My New Life

Is pretty amazing. I have a good-paying job, some new friends here in Boston, and a great boyfriend. Much of my time is spent analyzing what I want out of my personal life. There are the things that are easy for me to pinpoint, like wanting to have friends surrounding me. I've moved so much and left so many friends behind along the way that I know the importance of having them. I want the kinds of friends that you hang out with after a long day and just watch tv or talk or play karaoke.

It was a little scary coming out here, with little more than a bit of savings and a couple of suitcases with clothes in them. It was also fantastically liberating. I can do anything. After I was hired at this pharmaceutical company, I joined a gym. Before I joined I had lost about 30 pounds from just dieting since leaving Hawaii. Since I joined the gym I've been doing the elliptical or running on the treadmill and I've lost another 15 pounds. I've lost about 25% of my body weight since moving here. It's pretty amazing. My weight plateaued and I asked for advice from my roommies (amazing people) and they said to lift some weights or otherwise challenge my body. I broke through the plateau and lost another 5 pounds with some strength training. I can run 4 miles at a 9-minute mile pace now. I love to see the improvement in myself as time goes on. I think I'm probaby in the best shape of my life. My waist is actually starting to look small (you know, in the right pose, from a distance). I'm not really sure what my final weight "goal" is, but my body looks and feels better than it has in ages, maybe ever. Running makes me feel good about myself.

On the personal side, my boyfriend is amazing. He's 6'3", blonde, blue-eyed, slim (but not skinny) build, and gorgeous. He tells me he can't believe I'm his. I feel the same way about him. Sometimes he's insensitive, and he doesn't always do the right thing, or know what to do, but he's still incredible. Last night he told me that I'm "gorgeous, can cook like a gourmet chef, and make love like an experienced prostitute." I've decided to take that as a compliment. I love him. We also agreed to be open, which makes me so happy. For 7 years I was in a relationship that was only monogamous on my side, so to have some freedom right now is really great. I think I have the best of both worlds: an amazing boyfriend who I'm in love with and the ability to date other people. Structure is very important to me, so we (I) actually set aside Wednesdays and Fridays to see other people or just be by ourselves. I'm going to see District 9 with Rick on Friday. I was starting to feel a little smothered by Jonathan (my boyfriend) after he got back from vacation, but I absolutely love when he spends the night. My life is in an amazing place, and I just hope I can keep it here for a while.