~Interview~

Had the interview this morning...went wonderfully...the only thing that is on the "bad" side" is that I wont hear for SURE for two weeks. OOOhh well...since I am free for now I am on my way to LI tomorrow bright and early...(actually probably before it*s bright)...to see Reanna :) Can*t wait...

Why do I always end up getting jobs where you have to work holidays?? Oh well, once I work up it won*t be that way...sighhhhhh*

BIG NEWS WITH MARRIOTT PEOPLE!!!!

OKAY...I have THE worst timing ever...i have been looking forward SO much to spending the week with my other half Reanna forever now (it*s our 10 yr anniversary AND she is going to be in a show at this cool theater festival in Long Island that I was going to support her at) and NOW...Marriott calls me back and says i need to come in this monday for an interview...which means...IDK!!! SUCH good news but SUCH sucky news at the same time!!! i Probably have the job ive been wanting forever but i will have to find some crazy midnight train to the city afterwards.

Just wanted to update everyone on the news...everyone keep your fingers crossed for me!!!!!! UPSTATE here we come in T minus 2 HOURS!!!!!

Birthdays, Anniversaries, Weddings Oh My!

Sept 8th I officially entered into my mid-twenties. It was a LITTLE less painful than i had expected. Bc i guess i realized im pretty much where i thought i*de be at 25 when i was younger? KINDA??? Well, whatever I thought...where i AM is an OK place to be in life. Though I dont have my successful career in full swing, I DO have an amazing Fiance, a house (two houses actually! in two different states!), a car (a NICE car!), little naminals that make me smile and laugh every day, un-wavering family and friends back at home and a world full of possibilities. I*m ok. 25 IS ok. I have a LOT to be thankful for.

~I also got packages on my door step, cards in the mail, parties at home and in VA, and lots of REALLY sweet novel length texts on my birthday...it was really more than i had expected and meant a lot. DJ decorated our backyard with string lights, lit the tiki torches, put music on and set up a table for two with candles all over the place for dinner. After dinner and dessert I took turns dancing with DJ and Rambo and then we all heading inside to watch the movie DJ and I had watched the first time we ever hung out...Oh wait...the movie was the night after for our one year anniversary!! sorry! HAHAHA We also finally went mountain biking to Mt Vernon (16.27miles)! Beautiful BEAUTIFUL bike paths...it pretty much seemed like you were biking along the shores of Maine, then all of a sudden you were biking through a topical jungle, then back to Maine...lol.
. . . . . . . ......... .. . On the motorcycle in Old Town Alexandria w/ Cat & Paul

Well let*s see....
We*re going to have another super-packed weekend coming ... friday after dj gets out we will be heading back upstate, Sat a.m. we will be checking out one of my possible wedding locations, and taking at least some "engagement" pix there, then running back home to get changed for amy and john*s wedding that evening. The NEXT day, we will be heading to Apple Fest and will get to see Amandaaaa and FINALLY get to stuff our faces with apple cider doughnuts we*ve been craving!!!! (I LOVE CELEBRATING LIFE MILESTONES!!!)

Talking about stuffing my face reminds me I haven*t mentioned that I DID get a membership at Xsport, and absolutely love it.

What i also love, is hearing that a lot of good things are happening in the lives of the people i love so much :)

¤}} The Meaning of Life {{¤

Here was the book that caught my eye of course AFTER I checked out at B&N yesterday...soooo I got myself some starbucks and sat down with the mini-book...fell in love with it...and HAD to take pix of some of the pages bc they were so inspiring.
The upsetting thing is that I couldn*t take pix of every page...so when you read through them, some of them dont flow or make sense...but if you pull back on each one and just focus on what each page is saying...you will understand. I*ll try to fill in the parts I missed for you...



It starts off by saying how "Im sorry, I*m guessing you picked up this book bc you thought it would have all the answers...well it has questions instead..." my heart sank like they were expecting it to...haha...bc everyone i know already has gone over those questions in their head a million times...for me at least...a million times each day! But...Bc of the cute pictures...I continued onward...







How AMAZING to think about...how AMAZING that fact really is...we really are made up of the exact same materials...idk...it just gave me a feeling of empowerment...i don't think anyone gives themselves enough credit for what they are truly capable of...

It goes on to say just that...why do we cut ourselves so short?...why do we marvel at great mountains or things that are larger than life..."powerful people in powerful positions...movie stars...huge skyscrapers or waterfalls..." when it is the little things that make all this possible and it is the little things that make the BIGGEST difference...he shows a picture of an ant...





He goes on to list the different popular opinions or suggestions to the answer of the meaning of life...to reproduce, to learn...etc...but then goes on to say that all these circle around love...it comes down to love.



(That one just touched me and sent chills down my spine) The fact that no matter how down you may feel at certain times...it*s that fire in your heart...even if its dwindled down to a minuscule flame...that slowly and calmly talks to you and tells you that it still believes in you and believes you can make your dreams come true...it KNOWS you deserve happiness and are 100% capable of grasping it and holding it for eternity if you just don*t give up.



It talks about how rewarding it is to just help someone else who may feel down or may be struggling...








..it says some people just have to go to a quiet place and think...ask themselves truly..what makes them the happiest...what has in the past? Doing what in the past has made you the most happy? Do you want that again?...It says to some...this question is already known...easy...and for some...it is very hard...(me, i thought)...instead of saying the usual..."give it time" though...it tells you to take this seriously...focus on this question as if your life depended on it..."bc it does"...and REALLY ask yourself what would make you happy in your opinion RIGHT NOW??...







Pretty powerful stuff...*i was going to include one of my favorite quotes of mine that i had forgotten about till now...but i will wait till the end.







It*s hard to admit, but God, this guy is RIGHT on.
He pulls back a little and goes on to say...now calm down...yes...it is so important to go for you dreams...but pay just as much attention to the everyday...HERE AND NOW...have fun with it...DO what you have fun with...DO what makes you HAPPY EACH DAY...whether it be dancing, singing, cooking, hiking, crafting, painting, being with your family...






DONT get mad at yourself for waiting so long to go after what you love...and DONT get mad at yourself if while attempting to reach your dreams you meet some setbacks...



This was also a big one for me...bc i always felt so torn between what i thought my dreams were...and which to go for...and why...it really does take inner focus and silence within yourself...really ask yourself...what is it...I want to do...and wait for an answer...wait. if you have to ask yourself again...ask. And wait.

He goes on to talk further about how once you get the answer...dont let anything stop you...no matter how crazy your idea may have emerged...how impossible it may seem...dont let any event, or person stand in your way...find your way around it...THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY AROUND IT!!...











Really let that sink in...bc it makes SO much sense.












It*s true. Everyone wants to leave this planet feeling like their life was "MEANINGFUL" like they made a difference...This is much easier to do than you think. You may think well...I want to impact people by the thousands...I want my voice heard...I want to be able to help the entire world...well...you CAN. Even if it*s simply by knocking over that first domino. Knock over at least one a day...and imagine how many people you will have effected by the end of your life?? Millions. Your kindness will have changed MILLIONS of lives.








Beautiful. True. Inspiring.

And now, here is one (wait two!) of my favorite quotes I was also reminded of yesterday...sayings you must ALWAYS repeat to yourself when you are feeling weak...

"...Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly."

and...most importantly...

"GO confidently
in the direction of your dreams!!
LIVE THE LIFE YOU*VE IMAGINED" - Thoreau

Cold Hands & Silly~Bands

Well, it*s been a rough past week for me...(Dj is of course, strong and steady as ever)

I feel like it*s been months since I was Nannying and pulling in an (impressive) income. I loved contributing...it was the best feeling throwing in 1,000 checks into our bank account...now...nada.

I have to figure out things to do to keep myself occupied and not feel like a waste of space on planet earth...
...we had a couple days under 95 degrees so Rambo and I took those opportunities to go out for some long walks exploring around our area...it*s going to be SO nice when the temperature starts going down...I cant wait to experience fall here.
...I*ve done numerous crafty projects...and given some needed attention to wedding planning. All of this kinda sux due to the fact that I*m all alone. I can*t drive to a friends house, I can*t drive to just hangout with family...it*s tough. Dj leaves around 6:30 and comes home around 8 every night...6 days a week...sooo...he*s busting his booty...and I*m here searching for things to pass the time with. It feels horrible. The gym still has not gotten back to me even after me calling to follow up...so not only do I not know if they will be able to find a job for me there, but I*m not signed up for the classes I really wanted to sign up for. I think I*m going to go in Tuesday to get a 7-day pass to test it out there and sign up even if they haven*t gotten back to me. I also was waiting to sign up for volunteering till i found a job and would know my schedule but I think I*m going to have to go ahead with it without knowing. I just need something.


My b-day is NEXT WEEK...and Dj got us both bikes so we could ride around DC together finally...we just couldn*t wait any longer and had an AMAZING time. I think we must have rode down every street of DC at least 3 times..it was insane...if you want to figure out streets and your area..get a bike.
It looks like we are going to be able to come home(NY) for this long weekend...and we will have a LOT to fit in as always. But we are both looking forward to that.

Today Dj and I drove up to Silver Spring for Dj*s first training session...where they went around in a circle and said how many hours each member pulled in the day b4...the other guys answered...8...10...18... "Wow guys, great job!" It comes to Dj*s turn..."Well...40" ..."Wait, what?!...you know that's nearly impossible right?" "Well, we are down a couple guys, so it had to be done." They were extremely impressed, as am I with how tireless he is. He really blows me away everyday with how hard he works and how he comes home everyday with a huge smile on his face. The training session was catered by panera and Dj brought me back a sandwich that just rocked my world...while he was in the meeting I drove around exploring...I wanted to go see the Nat Geo building but that was too far...I DID get to a star bucks though and had my first pumpkin spice frap of my year...I cant even express how glorious it was. I had forgotten.

Other things i had forgotten...that i have been reminded the past few days...through different things...was how no matter how tough i think MY day is going...i have it EXTREMELY easy. EVERYONE is struggling. In one way or another...i*m not alone. During this time of "nothingness" I have actually turned on the TV for the first time and watched Extreme Home Makeover...yes, i DID yell out "Move That Bus"...in case you were wondering. I also read about 500 inspiring short stories on Gives Me Hope.com...it really puts everything into perspective and reminds me that even if i feel like I*m doing "nothing"...i can take that time and do even ONE small thing to help someone else...and that makes the time more than worth it. I have a HELL OF A LOT to be grateful for...and while sometimes I feel useless...life Isn*t about proving yourself all the time...but you CAN always find ways to brighten up someone else's day, which will in turn, make yours.

Monday...still in bed...YESs!!

Hellloooo everybody!! Yes it has been a while...THAT was due to the fact that DJ and I would both leave around 6 each morning and not get home till around 7:30 each day. Once we got home...we would eat...and be so exhausted that we pretty much just fell down into sleep.

TODAYYY though....is my first day of being un-employed again!!! lol...(don't worry, i will only think it's a good thing for another day or two...probably not even) But it DOES feel SO nice to get to "sleep in" I don't know what is happening to me..."sleeping in" is now only like, till 8am now a days. What happened to sleeping in till 4? ;}

Friday was my last day with the girls..and i can actually say i was a little choked up throughout the day. We had a really great last week together and i was getting more and more used to being touched by the little ones filthy hands, and her attitude was even dwindling...she was actually saying please sometimes and thank you sometimes...which was really great. The oldest one pretty much looked up to me like an older sister and would ask me these questions about growing up that were so interesting to have to answer. The middle child finally got her back-hand-spring that we had been working on so hard...

...and in our final week together we went all over DC doing fun things.
we went to the spy museum, the national zoo...a bunch of other cool places as well...

The mother said they were really going to miss me and said that out of their 15 previous nannys...i had been hands down their favorite. It meant a lot to me...it feels so good to get to walked away knowing you did a job well. She also said that it i ever wanted to go to the white house or into any other restricted areas of DC to let her know and she would take me. She was actually just promoted into her own office in the Pentagon. As great as that is...i can't even count how many times the kids had made sad comments as to how they never get to see their parents..or they are never there...and when they do get home...they just want to relax. It's just so hard...life takes so much energy and so much time that just never seems to be enough. I'm glad the girls have each other...and i tried to remind them every day and after every fight, how lucky they really were to have each other.

I will def be seeing them and staying in contact with them...i promised rachel i would be there for her competitions and promised carolyn she could call me anytime for advice. The mom told me she would love to be able to have me babysit every now and then so i could stay a part of their lives. I guess thats really a great accomplishment now that i think about it...having been accepted and appreciated in other peoples lives. people who were strangers so recently...are now people who will be a part of me forever.
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Onward!!....

Since i have moved here i have been researching different dance studios and gyms....bc i think it would be a huggeee uplifter to get myself involved again with something like that.

Ive been very very VERY disappointed in how i've let myself go through all the craziness of moving. Being healthy is SO important to me, and i feel like i have just forgotten and given up. So this week...i will put a stop to it. I have already started eating healthier again and yesterday I figured out a brilliant plan.

I found the gym that i want to join. It's huge, has a spa...is very close, very clean and offers EVERY CLASS known to man(and woman) ...actually...prob not known to every man but known to every woman...HAHAHA...they offer the yoga i love...pilates of course, the kickboxing i wanted, every other normal workout class, dance workouts, zumba...they even offer ballroom dancing! SO...i was really pumped about joining...and was going to either join right away or make that be my birthday present...BUT, while paroozing their site...i landed on their career website...and they offer the most amazing benefits package that of course includes free membership. The BEST part about working there though...over dental and medical and all that jazz...iss......dun dun dunnnn......you get to wear this cute workout outfit everyday. And if you know me...u know i HATE uncomfortable clothing and the first thing i do when i get home is change into workout clothes or pjs. SOOO....i MUST get a job at this place. i know i have been stressing over finding a meaningful job...but i feel like this IS a meaningful job to me...i wanted to go into nutrition...this is the perfect place to start...and this IS part of nutrition.

SO...i will keep everyone up to date on how that goes...i plan on going in either today or tomorrow and not leaving till i have a job. lol. We shall see what happens...lol.

Oh...dj and i finally had a a weekend off here together so we took the opportunity to figure out the metro system just for the fun of it...really simple...really clean...you can even take your bikes on. THAT is the next purchass for sure.. getting dj a bike and getting my bike here. there really is no better way around dc than on a bike...saturday we must have walked 50 googillion miles around dc....went to every monument...and every sculpture and art museum and went to the air and space museum and on and on and on...my feet had never felt such agony in my life...and AFTER this...we took the metro straight to clerndon to meet up with his friends from work for their Koons celebration for being number one in CSI's. Koons just gave them this huge allowance to spend on food and drinks and all that...so it ended up being a long and dizzy night. LOL.

Ok...this is getting a tad long...so i should prob say goodbye for now!!
GOODBYE FOR NOW!!!! MWAAA MWAA!!!!

*M

Its me DJ

Miriam and everyone else says i need to update this more. Im sorry i have not, i have been super busy with everything, but its all good. The last 2 days (monday and today) i have been at work untill after 7 both days . Monday i was suppose to leave at 5 and today i was suppose to leave at 6....well yesterday one of the guys that i work with had to leave because his wife was in the hospital, and today i had to cover for the guy that was not in today but was suppose to stay untill close. So 2 days and a lil over 24 hours at work...but i get paid for about 100 hours for these last 2 days :) Anyway its hot in virginia and i am beyond hungry and tired... Here is what showed up today at work, these funny things with my name on them....