okay, now it's just a dream list.

I need this in my living room.
And these to put my jackets on.
And this to sit on.
And this to shower behind.
And this to put on my floor.

Not necessarily in that order. :)

I can't stop...I keep finding jewels!

Ashley, you need this pillow. Heck, I want it too.

And this lamp...stamped with doilies. What?!

I know this is small, but I had the idea of a tree decal with photos on it for a hallway...what a great family tree idea! I like this one.

I've always wanted a corner booth in my house.



I may have a very real crush on the color Orange.





All these jewels can be found below:
http://thethriftychicks.blogspot.com
http://somethingshidinginhere.typepad.com
http://www.elsiemarley.com/ (the kidlet bag, I would totally use...for the pool, for the airplane, for the car...for my room. :)
http://retro-mama.blogspot.com
http://apronthriftgirl.typepad.com/
http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/

Loveyoubye.

okay...more!

I like this bed. Not the powderpuff pillow, but I've always wanted an old bedframe like that.
I think this is a genius way to hang plates. I'm not really a plate hanger person, but I like how they wrapped it onto another wall.
I want this painting.

I think I'm going to start painting again and keep trying until I find what kind of painting I'm good at.

K, bye.

ohhhh good.

Love this.

Want this.

Need this.

I will probably make this. :)

thanks to Apartment Therapy and Elsie Cake for showing it to me.

Sleepover

I attended a sleepover last Friday night. Emily was here this weekend for 2 wedding showers. (The nice and the naughty.) She came in Friday night and all us b-maids stayed over at Bennett's old school style. It's funny...even just 2 years out of college, staying up late and giggling into the night doesn't play out as well the next day as back in the day. I slept maybe an hour. I don't know. I was monkey in the middle in Bennett's king-sized bed. Burning up. (That is nothing new. It takes 2 fans and light blanket and a thermostat on 66 to help me sleep well.) Anyway, take an hour of sleep, add 2 wedding showers, then a time change and stir it all around. Then you get me. Seizure girl who needs at least 9 if not 10 hours of sleep walking around not speaking in clear sentences. Sunday night I slept about 9.5 hours. I woke up a lot so those hours were interrupted. Last night, I slept 11 hours. I'm still struggling today. Eek!

So, I guess I should've had more sleepovers as a kid to build up my immunity. Too bad.

monokini? whaaaaaat???

What is the world coming to?

it's on the horizen

Bocce Ball weather is here. I love bocce ball.

Oscar

Jessica Biel, what were you thinking? Are you wearing your bedsheet tucked into another sheet? I can't figure it out.

The West Wing

I am obsessed with The West Wing. I can't even tell you why. I just do. It's so interesting and has inspired me to know more about politics.

Watch it. You'll be hooked. I've finished Season 3 and am waiting for Season 4 from Patrick's private West Wing library.

Any other fans out there?


PS, California in t-minus 5 days. Wooooopdie!

things

1) I bite my nails. I haven't for a while, but I ruined my streak tonight. I have that weird feeling when they're too short right now.

2) You've Got Mail is probably the best "in the background" movie. It's also just a nice happy movie. It makes me smile. The way Meg Ryan walks, all the daisies, The Shop Around the Corner, Tom Hanks...it goes on.

3) I got a promise on a job from a manager at Starbucks yesterday. At first, I felt kind of embarrassed because in my mind, working for Starbucks would be taking a "step back" professionally speaking. I'm going from salary to hourly, from sick days and holidays to working days, and from dress code to uniform. All the while, having people I know come by and see me in the black and khaki. The embarrassment was the same post-graduation when I realized I wasn't using my degree. Hello! I guess I felt like since I'd spent 4 years earning the piece of paper, I should use it. Well, anyway, I'm over my embarrassment and I'm ready to work. I need a routine schedule again. I need to be doing something productive (s/a earning money to pay for my ungodly insurance and medication.) Bonus: I've missed the food service industry, honestly. So I'm excited about my return.

4) Real Simple just told me I can use a tennis ball cut in half to help open a stubborn jar. How genius.

long awaited D.C. report

We had a great time in D.C.! 1) It was so nice to spend some time with our friends Tyler and Emily for a few days. We haven't seen them in a while! 2) We were able to squeeze in 2 other visits to friends while we were there, the Sandersons and Freshmans. Flying didn't agree with me on the way there and I was very nauseous when we got our rental car and started the 2.5 hour drive to stay with Jake and Maggie in Charlottsville, VA. I got so nauseous that we got a hotel and left the next morning. We had been driving for almost an hour and a half, but had only made it 20 miles. DC is confusing. We met Jake and Maggie Saturday around lunch and had sandwiches at their awesome house. We saw a vineyard/winery that afternoon. I don't remember the name, but it was really cool. We saw the remains of the house Thomas Jefferson designed for the vineyard owner back in the day. It was a cool place to visit. We were able to do some other sightseeing in downtown Charlottsville, VA and saw the University of Virginia. It is huge! It spans multiple blocks and has HUGE buildings! It was quite a sight. We left the next morning, (Sunday,) and met Carl's photo-mentors, the Sandersons to do a family session for them. We had dinner with them at this cool Diner and then returned our car back in DC to stay with Tyler and Emily. We found out that our rental car return was a block from Emily's apartment. We laughed about it. Emily lives just 3 miles from the monuments and capitol. We relaxed for a little bit Sunday night and then went and saw the monuments at night. They said that was the best time to see them and they were right. Everything was all lit up and there were very few other people there. Seeing them in the day just isn't the same. I was looking forward to the Lincoln memorial the most but it was blocked off and had lots of scaffolding and a stage set up from a concert that afternoon. I was a little disappointed. We also saw the WWII memorial and Vietnam memorial as well as the White House that night. Lots of walking! The White House lights were off when we got there. Apparently at 11pm, they "close" for the night. We got there at 11:05. Bummer!

Monday we walked around Georgetown (which is a yuppie neighborhood just outside DC.) Carl is shooting Emily and Tyler's wedding in June. He shot their engagement pictures that afternoon while we walked around. You can see them here. We were able to make it to the Capitol that night. It's HUGE! We relaxed that night and got to bed early to be up at 5am. We left at 5:45am for the mall area. We were able to take the Metro (underground train) to just blocks from the mall. We think so many people thought the train would be packed that they walked. We tried it and there were very few people! We were smooshed between who knows how many people. A water main broke on the street we were walking down so police and fire crews were trying to go against the flow of thousands of people. Needless to say it got very cozy and it was the only point in the day I got very nervous and concerned I would be separated from our friends and get lost in the crowd. Luckily we got out fast and were on the mall before we knew it. We were behind the 3rd jumbo-tron, about 3/4 mile from the Capitol steps. We were very happy with our spot and were surprised we were that close. Considering the crowd spread over 2 miles, we were doing well! We were surrounded by lots of great people. We spent about 6 hours standing. We talked and laughed and had a great time with our new friends. I was standing next to a woman who had been in a segregated school through the 5th grade. It was very neat to be standing next to someone who was able to see a circle completed in history. The man to my right was from Australia and kept asking when we were going to sing the National Anthem. They played several songs over the system before the ceremony started. This Land is Your Land was my favorite. It was very surreal to be with almost 2 million people singing the same song. It also was very cool to say the Lords Prayer with everyone at the close of the ceremony. It gave me chills! There were some frustrating moments...like when this lady stole my spot. She said, "excuse me" like she was trying to pass me. And then she just stood where I was standing. Then I couldn't see. Thanks a lot lady. I went back and forth between seeing about 1/6th of the jumbo-tron to seeing 1/3rd. We had to walk the 3 miles back to Emily's apartment. It was a very tiring walk after standing for nearly 7 hours. We finally made it, grabbed lunch, and then lounged the rest of the day in the apartment. We watched the parade and fell asleep. Emily and Tyler had to work the next day so Carl and I were able to sleep in, relax, and take our time packing for the airport. We went to the airport 3 hours early because we saw on the news that lines were very long and people were missing their flights. We made it to the gate with about 2 hours to spare. We made it home late that night and slept extremely well (as you can imagine.) It was quite a whirlwind trip! We are looking forward to going back. There was so much more we didn't get to see (other monuments, the Smithsonian, the American history museum, Arlington cemetery, etc.)

Carl took pictures of the day and you can see them here

Shew! I think that catches you up on how it was! It's hard to believe it's been just over 2 weeks since we were there. Since being home, our friends have had baby showers, actual babies and I've been tracking down my insurance mess. Good news! Babies are all well and I have insurance again! Hip Hip!

It's nice to be back home and into a routine again. Don't worry, we leave in just 3 weeks for 5 days in California! (Strictly photography business trip...and the beach.) :)

Hopefully a job is in there too! I meet with a manager from Starbucks on Monday. Hip Hip again!

DC cont.

This is a pump fake. But Monica brought to my attention I didn't post the rest of our trip, i.e., inauguration day. I shall do it soon! I've been in the middle of baby showers, superbowling, and helping with new babies! (baby Simon comes TODAY!) Check out my photos on facebook and Carl's blog post of it. That should hold you over.


ps, Is Groundhog Day really that important?

choices

Tonight was small group. It was so great to be back together with most everyone and catch up. We got on the subject of college and if we could do it all over again, would we have the same major, would we still have gone to the school we went too...

I re-realized that the choices we make are chain reactions. If I hadn't gone to school where I went, if I hadn't chosen the major I did, if I had gotten a different job...blah blah blah. Where would I be? Who would I be? What would I be doing? Would I be married? Would I have had a seizure? Would I be living in Ireland? Would I be in grad school? Would I have the friends I have now or have found friends that are like the friends I have now?

I used to believe in a God that knew what my every moment would be. This God who had already planned out my whole life and I believed that whatever happened was "meant to be." How much more powerful it is to believe in a God that allows me to choose. But at the same time, how overwhelming! Should we buy a house? Should I try to work full-time? Should I go back to school? Should we move to Oregon sooner? Should we move at all? Should I, should we...ah! All these choices!

At some point you have to decide and go from there. This could easily spin out of control with anxiety and worry. It's hard to keep from wondering what would be if we had made a different choice. I guess it's about learning to accept the fact that we will never know what could have been and being happy with what is and the choices you have made to lead you where you are. I think I need to work on that.

D.C.

Holy crap, D.C. is so amazing. Luckily we're staying with locals who know the scoop so we don't have to carry a tour guide book, or maps, binoculars or stand reading directions for how to use the Metro.

Sunday night: Walked/saw the Washington, Lincoln, WW II and Vietnam Memorials + the White House (flag was up which means B was in the house, and when got up close the lights were off which means the house had "retired." That was kind of bummer, but still cool to stand at the gates and see it up close. Oh, and Tyler showed us the West Wing which isn't actually part of the White House, it's a completely separate building. The West Wing being one of my favorite shows, I felt a little cheated that I didn't already know that. Federal Reserve, US. Treasury, Pentagon, and.....probably other things I don't remember.

Monday: We walked around doing Tyler and Emily's engagement pics in Georgetown (allegedly the yuppie part of town.) They host $4 million dollar condos and Porsches. We saw a white Bentley. Holy cow. Those things look cleeeeeeannnn. Since Beyonce is in town performing for an Inaugural concert on Sunday, I just presumed it was her and Jay-Z's. They own one, you know. Anyway, we saw the Capitol which is giiinoooormous. US Supreme Court, the building where all the congressional offices are, the Library of Congress....I think that's all. We were going to squeeze in Arlington Cemetary, Holocost Memorial, and Iwo Jima memorial but we were tired and ready to sit still. Carl and I will try to do some of that and the American History Museum on Wednesday before we leave to come back. We'll see.

All in all, this city is tight and we don't know the 1/2 of it. Tomorrow is going to be crrraaaaazzzzzyyyyyyy!!!! We're leaving at 5am to head there. Lots of layers and giggles will be in attendance. EEEEK!

bdays are weird

Birthdays are weird.

No, I don't feel older.
No, it's not really any different than 23.
Yes, I still get told that I look like I'm in high school.
Yes, people don't believe I'm married.
No, I didn't ask for anything because I can't think of anything I need.
Yes, I share a birthday with Martin Luther King, Jr. (Haha! No one asks that.)


But seriously, aren't birthdays kind of awkward? You say "thank you" like, 5,000 times for the birthday wishes. People always embarrass you at restaurants. If you get a present (which you don't really get after you're...I don't know, 16, if that?) it's usually something you're like, "Oh...gee...thank you." My favorite part is my grandparents calling and singing to me over the phone in their sweet voices and my mom telling me things about the day I was born. Today it was, "it was a very cold morning when you were born."

I'm a year older. That's weird. I don't think tomorrow will be any different than today. (Except that it means I'll be on a plane to DC to see the inauguration Tuesday!!!!)

24

I'm turning 24 on Thursday and that's weird.

Milestones used to be 16 (obviously drivers license,) 18 (obviously an adult,) 21 (officially an adult,) and then...crap, I'm graduating college? I'm getting married? Am I old enough to do that? 22 was weird. I graduated, I got married (only 2 weeks apart) and I joined the real working world with a salary and benefits. At 23, I started the new year working a 16 hour day to find my AWOL 17 year old crack addict Ray Ray a place to stay. My job went downhill and was stressing me to the max. I wrote my resignation letter and planned to submit it once I found another job. Seizure. No driving. No working. Lots of couch sitting. Now, I'm about to be 24...which qualifies as mid 20's, right? Carl turns 25 next month. That's 1/2 way to 30. Whaaat? I feel like I've got to get it in gear. A year goes by so fast! Our friends are having babies!

24 is weird.

But the show 24 is not weird. A bit cheesy but I still won't miss an episode. And I still love Jack Bauer.

home

I tend to enjoy traveling. However, living out of a suitcase in 3 different states, in 4 different places got a little old. I've realized how true it is that you don't know what you've got till it's gone. I miss being home. I miss being somewhere that's familiar to me. I miss my bed (who doesn't.) I have slept really well out here, better than I've been sleeping at home, but still. As materialistic as it sounds, we've missed our couch and the Element and the kitchen. It'll be nice to have dinner with friends around the table again. Oh yea, and we've severely missed our friends! The hardest part of moving will most definitely be that our friends aren't coming with us. (Well...we're still working on them.) It will be hard to start over in a town where I don't know anyone. Carl has friends from his high school days that we see when we're in town, and I guess that means I'm friends with them too, but you know. I'm the one who's sitting there while they laugh about memories and stories and has this look on my face like, "I don't know who that is, where that is, what that means." Haha. I'm sure I look ridiculous.

I'll probably still miss home for a while after we move. I don't mean Oklahoma, I mean the place I've spent the last 23 (almost 24) years of my life. My family is here (or within 3 hours from here,) and I see them often. The tables will be turned. Carl's spent the last 6, almost 7, years out here away from his family. It will be weird I'm sure.

It's very intimating moving to a place I am not familiar with and also because Carl is really familiar with it. Everything here is SE, SW, NE, NW and streets turn into other streets and there seems to be 50 highways. There doesn't seem to be any pattern or reason for all the directions added to the signs. No grid here in Oregon. Public transportation is awesome but that's also going to be intimidating to learn. The MAX (subway-like system), streetcars, buses...yikes! I'm going to look like a tourist for a while and that will be fun.

Now, I'm sitting in the KC airport (ugh...this place is aweful,) and am glad to be experiencing no hitches on our flights home. We'll be back in the familiar in 3 hours. Woo hoo!

We had a lot of fun despite all the travel hiccups. Carl took some pictures so I'm sure those will surface sometime soon. Regardless of familiar vs unfamiliar, the Northwest is one of the most beautiful places I've been to. You should visit. (When we move there, you can visit us AND experience all it has to offer. Perfect!)

For the first time ever, I think I'm looking a year in the face realizing that it could hold many different opportunities. Carl and I are going to witness history in just a few short weeks at the Presidential Inauguration in D.C.. It's going to be mind-blowing. What a cool story to be able to tell our kids someday.

2009 holds a lot of hopes. Hopes for no seizures. Hopes for a job or career or something that makes me wait with anticipation to get out of bed in the morning. Hopes for more travels. Hopes for our new friendships through our small group to only grow deeper. Hopes to grow and support our friends in their new endeavors as parents. Hopes to be closer to debt-free. The list goes on and on.

It looks like it's going to be a great year.

P.S. Carl is laying on the floor of the airport snoring. Bah hahahahahah!

holiday games

We spent since Tuesday in Seattle with Carl's dad. I learned to play Yahtzee. I was really bad at first because I'd never played before. I learned though and eventually did really well. Yahtzee!

If you haven't played, you should learn. It's barrels of fun!

PS, barrels makes me think of Barrel of Monkeys which was a dumb game to me. You always lose monkeys and then the game's worthless.

continued

Okay. Oakland is scary.

We walked to In-and-Out burger which was roughly a mile from our hotel. No big deal. It'll be nice to get out of our hotel. Well, okay. I almost got hit by a car on the way there. Then while we were waiting for our food, I have my arm on the back of my seat and this creeeeepy man puts his hand on my arm and isn't moving it. I'm instantly like, what are you doing, and take his hand off my arm. Meanwhile, I'm thinking of ways to defend myself and then run. This guy says, "Oh I'm sorry. I thought you were my grand-daughter." I say, "Okay." And this dude continues to explain why he thought I was his grand-daughter. Dude, I don't care, just get away from me. I was completely freaked out. It totally ruined my meal. Then I see him outside with his family pointing at me and explaining what happened and they're laughing. Sir, I don't think it's funny. Go away.

There's a fight outside when we leave. We walk quickly. This is going to sound so horrible and I know that and I'm disappointed in myself for thinking it, but it's honest. We were 2 of 10 white people we saw on our outing. I felt really unsafe. Part of this may be because Josh (our new friend) told us that Oakland is the murder capitol of the US. Gee wiz dude, don't tell me that. So then I'm paranoid our entire walk and wondering if everyone has a gun. That's awful. I know. But it was my reaction to our situation. We walked quickly back to our hotel as it was getting colder, starting to drizzle and get dark. I feel really bad that the main reason I felt unsafe was because of someone's skin color and the way they were dressed. We almost got hit by a garbage truck on the walk back. It seemed like he sped up when we crossed the street.

Okay. We spent the night in our hotel room and ate in the restaurant downstairs again and then watched A&E shows. I love my Intervention and stumbled on a new show, Manhunters. It's tight. I slept SOOO great (which was nice for a change) and woke up to blueberry muffins we purchased on our walk.

We're packing up to leave, take the shuttle, and chill in the airport. Wait. Wait. Wait. The zipper on my luggage just broke. The broke where it comes off track you know? And then it starts opening....ah! What am I going to do! It was on the bottom of my bag too. Great. So we go downstairs, ask the front desk when the shuttle will be here and if they can take us to WalMart to get a new bag. They say sure. Shew! While I had to sell my soul to WalMart (my first purchase at WM in 3 years) to freaking TRY to fly for the 4th time, it was worth it.

Now we're sitting at our gate, crossed fingers and toes that we're leaving for real this time. So far, so good.

PS-plan update. We're flying into Seattle to stay with Carl's dad and step-mom till Monday (so great!) and then taking the Amtrak to Portland on Monday morning. Now if everything will just not cancel, we'll be good. New Years in Portland wasn't planned, but is happenin'. We'll make the best of 7 extra days in the Northwest. It probably won't be that hard.

Bless you for thinking of us as we travel this journey. It's been CRAAAZY! If I don't get to talk to you again,

Merry Chrismahannahquanica to you and Happy Festivas for the rest of us.

jinx

Okay, here's been the adventure since Saturday morning.

1st-We were supposed to leave Thursday and were cancelled due to fog in OKC. No worries, there's only the worst snow/ice storm ever to hit the Northwest starting Friday.

2nd-Saturday. We get to the airport early, check-in, security, on the plane to KC connecting to Denver. We land in Denver. Sweet. Hardly any snow on the ground. Okay, for all of us staying on the plane to go to PDX they tell us there will be about an hour delay. Carl goes and grabs us some lunch while I stay on the plane. I ask our flight attendant, "Is there any way this flight will be cancelled?" She says, "Oh no, this is a full-flight, they won't do that." I'm fairly confident in her answer. They say it may be up to a 2 hour delay. Okay...as long as we get there. I'll wait all day. Okay, about 5 bites into lunch, the guy comes on again and says, "I hate to make you move your lunch." I look at him like, "What do you mean?" And then I know. "It's cancelled isn't it." "Yes." Great. We get off the plane, there's already a line of about 75 people. We get in line, Carl goes to talk to a flight attendant from our flight to ask what the best option is. He says to call the 1-800 number. Okay. We stay in line, call the number, end up rescheduling our flight for the next day from Denver, to Oakland, to PDX. Luckily, I have family in Co. Springs. We rented a car for only $20!!! and drove to stay with them. They have a small BBQ business so we had brisket and ribs and fixings. We were soooo full and sit by the fire and go to bed early.

3rd-Sunday. Wake up, eat more great food (omelets and biscuits and gravy) and hit the road back to Denver. We were told to get there early because we would have to go through additional security measures. No prob. We get there and are told that there is a weather advisory and are risking not making it to PDX. Duh dude, like we haven't learned that yet. Okay, through security, no problem, plenty of time to go pee-pee, grab a snack, and hang out. Board the plane, we check SW's website, our flight to PDX says it's On Time. We luck out with an exit row, a nice row companion from Oakland, and land. Okay, we make it off the plane. Cancelled. &@*#(@!*!@#&$&*@&!*2!!!! We got in line (short this time) and asked to re-schedule. She doesn't know what she's doing so we go to get on the 1-800 number again. Bless the sweet grandma lady that has been on our flights since KC. We'd talked about driving in line in Denver that morning. She offers to pay for a rental car if we decide to drive to Portland. It was awkward. We tell her we're going to go make some calls and get road conditions. We talk to Carl's family, they offer to come pick us up. It's a 10 hour drive. We think, maybe we'll drive 1/2 way so it's not as bad. Then, we find out 2 mountain passes on the way are closed. Great. We go tell the grandma lady, give her a number we'd gotten from another traveler that morning who was going to drive and our number. I guess she made a plan. We get a flight to Seattle for Tuesday morning, (Portland, the soonest was Christmas Day.) Okay, we go to get a rental car. Enterprise has no cars. We love Enterprise. The cheapest rental car for just 1.5 days is $412 with National. Ohhhh, gosh. And we have to get a hotel on top of that. No thanks. We met another traveler named Josh in the rental place who's in the same position. We decide we're going to get a hotel room. We go to the same hotel. He'd gotten a rental car already and was going to drive the 101 up the coast to his parents which is a 16-18 hour drive. He offered to take us. We decide we'd rather take a day off to rest and re-group and try to fly out Tuesday. We all ate together in the hotel restaurant and chatted a while. He even paid for our meal. What a saint! Turns out he's a pretty interesting guy and a fellow "believer" as he put it. It was a great break in the clouds to make a friend on this crazy journey.

4th-Monday Wake up. I'm hungry. I call the front desk to ask how long the continental breakfast is. She says, "We don't have a continental breakfast." WHAAAATTT? Okay, re-group. Vending machine. Yes, it'll have something. I find only a soda machine. I ask a cleaning lady. She says, "There isn't one....but I think there's something by the front desk." I go to the front desk. I find juice....and candy. I get juice. I find a granola bar in my bag. Score! Now we're sitting in our bed watching CNN and listening to how bad it is in the Northwest and trying to keep our already shattered hopes high of making it out tomorrow.

So help me...I don't know what we'll do if we can't get out of here. One more night in Oakland. Luckily we have some brisket and ribs in a goodie bag from my family in Co. Springs. LUNCH!


Click your heels for us. We are nearing the end of our positive attitudes.

people watchery

So, we get to the airport, get our bags, go inside. OH NO. Where does the line for Southwest start and stop? We start walking, keep walking, still walking, "Sir, is this the line for Southwest?" Yes. Keep walking...finally, but the United desk, the end of the line. (The line grows to the next airline counter...masses of people.)

By this point, I'm facing the fact that we're not making our flight. I figure our flight is delayed. We made it up to the actual posts where the line starts and then it happens, "Unless you are on flight @#*$ to Dallas, your flight has been cancelled. Please call the 1-800 number to reschedule your flight." Oh great. We get out of line, kind of laughing at everyone, call the number, on hold for a few minutes, flight rescheduled for Saturday morning. Not ideal, but it works.

Okay, so the couple in line behind us was already fighting when they got in line. Something about their boarding passes which she had printed offline or something. Then we find out our respective flights are canceled, the husband loses it. He starts off with the cussing and how they'll have to wait forever for a ride since they're from out of town, they won't get to Phoenix, this is the worst thing ever, blah blah blah. He keeps walking off and then coming back and saying something to his wife dramatically and then does it again. We are trying not to laugh because he's acting like a 4 year old. We move outside to wait for Thomas to pick us up, and watch as TSA employees inform those getting out of their cars that all flights have been canceled. We told a guy as we were getting in our car as he was saying goodbye to his friends and the disappointment on his face was priceless. We watched this again and again while inside and outside. I don't know why I found hilarity in others misery today, but it was glorious.

And now, this is happening.

We leave in 52 hours for 11 days in the Northwest. I know 4 of the 3 pictures are from the beach, but I'm the most excited about seeing the ocean again. After all, it's only my 3rd time to see it. We've got lots of fun things planned and I'm looking forward to getting more acquainted with Portland and Seattle. We may luck into a white Christmas which would be great.


Here's to festivus, family, friends, and food! I hope your holiday is one with lots of memories and that we all remember that the only reason we have what we have is by the grace of God.

PS, watch the video at the bottom. It has been inspirational in my family's life over the last 2 years.

irony?

"Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you when you think everything's okay and everything's going right."

So, I went to the Neuro yesterday. He was very pleased with my progress. I was cleared to drive. He encouraged me to go back to work. (I'm going to start part-time somewhere, I think full-time is still risky.)

And then...

I woke up to a partial seizure. It was followed by 5-6 (I couldn't keep track) within a few minutes. This is a huge and devastating disappointment. More so because I had the majority awake. This hasn't happened since June. 6 months ago. Great. Just when I was getting more comfortable with the idea of driving and actually driving...BAM. Why must the moon and tides torment me so! (That's for you, Maggie.) But seriously. It seems that I get over small and big hurdles and then there is a setback.

Honestly. It was not even 24 hours ago that I was in his office and happy and felt like things couldn't be better.


"Isn't it ironic; Don't you think?"

driver's ed.

So, I've been driving in little spurts since the last week of November. Yesterday I drove on the highway for the first time. It went pretty well. I stayed in the outside lanes just in case I would need to get off. (That was Bennett's idea since she would have to navigate if something happened.) Nothing happened, but you can't have too many safety plans...well, that's not really true, but you know what I mean.

It's been nerve-racking. I'm having to get used to the stimulation driving brings since I can get overstimulated easily sometimes. I've only driven at night a few times...it's a little harder because there's lots of lights and flashing signs. I'm getting more comfortable with it. It will just take time like everything else does with Epilepsy.

In other news I go to the doctor today for my 3-month check-up. Not expecting anything major.


P.S. I would light my whole house with white lights if it was possible. I'm in love with our Christmas tree at night.

pipes

I'm a pseudo fan of country music...more alternative country, folk, not whine-y or twangy. Anyway, I am watching a re-run of the CMA awards while I'm cleaning out my email inbox. I don't care what your feelings are about country music, you have got to give props to Carrie Underwood. She has got serious pipes. It looks so effortless for her. When she sings live, it's as good if not better than on her records. From a musical perspective, she has amazing control and stamina...for goodness sake, she sings at full voice higher than many can sing, period. Gee Wiz Carrie. You are #1 on my list of voices I wish I had. Here's her performance. PS, Taylor Swift, you could take a lesson from her.




Oh, and Vince Gill has packed on more pounds.

PS, I would take Allison Krauss or Martina any day too.

brilliance

Frank Warren is the founder of the Post Secret art project that has turned into an international phenomenon where anonymous people submit secrets on 4x6 postcards to Warren's house. Frank Warren tours the country speaking at college campuses as well as touring with the traveling art exhibit that displays hundreds of secrets. There are 4 books that are a compilation of secrets collected over the years.

Last night, Frank made his first trip to Oklahoma and spoke at OU. He showed secrets that didn't make it in the books for various reasons (mostly because they contained copyrighted material.) He spoke about how and why he started the project and how it's evolved since. The man is brilliant. He narrated everything so well. The main theme was how sharing/displaying secrets is so powerful because it connects and unifies us as humanity. Everyone has something or somethings that they keep to themselves and we have a choice; to keep it or to share it. With PostSecret, people have seen that they are not alone in their secret. Warren believes that loneliness is the greatest obstacle for all of us to overcome and by sharing secrets we find out that we are not alone.

At the close of the night, Warren opened it up for questions and secret sharing. There were some funny secrets and some serious ones and a few questions. These are 2 that stuck out to me.

"My parents divorced when I was 10 and I've lived with my dad since. My mom is on her 4th marriage and I avoid seeing or staying with her because she has ruined the idea of marriage for me."

"My mom died when I was 10 and her name was Penny. Every time I see a penny I turn it face-up."

I'd highly recommend you go to one of the PostSecret events. It was brilliant.

different name, same thing

"A stylish hands-free way to carry all your essentials! This textured faux leather waist purse features decorative antique finish metal studs on one of the exterior pockets, an adjustable waist strap, and a lined interior with 2 slip pockets and a single zip pocket."


Really? A waist purse? Don't you mean fanny pack? And last time I checked those were for 60+ who wear some form of a neon windsuit. And tourists.

shoppie

I really enjoy grocery shopping. I don't really know why...maybe because I love food. Maybe because I get a freakish joy out of deals and figuring out if it's cheaper to the family size or 2 of the regular.

Maybe it's also because I love the music played in grocery stores. It makes me dance. And lip sync.

I also like talking to my checker. Probably because when I was little my mom let us put away the groceries and we always pretended to be a checker before putting everything away.

I also enjoy putting everything away. It's like an organizing puzzle that I like figuring out.


I'm weird.

revealed

That's right. It's a 2006 Honda Element and it's ours and it's mostly paid for. We got a killer deal on it and couldn't have had a better car purchase experience.

Why this is so great is because we haven't had a reliable vehicle for most of the time we've been married. The blessed Buick was a nice car that served Carl well (and myself for about the last 6 months of my driving career,) but it has cost us lots of money. While we haven't had any car payments (his parents bought his, I purchased the Toyota in high school) for years, the Buick was sucking our pockets dry every 2 months with some new expensive hitch.

We finally reached our breaking point last week when the Buick started making new sounds (only 1 months after getting it out of the shop, mind you.) We didn't feel like we could look someone in the eye and tell them the Buick was a great car or hand them the maintenance records with confidence. So, we took less money for it than we could've if we'd sold it ourselves, but we got a great deal on the Element and we didn't have to feel bad about the Buick. That's what they call "win/win."

I'm working through some anger and control issues since I can't drive it and it's been my dream car for the last 4 years...I guess I'll forget all that when I have the clear from my Doc and I get to drive it.

I couldn't reveal until today because we're driving it to my sister's for T-Give and have been keeping it a secret from my family.

That's all! I hope the mystery was worth the wait!

the year was 2006...

...and great things were made that year.

I cannot fully divulge the contents of what was made that year that was so great but I can tell you that we are proud owners of something. I can tell you that it was the greatest day with no hiccups and no difficulties. I can also tell you that what has happened has been one of my greatest dreams and it has come true. (Please excuse the disney in that last sentence.)

No, I'm not pregnant. (Just in case you were trying to find a way to make that be what this is about.)

And no, it's not my coffee shop/art gallery/ music venue "Cup of Joe."

Keep guessing!

intro to sociology

I've been thinking a lot lately about how I miss school. I honestly never thought I would say that. Senior year, I don't even remember how many times I said, "I'm not going to miss this." or "I'm never going back to school." I've since changed my mind. I really miss learning. I miss having class discussions about things that actually matter.

There has been a facebook thread based off of someone's status regarding the movie The Inconvenient Truth. The person said it was proved to have 11 falsities and more misleading facts. Needless to say, this turned into a long discussion that started with the movie, moved to Obama and socialism, moved again to individual freedom, and now is to salvation. Shew! There's been over 50 comments between about 5-7 people. It's been really fun to participate in intellectual conversation about issues.

I was thinking back to my first day of Intro to Sociology. That class is responsible for changing my major from Theology to a multi-disciplinary degree of Sociology/Psychology/Theology. I wish I had just gone ahead and gone straight Sociology because a multi-disc degree is annoying to explain to a prospective employer who thinks it's a cop out. Anyway, that's not the point. I remember how that class motivated me and made me excited to learn more about it and to study and to write papers and get into the nitty gritty of issues. Graduation shut that motivation down. What I'm trying to say is that I guess I'm realizing the value of continuing your education, even if it's not going back to school.

In other news, I bought our first ever Christmas tree. I'm not calling it a Christmas tree though...I'm calling it a Hope tree. Instead of decorating it with things associated with Christmas (like Santa and red and green tinsel) we're going to put our hopes for the next year on it. After the holiday is over, we keep the hopes somewhere where we can see them through the next year. Anyway, I'm actually looking forward to it for the first time in a long while.

if you want to...

...you can purchase either the old Java Joint or the old Firehouse Grill (most recently Harbor House) and let me turn it into the coolest coffee shop/local artist gallery/and live music venue that 39th has ever seen. I think I would call it "Cup of Joe" with the tagline "coffee, art, music; warmth, meaning, and community." You could earn "cups" towards free wi-fi after so many drink purchases. Think about it...

Student ID discounts.
Open mic-night.
Locally roasted coffee beans.
Bomb BLT's.


Think about it. Let me know. I'm ready when you are.

flying

I DID get to go to Michigan this weekend! WOO HOO! It was awesome; I'm so glad I went! No problems, no seizures...all is well. Oh, and it snowed the day we left. Oh, and their trees are the prettiest I've seen this year.

So, we flew. Duh. I forget how people act when they fly. We flew Northwest airlines, so they board "elite" first and then everyone else. So, everyone starts crowding immediately and are cutting each other and racing down the jetway. Don't they know that if you're first on or last on, your seat will still be there? It's called assigned seating. Same story when the plane stops at the gate. You hear everyone's seatbelts unclick and everyone stands up to get their stowed baggage. Again, do you not remember that if you get off first, or last, you're still going to get off? And why hurry? Especially if you have to go to baggage claim, you might as well sit and wait. Everyone just needs to calm down and enjoy life slowly. Just because you run doesn't mean you'll get your (fill in the blank) any faster than those who walk.

PS-I had my first experience at Aldi (grocery store) yesterday and it was awesome. I came away a bandit!

invasion

if one side of my nose is cooperating, the other isn't. that's frustrating. what is also frustrating is already being on medication daily and having to add to that dosage cold medicine due to the pressure in my face. is it not bad enough that i have to feel tired all the time? must we add other factors to this? i guess so.

i'm mostly upset because the movement of whatever into my sinus' is most likely going to not allow me to go to Michigan this weekend to see my friend Emily who I haven't seen since January. carl is shooting her brother's wedding and it was going to work out perfectly for me to come and see her for 2 days. well, that was until I had 3 more partial seizures and now this invasion of bacteria. how rude. all i want to do is visit my friend and feel well enough to travel.

i'm not giving up yet...but i have a feeling that surrender is inevitable. :(

Dear Karma,

Please deal me some nice cards. It would be greatly appreciated.

Heart,
Cara

let your hair down

I don't have anything dramatic to write about since I haven't been an active employee for almost 6 months and a lot of my posts revolved around how absolutely horrible my job was and how I was trying to do anything else. Oh wait, I did and it was called a seizure. Well, I didn't really do that, it happened to me. So, I've decided to subject you to random things that I think about. Starting...now.

I have not had my independence since May 20th, 2008 (forever in infamy as Seizure Day.)
I am working through how I feel and have felt about what that day did to my life.
I am trying to decide on what to study in grad school.
I'm trying to decide if I should go to grad school.
I miss going to school. Truly, I do.
I've spent way more time than you ever have on a couch.
I've rediscovered a love for Kool-Aid.
I found a secret love for John Mayer's guitar and songwriting ability...but not necessarily his voice.
I hope I get to drive again soon but I'm also really nervous about being able to drive again.
I don't want to live my life in fear of ________, but I do a lot. (That wasn't me cussing, that was me leaving room for the many things that I fear.)
I have opened several business ventures in my mind with Katie and Holly that may or may not actually come to fruition. They really should though.
I am proud of myself because I used the word "fruition" and I believe I did it correctly.
I think that I really enjoy cooking and I'm not sure it would've happened if I hadn't had all this time to look for hobbies.
I also really enjoy cleaning and organizing. It helps me feel better and I get a lot of thinking done.
I know my mom wishes I'd discovered the last 2 things I wrote when I was still living with her. :)
I think I'll look really cute when I'm pregnant. Who doesn't?!
I saw someone on tv using a pencil and I remembered how much I loved using #2's when I was in college. I think mostly because I love the color gray. And I love to erase.
I have 3 Target stores memorized and dominate clearance racks like you don't even know.
I just got a shirt at Target for $3.24. It's my new favorite shirt.
I also got a cardigan at Target for $4.95 and I wear it too much but it makes me feel artsy.
I accidentally threw away my parents wedding picture that I'd been wanting that was tucked inside a Guidepost that had Bobby Flay's picture on the front. I still feel so bad about it.
I know who Bobby Flay is because I watch Iron Chef America on the Food Network.
I don't read blogs that look long because I don't enjoy reading. Unless it's Ben's blog.

I think this is enough for you to digest.

victory

Thomas lives with us and he and I have been battling over him putting his dishes in the dishwasher. Those dishes that can't go in the dishwasher are to be washed by hand by whoever used them. I've been threatening that if he kept leaving his dishes in the sink that they would end up on his bed. "yea, yea." Well, Wednesday, after 3 days in the sink, his dishes were moved to his room. I spared his bed, but did leave them in his doorway. They have proceeded to sit there until today when they were finally washed by their master, Thomas. One small victory is still a victory.

Now I know how my mom felt my whole life when we left our stuff everywhere, dumped our dishes above the dishwasher on the counter, left cups out, and generally didn't clean up after ourselves. "When you get it out, you put it away" was a common phrase, but often argued it by saying whoever used it last should put it away. Anyway, sorry mom. Now I know your pain.

PS, while writing this, Thomas loaded the dishwasher and started it, and Thomas and Carl spontaneously started raking leaves in the front yard thus earning 2 points. There may be hope for them yet.

adventures

Well since I've been stuck at home, unable to drive, unable to be independent, I've spent about 4 weekends at my grandparents and sisters over the last 6 weeks. It's been 2 years since I was at my g-parents last which is super embarrassing. I guess I've made up for it by being there so many times recently. :) Anyway, I've had several adventures recently. I was up this last weekend for the small town tradition of Neewollah. It's the town's fall fest/Halloween celebration. There's a carnival, fair food, lots of activities, etc. I haven't been since my Senior year of high school so it was really nice to be there. There's a parade and marching band competition on the Saturday of last weekend. I love this parade, I love marching bands, I love it. After the parade and competition, we go to Jayne's house to get dinner going. Well, Uncle Lee pulls out the VW Thing (see picture.) After some joy-riding, it was time to teach my sister Lindsay and I to drive a standard. So, Uncle Lee took each of us out and taught us to drive the Thing. My turn was a little trying since I couldn't reach the pedals very well and the breaks don't really work and I hadn't driven since May. I will have you know that I only killed it when I was learning to start and stop on a hill. I did GREAT besides that. I didn't jerk it once, all my shifting was down fluidly and easily. Hooray me! It was also nice to get behind the wheel and drive, even if it was on the runway Uncle Lee made in the field for his plane.

I've been question girl 2008 to my grandparents on these visits. I guess my curiosity is just now kicking in so I've been asking lots of questions about their lives and such. It's been really great to learn all of that. My grandpa is in the process of writing "life sketches" with his siblings that tell about their lives growing up. Being born in the 20's leaves lots of room for good stories.

Anyway, that's all. Since I'm all caught up with the DVR, I guess I'll have to find some things to do today...probably laundry.

what should i do?

So, since it's looking like this seizure thing isn't going to be figured out for a while, I'm considering working for Starbucks (insurance) and going back to school for a masters. The problem is, I still don't really know what I want to do so I'm struggling with the decision to possibly accrue more debt and get a masters that may not benefit me in the long run. On the other hand, I don't think I'll be a person that has a career in something for 10, 15, 20 years. So...here's what I'm considering.

-Law School.
-School/Guidance Counselor
-Speech/Language Pathology
-Something with Design
-LMFT
-MBA (seems to be pretty useful across the board)

I know...it doesn't seem like any of that goes together...which is part of the problem.

So, I need some feedback. What should I do?


EDIT: So I spent some time thinking about what I would want to do if there were no limits (money, insurance, where I live, etc) and I decided I would be the one who sets up the rooms/stuff for pictures in magazines, specifically RealSimple. Either that, or people would pay me to go through their stuff and get rid of it/organize it. I would love that.

Rainy

Bless the Lord, Oh my soul, there is finally a rainy fall day and we have a porch to sit on and watch it and a back patio door with a screen to allow the wet pavement smell to linger into the living room. It's a good day...

setback

i woke up to a partial seizure this morning at 7:45am. i had a 3 month streak going of no seizures until today. it's been a really frustrating day. i've been feeling really good lately, i've had more energy, and now it feels like i'm starting all over again. i talked to my doctor and i'm going to bump up my dose, again. i was sure that i was finally in a good place with my medication, i'd been stable for 2 1/2 months and not had to go up anymore, until today. i'm not sure this will effect my ability to drive or not. i hope it doesn't, but at the same time, i can't be having these if i'm going to be safe driving.

anyway, today's been disappointing and frustrating. i'm not looking for sympathy or comments, i just wanted to get this out.

Housey

Here's some peeks at our newest residence, a rent house. It's great; we love it!



No blogging recently because there's not much going down. I could talk about the debates, but I'd probably be e-killed because I don't work for CNN and breathe politics.

moverific pt 2

we're moved.

empty apartment. empty storage unit. empty cars/trunks. empty most of the boxes/blue tubs. empty pockets of all money. empty all positive attitude and communication skills.

check.


p.s. dish network is amazing. cox is not. and kenley better be kicked off project runway tonight.

celebrating life

Meet Spencer Green. He passed away one year ago today at the age of 24. He had been struggling with cancer since the age of 19. He was a friend to all, an inspiration to many, and a testimony to the grace of God. He is greatly missed, but is celebrated and remembered today. Spencer made his experience with cancer one that challenged himself and others to live your life and not waste time or opportunities. "Enjoy Every Sandwich" was a motto he lived by. One of my many favorite songs is below. My favorite part is the bridge where he talks about tasting a dream and hearing the call of wilder things. It has been my anthem the last year as I try to figure out what I want to do with my life. I'm tasting dreams and I know they don't involve copier machines, and I'm hearing the call of wilder things...I just haven't arrived at the dream or wilder thing yet. I hope you can relate to the song and maybe it will remind you to taste a dream or listen to the call of wilder things.

iceberg

if this is all you ever knew, i could forgive you, if this is all you ever knew.
if this is all you ever saw, like an iceberg, that never got to thaw

i don't think i'd care too much
i don't think i'd mind one bit
if you never floated south to try to find your name

if this was all that you could be,
sitting here playing your video games on the tv
and if this is all that you could do,
with your perfect job, and your perfect raise
and your benefits too

i don't think i'd care too much
i don't think i'd mind one bit
if you never floated south to try to find your name

but i know that you have tasted a dream
and i know that it doesn't smell like a copier machine
and i know that you have heard the call of wilder things
i will never see

so i think you should go right now
you don't have to say goodbye
cause i could tell them that you went south to try to find your name.

i think you should go right now
you don't have to say goodbye
cause i could tell them that you went south to try to find your name.

i think you should go right now
you don't have to say goodbye
cause i could tell them that you went south to try and find your name.

-Spencer Green

Oh Snap...

I was online today paying my last bill to the hospital (BOOYAH!), and to Real Simple so I continue to receive my beloved magazine. Then...I saw it. "Renew online at RealSimple.com." Why have I not known about this life changing website for the last 4 months of captivity and exile??!?!?!?! Bless it, they are also starting REAL SIMPLE on TLC next month!!! A full hour of genius things I wish I'd thought of every Friday on my T.V. How great! You may not be able to find me for a while and it will be because I'm glued to either the .com or TLC.

Moverific!

Yea, we figured it was time to move again. I mean, who doesn't want to establish 4 different residences in the first year and a 1/2 of marriage? So, Thomas (Carl's brother) has made some changes in colleges and needed a place to live. Working part-time his options of safety, cleanliness, and affordable places to live are extremely limited. So, being the gracious individuals we are, we said "Live with us!" So, after 4 days of searching, we found a rent house in Bethany with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a utility room (Bless it! No more laundry at my mom's!) a garage, a huge storage closet, a brand new refrigerator, tons of storage, a backyard with 2 storage buildings, and a cool front door! BOOYAH! So, we move in Oct. 1st. That's right, speedy packing express is here! As much as I hate packing, I enjoy unpacking. (Weird, I know.) And, I'm really excited to settle in and get stuff on the walls. Hopefully we get to paint and take down the mommy border in the kitchen and "rose room", so I'll have something to do! Hazaa!!!

Now, don't get too excited. There is retro brown carpet through the whole house...the exact same that's been in my Grammy's house since 1980! So, we're going to lean into the retro/vintage feeling and do our best to make it cool and not Granny. Hopefully it turns out alright! I'm dreaming of every color of furniture besides brown. (After all, our couch and chair are already brown.) Hopefully I stumble on some red, orange, yellow, and avocado wonders!!!

I hope we don't continue the moving trend we've started...I like change, but I'm getting tired of moving.

Grammy's

I spent the weekend at my Grammy's with my mom and aunt. I hadn't been there in a while which is embarrassing. It was so great! I didn't realize how many things I love/miss about her house. My g-parents live on a farm in SE Kansas in a little town called Independence. They live in a house that my grandpa built and where my mom and her siblings were raised. I have lots of memories of that house and the farm. I LOVE being there. It makes me want homemade ice cream, cherry and pumpkin pie, and 80's furniture. I want to visit the cabin, the old cemetery, take a walk around the hill or down the gravel road to the bridge...etc. I hope everyone has some memories of your grandparents house. I'm planning on making as many visits as possible in the near future.

What are your memories of your g-parents house?

hobby...but not lobby.

i need some hobbies people. i tried the painting thing...but only 4 weeks into my 16 week class i had 2 root canals and a seizure so i couldn't really finish the class. so, i have all these supplies and no idea what to do. i used to make things...like mod podge (is that right???) stuff...but i had to leave it when we started sharing a house because it was "college." i would probably be happy in a house with a wall of cork and a wall that's that chalkboard paint. (*i copyright those ideas...if you steal them and do them before we have a house and i can do it, then i'll be moderately upset and still have it in my house, except better.)i think i kinda want to be a designer. i have all these pictures and articles from magazines of awesome ideas for a living space...but of course have no funds or space to do them thanks to the laws of apartments and school debt. but seriously, i do need some hobbies to consider...any ideas?

the parameters to these suggested hobbies need to involve limited physical activity since i'm still not up to my normal functioning, little money, and able to do alone or with someone else. okay, go!

every day is a holiday to me.

Vacation was nice...we didn't do much, which was the point. Happy Labor Day to you! While you're enjoying staying home or doing something cool because you don't have to work...I'll be doing the same thing I do every day which is have a day off from everything. So, enjoy my life today!

Oh wait I can't, I'll be on vacation...

So, Carl and I leave tomorrow for Denver, Colorado for a few days of no email, no phone calls, no friends, no Oklahoma, no responsibilities, few plans, and a cheap flight and rental car to visit the mountains. I have been highly anticipating this week since I found the $68 tickets about a month ago. A slight damper came when I found out the Democratic National Convention was going on at the same time and I couldn't find lodging for nearly 30 square miles around Denver. Luckily, I got the last room at a BOMB B&B in Morrison, Colorado...about 20 miles outside of Denver. Check out their website so you'll be jealous of us. Another slight damper has come with the recent arrest of hooligans planning to shoot at Obama while we're in town. No thanks! But I'm confident that we'll have a much deserved relaxing break away from our lives. I'm looking forward the most to my first visit to Whole Foods and the Mile High Flea Market. So, peace out Oklahoma. Don't call because we won't answer....till Sunday.

Exiled

It's been a while since I wrote about tv shows...but the Olympics have been on people!

So...sometimes I watch MTV. I won't hide it. There's a new show starting tomorrow night at 9:30pm; it's called Exiled. MTV took 8 of the "Sweet Sixteen" stars from 2 years ago and sent them to remote areas of Morroco, Norway, Africa, Thailand, and India. What's interesting is the parents do everything for these kids!!! They pay for everything, they do their laundry, they clean their rooms, they allow their kids to sit around and be taken care of. So...it only makes sense that their children are going to be spoiled and not able to handle daily living skills like working, feeding themselves, doing laundry, paying bills...etc. One girls mom even straightens her daughters hair for her!!! Have we heard of ENABLING!

I'll be watching the show to see the real world hit these kids square in the jaw. My prediction is that 7 out of the 8 will go right back to their extravagant lifestyle.

breakfast for dinner!

When I was growing up, sometimes my mom would make waffles for dinner....we never really had them for breakfast, just dinner. I LOVE whoever said "I want breakfast for dinner." (And it's a great excuse to eat more BACON.)

Our small group is getting together tonight for...you guessed it, breakfast for dinner! We're having pancakes and bacon and all the fixin's...we're even having juice and milk to drink. How appropriate! I'm so pumped. I haven't had real breakfast, much less breakfast for dinner in ages.

So, cancel your dinner plans and make some breakfast. You won't be sorry.

Rainy Dayzzzz

it has been gloriously cloudy for the last....week? unlike most people, i am energized by the cloudy days! i invite the rain. i cheer for the thunderstorm to roll through. i open the blinds and let the lovely gray into my living room. my mom always gave me a hard time growing up because a good portion of my wardrobe was gray. well...i still have a good percentage that is gray, but i can't help it. i love gray.

so since i've had so much time on my hands, i've been doing ridiculous things like researching baby names. i'm not pregnant!!! so don't even ask me. but, i've recently had a fascination with names and what they mean. it probably started when Josh and Katie found out that one of the names they're considering (they ARE pregnant) for their baby unknown is Gavin and it means "White Hawk of Battle." who wouldn't want their name to mean that?! we've had numerous discussions with them and others about prospective baby names. we believe it's better to get your "dibs" out there so you're not disappointed when you're friends get pregnant and "steal" your favorite baby name. (we also understand though that if/when they're pregnant and we're not, they pretty much have all rights to claim a name.)

so, here's my favorites. it should also be said that i don't really want to have (a) girl(s) but i do have a few on my list. knowing my luck, i'll have triplet girls.

boys
Emery
Boen
River
Finley "Finn" for short
Ash
Maddox
Sawyer

girls
Scout
Sadie
Everly
Millie

What Ellen and I have in common....

-we love to dance.

-we LOVE a good BLT sandwich.

-we love Barack Obama.


Love you Ellen.

Olympiadicmania

I guess I'm just now old enough to really get into the Olympics...but I am obsessed. Not with America...(even though that men's swimming relay was AWESOME!) but I am digging every bit of Beijing 2008. I've always loved Gymnastics and Diving...but this year is a whole new deal.

And synchronized diving? How tight is that!

I haven't seen the opening ceremonies (I'm waiting for some peeps who were in Africa to watch with them) but I've only heard the best things and can't wait to watch!

Who's with me on this?!!??!!

EDIT: I watched the opening ceremonies tonight with Kendra. They blew my mind. I'm going to watch them again probably because they were that legit. Good Luck London...China set the bar high.

Epilepsy

I've been diagnosed with Epilepsy. I've just begun my research on all this means and I'll try to post my findings later when I've waded through everything. I'm not discharged from my doctor yet so I'm not going back to work and we haven't worked through the best option for that yet. Insurance is our main concern right now which I still have and can continue to have until I decide what to do in regards to my job at DHS. Carl and I have and will continue to make life adjustments through this journey. I don't think the diagnosis and the full extent of what it will mean for us have fully sunk in yet, but we wanted to let you know the latest.