May 28 09

In two short months the Awfully Big Adventure begins. Two months. TWO MONTHS! Two months until we pack up the wagon queen family truckster giant-ass minivan (I assure you, there’s nothing mini about that puppy) and head out on our two-day journey down to Atlanta for our year-long journey. I’m excited. I’m super excited. But I’m also nervous as hell. I’m moving my family to a place where, with the exception of family, I don’t know anyone. I’m leaving the comfort of my regular office job. I’m leaving the comfort of having a nanny. I’m leaving the comfort of having those friends.

You know those friends. The ones who’ve helped you through your darkest moments. The ones who take you out when you turn 25 31 and make sure there’s photographic evidence of you eating your heaven on a plate white chocolate brownie. and your double chin.

cake

the ones who you go for brunch with, and swim with, and shop with, and drink coffee with, and go to tv show tapings with, and celebrate with, and cry with, and laugh with, and be silly with, and honor special little girls with.

I think I am overcompensating for this fear of being alone.

by talking to complete strangers.

over-talking.

I rambled to some poor unsuspecting woman in a bathroom at CPK.

I told a salesgirl at RW&Co my entire history with jewelery.

I got work advice from a barrista at Starbucks.

I told a real-estate agent how my save-the-earth light switches in my bedroom saved my marriage.

and today. Oh, today.

I stopped at the mall on my way home to pick up a coffee. (I swear, I only went in for coffee. It’s the only Tim Horton’s on my way home) (Really) (Why don’t you believe me?)(I didn’t walk out with a cardigan from Jacob)(that was on sale) Anyway, I was walking up the stairs beside a man. A Gerard Butler-type man. Yes. He was. Yes. His only flaw, really, was the giant Second Cup coffee in his hand.

I made a face.

“Really? Second Cup?”

I actually said to this random stranger.

MY GOD. Where the feck is my filter? (“Feck you!” “I can’t believe she said the F-word” “I think she said Feck!” movie? anyone?)

He  looked at me, shocked, and said “I promise next time I’ll buy Tim’s” and fled from the scary, scary lady walked away.

I’m hoping to find some friends in Atlanta. from the kids’ school. from the synagogue. from the gym. from the neighborhood. from the Ronald McDonald House where I plan to volunteer. from the girls’ dance class. from Josh’s hockey team. I’m hoping to find some friends to go for brunch with and  shop with and swim with and celebrate with and cry with and laugh with and be silly with

I’m just hoping I can find my filter before August. So, I can have some friends to drink coffee with.

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  1. You will find plenty of new friends because you ROCK. The end.

    (Plus! You have family near you! SO JEALOUS.)

    Comment by whoorl on May 28, 2009
  2. Well, I’ve tried coffee filters and they don’t seem to work very well. Wouldn’t it be more comfortable in the long run just to look for friends who can tolerate you full strength? In any case, from one unfiltered girl to another — I’ll be your friend. Except that I don’t live anywhere near Atlanta. So, oh well.

    Comment by feefifoto on May 28, 2009
  3. No, no, no….you’re just gearing up for living in the South! Did you forget that Atlantans will talk your ear off and expect you to do the same? You’ll fit right in!

    Comment by tutugirl1345 on May 28, 2009
  4. For the record, I do not see a double chin. πŸ˜›

    Comment by Mari on May 29, 2009
  5. The thought of leaving Summerland makes me weepy, so I hear you.

    However.

    The fact that you have an AMAZING family so close? Is kind of awesome.

    Comment by Angella on May 29, 2009
  6. You realize that you are buying coffee from the enemy/competition! Ronald wouldn’t be to proud of his MQC Mom! πŸ˜‰

    Comment by NaomiJesson on May 29, 2009
  7. ALMOST FAMOUS!

    “What’s the difference?”

    “The letter ‘U'”

    That is my absolute favourite part of the movie!

    And I LOVE the fact that you don’t have a filter. People ask me how I’m doing and I automatically clam up. This makes people assume I’m stuck-up, but I’m really friendly I promise!

    Juliennes last blog post..Fitness Friday. Volume 2.

    Comment by Julienne on May 29, 2009
  8. Hey, I would’ve said ANYTHING just to talk to the Gerard Butler-type dude. πŸ™‚

    I have every confidence that you’ll make plenty of new friends in Atlanta that you’ll have difficulty leaving when it comes time for you to return to Canada. πŸ™‚

    Comment by Nenette on May 29, 2009
  9. You will make lots and lots of friends in Atlanta – who WOULDN’T like you? I love that you called some guy out for drinking Second Cup.

    Comment by Jen on May 29, 2009
  10. This totally means that you’re going to come down to Orlando in October for my huge Halloween party, right? (last year’s huge blogger soiree: http://www.avitable.com/neverwas/)

    Comment by Avitable on May 29, 2009
  11. You will be fine!!! And all of this anxiety will seem like an over-reaction.

    Comment by WickedStepMom on May 29, 2009
  12. hey, atlanta rocks! (though i don’t know that we really all will talk your ear off) and i can attest to the fact that more than half of us who live here aren’t from here.
    you will make lots of friends i am sure, as will the kiddos. though we don’t have that store here that you always mention, rw&co. you’ll find plenty of other great shops!

    Comment by sweet cheek's mom on May 29, 2009
  13. now that you’ll be in atlanta- that means you can come to new york more often- and I too promise to treat you to some sort of heavenly cake of sorts. Or cupcake- magnolia… yumm…

    mayas last blog post..What I Believe

    Comment by maya on May 29, 2009
  14. Umm. You’re never getting that filter back. I think it starts deteriorating (like everything else) once you hit 30 (or 31…)! Believe me (and you know me) I know that LACK-OF-FILTER syndrome well…!!!

    And I have no doubt you’re going to make great friends in Atlanta. Of course, they won’t be THOSE FRIENDS, but you’ll have a great time. πŸ™‚

    Comment by Haley-O on May 29, 2009
  15. I have an online friend I could hook you up with who lives there…never actually met her but plan to in Dec when I go there…hey maybe I can visit you too!

    Kathys last blog post..Snippet of funny to remember

    Comment by Kathy on May 29, 2009
  16. You will so be fine! You’re awesome!

    Plus, I’m coming down in Sept to visit you! And I’ll find you new friends, if you don’t have 100s by then.

    Comment by Kristabella on May 29, 2009
  17. I know a few people there, they live in Roswell and Kennesau. They are WONDERFUL people actually,if you want I could put you in touch. I totally know where you are coming from, we move around quite a bit. We are on our 4th move in 8 1/2 years. Meeting new people you really click with is the hardest part. It will happen, you just have to “kiss alot of frogs”.

    Comment by Tara L on May 29, 2009
  18. I know we’re just virtual, but you have us!

    They play hockey in Atlanta? (kidding! mostly..)

    Comment by Heather on May 29, 2009
  19. My dad lives just outside Atlanta. I come down all of the time. *hint hint*

    Comment by Amanda on May 29, 2009
  20. Funny, I just wrote about losing my filter yesterday. Maybe we can buy them back πŸ˜‰

    I used to live in Alpharetta and loved it. Yummy food!

    Comment by Kimberly on May 29, 2009
  21. Dude. You can run me through the vetting process when we get to hang out at BlogHer. Kristabella should know me well enough by now to know that I’m not completely insane… or any moreso than she is. And, we’ll practically be neighbors!

    Plus, people here are generally pretty friendly. And since you’re also doing the Thanksgiving Half, I can introduce you to some of my runner friends so you and your sister have even more people to keep you on your training path!

    Comment by Darcey on May 29, 2009
  22. I worry about the same. exact. thing. But you, you will have friends. And if you can find friends to talk about non-filter necessary things with, all the better.

    Comment by Kaleigha on May 29, 2009
  23. Are you stocking up on Tim Horton’s coffee grinds?

    Captain Dumbasss last blog post..But He Makes Me Laugh

    Comment by Captain Dumbass on May 29, 2009
  24. man – the south… we lived down there for 5 years. They speak the same language (relatively) but it is a different world, first thing to do if you want a quick shock – ask your neighbours or co-workers how many guns they own πŸ˜‰ Good luck!

    Comment by ian on May 30, 2009
  25. even if you never find your filter, stop in MI and I’ll have coffee with you any time!!

    Comment by pgoodness on May 31, 2009
  26. My DH & I moved to our current location about 8 years ago. It took awhile (I’m the extreme in extremely shy) but I have made 3 of the best BFs I’ve ever had. I still have my BFs from “home”, but these girls, they know a different me. A me who tells them what I think. I like that me.

    However, here’s one, you’ll enjoy. One of the above BFs mother’s passed away a week ago, after her funeral, I walked up to said BF to offer support for later. She was talking to one of her HS BFs who has the most adorable twin girls, EVER. They are 5, I have watched them grow in pics at BFs house. I seriously walk up to them, am not introduced, at all, and come out with, “I love your girls, and their last b-day party was incredible”. Again, she has NO CLUE WHO I AM and just stares (is totally thinking of grabbing the girls and hiding them from me). Yeah, try explainng to a mom that you swear you’re not a cyber stalker. And, um, can you say AWKWARD?

    Comment by Spring on June 1, 2009
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