Roadtrip!

I am here! And the drive out to Colorado was awesome. Even as we pulled away from the house and headed out I still didn't feel sad about leaving. I had been waiting in the days prior to say "It finally hit me that I am leaving." Then once it has hit you you are supposed to feel sad and feel doubts. It never "hit." It just was. I have never felt more ready for something. I was ready to start anew! I was grinning as we hit the highway. Driving through Spanish Fork canyon in the spring is always pretty incredible. Anyway, after a long intro, here are a few things I learned on my way to Highlands Ranch, Colorado:

1. Discovering how many songs I had on my iPod begin with "ain't." It was impressive. I started listening alphabetically. :)
2. The passersby in Green River, Utah are very honest. My aunt left her purse behind at a gas station and it was still there 30 minutes later.
3. I am like Dory on Finding Nemo. I drove behind the UHaul that my aunt and uncle were pulling and I probably read the back of that trailer 100 times. Every time I would start at the top, and read it, like I'd never seen it before. MORE AERODYNAMIC! 25% EASIER TOWING! SAVES FUEL! Fascinating.
4. Colorado has a highway exit titled "No Name." Very original.
5. I LOVE driving by myself for long periods of time. I love road trips.
6. I am super skilled at writing things down without taking my eyes off the road. Don't tell the cops.
7. Discovering how stinking giddy I am to even be in Colorado. Best. Feeling. Ever.

So now I have been here for a little less than a week and I have visited with two probable employers, had my application for Colorado license approved, and have spent time with new guy friends. I was lucky to move out here knowing three LDS dental school duders. They invited me out to dinner on Sunday and I went to institute with one last night. I have been running with Dana too...trying to get back into it. I just need to give a shout out to Dana and Ryan, who I am staying with. They are the most amazing friends and I am so lucky for their generosity. It is making this transition cake. As for the job hunt...things are looking VERY good, and I will post when things get more, um, specific. I am very happy here. I know I made the right decision. :)

What's this brave stuff about?

Let's start out with some background. I am 29 and single. That coupled with the fact that I am leaving Utah has created some pretty strong objections across my social circles. Apparently you are a complete moron if you even THINK you can get married once you leave the state at such an age. I remember telling myself years ago that if I was still single when I was 'older' I would leave Utah. I never believed that by leaving I would subject myself to singleness forever and an abnormal interest in cats. Quite the opposite in fact. Even years ago, I knew that I wanted to prove critics wrong.

Ironically most of the weird looks I get come from singles. My awesome married friends think it is the greatest idea ever. "Lucky her, going on an adventure!" In fact, most of my fellow graduated hygienist friends that are tied down here expressed their jealousy. See, there ARE perks to still being single!

Now on to why I chose my blog title. There have been a couple girls who have said some pretty neat things to me this past week. Both of them are in my ward, and when girl A found out that I was moving on Saturday, she started asking me all these questions, telling me how amazing and brave I was and how she was jealous. She even said that I inspired her. Ha. Inspired eh? :) She said that she totally looked up to me and I joked that I was paving the way for all single girls to get up the guts to move from Provo. Now onto comment from girl B - posted on my facebook wall... "I'm so glad I ran into you...I'm suddenly feeling all kinds of motivated. On behalf of all of the girls still in Provo, thank you for lighting a fire under us--look out world, here we come! ;) Good luck in Denver, Erin, AMAZING things are in store for you~xoxo"

That makes a girl feel pretty good. And brave. I leave on Saturday. :)

Megan, I can't believe I am doing this.

Seriously, I am more nervous about starting a blog than I am to pick up and leave all I know and move to Denver. That probably attests to my personality. I visited with a good friend Meg the other night and she was the umpteenth person to try and talk me into keeping a blog. I am not that entertaining. Isn't there a law that you have to have children first, or at least be married? Don't you have to be witty? My sister in law Erin is queen of witty anecdotes. She is my idol. Too bad she hasn't written in a while. Nudge nudge. Anywho...Meg insisted that this was like a mini journal, and for her she just wanted to be kept in the loop about what was happening in my life. Well there you go, Meg mentions the word journal to me and I'm already hooked. Once a guy called me John Taylor. Just last week my buddy Clayton teased me about how good I am at journaling and how "in court, at final judgment you will win with all your the evidence." Well...I like to think so.

Long story short, here I go.