It's Summertime.....

Last summer I made a 'Things to do summer 2009' list. I did it as a joke but decided to try and actually accomplish the things on the list. I actually enjoyed it and almost crossed off everything. How do you make a tradition? You continue something every year. And so begins my 'summer to do list' tradition.

Summer 2010

1. Skydiving
2. Travel somewhere I haven't traveled before
3. Camping
4. Discover New York
5. Swim in the ocean
6. Dance dance dance
7. Go to concerts
8. Pick a topic every 2 weeks and learn
9. Make new friends
10. Strike while the iron is hot
11. Be mobile
12. Declutter
13. Visit Mama
14. Save money
15. Be nice to myself
16. Learn to ride a motorcycle
17. Be free
18. Do what makes me happy

I may add a few things but I think this sums it up fairly well.

Blerg...

I am starting to get the 'itch' again. Every year or so I get bored with what I am doing and I feel the need to move, change jobs, or do something different. Well..... I am getting that feeling again.

Maybe I should move when my lease expires in September. I have 7 months until then to decide where. I would actually love to move to Europe or the west coast. I have nothing in mind which is kind of nice. I just want something different.

Any suggestions?

The Sound of Silence

It has been 3 days of whispering at best. I have laryngitis. I'm not exactly sure where it came from....

According to WebMD it is caused by:
1. cold or flu ---------> i had the flu 2 weeks ago
2. acid reflux -----------> i supposedly have this but refuse to believe it
3. overuse of voice ------------> i talk to people for a living
4. irritation from allergies or smoke -------------> this is always a possibility

Something funny that I have noticed since losing my voice is that people speak very quietly to me. In fact everyone that speaks to me whispers or almost whispers. It is quite interesting. And then half way through our conversation they say out loud to me, "wait. why am i whispering?" and I just shrug my shoulders and move along.

I've been prescribed 4 different things all designed to help me get better. I'm not allowed to work for 2-3 more days. And I'm not supposed to talk at all..... even whisper. I realize now how difficult my life would be if I was mute.

Hopefully I will have my voice back by the weekend.

Wish me luck!

2010

It is a new year and I love the feeling of new beginnings. New York is the perfect place for just that.

Since I moved here my life has been turned upside down but I truly am fortunate with how everything has turned out. There is a saying that "if you can make it in New York you can make it anywhere" and I'm starting to believe that. I am really learning a lot about myself...... exactly what I need to be happy and just overall how to take care of myself.

Every year I make a resolution and fail. It is always something absurd like work out more, save more money, or something extremely generic. This year, my resolution is to make a better effort to keep in touch with my friends. That may also be generic but it is one that I haven't chosen before. I really miss a lot of people but for some reason exert no effort to speak with them. I can be super lazy sometimes when it comes to things like that.... SO! My goal is to call one person a day that I haven't spoken to in too long to remember. Sounds good, no?

Also, I just want to keep doing whatever makes me happy. I'm devoting this year to myself.

That means:

1. more tattoos

2. sky diving

3. french lessons

4. as many vacations as i can squeeze in

5. and anything else that makes me smile

Happy 2010 to you :)

Bisous

New York, I love you

Recent events have caused me to realize a few things about myself.

#1 =======> I WORK TOO MUCH

I have had the flu for the past week and am finally starting to feel better. It was pretty ridiculous though... I was shaking, had a fever, felt really weak, and in general looked like shit. But despite my sickness, I was still trying to carry out my daily activities as though nothing was wrong which proved to be a stupid idea. Admitting defeat and taking a few days off of work to sleep a lot was the solution and now I'm feeling about 75%. But since I started working at this new job I have never been sick so often. In 6 months I have been sick 3 times from pushing myself too much.

#2 ========> I WANT TO TRAVEL

Friends that I have met out here have inspired me. I've been having discussions about traveling and the fact that I have never really traveled and I realized that I'm bored. I really believe that traveling is important and right now I have no ties. For the first time in my life I have nothing stopping me from doing whatever I want which is an incredible feeling.

#3 =======> I HAVEN'T GIVEN NY A CHANCE

I work approximately 60-70 hours a week. Sometimes more and when I have a day off I am so tired that all I do is waste it by sleeping or doing errands that I can't do during the days I'm working. I've been saying that New York isn't for me, but someone told me the other day, "Of course you don't love it here. You never explore the city or see things because you work an inhuman amount. How could you love it." That hit me like a freight train. It is very easy to get overwhelmed here and do nothing but work. But of all places in the world, I live in New York. It is an exciting place and everything is here. I need to start taking advantage of the city.

I tend to get lazy. I have these lofty ideas of an an "easier" day to day state of living and I do nothing to execute the things that will help me relax and be happier. Well not anymore! Today I decided to take the day off. I gave my shift away to someone and went with my roomie Nicole and her best friend Patti to The Daily Show with John Stewart which was hilarious.

Had sushi and then saw the tree in Rockafeller Center which was ridiculous.

And went to some friends house to watch the season premiere of Jersey Shore. It was a lovely day. I work tonight but woke up early to eat oatmeal, and am going to the New Museum. Eek!

Also, I am going to LA in February and Italy/France in April. I'm also considering moving to London or Shanghai after my lease expires here in September. Oooooooo....... I'm excited!

I am sick of being bored. I once read that the mark of happiness is never being bored and I believe that.

Strike while the iron is hot

I'm in a funk.

Lately I have been feeling run down and a bit depressed. This is for a myriad of reasons.

When I am feeling blue I am impulsive and irrational which is never a good thing. I don't do anything that is detrimental to myself or others, but I don't make the wisest decisions.

Feeling like this bothers me and gets in my way.

SO!!!!!!! I need to get motivated and take care of myself. I've been missing Papa a lot lately and have decided to talk to someone about it finally. I won't bore you with the details but I think it's a good idea.

Also, I'm going to sign up for French classes which is something I've wanted to do for a while. I need to read more, spend less money, walk more, start to exercise, work less, and relax MUCH more than I do.

In general, I need to start taking care of myself. Doing these things will help contribute to a happier Jenna. And we all like a happy Jenna.