Um hi

Hello there. Is this thing on?

First of all, in order to save you the trouble of researching my whereabouts for the last 7 years online and in other archives, allow me please to summarize what has happened since my last entry, which was written way back in September of 2010, right before I turned 33.

Hmm, well... I turned 33, then all the other years up to and including 39 which is my current age.

I wrote sporadically in a few different blogs:

February to March of 2011: Go West Old Lady!

March of 2011: Each Day a New Step

July of 2013: Manifest Charity

I also started using Instagram, which is the main reason I stopped blogging. It's easier to share a photo with a caption than to try to write a blog entry. Sad but true.

October of 2012 to present: Instagram

Other than time passing and age setting in, what has happened? Not too much... I got together with Collin, we moved to SF, we got married, I worked in a grocery store then for IOA, I drove across the country with mom, I made some dear friends and then had to leave them behind in Pacific Standard Time, I moved to NC with Collin, I paid off my student loans, and we bought a house, and two cars.

Sam is still doing well, although he has lost about 5 teeth, and we have Collin's cat Guiness and a new cat named Jasper. Oh, and I'm about 40 pounds over my goal weight NO BIG DEAL.

I'm looking for a job (again), this time here in Durham where we live now. I'm volunteering with a few senior services organizations and working part-time as a companion for mostly homebound seniors. I'm sure I'll talk more about it, if I ever write another blog entry.

I'm in the middle of making a bunch of photo books and trying to organize the documentation of my life so far, which is why I've ventured back into blogger.

Oh and I'm doing the May Minimalist Challenge, so I've been getting rid of things. 1 the first day, 2 the second day etc.

So far:

Day 1: I got rid of the Goat Yoga issue of Indy Week.

Day 2 (today): I got rid of 2 packs of shelf hardware that I clearly don't need since all my shelves have been assembled.

I also had to throw out an expired sunscreen and two hand soaps that I think smell gross since I brought in two camp chairs and an ice/drinks bucket last night!

Generally I won't just repost my Instagram photos on my blog, I promise, but I imagine I'll want to talk about the challenge as it gets more challenging. I've really been accumulating stuff over the last few years. (Since I got rid of all the stuff I'd accumulated before moving out to SF...) Getting rid of things can be emotional for me but I've got to make more space in my life for things that matter.

-charity

Save Me From Myself!

Entitled "Trapped on Sephora's website" or "Throw me a bone... and 200 bucks"

I don't have money;
Shopping cart tells different tale.
What student loans?

Collections

Well, I got my first letter from a Collection Agency today. I have officially joined the ranks of the debt-ridden and down-trodden, I guess. I feel so welcome.

Seriously, it's so funny because after almost an entire year (about 10 months) I had actually just finally paid it! Crazy. I wanted to call and be all irate, like "You sisterfuckers! I paid this LAST WEEK after I received your FIFTEENTH NOTICE. Do you really have to be such impatient jerkfaces? Or did you not even bother to get your shit together in time to let the Collection Agency know I already paid this shizzle?! Geez. Let me speak with your manager."

Tonight I'm not in the show (so sad) but I'm SO looking forward to staying at home with the cats, and perhaps even doing some CRAFTS! Hmm, but I guess I should be writing. Last night I wrote a joke. :-) I'm very proud of myself, actually. I'll try to write more tonight. I'm seriously considering the stand-up class. Who wants to give me $500? (Last time I asked for money, the universe provided it, so I thought I'd give it a chance.)

Oh! And also, I'm working lights this weekend at the theatre. All by myself!

I'm full of all kinds of new skills! Better than being chock full of nuts I guess. (The joke is a little better than that...)

xo,
Charity :-)

Ready? O! K!

I feel oodles better. Probably for several reasons.

1) Sunday night we had an improv gig at an Oscar Party! Several of us gathered in a tiny corral blocked off by red velvet rope, flashing filmless cameras and asking the arriving black tie attendees who they were wearing and if we could have their autographs. Quite possibly the funnest improv gig yet. It was so rewarding, too, because the people LOVED IT. Very satisfying for all involved. Plus, it was at Pricci, which I LOVE and where Sanks took me on our first big date after he got back from India and we decided to give it another try.

2) Which brings me to my second point. Namely, Sanks! He makes me feel better. (I'm turning into a sap. PLEASE SAVE ME FROM MYSELF!) The one year anniversary of our first date is coming up this month. It's hard to believe. Of course, we were apart for several months, but I don't care about the technicalities. I'm just so thankful that he's in my life. It feels good to get that out of my system. Thanks for listening. :-)

3) Since Sanks lives in NC most of the time I didn't get to see him last weekend. Sad, yes, but the lack of ANY obligations was quite enjoyable for me, as I spent ALL DAY Saturday in bed. I know people say that, and what they mean is that they woke up late morning, stayed in their pajamas, maybe even ate cereal in bed or something, curled up on the couch and watched TV, went to the bathroom - you know, the usual. Well I LITERALLY slept until 5 pm. I could have stayed in bed, too, but I didn't feel comfortable sleeping THROUGH Saturday and into Sunday. It just didn't seem right. So I woke up and went to eat at La Fonda with my girlfriend Katie. Then we hung out at Borders for probably an hour (I LOVE that about her - that she can stay as long as me and be perfectly content!). Then I went home and crawled back into bed. Sunday I awoke feeling refreshed - FINALLY - and went to church! It was great. I haven't been in way too long, and I really do love my church.

4) Katie and I work out together, and since I've been sick I haven't felt up to it. However, after my doozie of a sleep fest this weekend, I finally had the energy to pick it back up again! It's been so nice going to work out with Katie the past two nights.

5) Tomorrow I have to work at Whole World, which I wasn't expecting. I don't mind, though, because since I missed rehearsal last week I've been feeling quite deprived. Also, rehearsal was cancelled for this week, since there is a private show Thursdays (Mainstage Cast does the private shows, so the Apprentice Cast doesn't perform unfortunately). So I'm glad I get to go down there and make sure it's all under control. :-)

6) I'm all ready for the next time I perform, though. I got my hair cut today!! It looks pretty much the same, which is kind of disappointing, except for the fact that it looks the same because it's a great haircut... I also bought a new hair dryer and flat iron because I was feeling like a little girl that needed a new toy or two. Plus they were on sale (although I really shouldn't have - really).

7) Which brings me to my next point. No, not security (Oh come on, haven't you seen Waiting for Guffman???!). Student loans. Yuck. I finally made my move though. I called those little buggers and told them that they better process my income sensitive repayment plan changes and quick, because like I've been telling them for the past three months "I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY $900 A MONTH ON THESE BAD BOYS." I think I MAY have gotten them to understand this time (fingers crossed, prayers said).

8) Since I was doing that adult stuff today, I went ahead and made a doctor's appointment and a dentist's appointment. I know, it sounds pretty mundane, but this is a HUGE step for me. I've been putting it off since I graduated, since I have ALWAYS gone to University Health Services, either at Emory or UNCA. Big step. Well, the dentist is different, but I have to switch dentists, too, since they changed my insurance, so this is new, too! How exciting!

9) Life is not all work though. This weekend (meaning Sunday afternoon), I called some friends of mine to catch up. Yay! I spoke with the Elliotts via Skype for the first time. They've been trying to get me on there for some time. It was awesome. Like, are they *IN* the computer?! (Please don't tell me you haven't seen Zoolander either...)

So until the next time, peace and blessings to all of you. Please, if you are so inclined, keep my friend Drew and my boss Nan and her family in your prayers. Nan's daughter is very sick an she and her husband took a much-needed trip to MADRID (my favorite place in the universe) this week. It was already scheduled and they felt very hesitant but I'm so glad they decided to go anyway. They need to recharge desperately. Also Drew is not feeling 100% and needs to do a little rebounding herself.

Love,
Charity :-)