"Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength." --Betty Friedan

I've been 24 for 10 days now, which has allowed me time to reflect on the past year. If I had to sum it up in one word, it would be change. Now, I'll be the first to admit that word has made more appearances in this blog than any other, but that's just the point. In the past year, I've graduated college, fallen in love, moved to a new city and started a new job, made new friends and lost others, had crushes and been crushed.

There were some days this past year that I never thought would end. I experienced some incredibly low lows and can only hope the highs are on their way. It was a year of learning, necessary if only to mark my real entrance into adulthood. I paid my first electric bill and signed my first lease, sans co-signer. These past few years, I've hated the idea of getting older. 23 would lead to 27 which would soon become 35 and before you know it, you're over the hill. But now, I think I'm much more able to embrace it. It's not like I'm counting down until the days I'm 65 but I know now that each year will bring more experiences, opportunities and life lessons.

Looking back on the past year, there were a lot of things I enjoyed, some I didn't and a few I wish I could change. But I think part of aging is knowing that, even the hardships and unpleasant experiences will lead to something better. That every low point will end soon enough and, while you might have a mountain to climb, looking down from the top will be worth the struggle.

So, with a fresh, new year ahead of me, it seems only fitting to come up with a list of to-do's (and maybe a few to-don'ts).

1) Run the OKC Memorial Half in April
2) Edit my novel and try to get it published
3) Spend 365 days with my dog
4) Be in Houston for my nephew's first birthday
5) Don't live according to my (or someone else's) timeline
6) Spread happiness

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I wonder...

Sometimes after reading the weekly postsecret update, I wonder what I would send in if I were ever brave enough to make one. Various ideas run through my mind but nothing too shocking or scandalous to warrant a coveted spot on that blog. But still, I can't shake the urge to make one, just for me, to put out into the world. They say writing it down alone gives a sense of freedom and release-I wonder if it's true? Maybe I'll do that sometime this week...

My guitar has been restrung...just not by me. My dad was looking for something to do yesterday so I willingly offered him the guitar and strings. The little stinker finished restringing that bad boy faster than I could have with eight hands and pliers. So while I didn't do it, the point is it got done. Although that does defeat the whole purpose of making to-dos.

Today is a cloudy day sans rain. Hopefully that allows a walk as I haven't been able to do that with the Tedster in a few days. And I need to tucker him out before bed so he wakes up later than 6:58 begging to play. Not cool pup, not cool.

I have sent in my resume to a recruiter my dad knows and my sister used to get her current job and honestly, I just want to call it for the day on the job hunt front. Shame on me. To-do today? Write at least a thousand words on my story or write a song. Or both, I won't be picky.

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Check!

I did it! Check one off the list of to-dos.

On top of that, I followed up on a job application I submitted a month ago. Here's hoping I hear back from her! Now that I've gotten my "creative" on (although picking pictures, cutting them out and putting them in a frame isn't necessarily that creative) I've been bitten by the bug and am thinking it's time to make another collage. Oh I love doing these!

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It's a dreary Saturday

The weather in Houston as of late has been...boring. Cold and rainy thus preventing any kind of outside activity aka running or walking Teddy. Was it really just 11 days ago that I was laying out in my bathing suit? That's Houston for ya.

I am now getting to the point of "Winter Break" where I should be packing things up and heading back to Norman. It is so weird for me to be staying here. To talk to the boyfriend and see his apartment room on Skype and know that I'm never going to go back there (for the long term anyways). Rose said it'll take some getting used

to; I hope that happens quickly because I don't like this! I am also getting to the point of my break that the parents, regardless of what they do, seem to push my buttons. I know it's ridiculous because they aren't doing anything specific but that's what living on your own for four years does to you. I need to find a job.

Hopefully the rain will pass soon and the sun will come out. I need to play outside with my dog. I need some vitamin D (that's in the sun, right?).

Until then, I have come up with a to-do for this weekend. See that bad boy? It needs to be restrung. Desperately. The last time I did it was fall of 2008 and I have been putting it off for ages only because it's an arduous process for me, getting those little plugs out and what not. But, I will do it. And come Monday, I will be writing and playing sweet, sweet music once again. I hope.

What's that you ask? How does my picture frame look? Well, I'll tell you. Today, it has a whopping...one picture in it. I can't help it. My computer isn't connected to the printer so when I want to print the pictures I have to send it to myself and open it on my dad's computer and print from there! Man, do I sound lazy or what?! I think I will do that now, unless Pop is on his computer.

In short, I will:

1) Finish filling out the picture frame

2) Begin the process of restringing my guitar (I'm already regretting that one)

3) Hopefully play outside for a bit

Over and out.

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I'm sitting here, next to my second big cuppa coffee, green goop on my face in the form of a mask and still wearing my pajamas. I could get used to this. But...I can't.

I am a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, a check in the unemployed box and a mother...to a 4 month old puppy. I am a daughter, a friend, a girlfriend. A musician, a writer and a runner. But those only summarize some of who I am in a word. I hope I'm more than that.

I intend (and hope) this blog will serve as a reminder, a way to keep myself accountable. I plan to post a to-do item of the day, perhaps newfound workouts, yummy recipes...anything and everything in between.

So, to start my blog off my to-do of the day is to fill this awesome picture frame my sister

got my for graduation.

Lots of places for pictures and lots of pictures to choose from makes me think it's going to be a little bit longer and intensive of a project then I expect. But it needs to get done and I want to do it.

Also on the list of things that need to happen today is a nice, long walk with my sweet Teddy. He was good and let me sleep late this morning after mom let him play from 7:30-9:30ish. The only thing preventing a walk from happening is the weather. While it's a blue sky with few clouds, it's 41 and I'm not sure how I can survive walking in that. Oh the things I'll do for that pup.

And now it's time to get dressed and start picking out pictures.

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