OOPS! I'm terrible. Seriously.

Hey hey!

 So... I've been an absolutely terrible blogger, and I sincerely apologize to the (roughly) 5 people who read this thing.  I have so much to catch you up on. First of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2012, eh? Crazy stuff.

I'm just starting to get settled back in here in Illinois after about 2.5 months in California. I think I did a fairly solid job (reserved pats on the back) of keeping you posted on my week-long San Francisco adventure. That was a great experience, and certainly a fabulous way to kick off my West Coast Jamboree.

 Now onto L.A. I had such a brilliant experience there, especially considering... I really don't like L.A. much. I stayed with one of my very best friends in the entire world, which, was an amazing experience within itself. Getting to spend gobs of quality time with someone who knows you through and through and loves you no matter what, is truly a blessing. I am so far beyond grateful. She also happens to run an amazing theatre company, AND she is a personal trainer. So... needless to say, we tried to utilize my time out there to the best of our abilities.

 We did start training, and I now feel as though I have some great tools in my wheelhouse to tap into as far as creating a better, healthier lifestyle for myself. What a fantastic feeling THAT is. Side note: a brand new gym is opening up about 2 miles from my house. I have already signed up for my membership, and should be able to start going there next week! Woot. This experience training, and working on diet in L.A. also helped with what one of my main goals of going out there was. I've never made myself a priority. Seriously. I've always made excuses, and tried to focus on what I can do for other people. That's how I got this way. It was a very difficult realization to come to; the fact that my body didn't betray me (as I am want to believe), but I betrayed my body. I can't blame my body for choices I made. That's nonsensical! But it's what I've always done. Well... the buck stops here.

Also while out there, I performed 'AT LARGE!,' my one woman show about being a plus size woman in today's society. We did four performances, and it was well received. The audiences seemed very receptive to the message. They were... picking up what I was putting down, ya dig? It's an extremely frightening thing (I think) to stand on a stage by yourself, in front of an audience, and perform something YOU wrote about YOUR experiences. Needless to say, it's at least as rewarding to do it, and have it be appreciated as it is scary to do. What a huge rush it was, and it was certainly a confidence booster!


Keep in mind, this is a very quick overview of my trip and experiences there. I met some truly amazing, inspiring people, and made some great friends. I'll post a few photos as their own seperate post. I ended the trip with a grand finale! I had my first EVER Disneyland experience. It was my birthday gift from my friend and her parents. I was so excited that I thought I would cry (no joke), but I didn't... until the very end of the day. The fireworks did me in. Don't judge! Disneyland will likely warrant it's own post of honor. Don't thank me now... just wait!

More soon! Cheers!