Poor Car!

So having a car with no air conditioning in AZ in slightly brutal. Still gets me from A to B, so everyone keep your fingers crossed for me that it will be fixed on Tuesday. Loving getting to know my roomies better everyday and getting to meet people through work. REALLY missing my friends and family back home though this weekend. Here are a few pics from last night.

"Finding happiness often means accepting the things you cannot change."

Beautiful!

"Nature's beauty draws you into the present moment and helps you let go of the past and future, even if just for a moment."

Had a Fabulous Night!

Just got back from a night on the town in Scottsdale. Got to know 3 new friends a little better and hung out with my girl Karly who is a friend from South Carolina. She made me a guardian angel to keep with me, I love it love it love it! I'm so grateful I've had the chance to see her, good to see the familiar face of an amazing friend.

A couple folks asked to see my new dresser! Put it together all by myself, are you proud? Ikea rocks by the way. 

Thanks Katrina! (My girlfriends rock)

What an awesome surprise to come home to a lovely bouquet of flowers. Katrina, thank you so much for thinking of me! They definitely brightened my day. Can't wait to thank you over the phone, got my new cell so I will call you today after work! Love yas.

For my Mom: Brian & Tucker discuss their brawl

such brotherly love

No Longer Unemployed!!!

Well hello my friends. So excited to inform you all that I have a job now, whew...no more panic mode. I started today and everyone at the company seems very nice, they took me out to lunch to congratulate me. I'm doing graphic design of course...business cards, brochures, a little bit of web design. So to say the least everything is coming together nicely for me thus far here in Phoenix. I am so grateful for the success I've had. Got the house, the job, now I just have to tackle the task of making friends. I'm on it. 

Love yas!

The New Digs

So this is my new dwelling, for those of you who asked for pictures. 

My room is itty bitty, I feel like I'm in a dorm room again, but it could be worse. I love my little window seat.

This is the view of my street. Palm trees, cool.

Here's Rocco enjoying his new living room.

These are the purty flowers that I have a view of outside the window in my room.

I got a great deal on my bed, the fellow who sold it to me had moved here from NC. (cuz ya know we southerners help eachother out) I had a job interview yesterday that seemed to go well...so we'll see what happens with that. I applied for a waitressing job today and really need to get out there and apply for more, so that's what my life will consist of for the time being...looking for employment lol. Luckily I have some freelance work to take the edge off. That's all for now. 

My new city

Made it to Phoenix!!! I keep saying that the drive was beautiful...well it was again. Went over the mountains to get here and it was amazing. I've heard a lot of people say the desert doesn't make for good scenery. There may not be as much green but the mountains and the sunset make up for it in my opinion. 

I met my roomies, both very nice girls & am looking forward to getting to know them better. (The pup is my roomie's dog Famous) Visited with my aunt & uncle today in Mesa. My uncle Larry looks a lot like my dad, and for some reason instead of the resemblance making me feel closer to home I felt further away. It made me a little homesick. I'm sad I won't be able to see my parents so often anymore. It will take some getting used to. Thank God for cell phones, internet, & airplanes.

So I'm calling Phoenix my new home. I'm thrilled to be here and ready to become familiar with the city. I feel like I'm in the right place so far.

Finally New Pics!

Yay! I'm finally updating with photos. I made it to Las Vegas, NM today around 7 pm. I really enjoyed my visit to Denver, got to spend lots of time with my family. And here in Vegas I'm visiting my Uncle Don & Aunt Tammy. The drive here was only 5 hours and had a great view. Tomorrow I'm off to Phoenix to conclude my road trip.

Here are some pics!

1. Rocco chillin' in the car

2. Cousins Brian & Tucker with me & the pup

3. Aunt Mari with her birthday cake

4. Me and my Grandma Irma

5. Rocco chillin' in the car again!

Talk to ya soon!

Denver, CO

Hey all,
I made it do Denver, having a great time with the fam. Have some pics to upload however the computer is being difficult today so I'll try it again tomorrow. Love to all.

Pics from Nebraska

Had a little photoshoot with the cousins. (TJ, Brielle, & Keenan)

The beautiful bird is Descartes, they found him shortly after hurricane Katrina flying near their house and gave him a home. He's not so sure about me yet but at least he doesn't fly away anymore when I walk around the corner.

I'll be leaving here Monday morning to head out to Colorado. Hopefully I can blog sometime mid week!

Creston, NE

Hey everyone,
Made it to Creston, NE safely. I am having a lot of fun hanging out with cousins. We're having a bbq this evening and I plan to take pics so you can expect those shortly. Nebraska is beautiful! I have never seen so much space before...the crops are so green and the sky is so blue. I've only seen something like it in the movies! Oh and I saw my first real life windmill on the way here. Thought that was pretty cool.

~J

Hotel Heaven

So after 12 hours on the road, 10.5 of them actually driving I have arrived to Champaign, IL. Listened to lots of music and stopped by Cracker Barrel and rented a book on CD to entertain myself. All went smoothly and now I'm relaxing in my hotel room. I am so greatful for this room, just what I needed after a day of driving. I've got my cable tv, my internet access, a nice comfy bed for me and Rocco, and a Jimmy John's #9. What more could I ask for!?

Here are a few pics from today's journey. Rocco relaxing...he's such a great roadie. All the welcome signs I saw...I tried to get the welcome sign for Illinois but accidentally missed it and caught the amazing sunset instead.

So tomorrow's plan is to get going by 8, so I'll be arriving to Creston, NE sometime in the evening. Can't wait to see everyone there. I think my aunt has internet, if she does I will blog...if not I'll have to wait until I get to Denver.

Change of Plans

(Champaign, IL)

Hello peeps,

I'm currently in Spartanburg wrapping up my visit with my parents. We had a great time catching up. My next stop on the map has changed. I'm a bit bummed. Due to circumstances I won't be hitting Cincinnati to visit friends as I had hoped. Going to make the best of it and drive a bit longer tomorrow so I don't have as far to go on Friday to get to Creston, Nebraska. I'm stopping in Champaign, IL...too bad I won't get to see much of her. I don't know if my hotel will have internet so if I don't update when I get there I should post something over the weekend when I reach my family's place in NE.

Love you guys!

Almost ready!

Said lots of goodbye's yesterday...made it the whole day without getting choked up until the last one! Durn it. My car is all packed up, just a few loose ends and I'm on my way.

Goodbye Columbia

Hey everyone,

As you all know I'm starting my journey to Phoenix tomorrow. My friend Esther suggested I start a blog...I think it will be a fun way for everyone to see what I'm up to if you're interested! I plan to keep it up even after I arrive. So I'm saying my good bye's to this sweet little city of Columbia today. I'm ready to go but there is a lot I will miss about her!

1. I will most of all miss my amazing friends, both old & new. Each one of you are so special to me, thank you for all your love & support. Don't worry...I'll be in touch!

2. Who knew I'd be saying this, but I'll miss that southern twang that I've heard every day of my life. No more "fixin' tos," "might coulds" or "ain't yalls" for my ears. I'll be the only one who doesn't need subtitles for "No Country for Old Men." But that's okay, I'm proud to say that I'm fluent in country speak. Can I put that as a 2nd language on my resume?

3. I'll miss good ol' USC. I was walking around campus today buying some Gamecock merch to take with me to AZ and freshman orientation was going on. It made me realize how far I've come, how different I used to be when I was their age, and how much I'll change still in the next 4 years. (well 5 since college took a bit longer than planned) I'm starting a new chapter and I'm thankful for this last one that I'm leaving behind. It definitely didn't go as I thought it would, but I sure learned a lot. (Who knew I would be so proud to walk around with shorts that say "cocks" on them. I'm sure I'll be getting some strange looks from the Phoenicians.) 

4. Blue Cactus. Yes I will miss my bee bim bop with beef & egg in all its very slow cooked glory. I'll miss the many good conversations I had with friends as I waited for that thing!

5. I'll miss the recent outings to El Burrito. Nothing better than a group of friends, a hunormous burrito (no matter how much your tummy punishes you for it later) and some bluegrass on a summer night. 

Well there is a lot more I'll miss, but I'll leave it at that. Check back for road trip updates!

Goodbye Columbia!