I'm Back

Hello, everyone, I'm back from a long blogging hiatus.

First off, why did I go on a hiatus? Blogging became a chore for me overtime instead of an outlet I enjoyed. But I've taken time to rethink what blogging means to me and I came to the conclusion that it is not about making silly posts I think I'm supposed to make because that's what "bloggers" do, but about living my life and sharing experiences with my readers. So what's happened in the 8 months I've been away? A lot.

Over the summer, I worked two jobs, a clumsy forgetful waitress at a rundown Irish restaurant and a chauffeur for a 15 year-old equestrian enthusiast. I now realize that I am never working in the restaurant industry again because of how many times I spilled beer on people. When I wasn't driving or waitressing, I was (kind of) working on my thesis. Actually, I spent most of my time lacing up my shoes and deciding I am a runner. And it paid off. I lost a lot of weight before coming back to school.

When I returned to school, I worked international orientation and have to say that was a wonderful decision. I gained a wonderful group of friends and it changed my view of Washington College entirely. I became more confident and outgoing and I'm proud of that. My senior year became exactly what I wanted college to be. With my friends I travelled to New York, Philadelphia, and explored as much of Maryland as possible.

Even though I was having fun with new friends, I was battling with the loss of a loved one and still am. My grandfather, Jesse Maness, was diagnosed with Melanoma in February 2013. I was home almost every weekend after coming back from Ireland because of the reverse culture shock and my need to spend time with my grandfather. I felt closer than I ever had to him. I listened to his stories and recorded his voice. I took photos and I enjoyed his presence. And on September 12, 2013 I was there with him when he passed. Not a day goes by where I don't think about this amazing, hard-working, caring man. He is truly loved and missed.

I brought my grades up my last semester, but had to drop my thesis due to the 5 course work load I thought would help me graduate early. Now I'm done with classes, but working on my thesis when I can in between Interning at the Global Education Office and working at the MPC. With the free time I have, I'm working on planning my wedding and focusing on my fitness (like I neglected last semester.)

That's where I've been and here I am now. I'm ready to share my honest life here any way I can.