Ybor City

Let me just start by saying the things you see in Ybor City will never cease to amaze you. Whether its a drag queen waltzing down the street with her big old stuffed chest, outrageous make-up, and fabulous wig, or the guy she... (he?) ... is talking to, who is wearing not but his underwear and a baseball hat! Not to mention the guy who was walking around with the enormous snake around his neck as if it was some sort of trendy accessory. 

7th street in Ybor is comparable to the Strip in Las Vegas...except its like 90 times smaller, and 900 times dirtier...and just replace the casinos with bars and night clubs...so basically its really nothing like Las Vegas, but you get the picture. Bright lights, crazy people, loud bikes, booming stereos, club music rocking the entire city...its quite a sight to behold!

City Life!

                                                                            

         "It does not do to dwell on dreams, and forget to live life."                                         


















 "You only live once,
            but if you do it right,

                           once is enough"

"You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,

 Love like you'll never be hurt, Sing like there's nobody listening, And live like it's heaven on earth."

  "Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience:

                                  this is the ideal life."   

Never a Dull Moment at Old Navy...

Working at Old Navy has definitely been an experience...after working there for the summer last year, and coming back this year, some interesting events have happened! Such as having a shirtless customer come in and demand my phone number...and refusing to leave when i denied him, even with a HUGE line behind him looking at him like he was crazy,  having an old German man throw a shirt at me because he was not impressed with our return policy, a woman dropping her wallet then accusing an associate of stealing it, by running around the store screaming "Thieves in the house! there are THIEEEEVES in the house!", just to name a few instances. But today something actually kind of scary happened...

I was sitting the food court on my break just relaxing and minding my own business, when i heard shouts and what not coming from the main hallway of the mall. It seemed like the entire food court got up to investigate. As soon as i decided i might go take a look at what was going on, a woman and her boyfriend came running away from the scene. The boyfriend was yelling at the girlfriend to put her phone away, and "lets go!" and to "shut up!" I was super confused and then the woman, ignoring her boyfriend yells to me, "There is a fight in the hall way! call 911! please call 911!" her boyfriend then whisks her away, yelling at her to be quiet and shouting all kinds of other super classy things. So by this point i am totally freaked out and decide to book it back into Old Navy.  Minutes later a huge group of people come flying into Old Navy screaming that there is a fight in the hallway and someone has a gun! This causes an uproar of course, and many terrified customers, all pulling out their cell phones to call the police! Naturally, the fight was the mall gossip of the day and made yet another interesting Old Navy experience to add to the list!

Another night out on the town!

Apparently, when i put "dont wear a tube top to a club" on my list of lessons learned, i didnt actually learn. Because there i was again, constantly hitching my tube top dress up last night! you know its bad when the guy dancing behind you is also trying to help you yoink that sucker up!

So my latest adventure took place at The Venue. A multipurpose place which served as a night club monday night! We all went out for a couple of my friends birthdays and had a blast! Unfortunately, i have to add another lesson learned on my list, and that is to NEVER take off your shoes no matter how bad those heels are killing your feet! because i found out the hard way, stomping on glass barefoot hurts worse!

For some reason i am experiencing problems with my camera, so pictures will be up later on hopefully! <3

The Things I Learned Last Night....

Last night i lost my Dallas Bull virginity. And it was awesome! Dallas Bull is a night club in Tampa where the top floor is your typical dance floor with the usual club music (which is where i spent most of night). Then, the lower level i discovered this new thing called LINE DANCING! it was pretty cool...i of course made an idiot of myself with my friend Bri-who also lacked cowgirl boots unlike the rest of our party- (and everyone out on the line dancing floor...) by attempting to learn to line dance right then and there in the heat of the moment! Needless to say we are cowgirl boot shopping asap, and living on youtube for the next week thus enabling us to line dance properly next time with the pros!

I decided i needed to make a complete list of everything i learned last night, so if any of you NH people come this way, you can learn without having to make the mistakes yourself like i did! Here it goes:

1. Do NOT wear a tube top to the club. it WILL fall down on multiple occasions and you WILL hear the words "TAKE IT OFF!" and "DUMP 'EM OUT"
2. Do not dance next to someone who is holding a lit cigarette...you WILL get a burn bubble right dead smack in the middle of your chest, and it will NOT feel good.
3.Do not bring your phone in your pocket, because it will put a whole new extreme on pocket dialing
4. When your friends tell you to GET OFF THE DANCE FLOOR by motioning you the "time out" signal...that means you are dancing with an "uncute" and you need to leave stat!
5. Line dancing is the new coolest thing!
6. Even the DD can have "drunk moments"
7. McDonald's service at 3am is piss poor!
8. A DSH (designated satchel holder)  is just as necessary as a DD
9. ALWAYS have someone on "Tit Patrol" and do not dance with your back facing the person on "Tit Patrol"
10. Dallas Bull is my new fave place!!

So all in all, i would have to say last night was a successful step towards taking Tampa. I had soo much fun and cant wait to go back!

Day 3

Today marks my third full day as a Florida resident! The weather was absolutely beautiful over the weekend, except for a rather intense thunderstorm that I experienced Saturday night! Of course, Florida rain usually only lasts about 30 minutes until the sun pops out again! Although today is looking a little gloomy...i'm hoping the sun comes out again before im supposed to head to the beach!

The process of setting up my new room is exhausting! Trying to organize everything and make it all fit has proven to be quite the task. I tried to be a handy woman and set some drawers and shelving up myself, but then I quit due to the E! True Hollywood story of Taylor Swift becoming much more enticing. Its definitely starting to look more like a bedroom than a war zone now that I got some make shift closets set up. My clothes are no longer scattered all over the place.

I was reuinted with some old friends today! Britany has been forcing me to exercise, so she brought me to the gym where we used to do gymnastics. Some "alumni" gymnasts were there and it was great to see a couple of my coaches! It really made me feel old when I hardly recognized any of the gymnasts! 

Britany and I also took a trip to where we will be going to school for the next year! We are both in the process of applying for financial aid and registering for classes. It should definitely be an interesting year, especially if Brit and I are in some of the same classes...I pity the professors ;-)

Well, I am off to get ready for the beach! Even though it isnt a glorious day, its definitely still hot enough for the ocean! I hope every one in NH is enjoying themselves! Missing everyone tons <3

Where's the "Good" in Goodbye, anyway?

After running around like crazy last night, staying up until after 2am saying my last minute goodbyes, and rounding up the last of my stuff, its finally time to go. My countdown finally says "0 Days until FLORIDA". Its strange to think I've had that countdown going since it was about 100 days away. Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday I was the nervous "new girl" walking through the doors to Franklin High School my freshman year, not knowing what to expect! Walking into the building hearing the echos of advice i was told by stuck up snobs such as "when you walk through the halls, just keep your head down, and dont look at anyone! That way, you wont get into any trouble.." what i didnt realize when i first walked through those doors, is all of the wonderful moments i had to look forward to, and all of the wonderful memories i am proud to take with me on my next journey, through Tampa, and every where else i will go!

Unfortunately, there are people that i have to leave behind. People that have made me the person i am today, and people that have shaped my life right on through. The people who have inspired me by hurting me, or by helping me. The people that have stuck with me through my hardest times, and the people that pulled me through those times, kicking and screaming. Most importantly, to those people who stood beside me through all those times. Thank you, to the people who were beside me through the good, bad, and ugly. Of course, the biggest thanks of all to the person who really saved me two years ago. He helped me the most by brighting my world and reminding me how to have fun, be goofy, and how to love, and made me so happy. All of those memories will stick with me forever.

"Friendship isnt measured by miles or minutes, its measured in laughs and Love"- Kyle Despins, one of my very best friends!

I will miss you all, and i will remember you as i move forward in life on my many new adventures awaiting me! I wouldnt be where i am today without all of my best friends, who know who they are, and the other very special people i have met along the way. Thank you all for everything! I love you!

The Journey Begins with....Packing, packing, and more packing!

I'm set to start off on my brand new adventure, Friday July 22, 2011! The fun part? Coming up with the best strategy for packing my entire life into the trunk of my '98 convertible Sebring...I've discovered a new love for the handy invention, called a Space Bag. So far, I've got 3 space bags crammed into the trunk behind my enormous duffel bag filled with (you guessed it) SHOES. Unfortunately, I've yet to even touch my shoe rack full of summer shoes. Oops!

My room is a pathetic site these days. Clothes, trinkets, books, papers, cards, etc. that I have collected over my 4 years of residency are strewn every where. I have the going-to-Florida piles, I have the do-i-really-want-to-part-with-this? pile, and then i have the just plain get-rid-of-it piles. Not to mention the 3 over- flowing laundry baskets...Packing really is the worst! Its also so distracting when you come across things that you haven't seen in years. Pictures, love notes, hate notes, and all that good stuff can be so entertaining, and heart breaking, and then eventually you just give up on packing. That would be why only about 1/2 of my packing is done and I leave in 4 days.

I keep finding myself taking side trips down memory lane, rather than continuing forward on my new path towards Tampa, Florida. Its almost like every item in my room has a story, and i have to stop and reminisce every time i pick something up and decide, should it stay; or should it go? Something that i haven't put any thought into in years, something i haven't even noticed in years, i find myself clinging to, unable to throw it away or leave it behind, because of the memories it represents. Although i know there are many wonderful new memories and experiences to be had on my upcoming adventures, i cant help feeling nostalgic as i pack up my belongings-my life- and place it all into the trunk of my car.