Welcome to The Queen City!

I made it!

The drive here felt like it took forever, but luckily for me, I had a couple good friends to help me out with the move, which made the task a little less daunting.

It's been in the 90s here all week, with really high humidity. My hair isn't too pleased with the move so far, but I'm starting to feel pretty comfortable. I've found my way to the library, grocery store and a few local parks, which means today I have more exploring to do in the shopping district. I also hope to find a yoga studio nearby.

When I moved to Chicago, I had my dad cleaning and organizing all my stuff as it was dropped inside my front door. This time, though, I was on my own. I had no idea how much stuff I actually have! Let's just say, it was enough to fill a 24' moving truck, plus my cute little Vibe. My new place is a little bigger than my Boystown walkup, but my bedroom is smaller so I have to pare down the furniture a bit. What I'm most excited for is my office...formally known as the Pretentious Reading Room.

I use the term "office" loosely at this point. There's a futon for guests, a second bookshelf stuffed with books and an incredible desk, which is where I'll get my creative juices flowing, if you know what I mean. At least, that's the plan. There are a couple of universities nearby, so I would like to take on some editing work for dissertations and whatnot. There also might be some potential contract communications work for a few campaigns. My first priority, though, is the job I came here for, which starts on Monday! I'm so excited, and really looking forward to a true 9 to 5 gig. Not to mention, everyone I've met and interacted with so far have been amazing, and I think the work environment is going to be a great one on a lot of levels.

Here's the thing about going corporate, a fact that made it on both the pro and con list for Cincinnati: It's going to be amazing to not have work rule my life, and to be able to use my salary to not only support myself, but actually have a little fun. I'll be able to go to a 6 p.m. yoga class. I won't have to work on Saturdays. As a matter of fact, I can come home and cook myself dinner instead of jetting out of the office for a quick bite at 8 p.m. before going back to finish some press releases.

The schedules I kept in Chicago made living a little difficult. My gym membership went mostly unused because I worked 15 hours a day. My commutes were long. I didn't have much time to meet people. My salary also wasn't anything to brag about. Of course, what I'm making now will go quickly once I factor in rent, a car payment and a 401K, but I think I've worked my budget out to allow me to take the trips I've been wanting to (look out Cali and NYC!!!), as well as have some fun around the City of Seven Hills (or Queen City, whichever you prefer).

In short, I'm feeling good, in spite of the heat. I made this offer to you all when I lived in Chicago, and I'll make it again--you always have a place to crash in Cincinnati if you feel like making a trip. Heck, I'll even sweeten the offer...a full-size futon instead of a couch. Any takers?

Be careful what you wish for.

I left Grand Rapids in a tizzy this morning, ready to get back to Chippewa Lake to finish packing and spend a little time by myself. Bad call.

It's no secret the last couple of months have been tough, and that without reliable cable and cell service, I've been more isolated than an indigenous tribe in the Amazon. In reality, though, Chippewa Lake is my most favorite destination in the whole world...and I wouldn't want to spend my summer anywhere else.

The last few weeks have been unbearably hot and humid, but as I drove around the bend and saw the sun glistening off the water, the most amazing breeze drifted over the lake and brought the smell of Chippewa rushing to my head. Nothing quite compares to the damp, piney fresh smell of the air here, and now with all the windows open, I'm surrounded by the scent that I wish could follow me all the way to Cincinnati.

The truth is, I was never really excited to move back here for a job. I'd been flirting for a long time with the idea of being a reporter, and felt like that move was my first really responsible decision. Chicago had been pretty much a cake walk. I had friends, a stage to karaoke on a couple nights a week and a blow-off job (not the campaign, of course) that paid me a lot of money to hang out with some of the cutest kids in the Midwest. Not bad. So when I accepted the gig in Big Rapids, I thought the pit in my stomach was because I was leaving a place I loved. As it turns out, that was part of it. More than the sadness of leaving, though, was questioning if the decision was the right one.

I feel different about Cincinnati. I am excited. I also feel nervous. I don't know anyone there. It's close to Kentucky. My job is really technical. I passed up another amazing job for this one. I think I sold out by going corporate. I didn't see my friends before I left. I might have forgotten something. I have a car payment. I really have to budget. I have to move all my stuff...again.

This is going to be tough, and up until now, it's all felt surreal.

Since I started my college search about a million years ago, I've craved an adventure. An adventure that would shove me out of my comfort zone and make me fend for myself. While Chicago and Big Rapids held their merits on the adventure scale, this move is a total leap of faith. I only hope that this leap turns out to be the one that helps put me on track.

The lake is perfect tonight. I wish you were here with me to chat, share a glass of wine and look out over the water. In a couple hours, the sun will melt into the trees directly across from my cottage, and the water will turn bright orange and red. It's the perfect time to swim or paddle down the road of light leading from my dock to the sunset. It's fitting, really, to spend the night here. A perfect evening in my favorite place...another little goodbye to home.