Calm before the storm

Phew! It I had known that my life would be so chaotic this month, I would've gotten more sleep in August :) Funny, how life can change so quickly.....it's been an up-down-up-down-up-down and then up, down and up once again! Overall, I can't complain. Actually, I don't think anyone can complain unless they live in Florida...

Some of the negative things that have happened recently:
- lots of changes at work, which can cause anyone to be stressed. Plus, UBuildIt is getting bigger and we're experiencing growing pains. So, it's a good thing with some tough changes.

- I found out that if I wanted to change apts w/in my complex, I have to say goodbye to my 3 wonderful kitties. Not sure if I'm prepared to do that. In fact, I'm not!

- I broke my freezer trying to de-ice it :) Have a new one now, but for about a week, Dayna and I had to walk to another apt's fridge to get our food

- Upgrading my computer cost me an unexpected bundle (I had to for my online class).

- I had a crazy experience with a Metro bus driver.... he started going off on some teenage girl for putting graffiti on his bus. Well, lets just say he skipped being a little upset and went straight to enraged. We sat stopped in rush hour traffic for 15 mins while she cleaned the seat. I didn't really get involved until he was physically threatening to her and calling her nasty names. I reported him.... hope he gets fired.

BUT!!!!

There are some really positive things that happened too!
- I'm in the first week on my first college course since 2000. It's an Excel Spreadsheet class. I'm pretty stoked about being back in school :-)

- Erik gave me some really great news: he'll be graduation a week sooner than originally thought!!! So, on Dec 17th (my bday, go figure) he'll be graduating and heading out on the road back home (say some prayers, driving from NJ to WA through the midwest in the middle of winter will be challenging). So, HE'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!!! (I can't wait baby!)

- I had an amazing, near perfect review at work.... got a raise!!! woohoo!

- I've been working out and for the first time in a VERY long time, my size 12 dress pants are falling down when I walk! And I'm not even on a diet.... I cut out fast food and take out chineese, exercise and walk to work at least 3 days/week. I'm on a roll!

- Despite the cost, my computer is upgraded with a much larger RAM capacity.... making my life much more efficient

- I'm on track to buy a vehicle by the end of the year! Which, for those of you who know me, is a HUGE accomplishment. My savings account and I never really understood each other. But now, it's all good :)

I'm sure there's some things I'm forgetting, but that's the short of it. I'm now off to watch the Mariners to see if Ichiro can break a major league record... 3 hits to go!!!!

(by the way, to those of you who have experienced my crabiness lately, I'm truly sorry and you can expect differently in the days to come. Love you all. And to my baby.... you're the best thing that has ever happened to me. Can't wait 'till you come home! Smooches!)

For my love

I hear them whisper your name
Those mighty winds that blow
I know that you are close at hand, the wind just told me so
The direction from whence they blew, I am not sure I know
For only when I hear your name, am I sure the winds did blow
Caressing my face with a whisper ...calling out your name
The winds of delight entice me and I will never be the same

I will follow the singing wind
Where it leads me I do not know
For the winds that blew you from me ...will take me where I must go
Upward into the hills, calmly across the sea
Hold on my love, I'm coming ...The wind has beckoned me
Free to wander and search this earth, no matter how far that may be
Free to follow the whispering wind ...until it blows me back to thee

You must be getting closer now, I feel you in the breeze
Come and find me, my sweet and distant love
Or the loneliness of winter, will bring me to my knees

I want you to grasp my hand in yours and softly speak my name
And as I look into the whispering winds
My vision is us.....together at last.... the day finally came

Ha! I did it!

I'm enrolled in school!!!!! For those of you who thought I never would.... I just proved you all wrong! Actually, I proved myself wrong. Signing up for an online Excel Spreadsheet class with Shoreline Community College is somewhat a small, personal victory for me. I've been putting of school for 4 years now, for many different reasons. I finally worked up the courage and the means to go.... so, I'm excited! Class start Monday 9/27.... I'm looking foward to trying an online class. I'm on my computer all the time anyways, so using it as a tool to learn is a perfect fit.

So for today, I'm proud of myself. I can take a day, sit back and say, "Amy, ya did it". I guess now I have to do well in the class, right? :) I will..... I know I'm smart enough. And even though it's been really long time since I've been in school, I know this experience will be MUCH different. The main reason being age. Trying to do Running Start my junior and senior year of high school didn't prove to work, mainly because of my immaturity and lack of depth. Now, I've been around the block a couple times. Wiser, smarter and definitly more responsible.

ANYWAYS! That's it for now! I've got much, much more to write about.....but later.... time for a nice bubble bath and a book. Nighty night!

Youngly Getting Older

I'm not old... I'm just shy of 23. But there are days when I feel old. I guess it was almost 2 months ago now that I was watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with some kids, when I heard Donatello say, "Hey, did you steal my Mp3 player?" It caught me off guard! :) Since when did those fiesty, green warriors have Mp3 players??????

Another example: I was talking to a 11 year old and she had NO IDEA who Garfield was. All she wanted to talk about was Pokemon!! :) She's missing out on the fattest, cutest, hungriest little orange kitty that ever was.

And what topped it all off was when my new roommate, Dayna, revealed that she had the original Nintendo!!! I got the nostalgic urge and plugged it into my tv. I was HOOKED on Super Mario 3 for 2 hours! I forgot how fun crushing little mushrooms and hitting my head against bricks was! I then got stuck on World 7 (got lost) and gave up. Then......It was time for Tetris! I can't believe kids today won't experience the addicting monatony of cheesy arabian music and falling bricks....or the inability to save your game (GOD FORBID!) or the simplicity of 5 buttons on a controller instead of 10. What a sad, sad world we've become :) hehehe

But then again, I'm only 22. There's no telling what kids will be missing in 10 years.... Hell, kids in 10 years won't even know what Pokemon is :)

ANYWAYS! I'm doing thinking for the day.... Have sleep to catch....

Meg Ryan

She's one of my favorite actors and said this at some point in her career.

"Love is not a decision your brain makes. It's a feeling you know somwhere else and your brain catches up. But love challenges you in areas you need to be challenged. It rests somewhere in not knowing what's going to happen. That's what I love."

(Can't you just hear her cute little voice and see that adorable smile with that twinkle in her eye? You can, cantcha?) :- )

Melissa's Wedding

Awwww.... the wedding.... it was so great :) No major problems, no fights and they made it throught the vows! Being her bridesmaid was a unique and wonderful experience that I'll never forget. The Maid of Honor was Andrea and the 2 bridesmaid were Justina and myself.... both girls that I love to death. Andrea's hilarious and Justina is just so damn smart! Anyways, I think waiting for the ceremony to start was the worst part. By the time it started it was over... Melissa's grandpa walked her down the aisle, trying not to cry the whole way and JUST barely succeeding :) Her husband to be, Adrian, was beaming the whole time.... the groomsmen looked great and all us bridesmaids were busting out of our bodices! The vows were beautiful, the church was gorgeous and everyone was either smiling or crying. All in all, a perfectly excuted wedding, complete with slow dancing, cake mushing in the face and a cell phone ringing during the Maid of Honor's toast (it was her phone, which made it funny).

So, not to make the wedding about me (because while it was going on, Melissa and Adrian were the center of attention - as they should be) but I received the most flattering, amazing compliment I've ever gotten. Melissa's mom (Cheri) lives in Quebec and brought a wonderful friend down with her named Jaqueeve (Spelling!!!?). He's an extremely sweet, intelligent and hurmorous gay man who made me feel special yesterday. He walked up to me, asked me to twirl around in my gown, took my hand and in his sexy frenchish accent called me "A vision of beauty." I blushed so hard.... it made me feel so beautiful for the rest of the evening..... I mean, how often is it that I'm called a vision of beauty? It was great! Thanks Jaqueeve!!!

Anyways, I've got to finish rearranging my bedroom and clean out the hall closet still tonight. I'll probably be back later.....

Happy Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Baby!! Kick your feet up and relax for a bit....you deserve it, especially on your birthday.

Erik turns 26 today :) He got a card but he'll just have to wait for his present. I love doin' that.... he begs me to tell him what it is and I try so hard not to cave in! Most of the time I fail, but sometimes, like this time, I'm keeping it a secret. So, happy guessing sweetheart!

Anyways, I should probably get to bed, Leno's on so that means it's close to midnight.

:)

My funny of the day:

"I call the war a catastrophic sucess." - President Bush

I guess that must mean he calls the economy a "disasterious achievement! - Jay Leno

(When is he going to learn to either proofread his speeches or fire his writers???) :)