Love wins!

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On January 6, 2015, it became legal for same-sex couples to marry in the state of Florida. (Hooray!) There have still been some complications, but it is legal, and Orlando welcomes marriage equality.

This is wonderful news. Florida is finally on the right side of history,

On January 11, 2015, Bo asked me to marry her, and I said yes.

We love each other fiercely, and as cheesy as it sounds, I truly believe that she is my other half. I can't imagine sharing my life with anyone else the way I have shared it with her.

So we're going to get married.

We haven't set a date yet, but we have some ideas of what we'd like to do for our wedding, as well as when. Right now we're just in the beginning-est planning stages, thinking about the wedding in more abstract terms, especially because of some significant career changes that are happening later this year (more on that in the next couple of days).

In the meantime, we're enjoying the excitement and anticipation of this new adventure in our life together, and sending lots of thank you messages to friends and family.

It's going to be a good year.

Renew Your Spirit Sunday with Autumn

According to my calendar, it's fall now. We've passed the magical day of the autumnal equinox, and the days are continuing to shorten as we work our way toward winter.

According to our electric bill, it's still summer. The weather continues to hover around the upper 80s and into the 90s, and it's rather humid.

Autumn is when I miss the Midwest. It gets chilly earlier in the year there than it does here, and I'm always eager to make the switch from the sweltering heat to the coolness of fall.

And the trees aren't as pretty here. There are trees with leaves that change, but because it stays so much warmer here than in the Midwest, not all of the leaves fall. And there are lots of palm trees, too. It's just not the same.

Autumn is my favorite season. There is just something I love about stepping outside to feel that little bit of a chill in the air and needing a jacket in the evenings and seeing the brightly colored leaves all over. There's nothing quite like snuggling into your favorite sweater or hoodie and wrapping your hands around a hot cup of coffee on a cool morning.

I'm not a big fan of pumpkin spice everything, but I can look past it for everything else.

There's still a little bit of time until I'll feel like autumn is really here. Until then, I'll keep looking longingly at my autumn clothes, waiting somewhat patiently until I can start dressing a little cozier.

Does it feel like autumn where you are?

Florida speaks out for marriage equality

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There's movement in the efforts for marriage equality all over the country, including my (now) home state of Florida.

In August of this year, a federal judge declared Florida's 2008 marriage amendment unconstitutional. However, there was a 30-day stay put on the ruling to allow for appeals. On September 5th, Attorney General Pam Bondi asked the judge not to lift the stay on the ruling, saying that the decision should be made by the U.S. Supreme Court. She has since filed an appeal on behalf of a court clerk and two Rick Scott employees to overturn the recent ruling in favor of marriage equality. Bondi's position is that the decision should be made by the voters and not by the courts, arguing that the 2008 amendment speaks for Florida's residents.

Rick Scott decided not to prevent the appeal. As far as I know, there has not been a date set to hear the argument at the Eleventh Circuit Court.

This is major progress, and it's good.

However, there is part of me that thinks motions and briefs and appeals and whatever else will be filed and filed to delay at least until the middle of November because Bondi (and Scott) are up for re-election.*

Marriage equality is important to me. It's frustrating to me to think that the state I love and call home has legislation that tells me I'm not allowed to marry someone I love. That my family is less than for something out of my control.

I don't know what's going to happen in Florida, or when. But I hope Florida will stand on the right side of history.






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*Which could be a very good thing, depending on who wins the elections.

Autumn

"Herbst" by Martin Heiß - selbst fotografiert von Martin Heiß
(Originalgröße 3072 x 2048, fürs Web skaliert).
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

I'm tired of summer weather.

I'm tired of the car being swelteringly hot every time I get in it, and I'm tired of sweating nearly every time I leave the house. I'm tired of weather being in the upper 90s every day.

Slowly (oh so slowly) the temperature has been falling lately. Where it was once 97 or 98, it's now 87 or 88. We're finally shifting to autumn in central Florida.

Of course, autumn doesn't mean the same thing here as it did in central Illinois, which I'm still trying to adjust to. But I'll still be glad for it to finally feel like a Florida autumn.

I have some clothing items I'll be happy to start wearing (jeans), and a few items I'll be happy to purchase for the cooler weather (new boots). And, more than anything, I'll be glad to open the windows and patio door during the day to let the fresh air into the apartment. I don't like feeling cooped up, which is how I've felt lately. It's been much too hot to turn off the air conditioning and open the windows.

I'm ready for that little bit of chill in the air, even if it's not the same as an Illinois autumn.

One year later

I've been back in Florida for about a year now.

And it's been a helluva year, and things have changed.

Prior to moving, I was reaching the end of my divorce, had recently come out as a lesbian, and was working in a job I enjoyed and had potential, but was taking a toll on me. I decided that the move would be a fresh start for me, and I would focus on taking specific (if small) steps to make positive changes in my life.

I've gone back to loving what I do.

I enjoyed the traditional job I worked while I was living in Illinois, but now I'm back to doing freelance writing, which is much more in line with my goals and passion. I love my job--even on the hard days--and I can't wait to work every day. I can't imagine doing anything else. And if it weren't for the relocation last year, I wouldn't have gone back to it.

I'm in an amazing relationship.

When I met Bo, relationships were far from a priority in my life. I was working a lot, Puck was in preschool, and I was moving toward my personal and professional goals. When I met her, I knew we had some similar interests, and I thought I would, at the very least, make a new friend. I did, and much more. I'm so thankful for what she brings to my life, and she makes me happier than I've been in a long, long time.

I'm closer to my significant, long-term goals.

When I moved to Florida a year ago, I made some long-term goals, both professional and personal. Some were easily achievable and others were kind of a stretch (attainable, but difficult). However, I've been making good progress toward almost all of those goals, and even the ones I didn't think I would achieve are within reach.

I am nowhere near where I was a year ago, and I'm happier for it.

It's been a good year.

I missed the rain

One thing that can be said about Florida is that it rains here. During the summer, it's likely to rain at least briefly every afternoon.

The clouds come out of nowhere and darken the sky, the rain falls, and just as quickly, the sun is back drying the pavement again.

I missed the rain while I was living in the Midwest. I didn't realize how much until I was back here.

Since I moved, it's been raining off and on, as is the custom. And I find myself opening the blinds on the windows so I can watch.

Sometimes the rain is heavy, with fat drops tapping on the windows. Other times, the rain is fine, almost misty, reminding me of snow the way it almost floats to the ground, giving the pavement a sheen.

I leave my blinds open a lot in my office space (so I don't have to turn the lights on for the majority of the day), and when it rains, it's hard not to just stand by the window for a while and watch it fall. It can be distracting in the middle of a work day.

What kind of weather do you like?






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Photo source: Christian Southworth/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Starting to feel settled

I've been in the new place a couple of weeks now (my move-in date got delayed for a variety of reasons, including the promise of new flooring in the kitchen and bathrooms, and all new appliances), and I'm finally starting to feel settled, and like this is where I live, not just where I'm staying.

Of course, when I was in the hotel, I definitely didn't feel like I actually lived in Florida. Now that I'm in my new place and getting everything arranged the way I want, it's feeling much more like home, little by little.

I had a strange moment this week when I bought a ceramic.... "thing" for my kitchen utensils to sit in. (It's not a jar, and not really a pot.... you know what I mean. A thing.) I had lots to choose from, and I picked one I liked, took it home and put my utensils in it. Then moved it to the other side of the stove (because I'm left-handed). And in that moment, I realized that I'm right where I need to be.

It may be silly or cheesy, but I've really struggled with this move to Florida. Not only because my entire family except for the munchkins are in the Midwest, but because of the major career change that came with the move, and the major change in my short- and long-term plans.

Maybe that's part of why it's taking me so long to feel more at home here: I'm still working on adjusting my plans. I know that's what life is, but it doesn't mean it's always easy. This is one of the not-easy phases of my life. And I'm adjusting, making it all work for me.

It was a strange revelation to come on the heels of putting a spatula in a thing, but there you go.

Well, I'm in Florida.

I haven't officially moved quite yet (long story), but I'm in Florida, and I do have an apartment pre-leased (another long story).

It's strange to be here, especially so close to where I lived when I was here before. There are some things that seem very different, and other things that haven't changed at all.

And even though I've driven past certain stores or restaurants and said, "Oh! I remember that!", it feels so, so different to be here now after being away for (almost exactly) two years.

For one thing, I never thought I'd live here again. Like, ever. Not even in retirement. But now that I'm here, I'm taking ownership of it as my home (at least for the next 16 years), and reminding myself of why I enjoyed living in the state, and in the area I'm going to be living in.

The apartment I have lined up is perfect for what I need, and in a great location. Not only is it close to Puck's school, but it's located close to shopping (and entertainment), and I'm familiar with the area.

There's lots to do in the area for the kids, as well as for me (when the kids are with Monty). I'm close to the beach, and at least one member of my support system is planning to move nearby-ish as a snowbird beginning fall/winter 2014.

Here's the thing. I live in Florida now. And even though it wasn't in my plan, it's where I am. I have to find happiness where I am. And, more importantly, it's where my munchkins are. As long as I have my munchkins, I'm good.

So I'm in Florida.

Floridian seasons, as observed by an Illinoisian

Jen over at Divinest Sense has a nice post up today about spring in Florida.  I started to comment on it, but my comment started sounding like its own post, so I decided to write over here so as not to clutter Jen's comment section with my rambling.

I am not a Florida native.  I was born in northern Illinois, and then followed my father all over the country during his years in the military.  When he got out of the Army, we settled back in Illinois.  I graduated high school in northern Illinois and college in central Illinois.  When people ask where I'm from, I tell them Illinois.  It's the state that feels most like home (outside of Florida).