I think it’s the only Less Than Jake album I own. I remember being at Lake of the Ozarks with my mom the summer of 2008 for the first of her many annual education conferences; while she was stuck in meeting rooms during the day, I went shopping. Back then, the outdoor outlet mall was still packed with stores and the options were endless; I’d hit Claire’s, Rue21, and the bookstore before circling back to hit Maurice’s and Marshall’s. I was still in the process of amassing my CD collection in ’08, so I found myself perusing the selection at Walmart (as one did). I had never heard a LTJ song in my life, I just knew they were very popular amongst the people in high school who were cooler than me. I bought it on a whim, along with Weezer’s Red Album and Charlotte Sometimes (I don’t think I have EVER listened through that one completely) and was immediately taken. It’s not surprising, since I love pop punk and ska. It’s also not surprising that it was my first thought when my fiancé (!!!) told me he would be accepting a job in Gainesville. Things in life are cyclical and connected, so I like to think that little corner of my musical world foreshadowed this time of my life.

So YES – a LOT has happened in my life over the last month. As I prepared for a move halfway across the country (the furthest I’ve ever lived from home), my boyfriend proposed to me lakeside behind our Missouri home. It was a beautiful evening illuminated by a bright moon as full as my heart. So much change happened in quick succession as we made time to say goodbye to friends and my family before setting off in my Ford Escape that somehow towed thousands of pounds of a U-Haul trailer across the south without problems. I regret now not stopping to sleep in a hotel room- a few naps in the car were not enough to prevent me from falling asleep on the road 20 minutes away from our new apartment. Thankfully no one was hurt and woke up as soon as my tires hit the ridges. The sounds of an early-2000s Matt Theissen kept me awake the rest of the way. 🙂

What I’m incredibly grateful for is that we secured an apartment before moving here, because I can’t imagine not being able to roll up, walk in, sleep, and unload the way that we did. The original plan was to drive down and spend a few days either with a friend or in a hotel room to scout our options. We’d done some preliminary searching online to see what was available in our price range with the space we were looking for (3 bedrooms, mainly because I have so much STUFF), but we hadn’t finalized anything. After a few weeks, most of those places were full, so we were running out of options before we even arrived. It was two weeks prior to the end of our lease in Missouri when I happened upon the perfect place. We were sitting in a St. Louis Bread Co. about to have lunch with friends when I was lazily searching for 3 bedroom apartments and found a complex I’d never found in my searches before. It was an older build, but beautifully landscaped with the 24/7 gym and pool amenities we were looking for, a STUNNING outdoor gathering space with games and grills, and the finishes I preferred. Even better? FULLY FURNISHED. Didn’t have to worry about bringing beds, a kitchen table, any of the large, awkward furniture. We did a Facetime tour on the spot, and it ended up being not just a large topic of discussion at lunch, but my friends teamed together to put the pressure on my fiancé to agree to securing the place. Ultimately we decided the risk was worth taking, though we both would have preferred to see the place in person before making a commitment. It ended up being the best option – minutes away from UF, right across from the pool and gym, and located on the corner top floor for minimal noise from neighbors. It feels safe, private, and it’s beautiful to look out the window and see beautiful plants, ponds, and fountains.

Now that we’ve been here a few weeks, I’ve had time to recover from the sleep deprivation and the intensity I put my body through while moving. Things are 90% unpacked (small details like jewelry and decorative items are still boxed), and last night I put up most of my wall hangings. I have a beautiful vintage Iranian textile for the living room, but I’m hesitant to hang it without a frame (who knew 48×32 frames just didn’t exist?). Either way, it’s starting to look and feel like home. And I can already drive myself to Target, Starbucks, and Trader Joe’s without using a GPS. I have big plans while I’m here in Florida – this is where I’m going to get my businesses going, start writing again, and focus on becoming the healthiest I can be (I’ve already lost 10 pounds since the move). Florida is going to kickstart my best life yet.

Thanks for waiting with me.

chelseainwaiting