On The Road Still...

Blessed are the flexible because they will bend, but never break.

This quote has been running through my mind a lot lately.  I really like the idea of making plans...and there are times in my life...where I really try hard to make plans.  Except...those plans normally end up falling through because, well, life happens.

So, the plan was that this trip was originally the last one I had scheduled...at least for a little while.  What great timing.  Next week is my birthday, so I scheduled a well deserved day of pampering...because I'm all about the being girly.  Ok...I could barely type that with a straight face.  But I really do enjoy stuff like getting a mani/pedi/haircut.  It's relaxing.  I deserve a chance to relax.

Except, life happened. 

And I got more work. 

Which is awesome.  I love getting more work.  It keeps me busy, and it makes me money.  And I love my job.

But then I kept getting more work.  Which is even more awesome. 

Except, I then had to reschedule said hair appointment 3 times. 

But it's ok...because it's finally happening.  And I can start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Instead of visiting multiple states in one week, and being gone all week long, it looks like after next week things are going to start slowing down.  Sort of. Except for the week that I have to go to Newark for a day, take a late flight home, and then do two more days in East St. Louis.  Ok, so maybe life isn't slowing down just yet.

I'm definitely looking forward to normal life resuming.  Because you know what happens when you travel a lot?

Dates consist of watching the Packers on Monday Night Football "together."  And by "together" I really mean I was in NYC, and the boyfriend was in IL.  And we sent text messages back and forth, and talked on the phone over half time. 

I'm really grateful he's been so understanding and supportive of the travel thing.  But to say the least, I'm ready for date night to actually take place while we're in the same room.

So...with all due respect to Willie...I'm changing the lyrics to On The Road Still.  Just so happy to be on the road...still.  And if you need me...I'll probably be in some random hotel room...in some state that I probably couldn't mention off the top of my head...and forget to ask what time zone I'm in, because I don't ever know. 

You know it's busy season when...

...you approach the dryer to fluff the clothes you left in there the day before.  Only to realize that the dryer is, in fact, empty.  And you never put the clean clothes in the dryer to begin with.

This has happened twice in the past couple of weeks. 

Oops.

But other than that...life has been pretty good.  Busy, but good.  In the past two weeks I have been to..................5 or 6 states.  At least one of them I visited twice.  And I've done 9 days of training.  Twice I got back to my house in the middle of the night, simply because I wanted to sleep in my own bed so badly, it was worth the drive home.  And now, instead of leaving again tomorrow...I actually get a couple of more days off.  Good, home made coffee will be drank.  Books will be read.  I might even go for a run or two.  If my somewhat cold riddled lungs will allow it...that is. 

I've been asked a lot since I moved back if I'm happy with the decision to move back...and also...how the job is going.  I honestly had no idea how great it was going to be.  I absolutely love it.  Yes, I hate hotels, airports, and rental cars.  And I look forward to the day (eventually) when I don't have to rely solely on this job for income or to survive.  But it's been a wild, crazy, amazing journey.  I feel incredibly blessed to have this opportunity.  And to be surrounded by such amazing people while I'm doing it. 

First of all, my life could not happen right now without my parents.  My dad has been caretaker extraordinaire...the man makes sure my house is still in one piece, collects my mail, mows my lawn, makes sure my garden doesn't die, and then some.  Beyond that...I can't tell you how many times over the past few weeks I've called or sent a text message to my parents asking them to buy groceries and deliver them to my house.  And then I'll just invite myself over for dinner while I'm home too.

Yeah...they're pretty amazing people.  And I love them a lot.

Believe me, I look forward to the day that I spend enough time at home that it's worth actually grocery shopping myself (let alone having the time to do so) but it's nice having them so close and so willing to take care of me.  Parents...their job never ends.

But other than my parents...I'm just feeling overly blessed right at the moment.  Things have been going well.  Yes, I'm sick, and tired.  But it could be worse.  Yes, I've lost a lot of sleep, and my back is killing me from carrying my computer everywhere, and sleeping in bad hotel beds.  But for some reason...I'm actually really...happy right now.  I'm just reminded every day that no matter where I am, the sun will rise, my friends will still be my friends (and they're all pretty amazing too) and that frustrations are ever present.  Life is never going to be easy.  But I also know that everything happens for a reason.  I have the option of how I approach things...and the ridiculous, over the top positivity has definitely been working.  Everything that I've been through in the past has made me, not only a stronger person, but also has been building to something.  I can't exactly tell you what that something is.  But big things are in the future.  And everything I'm going through now, the good, the bad, and the tired...all shape the future.  And I have to say...I'm excited.