Nice to meet you... or I guess for you to meet me!

Hello!

I've been sitting here, staring at my blank screen, trying to figure out what in the world to say for my first post... such a daunting task! I guess I'll start with who I am & why I'm even doing this whole posting thing...

My name is Nicole~ I'm 28 & live in Chicago with my husband J & two pug puppies. My family moved around when I was little (Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania), but I really grew up in Michigan. I was one of those kids who was active in anything I could get my hands on, doing whatever sports (ok, that was more limited- I'm not exactly what you call coordinated) & clubs I could. While I was always creative, it took me a while to channel that energy in a way that didnt make me a social misfit (I had a really unfortunate big, flashy, ridiculous, attention-getting-but-not-in-a-good-way earring phase) in the crazy world of teenagers.

I went to college at University of Michigan, where I studied computers (I still don't really know how that happened - I meant to be a first grade teacher going in!) ~ I now have a 'normal' job where I work for a big company, sit in a cubicle, the whole works. And while my job is good/fine in a very normal & typical way, I want more. I want different than just fine.

I was recently talking to an old acquantance from high school, asking what his job is these days. He has one of those jobs that sounds pretty cool & I said so.... he said "It's ok, but I just do it so that I can afford to do what I really want in my free time." I mentioned this to someone & they said something about "that's really all you can hope for" and I thought NO! I want more than that. I need more than that! I want to spend my days in a way that excites me & feeds my spirit - does work have to feel like work?

So, that brings me to this blog... I know I want to do something creative with my life. But beyond that I am seriously stuck. What exactly will I be creating? That is a fantastic, still to be answered, question! I have lots of ideas crashing around in my head, so this is a chance for me to get my ideas out there in the open world. Not sure if anyone will read this, but I hope that if nothing else, this blog will help me to organize my thoughts & interests.

So as is typical with me, while I complain that I can't possibly have anything to share, once I get talking, you can't really stop me. I start many emails to friends with a 'sorry this is so long!' disclaimer. So, I think that is enough babbling about myself for now!

Thanks for reading... more to come soon!
Nicole