I am alive!!!

Well, I am alive. I had a WONDERFUL vacation in South Carolina with my family. We did lots of touristy things and spent time with my aunt and cousin. We had a two hour delay in Atlanta on the way home, but still made it home safely around 5ish on Christmas Eve.

Everything else has been doing fairly well. My dad has his partial knee replacement today and is in the hospital until Sunday or Monday. He is doing well, just really tired and pretty sore. They have him on morphine so that is helping!

Tomorrow is the moving day. We leave my parents house at 7:30am and can get the truck at 9am. Then it's moving back to my parent's garage (my storage unit for about 2 weeks!) So it's been hectic around here. What's new with you guys out there?

A Much Needed Break!

Well, tomorrow is the first day of my life! Tomorrow is graduation--apparently I am now a Master! Then bright and early on Monday, I fly out to South Carolina for a week vacation. I fly back on Christmas eve day, drive up to my parent's house and then celebrate Christmas! Then coming back down to my place on the 26th to finish packing. My dad has a partial knee replacement on the 28th, and I come back down and officially move on the 29th. Then I start my new job on January 2nd and I move into my apartment on January 11th.

What an upcoming month huh? I will extend the contest until I get back. I am going to give a HUGE tip: POST A LINK TO THE CONTEST ON YOUR BLOG IF YOU WANT TO WIN! (Was that blunt enough?) Haha!

Have a great holiday--whatever you choose to celebrate! Enjoy the season (and the snow if you have any!)

CONTEST: Name that puppy! *Sticky Post* *UPDATED and scroll down for new entries!*

Okay, so my parents are getting a new puppy after Christmas. Here is the problem: what the heck do we name her? So far my parents have Peanut and Carmel (and lost Cashew under 2 years ago). So...the names need to go together, but doesn't have to be a nut :)

So I am holding a contest. Submit your suggestion(s) for a puppy name (only one suggestion per comment, but you can put more than one comment--up to 5) and from the list, we will hopefully find a winner. Please have your submissions in by December 10th.

If you want to enter here is what you do:

--leave a comment (up to 5) with your suggestion

--post about this contest on your website with a link back to here! *Make sure to do this in order for your suggestion to be considered and to win the prize!

That's it. The winner will be picked soon after December 10th and will be contacted about the prize (which is a surprise!). Here is a picture of the new puppy to help:

My Last Week

Well, here we are, my last week of work. I am ecstatic as I think about what is coming up. I graduate in 6 days (I can't believe I will have my Masters in less than a week!) and then a week from today I leave for vacation!

I will start the new job on Jan. 2nd which is perfect as my dad has a partial knee replacement on Dec. 28th and I move all my stuff on Dec. 29th. So it's going to be a hectic month. I can't believe how fast everything is moving.

I am not decorating for Christmas this year as I'll be gone and moving. It's kind of sad. I didn't decorate last year for personal reasons and this year I was very excited about it. I also, just don't have time to make out Christmas cards. I really wanted to, but with lack of time, just really haven't been able to get them done.

Just a reminder...if you are participating in the contest above, you MUST have a link to the contest on your blog in order to be eligible to win :) Just a friendly reminder!

What do you call it when you can breathe again? Oh yes, R-E-L-I-E-F

Well, I was offered a job tonight. I asked for the night to think about it, but I am just so da*n excited about it that I don't know if I can wait until the morning to accept. It is the job that I wanted out of the two that I interviewed for. The job I was offered was the one that I interviewed for on FRIDAY. Yes, that would be only 3 business days ago and I already heard that they want me. WOOHOO!! I am VERY excited (as I'm sure you can tell!)


So it just makes me have a huge sigh of relief. It's just very nice that my quitting my job was validated. In the interview on Friday, we laughed, joked, and I felt very at ease. My profession is not an easy one so any time you can take to joke and laugh is precious time!


And for this to occur today, of all days, makes it even better. One year ago today my ex and I broke up. I was distraught and honestly didn't know if I would be able to wake up the next morning. My entire world had changed and I was unsure of even the next second. This morning didn't start out the greatest and I was nervous about the rest of the day. So when my phone rang as I was driving home, I was not expecting much. Then...a job offer!


Today will no longer be remembered because it was the day my life was shattered. Today will be remembered as a day that I started a new chapter in my life...one towards making ME happy. That is the greatest feeling in the world!

Thursday Thirteen: How Amy got her groove back!

Thirteen Things that I have learned in the past year!

1. I can't believe it's been almost a year since my engagement broke off.

2. I am definitely a stronger person for having gone through that.

3. I have learned that I can be on my own, and be okay and content with this. I am okay with silence and can sleep without worrying about being alone.

4. I have learned that I have some amazing friends who have stuck with me through the good and the bad!

5. I have learned that I can make it on my own--but I still need my mommy sometimes!

6. I have learned that I can manage all the bills, do the cooking and the cleaning, and even clean the toilet!

7. I have learned that a man does not define me and that I am my own individual person. It's also okay if I do not agree with everyone--I should have my own opinion.

8. I have learned that I deserve to be treated with respect and the love that I deserve. I also deserve to have someone who cares about me and thinks about me all day long :)

9. I have learned that I am strong enough to make major life decisions without someone else and that I am proud of who I have become.

10. I have learned that I am a pretty great person who any man would be lucky to have.

11. I have learned not to waste my time on people who don't treat me with respect.

12. I have learned that I can cry when I spill milk, have days that I don't want to get out of bed, and watch movies all day if I want.

13. I have learned that after 1 year, I will have gotten my masters, quit my job and moved, and become a pretty independent person.

This year has gone by fast (even though I didn't believe so at first!) I appreciate you guys sticking with me through the good and the bad. I hope that some day I can blog about finding a guy who fits descriptions above and understands me and cares about me for me. Stay tuned for that day :) Also, thanks to Goofy girl for the personalized banner!

Black Friday

Well, today is a day of rest! Yesterday was quite the day. I LOVE Black Friday. I started the tradition a few years ago with my mom and still do it. The outlet mall that is 30 min. away opened at midnight on Friday. So, yes, I was one of the crazies that was there. I went to Carter's to get some baby clothes (at 70% off!) and then went to Harry and David's and got an extra 25% off my entire purchase. Not too bad!

Then it was back home to sleep for a couple hours. Then up at 3am to get ready to attempt Kohl's. I think I may have single handedly brought the US out of debt. I got everything I wanted (and then some) and because I stood in line for over an hour with my dad, I found even more (he stood in line and I continued to shop!) I am now done with Christmas shopping though. That is what I love about Black Friday. I shop for only one day and poof I'm done.

Does anyone else venture out on Black Friday? If so, what were you looking for?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I hope you eat lots of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin pie and whatever else you make to celebrate!

Have a great day!

A giveaway

So, stop over here Michelle my belle and check out the awesome giveaway. It's a party bird who holds different things in his hands based on the season. Go leave her a comment and promote her giveaway and be entered to win :) Who doesn't like to win stuff?

Job Interview! **UPDATED**

I have a job interview in less than an hour. WISH ME LUCK!!!

I'll update and let you all know how it goes (I'm crossing my fingers that I can report that it went well!)

**UPDATE**
The interview went well. There were 3 pages of questions from 3 women and then a writing sample after the interview. The whole thing lasted approximately 90 minutes. They said I should hear from them the week after Thanksgiving (they have a few more applicants to interview).

I also got a call and email today to set up another interview for another position that I applied for. So YAY :) I am just happy to be having interviews. Every interview helps get me closer to a job!!! Keep those fingers crossed!!!!

Falling into Place

Well, things seem to (cross your fingers!) be falling into place. I did give my notice at work and my last day is ONE MONTH from today!!!!! As you can tell, I am extremely excited about that! I have an interview on Friday for a job and I'm hoping the interview goes well. I haven't interviewed in a while so this will be a change for me!

I also went to look at apartments yesterday and found one that I fell in love with! I applied for it and should hear back soon about whether or not I got it. I'm crossing my fingers about that as well. Other than that, nothing much is new.

I'll keep you guys posted!

(Oh and Amy if you read this post, I'm not able to get into your blog anymore!)

A little bit country...

Yeah, I know! Most of you readers don't like country....but congrats to Kenny Chesney for taking home the "Entertainer of the Year" award for the 2nd year in a row!

Moment of silence

Let's just have a moment of silence for just how beautiful this man is....

Stunning! Halle Berry!

I'm sure Halle Berry is used to being called beautiful, but she looks just stunning in this photo. It's nice to see an actress who is paid to be beautiful (and skinny) let herself gain the normal pregnancy weight without trying to hide it or be ashamed of it. I am impressed and happy for her and her boyfriend!

What to do?

***UPDATE ON BOTTOM***

So I have a dilemma. I dislike my job. I want to move. I'm not happy where I am.

BUT....

I don't know that I can afford to quit my job in order to move and then find employment. Here is the issue: I have been getting frequent migraines, feeling ill and just all-around crabby. I have a feeling it's from the stress of my job (I won't get into the details of the reasons behind the stress).

I'm contemplating whether it's worth feeling better, not getting migraines and hopefully being happier for having to pinch pennies for a while.

What would you do?

***I should put a discloser on here to say that it is NOT, I repeat, is NOT due to the actual work that I do. I truly enjoy the actual "hands on" portion of the job. It is other things pertaining to the work environment that I do not like. I hope that makes things as clear as mud :)

You WILL miss me...

I am gone from Tuesday afternoon until Monday at a conference (and celebrating my dad's birthday on Saturday!) So until then...I leave you with memories of how tiny and cute Carmel was to now!

Dumbledore is gay...

J.K. Rowling announced this at a book signing (I believe that's what it was). People seemed shocked and also wondered why she didn't make this a part of the book (actually come out and say he was gay). What do you guys think about this?

I, myself, don't really care if he was straight, gay, purple, orange, he was a wonderful wizard who cared so deeply for Harry and the people at Hogwarts. He fought for what was good and because of those things, he is a hero. It doesn't matter what his sexual orientation was. A good man isn't based on if he likes boys or girls. But I am curious to know what you think. Feel free to leave the comment anonymous if you want.

Really? Nobody?

So I guess nobody (besides my mom) took the time to follow all of the instructions for the last post. Did anyone watch the video? My mom did and really liked it!

Today is homework day (or as it's turned out to be: day of procrastinating against homework). I have gotten my work bag cleaned out, shred lots of papers and killed a spider. I would say the day is a success.

I have lots to do before Tuesday. I leave Tuesday afternoon for a conference that runs from Wednesday morning until Friday. Then Friday I go to my parent's as my dad's birthday is Saturday. Then back here on Monday in time to get home, unpack and head to class. Whew, I'm tired just thinking about it!

Any big plans for you this week?

You Tube It

So, I've been trying (unsuccessfully) for the past two days to post a video from You Tube and it just won't let me. I don't understand the logistics, but whatever.

So.

Go to You Tube and type in "Tim McGraw If You're Reading This"

Then watch the video. (Go Ahead, I'll wait. Just come back to read the rest)

Then post a comment on what you think. I really love this video (from the CMA awards), but I also love the words and the meaning of the song. We've been in this damn war for too long (I won't even start on my opinion of even getting into this "war"), but the heros who have fought and lost their lives deserve this song (and a little recognition!)

What....you miss me?

Well, this weekend has been a fun one! It started early when I came up to my parent's to have some relaxing time. No homework, no work, no phone calls :) YAY! I ran the rummage sale for one last time today and we did fairly well. I was just glad to get some of the stuff to leave my parent's garage. Now, I have to go through the stuff tomorrow to make sure I really want to give all the rest to charity. At least it will all go to a good cause.

So tomorrow I had back home...to the homework, my office (with all my work patiently waiting for me), and my phone calls to find me. I have enjoyed this "technology free" weekend (except for TV and this blog posting!) and it's been really nice.

I graduate on December 16th (you can all send the presents early if you want!) and I really can't wait. I have started looking for jobs in the area that I'm from and so far, I haven't found anything that's really popped out at me, but I'm not going to get down (I still have a while!).

So how was your weekend? Any fun plans?

How much did you NOT want to know about me?

I saw this over at Island Life and decided I would give it a shot!

What kind of soap is in your bathtub right now? Oh man, I have lots of stuff. Regular soap-Tone, then lots of Bath and Body works stuff

Do you have any watermelon in your refrigerator? No.

What would you change about your living room? I would make it bigger and have it not be right next to the neighbor's bedroom...yeah not fun!

What is in your fridge? Lots of stuff...yogurt, OJ, eggs, milk, bread, lunch meat, butter...all the essentials!

White or wheat bread? White.

What is on top of your refrigerator? my cereal boxes, juice boxes, malt-o-meal

What color or design is on your shower curtain? Suns and Moons--Imagine that!!!

How many plants are in your home? None. I killed them all--I do have a cactus outside on my balcony (I've decided that I can't kill it! I leave it outside all winter and it actually grew back this year!)

Is your bed made right now? Uh no. I just climb in it again at night.

Comet or Soft Scrub? Soft Scrub.

Is your closet organized? Um no. Well, kinda.

Can you describe your flashlight? Seriously? This is a question? Wow.

Do you drink out of glass or plastic most of the time at home? Glass.

Do you have iced tea made in a pitcher right now? No--not a fan of iced tea

If you have a garage, is it cluttered? Don't have a garage

Curtains or blinds? Blinds.

How many pillows do you sleep with? I have 4 on my bed.

Do you sleep with any lights on at night? Yep, a night light.

How often do you vacuum? I hate to vacuum so usually whenever I have to

Standard toothbrush or electric? Both.

What color is your toothbrush? Pink

Do you have a welcome mat on your front porch? Well, it doesn't say "Welcome" and I don't have a front porch, but I do have a mat outside my door.

What is in your oven right now? Just the oven racks.

Is there anything under your bed? Uhhh...I had to actually look. Just some duffle bags.

Chore you hate doing the most? Cleaning the bathroom/toilet

What retro items are in your home? I can’t think of any.

Do you have a separate room that you use as an office? Yep

How many mirrors are in your home? 13 (but you must know that my closet doors are mirrors not doors.

Do you have any hidden emergency money around your home? No.

Do you keep any kind of protection weapons in your home? No...maybe my flashlight!

What does your home smell like right now? Ummm an appleish candle that I have burning

Favorite candle scent? Vanilla Carmel from Yankee Candle....yummmm

What kind of pickles (if any) are in your refrigerator right now? The little midget ones

What color is your favorite Bible? i don't have one

Ever been on your roof? No.

Do you own a stereo? Yes

How many TVs do you have? 1

How many house phones? 1

Do you have a housekeeper? Yes, me.

What style do you decorate in? whatever matches and i like :)

Do you like solid colors in furniture or prints? I have mostly solids in my apartment

Is there a smoke detector in your home? yes

In case of fire, what are the items in your house which you’d grab if you only could make one quick trip? Um, my laptop, popples, purse, and whatever pictures i could find!

I’m not going to tag anyone but if you decide to do this, let me know so I can come and visit!

Life Happens

Well, as you can tell, I haven't been the best at posting lately. I hope you all will still stick with me. It's been hectic. I am almost within two months of graduating and I'm hopeful to make some pretty big life changes soon after that.

Life has been going by fast lately. Lots of homework, work is crazy, and plenty of traveling. I have been really tired lately. I think it's just been a lot of stress lately and then not sleeping the greatest = a lazy Amy. So that has been part of the reason I have been writing. I also have taken more time to look inside myself and see where I am in the healing process. I'm feeling pretty darn good about all of this and definitely have a more positive outlook. Which helps in just my every day life.

Well, I am going to continue watching the Packer game and then head to bed. Happy Sunday night or Monday (depending on when you read this!)

Seems to be a theme....

I seem to be posting a lot of pictures lately. I think Carmel was jealous that I posted a picture of peanut a couple days ago so here is Carmel's chance to shine. She says HI to everyone!!!!!

On the road again....

So on one of my many times driving, this is what I saw on the way home :) I thought it was beautiful so yes, I did take it while driving, but I wasn't really watching the camera so this was the 3rd try :) I thought you might all enjoy some sunshine!

If only life could always be like this.....

Peanut was oh so excited about her new hair cut that she tried to show it off to everyone passing by!

And now....9 months of healing: The Aftermath

It's been a little over 9 months since the break-up. Some people have had babies during this time, some have started businesses, some have started new relationship.....I have learned to be myself again. It's a great feeling to wake up in the morning and to know who you are. It has taken me plenty of time to figure this out (and I'm sure I still have a lot to learn), but at this point in my life, I feel content. That's not to say that I'm not stressed out or I don't get crabby or irritated with things, but overall, when I lay down at night, I can fall asleep knowing that tomorrow is another day.

This is definitely a change from previous posts. I will tell you that I'm not fully healed and that I still hurt some days, but those days are fewer and farther between. I continue to have the wonderful support of my parents and even you guys who read my rants and raves (and even keep checking on a blog that isn't updated!!!) so I appreciate it. I have found out that I have wonderful friends who care very much about me.

So I have picked up most of the pieces and have tried to put them back together, but in the process have realized that maybe those pieces feel for a reason. Maybe there are new pieces that will form in order to make the new me. I can't be the same person I was the day of the break-up and therefore, those new pieces will form and I'll always hang on to the fallen pieces to remember where I came from and how I have reached this new point.

We interrupt our previously scheduled topic....

To Remember. Please take a minute today to remember the victims and survivors of 9/11. I know most people will post about this today and I don't want to make it flashy or over the top, but if you take a minute to read this, please take another minute to remember. Six years.

I remember that I was sleeping when the first plane hit. My dad came in to wake me up and said "a plane just hit the world trade center." I thought he may have been delusional. But I got up and went by the TV. Sure enough, the tower had been hit. That poor pilot, I thought. He must have lost control and had engine problems or had a heart attack.

Then the next plane hit. WHAT IS GOING ON? I yelled. My dad was in awe. We couldn't believe this was happening. We had family living near the world trade center. He watched most of it from his apartment window. Saw people jumping out of the WTC.

I had to drive to class that day. Forty minutes to get to campus. What a long forty minutes. The TVs all over campus had the news coverage on to keep students up to date on what was happening. The pentagon was hit. The plane in the field (what had gone wrong there?) It was all too much to be a coincidence.

So take a minute today to just remember....

Harry Potter

Well, I finished Harry Potter (actually I finished a while ago but haven't been in the mood to post lately). I have lots of things I am ready to say and post on here, but wanted to start with the most important:

Peanut helped me finish it up. It was a great book and I know others have posted what they think, so I won't use a lot of space for it. I really enjoyed the book and felt that JK did a good job of doing what she could to tie everything up. There are still questions I have, but also know that the movie will be interesting to see.

Up next for posting: 9 months of healing: The Aftermath

Too cute!

This little girl is just too cute. Seriously, those lips, those eyes...she is just too much!

I'm Alive!

Yes, I am still alive. After my last mini-vacation of the summer, I am back and ready to get back into the swing of things. I have finally made it through the final Harry Potter book (which I LOVED!) and am getting ready to start school again on Tuesday.

I had a wonderful time up north and will post pictures soon! It was a beautiful cabin right on the lake and we had really nice weather until the morning I left (I was okay with that...it made leaving a little easier since it was pouring!)

Tonight I went out to dinner with a friend and we ended up spending 2 1/2 hours at the table just talking and catching up. It was so nice to just relax and talk about anything (even if it was stupid!) Then we both ended up having to go to the grocery store so we did that too! After over 3+ hours, we both parted ways to come home. I have 3 classes this fall and she is in all 3 which will make it bearable!!!

So...what did I miss while I was gone from the blogging world?

Family time

Well, I got to spend some quality time with my parents this weekend. The picnic on Friday was a big success. Although some people didn't show up that had said they would, it was a beautiful day and fun was had by all! We definitely had plenty of food!!!! Then it was off to my parent's house for what I hoped was going to be a weekend of laying around in the pool. Well...mother nature had other plans. It was pretty chilly and rainy the whole time. Oh well. Instead we sat around inside the house. Went to lunch. Had a nice dinner. Watched a movie. It was nice to not do much.

This week starts another shortened week. This Thursday I am having a Tastefully Simple party with my mom at her house. Then Friday we are going to see the new Matt Damon movie and then Saturday I am heading up to see my friend and her family at a cabin. I took Monday off too so that I can get home on Monday some time and have another mini vacation :) I am beginning to enjoy those. And since September 4th starts my final semester of grad school, I am going to relax as much as possible before the final semester begins!

Oh and speaking of family....aren't these two cute?

Back.

This is what I felt like on vacation (ahhh I'm FREE!)

So I am back from vacation. I got back on Monday but life has since been hectic again and I am just now getting a chance to get back to writing and saying HI to everyone! It was a very hot and humid vacation, but that meant time by the pool and lots of AC. I had a wonderful time and felt completely rested when I returned on Monday.

Then....I went back to work. I hate going back to work after vacation because there is just way too much to attempt to catch up on. Needless to says I've been putting in long days. Tomorrow is our staff picnic. I was somehow put in charge of planning it and everything to go along with it. I'm crossing my fingers that it will all go smoothly! Then I am spending the weekend with my parents and hoping it's warm enough to use the pool.

How is everyone else doing?

My life...as a social worker

There are days that my profession is very difficult. As I look at going on vacation on Wednesday, there is a lot of work that needs to be done. I need to get my apartment looking decent so that I don't come home to a mess!!! I also need to pack and I need to be all caught up on work before Tuesday night. So it's going to be a busy couple days before leaving bright and early Wednesday morning. I won't have access to the internet but I will try to post a TT before I leave for your enjoyment :) There should be LOTS of pictures when I get back. My TT will have clues of where I am going and we'll see if you can figure it out.

Happy Monday!

Thursday Thirteen!

Thirteen Words I love:

1. Discombobulated

2. Ginourmous

3. Harry

4. Potter :)

5. Vacation

6. Home

7. Graduation

8. Babble

9. Plethora

10. Quam

11. Serendipity

12. Convolute

13. Liquor (haha!)

What's your favorite word? (Thanks to goofy girl for the banner!)

A bridge collapses and life stands still....

6 killed in Minneapolis bridge collapse
By PATRICK CONDON,
Associated Press Writer

MINNEAPOLIS - An interstate bridge suddenly broke into huge sections and collapsed into the Mississippi River during bumper-to-bumper traffic Wednesday, killing at least six people and sending vehicles, tons of concrete and twisted metal crashing into the water.
The Interstate 35W bridge, a major link between Minneapolis and St. Paul, was in the midst of being repaired when it collapsed.
"There were two lanes of traffic, bumper to bumper, at the point of the collapse. Those cars did go into the river," Minneapolis Police Lt. Amelia Huffman. "At this point there is nothing to suggest that this was anything other than a structural collapse."
Jamie Winegar of Houston said she was sitting in traffic when all of a sudden she started hearing "boom, boom, boom and we were just dropping, dropping, dropping, dropping."
The car she was riding in landed on top of a smaller car but did not fall into the water. She said her nephew yelled, "'It's an earthquake!' and then we realized the bridge was collapsing."
Mayor R.T. Rybak said at least six people were killed. There were no immediate reports on the total number of injured, but Dr. Joseph Clinton, emergency medical chief at Hennepin County Medical Center, said the hospital treated 28 injured people — including six who were in critical condition.
Other hospitals also were treating the injured. Clinton said at least one of the victims had drowned.
The arched bridge, which was built in 1967, rises about 64 feet above the river. An estimated 50 vehicles plunged into the water and onto the land below, the Star-Tribune reported.
A burning truck and a school bus clung to one slanted slab. The bus had just crossed the bridge before it crumpled into pieces, and broadcast reports indicated the children on the bus exited out the back door.
Christine Swift's 10-year-old daughter, Kaleigh, was on the bus, returning from a field trip to Bunker Hills in suburban Blaine. She said her daughter called her about 6:10 p.m.
"She was screaming, 'The bridge collapsed,'" Swift said.
She said a police officer told her all the kids got off the bus safely.
Dozens of vehicles were scattered and stacked on top of each other amid the rubble. Some people were stranded on parts of the bridge that aren't completely in the water.
Melissa Hughes, 32, of Minneapolis said she was driving home across the bridge when she went down when the western edge in the collapse.
"You know that free fall feeling? I felt that twice," said Hughes, who was not injured.
A pickup ended up on top of her car, partially crushing the top and back end.
"I had no idea there was a vehicle on my car," she said. "It's really very surreal."
Many motorist could have been headed to the Minnesota Twins game scheduled not far from the bridge, but the game was postponed, team president Dave St. Peter said.
Ramon Houge told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that he was on his way home from work on the bridge when he heard a rumbling noise, saw the ground collapse and cars go down.
Traffic was bumper to bumper and hundreds of people would have been involved, he said. He said cars backed up as best they could and he parked in a construction zone and was finally able to turn around and drive off the bridge. "It didn't seem like it was real," he said.
Local television stations captured video of injured people being carried up the riverbank. There was no official word on injuries, but dozens of rescue vehicles were there. Divers were also in the water.
Workers have been repairing the 40-year-old bridge's surface as part of improvements along that stretch of the interstate, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported on its Web site.
Homeland Security Department spokesman Russ Knocke also said the collapse did not appear to be terrorism-related.

So happy together!

Doesn't she just look so happy? Even though it took forever to come to the conclusion of who is the baby daddy, it looks like Dannielynn is finally able to be a baby and have baby worries (like "why is my diaper dirty" or "where is my bottle?")

I'm just so glad she is with family....

What are your thoughts on this?

A small package...a huge surprise!

Well this week was just a long week. As you can see my TT, I am very overwhelmed right now and just can't seem to see the end in sight. My parents had sent me the new Harry Potter book earlier this week (thanks, guys!) and on the outside of that package, it said "look for something else later this week." Yesterday they came down and took me out for dinner (to a restaurant called Champps), and it was really yummy! It is like a sports bar, but they have everything from steak to burgers to fajitas. So there was something for everyone!

Well, today, I got home from my LAST Saturday class (YES!) and I was talking to my mom and checked my mail. There was a package in there for me. I couldn't wait to get upstairs...and what did I find you ask? Remember this?

My mom reads my blog occasionally and had seen that I had lost island girl's giveaway and that I really liked them and really wanted them. So they decided to send them to me as a surprise. I jokingly told my mom that I better post it before everyone else orders theres (or has to cancel their order for me...since I know everyone ordered me one...ha!) for me. Then I said I should post them to show how nice my parents are and my mom said "yes, I will look for that later." So here you go, mom and dad. The world can now see that I have the best parents in the world!

Oh and by the way, my mom is still waiting to get credit for doing the majority (okay 99%) of the organizing of the apartment after my ex got kicked out, er moved, in December. So there ya go, Mom :)

Happy Weekend everyone!

Want to win a free TV?

Check out 5 minutes for mom and enter to win a 37" FLAT SCREEN TV! We also want to thank Best Buy for sponsoring this :)

It is open to US and Candian addresses. So get your butt over there and enter. You don't have anything to lose!

Thursday Thirteen

13 Things I have "on my plate" right now

1. I have one more Saturday class this week with a paper due (10-14 pages....ugh!)

2. I am still working 32 hours a week, doing internship 20 hours a week and attempting to have a social life (attempting is the key word there!)

3. I am going out of state soon so I am trying to plan (and budget) for that!

4. I really need to clean up the apartment (like scrubbing the tub and toilet)

5. I wish I could spend more time with my family so it's been stressful not seeing them as much.

6. I have another semester with three classes plus work, thankfully no internship though!

7. I have to figure out my life plan after December and getting my Masters

8. I have papers to do for internship before the end of August.

9. I am on a lot of committees for work, which can be fun, but at this point are a source of stress!

10. I can't seem to sleep as well which makes the days really looonnnngggg.

11. I want to read the last Harry Potter!!!!

12. I have a lot of emails that I need to read through and reply to!

13. I need to take some time to just enjoy life!

Thanks to goofy girl for not only the banner but also adding my BlogHer Ads on the side. Take a peak or click on them if you wish :)

The Price Is Wrong, Bob....

Congrats to Drew Carey, who will take over for Bob Barker on TPIR! He announced it at a taping today for The David Letterman Show. Who can name the movie the quote from the title is from?

The picture is from TMZ.com :)

Owner of a broken heart?

Cures for A Broken Heart
Posted by David Romanelli
on Mon, Jul 09, 2007, 3:30 pm PDT

"Sometimes I wish I were a little kid again; skinned knees are easier to fix than broken hearts." -Anonymous

There's very little in life that hurts as much as a broken heart. I always wished there were a guide on dealing with the pain of having loved and lost. So I'm gonna make an attempt at such a guide. Based on my many days dealing with a broken heart in what I call "the pain chamber," I'd like to share some thoughts on what's gotten me through:

First, listen to some country music.

Second, try listening to some country music.

Third, did I say country music?

Country songs cover some powerful lessons and wise teachings on handling the dark side of love. Depending on the day or the moment, any of the following tips might help...

1. Keep in mind that a broken heart is part of being human
Be wary of the person who hasn't dealt with a broken heart. No matter how strong you might be, if you're open to love, you're automatically vulnerable to pain. So don't feel bad if you’re in the pain chamber. Know that it's very normal and very much a part of being human. In "God Only Knows," Cynthia Ford sings about the unbearable pain that no amount of strength can overcome. She learns it's faith, not strength, that can get you through:
Somebody tell me if there's
any other way
I tried prayin' for strength
But it never came
So I'm praying for faith
Cuz God only knows
How hard this is for me

2. Light the fire
When dealing with heartbreak, sometimes it helps to get a little fired up! You can spend a lot of time bummed out and weeping, but at a certain point, it might help to get off your ass. Go for a run, lift some weights, scream if you must. Think Rocky Balboa meets the Karate Kid. In other words, get pumped. Check out Dierks Bentley's song "Forget About You" for inspiration:
I heard that ol' Jones song just the other day
'Bout a man who took that ol' broken heart to his grave
But I'll be damned if a memory's gonna lay me down
I might be walkin' around with a head full of air
Actin' kinda crazy but I don't care
This heart's barely beating, but I'll still be above the ground
I'll forget about you!

3. Take solace in the fact that things have a way of working out
It's hard to understand the first time your heart is broken. But over time, you come to realize that there's a certain rhyme and reason to life. As Garth Brooks sings, you may just become grateful for your "Unanswered Prayers":
She was the one that I'd wanted for all time
And each night I'd spend prayin' that God would make her mine
And if he'd only grant me this wish I wished back then
I'd never ask for anything again
Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs
That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers

4. Feel the pain
We can exhaust ourselves fighting the pain. Allowing yourself to feel the pain rather than resist it sometimes can be very healing.

Harry who?

So everyone is having Harry Potter fever. I will admit that I am behind in reading the books. I just don't seem to have enough time to do everything. I'm on the 4th book (I will say, in my defense, that I didn't start the books when they first came out!) I'm sure I will somehow end up finding out what happens before I read the final book. Is the final one really over 700 pages? Do you KNOW how LONG that will take me? I am a girl who can read a book a day, but that is pushing it! I have a feeling some people will stay up until they finish it (*cojanetugh*)

On to other news, I only have 2 more Saturday classes until my summer classes are over! Yay! I just have about a month left of internship too and then it's 3 more classes until graduation! CHEERS!!!!

How is your week going?

Emotionally drained

Well, it's been quite a weekend. Friday my parents came down to visit and that was really nice. We went out to lunch with some family on a lake. It was really nice to see my mom's cousin and to hang out by a lake! Then we went to target and got some more stuff for my apartment. We came back here and hung some new decorations. I have taken down the last of the things that my ex had given me. That was harder than I thought. I was upset at myself that I broke down after 7 months (I can't believe it's been that long!), but it had to be done. The walls look nice with the new things I got. I will post pictures soon (hopefully if you want to see them!)

Then Saturday I had class from 9-4 (that really should be illegal). I was bored Saturday night. I slept until 11:30 this morning and then got on with my day. I made some cookies and watched some movies. I didn't have too much motivation.

I have my screen saver on my computer set to show my pictures. Well, I hadn't cleared out my pictures yet and was sick of seeing my ex when I would go by my computer. Seeing as I was already drained, I figured I would do that tonight. So I went through and deleted all the pictures that had my ex in them. That was definitely harder than I thought. It's hard to delete those memories, even if it's just from my computer. I got through it though and now I don't have to worry about coming in the computer room and seeing his face on the screen. I'm hoping that helps!

Well, I am off to bed. It's up early tomorrow for me with the start of a very long week. I am going to visit my parents this weekend though so hopefully that will help me get through the week (I miss my puppies!!!!) I also have a quiz in my Saturday class that I need to study for this week. Wish me luck.

Oh and I didn't win the prize of the earphones. Who wants to volunteer to buy them for me? :)

Any big plans this week????

Contest

So Island Life Review is giving away these adorable and cute and pink and sparkly (did I mention a-dorable) earphones....and I want them!

Yes, I will admit it. I want them for myself. Others have left comments about how they would give them to their daughters or neighbors or friends who have always wanted cool earphones...nope I want them. So here is my link. If you want a chance to win them, check out the link above...but hurry it ends today!

Ways to make money

So I look at my bank account and think "so when is someone going to put some money in there!" It keeps going down yet I don't know where it's going! Those damn bills I tell you! Rent is enough by itself but add cable, electric, cell phone, etc. and you get a very broke girl!

On to some happier news...I was selected by BlogHerAds to join them and put ads on my blog! Now this makes me happy for two reasons: I have heard it is very hard to get into BlogHerAds and also because it might make me some money :) Yes, you can see from the paragraph above that this might make me happy!

I am finished with two of my classes so far this summer and I received an A in both of them so far!!!! I called my parents to give them the news and made my mom put me on speaker phone so my parents could hear at the same time! I was so excited. If I can keep this up I could get a 4.0 for my 4 classes this summer. WOW!

My parents are coming to visit tomorrow. I feel like I haven't seen them in quite a while. It will be nice to spend the day with them and just take some time to relax. This weekend, I have class on Saturday from 9-4 and then just relaxing!

Any big plans this weekend?

Concert, class, road trip--check!

So this weekend has been pretty fun-filled! On Friday night I went to Summerfest which is a huge music festival in Milwaukee that is held for I think 10 days. I went to see Daughtry and the concert was AWESOME! Chris performed for an hour and played all but one of his songs on his CD. It was well worth the heat!

Then I had class on Saturday and right after class I drove down to visit a friend who recently moved to IL. We went to IKEA (one of my favorite stores) and then went to see the movie Knocked Up! I laughed so hard that I couldn't stop at one point. It was hilarious. The majority of the movie is filled with great one liners and the actors all did a great job of working together. This is a movie that I would definitely buy just so that I could catch more of the jokes!

Today I drove back home and watched Freedom Writers. Another really good movie but for very different reasons from Knocked Up! I thought that Hillary Swank did a great job and the kids did a wonderful job of telling their stories. If you haven't seen it, I really do recommend it. There isn't a ton of bad language either which surprised me. I love movies that are based on true stories too. It gives the movie some meaning.

Anyway, this is a busy week for me. I have been brain storming of coming up with new things to do on the blog and I have some ideas which I am going to try to implement this week. Please leave me feedback and let me know how you like it!

Have a great start to your week. I leave you with a picture from the Daughtry concert!

America's Birthday!

Happy 4th of July everyone! I am working on 7--yes 7---essays for my class tomorrow. It is a take-home final so I can't complain too much but of course I just started them today. So you all know what I'll be doing most of the day!

A year ago yesterday I saw fireworks over Mount Rushmore. Now I don't know that any fireworks can ever beat that, so I didn't go to any this year. Plus I had class last night and I have class again tomorrow. It's a rough life, I know :) So in remembrance of my firework experience last year, I leave you with a picture. Have a wonderful 4th!

Another day, another dollar

Well, today is Sunday and I slept until 11:30am. Now I haven't done that in a long time but darn did it feel good! I fell asleep around 11pm so I feel so refreshed! Today I haven't done much of anything.

I was watching the Concert for Diana and am taping it. It is such a nice celebration of her life, instead of dwelling on her death and the conspiracies that everyone seems to come up with. I had watched the interview with the Princes and I feel that they are doing their best to carry out what their mother would have wanted them to accomplish. They have a lot of power to do good and I feel they have done that. But we must remember they are still young and are allowed to have fun and make mistakes. Without making mistakes, how will they learn? Unlike celebrities who choose to become actors or actresses or singers or whoever, they know that stardom comes with it. Princes William and Harry were born into the family and have done a wonderful job, in my opinion, of carrying on the family name.

Anyway, I have homework to do and some relaxing to do. What is everyones Sunday looking like? Any fun for the 4th of July?

Fast Cars and Freedom

So, lately I haven't been the perfect friend. I some times feel sorry for myself, cry when I can't find something I need, and tend to be too wrapped up in the "poor me" stage to worry about other friends.

Well, tonight that changes. I've decided that my life can't be spent doing the "poor me" thing. Yes, I am allowed to have bad days and days that I wish I didn't have to get out of bed. BUT (and this is a big but..hahah) I can not and will not allow myself to not be there for my friends when they need me.

I did some grocery shopping tonight and that made me feel better since I got some much needed things in the apartment (like milk, eggs, ice cream--you know, the basics!) Then I had a late dinner and am just winding down for the night. I've had some flu like stuff going on the past two days and am getting pretty sick of that. I can't go to internship when I'm sick since I work in a hospital so it's all a little much.

Anyway, this weekend I start my 5 week Saturday class. I can't say I'm thrilled about this but I'm hoping it goes by fast. And I can tell you now that Sunday I will be doing NOTHING to make up for having to have school on Saturday :)

Happy Thursday everyone!

Friends, Paris, London....

I bet everyone is wondering where I've been? (Just agree here!) Well, I have been busy (stop laughing!)

I had a bad week last week and had a little break down. I felt as though I shouldn't have those any more but was reminded by many people that it's okay to have days where I'm not 100% and that it's expected. Well, after a wonderful weekend I feel much better and ready to take on this week.

Friends are always a topic where you could either complain the whole time and talk about how wonderful they are. Well, I have a friend I've known since I was 5 (yes, that's 20 years now!) We shared a room in college (that didn't work so well) and then another so called "friend" took advantage of our arguing over living together and did a good job of manipulating us into thinking we hated each other. Anyway, so I lost touch with this friend. It didn't help that my ex didn't like this friend from when I was 5 either. I now know that a #1 thing is NEVER let boys tell you who your friends are. I can't believe I was that stupid, but I digress...

So I have been talking and getting together with this friend again and it's like no time ever went by. Those are the friends I love. The ones that you could not talk to for 2 years and the next conversation is as though there was no time in between. Having her back as a friend (I can't believe she forgave me) is something that I really cherish and love the time we have. She has recently moved closer to where I live (only an hour compared to 3 1/2) and I'm hoping that it continues to help our friendship.

Who is your best friend(s) and why have you stayed friends though the years?

In other news, Paris is free! I saw pictures of her walking out of the jail all smiles. Lets hope she actually realizes what an idiot she was and learns from her mistakes. Daddy has lots of money but that didn't save her...let's hope she stays out of trouble.......I, for one, won't hold my breath!

Have a great day everyone!

What's the cost?

Well, it's back to being nice (hot) out again. As much as I enjoy the summer, living on the 4th floor is hot and I hate running my air conditioning. First, then I feel like it's winter with the heat on and it gets stuffy...plus it's expensive to run the tiny air conditioner all day just to get my apartment cool enough! So I suffer. Oh well I guess.

Other than that, there hasn't been much new. Just working and working some more. This weekend is Father's Day. I already gave my dad his present but my grandma is still in town so I am going up there this weekend to see her again. She turns 81 tomorrow! We are having a cook out on Friday at my parent's house to celebrate her birthday! :)

Have a great rest of your week.

Any big plans for the weekend?

Introducing....

Don't adjust your computer screens: this is me and my mom. Now, for those of you who have been reading for a while (and I thank you, you loyal readers!), you know that I have never, and I mean never posted a picture of myself.


It is not that I haven't taken pictures since I started this blog...it's that I do not like my picture taken or shown. I know this picture is tiny (there was a method there). So I don't know how long the picture will be up so enjoy it while you can. Nice to meet you all :)

Neglectful

So, I've been neglecting my blog and blogging friends. I have been really busy lately and have had some time away from my city so my first thought hasn't been to update my blog. However, my mother informed me today that she is sick of looking at Tom Cruise's ass and Suri and that I should update.

So here is the update. I had a great Memorial Day weekend. I went to my parents and ran a rummage sale. A friend I've had since Kindergarten came to visit me three times and it was WONDERFUL to see her.

I started back at school this week. I swear those 12 days off just flew! I have classes through the end of July and then I have internship through the middle of August. I am half way done with grad. school and I am THRILLED!

My grandma is visiting from FL and I saw her today so that was wonderful. She will be 81 on the 14th and she's just as cute as ever. She's only 4 feet 10 inches. :)

I don't know if I posted this but I am going away the weekend that would have been the wedding. I didn't want it to be a huge deal or have people asking me a million questions of if I am okay so I am going away for 5 days. I think it's the best thing for me and it gives me time in a different place to have fun there--or make my own fun, right?

Well, that's about it for me. What's new with all of you guys?

Attempting to escape

Suri is trying to escape her father as well, but somehow Tom has a grasp on her too! Poor girl :)

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all Mom's but especially to MINE! Without her, I wouldn't be here :)

I took her to see The Lion King broadway (in my home town) and it was AWESOME! She said it was her 2nd best Mother's Day (the 1st being her 1st Mother's Day). I told her that I'm going to have a hard time beating this one next year.

Back home to study for my last final this Thursday. I can't wait to have a little bit of a break. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Thursday Thirteen!

Thanks to goofy girl for the cute banner!

I haven't done a 13 in a while...so enjoy!

Thirteen things I've learned (this came out of the interview from goofy girl!)

1. I've learned that I can do a lot of things on my own that I never imagined.

2. I've learned that I can live alone and be content with coming home to an empty house.

3. I've learned that I can be okay without a man in my life.

4. I've learned more about myself and what I like and dislike.

5. I've learned how important family is and that no matter what, my parents will always be a huge part of my life.

6. I've learned that heartbreak is not easy and that even if things don't work out, that people are meant to be in your life for a reason.

7. I've learned that I will be okay.

8. I've learned that I can get through a master's degree, work, go to school and do internship and still be alive by the time it's Saturday.

9. I've learned it's okay to lean on people when you need to because if they offer, they really do listen!

10. I've learned that sometimes a bath and music is all you really need.

11. I've learned that books can be good to just "get away" for a while.

12. I've learned that friends can make a bad week disappear.

13. I've learned that writing is a way to let things out and that even if nobody reads it, it can still help heal.

What have you learned recently?

What the heck do you say then?

5 Things Never to Say on a First Date
Posted by David Zinczenko
on Fri, Apr 27, 2007, 1:53 pm PDT

We all know that first dates are the ultimate relationship chess match. Men and women take their turns making verbal moves -- with the hopes that nobody's going to get rooked. But the truth is that first dates, very often, can be pretty far from the truth, with men and women acting as spinmeisters who do what they can to put their best faces (and personalities) forward. The stats certainly tell us that many people lie on first dates (35 percent of men say they lie about their income, and 35 percent of men also say they lie about their willingness to commit). But if the goal is to determine whether the two of you may be a good match, then part of the process is not just detecting the lies, but also knowing the best things to say-and avoiding the worst. Do that and you'll be well on your way to being the kind of person who will engage, interest, and intrigue your across-the-table mate.

Say This: What do you do for fun?
Not That: What's your job like?
Standard question, sure. But it's one that will elicit a standard answer-good people, I like what I do, blah blah blah. While most will certainly get the employment issue covered, the conversation will be more engaging-and you'll be more appealing-if you try to home in on those outside interests. Certainly skydiving, poodle rescue, or soup kitchens have got to be more interesting than conference calls and Power Points.

Say This: You look fantastic
Not That: Good to see you
It may very well be good to see her, but that greeting is about as vanilla as a McDonald's shake. Instead, it's all about conveying enthusiasm-without having stalker sirens go off. No need for standing ovations, but a simple compliment sets the tone. The tactic isn't just for men to use on women, but can be especially effective in the reverse.

Say This: Got any cool summer trips lined up?
Not That: What do you want to do with your life?
If you sound like you're an HR executive, he's going to feel like a candidate for the position you have open at the moment-boyfriend and potential husband. No matter how much he may dig you, he doesn't want to feel like he's part of some master scheme of how you see your life progressing. He won't mind talking about future plans along the way, as long as your questions revolve around you or around him-not some grand plan.

Say This: How's next Thursday?
Not That: Up to anything interesting this weekend? Want to meet up again soon?Why be coy?
Leave the game-playing for computer solitaire, and you'll come off as confident (and more appealing) by being unafraid to take the initiative. Plus, you'll strike the perfect balance-appearing like you have a busy schedule, but also eager to try a second date. This works especially well for women saying it to men, because men are so used to feeling like they have to make the first, second, and third moves before a relationship gets its bearings.

Say This: Where you headed for vacation? What's on your iPod? Read any good blogs lately?
Not That: Can you believe Sanjaya made it that far?
Current events, pop culture, and hair-boy's shaky voice all make for great conversation-starters-and of course, they can show that you're worldly, smart, and interested in other things besides your own life. But soon after talking about the world at large, you need to find a way to bring it back to the world of your dinner companion.

So what do you guys think? A lot has been written about dating lately and the struggles of first dates. Good advice? Bad advice? Who the heck cares? I want to know what you think, yes, even you who often visits without leaving a comment :)

Phantom Subscription

So....right around my birthday, I went downstairs to check my mail (and hoping someone still sends cards when you turn 25) and I found something I wasn't expecting....a Glamour magazine. Oh how nice, I thought! Someone got me the magazine for my birthday. Woohoo! Someone.is.cool. Anyway, so I started getting some cards from some friends and kept waiting for one of them to say "enjoy a year of Glamour magazine" or "I got you 1-year of Glamour, hope you enjoy" or "you should get your present in the form of 12 Glamour magazines."

Yep, I didn't get any of those. So needless to say, I have a subscription and I have no.idea who got it for me. Everyone I thought it would be has sent me a card that hasn't said a thing or had another present with it. So I thought I would be sneaky (or just plain curious and a tad scared!) and go online and see if I could look it up. The only thing the stupid website would tell me is that I'm paid in full for 1 year. So I emailed their non-helpful customer service (can you see that I was already biased?) and asked if I could know who paid for the subscription. Anyway, I haven't heard back as of yet (they say you'll hear within 24 hours and it's been at least 72--see how I am biased?!?!?!?!)

So what would you do? Just be thankful that somehow you got the magazine, ask around or just let it go? I guess it only bothers me because I want to thank whoever got it for me as I think that's a neat present and I do enjoy the magazine! Am I freaking out for no reason? (maybe I don't want you to answer that). I got another one in the mail the other day and almost dropped it (I don't know if I was thinking that perhaps I would only get 1 or what). (I am enjoying using parentheses today)))))).

So, needless to say, I have been sitting on my balcony enjoying Glamour magazines that I'm getting from someone who is a mystery at this point. I am also not following how to lose 10 pounds before the summer (I think it had the word exercise in there...I don't know I was focusing on my cookie) or the "how to find the perfect man" (hahahaha...seriously? no man is perfect and I'm done "finding." He can freakin' find me now.)

Autism

Five for Fighting & Autism Speaks…

Autism Speaks created a music video of the Five for Fighting song, "World",
which features images of children with autism and their
families. It is a truly moving video and was the work of Bill Shea.

When you have a moment, please visit the link below to
watch the video and pass it along to your friends and family.
They are aiming for 10,000 hits, but hopefully we can help them to surpass
this goal.

http://www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/videos/view/id/213154

Another tag, another day

Amy tagged me so here goes:

Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to blog about their seven things and post the rules as well. At the end of your post, choose 7 people to tag and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog! OK, here goes...

1) I don't like vegetables. I'll eat some but am very picky about them!
2) I really like to travel! If I could travel all the time, I definitely would!!!
3) I talk to my parents every day (good one, Amy, I'm keeping it!!!)
4) I have had grey hair since I was VERY young hence why I get my hair done so frequently!
5) Even though I'm a social worker now, my major was German Education for a while!
6) I can't swim very well. I can do the doggy paddle and enough to get by, but if I were ever required to swim to stay alive, I wouldn't be able to!
7) I love to read. I also read really fast which can frustrate people sometimes when I am done with books so quickly!

Alright, now who to tag...I tag Carmen, Janet, Dackel Princess, Island Life, Pink Chihuahua Princess, and anyone else who reads this! (Sorry but for some reason blogger isn't letting me link to you today! I will try to fix this)

Unconscious Mutterings

Affair :: ending

Mortician :: dead

Determine :: figure out

Ignore :: stupid people

Guy :: 's are dumb :)

Crush :: soda

Garlic :: bread

Wacky :: attacky

Parent :: trap

Burning :: fire

If you'd like to play, click here!

Interview me

I volunteered to be interviewed by goofy girl and here are her questions:

1. What is your favorite color ink? I love all colors of ink. If I'm printing off my printer, I love using purples and blues. If it is ink that I'm writing with I love pink, purple, blue, orange. I love having all types of pens!!! It's fun :)

2. If you could have a free day to do anything you wanted, what would you do? I honestly would probably sleep in late and then have lunch with friends and family. I would then lounge around and catch up on reading, movies and order in pizza. It would be nice to take some time to just RELAX.

3. What color clothing do you most often wear? Do you think the color says something about you? That's a good question. I have to dress up for my internship at the hospital so I've been getting into wearing more colors. I do notice that I wear a lot of browns lately and also pink. I have also started wearing more black pants and colored shirts. Well, to answer the second half, I used to wear a lot of greys and neutral colors. I have learned to have a little bit more fun with colors and enjoy myself more so yes, I think the new colors have also brightened my outlook in life as well. Funny how colors of clothes can do that!

4. What kind of decorations do you have in your apartment? What kind would you have if you had an infinite amount of money to spend on them? I just recently redecorated as I'm sure most of you know. I have new pictures hanging everywhere. I have more colors in the apartment. I have flower pictures and also more pictures of family and friends! If I had infinite amount of money to spend, everything would be from Pier 1, Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel. I love their stuff but obviously can't have it all due to budgets (damn budget!!!!)

5. What do you think is an important lesson you've learned recently? This is a perfect question for me. Wow, what have I all learned? I've learned that I can do a lot of things on my own that I never imagined. I've learned that I can live alone and be content with coming home to an empty house. I've learned that I can be okay without a man in my life. I've learned more about myself and what I like and dislike. I've learned how important family is and that no matter what, my parents will always be a huge part of my life. I've learned that heartbreak is not easy and that even if things don't work out, that people are meant to be in your life for a reason. I've learned that I will be okay. I've learned that I can get through a master's degree, work, go to school and do internship and still be alive by the time it's Saturday. I've learned it's okay to lean on people when you need to because if they offer, they really do listen! I've learned that sometimes a bath and music is all you really need. I've learned that books can be good to just "get away" for a while. I've learned that friends can make a bad week disappear. I've learned that writing is a way to let things out and that even if nobody reads it, it can still help heal.

I think you all have learned not to ever ask me that question again.

Here are the rules to be posted in the entry :)

So if you want to be interviewed by me, please leave me a comment or send an email saying: "Interview me."
* I will respond by asking you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
* You will update your weblog with the answers to the questions.
* You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
* Then others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions and so on.

Heather, thanks for the wonderful questions!

25

So yesterday I turned 25. Quarter Century Club or something like that. At first, I didn't like the thought of turning 25. I feel like 25 is the defining year when you are finally grown up--whether you want to be or not! It's especially hard turning 25 and feeling as though you will never find the person you are meant to be with. I know I'll get over that and will look at more positives.

I went by my parents for the weekend and had a great time! Friday we went out to eat at Uno and had a great time. Then on my actual birthday, it was more low key. My mom and I watched "The Devil Wears Prada" and I really enjoyed the movie. I had read the book a while ago and thought they did a decent job making it into a movie!

Well, I will post again tonight or tomorrow as goofy girl sent me questions to answer. Have a wonderful day!

Prayers

I know this goes without saying, but my prayers go out to the family, friends, staff, and students at V Tech. I can't imagine what they are going through and I can't imagine not feeling safe on a college campus.

I enjoyed living on campus all the years of my schooling. I enjoyed the on-campus apartments and loved walking to classes in the fall and spring when everything was so beautiful. To think that one day sitting in my apartment or sitting in a class that I would hear gun shots is just beyond me. I can't comprehend it.

I just hope that somewhere, somebody is able to learn something from this. Shootings keep happening in places we think it never could...Amish schools, college campus', even places of business. It scares me to think that we live in a world where nobody is truly safe.

So to everyone reading this post, I am glad you are here! I hope that we learn to live each day fully and not to look back on regrets. If nothing else, be glad you are alive and well.

Happy Wednesday everyone.

"The one where she freaks out"

So I get home from class last night (very happy after a good presentation and getting out 1 hour early!) to see a note in my door. Now this is slightly odd as my outside of the apartment is locked and the only people who put things on my door are the maintenance men.

Anyway, so the note was from the city SHERIFF. Yes, you read that correctly. He was kindly letting the apartments know that one of the residents was arrested on WEAPONS CHARGES and that they believe he STASHED a SHOTGUN near one of the DUMPSTERS. Oh yes and if we had TAKEN the SHOTGUN on accident thinking it was DISPOSED of, we could turn it in and not get in trouble. Oh and by the way, the person is in CUSTODY. Chances that I freaked out about this: DEFINITELY!

I do NOT want to have people with weapons around my apartment. Especially living alone. Fricken wonderful is what I was thinking! So needless to say I believe I slept with one eye open.

No I am not naive enough to think that nobody has weapons. But honestly, do I need to see it in black and white on my door when I come home LATE and ALONE? No, I really don't think so. Ugh. I just LOVE living in a big city.

April Fool's Day

No, this isn't an April's fool that I am blogging! I am actually here. These past couple weeks have been very busy and in some ways, the best I've had in a while.

I had a great, relaxing almost 5 days with my parents last week. I was able to relax, have a safe place to stay and feel loved at ALL times. It was amazing. I also managed to pick up a few things along the way.

I am the proud new owner of a PINK I-pod nano! I love it. I got that from my parents as a "cheer up" gift. I then picked myself up an I-pod player so I can play it in the house. I put it in my office so I can listen to music all day long. It's awesome. It even has a remote so when I get calls, I can pause the music and turn it on again right when I hang up :) Now that's my idea of a good plan!

My work bag was beginning to fall apart as well so I found a cute new black work bag at New York and Company. I had never shopped there before and let me tell you.....LOVE.IT. I also needed a new school bag and found a really cute light pink one at the Old Navy outlet.

This week had highs and lows. I don't talk about work on here for obvious reasons and because then my whole blog would be overtaken :) Let's just say that I am not having happy thoughts about my job and that it has been difficult to make it through the rest of the week.

I continue to love my internship at the hospital. I also met a very nice male at the hospital who wanted to go out on Friday, but I unfortunately fell asleep on the couch before he called and didn't hear the phone when he did. When I called to apologize on Saturday, he asked if we could do something this week. I, of course, said yes! It' just nice to have people to go and hang out with. He's a nice guy and knows the situation so definitely isn't expecting anything.

So, next weekend is Easter and the weekend after that, I am going to Chicago for the weekend! I am SO excited. I'm going with two friends. My supervisor at the hospital found a 4 star hotel that was having a HUGE sale on prices and was only $99 for the night! It is normally over $200 a night to stay there. I'll be sure to share pictures. I honestly can't wait. We're going to the House of Blues to see a concert that night and then will come back on Sunday. It'll be such a nice stress reliever as well. So I am pumped.

The weekend after the Chicago weekend is my BIRTHDAY. I will be 25! Quarter century club :) Alright, well I think this is long enough. Sorry it's been so long.

Have a great week. What's new with you guys????

Does she even blog any more?

You don't have to send out the search team...I'm right here! And I made it. I made it through 3/15/07. I do have to pat myself on the back. I had a lot of phone calls and cards and emails which made the day so much better than it would have otherwise been. Although there were tears and "how did I get to this place?" there were also moments of "this is the path my life is taking now." I swear, every day, I am getting smarter (okay, just allow me that moment please).

Anyway, this week I am on spring break. WOOHOO....Amy Freedom Festival....uh not quite. I still had internship on Monday and tomorrow, but I am taking tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday off work and am going up to my parents house. It's like some quiet time and relaxation and time away from everything that could normally cramp up my day.

I already have an oil change, hair appointment and hopefully an eye appointment set up. Let's just say that I am catching up on all the things I don't have time for normally. Which is wonderful because I have parents to drive me around as well. Let me tell you, I drive about 2,000 miles a month for my job. I spend my life in the car. I live in my car. So when I tell you that I have parents who will drive me around....it's not that I can't do it myself, it's that I am SO SICK of the car that I need time to be the passenger and say "did you see that?" and "ooooo look at that ugly pink house." All those things I shouldn't be doing while driving (but secretly do anyway.)

My cousin has surgery tomorrow so I will be visiting him as well. Unfortunately, there is a lot of family drama going on (I just hate drama too....save the drama for your momma), and so my cousin really needs the support.

I had ordered the other two books in the Shopoholic series from www.half.com and they already got here. Usually with media mail they take longer, but this one actually didn't take long at all so I was really excited about that.

I'm also trying to figure out my summer and fall schedule for school and let me tell you....I AM STRESSED OUT! Who knew figuring out what classes to take so that I can get another piece of paper that tells me I'm qualified for something I don't think I am would be so DAMN exhausting??? Whew, I feel better now.

Okay, I'm off to get ready for the Freedom Festival. I'll be checking in on all of you while I'm gone. Enjoy the week!

Emily Giffin

Has anyone read the book "Something Borrowed"? Just wondering if you have or if anyone you know has. I want to get the book but was wondering if anyone recommended it first. Thanks :)

This and that....

Hello! Well, goofy girl gets the book! Just email me with your address and I'll send it out. I'm going to be getting the other books in the series. So if you like the first one, let me know and I will share the others!

Secondly, this week I have been attempting to stay very busy. It would have been my and my ex's 3 year anniversary tomorrow and 2 year anniversary of being engaged. So if I don't participate in the 13 tomorrow, don't be surprised. I'm going to be keeping myself VERY busy tomorrow and then possibly slowing down for the weekend ;)

I start spring break on Friday and I'm not doing anything extravagant. I'm going to be taking next Thursday off (I don't work Fridays) and going up by my parents for an extra long weekend. It'll be nice to just be away for a while.

What are your plans for this weekend? What do you do to try to stay busy?

A free book!

Well, thanks to island girl when I returned from my weekend away, I had Confessions of a Shopaholic waiting for me from winning her free book giveaway! I am happy to report that.....I LOVED IT! I read it in one night to be honest with you. It was so easy to read and kept my attention until the end. Now, I must warn you, this is a complete chick book! But since local girl was so nice to send it to me, I thought I would return the favor by giving it away to one of you!!! I plan on getting the rest of the set as well so if anyone out there has them and wants to pass them along, let me know!

So leave a comment with whether you want the book or not and I'll pick one of you randomly. I'll have someone pick a number or something--I'll think of something :)

Nothing much else is new here. Just work, school and internship. I'm trying to plan a vacation to Vegas and trying to talk someone into going with me. People just don't seem to have the money (not that I'm rolling in it, but I have my priorities....bills? nah....Vegas? YOU BET!! Just kidding!)

Anyway, how has your week been????

Hey, what's with all the pictures?

Well, I like them and because I like them....here's another one....



So what's new around here you ask? Well, I wonder a book from Island Girl !!!! I love winning things. Also, I have been having a couple hectic weeks with class, work and internship but I'm hoping this week things slow down just a little bit for me to enjoy life :)

What's new with you?

Little McDreamy's

Okay, I'll admit it.....I'm obsessed with Grey's Anatomy. BUT not only is McDreamy, well, McDreamy on the show, look at how adorable he is holding his new little McBabies (don't judge me for writing that!) His daughter is adorable too :)

Of course she'd be beautiful.....

What a beautiful family! Shiloh is cuter every time I see her.

What do you think about this family?

Carmel says....

Hey out there, it's Carmel. So my owner, Amy, has been going through a rough time lately. I jump on her, give her kisses and even bite her (not too hard) every once in a while.

She seems to be doing much better this week though. She had a visit from her mom which ALWAYS HELPS! I wasn't allowed to come with because I was told that I had to "stay home." I hear that a lot.

Even though I don't live with Amy, I still worry about her a lot. I still consider her my owner because she always checks on me and when she comes to visit, she gives me extra treats and usually brings a new toy!!! Not to worry though because I usually destroy it in about a week.

Anyway, since I can't be around all the time, could you keep checking in on her to make sure she's okay? She doesn't post every day any more but just let her know that you care like I do. Have a great weekend!

Where did that piece go?

As you have noticed, life hasn't been the greatest lately. I hate to continue to write about, but in all honesty, it's what I think and feel most of the time--so that's what I write about. I try to just go without writing if I don't feel that I have anything "positive" to say, but I don't have to be positive all the time, right?

I've been searching for something that I think I lost....it's a piece of myself. When fiance and I broke up, a piece of me went with him. Now, sometimes I think that's okay, but other times, like now, I feel like I should have that piece back in order to be whole again. But are you ever whole again (in the same way you were before)? Do pieces come and go and eventually you will find someone who maybe has holes in places you don't and the puzzle just fits? Am I using too many analogies for anyone to understand?

Every morning I wake up and tell myself "you can do this." Most days....I accomplish that goal. However, there are some days when I go to bed thinking "what were you thinking?"

I can be self-sufficient. I have all the main things down...grocery shopping alone, paying bills, living alone. It's the emotional things that I now must deal with. I need to either realize that not all the pieces are going to be put back together or attempt to put them back.

I have a wonderful family who is more than supportive. I have parents who go above and beyond what parents should do. I have friends who would do anything for me, but sometimes all that doesn't matter. That isn't what's broken.

So I just want you to know that part of me is broken right now. I am still trying to figure out if that's okay or not.

So I continue looking at where the pieces went and whether I can put them back together. Has anyone seen my pieces?