Elvis Got Something Right

I have attempted to write a few posts within the last 2 months, but have yet to finish writing them. Most of them being a whole bunch of my gibberish that only I may understand, but maybe I'll get around to adding to them and making sense of them so they can be posted. Until then, I have decided that I needed to write a post about my baller ass vacation I just went on about two weeks ago. I've been on some pretty exciting adventures around the world, but this one was pretty much awesome. I love New York, but going back to Vegas and Cali made me not want to come back. I was praying that my flight back got canceled and there wouldn't be anymore flights back to NYC from Vegas EVER.
Ever since my first visit to Vegas when I was on the new stores team, I've been fascinated with the place. Vegas is like my obsession, my addiction, I can't get enough of it. It's my heroin. I just love walking the strip, seeing the bright flashing lights everywhere, walking from casino to casino, hearing the chips click together, the people clapping and high fiving because they just won it big, the dinging of the slots. Even the smoky air and the Spanish people handing out hooker cards doesn't really bother me.

This year was my 3rd visit to Sin City. It seems as though every year I go it gets better and better. The first year, I was there for 2 weeks and had to work most of the time, but still went out every single night. I think we went to every single casino in Vegas. We didn't really go to any of the clubs or very many bars, but that was okay. I wanted to explore every inch of Vegas, and I wouldn't have been able to do that cramped up in a crowded club. That trip I made unforgettable friends from my team, learned how to play Blackjack from the best teacher and started my first hand with my boss's money, went on a sideways elevator ride at the Luxor, encountered my first In N Out burger, was almost tricked to going to a strip club for the first time, watched the Bellagio water show, walked the streets of Old Vegas, went atop the Stratosphere, along with many other unforgettable, unmentionable memories.

My 2nd trip was even more baller than the first. This time I didn't have to worry about working. This time was all play. I went with two others from the New Stores Team, BreeAnna and Sarah. We put our Hilton points together and stayed at what we called "The Barry Hotel", which was way nicer than what the team had put us in the year before. Each night we spent there got better and better. Each morning, or really afternoon, we thought how could we top the night before. But somehow we managed. The first night was pretty chill, we just walked around and explored the strip.

Our 2nd night, we went to the Thunder from Down Under show. We were in shock. We couldn't keep our mouths closed. That year, Sarah got to go on stage, not for a lap dance though like we thought. After the show, we went to the night club LAX. The first second we walked in, the bouncer said they needed models in VIP so we were escorted to a table with professional poker players. One of the guys, which was also on the show Survivor, took a liking to BreeAnna.

The next night, the poker player took us to dinner at the Bellagio where we watched the water show from our table at the restaurant. After dinner, I had a craving for some Blackjack. We ended up at a $500 limit table. Of course I did not gamble my money at this table. $25 is the highest I go! After loosing $4,000 of someone else's money, we went to a really awesome nightclub at the Wynn where we had our own table. Some other team members met up with us. After leaving the club, we decided to play Blackjack again. I began to play with the poker player's chips again, but after I kept getting in trouble for touching my chips after the flip (I hate when my chips are crooked and not facing me), the chips were taken away from me. After poker player's friend won it big on one hand, we received a comped room. The room was baller. It had a built in bar with any kind of alcohol, sparkly red couches, a massage table, and my favorite part, an awesome view of Vegas. We ended up watching Kong Fu Panda while we waited for room service. After waiting 2 hours, it was worth it. The servers unwrapped plate after plate of our breakfast. $500 worth of food. After eating lobster for breakfast and watching the sunrise over Vegas, I knew I was in love with this city.

My 3rd trip to Vegas was with Sarah. We were a little hesitant about going because we knew we probably wouldn't be able to compete with last year's trip. I still don't know if we really did beat last year's trip, but it was a good tie if we didn't. The first night, we arrived late but we knew we had to live it up. We couldn't just hang out in our castle(we stayed at the Excalibur). We ended up at Mandalay Bay to see where our night might take us. We started off at a bar in the middle of the casino. It seemed like a pretty dead night, but it was a Sunday at 1 in the morning. A few minutes later, we caught the eyes of a couple of guys. We ended up playing Blackjack with them, where I lost my first and only $100 of the trip. As we were playing, I noticed they were wearing rings on their left hands. Awesome, hit on by married men. They were cool guys to hang out with and we had some very interesting conversations, but I'm no homewrecker. Remind me if I ever get married to never let my husband go to Vegas without me! We took a cab back to our hotel where I decided to run around like a bat with my black cape and proceed to do a line dance while waiting for the buffet breakfast. We ate our breakfast in our night out gear while everyone around us looked freshly showered and ready to conquer their day. After being up for over 24 hours, we decided to call it a night, or day rather.

3 hours later, we were ready to go again. We spent the rest of the day shopping and wandering around the strip. That night we decided since we had so much fun last year and they performed in our hotel, we'd go to see the Thunder from Down Under again. This year definitely blew me away. This year I got pulled up on stage for a dance. Come to find out later, I was actually requested by the guy David that danced with me. After the show, just like last year, we went to have our picture taken with the Thunder. This year was a little different though. We were told we were the cutest girls at the show and they asked us to meet them for drinks at the bar outside. We hung out with the hot Aussies the whole night. I ran around the castle with crystal eyed, hilarious, hot, Aussie/French David. When I say we ran around the castle, we really did. I don't know why it is that after I have a few drinks, I think I can out run anyone. We had a foot race down the hallway. Let's just say I almost beat him. I think I even tried tackling him a few times. He's also a semi-pro football player.

It was another night that I saw the sun before I got any sleep. That Katy Perry song "Waking Up in Vegas" is such a lie. I felt like I never really woke up in Vegas because I never really went to sleep in Vegas. The song should say, "that's what you get for not sleeping in Vegas". I would have definitely sang that song in the Vegas airport and on my flight back to NYC. Anyway, so it was another morning in Vegas with a grand total of 5 hours of sleep the entire trip. It was time for some relaxation in Cali. I was sad to part with my Thunder. I wanted to pack him up in my suitcase and take him back to NY so he could talk to me in Aussie and French and I could observe him like he was a statue in my apartment. As Sarah would sing, "Stella fell in love with a stripper".

I decided to write about our Cali/Anaheim/Mexico part of a trip in another post since this post is getting rather lengthy and all things Vegas. After our relaxing part of the trip, which we definitely needed or I probably would have died, we drove back to Vegas for one last bang. This stay we decided to go back to "The Barry Hotel", only to find Barry was not there anymore! The Hilton used to have a huge picture of Barry Manilow hanging on the top, but it was missing! This made us sad. Since we hadn't laid in the sun our entire vacation, we started our last day laying by the pool. Then we went souvenir shopping and ate at the Peppermill. That night we ended up going back to the Luxor to go to LAX. We got distracted by a promoter that took us to Cathouse. We ended up hanging out with some Vegas locals for a while. We finally made our way to LAX. We got in free, of course, and walked right in. We danced for about 30 seconds until the bouncers in VIP came up to us, told us we danced like rock stars, stamped our hands with a smiley face, and brought us up to VIP. There, we hung out with some Austrians, who I could barely understand, and a really cool songwriter/music producer that was celebrating his birthday.

By the end of the night, it was time for Sarah to catch her flight. In order to get our free U.S. air flights, we had to take different ones. Her flight was at 6:45am. I went back to the Barry, slept for 2 hours, and woke up to Chinese animae on my TV. Still drunk, I ended up staggering downstairs and into a taxi. At the airport my night of fun, lack of sleep, and popped bottles from VIP hit me like a ton of bricks. I somehow managed my way through security with my stomach contents still inside my body. Once I got to the gate, now that was a different story. I've been on many many flights before, but I knew this one would be the most rough flight I've ever taken. Not only was I going through a hangover while being awake, but I had been awake for almost 24 hours before I got all of 2 hours of sleep, I was without my winter coat for when I got back to NYC because I had somehow managed to lose it, and sad to leave Vegas yet again. If I hadn't been so exhausted and felt like drowning myself in a toilet bowl, I probably would have shed a few tears.

When I arrived back to NYC, I stood outside the airport for 30 minutes, without my coat, waiting for the shuttle to my car. I had avoided yet another huge snow storm but snow was everywhere. I finally arrived back at my apartment only to slip on the ice and fall on my ass. I just sat there thinking, why the hell did I leave Vegas again? It was like New York's way of saying, "Welcome back Stella!"

So, in conclusion of my Vegas adventures, I have decided that Sarah and I (and BreeAnna when she can make it!) are pretty much Vegas socialites. We should have our own reality show, "Sarah and Stella Take Vegas". Next Vegas trip, we are going to have a huge black guy with sunglasses and a black t-shirt follow us around. The paparazzi will be all over us!

My Mind...My Worst Enemy

Why is it that when I get my mind on something, I can't clear my head no matter what I do? Is it just me, or does everyone constantly have something on their minds? It's like I think so much about something, I become overwhelmed and obsessed with whatever I'm thinking about. Sometimes I'll be driving, and my thoughts fill my brain to the point where I'll forget I'm driving. It's like I'm on cruise control. At times I'll be at work floor supervising and my thoughts will elude my head and I will just smile and laugh out loud at what I'm thinking about. Customers sometimes give me weird looks when that happens.

It seems the older I get, the worse my mind gets about constantly thinking. In the past whenever my thoughts would begin to overload my brain, I would just go for a run, listen to music, watch a movie, keep myself busy at work, or have a few drinks. Now when I run, I think even more. Music inspires my thoughts. The movie is on and I'm watching the colors on the screen move, but I have no idea what's going on. Work is sometimes a distraction, but sometimes it makes it worse when someone says something or I see something that makes me think of a memory and makes my thoughts come back. Drinking will numb the thoughts for a little bit, but usually by the end of the night my thoughts will just overflow my brain and will make me say or do something stupid. The only thing that can really distract me from my thoughts is another thought.

What am I constantly thinking about? A multiple of things, but usually I obsess over a thought for a while until I get distracted by another thought and move on to obsessing over that thought. I usually think about what could be, should be, would be, the what ifs and the reality. Usually it's about a person, a guy, until another one comes along for me to think about. Or a place I wish I was, especially when I'm at work and don't want to be there. Or my new storyline for the book I'm going to one day write, but have yet to get around to doing so. BTW I've had about 50 different storylines which I have yet to get out of my mind and into words.

I obsess about these thoughts to the point that I pull my hair, cup my arms over my head to try and stop listening to myself, scream or even try to talk them out of my head. Usually the only time I can have a 100% clear mind is when I'm sleeping. But even when I'm sleeping I have dreams about my thoughts or have dreams that make me wake up with different thoughts and then I spend the rest of the day obsessing about those thoughts.

I don't know if this endless Stella babble makes sense to anyone else, but this is how my brain works. It never stops. And the more I think, the more I bite my nails. And I've noticed biting my nails has gotten worse. If I keep thinking the way I do, I'm not going to have fingers pretty soon!

I Ain't No Yank

I have lived in New York for 4 months now. No matter how much I could try to fit in, I pretty much stick out like a sore thumb. Here are some ways you can tell I'm not a real Long Islander.

1. I say "Y'all". When I first said it to some of my employees, they just looked at me with their heads cocked to the side like I was speaking Chinese or something. After that I tried to correct myself and say "you guys", but that didn't work, I kept saying "y'all". I decided that if I wanna say "Y'all" I'm gonna say it! My employees got used to it.

2. I pronounce my "A's" and "O's".

3. I drive a Mustang. Unlike Florida, there's not a lot of Mustangs up here. People seem fascinated when they see my car. I am always getting compliments. I don't think it's all that great actually. It's only a V6 and the Mustang on the front was stolen. I guess up here the Mustang hood ornament is a rare collectors item.

4. I don't own a shovel, snow brush, or scraper. I had to dig my car out of the snow with my hands and by kicking the snow out of the way. When my windshield was covered with snow, I pulled a shoe out of my floorboard and started pushing the snow off with that. Two of the maintenance guys at my apartment complex started laughing at me and asked, "You're not from here, are ya?"

5. I'm not a Yankees, Mets, Jets, or Giants fan. I am a Florida girl and love my Rays and Bucs, even though they didn't do so well this year.

6. I find myself walking outside in flip flops and a tank. I sometimes forget I live in New York.

7. I have yet to go to a diner. They are everywhere!

8. I talk on my cell when driving. Again, I forget I live in New York.

9. I get really mad when drivers don't go the second the light turns green. It's like they have their thumbs up their asses. If you do that shit in Miami, you get ran over!

10. I turn right on red. Why can't you do that up here? I don't get it!

11. I can't pronounce Sagtikos, Haupague, Massapequa, Patchogue, or Islip correctly. I finally learned how to say Ronkonoma, after lessons on a train ride to Penn.

12. I'm not Italian.

13. I only use my Bump-it for special occasions like Halloween, not every Saturday night.

14. I didn't own a pair of boots until 2 months ago.

15. While Sarah and I were looking for wine in the grocery store, we asked an employee where the wine section was located. He laughed and walked away. We went to 2 other grocery stores until we found out they only sell wine in liquor stores. Liquor stores close around 6. Sarah and I were not happy that night.

16. Beaches and pools close after Labor Day, and you have to pay to go to the beach. In Florida, beaches are open year round and the only thing you might have to pay for is parking.

17. I don't like Jager.

18. At the end of September, I tried to turn my heat on. It didn't work. I went down to the office and asked for them to fix it. They said there's a law for apartment complexes that doesn't allow them to turn the heat on until October 15th. I went to bed that night with 2 layers of clothes and 3 blankets.

19. I don't know how to parallel park. Okay, that's probably just a way you can tell I'm from a small town.

20. I checked my coat at a bar for the first time 3 weeks ago. Wasn't sure if you're supposed to tip them or not or how much to leave if you did. The girl just looked at me after handing me my coat. I handed her a dollar. She didn't look happy.

21. On a snowy day, windshield wipers were up on cars in the parking lot. I thought someone was just playing a trick on the shoppers of Smith Haven Mall.

22. I left a water bottle in my car floorboard for a few days. When I found it after it snowed, the water was frozen. I was amazed.

23. I went looking for a Super Wal-Mart or Super Target. Apparently they don't have those up here.

24. I got a ticket for drinking in the subway station at Penn. You can drink on the LIRR but not the subway. Paid my ticket two days ago. Hopefully there's not a warrant out for my arrest.

25. I never clock out for my break at work. I am salary so I figured there's no point and never have in the 6 years I've worked for the company. Who knew there's a New York law that costs my company $500 each time I don't clock out for lunch.

2009, Where The Hell Did You Go?

I know it's been about 2 months since my last blog, but it's not my fault. My computer got the AIDS. Thanks to my genius dad, he cured it like Magic.
Anyway, you know how some people send out Christmas cards with letters recapping their year? I figured I'd blog a recap of my year. Or what I could remember of it. Some of the year was kind of a blur and I'm getting to my old age where I can't remember everything.
Soooo, here goes...
January: Started off my New Years at my friends' place in Ft. Lauderdale. Popping bottles off the balcony, many games of flip cup and beer pong. Don't know how I made it to work the next day. The end of January, I jumped on a flight to Tampa for the best holiday of the year: Gasparilla! Saw so many old friends and had good times. I actually kinda remember the parade this year! Too bad my aviators didn't make it. May they RIP in the Tampa Bay.

February: Took my vacation! The only one I had all year. My friends and I packed up a couple of cars and road tripped it from Tampa to West Virginia for some snowboarding and skiing. I busted so much ass snowboarding the first day. I had huge bruises going all the way down my back side. Decided on the second day that if I wanted to not break my ass, I would either need to stuff my pants with pillows or try out skiing. I was flying down intermediate courses on skis by the afternoon. I just kept repeating to myself, "Pizza, French fries. Pizza, French fries."

March: Had it's up and downs. Work wasn't all unicorns and rainbows. After being on the New Stores Team for so long, I forgot how to manage a real, running store. I got a kick in the ass from my boss and decided I needed to do something. So, I pulled my shit together and retrained myself. It must have worked because I still have my job and got promoted 6 months later.
It was Spring Break in South Florida, so some friends came down and we had a mini spring break of our own. You're never too old for Spring Break!

April and May: I moved into my new baller ass apartment and was reunited with a friend from the old school new stores team and I ran into a couple of times during my travels. 3 days later, I had a boyfriend. Too bad he lived over 1,000 miles away. As fast as it started, it ended. 2 months later, I found myself 10 pounds lighter, hungover, and heartbroken. He needed to get his shit together, and my shit was already together. We were literally and figuratively in two different places in our lives. So I picked myself up and focused on other things.

June: I spent this month listening to lots of music, watching He's Just Not That Into You too many times, going out with friends, reading, and running. I ran 3, sometimes 6 or even 9 miles a day. I did way too much thinking for my own good.

July: I spent the 4th of July in Tampa. I reunited with some old friends and just laid back and enjoyed life. I went to the beach and pool every day off I had and got my tan on. At the end of the month, I took another spontaneous road trip to Tampa with Beth.

August: Spent this month with all of my Miami friends. Went out way too much in Ft. Lauderdale and South Beach. By the end of August, my boss asked if I would be willing to move to NY. 2 days later, I was repainting my apartment white, packing up boxes, and mapquesting my journey from Miami, FL to Lake Grove, NY.

September: My first month at Smith Haven = the hardest month in my career. Of course Mike Jefferies, the CEO, had to walk into my store on my 6th day of work. In his words, he said he was "heartbroken". I spent most days running around like a chicken with its head cut off, only to leave work and go to my Extended Stay where all the douche bag construction workers harassed me. By the way they acted, you would have thought I was walking around naked or something. Thank God for Sarah to keep me sane! We finally found a place to live and moved in mid September. End of September, Sarah and I took a road trip to Baltimore to move her stuff. We were truckers on the open road. It was all smooth sailing from there on out.

October: My bestest's sister got married and I flew down for the wedding. October 21st I turned 27. Damn I'm old. Was not excited about that, but had an unforgettable birthday in NYC. Spent the whole day doing touristy things around Manhattan. Halloween was definitely unforgettable too. I got in trouble for the first time with the 5-0. Who knew you couldn't drink on the subway? They sell beer right in front of it at Penn Station! Of course we got tickets for drinking 1 beer, but the guidos I saw snorting coke on the LIRR got nothing but a high.

November: November kinda seemed like a blur because it went by so fast. By the time I realized it was even November, it was already over. This Thanksgiving was the first Thanksgiving spent without my mom and dad. I was thankful for my aunt and uncle and their friends for opening their home to Sarah and me.

December: I spent most of my days and nights at my store. Even Christmas. It all paid off though. Mike Jefferies was no longer heartbroken over the store. We had a successful visit. I spent my first Christmas away from my family. I got to go to Florida the weekend before, but it wasn't the same. It was nice to go back though and see some of my family, my bestest and the Hatfield's. I picked the best time to go: during a blizzard. I had to dig my car out of the snow when I got back and drove in the snow for the first time. I have to say, driving in the snow isn't has bad as I thought. Guess I better get used to it. And buy a shovel.

So that was 2009 for me, in summary. I know I've probably forgotten some things, but I will never forget the people that have made my 2009 so awesome. It seems as I get older, the years get shorter. Hopefully 2010 won't fly by like 2009. I'm not getting any younger and I wanna savor my 20's as much as possible. It's almost scary that I don't know where I'll be next year at this time. Last year I never even dreamed I would be living in New York. But it's also exciting to not know where I might be. Maybe NYC, maybe London, maybe back in Florida, somewhere else in Europe or Japan, who knows, maybe I'll be right where I'm at right now. This is just how I live my life: unscripted.

27

27. This is my new age. 3 years away from 30. Almost a decade of being an adult. No longer in my early or mid 20's. Now in my late 20's. Further away from 20 and closer to 30. 2 years more than a quarter of a century. I really can't believe I'm this old. I don't feel 27. I probably don't act 27. I know I definitely don't look 27. Hell, I still have pimples that pop up. What 27 year old still gets acme? Maybe my parents lied about what year I was really born. I think maybe I was born in 1988. I mean, I don't really remember anything before 1988, so who's to say I was born in 1982 when I don't remember it? I feel more like I am 23. I think I look more like a 23 year old. 23 is a great age to be. A lot better than being 27. I think I might start being 23 again. Fresh out of college, got the whole world ahead of me. Don't have to worry about marriage or babies or mortgages. Can do what I want, no one holding me back.
The reality is that I'm not 23. I am 27. 27 with the whole world ahead of me. 27 with no worries about marriage or babies or mortgages. I'm 27 and I can do what I want, with no one holding me back. Most 27 year olds can't really say that. Most 27 year olds that I know are married or getting married or having babies or have toddlers. Or at least are in a committed relationship. There's many times that I ask myself, shouldn't I be doing this? Shouldn't I be planning a wedding and then giving my parents grandchildren soon? But I'm not the typical 27 year old. I chose my career. My independence. My need for adventure and randomness with nothing to stop me. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great if you're 27 with a husband or wife and a couple of kids. I just couldn't picture myself married at this time in my life. So maybe I will be an old maid when I decide to take the plunge, but at least I will be ready for it. Times have changed this day in age anyway. People are getting married and having kids later and later in life. 30 is the new 20, right?

Adios Miami, Hello New York!

It looks as though I need to update this thing. So much has happened since my last blog. I've been so busy that I haven't been able to just sit down and type. Here's an update with my life.

About the middle to end of August, my district manager gets an email saying they desparately needed managers in NY. Knowing that I wanted to live in big cities and didn't enjoy Miami all that much, she asked if I would be willing to relocate. I have always said I would relocate and have named off New York, Vegas, Chicago, international cities, etc. With this company, if you are willing to move, then you usually give yourself more opportunity for promotions. I didn't really think relocating that far would happen though. I knew a few other managers at other stores were up for the position that was available too, so I figured I'd just be stuck in Miami for a while. The next day, my DM tells me I need to find someone to take over my lease on my apartment. Well then, that sounded a little more serious. Could I actually be doing this? Moving over 1,000 miles away? By the end of the week, my DM announced I was the new Bra Manager in Long Island. Wow. I didn't expect this at all. It was all so soon, within 2 days time. And in 1 week from then I would be moving. Driving through 9 states. 3 days of driving. 489 South of the Border billboards. Wow. Thank God for my brother. The trip would have sucked if it weren't for him.

So, here I am. In LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOng IIIIIIIIIIIIIIsland, as the natives call it. I've had people ask me, why Long Island? Well, why not? I've lived in Florida my whole life. Yes, Florida is beautiful, with the greatest beaches, no snow, and where most of my family lives. But Florida also has hurricanes, humidity, and lots of old people. I just need some change, a different environment. Yes, Long Island is quite the extreme of changes, but I gotta live and learn and adjust to different environments and people. I want to be able to go into the city whenever I want, and see the seasons actually change, and learn the ways of the Yanks. I might regret this when I'm freezing my ass off trying to drive to work in the snow while my fellow Floridians are calling me while laying out on the beach, which by the way, I wouldn't be able to answer that phone call while driving or I'd be breaking NY state law. But, I am so ready for this change. Bring it on, New York!

I made some great friends in Miami, and got even more close to the friends I already had down there. I'm gonna miss my awesome roommate Shy. She was the best. I'm gonna miss my Biggie Banal Betty Poo and the friends I made through her. I'm definitely gonna miss my Gilly girls, the best management team ever. I'll most certainly miss Alex and our crazy times at the casino and playing the Wii with him and Sparkles. And I can't forget A. Money, Errol, and Vicki and the fun times in Ft. Laudy. But there's always a flight to Miami whenever I need to get away from the cold and the challenges of my store.

I feel my life has been full of adventures. When I came off the new stores team, I thought my adventures were over, but now I've realized they have just begun.

I'm in Miami, bitch!

How the hell did I end up down here? I thought this to myself after my first trip to South Beach. Some friends and I were walking back to the beach from getting drinks at Starbucks when we saw a topless lady showering herself at the outside showers (you know, the ones that you use to wash off all the beach sand). Yes, I know South Beach is a topless beach, but for a 300 pound 40 year-old lady that you couldn't see her knees because her boobs were in the way? I think I threw up in my mouth at that time.

Well, my new Miami life all began in this magical place called Las Vegas. I was on vacation with two of my teammates and we were just returning back to the Barry Manilow Hotel (or the Hilton) from an awesome night(or early morning) of hanging out in VIP at LAX when my boss called. I decided it probably wouldn't be the greatest of ideas to answer the phone in my state of mind, so I decided to wait until later on after I got some sleep. Being on the New Stores Team, there is a time limit usually lasting a year, and me having been on the team for a year and a half, I knew my call was coming. I liked to think of my boss as being Ryan Seacrest and I, the American Idol contestant being told my journey ended here(which after I ending my phone conversation, I sang my last song, Boys to Men, End of the Road. Pretty sure I was still under the influence from the night's festivities.)

I was offered a position at our newest brand, Gilly Hicks(a bra and undies store by AnF) at Aventura Mall. I knew I would not be living in Tampa after the team. I had been living in Tampa for 6 years, and I needed a change. I had lived in my hometown of Frostproof my whole life, and when I moved to Tampa for college, I knew there was no moving back to my small town. I loved big cities. Not that Tampa is all that big, but it was just big enough for me to get used to living in a bigger and more populated place. I loved living in Tampa, but I needed to move on from my college life.

So, on the 1st of December, with the help of my parents, I loaded up the Trailblazer and started a new journey. A 3 hour journey that landed my nomad life to a life of normalcy and stability. At that point in time, I was ready for my new life. I was tired of eating out every single day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I was tired of waking up and forgetting where the hell I was. I was tired of getting up at 2:30am to make my 6am flight and then working until midnight. But mostly, I was just so damn tired.

Moving to Miami was the biggest adjustment of my life. Okay, maybe moving to Tampa after being sheltered in my 3,000 people town my whole life was a big adjustment, oh and traveling to a new place around the country every single week was even more of an adjustment. In Miami though, I had to adjust in so many ways. I had to adjust to living a normal life again. A normal life of going to the grocery store. Of cooking my own food again. Of paying rent and bills again. Of driving my own car and having to pay for my own gas. Of cleaning up after myself and not having clean towels and my bed made when I came home every night. Of working normal hours and actually getting more than 5-6 hours of sleep each night. Of being in a real running store and helping real customers in a bra store that I had no clue about the product I was trying to sell.

And then, there's Miami. Miami: America's melting pot. My mom warned me. She warned me of the tourists. Of the rudest people you'll ever meet. Of the bad drivers. Of the language barrier. Of sticking out like a sore thumb with my blonde hair and country accent. Of the grocery cart bumping. Of the skipping you in line. Of the non-existence of patience. I didn't listen. She has never lived there, so how did she know? Oh, but how mothers know EVERYTHING!

So, after moving down to this foreign place and getting settled in to my 22nd floor apartment, I knew my life was about to change. At first, I was pretty depressed. I missed traveling to new places every week with all the awesome friends I had made on my team. I missed people watching at airports and leaning against my window on the plane, watching the city I was about to encounter below me. I missed the excitement of new places, new people, new memories, new challenges awaiting me. I missed setting up perfect stores that I would not have to see getting destroyed by hoovering buzzard customers, picking at their clearance priced prey. I missed lobby cocktails(only 3!), racking up Hilton and airline points, and time warping back to Tampa. I missed my baller rock star type of life.

After living here for 7 months now, I think I have finally adjusted to my new life. I still get a little depressed at times and would do anything to be able to travel again, but thank God I had friends here and have made new ones along the way. They make my Miami life fun and every night out down here is a new adventure.



Here's a few pictures from my travels with my team:


Mel, me and Joe in San Antonio, TX. At that point, Mel and I had worked 25 days straight. We definitely needed a night out, even if it was at a couple gay bars. Chris M. gave Joe and me a celebrity name of "Jella" because we were inseparable. Sucks that we're separated so far now :(


Kelly, me, Betzy, and Joy in TN. That openning was way harsh. I worked my longest shift: 8am-2am, and then again 8am-midnight just to get this store open! Loved this team though. The Southern Belles plus Kelly.

What's a hazmat? How do I know if I am driving a hazmat or not? And is Chevy Chase named after the town or is the town named after Chevy Chase? And who the hell is Jack Meoff? Good times in Maryland with Drew, Alex, and Amanda. The Baller Team.

Oh KevEv how I miss you! Shut the front door! Really? Did you really just go crop dusting?

AH VEGAS! Oh how I miss thee. Lobster for breakfast, who does that? And I only lost $4,000 of someone elses money, no biggie. Can't wait for our annual Vegas trip this year!