to my loving father

Sorry dad, i was multi tasking while filling the below out and quite tired from being at work for 8 hrs then going to art building to do homework. YEAH! not... but i got a lot done.. not enough but it will have to do till tomorrow morning ... ugh! i hate mornings. I fixed the things just for ya... 

92/200

I've experienced the following red-ish color statements. What about you?!

1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97.Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in a historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one ( ok i only play minature golf... sorry dad to me that counts! cause how many people really play golf who would fill this thing out)
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Ran a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story 
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunch box
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics 
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life (i'm not a lifeguard for nothing... ok so it wasn't that dramatic but still she could have drowned if i had not been there)
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a camp fire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend 
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter (what is that?)

Who are you?

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!


You are observant, diplomatic and often aim to please. You are unaware of your
attractiveness and despite being uncomfortable with any form of attention, people enjoy your company. You can be impatient, stubborn and headstrong, but you are true to your word and mature for your age, often taking care of your family and enjoying a good book over chatting with girlfriends on the phone.

an excerpt from my personal writing... Reminiscing about Friends

It is truly amazing how much can change in such a short period of time. I have always been amazed by how, when experiencing things, time seems to go by slowly, but when we look back on it, time passes very fast. It seems like only yesterday I was in high school. Life was so much simpler then. Funny how i thought it was so hard at the time. I know that many people say they would never go back to high school; they'd never want to be a teenager again. Honestly, I wouldn't mind. I wouldn't want to go back to middle school. Those were hard years. High School was fun, easy. In 10th grade, I learned about makeup and sex and all that good stuff. It set the sage for the next two years. 11th grade i started dating my first boyfriend, who was the sweetest person in the world and showed me what being love really feels like. The summer before had changed me life in a good way. It gave me the confidence to follow my desires and helped me to follow the path that has made me the person i am today. Everyone wanted me. Ok maybe not everyone. But looking back, even though I wasn't popular and I didn't belong to any one group, I had friends. I had friends who were seniors and freshman, I had friends who were low on the social totem-pole, as well as, friends who were popular. Don't get me wrong, I had ups and downs during high school. I fought hard against my parents among a variety of things. And yet I consider them the best years of my life so far.
Looking back on it, I'm sure that many of my so called friends used me for something. Which is probably why we are no longer friends anymore. However, I still feel like those were the best years. Sure there were hard times, and many times i felt like i wasn't allowed to be myself. When I was out in the world, a world that had nothing to do with my family I was alive; I was me. I was free to be anyone I wanted to be, free to experience what I wanted and what i needed to experience.

One of the best nights of my life was spent with four of my friends sitting in my car. We had gone to a friends of my friend, house. This particular friend didn't like me much. I was too loud and giggled too much. To him apparently i was just some silly girl. I love to laugh and i've never apologized for that. It's part of who I am. I find the stupid things funny. Many people don't understand me because of my laughing but i don't really care. While you are staring at me like I'm crazy, I'm having a good time laughing. So anyways back to the point, we were kicked out of this friends house and we didn't want to drive around. So we chilled in my car. I had so much fun. Five people packed in my car listening to music, just talking about anything and everything, and laughing a whole lot. I can't think of a better time.

Back to the point of all this. As I'm sitting in a class writing this I'm trying to figure out what made high school the best years of my life instead of college, like it's supposed to be. My life at college leaves much to be desired, especially in the social department. Maybe its cause my friends and I have grown too much in the last five years that we are no longer alike in any way. With distance, it's hard to keep in touch. Add hectic lives us Americans live; it's nearly impossible to really keep in touch. It saddens me how many friends i have lost over the years. Especially over the small things. But really isn't it the small things that make up the bigger picture?
I am used to not fitting in anywhere. I am used to not belonging to anything or anyone. I have never belonged to something for too long. So it really doesn't surprise me. Many people don't understand me. I see things, see the world in a different way than most people. I have changed in many ways. I have discovered what i want to do with my life and have to overcome obstacles to get there. But I know I will. What saddens me truly; what disturbs me, is that i feel more alone than i have ever been. That i feel so alone in a time where i also feel as thought i am coming into the person i am to become. If I could have even a 1/4th of what i had when in high school now. I think it would make all the difference in my happiness. Now how to break out of my shell and embrace change in order to make friend ( which is one the hardest thing for me, always has been), is my next challenge in life.


All this was brought on by the happiness I have experienced in the last few weeks. I have rediscovered an old friend, more like he found me, and I was open enough to let him back into my life. We have been communicating a lot in the past few weeks. I forgot how good a person he was, among a lot of other things. I also forgot how it felt to have someone else make me laugh so much. I haven't been this happy in a long time and I'm just glad that fate has brought us back together as friends. Interesting how life comes full circle sometimes and how fate works. Just wanted to share!

Interesting view point

Ok Dad, So this one is for you! lol... I recently received an email from my father. One of many from my father to convince me to vote for John McCain. Thank you dad. Though the most email was by far the most interesting, I still can't justify voting for a man who just seems to much like something we've already had WAY too much of. Yes Obama is less experienced in the political world perhaps and doesn't have military experience like McCain. Maybe Obama is the scary unknown. By all means, I'm not saying that he is a great choice. Neither are in my mind. But its down to the scary unknown that will be different and an old white guy, who spent most of his first debate degrading Obama's intelligence, who follows the same path as our present President. And while this email brings some interesting facts up about McCain that I didn't know. I don't like many things about the Military. I find that people who join the military ( and not all people and maybe not all branches of the military but from my own experience in the matter from the outside looking in) are taught to look at things in a different way, which is great when in War but in other areas of life, not so good. So for everyone out there still looking for some interesting material related to people's opinion on voting and who is the better choice, I share this letter from the email my father sent me:


Subject: A letter from Illinois



Dear Friends:

My name is Joe Porter. I live in Champaign, Illinois. I'm 46 years old, a born-again Christian, a husband, a father, a small business owner, a veteran, and a homeowner. I don't consider myself to be either conservative or liberal, and I vote for the person, not Republican or Democrat. I don't believe there are 'two Americas ' - but that every person in this country can be whomever and whatever they want to be if they'll just work to get there - and nowhere else on earth can they find such opportunities. I believe our government should help those who are legitimately downtrodden, and should always put the interests of America first.

The purpose of this message is that I'm concerned about the future of this great nation. I'm worried that the silent majority of honest, hard-working, tax-paying people in this country have been passive for too long. Most folks I know choose not to involve themselves in politics. They go about their daily lives, paying their bills, raising their kids, and doing what they can to maintain the good life. They vote and consider doing so to be a sacred trust. They shake their heads at the political pundits and so-called 'news', thinking that what they hear is always spun by whomever is reporting it. They can't understand how elected officials can regularly violate the public trust with pork barrel spending

We are in the unique position in this country of electing our leaders. It's a privilege to do so. I've never found a candidate in any election with whom I agreed on everything. I'll wager that most of us don't even agree with our families or spouses 100% of the time. So when I step into that voting booth, I always try to look at the big picture and cast my vote for the man or woman who is best qualified for the job. I've hired a lot of people in my lifetime, and essentially that's what an election is - a hiring process. Who has the credentials? Whom do I want working for me? Whom can I trust to do the job right?

I'm concerned that a growing number of voters in this country simply don't get it. They are caught up in a fervor they can't explain, and calling it 'change'.

'Change what?', I ask.

'Well, we're going to change America ', they say.

'In what way?', I query.

'We want someone new and fresh in the White House', they exclaim..

'So, someone who's not a politician?', I say.

'Uh, well, no, we just want a lot of stuff changed, so we're voting for Obama', they state.



'So the current system, the system of freedom and democracy that has enabled a man to grow up in this great country, get a fine education, raise incredible amounts of money and dominate the news and win his party's nomination for the White House - that system's all wrong?'

'No, no, that part of the system's okay - we just need a lot of change.'

And so it goes. 'Change we can believe in.'

Quite frankly, I don't believe that vague proclamations of change hold any promise for me. In recent months, I've been asking virtually everyone I encounter how they're voting. I live in Illinois, so most folks tell me they're voting for Barack Obama. But no one can really tell me why - only that he's going to change a lot of stuff. 'Change, change, change.' I have yet to find one single person who can tell me distinctly and convincingly why this man is qualified to be President and Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful nation on earth - other than the fact that he claims he's going to implement a lot of change.

We've all seen the emails about Obama's genealogy, his upbringing, his Muslim background, and his church affiliations. Let's ignore this for a moment. Put it all aside. Then ask yourself, 'What qualifies this man to be my president? That he's a brilliant orator and talks about change?'

CHANGE WHAT?

Friends, I'll be forthright with you - I believe the American voters who are supporting Barack Obama don't have a clue what they're doing, as evidenced by the fact that not one of them - NOT ONE of them I've spoken to can spell out his qualifications. Not even the most liberal media can explain why he should be elected. Political experience? Negligible. Foreign relations? Non-existent. Achievements? Name one. Someone who wants to unite the country? If you haven't read his wife's thesis from Princeton , look it up on the web. This is who's lining up to be our next First Lady? The only thing I can glean from Obama's constant harping about change is that we're in for a lot of new taxes.

For me, the choice is clear. I've looked carefully at the two leading applicants for the job, and I've made my choice.

Here's a question - 'Where were you five and a half years ago? Around Christmas, 2002. You've had five or six birthdays in that time. My son has grown from a sixth grade child to a high school graduate. Five and a half years is a good chunk of time. About 2,000 days. 2,000 nights of sleep. 6, 000 meals, give or take.'

John McCain spent that amount of time, from 1967 to 1973, in a North Vietnamese prisoner-of-war camp. When offered early release, he refused it. He considered this offer to be a public relations stunt by his captors, and insisted that those held longer than he should be released first. Did you get that part? He was offered his freedom, and he turned it down. A regimen of beatings and torture began.

Do you possess such strength of character? Locked in a filthy cell in a foreign country, would you turn down your own freedom in favor of your fellow man? I submit that's a quality of character that is rarely found, and for me, this singular act defines John McCain.

Unlike several presidential candidates in recent years whose military service is questionable or non-existent, you will not find anyone to denigrate the integrity and moral courage of this man. A graduate of Annapolis, during his Naval service he received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross. His own son is now serving in the Marine Corps in Iraq. Barack Obama is fond of saying 'We honor John McCain's service...BUT...', which to me is condescending and offensive - because what I hear is, 'Let's forget this man's sacrifice for his country and his proven leadership abilities, and talk some more about change.'

I don't agree with John McCain on everything - but I am utterly convinced that he is qualified to be our next President, and I trust him to do what's right. I know in my heart that he has the best interests of our country in mind. He doesn't simply want to be President - he wants to lead America, and there's a huge difference. Factually, there is simply no comparison between the two candidates. A man of questionable background and motives who prattles on about change can't hold a candle to a man who has devoted his life in public service to this nation, retiring from the Navy in1981 and elected to the Senate in1982.

Perhaps Obama's supporters are taking a stance between old and new. Maybe they don't care about McCain's service or his strength of character, or his unblemished qualifications to be President. Maybe 'likability' is a higher priority for them than 'trust'. Being a prisoner of war is not what qualifies John McCain to be President of the United States of America - but his demonstrated leadership certainly DOES.

Dear friends, it is time for us to stand. It is time for thinking Americans to say, 'Enough.' It is time for people of all parties to stop following the party line. It is time for anyone who wants to keep America first, who wants the right man leading their nation, to start a dialog with all their friends and neighbors and ask who they're voting for, and why.

There's a lot of evil in this world. That should be readily apparent to all of us by now. And when faced with that evil as we are now, I want a man who knows the cost of war on his troops and on his citizens. I want a man who puts my family's interests before any foreign country.

I want a President who's qualified to lead. I want my country back, and I'm voting for John McCain.


Like I said, a very interesting and well written letter. One that almost persuaded me. Yet I couldn't let go of my gut instinct to not vote for a man who I dont agree on a lot of ways he stands on many important issues. I sat down last night and opened the absentee ballot that had been sitting on my desk unopened for about a week or so. ( On a side note, I honestely think they should send a brochure full of the main issues and what each candidate stands for especially for the many other people you have to vote for. I didn't even know half the people who were being voted in for the other things such as judges and senate and such. And was a little unsettled by the fact that John McCain was on my ballot 3 times for different parties.) I casted my vote, and while i'm not pleased with either choice, i'm glad to have my civic duty over with. Now it's up to the rest of the country.

What a difference..

Ok so I was cleaning my bathroom this weekend. Granted I usually am a freak about cleaning my apartment and do it once a week but this year i've been so busy that i've let it go, especially the tub in my bathroom. Anyways, I decided to give my razor a good cleaning and realized how gross it was. It just needs to go in the trash. I've had it for a good many years and love it cause i almost never cut myself with it. So while I was at the store I decided to see if they had the same model since I have a bunch of refil razors left. Well they didn't but they had disposable ones. and not those cheap platic ones. They were the new schick quatro. LET ME TELL YOU! I just used it. Literally I just got out of the shower and I think i'm in love. Seriously cuts amazingly, doesn't get clogged with hair, and it really does follow the contour of your body. I didn't even use my whole hand to hold it while I shaved my legs and no cuts at all! talk about feeling sexy! nothing like a good shave... Had to tell you all. haha... What a difference a brand new razor makes. Seriously! and I think i might have spent maybe an extra 5 mins in the shower versus a whole extra 20-30 mins. talk about a difference!!

Pics from ECU Vs. UVA game!!

Done

So I finally finished reading the 4th book of the Twilight series. I loved it. It was beautiful and how they lived as a family. I was able to detach myself from Bella and not be so tied to the emotions that the book instilled in me. Maybe because she wasn't human anymore. idk. but i liked how it ended and i'm happy. But what now?!! Guess just wait for the movies and hopefully she'll write something else. i feel like i'm at a loss of what to do with my time now that i don't have these books to read. Ugh as good as the books were, i am left feeling empty now that they are over.. :( lol...

seven things

SEVEN THINGS

7 Things I want to do before I die.....

1. Get a successful job
2. own my own business
3. Get married to a wonderful man
4. have children
5. own my house
6. explore the world
7. be happy

7 Things I do now.....

1. go to school
2. read
3. watch grey's and hero's
4. sleep as much as possible
5. try to have a social life
6. toss n turn in bed
7. Blog stalk

7 Things I can not do.....

1. Whistle on my fingers
2. roll my tongue
3. fart in public
4. Eat a hamburger
5. eat pork
6. Wear a bikini
7. use ketchup

7 Things that Attract me to my husband..... i dont have a husband so skipping this part...

Now or when we were dating?


7 Things I say most often.....

1. OMG!
2. ttyl
3. love you
4. Oh my lord! (something i picked up being in the south)
5. Holla!
6. Whats poppin?
7.Fu&* (sorry can't help it)

7 celebrities I admire.....I don't admire Celebrites!
Here are 7 people that I admire...

1. Dad
2. Mom
3. ashby
4. stephanie meyer
5. jeremy barker
6. nana
7. papa

7 Favorite foods.....

1. Sushi
2. sesame chicken from Bamboo garden
3. my dad's teriyaki salmon dinner with fried rice
4. rack of lamb
5. Mom's Lasagna
6. spaghetti
7. seafood

7 people that have to do this.....

i dont know that many people on here... so anyone can do this if they want

Plans for the weekend!

i am super excited because this weekend is fall break. we get a 4 day weekend.... the only one of the semester. and i'm going to the ECU vs UVA football game. my parents are coming down with ashby, meeting me in VA to go to the game. my dad has a lot planned and i'll just be able to spend time with the fam. Not to mention i have 6 days with no work.... in a row!! God knows i need a break. I had a major break down last weekend with a panic attack. But i took tuesday off for a mental health day and got my huge list of stuff done for the most part. i'll i have left to do is finish my reading for psychology... and now i've started another list of things to get done, like filling out my graduation applications. and writing my art history paper on a topic i have yet to pick. It will get done on monday and tuesday!! thats my goal... and I have the 4rth book of the twilight series to read now that my friend finished it. Which i can't wait to finish reading. I enjoyed the break from the books tho. my heart was wrenched while reading the others. I recently went to the book store to get some other books on the same fiction subject but so far they have nothing on stephanie meyers and have left me wanting more.

Addition to slide

I added my most recent project to my picture slide show of wilmington... i worked my butt off the last 2 weeks on getting all 7 -14 pictures... i still am working on pictures i just got back... so there is always more to come!!

I am totally exhausted.. i've been lucky when i get more than 5 hrs of sleep. My pictures were to be taken at different times of the day. thats what the project was about. so i had to get up before sunrise to take pictures, and so on... so even this past weekend, i didn't get any sleep. i'm looking forward to my nap i'll be taking at 5 pm.