2012, A Year To Remember

This morning when I went on Facebook, it gave me the option to see my 2012 in review. Naturally, I clicked it to see what it would say, and the following items were what I was shown:

• The photo album I posted after last year's SnowGlobe Music Festival (NYE in South Lake Tahoe)
• The day that Steven and I became Facebook friends after we met at said NYE festival
• My birthday on February 26 when many beloved friends of mine wished me well
• When I started working at the Disney/ABC Television Group in March
• A glorious trip to Vegas that I took with some of my closest to see Bassnectar and celebrate my birthday, my birthday twin's birthday, and our Papa Bear's birthday
• The end of the job I started at DATG in March, and the start of a new position there
• Photos and video from Coachella with the Famaree
• Photos from the utterly life-changing Lightning in a Bottle experience that I shared with some of my favorites, new and old
• Photos from my fifth and last EDC in Las Vegas
• A funny "Brotip" that I shared that states, "Ladies, guys are sick of hearing you ask where all of the "nice guys" are. They're in the friend zone, where you left them." (So true, by the way.)
• The end of my other job at DATG
• Posts about this year's SnowGlobe Music Festival
• The making of Steven and my relationship "Facebook Official," and it's end
• And the assortment of friends I've added, and pages I've liked

Overall, looking at the year 2012, I see so many good times, with so many dear friends. I am so blessed by the experiences that I've had and the people that I know and have met. I need to remember to say thank you to my Lord far more often than I do. 

Now, because I tend to view things from multiple points of view, I see the amazing life that I have lived and been given and am thankful for it, but at the same time, I see an array of experiences I've had before. 

I love music festivals and music, but do I want all my years to consist of just that? No. While they bring to me a new love for life and remind me that there are peaceful people out there like myself, I know that I want more than just that. With the exception of my jobs and having a boyfriend, Facebook could only find music festivals or raves to show me as highlights of my year. I want more! 

So it is with great joy, overflowing joy, that I tell you that I have finally acquired the final pieces of the puzzle that I needed in order to go to Spain and return to my European life! (Which is even better news, because as I was searching for alternative job options in case I couldn't go to Spain, I realized that none will work for my wild spirit and I just yet.) I am overjoyed and cannot wait to return to the life I have felt pulled to for years. I couldn't be happier, and I haven't felt so right about something in quite a while. Praise be to God! 

Today's Thoughts: I can't wait to see what my "year in review" for 2013 will look like! I have a feeling it's going to be a year I am incredibly proud of. God's plans for us are so much greater than our own. We will never understand His timing, but we must trust it, and not worry, because in the end, everything works out, and if it doesn't, it's not the end. 

Lightning in a Bottle

This weekend I was blessed with one of the most amazing experiences of my life -- I went to the Lightning in a Bottle Festival. It is a music, yoga, art, and meditation festival that focuses on sustainability and celebrating life. I was there from Friday afternoon till Monday afternoon, camped outside for the first time in my life, didn't shower for almost four days, and have never had a better time. I've never been so dirty and so happy before.

Living there for those days I experienced the most incredible culture. Every person that I came into contact with was positive, loving, giving, and wonderful. Any randomly yelled out response that was given in response to the randomness that came from my heart being so overwhelmed with love, joy, and peace, was one of reciprocated love. A mass amount of people taking life back to a simpler and more blessed way. Trading and bartering in place of buying, and each person contributing what they could and had to the group.

We were far beyond blessed with the family that we established. Among us there were artists and lovers of every sort -- face painters, air brushers, singers, guitarists, rhinestone-ers, lollipop makers, dancers and lovers. I went into the weekend knowing two people in the area in which we camped, and ended up becoming part of the most incredible group we could have found. Beautiful people with beautiful hearts. 

  The beautiful Jordan geming the lovely Jo

 Kate the Great transforming into Ganesha

 Words cannot express my love for Jeremy

 Daniel, the amazing airbrusher

 Anthony and Daniel's tag-team work is outstanding

 Creeping on Chris while he's asleep

  Still held up after sleeping on it!

 Jo made a perfect canvas 

 Mel becoming the hot-bot

 Our neighborhood <3 

We created a world within the one that we all generally live in. There were no rules other than to love and be loved, and no one was there to judge or be judged. Each person was welcome to express themselves however they desired, and were loved and embraced all the more for it. It was truly amazing to know that outside of the Canyon walls was the rest of the world, living unaware of the one we'd created for ourselves. I salute The Do Lab for their amazing work, and will anxiously await the day I can buy my 2013 ticket. 

Today's Quote: "Of course it's happening inside your head [Harry], but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?" -HP & The Deathly Hallows, Pt. 2

DISGUSTED.

Ok, this is not going to be the nicest entry that I have ever written, but I am all about the honesty here, and that's what you're going to get!

I have been in a really great mood all day, and all week for that matter. I think that knowing that Lightning in a Bottle is this weekend, and that I get to spend it with two of my favorite people in the world, and then see my boo thing to cap off the long weekend, in combination with the fact I have been listening to Christian music all week, has really kept my spirits high and soaring. I've been smiling a lot, work has been going so well, and I feel as though my life is moving in a positive direction.

But then, I got off work and went to my apartment. I needed to take some measurements so I know what size rugs, curtains, and etc I am going to need, and after taking all the necessary measurements, I also took a better look at the place. What I realized... it was FILTHY. And that's after I went there on and swiffered and scrubbed it down. I don't think it had had a professional cleaning since God knows when, which I'd say should absolutely happen in between tenants. I realize it is standard for the former tenant to clean the place before the new one moves in, but to leave goopy stuff in one of the closets, dust and grime all over the counters, sink, tub, and floor, a Q-Tip in the restroom, AND FRESHLY SHAVED HAIR ALL OVER THE BATHROOM FLOOR!?!?!?! ARE YOU KIDDING!?

Maybe it's just because I am a total neat-freak and do not shave over a sink and leave it all over the place (especially if I'm moving out and someone new is moving in), but that is SO DISGUSTING. So many people have completely forgone their ability to be considerate to others, and it is such a disappointment. So now, on Tuesday when I was planning to start taking over my things and my feelings were revolving between excitement, joy, and happiness about making a new home, I will instead be on my hands and knees scrubbing the hell out of my soon-to-be-place, that in the current hour, I hate. I will take photos and post them before I clean it just so you can see what I'm talking about.

There you have it. One more story from the moving diaries. Many more to come!

Today's Thought: Fact: Treat others how you want to be treated.

Not saying that I hope that Alexis' (as I found out from an old bill in the mail) new apartment was covered in some guy's facial hair, but if it was, I wouldn't be the last to say, "Karma's a ...................!"