I've not blogged... in a really, really long time. And don't let this post get your hopes up either. This will probably be the last blog for a really, really long time as well.
I would say happy turkey day but I'm not a fan of turkey. It's dry.... and just not that tasty. I'd rather have ham. So, happy ham day! Ooooh, or dressing. Happy dressing day? Meh. We'll just go with Happy Thanksgiving.
As the holiday season has already come upon us (can you believe how this year has flown by?), I probably won't have a spare minute until after Christmas. Let me tell you why! Two days ago, I got a second job working in retail for the holidays. I know, I know. I've already questioned my sanity for making this decision about a million times already. Who am I!??!? I don't even know anymore. The Ashley I know wouldn't be caught dead in a shopping mall on the busiest shopping day of the year. Nope! Not me! Except for this one time I'm going to be working a 12 hour shift in a mall on Black Friday. What have I done? Hah, I think it will be good-- good money and good experience. Let's hope so anyway.
It's Thanksgiving and I sure do have a ton to be thankful for. This wasn't the Thanksgiving I thought I was going to have, but it has been good nonetheless. Dad and Timbo came down and it's been nice to spend time with them.
You know what? I'm thankful for my family. I mean, really. I've been blessed with 2 wonderful parents. Parents who have not only taken great care of me my whole life, but have also given me great genes. I know that sounds weird... but it's true. I'm intelligent and pick up on things quite easily, I have a good memory, and I'm pretty cute. :) That's all because my parents are smart and awesome and gave me good genes. My Momma is just precious and I don't know one person who doesn't like her. I wish she could have come down here for Thanksgiving. My Dad and I had a very good talk today. He always has big plans, great ambitions and vision for the future. He's already built one business that is successful and growing and always has more plans in the works. I'm so thankful to have him to teach me to dream big and motivate me to do more. I've got a pretty awesome little brother, too. He's funny and is one of my favorite people to laugh with.
Happy Ham Day
Just Call Me Miss Ashley :)
A lot has happened since my last post! The months of job searching finally ceased when I was offered a teaching position at a preschool. Yes, I have my very first, real life, big-girl job.
JINGLE BELL ROCK. Judge me. Don't care.
This is what sitting at home doing nothing on a Friday night looks like. And sounds like, apparently.
I. Put your iTunes on shuffle.
II. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
1. IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
"I'll Be Seeing You"
2. WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
"Boom Boom Boom"
3. WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
"Great Indoors"
4. HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
"It's Beginning to Get to Me"
5. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
"Can't Repeat"
6. WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
"Sleigh Ride"
7. WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
"Maureen"
8. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?
"I Need Love"
9. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
"Cure For The Itch"
10. WHAT IS 2+2?
"If I Die Tomorrow"
11. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
"Disciplined Breakdown"
12. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"I Wish (Skee-Lo)"
16. WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
"Believe"
17. WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
"Wishing Well"
18. WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
"O Sacred Head"
19. WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
"Honey Please Can't Ya See"
20. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
"This Is It"
21. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
"I Dare You"
22. WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
"Two Cups of Coffee"
23. HOW WILL YOU DIE?
"Away From the Sun"
24. DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
"Hang em' High"
25. IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
"She Don't Know She's Beautiful"
26. WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"
27. WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
"Jingle Bell Rock"
I'm not so Casper after all
WAM Time
About a week and a half ago, one of my good friends, Matt, came to Huntsville to visit for a few days. It was fantastic. We went on many adventures, mostly unplanned, and dubbed our time together as WAM (Wacky-Ashley-Matt) Time. We drove aimlessly around town listening to the best mix CD's ever. You should be jealous. Here is a pictorial blog of some of the things we did. Looking forward to some more adventures with him in a few weeks!
What is love?
What is love? If you're like me, when you hear those words, the first thing you want to do is bust out into song, "What is love? Baby don't hurt me!" And what an annoying song to be stuck in your head for the rest of the day! You're welcome. But don't thank me, thank the 90's.
Seriously though, what on earth is love? Most of us know God's definition of love and are familiar with 1 Corinthians 13. It's an exhaustive list on true, unconditional love. Love's patient and kind... it certainly isn't jealous or boastful. Love does not keep a record of wrong-doing. The best thing about this list, about God's love, is the ending statement, "Love never fails." Never? Hmmph. So love is something meant to last forever?
I know there are several different kinds of love. I want to focus on romantic love namely. Most weddings have the scripture about love incorporated. This is because God wants marriages to be built on kindness and patience. God wants married folks to keep on forgiving and not keep a record of wrongs. God wants marriages to never fail. It's a great design-- God's design for love and marriage. Don'tcha think?
So, we have a an outline from God about what perfect love is... but love is still hard to define and everyone seems to have a different opinion on what it means to love someone. Is love just a feeling? Is love a choice? What about chemistry and attraction? I've asked several people today what they believe love is.
"It's completely undefinable. You just know it when you feel it, and that goes for any degree of love."
"Your question is like asking someone to define pizza. So many different kinds, all with different definitions. The greeks had it right by breaking it up into different words. Love is holding the door open for someone. Love is giving your spouse the window seat... Love costs. If it doesn't, it's not love. It's giving without concern for getting. The higher the cost, the purer the love... Love is the most expensive thing on this planet. It must be, because people who don't feel it from those around them feel poor and miserable and lonely, even among the wealthiest."
"Devoted selflessness to another person. It's self denial for the benefit of a specific person."
"Love is a choice, that's why God gave it to us as a command. We don't inherently love, and we definitely don't fall in love 'at first sight.' We choose to love people despite flaws, differences, and insecurity. We chose to love people on good days and bad. And, when it comes to the person we'll marry, we choose to love them and honor and respect them for the rest of our lives. We choose to break down all walls and let that person become one with us, so much so that it isn't loving another person, but a fulfillment of loving ourselves."
"To care about someone so deeply that nothing can change your view of them. To see someone in their best and worse state and still want to spend the rest of your life with them by your side."
"Love is a bond that is cultivated between two people. Each person is willing to put the other first and self last. While it begins with attraction and compatibility, love develops over time into a committed decision-- a special promise-- from one to the other every day. As the two mature, their love grows into a closer picture of perfect love described in 1 Cor. 13. Love is always the appropriate reaction to any situation."
One time my grandma, who was married for nearly 50 years, was talking to me about her marriage. She said, "It never crossed my mind that we would ever separate. When you love someone it's all about doing whatever you can to make the other happy." I take anything she says about love and marriage for gold because she and Pop had such a successful and happy life together.
There are so many things that I agree with from these statements. Love is most definitely a choice. Love is work. Love is expensive. Love is a feeling. Love is selfless. ...Love is a command.
One of my favorite definitions of love comes from Shakespear's Sonnet 116. I had to recite when I was in 9th grade and have loved it ever since. In college, I was delighted again when Dr. Cargile allowed us to recite a Shakespearian sonnet for extra credit. I guess you know which one I chose. :)
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
So, everyone has their different opinion of what love is. I guess that's another reason that makes it so unique and special.
I've always thought a lot about all this love business, for as long as I can remember. However, I find myself thinking about it more and more lately. I know that, for me, love is something I choose to do. Love is something I find difficult sometimes and something that is quite expensive. It's not monetarily expensive, but it does take a lot of selflessness and giving. A lot of the time it means giving and not getting much, or anything, in return. Love isn't all sacrifice though. Love is play and laughter. Love is time spent with those that mean the world to you. Love is being absolutely crazy about someone. Love is hugs and kisses. And.. love is basking in the sun and knowing there's a person out there who loves you, too.
2.5 Update
Since I've stopped blogging... what have you missed?
The answer: not too much. But I'll give a quick update.
Dreamy.
I'm just going to skip over all the stuff about how I'm an awful blogger. I just am. Whoops.
In other news, I have a new layout that someone else made and I've also renamed my blog after someone else's words. Good then. I like it. :)
You know, I don't put any stock at all into Astrology even though I find it fascinating. I like to check my horoscope every once in a while when I'm bored. It's amusing. I also like fortune cookies, which are basically the same thing, right? I've always enjoyed finding the similarities and coincidences between my current life and what the little piece of paper tells me is about to happen.
I think it's funny that the Leo (James' sign) and the Pisces (mine) are basically an awful match, according to the Miss Cleos of the world. I would have to whole-heartedly disagree with that astrological conclusion.
However, one thing I do agree with and/or find insanely interesting is the profile of a typical Pisces. Here are some things that astrology.com has to say about little fishies like me:
You Fish are spiritual in nature and emotional in expression. Your intuition and imagination are at once your strengths and weakness. So true. I day-dream allllll the time. If you see me staring off into the distance, I've probably entered my dream world. I dream about everything. What it would be like if I had made some different decisions in life. What it would be like if I didn't go to Freed. What I would have done if Trooper didn't die. What I'm going to do when I move back to Huntsville. I dream about what my future husband, kids, and family will be like. I dream about my future home and Christmas mornings when the kids run into the living room to find that Santa had eaten their cookies and left presents under the tree. I even dream about the day I send my last check to Freed-Hardeman paying off my loans.
You are attracted to the mystical side of things, and herein lay potential danger, for when pulled beneath the currents of everyday life, the realms of imagination and the subconscious offer little structure. True, again. I do tend to get my hopes up about these crazy dreams. And then when things don't work out the way I planned or dreamt they would, I feel hopeless. At the same time, I would still say I'm getting pretty good at staying grounded and realistic these days.
In conclusion, I think the new blog title is quite descriptive of me since I spend 90% of my days in some dreamy state. Thanks, John, for the catchy song. And for reminding us all to imagine.
Anyway-- enough with this Astrology pish-posh!
Hey, remember that time I graduate from college in less than 12 days?? Crazy.
Instead of ordering the expensive, boring, misspelled, text-only Jostens graduation announcements, I decided to order some picture ones online. So last week (I know... how last minute can I get?), I made Timbo Slice go out in my grandparents' yard and take some pictures of me for said graduation announcements. Most of them turned out ridiculous. I'm going to share a few with you... since, regrettably, they will not be making it onto the announcement mail-out. Just look at these beauts!
Oh, and these three aren't even the tip of the iceberg. Thanks, Timmy, for capturing some of my cute-- real cute moments. Hah.
Blah Blah Blog Blah
I don't know what to write anymore. I'm not very inspired. And the things I've been feeling about life lately aren't really what I'd like to share with the world wide web.
PFL update: I'm still unemployed. I'm still 13202348 miles away from my love. I still don't know what to do. There isn't an easy solution. At all. And I'm bitter.
I wish I had a cute story to tell or a funny picture to post. But I don't. And I hate that.
I really do have a blessed life... so I shouldn't complain.
Who is Sloppy Joe?
Disclaimer: This post isn't for the weak in stomach. Don't say I never told ya so.
It all began last night when James and I were talking on the phone. He was coming up with some disgusting would-you-rather scenarios, actually just trying to remember some out of the Would You Rather book he owns. First of all-- Ew. I've always been grossed out by that game. Okay, so it's pretty funny most of the time... but still. In his last particular "would you rather" inquiry he said, "Would you rather eat your least favorite food for the rest of your life or eat your favorite food cooked under questionable circumstances for the rest of your life?" ...or something like that. We all know how I am with direct quotes. I, of course, picked favorite food prepared in sketchy circumstances. Why? I'll tell you why.
Sloppy Joes. I. Hate. Them. To me, they are the most disgusting things on the planet. Okay that might be taking it a bit far. But I don't like them. At all. They are my least favorite food.
Greetings
Dear 15-year-old Ashley,
Don't ask how or why this letter has arrived. It really doesn't matter. Here in a few years, a new TV series will debut called LOST. After falling in love with this show, you'll begin to think anything is possible as far as time travel is concerned.
So, you've been in high school for about a year and I know you hate it. Chin up, though. A piece of advice-- you may not want to skip school so much. College scholarships will really come in handy in the future. Believe me. Go to class. Study every once in a while.
With the help of a few ignorant high school boys (and their parents), you'll go through high school thinking you're too big or not pretty enough to find love and you'll settle in relationships because of that notion. Let me stop that thought right in it's tracks. You ARE pretty. You shouldn't put up with anyone who says otherwise. I would say don't even bother with high school "love," but you'll learn some valuable lessons and figure out exactly what you want in a man. I will say this: don't get so torn up over ended relationships. It's for the best. In more than one way.
Don't be that shy and timid girl who sits in class and doesn't talk to anyone. You will probably miss out on getting to know some pretty awesome kids. Come out of that shell and realize you're capable of so much more. Oh, and there's more to your wardrobe than jeans, converse, and t-shirts. You know that, right?
You might want to take a few art classes to see if you still have a passion for it. Oh, and maybe take a few general education classes at Fo' Tech the summer before you go to college. I'm tellin' ya... it'll save some major bucks.
When you get to college, it will be life-changing. I won't go into all of the details. You'll see. :) However, I will say this again-- go to class and study. I'm for real. It will make life a lot less stressful.
You're going to meet a whoooole lot of people in the next several years. Some of those people will become your best friends. You'll laugh with them and cry with them... and grow together as Christian brothers and sisters. Don't take time with them for granted. I know you're not a huge fan of the phone, but try harder to keep up with old friends.
Go to more campus-wide devos. Never miss a Clayton Chapel Singing. Read your Bible more. Sing louder. Pray more. ...and chapel 5 days a week really isn't that bad.
I could go on and tell you all the secrets of life... ha! But I'll let you figure out some things on your own.
With Love,
23-year-old Ashley
Happy Day
In all of my extra time these days, I found a website that amuses me greatly-- stumbleupon.com. Everyone I've talked to knew about this already. Meh. It's probably good I only found out about it recently because it is just another procrastination tool I would use to put off studying.
This website has a "stumble" button you press and it just takes you to random websites. Get it? Stumble unpon? Hah. Some of the websites are really neat. I know I wouldn't have found them on my own.
Today, during my stumbling, I found this.
"You're a copycatter!!!"
That's right. You remember saying those same words to weird boy who sat next to you in 2nd grade who couldn't keep his eyes on his own paper. Or maybe you never once said that and I'm just a loser. Eh, wouldn't be the first time I made up a word. Today, I am a copycatter. A few weeks ago Emily did this in her blog, and today I'm doing the same. Woot.