in time. Knowing that every member of my family was already there and I was the oddball stuck out in Utah. But fortunately for me Jet Blue didn't suck...just this once and got me home. Then it was back on the road again and before I knew it...it was ski season.

Now I have never ever tried skiing or snowboarding before December 2007 and if you follow the blog you know how infuriated I was by snowboarding. I just couldn't get it...and it was this frustration that made me stick with it. Then I got hooked. I snowboarded by myself and I found that there was something very relaxing about being by yourself on a mountain, ok not totally by myself, there were other people there, but I would essentially be alone all day. I think I got pretty good...that is until I had company. That's when Gracie Lou stepped out and broke her arm (Grandma would have been proud.) Fortunately for me though I had a very sweet guy that was willing to take care of me and drive my butt around all weekend. And yes, he's 2000 miles away also (well 2050 but who's counting?) He asked me to be his girlfriend and I thought he was crazy. I mean if I had just spent all weekend taking care of a guy cause he broke himself...I might be cautious about seeing him again. But we have seen each other since, and yes we are still together, despite my cousin's best efforts. I'm not sure how serious it is, I'm not sure how serious I want it to be and I'm not exactly sure what his feelings are about me, my career and our relationship. I think we are taking things one day at a time and enjoying each other when we see each other. That's my observation at least.

When I moved to Utah I thought I would never be able to play my French Horn again. Music has been such a huge part of my life for so many years, that I was upset at the possibility that I would never again get to play (yes I know...I'm a HUGE nerd). I was lucky enough though to find out about the Ogden Concert Band and then I got recruited for the biggest gig of my life...playing with the Weber State Wind Ensemble at Carnegie Hall! It's April 8, 2009 for any of you who would like to come see me.

So I have things to look forward to in year 3. And I also know where the AF is going to send me at the end of this year...so now I have to make the decision about whether I should stay with the AF or if I should try to find another job, which is scary, but exciting. I can't believe it's August...and wedding season is almost about to start. And I haven't even started thinking about writing that toast yet! And after wedding season...it's ski season again!! Then it's time to move! And there are still so many things I want to see in this state (and surrounding states) that I haven't gotten to see yet...so I'm hoping to find time to do that as well. 14 more months...yeah, I can do that.

That is all.