College and other ordinary things

Alright, just a quick post about this book that I'm reading right now.

It's for my Native American literature class and it's GREAT so far. A little hard to read, but worth it for the story, which is amazing. It's called The Bingo Palace and it's written by Louise Erdrich.

Check it out, yo.

"In the month of August, during the full moon, break branches (in fully matured leaf) from sassafras tree." From Tony Chachere's Cajun Country Cookbook.

Well folks, that night is tonight. The 24th of August 2010 is the full moon, and tonight, I'm going to go pick some sassafras leaves. You ma feel the need to ask why I'd do such a crazy thing. Well, I'll tell you. It's because this Christmas when my Uncle Jerry makes jambalaya, I'm showing up with my own jar full of home made file'.

Tonight, the process starts with the picking, then continues for 2 weeks or so with the hanging and drying, and finally ends with me grinding it up and putting it in a jar. Hopefully it'll be a success.

Wish me luck!!

There is so much stuff in my head right now that I think it might explode.
This is not a joke. There is SO MUCH that I want to say, but it's all bouncing around inside my head like a bb in a boxcar, and I don't know where to start. Everything that I think has a life of its own. It wants to be said. It wants to make it's way out of my head and through my mouth or my fingers and into the world. Sometimes, that happens without my consent, and right now I fee like that would be a horrible idea.

I want to let it out. I want to be honest and let everyone know what I'm thinking. But at the same time, I don't want to come off as one of those brilliantly honest people who has more enemies than friends because they want to always tell the truth. (honestly, that's what I'd like to be. but I'm not strong enough to have that many enemies.)

I want to tell people that they need to let loose and experience things that scare them, or that they may not like, or that might hurt them. I want to tell people not to dwell over what has happened because it's all in the past now. There's no way you can change it - no way you can change him. The outcome would have been the same whether it happened when it did or tomorrow. I want to tell people to make up their minds! To just let it go and make the choice that will be the best for you. Stop making me wait. I need to know. I need to get on with my life and stop waiting for you to catch up with me. I want to say: stop being so critical! I'm trying as hard as I can to be as good as I can be. And that should be enough for now.

I also want to tell the world that I WANT TO BE A HISTORY MAJOR. That I'm passionate about what happpened and the people who came before me. That I love to hear their stories and love to tell them to others. I want to teach. I want others to be as interested in the past as I am. I want to make a difference.

That also means that everyone who said "well, it would be better if you went to Murray" can SUCK IT. I don't want to hear it again. I won't be going to Murray, and I am so happy about that. And once I change my major, you can't tell me that Murray would be the better choice either, because I can learn about the past anywhere.

I want to be me. I want you to love me for that. And I know that someday I will find you.

That is all.

I love books. This is an established fact.

Mostly I love romance books. They're funny, the characters are entertaining, and there's never a reason for me to cry because there's always a happy ending (which happens in so few relationships these days).

I have read a set of books lately that were published a few years ago that I have just fallen madly in love with. The author is amazing and her characters make me think about my own future with much more clarity than I usually do. I know that for me, having children and a family is a long way off, but I don't think it hurts to think about it now. Really, it's a good thing. When it's finally time to start a family, I'll know just what I want.

The Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn follows a family of eight siblings in their quest to find love. It is set over many years (it does take a while to conceive and birth eight children, making them somewhat spaced out in age) with a book written for each child (Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth).

They all love each other dearly and would do anything for each other. It's much like my real life family, except we do not live in Regency England, and none of us have quite gotten up to eight children just yet. I feel the need to set myself up for the challenge. It may seem crazy, but I have always wanted many children, and know that my family would accept my decision no matter how strange it is by the standards of today's society. My reasons for wanting hundreds of children have never really seemed clear to me until recently, the need was just there. I now have reasons though, and still feel like I'm cracked for even thinking about broaching this subject with my eventual future husband.

Reason 1: I have grown up in a very loving very close knit family and would love that for my children. I had only one sibling, and while two was nice, I would have liked to have more siblings.

Reason 2: I think it would be just adorable to name my kids in alphabetical order. I would start with Aiden. Or Anabelle.

Reason 3: I want kids. I want a bunch. I want to have my own and know that they are MINE. And I want to adopt. I want to save some child from a horrible situation and know that it's MINE too.

Reason 4: Having a family is fantastic. I don't even know how to describe the amazing feeling of knowing that there will always be someone who has my back or will be there when I need them. I love every single second of it and I want to know that my kids will always have that. And that I will always have that as well.

Alright, so to add to my list of books that I love, is a historical romance novel that is mostly history with a bit of romance thrown in just to keep things interesting, and I'm convinced, depress you.

Mistress of the Revolution by Catherine Delors was one of the best novels that I have read in a WHILE. It makes you think, and for us history buffs, gives you a look into the side of the French Revolution that isn't discussed in textbooks. The love story is poignant and only serves to make the actually history all that more moving. I would suggest this book to anyone who isn't afraid of a little bloodshed, will take the time to read a novel that may feel like a slow read (personally I think that it's because the story is just difficult to take in), and appreciate the history that brought the world to where it is today.

I've come a little farther in Eat, Pray, Love and am loving every word of it. I can't wait to get to the end. I believe that I will feel enlightened when I'm done, and am looking forward to that moment.

I have said many times before that I love books. It's an addiction for me that I have tried and failed to explain to the non-word-loving. To read a book is to go into another world, and that statement is a cliche for a reason. I've read some pretty outstanding books lately and decided to do a quick blog post about them and the ones that I hope to read in the near future.

First off:
Sizzlin' Sixteen by Janet Evanovich.

I LOVED this book, but what's not to love about Stephanie Plum and her marvelous exploits? Morelli was hot, Ranger was hotter, and Grandma Mazur kept me laughing the whole time. I consider this book a very fine addition to the series and look forward to reading the next book when it makes it's appearance, probably sometime next summer.

Next is:
The Last Summer (Of You and Me) by Ann Brashares

The amazing author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants has struck again. With her first adult novel, and the second to be published after the Sisterhood ended, Ann has struck gold. This book is a perfect summer read, though you might want to keep a box of tissues handy, and if you're an unattractive crier (like me) you might consider reading this book when you're alone.
The story of two sisters and their journey into adulthood, this book captures exactly the feeling of growing into yourself and being lost while it happens. I bawled like the baby that I am, since I recognized many of my own awkward teenager to adult transition emotions in the pages.
READ THIS BOOK. that is all.

A book that I have recently started and have already fallen a little in love with is Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. When I first noticed this book I realized that I was stuck between the proverbial rock and hard place.
On one hand, I could but the book, read it and find out that it is amazing. I could then go see the movie in a few months and be disappointed because the movie is NEVER as good as the book. On the other hand, I could not but the book (that I have heard is amazing) and see the movie. I would think that the movie was wonderful and never read the book, since I NEVER read the book after the movie has come out. It turns out though, that my insane love of words and stories won out. I am on tale 26 in book one, "Italy or "Say it like you mean it" or 36 Tales about the pursuit of pleasure" and I love it.
This book makes me want to be a better person, and I can tell that it will have many re-readings throughout this awkward change into an adult.

I'm kryptonite to technology. It's a fact. In the past 4 years I have somehow (never on purpose) killed (in order):
1 mp3 player
1 camera
1 laptop
2 cellphones

It sucks.
I wish I could stop.

I'm home!
Actually, I have been for quite some time, I am just a pitiful blogger.

I ended up not buying anything at Sephora in Orlando; I had no time to shop. It's alright though because I've picked up a few things since I've been home. :D

I just got a couple of new lipsticks and a lip liner today at VS. So far, I love them. Great color payoff for the lipsticks (just like the ones that I already have. haha) and I LOVE the liner, it goes on smooth and is a perfect color. Nude. Literally. It's the EXACT same color as my lips. The lipsticks are in Rosebud and Cabana. LOVE them. I've tried them in the store many times, debated against myself, and finally decided to purchase them.

On a different note: THE NEXT SEASON OF THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER HAS STARTED FILMING. Georges St. Pierre (who I love) is one of the coaches and Josh Koscheck (who I hate) is the other. It makes it really easy to pick a team to root for, but sucks because I'll have to listen to Josh Koschecks BS for a whole season. Ballz. Follow @ufc or @danawhite in Twitter for more information. You could even follow me, as I follow many many mma websites, magazines, fighters, owners, presidents, etc, haha

In my last post, I had 21 days till Disney World, well, as of 30 minutes from now, it's 2 days.
2 DAYS!
I WILL BE IN DISNEY WORLD WITH MY BEST FRIEND REBECCA THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW!!!!
In case you can't tell, I'm excited.
:D

On another note, Shogun Rua is now the UFC light heavyweight champion of the world. Which is good, because he deserved the title the last time he fought Lyoto Machida. :P
Sadly though, Josh Koscheck did beat Paul Daley. This is disappointing because I hate Josh Koscheck. I think he's an asshole. I also think that the day he beats GSP for the title (which is supposed to be his next fight. or at least he wants it to be) is the day that I sprout wings out my ass and fly away. Just sayin'.

I am however VERY diappointed in Paul Daley for his asshole move after the fight. Sucker punches are not cool, and that put him right there in the same bracket as Koscheck for me.

And for now, that is all.

What the eff Big Ben?
I mean really?
Did you have to go and show your ass like that in public?
Even if you didn't do what they said you did, you did something to piss that chick off ROYALLY. So why? I mean, 6 Games Ben, 6 freakin' games!!

(read more here)


Sorry about that outburst. I really don't think that you did it Ben, it still pisses me off though.
Okay, now they're talking about trading. huh? Art says that they're not talking about it now, which leads me to believe that he's trying to cover something up. This. Sucks.

Alright, I'm about to show my weird conflicting interests. First I'm going to talk about makeup. Then my favorite sport. Yeah, you'll see.

As you all know I am going to Disney World in 21 days. (squeeeeeee!) And while I'm excited about that for multiple reasons, one of the big ones is that Rebecca (my bff whom I am going to visit) is taking me shopping while I'm down there. And Orlando is a big city. Which means..dun dun dunnnnn...SEPHORA!! I need Urban Decay right now. So bad.

I've gotten some new stuff at Victoria's Secret lately, but I still want more. I decided to try out their eyeshadow primer, but it applied very wet and made my eyes feel a little oily, so I'll still be getting some of that at Sephora, I L-O-V-E Urban Decay's Primer Potion. As for VS though, I love my lipsticks from there, they all apply wonderfully and don't bleed. The new collection that they have out is definitely worth a look as well. It's called Jungle something-or-other and it's amazing. The products are all mineral products and the color payout is fantastic, especially for the Jungle Heat palate. I bought that one, so I know. What really impresses me though is the fact that they have a lipgloss with spf 15. I bought it specifically for that reason. haha

The main reason that I want to pay a visit to Sephora though, as I mentioned before, is that I'm all out of primer potion, and they have it in this kick ass new color (which is ONLY available at Sephora) that I think I have to have. It's called Eden, and It's going to be amazing for summer. I mean, he word "tawny" is in the description on Sephora's website. How much more awesome can it get? I think that getting that, the primer box set, a pocket rocket lipgloss (see one of my previous posts for the deets on that little nugget) and an eyeshadow or 2 will subdue the urge to shop so much. I might even check out some of the Lancome products that Michelle Phan uses. :) I will most definitely update when I get back with pictures and deets on what I actually get.

**Now, on to the polar opposite of makeup.**

My favorite sport is MMA. For those of you out there who don't know what that stands for, get with the program. Mixed Martial Arts is the fastest growing sport out there right now, and for good reason. It's an amazing sport that takes tons of dedication and years of training to compete in. The fights are a one-on-one battle, so you get a level of excitement from it that you can't from team sports - no not even football. Check out the UFC's website for any more information on rules, training, or fighters.

Anyways, tonight I registered for a contest that it's basically impossible for me to win, but that would totally make me piss myself if I did. If you win, you get round trip tickets to Vegas, front row seats to UFC 116, and you get to hang out with Dana White (the president of the UFC) who is just fuckin' awesome. You also get to meet the ring girls, but I don't give a flying fuck about that. I'm an 18 year old girl who watches the fights with her dad, I mean, really?

I've been trying to get my dad to take me to a UFC event for a couple of years, and we looked at tickets when they were fighting in Memphis (or maybe Nashville, I honestly can't remember right now) back during the summer, we just didn't have the money to do it, so being able to go to this fight would make my YEAR 9even though dad says that if I do win, he's sending me and my brother because he thinks it'd be awesome for us to get to go). If I don't win (which is basically %100 going to happen) then I'll just try to get tickets to an event (UFC or WEC) that's close to home.

The whole reason that I'm blogging though is because this weekend is a big one for the WEC (a sister organization to the UFC). The featherweight title is on the line, and Dana White has called it "if not the fight of the year, then a definite candidate". (You can check out his youtube video here) It's going to be amazing. The featherweights are always fun to watch because they're "speedy little bastards" as my dad and I like to say, but this time is going to be even better. Urijah Faber is fighting Jose Aldo for the belt, in the WEC's first ever ppv match. The Arco Arena (where the fight is being held) will be sold out, and I can say that if I had the ppv option on my tv, I'd be watching the fight live from my very own living room.

I can't wait to see the results and find out who the champ will be. Hopefully I can find a nice live blog to read along the way like I did when GSP fought Dan Hardy and spanked his narcissistic little ass. ;) At least when I finally move away from home for college, I'll already be used to not seeing the ppv. Or I could just make friends with a bunch of dudes on campus and crash with them when the fights are on.

"Let Colin get your temperature blazing with his brave heroic service. Undress him with a flick of your wrist and see his willingness to take risks in hot places."

Who would think that this is the description on the side of a lipgloss? NO ONE! Which is what makes Urban Decay GENIUS! Every college girl needs one of these glosses, and I will be getting one the second I can make a trip to Sephora!

This amazingly brilliant gloss is called Pocket Rocket Lipgloss. And I think that all of you 0ver 18 know what makes this marketing strategy so fantastic. Every gloss has a different shade, shimmer content, and opacity. Each tube is flat so that it fits perfectly into your pocket without any unsightly bulges, and each is coated with man attracting pheromones that are released with a stroke of your hand. The caps, well those you'll just have to see for yourself. Personally, I think that my favorite might be Eric. Or Colin.

Those are just 2 of the men you have to choose from though. There are also:
-Timothy
-David
-Doug
-James
-Jesse
-Julio
-Kirk
-and Max

Check them out at the link below and then tell me that the people at Urban Decay are not totally brilliant.

http://www.urbandecay.com/products/Colin.cfm#prodStart

Today is day 2 of my tooth ordeal. Yesterday, I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth cut out, and I have to say that now more than ever, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND why anyone would want to be addicted to pain medication. From what I can tell, there's no rush. You just sleep. Forever. Which makes me haven even less respect for those idiots who choose to be addicts than I had 2 days ago.

What has led me to this revolution is my sleeping schedule.
Yesterday, we got home at about 12 after picking up a milkshake and my pain prescription. I took one of my pain pills and slept from 12 to 4 nonstop. My mom had to change my ice face wrap every 30 minutes and I would just lay there while she did it.
After I woke up at 4 I took another pill and then felt sleepy, hot, and a little sick to my stomach for the rest of the night. Then at about 10:30, you guess it, another pill. This time it knocked me on my ass and I slept very close to 12 hours with a short break in the middle for another pill and a new ice pack.
I have just taken my 5th pain pill and as soon as I finish this blog, plan on going straight back to sleep. My mom just got home, so she can bring me my ice pack. But, as it goes right now, I'm off to dreamland. Actually it's more like coma-land because I don't remember having any dreams at all yesterday. :P

Well maybe I'm not beautiful or dirty, but right now I feel rich. I have over $500 in my checking account, and for someone who's balance was 8 bucks and some change about 2 months ago, that's a big freakin' step!

I am now confident in my ability to pay for those things that I want RIGHT NOW without having to ask my parents. YES! My first step towards being my own independent person! Too bad I'm going to have to be dependent (and probably whiny) all day Friday and Saturday.

You see, on Friday at 10:15 in the morning, I will be put under heavy anesthesia and all 4 of my wisdom teeth will be forcefully removed from my mouth. I am expecting quite a bit of pain, swelling, and not much remembering. I am hopeful that my mental abilities will be strong enough to keep rational thought close at hand as the drugs start to wear off so that I don't make a fool of myself, since I just have a gut feeling that that will happen. I will most definitely be blogging about the whole experience so that the 0 people who read this will know that I am safe, well, and not experiencing any harsh side affects.

But on a lighter note, there are only 29 more days till I leave for Disney World! Whoo!! :D

So. Sleepy.
I did not realize the level of commitment that it took to work a full time job. Especially when that job is not 9-5 Monday-Friday. When the hours are wonky, it makes you feel wonky, and that's no fun.
I now have 2 jobs and between them I am working full time. I feel like someone has beaten me. Real hard. I'm sleepy, my feet hurt and I don't remember where I'm supposed to be when. But then I think about the money.
Not that I'm one of those people who's goal in life is to amass a great fortune - I just want to be a little more dependent on myself. I want to be able to pay for my car, my insurance, my gas, and that other stuff that I have to have when I'm not at home like random mall meals and clothes that I like; without asking my parents for help. I want to go to Disney World in May (squeeeeeeeeeeeeee!) and not have to depend on my Mom to pay for every little thing that I do. I want to be secure in the fact that my checking account contains enough dollars to cover that random thing that I want RIGHT NOW. It makes me feel good to know that I'm turning into my own person.

It just seems like it. For now.

You see, recently I've been having some money problems. My hours at work have been cut drastically in the past 2 months, and I have basically no money coming in while there is still flowing out of my account every week for things like gas and food. I also have to make a car payment and a car insurance payment every month, and this month I did before I thought.

When I went to make my insurance payment, the little teller lady said, "do you want 3 months?" I said "Yes!" thinking that I wouldn't have to worry about that little matter for the rest of my semester. I paid it, got home balanced my checkbook and had about $8 left. Fan-freaking-tastic. So I transferred over some money from a prepaid card that I had and am now trying to get a second job and sell lots of things that I was going to get rid of anyways like books and gently used clothes. My dad however is still pissed at me (he's a banker and is VERY fiscally responsible).

I'm going to get through this one way or the other, hopefully while not getting yelled at too often and not missing any payments of anything. Wish me luck!!

Alright, so my best friend is currently living about 14 hours away from me in Orlando, FL. It sucks because I'm out a shopping buddy and problem solver (since I have trouble solving my own). However, the light has started to sine down on the situation.

My wonderful, beautiful, fantastic mother is being sent away for a work related conference the second week of May. That's one week after my classes will end for the semester and just when it's starting to warm up for summer to begin. And where else is she being sent than the Coranado Springs resort in wonderful Orlando, FL?! More specifically, Disney World, where my bff Rebecca is working for the semester. There's just one tiny problem.

Rebecca will still be working, even though I'll be there visiting (it IS her job after all) and my mom will be busy doing work things, so I will be all alone at Disney World, which is just a little depressing. UNLESS I take someone with me. More specifically, my best friend (yes, you CAN have more than one best friend) Dan. You see, Dan has reached the ancient age of 19 without ever setting foot inside the magical gates of Disney World, and I feel that it is my duty to change that. I mean, Disney World is the happiest place on Earth!

So in an effort to instill some fun into his life (and make my trip south a little more fun) I have invited little Danny Boy along for hetrip. He however, is not too sure about it and hasn't given me an answer yet. So I've sent him a text every day for almost a week telling him to think about it and let me know if he wants to go or not. Just recently, said texts began to be funny. Today's simply said "M-i-c-k-e-y M-o-u-s-e!" And I feel that my duty, has been done. :D

It's not a word that I really do well with. I'm a very cluttery person. And right now is the worst. I recently painted my room, reorganized it, and did the same to my closet. Now the things that wouldnt fit in my closet are in my floor and I just don't know what to do with them.

First there's the pile of old Halloween costumes taht I MIGHT use again. There's the leftover organization tools (shelves, face-out bars, etc.) that weren't needed in the closet. There's a folded up chair that had to be moved and was never put back. My easy-bake over, baskin robbins ice cream maker, and lite-brite are all taking up residence as a group in my floor, and there's a pile of the random things that you find in your clost, don't really know where they cam from and don't know what to do with them after you've found them.

Now, I'm sure that there are many diffent things that could be done with all of these things, and I'll be honest, I feel a little bad having this stuff all over the place in my newly painted bedroom, but I'm just stuck. If anybody has any suggestions (or actually even reads this) please drop me a line with some advice! I'm really stuck here!

The kids will crank up the volume to the Pokemon theme song and belt out every word, buy useless things, and eat junk food. They will sing along with Disney songs, and actually get along for once. They will also prepare for the impending doom that is the snow storm that's headed our way.

That's right, I said snow storm. The weather people are calling for 6-10 inches of snow tonight and tomorrow. I could die of happiness. I just want to be able to go sledding. Real bad. And have a snowball fight. And build a snowman. Because there's nothing happier than that. :)

Your happiest memories from childhood are usually ones of playing in the snow, becuase when you're a child, there's nothing more magical than the wet, white wonderland that a snowfall creates. Well, excep Santa Claus and the Tooth fairy. They are BOTH more magical than snow. haha

I hate the morning.

It's the one time of day that I'm unbelievably sleepy, my eyes hurt, I trip over everything, I'm hungry, AND I have to pee. All at the same time.

Plus, morning always pulls me out of some of the best dreams...

This morning is worse than usual because today I had to get up at 6:30 even though my classes don't start till 11. Because I have to take my brother to school. Then I get to come home, nap for 45 minutes, and then leave for school. It sucks. But oh well.

This week, my role is that of "responsible parent" not "whiny older sister". Ballz.

I'm an adult.

Wow. That feels weird. I've spent my entire life being a kid and waiting to be an adult, and now I'm in college (granted I do still live at home), I have a job, and I have a cat that I have to take care of. It's a big step for me.

College isn't all that I thought it would be though. The same people are still there. You know, those ones that follow you all your life, that you can NEVER get away from? There's always the pretty girl who knows that she's pretty and won't talk to anybody but her commrades and her boyfriend, there's the awkward guy that talks to himself and creeps everyone out with his shifty eyes, the kids that never show up, and when they do, it's just to make lots of unecessary noise, and the loners who try to look all tough, and then there's me. I sit, unnoticed, in the middle of the class.

From the middle you can see everything, but no one sees you. They look over you to make fun of the "geeks" in the first row or past you to the "troublemakers" in the far back. In the middle, you're comfortable, but not overly so. I wonder if that's how it feels for the people who just settle with their lives?

They just stop and remain content instead of taking the leap to be truly happy. I hope I'm not one of those people. I hope I don't turn into one. Because happiness is really all that I want out of my life. Honestly. I want to be so happy that I can't stand it. And everything else can just fade into the background.