HURRICANES & DRIZZLES

Well, this post is going to be incredibly long so bear with me.
Let me get you up to speed with my life as of late.
Right after I wrote my last blog post, I sailed off to Augusta to visit my family. I spent all of that night crying and woke up Monday thinking I would feel a bit better. I was completely burnt out from working both of my jobs for four days in a row, that last day being a fifteen hour day, and I was in a fight with my roommate about a boy; so of course nothing seemed right with the world. As I rolled over that morning I immediately began to cry again and knew I needed to escape. I threw some shirts and hoodie into an overnight bag, grabbed my leg pump and Bernard my teddy bear, left the roommate a note, and blew out of town like a stiff wind. I didn't tell anyone I was coming, I just drove and drove and cried and listened to old mixed c.d.s. As soon as I got into Augusta all I could think about was getting to my house and seeing my Momma. I walked in to surprise her and we both immediately started crying. I stayed for a couple of days, a visit I needed more than anything. Outside of my family I only saw one of my closest friends and I'm thankful for that time we had together. Going back home completely renewed me and reminded me what I moved away for in the first place: to find myself away from everyone I knew and to prove that I could survive on my own will and strength. I left Augusta sad that I wasn't going to see my family for a long while, but thankful to be getting away from the town that has never quite felt like home.
As I pulled onto my street I was met with a sense of happiness and joy that hasn't really left me since that day. I wake up happy and encouraged to be here. True, my parents have helped me along the way, but paying for all of my bills last month gave me a feeling of satisfaction that I want to feel every month. I'd rather be eating sunflower seeds than ever ask my parents for money again. I actually find myself texting my manager to ask her if she needs people and that I would love to come in because I genuinely love my job and the people I have let into my life that work there.
As far as all the partying and bar hopping, I'm pretty much over it. I'd rather have an early or late dinner and drinks at a restaurant, or meet up with a few friends late at night for drinks at a quiet bar. I do still have the urge to go dancing or to go to the crowded hangs on Thursdays, but my body reminds me on Friday mornings when I have a nine hour work day ahead of me that I'm an idiot. Plus, I'm not this person that drinks this much, and I need to remember that it's good to have a great time, but sometimes too much is too much and it needs to be dropped down a whole heck of a lot.
The guys of this city are more so boys than men. I've gone out with a couple and let's just say neither were grade A by a long shot. Firstly, I don't have time for games and bullshit. If I like someone, I like them and I wish that guys had that same mindset. Even though both guys were twenty-six and twenty-seven they still acted like they were twenty-one. I'm good for more than a quick bite to eat and a night of him trying to make moves on me while I'm equally trying to watch the movie we spent twenty minutes picking out on Netflix. (Disclaimer: Making Out is beyond fun, yes, but at least let me watch the movie and then get me to kiss you, jeeze.) It's obvious that I haven't met the right one yet and I'm not surprised. I honestly would love to have a boyfriend, but I'm not the kind of girl to go out in search for one. He just needs to happen upon me while I'm sitting in Starbucks drinking a salted-caramel hot chocolate and reading "The Fault In Our Stars" and we will instantly bond over our love for horror movies and used book stores. It's gonna be great y'all!
Long of the short is that I'm beyond happy here. Sure there are rough days that I want to tell myself I'm an idiot for moving here, but all in all, it's been an amazing experience that I wouldn't trade for anything. There is always something happening here and the hustle and bustle is more than inspiring. I meet new and interesting people on a daily, yes daily, basis. One of the guys I went out with was from Australia for crying out loud! I actually enjoy walking around the city, no matter how many blocks, and I love knowing street names and the quick route to places in this short amount of time I've been here. It's also nice knowing who actually misses you; who takes the time to reach out to you and call or text you... I've realized who my friends are and for that alone I'm thankful. I'm finally finding myself, as cliché as that sounds. Now I'm just trying to find my own voice and group of friends; I'm tired of being a group package / not having my own people outside from my other group. It's a process, but I'm forcing myself to open up to people and form relationships and that's making me a stronger person.
Chucktown is my heart and soul - y'all just don't even know.