About a year ago, my cute little Jeep Liberty started to poop out on me. I was super sad but I decided that part of my car ownership was going to have to be over. Everything about that car was just so... questionable!
I started to look at Carvana after seeing an ad on my social media feeds, just to get ideas of what I might be spending for a car, as I saved up some money quickly as possible. (Not going to lie, COVID helped because I was working the whole time and got that nice little $1200)
Normally, I would not consider taking out a loan to pay for a car, but when I considered how long this baby girl will probably last me, and the adventures I could take myself on versus having to always rely on friends. I felt it was kind of justified. Sometimes the freedom you get from something like this is worth more than the poor financial decisions (my "How to Money" podcast guys even agree, even if they'd never do this).
I did a LOT of research about different SUVs and Compact SUVs to make sure I bought a car with a good rating. Originally I really REALLY wanted to get a Jeep Wrangler sooo bad, but they are a bit out of the range I wanted to pay for a car I was going to get a loan out on. I asked people advice on what they recommend and then went from there. One of the most highly rated SUVs among my friends was the Toyota 4Runner (which are so good, but like the Jeep more than I wanted to spend). From there I began looking into compact/small SUVs and found the Rav4. I researched years and other cars like it, and prices, and reviews, and ratings. Eventually deciding that it was the car I was going to get. Wanting something on the newer side the 2019 and 2020 had some upgrades that made it more appealing to me over 2015-2017 ages (I wanted something at least 2015).
I saw a 2018 at the local used car shop and tried to get a look at it, but by the time I was able to contact them, they were already about to sell it. So I looked again on Carvana.com to see what they had in stock! Saw the Rav4 XLE style at a great price so I knew I had to swoop in and start the buying process before I missed out on another great car!
It was so something I never expected to do in my life... but super convenient and easy! At first I was a little weirded out by the idea, and read a few poor reviews (mostly from people who paid in full). I have nothing but positive things to say about Carvana!
1) Choosing a car: You get to narrow down cars based on a ton of various criteria to match you needs and desires. Then you can make an account and save "favorites" to be able to look through later. Once you see one you just love at a price you're willing to pay you can start the next step.
2) Financing: You can choose three ways to pay for your car. Either you can pay for it in full, finance through Carvana, or finance through another company. I decided to go through them. They got my personal information and would put in the browsing process what my monthly payments would be and what kind of downpayment they would expect. It really helps with figuring out what you can afford! Very smooth and pleasant.
3) Once you start the buying process they give an option for Carvana Care (an extended warranty they offer). I opted out. It would be excellent for older vehicles, but since mine is so new, it seemed... maybe not quite pointless, but not totally necessary. They took my bank information to confirm my credit. And to have on file for when I confirmed the purchase, they could get my downpayment. They make you do a verbal confirmation of the purchase. Probably to verify identity and honestly a great way to combat drunk car ordering! (that's a joke).
4) After confirming I wanted to buy a car it was only a couple business days later until they took the downpayment and let me know they did the final check and just needed to find a driver. It is beyond cool that they give you an option to pick up from a Carvana vending machine or have it delivered to you. The nearest Vending Machine to where I live is in AZ and with my work schedule, and covid, and the fact that it was actually cheaper for me to have it delivered.. I chose delivery. (Delivery was only $399, which not bad at all since I'm in the middle of nowhere!) Once a driver was assigned I got a text from Carvana letting me know an approximate day. Then four days before I was expecting my delivery, I got a text from the driver saying he was on his way! Every step of the process was quick considering what the bad reviews said, and considering I thought COVID would slow down the process significantly (they even have warning on their website that because of covid it might be slower than usual). Maybe it seemed fast because my low expectations?!
5) They have a 7-Day test drive period, so if you don't like your car or see something else you like instead you can return and swap! Which is cool. Since it's online car buying it's awesome that they understand that people might change their minds and they don't want to stick you with something you don't love 1000%!
6) There is no penalty for paying off the loan early! This was a HUGE plus for me, because I wanted to pay it off quickly as possible, and I learned in my research that a lot of times, car loans will have something in them saying how they will charge you a penalty for paying it off early.
7) Customer service was AWESOME! They kept me informed every new step of the way, and my driver text me to let me know when he was an hour out. Then called me to let me know he was ten minutes away. There wasn't anything along the way that left me with more questions after talking to the customer service person, but they never let me go without making sure all my questions were answered.
8) They email you the temporary plates to print off, and will be fedexing the paperwork for the permanent plates once my 7-days is about up, that gets filled out and fedexed to have everything regarding registering taken care of four me.
9) The costs are laid out pretty plain a simple. No hidden fees. You know exactly what you're going to pay.
100% would use Carvana again!
I can't think of anything else I want to say but if you have any additional questions just leave a comment or message me. :) I hope this helps others who are in the market for new car open up the options to Carvana "The new way to buy a car" ;)
Thanks for reading!
(Note: 0% paid by the company to write this super positive review, and 100% just a satisfied customer who wanted to give an honest review to anyone else who might be going into this a little weirded out that you can order a car online)
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Friday, November 4, 2016
The Ring
So this post starts off with a sentence I found online on some super cool list of writing prompts. I could have told more story on this one. Significantly more story to be told, but it's like dark now, so my body feels like it's 10pm and really tired despite not even being 7pm, yet. Had to cut short by a lot. and not edit anything.. Zzzz. Perhaps I will revisit this, then again.. maybe not?! only time will tell. Saved in Word though, so I can.
She touched the little box in her pocket, and smiled…
It was a reminder to her that no matter what happened,
everything was going to be totally okay. In that box was a little family
heirloom. A ring. Her mother had given it to her three days ago, after her
grandma died. Along came a story of traveling, hardships, the greatest moments
of someone’s life, and a history that now sat in Samantha’s pocket.
Sam’s mom’s name was Heather, grandma’s name was Emilia, and
she got the ring from her grandmother, Lenora.
Lenora came to own the ring after a boyfriend of hers (who
later came to be her husband) brought it from Italy. He grew up in Italy, his
name was Monte. Monte bought this ring when he was only 14 years old, he had
intended it to go to a girl in his town Ginna. He was in love with her since
they were only five years old. They lived as neighbors, and grew up strong
together. Everyone thought they were destined to marry one day. And Monte was
prepared to make her his wife. Then one afternoon while the two were walking
through the outskirts of town, talking and planning their life together they
met an old woman. As the story got passed down with the ring, she is told to
have been a witch.
Monte and Ginna talked with this woman for hours and hours,
and before they left she yelled to them both “You two will not be married, you
two are not meant to be together, you will see!!”
Ginna laughed it off “crazy old woman, she probably wants
you for herself, but as handsome as you are, as kind, as lovely as you are, I
really do not blame her. I want to marry you Monte, I’m sure my father approves
of you!” (Samantha always rolls her eyes
at the old tradition of asking one’s father for approval to marry his
daughter).
Monte hugged Ginna tightly and said “If I could have things
my way, I would never let you go…I love you Ginna.” (Sam always thought these
were bold words for such young lovers, only to be reminded that it was
different back then)
Two days later, Ginna was working on her chores with her
siblings and suffered a terrible accident. She did not live to marry the love
of her entire life. Poor Monte could not take the suffering of staying in his
home. He kissed his Mama and Papa goodbye, promised to write them… and left.
Taking the ring he had just purchased. And he was off.
Monte walked north, not knowing where he was going to end
up. Stopping as needed in order to work odd jobs. He told his story of lost
love to everyone he came across on the way. One woman, feeling empathy for him,
as she had just lost her husband, and children she had none, gave the young man
one of her horses. He tried to deny the gift, but she insisted. “I have just me
and too many horses to care for all alone. I will be leaving soon as I hear
word from my family, please, or they will meet a most unfortunate fate!” So, he
took the kind gift, and continued north. Still unsure of where he was going.
He met many beautiful women along the way but it was not
until he reached Germany that he met someone he felt was as wonderful as Ginna.
He knew in his heart that it was finally time to move on. The only problem was
that he had spoke no German, and she no Italian. That, and she showed little or
no interest in him, at first. Her name was Lenora, and she was 12. Her blonde
hair sparkled in the sun, and her smile was beyond joyful.
Monte had began working with her father Johann. He was a
strong and hard working man, with three daughters and no sons. He spoke quickly
to Monte, and used many hand gestures to get understanding through despite then
language differences between the two. Monte had
started to pick up German after a few days of working with Johann.
There was only one problem, he was still not able to express
to Lenora how he felt. She was the sun after the endless rains. She made his
heart beat quicker. He felt only this way before, and that was with Ginna.
“tu sei il sole negli pioggia nuvole!” she has no clue what
he is saying, she points at the sky, at the sun
“Du bist die Sonne” he touches his chest “Due bist Herz” “Ich leibe
dich” and began to cry as he pulled out the ring.
Lenora began to understand a little better what was going
on, of course she still had no interest in him, but she started talking with
him more, and showing him around town when they had free time, showing him
around and teaching him the German language, and learning Italian from Monte.
Once or twice a week they would walk and learn how to talk with each other. The
love was growing in her.
Over a year, Monte had worked hard with Johann, had tried to
woo Lenora… but after a year felt he needed to move on. If Nora wasn’t going to
love him the way he loved her, he needed to know, and he needed to move forward
because he was getting old. It was in telling her he needed to move forward
that she said it. “Ich leibe dich” quietly she spoke.
He could not leave. He was kind, patient, and gentle with
her, and she had fallen in love. Once again he presented her with the ring, and
this time she took it.
The ring was passed on to their only child, a son, who had
given it to Emilia’s boyfriend when he had asked for Emilia’s hand in marriage.
That’s a love story for another time. Emilia wore the ring until her death.
Once it no longer fit her finger she had put it on a chain around her neck.
Samantha had been dating Kenneth for two and a half years
before her grandmother Emilia became ill. Her grandmother adored Kenneth and
pulled him aside at Christmas that first year of their relationship. “Should
you marry my granddaughter, can you please let me know so I may give you this
ring”
Three months after Emilia and Kenneth’s talk about the
ring, Ken and Sam broke up. Two weeks
later, Emilia had passed away. She wrapped the ring in a box with a note
attached :
To
my Dear Granddaughter, Samantha,
You
were always meant to have this ring. Shall you find light in the darkness. And
happiness when you least expect it. I love you dearly.
Samantha holds onto the ring, knowing that when she is meant
to wear it, she will know instantly. She hold on to the ring knowing there is
hope. She holds on to the ring with no bitterness. With very little sadness.
Because what this ring has seen is history. This ring has been around the
world. She smiles because as much beauty as the ring holds, the stories and the
people who have touched it are far greater in beauty. And she smiles because
she knows her own fairytale awaits.
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Oh The weather outside is weather!
1. Outside the Window: What’s the weather outside your window doing right now? If that’s not inspiring, what’s the weather like somewhere you wish you could be?
I live in Gunnison, Colorado. One of the coldest places in the lower 48!! I must admit, as a pedestrian year round, I do sometimes feel like I could stand to live some place warmer, or occasionally feel motivated to get my license and a car in a near future point in time. Despite that, though, I would not live anywhere else... or at least right now this is a great place for me to be able to do what I want and need to do in order to grow as an individual adult!
The weather so far for the month of November has been quite... warm? A little rainy, maybe? It is currently dark, and when I went outside an hour or two ago to collect my laundry from the laundry room it was clear and warm. Much better temperature wise than one might expect for this time of year in the middle of the mountains. I will not complain!
When I got to work this morning it was only 20F, and I whined a little about how cold I was to my snapchat followers/friends (aaskaja)... but in all honestly, after several years of living in this town, I ~know~ it will just be colder next month, and even colder in January! (Can anyone say "negative 20 or colder" ? eeeep!) I guess if it really bothered me that much I wouldn't have stayed here after school was over!
I wish it was snowing though! I adore the snow and honestly do not think I could live in a place that doesn't get any snow! It's just so pretty. I know a lot of people who are ready for the ski/snowboard season, but I do not even though either of those sports... YET! if we get a good season I will definitely have to try a go out in the snowy world. I bought a snowboard last season and need boots and a helmet for this season. I also would like to do some snowshoeing, sledding/tubing, maybe try cross country skiing... Just fucking DIVE into the snow culture! (which some of it I was part of, growing up in Wisconsin, but I haven't really done much of since I was a younger version of myself). Even though being cold sucks, I also want to do some ice fishing this winter! Like I said, dive into this winter wonderland.
Don't get me wrong, being warm, and not wet from the snow is pretty awesome... and I think I have survived so well because I have plenty of solo activities that are indoors, and keep me busy. I taught myself to crochet a few years ago, love love love movies, reading is stellar, and as I begin working out more I have plenty of videos to do at home (Honestly, prefer getting my workout on in my own home).
Between working more, and going out less due to not wanting to walk anywhere because it's too cold... I might actually save up some money this winter! I'm pretty interested in that. And between never wanting to leave my place and needing something to do, so working out more often... may I begin to look less like I'm constantly 4 month pregnant... that'd also be an okay thing. But there is only so much one can say about the current weather, and future weather, and weather in general before things just get super repetitive! So long! May the internet or friends provide much better writing prompts in the near future!
I live in Gunnison, Colorado. One of the coldest places in the lower 48!! I must admit, as a pedestrian year round, I do sometimes feel like I could stand to live some place warmer, or occasionally feel motivated to get my license and a car in a near future point in time. Despite that, though, I would not live anywhere else... or at least right now this is a great place for me to be able to do what I want and need to do in order to grow as an individual adult!
The weather so far for the month of November has been quite... warm? A little rainy, maybe? It is currently dark, and when I went outside an hour or two ago to collect my laundry from the laundry room it was clear and warm. Much better temperature wise than one might expect for this time of year in the middle of the mountains. I will not complain!
When I got to work this morning it was only 20F, and I whined a little about how cold I was to my snapchat followers/friends (aaskaja)... but in all honestly, after several years of living in this town, I ~know~ it will just be colder next month, and even colder in January! (Can anyone say "negative 20 or colder" ? eeeep!) I guess if it really bothered me that much I wouldn't have stayed here after school was over!
I wish it was snowing though! I adore the snow and honestly do not think I could live in a place that doesn't get any snow! It's just so pretty. I know a lot of people who are ready for the ski/snowboard season, but I do not even though either of those sports... YET! if we get a good season I will definitely have to try a go out in the snowy world. I bought a snowboard last season and need boots and a helmet for this season. I also would like to do some snowshoeing, sledding/tubing, maybe try cross country skiing... Just fucking DIVE into the snow culture! (which some of it I was part of, growing up in Wisconsin, but I haven't really done much of since I was a younger version of myself). Even though being cold sucks, I also want to do some ice fishing this winter! Like I said, dive into this winter wonderland.
Don't get me wrong, being warm, and not wet from the snow is pretty awesome... and I think I have survived so well because I have plenty of solo activities that are indoors, and keep me busy. I taught myself to crochet a few years ago, love love love movies, reading is stellar, and as I begin working out more I have plenty of videos to do at home (Honestly, prefer getting my workout on in my own home).
Between working more, and going out less due to not wanting to walk anywhere because it's too cold... I might actually save up some money this winter! I'm pretty interested in that. And between never wanting to leave my place and needing something to do, so working out more often... may I begin to look less like I'm constantly 4 month pregnant... that'd also be an okay thing. But there is only so much one can say about the current weather, and future weather, and weather in general before things just get super repetitive! So long! May the internet or friends provide much better writing prompts in the near future!
Life as of late. It's novel writing month!!
But I'm not going to write a novel.. just trying to write daily. Off to a bad start! I was going to put this post on WordPress, but it's not loading.. I guess it can go here. All my november stuff is going to go here because I think it could answer some questions about who I am as a 20-something about to be 30 in a couple years. Even if it's not quite the idea I had as I created this new "blog" idea... Anyway!!
National Writing
month
I admit, I am already a few days behind on the fact that it
is writing month. But since I have some time right now I am just going to free
write for a while.
Things have been pretty busy for me the last few months,
mostly the month of October, to be totally honest. I have been trying to get
into a good workout routine in the month of September which worked out for a
while and I think I was getting some good results. Then in the month of October
I helped build a haunted maze out of pallets with some pals who love Halloween,
because I’m just that good of a person or something. I must admit, I hadn’t
planned on helping at all but it felt good to be doing something worth my time
and always feels great to help folks achieve some goals. I even acted like a
weirdo in the very first room of the maze. I’m not too into acting but I had
given it a good run. Halloween season was definitely busy busy busy and quite
tiring to say the least. I officially quit drinking for a while!
And now we are into November, and it is that novel writing
month. I am not going to write a novel but I will try and write something on a
daily basis. I think the goal for a month is 15,000 words which divides down to
500 words per day. Since I am supposed to be on day three today, I guess I
should maybe write 1500 words to makeup for the missed days? (I might have made
up those numbers, to be honest, but it seems like a decent goal for someone who
never writes who is going from zero writing per day to trying to write at least
a little of something every single day?)
We find out who the next president of the united states will
be here pretty soon! I am so dang nervous about this. We have Hillary Clinton
vs Donald Trump, essentially. And so many people seem really serious about
voting in a sexist, racist, classist prick.. I really cannot deal with it! I
already voted so all I can do now is wait and see what happens on the election
date next week. The last couple years have been insane. I’m just so glad and
anxious about the ending of this crazy period of time. I feel like we are being
pranked, to be honest!! But that’s really all I am going to be getting into on
this. Nobody cares about my political opinions. Or facts. Or what is good for
the country. Or anything, it seems. *shrug*
I feel like so much
more has been going on in my life, and perhaps there has been a lot more going
on that I just kind of jumble all the things together into this very vague
entry about the months as of late?! And maybe over the next month of writing I
will reveal more about some specifics but right now I cannot come up with much.
I may grab a random writing prompt off the internet and write a second post
today. Keep real life separated from the writing prompts, but keep writing in
order to meet the daily word counts I had mentioned previously?! I do need to
think about going to bed soon but I have fallen victim to the post workday nap,
and not totally all that tired at the moment.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
20 seems so far away
Well folks,
I am 28 years old, today, and I started writing something in my word document about how my generation isn't ACTUALLY the worst but it was repetitive and messy. Then I got distracted by reading old blogs on here and reading through the last year of my twitter account before making it public again.
THEN I decided that maybe I should get back into blogging a little more again, because writing about what silly things going on in my life seems to make them weigh less on my mind? Or something along those lines. I thought of continuing in previous blogs I started, instead choosing to start fresh. Old blogs all over the internet are past Amanda, and different than who and what I am today. Today I am a lot closer to 30 than 20, and everything I wrote in a blog was from a time I was a lot closer to 20.
A little bit about me though? And what my 20's have been about?
I grew up in Wisconsin, and moved to Colorado when I was 21. I moved here for school 7 years ago, where I proceeded to get my precious degree in Environmental Studies (depressing as hell) and Psychology (to help keep me sort of sane?). School was really good to me, except the debt. I learned a lot and got to meet so many people from all over the world I would have never met if I never took a chance to step out of my comfort zone (I say that like Milwaukee was comfortable, but I kind of hated it to be honest). I joined the Program Council and got to put events together that will be remembered for years to come (SpringFest was the big one, free concert right on campus). I did a lot of good and interesting research as related to the environment. I got to know myself and how I interact with the world around me and my ethics, both from the environmental studies point of view, and in my psychology classes! That is certainly a LOT of getting to know yourself. I still do not know what I want to do with my life, besides be happy and see the world... and probably, that is an okay thing? I have thought a little bit on the side of high school guidance counselor. Since I took 3 years between high school and college, I think it's important kids know that it's perfectly OK to not know what you want to do with your life when you're 18, and it is OK to change your mind (mid life crisis definitely happens because society tries to push us into boxes we do not belong in). In my environmental studies major I had a help in planning the Spring Symposium which was a good time. (At this moment I do not really remember much of it, except how accomplished it made me feel at the end of the event). I inducted into Psi Chi (International Honor society for Psychology) while I was in school (I even have the little medal we wore at graduation hanging on my door knob of my bedroom, I wasn't going to buy it but someone over graduation weekend wanted me to have it, so made sure I did, my ex's parents?). I feel especially proud of that. My psychology GPA was a 3.8/3.9 through college, really boosted my overall GPA haha. Not that GPA matters in the real world, but if I someday decide to go to graduate school, it will help? School was busy, and expensive, but provides some sense of "wow, I started this, and kept going until I finished even though some days I didn't want to" plus, I learned how to make my degree matter in a world where it currently doesn't. (The time commitment thing...).
I have also been working with City Market for the last four years. I started as a bagger, then moved to checker, fuel center clerk, pharmacy, and now I do bookkeeping with a bit of service counter. It is a decent job to have right now, in the town I live in. Even when I feel under appreciated at times. I cannot really complain all that much. I am able to pay for my roof, bills, and do fun things. And I have learned valuable skills there, even teaching myself and working on being a bit more outgoing.
When I first moved here I was dating a guy who was living in Wisconsin while I went to school in Colorado. We broke up my sophomore year of college, but then ended up getting back together over winter break. Maybe against both of our better judgement. He moved out to Colorado after I told him not to because he would hate living in Gunnison (I was right, but he made the best of it, and started attending college eventually). We lived together and dated for a couple more years (even spending about a year as an engaged couple). But things did not work out, as they sometimes do. I would like to think that somewhere in both our hearts and heads we both knew that maybe it was not going to last, but we tried. We gave it a try because we wanted to be together. It happens. I think at the very least, we can talk to each other when we see each other out and about and only be a little bit upset that it did not work out. I almost sent him a picture the other day of dog treats flavored and kind of packaged like human snacks, he'd probably laugh? I think... in some sense of the word... we are friends? Or at least friendly enough.
Since he was started school while I was still in school, but wasn't going to be done for a while, I applied to and got into the Masters of environmental Management program. I couldn't afford it even with financial aid though, so I stepped out. It was an okay decision I think. I would be done by now though if I had kept with it despite the financial trouble. More debt for a program that was just starting up was too much of a risk for me though. I think sometimes about going back and trying that out again... but I am way more passionate about future generations and helping them learn how they can help the world than I am about what I can do as an individual. As an individual, I am most useful, I think, inspiring the young.
It has been about 2 years since we have broken up. For a while I was still living in his apartment. Then I moved out, being officially on my own for the first time ever in my life since October 2014. I did not mean to get a cat. I really wanted to raise plants and just take care of myself for a while. But my friend and I went to the pet adoption place and I fell in love with a fluffy purr monster who later turns out to be kind of a dick (he is actually sitting in the window a few feet away from me, pretending I don't exist right now!) I currently live with one of my best friends. It is a magical arrangement. Laura is funny and I love her to pieces. We keep to ourselves mostly, but also sometimes hang out together. She keeps me sane, and if her and I just moved from place to place together growing old and people assuming we are a lesbian couple until one of us dies, I'd be okay with that, probably. ;)
In December 2014 I met a guy, who upon first sight, I felt was going to be a really important person in my life. So... I introduced myself to him. (He was drunk and doesn't remember meeting me the first time, haha). He was important, just not in the way I (we?) had hoped for. I actually found out the second time we hung out that he was allergic to cats and we stopped talking to each other until April 2015 when our lives got chaotic at the same time. Which really, should have been a huge red flag to not go there, but in the approximate year that we talked I guess we really both learned a lot about ourselves. And perhaps that was the way he was supposed to be important in my life. He is cool, I like him a lot... and probably after some space between us, we will be friends again. And hopefully not just because "it's a small town, you kind of need to." He is a story that would make up a chapter or two in a book, should I ever decide to write a book about (or based on) my life. Which is why I bring him up, now. My good friends don't like him, but I will defend him and stop my friends from doing crazy things to the best of my ability (and not just because "um who else would be behind this?"). He's an alright person.
I have spent the summer just trying to be happy with who I am and what I am doing, it has been a pretty decent summer despite some of the drama. I took a little trip to Milwaukee because some folks were trying to get together for a road trip in a school bus to Chicago. I got invited along well before it was even something they knew for sure they were going to do (nice to be thought of, since I came from the area). I had no intention of going back to the midwest this summer so it kind of threw some plans to go elsewhere on the back burner. It was a good trip, I got to see my grandma Skaja one more time before she passed away. That was honestly the most important part of my trip. (ON August 7th I found out she passed away in the night. I thanked the man who helped me get to Milwaukee for giving me a change to see her again). That was the biggest thing to happen to me all summer. She was a great woman who always had great stories to tell, she will be deeply missed.
I did a lot of outdoor activities this summer with plenty of hiking, walking, sitting by the river reading, going to the lake, trips out of town.. it was over all a great summer. Just making great (and lets face it, a couple not so great) memories with people I care about. I even got to write some letters to a friend of mine who has been in Alaska all summer long. I love writing letters (even if I get none back, ha ha). Definitely tried to just focus on myself this summer and not take things too seriously (which is hard to do sometimes). I even bought a fishing license and a fishing pole this summer. The first try was kind of and interesting time, but luckily Nicole and I had some people around to help us out with it.
We are mostly caught up to where I am right now. About 2 weeks ago I deactivated my facebook (which for spreading this blog around purpose I might reactivate for a few days), stopped drinking, started working out and I ran a few times in the last couple weeks. Part in avoidance, part to save money, part to just feel better in my skin... It's an interesting adventure. My apartment got so clean the other day and I have done so much dang reading. (I am on Goodreads app). Running is awful... but it's way less awful than being to hungover to do anything for an entire day. And the money I haven't spend at the bars the last couple weeks has gone to debt. Neat...
Last summer my mom and brother both came out and saw me (separately) which was really fun both times. My brother's trip was more special because he had never been out here and he came out here for spending his TWENTY-FIRST birthday with ME! It's so heart warming that even after growing up with his friends and his teammates and being the youngin' in his friend group for the most part, he wanted to spend that special time with his big sister. When he left he told me there was not any other way he would have wanted to spend his birthday WEEK. We did so much. His birthday was on a Tuesday so we went to dinner, I made him order a beer so the waitress had to look at his ID and see it was his birthday (free dessert mmm) then we went to trivia and he sang some Karaoke (2 songs). It was a good time. The next day, him Nicole and I went and got some dinner in CB, then him and I went to Powerstop for flip night (I don't think he won his beer, but it was fun just hanging out). Laura gave him some of those mari gras beads. we went to Timbers, but neither of us were feeling being there. Friday night partied up in CB and stayed in the hotel Nicole works for. What an interesting night, then the next day was Beer and Chili fest! Some of us were a bit hungover, but it was fun to hang out and try beer and chili all day. He even bought some weed while he was in Colorado. hahaha. Still haven't convinced him to move out here, though. :-/
Finally, really looking forward to two years from now when my mom and I go to Europe. The main objective is to check out Poland because that's where our family is from but I'm sure there are other places we will go see. I'm getting more and more excited each week that passes. And pretty soon (probably should have done this today, because I have the time but I won't likely do it) should go turn in passport application. I also started learning Polish on duolingo app, but I have been focused on spanish lately because I am surrounded daily by spanish speaking people so slightly more useful...I think? Well, if I did it on a daily basis.
Two years! In just two quick years I will be 30. I hope over that time I have some neat stuff to share! My 20's were a beautiful mess, that has me where I am today... but quite frankly, I am ready to be done with this decade. Until then though, I will be doing my best to make the best out of what I have left in my 20s. To some people, two years seems like a lot, but considering how quickly the last 7.5 years have gone, I am not trying to take the last two years for granted.
Have fun.
Amanda
(sorry if you're important and I forgot to mention you this time around. it is likely you're going to be relevant later, though.)
I am 28 years old, today, and I started writing something in my word document about how my generation isn't ACTUALLY the worst but it was repetitive and messy. Then I got distracted by reading old blogs on here and reading through the last year of my twitter account before making it public again.
THEN I decided that maybe I should get back into blogging a little more again, because writing about what silly things going on in my life seems to make them weigh less on my mind? Or something along those lines. I thought of continuing in previous blogs I started, instead choosing to start fresh. Old blogs all over the internet are past Amanda, and different than who and what I am today. Today I am a lot closer to 30 than 20, and everything I wrote in a blog was from a time I was a lot closer to 20.
A little bit about me though? And what my 20's have been about?
I grew up in Wisconsin, and moved to Colorado when I was 21. I moved here for school 7 years ago, where I proceeded to get my precious degree in Environmental Studies (depressing as hell) and Psychology (to help keep me sort of sane?). School was really good to me, except the debt. I learned a lot and got to meet so many people from all over the world I would have never met if I never took a chance to step out of my comfort zone (I say that like Milwaukee was comfortable, but I kind of hated it to be honest). I joined the Program Council and got to put events together that will be remembered for years to come (SpringFest was the big one, free concert right on campus). I did a lot of good and interesting research as related to the environment. I got to know myself and how I interact with the world around me and my ethics, both from the environmental studies point of view, and in my psychology classes! That is certainly a LOT of getting to know yourself. I still do not know what I want to do with my life, besides be happy and see the world... and probably, that is an okay thing? I have thought a little bit on the side of high school guidance counselor. Since I took 3 years between high school and college, I think it's important kids know that it's perfectly OK to not know what you want to do with your life when you're 18, and it is OK to change your mind (mid life crisis definitely happens because society tries to push us into boxes we do not belong in). In my environmental studies major I had a help in planning the Spring Symposium which was a good time. (At this moment I do not really remember much of it, except how accomplished it made me feel at the end of the event). I inducted into Psi Chi (International Honor society for Psychology) while I was in school (I even have the little medal we wore at graduation hanging on my door knob of my bedroom, I wasn't going to buy it but someone over graduation weekend wanted me to have it, so made sure I did, my ex's parents?). I feel especially proud of that. My psychology GPA was a 3.8/3.9 through college, really boosted my overall GPA haha. Not that GPA matters in the real world, but if I someday decide to go to graduate school, it will help? School was busy, and expensive, but provides some sense of "wow, I started this, and kept going until I finished even though some days I didn't want to" plus, I learned how to make my degree matter in a world where it currently doesn't. (The time commitment thing...).
I have also been working with City Market for the last four years. I started as a bagger, then moved to checker, fuel center clerk, pharmacy, and now I do bookkeeping with a bit of service counter. It is a decent job to have right now, in the town I live in. Even when I feel under appreciated at times. I cannot really complain all that much. I am able to pay for my roof, bills, and do fun things. And I have learned valuable skills there, even teaching myself and working on being a bit more outgoing.
When I first moved here I was dating a guy who was living in Wisconsin while I went to school in Colorado. We broke up my sophomore year of college, but then ended up getting back together over winter break. Maybe against both of our better judgement. He moved out to Colorado after I told him not to because he would hate living in Gunnison (I was right, but he made the best of it, and started attending college eventually). We lived together and dated for a couple more years (even spending about a year as an engaged couple). But things did not work out, as they sometimes do. I would like to think that somewhere in both our hearts and heads we both knew that maybe it was not going to last, but we tried. We gave it a try because we wanted to be together. It happens. I think at the very least, we can talk to each other when we see each other out and about and only be a little bit upset that it did not work out. I almost sent him a picture the other day of dog treats flavored and kind of packaged like human snacks, he'd probably laugh? I think... in some sense of the word... we are friends? Or at least friendly enough.
Since he was started school while I was still in school, but wasn't going to be done for a while, I applied to and got into the Masters of environmental Management program. I couldn't afford it even with financial aid though, so I stepped out. It was an okay decision I think. I would be done by now though if I had kept with it despite the financial trouble. More debt for a program that was just starting up was too much of a risk for me though. I think sometimes about going back and trying that out again... but I am way more passionate about future generations and helping them learn how they can help the world than I am about what I can do as an individual. As an individual, I am most useful, I think, inspiring the young.
It has been about 2 years since we have broken up. For a while I was still living in his apartment. Then I moved out, being officially on my own for the first time ever in my life since October 2014. I did not mean to get a cat. I really wanted to raise plants and just take care of myself for a while. But my friend and I went to the pet adoption place and I fell in love with a fluffy purr monster who later turns out to be kind of a dick (he is actually sitting in the window a few feet away from me, pretending I don't exist right now!) I currently live with one of my best friends. It is a magical arrangement. Laura is funny and I love her to pieces. We keep to ourselves mostly, but also sometimes hang out together. She keeps me sane, and if her and I just moved from place to place together growing old and people assuming we are a lesbian couple until one of us dies, I'd be okay with that, probably. ;)
In December 2014 I met a guy, who upon first sight, I felt was going to be a really important person in my life. So... I introduced myself to him. (He was drunk and doesn't remember meeting me the first time, haha). He was important, just not in the way I (we?) had hoped for. I actually found out the second time we hung out that he was allergic to cats and we stopped talking to each other until April 2015 when our lives got chaotic at the same time. Which really, should have been a huge red flag to not go there, but in the approximate year that we talked I guess we really both learned a lot about ourselves. And perhaps that was the way he was supposed to be important in my life. He is cool, I like him a lot... and probably after some space between us, we will be friends again. And hopefully not just because "it's a small town, you kind of need to." He is a story that would make up a chapter or two in a book, should I ever decide to write a book about (or based on) my life. Which is why I bring him up, now. My good friends don't like him, but I will defend him and stop my friends from doing crazy things to the best of my ability (and not just because "um who else would be behind this?"). He's an alright person.
I have spent the summer just trying to be happy with who I am and what I am doing, it has been a pretty decent summer despite some of the drama. I took a little trip to Milwaukee because some folks were trying to get together for a road trip in a school bus to Chicago. I got invited along well before it was even something they knew for sure they were going to do (nice to be thought of, since I came from the area). I had no intention of going back to the midwest this summer so it kind of threw some plans to go elsewhere on the back burner. It was a good trip, I got to see my grandma Skaja one more time before she passed away. That was honestly the most important part of my trip. (ON August 7th I found out she passed away in the night. I thanked the man who helped me get to Milwaukee for giving me a change to see her again). That was the biggest thing to happen to me all summer. She was a great woman who always had great stories to tell, she will be deeply missed.
I did a lot of outdoor activities this summer with plenty of hiking, walking, sitting by the river reading, going to the lake, trips out of town.. it was over all a great summer. Just making great (and lets face it, a couple not so great) memories with people I care about. I even got to write some letters to a friend of mine who has been in Alaska all summer long. I love writing letters (even if I get none back, ha ha). Definitely tried to just focus on myself this summer and not take things too seriously (which is hard to do sometimes). I even bought a fishing license and a fishing pole this summer. The first try was kind of and interesting time, but luckily Nicole and I had some people around to help us out with it.
We are mostly caught up to where I am right now. About 2 weeks ago I deactivated my facebook (which for spreading this blog around purpose I might reactivate for a few days), stopped drinking, started working out and I ran a few times in the last couple weeks. Part in avoidance, part to save money, part to just feel better in my skin... It's an interesting adventure. My apartment got so clean the other day and I have done so much dang reading. (I am on Goodreads app). Running is awful... but it's way less awful than being to hungover to do anything for an entire day. And the money I haven't spend at the bars the last couple weeks has gone to debt. Neat...
Last summer my mom and brother both came out and saw me (separately) which was really fun both times. My brother's trip was more special because he had never been out here and he came out here for spending his TWENTY-FIRST birthday with ME! It's so heart warming that even after growing up with his friends and his teammates and being the youngin' in his friend group for the most part, he wanted to spend that special time with his big sister. When he left he told me there was not any other way he would have wanted to spend his birthday WEEK. We did so much. His birthday was on a Tuesday so we went to dinner, I made him order a beer so the waitress had to look at his ID and see it was his birthday (free dessert mmm) then we went to trivia and he sang some Karaoke (2 songs). It was a good time. The next day, him Nicole and I went and got some dinner in CB, then him and I went to Powerstop for flip night (I don't think he won his beer, but it was fun just hanging out). Laura gave him some of those mari gras beads. we went to Timbers, but neither of us were feeling being there. Friday night partied up in CB and stayed in the hotel Nicole works for. What an interesting night, then the next day was Beer and Chili fest! Some of us were a bit hungover, but it was fun to hang out and try beer and chili all day. He even bought some weed while he was in Colorado. hahaha. Still haven't convinced him to move out here, though. :-/
Finally, really looking forward to two years from now when my mom and I go to Europe. The main objective is to check out Poland because that's where our family is from but I'm sure there are other places we will go see. I'm getting more and more excited each week that passes. And pretty soon (probably should have done this today, because I have the time but I won't likely do it) should go turn in passport application. I also started learning Polish on duolingo app, but I have been focused on spanish lately because I am surrounded daily by spanish speaking people so slightly more useful...I think? Well, if I did it on a daily basis.
Two years! In just two quick years I will be 30. I hope over that time I have some neat stuff to share! My 20's were a beautiful mess, that has me where I am today... but quite frankly, I am ready to be done with this decade. Until then though, I will be doing my best to make the best out of what I have left in my 20s. To some people, two years seems like a lot, but considering how quickly the last 7.5 years have gone, I am not trying to take the last two years for granted.
Have fun.
Amanda
(sorry if you're important and I forgot to mention you this time around. it is likely you're going to be relevant later, though.)
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