12/18/08

What Big Eyes You Have!


I am not one who takes compliments well. I love being complimented, but I tend to become embarrassed. Even when given just a small compliment I'm not sure how to handle it. I say thank you, and I mean it, but then I feel like I should compliment them in return. I don't like to do that though, because then it seems solicited, not sincere. I'm kind of curious to know whether others have the same thoughts and feelings, and if not, what ARE their thoughts and feelings? What is the appropriate way to respond to compliments? When does the complimenting become excessive?

Judging by my experience with dating, there must be a lot of women who "require" constant complimenting, because that's what the majority of the men in my past have done. Always complimenting something to do with the way I look, or the things I do or my quirks. Sometimes it feels sincere, but most of the time it feels like they are trying to score brownie points in case they do something to piss me off.

I really do appreciate the acknowledgement of my strengths, unique talents, and such, but don't say it unless you really mean it. Don't search for compliments because you think it will make me happy. I just want the people in my life to be true to themselves.

12/12/08

How To Poop At Work

Alright guys... You may think I am completely disgusting, but I was raised with two brothers and a father who acts like he's 12. Plus at work I supervise male juveniles, so I am constantly bombarded by stench. When I read this I laughed forever. And none of you can deny it... you've been there.



How to Poop at Work

We've all been there but don't like to admit it..

We've all kicked back in our cubicles and suddenly felt something brewing down below. As much as we try to convince ourselves otherwise, the * WORK POOP* is inevitable. For those who hate pooping at work, following is the Survival Guide
for taking a dump at work.

*CROP DUSTING* When farting, you walk really fast around the office so the smell is not in your area and everyone else gets a whiff, but doesn't know where it came from.
Be careful when you do this. Do not stop until the full fart has been expelled. Walk an extra 30 feet t o make sure the smell has left your pants.

*FLY BY* The act of scouting out a bathroom before pooping. Walk in and check for other poopers. If there are others in the bathroom, leave and come back again. Be careful not to become a *FREQUENT FLYER*. People may become suspicious if they catch you constantly going into the bathroom.

*ESCAPEE* A fart that slips out while taking a pee or forcing a poop in a stall. This is usually accompanied by a sudden wave of embarrassment. If you release an escapee, do not acknowledge it. Pretend it did not happen. If you are a man and are standing next to the farter in the urinal, pretend you did not hear it. No one likes an escapee. It is uncomfortable for all involved. Making a joke or laughing makes both parties feel uneasy.

*JAILBREAK* When forcing a poop, several farts slip out at a machine gun pace. This is usually a side effect of diarrhea or a hangover. If this should happen, do not panic. Remain in the stall until everyone has left the bathroom to spare everyone the awkwardness of what just occurred.

*COURTESY FLUSH* The act of flushing the toilet the instant the poop hits the water. This reduces the amount of air time the poop has to stink up the bathroom. This can help you avoid being caught doing the *WALK OF SHAME*.
*WALK OF SHAME* Walking from the stall, to the sink, to the door after you have just stunk up the bath room.. This can be a very uncomfortable moment if someone walks in and busts you. As with farts, it is best to pretend that the smell does not exist. Can be avoided with the use of the *COURTESY FLUSH*.

*OUT OF THE CLOSET POOPER* A colleague who poops at work and is Doggone proud of it. You will often see an Out Of The Closet Pooper enter the bathroom with a newspaper or magazine under their arm. Always look around the office for the Out Of The Closet Pooper before entering the bathroom.

*SAFE HAVENS* A seldom used bathroom somewhere in the building where you can least expect visitors. Try floors that are predominantly of the opposite sex. This will reduce the odds of a pooper of your sex entering the bathroom.

*TURD BURGLAR* Someone who does not realize that you are in the stall and tries to force the door open. This is one of the most shocking and vulnerable moments that can occur when taking a poop at work. If this occurs, remain in the stall until the *Turd Burglar* leaves. This way you will avoid all uncomfortable eye contact.

*CAMO-COUGH* A phony cough that alerts all new entrants into the bathroom that you are in a stall. This can be used to cover-up a *WATERMELON*, or to alert potential *TURD BURGLAR* . Very effective when used in conjunction with a *SHIRLEY TEMPLE*.

*SHIRLEY TEMPLE* A subtle toe-tapping that is used to alert potential *TURD BURGLARS* that you are occupying a stall. This will remove all doubt that the stall is occupied. If you hear a *SHIRLEY TEMPLE*, leave the bathroom immediately so the
pooper can poop in peace.

*WATERMELON* A poop that creates a loud splash when hitting the toilet water. This is also an embarrassing incident. If you feel a Watermelon coming on, create a diversion. See *CAMO-COUGH*.

SOME VARIETIES OF POOP YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF:

*The King Poop* = This kind is the kind of poop that killed Elvis. It doesn't come until you 're all sweaty, trembling and purple from straining so hard.

* Bali Belly Poop* = You poop so much you lose 5 lbs.

*Cement Block* = You wish you'd gotten a spinal block before you poop.

*Cork Poop* = Even after the third flush, it's still floating in there. How do I get rid of it? This poop usually happens at someone else's house.

*The Bungee Poop* = The kind of poop that just hangs off your rear before it falls into the water.

*The Crippler* = The kind of poop where you have to sit on the toilet so long your legs go numb from the waist down.

*The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang* = The kind of poop that hits you when you're trapped in your car in a traffic jam.

*The Party Pooper* = The giant poop you take at a party. And when you flush the toilet, you watch in horror as the water starts to rise...


NOW EVERYONE TRY TO GO POOP IN PEACE

QUIT LAUGHING... POOPING IS A NATURAL PROCESS

12/8/08

Seriously?

In a previous post I wrote about an experience I had with an idiot cop in Riverdale... So I thought I would give you a little update. So far my brother has to driven down to court twice. Once to enter in a plea, and again for them to tell him that the verdict wasn't clear so they were going to continue to trial. First of all, what a waste of gas, time, and tax payer's money. Second of all, WTF? And to put the icing on the cake, my brother went back to the parking lot where we had turned out of. Guess what he saw?



Here is the BEFORE picture... From when we were pulled over:















And here's the AFTER.....


Seriously? The verdict wasn't clear? Obviously they found some problem with where the sign was before. To me this picture looks like an admission of guilt. Otherwise, why would they move the sign? I HIGHLY doubt that we were the only people to miss that sign. But should we have to pay for someones poor judgement in road sign placement?



So that's all for now. I'll let you know what happens once this is all over... Does it really take 2 months to fight a traffic violation?

11/26/08

Do You Think You'll Make The Cut?


I am a little bit behind in my Christmas shopping this year. Generally I start looking in June and have most of my shopping done by Thanksgiving. That way I can spread it out over multiple paychecks and avoid the possibility of running out of money before I buy groceries. But this year I have not even thought about it. I think I don't want to make the decision of who to buy gifts this year. I've always had a lot of acquaintances in previous years, but I always know which friends are close enough to buy them a thoughtful gift. But in the past year I have met so many awesome people and made a lot of good friends. So I don't know who to put on my list! If I had the money I would buy all of my friends a gift. But that would cost way too much. Then there is the awkward situation where someone buys you a gift and you ended up crossing them off yours.

So. How do you decide? Does anyone have any suggestions how to choose who gets a gift?

11/21/08

Contentment

Lately everything important has been going just how I want it to. I got the position I wanted at work, some medical tests I've gotten finally came back normal(after 6 years of issues), I have great friends, and my relationship with my family is strong. Life is good. I would even go so far as to say that it's great. And that right there scares the hell out of me. My life has never been great. Great things may happen sometimes, and my life has been good, but it's never great. I wish that I could just accept that my life is finally turning around and that all of the bad is behind me, but I can't. I'm sitting here in the middle of my great life, and I'm just waiting, trying to brace myself for it all to be ripped away. I know that a lot of the things that happened in the past are because of choices I've made. And I know that I have matured and learned and I won't make those same choices. But I still can't shake that thought in the corner of my mind telling me that the better things seem, the farther there is to fall. And, in my experience, it always falls. Maybe I'm just jaded and I need to learn to accept when things are good and not worry about what may happen. It's easier said than done. I will try my hardest to enjoy it while it lasts, and hopefully it lasts for a long long time.

11/20/08

Test Your Musical Knowledge.

I stole this from ThePatrick! It seemed fun. And I don't wanna write a new explanation for the game so I stole that from ThePatrick too. Teehee...

Here's the deal. I have put my iTunes on shuffle. I will write the first two lines of each of the first 25 songs, regardless of embarrassment level. I will check off each song as someone guesses correctly. Yes, it is considered cheating if you use a search engine. I may not know, but someone, somewhere will. Ready? GO!

Just a warning... I have a VERY random mix of music.


1 - These old feelings make you think. These old feelings make you drink.

2 - I want you to know that I'm happy for you. I wish nothing but the best for you both.

3 - I've been mistreated. I've been abused.

4 - To love somebody naturally. To love somebody faithfully.

X - Shalalalalalalalalalalala. Shalalalalalalalalalalala.
Brown Eyed Girl by Everclear

6 - I took the Polaroid down in my room. I'm pretty sure you have a new girlfriend.

7 - Music boxes have within, melodies they carry with them. Once they're open music fills the air.

X - I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad. I got sunshine, in a bag.
Clint Eastwood by Gorillaz

9 - Straight out of Boston. To reinvent the rock and roll.

10 - When the going starts to get rough, and you feel like you've had enough let the music take control of your soul.

X - Dear Prudence. Won't you come out to play.
Dear Prudence by The Beatles

12 - Outside of Von's Gabrielle and I crouched behind her dad`s Plymouth Duster sharing Ding Dongs

13 - Nothing else matters I've got nothing left to lose. I look to those that will always get me through

14 - If I was standing in the sea. Would you dive right in and save me?

15 - I can't breathe I can't get this out. Don't know and I can't explain.

X - Mend up your stocking hole. Cause this lump ain't made of cole.
I've Got A Boner For Christmas by Nerf Herder

X - In the middle of a gun fight... In the center of a restaurant...
You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison by My Chemical Romance

X - Every time I think that everything is gonna work out someone comes and kicks me in the balls. And every time it happens I get a bit desensitized and now my balls don't work at all.
Lift Me Up by Get Set Go

19 - We'll be fighting in the streets. With our children at our feet.

20 - Would you know my name? If I saw you in heaven.

21 - Don't make this fake. Last second of life.

X - You know you`re a cute little heartbreaker. Foxy
Foxy Lady by Jimi Hendrix

23 - All work and no play. That's the way it is ain't it?

24 - Yeah, what you critics said would never happen. We dedicate this album to anybody, people said couldn't make it.

25 - Ever ever after. Story book endings, fairy tales coming true.

Blerg.

Oh my goodness, I have not been this tired in a LONG time. I want to go to sleep right now. But, alas, I cannot. For I must watch sex offenders dream creepy dreams. At least none of them have said my name in their sleep lately. I am so lucky that I have wonderful coworkers that make my job worthwhile. I recently applied for a new position and got it, so soon I will be a day walker. And I will miss working with the people I work with now. Saturday's were always hilarious texting back and forth between staff making fun of one client's eyes or another clients never ending lunacy. It's like the new-fangled, high tech note passing that I so enjoyed during my teenage years. I think text messaging is genius. I can never understand what people are saying when I speak to them on the phone, so half of the time I just kind of let the convo happen and then hope that I didn't miss anything important... It's the times that I try to listen that I get in trouble though... because there is what I hear "He came over and pickled my shower" and what was actually said "I wonder if there's a band at the owl?" OK, so that was a bit of an exaggeration, but sometimes I seriously hear the strangest things... and when I ask for the person to repeat what they said over and over, they begin to get annoyed. I can't help it. I read lips. I'm not good enough to ONLY read lips, I need the sounds as well. But I've suffered so much head trauma that my hearing is muffled, and it is very difficult to decipher what people are saying without seeing the words form. I told a coworker this once, so he started talking to me with his hand over his mouth. I started ignoring him. Wow... I am REALLY rambling tonight. I don't even know where I was going with this paragraph when I first started it. I even tried to read through it again, but to no avail.

So I suppose that this is just going to be a random rant. Alrighty. I just lost my train of thought.

So November is a bad month for me. It's always a very busy, very dramatic, very diverse month and the memories make it difficult for me to remain the upbeat, chipper person that I try to be. I was thinking about it today, and I think part of the problem is that I see so many people from my past during the month of November. I treated a lot of people badly back in my "dark ages" and I hurt more people that I could have possibly imagined back then. In the past 4 years I have been attempting to make amends and apologize, and, where possible, reconcile lost friendships and I have made considerable progress. But then there are all of the people who were friends of the people that I hurt or just happen to hear about what I did or said and that is a little more difficult. It's the latter that I tend to run into around town and whenever I am on campus. I knew a lot of people, made quite a name for myself. I'm sure I'm catastrophizing and these people aren't so preoccupied with their disgust for me that they can't function, but to me it feels that way. No one is harder on you than yourself. And while most people wouldn't even recognize me, I know that if they did know who I was, they wouldn't think of the person I am now, rather they would think of the person I was. I don't blame them at all because I am the exact same way. I try not to be that way and to keep an open mind but sometimes I can't help it.

In conclusion, things just seem to be the worst in November. So, if I seem a bit off(more than usual) during the month of November, please just ignore it. I'll be better when November ends. I don't know why, it just happens that way. In the mean time, thank you friends for dealing with my psychosis and for not judging me according to who I was. You are all my heroes.

11/18/08

Everyone Needs A Charles...

First of all... I HATE the computer at work. It's the biggest piece of junk I've ever had to use. If I was a violent person I may have thrown it out the window or smashed it over either The Cubb's or Quasi-Frodo's head a long time ago. The more I work with them the more I am completely bewildered by their ridiculousness. I wish euthanasia was legal. But then again.. Euthanasia is generally painless, and I think that they should feel it. So let's bring back death by hanging. Sorry. I'm not generally like this. It's been a long week. And I just realized... It's only Monday!

And that was not at all what I was going to post this blog about... It was supposed to be a happy blog about the necessity of stuffed animals... or a human equivalent (ie a spouse) and my reasons for this belief. But everyone is entitled to a bad day now and again right? My day wasn't even that bad. I had a sleepover with My Hallie so I got to wake up and see the sunshine that is my sister. I went to the dentist and found that I only have one tiny cavity which will take twenty minutes to fill. I found out the filling will only cost me $23. I had brunch with my mamma and little (six-foot-tall) brother and joked around with them. I went to work and baked quiche and apple pie and joked around with coworkers while I worked on projects. I filled up my entire tank of gas for only $25. I successfully washed Charles Jefferson and made him cuddly again. I watched Ugly Betty. I ate Ziti with meatballs for dinner. It was a good day. But amidst all of this goodness... I didn't leave myself time to sleep before work. I got a three hour nap, which, considering I woke up at 6am, isn't enough to get me through a grave shift. So when I woke up to go to work, all of the goodness was gone. And now my stomach hurts, my head aches, my shoe isn't fitting right on my retarded arthritic foot, and my carpal tunnel is raging. Woe is me. At least I am almost done with grave shifts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So on to what this post was originally about...

Meet Charles Jefferson.

He is the first teddy bear that I have ever had. I did have a lamb once, but I used it as a pillow in "the dark ages" because I didn't have one. My cousin Shawn took me to Build-A-Bear for my 21st birthday which was when Charles was born. Which means he recently turned 2 years old. He's such a sweet bear, and is VERY good at cuddling. I have a hard time sleeping without him. Which is kind of childish, but I think everyone should have a Charles. Companionship is important, and for someone like me who is a chronically single woman who has problems with emotional intimacy, Charles is just what the doctor ordered. My mother was the same way until she met my dad. She had a hippo... once they were married, my dad made her get rid of it. Which is fine, because who wants to cuddle a ball of fluff when they have someone who can actually respond? Charles is very helpful too. I'm not much of a hugger, but when my friends are down, sometimes they need a hug. For example, one night Norte was having a bad day, and said he needed a hug. Of course I have Chadder Cheese Nips who is happy to hug him upon request, but I think he was more confused than comforted. So, Charles Jefferson & I went to visit Norte at work. Charles gave Norte a nice long squeeze, and Norte's spirits rose considerably. Another example... When I lived with Eryka, there would be nights that I wouldn't come home, or I would arrive home late. Eryka would cuddle Charles because she was nervous being home alone. But he made everything all better.

Everyone needs a Charles.

11/11/08

Always and Forever...

So... whenever I am around my mother's friends and neighbors they always ask whether or not I'm engaged yet. They make it seem like because I am 23 years old, I should be married with multiple midgets by now. I think this mentality in Utah is contributing to the rising divorce rate. Is it so terrible that I would rather wait until I find the person that I want to spend the rest of my life with before commiting? To me, marriage is forever. It's not something that I take lightly. And I think it's been made far to easy to get out of. I am among a small number of people that I went to high school with who has yet to be married. I'm completely ok with this. Most of my friends were married not long out of high school. And now, five and a half years later... most of my friends are either divorced or in the middle of divorce. They didn't take the time to make sure it was someone they could live with for the rest of their lives. They were just in love with the idea of being married.

One of them ended up being hospitalized by the jerk that she married. One of them is currently being isolated from her friends by her manipulative, potentially abusive, control freak husband. Two of them now have three children that they have been left to raise alone because these deadbeats don't know what it means to be a father. One of my friends found out his wife was sleeping with half of Salt Lake. Another one found out his daughter wasn't his... when she turned 3. Even my friends who thought it was forever and married in the temple are splitting up. It's tragic.

The church and the movies glorify marriage and make it seem like once you take your vows everything is easy. It's not! Having a succesful marriage is one of the hardest tasks you will ever take on. BUT... it's not all negative. I know a lot of people with great marriages. My parents have been married for 26 years and they are still completely smitten with each other. THAT is what I want. And I have seen that in some of my friend's marriages as well. So DON'T judge me because I'm not married yet. I am very ready to settle down... but I refuse to settle. I will wait as long as I have to in order to find the one who will still give me butterflies after 26 years.

11/5/08

To Write Love On Her Arms

I came across this wonderful cause the other day on the internet. I have known many people who have struggled with drugs, alcohol, cutting, eating disorders, depression, anxiety... I have dealt with a lot of these things myself. Until you have experienced it you can't know how much it means for someone to reach out to you, and let you know that you aren't alone.

Coming up on November 13 is the 2nd Annual To Write Love On Her Arms day. All you have to do is write LOVE on your arms. If you want to know what this cause is all about, visit the website. Visit the site, read the story, join the cause. I have. And I hope that my friends will reach out their hands just like I'm reaching out mine.

http://www.twloha.com

Banner 2 Banner 1 go!

10/1/08

Guilty Pleasures

Everybody's doin it... So shall I. The following is a list of my guilty pleasures. Some of them you may already know... Others... I may regret telling you folks. But what the heck. I enjoyed reading everyone else's so here goes!!





1 - White Chocolate Covered Pretzels

I cannot get enough of these tasty treats. I am not a big fan of sugar, and I really don't like chocolate very much... but oh boy... if you put these in front of me I won't be able to control myself. Mmmmm....


2 - Slasher Movies


Oi. I am the master of hyping myself up before and while watching a slasher movie. I LOVE being grossed out and completely terrified! I scare the HELL out of myself half the time... I don't know what it is about blood, guts, and terror that I love so much. I just can't get enough. I probably shouldn't watch them at work while I am sitting outside of a dorm supervising sleeping juvenile sex offenders. But hey! You gotta do what you gotta do!


3 - Go Fug Yourself


I am not a big fan of girly magazines or keeping up with the latest celebrity gossip... but... I LOVE this blog. It's hilarious. These two women are like Joan Rivers' hell spawn. Except you don't have to look at a surgically enhanced face that could, at any moment, detach it's much too wide jaw and swallow Canada whole. Which may not be such a bad thing. Anyway... Just check out the blog. Very entertaining.

http://gofugyourself.celebuzz.com/


4 - Degrassi: The Next Generation

Oh how I love this show... It is soon to start it's 8th season. Basically a Canadian version of Dawson's Creek, but SO much better. It's insane all of the story lines they are able to fit into this show! It has EVERYTHING! From cheating to school shootings to a gonorrhea outbreak to homosexuals to pot smoking to church camp... I could go on and on about how much I love this show. Someday I will own the entire series on DVD... and when that day comes.... I would suggest you stay away from me for at least a week. I will be busy.


5 - Variety Puzzle Books


One of the greatest things ever. I am terrible at Crosswords... but all of the other word games, and number games, and logic problems... I get lost in them. Hours slip away when I get a new puzzle book. I get so distracted by them that you nearly have to smack me in order to get my attention. I love them.


6 - Musicals

New or old. I love musicals. I can't even describe the joy that I feel when I watch a musical. When I am alone I frequently break out into song and dance around while picturing the musical in my head. During my Biology final last year, I had watched a musical the night before... right in the middle of the final, I had the entire cast of one of my favorite muscials break into song and dance in my head. I couldn't help but giggle with glee. As if my class didn't already think I was strange... And I must admit... I even like High School Musical. Don't judge me.

9/21/08

The Reason They're Called Pigs.




So this weekend my family had a reunion at East Canyon Resort, which is just outside of Park City. Tyson and Hallie weren't able to leave for the reunion until late Thursday, so our parents went earlier and left us a car to drive. We kept the same car arrangements for the way home. We needed to get onto I-15 from I-84 so we took the Riverdale exit to do so. Because of all of the construction we had to go down the road and turn around in order to get to the exit we needed.






We had no idea where to turn around so we followed a car into a parking lot, turned around and following their lead we turned left out of the parking lot. As soon as we turned onto the road, a policeman pulled us over, he would not let us stop on the side of the road and pointed us into the on-ramp of the freeway. Not the one we needed, but the one we had just left. Right from the start he was a total jerk. He walked up to the window and asked for the usual stuff. Tyson had forgotten his license so he explained this to the officer which made him even more rude. And since we were in our parents car we had to search a bit and couldn't find the proof of insurance. I told him who it was through and what our representatives name was. But he just got pissed and said "It doesn't matter that it's your parents car, you are driving it so it's your fault that you don't have the proof of insurance. It's required by law to have proof of insurance with you." Which was said in a very rude tone. He took our information back to the car and took about fifteen minutes before he came back. He gave us a ticket for everything. Tyson could have been nicer, but he wasn't rude by any means. He said something like "Oh thanks, that's so nice of you" and the cop started threatening to take Tyson to jail. I tried to tell the cop that we didn't mean to disobey traffic signs, but that we didn't see it and I tried to ask where it was. I couldn't get three words out without him interrupting. The cop then began yelling at us saying "It doesn't matter that you didn't see it, it's the law! What don't you understand about following the law?!" To which I would attempt to respond, but he would interrupt over and over and over. Now keep in mind that all we did was turn left out of a parking lot. And we had a seven year old kid in the car with us. Way to be a public servant. Finally he let us go. As soon as we started driving, my sister started bawling her eyes out. She was TERRIFIED of the cop because he was so rude and yelled and threatened. She hasn't stopped mentioning it and how scary it was for her. So my mom and I went back to the parking lot to see where the sign was.





Now there is a sign painted on the road, which was practically worn off, plus there were cars in front of us, so we couldn't see it. As for the sign that the cop was talking about... See it anywhere? We didn't either.

It took us about five minutes to find it. See that sign behind the white car? Yeah. The sign was posted ACROSS THE BUSY STREET. And it was turned so it looked like it was meant for the road on that side of the street, but that someone had bumped it so it was kind of facing the parking lot. If there was a car turning right onto the busy road from that side street, it completely hid the sign. Now I understand that we broke the law, but the cop wouldn't let us speak AT ALL. He never did tell us that this was the sign he was talking about. We had to find it. If we ever tried to ask where it was, he would get even more upset. This cop was a royal jerk. The thing that bothers me the most is how upset Hallie was. Imagine if you are 7 years old and your big brother gets pulled over for violating a minor traffic control device. Then imagine if the cop insults him in front of you, starts yelling, and threatens over and over to take your big brother to jail while your brother is trying to ask about the sign. We haven't decided whether or not to fight the ticket, we DID break the law, even though we don't feel it was properly displayed. I guess it will depend on whether or not we can make it down to court. But we will be calling the Mayor to file a formal complaint about how this policeman handled the entire situation. It's cops like him that make people lose respect for the law and the enforcers of the law.

9/14/08

All The World's A Stage

So I thought I would kick off this whole blogging thing by introducing you to the characters in the production that is my life. Without these people my story would be very lonely and not worth hearing about. But they all mean so much to me and I am glad that they are there!!

HALLIE JO
My baby sister Hallie Jo is one of the sweetest spirits I have ever known. She was born when I was 15 years old, and everyday that I have had with her has been a blessing. It is still strange to see how much of an influence I am on this child. I am her hero and she is constantly trying to just like her big sister. I love being her role model and I hope that I can live up to the task because she is an incredible person with a pure heart. I hope that she can learn from the mistakes that I have made in my life and be the person that I wish I had been.

No matter how wonderful or horrible my life is at any given moment, one smile from Hallie makes it all seem better. She radiates love for me and it's the most amazing thing I have ever felt.



GINA BINA

My family was visiting our new house (which thus far was merely a hole in the ground) and lo and behold, little 5-year-old me had to use the bathroom. There was a neighbor girl walking home from a friend’s house and she let me use hers. That was the beginning of a very long friendship. Gina and I went through everything together. Through out our childhoods, adolescence, and young adulthood we have been each other’s constant. Even though we had our separate friends, separate lives, we always knew that we had someone who would be there in a flash. Good times and bad times there was someone there who would listen without judgment and offer a shoulder to cry on in hard times, or celebrate with us when the occasion presented itself. When I was young it was difficult for me to make good friends, but I always had Gina. She has become more than a friend. She is family even though we share no biological ties. I love her with all my heart and there is nothing I wouldn't do for her.


ERYKA

I have known her since she was born. But we have only just become friends relatively recently. Part of the problem was that we lived so far away from each other. Nevertheless, during my stay in Boise, we got to know each other and now she is one of my favorite people in the world. She is one of the most amazing artists that I have ever seen. She has inspired me to share what I have written with the world and together we make wonderful music. I wish I still lived near/with her so that we could continue creating music. We have shared so many crazy memories together and I hope to continue the memory making forever. Eryka is an inspiration to me and is continuously evolving into the most amazing woman I have ever met.




HEATHER

Heather is one of the reasons that working in fast food paid off. I had so much fun going to local punk rock shows, jumping in puddles, and gaining life experiences as we both entered adulthood. There was a point we both went a little wild and sadly let someone come between us. We spent an excruciatingly long 3 years apart before rekindling our friendship. I don’t know how I lived without her for so long. I will never let her go again.

ALICIA

Alicia is my glue. I met her during the “dark ages” of my life and she knows nearly everything there is to know about me. She has an uncanny ability to sense when I want to talk and when I just need a distraction. I love that I can talk to her about anything or nothing at all and she will understand me. She is one of the strongest women I know and has overcome so many obstacles in her life that have only made her stronger.



THE BCC

Jenna, Andrea, and Clay. Oh how I miss our midnight adventures to Denny’s and beyond. We are the most unlikely group I have ever been a part of and I wouldn’t have it any other way. All of us are completely different which makes for very interesting conversations. From everything to being stranded in the middle of nowhere to pole dancing, they are the people to know.





NORTE

Our friendship is the result of a very successful platonic hookup. Heather met Norte at work and told me for months that she thought we should be friends. Finally, I started going to Quizzo with her and saw why she thought this. He is awesome. Norte is like a male, slightly saner version of me. I can tell him anything… even though sometimes maybe I go too far… I love having a best friend who is a guy. He is my favorite minja. That is all.

PETE

My big brother. I have always looked up to him. I wish he could see himself the way that I see him. I am jealous of his genius and hope that he lives up to his potential. We currently share an apartment together and I love it. We grew up together so we know each other’s quirks, which make it very easy to get along. Sometimes we both struggle to express love and appreciation to one another, but he always makes sure that I know it. As they say, friends come and go but family is forever. And I am grateful that I know he will be there forever.


MI FAMILIA

My entire family is very close. They are a wonderful support to me and even though we have been through some pretty tough times, I could not ask for a better family. My parent’s relationship is the strongest marriage I have ever seen. They have been married for over 25 years and are still completely smitten with each other. Growing up around this has resulted in very high expectations when it comes to my own relationships. I want what they have, and hopefully I will be able to find it someday. My little brother is quite the troublemaker but that doesn’t make me love him any less. We have had the opportunity to spend more time together lately and I hope it continues. I love him and I am very proud of the changes that he has been implementing in his life.

Experimentation...

Most of my friends have a blog. I think they are so fun to read, that I decided to start my own! I hope that I am able to keep up and actually post things. And I hope that I actually have interesting things to post...Who knows! This blogging thing is very new to me. So we will see how it goes. This is all I have time to post at the moment... so I must bid you adieu...