Sunglasses On A Desk

Huh? What?

2011-05-01T07:53:00.003-06:00

Okay, to preface the rest of the blog:

Thursday morning - EARLY morning - I woke up from strange dream at 3:30. At the time, up until now, I couldn't remember any part of the dream. Things are started to piece together. I believe a tornado was involved and I had to save my patio furniture. The apartment was the same but all the rooms seems switched around and we had a backdoor.

The contents of this dream really aren't important - just the fact that I had a weird dream.

So last night at work I needed something to read on my supper break. I always keep my mini ESV Bible in my purse so I grabbed that. Lately I've been doing some studies on Revelation so I've been doing plenty of reading in that book. The book of Daniel goes hand-in-hand with Revelation so I decided I'd started reading there. The first few chapters of Daniel are about Daniel's dream-interpretations for the king. (Honestly, at the time I didn't even put my weird dream and the dream-interpreting together. Why should I?)

Well, last night I couldn't sleep in spite of how tired I was! I got out of bed around 12:30 and found myself padding around looking for something do. After checking emails and Facebook and Twitter I sat down with Daniel again. After reading for about an hour (and gaining a headache from all the foot-traffic from our upstairs neighbor) I went to bed and had yet another strange dream. This time it didn't wake me up but I thought I would share it with you.

In my dream I was at work doing my normal routine - cashiering and doing my share of closing duties. The last of the customers were lining up so we could close the store. One of the associates decided we should turn off the store lights to urge the customers out faster - so he did. It ended up stressing all the people out. I had the only register open and it was busier than peak business hours on a Saturday. For some reason I had walked away to get a drink of water. When I grabbed the cup I didn't have water it was like a partially melted red-colored slushie (my guess would be cherry.) It was almost gone so another of the associates took the cup from me and cut it in half so I could get the good stuff at the bottom. I had taken my work apron off by this point because we were almost closed and I was wearing a yellow shirt (of which I actually own.) A disgruntled customer, after having paid for his items, storms out behind me and bumps me. My red drink, although almost gone, spills on the front of my shirt and apparently I don't notice it. The same associate that cut my cup in half points the spill out to me and I panic. Down. Right. Panic. But as the rest of the dream progresses the stain lightens and eventually disappears. Also in the dream a customer asked me to look up some movies on the computer - so I obliged. Words and writing/typing in dreams is always a little messed up but this was just ridiculous! I was practically pounding on the keyboard trying to make the words come out right but my eyes couldn't see what I was typing and I could barely keep up with the customer's help in trying to spell the titles. Panicked again.

I think at the end of the dream I was finally dismissed to go home but it was very late - much later than usual. My eyes had a blurriness in them and I couldn't see the road so I decided to walk home...28 blocks. Even walking I couldn't see very far in front of me. That's where the dream ends or I stopped remembering it. It was weird and left that "uhg" feeling in my chest.

Thought I would share. If you are a Daniel you could interpret this if you want. Otherwise, you might just get a good laugh or an exaggerated roll-of-the-eye out of it. Good Day to you!

(Note: if there's typos, I apologize. I typed fast and I didn't reread before posting.)

Some Monday.

2010-10-04T18:06:00.002-06:00

Mondays have almost always been my favorite day of the week - especially after I starting working. Weekends are fun when you're a kid, or if you have one of those fantastic jobs that's Monday-Friday. Mondays, though, are a great day for me. No matter what job I've been working, Monday's are always the slowest, most pleasant, and the customers are nicer than any other time during the week. At least, this has been my experience. Today is a Monday of course. I had to work 1-6 today. It was my first actual on-the-schedule day at this job.

I'm still really enjoying this job and I've been there a little over a week - so I guess that's a pretty good sign, right? I hope so. I like the people I work with - I've known some of them for a few years even.

Today's customers varied in attitude, I guess. For the most part though, they were very friendly. What really made my day was the background music we had looping in the music section. We don't play whole songs - only a little of each song and the whole thing gets repeated all day. One of the "songs" played today was a song by Neko Case. My Dad actually got me started on her music - it always makes me happy to listen to it.

I had to get another associate to take a shift of mine on Thursday. One of the girls I work with was more than happy to take it and I'm very glad. Shane has an appointment at the hospital on Thursday and I have to take him and bring him home and stay home with him afterward. I'm only missing out on a three-hour shift so it's not that big of a loss.

Right now we have a lasagna in the oven and House on the TV - it's going to be a good night.

Getting Bored Again...

2010-09-25T19:49:00.003-06:00

So I was doing really well at posting new entries for awhile...but...I think I got tired of not being read so I stopped again. Well, I'm back - for right now, I don't know if I'll really keep up with it.

I finally got a job. It's at an entertainment store - music, movies, books - that sort of thing. I love shopping there and I applied there awhile back. Today was my first day of training. I was supposed to do training on the computer, but instead they had me train on the floor. It was okay - fast-paced; it was Saturday so that figures. I hope I end up really liking it there - it'll help when I really get to know everything that needs to be known.

NHL preseason started about a week ago. The Canucks have played two games so far and have another game tonight - starting in a few minutes. Unfortunately they have lost their first two preseason games - but it doesn't matter at all, since it IS preseason. October 9th is their first regular game - I believe I have the right date.

Shane and I went down to my parents' house this evening for supper. My sister is home for the weekend so I wanted to make sure I saw her. I just found out tonight before supper that my Aunt and Uncle that also live in the same town as my parents just got a new dog! They've had her since Monday, I guess. Okay...here's the whole story:

When I was still a baby - just learning to talk - my Aunt took me to get a puppy. We picked out a small jack-russell terrier. She asked me what I wanted to name her and I said "Dog." She asked if there was something else I wanted to name her and this time I said what sounded like "B B Dog." Let me explain - I had two stuffed dolls when I was that age, one was a dog puppet that sort of looked like a jack-russell terrier that I called Dog and the other a pink and white baby doll that I called Baby. I believe the "B B" was meant to be "Baby." Anyway - the name stuck and for 16ish years the dog's name was B.B. Dog. She was one of those dogs that's really hard to find - really nice, sweet, quiet-ish. Well, she died a few years back. My Uncle's daughter bought them a new jack-russell puppy awhile after. She was named Pepper and she was terrible! She was too active, she barked a lot, and she almost never calmed down! They had to get rid of her - it was just too hard to take care of a dog like that. Well anyway...recently they saw in the paper that in the next town over the cops had found a jack-russell dog and needed a home for it. My Uncle has really been itching for a new dog so they went to go look at her on Monday and ended up bringing her home! She's really sweet. It was like seeing B.B. Dog again - I really almost cried. They named her Lady and that's exactly how she acts - just like a lady. :D

Anyway, I'm glad they have a good dog again. And I'm glad that they only live half hour away so I can go see them and Lady quite a bit.

I guess that's all I have to say right now. If I decide to keep posting I'll probably be keeping you up to date on Canucks games and scores and how my job is going - so if that interests you, keep coming back!

To All: Happy Hockey Season!

A Job Comin' Along...

2010-09-15T21:49:00.002-06:00

Well, I got a call today from one of the places that interviewed me for a job. They asked me to come in to get my drug test paperwork. So, that's what I did. I made my appointment and tomorrow I'll go in for the test. I guess that means that if I pass the drug test (which I will) I've got the job. That's really good - 'cause, you know, it's been awhile since I've worked - ha.

Once everything is official you'll know about it, but for now I probably shouldn't say anything more about it.

Finally A Sports Season I Get!

2010-09-13T10:57:00.003-06:00

It's finally almost hockey season!

To the right is the first part of the preseason schedule for the Canucks - my team. (I know it's a little hard to see - it got blurry when I made it smaller.)

The Canucks' first game is against the Calgary Flames on September 21st.

Back when I was first "introduced" to the Canucks they had their Dream Team. Naslund, Cloutier, the Sedins, Bertuzzi, Morrison, Linden. The Sedin twins - Henrik and Daniel - are the only ones left on the Canucks. Todd Bertuzzi now plays for the Red Wings. Brendan Morrison played for the Capitals last season. All the others are retired.

I used to keep up with the Red Wings before I started watching the Canucks so to have to go back to the Wings for Todd Bertuzzi won't hurt me too much. And of course, the Canucks will always be my team.

It would be amazing if I could get to a Canucks game this season - but I'm sure it's just not going to happen. It would be a dream to get to go to Vancouver for a game! Especially if Bif Naked was also having a show while we were there - ha.

Anyway, all I have to say is: Happy Hockey Season!

A Lion Among Men.

2010-09-11T23:33:00.003-06:00

This is the book I'm currently reading. You should go look for it and the trilogy's first two books - Wicked and Son of a Witch.

I mentioned this series in an earlier post. The first book is the story of the Wicked Witch of the West - Elphaba. It explains why she was green, why she's so angry, and where the heck the flying monkeys came from. The author, Gregory Maguire, also incorporates the well-known story of The Wizard of Oz. It all works up to Dorothy showing up in Munchkinland and the death of the Witch.

The second book, Son of a Witch, is all about Liir - the "supposed" son of Elphaba. All through the book we don't actually find out if Liir is Elphaba's son or not, but we're led through his interesting adventures having a "guardian" like the Witch. We follow him as he meets Dorothy and her crew before she returns to Kansas.

A Lion Among Men has had its ups and downs for me. At one point I'm completely enthralled by the story, but the next minute I could completely lose interest. Maybe it's just me, but I've been having a little trouble staying "in" this book. I am still only a little over half through the book and I started it a couple months ago. I don't want this to deter anyone from reading this book.

In this book Maguire tells the story of the Cowardly Lion. We first meet him in the first book, but only briefly. In the third book we read how he came to be found by Dorothy, but not before we learn his background. You also find that he's really not that cowardly, just a little nervous and shy. As I said, I'm not finished with the book so I really can't say much about it.

If you were like me and had so many unanswered questions after watching The Wizard of Oz, the Wicked series is a great read. Maguire has an amazing talent for taking one of the best-known films and getting us more involved with the lives of the characters. I have not read the original novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, but I wonder if the movie followed the novel very closely or if the writers took a lot of liberties with the story and characters. I also wonder if Baum wrote more of the characters' histories/backgrounds - and, perhaps, that's where Maguire got his inspiration. Either way, I love the series.

The first book of the series, Wicked, was turned into a Broadway play that became very famous. Of course, it's a musical. I have not seen the play but I have the soundtrack and by following the songs it doesn't seem like the play is exactly like the book. But you can only do so much when making a novel into a play, right? I'm excited to, eventually, see the play.

My sister and I had never seen The Wizard of Oz when were younger. When I was in junior high (I think...) our Mom got the part of Glinda in the play - performed by the Minden Community Players. That was the first time I'd seen it, but the story is a classic one and so nothing really came as a surprise to me. However, reading Wicked changed how I looked at the story. The way you see the main characters almost flip-flops from the way you feel about them in the movie. Obviously, everyone knows The Wicked Witch of the West is the "bad guy." She's ugly, green, and dresses in all black. And what's up with those flying monkeys? Glinda is most definitely the Good Witch - all polite, calm, and beautiful. But after reading the first book in the trilogy, you see that The Wicked Witch was justified in everything she did, she wasn't just "evil." And Glinda, well...what can I say? Glinda was kind of a bratty, spoiled, rich girl. I don't know - she's still Good, but she's a little too static a character to stay interesting. Glinda doesn't have a book all about her, now does she?

So, in closing...read these three books. They probably won't change your life, but they will entertain you - of that I am sure.

Ouch.

2010-09-11T09:54:00.002-06:00

Here's a story for you - and you have every right to laugh at me.

The other day I was back at my parents' house. Mom was getting some things ready for a garage sale that they're going to have this month. In my old room there was a shoebox full - and I mean FULL - of my sister's and my earrings. Now, I use to "hoard" earring when I was in high school. Really, I bought lots of earring because I had lots of ear piercings. I found a pack of earrings that I use to love wearing - tiny little studs in bright colors. I thought I might try to see if my piercings were still open. I haven't worn all my earrings for years. Currently I have 13 ear piercings, but I've only been wearing 5 for a really long time. Now, I was super excited to find that I could get earrings in ALL the holes. So I went home like that.

Because I hadn't had so much metal in my ear cartilage that they almost instantly felt pretty stiff, but all piercings are like that. Cartilage is pretty temperamental. That was five days ago. I know have two red, swollen and semi-infected ears. I still have in the regular 5 earrings I wear, but the other 8 HAD to come out.

You know who Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is. Well, I'd like to introduce you to Kaylee the Red-Eared Moron who that she could be cool again and wear all 13 earrings. :( It's a longer name, but it's very fitting.

Chili.

2010-09-09T10:22:00.003-06:00

Who doesn't like a nice, warm bowl of chili? A little bit of spice, a little bit of cheese, a couple crackers...yum! And to top it off - cinnamon rolls!

That's what I'm making for tonight's supper. It's just cool enough outside today to make a person want warm soup. I make my chili in the slow-cooker all day. I started it around 9:30 this morning and it's going to be cooking until we eat around 6 this evening. I am so ready for it!

We had homemade chili out at Shane's Grandpa's farm for supper on Saturday. It really got me in the mood for fall and winter-type meals; all-day chili, ham and beans, chicken noodle soup. Oh, yum!

What I Would Do If I Had A Job.

2010-09-08T10:10:00.002-06:00

That's a loaded title. I could easily say "Well, I would work." Har har.

I would be happy if I got a job in the near future. I wouldn't be so stressed out when it came to paying the bills every month. I would feel comfortable about Christmas - buying gifts and all that jazz.

I do feel bad that I haven't found a job yet. All the interviews I've had are just making me more and more discouraged. They all seem to go extremely well, "We'll give you a call by such-and-such day. It was really nice to meet you. We're glad you're so flexible with your hours and will take any position we offer."...Do I ever get a call back? I'm pretty sure it's not my cell phone's fault that those are the only calls I'm not getting.

I have an interview this afternoon. I am hoping for the best, but part of me is taking it worth a grain of salt - I've had so many interviews, this is just another one. The interview is a business that I frequent on a regular basis. Shane and I go there all the time, even when we don't need to. It seems like it would be a great place to work - now, just to get the job.

What would I do if I had a job? I would work. And I would enjoy it.

One Side.

2010-09-07T21:13:00.003-06:00

This is the latest picture of myself with my husband's side of the family. This was taken outside the barn at Shane's Grandpa's farm. It's beautiful out there! This is the second Labor Day Yetter Photo I've had the chance to be part of. I know a lot of people don't necessarily get along well with their in-laws, but I love my in-laws. They're not even in-laws to me; more like just an extension of the family I already had. Big families are great families.

(From left to right: Josh, Ben, Dad, Mom, Me, Shane.)

Oh, What a Beautiful Day.

2010-09-06T20:21:00.003-06:00

...except for the wind...

I had a good weekend. Shane and I went to his Grandpa's farm for a family reunion/labor day get-together. Sunday got really windy, hot, and dusty so I went back to my parents-in-law's house with my mother-in-law. My brother-in-law and his ...friend? (smile)...went back to. We just hung out and watched some TV in the air conditioning and went to bed early. Ben and Elaine went home last night. Today Mom and I just sat around and visiting - it was really nice. After noon Shane, his youngest brother, and his Dad got back to the house and Shane and I headed home. It's nice to be home. I actually unpacked! Shane and I played a little Guitar Hero, too.

Shane goes back to work tomorrow morning. And I'm heading to Wilcox to clean and visit the family. And that's about how things are going. I hope everyone had a great weekend and has a great week ahead of them. :)

Oh Lovely Issues.

2010-09-02T13:30:00.002-06:00

I can't go into detail. Normally I would because I believe that if you do something wrong you should be called out. I just don't feel like opening up something I closed. Sure, I'm still upset about what's going on and what we heard last night only added fuel. But you know, this person is going to realize - one day - that what he's doing is wrong and hopefully he'll learn from his mistakes and become a better person. That's all I can hope for at this moment. If he doesn't learn and change then I pray that everybody that comes into his life doesn't get hurt like we have been.

All I want to say is How dare you talk about us like that. I don't even care what you say about me, but you cannot talk about my husband that way. How can you live with yourself when you do what you do?

There. I have vented my frustration and I'm breathing again. Thank you for listening.

Am I The Only One?

2010-08-29T20:12:00.004-06:00

Okay, so...am I really the only one that thinks this man is attractive?

I joke around to my mom that this is the man I'm going to marry (ha ha.) Today I showed her a picture of him saying "See? He's cute!" Her reply..."Are you sure?"

All I'm saying is, Matt Bellamy is very attractive. Maybe Kate Hudson and myself are the only ones that think so.

How My Day Is Going...

2010-08-29T19:57:00.003-06:00

I...can't...stop...sneezing.

Other than that - it's been good. Went to lunch with my parents and my little sister. Then we went shopping - I got two new pairs of jeans! I can't believe I found pants!! And, the cool thing...one pair I got are called "Kaylee Flare"...and you know, that's my name. I also bought my first pair of skinny jeans - they fit and aren't as uncomfortable as I thought they'd be. After we all hung out they brought me back to our apartment and we sat around a talked for awhile.

After eating a little supper Shane and I watched Date Night (really good movie.) Now he's watching football and I'm typing. After this I'm going to start typing up one of my short stories so it's finally backed up on my computer. I'd rather hand-write everything, but it's easier to add and delete parts when it's on the computer. I'm on the fence. :)

I don't get football. And now that's on the table. Do with it what you will. I'm a hockey girl - always will be.

Style in the Middle of the Night.

2010-08-29T00:30:00.003-06:00

Here I sit, 1:30am, watching Style. What's on Style? Oh nothing, just a little show all about cheating celebrity couples. Why am I watching this crap? There's nothing else on. Oh and everytime I lay down to fall asleep my nose plugs back up and I can't breathe. I have to keep sitting - and that's not the most comfortable position for sleeping.

A few minutes ago (yeah this is basically Blogging in Realtime) I was half sitting, half lounging on the couch watching this amazing show with all the lights off in the living room. (Just an extra tidbit of information: I am so lightheaded because of my sinuses right now, it's very ridiculous.) All of a sudden, I thought I saw something out of the corner of my unfocused eye. Usually, when I "see" something, there's nothing there - especially at 1:30 in the morning. I turned my head anyway. And lo, and behold! There was actually something there! Yes! A SPIDER!

The other day there was a huge spider that was threatening me so I've been on edge about spiders lately. I just can't stand them like I used to. When I younger I'd just go ahead and pick it up (despite the size) or killed it with my bare feet. I guess this is like a person's tastebuds changing - only every 7 years I change my fears. Ha. Wow that sounds incredibly sane, right?

Anyway, there goes Kaylee - jumping off the couch to get even further away from the beast on the wall. I turned on all the lights I could and ran to the kitchen for the broom. This next part even surprises me. I, Kaylee, actually swung the broom in the general direction of the spider! I don't do these kinds of things! I must have hit the wall pretty close to the spider because it got flung to the floor and onto the multi-colored rug. I searched and searched and finally decided that the damned creature must have hid under the couch or was just that well camouflaged. When I came back from putting the broom away, very warily, I approached the rug. I shook out the blanket on the couch and peeked behind the pillows - no Mr. Scary. Then, from out of nowhere, he appeared right next to my flip-flop! (This is where I would add suspenseful music if I was making a movie.) Hurriedly, and yet carefully, I grabbed the twin flip-flop and started hitting, not exactly sure I was hitting the spider or just making an ass of myself.

And the beast was stricken to the ground! Yeah, it was basically that epic. You would not have laughed at me at all if you had been here. Nope, I was acting so normal that you would have mistaken me for someone else. Really.

Spider's dead.

Oh and if the title threw you off, let me explain in more detail. I don't actually have any style at any point on any given night. I am anti-style at this time of the night. And the murdering of a spider does not, in any way, create the illusion of style. No, it's exactly the opposite - barbaric, primitive, and oh-so-not-classy.

To all: Happy Spider Killing!

Allergies...

2010-08-26T09:01:00.003-06:00

The last two years my allergies have not been too bad. It's been great having a break from itchy eyes, a puffy face, a runny nose, and a tickly throat. But...yes, unfortunately there is a but...this year they came back. I'm still taking the same allergy medication and I really don't go outside much. I don't know what's different - maybe the allergens are just worse here in Kearney than in North Platte. If that's the case - that was the only good think about North Platte ha.

On another note: I still don't have a job. I had a really good interview at Walgreen's the other day and apparently I didn't get that job either. They told me they were really hard up for help and I told them I would really like the job. They liked how flexible I'd be with my schedule, and still nothing. I don't know - I'm getting more and more discouraged after each unsuccessful interview...

Basting.

2010-08-18T08:49:00.002-06:00

Yesterday was my Grandma's birthday - we all went out for lunch. It was really nice! :)

I took my quilting stuff down with me so my Aunt could help me with it. I'm very thankful that she knows what she's doing. Ha. We had an amusing time putting it all together - and with hindsight being what it is, I wish I would have had my camera. She and I were both on our hand and knees with our butts up in the air putting safety pins all over the quilt to keep the layers together. (I'm feeling it today.) At the time it was just ridiculous - Mom and Taylor were making fun of us -oh, we were making fun of ourselves.

After the fun safety pin part we flipped the whole thing over to make sure it was all even and flat. Thank goodness that it was - it took forever to get those safety pins in!

Then we started to baste the quilt. If you don't know what that is - it's when you take a noticeable colored thread and just stitch the layers together to keep it all together when you're quilting it. These threads will come out when I'm done - but I'm starting to like the bright orange on top of all the green fabric! My Aunt and I started the basting. Apparently my sister had started making a quilt a long time ago and there is a funny basting story to go along with it!

Aunt Becky eventually had to go home and left me to finish the basting. Somehow, and I honestly don't know how this happened, but I actually got my sister to help me do some of the basting! Having heard her basting story, I figured it was against my better judgment to have her help me - but she did a really good job. Except for overthreading her needle!

So we got the basting done. I rolled it up and brought it home and now I just need to get together with my Aunt again so she can show me how to hand-quilt. I know what I need to do, and what it's supposed to look like in the end, but it's hard to really learn from websites and videos. Having her show me one-on-one will be much better. Then...it's quilting, quilting, and quilting. It's going to take me awhile - it'll make a good winter project.

If you're interesting in knowing exactly what basting is and how to do it click here.

What's So Wrong With Coffee?

2010-08-16T09:33:00.002-06:00

I get it, I really do. Coffee is bad. It's just as addictive as cigarettes, alcohol, etc.

Do you know when I started drinking coffee? I was roughly three years old. I only started in with the coffee when I quit smoking. Okay, no? That was a lie. Three years old - drinking coffee. Many people have a few problems with that. 'It stunts your growth,' 'that's probably why you have weight issues,' 'all of that caffeine for that long? My goodness, how's your brain?' Yeah I know...however, I really don't think coffee stunts your growth.

Who do I blame for letting me drink coffee so early in life? Yup, my loving Grandparents. I really can't say if I am really to blame for begging for coffee or if one of them just gave it to me. I could see it happening both ways. With my Grandparents I knew what to do to get what I wanted. Grandpa, however, was the type to get you to try random things just out of the blue. (For example, he had my little sister drive his pickup when she was - what? - eight years old, I think.) Just try it, you'll like it. I can hear him saying that. Now, don't get me wrong. He would never make us try anything that would hurt us. There was never any trying of alcohol (it was never around) or smoking of cigarettes, or anything else. It really was almost always just with food - trying to get us to eat something new or something old with something weird on top of it. Ha. He had his ways.

Okay, back to Coffee. It's a nice beverage. I'm the person that makes a whole pot of coffee (about 5 coffee mugs worth) for myself every morning. I like it black most of the time. I do keep creamer in the house though in case one morning I've got a wild hair to have a sugary breakfast. My husband doesn't drink coffee. For awhile, when we were still in North Platte, he would have a cup in the morning with me, but he put tons of Coffee Mate in it. So much, in fact, there was no trace of coffee taste left! I'll admit those Coffee Mate flavored creamers are delicious, but I'd rather taste the coffee.

My Mom doesn't drink coffee. She hates coffee, actually. When it comes to having the family over for holidays she doesn't even know how to use the coffee pot! My Dad drinks coffee, but not at home. He usually has a travel-mug of decaf with him during work. Now, a lot of people either swear by decaf or by regular coffee. For those people it's the caffeine, or lack of, they want. For me, it doesn't matter if it's regular or not. I want coffee for the taste. Does anyone actually like the taste of coffee? It's like cigarettes - though, I have never tried them - there's no way that smoke actually tastes good, it's just the mind telling you it's good because your body is addicted to the chemicals. Chronic caffeine-drinkers are the same. They crave the caffeine boost so badly they'll drink anything. I mean, come on, bean water? Coffee is bean water, people. Even I tremble at the thought of that. Ha.

I think I'm straying from the initial point of this post - which I don't remember anymore. So to summarize: Coffee good. Blame Grandparents. Bean water. That is all.

To all: Happy Coffee Drinking!

Catching Up.

2010-08-14T23:05:00.003-06:00

I feel really good right now. Tonight I had supper with my long-time best friend, Courtney. We've been friends since preschool. Like all ships our friendship has had its ups and downs but we've lasted. A nineteen year friendship - a lot of people can't compare.

After high school we decided to be roomies at college. She wasn't around the dorm much so that was really when we started to drift apart. And not necessarily in a bad way - we just made our own groups of friends. In time we moved away from Kearney - she to the Omaha area, I to North Platte, both in different directions.

We've been talking more often lately. She is getting married next summer and I am involved in the wedding so there's plenty to talk about. This weekend she was back at her parents' house in our old hometown so we were able to get together for a girls' night out. Supper at Applebee's, a quick trip through Target, and a nice talk while driving around town. Just like old times. Tonight our conversations seemed to pick up where they left off back in high school. We talked about boys, families, and people we mutually dislike. Only the addition of wedding talk brought us back to the present.

I am very glad to have these times with old friends - to get to catch up and have fun like we used to. These visits are too few and far between, but maybe this was the first stepping stone to take to getting our friendship back to where it was. Love you, Courtney!

Maybe Strange.

2010-08-14T12:45:00.003-06:00

Has this ever happened to you? Something happens, or somebody does something and you can't help thinking it has everything to do with you? That you take something so personally that it eats at you, but you don't want to confront the other people because you don't want to sound like the world revolves around you? Yeah, so that's happening to me - currently. Now, it could be just a simple glitch in a website, maybe it was purely accident. However, I still can't help but think that it has something to do personally with me. Uhg. Maybe I'm just thinking way too much. I need to stop that.

A Child's Saturday.

2010-08-14T09:56:00.002-06:00

Remember when Saturdays were the only day we looked forward to? When our only worries were waking up in time to watch Saturday morning cartoons? I wish it was still like that. Adults everywhere should reserve their Saturday mornings strictly for cartoons and a bowl of sugary cereal. Maybe I just solved all the world's problems - instead of waking up super early on a Saturday to rush to work for a working weekend just sit back and relax and enjoy being a kid for a couple hours.

Just A Monday.

2010-08-09T20:53:00.002-06:00

I did almost nothing today. Woke up, had coffee, made the bed, worked on my cross-stitch project pretty much all day, and had some dinner - just a little bit of leftovers from yesterday.

I really wanted to go on a walk this evening when Shane got off of work, but he didn't want to. It's just really nice to have someone to walk with - not to mention, it's safer. So we stayed in and watched some Buffy the Vampire Slayer (which is good.) Tomorrow I should be able to go on a nice long walk with my sister.

My cross-stitch thing is almost done. I have one small section to finish and then outline the words.

I'm a little disappointed, I just realized, that we didn't go for a walk tonight. I'm the kind of person that needs a support system when it comes to sticking with dieting and/or exercise and I was really depending on my husband.

Well, gee - that's a downer.

Vacations and Bad Moods.

2010-08-08T21:13:00.002-06:00

Early Friday morning I left for Omaha with my parents and little sister. The four of us haven't been on a family vacation for a really long time so it was so nice to get out of town with them. On Friday we spent the day at the zoo and Saturday we went to two malls and did more walking around.

On the diet note: I splurged a little this weekend while on vacation. Last night I had a piece of pie at Perkins after Shane, Ben, and I got done playing pool at the Big Apple. Today, Shane and I didn't wake up until right before noon so we only had one meal - nachos (homemade - so not as bad as fast food nachos.) I also had coffee and two mini cinnamon bagels. I really need to get back on a healthy eating kick. This weekend I did get a lot of exercising walking around the zoo and the malls for two days. My legs feel sore, but in a good way - like they're actually going to get toned.

The last few days I haven't been feeling well. I've been getting headaches again, but they're different than normal. They're more "blurry" feeling instead of just a pain in the head. I've been super moody, too. I know, I know - I'm moody on a normal day. But this is different. And this isn't "that time of the month" stuff either. I know what I'm like during those times and this is definitely not the same. For a while I was just thinking that I was coming down with something and it just made me feel crappy. Now I don't know what to think because I've never felt exactly like this before.

Well, that's about it. Fun weekend, headaches, and emotions.

Operation: Healthy.

2010-08-05T20:25:00.002-06:00

Well, I tried to eat a little healthier today. With my morning coffee I had two mini-cinnamon bagels - dry. For lunch I had a bowl of cereal. And for dinner we had steak, cucumbers, and a potato salad. Of course, that potato salad wasn't super healthy. But for now it's mostly about portion control and no junk food.

This weekend, being on a little mini-vacation, it will be easier not to just sit around and eat junk. We'll also be walking around the zoo all day Friday so that'll be great exercise.

Today when my husband got off of work he and I went for a nice long walk. It was hot out but I really felt like going anyway. I'm glad I did.

I think I might actually be able to stick with it this time.

This Has To Work.

2010-08-04T23:32:00.002-06:00

Alright - this is what needs to happen: Kaylee needs to lose mucho weight. I didn't realize how bad it really was until I stepped on the scale a couple minutes ago. My goal is to lose 40 pounds, but I don't know if I can do it. I think I need to go back on a low-carb diet, but that's so hard when we really only have enough money to pay bills and buy inexpensive groceries.

So here's what I'm thinking...try to get back on a "healthier" diet to begin with. Once I can get myself a job and we have a little more income we'll be able to afford to buy more proteins and fresh vegetables for a low-carb diet. Then, I'll finally be able to get back on the only diet that ever really worked for me.

Along with the diet, I'll need to make sure I start exercising again. I need to get on the bike, at least... or take long walks in the evenings when the sun isn't so angry. I really need to do this.

I've known for awhile that I've been steadily gaining weight and, with the weight gain, I don't feel as healthy as I thought I was. Okay, and also, next summer is my friend, Courtney's wedding. I don't want to look like how I feel in the dress I'll be wearing. This will give me a deadline, and that's really what I need. I hope this works!

If you read this blog - please pray for me. I will need all the help and support I can get.

(And, whenever I put up a new post I'm going to include my eating habits so I can keep track of my eating and exercising.)

Cheater!

2010-08-04T13:39:00.002-06:00

A couple Christmases ago my husband bought me a Nintendo DS. I only have three games for it and I don't play them very often. Today I decided to dig it out so I could take it with me on our family vacation this weekend. I wanted to run down the battery so I could fully charge for the car-ride so I played some games. The Clubhouse Games pack was already loaded so I just turned that on. I usually just play billiards, darts, solitaire, or capture. The game "ludo" (or Sorry, in board-game form) is on the game pack. I rarely play it because it takes forever. And as I discovered today it's a big cheating jerk!

If you know how the game is played you know that you have to roll a "6" to get out of your holding area. On the DS the only way to play is by playing the computer. The computer is always the first to get a 6. It's also the computer that gets 2 of the 4 game pieces into the safe-zone before you get even 1 piece out of the holding area! I played twice today and both times I lost miserably. I've decided that the DS is a cheater at Ludo and I will not give it the satisfaction of winning against me ever again.

Lesson For the Day: Beware of cheating game systems!

Almost Midnight.

2010-08-03T22:28:00.003-06:00

This is just one of my many doodles.

I'm still awake - I want to go to bed but I can't sleep. Once I lay down I start thinking about everything and then I can't just concentrate on sleeping.

Then I end up sleeping later than I'd like the next day and my schedule just keeps getting more and more unaligned.

It's frustrating.
I like looking at my doodle though. It's pretty.

Thank You.

2010-08-02T23:23:00.002-06:00

Okay, so I signed in to find that I had a comment on my blog! It sounds so pathetic, but I got so excited! It's been a long time since I've had a comment on any of my posts.

So this is just to say Thank You to Sarena for commenting on my post! I love you dear!

Thinking Aloud.

2010-08-01T12:12:00.003-06:00

Sometimes my thinking aloud gets me in trouble. At other times it helps me figure out what I need to do.

Yesterday I thought aloud - to my husband. I told him what was bothering me - and a lot does.

Quick disclaimer: this post might seem like a pity-party; it's not my goal to complain - only to explain. Here we go.

One problem I'm having is my weight. I wish I could find a good weight-losing support system. My husband is wanting to lose weight too, but we have the same problem with that - we both get burned out on portion-control, and work outs, and anything else. We're both so lazy sometimes. I sometimes wish I had married a health freak, an exercise mogul, a diet tyrant. (That's not to say I wish I hadn't married Shane, ha.) I love to eat...too much. While I'm eating one thing I'm craving the next thing. You could say I'm one of those people that has a bottomless stomach - but I can stop. I can't stand being hungry - I get cranky and shaky. Everyone wants a quick fix to weight-loss and that doesn't exclude me. But I know there will never be a quick way to lose weight and remain healthy. I need help.

Lately, I've been very discouraged about not being able to get a job. I don't need to go into detail about how the economy sucks and how hard it is out there to land any sort of income. So I'll move on to the next thing.

Someday I'd like to be someone's go-to friend. I know that sounds petty and high-schooly. I know I have friends out there, but I never seem to be able to hang out with them. All of my friends have their own group of friends that they go out with more often. I believe part of my problem is that I lived hours away for a few years and now some people don't think I want to hang out with them. I do, though.

So this is me thinking out loud. I guess it doesn't help sometimes.

Quilts.

2010-07-30T20:13:00.002-06:00

Very recently I have started trying my hand at quilting. I thought to myself one day, "why not give this a try." Long story short, I tried.

My Great-Grandma Russell made quilts. They ranged from queen-sized to little doll blankets for my sister and I. I remember going down to Kansas to visit her and find her sitting on her couch with a shoebox full of fabric squares, stitching them all together. My little quilt she made me is still at my parents' house - I really should bring that back up here.

When I was younger - I can't remember the exact age - my Aunt and I started a project just because we were bored one day. We started a yo-yo quilt. To begin with it was really fun cutting out all the circle pieces needed for the yo-yos. Then I started actually making the yo-yos. Not too long after we started it I got bored with it - being the young kid I was - and she finished it. It's a really fun quilt. She used to have it in her guest room on the bed for a long time.

Last summer I went to a quilt show with the ladies in my family. Seeing all those beautiful and intricate quilts made me want to make something just as beautiful. Soon after that weekend I bought some fabric, stitching needles, pins, and all the other stuff I'd need to make a quilt. I chose five different patterned fabrics. They're all a different green - it's my favorite color. I got right to work stenciling and cutting out the squares - 140 of them. I decided to use bigger squares for my first quilt; I thought they'd be easier to work with. As it turned out, it seemed almost too easy.

After cutting out all the squares I started hand-stitching ten squares together for each row. I don't remember why now but I ended up putting it away in a closet after the second row was complete. I burn out easily with projects that I start - even though I do always finish what I started eventually. In April my husband and I moved to Kearney and the shoebox of quilt squares came along with all my yarn and cross-stitching projects.

A couple of days ago my hands got bored while I was watching a movie so I pulled out my unfinished quilt. Earlier today I finished stitching all the squares into rows. I had fourteen rows total. I pulled out my sewing machine and set it up in the living room so I could watch TV while working. A few hours later the rows were all sewn together! It seemed to go too fast.

So now I have the quilt top done and it looks really good - maybe even a little better than a first quilt should. All I have left to do is head to the store one of these days and get a backing material and sew it on to the topper. I think I'm going to use a flannel so we can use it in the winter. Also, I've decided I'm not going to use batting inside the quilt just so we can use the quilt when it's not freezing.

Though I have given it plenty of thought, I still don't know how I'm going to do the actual quilting. I could just use the sewing machine, but I'm still pretty inexperienced with it. Then I considered hand-quilting it. That's going to take much more time, but it might be worth it. Also, I need to figure out a pattern for the stitching. Uhg, so many decisions! Maybe I'll ask my Aunt for suggestions since she's so much better than I.

When I get the backing sewn on I'll put up a picture or two so keeping coming back!

Writing and Thoughts.

2010-07-28T22:24:00.005-06:00

I wish I could get back into the writing groove. There really isn't much more I can say about it. It used to be so easy for me to just sit down and write a poem, some lyrics, or at least ideas for a short story - anything! Now, it just seems like I have to force myself to even consider opening a notebook. When I think about writing all that comes to mind is me sitting with a pen in my hand and a notebook on my lap for hours not being able to think of anything to write. In turn, I get discouraged and the poor notebook stays in the drawer.

***

Last night my sister and I learned something about someone. It's not a big deal, really. But...it is. I don't know - I don't want it all over the internet so there's so many details I can't disclose. It was just a big shocker and we didn't really know how to take it. I guess I can't say much else...

***

On to something else, now. I pulled out my collection of Sharpie markers tonight and doodled for awhile. The smell of the ink is stuck in my nose and I think I can almost taste it. I hope another dose of mouthwash will help that.

The highway south of town has too much construction going on. Yesterday when I was heading out of town I had to sit and wait for the pilot vehicle for about 10 minutes - at the time it felt like an hour. Oh, but today coming home I had to wait over half an hour to get going. I really wouldn't have been too frustrated - but I noticed when the pilot car got back to our end there were only five cars following him! Five! I just couldn't believe they spent half and hour waiting for five cars. Oh well, I wasn't in a hurry so I really shouldn't complain.

Tomorrow I should clean the apartment. I think it's bedtime, kiddies.

Good night and to all: A very happy Thursday!

Court Shows.

2010-07-27T09:04:00.002-06:00

I like to torture myself. Every morning I reach for the remote and flip over to Fox and watch court shows until after noon. I hate these shows so there is no way for me to explain why I can't just turn the channel. All of these cases are so ridiculous. If I knew any of these people I could easily solve their problems with three simple words - Stop Being Stupid.

Okay, so I know small-claim courts are vital to actual real life people who are collecting from bills, or rent, or stolen items. Obviously, when you put anything on day-time tv it'll get blown way out of the water and all of a sudden a simple "He didn't pay his rent" turns into "He cheated on me and my cousin with our best friend and he's all of our baby daddy and he's on drugs and he brings girls over when I'm home...oh, yeah, and he didn't pay rent last month." (I apologize for that terrible run-on, but at least I didn't spell everything like they actually say it.)

Now, I watch all of these court shows. From Judge Mathis clear down to People's Court at 2:30. At one point I told myself I was watching these shows to feel better about myself, but who am I kidding? At the end of the day I just feel awful that these people are so ridiculously ignorant and I can't do anything about it!

There are two judges that I really like. First is Judge Alex Ferrer (and not just because his last name is similar to my maiden name ha.) He's actually a good judge. If the case starts getting out of hand or doesn't make sense he won't even deal with it. Secondly, I like Judge Lynn Toler from Divorce Court. With all of my heart I hate listening to the ex-couple ranting and arguing. I just think Judge Toler is very fair.

So, now you know that I'm a court show junkie. I'm so embarrassed.

Art.

2010-07-26T21:51:00.003-06:00

Some of you may know that I used to do a lot of art projects in my free time. The three pieces that are now on my Blog are all mine. I just thought I would share a few of my pieces while personalizing my page. They are three of my favorite pieces that I've done. I hope you enjoy them as much as I.

Taking high school art classes and doing my own painting at home I've found that I really love painting with water colors. There's so much you can do with water colors. They're easier to blend and move and it always looks abstract. Maybe one of these days I'll dig my water colors and paint brushes out again and see what I can come up with.

My latest form of "doodle" art (ha) is with Sharpies. I work a lot with lines and geometric shapes. Almost everything I do in Sharpie is accented with dashes or dots or paisley-type shapes. Most of what I do I just consider doodling. I don't expect to make a fortune off of something I drew on the back cardboard of a notebook in silver Sharpie. However, I would love to eventually frame and hang some of my favorites. When it comes to my Sharpie doodles I usually use black or silver so they really go together.

Pencil and ball point pen are both fun to draw with. They're finer so you can get more intricate with whatever you're making.

I was never really a fan of acrylic paints unless I was painting an object - like clay. Maybe if I gave it another shot I'd end up liking it. Who knows, huh?

Well, I'm off to continue A Lion Among Men. I'm trying to finish it so I can let you know how it is.

One Hundred Fifty Books.

2010-07-26T09:54:00.000-06:00

Hooray! I made it to Post No. 150!!!! And as I promised here are a few books...

(Well we better just get down to work here - it's going to take me a while.)

1. Spring Came On Forever - Bess Streeter Aldrich
2. The Holy Bible
3. A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
4. In Cold Blood - Truman Capote
5. The Abyss - Orson Scott Card
6. Behind The Attic Wall - Sylvia Cassedy
7. I Heard That Song Before - Mary Higgins Clark
8. Loves Music, Loves To Dance - Mary Higgins Clark
9. Two Little Girls in Blue - Marry Higgins Clark
10. The Andromeda Strain - Michael Crichton
11. The Muse Asylum - David Czuchlewski
12. House of Leaves - Mark Z. Danielewski
13. The Body Artist - Don DeLillo
14. The Stolen Child - Keith Donohue
15. House of Sand and Fog - Andre Dubus III
16. The Memory Keepers Daughter - Kim Edwards
17. The Last Promise - Richard Paul Evans
18. Alas, Babylon - Pat Frank
19. Lord of the Flies - William Golding
20. Grimm's Fairy Tales - The Brothers Grimm
21. Water For Elephants - Sara Gruen
22. Snow Falling On Cedars - David Guterson
23. Five Quarters of the Orange - Joanne Harris
24. Gentlemen & Players - Joanne Harris
25. The House of the Seven Gables - Nathaniel Hawthorne
26. The King's Evil - Will Heinrich
27. Lost Horizon - James Hilton
28. At Risk - Alice Hoffman
29. Blue Diary - Alice Hoffman
30. Fortune's Daughter - Alice Hoffman
31. Here on Earth - Alice Hoffman
32. The Ice Queen - Alice Hoffman
33. Incantation - Alice Hoffman
34. Practical Magic - Alice Hoffman
35. The River King - Alice Hoffman
36. Skylight Confessions - Alice Hoffman
37. The Third Angel - Alice Hoffman
38. Turtle Moon - Alice Hoffman
39. Titanic - Diane Hoh
40. Remember the Titanic - Diane Hoh
41. Redwall - Brian Jacques
42. The Love Dare - Stephen & Alex Kendrick
43. Devil May Cry - Sherrilyn Kenyon
44. Bag of Bones - Stephen King
45. Cell - Stephen King
46. Everything's Eventual - Stephen King
47. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon - Stephen King
48. The Two Dead Girls - Stephen King
49. The Mouse on the Mile - Stephen King
50. Hearts in Atlantis - Stephen King
51. Just After Sunset - Stephen King
52. It - Stephen King
53. Under The Dome - Stephen King
54. Winning Words - Allen Klein
55. The Book of Bright Ideas - Sandra Kring
56. Left Behind - Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins
57. Tribulation Force - Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins
58. Nicolae - Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins
59. Soul Harvest - Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins
60. Apollyon - Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins
61. Assassins - Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins
62. The Indwelling - Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins
63. The Mark - Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins
64. Desecration - Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins
65. The Remnant - Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins
66. Armageddon - Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins
67. She's Come Undone - Wally Lamb
68. The Haunted Mesa - Louis L'amour
69. Last of the Breed - Louis L'amour
70. Here in the World - Victoria Lancelotta
71. Crow Lake - Mary Lawson
72. Indian Captive - Lois Lenski
73. The Chronicles of Narnia - C. S. Lewis
74. Darkly Dreaming Dexter - Jeff Lindsay
75. Dearly Devoted Dexter - Jeff Lindsay
76. Dexter in the Dark - Jeff Lindsay
77. Dexter By Design - Jeff Lindsay
78. The Giver - Lois Lowry
79. Little Farm in the Ozarks - Roger Lea MacBride
80. Son of a Witch - Gregory Maguire
81. A Lion Among Men - Gregory Maguire
82. Hilda and Pearl - Alice Hattison
83. Everything in This Country Must - Colum McCann
84. Blood Promise - Richelle Mead
85. Moby Dick - Herman Melville
86. The Hose - Stephenie Meyer
87. Twilight - Stephenie Meyer
88. New Moon - Stephenie Meyer
89. Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer
90. Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer
91. Paradise Lost - John Milton
92. Anne of Green Gables - L. M. Montgomery
93. Anne of Avonlea - L. M. Montgomery
94. Anne of The Island - L. M. Montgomery
95. Anne of Windy Poplars - L. M. Montgomery
96. Anne's House of Dreams - L. M. Montgomery
97. Anne of Ingleside - L. M. Montgomery
98. Rainbow Valley - L. M. Montgomery
99. 1984 - George Orwell
100. Animal Farm - George Orwell
101. The Poe Reader - Edgar Allan Poe
102. Complete Tales & Poems - Edgar Allan Poe
103. Contemporary American Poetry - Ed. A. Poulin, Jr. & Michael Waters
104. The Best American Poetry - Ed. Rita Dove & David Lehman
105. Four Centuries of Great Love Poems - compiled. Debra Starr
106. Carillon: 2006 - UNK student contributors
107. Carillon: 2007 - UNK student contributors
108. Vampires - Ed. Alan Ryan
109. Franny and Zooey - J. D. Salinger
110. Nine Stories - J. D. Salinger
111. And Eye For An Eye: The Doll - John Saul
112. Twist of Fate: The Locket - John Saul
113. Ashes To Ashes: The Dragon's Flame - John Saul
114. In The Shadow of Evil: The Handkerchief - John Saul
115. Day of Reckoning: The Stereoscope - John Saul
116. Asylum - John Saul
117. The Reader - Bernhard Schlink
118. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
119. An Equal Music - Vikram Seth
120. Black Beauty - Anna Sewell
121. Othello - William Shakespeare
122. Three Romantic Tragdies - William Shakespeare
123. The Sonnets and Other Love Poems - William Shakespeare
124. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
125. The Theban Plays - Sophocles
126. The Notebook - Nicholas Sparks
127. The Pearl - John Steinbeck
128. Dracula - Bram Stoker
129. 2012 - Whitley Strieber
130. Warday - Whitley Strieber & James Kunetka
131. Amy and Isabelle - Elizabeth Strout
132. The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien
133. The Fellowship of the Ring - J.R.R. Tolkien
134. The Two Towers - J.R.R. Tolkien
135. The Return of the King - J.R.R. Tolkien
136. Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend - Robert James Waller
137. The Island of Dr. Moreau
138. Until They Bring The Streetcars Back - Stanley Gordon West
139. The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
140. The Shack - Paul Young
141. Level 26 - Anthony E. Zuiker
142. The Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka
143. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - Mark Twain
144. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain
145. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish - Dr. Seuss
146. Go, Dog, Go - Dr. Seuss
147. Put Me In The Zoo - Dr. Seuss
148. I Wish That I Had Duck Feet - Dr. Seuss
149. If I Ran The Zoo - Dr. Seuss

And now...(drumroll)...my 150th and most favorite book ever...

150. Frog and Toad Together - Arnold Lobel

Oh, that took awhile! I thank you if you took the time to read this post. Are there any books in my list that you've read, want to read, or want to discuss? I love discussing books with people that have also read that book.

Note: I have not yet read every book on this list. I have this problem. See, everytime I go to a used bookstore I buy more than one book at a time. Those books end up on my bookshelf while I'm reading all the other books I haven't read yet. I know I really should not buy anymore books until I get all of these read and then maybe only buy one book at a time. Oh, I just love books so much!

I'm going to leave you with a quote, now, that describes all too well my feeling toward books.

"My books are friends that will never fail me." -Unknown.

Good day and good reading.

I Have Decided.

2010-07-25T23:08:00.002-06:00

After a long 20 minutes of distracted thinking I have finally come to a decision regarding my plans for my 150th post!

I am going to list 150 of the books in my possession and their authors right here on Sunglasses On A Desk. Some said it could never be done, many said it could obviously be done, I say, "Let's do it anyway."

So, tune in next time when I shall reveal 150 of my books to - most likely - no one. (I'm really not positive if anyone reads this anymore...) It's sure to dazzle and excite! Come one, come all! (Apparently I'm a circus now.) Be awed. Be amazed. Be a maze. Be...unable to contain yourselves as you read from 1 to 150!

And here we go...

...to bed for now.

Buffy and Books.

2010-07-25T21:56:00.004-06:00

Hello there all my Readers. If you are still reading.

(This is now my 148th post and I still have not decided what I'm going to do for my 150th! Any suggestions?)

This weekend was really fun. Shane and I drove up to Sutherland Friday evening to spend the weekend with his family. His Dad had to work most of the weekend so we didn't see much of him, unfortunately. We did a ridiculous amount of visiting - which is great! - and watched a couple of movies. On Saturday Shane's Mom made her wonderful cabbage pockets for lunch and Shane made some kind of bread/cinnamon/brown sugar dessert. We played Scrabble that afternoon - I didn't win, like usual. Ha. I watched Shane and his youngest brother play some video games. They were mostly zombie games so they were pretty interesting to watch. In the evening we were all in the mood for a scary movie but we couldn't really think of any. We ended up watching the new Friday the 13th. Too much sex and nudity and not enough actual scaring going on. Later on that night we watched Child's Play 2. Now, that's a good movie. Hm, yesterday we also did some karaoke-ing (verb? ha) and, you know, that's always fun.

Now we're back in Kearney. We continued our Buffy-thon after we made a supper of nachos and onion rings (Shane and I get the strangest cravings.) We're on Season 2 of Buffy now. A couple years ago we watched all 7 seasons together. I had seen most of the episodes a couple years before that. I guess you can say I like the show, huh?

Shane's in bed now - he's got to go to work tomorrow. I just put down A Lion Among Men for a few minutes to type this. The story is a little on the slow side right now. I really hope it picks up so it can, at least, match the other two books.

Oh, books. I love having books on my bookshelf. We have a large 5-shelf bookshelf and we're in desperate need of another one. All five shelves are full and we've started to lay our new books on top of the standing ones. Oh, and Shane and I have three books off the shelf - so...I'd say it's time for a new one.

At one time I was thinking about looking into getting an Amazon Kindle. Both Shane and my Mom were considering one for a present for me, too. They know me too well, though. They know I like to hear the pages being turned, smell the new - or old - smell of the books, and even alphabetize and rearrange them everytime I get a new book. Sure, a Kindle or another product like it would be great. For someone else. For me, I'm going to stick with books. However, I will say this - if I would ever have to travel somewhere and have to lug a bunch of heavy books with me I might deeply consider getting a Kindle. But when it comes to my own personal reading I'll take the paper version.

I am going to leave you with a quote from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

"To read makes our speaking English good." - Xander (referring to why he is in the library)

Goodnight All - and happy reading.

Post No. 147.

2010-07-23T13:43:00.002-06:00

I just realized that I'm almost to my 150th Post! I want to do something special - something involving 150 somethings. I'll think of...erm...something.

This afternoon Shane and I are heading up to Sutherland to spend the weekend with his family. I don't think we have anything special planned. It's always fun just to hang out and play it by ear.

Today was really nothing outside of the box. I woke up, picked up the apartment, did an unusually large amount of dishes, ate lunch, and packed for the weekend.

Three short paragraphs,
This blog is getting boring.
*Exciting Haiku!*

I read all of my posts on this blog last night and realized I completely got away from Poetry! I don't read or write poetry anymore, but you can never go wrong with a haiku!

I guess I better go and get ready to leave for the weekend.

Another Year...

2010-07-22T22:45:00.002-06:00

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!

6 Months Into 2009.

2009-06-08T22:41:00.002-06:00

Wow, so it's been literally almost a whole year since I last posted a blog. I reread my last post and decided that I still agree that 2008 as of then 2008 was turning out to be a great year.

This year has had it's ups and downs.

Last year in July I started working at Wal-Mart and I'm still there. It's not a great job at all; and I don't recommend working there if you can help it. I'm trying to get out of there as soon as I can. At the very least I'm trying to find my "happiest place" so that I can escape work while there.

In two days Shane and I will be celebrating our first anniversary! I can't believe it!

Last week on May 30th my Grandpa Poague passed away. It was so hard, and it still is. It actually seems to be getting harder as the days pass. Shane and I spent the whole week after the 30th in my hometown with my family. My Grandma was the strongest of all of us - I don't know how she does it sometimes. Grandpa was laid to rest in Holdrege, NE. He was 82 years old. I miss him very much. We all do.

In February my Dad's Grandmother passed away as well. I was not able to attend her funeral as it was in Illinois. I'm sad to say that I didn't know her as well as I would have liked. However, by the end she didn't remember very many people; her mind was very tired.

Dan and Sarena's little girl Brooke will turn one year old toward the end of this month. I really cannot believe that! She grew up way too fast because I wasn't able to see her very much during her first year.

In my last post I said that I had watched my little sister turn 16 and start driving. Well, this year she turned 17 (ah!) and a few weekends ago she drove me around on our shopping trip. Mom and Dad bought her a car this year too; a beautiful Impala - purple. She even let me drive it around town a little, ha.

In August of 2008 I got my newest tattoo. It's on my right shoulder - it says "You are my Sunshine." My Mom always used to sing that song to me when I was younger and I knew that it would be a great way to show my love for her - it's permanent, you know. I will also be getting tattoos for my Dad and my sister. My next tattoo, though, will be a cowboy hat with my Grandpa's initials inside it. (He always wore his cowboy hat, wouldn't leave home without it. He was laid to rest with it, too.)

Well, I think that might be all the updates I can think of for now. I will try to post more often - especially if something big happens. I know you're all impatient, ha.

Buh bye for now.

Six Months into 2008.

2008-06-13T07:48:00.002-06:00

It's June and so much has happened this year already. I moved to North Platte, I turned 21, I watched my baby sister turn 16 and start driving. Shane's brother graduated from high school. My friend, Sarena, is days away from delivering a little girl, Brooke Allyn. We've had some close calls in our family, but everyone seems to be doing well now. The weather has been crazier than I ever remember: no snow, too much snow, rain, tornado after tornado - wonder how the rest of the summer is going to be.

This month the best thing so far in my life happened. On June 10th Shane and I got married. It was a small ceremony at the Kearney county courthouse in Minden. Just family was there. It went smoothly and it was very nice. My Dad organized a small reception across the street at the Minden Coffee House. There was cake and delicious punch. He got flowers and everything! My Aunt brought a doily that was crocheted by my Great Grandma Poague (I never got to meet her.) She had it her wedding and both Aunt Becky and Aunt Phylliss had it at their weddings. It meant a lot to have that there. After the reception Shane's family and mine went to Kearney and had dinner at Whiskey Creek. Then Shane and I headed home.

When 2008 first started I knew it was going to be a big year for my family. But I didn't realize that so many things were going to happen outside of my family as well! This year is turning out to be one of my favorites.

In October we're still having a reception so I hope everyone can make it then!

Shane and I are going to see The Incredible Hulk tonight; his brother Ben might come with. Tomorrow night I think we're going to go see The Happening.

I started refinishing a dresser that used to be Shane's. It was painted white a long time ago and the paint looked terrible! So I stripped the paint and Shane sanded it. Yesterday I stained the frame and it looks great. Now I just need to do the drawers. I bought new drawer-pulls for it too, I hope it looks like I imagined when it's done!

I Have No Good Title.

2008-04-21T08:15:00.003-06:00

Hello all. (Or few.)

I'm still being very lazy when it comes to posting The Blogs (that would make a cool band name... And now! Put your hands together for...THE BLOGS!)

I really haven't been that busy, just lazy. I've recently gone through a huge nesting period. I rearranged the whole house, which didn't take long considering the size of our house. :) The babies, Rowdy and Betty, are now in the computer/storage room in the basement. We now have a table on which we eat our foods (I even bought placemats!) I bought a new bookshelf for the living/dining room. Our old bookshelf now holds our movies and the new bookshelf is rightfully a bookshelf. I'm thinking about taking pictures of the house - the inside - and posting them on here so you can see where I live. It's small so don't laugh. :)

This weekend was very fun. Shane's brother, Ben, (the middle brother in that family) came and spent the weekend with us. He needed help making a short film for his Spanish II class so of course Shane and I helped. We made a silent film about cheating at a game of poker. It stars Ben and Shane. I directed and filmed. And I also found the music to play during the film. It turned out to be great and we're all very proud of it! I put it on YouTube and my MySpace profile. I'll put the link for it at the end of this blog. I hope you'll enjoy it!

I had an interview at ShopKo on Friday for the apparel department. I think the interview went very well, but she (the manager) still had other interviews to give this week, so I should know soon enough if I got the job or not. I really hope I get the job, it'd be nice to work in apparel again, since I know what I'm doing after working forever at WalMart. Ha.

It's almost May. This year has started fast and it's almost half over.

We still don't know exactly what we're doing about the wedding.

Shane's birthday is coming up - May 1st. I'm really excited to give him his present! I think I'm more excited about it now than he will be when he opens it, but we'll see. He'll be pretty darned surprised, for sure.

Anyway, here is the link to YouTube for the film. (Although it is a silent film, it is still best watched with the volume on...for the music.) Let me know what you think about it!

Pelicula Silencioso

In Reply to Shannon's Comment.

2008-03-08T09:35:00.002-06:00

We're tired of renting. We figured if we're going to be paying over three hundred dollars a month to live somewhere we might as well be paying off a house. Right?

We're going to be in this area for a long time anyway because of Shane's job and Sutherland is a really nice little town.

A New House?

2008-03-06T16:21:00.003-06:00

There's this house for sale in Sutherland. I like it, Shane likes it, and we want it.

That's really all I have to say about it. We went to go see it today and it's really cute inside. It has a huge fenced-in back yard and already has a garden in it...yay! The front yard is surrounded by a chain-link fence which would be taken out and replaced with a better fence if we got the house. There's no basement so that kind of sucks, but one of the three bedrooms will work for storage, if needed.

The kitchen is very nice. So much bigger than ours now.

The best part about it is that there's a water softener!! Yes! :D

Well, It's About Time, Kaylee!

2008-01-13T22:42:00.001-06:00

That's what you're all thinking, right?

Things are...things? I'm living in North Platte with Shane. Trying to plan a wedding but there are a few "things" we must hurdle first. I might bring that up later.

I need to get a job. I applied at Shopko the other day. Haven't heard from them yet. There's a cute used book store a few blocks away that I would like to spend time in, working...but I doubt they're looking for help. I'll have to ask next time I'm in. There really aren't many places other than fast food places to work here in North Platte. Ha, I guess I'll have to get a job with the railroad...riiiight.

Shane and I got a new baby this last week. A white four-month old ferret. He was the runt of the group but man, is he playful? We named him Rowdy - because that's exactly what he is.

So far, 2008 has been a happy year. We'll see how it goes from there...

Better go to bed or something.

Goodnight!

Three Hundred Eighty-Three Dollars Later...

2007-12-12T08:50:00.001-06:00

I got my car back last night. It's good to have her back, but I'm just worried something else is going to go wrong.

This is Dead Week. And that's exactly how I feel. I have all my papers done and ready to turn in next week. As a result I've been completely lazy. Television, computer, naps...that's all I've done this week! Of course, I'm still going to my classes, but we don't do anything.

Tomorrow night the Advanced Poetry class I'm in is meeting at a bar here in Kearney to read some of our original poetry. I haven't decided what I'm going to read yet, but I'm just excited that tomorrow is our last day of poetry! Yay! Now I'll never be expected to write another poem!

I hope school and life is going well for everybody and good luck with Finals!

A Mind of Their Own.

2007-12-10T08:34:00.000-06:00

Cars. What do they think? That I'm made of money and can fix every problem they throw at me? No, I can't! So stop breaking!!

Let It Snow!

2007-12-06T07:53:00.000-06:00

I woke up this morning to find a beautiful snow falling to the ground. It was one of those snows that you want to capture on film, but it's almost impossible. There was about an inch on the ground and it's still falling. I'm glad it's not a dangerous or icy snow.

Christmas is coming and I'm getting more and more excited. I'm giving Sarena her Christmas present today when I go pick her up for her appointment. I hope she likes it.

To all: A happy snow day!

Christmas Music!

2007-12-04T18:21:00.000-06:00

I love it!

I'm having a weird day. It was going alright but then we had to watch Boys Don't Cry for my film class and well...we'll just say that that movie doesn't really make anyone happy.

The semester is winding down at a pretty steady pace. Only eight more days of classes. Fifteen days total until I should be done with finals. I'm pretty excited!

And then...it's Christmas!!

A Word.

2007-12-02T23:50:00.000-06:00

Work was slow tonight but it's the kind of work day I needed. Just a slow day to talk to the other cashiers and just walk around and stuff. It was nice.

Looking forward to going to Wilcox tomorrow. And I'm looking forward to watching Heroes!

I've really been missing Shane lately. The weather is getting colder and all I want to do is come home from work and curl up with Shane and watch a movie and then go to sleep. That is all I want and I have to wait a few more weeks!

To all: a good night and a wonderful Monday!

What's That? Hot Pockets?

2007-12-02T10:56:00.000-06:00

Jim Gaffigan is funny.

I decided that Shane should be an actor or a comedian. Well, actually...when I first met him I thought he should be one of the two 'cause he was very entertaining in class. But maybe that was just me because I thought he was cute.

Anyway, last night he and I were on the phone and he was doing some Jim Gaffigan jokes and some Demetri Martin jokes, then he did some of his own and made up some weird story to tell me. It was supposed to rhyme...and yeah...it was pretty hilarious. I really emotionally connected to the joke...

Apparently it snowed last night. The only reason I think this is because there is snow on the ground and covering the vehicles in the parking lot. Otherwise I would not have known it had snowed. Strange.

I have to go "dig" my car out later today - sometime after lunch. I have to go to work this afternoon and well, I don't feel like walking there; although, it would probably be easier.

Speaking of lunch...I have no idea what I'm going to eat. I don't want to go to Chartwells again, that stinks. Looks like I'm microwaving soup! My favorite!

Funny Stuff.

2007-12-01T12:12:00.000-06:00

Well, it happened again.

I must be the problem.

The End.

Sure A Disappointment.

2007-12-01T09:04:00.000-06:00

So we were supposed to get a pretty bad freezing rain storm last night and it was supposed to continue on all day today. We barely have any ice outside! I don't get it! I mean, sure, if you're driving like a crazy person anyway there's a chance you might hit thicker ice and crash. But there's not enough to hurt yourself on if you're driving safely...like you should be anyway.

It's not like I really wanted a huge storm or anything, but...uhg, last night was sooo busy at work because people thought we were going to get an ice storm like we did in Dec/January this year so they were stocking up for the storm. So far as I can tell, they made my night busy for no reason.

I mean sure it could get worse this afternoon or evening...but the radar shows most of the storm is past us and we might not get hit again! I don't know...

Well I have dedicated myself to doing my papers today and I can't lie...so I'm off to do homework on a Saturday morning at 9:10...that's depressing.

To all: A wonderful Saturday! Hopefully the weatherman didn't lie to you!

Nasty Weather & Hockey!

2007-11-30T10:04:00.000-06:00

I was planning on going to Wilcox tomorrow to take some stuff there and to just hang out. But we're supposed to get freezing rain all day tomorrow so it looks like I'll be stuck in Kearney. That's okay - I'm going to force myself to start and finish at least two of my final papers! I know I can do it!

My Canucks played last night - against the Blue Jackets. I checked the score this morning. They won - two to zero. That was exciting. Then I checked the NHL standings. The Canucks are ranked 2nd in the western conference! And 5th in the League! We're doing great this year and I'm hoping we actually have a chance at the Cup this year!

To All: A wonderful Hockey season!

Two Weeks Notice.

2007-11-29T08:55:00.000-06:00

It's a movie and the title of this blog. Teehee...

Yesterday at work I put in my two weeks notice and I almost cried. I don't want to quit working there. I love working there! I promised Joyce I would come back and visit though.

Soon after I finish this blog I have to start working on my final film paper. I'm doing it on Christian Bale - it'll be easy to stick to the project hehe. Yeah, he's a pretty good looking guy. I'm going to be watching The Machinist this morning. I'm going to be writing about his performance in that movie compared to his performances in The Prestige, Rescue Dawn, Batman, American Psycho, and possibly Reign of Fire.

I should probably get to that. Have a great Thursday!

Oh Boy.

2007-11-28T08:57:00.000-06:00

I don't know how I feel today...yet. I have so much stuff on my mind, which right now is a good thing. I'm trying to get everything figured out for this end of this semester. All my final papers and exams and packing moving. I know what I'm doing for my final paper for film class and I'm very excited about it but it's going to take a lot of time and work and I'm a little nervous that I'm not going to make myself do it.

I work tonight and Friday night. And I'm going to Wilcox on Saturday to take stuff there because I don't need it here anymore.

Next Thursday I'm taking Sarena to one of her baby-appointments. Dan has to work that morning so she asked if I could go with her to hold her hand. I was thrilled to be asked and gratefully accepted. I'm glad I get to be there for her.

It seems like after Thanksgiving break everything rushes at you until you fall over. There's only three weeks from tomorrow until the last day of finals week. I can't believe it's going so fast! I don't know if I'll be able to keep up!

I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday and a great rest of the week!

Baby Blankets.

2007-11-27T09:46:00.000-06:00

The blanket I'm crocheting for Dan and Sarena's baby is coming along very nicely. It's soft and cute and everything you look for in a baby blanket.

They think the due date is July 1st. So we still have awhile, but it'll come fast.

I had a weird dream last night. Something about dorm rooms, chumming with professors, and a ghost or something. I have no idea.

Tomorrow I'm putting in my notice for my last day at work. I'm going to be sad to say I have to quit. But I'm going to be more sad on my actual last day. I really do like working there, it's such a great environment and the people are nice. I'll definitely be coming down just to visit work every now and again.

After this week of classes there is only one more "real" week of classes, then Dead week, the finals week starts on the 17th. I can't believe it's almost here! November has gone so fast.

Back.

2007-11-25T12:57:00.000-06:00

I'm going back to Kearney today. Back to the good ol' dorm room. Yeah, something like that.

Shane came down last night. It was good to see him again. After this weekend I won't be seeing him untik the weekend before Christmas when we have our little Christmas together. When I get there we're going to go buy decorations for the little tree and then open presents. I think we're going to have a nice sipper together too. I'm looking forward to it.

I had such a good week and weekend being home with my family over Thanksgiving break. This really is close to the last time I will be staying here in Wilcox. I'll be moving in a little over a month. It's a little weird to think about. But a good the-show-must-go-on feeling. If you can understand that. Ha.

To all: a good week and happy Christmas-present shopping!

So Proud.

2007-11-23T11:31:00.001-06:00

I'm a little late getting this posted. It is an article from the Kearney Hub by Carol Meyers. I am very proud to say that my mom is the greatest.

Please read My Mom: The Star.

Yup, that's my mama!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! How was the turkey?

Tomorrow Is Thanksgiving!

2007-11-21T21:50:00.000-06:00

I'm watching That 70s Show. Just hanging out until Shane calls me when he gets off of work.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I'm very excited! I get to help with the food. That's pretty fun!

I started the baby blanket for Dan and Sarena's baby today. It's going to be so cute when it's finished! Of course, I have until this summer to get it done. Best to start early, though, right?

Well, I'm going to sit and watching some television.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

'Twas The Monday Before...

2007-11-19T06:48:00.000-06:00

...and it was hectic!

I should not be sitting here posting a blog this morning. I should be packing and getting everything ready to make a mad dash to my car after work and hightail it down to Wilcox. But here I sit, lazy as usual.

Because we don't have our film class tomorrow (my only class on Tuesdays) I decided that I'm going to go home tonight. Also, tonight is Taylor's play that I've mentioned before. I agreed to work this afternoon until 6pm and I have to be in the high school in Wilcox by 7pm. I know I can make it there, but I don't like being rushed. Who really does?

I am so thankful this week is Thanksgiving! I'm ready to see everybody at the same time and be able to actually have time to sit down and talk to them!

Shane made me cookies this weekend. Peanut butter. Mmm...they're my breakfast today with my coffee! Nothing better than a couple cookies with your morning coffee. That is, if you like cookies and coffee. If you don't...well, you're just odd, aren't you? I'm kidding! Don't hate me. :)

I better go though, I really need to pack. I'll try to keep up with my blog over Thanksgiving break, but I'm not promising anything! Besides, you should be with your families and friends and not sitting and staring at a computer screen!

To all: A splendid Thanksgiving! Yum Turkey!

Well,That Was Fast.

2007-11-17T08:06:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I started crocheting a scarf for a friend for Christmas. Apparently, I have very speedy hands because I finished it yesterday. And it's really pretty and I didn't mess up at all!

I've been very tired lately. And last night the hall was noisy again, worst night ever. I couldn't fall asleep until 2 again but the noise continued. Terrible.

I'm going to Wilcox after work and Shane is coming down here when he gets off of work as well. He's leaving Monday morning. That's pretty cool. :) Okay, so it's a lot awesome!

I better get ready for work or whatever. Have a great Saturday!

Sleepy Weekends.

2007-11-16T08:53:00.000-06:00

Well, folks, it's finally Friday. I'm sleepy. Again I had trouble sleeping last night. The hall was really loud until midnight - ridiculous.

I have to wake up early tomorrow to go to work. And after work I'm talking my fish to Wilcox for Thanksgiving. Shane is coming down this weekend! I'm awfully excited about that. :)

I hope I get Sunday off this weekend. Then I can spend all day with Shane!

Better get going. I have more coffee to drink before class.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Bowling Butts.

2007-11-15T09:12:00.000-06:00

Mandy and I went bowling last night. We only took a few pictures because my camera was being a pain...this is what we got:

Adorable right?

By the way, I granny rolled four full games. Hehe...that's how I roll. Oh yeah.

Have a wonderful Thursday! (Oh my gosh! It's Thursday already!?)

Another Long Night.

2007-11-14T10:39:00.001-06:00

I couldn't fall asleep until after two a.m. last night. It was terrible! I only let myself sleep in for half an hour - that didn't really do much for me. It's a long day today, as well. I have to work. But you would have already known that having read my previous blog.

Going bowling tonight. Looking forward to it. But we're not leaving until after my bedtime. I'm going to be so tired tomorrow! I'll need mucho amounts of coffee. :)

Speaking of coffee. I got an early Christmas present yesterday. Shane sent me fresh ground coffee from The Espresso Shop in North Platte. It's Irish Creme flavored and it's delicious!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Thanksgiving Is Coming.

2007-11-13T20:15:00.000-06:00

Next Thursday is Thanksgiving and I'm getting very excited! However, this week is going as slow as it possibly can just to make me angry.

I'm watching House. It's a good show. This is the first episode I've been able to watch this season. I'm a little behind - I don't know most of the characters anymore!

Soooo, I need to write a couple new poems. I need ideas. If anyone has any ideas for me to write a poem or two about please let me know 'cause I'm pretty desperate. Really, I am.

I guess I don't have much more to say tonight. Maybe tomorrow will be more interesting. I have to work 3-9, it should go pretty fast. Wednesdays usually are okay. Friday will go fast and so will Saturday. I wonder if I'll get Sunday off. I'm going back to Wilcox on Monday. And I get to bake my famous pumpkin cake with home-made cream cheese frosting. Sound good? Want some? Then you'll have to give me a good idea for a poem. There's a price for everything.

I hope everyone has a good night! Sleep better than I did last night!

Back Again.

2007-11-12T09:24:00.001-06:00

We all went to Harrison this weekend. It was a lot of fun! I got to play with horses! I should have been a farm-girl.

We got back around 8ish last night. I was pooped, but it was worth it with all the fun we had this weekend.

Next week is Thanksgiving. And I'm thankful for that. I need to get away from Kearney. And I'm looking forward to spending mucho time with my family. If I don't have to work this Sunday I think I'm going to go home on Saturday after I get off of work. 'Cause then I'll be able to be home all day Sunday, most of Monday (I'll have to come back up to Kearney for class), I'll get to see Taylor's play Monday night, I'll only have to drive back up to Kearney Wednesday and Friday to work, and then again on Sunday to come back to school and I'll probably have to work then anyway.

I think this will work out.

Last night I had a good but strange dream. I can't get it out of my head. I'll probably be thinking about it all day.

I wish you all a great Monday, a fast week, and a wonderful Thanksgiving (early.)

Small-Town Terrorists: A Prose Poem

2007-11-08T09:55:00.000-06:00

Small-Town Terrorists

It was summer in the town I was once from. Laughing friends on their stomachs enjoyed a black television screen with their legs bent, waving in the air to the rhythm of what they hoped their babies would one day be named. I never got around to plugging in that TV. A sun ray still hanging in the sky on some invisible fishing line creates half-hearted shadows on the floor and makes the warm west wind set the maple branches to making love with the oak on the walls surrounding the one room in the house I never felt safe to be. A rumble. From three blocks away it sounds like it’s three inches close enough to kill the ticks on the stray dog that limps down the street. Hamsters in hand; black in right, brown in left; stepping quickly to the half-open front door to close it against the sound of Death scrapping a broken bottle on a tin roof – ready to jump. Our house on the part tar, part gravel road in the West part of town was the only two-bath box spared to the liquid homicide. The covered-in-sweat driver brings a bent cigarette to his sullen lips as his conscience dances in the passenger seat. Dust clouds behind the roaring rusty metal. The black hamster bites my finger. I rejoin my friends in front of the black television. I never got around to plugging it in.

Note: I took my dream and changed it around and ended up changing completely what it was about, but I still was able to use a lot of the same lines that I liked. Tell me what you think, please.

Note 2: I hate poetry. :)

A Dream.

2007-11-08T08:55:00.000-06:00

It was just a dream I had last night.

It was summer-time in my hometown and I was wrangling my hamsters back into their cages. A couple old high school buddies were over enjoying a black television screen lying on the floor with their bent legs up in the air. What was so funny about a television that wasn't plugged in? There was a danger in my blood. I felt something bad approaching as the wind blew in through the half open front door. The sun, however still high enough to light the town, was sinking and creating half-hearted shadows on my face as I peered out the window next to the half-opened front door. Barreling down the part tar, part gravel road next to our innocent, terrified home was a tank of only imaginary sorts. It was like a semi that had been flattened in the back and the cab was sea-foam green. An awful sound of Death grinding a dull knife on a broken sidewalk filled the ears of the neighborhood. Not neighborhood anymore. Our house was the only two-bath box spared. My hamsters in my grasp; the black one in the left and the brown one in the right, I raced to the back door to watch the semi-gone-sour make a crescent moon around the front and loop into the recently-uprooted field to the East. I watched the covered-in-sweat driver lift a bent cigarette to his sullen lips as his conscience danced around him in the passenger seat. He kept driving. My parents, not home yet with my new baby sister, had left a note. Watch for trouble and a solitary M to sign the simple message. At least that's what I think it said. My sister had been born sixteen years ago. It has taken a long time to bring her home. The black hamster in my left bit my finger. I stood watching the dust clouding behind the trailer that carried no weapons, no bombs, no danger. I placed the hamsters back in their cages and rejoined my friends in front of the black television.

I was just going to retell my dream to you, but it starting making its way into a sort of prose poem. I think I'm going to rewrite it later to make it more of a prose poem and take it to poetry class with me.

And More Heroes.

2007-11-06T20:45:00.001-06:00

I've been catching myself up with the season two episodes. I'm on episode six right now and I will watch seven as well before I go to bed tonight. Then I will be completely caught up and will be able to actually watch next week's episode on television! I'm really excited!

This week is dragging.

I wish it was December 20th. This semester will officially be over and I will be preparing to move. Now, that's exciting.

Coffee and Bananas.

2007-11-05T07:34:00.000-06:00

I woke up this morning to work on a paper. I am on my third cup of coffee and my hunger pains have been calmed by a bruising banana. Its brothers and sisters are sitting next to my coffee maker. It's a small world...after all.

Happy Monday Friends.

Something Wonderful.

2007-11-02T08:41:00.000-06:00

I had a very bad day yesterday. I was alone and sad and being ignored by people who should never want to ignore me. But I got a call last night to make my night, and several other days surrounding this phone call, wonderful and happy and needed.

My friend Sarena called and said she had gone to the doctor yesterday. They called her and told her she was ten days pregnant! I'm so happy for her! And I'm excited because I get to be Auntie Kaylee. Her and her husband, Dan, are very very excited. She said that when she told him yesterday he was down on his knees crying in happiness.

This is definitely the kind of news I needed to hear last night. To forget everything else. Even if I am not the one having the baby I still feel the need to be with her while she is going through all of the doctor's appointments and worry and happiness and everything else that goes along with having a baby. I feel needed and that is a wonderful feeling...especially when it ends with having a baby to hold. This is so exciting and it hasn't even completely hit me yet!

I don't care about not being invited places anymore; I don't care about being ignored by those people that should never ignore me; and I certainly don't care if they plan things behind my back. That is all gone now. The only think I can think about now is helping Sarena and being the best friend for her that I have always wanted for myself.

Please pray for Sarena and Dan and their baby. I'll definitely be keeping you posted on how things go. How could I not? A baby?!

Have a great day.

Heroes.

2007-11-01T09:53:00.000-06:00

When the show, Heroes, was first advertised on NBC I wasn't at all turned on to it. I mean, it seemed like it had a good story, but lately most shows have been starting off good and then going into some weird other place that makes no sense. Writers seem to be losing their touch. That's why I was so skeptical about this show. I didn't watch the first season. I watched one episode with Shane last semester and didn't really pay attention. Last weekend when Shane was down he got me to watch the very first episode - his brother has the Season One DVD collection. I was hooked. This morning I just finished the first season of episodes. And I'm even more hooked that I was before. It is a great show. And that's all I have to say about that.

Yesterday was Halloween. I had to work, but I still dressed up. I was the only one to dress up! No one seems to have fun with Halloween anymore. It's kind of sad, really.

Anyway, I should find something else to do. Have a good day everybody!

The Weekend Is Nearing.

2007-10-25T23:25:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow is Friday. Actually today is really early Friday. This week has been okay; although I miss Shane like crazy.

I have my midterm exam in Grammar tomorrow. I have a response paper to hand in tomorrow for Lit, as well. Tomorrow is officially the last day of and midterms I have to take this semester. It's exciting. However, the end of midterms only means one thing - the coming of the dreaded Finals. *terrible screams echo off of stony alley walls...and more scary things...*

If any of you have access to my MySpace or my Facebook profile please take a look at my new photos from Fall Break. Both albums are labeled Fall Break '07. I think there's some pretty great pictures.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a great weekend and great upcoming last week of October.

Afterward...

2007-10-24T09:11:00.000-06:00

I just got back from North Platte. Last night on my way home my "Low Engine Coolant" light came on so I turned around and went back to North Platte to get some of that stuff. :) Actually Shane got it and put it in my car. He's so sweet. By the time that got done, though, I was tired and just stayed there another night. Woke up early this morning and hit the interstate again. My car was fine.

I think Shane is going to try to come down here this weekend - maybe Saturday until Sunday night. I hope.

Just Try and Make Me.

2007-10-23T09:32:00.000-06:00

I don't want to go back to Kearney tonight. I know I have been here for four days, but it only feels like four hours - at most.

I woke up this morning dreading the coming evening. It's sad. Shane is in class right now - I hope he'll come home for lunch again. Not like we have anything but leftovers. And I really hope they get out of class early like they did yesterday.

Well, I guess there's nothing for me to do except take a shower and walk downtown for some coffee.

So maybe I am an addict.

Weekend Over.

2007-10-22T09:19:00.000-06:00

The weekend may be over, but it is still Fall Break.

I'll be in North Platte until tomorrow evening probably.

This is how the weekend played out: I got here Friday night and picked up the house until two in the morning and then I went to bed. Saturday I woke up and waited for Shane to get back from work. He was home earlier that he said he might be. We went to Movie Gallery and rented three movies to watch. They were all good movies. I made us mini-pizzas for lunch - they were really good but filling. We got ice cream for dessert but we didn't eat it. We took a nap at 5ish, until around 8. We got up went back to Walmart and stopped at Wendy's for supper. We came back to the house and ate our Wendy's and watched the last of the three movies we rented.

We went to bed around midnight that night. Yesterday, so far, was one of the greatest "normal" days I've spent with Shane. We had plans to go to church in the morning with his friend Marcello, but he never let us know what time church started, never called at all, so we just slept in until noon. Almost a full twelve hours of sleep - that doesn't happen too often. We got up and went to Walmart again so Shane could get the stuff he needed to make me dinner. Meatloaf! It turned out delicious!!! He also made au gratin taters and corn for the sides. While at Walmart this time I bought us some Oreos - I thought we could crunch them up and put them on our ice cream for dessert. Guess what. We still didn't have ice cream last night! Okay I skipped ahead and missed one of the best parts! That coffee house I mentioned in my previous post...well, he took me there and bought me a latte. It was so sweet! He even tried it!!! Anyway...the reason we didn't get ice cream last night...while he was making dinner he asked me to tell him some parts of the book I'm writing and I asked him if he had any thoughts or suggestions. After we got done eating he wanted to go for a walk, so we drove out to Cody Park and walked around. He started rattling off all these ideas I should have in my book. I loved all of them! He is so good at making up stories - I had no idea. Anyway, we came back to the house so I could grab my notebook to take notes. We just drove around for awhile as he kept coming up with more ideas.

We get back last night and hung out for a bit. He had some homework to finish before his class this morning so he did that while I watched The Lost Boys - I needed to watch it because I'm making reference to it in my book. Cheesy, I know.

All yesterday I was doing laundry, it was nice. Today we're getting new screen doors put in so I had to wake up. I'm going to do the dishes that Shane said he would do last night. And I probably should pick up the house again. You would think the house is too tiny to get too messy. Ha!...it's bad.

I don't know when Shane is going to be done with his class. Hopefully not too late. I'm thinking about making him dinner tonight but I don't think we have anymore room in the fridge for leftovers! It's a pretty small fridge.

Well I'm off to do the dishes!

Where's The Coffee?

2007-10-19T09:28:00.001-06:00

I want to preface this entry by saying I am NOT a coffee-addict as some people might think. (Shane...who else?)

Anyway, this weekend I will be going to North Platte to spend some much-needed quality time with Shane. Shane does not drink coffee. The house does not yet have a coffee maker in it. I do not want to take the time to pack my coffee maker up to take with me for just a couple of days. So, where will I get my coffee in the morning? This is very unnerving for me. I might just lose it.

I did notice that there is a little coffee shop a few blocks away from the house. I wonder if they deliver.

Let's hope they do. If not...well, I don't want to know what will happen.

A Secret.

2007-10-17T08:30:00.000-06:00

I have a dirty little secret. Actually it's not dirty - it' s black. And it is actually very little. You don't get to know. I just thought it would be fun to make you curious. Did it work? Sorry.

I have hit another brick wall as it comes to my story. My "train" of thought is too crushed to back up and go a different direction.

Ya know, know that I think about that phrase "I've lost my train of thought" I feel like I should analyze it and make sure it makes sense. I've been doing this lately with things that involve trains - poor Shane, he has to put up with this.

Okay...obviously trains are big, massive even, and very hard to lose. So that definition is already out the window (that is, if a lost train could fit through a window.) A train could make a big boo-boo and fall off the tracks (that of course wouldn't be the train's fault, but rather the people inside) - I guess this could relate to thought. You're thinking, thinking, thinking, NOT thinking. Sometimes the thought process just stops. Buuut, a train doesn't just "stop" they slow down and slow down some more and slow down some more...and finally the quit moving - so I guess that's out, too. Usually when you "lose your train of thought" it's because you are interrupted and forgot what it was you were talking about, correct? Trains go forward and that is it. They can be turned around, yes, but with much work about it. If a train has to be switched to a different track it continues going forward but it slightly veers to either the right or the left, that is all. I don't think the statement "I've lost my train of thought" is appropriate. It should be "My train of thought has veered slightly to the left and I have changed my mind about my previous argument." Now, doesn't that sound better?

I'm going to finish my coffee and ponder over more figures of speech. Good bye.

My Fish.

2007-10-16T09:37:00.000-06:00

Yoda is doing just fine. He is annoying and spastic but I love him and he's entertaining.

Bubs is not doing well. A a couple weeks ago I noticed that his beautiful dark red scales were turning a dirty brown color and that the little bit of green on his tail fin was fading into a disgusting yellow. I also noticed that his eyes were bubbly. That's the only way I know to describe his eyes. They weren't normal. His gills are turning pale as if he isn't getting enough circulation to them. He's not at moody or as playful as he usually is. He just hangs out right under the surface of his water. When I put in food in the morning he swims around like he's going to get it but he never does. I'm starting to think he's having trouble seeing it. Just now he's started swimming around but it's not a graceful betta-fish swim; it's choppy and looks forced. All of his food ends up on the bottom of his bowl uneaten. He's either sick and going to die from whatever he has, or he's going to starve to death. Because he's a fish there's really nothing I can do until he dies.

I wish he'd get better. It might sound silly, but please pray for my fishie to get better. He's a pretty cool fish and I know you'd love him if you saw him. Thanks.

I Am Writing Again!

2007-10-15T21:40:00.000-06:00

I pulled out my story again today. I figured it was about time to start working on that again if I ever want to get it published someday. I have written about five new pages tonight (once they're typed.)

I'm excited about how it's turning out. I wish that Shelly and I could get together to make our halves of the book unite, but unfortunately we just don't really have the time. I think it might happen that we go our separate ways on this book and make it two books. And then later, in the future, we'll get together and write a different book together! A very awesome book...with pages and everything!

I wish my story was done so I could let people read it, but it's not. At least I can enjoy it right?

Anyway, wish me luck - I'll need it to finish this dang thing. Love you all!

A Rainy Monday Morning.

2007-10-15T08:58:00.001-06:00

It is hard to wake up when the sky is still dark and there is a mist in the air. The cold draft sneaking through your window eases you back under the covers and your eyes snap back together and lock. Somehow the key gets lost and magically your alarm clock gets turned off.

Then your coffee maker kicks on and the fresh aroma of Irish Creme tickles your nose and you're drug out of your cozy blanket haven. Shivering, you pour a cup of the delicious warmness from the pot and savor the slow spreading warmth through your body as you take tiny sips so as not to burn your mouth.

This was my morning. I'm still cold and my blankets are calling to me.

Right now I'm watching A Baby Story on Discovery Health. I love these kind of shows. They're bad for me to watch, though. After I watch them I really just want to go up to North Platte, get married, and start having babies. Who can blame me though? I meant to be a mommy!

I hope everyone's Monday is warm, cuddly, and fun!

Coffee and Cookies.

2007-10-12T09:27:00.000-06:00

I always used to think my Grandpa was silly to dunk his cookies in his coffee. But I've found that it is actually quite wonderful! It's just like milk only hot and the coffee taste only adds greatness to the cookie taste!

It's Friday and I've come to terms with the fact that I may never have a real weekend again.

What?

2007-10-10T11:52:00.001-06:00

I have absolutely no motivation to do anything! I don't want to go to class, do my homework, or go to work even though I really need the money. I've been making myself get up at around 8:30 every morning and by the time noon comes around I'm completely dead tired again and just want to go to bed. I don't know. Maybe it's just the change of the seasons.

How is everyone else doing?

Our New House.

2007-10-06T13:31:00.000-06:00

I'm in North Platte again this weekend. But there's something special about this weekend.

We moved Shane into our house. I, of course, won't be moving in for awhile...but it's great to have a house!!!

It's small, but we don't need much room. I think it's very cute and we can make it look cuter! I'm very excited!!! I'll post pictures of our place later - maybe I should take some pictures first. What d'ya think? :)

Almost One-Hundred.

2007-10-03T21:39:00.000-06:00

This is my 99th post.

I am still having problems trying to accomplish what I want with my life - rather, our life. Shane and I are starting to plan our future together and there are some people trying to stand in our way. No, not trying, they are in the way.

I just wish I had the freedom to tell them what I really want and feel without them giving me the guilt trip and making me hate myself. I don't think it's supposed to work that way.

Please, pray for me. I really need it.

To all: a wonderful week!

I Need My Glasses To See.

2007-09-30T22:51:00.001-06:00

Shane came down this weekend. It was great to have him around for 2 days! Friday night we rented Zodiac (the new one) - it was really good. Saturday we watched a little of the parade that ended here at the college. Saw my mom and sister. I had to work until 8 that night but afterward I went to Shane's parents' house to hang out with him and his brothers. We ended up coming back to Kearney to buy a movie that they thought I really needed to see. Bio-Dome...hilarious! Then we went to bed. Today we woke up and hung out for awhile. Then his parents made a wonderful lunch of lasagna! I had to work at 4 - until 10. Shane came in to see me before he headed back to North Platte. He's back now and sleeping. I should be sleeping but I cannot fall asleep!

I'm so tired from having a boring day at work, buuuut - my body is restless despite my tired eyes.

Well, I'm going to TRY to sleep. Bleh.

To all: A Happy Monday Morning!

I Hope.

2007-09-28T09:45:00.000-06:00

I hope this weekend goes accordingly to my wants. I know I have to work all day Saturday - 11-8. That's okay. I don't know if I have to work on Sunday yet. I probably will have to. Marsha said she wanted me to come over on Sunday to either watch the game or to watch a movie with her. I really want to but...I still might have to work. Then today Shane told me he might have Saturday and Sunday off! So...that would be awesome if he could come down here again. Or something.

But...I still might have to work. I hope that if I have to work it's not a 9-hour shift again. Just a few hours so I can still have some weekend to enjoy. If not, though, maybe I'll get next weekend off. I'm too hopeful I think.

I work tonight and then I'm going to bed. I'm tired and I didn't get up more than 2 hours ago. Bleh! What's wrong with me!?

Happy September Tuesday Third Day!

2007-09-25T14:48:00.001-06:00

I wouldn't ask about it if I were you.

Shane's coming down here today. He should be here within the next twenty minutes! I can't wait!

Mom and Taylor are also going to be in town so, yay! I get to see almost everyone I love today! We're just missing a couple people.

I guess I don't really have much to say right now. I'm sick of my classes and I'm sick of these headaches. They came back. Yippy.

To All: Adios.

Another Wonderful Weekend!

2007-09-23T22:50:00.000-06:00

Saturday after work I got my oil changed and I headed to North Platte. And can you guess what I did there? That's right! I saw my Shane!!! I stayed with him and his dad at the Holiday Inn Saturday night. This morning Shane and I went to Perkins for breakfast and I headed back to Kearney around 12:30. I had to work at 3. But seeing Shane was wonderful while it lasted. I can't wait to see him again.

Work was pretty boring. It was my first day on my own. That part went well. But Sunday evenings are soooooo uneventful. I left at 9 and came back to my room and wrote a paper that is due tomorrow. That was fun. Really, it was.

I thought I missed the new Jeff Dunham special on comedy central. And I was sad. It was just getting over when I called Shane this evening after work. But they replayed it at 10 so I'm watching it now. I can't wait to buy it! It's so hilarious!

To all: Good laughs.

New Work.

2007-09-21T22:32:00.000-06:00

Tonight was my second night of work at Apple Market. I'm really liking it there. The girls are fun to talk to and a few of the sackers are fun, too. Checking of course isn't that hard. I checked for almost 5 hours straight tonight so I got pretty used to the registers. I have to work tomorrow 10-2. It's my last day of training. All I have to do is check while Shelly watches me and makes sure I do alright. Easy.

After work I'm getting my oil changed - and my oil filter - and a bunch of other fluids. And...then...I'm heading to North Platte to see Shane! Yay! I'll stay until Sunday around noon. I have to get back by three that afternoon 'cause I have to work again. That's alright though. I don't want to spoil myself and Shane too much. Ha.

We're reading Frankenstein for my Reading & Writing About Literature class. I've read most of it before - clear back in high school. I didn't like it back then. Maybe my mind has matured or something because I'm enjoying it this time. It just takes a while to read, there's a lot of words and a lot of details you have to pick up on in such short chapters. But it's good, and that makes me happy.

I better get to bed soon. Or I might not wake up for work tomorrow. And we don't want that.

To all: A great weekend!

Last Paycheck.

2007-09-20T09:33:00.000-06:00

This morning I went to Walmart and picked up my very last paycheck from that place that I don't like to be. Yay!

I started training at Apple Market yesterday. I think I'm really going to like working there. Not only does my best friend Shelly work there, buuut...it's so much better a work environment that Walmart is! Sure, there's the cranky customers and the cranky workers, but you have to multiply that by 20 to get the total crankiness ratio from Apple Market to Walmart.

Tonight is my poetry night-class. I hope tonight goes better than the other nights. After this class time though we will only have 12 more poetry classes this semester! It's only one night a week, so I just have to count down weeks. It's fun to do - once we get down to 9 weeks left, I'm going to overly thrilled!

I better go and read Frankenstein - It's actually not too bad of a book.

To all: A wonderful Thursday.

Ninety-second.

2007-09-17T22:17:00.000-06:00

I was just rereading and updating my other two blogs I have online.

On one of those blogs in particular I posted a new updating blog that I felt I should link you to. I'm sure you all know everything that is in the blog, but I feel it is very well written and it would be a shame to not at least direct you to it. Now, you don't have to feel obligated to open the link. But I felt I must give you the chance, at least.

Oh, Just Randomness.

There. My job is done; but I will keep typing.

Tonight I went to a movie for my film class. Holiday starring Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant. It was a very good movie and I want to watch it again. In fact, I want to own it. I told Shane that it would make a very good Christmas or birthday present if he felt like getting me something. Ha, I think I'll probably get it.

I feel accomplished tonight. I went to both of my classes, lunch, and the movie for my film class. I ate supper alone (that should feel sad, but ironically it felt good.) I went to WalMart after the movie and bought only necessities: bottled water, breakfast bars, Kleenex, and trash bags. No splurging for this girl tonight. When back in my room, I cleaned Bubs's bowl and now he can see out and I can see in. After doing the much needed bowl-cleaning I cleaned my bathroom counters and the sink and washed my dishes which called for another sink-cleaning when I finished. I have tomorrow planned out well enough to call it good and I feel alright. I guess there's always a little something to be said for organization and wise time-usage.

And now that I have used up enough cyber-paper on this blog I will use some before-bed freetime to enjoy a little television, a little teeth-brushing, and finally and little relaxing bed-laying.

To all: A good-night.

Mondays?

2007-09-17T11:48:00.000-06:00

I had a stupid moment this morning. You're not going to know what I did.

Class was boring today, as will be my Grammar class that I have to leave for in ten to fifteen minutes.

My dreams were really odd last night. I don't think I could begin to explain them!

I start working at AppleMarket on Wednesday. I'm pretty excited because I get to be trained by Shelly! Yay!

Lately, I've been very tired, and no matter how much I sleep I just can't shake it. Maybe tonight I'll go to bed as early as I possibly can! Yeah right.

Good and Bad.

2007-09-12T22:26:00.000-06:00

So, Shannon to answer your question. Yes, something happened but I had also been planning on leaving soon. And actually...I already have a job! I went to take in my application to Apple Market where my friend Shelly works, and they gave me an interview right then! So I think I'm going to be starting next week sometime! I'm excited!

However, there was a downside of the day. Well, let me start at the beginning. This afternoon I went to Pet Kingdom to look at the fish. There are some really pretty ones that I want to get. But I had to go to Walmart first to get a small one-gallon aquarium. Shelly, Mandy and I went to Walmart and bought the little aquarium this evening. And after we got back we went for a walk. After the walk I came back to my room to set up the aquarium so it was ready for me to bring a new fishie home tomorrow afternoon. Well...I was going to say hi to my other two fishies. And I discovered that Stewie, the comet goldfish, was dead. I'm okay, I didn't cry or anything! But I've had him for awhile, a long time for a goldfish in my possession at least. We had a funeral and I'm asking everyone to take a moment of silence for Stewie tomorrow, Thursday the 13th, at 1:45pm central time. I'd really appreciate it. And I'm sure he would appreciate it on his way to Fishie Heaven, which coincidentally, is also People Heaven! Yay!

Have a good night, day, and other. Loves.

This Is How It Goes.

2007-09-11T18:01:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I quit working at Wal-Mart.

Today I went to class and did homework.

Tomorrow I will go to class and take my applications to the stores I applied at.

Thursday I will go to my two classes.

Friday is undecided.

And that is how it goes.

A Wonderful Weekend!

2007-09-09T21:44:00.000-06:00

This wonderful weekend brought to in part by The Kaylee Loves Shane Foundation.
...and also by...
Viewers Like You.

Uhm...

Anyway - Saturday after I got off of work I went back home for a few hours (long that I'd wanted) to see the family. I was hoping to get on the road to North Platte around 6:30 - well, that turned into 8 because of set-backs caused by none other than, Dad. That's okay - that's over now.

Well, I got into Sutherland a little after 10pm and hung out with Shane. We eventually went to bed 'cause I was tired, and he was too. All night he was doing some weird walking-and-talking in his sleep and for most of the night he was sleeping in the living room on the couch instead of in the bedroom with me...that's alright.

Today we woke up and had breakfast/lunch with his aunt and uncle. Then the four of us drove around Sutherland looking at houses for sale or rent. We didn't see anything we really liked - or that was in our price range. Later, after the Broncos game (they won) Shane and I went into North Platte to hang out. We spent the majority of our time in Wal-Mart; don't we always? We drove around some carlots and he showed me around town. We ate at Whiskey Creek and headed back to Sutherland so I could get headed back to Kearney.

The drive back was okay. Lonely, after having been with Shane all day. Traffic was traffic. It rained for probably an hour out of the two hours I was on the road. It was a nice rain - I barely had to use my wipers. I listened to good music and sang all the way back.

Oh, I forgot to mention! Last February (2006) on Valentine's day I sprained my left ankle. Well, it never really healed all the way. And just Saturday at work it really started hurting again. I think I must have twisted it or turned on it weird. It was hurting so bad today that we had to go to Wal-Mart a second time to get a brace for my ankle. With the brace on, it feels much better, but I can still feel where the tendon is just not right.

Anyway, that was my wonderful weekend. Brought to you by the letter W, and the number 3!

Adult Speaking.

2007-09-07T13:34:00.001-06:00

I am twenty years old, yes? You would think by now if I would try to have an adult conversation with my mother that we could successfully meet that goal. No.

I just asked her a simple question about this weekend and she gets all defensive about something that doesn't even matter! I think we're finally getting to the point where my parents know they can't make all my decisions for me, but now they're just going to be mean about it. They're not just going to give their opinion and politely step back and wait to see what decision I make. They're going to defensively state their opinion and then breathe down my neck until I conform to their wishes. I can't keep doing that! For once...please, once, I want to make my up my own mind about something that doesn't even concern them!

I've come to terms that I wasn't raised the way I should have been raised and that I've been lied to for my entire existence by the two people that should never lie to me - my parents. They tell me to learn from their mistakes, not my own, but they won't admit to their mistakes! I find them out for myself and then whimper in my little corner until I can manage to forgive them for doing such a thing - and they don't even know I know! I'm forgiving two people that don't ask to be forgiven by their daughter because they don't even know enough about their daughter to realize that she's not stupid!

If they want me to be my own person then let me make a few decisions from time to time! Don't make me YOUR person. Let me make a mistake and let me live with the consequences of my mistake. Let me take a chance on something and if I don't like what I've done make ME turn around and try to correct what I've done. I understand parents want to shelter their kids from everything that's bad, but they have no right to tell me what to do in this situation when I know the truth. They can lie and deny it all they want, but I know, and I won't make the mistake they made, because I'm not that irresponsible! I'm smart enough to know to say no when I need to. And I'm smart enough to get myself out of something before I get too deep in trouble that I can't make it out.

They tell me to do all these things, and still I don't know what they want from me. I hurt knowing that somehow I've disappointed my parents, but I've only disappointed them by doing what they tell me. That may not make sense to you, but I understand full well. Hypocritical, that's what it is. They can shelter me from everything they want to shelter me from, but what kind of person does that make me? I feel useless, dumb, and sick because of everything I've been sheltered from. I come to college and I'm so unexperienced with so much that I can't fit in. They tell me to do this and do that, and I try, but I don't know how. They don't realize that they never taught me how to do the things I need to do to accomplish everything they wanted of me. I've failed trying to become what they wanted; I tried so hard and fell harder everytime because I missed the lessons. I missed the world. I missed every chance I could have taken to be something great, because I was spending all my time trying to figure out how to make it happen. I didn't - and still don't - take any chances. I'm too afraid that my next step will be the wrong one.

How can anybody live their life like that? Afraid to do anything because they don't want to fail? You have to fail at something to become good at something else. But I never found what I was good at because I was busy failing for my parents. I tried so damn hard, but I never knew what I was supposed to do and why.

This is one big circle. And how do I make it stop? I could turn a corner. Circles have no corners. What will my corner be?

Allergies, Colds, and Tummy Aches.

2007-09-06T10:49:00.001-06:00

You all know I have terrible allergies this allergy season. But what you are about to find out is that I woke up this morning with a cold on top of my allergies! And furthermore...I have a tummy ache!
I went to Walmart today to get my paycheck and by my mom her birthday present. I stocked up on the Vicks vapor rub, and the Sudafed, and Kleenex. Bleh, it needs to freeze outside and soon!

Saturday after work I'm going back home to Wilcox to give mom her birthday present and see the family. Sunday morning I'm heading up to North Platte to see Shane for the day. It'll be great to see him, but it'll be even harder to say goodbye this time!

I have my night class tonight and I'm sure I'll fall asleep in it. I'm so tired today from all the head congestion and I probably won't have time for a nap. Oh well, class is nothing important haha.

Slowing Down.

2007-09-05T11:44:00.001-06:00

The rush of the first week of school is slowing down finally. And we're all getting back into our rut of not being able to wake up with enough time to make yourself look decent for class. Those assignments we write down in the wrong notebook get forgotten until we're sitting in class. And we start noticing a slight stench of B.O. coming from each classroom as the end of summer gets hotter before it cools down.

Aw, such is the life of a college student. I'm excited that this is going to be my last semester here at UNK. Sure I'll be leaving behind teachers that I really like, friends that I've made, and friends that I've had forever. But it's time for this change. It's much welcomed.

Building up enough confidence to stand up to your parents and say "I'm leaving" and "I'm making this decision on my own" takes time and so much patience. Reflecting back to childhood you never thought you'd be making decisions like this, nor did you ever think you'd know how. But my time has come to break away and become the decision-making twenty year old that I need to be. I only hope that my parents understand and support me and don't become overwhelmingly upset with me that they don't want much to do with me anymore. I'm sure that latter won't happen to the highest degree, but something of that nature could happen.

I'm nervous to be leaving and starting something brand new in my life. I know Shane and I will be happy and whatever happens will work out. But there's always something saying "what if." In this case, that something is my mom. Sure it's wonderful to question and doubt sometimes. But then there's those times when you just have to do whatever it is you think to do! If you wait around your whole life not doing what you want because all those what ifs get in the way, you'll never do anything. You won't step up and meet that guy you've been looking for. You won't say yet if that guy asks you to marry him. You'll be too scared to move far away for a job that sounds amazing. You won't have kids because you'll never have enough money. All these things are things you just need to do. Only dwell on the what ifs if your plan is to talk yourself out of something. But if it's something you truly want to do, don't think, just do.

That's all I have to say right now. I have to go to class.

Wedding Dress.

2007-09-04T22:51:00.000-06:00

I am happy to announce that I have found the wedding dress I want to have for my wedding. If I can't get this exact dress I want the one I do get to look similar to this one.

And I want the red on it like it shows up on the screen. Tell me what you think!

Wedding Dress.