Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Here comes Santa Claus?

This morning the door bell rang and to my amazement it was Santa Claus bringing me some goodies! He had trekked through the snow to see me!

I love Santa Claus!

P.O.T.Y. Award

P.O.T.Y stands for "Parent of the Year." Jim and I increasingly come across parents that we would like to give an award to for being the dumbest parents on earth or the worst parents on earth or just the plain oblivious parents on earth. So we will start a new section and will presenting one award each week, Jim will also be a guest blogger on these days as he is out in the field searching these parents out. This may turn into another blog all on its own, but we'll see. For now, it will be here, each week. We hope you enjoy it and look for it soon! Also as to not pick on just the Northwest we will be hearing some stories from the midwest, east coast, and beyond. Just you wait! And hope you don't end up with an award!

iConcert Calendar

iConcertCal is a free iTunes plug-in that monitors your music library and generates a personalized calendar of upcoming concerts in your city. It supports worldwide searches, includes direct links to purchase tickets, and is available for both Windows and Mac OS X. It is also FREE!

This is also GENIUS! I've been using it for about two years now and I find it brilliant! My conerts are just a hop skip and a jump away, and I realize they are getting information from my iTunes library but I could care less. This is another great invention!

GET IT HERE!

http://www.iconcertcal.com/

I think I could marry it.

"Genius" is GENIUS!

According to wikipedia the word "genius" refers to:

A genius is a person who successfully applies a previously unknown technique in the production of a work of art, science or calculation, or who masters and personalizes a known technique. A genius typically possesses great intelligence or remarkable abilities especially in the production of creative and original work, something that has never been seen or evaluated previously. Traits often associated with genius include strong individuality, imagination, uniqueness, and innovative drive.

So I just found out about the genius bar in iTunes (http://www.apple.com/itunes/whatsnew/). I'm hooked. I just click on a song in my music library and viola it makes me a new playlist out of my music library. Songs I haven't heard in forever that matches and flows with the song I picked. It's brilliant! I've only done it once and it created this amazing playlist. I admit that it takes away the fun of creating a playlist and spending countless hours just getting it right, however, I also admit that I love what it creates and it gives me a chance to listen to some of my music that I had forgotten about, especially when one has a mere 10.000 thousand songs on her computer!

I think I could marry it.

Hula Hoop plus Bicycle plus Santa

Okay, so yesterday I was driving with Jim to dinner and we are stopped at a stop light. There is a man crossing the street wearing a Santa hat, he didn't look particularly deranged or abnormal, he was just whereing a Santa Hat and seemed to be enjoying himself. This was going on three cars ahead of me. To the right of me was a man (perhaps homeless) riding his bicycle. Now what is funny here is that he had a hula hoop over him and a sack of goodies (I persume) on the back of the bike. It was a very festive green and silver hula hoop. I took a second glance to make sure that is what I saw. Then I imagined as the Santa Hat got closer to the Hula Hoop's side of the street that they would collide and it would end up with Santa riding a bicycle while hula hooping delivering toys to everyone, like in a Dr. Suess story. It did not happen, but I wanted it too!

It's getting closer...

Track your package
Date Time Location Event Details
December 6, 2008 02:56:00 AM SEATTLE WA US Arrival Scan
December 5, 2008 10:23:00 PM PORTLAND OR US Departure Scan
December 5, 2008 05:44:00 AM PORTLAND OR US Arrival Scan
December 4, 2008 08:01:00 AM PHOENIX AZ US Departure Scan
December 3, 2008 06:04:00 PM PHOENIX AZ US Shipment received by carrier
December 3, 2008 12:30:58 AM US Shipment has left seller facility and is in transit

Finals

I'll be back in one week.

Tracking

And i don't mean after an animal. I mean after packages. I love that I can order a kazillion items on Amazon and leading up to its arrival I can just click on the button that states "track order" and it will tell me, for example,

December 4, 2008 08:01:00 AM PHOENIX AZ US Departure Scan
December 3, 2008 06:04:00 PM PHOENIX AZ US Shipment received by carrier
December 3, 2008 12:30:58 AM US Shipment has left seller facility and is in transit

I love technology...today. I didn't have to enter one mall or store for a gift. Beautiful.

I'm not crafty

So on Friday up in Packwood, my mom organized a "wreath making" activity. I've never made a wreath. We gathered lots of branches of about six different species of trees including berries. We then had to snip branches and then bundle them together. My mom seemed to forget that all five of us had never made wreaths before, so she left us unsupervised making bundles for the wreaths. We didn't do so well so she came back, then we made her start all our wreaths and we were able to continue on our own. But let's face it folks, I'm not that crafty. However, Tayler is!

Things about me you may not know (part 4 of 5)

61. I own a lot of shoes and coats
62. I miss WA D.C. everyday
63. I used to be a good swimmer
64. I would have made an excellent teacher
65. My last meal on earth would be spaghetti
66. My second last meal on earth would be macaroni and cheese and grilled cheese sandwich
67. My favorite color is yellow
68. I like making lists for everything, even a list of the lists i have to make
69. I wish I liked doing my hair, but I despise styling it with a passion
70. Sephora is one of my favorite places on earth, I do like doing makeup
71. I like cleaning, it relieves stress for me
72. I can tell when someone has been in my room. I know if even one little thing is off, a paper moved, a picture frame sitting at a slightly different angle. It's creepy the way I know these things.
73. I hate snakes
74. I love zoos
75. I hate inside animals
76. I don't like having to take my shoes off before I enter someone's house
77. I organize my CDs by genre, the genre that I own the most is that of "soundtracks" Interesting.
78. I am into recycling
79. I write things on my hand to remember them for later
80. I think I'll make a good mom someday

Bad Mood

I'm in one. I was fine three hours ago then my mind filled up and I got in a bad mood. I hate wanting things. I hate needing things. I hate worrying about friends and family members. Does anyone else just lie there in bed filling your brain with anxiety as you lose sleep with each passing second? Just wondering.

I'm assuming there are billions of people in the world that do this and I just wanted to get it all out in the open while I am feeling like this. I don't need any pity comments, that is not what I'm doing. I'm not fishing for them at all. Just wanted to have a real discussion on what keeps people awake at night. Tonight my hand has three notes on it that I forgot to do today so that carries over. It's the holidays but the economy has me feeling quite low as does my bank account.

I'll get over it I'm sure. NO worries there. As my dad said tonight "The Thompsons may get pretty low but we don't break." Good FYI for any Thompsons reading this, we won't break when we get stressed.

On a plus side, I got to see my lovely cousin Aupreille tonight and her pregnant body and that made me smile.

As Alexander, a character from my favorite childhood book, says "I am having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day."

NO TITLE

That is the hardest part about writing blogs. Coming up with something witty for the title. Carly, my cousin has my favorite headlines. Her recent one about her boy's listening jar was simply titled "please work." Why can't I be clever like that, and capture intrigue through the readers first glance at the blog? However, witty isn't really my thing. I'm not sure what is my thing. I do know that approximately four people read this blog so maybe I shouldn't worry about it too much. But i do.

Don't Forget!

Twilight comes out Friday!

Now I realize this wasn't the best book around. I get that. The writing was off, but the story was amazing. It intrigued me so much and I found myself sitting on the metro (way back when i read it in DC two years ago) wondering to myself who was a vampire on board. I know. strange. but the story is unique and that is why I like it. She writes to her young audience and gives them what they want, the prom scene, the first kiss, etc. I say go read it, who cares if it is a cult classic. Don't not read it just because it is popular. It is popular for a reason. If you don't read it at least go see the movie they are calling "amateur."

So bite me!

Beyonce and Fergie

Beyoncé - New Music - More Music Videos

I seem to be obsessed with this video and song! I don't know why and usually I can't stand Beyonce! I'm also infatuated with her song "If I were a boy." The video that is showing is for the song "Single Ladies (Put a ring on it)." I'm also into Fergie too, especially her song "Big girls don't cry." I used to listen to that song all summer long. What is weird, is this isn't my usual type of music, but there is something about it! Call me a tweener, I don't care I love it!

Here are the lyrics to "put a ring on it."

(Verse 1)

Up in the club (club), we just broke up (up)
I'm doing my own little thing
You decided to dip (dip), but now you want to trip (trip)
Cause another brother noticed me
I'm up on him (him), he up on me (me)
Don't pay him any attention
Cause I cried my tears (tears), for three good years (years)
You can't be mad at me

[Chorus]
Cause if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
Don't be mad once you see that *he* want it
If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it

Things about me that you may not know (part 3 of 5)

41. My favorite movies are Field of Dreams, While You Were Sleeping, Amelie, The Matchmaker, and 8 Men Out.

42. I'm a night owl. I AM NOT a morning person.

43. I'm afraid of lakes and the deep end of pools.

44. I would love to write for Rolling Stone or UnCut Magazines

45. In the 7th grade I ran a mile in 6:15. I was recruited for track and said "No way!" I also was the fastest of all the girls that year in p.e.

46. I'm pretty much an expert in APA (American Psychological Association) format. I always get emails and calls asking me about the format for a paper. I like having this niche. I owe it to three professors in my undergrad who drilled it in me. Dr. Woo, Dr. D., and Miss Kennedy.

47. My favorite teacher in high school was Mr. Brown. He taught Math. My second favorite teacher in high school was Mr. Staymates. He taught Social Studies.

48. I drive a Volkswagen Passat. Other cars I have owned or driven at any given time: Honda Civic x2, Toyota Corolla, Blazer, old Truck, 1978 Supra Celica, and in DC I drove a volvo a lot of my friends.

49. I've never named my cars. Though I do talk to them. Especially when they are low on gas or very dirty. I feel for them in those times and let them know I will take care of it soon.

50. The first thing I did when I had my license was drive all by myself to Bothell to visit my cousins. I love that my parents let me do that. They were good about letting me independent.

51. I love visiting both sides of the family anytime I can! When I was younger we would beg our parents to drive half way and meet on the pass to pick each other up. I like that our parents did that. And in one incidence, Analisa took the greyhound bus over to visit!

52. At this moment, I have a terrible sore throat and can't swallow.

53. Once I stole road signs with a friend (she shall remain nameless).

54. I love Ireland and London!

55. Vorbesc pe romaneste!

56. I love overhearing coversations in Romanian. Jim has witnessed this two times when I jump in and start talking. I love it!

57. I don't mind when people exaggerate stories.

58. The perfect morning would be sleeping in, listening to car talk on NPR, while sitting on a dark brown leather couch eating a strawberry shortcake with real whip cream.

59. The best hot chocolate I've ever had is at Trophy cupcakes and Party. It's amazing.

60. I love to travel. Anywhere and everywhere.

I survived my hardest week of grad school. And when I use the word "survive" I use it loosely. I have bags under my eyes, the pain in my neck and shoulder have been there for going on two weeks, I've alienated friends and family, and I can't think anymore. at all. no more thinking. for a day at least. Bring on the sleeping pills! See you tomorrow at like 4pm, I'm sleeping all day!

Baby Mia has a heart!

Transplant was a success. Now it is a waiting game. She's doing really well though! More later!

8

8 tv shows
Being that I don't watch tv anymore these would be my old ones I used to like
1. Cheers
2. Project Runway
3. So You Think You Can Dance
4. Family Ties
5. Top Gear
6. Antiques Roadshow
7. Private Practice
8. Martha Stewart
9. West Wing

8 restaurants
1. Cafe Rio-Utah
2. Lebanese Taverna-WA D.C.
3. Unicum-Sibiu, Romania
4. New Thai-Yakima Wa
5. PF-Changs
6. Mai Thai, Alexandria, VA
7. The Spud-Alki Beach, Seattle
8. Bankok Kitchen-Portland, OR

8 things that happened today (its 11:30 am)
1. got in the hot tub, have a very hurt back and neck that has lasted a week
2. made toast
3. paid bills
4. wrote a section of a paper
5. made my bed
6. talked to a friend on the phone about an assignment
7. researched something for an assignment
8. made a priority list for this weekend

8 things that I'm looking forward to
1. Friday, Nov. 14th, it means I survived my hardest week in the history of my grad school
2. Aup coming to visit
3. Sleeping
4. cooking a meal in the crockpot tomorrow
5. New Years Eve with Jim
6. The Nutcracker (if i get tickets)
7. The quarter being OVER!
8. My brothers wedding this summer

8 things on my wish list
1. my car was paid off
2. my credit card was paid off
3. pizza cutter and stone
4. citrus peeler
5. Aup has a healthy baby
6. A vacation to Europe or Ireland
7. A proposal from a certain someone
8. Jim will find a nice apartment

Talk to the Hand

The Hand holds the key to my life. It is all knowing and powerful and reminds me of what I must do. Except when I go to the restroom and wash my hand it no longer has the master list and then I lose it all. It is a good strategy for a short term thing. Must come up with a better system.

This particular hand on this particular day had six things that I had to do that evening, that I could remember to do that evening anyway.

One year anniversary plans

Hayley to Jim via text "What are we going to do for our one year anniversary?"

Jim to Hayley via text "Vote."

Are you freaking kidding me?

I turned in my absentee ballot like a good little girl. I get a note in the mail saying my count isn't valid because my signature on the outside of the envelope did not match my signature when i registered to vote. Let me clarify something to people, my signature has been the same for like a hundred billion years. secondly, I just registered to vote two months ago and they make you sign your name on your license is like a tiny witty bitty box, so maybe that's why! So now I have to do three things to make my vote count. 1. send in a copy of my passport or license 2. sign again! and 3. i forget what, but I'm outraged! How much is this costing them so send out additional letters all because my signature was off by a bit? Really People! Seriously! I mean seriously! It's not like it was not signed. Who analyzed my signature, was it a computer or a person? Highly suspicious! But don't worry I will do what they say so my vote counts. Insert a long heavy sigh. As if I don't have other things to do! Seriously!

PS-I'm trying to be like SNL with my serious words...if you caught that at all?!

Things about me you may not know (part 2 of 5)

21. I always thought I would make a great truck driver.

22. I use timers to get through my homework and writing papers.

23. I still have to use a chart to get through my week, and check things off as I go. I have also finally mastered excel, and when I say mastered I mean I can make a simple chart.

24. I hate my Mac (though its been alive for 8 years and still going strong). I wish they made a PC that wouldn't get viruses and I would be all over that. This was explained to me why Mac's don't get viruses...but I'll spare you. However, I realize they make windows for mac, and I might have to succumb to it, but as my brother states "that is like putting a pinto engine in a ferrari." So I thought better of it.

25. I have a scar on my upper left eyebrow due to my brother being mad at my mom and taking it out on me by throwing a clown car toy at me when I was two. He was four.

26. I should be writing a paper write (right now). haha, I'm a dork.

27. I can picture what my house will look like after I decorate it, especially my library.

28. I love good sheets, the higher the thread count the better.

29. I like my room cold with a fan on so I get nestled under covers all cozylike and cuz I'm a light sleeper and it drownds out noises.

30. I went to 7 different Universities in my undergrad. career. And no I will not name them, though I can!

31. I have seen Neil Young, U2, REM, The Cure, The Police, Michael Buble, Ben Folds, John Mayer, Death Cab for Cutie, Modest Mouse, Michael Bolton (not ashamed of this), Cindy Lauper, Chicago, Tina Turner, Tom Petty live among hundreds of others. Am still waiting to see Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon, and Steve Miller Band. Then my life just may be complete (only half kidding).

32. I've kissed boys from Spain, London, Netherlands, and Paris.

33. I am a certified scuba diver.

34. I've been in jail, twice.

35. My first "real" kiss was in the sixth grade. Hated it. With a congressman's son. I won't name names.

36. I love Magazines, but not the trashy kind about celebrities. I like Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Glamour on occasion, and Weddings by Martha Stewart (I own every one since its inception). I also like Dwell and Domino.

37. I love playing madlibs on road trips. Somehow they were funnier when I was younger. I used to save the old ones and write the date and where we were and who was with me and send them years later to friends that were on that trip with me.

38. When my sister Whitney was a newborn, we shared a room. When I went to school I would wake her up by tapping (very gently) her head against the crib (no jokes about her brain here) every morning before I left for school so I could say goodbye. My mom for years later couldn't figure out why she woke up at the exact same time every morning except for the weekends.

39. My mom would dress up as the clean fairy and come and visit the neighbors and mine bedrooms to "check" them. She would dress is zany outfits. I loved that. I couldn't wait for her to come.

40. I remember watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when I was younger with my cousins and eating mass amounts of candy and real popcorn, made on the stove while our moms rid our hair looking for lice.

What Jim offered.

So Jim and I went to get ice-cream last night after a very long stressful week (and it was only Wednesday) and after that we walked a lap around the mall like old people. He then said to me "I'm going to have to take you to that movie about vampires." Of course he was referring to Twilight. And i said. "I would never make you sit through that, there are hundreds of other people who would rather see it with me than you." That's why I love him. He offered.

Indulge

Recently seen on Martha Stewart and now on the cover of Seattle Magazine for November as being voted the best dessert in Seattle, well Wallingford to be exact, Trophy Cupcakes and Parties is the place to be. THEY ARE AMAZING! Click on the link and learn of the flavors, from peanut butter and jelly to burnt marshmallow to snicker doodle. I like salt a lot, but even my taste buds crave these deliciously sweet cupcakes!

GO NOW or forever hold your peace. http://www.trophycupcakes.com/

Counting Change

So I have a lot of change and Jim got it into his head that we should count it all up and then go exchange it for cash, since I'm short on that lately! So we did. I had a total of $25.65 in change, but the coin star machine takes 8.9 cents to the dollar, so I walked away with $22.89! Super!

Things about me you may not know (part 1 of 5)

I'm supposed to do 100 of these, but I'm just writing them when they come to me.

1. I love the sound of showers and bath water running. When I was four I would get up when my dad got up, sit on the heater in the bathroom while my large shirt i used as pajamas would blow up like a balloon and listen to the sounds of the shower as my dad or mom were in there.To this day I love hearing the sounds of the shower.

2. I hate the words panties, cukes, ointment, and moist.

3. I love popcorn and salty things. I would pick them over sweets any day of the week.

4. However that being said, here are the sweet things i like, lollipops, tootsie rolls, kit-kat, twix.

5. DING DONGS, they get there own entry. I love them placed in the cold fridge and then eaten. They also taste better with the foil wrapping versus the plastic wrapping. They don't have them in these places, Romania, London, or Back East. Sad for them.

6. When I get the mail or go to get gas, I have to have the key or credit card out and all ready to go. I could be driving for five to ten miles holding the key to the mailbox anticipating getting it, or holding the credit card and playing around with it while I drive anticipating filling up.

7. Once when I was younger I was upset at my brother for scaring me (this happened daily when I took out the bathroom garbage), so I carved his name in the garage. He got sooo busted.

8. I'm not into newborns or babies that much. I mean I like them, but if I had a choice, I would want them at age four and up.

9. I'm still doubting myself that I will make it through grad. school.

10. I write stuff on my hands all the time to remember things I need to do, or a song i want to download that I heard on the radio.

11. My hobbies consist of nothing at the moment, but they used to consist of collecting teddy bear stuff, stickers, garbage pail kids (at which in the first grade my mom and dad told me to stop collecting them and I had to just give them away to someone..at which they said they would pay me the difference to spend on stickers, I'm still waiting for the 16.00 dollars), little mermaid stuff, stamps, scrapbooking, and the most recent but too poor to do it and not enough time hobby of going to concerts and finding new bands.

12. I make my bed about 98% of the time.

13. In high school my tires and wheels were stolen off my car, I got to school and my car was on milkcartons. sad for me.

14. I was homecoming princess my senior year.

15. I love Jim

16. I'm president of the grad. school, school psychology club. I started the club but really had no intention of being the president. It's a lot of work.

17. I'm the National student delegate for Washington State for the National Association of School Psychologists.

18. I'm on the National Council for the NetSmartz Workshop for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

19 . I grew up next to my cousins in a lovely cul-de-sac. Man the memories of that place. We had to go in when the light came on.

20. I love the movie Annie. For my fourth or fifth birthday I received a handmade Annie doll that was taller than me, a sandy dog from my cousins, the record that I have still to this day, and orphan type clothes (scraps) that were sewn just for me. I pretended to be an orphan a lot. When my mom took me to the movie, she said I stood up the entire time and cried a lot when she was hanging from the bridge. I can recite the entire movie. We rented a VCR and the movie for my birthday.

My Closet By Numbers

After cleaning out my closet and taking out spring and summer clothes and bringing in the winter clothes, here is what I own. This is insane.

36 sweaters
38 pairs of shoes
16 coats
17 skirts
4 dresses
1 pant suit
3 hats
13 purses/bags
8 pairs of jeans
12 pairs of slacks

I'm sick to my stomach about this.

Things about Jim that I adore.

1. He thinks I smell like bubbles.
2. He pushes my dimples in with his fingers (I think he tries to get the shallow one deeper, haha)
3. He sends me updates via texts about any type of sports, ie: "The husky's are down by 10."
4. He sends me updates about the world in general ie: The dow just fell 500 points." or "The dow just fell 800 points." or "The dow just fell a kazillion points."
5. He pretty much knows if I'm at his house at dinner time he has to make dinner, and usually it is a very delicious grilled cheese sandwich (my favorite). And he doesn't use that cheap waxy cheese, he goes all out.
6. He cuts out articles from magazines or newspapers that he thinks I would like.
7. Usually, if I request a massage he will pull through for me!
8. He loooooves sports and knows everything about it.
9. He's disciplined.
10. He is able to sense when I'm freaking out and then equally calm me down in seconds.
11. He always forwards me fun things to do that he thinks I would like
12. Popcorn. His popcorn making skills are phenomenal.
13. He helps me keep my goals ie: not entering target without a list and sticking to that list or my goal of no soda except I'm allowed rootbeer when eating pizza.
14. He loves his Mom.
15. He keeps me laughing by tickling me almost to death (this is more annoying then adoring).
16. He sends me lyrics that I believe have secret meanings.
17. He will go on walks with me to my favorite neighborhoods of Seattle.
18. He's kind of smart.
19. He served his country.
20. Even though we just learned he's allergic to cats he still comes over and takes medicine.
21. He's a good driver and I always feel safe with him.
22. He can remember anything I tell him.
23. He also will ask me things about my friends out of concern for them or me.
24. He listens.
25. He smells good.
26. He kind of just goes with the flow of things.
27. He's sympathetic and shows empathy when needed.

High School Tag

1. Did you date someone from your high school? No, I was one of those people that dated outside the high school!

2. What kind of car did you drive? 1978 Toyota Supra Celica (was a Suped up Supra that had the body of Celica) Seriously for a 1978 it was like stepping into a cockpit. moon roof. a/c. cruise control. and a little button that you could push that would make you go very fast!

3. What was your most embarrassing moment in high school? Getting my tires and wheels stolen. My car hadn't started because I forgot to wiggle the thingy so it just sat for two nights at school. I drove my moms car to school the next day and walked in the doors to my high school and everyone was like, nice car hayley. There was my car sitting on milk crates with my tires and wheels stolen. 900 bucks to replace. My dad was pissed, never seen him so mad. Like it was my fault!

4. Were you a party animal? Not really. Went to parties but didn't do much there



5. Were you considered a flirt? Yes

6. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? No

7. Were you a nerd? No.

8. Were you on any varsity teams? Swimming and Tennis

9. Did you get suspended/expelled? No, but detention was rampant

10. Can you still sing the fight song? No, but I do still know the hand jive thing we all did at games.

11. Who were your favorite teachers? Mr. Brown for math, Mr. Staymates for HIstory

12. Where did you sit during lunch? At one of the tables with all our friends.

13. School Mascot? Vikings

14. Did you go to homecoming and with who? Yes, twice. Junior year with David Peas, Senior year with Kevin Shephard, my best friend. IT WAS THE BEST DATE OF MY LIFE. Also, I was homecoming princess my senior year (not queen, damn that Jennie Mead)! haha

15. If you could go back and do it again, would you? Abosolutely not. I mean I LOVED high school and had a good time but I was not one of those ones crying at graduation. I was like "see ya later." and then I was off.

16. What do you remember most about graduation? It was my 18th birthday. Crystal, Brenda, and I wore the same shirts only in three different colors. Someone yelling Happy Birthday real loud. Walking barefoot to receive my diploma. Going on a senior trip to Seattle and playing poker during the locks cruise. I was winning like mad but didn't realize you were supposed to turn in half of your tickets to win prizes. It took me about five minutes to realize that I wasn't going to win cuz I didn't turn them in. And let me tell you I would have won a lot, I had the most tickets of anyone. I mean I missed out on a T.V, stereo, etc. "Typical Hayley." someone said to me.

17. Where did you go senior skip day? We all went to breakfast and to a friends house and hung out. Though we declared skip days a lot during the year.

18. Have you gained weight since then? Um, yeah. Let's stop talking about it.

19. Who was your prom date? Kevin Shephard.

20. Are you planning on going to your 10 year reunion? Already came and went, and had no desire to go.

21. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself? "it's not the end of the world."

JIM FINALLY DID IT!

Picture this. Jim and I on a warm autumn evening walking along alki beach during sunset in West Seattle. Jim holding my hand. Jim kissing my cheek. Then Jim leaned over and ordered a 3 piece fish at the Spud! Yes that's right folks, I took him to the Spud for dinner. His first time there and it has to be said. He devoured it. As some of you may know this is a family tradition, whenever anyone comes to town or we are just craving fish we head to Alki Beach at go to the Spud. My grandpa still lives in West Seattle so we always call him and his wife up and they come on down. I mean tradition is tradition. It also calls for ordering a pickle. And then taking a walk to the statue of liberty. Welcome to the family Jim.

Seen posted on the website "Eavesdropping"

Boss man to staff: "Growing up, there was a kid on my block who was a lot like John McCain. His team was losing touch football 10-75 so he said, "um my mom needs me" and ran home, and, of course, took the ball with him. That's John McCain."

-- Downtown

Quotes that I've clung to lately

When I dare to be powerful-
To use my strength in the service of my vision,
Then it becomes less and less important
Whether I am afraid - AUDRE LORDE

If you are neutral in situations of injustice,
you have chosen the side of the oppressor.
If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse
and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will
not appreciate your neutrality. - BISHOP DESMOND TUTU

The National

Friday evening I went with Randy, Emily, and Aaron (old friends from high school, actually my brothers friends from high school) to a benefit concert to help the co-op farms of the Midwest that were flooded. It seemed fitting since I had just come back from Iowa that week and Aup had taught me all about co-op farms. Now about the music.

The National is an amazing band that when heard on the album sound rather laid back and calm. Not true when heard live. I saw them live for a bit at the Sasquatch festival but seeing them in an intimate setting was completely different. They rocked it and hard! I couldn't even tap my hands or legs fast enough to the beat. I still could yell somehow despite having no speaking voice. What makes them great is the cleverness of the lyrics when paired with the music. It makes you stop and think and wonder if you just heard that. They are lyricist and the drummer pushes them further. The lead singer barely turns to the crowd and only then some, he likes to keep his back to the crowd, it is as if the crowd deters him emotionally from his poetry.

A little history about them. They were previously all law students and then decided to drop that gig and become musicians. I love to hear stories like that! I will try to put music on this blog though I have no idea how to..or how to make a link...If someone would tell me that would be great! Meanwhile go here to enjoy a glimpse of this amazing band. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBujZr20O6M

Thank you brother for finding them! THEY ROCK! GO SEE THEM LIVE PEOPLE. I BEG OF YOU!

Nostalgia Returns

Last evening Jim and I went to the Puyallup fair. It had been a long time since either one of us had been on a ride and had delicious fair food. Jim took me straight to the ride that he wanted us both to do. This bungee thing that launched you up into the air...and I mean WAY into the air. I passed. He passed because I passed. He worked the entire evening on convincing me to do it using cheesy funny lines like "I'll make you popcorn if you do it." and "It's about trust." Which he knew himself was just blowing smoke out of his ears and making me laugh at him more than anything. Of course he wasn't serious saying those things. Little did he know that when I say "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh" it really means I will most likely do it as the butterflies fill my stomach. Luckily though, we had to use all the ride tickets we used on the regular rides and that took forever and we ran out of time. Darn. Well we saved fifty dollars too! Next year honey. Next year.

We ate a lot of fair food...I had been craving curly fries and the ever elusive elephant ears. Yummy. We also tried our hand at Jalapeno popcorn, shaved ice, and a cheeseburger for the Jim. It was great. Jim kept steering my hands towards more food but by 9:30 we headed to the place where they sell you stuff from infomercials. Probably my favorite place to be really. Then we went and looked at the HUGE pumpkins (see picture).



All in all a fall fun adventure. I don't have a voice this morning what with all the screaming (Jim's favorite part was when I accidentally swore before going down a huge hill on the roller coaster). it was another perfect start to Autumn. Just like all the years from my childhood going to the fair it was as good as I remembered.

"Is this Heaven?"--"No, it's Iowa."

IF YOU BUILD IT HE WILL COME! Um yes, that's right folks, my wonderful cousin took me to the "field of dreams" field. IT WAS AWESOME! Another thing to cross off my life list! We had sooo much fun running the bases, cheering, having a catch, and disappearing into the corn!

Aupreille

So I went and visited my lovely cousin Aupreille for six glorious days. She is almost five months pregnant with her first child. I was sooo excited to see her little baby bump and even see her waddle a bit! I was able to feel the baby kick and then see it kick. It was inspiring to see her and Mark work on a little family talking about how they will be as parents. I love my Aupreille!

She also spoiled me silly and made the most delicious food! Mark is a VERY LUCKY MAN! And Aupreille is also a VERY LUCK WOMAN! I so missed my lovely cousin. THANK YOU AUP!

UW vs. BYU 27-28

Yes it was a fun fun fun game! I loved that Jim's Mom dyed her hair purple for the event while sitting right in the middle of the cougar club fans. I came complete with Husky gear including but not limited to a purple poncho (in my purse, just waiting for the rain 80 degree day, no clouds), Husky shirt and official UDUB hat, huge yellow gold earrings and bracelet and if there was face paint it would have been on my face!

We had 6 tickets 3 of us were Husky fans, 2 were BYU (in fact they flew all the way from DC to be here) and 1, my little sister was divided wearing a BYU shirt (thanks to Carren, my BF) and purple and gold beads (thanks to Karen, Jim's mom). As Tayler and I were walking to the stadium someone shouted at us "a house divided." We laughed. It gets even better, Tayler is a senior this year and she will be entering undergrad as pre-med so she has been struggling at which school to attend as BYU and UW have very good programs. Now UW goes way back in my family tree. Carren told her frankly that the winner of this game would decide which school she would attend. So BYU it is?! Who knows. It was such a great fun game to watch. Carren and Scott even ended up on BYU's football homepage snapshots from the game. Awesome! While Jim and Karen's picture end up on my blog. Awesome Possum!

Oh and even Whitney had a part to play as she works at the UVillage she kept erasing the white chalk marks on my tires so I wouldn't get towed. Here's to Whitney and free parking at Safeway! And to Scott for securing the tickets.

Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia

We didn't know what to expect. We decided the night before to visit Peggy's Cove. We got there and we were as giddy as children. Luckily I had worn my tennis shoes because I did some jumping, climbing, and just all over trekking. There were these huge round rocks that went forever and jetted out of the sea in front of a beautiful light house. Only on my way out did I here the legend of Peggy. A romantic one at that. She was on her way to Halifax to meet her fiance by ship from New Foundland (if i recall correctly) and the ship took on a lot of water off of the cove and she was rescued by the locals. She ended up staying and when the locals went to visit they said "Are you on your way to Peggy's Cove?" And that is how it got its name. The lighthouse is beautiful and even has a post office in the bottom of it. I reverted back to childhood when I was at Peggy's Cove.

Prince Edward Island

I belong to a traveling group. We call ourselves the Little Truckers. For our third "annual trip to somewhere" we chose Nova Scotia, home to Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton, and Halifax (which includes the burial grounds of the Titanic). This picture shows all of the Little Truckers in front of Lucy Maud Montgomery's very own Green Gables home. It was everything I imagined and though Anne Shirley is a character from a novel even Lucy felt she was betraying Anne if she concluded that she was "just a character."

Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

It reminded me of my time in Ireland. It was beautiful. God makes some very beautiful places, this tops the list.

Enter Autumn

I'm just happy today. The weather is changing. It's sunny but not too sunny. It's breezy but not too breezy. It's cool but not too cool. Autumn is almost here and it just makes me smile, even while being stuck in the post office for forty-five minutes trying to get my money back when it took 21 days for a letter that was certified and priority to get to Virginia. Apparently there is no guarantee...so no money back for me, but that didn't stop my happiness mood. My boyfriend is awesome but not too awesome where you are disgusted with yourself for not being that awesome. My family is great. Vacation starts tomorrow. Can it get any better?

Enter freshed picked apples. Enter high school football. Enter sweaters and layers. Enter fallen leaves.

ENTER AUTUMN!

(the picture was taken upstate new york with my friends Courtney & Melanie. At Melanie's cabin at Loon Lake)

San Francisco

So Jim and I went to San Francisco. He went for business. I went for an alternative motive. Shopping. Thursday I basically shopped until I dropped and as I was in line a woman said to me "I shouldn't be here buying these things, what is my husband going to say?" I told her to keep them in the trunk for a while, then she informed me that she took the bus that day. I was saddened for her wrath that her husband may show to her making her take the cute items she clung to in line back. We worked out a solution. She would stop off at her friends house and leave it there for a couple of weeks. I think it should work for her...

Jim and I ate at an amazing chinese restaurant called Betelnut. It was local favorite apparently as we were mistaken for locals. Two people throughout the day at Jim's work told him to order the green beans. Interesting. I have nothing against green beans and have been picking them a lot lately at my own home, but seriously of all the items on the menu to be told to get those. Well folks, they were EXTREMELY delicious! Sezuchan green beans. I could drink the sauce as I've told many of you. The calamari was amazing as well. I then took Jim the chocolate lover, to Ghiradelli square where we had ourselves a chocolate shake and "The Domingo."

The next day we headed to Fisherman's wharf or as Jim mistakenly calls it Fisherman's Dwarf. No seriously. He didn't know he was pronouncing it wrong. So cute. We fell in love with the clam chowder (and it was as good as last time I had it 12 years ago with Aup & Ann) and the sea lions.

We then headed up to Lombard street and when I say headed up...I don't mean we took a trolley or cable car...no we walked my friends up a freakin' mountain of cement while cable car passengers waved on by. BUT it was worth it. The view was amazing and we looked at houses on our way back down.

All in all a fantastic vacation!