Is this the beginning of the rest of my life?

Wow, what can I say, a lot of things have changed in just a few months since my last post. I've done 2 dance competitions so far both at silver level! I'm starting to feel more comfortable with the routines and more comfortable with the improv that tends to happen from time to time. 

As quickly as I started the second job at the rink I decided it would be best to leave. While it was fun for the most part, there was enough that made me decide it would be best to part ways and return to just be a skater instead of an employee. Plus the whole working 7 days a week thing wasn't going to last forever. 

Perhaps the biggest and most exciting piece of news is in the relationship department...I'm not quite sure what this is called at this point but whatever it is, it's good :) I figured give the online dating thing one more try on a newer platform. Guy 1 had some promise but clearly I was more interested than he was. Guy 2 was clearly more interested in things that I wasn't going to pursue on a first date. Guy 3...I guess third time's the charm? 

It was intriguing that he opted for dinner for the first date instead of the usual "meet and drink" scenario. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, he had changed his look several times from the initial profile picture. I wouldn't say sparks flew or anything like that but it wasn't bad either. He seemed really nervous but interesting enough to give him a second chance when he asked. I figured maybe if he was in a more natural comfortable habitat he'd be a little less nervous. 

Date 2 was at a rock climbing gym. Again an intriguing choice. This was also a fascinating test in trust because once we got to the big walls I was the only climbing as he was the only one trained to belay the ropes. He was definitely more at ease overall which was nice to see. After climbing for awhile we headed to dinner and just talked. It was a bit surreal, sure there were other people around us but I didn't really notice. It was almost like they were all blurry and just the two of us were in focus. 

At this point I've lost track of the dates since then, but we've gone skating, dancing, gymnastics class, acroyoga, to the movies twice!, had each other over for dinner and started meeting some of each other's friends. 

I'm not sure what I am, I don't want to say conflicted because that's not the right word. But I guess I just want to be sure this is right. Dating life in the big city usually yields more horror stories than anything else. So how could I have figured it out on guy 3? We've talked every day since we first matched online and it just seems easy. I think we're both just ourselves and it's ok. There's none of the games about what to say, how to say it or when to say it. It just is. 

Now when we go 3 or 4 days without seeing each other, I get a little butterfly when I know we have plans again. Could it be "The One"? That thought has definitely crossed my mind. But I think it crosses every girl's mind. He either is "The One" or not, the odds are 50/50. It's different having someone so interested in me and not the other way around. He initiates most conversation, he takes care of most outings. He respects my boundaries so far and hopefully will continue to do so. Perhaps most telling of all, he makes me feel safe. Like nothing can go wrong and I don't have to worry about any wandering eyes. And he's the one that continually talks about the future, I don't mean "The One" sort of future, but like 5-6 months down the road.

But until we figure that out, it's been a pretty awesome ride these last 2.5 months and hopefully this ride will keep going for the foreseeable future. 

"This is the beginning of anything you want."

So here goes goals by December 31, 2015: 

--Work: Continue the happiness. Move into more field work. 

--Life: Student loans. Vacations. Time to develop relationships outside of work. 

--Skating: Not sure where to go with this one. Perhaps Lake Placid camp? 

--Ballroom: This is where the focus is. Complete a showcase or two. Compete at Washington Open and VA State Championships. Maybe one more? I'd love to start moving to full bronze and beginning silver. 
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Hello blog world! Long time no see! But I'm back. It was sort of emotional to read my last post. I wouldn't say I was in a bad place perse, but I was definitely in a place I didn't want to be with seemingly no way out. There's been quite a few changes since then but quite a few things have stayed the same. Looking back at my goals for 2015 life certainly veered in many directions I never could have imagined. As the great Woody Allen once said, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans." Well Woody, God's certainly been getting a few chuckles out of me. 

I managed to switch departments but stay with the same company in June 2015. It's a department that didn't exist until then so I was diving in blind. Something I used to hate to do but I've gotten much better at since starting dance. But quite frankly in some way it might be the best thing that could have happened. The timing was perfect to get out of the toxic space I was in previously. Is it everything I've been wanting and picturing for nearly 10 years? No. Is it a long term solution? No. But it may be a medium term solution. I've gotten more recognition for my work in the last 6 months than the previous 3.75 years combined. And strangely enough I got to do field work, something I figured was over given the switch. Maybe more to come? Who knows. 

My life goals morphed into other areas. The student loans didn't happen but that's ok, it allowed me to live and go on the vacations. The vacations I combined with dancing! Still trying to figure out the relationships thing...

Skating has mostly morphed into a fun activity and I've added a very part time job at the rink, so yay more income to pay for dance! Double yay for free public skating as a rink employee! I keep toying with the idea of doing Easterns, it's practically in my backyard but I just don't know. I'm waiting for Nationals to be in Lake Placid...

Dance. Oh what a year it's been! I did my first showcase! In a very revealing dress...and lived to tell the tale. I did compete at Washington Open but no VA State. That's because I opted to go international and compete in Montreal and later Puerto Rico. Yes I am now an international ballroom dancer! Not only that...I started competing silver in Puerto Rico! We've started revamping some of the silver routines to make them flow a little easier and add more technique. But I'm officially a silver rhythm dancer. Who would have thunk it?! Maybe this year add silver smooth? 

So let's see by December 31, 2016: 

--Work: It's honestly in a good place. First time in about 5 years I can say that. I'd LOVE to get more traveling but who knows. This election could get VERY interesting and perhaps lead to other opportunities. 

--Life: This is the year for the student loans! At least it's something I can control. Regular gym routine. Time to get buff, especially if I'm going to be a silver rhythm dancer. Trying to work on the relationship thing but it's not really going anywhere...

--Skating: Take baby skating when she's big enough! See how the part time job goes and maybe start coaching a bit?? 

--Ballroom: 3 comps again this year. We'll wait and see which 3, I was planning to stay local this year but there are some interesting possibilities out there that may shift things. I want to place consistently in silver (and hopefully be contested most of the time). Perhaps start toying with gold by the end of the year?? Maybe in a showcase.