I'm Happy Today

Emily gave me a blogging award.  Can't say that I'm very deserving since I only blog about 2.5 times a year on average these days.  Anyway, here it is!  Let me also say that I loooove cupcakes.  Are we surprised by that?  Probably not.

Since I received this award I must list 10 things that make me happy!  Alright.

1) Being home in NC.  (that's where I am right now)

2) Noticing answered prayers.  Especially prayers that I've prayed for a long time.

3) Having dinner with my grandparents.

4) Playing with Grandma's dog-- Pheobe.  (I know.  Crazy, right?  I'm not allergic to her.)

5) Answering the phone and hearing, "Hey, girlfriend!" on the other end.  :)

6) Thinking of all the fun times I had and great friends I made while attending Freed-Hardeman.

7) Sitting on a swing on a beautiful, sunny day.

8) Finding mix CDs that I made years ago... and realizing I've always had great taste in music.

9) Driving long distances by myself.

10) Unexpected emails or messages.  And I love to receive a card or letter through snail-mail.  True.

Most of the blogs I follow have already gotten awards.... except for:

Holly @for lack of a better word  (who really deserves an award because she's an awesome blogger... who I've been following long before I even began my own)

annnnnnnd

Michael @A Young Man (who I miss and needs to blog more even though he's got a fancy shmancy internship these days)

Ok guys, tell me 10 things you're happy about!!  Happy bloggin'!

pro-cras-ti-na-tion: delay or postpone action; put off doing something

I've done this on facebook before.  It's time to do it again.


1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. Press forward for each question.
3. Use the song title as the answer to the question


How am I feeling today?
"How's It Gonna Be?" -Third Eye Blind

Will I get far in life?
"Four Thieves Gone" -The Avett Brothers

How do my friends see me?
"Meet Virginia" -Train

When will I get married?
"Open Your Eyes" -Snow Patrol

What is my best friend's theme song?
"Love Your Way" -Powderfinger

What is the story of my life?
"I Have and Always Will" -Dave Barnes

What IS middle school like?
"Cry" -Mandy Moore

How am I going to get ahead in life?
"No One Needs to Know" -Shania Twain

What is the best thing about me?
"Just My Imagination" -Marvin Gaye

How is today going to be?
"New Divide" -Linkin Park

What is in store for this weekend?
"Sweetness" -Jimmy Eat World

What song describes my parents?
"Silver" -Nirvana

What song describes your grandparents?
"Real Good Time" -Aaron Carter

How is my life going?
"Irreplaceable" -Beyonce

What song will they play at my funeral?
"Bubbly" -Colbie Caillat

How does the world see me?
"Why Don't We Do It In The Road?" -The Beatles

Will I have a happy life?
"Gold Digger" -Kanye West

What do my friends really think of me?
"You're Not Alone" -Chicago

Do people secretly lust after me?
"Love Bites" -Def Leppard

How can I make myself happy?
"Dare You to Move" -Switchfoot

What should I do with my life?
"No News is Bad News" -Dashboard Confessional

Will I ever have children?
"Pardon Me" -Incubus

What is some good advice for me?
"He Ain't The Leavin' Kind" -Rascal Flatts

What is my signature dancing song?
"Weird" -Hansen

What do I think my current theme song is?
"Valentine" -Martina Mcbride

What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
"Sky" -Ingrid Michaelson & Joshua Radin

What type of men/women do you like?
"Angie" -Rolling Stones

What kind of kisser are you?
"Fooling Yourself" -Styx

What kind of lover are you?
"Sleeping to Dream" -Jason Mraz

What would be playing on a first date?
"Crazy" -Gnarls Barkley

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
"Imperfection" -Saving Jane


I know how much judgement you're passing about the music present on my Itunes.  Yes, I like Aaron Carter and I don't care what you say.

Got any Codicil?

 Youth Villages is a no-go.  They called me Friday to ask some questions that are all answered on my original application and resume: “Hey girl.  What you graduating in?  When?  Bachelor’s?  Oh.  The Huntsville house only has internship programs for peeps working on their Master’s.  Interested in living in some other hip city for an internship?”  Then I say, “No, homes.  My car failed me.  I have to stay in Huntsvegas maaaaan to share a car with my Grams.”   That wretched automobile.  Then YV guy says, “You should apply here for a real job when you graduate.”  K.  Maybe.

 Eh.  That may or may not have been a paraphrase.  I’m disappointed.  The teeny tiny bit of direction I had is gone now.  I guess I’ll just find some kind of retail job or something for a while to save money.  It’ll be fine.

 It’s Monday.  (Ok, it WAS Monday when I began to write.)  I’m less than excited about this.  Especially after having such a pleasant weekend.  I spent lots of time with Haylee.  I regret not spending more time with her in the past because she’s basically awesome and I’m already so thankful for the friendship we’ve built even in the past few days.  I was going to post a picture of Haylee and then came to sad realization that we have ZERO pictures together.  This HAS to be remedied.  I also spent a lot of the weekend with James.  He got in town about 4:30 on Saturday and stayed til Sunday evening.  It was great, of course.  And it was nice to get a taste of what it would be like if we weren’t a long distance couple.  However, I’m glad that our long distance is only a couple of hours instead of 9.  Have I mentioned I’m blessed to have him?

On Monday, during an afternoon of extreme non-productivity, Emily and I sat in the living room and had a chat.  Here's a fact about me... if I'm in any sort of long or deep conversation that takes place in an informal setting, I mess with my hair.  I twirl it, I run my fingers through it... I don't know why.  Nervous habit maybe?  Anyway, on this particular day, I was wearing a hooded sweatshirt.  At some point I put my hood up and was playing with the draw string.  Emily could not take me seriously looking like a crazy.  Curious to see exactly how crazy I looked, I took a picture of myself.  And since I'm such a fun person who does not care if you know how ridiculous I can be, I'm gonna post the picture.  Just for your entertainment.

 Fun story:  Recently got back my Family and Financial Planning Test 2.  It was bad.  Baaaaaad.  Do you, precious bloggy blog readers, atleast have enough faith in me I’d be able to balance a check book?   I appreciate that, if you do.  I thought I could.  Wrong.  I’m so inept I got a $1 error and a -2 points on the test because of it.  Awesome.  Okay… simple math error, right???  Eh, I really am bad at math.  It’s sad.

I'm learning all kinds of new terms up in this class.  One is "codicil."  Mason and I believe this to be a drug.  Perhaps a prescription pain pill-- sold on the street to only the most upper class druggies.  But what it really means is a supplement/pages added to a will to amend it.  Good then.  My 239840298234987234 mile long financial plan is due Friday.  Needless to say, I’ll probably be spending some quality time with the Loden-Daniel Library, in my favorite 3 by 2 cubicle circa 1970, for one last time.

Last night I hung out with Michael and that was fun.  He searched the net for some jobs available in Huntsville I can apply for.  After that, Emily practiced her PW (preacher wife) skills and made a delicious cake (pictured below).  I was trying to take pics with my computer.  It was a weird angle and I couldn’t see the screen.  That’s why the first 2 pictures are what I’d like to call abstract.  …What am I gonna do in Huntsville without having 30 friends right down the hall??  I don’t want to think about it.

The Average Life of the Freed-Hardeman Short Courser

I started writing this blog 2 days ago and just now finished it.  It’s okay for you to judge if you must.

I've taken 2 other short courses in my college carreer-- First Aid & CPR and Lifetime Wellness.  Both were 1 week short courses and insanely more interesting to me than this financial planning crap.  I hate money.  However, I have been learning some helpful tips and facts I didn’t know before.   I was interested in learning more about stocks and funds.  We learned about those today.  I still don’t understand them.  I know, I know.  We are aware of what awesome math skills I have… now why would I not understand what’s going on?  Hah.  It is going to be a long, long, looooooong 1.25 weeks.  That’s all I can say.

  

This is what life has been like so far taking a short course:  It’s either really boring or really fun.  I’m about to tell you a lot of random stuff that you probably don’t even care about hearing.

So, I have this real huge, hot pink, tacky tourist bag I bought in Puerto Rico a few years ago.  It has become my toiletries/make-up/hair products bag.  Yeah— it’s pretty much a Mary Poppins bag containing a never-ending supply of… stuff.  You know what I mean, right?  Mary Poppins carried a floor lamp in her bag.  I’m convinced I could carry one in mine as well.  I’m surprised at all the things I’ve fit in this bag before.  It contains my shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razor, face wash, make-up, pony-tail holders, clippy clips, bobby pins, earrings, hair brush, hair scrunchy mousse, hair spray, hair-dryer, curling iron, curlers, other random things…. and most importantly… my hair straightener.  Remember that time I left this bag in Huntsville?  And here I am, for 2 weeks, with no car.  Also remember that time I chopped all my hair off and require a hair straightener to not look like a poodle-headed-grandma?  Here I am, for 2 weeks, forced to wear the hair curly.  It’s not terrible.  But not great. 

I had decided over the break that my hair is definitely a mom-cut.  I told my mother this and she said, “Well you’re old enough to be a mom.”  Thanks, Momma.  Having worn it curly for 4 days now, I’m convinced more than ever I look like a mom.  I mean, I should be driving a mini-van (complete with honor student bumper sticker) with 3 kids heading to the nearest YMCA youth soccer game or girl scout meeting.  Me leaving my hot-pink-puerto-rican-mary-poppins-bag at home = DUMB.  Love me still?

I’m staying with Emily and we’ve had some fun times thus far.  I rode with her to school, we’ve been to wal-mart a few times, we’ve eaten at the best Mexican restaurant ever, drank massive amounts of diet coke (you know, before my resolution sets in) made life-plans, listened to fun time music, and had several amazing talks.  I’m thankful to be spending this time with her.

In other news, it snowed Thursday morning.  I woke up at 7:48 for my 8:00 class.  Mad. I looked out the window, saw the snow, realized class was not cancelled.  Mad.  Then I walked to class with snow flakes falling on my face and I wasn’t so mad anymore.  I morph into little kid mode when it snows.

I had sushi last night.  At Sakura.  It was blessed and I ate entirely too much.  It was an enjoyable evening with great food and good friends.

I was supposed to have a phone interview for Youth Villages yesterday.  I’ll write more about Youth Villages later— if I get the internship.  It didn’t happen so it’s rescheduled for today at 1PM.  Pray?  :)  Kthanks.

To Be Resolute ...Or Not To Be

I'm gonna be honest.  In all of my 22 years, 10 months and 1 day on this earth, I don't think I've ever kept a New Year's Resolution.  Not once.  I may have worked on my resolutions for several months, but I don't feel that I've ever consciously made effort for an entire year to be sure I was keeping my resolutions.  Of course, my memory may be failing me... but I know for sure I haven't even made a resolution the past 2 new years.

I think one problem I've had in the past with keeping resolutions is the fact they usually weren't very specific or direct.  I'm taking a short course for the next 2 weeks.  Each morning, from 8-12, I will be in a classroom learning about personal and family financial planning.  First off, if you know me at all, you know anything involving numbers is NOT my forte.  Secondly, I'm already stressed enough about where my life is going... so being in a class learning about how much debt I'm in doesn't exactly help me sleep at night.  Anyway, sorry for the tangent.  Tonight's homework is to come up with 5 lifetime financial goals/priorities.  Mr. Professor emphasized that these goals need to be specific and measurable.  Now that makes sense to me.  My mind wandered off a bit and I began to think about all of my goals-- financial and every other kind.  I think if I set out a few precise and measurable resolutions... then I'll keep them.  Maaaaaaybe.

...What does resolution even mean anyway??  My handy dandy dictionary tells me that resolutions are "firm decisions to do or not to do something."  Simple enough.  Here's the word I really like though-- resolute.  To be resolute... If I were resolute, I'd be "admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering."  (Thanks, New Oxford American Dictionary.)    Resolute can also mean unshakeable, strong-willed, brave, persistent... the list goes on and on.

1)  My first resolution is to be resolute.  Okay, okay.  So this actually isn't a very specific and measurable resolution.  We'll get to those later.  I want to be a resolute person in everything I do... especially in my Christian walk.  I've not been resolute in anything lately, especially my spiritual life.  That is something that definitely needs to change.  I want to be resolute.  I want to be admirably purposeful, determined, unwavering, unshakeable, strong-willed, brave, and persistent when it comes to my beliefs and Who I stand for.  Making a resolution is making a promise.  I break a bajillion more promises to myself than I do anyone else.  I'm not good at holding myself accountable.  Maybe after writing this on the world wide web... I'll feel more responsible for the promises I'm making to myself today.  Alrighty then.  Now on to more specific resolutions.  :)

2)  My prayer life is not where it needs to be.  I'm going to make a more conscious effort to begin each day and end each day with a prayer.  This isn't to say I won't pray anywhere in the middle.  I just need to start somewhere and I think here is a good place.

3)  James got me a chronological study Bible for Christmas.  It's real neat.  There is a schedule in the back for reading the entire Bible in a year.  I'm going to read the entire Bible in a year... for the first time ever.

4)  This resolution won't begin until I'm done with short course... but I've already planned to stop drinking sodas.  This means diet coke.  I know.  The thought of it makes me incredibly sad... but I know I'll be healthier for it.

5)  It's time to put this fatty mcfatterson lifestyle to an end.  This will also begin after short course.  I have got to eat better and exercise more.  I don't feel good about myself.  I need to work on it.  Don't get me wrong... I'm not saying I'm the ugliest person in the world.  I just know I need to be in better shape, not only to look better, but to feel better.  Not to mention, I'm in 2 weddings in the late spring.  I always feel the most self-conscious in a bride's maid dress.  So yes, I need to get in shape.

I think that's it.  And let's be honest, if I add much more to the list, I don't know if I'd be able to keep them all.

2009

I'm going to steal an idea from my beautiful friend, Emily, and represent the year 2009 in pictures.  She's a genius blogger and the highest form of flattery is copying someone... riiiight??  :)

JANUARY-- my Michigan kids come to stay with me for a few days.

FEBRUARY-- I found Milty at Olive Garden.  Remind me to write a blog about that someday.

MARCH-- a surprise birthday lunch with 2 of my favorite ladies in the world.

APRIL-- Bonding time with future Precious Hannah Roommate.

MAY-- not pictured.  haha

JUNE-- Carolina Bible Camp.

JULY-- 24/7 time with the Nikkster.

AUGUST-- Back to school- Back to sushi.

SEPTEMBER-- Gatlinburg, Forever.

OCTOBER-- Finding my personality twin but not the Bell Witch.

NOVEMBER-- Homecoming banquet.

DECEMBER-- Best friend adventure in Nashville.

So, I'm at Freed for my final 2 weeks of college.  Class from 8-12.  I'll probably be blogging a lot.  Get ready.

Interrogation, Santa, Future Shoes, MJ

So, I've already updated you on Trooper.  Now on to updates about fun Christmas happenings!!

After Trooper's untimely death, I went to Huntsville to stay with the Grandma for a few days.  While there I went Christmas present shopping, ran some errands, met James in Columbia for dinner, and spent quality time with the cousins.  Then my uncle Tom, Dad and Timbo came down and stayed a few days.

In Huntsville, we had a few family gatherings-- one being the Payne Christmas party.  Which is basically one of those fam reunion type deals where I have no idea who half the people are and I get asked, "Now, who do you belong to??"  Basically meaning, "Who is your dad?"  Because no one in the extended family can keep up with my Grandma's 4 sons and 9 grandkids.  That question doesn't bother me much.  But then my most FAVORITE series of questions in the whole wide world are asked-- actually... it's more of an interrogation, "Have you graduated yet?  When will you graduate?  What's your degree in?  Now, what on earth are you going to do with that?  Do you have any jobs lined up?  Where will you live?  Do you have a boyfriend?  Are you getting married?"  I don't know the answer to half of those questions.  So... I stand there answering in the best way I know how... all the while wanting to stab myself in the eye.  Have no fear, I left the party-- both eyeballs unharmed, intact, and still in the sockets.

Did I mention that while I was in Huntsville/supposed to be back home there was a huuuge snow in NC?  Yeah.  There was.  I was bitter.  Okay, I still am a little bit.  Anyway, on the 23rd we all set out for NC.  I drove Grandma's car all the way home.  Surprisingly there were remnants of snow left here and there... and although I was sad to have missed it, I'm glad some of it stuck around long enough for me to see.

Santa Clause was very good to me this year, just as he is every year.  Even though I deserve enough coal to warm the entire universe, I still got some awesome gifts.  He brought me an ipod dock, make-up, DVD's, future shoes, candy, and all kinds of stuff.  Yes, you read that correctly-- future shoes-- as in, I opened a shoe box and inside was an "I Owe You a pair of shoes" coupon.  Santa doesn't buy me clothes or shoes without me there because he knows how picky I can be.  :)

Grammie and Granddaddy gave me a new hair straightener, since I busted my expensive one back in September.  This thing is awesome and I'm convinced it works better than a Chi, for all of you who even knows what that means.  My brother got me the Michael Jackson's This Is It CDs I wanted. Yeah, he's pretty cool.

Speaking of ol' MJ... a few months ago, with the help of a website and JB, I made a Michael Jackson mii on the wii.  (Hahaha, that sentence sounds funny to me... mii on the wii!)  Anywho... here are some pics!

I hope you all had a spectacular Christmas and a have good New Year, too!!!!!!!!