Just another manic Monday...

Man, today was ridiculously long and unproductive.  I have to work very hard tomorrow to make up for my unproductive day at work today! Ugh.  I did, however, find a little spark after work.  I finished two loads of laundry and even folded one of the loads (I never fold my clothes...I'm a horrible person like that).  I then straightened up Jasper's dog toys (which are all out again...oh well).  The dishes even got done! All before I headed out to play some sand volleyball.

Speaking of volleyball. I LOVE IT.  It makes me feel so happy and I always have a great time.  My knee felt stronger today than it did at the beginning of January when I tried to play for the first time since my surgery.  I don't know if it is because of the confidence I've been trying to build up - or if it is in fact stronger. Hopefully both!

Day 19 *yes ...which was supposed to be YESTERDAY* is "Your Favorite Quote".

I have many favorite quotes. I don't think it would be possible to narrow it down to one. So to be fair to all of my quotes - I will just give you the one that sticks out from my recent memory.  It is a quote from one of Donald Miller's books that I read and I think it is very true.

"Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself."

Very interesting concept if you sit and think about it.

Day 20: A regret you have

I don't know why I never went to the doctor after I originally hurt my knee in 2005.  Actually, I did go to the doctor in the small town where I went to college. He said "put ice on it".  I should have forced the issue and I should have went to Des Moines to see a doctor but I never did. I just lived with a weak knee which affected sports and affected my health in the long run.  I wonder where I would be if I had gone to the doctor and had this problem fixed shortly after it happened. I became incredibly less active after the injury and gained weight and wasn't able to go 100% during sports. It bothered me, but I always told myself it was because I had gained weight and if I lost the weight the knee would be just fine but I didn't love myself enough to lose the weight so I never knew the difference.  I also regret this because I think it would have been a MUCH easier recovery for me.  I'm 10 months out of surgery now and have had a few setbacks.  From what I hear...I shouldn't be needing physical therapy anymore but I still do :S We will see where that goes.

Anyway, miss you all! Thanks for your comments...it's great hearing from each of you everyday. Makes my day a good one!

Day 18: A photo of you ten years ago

Aww - 10 years ago.  I miss high school! 10 years ago I was a sophomore in high school.  I was looking through photos I already have (because I don't have a scanner hooked up to my computer yet).  I can only find one.  I used to go to this camp at Graceland University called "Spec".  It was a church camp for sophomores - graduated seniors and it was mostly centered around sports.  It also had other activities but sports was the main thing to do.

@ Spec getting ready to knock the ball out of the park ;-)

I have a picture from my junior prom as well.  Probably 9 years ago - but still close. Enjoy :P

Man, I always feel so old looking back on these days.  So much has happened in life since then. I was so innocent and miss it so much.  I know it is cliche but I wish I knew not to rush to be older back then.  I was always trying to gain understanding of things that were too much for someone so young to know.  Luckily I kept a bit of childhood on into college - however, I always seemed older than I really was.  Now I seem younger than I am.  I don't feel wise like I did back then. I could just have been naive. Who knows. All I know is that I do not miss living in that small town (population 300-ish). I do hate the things I have to see living in a larger town however.  They make me sad.  I sometimes wonder if I wasn't living in the "real world" for the first 18 years of my life.  I don't feel like I was sheltered even though I'm sure I was. A "big event" back then was a divorce or car accident.  Nothing like the crazy gun shooting sprees you see here in the big cities. Anyway, I'm just incoherently rambling now.  Enjoy the "old" pictures of the "young" me. Sorry I don't have better ones. 

Oh what a day...@ least it IS Friday.

NOTE: Day 16 is supposed to be "A letter to someone who has hurt you lately."  I have been thinking about this for a long while and I don't have anyone who has hurt me in such a way that I could even think of what to write to them in a letter.  So I ask you all to forgive me...but I am taking a pass. :)

Day 17 - A youtube video. Totally doable and I know exactly which video I will be showing you all. (Speaking of you all - thank you to all of my new "followers" - it is great to see you all here!)

This is a video that my little sis made for one of her college classes. Which class? I have no idea...however, I believe she did an amazing job. I am so proud of her. She graduates this year from Texas Tech's graphic design program. If any of you have any amazing graphic design jobs - please let me know so I can pass them along to her :-)





Let me know what you think - and if you feel so moved by it - go and comment on her youtube wall!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUL9OLDEKco

Oops...I did it again.

Yes. The title of this blog is a Britney reference. So? :-P Get over yourself...you KNOW you can't help but dance to this song when it comes on. I love when it comes on and I'm in the shower. I think I am at my best when I am naked and wet and singing Britney at the top of my lungs while pulling out the best dance moves you can possibly do without slipping in the shower!

ANYWAY, the title of this blog also refers to missing a day.  I am sorry dear "blog army"-reader-people.  I am hitting that time of year where accountants in the public arena like myself begin to shut ourselves off and go into robot - worker mode:

Sock puppet robot? hmm...interesting.

Anyway, I will do DAY 14 and DAY 15 in this ONE post. You know you like double the action when you can get it!

***Someone who fascinates you and why***

I feel very sad because I believe that one of the reasons this post was put off until today (work being the other reason) was that I had no idea who I was going to write about!  Sure I've been fascinated with people throughout my life. However, none have held my fascination very well. Do I have a sort of ADD when it comes to being fascinated with people?!? Ugh!

I guess if I had to choose one person...at this ONE point in time. I'd have to go with Melina.  I met Melina when I was younger - junior high age - at camp.  She was my counselor.  I didn't realize at the time that she would become a mentor.  Melina has a way about her that allows me to open up and just talk about issues.  She has a way of not being judgmental and finding some way to relate even if she hasn't been through what you've been through.  I try to be non-judgmental.  I would love to be that person who just accepts things for what they are and loves a person anyway.  I actually feel I do a fairly good job at this. However, I still have so much to learn. Melina fascinates me because it never fails - I will be feeling down or having issues and then she'll appear miraculously on facebook with a great message for me that helps pull me back into reality.  People with calm spirits like hers always pull me in!

***A photo of something I ate today***

Well luckily I read what today's blog was before I started eating or else I would be screwed. Today I actually got to try a new Subway bread that has not yet been released - it contains Omega 3 and a full days worth of your needed calcium. It was yummy.  That is NOT what I have a picture of for you...nope. Tonight I made a turkey taco salad. It was delicious.

And apparently blogger takes it and flips it? I can't figure out how to flip it back. Sorry party peoples....

And the award for HOTTNESS goes to....

YES. The day I know we have all been waiting for. "Day 14" - The unveiling of the guys I find most attractive (who just so happen to be famous).  This was very hard for me. This morning I realized that was what today's blog theme was and I couldn't concentrate on my work.  All I could think of was "why the heck don't I already KNOW the top 5 celebs on my list....am I not a normal human being???" And I just regressed into a pit of depression from there. But alas, I know now who it will be (for now) until I change my mind in 5 minutes after I post this. *sigh*

NUMBER ONE: John Krasinski....so adorable! I must have this thing for cute, scrawny white guys with messy hair. YUMMY!

NUMBER TWO:  Oh my gosh, I just about passed out. Well hello there Mr. Orlando Bloom. May I just sit and stare at your gorgeous smile for the evening? Yes please.

NUMBER THREE:  Brad Paisley. This guy is the most adorable ....ah I can't even finish. Just thinking about him makes me go a little flush.  I love the way he puts himself into the music when he plays and the way he smirks. Definitely the best entertainer I have ever seen live...and that adds on to his hottness.

NUMBER FOUR: Patrick Dempsey.  I can't get over his eyes and facial expressions. I still get goosebumps when watching Grey's on Thursday nights...sometimes I will just put it on from the DVD's I have of the seasons just to see him smile :-) He wins my hottness award.

NUMBER FIVE:  Ryan Sutter.  I must admit that I was heartbroken when Tristan picked you Ryan. I thought for sure she would pick the other guy and I could move to Colorado and make you the happiest man alive...but alas - she picked you and you have a beautiful life with amazingly gorgeous kids. I still pick you in my top 5. I could hardly find pictures on the web of you by yourself though...grrr.

Okie dokie...not you all are aware that I am a bit "boy crazy" but who can help it.  Who are YOUR top 5 celebrities?

And I just have to say one more thing...even with all of these hott guy celebs floating around....my number one man is Jasper! He won the cutest dog competition once and that makes him celebrity enough for me!!

Remember my song of the month?

It just came on and I was doing a little dance here in front of my computer while performing my audit test work.  Only problem is that I am sitting across from my more senior co-worker who probably thinks I am crazy right now.

Totally worth it!

Blogger question...

How come sometimes I can subscribe to comments of the blog I am commenting on ....and other times I can't? I know sometimes I get a comment back from the blog owner - but I wouldn't know that unless I went back and checked.

Can people subscribe to get the replies on my blog? Let me know what I can do to fix it if they can't. I like that feature and use it whenever I can.

Highs and Lows of 2010

Highs:

• January: Started off the new year with a kiss from my love. No better way, right?
• February: Awesome 25th birthday! We went to teppanyaki and then headed over to a dive bar which just so happened to have karaoke and I had just had enough to drink to sing a few songs!  Then when rock & bowl started at 10pm we all went over to the bowling alley.  I had so much fun that I decided to do the same thing this year. I will be doing this same mash up February 5.  Look forward to a fun update ;-)  Oh - AND I got a Kindle from my love for this birthday which = amazing! I love my Kindle.
• April: Had some time to myself...had to be off of work on short term disability for the whole month so I got a lot of me time to sit on the couch and think.
• May: Went to an amazing young adult retreat in Colorado mountains.  LOVED IT. I could totally see myself ending up in Denver one day. (Yes...even though it snows!)
• 
• June: CAMP CAMP CAMP! Camp is always my high for the year. I love it and this year was my 2nd year directing the camp. It is a camp for 7th grade - graduated senior and they are a great bunch of kids. I love camp. 
• September: Brad Paisley concert - almost front row...touched him. AH. I hope he does another tour this year after his new CD is released. I love B.P. and I love his concerts and he is gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous.  I also visited Nashville for the first time during the American Society of Women Accountants' national conference.  I got to attend the conference for free because my local chapter voted me to receive the free pass we had received. I also got my flight paid for by Henry & Horne (the company I work for) because it was for continuing education...Nashville absolutely rocked my socks off. I think my favorite things was going to the Bluebird Cafe and sitting in the pews while listening to local song writers...so amazing.
• 
• October: Went to the balloon fiesta and met up with the young adults, many of whom are my camp counselors during the summer.  I loved hanging out with all of them.  I hope this turns into a yearly reunion/retreat.
• 
• 
• November: Participated in the Breast Cancer 3 day...I didn't make it all 60 miles...but made it over half of the way! Next time I do it, I am sure I will be all healed up from knee surgery and will make it the whole way :) 
• 
• December: Trip to Canada for work turned out awesome when I met up with a board gaming group and got to learn some new games.  Also had an amazing holiday season with my family and ended the year at a jr. high/sr. high overnighter on new year's even! So much fun.

Lows:

• March: Surgery. Had to completely replace my ACL (I no longer had one is what the doc said...it was completely torn) and then he scoped the inside of my right knee's meniscus and repaired the outside.  I'm still going to physical therapy for it and it is a crazy long recovery process. Hopefully I'll be back up and playing sports soon though!  

Wow that was a great exercise. I obviously had a great 2010. I hope 2011 is even more awesome.  What was the number 1 favorite high from 2010 for you?

Oh Australia - how I *think* I love you...

Day 11 of my 30 days of randomocity was yesterday...I know. I am a day behind.  I do however have a good excuse.  As all of you know (and one of you felt inclined to point out to me...fair enough since I pointed out Duke last time) KU lost at home against Texas.  They have a record of 69 straight wins at home though and that is something incredible! It had to happen eventually and I'm just glad it wasn't against someone like K-State :-) Plus, now maybe they won't lose to NORTHERN IOWA during March Madness because they are getting losses out during regular season :P haha. Anyway....


I really want to visit Australia.  I think the Australian accent is one of the cutest accents in the world and I haven't met an Australian that I don't like. (I am sure they exist...but to this day I haven't met him or her). For example - my friend Hamish from college is from Australia. I would go anywhere just to hang out with him again. I miss him. Flights to Australia are expensive though and I don't have enough vacation to make a decent trip over there.  Maybe I can do something like that in between jobs if I ever change jobs. Just take some time off. Anyway, here is a picture of my lovely friend Hamish stolen from Facebook:

Also, aside from amazing friends and the accents...Australia has kangaroos and koalas and is very pretty. Who wouldn't want to visit there?

F-r-i-d-a-y....

Day 10: Bullet your whole day


I was supposed to bullet my day yesterday for the blog so here it goes. Don't go to sleep please!

• Woke up with Jasper laying on the pillow next to me.
• Drove an hour in really bad traffic to my client.
• Work....work...work.
• Lunch at Moe's.  (I had a homewrecker with no tortilla and of course the chips and queso)
• Work....work...work.
• Drove an hour in really bad traffic to my house.
• Tried to do some yoga but the dvd player wouldn't work.
• Did my dishes and straightened up the house (just not my bedroom).
• Packed a bag with clothes for Saturday and got Jasper ready to go.
• Drove to the boy's house for the evening.
• Did yoga at the boy's house because his dvd player worked.
• Ate amazingly delicious dinner that the boy made me for our "date" night.
• Watched Big Love and Modern Family episodes from the previous week. If you don't watch Modern Family you should...it had me giggling soooo much last night!
• Blogged a song list instead of a bullet of my day. Figured I could do that Saturday.
• Went to bed.

Yes. I know my life is boring. What makes your life better? ;) Anyway, I'm watching the KU vs. Texas game. 

ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!

Texas has never won at Allen Fieldhouse and KU is undefeated overall and both teams are undefeated in conference play.  This should be a good game.  I think we are about to head to the bar so we can watch the Washington game as well (my boy went to Washington for undergrad...UCLA for grad).

Enjoy college basketball today! Tonight's Michigan State vs Purdue should be a great game! I have a birthday dinner to go to at 5pm and then have to go to another birthday party after that but hopefully will have a tv available at both to watch the games!

ANOTHER SONG LIST, SHELBY? Why yes....yes it is.

Thank you Steph for the way fun game! I'm loving it! (Check out Steph's blog at Strange Days Indeed)

The Most AWESOME Shuffle Game EVER!!!

The Rules:

 - Put your music player on "shuffle".
 - Press "forward" for each song.
 - Use the song title as the answer to the question.
 - NO CHEATING!

Q1 - What does the New Year have in store for me?

A1 - You Can Do Better Than Me - Death Cab for Cutie (This makes me sad.)

Q2 - What is my love life like?

A2 - Don't Speak - No Doubt (Haha...none of YOUR business!)

Q3 - What do I say when life gets hard?

A3 - Forever - Rascal Flatts (I hope it isn't hard for forever...gosh)

Q4 - What do I think when I wake up in the morning?

A4 - Cartwheels - The Reindeer Section (I don't actually do them...I just feel guilty that I don't work out)

Q5 - What song will I dance to at my wedding?

A5 - Heart Shaped Box - Nirvana (Not my first pick but ok....)

Q6 - What do I want to do as a career?

A6 - Power of Love - Huey Lewis (Heck yes I want to....all you have to do is ask!)

Q7 - What is my favorite saying?

A7 - Dance Like a Monkey - New York Dolls (*giggle* I am going to actually start saying this randomly...beware)

Q8 - Where is my favorite place?

A8 - Right Here Right Now - Jesus Jones (this one worked out really freakily...hmmm)

Q9 - What do I think of my parents?

A9 - Mistakes We Knew We Were Making - Straylight Run (hahaha...well. I don't have anything to say to this)

Q10 - Where would I go on a first date?

A10 - I Believe I Can Fly - R. Kelly (I always thought the most romantic date would be on a flying carpet like in Aladdin)

Q11 - How would I describe myself?

A11 - My Mother Was a Chinese Trapeze Artist - The Decemberists (wow. I could not have described myself any better I'm sure of it)

Q12 - What is the thing I like doing the most?

A12 - Tearin' Up My Heart - N Sync (Sad times.)

Q13 - What is my state of mind like at this moment?

A13 - Come Fly With Me - Michael Buble (Fly HIGH!)

Q14 - What do I like to do with my friends?

A14 - Should I Stay Or Should I Go - The Clash  (I prefer the going...with friends of course)

Q15 - How does my significant other make me feel?

A15 - Bad Romance - Lady Gaga (How perfect.)


Try it out for yourself! I enjoyed it...

Zune is on shuffle...interested?

First 10 songs that come on my Zune when I put it on shuffle:

1. Oceanside - The Decemberists
2. Closer to Free - The BoDeans
3. Why You'd Want to Live Here - Death Cab for Cutie
4. One Day I Slowly Floated Away - Eisley
5. Just the Way You Are - Glee Cast
6. Let Her Cry - Hootie & the Blowfish
7. Crash Into Me - Dave Matthews Band
8. The House That Built Me - Miranda Lambert
9. Animal - Neon Trees
10. Don't Change Your Plans - Ben Folds Five

I like this game. Thank GOODNESS MmmBop didn't come up...and any Britney Spears.  Really glad you all got the "cool" me ;) I was a bit disappointed N Sync didn't pop up though *sigh* I love N Sync.

You all should try this exercise. It is fun PLUS you get some great music listening time :) If you haven't heard any of the music I listed above...check it out because all are great.  Goodnight for now.

I was sick...Days 7 and 8

Sorry about missing a day. I had an unshakable headache last night and could do absolutely nothing. Not even post a simple blog. So here I am tonight, ready to post 2 quick blogs in one (I know..you all are so lucky) and then head to bed so I don't get a return headache.

Day 7: Bible Verse....

Haha. I'm going to say Psalm 137:9...you have to look it up though. If you don't have a bible just google it. It is priceless!

Day 8: Something you miss

I miss college. I miss it SO much.  If I knew what a real job was like...even with the perks of having a real paycheck...I'd stay in college and get further in debt and just go to class to learn and work at the coffee shop. I miss the coffee shop.  I miss my friends from college as well. I often wish I had taken a job in Des Moines so I could be closer to friends and could still visit the college area. Then I remember the horrific winters. I have really bad seasonal depression and I definitely DO NOT miss that.  That's the short version.  I won't bore you with all of the things I miss about college until maybe another post.

Best place ever!

Day 6 - A place I've traveled to. 

I'm going to go with Peru. I've traveled to a lot of different places, but this has been the ultimate trip for me.  I think that pictures speak more than any words can so here it goes.

Beach in Lima, Peru.

Hot springs in the mountains of Peru - doesn't look that great but felt very refreshing anyway heh.

Helping out some local small businesses...here we were visiting a bee keepers who sold their honey.

We hiked a mountain up to a waterfall - I got altitude sickness after this.  Mate de coca is very helpful for altitude sickness. I snuck some back into the states in my suit case too ;) 

Got to see llamas on our way out to a small village in the Andes!!! I LOVE llamas.

A Peruvian delicacy.  Yes...I ate what I could...I couldn't eat a head though. I felt like such a bad guest, but my first "real" death in my life was my pet guinea pig Jitters...and this was a bit much.  Tastes like bland chicken.

I called these stoves "poop stoves". We went to a secluded village far into the mountains and helped teach them how to build the stoves and provided them the resources to build them.  The mud was literally mud and poo mixed together. Yuck - but very rewarding...they didn't ever build chimney's with their stoves so many of the women and children were getting sick from smoke inhalation in the home.

Machu Picchu! By far the most glorious thing I've ever seen in my life. I don't even know how to adequately describe how awesome it was.

Machu Picchu

And ....more Machu Picchu!

Best trip I've ever taken and I would LOVE to go back and live with a Peruvian family this time (I was staying with the group I went with so I wasn't immersed in the culture like I would have liked).

Pictures of things that make me happy :)

Today is Day 5 of the 30 straight days of randomocity and it is a fun day! I get to post pictures of things that make me happy! ENJOY :)

Now - this list is obviously not representative of EVERYTHING that makes me happy...but it is a good start.

Men's Beach Volleyball - enough said.

Getting a fresh pedicure.

Eating a double double and fries from In N Out (I don't always feel happy afterwards - but definitely DURING!)

Seeing Brad Paisley live in concert - or just hearing him in general...usually equals happy me.

Jasper as a baby - I miss those days...he was soooo small!

Adult Jasper - I love him soooo much because there isn't a day that goes by where he doesn't make me smile!

Oh yes...Yuengling. Why I can't get it in Arizona I don't know - but it is very upsetting.

My first TRUE love :-) 

Song to match my mood? EASY!

The song to match my mood is EASILY "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds.



I think it's how I feel about him. I love him and couldn't be luckier!

Also,Jonathan Coulton's "My Monkey" because I love the song and I love Jo Co and I love this music video that someone did for it :)



And while we're on the topic of Jonathan Coulton - if you have never heard him you should and if you get a chance to see him live - go to the concert! Some song suggestions:

re: Your Brain


Code Monkey


Skullcrusher Mountain


That's all for today. I am having a "It's-been-one-year-in-my-new-house" party tonight since I never was able to have a housewarming party and I am excited about it. I need to finish cleaning up the house. Leave me lots of comment love because I like you all and love hearing from you!

Hi Mom and Dad...

I have been avoiding "Day 3" of my "30 Days straight of randomocity" as I'm not really sure what to write about "my parents". I don't even understand my parents to this day. All I know is that I love them and they have grown a pretty amazing young lady if I do say so myself ;) haha <---just messing...kind of.

If you would have asked me on the day of my high school graduation I would have said that my mom is my best friend - hands down. I would also say that I love my dad but we just never "clicked" in the way I have seen other father/daughter duos "click". I think I felt he was always fairly hard on me and he didn't seem to understand me very well.

Today - things have changed slightly. I love both of them, but they have gone through craziness since I have left the house and seem to have become completely different people. Sometime when I was at college - they moved away from southwest Kansas where we had lived in that same house for about 17 years I believe. They are now residents of a small town in the panhandle of Texas. They went through a major life crisis and came out of it stronger people and much closer in their relationship than I've ever seen them. I am happy for them.

In the meantime, I got caught in the middle of their crisis somehow and my relationship with my mom seemed to have lost it's closeness. I still feel close to her - but not like I used to when I was younger. She is more of my mom than my best friend now. I don't know if she feels the same way - but it isn't necessarily a bad thing. It is just different. My relationship with my dad isn't that changed - even though he is significantly changed and he seems more open to seeing me as a person these days. It is just too late now that I am all grown up and moved away.

All in all - I am lucky for the mother and father life gave to me. They raised someone who made goals for herself fairly young and has almost achieved those initial goals in her mid-20's. I feel very stable and very fortunate in my life. I can't imagine how much harder it would have been to get where I am today without their support and love and faith in my abilities.

Whew. I'm done with this one. Hopefully I can get into lighter - more fun topics from now on! Thanks for sticking with me :)

Words of Counsel

I have been a member of a church from the time I was very small - who believes in ongoing counsel received from God. It has been an interesting concept for me to grasp as I grew into my own beliefs and thoughts on religion over the years. I won't go into what I believe and what I don't here on my blog...but back in 2000 there was counsel given to the church and I happened to read it today as I was contemplating how we as humans treat each other. This has been on my mind since the happenings down in Tucson on Saturday. I also have other struggles I have been dealing with in my mind regarding friends who are struggling to make it as a family and pull themselves out of poverty. I just wanted to share the words in case any of you needed to hear them as well. If not - at least I have documented my feelings tonight.

"Open your hearts and feel the yearnings of your brothers and sisters who are lonely, despised, fearful, neglected, unloved. Reach out in understanding, clasp their hands, and invite all to share in the blessings of community created in the name of the One who suffered on behalf of all.

Do not be fearful of one another. Respect each life journey, even in its brokenness and uncertainty, for each person has walked alone at times. Be ready to listen and slow to criticize, lest judgments be unrighteous and unredemptive.

Be patient with one another, for creating sacred community is arduous and even painful. But it is to loving community such as this that each is called. Be courageous and visionary, believing in the power of just a few vibrant witnesses to transform the world. Be assured that love will overcome the voices of fear, division, and deceit."

I don't know...

Today I am supposed to tell you about my "first love". I know who it is - but not quite sure what to write about it or him.

It was high school of course and I already knew I was going to be going away to college so it probably wouldn't work out. I remember driving home from his house one night coming up with the ultimate plan that would allow us to stay together. He was older than me and didn't go to college - he entered the work force right out of high school. He worked for a company where he could transfer up to a town close to my college town. I didn't know if I should ask him if he'd consider it. I was head over heels in love with him. However, I was young and not as mature as I claimed to be and one day I was hanging out with a friend from church and the guy ended up kissing me and I didn't stop it. I was to say the least very confused about the whole situation but decided that I loved "first love" enough to not say anything and to stop hanging out with the other guy friend. I then went about my life living happily ever after with my first love. Come to find out they had a mutual friend (small town) and she found out about me and "other guy" kissing and told "first love" who had been cheated on before and was not going to put up with that crap. He wouldn't even look at me after that. I remember once I sat in his pick up and PLEADED that he give me another chance and that I loved him more than anything and the other guy incident was an accident that would never happen again.

Of course looking back it obviously was petty and "first love" obviously wasn't my "true love" as you always believe at the time. He is still living in the same house (which was his parents house back when we were dating...not sure if his dad still lives there or not) and he has married another girl from the area. According to my facebook stalking - he seems content. I am content too - knowing that he was my first love but not my true love and that he will always hold a special place in my heart because I always wanted amazingness for him. But I do now know that I doubt there'd be any way we would have stayed together.

I could even venture to say that my current love is my "first TRUE love". He is amazing and loves me for the crazy person we both know I am. He takes care of me and Jasper and I have no doubt in my mind that we could live together forever in this love that we have. I am excited about the future with him and this is nothing like the childish feeling I had with my "first love" - this is definitely my "first true love" and it is beautiful.

That's all. Said more than I thought I would...hopefully it made sense. Quick change the subject now!

Love all of my readers. Just to give some shout outs to a couple of my "blog loves":

Ryan: Duke fan, but I forgive him because he is a pretty awesome guy. I hope to visit him and the wife sometime soon in New York!

Little Silk Dress: Does not like the idea of having a recliner in a motel room. I still think she needs to sit in it for a picture op for her blog!

Who am I?

"Cherish forever what makes you unique, because you're really just a yawn if it goes." - Bette Midler

Pretty much -- I'm just a girl. I feel grown up at times...a little too grown up...and at other times I feel so childish and foolish it's not even funny. I love people too easily which I can't decide if that is a good thing or a bad thing. I like rainbows...I like sunsets...I'm sure I would like the sunrise if it wasn't so damn early. I love to be held - nothing better than cuddling with someone you love.  I feel like my life is stretched between work life and the life I feel my persona fits. I want to be unique, but find that I am just like everyone else. I'm very smart and way cool. Seriously.

More? Ok. Well, I love music and I am not one of those types who sticks to one genre. In the same day you can find me listening to angry goth/techno-esque music and then later on hear some music from my favorite musicals. It's very --well, bipolar of me. I know this. Sorry. You'll like me anyways :P


15 interesting facts about myself:


1. I grew up in a town of around 200 people in Kansas.
2. One of my many favorite movies is Almost Famous (see one of the many favorite scenes from this movie below)


3. I went to Peru for a month back in 2007 - one of my favorite life experiences ever and I definitely want to do something like that again.


4. I used to have a tongue ring and I really miss it. I took it out for interviews my senior year at college and it closed up too fast for me to put it back in :( 


5. I once had 17 stitches from a food fight at church.


6. I love needles but I don't have any tattoos as I am afraid I would regret whatever I got.  So instead I give blood regularly.


7. My favorite musical of all time is Rent and I got to see it when they were doing their tour out here in Phoenix and it was AMAZING. Wish I could have seen the original cast on Broadway - that would have been amazing as well.


8. If I love someone - I like telling them any chance I can get and I genuinely mean it every time. I know people worry that "love" is a word that gets tossed around - but if I tell you that I love you...it means that I do.


9. On my 21st birthday after being out at the bars, my friends decided it was a good idea to take me to an adult bookstore since I had never been in one. I had to buy something since it was my first time so I bought a dirty magazine. When we went to the next bar I realized I had forgotten my license at the adult bookstore and I had to walk in where they all announced "Hey...it's the birthday girl" and then all the gross weird people in the store turned and clapped for me. 


10. I have a goal to get completely out of debt (aka...Dave Ramsey's Plan) but I think it is going to take me a couple of years. I should be paying off my car by August of this year though! woo hoo


11. One day I would love to own a coffee shop - but I don't know if I'd be a very good business owner.


12. I wish gas prices were still low because one of my favorite things is to just get in the car and drive around.  I get so much "think time" in and it is interesting the places you find yourself.


13. I am a camp director one week out of the summer for a church camp 7th - 12th grade -- when did I get so brave? Those kids are NUTS!


14.  I don't think there is any better sport to watch than men's beach volleyball. yummy.


15. My favorite pizza topping is mushrooms....I LOVE MUSHROOMS!