I remember where I was on September 11, 2001.  I was in seventh grade and it was still early in the school day.  I stood in Clark Lane Middle School between the 2 staircases that meet in front of the Old Gym.  I remember it being sunny outside.  It was my friend Danyle’s 12^th birthday so we were all standing around her when someone mentioned something about the Twin Towers being on fire.  Not thinking anything of it, I walked down the stairs to Mrs. Dickerson’s Living Skills class where the TV was on.  On the screen were the two Towers, one bellowing smoke and flames.  As me and a few other classmates watched, the second plane hit and the teacher decided that was enough, and the TV went off.  Later on that day I remember classmates being slowly picked up from school by parents and family members.  Upon arriving home, my mom and my sister were already home, 2 things that never happened.

Every year I hear about 10 “I remember where I was” stories and every year I sit with my Dad in our living room watching September 11^th specials on TV while my Mom, unable to watch them, sit upstairs.  And I cry every year.  No matter if the special is on Discovery Channel or the Sci-Fi Channel, I cry.  I cry and get the same sense of anger as I watch the plane cut through the South Tower like butter. But I’ve sat there, every year for the past 11 years, and watched those specials because I felt it is my duty to understand the stories of those involved in that day.  If I can sit here, in my house, with my family, in one piece, it is my duty to re-live September 11, 2001 every year through the stories of those at Ground Zero. 

Every year I think how fortunate I am to be where I am today, surrounded by people who love and care for me, fortunate to be able to tell my family that I love them when so many don’t have that option anymore.

And although every year I hear those 10 “I remember where I was” stories, they never get old.  For everyone on that fateful day was at a different stage in their life. For me, I was still a middle schooler with braces.  For my Dad, he was working installing windows at my uncle’s when he heard it on the radio.  For my sister, she was still in elementary school, probably unsure what was happening around her.  Everyone was at a different stage in their life but this one momentous event brought us all together and I realized what a great country I get to live in.

Every year as I watch those September 11^th specials and hear about the man who died helping his handicapped co-worker or the firefighter who ran into the building knowing it was burning, I am proud to say I live amongst some of the greatest and most courageous people on the planet.

#NeverForget911 #GodBlessAmerica

I know it's been a while and I just realized blogging is the best way to not only keep my loving family in the loop whom I don't see all the time, but it is also a great stress reliever since I have a profound love for writing.

Well, since we last talked I have landed a job.  A full-time, benefits paying, 9-5 job.  The working world is everything anyone said it would be in my little cube down here in B1 of Mohegan Sun.  No sunlight, no exercise, binging on iced coffees all while staring at a screen for 8 hours everyday. AND I LOVE IT.  After waiting for so long this job was just what I had been waiting around so long for.  Chris was right, it just takes time but it will be so worth it.  My boyfriend is such a cutesy, optimistic thing sometimes :)

So in light of my big change, it deemed fit to change my blog name and description because even though I am  not in the same exact place in life that I was in 5 months ago, I still am the same girl with some of the same struggles.

However, I have found that since landing my job here at Mohegan as a PR Specialist I have begun to ponder  big, ADULT decisions, almost overnight.  That was weird.  Starting to think about apartments and salaries and engagements and things of that sort, just HAPPENED.  It was very strange.  And for all of you who are wondering if that was all a HINT to what is coming, please stop.  I am still living in my cozy Colonial with my 2 lovely parents (minus sister who moves back to college today, hooray only child!) and my boyfriend is still as boyfriendy as he's always been.  And I've never been happier.

Figuring it all out, one step at a time, has been such a blast.

Til next time...

Toms..

Oh yes!  And Christopher bought me a couple pairs of Toms shoes for my birthday (black and the white crocheted).  I thought they were for a good cause and wanted to try them and if anyone out there wants a cute spring shoe...INVEST!!

Super comfortable for a flat shoe lady like myself ;)

Good evening lovers...

Hey guys!! I know it's been a week and a day since I have visited and I know I have left you all high and dry but please don't think I have forgotten about you! 

So much has happened lately that I need to catch you all up on!  Later on down the road I might dedicate posts expanding on certain topics but for now, let me just list.

First of all, I have had a few different job leads!  I have come to know that good things take time so for now, I am just going through the motions.  I have had an interview, though, for a company that I would just die to work for (insert sigh here).  I won't go into TOO much detail for fear of jinxing myself but I will expand later if need be. (PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEE HAVE NEEEEDDD BEEE!!!!)

On another totally different note, Chris' younger brother Conor won SWC's and CT State Opens this past month in the 113 weight class and I couldn't be happier for him.  I don't get the chance enough to verbalize how proud of him I am but he truely is an outstanding human being and everything a great competitor should be.  He has set NUMEROUS records for New Milford High School and has had a fantastic career up to this point.  Go Conor, you da man and whatever college you choose is more than lucky to have you :)

I have been trying to eat healthier!  When I say "try" I mean it is my second day so let's not get ahead of ourselves yet....I am still going through the phase where I can't resist the Girl Scout cookies if I walk by them but HEY, I am doing my best and they aren't AWFUL in moderation.............

OK, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ARE JUDGING ME!!!!!

The diet requires me to cut out processed things and stick to eating things that don't require my stomach to work as hard as it has been for the past 23 years of my life.  But so far so good!

23!  I forgot to add I recently had a birthday!  :) :) Nothing, I repeat NOTHING, beats birthdays.  It is the ultimate confidence booster because you are being reminded how much people love you for 24 hours straight!  Maybe that's why we have one every year, to remind us that there are people out there that enjoy you and appreciate you in their lives :)

Again, sorry for my absence and I promise to be around more.  I forgot how therapeutic it is to write!

Til next time...