My Great Expectations

I said a few posts back that I wanted to type out some expectations for my move to England. I've been constantly writing down random goals, generalizations, and predictions. I like doing these kinds of lists because it gives me something to look back to and see how incredibly off I was.

And seeing as this time next week I will be in England, I thought why not share them now!

Disclaimer: I know there will always surprises and bumps along the way, and I'm excited for that! I started this blog in the attempt to track every moment in this journey. I'm not trying to map out everything so perfect that I lose sight of what I'm doing to begin with. This list is for me, as a future expat and one hell of a list making goal setter, and also for you, whether you're a future expat like me or a seasoned pro with that awkward "not really American, not really English" accent. Or maybe you were just bored on the internet one day and came across this crazy anglophile lady.

So go make some popcorn or put the kettle on depending on what side of the pond you are on because I tend to get a bit wordy.

Ready anddddd GO!

Learn to drive on the other side of the road... and the other side of the car...

This was actually the 2nd photo I took when I got to England for the first time. Seeing this was SO EXCITING!

This concept isn't as terrifying as it was about 3 years ago, when I would wail every ten seconds in the car thinking we were going the wrong way. But I'm not an aggressive driver. And I don't plan on driving much in England. I would just like the option to drive. Like adding a super power to my resume or something. Hi I'm Taylor and I can tap dance, sing the entire Big Bang Theory theme song, and drive confidently on multiple continents.

Run more (and in colder weather). With my free time, I really want to improve my running performance and feel prepared to do a half marathon. And run in cold weather. Because seriously, everywhere is colder than Florida.

Race more. I ran my first race about a year ago and never felt so hooked to something. I'm already signed up for a race on October 20th!

Join a gym and/or running club. When I spent the entire summer of 2011 in England, I joined their local gym and it was one of the best things I've ever done. I really think both of these will keep me busy and help me make friends in the area.

Understand the London Underground. I can imitate the "mind the gap" voice like a champ, but when it comes to navigating the tube I'm pretty hopeless. In my defense, I've never had to learn any subway system. But I want to feel confident going to London and be able to know how to get from point A to point B without wanting to snap my Oyster Card in half.

Understand public transportation in general.

Stereotypical double decker bus picture. With a Harry Potter ad on the side!! I should frame this, it's so beautiful.

I understand public transportation just fine; maybe "utilize" is a better word to use here. I just want the ability to travel via train or coach and not feel like a tourist.

Spell words with u's and s's and y's and such.

Typical American taking pictures of signs that say Energise instead of Energize. It looks so silly to me! All those elementary school spelling bee's were for nothing now. Sidenote: don't know these people in the sign, but they look like they'd be okay with me spelling it with a Z.... ZED.... WTF sort of train of thought did I start?!?!

Flavour. Tyre. Organise. Favourite. I'm trying to fathom this and not want to throw a dictionary at the wall.

Also... Okay this is so random.... But one day while watching my new favoUrite show "Switched At Birth", I wondered how different American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language (BSL) were. Because you never really think of other sign languages. You just know ASL in America, but obviously they don't use ASL everywhere, because then it would be called Earth Sign Language or something. As opposed to Mars Sign Language.

It turns out ASL and BSL are SO DIFFERENT!! So I taught myself the BSL alphabet in case I needed to spell out something whilst not getting lost on the London Underground with my dictionary of words I've been spelling wrong for my whole life.

Learn more about the Fiance. I like to think I know a lot about him. He loves red and despises blue because of football team rivalries (typical English guy) and always eats his chips (fries) before his burger (which I DO NOT UNDERSTAND ONE BIT). But sometimes at random moments, I find myself going "Hmm... I wonder if he likes blue cheese." I like knowing fun tidbits about people.

I know he LOVES when I make him play tourist with me. I make him take me to "see the Queen" every single time and I react like it's the first time ever.

Be a close knit family. All of the Fiance's family lives SO CLOSE to each other! This concept is amazing to me. I've never lived close to family. The fact that we can walk to his grandparents house just blows my mind. I really want to embrace the proximity since I've never had that.

Keep in touch with the other side of the pond as much as possible. Right now, I try to keep in touch with everyone in England as much as I can. Starting next week, the tables will completely be turned. And I want to do everything in my power to still remain in contact with my friends and family in America. England will be my new home, and I'm very excited that I can finally say that. But Florida is where I spent 22 years of my life and I can't forget that either.

Anddddd we're done. For now at least.

I can't wait to look back at this list in a few months and see what really happened.

I'm trying to keep an open mind. Lists like this are made to be changed or added to. I might decide that I hate driving or running or eating fish and chips. I know fish and chips wasn't part of the list, but I think it's an unstated fact that I'll eat a lot of fish and chips. And vinegar. I love vinegar probably a bit too much.

I feel like I have so much to say, but none of it really matters. Because no matter how many lists I make or how much I think I know about living in another country, I literally have no clue what I'm in for.

So I guess all I really can say is bring it on, England. I'm ready for you.

A Picture Is Worth 1000 Laughs

I know, I know... I am a broken record when it comes to talking about England. I get it. And I genuinely have nothing interesting to say anymore until after I've moved there. I'm sorry.

I would like to point out though, in true broken record style, the massive differences between Florida and England.

But instead of ranting about it like I normally do, I'd like to show two pictures.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I'm not sure who said it, but I know that's just what "they" say.

I'm hoping that these pictures are worth a thousand laughs instead.

This is where I live now:

Well hello there, Mr. Sun!

And this... (long dramatic pause)... is where I am moving in 9 days:

Sheep. In the road. And it's normal. Photo credit to the Fiance.

(Insert major collective laugh here)

Major kudos to the Fiance for knowing I always get a kick out of sheep in the road. Look at them, walking around like they own the place!

I've known from the beginning what I was getting myself into. And trust me, I am beyond excited.

But sheep in the road?! That just makes me laugh.

Major difference between Florida and England #5627863 : Sheep instead of palm trees. 

Which do you prefer? Beautiful sun and beach scene or sheep the road?

Are You In Or Out?

My mind is so clustered that I literally just spent about 5 hours (read: 15 minutes) trying to figure out how to start this post. So forgive me for my lack of introduction right now; I'd rather just dive right in.

This whole summer, I've been doing constant purging. Yikes, 'purge' is such a scary verb..... Let me rephrase...

This whole summer, I've been doing constant throwing away slash donating slash taking mental inventory of my belongings. Mostly my clothes. Because those plaid Roxy Bermuda shorts I thought were cute at one point in my life will not do me any good in England. And they definitely are not cute now, nor were they ever.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a pic of said shorts. However, here is the result of a few hours in the depths of my closet.

But we are coming down to the wire on my leaving date, and it's getting harder and harder to figure out what stays and what goes. 

I have 4 categories:
Donate to either charity or my friends.
Throw away, never to be seen again.
Keep here in a box to either pick up later or forever clutter my parents garage/attic.
Take with and start my own British clutter.

The last two options are definitely making me more crazy than the other options. I've always been really good about donating and throwing away what I don't need/use/wear.

There comes a point where your brain goes "well... NO, I don't NEED this, but I'd like it with me for no good reason." And to tell you the truth, my brain has been saying that a lot lately.

It's more about my sentimental belongings and less about the materialistic ones. And I will give you a prime example of this, but WARNING: TOTAL DORK ALERT.

I've had these two stuffed animals since I was one year old.

I would show you a picture of them now, but they are a whole bunch of mangled. So this is them back in the day when they were in their prime, but I CLEARLY was not. And i think I'm sitting on Angelina the Ballerina's lap. Good times.

I used to take them everywhere with me and couldn't even go to sleep without them for the longest time. I've long grown out of that phase where I needed them for everything, but they're still in my room. I feel like they're an irreplaceable part of my life.

Do I need to bring them? No. Do I want to? Absolutely.

So this whole process is just an eyeopener for me. It's great because I feel 100 times lighter getting rid of a lot that I don't need. At the same time, it's making me think hard about all of this "stuff" that clearly isn't just "stuff" to me.

Tell me I'm not alone! Has anyone else felt like you didn't need something, but it was so close to your heart that you couldn't imagine not having it there? Maybe it's from your childhood, or maybe it's the last bit of your favorite cake! I don't care, share your story! Ten points if it's as lame as mine!

Goodbye, Summer!

Tomorrow is the first official day of autumn, even though you'd never know it in Florida. It's still muggy and gross and HOT. None of that "oh my run was actually a bit cool and brisk today" for us. That won't happen until..... well... NEVER.

But it dawned on me that this was my last summer in Florida. Tomorrow is the start of the season where my whole life literally changes. And what better season for such a change? Everything is transitioning: the weather (of course not where I live), the seasonal aisles at Target, Starbucks coffee flavors...and now my home!

I reflected on everything that happened this summer. And even though I didn't travel the world, swim with sharks, or compete in the Olympics, a lot did happen that made this a great summer!

I got off a ship that I lived on for 4 and a half months! Okay, so this was technically in the spring time, but I'm counting it as the beginning of my summer time, because it kind of felt like a semester away at school. Except instead of classes and studying it was working and more working. And instead of getting excited over school spirit and football games, it was getting excited over your favorite Disney princess. (Team Rapunzel in case anyone cares)

I kid you not, that is where I lived... My address was "the middle of the freakin' ocean, Planet Earth"

I got engaged! I flew to Canada on one hour of sleep to visit Fiance's family in Alberta. I spent the entire drive to the romantic destination complaining about how hungry and tired I was from flying, not knowing he was about to propose in front of the "mountains I've already seen before... why are we here and not getting food?!"

That's really what it looked like, I promise! And yes it's summer time... In Canada... eh?

It was a moment I will never forget. And it was perfect. And fun fact, my reaction was recorded by his uncle and brother. And it's hilarious!

I ran a whole bunch! A lot of it felt great! And a lot of it felt like crap! Running on a moving, breezy ship is a hell of a lot different than running in hot, still, humidity. I felt like everything I worked toward since my initial new years resolution 2 years ago was all for nothing. I felt so weak, like I'd never get back to the way I was before. I logged a lot of dreadful miles, and then suddenly I felt okay again. I still have bad runs every once in a while, but who doesn't??

I turned 22! And I wrote a list of 22 things I had learned from being alive. Most of it is probably absolute crap, but it was fun to look back and think of everything I learned. I use "everything" quite loosely.

I went to the beach... a lot! I probably went more this summer than in my whole life. And I live like 10 minutes drive from the beach. It was relaxing. And it's definitely one thing I'm going to miss once I'm settled in England. I mean, you can't do this kind of stuff on Brighton's beaches!

Lots of sand and lots of sun. Complete opposite of England.

I got a visa to live in the UK! Waiting for that was so nerve racking! There was always that possibility that it wouldn't go through and I'd be stuck here. But it got approved, and I can move to England as long as I get married to a British person next year. Alright, if you insist!

And now, here we are. It's the end of summer and everyone's drinking their body weight in pumpkin spice latte's and lighting vanilla scented candles. Oh and I can't forget buying endless amounts of candy corn even though you can't get through a handful of it... Or am I the only one who does that?

Are you sad to see summer go? What was your favorite part of Summer 2012? Or maybe you're like me and are already in the pumpkin, scarves, and boots mentality! If so, what are you looking forward to most this coming season?

Thirsty For Untangled Necklaces??

This is how I spent the better half of my evening...........

Um.... There are no words....

I know at first glance it looks like a toddler started playing with the lunch bags in the kitchen... and at second glance it looks like I got drunk and threw around random stuff... and at third glance it still doesn't make any sense!

BUT... Interestingly enough, this is how I packed up my necklaces for that big, long, permanent trip of mine that I commonly refer to as "I'm moving to England." Have I mentioned that??

I got the idea from Pinterest, because yes, I am one of those people obsessed with Pinterest. Although, I'm not one of those craftaholics that makes their own shoe racks or Cookie Monster cupcakes. But if someone did want to make me the latter I would absolutely not get offended!

This trick is SO not complicated and it goes a little something like this.

Straw + Necklace = packing lifesaver! And yes, it's an owl necklace. 1 of about 500.

Traveling with jewelry is obnoxious sometimes; and they ALWAYS manage to get tangled! And although most of my necklaces are of the Forever 21 variety, it still sucks when they get tangled or break.

So thanks to Pinterest, my necklaces will remain in one piece. I just looped a straw through the chain and stuck it in a plastic bag. And PRESTO! It's an instant fix for traveling with endless amount of owl necklaces. Or not. This works for regular ones, too.

(Fun Fact: I have at least 11 owl necklaces. And that's just what I was able to count off the top of my head.)

And clearly I was so excited about this discovery, I thought I'd share it. Because it's amazing! And definitely helps with the whole "schlepping 22 years worth of belonging across the pond" thing.

Is it obvious that the top search on my Google is "how to pack to move to another country"?? 

What are some packing tips and tricks do you use that are insanely helpful?? Please share away, as I need all the help I can get!

Weekend Craftiness With A Side Of Sweat And Nostalgia

I'd like to say this weekend was fantastically exciting.

In reality, the only things that got me out of the house were a sushi date Sunday night with two old friends and clearance sports bras at Target.

As you can see, I totally went for the obnoxiously bright color scheme. I like my boobs to be fashionable while I sweat like a beast.  

While the rest of the population of 20-something year olds partied, socialized, and dressed in attire other than running shorts and sweatpants, I was doing what any certified homebody would be proud of.

Without further adieu, here are the Spark Notes of my weekend.

I signed up for a race... IN ENGLAND! It's only a 5K, but I'm dying for a PR (personal record)! And it will be my first race overseas! There's something kind of exciting about racing in another country. But then again, I'm going to be LIVING in another country soon, so I'm sure the novelty will fade sooner or later.

I have a few goals in mind for this race on top of the PR, but I'll go into those once we get closer to the race date. But I think this the perfect for my first race as an Expat in my new home city! It's only about a mile away from where I'll be living, and it's enough time in the future to get me out of my jet lag funk and accustomed to the colder temperature. Because let's be honest, Florida girl running in anything other than heat will be hilarious.

I got crafty! And when I say crafty I mean I started my 3 month overdue scrapbook from my time working for Disney Cruise Line.

Not going to lie, this is a very posed picture. To really grasp the concept of my craftiness you have to add about 800 more pieces of paper sprawled out across the floor and two cats sitting on top of whatever picture I needed at the time.

While on the ship, I bought a small scrapbook and started saving little tidbits, like my first (and last) bus ticket from Mexico (seriously, why did we take a bus in Mexico?) and post cards from Hawaii and Canada. Finally, after being home from over 3 months, I printed out 115 (not kidding) pictures from the shore excursions, parties, and all the times we probably should have been working!

After hours upon hours of sitting on the ground slaving away with scissors and Mickey Mouse stickers in hand, it's STILL NOT FREAKIN' DONE. In fact, I would say it's painfully close to being done but of course, I'm an idiot. I ran out of those stupid "sticky adhesive dots". I didn't buy an extra box in the mindset that I would "definitely have enough" and that I "wouldn't accumulate more stuff in my room while I'm trying to pack!"

The girl whose over prepared for everything, including probably a blizzard in South Florida, couldn't buy a $4 box of little sticky dots.

I ran! Not much more to elaborate on there! I did 3.6 miles on Saturday and 5 miles on Sunday. They felt amazing, minus the humidity and constant supply of bugs. I won't be sad to leave that behind once I make my way over to England.

I sold my car! It was probably one of the most bittersweet things I've ever had to do.

This is me and Kermit The Car on the day I got him! I had just come home from marching band practice. I was 16 and fully licensed... To drive... but not between the hours of 11pm and 6am.  

On one hand, selling Kermit The Car was the last big thing I had to do before moving to England, besides endless amounts of packing.

But I'd be lying if I said I didn't tear up a bit (a lot) when it was finally sold and gone. That was my first car! And while towards the end, Kermit caused me more grief than happiness, he's still my first car.

What today's Spark Notes have taught me is that I am a very lame person. But it could be worse; I could have spent the entire weekend on Pinterest... I'll save that for next weekend's adventures!

So while I was getting nostalgic over my high school car, what cool things did you do this weekend??

How To Sound Like An Ass: The Harry Potter Edition

[Note to self: when you write those Moving to England expectations, don't forget to write down "Expect a lot of sorry I'm not sorry moments"]

[Note to you: This is a funny post, I promise... Well, it's not a bitchy post like it may appear at first glace.... I can't promise that I'm that funny... I try...]

I'd like to preface this post by saying I'm not an ignorant American, especially when I'm in England. I swallow the laughter that often occurs after saying to-MAH-toes instead of to-MAY-toes, I ask where the toilet is instead of the bathroom, and I most always say "trousers" instead of "pants" (because trust me, there's a difference).

So it's rare I have those "d'uhhhhhhhhh this girl is American" moments. I try to avoid them at all costs.

In fact, the last time I felt this silly about anything remotely Americanized of me was about 3 years ago when Fiance and I were playing the "let's pronounce things and try to make the other one look like an ass" game. He asked me to pronounce Wycombe, which is a city in England. Well when you grow up in Florida and cities are often named after all things Native American (Tallahassee, Suwanee, Choctawhatchee... you get the point) , that word kind of looks like it should be pronounced why-com-bee.

Apparently it's not.

After what felt like 5 hours of Fiance rolling on the ground laughing at my epic fail, I finally got it out of him that it's pronounced WIC-om.

Oh..... MY BAD.

 So tonight, after over 3 years of being the certified Anglophile girlfriend extraordinaire, I finally sounded like an ass.

I don't know about any of you, but I called the head person at the school the "principal". I mean, that's the norm in American, am I right? And they always emphasized PAL in princiPAL, because he was your PAL! Maybe that was just my school....

Anyways, I was trying to explain a character in a TV show to Fiance that was, how I would say, "the principal" of the school. But instead of saying "the principal", I.... well.... let me just dialogue it...

Me: "The guy was... I don't know what you call it! We'd say he was the principal of school, what would you say? Headmaster maybe?"
Fiance: "Yeah he'd be the headmaster of the school"
Me: "Oh good, I thought they only said that at Hogwarts."
Fiance: [long pause] "Are you being serious?"
Me: "I don't know what you call things! I just thought because Headmaster Dumbledore--"
Fiance: [bursts out laughing for 10 minutes]

Well sorry I'm not sorry I like Harry Potter and never went to a British school!!

It's good to know that no matter what side of the pond I'm on, I can manage to look like an ass.

So how did YOU pronounce "Wycombe" when you first saw it?? I seriously can't be the only one who said it wrong!

You Can Never Have Enough Sunglasses

Yesterday was a good day for friends, and more specifically, friends from BOTH sides of the pond!

I got an adorable birthday package from one of my best friends from England. I met her while working on board the Disney Wonder. I think I particularly like her because she's the only English friend I made without the help of the Fiance. Just kidding! That's not WHY I like her, but it definitely helps that she's MY friend, and not Fiance's friend or friend of a friend that puts up with me.

SO thoughtful! Look at all this stuff that just scream TAYLOR!! 

It totally made my day! There also was a bit of chocolate and another bag of my favorite candy (called "Milk Bottles") but I already ate them... Typical.

I also spent some time yesterday with two of my best friends here on this side of the pond. Of course part of the day was spent shopping! I am very proud of myself because I talked myself out of buying all the clothes that I desperately wanted. I tried to be reasonable. I mean, I'm trying to get rid of a lot of my clothes, not accumulate more to take!

One of my friends was in the market for new running sneakers, which of course excited me more than her! Again, I had to resist the temptation of buying running clothes and shoes in every store we went to. All I wanted to do was nerd out with running conversations with everyone. Unfortunately, I don't think many people felt the same way.

I'm proud to say that despite going into 80 athletic shoe stores, a two-story shopping mall, and Target, I only walked out with cheap earrings and a clearance pair of sunglasses, neither of which will tip the scale on my suitcases while I'm packing. Someone more rational than me might say "But uh, you're moving to a place with barely any sunshine! Why do you need another pair of sunglasses?" Well rational person, wherever you are in the world, I might just reply to you, "They were less than $4 and Florida girls live off of sunglasses like you live off of oxygen." Judge me, I dare you.

While I say yesterday was a good day for friends from both sides of the pond, it also made me realize all of the long distance friendships I have, and will always have for the rest of my life. I'm used to saying goodbye to my best friends, if only for a relatively short period of time. I went to college 7 hours away from home, which was hard at times. Now my Florida friends are going to be so far away, and my England friends are going to be the ones I see more often. I have to admit, that was a strange realization for me to make. But the good thing about quality friendships is that it doesn't matter how long you go without seeing or speaking to each other. When you do, you pick up right where you left off like nothing has changed. And that right there is what keeps me going; it keeps me optimistic for everything that is to come.

How have your friends made you smile in the past 24 hours? Do you have friends that live far away that you miss terribly? How do you guys stay connected?

To Run Or Not To Run.......

..... that is a SILLY question!

I most always choose the "to run" option in that question, except for times like right now where it's late at night and my head is in a bag of Twizzlers. A "Family Sized" bag of Twizzlers I might add. (Does anybody else see "Family Sized" but actually reads "A LOT MORE FOR ME SIZED"???)

I have to admit that I am not the most seasoned runner... I've only done two races, I'm slow, I lack a sports bra that costs more than $16... But I like to pride myself in, at the very least, being passionate about running. I want to improve. I like getting up and going running despite my other love of complaining about heat and bugs in my face. I will also revolve my plans around running to get a good workout in.

So then my runner friends are like, WHY haven't you done a half marathon yet?!

The truth is, I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to! But over the past year, I haven't really been in a position to commit myself to any race, yet alone a big race.

In my very first post I discussed how my new years resolution was to run a half marathon, and I had my heart set on October 14. This was a race I had researched that took place in Oxford, England. So I mapped out a training plan and stuck to it.

The more I trained with that exact date in my mind, the more I kind of dreaded it. I didn't dread the running or the training; truth is I dreaded that actual race. I felt like I just picked that one because it fit best with my moving plans and Fiance's work schedule.

I wanted so bad to accomplish this new years resolution that I just picked any race, and my heart just wasn't in it.

In a way I felt guilty. No, I take that back. I felt so incredibly guilty that I was contemplating not doing a half marathon this year just because my heart wasn't in it. I told myself to suck it up and just continue doing it. But then I found a race that I absolutely fell in love with. The Brighton Half Marathon takes place in February, and Brighton is my absolute favorite city in England. I was still so frustrated, because I wanted to do this race so bad, but it was in 2013, so technically my resolution wouldn't be resolved in 2012. Isn't that the point of "new years resolutions"??

So what's more important in this situation? Is it running a race just to get the job done even though my heart isn't in it? Or is it holding back for a race that I'm genuinely excited about even though I have to wait to achieve my goal?

I know in life sometimes you have to suck it up and do something you don't want to do. But in this case, when the something you don't want to do is a hobby, I feel the karma spirit gods of new years resolutions will cut me some slack.

I finally decided that I'm going to wait to do a half marathon, despite it going past my new years resolution's expiration date. I like feeling excited about races, and not a silly need to get it over with. If I'm going to run my first half marathon, its going to be the race of my dreams.

What about you? Did you ever feel like you were letting yourself down by not accomplishing something you wanted? What about new years resolutions? Are they sometimes meant to be broken? 

Is "EveryWhelmed" a Word?

Right now, I'd say I'm both overwhelmed and underwhelmed. I'm every sort of whelmed if that's even possible!!

So as you know, I'm moving to England in the beginning of October. My days are currently being filled with tying those loose ends back here at my current home before making England my new home. I feel like my mind is going a mile a minute and I wish I just just call up the Genie from Aladdin and say "POOF!" and have it all just happen miraculously. I will fully admit how lazy I am about a majority of it. I feel like there's so  much to do in so little time....

....but at the same time.... There's only so much packing I can do that isn't ridiculously early.... Because I still live here! And I still have weeks left here! So there's also a lot of me sitting around, making packing lists, and wondering when the appropriate time is to fully commit to uproot my bedroom.

I am incredibly thankful that there really aren't that many of those loose ends for me to tie up here... I'm going to blame that on being young and fully ambitious about moving to England from the start. I avoided buying a decent car, applying for credit cards, throwing myself into a career, and getting a place of my own because I knew after college it was only a matter of time before I was going across the pond. And now, all of that struggling and saving is finally going to be worth it.

I really want to sit down and think about my expectations about living in England. That way, I can go back and look to see just how silly or spot on I was! It's one thing to have visited England 4 times, all for long periods of time. It's another thing to relocate completely and call it my home. Everything that is so novel for me about England will become my new normal, and everything so normal about America will be in the past. I can make list after list of all the differences I've noticed and had to acclimate myself to throughout the years. But I know even with my vast experience there's still going to be those WTF moments.

This doesn't even begin to explain why I am every sort of whelmed. Actually, this is quite the watered down version. But it got my mind away from sorting my belongings and crying over leaving my cat (I know, I'm totally that crazy cat lady and I'm only 22). I'll probably look back at this post in a couple of weeks and be like "Oh dear..... you were SO not every sort of whelmed like you thought you were...."

Have you ever had one of these contradictory moments like I'm having? Have you ever been so underwhelmed for something in the future that it overwhelmed you? What's something in your future that you're looking forward to so much that its constantly on your mind?