Another Year...

What is with me only posting once a year? I need to get better at this.

Okay - quick summary:

In April of this year Shane and I moved back to Kearney after living in North Platte for just over two years. It's a relief to be back here. In May my baby sister graduated from high school. In a little less than a month she'll be moving into her dorm at CCC. Shane and I finally got to go on a "honeymoon" last weekend. We didn't go very far but it was a great vacation.

We drove up to Omaha/Council Bluffs for the weekend. On Friday we spent almost the full day at the Henry Dorley Zoo and then had dinner at Harrah's casino before passing out in the hotel that night. On Saturday we got to the IMAX in Council Bluffs at around 8am to wait to get into Inception. It was worth paying a little extra to see it on the IMAX screen. After the movie we drove into Omaha to hang out down at Old Market. We had lunch at Spaghetti Works (great place) and went into a couple of shops. It was so hot and we weren't really finding anything to do so we spent about an hour walking around a park that had weird artwork and fountains (it probably has a name, I just don't know it.) We were lucky to find that the Bodies exhibition was still in town and just around the corner from the park! It was very cool - freaky, but interesting. I'm glad we got to go. We spent the evening watching a movie in our hotel room. We left for home on Sunday morning. On the way we ate breakfast at a CrackerBarrel - delicious!

In two weekends I will be going up to Omaha again with my parents and sister. We're going to the zoo, as well. My sister wants to do some shopping - I'll probably just want to sit down. Ha.

I have unfortunately been jobless since we moved back down here to Kearney. I've been applying and applying and interviewing and applying to more places, but I just can't seem to bag a job. I'm hoping something comes through for me eventually. Anyone want to pay me to write this blog? Yeah, didn't think so. Worth a shot.

Currently, it's thundering and lightning outside. It sounds amazing. There's nothing better than a little stormy weather at midnight, am I right? I know I am.

I had kind of a...different...day today. A little out of the ordinary for me, at least. Usually, my day consists of making the bed, doing necessary laundry and picking up, washing dishes, and Facebooking. (It's a verb whether you like it or not.) Today, however, I had a strange urge to go rifling through a few Rubbermaid totes full of things - junk? - I haven't gone through in a while. I came across a folder I've been cramming songs and poems into since high school. On discovering a couple half-way decent songs I'd written and attempted to accompany on guitar I dug out ol' Antonio (the Ibanez) and re-blistered my fingertips trying to remember how to play that damned instrument. Needless to say, I'm not good - I never was - and I'm not fooling myself. I really just should stick to singing.

On another musical note (see what I did there?), close to a month ago my Mom bought me my very own flute! I was beside myself with excitement when she texted me and told me she found one. I'd been looking for one for years. In fifth grade when we started band in school she handed down her high school flute to me - the old Bundy. It still is the best flute I've ever played. When my sister started band and I was still using the Bundy, Mom found a second flute at a garage sale for her. When I graduated and didn't need the flute anymore the Bundy went to my sister. Since then I'd wanted to get my own, and now I have one. It's great. I've been playing a little here and there, trying to get to the level I was in high school.

Wasn't this supposed to be a quick summary?

I wish I had more interesting things to blog about. Books, tv shows, movies, music? That's easy: Read the Wicked series; Watch Lie To Me and The Good Guys; Enjoy Inception and Toy Story 3; and Listen to Muse. Done.

Elaborate? Why sure!

I'm currently reading A Lion Among Men: Volume Three in the Wicked Years by Gregory Maguire. My sister got me started on the series. It starts with Wicked; the story of the Wicked Witch of the West (you know the one; from Wizard of Oz!) The second book, Son of a Witch, tells the story of Liir, the Witch's son. The third and final book of the series, A Lion Among Men, explains why the Cowardly Lion was so cowardly in the first place. I am only a third into the book, but already so much has happened and you really see the Lion in a completely different light.

Both shows, Lie To Me and The Good Guys, show on Fox. Lie To Me is in its second season and airs Mondays at 7pm/c. Leading the cast is Tim Roth (Reservoir Dogs, The Incredible Hulk) as Dr. Cal Lightman. The show is based on the science of reading a person's facial movements and body language to discover whether they are telling the truth or lying. Dr. Lightman is basically a living lie-detector. The episodes are funny and thrilling and superbly enhanced by actual science. The Good Guys follows Lie To Me on Mondays at 8pm/c. It's hilarious comedy and fast action all rolled into an hour per week. Starring Bradley Whitford (The West Wing) and Colin Hanks (The House Bunny, Orange County) this show really has everything. Whitford and Hanks play Dallas cops Dan Stark and Jack Bailey. Jack is the by-the-book type of cop who gets partnered with the by-the-gut type of cop, Dan. Comedy, action, drama, and even a little suspenseful developing relationship between Jack and his ex-girlfriend A.D.A. Liz Traynor (Jenny Wade.) Mondays are the best for watching Fox.

I am not going to elaborate too much on the movies to watch. I feel like it'll give too much away. Inception was amazing. I loved the entire cast with the exception of Leo DiCaprio - he's just not on my list of top male actors. However, he is a great actor and his character is believable. Joseph Gordon Levitt, Cillian Murphy, Michael Caine, and Ellen Page -- what a cast! If I was to rate this movie - 1 to 5. It would easily be a 4.9. I can't honestly give any movie a perfect rating but this is as close as they come. Toy Story 3 was absolutely amazing. I didn't have the chance to see it in 3D, but as I've said before: 3D sometimes gets you distracted from the story - at least that happens to me. There was so much going on that it really took a lot of concentration to catch everything the movie had to offer. I went to the movie with my Aunt and my sister, Taylor. Out of the three of us I was the only one to actually cry; but if you know me you're probably not surprised. It was an emotional movie, especially to a big kid like myself. After watching Toy Story 3 I felt it was necessary to hug all the stuffed animals I still have - just so they knew I still cared about them. (Now it's up to you to decide whether I actually did that or not.)

On to Music. Muse. Great band, people; c'mon - listen to Muse! If you're familiar with the Twilight Saga soundtracks you'll know that each soundtrack has a Muse song on it. Those songs are good, but if you really want to feel the music, go out and buy one of their CDs. You won't regret it. Currently I'm absolutely hooked on their latest album The Resistance. You might have even heard their song Uprising on a popular music station while in your car. Apart from not being able to eject that CD from my stereo, I have been leaping occasionally over to their album Origin of Symmetry to listen to my newest favorite-song-ever. You may know the song Feeling Good - it was originally written for a musical in the 60s and since has been covered by many artists. By far, Muse's rendition of Feeling Good is the best. I turn it on in my car while I'm out driving, turn the volume up so loud I almost can't stand it and let Matt Bellamy serenade me until I get to where I'm going. Sound crazy? Good. It is. But try it, you'll get what I'm saying. On an interesting note - Muse singer/composer Matt Bellamy is now currently dating actress Kate Hudson. I think it's neat. When you finish reading this you should Wiki Matt Bellamy and read about him - he's done so much and he's just brilliant.

So...I got that covered. Maybe I should try and get some sleep now. My husband has been in bed since 9:30. I was there for awhile but once I realized trying to fall asleep with a storm brewing outside wasn't going to work I got up, read a couple chapters in A Lion Among Men and figured I'd ramble on to you fine people...that is, if you're still reading.

I'll call it a night now. If you think about it remind me to post again soon. Have a great night!