My New Thing

I've taking up knitting.

I'm an old woman who deserves to live with a lot of cats. I did get excited about A getting a new kitten, too... and I even thought of a name... My heart is changing.

Seriously! I'm loving this knitting! I just learned last week. So far I've made gloves, a scarf, I started a headband! I have a whole list of projects I'd love to complete! It's been a great filler for my Christmas break!

Well, that running. Which I've been very, very bad about. I have not been as motivated for this Mercedes as I was the last one. I can do it, I can do it, I can do it! I'm very behind on training.

So now, if I can get creative enough, I might just start an Etsy store...

babababababa

I have the worst case of ADD today. Bad, bad timing! Last week was dead week, this week is finals. I feel like I'm so close to the end of a marathon and don't have enough strength to make it to the end!

It's so cold outside today. My original plan was to move into the library yesterday, today, and tomorrow. However, I'm so cozy in my holy pajama pants and my hot tea, I think I'll stay home with my books. I'm only leaving the house for Sitar Sunday. :) Today, I'm full of statistics, maybe I'll look at some Anthropology, and probably some Microbiology. The latter is by far my favorite class this semester.

This semester was pretty stressful. I had what should have been an interesting and easy class turned into a nightmare. I think I'm always going to have the one class in a semester that is a bigger headache than it should be. That will always leave me with zero free time and extra stress.

Dear A,

Thank you for your patience this semester, especially the last few weeks when I've wanted to blow away the crazyanthrowoman.

I love you

Now back to going, going, going, going, going, Sitar, going, going, going, going...

PS. Los Torascos has been replaced as my favorite restaurant. Shocker!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I start eating... damn, I've done so good! LoL

Seriously, it's been so incredibly insane in my world lately that time with family and in my hometown is a welcome idea! I can't wait! I leave immediately after work to get my two youngest nephews to spoil with my affection and then I'm headed to spend some time with the grandparents. It's going to be a great Thanksgiving this year. Really wish I could spend more of it with A but we have so much family between the two of us! I think this is the first Thanksgiving that I'll see both sides of my family on the same day.... well since my parents divorced!

I've have a lot to be thankful for this year! I hope you have a great one as well!

This small break, while, only a short time, is so healthy for me! Everything has been go, go, go, go the last several weeks, and now with finals and dead week just next week, this is a great chance to catch my breath! I'm gradually getting a little bit more free time as I go so if you know of anyone looking for a photographer for Christmas cards or anything, send them my way!

Friday is my first EVER Alabama Auburn game... Dear God, please don't let me leave in tears! Roll Tide!

Not enough hours in the day

What the hell is Microsoft Access?? I have no clue!

I'm working on these modules for my CS class and laughing so hard I hurt at the lucky guesses I'm making. The power was out at my apartment complex for... oh all night, and so I'm waayyyy behind on getting things done! I have a research project to do, a CS test on Access (that I haven't got a clue what it's point is for...I mean, Excel's not complicated enough?? Or good enough for that matter??), a coffee date Yay! Coffee!!, and A's parents are coming to town. Not to mention I have to be in bed early so I can get up at 4 am OR find somewhere in this madness to get a nap.

Dear God, please let it stop raining when it's time for me to peddle my happy self home. That's a long ride in the rain...

In other news, I'm running, but I'm gimp. I will not let an injury stop me from running another Mercedes!

Where's my heart rate?

Fall Break.

W00t!

How it's spent? Last night, had a party to shoot. Started off pretty easy, then turned challenging when it moved indoors and it was dark and I couldn't see to manually focus the lens. The camera couldn't see to automatically focus, either. I had a lot of hit and misses. Now I know where I need to work on my skills. Today, I have another shoot, hence the Senior portrait rant earlier. Then it's back to work to record weekend programming and remotes. Then it's me, myself, and movies! Maybe a book. Or maybe I'll be responsible and see what schoolwork I can catch up on.

I'm kind of glad to have a little time to myself. It's been really hectic lately. The marathon of tests I had the last two weeks, work, shoots, birthday parties, games, school, and the list goes on and on and on... pant pant pant It's insane! Fortunately, all the hard work and effort is paying off. Aced my Stats test, 96 on Micro, 89 on CS, and 85 on Anthro. I survived!

And the Sitar was good!

Tomorrow, we're celebrating my nephew's 2nd birthday! He's such a big man! Scratch free time activities, I have to make A's and my Halloween costumes for party...

Blink Blink Blink

Holy Crap!

These are Senior Portraits.

I'm flabbergasted. When did parents OK such suggestive Senior portraits of their daughters?

I'm just doing a little bit of homework before my shoot this morning and I stumbled upon these. Fortunately for me, my subject is a guy and his mom is coming.

These are fantastic photos, my grievance is that these are Senior portraits! What happened to having your pom pom and a feauxground and a ladder?! If they were working on a modeling contract, I'd say something different; like I said, the photography itself it great. It's the premises that just blows my mind...

The Day the Energizer Bunny Died

I'm exhausted. I'm running on a collective 8 hours of sleep since 4 am Wednesday morning. These tests are starting to get to me a bit. I will not cry. I want Sitar, DrSxDP.

I feel like the little engine that's running out of steam and still could.

I know I'm losing it when I actually BUY an app from the app store. It's been so long since I've done that, iTunes doesn't even have the correct billing information for me!

So, Anthro test today. I'm going over the study guide, again, and looking up things that aren't in my notes, or in the text, or in the massive amount of articles she wants us to read, or any other supplemental information she threw at us. That's only majority of the study guide.

FML.

I finally fixed him Shepard's Pie

I can bitch about stress all I want to but I have to remember one thing: I'm very blessed. I have a lot of supportive people in my life, a lot of people who love me and want to see me do well.

More importantly, I'm happy.

I have the most amazing person with me who makes me smile. Every time I feel stressed, I can just be around him and forget about it. It is so nice to have someone who loves me just as me. Not for what I can do for him. He doesn't want me to do anything for him. He doesn't want me to be anybody else. He doesn't talk down to me, he is always so positive and loving, he's supportive, and believes in me. He is respectful and not demanding. He listens and communicates instead of shuts down during even the simplest of conversations.

I have found the perfect man! SCORE!!

This month is Domestic Violence Awareness month. I don't talk much about my previous marriage, and honestly, I don't want to. I was one of the more fortunate women. I just want any woman (or man) in any abusive relationship to know that you're better than that, and if you have kids, they're better than that! There's help! I know that it's not as simple as packing a bag to leave, but there is freedom from an abusive relationship!

Get Help: http://dvam.vawnet.org/

Show support: http://twibbon.com/cause/Speak-Out-Domestic-Violence/

I'm so thankful to God that I have A now. He's shown me that is still good in people, and I love his huge heart. I hope he knows just how much he's helped me heal.

Chew!!! Chew!!!

Somebody once told me to remember how to eat an elephant.

I'm so thankful that when I'm overwhelmed that I have that tip. This is one of those weeks. It's been hard to keep blinders on and do one thing at a time because so much is going on and it's gotten so easy to fall behind. When I look ahead, I see more things coming that will make me more overwhelmed than I already am. I just want a breather.

I'm determined to run another Mercedes. I'm working mornings and afternoons in radio. I have classes in between. Somewhere I have to study and sleep... and there is that eating thing, it's kind of important. This is one of the harder weeks I've had since my life went from a easy pace of 35 miles per hour to 135. I have back to back tests this week. Not just tests, major exams. Microbiology, CS (which is painfully easy, thank God!), and my nemesis, Anthropology.

Anthropology is the thorn in my side! It's ridiculous! Thanks to @thegeekwife who verified that it is overly complicated for an entry level course! Knowing that I'm not the only one wanted to scream at this crazy professor makes me feel more sane. This woman draws hearts on her question marks and dots her "i's" with hearts! HEARTS!!

Who does that??????? She's a college professor!! In this evil class that should be much more enjoyable and interesting, she loves to lecture and use every piece of technology in the room. She invents a lecture segment or project for each knew gadget she finds. She's never heard the term "keep it simple". Obviously. And she's prissy. I understand this is a week argument as to why she shouldn't be teaching Anthropology, but it's just annoying. It's like I'm taking a class from Elle Woods! Not to mention, this is her first year at UA. Before, she was at Indiana. For a year. As an assistant. Just an assistant. Before that? (Insert heart at bottom of question mark) She was a teacher for Kaplan, the online college... that offers easy degrees. Apparently, her only claim to fame is the time she spent in Malaysia studying nutrition.

I expect two things from her experience:

• To be able to keep an introduction to cultural Anthropology simple and to an introduction by staying away from the arguments and debates of all the theories involved in Anthropology. In an introduction, 100 level class, there is no need to be able to apply, debate, and infer a truth to any debate to Anthropology. However, if I was a graduate Anthropology student, yep, I'd see the need.
• To be able to answer questions posed in lectures and by students with out any ambiguity and to not put debatable questions on any exams.

Why do I have to spend so much time punishing myself with this course when, for me, it doesn't matter? This should be treated as a 100-level class. Ask me what theory means what, not which theory is more provable right after you tell me theories can only be disproved. Don't tell me the humans species are not dimorphic right after you tell me they are, then ask me an exam question wanting me to define humans as either dimorphic or not.

I digress. I just need to take my argument to the dean.

I was just going to write about how much is on my plate. Obviously, Anthropology is my elephant and the other items are just a la cart...

Last Birthday Gift Idea #9a & b

a.) I would like a nice digital camera. Just a simple point-and-shoot camera. I don't have one. All of my cameras are big DSLRs and aren't really handy to carry around to games, the quad, or outings with friends. I use my iPhone for a lot of picture taking now, however, it's not functional when I'm at a game, as my battery dies. I really think there is a machine that sucks the life out of my battery in the stadium. So, I'd really enjoy a little digital camera.

b.) I've always wanted one of these: A polaroid camera. I love them! If you know me at all, I love photography, period, and for my next fun photography project, I'd like to start a collection of polaroids. There is nothing more charming to me in photography than authentic, real photos. Polaroids capture that to me. I want one, so bad!

Who's Blonde?

So I decided to change my hair color! It was random. I've always wanted to see what I would look like as a brunette and got a wild hair up my ass and decided to try it.

So last week I bought a bottle of hair color. However, I should've consulted someone who's colored hair before consider I've never colored my own hair. What's helpful to know is that when one has a lot of hair (like I do) sometimes, one bottle of Garnier is not enough! Sometimes when you have thick, long locks (like I do), you require TWO bottles to get the job done.

And as brilliant as I am, I decided to get this wild hair at 10 o'clock at night.

So when my roommates come in to see what I'm doing, one mentions, "Is that enough hair color??"

"Uhhh...."

"Stephanie, you need more hair color..."

My hair was only half way saturated when the bottle emptied. So while one roommate and I were stretching the color as far as it would go, the other two roommates were trying to find a place in town that was still open and had my hair color...

There wasn't a place open that also had my hair color. Big fat zero in that part of the Venn Diagram. So while Auburn was making their undeserving comeback in overtime against Clemson (oh so close!), I was rinsing hair color out of my hair for the second time this week. And that is why I love my friend, T, because she helped me put $20 worth of hair color in my hair to make it much darker than before, and I think A is happy with it, too. Yay, for happy endings!

Last Birthday Gift Idea #8

I need new running shoes. I prefer these. I plan on running mercedes again and I haven't bought new running shoes since I ran that half-marathon. It's very difficult to balance school and training and staying motivated. I'm looking for a running partner to help keep me motivated and accountable if anyone's interested. As for the shoes, maybe just a gift card since I'm not sure what size to get.

How I got ready for the game

I think I've found a new hidden skill. I decided to get creative with my nails for the Bama/Penn St. game last week and here's how it turned out...

I think I'm going to start charging $15 a set! Ha! I think for me to have done them myself, they turned out pretty damn good!!

Steph's Last Birthday Gift #7

Skullcandy earbuds.

My headphones just crapped out. :(

I told you I'd been listening to a lot of podcasts!

**updated** a mic would be nice!! Wanna keep both hands on the bike you know! ;)

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Fridays my brain is fried

I've found a bit of free time to kind of catch up on the going ons...

Those would be...

Oh yeah... school's back in session so my days go a little something like this: Wake up, brush teeth, bike to school, go to class, bike home, go to work, go to study, and sleep somewhere in there. I did, however, for the first time this semester, turn on my TV last night and actually watch it! I Auburn beat Mississippi State, which, if you're a friend of mine, you already knew that so I didn't really keep you abreast of anything new.

Meanwhile, I baked brownies and shamelessly painted my nails houndstooth, which I'm quite proud of! See, not much going on in my life right now, it's quite boring.

I will say that I have become addicted to podcasts! Thanks, DrSxDP! I have found one in particular that I absolutely love; it's called Edinburgn Man and it's all Indie music, which I've become exceptionally fond of. It's not one of those hour long podcasts and he actually plays you the whole song (unlike other music podcasts I've found) and he's pretty interesting to listen to. Love the accent. It's a great download if you are looking for some fresh music. Meanwhile, the Engadget podcast... not so good. Don't get that one.

Looking forward to tomorrow! I will be at the game! I told my grandmother I will be holding up a sign for that reads, "I'm right here, Meme!" Roll Tide!

Correction

Jimmy Wales lecture at UA last night will be posted at libertyandpowerlectures.org within the next two weeks.


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Something I don't do often

I went to hear Jimmy Wales speak last night. It was awesome! If you don't know, Jimmy Wales is the founder of Wikipedia. He is also an undergrad alum of Auburn University and got his master's in business from Alabama. Roll Tide! He's originally from Huntsville, AL. It's really amazing to know that this one guy from Alabama has been so influential on the Internet!

I'm not sure it's up yet but it will be soon at freedomandpowerlecture.org (I think, if not, I'll correct it).

It was a great speech on Wikipedia and it's effects on not just the Internet but how other cultures receive the Internet! And he's funny! Good stuff!


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Steph's Last Birthday Gift Idea #6

I like practicality in gifts; stuff I'll use or need. In this case, light reflectors for my bike, or something to make me more visible at night should I be riding late for some reason. I hate admitting that I've almost been hit by three cars just this week. (pay attention drivers!)

A little bell to ring would be fun, too...


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Steph's Last Birthday Gift Idea #5

Uh These Shoes

I wear an 8.5. Those look so comfortable AND they're Houndstooth!

Wins all around!

Steph's Last Birthday Gift Idea #4

I believe it's time for a new hairdryer. Mine's a smoker. I don't like that habit. I have to be picky here. I have curly hair and want a detachable diffuser. I like the ease of not doing anything to my hair while I'm getting ready. Especially with my schedule!

Steph's Last Birthday Party Gift Idea #3

A plastic, dishwasher safe water bottle and Brita filter. I like my water!


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I want the one with the bigger GBs

iPhone 4.

If you've upgraded your 3G, you'll understand.

Wish list

I rarely ask for things for my birthday. I don't like ski g for things. But seeing a this is the last birthday I'm celebrating, I'm starting a list of gift ideas. I figure, make this my most selfish birthday ever since I won't be celebrating after this October.

So here it goes; and come back regularly for more gift ideas as I think of them.

Steph's last birthday gift idea #1:
Nike tempo shorts, XL. Those are the most comfortable shorts created by mankind and I only have two pair. I love all colors and all pair with Alabama logos on them, or houndstooth if you can find that! Adidas makes a pair, too, and I'm open to trying their tempo shorts as well!

I also like the gym pants that come to your knees. Those are even more comfortable in my spin class. I will be picky. I like the tight kind, preferably black or gray. I don't like untangling lose garments from my bike on the road or in spin.

I hate shopping for clothes. It is number one on the "Top Ten Ways to Torture Me" list (I'm not posting that one as to avoid giving you any ideas). This means that when I say I want an article of clothing, I really want it!


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365 days later

It's hard to believe that a year has gone by.

It's flown!

This time last year, I was a nervous wreck, learning where all these new places were, meeting new people in a new world that I hadn't yet explored. I was getting dumped with tons of things to do and make happen. I was given goals and challenges for the first time in years! I was so scared I was in over my head.

Now it's starting all over again but this time I'm not afraid of being in over my head. I'm more balanced and I've learned new things. Can you say sopanification! I have new friends, my friends, I have achieved some of the goals I didn't think were possible. All in all, after the last several years of my life, going back to school has probably been the most self-rewarding thing I could have ever done for myself.

I'm not so much talking about the fun things that you can do in college rather than the self-gratification and self-esteem it gives me to know that I'm doing this. That I've overcome a lot to be able to tell myself that I CAN do this. So despite the mad amounts of partying that I now rarely get to do and the loads of memories I'm making, I'm learning something much more than just how to be a nurse.

The Gift

Me: Hey, Mum, guess what!

Mum: Hey, Stepper, what's up?

Me: I just saved a ton of money on my textbooks!

Mum: Really? How'd you do that?

Me: I didn't buy them from the University and rented two. I was supposed to pay nearly $600, saved over $300. I only spent $240 on the books I need this semester! I'm so excited!

Mum: That's great! Way to go! Guess what!

Me: Uhh.. what?

Mum: G got you something.

Me thinking: My stepdad bought me something?

Me: G bought me something?

Mum: Yeah! A taser!

Me: A taser? I'm confused.

Mum: Yeah! He got me one and thought it would be a good idea to get you one, too. Said he was worried about you walking around town by yourself!

Me: Mum, I don't know how to use a taser.

Mum: It's easy. Just point and touch. Skin, preferably.

Me: Uhhh.... Thanks! I can't wait to not have to use it! I can't wait to play with it!

So I pissed someone off

And I don't give a shit.

Why don't I give a shit? Because they aren't adult enough to tell me what I did. Usually when I have an issue, I take kindly to discussing like am adult, considering I am one, and I prefer to be surrounded by others who do. Therefore, I see the fact that the person who blocked me can't allow me the opportunity to know how I may offended them as less drama.

I'm too old for this shit and prefer A not be the middle man for when people have a problem with me. He doesn't need that drama, either. So especially of your beef is with me, leave him out of it and allow me to know what's up. If you still hate me afterwards then that's fair; I'll own up to my mistakes and ask forgiveness where I'm wrong or allow you your difference of opinion. Just leave A out of petty drama.


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Bama's Pluck and Grit has writ her name in Crimson Flame

21 days until Alabama football kicks off at Bryant Denny Stadium against San Jose State.

In case you haven't heard, I'm exceptionally excited about the 2010 Alabama football season.

www.rolltide.com for the new pre-game TRADITIONs video. If that doesn't get you pumped for the Crimson Tide then I might pretend I never knew you. OK, that last parts a stretch, but still, really?? Really? Not as excited as I am? You need to go to a game!

I am finding it mandatory to watch Alabama play Penn St. on September 11. I will watch Alabama make all of the Florida Gators cry.

And I will go to my very first Iron Bowl. I get goose bumps thinking about that one...

I love Alabama football!

Sob Story

I've just finished reading PS, I love you. I needed a whole box of Kleenex to finish that book. I've never had to put down a book because I was crying too much to continue reading it. What's wrong with me? I don't normally do that...

Then to make me cry more, a friend of mine posts a video of soldiers reuniting with their families. Like that wouldn't make me cry...

I think I have a permanent lump in my throat.

I do want to see PS, I love you now. I've finished the book, how different or how good is the movie? I hear good things about it. I'm on a roll, maybe I can find it online tonight... I've got a roll of toilet paper handy since I've been crying for the last two hours...

I don't know what book to read next. I feel like I might need a breather!

Reliving Quiet Me Time....**Sigh**

I've had the most relaxing, quiet afternoon at home. It's been so peaceful!

After what's seemed like days of going and going and going post vacation, I was very excited to take a leisurely afternoon to myself! I've been reading P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern. It's a book I started at the beach and it got so hectic there with family fun that I wasn't able to read more. Once I got home, I had the move, I had work, I've had remotes, not to mention at some point I have to see A for some sanity, I haven't had much time to pick it back up! So this afternoon, following two blistering hot days in the sun watching mother's send off their children to college in U-Hauls and high-heels, I picked up my book again and haven't been able to put it down much!

This book is definitely climbing to one of my favorites of all times. I've never read a book that can make me laugh my arse off and then make me cry like a baby in one paragraph. I've never seen the movie; I've already put it on the top of my Netflix queue so when I finally mail that wretched movie I rented last time (The Goods, not good, very bad, so bad, I've considered it my civic duty to NOT mail it back!) I will get the movie in and laugh and cry like a baby all over again.

The rest of the roommates move in next Wednesday. I'm kind of nervous and I'm really not looking forward to it. Being in college again and wanting to be successful is exceptionally difficult when you have ten years on everyone. I'm praying that I get some A++, pencil-pushing, "partying is of the Devil" girls in here!!

The likelihood of that actually happening for me....not high

Letter of Disguist

I have to add to my little list of things that keep happening during my move. They keep calling me asking for keys I've already turned in.

Dear Apartment Manager,

This letter is in regards to the horrendous moving experience I have had at your complex. I was one of the few people who chose to stay in your shithole due to location and proximity to campus. I enjoy being able to peddle to class and save on parking. That benefit and your low rate (which I now know why is so low) are the only reasons I have for staying in your poorly run housing.

I will never participate in one of your transfers again. I will only sleep under the roof I pay you for. I have had the absolute WORST moving experience of my life and in reality, this wasn't even really a move!

I strongly suggest you make changes to your Chinese fire drill style of transferring occupants.

I have turned in my keys, I put them in an envelope, wrote down the apartment number, signed your little yellow form, and handed both to you, in your hands, in your office, after you tried to calm me down for the 5th time during this transfer.

I hope you're fired.

Sincerely,

Steph

Why I'll pay the movers extra next time

I'm pretty pooped but I have every right to be!

I have unpacked my room, straightened my room, freshened my room, and I am organized in my new room. I have cooked dinner, I have fed new roommate (the only one so far), grocery shopped (we split the bill, this will be awesome!), washed and dried a load of clothes, and I have even cleaned out all of my notebooks for the upcoming school semester.

I can rightfully say that I'm exhausted! All that is left for me to do is tear down my old plastic shelving unit (because I consolidated so well, I don't need it anymore! W00t!), hang my curtains, and find a home for my vacuum cleaner. I may have to reorganize the closet a bit.

I have so much more space in my new room. I might actually consider studying at home more now. Well... the rest of the new roommates move in the middle of this month. I wonder if they will have as much stress as I did getting moved in?

Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong, I'd say.

• My patio furniture was stolen WTF?? Really??
• My room wasn't ready for me to move in on the last day of "move-in" day.
• My room wasn't ready for me to move in until 2/3 pm on move-in...
• I was assigned the wrong room. They put me in the wrong room. Not the room I requested but the room they wanted me to have. No. No. No. No. It was basically my old room. It wasn't going to fly.
• They gave me the wrong keys. so after I got all of the above situated (with the exception of my patio furniture because I've yet to find it on some one's porch yet), I come home from work in 115 degree Alabama heat and can't get in. Not to mention, today corporate was in town, so I had to dress a little nicer for work. It was so awesome, I can't wait to do it again...

The lesson I have learned from this? No matter what happens, I'm not moving until I'm done with nursing school. If my new roommates are bitches, they'll move first. I've also learned to not leave anything on the porch, even if it is a rather large patio furniture set that is not inconspicuous at all to steal...

I'm so glad I can finally get comfortable... Now to try this new sleep aid and hopefully have sweet dreams tonight! I tried melatonin the last two nights and have not slept well. I'm overdue!

The Last Written Word of Sand

7/29/2010

I have decided to give up trying to blog on my iPhone. I love the mobility… when I actually have a decent signal.

 
 

My grandmother is trying to make me feel better about my 30 birthday next year. Age really is just a number in this family. They're 82 and don't act a bit of it! It still doesn't' make me feel any better about my age. She then tells me age doesn't mean anything but Obama is going to shoot all the old people with his healthcare plan. She means that facetiously of course.

 
 

This vacation has been so wonderful. I think I've done my vacationing properly, too. I can't seem to remember what day of the week it is. Unfortunately, it's Thursday. That means I have three full days left here and that is just not enough time for me! I want to stay here another week. Not that I don't miss my friends or the rest of my family. I just feel so relaxed here. Nothing to worry about, fuss over, fight to make happen. It's pleasant.

 
 

Today's plans: I'm a little pink from yesterday, SPF 50 is mandatory for my shoulders. Boo! I'm not letting a little burn stop me from trying to conquer my fear of ocean life in ankle deep waters. I'm going to make it to the sandbar. I've start a new book, PS I love you, and so far it's not been too bad. It's not Dexter. It's not gore and mystery so it's not really holding my attention just yet. Maybe it'll pick up in chapter 4 because the first three have me sluggishly flipping the pages. I hear it's a very good story, though. I've not seen the movie, either. Pool is definitely on the agenda. My aunt and uncle are on their way down today and my dad is moving into the condo below us. This trip has turned into the biggest family reunion. Siblings, nieces, nephews, in-laws, cousins, second cousins, aunt, uncle, grandparents, parents… I should have made T-shirts to sell this week. "The Anybody Related to Steph Reunion"

 
 

My dad just came up from trying to get the room below us settled. He rented it a few weeks ago. Apparently, no one's been in the condo all week and they won't let him go ahead and get situated. It seems rather petty but it pisses my dad off because the office has told him that people are in it. Drama drama drama. I hope he doesn't let that bother his trip that much, cause he's going to get in later and he's already at the beach.

 
 

Last night, we played guitar on the beach during sunset. A crowd came around us and we all shot the shit, drank a few beers, and sang different songs. It was fun. I haven't had an audience while I played guitar before so it made me a bit nervous. It was still fun. Afterwards, my dad and I were the only ones sitting on the lounges in the sand and we were watching the ocean.

 
 

"Dad," I said. "I think this is the first time we've shared a beer on the beach."

 
 

"Yup." he answered. "It's nice."

 
 

As if you couldn't have cued it better in a movie, fireworks started shooting off on the pier right in front of us. It wasn't amateur fireworks, either. A fireworks company had set up camp at the end of the pier and started a show that lasted twenty minutes. It was like the fourth of July on the 28th. They were huge fireworks. Some in the shapes of stars, some shaped like hearts. Large round explosions of blue and red in the shape of ribbons on a white ball of small lights. Huge golden streams of glitter exploded in succession and silver streams of fire framed the picture. It was so random it made it that much more special.

 
 

So after I sat on the beach and played music with my dad, we sat in the sand with a cold beer and watched fireworks. I'll always remember that.

Welcome back to stress

I had this idea at the beach. I would start using OneNote to write my blogs and then just upload all of them to Blogger when I got back home. I haven't done that yet. Today's my first day back at work and I got really tired of waiting for iPhone to catch up with my typing speed on my Blogger app. Damn new update... I ended up writing ONE entry and I'll post that later.

In the end, the vacation was awesome!

I got home to a disaster, though. My patio furniture was stolen, I moved my stuff from upstairs to downstairs without a place to live since I STILL didn't have a key with hours left before I HAD to be out of the old room... My apartment management is awful! They even put me in the wrong room! So after I got permission to move my stuff, I find out I'm supposed to be in a different room THEY ASSIGNED early, despite my request MONTHS ago for the room I wanted. That office management came scarily close to seeing me lose my temper. Thank God A was there to keep me calm.

The best part about coming back home so far is the welcoming hug I got from A when I got home. I love being held that tight. I missed him.

Now I must get back to work... Corporate day...

This is normal conversation

Me: "Dad, let me see the roof of your mouth."

Dad: "huh?"

M: Let me see the roof of your mouth!"

D: Do what, sis?

M: Let. Me. See. The roof. Of your. MOUTH.

D opens mouth. I didn't see what I was looking for.

M: Ok. Well where did I get this from?

I opened my mouth to show the rather weird growth on the roof of my mouth. You can see it when I laugh but it's not that noticeable.

D: I don't know, darlin', God must've gave it to ya.

Me: Oh.

D: Well do you like it?

Me: It doesn't bother me. It's just an overgrown palate. It's just different.

D: Well if you like it, I gave it to you. I you don't, your mother did.


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Panama City is BP free on the shore

It is so pretty down here! The water is so blue! The pier that was lost after one of the many hurricanes in 2005 is now back up, too.

I like to come out here early in the morning. Right now we're sitting on the porch and my dad is playing his guitar. It's one of the few quiet alone times we get because he's a Santa and young children ask for autographs everywhere down here.

The sand is clean, the lifeguards are legal and nice to look at (no worries, DrSxDP), and there aren't tar balls swimming in the ocean.

BP's biggest mess up ever is not completely forgotten, though. The US military has a pair patrolling the sands for oil. I thank our military for their service and feel bad for them in full fatigues and hats with only a Gatorade thermos on the back of their camo rhino! I'm sure they are glad the heat is the worse they have to suffer!

Today is sand day. I will have my toes in it... All day!!


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Vacation starts.......NOW!!

I am on my way to the beach. We're on the road about 30 minutes later than we wanted. My grandmother's knee isn't cooperating this morning.

It's always fun going on roadtrips with my grandparents. They have been married over 60 years and are so full of life. I hope when I'm 82 I have someone I can be this happy and in love with and still mobile enough to take trips the way they do. MeMe may have a bum knee today but they still have plenty of energy to share with the world!

We just passed the giant sinkhole on 65S. My grandparents hadn't seen anything like that. It was fun trying to explain to them how important dirt is to a highway.

I've had one cup of coffee this morning. I need more! I'm trying to not take my Dramamine... And I'm sitting in the back for now. I don't like being drugged while I drive, though. We're planning on stopping in Montgomery for some breakfast and Sike's and Kohn's then I'll drive from there.

This is the only time I think it would be fun to have 4square... But I still think it would be annoying.

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One Pooped Puppy!!

I am feeling a little too drained to write. But I want to write.

I thought I wanted a night to myself and now I'm bored. In my defense, it's been super hectic the last two days! Yesterday at work, I got stranded at a gas station for hours while Habeeb, the manager, kept telling me, "You are too small to drive that big van! Too small! Why do they have such small girl drive such big van!?"

Before Habeeb chided me for driving a huge Econoline, I was fighting with FAFSA about the loss of my grant... at this moment, I just realized that I did NOT get to call back today to find the form I need to fix that... GDMFPOSGD!

Then I got home much later than expected and had a pizza, beer, and packing party with future roommate and a co-worker. We got so much done! Thank God! Now all I need is the key to my new room and to move my clothes. It was very helpful having three sets of hands putting things I know I'm not going to need immediately in a box and moving them to the new apartment as I could. We had fun, too, or at least I did.

Now my "to-do" remaining pretty plastic. I knock a few items off, pack room up, go to Birmingham, wash clothes, and I'm only making room for more things to be added. Go to library, pack for beach, finish the weekend warrior list at work, sleep.

I've got so much going on in such a short period of time that burn out syndrome is really kicking in! I'm so ready for this vacation! More mentally than physically... especially after I had to step on that scale today... I'm so ready to have books, sun, and sand!! A whole week of zero responsibility: home, school, or work! -- OK, ONE responsibility that I didn't get to do today that must be done ASAP!

So after packing, working, moving, driving, waiting, pushing, organizing, recording, digging, fixing, bleeding, arguing, and I can't remember everything else because it's all blurring together, I'm sitting down and enjoying a beer.

I just may sleep tonight...

I'm taking Chuck Norris to the beach with me! Take that!

There is a storm. In the ocean. Headed for MY beach.

This isn't the news I had wanted to wake up to!

I will go to the beach next week anyway! DrSP wants to see me on TV in a mumu saying, "it sounded like a freight train," so I will make sure to pack that and rollers. Weather will not stop me from having a beach vacation.

The second storm all freaking year and it happens NOW? sheesh!

Actually, to be deliriously honest, that tropical depression #3 knows better than to trek it's way to my beach! It knows better than to waste it's energy forming a hurricane and threatening my condo! It knows I'll be there, and it's scared! Watch make haste and run away!!

Yes, I'm aware that's only slightly delusional...


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There's a freckle on my big toe

The beach is calling my name! I cannot wait to feel the sand, sun rays, and warm waters on my skin! I cannot wait to bask in the daylight with a delicious book and escape into my own little world!

I've worked so hard over the last year, I can feel the onset if burnout. I get so exhausted putting all my energy into everything and having nothing to show for it yet. I think a mental break is well overdue.

At the beach, I will not stress over money.
At the beach, I will not stress about the fall semester.
At the beach, I will try my hardest to not think of the chemical changes my body is undergoing while I sit in the sun and produce melanin and collect a healthy dose of vitamin D.
At the beach, I will not gorge on anything but shrimp, grits, bananas, and tomato sandwiches.
At the beach, I will pretend I am on a deserted island where only one person can contact me.
At the beach, despite my dislike of ocean waters and God forbidding tar balls, I will wade out to the sandbar and tolerate, somehow, the fish that kiss my sunscreen.

At the beach, I will relax.

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Pure Chaos

Moving from one apartment to the other should never be this hectic!

I absolutely hate moving, with a passion. To make it more miserable, my current apartments have just held a mandatory meeting where they informed me that I need to have my stuff packed and ready to go. It has to look like a moving truck is ready to get me. Then I'll be informed sometime during the first three days of August when I can actually move my stuff. In the meantime, all of my stuff needs to be in the common area. WTF.

So, to clarify, I'm to pack up my belongings, place them in a common area for people to pilfer through when they come to inspect and view my apartment. There will be management, cleaning crews, maintainance crews, and potential residents with free and easy access to my belongings while I'm away.

Of course I have to be difficult. I told management that I will be out of town and gladly leave my belongings on top of my bed, in my room, where they will be locked away. I informed them that I will be back in town on the second day of my move and at the time, I'll start moving my stuff downstairs, and my new place will be ready by at least that day if they expect me to be completely moved out of my old place by midnight of the third day.

In the words of Tim James, makes sense to me. Doesn't it to you?

PS DrSP

The reason I'm being difficult about your generous offer to buy me clothing is because I sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, detest shopping for apparel. My impedimenta are not necessarily intentional, rather subconscious, as I always leave dressing rooms in tears and ready to find solace in a giant bowl of vanilla ice cream and peanut butter.

Should that happen, the shopping process would then be further extended due to unnecessary weight gain and self-pity. The cycle would repeat itself and more money would then be spent on JIF and Blue Bell.

It's much easier for you to do one of these two things:

1. Buy said items in appropriate size without me to replace said articles you are tired of.
2. Buy said items in appropriate size without me because you are insanely sweet and thoughtful of me like that.

I recommend keeping a copy of receipt and in the event of tearflow, please ignore, it is nothing you did. It is simply a side-effect of self-disappointment in physical stature.

There are a few preventative measures you can take and others you can continue to make to help lower the risk of me crying. That list includes:
- Telling me how beautiful I am. All the time.
- Refraining from negative comments about my boobs, stomach, ass, and thighs.
- Offering me regular terms of endearment.
- Not buying something you know is too big (i.e. Plus size).
- Asking me sizes in advance... But good luck on that one...

Furthermore, I'd like to remind you that this email is in no way designed to be offensive, rather a humorous and honest way of letting you know why I only shop for clothing as necessary.

Have a good week at work, DrSP! I will see you Saturday when hopefully I will have acquired us tickets, as promised!




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Insomniac's penmanship

I had such a blast tonight! DrSxDP and I went out with my best girlfriend T and her BF, D. I love her! It's so wonderful having a female in my life I can tell anything to! And it's even better not having a sociopath tell me I can't be friends with her because he's secretly utterly insecure!

I love that I have DrSP to learn to build a real and trusting relationship. Don't get me wrong, I'm a little paranoid still about some things and I have to check myself with him because I've been hurt so many times! He is patient and understanding about this, or at least he appears to be... If he's not he's hiding that well.

I'm just thankful for my T because I can say, "T! I'm paranoid!" and she can say, "Steph, you're so crazy! I don't know why you're worried about that! You can tell he's crazy about you!"

We went to Mugshots tonight. Beer and burgers make every social gathering better! I'm glad to see important people in my life getting along! I hate it when people make a big deal out of someone they don't know for stupid, immature reasons! There is so much more fun to be had in getting to know new people!

I've made plans to spend tomorrow evening for Girl's Night with T. It will be a night filled with girl talk and dreams.

I'm feeling a good sense of balance in my life this summer. I can have my time w DrSP and my time with T and time with other friends, too. It's nice to finally be able to still be me no matter who I'm around!

And drama free, knock on wood!

In other news, I'm about to get new roommates. I think I've learned my lesson on being FB friends with roommates, though. This time I will not let them have access to my venting. Communication with 21-year-olds is like raising a teenager. I'll be able to tell more stories without irrational consequences this way.

Beach in a few days!! W00t!!


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WTF

Nutshell version of conversation from Elvis (aka, the one I shouldn't have recycled last fall).

Elvis: hey, read emails we exchanged. Want to get dinner.

Me: I'm seeing someone. Where's my necklace.

Elvis: I boxed it up and mailed it to you.

Me: never got it.

Elvis: I can track it.

Me: that's all I want from you. Thanks.

Elvis: no answer.....

He wins the award or most random email sent today. I just want my necklace back!

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Constructive Criticism at its Finest

Since I've been back on air, I've been subject to daily air checks. I haven't had to listen to myself with someone else since I did news. I hate listening to myself. I hear me and hear me and hear me and hear me and the start thinking about how retarded I sound. It's interesting.

Must sound natural
Must sound cool
Must be local
Must keep pace
Must do "a, b, or c" except at "x, y, or z"
Segue this way, not that way
Nevermind, don't segue this way, segue that way!
Sheesh!

*Sigh* I'll just stick to having fun because the best parts of air checks are when I'm told, "I'm only getting harder on you because you're improving." I might be rusty after a five year hiatus, 3 years in news and ten years since being a DJ, I'll gladly take the constructive criticism!


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The Day the A/C Died

I just got in from work. I cut out a little early because it's Monday. None of my stuff gets in on time so it's becoming normal for me to have to go back Monday evenings to finish my work. No big deal there. I like the privacy. I thought I'd hang out at home for a little while instead of wasting gas on a hot summer day looking at things I can't afford anyway.



When I walked into my apartment, it was like I walked into a dog pound that had just emptied all the kennels. It literally smells like poo in here. It is 100 degrees. OK, I exaggerate, really only 80. But still. It's Alabama in the middle of July. It's hot and it stinks. I get changed for the gym and cannot stop sweating and cannot figure out this horrid smell.



I had to check out what was up with the thermostat. That's when I found out it was broken.



I consider myself to be a neat freak. I do not like clutter. I do not like germs. I love Clorox and I love a squeaky clean shine. I love the smell of fresh things and find it much easier to relax when I'm not surrounded by clutter. That being said, I do not clean after others. I do not clean up a mess you left behind. I refuse. I don't care how tall the dishes in the sink get, I would rather buy something that doesn't require a dish for dinner than clean your dishes. Someone else's mess is not my responsibility. It pisses me off that people actually don't give a shit about this, but there are people in the world who literally think that if they loan a dish to a person, the loanee is then responsible for every dish in possession of the loaner. I live with two of them.



One of the two, in particular, amazes me. She defies the laws of science. I have never seen someone cook a meal, leave it out for five days - on the stove - without a cover, let it collect flies (yes, flies!!), then reheat it in in the microwave, then leave it in the microwave for three, THEN reheat it AGAIN, and not have one ailment from the 7 day life span of the food. She brings home a pizza, leaves it out for a week and then eats it. I'm amazed she isn't dead. I'm more amazed that she's never been deathly ill from this! Today, of all days, she left out an uncooked package of ground beef. It's next to all of her clean and dirty dishes in the sink.



Needless to say, I don't get to use my sink much. I don't use it unless I've cloroxed it, either.



It's also a fantastic idea to bring your own bottled water to my apartment and avoid the tap water.



So not only is it 80 billion blazing degrees in my home, it smells like poo because the walking miracle of science has left meat out...



Now, the maintenance man just left. He informed me that he had spoken with this roommate earlier about the A/C dying. He said that was this morning. So here it is, 4:30 PM, ground beef has been sitting out in my apartment, baking in humidity and 80 billion degree heat, she knew that the A/C was dead, and left the meat out anyway...

Bloody. Hell.

I. Cannot. Wait. To. Move. Downstairs.

Date night

I got a hot date tonight with my DrSxDP! It's been awhile since we've gone out on a date date. It's been exceptionally hectic lately so it will be nice to just sit and enjoy conversation with him. Plus, I go to the beach next week and I'm looking forward to getting to spend as much time with him as I can before I'm gone for a week.

I like date nights. I love being with someone who still gives me butterflies. I know you read that and smirked, btw.

I like to ride my bicycle

The thing that I love about the summer time is how out of nowhere, a rainstorm can hit.

Like today for example.

Perfect day for a lazy bike ride. I had no intentions of really pushing myself. Just a good hot, sunny summer day to jump on my bike and ride. It's my newest addiction. I've been going to spin classes pretty regularly lately and have loved them! I didn't get to go this past week so to make up for it, I thought I'd go for a ride around town and just have some good healthy me time on my bike! Until I got downtown...

I noticed the big, dark cloud way in the distance when I left. In the five minutes it took me to peddle down the ominous hill that got me started going to spin classes in the first place, the ominous cloud was gaining speed. I kept peddling thinking that I could at least make it into town.

By the time I got to the strip, it became a race: who was going to make it back to my place faster? Me or this storm?

Then I heard thunder!

I peddled my ass off and made it back up the hill in record time. Didn't get a drop of rain on me. By the time I made it to my stairs, the rain began to pour.

That's when I decided to play on Blogger a bit and found the new templates. I was ready for a face lift anyway. What do ya think??

Big talker

I'm sitting in a Starbucks (big shocker there!) and there is a man across from me that I know from somewhere.

The first glance I had of him in here, I thought greasy salesman. He was talking and glanced up at me and I figured then he recognized me, too.

Wish T would hurry and show up so the awkward "I know you from somewhere" glances can stop!!

He is talking to people he apparently knows; but he won't stop talking. He sounds so redneck country. In his suit and southern accent, he resonates scammer.

He just left and got in his big green Tahoe. The back had his phone number on it. Just his phone number. Weird.

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Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la My Oh My

Well I'd say that went well! No majorly embarrassing moments, foul words, and the word condom was never brought up. I'd say BF meeting my dad and grandparents was a success!

And he totally thought he was getting okra until I set him straight! I loved it- he was so gentlemanly about it until he asked me when we were alone if he was really being served okra! He scored so many points for being a good sport!

Must add that he needs to learn quickly that I enjoy pulling innocent (and harmless) pranks!


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Who's more anxious?

Dear BF is meeting my dad tonight. This should be interesting considering Dad's a professional Santa...

I've already done one of my staple practical jokes. After 4 months, BF should take it as a sign that I really, really like him! He thinks he's in for shitload of green vegetables, which he hates! Little does he know what's really in store!!

Actually, I'm probably more nervous than he is. They are going to love him, no worries. Just seems to be like a curse; if you meet my dad, the end is nigh... I pray not. I'm not going to start a Redsox tradition in dating. This is probably why I've waited so long to introduce him. That, and my family dynamics are exceptionally screwy...

I plan on keeping BF a long time... This feels too nice being happy and taken care of... This is what it's supposed to feel like to be loved.

In other news... I've eaten my words about radio. It feels good to be back.


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Security

Here's why I talk more openly on Twitter now: in the end, who gives a shit what I'm up in my life? Not to sound as if I'm depressed, I'm not. I mean that in the sense that I've moved on with my life and I'm so happy right now, no one can take that away from me.

Why not be proud of my happiness??


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This is how I tweet

This is sad... OK no it's not... it's hilarious!

http://tweetstats.com/graphs/StephOfOz

What's new pussycat

Well, I quit my job and started a new one.

I couldn't take Corporate America's bullshit anymore. After they told me I had unkempt hair, cheap shoes, a blouse that looked like a t-shirt, and then proceeded to call me dysfunctional, I decided it was time to take my exit. I kept my pin.

I'm so glad to be out of there and at my new job. Working in radio again is awesome.

For the first time in a very long time, I'm starting to feel more comfortable with saying what I'm doing on the Internet. I feel much more comfortable saying what I'm doing and where I've been. It also helps that I've had a lot of healing in the recent weeks. Finally feeling like it doesn't matter anymore, I don't feel branded. It's nice to not have a shadow following me around anymore.

I feel quite liberated right now!

How far will I go with this comfort level? I don't know. I don't want to be stupid about some of the things in my life. I want to be able to be completely honest and get back to the old writing style I had a few years back; hopefully soon that will happen. In the meantime, I believe I will toe in gradually to explaining the awesome things in my life.

Right now, awesome number 1: I have positive people in my life now. I have a healthy relationship. It started over Chinese food and wasn't what I'd intended. Then it went to long talks and butterflies in my stomach. Now it's comfort that makes me smile and gives me excitement, along with the butterflies in my stomach.

Awesome number 2: I'm back in radio. I feel at home. Still getting back in the groove but I'm about around people who have the same personality as mine! Praise God!

What a difference a year makes

Last year - selling cars, financing cars, workin all the time, and had to miss the blue angels perform because of work then weather.

This year - sitting by the pool, drinking a few beers, reading a good book, missing my DrSxDP while he's at work, and watching the Blue Angels practice over my apartment.

After my last year, this feels like redemption.


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Kicking my own ass

I'm working on getting in a better mood. It's a Monday afterall.

I'm over my personal issue from earlier. I have to remember I can't change these people. I'm dillusion if I think different.

In other news, I'm a bit bummed. I just learned that my temporary pause of life could last a bit longer than planned. I want to blame someone who instigated it but has nothing to do with it. Well, I just get pleasure in blaming them for everything. So I will this time, too. Oh well.

I'm telling myself, "stand up, dust yourself off, get back on again. It's going to be worth it in the end."

I'm greatful for the support that I do have considering that when I look at the reality of my current situation, I even think I'm nuts. Thank you for not calling me nuts.


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Two-faced reTards

Why do people feel like they have to stir the pot constantly?

Why do some people feel it necessary to judge me and the people in my life for things we have no control over. Fuck you! I just don't understand what the point of constantly concerning yourself with what is my own personal business and relationships is going to fill in your petty, little lives. Why can't you just grow a pair of balls and say for yourself what you really think instead of manipulating other people to do it for you? Why is so vital to tell me what somebody else thinks of the priorities in my life.

I'm doing something with my life. I'm doing something you were too chickenshit to do. I'm doing something you only wish you could say you had the courage to do. I have a goal and I'm making it obtainable. Stop being jealous of me and that that makes you feel inadequate.

I've never lived my life to be vengeful of you. I've never lived my life to make you feel like a midget. To be perfectly honest, I don't really give a shit about the things you do or say in your life and would appreciate it greatly if you would stop rattling the rails in my world and mind your own fucking business!

Maybe if you stopped concerning yourself with my dreams and successes, you'd actually be able to do something about the things that you only wish you had the audacity to do and maybe take a step in the forward direction of progress.

Stop bitching and complaining about me and my friends. Stop accusing me of the things you only choose to judge me for when in reality it could be further from the truth. It's shameful to think that within my own tree is more gossip than can be written for JustJared or People. If I could sue you for libel, I'd win. And don't neglect to realize that I'm not only just sick of hearing you say these things about me, I'm sick of hearing you bitch about other people and not doing anything about those relationships. Stop pestering me to moil over the petty differences and drama that make your world turn. Understand, I don't give a shit about other people's problems, either! It's not my business! It's not my problem!

For once in your minuscule little lives, mind your own business!

It's not the presidet, it's Spann

I love severe weather! Despite how bored I currently am, I still secretly hope I get to see some truly wicked weather! I guess it goes back to my days in media...

I remember the adrenaline rush from the news room on days like this; running around between stations, printing off wx updates, simulcasting when the wx was bad enough. It was so much fun. I hate admitting how much I miss radio sometimes but I still say I'll never go back.

I watch all of the severe wx coverage from a completely different point of view now. I watch NBC13 and think about all the gossip going around there and wonder what gossip is new. I wath Fox6 and think about how overrated they are. Then I usually stop flipping once I get to James Spann. There is no ABC 33/40 on severe wx days. There is only James Spann.

If you want to know what happened in the world of weather on November 17, 1982, James Spann can tell you! He's more than just a weatherman, too. He's a walking Tom-Tom! "this bridge on this road in this town in this city, it's next to this light post and a tree where I heard my first beatles song. Man! I'll never forget!"

The only reason this man is the voice of Alabama weather us because he predicted the blizzard of 1993 (March 12, 1993 - my parents 17th and final wedding anniversay. They also split that weekend. I blame Spann). For some sick reason, Alabamians everywhere have dropped everything and gone to buy milk and bread when James Spann says so! It's a conspiracy people! Walmart pays him to say this shit!

Spann, I am just curious how you know all of these roads in Alabama. WTF is Yazoo City by the way???? Were you bored in high school and college and just do an incessant amount of driving!? The way you moil over the changing landscape and roads of our state makes me concerned that you may have an obsession that requires medication. And can you recall caloric intake of foods as easily as you can name the time and place of a tornadic event in history?

Just curious...


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Just warming up...

It's not even noon yet, as I write this, and I have so many tactless opinions to vomit currently it's not funny. Maybe I'm talking to you, maybe I'm not. Bottom line: I woke up on the wrong side of the bed, I've collectively had about 12 hours of sleep the last three days; I'm in a bad mood.

• Don't tell me that I'm under review, that I have to turn in an unknown document by Saturday or get an automatic one on my review, and then not reply to my question of WTF the document is and what I need to do SINCE I'M OFF THE REST OF THE WEEK!

• Roommates: Clean up after yourselves. Some of you live like filthy pigs. It's disgusting! I get dust bunnies, I get scraps of paper left on the floor. I'm not cleaning up your dishes anymore, I'm not paying for you to use my toilet paper, I don't want your chicken juice on my food when it's thawing, I don't want the bacteria you let fester in the kitchen near me! If the dishwasher is clean and you have a dirty dish, empty the fucking dishwasher. Simple. Takes three minutes. Then put your dirty dish in. If the dish washer's full, start it! If you wash your clothes, please be considerate of others who need to wash their clothes; don't leave a load in the washer the night before you leave on a week long trip to somewhere. You're clothes are going to mildew cause they're just going to sit on top of the dryer, wet, until you come home. We cohabitate! Be considerate! And when you take the garbage out, put another bag in the damn can! Takes two seconds! I bought the damn bags, use them!

• Political activists on the Right and Left: SHUT UP! All of you! Right side: I didn't vote for him either but remember how the last 8 years all you said was, "We should support our President even if we didn't vote for him"? Yeah, waffle if you like, I was in political talk radio then, I've got it on tape. You said it, now act on it. He's you're President, support him. You don't have to like him, you don't have to agree with him, but he is your President now. Left side: I haven't said anything negative, I haven't said he needed to be impeached, I'm quite the moderate now as I get older so, quite frankly, you're not going to sway me either way. Please don't be like the Right for the last 8 years and rubbing in that their man's in a leadership position. Both sides: GROW UP! How many years have we been protesting, starting activist groups, leading campaigns against this and lobbying for that? Put active thought into that question, consider all of the rallies, protests, and petitions you can think of. --- I'll wait.----------Now that you've put some real thought (hopefully) into old and new political war cries, how many have actually worked without voting in the person to put into action? So instead of complaining how bad our economy is and whining about who put us in that situation, how about going back to work, be productive, make money, PUT THE MONEY BACK IN THE ECONOMY and make an active effort to fix our financial problems. Stop sitting on your funds because you're afraid. It takes spending it to get the economy moving again. It's how the system is designed to work. Tea Party People: You're just crazy to think anything is going to reform there. Yeah, just get over you're ideas. Stop saying they governments after your pelf when you know that majority of you (not 100%, but majority) are of the upper-middle class and say you're now live in poverty because of the economy. Taxes aren't going any where, they aren't going to be reformed in the near future unless we get a President elected who has the support to move the Fair Tax system.

• Coworkers: I can't work on Thursdays. I never ask for Saturdays off. Stop asking me to swap my A-day with you. It's not happening. I can't work Thursdays. It requires me to be in two places at once. I can't physically do that. Write it on a post it note, put it in your phone, tattoo it on your hand, put it somewhere you can remember to look. I've been there a year now, you've each asked on more than one occasion; the answer will always be no! Not on Thursdays, not right now. I will let you know when and if that should change!

Side note: I'm listening to Beethoven's Symphony 9: IV and it's getting me more charged for my vent. I haven't sipped my coffee while I've been writing this.

• The average Tweeter: Read the links before you post the story with your opinion in 140 characters or less. I'm annoyed with the number of people reading titles, assuming they know what the article is about, putting a little opinion about it next to the bity link, and submitting. Do you have any idea how stupid you look when people actually go read the link and find out that you're opinion has zero relation to the article you posted? I should unfollow you.

• Parents: Teach your damn children how to drive better! I'm a biker, I follow the same traffic laws as automobiles. That means you treat me the same way as a automobile. I am on a vehicle. I yield for you at yield signs, you yield for me. I stop for you, you stop for me. I will stay on the sidewalks as much as possible but three different teenagers almost committed manslaughter yesterday while I was heading to and from home. What makes me nervous is that teens follow their parents behaviors; you probably don't pay attention to pedestrians and bikers either. I just hope you have good insurance and don't kill me. DrSxDP will be pissed.

That being said,

• Pedestrians: USE THE SIDEWALK AND CROSSWALKS! If you jump out in front of my bike or car in a parking lot when I'm going 5 mph and flip me off for not stopping before you do so, you are jaywalking. I'm not psychic, I don't have x-ray vision. That's why I'm going 5mph! If I'm on my bike, or if you are around any biker for that matter, don't stand still in the bike path and look at us funny when we have to slam on our brakes from hitting you. Stupid twats, you almost deserve to be hit by a car. My insurance isn't that good, though, so you're lucky around me. Though, the mood I'm in today, jump out in front me and I may speed up!

• Some friends in particular that you already know who you are and I don't have to point you out because I've already given you my two cents on your predicament(s): If you aren't going to take my advice, please stop venting to me about how you don't know how to handle something or your life is in the shitter. I am your friend and will always be there for you, however, I will not tolerate pity parties when I've already told you how to handle a problem and you refuse to do it or listen. Honestly, for some of my friends more than others, I'm honestly concerned about how adamant you are about continuing your self-deprecation. You do not live in Shittown unless you want to. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, get back on again. But remember the definition of insanity it doing the same thing over and over again. You want to stay out of Shittown? Stop focusing on the things you can't control and focus on the things you can. When you control what should be organic, you create side effects like what you're experiencing now. Stop trying and let life happen naturally. Because I love you, I'm not listening to it anymore. It may be tough love, and it may hurt, but I don't like seeing you in the place you're in right now. It's time to start accepting the changes in life and going with things instead of manipulating them

• Internet Service Provider: Get off you're lazy ass and fix my connection problems already! Geez, it's old having to swap between all of your routers every five minutes!

I feel a good bit better now. God, I love writing...

This is what a rut looks like

I'm burned out.

I've had so much going on lately that I'm just burnt on nearly everything. A sabbatical would be nice. If only... Work...ugh...work #2...hate corporate America...Where's my free time?

I must have Spring fever. That's what I'll diagnose myself with. I'm seeing these beautiful days of the season casting this happy sunshine over everything and I'm envious of the ones who get to frolic in it. I hate admitting it because I don't mean to complain but I'm finding it more difficult to push through this rut until I can really enjoy some me time.

I'm having to be my own personal cheerleader presently. I can do this. I can make it. My efforts aren't in vain. Miracles happen everyday, you've been blessed in every situation of need so far, Steph, God won't forget you this time, either. The truth is, I know I can do this, I know I can make it. I just hate the disheartening part when things can't or don't go as planned so that I can also frolic in the sun and play with my friends.

So if you see me about going chugga-chugga-choo-choo, I'm just building up my spirit for my next big hurdle.

How to handle fear

There is a bee in my apartment!!

Nothing scares me more! Really!

One roommate tried to kill it and he just got mad and hid! I locked myself in my room! I'm frightened a bit!

About an hour later, there was a knock on my door. I thought it was my friend to come pick me up. It wasn't C, it was the maintenance man. I asked him, "are you here to kill the bee?" I wondered how he knew about the bee in the first place.

"No," he chuckled, "I'm here about the disposal but I'll kill your bee, too."

Great!

Until we couldn't find the bee.

We searched for a good couple of minutes until he gave up.

Then the bee popped up it's little head just to laugh at me.

I'm back in my room until my friend gets here.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The Easter bunny was very good!

Happy Easter! I hope everyone had a wonderful day! Today was fabulous! I have been non-stop all day and am so ready to be home already!

Currently waiting for my friend. I don't think he's coming at this point. I need coffee and he wanted to see me so why not kill two birds with one stone right?? He says he's on his way but I'm wondering if he was in California when he said that...

Easter with my family was so filling. Despite the fact that my hugger-mugger was exposed and I was grilled, I got to see 75% of my nephews today! It was also my mum's birthday! I'm very tired from all of my playing, which is why I'm not putting a lot of effort into my writing style right now. I just prefer to update at this point, get home, finish my work, and get in the bed!

It's good to have such a beautiful day to celebrate the resurrection of Christ!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

No, you may not give urine instead of blood.

I'm sitting in a quiet room, filled with people and laptops. Earlier, I was getting tickled at a curly-haired brunette laughing loudly to herself at the book she was reading. I watched the guy to my right doze slightly as he studied some subject on his laptop. Meanwhile, I was eavesdropping on the group of people to my left holding a meeting.

So the table is wobbly and I've got time to kill. I forgot my headphones at home before I jumped on my bike this morning. What else is a girl to do besides waste her life on Facebook?

Read Monty Python sketches.

I have just been witness to myself becoming the very girl I was laughing at earlier as I laughed out loud to the parodies of the Python boys. I heart them!

Resolution and Tension

Safe to say we've resolved our issues from yesterday. Communication works wonders.

Does make me think about how people obsess over things. I'm writing on a table that's brand new and wobbly. Someone needs to get this things exchanged. I am beginning to see how unhealthy it can really be for someone to let one subject consume their every thought. I am seeing how frustrating it is when a friend tries to help them move forward or away from the thought altogether and isn't necessarily ignore, but rather, misunderstood or only just heard.

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink.

I have so many more thoughts on this subject to yada yada yada about but this table is a pest.

About time

Finally got blogpress on my phone! No more lack of post excuses now! Wait... Is that a good thing?


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

It's just old now...that's why I'm frustrated...

Friendships are so delicate. There's always a fine balance and the great thing about friendship is that they are so easy to maintain until someone gets hurt. You're the best friend I've ever had, what the hell? You go about your day to day lives, catching each other up on the humdrum and extraordinary. You ask advice and give advice. Never ever do you doubt your friend because they would never lie to you, they would never hurt you, and most certainly would never want to see you get hurt.

To have a perfect happy medium in a friendship means that at some point, your friend lies to you. Does this make my ass look big? No! That's not to say that every single time your friend is a fibber, little white lies are innocent...sometimes.

What would you say if I told you sometimes a friend can love and appreciate your person so much that telling you the truth was the only way they knew to return the love you've shown them? What would you say if I told you they have absolutely no sense of orating tactfully what you need to hear? What would you say if sometimes the truth hurts and you hope so much for something that you can't see the obvious and they're just trying to help?

I'm getting pretty fed up with people attacking me for not hearing what they want me to say when they ask my opinion. You asked me!!!! I have a list of things in my life that I wish I wish someone had told me before I learned it myself! So many things in my life would be different and I could have avoided so much heartache. It pisses me off that you are displacing your anger about the truth on me. I'm just relaying the honest opinion you asked me for. I'm not going to lie. I'm a real friend and I value you.

You are the best friend I've ever had. You've been there for me through so many of my trials and tribulations. You have let me cry on your shoulder and have hopefully given me your honest opinions. I truly appreciate that and want to be there for you during this time. You can lean on me, vent to me, cry on me. Please don't be mad at me when I tell you the truth, especially if it's not what you want to hear. I see you involved and focused on this one goal that is so trivial you are missing out on the bigger things in life! I think you are worth so much more than you say you are and it pains me to see you kicking yourself.

Bottom line you who is miffed at me for wanting to protect you from that heartbreak: There is a whole wide world out there and you are missing it when you could be owning it! If you were really listening, which I really hope you are now, then this subject wouldn't be a subject. Please learn from my mistakes.

The one where I went to the bar...

Girl's night out was last night. It was a blast! Last night for the Spring Breakers, everyone had just gotten back into town; the place was packed!

Just a few of the scenes I ran into that was well worth the cover charge:

• A man serenaded me with a harmonica
• The lead singer of the band was walking on the bar
• The lead singer was then carried around the room on a bouncer's shoulders...it was more odd.
• The lead singer (still trying to be the shit) tried to start a dance off in the middle of the bar. Major fail.
• A 62-year-old woman jumped up on the stage to hool-a-hoop.
• The 62-year-old woman then fell on the drums.
• A bachelorette was pulled up on stage for a song; no one cheered for her.
• The band had dangerously bad strobe lights
• The band also covered the backstreet boys...wth....wth...wth???

When it was all said and done last night and the bar yelled last call, I had a blast last night!

Repletion

I have music from Diane Birch. I think I just crawled out from under a rock. I love music.

Why is it that when everything is right in your world, there is nothing to write about? I blame people's obsession with drama. Yet, I still have a lot to write about right now, however, I'm really enjoying keeping some things under my hat. Secrets are fun.

Actually, when I think about what's going on in my life, I can't help but think about where I was a year ago. Time has flown. In a few days, my life legally changed for the better. I hope I haven't taken for granted the new sense of freedom I've had from the past year. It's been a very wild ride! It's had ups and downs and last year hurt like hell but now I can sit down, look at myself, and I'm very proud of the fact that I feel like more of an individual than ever. I have my independence. I move to make Independence Day April 3! It feels so good to be able to not answer to anyone yet at the same time, I can include whomever I want in my life. I'm surrounded by people who love me and people I can relate to. I'm proud of myself for being able to step away from the people who little by little tear away at the mountain that I stand on now. I allow myself to be only around those that I allow me to be the person I've grown to be and accept all of me.

I would be a fool to miss this magic view - Diane Birch

Yeah, that hurt.

So let me tell you about irrational.

I'm still flabbergasted at the fact that the opportunity to discuss this was not given to me.

He takes me to a movie. We may have had these movie plans awhile, however, my movie going experience has been ruined now. Have you seen Alice in Wonderland yet? Why yes, and then I got my heart broken again. He shares popcorn and a drink with me. We leave, discuss the movie. Then out of the blue he tells me my stuff is in the car. I clue in. I ask why. Because my feelings got hurt when I thought he'd bitten my head off. He didn't like that. Whether or not it was intentional or not, it was a miscommunication and deserved discussion.

For your information, there are two people in a relationship. That means there are two individual sets of emotions. One person's world doesn't revolve around you every second, as much you might like it to. That's why communication is key in a relationship and a person who truly loves another discusses a problem and doesn't run from it.

Instead of saying, "Hey, I have a problem with this," he ends it in the car, on the way home from the movie theatre.

And why did I dump you out on the side of the road to walk home? Because as I was trying to tell you before, I'm not the best Christian (you may or may not have gotten to that part because you continued to interrupt me with your "whatevers") that being said that I don't tithe - and for people who do tithe, it's a couple of bucks. You're ELIAS thing? You are paying $125 for a woman to tell you what an entity is communicating through her. My God doesn't do that and he doesn't charge, He just speaks directly to me. I was trying to ask you why couldn't yours? Instead you continuously interrupted me and disrespected me with your attitude. Hope you had a nice walk home.

I would like to say thank you for being one of the many men out there. Just like the lot of them. You make a promise, pretend to act on the promise, and then break it.

How's the view?

I would just like to add before this is read that I am in no way directing this piece to one person in particular. It is merely a reflection I observed throughout my day. Should you read this and feel that I am directing this toward you, know that I'm not and merely considered more the reason as to why you think maybe I am. I am just as guilty of letting my bad day tell me what to do. Considering the number of letters and postings I have put up here that do sometimes antagonize people, I thought I should let you know, these are just my rambling thoughts while sipping a hot cup of chocolate...

People are too busy worried about getting their next fix. We're all in some way addicted to drama. We may be addicted to our own or reality TV drama, we may be addicted to our friends or celebrity drama unfolding. We all say we don't care. The reality is that we really do. It feels good to know that we get to be in the know or our drama makes us important. The painful truth of that matter is that other people may not care about our own personal drama but about someone else's.

We're a society so fixed on staying angry, on who wronged us. We're all guilty of it. God knows I am! We wanted the wrongs righted. We want to be able to breathe a sigh that says we championed the villain and slayed the beast the hurt us and kicked us down. The degree of the wrongs or the level rather isn't up to us to interpret, despite the fact that it's our own wrong. We may feel it's completely worth venting and spitting over while others, be it friends, acquaintances, co-workers, or even family, tell us whether or not to worry. Have you ever noticed that we never listen to what others tell us? Repeat it over and over again if you like, the degree to which you worry about it is still up to you while someone else tells you different.

The thing about drama is that we let it control our attitudes to an extent that is unhealthy. Tiger had how many hoes?? He said that to her?? I'm so angry for him!! There's this redundant saying that attitudes are contagious. The fact is that they are. And anyone who's seen Pretty Woman agrees with Julia Roberts: the bad stuff is always easier to believe. Why is that?

Because it hurts us to tell someone the truth about a matter; therefore, it should hurt someone else just as much to tell us the truth about us. In my nearly thirty years of life, this is just something I've noticed to be true in not only my own world but in the world's of my other friend's as well. We all think we're right, and maybe we are. Who's to say that in every argument, both sides are right? There can be two wrongs and there can be two rights. Just because someone calls you fat or a drama addict doesn't necessarily mean that it's wrong or right. It just means someone else sees something different than you.

When something good happens to us, we rejoice. Have you ever timed how long you were happy about something? When something positive enters our existence, the people in our environment are joyful with us. Have you ever timed how long it took someone else to tell you to calm down your own excitement? How often do we take the time to pass along our positive attitude to others? Better yet, how often have you tried and been shunned for the very idea of trying to make someone smile, even if it was just for a second? I'm guilty of not doing that enough. Sometimes it feels like when I do, I get scolded. Other times, I feel more use for myself when I know I've put a grin on some one's face and their laughter in the air.

Now think about how many times we've had a negative attitude. It's been our own personal, terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Nothing can go right. Everything can go wrong. I have been the walking Murphy's law. How often are we guilty of allowing our everyday frustrations control our emotional well being? How often do we discourage those who attempt to make us feel better when they care enough to light up our eyes? I'm sorry to everyone I've ever put down for trying to put me up.

We don't realize what our own attitudes can do to others until it's been done to us. It hurts when someone doesn't realize that you care. It's so much easier for us to pay forward our bad days instead of our good and so much harder for us to appreciate those who want to cast some ray of sunshine on our cloudy, cold day. It doesn't matter if it's a right or wrong, it's a matter of dramatizing our own emotions. We blind ourselves with our own present emotional well-being to the point we can't see what we do to the attitudes of others. When we try, we learn our lesson, and make sure others learn it, too- even if they don't have to. The sad part is that because of that, we kill the potential for a happier society.

In Utopia, the criminals are the people who are raised to steal, cheat, and destroy. They are then punished for the very things that they are taught to do. They never learn to perform any differently. In today's society, the people who pay forward their good deeds are the one's punished for trying to make the unhappy happy. No good deed goes unpunished. I learned that lesson today.

There is no good timing for happiness when anger, hurt, or frustration is involved.

Just as you learned your lesson, I learned mine.

The difference in a positive attitude and a negative one is that the negative gives up while the positive keeps going. Just because someone else doesn't want to smile doesn't mean that I don't. The content inherently want to share their felicity.

Yes, we're addicted to drama. We're addicted to ourselves. Something to remember about the people who want you to smile when you are stressed, hurt, venting, getting over, or stewing over your own drama: those are the people who love you and your drama...no matter how important it really is.

I have my own faults and I have my own drama that I'm guilty of obsessing over too much. The next time someone tries to make me smile, I hope I'm not so blinded I can't remember what it's like from their view. I hope I smile back.