My Favorite Questions

It is so much fun to tell people I have only been in LA since January (some people are kind of shocked and surprised). Their typical responses are to ask me if I like LA or if I am homesick. My answers to those questions are that I absolutely love LA and I am not homesick at all (sorry family).

What is not to love? I had a hard time agreeing to move to LA with Joe because of the life I had started to establish in St. Louis. I truly enjoyed my job (I actually looked forward to going into the office), I was building a strong network, I was active in the community I enjoyed spending time with my family and I had (well...I know I still have) some fabulous friends. When you are faced with a huge change in life, you can either embrace the change or resist the change. Once I made the decision to move to LA with Joe and he proposed to me I have not looked back. I have only been here a few months and I feel like I have lived here forever. I feel like I belong.

It took a couple of weeks to get adjusted, but I am back running at full speed. I have a phenomenal job that encourages me to grow personally and professionally, plus I am viewed as the marketing guru. I am having a great time integrating development responsibilities with marketing projects and hope to be making a positive impact while I am at it. I am involved with the Arthritis Foundation and they have already appointed me the Chair for the 2010 LA Walk. I am extremely honored and a bit nervous about the responsibilities associated with being a chair. I better start developing a network stat!! Speaking of networking, I am working on establishing a Los Angeles chapter for the Yellow-Tie networking association. I plan to get the chapter up and running by the end of the year. I am also marrying the love of my life and my high school sweetheart in December. We have a lot planned for the big day, but there are still a ton of minor details to arrange. I better carve out some time for wedding planning (I need to find another hairdresser. I just got word that mine is moving to Oklahoma...seriously?!). Funny, I work diligently on planning events for charity and work, but not for my own wedding (it makes a heck of a lot of difference when you are footing the bill). I am super pumped about having an audition with a gym this Saturday to hopefully (cross your fingers) get back into teaching spinning/cycling classes. My alarm goes off at 4:30 (I snooze at least once) every weekday, I hit the gym, work and usually end up at home sometime after 7:00pm. When people ask if I like LA, I think what's not to like. I have re-created my St. Louis life with the exception of my friends and family. A huge major perk about my life now...I get to go to the beach every weekend.

I don't have the time to be homesick, because I choose not to focus on missing St. Louis. I have fully embraced our new life. I think the changes have forced me to become more independent (especially since Joe has been traveling a ton for work. I have had to entertain myself a lot...probably explains why I have read so many books and bought quite a few new pieces of clothing...sorry babe. I know I need to save for the wedding, but I refuse to look like a frumpy housewife.). I also think I am more energized (for those of you that know me you might not think this is possible). Two different people have commented of my high energy and enthusiasm just today. I don't know how to explain it. Either I really love LA or I need to lay off the coffee.

It is going to be a great year and I am looking forward to blogging about my experiences. When Joe comes home and installs our internet (I am technologically challenged) I hope to be able to write more frequently. Some days when I get home, the last thing I want to do is lug my computer to the lobby. I am lucky if I was the makeup off my face before I crash into bed. But, I wouldn't want life to be any less crazy busy. You get one life to live, so live life to the fullest. Embrace change and don't wast time thinking about negative things that consume your positive energy.