Saturday, December 19, 2009

At the Risk of being Yelled At...

Jessie, I absolutely love this picture!!!
And it's so pretty I wanted to share it with the rest of the world...
On the off chance that more than you, Grandma, and Beth read my blog, that is.
It just makes me think of candy and ice cream and birthday cakes...
YAY!!!
This is a happy picture, and I would like to thank you for posting it, sister, mine!!

In other news...
I haven't done laundry in ages, and it's just been brought to my attention that we are leaving for Florida in less than...three days?? I can't count right now...
I told Mom why should I bother as I'll just be wearing a swimsuit, right?
That didn't fly...
But a girl can dream, right?

I'm both excited and absolutely dreading Florida...
Why, you may ask??
I don't like planes. I don't like car-rides to and from airports. I don't like the instant heat when I walk outside. And I especially don't like going somewhere far from home when I have nineteen days, give or take, until I'm leaving home permanently...
Ouch time...
But I can do it, it's all right, and if I have to stay up for hours on end, my laundry WILL GET DONE!!
I hope...

We're having a family day tomorrow, to open presents since Dad isn't joining us down south--lucky!!--and we're watching movies all day...
Fun, fun...
I just LOVE being lazy and doing nothing where there are a MILLION things to do...

And yes, that was sarcastic.
I'm okay.
I just need to breathe a little...
And find a few more boxes to pack stuff in...got any on hand?

Friday, December 18, 2009

New favorite song...

'Cagayake GIRLS!'

chatting now
gachi de kashimashi never ending girls' talk
shuugyou chaimu made matenai
chikoku wa shite mo soutai wa non non non!
seiippai study after school

dokidoki ga tomannai furusurottoru na nounai
kibou - yokubou - bonnou ribon kakete housou
neta dossari mochiyori new type version uchikomi
danshi kinsei no purichou koi tsuzutta nikkichou

sukaato take 2 cm tsumetara tobu yo
kinou yori tooku ototoi yori okutaabu takaku

jumping now
gachi de uruwashi never ending girls' life
hibi maji raibu dashi matta nashi
hayaokishite mo hayane wa non non non!
meippai shouting wasshoi
gachi de subarashi never ending girls' song
gogo tiitaimu ni wa motte koi
kataomoi demo gyokusai de here we go!
utaeba shining after school

fuwafuwa ikiteru sei? jiken bakkashi eburidei
bibun sekibun wa tsuishi toubun ren'ai wa chuushi
nijigenme ni wa naku yo yojigen dashi ibukuro
yaba, tsui ni genkaichou ueito kaita maru hichou

maegami 3 mm kittara mieta
touan masshiro demo mirai ga barairo nara yoku ne?

chatting now
gachi de kashimashi never ending girls' talk
shuugyou chaimu made matenai
chikoku wa shite mo soutai wa non non non!
seiippai study enjoi
gachi de subarashi never ending girls' song
gogo tiitaimu ni wa motte koi
katayaburi na koodo demo here we go!
utaeba shining after school

eien ni ruupu suru
saizu down up down up
demo kibun itsudemo
up up up & up
atsumaru dake de waraeru nante
utau dake de shiawase nante
...kanari chikyuu ni yasashii eko jan

jumping now
gachi de uruwashi never ending girls' life
hibi maji raibu dashi matta nashi
hayaokishite mo hayane wa non non non!
meippai shouting wasshoi
gachi de subarashi never ending girls' song
gogo tiitaimu ni wa motte koi
kataomoi demo gyokusai de here we go!
utaeba shining after school

so
shining shiner shinyest
girls be ambitious & shine
shining shiner shinyest
girls be ambitious & shine
shining shiner shinyest
girls be ambitious & shine
shining shiner shinyest
girls be ambitious & shine
shining shiner shinyest
girls be ambitious & shine
shining shiner shinyest
girls be ambitious & shine

Don't ask what it all means, because I'm not quite sure off-hand...
But it's stuck in my head, and I really don't mind, because it's just so bouncy and that's exactly what I need right now...
I made another mix last night with this song...
Why?
The title says it all...
"Because it's just SOOOO much better in Japanese..."
Sometimes, I think it really is...

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Out of Touch on Purpose

I've found, over the last few weeks, that I know nothing about life that goes on around me...
One sister has a boyfriend who we've talked about less times than I can count on one hand, in the month and a half she's been dating him. Are they doing well? I assume so, but I don't know.
My older brother moved into his new apartment sometime in the last week, and I didn't really register that fact until today. I haven't probably spoken to him in at least two weeks. Is he doing well? I honestly hope so, but I don't know.
Am I repeating myself? Let's try something different...
There is a girl in my church that I've become a bit of friends with, and we've chatted during Bible study and such, and I just found out that she's not quite eighteen, though I thought she was at least twenty-one. And I discovered she's been home-schooled, and is not in college, as I thought she was. So I wonder, what have we been talking about that I didn't know this before? Well...God, men and chocolate...not bad things, but still. No intimacy, at least not on my part, and I have to wonder, is this lack my fault? Am I really that out of touch that she doesn't see the point in telling me other things about her? Or did she tell and I'm that out of touch that I didn't realize?
Or look at another aspect, members of my family--cousins, aunts, uncles, grand-parents, etc--are going through things, good and bad, that I have no awareness of. I feel ignorant and stupid, because no one tells me, but then, as with my church friend, perhaps they did and I'm just out of touch, off in my own world...
It just seems I'm the last to know about everything, from births to deaths.
And I think it might be because I don't show initial interest. But then I think, also, why should I have to make the first move? Why do I have to call first or email or send a text message or whatever? Why can't people come to me?
I just feel so out of touch...and I know, half the time--more than half--I do it on purpose. If I don't get close, you can't hurt me when you stop talking to me, and heck, I'm moving a million miles across the country anyway, so why should I care in the first place what's going on outside of me if I'm just leaving it behind?
But the double-edged sword cuts right through me when you tell her that you found someone you like before me, or him that you just got accepted to the school of your dreams, and I'm out of the loop, broken and bleeding on the sidewalk just because I was bored with main traffic and can't figure out how to zip back in...talk about your mixed metaphors, haha...
I'm sure Mom would tell me it's just a matter of balance.
(Seems everything is with me)
But I'm awful dizzy lately and am more likely to fall on my face than walk a straight line...
How do I do it?
Any ideas?

Where I'm Going To...

Climate for Billings, Montana

Average Temperature for Billings, Montana
Month Low High
Jan 15.1°F 32.8°F
Feb 20.1°F 39.5°F
Mar 26.4°F 47.6°F
Apr 34.7°F 57.5°F
May 44.0°F 67.4°F
Jun 52.5°F 78.0°F
Jul 58.3°F 85.8°F
Aug 57.3°F 84.5°F
Sept 47.1°F 71.8°F
Oct 37.2°F 58.9°F
Nov 25.6°F 42.7°F
Dec 17.7°F 34.5°F

Billings's coldest month is January when the average temperature overnight is 15.1°F. In July, the warmest month, the average day time temperature rises to 85.8°F.

Average Rainfall for Billings, Montana
Month Precipitation
Jan 0.81in.
Feb 0.57in.
Mar 1.12in.
Apr 1.74in.
May 2.48in.
Jun 1.89in.
Jul 1.28in.
Aug 0.85in.
Sept 1.34in.
Oct 1.26in.
Nov 0.75in.
Dec 0.67in.

The driest month in Billings is February with 0.57 inches of precipitation, and with 2.48 inches May is the wettest month.

Percentage of Sunshine Hours for Billings, Montana
Month Sunshine Hours
Jan 47%
Feb 53%
Mar 61%
Apr 60%
May 61%
Jun 64%
Jul 76%
Aug 75%
Sept 68%
Oct 61%
Nov 46%
Dec 45%

Sunshine hours refers to the amount sunshine there is during the hours of daylight. A higher percentage means there is more sunshine through the day and a lower percentage will indicate that it is probably cloudier. Sunshine hours are important when you are planning your vacation.

Well, I'm not vacationing...
But at least I've got a feel how cold it'll be...
And I noticed there's a lot of rain in May, no way finals will be happy, haha...
Average-wise, at least...

PLEASE BE AVERAGE!!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

"I kind of have a split personality on this, I'm a morning guy.. if night guy doesn't stay up too late... but invariably night guy stays up way too late, which ruins morning guy's day."
from Air1's Sean (of Sean & Mandy), asked what favorite time of day is

God help me stay positive...

I read so many blogs, notes, statuses, that are so full of depression or anger or self-pity, and I'm trying really hard not to do that, because it annoys me so much to read it, so how hypocritical that I make others read it from me?
But at the same time, not all of life is rosy, and sometimes it just plain sucks, and if I'm trying to be honest, wouldn't it be hypocritical, too, to deny that part of life's existence?
But also, I'm trying to find the good in the bad, so perhaps, a little of A, a little of B...
For instance...

I work three to five evenings a week, baby-sitting for my girlfriend Irina, and her two children, David and Anita. David is three, Anita is seventeen months, and at times, they can both be a handful. Also, the pay really isn't that great.
BUT...
I feel my parenting skills are improving, and I really want to be an expert on my kids--dream big! :)
I AM getting paid, so even the little bit I get is still good.
Plus, I'm learning Russian, and even if it's only little things, like telling them to 'Be good' or 'Eat' or asking 'What,' it's still pretty awesome, and I love it.

Someone very close to me told me he hated me last week. Completely out of the blue, and unexpected, and it was like a break-up all over again, except worse, because we're so much closer than a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship.
BUT...
The next day, he apologized, reaffirmed that he loves me more than I can imagine, and we bonded over his favorite television show, and I think, because of this little hiccup, we just might be closer than ever.

I visited my friend Marissa at her school in St Cloud, and it seems every time I go there, we have to watch the dumbest movies--'College' and 'Knocked Up' to name a few--and there's no staying in for dinner, so I have to spend my hard-earned cash instead of saving it, because, hey, a girl's gotta eat, right?
BUT...
I always have a lot of fun when I visit, even with the dumb movies.
I'm meeting new people, being sociable, which is hard for me, but I'm learning.
And if I spend a little money, well, the whole fact of being in college makes everyone on the verge of broke, so it's never a fancy restaurant anyway.

Sometimes it's so hard to find the good in the bad, especially while the bad is happening, and I can't always see it, even after...
But I really don't want to be a negative person, and I don't want to become bitter and angry like I see so many of my friends becoming...

God help me stay positive...

Friday, December 4, 2009

Brushing up on my French...

Some of you may or may not know I have a little obsession with foreign languages...
(Mostly cuz they sound so much better than ours!!)
Haha, but seriously, I collect almost anything that's not in English, from candy wrappers to CDs, and everything in between. And one of the things I've been meaning to get is Disney's Beauty and the Beast...or 'La Belle et la Bete.' I saw it in my French class way back during my sophomore year, and while the English version does have a French language track, it's just not quite right without the French titles and credits as well. So I've been looking for it, and I found it...only it's 45,00 euros, which is over sixty American dollars...Christmas present maybe? But I can't afford it for myself, not when I need extra cash for school this spring. So, looking on, I discover that Disney has French versions of quite a few princess movies...one being 'La Belle au Bois Dormant' or, my favorite, Sleeping Beauty. And a heck of a lot cheaper...it'll arrive in about a week, delivered from France as it is, and I just can't wait...it's Christmas early for me! :)

And speaking of Christmas, first, it's snowing!! And sticking, too, it looks like, so YAY!!! I love snow...or at least the picture. Guaranteed I won't go out in it, but it's just not December, not Christmas, without snow...
(How do you handle it Grandma??)
Though on that note, I should say, I'm going to visit my grandparents down in Florida over the holiday, for the first time in years...I think the last time I went was Liberty's first Christmas, but I can't really remember that far back...
But, if there's no snow, at least I will have family with me, and that's what it's all about, right? Fellowship and all that jazz...
Love it!

Another special Christmas occasion, there is a Ladies' Tea tomorrow morning at my church. It's an annual get-together, ladies of all ages, and there's a little shopping from ladies in the church, crafts and such, and there's music and teachings, and it's just a lot of fun--plus the men have to serve us, which is nice! ;) This year, however, Mom forgot to purchase the tickets, and so we figured we'd have to pass this year. Only, we both volunteered to help set up, myself yesterday, Mom today, and the lady in charge told Mom that OF COURSE WE SAVED A SPOT FOR YOU!
We volunteer for everything, see, and we go to everything as well, so they assumed we'd want to be there this year as well, and it just slipped our minds...
I love my church!
(And now I'm wondering how I'll get along without them??)

Reading back over this, I notice how there are reminders--for myself, at least--of things not-so-cheerful in each of these things, but I kind of like keeping things on a positive note...
Especially since one of the Things N-S-C is already taken care of...
You just can't be sad during the Christmas season, really...

Hope all's well for the rest of you, love you all, have a great weekend!!

Friday, November 27, 2009

Black Friday...

Sleep til after ten...too tired to get up at a god-awful hour to go shopping...hang out online for at least an hour...prolly find better deals online anyway, and safer environments too...a couple movies I need to watch...and since I have them already, why shop for them...though maybe I should clean my room first?
That's what I usually do on my days off anyway...the ongoing battle, I made a mix a few weeks back I entitled 'The pile keeps growing' hoping the music would give me incentive to clean...
(it didn't)

Mom said something interesting the other day...
So since I'm going to school in less than two months now (GASP!!), I want to finish as many books and movies and such as I can before I go, because I don't want to wish that I'd taken them with me when I clearly don't have that much room. But after explaining this to Mom, she said why bother? I'll have my own personal library someday anyway, so why not wait until I really have the time for it all?
Why not, indeed?

I'm having a couple issues with my computer, some files are embedded and can't be deleted and they clearly need to be, so I'm trying to figure out how to get rid of them WITHOUT erasing the entire hard-drive...
Perhaps I should give up the computer entirely if it dislikes me so much...?

For once, I am not cold in my house, not because they turned up the heat, but because I finally wised up and started wearing layers...
One of my friends told me that the reason I was so cold was because I didn't have enough muscle to heat me up, and I returned that I probably needed more fat, for padding and such, but it turns out that's not true. Fat actually stores the cold, like it absorbs it, so the cold sticks with you...and that makes sense, so hooray that I'm not fat, but bummer I need more muscle...blah...

It doesn't feel like a holiday weekend...
Maybe I should start playing Christmas music?
That's the only holiday that really feels 'holiday-ish' anyway, haha...

Enjoy your day, and if you're shopping, don't hurt yourself for the last red scarf on the display...
(Unless you're buying it for me!)
:)

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

David

There is a boy I baby-sit for, his name is David, and he's three years old, a little more than a month younger than my niece Liberty. He's cute, somewhat entertaining, and likes to snatch whatever food I might have made for myself. He also cries at the drop of a hat over quite literally nothing, and I'm at a loss to how to conquer this...that, and he speaks Russian more than English so when I ask him 'skoka' --that's 'what' in R--he replies back with some jibberish that I maybe only know one word of, and it's likely not the important one so I have no idea how to remedy the situation. This little boy is halfway to driving me up the wall, and though I love him as much as I did when he was born, I'm starting to lose my 'aunt' glow now that I'm baby-sitting on a regular basis. There's only so long I can toss a ball back and forth, or race cars across the living room, and I'm not sure what else I can do to entertain him, since Momma doesn't want him watching cartoons...though that's kind of cheating anyway, using the video for a baby-sitter, isn't it? I almost wish I could put him down for a nap like his sister...
But let's think positive here for a moment...
He is pretty easily entertained...
He'll eat most anything I give him, even vegetables, which is rare considering how picky his father is, and how much like him he is in everything else...
He's always happy to see me when I come over...
And he never calls long-distance when he steals my phone...(!!)...
:D
Seriously, though, does anyone have any ideas how to entertain a three-year-old boy and retain sanity at the same time?

Saturday, November 21, 2009

There is a picture...

that sits on the desk, in a silver frame with elegant curves and painted flowers, and the whole thing's covered in dust...
What does that say about the girl in the picture?
What does that say about the girl's husband, who sits at the desk all day?

I'm feeling a sort of reality check here...
Not every relationship is 'happily ever after,' even with a ring on your finger...
And not every prince is 'tall, dark and handsome' or 'dashing, debonair and charming'...
Course that doesn't mean I don't still want it...
It's just saying I'm smart not to get married at eighteen, or twenty-one, twenty-two, because clearly, these relationships are all going down the drain...

Maybe I need better married friends...

Or maybe not, it's good to see the other side.

Think I'm going to dust off the picture now...

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

A little angst...

Is good for the soul...

Or something like that...
So, I changed my background, colors and all, and I like the darker bits...

This is what happens at three in the morning...

I'm a little wired, a little tired, a little broken, but still smiling, and there are things I wanna do but I can't concentrate, and it's all one big mess...

But, good news, registered for my classes, and if I didn't necessarily get all the ones I wanted, I got the important ones, so I'm set for life...

Or for the first semester anyway, and I’m excited and dreading it at the same time, but I just know that everything’s going to work out, because somehow, it always does...

But maybe it’s the late/early hour, but I feel like screaming and throwing a fit and just making things a mess, so I have something else to focus on...

(i.e., the cleaning of the mess)

I love to clean, did I tell you that?

So I’m hoping that today is better, and that I don’t feel as exhausted and that everyone is a little bit understanding of the fact that I’m going to crack...

And just a thought, maybe it’s a certain time of month coming up...?

If I think about it, despite never keeping track, I can almost guarantee it’ll come in about...hmm...

Eight days.

I’ll buy you ice cream if I’m wrong...

(Though maybe take a rain check, since I’m low on cash...?)

Yeah, it’s definitely time for bed...

Love you, goodnight...

Sunday, October 11, 2009

I Am Loved...

Duh...

But, no, what I've noticed, and this is strange, it's only my guy friends, not the girls, but whenever I say something about freaking out over something, here are the standard responses...
"You're okay."
"Just keep going."
"You'll be fine."
"Just breathe."
All basically the same thing, and it's funny, no one else tells me I'm okay, they all tell me to, basically, though often in nicer terms, quit whining and shut up...
Why are guys nice, but girls are blunt?

I'm confused, but at the same time, I don't care enough to figure out why...
Just an observation...

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Wow...

Just read Beth's blog about single girls and the attached blog from 'Big Mama' and that's like so what I've been feeling, and I'm at the point where I've decided to finally let go and let God, but wow, that's like so me...
Beth, how do you do this?
You always have the most awesome things to say, and it feels like it's just for me!
I love you!! :)

Random Update (copied from Myspace blog cuz too lazy to rewrite haha)

So it's been awhile since I've been into MySpace, I just don't feel like being here, even on Facebook, it's just sort of oh hi, but I don't feel like responding to anything, so I feel like I've fallen off the edge...
But I haven't, honestly, I just got a little down but I don't want to be there anymore, so I'm pulling my boots on, standing tall, and taking on the world...

Here's what's happening...
I'm currently jobless, but by my own choice. The one was getting irritating, mostly due to the management giving me management duties myself without any actual authority so I couldn't fix things, and without the pay, too, and not that I care too much if you pay more or less, but couldn't you at least give me something in return for doing your work?
The other was fine, except that I had a couple issues with Jake, the manager who's a jerk but I still briefly thought of asking him out anyway, because I felt sorry for him, thought he needed a good time to get off being a jerk, and oh, yeah, he's cute, too...but, well, for some reason, maybe my perky attitude, or my like of Taylor Swift, he doesn't like me at all, and even though not everyone has to like me, I could just feel his dislike radiating off of him, and so I started searching for another job, and he took offense when he heard, and so I told him just keep me on til the end of the month, and we were actually great between then and now...
Only I never did find that other job, despite interviews, mostly because of the latest piece of news...I've been accepted for spring semester at Rocky Mountain College, in Billings, Montana...yay me!! And I'm all excited for it, can't wait, but well, people don't want you working for three months, they'd prefer that you live a life of drudgery doing something boring at minimum wage for all eternity, and even if they say they support schooling, they actually just want you sell them your soul and work it off for the rest of your days...
And yes, I'm being dramatic, and I actually don't mean half of that, I just like the way it sounds... :)
Lame...
I don't have any romantic interests right now, which is probably for the best, as I tend to forget what I want in life with a dreamy guy in my vision...I've had a couple weird vibes, though...first, a close friend came into work and blurted out he liked me...whoa...and I was flattered, but not in any way feeling it, so I'm honest, and he's okay with it, I think, as we're still friends, but I sometimes wonder if I should cut him off...? Then, a friend of my brother's likes me and I'm not into him at all, only nice because I feel sorry for him, and he acted like he understood, but then started saying things that made it seem like he was going to break me, and he about succeeded, but only in that I'd crack and kill him, never date him, so I broke things off completely...that was fun...haha...then there's this guy I've been friends with for a long time, well, maybe not that long, but it seems like forever to me, and I was gradually falling for him, and his friends said he was falling for me, and I wondered, what would he do if I just up and kissed him? But then, I went to Haiti, and when I came back, he was distant...and I think it's my fault, but I really don't know what I did, exactly, except I know I can put off some pretty intense vibes when I'm into someone, and maybe he realized he didn't want an intense relationship like that? So we're friends, but I haven't really talked to him in almost three months, and gave up on getting a response from a text...but I'd like to thank him, anyways, because I truly count him as the fourth person I've ever loved, and now I don't moon over the last official boyfriend because I had an in between person. :) Not to say I moon over him, no, because I got a closer relationship with God these days, so it's all good on that count. And I'm just waiting for my not-so-charming prince --who wants all that perfection anyway, right?-- to show up, and according to Maggie, who God talks to more than me, I'll be just fine...
I've found I have maybe four really close friends that I can talk to about anything, excluding family members, and so I've just been working on cultivating those relationships, having a little fun when I can, and it's been good, I think. Every now and then I wonder if they're the right people to talk to, mostly because, in getting closer to God, I've realized how much I need to surround myself with believers, and only one of them applies to that, and even then, we don't believe the same thing at all, but then I feel like I'd be doing a disservice if I let them go, and I think God wants me around them for a reason...don't know what it is, yet, but there you go...
Which is one of the reasons I was a little iffy about Montana, going so far away from everyone, but I know I can chat online at least with all of them, and I'll have a phone, too, so it should be fine, and I'll just try to be available as much as I can --though I can't neglect my school work, no-- and I just have to trust that if God really wants me to keep these people in my life, He'll help me find a way.
I'm in a constant battle to keep my life organized right now, as, without a job, I have freetime, but no drive to do anything, so, with Mom's help, I've got chores to do, and a study schedule, for math, and piano, and though it's touch and go, I'm not completely awful at sticking to it. As long as I have a list, I've found I can stick to anything...just don't let me get away with thinking I can keep the list in my head! haha or I'll never do anything...
My sister Elle and I are hoping to have a Halloween party this year, which we know our parents don't like the creepy stuff, but if we have it in the barn, there's no need to decorate, it's creepy enough, right? And, it's just really a fun time, music, food, a bonfire if the weather's nice...but Mom and Dad have to say yes first! Please say yes??
I find myself being less emotional than I could be, and I'm able to keep my cool, remain calm, be nice to people I'm otherwise mean to, and though I still cry over things, I don't try to press that on people, as I've found it's actually more embarrassing than helpful...and so if I cry, it really doesn't mean anything these days, just that it's building up and my body doesn't know how else to release stress...if I happen to cry more than most people, it's just my stress level is unbelievably high, even if my life doesn't seem to be...but God's helping me get through it...
My Mom's in Europe right now, which is awesome, but I feel the responsibilities of adulthood more keenly with her gone, and I'm almost glad that God's got different plans than I do, because as much as I've always wanted to be settled, I'm so not ready for anything right now...
Need to grow up...
Stop watching cartoons...
Clean up my act...
And learn to wake up in the mornings instead of afternoons!
Or maybe half that, lol...
It would seem my brain can't produce anything more random so I'll say goodbye for now...
Hope all's well on your end :)

Friday, August 21, 2009

More craziness...Hildi's in Love!

So I had a few friends over the other day, and Hildi took a real shine to my friend Alex, especially when he started reading one of her favorite books, Go Dog Go...did he maybe give her the wrong impression? ;)


Saturday, August 15, 2009

My Crazy Baby Sister...



Hildi and friend Destiny :)
Aren't they cute?

Saturday, August 8, 2009

So how many of you knew...?

That I was in Haiti this last week?
Well now you know...
I don't have pictures yet, will be getting them all together soon...
And I wrote a diary, some of which I'll post on here...
But it was really awesome...
I miss it...
And I'm so tired and I'm speaking in church tomorrow about it...
GAH!!
Pray for me :)
Love you all...

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Response to Jessie's Air Show

Went to the 'Back to the '50's' car show at the state fairgrounds this weekend...
Both a joy and a disappointment...
Lots of things seem that way lately...
BUT!!
My pictures are kinda cool, so here goes...










Tuesday, June 16, 2009

In case you're wondering...

I'm so totally okay with everything.
The weight is gone.
I don't feel like crying.
And I kinda feel at peace...
Think this is the right direction.

Love you all...

Friday, June 12, 2009

Just a little Freak-Out...

Seriously.
I stopped crying.
And it only lasted for about a minute or two...
Though, okay, so I'm still thinking about it...

Alright, here's what's going through my head right now.

Yesterday, James came over. Not to see me, though he did, of course, and we chatted a little, but no, he came to see my Mom. See, he got this new job selling knives --salesman? whoa-- and he's been at it a little under two weeks and wanted to give his spiel to Mom to practice, and to my surprise, he's good at it, he's funny, engaging, whatever...they're good knives, too, and it's cool the things you can do with them. There's also a pair of shears that can cut through ANYTHING! To prove it, he cut a penny.
How cool is that?
Of course, he hadn't done that one when I was in the room, cuz I was doing other things, but when I came back in, I admired it, and, since Mom was out of the room taking care of the baby for a moment or something, he took time to show me a trick as well...
He made a flower out of the penny and gave it to me.
And HELLO, what does that mean?
He's never given me a flower before, not while we were dating, and now this?
And he seems happy to see me, which is nice, but I'm confused anyway.
And a little scared too...
Wanna know a secret?
I haven't dreamed of him in two weeks.
And months of nightmares, I've gone back to my normal dreaming habits.
And I'm glad, though a little bit wondering what made it stop, but this is good, it's nice to finally get over someone after...six months?
But then he comes over and confuses me...
And we have last night...
(Insert curse word here!)
And, okay, I know he's not good for me and all, and I've gone over all the reasons in my head, but a girl gets lonely and likes to be admired and starts thinking...
STOP THINKING!!
Wanna know why?
This morning I go on my Facebook account, and big and bold on the side column, guess what's new?
James is in a relationship.
Okay.
Just breathe.
I don't need to freak out.
I mean, I've been telling myself all the reasons why we shouldn't get back together anyway, so it's okay, right?
Right...
But what was with giving me a flower?
The jerk really is a nice guy, I guess...
Whatever, so I'm okay, just a little stunned, thrown for a loop.
But I'm reacting way better than I did when I found out the priest had a girlfriend, so I think this is okay...it's okay...
Say a prayer just in case my brain decides it's not?

Hope all's well with you...

Thursday, June 11, 2009

More than wow...

You find the craziest things at a quarter to one in the morning...

Happy Birthday Guitar Cover - The Click Five

Dates4Dorks

Hallelujah

Tyler's Amazing Oreo Trick

Guitar: Backwards

Foothill Freshman Cheerleading Performance '08

If you're as bored as I am, check it out :)

"Summer Again" / "MySpace Girl"

I'm watching the green give into gold
As summer becomes October's cold
Gravity begs
For one final kiss
She drops it to him, as she gives in

Traces of light, linger around
As laces of white fall to the ground
The softest of sounds for the heaviest things
And the pain that it brings

As she falls I try to catch her
For one last touch of warmth from summer
As one thing leaves to becomes another again
I remember when

Don't remember the day, she started to fade
The ground felt a chill as she gave it away
A whisper - a sigh, for the time that she passed
But this winter won't last

As she falls I try to catch her
For one last touch of warmth from summer
As one thing leaves to becomes another again
I remember when
Oh to be with summer again

The days were warm and we wore them like skin
Now I feel the effects of October again

As she falls I try to catch her
For one last touch of warmth from summer
As one thing leaves to becomes another again
I remember when
Oh to be with summer again

I'm watching the green give in to gold
As summer becomes Octobers cold


This song is so not appropriate for June, despite the title...
However...
I'm kinda feeling like this.
Things seem to be falling from my grasp, even as other things fall into place...

So all applications (except one!) have been sent in, FINALLY, after much procrastination and such, and SAT scores will be sent out as soon as they're available --JUNE 25TH-- and here's where we're at...
University of Montana Western
Ursinus College
Clemson University
Rocky Mountain College
North Greenville University
Northwestern College
...and I think that's all?
Maybe one more, my brain seems to think so even while being unable to come up with a name...
I'm really crushin' on the third and fifth option, think the second is probably the perfect school, the fourth is cool mostly because the front cover of the brochure is green, the first just seems so...experiencial? is that a word? idk...and the sixth I'll settle for if none of the above say yes.
LET THEM SAY YES!!!

This is the type of happily ever after I'm lookin for, I think...
But I've got time...


I saw you once, it was enough
You asked me what I wanted, I want you
But I replied, I'll have some fries
So mesmerized, my heart was over driving through

I saw your name and unashamed
I searched within 500 miles to find
Any clue just as to who I've fallen for
Cause you've got me and I've got time

I saw your picture on Myspace
Maybe someday we can turn it into ourspace baby
I don't care how long it takes
I'm saving space in my top 8 for you

The second time you were so nice
I loved the way told me to enjoy my day
But I know what you meant to say instead
Was really that you wanted us to run away

I said let's go, I'll pack my clothes
Just promise me you'll wear that purple dress you have
You look so cute when you're confused
You backed away and asked me how I new about that

I know you're scared
I know our love is crazy
And I'm so crazy
You make me crazy
For you

"Summer Again" and "MySpace Girl" courtesy of The Afters, from their album "NEVER GOING BACK TO OK"

(Which I'm not, I think...)

And one more melancholy-type song for the road...


"Happy Birthday" by The Click Five

Hey you
I know I'm in the wrong
Time flies
When you're having fun
You wake up
Another year is gone
You're twenty-one

I guess you wanna know
Why I'm on the phone
It's been a day or so
I know it's kinda late
But happy birthday

Yeah yeah whoa oh
I know you hate me
Yeah yeah whoa oh
Well I miss you too
Yeah yeah I know
I know it's kinda late
But happy birthday

So hard
When you're far away
It's lame but I forgot the date
I won't make the same mistake
I'm so to blame

Now you know
Don't hang up the phone
I wish I was at home
I know it's way too late
But happy birthday

Yeah yeah whoa oh
I know you hate me
Yeah yeah whoa oh
Well I miss you too
Yeah yeah I know
I know it's kinda late
But happy birthday

It's not that I don't care
You know I'll make it up to you
If I could I'd be there

Yeah yeah whoa oh
Yeah yeah whoa oh
Well I miss you too
Yeah yeah I know
I know it's kinda late
But happy birthday

Yeah yeah whoa oh
I know you hate me
Yeah yeah whoa oh
Well I miss you too
Yeah yeah I know
I know it's kinda late
But happy birthday
To you

Saturday, June 6, 2009

C317

Noise.
I never expected so much, especially not at high school, on a Saturday morning, after graduation and the last day of school.
But there you have it.
Noise.
LOTS of noise.
So much that I wonder if perhaps I should take myself out of the middle of this crowd of children and move to the outskirts...but that would be cowardly.
I'm not afraid of crowds.
I'm not afraid of noise.
And I'm certainly not afraid to take a little test...

It gets quieter.
Children are going to their assigned classrooms, and, because this school is HUGE and SCARY and I feel like I might get LOST, I follow the crowd and make it to C-level.
HOW BIG CAN THIS SCHOOL BE?
Big enough.

Now, get in line, and have your IDs ready.
But wait, where's mine?
It's not in the pocket I put it in...
Step out of line, try not to hyperventilate...
But I found it, I'm okay, and let's step back in line, in the back of the line, and file in.

Seat 26?
I like that number.
My first lucky one.
The perfect age, I hope...
But it's okay.

Hand out the texts, don't open anything, keep your purse and calculator under your chair unless you're working on a math section.
Please be math so I can get you out of the way.
Please turn to page one.
You have twenty-five minutes to complete the essay...
NO!!
I hate writing.
I can't do it.
I'm not going to do it.
I have to do it.
Where do I start?
Don't cry.
No, stop, please...
It's just a little essay.
You write fiction all the time, how hard can fact be? Especially when it's your own opinion, right?
Right...
Breathe in, breathe out...
Waste five minutes of time...
Then commence writing kick-ass essay on if there are good things that come of seeing our heroes fail.

Five minute break?
Food?
I brought some...
But I can't eat...
But I can't sit in this desk, either, I'm freaking out, and I'm not really sure why.
Back to the room, sit back down...

No, there aren't any calculators to give out, but don't worry because you actually don't need one for any of the math questions.
Seriously?
Okay, so let's put the calculator down and try it...
Hey, this is easy!
I LOVE MATH!!
Wait, what am I saying?
But it is easy...

More breaks...
More tests...
I'm hungry.
I'm thirsty.
I need to use the restroom.
But FOCUS, you need to do great on this or you'll be stuck at home forever!
I don't want to be stuck at home.
More tests...

Congratulations, you've just finished the SAT.

Now...how do I get out of here?

Thursday, May 14, 2009

So...

I feel like I'm neglecting the rest of the world...
I've just caught up on reading about Beth's pregnancy, and seeing all those pictures of my niece and nephew, and I was browsing on Facebook and found out one of my old friends is engaged, and one of my friends just finished her freshman year of college, more are taking finals and then coming home for the summer...
And, somehow, unless it's all right in front of me, I don't care.
I'm very selfish, I think.
Like, I want to tell you all about what's going on in my life, and I want to, for once, check my blog and see that a million people have commented, to give sympathy, praise, support, whatever...
But I can't give you the same consideration.
Yeah, I'm awful...
So, I'll keep it simple.
I went to prom two weeks ago.
I almost lost my job, twice, in those two weeks.
I drank a single martini and it knocked me for a loop, from the first sip.
I dropped a hundred dollars on a guitar that my Dad says is junk.
I gave up mint ice cream to make a friend feel better about hitting the dog.
I stole a soda from one of my best friends.
I decided never again to talk to another friend.
I left my laundry on the closet floor.
I pushed everything under the bed, but the bed itself is made.
I keep taking Sunday shifts when all I want is to hang out at the shop.
I prefer the shirts that remind me of him to the more feminine attire.
I have to air-dry because I'm too lazy to wash towels.
And I think if I don't do something, despite my being calm, I might just freak out anyway...

What's going on in your life?

Thursday, April 23, 2009

The Best Thing...

Okay, so today was my day off (yay!) but two people called in sick so I went in to work (not yay!) at about eight in the morning (DEFINITELY not yay!), which might seem late to some, but oh-so-early for me!
Anyway, so that might be part of it, but Mom and I clashed today.
(Am I hungry?)
(Am I PMSing?)
(Am I exhausted?)
Yes to all three!!
Plus, I'm a bit depressed...nightmares...the other night I woke at about two or so, and I was crying, and I yelled at God (rude, I know), basically to the tune of 'It's been almost five months, maybe a little longer! Why is he still plaguing me? Do I need to pray more? Why are you letting this happen? I'm sick and tired of it!'
And probably more...needless to say, I wasn't happy.
But I had the most interesting thought a moment ago...
The best thing about going back to school and moving far, far away?
(Pray for South Carolina to say yes!!)
When I wake up crying in the middle of the night, it will be because I'm homesick, not because of some guy...
Which, yes, is still kind of lame, but not as pathetic as right now.
(Or at least, I'm sure my Mom would think so)
Oh, I can't wait to get out of here...

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Disturbingly Real...

The latest dream concerned my brother Eli and his friend John.
The part with Eli (which actually came later) was mostly this big long phone conversation, not with him, actually, but with his boss. We talked about his addictions and how he’d gotten into it and how he was on the mend, etc….it seemed a little awkward, considering I didn’t really know the man but somehow it was clear he was someone I could trust…
The part with John…
A very valid fear.
He came over and wouldn’t go away.
See, the thing with John is, he’s got a major crush on me. Has since I was about fourteen or fifteen, I think…makes me wanna gag…and he can’t quite get it through his head that I would rather die than be anything more than a friend (and sometimes not even that). He’s kind of what you might call a computer genius, and every now and then, when my computer’s on the fritz, I’ll ask him to help and fix it, which he does without question. And even when I try, I can’t pay him back. And he seems to think that my asking for help is a sign that I’m coming around to liking him. Even when I try to explain that I don’t and never will, somehow he convinces himself there’s hope. Like, just recently, I opened his eyes to the fact that I never was the nice sweet girl he thought, that I was actually a rotten spoiled brat, and he’d simply caught my good days. And then he comes back with this stuff about how a person can change, and gives me the reference of 1st Corinthians 13, and how he realized that’s maybe not what he was feeling in the beginning, but he’s working toward it, and I can too…still not getting that I can barely stand him as a friend, so why would I be considering how to love him? It’s just so frustrating…every time I think we can just talk like normal people, he turns it into something more…I’m afraid I may just have to cut him off, and, at the risk of losing a computer genius, not even try to be his friend. I had this conversation with my Dad and he kind of pointed out how John’s feelings are not my problem, so I should pretty much just ignore them, and focus on what I’m looking for in this friendship, but even though that actually makes a little sense, I still find myself feeling guilty that he feels that way about me, as if I did something wrong to make him feel that way…even though I’ve realized that a simple smile could translate to ‘I love you’ in his book.
Poor sap…
But I do think I’m going to have to cut him off, regardless…
In the meantime…
I hope he doesn’t show up in my dreams again, cuz that’s beyond creepy…

Sunday, April 5, 2009

And, yes, I did mean that...

Can you believe there's still snow on the ground here?
In APRIL??
Okay, so I hear horror stories of blizzards in May, but honestly...
At least we can put all that global warming junk to rest, haha...

Anyways...
It's been an interesting few days...
I feel myself drifting from place to place, not really paying too much attention to my surroundings, and it's only when something new comes along that I might be willing to take a second look...
April Fool's was not so foolish, unless you consider the joke being the complete and utter lack of customers at the restaurant. It's just been so slow the last week...
And then, Friday I had my last Bible study, finishing the book of James, and I call in to tell them they can now schedule me every Friday instead of every other, and I hear "Well, good, because we have a full house today." If I was more cynical I'd think that they all came in because it's the last time they can without seeing me...but then maybe I am a bit cynical...
Except I can't really even focus on my downed spirits, because after working at the cleaner's that night, I come home to company. A really great couple, Deb n Ron, another one of those family bands we seem to gravitate toward...or maybe they gravitate toward us, I can't tell...but I felt that I couldn't just abandon them to my parents...despite their age...(older than both, I think)...and I ended up chatting with them, and we talked about life and love and God and music --they play in a Celtic band-- and I got an invite to their homeschool prom!! and it was just a great night...complete with chocolate frostys...
They left Saturday while I was at work, but I'm still in a good mood today...
And that's not because I took an extra shift at the restaurant that got me an extra fifty dollars...
(Though I'm sure that helps, haha)
But it kind of broke through the fog a little, meeting them, and now I feel like I can do stuff...

Mom's the coolest, by the way.
She's encouraging me to save money for my junk...
That is, for my recreational delights...
Or something...
And she's a lot easier to talk to when I don't argue with her about every little thing...
Funny...

I'm going to give my sister a call now...
And, Jess, if you don't answer, call me when you read this!!

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Black is the new Black...and Red is just awful...

I seem to be having a clothing issue...
Every time I try to find something with color in it to wear, I remember: I work today, and black is the only thing I can guarantee goes with my workshirt. So, I wear black...every...single...day...
I'm getting tired of it...
But I can't afford any new clothes...
And I'll be the first to admit I'm too lazy to dig to the bottom of the dresser to find the rainbow...
So today, I wore a pink ribbon in my hair to offset the lack of color.
I looked so adorable!!

But then some lady came into the shop and complimented me on how the pink, oddly enough, goes really well with my red hair.

When did I become a redhead??
Now, I have nothing against redheads.
I have some friends of that particular set, and they're very awesome people.
But I don't want to BE a redhead.
The closest I get to red is when I dye my hair purple, and that's not supposed to be permanent. But somehow, it's gotten into everyone's head that my hair is naturally red.
IT'S NOT!!
I'm a natural blonde.
A dishwater blonde, true, but blonde nonetheless.
Not strawberry.
Not honey.
Not golden.
Not orange.
BLONDE.
Why is it, then, that every time I try to go natural I end up red?
Now, I can understand if I'm buying some cheap stuff from WalMart that the colors might not like my hair, especially considering I'm always going from dark to light, so avoiding a little red is touch and go.
But when I walk into a salon and ask them to match my roots --which are at least half an inch shown!-- how is it they think I should be auburn? Or strawberry-ish? I'll admit it has it's moments...but when it grows more, you can clearly see...
I AM NOT A REDHEAD!!!

I made an appointment with the salon on Main Street for about two weeks from now.
I specifically told the lady, when I made the appointment, I don't want to be a redhead.
I'll repeat myself when the deed's being done.
But if she can't make me a natural, dishwater blonde...

I'm shaving my head and buying a wig.

NOT KIDDING



Does anyone else have this much trouble with hair or am I just being way too dramatic??

Saturday, March 21, 2009

So, it's been awhile...
Things are going well, I suppose. I enjoy work, I enjoy Bible study, I especially enjoy having a week Mom-free...that is, until I have a nightmare and she's not there to help me.
That's where things AREN'T going well.
I still have nightmares.
EVERY
SINGLE
NIGHT
I dread sleeping.
Because when I'm awake, I can do so much, and put a smile on, and find that there are good things in life, and even if I'm bored, I'm okay, cuz God has plans bigger than I know.
Then I sleep, and, as I said earlier, it all goes downhill...

I thought sleep was supposed to be restful...
I think I have a demon sleeping with me.

This is one of my new favorites...

"The Motions" by Matthew West

'This might hurt
It's not safe
But I know that I've gotta make a change
I don't care
If I break
At least I'll be feeling something
'Cause just ok
Is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything?
Instead of going through the motions

No regrets
Not this time
I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love
Make me whole
I think I'm finally feeling something

Take me all the way
Take me all the way
Take me all the way'

I almost feel like he wrote that for me...
The whole 'At least I'd be feeling something' really hits home...
And, whether for God or for the world, I really feel like lately I've just been going through the motions...
I like where I'm at.
But I want something different.
I need something different.
Cuz I'm slowly going insane...
I need to get away, I think...

Any ideas where I should go?

Saturday, February 28, 2009

It's the last day of February...

And despite my crazy spending habits, I am NOT broke.
YAY!!
Lol, so Mom's a bit concerned (as she probably should be) that I'm spending money I should be saving for bills and such, and I'm trying to be frugal, but every now and then I crack.
(Note the new futon and the new movies I've been watching)
So, my question is, how am I going to budget this month?
What can I buy, what can I not buy, what do I NEED vs what do I WANT, etc....
I think a bit of extra prayer is needed in this case...which is kind of funny, cuz now I think on it, I don't believe I've ever prayed about money issues, unless it was along the lines of 'Please don't let them subtract from my account until I get to the bank to deposit.'
But, as Luke Bryan so eloquently put it..."Pray About Everything"...
Country singers are sure smart sometimes. :)
So here's hoping that not only by this time next month am I not broke, but also that I'll have learned a little...how do you say...restraint? and not buy everything I think I need but only actually want, and maybe have enough cash to actually pay my parents for my car insurance...
*winces, embarrassed...

Working an extra shift tonight, so in case I don't get on again, here's to a brand new month...
Cheers.