let the madness begin...

So today is my last day here in Alabama for two whole weeks while I am out on vacation. My plan was to write a lovely post similar to a Holiday Family Newsletter summarizing Brian, Scruffles, and my past year… but as you can see, that didn’t happen. Of course when my personal life becomes stressful and overwhelming, so does my professional one. I know I constantly joke about the relaxed environment I work in, but today was a huge exception to the rule. I had over 17 appointments in my waiting room (five of which were here at the same time making seating non-existent), have made a ton of files, written a bunch of receipts for collection payments, updated the returned mail database, etc. I can also safely say that the flipping phone has never rung as much as it has today… at one point all three lines were lit while other calls were coming in and bouncing straight to voicemail. Can’t a girl catch her breath?! I have become spoiled with this stress-free lifestyle; being thrown head first into a stressful one without any notice is just plain mean!

Thank goodness for my vacation – I can’t wait! But do please pray for me because we have a lot of traveling ahead of us in the next two weeks… all which must be done with a 7 month old puppy. Tomorrow we will load up the truck and drive 13 hours up to Virginia where we will all spend five days with Brian’s family. Than on Christmas day we will all board a Northwest flight and head to Seattle which just thinking about makes me anxious. Holiday travel alone can be a mess but include the seven hours of flying with a three hour layover creating a possibility for lost luggage with a puppy as a carry on… oh. my. gawd. I don’t even want to think about it so moving on… we will be in Seattle for a week catching up with our friends, spending time with my family, and enjoying the life we both left behind and miss a lot. Fast forward to early New Year’s Day where we board a plane back to Virginia (with another damn layover!) and land that night only to quickly hop back in the truck and start the 13 hour drive back to lower Alabama. Ugh. I haven’t even started packing yet…

However, the stress I know I will feel during my travels won’t even come close to the happiness I will feel spending time back home. I can’t wait to have everyone meet little Scruffles (and my grandparents to meet Brian for the first time!), catch up from all the drama I surely missed over the past eight months, and enjoy a Starbuck’s Peppermint Mocha. Mmmmm. Even with two weeks of vacation, I know I won’t get to do everything I want so the first thing to go will be sleep. I figure I would rather come home exhausted filled with awesome memories and a million pictures than come home well rested. This vacation isn’t really a “vacation” - it will be more hectic than my daily life now but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I probably won’t be able to blog for the next two weeks so I apologize in advance. However, I should be back up and running on January 3, 2007 (I can’t believe it! 2007!) so check back than for all the updates from our trip. I hope everyone rings in the New Year on a fantastic note and of course: HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

(click on the picture to enlarge)

i feel like a mommy...

I have heard from a million different sources that once you have a child, your motherly instincts will just simply ‘kick in’. I could never really comprehend this… just going from thinking about yourself to constantly thinking about, accommodating, and planning for someone else in what seems almost like an instant is such a huge notion. I am very far off from having children of my own (knock on wood! knock on wood!) but since getting a little puppy, I already have a much better understanding… and appreciation… for parents.

All of my friends and family told me when I was thinking about finally purchasing the dog I had dreamed of for years that it would really be like having a little fluffy child. I knew my life would change at least slightly since I would have to make changes in my daily routine and financial budget, plus I would have a whole new slew of responsibilities… but no way would my responsibilities be changed that dramatically. Little did I know because even having a pet brings on those motherly instincts.

First the changes seemed gradual and even exciting… cleaning pee puddles off the carpet is cute for the first week because how could I really stay mad at those puppy dog eyes? Sure, the expenses seemed high but it all seemed just ‘start-up costs’ – you have to get the puppy shots, the puppy bed, the food bowls, the toys, the treats, the leash, the collar, the tags. Phew. Than you are in the clear right? Nope. I had forgotten about the licenses and registration fees. Oh well, these were all one time costs right? Things would start to balance out again right? Well, kind of.

Now this fee doesn’t apply to every dog, but our little Scruffles has to visit a groomer every other month so he doesn’t get… well, too scruffily. And while those appointments are necessary, they aren’t cheap. Of course not. Than there are the toys, the food, the puppy pads, the collars, the leashes that get out grown or used up and need to be replaced. *sigh* As I told Scruffles the other day, “I have eaten peanut butter and jelly sandwiches all week so I could take you to the vet. If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is!” But this is all just about money… what about the new responsibilities?

I can’t tell you the times I couldn’t go straight out to meet up with friends after work or turn down a weekend away because of the puppy. Missing a series premiere on television because the puppy needs to be walked, make-out sessions cut short since Scruffles jumps on our laps demanding ‘pay attention to me!’, or my relaxing couch time cut short due to the nightly struggle of brushing him. Or how about the simple fact that every chore becomes twice as long since he insists on helping me do it… Scruffles feels the need to help vacuum (barking at the machine and running in front of it), do the dishes (try and get in the dishwasher), clean the bathroom (get in the tub), or fold laundry (drag socks all over the house).

But just lately have my maternal instincts kicked in. Brian and I have decided to take Scruffles with us our on two week vacation to Virginia and Washington… and this decision alone has changed everything. First we had to book tickets for him to fly with us. Let’s just say when I went to visit Janice in Arizona a few years ago for New Years, my tickets cost the same as the dogs. Ugh. Than we had to buy him the carrier allowed on airlines which resulted in three separate phone calls to airlines and follow up calls to make sure we had bought the correct one; I am taking no chances. We decided to next the airplane bathrooms in case we have an emergency… which means we have to sit next to the airplane bathrooms for seven hours. Eww!

Than we had to get a health certificate proving our puppy was safe to travel across the United States which is a standard procedure… but a costly one. Basically we had to pay $65 for a half a piece of paper with three items circled and his temperature written on it. And I have been stressing about how a 7 month year old puppy will do handling 12 hours of traveling (check in, flight, lay over, baggage claim, etc.) shoved in a cube. Just thinking about it makes me get anxious. So I decided to get the little guy some puppy sleeping pills just in case it’s too much for him. Add another $20 to the growing list of costs associated with this vacation. Please, let it stop!

Nope. Puppy is like a child in the sense they have the worst timing ever. Four days before his appointment to be given a health certificate, he gets the flu. Poor little guy was throwing up for days. Picture me holding him so he wont play in it while I clean it up, talk on the phone, and attempt to not burn dinner before Brian gets home. Whee! So of course we have to take him to the vet a few days before his other vet appointment to get him something for his flu. Two doctors appointments in four days; what a mess.

And now hear I sit trying to make a list of things to pack for my trip home… but the entire list so far is comprised of things only for the puppy! My carry on will be the ‘diaper bag’ equivalent for a dog: puppy pads, treats, food, bowls, toys, collar, harness, leash, coat & sweater (yah, no I am not kidding. That guy gets cold!), health certificate, birth certificate, rabies and shot information, etc. I am going to feel like a mom lugging a huge bag filled with crap (none of it for me!) while trumping thru the airport.

I could go on and on listing exactly why Scruffles is really like my little baby boy… but this is probably become boring enough! One instance can really sum it up for you: people know I am not a morning person! I am horrible at hitting the snooze and getting up at the last possible second, which is still often too late. But now I get up a half hour earlier just so I can play with Scruffles before I go. Aww cue the cheesy movie of the week music. (But I am still grumpy for about twenty minutes… that won’t change!)

So basically I have a little family of my own now… in a non-legal sense! Brian and I live together with our little puppy and while I can say I have domestically changed dramatically, I couldn’t be happier. If you had asked me a year ago what I say in my immediate future, this wouldn’t have been it! A family was far away from my mind. But now that I have one, I wouldn’t want anything else. However, the whole real family/baby thing… that needs to wait for a looooong time. Puppy is a handful enough! Which reminds me: please pray for our vacation – in between holiday travel, the dog on a plane, the lay overs, etc., I see this as being a recipe for disaster.

*pic of the little guy who inspired this post*

it's friday...

and my brain just isn't into it. i have been dead for the past two hours and planned on posting during the last thirty minutes of my day shift but than had brian and our friend garrison came to surprise me at work (which was awesome!) but leaves me with no time to post... but i am not sure if my brian could come up with anything cool to post anyway.

hmmm okay wait. give me a second here...

well, no wait i WAS looking up some cool 80s trivia fact to post here but than my internet explorer windows all froze so this is all i can post. *sigh* i apologize for being so lame.

if it is any consolation, tomorrow is the weekend! party it up for me wherever you are... and i will try my hardest to party it up for you in daleville, AL.

truthiness...

as i found out on buzzsugar this morning, Merriam-Webster's Word of 2006 is "truthiness." Coined by Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert, "truthiness" is defined as follows: "Truth that comes from the gut, not books" and "the quality of preferring concepts or facts one wishes to be true, rather than concepts or facts known to be true." Awesome! i think this word will do wonders to my own debates especially heated political ones while i reside in conservative southern Alabama. "What?! You are going to quote who? Or bring up that old historical event? Please! You need to get in touch with the truthiness." Who can argue that? No one.

if you want to watch the orignial television segment Colbert introduced "truthiness" last year, click here.

also, you can watch Colbert gloat about the honor here.

Truthiness is my new vocab word for the month of December. I plan on trying to use it as much as possible in everyday interactions and conversations. If I interject this awesome vocab gem into witty conversation with humorous results, I will be sure to post it. Poor Brian, he better get ready for my truthiness!

kidrobot

Most already know my obsession with kidrobot. Stevie, Kyle, and I discovered the awesome urban toys back in October when I had flown to New York for a visit. We first stumbled upon the Series 3 Dunnies at Urban Outfitters and were instantly hooked. A few hours later we went to the actual Kidrobot store where I somehow was even more sucked in, convincing myself I needed their overpriced but amazingly cool hoodies and a collectible girl and her dog dressed as cactus. Yah, I can’t even being to explain why. Point of story: we all fell in love with kidrobot and I even wrote a whole post dedicated to it.

So what exactly is kidrobot? Let me cut and paste their own explanation from their site: Founded by designer Paul Budnitz in 2002, Kidrobot is the world’s premier creator and retailer of limited edition art toys and apparel. The products sold at Kidrobot merge urban street trends and pop art to produce limited edition, collectible toys and apparel. Many Kidrobot products feature unique collaborations with famous artists from backgrounds of graffiti, fine art, industrial design, graphic design, illustration and music. Still want to know more? Click here.

Alright so anyway, fast forward three months to the present day: my love for kidrobot continues. I can’t explain why these random toys from graffiti artists has resulted in hours of searching ebay or inspired all of my friends and family’s stocking stuffers. I simply find them ingenious. It has even sparked conversations with my best friend Stevie about how exactly we would design our own dunnies if we had the chance. Apparently, now I do… sort of.

Kidrobot now sells a blank 7 inch Munny giving anyone the power of designing their own toy and Stevie being the rad girl she is bought it for my birthday! Check out the original blank ‘canvas’ here. After much trial and error (and frustration as I kicked it all over the living room floor!), I finally determined colored Sharpie markers would be the best way to cover the little guy. Note to future artists: don’t use acrylic paints. Huge mistake. Ugh.

So here I post the pictures of the completed piece! The pictures aren't great but it’s really hard to take a picture of the Munny because he is vinyl so the whole thing lights up if I use a flash... but doesn't show up well without one. Ugh. Oh well. So even though there are pictures, I will try and give a better description: He has a gun on his tummy with a bullet shooting and shattering a star on his side. He has paint running up his legs and arms (which somehow more look like fire now since I made it orange), a heart on his belly, stars all over his back, and a skull and cross bones on his shoulders. On his head he has pink and purple argyle, green graffiti writing bubble letters that say Addy on the top of his head, and a ton of stars and hearts on the other side. It’s hard to see but all the hearts have cross bones underneath so it’s like the heart replaced a skull.









So there he is in all his completed glory! He sits proudly on my upstairs bedroom shelves next to the other professional Dunnies so I can bask in my creative accomplishment. Although I do realize that someday I will probably grow out of this phase and wake up to realize I have a colored vinyl monkey collecting dust. *sigh* Until that day, I will enjoy my sense of artistic accomplishment. That’s right bitches – I designed my own Munny.

100 random question survey part two

wow. today is totally hell. seriously. i don't think i have ever had a day where my to-do list was so long and i was so stressed... all the while encountering the most idiotic and un-customer service friendly people ever at every task i need to complete. well, okay no, the lady from northwest airlines was awesome and to her i give a shout out. but to the lady at veterinarian office, how are you even still employed?! does your boss know how many clients you lose him daily? while hanging up on you may have been bitchy, it was totally justified. in fact, it made my day... and i smile just thinking about it all over again.

and to my bad ass puppy scruffles who i am convinced logs on to this blog and reads it daily when brian and i are out: please stop puking. please stop. it has been worrying me for the past 36 hours. if you are seriously sick than i am more than willing to be late to work and drive you to the doctor tomorrow morning... but if its just because you keep eating wood chips and screws, please just stop. we have bought you lovely holiday treats that i am sure taste much better than wood anyway.

to the copier: why do you keep making that high pitched whining sound? to the tivo: why do you keep freezing and pixilating the picture? to the television: why can't we get sound? to the television repair guy: why don't you make house calls? to alabama: why must you be so lame as to only have television repair guys 40 minutes away from my house? aaaugh!

know what would calm me down? a double tall peppermint mocha from starbucks. mmmm. but stupid dothan, AL is the ONLY PLACE IN THE WORLD without a starbucks. and the tiny podunk coffee shops around here don't add flavor to mochas or add another shot of espresso to a small (not a tall, they don't have tall sizes) because (and I quote!), "we just don't do that. i don't even think that's possible." *sigh*

so world, you win. today you win. you have defeated me. i will leave work soon and drive home to immediately eat a cookie and take a nap with my puppy... provided he doesn't throw up on me. damn you world! but watch out because tomorrow, i plan on being up for the challenge!

and as promised, the rest of the 100 pointless questions. woot!

51) Do you own something from Banana Republic?
I think I own one shirt from there. I owned more but have since given it away. It seems too classy of a store for me… and too expensive. But I see me needing to buckle down and buying nicer clothes in the near future for jobs so I assume I will shop their more often soon.

52) Are you thinking about somebody right now?
Scruffles my puppy – I am hoping he has stopped throwing up finally. Sorry, probably TMI.

53) Ever called somebody Boo?
No but that was my nickname in my high school relationship. We were so hip and in love. HA!

54) Do you know how to swim?:
Yes! I took swimming lessons as a kid; I loved them.

55) Do you own a diamond ring?:
Yes! Thank you Brian! And no, it isn’t that ring. It was for our one year anniversary. I never take it off.

56) Are you happy with your life right now?
Yes, I am very content… but I miss home and my friends terribly.

57) Do you like your hair?:
Uhh I guess. I haven’t liked my hair really since I moved down to Alabama. It’s driving me up a wall! But my latest cut is fun… I think I just miss my long hair.

58) Does anyone have a crush on you?
Well, I hope Brian does… but than again, I hope it’s more than a crush by now.

59) What the hell is up with all the questions missing?!

60) What were you doing in May of 1994?
I was in 5th grade so most likely sitting in class, wearing my gray sweats, two different colored converse high top sneakers, and a black baseball hat hitting on Tyler or Pat and playing at recess with Abby and Libbye.

61) Stupid missing questions…

62) McDonalds or Wendys?
Both depending on the mood. I love Wendy’s chicken nuggets… but love Mickey D’s breakfast sandwiches. Tough call.

63) Do you like yourself?
Yes, most of the time. Although, sometimes I really piss me off. Today I like myself. Saturday – not so much.

64) Are you closer to your mother or father?:
My mom. My dad and I are too much alike and drive each other crazy.

65) Favorite physical feature of the opposite sex?:
Well I first notice the whole package and than check out the smile. I more have to look the full on presentation than individual characteristics. But I do love a good set of abs…

66) Are you afraid of the dark?:
No. I am afraid, however, of scary things hiding in the dark. (shan’s answer and I am stealing it!)

67) Have you ever eaten paste?
Definitely haven’t. I remember looking at everybody else munching away thinking, why? I would much rather eat my baggie of cheerios.

68) Do you own a webcam?:
No.

69) Have you ever stripped?
Yes, but never for money. However I have been known to flash some thong panties drunk at a bar and coincidentally getting dollars shoved in the strings…And I had a stripper pole in my living room back home thanks to Kyle.

70) Ever broke a bone?:
Nope but I always wanted to when I was a kid so I could have a cool colored cast and have all my friends sign it.

71) Are you religious?
Yes but not in a way that I can define with just a label or denomination. I also am a big believer in Karma.

72) Do you chat on AIM often?:
I did in college but I most often found myself chatting with my roommate who was five feet away asking if she wanted to go get dinner downstairs in the cafeteria.

73) Pringles or Lays?:
Pringles

74) Have you ever broken someone’s heart?
I think maybe once but as far as relationships go, I have always gotten my broke.

75) should I just start making up questions to add in here?!

76) Full House or The Brady Bunch?:
Full House all the way! The Brady kids annoy me!

77) if there is no question here, fine. I will add a random trivia fact. If we were playing F*ck You right now, I would have to say F*ck You because this number has a 7 in it, is a double, AND divisible by 7. [insert the oohs and ahhs here]

78) Has anyone ever called you a tease?
Probably but I don’t have an instance that I recall.

79) Do you have a birth mark?
Not that I can think of. Probably a freckle or something.

80) WTF?! Okay fine another trivia. And since its number 80, here is an 80’s question: Axl Rose was an anagram for what phrase? Oral Sex. Ohhh you are so naughty Guns N Roses!

81) Can you cook?:
Barely. Poor Brian.

82) 3 things that annoy you:
(1) ignorant and/or close minded people, (2) slow drivers especially when they are in the ‘fast lane’, and (3) the lack of separation of church and state in our government

83) Do you text message often?
No, just for the occasional ‘good morning’ and ‘hello’ or panicked ‘call me to save me from this boring dinner event’

84) This is pissing me off! Fine, more trivia: the singer Johnny Ace (John Marshall Alexander, Jr.) committed suicide by playing Russian roulette in 1954. I didn’t know anyone was actually stupid enough to play.

85) Do you have any scars?
A ton. I am a super klutz. I have a million scars from my stupid drunk antics.

86) What do you want more than anything right now?
A nap and/or an energy drink. Wait, more than anything?! A million dollars!

87) Do you enjoy scary movies?
Love them!

88) Relationships or one night stands?:
Relationships- I ain't no ho.

89) Big Red or Juicy Fruit?:
Could care less about either.

90) Do you enjoy greasy food?
Depends on my mood but usually no, I would rather eat healthy. But sometimes, mmmmm!

91) Have you seen all the Rocky movies?:
None of them

92) Do you own a box of crayons?:
Probably not. But I do own colored pencils and markers.

93) WTF?! Fine. More trivia. A newborn kangaroo is about 1 inch in length. See, you learn something new everyday!

94) Who was the last person you said I love you to?:
Brian on the phone about 2 hours ago. Before that, Scruffles on my way out the door 4 hours ago.

95) What was the last thing that made you mad?:
This stupid lady at the veterinarian’s office. What an idiot! I eventually just hung up on her.

96) Who was the last person that made you cry?:
Brian was the last person I spoke to while I was crying. The last person who made me cry was my mom.

97) Who was the last person that made you laugh?:
I haven’t laughed yet today but I am sure Brian was the last one. We were joking around all night yesterday.

98) Who was the last person that texted you?
My friend Lou who texted me a picture of a monkey. Long story…

99) Who was the last person that called you?
Me? Brian The last call I answered (i.e. – work)? This poor guy, John, who was forced to be on hold for 5 minutes. I felt bad.

100) If you had one wish what would it be?
That my travel plans over the holidays go without a hitch.

100 random question survey

it is monday and my brian is fried. it should be all rejuvenated from this past weekend and ready to take on the world... but sadly, this is not the case. so for today's post i could only muster up enuf wit to answer fun pointless questions about myself. which really is an excuse i think because i actually love to fill out surveys especially the silly ones found plastering the myspace bulletins. yah, i am a junkie. i can't even deny it.

1) Are you in a complicated relationship?
I wouldn’t really say it’s complicated at all. Pretty simple in fact: Brian and I are in love, live together, and have a dog. Pretty much sums that one up.

2) Do you hate more than 3 people?
Well, I don’t think I hate anyone…but I would bitch-slap a few people, if I was given the chance.

3) How many houses have you lived in?
12 in total. My parents and I lived in an apartment in Redmond, a house in Duvall, I have lived in 3 different dorm rooms, a townhouse in California, 2 Seattle apartments, one fraternity, a place near Lake City, and two different places in Alabama. Phew.

4) Favorite candy bar?
I am a big fan of Reese’s and Butterfingers.

5) Number 5 is missing. The mystery of number 5 will remain on my permanently on my conscious. What did it ask?! What did it ask?!

6) Have you ever tripped someone?
Probably but unintentionally. I mostly trip over myself.

7) Must be out playing with 5. hmmmm....

8) How many pairs of shoes do you own?:
Oh god this could take awhile. Hold on… uhh I am guessing more than 10 but less than 15.

9) Do you own a Britney Spears CD?:
I am not going to hide behind my lame choice of music: yup, I do. I own 3 of them.

10) Have you ever thrown up in public?:
Yes, but only due to drunken escapades.

11) Name one thing that is always on your mind:
I don’t think I have one specific thing my mind is always focused on… but right now I am focused on surviving the last 30 minutes of work.

12) Favorite genre of music?
Usually more pop-ish music but I like almost anything. I like more upbeat music in general.

13) What is your zodiac sign?:
Sagittarius

14) What time were you born?:
I think like 3:17pm or something.

15) Do you like beer?:
Love it!

16) Have you made a prank phone call?:
Yah but not since Middle School… or in High School when Tami and I would prank call our friends.

17) What is the most embarrassing CD you own?:
Most of my CDs probably should induce shame, but I stand proud! To name a few: Backstreet Boys, Tom Jones, a few Totally Hits or Now Music compilations, the list just goes on and on.

18) Are you sarcastic?:
I wouldn’t know how to function without being it.

19) What are your favorite color(s)?:
I love the color red but like to wear the color white.

20) How many watches do you own?:
I think I own one but I haven’t worn it in years. Ever since I lived in California and no one wore watches there I haven’t put it back on.

21) Summer or winter?
Summer

22) Is anyone in love with you?
Well, hopefully Brian is or things might be awkward!

23) Favorite color to wear:
I like to wear white t-shirts and jeans (if denim is a color…)

24) Pepsi or Sprite?:
Diet Coke

25) Man we got a lot of questions up and escaping…

26) Where is your second home?:
My parent’s house… more home than Alabama will ever be.

27) Have you ever slapped someone?:
I don’t think I have intentionally but I have punched someone. I was seven.

29) How many lamps are in your bedroom?:
Just one lamp but a ton of candles.

30) How many video games do you own?
I own a ton of old school Nintendo games – enuf to fill a whole shoe box! Brian has video games but they aren’t really mine so I don’t count those.

31) What was your first pet?:
A hamster named Teacup… but I couldn’t pronounce it so I called her Teeka.

32) What was the last movie that you saw in theaters?
Déjà vu. It was actually a lot better than people expected; I was very intrigued the whole plot.

33) Do looks matter?
No one wants to admit it but yes, to a certain degree.

34) Do you use chapstick?:
Rosebud Salve or Burt’s Bees

35) is missing too! Lame!

36) American Eagle or Abercrombie?
I prefer Abercrombie… but would rather not pay $30 for a t-shirt so it has been more American Eagle lately. Well, that was before moving to Alabama, now it’s Walmart or TJ Maxx. Whoo hoo!

37) Are you too forgiving?
Yes

38) How many children do you want?:
One or two

39) Do you own something from Hot Topic?:
You betcha. My whole wardrobe used to be from Hot Topic!

40) Favorite breakfast meal?:
Cereal and toast… but preferably a crumpet. Yah, yah, I am weird.

41) Do you own a gun?:
No but I live in a town where everyone else does. That should make me feel safe but I think it makes me feel the opposite…

42) Ever thought you were in love?:
Yes

43) When was the last time you cried?:
Saturday night… twice. Ugh.

44) What did you do 2 nights ago?
Took a bath, talked to Brian for hours, had a movie marathon on the couch, and went shopping for stuff for Toys for Tots.

45) Olive Garden?
is this a question? Uhh, can I answer: yes please!

46) Have you ever called your teacher mom?
No, but my mom is a teacher. Yah, she’s pretty nifty.

47) Have you ever been in a castle?
I've been to the castle adult super-store AND to a Medieval Times restaurant that is shaped like a castle. Do those count?

48) Nicknames?
Addy

49) Do you know anyone named Bertha?
No but now I wish I did.

50) Ever been to Kentucky?:
If so, very briefly on my road trip down here.

ahh, i am feeling rejuvenated already! 51-100 will be post tomorrow... hopefully with some other fun commentary as well. i think a nap is in order...

43 things

“I’ve been exploring the website: www.43things.com today and must say it's rather inspirational. It guides you through the process of figuring out what matters to you- what 43 things you would like to accomplish in life. It also allows you to see how many others share similar goals and what other goals people have set- an interesting way of defining your life and learning how others define theirs. Just thought I’d share!”

I saw this posted on my friend Shannon’s blog months ago but haven’t stopped thinking about it since. I have always wanted to really check out the website but have always seemed to put it off until a few days ago. See, most people revaluate their lives at the beginning of the New Year and make resolutions, but I have always been one to reflect after a birthday. I mean, I am a whole year older so have I really lived up to my potential for the past year… or what do I need to accomplish within the next? Especially since this past birthday (combined with my current life experiences) have brought huge revelations to a head. Let me explain.

College is a wonderful experience and I would recommend anyone to go. The education and degree isn’t really the point of attending college to me. It is a chance to become independent and gain life experiences. I learned more about myself, the people I want to surround myself with, what I truly want out of life, etc. It was an amazing time. But also a drunk time. People often go full into ‘college mode’ of partying, hooking up, and being wild and crazy because it is the time of your life when you really can and the excuse of “being in college” is acceptable. This lifestyle is a blast… but what happens after graduation? Unfortunately, many people get stuck and can’t move on from what the associate to be the greatest time of their life. They continue to party and continue to focus on instant gratification. But instead this should be another time of reflection – college was great. But what next?

I will be the first to say I stayed in college mode after graduation. Not to a pathetic degree but still friends, clubs, parties, and a constant lack of sleep was the lifestyle I chose while also trying to juggle a career. Sooner or later, something has to give. Thankfully I was able to balance both without damaging my work performance (too much!) or future references. What made me move on from this lifestyle was completely unexpected: I fell in love and moved across the country for him. Wow.

So I moved to Alabama. I now live with my boyfriend and our dog. I cook instead of eating frozen pizzas and actually vacuum instead of pretending just using a Swiffer is acceptable. Everyone knows a puppy is really like a child so now my time is spent walking the little guy and I spend my last $10 on toys for him instead of a cute t-shirt for myself. I am learning to think with less of a ‘me, me, me’ mentality and make decisions that will be best for ‘us’. As my friend back home said, “[I] have become married with a kid… without being married or having kids.” HA!

Yah, so I am becoming domesticated and more mature. But I am only 24! I don’t need to be old and frumpy just because I have graduated college! I still can’t wait to move back home and be able to enjoy the Seattle social scene and toasts shots with my friends. BUT moving down here has pulled me away from the drama, the booze, and the night life forcing me to really revaluate what I want to focus on and work towards. So for my past birthday, I decided to really make a list on goals to accomplish. Not necessarily in this next year, but to just accomplish in my life. This birthday is a monumental one in the turning point it represents in my life and needs to be celebrated with a look to the future and the potential I have. This list can help keep me on track and reminded me where I want to go… even once I move back home to my much more social life in Seattle.

I started my list of goals with all my serious recent reflection in mind… but than remember the 43 website and began to search the site. Thus, my list is now intermixed with serious and silly goals I want to accomplish. Life is too short to take too seriously. Thus, I present to you my newest 43 list: (however I assume this to be a work in process because I hope to be continually adding goals as I cross off others! I will try and keep you posted of the items I do cross off and what I add.)

P.S. – if nothing else, check out www.43things.com to see what others what to accomplish because undoubtedly you will have done some of those things in your own life and it is great to realize you are doing things others strive for!

1. I want to become more punctual. I am notorious for running late and it’s embarrassing. I feel this happens because I try to accomplish too much in a short period of time. I need to just leave my pile of laundry to be folded later so I can pick up my friend on time for the movies.
2. I want to travel. Number one place I want to visit: Egypt. I have wanted to go there since 5th grade and touch a pyramid.
3. I want to live with passion and integrity.
4. I want to drink more water daily. However, I say this all the time and constantly fail. Maybe if I put the goal in writing I will feel more compelled to actually accomplish it.
5. I want to be the leader of a Girl Scout Troop.
6. I want to learn how to change the oil in my car.
7. I want to make a difference. To accomplish this I want to continually volunteering my time for non-profit organizations and being a political activist.
8. I want to learn how to play the guitar.
9. I want to watch "The Wizard of Oz" at the same time as listening to Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon"
10. I want to learn a foreign language. I have taken the equivalent of three years of Spanish and three years of French – but can barely form a sentence in either.
11. I want to continue blogging even when I move back to Seattle. It has become an amazing creative outlet for me, almost like a journal. It has become very therapeutic.
12. I want to continue learning how to cook new recipes monthly. I don’t want to fall into a rut of Meatloaf Monday, Taco Tuesday, etc.
13. I want to design and make my own clothing. Not for a profession, but just as a creative outlet.
14. I want to continue teaching Yoga. Eventually, I want to teach a yoga class where I play punk, pop, and/or alternative music instead of the usual soothing background music. I feel not everyone relaxes to Yanni or Deep Forest and changing the tempo may change the rigidity of traditional yoga and make it more modern.
15. I want to read more books. I go thru phases where I read a ton and than taper off. To start small, I want to at least read three books a year. That is very do-able.
16. I want to re-open my 401K.
17. I originally wanted to run a 5K in less than 30 minutes… but I accomplished that last month! So next up: 10K in less than an hour. (I prefer endurance over speed.)
18. I would like to give blood on a regular basis.
19. I want to start taking dance classes again. I have a huge passion for dance but haven’t taken classes in years. I miss it.
20. I want to get married.
21. I never want to be complacent. I want to continually learn new skills and educate myself.
22. I have always wanted to write a book about my own life experiences. (But feel egotistical to assume that my life is of enough greatness to warrant writing a book about, let alone people being interested enough to read it. Besides, I am only 23 – maybe I should live thru a few more chapters before contemplating a memoir.)
23. I want to learn how to barbeque. First step – I need to get a barbeque.
24. I need to become more patient. I have actually come along way on this but also think planning my time better (see goal #1) would help this. I wouldn’t be running late so I wouldn’t feel the need to speed every time I hop in my car or tap my foot while in the line at the grocery store.
25. I want to bungee jump, sky dive, and ride a hot air balloon.
26. I want to own my own house.
27. I want to hit my snooze button less and get up earlier. I think it would start my day off in a better mood plus I would feel less rushed and more accomplished.
28. Someday I hope to have one of my original paintings hang in a gallery and/or sell one to someone who is not a friend or family member.
29. I want to send in my own secret to http://postsecret.blogspot.com/.
30. I want to have children and be a great mother.
31. I want to also become a Pilates Instructor.
32. I want to understand the stock market.
33. I want to be more knowledgeable about current events and politics instead of only being fluent in current celebrity gossip and the latest fashion trends.
34. I want to travel to Spain and see the Running of the Bulls.
35. I want to find a career that I love… instead of being stuck in a job just because it pays the bills.
36. I want to get the Japanese symbols for Faith and Love next to my Hope tattoo in honor of my mother.
37. I want to decorate my bedroom. I want to paint the walls a fun color, hang up artwork, get an awesome bed frame, etc. I want to create an awesome space I come home to every night instead of the boring one I have now.
38. I want to continue writings letters more often. I have done this more simply because I have moved away from my friends and family, but I want to keep this up. Getting a card in the mail will never replace getting an email in the inbox.
39. I want to continue being certified in First Aid/CPR. It seems like something that is just smart to keep current.
40. I want to meet Mark Hoppus from Blink 182. This might be on my list for a long time…
41. I want to grow my own fresh herbs and vegetables in a garden.
42. I want to surround myself with people who inspire me to always continue to grow and become a better person…
43. and I want to continually inspire others to do the same.

need some holiday shopping help?

i had a really fun inspirational blog half way ready to post... but was then swamped with work stuff to finish. ugh. so as i was getting ready to log on and finish up the entry, i had a very rude client just berate me for several minutes. i love it when clients come up in here and start yelling at me asking me 'how hard is your job?' well sir, it is difficult when i have a**holes like you come here with a blank check demanding to know who to fill it out to, for what amount, and the status of a claim without your case number or even the name of the attorney who represents you. see, people shouldn't judge so quickly. although it just looks like i answer phones and file papers, i am also expected to be pyschic making my job very hard.... just like i would assume it wouldn't be hard to stay out of trouble and not need an attorney in the first place, but i guess i was mistaken. isn't that right sir?

so anyway now i am no longer in a fun creative mood to finish my fun blog entry and have decided to save it for tomorrow. it's more fitting for a friday anyway! so instead, today i will post a fun link to fabsugar.com's growing list of recommendations for gifts to give the people in your life called the fab gift guide. it is broken down into catagories like recommendations for the picture perfect sis, the young professional dude, the beauty junkie, the party girl, the gadget guy, the newlyweds, etc. plus, if the gift ideas listed don't spark your interest, check out the brainstorming section where other readers post suggestions for gifts or fun stores to check out. enjoy!

happy birthday brian! (a week late...)

the pics are up and finally posted! whoo hoo! i present them to you now as a time line of the evening so you can really get a sense of the festivities as if you were there.

well, first we went to dinner and had delicious steaks at Longhorn. it was delicious but not picture worthy! moving on...

next up: the mini-party at our house complete with decorations, cheesy party games meant for kids, and party favors all in a pirate theme!

the boys in their eye patches... yes, even scruffles the puppy was included! (please note the awesome light up skull in the background! HA HA)


no pictures of it but tina made an AMAZING german chocolate cake for brian and it was delicious! she really out did herself! it was totally appreciated because we all know brian would have gotten a box cake with tub frosting if i had to make it.

i made brian a shirt to wear at the bar... the letters are a bit crooked thanks to scruffles trying to help me iron on the letters. *sigh* oh well. here is a picture of the front:

(Sky Pirate is a joke among his friends: like they are pirates... of the sky... cause they are bad ass pilots or something. yah i dont know either.)

back of the shirt:

(yah they fly chinook helicopters and the army has patches they wear that call them 'night hookers' which totally makes me think of ladies of the night... hence why i emphasized the pronunciation of hookers. kind of like a more clever way of saying let's get the party started bitches!)

here we are at the bar before all the friends arrived... and before the drinking began! (note: thank you stevie for my awesome purse!)


me doing karaoke to Sir Mix A Lot's "Baby Got Back"


drunk brian posing with... er, more like falling onto... luther - who he called "his rock" all night. HA HA


me making brian look at the camera! (yah brian tried to drink a beer and apparently missed his mouth, hence the nice huge wet spot)


brian 'triumphantly' leaving the bar... i guess. brian felt it necessary to throw up his arms and yell 'whooo hoo' like a victory. i guess leaving the bar before breaking anything is a success and deserves a cheer.


i have refrained to post pictures of how the night ended (brian passed out on the floor!) but don't forget to scroll down to see the previous post to actually watch how drunk brian was on the way home! i think the pictures and video speak for themselves: the party was a success! happy birthday baby!

shaking it!

Brian's birthday party was amazing! What a great weekend. So many great pictures to post... but my camera's batteries died and no kidding, I have to go to the store to buy more AA's before it will turn on long enough for me to upload to my computer. ugh. I thought technology was supposed to make our lives more efficient! Oh well, I will go after work today to pick some up and post the pics tomorrow.

But don't worry, I won't leave you empty handed! See, we went out for brian's birthday on saturday night to a little podunk country karoke bar (i sang Sir Mix A Lot's Baby Got Back!) where poor Brian was fed shot after shot after shot. And they were not kind shots; instead he was filled with 151 and Jack. So you get the idea: around midnight we were (kindly!) kicked out of the bar and the ten minute ride home was all videotaped for your pleasure!

Click here to watch my handsome boy in all his drunk glory!

Yah, he keeps yelling "Shaking It!" but we have no idea why... and of course he can't remember either! Oh and ps. - I wasn't pissed off at all, in fact I was in a great mood, so I have no idea why I look so annoyed in the video. I just kept wiping my eyes since I was laughing so hard I was crying... but I was definitely not mad! Oh well. Hope this video makes your day like it makes mine!

Oohhhh drunkie Brian how I love you!

birthdays galore!

So last weekend was my birthday and Brian and I celebrated it while in South Carolina visiting his parents. We had a blast since the town was obviously tourist driven – there was never a shortage of things to do! My birthday was on Friday, November 24, so we rung it in at midnight by walking on the beach. Sure, it is almost cliché to kiss at midnight in the sand under the stars but the hopeless romantic in me loved every minute of it. Plus, I had never been to the Atlantic Ocean before so I was excited to check that off my list of lifelong goals at the same time.

Later in the weekend Brian took me out for my birthday dinner at Medieval Times, a themed restaurant complete with knights, horses, and grub! It was awesome! As we walked in, we got goofy paper crowns and flags of color to wave and cheer on our specific knight. We lucked out and got front row seats which were amazing – at some points we were less than five feet away from the action. The entire evening was an elaborate show complete with jousts and battles between good and evil. The whole time we got to eat grub without utensils on pewter plates and steins of beer! All in all, it was pretty cheesy but that was what made it so fun. I didn’t stop smiling the whole night!

At the end, the entire audience went into the foyer where everyone could take pictures with cast members, on the ‘thrones’ built around the room, and of course buy way overpriced souvenirs. Brian and I decided to skip buying expensive knick knacks and made memories of our own by taking a ton of goofy pictures! I have posted a few here for your enjoyment…

Meet the King and Queen!


Brian on his throne and beer stein


All the girls were lined up to take pictures with the knights who to me seemed full of themselves, greasy, and not hot. So I took a different route and jumped next to the Dungeon Master who was supposed to be guarding the entrance to a dungeon exhibit. (You had to pay to go in so his job was basically to stand around and keep out cheapskates.) Poor guy looked more confused than amused I was posing with him especially since I didn’t even ask permission… I think he finally had enough when he (fake!) choked me.

On the way home, we decided the fun wasn’t over yet so we tried to find the cheesiest, tourist-y landmarks possible to snap pictures in front of. This way our picture frames at home can be filled with nerdy pictures of us instead of classy posed shots… seems more fitting.

First stop, Tommy the Giant Crab! [Insert joke about crabs here… I have heard them all.]

Lastly, Brian and I tried to create a shot where it looked like we were being eaten by a giant shark… but we basically looked more like idiots posing at a store front.

Overall, my 24th birthday was a great one – definitely one of the most memorable! I am really excited because tomorrow we are celebrating Brian’s birthday and I have planned an evening full of friends, booze, and cake. It will be a bit more drunken and mischievous than mine since we won’t be around our parents so I am sure the pictures from his party will be even better. I promise to take extra batteries and obnoxiously take shots all night to post next week and embarrass the birthday boy rightly! Aren’t those what birthdays are for?!