I'm going to stop blogging for a while. My life bores me right now, so I know it's boring you all, especially since my only hits come from relatives now. I quit posting interesting things months ago, if I ever did.
I'm not going to just shut it down. I want the account because it proves somewhat useful for commenting on H.n.B's blog.
Maybe I'll revamp it and come back later when I have the time to keep it up nicely.
This week has been by far much better emotionally. Monday was crappy, but not as crappy as the past two weeks, so I'm recovering nicely. After all, it was only four months. I'm now realizing somethings that are helping.
Besdies my new shoes (!) there are a few things I'm excited about:
I find it odd that my shoe size keeps shrinking. There's no avoiding the fact that I've reintroduced morning coffee into my day and an effect of that is I'm not really (read: NOT) eating breakfast...or lunch...or dinner, and I don't think it has to do with that...maybe. Typically, you lose the weight first in your feet. Anyway, I saw some cute shoes in an ad for Payless, so I went. They have cute and cheap shoes and for service, that's what I'm going to need, especially since I'm going to be PIONEERING!!!!! I couldn't decide between two pairs and they were different enough to get both of them, so these are the shoes I purchased:
One blog for this month. Impressive. I've been swamped with school. I'm trying to finish in a timely fashion. There are a million and one things I'd like to blog about, but I'll make a list and get to them next month, which I can promise now that I've unloaded a person from my daily itinerary. In chronological order:
Peanut attack was awful. I've gone 23 days accident free now and after that Sunday at the new Chinese restaurant where I was yelled at by my father for not specifying that there should be no peanuts on my plate, even though I ordered something without peanuts, I've had an acute sense of asking about peanuts and peanut oil everywhere I go. The baptism was wonderful, as well as the dinner on Sunday for her. I'm skipping the graduation party. Though fun, I have a feeling that it aided the disaster the Monday after (point 5 on the list). Eas came out. I spent $60. It still wasn't enough to satisfy me. It's rare that I look for fleeting happiness in such empty things, but buying stuff always makes me feel better, especially when I get to swipe that pretty piece of plastic with my name on it. It did feel good buying those shoes, which I am in love with. Oh! And I found the same pair of pants that I had 5 years ago, wore out, and turned into cut-offs for $10! I was so happy at that moment. I bought a shrug marked down to $10 from $98. That's always gratifying when you buy something so drastically marked down. Sunday of last, I left for my Oliveparents and then the next day, we left for Kentucky. (Ask Poly to fill you in on the details of that morning and my frantic panic about going to Fry's, which I am now in love with.) Kentucky was beautiful and they grow a lot of corn. Jules had to go for business. She was doing a title search for some property with oil wells on it that were leaking into the water, since they were out of use. I was able to spend a whole day helping her and decided that I'd like to go to school to be a paralegal and work for a real estate company, so that I could deal with the deeds and mortgages and wills and stuff like we did for that property. I enjoyed all the research and following the trails to make a puzzle. Jules and I took turns taking pictures. Neither of us are HnB, but I think we got some good shots. The downtown of Owensboro, KY (the third largest city in KY) is quaint and going through a revival. Neat town. One night we drove to Evansville, IN and saw the college that would send me mail daily my sophomore year. THAT'S a town I'd love to go back to. I'm going back to KY anyway because I made a friend in the congregation up there. She's in pioneer school as I type. We stopped and ate at a restaurant recommended by some friends of mine in Nashville that regretted they could not meet me for dinner, but said I must come back and visit. Jules bought lots of beer and we had to leave through the brewery. The car thus smelled like beer all the way home. My zen died near Dalton. It was a sad moment when we had to turn to Atlanta radio stations. I hung around till Sunday evening to be able to go to the Tavern. Had a roaring good time. From there, my Lost Aunt took me home after we picked up the kids from her X. I've never seen those kids so surprised, or so happy to see me. When her 5 year old daughter ran up to me and hugged me, it was the happiest I'd been in two weeks. There's nothing like a hug from a 5 year old to cure all. Now, I'm home and dreading tomorrow. A group of people concerned about me told me that it would be best if I came home and faced him. I know I like to run from problems and I have issues with denial. I told myself that I wasn't going to let him impair my life, so I have turned in my application to regular pioneer (which means 70 hours a month minimum with his mom). I'd really like to spend my first year pioneering out here, but if it gets to be too much, I may spend a few months out of the 12 pioneering in a congregation in Atlanta some where. I have a lot of feelings about what happened and I'm still confused about what I'm supposed to do because I don't know what I want... at all. For about 10 years, my life plan was be single, support myself, live in Atlanta, travel, pioneer. That was it. Sure I wasn't really happy with it, but that's what I'd decided. My worry was my allergies. No one would love me enough to give them up. It's a cramp in my lifestyle, but I've lived with it all my life and have no choice. Any guys that might be interested in me would have a choice. I never dreamed how happy I'd be with a guy. Never dreamed.
I really have nothing to say. I'm half way not alive right now, to put it in dramatic terms. I fell Monday. Shopping is quite my enemy right now for more reasons than I can't find the stinking shoe I want to buy. Rain+flip-flips+me do not equal a good combination. Fell flat on concrete at Lenox Square. So yeah... I'm in some more pain right now.
There's quite a bit of stress in my life for me to have so few responsibilities at this time. It'll ease off in July. School is just in my face right now. Plus, my proctor at the Oconee Libarary has an exam that I NEED to take and she can't protor it until mid to late August. Bite me. She asked if I could wait to take the test until then. Woman, if I had the test sent to you now, I think I'd like to take it now. She just doesn't want to have that many responsibilites because it's obvious when you look at her that she's lazy. I don't know how many times she calls in sick a week. She could read to the little kids and just pass by my cell everyonce in a while. I think you know me well enough to know I haven't cheated on the last four exams. So, I'm taking it at Bogart. The libarian there sounds MUCH nicer and far more helpful too. From now on, I'm taking my exams there.
Mehsha is getting baptized on July 7, 2007 (07/07/07), so all that read are cordially invited to come see her dedicate her life to Jehovah at the Gwinnett Civic Center. I'm very excited for her. Not sure how we're doing the dinner yet. Since everyone is everywhere, we may wait to have it in July.
I did get "Icky Thump!" Right now, I'm developing a full opinion on the album so that I can write up a full review. It's fast becoming my favorite Stripes album. Funny story- well, funny to me. When I was with the Clasky family at the hospital last week when Andy was having his surgery, I had carried my things to do in my White Stripes bag that I bought at Music Mitown (lest we forget). I sat down and the woman across from me says to the two women with her, "Look she likes the White Stripes too." I look up as I was scrolling down my ADP songs on my fauxPod and proudly say, "Yes. I've been a fan since 'White Blood Cells.' " (I don't know why I say that. Probably because I feel I have something to prove, especially to these middle-aged women who don't give a flip and are just waiting for their relative to get out of surgery. Hello, you aren't in Wuxtry's! It did impress WestPalm Kimmi and Feather that I bought my first Stripes album when I was entering the seventh grade though.) ANY-way... so I strike up a conversation and Deborah has no clue what I'm taking about but the other woman, Doorbell Woman, begins an extensive conversation on how she agreed to buy her 15-year-old son "Get Behind Me Satan" because she liked the "Ringin' my doorbell" song. (The only Stripes song acceptable for field service.) She continues to do her best to quote the lyrics, though being middle-aged, you can see she'd either listened to it once or is going through meonpause and having memory problems. She then asked if that was their only album. Pssh! Fifth, and their sixth was on store shelves as we were speaking and I couldn't get away because I was nervous about some cist on my boyfriend's hand. I proceed to explain the other albums that her son needs to get in order to really know Meg and Jack. She mentions something about how it's cute that a brother and sister can work together. Oh boy, now you've got me deep in conversation about something that you probably didn't really want to hear. So I explain how they were married until "Elephant" and then masquraded as a brother and sister and if you got into the band after their fourth album, you would never know because they look so much alike. I gave details on their birth names and how their is actually a certificate for their marriage from 1996 and that the divorce was some what public, etc. She then decided she'd get in touch with her son and tell him to look up the new album and that as soon as she left the hospital, they would go get the album. I then plugged myself up to my Zen and Doorbell Woman and Deborah proceeded to have a conversation about how long it takes at a hospital.
A victory for Jack and Meg.
I was conversing with a friend of mine in Tennessee, Smithville to be exact, who is also a fan and has been since "Elephant." Eh, let's give him a nickname. None of you know him, so I'm on my own here. Camper Chris. (inside joke w/ me and his sister.) He borrowed a copy from a friend of his in the congregation. We began discussing how I burned Jammie's a copy and his fiancee and I have been on a crusade because she is very much a fan as well. He gave "Icky Thump" a 4 out of 5. Jamie said it's such a better album than "Get Behind Me Satan." Really, it is. Camper Chris said that the friend that he borrowed his copy from was very unwilling to part with it, but it was the first album that Jack and Meg released that this guy liked. He really loved it infact.
Another victory for Jack and Meg.
Here's two updated pictures of the cutie taken this morning by Mr. Thompson:
So it's a little less than a week until the White Stripes new release "Icky Thump." I'm still throughly excited and trying to scrape some pennies together. Not sure how I'm going to obtain this album, since at 10 AM I will most likely be at Athens Regional with the Clasky parents and Andy. (He's going in for minor surgery and asked me to come with them.) At some point during the morning, I will probably have to sneak down to Wuxtry's and get myself a much needed copy of what I've been waiting months for. A few days ago though, I recieved my daily White Stripes update by way of their newsletter than I signed up for (they're playing a special show in west Hollywood if anyone wants to fly out there with me and still have the chance of not getting a ticket cuz there's only about 100 for this show), and they've made 3,333 limited edition USB Flash drives of both Jack and Meg. Check 'em out: http://whitestripes.kungfunation.com/. I just thought that was the most off the wall but intresting way to release an album. Very much Jack and Meg's style. The whole album is on there in Apple Lossless format, but the drives work with PCUs and Macs. If someone wants to be LOVED FOREVER they can be awesome and spend $100 on me and get the set. Nah, just kidding, but they would be totally awesome to have and if I had the money to be a die hard collector of White Stripes merch, believe me, I would've already had these preordered.
Well, Dacey will not be coming home with us the second week of July anymore, but rather a just as cute liver colored and ticked German Shorthair Pointer will be coming home with us. Mr. Thompson said he can already tell that Dacey (aka- Recoil), will be far more of a hunter and less of a family dog. He also said that it might cause some problems with Skeeter. So on this website http://www.vcgsp.com/, we will now be getting the one under the name of Quest, but we're naming her Massie. Mr. Thompson said that by nature the liver colored ones are far more relaxed and more family dogs than strictly hunters and that Massie will continue to let Skeeter rule the roost, so to speak. Personally, I kinda favored the liver colored ones. Everytime I picked one up, they would just snuggle down into my arms and coo. There are also plenty of new photos up of the puppies at Mr. Thompson's website. Mrs. Thompson is very excited that we're taking Massie home because then she'll get to see her since Mr. Thompson is going to help us train the dog.
After much deliberation and a visitation yesterday to Mr. Thompson's house, we're getting another dog! Go to this website here: http://www.vcgsp.com/ to see pictures of the puppy that will come home to our house in four weeks. If you click on the tab for "puppies and photos" and click on page 3 of photos, our puppy's name is currently Recoil. Right now, all four of us agree on the name Dacey, which is Scottish and means "from the South." These dogs are German Short Haired Pointers. This will be dad's retirement project. Dacey is going to hunt with dad, but still be a family pet. She's going to be a lot of work (more than Skeeter), but a lot of fun at the same time.
So I'm brewing my afternoon pot 'o coffee, strictly for my survival, and I started thinking (and that's where it all went wrong): "Ecky Thump! Why are the 'coffee' colors for walls more creamy and tan than brown and dark black? Coffee fresh brewed isn't blonde. You have to make it that way. How many people drink their coffee unadulterated vs. adulderated?" So yeah, those were my thoughts of about 30 minutes ago.
Plus, I was thinking that this Sumatra sure does smell like cat whiz before you brew it. It's SO good though! (Don't worry Jules, it was half off...)
Yes, I should be working but this is seriously the first time I've been in the office and acutally been able to stay in here for a little while without suffocating. The upstairs AC went on the fritz Friday I believe, and the guy fit us in today. It's absolutely freezing up here. Now 70 degrees isn't "freezing," but when I had gotten used to dealing with the upstairs being 87 degrees, I had to switch to pants and a sweatshirt until I get used to it again. Of course, the downstairs hasn't quit the whole time, so at least you could go downstairs to breath and it chilled off nicely Friday and Sunday evenings after the rain, so it wasn't unbearable- at least for me. Dad and I were the only ones that slept upstairs though. (My parents' room is on the first floor. He switched with Mehsha.) So, before I get to work, I'm going to blog about something that I've wanted to blog about for almost a week now.
I believe I was getting my daily dose of CNNHLN Wednesday when they ran this story about an Ohio woman who was upset about what it said on the side of her Starbucks cup. I assume most of you have seen the whole story or heard part of it, but she's a real idiot. To stop drinking Starbucks just because of a silly little quote is stupid. The quote that upset this woman read: Why in moments of crisis do we ask God for
strength and help? As cognitive beings, why would we ask something that may well
be a figment of our imaginations for guidance? Why not search inside ourselves
for the power to overcome? After all, we are strong enough to cause most of the
catastrophes we need to endure.
It's attributed to Bill Schell, a Starbucks customer from London, Ontario. I think almost eveyone that reads this has had a cup of Starbucks coffee with one of these sayings on the side. In fact, P. June actually blogged about one that she got a while ago. This woman is all upset because of the atheistic opinions expressed on the side of the cup. She's quoted as saying: As someone who loves God, I was so offended by that. I
don't think there needs to be religious dialogue on it. I just want coffee.
For pete's sake! If you just want a cup of coffee, buy the beans and brew it at home! And P.S.- woman there are plenty of independent coffee companies that just have plain white cups and their emblem printed on the side of the cup jacket, a la Jittery Joes (but of course, those are just an Athens thing). Just incase you haven't noticed, you're doing exactally what the purpose of those quotes on the side of the cups are supposed to do: spark discussion. It was funny because on CNNHLN they showed a clip of the PR person for Starbucks saying that the cup has done it's job, sparked discussion. Tricia Moriarty, the PR person, said that they are not the opinions of the Starbucks company. Hell-O! How could they be the opinions? They've had so many comments that are on boths sides of the issues (religious, political, etc), that's just whacked to accuse them of supporting this opinion. The Ohio offended woman (Stu Pid-Idiot) said that she wasn't going to buy Starbucks anymore. It won't stop me, and I definitely don't agree with this guy's comments, even though I know I'm paying more for all the fancy stuff written on the side of the cup, but sometimes you just gotta have a cup of Starbucks and nothing seems to compare. Yeah, they're really hurting if they lose $4 a day from one coffee drinker. I think Poly will more than make up for what she's not going to be drinking anymore.
OK, just had to rant and rave for a moment. Been holding that in. Back to work.
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55564
http://www.wlwt.com/family/13274910/detail.html
http://www.daytondailynews.com/r/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/06/ddn050607cup.html
As you know, my darling White Stripes have decided to come back together, release an album, and do a little touring. I was seriously considering getting tickets to Bonaroo or a show that they are playing in Birmingham (???), AL, but I'm also seriously broke right now, so not only can I not pay for a ticket, forget about paying for the shots needed to visit each state. Naturally, I was very excited still for the album (see profile picture), and still even more excited to hear the first track "Icky Thump." When I found out, I txtd Feather, who I knew would be just as excited about the news as I was. As suspected, I was right and she also added, "Who comes up with their album names?" Obviously, they do, but still, where did this one come from? I immediately went wiki digging and found this page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecky_thump
There, it explains three different possibilites, the third being the album "Icky Thump." First on the list was:
From there, I followed the "Yorkshire dialect" link where I furthered my investigation and wiki told me: ecky is described as being Lancashire, not Yorkshire, slang equivalents of heck, itself slang for hell, in Partridge's Dictionary of Historical Slang, Penguin 1972, entry for Heck.
Why, thank you wiki. Still though, as many websites as I folloed, I was unable to find out where the "thump" came from, but it still sounds totally cool.
Also listed on the "Ecky Thump" Wiki page is this explaination:
I don't know about anyone else, but that sure sounds "Monty Python"-ish to me, and I will now be looking for this episode. Laughs will ensue.
So this is definitely my new cool phrase that will make me look like a total dork, but I'm still using it.
Also on the player are covers that Damien Rice did. Very cool. Very cool indeed.
Today was confusion day. Even the Cheat has been out of it. Right now, I was supposed to be at my Oliveparents'. Well, plans changed and I'm still at home. Tomorrow, I have to be at my Oliveparents because I have a concert that I'm going to. Not quite sure how I'm getting there. I'm feeling odd about this trip. It's been about two months since I've made a trip to Atlanta. Now, it's not that I'm not looking forward to going. Far from it. I've got an awesome day lined up for tomorrow. A fresh full helping of Tori and the Posse in the morning, a drive to Stone Mountain, and I'll top off the day by blowing out my ear drums by Arcade Fire. What could be more exciting? Then Friday, my craving for Thai rice will be fulfilled! Followed by some shopping (I need new black heels and flats) still with Eas, and ended with some of the best Turkish food ever to grace A'retta. I can't wait. Not sure how I'm getting home after my soiree with my ATL gang, but that doesn't matter to me right now. I just know there's no way that I'm skipping out on any of it. Meeting and grocery shopping Wednesday. Saturday/Thursday, I'll fit in a book study. Meeting Sunday. Home next Monday. I'll be with my Oliveparents'. Thing is, I know I haven't been in a while, but I'm having some mixed feelings about this visit. When I was packing last night, I just wasn't into it, and that's not like me. Part of it is, I don't want to leave Andy, which is pretty stupid because 1.) I'm not breaking up with him, 2.) it's natural to miss him, and 3.)we've been apart for a week before. Something about this trip though seems like I'm betraying him. Lately, it's felt like I am living two lives in two different places. There's the one out here and the one there. Somehow, I have to merge them without feeling...poser? wannabe? fake? High school drama. *sigh* I asked for it.
This story has high popularity rankings right now in the real world, so here's exposing it to the blog world. Last Sunday I went to my lost aunt's house and watched Buffy and Howdy Doody while she and her mom worked in the front yard and her dad, Andy, and Biscuit worked in the backyard putting together a playset for the kids. The orgininal plans has been rescheduled from a previous Sunday, so I was unsure if my invitation still stood since I played a less important role in the outworking of the plans. After the meeting, I found out that i was still invited and I asked mom pronto. She asked if the boys were still going to be there. It was right before that time of the month for me, so my temper was shorter than usual. I said, "I don't know," just as my "whatever" answer. Mom says, "You know they're still going over there. You just lied to me." So I was still granted permission to go, but when I got home, my punishment was issued. My keys were going to be taken away from me for a week. I served my time, since I knew it wasn't for that one time. (I with held information from teh previous month and slid by with a talking to and they were a lot worse than just a dsgruntled whatever answer.) It wasn't too bad, and I think it put a cramp more in mom's life than mine because Mehsha and I did things. Still, I served my time and received my keys today. Jeepie and I went to get the oil changed. Better than nothing. I do love driving.
Friday, I went to go see a movie. I was half watching the previews, but still couldn't help but notice how many sequels and "thirds" are coming out this summer. Some, I can't wait to see. Others, I'll go see for necessity's sake. Then there are the ones and you can't imagine who even thought to resurrect the original concept- much less a third time!
I do want to see:
Not too keen on, but will probably see anyway:
WHY????????????:
Plain ol' sequels:
All I have to say is I'm going to see a lot more than five movies this year.
A week or so ago, I was using the "next blog" option, which I have since quit doing because it's a scary world out there. Anyway, so on this one blog, there was a widget on the sidebar linked to a website called Librarything. It's a website where you can create an online catalog of your books. You can add them by using any feature of the book. After starting out by using titles and authors, I quickly realized how easy it was to use the ISBN, and I found out what the heck that was. For me, it's not such a big deal. I only have 117 books (evidently), but others have well over 10,000. You can add up to 200 books for free, and you can join for your lifetime for $25 or yearly for $10. I just thought it was a neat way to show what I own, my favorite authors, favorite childhood books, etc. There's a tags option too. I just love tags. Plus, it has a "recommends" page, which is always a great way to facilitate growth for a collection. It's too bad they don't have one for music. I'd be all over that, but I have a lot more CDs than I have books. So check out my "new feature" on the sidebar.
I have a feeling Poly is the only one keeping up with my blog anymore. I keep desprately trying to post on H'n'B's, but with my computer being... mentally challenged, there's not much I can do to fix it. It just seems to be awful lonely...
Poly posted a few weeks ago about our crazy Georgia weather. Like my dad always says, if you don't like the weather in Georgia, just wait five mintues.
Last Sunday, we had all that wind. Well, this is what happened in my backyard:
I think I'm begining to have waaay too much fun with the "edit" feature as far as my blog is concerned. It's just too neat to resist for someone like me that always likes to put their own touch on things. Oh and I'm trying to break my current record for number of posts in a month. Current
I just realized that it's Friday the 13th. Oh well.
Maybe this will be the last thing that I share with you all today...maybe. Or I could further abuse the fact that I finally was able to login. Mehsha showed us this site a few days ago. It's www.official-linerider.com. I've only had time to play with it a little bit, but it's defentitely another one of those time wasters but impossible to tear yourself away from sites, a la the jacksonpollock site that Poly had on his "just because" link a few months ago. Just check out this video and then go have some fun yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcu8ZdJ2dQo
I don't know how many of you know that Mehsha had two chicks for two weeks. They lived in her bath tub. Though I was allergic as all get out to them, they were some of the cutest little buggers you've ever seen! And just think, they're going to grow up and be ugly chickens. And yes, we were all well aware of the health hazards and the neighborhood by-laws. It was so fun having the little chirpers around though. It's like when you have a cat and she has a litter of kittens. You just have to do it once. The black one she named after Poly and the grey-ish white one she named after I dunno. Yeah... ask her about that.
It finally let me log in! This old piece of junk. I disabled cookies to get to the log in box and then it's all upset that I disabled the cookies! Make up your mind you old hag of a compy!
To really send shivers up y'all's spines, I'm listening to Hilary Duff's latest album, "Dignity" right now.
So, since I addressed the fact that I am dating Andy now, I can post about this here. The other day, we were chatting about my relationship with someone that lives in Atlanta. We've discussed this before that anything that makes him uncomfortable, he needs to let me know. Once of the first things that we discussed was my desire to move back to Atlanta. Everyone that reads this knows I love the city and even just two or three months ago, I would've given anything to move back. That was a point of discussion because he wants to live out here, or at least have a house here, for the rest of his life. In December, that would've been the biggest issue and I probably wouldn't have dated him because of that. Thing is though, I know I'm not leaving. I'm dedicated to this congregation as much as he is and I was not planning on leaving the congregation for the first three to five years anyway. Andy just wants to live here for the rest of his life, not be tied here, which was a big relief to me. He wants to travel and be a part of the international construction work more than anything else. Georgia is always home. And when my family moved out here, I decided that I could deal with being here because as long as I'm with my family and in Georgia, I'm happy. The congregation did a lot as far as changing my attitude toward moving back. There's no way I could see leaving most of these brothers and sisters. So my roots are tied here now, but there's no denying that I need some of that fast paced city mentality to survive, and that's how my relationship with my friends in Atlanta comes into play here. He realizes that they are my ties to something that I still need a little bit of to function, and he's willing to make concessions to make sure that I'm happy, since that's all he desires. It was great to hear that he doesn't want me to break off any friendships I have because he knows that those are my connections to the city and if he makes me cut all ties, he will have a hard time trying to deal with me and make me happy.
The city will always be in me. Andy called me his "half-n-half" girl today, and I truly believe that's what I've become. I love both the city and my semi-country life out here and I don't know what I'd do without either of them because I think having both in my repertoire of experiences makes me a more well rounded person.
Although my taste in country music has been revived from my first grade year, and this has upset at least two of my readers, I'd like for both of them to know that I haven't forgotten my roots. Jules, yours and Smellie's hard work in pointing me in the right direction musically has not been in vain! I still remember the look on your face when you saw "White Blood Cells" in my music collection and all you could say was, "We raised her right." No I haven't forgotten all the fun I had at Yo La Tengo and how totally awesome alternative rock is. My favorite band is still the White Stripes. (My favorite solo artist is Tori Amos, but that upsets Jules too.) And I was VERY excited to find that my "brother-sister" duo *cough*liars*cough* have not disbanded all efforts to bring me my favorite head-banging music and produce a new album! So on June 19th, I'll be in line at BestBuy (or Wuxtry's) raring and ready to get myself a copy of "Icky Thump," and wear it out completely the first week I have it. Right now, all I can wait for is ADP (you just aren't cool if you don't get the abbreviation), but you better believe me, after that I'll be camping out all over again. Yep, definitely can't wait for this one either. And here's the cover art featuring my two favorite pasty freaks:
Also leave comments on the new layout. I'd love to have y'alls imput on what you might like to see. (The feed from everythingtori.com stays, so don't even mention that.)
I had not realized that it's been a month since I posted here. Thing is, I gave myself those three weeks off from blogging that Poly and H'n'B were trekking across Asia, and although there's been plenty of drama going on here, there hasn't been much that been worth posting about- or that I've had the time to post about because it's taking all my extra time to deal with it. In my efforts to get back into the swing of things, I'm just going to post about my weekend.
For starters, I'll take this moment to inform, confirm, and restate something: I'm dating Andy Clasky (aka- String-bean Andy). Bubbles (who has since proved that there are quite a few lights turned off upstairs, if you get my drift) broke up with him mid-December. I started liking him in late November, and he started liking me before he was actually free to. Our relationship has been going very well, to the point where we have been seriously talking about what we'd like to do with our future. He's sweeter than gummy bears and all he wants to do is take care of me for the rest of my life and let me pioneer. We're both very dedicated to going into the International Building Work after the O.C. congregation is solid, which he will be having more of a share in since he was appointed as a ministerial servant last month. Plus, it sounds like we're getting very close to it coming to fruition and he wants to serve in what his family has been looking forward to for nineteen years and I would like to be one of the first pioneers. Everyone is getting pretty excited.
I feel like I'm getting sick. It's kinda like a chest cold, but considering that I've done my inhaler for the past four days, it could quickly turn into pneumonia for the third time since albuterol weakens the lungs. Yeah, I feel like crap, except my allergies have almost been non-existent this season. I'm taking the most wonderful prescription decongestant ever. And one of the side effects is lack of sleep due to more energy and that's just a perk in my book, especially since I can spend more time outside since the yellow dust doesn't kill me when I walk out the door. Everything is a gorgeous shade of green out here now, even though it's like 40 degrees outside. All thanks to recycling too... of chicken crap. Omigod did it ever smell HORRIBLE out here for about a week solid. You would have thought everyone's septic tanks had exploded. Since the Clasky family rents 10 of their 17 acres to the Dickens to farm, there was chicken crap about 50 yards from there house, and not just theirs but you could probably run into a field covered with crap if you traveled a mile in any direction from any point in the county for a week. It was SO GROSS NASTY. In the interim, the poo came into play in a revenge plot hatched by Andy and for a week extra, Biscuit's truck smelled just as bad. Ewww... thank goodness it's just one week outta the year.
So yeah, my weekend, which was pretty packed for a change. Friday, I spent about five hours in service with my dad, our Lithuwanian P.U., and Andy. Though I was the only chick in the group all day, it was still a good day in my book. I was able to introduce my dad to three of my calls and have some good conversations with them. From service, I kidnapped my dad and took him to the cingular store because it was my favorite day that comes every two years: contract renewal! After talking to David (the guy I always talk to there because he thinks I'm cute and gives me a discount), he gave me his opinion of which of the two phones I had it narrowed down to and told me which one he thought would best fit my needs so I got... this one. It's so cool. I can have as many different ring tones for as many different people as I want. It has a great camera and it does video as well. It keeps a good charge and drops less calls and I get better reception in the house. As an added bonus, sony ericsson has vastly improved their txtmsg center, which is very important to me since I now have unlimited cingular to cingular txting and about 200 for you other people that just don't get it. Plus, Andy and Biscuit have the same phone so we can send videos to each other because I'm positive that they want to watch me walk through Barnes and Noble and give my comments on all of the bargain shelf books and I'm just dying to see them drive their 4-wheelers though cow turds again. Excited with my new purchase that cost me all of $10 (after I get the rebate), dad and I rushed home, changed and left for Aunt Bee's. Her husband is the coolest pagan ever, and he makes the best BBQ in the whole O.C. That's what he cooked for us, Dimwitt & Eliza, and the new family that's moving up from Miami, who I shall call the Perez family. They have a daughter who is 18 and will have no trouble adjusting here to life here. She taught everyone there that night how to "ernk" people. There's no sense in explaining because Mehsha will get you all eventually. Got home, caught up with Poly, and passed out around eh... 1 A.M .me thinks.
Saturday I got my butt outta bed for service. Worked with a brother who I thought had developed some sort of issue with me, but found out that he's just been working (he's a school bus driver) and doing this fireman's training from 5 AM-5 PM each day and he's still managing to pioneer somehow. So he's not mad at me, just very tired. It was an OK morning. After service, mom and Mehsha left for ATL, dad and Jiminy Cricket left to the Stephenson Rd. KH for an RBC meeting, and I took my lost aunt to lunch at Depalma's downtown. That's some of the best Italian food in the coolest atmosphere in all of Athens. We talked relationships, did a little bit of gossiping, talked about plans to attend Jammie's wedding in West Palm (her home town), and chatted about Russian history. There aren't too many people that have a passion for Russian history like I do, and it was totally funny to find out that she is as into it as I am. She told her cousin that we will stay with in West Palm if I travel with her that she will be bringing her au pair, which cracks me up. She said it makes her sound rich, even though I only work for her one night a week watching her (my) kids. I love her kids, she's like a lost family member, and I know she's having a tough time right now, so I treated her to lunch. Following the delicious Italian food, I did the grueling drive to Stone Mountain where my Oliveparents live. It was high time for a family dinner and I have a wonderful time. Food is always good and we broke open the bottle of Dom Peringnon. It was good stuff. I was only allowed sips of that. After my slice of the best chocolate cake on earth, it was time to drive home because it was all I could do to keep from falling asleep. The chocolate just makes me so drowsy. Passed out at arrival time.
Sunday. Dad gave an outgoing talk in Conyers at 3:30 PM, so us Olivegals went to the meeting at 10 AM here at home. Afterwards, I collected phones and went played which one is who's with the mothers of the children that the three identical phones belong to (i.e.- mom, Momma Hayes, and Deborah Clasky). I was feeling pretty stupid, or maybe just not lucid. From there mom, Mehsha, Andy, and I went to lunch at Chinese. It was quite entertaining when it came time to open up the fortune cookies with us adding "on the toilet" to the end or "in the bed." Mine was, "Tomorrow will be a productive day. Don't oversleep [in the bed/on the toilet]." It made sense either way, and I proved it wrong too. I knew I was smarter than that cookie could ever be. At 4:30, we all went bowling. All is Mehsha, Biscuit, Andy, and me. Biscuit did some good bowling, making it over 130 both times. We were kinds forced to invite two other kids in the congregation. It's not that we have a problem with them, but our buffer girl that knows them well is under house arrest for false charges (as far as many people are concerned, not just us kids), and these two kids just don't talk much but they know her really well. Thing is they were on their way back from their grandmother's when we started our first game. It only takes us two hours to bowl two games and we were done and leaving when they got there. That was awkward... we all felt so sorry for them, but none of us had enough money to bowl another game and we all had plans back at the Clasky house that their stepfather didn't allow them to come to. The four of us do a lot of stuff minus adults and their mom wouldn't let them come without her husband and seeing as how he's 18, that either means he can't hold his own or she's overprotective. Anyway, that's none of my business, but so we all drove back to the Clasky residence and started playing baseball in the field. I took pictures, which are some of the funniest things you've ever seen. After some 4-wheeler rides, it got all complicated when our house arrest friend, Jordie-Porgie, showed up with her mom, little brother, and little sister. See, it was freezing by that time and we were all trying to go inside, they were keeping us out there, I was raring for some hot chocolate, and it just became a huge fiasco. Jordie and Biscuit like each other, but Jordie's parents are over protective. Though she's only 16 and he's 21 and they have full right to stop it and they should, they're taking it too far. They won't let her talk to any of us, just because we're friends with Biscuit. Her mom had to stay around while she and Deborah Clasky went over their talk because Biscuit was there. My mom had set an 8:30 curfew for Mehsha and I was trying to make hot chocolate for people and somehow the number kept growing till there must have been 20 cups on the counter and...ahhh! So after the hot chocolate was fixed I hugged everyone and ran from that place. Passed out after Andy and I finished studying the REV book together and here I am now about 24 hours later, being pushed out of the chair.
Can't wait to tell you all what I've been listening to lately. I'll give you a hint: it starts with a "c" and ends with "ountry"
Woo Hoo! I finally got blogger to work. It's been quite testy with me for this past week. Something was up with it and I couldn't log in or see comment pages, etc. That's what happens when you have a piece of crap for a computer. This is how I feel, and I'd like to do to this computer what Bubs did to Compy 386.
I've also been very busy otherwise... yeah... that's all I'm gonna say there. No wait, I'd also like to say I really like the way this kind of busy makes me feel. Now I'm done.
I'm sure all of you are going to admit me to a mental hospital when you hear this, but I really like Keith Urban. His new CD is very good. I'm not suggesting it because I know you all would call down evil on me, but I'm just saying, it's pretty good.
Anyway, I did this when I had my xanga and I'm duplicating it here! Tada!
The results of your analysis say:
You like to be surrounded by four solid walls. You are a shy, idealistic person who does not find it easy to have relationships, especially intimate ones. You are affectionate, passionate, expressive, and future-oriented. You are a talkative person, maybe even a busybody! You enjoy life in your own way and do not depend on the opinions of others.
What does your handwriting say about YOU?
My Grandmama T has always had gray hair. She started graying at 14 years old. It's hereditary as well, incase you've seen them mixed in with the dull brown of my hair. As you all know, she's staying with us for a while. Yesterday, we were talking about our congregation and how there are so many brothers and sisters in our congregations on their second marriages- as in both husband and wife. All but one native elder on our body is on his first marriage and his wife is too. (We've had families like ours where my mom and dad have never been married to anyone else move in, but I'm talking these brothers have been here twenty years and have only served in West.) The thing is most of the time, their first husband/wife is still in the truth some where. Crazy. So we're telling my Grandmama and she said she remembered years ago (she said it had to have been about thirty) when she went to a convention and in the marriage talk, it was greatly stressed to make sure that you were in love with the person you were to marry. She didn't quite understand why they would stress that so much and was talking about that on the ride home with the family that she and my mom had carpooled with. The other young brother in the car with them (she said he's probably in his fifties now) said that there were so few witnesses that people were marrying just because they were marrying in the lord and they thought that it would be alright anyway. Then a few years down the line, it would hit the couple that they didn't really love each other. My ignorant little 18 year-old self says, "They should've made it work though." Grandmama said, "Yes, I do agree with that, but there is a strong difference in between loving someone and being in love with someone. Remember that."
And I will. It explained so much of things, in general. I just wanted to share the wisdom.
So the other two did posts about their addictions. I figure I better follow suit. First, though, a small update. I actually just got back from South Carolina yesterday. Surprise. It was only a suggestion on Tuesday, but by the time dad got Thursday off of work, I was having to frantically pack and move my piano lesson so that I could still have it. This was not a trip I wanted to take. Yes, I love my grandmother and I love seeing her. I even like the beach, but this trip wouldn't even meet the dislike category. All I could do was sleep, eat chocolate, and get incredibly carsick- all three are signs of something to come, which still hasn't arrived. It was just a sickening trip all around. I was so ready to come home.
My recent addiction involves television. I don't watch much of it in the first place, and even less of movies and such. I just don't have time for it. In recent quests to wake my brain up from this hibernation, I decided to start watching some television that might be considered more educational. Most of the time, I'm enjoying some mind sludge on vh1 or Mtv, with very little variation except for the office (if I'm home on a Thursday) and Beauty and the Geek on Wednesday nights, followed by some MythBusters occasionally. News has never been of interest to me. I preferred to be quite ignorant and if something stayed on the news long enough or was important enough, I'd hear about it eventually from dad or somebody. After I got home from that incident where I was without keys for about two hours (and obviously a mind for much longer), I decided I'd look into CNN for the sake of rejuvenating my brain. To start with, I tried the traditional CNN. That bored me in all of five minutes, so I went to CNN Headline News (abbreviated CNNHLN). For some reason, that channel grabbed me. It was perfect for me because you get all the top headlines in 30 minutes to an hour. Usually, I'm distracted while watching TV anyway, so this works well for me because if I have to go do something, I can still catch the latest guy who is claiming to be the father of Anna Nicole's baby or the next idiotic way to get yourself put in jail in the 30 minutes coming. It's slightly shameful that those topics make the Headline News, but it has to be entertaining and I think that's what drew me in; though it's that very reason that turns people off to news channels anyway. In my mind, there is no other way for me to get the news. And to think, I was always the first one to grab the remote and change it at Poly's if it was on CNNHLN...now it's basically the only channel I watch.
I'm blogging at 11:30 from my house im my holey pjs. Lovin' it. I took this from a friend of mine in Snellville that uses Xanga mostly, but I liked her post and I wanted to do it too. I hope she doesn't mind if I copy her.
- List ten things you want to say to ten people but know you never will.
- Don't say who each is.
- Feel free to comment
Thank you and good night!
Just letting everyone know, we've got it. It's been five incredibly long months. I'm not doing this in my holey pjs, but I am doing this in the home office. It's amazing. This is all I have time for. Literally. I have a REV book to study, but here's what I almost yelled out at the meeting last Sunday when the Bellsouth Brother came up to us and said to call and order it:
YYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
YY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've got four little indians at the house right now. Contessa, Ethan Toad-head (another young boy in our congregation that is in the same grade with Contessa), plus two neighborhood kids. I'm thinking I might go all Agatha Christie on 'em and take them out one by one. I feel like mother hubbard or something. How appropriate that there's nothing in the cubbards at Mountain Man's house... ever.
I haven't locked my keys in the car since Sunday, but I did dream about it last night. Mountain Man locked his keys in the car Thursday for the second time this week. It's downright contagious. Oh, speaking of Mountain Man, his fiancee (Like Totally Nineties Woman) has moved to our congregation. She offered me a job with her current employer if I was interested. I told her not currently, and it would probably be a little while after she married him before I'd be willing to look into it. She is totally trying to be my friend. Honestly, I may be 18, but I'm not that naieve.
Wednesday was exciting as all get out. I got my own credit card in the mail. It's so beautimous... sparkley and all capitol one-ish. Deborah Clasky went all crusader voice and did the commercial... word for word.
TOMORROW IS DSL DAY! The brother is hooking us up today and by Monday, I can be blogging from the own comforts of my home in my holey pjs. Plus, I can do school too... maybe.
I'm completely exhausted right now. Today ended leaving me satisfied and happified, only after quite an ordeal. I just finished watching Pride and Prejudice (2005). I haven't read the book or completely seen any of the other adaptations, but I love love love this one.
On to the stupidest part of my day. Right now, I'm staying with my greenparents- after concert etiquette- and Papa was too ill to go to the meeting, and so I decided that I wanted to go to Easel's meeting. I got out of bed at 10 AM and proceeded to take my time going about Sunday morning rituals. I left Eas a voice message and a txt telling her to call me back. At almost 12 PM, she called me and said she would love for me to come to her meeting, especially since her parents had gone to East Griffin to give a talk and her brother would not have been able to sit with her. Quickly and excitedly, I got dressed and was ready to go. I should've noticed that I was more absent-minded than usual when I had made about 30 mental notes to get something to eat before I left and then proceeded to leave without getting even a nutri-grain bar. Directions from the Northridge exit in hand, I left the house and drove for my first time on 285. (Sunday morning was probably the best time for a first.) I made it there in a timely fashion and was 5 minutes early for her 1 PM meeting. Eas wasn't there when I got there and made it just in time for the song. We picked seats and enjoyed ourselves throughout the talk,(which DOES NOT mean that we chatted through the whole thing). Eas has problems with her blood sugar and she mentioned that she felt it was getting low and she had to go out to her car and get some crackers. This was about 30 minutes before the meeting ended. My tummy was rumbling too, so I picked up my purse to get some mints. In the process, I noticed that the pocket on my purse for my keys was very empty. They weren't in the big part either. All I could hope was that they were in the parking lot somewhere. I hurriedly went to go see and Eas joined me as I met her in the lobby on my way out. I got to jeepie to find all the doors and trunk locked, but I didn't see the keys. So I wandered around to the passenger seat and saw the keys... in the ignition. "Shart" was the only word that came to mind. I went back in feeling very distracted, but it didn't much matter because the brother went through probably 15 paragraphs in 30 minutes and I wouldn't have gotten much out of it anyway. At the immediate end of the meeting, I called my parents. The first phone call contained a VERY upset mom and dad, not only because I had locked the keys in the car, but because I had gone to Sandy Springs by myself. Once again, I lag in communication... or selective hearing. I'm gonna call it plain ol' absent-mindedness on my part- seriously. Dad decided that he would drive to come unlock the door. I didn't want him to have to drive 3 hours round trip just to unlock a car because I knew I would get hell once he got there, but to a less severe degree because he would have had lots of time to cool off. When they got to the house (dad was away giving a talk as well and they were at hospitality), dad called me and I told him to wait and see what a locksmith costs and that there was a brother in the congregation that thought he could do it. He was much cooler by that time and said calmly, to give him a call later. The young brother tried, and if I had automatic locks, I think it would have made it so much easier for every one that tried. He suggested to go to Pepboys and see if someone had a slim jim and could get into the car, since it was going to cost $55, plus labor for a locksmith. That didn't fly, so Eas, who stayed with me the whole time, in the cold, without a coat (I knew I picked a good friend 12 years ago), took me to Pepboys. OK, I think this was the most uncomfortable part of the ordeal. Two young girls in a Pepboys, in their skirts, looking quite lost in the first place. After standing around for about 15 minutes waiting for the head mechanic, the young lady at the desk said she'd get someone for us. Promptly, she did- thank goodness. We discussed it with the fellow and he said that it would be $40. I had that in my wallet and was throughly willing to pay it since he was very confident and had the tools in his hand to do the job. He followed us back to the Kingdom Hall and for about 30 minutes, tried the manual lock with a long metal stick. First, he tried the driver's side. Then we got out a mirror to help him see and not just have the two of us trying to help him out. From there, he switched to the passenger side with the long metal stick. He quickly abandoned that tool for the slim jim and within about 10 minutes, he had the door wide open. I was so happy I could've hugged him, but instead, I paid him extra, which he was probably much happier with. It's so frustrating to be so close and not to be able to get in! He was getting flustered too and seemed to be just as happy as Eas and I were to see the car open. The most embarassing part of it is... I just locked myself out of the car on Wednesday. The good thing about Wednesday was that the trunk was open and I just crawled in and unlocked the doors from that point. For about a month now, I've been very airy inbetween the ears. I've even restricted my tv watching to basically CNN and Discovery channel (and I've found I really like them both), but I'm not sure whats wrong. It was SO good to see that door open wide. The paint was coming off my nails and my hands were so chapped they were purple and my nose was a hot pink, but it still doesn't matter. I hopped in and blasted the stereo and the heat. Elated, I called my mom and dad, who were happy to hear that I was safe and had gotten into the car. Dad said he was sorry it cost me so much, and offered to reimberse me. I told him that there was no reason for him too because I was the one that locked the keys in the car and it was not as hefty a fee as him driving there or calling a locksmith. From that point, Eas and I hurried off since Poly had been waiting for us at the Starbucks down the road for about half and hour and both of them had plans for the Superbowl. Coffee never tasted so delicious. I couldn't have been happier- and probably haven't been that (this) happy in a long time. Contentment abounded. I was so exhausted- to the point where I completely relaxed and could've sat there and chatted the night away, and the obviously gay baristas were happy to have us gabbing gals to keep them company (Poly had left).
I learned that I should look into getting one of those retractable name badge holders for my keys and keep it attached to me at all times. See, the Jeep even beeps when you leave your keys in the ignition, so I'm at a complete loss so as to how I left them there so I must need something else to help me keep track of them. Also, it's pretty hard to break into a Jeep Wrangler, as simple and manually as they are built. Finally, echoing my "pretty good year" post- I picked a great friend, who stood in the cold for nearly two hours, drove me to Pepboys and stood with me, though she was very uncomfortable, and dealt with her friend who is evidently losing it mentally and still, she went and got coffee with me after the whole ordeal. Though we've been through trials before, there's nothing else that proves to me that we're stuck with "with super glue around the world and the alfalfa sprout" than this past week. One thing that's stable and there are so many more reasons than the few she manifested today that make her terrific, despite the fact that I get annoyed with her a little more than with my other friends. End of story, it means so much to me.
I no longer reek of the urine, pot, and beer smell, but did up until all of an hour ago. Just got home from seeing a band that I would love to go see again. Yo La Tengo. I have to admit, I went knowing very little and having heard very little of theirs, but it was just time for a concert. My last one was November. The opener went on for an hour from 8:30 to 9:30. The opener was Tennament Halls. Yo La Tengo went on at 10:00 and played to 12:15. Quite long enough for me to develop a taste for them and I started enjoying myself after the first song and was hollerin' for them to come back when they went off after their first encore. To someone that doesn't delve into the "cult following/non-mainstream" type music like what they would fall under, Yo La Tengo might sound like your typical rock band, but really, the trio knows how to put on a show. I don't know what their studio stuff is like, but I would pay $20 any day to see them play again. Jolly good show. This being my first show of 2007, I was moved to think about all the bands I've seen over the past two years. My list is as follows:
2005:
-June: Music Midtown (first official concert- I was 16). The White Stripes, The Features, Louis XIV, Bloc Party, Interpol, Devo, Lemonheads... and that's all I can remember. (GREAT pick for my first.)
-October: Weezer/Foo Fighters show. Mae opened. (Missed the opener due to traffic on 85. Weezer rocked as expected. Foo went poo and we left before their set was over. Heard the songs I wanted though.)
2006:
-March: Charlotte Martin. David Berkeley opened. (Loved [love] him and hope that he'll play a show in Atlanta I can attend soon. Disappointed in her and that stupid Korg.)
-September: The Raconteurs. Dr. Dog opened. (Forget the opener, this was the second time I'd seen Jack White in person! Man that was a great show! Plus, it was at my new favorite venue, the Tabernacle.)
-November: Mat Kearney. Griffin House opened. (Once again, I knew very little about both but was over all pleased with the show, especially for $18. Got nice and close to the boys at the Roxy.)
2007:
-February: Yo La Tengo. Tenement Halls opened. (Very pleased. Yo La Tengo has a new fan... at least for their shows. Where else can you get an over 2 hour preformance where the band members play themselves ragged?)
Next month, I've been invited to accompany a new sister in my hall to see Snow Patrol. I'm looking forward to spending time with this sister, as well as getting to see this band that I had no interest in until their most recent album. Plus, OK Go is opening and I really like them, though I group them with the Killers, etc. because they came out all around the same time, and that's a bad thing when I "group" an artist. What I'm really waiting for (literally I get excited at the mention of a tour) is when this artist comes back to town. I'm giddy with the thought right now... but of course, that could be lack of sleep. Nah!
I'm going to quit posting if you guys don't at least tell me how stupid a post I've put up, but of course, I haven't given you any opportunites this month yet... barely. Maybe one.
So, not much of a public nature has been going on that's of any sharing importance. The only thing I can think of is the fact that this month marks a year since we've moved out here. In just this year, the county has grown so much. I can drive around and be like Deborah Clasky who has lived here twenty years now, and say, "I remember when that wasn't here," or "There used to be a gorgeous old house right where that building was." I do it all the time when I drive thru Snellville and Loganville now. I lived in that area for thirteen years and it's changed so much that you wouldn't recognize it if someone had moved away around the time I moved there. It's not that way here yet, but someone that visited us when we first moved out here would see changes now, especially where we live now.
We moved twice this year. Twice. I had only lived in two houses my whole life and then we live in two in one year. That's quite a shocker. I'm used to having new cars around every few years, but a new house every few months... I can't imagine living like that, but I know some people do. It was hectic enough. The second time, we did most of the moving ourselves, but it worked out well. We had a lot of help from our congregation. Everyone was willing and offered to help. Plus, the house was twice the size of the rental we moved into, so there was plenty of space to put boxes. The rental house. Was that an experince. Roaches are not the bugs to mess with. I'm sure everyone has heard my mom's story about the roach being on her at night... yeah, we had some unwanted guests. The house was cute and adequate, but thank goodness we snagged our house. I'm still quite in love with my room AND bathroom. My bathroom was recently painted a sea foamy green. Very spa-ish and all the fixtures are up and in place. Towels aren't for the floor anymore. My room will soon be a soothing grey with my old favorite, navy blue, and what I always wanted, lime green, accents. I can't wait. Overall housing worked out great in the end. We're going to be able to have a bookstudy in our basement once it's finished and there's plenty of room for grandparents as well. Plus, there's very little yard to take care of and the neighborhood is great, but moving back to Atlanta is still my ultimate goal.
As far as I go in this pretty good year, a lot changed too. I wouldn't have ever dreamed I'd move into this congregation and fall in love with it. I was immediately welcomed by three wonderful sisters who haven't stopped caring for me since. In the course of starting to pioneer, one has become my partner and always supports me. She makes it even easier to attain my goal of regular pioneer service by this September. Though her sons have thrown me for a loop this past year, they've come to be just like my brothers. I got my driver's license in April of this past pretty good year and I've used it and abused it. Hopped a few curbs. Almost been tagged with a few tickets. Used it to go to Atlanta and back two dozen times. It's the ultimate freedom. I started babysitting, which I will be free from on March 31, 2007 when her father gets married (the wedding of the year: Mountain Man to Totally Like Nineties Woman). I've come to adore the little brat I babysit and give her the hardest time about the stuff she does. At least I can keep her mouth and hands clean. New glasses, a recent addition in this past pretty good year, but they're still included. Then there's the friends. Within one year, only two of my "best friend" slots remain occupied by the same people. Some left the truth. Some I left. Some I gained. Either way, my current circle of friends from all ages is probably the best group I've had in 10 years. (I really appreciate all of y'all- including my family!) That's the thing that makes this past year pretty good. I've got a life! Once in a while, I'll get it together enough to have one, so I enjoy it while it lasts.
So I leave you with a picture of my new glasses. (Click Me!...except mine are the blue ones)
