I Wouldn't Call it Homesick But...

I know, I know.

It's been about a month and a half or something since I've taken the time to update this with what's been going on.

I have what I consider to be a couple decent reasons:
1 - I haven't really been up to much outside of the work/social life/staying alive realm
2 - I've been generally kind of bummed out about some things I sort of miss and can't put them into definitive or entertaining, blog post-worthy phrases

THIS DOESN'T MEAN I WANT TO MOVE AGAIN, so just get that idea out of your head right now before I get into this! ;)

Moving this time was definitely a different experience for me. When I left Ohio, I was so damn happy to get out of there I didn't (and haven't!) looked back since. Most of my good friends had moved away, I had goals to leave there forever and it is generally somewhere I'm not too thrilled to go back to.

I consider Charlotte to be my first real home - it's the first place I made true friends with similar interests (not people I just hung out with because we happened to work at the same place or go to school together). I felt like I truly made it to where I wanted there and really loved it. I just didn't want to stay there because of the limitations that come with living in a smaller city in the US nowhere near the coast (or really anywhere else that matter).

There are just certain things about being somewhere familiar that are very comforting - unfortunately, when you move to the other side of the planet, you kinda lose pretty much all of that! I would love to do any of the following right now (please keep in mind it's winter here and I am going crazy from it getting dark at 5pm and being inside all the time!!):

• Go on the Plaza Midwood Tuesday Night Ride and chat it up with two of my closest friends all night.
• Walk to Wooden Robot Brewery and drink $5 beers all day with friends (oh - and actually having friends to text to hang out on the weekends is pretty sweet too).
• Play sand volleyball at VBGB with my friends I used to work with there.
• Go to an electronic music show at the Fillmore that I can walk to from my apartment and get in for free because I used to bartend for the security people.
• WALK TO WORK. BUT SERIOUSLY, THOUGH.
• Know where the hell specific items are in the grocery store without having to walk around like three times like a clueless idiot.
• Know how to get effing anywhere without using my phone. 
• Not to be basic, but Trader Joe's was a way nicer grocery store than the ones here.
• PUMPKIN BEER.
• Fried pickles, Chick-fil-a, glorious Southern Food, etc. Also, if you live close to a Chipotle please go for me and eat a mountain of guac. The Mexican here is basically non existent. :'(
• Music festivals!!

Sorry if it seems like I'm bitching, but I miss all of the above and a whole lot more - and it's going to be a minute before I can enjoy any of it again (if ever!). Positive upbeat people need to vent/complain sometimes too! 

I'll post something better soon, but I'll leave you all with some cool memories I had from Charlotte:

Seriously, if we were friends at all there, I miss and love you guys all so much. 

<3

Until next time (I'll be back to my chipper self, I swear).

-L