One year ago today, I packed all my belongings into a big U-Haul truck and moved out of a beautiful 2,300 square foot home into a 540 square foot apartment. I left a house that I shared with someone who controlled me, belittled me, and made me feel like an awful person.

I spent weeks crying, sometimes at my desk, sometimes in the car. All the time at home. I lost 15 pounds. I didn’t eat. I didn’t sleep. I took enough Xanax one night to probably kill me, but God was watching over me. My parents were scared to leave me alone.

I had forgotten who I was.  I had forgotten that no man is every worth giving up your life for.

I know now who I am. I am smart. I am confident. I am fun to be around. I love to laugh, I love to be with my friends and family.

I don’t miss him one bit. If you had told me that I’d say this a year ago? I would have never believed you.

This year has been hard. I lost my Grandma, I’ve had health issues, I’ve been depressed.

But now? I’ve never been happier. And, I like who I am.

Hello my dears! I’ve been having SEVERE internet withdrawals. I’m so behind on reading blogs that it’s kind of making me weepy! Here’s what’s been going on in the land of pink.

• If you see my dentist, please inform him that I’m not speaking to him for the duration. He was very scoldy and pokey with the sharp scrapy thingy today. Just for that? I’m going to not floss until TOMORROW. That’s right! I’m mad!
• Last night, Chanel, Sylke and I went to see Avenue Q at the Keller. OH MY GOSH. Please go see this. I’ve not laughed so hard in a long time. Bonus? They let us bring wine into the auditorium as long as it had a lid on it. So we drank little plastic cups of wine with a straw. CLASSY.
• I got my Moo Cards last night! And, they are the CUTE. I can’t wait to give you one when I hopefully meet you at BlogHer.
• Speaking of meeting fab ladies from the interwebs, did you know that I met Isabel this week? And, that we kind of look alike. Except she has the WAY better hair and skin (that’s right Isabel, I SAID IT).
• I’m putting an offer on a condo this week! EEEE!! Some photos I took of the model unit are here. They aren’t the best. But, please check out the floor. I am in love with it. Sadly, there are no photos of the kitchen as they were painting it.
• Tonight I am going to the Opening Cermonies for the Special Olympics Oregon. I am excited, I think it should be a good event. Then, tomorrow I am working our booth at Portland’s LIVESTRONG Challenge and running walking the 5K on Sunday.
• Also, I have a date tomorrow. With Kerri Anne. HEE. And, also with the boy. Let’s just say that Kerri has a much better chance of getting to second base with me than he does. Not because I don’t want him to, but because I suck at dating.
• My big surgery has been scheduled for August 11th. I need to stop telling people that I am having a boob job, because they are starting to believe me. If you’d like to sign up for a nurse shift, please let me know. Basically, you’ll be sitting on the couch with me watching bad tv and maybe giving me my pain killers. If you’re really nice, I may even share.
• I have no plans for Fourth of July. This does not bother me in the least.

Well, I think that’s it. Have a great weekend!

Dear Seattle,

There are a few things I’d like to have a talk with you about. Now, I like you very much. So much so, that I used to live here (except I was seven and really had no choice). But really, you are lovely, and I hope you’ll take these items as constructive criticism. Which I only give to people, um places that I love.

Number 1 – I suggest you get some sort of light rail system that I can take from the airport to downtown. In Portland, I can get downtown, from the airport for less than two dollars.
Here, I had to pay $11 to have a crabby lady take me downtown on a bus. I did not care for this. Especially the part where she let one passenger on board and then began to leave. And, then some other passenger (not me) had to chase after her (the bus) to let the rest of us on.

Number 2 – I will not be parking a car today, but I noticed that on the streets that I traveled down you have old-fashioned parking meters. Chances are, if I were to park a car on your fine streets, I would not have any change. Which is why Smart Meters, like my beloved Portland has a great idea.

Number 3 – I see that you are building an H&M. I would have liked this to be open during this visit.

Number 4 – and this is really directed at Washington as a whole. I’m not a fan of the sales tax. Now, technically, all I have to do is show my drivers license here, and it is waived, but sometimes I forget. And, then I am crabby about paying an extra how ever much for my whatever it is I am buying.

That is all. I hope for the next 12 hours that I am here, you and I can get along swimmingly.

UPDATED TO ADD:

Seattle has redeemed itself!

LOOK WHO I MET!!

A lovely mall visitor saw us looking totally dorky taking photos of ourselves and offered to take our picture.

Updated also to add:

Number 5 – In Portland? Our airport has free wi-fi. Perhaps that is why it is continuously voted the best airport in the U.S.? Anyway, your wi-fi is 7.99 for 24 hours. That is $7.99 too much. Especially when I am paying for airport beers.
Now, I’ve been up for 19 hours and shall go to sleep.

Smoochies,

Rhiannon

Oh hello. How are you?

I’m BUSY.

Here’s the thing. You know how I’ve been all “my friends are rad” TWICE now? Well, the thing with having rad friends is that you want to spend time with them. But, you also have this pesky thing called a career. And, because you have this career, you’re expected to go on day long trips to Bend, and also Seattle. Both of which leave at 6 a.m. Except, you can’t sleep the night before because you’re really giddy about other stuff and so you lay there in bed, and then you try to catch up on the 500 items (really) in your Google Reader before you get frustrated and just click on ‘Mark All As Read.’ Then, you get up in the morning and you’re tired, but you go on your day trip and you say try to say things in your meetings that  make you sound very witty, but also like a marketing genius. But, you see, you’re tired. And, after you get home from your trip, it’s your friend’s birthday, so you go to that. And, then you go home, and talk to your coworker on the phone for way too long. And, then? It’s midnight.

So, on Saturday, you finally get to sleep in a bit. Except you can’t. See: giddy, above. So, you get up and make bacon wrapped jalapenos, except, you don’t use gloves, so your hands are burny all day. And, then you complain about this to your hair dresser and he makes fun of you. And, then tells you too much about what jalapenos do to him. But, he makes your hair super cute, so you forgive him (remind me to take a photo).

So, then you have a date. And you have to rush there. But, your car? It has no gas in it. Anyway, you make it only a couple minutes late and have a quick drink with your date all the while pressing your burny hands against the cold beer. You go to a bbq at your coworker’s house (Hi! Cherie!) and try to be witty all the while trying to keep your  boobs in your very low cut shirt.

Then, another good friend has a 30th birthday party that you show up at after you drop your date off at his car. Except? This good friend is very, very mean and jabs, jabs, jabs (verbally) you all night. So, it’s a good thing that your best friend is there to tell you that your boobs look good in that shirt and that she loves you. So, because your other friend is jabbing you and it kind of makes you want to cry, you leave when your bff leaves.

Then, on Sunday morning, you insert your caffeine IV and go to see more condos. And, then you go to a movie with Kerri Anne and Chris. Except? The movie is creepy and now you’re afraid of plants. The End.

I’ve had too much coffee. Clearly. Tomorrow? Seattle.

I know I’m all “my girlfriends are rad” lately, but I must say. I had the most hilarious night with one of my best pals Ash who turned 27 today. We encountered a party that should have had more than one bar, a drink in a coconut, a bar that we were not hip enough to be served and a stretch Hummer full of KLASSY middle aged women from Gresham. And, we laughed, and laughed, and laughed. And that is what friendship is about.

Smashy, I know you had kind of a poopy day, but I love you, and I’m so thankful to have you as a friend. I’m excited to share your 27th year with you (and a bit jealous that I’m not in my 27th year again).