Birthday

Today….I am a quarter-century old. I feel very strange about this. I’ve known my “Twin” for 20 years, now.

So much has happened in the last year, it’s hard to even describe. This year seems like good things will be happening. Or it’s at least begun to point in a good direction. I hope it stays.

Birthday plans are Hubby's department. Apparently he has been “plotting”. I am excited to see what he has planned. Though getting made a fuss over for my BD is odd. I’m not used to it.

I want to get a couple new Inks done for my BD. We shall see if $ works out for that.

I should probably do a more introspective, serious blogpost about this past year; and the things I've learned and grown in and such. For now though, I'm just kind of in a "Wow. It's already been a year!" mode.

Doctor's Appointments, being at home, etc

Molly is officially 3 weeks tomorrow! My darling baby girl is almost a month old. When. Did. That. Happen. 


Anyway. 


What happened this week. Molly had her first doctor's appointment! It went really well. She gained a pound (now weighs 8lbs, 11oz!) and grew a quarter inch! (21 1/4" now!) Doc said everything looks great, she's great. Glad we're doing well, keep doing what we're doing, and we'll be back in June for her 2month checkup. That one wont' be as fun because of the vaccines, but necessary.


Other than that, this week has been a quiet ish week. Molly and I stayed in. She was a bit fussy off and on this week, cause of a growth spurt (I believe). I've been sleeping as I can, and getting used to waking up to nurse and all that. We are figuring out our routine, or attempting to. Hopefully she'll get into a better/steadier one soon. Or simply sleeps longer at night. Then again, I should probably get to bed when she's sleeping so I'm catching up on it. Figuring it all out! 


I still can't believe she's ours and here. It's still quite surreal but also getting used to it. I like being a mom!


Hubby's birthday is Monday! So today we wandered down to Laguna to take Molly on her first beach trip (She slept for most of it). Tomorrow we're doing breakfast at his aunt/uncle's restaurant. First time of that side of the family meeting Molly! Then going out to dinner a couple times this week, using Hubby's birthday coupons!


Got my disability award letter in the mail! Getting 65% of my weekly paycheck. That is a huge relief.  We weren't sure how much I would get, but we couldn't find out until I went on leave and sent in all the paperwork. Felt a bit like a Russian Roulette game, and it all worked out. Very happy about this. 


Wednesday, I got to catch up/talk with my Mum. It was incredibly lovely. I am so happy we got to chat. Love you lots, Mum! 


Now time to sleep before Molly wakes up to eat. 

Of course this is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean it is not real?

Well, it's been almost a month since I last talked with you. I would love to say that's because life has been crazy and busy and going going going....


But.

In reality, it's just been going, and not very exciting and nothing worthwhile to actually blog about. (I don't even want to think about the last time I journaled was! I should get back to that too....).


October is nearly over. When on earth did that happen? All of a sudden, November is suddenly saying hello. The weather certainly has been feeling that sudden as well. It almost just decided, "Oh you know what, it's almost November. We should probably stop mucking about", and now it's been rainy and cloudy and chilly for the last two weeks. Needless to say, I am loving this weather! 


Saturday was one busy long day, but in a really fun way. I had a baby shower and a birthday party! (No, not for me.)  


The baby shower was in honor of my dear friend and also Maid of Honor who is due in 3 weeks! The shower was lovely and not too crazy. It was also simply wonderful to be able to see her and hang out. Her little boy is about ready to come any day now, which is very exciting! It's always interesting to think back and realize how much we've done and been through together.  I remember one summer visiting Hubby who was living on campus at the time and meeting her outside the doors and her excitedly showing me the picture of the wedding gown she had just gotten. Seems like such a long time ago that we were both planning our weddings and getting excited and overjoyed about being married, and now it's been over 2 years for me, a year for her, and she's about to become a momma. Wow. Time flies. 


The birthday party was for another dear friend (whose birthday is technically tomorrow). She wanted to have an autumnal celebration/birthday party where everyone would bring a favorite autumnal food or drink and also a poem/story to read. While I was thinking last week on what to bring on both accounts, I remembered when I was younger, we used to always make this delicious mini-pumpkin muffins. I didn't have the recipe but hey, google is awesome. Then I had to figure out what story or poem to bring. As I was browsing through my books and I couldn't settle on anything, I finally decided that I would just write one for her. I meant to do a short story but it turned into a poem. I then read it aloud (which always makes me nervous, because I'm terrified that no one will like it), and got the couple seconds pause when it was done and then clapping and a few "Wow"'s. So I felt a bit better. Overall, it was wonderful to celebrate autumn and her birthday! I was blessed to be a part of it and got to meet and catch up with some new and old friends. 


This week is proving to be very very busy. Tonight I have class, as usual. Tomorrow is the Glee Rocky Horror Picture Show episode which I am so excited for. I'm going to a friend's house tomorrow night to watch the original and then the show episode, because a few other people are also coming who haven't seen the original, and that just won't do. Then Wednesday, we have another dear friend coming over for sketti and garlic bread and salad and wine and lots of relaxing and hanging out. Thursday I have nothing going on except lots of cleaning because Friday evening, J&C&C are coming to hang out!! I am so excited to see them and to visit. We haven't seen them since my birthday, so I'm very excited. Plus this will give me the excuse and buddy to watch our hubbies interact and just shake our heads. Hehe. 


Then on Saturday, I'm collapsing and sleeping in. Well, it depends on if our guests stay the evening or not. If they do, then we'll probably get up to go on a walk, have some coffee, and then hit up Crepes and Grapes. If not, then definitely collapsing. Oh. Right. It's Hallowe'en, isn't it? Well, I have no idea what we're doing for that weekend. At all. I have a costume (yay!), but nothing to go to. So we shall see, I suppose. 


Finances are finally clearing up and getting settled. We're finally just about caught up from the cruise, which threw us off for most of September, as we figured it would. By the 15th, though, we'll be much more settled. Just have those last few bills to take care of. But just in time for the holidays! Which, by the way, are coming up way too fast. But it does mean Christmas music and lots of goodies and treats and amazing food. You know, I should probably go get that gym membership as soon as possible.... Hehe. 


Speaking of which, when our finances are finally settled, we'll have some extra cash that we decided to split each paycheck for us to use as we would like. (After paying off all the bills and such, of course). I'm very excited, cause it means I can go out and get the books I've been wanting to get and the random shoes and clothes I haven't gotten because they haven't been a need so much as a fun want. So yes. Now I shall be able to get some of the fun wants I would like as well as stop changing my hair all the time because I shall be getting some more fun things to do. Oh, the one thing I am going to do to my hair though is come December ish (going to give it another month or so), I'm going to have it done professionally and dye it light brown with blond highlights, so I can go back to being blonde with some fun red streaks. Actually, depending on how light my hair gets in December, might just do straight blonde. We shall see. Have also decided that I am going to once again attempt to grow it out. I miss being able to braid it and put it up in a ponytail and otherwise have fun long hair. We'll see how long this lasts of course. But, patience is a good virtue to practice, I suppose. Besides, I've pretty much feel like I've run the gambit of short hairstyles to do and I haven't really found one I love. 


I'm going to start a new thing today, and it will be called:


Things that Amuse (and by amuse, I mean annoy generally) Me At Work:


1. Having FedEx attempt to deliver a package at 7:20AM on a Monday. We're a business. Logically, this makes sense, right? 
2. No one loads their dishes into the dishwasher. Ever. Or rinses them for that matter. So I come back from lunch to find the entire sink FULL with an empty dishwasher. 
3. Any--and I do mean any--issue that happens at work is my fault and magically I'm supposed fix it instantaneously. Case in point: The internet was down last week for a couple of days. I called Tech Support, spent a good hour on the line with them before they told me that the soonest they could get a tech out was 7pm that night. When we close at 5. So next day it would be, between 8-5, which is normal for tech support people. Cue the angry and yelling of some of the attorneys, one of whom called my boss at home to complain. It all worked out in the end, but really? 
4. Getting told that in order to fix something, can't you just wiggle the doohickey and unplug-plug in the whatchamacallit? 
5. Having to hit the printer in order to fix the LCD screen on it. Per the tech on the phone's request. 
6. The coffee bought by the non-coffee drinker and decides bulk is better than flavor.
7. No one actually puts the next roll of toilet paper on the holder. Ever. 
8. Typing up my boss's Bible Studies. 
9. The way the office goes to pieces when I'm sick and there's no one there to make coffee or answer the phones. *Gasp!* 
10. Last but not least, the insane senile old lady who calls and leaves messages on every machine at all hours of the day. Today, I had 98 of them. On one of the machines.  


And that, is all I have for now, folks. I will post the poem I wrote for my friend a bit later. I actually typed it up on a typewriter, so I need to type it up to save on my netbook. Which I shall do over lunch, I think. 


Here's to actually blogging a bit more regularly. If I start getting new stuff, I probably shall if only to post pictures and get all excited over them. 


P.s. I also finished rereading Book7 last week. And I cried. The movie comes out on the 19th. I am SO EXCITED!!! 

We should be lovers! We can't do that. We should be lovers...and that's a fact.

It's about that time for another blogpost, though nothing interesting has gone on until now, I suppose. Or rather, just been incredibly busy that I haven't had a chance to post. Something like that.

First off, last weekend and this past couple of days we've had a friend over along with his little 3 1/2 year old daughter. Who is Adorable. She is now talking in full sentences and it's the cutest thing I have ever seen. Also adorable when she ran up to Hubby and went, "PPOOOKEEE!!!" and poked him with her finger, and he then lifted her up and started tickling her to which she started shrieking in laughter. A. Dorable. And for the record, Hubby will be an amazing father someday. I cannot wait.

My Birthday is on Tuesday. I will be 23. Odd thing, that. Aaron was Plotting....and then it got slipped to me what he's doing for me. Ah well. All I know is we're going down to San Diego so I can have an amazing coffee date with my girlfriends who just had babies (hello!!!!), and apparently he's still finalizing stuff. So the surprise is still there. Though I probably will be a silly girl and bring the presents I've been holding for the babies for the last couple of months, even if it's my birthday. But I enjoy giftgiving, so there!

Also, day of my birthday (well, evening), I am going thrifting with Kitty who is going to help me pick out outfits for under 25 bucks! So excited! Though priority is a pair of either red or black heels, and to look at the boots. I'm excited to go shopping and to be creative about it! Hoping to find some good outfits to wear on the cruise. Which is in two weeks and 2 days, by the way!

So yesterday, my boss and his wife took me and Hubby out to lunch for my birthday. Because they will be on vacation in Hawaii until the 18th or 19th, so they wanted to celebrate with me. I got this amazing fruit concoction as a birthday dessert. It was some of the best tasting watermelon I have ever had. Literally melted in your mouth. Soo good!

Those are palm trees and little birds carved into the fruit, by the way. My boss got me (well, his wife more) this amazing fun loose black scarf and a set of notepads along with a book. Very fun afternoon. Plus amazing food at this Chinese place. Chicken in garlic sauce with fried rice, yum!!

This week has bee an interesting one, that's for sure. I think I'll purposefully not bring up anything about Prop 8 except that I think there are probably other things that ought to be getting as much if not more focus. Such as child abuse, which is rampant in our fair state. Also, if one little bill getting overturned makes your marriage less meaningful, you probably have more pertinent issues to be worried about. Just saying.

Anyway.

I'm not a fan of getting in the middle of big debates, usually, mostly because I've found the "more reasonable in the middle people" are the ones who get ignored and the really extremes are the ones that always get the attention. So. I'll just go on my merry little way now.

Looking forward to the next two weeks. Lots of exciting things happening. Tomorrow I'm going to the beach with some girlfriends. Tuesday is my birthday and I'm off shopping (as I already said). Then Thursday is hanging out with friends, Friday evening is going out with a couple coworkers to celebrate our birthdays which are just a couple days apart, then Saturday is the "actual" celebration....and then one week until our Cruise!! Which will probably be the longest week of our lives. Besides maybe the week before our wedding, except that flew past too quickly and stressed me out. So perhaps not.

Oh. And also, I have decided to grow my hair out again. I know. Shocking. Well, not really shocking. I totally thought after cutting into a pixie cut I would Never Want to go back to long hair. At least, not for a long while. That obviously changed. Loved my short hair. Was very happy with it. Then my haircutter left for the summer to go back home (she's a student). Which meant it's been growing out for the last three months. Which means I actually really adore it. So. Long Hair it is, again. With Bangs! Also redying it but keeping that part a secret.

I also just finished up the Anniversary (2years!) present for my Hubby. Our Cruise is a bit of our present to each other, but I still love giving him things. So finished that up and hope he likes it. I'm sure he will. I also bought some fun new items for the cruise, just waiting for them to get delivered. The first being a vintage red and white polka dot bikini, with red trim. Gorgeous! Very vintage and 40s pin-up girl like! (Speaking of which, Why couldn't I have been born around that time? I'm the perfect body type for it! Seriously. Look. Btw, if anyone wanted to get me anything off of that site, I'd Love You Forever. ....hmm....maybe I should think about modeling Vintage Pin Up girl stuff.) The second being an awesome corset red/black dress. Smexy! Paired with fishnets and boots and all set.

That's what's been going on in my life currently. Been pretty good. Very content and happy and excited because it's finally in the two week countdown until vacation, and the next two weeks will be past before I know it. And then it will be vacation for a whole week! Sunday to Sunday. Yes!

I also just finished up reading Go Ask Alice, which was rather good. Very gut-wrenchingly real and heartbreaking, but very good. Journal of a 15yearold gal who got mixed up in drugs back in the 60s/70s, and her account of how it affected her. It was a good read, because you can only assume it's gotten worse since then, and that is very frightening, given how bad it was then. Go read it. Seriously.

By the way, mini receptionist rant: I just love when people call 3-6x a day and start asking me if I actually gave the message to the correct party. What am I supposed to say or think of that? "No, of course not. It's not like it's my job to make sure everyone gets their messages when they are received or something." I also just adore when people call a few times, asking the same question, and getting angry that the answer hasn't changed. You know, the whole, "Well, no, Sir, it hasn't changed since the last five minutes you called." Gah! Such is the life in some customer service job, but seriously. I sometimes wonder what is wrong with these people. On the bright side, it has made me incredibly clear, concise, and actually listen when I'm on the phone.

Well, enough from me rambling on and on. This blog post is really quite long enough now.

I am off for the night. Weekend begins in t-minus 60 minutes, and I am going to go enjoy a free dinner at Aculpulco with Hubby! And maybe a margarita too, we shall see.

Ta!

P.s. I'm also determined to one day have these shoes. I Will. They are just so sexy and womanly, how can you not want them?

I follow the night
Can't stand the light
When will I begin
To live again?

One day I'll fly away
Leave all this to yesterday
What more could your Love do for me?
When will Love be through with me?

Why live life from dream to dream?
And dread the day when dreaming ends

One day I'll fly away
Leave all this to yesterday
Why live life from dream to dream?
And dread the day when dreaming ends

One day I'll fly away
Fly, fly away

You say hello and I say goodbye....

Well, hello there. Yes, I know it's been a while. Almost three weeks. No, don't look at me like that. You know life gets in the way. Fine fine. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to neglect you. Are we good now? Yes? May I continue? Well, thanks. 


*****
It's been a really busy stressful last few weeks. I kept meaning to write something on here, but...the inspiration so to speak just never showed up. Things I wanted to write on, I shouldn't (journaled about them instead). And to be perfectly honest, life just hasn't slowed up for me lately. 


Celebrated Hubby's birthday on the 30th. That was fun! Went out to Benihana (yes, again) for dinner that night. Then the next day after a bike ride we had a fun BBQ with a bunch of friends over. Then we just relaxed and had some fun on Sunday. He had a full birthday weekend, which was awesome. He got to buy fun things he wanted, I got him some fun things, and overall, he had a great birthday [so he tells me. I think I'll believe him ;-) ] 


Hm. I suppose it's not so much been busy, as just things catching up with me and not having time/energy/willpower/wanting to write about them. A lot (if not most!) are things I'm just figuring out and dealing with in my own personhood (is that a word? Blogger says no...hrm). 


For instance, this past weekend was Mother's Day (Happy Mother's Day!!! Love to you all!!). Which put in the forefront of my mind all of my dear friends who are expecting their first baby in a few weeks or a few months. And...it was kind of hard. I know what I need to be doing and where I ought to be going, but...I still am feeling very left out and stuck in a place while they're going on their own way and moving forward. It's hard, and very restless for me. 


Which leads to the other thing (well, one of the other things) I've been wrestling and struggling with. The feeling that my (our) support group/friend group is slowly dissapaiting (however you spell that!) away. Not  maliciously, just...people moving on and away. Which is the way life is, I suppose, but also hurts and is frustrating because I (we, really) am a people-person (while being a bit of an introvert, Figure that one out!), and it's hard to realize that things are moving and changing, and feeling like you're stuck in the same place. 


Also probably why I've been feeling so restless and uneasy (in just a not at ease place, not worried about anything) place in my life right now. I feel like there's a big change coming soon for us, that it's going to happen soon, but I don't know what (though I have ideas, but that's a blog for a later time).....like you're poised on the edge of a cliff waiting to jump and knowing you're going to but haven't yet and you're bouncing back and forth on your toes, just barely staying where you are. 


That's what I'm feeling like lately, but also with a feeling like my friends have already jumped and for some reason I'm still here at the top, waiting (and anyone who knows me, knows I hate waiting!). Mix that feeling with a sense of loneliness at the moment and it makes for a very restless uneasy frustrated me. 


Though as a dear friend pointed out, sometimes that strong of a feeling of restlessness and unease (I really need to find a better word...not unease as in worry. Unease as in just antsy and pacing, almost) of where you're at is God's way of getting you prepared for some Change that is coming, whether you know when or what. 


I know that. Still....doesn't make this feeling any easier to deal with. 


Though....I suppose that's a welcome to Life and Relationships. Nothing's simple and clear-cut. It's all messy and complicated and convuluted (sp??) and hard to figure out. People who say it's all Simple and Easy are following a Script of living, not really Living. And...I've tried it that other way and it's not worth it. I'd rather be Living, thanks, with all the complications and hardships and frustrations that come with just dealing with other humans. Even if it's hard and I need reminding a lot of times.  


C'est la vie. 


P.s. Go see Iron Man 2 and stay till the end of the credits!! It was excellently done, and the cast was awesome! I personally think it was a bit better than the first, but that's a lot to do with the plot and characters...instead of the first one just setting it all up (which it did very well). 


Also, cannot wait for Inception to come out!! It looks amazing. And I'd see anything done by the Nolan Brothers. Also Robin Hood with Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott. Plus The Last Airbender. There are just so many good movies coming out! w00t! 

Happy Monday, all!

Per that post from last week, the week went up and down a bit. Honestly, it was Spring Break for us, and it felt like the week lasted forever. I only had work, some stress, and then a very relaxing weekend. Hubby and I slept in, relaxed, watched loads of Dr. Who (who is and always will be The Doctor). I got creative and tried some new recipes. My favorite being the chicken pasta with the olive oil/garlic sauce. It was incredibly yummy and incredibly easy (and easily made vegetarian. Just don't add chicken!). I also added some Parmesan cheese on top and made it with some garlic bread, and voila! easy filling good dinner. 


Like the week, the weekend took forever to pass by, which was nice because it was a weekend, and they're supposed to last forever...so to speak. I finished two books over the weekend, which felt lovely (or was it three? Perhaps three). I know I finished Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman last week at some point. I also read Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams (which I was told was based on the Dr Who episode he wrote, and I could easily see that. Very creepy amazing book). I also finished up Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut. It was about the Dresden fire bombing...and it was also one of the oddest books I've ever read. Intriguing. 


I had two answered prayers over the weekend, which surprised me, to say the least. I haven't been used to God answering prayers (that visibly, at least), so it was a wonderful blessing. I had made an honest mistake in something I was supposed to take care of. Unfortunately, it (as these things do) happened at exactly the wrong time, so it became a bit more involved. Crying and stressing and figuring things out later, two friends (you know who you are) provided what we needed. It was quite surprising and quite relieving. And quite odd to go, "Oh...I was stressing and praying without realizing it, and it was provided...." God's a sneaky fellow. Hehe. 


Oh. If you notice the tone of my writing sounds rather British, well that is the Doctor's fault. I've been watching him with Hubby for the last week or so, because the new series started up on Sunday (of last week). So now, two episodes into the new series, and Matt Smith is the Doctor. I don't quite know how it happened but it did, and he is the Doctor. After one episode. Well...after the three minutes he had at the end of The End of Time. The premiere episode just solidified it. I'm sad that David Tennant is gone as is Russell T. Davies, but I am incredibly excited to see Matt Smith as the Doctor and Stephan Moffett as the new head writer (I believe). He has written my favorite episodes so far (Girl in the Fireplace, Blink, Etc). He's the head writer now, and I am soo excited! The Angels are coming back! Ok. End of nerding out now. 


I have a big date coming up with Hubby. Well, me and a friend. He's taking me and my best friend out on the town or something of that sort. I don't actually know where we're going. He's keeping it quite close-chested. My friend and I have found our dresses (and they are gorgeous) and we are soo looking forward to it. Hubby's been teasing/taunting me about this date since he started planning it back in....oh gosh. February? January? Long enough for me to be twitching by now. And it is in two weeks! I cannot wait! There will definitely be a lengthy blog about it, I am sure of that, and hopefully some pictures. 


And of course, end of April is Hubby's birthday. We don't have much planned at the moment, as funds are a bit tight. I shall figure out something, however. Even if it means delaying it for a few days or some sort. Either way, I shall celebrate Hubby's birthday with him, and we shall have a grand time, no matter what. (And if any family is reading this, he would love some giftcards (Outback, Black Angus, Cheesecake Factory etc) /hint ;)


School starts up again this week, and not much time is left after that, come to think of it. 7 or 6 weeks? I'm sure my friends who are graduating know the exact number of days and hours. Sadly (or thankfully?), I am not at that point, otherwise I'd be stressing and freaking out to no end, I'd imagine. 


I have discovered we have two weddings within a month of each other. May is Hubby's dear sister and ex-roommate's wedding (odd one, that. They met because of our wedding, 9months later, engaged. Still chuckle at Fate). We are both in that one, so that week will be incredibly busy but fun. Then later on in June comes another couple of friend's weddings. Hubby knew them first, and we both were able to watch their relationship grow (I was able to help the Gal work through some issues at first) and now they're getting married in June, and I can't think of a better couple together. Very very excited for both of these weddings! 


Oh...and not to mention come June/July, our friends are having their babies. It was amusing, actually, that both of our friends got preggers within 4wks of each other! So very excited for them! Just two more reasons to go visit, and hold babies. And I realized I'll have to buy a collapsible playpen for when our friends visit with their babies! (Ok, I probably won't have to, but I want to.) 


I have been sad to realize that my journal, which Hubby got me for our first married Christmas together, has only about 7 pages left in it, before it's completely full. I looked/read through it over the weekend and realized just how much it has seen and recorded. Hubby made an inscription in the front which said (amongst other things) "Fill these pages with Love and Beauty". And that journal, while has seen some very hard and sad and hurtful things, has also served to record our first 20 months together as a married couple. It has seen us grow into our marriage, seen it thrive and move and deepen. I'm amazed that it's been almost two years (in August!). That journal has lasted me from December '08 until April '10. I am always so sad to end a journal. It always feels like an end of a chapter in my life, and I suppose it rather is. Though it means exciting time to start new journals! (Specifically the one my mother-in-love got me from S. Korea last summer for my birthday!) This journal ending, for me, feels like the end of my Newlywed-ness (though I haven't really felt like a Newlywed for several months now), and now a new journey is starting. A journey with my Hubby towards our Happily Ever After (to use the phrase often used by my friends). Well. That journey has always been going, I suppose. We're 20 months into it! Or...I really consider our time dating and being engaged as well, and then it would be almost 4 years. Or will it be five, now? No. Four. Anyway. That journal is finishing and has been the witness of the first 20 months or so of our marriage. I imagine when I'm an older married woman/mother, I'll look back at that journal and go, "Oh I was so very young back then." I tend to do that even looking at old entries. I can't imagine what I shall think when I am in my 40s or 50s, married, with kids, and go back to read it over. 


Hubby and I were talking about love (specifically our love for each other) a bit back, and I had summarized it as "More than yesterday, less than tomorrow". He didn't quite like that phrase because it's not that he has more love (the feeling) for me. It's deepened and grown and developed more. It's not the same as it was when we first got married. I assured him that's what I meant by that phrase. My love for him (and our love for each other) has deepened and grown and developed and matured greatly since having gotten married. We don't have a different feeling for each other. I think it's because our love has grown out of just 'feeling in love' to actually being love. 


Some things feel like they're going to be changing soon...I'm not sure how to explain it or what to even say, but it's like that itch in the back of your head. You don't quite know what it is, but you know something is coming...and you start watching for it. I feel like that. Something is going to change...I can just feel it. The itch. The idea forming. Something. 


The clever north wind was not satisfied. It spoke of towns yet to be visited, friends in need yet to be discovered, battles yet to be fought -Chocolat

September: Happy Birthday Sis!

Oh my goodness, it's September already! When did that happen?? Man, the summer flew past, and now school's in full swing.

First things first: Happy Birthday, Sis!! You're 15 today! I can hardly believe it. I hope you have a wonderful day, and enjoy your birthday! We love you lots!! You're in our thoughts always.

We had a lovely anniversary, went down to San Diego and hit up the Wild Animal Park, the Zoo, and Sea World for five days. I haven't been there since...little. I have a vague sense I've been to Sea World when in my teens, but the Zoo not since 10 or so. Anyway, we had a marvelous time, and I have a ton of pictures I need to sort through so I can post them. So excited it's been a year, and can't wait to see what this next year has in store for us. So here goes year 2! w00t! :-)

Things have been going well, for the most part. I've been thinking through some stuff and just doing a lot of processing of me, who I am, etc. It's been hard but good. God has really been taking care of us. Though I joke that He could do it sooner than making me stress and worry and freak out, and then suddenly taking care of it. Taking care of it right away would be fine with me too, you know. Hehe.

I have a wedding this weekend. My maid of honor is finally getting married! So excited for her!! First wedding I'm in (besides my own of course). We have these cute blue strapless dresses with pockets. I'm headed down Thursday night with Linus for a Girls' night in with the bride and then helping out on Friday and the wedding is Saturday morning. I have so much to do between now and then, though. I need to finish their gift, get shoes, and do a couple other things. I think I'll probably finish their gift tonight, work on something else tomorrow night, and get shoes after work before church. (Ash, if you're reading this, don't you dare start worrying!) I'm rather excited though because with Friday off, I'll have a 4 day weekend! Hooray! So blessed to be a part of this wedding. I'm sure I'll have some pictures to post.

I'm really excited about my classes this semester. You know, all two of them! I'm taking a Dysfunctional Families/Child Abuse class on Monday night, and Foundations of Development Tuesday nights. Excited because they're actually in the direction I want to be going. Monday night class will be intense but good. And we'll see about tonight's.

That's all for now, I have to get back to work. Just thought I'd update.

Oh, in prayer for the fires burning. We were up at a camp this past weekend near them, and it was insane. Praying for Hubby's aunt as well, cause her neighborhood is on watch for the fires. Thanks go out to the firefighters!

Birthday Weekend!

So...this past weekend was my birthday. Well, technically Monday, but Aaron celebrated all weekend with me. Saturday we just had a relaxing day at home. Slept in, watched some movies, had a yummy dinner, he got me ice-cream. (Yay!) Sunday we woke up bright and early to head to an airsoft game in support of a field we liked but they closed down--well, more like the cranky old lady got annoyed and refused to say it was ok with us to play there, so the county closed it down--we were up there till about...1 or 2 ish? It was freaking hot out, we were all a bit miserable, but it was fun. I got a bit sunburnt too. Hehe.

Then we came home, showered, rested. And Aaron took me out to dinner. Now, he had been telling me all this time that he had wanted to try to do something big for my birthday, but we weren't going to be able to afford it and all this stuff, so he was planning a bunch of medium/small things. And he also told me it was going to be for Monday night after work. So I get all ready to go to a nice dinner with my husband and stuff... we get to Aculpulco--amazing Mexican restaurant!--and round the corner to be seated, and I see a bunch of my friends' heads. Now, silly me, I'm sitting there going, "Why is Brett here? Or Fernando? Janelle?"

....then when they all said, "Surprise!!" it dawned on me that my husband was a sneak bugger and threw me a surprise party with my friends. So I turn bright red--apparently matched my dress, which is quite a feat--and sat down, and had a wonderful night of conversation and food and cake with good friends who all took time out of their busy schedules to come--some drove 2+ hours to be there!!--hang out with me and make my day special. So thank you, my friends.

Then on Monday night, Aaron took me to Borders to spend one of my Borders cards (thank you, Pineapple!)--I got a couple books. Hooray!--and then we headed down to Downtown Disney, where we wandered around the little bookstore by the movie theater until it was time to go see Julie/Julia, which I had been wanting to see. It was better than I expected, and we both loved it. Go see it, if you haven't. I was amazed at how well Meryl Streep channeled Julia Child, and how well Amy Adams did as a quirky government worker who sits in a cubicle all day and decides she wants to do something--cook through Mastering the Art of French Cooking--and write a blog about it. The way they go back and forth between both stories--because you're also getting Julia Child's story of how she wrote the book--is very well-done, and not confusing at all.

Then the next day (Tuesday), my boss and his wife took Aaron and I out to Lascari's for my birthday, and gave me a gift-card to Kohl's, which I was ordered to use on myself, and not on anything practical.

Overall, it was a wonderful birthday, and came well placed at a time where I'm dealing...well, struggling really, with a lot. I haven't slept well the last couple nights...been very restless, and feeling very much alone where I am right now. So it was nice to be reminded of friends who care and love me and are there for me.

My hair is changing up again this weekend too. Very excited about that. And next Thursday we leave for our anniversary trip! We're taking 5 days off (well, technically 3), and I'm so very excited about it!!

That's all for now.

Summer lovin' had me a blast Summer lovin', happened so fast

Had an amazing weekend with my best friend. She had called me up a few weeks ago and we were chatting and she said, "Hey, you should come up for a weekend!!" So I talked with Aaron about when/budget would work, and ended up going this past weekend. Took Friday off work, rode a 7:30AM train (ick!) up to Grover Beach where my friend picked me up with another friend I hadn't seen in....oh gosh, I think we said 5-6 years?? Something like that. Probably has been longer. I've known both of these girls for over....oh gosh, 10 years. No...my best friend since I was 6/7 (we went to AWANA together, no idea how we actually met. We think it was through dance-class, back in the day), and my other friend....well....we were in dance together since I was like....3? 4? Around there. So seeing both of them and getting to hang out with them was amazing. I miss them a lot, and being in that area. Though I have realized I've adapted to LA, and am now in love with big cities. Ah well.

The weather was gorgeous too!! Played in the ocean, wandered around the shops, went to see Harry Potter6 again with her. Oh, and yesterday she showed me a cute chick-flick called Sydney White. Retelling of Snow White or something like that. It was cute. Hehe. Overall, this weekend was an amazing time and a grand success!! Must do that more often! And the train isn't all that bad, as long as you have someone picking you up and all that.

Sad to see the weekend end, but I wouldn't want to be on vacation forever either. Back at work today. Wish I had today off...ah well. School starts in a few weeks (Eeee....where did the time go??), my birthday is in two weeks--well, two weeks from today--and our anniversary is coming up in a bit too. So excited about that! It's almost been a year, I can hardly believe it. Seems like forever. I don't think I've ever been as happy as I am now. I can think of only a few things that would make me happier, but...on the whole, I am happy.

It's odd to think that I'll be starting another half-time year at Biola. I'll be taking 2 night classes that I'm really excited about. I think I finally figured out what road I want to take with my schooling, and I'm very excited about what I want to do. The game-plan, somewhat loose right now in timing, is to get a psychology/counseling degree to work with child victims of abuse. Maybe get a minor in Christian Ministries or something....depends if I stay at Biola (which depends on what Aaron does after graduation and career paths for him). Either way, I know what path I'm going to take, and I believe it's where God wants me.
I can't wait to be able to focus fully on this path, and work on it full-time. Aaron is fully supportive and is very excited for me. There's something to be said of knowing where you're going and the goal you're reaching for, and it giving you more energy, instead of feeling like you're listing around (in school), not quite sure where/what you're supposed to be doing. Or even what you want to be doing. So this is a relief somewhat, and also very exciting.

I should get back to work now. Mail came in and needs sorting. I'll be honest, I can't wait for the day I won't have to be working here, and I can concentrate fully on my schooling. All in good--well, rather God's--time.

Ta!