From ME to AZ Photo Project, pt. I

Hello Reader,

As promised, two blog posts in one weekend!

While I was in Maine over winter break, I was asked on several occasions something to the effect of, "Is Arizona different than Maine?"  And my answer is always "Yes" with a slight undertone of "Duh." Typically the conversation will evolve from there to do I think it is better, how is it different, which do I like more, etc. My stock answer is always about how, "..you can't compare the two, they're so different, apples and oranges, really..." But as I continued to think about these proposed questions, it inspired me to complete a mini photo project. I am a very visual person, and I think we live in a visually stimulating world, so this is how I have chosen to best express the stark, aesthetic contrast between Maine and Arizona (hence my hint yesterday with my ASU and UMaine bears, get it?). I took all of these images over the past year while bouncing between the two places I call home. Enjoy part one!

Cobbossee Lake at home in Maine & the no name lake at my apartment complex in Arizona

Cacti at the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix & snow covered rocks at the lake in Maine

Sun flare through the snow covered trees in Maine & over the town of Tempe

I cheated a little on this next one...but visually speaking, I think this pair makes sense. 

Tempe Town Lake in Arizona & Stillwater River in Orono, Maine.

Spiky plant life in Arizona and Maine

And one of my favorite...

Sandstorm in Arizona & snowstorm in Maine, also known as a Haboob and Nor'easter

Thanks for reading!

- M

A New Year, A New Look

Hello Reader,

Just a brief post to show off the new page template ... and to keep my every other day rule. I will be doubling up though - two posts in one weekend! I have a photo project that I will share tomorrow. Here's a hint below:

Any guesses??

Thanks for reading!

- M

Resolutions Continued...

Hello Reader,

First, I want to say how proud I am of myself for completing two posts within the first three days of the new year - yay for starting things off right!

Second, I am working on completing projects regularly. I often buy all the supplies for said projects and then the supplies just take up space. Well, I have already completed my first project of 2013! I made chalkboard paint! I was so surprised it actually worked! Check out my new chalkboard below.

Third, I have continued to do some thinking and reflecting on 2012 and what 2013 may be shaping up to be. I am going to call them "Reflection Games" because I have no idea how else to refer to them. 

The first one was "Learn from your successes, Mad-Lib style" from Self Magazine. This one forces you to focus on achievements of the past year, which is a good thing. Plus, t has some humor which is a necessary thing I think. 

The other Reflection Game I completed was, "What a Year It's Been" that I found here. This one is technically for children...but I found it rather deep and thought provoking. 

I think this is what resolutions should look like; focus on the highlights and what exciting possibilities may pop up in the following year. Since taking a little more time to think about all of this, I know I could at least double if not triple my list of what I am looking forward to in 2013.

And finally, just to balance out all these positive, warm-fuzzy feelings is a Calvin and Hobbes comic about resolutions to add a little snark to the day.

Thanks for reading!

- M

Happy New Year from AZ!

Hello Reader,

I have - once again - failed to keep up with blogging. So, it is now part of my New Years Resolutions!

With that being said, I have some mixed feelings about new years resolutions and I feel I should air them before continuing.

I have been rather cynical all New Year's Day because I do not see today as the start of the new year, I see it as the end of my 10 day vacation. As a result, I have been doing some reflecting on what this time has meant in past years. I used to write down regrets I had of the year and tear them up at midnight and resolve to not live with those regrets in the following year. I eventually ran out of regrets at the end of the year since I had resolved to not make them again, so I hopped on board with this resolution thing - sort of. I do want to incorporate more reading and writing into my daily life and adopt more of a "just do it" attitude to cut down on procrastination which should allow for more time for such things. I think it is important to remember that anyone can make a resolution at any time. There is a "clean slate" feeling that comes with a new year, however, why wait til January 1st try something new or start a new habit? Change takes time, and new habits take 21 days to form (according to Twyla Tharp). So, as I am trying to squeeze this blog post in before the end of the first day of the new year, I will work on my new resolutions and consider each day a new chance to embrace them.

Finally, the ode-to-2012 Facebook posts are in abundance this year with themes of "ups and downs" and "lessons learned" and "personal growth." I just want to say, I hope when anyone looks at any 365 days in their life that it is filled with lessons learned from ups and downs and they've grown as an individual because of it. It is not because of 2012, it is simply life. My 2012 was certainly full of ups and downs, lessons learned, and lots and lots of personal growth and as a way to keep record of it, I will continue to blog.

Here's to an amazing 2013 - Cheers!

Thanks for reading.

- M

Happy One Year in AZ To Me!

Hello Reader,

One year ago today I moved to AZ. I can't believe it!

And to celebrate, I moved again ... only about two miles this time which was not as bad as the previous 3,000 ish. I am not a fan of moving/packing/unpacking. Below is how things looked mid-move today. It always looks worse before it looks better, right?

 Another mini celebration - or more of a milestone - was going to Ballet Under The Stars by Ballet Arizona last night. I went last year the first weekend I was here, and it was great to go again. It's great to see the dancers, sunset, mountains, palm trees, and the "lake" all in one glance. I think it will be the first of many annual traditions for me here.

When I first moved out here, I was told it takes a year to adjust to the job. But I feel as if that advice extends beyond my job. I know what to expect in the year to come and I am ready for it. For now, I am going to work on settling in to the new apartment and try to find where the spoons have been packed away.

 Thanks for reading!

- M

My First Time in AZ

Hello Reader,

A year ago today I touched down in Phoenix, AZ for the first time. I arrived on a Thursday afternoon and was greeted by a classic 116 degree AZ summer day. (It was 76 degree that day when I left Maine, I made special note of the temperature.) And about 24 hours later, I was back in Maine with the reality of moving to AZ starting to sink in.

I remember the trip from the airport to the hotel very clearly. I was in awe of this new environment. The cacti, the warm earthy tones, the public art, palm trees, and the contrasting landscape of the flat valley surrounded by mountains. It was completely the opposite of my world in Maine. Not good, not bad, just different.

After my interview out here, I was waiting at an intersection for my shuttle to come pick me up and take me back to the airport. I remember trying to orient myself to where the airport and hotel were in relation to this campus - I realize now I was terribly turned around. Thank goodness my sense of direction has greatly improved daily since being here.

I now walk by that intersection daily. It always makes me smile to think that's the spot where I made phone calls back east saying, "I think the interview went really well," "I think they liked me," "I may have said something stupid in front of the dean," "one lady yelled at me to drink more water because I was from Maine" and "I think I could handle living in the desert."

Well, it all worked out just fine - obviously.

Thanks for reading.

- M

Back to school ...

Hello Reader,

Remember that Staples ad where the father was flying down the aisles collecting school supplies for his kiddos and you hear, "it's the most wonderful time of the year" playing in the background?  See below ...

... I relate to the kiddos in the ad right now. Classes start in the morning, and I'm not sure if I am ready (actually, I know I am not ready, I just realized I didn't post my syllabus today). Things have slowly been picking up all over town the past few weeks. It has been a ghost town this summer. I saw a population count for Tempe, AZ be estimated at approximately 50,000 people...this number confuses me since the Tempe campus has approximately 50,000 students, but it certainly felt as if the whole town left during summer vacation.

I started to feel the end of summer blues a few weeks ago when the local high schools resumed. I wait for the bus across the street from one and I get my fair share of people watching in by 7:30 a.m. everyday. (I find the most fascinating pattern to be when these students all get off their respective buses they make their way to the Walgreen's across the street. The first week I noticed this pattern, all the students seemed to leave the store with balloons. I have discovered they typically leave with sugary drinks and snacks before they go into the school. That is a rant for another day.)

I find the end of summer blues come with a lot of reflection. I've been thinking about high school, my first year of college (and the 5 years that followed), and how I had no idea I would be moving to AZ at this time last year. It is amazing how much can happen and drastically change in a year. I think that is a good conclusion to come to and keep with me on the eve of the fall semester.

Ready or not, here we go!

- M