Every January 1st I throw out a couple cliche resolutions like “losing weight” and “saving money” and by January 2nd I’m usually thigh deep into a greasy cheese pizza while shopping online for brand new clothes that I can’t even fit into my already overstuffed closet.  I’m sure I’ll kick myself later for declaring this publicly on the internet, but this year just seems different.  This might be the first year in my life that I accomplish a few, if not all, of my goals.  Maybe that’s why it’s taken me 12 days to sit down and write this post, and 12 days to even declare my resolutions.  I haven’t over thought anything or jumped to any bold resolutions just because the date was January 1st.  This year I’ve taken time to mull things over, reevaluate my life and quietly decide on things that I want, I need! to change.

I think this year feels so different for a few reasons.  On December 31st as I stood in front of the mirror primping myself for a calm night out with my family to celebrate the New Year I noticed a few things.

1. I’m fat.  Ok, I’m not wildly obese and on the verge of being crane-lifted out of my apartment and rushed to the hospital on a flat-bed truck, but I’m fat.  Like, need to lose the 40lbs that I’ve gained since college, fat.
2. I’m old.  Yes, my mom is probably rolling her eyes and laughing at this one, but I literally pulled 4 silver-white hairs from my head as I got ready for New Year’s Eve dinner.  I could chalk it up to stress (that happens right?) but then it dawned on me that 2012 is the last year of my 20s!  Sure, I have 11 months till I hit the big 3-0, but it’s happening this year and as cliche as it sounds turning 30 terrifies me.  The whole “What have I done with my life? I thought I’d be so much further along by now.” is a whole other post on its on.  I could go on and on about about all the things 10 years ago I would’ve sworn I would have/done by 30.
3. I’m tired.  Yes, I’m always tired physically, I could literally nap 3 or 4 times a day like a newborn baby, but that probably has a lot to do with #1.  This kind of tired is different.  I’m tired of settling.  Settling on my job, sure it’s a job, it pays descent, but is it really what I want to be doing for the rest of the my life? Is my career going anywhere? Sometimes I feel like I’m on a hamster wheel running furiously but not going anywhere at all.  I’m tired of doing the sames thing over and over, my life sometimes seems so monotonous.  Wake up, eat, work, nap, eat, drink, watch tv, shop, sleep, repeat.  I need some variety.  I need to try new things.

So there you have it, it’s 2012 and I’m fat, old, and tired.  Haha, saying it like that just sounds hilarious.  Don’t take this as a depression post.  Don’t worry, I’m fully aware that although I’m fat, old, and tired, I’m also young, lucky, and blessed.  I’m young and have a lot of life left to live.  I’m lucky to have a steady job in a time when a lot of people don’t.  I’m blessed to have amazing family, friends, and my fluff ball Lane in my life.

Sure I haven’t officially declared any resolutions here, but maybe that’s why I think this year will be different.  Maybe I’ll have a much better chance of accomplishing my goals without typing them permanently on the internet to haunt me.  This is the year…2012, the year of Maria!

Yes that word cloud in the background is awesome…I’m thinking about making one as a piece of art for my apartment… but the real centerpiece is that sweater.  Yes, it’s a sweater with a skinny tie on it and yes I love and yes I want it.  I’ve been googling my heart’s content for an hour now and can’t find anything remotely close…but if Leslie Knope is wearing it, it must be available somewhere.  I must have it.

I realize as I lovely gaze at this masterpiece of a sweater that not only is is ironic, cool, and awesome, but it also let’s me make fun of the UVA peeps who wear ties to football games every time I wear it.  Double-bonus!   Someone find me this sweater… please!

I can’t remember the last time I sat down at a table for a family Thanksgiving, maybe 2007 or 2008?  Yes, it’s been that long.  Last year I was half way around the world eating spicy chicken at a chain restaurant in Korea.  This year, even though I’m 3,000 miles away from my immediate family I will still have a semblance of a proper Thanksgiving, with family and friends.

I called my mom this morning, and as she told me I was on speaker phone and I heard the chorus of “Hello’s” from the background it made me sad.  Sad that I’m far away, sad that a flight home was more than I could afford, and sad that I’ll miss the home-cooked food with my parents, aunts, uncle, and cousins for one more year in a row.   But on today of all days, I shouldn’t be sad, I should be glad, and thankful.  Thankful that I have family in Seattle, thankful that my friends and family who are also 3,000 miles away from “home” are gathering with home cooked food and sitting down for our version of Thanksgiving.

In a time in my life when my career, finances, and personal life might not be in the state I’d like them to be, it’s hard to sit back and see the good, but today I will.   Today I will finally refuse to be anything but thankful.  I’ll keep the tv off, listen to my christmas music softly in the background, as I look out on the rainy weather and cuddle with Lane on the couch.  I’ll head to my cousin’s home and enjoy the afternoon with 2 bouncing toddlers, the world’s largest and smallest dogs, and of course friends and family at the dinner table.   We’ll talk, we’ll laugh, we’ll drink and we’ll eat, oh goodness, we’re gonna eat!

Even on the grayest and rainiest of Thankgiving days in Seattle let’s all be Thankful!   From my tiny family to yours, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

This amazing mash-up pretty much sums up my summer in Korea and represents every song that I’m currently obsessed with.  Come on, admit it, you know you’re smiling and dancing along.  Go ahead, watch it again!

Halloween is around the corner and I have the greatest costume idea!   Pictures a post to come soon.  What are you being for halloween?

It’s amazing to think it’s been 10 years since that horrible day that will forever be marked in the history books.  I had already slept right through my morning chemistry class.  I know it was only the 2 or 3 week of school, but I had probably been out partying the night before or had a food hangover from too much chick-fil-a.   I remember waking up, one of my roommates had the TV on, and I woke up just after the 2nd plane hit.   My 2nd roommate was running frantically in/out of the room and up and down the halls trying to find someone with a phone signal.  Her father worked near the pentagon and she was terrified.  I remember laying in my loft, watching on our tiny 13 inch TV as the news coverage grew.  Many people on my hall had parents or family who lived or worked in Arlington and were more concerned about the Pentagon crash than the World Trade Center.  People were everywhere, asking “Should I go to class?”  ”Are classes cancelled?”.  There were conflicting reports that classes had been cancelled, even our RA had not gotten a straight answer.  I had already skipped my first class so decided it wasn’t worth it to even try to make my second one.

Later that afternoon I drove down to Virginia Tech to be with my close friends and see my sister.  I remember the atmosphere on campus was somber, of coures nothing like it would be 6 1/2 years later.  People were going to dinner, but just talking in low voices and discussing the days events.  People were scared that the New River Valley would be next because of the Army Armory that is close by.

I don’t remember much laughter that day, I just remember sitting with my best friends in Pritchard Hall on the evening of Sept 11, 2001, and looking at the 6 guys in the room with me and remembering how thankful I was that they were there and we were all safe.

Where were you?

1.  CRUNKY!  This magical (and yes folks it’s truly magical) “ball chocolate” candy that I smuggled back from Korea is quite possibly the greatest 390 calories of sweets I’ve ever eaten.  Breakfast, lunch, or dinner…I would glady supplement any of all of these meals with a can of Crunky!  If only I could find a place here in Seattle that sells it, I’ll even settle for it in bar form at this point.  $100 reward to anyone in Seattle who can find a place that sells this, seriously, no joke.  Yes, it is impossible to type “Crunky!” without the exclamation point, it’s just that awesomely fabtastically magical.

2.  Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm.  This stuff, although not magical like Crunky!, is still pretty fabulous.  Like chapstick but with a hint of color, but good sheer color.  I rotate between the Pink Blossom and Rose tints, but might end up with every color if I don’t stay out of the Burt’s Bees aisle on my next Target trip.

3.  My apartment.  It’s been a while since I lived in an apartment that I truly loved.  I still miss my homey little townhouse style place in Alexandria, VA, but I must say, this apartment which I’ve been in for almost a year now is great.  How can you not love this view…

The roofdesk is fabulous, and I honestly just love it.  Good thing too since I already extended my lease for another year!  Sorry mover guys who I promised beer to if you saw me for a 4 year in a row, not gonna happen.

4.  Apple.  What can this company make that I don’t want to purchase?  I got my iphone, I got a MacBook Pro (which I love, love, love), I’m even jonesing for an iPad even though it does the same exact things that my iPhone and MacBook can do, but I still want one, I must have one!  Even their support products have won me over.  At the Army Exchange in Korea I finally bit the bullet and bought an Airport Express and this little bad boy hasn’t let me down yet.  Used it to have wireless in my hotel room in Korea and now loving that I can be anywhere in range, hit play on my itunes or my iphone and music plays through the big speakers.  Seriously Apple…make a product that I won’t buy & love, I dare you!

5.  Norehbang – better known as “Korean-Style” Karaoke.  I am completely obsessed with this type of private-room karaoke where you can literally sing the entire time you’re there.  I mean, sure I’ll head to a regular karaoke bar, but then I hang out for hours and hours just waiting and hoping to sing the one song I was able to submit into the see of others.  Why would I do that when I can go into a private room with friends and sing for hours on end with no interruption?  There is no reason, exactly!  This past Friday I found out there is a Norehbang right here in Seattle!  Thank goodness it’s a cab ride away and not walkable otherwise I’m fairly certain I would just move in, but if you’re wondering where I am on any given night, chance are pretty good you’re gonna find me here. (they call it Japanese-style, but we all know it’s the same thing).

So there you have it…my list of must haves recently.  Of course like last time I could go on and on for days, talking about things like Chipotle, my Kindle, Ferry Rides, the fact that a Potbelly Sandwich Works just opened up in Seattle, but I’ll leave you without all those details.   But once again… let’s bask in the best thing in my life as always…..cutest little dog ever!

Sure, who doesn’t love to be in the comfort of their own home, but after a couple weeks I’m ready to hop back on a plane and explore someplace new, if only I could take Lane with me then it would be perfect.  I mentioned to a co-worker today that I’d love to live the lifestyle like George Clooney‘s character in the movie Up In The Air (On a side note: Who doesn’t want to be like George Clooney in any movie, or real life?  That guy is awesome.  If I were a dude I’d want to be just like him).  Then I thought, maybe one month on, one month off.  Yes, that would be perfect.  Travel all over for 1 month, then get to spend a whole month at home, then travel again.  I’d be happy with that and I think it would satisfy my ADD-”I’m bored every other day”-personality.

Over the past 12 months I’ve done a reasonable amount of travelling.  I know plenty of people who travel more than I do, but I know people who travel less, so I’d say I have a good balance.  Places I’ve been over the past 12 months…

• Knoxville, TN for a week long business trip.
• Washington, DC for some family time and of course Hokie Football!
• El Paso, TX for another week long business trip.
• San Francisco, CA: for a girls weekend.
• Sacramento, CA to work for a week in our office there.
• Virginia Beach, VA a quick trip to drop the dog off before heading on the next trip, and included a little side trip to Blacksburg, VA for some VT football of course.
• Seoul/Pyeongtaek, South Korea!  Yeah, this was my first time in Asia and if it isn’t evident by the numerous previous blog posts I totally fell in love with Korea.
• Virginia Beach, VA gotta head home for the Holidays
• Virginia Beach, VA again…a mere 22 hours on the ground to drop my dog off before supposedly heading back to Korea.
• Virginia Beach, VA again…Korea trip got cancelled, but the dog was in VA so I spent 2 weeks living and working from my parents house, it was relaxing and stifling at the same time.  I love my parents but have no desire to live at home ever again.  This also included a little side trip up to Arlington, VA for one night, but totally worth it.
• Phoenix, AZ for what I wish I could say this was a pleasure trip, but it wasn’t.  (I miss you Grandpa.)
• San Ramon, CA for another business trip, just 4 days.
• Napa Valley, CA since I was already in San Ramon, convincing the sister to come down and meet me for a fabulous weekend of drinking wine in Napa wasn’t really that hard.
• Seoul/Pyeongtaek, South Korea got to go back to Korea I went for another 8 weeks.  Squeezed in a little side trip to Jeju Island over the 4th of July weekend.

Last fall when my 2 month stint in Korea finally ended I couldn’t wait to get back to the good ol’ U S of A.  I think mostly in part because I had already gotten home sick during the Thanksgiving holiday and with Christmas being only 2 days away I was craving for some major family time.  This time leaving Seoul was less sweet and more bitter.  One week home and I’m already itchin’ to hop a plane and head back, heck after one day home I was ready to go back.   I am now home and Korea-sick.  My immediate reaction has been “Well it’s been nice to be in Seattle and visit, but now I’m bored and ready to go home”, but then I think, “Oh wait, this is home…”.

I’ve been getting asked the same question over and over the past week; “Why do you love Korea so much?”; and honestly it’s hard to pinpoint one or two things that I love about Korea, my initial response is always, “It’s just different…”.  Sure that may be a cop out answer, but honestly that’s what I feel.  I think I have city/living space ADD.  Seriously, I move apartments almost yearly like it’s my job, and over the past 10 years since college I’ve migrated between cities every few years.  I love Seattle, and I could definitely see myself here for a long time, but perhaps spending a year working abroad is just what I need.   I’m keeping my fingers crossed that all the whispers about me relocating to Korea for a year come true.  It’s so hard to not start making plans and not get my hopes up, but I’m trying to keep my head on my shoulders.  I know from what I’ve been through the past 6-8 months that nothing with this Korea work is ever set in stone.  So until I see something in writing I’m just trying to get back into my Seattle grove, without feeling like I’m back in a rut, and trying to just enjoy time in this fabulous weather with my friends and Lane.  I’m sad and missing Korea, but when it’s 75 degrees, sunny, and not humid in Seattle and it’s been monsooning in Korea for weeks now it’s hard not to feel like I’m having a nice vacation at home.

I’ve got a cold, stuffed up, congested, coughing, sore throat, runny nose.  All that jazz, yep that’s been my life the past couple of days.  When my alarm goes off at 6:10 AM all I want to do is turn it off, climb back in bed and call in sick to work, but with deadlines quickly approaching it’s not really an option.   If only Lane was around to cuddle up to me and keep my feet warm while my fever rises.