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.

Throwback Thursday: Upside Down

Are there days or weeks where you feel like life has changed, like your world is different than it once was before and ever has been? Almost a feeling of being upside down? Left is right, up is down. Not in a bad way, but it does make you stop to take a look around and get used to your new surroundings.

How much my job demands of me is starting to sink in and I feel blessed to have experienced two whole months of ignorance before I came to this understanding. From a deliverable standpoint (meetings, reports, and emails) to a knowledge foundation (details, soundbites and insights) being an expert in what I do is not a benefit or nice-to-have, it's a demand. Being able to answer to anything and everything that a business partner could ask of us is commonplace and most often these questions are asked in a board room with many people documenting and relying on your word to be the absolute truth, then they hold you to it! I've always taken pride in doing a job well, on time and with an extra dash of awesome (and still do!). This trait and burning desire to succeed makes it hard for me to pull myself away at the end of the day or to not want to fire up my laptop at 2 in the morning when I wake up and can't get back to sleep. I'm so thankful that my work schedule is reliant on Dan's schedule too - if we weren't carpooling I couldn't be trusted to leave before 10pm or just make a blanket fort and stay the night.

Don't feel bad for me, I am learning quickly and feel comfortable with the road ahead of me. Mostly I'm happy to have this outlet in my life to free-write and share anything I want with the world and more often just let my brain unwind. I'm over my head happy to have Dan in my life who supports me and my career goals to no end. I'm lucky to have parents who raised me to believe I can do anything I put my mind to, and a brother who continues to amaze us each day with his accomplishments and plans for an early retirement.

I'm extra lucky to have plans this evening with mom, dad, Bailey and Dan for home-cooked lasagna... which, let's be honest, it'll look something like this:

I'm happy with the changes in my life and have a smile on my face about how much responsibility has fallen into my lap.

This Throwback Thursday is brought to you by the surprise, excitement and growth that takes place when your world turns upside down!

^ Mom & MattMan ^

<3 JE

Time to Move...the Boyfriend

Thoughts on moving.... My boyfriend!

There are SO many things to prep for with Dan moving to SE with me that I don't want to even begin thinking about it. We have set deadlines for when everything needs to be done by, when the U-Haul needs to be picked up, how many boxes of clothes we can fit between our two cars in the meantime and what could really just be donated to someone who really needs it.

I am of the opinion that we should move everything across town then we could have a day together of going through clothing and '"stuff" with the goal of setting aside at least 30% of workout tees alone and donating them...or making a kick ass quilt out of the worn down fabrics! I know I need it for the rest of my wardrobe / closet space and I haven't forgotten you, Brooke!

There's so much more than just moving logistics. Like boosting the cable so that we go from the 13 channels I currently have to the "holy *%#^ TV package" Dan is used to which he only uses for ESPN & the Golf Channel. We have keys, alarm and emergency contacts all sorted out, but the important things like what time the Woodstock liquor store is open, where I keep my Bi-Mart membership to check the Tuesday member #'s and how to take out the trash every week have still gone undiscussed.

I am thrilled for the opportunity to show my guy the joys of the East side of PDX and what he will be enjoying with a little change of scenery. I would be happy if he can just adjust to the added commute, lack of a guaranteed lunch location and certain stress that can come from the traffic flow. Anything above that like verbalizing how much he likes the house or even inviting friends over would be the ultimate cherry on top.

With that, we are officially going to begin the commute together ...hello carpool parking permit... on Monday, January 7th!

And score! While writing this he asked me when we are going back to Saburo's. #happy&drooling

<3 JE