So it’s late August here in Columbus and as I took Peeing Dog out for potty break #2,923 of the night, I felt a little chill run up my arms. Yep, I smell fall. The temperature has gone down to 50 sometime degrees and you can smell the change in the air. I love fall, but where did my summer go? I think I spent about 3 afternoons laying out by the pool. I’m not exactly a sun goddess, but I barely remember spending any time outside.  

Long gone are the summers with meaningless jobs that you called off without caring every now and again to do something stupidly fun with your friends. The summers where you just bide your time doing nothing until the next school year starts. Every summer that Boyfriend and I have been together (6 and counting!), we have gone somewhere and done something. One summer we drove from Phoenix, AZ to Buffalo, NY. Another summer I bought us tickets back to Phoenix for Boyfriend’s graduation present to visit friends. Last summer he took me to New York City for my graduation present.  Other summers in between we went camping for long weekends. This summer there was no such trip. I’m sad because I really loved that unplanned tradition of ours. This summer was filled with weekend out of town weddings- not exactly blissful vacation material. Now that I think about it- I barely noticed that it was summer and now September is right around the corner. 

But as of today, I’m done looking back. I’m looking forward and I’m seeing FALL! I always loved the fall and starting a new year in college. Moving into the new apartment and trying to make the shit hole into some awesome place to live. (It never worked.) But it didn’t matter- it was new and therefore wonderful and perfect. This is a NEW fall! We will pay our last month of rent in my last (hopefully) crap hole apartment and finally move into our new house! (I got the official “it’s ok to call it ‘our house’ stamp of approval today.) I feel similar to how I felt when I moved into my freshman dorm going to college- completely terrified for this stage of my life to begin but excited about new changes and challenges.  

Other things I love about Fall-

• Buckeye Football!!! 
• Amazing clothes and coats
• Fall TV premieres
• Puppy Season (still working on dog #2. Boyfriend fell in love with a Shmorkie- Yorkie, Shitzou mix- but told me we could only get another dog if I’m willing to trade in Peeing Dog… but at least it wasn’t a direct NO, right? I think I’m wearing him down)
• the perfect weather
• Beautiful colors all around
• Thanksgiving
• Apple Cider

 What is something you’re really looking forward to this fall? 

It’s a Friday. I was up very late perusing more houses last night. We have narrowed it down to 2 great options and plan on looking at 5-6 more and then making a decision. It’s been a pretty easy process since boyfriend and I have basically agreed on everything. Crazy, I know! But we will have a definite decision next week! The houses we have picked out are awesome and I can’t wait! (When we make the final decision I’ll post some pics!)

I am slammed at work and have no time to stop. However I have gotten a TON accomplished and I feel very proud of that.

Tomorrow it’s hopping into the car for a trip to Toledo for another wedding. We’re leaving peeing dog with a friend and probably staying the night. Should be a really fun wedding because my friend is a little crazy and I love it. The drinks will be flowing! And who knows… maybe I’ll catch another bouquet. hahaha. (Boyfriend might not let me move into the new house if that happens though…)

Now I challenge you my sarcastic, lovely, blogger buddies. Leave your best moment of the week… could be something funny that happened to you (or someone else!), could be something that you achieved, anything you want. Here’s your chance to gloat- guilt free. No humble pie here. Let it loose and tell me something good! Bonus points for anyone who makes me laugh. (Speaking of- this cat picture is cracking me up at the moment.)

Afterwards… go have a fantastic weekend.

This week has been extremely productive. I got a ton of things crossed off a very extensive list at work. I feel like I took some great strides in learning to not second guess myself. Some of this second guessing is really messing with my head. It starts me make me feel incompetent and incapable. But then I have days like the last 3 where I learn, I grow, and I get shit done and I did it all without needing a lecture. I needed some self realization minus the condescension that usually surrounds me. It was like a nice confirmation that I don’t suck entirely at my job and I got it all on my own. Thanks for all the kind comments on getting me through the rough times! Those help more than you can know!

Boyfriend and I are in the full throws of house hunting. We were out til 5-8ish on Tuesday night and now we’re going out again tomorrow. We saw 5 houses and hopefully will see 6-7 tomorrow. It’s tiring! But we do have 2 great prospects that I’m very excited about. There were 2 houses that I fell in love with and there are a couple tomorrow that I think will be awesome. The biggest problem right now is the drive. All the houses that are decent and in our price range are quite the drive from work. 40+ minutes. But for the house we might buy… it could be worth it. 

On a gross note, the door to the closet that houses our cat’s litter box got shut! Neither boyfriend nor I has any recollection of this happening. I don’t use the second bedroom for anything and therefore never go in there, but boyfriend swears he did not shut it. But anyway- we both noticed a nasty smell permeating our apartment and finally found the cause… poor cat had no where to relieve himself and took a large poop and multiple pees around the second bedroom. EWWWWW!!! Needless to say our windows are open and the Febreeze is sprayed liberally. 

On top of this crazy stuff going on, I was chasing peeing dog this morning after she peed on the carpet and I took a bit of a nose dive trying to grab her. In doing so, I think I pulled something in my glute muscle. I could barely pick myself up off the floor and hobbled around the office all day. It’s extremely painful. I tried stretching it but just can’t seem to loosen it up. No good. Hobbling around 6 houses tomorrow is going to be rough. 

We need to get out of this apartment. My apologies to the future owners… I do hope they get you some new carpet. Apartment owners can keep the $99 security deposit!! 

Sorry for a bit of a rant here! I’m very very tired and in quite a bit of pain. Peeing dog is a bitch! (But she’s sleeping so sweetly next to me and you would never know she’s the spawn of Satan.) 

Dear Ms. Catalysta,

You need to get your ass in gear. You’ve stopped running. You’re eating like crap. You read great posts by new bloggy friends and you feel so inspired and yet you don’t use it! What is your deal? There are things to be getting ready for like Sister’s wedding! Dresses to fit into and things to get you moving and yet you sit. 

Peeing dog wants you to take her for long walks. Your ass is begging you to stop eating that cookie. You aren’t a big girl but you know those clothes aren’t looking as good as they could and you’re lucky that obesity doesn’t run in your family otherwise you’d be in trouble. 

But it’s not just the diet and exercise routine that’s slacking. You’re letting stupid things get the better of you and you’re definitely sweating the small stuff. For your own mental well being you need to let it go. Breathe in, breathe out and release the bullshit that’s crowding your life. Maybe you need to find another good yoga studio? And actually start doing that Zumba class you talked about.

You’re also getting sloppy. Some of your work is better than ever, while other stuff is lacking. You need to step it up. Step up your game. Stop complaining and start doing. Sadly, no one else is going to notice any of the crap or problems until it’s already changed and you should have learned by now that no one else is going to change it for you. No one else is going to take your side until you give them a reason to. You need to take active steps to change it. 

So how can we strike a deal? How can your mind overcome the nonsense and the laziness? What will finally be the breaking point? I think when you go home for Sister’s bridal shower this weekend, you should step on the scale, and face the harsh reality. Then when you get back to Columbus, you should start getting up 15 minutes earlier and start getting to work earlier- and by earlier I mean ON time. Then start working harder. Be smarter, be faster, try harder. 

That’s all. You know you can do it. You want it badly enough so let’s make something happen. 

Now that you’ve had your fill of cliches for the night, I think you need to go to bed early and think about the changes you need to make.

Thanks for hearing me out,
Meg’s Mind

PS Please post all motivational tidbits you’d like to offer in the form of comments. Anything and everything is appreciated. I need it all! Thanks! 

I seem to live in a state of constant opposition. I usually chalk it up to curse of the twenty something and our selfish Gen Y motto of “i want it… i want it right the hell now… and i want it with a bow on it… and with free WiFi.” So I’m constantly feeling pulled in many directions. Here is a conflicting list that runs through my head on a nearly daily basis-

1a. I want to move to NYC and get some 8 story walk up efficiency crap hole, with my dog, my Jimmy Choos, a fantastic agency job, walking to work amongst my fellow city-mates. Be totally career driven and maybe find a boyfriend but date casually, get married when I’m 30. 
1b. I want a big house, decorated with a modern, fun feel. I want to get married at 25 and travel a lot. I want a stable life with lots of room. Maybe start a family in my early 30′s. Be financially comfortable and have everything I need without any major complications. 

2a. I want a big white wedding. 200+ people, big white dress, impeccable makeup and hair. Every eye on me as I walk down the aisle with a bouquet of glittering flowers. 9 bridesmaids and my dog as ring bearer. 
2b. I want to run away with closest friends and family to somewhere wildly romantic. Still want the white dress, but get married on a mountaintop overlooking some amazing old beautiful countryside. Then maybe throw a party when we get home for everyone else who couldn’t be there.

3a. I want to be wildly successful corporate something or other. Whether that means a creative director or CEO or producer. I want to run a company and everyone to love me as their boss and get to travel on an amazing expense account.
3b. I want to be a writer and work from home. I would love to be a novelist or screenwriter. Be able to make a fantastic living and be a stay at home mom at the same time.
3c. I want to live in NYC and be a famous Broadway actress. Bust my ass knocking down every damn door until I’m the next Elphaba in Wicked. (I know I know… but it’s my dream so lay off!)
3d. I want to join Habitat for Humanity or the Peace Corps and help others that are less fortunate in countries that are torn apart by war, poverty and disease. I want to help and make a real difference in the world and lives of others.

Being that all of these things- where I want to live, what I want to do, and basically what I want out of  life- define who I am or possibly might be… I feel that having my multiple personalities in these particular areas could possibly be setting me up for failure or at least some major disappointment. I just don’t know what would make me happiest sometimes. I feel like I could choose any combination of these and do well for myself, but I don’t know if I’d achieve my ultimate potential or my ultimate happiness. 

I don’t know. Maybe I’m just having another quarter life crisis. I feel that I’m the happiest I’ve ever been right now, so I know that’s not a problem. Just a little scattered I guess. What do you think?