She's Special In Her Own Way

Well hello there fine world

2009-05-19T10:52:00.003-04:00

I'm really bad at this blog thing, eh?

How about a life update? Sure. My life is completely different now.

I live in sunny Orlando, Florida now. It's amazing, I'm just sayin'. It finally started raining this past week after 20 days of perfection. The beach is 45 minutes away. I've spent many days there enjoying the sun, sand, breeze and waves and will continue to do so. School started a week after I got here. It has been perfect. Aside from being one of the most high-tech, artistically accelerated school's in the country, the people here are amazing. Instructors, students, everyone is so...cool. I've never sat in a more vibrant, alive art history class in my life. I love this stuff and each person around me loves it just as much. Like passions, like emotions, it's been the most amazing experience to share those things with people around me who just get it.

Each of my classes are 80 hours and is completed in 4 weeks time each. So each month is a new set of classes. My first two are Art History and English Comp. I've really enjoyed English Comp because it's all writing. My writing has matured increasingly with each assignment. It's stressful but I love it. It's also online, so I can sit at the beach and have class on my iPhone. Yes iPhone!!! I've crossed over to the dark side and I LOVES IT!!! AT&T sucks of course, but it's worth it.

Last weekend Harriet and Kim came down to visit. Harriet and I have had tickets to a Twilight Convention down here for months. Last weekend was the weekend. And let me just say, it was awesome! We got to meet and hang out with Kellan Lutz, Peter Facinelli, Jackson Rathbone & Edi Gathegi (Emmett, Carlisle, Jasper & Laurant from the Twilight movie). Great guys to hang out with and so very nice. Kellan was a GREAT hugger! I have a deep love for people who know how to hug. Reminded me of Lynn :) Peter had incredible soft hands. When I met him the first time I froze, couldn't say a word. I said hi and it was all down hill from there. It was hilarious after the fact. I fell in love with Jackson and especially Edi. I also fell in love with Jackson's band, 100 Monkeys, as well as the band that went on before them, The Nova Echo. While 100 Monkeys was on, I danced and hung out with the lead singer of Nova Echo. Awesome dude, took my hat and wore it around that night. It was a bit surreal, but a great, GREAT weekend.

Like I said, I've been spending a lot of time at the beach on my days off. Nature is my element so I've been staying uber inspired. My guitar skills are getting better and my writing is flowing like crazy. Just this week I've written and played two new songs. I'm really proud of them. I want to find people here (recording arts students) to play and sing my songs. That's a goal before I graduate.

Europe for Christmas is up in the air at this point. It's still a possibility, maybe. Money is the factor. I don't want to travel on a credit card. But this may be my only chance to have two weeks to spend in Europe. We'll see. It's only May. As for other traveling endeavors go, I get a week off from school for summer break (funny, right?) It's the last weekend in June until July 5. I'm going to Los Angeles for the week to celebrate the 4th there. I love LA! I'm so stoked to be going back. This trip will be a little different feeling since my plan is to actually end up there within the next 2 years. I've narrowed my interest down to my top 5 design firms in LA I want to shoot for after I graduate. The only thing that will detour me from LA is somewhere in Europe. My style matches the european style of design a little bit better but that's open to interpretation I suppose.

This weekend I'm headed to the parental's in Alabama to camp for Memorial Day. It's the greatest thing about my move. I can do stuff like that now with my family. I'm close enough to make it happen. I love it! It makes me happy inside.

My roommates are awesome! We have so much fun. It's great living with them. We cook amazing food regularly. Justin stepped on a snake the other day in our back yard. Not cool. So now I won't walk back there. Justin and I also discovered we wear the same size clothing, this made both of us happy. We've all come to terms with the fact the the universe obviously hates Amanda. So the nights when the 3 of us are sitting around the dining room table with our 3 macbooks doing school work, we are used to the profanities that take place (like right now).

Umm, who?

2009-04-03T16:29:00.003-04:00

Hi, my name is Alisa and this is my blog that I never go to anymore. So it will probably close down shortly.

But for an update:

Next weekend I move all my things to the parents in Alabama, except for the essentials.

I'm saying goodbye to Ohio for good April 24.

My new residence is under palm trees and sunshine on the east end of Orlando, with the two greatest friends.

I start life as a full time college student at Full Sail University on April 29.

I'm furthering my knowledge in Graphic Design with a little side of film and recording arts.

After 13 months of this my hope is to break into design in the entertainment industry, preferrably on the west coast.

I'm spending my Christmas/New Years break in Europe. Flying into London, visiting Ireland, Amsterdam, France and Italy (Florence, Milan & Rome).

Over and out.

2009-03-08T21:59:00.002-04:00

The greatest of friends are all seeing Britney right now in Tampa...I'm currently getting lots of video footage.

It's pretty flippin' amazing.

I CANNOT wait until my birthday weekend. Meeting some new friends at the concert in Pittsburgh. I'm having shirts made for all of us.

CAROL ARE YOU READY?!?!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

OTown

2009-03-02T23:24:00.004-05:00

This is J & A, Justin and Amanda. They are my future roommates.

We went to Universal Studios yesterday.

Justin adored the vine.

We are dorks.

Amanda, Me, Justin & Seth...headed out.

Off the wall stuff.

2009-02-25T22:26:00.002-05:00

I'm headed down to Orlando for the weekend. I'm stoked. There are lots of plans this trip down that are pretty cool...Sunday is beach day and that's the best.

Today at work, me and my boss took a 2 hour lunch and went shopping (she shopped, i strolled). It was pretty flippin' cool.

I missed Idol tonight. Sad day. But it was worth it. Small group was great!

I have tons of laundry to do before Friday. I'm so ready to pack away winter clothes! Ugh...go away winter.

We're taking my car to Pittsburgh for my birthday weekend. It should be interesting since it's so small. Pack light!

Speaking of... 30 days til Britney!!!!!!

I heart Carol.

I got my hair hooked up Monday. Tried a new style this morning before work and totally dig it. It's Joan Jett -esk. Next time I may chop it all off. Why not?

I got suckered into girl scout cookies. Shortbread. Yummm!

2009-02-18T23:53:00.000-05:00

i still stare at my car and i can hardly believe i'm driving around my dream car.

Arthur

2009-02-18T16:25:00.003-05:00

I've spent the small part of this afternoon here at work in tears...

Happiness tears.

My mom called and they finally get to adopt Arthur! (their foster son)

I'm getting a new brother!

He's my favorite 12 year old on earth!

my sweetness.

2009-02-16T22:44:00.000-05:00

2009-02-15T23:39:00.003-05:00

No more MySpace.

Thank God.

Breaking away from so much internet living.

Sigh*

2009-02-11T22:31:00.006-05:00

In Colorado

2009-02-09T16:13:00.007-05:00

I just had one of the greatest days of my life.

Today Sumer has class all day. I was going to join her in her all day class today but decided to live it up and be adventurous. Here's what today's adventure consisted of...

Sumer headed to school at 7am. I got up and got ready. Then I hit the streets of downtown Denver on foot. I managed to find an Enterprise Rent-a-car and got this beautiful baby...

The 2008 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4x4...hearts!

I mean, seriously, what is a Colorado/Rocky Mountain adventure without a friggin' Jeep Wrangler to enjoy it in? OH YEAH!!! After everything was set with the jeep, I left the parking lot headed for I-25 North. The plan was to drive until I was no longer in Colorado. I stopped to grab some breakfast and pick up a few things from the gas station. I prepped my passenger seat to become my best friend for the day. Meet my passenger seat...

The Map. The Book. The Camera.

My iPod was conveniently located on the dash or it would've been here too. A short but incredibly windy hour later, I crossed the state line into Wyoming. Yeah, I did. Because the wind was so inconvenient, I didn't go all the way to Cheyenne. Instead I drove, soaked up the amazing surroundings and turned around and headed back into Colorado. I turned west shortly after I turned around and made a beeline for Estes Park & the Rocky Mountain State Park. I drove for hours through the twists and turns, valleys and peaks looking the most beautiful of God's creation I'd ever seen. I pulled over countless times, did u-turns when I missed a good photo-op, reversed down the middle of the highway when I missed a good road to turn down and get out. Just me, my camera, Jesus, a jeep and the Rocky Mountains!

A tiny mountain town in the heart of the Rocky's

I've never felt more alive. I laughed and jumped and sat in silent smiles in awe the entire time. I talked to Jesus, I talked to myself and I talked to every thing I seen. Subtle therapy for my unravelled life. Beautiful.

The wind was blowing so hard it almost knocked me down.

I've taken tons of pictures. They'll be posted soon enough.

Weekend.

2009-02-05T15:15:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow after work, I head out to Indianapolis to see some Korea (Crystal) for the night. Before the sun rises Saturday morning, she'll haul my half asleep buttocks to the airport where I'll board my Frontier Airlines flight and fly out at 7am. Waiting for me at the Denver airport at 7:51am Colorado time will be Miss Sumer Pritchett who I'll be spending four days with in this beautiful state. I don't think we'll put our cameras down once.

Excited is an understatement.

2009-02-03T23:20:00.001-05:00

I designed and submitted a Twilight wallpaper to a contest sponsored by Mutemath last week.

I was just informed I totally won* second place!

Yesssssssssssssssss!

*tied.

2009-02-03T19:23:00.000-05:00

I hate Ohio. Passionately.

It just took me 2 hours to go 7 miles.

Hate.

2009-02-01T16:02:00.001-05:00

today's pictures

2009-01-27T23:38:00.003-05:00

Maybe I should...

2009-01-23T14:30:00.005-05:00

blog.

I spent every day of last weekend veggin' out in a recliner in front of the t.v. watching movie after movie. Laptop in hand chatting and emailing friends all over the place having a grand ole time...Guitar Hero guitar and remote close enough to grab without getting up if I wanted to engage in some legends of rock...my actual guitar on the other side close enough to grab without getting up to get some practice in for my lessons...my Twilight books on the table next to me if I wanted to read...cell phone on the arm of the chair conversating with txt and pics...coke and snacks close by too. I managed to knock out 15 movies. I relaxed and rested for an entire weekend as instructed by someone way smarter than I. Yeah it was amazing. And it was fun. I loved it.

And I think I'm going to do it again starting tonight.

But I must remove Laptop in hand chatting and emailing friends all over the place with Laptop in hand working on 3 separate graphic design jobs I've been hired for over the past week.

O, and I may go out with work friends at some point. Maybe. O, and a new tat may be involved. We'll see. But thats all. It's going to be great.

Work in the social arena has been awesome lately. People here have become really good friends and we have lots of fun. Us ladies spend most of our daily lunch breaks talking about Jesus. That's always refreshing. All the agents now make a point of giving me a hard time every time they come within and 10 foot radius and then they're caught off guard when I feed it right back ten fold. I now handle all my GA's Blackberry needs and questions, don't really know how that happened. I solved one problem without calling our home office tech support and now I'm responsible. It's cool. I dig it.

I fly to Colorado in two weeks!!! I'm stoked!

Don't hate or make fun...
Me and Harriet are meeting up in Orlando in May which is totally friggin' awesome cause I love my sis-in-law (sorta-sis-in-law). When I was home for the holidays, she was one of the many I introduced Twilight to and now she's as much of a freak as me. We're hitting up the Eyecon Twilight Convention. We've bought tickets to the Kick-off Cocktail Party with the stars, the actual convention and also bought separate tickets to meet and have a photo op with Taylor Lautner, the cute Jacob Black in the movie. And I think we decided to go ahead and purchase tickets to the banquet. Its going to be a fun weekend. We're staying with Justin and Amanda and having a mini-vacation together. It's going to rock. No shame. We're freaks and we've come to terms with it. It's fun sharing it together.

For those interested...Dakota Fanning was offered the part of Jane in New Moon and America Ferrera is shooting for the part of Emily. Still no word on the Volutri, Leah Clearwater and the rest of the werewolves parts. I'm interested to see who they all are. Shooting starts in March, you'd think they'd share the details already. Dang. Killing me.

One of my favorite pics. Vanity Fair shoot out take.

2009-01-19T08:56:00.000-05:00

2009-01-16T16:30:00.001-05:00

2009-01-08T16:20:00.003-05:00

Yeah I'm actually writing that song I spoke of in my last post. Seriously.

Anyway, I haven't mentioned it lately but I completely love my job! I stay busy constantly now and I still LOVE it!

I've been having really bad nights recently. I haven't been able to sleep at all. I was getting maybe 3 hours of real sleep a night. Well, Sandy, my great mother figure here at work suggested a few herbs to help. I went and raided CVS's shelves and I've had the most amazing sleep since. The stuff is amazing! So, as expected, I've had days where I've actually felt great all day and apparently my attitude is showing it at work. I likey.

Also, there's a new man in my life. His name is Cullen! (Did you expect anything less?)

Met him in Dearborn County and decided to bring him home. Like any other man on earth, he's a pain in my arse. But he's so adorable I can hardly stand it. Here he is...

I've been talking to my girl Sumer this week. I'm flying to Colorado in a few weeks for a long weekend to see her and see the beautiful state. She's a photographer like myself and we plan to go all over the place to photograph everything. Today she was telling me about an actual frozen pond up in the mountains where we're going to go iceskating. She said its like right out of an episode of Everwood (been off air for ever but it was my absolute fave) This made me incredibly excited. Iceskating. Pond. Mountains. Everwood. Sigh with me now.............................*

The Britney concert is getting closer and closer. This birthday is going to be the greatest of all! Since the Bengals suck, I can deal with the fact that it's in Pittsburgh a lot better.

News that probably excites only me...

I was really excited to hear today that the 3rd single off Britney's new album is going to be If U Seek Amy.

Also, Taylor Lautner will remain Jacob Black in the Twilight sequal, New Moon.

Another thing is the DVD release of Twilight is March 21 YIPPEE! but on the DVD is 12 deleted/extended scenes as well. This makes me insane with excitement.

And that's all for now.

2009-01-07T07:14:00.002-05:00

Life is rough right now.

Everyone AND THEIR MOM seems to want to talk about it with me.

I'd rather just focus on making it through the day smiling for a change.

I should probably write a song.

My poor, poor, neglected blog

2008-12-28T23:17:00.002-05:00

Hands down, my favorite people on earth. Christmas 2008

2008-12-19T16:23:00.001-05:00

Headed to E-town.

Heck Yes!

2008-12-17T15:57:00.000-05:00

Purchased! Can't wait.

poor puppy

2008-12-17T09:18:00.003-05:00

My passionate hate for cold weather is at an all time high today. It makes me want to kick a puppy and shout "IT'S GOOD!!!" as it flails through the air. Ugh! Orlando. I dream of Orlando. I want to be there. It's warm. It's sunny. It's not Ohio. I need another weekend and a cheap plane ticket.

But on to other things. We're leaving for the good 'ole state of Alabama Saturday morning. I wonder how warm it is there? Warmer than here I'm sure. Justin and Amanda my favorite Orlando people are heading to Alabama today and staying until Monday. They're heading back to Orlando the day we get there. It sucks! I want to go with them.

I'm amazed by people who smoke. It's the tundra outside...thirty something degrees with a breeze...hurting cold. But the committed smokers don't care much. They're outside our building doing what I call hyperventilative smoking...breathing in and breathing out nicotine. No fresh air inbetween. It's amazing...and so gross.

I've got to finish Christmas presents.

Tis The Season

2008-12-16T16:16:00.000-05:00

Christmas music has been playing all day at work. It was fine for the first 20 minutes, but at this moment, I’ve heard ‘Mary Did You Know’ four times, by four different artists. And now…Christmas Shoes is on.
I’d like someone to kill me now. :)

2008-12-16T09:21:00.003-05:00

Michael Copon to replace Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black in New Moon?

Um, yes. That will work.

But seriously? Didn't Hardwicke read the freakin' books? Why would you cast someone who you knew wouldn't fit his discription in the next movie?

NYSE & Nasdaq

2008-12-15T09:31:00.004-05:00

The office I work in is filled with brokerage-investment-installment-insurance-dividend language. CNBC is on the flat screen by my desk on Monday, Wednesday & Friday. Everyone is in suits drinking coffee and walking around all agent-like. One day I'll get used to all this and learn to understand what half of it means.

But one thing I don't think I'll ever understand (and if you know, please inform me so I can mark it off my list) is when it's time for the opening and closing bells on Wall Street, why these people applaud. And not just any applause, but one that lasts for a very long time.

hi, i'm alice cullen.

2008-12-14T12:37:00.001-05:00

new hair. so have bangs now.

#$%^%$$#

2008-12-11T22:24:00.002-05:00

I finally put my mac down at 1am last night to get some sleep. I worked on tons of stuff...school projects, brushing up on some HTML coding and messing around with my myspace. I woke up this morning to leave for work and had a bit of time to waste before I left and went to turn on my mac and got nothing. I proceeded to try everything I could possibly think of to make my baby work. Nothing. So I went on to work in a not-so fantastic mood. Those of you who know me, you know I don't panic...but I was so close to it this morning I would have killed someone for paper bag to breathe in. Today of all days was pack up old files and office furniture day at work so I wasn't at my desk for more than 5 minutes but I managed to find some info on my favorite mac forum. I followed the steps when I raced home on my lunch break to grab the computer. Nothing. Didn't work. My diagnosis...dead logic board.

After work, I took it to a computer place to check to see if it was what I expected after doing all my research. It was.

The outcome... my mac is dead. The solution... my slightly better brand new MacBook from the Apple Store now in full use with my same harddrive!

Now I'm breathing again.

2008-12-10T22:59:00.001-05:00

I FREAKIN' LOVE CANDI FREAKIN' HACKER!!

period.

2008-12-10T16:19:00.002-05:00

I haven't seen the sun in a few days. I'm cold. I want it to go away. O, to see the sun again.

One more month left of school! Yippee!! I'll be glad to have my Monday and Wednesday nights back and this make-shift graphic design education under my belt. I'm thinking I'd like to further my eduation and classes afterwards though. Something like Hip-Hop Dance 101. Yeah, that would rock. I wonder if they offer them anywhere around here...hmmm? I'm going to check into it.

2008-12-09T23:18:00.001-05:00

New hair coming soon.

Saturday.

Appointment made.

Alice Cullen inspired.

Hey Ya!

2008-12-09T16:41:00.001-05:00

Life makes me want to throw up sometimes.

My boy.

2008-12-09T10:36:00.000-05:00

So precious.

2008-12-09T08:44:00.004-05:00

My Clara is in Africa :( In Nigeria. I haven't seen her in forever and now she's a world away. Sad day. Come home soon Ese!!!

I have in front of me a box of goodies from the adorable Jenni (and Candi too, but my guess is she may have sat back in close proximity of the goodie-baking moreso than actually baking). I find myself not wanting to eat anymore for fear that I'll run out. How dumb is that?

Anywho, tonight I'm going to see Kristin Chenoweth and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra at the Music Hall with Nicole & Candi. I'm pretty excited about it. I heart Kristin Chenoweth. Should be a great time!

I'll getcha...

2008-12-08T22:21:00.001-05:00

2008-12-08T15:52:00.004-05:00

He threw it at Gibbs, his spokesman. Funny shizz yo!

My Twilight Obsession

2008-12-08T11:00:00.004-05:00

*Edward & Bella have the cover of the next Entertainment Weekly of which I am a subscriber.

*Production of Twilight: New Moon begins next month

*Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight's Director) was let go from the New Moon project. Good move in my opinion! The movie, in general, wasn't all that phenominal for those who weren't already fans of the books...

*Taylor Lautner, Jacob Black's character, will probably be replaced since he doesn't fit physical description of Jacob Black in New Moon. My question is why they didn't think of this during the original casting? Weirdos! Another reason why it's a good idea Hardwicke was given the boot.

2008-12-08T11:00:00.001-05:00

i heart lady gaga.

Trips Trips Trips

2008-12-08T09:01:00.005-05:00

My heart to travel is in an uproar more than ever... Here's whats coming up:

December 20-28: In Alabama for Christmas. Two overnights in Birmingham to and from Eufaula.

February 28-March 2: In Denver, Colorado with Con-Sumer Pritchett taking pictures and hanging out.

March 27-30: In Pittsburgh with Nicole, Carol & Clara for my 26th birthday. Going to the Britney Spears concert.

April 25-29: Flying to Wyoming to get the whole Yellowstone experience to take pictures with Gage (hopefully)

***EDIT***May 23-25 is no longer the date. In July: Going to Portland, Oregon with Phil, Carol and Elizabeth and probably some others to take pictures and track down Donald Miller and the making of the Blue Like Jazz film.

*sighs* ...can hardly wait.

After May tons of weddings start happening again so there may not be any traveling.

Christmas time

2008-12-06T22:29:00.000-05:00

DISabilities.

2008-12-05T09:52:00.004-05:00

Making that video last night was TONS of fun. I haven't laughed like that in a while. I love laughing at myself. I was the only one home when I was making it and I literally laid on the floor, arms wrapped around my stomach, laughing hysterically. I'd watch it again and the scenerio would be repeated. Good for the soul.

So I'm thinking of making it a usual thing...fun videos of my weirdness. Who knows, maybe people would like to get in on it and release their inner fool for all to see and enjoy. It's very liberating.

The process of re-evaluating my life is ongoing. It's hard when there's a husband directly affected and invovled. Thank God he's understanding. I've had one of the happiest weeks of my life this past week. I've been able to walk into a place of employment that doesn't repulse me, yet it has nothing to do with the job. It's these people and how I've already connected with them and by day 2 was more comfortable here than should even be allowed. The atmosphere and energy is that of family. Not the family atmosphere where you walk in and feel like the outsider, but the complete opposite. I feel like a part of it and that's huge. I'm only finishing up my first week!

Over the weekend, Becky and I had an Agape Art booth in the Sharonville Holiday Craft Show. I took a break at one point and walked around. Most booths were full of handmade holiday crafts, candy and cookies. But I came to this one booth... photography, Near & Far was the name. His photographs were the most beautiful things I'd ever seen. I got to sit there and talk to this guy for a long time. Through most of the conversation, I fought back tears. I did the same thing looking through his photographs. I felt myself have to catch my breath a few times. Heart on fire. I want/need to do this. I can do this. That was my thoughts. Reevaluation.

This is an reoccurring deal for me. Coming to this place seems like a cycle. But I apparently have a DIS-ability. I get to this point and I'm fully ready to follow hard, head on. But, like many people I get overwhelmed and the DIS-abilities start. DIScouragment, DISappointment, DISadvantages, DIStances...etc. Me and the DIS's don't get along and I find myself giving in, settling once again. One day I'll beat them. Who knows that I won't be saying this same reevaluation schpill in 6 months? But who freakin' cares. Just another instance where I've failed and refused to stay down. I can become a professional get-back-up-dust-yourself-off-try-again-er...leave a little more pride laying on the ground behind me each time, whatever, I'll survive.

So, what's my dream in life? Simple.

I want to photograph the world.

My Amnesia WARNING: YOU MIGHT PISS YOUR PANTS, I ALMOST DID

2008-12-04T21:35:00.005-05:00

Ok so before everyone goes bustin' my chops... this was the only way to express my excitement for my 26th birthday in Pittsburgh... and NO I don't have too much time on my hands, I did this in 20 minutes...the same amount of time it takes for some people to take a dump. :P

I miss...

2008-12-03T15:48:00.001-05:00

Candi.

Sources tell me...

2008-12-03T12:04:00.001-05:00

Someone else got a new job today...

Hmmmm.

2008-12-03T10:16:00.003-05:00

You already know this, but my new job rocks!! I love it here. It's only been 3 days and I already feel like part of the office family giving the agents a hard time and cracking jokes with the girls.

I'm dealing with this sinus/allergy/cold junk that's going around. No medicine has given me any relief except for benadryl when I take it at night before bed. It knocks me out. This morning I've felt pretty yucky, so I decided I'd take it before work and then work my butt off to stay awake. At the moment, it's hitting me pretty hard and making me kinda dilusional. Hopefully the drowsy part will pass soon and I'll be good as new before I do or say anything completely off the wall and become the source of office jokes for the next week. :)

.........................

Me, Nicole, Clara & Carol (possibly Monica and Tiff) are going to Pittsburgh for my birthday in March. The plan is to go to the Britney Spears concert...which in turn will become my best birthday of all time! It will definitely make up for last years wedding shadowed birthday. I'm pretty excited! I'm hoping to get the tickets in the next 2 days.

.........................

My next Philippines trip has been pushed back to next summer, at least until I find out some other information on where things stand at the orphanage. There's a transition in leadership happening in January as far as I understand so it puts a damper on a few things.

But until then, I want to travel a little more to take pictures. Small weekend trips is what I'm looking at. There's 3 places in the states that I'm dying to photograph... Colorado, Wyoming & Oregon. We'll see what I can do about weekend trips to these places at some point.

2008-12-03T08:42:00.002-05:00

Yes, I totally just said it...

"This benadryl needs to kick in now. I'm not going to have watery eyes messing up my make-up..."

Wow.

*(black hooker boots today)

First Day...

2008-12-02T08:47:00.002-05:00

My first day at Mass Mutual was GREAT!! I love it! I'm glad to be here today...

You guys won't believe it but.... (drum roll)

Wait for it....

Wait for it....

O yeah, I'm wearing a skirt...and my hooker boots.

Reinvention.

2008-11-30T20:22:00.002-05:00

My nerves are going insane right now. I don't completely understand it. In 12 hours I'll be stepping foot in my new place of employment on track to a seemingly fulfilling career. Maybe that's it? Maybe the potential to actually screw something up and it be completely uncool gives reason to the new found reaction. I haven't known what that's like in a really REALLY long time. I TRIED to screw things up at Dock3 just for sanity and it never really worked LOL Ok, maybe not, but yeah. I'm a little scared.

2008-11-29T23:51:00.005-05:00

New job starts Monday, 8:30am...

*smiling

My girls Candi and Jen mentioned tonight that if I wanted, I could totally reinvent myself, professionally of course.

My thoughts shift towards those of chic, professional attire.

Sounds like a challenge. Sounds like fun.

2008-11-27T17:49:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving World!

Reading.

2008-11-26T22:47:00.002-05:00

I bought Breaking Dawn last night and started reading it today. Almost half done. This book is slightly bigger than the rest...and very emotional, so I'm reading it slower. LOL I know, I'm crazy.

Only good books get that kind of response.

2008-11-25T14:51:00.001-05:00

I finished Eclipse.

Now on to Breaking Dawn.

Later.

Need a break.

Eclipse sucked the life out of me and I'm emotionally exhausted and don't know what to think.

2008-11-25T07:51:00.001-05:00

I really wish I could reevaluate my life. I know exactly what I would do if I could.

Adopt me Carol.

things i like right now

2008-11-23T21:51:00.003-05:00

Only two days left at Children's. It's pretty exciting.

So, I thought a "things I like right now" list would be appropriate.

Things I Like Right Now:

*Bubble baths. I took one yesterday for the first time in years! And today I bought new bubble bath..Spongebob bubble bath too. Don't hate.

*Music! I'm watching the AMA's right now and I LOVE music...love love love it!

*Bella.

*Edward.

*Alice.

*Rosalie.

*Jasper.

*Emmette.

*Esme.

*Carlisle.

*Reading. It's always been my relaxing-as-all-get-out thing to do. In the last week, I've started and finished 3 books. (Nights in Rodanthe, Twilight & New Moon) Today I started Eclipse and I'm 1/3 of the way through it. I missed reading.

*Britney Spears! Circus is going to be the best album yet.

*I don't work on Wednesday and I'm keeping Dominic while Heather is working. I'm beside myself.

*My new phone comes in tomorrow. Bye-bye EnV, hello Dare.

*School. I like school :)

*I got bored and put up our Christmas tree. (yes i know it's not even thanksgiving yet) It's beautifully decorated in Ohio State decor. O-H!! GO BUCKS!

Which one? 1,2,3 or 4?

2008-11-22T13:04:00.000-05:00

2008-11-21T11:11:00.001-05:00

More than a happy dance...

2008-11-21T08:27:00.000-05:00

I'm going to see Twilight tonight!!!

Done.

2008-11-19T14:21:00.003-05:00

I finished reading Twilight about an hour ago.

It was incredible.

I'm ready for New Moon now.

What should it say?

2008-11-18T13:50:00.004-05:00

I've been sucked in...and I like it.

2008-11-18T09:26:00.003-05:00

I started reading Twilight yesterday...

and who would have thought, I FREAKIN' LOVE IT!!!

It's so good! And the movie comes out this week!

My goal is to finish the book and finish it quick. I read a third of it on my flight home yesterday. Right now it's sitting next to me taunting me to pick it up and devour it with eyes and mind. I think I might. Now.

Once there was sun, now there is snow

2008-11-18T08:47:00.007-05:00

Florida is so much better than Ohio.

Yesterday sun and warmth. Today snow and cold.

Ugh!

Me and Justin did get a good photo shoot in yesterday before I went to the airport. It was fun. I heart my Justin. He's going to be famous one day.

Exciting story.

2008-11-15T22:23:00.005-05:00

Mike wanted me to draw him a new tat...so I did. Just like I've done for several other friends in the past.

Mike was the first one to ever actually go get the tattoo...and for me, this is the coolest thing ever!

My Drawing--------- His Tat

Fave shots from today

2008-11-15T20:23:00.004-05:00

It is finished!!!!!

2008-11-14T16:05:00.001-05:00

I got the job!!!!!!

I start December 1!!!!

WooooooHOOOOOOOO!

Jesus is friggin' awesome and loves me so much!!

Article

2008-11-14T10:42:00.002-05:00

So several weeks back I mentioned that I interviewed with a reporter on election stuff... Here's the article.

By Kingsley Kanu Jr

The sound of the electric guitar pours from six large speakers hanging from either side of the 20-foot-wide stage. The crowd of almost 1000 people responds, and from the intro, it is obvious that they recognize the song because many have begun to clap while a female voice sings the first lines.
“Politics will not decide if we should rise to be your hands and feet,” she sings. “Open up our eyes so blind that we might find the mercy for the need.”
The words sound like something out of a Live Aid Concert but this is a Friday night church service for teenagers and young adults at Times Square Church in New York City. The lyrics are by Hillsong, a mega church in Sydney, Australia, popular among evangelical Christians in America.
“It is not a human right to stand, not fight, while broken nations dream,” the song also says. And with eyes closed and hands raised, the congregation erupts in unison at the song’s chorus, “Whoa! Oh! God be the solution. We will be your hands, we’ll be your feet.”
This is the creed of a younger generation of Christian evangelicals, the 18 to early thirty-somethings, whose votes could play a significant role if this year’s presidential election turns out to be a tight race for the White House. One thing is clear: It won't be business as usual for the Republican Party as it seeks to maintain its advantage with these voters. These young Christians are increasingly less focused on the controversial debates of abortion and same-sex marriage. They are asking questions about social justice, international development and poverty and are growing disillusioned, not just with the Republican Party, but with party politics in general.
G.O.P. affiliation among younger white evangelicals has dropped by 15 percentage points since 2005, according to a study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, falling from 80 percent to 65 percent last year. But of the 15 percent who left the Republican Party, the study notes that only five percent have declared themselves Democrats while the remaining 10 percent consider themselves independents or politically unaffiliated.
“Politics, for me, is a lot like choosing the lesser of two evils,” says Wes Hoekman, 24, a graduate student of engineering at the University of Southern California, who identifies evangelical. “It’s about seeing where my vote will do the most good and sometimes it’s Democrat and at other times, it’s Republican.”
Hoekman says he is unconvinced that government can bring about the kind of personal change that the Bible talks about and would rather cast his vote to positively impact as many people as he can.
Experts attribute this change of priorities among younger evangelical Christians to increased volunteerism and the advent of domestic and international short-term mission trips. These experiences have exposed many to the realities of other countries and less affluent neighborhoods, widening the issues they’ve become concerned with.
“This is one of the most active volunteering generations. They are well-traveled and more likely to encounter issues of economic and racial justice,” says Nancy Ammerman, professor of the sociology of religion at Boston University. “They live in a much more complicated world and are less convinced that if they can just fix one or two issues of sexual morality, the world will all fall in place.”
Last spring, Luke van der Hoeven, 21, visited New York City on a spring break mission trip, where he evangelized to Muslim immigrants from West Africa. The first of nine children, he was home-schooled in Georgetown, Ky. and all his friends came from the Georgetown Evangelical Free Church until he started at Cedarville University, a Baptist university in Ohio.
“I was raised in a very conservative family and my parents are very Republican,” he says. “When my mom saw that I was a supporter of Barack Obama on facebook, she wrote, No, with a lot of o’s.”
Van der Hoeven says his political views changed gradually. It started with conversations after Bible study groups with other young Christians at his college and gained momentum working with his church’s juvenile prison ministry and as a Sunday school teacher in downtown Dayton, Ohio.
“I saw the need for the gospel but also for social change. I couldn’t justify only standing against abortion when there wasn’t justice for children that were already born,” he says. “I saw very little connection between what I was living and what Jesus called me to do in caring for the orphans and widows on a social level.”
Cosmopolitan evangelicals are another explanation for some of the changes in this block of young evangelical voters, says Michael Lindsay, sociology professor at Rice University. He coined the term while doing research for his book, Faith in the Halls of Power.
“Cosmopolitan evangelicals are well-educated men and women who read both The New York Times and Christianity Today,” Lindsay says. “They are less interested in taking back the country for their faith and are wary of the evangelical masses' penchant for polarizing rhetoric. They favor a more humble, tolerant approach and a faith that not only compels action but curbs hubris and builds bridges.”
He adds that these evangelicals want to be included as legitimate players in issues of the day and are more interested in their faith being seen as authentic, reasonable and attractive. But this doesn’t mean less fervor or permissive social values, he says. Cosmopolitan evangelicals remain pro-life and oppose same-sex marriage, but view government less as an enforcer of individual morality and more of a tool for public good. They are also concerned about the environment and support government intervention against poverty and suffering.
This growing shift in priorities among younger evangelicals is creating some inroads for the Democratic Party, which is aggressively courting evangelicals this election cycle. The most notable initiative has been the launch of the Matthew 25 Network, a political action group in D.C. running advertisements on Christian radio stations on behalf of Sen. Obama.
The group derives its name from the 25th chapter of the gospel of Matthew where Jesus says, “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
Burns Strider served as Senior Adviser and Director of Faith Based Outreach to Sen. Hilary Clinton’s campaign for President and consults with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Jim Clyburn (D-SC) on faith issues. He suggests that it is not only the younger generation of evangelicals looking beyond party loyalty to address its widening focus of concerns.
“We’re meeting with evangelicals to find common ground on things we can work on together. Nine out of 10 times, the issues that emerge are Darfur, Climate Change and the AIDS pandemic,” says the Mississippi native and former Southern Baptist missionary who has worked in Washington for over 10 years, promoting partnerships between evangelicals and the Democratic Party. He adds that his Christian convictions inform his political allegiance.
“We’re called by God in Genesis to take care of his creation. If we want to be good stewards of his creation, we have to embrace strong conservation and forward-thinking environmental policy,” he says. “Instead of fighting over Roe V. Wade, let’s look at ways to reduce abortions by maximizing adoption and providing healthcare and education to prevent unwanted pregnancies,” he says.
In his meetings with evangelical leaders, Strider admits that the issue of same-sex marriage hasn’t found as pleasant a middle ground as abortion, but “we agree that you can’t legislate lifestyles,” he says. According to a recent study by Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, a majority of younger white evangelicals support some form of legal recognition for civil unions while older evangelicals are strongly opposed. And both age groups remain solidly opposed to abortion.
Evangelical Christians comprised 23 percent of all voters in the 2004 elections. Of this group, 80 percent voted Republican, comprising a third of President Bush’s winning ballots, according to the National Election Pool’s exit poll. But evangelicals have not always been the darlings of the Republican Party. In 1987, according to the Pew Research Center, 34 percent of white evangelical Protestants identified Republican and 29 percent, Democrat. The coalescence of evangelicals around the GOP happened in two stages, Ammerman says.
“In the late 70s and early 80s, abortion was a key indicator of the U.S. not being a moral leader in the world,” she says. “And it worked for saying to evangelicals, ‘If you don’t get politically active, your country is going to hell in a hand basket.’ That issue was then joined in the 90s by the debate on gay marriage.”
While the G.O.P. can count on its dominance among white evangelicals, it remains to be seen if younger evangelicals will become a growing chink in the Republican armor. While Sen. McCain leads Sen. Obama by 51 points in his support from white evangelicals overall, Religion & Ethics Newsweekly reports that his lead shrinks by 19 points among young evangelicals between the ages of 18 and 29.
Young evangelicals between 18 and 29 make up about three percent of registered voters in the battleground states of Ohio and Virginia and one percent in the state of Pennsylvania, according to Pew Research data. Considering that President Bush, in 2004, won Ohio by a margin of two percent of all registered voters, these voters could swing a state in a candidate’s favor.
“Maybe in four years. I don’t know if we’re enough right now to swing an election,” says Alisa Thoms, 25, an Ohio evangelical supporting Obama.
“In a country as rich as ours, people shouldn’t have to choose between buying medicine or buying dinner. You can be pro-life all you want but the fact is, there have been conservative Republicans in the White House for the last eight years and abortions are still happening,” she says. “You can oppose gay marriage, but in California, they’re getting married.”

2008-11-13T20:25:00.001-05:00

So, it's the waiting game.

I'll play by myself. I want the game to be over now. And I wanna win.

Thanks.

#2 and #3

2008-11-13T08:06:00.002-05:00

Today at 4:30pm I go in for my 2nd and 3rd interview at Mass Mutual. The day could end in 1 of 3 ways. One, I could be totally and completely let down and disappointed. Two, I could walk away happy and free of my current job situation with joy and excitement. Three, I could walk away as a member of the waiting game, anxious and going crazy. All of which, over this past week, I've deemed worth it for the experience of hope and confidence in my professional ability. So it's good...but could really be GREAT if it were to work out as I hope. In 8 hours I'll be in a position to get a better feel of what's ahead.

Here's to making it to 4:30!

O. HAPPY. DAY!!!

2008-11-12T14:54:00.001-05:00

8 minute track of songs from Britney's Circus Album!

What I've been working on for a week

2008-11-12T11:03:00.002-05:00

The friend, Mike, is getting his new tattoo Friday and he asked me to draw it.

How 'bout that...

2008-11-12T11:01:00.001-05:00

Cat missing for over 13 years back with owner

SANTA ROSA, Calif. – A couple recently had an unexpected reunion with an old housemate: their pet cat who went missing more than 13 years ago. George, who was last seen by Melinda Merman and Frank Walburg in 1995, was turned into an animal hospital after the manager of a mobile home park trapped the sickly feline.

A microchip implanted in George allowed him to be traced back to his owners.

Merman said after George went missing she visited animal shelters and wrote to veterinarians in search of the gray, yellow-eyed cat, who now weighs less than half what he used to.

But Merman and Walburg said the cat is now eating well and displaying some of his old behavior, like jumping at flickering light on the wall the way he used to.

..........................................

Man allegedly steals communion wafers from priest

JENSEN BEACH, Fla. – Police in said they arrested a Connecticut man after he tried to steal communion wafers during a church service. The Martin County Sheriff's Office said 33-year-old John Samuel Ricci, of Canton, was cornered by fellow churchgoers when he grabbed a handful of wafers from the priest during communion services Saturday.

The Stuart News reported that Ricci was being held down by six or seven offended parishioners when deputies arrived at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Jensen Beach. Police say two parishioners, ages 82 and 61, received minor injuries in the scuffle.

Ricci was charged with two counts of simple battery, theft and disruption of a religious assembly. He was being held Tuesday on $2,000 bond at the Martin County Jail.

Twitter

2008-11-12T10:53:00.002-05:00

After this weekend, I will know how to Twitter...

and that makes me cool like Justin.

Thoughts of the day

2008-11-12T08:05:00.004-05:00

................................................

Tomorrow is the big day...I find out (potentially) if I'm released from my Dock3/Children's Hospital prison for good. Ok, that's a little over-exaggerated, but still...it sounded good. It has caused my mood to go from Shinedown music to Lady GaGa & High School Musical music in a matter of days. I like it.

.................................................

That didn't take long...

2008-11-11T09:48:00.005-05:00

So, I got that phone call 5 minutes ago...I'm having a back to back interview with the next in charge AND their DM on Thursday at 4:30!!!

This is a good sign, right? I have reason to be crazy excited right now, right?

and i just can't hide it

2008-11-11T08:24:00.003-05:00

I'm hoping I don't have my hopes to high for this job. Nothing is for sure yet...but I want it to be. So all morning I've been contemplating whether or not its worth the risk of uber disappointment if things don't turn out the way I hope. Frankly, I really just want to be freely excited right now because things are looking encouraging so far. I think I will. I'M EXCITED!!!

SCORE!

2008-11-10T18:11:00.004-05:00

I just nailed my interview! The work is perfect, the place is perfect, the people are perfect! Great fit for me.

Goodbye job, hello CAREER!!!

I'll be getting a call tomorrow -ish to arrange the 2nd (&3rd) interview!

God is friggin' awesome!! He knows things! Imagine that.

Passing thoughts [random-town]

2008-11-10T13:06:00.003-05:00

So...

I have this job interview at 4:30 today. I'm not even nervous yet. I'm just ready to get there and pray to God that I can wow them somehow. I've had the opportunity to talk with several different people from this place a few times in the past month and a half. They've all been so personable. One of the advisers there happened to be meeting someone here at the hospital and he had to wait by my desk for a while. We ended up talking for around 20-3o minutes. Somewhere in the conversation it came up that it was time for me to find another job and we talked about the various reasons why. He insisted that I take his card and call his office b/c there would a be a position available soon. I was hesitant but decided to give it a shot. The person I needed to talk to ended up being in a meeting at the time, but the conversation with the receptionist ended up lasting a good 10 minutes then on to the voice mailbox. There was a series of phone tagging for the next week which included several voice mail conversations. All ended with this position being finalized in mid to late October and then they'd give me a call. Sure. I wasn't counting on it. So I forgot about it.

Friday I got the call and she wanted the interview today. I hoping the 'hurried-ness' is a good sign. I've got a new outfit, shoes with fresh eyebrows...I'm ready.
Jesus, I know already that I want this job. May I have it please?

........................................................................

Kristin Chenoweth, I think I'm going to see her next month for a Christmas show. She's hilar!

........................................................................

I get to see my Justin and Amanda in five days! I'm flying down to Orlando for the weekend to spend some time with two of my favorite people in the world. Saturday will be spent at the beach where I will proceed to take tons of pictures. I'd like to hit up one of the Disney parks to take pictures too. I'll have to look in to that. Other than that, it will be 3 nice, relaxing days away from Cincinnati and the cold weather. I'm uber excited and can't wait for Saturday to get here.

I LOVE THEM!!!!

...................................................................

If you are my myspace friend and were on at any time this weekend a noticed my status, you would have seen that Ugly Betty is totally my fave right now taking a spot under Grey's and One Tree Hill of course. I watched the entire first season this weekend, Friday-Sunday. I can't wait to get my hands on season 2! I could hardly stand it, so this morning I found the first episode of season 2 on YouTube just to make sure Santos, Daniel and Alexis were still alive...and to find something out about Henry. Yes, I love the show. I can't believe I've never watched it before. Once I finish season 2, I'll catch up on 3 and be up to date with the rest of the world. No spoilers please!

........................................................................

It's so cold outside right now and I hate it! I want my summer time back. Winter is depressing and I could do without it. Viva la Mexico! It's warm there all the time... and beautiful. So beautiful it longs to be photographed by yours truly. One day.

........................................................................

Ok, it's almost 2pm...I'm starting to get nervous about the interview. Too soon, too soon Alisa!

Prayer time.

2008-11-10T13:05:00.002-05:00

Dear God,

I want to photograph the world.

Amen.

Wish I was there...

2008-11-10T09:11:00.003-05:00

Is it in the stars?

2008-11-07T15:57:00.001-05:00

Job interview...Monday...4:30

Jesus?

More creation

2008-11-07T13:37:00.001-05:00

I get bored and I start creating things

2008-11-06T15:56:00.003-05:00

Men

2008-11-06T10:48:00.000-05:00

Woman has Man in it;

Mrs. has Mr . in it;

Female has Male in it;

She has He in it;

Madam has Adam in it;

Okay, Okay, it all makes sense now...

I never looked at it this way before:

Ever notice how all of women's problems start with MEN?

MEN tal illness

MEN strual cramps

MEN tal breakdown

MEN opause

GUY necologist

AND ..

When we have REAL trouble, it's a

HISterectomy

Status'

2008-11-05T08:00:00.002-05:00

Today is a new day. Today is good day. But apparently not for the people on my MySpace. I looked at the list of status messages and here's what the first 11 said:

Good Job America! what is this country coming 2? our soldiers fight them everyday and now we have one for a president. 3 minutes ago.
Mood: aggravated

NObama will never be my president. I will never support him. Palin in 2012! 14 minutes ago.
Mood: scared

is wondering what this Country is going to do now!!! 24 minutes ago.
Mood: WORRIED

wow... yeah it's pretty sad when this is America and our president wont even do the pledge! 45 minutes ago.
Mood: pissed off

I am speechless right now...lets see where our new president takes us! 47 minutes ago.
Mood: disappointed

is very pissed about this election....i don't think i've ever been so worried for our country?!?!?! 7 hours ago.
Mood: angry

Fuck barack...I"m movin to canada...year round hockey Yesterday.
Mood: wasted

I pray that Obama allows God to pour into him the guidance he needs to run this country and I pray that the rumors about him aren't true. Now we all pray hard! Yesterday.
Mood: optimistic

God help this country! Yesterday.
Mood: worried

Pray for those that have rule over us... Yesterday.
Mood: blank

Worried bout next 4 years Yesterday.
Mood: worried

................................ <--- I've erased what I've typed here 4 times already because I'm trying to be nice.

I just think it's funny that people are getting worried NOW... Has the last years and months of America just been ignored?!

So quick to judge we are....Judge someone who hasn't have had to opportunity to change anything and prove himself. Yet we think we know what's going to happen, we think we KNOW.

I'm glad, through this entire election process I was never so close minded and ballsy to say that John McCain was a terrible choice....as if I knew he was or something. Why? Because I don't know and neither does anyone else.

But what I do have is hope and faith in a man to make the changes this country needs. No, I do not KNOW if he'll succeed but I hope he does.

What happened to people hoping and trusting for the best in people? What happened to faith and trust in God? His will? His purpose? His control? His plan? What happened to his ways being higher than our own? His thoughts not ours? When did it become okay to judge? It definitely can't be based on his "fruits". We don't know his fruits...

I'm using all the "Christianese" terms because a good percentage of all those comments above come from the mouth of the church.

Yet the rebuttal to all that would be abortion...cause it's the presidents fault that a girl wants to kill her child, right?

My President

2008-11-04T23:20:00.002-05:00

Will this be our first family? I think I'll blog all day.

2008-11-04T09:40:00.002-05:00

today is significant

2008-11-04T09:34:00.004-05:00

I voted this morning. I arrived at 6:30am, waited in line for 35 minutes and cast my vote. It was incredible. I voted last election, but it was nothing like this one. I was too young for issues to directly affect me so it really didn't matter. This time, I'm an adult taxpayer with a mortgage and bills...things matter now. So this is a big deal. I'm super excited to see a new direction, a better today and a better tomorrow. I hope we get the right person in office. I have my opinion of who that might be, but in reality, how will any of us know for sure? We'll see what the day brings. My biggest hope is that today brings a tomorrow morning and nothing more. Another week of this political atmosphere may drive me to the loony bin.

So here's to awaiting change, less junk mail & normal commercials once again!

This fixes any bad day

2008-11-03T18:33:00.001-05:00

Chicago The Sequel

2008-11-03T09:50:00.005-05:00

Chicago is my favorite city in the country. Hands down. It is. I love it. So when mom called me Friday afternoon and told me her and the ladies in her office had an extra ticket to the Bears game for Sunday, I just right on it. It was more for seeing my mommy instead of that stupid game, but nevertheless. My mom + my favorite city = heck yes. So I woke up at 5am Sunday morning and headed out to Chicago by myself. The drive wasn't bad. I met up with mom and the ladies and we had breakfast and then headed to Soldier Field. I headed back home after the game. That ride was crap.

But it was worth it. I love my mom. And I got to hang out with my Kim Brown too.

Me v. Ebay

2008-10-30T14:12:00.005-04:00

I bought a few things off Ebay this morning. An hour later I get an email saying my registration has been suspended b/c of unpaid sellers fees.

Fantastic.

The problem is I've never sold anything on Ebay to have any fees for.

Dummies.

I want my account back.

Ebay got an ugly email.

I couldn't help it

2008-10-29T14:25:00.003-04:00

I've experienced some crazy things here at Children's Hospital in the past year. I have a front row seat to an entrance where most families come in for "non-physical illnesses". Through all those experiences I've never witnessed one like what just happened about 10 minutes ago.

I'm sitting here catching up on my CNN.com, the hallway is kinda quiet, few people are walking through the door....when all of the sudden a very large kid comes charging at me, grabs my cup of water off my desk, tears off the lid and pours it out on the floor behind my desk, throws the cup down and is drug away by his profusely apologetic mother. I just sat in wonder and then began laughing hysterically. I couldn't help it. It was the most bizarre thing ever. ES came and mopped up the spill and Zac graciously got me a new water...which is now sitting safely UNDERNEATH my desk in case the kid returns.

*ahhhh...i needed that LOL

Did anyone ever eat these as a kid?

2008-10-29T11:41:00.004-04:00

I totally forgot about these! Especially Kaboom! Cereals of my childhood. They're actually on the top 20 list of craziest cereals ever made.

d

The 20 Creepiest Celebrities

2008-10-29T11:34:00.002-04:00

I heard this on the radio driving into work yesterday morning. Thought I'd post it. Though I would have nixed M. Night Shyamalan and moved Amy Winehouse in at number 1. She's creepier than Marilyn Manson to me.

THE TOP 20 CREEPIEST CELEBRITIES:

20. M. Night Shyamalan
19. Tommy Lee
18. Tom Green
17. Gene Simmons
16. Woody Allen
15. David Blaine
14. Keith Richards
13. Don Imus
12. Carrot Top
11. Courtney Love
10. Paul Reubens
9. Flavor Flav
8. Criss Angel
7. Ozzy Osbourne
6. Andy Dick
5. Howard Stern
4. Stephen King
3. O.J. Simpson
2. Michael Jackson
1. Marilyn Manson

Parking Assignment

2008-10-29T09:26:00.003-04:00

I found out today that my parking at work has finally been reassigned. Thank God. My original parking was at the Greyhound lot downtown. How dumb was that? I've been here for over a year and haven't parked down there once though. I've always found a street spot or parked in Phil's garage while he parked on the street if we drive separate. But no more! I can finally park somewhere decent! Yay, a parking spot of my very own...how greeeaaat!

Whatever.

I'm praying to Jesus I can get through today and tomorrow without inflicting physical pain on anyone. I need my day off more than ever at this point. I haven't slept in weeks it feels like. I don't really know what the issue is. It hasn't been this bad for a while. So, I'm thinking I need to start using a sleeping aide and see if that helps. I hate doing that b/c sometimes those things make my heart flutter all night and I get less sleep than I would have without them. Maybe I'm not meant to sleep.

This weekend is the Agape Art Fall Show. Everyone needs to be there! It's gonna be great!

I now have nothing further to blog about for the moment.

Execrable (blog #3 for the day)

2008-10-28T11:10:00.002-04:00

Dictionary.com's word of the day is execrable.

Execrable means detestable.

Used in a sentence:

This job is execrable.

AN ADDITION TO 3 BLOGS DOWN:

Carol is coming to visit me Thursday. I was told this is blog-worthy and I'd have to agree. Thursday is going to be GREAT!!!

My church.

2008-10-28T10:16:00.003-04:00

Changing the world...in my opinion.

Mercy Response reaches out to disaster victims

With a cold drink in hand, he talked to God as if he was standing next to him.

The stars illuminated the blacktop driveway that led to an empty field where a home once stood. Although miles away, the thick woods that back-dropped the scene reminded him of home.

Rich Reis wields his chainsaw in liberation of families from the oppressive grip of hurricane damage.

Rich Reis, a self-proclaimed "chainsaw fanatic," worked long hours sawing through trees, branches, and stumps. Soon, the smell of Louisiana Yellow Pine settled in his nostrils and lingered for days after the trip. Each deep breath recalled memories of people like the Scaffinis; a family he befriended while freeing their home from fallen trees.

With nearly ten thousand others, Reis regularly attends the Vineyard Community Church (VCC) in Cincinnati, Ohio. Immediately after Katrina destroyed most of the Gulf Coast, the congregation collected donations and raised more than $90,000 specifically for relief efforts.

"I have been blessed in incalculable ways," Reis said. "I super naturally love to love others."

The VCC regularly engages in community outreach programs. Businesses are caught off guard when a team of volunteers come to the rescue and offer to complete undesirable chores like cleaning toilets. Unsuspecting residents receive free groceries, newspapers, light bulbs, or get paid a dollar to get their car washed.

This gimmick-free display of community service spread from one side of the
country to the other when the VCC teamed up with the Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Kenner (VCFK) to form Mercy Response, a disaster relief organization. The VCC gathered a team of volunteers to assist in the immediate recovery.

Armed with up-to-date tetanus shots, masks, and an eager desire to serve, teams of volunteers swarmed the streets to rebuild the Greater New Orleans area. Projects included everything from tree removal to house gutting to new home construction.

This tent is the new home of Mercy Response volunteers.

Volunteers pay $300 for one week of service. Participants from across the United States and occasionally a few from Canada move into community tents. Their new home is divided into male and female sections and equipped with heating and air conditioning. Showering, laundry, and restroom facilities are accessible, and cooked meals are served daily.

Volunteers through Mercy Response must be at least 18 years of age. As a result, the VCC has created opportunities for underage servants. Each year, the VCC sponsors a service summer camp for high school students. These camps emphasize community service. Hundreds of participants dedicate a week of summer break to building playgrounds, refurbishing schools, and throwing block parties for inner-city children. The 2008 Summer of Service (SOS) camp attendees assisted in the Katrina recovery efforts without leaving Cincinnati.

"SOS sent boxes of supplies and built three homes for Habitat [for
Humanity]," said Sean Murphy, director of evangelism and outreach at the VCC.

I went. I slept in that tent. I want to go again.

King Solomon & his copper...

2008-10-28T08:15:00.009-04:00

I really wish I would have went to school to become an archeologist! The whole concept of it always intrigued me and captured my interest more than anything in my life. Why in the world didn't I pursue something like that? CNN.com has become my favorite website ever. I find myself there 6-7 times a day staying up to date with every area of news you can think of. Today I read how researchers may have found King Solomon's Mines. Man! And the stupid article wasn't long enough or informational enough. I wanted to know everything, see pictures....and now I just want to go over there and look around for myself. Blah! I did manage to find one picture. Apparently folks in the UK care more about this type of stuff.

Monday Ramblings

2008-10-27T09:58:00.003-04:00

I hate cold weather. I hate shivering. I hate chill bumps. I hate my teeth chattering. I hate warming up my car. I hate cold wind. I loathe snow and the day it comes will be depressing and torturous. I want the summer back and I want it back now. I've started my daily vitamins C, B6, Fish Oil and Fiber bars. We'll see how healthy I stay. I'm contemplating getting a flu shot this year too. Ugh! This time of year sucks.

On the opposite side of crap...the UDF by my house now has gas for 1.99 a gallon. It's a beautiful thing. I wish I had a very large gas tank to fill up and put in the back yard. From what I understand, it's going to go even lower than that. Projected $48 a barrel possibly. I personally love it. $30 fills up my tank...Thank You Jesus!

T-minus 4 days until Halloween. I love Halloween! This year will be pretty low key. We're sticking around the house and handing out candy to the kiddies. The goal is for me to hand out more candy than I actually eat that night. It's supposed to be cold so I'm not sure if there's even a point to dressing up if I'm going to be wrapped in a jacket and/or blanket. So I'm thinking all black with my black gangster hat and some black makeup around my eyes. Simple. Anybody wanna come over and join in on the festivities and make little kids happy? We'll set all our chairs up in the front yard and chill. Literally.

I think my favorite part about this Halloween is I have the day off work. Praise God Hallelujah! The Agape Art show is the next day so I'll be working to tie up all the loose ends with that so Saturday isn't completely overwhelming. I don't really expect it to be because my small group ROCKS and they're pitching in tremendously to make it all happen. We spent Saturday building this incredible column to hang artwork on. It was a dilemma we ran into since last show. We're no longer allowed to hang artwork on the walls of the White House. It's been a task trying to think of alternatives. But alas, Mr Rowland had a fantastic idea. Not only did he have the idea, he actually led the charge into executing the idea and making it happen. What a concept! Initiative is a beautiful thing. Between the six of us (The Rowlands, The Stofels & The Thoms), this thing was bought, built, painted and taken apart in no time with enough time to install new lighting in the Rowland's bathroom and treat ourselves to Outback for dinner before the UFC fight. It was a great day with my great friends. I loved it. It'd be nice if those Snelling's would come around more often LOL Instead we'll settle for family meetings and such. Hehe. That's kind of an inside thing.

I'm really bored right now. I have several things on my desk to do though. I just don't feel like doing them at this very second. The next two days are Dock3 clean days. Time to reorganize. I just need to muster up the motivation.

What language do they speak in Ethiopia? Cause I'm listening to a whole conversation happening in front of me in it. I like it.

I didn't get to go see High School Musical 3 yet... but I will! Hopefully the crowds will have died down a bit when I finally do see it. I hate crowded theaters...especially crowded theaters of kids. It's the price I must pay for loving High School Musical at age of 25. Yet, I have no shame. :) I actually thought about taking a day and watching the first two and then head to the theater to watch number 3...all by myself. I'll do it too. I'm not scared. Too bad I won't have more time on Friday cause I'd do it then.

Proactive- Not just for acne.

2008-10-23T11:47:00.003-04:00

I just had to call in a missing child alert to security. That's the third time I've had to do it since I've worked here. I'm not a fan. Reporting a description of a lost child while the mother can hardly speak enough to give you the description is almost unbearable. The two other times I've had to do it weren't so bad. The child was old enough to almost know better, but when this lady today said she's two, I almost ran out from behind my desk to start my own search party. Eventually, I saw an employee walking down the stairs with the little girl in her arms, so I pointed the mom to the stairs and they reunited and all was well.

What was weird about the situation was I saw a more than usual amount of little kids come in today on "leashes". I personally think they're cute. Looks like teddy bears, frogs or dolls are hugging the back of the kid. On the other end, I've heard parents bash these things of how pet-like they are and how they'd NEVER put one on their kid. I couldn't help but think if this mother today was one of those and after the panic of her lost little girl, may have changed her mind.

I have a tendency to want to be proactive. Some people deem things so unnecessary but then something happens and all of the sudden the "I wish I would have..." statements flood your mind. In a lot of cases, there aren't enough resources for me to be as proactive as I want.

Example: It's getting cold and it's time to turn on the heat in the house. I hate our furnace. I don't think it operates correctly and it sounds like insanity when it comes on. Sometimes it will kick on and right before the fan starts, it cuts completely off and repeats that until it finally decides to come back on correctly. The fact that is a gas furnace doesn't help. I have a crazy fear of gas powered appliances in the home and I stay completely uncomfortable all the time. I want a new furnace and those cost like a kidney or liver or something. I don't want to wait until something bad happens. But I don't really have a choice. The same goes for the electric wiring in our house, Phil's car, my health... and it continues.

Just another thing to add to my level of stress that occupies my life these days. I'm never going to get better.