I stole this from my brother and sister-in-law’s blog. I am convinced that nothing will ever bring me more joy than these precious, hysterical little characters.

The events of the past two days have been momentous. In a feat nothing short of heroic, my mom, my friend Scott, and I moved me out of my apartment in a single day… almost. There are still various items of detritus scattered throughout my old home, but mostly, we’re finished.

Miraculously, every single piece of furniture (aside from my vintage flowered chair and copper-doored cabinet – those stay with me no matter what) has been claimed, either by friends or through Craigslist. We met the nicest Craigslist family in the universe yesterday, and they bought several of my things. When the woman asked where I was moving, and I told her about my solo cross-country road trip, her eyes grew wide with dismay. Admonishing me to carry not only mace but a gun, she turned to my mom and asked her how she felt about my safety. When my mom shrugged it off, the woman turned to her daughter and said, “At least you only got pregnant.” A priceless moment in parenting.

If there is anything that I hate about moving, it is moving out. If there is anything that I love about moving, it is moving in. I now abide in the most darling, tiny basement apartment of some wonderful friends, and I always love setting up shop in a new place. I am so excited about how well this will work out, and am looking forward to establishing a new routine here.

I mentioned that this new place is tiny: a bedroom, bathroom, and baby kitchen (fridge and sink). The ceilings are low (Scott said, “Good thing you’re not a mammoth woman” – indeed, for many reasons), the windows are little, and the doorways are narrow. But nothing, my friends, is as tiny as the shower. Shaving my legs is going to be physically impossible in this stall; my experience last night confirmed this. Imagine me with my leg… wait. Never mind.

I have the best mom and friends in the world. Thank you to everyone who has supported me in various ways throughout this ordeal – and when I say “ordeal,” I am serious. I hate feeling unstable. But I guess I should get used to it – this is only the beginning.

Pictures of my new little home:

On this, the last night in my apartment, I used the very last of my Glad tall kitchen trash bags. Two years have come and gone, serendipitously timed in correspondence with the 75 pack box.

It’s been real.

I am convinced that it’s really easy to have dreams, especially when we keep them at a safe distance. How many years have I talked a big talk about moving to Nashville? Probably 10. And it’s been sweet and easy to dream about going – but actually going? That’s another story.

Yesterday I sent out a letter to all of my co-workers announcing my impending departure from my job. I spent a long time drafting this letter, and saying the things that I wanted to say, and yet my finger paused before pressing “Send.” Finally, with the push of a button, off it went, sealing my fate.

On Thursday, I will move out of my apartment. Many of my possessions are in boxes, sorted into various piles: yard sale, Goodwill, post office, keep, trash, beg someone to buy. It’s an uncomfortable place for me to dwell – on the unstable ground of vagrancy – but it’s the way it will be for awhile. Chasing dreams is not always comfortable.

In the past week, I have been in various studios at different points, recording for several projects: my own country stuff, music for a church project, a HIP HOP TRACK (seriously)… I have dreamed for years about recording in a professional environment, and yet when I finally arrived at my chance, headphones on and microphone in place, I found myself hesitating out of uncertainty. What if I make a mistake? What if it sounds bad? But even in that moment of doubt and risk, the tape is rolling and I open my mouth to sing.

It is one thing to have dreams – it’s another thing entirely to wholeheartedly pursue them. But you guys? I am having such a good time.

I have been very bad about writing this week – I am so sorry. Some major things are converging in my life at the moment, including several recording projects, a move out of my apartment, a visit from my mom, some odd interpersonal things, and the death of my grandmother on Sunday. I promise to write more about these things as soon as I can find the space to breathe.

In the meantime, just so you have something to focus on, I would like to direct your attention to one of my favorite bloggers, Clive Thompson. Who knows why I am so drawn to this guy? He writes about science and technology, two things that I don’t know much about… maybe that’s why I love reading his blog so much.

I’m not going to lie – geeks are hot. I have a thing for guys in good glasses, nerdy and oblivious to their own charm. There is a reason that the term “adorkable” was coined; granted, the reason is Adam Brody, but still. I have a cyber-crush on Clive, and I’ve never even seen a picture. He is intelligent and witty and curious, and explores otherwise dry subjects with charisma.

This is my favorite of his entries.

On Thursday night, a long-time dream of mine was fulfilled. I finally, finally saw Tim McGraw and Faith Hill in concert.

I’m going to bare my soul a little bit here. When Faith rose out of the stage (in a one-piece, sequined, halter jumpsuit, no less – now THAT is confidence) to sing her opening song, “Wild One,” I started crying. I’m not one for hysterics, especially over something as trivial as celebrity – and indeed, that was not what was moving my spirit. Rather, it was the fact that I first heard that song when I was about 12 years old, and it was one of the first songs that really sealed the deal between country music and me. I couldn’t help it – I just cried. I love that song, and it somehow reminded me of a home that I have not yet experienced.

For 3 hours, the entire show cocooned me. To me, it felt like worship – to be in a place where I was completely surrounded with the music that I have loved for so many years. I didn’t have to think or analyze or evaluate; I felt at home.

During a killer version of “Stronger,” full of amazing backup vocals and plenty of soul from Faith, it dawned on me: if I want to be a part of the country music business as a backup singer, it is not up to me. It is not riding on my voice or my charisma or my look or even my connections and relationships. This dream is such a long-shot that it takes all of the pressure off of me, and loads it straight onto a higher power.

Now, I am not a big believer in “meant to be.” I think that our lives can take many different forms depending on the choices that we are free to make… and I am sure that God has bigger fish to fry than “Annie’s dreams.” But as I was reminded in My Utmost For His Highest this morning, “Nothing happens in particular unless God’s will is behind it, therefore you can rest in perfect confidence in him. Prayer is not only asking, but an attitude of mind which produces the atmosphere which asking is perfectly natural.”

And so I am praying. Although I cannot say why, I can no longer deny the tug in my heart that is pulling me toward Tennessee. I can’t turn off the voice that is calling me away from Seattle. I am moving forward with equal parts confidence and trepidation, heading toward the unknown with nothing but a “sense” that there is something out there for me. Things might not turn out the way that I have envisioned them, but I’ll be damned if it’s because I didn’t try.

It’s official: I am moving to Nashville in January.

I was eating pho with my friend Elisha when she confessed that she had wanted to set me up on a date with a friend of hers. After describing him as being an awesome, delightful guy, she stopped and thought. “But,” she paused, “He might be a little too clean cut for you.”

Imagining a crew cut and plaid shorts, I asked, “Oh, because he’s in the Air Force?”

Elisha hesitated again.

“Ooooooohhh,” I said, as it dawned on me. “You mean MORALLY.” Yes. Yes, she did. It’s good to know that I am known as someone who, when it comes to virtue, will require a certain amount of compromise when it comes to a mate. However, as a certain pastor (who shall remain nameless) recently said to me, “You have to know that during an argument, you can feel free to tell your husband to F off.” [Before I get hate-mail from men, please know that I am being fairly sardonic here. Passably.]

My conversation with Elisha got me thinking about my deal-breakers when it comes to men. Now, I am not looking to date. As many of you know, I have been pretty emotionally unavailable for several months now, and do not foresee that changing any time soon. To be honest, I believe that a boyfriend would only cramp my style and my new-found sense of purpose. But on the inevitable day when I am ready to jump back into the cruel and awkward dating pool, it would be helpful to know what I am looking for, and more importantly, what I am not looking for.

Listing deal-breakers is dangerous, because you never know who you might fall for. Lord knows I used to think that Dungeons & Dragons would be a no-can-do, but it’s amazing what becomes endearing when you’re in love. However, I am fairly confident that the following should serve as the red alert that screams “run like the plague.”

1) Hummers or tiny sports cars. Both are indicative of a larger issue of the ego.
2) Cat lovers. I believe that cat lovers and dog lovers are mutually exclusive – one cannot truly be both – and my allergies are severe. I would rather live my life with a Bernese Mountain dog than with the feeling that I have swallowed shards of glass.
3) Disrespect towards wait-staff and servers. I don’t care if you didn’t get the table that you wanted. I don’t care if your dressing didn’t come on the side. There is nothing more unattractive than a man who is discourteous… except, of course,
4) Rotten teeth. I learned this one the hard way.
5) The last name “Crannie.” For obvious reasons.

The Honda is on the fritz again.

Recently, I walked out of my apartment to the sight of the tailpipe hanging precariously off of the muffler. One little tap of my toe, and the tip of the pipe went clattering to the asphalt, effectively circumcising my car.

And here, all along I thought she was a girl.

After an initial inspection, the kind men at Dr. Don’s Automotive told me that the muffler is “rusting out.” Also, it “needs a left front wheel bearing,” and the “right front shock is leaking.” I no speaka mechanic, but I do understand that these things are NOT GOOD, and if I choose to drive despite these warnings, I am literally in serious danger of a wheel “falling off.”

So while I wait for the day when I can get my car into the shop, I am on foot, traipsing from Ballard to the U-District to Fremont to North Seattle. On Monday, I walked 6 miles, and then ran 3. Yesterday, I walked 8. This morning, I have already logged 3.5, and have another 3 ahead of me this afternoon. On Friday, I will drop off my car in Ballard, and then hoof the 6 miles to Shoreline.

I have had many offers for rides, but to be honest, I like to walk. In the days before cars, people walked everywhere, and as a result, had hours upon hours to think. And in all of the thinking that I’ve been doing, the best thought I have had is this:

If things can be “discombobulated,” why can’t they be “combobulated,” or even just “bobulated”?

Me: “I wish I had the recipe for this soup.”

Cashier: “Do you have the internet?”

Me: [long pause] “You mean… the World Wide Web?”

Cashier: [solemnly serious face] “Yes.”

Me: “Um… yeah… I think they have that on the computers these days.”

First of all, I would like to thank God for creating bodies and physical activities. I could not have done this without you.

I need to thank my dear mother, first and foremost for giving birth to me, and secondly, for recently gifting me with some high-quality wicking shirts and shorts. It made this entire morning so much more enjoyable.

Anna, at Road Runner Sports, for fitting me with my new Adidas, and convincing me that the Super Feet insoles really are worth it. You’re the best!

Thank you to the pouring rain and mud, because no one wants to be the kid with the blindingly neon white shoes.

I can’t forget the Olmsted brothers, who had the original vision for designing Seattle city parks such as Green Lake.

My legs, my legs! I know that I had said such cruel things to you and about you in the past, and yet you remain loyal and reliable. I do not deserve you.

And finally, to the endorphines. You kicked in around mile 2, and stretched the 2.8 goal into a respectable 3.5, therefore convincing me that even after several months of hiatus, I’VE STILL GOT IT!