What a recap.

This post is about to be seriously picture happy. It's been so long and there's so much to say...so might as well post a bunch of iphone pics, right?

I'm ashamed to say it's going on two and a 1/2 months since the last time I managed to blog. That's what a move halfway across the country and a new job will do. It's been a tough and sometimes wonderful few months for a lot of reasons. What I know for sure- There's a lot more of <--this landmark in my life.

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I finalized my new job in St. Louis sometime in May or early June, and from that day on it was a whirlwind. My last day at WVEC in Norfolk was June 24. Definitely a bittersweet experience to say goodbye to so many wonderful co-workers and friends. It was my first real tv job, and there were a lot of things that made my decision to leave the right one, but I grew so much in those 18 months and it was hard to leave that behind.

Me with our meteorologist, Evan Stewart. Wonderful guy.

Because of just how great they were (are)...I had a lot of writing to do! This stack took me a few weeks and several pens to finish and I STILL didn't get to write a note to everyone I'd hoped to.

If any of my friends at 13 are reading this, know that I am forever grateful for your kind words, every bit of advice and oh so many laughs. Hampton Roads is lucky to have you.

I don't even know what to say about the little going away meal we had on my last weekend...the weekend crew knows exactly how to do it. Especially Mr. Editor Extraordinaire, Ricky, who knows my weakness for some good brisket.

The meal that almost kept me in VA. Forever.

So so tasty. OK, I'll move on.... After the goodbyes (which I hate and am awful at and eek they make me shiver) I headed home. This lady was waiting for me... Notice the peace sign.

Doesn't she look happy to be in my apartment!? Packing all my stuff, cleaning endlessly, stressing about fitting it in the moving truck, and trying to keep her life in Missouri together from a few thousand miles away...sounds like fun to me! Luckily she's a saint. And we had wine. We even went on a little late night adventure to meet my fabulous friend, Kyle, who was in town for a wedding. We ended up staying out until the bar closed then walking on the beach one last time. It was the perfect way to wrap up my time on the east coast.

I got one last visit from one of my favorite happy couples, TeTe and Henry, who have since gotten engaged (!!!) and set a wedding date for next June. {So so happy for two of the most deserving people I have ever known! Love you both!} ---------------------------------->


And then there was Shilpa. The best neighbor, party-thrower, Baxter's-goer, skin doctor and froyo buddy ever. Still so grateful for the wonderful people I met in Norfolk. Thanks for being such bright spots in my life.

I kinda never thought it was going to happen but we finally got the apartment completely empty and clean.  For the record, the movers somehow managed to put up with waaayy too much stuff, three flights of stairs in brutal heat and our all-around craziness. Maybe because Mother kept convincing them to take my stuffed animals for their own children, despite any sentimental attachment of my own.

One torrential downpour that flooded my street, and a very sweet white board note later.....

...we were off! We had a fun road trip back and I am finally (almost) unpacked here in StL. I am no longer a VA resident, though the continued account withdraws from Dominion energy and Cox cable suggest otherwise. But that's another story. :-)

My mom says thanks for reading! 
      love, em

P.s. she also sent me this today. She got QUITE the kick out of it.

From the STL Post Dispatch, 9/5/12