My Friends Are The Best

I haven’t forgotten about my blog. This is just a quick update to assure you that I haven’t forgotten. Since my last post, I haven’t really done very much.

I mean I did graduate. And not more than 6 hours after I did, my parents began packing away my things to move them. It was terribly tragic, and I pouted like a little kid. I’m not proud of it, but it happened.

I didn’t actually move until a week later with my car full of clothes. And I spent the time in Chicago doing almost nothing except reading. I finished Les Miserables (and saw the movie… awesome) and then started on about a book a day pace until I acquired the most recent installment of the Song Of Ice and Fire Series: A Dance with Dragons (Game of Thrones #5). And that is a much slower pace of reading. I keep up with Goodreads, marking what I’ve read, pretty frequently and if you like to read at all, you should too.

I celebrated a low key Christmas with the family. My parents made a fantastic Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas lunch. Those two can cook.

Michelle and I hung out for a few more days and then headed back to Kansas. And seriously, I have the best friends. You might think you do, but really, mine are so great. They have pushed me to think of so many creative way to say awesome and cool because they are so awesome and so cool. The following is probably a cheesy synopsis of my time in Kansas and the friends I saw.

Beth and I at Sandbar!

I started out by staying with Beth, one of my best friends born from long hours at volleyball tournaments and more-than-hectic newspaper work days. Notably missing from this time was Molly, but such is life. They are definitely my funny friends. I almost never stop laughing when I’m with them. However I enjoyed my deep chats with Beth about our soon-to-be journeys abroad, literature, relationships, benefits of singledom, and American Girl Dolls. I walked away with three new books I’m looking forward to reading. One evening, we even skipped over to Lawrence for dinner with a great friend and then got glowing drinks at Sandbar.

Elena and I before NYE

I then headed to Elena’s house to stay and prepared for New Years Eve at Power and Light. We bought passes that got us free food and drinks all night. We hopped around to a few bars but spent most of the time dancing at Shark Bar. I haven’t danced really since high school dances, but Elena lovingly danced in my presence all night without making fun of me. She is one of my best friends in the best and weirdest way. Statements like, “Your hair feels so weird. Please just go buy conditioner” are complete normal and welcome. It’s gratifying to have someone know all of your strengths plus depths of your weaknesses and love you fully anyway.

An old but good picture of Kellie (left), Lindsey (right)
and I.

I stayed the nights bookending my trip to Manhattan at one of my oldest friends house, Kellie. Kellie and I are kinda mostly the same person. Our relationship was build on a foundation of a mutual love of Harry Potter (she can go toe-to-toe with me in terms of love for and knowledge of the books and movies) and evolved into a friendship I know can last the test of time and distance. And we spent our time pouring over our shared tasted in (super awesome) books and television shows. If I find something nerdy and awesome to read, Kellie is the first person I tell. And I have seen and read so much just because she told me it was good. Also notably missing was Lindsey, but we still love her dearly even though she’s so far away.

I did journey to Manhattan for a few days to watch the Fiesta Bowl (and suffered excruciating heartbreak). While I was there I stayed with a more recently acquired, but nonetheless wonderful, friend Alex Reinecke. We met while I was student teaching at East campus where he is an actual teacher. We had strange and splendid conversations on life, love, teaching and basically just whatever. He’s definitely one of the good guys. He and his roommates allowed me to stay for several days without batting an eye. These boys are so welcoming; they have people so constantly in and out, it makes it slightly difficult to figure out who actually lives there and who just visits frequently. Overall, my time in Manhattan was very relaxed; I spent a little time visiting some other pretty great friends and accidentally bumping into family. (Sorry you don't have a picture Alex!)

Those are by no means all my friends, they were just the ones who were able to open their homes and beds/couches to me during my stay. I have so many supportive, loving, and flat out spectacular people in my life. I've always known it, but this trip to Kansas really made me appreciate how wonderful they are and how lucky I am.