What exactly does that mean, anyway?
So, I kinda liked what I did at the end of 2009 when I recapped the year and put down what I was looking forward to this year, so I believe I shall do it again. It was really interesting going back and reading it and seeing everything that had happened and then seeing how close I came to getting all of my goals for this year.
So, as for the year 2010:
1) Mike and I bought our first house in Culpeper!
2) My second oldest brother, Steve, and Anna got married in a gorgeous church in Pittsburg.
3) At said wedding, I realized that I was at my highest weight and decided to join a gym and go on a diet. The diet went pretty well...I lost almost 30 pounds. But then it got "screwed up" when I discovered...
4) I'm pregnant! Yep, Mike and I found out in October that we are expecting our first child in July of 2011. We're really SUPER excited!
5) I got a raise at work.
6) Mike joined the Culpeper Fire Department.
7) Lost a camera to Sprite...possibly acting out against mommy's changes!
8) Mike and I celebrated our first anniversary...It's been a wonderful year, and we can't wait for more to come!
9) I became an aunt again! Eric and Anna had their first child, Britt Louise, at the end of November.
10) Mike and I traded in Alex, my 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe, for Billy, a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500. (Yes, I name my cars...I've had George, the Ford Escort, and Fred, the Saturn SL2)
Looking forward to next year...
1) Mike and I will have our first child...Jacob Thomas or Juliette Grace (Grace is still up in the air, but a major possibility)
2) Hopefully we will be spending our first Thanksgiving with the Kestners at the beach (if I can manage to get enough time off and still be able to pay the bills!)
That's all I can think of for the new year. Not very many goals, I know! But as my husband just told me..."It'll come as you go!"
Happy New Year, everyone! 2011 will be a good one!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Certain Puppies Aren't Much Fun
We as humans are supposed to be the most intelligent species on the planet, right? That's what I've heard, anyway. So why would we treat creatures who only want to love us and want our love so terribly?
I have a bone to pick with people (no pun intended). If you want to get a pet, go out and actually do some research. If you want to try to use that pet for money, again, go out and put some time and thought and EFFORT into planning it out. Don't just say, "Hey, this is such a cute pet! Let's take it home and see how it does," and then not take the time to train it and nourish it and love it.
This is all coming from work. The animal shelter brings animals over for us to euthanize from time to time, and a lot of times the pets are healthy, but the shelter just doesn't have the room. A couple weeks ago, every day we had supposedly feral (once tame, now wild) cats come in to be put down. The cats were obviously taken care of somewhere. They were in perfect health, and the white ones were actually white, not dingy and dirty from living outside. They were scared, not wild. Every now and then we can save one or two. My coworker saved a kitten that had come in right about the time of the "feral" cats, and other than a bout of ringworm, the kitten is growing and thriving and the most loving thing you've ever seen! And we were going to put it down. It hadn't even GOTTEN to the shelter.
But today I almost lost it. I don't know if it was from overactive hormones or just getting fed up with it. We had to put down two dogs today. Two pit bulls. One was a puppy, right about three months old and completely healthy. The other one was maybe a one or two year old who was in heat. The puppy was scared, but the older female wanted to play and give kisses. That is one breed that is completely misunderstood. I can't tell you how many people in Culpeper have signs out with "pit bull pups for sale." But all they care about is trying to get the money. They don't care about who takes the pups. And the people who spend hundreds of dollars on this dog later realize that it's too rambunctious and strong to be around their small children. Pit bulls are one of the sweetest tempered dogs around. But all people hear is Michael Vick and fighting rings and pit bulls terrorizing the neighborhood. They are not like that, people. Pit bulls, like any dog, are clay. However you mold them, they will become that. If you mistreat them and force them to fight, they will become mean. If you love them and teach them and train them, they will be your most loyal friend until death.
There's a gorgeous male pit on our street that gets out occassionally (the gate gets left open sometimes). He was loose when I came home the other day and the owner was trying to catch him. He saw me and started wagging his tail. The owner freaked out, I guess thinking I would freak out, and frantically tried to call him. I bent down and whistled and he just trotted over to me and threw his probably 75-pound body into my knees, begging me to love on him. As I pet him, the owner came up to me and thanked me, relieved.
This is a sore subject for me. It's not just pit bulls, but pets in general. There are too many animals in shelters who don't deserve to be in there. It's because of the stupid owners that they lose their lives every day. And all they want is love.
I have a bone to pick with people (no pun intended). If you want to get a pet, go out and actually do some research. If you want to try to use that pet for money, again, go out and put some time and thought and EFFORT into planning it out. Don't just say, "Hey, this is such a cute pet! Let's take it home and see how it does," and then not take the time to train it and nourish it and love it.
This is all coming from work. The animal shelter brings animals over for us to euthanize from time to time, and a lot of times the pets are healthy, but the shelter just doesn't have the room. A couple weeks ago, every day we had supposedly feral (once tame, now wild) cats come in to be put down. The cats were obviously taken care of somewhere. They were in perfect health, and the white ones were actually white, not dingy and dirty from living outside. They were scared, not wild. Every now and then we can save one or two. My coworker saved a kitten that had come in right about the time of the "feral" cats, and other than a bout of ringworm, the kitten is growing and thriving and the most loving thing you've ever seen! And we were going to put it down. It hadn't even GOTTEN to the shelter.
But today I almost lost it. I don't know if it was from overactive hormones or just getting fed up with it. We had to put down two dogs today. Two pit bulls. One was a puppy, right about three months old and completely healthy. The other one was maybe a one or two year old who was in heat. The puppy was scared, but the older female wanted to play and give kisses. That is one breed that is completely misunderstood. I can't tell you how many people in Culpeper have signs out with "pit bull pups for sale." But all they care about is trying to get the money. They don't care about who takes the pups. And the people who spend hundreds of dollars on this dog later realize that it's too rambunctious and strong to be around their small children. Pit bulls are one of the sweetest tempered dogs around. But all people hear is Michael Vick and fighting rings and pit bulls terrorizing the neighborhood. They are not like that, people. Pit bulls, like any dog, are clay. However you mold them, they will become that. If you mistreat them and force them to fight, they will become mean. If you love them and teach them and train them, they will be your most loyal friend until death.
There's a gorgeous male pit on our street that gets out occassionally (the gate gets left open sometimes). He was loose when I came home the other day and the owner was trying to catch him. He saw me and started wagging his tail. The owner freaked out, I guess thinking I would freak out, and frantically tried to call him. I bent down and whistled and he just trotted over to me and threw his probably 75-pound body into my knees, begging me to love on him. As I pet him, the owner came up to me and thanked me, relieved.
This is a sore subject for me. It's not just pit bulls, but pets in general. There are too many animals in shelters who don't deserve to be in there. It's because of the stupid owners that they lose their lives every day. And all they want is love.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Happy Halloween
It irks me a little when people say they don't celebrate Halloween because it's "against their religion" or "they don't worship the devil." It's fine if you don't like Halloween or don't feel like celebrating it, but these claims people make show that people don't really know what Halloween is and/or was.
There's a few origins of Halloween. Most of them are of Celtic or Western European heritage. One story is that it is the "end of the light," meaning the days are now getting shorter and the nights longer. Our ancestors believed that spirits were able to come forth during this period, both good and bad. The good were paid respects, whereas the bad were warded off. This is where the costumes come in. They are not to worship the devil or anything evil...they were used to try to scare the evil away.
Nowadays, we don't have any "evil" to scare away (at least we hope not!). It's more for fun than anything. And fun is to be had by all! The kids enjoy it because they play dress-up and get candy. I don't know about any other adults, but I enjoy it because I get to see all the kids having so much fun! This was my first "real" Halloween as an adult, meaning I got a TON of trick-or-treaters tonight! I saw the Mario Brothers, fairies, princesses, the puppet from Saw, the Hulk, Woody from Toy Story, cheerleaders, and so much more! It was so great! I kinda can't wait until next year...I'll definitely dress up the outside of the house a little more (I know, Sam Lambert, you were against spending so much money on the decorations!). I wouldn't do too much, though. Just some homemade ghosts in the trees, a pumpkin/Jack-o-lantern or two, maybe some cobwebs. We'll see. I have a whole year to think about it! 
There's a few origins of Halloween. Most of them are of Celtic or Western European heritage. One story is that it is the "end of the light," meaning the days are now getting shorter and the nights longer. Our ancestors believed that spirits were able to come forth during this period, both good and bad. The good were paid respects, whereas the bad were warded off. This is where the costumes come in. They are not to worship the devil or anything evil...they were used to try to scare the evil away.
Nowadays, we don't have any "evil" to scare away (at least we hope not!). It's more for fun than anything. And fun is to be had by all! The kids enjoy it because they play dress-up and get candy. I don't know about any other adults, but I enjoy it because I get to see all the kids having so much fun! This was my first "real" Halloween as an adult, meaning I got a TON of trick-or-treaters tonight! I saw the Mario Brothers, fairies, princesses, the puppet from Saw, the Hulk, Woody from Toy Story, cheerleaders, and so much more! It was so great! I kinda can't wait until next year...I'll definitely dress up the outside of the house a little more (I know, Sam Lambert, you were against spending so much money on the decorations!). I wouldn't do too much, though. Just some homemade ghosts in the trees, a pumpkin/Jack-o-lantern or two, maybe some cobwebs. We'll see. I have a whole year to think about it!
I took the following pictures from inside my house. Sorry they're a little dark. I didn't want to turn on the flash because 1) it would have reflected on the window and 2) I didn't want to freak people out with random flashes coming from our house!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
In Your Head
It's been a while, I know. I just had an experience tonight, though, that I have to get down. As a preface, I'll tell you that I believe our house is haunted. Most of the activity is in or around the office downstairs. Keep this in mind...
I had made some Chinese noodles in the microwave. Well, the microwave, which I thought had died (it's been acting like it's wanted to since we bought the place), had actually just tripped the circuit. I called dad to see if that was something that was okay or if we should worry and found out that Eric and Anna were still there. I had thought they had left yesterday, but finding out they leave tomorrow instead, I decided to eat my noodles and head on over to see them one last time before they headed back to Oklahoma. I quickly changed my clothes, shut the upstairs window in the hall, shut the kitchen window, and locked the sliding glass door...lock, bolt, and key. The dogs were jumping up and down, thinking they were going back outside. Then, after locking the front door, I headed on over to my parents'.
I had a nice visit with my brother and his wife...and my other brother and his wife (Steve and Anna came over, too). We finally drew names for Christmas. Finally, feeling a little tired, I decided to say goodbye then head on home.
Here's where the problem is. I get home and lock the car. When I walked in the house, the dogs weren't there waiting for me. That's weird because normally when they hear the beep of the car, they come running downstairs to see me. Instead, it took about two to three calls for them to come downstairs. Well, I went to let them out the sliding door...only to discover the door is unlocked! Lock, bolt, and key...all unlocked. I let the dogs out, then went into the bathroom. I was really freaked out by this point, so after calling Mike, I went back out to the car and called first my parents then 911. They sent two officers right over. They went in the house to look around, but found nothing. They then asked me to come in to be sure nothing had been taken. I went to find Mike's guns...the rifle was still locked. I looked in the handgun case and saw...no gun! I called Mike to ask where he had put it and he told me it was where I had found the case. Mike freaked a bit when I told him. Then, come to find out, there was a layer of foam covering it that I had never seen before. I feel like such an IDIOT! So the officers left after all clear.
I KNOW I locked the back door. I know because the dogs thinking they were going back outside. That's where the ghost may come in...?
I had made some Chinese noodles in the microwave. Well, the microwave, which I thought had died (it's been acting like it's wanted to since we bought the place), had actually just tripped the circuit. I called dad to see if that was something that was okay or if we should worry and found out that Eric and Anna were still there. I had thought they had left yesterday, but finding out they leave tomorrow instead, I decided to eat my noodles and head on over to see them one last time before they headed back to Oklahoma. I quickly changed my clothes, shut the upstairs window in the hall, shut the kitchen window, and locked the sliding glass door...lock, bolt, and key. The dogs were jumping up and down, thinking they were going back outside. Then, after locking the front door, I headed on over to my parents'.
I had a nice visit with my brother and his wife...and my other brother and his wife (Steve and Anna came over, too). We finally drew names for Christmas. Finally, feeling a little tired, I decided to say goodbye then head on home.
Here's where the problem is. I get home and lock the car. When I walked in the house, the dogs weren't there waiting for me. That's weird because normally when they hear the beep of the car, they come running downstairs to see me. Instead, it took about two to three calls for them to come downstairs. Well, I went to let them out the sliding door...only to discover the door is unlocked! Lock, bolt, and key...all unlocked. I let the dogs out, then went into the bathroom. I was really freaked out by this point, so after calling Mike, I went back out to the car and called first my parents then 911. They sent two officers right over. They went in the house to look around, but found nothing. They then asked me to come in to be sure nothing had been taken. I went to find Mike's guns...the rifle was still locked. I looked in the handgun case and saw...no gun! I called Mike to ask where he had put it and he told me it was where I had found the case. Mike freaked a bit when I told him. Then, come to find out, there was a layer of foam covering it that I had never seen before. I feel like such an IDIOT! So the officers left after all clear.
I KNOW I locked the back door. I know because the dogs thinking they were going back outside. That's where the ghost may come in...?
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Human Nature
There are a lot of times in my life when I just sit back and observe...well...life itself. I always feel like I'm outside a window, just looking in at the event taking place. I guess it doesn't just have to be an event, but whatever happens to be going on at the time. My feelings and emotions don't take any precedence over what's happening...I have no opinions, really. I'm just watching.
For instance, the biggest thing that's happened lately to me is I got to go to my first concert. Exciting, right? My friend April and I went to a Lady Gaga concert. What an experience! It was great! Looking back on it now I can say for sure that it was so fun and exciting and fascinating. While I was there, however, none of these emotions really surfaced. Don't get me wrong, I had tons of fun at the time, but I guess I just took it all in. As April and I made our way through the crowd, I noticed all the extremes Gaga fans took to show their...loyalty, for lack of a better word, to the singer. There were girls dressed similarly to how she dresses out in public as well as on her tours. Aluminum cans rolled in the hair like curlers, bathing suits over fishnet stockings, there was even a girl we noticed on the way out of the concert that was just walking down the street in nothing but short shorts, suspenders, and pasties. (Crazy, I know...especially since it was cold that night!) I took in the opening band, Semi-Precious Weapons...how they acted, how they sounded, what they did on stage. When the main event came on, it wasn't exactly what I expected. I figured a concert would be singing (duh!) and maybe some talking here and there, you know, stories from the road, little comments. No, it was a production. I guess I shouldn't have expected any less from Lady Gaga. But it was like a musical, as weird as that sounds. There was a script, and Gaga's music coinsided with each scene. It was truly a show!
What made me think of this blog entry is the fact that I have DVR'd the show "Sister Wives" that comes on TLC. I just finished watching the first episode. It was...interesting. I use that word a lot for descriptions, I know. I can think of no other word. For those of you that don't know about it or don't care to watch it, it has introduced the world to a polygamist Mormon family in Utah. A man, Kody, has three wives and 12 going on 13 children. At the end of the first episode, he has announced to his entire family that he is considering marrying again. There are many people that would immediately say this is not right. Polygamy is just a way for a man to get some more action once he's done with one wife. That he doesn't or can't possibly care for his entire family and that the children and/or wives will be left out. Watching this show, however, I can see that none of this is true. Now, I know Hollywood can twist things and show you only what it wants you to see. But what I saw was love. The wives all loved each other, were best friends. The children all got along well. And Kody, the leading man...he loves each and every member of his family. You can see it in his eyes, how he acts, how he speaks. He has made schedules to be sure that NO ONE gets left out.
It's such a controversial issue...as controversial as homosexuality/bisexuality. As controversial as (to some people) interracial relationships or even as far as relationships where two people are from different religious backgrounds. Who are we to say what is right or wrong with how other people live? If people love each other, then what's the issue? It's their life, let them live it. Who is the government to say people can't live their lives?
I guess when I said earlier that I don't really have an opinion on certain goings-on, that's not entirely true. What I was trying to say is that I'm neither for nor against certain issues. And this is where I get in trouble with people. I have made people mad/frustrated with me in the past because of my views on life. I say let people live their lives. If it makes them happy, then it is right. Just because someone else says you shouldn't live your life a certain way, doesn't mean their right and your wrong. I have homosexual/bisexual friends. I don't have any polygamist friends (at least none I know of), but if I did, I'd support them. I do have friends in interracial relationships. I have friends in interreligious (a word?) relationships. I love them and support them all. They are all happy. THAT'S what matters. This is the 21st century, people. Get off your high horses and look around you. If you don't like how something is, get over it! Just because you feel that way doesn't mean it's not right.
And my entry just spiralled WAY out of control! I just had to get it out, though. There are so many hypocrites out there that say don't judge people, and yet who is the first to judge? Them! I'm not perfect...nor do I wish to be. I try not to judge, but I'll admit that I even do it myself at times before I can catch myself and be that outsider looking in the window.
SIDE NOTE: (I know, the majority of this blog seemed to have nothing to do with the Lady Gaga concert. I mainly put that in there to let people know how I liked it, since I never reported in on it! But in a way, it did have a lot to do with it, as Gaga's message that night was not to judge people just because their lifestyle is different from yours.)
For instance, the biggest thing that's happened lately to me is I got to go to my first concert. Exciting, right? My friend April and I went to a Lady Gaga concert. What an experience! It was great! Looking back on it now I can say for sure that it was so fun and exciting and fascinating. While I was there, however, none of these emotions really surfaced. Don't get me wrong, I had tons of fun at the time, but I guess I just took it all in. As April and I made our way through the crowd, I noticed all the extremes Gaga fans took to show their...loyalty, for lack of a better word, to the singer. There were girls dressed similarly to how she dresses out in public as well as on her tours. Aluminum cans rolled in the hair like curlers, bathing suits over fishnet stockings, there was even a girl we noticed on the way out of the concert that was just walking down the street in nothing but short shorts, suspenders, and pasties. (Crazy, I know...especially since it was cold that night!) I took in the opening band, Semi-Precious Weapons...how they acted, how they sounded, what they did on stage. When the main event came on, it wasn't exactly what I expected. I figured a concert would be singing (duh!) and maybe some talking here and there, you know, stories from the road, little comments. No, it was a production. I guess I shouldn't have expected any less from Lady Gaga. But it was like a musical, as weird as that sounds. There was a script, and Gaga's music coinsided with each scene. It was truly a show!
What made me think of this blog entry is the fact that I have DVR'd the show "Sister Wives" that comes on TLC. I just finished watching the first episode. It was...interesting. I use that word a lot for descriptions, I know. I can think of no other word. For those of you that don't know about it or don't care to watch it, it has introduced the world to a polygamist Mormon family in Utah. A man, Kody, has three wives and 12 going on 13 children. At the end of the first episode, he has announced to his entire family that he is considering marrying again. There are many people that would immediately say this is not right. Polygamy is just a way for a man to get some more action once he's done with one wife. That he doesn't or can't possibly care for his entire family and that the children and/or wives will be left out. Watching this show, however, I can see that none of this is true. Now, I know Hollywood can twist things and show you only what it wants you to see. But what I saw was love. The wives all loved each other, were best friends. The children all got along well. And Kody, the leading man...he loves each and every member of his family. You can see it in his eyes, how he acts, how he speaks. He has made schedules to be sure that NO ONE gets left out.
It's such a controversial issue...as controversial as homosexuality/bisexuality. As controversial as (to some people) interracial relationships or even as far as relationships where two people are from different religious backgrounds. Who are we to say what is right or wrong with how other people live? If people love each other, then what's the issue? It's their life, let them live it. Who is the government to say people can't live their lives?
I guess when I said earlier that I don't really have an opinion on certain goings-on, that's not entirely true. What I was trying to say is that I'm neither for nor against certain issues. And this is where I get in trouble with people. I have made people mad/frustrated with me in the past because of my views on life. I say let people live their lives. If it makes them happy, then it is right. Just because someone else says you shouldn't live your life a certain way, doesn't mean their right and your wrong. I have homosexual/bisexual friends. I don't have any polygamist friends (at least none I know of), but if I did, I'd support them. I do have friends in interracial relationships. I have friends in interreligious (a word?) relationships. I love them and support them all. They are all happy. THAT'S what matters. This is the 21st century, people. Get off your high horses and look around you. If you don't like how something is, get over it! Just because you feel that way doesn't mean it's not right.
And my entry just spiralled WAY out of control! I just had to get it out, though. There are so many hypocrites out there that say don't judge people, and yet who is the first to judge? Them! I'm not perfect...nor do I wish to be. I try not to judge, but I'll admit that I even do it myself at times before I can catch myself and be that outsider looking in the window.
SIDE NOTE: (I know, the majority of this blog seemed to have nothing to do with the Lady Gaga concert. I mainly put that in there to let people know how I liked it, since I never reported in on it! But in a way, it did have a lot to do with it, as Gaga's message that night was not to judge people just because their lifestyle is different from yours.)
Friday, September 3, 2010
And They Say...She's so Lucky
Something happened tonight that made me stop for a moment, but then after I thought about it a bit, a smile spread across my face from ear to ear. Well, not really from ear to ear, because my lips don't go that far, and if they did then I'd have a really big mouth, but I digress...
I was walking in Walmart tonight, heading back up front to the checkout, when a party of three girls were walking towards me. Now, I was clad in flip-flops, jeans, and a T-shirt that had the word "Lucky" written across it. The girls were each dressed in a not-so-wide range of grunge-punk-chic of torn off Daisy Duke shorts with half their butts hanging out and torn '80's-style T-shirts that were off the shoulder. Lots of make-up and chunky, cheap costume jewelry finished off their "style." I tell you this because as I'm walking by them, minding my own business, I happen to hear one of them say none-too-softly and rather scoffingly to her friends, "Yeah, she's REAL lucky."
At first, I was appalled. What the heck?! What makes you think that you know me enough to think otherwise? What was it about my appearance that made them think they were any better than me? Look at what they were wearing! Look at how they acted! What gave them the right to judge me?
After all that rushed through my brain in about half a second, I had a different thought process. You know what...I AM real lucky. I have a huge loving family that would support me with just about anything (I think they may cut the line at murder and grand larceny and the like). I have two of the absolute BEST parents in the world who have molded me into who I am today, teaching me good morals to live by and showing me in everything they have done just how much they love me. Four older brothers who have been, are, and will be there for me (physically, emotionally, spiritually...all the "ally"s) whenever I need them. I have a loving husband who...well...loves me and is my rock and best friend. I have friends around me. I have a decent job and one on the side to help with extra money (which, let's face it...in this economy people have to take what they can get...IF they can get it!). Mike and I are financially sound enough to own our own home. I have food in my belly and clothes on my back.
Lucky? Oh, no. I'm not lucky. I am truly blessed!
I was walking in Walmart tonight, heading back up front to the checkout, when a party of three girls were walking towards me. Now, I was clad in flip-flops, jeans, and a T-shirt that had the word "Lucky" written across it. The girls were each dressed in a not-so-wide range of grunge-punk-chic of torn off Daisy Duke shorts with half their butts hanging out and torn '80's-style T-shirts that were off the shoulder. Lots of make-up and chunky, cheap costume jewelry finished off their "style." I tell you this because as I'm walking by them, minding my own business, I happen to hear one of them say none-too-softly and rather scoffingly to her friends, "Yeah, she's REAL lucky."
At first, I was appalled. What the heck?! What makes you think that you know me enough to think otherwise? What was it about my appearance that made them think they were any better than me? Look at what they were wearing! Look at how they acted! What gave them the right to judge me?
After all that rushed through my brain in about half a second, I had a different thought process. You know what...I AM real lucky. I have a huge loving family that would support me with just about anything (I think they may cut the line at murder and grand larceny and the like). I have two of the absolute BEST parents in the world who have molded me into who I am today, teaching me good morals to live by and showing me in everything they have done just how much they love me. Four older brothers who have been, are, and will be there for me (physically, emotionally, spiritually...all the "ally"s) whenever I need them. I have a loving husband who...well...loves me and is my rock and best friend. I have friends around me. I have a decent job and one on the side to help with extra money (which, let's face it...in this economy people have to take what they can get...IF they can get it!). Mike and I are financially sound enough to own our own home. I have food in my belly and clothes on my back.
Lucky? Oh, no. I'm not lucky. I am truly blessed!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Something to Talk About
Legends...fairy tales...rumors...superstitions...fables...
How do these things come to be? Obviously they start with rumors, but how do rumors start? It's like when you used to play the game Telephone as a kid. Everyone sits in a line or a circle and one person starts off with a phrase. By the end of the chain, the phrase is NOTHING like the beginning. So how do these things get started? One person sees one thing, so they decide to pass it on. The next person then adds a bit of their own embellishment, no matter how minor. Then the next adds on to that, maybe leaves out a few things they think have no relation to core story, and so on and so forth. Some happen to be embellished so extraordinarily they turn into fairy tales.
So where do the tales of Sleepy Hollow or urban legends like someone taking a kidney without the person knowing about it come to be so well known? What was the original story that led to such an explosion of literary debate come to be? Are these tales true? False? Is there any basis to them?
I'm the type of person that likes the history behind things. I never liked history in school (though I did well at it), but things like this interest me. Stories, sayings...for example, the other day Jimmy and I were at the bar for karaoke. One of us made a comment about making biscuits from scratch. I was wondering where the phrase "made from scratch" came from. So Jimmy proceeded to whip out his handy Droid and looked it up. It actually originally comes from a sports term. In ancient times, one would draw a line in the dirt...a scratch, if you will...as a starting point. Over the years, it somehow switched to a cooking term, meaning to start from the beginning, no boxes or mixes.
So in a world that practically relies on heresay and gossip, how do we know what is true, what is real?
How do these things come to be? Obviously they start with rumors, but how do rumors start? It's like when you used to play the game Telephone as a kid. Everyone sits in a line or a circle and one person starts off with a phrase. By the end of the chain, the phrase is NOTHING like the beginning. So how do these things get started? One person sees one thing, so they decide to pass it on. The next person then adds a bit of their own embellishment, no matter how minor. Then the next adds on to that, maybe leaves out a few things they think have no relation to core story, and so on and so forth. Some happen to be embellished so extraordinarily they turn into fairy tales.
So where do the tales of Sleepy Hollow or urban legends like someone taking a kidney without the person knowing about it come to be so well known? What was the original story that led to such an explosion of literary debate come to be? Are these tales true? False? Is there any basis to them?
I'm the type of person that likes the history behind things. I never liked history in school (though I did well at it), but things like this interest me. Stories, sayings...for example, the other day Jimmy and I were at the bar for karaoke. One of us made a comment about making biscuits from scratch. I was wondering where the phrase "made from scratch" came from. So Jimmy proceeded to whip out his handy Droid and looked it up. It actually originally comes from a sports term. In ancient times, one would draw a line in the dirt...a scratch, if you will...as a starting point. Over the years, it somehow switched to a cooking term, meaning to start from the beginning, no boxes or mixes.
So in a world that practically relies on heresay and gossip, how do we know what is true, what is real?
Monday, August 23, 2010
Percussion...Strings...Winds...Words...
I love nights like tonight. It's cool (both temperature and just the overall feeling of the moment). Because of this, I have turned the AC off and have the windows open in my bedroom. The crickets are singing. Birds are saying their goodnights throughout the neighborhood. I know it's birds because there's a nest in the crepe myrtle just outside the window, so when the bird there is saying her goodnights, it's quite loud!
But growing up in the country, I have grown to love the sounds of nature. There's such a peacefulness (?) to it...it's very relaxing. The crickets are probably my favorite, though. The harmony of it. Unfortunately, living in town you can't hear all the animal noises I've grown to love...the occassional turkey in the distance, the laughter of the foxes, the screaming of the bobcats (even if the last two are kinda creepy sounds when you hear them). It's all so beautiful. I can't even describe it on here. It's something you have to experience yourself.
But growing up in the country, I have grown to love the sounds of nature. There's such a peacefulness (?) to it...it's very relaxing. The crickets are probably my favorite, though. The harmony of it. Unfortunately, living in town you can't hear all the animal noises I've grown to love...the occassional turkey in the distance, the laughter of the foxes, the screaming of the bobcats (even if the last two are kinda creepy sounds when you hear them). It's all so beautiful. I can't even describe it on here. It's something you have to experience yourself.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Technology Rocks!
And I'm back! I know, I was never really missing, right? I'm just letting ya'll know that Mike and I not only have a nice new laptop, but we have internet at home as well. Look at us gettin' all high-tech. We've come a long way from smoke signals or Morse Code!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The Heron and the Otter Are My Friends...
I should have been a Tibetan monk or something.
Great statement to start out with, right? Well, I was just thinking about it yesterday when I did something that most people would be appalled at. I saved a spider. Yes, a SPIDER! I was at work, grooming a dog, when one of my coworkers came to my room and asked me to kill a huge spider that was next to the oxygen tank in the surgery room. I went in there to look at it. I'm not sure what kind of spider it is, but it was huge and I've seen that kind at work before...up close and personal, in fact, when one landed on my arm. As I've stated, it was HUGE, at least for spiders around here. It's legs spanning probably about as far as a soda can top or longer. He was just crouched in the corner, not moving. He was too cool to kill, though, in my opinion. I don't know why I think that. Because of his size and markings, I just couldn't kill him because he was so interesting. So I went into the kennel to grab a container. When I came back, my coworker--who, by the way, was peeking around the corner tentatively the entire time I studied the spider--saw the container and her eyes just about bugged out of her head. "You're saving it?!" she asked, incredulously. "Yep!" I replied as I scooped him into the lidded container. I then carried him outside and let him free out by one of the bushes.
I'm weird like that, I guess. I don't like killing things. I don't disagree with killing things. I have no qualms with hunters and the like. I just personally can't kill something. I don't even like watching the killing process, whether it be the hunting, or euthanasia, or meat processing plants (we had to watch a video of one in vet tech lab in college). I've watched my dad's hunting videos, and I'm okay with it, but I guess that's because normally they don't show the deer dying on camera. Normally, the hunter hits it and then it runs off into the forest and they find it later.
Another thing that brought this thought process up is the fact that I killed a baby bear the other day. Yes, I killed a baby bear. With my car. And yes, my car is fine. But I wasn't. I'm still not very thrilled when I think about it. But like Mike said, it's a wild animal. There's more out there. There's nothing wrong with it. If there's nothing wrong with it, why did I cry the entire way home after the fact?! I don't like killing squirrels or birds with my car. Not even possums, even if they are creepy little creatures. I don't even like killing snakes with my car. Heck, mom and dad will swerve to the other side of the road in order to run over a snake if they see it!
They've taken to getting me at work if there's something, whether it be a snake or a spider. One of the kennel kids was walking dogs last summer when she came in and said there was a huge black snake out on the walkway. Nobody would go outside, but I went. I grabbed a push broom and went out there. It was a big black snake, probably about four feet long. I just stomped at him and used the broom to gently push him away. The animal hospital is up against some woods, so I scared him off in that direction. He's a black snake. He wouldn't have hurt me unless he felt really threatened. Me stomping and pushing him more scared him or even just annoyed him than threatened him.
On a final note of this bizarre confession...I have a praying mantis outside my window at work. There's one there every year. It's obviously a different one, as this year it's smaller than the last couple years. Praying mantises are supposed to be some sort of good luck or good omen or blessing or something, aren't they? Or maybe they just know I have a good heart...
Great statement to start out with, right? Well, I was just thinking about it yesterday when I did something that most people would be appalled at. I saved a spider. Yes, a SPIDER! I was at work, grooming a dog, when one of my coworkers came to my room and asked me to kill a huge spider that was next to the oxygen tank in the surgery room. I went in there to look at it. I'm not sure what kind of spider it is, but it was huge and I've seen that kind at work before...up close and personal, in fact, when one landed on my arm. As I've stated, it was HUGE, at least for spiders around here. It's legs spanning probably about as far as a soda can top or longer. He was just crouched in the corner, not moving. He was too cool to kill, though, in my opinion. I don't know why I think that. Because of his size and markings, I just couldn't kill him because he was so interesting. So I went into the kennel to grab a container. When I came back, my coworker--who, by the way, was peeking around the corner tentatively the entire time I studied the spider--saw the container and her eyes just about bugged out of her head. "You're saving it?!" she asked, incredulously. "Yep!" I replied as I scooped him into the lidded container. I then carried him outside and let him free out by one of the bushes.
I'm weird like that, I guess. I don't like killing things. I don't disagree with killing things. I have no qualms with hunters and the like. I just personally can't kill something. I don't even like watching the killing process, whether it be the hunting, or euthanasia, or meat processing plants (we had to watch a video of one in vet tech lab in college). I've watched my dad's hunting videos, and I'm okay with it, but I guess that's because normally they don't show the deer dying on camera. Normally, the hunter hits it and then it runs off into the forest and they find it later.
Another thing that brought this thought process up is the fact that I killed a baby bear the other day. Yes, I killed a baby bear. With my car. And yes, my car is fine. But I wasn't. I'm still not very thrilled when I think about it. But like Mike said, it's a wild animal. There's more out there. There's nothing wrong with it. If there's nothing wrong with it, why did I cry the entire way home after the fact?! I don't like killing squirrels or birds with my car. Not even possums, even if they are creepy little creatures. I don't even like killing snakes with my car. Heck, mom and dad will swerve to the other side of the road in order to run over a snake if they see it!
They've taken to getting me at work if there's something, whether it be a snake or a spider. One of the kennel kids was walking dogs last summer when she came in and said there was a huge black snake out on the walkway. Nobody would go outside, but I went. I grabbed a push broom and went out there. It was a big black snake, probably about four feet long. I just stomped at him and used the broom to gently push him away. The animal hospital is up against some woods, so I scared him off in that direction. He's a black snake. He wouldn't have hurt me unless he felt really threatened. Me stomping and pushing him more scared him or even just annoyed him than threatened him.
On a final note of this bizarre confession...I have a praying mantis outside my window at work. There's one there every year. It's obviously a different one, as this year it's smaller than the last couple years. Praying mantises are supposed to be some sort of good luck or good omen or blessing or something, aren't they? Or maybe they just know I have a good heart...
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Dream a Little Dream
I have decided to try something different in my life. I've been feeling a little restless lately for some reason, and I haven't known why. I was thinking I needed a new job (we won't discuss that on here!), but it was kinda more than that. I don't really do anything other than work and come home, work and come home. Mike and I would love to travel, but you kinda need some money (and time off) to do that. I have some really cute outfits that I don't get to wear much, if at all, because I have no place to where them. So, I have decided to do a couple things about this.
First thing...I've always wanted to get a booth at the Taste of the Mountains Street Festival on Main Street in Madison. I've been told that I draw very well and was even told I should become an artist (I didn't exactly agree with that point...I'm not that great and I wouldn't make much money). So I was going to send an application this year. Unfortunately, I'm late for the entry as April 15 was the last day. However, that gives me a year to get some pieces done so I can get a booth next year. I figure I'll do pencil drawings, pastel chalks, and possibly some charcoal as well. The last two mediums are especially fun to work with! I'm not very good with painting, but I think I may do some quotes with pictures like I did for my brothers' wedding gifts. I don't know if I'll make any money doing this or not. All-in-all, I just want to see how I'll do...and I'll have fun along the way.
The second thing I'm hoping to do is become a jeweler for Premier Designs. It's a Christian-based company that encourages people to have at-home parties, or even catalog parties, selling high fashion jewelry. I've been to two parties and have hosted one. I figure I can do it on the side on weekends and still keep my grooming job at the animal hospital. And that way, when Mike and I have children, I'll have something I can fall back on if need be and I could work from home. Well, we'll see about that last part. I'm meeting with the woman tonight who was the jeweler at all the parties I went to. This will kill two birds with one stone (poor birds), as it will help me get out of the house (especially when Mike has to work and I'd be home alone anyway), it'll allow me to wear the cute outfits I never can, and it'll also bring in some more income (okay, that's three birds, but I didn't want to think about killing birds...). Many people become very successful at this and end up quitting their original jobs to just sell jewelry. I don't know if that'll happen with me or not, but we'll see if I can even get this baby off the ground first.
So...wish me luck!
First thing...I've always wanted to get a booth at the Taste of the Mountains Street Festival on Main Street in Madison. I've been told that I draw very well and was even told I should become an artist (I didn't exactly agree with that point...I'm not that great and I wouldn't make much money). So I was going to send an application this year. Unfortunately, I'm late for the entry as April 15 was the last day. However, that gives me a year to get some pieces done so I can get a booth next year. I figure I'll do pencil drawings, pastel chalks, and possibly some charcoal as well. The last two mediums are especially fun to work with! I'm not very good with painting, but I think I may do some quotes with pictures like I did for my brothers' wedding gifts. I don't know if I'll make any money doing this or not. All-in-all, I just want to see how I'll do...and I'll have fun along the way.
The second thing I'm hoping to do is become a jeweler for Premier Designs. It's a Christian-based company that encourages people to have at-home parties, or even catalog parties, selling high fashion jewelry. I've been to two parties and have hosted one. I figure I can do it on the side on weekends and still keep my grooming job at the animal hospital. And that way, when Mike and I have children, I'll have something I can fall back on if need be and I could work from home. Well, we'll see about that last part. I'm meeting with the woman tonight who was the jeweler at all the parties I went to. This will kill two birds with one stone (poor birds), as it will help me get out of the house (especially when Mike has to work and I'd be home alone anyway), it'll allow me to wear the cute outfits I never can, and it'll also bring in some more income (okay, that's three birds, but I didn't want to think about killing birds...). Many people become very successful at this and end up quitting their original jobs to just sell jewelry. I don't know if that'll happen with me or not, but we'll see if I can even get this baby off the ground first.
So...wish me luck!
Monday, May 31, 2010
LaFoue, I'm Afraid I've Been Thinking...
A dangerous past time...I know!
I really like the show "The Tudors" that comes on Showtime. I have the first three seasons and am anxiously awaiting the final season to come out on DVD (it's still on air, so I'm not sure when that'll be...and since I missed the first couple episodes, I don't want to watch it until I can see them). Obviously, the show is about the Tudor family...mainly Henry VIII of England back in the Middle Ages. You know, the time when people's idea of entertainment was to take the family to watch public executions and torture or go to bear baiting and cock fighting rings.
The thinking part came to me gradually while I work. See, I am a groomer and have my own room at work, so unless someone needs something of me or until I am done with grooming, I don't get much interaction with my coworkers. But that's all beside the point. I realized that we call those times the Dark Ages, the Middle Ages, medieval times. The acts were so barbaric and the people so unknowledgeable. At the thought of seeing public executions, much less taking the ENTIRE family to see them and the gruesome tortures we cringe and say that we're glad we live in better times.
But with all of our technology and forward thinking, are we really out of those times? I mean, all of the popular-rated shows on television are criminal investigative shows, normally where someone is brutally murdered. Isn't that a public execution? No, you may not be able to see all of the blood and guts and gore, but directors and producers and props managers put enough on there that there is little left to the imagination. And then there are the movies like "Hostel" and "Touristas" that are pure gore and show the public torture. No, it's not real, obviously, but that's not the point! We love it because it's gory! Or even if you are one that doesn't like the gore, you still watch to make sure the bad guy gets what he deserves in the end. It's the same thing!
So, you see...we really haven't evolved past our neanderthal ancestors. We still have cock fighting rings and dog fighting facilities...they aren't always well-known or easy to find, but that doesn't mean it isn't there. And yes, our weaponry might be more advanced, but all the better to kill people with.
I really like the show "The Tudors" that comes on Showtime. I have the first three seasons and am anxiously awaiting the final season to come out on DVD (it's still on air, so I'm not sure when that'll be...and since I missed the first couple episodes, I don't want to watch it until I can see them). Obviously, the show is about the Tudor family...mainly Henry VIII of England back in the Middle Ages. You know, the time when people's idea of entertainment was to take the family to watch public executions and torture or go to bear baiting and cock fighting rings.
The thinking part came to me gradually while I work. See, I am a groomer and have my own room at work, so unless someone needs something of me or until I am done with grooming, I don't get much interaction with my coworkers. But that's all beside the point. I realized that we call those times the Dark Ages, the Middle Ages, medieval times. The acts were so barbaric and the people so unknowledgeable. At the thought of seeing public executions, much less taking the ENTIRE family to see them and the gruesome tortures we cringe and say that we're glad we live in better times.
But with all of our technology and forward thinking, are we really out of those times? I mean, all of the popular-rated shows on television are criminal investigative shows, normally where someone is brutally murdered. Isn't that a public execution? No, you may not be able to see all of the blood and guts and gore, but directors and producers and props managers put enough on there that there is little left to the imagination. And then there are the movies like "Hostel" and "Touristas" that are pure gore and show the public torture. No, it's not real, obviously, but that's not the point! We love it because it's gory! Or even if you are one that doesn't like the gore, you still watch to make sure the bad guy gets what he deserves in the end. It's the same thing!
So, you see...we really haven't evolved past our neanderthal ancestors. We still have cock fighting rings and dog fighting facilities...they aren't always well-known or easy to find, but that doesn't mean it isn't there. And yes, our weaponry might be more advanced, but all the better to kill people with.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Kamicatze
So, Mike and I are getting all settled into our new home. Our animals, on the other hand...they're crazy!
To start out, we've got Lady, our just about one-and-a-half-year-old, non-graceful German Shepherd mix. She's always picking on Sprite, our two-year-old Cocker Spaniel. She likes to grab Sprite by the neck. Well, their crates are located upstairs in the guest bedroom, so they have to go down the steps, through the kitchen, and out to the backyard. Lady likes to run out in front of Sprite and get down the steps to the first landing, turn around, and wait for Sprite to come down so she can grab her, then run down the second set of steps to the first floor, turn around, and wait for her (there's a lot of commas there, I know!). One particular evening after I got home and got my shower, I let them out and Lady went down to do her little routine. Unfortunately, when she got to the landing and turned, she was too close to the second set of steps and lost her footing, sliding the entire rest of the way down and injuring her leg in the process. Then there was another time when I called them in from the backyard and Lady got there first. Well, I wait until both are there to let them in. Lady didn't wait and ran into the screen door. (*shaking head*)
Then there are the cats. Jasper's new favorite spot is in the papasan chair up in the hallway. I'll be in bed and the next thing I know, there's this big commotion out in the hall. At first I thought the cats were fighting, because there was a lot of hissing and spitting going on. Come to find out, it's Jasper there alone, chasing his tail in the papasan, growling and hissing at it! Calypso seems to be a little bit on the ditzy side, as well. Her biggest event so far happened the other week. Mike gets home after midnight, and then stays up an hour or so watching TV before coming to bed. I happened to wake up a little, hearing a cat run into our room and under the bed. Soon after, Mike comes into the room and asks me where Cali is. Half-asleep, I told him I didn't know, but I thought I'd heard a cat scurry under the bed. Mike then proceeds to tell me that she had jumped/fallen from the second floor to the first! There's a small gap between the upstairs hallway and the stairs railings. I've noticed that Cali and Jasper like to get on the upstairs railing and just walk along it. Apparently, Cali was up there and either jumped or fell, first hitting the ceiling fan (not on) on her way down and ending up in a pile of shoes. She wasn't harmed, but I think she really scared herself!
Our pets are apparently very uncoordinated, or just plain crazy!
To start out, we've got Lady, our just about one-and-a-half-year-old, non-graceful German Shepherd mix. She's always picking on Sprite, our two-year-old Cocker Spaniel. She likes to grab Sprite by the neck. Well, their crates are located upstairs in the guest bedroom, so they have to go down the steps, through the kitchen, and out to the backyard. Lady likes to run out in front of Sprite and get down the steps to the first landing, turn around, and wait for Sprite to come down so she can grab her, then run down the second set of steps to the first floor, turn around, and wait for her (there's a lot of commas there, I know!). One particular evening after I got home and got my shower, I let them out and Lady went down to do her little routine. Unfortunately, when she got to the landing and turned, she was too close to the second set of steps and lost her footing, sliding the entire rest of the way down and injuring her leg in the process. Then there was another time when I called them in from the backyard and Lady got there first. Well, I wait until both are there to let them in. Lady didn't wait and ran into the screen door. (*shaking head*)
Then there are the cats. Jasper's new favorite spot is in the papasan chair up in the hallway. I'll be in bed and the next thing I know, there's this big commotion out in the hall. At first I thought the cats were fighting, because there was a lot of hissing and spitting going on. Come to find out, it's Jasper there alone, chasing his tail in the papasan, growling and hissing at it! Calypso seems to be a little bit on the ditzy side, as well. Her biggest event so far happened the other week. Mike gets home after midnight, and then stays up an hour or so watching TV before coming to bed. I happened to wake up a little, hearing a cat run into our room and under the bed. Soon after, Mike comes into the room and asks me where Cali is. Half-asleep, I told him I didn't know, but I thought I'd heard a cat scurry under the bed. Mike then proceeds to tell me that she had jumped/fallen from the second floor to the first! There's a small gap between the upstairs hallway and the stairs railings. I've noticed that Cali and Jasper like to get on the upstairs railing and just walk along it. Apparently, Cali was up there and either jumped or fell, first hitting the ceiling fan (not on) on her way down and ending up in a pile of shoes. She wasn't harmed, but I think she really scared herself!
Our pets are apparently very uncoordinated, or just plain crazy!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
First Things First
Sorry I've been a little AWOL. Mike and I don't have internet yet, so I'm a little slow getting stuff on here. We're supposed to be getting it set up this Tuesday.
That being said, a lot of stuff has happened lately. Well, maybe not a LOT of stuff, but MAJOR stuff. First, WE HAVE A HOUSE!!!!!!!! Oh...my...gosh!!!! It only took...FOREVER!!!!! We put a bid on this house back in October. It was a short sale, which is a major misnomer, because nine times out of ten, the sale is not short. But we've been patient...barely. We finally got the call that it was time to close. We closed at the end of March. We were given the keys and told that the paperwork would be reported by Monday, but we could go ahead and start making it ours. We got a call Tuesday and were told that the house wasn't ours! The seller's agent was extremely unprofessional and screwed the whole thing up, so now we had to go back to closing! Mike and I were ready to lawyer up, Remax was ready to lawyer up, Bank of America was ready to lawyer up...there was going to be a fight! Thankfully, however, we closed two weeks after and everything worked out well (and outside of court!). So we are now proud owners of a cute little house in the town of Culpeper! YAY!
Another first for me was going to an Orioles game. My brother Jimmy got tickets, and so he, Katie, and I went to Baltimore last weekend. We went to the aquarium first (I hadn't been since eighth grade) and just looked around. We went to the game that night. It was great...the Os lost, but the game was great! Afterward, we decided we wanted to go out to a bar or two. The only problem was we couldn't find any! All we found were clubs, which (as Jimmy informed me) we were too "old" to go into. So we went for a late meal/snacks at Hard Rock Cafe and then walked back to our hotel. Katie and I were tired, so Jimmy went down to the bar in the hotel until 2am. The next day, we headed into DC to the Smithsonian. Apparently it's a crime to have not seen the Air and Space Museum (also information from Jimmy), so we went there first. Afterward, we walked around the statue garden (I can't remember its real name), then popped our heads into the Museum of Natural History before heading back to Virginia so I could get home in time for Mike and I to go grocery shopping and get settled into our house.
All-in-all, it's been great! Unfortunately, I have no pictures at the moment as I left my camera at home and I'm at my parents' house. But after we get internet, I'll try to get some posted of the game, DC, and our new house!
That being said, a lot of stuff has happened lately. Well, maybe not a LOT of stuff, but MAJOR stuff. First, WE HAVE A HOUSE!!!!!!!! Oh...my...gosh!!!! It only took...FOREVER!!!!! We put a bid on this house back in October. It was a short sale, which is a major misnomer, because nine times out of ten, the sale is not short. But we've been patient...barely. We finally got the call that it was time to close. We closed at the end of March. We were given the keys and told that the paperwork would be reported by Monday, but we could go ahead and start making it ours. We got a call Tuesday and were told that the house wasn't ours! The seller's agent was extremely unprofessional and screwed the whole thing up, so now we had to go back to closing! Mike and I were ready to lawyer up, Remax was ready to lawyer up, Bank of America was ready to lawyer up...there was going to be a fight! Thankfully, however, we closed two weeks after and everything worked out well (and outside of court!). So we are now proud owners of a cute little house in the town of Culpeper! YAY!
Another first for me was going to an Orioles game. My brother Jimmy got tickets, and so he, Katie, and I went to Baltimore last weekend. We went to the aquarium first (I hadn't been since eighth grade) and just looked around. We went to the game that night. It was great...the Os lost, but the game was great! Afterward, we decided we wanted to go out to a bar or two. The only problem was we couldn't find any! All we found were clubs, which (as Jimmy informed me) we were too "old" to go into. So we went for a late meal/snacks at Hard Rock Cafe and then walked back to our hotel. Katie and I were tired, so Jimmy went down to the bar in the hotel until 2am. The next day, we headed into DC to the Smithsonian. Apparently it's a crime to have not seen the Air and Space Museum (also information from Jimmy), so we went there first. Afterward, we walked around the statue garden (I can't remember its real name), then popped our heads into the Museum of Natural History before heading back to Virginia so I could get home in time for Mike and I to go grocery shopping and get settled into our house.
All-in-all, it's been great! Unfortunately, I have no pictures at the moment as I left my camera at home and I'm at my parents' house. But after we get internet, I'll try to get some posted of the game, DC, and our new house!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
I Think to Myself...What a Wonderful World
This is a little random, I guess, but looking at previous blogs it's not much moreso than the rest. Normally I sleep with the radio on, listening to a country station. I'm not one of those people that NEEDS to have it on in order to sleep, though it does help for me to have some sort of background noise. The last couple nights, however, I did not have my radio as background noise...I had nature. It's been warm enough that Mike and I have left our bedroom window open all day and night. The cats love it, especially Jasper, because he can now lay his fat butt in the window. He likes lying in an open window. But that's not the point.
I love this time of year when it's finally getting warmer and the tree frogs start they're chirping in the evenings. The last couple nights I've fallen asleep to that. Of course, last night, there was something else as well. Mike had gotten home after midnight and woke me with his moving around the room. He got ready for bed, and as we were lying there and he was giving me a little massage, there was a noise (somewhat LOUD) from outside. "What was that?" Mike asked, sounding a little shaken. It took me a second scream of the creature to realize. "Oh, it's a bobcat," I replied. "They sound like a woman screaming."
"Are you sure?" he asked, not really believing me.
(*scream*) "Yeah. It's really creepy. Foxes are kinda creepy, too. They sound like babies crying."
As we listened to the bobcat crying outside our window, and then the tree frogs again once it was apparently safe to come back out, it got me thinking about all the little things I love about this world and life...
The smell of freshly cut grass
Watching the wind blow in waves across long grass over the fields like the ocean
Big puffy clouds
Thunderstorms (unless they're really close, then they're kinda scary)
Watching the rain traveling across the land
Listening to the rain on a metal roof
Curling up with a good book or a loved one under a blanket
Views from on top of a mountain
Views of mountains
Soft warm breezes
Tree frogs chirping at twilight
There are so many other things that I could list, but it would go on forever. It's simple things that I love. Every now and then you have to slow down and listen to the world around you and just take it in. Maybe that's why God made those things the way they are, so remarkably simple, and yet so wonderful that you just have to take the time.
I love this time of year when it's finally getting warmer and the tree frogs start they're chirping in the evenings. The last couple nights I've fallen asleep to that. Of course, last night, there was something else as well. Mike had gotten home after midnight and woke me with his moving around the room. He got ready for bed, and as we were lying there and he was giving me a little massage, there was a noise (somewhat LOUD) from outside. "What was that?" Mike asked, sounding a little shaken. It took me a second scream of the creature to realize. "Oh, it's a bobcat," I replied. "They sound like a woman screaming."
"Are you sure?" he asked, not really believing me.
(*scream*) "Yeah. It's really creepy. Foxes are kinda creepy, too. They sound like babies crying."
As we listened to the bobcat crying outside our window, and then the tree frogs again once it was apparently safe to come back out, it got me thinking about all the little things I love about this world and life...
The smell of freshly cut grass
Watching the wind blow in waves across long grass over the fields like the ocean
Big puffy clouds
Thunderstorms (unless they're really close, then they're kinda scary)
Watching the rain traveling across the land
Listening to the rain on a metal roof
Curling up with a good book or a loved one under a blanket
Views from on top of a mountain
Views of mountains
Soft warm breezes
Tree frogs chirping at twilight
There are so many other things that I could list, but it would go on forever. It's simple things that I love. Every now and then you have to slow down and listen to the world around you and just take it in. Maybe that's why God made those things the way they are, so remarkably simple, and yet so wonderful that you just have to take the time.
Monday, March 29, 2010
So Close...
So, I haven't written in a bit. I've been waiting until we have this house. We still TECHNICALLY don't have it, as there was a small glitch in the HUD statement. But we're supposed to hear back today. We've gotten the keys, though, so we're going to take the chance and go in there to start painting it and cleaning it and just making it our own. I'm so freakin' excited, I can't stand it! I'll try to take pictures when I go there after the gym today, so I can show all you fine blogger people our new abode. We're supposed to move in this weekend, so we're going to take this week to get it fixed up...as much as money allows, of course.
I just can't wait to have our own place, where the dogs won't bug anyone and Jasper won't hiss at dad and I can cook/bake in my own kitchen. It's a gas stove, however, which I've never used before. It could be interesting. I already have a plan of what I want to make...strawberry muffins with strawberry butter. It sounds absolutely DE-licious!
I just can't wait to have our own place, where the dogs won't bug anyone and Jasper won't hiss at dad and I can cook/bake in my own kitchen. It's a gas stove, however, which I've never used before. It could be interesting. I already have a plan of what I want to make...strawberry muffins with strawberry butter. It sounds absolutely DE-licious!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
A Rose by Any Other Name...
It's been a while, and I'm sorry for that. I've been spending a lot of time at my other blog and have also been really sick this week...allergies, I'm thinking. Maybe I'm allergic to weight loss. I always seem to get sick right around the time I want to diet...
ANYWAY...That's not what I came on here about. Something happened yesterday that really caught my attention. As some of you may know, our Madison basketball team are now state champs! Yay! (Not that I really pay much attention to our sports anymore, sadly) At work, we have a sign out front that we change for birthdays, community events, animal-related memos, and all the like. So Tuesday, one of the doctors wanted me to put out on the sign:
"Congrats MCHS Mens BBall
State Champs"
So I put it out there...just like that. Believe it or not, we actually got a call about it! Now, this doesn't always surprise us, because a lot of our clients who drive by and see the sign will call and ask about something it says or make a comment on it or something. This call was...well...ridiculous! The caller made a complaint, saying that it should be "boys" and not "men." Are you serious?!?!?! He went on to explain that "men" is for college. Well, last I checked, once you hit 18 you are considered a "man." Heck, usually once you hit puberty, you are a "man."
Why are we so obsessed about the "proper" titles and labels we put on things? We all know what we mean, so why does it have to be just the right word? For instance...and please, please, PLEASE do not ever think I am racist or prejudice or any of the like, because I'm not...Back in high school, I had a group project in Government class. Each group had to pick a Supreme Justice and do a report on him or her, which was then read aloud in front of class. My group had Clarence Thomas who, as some of you may know (I say some because believe it or not, many Americans don't know) is the second "African-American" Supreme Justice. When I got to mentioning that point in our essay, I didn't say "African-American," I said "black." I can't begin to tell you my embarrassment as the entire WHITE class shouted at me, "African-American!"
Why should that matter? We ("we" being white folk) don't care if we're called white. No idiot (except those on major tests you take in school) asks us if we're "caucasian." As my father says, "There is no such thing as a hyphenated American." If you're American, no one usually asks about your origin. Otherwise I would be a German-Polish-Irish-English-tiniest bit French-maybe some Scottish-American (I did ancestry.com!). Otherwise, as I like to call it, a European Mutt...and proud of it!
We put so many labels on things...and obviously people. Why not call it what it is? The guys don't care if they're called "men" or "boys," though, I'm sure some of the ones with the bigger egos (aka most of the school populace) would prefer men. We obsess over the little, insignificant things in life. And people wonder why we're under so much stress...
ANYWAY...That's not what I came on here about. Something happened yesterday that really caught my attention. As some of you may know, our Madison basketball team are now state champs! Yay! (Not that I really pay much attention to our sports anymore, sadly) At work, we have a sign out front that we change for birthdays, community events, animal-related memos, and all the like. So Tuesday, one of the doctors wanted me to put out on the sign:
"Congrats MCHS Mens BBall
State Champs"
So I put it out there...just like that. Believe it or not, we actually got a call about it! Now, this doesn't always surprise us, because a lot of our clients who drive by and see the sign will call and ask about something it says or make a comment on it or something. This call was...well...ridiculous! The caller made a complaint, saying that it should be "boys" and not "men." Are you serious?!?!?! He went on to explain that "men" is for college. Well, last I checked, once you hit 18 you are considered a "man." Heck, usually once you hit puberty, you are a "man."
Why are we so obsessed about the "proper" titles and labels we put on things? We all know what we mean, so why does it have to be just the right word? For instance...and please, please, PLEASE do not ever think I am racist or prejudice or any of the like, because I'm not...Back in high school, I had a group project in Government class. Each group had to pick a Supreme Justice and do a report on him or her, which was then read aloud in front of class. My group had Clarence Thomas who, as some of you may know (I say some because believe it or not, many Americans don't know) is the second "African-American" Supreme Justice. When I got to mentioning that point in our essay, I didn't say "African-American," I said "black." I can't begin to tell you my embarrassment as the entire WHITE class shouted at me, "African-American!"
Why should that matter? We ("we" being white folk) don't care if we're called white. No idiot (except those on major tests you take in school) asks us if we're "caucasian." As my father says, "There is no such thing as a hyphenated American." If you're American, no one usually asks about your origin. Otherwise I would be a German-Polish-Irish-English-tiniest bit French-maybe some Scottish-American (I did ancestry.com!). Otherwise, as I like to call it, a European Mutt...and proud of it!
We put so many labels on things...and obviously people. Why not call it what it is? The guys don't care if they're called "men" or "boys," though, I'm sure some of the ones with the bigger egos (aka most of the school populace) would prefer men. We obsess over the little, insignificant things in life. And people wonder why we're under so much stress...
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Role Playing
I have this little weird thing I do. I've noticed me doing this ever since I was in middle school, I think. That's the earliest I remember doing it, anyway. What is this "little weird thing"? Well, after I have watched something, usually a movie, but sometimes after shows, I start acting like the main heroine. For instance: After watching Entrapment with Catherine Zeta-Jones, I start moving stealthily and act all coy. After Sweet Home Alabama with Reese Witherspoon, my southern accent really comes through. After watching Save the Last Dance with Julia Stiles, I'll randomly start dancing, usually gracefully and ballerina-like. Don't ask me why I do it, I just find myself almost subconsciously doing it.
So now I'm watching Sex and the City (the show). I bought the first two seasons. I love it. It's a really great chick flick-type show. It makes you want to grab a glass of wine, get into an old t-shirt and jeans or sweats, and just relax. Or, in my case, type. Now, see, my brother has kinda gotten me thinking. At Steve's wedding, Eric sat me down in between the Cha-Cha Slide and the Macarena for a chat. "Here's the thing," he says. "The whole animal thing? I think you should drop it. What do you think about free-lance journalism?"
Okay, maybe he didn't say it quite like that, but pretty darn close. Turns out he really likes my blog. I'm completely flattered, especially because all modesty aside I REALLY don't think I'm all that great. I mean, it's like I'm writing in a journal or something. I don't really think about it. But when my brothers notice something I do, I just swell up with pride, even if it's as simple as telling a joke.
So, thanks to Eric's suggestion and Carrie Bradshaw (aka Sarah Jessica Parker), I think I might like to try it. Things at work are getting a little...funny (and I don't mean "ha ha"), so I was planning on looking for a new job after Mike and I closed on this house. No, I'm not going to go exclusively free-lance. I don't even know how to go about getting started. It would just be a side job. You know, to see if any publisher/newspaper/magazine would go for it. If anyone has any ideas on this subject, I'm all ears. It could be interesting.
So now I'm watching Sex and the City (the show). I bought the first two seasons. I love it. It's a really great chick flick-type show. It makes you want to grab a glass of wine, get into an old t-shirt and jeans or sweats, and just relax. Or, in my case, type. Now, see, my brother has kinda gotten me thinking. At Steve's wedding, Eric sat me down in between the Cha-Cha Slide and the Macarena for a chat. "Here's the thing," he says. "The whole animal thing? I think you should drop it. What do you think about free-lance journalism?"
Okay, maybe he didn't say it quite like that, but pretty darn close. Turns out he really likes my blog. I'm completely flattered, especially because all modesty aside I REALLY don't think I'm all that great. I mean, it's like I'm writing in a journal or something. I don't really think about it. But when my brothers notice something I do, I just swell up with pride, even if it's as simple as telling a joke.
So, thanks to Eric's suggestion and Carrie Bradshaw (aka Sarah Jessica Parker), I think I might like to try it. Things at work are getting a little...funny (and I don't mean "ha ha"), so I was planning on looking for a new job after Mike and I closed on this house. No, I'm not going to go exclusively free-lance. I don't even know how to go about getting started. It would just be a side job. You know, to see if any publisher/newspaper/magazine would go for it. If anyone has any ideas on this subject, I'm all ears. It could be interesting.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Eye of the Tiger
Okay, so normally I don't post twice in one day...heck, normally not even twice in one month! So you know something's up, right?
Well, this past weekend has really gotten me thinking. I've always been insecure about my weight, and I have now just realized that I'm at my all-time high pound-wise. This weekend made me think of it because I had bought new pants for the wedding. They fit me wonderfully in the store. I haven't worn them between buying them and the wedding, so I can't blame the washing machine for this one. Sometime during the ceremony I come to find out I split my brand new pants. Thankfully in an inconspicous spot, mind you. BUT I WAS WEARING SPANX, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!!! So, I've decided that I'm going to do something about this. I've dieted before, I've worked out before. I've diet pilled, I've SlimFasted, I've danced, I've crunched, I've walked, I've jogged, I decided to go back to walking. I've done just about everything I can think of. I'll lose about five pounds and then go right back. Now, I'm not trying to look like Kate Moss, or even trying to get down to a size six. I mainly just want a flatter stomach, if possible, and to generally feel better about myself. I'm not going to fad diet...no Atkins or South Beach or Weight Watchers. I'm going to just find out what are the correct portion sizes.
This is where you guys come in. I'm thinking that maybe if I have a support group behind me, making sure I don't give up (like usual), I can get some of this weight off. No offense, mom, but nagging doesn't usually come across as helpful. I'm hoping to get a membership at the fitness center up in Culpeper, since we're moving up there. It'll be on the way home, so I figure I could just stop off on my way home from work.
So I'm going to start a new blog, giving you weekly updates on weight loss and/or gain (hopefully not much of the latter) and I'm thinking monthly photo updates. Feel free to send me e-mails or comments to help me along.
Well, this past weekend has really gotten me thinking. I've always been insecure about my weight, and I have now just realized that I'm at my all-time high pound-wise. This weekend made me think of it because I had bought new pants for the wedding. They fit me wonderfully in the store. I haven't worn them between buying them and the wedding, so I can't blame the washing machine for this one. Sometime during the ceremony I come to find out I split my brand new pants. Thankfully in an inconspicous spot, mind you. BUT I WAS WEARING SPANX, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!!! So, I've decided that I'm going to do something about this. I've dieted before, I've worked out before. I've diet pilled, I've SlimFasted, I've danced, I've crunched, I've walked, I've jogged, I decided to go back to walking. I've done just about everything I can think of. I'll lose about five pounds and then go right back. Now, I'm not trying to look like Kate Moss, or even trying to get down to a size six. I mainly just want a flatter stomach, if possible, and to generally feel better about myself. I'm not going to fad diet...no Atkins or South Beach or Weight Watchers. I'm going to just find out what are the correct portion sizes.
This is where you guys come in. I'm thinking that maybe if I have a support group behind me, making sure I don't give up (like usual), I can get some of this weight off. No offense, mom, but nagging doesn't usually come across as helpful. I'm hoping to get a membership at the fitness center up in Culpeper, since we're moving up there. It'll be on the way home, so I figure I could just stop off on my way home from work.
So I'm going to start a new blog, giving you weekly updates on weight loss and/or gain (hopefully not much of the latter) and I'm thinking monthly photo updates. Feel free to send me e-mails or comments to help me along.
Steve and Anna's Wedding
This past weekend was great. My second-oldest brother, Steve, got married up in Pittsburgh. Yay! It was a beautiful wedding in a GORGEOUS church. Getting to the church was not gorgeous, however. Oh...my...gosh!!! I am SO glad I don't live in a city. The traffic, all the turns and loops and ramps and side roads...it makes you feel like throwing up your hands and yelling, "Weeeeeeee!" I'm serious! It's like a roller coaster! 
To end the night off, we went bowling. Mike and I were tired, so we only bowled two games with Matt and Michelle and headed back out at around one in the morning. All the wedding party played in their formal attire. Yep, even the bride and groom. I'd hate to see what the hem of Anna's dress looked like after that! 
Anyway, on to the wedding. As I said, the church was stunning. All hand-carved wood and arched ceiling. And don't get me started on the Tiffany stained-glass windows! The rehearsal dinner was at the Hard Rock Cafe. My neice, Emily, got a little preview of night life. Afterwards, we decided to go up the coal trolley thing. I'm not entirely sure what it's called, but according to the pictures and memorabilia at the top, it was used to get people up and down the side of the mountain back in the mining days. It was an open, three compartment car that was pulled up and down the side of the mountain by pulleys. The Millers were spread out in each compartment. It was one of those times you wish you had a tape recorder. We may have been a small group, but let's just say that we had a presence! Laughter was non-stop, one-liners slipping out left and right, one after the other, each person playing off the other. Not just the Millers...the entire group! And Anna jumping right in (I knew I liked her!). We get to the top and it's FREEZING outside, but the warmness in our hearts was enough to get most of us out on that observation deck. Okay, maybe not. After about ten minutes we all headed back to the trolley!
The wedding ceremony was beautiful. I read a poem and Chris and Jimmy each read passages from the Bible and about the Unity Cross. Steve serenaded his lovely bride, playing on the guitar and singing "When You Say Nothing at All." The reception was held at a banquet hall close to our hotel. I tried to get Mike out on the dance floor, but he was a party pooper and refused. I managed to coax Katie out on the floor with the Electric Slide. Jimmy came out for that one, too. Then there was the Cha-Cha Slide, which by the end of the song my legs were jelly. Dancing in heels is not the best...I don't recommend it for long periods of time. Then there was the Macarena. That was a bit more booty shaking on my brother's behalf that I believe I ever wanted to see! Right before Mike and I went to go to the hotel to change, Jon (the DJ) played "Thriller." He only played it because dad said that Katie and I could dance to it. Heh...riiiiight! We knew the moves all right. The only problem was we didn't know which order to put them in! We finally happily gave up trying.
To end the night off, we went bowling. Mike and I were tired, so we only bowled two games with Matt and Michelle and headed back out at around one in the morning. All the wedding party played in their formal attire. Yep, even the bride and groom. I'd hate to see what the hem of Anna's dress looked like after that! Sunday, February 21, 2010
Be My Valentine
Hello, blogging world!
I know it's been awhile. Not a lot has been going on lately in my life. Just mainly work and home, work and home. I did have a little skip in my record, so to speak, as last weekend, my dear husband took me away for a romantic weekend for Valentine's Day.
That's right, girls! Start the swooning and cooing and awwing. It started Friday, when Mike sent me a large bouquet of Stargazer lilies...my absolute FAVORITE flower! That may not say a lot, but what you people don't realize is that, as much as I love him, Mike's memory is not the greatest. He'll admit it, too. So, instead of sending the common Valentine's rose or a bouquet of wildflowers (both of which I would have absolutely loved as well), he actually remembered my favorite flower and had them sent to me. It came with a teddy bear and tear-jerking note, as well.
They have pretty much all opened since this picture was taken and they are beautiful!
The next day, Saturday, he picked me up from work. We had to go to the house inspection first (that's another looooong story). Straight from the inspection, we headed over to Fredericksburg, where we ate at the Olive Garden (best Italian EVER, in my opinion). We had time to kill before checking into the hotel, so we went to Spotsylvania Mall to walk off our dinner and to look for something special for that night (don't worry, that's all I'll say on the matter!). We couldn't find anything we liked, so we headed over to Lane Bryant across the way and found exactly what I'd been hoping to find. By that time, we were able to check in, so we drove behind Central Park to the Hilton. The Hilton! We made our way to our room and, after making me wait in the bathroom (not that I minded, I needed to change anyway), he told me I was allowed to come out. I walk out of the door to "At Last", the lights are off, there's a path of petals on the floor leading me to a petal-strewn bed. Little flameless candles are placed everwhere. Mike popped open a bottle of champagne and handed me a bubbly glass. And then...
You didn't seriously think I'd go on, did you? ;-) It was a great night, and I was kind of upset that it had to end. But Mike is so romantic and loving, that I only have to wait until next time. Until then, (*sigh*) back to my regular life...
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Happy Birthday to Me...?
Okay, so my birthday was last week. It started off great just because I actually had off for my birthday this year. It was my usual day off from work, and to top it off, I didn't have ANY errands to run or jobs to do or cleaning out any houses! I didn't really do a lot for my birthday (not that I'm complaining). I went to Walmart with mom and dad to get a few things. Of course, this was the day before the big snowstorm and so Walmart was full of idiotic people doing equally idiotic things. There was actually a school bus that was pulling into the parking lot, trying to make a turn that a school bus is not supposed to make.
While I was in the store, I got a text from my brother Jimmy asking if I wanted to go to karaoke that night as it was his night to bounce. At first I was like, "Yeah, right." I had a headache that had been trying to break through all day and I had work the next day and with the snow, I had to be on my A-game. In the end, I popped a couple Advil and went on to the Corner in Charlottesville. When I got to Baja, the bar where Jimmy bounces, there were all of eight people in the joint. I went ahead and put myself down to sing "Before he Cheats" by Carrie Underwood. I did really well on that one the last time, so I figured I'd do it again. I sang that one right as Jimmy showed up. Then I put myself down for "Don't Turn Around" by Ace of Base (I've been trying to look for songs that don't have a really high octave range). I'd like to say I nailed that one. Then I pushed my luck and put myself down for "Gunpowder and Lead" by Miranda Lambert. I did absolutely HORRIBLE!!!! I totally blanked on how the song went! No, not the lyrics...those were written for me in plain view. I just couldn't remember the beat. By this point the bar was pretty packed. Well, once the music finished, I had hoped to slink off to my corner of the bar and not open my mouth again. Jimmy had other ideas...
Jimmy came up behind me once I was done and took the mic from me. I looked up at the ticker on the screen to see who was next...it said Laura, not Jimmy. So why was he taking the mic? He got the bar quieted down. From the moment he started talking, I knew what was happening. Much to my horror (as if me butchering the song wasn't enough), he proceeded to tell the entire bar that I was his little sister and that it was my birthday. He then had the ENTIRE bar sing me "Happy Birthday." Did I mention that the bar was packed by this point?
Anyway, at the end, everyone cheered for me and I--now ten shades of red, I'm sure--went back to my seat. Jimmy came up to me later and told me that a funny thing happened. BBQ (the stage name of a large, funny black guy that does mostly old Motown hits) had come up to Jimmy and said, "That's your sister? She is fiiiine!" Jimmy then told him that I was married, to which he replied, "It figures."
To end the night off, right before I went up to sing a final song with Jimmy ("If I had a Million Dollars" by Barenaked Ladies), this creepy guy that looked to be in his forties or so started hitting on me. Our song couldn't have come quick enough!
While I was in the store, I got a text from my brother Jimmy asking if I wanted to go to karaoke that night as it was his night to bounce. At first I was like, "Yeah, right." I had a headache that had been trying to break through all day and I had work the next day and with the snow, I had to be on my A-game. In the end, I popped a couple Advil and went on to the Corner in Charlottesville. When I got to Baja, the bar where Jimmy bounces, there were all of eight people in the joint. I went ahead and put myself down to sing "Before he Cheats" by Carrie Underwood. I did really well on that one the last time, so I figured I'd do it again. I sang that one right as Jimmy showed up. Then I put myself down for "Don't Turn Around" by Ace of Base (I've been trying to look for songs that don't have a really high octave range). I'd like to say I nailed that one. Then I pushed my luck and put myself down for "Gunpowder and Lead" by Miranda Lambert. I did absolutely HORRIBLE!!!! I totally blanked on how the song went! No, not the lyrics...those were written for me in plain view. I just couldn't remember the beat. By this point the bar was pretty packed. Well, once the music finished, I had hoped to slink off to my corner of the bar and not open my mouth again. Jimmy had other ideas...
Jimmy came up behind me once I was done and took the mic from me. I looked up at the ticker on the screen to see who was next...it said Laura, not Jimmy. So why was he taking the mic? He got the bar quieted down. From the moment he started talking, I knew what was happening. Much to my horror (as if me butchering the song wasn't enough), he proceeded to tell the entire bar that I was his little sister and that it was my birthday. He then had the ENTIRE bar sing me "Happy Birthday." Did I mention that the bar was packed by this point?
Anyway, at the end, everyone cheered for me and I--now ten shades of red, I'm sure--went back to my seat. Jimmy came up to me later and told me that a funny thing happened. BBQ (the stage name of a large, funny black guy that does mostly old Motown hits) had come up to Jimmy and said, "That's your sister? She is fiiiine!" Jimmy then told him that I was married, to which he replied, "It figures."
To end the night off, right before I went up to sing a final song with Jimmy ("If I had a Million Dollars" by Barenaked Ladies), this creepy guy that looked to be in his forties or so started hitting on me. Our song couldn't have come quick enough!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Cue the "Twilight Zone"
Do you ever feel like you should be living in a different time? I do. There are times that I get this feeling. I suppose most might call it daydreaming, but I have daydreams, and then I get these...I don't know...they almost feel like memories. I have such an imagination, and I'll be the first to admit that it'll not just run away with me, but kidnap me and hold me hostage! And I'm sure it probably has something to do with the books I read, as well.
On that point, I find that I always choose books to read that are historical. Present-day novels don't interest me. I gotta tell ya, I'm a sucker for romances. But they're always set in medieval times and/or in the Scottish Highlands (I love the brogue). I have dreams at night that are so vivid, it's like I'm watching a movie, or...heck!...even living it! I've actually woken up a time or two panting due to the running or whatever I've been doing in the dream. It's weird!
Anyhoo...this was just kind of a random thought...
On that point, I find that I always choose books to read that are historical. Present-day novels don't interest me. I gotta tell ya, I'm a sucker for romances. But they're always set in medieval times and/or in the Scottish Highlands (I love the brogue). I have dreams at night that are so vivid, it's like I'm watching a movie, or...heck!...even living it! I've actually woken up a time or two panting due to the running or whatever I've been doing in the dream. It's weird!
Anyhoo...this was just kind of a random thought...
Sunday, January 31, 2010
It's a Marshmallow World in the Winter
We have snow on the ground...AGAIN! I have mixed feelings about it. It kinda sucks because mom, Katie (Jimmy's fiancee), and I were supposed to head up to Pittsburgh this weekend for Anna's (Steve's fiancee) bridal shower. I did a test drive and found that I was able to drive in it, but I really didn't want to. So we stayed here in Virginia.
I love the colors of a winter sky. The soft pastels brushed onto the sky like God's personal watercolor. Words cannot describe the beauty, and my pictures are just a weak immitation. 
On the other hand, I love it! It's so clean and fresh. And, in my opinion, if it doesn't cover everything, then it's not worth it. Well, this time it was worth it. I haven't posted many pictures lately, so here's a couple to help you see the wintery world through my eyes...
These three does were just outside the kitchen window. I was doing the dishes after dinner and happened to look up. When I went outside, there was one that didn't run as soon as the others, but heard me and ran to the creek.
Lady, as we all know now, is our snow dog. I've never seen a dog GRAZE on snow like Lady does! She actually lays in the snow and eats all the snow around her!
These three does were just outside the kitchen window. I was doing the dishes after dinner and happened to look up. When I went outside, there was one that didn't run as soon as the others, but heard me and ran to the creek. I love the colors of a winter sky. The soft pastels brushed onto the sky like God's personal watercolor. Words cannot describe the beauty, and my pictures are just a weak immitation.Thursday, January 28, 2010
I Wish
I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. There's so many things I wish to do and/or be. There are places I wish to go and see, foods I'd like to try. So I started coming up with a list in my head of all of these things. You know, people come up with things they'd like to do before they die, but I'm not quite sure if this quite fits. Just read on, you'll see...
Places I'd like to see...Montana, Alaska, the Rockies, Ireland, Italy, France (mainly the Loire Valley), Scotland, Germany (the area my family is from...on mom's side), the Natural Bridge, Luray Caverns, Niagra Falls, and many more...
Things I'd like to do...some of them if I had the guts...live with the wolves (i.e. like the documentary on the Discovery Channel and book I was given "Wolves at Our Door"), work with wild animals (whether out in the wild or in the zoo or even with Wildlife Rescue), go whitewater rafting, go on a cruise, go to a club, ride in an airplane, get professional pictures done, see a Broadway show
People I'd like to meet...really anyone famous, I suppose. I have my favorites, like Giada deLaurentis and Paula Deen, then there's country stars like Brad Paisley and comedians like Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, and Jeff Dunham. Robert Duvall, Anne Hathaway...there are so many that I can't even put them all on here!
There are things about me that I wish were different. I wish I were more adventurous...you know, to do some of those things listed above. I've been trying to be a little more outgoing lately, to push myself more out of my safe box. My experimentation with foods and flavors has gotten a little more daring than my regular spaghetti or burgers I had growing up. I wish I liked coffee and/or tea. I like the smells of some coffees, but whenever I've tried any, all I taste is coffee...the same goes with foods with coffee in them such as mocha flavor. There are flavored coffees out there that sound so good. Same with the tea...you always hear about chamomille tea and others to help relax you. There's orange tea, and tea with honey and lemon. They SOUND good to me, but all I taste is tea. Sometimes I wish I were a bit more girly, or maybe at least had more fashion sense. Again, I'm trying to get a little bolder with my clothing as well. Unfortunately, boldness in clothing usually has a higher price tag. And I wish I did more that I could use more of my clothes. I feel all I do is work, then come home and get into sweats and such. I read about Anna and her and Eric's parties and group things and it all sounds so fun! Of course, their personalities are a little more outgoing as well.
(*sigh*) I'm slowly coming out of my shell. Looking back at how I was growing up, I've come a long way from that girl who wore jeans, t-shirts, and a windbreaker tied around her waist. But looking ahead, I see so many options...
Places I'd like to see...Montana, Alaska, the Rockies, Ireland, Italy, France (mainly the Loire Valley), Scotland, Germany (the area my family is from...on mom's side), the Natural Bridge, Luray Caverns, Niagra Falls, and many more...
Things I'd like to do...some of them if I had the guts...live with the wolves (i.e. like the documentary on the Discovery Channel and book I was given "Wolves at Our Door"), work with wild animals (whether out in the wild or in the zoo or even with Wildlife Rescue), go whitewater rafting, go on a cruise, go to a club, ride in an airplane, get professional pictures done, see a Broadway show
People I'd like to meet...really anyone famous, I suppose. I have my favorites, like Giada deLaurentis and Paula Deen, then there's country stars like Brad Paisley and comedians like Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, and Jeff Dunham. Robert Duvall, Anne Hathaway...there are so many that I can't even put them all on here!
There are things about me that I wish were different. I wish I were more adventurous...you know, to do some of those things listed above. I've been trying to be a little more outgoing lately, to push myself more out of my safe box. My experimentation with foods and flavors has gotten a little more daring than my regular spaghetti or burgers I had growing up. I wish I liked coffee and/or tea. I like the smells of some coffees, but whenever I've tried any, all I taste is coffee...the same goes with foods with coffee in them such as mocha flavor. There are flavored coffees out there that sound so good. Same with the tea...you always hear about chamomille tea and others to help relax you. There's orange tea, and tea with honey and lemon. They SOUND good to me, but all I taste is tea. Sometimes I wish I were a bit more girly, or maybe at least had more fashion sense. Again, I'm trying to get a little bolder with my clothing as well. Unfortunately, boldness in clothing usually has a higher price tag. And I wish I did more that I could use more of my clothes. I feel all I do is work, then come home and get into sweats and such. I read about Anna and her and Eric's parties and group things and it all sounds so fun! Of course, their personalities are a little more outgoing as well.
(*sigh*) I'm slowly coming out of my shell. Looking back at how I was growing up, I've come a long way from that girl who wore jeans, t-shirts, and a windbreaker tied around her waist. But looking ahead, I see so many options...
Thursday, January 21, 2010
That's My Story (and I'm Stickin' To It)
I'm sure there's people out there who are wondering at the title of my blog. My mom thought that I was going to have some musical theme to it. I guess, though, in a way I do. If you look back through just my small amount of entries, you'll see some titles and/or lines from well-known songs.
There are a couple reasons as to why I titled the blog "Life's a Musical." One reason is because I like that quote: "Life's a musical...sing and dance." I can't remember where I read it...probably one of those e-mails that were passed around years ago with witty comments and the like. I love this quote, because it's basically telling you to let loose and have fun. Have you ever seen a musical that looks like the people are being tortured? No! Of course not! The characters are always singing about their lives and twirling around lamp posts and tap dancing on upside-down canoes. Even near the greatest peril, they sing about it!
The next reason is because, just as the characters in musicals have their songs for the moment, so do I. I'm not sure why I do it, and I know I can't help it, but things and events in life bring certain songs into my head. Sometimes I find I'm singing them aloud...while others I just keep to myself. For example: I work in an animal hospital. I've been working there for near ten years now, so I've gotten use to the regulars that come into work...by "regulars" I mean the pets. There's one dog that comes in named Leroy. Well, whenever I see him, this is what I hear in my head: "Bad, bad, Leroy Brown. Baddest dog in the whole dang town. Badder than-a ol' King Kong...Meaner than a junkyard dog!" Laugh if you will, but it's true! This little habit of mine, if you want to call it that, has helped out, though. There's another dog that comes in, a little Dachshund named Charlie Brown. I was there the day he got neutered (poor little guy!). He didn't wake up very well from his surgery, crying and whining quite loudly. I tried the normal shushing and whistling to try to quiet him, but it would only work for a second, and then he'd go back to crying. All I could think of was listening to dad's record that had "Charlie Brown" on it, so I started singing to the little dog.
"Charlie Brown...doo-de-doo-doo-doo
Charlie Brown...doo-de-doo-doo-doo
He's a clown...that's Charlie Brown
He's gonna get caught, just you wait and see
'Why's everybody always pickin' on me'?"
And you know what? It worked! He quieted down and even started wagging his tail! So now, anytime he comes in for anything, I sing him his song and he's a happy little dog again!
It's not just with the animals, though. I'll randomly think of a song, usually one I haven't heard in forever, and it's in my head all day.
The final reason, and don't think me crazy, okay? I feel...occasionally at least...that it helps me talk with God. No, I'm not trying to pull a Joan-of-Arc or say that I'm a prophet or anything huge like that. I'm completely serious with you. It usually happens during down/depressed times with me, and it could be completely in my head. You can think what you wish. I guess I'll have to give you an example. Well, I've dated a few guys before I met my husband. Every time there was something that I prayed to God for, whether it be for me and one of my exes to make it to graduation or to get back together or He would help us grow together or whatever, I always heard the song "Unanswered Prayers" by Garth Brooks. It could be COMPLETE coincidence, I know, but EVERY...SINGLE...TIME this would happen. When I met Mike, again I asked that he would help us grow together and that I would be what Mike wanted. I never heard that song. To tell you the truth, I haven't heard that song SINCE Mike and I have been together. There have been other instances, too many to explain on here in one blog, but answers I have been seeking have always been in the music I would be listening to at the time of the question/request/etc.
Songs don't usually just crop up in my mind randomly. At first I think so, but then throughout the day, the songs seem to fit to my life, like a soundtrack. And, yes, I do randomly break out in song...
There are a couple reasons as to why I titled the blog "Life's a Musical." One reason is because I like that quote: "Life's a musical...sing and dance." I can't remember where I read it...probably one of those e-mails that were passed around years ago with witty comments and the like. I love this quote, because it's basically telling you to let loose and have fun. Have you ever seen a musical that looks like the people are being tortured? No! Of course not! The characters are always singing about their lives and twirling around lamp posts and tap dancing on upside-down canoes. Even near the greatest peril, they sing about it!
The next reason is because, just as the characters in musicals have their songs for the moment, so do I. I'm not sure why I do it, and I know I can't help it, but things and events in life bring certain songs into my head. Sometimes I find I'm singing them aloud...while others I just keep to myself. For example: I work in an animal hospital. I've been working there for near ten years now, so I've gotten use to the regulars that come into work...by "regulars" I mean the pets. There's one dog that comes in named Leroy. Well, whenever I see him, this is what I hear in my head: "Bad, bad, Leroy Brown. Baddest dog in the whole dang town. Badder than-a ol' King Kong...Meaner than a junkyard dog!" Laugh if you will, but it's true! This little habit of mine, if you want to call it that, has helped out, though. There's another dog that comes in, a little Dachshund named Charlie Brown. I was there the day he got neutered (poor little guy!). He didn't wake up very well from his surgery, crying and whining quite loudly. I tried the normal shushing and whistling to try to quiet him, but it would only work for a second, and then he'd go back to crying. All I could think of was listening to dad's record that had "Charlie Brown" on it, so I started singing to the little dog.
"Charlie Brown...doo-de-doo-doo-doo
Charlie Brown...doo-de-doo-doo-doo
He's a clown...that's Charlie Brown
He's gonna get caught, just you wait and see
'Why's everybody always pickin' on me'?"
And you know what? It worked! He quieted down and even started wagging his tail! So now, anytime he comes in for anything, I sing him his song and he's a happy little dog again!
It's not just with the animals, though. I'll randomly think of a song, usually one I haven't heard in forever, and it's in my head all day.
The final reason, and don't think me crazy, okay? I feel...occasionally at least...that it helps me talk with God. No, I'm not trying to pull a Joan-of-Arc or say that I'm a prophet or anything huge like that. I'm completely serious with you. It usually happens during down/depressed times with me, and it could be completely in my head. You can think what you wish. I guess I'll have to give you an example. Well, I've dated a few guys before I met my husband. Every time there was something that I prayed to God for, whether it be for me and one of my exes to make it to graduation or to get back together or He would help us grow together or whatever, I always heard the song "Unanswered Prayers" by Garth Brooks. It could be COMPLETE coincidence, I know, but EVERY...SINGLE...TIME this would happen. When I met Mike, again I asked that he would help us grow together and that I would be what Mike wanted. I never heard that song. To tell you the truth, I haven't heard that song SINCE Mike and I have been together. There have been other instances, too many to explain on here in one blog, but answers I have been seeking have always been in the music I would be listening to at the time of the question/request/etc.
Songs don't usually just crop up in my mind randomly. At first I think so, but then throughout the day, the songs seem to fit to my life, like a soundtrack. And, yes, I do randomly break out in song...
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Mama, If That's Movin' Up, Then I'm...Movin' Out
I think we all know by now that Mike and I are trying to buy a house (by we, I mean anyone who reads this and/or knows us). We found this great two-story colonial, three bedroom, two bathroom house in the town of Culpeper. It has a large fenced-in backyard, which is great for the dogs. There's so many great points about this house and it has so much character. So what's the problem, you ask? It's a short sale, which is a misnomer, because the sale is NOT by any means short. It just means that the seller owes more on the property than they are selling it for, due to them wanting to get out of there in a short amount of time. Because of this, the bank is now involved, and unfortunately for us, it's through Bank of America, which is NOTORIOUS in the real estate world for being slow as molassas in January. Even though the seller has agreed upon our bid (it's hard not to, as we went in at asking price), the bank now has to approve of the original sale price. You would think they would look at that before it's put on the market and therefore skipping that hassle for the buyers later!
Well, now there's a problem. Oh, not with the house. No, that's still in limbo. The problem is my work and where we live now. There are many complications at work, and as I just discovered on Friday, I'm not sure how long my job will last. I'm hoping it was just a rash decision made in the heat of the moment by my boss, but I found out he had wanted me fired the other day for something that wasn't my fault! So, as Mike and I are renting the house we live in from my boss, we have decided to move out of our rental and into my parents' house. There are a couple methods behind our madness. One, it'll allow us to save up some money to put towards the house (fixing it up, decorating, etc.), and two, it'll get us out of the rental, as we aren't sure how my irrational boss will act.
I am so blessed to have such wonderful people as my parents in my life. I'm not sure exactly how I deserve them, but they have always given my brothers and me love and compassion, always willing to help us out any way they can, even when it's not always the easiest for them. So for mom and dad to allow my husband and me to move in with them in these...uncertain times, it makes me hope that one day I can be as great parents to my children as they have been, are, and always will be to my brothers and me.
So, as of now, Mike and I are packing up our things. We'll rent a storage unit for our furniture, and then we (and our petting zoo) will move in with mom and dad by the end of the month. Dad's been missing Sprite anyway, right?
Well, now there's a problem. Oh, not with the house. No, that's still in limbo. The problem is my work and where we live now. There are many complications at work, and as I just discovered on Friday, I'm not sure how long my job will last. I'm hoping it was just a rash decision made in the heat of the moment by my boss, but I found out he had wanted me fired the other day for something that wasn't my fault! So, as Mike and I are renting the house we live in from my boss, we have decided to move out of our rental and into my parents' house. There are a couple methods behind our madness. One, it'll allow us to save up some money to put towards the house (fixing it up, decorating, etc.), and two, it'll get us out of the rental, as we aren't sure how my irrational boss will act.
I am so blessed to have such wonderful people as my parents in my life. I'm not sure exactly how I deserve them, but they have always given my brothers and me love and compassion, always willing to help us out any way they can, even when it's not always the easiest for them. So for mom and dad to allow my husband and me to move in with them in these...uncertain times, it makes me hope that one day I can be as great parents to my children as they have been, are, and always will be to my brothers and me.
So, as of now, Mike and I are packing up our things. We'll rent a storage unit for our furniture, and then we (and our petting zoo) will move in with mom and dad by the end of the month. Dad's been missing Sprite anyway, right?
Friday, January 8, 2010
I am my own Destiny...
So Thursday was a great day all around. First and foremost...it was my day off, so I was able to sleep in, even if it was for only two more hours than usual. On top of that, I spent the day with mom. It was a lot of fun. We went over to Fredericksburg to the Dress Barn in Central Park, on a mission to find clothes for my brother Steve and Anna's wedding. We figured now would be the best time to shop, as it is just after the holidays so we had a better chance of finding sales, as well as the fact that the wedding may be in March, but it's in Pittsburgh! So, but looking now, we'd probably find warmer clothes! In the end, even though I found this really cute dress, I bought a nice pair of black slacks (as I desperately needed a pair and they fit me wonderfully!) and mom left with a nice flowered and beaded top. From there, we went back to Culpeper for some flea market shopping. I was hoping to find some chairs for our kitchen table, not caring if they matched too much. Of course, Mike wanted to know why we needed chairs for the table as we never eat at the table...well, yeah! Because we have no chairs!!!
The first place we went was more of a knick-knack shop, not a whole bunch of furniture. The next place, however, is the best place to find furniture. My brother Jimmy and his fiancee found a coffee table and two end tables there in very good shape for an equally good price. Over the last couple of years I, myself have found little things here and there that are now incorporated into our home.
From the moment we stepped through the door, mom and I were on a mission, though. To find two decent chairs that weren't too bad with the kitchen table. I would worry about trying to match the entire set at a later time. Peaking in here and there, we found some really great stuff, as usual. Then, as I looked into one little alcove, I noticed it was full of wooden chairs...perfect! Immediately my eyes were drawn to two stacked, armed chairs crafted out of a dark wood. They were a little dusty and worn, but they were exactly what I was looking for. Then mom, from behind me, said, "You could get all four and have the two armed chairs at each end of the table." All four? I looked beside my chairs and saw two more armless stacked chairs of what looked like the same make. Sweet! But then I thought of the price. Last time I found chairs I liked in this place, they were $40 apiece. I flipped over the price tags, and Eric's Anna, you're gonna love this...
The two chairs with arms were $6 apiece and the ones without were $5 apiece. With tax, four chairs in very good shape came to a whopping $23.10! And what's cool about it (besides the price) is that the chairs look almost identical to the chairs mom and dad used to have when they had the table! Funny how things work out.
So I went back to mom's to drop her off, then after a phone call, went off to have my hair cut. It was getting REALLY long and heavy. Normally I get it cut short once a year at the beginning of summer (yes, I said once a year) and let it grow out the rest of the year. Well, this year, I only had it trimmed because I wanted to be sure it would be long for the wedding. So, way over a year since I had it last cut, it was very long, very heavy, and very hot (even in winter)! Before it was cut, it nearly covered my breasts. Now that it's cut and layered, it reaches my collarbone...almost six inches off! It feels so much better!
Moving on from my haircut, I went home and unloaded my treasures. The chairs were perfect! Then, since Mike was off from work, we decided to have a movie night, which is a little tradition we're trying to do together on nights he has off...it's some time we have together since we don't usually get to see each other very much with me working during the day and him at night. The movie finished before 8:00pm, and we were wondering what to do next. Just then, I got a text from my brother Jimmy..."Coming to karaoke tonight?" Heck, yes, we are! So Mike and I got ready to head down to Baja Bean Company (Baja) for some karaoke.
Now, I'd never done karaoke before. My friend and I had wanted to in high school, but we were either too young for most of the places or couldn't work out a time to go. I was nervous about getting up in front of a lot of people. Thankfully, Jimmy suggested we do a duet to help ease me into it. So, "Whiskey Lullaby" by Brad Paisley and Alison Kraus it was. I really sucked! What I portrayed the pitch my voice was in was not what came through the mic! But I made it through the stage fright of being up there in front of a roomful of strangers. To rewind a bit, when Jimmy had me go up to sign us up, he told me to put down "Jimmy Choo" for the karaoke singer. Long story short, this is what I called his "stage name." You'll have to ask me how that came to be. I wanted a stage name, too. First, it was Sam Choo (since we are brother and sister). By the end of the night, however, I became...Destiny! The two of us were Destiny Choo. Again, you'll have to ask for to full explanation another time. Jimmy and I ended the night with Barenaked Ladies' "If I Had a Million Dollars." I did SOOOO much better the second time around. With such a goofy, fun song, it was hard not to be more relaxed. That, and the great Jimmy Choo gave me some pointers!
The first place we went was more of a knick-knack shop, not a whole bunch of furniture. The next place, however, is the best place to find furniture. My brother Jimmy and his fiancee found a coffee table and two end tables there in very good shape for an equally good price. Over the last couple of years I, myself have found little things here and there that are now incorporated into our home.
From the moment we stepped through the door, mom and I were on a mission, though. To find two decent chairs that weren't too bad with the kitchen table. I would worry about trying to match the entire set at a later time. Peaking in here and there, we found some really great stuff, as usual. Then, as I looked into one little alcove, I noticed it was full of wooden chairs...perfect! Immediately my eyes were drawn to two stacked, armed chairs crafted out of a dark wood. They were a little dusty and worn, but they were exactly what I was looking for. Then mom, from behind me, said, "You could get all four and have the two armed chairs at each end of the table." All four? I looked beside my chairs and saw two more armless stacked chairs of what looked like the same make. Sweet! But then I thought of the price. Last time I found chairs I liked in this place, they were $40 apiece. I flipped over the price tags, and Eric's Anna, you're gonna love this...
The two chairs with arms were $6 apiece and the ones without were $5 apiece. With tax, four chairs in very good shape came to a whopping $23.10! And what's cool about it (besides the price) is that the chairs look almost identical to the chairs mom and dad used to have when they had the table! Funny how things work out.
So I went back to mom's to drop her off, then after a phone call, went off to have my hair cut. It was getting REALLY long and heavy. Normally I get it cut short once a year at the beginning of summer (yes, I said once a year) and let it grow out the rest of the year. Well, this year, I only had it trimmed because I wanted to be sure it would be long for the wedding. So, way over a year since I had it last cut, it was very long, very heavy, and very hot (even in winter)! Before it was cut, it nearly covered my breasts. Now that it's cut and layered, it reaches my collarbone...almost six inches off! It feels so much better!
Moving on from my haircut, I went home and unloaded my treasures. The chairs were perfect! Then, since Mike was off from work, we decided to have a movie night, which is a little tradition we're trying to do together on nights he has off...it's some time we have together since we don't usually get to see each other very much with me working during the day and him at night. The movie finished before 8:00pm, and we were wondering what to do next. Just then, I got a text from my brother Jimmy..."Coming to karaoke tonight?" Heck, yes, we are! So Mike and I got ready to head down to Baja Bean Company (Baja) for some karaoke.
Now, I'd never done karaoke before. My friend and I had wanted to in high school, but we were either too young for most of the places or couldn't work out a time to go. I was nervous about getting up in front of a lot of people. Thankfully, Jimmy suggested we do a duet to help ease me into it. So, "Whiskey Lullaby" by Brad Paisley and Alison Kraus it was. I really sucked! What I portrayed the pitch my voice was in was not what came through the mic! But I made it through the stage fright of being up there in front of a roomful of strangers. To rewind a bit, when Jimmy had me go up to sign us up, he told me to put down "Jimmy Choo" for the karaoke singer. Long story short, this is what I called his "stage name." You'll have to ask me how that came to be. I wanted a stage name, too. First, it was Sam Choo (since we are brother and sister). By the end of the night, however, I became...Destiny! The two of us were Destiny Choo. Again, you'll have to ask for to full explanation another time. Jimmy and I ended the night with Barenaked Ladies' "If I Had a Million Dollars." I did SOOOO much better the second time around. With such a goofy, fun song, it was hard not to be more relaxed. That, and the great Jimmy Choo gave me some pointers!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Looking Forward
As one year comes to a close, it opens the door to a whole new one with possibilities galore. Here’s a little recap of last year…
1) Mike and I began renting our first place next door to where I work.
2) We “adopted” our goofy, ungraceful, sweet, loving German Shepherd/Australian Shepherd mix puppy, Lady. Then we adopted our little pewter furball, Calypso (Cali).
3) Three people I love got engaged, obviously not all at once...and even more obvious not to each other! Congrats Jimmy, Steve, and Beccas! (I love their fiancé(es) too, of course)
4) I had a mental breakdown at work.
5) My niece, Emily, turned the big 0-1!
6) I got a raise at work.
7) Emily learned to walk at the beach and wreaked havoc on the northern Millers’ lives…:-)
8) Mike and I got MARRIED!!!!
9) Mike and I were approved for a home loan and began the process of buying a home.
10) I thought I was pregnant, but it was a false alarm.
11) Mike and I celebrated our first Christmas.
12) My Russian Dwarf hamster, Chewbacca (Chewy), died.
There are things for the year to come that I hope will happen and/or look forward to…
1) My friend from high school who moved to Texas, got married, and had a baby is now moving back to Madison County. YAY!!!!!
2) Mike and I get a house.
3) I will be more social and try to get out more…Mike and I will hold get-togethers and just do things with friends and family.
4) I will get pregnant…?
5) I will get a new job…or at least look for one.
6) We will start new traditions.
These are not resolutions…simply hopes and things to look forward to. I never was one for resolutions. Resolutions require a conviction that I always lack (which is why my diets don’t work). I’ll start things, but either tire of them or I don’t get the desired immediate feedback. So…here’s to the new year!
1) Mike and I began renting our first place next door to where I work.
2) We “adopted” our goofy, ungraceful, sweet, loving German Shepherd/Australian Shepherd mix puppy, Lady. Then we adopted our little pewter furball, Calypso (Cali).
3) Three people I love got engaged, obviously not all at once...and even more obvious not to each other! Congrats Jimmy, Steve, and Beccas! (I love their fiancé(es) too, of course)
4) I had a mental breakdown at work.
5) My niece, Emily, turned the big 0-1!
6) I got a raise at work.
7) Emily learned to walk at the beach and wreaked havoc on the northern Millers’ lives…:-)
8) Mike and I got MARRIED!!!!
9) Mike and I were approved for a home loan and began the process of buying a home.
10) I thought I was pregnant, but it was a false alarm.
11) Mike and I celebrated our first Christmas.
12) My Russian Dwarf hamster, Chewbacca (Chewy), died.
There are things for the year to come that I hope will happen and/or look forward to…
1) My friend from high school who moved to Texas, got married, and had a baby is now moving back to Madison County. YAY!!!!!
2) Mike and I get a house.
3) I will be more social and try to get out more…Mike and I will hold get-togethers and just do things with friends and family.
4) I will get pregnant…?
5) I will get a new job…or at least look for one.
6) We will start new traditions.
These are not resolutions…simply hopes and things to look forward to. I never was one for resolutions. Resolutions require a conviction that I always lack (which is why my diets don’t work). I’ll start things, but either tire of them or I don’t get the desired immediate feedback. So…here’s to the new year!
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