Hello, everybody! As I begin to distribute this URL, I figured I should write a little something to let you know you’re in the right place.

Today is Wednesday, August 4, 2010, so exactly one week from today I begin my trek to Texas. I only have two days left at my job. It’s actually really sad. I love it there and the people are amazing. I’ve made so many good friends there that I will miss dearly. But good news! I’m putting up this blog partially for their benefit so I don’t have to lose touch!

I am not really that worried about whether I’ll like it down there or whether I’ll succeed. (Many people have expressed concern for me, as I’ve never visited the area, or the school, or the apartment I’ll be living in. I’ve never been there and I’m pretty much going down blind.) I don’t think I’m naive, I think I just know what I want. I am extremely excited to have my own place, and to be fully engulfed in one of the things I’m really passionate about – math. I know I’ll have to do better at motivating myself to do the work, but I also will not have anything distracting me that I had in college. No job (except more math) and no boyfriend. Plus, I’ll have the added motivation of knowing this is the one thing I have, the one thing I want. No room for error, so I’ll give it all I have.

But anyway, I’m in coast mode in PA now. I’m wrapping things up at work and making an effort to see all of my family and friends before I go. I likely won’t be back until Christmas-time (except a 36 hour stay in Pittsburgh for the Steelers/Ravens game in October!). I had to say goodbye to my family earlier than I would have liked (last saw them July 11th), but I made 4 visits home in 3 months, so I think that’s good. I have been seeing and saying goodbye to friends for a while now. I saw as many of my high school friends as I could during my trips home and I have been trying to visit with all of my college friends too. I haven’t gotten to see some of the closest friends I made while I was here in the Philly area due to circumstances beyond my control, and it really bugs me that I probably won’t get to say goodbye, but I’m trying not to think about it. I am making an effort and it takes two to maintain a friendship…

I may update again in PA before I leave – maybe some packing news as I get everything boxed up again and loaded into the car (yes, I’m DRIVING from PA to TX). Until then, I hope you’ll stick around and keep up with me. Feel free to comment on these entries, e-mail, text, and/or call. I’d love to keep in touch with all of you from Pennsylvania!