Yup...I fell off the Bandwagon

So much for 3o posts in 30 days. This last week I have even thought about it multiple times, but once I missed once it was easier to not pull through and actually post something because I knew it was already too late to make up for my mistake. At any rate, this whole experience has definitely been a ride. I've learned a lot about being more creative with my posts and incorporating my readers into my post.

Moving on to other things, thanks to everyone for all of the support for me after I was laid off from my job. And thanks for all the ideas for Christmas presents! I hope to make several more scarves before Christmas for my niecephews and then maybe some cookie mixes for the families as a whole. As for my parents...I haven't a clue (not that that is something new...)

Friends

Friends is the best show ever. Hands down. Here is one of my favorite clips:


Another episode has to be "The One Where No One's Ready".

What is your all time favorite Friends episode?

I'm Crazy!

I think I'm probably clinically insane for attempting this, but I just signed up for NaBloPoMo. If you don't know what that is, their website is www.nablopomo.com


The idea behind NaBloPoMo is that it is for people trying to become established bloggers. What better way than a challenge? Essentially to get the badge you must first sign up to become part of their site. Then you must blog for 30 consecutive days at least once. I started yesterday, and will attempt to see you at least once every day for the next month.

Wish me luck!

Creativity

My family seems to think I have a lot of it. I'm not so sure. It always seems as if I see something and I steal it, after tweaking it ever so slightly. And then feel guilty, because the idea wasn't 100% mine. I see tons of stuff that inspires me everyday, and I wonder, is it like this for everyone else. That feeling like, "Oh, I wish that was MINE. Well that wouldn't be too hard to do. Just change the colors, and the design like so, and then, it WOULD be mine." And I feel like a fraud. People compliment me, and say, "I can't believe you made that!" I feel like I should tell them that it wasn't my idea. I stole it. Agh! The Plagiarism Police are going to get me!

I guess this thought is running through my head right now, because I'm thinking about opening my own shop on etsy, but I don't know if it would be worth all the time and effort. Is my work original enough that someone would actually want it? Original enough that someone would actually pay for it? I'm not so sure. I guess I would never really know unless I tried to sell it. Sometimes I wish I had a crystal ball to see into the future to answer such questions.

At any rate, if I did open a shop I was planning on including items like: cards, stationary, bottlecap necklaces, magnets, knitted scarves, and tags.

Hey all! Quick note:

I'm going to be following in Melina's footsteps soon. My list of blogging buddies is going to be edited soon. If you haven't posted in a month, you are no longer on my list!

Fair warning!

So, first, I wan't to appologize for my lack of posting...it's terrible that it has been over a month since I last posted. In my defense, I haven't hardly had any time for fun stuff since school started back up again....and it sucks.

On another note, I'll have you know, that I tried to post last week but Blogger was being stupid, and it wouldn't let me post. And then I tried again a couple nights ago and it still wouldn't let me.

I totally had something I wanted to post about, too. But now that I am finally typing, I have NO idea what it was! LOL!

Hope everyone wore maroon or orange today for the Maroon & Orange Effect Day. If you didn't, please don't forget to remember the lives lost in the Virginia Tech Tragedy on Monday. I still cannot believe something that catastrophic could happen. It could have happened at any college, even MY college. It's amazing how it takes a disaster like this to really open people's eyes and draw together. It's actually kind of sad. To think, that it takes some horrible event in order for people to draw closer together. Just like September 11, when everyone had a renewed sense of patriotism. Why do people have to have a wake-up call--in the effect of 33 lives lost, in order to realize that there are more important things than working and making money, and the "I" mentality.

So, please take a page from my book. Don't wait for disasters to open your eyes, try to keep that mentality all the time! I challenge you!
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Looking back at this blog, it did not turn out anything like I had intended it. I hope it touches you like the tragedy has touched me.

So, I've been getting ragged on by a certain someone *cough* Stacy *cough* to hurry up and post again. In my defense February was a short month and I was super busy with school. This is my second attempt today at responding to her today. But I kinda went off on all of my frustrations at the moment with people who think they know what they are talking about..but really don't and I decided it kinda sounded a little hostile so I deleted that one and started over.

I don't really know what to say except that I am so glad that it is dead week because that means that next week is finals week, and then after that is SPRING BREAK!! yay for that!! I'll still be working for the beginning of the week, but at least there won't be any homework!

In other news, I am LOVING the sunshine right now! I just wish I had time to go out and enjoy it.

Wondering about my new headline??

Okay, let's start by saying that my old headline was just supposed to be up until I came up with something witty. Now, a year and a half later, I finally came up with something that I think may suit me a bit better.

I am by no means trying to say that I am a professional photographer, nor am I planning to be in the future--I don't think...... But, I do LOVE taking pictures, and I tend to see the world from behind my camera, even when I don't have it with me.

Today, (well since its almost 1 am now, yesterday), I was looking at the beautiful architecture of downtown Medford as I was walking back to my car after class and wishing that I had my camera to capture it on film...well, nowadays it isn't film, it's a storage card that you upload onto your computer, but you get the idea.....

Everywhere I go....I'm always thinking about how I could capture the moment in still-life....

Whelp, not sure you all cared to know that much. But there it is. Cheerio!

The new year is here! And the funny thing is, I don't feel one ounce different. Sure, theres a different number on the very end of the date...but how much has really changed in our world in the last year?

Sure, I can name a few new things for me, but overall? Not too much worthy of writing down, at least in my opinion. Last night on the news they did a sort of "Year in Review" spiel. You know what the terrible thing was. Almost all of it was SAD. No victories, no amazing heroes mentioned. Nothing. It was almost all devastation, grief, and hate.

Those three school shootings that took place deep in the Amish country.

The baseball player that misdirected his plane and ran into a building, reminding us of that horrible day back in 2001.

The miners that got caught in that horrible accident.

The death toll for our soldiers over in Iraq rising ever more.

Devastation. Grief. Hate.

And throughout the entire presentation I couldn't help thinking of that Jack Johnson song, "The News", about the newscasters that never shed a tear over anything they report about. Even though it seems that 90% of what they report on is sad. Makes ya think, don't it?

On a slightly happier note. Here's my top ten moments in 2006 (Don't worry, most of them are happy, HAPPY things)

1. Fell in love with the most amazing guy ever! (that would be Zach, just in case anybody wasn't sure who I was talking about)
2. Graduated from High School
3. Lost a friend :( Or someone I thought was a friend
4. Grew closer to God
5. Started College
6. Got a job I love (@ Morgan Stanley)
7. Survived my first term of College
8. Learned what missing someone truly felt like
9. Became better friends with 2 people (Matt and Melina-Shoutout to you)
10. Been truly touched by someone that I've never met (Elizabeth-I pray for you daily!)
    

Ever realize that life sometimes gets so out of control-that there are just SO many things going on that you don't really take the time to enjoy God's gift of nature's beautiful scenery?

Yesterday, as I was waiting for it to be time for class to begin, I was just sitting in my car, and realized just how beautiful Autumn is. All of the different colors, vibrant as ever. As I sat there, I wished I had my camera, but at the same time knowing a camera could never capture the true beauty of the moment. It wouldn't do it justice.

I don't know about everyone else, but I know that too often I get caught up in life and all of the things I have to do such as work, school, and all of the homework that goes along with it, add in other stuff, and I have virtually no free time to just be.

Sometimes you just have to step back and take a deep breath of crisp Autumn air and relax.

On a completely other note, recently a person has popped back into my life and it has completely thrown me for a loop. Not all of you know what I'm talking about, but I have to admit that it freaks me out. The first time I saw her, I practically had an anxiety attack. I won't go into much depth, just that I'd really appreciate prayer.

Sooo..I feel terrible. It has been a whole month since I posted. That is pathetic, and I apologize. An update:

1. My car is still sick. While I can drive it, it is still leaking a little bit of power-steering fluid, and thus, still banned from my spot in the garage and driveway. If this makes no sense to you, here is some background. My parents are somewhat anal folks and flinch at the thought of having a stained driveway. So, I must park out at the street. Tear, Tear.
2. I recently received a raise at work. Now that, my friend, is very exciting. A whole 25 cents increase!
   
3. School starts in 2 weeks. A day which I am dreading at the moment. I have to drive out to Ashland four (4) days a week once school starts. Two of those days only for one class. The big picture: Lots of gas, means lots of money down the drain for something called an education.
4. I was very dismayed to hear that Sam Goody got bought out. I just signed up for a 2-year subscription for their rewards program and it's all going down the drain because f.y.e. has their own program that only goes for ONE year. Basically, $25 down the drain. *sigh*
5. I have a stomach flu that has been going around my office. Just about everyone has had it, and now I do. I have felt nautious off and on for almost a WEEK now. I'm ready to be done with it now. In case you were wondering....
6. I've recently discovered Dee Henderson. Granted I have heard people rave on about her before, but I finally caved in when Matt gave me a copy of one of her books. Now I am hooked.
7. I'm tired of the hot weather and very much ready for fall to be here. I absolutely love the weather in fall---perfect with a zip up jacket or sweatshirt...and it's soooo beautiful.
   
8. I have been a good Sunday School kid and actually DONE my lesson before class for the last TWO weeks in a row! Go me!!
9. This last weekend, Donna, Zach, and I went down to Sacramento for the long weekend to visit Stacy, Florin, and all of the other wonderful people in Sacramento. We had an absolute blast!
10. And I am too young to have these kinds of back problems. 'Nuf said. Thinking about finding a good chiropracter-yes, it's that bad.
    

Whelp, I think that about sums it up for now.

Hey All--

I know it's been a week since I last posted. But I promise that there's one coming soon! With pictures, even!

So, I know this is probably really pathetic to all of you, but I just thought I'd share my new favorite pair of shoes with you. (Especially since according to Zach, girls just have to talk about them. )
Anyway, on Friday, I bought another pair of awesome converses. Brown ones. And they rock. Yeah, thats about all I have to say.

Oh and my neice is totally awesome and laced them for me!

So, question of the day.

How is it that I can manage to NOT get mono when I was exposed to it on more than one occasion, but my body can't even manage to fight off the common cold?

It is the first day of Spring Break, and the weather is thoroughly disgusting outside. Nothing like rain to bring you down. Everything is nice and wet, and the sky is a wonderful gray color. What a great way to start the break.
I was sooo out of it this morning that I actually forgot it was Saturday, and at about noon I thought to myself that I should probably eat lunch and get ready for work since I start at 1:30, and a few minutes later, I remembered that, no, I don't have to get ready for work because it's SATURDAY and I only work Monday through Friday. WOW. I think that I need to start getting more sleep than I have been lately. Just the other night, I was at Old Navy and saw that they had St. Patrick's Day clothes on the clearance rack and wondered to myself why it was on clearance since St. Patrick's Day hasn't happened yet. I walked away, and about five minutes later I remembered that indeed, St. Patrick's Day HAD happened already. WHEW. I have been so out of it lately, I'm starting to scare myself. Maybe I just need to drink more coffee....

My parents are sooooo annoying sometimes.

My parents are the type of people, who, like to pretend that they're house is always spotless. So, right before company comes over (that is, people who don't come over often enough to know the truth) they go on a cleaning spree. Everything is cleaned, and put away. Every room in the house is vacuumned at least once, the rooms like the family room and living room are usually covered twice. Anyway, so, I wanted to have some people over tonight to watch a movie tonight. No biggie, right? Wrong, my parents said that it was okay as long as I cleaned the kitchen, family room, and the bathroom. *sigh*

On the subject of annoying things, my younger brother just started playing with his 'bop-it extreme'. All I can say is, AHHHHHHH! I'm thinking about 'accidentally' dropping it on concrete the next time I get my hands on it.

Well, I should probably get back to cleaning, wouldn't want my friends to see a sock laying on the floor or something sitting out on the counter.....

So, a group of us went out to Dairy Queen after church tonight, and a question came to mind. When they hire an architect to design their buildings, is one of their requirements that it MUST echo? Because I noticed that both of our Dairy Queens manage to fulfill that requirement.

Well, right now I should be doing horrible, horrible tutorials, but I have found that I cannot concentrate. So, this weekend, I will have the lovely job of finishing said tutorials, because I promised my boss I would be done with them by Monday. *Sigh*
As for life, it is hectic as usual. Between school, work, and everything in between, I rarely have time to sit back and do nothing (unless I make time even though I have none-like right now.) I recently got back the first four pages of my senior paper (four more pages to go) and was thoroughly excited because I got an A on it (which is absolutely fabulous since I wrote the whole thing in one night). However, now that I have it back, I have no excuses to not work on it. I still have TONS of research to do for it. And as for the project that goes along with it, being the procrastinator that you all know and love, I haven't even started it. Which could be a bad thing since we have to have in a certain amount of hours (35 to be exact) and I only have about 30 minutes logged. Hmmm, maybe I should get going on that. Not counting my AP Lit class, I have homework in every stinking class (the teachers should really pity us seniors-as if we don't already have enough going on). Especially my AP United States History class. I have recently come to the decision that that class, if any, will be the class to kill me. I can't remember if I've posted about this before, (and if I have, oops) but my teacher got behind on the material (very, very behind) and so now, he's speeding through everything to try to make up for lost time. All we do is take notes every class and then for homework, we read, and read, and read the longest 'brief' edition textbook I have ever seen. After we read, then we get to do the tedious homework!
As I look back on my post, I realize that it was just a bunch of ranting on my part, but give me a break, I'm feeling just a little overwhelmed at the moment.

Well, I can't really be specific, but Why do things have to be SO complicated???
If anyone could answer that for me, that would be great. If you haven't noticed I'm feeling rather frustrated at the moment about a situation and I can't elaborate (at least not now--maybe in the future).
Anyway, I think that's my question of the day.

Ah, life can be so hectic, but I am SO excited because I finished writing the first four pages of my senior paper before 11:00 PM the night before it was due. In case you were wondering, this was a HUGE accomplishment since I didnt start writing it unil the night before it was due (procrastination is the only way to survive the honors system in high school...and in college from what I've been told). Oh and while you're feeling excited for me, you can feel bad too, because now that I'm done with that, I still have at least 4 more pages to go. While the 'whole enchilada' isn't due until March 17, I have a feeling that I'll put everything off until the 16th rolls around (because that's just how I do things) :)
On another note, I would really appreciate prayer because I am still sick despite using my 'fool-proof plan' (gallons and gallons of water and overdosage on vitamin c) I've been sick for over a week. All I have to say is "I've had it!"
As for everything else going on, Graduation is looming in the near future and I just want to snatch it up and forget the next four months! Personally senioritis kicked in about the time that we were done with our junior year.