a little bit of iowa, from me to you

I've put together some of my favorite favorite pictures of Iowa...

This is one of the factories in Sioux City.  Kind of reminds me of Slumdog Millionaire... Look closely to see the small children playing on the pile of scrap metal.

What would the city be without a sign telling you how much people love it?!

We spent a good portion of St. Patrick's Day in my car drinking because no one was at the bars... (PSA: I was not driving while drinking: the car was in park, keys were no where to be found, and all the doors were open)

Very typical dog chillin in the back of a convertible.

Again, typical.  Camo truck.  

In case you were wondering, you CAN'T bring your gun into the bank.

And last, but not least, the roast beef commercial.  AKA heart attack/reason we can't lose weight.  It's a roast beef sandwich with mashed potatoes on top, covered in gravy.  With a diet coke on the side of course.

There will be more pictures to come!  But I hope you understand Iowa a little bit better.

Less than 2 months...

I realized today that it is less than two month's until the half marathon.  And while this isn't news to me, it's sneaking up and now I'm terrified.  I'm not sure how, or why, this seemed like a good idea.  All I know is that Kim and I WILL finish it.

I know I'm not ACTUALLY old

So first and foremost, I clearly suck at blogging.  But I'm really going to make an effort to keep up with this regularly.  I will post some Iowa pictures later, but the one thing I've learned over the past four months is that I will never, I repeat NEVER again live in a flyover state. It really is as bad as people say.  I've realized how much I LOVE cities.  My boss just sent me this article, and I think it fully depicts Iowa:

http://www.wibw.com/home/nationalnews/headlines/Police_Drinking_Man_Brought_Zebra_Parrot_Along_For_Ride__152830045.html

On another note, I'm turning 23 on Saturday. While I fully realize that I'm not actually old, it somehow feels strange.  I think that I'm more hesitant of the life changes in the next year than I am about my actual age.  It really does scare me that I'm so far from my friends, family, and everything I've ever known.  I'm going home to NY for my birthday, and can't wait to spend time with my family and old friends.  A friend of mine that I played soccer with years ago posted this on facebook last week, and I've really been thinking about how important the people in my life are:

"Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few, you should hold on.  Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyles, because the older you get, the more you need the people who know you when you were young."

Cheers to old friends and new adventures!

new year, new...

Many thanks to Kate for sending me the link below.  I first read these resolutions and laughed, thinking about how funny they are.  And then I realized the majority of them are applicable (to myself or someone close to me).  If nothing else, they offer something for me to think about while I sit in a corn field in Iowa. 

http://thoughtcatalog.com/2012/20-new-years-resolutions-for-20-somethings/

my new digg

So yesterday I officially got an apartment in IOWA! I will be living with Erik, a fellow bank examiner who is coming from California.  Features of our apartment you would never find in DC:
-2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
-1,000 sq ft.
-rent is $820/month (total)
-2 garages
-fireplace
-pool, clubhouse, fitness center
-rent includes all utilities except for internet
-loft ceilings
-apparently "the best view"
-full size washer and dryer
-new carpet, paint, appliances, etc.

Needless to say, I'm very excited for how much money I will be saving! And how great this apartment should be. For everyone asking for my address, it is:

4230 Hickory Lane
Apartment 338
Sioux City, Iowa 51106

Once I know the mail/delivery deal, I will let you know. But I clearly will appreciate any love you want to send my way... and if you happen to be passing through Sioux City... let me know :)

you may say i'm a little crazy, but i'm not the only one

Crazy is a word I've been hearing a lot lately.  Apparently the idea of selling all my possessions and moving 3,000 miles away doesn't make sense to most people.  I have a great job in DC, amazing friends, a gigantic apartment that I love, and a perfectly happy life.  So why would I leave everything to move to Seattle, with a stint in Iowa along the way? The answer is that I'm not sure.  When I applied to be a bank examiner (in Seattle or San Diego) I knew my chances were very slim.  And I told myself that if offered a position, I would take it, because it must be a sign from someone or somewhere.  So when I got my offer, I didn't hesitate or frankly even think about it.  My answer was yes.  So here I am, trying to plan my next month in DC and prepare for probably the biggest event in my life thus far.

So maybe I am crazy, but I don't think that it's a bad thing.  The next few months (years?) will surely be an adventure.  I will need to make new friends, become a regular at new places, and get used to a new way of life.  But I'm excited for the adventure.