At least I still have my health

I interrupt this regular schedule program of not writing or giving a general crap to give you this sunset and a blog post!

In the new year, I resolved a few things: 1) To find a job 2) To blog more/more consistently 3) To, perhaps, run/exercise a bit more. So far I've been lacking on all three...well, unless you count doing jumping jacks to get warm because I'm trying to cut down on the cost of heating the house by keeping the thermostat low. To be honest, it's hard to blog when there's not much to blog about. I'm rounding into my second year of full time unemployment and were I to keep up a blogging schedule the bulk of the content would be about the terrible reality shows that I watch, how I walked to get the mail today, and the state of the neighbors' dogs when they come over for treats.

All that being said, I have been living in North Carolina for over half a year now! In this time living here, I've noticed that it is way too easy to spend my days wallowing in my own self pity and despair (hence the lack of updates) than it is to be grateful for the sunnier side of life. And so, in keeping with my devolution into mediocre writing skills (see, how the negativity so easily rears its head?), here are the things I am blessed to have and grateful for:

• Jack
• Kale for $0.99 a pound at the grocery store. At least I can assuage my guilt for eating at Chick-Fil-A by eating more kale purchased at a ludicrously low price. EDITED! 03/21/13: I just went to the store today and the price of kale has gone up to $1.29/lb--what is this, Seattle? There is officially nothing redeeming about this area.

And, because I need some perspective as to why I need the above list in my life, here are the things that suck about the area:

• It's very nearly impossible to find a mid-level professional job because the area is still mostly agricultural and seasonal. I think it's one of the few areas in the country where a college degree means next to nothing. Ask me how demoralizing it is to not get a job where one of the few requirements was to have graduated high school.
• Follow up. I think it's nice to follow up when people leave voicemail messages or say they will send an email with information, but I guess that's not the norm here. I've now realized that it's easier to pull teeth than to get companies (utility companies, especially) to follow up and maybe return/pick up a call or two, because, I guess, either people don't care about the money we want to lavish on them or this is some sick, demented version of Island time. 
• Loud rain. Some may call it heavy rain, but I'm going to call it like it is: loud. At least in the Pacific Northwest the rain had to decency to fall in a constant, near mist so that it is quiet and allow people to sleep through the night. Not so in the South! Here it is loud, thunderously announcing its arrival in the middle of the night so that you are awoken from your semi-deep slumber and unable to go back to sleep to continue that dream about hanging with Liz Lemon on 30 Rock.

Up and At 'Em!

True story: I was up at sunrise to take this picture.

Hello to the three friends that read this!

I am going to start blogging again. A real, honest effort to start this baby up after an unofficial, totally being lazy, I'm-going-to-blame-this-on-moving-across-the-country, self-imposed hiatus. Hopefully this will--again--bring some structure back to my life and give me something to do other than search for jobs, fill out job applications, and wallow in my own self pity wondering why no one calls me back.

But, seriously. No one calls me back. Or they haven't yet. Man, being unemployed for over a year certainly does something to one's self-esteem.

Topics that I hope to cover throughout this renewed need to blog!
-The sad state of affairs (more like a lack of Asian markets) that has led me to shopping at the "International Food" aisle at the local grocery store--when, in the past, and usually within spitting distance of a 99 Ranch, I'd always wonder what kind of sad sack purchases their soy sauce in that aisle.
-The tiny frog that lives in my mailbox--and basically terrifies me every time I open our mailbox. It could be poisonous! It could jump on my face!
-On how not having a job for over year also does something to one's psyche. Basically, I'm terrified of everything now. EVERYTHING.
-A discussion on whether or not I should venture out on the bike when surface street speeds top out at 55mph with about a 3 feet-wide shoulder for safety. I can only think of cons for this discussion, number one being: No life insurance.
-My new friend, Lola. Only she's totally not aware that she's my friend. And she's also the neighbor's dog.
-Look at all the things the South has to offer! Sub-title: An attempt to assimilate into Southern culture.
-A discussion on my internal conflict and never-ending guilt on eating at a Chick-Fil-A multiple times, despite knowing full well their stance on certain social issues. What is worse? My weakness for deep-fried chicken and waffle fries or my inability to stop frequenting a place that openly practices discrimination? At what point does a fast food joint's opinion factor into my support for them by purchasing their tasty chicken sandwiches?
-My three weeks spent exploring the greater Richmond area while I waited for the car to get fixed. Also: My first real taste...or like an amuse bouche...of the South. Also, also: My first real long-term experience in the terrible Southern heat and humidity and the rain.