A visitor

>>This past week was something I've been looking forward to since before Paul and I moved....Chelsea was visiting! The longest Chels and I have spent apart since 5th grade [have we really been friends for almost fourteen years!?] is a few months here and there when one of us has been out of town for the summer, so this move was definitely something I knew I would have to adapt to for all of my friendships, including this one. The best thing about Chels is that she's the kind of friend where you can go a few weeks without talking to [not that I could ever make it that long!], but once we do talk it's like no time has passed at all.

>>From the second I picked her up on Wednesday it was business as usual for us, and though we didn't do much over the week it felt like we did so much! Mostly we sat in the sun on my back patio and caught up, laughed over stupid inside jokes, hoooowled over pictures she had taken from our eighth grade year books, watched Bear and Penny, and laughed more. It felt so good to have such a fantastic friend around!

>>We did that for the first two days, and on Friday [valentine's day], we decided to do some crafts! [and drink some pina coladas.. yummmm!] Chels drew some simple designs for shadow boxes that I've been working on, and I half-hazardly made a rope wall hanging that did not turn out very well [I had to re-do it today.. whoops], but it was really relaxing.

>>That night Chels treated us to dinner at this restaurant that Paul and I have been driving by for weeks saying 'we should try that sometime', and we finally got to with  Chels! They had amaaaazing guacamole, and even better drinks, and I was with my two best friends.. I think that is the perfect recipe for Valentines day, don't you?

>>Saturday morning Chelsea's uncle picked her up to go see family, so Paul and I were able to get some chores done that we had been neglecting all week, and then we drove down to meet them at Chels's Grandma's house. After a super delicious bbq lunch [in 90 degrees!], we drove back home to recoup and decide what to do that night! We had originally planned to go hiking, but the trail had been closed early for some reason, so we decided to stay in and have a few beers! It was the perfect ending to a really fantastic week and some much needed best-friend-time for me.

[love you Chels]

>>I've gotten really used to being alone since we moved down here, mostly because for a whole month i didn't have a car, and now that I do we don't really know anyone else. Of course Paul and I have a great time with each other, but theres nothing quite like hanging out with your girls, which honestly was something I really hadn't anticipated before moving. I've always lived in a place where I knew people, and as silly and naive as that sounds I just didn't assume Phoenix was going to be any different. I definitely took for granted that my girls were usually just five minutes away from me, or that I could wake up and make plans for that same day with all of them! It's very weird knowing that I don't have anyone like that down here, and that even though my friends are just a phone call away it's not like I can hop in the car and see them twenty minutes later. I know that I'll eventually make friends down here, but for right now it seems a little daunting.. I haven't had to make a new friend since.... kindergarden!! How crazy is that!? I didn't think Phoenix would change me all that much, but it looks like I have some growth in store. SO.. to hopefully help me meet some people I'm signing up for a bunch of clubs. Book clubs, knitting clubs, beer clubs, etc. Basically anything I'm interested in.. although I share most of my interests with elderly women haha cross your fingers for me that there will be another twenty-something in one of these groups!!

p.s. I am officially employed! I got offered the job just a few hours before I picked Chels up from the airport!!