Where's Abby (+ Dylan and dogs)

Where's Abby now? Feeling ridiculously blessed sitting on my new front porch steps from the beach. Update time?! I was offered a job in my field that I'm super excited about. I'll be starting as a residential counselor at a great children's organization in Jacksonville next Tuesday. I finished all my paperwork on Wednesday so I've been extremely enjoying this free time before work starts. You might think "she's been unemployed for like four months, how much more free time does she need?" Not so. That was so stressful and just plain not fun. But patience pays off. Turning down job offers may have seemed like a bad idea, but I'm glad I kept trying for what I wanted. Sorry, Dad for prolonging that period! ;) But I got the job, found a place to live, and am so excited about what's happening. I mean, this week I moved in with a roommate and his cuddly cat, Chomp (go Gators!), in a little apartment in Jax Beach. The place (plus the older man roommate...

Run River North : My new obsession right now. I mean listen to that voice! So, I finally had a night of not only realistic, practical thinking, but I also finally got back to my dreams, values, and opinions. For a while there, I felt like I didn't have a strong preference to any option and lost sight of what I even wanted. I'm still not 100% set on one goal (which is not my way of thinking anyway, as I've learned that just makes disappointment so likely). But I do have a better idea of what I want, how to get it, and where to do it.  For a while, I was so set on Colorado and wanting to make that happen as soon as possible. But with my economic and job situation right now it was simply not possible. So, I was thinking of just getting whatever job to save and move there ASAP.  BUT, this monumental, practical, clear thinking set in the other night, and I realized that I need to just go ahead and get grounded here. I actually ruled out the NYC/Chicago nanny option ...

Thanks to a new friend, Charlie, I got to go to the Tampa Bay Rays' playoff game last night! I thought it was my first pro game but apparently the Jacksonville Suns count. I, of course, had to partake in the traditional baseball festivities, indulging in Cracker Jacks, nachos, AND a hotdog. Yeah. Kinda cancelled out my paleo breakfast and lunch.                                                        Favorite things about the night?                             1. Getting the best mahi mahi sandwich ever and drinks before the game              2. The crazy fans we had surrounding us, making it even more entertaining, a little risque, and quite                             ...

This week back home could be described as tiring, trying, and eye opening. It was my first week as a substitute teacher and it went pretty well! I taught science to 6th-8th graders... the grades I always said I would never want to teach. Heck, I've always said that during those ages, I hope to send my own kids off to my brothers until they're out of that awkward stage. But I survived, they were surprisingly better than I expected, and I enjoyed a lot about teaching this older group. I do think I'll stick with the little ones, though. Blessing number 1: getting to work with some of the sweetest women that actually used to be my teachers. It was an interesting and cool experience having lunch with my former teachers as coworkers now. It made me feel like such an adult! (And them "so old!") It really was a great working environment though being surrounded by such kind, helpful people. Blessing 2: waking up for coffee with Mom before school. So, maybe a coupl...

This sums up the last two months of my life pretty accurately. As one of my friends recently pointed out, it's hard to keep track of my life right now. I haven't bothered blogging too much about it because, well, everything was so up in the air I figured I'd wait til there was something a little more stable and concrete. Which it still isn't at that point now, even, but it's pretty entertaining with this collection of ridiculousness.  Job and House Confusion I'm not sure I even remember the sequence of all the events since I've been home, AKA America. To somewhat start from the beginning, I had that job at the coffee shop for a day. Quit that due to crazy boss lady. Moved back to Ocala searching for jobs and babysat for several families in the meantime. Didn't find any substantial jobs here so when I had (what I thought was) a solid living situation and potential job, I headed back to Jacksonville. I got one sales job opportunity and continued the...

      Last weekend, Leslie and I took a much needed mini vacation to Sarasota to visit some friends.    This pup and I walked around St.Augustine while Les got her education on before heading down on Friday.   On the trip down, we stopped to eat at an ordinary Panera, and walked out to the patio to find this view. Heathrow Panera, you win.  We made it to this #1 rated beach in the U.S, but it unfortunately wasn't at its usual beauty, and I not up to par to fully enjoy it. The salt water did its best at healing the effects of the wine. I'm convinced American wine is not at all as friendly or forgiving as Danish wine.  Our last night involved a ridiculous moonlit sky, a walk around Marina Jacks,  and drinks by the water at this tiki bar, O'Leary's .   Before heading out on Sunday morning, we had breakfast at this cute cafe and omelettes that changed our lives.  (Photo Credit: Leslie) On the...

I realized I've left out a lot of good stories in the last month that have made unemployment not so bad! ;)    We'll start with my cousin's wedding. Her and her hubby celebrated their marriage at their perfectly decorated lake house. It was  such a fun wedding with the (fully clothed) wedding party jumping in the lake, delicious food, one of the best wedding cakes I've had, and an awesome atmosphere of friendly people. The wedding party in the lake on the bottom left because... "Well, why not?!" We took a quick pitstop on the way to the wedding to see Falling Water State Park. One of (or the only) waterfall in Florida. Definitely worth it. More great memories at The River with Mark, Denise, and some extra family members one afternoon. Dad and I had a nice, quick kayak around, we all chilled by the river, got an unexpected spray by an air boat, and had a delicious meal at Swampy's. (Where else?!) Photo credit: Cindy! My first s...