Welcome Home, Honey

These were the words that Ross spoke to me as we drove to Jacksonville, Florida this past Friday morning.

I’ve mentioned several times in the past couple months that there are some potential big changes coming up in the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Sound Eats. Well, as my summer class came to a close yesterday, I was really starting to doubt that things would get pulled together in time. However, life serendipitously aligned this morning.

Where to begin?

I think I’ll work my way backwards.

To start, Ross got the call this morning that he’s been offered a job at a school in Jacksonville. This was amazing news, and I may or may not have started tearing up when he called me at work. This was the final piece of the puzzle, the piece that everything hinged upon. So proud of my teacher man!!

I suppose that I may as well include in here that we are now officially moving to Jacksonville!

We’re moving up and we’re moving to the other coast! Ross and I both like Jacksonville a lot, and even planned on moving there when we were first married almost two years ago. Ross had a job lined up and everything, but it was given to someone else nine days before our wedding…but that’s another story for another time.

Ross’ sister-in-law, Jordan, (whom I LOVE!) lives in Jacksonville! Plus we’ve already found an apartment that we really like. It’s in a nice area, about $100 a month cheaper than our Gainesville apartment and about 262 square feet bigger than our Gainesville apartment. Win-win! The kitchen is pretty tiny, but I think we’ll make it work.

Now, what’s the real reason we’re moving to Jacksonville? I mean, we both already had jobs and a nice home in Gainesville. And I love my sister-in-law and all, but to move for just one person? If you’re thinking there’s got to be something else going on, you’re right.

The news that I have been holding on to the longest (for literally MONTHS!) and the news that is the most exciting and most life-changing for me personally is that…

I got in to the University of North Florida as a post-baccalaureate student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science with a concentration in Nutrition. 

Can I just say it again?

I’M GOING BACK TO SCHOOL!!!

It’s finally coming together! For new readers, or even those of you who just don’t know, I’ve been very interested in the field of nutrition for quite a while. While I was at UCF for my first degree in music, I knew part way through that a career in music just wasn’t what I wanted anymore. I loved music, and I wouldn’t mind teaching flute lessons still, but I wanted a different lifestyle and I wanted to explore my other interests. I thought long and hard about switching majors to nutrition while I was still in my first undergrad, but UCF didn’t have a nutrition program (seriously?! The sixth largest university in the United States didn’t offer a program in nutrition? Get with it, UCF! rant over. ). I thought about transferring to UNF then, but I didn’t want to waste everything I had done at UCF. So I just graduated early with a music degree.

It’s been a huge decision to see if I wanted to go back to school for nutrition. As you can imagine, it’s going to be a big undertaking. With my very un-scientific music degree, I have a lot of science classes to make up, not to mention all the nutrition prerequisites. So I’ll be embarking on what looks to be a three year journey for my second bachelor’s degree, which I hope to follow with a 16-month graduate class and internship program at UNF, followed by the R.D. exam.

So, the long term goal is that five years from now I’ll be a Registered Dietitian!

Am I scared? Sure. Nervous? Definitely. Will it be worth it to pursue a dream and not live my life in regret, always wondering if I should have pursued becoming an R.D.? Absolutely yes.

So, there ya go.

That’s kind of why I’ve been a little busy lately. Summer A class for the past six weeks, looking for jobs, we’ve both gone back and forth to Jacksonville multiple times, work in Gainesville, apartment searching in Jacksonville, interviewing in Jacksonville, and so much more…whew! I’d say I’m so glad that’s over, and I am, but there’s a lot to look forward to and a lot going on in the next couple months, too! Where do we go from here?

• We posted my current job in Gainesville on craigslist today. Kind of bittersweet.
• Review applications, interview, hire someone and train someone at my current job.
• Prepare for a hopeful business venture for myself in Jacksonville.
• July 4: Fourth of July! (obviously)
• July 6: My 23rd birthday!
• July 9-16: Family vacation in North Carolina!!!!!!
• July 17: Wedding in Sarasota, Florida!
• July 23: Wedding in Orlando, Florida!
• July 26: Our 2nd wedding anniversary!
• July 26-29: Probably last week at work
• July 30-August 6: Probable moving time frame
• August: JACKSONVILLE!
• August 16: Ross and teachers go back to school
• August 23: I go back to school!!

Also throw in there possible day trips to Jacksonville if anything else comes up, like having the opportunity to walk through multiple apartments to pick our exact one, or if I get any other interviews. Whew! I am SO excited!

I’m also really excited to be back to blogging. You wouldn’t believe the pictures I have logged on my camera! I’m really glad to have all of this open to you guys now, too, so I don’t have secrets. Secrets don’t make friends.

Before I go: Ross, Jordan and I at her graduation from UNF this past summer:

Go Ospreys!

I’m so happy. I’ll be back in five years as a R.D. when you’re done reading this monster post.