long overdue

Ok, 9 out of 10 friends would say that I a new blog is long overdue. (And the 10th one apparently doesn't realize that I HAVE a blog and that's the only reason that they don't think so.) And I would have to agree with them. Really? 4 months? Really? And these have probably been some of the most important months that I've had in many, many years! Seriously, Heather. WHAT have you been thinking?

Well, mostly I've just been busy! Busy doing what, you ask? Well, a large chunk of time has been spent driving back and forth from Brandon to hang out with my fabulous boyfriend, Ben. He's wonderful. We've been dating for a little over 3 months now. We met swing dancing back in May. (About a week before my last post, actually) Did I mention that he's wonderful? If you would like more information, you know where to find me. I've also been told that I needed to attach some pictures. So, I am attaching some pictures!

Our first Date (skirt courtesy of Patty Tidwell)

"Don't try this at home, folks"


From last weekend

And, in other news, I finally have a new computer. And yes, it is a Macbook, which means that it actually works. (Unlike my Dell, which no longer knows that it has a hard drive and took all of it's information to the grave with it.) This means that I should be able to post a bit more often!

This just in! Breaking news! (Did that sound exciting?) I also have a new job. I am now the receptionist at Trinity Presbyterian Church! Which means that I should probably get back to work.

love, love isn't always love the way that we mean...

Do you ever have those days when you can't stop thinking about something, even though you know that you really shouldn't be thinking about it? I've been like that a few weeks now. It always happens with me. I go to a friend's wedding and for weeks after I keep thinking about what my wedding will be like or if I will ever get to have a wedding. This last time has been the most interesting. Last weekend I was listening to a new CD that I bought with one of my Christmas giftcards (it has been on my list of CDs to buy for a few months now!) and the last song came on and all of a sudden I had one of those strange moments where you can see yourself. I was dancing at my wedding. I've never had a song that I thought "Hey, I want them to play this at my wedding reception!" I've thought of songs for pretty much every part of the ceremony, but never for my first dance. It was actually quite humorous because I was driving to my parent's house in Orlando when I was listening to it and I put the song on repeat so that I could hear it again and I actually missed my exit to their house. I've driven that road MANY times, but apparently, I was so enthralled with the song that I drove right past it!

I should totally be in bed right now, but I heard the song again as I was driving home tonight and I just can't get it out of my head. In my head I'm waltzing (well, sort of waltzing...the song has a waltz rhythm.) with my faceless Mr. Darcy and for some reason I just needed to write about it. I've needed to write for a while, but I just haven't. This is as good a time as any, I suppose. So, that's where I am. Somewhere between reality and a song and a hope.

on second glance... (or has anyone seen september?)

(Listening to: "Keep Breathing", Ingrid Michaelson)

Have you ever looked up and thought that you saw someone that you recognized? Someone that you haven't seen in a very long time, but you're certain that you know. I have. The stranger part is that I realized that she was me. I looked up and saw the me that is usually hiding somewhere deep inside. Somehow she worked her way out. I don't know how she did it, but I'm glad that she did. I have felt more me in the past few weeks than I have in the past few years. I'm dancing again. I laugh a lot. I have no problem being my silly, crazy self. I'm still processing it all, but I know that this is a good thing. I let her sleep for too long.

And yes, you heard me right: I'm dancing again. I've been swing dancing for the last month after almost a 7 year hiatus. My friend, Tom, mentioned that he had been going dancing and invited a bunch of us to go. That was at the end of August and I've been going ever since. I even competed in a Jack and Jill (when they pair you up with random partners) Jitterbug Competition on Sunday night at the weekly dance. (Yes, I know...I assure you that this really is Heather writing this) As if that wasn't enough, the weekend of October 5th-7th, I'm going to the Swing Dance USA Convention in St. Petersburg. In fact, the only reason that I'm not dancing tonight is because I was supposed to have Community Group. Unfortunately, I am sick and couldn't even get up the energy to do that. I have already decided that I will be better by Thursday night so that I can go. (Yes, I go approx. 3 times a week...why don't you?) Hopefully that will be the case.

So, I guess that's where September has gone in part. All I know is that it's now fall and that makes me smile. All I need now is for the trees to change and for the leaves to fall so that I can go sit and read in a pile of leaves. I suppose that I will have to wait until the end of the month when I go up to Greenville for Homecoming/Reunion weekend. That's right! Look out GC, here I come! Until then I'll just have to pretend that it's sweater weather by playing my "autumn albums" and burning my candles.