A Day in the Life of a Master(s) of Education

I am trying to be more accountable (for real this time...I promise) and thus am making measurable, attainable goals for 2020 & beyond! Here we go: Walk to work 3x a week (no matter the weather!!!) Cut out seafood/shellfish & become completely vegetarian Practice my ASL once a week via YouTube/Classes/In Person Take a day off 1x week to not work ANY job...not even a short shift or to "help out" Attend a concert/play/live show 1x month Drink 32oz water EVERYDAY!!!!!!!!!  Save $50 a month (immediately transferred to UK) Cut back on drinking Go to the movies 1x week Also work on cosplay goals: Steven/Connie, Rogue/Gambit  This is a good start I think. I will add to this as more thoughts come along.  I'm getting older and it's getting harder to have balance and fun in life...but alas we all have to start somewhere

So I've been around a lot of reflective people as of late (which isn't surprising...it's the beginning of the year) and initially I just tried to not be as reflective myself.  To be honest, it feels a bit cliche. That being said there's a reason people do it. There's a reason I am going to do it. I want to be purposeful with my time and choices. Means to an end. A satisfactory end. A few posts ago I created a bucket list, think of this as a continuation of sorts to that. So here we go: I want be more active regularly. To me that means manageable fitness goals. I want to play Quidditch again, get back to doing circus arts and ride my bike at least once a week. I want to build new friendships through existing avenues. There are coworkers I adore, pokemon go folks I keep encountering, and neighbors I'd like to cultivate stronger bonds with. I need to actively carve out time for these things while still maintaining time for myself. Whilst I want to cultivate ...

Blah blah blah blah obligatory New Year, New Me post. Actually not this time. This time same me just better. Like fine wine and the best kind of beer...I'm getting better with time. This is probably one the most exciting years I've had in a long time. I have so much to look forward to: travelling around Europe, finishing grad school, spending time in Paris with J, meeting new people, strengthening connections with my family and so much more. With so much ahead it's good to look back a little as well. After reflecting on those past experiences, as hard as some of those were, they set the groundwork for a strong foundation. Thank you for being an important part of my historical record. Until next post laters

Here we go down a new yet familiar road. Here we are thinking of the future and reflecting on the past. It's that time again and I greet it with a cautioned optimism. Hello 2017. I'm ready come what may....until next post laters

So it's a new year, time for resolutions that I have a hard time accomplishing right? Wrong. Much like last year I am taking a slightly different route to making sustainable changes. I'll write them again for tracking that seemed to help immensely last time. So here we go: Finish grad school applications Start grad school Maintain healthy hair Diversify working out (circus arts, roller blading, biking etc) Find a new loveable apartment More work/life balance More mini vacations with people I love Visit family more Hoping and working towards the best 2016 and life I can. Until next post laters

I have found that when I get things down in writing that I am more likely to do them for the following reasons: 1) Written Record=Accountability 2) Reference point 3) Sense of accomplishment when completed 4) Trackable & quantifiable Therefore here are a few additional goals for 2015: Organize one group activity a month (game night, dinner, sporting event,  etc) Hang with Jim once a week (even if it's only an invite & he can't do it) Read 1 book a month Work out 3 times a week (30 minutes minimum) Be more fashionable (invest in decent/presentable clothing & find a stylemodel) Save $100 a month Take a multi vitamin every day Go to the grocery store and cook once a week (possibly combined with Jim related activities) Splurge on myself every 3 months (buy tixs to a play or concert, go to a really nice restaurant, spa day etc) Get more involved in the lives of my niece & nephew (details TBD) Post 2x a month on Blog (pictures count) ...

So I totally deleted the first version of  this list so I am redoing for a reference point.  I will still refrain from calling this a New Year's Resolution list and give it the name of goals/wishes instead. That way they are less daunting and I am more accountable, which in the end is just what I need, Accountability.  Organize one group activity a month (game night, dinner, sporting event,  etc) Hang with Jim once a week (even if it's only an invite & he can't do it) Read 1 book a month Work out 3 times a week (30 minutes minimum) Be more fashionable (invest in decent/presentable clothing & find a style model) Save $100 a month Take a multi vitamin every day Go to the grocery store and cook once a week (possibly combined with Jim related activities) Splurge on myself every 3 months (buy tixs to a play or concert, go to a really nice restaurant, spa day etc) Get more involved in the lives of my niece & nephew (details TBD)  Post 2x...

So it is June, time to do a check up on my goals for 2015. To refresh your memory  here are the goals and their associated updates: Organize one group activity a month (game night, dinner, sporting event,  etc) This goal has been going very well. Generally I plan the activity for later in the month so that people have time to plan and add it to their calendars. So far my favorite activities have been Whirlyball and Karaoke. Hang with Jim once a week (even if it's only an invite & he can't do it) This one has been a bit harder to accomplish mostly due to my work schedule,  however he has attended most group activities and is generally available to chill if and when I have free time...I will work more on this goal in the coming months Read 1 book a month This is probably  my most successful goal thus far. I have actually read 15 books thus far (I read 5 in April alone) Work out 3 times a week (30 minutes minimum) This is another goal th...

So my first camping trip was awesome! It was a group of 10 of us and 3 dogs. I have never really been camping before so I asked every friend I knew that had been or would enjoy it and turns out they all said yes! So we left yesterday morning and headed up to Gainesville, GA to meet 1/3 of the group. Next we packed up the cars (I proceeded to pass out, because if I am not driving long car rides do that to me) and drove up into the the Chattahoochee National Forest, Woody Gap on the Appalachian Trail. We hiked about 1.5 miles in, with a ton of food and all our gear and found the best site almost immediately. It's a good thing we went when we did. Once we set up camp we had about 4-5 groups follow us up. Soon we were passed by more hikers and campers and even a couple of people who were actually  walking the whole AT from South to North. On average it takes people about 6months to make the trek. Last year one of my college  professors took a sabatical to do so. Not something I pl...

As a part of my North GA exploration goal, I will be going on my very first official camping trip! Woody Gap , is a part of the Appalachian Trail and a common locale for campers. I have a group of about 8 experienced campers/hikers going with me and hopefully no bears will eat me. Though I am a bit weary of the actually sleeping outside and the lack of a shower part of the trip; I am excited for campfire songs, campfire food and seeing stars. Just wanted to share with my adoring fans out there the link to the website and maybe you will be interested in checking it out for yourself! Until next post...laters

So as you all know I am hard at work trying to stick to the goals I have set for myself in 2015. I am working on trying to refrain from calling them "resolutions" because even though they do require resolve to achieve, many "resolutions" tend to fall by the wayside half way through the year if not half way through the month of January. Nonetheless here I am yet again checking in and keeping accountable with those goals. For a refresher check out my post from January 6th. Soooo time for a status update: This came from my kitchen last night and I made it. I ate it and didn't die. I shared it with others, they also did not die. Cooking win!: Sweet Potato Mini Pies with Homemade Graham Cracker Crust Finished Product! As apart of my Georgia exploring goal went on a hike to Arabia Mountain, I was so proud of LJ! He did the entire 5 1/2 mile moderate hike without me having to carry him once. I'm only holding him in this picture because he is so tiny ...

It may be a bit premature to make notes on the progress of my 2015 goals but since one of them was to blog more regularly I figured I would kill two birds with one stone (hopefully the birds are chickens that I will then eat because otherwise this saying is unnecessarily violent,  but I digress) via this post. Here are a couple of things of note in regards to the goals: Went to the library and picked up a new book entiled "Nine Inches" or something close to that. Since we are already half way through the month I have got to get cracking.  The plus side to this is that I am a fast reader and the book in this case is only about 300 pages long.  Score! I have been hanging with various groups of friends recently and going on dates so I have made the utmost effort that if I am walking out of my house (and not going to work which doesn't count since I wear a uniform) I look great and put together. Originally the goal was to look decent but since joining instagram (@alwysmoe)...

So this year is ending differently than I expected. Yet this is not a surprise....in fact if it hadn't, it wouldn't be real life. I am looking forward to 2015. I always look forward to a new year because its so ripe with possibilities. This is also a great time to be uber reflective and decisive about the coming year. What is different: I am single now and back to dating, right now I have a really great guy in my life with potential to become more than a friend. I have be somewhat promoted with the latest expansion at work there has been a large reshuffling of duties and some added opportunities that have become available. Reflecting on my current state in life I have made a list of what I want to accomplish in the next 5 years, after all it's been that long since I graduated from college and thus now is the time to make sure I am in a place that I want to be and adjust if I am not (I'm close but not there yet). What is staying the same: My desire...

So as a part of my year of travel, I planned a weekend birthday trip over Thanksgiving to New Orleans. With Amanda & LJ in tow we hit the Crescent City with an explorers passion. We drank on Bourbon Street, danced on Frenchmen's Street & ate our way through plates of beignets, po boys & alligator. On Thanksgiving day we were able to even find a turducken, a combo of turkey, duck and chicken all cooked in one. Though I had my heart set on finding a Cajun fried turkey I settled for another Louisiana flavor in the turducken which was still very delicious. We accomplished most of the things I had on my list and met some really awesome people. Another trip is definitely in the works. Of my year of travel this is top three following Tokyo & Savannah. Apparently I like water a little more then I realized. Until next post.... laters

So technically my year of travel isn't over with 3 more trips on the docket but I just came back from the most epic trip thus far and wanted to talk about it a little. So in all the whirlwind that has been my life recently I was presented the opportunity to go to Japan with a couple of friends. When a person offers you a trip to a foreign country you have dreamed about, you take it....so even though I had plans to go visit my parents in DC and see Bastille in concert, I sold those tickets and called my mom and told her I would bring her a Kimono from Japan and flew away. What an experience! The people seemed to be a little shy around me but otherwise the place has a rustic charm meshed with modern day appeal. From the mountains of Kyoto to the vibrant nightlife of Tokyo I loved it all. Favorite Things: Traditional Onsen (Japanese Bathhouse) in Kyoto,  Tokyo Disney Sea, karaoke in Tokyo & green tea kit kats Things I could have done without: The constant stares without sp...

  So here is the long awaited list of artists from my year of concerts: Maroon 5  Owl City Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Flo Rida  Armin VanBuren Fifth Harmony Bonnie Mckee Neon Trees Miley Cyrus Robin Thicke Travie McCoy Elton John Bruno Mars Fitz and the Tantrums 3Oh3!  One Republic Olly Murs Lupe Fiasco Ke$ha Pitbull Lil Wayne T.I Matchbox 20 Goo Goo Dolls Icona Pop Fun. P!nk Imagine Dragons Gwar Talib Kwali Austin Mahone The Wailers Favorite: Bruno Mars Maroon 5 Ke$ha Best Bang for My Buck: One Republic Elton John Jingle Ball (Multiple Artist for 1 price) Must See Again: One Republic Maroon 5 P!nk Fun. Overall Review: So my year of concerts was one of the best things I have ever done. I saw so many great bands and artists,  became a fan of new ones and grew as a music lover. Attending so many shows also showed me the value of music festivals and the like...

As a part of my year of travel I have attened a few music festivals.  Most recently has been the Big Guava Festival in Tampa.  It rained 2 of the 3 days but seeing Outkast, Girl Talk. Tegan & Sara and Twenty One Pilots was totally worth it.  Here are a few pics from rainy day antics with Amanda in Florida.

In my last post I commented that my 2014 resolution would be to travel to a new place every month. Well I have finished the preliminary list but it is open to changes due to budget, time and other variables.  Just wanted to at least get a starting point down. So here it is! January-Kansas City February-Rock City March-Savannah April-Macon May-Tampa/St. Pete June-Charleston July-Ocean City August-Pittsburgh September-Charlotte October-Helen November-New Orleans December-Nashville Hopefully I can to all these places,  after all nothing beats a try but a failure! Until next post.... laters