Coming home.

It's time to come home.

I've spent the last few months trying to figure out where I want to be at this point in my life, who I want to be surrounding myself with, and where I want to go.  This last month, especially, I have devoted to putting the pieces together that have somehow fallen apart in the last year of my life.  They seem to be relatively put back together, but not quite.  The last piece won't be set in place until I find myself in the company of my friends and family at home, where I will stay.

None of this is to mean that I have not had an amazing experience here in Los Angeles this last year.  Everything that I have been able to do and see associated with my wonderful job and the city of Los Angeles itself has been absolutely remarkable.  I would never trade this last year for anything.

I told my bosses last Friday that I would be leaving them in two months time.  They couldn't have reacted more wonderfully.  They had been worried about me getting lonely in the job, and I had been lonely, and knew that with my personality that it probably wouldn't be the right fit for a long term job.  They were right.  I love them so much, and their children, and I am really excited to stay friends with them forever.  But, my life here has not evolved into what I would've pictured myself in at this point in time.  I am not the person I want to be, and as much as I've tried to be that person here, it just hasn't happened.  I can't find the girl I once was here in this city.  She doesn't belong here.

My decisions have taken me to living in Chicago come November/December.  Of course, with the job market the way it is, I'm hoping to even get a serving job let alone a 'real' job.  Regardless, I am so ready to be in that city.  I have loved Chicago for a long time and am so excited to move there.

Bah! Bob just got here for a walk, I will elaborate further soon! Much love,

xo

Linds

Vineyard life, once again.

Beautiful Martha's Vineyard.  There really is no other place like it.  Every where you look it seems as though you are looking at pictures in a calendar.  It's that beautiful.

I've been here since a week ago last Thursday and will be leaving on Saturday to go spend some time with my family in Madison.  Cannot wait for that.  It was really great having my mom out here with me this last week, she made it not as lonely.  It can feel a little isolating at times here, only because the simple conveniences we are used to aren't right down the street.  They're a half an hour trek across the island, and usually they are hard to find.  

The island almost has a feeling of stepping back in time.  No fast food restaurants, no chains.  People drive slow and let pedestrians have the right of way.  Everything moves at the 'vineyard' pace.  Which can be an incredible escape from Los Angeles, where it is the exact opposite.  But, I guess I'm looking for something kind of in the middle.  Big city meets old world charm.  Does it exist?  If so, please let me know where!

Three of my girlfriends and I have started a book club via iChat.  We just started reading Julie and Julia (most of you know it as the movie coming out soon with Meryl Streep) and had our first web chat last night, or should I say our first meeting.  It was wonderful!  It has been really great to be able to see their faces on an almost daily basis.  Makes home and friends not feel so far away.  Thank you technology for making that possible.

For now I will just say that I am trying to enjoy the peace and quiet as much as I can.  Soak it in.  I know next week at home will be hustle and bustle and then LA will be 500 times that.  I hope everyone is doing lovely, and I hope to talk/see all of you very soon!

xo

Linds