So this year was kind of a cool one. It had it's ups and downs, but for the most part-it was great.
It started off pretty bad because of my ex-best friend. I think about her a lot and wonder how I had looked past her rudeness for so long. I'm so glad I got that toxic relationship (among a few others) out of my life.
The good thing that came from it, was that Steve and I moved in together. While we moved into a tiny TINY townhome, it was fun finally being a real couple and seeing each other every day. Yeah, sometimes it's a struggle. And sometimes I miss having the bed all to myself. But I love him and I'm so lucky to have him :)
Steve and I got married in September, so that was awesome! I can't believe it's been over 3 months since we got married...the time really does fly when you're having fun. Our honeymoon was awesome and I can't wait to go back to California.
My Grandpa Horton passed away in November. That was sad. It made me realize I've lost 4 grandparents in the span of 6 years, which was hard to swallow. But I'm glad he's no longer suffering and I know he's with the Lord and with his wife, whom he loved so dearly.
I guess something I'm really proud of, is that America voted to have their first African American President this year! I'm so excited and I can't wait for January 20th. I'm so proud of Barack Obama and what he stands for. I don't expect him to be a miracle worker by any means, but I look forward to seeing what he can do for our country. It's just a really historical moment.
I'm also getting back into reading, which is really nice and relaxing.
As far as my goals for 2009....I really hope to get back on the getting in shape bandwagon. I've really put on too much weight and I would LOVE to fit back into my clothes better. So I'm immediately starting to watch what I eat. I'm also going to stop making excusing for not working out. I know it makes me feel better while I'm doing it and I know I feel amazing afterwards. I want to run a 1/2 marathon by the end of the year. I'm really looking forward to that. I know it's possible if I put my mind to it. I also hope to be teaching soon. My other goal is to get a new car. I think I'm driving mine into the ground. I hope with a new car, I'll learn to be less of an aggressive driver :) (doubtful, but here's hoping!). Other than that, I guess that's it.
Happy New Year, everyone! Be safe, have fun, and see you in 2009!!!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Are you Serious?!
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/31/inauguration.lawsuit/index.html
While I am by no means a devout Christian, I do not understand why people feel the need to take things like this to court. Nobody is pushing religion at you, get the crap over it and stop pushing your non-believing crap at me.
While I am by no means a devout Christian, I do not understand why people feel the need to take things like this to court. Nobody is pushing religion at you, get the crap over it and stop pushing your non-believing crap at me.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Review: Dry by Augusten Burroughs
Ok, so I'm about to go to lunch, and then I'll edit this to show my full opinion on the book Dry, but I just to go ahead and post SOMETHING.
I could not put this book down at work. For 2 days I've read the 300 pages. It was so, so, so good! It makes me seriously reconsider how I felt about Running With Scissors. Maybe I should re-read it. Seriously.
Ok, so I'm going to go to lunch and then I can't wait to blog about Dry. I'll probably do a horrible job of telling just how good it is, but I'll give it a shot.
Ok...Now time for the REAL review...
Dry reminded me a lot of A Million Little Pieces by James Frey....though not entirely. Basically, Dry starts off years later, once Augusten has taken up a well paying job for an advertising company. Immediately, he sweeps you into his life of work-then booze. It seems, at least to me, to start off as just a get together with a friend at a bar...and then you realize he has a problem by the time he's on his 10th martini of the night.
You can tell from the very beginning why he's drinking. He had a traumatic childhood, his mother left him with a crazy doctor and his family, he was in a relationship with a pedophile when he was 13, and never really had a place to call "home". On top of that, he dropped out of elementary school, he has a job he doesn't like (but brings in the money), has a best friend (whom he loves-but tries to distance himself) who has HIV, and another friend who's his drinking buddy. Put all of that together, and you can imagine why he wants to drown everything with alcohol.
One would wonder how long a person could keep that kind of lifestyle up AND keep their job. Well...Augusten gets lucky and his co-workers decide to do an intervention on him one day after another long night, to which he comes to work reeking of alcohol. I'm not exactly sure how long he had been doing this-going to work late in the mornings, coming home and starting drinking...but to have co-workers care enough about you and know you're wasting your talents on alcohol, is comforting-at least to me.
Augusten goes to rehab (of course, before-which he gets plastered every night). I would say he does pretty well in rehab. He makes some friends, especially one, who is British names, Hayden. After he leaves rehab, he is supposed to go to group meetings, individual counseling sessions, and AA meetings. He keeps this up for a while, which is impressive. He meets a hot guy by the name of Foster, who is a crack addict going to the same group therapy session as him.
I really felt sorry for Augusten when he described his relationships with men. Jim, his drinking buddy, couldn't really be his friend after rehab (because Jim had to learn to change his ways-which he eventually does at the end of the book), Foster is a crack addict-who can't stay away from crack. Then there's Pighead. He's the HIV positive friend. Augusten tells of his love for Pighead, but Pighead didn't love Augusten the same way. THEN Pighead was diagnosed with HIV and soon afterwards, he realized he did, in fact, love Augusten...But at that point, it was too late. Augusten distanced himself from Pighead because he thought it would be easier once Pighead finally succumbed to the disease.
Honestly, I was pulling for Augusten the whole time. I was pulling for him to win his battle with alcoholism, to right his relationships, and get help for his friends who needed it. The end is where you really see him battling his demons and I really enjoyed reading about it. It's amazing what goes on in the mind of addicts, and what they would do to just have one more hit or one more drink, etc. I could not put this book down.
Like I said, the way he wrote this book, makes me want to go back and re-read Running With Scissors because it was fabulously written. I guess this time, when I re-read it, I won't read it during lunch :)
I could not put this book down at work. For 2 days I've read the 300 pages. It was so, so, so good! It makes me seriously reconsider how I felt about Running With Scissors. Maybe I should re-read it. Seriously.
Ok, so I'm going to go to lunch and then I can't wait to blog about Dry. I'll probably do a horrible job of telling just how good it is, but I'll give it a shot.
Ok...Now time for the REAL review...
Dry reminded me a lot of A Million Little Pieces by James Frey....though not entirely. Basically, Dry starts off years later, once Augusten has taken up a well paying job for an advertising company. Immediately, he sweeps you into his life of work-then booze. It seems, at least to me, to start off as just a get together with a friend at a bar...and then you realize he has a problem by the time he's on his 10th martini of the night.
You can tell from the very beginning why he's drinking. He had a traumatic childhood, his mother left him with a crazy doctor and his family, he was in a relationship with a pedophile when he was 13, and never really had a place to call "home". On top of that, he dropped out of elementary school, he has a job he doesn't like (but brings in the money), has a best friend (whom he loves-but tries to distance himself) who has HIV, and another friend who's his drinking buddy. Put all of that together, and you can imagine why he wants to drown everything with alcohol.
One would wonder how long a person could keep that kind of lifestyle up AND keep their job. Well...Augusten gets lucky and his co-workers decide to do an intervention on him one day after another long night, to which he comes to work reeking of alcohol. I'm not exactly sure how long he had been doing this-going to work late in the mornings, coming home and starting drinking...but to have co-workers care enough about you and know you're wasting your talents on alcohol, is comforting-at least to me.
Augusten goes to rehab (of course, before-which he gets plastered every night). I would say he does pretty well in rehab. He makes some friends, especially one, who is British names, Hayden. After he leaves rehab, he is supposed to go to group meetings, individual counseling sessions, and AA meetings. He keeps this up for a while, which is impressive. He meets a hot guy by the name of Foster, who is a crack addict going to the same group therapy session as him.
I really felt sorry for Augusten when he described his relationships with men. Jim, his drinking buddy, couldn't really be his friend after rehab (because Jim had to learn to change his ways-which he eventually does at the end of the book), Foster is a crack addict-who can't stay away from crack. Then there's Pighead. He's the HIV positive friend. Augusten tells of his love for Pighead, but Pighead didn't love Augusten the same way. THEN Pighead was diagnosed with HIV and soon afterwards, he realized he did, in fact, love Augusten...But at that point, it was too late. Augusten distanced himself from Pighead because he thought it would be easier once Pighead finally succumbed to the disease.
Honestly, I was pulling for Augusten the whole time. I was pulling for him to win his battle with alcoholism, to right his relationships, and get help for his friends who needed it. The end is where you really see him battling his demons and I really enjoyed reading about it. It's amazing what goes on in the mind of addicts, and what they would do to just have one more hit or one more drink, etc. I could not put this book down.
Like I said, the way he wrote this book, makes me want to go back and re-read Running With Scissors because it was fabulously written. I guess this time, when I re-read it, I won't read it during lunch :)
Friday, December 19, 2008
For a Good Laugh:
This is something I read today in Dry, that I think you guys would laugh at, I know I did.
"There's something in her voice that makes me think I won't get away with anything, that I shouldn't even try. I feel pretty confident Rae's clubbed more than her fair share of baby seals in her life".
I've gone back to it a few times today since I've read it just to laugh. I'm sure we've all known that woman who strikes us as the kind of person who takes pity on no one. :)
"There's something in her voice that makes me think I won't get away with anything, that I shouldn't even try. I feel pretty confident Rae's clubbed more than her fair share of baby seals in her life".
I've gone back to it a few times today since I've read it just to laugh. I'm sure we've all known that woman who strikes us as the kind of person who takes pity on no one. :)
Dry
Ok, so even though I didn't like his book, Running With Scissors. I'm going to give Augusten Burroughs another shot with his book, Dry. I'm mostly doing this because my sister let me borrow the books and I feel I should read them and I'm out of books at home that I haven't read. Who knows? Maybe I'll like this one.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Our Life Update...
So a lot has happened in the past few weeks for Steve and I.
Steve had an interview at a design company before Thanksgiving and was supposed to hear back from them the next week. Turns out that the next week would actually be about 3 weeks later. He finally heard back Friday and he got the job! It was such glorious news because he'd been out of a job for 3 months. He starts after Christmas and I know he's really excited about it. I think the main thing is, it's just wonderful for him to have this opportunity with the economy the way it is. He also got 2 freelance gigs that he's working on right now. I'm just so proud of him. He's so talented, I knew he would be able find something (I just didn't expect it to take 3 months).
On top of that good news, I was also given a bonus this year at work. I couldn't believe that even though they laid off a few employees, that we'd still be getting any kind of bonus. I'm pretty sure that money will automatically go towards our Christmas gift purchases.
Another really cool thing is that I ran 5 miles in the White Rock Marathon Relay. I am so proud of myself to run that far. I am not a runner, so to me, it's a major accomplishment. I have a goal to run a half marathon by next year. I really think I can do it.
Anyway, I guess that's it for now. I just wanted to update.
Steve had an interview at a design company before Thanksgiving and was supposed to hear back from them the next week. Turns out that the next week would actually be about 3 weeks later. He finally heard back Friday and he got the job! It was such glorious news because he'd been out of a job for 3 months. He starts after Christmas and I know he's really excited about it. I think the main thing is, it's just wonderful for him to have this opportunity with the economy the way it is. He also got 2 freelance gigs that he's working on right now. I'm just so proud of him. He's so talented, I knew he would be able find something (I just didn't expect it to take 3 months).
On top of that good news, I was also given a bonus this year at work. I couldn't believe that even though they laid off a few employees, that we'd still be getting any kind of bonus. I'm pretty sure that money will automatically go towards our Christmas gift purchases.
Another really cool thing is that I ran 5 miles in the White Rock Marathon Relay. I am so proud of myself to run that far. I am not a runner, so to me, it's a major accomplishment. I have a goal to run a half marathon by next year. I really think I can do it.
Anyway, I guess that's it for now. I just wanted to update.
Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
Ok, so I FINALLY finished this book yesterday at lunch.
Like I said in a previous post, the book was mildly offensive and disgusting, but I'm pretty sure you can't sugar coat what goes on in your life. Augusten's book starts with his childhood and goes through to his late teens. It starts off talking about his life with his mother and father and their dysfunctional life together. They go to therapy with this doctor who immediately grosses you out by his uncleanliness and talk of sex. He even has a "masturbatorium" which is located in his office for when he feels the need to relieve himself of his sexual frustration. The thing I liked about Augusten's writing is that it's comical and you can see into this kid's thoughts and relate to him. Augusten is naive (as most kids are) and doesn't see the red flags everywhere regarding his mother's relationship with her psychiatrist.
I guess the things that disgusted me were the living conditions that he supposedly lived in at the Finch's home and some sexual encounters he had as a thirteen year old. I have no problems with gay people, but like I said before, I guess reading about that kind of stuff when you're on your lunch break isn't such a great thing.
The whole time I was wondering how on earth a person could come out a normal human being after dealing with the things that Augusten was put through...but I guess you can. He managed to get his GED and attempted college.
Final verdict:
I liked his style of writing, but it wasn't my favorite. I enjoyed some parts of the book but for the most part I didn't enjoy reading about the filth he had to live in, the weird people he lived with, his sexual encounters, and the pooping. (no, I'm not joking)
I guess it all depends on your sense of humor.....or how hungry you are while you're reading the book...because seriously, you WILL lose your appetite. And maybe I haven't been in the mood you should be in while reading about these things, so my sense of humor may be warped at the moment...I don't know. It wasn't easy for me to get through it, though I will say it was an easier read than The Memory Keepers Daughter (probably because it wasn't a very serious subject). I don't know. I guess I take things more seriously, so when reading about his life, I'm just like, "Oh my God, get out of there now!!", instead of just laughing about it and being amused at the dysfunction he lives around.
Like I said in a previous post, the book was mildly offensive and disgusting, but I'm pretty sure you can't sugar coat what goes on in your life. Augusten's book starts with his childhood and goes through to his late teens. It starts off talking about his life with his mother and father and their dysfunctional life together. They go to therapy with this doctor who immediately grosses you out by his uncleanliness and talk of sex. He even has a "masturbatorium" which is located in his office for when he feels the need to relieve himself of his sexual frustration. The thing I liked about Augusten's writing is that it's comical and you can see into this kid's thoughts and relate to him. Augusten is naive (as most kids are) and doesn't see the red flags everywhere regarding his mother's relationship with her psychiatrist.
I guess the things that disgusted me were the living conditions that he supposedly lived in at the Finch's home and some sexual encounters he had as a thirteen year old. I have no problems with gay people, but like I said before, I guess reading about that kind of stuff when you're on your lunch break isn't such a great thing.
The whole time I was wondering how on earth a person could come out a normal human being after dealing with the things that Augusten was put through...but I guess you can. He managed to get his GED and attempted college.
Final verdict:
I liked his style of writing, but it wasn't my favorite. I enjoyed some parts of the book but for the most part I didn't enjoy reading about the filth he had to live in, the weird people he lived with, his sexual encounters, and the pooping. (no, I'm not joking)
I guess it all depends on your sense of humor.....or how hungry you are while you're reading the book...because seriously, you WILL lose your appetite. And maybe I haven't been in the mood you should be in while reading about these things, so my sense of humor may be warped at the moment...I don't know. It wasn't easy for me to get through it, though I will say it was an easier read than The Memory Keepers Daughter (probably because it wasn't a very serious subject). I don't know. I guess I take things more seriously, so when reading about his life, I'm just like, "Oh my God, get out of there now!!", instead of just laughing about it and being amused at the dysfunction he lives around.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The Movie Quote Game
Pick 10 of your favorite moviesgo to IMDB to get a quote from each moviepost the quotes and wait for your friends to respond
Guess the movies!!!
(Warning: I like a lot of comedies)
1) (Brenda)Who are you?
(Madea) Who are you?
(Brenda) I'm the owner of this house.
(Madea)[buzzer sound] wrong answer, my grand daughter Helen is the owner of THIS house. You da hoe, you aint got no power or no deed.
(Brenda)Did you do this? this is Vera Wang.
(Madea)Who dat is? She do nails? I need to get my nails did.
(Brenda) That's it I'm calling the police.
(Madea)I aint scared a no po po. Call da po po hoe... Call da po po hoe.
2) The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don't know what the hell they're doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino.
3) Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?
4) [writing in her yearbook] Dear Jamie, When we're together, I feel like we're not in high school, but in our own little Chris and Jamie world. Whether we're watching 'Party of Five' or practicing our cheers, I feel like I can just be myself. Jamie, we've been friends for a really long time, but I want to be more than that. Hoping to be your boyfriend... Sincerely, Chris Brander. BFF!
5) Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes. You must look into that storm and shout as you did in Rome. Do your worst, for I will do mine! Then the fates will know you as we know you: as Albert Mondego, the man!
6) (Judge)Bryan, does she watch your kids?
(Bryan)Oh, she's actually really good, she's a big diciplinarian though, but uh... they have a lot of respect for her.
(Judge)Really? [Looks over at Nikki] Stand up Nikki. [Nikki stands up] Mable Simmons, since you can't seem to act like you have any sense except when you're caring for somebody, meet Nikki Grady. You're her new foster mother.
(Madea)The hell I am! I dont - huh! - hell naw! It's a reason why god put a woman through menopause, I'm past 60... you know what that means? After that time you're not supposed to be bogged with no kids. I'm sorry, I will kill that lil girl... I don't know her...
(Nikki) So, You ugly anyway, old lady!
(Madea)She tryna get me the electric chair already.
(Judge)Either you're her foster mother or you're a prison mother.
(Madea) I'll take the prison for 200, Alex. Lock me up, hell, I'd rather be in Martha Stewart's old cell fightin' for my *virginity* than to be sittin' there dealin' with this.
(Bryan) She'll be a great foster mother, your honor.
7) Dear Mr. Inman, I began by counting the days, then the months. I don't count on anything anymore except the hope that you will return, and the silent fear that in the years since we saw each other, this war, this awful war, will have changed us both beyond all reckoning.
8) The Boy-Who-Lived. How lies have fed your legend, Harry! Do you want to know what really happened thirteen years ago? Shall I divulge how I truly lost my powers? It was love. You see, when dear sweet Lily Potter gave her life for her only son, it provided him with the ultimate protection, I could not touch him. It was old magic, something I should have foreseen. But no matter, no matter, things have changed. I CAN TOUCH YOU... NOW!
9) I don't eat shellfish. Mom always says, "Don't ever eat nothin' that can carry its house around with it. Who knows the last time it's been cleaned." She should know.
10) Well, I'm gonna get out of bed every morning... breath in and out all day long. Then, after a while I won't have to remind myself to get out of bed every morning and breath in and out... and, then after a while, I won't have to think about how I had it great and perfect for a while.
Guess the movies!!!
(Warning: I like a lot of comedies)
1) (Brenda)Who are you?
(Madea) Who are you?
(Brenda) I'm the owner of this house.
(Madea)[buzzer sound] wrong answer, my grand daughter Helen is the owner of THIS house. You da hoe, you aint got no power or no deed.
(Brenda)Did you do this? this is Vera Wang.
(Madea)Who dat is? She do nails? I need to get my nails did.
(Brenda) That's it I'm calling the police.
(Madea)I aint scared a no po po. Call da po po hoe... Call da po po hoe.
2) The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don't know what the hell they're doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino.
3) Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?
4) [writing in her yearbook] Dear Jamie, When we're together, I feel like we're not in high school, but in our own little Chris and Jamie world. Whether we're watching 'Party of Five' or practicing our cheers, I feel like I can just be myself. Jamie, we've been friends for a really long time, but I want to be more than that. Hoping to be your boyfriend... Sincerely, Chris Brander. BFF!
5) Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes. You must look into that storm and shout as you did in Rome. Do your worst, for I will do mine! Then the fates will know you as we know you: as Albert Mondego, the man!
6) (Judge)Bryan, does she watch your kids?
(Bryan)Oh, she's actually really good, she's a big diciplinarian though, but uh... they have a lot of respect for her.
(Judge)Really? [Looks over at Nikki] Stand up Nikki. [Nikki stands up] Mable Simmons, since you can't seem to act like you have any sense except when you're caring for somebody, meet Nikki Grady. You're her new foster mother.
(Madea)The hell I am! I dont - huh! - hell naw! It's a reason why god put a woman through menopause, I'm past 60... you know what that means? After that time you're not supposed to be bogged with no kids. I'm sorry, I will kill that lil girl... I don't know her...
(Nikki) So, You ugly anyway, old lady!
(Madea)She tryna get me the electric chair already.
(Judge)Either you're her foster mother or you're a prison mother.
(Madea) I'll take the prison for 200, Alex. Lock me up, hell, I'd rather be in Martha Stewart's old cell fightin' for my *virginity* than to be sittin' there dealin' with this.
(Bryan) She'll be a great foster mother, your honor.
7) Dear Mr. Inman, I began by counting the days, then the months. I don't count on anything anymore except the hope that you will return, and the silent fear that in the years since we saw each other, this war, this awful war, will have changed us both beyond all reckoning.
8) The Boy-Who-Lived. How lies have fed your legend, Harry! Do you want to know what really happened thirteen years ago? Shall I divulge how I truly lost my powers? It was love. You see, when dear sweet Lily Potter gave her life for her only son, it provided him with the ultimate protection, I could not touch him. It was old magic, something I should have foreseen. But no matter, no matter, things have changed. I CAN TOUCH YOU... NOW!
9) I don't eat shellfish. Mom always says, "Don't ever eat nothin' that can carry its house around with it. Who knows the last time it's been cleaned." She should know.
10) Well, I'm gonna get out of bed every morning... breath in and out all day long. Then, after a while I won't have to remind myself to get out of bed every morning and breath in and out... and, then after a while, I won't have to think about how I had it great and perfect for a while.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Is it just me or...
Is Running With Scissors a little messed up?
I should not eat while reading it. It seriously creeps me out and disgusts me. I don't know why, because I'm pretty sure I've read worse...but it almost offends me. I tried to read today during lunch and was reading a really gross part. I almost lost my appetite (and that RARELY happens). So from now on, I'm only going to read at night because this is not a good book to read while hungry.
I would go into specifics or just give you an idea of what I'm talking about...but I'd rather not. It's not exactly lovely material.
Anyone's thoughts on this book and if I should feel grossed out, please comment. I know it's supposed to be kind of funny and all..but I guess I was not in the mood to read some of the stuff I read today...especially on an empty stomach.
I should not eat while reading it. It seriously creeps me out and disgusts me. I don't know why, because I'm pretty sure I've read worse...but it almost offends me. I tried to read today during lunch and was reading a really gross part. I almost lost my appetite (and that RARELY happens). So from now on, I'm only going to read at night because this is not a good book to read while hungry.
I would go into specifics or just give you an idea of what I'm talking about...but I'd rather not. It's not exactly lovely material.
Anyone's thoughts on this book and if I should feel grossed out, please comment. I know it's supposed to be kind of funny and all..but I guess I was not in the mood to read some of the stuff I read today...especially on an empty stomach.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Teaser Tuesday
TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers!
From: Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
Even though I wanted to. I said, "School. I hate school."
"What are you, like eighth grade or something?"
Page 132
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers!
From: Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
Even though I wanted to. I said, "School. I hate school."
"What are you, like eighth grade or something?"
Page 132
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
This book was really good. I have to admit it was a little hard to get into after reading Twilight, but once the story started, I wanted to know more...
I loved the description Kim Edwards used to describe everything. You could see everything so clearly, the color of Norah's coat and how her eyes were the same color green. The color of the flowers, etc. It was wonderful. I really enjoy good visualization. It really helps me connect to the book and the story.
I have to say that it was a sad story, of course there was happiness, but it still made me sad. I think it's just the prejudice that people with Down Syndrome or any other mental defect are faced with on a day to day basis. I cannot imagine what it would have been like in the 1960's where this book begins. There are so many misconceptions and wrong judgements about people with Down Syndrome and their abilities. I enjoyed reading about Caroline and how she dealt with overcoming the stereotypes of children with Down Syndrome. How she fought for her daughter and other children's rights for an equal education.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the way it was laid out and I liked Kim Edward's style. It was a really great story and I would definitely recommend this book to others.
I loved the description Kim Edwards used to describe everything. You could see everything so clearly, the color of Norah's coat and how her eyes were the same color green. The color of the flowers, etc. It was wonderful. I really enjoy good visualization. It really helps me connect to the book and the story.
I have to say that it was a sad story, of course there was happiness, but it still made me sad. I think it's just the prejudice that people with Down Syndrome or any other mental defect are faced with on a day to day basis. I cannot imagine what it would have been like in the 1960's where this book begins. There are so many misconceptions and wrong judgements about people with Down Syndrome and their abilities. I enjoyed reading about Caroline and how she dealt with overcoming the stereotypes of children with Down Syndrome. How she fought for her daughter and other children's rights for an equal education.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the way it was laid out and I liked Kim Edward's style. It was a really great story and I would definitely recommend this book to others.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Family Pictures
Ok, I have some family pictures to share!! We just had them done a few weeks ago:
This picture is the whole Brumley, Jackson, and Hancock family (without Anna) :)
And this picture is the Brumley family picture. We haven't done one of these since I was probably 6 months old, so it's nice to have a new one!
This picture is the whole Brumley, Jackson, and Hancock family (without Anna) :)
Here are my gorgeous nieces. I love them so much! Aren't they beautiful?
This is the picture Steven and I will use for our Holiday Greeting card. It looks like Anna is smiling with us, doesn't it?
And this picture is the Brumley family picture. We haven't done one of these since I was probably 6 months old, so it's nice to have a new one!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Twilight
Hot.
I cannot get enough of it. I love the series. I just finished reading the series this afternoon. While it was incredibly cheesy, I have to say, I loved every second (ok, maybe not EVERY second...I wanted to punch Jacob Black in the face a few times and give Bella a smack down every time she seemed to be confused as to who she loved....but what can you do?) Anyway...So now I can't get enough. I am DIEING to see the movie. I am pretty sure that I must see it before this weekend is over. So at some point I will get a healthy dose of Robert Pattinson (::swoon::) and all his vampire, sparkling goodness. I cannot wait. I'm sure my husband will roll his eyes at that. I cannot help what this book has done to me.
I am on the Stephanie Meyer website and listening to the Playlists she's got for each book. I MUST have all of these songs. I am pathetic. I know.
I've also read some HILARIOUS takes on the Twlight books and movie. Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the movie:
Epic Romance in the Lunchroom
[After toying with The Hackysack Apple of I See What You Did There, Edward gets to the point, which is not that he doesn't want to be friends, but...]
EDWARD: What if I'm not a superhero? What if... I'm the bad guy?
BELLA: ... Hot.
EDWARD: *headtray*
and
Edward's Room
BELLA: You don't have a bed?
EDWARD: NO, YOU BRAZEN HUSSY.
TWILIGHT FANS: ZOMG HIS COUCH IS NOT BLACK AND BELLA IS NOT WEARING A BLUE V-NECK AND--
HARRY POTTER FANS: *FLAMETHROWER*
[Oh, look! Edward has Muse Linkin Park Debussy in his CD player! Bella loves Debussy! Let's dance!]
BELLA: Um, I'm not so much with the coordination and the--
EDWARD: I SAID, LET'S DANCE.
[And then Mr. Flying Squirrel jumps out the window and takes her barfing across the scenic Pacific Northwest. Or maybe that was just me and my fear of heights.]
I know, I know. You can thank me later for the laughs (if you even get it)
Also, tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving! Have a great holiday! I wish I had a longer one.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
For the Record...
It's hard to get into a serious book like "Snow Falling on Cedars" after you've read a book like "Twilight". I am having a hard time enjoying the book so far....I can't wait to get the 2nd book from the series...
Book Update
Ok, so I finished Water for Elephants Friday night. It was such a good book. I really enjoyed reading about the old days of the circus and what it's probably like in old person's mind. It makes me wonder if most of them feel like they're being treated unfairly. I absolutely loved the ending. Mostly because I was hoping that Jacob and Marlena would end up together. I hated August with a passion and at the end was completely surprised by how he met his death. :) All in all, I loved it. It had me laughing and near tears at some points. It was a great read.
The other book I just finished was "Twilight". There are no words that can sum up how I feel about that book. It was awesome. I know it may be geared towards teenagers, but I still enjoyed it. Much like I enjoyed all the Harry Potter books, which were also geared towards teenagers, but adults read, too. I really want to see the movie now, although looking at the trailor, I can tell there are going to be some things that probably weren't in the book that will happen in the movie. I always leave movies made from books disappointed. They always leave something out that I was really looking forward to seeing. But what are you going to do? I'm not the director or the screenwriter, so... Seriously though, Robert Pattinson makes me swoon. I loved him as Cedric Diggory, I know I'll love him as Edward Cullen.
The next book I'm reading is an old one I never got to, "Snow Falling on Cedars". I started it on Saturday, before I got Twilight. My co-worker is bringing me the next book in the Twilight series tomorrow, so I'll probably stop in the middle of it to feast my eyes on more Edward and Bella :)
The other book I just finished was "Twilight". There are no words that can sum up how I feel about that book. It was awesome. I know it may be geared towards teenagers, but I still enjoyed it. Much like I enjoyed all the Harry Potter books, which were also geared towards teenagers, but adults read, too. I really want to see the movie now, although looking at the trailor, I can tell there are going to be some things that probably weren't in the book that will happen in the movie. I always leave movies made from books disappointed. They always leave something out that I was really looking forward to seeing. But what are you going to do? I'm not the director or the screenwriter, so... Seriously though, Robert Pattinson makes me swoon. I loved him as Cedric Diggory, I know I'll love him as Edward Cullen.
The next book I'm reading is an old one I never got to, "Snow Falling on Cedars". I started it on Saturday, before I got Twilight. My co-worker is bringing me the next book in the Twilight series tomorrow, so I'll probably stop in the middle of it to feast my eyes on more Edward and Bella :)
Friday, November 14, 2008
::Giant Sigh::
Ok, so....Lots to talk about...
First of all, all this talk between friends about starting up a bookclub is sounding like more and more fun. On Wednesday, I looked through our office's "bookshare" and picked out "The Five People You Meet in Heaven". Let me just say that I finished it in less than 24 hours. I couldn't put it down. It was such an amazing book. It really made you think. Once I was finished I started wondering to myself, when I die, who will I meet? I loved how it was written. I could see all of the colors and all of the details. Now I need to read "Tuesday's With Morrie".
Anyway, once I finished that book, I immediately went back to the "bookshare" and found "Water for Elephants". I've heard a lot about this book and I know my sister's read it (as I'm sure a few of my friends have as well). I started on that book yesterday. I'm already about 70 pages in as of this morning. I'm not supposed to read at work, but I'm sorry-there's just nothing to do up front right now, it's so slow and I just NEED something to do besides search the internet all day. I just have to say this book is great so far! I love how the author writes about this old man and his thoughts. I love the way it goes from present day to back when he was twenty three. I can't wait to finish it.
So anyway, basically, I'm really enjoying reading. You know how you stop doing something for a while and then you pick it back up and you forgot how much you enjoyed it? That's how I feel about reading. I truly forgot how much I enjoyed reading books. It takes me to a far away land, and I completely lose myself in the book. I remember in third grade when we could bring a book from the library or home to read for a while in our reading class, how my teacher remarked to me one day how she was amazed at the way I could sit down and get so absorbed in a book, I didn't get distracted by the noise and the other kids in the class. How she would have to say "Ok, it's time to put your books up" a little louder for me because I tended to tune everything out. I'm still that way. I can't believe how I forgot the fun of reading.
On a different note, I've worked out every day this week (minus Sunday). I'm really pushing myself. I'm also keeping a daily log of what I eat. Although, I just remembered, I need to start writing what kind of emotion or feeling I'm having when I decide to eat, that way I know when I'm eating just to eat or when I'm sincerely hungry. But it's been a really good thing. At first I never saw the point in them. But then...after gaining so much weight, I realized that I was eating a lot of extra stuff just because I was bored. I can already tell a difference in my attitude, energy, and my body. Hopefully it won't take me long to get back on track.
The bad thing is that my gym is closing. Their lease is up on the 26th and they aren't renewing. Which sincerely ticks me off. The thing I liked about our gym was that it was never too crowded. You could always find a machine. It's not the best gym in the world, no, but it was easy to get to, close to home, and it got the job done. Now I'm not sure what Steven and I are going to do. I think we're going to look into our White Rock YMCA to see what that looks like. It might actually come out to be a better deal than 24 Hour. I did tell Steve that I miss working out at the Downtown 24 Hour. It was really convenient for me to go over to that gym before or right after work. But now that we have Anna, I really can't do that, unless one of us goes early in the morning and the other goes that night. And the only reason that we'd even stay with the Downtown 24 Hour is if Steven gets a job downtown.
As far as my grandpa's funeral....Let's just say there was a mixture of emotions. When we went to the family visitation, I felt like an outsider. I didn't know a lot of the people and the ones I did know, I didn't really care to talk to. I felt extremely uncomfortable most of the time. And Sunday dragged on and on. The funeral was at 2:30 and I felt like 2:30 would never get here. It was almost agonizing. Some of my family is just completely annoying. They think they're so funny and some of them have this cocky attitude....::shakes head:: And then some of them are completely ignorant. Seriously. I couldn't wait to come back home. As far as the funeral itself, my mom and her 2 sisters sang a song. They practiced it like 5 times that morning. Let me just say, it was not good. I'm sorry but I cannot lie when it comes to music. It was my MAJOR for crying out loud. So when the funeral director put on the music, he put it on the wrong track, and then my mom and her sisters weren't hooked up to microphones (they were in a room, not out in the open...) so they could HARDLY be heard. And then they were ahead of the music (or behind...I can't remember now). Needless to say, it was terrible. They were off key and I was mortified for them. Then my cousin started laughing, which made my sister laugh, which made me laugh. And then I could NOT stop laughing. I felt terrible for laughing at my grandpa's funeral. I'm sure the guests who weren't sitting with the family thought I was heartless and inappropriate. My dad seemed to like the preacher who spoke. I, for one, did not. I didn't care for him at all for some reason. I don't know. Anyway, I did cry when another song was song because I thought about how I never really got to say goodbye, how I should have come up to see him, how much it's never going to be the same going up to Arkansas and how now my mom's parent's are now gone...It's just sad. I've lost 4 grandparents in the span of 6 years. Can you believe that? I only have my Pappaw and my Grandma Brumley left. :( I'm just so lucky I got to have as much time with them as I did...but it doesn't make it any easier to let them go. I still cry when I think about Nanny. When will that stop? It's been 2 years. I always kick myself when I start crying about it because there's nothing I can do about it and she's with the Lord....I think it's always a little bit harder anyway around the holidays. I miss her so, so much. I know she'd be happy for me and I know she was proud of me...What I wouldn't give to have a few more moments with her back when she was healthy.
First of all, all this talk between friends about starting up a bookclub is sounding like more and more fun. On Wednesday, I looked through our office's "bookshare" and picked out "The Five People You Meet in Heaven". Let me just say that I finished it in less than 24 hours. I couldn't put it down. It was such an amazing book. It really made you think. Once I was finished I started wondering to myself, when I die, who will I meet? I loved how it was written. I could see all of the colors and all of the details. Now I need to read "Tuesday's With Morrie".
Anyway, once I finished that book, I immediately went back to the "bookshare" and found "Water for Elephants". I've heard a lot about this book and I know my sister's read it (as I'm sure a few of my friends have as well). I started on that book yesterday. I'm already about 70 pages in as of this morning. I'm not supposed to read at work, but I'm sorry-there's just nothing to do up front right now, it's so slow and I just NEED something to do besides search the internet all day. I just have to say this book is great so far! I love how the author writes about this old man and his thoughts. I love the way it goes from present day to back when he was twenty three. I can't wait to finish it.
So anyway, basically, I'm really enjoying reading. You know how you stop doing something for a while and then you pick it back up and you forgot how much you enjoyed it? That's how I feel about reading. I truly forgot how much I enjoyed reading books. It takes me to a far away land, and I completely lose myself in the book. I remember in third grade when we could bring a book from the library or home to read for a while in our reading class, how my teacher remarked to me one day how she was amazed at the way I could sit down and get so absorbed in a book, I didn't get distracted by the noise and the other kids in the class. How she would have to say "Ok, it's time to put your books up" a little louder for me because I tended to tune everything out. I'm still that way. I can't believe how I forgot the fun of reading.
On a different note, I've worked out every day this week (minus Sunday). I'm really pushing myself. I'm also keeping a daily log of what I eat. Although, I just remembered, I need to start writing what kind of emotion or feeling I'm having when I decide to eat, that way I know when I'm eating just to eat or when I'm sincerely hungry. But it's been a really good thing. At first I never saw the point in them. But then...after gaining so much weight, I realized that I was eating a lot of extra stuff just because I was bored. I can already tell a difference in my attitude, energy, and my body. Hopefully it won't take me long to get back on track.
The bad thing is that my gym is closing. Their lease is up on the 26th and they aren't renewing. Which sincerely ticks me off. The thing I liked about our gym was that it was never too crowded. You could always find a machine. It's not the best gym in the world, no, but it was easy to get to, close to home, and it got the job done. Now I'm not sure what Steven and I are going to do. I think we're going to look into our White Rock YMCA to see what that looks like. It might actually come out to be a better deal than 24 Hour. I did tell Steve that I miss working out at the Downtown 24 Hour. It was really convenient for me to go over to that gym before or right after work. But now that we have Anna, I really can't do that, unless one of us goes early in the morning and the other goes that night. And the only reason that we'd even stay with the Downtown 24 Hour is if Steven gets a job downtown.
As far as my grandpa's funeral....Let's just say there was a mixture of emotions. When we went to the family visitation, I felt like an outsider. I didn't know a lot of the people and the ones I did know, I didn't really care to talk to. I felt extremely uncomfortable most of the time. And Sunday dragged on and on. The funeral was at 2:30 and I felt like 2:30 would never get here. It was almost agonizing. Some of my family is just completely annoying. They think they're so funny and some of them have this cocky attitude....::shakes head:: And then some of them are completely ignorant. Seriously. I couldn't wait to come back home. As far as the funeral itself, my mom and her 2 sisters sang a song. They practiced it like 5 times that morning. Let me just say, it was not good. I'm sorry but I cannot lie when it comes to music. It was my MAJOR for crying out loud. So when the funeral director put on the music, he put it on the wrong track, and then my mom and her sisters weren't hooked up to microphones (they were in a room, not out in the open...) so they could HARDLY be heard. And then they were ahead of the music (or behind...I can't remember now). Needless to say, it was terrible. They were off key and I was mortified for them. Then my cousin started laughing, which made my sister laugh, which made me laugh. And then I could NOT stop laughing. I felt terrible for laughing at my grandpa's funeral. I'm sure the guests who weren't sitting with the family thought I was heartless and inappropriate. My dad seemed to like the preacher who spoke. I, for one, did not. I didn't care for him at all for some reason. I don't know. Anyway, I did cry when another song was song because I thought about how I never really got to say goodbye, how I should have come up to see him, how much it's never going to be the same going up to Arkansas and how now my mom's parent's are now gone...It's just sad. I've lost 4 grandparents in the span of 6 years. Can you believe that? I only have my Pappaw and my Grandma Brumley left. :( I'm just so lucky I got to have as much time with them as I did...but it doesn't make it any easier to let them go. I still cry when I think about Nanny. When will that stop? It's been 2 years. I always kick myself when I start crying about it because there's nothing I can do about it and she's with the Lord....I think it's always a little bit harder anyway around the holidays. I miss her so, so much. I know she'd be happy for me and I know she was proud of me...What I wouldn't give to have a few more moments with her back when she was healthy.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Goodbye
Saying goodbye is always the hardest part. I'll be doing that this weekend. Saying goodbye to my granpda. Anyway, I'm pretty sad and I'm feeling really anti-social and just depressed. My dad, sister, and I will probably head up to Arkansas on Saturday morning. I believe the funeral will be Sunday or Monday at the latest. I'm not sure what I'm going to be feeling in a few days. Honestly, I'm not looking forward to going. I don't want to see about 1/2 (or more) of the family members that will be there...This sucks. :(
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Fantastic
So my Wednesday had been great so far...I was hyped up on Barack winning the election...A change coming for America...and then my mom called.
My grandpa, who is in Arkansas, has been battling cancer for a long time. For as long as I've known him he's battled emphysema...Well, the last time I saw him was when I turned 21. That was 3 years ago. Ever since then, his health has started to decline and I knew I needed to get up there to see him, but everytime was never a "good time". Well, now it's too late. He isn't expected to make it much longer. My best guess is that he'll live for maybe another day, 2 tops. I'm so mad at myself for not going up to Arkansas to see him before he goes. I knew this would happen. I just knew. I'm so upset.
On top of that, my mom also told me my Uncle Keith was in the hospital. Why? Because he stopped taking his heart medication because "it was too expensive". So what did he do instead? He started smoking cigarettes heavily again and drinking hard liquor. Oh yeah, oh yeah. Sooo super smart. So now, on top of his debt that he's already aquired, he's got a nice big hospital bill to pay (which I'm sure is NOWHERE NEAR as expensive as heart medication).... IDIOT. I don't get the logic in his thought process.
I'm just angry today. And of course the phones have been ringing a lot at work, and that doesn't help my mood when I hear bad news like I've heard today. I'm so ready to go home. I'm supposed to go work out, but I totally don't feel like it. I know I should, though and I probably will-at least to get the frustration out.
Another thing that's incredibly depressing about my grandfather passing away...They dont have enough money to put him in the ground... Yes, you heard me correctly. My grandfather's step children, have squandered his money and now he's being burried in a crappy casket and they're still not sure how they're going to pay for his burial. It's so pathetic. I sincerely hope, when I have kids, and I'm old and dying that I have already figured out my burial plans. My Grandma and Grandpa did this and so did my Nanny. SMART. Because there was nothing to worry about when their times did come.
The only thing that is making me feel better right now is that soon my granpda will no longer be suffering. He'll be free of pain and he'll be with the Lord and his wife and I know he'll be happy. He'll smile and he'll see my grandma and he'll say, "Hey there, Ms. America!" I am really going to miss him...And when we go home to Arkansas, I know it will never be the same. :(
My grandpa, who is in Arkansas, has been battling cancer for a long time. For as long as I've known him he's battled emphysema...Well, the last time I saw him was when I turned 21. That was 3 years ago. Ever since then, his health has started to decline and I knew I needed to get up there to see him, but everytime was never a "good time". Well, now it's too late. He isn't expected to make it much longer. My best guess is that he'll live for maybe another day, 2 tops. I'm so mad at myself for not going up to Arkansas to see him before he goes. I knew this would happen. I just knew. I'm so upset.
On top of that, my mom also told me my Uncle Keith was in the hospital. Why? Because he stopped taking his heart medication because "it was too expensive". So what did he do instead? He started smoking cigarettes heavily again and drinking hard liquor. Oh yeah, oh yeah. Sooo super smart. So now, on top of his debt that he's already aquired, he's got a nice big hospital bill to pay (which I'm sure is NOWHERE NEAR as expensive as heart medication).... IDIOT. I don't get the logic in his thought process.
I'm just angry today. And of course the phones have been ringing a lot at work, and that doesn't help my mood when I hear bad news like I've heard today. I'm so ready to go home. I'm supposed to go work out, but I totally don't feel like it. I know I should, though and I probably will-at least to get the frustration out.
Another thing that's incredibly depressing about my grandfather passing away...They dont have enough money to put him in the ground... Yes, you heard me correctly. My grandfather's step children, have squandered his money and now he's being burried in a crappy casket and they're still not sure how they're going to pay for his burial. It's so pathetic. I sincerely hope, when I have kids, and I'm old and dying that I have already figured out my burial plans. My Grandma and Grandpa did this and so did my Nanny. SMART. Because there was nothing to worry about when their times did come.
The only thing that is making me feel better right now is that soon my granpda will no longer be suffering. He'll be free of pain and he'll be with the Lord and his wife and I know he'll be happy. He'll smile and he'll see my grandma and he'll say, "Hey there, Ms. America!" I am really going to miss him...And when we go home to Arkansas, I know it will never be the same. :(
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
My Photographers ROCK!
I cannot say it enough! While it felt like an eternity to get my pictures back, all I can say is that is was worth the wait! They did a fantastic job and I have NOTHING but good things to say about them. I'm so pleased with how the pictures turned out and I can't wait to get the CD and start making a million copies :) Just gorgeous pictures...
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
My How She's Grown...
The first picture is Anna back when she was about 8 weeks old (so June). The other picture is us probably about 2 weeks before the wedding. So she's grown a bit since then. I think she's probably close to 32 pounds now.
I look at pictures of her when we first got her and I can't believe how much she's grown...she's the sweetest little girl. I love her.
I just wanted to show off my puppy :)
Monday, October 27, 2008
You Can Vote However You Like
A pretty cool thing that I came across today (thank you Kekis!!). I love it!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj5eWRzDhNI
And here are the lyrics:
Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah
Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah
(McCain supporters)
McCain’s the best candidate
With Palin as his running mate
They’ll fight for gun rights, pro life,
The conservative right
Our future is bright
Better economy in site
And all the world will feel our military might
(Obama supporters)
But McCain and Bush are real close right
They vote alike and keep it tight
Obama’s new, he’s younger too
The Middle Class he will help you
He’ll bring a change, he’s got the brains
McCain and Bush are just the same
You are to blame, Iraq’s a shame
Four more years would be insane
Lower your Taxes - you know Obama Won’t
PROTECT THE LOWER CLASS - You know McCain won’t!
Have enough experience - you know that they don’tS
TOP GLOBAL WARMING - you know that you won’t
I want ObamaF
ORGET OBAMA
Stick with McCain and you’re going to have some drama
We need it
HE’LL BRING IT
He’ll be it
YOU’LL SEE IT
We’ll do it
GET TO IT
Let’s move itDO IT!
Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah
Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah
I’m talking big pipe lines, and low gas prices
Below $2.00 that would be nice
But to do it right we gotta start today
Finding renewable ways that are here to stay
I want Obama
FORGET OBAMA,
Stick wit McCain you gone have some drama
MORE WAR IN IRAQ
Iran he will attack
CAN’T BRING OUR TROOPS BACK
We gotta vote Barack!
Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah
Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah
–http://www.ronclarkacademy.com/
Ron Clark actually came to TAMU-Commerce and spoke at one of our convocations. He is so cool! I would have loved to have had him as my teacher. He's so passionate about what he does. I'm impressed!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj5eWRzDhNI
And here are the lyrics:
Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah
Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah
(McCain supporters)
McCain’s the best candidate
With Palin as his running mate
They’ll fight for gun rights, pro life,
The conservative right
Our future is bright
Better economy in site
And all the world will feel our military might
(Obama supporters)
But McCain and Bush are real close right
They vote alike and keep it tight
Obama’s new, he’s younger too
The Middle Class he will help you
He’ll bring a change, he’s got the brains
McCain and Bush are just the same
You are to blame, Iraq’s a shame
Four more years would be insane
Lower your Taxes - you know Obama Won’t
PROTECT THE LOWER CLASS - You know McCain won’t!
Have enough experience - you know that they don’tS
TOP GLOBAL WARMING - you know that you won’t
I want ObamaF
ORGET OBAMA
Stick with McCain and you’re going to have some drama
We need it
HE’LL BRING IT
He’ll be it
YOU’LL SEE IT
We’ll do it
GET TO IT
Let’s move itDO IT!
Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah
Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah
I’m talking big pipe lines, and low gas prices
Below $2.00 that would be nice
But to do it right we gotta start today
Finding renewable ways that are here to stay
I want Obama
FORGET OBAMA,
Stick wit McCain you gone have some drama
MORE WAR IN IRAQ
Iran he will attack
CAN’T BRING OUR TROOPS BACK
We gotta vote Barack!
Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah
Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah
–http://www.ronclarkacademy.com/
Ron Clark actually came to TAMU-Commerce and spoke at one of our convocations. He is so cool! I would have loved to have had him as my teacher. He's so passionate about what he does. I'm impressed!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Meh...
I'm moody today. I think I need to work out. I think being active makes me a happier person and I haven't been active since Saturday, so I am going to the gym tonight. I also feel like a beached whale, so I'm sure that doesn't help. I refuse to go to family functions in November and December looking like a bloated version of myself.
I'm really frustrated that my photographers haven't posted any pictures on their blog from our wedding. It's been a month. The least they could do would just give me a taste of what to expect when they're finally done editing and looking at all of the pictures that were taken that day...I'm just starting to get impatient. I'm also sick of people asking me when they'll have them ready. It's like, "I don't know. But I'll let you know when I get them. Back off"
Steven told me yesterday he wants to move to Hill Country. I'm all for it, except we can't just say, "I want to move", we need to have some things planned out. It would be lovely if I could already have a job down there before we move, but I'm not exactly sure how to make that happen. But I also think Steve should do the same. Being a music teacher, I would think it would be easy to go to job fairs to get my name out there, meet some fine art directors and try to get my foot in the door. As far as graphic design, I don't know how that works to get your foot in the door and network. We'd also need to figure out the best possible place to stay. Austin is known for it's terrible traffic, but I don't think Steve's opposed to public transportation...and I'm not opposed to driving in the opposite direction of the traffic. I don't know.
I think it's just going to take us sitting down and weighing out all the pros and cons to moving, what steps we need to take in order for it to be a smooth transition, whether or not it would be a good idea, and whether or not we'd be happy there. I've never been more than an hour and a half away from my parents so to be over 3 hours away is kind of scary to me...but it also means that I'm growing up and independent. I don't know. I think it would cost more money than we think and we're already broke as it is...We'd need movers, but Steve doesn't want to use movers. I refuse to break my back or my husband's back moving furniture any more. I'm sorry, but I've done that for too many years. I did it when we moved into my apartment in Commerce (both apartments), moving to Garland, and then moving to our current apartment. I think it's worth it to hire people to help us. Especially when you've got a washer and a dryer that need to be brought down 2 flights of narrow stairs, a heavy recliner, and our TV stand. I'm sorry, I just refuse. And I refuse to ask my parents to help us move. It's just wrong.
I guess that's it for today...
I'm really frustrated that my photographers haven't posted any pictures on their blog from our wedding. It's been a month. The least they could do would just give me a taste of what to expect when they're finally done editing and looking at all of the pictures that were taken that day...I'm just starting to get impatient. I'm also sick of people asking me when they'll have them ready. It's like, "I don't know. But I'll let you know when I get them. Back off"
Steven told me yesterday he wants to move to Hill Country. I'm all for it, except we can't just say, "I want to move", we need to have some things planned out. It would be lovely if I could already have a job down there before we move, but I'm not exactly sure how to make that happen. But I also think Steve should do the same. Being a music teacher, I would think it would be easy to go to job fairs to get my name out there, meet some fine art directors and try to get my foot in the door. As far as graphic design, I don't know how that works to get your foot in the door and network. We'd also need to figure out the best possible place to stay. Austin is known for it's terrible traffic, but I don't think Steve's opposed to public transportation...and I'm not opposed to driving in the opposite direction of the traffic. I don't know.
I think it's just going to take us sitting down and weighing out all the pros and cons to moving, what steps we need to take in order for it to be a smooth transition, whether or not it would be a good idea, and whether or not we'd be happy there. I've never been more than an hour and a half away from my parents so to be over 3 hours away is kind of scary to me...but it also means that I'm growing up and independent. I don't know. I think it would cost more money than we think and we're already broke as it is...We'd need movers, but Steve doesn't want to use movers. I refuse to break my back or my husband's back moving furniture any more. I'm sorry, but I've done that for too many years. I did it when we moved into my apartment in Commerce (both apartments), moving to Garland, and then moving to our current apartment. I think it's worth it to hire people to help us. Especially when you've got a washer and a dryer that need to be brought down 2 flights of narrow stairs, a heavy recliner, and our TV stand. I'm sorry, I just refuse. And I refuse to ask my parents to help us move. It's just wrong.
I guess that's it for today...
Monday, October 20, 2008
New Kids on the Block
Oh. My. God. Were they amazing! I got the amazing opportunity to go see them in concert last night and there are no words to describe how happy I am that I got to go. I'm exhausted this morning, but it was so worth it.
First of all, the opener for NKOTB was Natasha Bedingfield. She was amazing. I love her songs, and now I want her CDs. She is truly talented. They also had a girl from Jamaica open (before Natasha). She did a really good job, as well.
When NKOTB hit the stage though, there are just not enough words to describe the hysteria that went on. It was like I was back in 1990....They performed all the good songs, and new ones from their new CD (that I want to get now). Surprisingly, they were VERY good. I had my doubts. I had wondered to myself if they were truly as good as I remembered...and they were. They were actually better. Even Steven was impressed. :)
I just cannot say it enough. NKOTB rocked. It was the best concert I've been to. They put on an amazing show and I am just so lucky to have had the chance to go!
First of all, the opener for NKOTB was Natasha Bedingfield. She was amazing. I love her songs, and now I want her CDs. She is truly talented. They also had a girl from Jamaica open (before Natasha). She did a really good job, as well.
When NKOTB hit the stage though, there are just not enough words to describe the hysteria that went on. It was like I was back in 1990....They performed all the good songs, and new ones from their new CD (that I want to get now). Surprisingly, they were VERY good. I had my doubts. I had wondered to myself if they were truly as good as I remembered...and they were. They were actually better. Even Steven was impressed. :)
I just cannot say it enough. NKOTB rocked. It was the best concert I've been to. They put on an amazing show and I am just so lucky to have had the chance to go!
Friday, October 10, 2008
A Change Would Do Me Good
Ok, so after watching my weight hike back up to pre-Steven magnitude, I'm taking initiative.
I am on a mission to lose 15-20 pounds in the next year or year and a half. I know the first 10 pounds or so will come off fairly quickly in about 2-3 months, but the rest will be harder to lose.
Before I moved in with Steven I had lost 10 pounds. I was at the gym pretty much every day for at least an hour to an hour and a half at a time. I was eatting fairly healthy foods, going to bed at a decent hour and not going back for seconds at dinner time. Since moving in with Steve, I've found it so much harder to get up and go work out. It's even harder when I get home from work because I don't want to leave him and Anna.
This week we have worked out every day. Monday we ran 2 miles, Tuesday we went to the gym (I did 30 minutes of cardio, and then some weight machines), Wednesday we got up early and ran another 2 miles, and then Thursday we went to the gym again (I did the same 30 minutes of cardio, and did different weight machines to target what I didn't reach on Tuesday). Today we're going to go for a run. I'm looking forward to it.
I weighed myself right before we left the gym last night and was completely disappointed in myself. I can't believe that in a little over 6 months I had let myself pack on that much weight.
So I'm going to do as my friend Christina is doing, and post about my progress.
Right now...I'm (sadly) at 154 pounds. I think it's been 3 years since I weighed that much.
My goal is 134.
What I plan to accomplish in losing those 20 pounds is:
1. Get back to lifting 20 pounds each arm in bicep curls.
2. Lift 50 pounds in shoulders.
3. By December be down to 145.
4. Run a 10k in March or April.
5. Run the 5k in the Turkey Trot this year.
6. By this time in October 2009 be at 134-135.
6. Next year be able to run a 1/2 marathon <---Ultimate goal.
Wish me luck. I feel really confident in these goals that I've set up for myself. Some of them may happen later rather than sooner, but I've put them out there for me to see every time I blog...so maybe I won't let things go like I've done in the past!
I am on a mission to lose 15-20 pounds in the next year or year and a half. I know the first 10 pounds or so will come off fairly quickly in about 2-3 months, but the rest will be harder to lose.
Before I moved in with Steven I had lost 10 pounds. I was at the gym pretty much every day for at least an hour to an hour and a half at a time. I was eatting fairly healthy foods, going to bed at a decent hour and not going back for seconds at dinner time. Since moving in with Steve, I've found it so much harder to get up and go work out. It's even harder when I get home from work because I don't want to leave him and Anna.
This week we have worked out every day. Monday we ran 2 miles, Tuesday we went to the gym (I did 30 minutes of cardio, and then some weight machines), Wednesday we got up early and ran another 2 miles, and then Thursday we went to the gym again (I did the same 30 minutes of cardio, and did different weight machines to target what I didn't reach on Tuesday). Today we're going to go for a run. I'm looking forward to it.
I weighed myself right before we left the gym last night and was completely disappointed in myself. I can't believe that in a little over 6 months I had let myself pack on that much weight.
So I'm going to do as my friend Christina is doing, and post about my progress.
Right now...I'm (sadly) at 154 pounds. I think it's been 3 years since I weighed that much.
My goal is 134.
What I plan to accomplish in losing those 20 pounds is:
1. Get back to lifting 20 pounds each arm in bicep curls.
2. Lift 50 pounds in shoulders.
3. By December be down to 145.
4. Run a 10k in March or April.
5. Run the 5k in the Turkey Trot this year.
6. By this time in October 2009 be at 134-135.
6. Next year be able to run a 1/2 marathon <---Ultimate goal.
Wish me luck. I feel really confident in these goals that I've set up for myself. Some of them may happen later rather than sooner, but I've put them out there for me to see every time I blog...so maybe I won't let things go like I've done in the past!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
An Update!
So I'm officially a married woman! It feels pretty good. The wedding was absolutely amazing. I cannot even begin to explain how wonderful it was!
The day started off with a manicure and pedicure with my sister. It was really relaxing. Then we headed over to the salon and got our hair and make up done at Headrush Salon. We had such a good time! At least I did-I had 2 martini's and got to hang out with some really awesome women :)
Afterwards we headed over to the Wildwood and set up everything in our rooms. The pergola was already decorated and the cakes were being set up. It all looked so beautiful!
I remember waiting for what seemed like forever for 6:00 to get here...When they said it was time, I walked down the stairs and took my dad's arm. When I walked towards Steven, everything else around me just dropped away. I don't remember the people, I don't remember the music, I just remember seeing him and trying not to cry.
The ceremony was perfect-aside from the mistake of Brother Charles calling me by my sister's name at first :)
The reception was a blast! The food was great, the music was awesome and I danced the whole time! I just had such a good time.
I am so lucky to be married to Steven. He is such an amazing guy.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
10 Days!!
Wow, so it's finally 10 day until my wedding.
It looks like Hurricane Ike is headed toward Texas. Hopefully, no other hurricane will follow in his tracks! I'm crossing my fingers for beautiful weather.
I'm still trying to tie loose ends up with my non-RSVPers...Hopefully, I'll know by tomorrow the final count for the 20th.
I am trying not to become a bridezilla...but every time my mom says something to me, I feel a wave of annoyance. I need to get over that. Quick. I think I just need a vacation. :)
Everything is confirmed with the Honeymoon, so now all Steven and I need to do is decide what we want to do on the days we're there. We don't have much time, but I think it's going to be an awesome little get-a-way for us. Next year we can do something bigger.
It looks like Hurricane Ike is headed toward Texas. Hopefully, no other hurricane will follow in his tracks! I'm crossing my fingers for beautiful weather.
I'm still trying to tie loose ends up with my non-RSVPers...Hopefully, I'll know by tomorrow the final count for the 20th.
I am trying not to become a bridezilla...but every time my mom says something to me, I feel a wave of annoyance. I need to get over that. Quick. I think I just need a vacation. :)
Everything is confirmed with the Honeymoon, so now all Steven and I need to do is decide what we want to do on the days we're there. We don't have much time, but I think it's going to be an awesome little get-a-way for us. Next year we can do something bigger.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
So Much Left to Do
So, we only have 11 days until the big day. I can't believe it's almost here!
I think we've finally decided on a honeymoon destination...kind of last minute, I know. The only reason it was so last minute was because I was hoping to get a teaching job. We're probably going to go Mill Valley, CA. It's right by San Fransisco and Napa Valley. I cannot wait. It's a beautiful area and the weather there looks amazing!
I also had my bridal shower and bachelorette party on Saturday. It was so much fun! I got some really cool stuff and some of us went over to Polished and got manicures and pedicures. It was so relaxing.
I still need to do a few things before next week though...I need to go buy more programs and re-print the last page of the programs, buy the parent gifts, ring bearer gifts, and usher gifts. I need to go find out about getting a Mystic tan from Palm Beach tan, so I don't look like a ghost on my wedding day. I'd like to do a little bit of honeymoon clothes shopping this weekend, too.
This weekend is actually my cousin Jeff's wedding. And then Sunday evening, I'm going to throw my bridal luncheon. So I need to finish getting stuff for that. I'll probably do that today while I'm on my lunch break.
I'm worn out though. I haven't slept well lately. If I wake up in the middle of the night, it's really hard for me to fall back asleep...I need to work out, too. I think that might be my problem. I've really been slacking. I had lost a lot of weight before Steven and I moved in together...I've gained it all back. :(
I guess that's it. Lots on my mind. Hopefully I can keep it straight and get everything together before the big day gets here....
I think we've finally decided on a honeymoon destination...kind of last minute, I know. The only reason it was so last minute was because I was hoping to get a teaching job. We're probably going to go Mill Valley, CA. It's right by San Fransisco and Napa Valley. I cannot wait. It's a beautiful area and the weather there looks amazing!
I also had my bridal shower and bachelorette party on Saturday. It was so much fun! I got some really cool stuff and some of us went over to Polished and got manicures and pedicures. It was so relaxing.
I still need to do a few things before next week though...I need to go buy more programs and re-print the last page of the programs, buy the parent gifts, ring bearer gifts, and usher gifts. I need to go find out about getting a Mystic tan from Palm Beach tan, so I don't look like a ghost on my wedding day. I'd like to do a little bit of honeymoon clothes shopping this weekend, too.
This weekend is actually my cousin Jeff's wedding. And then Sunday evening, I'm going to throw my bridal luncheon. So I need to finish getting stuff for that. I'll probably do that today while I'm on my lunch break.
I'm worn out though. I haven't slept well lately. If I wake up in the middle of the night, it's really hard for me to fall back asleep...I need to work out, too. I think that might be my problem. I've really been slacking. I had lost a lot of weight before Steven and I moved in together...I've gained it all back. :(
I guess that's it. Lots on my mind. Hopefully I can keep it straight and get everything together before the big day gets here....
Friday, September 5, 2008
New Blog
Well, this is the beginning of my first blog. I will probably be discussing anything from my wedding, my new life as a wife, trying to find a music teaching position, to the weather. Basically, anything and everything.
I'm getting married in 15 days. It feels like I've been waiting for the day for so long. I am so excited to be married to the most amazing guy I've ever met.
We have been together for over 2 1/2 years. We live in a tiny townhome, that while I love the location, can't wait to move into something bigger. We have a 4 1/2 month old lab mix puppy named, Anna. She's the sweetest thing in the world. I love her to death. I work for an investment company and Steven is about to end an internship at a design shop, and hopefully get a full time position somewhere fairly soon....Other than that, that's it.
Hopefully, I'll keep up with this thing!
I'm getting married in 15 days. It feels like I've been waiting for the day for so long. I am so excited to be married to the most amazing guy I've ever met.
We have been together for over 2 1/2 years. We live in a tiny townhome, that while I love the location, can't wait to move into something bigger. We have a 4 1/2 month old lab mix puppy named, Anna. She's the sweetest thing in the world. I love her to death. I work for an investment company and Steven is about to end an internship at a design shop, and hopefully get a full time position somewhere fairly soon....Other than that, that's it.
Hopefully, I'll keep up with this thing!
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