Me and the Soap Channel

I kind of have a relationship with the Soap channel these days. I've watched the whole complete series at least two times already. Once in High School when each episode first aired on TV and then again during the second year at college. I got a couple of my roommates addicted. I have vivid memories of waking up in the morning and seeing my newly addicted roommate Emily with the couch pulled right in front of the TV having not slept at all because she couldn't turn it off. And watching my roommate Becca react to Marisa's tragic death (I have never seen someone so upset and crying so hard over a TV show.. you would have thought that someone really died.) redic.

Well thanks to the Soap Channel, I've been watching them all again. They are playing three different seasons so I bounce back and fourth. Strangely I've watched the series end and re-watched the very first season.. oh how I love it. Emotional.

I really wish that I still had the shirt my friends made me in High School that said "I heart Ryan" and then on the back said "From the OC." ... although, I've decided that my High School self loved Ryan because he was the "bad boy" and cared about Marissa so much. BUT, my older new self is all about Seth Cohen--Nerdy, Funny, Weird, and awkward stress case who can't do things by himself, loves Death Cab and listens to Boys to Men when he's sad. He's basically me. Minus the whole rebellious pot phase he went through...

Love him. Love the Soap Channel.

22 was the most bizzare year...

Well, it happened. I turned 23. I don't know why it is that all of a sudden everyone is telling me that I'm old. Just the other day when I told people I was 22 (after I of course thought about it because I feel older) they would say, "oh you're so young!" WTF People?

OK, well honestly, I could care less what people think about my age. Really, I know I'm young.. but I do feel old, if that makes any sense.. Maybe it's the whole transistion from college to work thing that's been happening for the last 6 months..

It really has been the most bizzare year. I won't even get started on the weird crap/changes that went down. Peace out 22. Hello 23.

KISS

I don't know about all of you, but the strangest things always happen to me while at the Redbox..

I didn't have much of an agenda today so I thought I would just rent a couple of movies. I stopped at the 711 down the road from my apartment and started browsing through the selections.

Now, I don't know if I learned from my parents to not trust strangers, or if it's because I have watched one too many Law and Order Episodes, but I don't really trust strangers outside (I like talking to strangers in stores and stuff..I know, i'm weird). But I'll see a homeless man on the side of the road and I will give him money if I happen to have cash because I really do feel bad for them and I want to help..mind you, I will only roll down the window far enough to just reach my hand out with the best intentions of cautiously helping!

Back to the Redbox... So I'm browsing through the movies and a man walks out of the 711. He's grungy, scruffy and kind of looks homeless. The first thing that goes through my mind is.. "oh, he probably won't ask my for money..he JUST bought stuff in the store." (I know, you think I'm rude for judging but I was just being cautious and being aware of my surroundings.) So this man comes up to me with a huge smile on his face and reaches into his pocket. I instantly think, "oh crap, please don't be a gun." To my surprise he pulled out a light and says, "Ma'am, look what I just found in the store!! A KISS lighter." The rest of the convo went something like this:

Me: Oh wow, that's really neat.

Man: Yeah, I love Kiss. They are from my generation, back when I was in High School.

*insert pitty laugh on my end/kind of wanted to pee my pants but instead replied:

Me: They're still rockin' (who says that..)

*insert staring back at the redbox, pretending to browse through the movies.

Man: Did you know that Gene Simmons is in his 60's?

Me: No, no I didn't know that.

Man: Do you know "I wanna rock and roll all night, and party everyday? man, that's a good song!"

Me: yeah, I like that one too.

*still looking at the redbox.

Man:.. Well Ma'am, you have a good day!

The man slowly walked away with a smile on his face and his KISS lighter clenched him his fist.

I felt so rude after that. I mean, I know that you are supposed to be cautious but I really didn't know what that man was going to do, or how long he was going to talk to me and we all know that the Redbox is the slowest machine EVER so I didn't know whether I should just forget the movie and leave or wait it out..

But after he left, I just felt awful. The guy was just excited about his KISS lighter and probably just needed someone to talk to and to share his news with. Maybe he doesn't have anyone to talk to, or doesn't have family. Gah, all kinds of those things started going through my head. I mean, I did talk to him, but I could have been nicer and may not prejudged him as hard and assumed the worst. I mean, a gun? humph, I need to take a chill pill...and stop watching Law and Order.

...I kind of want a KISS lighter now.

I love the end of November!

I love the end of November because three of my favorite days fall within one week: Thanksgiving, Black Friday and the birthday.

1. It was my first Thanksgiving spent away from home. Although, I spent the night at my sisters house with her and her little family, it was quite different than what I am used to, which isn't a bad thing at all. I woke up Thanksgiving day to this:

The first thing I thought was, "OH CRAP! we better get this bird in stat!" I'm mean, I'm used to G-ma Hansen cooking the bird over night, I swear! Alright, I'm exaggerating on the time, but still.

Oh and did I mention that we bought our pies from Marie Callender's on the morning of Thanksgiving? That was a new experience but I kind of enjoyed it. There were people buying their entire Thanksgiving meal from there. We wouldn't go THAT far. Where's the fun in that? ha.

After dinner we went to the movies and saw "Mega Mind!" Cute movie. Funny, but then again, I love me some Will Ferrell.

I'm just so Thankful to have family close by. My sister is amazing and I really love my Brother-in-law James and my Niece Regan. It was a great Thanksgiving.

2. I love me some Black Friday. There is just something about the people watching that makes me so excited. Where most people are irratated and rude, I decide to be overly happy. I really just like to observe everyone and to laugh at some of the people and their stupidity. It's quite fun. Even though this year was quite cold, I still make friends with a cute little couple outside of shopko from the hours of 4:00 am -5:00 am. It was fun!

My favorite part of Black Friday is that it become legal to start the Christmas music and decor. I got home from shopping at 8:00 am and went to work on the decorating. I put up my first Christmas Tree in my own apartment! It was terribly weird putting it up by myself but I enjoyed it. I was just excited to finally use my precious decor I bought from Tai Pan over a month ago.. I even wrapped some of my presents too!

3. The birthday is next. I got this little treasure in the mail today from the P-Rents:

23..? Whoopdeedoo. Love the pretty package though! My mom is wonderful.

He is We; My Forever

I found this band back when they had nothing out on itunes.. They let people download their first album for free and to be honest, I think it was the best move for them. They just released their first album to iTunes "My Forever." I just bought the whole album because I loved there demo album so much.

Check it here on their myspace or stream the full album here. They even have a "Oh Holy Night" track on their myspace. Fab. Love her voice. Love their lyrics. They revamped a couple of old tracks and did a phenomenal job on the new tracks.

I'm convinced she has super powers.

My mom is amazing. She's hilarious, she loves Jamie and Cole and I more than anything else in the world and would do anything for us. It's not a secret that I talk to her AT LEAST three times a day. Around this time of the year (especially today) I've really been able to open my eyes to how grateful I am that she simply lets me call her...over and over again. I usually just need someone to talk to and she's ALWAYS there and just listens.

Today I called her numerous times but two of the times it was because I was frustrated with a couple of things; one of which was over minced garlic. Puh-lease. I'm ridiculous. But the thing is that she always help me to solve the problem, as if she didn't have her own things to deal with. How selfish can I be?

And if that isn't enough, when I apologize and feel awful for being frustrated and taking it out on her for no reason she will say "It's OK, I get frustrated too." ...How can one woman be so wonderful?

In exactly a week I will be 23 years old but sometimes I wonder if I will ever be the woman that my mother is.

I'm convinced she has super powers.

Hopefully it will rub off someday.

Time Out for Women Conference

This weekend was amazing. Mom, Nadine and Megan came into town to go to the "Time out for Women" conference with Jamie and I. We ended up going to the conference most of Saturday and it was well worth it. The seats were a little hard on the caboose but 4,000 women gathered together to hear from the fabulous speakers about hope, of Jesus Christ, of Women and of our role as mothers.

If you want to hear a great story, read Mariama Kallon's testimony/story. She spoke yesterday and her story of the things she has been through and where she came from is phenomenal. As she spoke I was overwhelmed with gratitude for everything I have been blessed with... I am so lucky.

After the conference we went to the Gateway Mall and well, Snow/slush and the outdoor mall do NOT mix. It was cold and wet. But we went to Happy Sumo's (I didn't get sushi but I just love that place!) and then we went to HP 7. It was a full house but thank goodness for reserved seating and for the guy who sat next to mom for being such a good sport during the snake scenes. Mom hates snakes but all in all.. she did better than I thought she would! The guy next to her, who was clearly on a date with his gf (they were holding hands before the preview started) offered to hold mom's hand when she got scared. Awkward. I think he said it with out thinking because his gf made a funny face about that one. I mean, my mom's good looking, of course she was a bit jealous.

All in all, it was a great weekend with the girls. I ate too much junk and stayed up later than usual but it was nice to have apartment guests! It will make staying home for Thanksgiving more bearable :)

Thanks girls for coming!! I LOVE YOU.

Moment of Silence

This morning I drove to work in silence in memory of what used to be... Then a rock chipped my windsheild.

Symbolic? Maybe.

Aren't we all misfits in some way?

The other night I was over at the sister's house and they were watching the old classic "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." I, like you, remember watching this growing up; I'm sure I loved it. I mean, look how "happy" they are:

Wrong. This movie is sad. Although I appreciate its "Christmas spirit" and the fact that everything is made out of felt (pretty awesome)but I could go on and on about how sad the story line is...I won't bore you.

I will just say that any movie where parents (Donner and Doe partner) and other adult role models (Santa) who don't believe in their children just because they are a little bit different is not OK. The other reindeer where straight up mean. No reindeer games? NONE? And listen Santa.. you can't shut Rudy down because of his light-up snoz and then USE him when you're in trouble and expect that his emotional wounds just magically mend. Why couldn't you just except him from the beginning? rude.

And I won't EVEN start with Hermes the Elf. The little dude just wanted to be a dentist.

Aren't we all misfits in some way?

Alright, I'll stop--the movie will always be a classic and the song will always make me smile but that doesn't change it.

One Month!!

I couldn't be more excited :)