Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays everyone! It's time for my annual "here's how Christmas went" blog followed by the random "I'm lonely but I'll laugh about it with a fun TV scene" monologue. This year was awesome! First off, I had a really good time with my family. We had some yummy meals, and surprisingly, I actually pulled off making a huge Christmas dinner. (Mom helped some.) We had turkey, made from scratch mashed potatoes, corn bread, carrots, giblet gravy, and squash casserole. So good! Katelyn was so sweet, she randomly comes up to me and gives me hugs and says, "Merry Christmas Aunt Joanna" over and over. Last night she said "Aunt Joann-ie", and I said, "JoannA"...she looked at me and laughed and said "Joann-ie." Little Bear has a sense of humor. :-) Here's a picture of her and I.

Isn't she sweet?? Oh yeah, and presents: I got some cool stuff for everyone this year, but the piece de resistance was Katelyn's dress up set. I painted an old hardback suitcase and bought all the clothing in random places, and I even got some fabric for Mom to make her a cape (pink, shiny, made for the princess that she is) AND I got some of LaRae and I's old dress up clothing to add to the pile as well. Here's a couple of pics of the dress up case:

Cool huh? :-) Mom and Dad super surprised me this year. My Super Nintendo (from Christmas my 4th grade year) broke this year, and they got me a Nintendo 64 for Christmas this year. Oh yeah, still lovin' the Old School, but it's awesome! I got a lot of games (no literally they were a LOT from ebay, so I have some randomly weird games), and two controllers. So great! I got the Scene It! Friends edition, a hot chocolate electric pot, a pitcher to match my china, a Tinkerbell shirt, and other cool stuff. So great this year! I was truly surprised. Mainly I told them all year that I wanted money for my ski trip. When that fell through, I didn't have any ideas ready to tell them, so they thought outside the box this time. w00t! :-)

This morning we all got up and went after Christmas shopping. I had some "Nana money" left and decided to update my wardrobe. I ended up with 8 new shirts (6 of which are appropriate for work). OK the two "inappropriate" shirts are a neat Christmas shirt for next year (which doesn't look scary holiday sweater Christmas-y) and a shirt from the Disney store that says, "I Love Jack" (think hard on who that is....there ya go). I also got 3 new pairs of jeans (much less low rise...much more flattering) and a new leather coat. That's right no more white trash 2 sizes too big black plaid coat! I know it sounds like I got a lot this year, and I did, but I'm so thankful. I got great deals this year to have nice clothing through the rest of the cool weather. :-)

What else is going on? Not much really. I was thinking this morning about not having a significant other to share Christmas with and how c of c singles.com is doing nothing for me, and I thought about an email of encouragement I sent to someone a while ago about the reality of possibly never marrying, and I thought "that's crap...I'm full of crap...I'm alone and really sad about it." But then I started thinking about my old prospects of who I could be with, and I'm ok with not ending up with them, so to Travis, Sean, Justin, Aaron, and some I won't mention: I hope you are having a great holiday season with the ones you love. Better them than me...tee hee. :-) There are some days I am so ok with being a strong, independent woman...wait did I really just say that? I mean I am ok with being alone...some days. Other days, it's really really hard. That's no secret. But I have no prospects right now, and I need to accept that. Seriously Randy told me that I should go up and talk to this one guy, and I said, "are you insane? Don't you know that when I get around beautiful people all I can say is, 'humina humina...?!'" Lol. No really, I clam up. I need a friend like Will in Will & Grace. I saw this scene the other day, and it's how I feel a lot, and I need that friend...here read this scene:

WILL ENTERS THE BACK ROOM. GRACE IS ALONE, IN ALISON'S WEDDING DRESS, LOOKING IN THE MIRROR.]
GRACE: Hi. What do you think?
WILL: You look beautiful.
GRACE: Really? I think it needs to be taken in.
WILL: Yeah. Honey, I think maybe you need to be taken in. Sweetie, look-- Look at me. You're not getting married.
GRACE: I know. I'm never gonna wear one of these things, am I?
WILL: Sweetie. You're a beautiful, intelligent woman, and somewhere out--
GRACE: Don't give me the stock, best friend response. Be honest. This may never happen for me.
WILL: You know what? It--It may not.
GRACE: Thank you for telling me the truth.
WILL: You're welcome.
GRACE: Damn, that was harsh. [GRACE SMACKS WILL'S CHEST.] What were you thinking?
WILL: What? But-- You just ask me to--
GRACE: I don't care. You know me better than that. The next time I ask you to tell me the truth, you give me the stock best friend response.
WILL: Ok. You're beautiful, you're gonna meet a doctor tomorrow, and you'll be married by the weekend.
GRACE: Thank you.

So any takers on the best guy friend? Now really to apply for this job you must be HOT, so sweet, funny, we can leave the gay thing out, and you can just end up with me instead, eh? ;-)

Love to all of my friends who read this. :-) Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and will have a happy new year! I'll be alone for New Years, watching Friends (I've made it to the middle of season 3!), and playing with my dog. Anyone want to join me? We can play Scene it. :-)

Edit 12/27/06: I just noticed my counter as opposed to Wade and Kelly's counters. I have had my counter up half as long as them, but they each have thousands of hits. This tells me I need to get the word about my blog out better. OR I need to be less dull. OR I need to have more friends. OR I need to try to get people to actually link to my site. OR Basically I have very little friends who are interested at all in keeping up with me. Depressing...

Well Alright Then...

So I guess that description was me? I think it was, and while I could have looked at a lot of it as negative, I mainly saw positive traits from that color thing.

Well finals are now in full swing. I can't believe one full semester is already almost over! Last year I was in such a different state of mind than I am now. Last year I was still in panic mode trying to get everything done and make sure my kids passed. It's amazing how much of a difference one year can make in time management skills and in one's outlook on what she can handle. It's a better place to be.

OK, today's payday, and I have an odd confession to make. I LOVE paydays! No, not because I get more money to spend or anything -- because I GET to pay bills. I love paying my bills! I like to watch the balances go back to zero, or in my credit card's case, I like to watch the balances decrease. It's just a fun little numbers game to me. I get this nice feeling that I've really accomplished something big when I pay my bills. I think part of it is that the closer I get to paying off my credit card (um, yeah my Salad Master stuff is still on there...) the closer I get to saving more money each month for a new car and for a new sofa. I have money goals for the next couple of years. (Money goals being places I want to spend money once I save enough.) I want a new couch by next Christmas. I want to buy a new car this summer or next summer. I need my car to last a bit longer really... If I could get a new car this summer life would be grand...we'll see. OK, enough boring money stuff bc now I'm just thinking out loud. I'm just weird -- I like paying bills!

Mom and Dad came in last night. Their plane was delayed an hour, so I had to go get them around 10:30. Go figure it was rainy and dark, so here's what happened with that. First mistake: I brought the dog with me. Mind you, he was fastened in his car seat. Second mistake: I can't see well at night when the roads are wet. Bigger fish to fry from the mistake pond: I lost my mind when I was looking for the turn off for Terminal E. Somehow I got confused and missed turning. Then I called Randy to ask what to do bc I was heading for the South Exit, and I saw a sign for a U Turn back to the Terminals. Then the dog decided to bark non stop (I think in reaction to feeling my irritation at my stupidity. So I hang up with Randy and look for the turn off for the U Turn -- and oh yes, you guessed it, I missed the U Turn! So my phone starts ringing and it's LaRae...who just hears me saying some things I really shouldn't have said when I'm picking up the phone, and she tells me to go through the gate at the South exit and ask the guy what to do. (Oh yeah, all I had was a roll of nickels to pay the toll!) Much to everyone's surprise I think, I didn't cry at all. Turns out there was a U Turn after the exit, so I was able to go back in and find Mom and Dad. Whew. Yeah.

I've proved I can take care of myself a lot lately too:
1. I fixed my sink and garbage disposal on my own. OK I called Andrew to ask a question, but I did all the plunging and fixing. Nevermind that the reason it was messed up was because I clogged it with flour. Oh yes, you read that right, I put flour in the sink and ended up making dough.
2. I made it to the airport and back alone and in one piece. OK again a slight disaster, but I made it!
3. I fixed an issue with my apartment in one day's time to make it more comfortable for my family.
OK there's not much in all of that, but can I just say fixing my sink felt rather empowering?!

I've not really been up to much else lately. I've gotten to call and catch up with some friends, and I've gotten to take some time to relax at home. I've made it through 7 of the 40 Friends DVDs so far. I've watched each special feature as I've come to it. Turns out these DVDs have some extra scenes on them that were not shown on TV. SO FUNNY! I think the dog might go crazy if he hears "I'll be there for you" one more time. Dad is so funny with Sprinkles too. He was really playing with him last night. It just cracks me up how much he likes the dog. Mom enjoys him too, but I think she likes to watch him rather than use the hands on approach. It still amazes me that Sprinkles can come get one of their shoes or slippers and they just laugh about it. He really is their grand-dog. :-)

I better go. I've got bills to pay. ;-)

Is this me?

I did a thing where you pick colors in order of their appeal to you, and it came out saying this is me...is this me?

"You are longing for some love and affection at this time - not that you have been deprived of tender loving care - but there are times when everyone needs to try something new or to go 'somewhere' else to perhaps experience that little extra 'understanding'.

"You are a leader in every sense of the word. You know where you are going and you know what you need to do in order to get there. You exercise an inherent initiative in overcoming obstacles and difficulties. You either hold, or wish to achieve, a position of authority by means of which full control can be exerted over events.

"You are a perfectionist in everything that you put your hand to. You are demanding and very exacting in the standards you apply to your choice of colleagues and friends -perhaps you demand too much from people. That perfection you seek in a particular person is illusive - perhaps it does not even exist.

"You are being unduly influenced by the situation that is all around you. You do not like the feeling of loneliness and whatever it is that seems to separate you from others. You know that life can be wonderful and you are anxious to experience life in all its aspects, to live it to the full. You therefore resent any restriction or limitations that are being imposed on you and you insist on going it alone.

"You don't like conflict and you endeavour to avoid criticism. You want to do your own thing and to be able to decide what is right for you. You have considerable personable charm - and this is used with considerable effect on those that keep your company. "

Do your own here.

Bummed

I'm having a sort of bummed out couple of days here. I'm not like deeply depressed, but I am too busy. I feel like I haven't really been home and been able to relax all week, and this weekend is looking like more of the same. I need time to just sit, and yet I need to be on the run constantly right now. I just want to sleep. This makes me want to not do the Christmas party or church bc that feels like the only things I can cut, but I can't cut those things! Argh. Sorry I've been a bit down on myself trying this c of c singles.com thing is actually kind of a blow to the ego when you don't get emailed or even emailed back (and yes, I've stepped out of my comfort zone and actually emailed people). I just feel a bit off where I need some good sleep and good relaxing reading time. I also want to be able to go out in public without makeup and without being concerned about my looks, but lately I've felt pressured to try to look the best I can. I JUST WANT A DAY AT HOME! Sorry. Me ranting...

What a Day

Today's been one of those days...you know one of those days where I feel like I've entered the Twilight Zone. I won't go into it on here, but it was a weird day. On top of it, no time for comics today...sad sad sad. Yep, one of those days. My laptop is starting to die. There's talk of replacing the hard drive which wipes out all I can't manage to back up and makes me start over on loading a ton of different items I need for school. My monitor on my desktop just died a bit ago. There's bad karma in my classroom for computers. Beware! All I want to do is go home and sleep until I HAVE to get up tomorrow.

Jennifer and Paul and I made something cool for our Christmas party table. How's that for another vague statement on my blog today? It's neat. Our table's going to be fun. I can't wait to see how people react (if we can fully pull it off that is).

I've made some realizations about certain people lately. Part of those realizations are that that's how that person is, and I should stop trying. Seriously I had this person really built up in my mind, and they're just not all that. Attitude is nothing new and nothing good. Also I've figured out that some people will never be happy just being a part of a good team, and they always need recognition. That made me just see how I don't want to be like that too. Anyways, yeah this post is vague. Sorry, it's gonna stay that way. This is just me getting my thoughts out today.

I also got off my rear this weekend at the urging of my sister, and I joined churchofchristsingles.com. Please don't laugh. I'm everydaymathchick on there as well. You can find me without joining, so look me up and laugh at my picture and profile. I haven't gotten any emails through it, but I'm praying about it. Honestly I've seen some profiles and pictures of Texas guys I would like to talk with, but I have no idea what to say in an email to them. We'll see how this goes. At least I have a picture posted that I feel I look mildly pretty in.

I'm posting a picture on here today of me and Sprinkles that Mom took while they visited. It's one of the only pictures I have of me and him because I'm usually taking the pictures. Also have you ever tried to hold a wiggling puppy up by your face and hold the camera far enough away to take a self portrait? Doesn't work at all... You tend to end up with bite marks on your face (because he's still teething), the camera in the water bowl, and scratch across your arm... (ok a little exaggerated...I'm really just guessing what would happen bc I haven't been brave enough to even try that yet!)

OK, so life at home is good. I'm really enjoying hanging out with LaRae and Randy lately. It's been calm, and for some weird reason, LaRae's really funny when she's pregnant. I mean she's like constantly throwing something witty out there. I watched Heroes with them on Monday (thank goodness I was not alone). Turns out that I called it that Sylar would figure out how the room worked and get out, and I was literally sitting on LaRae and was huddled under a blanket when the girl went in to talk to him. Also from where did Peter Petrelli absorb the ability to see the future? Issac can only paint the future -- it's new to him when he sees it after it's done. I think Peter was sick bc he absorbed too many odd abilities from Sylar when they came in contact. I really like that show, but Sylar really freaks me out. I know that, as Randy put it, I read how many XMen comics a week...and I'm scared of a show about mutants?! lol. Yes, I see the irony.

Anyways, I better go. I need to pack up and head home in a bit. Hope you all are having a good holiday season.

I'm Alive

I'm still alive...just thought ya'll should know. I'm becoming one of THOSE pet parents: me and a few girls from school are going to take our dogs to the mall in a week to get pictures with Santa. Not us with Santa -- the dogs with Santa. Off to watch Heroes now. Just wanted to say I'm alive and happy. Oh yeah, and I joined churchofchristsingles.com as a last ditch effort to find love. I need to post a picture there though...

Back from Georgia

"Home" was actually really nice. Sprinkles had a good time having 3 people to play with him all day, and he slept really well (which meant I slept GREAT). We got to go see the Titanic Exhibit while I was there. Since I was completely obsessed with Titanic when I was in middle school/high school, it was really interesting to get to see some of the real artifacts up close. (Yeah, I was prone to obsession even back then...) Anyways, not too many facts or points I hadn't learned previously, but I still found it quite fascinating. Mom and Dad really seemed to enjoy it as well.

The flight there and back was good. Well rephrase, the way back was wonderful and restful, the way there I broke down into tears bc the dog barked so much and people were so rude, and honestly he's a dog with his own mind...how can I force him to shut up when they make him stay under the seat? He was scared and I ended up being allowed to put him in his bag in my lap with my hand in the carrier for the rest of the two hour plane ride, but about 30 minutes of it was constant barking. Sigh. I knew it was coming...I just didn't expect it to be so hard. I totally sympathize with parents of screaming kids now.

I'm about to head home to decorate my Christmas tree. It's green glittery tinsel...and as Randy puts it, "not a surprise to anyone." I'm thinking about trying to do a table for the church Christmas party. I have one really pretty idea and one really funny one, but I'd have to have people at the table with a good sense of humor who would think they were at the sucky table. Hmmmm.... Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving and were blessed this year with a peaceful holiday like me. Love you all.

Over committed?!

I've been called over-committed to my dog. I must admit, I love him to death, and he's the center of my world right now, but that will calm down as he gets older. He's really been sick lately which makes him feel more and more mind consuming. I feel like I have someone to depend on me, be there when I get home, and give me more of a purpose. Be happy for me please. I know it's a joke, but you all have husbands, wives, and kids. I have a dog. At least I'm not moping around and feeling sorry for my single self anymore.

On that note, I fly to GA tomorrow. I'm excited and anxious. I'm petrified the dog will bark the whole flight. I was honestly looking forward to the break from him and potty breaks and accidents and play biting and ... he's really sweet, but sometimes I wish I had someone else around just to play with him. Anyways -- GA! It's really nice to be off from school. It's also nice to know pretty soon another big break is coming, and I'll get to be home that whole time. I love being home and having nothing to do. I can't wait for next summer!

Last night Elf was on, so I turned it on both TV sets, so I could watch pretty much wherever I was and started baking cookies for the potluck today. Turns out that much Christmas in one movie combined with my recently bought Christmas tree was too much to withstand (oh yeah the blaring Christmas music in all the stores yesterday added to this breakdown), and so I decorated the apartment for Christmas last night! Yep, that's right...BEFORE Thanksgiving. Here's my logic though:
1. I didn't trim the tree, I just set it up, so I'm not done...
2. Now when I get home from GA (after Thanksgiving), my home will be all Christmas cozy ready for me!
3. I have really cute stuff for Christmas that I want to enjoy longer.
4. Now instead of decorating next weekend, I can do laundry and relax! :-) whoo hoo!

I better go. I need to see if any of my bills are posted online yet, and I need to go start packing...I guess. Love you all! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Oh yeah, I've decided to post a random picture everytime I post from my laptop. I'm going to start with cakes. This is the first wedding cake I did. Fondant is bumpy, but it tasted good! (No, I didn't make the flowers...they're real.

Sprinkles

Finally I'm on my laptop and able to get to blogspot, so I can post pictures of my baby! Here's Sprinkles! Here he is about to pounce on a tennis ball. Yeah, he usually thinks he's a cat... Of course, I'm going to let him get in full coat this winter, so he'll sort of look like a cat too.



Here he is in his favorite t-shirt. It says "Hello My name is ADORABLE!" Isn't he???


He's a bit over 7 pounds right now. He's also a little furball who's full of energy! Here's a picture of him as a 2-3 pound puppy. I can't believe how tiny he was! Oh yeah, yes, that's my tiny hand holding him up if that gives you something to compare his size to. Also, the light brown under his chin is his coloring, not him being dirty! I tried to wash it off during his first bath....doesn't wash off. Usually you can't really see his eyes bc of the mask of black covering them.


Right now I'm having a bit of a scare bc he has Giardia, an intestinal parasite from stagnant water or using the grass where other dogs have gone. Anyways, I didn't find that out until I was done with 2 hours at the vet Friday evening... They put fliuds under the surface of his skin/fur on Friday and put him on two meds and a bland diet, but our outside time is still not looking correct. I was told to drop him off tomorrow if things don't look right, so looks like he'll be at the vet tomorrow. I'm super worried about this, and I really just want him to get better. He's still eating, drinking, and playing normal, so I know he's not about to drop dead, but he's in danger of dehydration. Pray for us. He's not going to be able to get his last boosters on time to go to the petshotel over Thanksgiving since he's been sick, so Mom and Dad offered to let him come on the flight with me, so we'll be going to GA together. Should be interesting...

WHY?!?!!?!

Why do I even read my college friends' blogs? It only makes me miss them enough that I wish I had the nerve to pick up the phone and call them or type an email....but then I just think, "They haven't called, and they've moved on from our friendship and get along without missing me, so I guess I should to..." But I miss them. I miss the fun we had in college, and I hate that I'm so freakin' reclusive that I don't do something about it.

I hate that arguements with some of them made us fall away before we even left college. I hate that it was so bad that I couldn't suck it up and talk to you instead of trying to avoid being around you at all costs. To those of you who we ended or friendships early...I'm sorry. You picked me up from the airport only to find me asleep on a bench, and still let me ride in your car when I was vomiting. And YOU, You were my roommate when I went through my grandfather's death and let me cry on you so many times. I hate that I remember why we fought bc I'm cursed with a freakishly good memory, and I hate that I can't tell them that I'm over it. If any of ya'll read this: congrats on your victories and good news. I miss you. I'm sorry I'm such a chicken. I always thought I was a better friend than this.

Longer new blog below.

The Art of Blogging

Over a month between blogs. That’s definitely new for me! Funny thing is I’ve been writing blogs in my head for a while now on what I’d put up once I got to a computer where I could post. In fact I’m writing this in Word, so I can email it to myself and post it really quick this afternoon on my way home.

I’ve been reading other people’s blogs a lot lately. While I’ve been reading, I few things about blogging have really stuck out to me. The main thing is the type of blogger some people are versus the type of blogger I am, so I’ve been thinking of a list. I am not the type of blogger…
…who can type about one random event that may or may not even give you insight into me and my life. When I write, I tell you what’s going on with me. My blog is about me and what’s around me. A lot happens.
…who can make everyday occurrences funny. I just write about what’s going on. If it strikes you as funny, good. Often my life is boring, so my blog is boring!
…who can be mysterious and elusive, so that my readers have no idea what I’m talking about. I have a lot of friends who blog like that. They have an issue and they dance around it and don’t put it out there. I can’t do that. I did in college, and that type of blogging can get one in trouble.
…who can write something worthwhile enough to elicit lots of comments or people discussing my blog in real life. I’m just not that interesting nor do I write mind blowing commentary.

I’m just someone who writes about me, and I don’t do it because I’m so self-centered. I do it, so people I’ve gone to college with can catch up on me without picking up the phone and so I can get my thoughts out. When I go home, I have no one to share my day with, and I’m not one of those people who can just tell it all to the dog. I’m not dumb. He doesn’t have a clue what I’m talking about! In fact, all he really cares about is if I play with him! I need to know there’s a chance that someone will hear me. In college and sometimes here, there were whole weekends where I would have no interaction with humans (well at least not ones that I could have discussions with). I would not talk except to myself (mildly…ya know like when you are looking for something and say, now where is that?) or thank the person in the drive thru. The weeks after those weekends I would drive my friends and family crazy because I would finally get to use my voice and would just overflow with discussion. Yeah, that’s how this blog entry is going to be. I haven’t “talked” in so long, and I have so much to tell my audience…. And when I say “audience” I know most of you don’t read my blog; you just come here to get the links to everyone else’s blog. It’s ok. Happy to help.

I’ve decided to do a topical update on my life, so you can scroll to the area that interests you and skip the stuff you don’t care about. Wouldn’t it be easier if I’d do this when you talk to me in person? Then my rambling wouldn’t be so bad.

Sprinkles:
I love my puppy! I dropped him off to get fixed today…well he wasn’t broken, but you know. He is so great to come home to, and having him at home has made me work more reasonable hours. Now I come it at 7am and stay until 4:15pm (except the two days I stay until 5pm). Good hours for me. I’m also not taking as much home. I think that’s an accomplishment. Anyways – this is the dog section! I didn’t realize how attached he was to me until Mom and Dad came, and he hated it when I left him outside with Dad to run into the apartment to get something. I didn’t think I’d have such a bond with him so fast. He’s just so special and such fun to have. I don’t feel so lonely anymore. I don’t fall into despair about being alone so much. OK, he is a bit high maintenance though…I’ve already have to take him to the Pet ER and another time to have vomiting induced. I’m told he’s being a normal, curious puppy… (update after I wrote this: he slept on me all Friday afternoon/night. What a change! He's up to his normal hyper hijinx now though, so I'm having to try to stop him from jumping off of furniture and such. Something tells me he'd be mad if his stitches got ripped...)

Singleness:
Yeah, still single and still looking, but I’m looking more skeptically now. I try to see myself through the eyes of the guys I’m checking out, and all I do is realize I’m not getting checked out, nor is what they are seeing all that great. The one possible “crush” for lack of a better word elicited this line from a friend, “so nipple ring isn’t a deal breaker, how’s ‘3-year-old daughter’ for ya?” Yeah, that would be the deal breaker. No real prospects though. People I’d like to be prospects? Always. Sometimes I think for me to be loved, I have to actually love myself. Other times I feel like for God to bless me with someone significant in my life, I have to fully be “right” with Him first. If not, I don’t deserve something that good to happen. Sometimes I just sit down and think it has nothing to do with me loving me or me being right with God and everything to do with my appearance and annoying habits I have and me being an annoying person in general. I talk to much. I don’t always dress great or wear makeup. I most certainly don’t always say the most socially acceptable things. I am always looking for approval. I used to be told I was so mature for my age. Maybe I’ve “matured out” and now I’m acting my age… I hate acting my age. I always want to seem older than I am because I don’t want people to think I can’t be something or do something because of how old I am. Oops, I’m not staying true to my topic. I moved on to “me bashing” which I didn’t intend to be a topic.

Family:
Parents were in town recently. Apparently I got super stressed because I broke out in hives. Ouch. It was good to see them though. Katelyn continues to be so loving and so sweet. If I can’t have a kid (other than a puppy), she’s a pretty great little substitute. I’m eager to get to be there to do fun stuff with her, so she doesn’t feel forgotten when the new baby comes. Although I can’t wait for my new niece or nephew! Maybe with this one I won’t gag when they sit up… Yeah right! I’m going to GA for Thanksgiving, and my baby will be at the Petshotel. Hope that goes well. LaRae and I’s bow stuff is going pretty well. The last show was great, so I’m hoping that’s a good sign.

Church:
I think I’ll put this as the final topic in my forever long post. Church is good. Nursery volunteers have come through, and I’ve been able to make the schedule work out. The ski trip got cancelled. Yes, I cried. I don’t have a family to go on vacation with me, so that was my chance to get away and go somewhere other than “home” to GA. It was a huge disappointment. I’m just hoping we’ll go again soon. I LOVE to ski. I’m not that great, but there’s something about it that’s so amazing! I actually asked around about a church with a good singles’ group and talked to someone from Lewisville C of C. I might go there on Sunday or Wednesday nights. It feels like such a betrayal to go somewhere else and split my loyalty to VRCC. VRCC has become a family to me, but it’s not totally meeting my spiritual needs. I think having people in the faith that are single and going through the same things I am going through, so that we can fellowship together is a spiritual issue. I know we don’t have the singles’ for a group at VRCC, but I also need a place to go that realizes that (please don’t hate me for saying this) college students and single, young professionals are NOT the same group! Once you graduate from college, there’s a big change that happens. I need people who worry about paying the rent and work issues and such, not people who worry about their next club social or intramural sports! I know I’m over characterizing the two groups, but please think about the difference between you when you left college and started your first job and a college freshman or sophomore. Admit it…there’s a big difference. Trying to force these two groups together and calling it a singles’ group isn’t going to work. Sorry. Oh yeah, I’ll set off my soap box now. Church is good.

Life is good right now. Are there little hitches and things that aren’t so great, well yeah. Do I always get over it? Yes. I better run. If you made it this far…awesome! Sorry this wasn’t funny or really insightful. When I can finally afford internet at home, and I can post more regular, maybe I can become one of the bloggers listed above. Until then…be prepared to be bored some more.

Super Fast!

Quick Update:
I've bought a child...well a dog really. His name is Sprinkles, and right now he's a hyper active purebred Shih-Tzu. He's really sweet and great company. Last night was our first puppy class, and I think it's going to really help with training him. At least it was fun...

Katelyn is doing good and is sweet as anything. She is currently mastering saying "Joanna" and seems to think my name is a fun word. :-)

More later. Sorry this is short and not really meaningful, but I've gotta run. Love ya'll!

PS--I'm so much happier now that I have my puppy. :-)

Bummed

I don't know if it's the move (one week from today), the impending start of school, or just be being a loser, but I've been really bummed for the last week or so. It's on and off, but last night it just hit me really hard. I think it's mostly that I'm super lonely and at the ripe age of 23 feel like I'm never going to find love. I know I'm still young, but I need a date. Some little glimmer of hope that I could eventually be loved. I know I've got friends who are awesome, but I'm to the point lately that I really need something else. I'm sick of being independent and strong...I want someone to share my life with. Of course this all depends on me not clamming up and being uber-shy whenever anyone who is eligible comes around. I always end up feeling like Ginny around Harry in the first few HP books. I'm just at a loss right now.

PROCRASTINATION

Um yeah, I'm procrastinating big time! I dedicated today to packing up part of my apartment (I even know which exact parts...), and yet here I sit in the White House at 4:12pm, and I haven't packed a thing. Let me give some excuses:
1. I've been with LaRae and Katelyn so much in the days before this, and I've been getting up super early to go with LaRae to work out at 9am, and then I've been going to bed late, so this morning I actually slept in until noon, so I got a late start.
2. I went to drop off LaRae and Randy's van at their house after I woke up, and that took a small chunk out of my day.
3. I decided while I was out to go to the other end of Lewisville and pick up my laptop from the school, and I got stuck there for over an hour talking to my department head about some staff development stuff as well as the TI software she put on my computer.
4. Finally, I had my laptop in my car and couldn't pass up the free wireless at the White House, so I stopped here to put off packing...
Really I'm about to go back and pack books and decorations and take down everything on my walls. I learned in college that once you take the stuff off the walls, the place feels less homey and makes it easier to be motivated to pack. My dining room is about to be home base to all that is ready to go out the door.

Yesterday I did actually pack up a huge load of junk to take to CCA. Go figure the stuff I couldn't bear to get rid of a year ago is "junk" now. PS - I've got a microwave, barely used, with glass spinning thing inside, in like mint condition, I'm trying to get rid off...it takes up storage space. I'd sell it for $25. (or $30 if you feel generous!)

On the plus side of life, the payraise they were going to to give us is now larger, so I'll be getting a car (midsize SUV really) next summer. Yea! for that. After driving LaRae's van, I feel like I'm sitting on the road to drive my car.

Last night I got to go to the comic book store with Paul. Fun stuff. I told him after we left, "I put on lipstick for this, and all I got was married men and super nerds!" Yeah...I'm a dork. We also had a really good class last night at church that made me think more about what I believe. Sometimes I feel that in my search for what I believe, I have ended with no clue as to what I believe at all! Does that make sense? I'm at this place of unrest where I'm trying to figure out what I believe based on what's in the Bible and weed out what I believe because I was raised in a Conservative Chruch of Christ...not that their teachings were bad, but I feel quite a bit that I thought was a "salvation issue" when I was being raised isn't actually one at all. Part of me is trying to really open my eyes to the truth while another part just wants to withdraw into the safety of my parents' faith and beliefs. Sigh.

I better go pack now. I have nothing of real value to say on here. Hope ya'll are staying cool.

Ten Minutes

No, silly, that's not how long it will take you to read this post! I'm boiling eggs to go in LaRae and I's tuna salad (for the museum tomorrow), and they'll be done in 10 minutes, hence that's how long I have to write a fabulously boring blog update.

So I've been back in town like 2 full days, and I'm sitting here trying to figure out where the time has gone. You see as the first day of staff development approaches, I need to be able to account for each precious second that I have left in my summer of freedom!

Yesterday I got up early and ran a couple of errands (one happened to be a small classroom necessities shopping spree at Staples), and then I headed to work for a few hours at the school. We're making a notebook of our curriculum for all the math teachers since we don't use a book. Because I'm super organized and have all the material we used this year (with keys for all of it) in notebooks (for Algebra I and Algebra AB), we had my notebooks copied by an office aide, and then yesterday I worked to combine all of the material. I had separate notebooks for the separate classes but all organized by unit, but we wanted all of the materials by unit to take out the repeat sheets (not as many repeats as I thought there would be though). I ran a bit more of a shopping spree after work, and then I enjoyed an afternoon of play with Katelyn, and I went downtown with LaRae to buy Ringling Bros circus tickets at the AA Center. Katelyn got a free ticket for "reading" 5 books, and I, being the insane(ly fun) aunt that I am, decided an aunt trip to the circus that truly lives up to it's motto of being the "happiest place on earth" would be the best idea in the world! Really I think it's going to be a lot of fun. We're going on July 29th for the 11:30 am show. Thankfully LaRae and Randy are driving us because we all know that if I drove you may never see Katelyn and I again. Anyways, I loved getting to go to church and catch up with my friends (all of whom I missed a ton!), and I was more than happy to have someone to make a comic book store run with. (Thanks Paul and Jennifer!) I just wish I had had more comic books to buy!

Today I got to spend the day with Katelyn, LaRae, and K's little friend, Charlotte. Such sweet little girls! We had a blast, and after dinner, LaRae and I got pedi's. I needed the time to relax and literally put up my feet. I'm about to go home to a bubble bath and a good book: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (for the second time this summer...I missed a lot!)

Tomorrow I'm going to the science museum in Fort Worth with LaRae and Katelyn's play group. That should be fun. Tomorrow night I really want to start packing some. I need to get a few boxes done, but the more I've thought about it, I've realized I'm going to be really bored during the days that LaRae and family are out of town after Wednesday, so I'll have plenty of time to pack then. Besides I need to enjoy the little bit of summer I have left with them. I now know where the Lewisville Public Library is, so I'm going to get a library card next week and start using it. I can't wait! I don't know what's taken me so long...Perhaps the crazy 10-12 hour days I put in at the school last fall or the lack of time I had in the spring to do anything but plan the Math TAKS class or maybe it was the multitude of books I had available to borrow from the Library of LaRae. Hmmmm.... :-)

I better go. We just sent Randy to the store for tuna, carrot chips, and creamy Italian dressing and then I ran out to stop him to ask him to get chocolate teddy grahams as well. He laughed and asked if I was sure one of us wasn't pregnant bc that was a very random list of stuff. LOL. Yeah...pretty sure there. If only it was possible for me to be pregnant. Sigh. God has given me a great job and a great life here in Dallas with a loving family (church and by blood) and the sweetest niece an aunt could want. He's given me a nice home and some good, loyal friends. I just hope that He will soon give me someone to share all of this with...

Good night!

Packed!

I finished packing just now. Whew! What a job! Mom and Dad had a suitcase of LaRae and Randy's here that I was able to pack full. It apparently is a case that gets sent back and forth with things like our junk from here and Christmas presents. Good thing to have. I got a TON of books in that suitcase. It weighed 56 lbs when we first weighed it, but we got it down to 48, so counting on some difference in the scales, I'm hoping it will work. If not I've got a set of books I can take out real quick and tuck under my arm that will bring down the weight. The other suitcase (the small one I came with) is around 40 lbs. I got two high school yearbooks in it. I wanted my freshman yearbook for my classroom since I teach freshmen, and then my next fave was my Senior year, so I got it in. They weight a lot, so I'll bring a few each time maybe. I never did get my Junior and Senior yearbooks in college...didn't even get my picture taken! Oh well. I've got yearbooks back to 3rd grade!

Tomorrow morning I'm getting up and putting my +/- 90 lbs of luggage in the car and going to work with Mom until we have to leave for the airport. I'm telling you, if I was on this season of Real World/Road Rules Challenge, I'd be in exile, and I'd be screwed! Too much luggage! Anyways, my bookcases in my new apartment will be much more full of books, and they will now include more classics. I'm thinking on putting my books in my bedroom this time though. Maybe one bookcase can go in the living room, but I don't have one that matches my furniture, so that may have to wait until I can afford one. At least once I move I'll be able to carry things like bookcases in myself! Yea! Can't wait!

I've got a long day tomorrow of traveling and such. Work and church on Wednesday, and I really want to pack a box or two as well. Thursday I've got to take care of setting up a walk through and painting in my new apartment, and I also want to pack more then. By the end of this week I want to go to the pool at least twice too!

Summer is ending, but I'm finally looking forward to going back to work. I get a charge about the idea of setting up my classroom for another year and getting my procedures and discipline methods better this time! I'm so glad I decided to stay at ----- another year, so I can settle in more and not be the newbie. There's something nice about going back to a job you really finally know.

LaRae and I have been watching Treasure Hunters for an internet survey company, and I've grown to really like it. Anyone else watch it? I'm ready for the Fogal's and their whiney daughter to go, but I must admit, the self-proclaimed "Geniuses" team is annoying to me too. Thank goodness the Wild Hanlons are gone though. They were painful to watch. Hell's Kitchen has been a fave of mine since it started last season. Food and drama! Fun! I haven't seen it tonight, but Sara and her backstabbing make me want to scream. Has anyone seen the previews for NBC's Heroes? I think I'm going to start watching that. It looks odd enough to be given a chance. Besides, Commander in Chief was cancelled (SOOOO SAD about that...seriously), so I need something to take it's spot. :-) There's my TV synopsis...not much really. What are ya'll watching to pass the summer slump in shows? I mean really, isn't TV broken up into Lost showing new episodes and then all the times in between?

Stone Mountain

Does anyone else find that name sort of redundant or rather "duh-like"?

We just got back from Stone Mountain, and as always the laser show was bigger and better than even. I loved the feeling of Southern Pride that I felt coursing though my veins as I watched the end of the show. Sigh. Anyways, good times. I feel like I've been thouroughly indulged this trip with places to go and places to eat. Rather "wined and dined."

Tomorrow I'm going to try to pack as many books as the luggage weight limit will allow, and I'm going to relax during my last full day here. Now that I'm thinking about a possible 100 pounds of luggage, I'm thinking maybe I should leave those books in my car. Of course that means once I get home, I'll have to separate the books and clothing into separate suitcases again to bring the clothing upstairs, but why carry such a load if I'll just have to bring it back down again so soon?! (By the way, I'm hoping I can pack more books by filling in with clothing in 2 suitcases.) Thankfully most of my books are paperbacks. I just never really thought it out when I was moving to TX. I didn't realize how hard it would be to get my junk from GA to TX once I left it behind. Oh well...slow and steady, eh?

Well I'm about to head to bed. I couldn't hardly sleep last night, so I took a long nap this afternoon thus restarting what I like to call "Joanna's nasty little habit of totally ruining her sleep cycle until she dies." Yeah. Maybe I'll play Slingo for a while...it's only midnight!

Be back Tuesday! Yea! ... to pack ... and work ... can my summer last a bit longer than August please? Perhaps we could start back after Thanksgiving instead?

Busy Day

I'm ready to come back to Texas. Mostly.

I got to see Kat today. That was really nice. She's 7 weeks pregnant. Yea for her! :-) I helped her decorate the church for her mom's surprise party and then went the the party. Her mom was surprised, and it was a fun little soiree. They catered with this really great BBQ place, and I got to enjoy GA pork BBQ instead of the usual TX Beef BBQ. Yum!

This evening I went to WalMart to get some pics printed off of Mom's camera card, and I ended up ticking people off. Honestly when I walked up both machines were free. Within minutes of starting, the other machine was in use and a line was formed! I had to edit a lot of the pictures (zoom in and brighten them), so it took me a while. Apparently people don't think anyone should get to use the machine longer than a second except them! Oh well. I ignored them, stood my ground, and finished my editing.

I'm off to play online with LaRae. Maybe I'll win for once...

Swimmin' with the Fishes

Oi! I'm so full right now! We just got back from dinner at my favorite restaurant in town: Rossa's. I love their house linguini...so yummy! Anyways, of course I ate too much, and now I'm sitting her miserable wishing I had stopped midway.

Mom, Pam, and I went to the aquarium today. It's nice to be friends with Pam even though she's Mom's best friend. We've always had a special relationship. The aquarium was neat. It was really crowded which was annoying and slightly nerve wracking, but it was still nice. Honestly the place I could have stayed all day was watching the sea otters and the sea lions. One sea otter was swimming on her back the whole time and sucking on her paw. The lady there who was doing a commentary on the sea otters over the loud speaker said that while the sea otter liked to keep her paw in her mouth, that was not normal behavior for a sea otter. It was just sort of funny! Two of the sea lions were playing up a storm in the water and kept pressing each other up against the glass and churning up the water. They were just really cute.

We saw the 4D movie thing there as well. It sprayed water on us, had bubbles blown over us, and we even felt like the jelly fish tentacles touched us as they were on the screen. 4D is a really fun experience...if you ever get the chance to go, do it. :-) The "tentacles" (aka strings passing over us) stopped at the end of the row, where Pam was sitting by me. She somehow got slightly tangled in them...by the time it was all over, we were laughing so hard we were crying. So fun...

We've got guests (Sue and Darrell: a couple that used to go to Woodstock but moved to Florida) tonight, so I better go. We saw them at the farm, but they came for a visit on their way to Williamsburg, Virginia. Tomorrow I'm helping Kit Kat decorate for her mom's party. It's going to be really nice to see her.

I get back on Tuesday afternoon/evening. I can't wait to see you all at church on Wednesday. :-) I miss "home." I have had a lot of fun here, but I'm ready to start packing and preparing for my move. The time right before a move makes me so anxious. I'll really be better when I can pack up most of my stuff and have it waiting to leave. Wednesday I have to work at the school for a bit on a master notebook for the math department, but Thursday I hope to clear off my shelves in my living room. Wish me luck. :-) Love you all!

Today

Quick bullet points on my day in Georgia:

• I went to help at the church and ended up playing pirate's bounty on the computer with LaRae after I helped with a bit of stuff.
• I ended up getting sick while at the building, and as Mom and I were leaving, I bumped into the wall (I'm a klutz!), and it hit my cell that was clipped on my pocket and knocked half the jewels off. The only thing to do was take the last of them off, so now my phone looks naked!
• I took a 2 hour nap on the couch when we got home after helping Mom clean for some guests we'll have over the weekend.
• I played more Slingo/Pirate's with LaRae and chatted with her. She was awfully witty tonight...
• Now I'm feeling mostly better, but my tummy keeps making odd noises, and I'm about to read and head to bed.

Eventful day, eh? :-) Tomorrow's the aquarium, and I think Sunday we're going to go to Stone Mountain for the laser show. The nice thing about visiting tourist spots that you've gone to year after year is that there's no real temptation for a souvenir! I might get kiddy lou a shirt though. Have a good weekend!

PS- Lo and Behold! I just got a call from Mambo, one of my best friends from college. It was really fun to catch up with her. She was surprised I answered. She is one of those friends who knows and accepts that I have to be in the right mood to talk on the phone sometimes. :-) Ha ha ha! She always leaves messages like. "hey hobbit girl! I know you're just sitting there staring at your phone and not answering, and you'll get this message right after I leave it, so get off your rear and out of your mood and call me back!" Ha! Good friendships surpass all missed chances seeing each other and all great distances between catch up phone calls.

Still Here

Upon 2 recommendations to hear David's sermon from Sunday, I am going to download it tomorrow and listen to it. I want to hear what all the fuss is about!

Pam has agreed to go with Mom and I to the aquarium on Firday. They were already mostly sold out, but we were able to get a time slot of 4pm. They allow people into the doors of the aquarium in groups based on ticket admit time to keep down over crowding. We'll have about 3 hours to look over the aquarium and see the 4D theatre. I've been wanting to go to a 4D theatre, and this one is supossed to be really good, so we're going to check it out. We'll see. :-)

It was nice to get to see people at church tonight. Not too much excitement, and some people acted like it wasn't a big deal for me to be there, but I got plenty of hugs and hellos from those I do really care about. There's something nice about going back to the church where you grew up (if you have that luxury).

Today I slept in and finished the 5th Harry Potter book. I played Slingo online with LaRae for about an hour and a half while we talked on the phone. Living near each other has spoiled us! I made dinner for Mom and I (5 layer dip and chips...but more of a meal than just a dip), and after church I made my tasty potatoe soup for lunches for the rest of the week. I admit that Mom and I ate a bowl of it after it was finished!

Tomorrow I might go out to the church building to help with some stuff. Ellen (a woman a little older than LaRae) and her daughter might come get me around 10 to go there. If not I'll stay here and read. I'm reading the 6th Harry Potter book. (Not surprised, eh?) When I get back I need to find the Lewisville Library, so I can keep reading more than what LaRae's Lending Library has. I want to start reading the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters. I am bringing a bunch of my old books back home with me. I found Backstairs at the Whitehouse tonight. I LOVE that book! Paul, if you haven't read it, you've got to borrow it! (I'll make a trade: I'll really read Booster Gold if you'll read this book!) My 8th grade Georgia History teacher mentioned the book in class one time. He said it was his favorite and was a first hand account of life in the White House during the years of numerous presidents. It's nonfiction and told by a maid at the White House. Anyways, a year of so later, Dad brought home a box of books that his secretary was getting rid of, and lo and behold! There was that book! Mom thought I was insane for picking it out, but I've read it a couple of times and love it!

Well I'm off to bed to read a bit more. Being free in Texas and free in Georgia are about the same: both allow for plenty of sleep and reading. :-) PS-Paul, I've read all of those comic books I borrowed! They were all good! Thanks.

I was a good writer!

That was what I exclaimed after about 2 hours of cleaning up "junk" today. Mom got me up to clean out closets, and we came across all the folders of schoolwork that she kept for me. My job was to sit on the bed and weed it all out. (We're talking Preschool through Senior year all having huge overflowing folders each!) I ended up keeping report cards, awards, and a few work samples from each year. A few things stood out to me, and while some will be bragging, they lifted me up after the brutal memories of getting some C's in some college math classes :

• I never noticed while I was in elementary school that I got so many awards for things from academics to musical achievements. Mom said she always felt bad on LaRae and I's awards days because we went to the stage for award after award while some kids never got up.
• I finally realized why my teachers liked me so much. I really was the model student and made all A's.
• I liked math when I was younger; I hated it when I was a little older; I loved it when I got the right teacher again; I always excelled in it!
• I took the SATs in 7th grade and was mad that I didn't break 1000. I got 930. Ha! I was a punk.
• Dang, I could write! Seriously, I read some stuff I wrote in 6th grade that surprised the heck out of me that I wrote it, and I'm not talking "for that age" I'm talking EVER! I used to love to write and was good at it, and now all I write is this blog!
• I was busy in high school....like to the point of insanity.
• Despite bad friends, I have no regrets in my school work.
• Looking back at what I was doing as a freshman, kids today (don't I sound old saying that?) aren't being held to a high enough standard.

OK, that's just some. It was a fun jog down memory lane today. This afternoon I took Mom to see The Devil Wears Prada. I'm a literary purist, and while most of it followed the book, the ending veered off sharply. All in all it was still really good though. A warning to those going to see it: in our theatre they showed a preview for a movie about 9/11. It was tough to see just the preview. I'm not ashamed to tell you that I cried through it. I don't think I'll be able to see that movie. The fear and the sadness from that day and the following months are still too vivid in my mind. Will those of us who are old enough to have truly experienced that day ever heal completely from the deep wounds of the towers falling? Can you really say you are fully healed? Just curious. We also went to the library (for me to get the last two HP books for me to read here...have you ever tried to pack one? They're too heavy!) We made shrimp for dinner and just royally enjoyed our time together today.

Tomorrow Mom and Dad and I are going to see the parade in Woodstock, and we'll go to the fireworks in town tomorrow night. Dad wants to take me to Stone Mountain. He wants to do this mainly because when we were driving home from Aunt Gerry's last night I saw the mountain and said, "oh Stone Mountain..." in a longing voice. I love that place! I linked to the site for the mountain and a picture of the carving above. It's so rich in Southern Pride! I'm glad we lost the Civil War, but I love the South! Mom and I are going to try to get Pam to go the Georgia Aquarium on Friday afternoon. I miss Georgia a lot sometimes. I don't know what else we'll end up doing.

I talked to LaRae today on the phone and miss her a ton! Pretty soon after I get back they'll be headed to Georgia, so that will stink for me. I'll have to enjoy the window of time when we're both in Texas between Georgia trips. Maybe I'll take in some dollar movies between packing boxes while they're gone! I better go. I want to read before I head to bed, and we're getting up early tomorrow.

Just An Old Sweet Song

Here I sit...in my old bedroom (that was LaRae and I's through so many switched rooms I can't count them all!), with some of my old junk around, where my old bedspread is even still on the bed. It's weird to be back home, but I like it this time. Yeah, "this time" as in "much more than I typically do."

We just got back from Florida. I am a bad traveler. I just don't like to ride. I got to the airport in good ole' ATL, and from there we drove the 5 hours to the farm. Along the way Dad stopped for me to get some fireworks to set off for Nana. Of course he knew good and well that I would maybe set off one, run away ducking, and be too afraid to light anymore, so he would be the one to set them all off, but he stopped anyways. I think he secretly likes to set them off. :-) Time at the farm was nice, but I was beginning to hit major withdrawl from the lack of internet. Thankfully I'm back now where my parents have DSL.

Not much else is going on. I enjoyed time with Nana, and I got to see some of my cousins and my Aunt Gerry. We've got some big plans for while I'm here. I'm going to a surprise bday for a friend's mom and the new Atlanta aquarium. There are a couple of restaurants special to here that we'll visit, but I'm looking forward to more real home cooking. Mom has tomorrow and Tuesday off, and we may go see a movie and clean the closets. (Yuck on the latter!) Tuesday afternoon I'm going to go rent some movies for while she's at work the rest of the week.

I'll keep ya'll posted. Let me know if I missed anything at church. I really missed worshiping with ya'll today.

Post Secret

My newest (and longest ever!) blog is below this one (READ IT!), but I put a new link to the right, and I wanted to send out a warning as well as an explanation before you click on it! Post Secret was started by a man named Frank Warren. He started it by leaving postcards in library books and around public places inviting strangers who found them to send him an artistic postcard with a secret on it. Some are funny, and some are serious as if the writer just needs to tell someone to get the secret off their chest. He has compiled a book of some of the best post cards he has received in to a book, and each Sunday, he posts some of the post cards he still gets. I read an article about him and his art, and I checked it out. I want that book! :-) Anyways, while the post cards are neat, they are people's secrets, so some are about sex and subjects like rape, so please don't be upset if you click on the link and read something mildly shocking. None of the items he posts appear to be pornagraphic in nature, so no worries there. :-)

You too can write a secret by reading further down on his blog for the address and specifications. What a fun little idea! :-)

Old Post but Finally Finished

I had started this post and saved it as a draft about a month or so ago. I decided I had time to finish it today, so here I am typing away. I'm leaving tomorrow for a week and a half in Georgia. Actually as soon as my flight touches down tomorrow I'll be driving with my parents to my grandmother's farm in Florida for the weekend. I haven't been there for about a year, and I really am looking forward to the visit. There's nothing like time on the farm! Granted it has changed a lot since my DaddyRay passed away, but life must move on, eh? Anyways, that's where I'll be for the next week and a half, so don't think I'm playing hookie from church or dead in a ditch. :-)

Tonight is the last night of VBS. I've loved working on it and being there each session, but I'm ready for it to be over. Next year I really want to just go ahead an do only decorations and let some other person with a servant's heart head up crafts. It really was too much to take on and stay totally sane. The past few nights I've been wired and didn't get to sleep until the wee hours of the morning bc VBS was so crazy. I would really like to get back on a regular sleep schedule!

This summer I haven't really been motivated to do much. I've cleaned and polished all of my silver jewelry (which is all I wear, so it was a lot!); I've reorganized my cabinets; I've restarted work on my afghan; I've read like none other! Want to hear my summer reading list? Here's what I've read in about a month:
Grace in Thine Eyes by Liz Curtis Higgs
The Devil Wears Prada (for the 4th time--love that book!) by Lauren Weisberger
The Da Vinci Code (had to see what the hype was about) by Dan Brown
Harry Potter and the Sorcer's Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (finishing it now)
all by JK Rowling, and being read for about the 10th time each--no seriously it could be more. These books are my escape. I would love to live in Rowling's made up world! (interesting tidbit: "JK" stands for "Joanne Kathleen"...my first and middle names are "Joanna Kathleen")
There are more I want to read, and I'm going to finish the HP series, but there's something nice about having time to read again! I love SUMMER!

This brings me to the part of the blog I had been working on before. I'll finish it now I guess. (Since I'm already writing a book for this post!)I spent the last half hour or so reading up on people from college. Lately LaRae and I have been talking about our past relationships with friends. In high school I had a lot of (for lack of a better word) bitches to deal with. Numerous friends were backstabbing, manipulative, self serving, liars. I couldn't trust them, and soon I became much like them. I haven't really kept up with people from high school, and I wouldn't know how to get in touch with them even if I wanted to do so.

Already I've lost touch with many from college. I found a lot of friends in college who were the same as my high school crowd. I had a chance to get in a really good group of people with my freshman year roomie, Em, but I went another path. Granted I met some really great people on my path, and though I haven't kept in touch, I miss them.

Junior year in college was where my life really took a turn. I honestly had at least 3 personalities I showed to certain groups of people: 1. The sweet Christian girl I showed my family 2. The nice GATA girl I showed my club and most friends 3. The girl who was up for anything and could have been called a lot of not so nice words whom I showed to my friends I could cuss and drink around Did I like any of those people I pretended to be? Not really.
Was I truly any of those 3 people? I've decided not. I think I was totally and completely lost in all senses of the word at that moment in my life. How sad is that? Looking back, I'm so grateful that I didn't die because I surely would have been in hell. Junior year was the year of my life that I was furthest from God. Go figure this was also the year I got my Christian fish tattoo with the word "faith" in it! In fact it was the spring before that I got another hole in each of my ears bringing my piercings up to 6. Pausing for a moment now, I never thought I would be one to have a tattoo and 6 piercings! I do want another tattoo once I lose some weight, and I'd like one more piercing in my cartiledge, but which ear is it that says your gay and which one is it that straight people have? I definitely do not want to mess that up! OK, I digress.

If you haven't heard my complete story of how I became who I am today, I can give you the gory details in a heart to heart one day, but it turned out I left school the spring of my Junior year. It wasn't totally my plan to do so either... I ended up at home in Georgia, working in a tax office, hating myself, and unable to forgive myself. How could I have gotten so far off track from my goals for my life and my faith? My parents knew the truth about how horrible I'd been, and we weren't telling the rest of the family (except LaRae and Randy) that I was home to get my life together (I was "just taking a break to work!") or anyone at church the truth. I starting thinking they were ashamed of me and wouldn't forgive me for having to leave school to get back on track. It wasn't until the week or so before I was about to move back to HU to go to summer school that I talked to my mentor from church and told her how off track I had gotten at school that she helped me to see I was forgiven by everyone but me! Isn't it odd how we can forgive others so easily (usually), but we have the hardest time forgiving ourselves? Thankfully I still finished college in 4 years, and I was able to live off campus the last year and just focus on school and my future and not the bad stuff I'd been in before.

I guess all of this remembering came on from me reading old blogs, thinking about my past friends and relationships, and from remembering my last trip back to HU when I got to see only one old friend. It was sort of bittersweet for me. I realized how I'd lost touch with people and had detached myself that last year there. I don't know why I tell you, my readers, all about this except as a means of purging myself, and to say I'm not perfect (not that you thought I was!). Sometimes I really feel lost at VRCC because people don't know my past or where I came from, and they only see who I want to show them. This year I felt like I was splitting myself again, but this time I was "work-Jo" and "church-Joanna." I don't ever want there to be a difference again in who I am with certain people as opposed to others. I want ya'll to always see me, and for there not to be anything or anyone else that I am. Granted I want my secrets, but I miss having friends who know the whole me and know about my past and my present.

To my good friends who are here (in TEXAS) though, I am eternally grateful for you:
LaRae - She's more than a sister; she truly is my best friend (and business partner)! I'm so glad we grew out of trying to kill each other, and can now fight and get over it and still spend so much time together!
Randy - I finally have a brother! Who would have thought he could be so patient with me as I asked unending basketball questions during the NBA finals?
Paul and Jennifer - I once said to them over dinner that I was so glad they "took me in" when I moved here. They were mildly offended I think, and said that didn't sound like friendship! Despite the age difference Paul sometimes re-realizes and exclaims about, they are awesome friends! There's something to be said for people who you know you can always call and who are always up for a trip to the comic book store!
Beri and Andrew - They were really my sister's friends first, but they've always been there to give me some logic, advice, and humor when I needed it. :-) Really where would I be without my sister's friends who accepted me when I came here without any friends to speak of?
Julie - Ever since she told me the secret to CAMT (a week long math conference): "Find any session that sounds humorous or slightly entertaining and go to it above all others!", we've been fast friends. I couldn't have made it through my first year at North without her.
Melissa Gay- We bonded at Bunco over talk of being the youngest sibling, and I thought, cool, a mom away from my own! Turns out (despite her sometimes realizing and exclaiming about me being just a year older than her oldest daughter!) that I found a good friend in her! I think LaRae once said, "My old friends are my best friends," and I can see why! :-) And yes, I've told Melissa that before, and yes, we laugh about it!
Katelyn - Last but not least, I love this kiddo! Since I don't have any kids of my own, she definitely receives a ton more attention and love from me than most nieces must usually receive! There's something to be said for a person who is always (almost always) excited to see me and give me a hug! I can't wait til she's old enough to take shopping and to glitterize her! ;-)

I rarely do shout outs, but there are special people here in my life, and I do appreciate ya'll and wanted to end with an upbeat note! I know I didn't by any means list everyone, but I listed those I was thinking of right now. I feel so loved with my church family and my friends I have gained through it! :-) Hope you're having a great summer! See you when I get back from Georgia!

Movin' On Up

I've decided to move! :-) I'm changing to a different apartment within my complex. This one is on the first floor, so I don't have to dread normal tasks like taking out the trash and coming back from the grocery store. (Finally I can buy sodas and laundry detergent on the same day!!!) It's bigger by about 100 square feet. It's set up better for my stuff. My halltree will now have a spot other than in the way. The kitchen is larger, and the pantry is actually IN the kitchen, not around the corner. So much more good stuff. Anyways, I am working on finding movers for the heavy stuff -- furniture and a box of books and another of pots and pans. If any of you know of any good yet cheapish movers, let me know.

My move date is August 3rd. It's a Thursday. If any of you could come help me with the little stuff...clothing, dishes, TV, decorative stuff...I'd really appreciate it. If not, I'll still love you. :-) I'll buy you lunch or dinner, and help any time during that day would be great. GOOD NEWS is that it's DOWN two flights of stairs and then no carrying things up stairs. :-) This later move date is due to when the apartment is finally open. I'd rather move mid-July, but this is good too. As soon as I get back from GA mid July I'll start packing, so on move day it will literally be move the junk and then I'll clean under it all. If I'm careful and take a shower the night before, I could have the bathroom clean already and most likely the kitchen.

I'm really pumped about the new apartment. I'm not excited at all about the moving part of it. LaRae has helped me doubt I'll be able to get all of the move done in one day, but I'm sort of locked into that one day to move time frame, so if any of you have stories or words of encouragement, I'd appreciate them. I've basically got from crack of dawn until midnight or so...I think it can be done even with water breaks and such. Sigh. We'll see. :-) Pray for me.

Update Real Quick

Let me start with a few comments on ...well...comments. I appreciate your comments, and I read them all. Part of the fun of blogging is to have friends leave comments. Given that, I will be deleting all "anonymous" comments from my site. I have gotten some very odd comments lately that add nothing to the site. Also in the past, I have found anonymous comments make people feel free to leave rude statements they normally would not make to my face. If you are going to make a statement/opinion, be bold...let me know who you are. Stand by what you say. Finally, if you're reading my site, you're probably a friend or acquaintance of mine, and when among friends, we tend to id ourselves, so you should go ahead and do so. (A codename "we" get is fine, but leave a name please.) Word verification is now on by the way.

Looked at my "dream" apartment today. Turns out it's not my dream apartment. Huge disappointment!!! I was able to get it to a lower price than expected, and everything was set to move this weekend...until I walked into the place. There are quite a few things about it that won't work, and I won't name them all here, but I'll name a few:
-Living room is toooo narrow.
-Washer/dryer area isn't configured for people to truly use it.
-Stairs to the bedroom are so steep my hobbit feet won't fit on them!
-Wasted space...
-Other junk I'll bore you with in person if you ask.
For some reason I decided not to give up there. I think I'm getting frustrated at my lack of space (and the stairs I'm paying to cool!), and I was encouraged by the ease at which I could get the prices of apartments down. So Friday LaRae is going with me to look at one apartment, and then there's another I might look at around the end of next week. Both are first floor, larger, a good price, and give me what I'm looking for (MORE SPACE!). Anyways, pray this works out. If not, the pigeons may have a halltree on my balcony to build a nest in! Oh wait, they already nested outside my bedroom window. Turns out they are birds that like to talk. They squawk at a freakishly even interval...about once every second. If I bang on the window real hard they go away long enough for me to get back to sleep; of course they come back...

Warming Up

In hindsight, I'm actually warming up on the Xmen movie. If you separate it from the comic books, it's a good movie. So, do I totally take back all I said? No. I still don't believe some of the actions were true to the characters. I do think I'll see it again to give it a better assessment.

My summer of not teaching, working, or doing anything that seems like effort is going well! So far I've actually accomplished quite a bit...I've re-alphabitized my CD collection, cleaned the bathroom sink, polished all of my silver jewelry, and I've planned my finances for the next 2 years. I think I'm going to really work on saving money and not move to a larger apartment yet. I really want to move, but I want to have back up money for when things go wrong like my alternator going out. Gotta go make bows. More later.

Have you read the comic book?!

*HUGE SPOILERS HERE! Don't read until after you've seen the new Xmen movie!*
Yes, I'm going to use this whole post to whine about the new Xmen movie. I have read basically every Xmen comic for 4 years now, and I have read back issues as well as the books put out about Xmen and the history of Xmen. Yes, non comic book nerds, there are encyclopedias about different branches of superheros, and I have read the giant one about Xmen. When I get into something, I fully get into it. If you see my mom, ask her about my eary teen obsession with the Titanic. It didn't stop with beautiful Leonardo and the movie...I researched (hardcore researched) and read all I could about it. I constantly had new horridly depressing facts to share with Mom. She hated it...but at least I was learning what interested me. I digress. Rarely do I write a post about comic books, TV shows, or other things of the sort, but after watching Xmen: The Last Stand I was left with the question asked above, so I must get it all out here. Here it all is in categories, but it's not in any particular order.

Director
First it was obvious the film lost a lot by losing its director, Bryan Singer. Yes, he went to work on another super hero film. Yes, it's about Superman, and surely he must be making awesome work out of it all. I do believe there's merit to finishing what one started and not leaving it to someone else. No one can share your exact vision, and in my mind Singer left his vision in the wrong hands with someone who was half blind. I kept asking myself, "Did this man read the comic books? Did he do the research needed to make a movie with as complex a back story as X-men or any superheros for that matter??"

Storyline in GeneralDid anyone else feel there was too much story and too little time to smush it all in? Paul made a smart observation that the story of Jean/Dark Pheonix and the Cure could have been separate movies to give them the attention needed. I agree. It was too much. We needed more time to process each part.

Beast
I could have used a flashback to him kicking tail with the Xmen when he was first introduced. Since I know who he is, I was happy to see him, but people who don't read the comics could have been sitting there thinking, "ok so his mutation is that he's blue? Big whoop!" Explanation perhaps when Wolverine asked, "who's the furball?" would have been a good time for this. When we finally got to see him kick butt in the end, it was a great moment. Who knew Kelsey Grammer could pull off a mutant? Did he do his stunts? Anyone know? Because if so I've got a lot more respect for him as an actor.

Rogue/Bobby (Iceman)/Kitty/Colossus
In the comic books Kitty and Colossus are together (except during the whole Colossus is gay storyline which I choose to pretend isn't happening and/or never happened). There is no tension between Kitty and Bobby. Granted, Rogue is typically with Gambit (wish we'd seen him), but still I would have rather that sexual tension had been out, and the relationship between Kitty and Colossus would have been shown.

AgesThe ages of the characters are off. I won't go in depth, as the ages have been off for all of the movies, and that hasn't bothered me, but now I'm just annoyed, so I wanted to state it.

The CureFor starters, I don't think Rogue would have taken it. Actually I know she wouldn't have. Would she have considered it? Heck yeah! Afterall, she always struggles with the need to touch others. However, she's always been a hardcore Xman. She fights for the greater good, and she would eventually come to the conclusion that despite the romantic downfalls of her mutation, she'd want to stay a mutant.

In the comics it's Beast who considers the cure. He's the one who wants to not be a mutant, and we did get a glimpse of this when he told Storm, "you don't shed on the furniture."

Finally would they have really used it on Magneto? I'm like Beri, I don't think if they're truly the good guys that they would have. It's a real ethical question. I think it was a low blow, and there should have been other ways.

Oh yeah, and what the heck, they cured Mystique??? No freakin way!

Jean
That's not how the Pheonix, Dark or otherwise, came to be. It was a possession, not the professor. She has died (twice or more?) and come back.

I don't think even as Dark Pheonix she would have killed Scott or the professor. Also the whole veins in her face things was just weird...not how I pictured it, but I'll leave that to creative liscence (no, I don't leave much to that!).

Yes, in the comics Wolverine does take her out, and yes it breaks his heart. Thank you for sticking to that.

ActorsPaul also said it seemed some actors just didn't have the time to be in this movie. Rebecca Romijn and James Marsden definately. If you sign up for something that involves more than one movie, make time to finish your character enough to do him/her justice. Don't make the fans miss out because you're overbooked.

The Missing
X2 brought one of my favorite characters into view. I LOVE Nightcrawler. Aside from Gambit, he's my favorite Xman, and we saw a ton of him in X2. We get to the last movie, and where is he? He helped round out the last movie, and he's gone now? Also where'd Toad and Sabertooth go? At least Sabertooth...if you're making a movie centered on Wolverine (because face it, that's who the movie starred), why not have his archenemy in it?

Why put in random, made up mutants when they could have put in some obscure or newer ones that the die hard fans would have recognized? The boy flying the paper airplanes with his hand/mind is a good example of when it would have been nice to see Hellion run by or see Golden Boy Josh pass with Laurie. At least they gave us Leech, but give us diehards something more to see in passing and figure out from our knowledge of the comics!

Sum Up
I just felt let down at the end of this movie. The characters didn't follow their true nature. Xmen have been around for decades, and their characters have built up over countless comic books, and then this movie is made that throws a lot of who these characters are away.

I know that there is such a thing as creative liscense, and with Harry Potter movies I'm more forgiving, but I think it's because the directors there stay true to the core of the characters. Should this have followed a specific comic book or strain of the comics? No. Should it have stayed true to how each character would have acted? Yes.

Redemption
The humor was good. I appreciated some of the places where I was actually able to really laugh hard. I loved the first interaction with Beast and Wolverine. The Juggernaut and Kitty at the end was fun as well. The moving of the bridge was great, and some of the new mutants they pulled in were really fun. I loved Quill's to cool for school vibe. Wolverine was, as usual, so HOT and perfectly sarcastic with his devil may care attitude. Storm finally got a good haircut that didn't look like a bad wig. Beast looked awesome. The camera shot at the end when the Xmen took their stand gave me chills. Angel's flight looked realistic instead of like a bad stunt. In fact all the stunt work was good.

Will I buy it on DVD? Yes. I want them to continue to make superhero movies, so I will support them to encourage it. Will I watch it again? Yes, because I want to search it for more redemption. Do I regret seeing it? No. When it comes down to it I love Xmen. I don't really regularly read any other comics, so anything with then is golden in my book. I blame this on the director change and the lack of research done.

Apologies
To anyone who knows more Xmen facts than I do, and notices I got stuff wrong in my superlong whine...sorry. Deal, love is pure, but sometimes memory is not. For those of you who could care less about this movie and it's inacurracies, sorry, deal with it. It's my blog. To those of you who read this whole thing, sorry you're so bored, but thanks for paying attention!

Heavy Stuff

Paul has already written on the VRCC and CCC possible merger. Everyone has commented on his site about it, but I want to say some stuff about it too. My first response on Sunday was to cry, so I didn't fight it and simply cried about it. Part of that is a comment Paul made to me as I was crying that "change is scary." Yeah, it is. Part of it is that I feel like I just found my place at VRCC and if we merge I'll have to find a whole new group of people to find my place with. It's scary to be single and make a place for yourself. I'm not identified with anyone else (well except for someone's sister and another's aunt). Other issues have been raised by Kent and Randy that I hadn't thought of, and those issues scare me even more. I'm going to the ice cream social, and I'm going to see what there is to learn about this option, but all in all, my initial thought right now at this very moment is that I'm apprehensive and not sure this truly is the answer to our situation.

Not much else is going on. There's a new Lost tonight, and I've got lots of junk to do until the end of the school year. WHOO HOO only about 3 more weeks until summer! I've never looked forward to the end of the school year as much as I do right now! It's a whole new world and a whole new outlook being a teacher. One last thing and then I will sign off:

I told LaRae last night that I'm really wanting to go back to being called by my full name: Joanna. Granted, I can't really do that at school (one because I introduced myself as Jo and put it on my paperwork, and two because there's another JoAnna, and that's confusing!), but I can do it at church. There is a complication with Katelyn bc she knows me as Jo. OF course we are adding Aunt to that later, so it won't be hard to elongate to Joanna I don't think. Now, finishing on the discourse about my name -- I would love for my friends to start calling me Joanna again, but I want to bring two things to your attention (which are part of the reason I liked going by Jo anyways):
1. It's spelled Joanna. The first "a" is lower case; it is one word; there are no spaces.
2. My name is pronounced (pardon my really bad phonics) Joe-anne-ah. There is an a at the end of it for a reason, and it is to be pronounced.
Yes, my name carries some pet peeves, but I believe that knowing how to say and spell a friend's name is important. It shows you care about them enough to know their moniker, and it shows you pay attention. I love you all, and I would love for you to go back to calling me Joanna, but if Joanna is too hard, feel free to stick with Jo.

There's my heavy thoughts as of late...go figure that they're really not that heavy...

A to Z Me

I saw this on another site and liked it, so I'm tapping back into my juvenile roots and doing it. :-)

Accent: Southern (more so when I talk to people from back home)
Booze: If it doesn't taste good, why waste the calories? Daquaris are good, virgin tastes fine.
Chore I Hate: Mopping, vacuuming, sweeping, bathrooms....should I go on?
Dog or Cat: LOVE cats, but due to sisterly alleries, I'm going to get a purse dog in the next year
Essential Electronics: TI 84 Plus Silver Edition, laptop, TV, KitchenAid...um, all electronics :-
Favorite Cologne(s): Lots of scents...I love Eternity and Obsession
Gold or Silver: Silver
Hometown: Woodstock, GA
Insomnia: Yes and always at the worst possible times
Job Title: High school Algebra teacher
Kids: None of my own, but I love my niece as if she were my own
Living arrangements: Alone in an aweseome apartment
Most admirable trait: Can organize like mad crazy
Number of sexual partners: ZERO
Overnight hospital stays: none that I recall
Phobias: All things creepy crawly; pitch black dark when my imagination is quite active; scary movies
Quote: I have lots, and I can't think of one now
Religion: Christian; Church of Christ
Siblings: one sister
Time I wake up: when I have to...school days between 6 and 7:30am; weekends who knows!
Unusual talent or skill: Unusual? I can shake and feel a wrapped box and tell you what's in it (99% accuracy!)
Vegetable I refuse to eat: SOOOO many -- Brussel Sprouts are one
Worst habit: so many, so little time...
X-rays: I've had them.
Yummy foods I make: Potato Soup, Spinach Lasagna, Cakes, etc
Zodiac sign: Pices (the fish, like how I swim like a fish!)

The Ants Go Marching Two by Two

Ants invaded overnight! Sadly they appear to have come in from the cold into the base of my stairs in my apartment. Even sadder, I didn't notice the worst of it until I got to school: they invaded my purse bc I had a box of MilkDuds in it! Darn it. Since this is my favorite purse so far, I fought the urge to toss it all, and I dumped it and cleaned out all the ants...I hope I got all of them. Major downside is now my skin is crawling! Yuck.

Last night was really great. I had planned on going over to LaRae's to get some hairbows to show someone at work today and then heading home to go read on my balcony until the bugs got me. Instead, Randy was working late, so LaRae and I went to Costco to look for a chair for my balcony. Then, he was still not coming home, so we went to the mall for dinner at Rollerz (SOOOO GOOD!) and to let Katelyn look at the fish and play in the playplace. It was just really nice and relaxing to have fun with LaRae and not worry about the bows. Lately all I've been doing is going to her house and working on bows. It's nice to have a break...we've finally got our inventory built up and stuff ready for sales. Next sale in 2 or 3 weeks!

Tonight is secret sister revealing. My secret sister was Beri, and she gave me a ton of great stuff! She had to reveal early bc she won't be there tonight. Anyways, final gift was a really cute apron for when I'm cake decorating. Her gifts were really thoughtful and generous. I can't wait to reveal to mine. While I had a hard time shopping for her, I think I've gotten her some cute stuff. We'll see how she liked it all!

Let's see, what else has been going on? LaRae and I had our first bow sale on Saturday. It went ok. If you want the whole story ask us, but in short: Texas gale force winds and burning hot sun is not a fun combination! We got a lot of positive feedback on our bows though. Let's just hope that feedback turns into profit soon!

I better go now. Love to you all!

PS- Paul, to make a link, type the word you want to create the link on, highlight it, click the button at the top of your compose box that looks like a chain on a world, and type the web address of the link. :-) Hope that helps!