So it seems more things have come and gone since last time I blogged. I am moving from my apartment and moving in with Daria. It will be nice to have a roommate again, plus my rent will be quite a bit less and I am tutoring also on the side. Jae Hyun, the eighth grade boy that I will be tutoring, is so cute and so is Yunni. Her daughter Jane is the cutest. We were having a shift meeting the other day and most of us agreed we just wanted to take her home with us. Definitely smart, too. Kelly told me I could have one that looks like her. I agreed. It seems most guys I like have dark hair, but I think I will prob have the dominant genes and my child(ren) will most likely have dark hair and eyes. So I start tutoring Yunni this next week and then Jae Hyun the following week.

What else? I am being transferred to the Starbucks in Wabash Landing and I will be there around the 15th of January. I have a few questions to ask the District Manager, the main one being that I will take the promotion if they are okay with me moving this summer/fall. I am applying to Johnson and Wales this week and should hear back within a month or so I assume. Other than that, I am actually getting ready to take charge of community events/volunteering and getting both stores united to do something good for this town/county besides caffeinate them! I am hoping to get something set up with LARA, the Lafayette Adult Reading Academy and hopefully volunteering there. I really want to set up some sort of recycling. It drives me krazy how much waste there is within Starbucks. And hopefully some other things. I told Maria, the new store manager for Wabash Landing, that I am ready to help her as much as I can.

Christmas was okay. I am thankful that I got to spend time with my mom and dad, Jeff, and my grandmother. Rushed and not quite what I was expecting, but I am working on that. Not expecting things (not material, but emotional things). I just want to go into whatever it is I am doing and come out okay and not be upset by other people's actions, etc. My friend had someone tell her that it's not Christmas until someone cries...I took care of that this year=Þ

I get to see Christina tomorrow, which will be nice. It's been since Abby's wedding I believe that I saw her last. I hope she likes her gift! I would say, but if she reads it between now and then, it won't be as much fun.

So ya, that about sums it up with me. I am just trying to take everything as it is coming to me and also trying to have fun, breathe, and the like. I am going to a three day meditation course in February...yay! And then I am hoping soon to figure out when I want to go to another ten day and then serve a ten day hopefully before summer hits.

Much Love!

Merry Christmas!

After reading Hillary's blog, I should be fired, too. I haven't blogged in forever. But I have been writing more in my real journals, more personal things and such. I've just been thinking a lot about what it is I want to do with my life. I feel like it's been put on hold for a little bit since it is Holiday time and I don't have a lot of money to visit more schools, plus the weather isn't the best for getting around. After my slide on Salisbury after the first big snow, I feel as though I need to be more cautious when driving. It does remind me though when I had to run to the Landing to pick up some stuff one night after the first snow and Chris I guess said something like, "Wait, it's snowing outside and the roads are bad, and we sent the Asian to pick up the stuff?" He's funny like that. Anyways, back to life, I definitely want to go to culinary school, but pay off my existing school loan debt. Sure, I still have an interest in political science minded things, although I should do more scholarly reading and read more weekly news magazines and such. One thing for sure is I need to make sure I have a gym membership and more willpower to not eat so much food if I want to work around food, heh. Today I ate my weight in burritos, Bruno dough and cheese pizza. Eek. I ate like three hours ago and I still feel full. I was doing good for a while, eating not as much and leaving it where I felt comfortable after I finished eating. But I suspect my eating is the way it is for some reason. And I will be joining the Levee gym soon, next paycheck. I know I am always buying things, but for real I am getting better and I think a gym membership is a present I actually need. I want to be healthy so I am able to live a good, active, happy life. I've been having trouble meditating lately. Like I have sat down to meditate, but my mind is wandering so much and I am having a hard time feeling sensations. I should email the AT from Illinois and ask him what I can do to get through this, but I am also trying not to get discouraged about not being able to meditate. I think whatever it is I am going through, I need to welcome it because there is a reason for it and all I can do is keep making the efforts to meditate. There is definitely an importance for meditating everyday. I am hoping that going back in February to the meditation center will help me get back into things a little better. I wish I could find someone who meditated, too. That would be weird though asking/posting about finding other meditators. Ah well. I think also I am going to maybe go to Campus House soon. Or maybe Maple Ridge. But Hillary is not there anymore. I talked to Becky and Emily B. about it, but I just have this thing that I don't want to go to church by myself. It is really hard for me to get myself to do it. I should get over that though...and soon. I am hoping to get to look at Daria's apartment in a couple of days and perhaps move. It would make living easier for both of us financially. My only concerns are how many things it seems I have acquired over the past few years and where to put/store them. I should just get down to the essentials, but I am such a packrat. It's insane. And my other concern is that she has a cat or two. I am allergic to cats. However, it seems I am not as bad around them as I used to be. My allergy has gone from eye irritations, to not being able to breathe, to just most recently, sneezing. So my hope is that my tolerance is building up. My parents have a cat and when I go home to visit, it isn't too bad. And being around Buster isn't unbearable, like it would have been a few years ago. My plan if I decide to move is to keep my door shut, and sweep like krazy. Paying $100 or more less on rent will be nice. Then I can save up and get a new comp, do things for others and pay more on my bills! I sat in today on Lisa and Yunni's lesson. It was a different lesson today, Yunni was very sad about how things are going for her and her family. Her husband did not get the job he was hoping, which means she will not be moving back to Korea. It seems she really misses her family and friends. I tried to cheer her up, but I am not sure how well I did. I am not good with comforting others. But hopefully things will look a little better for her in the next few months or so. Like Lisa said, she needs to be kind to herself and to allow herself to feel the feelings and emotions that she is. And hopefully I will figure out if I am comfortable/qualified to tutor Yunni and "The Boy".

All for now.

Hey I'm Cherry Ghost

Okay, so the last time I posted was forever ago. Since last time, I went to Chicago and hung out with Emily, and also Ross and Rebecca=) I quit Kitchen Art, also.

I don't want this blog to turn into a ramble of past events, but I have been able to talk to my friends, visit family, laugh, cry, and tons of other things.

Thanksgiving was different this year. Still can't quite put my finger on what exactly made it odd. But on the drive back to West Lafayette, I didn't even sing out loud in my car until I got to the West Lafayette exit. I just spent most of the time thinking about how it seems that my brothers and I are not close and as far as right now, we may never be. It seems our parents are the only thing that link us together. We don't share any common interests and if you were to put the three of us together it wouldn't make a lot of sense. But I suppose a lot of families run into this problem. It's just sad. And then seeing my mom and dad argue is a downer. I thought things were getting better for them and it feels just like it did five or so years ago. Bleh.

The fun and exciting news is that we get to add another soon-to-be mom on the list...Jen Reppert is having a baby!!!!!!

What else...trying to get my Christmas list together, I have the names and items I would like to get for each person, but there's just one thing missing...$$$$.

Other than that, hope to get some reading and writing done in my spare time since I am back to just Starbucks. Got lots of ideas for short stories, just need to sit down and write!!!!

Much Love!

Young and Hungry

I don't know why I am taking the time to blog, I have a burrito waiting for me in my car, that's right a Triple Lindy with tofu and pinto beans...mmmm!

But here I am. Things are going well it seems since last time I blogged. Just finding it hard to find enough time for everything. Good news though, Scott called me back yesterday and said he could switch with me the 19th of this month, so Chicago here I come! I am very excited about it (I get excited about a lot of things=)), Emily is going up with me again and we are going to hang out with Ross and Rebecca after I visit a few schools and then we also have plans to go to IKEA. So yay.

Still haven't heard back about meditation, whether or not I have the okay from Abby. But hopefully soon. Let's see...just printed off a coupon from Borders for 30% off any cookbook, how great is that? Might buy Dave Lieberman's book.

To everybody, I love you, miss you lots, and hope to see/talk to everyone soon!

Much Love!

Perfect Situation

The new Weezer video is to play on MTV2 off and on all day on Friday the 11th. So that will be fun. Elisha Cuthbert is in it as well as fans who did extra little parts.

Work is going okay at the jobs. So I am only 23, but I am already anticipating the time when I can work less...heh. Big plans for next weekend, visiting two schools in Chicago (that is if Scott will switch me shifts, I got scheduled on the Saturday that I requested off for Chicago...boo!) and then Johnson and Wales will have ppl in Indy on Sunday so that will be awesome. The stuff I've read on their website sounds pretty awesome and they have a culinary nutrition program there which would be great.

Still don't know if I will be able to go to my meditation course in January. I got confirmation from the one in Massachuesetts, but I told Abby that I could switch to the one in Illinois so that it would take up a couple of less days, but I need to know soon since they like to have ppl confirm for sure within four weeks of the course. If not MA in January (not looking likely) I definitely want to go in the summer. I think the weather will be more pleasant. But I do like me some snow and cold weather...=D

Listening to Jesus, Etc...yay Wilco!

So still trying to find a cool bookshelf for my apt. I need some organization ASAP! But I think I may just ask my dad to help me build one...I should look it up on that DIY website. Seems I keep buying books and cds...need to stop, since I am like a million books behind, eeks! The ones I need or would like to finish soon are Wicked, a few Laurie Notaro books, one I borrowed from Ed about coffee, and then two from Hillary - When God Writes Your Love Story and When Dreams Come True. Plus I have books of my own that I need to finish!

Side Note: The love of my life I think is moving ahead with what seems to be his future wife...*sigh*

lots going on!

Visited Chicago this past Saturday and went to an open house at the Art Institute and it was cool. Emily and I had a fun time there. But waiting to see more schools and see what all there is.

Lots going on as usual, but trying to keep everything in line and get things done!

Hope I can blog more later we shall see.

I will leave you with some song lyrics and a picture by one of my fave artists...

Mushaboom

Helping the kids out of their coats
But wait the babies haven't been born
Unpacking the bags and setting up
And planting lilacs and buttercups

But in the meantime I've got it hard
Second floor living without a yard
It may be years until the day
My dreams will match up with my pay

Old dirt road Knee deep snow
Watching the fire as we grow old

I got a man to stick it out
And make a home from a rented house
And we'll collect the moments one by one
I guess that's how the future's done

How many acres how much light
Tucked in the woods and out of sight
Talk to the neighbours and tip my cap
On a little road barely on the map

Old dirt road Knee deep snow
Watching the fire as we grow old
Old dirt road Rambling rose
Watching the fire as we grow well I'm sold

sipping on some green tea

Lotus, decaffeinated green tea, as it is 10:33 in the evening and I have to open tomorrow...woo!

At some point a few weeks ago I saw Wilco in Indy for Rock for Riley with Pete and Emily. All the ticket sales raised $210,000 for the children's hospital, which was super great. The show was great, the band played for 2 1/2 hours. Mostly playing songs from A Ghost is Born. Pete said the show was one of the best shows he has seen EVER and Emily I think has become a for sure Wilco fan as have I become a more dedicated fan. I developed a crush on the moog/back-up singer/guitarist/random instrument playing guy on their tour, Pat Sansone.

Ross and Rebecca came up this past weekend and stayed with me Friday evening. The two of them are very near and dear to my heart. They took me out to dinner and we dined on some Bruno dough and cheese pizza (my third with mushrooms). I love Bruno dough. Seriously. Fried pieces of dough with parmesan cheese on top and marinara sauce to dip it in...who wouldn't love that?!?!

James and I had lunch earlier today. I am having a really nice time with him these past few months. It was hard for awhile because it seemed like he was avoiding me or at least not enthused to talk to me or see me. I know it's silly, but there is a good part of me that wonders who each of us will end up with when we choose to settle down/be committed to one person for the rest of our lives. I talk to Lisa about it the most, but I am working on not letting it be something I spend a lot of time thinking about. Sure I could meet someone soon (although since I will be moving I am not sure if I would want to start something up), but if I don't find that person (or maybe they'll find me?) soon that's an awful lot of time to worry about something I don't have a lot of control over.

Work is fine for the most part. The folks at Kitchen Art can wear on me a little. It is hard to work around people who talk about their customers in a manner that isn't usually nice and to also have curse words flying all over the place. Starbucks is fine for the most part. It's always hard getting things just the way they are supposed to be, all the time. I am sure it's a constant thing to strive for in every work environment.

Looking forward to the new year because I am planning a lot of different things. The two big things: One is going to another meditation course either right after Christmas (got the okay for time off at one job, but not the other) or in the early part of the year somewhere else. The Illinois center hasn't put out the 2006 schedule, so I am thinking of the one in Massachuesetts because I think that was the first center in North America, so I think it would be cool to go there. Plus it might fill some of my need/fascination that I have with the East Coast. It seems that for quite some time I have wanted to live on the East Coast. It was Maine for the longest time and for a short period D.C (I think a year), but I have been looking at other states like Vermont, Massachuesetts, and Connecticut. I figure I should do more than visit though if this is a place I am seriously thinking about moving to at some point in my life. Anywho, I ramble on. I am more than likely moving to Chicago late spring/early summer for some more schooling. I have slowly started the process of finding/looking at schools. My first visit to a school is in November.

Alright, it feels like a good place to stop. It's 10:58 and I should get a little sleep since I work both jobs tomorrow!

Much Love.

Okay, so it seems I have time to catch my breath today for a little bit. Last week was a little much for me it seems (I think anyone who was around me/talked to me could tell that). I didn't have time to eat decent meals, there were a lot of bagels consumed...lots, didn't have the time to sleep, meditate, get things done, etc. But all things come to pass and here I am with a new week and I learned a lot from how krazy last week was and I know I need to be a little more regimented with what I need to allow myself to do to keep myself sane and focused because I can tell you right now I have a million things running through my mind and when speaking I can't even stay on one topic, just ask Lisa. Anywho, got to see my parents and others this past weekend...Justin and Adinda got married...yay! James and I spent Saturday evening talking to them after the wedding until like 2 in the morning. It was so nice, but as James said, we could have spent several hours more reminiscing about the past and such, but I needed to go home and they were leaving on their flight in a few hours. I am very happy for them and I wish them all the love and happiness in the world.

It seems with all these weddings and such, and folks having babies it is making me a bit eager to get to that point in my life. I want it to be soon, but I don't want it to take up a lot of my time wishing/hoping for it. For one thing, I don't know when it will happen, and of course when it does come up I know (or hope at least) that it will be great and well worth the wait. Also, my parents are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary October 23rd (and as I found out from my mom on Saturday, are renewing their wedding vows) and it has made me look at how much they have worked very hard at maintaining (for lack of a better word) their marriage. I know that no marriage is perfect and I am not looking for a perfect marriage (where is the fun and learning in that?). But, I do want to be in a marriage where myself and my future husband will both put in the same effort to overcome obstacles and strive for a loving and understanding relationship. Side note, it would be pretty sweet if he turned out to be a vegetarian and would want to meditate with me. But I am easy-going and would also happily marry a member of the other PETA (People for the Eating of Tasty Animals) and non-meditator, who will not pass judgement/scoff at my interests/lifestyle...boo to that!

What else...trying to keep up with things in the world, but it is a little harder to do right now than I thought.

Much Love to All!

p.s. It seems I have found a new Starbucks crush...kind of. I dunno, it seems silly to have crushes but what the hey. His name is Ben, he has a twin bro, is from L.A. (or was at one point), is cute, stylish, artsy and super smart, and is studying HTM at Purdue. No I am not a stalker, I received all of this information from Emily Becker who went to high school with him in Kokomo.

Abby and Brian got married on Saturday. The wedding was nice. And of course Abby looked gorgeous. But what bride doesn't? I caught the bouquet as well. It had pink roses all round a white rose in the middle. I called my dad later that evening and told him he better get ready. Of course there might need to be more involved for me to actually get married (a significant other seems to be the one that comes to my mind). But I am hoping Christina will send me the pictures from the wedding so I can post some.

Up to the wedding I worked Friday night and had Ross and Rebecca stay with me that night. Rebecca wasn't feeling well=/, but Ross and I went out to Chumley's afterward to hang out with what I think we both thought would be more ppl, but I only knew Abby, Brian, Chris and a few others. So we stayed and chit chatted with them for awhile and then headed back to the apt. I got to talk to Ross for an hour or so, I think it was close to three in the am before I went to bed. Then the next day Christina came in and she went shopping with Lisa and I for something to wear to Abby's wedding and of course to get a nice bag to put Abby and Brian's gift in. And then we met up with Ross and Rebecca (who was feeling better) at Scotty's to have lunch. It was a nice time, minus the part where our server lost my debit card. Like really lost it. The manager had everyone keeping their eyes peeled for it and also myself and my friends looking for it. They took down my information to get ahold of me if they found it. And I was getting ready to call the bank to stop any further activity when the manager ran out with my card. I think I handled it well, it could happen to anyone. And I wasn't upset with the server, just thought they should keep track a little better of patrons' debit cards/cash. I don't think it helped that when we were walking out we saw a server swipe someone's card and it fell on the ground. But oh well. Just weird that they found it by the bar in the trash.

We all went back to the apt to get ready. I think everyone looked really nice. Hillary and Kelly came over so we could ride together. All was good at the ceremony. I must admit, I got teary-eyed when I saw Abby in her dress. The reception was nice. The dj was interesting, but we danced nonetheless (I think Hillary, Kelly, Christina, myself, Annalise, and some others were pretty much regulars on the dance floor).

I was so glad to see everyone and of course for such an occasion as Abby and Brian's wedding! yay!

Yesterday was tiring, I worked open and then came back to close for Maria who wasn't doing too well. Then because I had napped in between working all of that, I wasn't super tired so I came home and watched Crash. Oy, I seriously am too emotional or something, because I cried during a lot of the movie. A lot of scenes just really got to me and there were a few times I was for real crying. I dunno, it was krazy. But definitely a good movie with a great cast.

So it is now almost 1pm and I need to eat lunch, run some errands and go home and have some me time!

Much Love!

Yay for pink glitter Le Creuset Spatulas!

Yeah, we got some in at Kitchen Art and I couldn't help myself. Anywho. Went home the other day and got to spend time with my parents, which was nice. What else? Getting ready to go to work at Starbucks. Can't wait til Saturday for Abby's wedding! Seems there is too much else going on for me to remember to write about.

Much Love!

I had a good title in my mind earlier and I was like, I'll remember it, but looks like I forgot. Oh well.

Just got back from Pepe's with Hillary and Lee. It was a good time and as always, interesting times abound with the servers there. This time it seemed our server didn't have much of an attention span. My favorite part was when she asked us if we needed boxes (I never do) and Lee said no and Hillary was thinking about it and was about to answer and our server walked away. We were like, "Wha happened?" But ya. I love Lee and Hillary very much and I know both of them are having huge things happen in their life and I want nothing but the best for them and of course to always be friends with them. Sorry if this sounds cheesy, but there it is. And if it isn't known, the same goes for all of my other friends who are making big decisions soon and also taking on new and exciting and perhaps scary things. I really do love you all very much and you are all in my heart=)

Last night I went to a reading at the Bookstall in Hicks with Lisa. Charles Baxter was the author and it was really good. I fell in love with a couple, kept checking out this hot guy that is in Lisa's class, and heard some really good stories. And I must mention that Sean Connery, or so I thought was there, but if you want to know more about that, just ask me in person. And then later Lisa and I ate at Moe's...yum! and then we hung out for a bit after.

Good day at work at today. I got to see Benjamin Vanlaningham chatted a little bit which was nice and also got to see Ben Langel. Also had some other surprises, but it was/has been a very good day. Anywho. I am running out of time here and running out of interesting things to say.

Much Love!

Chapter I

The Twin-Verses

All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage.

All that we are is the results of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.

"He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me" - in those who harbor such thoughts hatred will never cease.

"He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me" - in those who do not harbor such thoughts hatred will cease.

For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love - this is an old rule.

The world does not know that we must all come to an end here; but those who know it, their quarrels cease at once.

He who lives looking for pleasures only, his senses uncontrolled, immoderate in his food, idle, and weak, Mâra (the tempter) will certainly overthrow him, as the wind throws down a weak tree.

He who lives without looking for pleasures, his senses well controlled, moderate in his food, faithful and strong, him Mâra will certainly not overthrow, any more than the wind throws down a rocky mountain.

He who wishes to put on the yellow dress* without having cleansed himself of sin, who disregards also temperance and truth, is unworthy of the yellow dress.

But he who has cleansed himself from sin, is well grounded in all virtues, and endowed also with temperance and truth: he is indeed worthy of the yellow dress.

They who imagine truth in untruth, and see untruth in truth, never arrive at truth, but follow vain desires.

They who know truth in truth, and untruth in untruth, arrive at truth, and follow true desires.

As rain breaks through and ill-thatched house, passion will break through and unreflecting mind.

As rain does not break through a well-thatched house, passion will not break through a well-reflecting mind.

The evil-does mourns in this world, and he mourns in the next; he mourns in both. He mourns and suffers when he sees the evil result of his own work.

The virtuous man delights in this world, and he delights in the next; he delights in both. He delights and rejoices, when he sees the purity of his own work.

The evil-doer suffers in this world, and he suffers in the next; he suffers in both. He suffers when he thinks of the evil he has done; he suffers more when going on the evil path.

The virtuous man is happy in this world, and he is happy in the next; he is happy in both. He is happy when he thinks of the good he has done; he is still more happy when going on the good path.

The thoughtless man, even if he can recite a large portion of the law, but is not a doer of it, has no share in the priesthood, but is like a cowherd counting the cows of others.

The follower of the law, even if he can recited only a small portion of the law, but, having forsaken passion and hatred and foolishness, possesses true knowledge and serenity of the mind, he, caring for nothing in this world or that to come, has indeed a share in the priesthood.

*The distinctive garment of the Buddhist priests.

From Wisdom Of The Buddha, The Unabridged Dhammapada. Translated and Edited by F. Max Müller. Dover Publishing, 2000.

(yeah I know I didn't use the proper format for citing the book, but this isn't for a grade or for anything professional, so I just want to give credit where credit is due =Þ)

The Four Qualities Of A Pure Mind

Metta - Selfless Love
Karuna - Compassion
Mudita - Sympathetic Joy
Upekkha - Equanimity

Okay, so this is like the third time that I have come here to blog seriously, but now I don't seem to have the patience to do so. Anyways. I am seriously thinking about moving next year. I am ready to move and start a new part of my life, but more about that some other time. My choices are as follows, at least right now.

1. Chicago (lots of reasons)
2. Austin, TX (music is one reason)
3. Asheville, NC/Portland, ME
4. Atlanta, GA

Each offers a good source of shopping/restaurants for vegetarians, good running paths, and I've heard good things about all of them. But I will be doing more research of course=)

What else, I have been thinking more of the kind of person I am and what kind of ppl I want to have around me in my life and so I have been thinking of that the past few days. I am sure more is to come about this subject later. But ya.

What else? I have a book overdue...boo. But that is okay, I really like the book (the Dhammapada) and so I will prob just buy my own copy for a few bucks. It's great!

Looking to go to a meditation course here soon when the new year rolls around.

Also, my friend Justin is getting married, yay!

Much Love to all!

The Noble Eightfold Path

Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Awareness
Right Concentration
Right Thought
Right Understanding

Much Love!

Okay, so the spam blog commenting is lame. Seriously, as if we don't have enough advertising and such brought to our attention everyday. But I guess it was just a matter of time before it got here. It just bums me out because I get all excited to see who left a comment. Ah well.

So I thought I would blog today, but seems I am not in the mood. So I will leave you with a quote and some song lyrics.

"Slay anger and you will be happy, slay anger and you will not sorrow. For the slaying of anger in all its forms with its poisoned root and sweet sting- that is the slaying the nobles praise; with anger slain one weeps no more."

I have professed my love of Dean Martin enough, that lyrics from one of his songs shouldn't be a surprise, so here you go.

Everybody Loves Somebody

Everybody loves somebody sometime
Everybody falls in love somehow
Something in your kiss just told me
That sometime is now

Everybody finds somebody someplace
There's no telling where love may appear
Something in my heart keeps saying
My someplace is here

If I had it in my power
I'd arrange for every girl to have your charms
Then every minute, every hour
Everybody would find what I found in your arms

Everybody loves somebody sometime
And though my dreams were overdue
Your love made it all worth waiting
For someone like you

If I had it in my power
I'd arrange for every girl to have your charms
Then every minute, every hour
Everybody would find what I found in your arms

Everybody loves somebody sometime
And though my dreams were overdue
Your love made it all worth waiting
For someone like you

Much Love!

The times, they are a-changing!

So I have been really busy, but I am hoping to get back here tomorrow to blog!

Much Love to All!

we have faux fags...

If you want to know more about my subject title, feel free to ask me or Hillary...hehe.

Lots of things running through this krazy head of mine. Not liking a lot of it, but it's there for a reason.

Metta goes out to Becky and Ryan, his mother passed away. And to those who are close to Chief Justice William Renhquist.

Also, please please please if you can donate to The American Red Cross.

Here is a song that I really like/love and so here are the lyrics for you to read/enjoy

Brass In Pocket

Got brass in pocket
Got bottle I’m gonna use it
Intention I feel inventive
Gonna make you, make you, make you notice

Got motion restrained emotion
Been driving detroit leaning
No reason just seems so pleasing
Gonna make you, make you, make you notice

(chorus)

Gonna use my arms
Gonna use my legs
Gonna use my style
Gonna use my sidestep
Gonna use my fingers
Gonna use my, my, my imagination

’cause I gonna make you see
There’s nobody else here
No one like me
I’m special so special
I gotta have some of your attention give it to me

Got rhythm I can’t miss a beat
Got new skank it’s so reet
Got something I’m winking at you
Gonna make you, make you, make you notice

(chorus)

’cause I gonna make you see
There’s nobody else here
No one like me
I’m special, so special
I gotta have some of your attention
Give it to me
’cause I gonna make you see
There’s nobody else here
No one like me
I’m special, so special
I gotta have some of your attention

Give it to me

Much Love!

Randomness

"Good are friends when need arises; good is contentment with just what one has; good is merit when life is at an end, and good is the abandoning of all suffering."

I know this whole not craving/aversion thing is what will bring me out of suffering, but man is it hard work! I am trying to accept things as they are and just be aware of things around me and not hurting myself or others, but oy. OY.

Anywho. I think Eric and I are going to go to the Foo Fighters/Weezer concert at U of I. Kaiser Chiefs I believe are opening for them so that will be an all-around excellent show! Hillary and I are tentatively planning on Ben Folds with The Fray. They go on sale next week sometime. And still deciding on Wilco. I have been listening to them a lot this week and it sure is tempting to just buy a ticket for myself and go. At this moment I don't really care if I go by myself because I am sure it will be a very good show. But of course these things cost money and with the price of gasoline and of course with the disaster down South, I want to donate money to Red Cross to help out, because I can't physically go down and help (time/money and taking the risk of being in serious danger). If anyone can help out, please do.

And I bought the Etta James cd at Starbucks. Well worth the money (with my discount of course=D)

So here are some lyrics I felt like posting.

My Dearest Darling

All I need
Is someone like you
My dearest darling
Please love me too

Within my heart
I pray your answer's 'yes'
I'll make your life
Full of happiness

Whenever you need me
I'll be there by your side
Oh, I'd pledge my love to you
With heart as our guide

Oh, nothing, nothing, nothing in this world
Can keep us apart
Ooh, my dearest darling
I offer you my heart

Oh yeah, whenever you need me
I'll, I'll be there by your side
Oh, I'll pledge my love to you
With heart as our guide

Oh, nothing, nothing, nothing in this world
Can keep us apart
Ooh, my dearest darling
I'm offering you my heart
Ooh, my dearest darling
My, my dearest darling

Have a good weekend!

Kitchen Art...The Store for Cooks!

I love Kitchen Art commercials. I remember singing them and James would look at me annoyed and then like I was krazy. I start tonight and get to help with a cooking class at 5pm which is in like twenty minutes. So I am excited. Although I am a bit tired...hmm. Hope I will wake up once I get there. Then it is off to go help set-up at Starbucks from 11:30pm-2:30am. I hope it doesn't take the whole time...I would like to shave an hour off of that.

What else...I have like six insect bites on me, I hope to goodness they aren't from those icky spiders. bleh! The maintenance man sprayed outside and inside my apartment so I hope I will be spider free for quite awhile. I washed my sheets, blankets, pillow case, and a bunch of other clothes. Hope mom and dad can bring a dresser from home sometime this week so I can get other things put together and also get some bookcases. The less messy my apartment, the less spiders hiding in random areas.

Okay, well enough for now off to Starbucks to get my schedule and then to K-ART!!!!

Much Love!

p.s. I made a really good dinner last night, portabello mushroom burgers with spinach and artichoke pasta salad (it's in Rachael Ray thirty minute meals 2 page twenty=))

Playing Kiss covers...

It's Sunday and I'm off of work, just checking stuff at the library...woot, woot! Anywho.

I got the job at Kitchen Art (The Store for Cooks!) so I start sometime this week.

This weekend has been nice (minus the spiders!!!!) Worked all of it, but got to see friends and hang out/see ppl which is always so nice. I also got to see Ben Langel (such a nice young man)and received a really nice voicemail from Benjamin Vanlaningham which made me smile (seems he prefers/likes Benjamin over Ben).

Heh, this guy next to me was about to throw down because the computer wasn't working or something. I am afraid he might see what I am typing and get worked up cause he was a little huffy earlier and all like throwing his hands up in the air and stuff. Krazy I tell you.

What else? Okay so I was going to put a poem of mine up here, but I decided it's in my best interest and probably yours if I refrain from doing so=Þ But maybe I will share some with some of you later? I dunno.

Anywho, that is all for now, off to go home and do some laundry and make some sort of dinner plans if anyone is willing to hang out/eat with me!

Here is something fun that I found in TriCycle magazine (which you should check out - the cover has a picture of monks on a roller coaster!)...

Train in acts of merit
that bring long-lasting bliss-
develop generosity,
a life in tune,
a mind of good-will.
Developing these
three things
that bring about bliss,
the wise reappear
in a world of bliss
unalloyed.

- Itivuttaka 22

And lastly...

Go ENFJ's!!!! yay;)

some quotes and such...

Lisa gave me some quotes today and this one I really liked so here it is for you to read/enjoy...

"We cannot see into the mysteries of another person's life, dear boys and girls. We have no way of knowing what deaths a soul has sustained before the final one. It is for this reason that we must never presume to judge or to speak in careless ways about which we understand nothing. I tell you this so that you may not forget it. We may honor many things in life. But for someone else's sorrow we must reserve our deepest bow."

"The Annointed" by Kathleen Hill

Anywho. Good day hope all others' day is good as well. May have an interview with Kitchen Art (The Store for Cooks!) on Thursday=)

Just really tired/hungry/exhausted and looking forward to this evening. Jenny, Christina, Hillary, Elisabeth, Mom & Dad and others I will call you within a few days if not tomorrow!

Much Love!

Alright!

Okay, so here is what is new, or I guess just changing. I am not taking classes this fall, financially not ready I suppose. Dad offered to help, he said I it is just more time that I am putting off my life. Which yes, as far as the career I want, but I am having a nice time right now with working and all the people I have around me and of course living=) Anywho.

So ya, Marty is quitting Starbucks so Abby was like now you can ask him out. HA! He's got a girl though that he is already sweet on so I said, "I can't get all up in that." Maria had a good laugh when I said that=D. Marla came in and visited and asked if I asked him out to which I said, no, but he's quitting and she said I worked that one out well. heh.

Oh, btw Christina, you remember that guy that worked at Blockbuster on the South Side and I said, he's really cute, and you were like, um, he's a boy?!?! Well, guess where I saw him? That's right he was working in our store when we had our big store meeting and I kept staring at him and I asked him if he worked at Blockbuster and he did and I introduced myself to him. His name is Damien and he's not a boy, he's 20. As Joe said, he's legal, heh. But ya, I just thought of you cause you gave me a hard time about thinking he was cute=)

Um, applying for more jobs. It would be cool if I got a job at Kitchen Art, but obviously it can't happen if I haven't turned in my application. So I will turn it in tomorrow and let what is supposed to happen happen.

I am sure there is more going on, but I really don't remember.

So all for now!

oy

okay, so how old am I? When am I going to stop having silly crushes on ppl? I either need to step it up and say something to these guys or just keep it to myself. I guess it's good in a way, because then I write silly poems or lots of run-on sentences about it in my journal. But still. Anywho. I am way bummed because my computer is being all weird and something is wrong with it and I think the time is coming soon to build a new one with the help of Eric and James. I just hope it isn't my hard drive that is damaged so I can still have all my dumb poems/short stories and of course my music. Anywho. I can't remember if I posted these up here before or not, but here is one of my favorite songs. I know, I know, enough already about El Scorcho and Weezer, but I seriously love this song. Hillary found it hard not to like, and the music video also made her see that Rivers Cuomo is hot in his own way, heh. And I remember telling Chris (Andrus) about the song and he was all like, I'm sure I'll hate it (jokingly) to which Nick said, it's hard not to like it....so here it is.

El Scorcho (From Pinkerton)

Goddamn you half-Japanese girls
do it to me every time
oh, the redhead said you shred the cello
And I'm jello, baby
But you won't talk, won't look, won't think of me
I'm the epitome of Public Enemy
Why you wanna go and do me like that?
Come down on the street and dance with me

I'm a lot like you so please Hello, I'm here, I'm waiting
I think I'd be good for you and you'd be good for me

I asked you to go to the Green Day concert
You said you never heard of them
-How cool is that?-
So I went to your room and read your diary:
"watching Grunge leg-drop New-Jack through a press table..." and then my heart stopped: "listening to Cio-Cio San fall in love all over again."

How stupid is it? I can't talk about it
I gotta sing about it and make a record of my heart
(How stupid is it? Won't you give me a minute
Just come up to me and say hello to my heart) How stupid is it?
For all I know you want me too and maybe you just don't know what to do or maybe you're scared to say: "I'm falling for you"

I wish I could get my head out of the sand 'cuz I think we'd make a good team
and you would keep my fingernails clean
but that's just a stupid dream that I won't realize
'cuz I can't even look in your eyes without shakin', and I ain't fakin'
I'll bring home the turkey if you bring home the bacon.

Much Love!

"Umm, you want a new pair of pants?...let me go back and get a pair from our inventory."

Okay, so there is a customer that comes into Starbucks in the mornings. She may no longer be a customer after what happened Monday morning, but knowing her she will be back within a week. Many of you know her as "Sweeter than Chocolate" lady. But for those of you who don't, she is so not sweeter than chocolate. Not to be mean, but in all honesty she is not a very happy human being. She has tried to get free coffee from us several times. Finding something to complain about and when you ask her how she's doing that morning this is a typical response, "Well, I'm dying, but ya know..." How do you respond to that? Of course everyones body is decaying, but come on, it's just inevitable that we are all going to face death. But I am getting away from the story of Monday morning.

Marty answers the phone and hands it over to me. I heard him say we don't have a manager here, but we have a supervisor.

Me: "Hi, this is Alexa, I'm a shift supervisor. How are you?"
Sweeter than Chocolate: "Well, I've got a dentist appointment, but other than that..."
Me: "Ah, what can I help you with?"
StC: "I came in this morning and got coffee and this has never happened before, but the coffee leaked all over my hands and on my pants. I only have one pair of pants and I don't know if the coffee is going to stain them and I don't get paid til the 3rd/4th of September. I can't just go out and buy a new pair of pants"
Me: "Oh no, are you okay? It didn't burn you did it?"
StC: "I am more concerned about my pants."
Me: "Um, well next time you come in we could give you free coffee. I am not sure what all I can do for you at the moment..."
StC: "I have coffee on my pants and you're telling me you are going to give me free coffee?"

I admit that doesn't make much sense, but it's all I could think of at the moment.

Me: "I can tell you that from working here, I get coffee on my clothes quite frequently and I use spray and wash and it comes out." (By this point, Nick and Marty are giving me odd looks as this is the only thing going on at 6:30 in the morning).
StC: "I have them soaking right now and at this point I don't know if it's going to come out."
Me: "I am not sure what I can do for you right now, I mean I can talk to our store manager and she can get back to you...I just don't have the authority to make a decision right now..."
StC: "Well, I want to know what you are going to do to stand behind your product." (hesitating) "Can you give me a corporate number?"
Me: "Yeah..." I don't know what number to give her so I grab a comment card and find 1-800-23-Latte (which I deciphered for her before I read it to her).
StC: "I'll just call corporate and tell them you can't make any decisions right now..."
Me: "M'am, I can talk to our store manager and get back to you. I just can't say I can give you a pair of pants without talking to her...I'm just being honest with you"
StC: "And I'm being honest with you, I'm going to call corporate and tell them that you can't make any decisions right now."
Me: " *sigh* Alright, fine."
StC: "Thank You."

Let me note, that thank you was not pleasant, but very smug. So this lady wants me to say I can give her a pair of pants (which prompted Nick to say the very line I used in my title for this blog). She was so impatient she couldn't wait for me to talk with Abby before taking it to corporate. Oy, I was just like whatever. So later at the store meeting, Abby said she did call customer service who talked to Rick (a big man!), who talked to Catherine our DM, who emailed Abby about the situation. So next time if this happens I am to fill out an incident report form and get ahold of Damage Control or something of the like and they will take care of it. I thought I wouldn't have to hear about it anymore until the next time she showed her face in our store...which I am sure will happen soon. I get a call this morning and I recognize her voice right away. She's all like, "Yeah, I got a fax number from corporate, but I lost it, can you give me the number again?" So I am kind of busy with customers at the front register, but I do not want her in a huff again, so I go get the comment card again so I can read the number. I tell her it is 1-800-23-Latte, L-a-t-t-e. And I mentioned that I can't get to the other phone to give her the corresponding numbers for the letters like I did the first time and she replies that that is not the number she was given (I know it's the number because I am the one who told her in the first place). To which I replied that it is the same number I just cannot get to the other phone to give her the corresponding numbers. To which Sweeter Than Chocolate says, "Well, then you're going to have to say it again", all matter-of-factly. Which I did. And she was like, that isn't the number I had and I just clicked end. I had a long line of customers in the front and Ginger and Maria were busy on DT and bar. I just cannot stand that she won't give up on trying to get handouts and now a pair of pants. I know she doesn't have a lot of money and probably cannot go buy a new pair of pants, that's not the issue, it's that she is an old cantankerous woman who is miserable and wants to make sure everyone else knows it and spreads it and wants ppl to feel sorry for her. I am sorry, but I am not going to feel sorry for you. And it's not that I didn't want to help her, but I can't help someone who is very impatient and won't give me a proper chance to see what I can do before they take it to corporate. Come on. Oy!

I just needed to vent. I feel bad about the situation and I hope she comes out of it with a new pair of pants, but I have a feeling that she will mention it everytime she comes in, etc. I know I am not supposed to assume things just because it happens a previous time, but I don't think I am going out on a limb here to make the presumptions that I have.

Off to check out of the library with "Pour Your Heart Into It" and "Me Talk Pretty One Day" and I have the rest of the day off and tomorrow and it's pay day and I get to pay bills and tuition and if I am lucky, use the rest for gas and groceries! Sweet! I hope my vacation hours are on this check!

Much Love!

p.s. if you have any suggestions for what I can do for Sweeter Than Chocolate let me know. I am not sure what the proper reparations are if she does or does not get a new pair of pants.

p.p.s. Abby or Christina let me know if I need to keep this blog to myself...I dunno if Starbucks has ppl on the outlook for blogs containing information about customer/partner interactions!

So What'cha Want

Ah, Beastie Boys. I should pull them out more often. Anywho. Just getting ready to go to lunch at Moe's. What? I like to eat at Moe's???? Ate there like four times last week. Ate there last night and off to do so again. It's just good food and they help out with the tofu and not cooking stuff in animal fat, etc. Anywho.

Last night was the big store meeting. It was nice to have everyone in the same place. Well almost everyone, we were missing a few ppl. It was really good I felt. Except at the end I felt that the last comment/statement made was directed at me and no one else but me. Please don't get me wrong, I am not trying to make this all about me, but no one else's name was mentioned and the person looked at me the entire time. I felt really weird and also really bad. I try to be sensitive and make sure everyone is feeling good at work, but I also expect ppl to do their jobs, but maybe I am too demanding/insensitive and not considerate of anyone's feelings. Lord, I dunno. I mean it was good that I got to hear this statement, because it made me realize I need to be more aware of how partners feel around me at work and what not. But at the same time this person told me a few days ago that I was hard to read, and I explained to them when I ask them to do certain things it's not out of being mean/demanding. It's just that is what needs to be done and if it looks like things aren't getting done, it's my job to do so. And I'm not the kind that asks everyone else to do things and stand around and not do anything myself. Although when I do find I ask ppl to do things and I am not doing anything, I apologize and say, "wait, I can do this, I am not doing anything." I dunno. I am just glad I have the next few days off. Don't confuse this blog for worrying too much about this situation, but I do not ever want feeling bad because of something I did/say or didn't do or say. I think everyone knows this, but if not, I would never ever ever for anything make anyone feel bad intentionally. That's just not me and I don't like when ppl feel like that and of course I don't like feeling that way myself. I dunno if that all made sense, but there it is.

Lots of stuff going on with myself and others good and bad. I am thinking of a lot of ppl right now and hope that whatever they are going through that things will get better or at least more manageable.

Much Love!

So things are coming together with work, getting my schedule ready for school and getting my apartment looking kinda of put together. The big stuff is in place, couch (thanks Mom and Dad!), tv, chair and ottoman (thanks Rebecca and Ross!) and my bed, etc. Which a huge thanks to Lisa and James for helping me with the big stuff and also thanks to Christina and Mike and Jenny for helping me as well.

I came to the library to work on my resumé for a few jobs and I totally left all set to do it, but forgot my little book with pointers and sample resumés so I will have to work on it at home and come back or get up early tomorrow before work and email it. We shall see!

What else? Just been working and hanging out with Lisa a lot =) Meditated this morning which was nice, I did not get around to any yesterday so it was much needed today! Ate at Moe's for lunch, my punch card was filled so I did it...I got the Homewrecker and a soda. Man, a lot of food, but I had not ate yet today and it looks as though I won't be eating dinner for a long long time, so I feel pretty good.

Having fun at work, it has been fun, lots of new ppl, but it has all been good. And on Monday I work like 9.5 hours or something krazy like that, but it is nice that I get to work with Nick and Martin that day...yay! ;) I know I know, don't act on it, but it doesn't hurt your day when you get to work with two good looking guys who are nice and also have personalities.

Well I am running out of things to write without continuing on about what I have done each minute of each day. So that is all for now! Going to browse the internet a little bit more and then go and work on my resumé at home and maybe call about getting a haircut today. Like money is tight, but I gotta get these bangs taken care of. And it's me and when I want something done with my hair I gotta get it done!!!!

Much Love,
Alexa;)

First Blog of August

So a lot of things have come and passed since last time. I don't know if I remember all that I have done, or if you would even be interested in reading all about it. Let's see I got to hang out with a lot of my friends and spend quality time with them. Found about, or rather I didn't find out about Purdue's SPAN Plan with Lisa. Watched Million Dollar Baby (tons of tears and heartbreak), but a great movie. Moved to my new apartment. Went to a concert in Columbus, OH with Christina. Met ppl from new bands, met Tegan and Sara. They are super cute and very talented. Worked a lot it seemed with not a lot of rest in between. Went off to a ten day meditation course. A lot of hard work, but like Rivers said, definitely worth it. Met some cool ppl there. Got lost on the way there so it took me like forver to get to Pecatonica, IL (near Rockford) I left town around 1pm got there right at 7pm. The drive home, got out on the road at 8:45am and got back into West Lafayette at noon. Yeah, I am still trying to figure that one out. Dad said I must have been speeding. I just kept up with the traffic=D. Got to hear some great music on the way home, I know I shouldn't be craving, but I couldn't get enough of all the music! Got to hear new Death Cab and Ben Folds.

It's good to be back. Just figuring out things with school, am I really financially ready to go back? I am very appreciative of all of you who have offered to loan me money, but I know I'll find a way to work things out. Things always have a way of working out, sometimes a little easier/more difficult than others, but nonetheless. Got back into town yesterday and saw Lisa on the way home so we met up for lunch and talked for hours. Last night I worked with Todd and Chris. A nice time. Then this morning, I meditated for an hour and it was very good. The hour went by way fast and of course my mind wandered off, but I tried to bring it back every time. Then went off to walk with Lisa, I think we did over three miles, so that felt good. Plus I just love chatting with her. Made a Starbucks run for iced coffee and a blueberry scone. YUM! Then I got ready, made some phone calls about jobs and car washes (my car has an excessive amount on it!). I got asked about it at one of the toll booths on the way home and Lee, Lisa, Emily B, and Nick commented on it. heh. I called Erica before I came here to the library. I met ppl who teach at Montessori schools in Cincinnatti and Washington D.C. So I figured I should call her up cause I was thinking of her. Got some more phone calls to make, get my car washed and go to work this evening, and unpack at home. I am sure I have left out quite a bit of stuff, but it all sums up to being really busy, having fun, trying to be a good person, and living life! And of course getting excited about lots of thing. Booyah! hehe, I love that word.

Much Love,
Alexa;)

p.s. Here are some new words I learned/made up with friends.

Claymate - those who are followers of Clay Aiken
Babeman - Derived from Justin Bateman who is a Babe, therefore, he is now Justin Babeman (took some cues from Wayne's World) and you can also use Babeman to describe good looking guys;)

All for now!

OOOH! If for some reason I have winked at you after saying something witty, I apologize, it is not meant in a creepy/flirty way. For some reason it has been happening though. I said something to Nick this morning in the DT and I winked at him and I was like...man, I just winked at him. Hope it didn't freak him out. Anywho.

Crap, one more thing. Lots of new music coming out this month, so keep your ears perked. Some shows I would like to go to if I can afford them. Rilo Kiley in Columbus, OH. Weezer/Foo Fighters in Chicago and Champaign. Hoping for Champaign. And I am sure there are others. Anywho. For real, that is it!

I need to find some peace!

I thought I had told everyone that I usually talk to on a daily/every other day basis, but I am leaving for a ten day meditation course. July 27th-August 7th.

oof...

...my foot is asleep.

I feel very fortunate that I picked the meditation course that I did for the end of July and that I got accepted a while back because I checked the website and there is a waitlist for it.

Long, but good day. Woke up and hung out with Lisa, ventured out to the mall and bought a new polo shirt - navy blue with a pink reindeer of sorts? (that is what Matt and I figured it was) It turned out to be a good hair day, too (*phew*). Had a nice afternoon with Matt - lunch and then went back to his place and watched Swingers. It was a good movie. Mikey was so unsmooth that you just wanted to hug him and take care of him. heh. Got to meet Molly and Riley finally, super cute dogs=)

Then it was off to work which was nice, got to chat with Lisa on my break. Cute guy, who gets a different drink each time, came in and I talked to him about books, he was reading the new Harry Potter. So that was fun. I got to work with Jen, Lee, Nick, Todd and Chris which was fun. Nick cracks me up seriously, he is SO much fun. Working with Todd and Chris was nice as well. Todd had some high school chick that works at Arby's bringing him free food like every hour on the hour and Chris is fun. I played some Weezer in the back room and we listened to "Only In Dreams" which is a great song and has some cool guitar parts in it. Took Chris home after work. Hope everything gets better with him and also hope things get resolved in a timely manner. Talked to Christina on the way home as well.

Congratulations to Mary for winning the 4-H Fair Queen contest. I was very happy when I read she was chosen, I think she is very deserving of it=)

Anywho, off to sleep or maybe read, I dunno. I really don't know.

p.s. It is confirmed that Weezer and Foo Fighters are co-headlining a tour this fall!

on a more serious note

Life since the Weezer/Pixies concert has been good. I think I have finally found a place to live. It is at Country Squire and the manager is so stinkin' sweet/nice/understanding, etc. I wanted to hug her, but I am not a huggie person unless I have known you for awhile, or I just feel comfortable enough around you. Anywho. So it looks like next week I will be able to sign the lease and move my stuff in...yay! I am quite relieved. So now just looking for another job I can tack on maybe just another ten or fifteen hours to help pay for rent...or if you know anyone who is looking for a roommate. Hoping that Hillary will want to be my roommate next year. That would be fun. And btw, congratulations Hillary on the new job. I am very excited for you! And same for Kelly, I hope the interview goes well and that it works out.

So yeah, I worked last Saturday and Sunday. Sunday was a nice day=) My Starbucks crush came in and I got to talk to him for quite a while and that was really nice. And I no longer have to refer to him as venti (sometimes iced) nonfat no foam (light ice) chai...his name is Matt. So anywho. Then after work I went home did a few things and met Kelly and Hillary and went out jumping on a trampoline for a few hours. I hope it was at least slightly entertaining for Kelly and Hillary to see how nervous I was about bumping into them and one of them or myself falling off of the trampoline. You can never be too cautious! Then headed back to town and stopped by Target for some food. Then had a nice evening chatting on the phone...yay!

Then let's see...Monday, went to Cedar Point with Kelly, Hillary, Emily and Alexa...ya, that was weird..."Hey Alexa, can you hand me some magazines?" "Sure Alexa" Anyways. It was a nice day, kinda hot, and I decided to wear jeans...yuck. Anyways. Got back into town around midnight, took Hillary back out to my apartment so she could get her car. I got super clean and slept for a bit then went to work at open. Then after work on Tuesday got to see Lisa and chat with her, glad her nephew James is doing well. And then went to dinner with Erica, Kelly, Hillary, and Dan. That was nice. Then chatted with Hillary afterwards, and talked to my mom and Matt=). Then hung out with James and Buster and talked to Christina as well. I can't believe I wasn't tired yet. anywho, I am sure this is boring you by now. But I feel like I've been really busy. But I am getting things together before I leave for my ten day course! Getting very excited about it!

So ya that is all for now, laters!

p.s. Even more exciting, I have a date with Lee and Hillary on Monday at Pepe's!

To See An Apartment

The day started off well enough. Woke up, burned some cds and then got ready to meet Lisa at the Buck. Started to rain a little when I arrived, but it seemed to be much needed rain. Lisa and I talked for awhile and then left to find an apartment on 1315 Morton St. in Lafayette. The owner's name was Bruce Schafer (BS, heh). Now it might be useful knowledge that in the email that he sent back to me telling me about the apartment and himself included some information regarding his studio and how he helps to develop models' portfolio's, but not to confuse it for him wanting me to be a model. So anywho, off we go and we get to the location around noon. As soon as the door opens we are greeted by a very large caucasian older man with grey hair and a beard. I can smell the smoke instantly so already I am not thinking this is going to workout. Then I spot a cat. The shades are drawn in his tiny apartment and it is just very dreary. The "studio" is what most ppl would call a dining room and the room that was available was very teeny tiny. He seemed nice enough and honestly looking to help a college student out and all, but the pictures in the apartment also worried me. The first one was a girl in a Hooter's t-shirt. (In between this tour I looked at Lisa who was about to lose it and I think just start laughing, so I couldn't look at her anymore) And then the ones on the refrigerator had women showing all. Not quite the environment I want to be in. And then there were more in the living room of women in lingerie, etc. and the desktop of his computer had an asian girl in some sort of seductive pose. EEKS! So after the less than five minute tour I said, "I'm allergic to cats". So that pretty much ended the conversation. So Lisa and I left and walked out to the car and she was beginning to laugh and I told her to hold it til we got in the car. And you can imagine the laughter that came tumbling out about this apartment. *sigh* It was definitely a good time.

one more thing

Yay Scott! Couldn't find a recent pic of him by himself with the new 'do so I thought this would work just fine.

Karl, Pat, Liam, Rivers, Brian, Scott and Gem.

Yay Summerfest! I had heard of the Pixies and some of their songs, like song titles, not the actual song and I really enjoyed their show. It was awesome. I really enjoyed the bass player's voice. It was really sweet sounding and when she sang she smiled. It was really cute. There were a few songs in between that I wasn't too fond of, just because it was a lot of loud noise I thought. I spotted Scott listening to them in front of the stage and in between the pavillion seats, the little open, yet guarded area. And then Rivers joined him to listen, but then went backstage to listen to them, as well as Scott.

The Fray opened for the Pixies and Weezer and they were awesome as well. You should check them out on myspace.com they will be having an album out I believe in September.

Spotted Karl before Weezer came out, he was onstage talking to some guy and looked out into the crowd a few times.


And what can I say, Weezer rocked it out last night. The energy was great, the songs they played were awesome and Rivers's voice was right on! The band just plays so well together, which I guess is assumed after how long they have been together and all. But really, it was awesome. The backdrop was pretty cool, it was the cover art off of the album and had some cool neon lights going throughout it. No bright flashing =w=, but that was alright. I didn't miss it while the show was going on, heh. It was a really awesome show. I can't remember the exact order of the setlist, but I remember what was first and last and in the encore, so I will just list the rest in album order.

Say It Ain't So
Undone
Buddy Holly
El Scorcho (the band kicked ass on this song!)
Photograph
Island In The Sun
Fall Together (Scott sang lead vocals on this one, he has a really good voice)
Death and Destruction (Rivers didn't sing the song, Brian sang a little of the chorus, but mostly instrumental)
Beverly Hills
Perfect Situation
Pardon Me
Hold Me
Peace
We Are All On Drugs
*Encore*
Haunt You Every Day
Hash Pipe
And of course a fun feedback session=)

The ride back home, not so awesome traffic wise, but if I write about it I will just get upset thinking about the horrible drivers and the other terrible things I saw. ugh.



Also, how horrible about the bombs in London? I first heard about it this early morning when Jenny said she heard it on the news on the drive back. Then I read an article in the Times. You just feel so helpless in situations like these. I hope that Jenny's family is safe and that Londoners can do what they can to get their lives back to "normal" and find out who/what/why.

peace.

quick note!

So I moseyed on over to weezer.com this morning to see if they had updated about any recent shows, and of course Karl did not fail. But there was an update of the show in Kansas City and guess what? The band played El Scorcho!?!?! How Cool Is That?! They hadn't played it since the Enlightenment Tour, back in 2002, which I did get to catch at Deer Creek. But I am excited that it is on the revamped setlist for this part of the tour. Also, it mentioned that Fall Together was performed and Scott did the vocals. So I am way excited. Jenny is headed over in about twenty minutes, so I gots to hop in the shower and get clean. Got done printing out all the directions and such. And find the tickets. Should be a good time, we are taking Mike's minivan so it will be roomy and it's nice that I don't have to put that mileage on my car. Anywho. All for now!

Laters!

So ya, I can't figure time very well...I decided I would wash my clothes this morning before work and here I sit at like twenty after four and they are still in the wash. So it looks like today will be a skirt day.

Anywho. How sad, Ann got voted off of her team on I Want To Be A Hilton. I was way sad, like I know she can seem a little ridiculous when she just busts out a song when it is time for elimination, but come on! And I must mention for those of you who don't watch the show, Kathy Hilton shed some tears when Ann's team voted her off.

Got a lot of stuff to do between now and tomorrow morning, so I have my fingers crossed that I can figure all of that stuff out!

Had a nice time this weekend with my parents and my grandma. Got to see the kittens as well. Patches and Yoda. Way cute kittens. Also got to see Mark, Naomi, Janelle, and Phil and Naomi's mom.

Agh, got a lot of stuff running through my mind so I think this is all for now!

It's been a good week so far and I feel like a nice weekend as well. I got to hang out with Lisa last night. We walked around some trails/paths near Cumberland and such. Got to talk about all sorts of stuff. Then I got to check out her apartment so in case there should be one available and perhaps at a good rate, it would be pretty neat. So that was a fun time. Then went to Wal-Mart to buy stuff that I needed. Then headed home and slept til like ten this morning.

Work was good today. I had a lot of fun, worked with fun people and saw fun customers. Lee cracks me up, seriously. Had a nice time working with Abby, Emily H and Emily B, Jen, Hillary and Nick, they are all fun people. I got to talk with Chris (Harvey) this evening on AIM and also Justin...I hadn't talked to him in awhile so that was nice to catch up on what is going on in his life. Also chatted with Christina this evening. Sorry if I didn't sound normal or whatever. It just seems you catch me when I am either really tired or hungry, which both usually follow after work=Þ

Then I hung out with Hillary this evening, ate popcorn, had pepsi cubes (those were great by the way) and watched a great movie. Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Tears were streaming down my face towards the end. I definitely reccommend it! And then afterwards we just talked about a bunch of stuff. I definitely am glad she is in my life;) I heart you!

Anywho, I realize now it is getting close to 1 in the am and I need to do laundry and get some sleep seeing as how I open tomorrow and then I am going to late lunch/early dinner with my parents and Grandma. Late birthday celebration.

Also, sad news when I turned on my comp Saturday morning. Luther Vandross has passed. Dance With My Father really is a great song that at times brings tears to my eyes.
Rest In Peace Luther Vandross.

Bowling For Soup

So I got an email from Ticketmaster.com and Bowling For Soup will be in Ft. Wayne August 5th. Tickets are like $12.50, but I won't be back from IL by then. But if anyone is interested, tickets go on sale July 7th. They are a fun band and their music videos are funny.

=)

No longer tired and hungry...

Just sad. Ross stopped in today to show some pictures from the ordination ceremony and chatted for a bit. Then I was getting off of work and it was time to say bye...not goodbye though. I told him this wouldn't be the last time he saw me/talked to me. I am equipped with his email/phone number/current address. But it was sad I won't deny that. I made it until I had to walk away towards my car then the tears started. *sniff* But there is a good chance I will see him next Friday after my stay in Milwaukee for the Pixies/Weezer concert. Just got to see what Jenny has planned for Friday after the concert.

Other than sadness surrounding Ross's departure I have had a good week. I got my car fixed on Wednesday...yay! And I had lunch with Lisa and Jenny. Saw Tom and Joe (triple grande nonfat mocha) at PotBelly. Hung out with Jenny while she ran some errands and then went back out to get my car from Charlie. And then hung out with Ross a little (glad you got your car fixed, too!) and chatted with Nick for a little bit too. Then I hung out with James, watched some television, went out to the mall and dinner at AppleBee's, then over to Barnes & Noble and saw Emily Heitman. I like her a lot=). They had a book sale, buy two get third free, but I couldn't find a third book so I wasn't going to buy any book just to get the deal. Plus they didn't have the book I was looking for originally.

Trying to figure out how to get things done - where I am going to live, clean, read, listen to music, what am I going to eat, write a little bit, making sure my bills are in the mail on time or paid on-line on time - and also just relax/have a good day everyday. Trying to be a better person, but not like I just started today, but for a while now I can recall thinking to myself at night that I would wake up and try to be a better person than I was the day before in some way (small or big). I also don't want to have days where I say I hate something/someone, or be mean to people (I wouldn't want someone to be mean to me...that just stinks big time stinkiness. heh, I know that made absolutely no sense at all) or just have a not good day/make someone else's day not good.

Enough jibber-jabber for now!

Forgot to mention this as well. It has no bearing on her talent, but Rachael Yamagata is beautiful. I think I read she is Japanese, Italian, German, etc.

About a year late

So I am sitting drinking my orange juice that is calcium fortified. I am trying really hard to maintain my health or at least take little steps that can prevent illness/sickness. Anyways. So I am reading over some stuff on the internet, or interwebnet as my friend Charlie once called it, and I ran over Rachael Yamagata's name. I have been reading her name for some time now and have only now finally made it over to her website to check out her music. There was a sampler on iTunes, but I was like, I don't really know much about her. It seems most reviews I am reading of her album, "Happenstance", are comparing her to some sort of hybrid (is that just for two things to combine, or any number? can't remember) of Fiona Apple, Norah Jones and Sarah McLachlan. And on her website it plays some songs in the background. So if you have the time, go check it out. Here are some lyrics to a song of hers that I have heard a few times and like a lot.

Reason Why

I think about how it might have been
We'd spend our days travelin'
It's not that I don't understand you
It's not that I don't want to be with you
But you only wanted me
The way you wanted me

So, I will head out alone and hope for the best
And we can hang our heads down
As we skip the goodbyes
And you can tell the world what you want them to hear
So, I'm up for the little white lies
But you and I know the reason why
I'm gone and you're still there
I'm gone and you're still there
I'm gone and you're still there

I'll buy a magazine searching for your face
From coast to coast, or wherever I find my place
I'll track you on the radios, and
I'll sign your list in a different name
But as close as I get to you
It's not the same

So, I will head out alone and hope for the best
We can pat ourselves on the back
As we say that we tried
And if one of us makes it big
We can spill our regrets
And talk about how the love never dies
But you and I know the reason why
I'm gone, and you're still there
I'm gone, and you're still there
I'm gone, and you're still there

So, steal the show, and do your best
To cover the tracks that I have left
I wish you well and hope you find
Whatever you're looking for
The way I might've changed my mind
But you only showed me the door

So, I will head out alone and hope for the best
We can pat ourselves on the back
And say that we tried
And if one us makes it big
We can spill our regrets
And talk about how the love never dies

But you and I

You and I

You and I, know the reason why.

I know this is lame, but at the end I got this sad feeling (I think you can understand if you listen/pay attention to the words) and I almost...almost cried. It's been awhile since a song has made me feel that way. Not hard to make me cry though, it happened at work the other day...sorry Ginger, but I think you understand what I was feeling, plus toss in some anxiety. eeks!

Another band that I am excited that I have come across is Rilo Kiley. And once again, I am a year late for them as well, but you know what? It's one of the greatest feelings coming across great music that has been out for awhile. Sure it's like, "holy crap! I could have been listening to this for some time." But I think you get introduced to music/books/people...pretty much everything (those just happen to be in the top for me) for a reason. It's all about where you are and when you come across great things or things in general. And it's really really awesome. (really need to jump on that thesaurus=Þ)

Have had a really good week so far. Sunday was good, except for my kraziness at the end of my work shift and a few tears being shed and then lunch with Ginger. Then came home and slept a nice long sleep. And then Monday was great as well, worked, did tips (which I have learned being in charge of money or at least having it temporarily makes you quite popular with co-workers or, in our case at the Buck, partners. I got offers of lunch and of friendship forever, nevermind the fact that both of those offerings were from the same person). Talked with Todd and Lee (Lee is so stinkin hilarious) for a bit, and then went out to Otterbein with Lisa to drop her car off at Charlie's and then we were hungry so went and ate at Moe's and then went to Borders to search for a gift for Lisa's mom. I made a few purchases as well. *gasp* I bet you were very surprised/shocked to read that. I bought a new book and a new cd (20% off!!!!). I may blog about them at a later date. Then went back to get my car at Starbucks. Got to hear some really funny "Lee stories" as Hillary refers to them. And then chatted with some other folks and then headed home. Talked to Christina on the way home.

Which seriously, no one has forgotten you. I know it's hard moving away from what you have known for some past years of your life. I don't know what it is like, but I did cry every year I came back here to Purdue from home cause I got really sad thinking about having to make friends, no one is going to talk to me cause I am dorky, etc. (I don't think you will have those problems). But people aren't forgotten that quickly or at least people like you and not by people like us. Think about how long you have been a part of everyones lives here and vice-a versa. If you continue to make a sincere effort to keep in contact with everyone and show that you weren't just friends because of location/job, but because of the kind of people they are and that you are, and have confidence that the people here really are your friends, they are going to call back/call/come visit. (You are making more money than some of us and I don't know about others, but I am living paycheck to paycheck and it's hard to scrounge up money for some things.) I don't want you to be sad and I am going to do my best to not let that happen. I know I haven't been able to come up yet (you need to give me a chance as well=Þ), but I will and we are going to eat Little Caesar's like pizza has not been eaten before by two women in their early twenties! And laugh more than the minimum (well, required if you ask me) 13 times in one day.

Much Love!

You Saved $31.85 With Your Plus Card

So I went grocery shopping. I love it. Like I know I have said in the past that I really like grocery shopping, but just something this evening was great. Maybe it is because I know when I put everything away I will hopefully have a somewhat full fridge and full cabinets. yay! Anyways, I don't really know that I saved $31.85 or that I bought a lot of things "on sale" that are just over-priced to begin with. I really wanted some tuna but I was not going to pay 72 cents to $1 on a can of it. What happened to the days when it was 50 cents a can? Anywho. I was also fascinated at how long my receipt was and I remember thinking, while it was printing out, I need to list everything I bought on here. I am sure a lot of you won't like what I bought, as in eewww, but meh. OH!!!! Before I start listing I think I saw the news anchor from WLFI, not Gina or that red head, but the other blonde lady that seems nice. I saw her by the deli counter and then kept seeing her throughout my shopping and she was checking out in the lane next to me. I am like 97.99% sure it was her. But here comes the real fun...

- 2 cans sliced Kroger pineapple*
- 1 can chunked Kroger pineapple*
- 2 bags Dole salad mix*
- 1 big bag of shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/3 less fat Philly cream cheese*
- reduced fat sour cream*
- lowfat cottage cheese*
- Lender's plain bagels*
- frozen chopped spinach
- 4 strawberry yogurts
- 1 low carb strawberry yogurt (it was 10/$4 or in my eyes 5/$2 and they only had 4 regular strawberry yogurts)
- a dozen large eggs
- 1.04 lbs of Sara Lee Smoked Honey Turkey (yum!)
- 1 large sweet onion
- instant no sugar added chocolate pudding
- instant no sugar added pistachio pudding
- 100% whole wheat Bunny Bread*
- Green Giant cauliflower with cheese*
- Orange Juice with added Calcium*
- half gallon 1% milk*
- 2 liter Big K Diet Caffeine Free Soda
- 2 liter Big K Diet Cherry Soda
- Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice*
- apple sauce with cinnamon*
- Kosher Zesty Dill Spears
- traditional spaghetti sauce, couldn't find the chunky vegetable one*
- 2 cans clam chowder soup
- 1 can chicken noodle soup (the soup was 3/$4)
- 2 cans mandarin oranges
- 2 cans dark red kidney beans (2/$1)
- Bush Original Baked Beans
- Bush Vegetarian Style Baked Beans
- 4 cans garbage beans (also known as garbanzo/chick peas...they were 4/$2)
- 2 of those Lipton rice things*

* denotes items that were part of the Kroger $1 days campaign.

And so I was getting ready to head to the check out and I was like...I'll drift by the books and such, so I was looking at the hardback section (not those paperbacks...you know what ones I am talking about) and they had David Sedaris's Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim and it was 25% off so I bought it. I felt like I was betraying book stores, but I knew that once I got home I wouldn't want to go back out. And Von's would be closed and I didn't feel like venturing out to Barnes and Noble. I know I know... but a good book for $11.21 I felt I couldn't turn it down.

If you are still with me here, I just wanted to say I have had a nice day so far. Yesterday was great. Lots of fun things tossed in there. I spent the evening with Lisa and we got to talk about a lot of things and she really is a great person, like I am very thankful she asked about Jeff Buckley. hehe I am just reminding myself of Eric asking, "so what brought you guys here tonight". hehehe. Anywho. And then I went over to James's so I could catch Fountains of Wayne on Conan O'Brien. Love Conan. And then today has been really good. I had lunch with James today and got my markout so he could give it to Kristi since Rob is buying her a coffee pot for her birthday tomorrow. And then went back and played with Buster and watched tv while James played WoW. And it made me realize if I don't get classic cable I need to at least get basic so I can watch C-SPAN. I was watching it and on weekends they have BookTv on and they were re-airing the Virgina Festival of Book: Bookish Obssessions Panel and it was really good. The panel was Sara Nelson and A.J. Jacobs. I don't feel I can properly recant what was said, but it was really funny and interesting. I have a feeling, well actually know, that I will re-tell this to some people. So you have been warned! =D

Anywho, all for now. I know I am forgetting a lot, but the events are all stored in my mind or either in another journal of sorts.

Laters!

*sigh*

I was hoping that tomorrow morning when I was at work, I could say, "Hi Ross!!!! The Pistons won!?!?!" I know it's lame but it was sad watching Larry Brown at the end of the game. Anywho.
That's all for now.

Off to sleep or to read.

p.s. Tomorrow is Friday...and payday! Woot woot!

Some people wait a lifetime...

That was a little shout out to Hillary and Ann, who know what I mean by that title. Yes it is a Kelly Clarkson song, but it has so much more meaning than you may know. Last night was fun. After work I went home took a little nap and then Hillary called, we went to PotBelly and saw Tom and Hillary got dinner. Then off to Chauncey to get DenPops and some Taco Bell. We watched some tv and laughed a lot from what I recall and then headed over to her parent's house to watch more tv...heh. From 9-10 we pretty much busted a gut the entire time. Great fun!

There has been a little bit going on, trying to get my car fixed which seems like it is going to work out well thanks to Lisa and Charlie and my parents, and Twin City Dodge for letting me know what is wrong with my car. Thanks! I went to a meditation session on Monday evening at St. Thomas Aquinas with Rebecca. There is a group of Buddhist Monks touring the US and Canada and their first stop was in Lafayette/West Lafayette. Part of the Sacred Art Tour. So it was really neat. When the actual meditation started, I wasn't quite sure what to do. In the very front were the monks and then the next section there were meditation pillows on the ground and some people were using them and they closed their eyes and I looked around the room a little bit and some peoples' eyes were still open while others' were shut. So I figured, I will shut my eyes and listen. The chanting/harmonizing of the monks and their prayers was really neat (seems I can't think of better words than "really neat". It seems I may need to get that thesaurus a little sooner). Anyways. It was a really good time and I think with my eyes closed I didn't distract myself from looking at other things in the room, but just focusing on how the monks sounded, etc. There was a small Q&A afterwards. It was really good except for the first question. It was from an older woman with a Bible and she said, "I would like to read the first commandment." "I am the Lord your God...You shall have no other gods before me..." to which she then said, "this commandment has been broken in this room tonight" there was a collective gasp and it really bummed me out that this woman sat through the evening just to say something so heart-breaking. I have talked enough about this though since the event, so I don't really want to say anything more.

What else? I am trying to clean today...hasn't happened so far. Seems all I have done is slept, ate, read, slept, and now I am here blogging. But I presume I will get some sort of organizing cleaning done. I need to get on it soon I have a lot of stuff coming up in July that will probably keep me from being able to pack then. So depending on how this goes, I may be back to blog more later.

Peace;)

Yup, you guessed it!

Another quote from the infamous "The Way I See It"
This one happens to be #31, which happens to be one of my lucky numbers. Why is it my lucky number, I cannot remember now, but just know that it has been my lucky number I believe since elementary or middle school. Here it is...

Risk-taking, trust, and serendipity
are key ingredients of joy. Without
risk, nothing new ever happens.
Without trust, fear creeps in.
Without serendipity,
there are no surprises.

-- Rita Golden Gelman
Author of Tales of a Female Nomad.
She has had no permanent address since 1986.

So ya, I really liked this quote and had grabbed a cup with this quote several times and set them aside, but I think they got used for drinks, but tonight I finally got it! I am sure years from now, or even when I move this fall I will be like, do I really need to have these cups physically? It should be good enough that I have the quotes written on different blogs, but in the meantime I will hold on to them.

All for now.
Laters!

Thursdays with Lexie

Okay, so that was my lame copy of Tuesdays with Morrie. I think you guys know I am not the most creative, but instead most lame;)

Today started off well enough, woke up at 8:55am and got dressed to go close my account at PEFCU. I will not go into details since I am certain many of you have unfortunately heard me complain about PEFCU to the point you were probably like, "why don't you just close your account?" So after doing that, I went to Bank One to open a new account. The man, Mr. Larry Simpson, was very pleasant and helpful. (If only all of Bank One employees were that way) I went over to Starbucks to see if I could get a Direct Deposit form, but no luck. So I went back home, chatted with my mom since she was planning on coming up to visit me.

Came back home cleaned a little, took out the trash and got ready. My mom arrived around noonish, I gave her one bad direction, felt bad, but she got straightened back out quickly. We went to Steak and Shake for lunch. On the way there she heard what my car was doing...jerking and what not. Mom said it didn't sound good and said I should get it checked out. So we went and ate lunch, where I saw Venti Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino with a friend. She is a nice lady, I like her a lot. Then my dad called and talked to my mom and said I should take my car to the Dodge dealership (he didn't pay for the extended warranty for nothing!). So I was like, I'll take it later after we run some errands. And then when we were leaving the parking lot my car did a lot of jerking and basically died on me. So off to the dealership we went after I got it started up again. End to a long story that could be longer, I am dropping it off on Sunday and they will look at it on Monday and I am praying/hoping all will be well and reasonably affordable.

What else? Went over to campus to pay a bill so we had a nice time chatting and walking around. It was really nice today! My mom of course being a mom said some very encouraging things about finding a boy, etc. Which included some compliments and I think we know I am not good with compliments so I just smiled and said "heh" and went into detail about a certain guy I like, but has no clue about it. Then Mom and I went over to Goodwill in West Lafayette. Found two tee shirts and two blouses and a cassette tape and a cd. When I was browsing through the different shirts it made me think back to high school/beginning of college and how I used to wear old lady shirts/old mens button shirts. I managed to part ways with a lot of them in the last few years. I remember my friend Charlie telling me he liked my style. If you call it style, I think my normal outfits back then consisted of me wearing jeans, a long sleeve plaid shirt with an old man cardigan over it and my grey clogs and my hair in a bun. I miss those clogs. I shouldn't have given them away. oh well. Anywho. Then we headed over to Starbucks where we got some Summer Berry Stacks and beverages. Writing this it makes me realize I do miss my parents and I really do appreciate the time I get to spend with them. My parents are great people, that is all I can say. And of course that I love them very much=)

Later I ran into some weird situations at Bank One, but I don't feel like typing that out. I stopped back by Starbucks to get that direct deposit slip (this was around 7 something) and ended up going with Abby to GFS to get trash bags. It was a fun little trip. I ended up confessing that I was giving up my old ways of having a million crushes and that even though I think shaggy haired/grand coffee is cute, he's moved out of the picture. I have decided to clean the slate and go with one crush. Venti nonfat no foam chai latte...sometimes iced. *sigh* Like, I got really excited the other day when he ordered through the drive through and I happened to be on dt. He knows my name so the next step is to find out his name. I was saying to Abby that he seems like a really nice guy and that he probably is nice to everyone like he is with me, and Abby said you never know. heh. Anyways, I should stop talking about this cause I am smiling like a krazy Asian;)

All for now.

I will blog later about my Street Team prize mix up. All you need to know at the moment is that I have a dark blue electric guitar in a box on my kitchen floor that has been signed by the members of Papa Roach. Man, I really wish I had a digital camera right now!

Woohoo hoo!

So listening to one of my fave songs by The Barenaked Ladies, It's All Been Done. It just makes me happy. Seems I have been saying a lot of things make me happy. But I don't see anything wrong with that to be quite honest.

After getting home from work and taking some more medicine and eating and after having taken a three/four hour rest, I feel better. (eeks...I really need to brush up on my use of conjunctions and commas...conjunction junction, what's your function?). I can't really sing to "It's All Been Done", but I definitely feel better than I did at the end of work. Sorry if I was kind of a drag. I try hard not to complain about things especially when I bring these things on (seemed bad timing with getting sick and working=Þ) and it seems when I get sick, it's not just light, it's like a week long thing. (This is where my dad would say, have you been taking your vitamins? You should have some zinc on hand.) Anywho.

Oh! Ross was ordained this past Friday and put his official two weeks in today. *sniff* But he reassured me today that we would always be blue paper clip buddies so it made me feel better and smile. I think on the whole, we (Hillary, Kelly, Todd, Jen, Abby, Heather,
Ginger and I, etc.) are very excited for him and glad that this part of his life is getting off the ground! But we are definitely sad that he will be leaving us. I am sad. I will have Rebecca (Ross' wife) as a roommate though, so I am really looking forward to getting to know her better and I imagine that we will get along well and be actual friends=)

So I am sure I have mentioned this before, but one of my favorite groups/musicians/artists, whatever you want to call it, is Smokey Robinson and The Miracles (and without them too, but mostly with) and one of my all-time favorite songs is "The Tracks of My Tears". I think I am just amazed at the hits that Smokey Robinson wrote and put out and also wrote for other groups. I think I mentioned this in a previous blog, but who knows what Motown would have been without him, where would Berry Gordy have been without him? Anyways, it seems like a common thing I do, so I will leave you with the lyrics to the song.

The Tracks of My Tears

People say I'm the life of the party
'Cause I tell a joke or two
Although I might be laughing loud and hearty
Deep inside I'm blue

So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears..

I need you, need you

Since you left me if you see me with another girl
Seeming like I'm having fun
Although she may be cute
She's just a substitute
Because you're the permanent one..

So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look a little bit closer, it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears..

I need you, need you

Outside I'm masquerading
Inside my hope is fading
Just a clown oh yeah
Since you put me down
My smile is my make up
I wear since my break up with you...

Baby take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears..

**********************************************

Ah, before I go, I also wanted to post some more quotes from cups at work that I liked.

#32

All humans realize they are loved
when witnessing the dawn: early
morning is the triumph of good
over evil. Absolved by light we
decide to go on.

-- Rufus Wainwright.

Another one of my fave musicians, v. talented as well.

#37

Embrace this right now life while
it's dripping, while the flavors are
excellently woesome. Take your
bites with bravery and boldness
since the learning and the growing
are here in these times, these exact
right nows. Capture these times.
Hold and kiss them because it
will soon be very different.

-- Jill Scott.

I must note that I do not listen to Jill Scott, but perhaps I would like her or at least her lyrics because I do like this little blurb from the cup. I don't know if its something she wrote specifically for this "The Way I See It" exhibit (on a cup in a Starbucks near you) or if it is from a song.

Off to read!