Monday, February 27, 2012

Movin' On Up

Moving is... bittersweet. I love going through my stuff that I have, purging myself of crap I don't need, finding things I had forgotten I had. And the ever popular, "why the hell do I still have this?" moments. I'm not gonna lie, I am a pack rat. By no means am I at hoarder status, but I do hold on to some things that I should just let go. I am guilty of keeping movie and concert ticket stubs. Not from every single event, but the one's that hold sentimental attachment for me. I have some old greeting cards, again, sentimental attachment. Finding these things make me remember really good times with great people!! And 1, 3, or 10 years down the road, when I rearrange my things, or move again... I will come across said items and go, "Holy shit, I remember going to this concert! It was awesome!" or "I remember getting this card when I was moving to Chicago" or "Damn, I still have that police report?!" And someday if/when I have kids, I will show these things to them!
However, on the other side to this, I am leaving a place behind. A place that I had inhabited for almost 2 years. I know 2 years isn't that long, but considering what a BIG move I made to Chicago, and what events in my life the last 2 years have held, it seems like it's been longer. The bare walls of this apartment that I am leaving seem to be staring at me and asking "are you sure?" (that also might be my mother's resonating voice in my mind from a phone call that just ended) Yes, I am sure. It's something that needs to happen. Hearts have been broken, tears have been shed, lives have been changed. My time here on Campbell Avenue has come to an end...you will be missed.

Hello to Leavitt Street, and my new abode, I promise good times to you! Please show me the same in return. And fair warning dear new apartment...you have no idea what you've gotten yourself into! 



Tuesday, February 21, 2012

It's the little things...

I was posed a question by a very handsome man last night, " What makes you happy?" Well, as I stated in my last post on here, that's my goal, happy. In my head I knew what the answer was, obviously my friends and family. However before I could say this, again Mr. Handsome said that he knew friends and family made me happy. He was looking for a different answer. The kind of answer that honestly does make you stop and think for a minute, what does make me happy? I rolled this over in my head for a minute. Then when I started thinking of answers... it was all little things. Not that that's a bad thing, but I guess I never realized how many little things in my life make me happy. Things that make me smile, laugh, bring up a great memory, put me at ease, make me comfortable, and things that make me come back for more.
I had just recently finished a great book, and I mean this book made me want to find an excuse to call in to work for the day just so I could read it! That makes me happy. My morning routine makes me happy. Its not some great thought out scheme, it's just the simplicity of it. But it's what I do daily when I get out of bed. I get up, start my coffee (something else that makes me happy), TMI WARNING: I go to the bathroom, go back to the kitchen get my coffee mug out, put it in front of the maker, with my creamer and sugar. Then I return to the bathroom and brush my teeth. Again, simple, but it makes me happy, it's the start of my day!
My favorite perfume...Euphoria by Calvin Klein. It's awesome and makes me happy! Office supplies, I don't have an office job per say, but there is something about highlighters, post-its, pens, notebooks, paper clips, that make me smile. Maybe it's that nagging thought in my head that one day I will be organized, HA!
The way autumn smells, that dry leaf smell, love it! Autumn also brings that first kind of chilly day when you get to wear a sweater for the first time after sweating your ass off all summer. The smell of rain gets me too. Bonfires, especially at my parents. Drinking beer, having a hot dog or two, and just watching a fire. I really could go on and on and on. I guess the point of this is that, no matter what my day holds, whether I am dreading going to work, or I have been waiting forever for a bus or train in the cold. I woke up late, can't find my keys, etc. I realized that, somewhere amidst all my day to day humdrum, there are a lot of things that are going to make me happy! So I leave you with this thought for yourself, what makes you happy?
I just realized something, I didn't reciprocate the question back to the Mr. Handsome. Shit! I need to go make a phone call!! 

Friday, February 17, 2012

When I grow up

I love the time honored question when you were a kid... "what do you want to be when you grow up?" Well, for me, when I was a kid, I said that I wanted to "do peoples' hair". Much to my dismay when these words popped out of my mouth in my elementary youth, it was followed by giggles and chuckles. Not just by other classmates, but by the on-looking and listening adults as well. But you know what, that's what I ended up doing. Yes, it was after a stint in college going for a major in mass communications. And by "stint" I'm talking a whole semester. HA. However, in your face nay-sayers I did what I said I was going to do.
But I digress, because currently I no longer am a licensed barber, I am now a restaurant manager. Now, I know I just totally launched an in your face for something that I currently don't have as a career. This in all actuality is not my point, my point is I am 30 years old and still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I do know one thing, well maybe more than one thing... I know that I really love photography, I still enjoy writing and by doing this blog I get to dabble in that again. I have suddenly learned that after years of fighting it, I am crafty, and I really like it! I actually want a table to do crafts on. (Somewhere my sister is laughing an evil laugh because I am guilty of giving her shit for being so damn crafty). I love to cook, I am eating healthier and actually enjoying the healthy food that I am eating. I am creative dammit!!
Bottom line, it may have taken me 30 years to realize a few of these things, but so what?! I am finally finding out what makes me happy, and I think that is my answer as an adult.
Shannon what do you want to be when you grow up? ....Happy.
Today I manage a restaurant in Chicago, maybe tomorrow I am herding sheep in Australia, maybe in June for my birthday I shave my head and decide to join a strange tribe in some far off country in Africa. Or I pack up, move home and find a job in good 'ole Springfield Missouri again. If one or all of these things are what makes me happy then I guess I found what I want to be when I grow up.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

So I got a bug up my ass to start a blog. Why? Well, why the hell not. Since I was younger I have always wanted to keep a journal. I even remember at one point in my youth owning "the diary". That sacred book where you held your thoughts, dreams and of course...your secrets. And lets not forget that it had a lock on it (girls, you know what I'm talking about) with a tiny key. Looking back on it now, reminds me of lock and key for luggage. Both were gigantic pieces of crap. I think you could look at those locks and they would open, without even the smallest hint of Jedi mind trick. 
Anyways, I have tried with fail many times to keep said journal, I have to admit to purchasing quite a few and then only having maybe a-entry. As in one, singular, uno. However, that entry is always so excited, so hopeful, so gung-ho on writing everyday. Usually goes "I am finally starting a journal for ______ reason (enter break-up, marriage, divorce, weight loss). I can't wait to fill this journal with all my thoughts to have it maybe later when i'm long gone be discovered by someone who will have an artifact of my amazing life and then will be recopied and published around the world in thousands of languages for all the masses to read!!!!!" --sorry, I got carried away... But in all actuality that is what I truly hoped for it. But, sad to say one half page entry does not win you novel status, dead, or alive.

So friends, this blog is just me opening up my mind to you. I can't promise mind-blowing topics. What I can promise is verbal diarrhea, crazy life happenings, pissed off ramblings, the sharing of good things and good times. Maybe laughs, maybe jaw dropping "holy shit did she just type that for everyone to read". And to answer that, yes...yes I will!! So, if you are easily offended by me swearing and occasionally dropping an F-bomb, or 12, Shanny's Rambleys may not be your cup of blog reading tea.

Please read, comment, appreciate and stayed tuned for more!!

And yes, I chose a stupid play on words for my title its Shanny's Rambleys, Shannon's Rambles was too boring... and just not the Shanny you know!