How I Got Where I am Today.... Part 11 The Girlfriend Ring

I am not sure on the exact day, but I would say sometime the beginning of April we were wandering around Fashion Place Mall. We stop at a kiosk and look at the jewelry. I was looking at the different rings and he asks me which one do I like. I tell him and he asks the lady working if we can look at them. So we are looking at them and I am trying them on and I fall in love with a silver ring with flowers on it. He asks if it fits, I say yes, but it's only on my left ring finger (you know the one that the wedding ring eventually goes on). He says I don't mind if you wear it on that finger. I am just looking at him in awe. My head is spinning and I am trying to figure out what is going on. So he tells the lady he would like to buy it. I get all giddy. She takes it and shines it up and hands it back to me. He rips it out of my hand and says that's my ring. I was shocked and didn't know what to say, so I just let it go. We left the mall after that and never spoke of it again.

April 25, 2008, it was a Friday. I had made plans to go over to Travis's house and hang out. I get off work and had to run home and get somethings. I tried to get a hold of him to make sure that he was home and remembered we had plans, but he wasn't answering me. I was kind of irritated. I decided to just head up there any way and hope he remembered.

At the time I was living in Murray and he was living in Bountiful. Under normal conditions it's about a 30 minute drive from my house to his. On this rather warm April evening I jump in my not air conditioned because it's broken black car and head up there. So this time of day is rush hour, so traffic is backed up and moving very slowly. I still can't get a hold of Travis and I am thinking if I drive all the way up there and he isn't there I am gonna be so pissed. And I am really hot due to the black non-air conditioned car. Grrrrr.....

About an hour later I pull into the driveway. I was happy to see his car, but irritated beyond belief about everything else. So I get out and pound on his door. No answer. I pound harder. Buddy, his dog is barking. He finally come to the door, half asleep. I am mad. I storm in and plop on the couch and watch TV and try and calm down. He hollers from the other room to come here, I respond no you come here. He hollers again, I respond no. He finally comes in and grabs my hand and pulls me off the couch. I grouchily say What! He then gets down on one knee, (my heart races and my head spins) and says, "So, you make real happy and stuff. Will you be my Girlfriend?" I am speechless. It was so adorable. I smile every time I think about it. I said "YES!" He stands up and gives me a kiss.

Twitterppated!

How I Got Where I am Today.... Part 10

So... now what happens? Well Travis texted me and we chatted for a while. We decided to meet up at Chili's to get some food and catch up. It was a busy Friday night and there I sat at the table.... alone. He was late, but didn't stand me up. We shared a Sampler and talked about what has happened in our lives and what we are doing now. We then finished eating and decided to go over to Hollywood Connection and that just down the street. We had an absolute blast!!!! We played mini golf and dumb arcade games. We laughed and ate Ice cream. It was awesome. I still have the pen (that doesn't write) that he got me with his tickets. So what started as just hang out and catch up turned into a date.

Food + an activity = a date. And there is where it began....

We kept chatting here and there. We went on another date to the old bowling alley on State Street. We had a ton of fun then too. That was the first time I got to see a bit of the real kooky Travis. We were goofing off and drinking beer, laughing and just enjoying each other. We kept bribing each other to get a strike. He told me he would kiss me if I got one. I got one and kissed my hand, then the cheek, and I was doing the same with him. We never made it to the lips..... until we were in the parking lot saying goodbye. 

After that I was looking at his MySpace page and thought, "Wow, he has a lot of hussies on here. He is just a player. I don't really want to play games." So, I didn't talk to him as much and kinda killed to relationship. About a week or so later and realized I kind of missed him. I didn't really have anything else going so I decided what the hell. I am young and I am going to have some fun and just date. I don't need to "with" someone to have a good time. So I started texting him again. We decided to meet up and get Ice Cream. Once we were done we walked over to Barns and Noble and looked around, then went over to Best Buy and pretended to buy appliances for our new house. It was so funny. 

Over the next couple months we hung out a lot. I would go up to his house in Bountiful and we would just hang out. As time when on it seemed we were only hanging out with each other and no one else. So much for the just dating thing.

Next up... The Girlfriend Ring

How I Got Where I am Today.... Part 9 The Story of Travis

I know there is a lot I rushed through and didn't go into a whole lot of detail about. The main reason for that is that I have a feeling I am boring you all and you would rather eat broken glass than read more, but if you have an interest in a certain part, questions, and/or comments about anything, don't hesitate to ask. I am an open book or rather an open blog. =^)

So, we are now in mid-January 2008. One of my dear best friends, Bonnie, were hanging out one night. I had taken her home and we were sitting in my car talking. We were talking about girl stuff and whatever else. She mentions that she was talking to an old friend of ours Travis. 

Here's the story with Travis:
Summer between 7th and 8th grade (1999). My best friend at the time, Jenn, was "going out" with this guy Travis who was 2 years older than her. He came over and hung out with a few times and then they broke up. For some reason he kept in touch with me. We would talk on the phone all the time and the for whatever reason he decided he like me and "asked me out". You as much as two Jr. High kids can "go out". In all honesty I really didn't like him. He was super skinny and kinda goofy looking, but it was exciting because he was older. So, we would talk on and off on the phone. He rode is bike down to my house one day. Which is kind of a hefty ride. He brought his friend Derek over too. So we just kinda hung out and talked, Shari was there with us. Then when they were about to leave, he pushed Shari and Derek outside and closed the door, pushed me against it and gave me a nice romantic kiss. It was in fact my FIRST kiss. And is was pretty awesome for a first kiss.

So, after that we didn't ever see each other, due to being so young and not having cars. We would talk on the phone every now and again, but eventually we just drifted apart and pretty much called is quites. But over the next few years we would talk on the phone occasionally and we would run into one another randomly. It was kind of strange how we always ended up popping into one another's life one way or another.

Few years later, I would guess my Junior year of High School, Travis and I were talking. He was single and was asking if I had any single friends he might be interested in. (At the time I was seeing Richard. Which reminds me, I don't know know why I skipped over him. He played a big part in my life too. I guess it was because he was in the middle of the drama at home. Sorry Richard!) Anyway, the only person I could think of was my best friend Bonnie. So I hooked them up and they dated for quite some time. I am not sure what happened between them or why it ended but as you can see it did.

So that pretty much brings us back to where I started. Bonnie was telling me that she had been talking to Travis not to long ago. I, being single at the time, asked is he was single and that she should give him my number. She said she would, and that's how we started.... again.

It's really kind of strange how someone can pop in and out of your life for so long.

How I Got Where I am Today.... Part 8

Wow... That has taken a lot longer than I expected it too. Sorry for all of those of you that I have bored. Hopefully I can get to the present and not go on and on about the past. I don't know what made me want to tell you about my life. I guess I just wanted it to get out there and for kind of a journal. I am sorry there aren't any pictures. I promise future posts will include pictures. Thank you all for taking the time to read my babble. Love you all. So, here goes......

At this point in my life it was June-ish 2007. I am currently single with no dates in mind. (I don't really know how to "date"), living in my very own apartment, and working as a Universal agent at the UPS Customer Service Center; a.k.a. UPS's phone center. What I was doing wasn't horrible, but it wasn't my favorite. But the end of the June my career at UPS to a turn for the awesome.

I put in for a position that I had no idea about, but an old supervisor told me I should put in for it. I did the interview and hoped for the best. A day or two later I was told I got the job! I was so excited yet terrified all in one. I would be off the phones, but then I had no idea what I would be doing. I would be in an office, with people I have no idea who they were. But as I looked back at my life I see that I never took chances, so I said "What the hell! Let's do this!" I become a Site Quality Admin on June 28, 2007.

As it turns out I LOVE my job! I have learned so much in that office. So much about computers and programs. Currently, I am still in that same position and love every day of it. What my day consists of is running a few reports about how the site's quality is doing and information the the Quality Measurement Group sends us. I also create communications and post them on our internal web site. Who knew I had a create bug? I really love my job and couldn't be happier doing what I do.

As with any job, we have changes and management moves. In the three and a half years I have been in that office I have had 4 different supervisors. The first, Todd. He was a good guy. He was my first supervisor when I started at UPS. I didn't know him very well and sadly he was only there for a couple months. Next I had Dave. I had never met him before, and my fellow co-workers didn't know much about him. I honestly don't remember a good day with him.... I did my best to see the good in him, but for some reason we just couldn't get a long. He came in a changed everything we knew on how to do our jobs. He knit picked everything and just made you feel like garbage. I know a lot of hostility came from a girl that worked in my office, Amy. She was a very strong willed person and I couldn't help follow. Sadly, I didn't love my job so much. I dreaded coming to work everyday. I was constantly in trouble for on thing or another. I felt like I had to walk on egg shells because I had no idea what I was going to do wrong next. He hated me and well, I hated him. Still to this day I know he doesn't like me. Which makes sad because I look back on a lot of things now and think I shouldn't have been such a stubborn brat. Something he did had meaning, but I was too much of a booger to allow him to be right. (Yes, I am using a lot nicer words that deserved).

I had to put up with him for about two and half years. On the bright side, there was some light in the dark world......

We are getting closer to the present! Are you excited?

How I Got Where I am Today.... Part 7

I am going to off on a tangent here about Mike because he has had a major impact on my life. I truly and completely loved that man. Everything about him was perfect. He knew just what I wanted to hear, he did everything I could ever hope for. He was in fact the man of my dreams with just a couple of flaws. He smoked, which I absolutely HATED. It's nasty. And the whole being married thing. They were in fact separated and working towards a divorce.

It's really hard to explain the true feelings I had for this man. He was my everything, everything I ever dreamed about. We would talk and talk for hours and hours about anything and everything. He was an excellent listener as well as an advice giver. He could cook like you couldn't believe. So yummy!!! He opened my eyes to some amazing music that I love so much. I still listen to everything to this day. He was a romantic, I think that was my favorite part. He took my on a scavenger hunt around the whole city. Just about everywhere we had a memorable moment together we put one of those little heart valentine's chocolate boxes. For my 21st birthday he kidnapped and drove me to Wendover. I had no idea where we were going. I am such a sucker for romance. He was so smart and funny and just plain out amazing. But, as we all know. All good things have come to an end. As time went on things were all fluffy and fun. He started acting very cold and secretive.

April 2007 mine and Sean's lease was up in our apartment. Mike and I talked about moving in together, but never was sure about it. So I had to move in with my brother because I couldn't find a place in time. I lived with them for 2 months. June 1, 2007 was one of the best days of my life. To start work that day was really good, customer's weren't horrific, I had gotten my annual raise at work, which was a really really good one, I was able to get off work early, and best of all is I signed a lease to my very own apartment. It was such an amazing feeling. I felt so grown up!

By this point Mike and I weren't doing well at all. He rarely had time to see me. If he wasn't working then he was spending time with his kids. Which is totally understandable, but It would have been nice of him to make time for me too. Call me selfish. A few weeks into June, he sends me a text on his way to work asking me to come over when he gets off, we needed to talk. "We need to talk" is never ever a good sign. So of course I was freaking out all day long. To make a long story short, he did what every married man does. He went back to his wife. Well he told me he wanted to go home, back to his kids. Which is code for, "I am dumping you for my wife."

So, that was the end of that. Little while later he moved back home. We still talk once in a great while, but not often. The list of thing he taught me is a long one, but I think the biggest one is always go with your instinct. It's usually always right.

How I Got Where I am Today.... Part 6

So what happens now? Well before we get into all that, I would like everyone to know that She isn't the most horrible person that ever walked the earth. She did do a lot of great things and gave me a lot of things I normally wouldn't have had. I would like to thank her for that much. I know her intentions were there, but for whatever reason she is just mean. I don't know why, all I can do is deal with it the best I can.

So, now this put us living with Sean, dating Thomas, and working at Marie Callendar's. Life was good. For the most part not to many complaints. I guess this would be where Mike came into play. Mike was a manager that was transferred to the West Valley Marie Callendar's. I don't remember exactly when it was, I want to say towards the end of the summer. Well, actually the more I think about it was before I moved out that he was transferred. I honestly don't remember. But I guess it doesn't matter a whole lot.

Mike and I clicked instantly. We could talk about anything and everything and we got a long really well. We would spend hours and hours after work sitting there talking because neither of us wanted to go home. (I was still living at my parents at the time). He was married with 2 kids. It wasn't the strongest marriage.

So as time when on, I realized I was miserable with Thomas. He cared more about is stupid computer games than he did about me. Mike's relationship with his wife was worse and worse. She finally kicked him out. He had no where to go, so Sean told him he could stay at our place until he found a place (which was about maybe two weeks later).

After several night of us staying up really late talking, listening to music and laughing, I realized I wasn't happy with Thomas. It was really really hard, but I had to do it. Now I don't want this to sound like Mike is the reason I broke up with Thomas. It was solely 100% because he would rather play his dumb games than spend time with me. It was really hard because I really did care about him and he took it really hard. I still feel bad to this day, but I know it was the right thing. I know we are a lot happier now.

So, as many of you can guess, yes, Mike and I did become a couple, but it wasn't until several weeks later. We still would spend a lot of time together doing silly things and hanging out. We still worked together, but everything was always 100% professional. We never did anything remotely close to what a dating couple would do.

One very boring Sunday afternoon at work, we were sitting there looking through the newspaper and chatting. We were looking through the classified trying to find new jobs. He came across one about a customer service rep for UPS. He told me I would be perfect for that job and I had to apply. Well the ad wanted me to fax a resume to them. I don't know where I would fax it. He told me he could fax it from our work's fax machine. It sounded so wrong, but I was really tired of Marie Callendar's (I was also working at Target at the time. That only lasted a few months because the wanted me to work 30+ hours on top of my 50+ hours at Marie's. Yeah I about died). So once we closed the store I ran home and grabbed my resume, brought it back and he faxed it that night. A day or two later, they emailed we info for an interview. As of September 28, 2010 I have been working there for  4 years. Around that same time, Mike found another job managing another restaurant also. So we both left Marie's. And a while after that is when we got together.

How I Got Where I am Today.... Part 5

Where do you go when you have no where to go? The boyfriend's house of course. Thomas was kind enough to let me stay at his house for the next 18 days until I was able to move into my apartment. I didn't speak to my dad or Her for several days. I really had no idea what was going to happen. I had no idea if I was going to get any of my personal stuff or if I would have to start over from scratch. I expected her to keep everything because that's just the type of person she is.

While checking my email one day She had sent me something that was cute, so I decided to go out on a limb and tell her thanks for sending it. That is what opened the door to us speaking again. She asked if I needed anything and if I was okay. She blamed it all on my dad and my dad not wanting to talk to me and him being mad. (As you will find out along the way, everything is my dad's fault and decision.) She brought a few things I needed into my work. We didn't say much, but it seemed things were looking a little brighter.

Over the next little while we kind of mended things and when April 1st rolled around I was able to come get my things. We moved my whole room in life 4 hours with her right there "helping" also known as going through all my things to make sure I'm not taking her stuff. Later I found out that she actually took several things that were mine, but of course she would never admit that. And that was that. I was finally free of the Hell Home.

Side notes:
I still owed her around $700 because she helped pay for my trip to China. I gave her $1000 check a little after we started talking again. That was an adventure. First time I ever stood up to her and let me tell you it was a rush!

They also told me that I needed to pay to repair the Rodeo because it was my sister's car and I should have known I shouldn't drive it to take her to and from work because it wasn't working properly. So I got an estimate from their mechanic and gave her $2300 in cash to fix it. Needless to say to this very day it's sitting in the driveway dead.

Don't tell me that I'm not responsible. Everyone told me that I shouldn't give her a dime, but sometimes it's easier just to pay them off so you don't have to hear them bitch.

Best feeling in the world was a few weeks after I moved out I came over for a visit. She started screaming and yelling about who knows what and I turned to my dad and said well, that's my cue to leave. And I walked out without saying a word to her. It was so amazing to have that freedom.