Chicago

Today is the first day back to work from being in Chicago.

*sigh*

First off, don't get me wrong. I love me some Utah, but it feels bland being back here in Utah. This is my personal opinion, but I really feel that as a culture, Utahns fall into a rut of sorts. There are a variety of factors in this, but I'll focus on career choices. I'll use Scott's work as an example. During our orientation (yes, Scott and I worked together for a brief period in our relationship - and we learned a great deal from that to say the least...) we had so many managers and trainers who would tell us "I came to work here as a summer job and flash forward to 8 years later - I'm still here!" I've found that it's not just at his job either... I see countless people who are doing something that doesn't fulfill their passion, but for one reason or another, they just settle because it's comfortable there. There is definitely some opportunity to work my way up in the job I'm currently at, but when you get right down to the base of it all, it's not what I want to do. I didn't go to culinary school to manage people. I did it because I love to bake - because I love to design and create incredible desserts... If I stayed here, I'd feel I had settled. And I'd feel unfulfilled. And while Scott and I were in Chicago, I felt so good about moving there... that there is definitely plenty of opportunity to fulfill my passion...

To put it simply, I'm excited. It's funny because Scott and I don't have a place to live yet and neither of us have jobs lined up - but I still feel like this is an extremely positive move for both of us. And that's all I have to go on at this point... a strong feeling. But I think that's a pretty great place to start.

Chicago is amazing. We stayed at the Marriott Downtown which is right on Michigan Avenue. So we were literally feet away from some incredible stores and some amazing architecture. We had the idea of looking for places to live and after many failed attempts of reaching some contacts, we decided to trust our feelings and simply took a bus up to the most northern spot of the city where we wanted to live. I'm pretty sure that we were walking around for a good 3-4 hours, but it was so worth it. There are some incredibly beautiful neighborhoods... I'm talking about large gorgeous trees that create a canopy over streets, beautiful old buildings that have been completely revamped inside - it feels so classic. We decided that we want to live in an area called Andersonville - it's fairly trendy, gay-friendly, close to public transportation, and close to many restaurants and events... (It's basically the equivalent of Sugarhouse) We have actually gotten in contact with a guy named Rick (who was referred to us by Scott's instructor at school) who helps people find apartments - so we have him the information of what we are looking for and he'll contact us when he finds something that meets those qualities. All free of charge. Pretty sweet deal, if you ask me.

Now all we have to do is wait for 6 more weeks to pass before we begin our exodus. We were originally planning on rental a U-haul and hauling our things (with my car following behind) - but after being there we've since decided to simply sell all of our things and start fresh in the Windy City. So... if you know of anyone looking for some beat up couches, some shelves, a queen-sized bed, and desks - please let us know.

And for your viewing pleasure, here is a picture taken from our hotel room of the sunset in Chicago.

Sadie's Blog

I just got done reading my sister's blog - There is some pictures of when I went over to their house and made a cake with Sadie and Olivia. There aren't many things that I feel like I really want or need to do before I left for Chicago, but that experience was something that I have really wanted to do for a while. Olivia and Sadie were so great with making the cake and the frosting... and they went all out on decorating the final product. Besides that, I was able to see home videos of the Huish family during their dream vacation and, very importantly, I got to send some quality time with my sister. There are definitely some memories I'll be cherishing forever.

At any rate - go over to her blog and check out the pictures of their dream trip and also the incredible talents of my nieces!

sadiehuish.blogspot.com

Reiki and Ranting (a powerful duo)

God. It's been one of those days. I've decided that as much as I love the responsibility, leadership experience and, let's be honest, pay of being in management at work, I can't help but feel that all I am is a glorified babysitter. It seems that whenever the manager of the bakery I work at is on her day off and I am in charge, shit hits the fan. And as soon as that mess is cleaned up, there are more bags of shit flung at the fan to liven things up yet again. I consider myself an optimistic person with a general care-free demeanor but I really don't feel as though I should be telling adults what they should and shouldn't be doing and going as far as expecting them to... I don't know... show up for their scheduled shifts or tell me when they are running low on something so I can order it. There is just a ball of unnecessary drama that continues to float nonchalantly around the bakery at all times... How much longer until I move to Chicago??
OK. I have that out of my system.
These past few days have been interesting and strangely enlightening. Last weekend, Scott had some unfortunate news about his grandmother passing away and he went back to the golden mid-west to Des Moines to be with his family during the services. (For more information on that, you should read his blog. My man gave a very touching tribute to his grandmother and although I didn't know her personally, reading his words and hearing him talk about her previously has given me nothing but the highest respect for her life and all she and their family have been through.) In the midst of this unfortunate experience, I am facing almost a week apart from Scott. I believe a little separation is good for a relationship - and I've used this time to get more in touch with myself.
On Sunday, I decided to set up an appointment at Healing Mountain Massage School (I highly recommend it - not only is it fairly inexpensive, but it's pretty much amazing - http://www.healingmountain.org/slcHome.html ). I wanted to do a massage, but was much more interested in the Tibetan Reiki Energy Treatment that they offered. I've done some research with chakras and energy work and have found it completely fascinating... so with that in mind, I showed up for my appointment and checked in. There were some issues with the scheduling and I ended up getting a different person than I was told... who has just happened to be a Reiki master for almost 15 years. The treatment was so fascinating - she was very talkative about what work she was doing and we had a very interesting conversation about energy work and relations to religion and spirituality. The feeling during the session was so unique - I can only compare it to feeling similar to 'feeling the spirit' when I was involved in the church - and the the idea of positive energy in mind, I'd imagine it is a very similar sensation - if not the same. At any rate, the only way I can describe the feeling after is how you'd imagine flowing water would feel. A little bizarre, but great. After the session, she could tell that I was very interested in our conversation and the session, so she gave me a list of some books to read and was more than willing to help me learn more. Overall, the experience was so random, but so unique and what I needed.
It's too bad I had to go to work this morning... I went from a flowing river of positive energy to a black hole... but I think I'm back to feeling fine. (Limoncello works wonders in helping me feel fine...)

In other ideas of being alone and facing thoughts of my past, I think I realize why I'm so upset at the LDS church. I've blogged about it before in previous posts, but I think what it all comes down to is that I felt so guilty for being who I am and yet devoted so much time and energy into proving to others, and myself, that it was right. I'm not implying the church is wrong, but it is definitely not right for me. I feel like a scorned lover (For the record, I just laughed out loud as I wrote that) - I devoted myself and who I was to something that turned it's back on me when I wasn't in sync with what they believe to be right. Not only the church, but my closest family members as well. So, to those of you who do read this, who are involved in the LDS church and believe it to be correct, I respect you and admire your faith. I have just been burned so deeply and the scar runs so deep that I can't even look back on my experiences as a missionary without my heart hurting. It was such a dark place for me - which is so ironic...
I'm glad, in a sense, that I will be living in another city soon. I'm tired of church talk in regular conversation (You say you need a dessert for your home teaching families, eh?) and I'm tired of being careful who I let know about me and Scott (Um... no. He's not just my roommate...)
I'm finally me - as whole as a work in progress can possibly be and I'm truly happy. Why should I feel guilty about that?

highlights and editing

I'm back.

I took a little hiatus simply because I haven't really had time to sit down and relax, let alone think constructively enough attempt at a blog. But here it is - and the thoughts are definitely rolling...

In regard to Sadie, her wishes were granted (God bless the Make-A-Wish Foundation... Seriously.) - she was able to go to Disneyworld and meet all the princesses. I'll be going over to her house tomorrow to make a cake (white cake with chocolate frosting and gumdrops - her request) , so I'm excited to hear all about it and see the pictures... There was a moment there where it looked like it might not happen... so thank God for the fact that they were able to make it there.
Also, in regard to my last few blogs about Sadie's Make-A-Wish party and the grand send-off, I did end up going... I didn't stay long (since I was on my lunch break from work) but it was beautiful. I'm glad I was able to see Sadie and T before they left... I really felt that I had to go - simply, for nobody else but them... and myself.

So - I'm not sure if I wrote this already, but Scott and I have made an official date for leaving to Chicago - July 28. That only leaves us with about two months to get our shit together and move it on out. I think I've been handling the idea of leaving well - but in all reality, it's only when I'm moving a mile a minute and I hardly have to think. It's something that stays in the back of my mind, just floating around... and then I have a day off (like today) and I have a sense of nostalgia for Utah when I haven't even left yet.

Maybe it's also the fact that I'll be turning 25 soon. I'll officially be in my mid-twenties... and while that is still pretty young and I still have a lot to learn, I really feel that I've dealt with, learned from, and made it through quite a bit. I find myself longing for old friendships I've let slip - yet at the same time, doing my best to let some friendships stay in the sidelines. I find myself holding on to little mementos of yesteryear - and at the same time throwing or giving away items simply because it reminds me of someone or a particular situation.

I guess we all do that at sometime... editing our past, in a sense. Highlighting the parts we love and putting black lines through the parts that seem better left forgotten.

I guess with this big change coming up, I'm really wanting to start out this chapter on fresh, solid ground. I feel like I need to learn from my previous 24 years in the next two months, apply it well, and kick some ass in the years to come. In fact, I expect that of myself.

I don't know... I feel really emotional lately. There seems to be so much going on all at once that I hardly have time to think - and when I do, it feels like the cork comes flying off the bottle.

It was pretty nice today though... I was running at Liberty Park and listening to my MP3 player when I saw that there were baby geese wading in the pond... so I stopped running and just walked around and through the park. And without the music, I was filled with memories of tennis matches with me and my best friend when I was younger, or playing at the carnival area when my class would go there for field trips, or remembering stories of my mom growing up on that park and hearing how she met my dad there --- More highlights...
I'm getting the impression I need to take a little more time out of the world and start getting more in touch with me - you know, to do a little more highlighting and editing.

Less Intense

For anyone who reads my blog, I just wanted to say thanks for putting up with me - I usually only write when I have very strong thoughts and/or emotions. So, just to throw my blog off course, I felt like posting a blog that is less intense - so I will show you the cake I made for Scott's birthday.



I won't lie, I was pretty happy with the way this one turned out - and I think he was too. Do you think Chicago is ready for me? :)

reality

Scott says that last night I wouldn't stop tossing and turning... I'm not surprised. This past week has proven to be more eventful than I ever expected.

There was quite a bit of drama since I wrote the last post... as any one who is reading this (and Scott's) blog would know. To make a long issue short, Scott was very upset at my sister's response and sent them a very stern e-mail. The e-mail was replied to by my sister's husband... Honestly, I could go into what was said but I don't have the energy or desire to do so. Bottom line is that Scott and I won't be attending the event this afternoon for Sadie.

Hard enough as that decision was, I was talking to my mom for Mother's Day and Sadie's event was brought up. I told her, quite briefly, that I won't be attending... which issued in a guilt-trip and a very emotional conversation. My mom feels that my sister's family and I need to put aside our differences and think about Sadie... Sadie doesn't know Scott, so it was nothing against him, but Sadie wanted me there for her special day, so think about what she wants... That I shouldn't look back on this time and regret anything - like that I should have gone to the party or that I let differences stand in the way...

Oh Mom. You sure have a way with words - suffice to say, I felt like shit.

What is it about me that when I am faced with a situation regarding my family, I feel completely jaded by the real issue and willingly accept guilt or blame?

I'm pretty sure that was the reason I was tossing and turning last night. I feel somewhat helpless in this situation because I've always tried to be the person who makes everyone happy - and I can't stand being the person who disappoints. I remember a while back when my nephew Spencer had his baptism, I was invited by Heather. I remember that work at the time was incredibly busy and I just couldn't get away, so I called and talked to Heather about the situation. She understood, but when I asked to talk with Spencer and explained the situation to him, he sounded incredibly sad and disappointed on the phone. It broke my heart.

***
Well - here's an update. As I was writing that last paragraph, my mom called to tell me that Sadie is going to the hospital. She has apparently been having horrible headaches this past week and it's just gotten too intense, so they are taking her to the hospital to see what they can do. I guess the party tonight might not even happen...


It's funny - over the weekend, Scott and I went up to Park City with some close friends and we stayed up late talking about everything. The topic of this entire blog came up and Scott was saying how he felt, my friends said how they felt -- and then Caitie, one of my best friends, noticed I wasn't saying anything. So she stopped and asked how everything made me feel. I didn't say anything for a while. How can you put in words the desire to scream, the longing to cry, a deep love for everyone involved, the feeling of being burned, unexplainable raw emotion and a strange sense of optimism?

I guess I never expected reality to be so real...

Re-posted

Last night, I came home from the gym around 11:30 and I couldn't wind down... I just had too much on my mind. So I wrote everything I was feeling and posted a blog - but as soon as I woke up, I took it off because I didn't want it to offend anyone. But as this morning goes on, I realize that these feelings are completely valid and it's not fair to me to censor myself. So here it is - yet again:

As usual, the thoughts begin to flow late at night... and writing seems to be the only way to calm the mind. It's pretty strange, but there's something very therapeutic about writing with the idea that no one may read it, but that everyone can read it if they wanted to. It's like having a window into my soul and all you really need to do is look through...
Well kids, this one may be a long one, so pour yourself a drink, pull up a chair and get comfortable.

I got an invitation in the mail over the weekend for a party for my niece Sadie. The Make-A Wish Foundation is holding a big Princess themed celebration in honor of Sadie's wishes being fulfilled and having a big send off before the Huish family heads off to Disneyworld. I was stoked to receive the invite - it was a cute princess crown card and all the writing was done by the princess herself. (Sadie's penmanship is amazing, by the way) So I made arrangements with work and got everything prepared - but I also noticed that Scott's name wasn't on the invite. Now, side note - there was a time, about a year or so ago, that my sister sent me a letter saying that in respect to her beliefs and what influence she wants around her children, any person I am dating isn't welcome in her home or at events that her family will be in attendance. At the time, it made me VERY upset - but at the same time, I wasn't in a very serious relationship (Scott and I were just starting out) and I respected the fact that she held her ground in what she believed. But I figured that since Scott raised a considerable amount of money for Sadie's fund with his co-workers, participated in the 5K (and even got his mom Collette and her boyfriend, Chip, to join as well), as well as offer our apartment as a place to stay in case they might need it (because we are so close to Primary Children's Hospital and the huntsman Cancer Institute) - well, I went out on a limb and figured that Scott would be invited as well to this celebration of Sadie's wishes and I just wanted to double-check with the Huish's to make sure it'd be alright....
Well, I got an e-mail from T a day or so later which said:
"I know that Scott has indeed been supportive of Sadie and our family, and, goodness, he is a wonderful guy. Again, it goes back to the letter I wrote, that if someone you are in a relationship with is around at different events, then that is not in my control, but as for inviting that person to stuff for our family and to our home, that is not something I can do. Again, it is not a knock on Scott,... it's my feelings in general, ... that this kind of relationship isn't something I feel is right, and something I don't want my kids around. I hope this doesn't come across negatively, and that it is just reiterating what I've said before. It's what I feel is best for my family and that I need to stick to that. That said, I know that Scott is great, that you love him, and I don't want there to be feelings hurt. I hope to see you on Monday, but if you aren't there because you wouldn't want Scott feeling bad, then I won't hold any ill will or anything - that is up to you."

It hurt to read that. In fact, it kept me up most of last night and most of this morning... I guess I figured that something had changed. I mean, this is the man that I love. That I've been in a committed relationship for almost a year and a half... He is my family. So to feel that someone you are completely devoted to, whom you love with all you are, isn't welcome in your family -- well, it pierces your heart. And I can't even make you, whoever you are, understand that pain that you feel when a sibling, whom you love and respect, isn't accepting of who you are and who you love. I live in an interesting family scenario in the fact that my sisters are not accepting of me and Scott being together, while my brother is completely accepting of me, of Scott and the relationship we have. (My mom is still in a struggle between what she believes and her love for me and Scott. I consider her neutral... with a lean toward me.) At any rate, I hurt and I've been hurting all day.
So I picked Scott up from work and was waiting for the most appropriate time to tell him what is going on - and the time finally came before dinner. He wasn't happy, to say the least - but I feel it's highly due to the fact that he has been completely supportive of my sisters family and has done so many things to help out. And while I know he's not looking for recognition in any way, I guess all that would've sufficed is an acknowledgment of our relationship and a Thank You. In all honesty though, I think he's tired of trying to appease my sisters and I don't blame him. I was scared to death to meet Scott's family and I've received nothing but love and support from them - so to imagine the other end of the spectrum would be hell. And I fell horrible to put him through it.
At the same time, I make myself so fucking upset... because growing up in an LDS environment, I understand both of my sister's standpoints. So I have a sense of respect for their stance and what they believe in. And it's because of that, that I blame the LDS church for how my sister's feel. You know - I'll go as far to say that I blame the priesthood for it. My sister's didn't feel so adamant about their beliefs until after they got married - hell, I can remember the first person I told about me being gay was T and she hugged me and told me she loved me - and hugged the guy I was seeing at the time when she met him for the first time. Plus she played softball for God's sake - I'm sure she has loads of lesbi-friends. So, again, yes. I blame the church. I blame the priesthood - and while it has provided peace for many people and has inspired many people for the better, it hasn't me. In fact, it reminds me of a poem I wrote a while back...

Behold -
You might say I held onto that iron rod
In fact, quite vividly, I remember holding on so tight
Clenched fingers
A white knuckled grip
To the point I was afraid to let go.
Yea & I made it to that tree
Despite the darkness that entrapped me
& I saw the smiling faces
& I heard angels singing harmony
& I felt - for once I did belong
I remember thinking clearly that suppression equaled freedom
So I partook of that fruit
That precious fruit whose reputation succeeds all
And the taste thereof…
Was that of simple fruit
So I stood with a mask of joy
While I held this fruit and I wondered why.
Why?
Let the people know I was not ashamed as I dropped that fruit and walked away.

I wrote that on December 29, 2006... I remember writing it with the idea of Lehi's dream (from the Book of Mormon) in mind. I respect the fact that people cling to their religion - but at what cost?

I'm tired... in more ways than one. In the words of Madonna "Freedom comes when you learn to let go" - while I love and respect my family for what they believe, I can't hold on to the notion that we are as close as we were before and I can't expect them to change because of what I feel to be right (any more than they can expect me to change because they feel they are right)

The choice to leave for Chicago, I feel, is coming at a very appropriate time. While I do feel that the situation with Sadie is horrible, most of my nieces and nephews are getting to the point in their lives where they will be asking lots of whys. I don't think my sister's feel comfortable talking with their kids about homosexuality - and honestly, I don't really feel that kids would be able to comprehend the extent of what being gay or straight is. I think my brother told his boys that Scott is my special friend... and I think that's all kids really need to know. Aidan and Jarron (my brothers kids) have completely accepted the fact that Scott and me are together all the time - and that's really all they care to know. If I'm around and Scott's not there, they ask where he is and when he'll be around. Granted, I'm not a parent (yet) so I don't know how I'd handle a similar situation - but I can't help but wonder how my sister's are going to explain to their kids why Uncle Nik is moving to Chicago...