And a Partridge in a Pear Tree...

So, I was walking through Target tonight, trying to get some of my Christmas shopping completed (which, may I add, I completed half of my gift-purchasing this evening. I'm rather proud of myself!), and I started thinking about some of my favorite things...not just this time of year, but all-year as well. I decided to make my own "12 Days" of my favorite things!

1. Q'Doba. For those of you who know me well, you know I have a problem. The problem begins with a "Q" and ends with a "Doba". I eat here all the time. No. Seriously. You must not have read that correctly. ALL THE TIME. You know it's bad when the manager at the store near your work knows you on a first-name basis. Yep. True story. I once ate the Doba 6 out of 7 days in a week. Yep. True story x2.

2. The fact that Christmas break is only DAYS away (at least in terms of school). I CAN'T WAIT for a break! You really take your summer and Christmas breaks when you actually get SUBSTANTIAL breaks...my summer break? A week. So, Christmas break is what I now look forward to annually, as this is the longer of my breaks throughout the year...

3. My screenplay. I cracked this beast open for the first time in almost a year tonight. And I'm excited. Because of my previously mentioned favorite thing, I will be trying to hash out the remainder of my script by mid-January, and at least get it ready for editing and review. CAN'T WAIT!

4. My cousin coming in town in about a month. I love my cousin. And he's coming in town sooooooon....before leaving for S. Korea (lucky duck). He's like my brother...at least I like to think that he's like my brother :) Plus, I've been a bad cousin and haven't sent him a gift I bought him a few months ago, so I FINALLY GET TO GIVE IT TO HIM! (Sorry, Lucas...I know, I suck...)

5. My best friends - Shades and Creeperbait. I met one in undergrad, and the other in grad school. I clicked immediately with both. People have asked me if I've known each of each of these wonderful people for much longer than I actually have (some people actually thought that I came into grad school already bff with CB - ehh, not the case - we met in our interviews). I live over an hour away from both. I have my own special lingo with both - thus their code names, hahaha...I LOVE THEM BOTH SO MUCH!

6. On that same note - MY WOLFPACK. Crepperbait just-so-happens to fall in this category as well. But what can I say, my wolfpack keeps me sane in class most of the time...plus they just make me laugh. A lot.

7. My I-pod. I seriously feel naked if I don't have my ipod with me. It's like I don't have a hand - or something like that, lol. I HAVE TO HAVE MUSIC. Plus, I have some pretty awesome music on there, not to mention a kick-a playlist that myself and Shades have compiled over the past few months. Yep. Pretty awesome. Let's just put it this way - I dropped my ipod in water and fried it a while back...instead of letting my dad work his magic for a week to see if he could resurrect the water-ridden ipod, I HAD to go get a new one that next day. At least, I say I HAD to. Because seriously, I would've died. Fo'realz.

8. The fact that I finally feel somewhat normal. They might not know what in the world is wrong with me, but at least my doctors have figured things out enough to get me feeling normal. The medications, supplements, and vitamins they have me on FINALLY have me feeling like I'm on a genuine up-swing. Yay! It's about darn time. I go back at the end of the month for a routine blood-screen to make sure that my levels are still on the rise. They should still be, but keep your fingers crossed too! :)

9. Sleep. You don't truly understand just how meaningful sleep is until you're at a point where you're constantly playing a catch-up game with it. And I'm not just talking about staying up late every night one week, and needing to catch-up in a day or two. Oh no. For me, it feels like a never-ending, eternal struggle to try to catch up on sleep. My hemoglobin, iron, and oxygen levels still aren't at 100% capacity, so therefore my energy level is not either - thus my constant need for sleep. When I say I can sleep all day, I mean it. I will wake up at 9am and fall back asleep within an hour, wake up around 2, fall asleep again by 3, and wake up around 7, only to turn around and fall asleep for the rest of the night. YEP. The rest of the night. And even after these all-day sleep-a-thons, I'm still in desperate need of sleep catch-up. And the vicious cycle repeats itself. :( But, don't get me wrong...I LOVE me some sleep. :)

10. Webcams. I ventured into the world of Macs this last year, and along with that got my first webcam by-proxy. I love being able to not only chat, but see and talk to my family and friends all over the world - whether it be my sister in Kannapolis, picking up her 70lb bulldog for me to see him (even though I just saw him the week previous), to Shades, to my friend stationed in Dubai. It's just really cool to be able to actually video chat with people.

11. Lulu. Lulu is my wonderful new car. :) She's a khaki Honda Element. I <3>

12. Bella and Buster. Bella is my princess, and Buster is my little man. Or, like my mom likes to put it, my rat and bugg. Bella is my little 12 week Chihuahua puppy, and Buster is my 3 year old Bugg (1/2 pug, 1/2 boston terrier) doggy. I love them both immensely. They're precious.

It's 9:34 and I'm exhausted. See what I mean about this whole sleep deprivation thing? Yep, it's for real. I hope you all have had a wonderful Tuesday. I love you all!

Song on Tap: "Hallelujah" - Paramore

Not Trying to Be a Grinch...

...but if I haven't informed the general public, let me go ahead and put it out there: I don't dig Christmas music. NOT my favorite thing. I know people who break out their Christmas cd's on November 1st and play them on hardcore repeat up until January 1st (which, might I add, as of Dec. 26th, you are officially 364 days EARLY with the Christmas music. The Christmas "holiday" - i.e. the time in which it's appropriate to blast 'Feliz Navidad' a gazillion times over - ends at 12:00am December 26th. This is the time all Kenny G and Glee Christmas albums must be retired until the deemed appropriate time the following year), and LOVE IT.

Eh.

Not I. You will never find me placing myself in that category.

Now, don't get me wrong....I like Christmasy music, but in small doses. And by small doses, I mean I enjoy (most) Christmas programs in which Christmasy music is sung...especially if they involve a choir of 30 4-year olds trying to out sing each other while they wave to their moms in the audience. I enjoy Christmas music on, oh - CHRISTMAS DAY (and I'll even throw in Christmas Eve for good measure)...but much beyond that? You're pushing your luck.

Now, I'm talking about the Rudolphs and Sleigh Bells and whatnot when I talk about these songs irritating me so...the songs that actually express the real meaning behind the Christmas season I'm MUCH more tolerant of...

So, what is this mini-tyraid all for? - you're probably asking. Oh, just got to thinking about if I could ask for ANYTHING for Christmas, what would the list include...(I know, totally unrelated to Christmas music...but it was a means to an end) and this is the list I came up with (some, I know, are completely unrealistic - that's the point by my emphasized ANYTHING...but some are still on the rather practical side....hint, hint):

1. An endless gas card: I drive. A LOT. I drive to and from work. To and from school. To and from my folks. To and from church. To and from, to and from, to and from....and it only seems like my list of commutes only continues to get added to, thus decreasing the gas gauge read on my Element quicker and quicker. If I had a gas card, I could, oh...you know...make that cross-country drive that I've been dreaming up over the last year with no problem whatsoever. That would make me a very happy girl.

2. Florence + the Machine Concert Tickets: Anywhere. Any date. I don't stinkin' care! I just want to see her in concert...NOW. But, I do ask, if someone happens to get me tickets at a venue that happens to be more than a, oh, 5 hour drive away, please provide the plane tickets as a perk gift. :)

3. The complete works of Sia: Yes, very practical. Not hard to come by. And it would only provide me with hours upon hours of musical enjoyment - musical enjoyment that can help me drown out the droning tuneage of "Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer" for the bazillionth time.

4. Plane ticket to North Korea: but this would also require that you receive clearance on my behalf to even get into the country, so this looks like it'll have to be a "surprise" gift to myself, from myself. (And if you find this item strange, read my post from last week....)

5. Yoga classes: WOULD BE AMAZING! (if my schedule wasn't crazy jam-packed) However, I did find out about a place in Charlotte that offers free yoga three times a week....I'm about to go hit that up!

6. For my friend's Christmas wishes to come true: Some of my friends have some pretty awesome Christmas wishes...most of which are pretty stinkin' practical if I do say so myself. I want them to come to fruition. Somebody, get on top of this, NOW. :)

7. This shirt, this shirt, and this shirt. But especially this shirt: Yeah, I got bored tonight. And the site that these lovely shirts come from kept me entertained for the better part of the evening. (D - don't even say anything about the last one! lol)

That's all I can think of right now, but I'm sure more will come to me...and when they do, I will be sure to add the additions to my list. :)

I'm tired...actually, exhausted is more like it. I'm going to bed.

Song on tap: "Breathe Me" - Sia

"If You See a Light at the End of the Tunnel, It's the Light of an Oncoming Train"

Wow. That title is rather morbid. I'm a glass-half-full kinda girl, promise....so this isn't one of those kinda posts, hahaha. I was actually reading my favorite book over lunch, and came across this quote and it happened to resound with me. The quote actually comes from poet Robert Lowell, and I find it quite brilliant. Why, I'm not exactly sure.

It reminds me of the past few months for me, though. Not that they've been bad....not by any means. It's just that I've had a few more of these types of moments than I would usually have the (dis)pleasure of having lately....oh well, c'est la vie.

My best friend is quick to remind me of this more than I'd like. See, I have a conscience, a voice of reason that does it's job and does it well (most of the time, and the times it "fails", I admit, is my own darn fault), then I have my best friend as a back-up. A fail-safe. But over the past 4 months or so he has been VERY quick to throw out, "Honey, if it's too good to be true, it probably is..."

Which I find ironic coming from him, somewhat. Why? Because we both refer to our friendship as "perfect". But then again, it's not in the typical sense that you'd probably expect. We don't have the "perfect" friendship in the sense of our interactions. Heck, he ticks me off. I tick him off. I snap at him, he snaps back. We actually just ended a stalemate of not talking for over a week - and neither of us exactly knows why we stopped talking (so, we're both chalking it up to our graduate studies bogging us down, as well as the other hassles of life right around this time - sounds good and works for us!).

So, how do we define "perfect" in this sense? We balance each other superbly. He's the yin to my yang. I'm the peanut butter to his jelly. That week+ that we didn't talk? Yeah, we picked up just like we hadn't skipped a beat...we just click in a way that most people have a hard time finding with another person....it's pretty cool...I could never take my friendship with him for granted.

Anyway, I digress...like I said, I like to consider myself an optimist (with the exception of the few off-days where I switch perspectives). But I need to teach myself how to keep things in perspective in a better way. I do believe I sometimes set myself up for disappointment - not talking about earth-shattering disappointment. I just like to see the best in most situations.

I actually had an instance of this in the last week. Ehh. It is what it is...life goes on, and I'm better off for it. For the people in my life who come and go (or even stay) and have caused the disappointment in my life, that's on them....not my problem. I let the disappointment come and go, let the moment pass me by as quickly as possible, and I move on. My life is by far too short to dwell on the disappointments. Plus, they've only made me stronger - never have they weakened me.

I hate the whole saying of "Don't set expectations, and you'll never be let down." I need to have expectations. They're also called standards. I think every person should have quite a few of these in their life...otherwise, what's the point? So I can't go by this whole "fly by the seat of your pants" mentality. If someone falls short of my standards then it's up to me to determine whether or not it's worth it to keep them an active part of my life. People aren't disposable, but the relationships I have with them are in my book - not the most encouraging thing I've said today, but still very true.

I'll be honest, I have no idea where this post came from - well, actually, it all came from that quote. All of this from a quote. Heh. Well, at least I got some stuff off of my chest that I felt I needed to say. I don't care if anybody reads this. Just writing this post was cathartic enough for me. :)

Now, on with my day. I'm off to save the world. (Or, more realistically, go see my newly-re-discovered, old ASU friend Amy (and my parents...can't forget them!) and then babysit a very cute little boy!)

Song on tap: "Ashes and Wine" - A Fine Frenzy

"A Walking Encyclopedia"

So, I mentioned yesterday in my post that I was called a walking encyclopedia by one of my coworkers (thanks, NB!). Now, I by no means claim to be an expert on any one given topic....but there are a few things that I know more about that your typical person....and it shocks people how I'm able to rattle off facts off the cuff like nobody's business...yesterday, it was in reference to my knowledge of Polio. Yes, Polio. How I know about Polio, idk, but apparently, I know about it, bc NB did her fact checking behind me....thus the ensuing tag-name. :)

So, listed below are some (by no means all....a lot of times it's just the topic coming up in conversation and I start rambling off what I know) topics of conversation here in the past few weeks that have amazed people that I know (so much) info about:

• Plum Island. Weird, I know. Most people have never even heard of it. The person I was talking to was from around NYC, and hadn't even heard of it, and here I am rattling off all of this random info about it, including how they're wanting to move the facilities on it to Kansas...and the only part of NY I've ever been to is Rochester...nowhere near the city! It's interesting if you're up for reading about it, but be warned, it's also somewhat unsettling. You've been warned.
• North Korea. I believe that I have watched almost all of the documentaries that are out there on North Korea. I once spent an entire weekend just reading articles on this country. It intrigues me sooooo much. I can tell you about the country's propaganda tactics, "tourism" in the country (and the requirements), the fact that there's one American defector in the country from the Korean War who is regarded as a celebrity in the country (and is in a ton of North Korean produced cinema), and way more than you ever wanted to know about the DMZ (DeMilitarized Zone), the land border that spans the length of the two nations.
• 9/11 Conspiracies. I'm a sucker for a good conspiracy. And by no means am I saying that I believe everything out there that skeptics speculate. But after watching the documentary "Loose Change", I was kinda sucked into the realm of these conspiracies. I'll rattle off way too much stuff that will just jumble your brain. Best not to ask me. :)
• Anything Psychology (Especially Bipolar/Schizophrenia). Well, this one is a no-brainer. And this is one of the subjects that I know there are PLENTY of professionals out there who know TONS more than me....but I do know more than even the average psych student about a lot of topics - including bipolar and schizophrenia mental health disorders. This is due in large part to my internship and part-time work experience gained in undergrad, as well as years of personal research around the two subjects. Please, if you have just a base knowledge on these two disorders, do NOT try to argue with me, because you will be owned intellectually. One of my family members (who will go unnamed) made this mistake once.
• Women's Studies Issues. Another no-brainer, as this was one of my two minors. And because over half of the books in my collection pertain to different women's studies issues and gender issues. If you know me, you know I claim to be a feminist, but I'm not one of the super-crazy ones who goes about calling everybody out and refusing for men to open the door for me. Promise. :) But, if the topic (and need) arises, I will inform you of what I know as it pertains to this topic, including: each of the 3 "waves" of feminism and what they each centered around (and how some propose we're moving into a 4th "wave"), the different theories around feminism (and how I attribute myself more as an existential/eclectic feminist), and many other random things that will either bore you or cause you to roll your eyes (or perhaps, even both!).
• Cults. I know I worried my parents in elementary and middle school when I suddenly took an intense interest in learning as much as I could about different cults. I was so intrigued behind their different beliefs and (yes) behind the psychology and tactics used by them. I can tell you about cults you've probably never even heard of. I can tell you alllll about Jonestown (and how they didn't drink Kool-Aid, but FlavorAid). It's rather ridiculous how much I know about this...BUT, I also know equal amount of information on:
• The Bible. I was actually asked a few weeks ago how I know so much about the Bible. And I was asked this...at church. Yes. At church. Didn't exactly know how to take that at first, as I was initially taken aback by the question coming to me while I was at church of all places. :) Part of this has to do with being a Religious Studies Minor (in addition to my Women's Studies Minor), but is due mostly to my upbringing and my intense involvement in church. I can tell you Greek and Hebrew roots of certain words. I can give you background history of certain periods covered in the Bible from a more historical perspective (basically, I can tell you what's happening during a certain time in history that isn't talked about in the Bible). Oh, and the fact that the the Xerxes that is portrayed in the movie "300" (YES, I know that the movie is all Hollywood...please don't call me out on this obvious fact) would be the same Xerxes that ended up marrying Esther. Yep. Booyah.
• Other World Religions. Goes along with the Religious Studies minor territory. Name a religion, and I'll probably be able to tell you at least thing about it.
• Serial Killers/Other Criminals. Goes along with me wanting to go into the FBI as a criminal special agent. I've spent hours upon hours reading crime profiles and case studies. Another topic that I'm sure worried my parents at one time or another. :)
• Developmental Disabilities. I still have a TON to learn on this subject, as I work intensely in this field. BUT, I do know more than your average person about autism, Rett Syndrome, Down Syndrome, etc., and then other disabilities you've probably never even heard of, such as Smith Magenis syndrome.
• Nazi Germany. Again, another rather disturbing topic that I just happen to know quite a bit about. And not the typical info that people know either. Again, I attribute this to documentaries and research. Geez, I'm a nerd.
• Texas State History. Goes along with Texas state education in elementary and middle school. It seems more random than it really is when you now live in North Carolina. Hahaha!
• US Presidents. I know some random stuff about random presidents. I can tell you all about the grassy knoll and the Texas school book depository (not only due to me having been there before). And I can tell you the ironic similarities between Lincoln and JFK.

I swear, I'm normal. (reminds of me Sheldon: "I'm not crazy...my mother had me tested")

So, that's really all I can think of off of the top of my head right now....but there's a lot of other randomness where all of this came from, don't worry. If I think of any others, I'll be sure to add them to this list...so check back, as this list is by no means complete at this point in time. :)

The First Ever Lindsay Recommends List...

So, here are 10 things that I highly recommend....I have a feeling that this list will be music-heavy, but I'll try to keep it relatively even-spread. :) (And no, these are in no particular order)

#10: Anything by A Fine Frenzy

First, let's get one thing straight - A Fine Frenzy is NOT a band. Alison Monro IS A Fine Frenzy. And she, as well as her voice, IS beautiful.

I say I recommend anything by her, which is very much true...but may I suggest your first three downloads (and yes, in this order): Almost Lover (Remix Edit - NOT the original), Near to You, and Blow Away. Yes, the latter of those is much more upbeat then the other two, buttttt the other two are quite possibly two of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. The lyrics are so poignant and deep...LOVE HER!

Video for Blow Away:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7N5L1yCFUc

Video for Near to You (Not an actual music video, but it still has the song):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_CwkdXfAhg

Video for Almost Lover (And this is the remix edit...it's better than the original IMHO):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgyzsbv2xKg

#9: List Universe - www.listverse.com

Okay, so I'll be the first to admit that I'm a nerd. A complete and utter nerd. A few of my posts in this will prove this to be true, including this one. List universe is AMAZING. I discovered probably my sophomore or junior year of my undergraduate career, and have checked it everyday since....no lie. I love random knowledge. I was actually called a walking encyclopedia today by a coworker. It made me smile. :) Everyday there is a new top 10 list. Now, I'm not promoting every list on the website....but I find quite a few of them very intriguing....it's definitely worth a looksie! :)

#8: "An Unquiet Mind" by Kay Redfield Jamison

One of my favorite books ever, and I'm not even done with it. It's a memoir written by a psychiatrist who is herself diagnosed with Manic Depression (i.e. Bipolar Disorder). Her story highlights her struggles to regulate herself on her medications, her career, etc. Very good read! (See, I told you I'm a nerd)

#7: Inception

So, there's a rule in my family that I'm not allowed to buy myself anything after Thanksgiving day until after Christmas just in case I happen to purchase myself something that someone else has already gotten me as a gift. Which is why I'm struggling really bad....I have every want, desire, and urge to go across the street to Walmart right now and buy a copy of Inception. But, alas, I'm gonna stick to the rules laid out before me and not do so...see mom? I can obey! ;) (Oh, and that better be wrapped under the tree for me Dec. 25th! lol!)

I LOVE this movie. As an aspiring screenwriter, I am envious of the script...the cleverness, the cohesiveness, the minimal loose ends in such an intense story line. It's superb. 7 out of 5 stars in my book. :)

#6: "Lungs" by Florence + the Machine (yes, the entire album)

Florence + the Machine is one of my all-time favorite bands, and they're actually a relatively newly realized band to me. Amazing, unique sound....and very eclectic style-wise. LOVE it!

(Oh, and it never hurts when Glee covers one of your songs, too!)

Dog Days are Over Video (One of my top 10 songs):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWOyfLBYtuU

Drumming Song Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpLXQorSQe8

#5: Big Bang Theory

Yes, I'm a nerd! We've already been over this! But seriously - this is the all-time funniest show I've ever watched. It's the one show I can watch time and time again and laugh each and every time. :)

My sister made fun of me when I first told her how much I love the show...now I have her just as hooked (if not more so) than myself!

And one of the funniest scenes ever just-so happens to be appropriate for this time of year!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlhHTdDqoBc

(Oh, and I definitely have a "Bazinga!" window decal on my window of my Element)

#4: In The Life of a Child blog by Childlife - http://www.blogcatalog.com/user/Childlife

I stumbled upon this blog one day while looking at the blogs of one of the families I work with. The mom just so happened to follow this blog herself. And, once I started, I couldn't stop reading - it's HILARIOUS! She updates almost every Saturday, so I know I always have something to look forward to at the beginning of the next week!

#3: My Nook

I was really reluctant to venture into the world of an E-Reader. If you know me, or have ever been to my apartment, you know from the get go that I LOVE books....and I was afraid that by purchasing one of these, it would take away from my love of having books on my shelves. And while I admit, I do have a couple on my bookshelf just for show (i.e. Fennegan's Wake - but seriously, has ANYONE actually ever read that book? And if you say yes, you're full of it. And if you have NO idea what I'm talking about, read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnegans_wake), my Nook is just so much more convenient and practical...definitely a wise investment for me - the girl who used to have at LEAST two books on her at any given moment. :) (yes, nerd.)

#2: PARAMORE!

My favorite band EVERRRRRRR. Plain and simple :)

Misery Business Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCyGvGEtOwc

Only Exception (again, another song covered on Glee):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J7J_IWUhls

Brick by Boring Brick Video (one of the best music videos of all time):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A63VwWz1ij0

#1: Getting back to blogging

Yes, I'll admit, it's an easy way out. I'm tired. So shoot me. But I'm trying to get back into the swing of writing regularly. So...it's a favorite right now, and highly recommended :)

So, today is Thanksgiving, and I thought, what a better day to get back to blogging?

This past year has been a year of great events, trials, changes (good and bad), complications, and exciting developments. And through it all, I'm thankful for many things.

For starters, I'm thankful for my salvation. My Jesus, my God...they're amazing. :) I don't know how I would've gotten through this past year without my faith.

I'm thankful for my family. Over the past year, I have grown so incredibly closer with my family. It's such a great feeling to be so close with your family. I have for too long taken my family for granted, and now truly appreciate what I have with them. My parents truly are awesome people - I get reminded of this by people all of the time when I tell them stories of what my parents do and say. Like, their reaction to me getting a third tattoo and my nose pierced without them knowing about it until after it all happened. My sister and brother-in-law are awesome too. While I don't get to see them nearly as much as I'd like, they're so much fun to be around.

I'm thankful for amazing friends. Over the past couple of years actually, through my graduate program, I have met truly awesome people. It's kinda funny, I've begun telling people that my graduate school experience has turned out the way I always wanted my undergraduate career to be. I have such an amazing support system and tight network of friends that I know I will continue to have even after our graduation. On this same note, I'm thankful for my best friend. The first person who truly gets me outside of my family...understands my nuances and idiosyncrasies, and still has the patience to put up with me. We are complete opposites in so many ways, but because of this, we balance each other out in such a cool way. We have a lot of things in common too, which I think adds to the reason we're so understanding of each other.

I'm thankful for my health. Yes, it may not be perfect....but I have so much to be thankful for even given that. After a stay in the hospital in January, recurring doctors visits and gamuts of testing after that, it seemed as if my health was on the rise, was getting better. After a period of about 6 months or so, something triggered in my body to repeat what had happened at the end of last year to put me in the hospital. Luckily, I was more proactive this time, and immediately began doctor visit after visit. After blood test after test, tests for cancer, blood disorders, and various other ailments I can't even pronounce the name of, doctors still couldn't give me any answers. I was an enigma....none of the doctors or specialists had an explanation. But having to go to the hospital every week for the past month for iron infusion treatments really puts things in perspective - having to sit next to optimistic chemo patients, bright eyed and hopeful, will really put you in a reality check - I really don't have it that bad. I'm blessed with good health.

I'm thankful for my job. I work with such an amazing team of people. I hear people complain all of the time about their job, and I know that I am in the minority of people who really, truly love their job and the people that they work with. I'm so blessed to be working in the field that I'm in as well...it has proven to be so rewarding personally, I love it.

I'm thankful for heat in my car. Lame, I know, but very, very true. For those of you who haven't heard the drama, I bought a new car, and soon came to find out the heat in the car was no longer working (lovely, huh?) Well, my dad is amazing, and fixed it for me! And believe me, I need heat in my car during this time of the year.

I'm thankful for my education. I'm so blessed to have been able to complete my undergraduate studies and go straight into my graduate studies. It has been so rewarding. While it's challenging to balance graduate studies with a full-time job, I know it's all going to pay off in the end.

Well, that's not alllllll I'm thankful for, but it's the beginning of a rather extensive list, so I figured I'd stick to the major ones. I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving!

God Bless,

RS: Long Time, NO Blog.

So, it's been a while to say the least. Right when I had EVERY intention of blogging on a regular basis, BAM! - I disappear. I've had a lot of people ask "What happened to your blog?" - nothing's happened to the blog, per-say. It's more of what happened to me at the end of January.

See, here's the thing - I'm a very stubborn person.

Many of you probably already know this to be true.

So stubborn, that I did, in fact, keep quiet for three months when I was evidently, obviously very ill. There was something not right about what was going on with me. But I didn't go to the doctor. I waited it out. I expected whatever was going on with me was just going to pass on its own. Bad idea, I know. (Believe me, I got an earful from all of my loved ones when this whole episode was said and done) These symptoms in question lasted from before Thanksgiving of 2009 until the end of January/beginning of February of this year.

So, I finally had enough and went to see my doctor at the end of January. Here's the thing - I had only seen my doctor one time previous to this visit (I had just moved to the South Charlotte area a few months prior, and decided to change physicians with the move). When she walked into the room, I knew something was really wrong. One look at me, and she ordered me to the lab - no questions about how I had been feeling, no bp check, no nothing. Just a "Oh my gosh, you look terrible. I need to get some blood - go down the hall."

Okay - let's just get one thing straight. Needles and I do NOT get along. At all. And neither do I and the unfortunate nurse that is instructed to stick said needle in my arm. Now, it's not like I cause grievous harm to the nurse, but I have made a habit of looking the nurse in the face and letting them know that I do not like them given what they're about to do.

Anywho....I go down the hall and let the vampires do their thing. And come back. And wait.

Now, if you've been fortunate to never have had blood work done, here's how it USUALLY works: you go give blood, come back to the room, and continue on with the check-up/appointment with the doctor. Test results typically come back within the next week for standard tests (iron levels, allergy tests, etc.), and up to a month later for more complex testing (Von Willdebrand's, etc.).

I have had upwards of 40+ bloodtests done in my lifetime, and never, EVER have I had the results back within 15 minutes....until this day. Again, let me point out that my doctor still had not asked me anything regarding how I was feeling - she came in, slapped the blood work on the table, and looked me straight in the eyes: "You're going to the hospital right now, young lady."

WHAT?

I freaked. She was so direct. So blunt. So concerned. And it was obvious to me at that moment that there was something seriously wrong. And this was all coming at the exact wrong time - it was a Thursday night, which just so happened to be the first night of my Thursday night classes for my first spring semester of Grad school.

She also looked at me at amazement. Why? "How did you get here? Who brought you?"

"Um, I drove myself."

"WHAT?"

"Yeah, I drove myself here from work..."

"I have no idea how you're even sitting here conscious right now, much less how you drove yourself here. Have you been keeping up with your normal schedule? Have you missed any work?"

"No. None at all."

"What in the...-?"

What was she getting at?

THEN SHE EXPLAINED.

Apparently, my blood tests came back astronomically, off-the-charts, low. My hemoglobin was at a staggering 3.8 - to put this in perspective, a healthy person has a hemoglobin reading of at least a 12, and most doctors suggest beginning blood transfusion therapy when the reading drops to an 8. She had never seen someone walk into her office with a level this low. Basically, my organs should've begun shutting down and failing a while before I had even made it to the hospital - it was a miracle nothing like that had begun to happen. It was also a miracle I was still conscious and functioning at the capacity that I had been (although, it had been evident in the previous weeks that I was not operating at my 100% - I had to have my neighbor carry my groceries up to my apartment for me one night because after each trip of 2 bags each, I'd have to sit down for 5 minutes and catch my breath...it was miserable).

So, she was sending me to the hospital. Being naive and ignorant to how hospital-stays go in situations such as mine, I thought I might be out in time to make it to class that night - and there was no doubt in my mind I'd make it to work the next morning. Oh no. I was severely mistaken, and my doctor let me know. It was going to be at LEAST one nights stay - if not two, three, or possibly even four, depending on if they saw a need to run more tests, and depending on what those might reveal.

Long story short, I had 3 units of blood infused that night. Luckily, it was only a one-night hospital visit for me. By the time I left the hospital Friday evening, my hemoglobin level had risen to a "stable" 6.8 (this was by far the most stable I had been in a while...but I still had a ways to go to be healthy again).

I went in the next three weeks or so to a specialist to try to follow up and determine any potential cause for my illness and drastic drop in blood levels. No definite answers. Which is frustrating. But, I'm not focusing my time, energy, and finances on finding the answer to the "what" issue. I'm focusing all of the above on the "how" issue right now - HOW do I keep this from happening to me again?

So, in sum, I'm back to blogging. And, no, I'm not dying. Just trying to get healthy again. It's going to take some time. And there have already been some set-backs. But I'm determined now more than ever to make sure that my anemia and blood levels get under control. One hospital stay given this situation is enough for me, thank you!

So, I'm hoping to get back into my routine again here shortly. It may take a little time to get completely right-on-track, but semi-regularly is better than never!

FF #1: BUSTER!!!!

Okay, so this may be an easy way out of this post, but hey, I'm not feeling the best, and I love this little guy! My puppy (he's actually 2 years old, but I call him a puppy), Buster, is a special little guy to me...I call him my "son", since I'm not married, and I don't have children. :) It's just me and him day in and day out in our quaint little apartment, and honestly, if it wasn't for him, I don't know what I'd do.

Buster is a special hybrid dog called a Bugg. He's half Pug, half Boston Terrier (my sister's sweet dog, Roxie, is a full bred Boston...and NO, she's not Buster's mama). I got him 2 years ago this February, when he was about 4 months old, and a tiny little thing.

Other than getting into chocolate while I'm gone, and giving his mama a heart attack (ahem!), Buster is a really good little guy...a little quirky, but hey, that just means that I'm meant to have him!

I don't really know what I'd do without him here....He keeps me sane...and entertained.

So, if you ever come over, or just have the general pleasure of meeting little Buster, be prepared: He's a bundle of energy. He is notorious for running laps around my apartment at FULL sprint, and jumping at faces in excitement. :)

THTH #1: "Hey, I Know You"...

To get things started with my "restructuring", I have decided to focus on a group today that I admire greatly, not only because of the field that I work in (I work with ESUCP, an organization that works with children & adults with developmental disabilities and special needs), but because I hold this family very near and dear to my heart.

The foundation of focus in this post is the Ben Yorgey Foundation. I never personally met Ben in person, but I am friends with his older brother, Travis, and his family. And through Travis, I learned a lot about who Ben was, and what a great person he was to be around. To read about Ben's life, click here.

The foundation has an amazing purpose and goal, and is focused on a specific need in their community (Lehigh County, PA) that usually does not get met in many, unfortunately. The title of my post comes directly from the foundations URL: http://www.heyiknowyou.org/ and is reflective of the type of person Ben was through and through.

The motto, too, is highly reflective of the life Ben lived: Never meet a stranger. There is no such thing. Love everyone.

I encourage anyone who may read this that is from the Lehigh County, PA area or who may know anybody who lives nearby to participate in the foundation's events that they are sponsoring. And I encourage everyone, no matter where you may live, to get involved in your community, small (local) and large (world-wide), in some way, shape or form. It's an amazing feeling that I can't even begin to describe.

I never imagined that I would find so much fulfillment working in the field that I do today, and I wish everybody had the same understanding and compassion as some of the individuals I encounter on a daily basis who don't have all of the same abilities as everyone else. I'm amazed on a daily basis at the abilities of those who have been told since they were born that they "would never...(fill in the blank)..." It's something that I will continually treasure every day of my life, and it has taught me to no longer put limits on myself. If I personally could tell anybody anything it would be to not only underestimate each other, but don't ever underestimate yourself. :)

***Organizational Restructuring***

I mean the title partially in jest, but mostly seriously...I have been thinking that I need an organized outlet for my writing, and have determined that writing randomly on here would be a good source. Yet, I don't want my writing to be TOO random, because I wan't people to have a reason to come read and critique what I write, so, I have decided to give some structure to each day of the week that I may blog. So, without further adieu, here are the daily topics/themes of my blog (and, this is the only time I use these lame title alliterations. I use them now only for explaining purposes).

Memory Monday (MM): On Mondays, I'll pick a photo from one of the MANY boxes of photos I have and upload it to my blog. Attached to the photo will be a story of either what is going on in the photo, or the first memory that comes to mind from the photo. I'm actually pretty excited about this one!...well, actually, all of them!

Tirade Tuesday (TT): So, a local radio station that I listen to has a segment every Tuesday afternoon called "Tirade Tuesday" in which listeners call in and complain about anything that has come up either in their life or in the news, etc. in the previous week. I'm always too chicken to call in, so, I've decided to let this be my outlet of my complaints/gripes. DON'T WORRY: I assure no personal attacks or ugliness. Most things will be kept to a general theme, and not focused on any body, group, or thing in particular.

Wishful Wednesday (WW): On Wednesdays, I will focus on a wish or goal that I have for myself/life/those I hold dear.

Thoughtful Thursday (THTH): On Thursdays, I will focus on a special organization or person who is making a profound impact in their community (not necessarily local to myself) and in the world. I will attach links to their websites or whatnot, and explain why I think what they do is so important.

Family Friday (FF): Each Friday, I will focus on a member of my family and share a story (or two) concerning them. You'll get to know more about me and where I've come from...

Song Quote Saturday (SS): I have the tendency to get hooked on a song for a period of time and listen to it for a while...a good while. So, on Saturdays, I will post the lyrics to a song that I have either been listening to a significant amount of time, or that has had a significant impact in my life in the past. The lyrics, artist, and some extra explanation/story will be included with these entries.

Random Sunday (RS): Okay, so I know this doesn't work with the whole double letter theme I had going on with the other six, but hey, a girl can only do so much. This will just be a day for random reflections, thoughts, or ideas...hey, God rested on the seventh day! My seventh day doesn't have to have absolute structure! :)

That's not to say that there may not be a second posting each day of something totally unrelated to the theme for the day...I'm just sticking to these themes to give me some extra direction in my writing routine. :)

OH! And feel free to comment/participate. That will only help encourage me to keep going...

January...

WOW. It's been a while. "A while" is actually a gross understatement. For someone who loves to write as much as I do, this is just obscene. But, it's a new year...(yes, maybe almost halfway into the first month of the new year, but a new year nonetheless), and I've made a promise to myself to be more disciplined in my writing.

I guess part of the turn off from habitually writing comes from the fact that I have already spent 4 years in an undergraduate college program in addition to 1 semester of graduate school -- and still have 3 more years of graduate school "to look forward to"...FOR MY MASTERS (please, oh please, don't even begin mentioning DOCTORATE...although I'm already scouting out programs and schools).

You see, when you're in college (undergrad/grad/what-have-you), and ESPECIALLY when you're in a liberal arts field like myself (I have my BA in Psychology and two minors in Religious and Women's studies), you don't get handed worksheets. You don't have lovely fill-in-the-blank answers and multiple choice questionnaires (not saying that there is any one program that really does have these -- I'm just speaking from experience.)

NO. You have to explain. You have to know (some of us more and better than others). You have to be able to be eloquent, educated, while being concise (something I have always struggled with -- thanks mom (: ). You aren't tested by how perfect your circles around your "D" is, or based off of penmanship.

No. You have to write. Papers. And I'm not talking a 2-page response to some nonsense article you may have read.

No. How about a 35 page final paper in RESEARCH METHODS based around figures, charts, and statistics. ENTHRALLING, I know. Hey, at least I got an "A". :)

So, that brings me to this point where I'm at now. There is always going to be a part of me that is sad that I never followed through with my creative-writing (double) major (believe me, I wouldn't ever give up my psychology degree for anything in the world....it's too much fun!), but I have to remind myself that what I have concerning my creative writing abilities is a natural, God-given gift, and nothing any professor could have taught or necessarily perfected. You can't LEARN to be a passionate writer. It's just something you are. And while my preferred areas of writing are rather unique from the majority of the creative-writing population (I'll take {screen}playwriting any day over poetry or prose), I find pleasure in all facets.

So, here goes.

My (2009) Year in Review (In no particular/chronological order):

• I graduated Cum Laude from UNC Charlotte (like I said, with my BA in Psychology and 2 minors in Religious and Women's Studies) -- wicked awesome.
• I almost lost my baby sister (the only sibling I have) to 3 blood clots. A week after being admitted into ICU and many pain medications later (for her, not for me, of course), I came to truly appreciate the little sister God had given me 20 years ago. I'm thankful everyday that He has given her more time with us -- or us more time with her.
• Said baby sister (from above) GOT MARRIED!!! -- YAY!
• Along with bullet #3, I got a BROTHER (in-law). But, I just leave off those last two words. :)
• I joined the ridiculous world of "Twilight" -- BUT, I made sure to not finish ALL of the books in the two week span that I had going...I have yet to finish the second half of the last book...but that will happen one day. Oh, and I'm TOTALLY team Edward. ;)
• I celebrated the second year of being with the love of my life, Billy. It's been such a great time so far, and continues to only get better! I can't wait to see what God has in store for our futures together.
• I met a girl who is fast becoming one of my closest, dearest friends. I met Stephanie originally at our interview for our graduate program, and then when we went to orientation and began classes, we became quick friends. I don't know what I'd do without Stephanie...she's awesome!
• I moved out on my own. Now, throughout college I was out on my own from time to time -- like Freshman thru half of sophomore year I lived in the dorms at ASU -- but with a roommate. And then I moved home for another year and a half -- with my family. Then I moved into a house with 2 other girls -- and two dogs and two cats. FINALLY, I'm on my own. With my dog. In my own apartment. Just me, myself and I (and Buster).
• I got two tattoos. Yes, you read that right. TWO. One on the inside of my left wrist that is the Hebrew word for Grace. I got that one July 3. The other is a "C.R." that I designed myself on the top-center of my right foot. Got that one December 17. First one burned. Second one hurt. If you have gotten a tattoo, you understand what I'm trying to describe, lol.
• I began my graduate career at Gardner-Webb University. I'm studying Mental Health Counseling, and I'm a semester in (and a week away from beginning my second semester!), in which I was able to start off my Masters degree career with a 4.0! :)
• I got my first "big-girl" job!!! -- yes, salaried, with PTO, benefits and all that jazz!!! I'm an ICS Supervisor with Easter Seals UCP, and could not love my job any more than I do! I am so blessed to have been given this opportunity!

So, what's going on with 2010? Well, I don't like New Years Resolutions, soooo...I decided to quit some bad habits a few months before the turn of the New Year. I stopped biting my nails (yay!), and gave up caffeine and adding salt to my food (double yay!). Now, a new goal: Not to drastically cut my hair at all this year...trims and styles, okay...but no drastic cuts. My hair has never been as long as it is today...and I love it!

Also, I am aiming to finish one, if not two, screenplays. I'm just waiting on getting my new computer so I can install my marvelous Christmas gift, Final Draft -- which is official screenwriting software (thanks mom and dad!). Just a few more weeks, and I'll be there! Can't wait! I already have a 10 page + storyboard outlined, and it's still growing. Just have to get cracking on the actually layout and dialog!

Well, that's about it for now....I'm tired, and I need to get ready for bed. :) (Some things never change!)