Howdy! Hope ya’ll had a very happy Labor Day! This is my
second Labor Day Weekend in Dallas, which means I’ve officially made it a year
in Texas! Still a little shocked I survived this long, especially with the ever
looming fear of contracting West Nile from the pesky, murderous mosquitoes
you’ve probably seen on the news. It’s
kind of turned into a problem and I’ve taken extra precautions this summer by wearing
nothing but turtlenecks, cargo pants, and mosquito nets fashioned into a Burka
for when I go on my evening runs. I don’t mess around. I mean people are dying
and I’d like to think my immune system is stronger than that of a 95-year-old
man but let’s be real, we all have our off days.
Despite the fact that this recent holiday usually implies
that people should take a break from working I have done quite the opposite.
This weekend was moving time so I have had my hands full convincing strangers
on Craigslist that they should buy my cheap Ikea furniture, boxing up my
belongings, and spraying 409 on everything in sight. I am pretty excited about my new place because
not only do I finally have access to a pool and exercise facility, but for the
first time ever I have a washer and dryer that doesn’t require quarters to
start a cycle ! It really is the little things in life.
1.
I finally got my first job as a Graphic Designer,
which alone made the move worth it. At age 26 I was really starting to stress
about how this whole career thing was going to get started but I feel like I’ve
learned a lot this year and that I’m finally catching my stride as a designer.
2.
I ran my first marathon!
3.
After years of devoted television watching I
finally met the talented, beautiful and New York Times best selling author
Lauren Conrad. I’m talking about LC of Laguna Beach and The Hills and yes,
meeting her was definitely on my “unwritten” bucket list. Where my fascination
and love with her stems from I’ll never know. What I do know is I don’t think
I’ve ever been more nervous in my life than during the meet and greet at Barnes
and Noble to promote her new book “The Fame Game”. I swear every teenage girl in the Dallas/Fort
Worth area was there and I was a one out of five guys, three of which were
boyfriends who were simply there to document the whole thing. Luckily I had my
office BFF Marlee to provide moral support, take pictures, and she may have
packed a few smelling salts in the likelihood that I passed out in front of
Lauren. Fortunately I kept it together despite the fact that girls were
literally in tears at the thought of talking to her and I was being asked
questions such as “what are you going to say to her!?!?!” or “will it be weird
if I tell her she’s perfect, because I think she is!?!?” When my turn came to
approach the book signing table I literally had an out of body experience. I
completely forgot my monologue that I had rehearsed and I had such bad cotton
mouth that I could barely squeak out a hello. Even though things didn’t go as
planned and I was reduced to acting like every other school girl in the room,
Lauren was the sweetest and hopefully at the next signing I’ll be able to keep
more cool, calm, and collected.
4.
I joined my first softball league! My friends
Bart and Jason somehow convinced Robbie and I to join their team, Taddy’s
Terriers, despite the fact that all games were held on Sunday morning, which
can be a bit rough for an A-List socialite like myself. Not that I was worried at all about my talent
because I used to be a pretty big deal in the Walla Walla Valley Farm League.
Granted it was over 15 years ago but age is just a number. After my coach made
the mistake of thinking I was cut out for the outfield he put me on 2nd
base for the remainder of the season and I must say it was a much better fit.
Turns out my hand eye coordination with fly balls ain’t what it was in 3rd
grade. But the end of the season I was voted the distinguished and sought after
title of Most Improved. By now I’m used to accolades and critics choice awards
and obviously I saw myself more as the Team MVP but beggars can’t be choosers.
Robbie got Best Defensive and although you can’t count on him to throw a ball
to first and have it be in the general vicinity of the 1st baseman
he sure knows how to hit a home run.
5.
I survived my first twister!
6.
I’m fairly certain I’m on a reality show and no
one told me/failed to have me sign a consent form. Literally everywhere I turn I see a cast
member from A-List Dallas and Dallas
Most Eligible. The person I see the most is Matt Nordgren from Most Eligible
and I’ve run into him buying jeans at the gap, watching a charity fashion show,
and most recently at a Tuesday night worship service for young professionals.
We of course haven’t talked but I assume it’s because the producers are trying
to start of feud between us. Last week I went for a run on Katy Trail and ran
by Glenn Pakulak from Most Eligible and I debated talking to him about the
whole thing but I’m pretty sure I wasn’t mic’d
and there didn’t seem to be any cameras in sight so I didn’t see the
point of having the conversation. Bravo recently confirmed that Courtney is
going to have her own show soon and I’m expecting a letter from producers
begging me to be her sassy male friend. I”ll consider it, but I may need to
call LC to get her blessing before making any final decisions.
But most of all, thank you to all the wonderful folks I've met during my year here. It wouldn't have been half as fun with you :)
