My 4th Year Anniversary

It's true. My current relationship is officially my longest relationship.

As of August 26, 2010, I have had a serious relationship with the city of Pittsburgh. I moved to the 'Burgh on August 26, 2006, as an incoming freshman print journalism student at Point Park University. I had a pixie-style hair cut with black low lights and a new nose ring. A lot has changed, and I have been thinking about these changes more and more over the last month.

Since I moved to Pittsburgh, these things have changed:

- My hair is halfway down my back, curly and back to my natural red color.
- I am graduating from Point Park University with a B.S. in Business Management.
- I have no nose ring, nor a scar from my former piercing.
- I am now a size 0/2, and when I moved here I was a size 12.
- I got a breast reduction, equal to 3-5 pounds removed.
- I am now the EE/In-store Trainer at Sephora Shadyside, and when I moved to Pittsburgh I had never been to or heard of a Sephora.
- I am single, but in a very healthy dating relationship at the moment. 'Just dating' wasn't a concept I understood in 2006.
- I have so many new and unique friends! I can't imagine my life without you guys!
- I have grown very close to my grandparents since moving here, and I am so thankful for every moment I spend with them.

There are many more changes I have made, and this list could go on for hours. If you're really curious, you can ask me in person. But, overall, I have become more aware of myself and my own actions in the world around me. I am more aware of my attitude and my actions, as well as more aware of the impact I can have either positive or negative with the people I encounter. I have overcome a lot of heartbreak and financial hardships, but I have learned so much about myself and how strong I really am. I am a fighter, and I never thought of myself like that with complete certainty. The world can throw its worst at me, and I feel totally prepared to take it down brick-by-brick. I look at my apartment, my education, my career and friends, and I am so proud of everything I have created. I am completely responsible for everything I have done here. And, I am so proud of it all.

These 4 years have been the most important in my life to date. I can't wait to see what the next 4 years and beyond have in store for me. Pittsburgh, you have taught me a lot and will always be in my heart. Thank you for your hospitality.

So, does anyone else have a sappy love for Pittsburgh? Or, maybe you just have something you'd like to share that has changed in your life over the last few years, or even since yesterday? Let me know! I'd love to hear from you.

To celebrate my 4 years in Pittsburgh, upon the visit of my cousins from California, I had my very first Primanti Bros. sandwich. I am officially a Pittsburgher, I think.

It's Been A Long Time Comin'

Hola folks!

I know it's been a long time since we last had a chat. Some of you have pointed this out to me on a few occasions, and I am finally hear to respond to your requests! Yes, I am here to write a blog today.

Get excited!

So, what exactly have I been up to the last month-and-a-half you ask?

Good question. I have a long answer. So hold onto your hats!

OK, so I had an icky breakup right before I wrote my last post. That wasn't too fun, but I'm definitely not dwelling on it. Luckily for me, Sephora sent me to Sephora University and Corporate Headquarters in San Francisco the nine days following the breakup.

And, it was AHH-MAZING!!!

In true Emily-style, I took the shitty cards I was dealt in my life and made them the fuel for my success. Train the Trainer July 2010 in San Francisco was a wonderful, life-changing experience that I am still incredibly grateful for and will always remember. I learned so much, not just about training, coaching and managing staff, but also about myself. I learned that what I do as a 22-year-old almost-college graduate is not what all 22-year-old almost-college graduates do. I do amazing things every single day. Anything I have accomplished in my life is attributed to myself and the people around me. I am truly blessed, and I have many more exciting things to come down the road.

So, in San Francisco, I met great people. I ate the best food of my life to date. I wore some fierce suits and a really slick ponytail. And, I officially became a traveling businesswoman.

Whoo hoo!

When I came home, however, there was little time to be excited. I had to give (yet another) presentation for my macroeconomics class just two days after getting back on the East Coast. I turned in my final paper and took my final exam also.

Done.

When that was done, I realized I was three weeks away from school starting again. I only had to work! I was excited. I was beyond jazzed. I couldn't stand my excitement.

Then I got sick.

The last two-and-a-half weeks have been spent either on the couch, in the doctor's office, or at work in pain. I suffered from a bladder infection that was restricting the blood flow and oxygen to my kidneys. I still have not heard all of the details of my infection, but it was painful and very scary. There were a few nights I wasn't sure if I would be okay. Lots of pressure, nausea, pain, and medication. I was popping pills every four hours and on antibiotics for about two weeks. I feel much better now, but I haven't had this much discomfort in my life, aside from my breast reduction last summer.

Summers seem to be good luck for me.

Anyhow, my doctor saw me for two hours the day we decided this infection was more than what we originally thought. Kidney stones, cystitis of the bladder, infection, anatomically irregular. These are all good terms to throw at an otherwise-healthy 22-year-old woman. Needless to say, I have not been myself and I have not been feeling well at all since I returned from the West Coast. I am feeling much better now. I do not need any painkillers or antibiotics anymore, and I have been eating more every day.

I have my follow-up appointment with my doctor on Friday. I am extremely curious.

This brings us to this week. This week has been terrible and wonderful at the same time and in very different ways. I have had a pool of downright nasty clients this week. Nasty, rude, condescending, ungrateful and mean.

All of the above.

That's enough to dampen any good feelings toward the day. I've also had a few bumps this week in attempts to get ready for school starting this Saturday. My air conditioner has leaked all over my wall and it is starting to mold. HH Properties does not seem too concerned by this fact. I swear I will flip a lid if they try and charge me when I move out in December for the water damage to the wall.

I have called them three times about this situation in the last few months.

But, a few good things have made me stop and smile this week. Bekah is back from Costa Rica, so I get to see her soon and catch up on her travels. My cousins are coming to visit from California tomorrow. Even if it's just for the night, it will be a nice end to an eventful and tough Summer. I have also had a few successes at work recently and in my love life. No further details until otherwise indicated, folks. I have learned my lessons about blogging while dating the hard way!

OK, so school starts on Saturday morning. Yes, Saturday morning. I have four classes this semester, and then I will be a college graduate! I have to be in class four days a week while maintaining a full workload, but I will keep you all informed and up-to-date as best I can during this semester.

I am more than 100% positive that I will have plenty of not-so perfect life experiences in my last semester, so please stay tuned!

Oh, and I can't wait until my first pumpkin spice latte of the new season. Just giddy.

Loud And Clear

I've never had a blog before, so I am still learning the censorship of it all. I'm still learning what I can write and what I can get away with as a blogger. I've already made a huge mistake on here. But, the lesson has been clearly and quickly learned. I apologize for any ill emotions caused by anything I have said on here thus far.

I aim to be a writer in some professional capacity in my career. This was a valuable lesson to learn, and I can only go from here. I just wish it wasn't such a hurtful and frustrating process.

But, then again, when has anything you've wanted badly been easy to get?

I remember when I was seven years old, wanting an American Girl doll so badly. Starting in the summer that year, my mom gave me an empty coffee tin of her International Delights amaretto coffee to save my money in until Christmas. I had the option to save all or part of my allowance each week. I also had the option to do more chores to earn more money.

This was my first checking account, in a sense. Or, maybe it was a savings account. I think that was the intention of my mom, but I did withdraw from the tin every once in a while. You know, if there was a new candy at Gardner's Candies, or a new collection of POGs at Wal-Mart. It depended on my mood each week. Candy and POGs were equally awesome at that point in my life.

Either way, at the end of the year, whether I got my American Girl doll or not was up to me, and only me. I was motivated by this challenge and the sense of responsibility. I loved that coffee tin. I loved pay day. I love seeing money grow and make things happen.

Being a business major, I guess not much has changed.

So, I worked really hard in that five month period. I dusted the house so many times. I cleaned the bathroom. I made my bed every day. I kept the floor in my room pretty clear most days. I set the table for dinner. It was a process, a daily process, but I didn't mind it for the most part.

I liked the challenge.

And, sure enough, Christmas morning came on December 25th, as it does every year. And, although I knew I had given my all, there was still a bit of doubt in the back of my mind, making me think my American Girl doll was not under the Christmas tree that morning.

She was, though, and she was beautiful. I loved to change her clothes and play with her hair every day. I named her Lindsey. She was so cool.

I learned a lot that year. I learned about money and the value of a dollar. I learned about working hard and working toward a goal. I learned that I like a challenge and I handle responsibility very well, even at a young age. And, today, 15 years later, I see that everything requires hard work, responsibility, and the drive to meet the challenge. It doesn't come easy, whatever it is you are aiming to get.

I gave this a strong effort, and I still have questions. I feel a bit cheated and used. But, I'm okay. I've learned a lot here. But, I also am reminded that everything is a process. I need to realize that not everybody realizes this hard, true fact.

Not everyone is fortunate enough to have had a fantastic mother, with an International Delights amaretto coffee tin to encourage a work ethic and a self-disciplining conscience.

Nope.

And now, today, I need to learn how to deal with that part of the population that have not learned these valuable lessons yet.

It sucks.

Hiccups Are Embarassing

So, I live in Friendship and work in Shadyside. It would be ridiculous to drive to and from work everyday, especially since parking on Walnut Street is horrendous and impossible. I would probably drive two minutes, park, and walk another half-dozen blocks to work.

Oh, and I don't have a car.

Needless to say, I walk to work everyday. Rain or shine. And it is mostly a good thing. The days that are really hot or really cold, or raining really hard, I really don't enjoy walking to work. But, for the most part, it keeps my legs fit. So I am happy about that.

A few days ago, I was on my way to work for an afternoon shift. I had already gone for a run and then successfully finished 6 cups of coffee, at this point.

Unfortunately for me, and this has haunted me since birth, when my stomach is too full of air, it really can't come out in one, exclamatory burp. For me, even when my mom burped me, I would start to hiccup. These hiccups can last and recur throughout the course of an entire day. I could hiccup initially for about 10 minutes, be fine, and then two hours later start hiccuping again.

How annoying, right?

Well, this day, because of the running and the coffee and the walking rather fast, I had hiccups off and on the entire morning. And my walk to work was no exception. I am so used to this hiccuping disease by now, I can control them and usually stop them fairly easily.

Today, my hiccups were winning.

So, I am walking across the East Busway on South Negley Avenue after six blocks of tiny, manageable hiccups. At the light, I stop and let out this HUGE hiccup.

I think I jumped.

And, luckily, no one heard it---Or, so I thought.

As I begin across the crosswalk, a mid-40's blonde woman with sunglasses, a business skirt suit on, tights, and white Nike sneakers starts coming across the crosswalk from the other side. As we walk by each other and get closer, she just smiles and turns her head downward, tilting slightly to the side.

"Aww, it's okay dear."

She seemed to feel sorry for me.

I was mortified!

It was one of those expressions that makes you want to crawl underneath your bed with a stuffed animal and cry. I reminded me of a thunderstorm with my little sister when we were seven and three.

You would think horrifying me with this expression would scare the hiccups out of my system, or so the old wives' tale would say.

Nope.

I had hiccups the rest of the day.

Just try putting mascara and liquid eyeliner on a woman six inches taller than you, while standing up with chronic hiccups.

I Am A Horrible Writer

It's been five---technically, six---days since my last blog.

I officially have a boyfriend.

I am going to San Francisco with Sephora to try out to be a trainer.

And as of 19 minutes ago, my baby sister is 19 years old. She also moved in with her fiance this week to their new apartment.

Yet, I have no desire to write about any of this. I have no strength or brain to put to any one of these events or any stories from the last five days.

I am far from speechless, but I have absolutely nothing to write.

I am a horrible writer.

Slicing Red Onions Made Me Cry And Then I Rubbed Them With My Fingers

I am a genius.

Tonight after work, I made panzanella for the 4th of July picnic tomorrow night. It's a delicious traditional Italian bread salad, and it is so easy to make. I made my own version, though. I combined bread, tomatoes, red onion, hot banana pepper rings, green and kalamata olives, garlic, EVOO and balsamic vinegar in a bowl. It's marinating over night in the refrigerator. Yum-o!

Unfortunately for me, though. I was slicing the red onion and my eyes really started to sting and water. That typically doesn't happen for me when I slice onion, so I guess this one was particularly pungent. Luckily, Bekah loves onion. If she could eat onions like apples, she would, if it weren't for all of the strange stares she would get. And Ted still kisses me with garlic breath, so taste is not an issue at this point. I am just extremely emotional at this point...Or, so it may seem.

So, instead of washing my hands and rubbing my eyes like a sensible girl should, I just dug my fingers into my eye sockets and filled them with onion residue.

Delish.

I'm still teary-eyed and so full of regret.

Happy 4th of July to you all! Enjoy your family and friends, and please be safe!

I Skipped Blogging For A Week

Yup.

I haven't had a new post here since Monday. I only started this blog a little over two weeks ago, and I am already tapering off at the ends.

To be honest, I've met a new boy.

But, a few things have been set on the back burner.

As you can see, I haven't been blogging all week. This is unfortunate both for you and for me. I love writing here. I can let go of my thoughts and release without inhibition. I also haven't been doing my ab routine every night. I have done an ab routine every night since April. Four times this week isn't bad, but it still isn't seven times.

I can feel the flab, spilling over my pants.

I have, however, kept up with my running. I also have been cleaning a lot more! And I've discovered a bunch of new things about myself.

I can definitely cook. I can even experiment in the kitchen, and the finished meal always surprises me.

I can be very understanding. I can also be laid back, but still feel like I am in control of myself and my own actions. I don't have to be the perfectionist I always have known myself to be. I can be in control of my own emotions and actions, and still be laid back.

I smile a lot, and always have. But this is a different kind of smile.

This is how I've always wanted to be.

And now I know that I am who I've always wanted to be.