Because 2013 has been the most crazy and life-changing year of my life. And it's only May.
Let me explain...
January
I went on my very first Coffee Tour with a dear friend and coffee enthusiast, Perry Czopp. Perry is very passionate and wise when it comes to coffee, so we spent the entire day visiting about fifteen coffee shops, tasting a few drinks, discussing the coffee network of Phoenix, and promoting his latest Latte Art Throwdown. I enjoyed this day because it opened my eyes to the hard work and determination that it takes to deliver a tasty cup of coffee. I also loved exploring the parts of Phoenix and Tempe I've never seen, and meet some baristas and other coffee enthusiasts.
I took this picture in Giant Coffee during the tour.
I started an internship at the Yucca Tap Room, a local bar/venue in Tempe. Since my focus in the music business is booking and promoting, my internship was all about promoting the shows of Yucca Tap and help my boss book some shows.
Representing the lovely and shades-sporting Ringo Starr in Zia Record Exchange
I moved out on my own for the second time. I was living with my mom and sister, but when my mom decided to move to Rio Rico (one hour south of Tucson) to live with my dad (who teaches Agriculture Science at Rio Rico High School), my sister and I were given the option: move to Rio Rico with her or move out on our own. Since I was committed to school, work, and my band, I decided to move out on my own. My friend, Frankie, volunteered to live with me, and we found a cute little unit at Solara Apartments. we moved in the last weekend of January, which rained and caused a bit of set-back.
All of my stuff on the day I moved. Yes, the Beatles came, too.
February
I hosted my first game night in my new apartment. If you know me, you know that I love to host game nights. I've never been much for parties, but game nights have always been a great way to bring friends (and strangers) together and team up or battle against each other in games. This game night was a huge success! So many friends, new and old, gathered and welcomed my new home.
My friend, Scott, and I at my game night.
A few days after Valentine's Day, the boy I had been dating since senior year of high school, Austin, broke up with me. Ask anyone who knew us, and they would tell you how perfect we were together. But after four years, our hearts had turned to different passions since high school. I'll be quite honest, this breakup tore me apart. I had future plans with him, still loved him through the breakup, and wanted to win him back. It was a dark time for me for quite a while. But, as the Beatles have told me (and everyone else): LIFE GOES ON. We didn't make it, like I always hoped we would, but it just goes to show that God has something else planned for me.
My ex-boyfriend, Austin, and I on our 4th-year anniversary.
I have so many friends on Instagram that I have yet to meet! But, about a week after the breakup I made plans to meet with my Instagram friend, Diana, at a local coffee shop. I'm so glad we met, because we are so much alike! We have a lot of mutual friends, mutual experiences, and have the same sense of humor. She's also very beautiful, and a lovely human being. This meeting changed my life because it showed me, not just Diana, but other people I have yet to meet through Facebook, Instagram, etc. care about me and want to see me happy.
Myself with Diana and Brenda, two ladies I met through Instagram.
After the breakup, I had a strong urge to chop off my hair. I have beautiful, bright red hair that has taken a lot of maintenance and money to upkeep. So, I decided my hair needed a little TLC: we re-colored it and cut it off. It felt so nice to get some weight (hair weight, that is) off of my shoulders.
I took this picture as soon as I got home from cutting my hair.
March
My band released a new record and played a show at Revolver Records to promote the new album. After our set, a guy came up to me to discuss music. His name is Jacob, who happens to be the cousin of my co-worker. Since that night, we've hung out at shows, jam sessions, and various gatherings with friends. We've discussed jazz music, local bands we love, our ideas and mutual agreement of church, and how our experience in Gilbert has shaped us today. I'm really glad to have met Jacob, because he's a dear friend.
My friend, Jacob, at a show at Yucca Tap Room
Another person I'm really happy to have met is my co-worker, Brian. Ironically, I met him before I got my job at Liberty Market when we had a Jazz History class together two years ago. Since I got my job back in August, Brian has been my constant source of encouragement, coffee, and real talk. He turned 21 in March, so he and some friends and I celebrated with a nice dinner and a walk around the plaza in some beautiful weather. This night made me realize that even through all the bad times, you gotta be there for the people you care about.
My friend, Brian, and I on his 21st birthday.
During spring break, my dad, his girlfriend, my sister, and I road-tripped down to Rocky Point for a much-needed vacation. While away, I was very, VERY limited to cellular usage. At first I was a little annoyed, because I live by social networking. But, I quickly got over it. It was nice to escape from all the busy-ness of Facebook and Instagram. I blocked out all of that and enjoyed some sunshine, vodka cranberries, tacos, and live music with some truly fun and awesome people. I even met a young lad there named Chris, who lives in Tempe and has since gone to a performance of mine.
King Triton, his giant shrimp, and myself in Mexico.
While I met so many people this year, I also had to say goodbye to a new friend, Meghan. Not long after I met her and built a friendship with her, she got a call to transfer her education to Germany for six months. It was sad to see her go, since I was excited for this new beautiful person in my life, but I was so excited for her adventure, knowing she will return in September.
Meghan is such a beautiful human being.
April
After three years of avoiding church, I made the decision to return. Some friends at work had invited me to their church, Redemption Tempe. In this difficult transition in my life, I decided that God was the only constant thing in my life who held His arms open for me. I have returned to church every week since then. I have also been engaging in some Bible Study time with some friends, including a new believer friend of mine, Nicki, who I met a few years ago at my job at IHOP when she was an atheist. It's been a blessing to see her grow in Christ and help guide her in her journey.
Some notes I took during Bible Study.
My band engaged in a show completely dedicated to covering Beck's Song Reader. So many amazing bands around Phoenix joined. My band covered "Garbage Truck" from Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, "Shanghai" and "Last Night You Were a Dream" from the Song Reader, and "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime" from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which was one of the most passionate and intense performances of my life. After that moment, I realized that God has given me this gift of singing and bringing people together and making them feel something, that I can't stop there. I have to keep singing.
I make weird faces when I sing, but the sounds are quite majestic.
A dear friend of mine for about four years now, Corey, is a talented tattoo artist. He's been tattooing for about two years now from his apartment, but I've watched him doodling and sketching and painting masterpieces for friends since the day I met him. He and my ex-boyfriend, also a very talented artist, collaborated on a tattoo design for me, so after a few months of thinking about it, I got it. Corey did an AMAZING job with the tattoo. I only go to him with my ink jobs.
My new tattoo
May
After four years of hard work, dedication, no sleep, and working two jobs most of the time, I FINALLY graduated college! I got my Associates in Applied Science in Music Business, with my primary focus on booking and promotions. I have worked my ass of, and it's so exhilarating to be done with school. I'm unsure if I will transfer to get my Bachelors, but all I know is I'm taking the summer and fall semesters off.
Nothing but blue skies on this graduating redhead.
Today, my grandmother passed away after battling breast, lung, and liver cancer for about a year now. I met her two years ago, and since then she has been a fighter through her illness, without letting go of her bright smile and sense of humor. I will never forget her love for me in the short time I knew her.
The last time I saw my Grandma Viv, Easter 2013.
So, as you can see, the past few months has been quite the roller-coaster for me. As one of my graduation gifts, my dad and his girlfriend gave me a $250 Southwest Airline credit, so I'm booking a flight to a city I've never been to on an escape. ADVENTURE 2013, HERE I COME.
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