More failure, but also some win! Also: incoherent ranting.

So I went with my friend to the library already a couple weeks ago now. I decided to try a little harder to honor a couple items on my (summer) bucket list and grabbed an "Italian for Dummies" book and a nonfiction (my goal is to read 5 this year, since this is a genre I'd like to read more of).

Let me give you a little summary of how those have been going....

I think I've now opened the Italian book twice, and that was right after I got it. Sigh. I would love to be able to say things in Italian, but I'm way too stinkin' lazy to actually go through the learning process on any more languages. After 7 or 8 years learning German, I'm all "languaged" out!

As for the nonfiction, I picked up a biography on Princess Diana. I was actually pretty excited to read it; I think the lives of royal families are fascinating, especially Di's. And, you know, it's not all that bad. In fact, I'd go as far as to say it's interesting. However, I've been chugging along slowly for a couple weeks and, at this point, I'm more interested in finishing so I can read my next book (one of the many I've bought irresponsibly) than because I'm enjoying it. I also know I will not be able to finish it by the time it's due at the library, so I'm calling this one a fail and moving on.

In other news, I started a new job at a cafe inside a book store and I love it! Perfect environment for me. It's taking some time to learn all the drinks, but I can't be too hard on myself because I've never worked at a coffee place before.

Anyway, on Sunday, the power in our entire half of the mall went out! It was a little hectic, until they told me I could leave a couple hours early! Which meant I got to get a head start driving down to my cousin's grad party (which was about 45 minutes away). It was a whole lotta win until my power steering went out... and then my AC (and OF COURSE it was sweltering out that day). Long story short I was able to drive it to a car place near my aunt and uncle's house, but I had to stay overnight with NO overnight stuff. Boo.

But. BUT! I ended up just being really glad my car broke down (my parents agreed to pay for it and it all worked out in the end) because I got to spend an extra day with the fam, which included my grandparents in town from South Carolina. It was so great. Reminded me of my childhood when the whole family (all 20 of us) would rent a beautiful house on the beach every summer. Good times!

Here's a gem from almost 20 years ago! Probably one of the first years of the traditional vacay. My cousin is plopping sand in my hair.... In typical Holden Beach fashion! (Fun Fact: the baby in the background is the one who just graduated. Time flies!)

I also scored TONS of yummy grad party leftovers. WIN!

Spending all that time with my aunt and uncle, grandparents, and cousins was so great. It hit me that I've been focusing too much on what I don't have for too long, and it's time to start appreciating what I do have. I grew up being really close with my extended family. It's tough sometimes that they live all over the country: Arizona, Delaware, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin. As we've grown older, it's been much harder to get together and we go much longer between visits.

Sometimes I feel sorry for myself that I don't have a huge circle of friends, the perfect roommate, or lots of family that lives close by. But I have much much more than so many people, and when I think of my friends and family, I think of each of them so fondly! I know I couldn't possibly be more lucky and blessed. Nobody's perfect, but my friends and family are all pretty great!