Where Y'all Going, Jessi?

Hi, blog!

Hey, hi! You remember me, right? 

It's been 20 days since we last got in touch and I wanted to share what's been going on. 

The last time I took a 20 day break the post was titled "Where'd You Go, Jessi?". This time I poetically and intentionally took a 20 day break so I could make that parallel connection, but did my disappearing act again without telling you. At least you can count on me to be consistent.

This 20 day break was unbelievably more life-shaking than the last where all I did was traveled to multiple states and read books and kept my nails painted. It's been hard to keep all of this to myself  on the blog, but it's been very easy to have this break from blogging while I've kept myself busy elsewhere.

Busy with what? Let's start with a big one.

+ I gave notice at my job on Monday, June 1st. I work at my dream company and I'm resigning 12 days prior to my six-year anniversary. Technically I gave four and a half weeks notice after a few administrative changes and have been in high demand for the past three weeks.

+ The resignation from my dream company is because I'm finally ready to listen to my heart and follow this crazy feeling I've previously attempted to describe as love. I'm finally ready to go somewhere I know will be uncomfortable. I'm finally at the place where I want to make this long-distance relationship into a short-distance one. I'm moving East of the Mississippi River to Memphis, Tennessee. If you're new to geography that's very far away from this Upper Left USA I've lived in my entire life.

+ That's right, I'm back together - please don't throw things at me for not telling you - with a man I care very much about and love very much. If you're really in the know you saw me throw a casual #NationalBestFriendsDay and #MCM on Instagram three weeks ago, but you really had to be paying attention to remember that you hadn't seen his face on social media since 2014. The sweet guy you read about here and here? Well, he's the same one you consoled me over here and a few other places on this domain before. He's my heart-eyed emoji and always will be. I can't wait to start this adventure.

+ In my moving prep I've tossed out more than three truckloads of clothing, furniture and why-did-I-need-to-buy-this items that were in my three bedroom home. I found way too much cash in a few envelopes that were from Christmases where things like Nintendo Wii were on my must-have list. I'm finally tossing some of the nail polish that's not Essie and glitter I used to wear all over my face in middle school. I've never realized how much "stuff" I had before understanding that I needed to significantly down-size to fit into my new life.

In the non-boy / non-leaving my job / non-moving across the country news, here's a few more things you missed.

+ Miss Black Betty (my brand new baby Prius) got in a 4-car accident. A < 5 mph vehicle damage only and nobody's hurt accident. Not my fault and not my money to get it repaired, plus I learned a few lessons on what you're supposed to do when you find yourself on the side of the road with a few other victims of the same collision.

+ I made it up on stage at my drum class TWO more times and hope to jump up there once more with mom in the crowd. Then maybe be a part-time fitness instructor in Memphis and bring Pound! to my new town. #poundtown

+ I went for a four-mile hill run in ninety-degree weather because it was just too nice to not do it. It made me miss the clear head and full heart I used to get when that used to be my daily routine rain or shine.

+ Weekend trip to the Oregon Coast for Father's Day as a family and watched a fireworks show on the sand. We struck it lucky to find a weekend we could all be together.

I know that Helene just announced that she's moving to Tennessee, but she's going to Nashville which is a three hour road trip away from Memphis and apparently much much much cooler because they've got a hoppin' enough city for Trader Joe's and ClassPass. Two Portland things I love and will miss dearly on my new adventure. Thanks for the care packages in advance, mom.

Other Portland things I'll miss dearly are my amazing parents who have done everything possible to show me support through this emotional life-altering decision. My brother who just returned back to our same time zone after four years away in Europe. My golden sisters who are crazy and silly and more grown up than ever. My friends and mentors and coworkers, the good ones who know who they are. My city that's been there for me through good and bad and great and worst.

Much more work to be done in the upcoming weeks but I'm happy you're now in the know.

Where'd You Go, Jessi?

Even though I've been publishing since 2012, I still don't have a great understanding of the disappearing act I put you through. 

Blog breaks are usually prefaced, planned, communicated. You're all polite enough to give warning ahead of time, allow proper goodbyes and give some type of indication why you're not going to be writing or reading for a specific range of time. 

My blog breaks are nothing like that. Mine are spontaneous, immediate and often unexplainable. Full of carbs, adventures, surprises and living. Those nights. That song. 

This act may seem like a sign of hiding, depression, loneliness, introversion or discouragement. Not the case at all. My breaks are a sign of having too much to share, too much to be excited about, too much to post, too much good.

There's actually no such thing as "too much good" but I'm trying to explain the side-eye-smirky feeling. 

Let me present the facts of life of the last twenty days.

:: Boarded 7 unique planes, only seated in the middle twice.

:: Been in six states.

:: Attended one wedding. 

:: Attended two sporting events (one with beer for sale, one with dogs to pet).

:: Drove my car only 8 days.

:: Kissed a boy. A few times. 

:: Also helped paint his toenails while he was asleep.

:: Read: The Opposite of Loneliness, Where'd You Go, Bernadette

:: Bought: This One is Mine

:: Listening: Bossypants

:: Ate clam chowder in Boston and drank mimosas "in the Mission".

:: Okay, a lot of mimosas in the mission with MacKensie.

:: Was driving a car solo when it broke down on me at 1am.

:: Took one shower in Oakland, CA and one shower in Warwick, RI. 

:: Baked chocolate chip cookies.

:: Learned San Francisco is cold and should not be shocked at the absence of palm trees. 

:: Was called up on stage to lead a song in my Pound! Workout class. 

Literally this stage -->

:: Taken only five workout classes and currently scheduling more aggressively.

:: Posted five instagram photos.

:: Put together three pieces of large furniture with only an allen wrench.

:: My nails have been painted all but a few hours (mostly Essie Fiji)

:: Discovered chia seeds.

:: Changed my job, manager and desk location.

:: Took 25,000 steps in a single day.

:: Slept through one book club.

:: Was picked up at the Portland Airport twice by my golden sisters.

This was actual life. Feels like I should go out and live it some more.

Confessing with Melissa today!