Shopping, Party of One?

I'm not good at being alone. I like to be surrounded by friends whenever possible. And although there are times I want to be alone, they usually don't last more than a few hours before I'm ready to be social again.

This has been the hardest part of the move to PA. In Memphis, I worked 60-80 hours a week at the theatre, and my coworkers were my friends. We were one big artsy fartsy family! And although I am making friends here, I haven't made those deep connections yet. Don't get me wrong, I don't expect this to happen overnight and I think I'm making friends at a normal pace, but I am spending a lot of time alone and find myself feeling depressed.

To try to be better about being alone I am making an attempt at doing something on my days off when I'm alone. For example, I'm off tomorrow so I'm planning to go on a little shopping trip (mostly window shopping) to one of the nearby "bigger" cities with better malls. The problem is that I hate the idea of going alone. Is it really worth driving an hour or more each way to maybe spend $30? And when I get there will I have any fun by myself and without a friend to help tell me what looks good and what's crap?!? I'm used to shopping with friends which is probably why I like shopping so much, so how will it be any fun without the friends part?

Adjusting

It's been over a month and I've made it this long! My favorite things about Pennsylvania so far:

1. The scenery- the leaves are changing, the mountains are beautiful, and the sunsets are incredible. And I can dee star here at night!

2. I'm still cooking! I've made my first pork roast, my first swordfish steak, and many of my standards- lasagna, tilapia, mexican pizza. I'm also eating more veggies, which is really good!

3. Hallmark- I actually really like working there, and I had forgotten how good I was at retail. I sometimes think I should have gone into sales with my ability to talk to anyone at any time!

4. The Shopping- Now I know I said it kinda sucked, and it kinda does, but there is one great thing about the shopping here- the stuff that sold out in Memphis is still on the shelves here and SUPER discounted cause it's already cold outside! Example- this dress was originally priced $89 in Memphis and sold out before I could even think about buying it. I get here and it's still on shelves and marked down to $46.75. I wait and last week I bought it for, drum roll please...$26.30! Oh, and I used a coupon so it was only $21.36!! WHAT?!? I know it's too cold to wear right now but the whole reason I wanted it was for my trip to Hawaii in December! PERFECT!

5. Sales Tax- That's right, I like the sales tax. Why? Because there is none on food or clothes!! Every time I buy clothes I feel like I get a deal at the register cause I forget about the lack of tax until I get there! It's great!

So things are looking up. I've met a lot of the theatre department now and the head of their stage management program asked me to come speak to his class so we're working on a time for that. Also, I'm waiting to hear about a time but I did get on email from the music dept telling me I was on the short list for the job there and will be getting an interview with the committee! Yay! Fingers still crossed on that one! And our book club met for the first time, though only 2 of us showed up. I haven't gotten a definite time for the next meeting so we'll see if that pans out or not!

Pennsylvania

is nice. That's my stock response right now, because it is in fact nice. Hubby's new job keeps him really busy (I married a workaholic) and it's definitely challenging him which is great. But for me, I'm bored. I got a part time job at Hallmark and am looking for something full time or at least another part time job that might be in my field, but there aren't a whole lot of theatre jobs in central PA. At least, not that I have become aware of yet. I have applied for a stage management job with the college of music and am very hopeful for that one.

I've become quite the housewife in the last few weeks. I clean up during the day and cook dinner so it' ready when he gets home. I've never really thought too much one way or the other about the "role of the woman" to cook and clean. I figure some women want to do those things and some don't. I really like the cooking part- it's the part of the day I look forward to the most right now. And I know the husband doesn't expect to have "dinner on the table" when he gets home, I just actually like to cook and am enjoying having the time and opportunity to do so!

As for the rest of Pennsylvania, I'm not 100% sold on it yet. And I think I will be but right now my day is spent mostly inside and I get bored easily. I have gotten out, don't get me wrong- I've explored the little town we live in, Bellefonte, and seen some of the Victorian homes in the area and I really like the quaint little downtown area- there's a lovely little coffee shop and little gift stores that are all really nice. The thing I am missing is the feeling that I have a life with friends and something outside the home. I joined a book club and we'll meet for the first time next week so I'm hoping that will help to open up my social scene a bit. And hopefully I'll get a job that will also help my social scene some and get me meeting new people.

I'm not depressed about being here and I'm not feeling dejected here, I just feel like I'm in a bit of a rut. This is the first time I've moved somewhere and it had nothing to do with me really. I am thrilled for the hubby and am so glad we are here, but now I'm ready for a reason for me to love it too, if that makes sense. I know it will happen, I've always been able to make friends in new places in the past and I am sure I will here as well.

To all my Memphis friends, I miss you guys like crazy!

And one other thing- the shopping here, not so great. I need to explore the downtown State College area more because there are a lot of boutique type stores down there but I have not found a favorite store yet. Even the Macy's is disappointing- way smaller than what I was used to in Memphis. My friends that know how much I love to shop understand why this is a concern. There is a Kohl's so I can still get Vera Wang. Thank Goodness!! At least I have Vera!!

It's just one more pair of shoes...

Over a year ago I found a pair of BCBGirls shoes that I loved.  I had no reason to buy them and nothing really to wear them with, but I was drawn to them anytime I walked through a Dillard's.  Then I found my rehearsal dinner dress for my wedding- it was black and white, like the shoes and I thought, now I should buy them.  

So off to Dillard's I go with my mom and mother-in-law to be.  We found the shoes tried them on, and once again I talked myself out of them.  I thought about how much the wedding would cost and why should I spend an extra $100 bucks when I had a perfectly fine pair of black pumps already that I could wear.  So once again, I didn't buy them.

Now it's months later and I want those shoes so badly!!  I can't find them anywhere, not even Ebay, in black and white.  Orange and black yes, Grey and black yes, but no black and white.  My husband thinks I have too many shoes as it is, but what husband doesn't think that about their wife?  But I've warned him, once I find those shoes again (and I will continue to search!) they will be mine!  $100 or not- I want that shoe!