Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for:

1. My good online friends at twitter that keep me sane throughout the day of school and work. If you have twitter follow me now!
2. Homemade quesadillas (pronounced kay-suh-dill-uhs, thankyouverymuch)
3. Being done with school for the weekend
4. Pretty, pretty craft supplies, and having a creative outlet. (Did you know I etsy?)
   
5. My car--I made my first car payment on Wednesday!

What are you thankful for today?

6 boring facts about me

My first meme.

Da rules:

Link back to Jess, who tagged you (What, she didn't tag you? Well link to whoever did)
Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of your own
Tag 6 bloggers to complete the meme.

--I don't even know what a meme is! I suppose it means something like a chain, at least that is the meaning I have interpreted it to be. At any rate, here are 6 facts that either you probably already know, or don't really care to know, but I was tagged and I feel I must complete my task because I hate it when I ask people to do something and then they don't do it. So. Here it is:

1. When I was little, I did gymnastics. I did it for a long time. I was tiny. That does not mean I was good at it. I mean, I did take it for like 7 or 8 years, but I don't think that really made a difference. By the time I decided to quit I couldn't even do a flip or a back handspring. And yet, while I still took lessons, I dreamed of being an Olympian. Nevertheless, there is no gain without pain, and when I got bored of lessons 4 days a week, 3 hours a day, I decided to give it up.

2. I (unofficially) changed my major in college about 5 times before settling on my current (and hopefully last) major. I started out with architecture, moved to elementary school teacher, then to child care, then to college math professor, then to elementary school teacher again, and finally I landed on Psychology. I do NOT plan on being a clinical psychologist someday. I do not plan on going for my doctorate or my masters. So please do not ask me if I am going to psychoanalyze you or make jokes about Freud. There is MUCH more to psychology than this. My official program is Psychology with an emphasis on Human Resources with a minor in Business Administration.

3. I've been told I am incredibly strong-willed. My friend, Cindi, tells me she envies my ability to not care what people think. Well, I don't know about that because I do care, I just don't let it get in the way of standing up for my beliefs no matter what. Because I believe if you can't even stand up for what you believe in, then you don't stand for anything.

4. I LOVE photography. I love how light affects a shot. It always blows me away how much the amount of light versus shadows in the shot change the feeling of the picture. I bought a Canon Rebel XT a few months back, and I love experimenting with it. I'm definitely a novice, but don't be surprised if you see me throwing up some photography every now and then asking for a critique.

5. I hate my freckles about 75% of the time. Mainly because people underjudge my age all the time. I am told that I will appreciate this someday when I'm older, but for now, I don't appreciate being told I look like a 15 year old (haven't been for almost 6 years!)

6. I love to get my creativity juices flowing. I don't claim to be an artist, it's more like I'm kinda artistic. I love to dabble in different mediums, mainly colored pencils and chalk pastels. I also love to do things with my hands and enjoy scrapbooking, and making cards , jewelry, knitting and sewing.

I tag:
Brooke, Mindy, Zach, Juanita, Stacy, and Bryan

I am an Insomniac

1. Attempt to count down backwards from 100. Actually make it down to 1.
2. Write in journal. Realize nothing exciting happened today. Decide that writing in journal is a waste for today. Rip out page and promptly deposit in recycle.
3. Count (imaginary) sheep jumping over bed (even though in my room they would run into a wall). Concentrate too hard and realize my eyes are actually scanning across my eyelids as I visualize the sheep jumping over bed.
4. Attempt to read book until I feel tired. Unfortunately book is at climax and even though I start to feel tired around minus 20 pages, I plow through and finish book. Tired phase has passed.
5. Fidget ridiculously and hum "I'll be there for you" by the Rembrandts because it is stuck in my head.
6. Song is driving me crazy so I get out laptop and look up lyrics online.
7. Since I have laptop out, even though my eyes are burning and I have to get up in less than 6 hours (and counting) I decide to blog about my insomnia.

I need help. I really do.

My daily routine

Thanks to Brooke for this idea.

My routine really depends upon whether I am working at the office or at home.

On days that I work, it tends to look like this:

8:45--Alarm goes off. I fumble with phone and reset for alarm to go off at 9:15
9:15--Alarm goes off again. I grumble and roll out of bed.
9:15-9:25--Go pee, and then take quick shower. Eyes are usually not open yet as the blaring light hurts my burning eyes (due to lack of sleep)
9:25--Go back to room and look through pile of clothes on floor that I have yet to hang up for something to wear. Find dress I want to wear. "Where is that brown shirt??? I know I washed it yesterday!"
9:30--Give up on brown shirt and take off dress. Look for new outfit. Throw first shirt and bottom that relatively go. usually don't like, but don't have time to worry about that now.
9:35--Brush out hair and throw back in bun. Put on mascara and lipgloss.
9:40--Find first pair of shoes that relatively match outfit. Usually painful high ones.
9:45--Run out door. Get to car and realize I forgot phone/sunglasses/lunch/fill-in-the-blank. Run back to house to get said Item.
9:50--Speed to work so I am not late.
10:05--Arrive late anyway due to said item I almost forgot even though I probably would have been fine without it.
10:05-11:00--Chat with Kathy about stupid client who doesn't understand 401Ks. Print out letters for evil boss to sign. Check on status of document approval, and answer phones. Check email. Update status on Twitter.
11:00--Get mail from mail recepticle. Realize how warm it already is outside.
11:05--Text Zach that he should be drinking lots of water out in heat.
11:05-11:30--Open mail and distribute to individual mailboxes. Endorse checks and code to specific accounts. Make UPS overnight label for outgoing checks.
11:30-12:30--Update twitter status. Surf etsy, and answer more phones. Get annoyed with unnamed broker because he's a talkaholic and some of us don't really care what his batting average was in college.
12:30-12:45--On break run to fast food place and pick up lunch because I didn't have time to make one in the morning
12:45-1:00--Eat lunch at desk and joke with Kathy how we ARE GOING TO START EATING BETTER TOMORROW.
1:00-2:30--More answering of phones and some filing. Help clients find office of broker. Send checks in UPS envelope. Kathy and I surf the Jackson County Inmates online website and get grossed out by some of those guys crimes.
2:30-3:30--Update twitter status and surf internet for remainder of day. Make out receipts for clients who bring in checks. Put in overnight lockbox because I was bored and already sealed UPS envelope and don't want to make new one. Copy incoming correspondence and put in daily file. Log off computer and make it out to car by 3:30:30.
3:45--get home. Change into pjs and check home email.
4:00--talk to dad about day. He informs he he has "x" number of days left until he can retire. I tell him thats good for him. Leave room.
4:15--check myspace and bebo for new comments. Leave comments on friends pages if I feel like it.
4:30-5:30--catch up on blogs I read.
5:30-6:00--eat dinner and help cleanup.
6:30--I go over to Zach's or he comes over to my house.
6:30-10:00--Watch movie, tv, or tv on dvd, and work in Photoshop.
10:00--Zach leaves, or I go home.
10:15-1:00--Don't really know what happens during this time. Probably more of the same. I'm not sure, but all the same, I usually go to my room about this time.
1:00-1:30--Read current book.
1:30--sleep.
Repeat.

On days that I don't go to work, it is like this:
10:00ish--wake up. Look at clock. Decide to get up in 5 minutes.
10:30--Actually get up. Go out to kitchen and search for bread. Find 1 piece. Wonder age of bread. Inspect bread for mold. Passing inspection, pop bread into toaster.
10:35--put butter and jam on bread. Search for milk. Use last of milk and put on grocery list.
10:40-12:00--Eat breakfast. Check messages online. Work on current projects with Grey's Anatomy Season 2 in background. Dad comes home for lunch and brings mail. I check to find 2 credit card bills. Groan
12:00-12:45--Take shower, get dressed, and actually do hair. Put on coverup, mascara and lipgloss.
1:00-1:30--Make grilled cheese and tomato soup. Eat lunch and look through __________catalog
1:30-4:30--check blogs, update twitter status. Run errands.
4:30-5:30--Help make dinner.
5:30-1:30--Plays out much the same as days I work.

Wow, my life is boring. But surprisingly, I'm quite happy with it. I'm thinking about opening an etsy shop, but I don't know if it would be worth it because there are so many on there it makes me wonder if I would actually sell anything. I was thinking I could do handmade cards, bags, coasters, magnets and things like that.

Crap to do before my existence on this planet comes to an end (some from memory of old list that I can't find)

go somewhere out of the country (preferably NOT Canada or Mexico)
snorkel
ride in a hot air balloon
learn to ballroom dance
visit New York (done!)
get to be a bridesmaid in a wedding
get married
have kids
adopt a kid or do foster care
paint something that I'm proud of
go to college and graduate
live in another city
stay up all night and watch the sunrise (done!)
rock climb a real rock, not the fake ones I've climbed at the Y and the Slick Kart tracks
own a house
see an opera (done!)
be debt free (Ha! Like that is ever going to happen!)
learn to not procrastinate
get straight A's for at least one term in college (have come oh so close a couple times)
learn HTML (I know geeky, but done)
have a better relationship with my mom
be a mentor (like the Big Brother/Sister program)
volunteer for an organization I believe in
coach a kindersoccer team
participate in a murder mystery dinner (Stole from Leila--originally read "Clue mystery")
go on a cruise
participate in a protest (done over something stupid, would like to do again)
try to go a whole week without a cell phone
learn to sail
become a better public speaker
camp on a beach
have an eco-friendly/green wedding (I can dream!)
actually use my day-planner
do a photo shoot in the rain

this is as much as I can think of as of now. May add more later!

List Friday Extravaganza!

I absolutely love house-sitting/dog-sitting for people because:

1. I get paid to take a break from my parents.
2. I get to take care of doggies--who I love, but my parents won't let me have because they are allergic.
3. I get to pretend I'm living on my own for a weekend--with out all the bills!
4. I get to make my own meals with food that I actually like. (Which is a big deal these days, cause both of my parents are on these crazy diets right now, and they've started eating lamb shanks, and cod, and brown rice, and flax seed bread, and other things that I don't particularly care for)
5. Since I'm by myself I don't have to be super quiet after 11:00 pm. I can watch tv or listen to music without them coming out and wanting me to turn it down.

I'm so glad it's Friday because:

1. It has been a really long week.
2. It is the beginning of a 3-day weekend
3. I got to go to a BBQ at work today. We are going to a BBQ tomorrow. We are going to a BBQ on Monday. Lotsa BBQs. Yum-Yum.
4. My term paper was due today. I'm so glad to be done with that. Such a load off of my back. Although now I have to prepare a presentation for it for next Monday. Oh joy!
5. I get to sleep in tomorrow! This is the best reward of all. I have gotten hardly any sleep this week and I am ready for more than an 8-hour night sleep. I'm thinking like 10... :D

Why spring
is so amazing:

1. Because of all the Sunshininess (yes, it IS a word..in my dictionary.)
2. The break out of bright colored skirts (they're the best kind!)
3. Open toed shoes (which is the larger section of my shoe collection :D)
4. Getting to drive around with the top down on my car. Spring has the best weather for this becuase in summer it gets too hot and fall it is beginning to get too cold!
5. Getting to enjoy iced and blended coffee again, as well as smoothies (homemade is the best!)
6. Camp meeting is right around the corner!
7. Going to the park and laying out on a blanket. 'Nuf said.

Why Spring isn't so amazing:

1. Since it's not that hot yet, it's easy to forget to put on sunscreen, and thus get sunburnt (for me, that is. Can anyone say Lobster?)
2. While there is sunshine, there seems to always be a chance for rain. They do say "April showers, bring May flowers" for a reason.
3. Too warm for hot coffee now.
4. Have to save up for trips in Summer so I have to cut back on spending.
5. Tons of birthdays (in my circle anyway), meaning lotsa gifts to buy. Which in turn is tough because I'm supposed to be saving up for my afore mentioned Summer trips.

Despite my earlier gripes about Spring, I really do love it!

Moments of Note from an Incredible trip to Brookings, Oregon

1. Adam barking at the wind on I-5. A picture says a thousand words.
   

1. 2. Leila rocking out to Evan Burchfield's lovely rendition of the 'Banana Chaquita' song. A recording of this can be found at:


2. Zach's Blog

3. The guys seem kind of obsessed with the well-endowed wooden indian woman. Should I be worried?

By the way, this was taken outside the stupidest museum I've ever seen. It was basically filled with a bunch of JUNK that should have seen a trash can a long, long time ago. The outside of the museum was pretty cool though. The entire museum is inside of this really old beached boat. That part is pretty nifty--the rest is um, not.

4. This is one of my favorite pictures that I took of the beach.

Okay, well I have tons more pictures, but blogger is being dumb and it's not liking me so that's about all I can handle for now. Maybe I'll post more of them on Bebo. At the moment, though, I don't really feel like dealing with that either.

5 Good things about this week:

1. I got a new shirt that is M-azing! Wearing it right now! woot woot!
2. My Philosophy midterm got moved to next week. Tests getting postponed is always a good thing.
3. I got a 120/100 on my lab 3 that I did for my Computer Science class...that's right, extra credit baby!
4. I got to level 7 on New Super Mario DS. I know, I know, you can say it, I'm a geek.
5. My printer at work is getting fixed. Now if you know anything about my printer at work, it would be a really good thing to just get the stupid thing replaced all together, but unfortunately that's not my decision. I'm just glad that it's getting new parts, because if it's working any better than it is now, it will at least lessen my stress....

Okay, that's a rather lengthy one. Thanks for sticking with me if you read all the way through it!

Top 7 Reasons
why Today was a long day:

1. Overslept and was almost late to my Philosophy class.
2. Didn't have time to get clothes for work, so I had to come home after class to change, and was LATE for work.
3. Exhausted so almost fell asleep at work.
4. Went home to study for my Web Development Quiz.
5. Went to Web Delopment class and sat through lecture and then took aforementioned quiz.
6. Went to Youth Center for an hour.
7. Worked on Term Paper Bibliography and proposal.

introducing list friday

I'm in a particularly good mood, despite that I can't go outside and enjoy the sunshine. It must be that it's Friday and in just under 4 hours, I will be walking out of this office door, and flinging my arms free for the weekend. and...

I decided to deem today and all Fridays, "List Friday". since lists make me happy, I'm a pro at making them, and Fridays are always happy. so expect a special list every Friday. I'm such a big fan of lists, that I doubt I'll be able to contain myself, and will surely create more lists during the week, but the Friday ones will be special!!so here goes.

10 things that made me happy this week:

• Starbursts, Mike & Ikes, and Animal Cookies for breakfast in Philosopy class with Cindi and Leah
• Editing pictures from Easter
• Sunshine--what little bit we had
• Laughter
• The cartoon Cindi drew during lecture in Philosophy of our Professor :D And his boring lecture!
• I found the notebook I had been looking for feverishly that had MONDO important stuff in it.
• McDonald's bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit meal with a medium orange juice (Yum Yum)
• Eating Olive Garden's breadsticks last night with alfredo sauce
• Watching the little ones at church chase the bubbles on Sunday
• Getting through it!

So this seems to be the new fad.....

My favorite scents:

1. Orchids
2. A Roast slow-cooking in the kitchen
3. a little kids hair right after they've taken a bath. Kid's shampoo smells the sweetest.
4. After a summer thunderstorm
5. Zach's Cologne
6. Clean towels fresh out of the dryer (I'm afraid it might be those dryer sheets at my house as well)
7. a fresh fruit smoothie
8. Fresh cut flowers from MY garden

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!)
    

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.

So...Here I sit on a glorious Friday afternoon. This afternoon happens to be 'glorious' because of several reasons.
1) No work-My fabulous place of employment observes Good Friday, so...while I'm not making any money right now, I am enjoying one of very few afternoons that I can do whatever. I. Want.
2) I recently finished of a GREAT iced Kahlua Kicker-which helped to wake me up so that I could think. That can be helpful.
3) Today I had the pleasure of going into a Fifth grade classroom and teach them how to do Origami. What an awesome experience. Tiring, but very rewarding. The kids were so excited to have a High School Student come into their classroom. It's amazing how much elementary schoolers look up to upperclassmen.
4) It's Friday. While I will have a really busy day tomorrow complete with a 3 hour test and setting up for an Easter Dinner, Today is FRIDAY. No school or work tomorrow. That, my friend, is a GOOD thing.
Well, theres four reasons for you. I have plenty more, but, I am easily distracted and amused and feel it is time to wrap up this post. I hope you all had an absolutely GLORIOUS Friday as well!