Oooh a secret mission. I'll take the case!

Well well. I am feeling much better today. Much much better. Still sick, mind you, but compared to yesterday, I'm flying high high high! I'm still achey in my joints and ribs, my stomach is still making angry noise occasionally, and my throat still hurts some, but that's all right now.

In other news... I've been making soundtracks for my past several years. See, I've been keeping this here journal since 2004, I think. So, I took all the titles that were lyrics from songs each year and I'm making a little playlist. It's interesting to see who I was into when; there are certainly concentrations of different artists at different points in my life. Last year included a lot of Avett Brothers; before that the Decemberists dominated; before that was a lot of BNL and much more rap and country that I would have expected.

Other news... Jeff was really sweet this morning. He had work from 6:45 until 10. He woke me when he got back with breakfast and a handful of pills (mmm!). Simple, yes, but a nice way to wake up. My throat was sore this morning, but it was a pleasant distraction. Let's see... tomorrow I think I'll head to Birmingham with my family to see Meagan's last basketball game and to spend some time with my Grandma, who has been in town. Sunday I plan to do nothing. Monday I take the last pill in my Z pack!

At some point next week I need to go to the Health Department and get a TB test. I also get to submit to a urine test for the job I'm hoping to get. Here's hoping I pass that. :-/ I should be clear, though, by now.

Oh, a lot of you have seen the pictures I've been painting. I'm selling those now, so if you're interested let me know. I'm thinking between 2 and 5 bucks will get you anything I've done. Just let me know. :)

You think you're in control?

Well, I think you're crazy....

As my dad would say, I am one sick puppy. I think I've managed to contract both strep throat and the flu at the same time. I've never had the flu before now, and it's been several years since I had strep throat. My immune system, in general, does a good job. I guess this was just vacation week, though, and everything slipped in.

All through December I fought some nasty congestion, finally feeling better around New Year's. For the last week or two I've had some sinus problems and a bit of a head cold (culminating Thursday morning). but I had mostly shaken that off. I'd maintained a bit of a stuffed up nose, but that was about it. Now, Tuesday evening I began to get a soar throat, but I attributed to all the drainage on my throat and the shifting weather. Wednesday morning, however, I woke up with tears on my face from the pain in my throat. I took some Aleve and drank some tea and felt better. I went to a job interview at Scope 10 and Jeff and I watched Life Support at UNA for the AIDS program. I was still feelings alright until later that evening, when my throat began to ache so badly that I began sobbing, which, as you can imagine, didn't help my throat! Seriously... there's a large marble-sized swelling on the back of my left tonsil that looks like a blister. The right side of my throat isn't the least bit inflamed, which I thought was strange.

Sooo, Jeff, being the dear heart that he is, made a late night trip to Wal-mart and came backed armed with lots of pain-relievers, so all last night I was been taking Tylenol and Ibuprofen (alternating every two hours) and gargling salt water every half hour or so. This morning I woke up at 9ish to go to the infirmary, where I got a shot to reduce the swelling and a prescription for a Z-pack. My ribs were hurting, which was strange. Fast forward some: my mom filled my prescription and brought me ice cream; my throat still hurts but not as badly; my everything is sore and my bowels are completely liquid; I'm taking Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Mucinex, and the Z-pack; I'm dehydrated; my temperature has dropped.

Jeff ventured out again for me and got Gatorade and yogurt and soup and Vitamin C tablets and juices. Jess sent me a health food page with a chicken broth recipe that I'm making right now (kinda... I don't have a couple of the ingredients, but I'm just leaving them out... hope it's good anyway). I tired, but I'm not cranky. I've been joking with Jeff a lot about me being sick, mostly because it helps me.

I really don't get sick that often. I mean, I'll get the occasional sniffles, but rarely do I get sick enough that I can't do the things I want/need to do. This is the first time in a long time that I've just wanted to be isolated until I feel better. My stomach hurts now, but I'm going to get some broth. I will feel better in the morning.

I don't know why I felt the need to record all of this. I guess I just wanted it out of my system (mental and physical!).

All those crazy Italians... you don't call them by name.

Well, kids, it has been too long, once again.

   I've been listening to pandora a lot recently.  Song writers amaze me.  There are so many songs out there-- good songs, real songs-- and still they keep coming, new music every day!  It's beautiful!

Soooo... lots has happened, I guess, and though I'm sure to leave out some events, I hope I remember all the high points.

   I went to Birmingham two weekends ago.  Well, I went to Cullman to spend the night with Jeff Thursday, then we traveled to Birmingham the next night for Lance's birthday.  Overall it was a lame birthday celebration, but it was great to see my friends and hang out at Loco's.  Jeff and I went to the club afterwards to see Mr. Christopher Anderson.  He gave me Mardi Gras beads!  It was great to see him.  We also ran into Little Brian!  Overall, a rather tame night at the Quest.  We got home Saturday and I went to babysit at the Tomlinsons; huzzah.

Umm... the Vagina Monologues are over!  I'm really glad I participated; there are some amazing people in the world, and I got to work with a handful of them.  Practices were spiced up with some fantastic finger foods from Susan and Katie, two of our cast members.  Susan also hosted the cast party in her loft above Metropolis Music on Court Street.  Needless to say, it was a steller events.  Thanks to all of you who came to see the show!  O'Brian, Jennifer, Sandy, Grace, Jonathan... amazing!  My parents and grandmothers came on Wednesday night-- whoa!  Yes, both my dear old grandmothers.  I actually think Grandmomma enjoyed it more than Grandma, which is amusing to me.  Anyway, my monologue was Hair, which is relatively tame, so maybe that helped them not go into shock.  Mom and Dad even seemed to enjoy it!  Graham also came to see the performance on Thursday.

   Pratik spent the night at my house that night, and we spent a lot of time together Friday, which was lovely.  I really enjoyed getting to talk and cuddle with him.  We straightened my hair, and it looked fabulous for all of two days before the torrential rains Sunday morning, but we'll get to that, won't we?  Tammy came over later in the afternoon and we painted some and watched Shortbus before they headed home to prepare for the poetry slam (at which they both read later!).  J.T. brought in Stacie Boschma, who was absolutely fabulous.  I wish she'd done a longer set, but she was still fun to watch.  Tammy and Pratik both read as well, plus a few other local talents.  We actually sat around talking for a while afterwards (me, Christian, Tammy, David, Pratik, O'Brian, Meaghan, Nick, and J.T.), which was so nice and calm and perfect.  Later I hung out at Megan's for a bit before heading home.  Oh, also, Jonathan was there, of course, as well as Louise, David, Edward, Sihya, Stephanie, and J.J.

The next afternoon Graham and I head to Tuscaloosa for Lindsey's 21st Smurfday Party!  It was amazing!  Beforehand we grilled; Stephanie came to play, and we had mozerella and spinach stuffed steak.  Yum?  You betcha.  We aslo grilled asparagus and squash.  Everyone wore blue, and they served blue punch and jello shots!  Faces I already knew: Andrew Harris, Alex Cornett, Worth Stewart, Stephanie Baily, Lydia Atkins, Chris Cook, Ryan Spain, Melissa King, Jeff Lollar, Emily Thornton, Austin Kendrick, Andrew W., Genivieve, Turket.  Oh heavens, I don't know why I embarked on this naming list, as I'm sure to forget someone!  I guess I just want to remember your beautiful blue faces forever, and to look back on the journal and smile at the mention of your names.  I also met some beautiful new people, like Marc, Yu, Winston, and Beth.  I think the only not so fun thing about the party was the lack of Meagan; alas, my poor sister was sick.  :(  Oh, that and throwing up on Lindsey's floor.  That wasn't fun either.

   The next morning we made waffles in Lindsey's new Cinderella waffle maker!  They were de-lish.  After the necessary post-party circle chat over breakfast, Graham and I headed home via Birmingham so we could stop in and check on Meagan and Moonie and Abby.  We picked up Jeff in Cullman.  I'm had pretty bad cramps the next day, but it wasn't a bad day overall.  I got to spend it with Jeff, which was nice, because I missed him while he was gone.  We spent yesterday running errands, watching Rules of Attraction, and eating.  It was... well, nice.  Hold on, now I'm having an Eternal Sunshine  moment.

Other little things... I've spent a lot of time at the Women's Center with Tammy and Pratik recently; we've had quite a few really late nights, which has been fun.  I've also spent several evenings at Megan and Spencer's, which has been great.  Umm, Tammy brought me a rose on Valentine's Day, as well some get well stuff, which made me feel very special (even though I was kinda out of it and sick that day).  I've hung out at my parents' a couple times; I enjoy them more than I ever thought possible.  They are amazing.  YOU are amazing, reader!  Hurray!

Good good morning, Sun...

I forgot to tell you, dear Reader, that I went with Christian to visit Beth and her babies in the hospital last week. She's doing a lot better, though keep her in your prayers. Amber and Abigail are still in a little isolated nursery, but we got to see them through the glass. They're like tiny tiny perfect dolls. We also named another set of twins there: Audrey and Ashton. There's also a little premie boy, and we shall call him Austin.

Friday! Friday I went to Ozz with Pratik, Tammy, and Nick; it was, as they say, a blast. Nick and I totally dominated at the pool tables/fumbled our way through a couple games before heading to the dance room to watch the Nine Inch Males perform. (P.S. I'm already looking forward to re-reading this entry and laughing at that years from now.) They were, of course, delicious, as was to be expected. We danced for a while before heading home around 1:30. Sooo, after getting to bed at 3:30ish, I woke bright and early to meet up with Jonathan, Megan, and Katie for Bag Day, woot! I found some exciting skirts and a few other things, including a little picture frame. I chilled at Megan and Spencer's apartment for a little before returning home, then taking Pratik to his apartment, then back to the apartment for nap attempts. I actually had trouble sleeping, despite being so tired, so I didn't sleep during the day but I ended up in bed at seven.

Yesterday O'Brian and I watched some Avatar, then I went to Vagina Monologues practice, then back home O'Brian and I finished the rest of the episodes. I also talked to Jessica for a long time, and I made a weird cornbread loaf; no recipe, but it turned out alright, I think. :)

She poppin, she rollin, she rollin.

Hey kids.

I had this crazy idea at the beginning of the year that maybe I'd write a little something about every day of this year, not necessarily writing everday, but recalling every day with each entry.

Anyway, I thought that would last at least a month, but no such luck. So... what's been going on...

Well, since I last assaulted you with the details of my little life,=, Jeff celebrated his birthday. It was Tuesday the 15th, the same day that Meaghan and I auditioned and got roles in the Vagina Monologues. Afterward we ate at Hannelore's German Restaurant, which was pretty good. It's an adorable little place on Ana Drive. We had a weird little salad, purple cabbage kraut, warm potato salad, and an amazing crusted chicken dish. Then we split homemade carmel apple pie and black forest cake. Yummo!

Jennifer had her birthday the next day, although I wasn't in the Birmingham; Mark also had a birthday on the 28th, if I'm not mistaken. Stay tuned: next month we'll play such birthday classics as Jess, Harris, Lance, Chris, and Lindsey, with guest appearances by Aaron and Tara! It's sure to be a thrilling month.

Meaghan and I have practice ever Sunday for the Monologues, and things are going well. I'm excited about the new friends I'm making. Woo! The whole cast seems fantastic. The Monday following our first practice was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. I went with Meaghan and her family (her grandma, brother Ronnie, and cousin Michelle) to Russelville for a celebration. We met at the court house, where the choir sang and some politicians and some preachers... well, they talked. That's what they do best, right? Then we had a mini-march to a local church, where we had an amazing lunch. It was a really great ceremony. It was so neat to walk arm and arm with Meaghan, one of my best friends since we were five years old. It's strange, too, to think that our parents couldn't have done so-- or rather, that they did so, facing the negative backlash, so that we could do so freely. I know sometimes it seems change is slow, but we've made some huge leaps, haven't we?

In other news... O'Brian, Meaghan, and I spent a night in South Carolina with Shareese. Yes, one night and one night only; tickets were selling like hotcakes, sorry to you fine folks at home who missed the show. Seriously, it was quite the spontaneous journey. We left at 6:30ish Friday morning, traveled 7 hours to the lovely Converse Campus, and met our tiny dancer in her dorm room. Later she went to get ready and we three ate at Panera Bread, mmm. We did a little exploring of the campus afterwards, taking silly pictures and tickling the ivories on an out-of-tune piano before attending a brief "opera talk" and finally settling in for the show.

Shareese had the lead role in "Sour Angelica," and I suppose I should tell you how beautiful and perfect she was, but that really goes without saying, doesn't it? So, at the risk of boring you with what you must know in your heart anyway, I'll tell you that Shareese had the entire audience in tears with her performance. I definitely cried; what made me cry was the sad story and the beautiful music., but what kept the eyes streaming was just thinking about how proud I am of you, Shareese.

After the depressingly haunting first opera and a short intermission, we were cheered by the light-hearted Little Red Riding Hood. The lead, a friend of Shareese's named Joseph, was as funny and talented as he was adorable. After a short cold walk back to her dorm, we readied ourselves for bed. Shareese and I had a lovely cuddle, too short lived, before O'Brian, Meaghan, and I had to wake up and head back to the Shoals (around 7, I think). That night I babysat for the Tomlinsons, which was wonderful. After the boys went to bed I watched the first half of Knocked Up, which was really funny, albeit quite vulgar. Man oh man.

Umm... at some point Jonathan and I saw/fell in love with Juno. I attended a poetry slam somewhere in there, featuring the incredible I.Q. I hung out at Meagan's apartment several times. I've been spending a lot of time in the women's center. I like all my classes. I think picked Jeff up from Cullman once or twice. Hmm.

Oh, and last night a bunch of people came here for dinner! Jeff had already left to spend a couple weeks housesitting, but shortly after I was joined by Sihiya, Christian, O'Brian, Katie, Megan, Aaron, Meaghan, and Jonathan! We feasted on stir fry and fruit juice, chocolate chip and fortune cookies, laughter and conversation. We watched the hipster olympics and chatted it up for a bit, then people began to trickle out. O'Brian and Meaghan stayed and we watched Shortbus, followed by a couple episodes of Avatar. Later I talked to Jeff for like three hours before falling asleep.

Today was a good day, despite the rain. Maybe because of it. Who knows?

Just carry yourself back to me unspoiled from across the lonesome sea...

toothpastefordinner.com

Whoah, dear Savior, gonna take my cares away...

Some reflections on today:

Meagan called this morning to tell me about Norris Ricks. He graduated with me from Deshler. I think he's the first person in our class to go. It's left me with a dull achey feeling.

The thing is, I wasn't friends with Norris, not really. I don't think I've seen him since graduation four years ago except maybe in passing at one or another basketball function. And while I grieve for his family, my day to day routine won't be changed... much. It will be altered, though. Norris was a piece of a puzzle that makes up who I am now. He was a part of my daily life for four years, and it's hard to imagine he's gone. All of you, you members of the Deshler High School Class of 2003, you are a part of something bigger; you're supposed to exist infinitely in my social sphere, even if we didn't so much as talk in high school. I'm just supposed to know you're somewhere; that maybe we'll catch up on the class gossip once in a while, hear about your marriages and children and new jobs...

Anyway, I want you all to know that I'm here, waiting on the peripheral, in case you ever need anything.

Norris, you'll probably be missed by more people than you realized.

I like football and porno and books about war.

Sometimes I'm compelled to write journal entries simply because I'm listening to a song or reading a poem or watching a video and some line just sticks out, and I think "That would make a fantastic title." And then, regardless of whether I actually have anything of value to say or not, I get on the computer and prattle on about this and that and the other, but all I'm really wondering is if anyone looked at the title and thought "what the hell?"

Incidentally, they rarely have anything to do with the actual entry; hell, the title of this blog doesn't have anything to do with the entry, which is about titles! Anyway, I don't like football.

Today was spent around the house; I'm halfway through Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs-- she has quickly wormed her way into my heart. I like everything I've read by her thusfar, and I don't see that pattern changing in the near future. The previous books in the series were Moon Called and Blood Bound about mostly werewolves and vampires (respectively), and the current title is about the fae. Of course, there are elements of everything in each book.

This afternoon Jeff and I went to the bank, Sam's, and Wal-mart before heading to my parents' house. I made a bunch of quiche, although by the time they were done I'd already eaten some of Mom's spaghetti. Mmm. In case you were wondering what kind of quiche I made (and of course you were), I'll tell you:

~ sausage, bell pepper, mushroom, and chive
~ ham and broccoli
~ asparagus and swiss
~ bacon and tomato
~ spinach and romano

If, in addition to your now sated curiousity about the varieties, you are wondering why I decided to make so many eggy concoctions, I'm afraid I don't have an answer.

Abby and Meagan and Moonie left a bit ago; they came over to watch Chasing Amy, a fabulous and funny movie. Micah introduced me to the Jason Smith movies, but I believe it was Brian who first introduced me to this particular volume. It was, of course, a hit. Yay!

Jeff and I have been following two different series, by the by. Death Note we watch with fair regularity, while Ikki Tousan (or whatever the hell it's called) we recently began watching on youtube... it's more for comic relief and it's what-the-fuck? value than any actual visual or mental stimulation, though. Death Note is pretty good, and I'm interested in finishing it soon. In other mindless entertainment news, we have yet to finish the first season of the O.C. (at Lance's behest) or the third season of Nip/Tuck. O'Brian just informed me that he has the third season of Queer as Folk, so that's on the list as well. For someone who doesn't have a telivision, I certainly seem to get my fair share of rot in, don't I?

Oh, and on while we're stumbling our way through the realm of telivision, let me say that I am very interested in getting Any Day Now. I'm not sure if it's even sold, but if and when it comes out, I would like it.

Allow me to backtrack for a moment, too, and say that last night was fantastic and fun; after spending much of the afternoon at the house just chilling, Meagan&co finally showed up, and after getting a bite to eat we (them and me, along with Mom, Dad, and Graham) played an exhilerating game of Cranium. That game is fun always, but especially with my kick-ass family. Graham also did a firework display, where we battled it out with some firecracking hopefuls below the bluff.

In a completely unrelated topic: I need to start recording these daily thoughts before midnight, because I get confused re-reading entries, thinking I've told you about one or another event when, in fact, I have not. Hmm.

For a post about nothing, I sure rambled on...

Tonight I am going to vomit under that couch.

Well, well, blog... we meet again.

Since we last conveened... let's see...

I spent a good deal of the time right after Christmas visiting my family, working, and trying to get over a cold. The 29th was my last day at Bookland; it was supposed to be in the middle of January, but alas, that was not to be. What a screwy company. Oh, well.

I spent the night of the 30th at the Camp McDowell Reunion; there are some amazing people at that place. Oh my my. It was so good to see everyone, though I certainly missed many people as well. Jeff dropped me at camp and then took my car to Birmingham; I bummed a ride with Alex in that direction, which was wonderful. Kanye West and good conversation = a great last day of the year. Jeff and Tyler picked me up and we ran a few errands, including a drive by Walgreens. Later Tyler and I went by Moonie's house to see her and Meagan and Abby before jetting over to Jennifer's apartment for some New Year's Eve festivities! Already there were Jennifer, Jennifer, Thomas, Britni, Mark, O'Brian, Shareese, Meaghan, and Lance (I think... or did you get there after us? Eh...). Is that everyone? I think so. We played half a game of Ring-of-Fire or something, then half a game of Apples to Apples (which I won, suckahs). We had a few sips of champagne as the ball dropped and later played the board game Never Have I Ever. Aside from Meaghan not feeling well the whole night, it was a really great night, and I'm glad I got to ring in the new year with such beautiful friends. I did miss Jessica a lot, as well as some of you other hoodlums that are so important to me.

In the morning I took Shareese to the train station in downtown Birmingham, where we got to deal with the asshole ticketmaster before lunching at sketchy Church's Chicken with Mr. Doesn't-Understand-Social-Cues (although I must still admit, the lunch was delicious), then racing back to make the train a scant 3 minutes before it pulled away. I miss you already, Shareese.

Later that afternoon I went out with Brittany and Jeff to the mall, then back to the apartment, then over to watch a movie with Meagan and Moonie and Abby; we spent the night there after watching Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The next day was spent lounging, watching Thank You For Smoking and half a season of America's Next Top Model on VH1. Aside from venturing out for lunch at P.F. Chang's and an exciting crow incident in the front yard after Meagan left for practice, our day was wonderfully lazy and uneventful.

That night I played Guitar Hero at Tyler's for the first time, and we watched Playing By Heart (we being Tyler, Lance, Jeff, Britni, and me... Mark had been there earlier, too, but had then left again). Amazing movie, of course. Jeff and I spent the night at Britni's house; in the morning we brought Lance Starbucks and lunched at Jason's Deli before Britni left for the Dentist and Jeff and I trotted off to Cullman, where we spent several hours visiting his exciting friend Alex and Alex's parents. They life in this incredily cluttered pellmell of a house on the lake; it's the most wonderful thing I ever did see. It's thrown together and full of beautiful knick-knacks and hidden corners and cozy spaces. It may be the first house I've ever fallen in love with. Anyway, we left there to visit with Jeff's parents before wandering homeward again.

So, that put us home on Friday, during which we paid a bill or two and that night I shot pool with my parents' and brother at DP's which was as humourous as it was fun... really fun. I needed that. Yesterday Mom and I traveled to Memphis to see Meagan's ball game, drove home half starved because there is nothing on 72, then I took a nap on the couch. Dad made gumbo which was incredibly (duh), and then Graham came over to the apartment and we (Graham, Jeff, and I) ate tacos and watched Munich. It was... violent. It was good though.

So... there you have it. A day by day account of 2008 so far. Reflections on the last year to come later... now, I want to read a book.

If you see Jesus, tell him to take the gerbil babies, they're Christians!

Well, well, cyberland, Merry Christmas to you! I hope your Christmas has been half as wonderful as mine. Things here were wonderful. It has been so nice to have all six of us in the same house. Ten years ago I wouldn't have believed that we'd get along so well. Ten years ago, we were 12, 10, 9, and 8, and a lot different than we are now. :) We exchanged family gifts Christmas Eve, then came down together the next morning. We ate dinner at my grandmother's with her and Uncle Jim and Aunt Alice and exchanged some gifts there. Today Aunt Dana and Uncle Keith arrive with the cousins, though I'll be at work. Sad day. I'm off tomorrow, though! I'll be spending the day at the lake and the night at O'Brian's. Yay!

Yesterday Bach took a nap with me, then last night he slept here, too. He and Bo have been a lot of fun. Let's see... New Year's Eve Eve will be spent at Camp McDowell, and New Year's Eve... maybe Birmingham? Maybe home? I don't know.

Anyway, I just wanted to record this as being one of my favorite Christmases. Mom, Dad, Lindsey, Graham, and Meagan are amazing. Even if we weren't related, I would want to hang out with them. Love and some verses,

All the rest are wrong-- they know nothing about us...

Today I vacuumed up a brown M&M at work, but the vacuum spit it right back out, and I briefly considered eating it.  I didn't have a hard-core point-counterpoint internal debate, but the thought did cross my mind.  I like to think of this situation, not in terms off all the negative things it may say about me, but more in terms of all the positive things it says about chocolate.

   The Special Session Christmas Party is Friday, and I've never been more ready!  I probably think that each year, but I don't think that necessarily makes it ever untrue.  Hey hey, Santa Clause, Kee Sloan, campers, friends, pizza, Christmas lights and Camp McDowell...

I've spent more time than dear old Books-a-Million would probably appreciate organizing the politics section at work.  Truth be told, I'm not aligned with the liberal agenda any more than I am with the conservative agenda sometimes, but it still brings me great pleasure to organize the books on those shelves.  Most titles are, of course, spine out, as one would usually put books on a shelf.  Some, though, are turned so that you can see the cover; usually this is done to display certain texts or just to take up space so the shelf looks packed (or for both reasons).  Anyway, amid the copies of The Mighty and the Almighty and Dead Certain, these titles stand out:
Follow the Money
A Woman in Charge (I don't even like her that much, but we have such ridiculous anti-Clinton books that I felt compelled...)
The Thumpin'
Day of Reckoning (Also not a fan of Buchanan, but I didn't have much else to choose from)
It's Getting Ugly Out There
Armed Americans (This is my ironic choice... really, it's just a huge book and hast to face this way... this is the only link I must require you to click... trust me, it's worth it.)
The Big Con
Giving
Broken Government
War on the Middle Class
From Beirut to Jerusalem
Crazies to the Left, Wimps to the Right
The Assault on Reason
god is not GOOD
Restless Virgins
Hubris
Bill of Wrongs
The Conscious of a Liberal
Cruel and Unusual
The Audacity of Hope
Dreams of My Father
The Secret History of the American Empire
Turnaround
Common Ground
The Fall of the House of Bush
State of Denial

   Umm, I'm gonna go add the rest of the links later.  For now, I am le tired.  Also, I'm linking them for your benefit, but also to look up these books... some people are quite tricky, and having had about 17 seconds a book to determine whether I wanted to pull it or not may have hindered the selection process.

I am also le recommending you all go listen to Terra Naomi.  I just fell in love with her.  Really.  Like, thirty minutes ago.  When I get off the computer, I'm going to find her house and propose to her.  You are invited to our wedding, but only if you bring a casserole of some sort.  Terra and I are big fans of pot-luck.

Let's sip champagne until we break into smiles...

I'm incredibly anxious about my exams tomorrow. I had one today, and it went okay. Not great, but okay. A lot of stuff I studied wasn't on the exam. Boo. Tomorrow I have Geography and Women's Studies, then it's over for another semester at least.

Updates... Jeff and I got our new dishwasher, but it doesn't work. Last night I went to Annette's house (one of my managers) and ate chicken and dumplings and apple pie-- it was fantastic! I love her to death. She gave me two ferns for the apartment; they are lovely! I also got a lightbulb I had ordered for one of the tall black lamps we had in our basement growing up. I was nervous that it wouldn't fit, but it did, so we can actually light the back half of our living room! Great timing, too... it came two days ago, I think, and the one little lightbulb we have blew today.

Things coming up... Thursday my Bible class is doing dinner at the Marriot, and am going to attend if at all possible. Friday after work Graham and I are headed to Camp McDowell for the Christmas party for Special Session! O'Brian and Meaghan graduate this weekend, and I couldn't be more proud! Umm... New Year's Eve Eve Reunion at McDowell on the 29th... that's it for now. Any plans anybody? Let me know A.S.A.P.

In other goings on... I met O'Brian's friend Matt the other night, and he's lovely. I hope we can hang out again soon. Also, Jonathan has been incredibly attentive and hanging out a lot in the last month or two, and it's been amazing!!! I also love love love J.T.-- a kindred spirit if there ever was one! I've seen Jessica several times recently, however briefly, and I've spent some great time with my family and cousins.

Anyway, school stress will be over tomorrow, and then I shall be free!

This is what Florence always looks like.

I'm a little nervous about what you'll say when you see me in my swimmin' trunks.

Hey hey! How's your day so far?

Today I've gone to Personality and cleaned up the kitchen a bit, but that's about it. I have a make-up test this afternoon, Geography class, and work from 4 to 9:30. We're supposed to get our new dishwasher here soon!

Yesterday was a really good day. I went to Bible, where we discussed homosexuality and the text; I found the discussion very interesting and I liked hearing what Nancy had to say. In Women's Studies, we talked about racism (we're on our chapter about what divides women in the fight for equality). I really really enjoyed our discussion, both because I felt I had something intelligent to bring to the conversation as well as because everyone in there is so open minded and interesting that we could actually discuss things without fear of offense. It was great. After that Jonathan picked me up from the apartment and we headed to the Mac store in Huntsville because he needed something for a presentation, then we drove by Phuket, but alas, they were closed. It's probably for the best because it looked expensive. We ate at the Macaroni Grill, which was fabulous, grabbed a milkshake at a local drive through, and headed home!

As soon as we pulled into the parking lot I went in to grab my keys then headed to Park Blvd., arriving seconds before my dad. We then left for Birmingham to watch my sister play basketball! She did a great job, and she got to play a lot. I guess normally she doesn't get much play time, which makes sense because she's a freshman, but they played Judson and it was a blow-out. Final score: Judson 33, BSC 100. While there Moonie came up to sit with us during half-time and then Thomas came over in the last quarter, which was super nice. He had been to see Eli Wiesel, who spoke at the school last night. Wow.

Man, I talked a lot on the drive with my dad. We had almost non-stop conversation, which was amazing. HE is amazing. He's just become such a positive person, and so accepting of people. It's incredible! We talked about school and work and family and his family and grandmomma and music. Anyway, after two hours in the car with Jonathan and four with Dad, my legs are sore from sitting and my throat is dry from chattering like an insane monkey and my brain is full and my heart is overflowing. :)

We'll be playmates and lovers...

I really like going to Wal-mart, where I spend an hour picking out the freshest organic vegetables, buy only 100% juice, get organic milk and free-range eggs, and maybe a block of extra-firm tofu, before going to through the check out and grabbing a bag a Doritos and a Dr. Pepper.

Oh, it's so amazing here...

"No matter how upside-down it all may temporarily appear, we will have no fear because we know this secret: Life is crazily in love with us—wildly and innocently in love with us. The universe always gives us exactly what we need, exactly when we need it."

Jonathan asked me the other day if I would be such a positive person if I didn't surround myself with positive things all the time; we had been reviewing some recent Notes from the Universe (introduced to me by Jess). It was a passing query, but something I've thought about a lot recently, and I suppose it's a chicken-or-the-egg sort of thing. I suppose it must have eventually started with one or the other, but now it is a process with two steps dependent on one another. Anyway, if you're reading this, I probably consider you one of those positives with which I prefer to be surrounded. So, thank you.

Could you do me a favor and re-read the quote above? Now, if you saw the italics and didn't read it the first time, this means you need to read it twice in order to re-read it as I asked. I suggest reading out-loud, but to each his or her own. I suppose you may become tired of this positive-thinking mumbo-jumbo that seems to appear periodically on this web log of mine, but I want you to know that I really believe that the whole world is conspiring to shower us with blessings. I want you to know that.

Over the summer, I lost a hundred dollars towards the middle of July, I believe it was. Lindsey and I had been packing for the staff trip to Fort Morgan, and were wildly tired and insanely ready to be away from our cabins for a bit, having just been ousted for the third time that summer. I had a hundred dollars from a check cashed weeks ago that I planned to use on the trip. Once we got in the car, though, that beautiful little bill was gone gone. It wasn't a really big deal (I mean, I know it should have been, but spilled milk and all that, right?); Graham and Lindsey pitched in to get me food and what not and I paid them back later. I even told them that the money was either going to be found by someone else who could really use the extra money right then (we were leaving our cabins to Camp Kaleidoscope) or it was going to be found by me when I really needed it.

Well, tonight, I found it. I found it in an old cardboard box that has been moved from three different places, starting at camp and ending, yesterday, in my current apartment. I've dug through this box a dozen times or more, many of them actually looking for the money because it was the most likely place for it to have landed. How I managed to miss it, I've no idea, but I'm glad I did, because right now I need it.

Little things like this seem to happen a lot, and I hope I never forget to be thankful. There have been several times where I've needed the rend money and the next day Rosario would call to ask me to work for a long weekend. Last year at a time when I really wanted/needed to go to Birmingham, I found the $25 gas coupon my parents had given me for Christmas that had been unseen for months; it was under a couch I moved looking for a dime I had dropped. As early as a couple weeks ago, Aunt Alice came to visit and offered a boost that allowed me to fill our fridge and pantry for the first time in months! (Not that I had been starving... I notice that sounds a wee bit pathetic. However, I had eating off dollar menus and Mexican carry-out and dine-in meals taken home in two doggy bags to last for 3 meals more.)

It's not always money, of course... I promise that your calls, texts, and emails are always timed perfectly. YOU are timed perfectly.

I caught a trucker out of Philly, and he told a good joke.

Oh Dr. Mario, why did I just waste three hours playing you online?

And Rob says you love, love, love, then you die...

It's been to long since I posted, yet again. One day I will look at October 2007 entries and be sad that I didn't post more. Or maybe I'll laugh at how sentimental I was at 22. We'll see.

I'm at the Tomlinson's, waking up early to take the boys to school. I had to come tonight so I could have the car; Stephen and Rosario are going out of town tomorrow morning and I have William and Harris until Sunday afternoon. Yay! I'm excited about this.

I've been at Bookland for over a week now; things are okay. I love being around the books, and I wants to read everything, jeez. It's pretty boring, though. I'd rather do almost any menial task that just stand in one place for hours. We aren't supposed to do anything but straighten where we're standing. No food, drink, gum. No music. No reading. No reading at a bookstore? Yes, folks. No reading. Which would be understandable at, say, Books-a-Million. We have next to nobody in our store, though... oh, well.

Saturday after work I partied it up at J-Rob's, wOOt! I went as a country gal and Jeff went as Euro-trash. Meaghan was a gypsy and T.J. was a knight. We caravaned from the house in Sheffield, and on the way I blew out my tire, so Teej and Jeff changed it in the parking lot of Florence High School. It set a rather poor tone for the night, as I am below broke. I'm in debted to Jeff up to my ears with all these apartment bills. Man. Anyway, we finally made it (after splitting up and just looking for the place), where we were greeted by Mario (Thomas) and the sexy vixen cop Jennifer and the lovely queen Jennifer, as well as roommate Mandy and lamo Lance and Tyler, who weren't dressed up. ;)

We had a jolly good time, drinking and playing beer pong and flip cups and whatnot, then off to bed and wake up late and then to work! I don't remember what I did Sunday night... Monday I had a test in Women's Studies which I did not do well on. I knew the stuff, but I spent way too much time on the second essay question and nowhere near enough on the third, which was worth more points. Drat.

Oh, also Monday Jeff and I were approved for a townhouse in Florence! We've been moving stuff in since then, and we're almost completely there now. I'm really excited about our new home; come visit!!!

Umm.... backtracking... Tuesday was my momma's birthday! I didn't get to see her, but we talked on the phone a couple times. Wednesday was Halloween, and work was great because we had hundreds of children come to the store because the mall does store-to-store trick-or-treating. There were so many beautiful children; it made me miss day cares a lot. I also saw Jordan, who's applying at Gamestop. That'd be funtastic. Anyway, Jeff picked me up and we went to Christian's for just a little bit; it was late and we're kinda lame so we didn't stay, but it looked like a really fun party; we also got to see Louise, which was a super-pleasant suprise!

Alrighty... I'm gonna head to bed... I have too much to say right now to continue this post. So, to go over the highlights: my friends are amazing, I have a new apartment, I love you very very very much.

We could be daytime drunks if we wanted. We'd never get anything done that way, baby. And we'd still be ruled by our dueling perspectives... and I'm not my perpective... or the lies I'll tell you... everytime...

One must have chaos within oneself if one is to be a dancing star...

I got glasses again (finally).

I just got a job at Bookland (I start on the 22nd).

I'm going to Birmingham this afternoon (with Jeff).

I may be working Saturday (but I may be working Sunday instead).

I'm broke, but I'm happy.

I'm poor, but I'm kind.

Hipster Olympics!!!