While at the University of Illinois, I studied Speech Communications and Sociology. Needless to say, I do not use my degree in my day to day job. However, I learned so much in college that I would highly recommend going just for the life lessons. My senior year in high school I was recruited to be a swimmer. I remained a swimmer until my senior year in 2005. It was an amazing experience and I have so many amazing lifelong friendships that I attribute to that team. My 5th year senior year I student coached and loved every second of it. I was very sad to leave in 2006, but of course you can't stay a [college]kid forever.
Now, I work as a medical biller or you could consider me the billing department of Clear Vision Ophthalmology, since I'm the only one in the department. This is my brother in law's ophthalmology clinic. I also co-own and operate the optical center in the clinic, which has been a great learning experience; first it allows me to learn the management and intuitive skills to run my own business, and secondly it allows me to develop my interpersonal communication and "sales" skills (which I can always work on). Hopefully I will be able to use what I learn to develop a larger business of my own in the future.
I got engaged on December 25, 2008 to my amazing fiance BillyJoe (William Joseph). He works for the Phoenix Police Department as an officer. I can't really get into much detail due to the semi-public nature of this blog. Either way we met at the University of Illinois where we were both student athletes; I was a swimmer and he was a wrestler. After I moved to Phoenix in the spring 2006 we remained friends until the fall of 2007 when I returned to Chicago for a visit. We reunited while I was there and he decided that I was the "one". He gave up everything in Chicago to move to Phoenix to be with me. We purchased our first home in the old town Scottsdale area in October of 2008. It is a perfect little place for us to start our life together. I am currently planning our wedding, needless to say progress is slow. Tentatively scheduled for early 2010, possibly February or March, in Phoenix.
My entire immediate family lives in Phoenix. My sister and brother in law moved here originally, and gave birth to their daughter Alarah on May 21, 2007. She is the light of all our lives. My parents are snow birds and live in Phoenix during the gorgeous part of the year (September/October-April/May) and live in Illinois during the summer months when its just too unbearable in the Arizona heat. My grandmother and aunt(on my mother's side) are moving to Phoenix in about a month. They are leaving their home of 20+ years, Honolulu, Hawaii, to be closer to family. Luckily they were able to rent their home in Hawaii so they will always still have their getaway in paradise.
I try to stay as active as possible. It is more difficult than one can imagine. My work schedule is pretty normal M-F 9-5 or so, but BillyJoe's schedule is the exact opposite. It's not easy, but we make it work. We both joined an MMA gym near our home, where he trains and I do the women's program. Luckily the weather is normally very nice and we are able to get out for runs and hopefully swims in our pool in the backyard within the next couple of weeks as the weather warms up.
We want to get a dog for our home soon and would love some tips and suggestions for breeds etc. We have a couple stipulations including size: large, temperament: semi-calm etc. BillyJoe wants to get an English Mastiff or Great Dane, where I have always been fond of the English Bulldog. Either way I know once we do pick a dog we will love him/her and he/she will enjoy being apart of our life.
I created this blog because I have seen a lot of people starting them as a tool to keep people updated on their lives and activities. I know that facebook is the thing to do nowadays, but I've had a facebook profile since it started with just 7 universities as the "network". It's a great website, but I think this might allow my friends and family to have a better view of what's going on in my life, as long as I keep it updated!
