This is what it feels like to remember happy...

I don't know if everyone could say this, but one of the best things that ever happened to me was when I finally talked my parents into joining Facebook.

See, not only do I get to stay in touch with my far away parents every day, I get to talk to them about the random day to day things that they haven't been a part of over the past couple of years.

I guess what I am trying to say is, I love them. So so so so so much. I am so thankful for everything that was a part of my childhood. Cause good golly I had a good time.

And it's because of them.

What brought all this on? Figuring things out. And getting things situated. And a mess of pictures that my dad posted to Facebook. There are some GEMS up in that business.

And looking at them, I'm reminded of what it was like to be happy. Really truly happy. Before drama, and before life happened. When things were delightful. Where I got to wear jelly shoes, and always seemed to be so comfortable in a big t-shirt. Where my grandma's poodle was the coolest dog I ever met, and all the couches felt like velvet. Where I would just spend hours wiggling my toes in the mud while my grandpa was opening gates in the corn field. Where I was so happy. And loved.

To my mom, and dad, and Melissa, I love you. And thank you for loving me back.

There are certain things you can control, and certain things you can't...

Oh what a weekend. Definitely good. But man...

I had to spend this weekend recovering from the disaster that was me going on vacation. The vacation, was great. The abrupt departure and consequent harried shuffling through everything I own, not so great. I wish I had maybe taken some time to tidy up before I left.

Also I had to do laundry... which may or may not be the first time I've done laundry since... oh... November? It's been a minute. I just don't wear the kind of clothes that need washed all the time. Now, as I read over that again let me clarify. Laundry is where you do multiple loads and actually have to concentrate on the cycles of the washing machine. The random load of pajama pants every two weeks (yes I have 14 pairs) does not mean that you need to do laundry.

I forgot how exhausting laundry is.

Plus, I have a bunny. Did I mention that? Did I also mention hims is fat? Cause he is.

He typically doesn't shed. Meaning when I snuggle my face into him I come away without all those little hairs tickling my nose!

Well, about six weeks ago, he started to lose his winter undercoat. Which should take about two weeks for him to groom out, and then he's down to the nice sleek little guy you would love to cuddle.

IT EVIDENTLY DOESN'T GO THIS WAY WHEN YOU ARE LARGE AND IN CHARGE.

Because six weeks later, I had to completely de-hair my house yesterday.

While I was gone Melissa and Brian Babysat for me. Which was great (Thank you Mel and Bri) but they are not pet owners. And when you are not a pet owner, you don't realize the day to day rituals involved in not having a "(Insert pet type) lives here" house.

So yesterday, after I emptied the vacuum cleaner six times, I realized that Bunners was still going through the shedding. So now we're fighting the eternal battle against the softest most snuggly bunny hairs there ever were. And they are everywhere.

This means a bath today, which means I will be shunned for the next 12-24 hours. But hopefully, doing less of the tickly hair removal.

It also looks like I might be getting into that hobby we discussed. I'm looking forward to it. Trying something new and getting some reward out of it. I'll keep you posted on the results.

Wow. Life repeats itself? NOT ANYMORE

Since I decided it was time to blog again, I figured that meant it was also time to revisit previous posts.. and wouldn't you know.. on January 26th 2009 I posted a blog listing 12 things I wanted to do in 2009... Guess what. I didn't do them. But let's revisit and see where we can make more progress...

12. I want to seriously look into getting licensed to do hair. I would enjoy it immensely and it would be nice to be a professional.

Right... so that didn't happen. And I can tell you why, but wouldn't that be making excuses? Actually, now that finances are different, and my work commitment is different, it could totally happen.

11. Get my own place. This is probably the biggest thing I want to do this year. There is so much I love about living with Melissa and Brian, but I want somewhere where I can get up in the middle of the night to get a glass of water and not have to worry about finding clothes.

I got my own place! And it is cute. And you walk in and it looks like I love here. YAY! (Thank you Mel)

10. Get a pet. A giant rabbit tops my list, but a new kitty or puppy would be good too.

I got a BUNNY! Hims name is Bunners and he is fat!

9. Go to the gym at least twice a week. Even with my work schedule, if I can only go in on the weekends, I want to go.

Still want to go..........

8. Go back west. (I totally just got the credits to Pretty Woman in my head... did you?) There are some serious parts of Seattle I miss, some people I would like to meet in person for the first time, and some people I just want to see.

Just got back from a vacation! And I went out west! And I totally loved it. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE

7. Work less or more, but find the happy medium. Even though I don't think about work when I leave the office, I also don't want to ever think about what is going to be waiting for me when I get back. Whether I work more to do that, or work less, it doesn't matter.

I have a different job. and I work no more than 45 hours a week. WOOHOO!

6. Go to the dentist. I have now got no less than 3 broken teeth. I think I need at least 1 more root canal, and I definitely need to have a tooth pulled. There is a reason my dad had dentures at 21, and I think I have reaped the genetic benefits of that act.

I guess... umm... well... I haven't even gone.

5. Find a new hobby. Or resurrect an old one. I really want to do pottery again. I wonder if there is anyone that would like to go with me?

Still need a hobby. Who wants to take a pottery class with me?

4. Spend more time at Disney. There are a million of you that would say that I already go a lot, but the fact of the matter is, there is so much that I miss there.

So I did spend a lot of time at Disney, until my pass ran out. Then decided it was a good time to wait and not renew right away. But it will happen again. I feel like this one was accomplished.

3. Talk to more people on the phone. I rarely return phone calls, and never initiate conversation. There are a billion people I need to talk to and miss back home, it's about time I did that.

Epic Fail. And any of my good buddies will tell you that. Still a work in progress though.

2. Show my Dad Orlando. I hope to have the chance to do that in the Spring when my dad travels across country on his first vacation in over 10 years. (Sound familiar? I'm only up to 3 years, maybe 4)

Well, I took a vacation,, and dad is supposed to come in May. So this could happen.

1. Be happy. I've been lucky to meet this requirement for most of 08, and definitely this first month of 09, all I ask is that it continues.

So I don't know if you know this, but I was completely lying here. BLATANTLY. Two months later, I managed to finally go see a doctor and get on medication which helped... A LOT. so. I guess I did accomplish it. WIN!


So revisiting this list has brought quite a few things into perspective. Namely, that life is a work in progress. And it will be until it's over. And that's okay. You don't have to figure it out all the time.

ha ha ha

We’re going to do this again.

Just for the record, that sentence originally said, “Looks like we’re going to do this again”. But that’s what this is about. I have decided that it is time. It’s time to get myself back together and organized. It’s time to have that outlet. To live each day.

I just went through a massively life changing experience. I went home.

There is something to be said for going home. The fact of the matter is, you learn that you have people who love you. UNCONDITIONALLY. Who can you say that about besides your family? Relationships with your significant other can pretend to be that, but they never will. It’s impossible. It’s the human condition. It’s just the way it works.

I was reminded of what it is like to have people need you. And your input. It’s been quite a few years since I had that. Somebody need me. I’m not ashamed to admit I love being needed.

I learned that I am a woman. A real, grown ass woman. Who has grown leaps and bounds from the girl that left Seattle 3 years ago. It boggles my mind.

I learned that being able to sit and watch your dad make you supper can be one of the highlights of your year.

I learned that taking your mom to see a 3D movie can be one of the most rewarding experiences. Ever.

Because of this trip, I’m looking forward to the next year. I’m looking forward to the options and new people that are going to present themselves.

I’m looking forward to my next chapter.

I was jogging tonight and ran into Whoopi Goldberg...

So... My apologies for falling off right when I was starting to get back into the swing of things with posting... And then the Wii happened.

I have spent a good portion of the last 6 days on the wii. Playing games and wii fitting, and playing more games and wii fitting more.

All of the cliche statements you've ever heard about peoples thoughts on the wii... well... it's true. And now I'm done talking about it.

:)

In other news, let's see....

I'm still on this kick of reading "teen fiction" books. I just finished another book written by the Twilight author and also read the first three of a series of books by an author who writes books that are pretty much the same as gossip girl, but set in 1800's New York.

There are only a few things that I like to call indulgences.... teen fiction is totally one of them.

Others would be.... red hots, MAC makeup, Filthy romantic comedies, fried pickles, big budget blockbusters with no real content, and really bad tv shows.

I'm sleepy internet, and I'll write you more later.

Rach

Car Dancing. Do it.

I was out running a bit of errands today, in fact I was running some of the best errands ever, a random walgreens stop and some blockbuster awesomeness, and found myself car dancing.

Car dancing, for those of you not in the know, is a magical bit of joy that helps pass the time in traffic. My best car dancing experience ever is with Miss Mle, who I'm sure has had her car dancing skills create the urge for people in cars next to her to car dance also.

All of this made me start to think of my top 10 car dancing songs. These are the songs that make you just want to belt out the tune, and shake it. So here they are...

Number 10: Single Ladies, Beyonce.
This was my car dancing choice for tonight, and something about "putting my hand up" is just great for dancing in the car.

Number 9: I don't need a man, The Pussycat Dolls.
I like this song, so suck it. I also don't need a man. So there.

Number 8: That's not my name, The Ting Ting's.
They call me awesome, they call me lame. That's not my name, that's not my name.. (Isn't that the lyric?)

Number 7: Glamorous, Fergie.
This song is ideal for car dancing, as it's always good to sing to yourself in the mirror. Don't act like you've never done it...

Number 6: Closer, Neyo.
This song has an amazing ability to get you to do some great interpretative dancing. It's all about the beat dropping out and then bringing it back.

Number 5: Just Dance, Lady Gaga.
Just do it.

Number 4: Sexyback, Justin Timberlake.
This song is all about the vocals. The lyrics/vocals/whatever you call it, require dancing. REQUIRE IT.

Number 3: Jump, Madonna.
The great thing about car dancing with this song is that it definitely has a crescendo. You really get to build up to the serious car dancing.

Number 2: It feels so good, Sonique.
Everything about this song reminds me of the old days, of car dancing in the explorer with the windows down, on a back road, and this song turned up as loud as possible.

And Number 1: Bel Biv Devo's Poison.
In general, this song just makes me want to dance. But in the car, it creates a dance explosion.


I encourage you to think about your favorite car dancing songs. And share... if this is the first you've ever heard of car dancing, sit down, buckle up, and dance.

R

EEEEEEEEEEEEE-leck-tron-ickssssssss

You're supposed to be saying that to the tune of the ricola song.

I got a bunch of new babies this week.

I bought a new television for my bedroom... Gregory robert could not lay in bed, and for that matter, I could barely too, and still see the tv. It is a little tiny.

But not any more! Yea! I plan to break it in tomorrow with some oreos, snack food and some football. And about 80 watchings on the narnia movies.

But the bestest new thing I got this week? A WII!!! I technically didn't get it this week but I purchased it. Allegedly, it comes from the targets.com, and it will be here on the 9th. It's going to be badass.

If tonights hours of Burnout are any indication, the wii battles will commence shortly thereafter.

r-dizzle

No really, Pageant Dad.

In case you haven't watch Toddlers and Tiaras on TLC yet, you MUST WATCH AT LEAST ONE EPISODE.

Not only is there a pagaent dad... who wears a pagaent dad hat... and had such gem like quotes such as "if you need a tire changed ask my wife, if you need a dress beaded, I'm your man"...

But there is also the filthiest filth of a macaw that was ever seen on a reality television show. She has to be, there is no reason how she could not be. She's a pageant mom who has made the leap to also being in the Mrs competition. Mrs.... At one point in time, before her talent (baton twirling in case you were wondering) they interviewed her in the hallway, and she explained her costume. "a one piece, if you can believe that, spandex pantsuit". What she didn't say with words but was shown in pictures were the glitter sequin hearts, and the netting stomach piece. She said it made her feel skinny. Honey, no spandex jumpsuit makes anyone feel skinny. Really.

and here, a tidbit for you. Evidently the internet loved her as much as I did... enjoy. Rach

Toddlers & Tiaras: Stacey's Skinny Outfit
by TheDlisted