A-Team to live together?

I've had a lot of changes in the last month or so.

On Jan 15th Jocelyn moved out, leaving me scrambling to figure out what I was going to do. I wasn't very lucky finding someone to move in for Feb 1st but was able to convince Ange (my Italy/Vegas travel partner) to move in on a temporary basis while she looked for a place to live here in London. She's started a new job and is looking to put down some roots.

We've gone back and forth about what we're going to do. I've looked at a few one bedroom apartments but generally they are out of my price range and I don't really want to have to spend more money a month than I have to. We discussed finding a two bedroom place together that is bigger than what I have now. At first I was a bit apprehensive about the idea - I don't make any decision quickly (except maybe to travel somewhere) and wanted to be sure that we'd live together okay before committing to anything.

I've spent pretty much all my free time in the last month searching for possible apartments on Kijiji, as well as arguing with my landlord about moving out and when that would happen. Originally I thought I would stay til May 1st, allowing him (the landlord) and myself a chance to find suitable replacements. However, I realized that May is going to be a terribly busy month with working in Toronto and going to Thailand and that if I can move for April 1st I'd be much better off.

Next thing you know, Ange is wanting to buy a house here in London, and we've been looking at various properties around the city. She'd buy and I'd rent from her. Of the places we've looked at none have been hugely bigger than what we currently live in, but with the added benefit of more parking and a huge backyard with a deck - something I would definitely want if I were to move anywhere.

Like I said, before I was a bit skeptical about living with Ange long term, but I think it would be okay. We get along fine, we keep each other balanced (something we both need at times, I think) and she's okay with the fact that I hope to take off and live overseas around this time next year. So what more can I ask for? If she finds another job that pays more in another city then she says I can rent from her and have a whole house to myself. Can't complain about that either!!
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In other news - new tattoo on Wed! It'll be the first one that's visible to anyone and everyone - a map of the world on my arm with all the places I've been marked off. I'm pretty excited, I think it'll be fun.

Also - planning a trip to Central America with my cousin Meg for July. Not certain yet where we'll go, or how we'll do it, but it will either be Mexico/Belize/Guatemala or Costa Rica/Panama. I'm up for an adventure either way.

And only a few more months til Thailand!! Can't wait. I think it will be a fantastic time.

I'm not sure if I've linked to it before, I've been updating under my pseudonym Atlanta Noreen at The Girls of 52 Hilltop and writing about my dating adventures. Mostly misadventures lately. The longer I'm "without" a guy in my life, the more I kinda like it. I'm getting to the point where I'm alright with casual dates (or just hanging out) with guys I know, but for it to become serious a lot of criteria are going to have to be met. And that's probably okay. I'm not willing to just settle - I'm okay with being single so why mess with that if it's okay by me?

Monthly Post Time!

Poor poor A-Train of Thought.. you've been left out in the cold while I've been keeping company with the other blogs I seem to have gotten myself into.

There's my travel blog, which I diligently recorded my trip to Peru (and linked to this blog for all my other trips)
Travel with the A-Train

And then there's the photo blog, which I haven't been so diligent with posting to - guess I ought to start taking more pictures.
Alanna Foell Photography

And then there's Girls of 52 Hilltop, a foray into the unsuccessful life of a single girl.

Not sure why I haven't managed to spend any time here. Whether it's been that I usually use this space to record my thoughts of all types and now I have 3 different spaces to record 3 different types of thoughts, or if I just haven't felt like baring my soul lately, I don't know.

Things have been pretty good with me though. I made it past new years without falling into another relationship. Now I'm setting another goal for myself - no relationships til after my bday. 3 month intervals seems to be a good plan to me. It's kind refreshing. Sure I've been on dates and met lots of people and had many an Oh Alanna moment, but its' all in fun and no one is getting hurt, at least I don't think so.

I've spent the evening dishing out advice to friends. I've always been pretty good at doing so, and my friend Ren suggested I start an advice column. Maybe I should. It's not that I think I'm right all the time. It's just that I think I've gained perspective into certain situations and can call it like it is. So, stay tuned, Ask Allie may be on it's way.

Since I totally suck at keeping this thing updated, here is whats on deck for me in the next little while:

Booked flights to Thailand today! Going in May!
Getting a tattoo of a map of the world on my arm in Feb - going to mark off all the places I've been.
Jocelyn, my awesome roommate is leaving me, sadly. Searching for a new roomie. Might have Ange move in with me - should the A-Team live together?
Sending my Irish Citizenship papers in to be processed tomorrow - soon I will be an Irish citizen with a passport allowing me to work and live anywhere in Europe!

And.. that's about all I can think of right now.

Off on another adventure!

Time for that monthly update!

I've been so busy maintaining the other blogs I've got going that I haven't had a chance to update on here. Excuses, excuses, I know.

Tomorrow I head off to Peru! I CAN. NOT. WAIT. If you're interested in keeping up todate on my travel stories please add my travel blog to your reader/followers//whatever:  Travel With The A-Train 

Life has been hilarious lately. I created a profile on Plenty of Fish and have been experiencing the dating world... POF guys, blind date guys, etc etc. I made a promise to myself of no relationships before the new year, and so I've just been seeing what's out there. I've had some good experiences and some weird experiences. I've got a top secret project happening so if you're keen to learn about that, let me know.

Updates from Peru to happen soon! Adios everyone!

Love it!

I love when most of my month is vacation!

Omg, what happened? Life, apparently

I finally feel like I can breathe again - my life has been sooo hectic for the last month or so! I pretty much got home from Europe and was thrown into things full swing.

Sept is always a busy month for me at work, being that the students are back to school etc. We've got back to school things going on, and then all of a sudden it's Thanksgiving. Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone things have settled down a bit.

I was out of the office helping set up a new office in St. Catharines for a few days, I've done 4 different trade shows since Sept 30th - Career fairs, international Opportunitie fairs, travel fairs and photography shows... I've done presentations and I've cooked massive dinners. I've had staff hand in their resignations. I bought a new computer, planned and unplanned a few trips. I've also been turkey dumped.

That is, if you can be broken up from a relationship that never really was official.

And even though I was pissed that day (I'm hardly to blame - I thought things were progressing cuz all signs pointed to that fact) I knew deep down that it was never going to be forever and if it had been I would have been miserable! Haha... so after a good angry drinking session I was on the mend and back in the game.

Things have been comin up Alanna as of late...

I found out about a job that would be perfect for me, though I don't know whether I'll apply

... and then I found out about a free trip to Peru offered through work. Catch is I just have to market the destination and train my staff. Hardly difficult - that would happen anyway!

... and I'll likely jinx it by saying it, but I've met some pretty intriguing people through various channels and it's refreshing to know that people who think the way I do still exist.

So things are good. I've got about 2 weeks before I have a week off... And then another 2 weeks before another week off... and then just 3 weeks before Xmas! Guess that means I should get myself started on planning my xmas shopping.