My Wall of Fame

I will never have an interior designer decorate my house simply because I love when a house embodies the inhabitants. Who knows me better than me? I like to think that if someone saw my apartment, especially my room, they would say it looks like it would be my room. A big part of that is, as my friends have dubbed, my "Wall of Fame." I have been packing here and there in anticipation of my move on Wednesday, so the other day I used my free time to pack up my "Wall of Fame."

A house, or apartment, isn't a home without photos on the wall. At least mine certainly isn't. I didn't realize that when the "Wall of Fame" came down, it would completely change my entire room. It showcases my favorite people, memories, and events. It showcases everything important in my life. With it gone, it no longer looks or feels like "my" room.

One thing is for sure, when I get to my new apartment, I'm immediately having my mom hang up the "Wall of Fame." Lord knows I can't do it. Maybe that's another thing I should add to the list of things to accomplish for the year: how to hang things on the wall using that nifty, curved hook my mom uses. Nah, that would bring my list to 23. I can't have that jinxing my year.

Lady Luck Has Left the Building

As I mentioned before, I certainly believe in superstition. This has made me realize that I have been cursed, jinxed, whatever you want to call it. Despite firmly believing in my head that this would be my lucky year, it is simply not. This is still my birthday month, and all I have had are a series of unlucky events:

1. The night of my birthday, this drunk guy dropped his beer glass while I was mid-stride heading to another venue. Of course the glass would manage to shoot right into my shoe and slice my toe something awful and promptly end the evening of celebration.
2. I got towed while celebrating Lucy-Allen's birthday, even though we both parked in the restaurant's parking lot. Non-negotiable $90 down the drain to a company that operates from a trailer with la-z-boys on the front porch.
3. The following day I got rear ended on the interstate in the left lane. On the way to the airport.
4. Once in Orlando, my dad and I decided to go the casino and play cards. I really don't know why I even tried...
5. Just two days ago, I pulled out a box of shoes that I haven't worn in about a year. I will spare you from finding out just what was in the box, and the shoe that I had already put on my right foot.
   

I'm looking forward to seeing what fate has in store for me for the remainder of my "lucky" year. One thing I know for sure though, I'm never trusting the WSJ again.

Lucky 22

I have never thought of myself as a superstitious person. Even though I used to always wear the same type of socks for every basketball game, the same tennis shoes for over 2 years even though they had a giant hole in the toe, always listen to the same music before particular events, etc, I still believed I was "above" being superstitious. Recently, turning twenty-two really made me see that I am superstitious--and I like it!

Twenty-two has always been the birthday I have looked forward to the most. It's a family tradition to wear the number 22 on a jersey, and I suppose I always believed it would bring me luck. I know it sounds crazy, but I really do believe this is going to be an excellent year for me. And as it turns out, if I believe I'm lucky, I'm much more likely to be so! The Wall Street Journal says so: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703648304575212361800043460.html

With my undoubtedly lucky year, here is what I plan to accomplish:

1. Move into my own apartment and live alone.
2. Meet new people at the new apartment.
3. Watch my nephews play basketball together for the first time at Halls High School.
4. Learn to sew (a button at the minimum).
5. Study for the GMAT (and do really well since it's the year).
6. Go to Harry Potter World in Orlando.
   
7. Run the Disney Princess Half Marathon with my mom. Go team "Moore Fun to Run!"
8. Learn to play the guitar.
9. Go fishing.
   
10. Watch some of my very best friends graduate from college.
    
11. Save enough money by the end of the year so that I can buy a car.
12. Read at least two books a month.
13. Host poker night at my new apartment.
14. Start couponing!
    
15. Grow an herb garden in my kitchen.
16. Create a business plan that I am actually passionate about.
17. Finally fix my itunes so that if someone stole my ipod, or it died, I wouldn't die as well.
18. Force myself to start listening to the daily news, even if it's only while I'm brushing my teeth.
19. Take a cake decorating class.
20. Dress up for Halloween. No, I do not believe there is an age limit, and I never will!
21. Stay in touch with old friends--more than just through facebook.
22. Figure out just what I want to do next year and pray that the luck continues :)

Thursday Morning Mouse Attack

Today started the same as every other weekday morning. I came to the office, slipped my shoes off once I was behind my desk, and started getting to work. Everything was going great, I even figured out a problem on Excel that had been driving me mad for three days. Next thing I know, I have a visitor staring at me from my doorway. It seems a mouse thought my office was interesting enough to inspect.

I paused, thinking this couldn't be happening, and then I saw it start to twitch. I'm my mother's daughter, so of course I started screaming bloody murder! This mouse was surely stupid because when I started screaming, it turned in every direction, apparently unsure how to react, and then charged directly at me! Needless to say, the screaming got worse on my end and I was on top of my desk in less than a second. All of my coworkers came running asking what was wrong. I don't know how they missed me yelling "MOOOOUUUUUUSSSSEEEEEE!!!!!" at the top of my lungs.

My boss, Greg, came in with a giant garbage can and directed everyone to calm down and go into the receptionist area while he shut my door and took the mouse on alone. I was obviously not going to get my shoes, as they were under the same desk the mouse was currently inhibiting, so I jumped off my desk and tiptoed into the lobby as quickly as possible. After a few minutes, I was finally able to breathe normal again. Right when I thought we were in the clear, the mouse comes flying right by my bare foot! I take off running down the hall, the entire time screaming, "Why is it chasing me?!!" I end up in the conference room on top of the table. All the men in the office come running in, armed with trashcans, brooms, etc., and start chasing it around the room until it runs back into the hall.

Eventually it ran into a small filing cabinet the men were able to heft up and shake over the big trashcan until it fell out. Karrie, one of our receptionists, said Greg was about to bust a blood vessel trying to shake her cabinet to get the mouse to fall out. I wouldn't know, I stayed on top of the conference room table. Anyways, they ended up rolling the trashcan out and releasing the mouse into the yard. Worst idea ever.

I just know he will come back for me. Here I am, heart rate pounding, anticipating all of the spots in my office where he could sneak out and surprise me. That mouse has tainted my perfect image of my office, ruined my simple pleasure of slipping off my shoes, and certainly thrown all of my professionalism and maturity, in my coworkers' eyes, out the window. Thanks, mouse, for nearly causing me to have a heart attack and ruining my perfect morning.

Birthday Week!

I received a phone call at work yesterday from a local florist saying the delivery boy forgot my flowers, but they will be here tomorrow (yesterday!). She said they were from my parents and the card read, "Happy Birthday Week!" I couldn't contain my grin. For a minute there, I thought being a big girl meant I forfeited my birthday week.

I have met countless people that are shocked by how much I love birthdays, not just mine, because when they grew up it simply meant they went to dinner with their family. Not at the Moore house. My family makes a big deal out of birthdays, and I love it! I have always said Valentine's Day and birthdays are my favorite holidays. Birthdays are the one day of the year to celebrate you, your life, and all that you love. I hope you all have people in your life, like I do, that make you feel special every day, but especially your birthday week!!

Happy Father's Day!

All my life I have always compared boys of all ages to my dad. I realize what a mistake that was-- no one will ever compare to my dad, and here's why:

1. He is the most selfless person I know. He has made countless sacrifices for me (and every member of my family) so that I can have such an amazing life.
2. He sees the best in everyone and is so good at making them see themselves through his rose-colored glasses.
3. He's tough. Physically and mentally, he's the strongest person I know. Yet, somehow, he manages to be sensitive, understanding, and genuinely kind.
4. He is extremely moral, but never judgmental.
5. He has made growing up as his daughter not just easy but so fun and full of love. He has always treated me as an adult while making sure I always know I will never be too old or mature to take a nap on his chest or cry on his shoulder.

May I always make him as proud as he makes me. I hope he, and the rest of you, has a perfect Father's Day!

Saving for the Future, Spending for Now

I am learning so much about saving and planning for the future at work. In fact, I will be opening a Schwab account soon. I have always been extremely conscientious of spending money--I'm a sale shopper! Here recently, however, I have been thinking about it entirely too often. I am finding myself hesitating to visit my parents in Cleveland for a weekend because of the gas money, worrying about going out to eat with my girlfriends, and even riding without air in the middle of the day with a full tank of gas!

I think I knew in the back of my mind, every time money crossed my mind, that I was worrying about the wrong things. What I should be worried about are my priorities if I didn't go visit my parents whenever I get the chance, go eat with my friends and order dessert if the mood strikes, and blast the AC until I get chills.

I can honestly say that if my parents do not leave me a dime, I will be happy because I know they spent all their money on truly taking advantage of the best life has to offer. They drive to Knoxville to see my nephews play one basketball game sometimes several times a week, take spontaneous trips "over the mountain" to work on their poker skills, and go see movies weekly where my dad always gets nachos and a coke even though it's about a 3,000% markup! They are happy, and debt-free, which is more than most can say.

I will always be a saver. I have no doubt that will never change. Actually, it can't because I get it deducted automatically! But being a saver doesn't mean I can't be a spender, too! Who wants to take a trip? I have some living and spending to do, and some vacation days to use.