This place, my new residence in Milwaukee, feels more and more like home to me. In two days, I will have inhabited my apartment for two good weeks. Preparing for my friend Mel's visit last weekend gave me motivation to really finish unpacking and situate my furniture despite Mel's original intent to help me unpack. To tell you the truth, I was glad I had made this space a comfy, little home prior to her arrival because we could then enjoy our time together doing funner activities.
Speaking of friends and visitors, I am thrilled to have a good line up for the next few weekends. Just today, my great friend and co-blogger Kimberly e-mailed me her tentative DFW/MKE itinerary. If all goes well, Kimberly and I will be watching the Packers play in the Superbowl together, which is an interesting irony because (as you may already know) this year's Superbowl is going to be held in Arlington, Texas (a.k.a. DFW). I am sooo looking forward to this... time to scout the perfect local watering hole for us to go watch the game at and, maybe, make new friends.
This weekend I will welcome and host my northwest Missourian friend. It has been a couple of years since I saw her; we will have a lot to catch up on. I imagine I will take her to the local Italian grocery store, Glorioso's, for lunch one day; or play her a few rounds of farkle over great convos when we are not touring the museums. The truth is, I have not done the best job at keeping in touch with her and her family in Missouri for the past eighteen months. This so called clean slate, however, has motivated me to get reconnected to those dear friends and loved ones. I think this visit is a good start.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The Next Chapter: From Queso To Cheese
Thank you for The Beginning, Kimberly; exactly two weeks later...
Indeed, it has been ten days since my big move from sunny Texas to chilly Wisconsin (go Packers, beat the Bears today!). So far, I am enjoying all of this newness in my life; from the new abode, much colder temperature and snowy weather, new street names to memorize, local beer varieties to get used to (although the local Whole Foods sells Shiner), and more...
For now, I think, or I certainly do hope, that the hardest part of this big, state changing move is behind me. I am talking about unpacking boxes and boxes, and many more boxes, of my belongings (and some borrowed properties... oops!) that took me seven days to do. I much preferred the interior designing and decorating that were simultaneously completed in time for my Fort Worthian friend Melanie's visit this weekend.
Mel's visit, along with my newly but strategically placed old furniture, help me feel even more at home in this new city. I also feel very fortunate to have Mel this weekend to explore and experience my new vicinity with. She was game with my last minute plan to show up at the local Lululemon showroom and join the complimentary one hour yoga class, making me feel less awkward than my yoga poses showcased.
Despite the mere ten days taste of my new life in Wisconsin, I am looking forward to what my clean slate brings me in the near future. I feel very lucky and grateful for this clean slate. After all, they say that if one can move to Wisconsin during the winter time, one will be just alright.
Indeed, it has been ten days since my big move from sunny Texas to chilly Wisconsin (go Packers, beat the Bears today!). So far, I am enjoying all of this newness in my life; from the new abode, much colder temperature and snowy weather, new street names to memorize, local beer varieties to get used to (although the local Whole Foods sells Shiner), and more...
For now, I think, or I certainly do hope, that the hardest part of this big, state changing move is behind me. I am talking about unpacking boxes and boxes, and many more boxes, of my belongings (and some borrowed properties... oops!) that took me seven days to do. I much preferred the interior designing and decorating that were simultaneously completed in time for my Fort Worthian friend Melanie's visit this weekend.
Mel's visit, along with my newly but strategically placed old furniture, help me feel even more at home in this new city. I also feel very fortunate to have Mel this weekend to explore and experience my new vicinity with. She was game with my last minute plan to show up at the local Lululemon showroom and join the complimentary one hour yoga class, making me feel less awkward than my yoga poses showcased.
Despite the mere ten days taste of my new life in Wisconsin, I am looking forward to what my clean slate brings me in the near future. I feel very lucky and grateful for this clean slate. After all, they say that if one can move to Wisconsin during the winter time, one will be just alright.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
The Beginning
So I suppose this is where the blog begins. Today is the official "Farewell" party being thrown for our dear friend (and fellow Clean Slate blogger) Ratna. Next week she is moving from sunny Texas to chilly Wisconsin. It would seem that this is where it ends, but truly it is the beginning. Maybe a little explanation is needed here....
I have been pondering this website for the last few months. I feel as if my life has entered the state of "Clean Slate." In my mid 30s, I left a life of security with a husband and large home and entered one with practically nothing. I called my apartment The Clean Slate. I did have some possessions....One white sofa and a chair. I began to build on this theme acquiring pieces that I loved and always searching for the perfect additions to my new home. My apartment became a cocoon of safety & security with soft bedding and lots of fluffy pillows.
Little did I know, more changes were coming. Ratna and I have known each other for 10 years. We are one-time coworkers and long time friends. We always just pick up where we left off. She invites me to lunch at a fabulous Italian hole-in-the-wall restaurant and tells me that she is moving to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My sadness at losing my local friend soon turned to happiness, realizing that the job that moves her there, keeps her in the US. This is, of course, Ratna's story to tell. So as we spend the afternoon chatting about her new life chapter, we realized that we could build this blog together. As she moves from a vintage home to a new mod apartment, we have so much to discuss and share.
I will see my good friend tonight at her farewell party and I can't wait to give her a big hug. I'm so proud of you Ratna. You are a fighter and a survivor. You impact the lives of every person you meet. You are also so creative and a true artist. I can't wait to see what this next chapter holds for you.
I have been pondering this website for the last few months. I feel as if my life has entered the state of "Clean Slate." In my mid 30s, I left a life of security with a husband and large home and entered one with practically nothing. I called my apartment The Clean Slate. I did have some possessions....One white sofa and a chair. I began to build on this theme acquiring pieces that I loved and always searching for the perfect additions to my new home. My apartment became a cocoon of safety & security with soft bedding and lots of fluffy pillows.
Little did I know, more changes were coming. Ratna and I have known each other for 10 years. We are one-time coworkers and long time friends. We always just pick up where we left off. She invites me to lunch at a fabulous Italian hole-in-the-wall restaurant and tells me that she is moving to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My sadness at losing my local friend soon turned to happiness, realizing that the job that moves her there, keeps her in the US. This is, of course, Ratna's story to tell. So as we spend the afternoon chatting about her new life chapter, we realized that we could build this blog together. As she moves from a vintage home to a new mod apartment, we have so much to discuss and share.
I will see my good friend tonight at her farewell party and I can't wait to give her a big hug. I'm so proud of you Ratna. You are a fighter and a survivor. You impact the lives of every person you meet. You are also so creative and a true artist. I can't wait to see what this next chapter holds for you.
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