Narnia Part I

I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to write. I just know it's not going to be a lot. This is just going to be a little reflective over view. (is any body else seriously struggling with motivation lately too?)

ok. Here is the news. I went to Washington DC! It was incredible. I loved every second of it.

Back up. Why did I go? I went because History is my minor in college and I spend a ton of money and time learning about this place, but all I did was read about it. It was no more real to me than Narnia. So. Life got a little rocky again and one morning I woke up with two very clear options for the day; I was either going to have a panic attack, or I was going to buy a plane ticket somewhere. So I called my aunt and did very little "talking into" and the next day we booked our flight!

It was incredible having her by my side on this trip. I think her expectations were different of me on the trip. She seemed to expect to be dragged around like a rag doll starting at 7 am every morning and just trying to see everything. She seemed to be grateful that I was more than happy to sleep in till 9 every day, and not wake her up for another hour. Although... I doubt she expected me to do so much soul searching on the trip. She was great. She handled everything like a champ and we both learned a lot on the trip.

Here are just a few...... very very very few highligths.

Dancing in front of the Capitol!

Carolyn Joined us one day (monday)!! It was so good to see her. She's just as lovely as I remembered.

Chair and I sitting on the steps of the Lincoln memorial gazing on the Amazing that is DC.

We had a lot of fun at all the different art museums. My favorite was when she'd turn to me and whisper "Hillary... I don't get it." That would usually happen in front of pieces that I actually really enjoyed.

I quoted Tom Hanks an absurd amount on the trip. For example, whenever ANYONE would talk about George Washington University I would turn to Chair and say "did you pledge?..............everyday." (it's from "Big") I also did a lot of Forest Gump lines, even calling her Jennay a few times.

I was disappointed with a few things I had high expectations of, and blown away by things I wasn't even expecting to see. I found this at the National Gallery of Art and I find it to be flawless. This is an absolutely incredible piece with so much symbolism and meaning behind it. Love it!

I know how to act like a lady. And I did most of the time. But let there be no mistake.... when it was appropriate... I was a total goof ball.

Like I said, it was a great trip with a lot of "looking within." I'm so glad I had my aunt with me and I adored the family we stayed with. Coming home was strangely excited for both of us, but we wouldn't have traded our time for anything.

2012

I've always hated New Years Resolutions. I've always thought that it was a terrible way to start off a year... setting a goal that you only superficially care about... and yet you beat yourself up in mid march because you for whatever reason you didn't keep up to the unreasonable plan you had. But this year I caved. I decided I need to make some...goals? changes? resolutions? whatever. It doesn't matter what you call them, they all mean the same thing: in 2011 I wasn't someone I was ultra proud to be. Not because I was a bad person. But I was lacking.

Now I wish I could make some goals that were going to make me this great person, but no single goal can repair this big of a mess. So... baby steps right? Make small tweaks that will hopefully have a domino effect... (hope....)

So here they are. My goals. My Tweaks. My New Year Resolutions.

(In no order particular order)

Spend More Time With Levi Douglas.

Continue to Get to Know and Love Paul David.

Tape this Picture in a Notebook and Write About it. Continually Adding to the Journal.

Build Credit.

Pray on My Knees.

Do More Yoga

Study More Effectively.

Continue Attending the Temple... but More.

Schedule My Time Better. (This is going to be the biggest Domino effect)

Use My Passport for Traveling Purposes, or at Least the Ball Rolling for a Chance to.

Wish me Luck.

All Hallows Eve

I absolutely LOVE Halloween.

I think I got it from mia mother. You see, she always wanted to be an actress, but never was, so instead Halloween was her day to shine. She could play the part of whatever role she wanted all day. I'm the same way. Cept with dance. Either way, Halloween is my day to be whatever I want to be.

I took it easy this year. Like... really easy. But as I drove home last night, I realized... I didn't hate "toning it down." I'll explain more in a bit, for now though, simply enjoy a few pictures.

This is the love of my life dressing up as a T-Rex.

Crazy how the two men I'm in love with (my little cousin and boyfriend) love dinosaurs. These are Paul's pumpkins.

Jurassic Park

Man Hanging And his yearly "Jack"

Now here are mine! This was my first year doing a happy, normal Jack-Lantern Face

My yearly "sinnister" pumpkin

And the one I do EVERY year and think its hilarious every time....

"Pumpkin Pi"

Alright, back to what I was saying earlier, normally I dress up big time, and party like it's 1999. This year... I carved 5 pumpkins, wore a jazz jersey, ate soup, did Frightmares, went to my yearly Thriller dance production, and watched mildly scary movies throughout the whole month.

I didn't go to a million dance parties. I didn't go to a haunted house. I didn't watch a "pee your pants scary" movie. I didn't stay out till 2 am. I didn't spend 4 hours on a single pumpkin. I didn't have a crazy costume.

While I wish I would have gone dancing at least once, and I really should have been a ninja turtle again... I was strangely happy last night while I drove home from Paul's house. Maybe we're getting the hang of this "compromising" thing. Maybe I'm getting soft in my old age. Whatever it is... I had a calm, quite Halloween.

Boozer and Malone. (Our sign says "Will Dunk for Millions)

For, Fore, and Four

With my birthday being only 10 days before Christmas, to make my life easier, I always combined my birthday wish list, my Christmas wish list, and my letter to Santa. This seemed to be the best way to do it, and a flawless procedure.

My story takes place during the month of December 1993. At the first of the month, I sat there next to my mother and told her everything I wanted for Christmas and my birthday. She composed the letter to Santa, and I excitedly watched as she wrote down the list of things I not only wanted, but NEEEEEEEEDED.

With the understanding of a three year old, it only made sense that everything I received, I was to get four of them. This is completely understandable that it was supposed to be like that because at dinner, when I didn't want to eat anymore, I had to have three more bites. Time out lasted three minutes. And I was aloud three cookies. My whole life, the good, the bad, the ugly, revolved around the fact that I was three. Why would age four be any different? So, the most important thing, the thing I needed the most, was always the last thing I asked for. I wanted it fresh in Santa's mind. The last thing in the letter "four baby golden retriever puppies." the letter was signed and sent off. Now all I had to do was wait.

Christmas morning finally came and while laying in bed I could hear a little puppy crying. Eyes wide I jump out of bed and bolt downstairs. As I walk into the family room, my aunt and brother are already sitting there. I look around the sparkling decorated tree anxiously. WHERE'S MY PUPPIES?! Shhh.... whats that? One of them is crying again. I franticly look under presents, under couches, behind my brothers back.

While searching around the room, I look back to the Christmas tree and see this:

Not only is there only ONE of him... He's not even real. I pick him up, very well knowing he's mine, walk over to my mother and confused I say "this isn't what I asked for..."

She corrects me with a simple "yes it is." I shake my head "No. I asked for FOUR golden retriever puppies."

This became a life changing moment for me. Literally, life changing. If you've EVER thought I was good with words, it's because of this moment. December 25, 1993 I received my first english lesson. And it was on for, four, and fore.

Somehow, whether it was while writing the list of things wanted, or during the composing of the letter to santa, it went from "FOUR golden retriever puppies." to "FOR Christmas, a golden retriever puppy, 'FOUR.'" I went from asking FOR FOUR live puppies, to a puppy named Four.

Four is my oldest, and still my favorite stuffed animal. He is also my biggest reminder on the importance of word choice................Nice save Mom.