screening the inside, my first "spicer long" blog

I'm sitting here substituting, watching the kids do their in class work, and I think what I wanted and wondered at their age. I remember I just wanted life to be simpler, to figure things out easier, to be liked, to control my temper, to find "the guy" who could love me forever, and for God to just TELL ME what I should do with the rest of my life. Now I look at that list and think, "wow, not much has changed since highschool." I still want life to be simpler, to figure things out easier, to be liked, to control my temper, and for God to tell me what to do w/ my life. The only thing I know is who God wants me to be with...who he wants to help me with the things I struggle with. And then I look back and think, "wow, I really screwed up the majority of the life I lived." I decided to be this person who was tough all the time, who LIKED when people were intimidated or scared of them. My Dad use to always use this illistration with me, because I was always pushing the limits of the rules in our house. He use to say, "Leigh, God has made me your umbrella, to protect you from the things in this world that would only hurt you, but if you choose to step out from under the umbrella, I can't help you any longer." I stepped out, and boy did it rain on me. I got hurt lots, and I would always tell people that I was "fine, that I just have to learn things the hard way." Have you heard that from someone? It's just a bunch of ignorance. They don't have the learn things the hard way, they just don't want to listen to the right way, cause then they would have to admit they were wrong. I've told people for years that I don't regret what I went through in highschool and university--that those bad experiences made me who I am today. Well, part of that is true...but I'm a very scarred person today. God has blessed me so much in this past year and a half. He has brought into my life the most wonderful people, and He guided me to a wonderful Godly man. During University he gave me Sheena, to look out for me, to warn me, and to pick up the pieces when I disregarded her advice, which was so often I cringe. Late last year He gave me back a friendship I thought I'd lost from highshool...Blaire I love you so dearly, and I value your friendship like gold. But now, I look at what is in the past, and I just want to shelter my younger sister from that. I cry for her sometimes, begging God to let her be the Godly women I wish I would have been through those hard highschool years. I also look forward, to what God can do in my life, and hope I will have the faith, and God's hope in me, to push forward, and use my scars and a living example to how God can change someone to drastically. Thank you Spicer, for being my godly friend. Thank you Molly, for noticing me this summer, I looked up to you SO much. Thank you Katy, for being such a good example. Thank you Candice, for keeping me sane and listening to my sorry pitty parties, for being my friend, for dancing on the table with me. Thank you Scott, for paying attention to me on the bike trips, I'll never forget our tumbles and fall together. Thank you Sheena, for always sticking w/ me. Thank you Dave, for loving me when I wasn't lovable. Thank you God, for saving this poor soul.

single...what's that? lol

Well, since it's been going around like a plague, I decided to put MY views on the "to be single or not to be single" issue. I agree w/ all of Dee's reason for having a boyfriend, they are ALL right, especially number 6...boy is that EVER a good reason, especially if you're going to a REALLY STRICT Christian university...it's like a curse if you're not engaged by the end of your freshmen year (clearly I was an outcast, lol). However there are the extra things, the ones THAT MATTER, that are also good reason to have a special someone.

1. They let your cry on their shoulder when they have no clue why you're crying (and sometimes they don't even try to fix it! that's a good thing, for the clueless boys that are reading this, unless you WANT them to fix it, then it's a VERY bad thing, but it's your job to figure that one out...sucka!)
2. They learn to love your family, regardless of the quirks or weird, stressful habits they may have (which is a lot in my family, especially the busy, stress stuff, CONSTANT, you're so awesome Dave).
3. They do stuff they may not like to do, alot! (say like, shopping, or in Dave's case, being lazy and sitting on the couch and doing nothing, it's hard for antsi people like Dave).
4. They will pretend to LIKE chic flix (and maybe they do, just a lil, inside, and you'll even see them get misty eyed from time to time).
5. They love you no matter what you look like...when you wake up and have weird, frizzy, HUGE hair (referring to myself), and they LIKE you, even PREFER you w/ no make-up on, and they love that old t-shirt that you won't wear out in public cause it's got a hole in it, and those baggy jeans that make you look prepubescent (sp?)...because no matter what, they're gonna stand by your side, and try to protect you, and fight your battles, and be your biggest fan....even on "the days" a month a wake up yelling for no reason and wanting to hate the world....on those days they think you're cute.

That is why I love my significant other. Because he's SO significant. He was my best friend when I thought my world was crashing from my last failed relationship, when I was battling sickness in the "November" issue of LDP, when I needed someone to tell about the kid in my group at Medeba that wouldn't listen to a thing I said and kept running away, or eating snow all day but never doing anything else....and then...he became more. But it never would have been that way had he not been my friend, the one I wanted to tell EVERYTHING to,..and I still do.

I GOT THE JOB!!!...is that good?

I officially have a job at Nantahala Outdoor Center now. I start the 17th of April, or sooner if we find a house REALLY quick, lol. I'm still a bit shocked, I talked myself into doubting I'd get the job, so now I don't know what to do! But, since most of the wedding plans are done, there's really not so much to plan or worry about, well, other than finding a house and continuing to work on Dave's visa (which is coming along well, thanks for asking!). Dave has just gotten his physical for the visa (shots and all) and we're moving forward a bit more now since I do have a job in line. So, thank you for all the prayers that have been dedicated to our visa struggles, they are SOOOO much appreciated, and please continue praying with us.
As for the wedding plans, we have the wedding bands, Dave's getting fitted for his wedding attire, I'm losing weight for mine :), and we're deciding on music for the wedding and reception. We're also still involved in pre-marital counseling, which is going REALLY well. We had a session today, and it was really great just to sit down w/ a young married couple and talk about things they have already been through, and things we will go through.
I just got side tracked talking to my mom and now I don't know what I was gonna blog about that was so exciting, oh well, maybe i'll remember later. I do have a new reader though! That's exciting! HI ADAM! (It's Dave's cousin, his soon to be best man too!) I guess this is a good place to get some spying done on future family, lol. Hope you don't see anything TOO upsetting.
Jeez...i've had Usher in my head all day...hold on i'm getting kissed by my gorgeous fiance...anyway, i've been dancing around the kitchen all day to his music...even in the car...you have to admit he is one beautiful man.
On that note...sweet dreams everyone!!!

Bored yet?

I realize that I am blogging less and less because I now realize that if you don't have anything interesting to say, why would people wanna read it??? So, my imagination is cooling I suppose. The last interesting blog I wrote was Sir Frog...good stuff i thought, but what do i know, i was sick. Well, I guess I'll just blog anyway, hey, if you're bored you're gonna read it anyways right?
It's 12:43 and I'm already hungry again; I ate at 11:25....so sad. I'm on a diet right now to lose a few extra pounds before the wedding. DON'T FREAK OUT, it's a healthy diet. It's the Special K diet....you eat Special K cereal for 2 meals a day for 2 weeks, and you're suppose to lose a jean size. I wanna do it for 4 weeks, but I'm pretty sure I'll be REALLY tired of Special K by then. You can eat whatever you want for the 3rd meal, as long as you don't eat more than your usual portion. Inbetween meals you're suppose to eat veggies and fruit, and munchies like granola (not the chocolate chip kind) and a lil yogurt for snacks. I eat raisins and apples most of the time...and splurge every couple of days w/ a half a peanut butter sandwhich around 3 in the afternoon. I've only been on this diet for...hmmm....5 days...9 more to go! Then I'm still gonna have to be really careful and watch my weight so I don't gain it back before the wedding. Anyways, that's what I've been up to pretty much. You're suppose to drink 8 oz of water every 2 hours too, because that makes you less hungry and helps flush out the bad stuff. Dave and I went hiking at the local state park on Saturday, that was alot of fun, great weather for it, and we saw TONS of deer. And then later that day Dave went to the climbing competition, and I was SO proud of how he placed. He thought he was doing really badly, but you know how he is, never taking credit for anything. I was really proud of him :).

sad, but true

Well, went to see a movie yesterday...called Million Dollar Baby. It's the new film that Clint Eastwood directed, and stared in as usual. It got rave reviews, so I decided to give it a try. The reviews were RIGHT ON. It was a wonderful movie, but it had it's sad parts, I cried a couple of times. t was really well made though, even though it was sometimes hard to watch women boxing (looks REALLY painful). I won't tell you how it goes, cause I think you should see it.
I still want to see Hitch, the new Will Smith movie. If anyone's seen it I'd like to know what you thought of it. It looked pretty funny.
Didn't really have much else to say today. Dave started a blog yesterday. I have it linked here on my page, so go check it out! It's pretty good...but not as good as mine of course...lol.

HELLO from the birthplace of Krispy Kream

HI guys. I'm in Winston Salem today, and yesterday actually...just takin care of my good friend Sheena. She tore some thing in the arch of her foot, I can't remember the name but it actually sounds like an expensive clothing line, lol.
Had my interview w/ NOC on Monday. I think it went really well, although it took us AGES to get there. The weather was horrible that morning, it was raining cats and dogs and some ice too. And of course you know when cats and dogs are together they don't get along, so obviously it wasn't nice. I was a bit nervous in the interview (there were ladybugs all over the ceiling, for those of you that don't know I'm crazy yet, I'm scared of ladybugs). BUT, I managed to ignore them (mostly) and answer any and all questions they had of me and portray how enthused I was about the job.
That night I went to see my cousin Terri for her 21st b-day! Her brother and my cousin Joshua came up for her b-day too. It was great to hang out w/ them...i don't think I ever really have before, just hung out, other than at family gatherings (Thanksgiving/Christmas). It really was a blast, it was SO good to talk to them, and I think Terri likes Dave now...not that she DISliked him before, she just didn't like the idea of me getting married so young. She's a good caring cousin, it's all good.
So, that's my week so far really. Either tomorrow or Friday Dave and I are going climbing at a place in Charlotte called Inner Peaks. It's a REALLY cool climbing gym, but the only one around too, lol.
Well, I'm off to catch up w/ e-mails...i'm e-mailing you back SPICER & Mally! I promise!

quick post of education central

HI guys! I'm at Graystone substituting for a couple of days, THE SICKNESS spread around the teachers, so now they need me! all in my master plan to create money for myself of course....lol. I'm on my lunch break and just thought of my faithful readers; my family, and a sprinkling of friends that read this when their totally board...lol.
Well I finally kicked the THE SICKNESS back to where it belongs (w/ the frogs...HAHA!!!! SIR FROG!). I'm now well and thriving w/ full use of both my nostrils...ah oxygen, good stuff. I'm getting ready for my interview next week, and trying to tie up the ends of those wedding plans that keep on running away from me. Darn strings...always runnin....jeez. Only a few more to do, and we're ready. Of course the most important being finding house and secure job, but that's not the point, that's in God's hands, and He hasn't decided to make those definate yet.
Well, hope you all had a lovely Valentines day, or you at least didn't drown in a pool of chocolate and bad TV all day. I feel like I'm outta touch w/ everyone, so please post so I can see how you're doing! LOVE YOU!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Well, yes, today is the day of loathing for many people, but, I'm going to make you hate me all and say, it isn't for me. When I woke up this morning there was a giant card sitting outside my door, Dave had been working on things in secret all day yesterday. Beside it were lil wooden flowers that he had glued together. Inside the card he had even written a POEM! Yes, it was VERY sweet.
I left him a trail of Snoopy, kids Valentines, w/ a Little Debbies oatmeal cream pie beside each one, leading to a funny poem I had written for him. I was funny to see him trying to pick up all the pies, he kept dropping them and then laughing at himself, it was SO cute.

After we ate cereal together, he told me he had an activity planned for us, and to go to my room till I was told to come out (I told him that didn't sound like much fun, but he insisted). When he told me I could come out there were cooking ingredients trailing to the kitchen. There was 4 different kinds of food coloring, salt, flower, baking soda, veg. oil, a wooden spoon, and a pot! Do you know what that all adds up to???? PLAY-DOH!!! Yes, we made play-doh! Ever since our first date, when he listed that as something we could do that day, I've been wanting to make play-d0h, but we never got around to it! Well, I decided to make the play-doh red, since it IS Valentines day, so we did....then we played w/ it....and of course we had to lick it to see if it tastes the same as the storebought stuff. It doesn't by the way, it's MUCH saltier....lol. It was fun. And tonight we're gonna make our own creations of coffee (mine w/ chocolate and whip cream probably) and play cards, and just enjoy spending time w/ each other. So, yeah, my Valentine was great, and I love him SO much!

welcome to THE SICKNESS...a sad story dedicated to Sir Frog

After having a cold the majority of the time I was in Ireland, and finally conquering it, I have sucummed to the mighty SICKNESS again. It took on 4 days to attack me this time...and it came on much stronger. I now have a heavy cold. It likes to prey on me mostly at night and in the early mornings. Afternoons I sneak away from it and pretend to be a normal person once again, but I am just lying to myself, I know I am defeated by this mighty force, my bedroom wreaks of it's presence. White tissues lie in the corners as a reminder of the night. When the sun comes up it steals away my voice, and leaves a frog's in return. I don't even know this frog, I'm not sure I'm comfortable w/ this arrangement, and does the frog like having my voice? I doubt that very seriously.... the other frogs probably laugh at it, poor thing, they won't even let their tadpoles play w/ the Sir frog (he IS young frog you know, just past tadpole by a few years). Sometimes the "goo" goes away from my nostrils, and for that split second, I CAN BREATH!!! Oh how it torments me though, because then it just switches to the other nostril, teasing me w/ the brief inflow of oxygen to both sides of my head. AAAAAAAAAAAH! I must difuse "the goo" from my head once again...it must be done. My nose begs for me just to sniff, but I cannot give it that brief novelty. Away I go, maybe water from the shower will clear my head of this nightmare and welcome the afternoon of lies....we shall see. You shall get your voice back for the afternoon Sir Frog, but who knows for how long we shall fend away "THE SICKNESS"

the next day of the rest of our lives....

well it's been total planning period the last couple of days. Making lists of all that still needs to be done before THE DAY and trying to get some done. We went to the photographer place today and decided on photo packages, and had our second pre-marital counseling, which went very well. I also have an official interview w/ NOC on the 21st of February. Which could complicate the trip up to NY for ice climbing, since we were suppose to leave that day. BUT, as I found out thru the Medeba grape vine, the LDP this year may not end up going because of someone not being able to leave the country, and other complications. BUT, I'm really excited about the NOC interview, and nervous. I know that I have a really good chance of getting it, but it doesn't pay all that well, and it's not SO close to home. It's an AWESOME job that I would be doing up there, but I'm still praying fervantly and searching which way I should go w/ this. Because if I do take the job, I need to find a house up there ASAP. Their first group comes in on the 13th of March, and they're making the final decision about the job on the 26th of Feb. But anyways, please PLEASE pray for God to show Dave and I which direction we should be heading...if we should stay closer to friends and family, or head towards Asheville. Well that's all for now! Just hangin around here doing some more sub. teaching, and planning the wedding. Gonna go play some board games w/ my family now...BOARD GAMES RULE!!! I like Settlers, props to Steve M. (Monopoly is still my fav. though)

yes i DID make it back alive!

Hello all! I know I haven't blogged in a week, and you're all probably worried sick, ok well not really, but I'm back anyway, just in case you cared. I'm sitting in my favorite hometown T-shirt from our big park fest day, and a worn out pair of black pants. I think they mostly got worn out when I wore them in the snow at Medeba last year, but that just makes them even better. I JUST sent the last of the wedding invites to all over the USA, and one to New Zealand. It feels good.
Well, the flight back went great! I know, amazing considering how awful the one over there was, but good things DO happen to me sometimes. I think I like flying during the day MUCH better than at night. I just watched movies and read magazines and journalled the whole time.

Dave and I have officially been dating a year (as of last Friday), which is still sorta weird considering we're getting married in exactly 2 months. But people get married in shorter time, so I'm not worried about it. I keep reminding him Valentines in coming NEXT WEEK. Boys, let me give you some advice, if you have a g/f, DO NOT forget Valentines. It doesn't have to cost money, it just has to have some care involved. Spend some time planning a picknick, or if it's too cold, do one INSIDE! Anything, just do SOMETHING special. It's next Monday by the way.

Well, I think we're off for a walk. Dave get's bored easily when left alone, and I've been on the computer for at least a half an hour, lol. We've finished the stuff we wanted to accomplish this morning, now we need some beautiful NC fresh air! I just hope it's this gorgeous on the wedding day! It's '65 right now!

So long, farewell, it's time to say a dew...more like a rain....HAHA

This is my last post from Ireland for a long time I believe. I will be leaving for the airport in 45 minutes, and yes, I'm nervous. I really dislike flying, I'm actually a lil scared of it, yup, Leigh is scared of flying. However, I'm going to be a brave girl, and fly all the way home on my own. I think I WILL drug myself w/ Dramamine on the long flight from London to Washington DC though...sleep is better than fear...well I think so anyways, but you have fun w/ bein scared.
The trip here has been fantastic. The scenery has been stunning. The friends I've met were wonderful and funny. The family was welcoming. Now I must go back home, and finish planning the next couple of years of my life...sounds a bit stressful...hmmm...maybe I'll hire out that position, anyone up for the job? I'd rather not sell fish for the next 2 years though, or be a garbage girl, although if I just have to drive the cool truck that's ok. No desk jobs either, unless my job is to tap dance on the desk all day, or make castles out of only desks, tricky, but it could be done.
So long all! If I live to blog again I'll talk to you soon. If not, thanks for being faithful readers and bringing a smile and a bit a laughter to every day....wow, that's a bit morbid. Think of puppies now, no not puppies in blenders Spicer, just cute lil puppies. Maybe I can convince Dave to get a puppy now, doubtful....but it's worth a try!
TOODALOOOOOOO!

grainy pic of Steve's pink climbin pants!!!! OH YEAH!!! 

And the gift goes on....

Helloo friends, I am back from my trip into the beyond, also known as Scottland. Had a great time! I met so many people, but we really had a blast. I didn't see too much stuff, but that wasn't the point of the trip. The point was to meet Dave's friends and enjoy spending time w/ them, which I did. The first night we spent in Glasglow seeing Steve & Amy. Then we went to Graham's flat (Dave's old University flat where he lived w/ Graham and another Dave, both of which are still there). We stayed at Graham's for 4 nights--had dinner w/ his long time girlfriend, played micromachines on the playstation (fun game!), and saw the Edinburgh castle. During that time we also met up w/ Dave's old climbing partner Fiona. She works in the Tiso in Glasglow and is lots of fun. Then on Monday we went to Sarena's flat and Dave made us dinner, then we went to the pub and just talked till closing time. On Tuesday we had a lazy day and then went to the movies w/ Sarena to see Closer (very odd, weird movie, really wouldn't recommend it) and then went to a coffee house/resturant to meet Graham & Mel and Dave T. for dinner. It was good; had a traditional Scottish day meal of haggis & turnip (GOOD STUFF, but don't ask what's in it, I didn't, so I dunno either). Wednesday we came back here, I really like the ferry, it's SUPER nice, nothing like the ferries in NC. It had a movie area, resturants, a pub, and a gift shop. We watched Shrek 2 on the way back, cause Dave hadn't seen it yet. Well that's pretty much it! For those of you that are wondering, the visa thing is still going about the same, we're gonna work more on it when we get back NEXT WEEK!!! See ya then!

i'm all alone, there's no one here beSIDE ME....

yes well, I was just thinking of Donkey singing in Shrek, so I thought I'd give you a lil song and dance...too bad you missed it. Dave's gone off hiking in the Mournes w/ one of his guy friends. They're doing one of those 'man days' where they go climb stuff and jump off stuff and are just generally stupid. It snowed here today, it just rained though, so it's mostly melted already. This guy pulled up w/ 2 kayaks on top, a couple of knee boards or something like that in the boot, and climbing gear. I think they were thinking of doing some snow kayaking, among other things. Who knows what goes on in guys heads? well anyways....
I'm going to rent a girlie movie and watch away. I might also read...and maybe check out ebay, although I've already bid on a $2 head lamp today...just to prove to Dave that ebay works. Watch me never get this one, and then he'll be like "SEE IT'S ALL A SCAM, THEY JUST TAKE YOUR MONEY AND RUN AWAY!!!" Just like that, he's very dramatic sometimes, especially when it comes to gear.
Well tomorrow we are leaving for Scottland for 7 days. Yes, that means if I leave tomorrow, which is a Wednesday, I'll be back the NEXT Wednesday, good job. I finally get to meet all of Dave's university friends, the famed Graham and Serina among them. I'm excited! Well, I'm getting hungry. I forgot to eat breakfast cause I was making Dave's lunch, so I think I'll eat lunch early...it's 11:30 already, it's ok. I'm suddenly REALLY craving a cereal we have in the States call Cookie Crisp (lots of lil chocolate chip cookies!!! FOR BREAKFAST!!!) MMMMM...good stuff.

THIS IS TO YOU SPICER

This goes out to Chris Spicer, of whom makes me laugh EVERY day, w/ either his comments on MY blog, or his post on his. Thanks Spice man, you make my day. Also I think you are the weirdest person I know, and definately the most random, but hey, that's what makes you. You also, of course, are the sexiest, red, bloodied, crack handed man at Medeba. So there ya go. I love you Spicey baby.

scene from the road 

Need Prayer desperately

Hi guys, I just wanted to put a quick prayer request on here. Dave and I checked up on his visa progress today, and the tracking place on the internet said that I was gonna take 120 to 150 days to process the visa. On the paper we filled out in November, it only said 30. A 120 days is AFTER the wedding, which means that the "fiance visa" would be perfectly useless, and Dave would have to leave the country pretty much a week after the wedding. We aren't sure what to do yet. We are pushing around ideas as to call them and see what's going on, and on the more extreme side, get married by the court just for logistics and go ahead and file for a marriage visa (don't freak mom or family, i just tossed the idea out there, just in case). I really don't wanna be seperated from Dave as soon as we're married, so please pray that it will go through quickly and God will give us the wisdom to know what steps to take next.
On a lighter note, there are a few of the pix from the trip we took this week. If you want to see just a couple of Christmas and the engagement party, click on "my photos" link and then the Ireland photo album to see them. I hopefully will be putting more and more photos in that album, so just keep checking up on it.
That's all I have for now, Dave and I are going to attempt to clean up his room, and then go rock climbing. Dave's dad MAY OR MAY NOT be back before then, and HE has the digital camera, so I may not be able to get the prized pic of Steve's pants for ya.
OH GOSH, I ALMOST FORGOT THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE!!! Dave heard from MARTIN TODAY!!!! HE'S NOT IN THE BOTTOM OF A WELL...OR EVEN LOST!!!! However, he has been away from e-mailing these past few weeks, suprise suprise, and is trying to get things in order. He doesn't have a full on job as of yet, and he got hurt a bit back, torn a tenden in his ankle i think, while biking, and had to CRAWL out to the main road. However, he's better now, and is trying to get back into the hang of getting in touch w/ everyone. Molly I told Dave to e-mail him back and tell him you wanted to get in touch w/ him. Anyways, that's IT!
Love you all, thanks SO much for all the support you all give me.

Grinean of Aleach fort, it's circular 

view from the Grinean of Aleach fort 

Mural of boy throwing gas bomb 

I'm back!

Salooo!!! Well the trip to Donegal, S. Ireland was great; although the weather was blustery, and that's an understatement. The first day (Mon.) we drove to Derry first and just took some pix of the murals there and looked in the shops and into one old cathedral. Then we drove on to see an old fort, the name of which I can't pronounce, but it was really cool. Then we went to Ballybofey where we were staying and just nosed around the hotel (very quaint and antiquey, but still up to date, comfy).
Day 2 (that was Tues, are ya getting the hang of this? guess what day 3 will be!!!) we went to a museum first, since it was a bit wet. I picked it just to be outta the rain, but it turned out to be really neat (I'm starting to LIKE museums!!) and it had a jail underneath it that we got to explore and be finger printed in (although it was sorta spooky down there and I jumped several times). Then the weather cleared up and we took a long drive down past Donegal town and on to Bundoran. Bundoran is a very famous surfers haven, so we decided to check it out (even though it's off season for surfers). The waves from the lookout point were GINORMOUS!!! It was amazing to see, and the wind was so strong it was almost blowing us over (the pix of it are hilarious)! Then we got a really cool hoodie from the local surf shop that has Bundoran on it. Then we raced the sun (it was almost 4:15, and it's completely dark by 5:00) to see a waterfall a half hour away. We got there JUST in time and jumped over the "closed" sign to take pix of the waterfall. On the way back we stopped in this pub called The White Horse which had the best food I've had in a LONG time.
Day 3 (no silly, not Friday, it's Wednesday) we did a bit a of a loop on the way home and saw another really cool waterfall out in the middle of a field (we jumped over the sheep fence and took pix) and some beautiful,some snow covered, mountains. Then we broke into a castle (ok, well, we opened the no entrance gate, the castle doesn't open till Easter, so we drove instead of walking the 4 kms to get to it, OK!!!) and took some great pix of it, the gardens were massive. Then we drove home and did a LIL bit of shopping as we went back through Derry.
So there ya go! That's what i've been doing for the last 3 days. No I didn't go trecking off to find Martin, he can keep his goat and coffee at the bottom of the well, I won't even steal his slinky.

i'm leaving...really..no right now...ok 5 mins

hi guys! Yup, ya thought you were rid of me for 3 days, but no, one more post. We were suppose to leave 30 mins ago, but I ended up e-mailin a friend, then he ended up packing more stuff! HE was the one last night complaining about how much stuff I was bringing for 3 days, and now HE'S packed more than I HAVE! Well, I just updated myself on all my friends blogs so I won't be TOO far behind. It's a BEAUTIFUL, DRY, SUNNY day here, in other words, it's a MIRACLE!!! We're off! I'm suppose to be the navigator, so that means we'll probably get lost. I have NEGATIVE sense of direction folks (no matter how many times my dad tried to teach me how to use a compass or read a map...which way is East again???). HOPEFULLY we'll see ya in 3 days, but at least we can't end up in Tennessee this time (long story, tell ya later), lol Sheena! Toodles!

hello from the world of wet, not to be confused w/ Sea World

Funny how many titles you can come up w/ to do w/ rain...i'm sure you'll hear many more before i leave, don't wet your pants, just wait for them k? (ha ha, crack myself up!) Well I thought I'd blog tonight so that I would get at least one blog in this week. Tomorrow Dave and I are leaving for S. Ireland to see a few things...i dunno what yet, jeez, you're so impatient. It'll be great just to spend some time w/ him, he's been working so much lately I feel like when I DO get to see him he's exhausted (welcome to the married world I guess, it that how it is??? Anyone married wanna comment??? HELLOOOO...).
Martin's name has now become a catchphrase for those who are lost and never found...I think Tsunami Martin would be a good name...do they name Tsunami's like we name hurricanes? Oh well...I do. Just thought I'd stick that in, milk it for all it's worth baby. I'm doing T-shirts next, get your name in now, they'll be a one-in-a-million thing....no i'm NOT making a million, jeez, stop asking stupid questions.
Didn't do much yesterday except take an exceptionally long walk to take a few pictures of my favorite murals here. We've driven past them several times but I'd never stopped. I think I'm gonna make several pages of just the murals I've taken pictures of when I get home and sort through all my pictures from here.
Well, I'm off, I'll be back on Wednesday night I think. Then Thursday Dave's dragging me up the Mourne Mountains again, they're quite the squishy hike, but maybe the weather will be better this time. Friday we're going climbing again w/ Steve (i'll try to take those pix for you of "the pants"), and to dinner w/....some people on Friday night (no they aren't members of the mafia I just can't remember their names). Toodaloo all! HAVE A GREAT WEEK if I don't talk to ya before it's over!!!!

HERE IS IT FOLKS, THE PICTURE YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!

oK, well maybe not all of you, but my 2 sisters anyways, and maybe a couple of girls that read this, who knows. There is my dress at the engagement party, although not a very flattering pic. of me considering my eyes are closed, but what can ya do when an 8 year old is taking the picture (yes, that's right, we forgot our camera)? I finally figured out how to send these pix, and it's been wonderful. I'm working on getting some pictures of christmas and things on my picture page, it's not up to date yet, but i'll tell ya ASAP when it is k? And mom, I'm fine, I'm still alive, and no I'm not at the bottom of the well drinking coffee with Martin. Just because I don't e-mail you every day does not mean I'm not alive, or I have a goat, but I do still love you, and sometimes I don't have access to the internet (like Martin in the bottom of the well), or I'm just tired (although I know that's hard to believe considering I get 10 hours or more of sleep almost every day...hey, there's not much to do here when everybody's working!). Yesterday was an extremely great day. Dave, Steve, and I went rock climbing in the morning (I lead my 2nd climb, and it was my first sport climb-yes i was nervous was they pushed me into, good job guys), and I learned new stuff about Steve. By the way Medebites, do you remember those pink pair of plaid pants that use to be in the Medeba dress up room? Well, Medeba donated those to Steve M (or Steve Archibald did, dunno which), and he now wears them EVERY time he climbs (I'll try to take a picture of it next time, it's really quite hilarious). Last night Dave and I went ice skating. It was SO much fun! It's been forever since I ice skated, and I taught him how to skate backwards, that was cool too, cause I don't get to teach Dave many things, it's usually the other way around. Well this is really too long already, so I'll spare you all the rest of the boring things I could tell you...all of which I can't think of right now. Good evening all, or I guess for all of you that are from N. America it's good afternoon, considering it's about 12:30 there. Well, whatever...see ya later....and Mom, I'll e-mail you soon, promise.

Dave and I at the engagement party 

MILK CARTON ANYONE?

Well, as most of the 03/04 LDP and staff know, Martin, the man in the picture below, has not been heard from in months. This is worrying most of us, so I decided that just in case you forgot what he looked like, i would post you a picture. He probably looks much the same, minus the hard hat, and maybe he has more facial hair, or grey hair perhaps. I think he may either be on one of his grand adventures, or he has 5,328 e-mails and only checks 5 a week (which could be the case cosidering he was always in the "red zone" on his e-mail storage at camp). Anyway, if you see or hear from this man, please post on the picture and tell me of any information you may have found. Thank you, and now back to your boring blog update.
"hi guys" It's 1:07 here and I'm still in my pj's. After eating breaky and watching "Big Brother Panto" (the UK's big brother thingy), which was extremely boring but it was either that or the adventures of younge indiana jones (which I watched yesterday and weren't impressive, but that's morning tv for ya), i decided to get on here and figure out how to post pictures! Now I can post my dress and stuff from the engagement party...after I get them off of Mervyn's comp, which he has w/ him....wherever he is right now. I gotta get outta these pj's and have devo's and clean my room....all while i wait for CANDICE to e-mail me and tell me how her night went yesterday....HURRY UP WILL YA?????

WHERE IS THIS MAN??? 

short stuff

this'll be short as I only have about 5 mins left on the library computer. Yesterday climbing w/ Dave was SO awesome. Just the 2 of us went. It felt great just to push my body to the limits again. For my hands to be trembling to reach the next hold, to feel the fear when i fell because i couldn't make it, the feeling of accomplishment and exhaustion when I did...really good stuff. We're going again on Friday w/ Steve. M. and then ice skating in the afternoon (w/o steve). It's really funny w/ me and rock climbing, or any skill really. If i don't do it for awhile I start to hate it, so I know right before, when I just dislike the idea of going, i have to go THEN, otherwise i'll never do it again. That's how rock climbing felt for me the other week when I went, and why I avoided it several times after that, till yesterday. Well that's it for today...gotta go to the post office and mail some stuff, then maybe rent a video for tonight. ARGH, the 2 minute warning...out into the rain i go...ah well, i have an umbrella.

an open windon

today was an odd day...but good, i think. dave had to work, i slept late, as has become the usual for me here, and then got up and Sylvia and I decided to go out and see things. it was a pretty day, and unusual dry day here, sunny too, but still cold. There are many murals here from times when the uprisings were heavy. paramilitary murals...most say "volunteer forces" meaning terrorist groups. These are everywhere in the city. They are quite good though, very artful, full of meaning and heavy words. I read one today that said something about "as long as 100 of us are living....we will not stand under Irish rule..." or something like that. I asked Helen why they don't just paint over them now, she said that they would just be back up over night. Sylvia said that even though there isn't as much evident violence now the groups are still very intact, w/ some times during the year still being very high for outbreaks of small groups. I took some pictures of them, it gave me an insight into the heart of this country, the angst I guess, but it's just everyday life for people here, just like hurricanes during August for the Southern states and below...normal even. Well, mervyn needs the phone, I'll write more later. Tomorrow is rock climbing w/ dave, the next day he's working again and sylvia is back working at school, so i'll have lots of time to write. so long

ah the Irish

well, i tried to post pictures, and then I tried to e-mail pictures, and I've found that is to no avail. Maybe I'll figure it out one day, but till then, I guess I'll just have to keep trying to paint them for you, not literally of course, because i can't pain, duh. Well the engagement party was Tuesday, and it was SO fun. They had a Kaley band there, I'm pretty sure I spelled that wrong. The Kaley band is sorta like ummm.....well the type of dancing is sorta like line dancing, but in bigger groups. It's really lively and tons of fun, although my feet are still killing me from the shoes I wore. I hope to get a picture of my dress on here, eventually. Everyone was there and lots of his friends, and it was just a blast, we didn't get in till 1:30. Then, we had decided to go down to Dublin the next day, and we were leaving on the train w/ some friends at 7:50, being at the train station at 7:30. Needless to say we were ALL exhausted, but went anyways, and slept a bit on the train ride down. We then we to breakfast since the only thing on our stomachs from the night before was alcohol, we decided to have a BIG breakfast...hmmm was it good too. Then, since we ARE in Ireland, we decided to go to the Guiness factory there. Now, for those of you who have no clue what Guiness is, it's a VERY dark, thick beer, more like a solid than a liquid I would say, and EXTREMELY popular w/ the Irish. We went to the place and saw how it was made and they give you this lil glass stone w/ a drop of it in it. Then, when you get done w/ the tour, you get a free pint of Guiness (I gave mine to the boys, I don't really like beer, no matter how much they try and get me to like it, ish). Oh man I'm still sore from going to the gym w/ Helen on Tuesday, and my feet from Tuesday night, ugh, I think she and I are gonna go see a movie this afternoon, nice and relaxed. Well, i'm off! I'll try to get you guys pictures SOOn, they'd be here now, but this stupid computer is too slow to process them. Love you all!

WHITE CHRISTMAS!!!

well, I'll have to say, I was a lil bit down on Christmas Eve not seeing all my family. But, when I woke up on Christmas morning and Dave came bounding in my room and told me to look outside, I was QUITE excited to see the whiteness. It SNOWED! Now mind you Canadians, we're not talking about a couple of inches and especially not fee, we're talking a dusting here, just enough to make it white. It WAS enough to make snowmen and have a snowball fight though, which is exactly what we did...great stuff. So, the biggest question on Christmas is always "whaddya get???" I got some hiking boots, a watch, shirt, manicure set, a knot book and a piece of rope to try them with, things like that, it was a good christmas for me. I really enjoyed giving Dave his gift the best though. I got him the stuff he wanted, climbing cams of course, and a pair of fleece pants, but I also got him a remote control car. It was just a lil thing, but he loved it, a played w/ it immediately...it was fun to see him excited like a lil kid, it was really what made my day. We saw lots of family on Christmas, friends too, and sat in front of the roaring fire lots. We ate lots of turkey and ham, and Christmas pudding as is the tradition over here (great stuff by the way...mmmmm). It was a wonderful day. I missed my family very much, but it was wonderful to have the oppurtunity to share in Dave's family traditions, to see what he holds dear, and to get to know his family better. Well, the rest of the family is out tonight and Dave has cooked pasta for us, then we're watchin Bridget jones, the 1st one. I love and miss you all, hope you're christmas's were as good as mine.

to sleep...to slumber

Friday's lunch went really well. Doug and Mercill were wonderful as usual. We went to a really great place called Rain City (imagine that, in Ireland, rain? NO!). I had roast duck--i don't think i've had roast duck before, good stuff. Then we went back to their house for coffee. Then their oldest daughter Janet came in like a whirlwind. She is just one HUGE ball of energy, and she's 31! Let me tell ya, she's hilarious--she's GOT to get that from her dad. I was in a ball of laughter the whole time she was there! Saturday...ummmm...what did i DO on Saturday...ok that day is lost to me--i have absolutely no clue. Well, SUNDAY then. Sunday the Nelson side of the family came over. That's Robin & Elizabeth, Ken & Jen, and their boys Adam and Mark (MAN I'm getting good at this!). They were a lot of fun. I had met Adam once before in Canada, and it was nice talking to him again, mostly it was nice to have someone in the house around my own age, other than Dave. He brought his digeridoo, THAT was great fun, seeing other people try it and get no sound, or some very interesting non-musical sounds out of it. Monday Dave and I had lunch w/ Adam, then Dave went climbing (I was suppose to go but didn't really feel like it--so he made me go on a walk so I would get some fresh air...more like fresh rain). Then we met his olds, recently married friends, Steve & Amy for drinks that night. It was nice to finally meet some of Dave's friends, see where he gets some of his energy (and Steve's got ALOT of it). Yesterday afternoon Sylvia and I went to the Exploris Aquarium. My favorite part was the seals!!!!!!!! I decided I'm going to have pet seals now--they're SO SO SO CUTE! Anytime you're anywhere around they poke their heads out and look at you, they're very curious! Course the poking the head out may be caused by the fact that they're nearsited when not in the water...but i like them anyways...and i want one...or three. Last night we went to another family's house for dinner. I can't remember their last name, but their kids names (which are a lil older than me I--around Dave's age I guess) are Fiona and Michael, both med. students. That was fun too, but they had Dave and I seated totally separated from each other all night, and he had been working all day, and I get really nervous sometimes meeting Dave's friends alone--so that was the only down side. Today Dave's working from 9 to 9--I'm gonna try to read Chocolat' and go for a walk alone a bit later--easy day. Well that's all really. I'm gonna reply to all your e-mails now--ya know, you REALLY don't have to e-mail the VERY next day, it would be ok if ya waited a few, then I could catch up! That and I've been sleeping crap of late, say barely 5 hours a night, and I can't only get back to sleep around 8 or 9 so I end up sleeping till 11:30...makes me very irritable. Anyways, thought you would benefit from that lil piece of info...ZzZzzzzzzz

a week gone by...

Well yes, I know it's been a little over a week since I've blogged and I'll tell you why, by filling you in on the events of it of course.

So, let's see, I'll start w/ last Friday night. That night the family was over for Chinese take out. The guest list included Ken & Jen, Elizabeth & Robin (guy by the way, for those of you in the USA who only hear the name Robin in female form), And I want to say JoAnn, but I'm not sure that's right...ah jeez, give me a break, I remember the OTHER names! She has 2 little girls, at least, maybe 3, you can correct me Helen. Anyways, that was a nice time, we ate dinner then visited around the fire and decorated tree until close to midnight! Saturday Sylvia and I went shopping for just a bit, then we went to a Christmas craft fair and a lovely old mansion and grounds about a half hour away or so. Sunday was church in the mornin, then the Sunday afternoon walk (Dave worked though). Instead of just going around the usual loop of the neighborhood they took me to see Belfast University and the Botanical gardens close by. Yes it IS cold here, but the plants were in greenhouses, so that's why they were still around. Then we went to a museum that was beside that, and a 50 or so odd instrumental band just happened to be there! They were wonderful--I love good Christmas music. We just wondered around the museum and listened to the music--good day! Then on Monday Dave and I went to see 2 castles (not the Belfast Castle however--all the tours of that have been booked up since August!), a temple, the Giants Causeway (which is all these rock pushed up in a certain shape and pattern by the pressure of a volcano years ago--magnificent, they looked like they were carved!), a beautiful beach looking up to cliffs, and LOTS of sheep. I chased the sheep...although you're not suppose to cause you might scare them to death---literally. But, I did anyways, cause it's funny to see them all run away from you--don't tell the Irish gov.--I might be sent away (they kill dogs that frighten them to death, ISH!). Anyways, that's what I've been doin! I got done w/ my Christmas shopping today! Feels great! Tomorrow we're going climbing w/ Steve, and then to lunch w/ Uncle Doug (he's great I tell ya, makes me laugh all the time, especially when he interacts w/ Mervyn--hilarious!). Well, gotta go--Mervyn is VERY particular about his computer and I'm usin it--so I want to get off before he gets back. I accidentally left the volume on mute yesterday and he about went into fits w/ Dave cause he thought he did it--he NEEDS to unwind I tell ya. toodaloo!

a dreary day

I PROMISE this will not be such a long blog this time, I know they're tedious to read, so I'll keep it short. Yesterday we did go hiking in the Moornes, but it wasn't HALF as beautiful as Tuesday. It was muggy, foggy, cold, and very damp yesterday, so none the less not TOO many pictures were taken (although there were a few). I was feeling VERY under the weather, but I managed to make it hiking all day (although we didn't take the extremely steep route Steve wanted to take, thank God). It was fun to hang out w/ Steve, a blast really. Dave and Steve really feed off of each other, they're hilarious. It was also nice to do something active again, although it would have been nicer if we could see farther than 10 ft. in front of us, and if i wasn't so sick (my nose therefore wouldn't have run like a faucet). All in all--an ok day, we'll go back when it's nicer weather.
Today Dave and I put up the tree we got on Tuesday. He FINALLY hacked it into the shape it needed to be to actually STAY in the stand, and we decorated it (although you can rearrange it if you want Hellen, ¬smile¬). Well, Dave just got back from picking up his mom from school, so I'm gonna get outta here. Have a great gray Irish day!!!!

Hi guys! Well, I'm still standing and I've been in Ireland for almost a week now...ok just 5 days, but close enough. I still have a bad cold, and I get motion sickness every time I get in a car (have you SEEN these lil roads and such! FRIGG! HOW THEY DON'T CRASH AROUND EVERY CURVE IS A MIRACLE!), but other than that it's going well.
I have heard a rumor, only one person can tell me if it's true. There's a person that reads this religiously, more than my family for sure, but who doesn't, who lives in London, but they never post a comment. They feel they know me better through the blog, but I feel I know very little of them, other than comments by others, and would VERY much like to get to know this person. If this person is found...please post of the blog.
On Saturday I went shopping w/ Dave's mom, which was a lil awkward at first and we didn't talk much. But, when I got back here his mom, dad, and I had tea together and talked for a long time (dave worked all day Sat.). I also went to their church, which is alot like ours since its presbyterian too, but a lil more traditional. After that, on Sunday's they always go for walks. So, since Dave had to work, I went w/ his mom, dad, aunt and uncle on my own. We had a great time, his dad, Mervyn, loves to talk to me, so it was nice. Halfway through our walk we stopped at another aunt and unlces house for tea (that's midday, but also happens several times throughout the day). It was nice (although I'm not much for tea, when I'm at Dave's I just drink coffee), the family did a lil bonbarding me w/ questions and things at first, which I didn't mind, and then we just all got to talking. They had to clear up a few things for me, because I can't understand them sometimes, or the words they use, lol. Then we went to his grandparents house (he only has one set--his mother's parents--called Nana and Gaga). ANOTHER one of his uncles just happened to me THERE! He was the funniest of all, I think his name is Doug, he's the only name I remembered all day (maybe it was because he talked the most, lol). Had a great day overall, then came back, picked up Dave from work, and rented a movie (sorta crap movie, don't remember what it was called, the main character died in the end though, so obviously not something i would like, unless they get hit by a bus, cause that's funny--anyone at the movies that night w/ Candice, Dave, Eric and I would know what I'm talking about--mean girls baby). Dave and I went shopping yesterday and I bought a lil black dress and some shoes for our engagement party (i've never had a black dress, so it was fun), then he took me to a proper Irish lunch place and then we picked up his mom from school (she teaches 4 and 5 yr olds) and played Scrabble together till dinner.(I won!) Good day. Today we picked up the Christmas tree and are working on getting it into the stand they always use; which is a hacked out base of a tree...log I guess, but it's very awkwardly shape and proving a long task. tomorrow we're going to for a hike on the Moores....dunno if that's suppose to be capitalized or not...it's quite a good hike, and Steve M is coming along too, --maybe even some rock climbing too. Well, that's all I have to report really, Sylvia and I are getting ready to make dinner since the men are gone for the evening working. The country here really IS beautiful, I'm looking forward to taking some pictures tomorrow. toodaloo!

I'M HERE!

Wow, I finally made it! It's a big suprise to me after the horrible flight I had to get here, let me tell ya about it. Well, I got to the airport in Charlotte, and they told me the weather was horrible in Washington, so I was gonna hafta fly outta Chicago (there's goes another 2 hours onto my already long flight to London). Then I get to London, after only sleeping half an hour, and CONTINUOUS disturbance and having to wear our seat belt because of all of it, we're late to get there of course. So, when I finally figure out where I'm suppose to be going (that airport is HUGE!!!) the guy at the counter tells me my plane is already boarding and I won't make it, he changes my luggage to the next flight, and that's that. I get through customs in about 30 seconds (Dave couldn't believe it, I told him I'm just an innocent looking Southern girl, why would they suspect anything of ME???). I get to the place where I'm suppose to wait, and guess what, I could've made my plane, it was still boarding. But, since my luggage was going later, I had to too. Let me tell ya, I was not pleased with the cute guy at the counter...he is now on my hit list...just kidding if anyone from the Irish government is reading this. So, I finally get to the airport in Belfast, and, as if I expected any more from the day I had been having, all my luggage didn't make it there. However, it came later that day directly to the house, so no harm done, I had my cosmetics in my carry-on. That was my flight, believe it or not, it WAS that bad. I told Dave I was never making that flight alone again. He just nodded.
When saw Dave it made up for everthing. I was a lil nervous, not seeing him for 2 months and all, but he ran up and gave me a HUGE hug and a half dozen red roses (SO SWEET!). Then when I got to the car, there was another bouquet waiting for me on my seat! It was full of wild flowers and yellow roses! He's awesome.
I was exhausted when we got back though. But, when I got to my room he had made me a journal to write all the stuff I see and do here in Ireland in! He even wrote me a lil Irish slang dictionary so I'd know what everybody was talking about, lol, and he put pictures of different things we were going to see while I'm here, and a calender of events we were going to! HE IS SO ONE TH BALL! Anyways, enough bragging about my baby, lol.
Dave and I went walking by Irish Sea yesterday, it was gorgeous. The country here is SO beautiful and green! They ALL drive compact cars because the whole country is only about as big as North Carolina. Today Sylvia (Dave's mom) and I are going shopping this afternoon, and maybe stop by Dave's gear shop to see what it's like (he's working today).
Yes this was an exceptionally long blog...but now you know what alls been happening for the last couple of days! Don't you feel special, informed....maybe complete?!? I thought so. So that settles it then.

I’m writing this before the day of leaving the good ‘ol Southern state of North Carolina for Ireland. However, my blog is being screwy and every time I try to type something is says ERROR CANNONT PROCESS AT THIS TIME. Ugh. SO, I’m typing this in my e-mail, and then I’m gonna post it when I get there. So, yeah…you’re reading this like it’s new, but it’s actually a day or 2 old….you’ll get over it. ANYWAYS, I’m leaving here in a couple of hours. I’ve packed almost everything; it’ll fit promise, once Bethany and I both sit on it I’m sure. It’s a colder day, I prayed for a colder day, I’m wearing a sweater, and for some weird reason the weather in NC is still in the 60’s some afternoons, IT’S DECEMBER FOR PETE’S SAKE! Oh well, that’s how it is here. One day you’re sweating outside, the next you’re wearing your winter coat. I’m still a lil nervous about flying. I don’t really like it. I bought some Dramamine yesterday though, so it’ll just knock me out of the plane. I’m sad about leaving, excited about seeing Dave and his family, but still sad I’m leaving my night conversations with Bethany, my football arguments with David, my in depth conversations with my parents—and I’m leaving for Christmas, my favorite season of the year. BUT, I do get to see Dave and spend Christmas with him, so that’s gonna be great. It doesn’t really feel like any other day though ya know….like I’m just gonna go to work today, and then come home and go to church w/ my parents. OH, it’s 9 am, time for me to get off of here and finish packing, saying my goodbye’s, and so on. Next time I write I’ll be in Ireland! Love you all!

could be the end....

Well, today's blog COULD be the end of blog's I make from the US for 2 months, but, I dunno for sure yet. I have ALL of my packing yet to do, so, I may be a little bit busy for the next day and a half. My flight doesn't leave until 2:30 on Wednesday, I thought it left at 1, or better yet 11 am...but what do I know. The couple of days have been crazy. Thanksgiving w/ Heather's family was great, a lil weird, but, if you had a father like hers, you would understand. Then, OF COURSE, I watched football, the Cowboys won, it was great. Speaking of football, the Panthers won their 3RD GAME OF THE SEASON YESTERDAY; yes it's a small victory, but, ya gotta be happy with what you have (they could get into the playoffs if they won every game after this, unlikely, but hopeful). Anyways, Friday......Friday I went shopping w/ Shannon on the biggest shopping day of the year here, when people fight over the poplular toy of the year. Shannon, her twin one year olds, and I went shopping. Everything was fine till we went in Toys R Us, we were exhausted when we came out of there. That was our last stop. After that Blaire and lil Landon came over for the night, then hung out the whole next day, it was fun. Then she convinced me to go to Rachael's 21st b=day party at Applebees. Reminder: Rachael is the one not talking to me. SO, I went. Everything turned out REALLY WELL! Rache and I talked, and got everything sorted out, it was really good. Yesterday (Sun.) my family and I exchanged my Christmas presents...i gave them theirs, they gave me mine...yeah, I thought you would catch on. It was really nice. Then Sheena, David (lil bro), and I went to see "After the Sunset" at the movies, it was REALLY good! I also picked up the Oakley's that Steven wanted me to bring over....so ...yeah...STeven I got 'em...lol. Well, that's all pretty much. I gotta get off here before my Mom gets back from her first class and says "YOU HAVE SO MUCH TO DO AND YOU'RE ON THE COMPUTER, YOU'RE NEVER GONNA GET DONE PACKING....." and so on. Ah I'm in for a crazy 2 days......fun stuff!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I can't believe it's Thanksgiving already! I know that most of you that read this don't have Thanksgiving today, since you're either from Ireland or Canada, and of course your country is weird and doesn't do it today, lol. Well, today should be a day of blessing, of counting our blessings traditionally, so that's what I plan to do. It's a beautiful, 60'F sunshiny, day today, and the Thanksgiving parade is on TV, and there will be football later, HOW MUCH BETTER CAN IT GET! Well, today my family is at the beach celebrating Thanksgiving, and I decided to stay home because of all the plans I had to make for my trip to Ireland next week. I'm going to be spending the Thanksgiving meal w/ an old friend's family, so at least I still get turkey. Well, I have to get ready, but I want to make a list of some of the things I'm thankful for first, so here they are.
I'm thankful for:

• My God who loves me no matter the messes I make of my life, and who always picks me up again, and cleans me up
• My family, who has ALWAYS supported me in whatever I wanted to do with my life, and help me chase and achieve my dreams--Thank you Mom and Dad, for being such a godly influence on me.
• My fiance, Dave, who has loved me even before I thought of him as more than a friend, but has ALWAYS been my friend, who has listened, let me cry, held me tight, and and loved me unconditionally
• My older sister Shannon. Who has always given me advice, told me I could move into her house anytime, has been my friend, my advicate, and meant the world to me
• My lil sister Bethany, who still lets me be apart of her life, who still whispers to me at night about the boy she likes, and who still asks me "does this look ok?" (and vis versa).
• My older brother Shaun, who I idolized as a child, and still look up to as "mom and dad's perfect son" today, lol. Thank you for letting me always tag along, it meant everything to me
• My lil brother David, who is the one in our family to keep sports in the picture. Who I can talk football with, and buy movies for. Who is the big NC STATE fan with me, and can still laugh at our hilariously silly, weird family
• My friend Sheena, who has been there for me regardless of how I yelled at her to stay out of my BAD decisions about my life at the time, has cried W/ me, has picked up the pieces of SO many bad relationships and told me I would find "him" someday(you were right!), and who changed her phone plan just so she could call me in Canada
• My friend Blaire, who gave me another chance at being her friend. Who is always there to do silly stuff with, reminisce about our wild highschool days, and lets me into her life
• The family cat Annie, for making me realize I DON'T want a cat, because I hate cats, especially they're fur

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, don't forget what you're thankful for today.

...a time to cry

I've had this class for 2 days now, 2 days in a ROW I might add, and I've felt exhausted every time I get done w/ them. I'm at my wits end! I called a "very disciplinary" teacher in there yesterday, TWICE, and as soon as she left, they were back as they were. I yell most of the class, and they couldn't care less. Some of the people have been suspended recently, but even that hasn't scared them. They're freshmen, and they're flesh eating little rodents, and I hate them all. I feel sorry for the ones in there who ACTUALLY make an attempt to try and learn, it's of no use, they others FORBID them to by their actions! I almost cried in the middle of class yesterday, but of course I wouldn't give them that satisfaction. They were a little better today, if that's possible. I came in with both barrel's blazing. They asked if they could look at their notes before their quiz, I said "No, you should have done that last night, I will have no tolerance for this class today because of the way you behaved yesterday." I didn't either. I can't take a nap today though, I have things to do! Happy things!
After I go to the gym today, we're going to decorate for Christmas! Yes, I realize it's still a week before Thanksgiving, but, my parents want to do it while I'm still here, and next week we'll be at the beach w/ my grandparents helping build a new deck, so it's now or never. Wow, was THAT ever a run-on sentence, lol. I LOVE Christmas! I love seeing the tree lights at night, and the Christmas decorations all over the house, I love it! I even love the Christmas music for a whole month. It makes me So happy, I really enjoy the family time during Christmas, but this year, I'll be with Dave's family! I'm really excited about getting to know them.
Well, I have one more class of the day. They use to be awful, now they seem like angels compared to 4th period...oh how I loathe them. I must go I suppose. I think I'm gonna read Chris's blog, it always makes me laugh. I love you Chris.
p.s. notice how I started using words like "loathe" and "rodent" and "forbid", I guess it happened because I just finished reading "Wuthering Heights," along w/ a trail of other classics, good book, ended ok actually, I was surprised considering how depressing the rest of the book was. Ok.. Bye!

6 pages of gift registry!

....and that was for just ONE place...I didn't even CHECK the others!
I went and bought a wedding gift for some of my old friends today, Heather & Jake. They're wedding registry is HUGE! I mean, they put stuff like "ice cube trays" on there, they're like $0.85! Yeah, so I don't think I'm gonna put that kind of stuff on my registry. Speaking of which, I haven't registered yet, and I don't know when I should start really. I mean, who really knows how to do all this stuff other than people who've been married before. And honestly, my mom isn't being a big help, she had a very small wedding, and she already had a house and stuff when she got married. I just feel like I'm doing it all wrong, but I guess it doesn't really matter huh?
Yeah, so yesterday's blog was a little intense, s0rry about that. I'm about to go to a photography place to see if I want to use them for our wedding. Dave likes his pictures, but he has a reputation of not staying long at the reception.
Every time people find out I'm engaged they do that thing that happened continually on the movie "Just Married," they say, "You're too young! You have your whole life ahead of you!" And then I think...yes, and I want to spend every second of it with Dave! By the way, that movie was HILARIOUS, I recommend all engaged people see it.
Ok, so I don't have much to do, so I guess I'll say good-bye. I'm heading to church after the photo place. I think I'm in charge of the game for the youth tonight. I'm gonna split them up into teams and let them pick a person to duck tape to the wall. The person who stays stuck the longest wins! It's GREAT fun, I did it when I was in youth. lol. Toodaloo!

to spill out of the head and heart

I lie there at night, try to sleep, but sleep doesn't come quickly. I always think of the wedding or the photographer, or how the heck i'm suppose to pack for 2 months and NOT fill two suitcases to overflowing. I think how I miss his hugs, and how Rachael still isn't talking to me. I love that I get to see Blaire and talk to Sheena lots, but it's just not enough. I'm so desparetly lonely. I'm lonely for a Christian friend who I can ask to pray for me, who I can cry with, who I can go to church stuff with, or even TALK about church. Sheena is those things to me, but I get to see her so very seldom. I'm lonely for that Christian fellowship. I fill each day with work, the gym, and a little TV and it's over and I start again, the same as the next! I worry if marriage will be all I hope it will be, or if I'll still be lonely except for Dave. I don't believe that 2 people can be everything to each other, not for me anyways. I need outside people, people to trust in, and input into our lives. I want to minister to others, and use whatever I can to help them get the most out of this life! I want to know if we're going to be ok, if we're going to be able to make it in this country. I want our families to be closer. I want to be OH so close to his mother, yet how can i, when she lives all the way in Ireland, if we're to live here! Most of all I worry that I'll be like my mother. That I worry all the time, and fill my life to max with pointless things that don't matter for anything. That I'll have child who I just CAN'T understand or get along w/ (that would be me). I'm worried that I'll treat Dave like I treat my mom; I don't treat her as she should be treated, I yell often, and have a short temper w/ her only. I want to be the person GOD wants me to be! But sometimes, I just dont know how. I want to help, not hinder, but.....I don't know how, i feel like i have more bad characteristics than good most of the time. So many thoughts, no time to write them down. Ah well, thanx for listening to my ramblings.

good weekend!

Hi there! Well, the weekend DID go good! My family and I went to Winston-Salem for Friday night, as I mentioned on Friday, and it was a lot of fun! We went to the Olive Garden to eat (our favorite resturant) and then to Barnes & Nobles (fav. book store). We stayed there for probably around 2 hour--sipping coffee, listening to music, and reading books and magazines...good times. I bought "The Screwtape Letters" and looked at "The Devil Wears Prada," looks like a funny book, I put it on my Christmas list. I also put the cd's "American Idiot"-Greenday's newest, and the new Cake on my list, good stuff. Ya know, Barnes & Nobles (like the Canadian's Chapters) is my favorite place. It's so peaceful, it's almost a religious experience for me. I don't talk much while I'm there, I like to sit in perfect silence under the "trees" in the kids section, just looking at childhood books, or whatever, it calms me, gets me ready for whatevers ahead that week. I wish there was one closer than an hour away, but at least it's not farther than that. Saturday we went to the mall--did some Christmas shopping. Then off to the gym, I was the only girl there, weird, but whatever. I got to run on the treadmill while watching 4 football games, TOTALLY awesome! Speaking of football games...the Panthers WON last night!!! I KNOW I couldn't believe it EITHER! Considering they are 2 and 7 (after last night) this season, so say the least, they're not doing too well. But, it was a great game, AWESOME interception at the end by the Panthers! I got so see Blaire alot this weekend, and the baby, which is really good. I SO much enjoy spending more time with her! I love it! Ok, class time again, gotta go!

sucky week...

I can't believe it's been 10 days since I blogged here. When I first came home timed dragged, now it seems to fly by so fast I don't have time to BREATH! Well, I sent off Dave's immigration stuff tomorrow, so maybe we'll actually be able to LIVE in this country. Although the stuff we just sent in just allows him to stay here for 3 months BEFORE the wedding. Then he has to apply for a work visa if he wants to work, and then conditional permanent resident, and then UNconditional permanent resident. Fun fun....so we have LOTS of paperwork before us.
Well, since Halloween nothing really exciting has happened to me. I've gone to work, gone to Gold's Gym to work out almost every day, and watched a lot of TV. I've still managed to put off finding a photographer for the wedding, although since the visa stuff is done, I'm gonna have to do that next week.
I did manage to alienate my friend whom I've know for 12 years now, who is now not speaking to me at all. This is the story. Last Saturday night, Blaire, Rachael and their significant other's and I went to a club called the Liquid Lounge in Charlotte. I somehow ended up talking to Rachael's boyfriend. I said something really stupid to him, about her not being mature enough to get married. Then he told her, and she said she didn't want to see me or talk to me or hear from me ever again. Yeah, I'm one big idiot. I've called her 3 times this week and left messages on her cell phone. I also sent flowers to her at work. I still haven't heard from her. Because my big stupid mouth, I may have lost the friend I have known the longest. Yeah, so it hasn't been that great of a week. I haven't slept much. Well, I'm off to work. Then I'm going to Winston-Salem with my parents for the night, hopefully it will be good family time w/ them, I don't do that very often.

till the season to be scared by Scream Masks

After my debut as Hermione on Friday, I thought my weekend was to be uneventful, however, that was not to be. Saturday I went to my lil brother's last soccer game. He played his heart out, but the team just WASN'T working together, and they lost. Saturday night Bethany and I went to the Fall Festival at Piedmont (my old college). It was really fun! We played a whole bunch of corny games (get it, CORN-Y...ha HA...ok I'll stop now). We crawled through a maze of cardboard boxes and got to do the hit-the-mole-on-the-head thingy, and jouste each other off of balance beams. Then came the most awesome....the car bash!!! MAN, I hit that thing so hard, SO many times w/ the sledge hammer, that my ARMS were sore the next day! I mean, you have to admit, that the sound of breaking glass is pretty sweet (i'm not violent I swear...lol)!!! Then Sheena, B, and I went to Barnes & Nobles (only the greatest place on EARTH!) and got coffee and read "I spy" books (sorta like "Where's Waldo", but looking for other little things). We stayed there for like 2 hours, it was SO fuN! Then came Sunday, Halloween. Sunday night Blaire, Chad, Matt (Blaire's lil bro), and I went to the Shriner's Haunted Trail. It was actually pretty scary. We got in there and I was holding on to Matt, and vis versa, and it was crazy. We were fine until the chain saw people started coming after us, then Matt had my hand and tried to run through this tunnel thing, but it wasn't as wide as he thought, and my head slammed into this BOARD! Yeah, it hurt, but I wasn't gonna slow down! The chain saw people wore scream masks (which is the only movie that has ROYALLY FREAKED me out for YEARS now!!), and THAT didn't help. But, when it was all over, and my heart beat went back to normal, it was actually really fun. So that was my weekend....gotta go teach some more! toodles!

HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES

Today is costume day at Graystone. I, as you know, dressed up as Hermione from Harry Potter. I dressed up JUST like their Hogwarts uniform (black pants, white button up shirt, tie, black witch/warlock robe). It was so FUN! I used an old graduation gown as my robe! I printed a Hogwarts badge off the internet, and stuck that on my robe. We had candy guessing games, candy, and scary stories!!! I got pictures of alot of the kids in their costumes, and the teachers TOO!
Yesterday I got to talk to Dave. It was SO nice just to hear his voice. I could picture him sitting there, on the other side of the phone, lounging on his bed(because it was about 9:45 pm over there when he called), and smiling. I miss him so much. I think I've been doing pretty well with it though, at least my friends say so. They always ask me if I'm ok, and I say "i'm fine," even though I still have sappy bouts from time to time, and cry at sad movies more often than I use to. I let out my emotion of missing Dave in other ways (like crying when I see a sad commercial, or hearing a sad story, even if i don't even KNOW the person, it's quite annoying actually). I miss him terribly, but I'm getting through by hanging out w/ my friends more often (like Blaire, she always shows she cares about me).
Well, gotta go for today, another class is coming in, and I'm going out to do secretary work. Tonight is all the good Friday night shows, and tomorrow is the Fall Festival at Piedmont (tell ya how that goes later). Love you all and HAPPY HALLOWEEN to you if I'm not on here before then!

Blairsey and Landon (her 7 month old) came over to stay w/ me on Monday night. It was so great. She and i watched "Raising Helen" (great movie) and then we stayed up and talked till 2 am. I haven't done that in AGES! I had Tuesday off, so that was good. It felt great just to connect w/ her again. I made breakfast for her on Tuesday (although I burnt the bacon...lol) and then she left. I had a lot of errands to run. I FINALLY got the wording for the invitations down pat, and sent off the downpayment for the reception place. Then I cleaned....my clothes were all over the house (as usual when my parents are away) and washed clothes. I went to eat w/ them last night too, and Robert and his fiance' Jessi were there. I'm going again tonight too (HEY, IT'S FREE FOOD....tonight's pizza!). It's nice just to camp again (well sorta, I'm not staying there overnight). I love the smell of woodsmoke, campfires are great.
Nathan (the pastor who's going to do my wedding, and an old friend) called yesterday. He runs a christian tripping company, and wants Dave and I to work for him NEXT SPRING! I was SO excited! I e-mailed Dave ASAP and told him about it! It's SUCH a blessing from God, there's no other way to describe it. It's not for sure yet, but he wants to know soon if we're interested. He wants us to run a group by ourselves because there's so much demand for it, they can't handle all the people! It's an AWESOME BLESSING! Ok...so i'm gonna stop now :).
Well, I'm off, I'm still at work and have a class to sub now...fun stuff! OH! I almost forgot! I get to dress up to come to school on Friday for halloween...guess what i'm dressing as???? NO, not that...what kinda person do you think I AM anyways...JEEZ! I'm gonna dress as Hermione from Harry Potter!!!!!!! WUHOOO!!!!!!! Gotta love 'em. TUDALOOO!

Weekend

Well I did take Bethany to the movie on Thursday night ("Raise Your Voice"), it was really good. I thought it was just gonna be some cute-sey teen chick-flick, but it was actually sorta SAD in the begining (but it gets better near the end, so if you like Hillary Duff, go see it). It was really good to spend time w/ my lil sis, I don't do that enough.
I also had a nice time just hanging out with Rachael for awhile, I NEVER get to do that. I was good just to hang out at her house and talk. Although I did find out that her and Blaire cancelled our Sunday excursion to the wedding convention thing, and forgot to tell ME.
Friday started out super well, as I got a letter from Dave, and it was SOOO sweet. I put it in my car so I could read it anytime I wanted. I was just suppose to substitute all day, and then go home as usual. But, halfway through the day I decided that since I wasn't going to the wedding thing w/ the girls, I would go to Sheena's brothers BMX races w/ them in Georgia. SO, as soon as I got off work I left for South Carolina (where they live, 3 hr. drive) and went to the race w/ them. It was cool to watch Josh race. There wasn't that much to do there, but we had fun. I was really exhausting when we drove back yesterday because it took 4 hrs to Sheena's house, and then 3 hrs back to mine. I got home around 9:30, I went RIGHT to bed.
So, that was my weekend. Now I'm back at school, subing all day. Tonight I'm going to eat w/ my parents at Morrow Mtn (it's only 15 mins away, they're camping there all week).
Well, till later!

busy and lovin it

I voted yesterday. It was really cool! It's all electronic and computerized, so it only takes a few minutes. I felt very patriotic, it felt good. I hope alot of people vote this year, i don't care who they vote for, as long as they VOTE. Voting is next TUESDAY (unless you vote early), DON'T FORGET!
Today's a busy day. I substitute from 11 - 3 (it's 2:15 right now, only 45 MINS TO GO!), then go to my house, change, and go see Rachael. THEN, I pick up Bethany @ 6 at the Summer's house (she just got done w/ ballet), and hopefully take her to see the new Hillary Duff movie "Raise Your Voice," (that is IF she's done w/ her english paper). Then we come home and watch whichever show is on at the time (we'll have to miss Surivor ~sobb~ but we MAY catch CSI or Without a Trace). Tomorrow I substitute from 9 - 3 (so it's gonna be a boring day).
I've gotten in the habit of eating Tuna sandwiches (i think it came from having only tuna in the cubbard when I was in LDP--end of the shopping weak and no more food). It's good for you, so I guess that's good. I'm actually starting to ENJOY the grain cereals I have to eat for breakfast (but don't tell Dave, cause he's always bugging me about eating them and how good they are for me, ish). I'm hoping to get a gym memebership in November (just for a month), and maybe be able to work out after work, and swim some laps and stuff. So that's good.
I've read about 6 or 7 books since I've been home (the advantages of substitute teaching--lots of silence, little to do). I've read 2 Chronicles of Narnia books (Lewis), Pride and Prejiduce(Jane Austen), a romance novel(?), the Pickwick Papers(Dickens), an old african novel(dunno, but it was in Oprah's Book club), and a wedding book called a Wedding Season (it sux, I wouldn't recommend it). I'm now working on reading "The Return of the Native"(Thomas Hardy). I've only read 2 pages of it, so I don't know about it yet. Hopefully it will be good. Before the end of the year I want to finally read "The Screw tape letters" by C.S. Lewis and re-read "The Secret Garden," (I love kids books). I'm sure I'll read a couple of books in Ireland too, although I think I'll wait till I get over there to pick them out. When I get my own house I want to have a really big library of great books. Books are awesome--I love reading. Anyways, I'm gonna go do some lame tests on the internet for fun so that I won't make this too long. Talk to ya later!

VOTE or Die! NOT...but it IS important

Ok, so I hate P. Diddy's "VOTE OR DIE" slogans, but I think it's REALLY important to VOTE! People fought and died for the right to vote, to make a difference in the government, to have a SAY! Most Americans do not vote, and to me, it's just like say to all those that died for the right, "You died for nothing." Did you know that in the last presidential election, more people than had EVER voted before, voted, and guess what percent it was, %55. So JUST over half of the US voted, how PATHETIC IS THAT??? So many people right now are saying that the Electoral vote should be done away with. For those of you who don't know what that is, I'll try to explain as best I can. The Electoral vote is not the population vote. So, like in the Bush vs. Gore election, one could win the popular vote, but still not win the election. Yes, right off it seems unfair, until you hear the reason our founding fathers put it into affect. You see, if popular vote could decide the election, then all the candidates would have to do is get the votes of the biggest cities in America! So, only the opinions of NY City, Boston, LA, and other huge cities, would REALLY have a say in the vote! Obviously just because you vote, doesn't mean you get your way, but you HAVE to be INVOLVED! Call you senators, lobby for something, boycott things, and most of all VOTE! We enjoy a great freedom that SO many countries do not, and as usual, we could care less. DON'T take our freedom for granite, VOTE, or your opinion means nothing, you've lost your voice, and you have NO right to complain about your government EVER again. Well, I have to go, I'm going to vote today, because I love my country, but it needs some changes, and I WILL have a say.

babies

Today is baby day. No, I don't have babies, but my older sister does. She has twin one year olds, and today I'm babysitting. Her second son, who's in kindergarden, had a field trip today, and I'm watching the twins. Ya know, they're not too bad. Yes, they screem their heads off EVERY time I change their diaper. Yes, even though i move them every time, and try to put something BIGGER in front of it, they ALWAYS climb on the bricks in front of the fire place, and behind the couch. And, no matter HOW many times you pull them out, they ALWAYS stick their leg inbetween the handle of of the recliner, and the chair, and get stuck. But, they're adorable, and I love them SO much! I just wanna hug them all day. I'm watching them right now, playing in their lil plastic play house, they climb all over that thing all day (and when they have to poo they go sit in it, and act like their not doing anything...lol). Well, that's pretty much my day today. ~smile~ I love just watching them play, it makes me want kids, but not yet, not for awhile, I just hope I'll be as good of a mother as Shannon is (my big sis). till later....I'm gonna go crawl with the babies.

i don't like beer

Yes, I try to blog a lot more than I do, but, it never seems to work. So, here's my weekly update.
Since the last time I blogged I've been working pretty full out. I didn't get my car the day I said I was, the people I was buying if from lost the title (and I found out you can get a license plate unless you have the title...so that prolonged the epic). My parents left for Washington DC on Wednesday, and I had the house to myself for 4 whole days. Wednesday I went to the store and bought a 6-pack of beer, some veggies, and a magazine. I was determined to MAKE myself like beer, and I felt like cooking. The cooking went well that night, although I put a lil too much of the peppers in there, so it was a lil spicey. I drank a beer (ish--only 5 more to go). I went to Applebees with Rachael that night and she picked up this 36 yr old guy (which she thought was around 28), I coulda told her he was that old, but she never listens to me. I left her with her old man and went home. Thursday I tried to cook again (how exactly DO you fry mushrooms?) and ended up burning mushrooms, but the squash was good (another 2 beers followed--when you drink bigger gulps it disapears faster, and teddy grams help too,mouthfull of teddy grams, gulp of beer, repeat). Friday, as soon as I got home there was a message to come get the car I was buying, they figured out the tag thing. So I got the car, then I went to Shannon's (my big sis) to eat supper. My car has a cd player, so I crisend her with Green Day (Dookie of course, the best of their cd's). I think she liked it (although i haven't named her yet). Then Sheena came over and we watched Man on Fire (good but gory movie) and Saved (horrible, shame on you Mandy Moore, your career's going down the drain). Saturday we went to the movies and saw Taxi (AWESOME, HILARIOUS...I RECOMMEND IT). I also found my brides' maid dresses, they're pink! Well, sorta a ROSE color, but pretty, yup, you would be proud of me Candice. Sunday I went shopping, and then to dinner, w/ Blaire and Rache. This is where it gets interesting. Rachael told me she would buy me a shot of Hose Quervo, not a good idea, but since i wasn't buying, i accepted. It was horrible, but with 2 Smirrnoffs already in my belt, the %85 alcohol that Hose is got me a lil over the edge. Since she had already had 7 beers, she was gone. Blaire was DD, so we went to the pool hall. It was hilarious, I've never laughed so much in my life (of course I was a lil intoxicated, but that's...ok...that's exactly the point). It was funny. And now it's Monday...and the week begins.

Retraction

I went to work on Thursday night, as you all know from my last blog. It was REALLY slow at first, but I got the hang of it, and it was, an experience. It didn't get busy till around 1 am (a long time to wait when you got there at 7). I made $9 dollars in tips--for those of you who don't wait on people for a living....that sux, since I worked from 7 pm till 3 am. Got home on Friday morning from work, HATING Chubb's. My feet ACHED, and I had nothing to show for it. Well, the saga continues. I drag myself back on Friday night, have a lil fun that night, seeing a couple of people I know, but still making only $25, and my feet aching slightly less because I wore my clogs (only 3 blisters--I vow to wear socks the next night). Saturday morning I realize that I'm exhausted, and that I'd have to make 3 times the amount I'd gotten so far, EVERY night, just to be worthwhile for me to work there. Vowing I will quit that night, I go to work at 8. The night goes pretty well, get an older man who makes me talk to him forever, he tells me he'll be my sugar daddy and support me, gives me his number (i tell him i don't give mine out, i'm engaged you know--he knows), and a $23 dollar tip, and leaves (~finally~ I sigh). Then, another old man picks me out, and asks me to be his waitress, I comply because obviously old men tip better (learning this from my previous experience w/ "Tim", the older man, aka my sugar daddy). Now get this. This man looks like a knock-off of Willy Nelson (except he didn't get famous, and he earned a gut instead). He's wearing old, holey jeans, and a wife beater, w/ his long white beard and hair. He tips well also, but I don't conversate with him (he has to be asked to leave later as he's disturbing other people dancing around like a very weird drunk person, for those of you that know our favorite Medeba camper Daniel, it looked sorta like that--that's as good as I can explain it). Then, I start to feel nausious from all the smoke in the place (as you walk in the back room where the DJ is your eyes sting because of the thinkness of the smoke). I ask the boss man if I can leave--he consents after getting a break in cooking for everyone at 3 am. I leave, not telling them I won't be back, there's no time, it's the busiest time of the night; 3 am, everybody's hungry and drunk, so they buy lots of food because the bar is closed. That my friends, was my experience at Chubb's. Hopefully you found it amusing, I did, although the blisters are still there--they will fade eventually.
In other news, I bought my wedding dress yesterday. It's beautiful, and I never thought I would get married in anything like it. Don't ask to see it though, I'm only letting my bridesmaids and Mother see the dress before I marry--so too bad---NO I SAID DON'T ASK!
I also get my car today--the one I'm buying from my father's secretary. I'm really excited! This will be my VERY OWN first car! I'll let ya know how it goes--but since this saga was rather long, I will discontinue my rambling for today. Adios!

"We are chinese is you please...we are chinese if you DON'T please.."

Today's work had been pretty good so far. I sorted some stuff (i love alphebetical order, it's so neat and organized), and stamped, and sealed, and mailed stuff. Then I went to lunch w/ Jonathan (one of my long time friends from highschool and beyond). We had a great conversation about God and what we both believe and the church and things. It was good, we ate chinese (I stole his fortuen cookie, sssshhhh, he doesn't know it yet). It's been an easy day, no headacke yet, and I'm getting this message/phone thing/running around to all the buildings thing down pat!
Tonight is the big night. It is the night that I start working at Chubb's. I'm gonna be waitressing, and I probably won't get home until 5 am or so. Chubb's is a bar/club, and my parents, to say the leaste, aren't too happy about it. BUT, they're letting me make my own decision (which is good since I'm getting ready to get married and SHOULD be able to make my own decisions--and Dave trusts me, so they should too). Eventually it'll branch out into a full fledge resturant (the whole name is Chubb's bar & breakfast), but right now it's just a 21 and over club (except on Thursday's when it's 18 and up for college night). So yeah, they're not thrilled. But, I think it'l l be ok. My cousin is there working with me, she's never waitressed before either, and she says it's not too bad (other than the long hours). So, wish me luck, hopefully I won't need it, but ya never know.
Well, i'm off to answer phones now, I don't want this to get too long. Toodalooo!!!

I'M A BIG GIRL

Dave left on Monday. I did fine till we got IN the airport, right before he had to go, then I lost it. I know it's only 2 months that we'll be apart, but, it feels like forever. We've never been apart for that long. I'm telling myself it's not that long, only 8 weeks (it sounds shorter that way). He called me yesterday (tues) to tell me he had gotten in ok. I cried again, I hate crying, especially over the phone to him, I know it makes him feel helpless. I wrote me notes before he left, and hid them in alot of my stuff. I found one in my make-up bag (guess what, I cried, at least it was BEFORE I put on make-up). He wrote me a song and recorded on a lil recorder and left it for me, cried then too. I friggin cry too much. But I'm ok now. I'm at work, just doing my thing, whatever I have to to stay busy: filing, calling lots of people, filing, and filing some more. So that is my life for now. FOCUS, on work, on my friends, on anything but how long I have till I see Dave. I'm ok. I can do this. I'm a big girl.
I talked to his cousin Adam on IM today. He's excited about the wedding, he's already asking time off from school for next April. Ok, I gotta get back to work. Not that I actually have anything to do but wait for the phone to ring at the moment, but hey, somebody's got to do it. Love you ALL...and Candice girl...E-MAIL ME...AND YOU TOO CHRISTOPHER !!!

just a note

I've been watching my lil brother's soccer games this last month, and it makes me miss the sport SO much! I don't miss playing as much as I miss coaching though. I love working with those kids, they're awesome. I mean, I love playing, but I'm not really good enough to play on a team; I love playing just recreationally though. He's a really good player though, really aggressive, and he always plays clean too (I'm proud of him if ya can't tell). Well, just wanted to pop a note on here, I never blog anymore, but just wanted to update you I guess. Dave and I are getting ready to head out to a photographers and see if they can do our pictures for the wedding! Dave's heading back to Ireland on Monday, (~sob~) and I'll head out there in December.
Well, don't give up on me, I'm still blogging, occasionally, lol.

it continues

So since the last post I've been working like crazy, but also planning Dave and mine's wedding. I tried on wedding dresses for the first time last Thursday, I felt like a princess. I've never worn anything like that, never even tried anything ON! They were gorgeous, and they made me feel special, and so did my mom and lil sister who were there with me. I didn't find one I loved, but it was nice to start seeing what I liked. Ealier that day my mom, Bethany (lil sis), and I went to a thing called the "Southern Women's Show." We go every year, it's a special time for just the girls to hang out, it was SUPER nice. The show itself is really fun. It's got TONS of booths full of hair products, jewelry, shoes, hair stylists, make-up artists, new household items; you name it, they got it! And ALL these people are trying to sell their stuff, so most of it is cheaper or on sale for the day. I forgot to mention they're WHOLE BUILDING worth of food samples (that INCLUDES ice cream Spicer!!!!!!! Sorry, it was JUST for women). They had this booth that I stopped at, and they were cutting hair, and styling it for free. So I stopped and watched for a bit. Then they said they had this new straightener iron, that would make my hair look like it's always been straight. Well, you guys know my hair, it's VERY VERY curly. But seriously, once they got done, it was STICK straight, NO waves, NO curls, NOTHING! It was so awesome to see my hair straight, just to try something NEW! If I get my pix developed, hopefully I can get a pic on here. Anyways, it was cool.
Ok, I gotta go, Dave's telling me we need to leave, which we do, cause he's almost always right (but DON'T tell him I said that, lol). KEEP IN TOUCH MEDEBITES!!!!

try this again

HI guys. I've been trying to get this post on for WEEKS! I've been home for almost 3 weeks, and ever time I try to post something, it DELETES it. Ok, so, here we go again. As most of you know, I got engaged a couple of weeks ago (it stil amazes me!!!). Every time I look at Dave I think, does he REALLY know what he's getting into??? I love him SO MUCH, and he's the most perfect man in the world, and he's ALL MINE! If you haven't seen the ring yet, click on the title above ("try this again"), and you'll be able to see it! Ok, enough with making you all jealous.
Right now I'm working at a local highschool as a substitute teacher/secretary when needed. Today I'm doing secretarial work...which is BORING me to DEATH! All I have to do is answer phones. Although I COULD do a lot more, if they had told me what the passwords were to the computer, and where everything was, and what exactly I'm suppose to be DOING! Anyways, yea, It's only 10 o'clock, and I have to work until 3....i'm gonna die of bordom. Oh well....there's my day.
Last night Dave and I bought Jaws 4, The Revenge! I LOVE cheesy shark movies!!! Eventually we're gonna own them ALL (at least the Jaws series anyways). It was great!

HOME AT LAST!

Well, I'm home. I've been home for ....mmm....2 days now. It's good! On the way back from the airport I stopped at McDonalds...for REAL double cheeseburger..mmmm mmm!!!! SO good. Then, I ate a steak dinner w/ my parents, and watched a movie. Then I went over to see Rache and Joel and Rache's b/f Levi. It was cool, we just hung out and watched the MTV music awards (I feel liked I've been trapped in a HOLE, I never heard music up in Canada--and I had NO clue what had been going on down here! FRIGG!). So that was cool. Wednesday I slept late and was woken up by 2 gorgeous babies (my two twin nephews)! It was SO good to see them and my older sister again. After she left at lunch I went back to sleep and slept till around 3:30 (ah the joys of not having a job at the moment). On the way to church that night we stopped by a friends car dealership and looked at a used black truck. It's SO cute! It's got some dents and dings in it, needs a new transmission and a clutch pack, but even with all the work it's gonna be under 2,000. I'm excited about it, it's perfect for a first car (truck). Anyways, then I went to dinner w/ my parents and then dropped my Sis's house to see her 2 oldest kids cause they were at school when she came over that morning. They're getting really big, but they're such sweethearts and it was great to spend time w/ them. Today I'm just getting some errands done, and trying to pick up a few applications for part time work. I'd like to have SOME income this month, but I don't know if anyone will hire me for just a few days a week--who knows. So that's my life since I got back. Dave's coming in tomorrow night (i already miss him), and the weekend is going to be CRAZY busy w/ everyone wanting to meet him. I miss everyone at camp SO badly though. I MISS YOU CHRIS, SCOTT, CANDICE, MARTIN, JESSE, AND LEIGH S.!!! But i'm doing well, and I hope you are too. That's all for now ya'll!