Inspiration

After much consideration, I have been inspired to start blogging. A few of my friends have been blogging for some time, and I really think it's a great digital journal of sorts. So I think I'll start with a little personal history. I was born in South Carolina (I still think it's the greatest state in the country), but raised a little bit all over the South (Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina). I am the eldest of 5 children (two girls and three boys), so you'll probably notice a bit of an assertive/bossy tone in my posts. I tend to forget I'm not every body's big sister. I am born and bred LDS (an important fact as I feel it has most everything to do with my opinions and views), and yes, I did spend an abysmal couple of years in Utah (not for me, I am a Southern girl). I most recently moved to Birmingham, Alabama via Dana Point, California. And for those of you who believe the South is the South, I assure that is simply not true.

I am always surprised at the dialect differences in each state's accents and by the colloquial differences. For example, here in Alabama people actually say "on yesterday" and "on tomorrow;" I laugh almost every time (luckily I have learned to laugh on the inside after many odd looks from the speakers). I am not talking about uneducated people either...some of the women I have heard use this have been quite eloquent and polished...they just use a preposition incorrectly every now and then because it's an acceptable way of speech.

Now, don't get me wrong, I really love it here. I was surprised by that. But it's only 4 hours from G-Vegas (that's Greenville, SC for those unaware), and there are some really great things to do here. Those who know me well know that karaoke and I are life-long friends, and the most exciting thing about the Ham is Starz. It is a 7-day a week karaoke bar!! SEVEN DAYS A WEEK!! I can karaoke any time I want to, and it's less than half a mile from my house!! I don't have to wait till karaoke night at my local bar any longer; this just might entice me to stay here forever!! I have also made some amazing friends here. And they have introduced me to such amazing city-wide things like the Sidewalk Film Festival, Artwalk, some really great music venues (Workplay and Bottle Tree), and local independent restaurants that you could never compare to anything else.

So now my nomadic spirit is in a state of flux. I have moved at least every 2-3 years since I graduated from high school. I am now extremely close to being in my mid-30's (yes, it is unbelievable) and wondering if I'll move again. I am coming up on my 2-year mark in the Ham, and my wanderlust has begun to stir. I am conflicted, though. I really do love it here. I feel at home here, and I am close enough to my real home to visit for the weekend any time I want to. So I am torn as to the future. Move or stay? I don't really have further career aspirations except to not have to work ever again, and that isn't happening any time soon (or ever, I'm sure). So we shall see if I can actually make it somewhere longer than my current 3-year record. I may actually be in a position to purchase real estate...that's crazy!!