The Cat's Pajamas

Organic Dinner, Sort of...

2010-09-06T21:25:00.005-04:00

Today's dinner was amazing. Not only was everything (other than for the lamb) born and raised in the back garden, I helped make most of it! I washed the bean's, pealed the potatoes and mashed them, cut and arranged the salad plate, and well it seemed like more than that at the time.
Anyways the garden presents for tonight meal were: red baby potatoes, pole beans, orange and red tomatoes, green pepper, red radishes and white French Breakfast radishes. After a little slicing and dicing, boiling and draining, mashing and buttering dinner was accomplished. Dad put the finishing touches on the lamb as I mashed up the potatoes and mom set the table. A very clean, stable, fresh, and organic dinner-even though I am NOT organic. I love these kinds of dinners. Mmm.

A Dream's a Dream. Right?

2010-09-03T21:57:00.002-04:00

The other night I had the most fantastical dream, and whilst dreaming I thought, 'Hmm, this would make a great reality.' But alas, most dreams do not take the reality side of most people's lives; no they stay just that-Dreams.
And then it hit me, not like a freight train hit-but somewhere between that and my older brother punching me on the shoulder (all in good jest), when I dream a dream involving someone I know, or don't know for that matter, do they dream that same dream at that very moment? And when they wake up do they find themselves wishing to return to that dream long gone? Or do they forget, as most people do, the fantastical dream that occurred, just upstairs?
Most likely they forget, but what if...
Dreaming. A hobby of mine I will never tire of, for there I can live lives where anything is possible. The impossible is made possible. The unlikely is, well, likely. But for this dream to become anything but a dream reverts to the impossible and unlikely once my eyes open and the day starts anew. There is no room for dreams in reality, but one can only hope.
I can only hope.

Moist, Fluffy Scones

2010-05-19T22:32:00.005-04:00

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
1 3/4 cups Flour
2 1/2 teas. Baking Soda
3 Tables. Sugar
1/3 cup Butter-melted
1 Egg-slightly beaten
1/2 cup of desired FLAVOR-Apples/Cherries/Almonds/Chocolate Chips
1/3 cup Half and half

Blend the flour, baking soda, and sugar together. Stir in melted butter, then egg, then 'Flavor'. Add half and half, use hands to combine ingredients now.
Lightly flour the counter. Kneed the dough. Place on ungreased pan. Kneed down the dough into a circle, with clean edges. Cut into eighths. You may baste another egg on the top of it before putting in the oven, only if you choose.
Put in oven for 10-12 minutes.
Enjoy.

Always leaving room for improvement

2010-01-16T09:21:00.004-05:00

Recently I got offered a full time job with benefits and couldn't refuse, and in my last week of employment at my current job that is (was) part time with-out benefits I feel sad to go, nervous, curious, and lots of other descriptive words that go with those adjectives. I know this is for the best, as I can tell so far, and in the long run is the best choice for me. I love having the opportunity to improve my skills, knowledge, and life as I move on to this exciting new career option, that has so recently become reality.
Perhaps with this new improvement in my life there will follow others that help round out my life. None to mention at this time, but to follow in later blogging--possible. I want to always leave room for improvement.

Either

2009-11-29T15:07:00.004-05:00

Thanksgiving. A time of family, food, thanks, and giving. But what I love the most about it is the LOVE.
I say to him, "I love you."
"I love you either," Sammy says, not knowing that he is mixing up his 'too' and his 'either'. Sammy is 2, talks non-stop (one might be able to understand most of it), and loves his Aunt Gretch-as he calls me 'my Geshie'. He has a handsome head of curls that bounce as he runs to tackle me with a hug, all the while screaming 'my Geshie, my Geshie'.
Thanksgiving. I am thankful.

Breaking Heart pt. 3

2009-11-11T21:28:00.002-05:00

She woke up, like every morning half an hour after her alarm went off. Take a shower, get ready...nothing special. She pulls out her new pink and black dress, "Let's see how this looks in the mirror." She accessorizes with multiple things: a thick black belt, pink dangle/clinking earrings, high stiletto heels, and her black jacket. Her hair done in ringlets, like the product advertises, she heads out to her car for work.
Mindless listening to the radio she flips from station to station if a DJ comes on. "I hate listening to people just talk on the radio." Finding a song of interest she stops on that station. As most times come to reveal she's the first to work, not a big shocker-yet mostly predictable. She pulls out her 'New Moon' book she's reading before the movie comes out in theaters. "Gotta finish this so I can see what the movie leaves out."
Work. The morning is slow, like most days, and nothing new has happened. "What a shocker. Well, I'll re-make some document I guess." This kind of work is okay for her as long as she is working with her hands, keeping them busy means keeping her mind from wandering.
The glass door opens and in walks a customer. Looks at her, looks down at his paper, and suddenly looks back up at her. He points to his head and smiles. "Did you do something different with your hair?"
"Yes," she smiled politely back at him, "It's a little different."
The glass door opens again, she inhales. "It's him." She thinks to herself. Her face starts to blush.
"Can I help you?"
"Just a deposit." He leaves. What a let down. Every time.
New customers come in.
"How would you like that?--Have a nice day!"
The day has slowed again. More mindless remakes. Hands busy.
"Excuse me, I was wondering if you would help me with something." She looks up to find a man standing before her. Rugged face and tan skinned, he looked to be Italian or something, couldn't pin point the accent. Her fingers stopped their mindless ticking of the keys. Breathtaking.
She replied, "And what is that?"
"I'm new in town and I was just wondering if you knew of any good restaurants around. My parents are coming to visit and I want to take them someplace really nice." He shifted his weight to his right foot and leaned against the counter.
For his parents, of course. Why get my hopes up! Argh...so selfish of me! She thought to herself.
"Well here there's practically nothing. I would try just a couple exits south down the interstate. There are some pretty good choices down there." She twirled a pen in between her fingers.
"Thanks. Just down the interstate?"
"Yeah, about 12 minute drive. Lots of choices."--"Hope you can find something you like."
He stood up. "Well what one would you recommend."
"Well there's this great Sushi bar, but I'm into those kinds of things. It might not suit you and your parents." She gave him a quick once over.
"You'd be surprised!" He chuckled and walked out the glass door.

Breaking Heart pt.2

2009-11-09T14:12:00.004-05:00

She woke up this morning to Lady Gaga's ridiculous song, something to do with a disco stick. Running her fingers over the multiple buttons on her radio/alarm clock she finally finds the snooze, pushes it, and curls up under the covers. Warmth.
Deep sleep awoken before the time of 8 is uncalled for, and thus requires 30 minutes more of beauty sleep. Reluctantly she gets up after the third time the radio/alarm goes off. "I need a shower."
She brushes her hands over her face to help wake up. Sharp pain shot through her cheek, she checked in the mirror to see what was wrong-inflamed pore. "Stupid zits. Must be from stress." Pick, prod...it's too new to do anything. "Grr...ugly."
She looks into the mirror again after self-realization, her eye is red. "What the crap? Anything else wanna go wrong." She swallowed--her throat hurt. "Great. Make my day."
No rush to get to work she turned on her computer to get let down yet again by facebook. The time consuming, life taking web page is...no status update.

Getting to work was usual. No cars, farm land on either side, radio playing songs, DJ's talking--flipping channels. But upon arriving at work and remembering all the things that went wrong at work over the weekend, the wonderful day that she was having just 'got better'. "Work."
"Headaches just keep piling on! I need the hours though...I'll stick through it. Heroes is on later. I will just wait for that, look forward to that. It will help me get through the day." She shuts her car off and heads in to work. "I love what I do, really I do. It's just other things make it worse than it is."
The door opens.
"'Morning."

Breaking Heart by G.C.Greiner

2009-11-08T14:38:00.005-05:00

She shuffled her priorities in her mind as she glumly went down the stairs. "This always happens. Every time I go to open my mouth I shut it, because if I do say what is on my mind no doubt they will make fun of me."
Making it to her room she slumps into the orange retro chair. "Family is close to one on my priority list, but they knock me around all the time. I've told them that it hurts. Do they just forget? Does it make them smile to see tears in my eyes?" Brooding continues as she turns her Dell on to check and see if anyone wrote on her Facebook wall. Nothing.
"What's the point? Why do I even have this stupid thing? Why do I put up with the let downs it gives me?" She then thought how true those statements were, not only of her computer-but of her family.
"Move away. Forget the past. Move on. Start fresh somewhere else." It's the voice inside her head that is the most painful; the one that twists and nags at her every thought, the one that thinks it's right.
"But me, I have no money saved up to even start to move away, to start anew. Therefore I am stuck with living in this life of pain, tears, and breaking heart."
With no new posts or updates to check on Facebook she's left to wandering the web until her eye lids finally decide that 11:34 is sleep time. She turns on her heated mattress pad and alarm, and heads to the bathroom to brush teeth.
"To start all over again in 8 hours, the agony."

See the world

2009-09-30T23:00:00.004-04:00

I want to travel the world. Pretty much that's it. I don't really want to buy anything when I go to see the world, I just want to SEE the world. I don't want to have to worry about people kidnapping me, or taking my money, or running out of money...you know all the important stuff...I don't want to have to worry about that. I just want to see the world. Everywhere I haven't been, I want to be there. Everywhere.
I've already been to some places, but it's only a few next to the grandness of the rest of the world left for me to wander and explore.
Perhaps I should come up with some sort of show, like 'Wild America' or 'Rick Steves' (except with a less annoying voice), and I could be paid to go to all these places.
I wouldn't need much, just a backpack of the essentials and a walking stick-like Gandolf's from "The Lord of the Rings". The essentials being: clothes, toothbrush, deodorant, you know the things that can make you have a friendly appearance that won't have people saying, "Eww" and throw money at you to get you to go away-though that's not a bad idea to get extra spending cash for more essentials when those get worn out or gross.
I wouldn't carry a map. I wouldn't have a time span, unless I was doing something like-SEE THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, kind of thing-you know for that show idea.
To see the world in one lifetime would be my goal. What will come of this goal well, we'll have to see.

Check list:
Mexico
Argentina
Canada
Germany
France
Luxemburg
Belgium
(picture is the delicacy of Bamboo worms in China)

Movie review

2009-07-17T10:31:00.005-04:00

Calling all Jane Austen fans!! Calling all Jane Austen fans!!

Recently I watched a very interesting movie dealing with Jane Austen's well known novel "Pride and Prejudice".
It was called "Lost in Austen".
Just a quick overview of what the movies about.
Amanda Price has loved "Pride and Prejudice" since she was old enough to read, and could always picture the story coming to life-watching as Darcy and Elizabeth's story is told over and over again. This time though, it actually came to life! Elizabeth Bennett and Amanda Price have changed places, and Amanda has no idea how to get back to her own civilization in the 20Th century. She tries to fit in, but times have changed since the Bennett times.
Mixed with the initial story another story unfolds-but it's not like Jane Austen's novel anymore. Amanda needs to set things right with the Bennett's in Elizabeth's absence, not knowing when they will change places again, or perhaps she has to live in the Bennett era forever!

I have joined the masses!

2009-06-26T15:41:00.003-04:00

NetFlix
I have joined NetFlix!
Sad to say, it's mostly because of my latest TV show craze--Heroes.
Ever since I went and saw Star Trek, the newest one, I couldn't imagine how Spock could be anything but good, handsome, and awesomely brilliant. And then I started to watch Heroes.
Sylar.

Brilliant, handsome--evil. At times you would think he was good and then something would spark to aggravate him, or he would catch a glimpse of himself in the mirror and his eyes would glaze over and he would no longer be the sweet, innocent Gabriel.
True, he has huge eyebrows and a crooked smile. But he is an amazing actor! If you haven't seen his show, Heroes, or seen his latest role in Star Trek I recommend both for viewing pleasure!

Joke #2

2009-06-22T10:58:00.000-04:00

What was the last thing to go through the bugs mind when he hit the windshield?

Joke #1

2009-06-22T10:46:00.002-04:00

What did the fish, swimming upstream, say when he ran into the wall?

China May 2009-7

2009-06-19T13:58:00.002-04:00

Monday
Last day of clinic. Sitting here, waiting for more people. Sunny just showed James my resume for a man. He's a Winner!! Hahaha...no.
On Sunday I went into dad's room to use the computer and someone came in and ate a peanut butter sandwhich. I was sick for half of the day. My throat was swollen, eyes were red, and my stomach hurt. Around 3:30 we went to this lake where we got to go fishing. I caught a shrimp with my bare hands-cool. (I was feeling better.) Then we had dinner and headed back to the hotel.
Hum....dreaming.
People are here.
If only I could tell you the things I day-dream about.... :-)
Later Monday night
I played basketball with some local police, 3 on 3, Anna and Pastor Dave were on my team. Afterwards we went to dinner across the street. We told jokes and stories to make each other laugh. And then it was a quiet ride home for me, leading into a shower and then devos, followed by thanks to each team member. Sigh, today's clinic we had served over 200 people!! Yeah!!

China May 2009-6

2009-06-19T13:24:00.002-04:00

Saturday, early morning before I knew the time
Yesterday was 3rd clinic day. The day where we had to sleep overnight in the village in bunkbeds with Tom and Jerry (well just Jerry) attire. But I've skipped ahead.
I woke up Friday morning with the thought that it was Thursday-wrong!!
It was a tough wake up morning. I had a tight right shoulder from playing the 'tops' with the natives and having the air conditioning on while I slept. It's okay-Cindy, Janet's mom, is the nurse and can give me a massage. (She did-plus a few others helped out!) We did devos and headed out for breakfast. We had breakfast of rice noodles again! They are so tasty.
We were off for out 2 1/2 hour drive to the village with 'little' mountains and winding roads. I sat in the back of the bus, across from Julianna and behind Cindy and Anna-behind us in the long seat was Dad, Dorothy, and James. James kept looking over my shoulder seeing what I was doing-he saw that I was doing Sudoku and has never been taught, so he asked me to teach him later.
About an hour was left by the time we stopped for a potty break at this little park-stretch our legs, try to not step in huge mudd puddles. Back on the bus.
We got to the government house-where we would be doing the clinic. We had time to stretch our legs, look around, go pee before we walked up the road through the village to lunch.
There were little chickens, hens, dogs running around at the lunch place. Ok clarify only the chix and the hens were running around-the dog lay lifeless with his tongue hanging out...in the fridge; not the whole dog-half of him.
We headed back to the government officials house to set up for clinic. We saw over 120 people in that afternoon, giving out 126 pairs of glasses. I did the reading part of the clinic again-I loved it. After the clinic we all headed back up the hill for dinner, in the rain. This meal was mostly grean looking with green leafy veggies, cucumbers, rice, a little meat and I had a coke to drink.
(not written down in journal-recall from memory)
It rained of course that night, yet the officials still wanted to play a game of basketball against the Americans. We played...so scary. I cut my lounge pants off so that they were make-shift shorts. I only had crocs to play in--not a good idea. The ground was so slippery. We played--Americans against China Government officials. Such an awesome game. Oh did I mention that I fell?! Yup, wipe out. Everyone was so nice, course they all thought I scraped/ripped/broke something...not a scratch!
(Course I was a little sore in the morning.)
So our clinic the following morning didn't have hardly as many people as the day before, so we closed up shop early and decided to head home--stopping on the way at a little park. Headed back to the hotel for a restful night and day off the next day!

China May 2009-5

2009-06-19T11:54:00.004-04:00

5:55 p.m. Thursday
Today was a day of rest. We had a light breakfast and devos before we headed out to the tea factory. We got to see the history of tea making, we got to try some, and then we bought some. We headed for lunch-where we sat on tiny stools and I ate a chicken tail. Walk down the hill to our entertainment of the natives dancing, singing, and making us join them in various things. Everyone wanted to have their pictures taken with us. The most handsome guy of the village was single and 21-I got a picture with him.
We traveled down another hill to see the agriculture and waterbuffalos! It rained a little bit on us as we traveled back up the hill. It was refreshing!
Now I'm sitting, waiting for dinner in the same place that we had lunch.
(not written down in journal-recall from memory)
Alrighty, so the various things that the villagers made us do were: we had to 'hop' with them through these bamboo poles, spin tops with them, dance, and then we sang with them. An amazing few hours.
The waterbuffalo licked my arm, probably because it was salty. One of the villagers sat on the buffalo--it was like seeing a rodeo--that buffalo didn't like it at all!
The handsome, 21 year old, heartthrob of the village graced us with his talents of voice and guitar. Pretty amazing!
For dinner, up at the same place we had had lunch, they served us watermelon as an 'appetizer'--lots of watermelon. And then we sat down to an awesome meal that they had prepared for us. And before we were done eating a group of the villagers came around to our tables with shot glasses full of rice wine--they wanted to toast us, three times! It was an interesting flavor and toast...I didn't understand anything but Sunny was right next to me translating and Cindy was also translating from across the table. The villager was thanking us for coming on our day of rest to their village and for allowing them to make us lunch and dinner. They were so greatful that we were there and that we participated in the activities with them.
We also decided to toast...some in English others in our group did Mandarin.
After the toasts everyone agreed to sing, again, to each other. We sang them the doxology--in English-- and some other Christian songs. The officials were right there, listening to us. Amazing! The villagers sang back to us some of their tribal songs and popular ones sung in China. It was truely an awesome experience.

China May 2009-4

2009-06-08T22:34:00.005-04:00

9:55 p.m. Wednesday
My devo's were interesting-short and sweet. We headed to clinic Day 1 after devo's, but first we grabbed a bite in a side restaruant. We had rice noodles with toppings and pork filled buns. It was very delicious and very filling.
Set up for clinic.
People were already there-waiting. Set up was a little rough but it was our first time. I was at the distribution station- which is: I read the paper and get several pairs of glasses that the person might like. It was so busy in the morning, but around 12:30 it slowed to a stop and we had lunch.
While we were still having lunch we had a line start forming. It was slow for about a half hour and then it picked up so fast. But it went by pretty fast. There was one little old lady-wearing a light blue shirt with a white thick scarf around her head-she had the funniest, most contagious laugh and smile. She pretty much made my day.

Cleaned up around 5:30 and headed to dinner-another hole in the wall. So much, yet delicious. We had devo's once we got back to the hotel. And after devo's a group of us went out to the pavilion outside our hotel to see the dance concert that had representatives of the groups of the natives. Chinese kids!

China May 2009-3

2009-06-08T22:20:00.007-04:00

7:03 a.m. Tuesday (Shuang Jiang)
Woke up, had devos, and awesome breakfast and headed out to the market to shop for stuff! I found my supporter's gifts. Then we had a spicy lunch-mmm-except I couldn't fully enjoy it because since I had woken up my throat was swollen and I'd felt dizzy.

After lunch we headed to the airport in taxis and a van for our hour flight. That plane ride was horrible I felt sick to my stomach-Janet kept me company with her farce voice for Bobbie the Happy tea bottle (who apparently was in love with me), plus the row of Chinese boys in front of us had questions for us. Once we got into the bus for out two hour ride I took some motion sickness pills to help with my queasy-ness. The scenery was beautiful-rolling hills-thousands of crops.
Dinner was with the government officials-good stuff-I was feeling better. I saw three geckos, took some pictures, peed in a hole, and got attacked by mosquitoes.
We drove for another half hour and got to our hotel.
Unloaded all the luggage and then got out room assignments Julianna and I got settled into our rooms, and then headed to dad's room for devo's-it was Julianna's turn-and we got to sing "Seek Ye First". We went back to our rooms to sleep but I had to write my devo's for this morning.
This bed is hard. Off to sleep.

China May 2009-2

2009-06-08T21:38:00.005-04:00

Sunday night 7:30 p.m. (Kunming), May 10
Mosquito. That's my night for you. That little bugger kept me awake for the few hours I had to catch some sleep. I turned on Julianna's iPod to "Groove it out", a playlist, which started with Linkin Park & Jay-Z's "99 Problems/One Step Closer" and ended with "Tell Me 'Bout It" by Joss Stone. We were ready to go to breakfast at 7:40ish.
The most amazing hotel breakfast spread I've ever seen. They had from fresh fruit and veggies to omelets, bean buns to chicken feet, spicy potato wedges to make your-own-soup. I believe I had watermelon, apples, pears and white kiwi; two bean buns, sweet bun, ham, two red/green plum fruits, potato spicy wedges, and warm orange/pineapple juice.
Julianna got sick, so she and dad stayed home, while the rest of us (plus Joel, Anna, and Sean) went to Chinese church via bus.
The church service was held in all Chinese, but recently they were able to put it on earphone sets that translated everything. I got one of those. The hymnal was bilingual so English was on one side and Mandarin was on the other. It made it easy for Janet and Cindy-who are from China, on the trip with us, along with the CA group- to follow along as I did.
After church we mingled with some of the locals-finding out that one of them has a brother in S.F., CA. Church was almost two hours long-never complaining about my church being too long! Our group headed to our spot of destination for lunch. We had two big tables-almost twenty people-each filled with six or seven different things to eat. Unreasonably the tea cost more than the soda's and water. Anna and Joel made a big fuss about my allergies, watching everything I ate and telling me what was good and not good for me to eat. More fuss than necessary.
After lunch we split off into groups and all ventured around Green Lake. The sun was blazing hot, yet nice to feel coming from Michigan. Janet, Julianna and I took multiple pictures while dad and Pastor Walt (from the IL group)talked and walked around.
Around 3 we split up and half of us stayed and took taxis while my group took Joel's van. Blazing hot-Julianna, Janet, and I piled into the back, Walt and Dorothy (from the IL group, whom can't seem to remember my name) sat in the middle, Joel drove and Steve (from IL group, married to Dorothy) had shotty. Joel forgot his key to the office so we went to his family's apartment. Waiting for the other group we met Joel's family again his two daughters and wife.
Our group then went to the office to have orientation, just some background info on Sean, Anna, and Joel the mission work throughout China and what our two weeks were going to be like.
The group walked to dinner at Hong Dou Yuan and again squeezed into a table. We had about 10 dishes swiveling around, one of which had a blackened chicken head and foot. Dinner's dishes were a bit more spicy, but handleable-with some Coke. We decided to walk, again, to our hotel. Good exercise, and we got to see more of the culture and shops.
We had devos in 1609-dad's room- he talked about our yolk and Jesus taking ours and we taking His. After that it was off to bed. Wait-I called mom after devos to wish her happy mother's day. Bed.

China May 2009-1

2009-06-07T21:15:00.006-04:00

May 9, 2009 2:05 a.m.
First inflight meal-didn't eat-was like a pork/beef bun. Second was beef eggplant, rice, 4 carrot slices, one slice of pineapple cantelope muskmelon, bread roll, salad. Third meal, which I just finished, was seafood-shrimp-, rice, green beans, coleslaw, pineapple shortcake, bread roll. After second meal I took three Advil PMs and zonked out for 8 hours, waking with only 2 1/2 hours left. The plane is 38,000 feet above the ground going 433 miles per hour, and the temperature (in case I had wanted to step outside of the plane as we were flying 437 miler per hour) was -70 degrees F.
In order to fall asleep, since the sun was out all the way there, I had my Advil PM (of course), my eye cover, earplugs, pillow, blanket, and I plugged into the radio-turned to Relax radio.
7:10 a.m.

Stepped off the plane and set foot for the first time in China-Beijing. It was dark. We wandered around the stores checking out the different things. They have a TCBC and KFC. For a bottle of Evian water it was 28 yuan, which is like #3.75 American.

Meet Julianna. She's 29, staffer at St. Paul, Illinois. She really like the zombie version of 'Pride & Predjudice', 'Twilight' on tape, and 'The Dutchess' (the movie that was shown on the flight over).
On the plane to Kunming. Stuck in the middle between dad and a guy that smells of garlic-bad. All I wanted to do was sleep, but the people behind me are talking really loud, coughing, and hacking up lungs-plus the cabin lights are on, and the TV is playing. There is still about 2 hours left.
I'm pretty excited about tomorrow. New day-no flying-meet people-day of rest-go to church-shopping... I'm super hot right now. I can't take my sweatshirt off cause I'm wearing my MOST shirt. So hot. Waiting for the cabin lights to go off. Sleep.

China May 2009

2009-06-02T22:10:00.011-04:00

May 8, 2009 6:18 a.m.
Last night I set my alarm for 5:20 a.m.-we were to leave at 6 a.m. Going to bed at 10:40ish I was giving myself at least 6 good hours of sleep.
Dreaming...I had a wonderful, eventful dream. Don't ask me what it was about because I can't tell because I can't remember...because Dad came upstairs and woke me at 5:07 a.m.
"Wake up Snoodie,"
"Dad, I set my alarm-I have 13 more minutes!"
"Oh." And he was gone.
My eyes drift back when 5 minutes later a blinding light comes from the hallway outside my bedroom door, followed by "Snoodie!"...my mom.
Give me at least 5 more minutes, I thought.
"It's been about a year now..." started playing at 5:20. I got up, washed my feet, changed, packed up the last bit, cursed politely at the iPod for not charging overnight and not loading my Mandarin, took my luggage downstairs to mom and dad's scale to weigh it-39 pounds. Mom needed about 5 hugs before we were off. I watched mom and dad embrace and kiss. I love watching them.
We got in the car and were off. 5:57 a.m.-early.
1:30 p.m.
Checking baggage was easy, no problem going through security-one and a half hour wait. I was starving! So dad and I got some "Chile's to go". He got a banana and water, and I got a fruit cup ($4.99!), orange, and a water. Not much of a breakfast, but there was nothing else. The time flew and we were already boarding the plane. I found our seats easy enough-24 a/c. Someone was going to be sitting between us, easy fact-the flight was full(except for the row behind me which had an empty seat!). No problem I was going to be sleeping. I buckled in.
An Asian woman came into our row, but apparently didn't want to stay so, as I believe it was, her husband switched with her. I slept for an hour, woke up, peed, did some puzzles, went back to sleep for 2ish hours. This time when I woke up I looked out the window and saw snow capped mountains-beautiful. I ordered a glass of ice. We have about one hour left.

4:45 p.m.(S.F.)
Walked a bit to the international terminal. Had lunch at a Japanese place-I had a whole squid, and tried dad's noodle soup. His soup had seaweed, chicken, shrimp, squid, turnip or something, lettuce, egg, and noodles.

After lunch we headed back to find our terminal. We found it-the plane is huge, two stories, but our seats are small-cramped.

Instead of having personal monitors everyone has to watch the same thing-which is right in front of me, making it difficult to see it clearly. At least I have some leg room. The seats go a-c, d-g, h-j. Dad's in D and I'm in F no one is in either E or G. Eating beef jerky and almond M & M's...healthy!

MONK

2009-04-18T23:33:00.003-04:00

I don't know how many of you watch MONK, but as I'm starting the 5th season I find myself doing various things just like Mr. Monk does throughout my day. I find myself using hand sanitizer after I touch anything, especially things that I know have multiple germs on them. I notice things, just like Mr. Monk does, in my everyday life that I wouldn't have before. I love it. Well I love watching Mr. Monk.

I am terrified.

2009-03-19T15:13:00.002-04:00

I am terrified. Terrified of growing up, paying bills, seeing the people I love move on, friends moving away, but mostly finding the man that will spend his life with me in love, happiness, and faithfulness.
What terrifies me is the idea of taking the time to get to know that person, because I feel that for some reason a life isn’t that terribly long to live and why ‘waste’ it on getting to know someone-and have the possibility of them not being that one and they end up breaking your heart.
But what do I know!
My fear, I know my fear, of getting to know someone that has a possibility of being that one someone for me is so terrifying to me. And to cope with the fear, well I introvert everything that life throws at me. I tuck it away deep in my mind, where I can replay it over and over again, and never let anyone else know the reasons for pains or joys that one moment gave me. What’s the point? That person will either approve or disapprove. It’s always the same outcome; and most times it’s disappointing, because I am looking for the opposite reaction.
One possible reason for this fear is because I do not like to fight, and it seems like I see multiple couples fighting in various instances. What if my love life was like that? What could I do then? I am terrified.
And how am I supposed to overcome this fear? What possible way can I learn to live with it, if need be?
Why can’t I just live a free, carefree life that has no fears?
To answer that last question…without fear how can there be love?
Don’t just follow your heart, ‘cause your heart can deceive. Sometimes you have to lead. (Quote from “Fireproof”)
It plainly is just not my time to live that part of my life if I am that afraid of what will happen, what the outcome will be. It is all up to Him. God doesn’t judge by your standards, He judges by His. (Quote from “Fireproof”)
All of my fears I have to give to Him. All of my waiting is up to Him; when He decides it is time to bring those things into my life, when He thinks that I am ready for the trials and new memories.
But until that day, I will still be the introvert that I have been, that special man will just have to find a way to my heart.

Disputable fact

2009-02-09T10:59:00.002-05:00

What is the term used when you turn the age of the day you were born on?
For instance, I was born on the 21st--so this year would be my ____ birthday, because I'm turning 21.
I believe that it is known as your golden birthday. Always known it to be as such, but was recently confronted about it not being called such a name. What is it?

Name that memory!

2009-02-04T12:50:00.002-05:00

Ok. Does anyone else assosiate a song and memory together?
I have one. Michelle Branch "Everywhere"...Toronto shopping trip with the Kinney's, Nowicki's, and my mom, dad, and Bill. Everytime I hear that song, pretty much the whole trip flashes through my mind, covering everything in like 10 seconds!
Amazing!

Mr. Right or Mr. Right-Now

2009-01-19T23:34:00.005-05:00

I have always had this thing in the back of my mind, bugging me- swaying my thoughts and decisions. Do any of you? Not perhaps on the same topic or idea that mine is on, but all the same- that something that bugs you for years upon years.

How would you know if Mr. Right is/was truly Mr. Right, or merely Mr. Right-Now?

This morning I finished the third book of the Twilight series. Yes, I am one of those people who is almost completely obsessed with the newly popular vampire-werewolf novels. OK, I'm not just almost completely obsessed. I am. (I agreed to go to the fabric store with my sister, Ilona, tomorrow only if she promised to stop by Target so that I could purchase Breaking Dawn.) A little obsessed.

Anyways, Edward- the hunk in the novels, who happens to be a vampire-has outstanding morals and self-control around the woman whom he loves, Bella. He restrains himself because he knows that a life without her is in fact no life to live at all, even if he is 'immortal'. Now is he just a man of the books, the kind of man that you only find in paperback, or hard covered, novels? Is that kind of affection and love only best depicted with ink and paper? Is that the kind of thing of a Mr. Right or a Mr. Right-Now?

Falling back to real life for a moment, away from the dreamy golden eyes of Edward.

All the romance stories I hear about in real life, well--they aren't the ink and paper description. They lack-passion. Not that I want to hear about people's passion, I would just like to know it is livable, real--that this book can be more believable.

I thought I had that kind of passion. Many months ago. I still struggle with the idea of Mr. Right and Mr. Right-Now. At the time he was my Mr. Right. No doubt about it. But as we took a step back and more than a half year later I realize that he was just my Mr. Right-Now.

So my real question is, my one question that has me puzzled with unending answers and even more questions is...Can that passion only be in characters of the Right-Now? Or will that Mr. Right, when in fact he is found, be all that you could hope and dream for in a romantic relationship?

Life moves on.

2009-01-15T11:25:00.005-05:00

So my first class has finished and I'm here in one of the seemingly many hallways of LCC, sitting silently on the hard, super cold tiled floor waiting for a friend to get out of class in a half hour. Occasionally I glance up to see who is passing me by, a teacher a student-anyone I might recognize. No one. Very different from CUAA's life. I know literally no one here. Not a single familiar face. My dread that I've been holding inside has suddenly sunk deep into me now, as I am cold in an unfamiliar place. It's gripping at my only happiness, my only escape. Yet, I push it aside knowing that if I didn't I would never grow-never know any faces that walk past me. The next person to walk by I will acquire their name, and give mine in return. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. Ah yes, someone. His name is Matt.
Welcome smiling face. He has a dirty blonde beard and oval glasses, accompanied by his Sparty sweatshirt and jeans. Wonderful. Someone talked to me. Perhaps I made his day, like he did mine.
Life moves on.
More people walk by, no talking involved. Back to my old self. Nice to meet you Andy. He's good. Smile. He walks around the corner and disappears. Didn't catch anything else about Mr. Andy. He seemed to be in a hurry though.
No one.
Life moves on.
Waiting. Waiting. Nothing. Perhaps something...no, just busy professors.
No one.
Listening to other people's conversations.
A man around the corner, whom I can not see. Seems like a jock--very cocky voice. Anyways, he needs his mom to pick him up after he's done with classes. No, she can't. He will meet her at her work. Interesting. Tune out.
A man down the hall is talking very loud on his cell phone, because he doesn't get great reception. Apparently the person on the other end doesn't have internet--big deal apparently. He seems to have a bad attitude. Bye. No bars.
Waiting. Waiting.
Crazy thing. the mean guy on the phone...was in fact the same man who made my day. Weird.
Waiting.
It will soon be over. And my friend's class will be done. We will go have lunch somewhere and then go about our days of classes.
Life moves on.

Only the beginning...

2009-01-13T10:38:00.001-05:00

Her eyes grew brighter and brighter, like the rising moon on an autumn night, to a more clear white from the vibrant orange-yellow as she stepped from behind the dumpster. She slid into the sun patch in the valley and stretched; with every movement she changed from jet black to dark brown-never settling on either. She swayed form side to side, surveying the nearby exits form the alley-it was clear. She set a course for the dead end and made a clear shot, finding the hole she was so familiar with--home.

"Stuck again. Always the most tempting thing is a trap!" He sat stiffly on the metal grate floor only to stop himself from the continuous pacing he had been doing for the past 2 hours, which had gotten him nothing but sore legs. "Another trip to jail or will this time I find the hidden pin to release me from this trap?" He scanned the entirety of the cage four times before closing his eyes. "Jail it is."

The Always Faithful

2009-01-09T13:51:00.001-05:00

She waits patiently as I make my way to my car, to head to work. She then either races me down the drive or trots so delicately on four paws in front of my car, tail high in the air, because she knows she is important to me.
So we head to the red building, Home to her and her 7 kids, and Simon-the dog. She waits patiently again for me to park the car and head in to feed her-and her children-breakfast. She jumps onto the workbench where the dish sets, waiting to be overfilled with Kibbles 'n Bits, and "kick one's heels" for me to finish giving breakfast to her always hungry kitties. Once I put the food away in Daddio's workshop, she stands up-arches her back and purrs away as my hand reaches out to stroke her tuxedo fur. And once I leave she goes about eating her breakfast, but only once I've left.

When the weather is nice and I have the chance to sit outside with her. She always jumps onto my lap with fluidity, not ever using her retractable claws. She turns 'round several times and then curls up in a ball on my lap and purrs fiercely.
She walks beside me faithfully wherever I journey to, and is always there with an open ear and willing kiss on the nose.
Her name is Cookie, and she is the best cat in the world.

Thanks

2009-01-08T13:45:00.000-05:00

Thanks to my sister for finally getting to me with her awesome blogging, to start my own. I have finally decided to write so the world can know what goes on in my head or throughout my day. Welcome all readers to---The Cat's Pajamas!