Before moving out here, one of my biggest fears was not being able to find a job. Josh tried to reassure me that everything would be fine if I couldn't find one, and that he'd be able to support me and I could stay at home if I wanted. Stay at home and do what? Take care of the cats? I'm not much of a cook, I'm not crafty, we don't have kids, and my BFF and I haven't created our Etsy store just yet, so I can't even run this stay at home fake business that we created in our heads. Fortunately, I was able to find a job, but there are days where I know life would be so much easier if Josh and I didn't have completely opposite schedules, and I was home during hours he was home.
For the past six days, Josh has been working nights and I decided to do a trial run (minus that I actually had to work during the day) of what I could do as a 'stay at home girlfriend' if I ever had the opportunity. Also, I needed to make sure I stayed busy so I didn't lose my mind and have my own pity party.
So, in no particular order...here was my epic fail of being a stay at home girlfriend. 1) Baking. Housewives/girlfriends bake right? Attempt #1 was a healthy version of coconut macaroons. I figured it would be something that would satisfy my sweet tooth. Well, I should've guessed that anything that is supposed to be a healthy cookie is going to taste like cardboard. Fail.
They don't even look appetizing. They weren't horrible, but I can guarantee I will never make them again. Attempt #2 was to make unhealthy brownie pops. I figured even if the pops part didn't work out, they still would taste amazing. Success.
2) Crafting. I seriously SUCK at anything that involves creativity. I am pretty good at looking at something, figuring out how to make it and following directions, BUT...even that's a stretch. So I decided to get out the VW Bus Lego set that we purchased almost 9 months ago (don't judge me, I know this is not the version of crafty that you guys had in your head, but I sure as heck wasn't going to go knit a sweater). This wasn't necessarily a fail, but, I don't think we can have a house full of Lego models on display so this can only be done so often. And this might take me until I'm 92 years old to finish. Yes, that little section on the right is all I completed...like I said, I'll be 92.
3) Cleaning. This was another fail. I am an OCD cleaner, and so is Josh. Yay for me! But, when you live in a 1000 sq. ft. townhouse, there is only so much to clean. And when your boyfriend isn't home for 6 days straight, the only thing to do is laundry.
4) Socialize. This wasn't a fail. Friday night wasn't bad at all. I met up with a couple of friends that I've met whose husband and boyfriend work with Josh. I went to dinner with them and their kids, and we were able to have a much needed vent session about our guys' crazy schedules, and how they are zombies half the time because of how tired they are. We also went and saw Man of Steel, ladies...go check it out.
Saturday, I went with my co-worker to see Rick Springfield. Yes, he was a big star before I was even born. The only song I knew was Jessie's Girl, but I enjoyed the people watching including the old(ish) people and their dance moves.
5) Keep Myself Up aka..don't let myself go. This part was easy for me because I enjoy going to the gym. I have been venturing out and joining the work out classes when Josh is working since he's normally my 'personal trainer' at the gym. I also figured if I went enough and saw the same people that I could maybe find a friend or two. That hasn't happened YET, but I've gotten pretty good workouts and have managed to stay out of the Zumba class. Zumba classes should not be taken alone.
6) Sexy Time. Obviously if I wasn't working, our schedules would be a little more convenient, but as of right now...when Josh works nights, this is what it looks like: he gets home at 6:20am while I'm getting ready for work. I go to work. He leaves for work at 4:30pm, and I get off of work at 4:45pm. We see each other for maybe 15 min. So sexy time, what sexy time? This was another fail. I would hope that it would be different if I ever made the plunge and stayed home since I'd be home when he was home, but, needless to say, this girl didn't get any.
All in all, I stayed busy but I don't think staying at home would cut it for me. It sounds so appealing on paper. Stay at home, work out all the time, cook, clean, craft, and only have myself, Josh, and two cats to care for. But obviously my inability to do some of the above would give me too much free time, and I'd lose my mind. So although I'd love to be home more and for Josh and I to have a more similar schedule, the idea just wouldn't cut it. It was a fun 'trial run' and maybe I'll attempt it one day, but that day isn't any time soon.
And when I did finally get to hang out with that boyfriend of mine, it makes all the 'keeping busy' time worth it. A Monday night date watching the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup...doesn't get much better than that.
First off, I'll start by saying that I'd like to think of myself as an optimistic person. Always happy, always friendly, and always seeing the best in people. Maybe because I don't like to prepare for the worst, or maybe because I generally don't have much to be negative about. Whichever it is, I really do like that about myself. I like always being happy (who wouldn't?) and I like seeing the best in people (even if I sometimes vent about their bad qualities to my BFF or sister). So when it came to this move, I knew it would be hard but I looked at the glass half full and did NOT prepare for the bad.
I had mentally planned my life in TN before I even got there. Typical for women to do (hopefully the feminism bloggers don't read this far back). We over think and over analyze every little detail of our future and when it doesn't happen, we (SURPRISE) are disappointed. And well, that mentally planned future life in TN that I had pictured was a little far from what is now my reality. Not by a lot....but some things, I just wasn't prepared for. THE BAD: I honestly thought that I would get to TN and everything would fall into place. I'd meet people, explore the city and surrounding areas, find activities to keep busy, find a job, Skype family and friends daily, and things would eventually become normal for us. And I secretly thought that I'd get off the plane in Knoxville, and I'd be going down the escalator to see Josh on one knee proposing. Serious, true story. I guess I thought moving to TN also meant I'd be staring in my own romantic comedy.
WOMP WOMP.
Needless to say, some of the above did just fall into place...I found a job after two days of being here and Josh and I have been doing all the exploring that our schedules allow us to. Other stuff has been an adjustment, including the time change that leaves about an hour, if that, window of time to talk to anybody back home. I mean, who would have thought that making friends would take effort? That keeping busy would take effort? There wasn't enough hours in the day when we were in CA for the people we wanted to see and the things we wanted to do. And now I'm googling where and when they offer cooking classes, watching way too much reality TV, and writing a blog! I WASN'T PREPARED. This is when optimism bites you in your badonkadonk. I wasn't prepared for the continuous nights that Josh has to work. I wasn't prepared for not being able to talk to my family or friends as much as I wanted. I wasn't prepared for the roller coaster of happy/sad emotions that would occur shortly after I got here. I wasn't prepared for pedicures by myself. I wasn't prepared for having to find doctors, dentists, hair stylists, coffee shops, and everything else that I didn't even second guess back in CA. I wasn't prepared for Josh and I's first "fight" and realizing that I needed to put my big girl panties on because there is no going to my sisters/Amy's/mom's house to take a breather. I wasn't prepared for how much I was going to miss everyone back in CA, and how much I was going to miss my little Ellie Belly. I just wasn't prepared.
Who wouldn't miss this face?
THE GOOD:
With the bad, there always comes good. Especially in the "South." Everything is a transition. Especially when it comes to moving away from everything you know and it takes time to settle. But settling becomes much easier when everyone is just so dang friendly. Yes, rumors are true. This is the Bible Belt and life is at a much slower pace. And people are just genuinely nice. It does require effort to make friends, but everyone is willing to tell you their life story if you have time to listen. Traffic? They don't really understand the CA definition of traffic here. Traffic here is going 40 on the freeway. Josh gets to work as much OT as he wants, which helps for all the places we want to visit and for our first trip home to CA! He has so many new places to ride his Harley and everything is just so beautiful here. I managed to find a great job that keeps me busy, and that I think has the possibility for career growth. I mean, it got me a picture with the City Mayor! And Josh is guaranteed to move up where he is. He definitely isn't working in the right position for the talent he has. Once they realize it, I know they will realize just how lucky they are for stealing him from CA.
I mean look at this face..he's worth moving anywhere.
The memories we have already made from being here, and the tests we've had with our relationship from the decision of the move, not seeing each other for two months, and the amount of our love grew for one another is just amazing. How many people get to travel to Nashville, Asheville, Chicago, and Atlanta in two and a half months with someone who enjoys baseball and beer as much as they do?
And have their friends coming in July to Nashville to visit for 4th of July?!
I get to see them in...t-minus 14 days!
So, there you have it. The nitty gritty of moving across the country. And I wouldn't change a bit of it. Even though I have my 'bad days' where I just want to click my heels and be back 'home,' the good days 100% outweigh the bad. Because I know that if I needed to talk to my family and friends at any time of the day, regardless of the time change, they would be there to listen. I know that I'll get to see them soon, and I know that Josh and I are making our future together, regardless of what city we live in.
Josh and I created this blog to document our lives, the exciting parts and the boring parts (you don't have to read those). Although I would love to become one of those awesome blogettes (i.e., Mama Laughlin, Skinny Meg, Walking in Memphis in High Heels, The Stanfield Clan, Little Baby J, and Baby Ellie), this really is for all of our friends to read to keep updated on Josh and I. Why would they need to be updated, you ask....(a little backstory in case our blog becomes famous one day) Well, that's because we now live about 3,000 miles away from them. Yes, 3,000 miles which might as well be 10,000 when it comes to flying purposes. In all honesty, I still get a lump in my throat when I think about it. And, although we have only been away for two months (4.5 months for Josh), we miss them like crazy! Back in November of 2012, Josh was about to get laid off from his job and was given the opportunity to take a job in TN. Although Josh has always wanted to move out of CA, I was perfectly content living within a 30 mile radius from all of our family and friends. When Josh and I first started dating, he even asked me if I'd ever move out of CA because he wanted to get out as soon as he could, and even told me it was a deal breaker. Ha! I just heard a cute guy talking gibberish to me and I played along. Little did I know that we'd fall in love and be faced with that decision a little over a year later. So after a billion (not exaggerating) fights and tears, Josh and I came to the decision together that, although the thought of moving away from everything we've grown to know was terrifying, moving to TN was going to be the best decision for us. I'm pretty sure if we had taken a vote on to move or not to move, we probably would have been the only in favor. But that's only because we are so close to our family and friends, and let me tell you, they are amazing! Not only are they amazing, they are also supportive which is exactly what we needed during the whole transition. They all supported our decision, offered help, and agreed to not make new best friends. Fast forward about six months...and here we are. We finally started a blog and are officially TN residents, eek! We have taken a Penske truck across country (with the help of Josh's parents), moved into a townhouse 1500 sq. ft. smaller than our house in CA (that we only saw pictures online before moving in), both started new jobs, traveled to Chicago to see the Cubs play the Giants, traveled to Asheville, NC to find the best breweries around, and just recently traveled to Atlanta, GA to watch the Giants play the Braves and drink more beer. Never never never would I have ever thought I'd be creating a blog unless I was pregnant or getting married (none of those are happening, YET haha). So here it is, a blog of Casi and Josh's adventures from traveling the country, to making new friends, to working out, to finding the best beers around, to staying in touch with all of our family and friends, to falling in love with each other more and more every day, and everything in between. Pictures will come.....when I figure that portion out. Be happy that there are words and a website :)
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