The Big Day

Today is the day I finally go on vacation. The last vacation I went on was in January, but it seriously feels like it has been years.

I am frantically trying to pack and locate a hundred million things. Normally I would have packed a few days ago, but I had company over, and I didn't want to neglect them.

I am so excited I can't even go to sleep, but I know the sooner I go to bed, the sooner the morning will come. Horray! I'm hugging at least 16 trees.

P.S. I think it's a good sign that my trip is going to fabulous because the U.S. finally won a soccer match this morning! Go USA!

T minus 1 Day

I am going to go on my Seattle road trip tomorrow, and I am so excited I can hardly stand it!

During the planning of the trip, I started to realize that I'm a planner. I have to make sure that everything is scheduled, booked, and paid before I can even think about leaving for the trip. I'm just not as spontaneous as I thought I was.

One of my friends asked me if we could just keep driving until we saw somewhere we wanted to stay at. That thought left me really uncomfortable, so I insisted that we book everything. Worry much? Why yes I do.

I feel like my worry wartness is warranted because we're all girls, and we have to try to make this trip as safe as possible. I don't want to accidentally walk into a shady hostel. (I am beginning to become paranoid. I know.)

The trip is going to be amazing because we're going to go camping in the Redwoods, seeing the sea lions in Florence, finding Bigfoot in Seattle, drinking wine in a vineyard, and eating out in San Fran. Oh what fun it will be!

I just need to finish packing, and I will be all set to go! Yay for adventures. Times like these... I just love my life!

Family Visits

My Uncle, Aunt, and Cousins decided to visit me this weekend as they were going to go to Disneyland. It was extremely nice to see my family as I have not seen them in a long time.

My cousin married a German man a few years ago, and they now have the sweetest little baby. She is seriously the cutest little girl I have ever seen, and I am charmed by her. I have always thought that mixed babies were really beautiful, and she proved me correct.

I am going to go to Disneyland with them tomorrow, and I am a little excited as I haven't gone in awhile, and my pass will be expiring soon.

I have forgotten how nice it was to spend time with you family as I do not see them often. I also love that darling baby. I wish she was mine. :D

Toy Story 3 in 3-D

I think one of my vices is that I love going to the movies. I can't help but find myself there at least every other week.

I just can't wait for anything to go on DVD when I really want to see it. It's also nice to catch a movie with a friend when you guys don't have anything better to do, and want to escape the elements.

Movies are pretty much a regular part of my life. I am always watching a movie, a show, or even Korean drama.

I just watched the newest Toy Story, and I have to declare love to it. The original Toy Story has always been my favorite Pixar, and I love how the newest doesn't disappoint.

The story has gotten more clever, and the storyline is fresh. I love their quirkiness, and how the storyline always keeps you guessing. Only Pixar can make me laugh one minute, and then cry the next minute. I may of screamed in agony at some parts too.

It's probably going to be my favorite movie of the summer, and I encourage everyone to watch it. It's going to give you a deep happiness that only Pixar can do.

Summer of Manual Labor

Once again my mother has me doing chores. I don't mind them all that much although sometimes I wonder how I can possibly do everything she wants me to do.

I was a lumberjack today... or maybe I should call myself lumberjoan! Anyways, my mother wanted to cut a bunch of trees down and into little pieces so we can throw it away.

Ummm... does anyone trust me with a chainsaw? Do I even trust myself with one?

I am here to say that I am glad I still have all my fingers, and all my toes. I did not accidentally kill anyone or hurt my brother in any way.

Tomorrow's conquest is landscaping. My mother wants me to move a bunch of rocks all over the front yard. This shall be interesting, but at least I like rocks. I can admire them as I try to place them in some sort of organized pattern.

I'm also summer cleaning my house tomorrow. It's a bonus cleaning to the spring one.

I better be more manly by the time I am done with all this. I don't know how I feel about always having to be the arrowhead woman, and carry giant bottles around town.

Let's just say, I am glad vacation is next week. At least I can leave knowing my house will be clean.

Plus I am watching Toy Story 3 tomorrow. I've been looking forward to this since I heard about it. :)

Postcards Heaven

I am having so much fun with postcrossing (the website where you exchange postcards from people all over the world). I love all the postcards I have received, and all the people that I have already met.

When you go on a website such as postcrossing, you realize that world is much smaller than you thought. People from all over the world have the same dreams, interest, and hobbies as you do.

I found a geologist in Egypt ( I KNOW! I was excited about this one). I made a pen-pal in the Netherlands. I am exchanging candy with a person from Russia. I am speaking with people that I would never have been to otherwise.

Getting postcards is now just a bonus. It's just icing on top of everything. The best part of this is meeting new people.

It's not the same as traveling to all those exotic countries, but I think it's the next best thing. You get to see a glimpse of their life, and that's amazing.

This website had brought me so much happiness. It only feeds my addiction of postcard and stamp collecting. I now have a reason to buy a truckload of postcards, and am armful of stamps.

I realize that I am easily amused, but writing to people have brought me an endless amount of amusement. I love it. :)

Summer Chores

This is the summer of manual labor. Tackling weeding was not merely enough. I am now to paint the house.

It actually has been much better than weeding. I just think weeding the the worst possible chore my mother can give me. Rolling paint on the wall can sometimes be therapeutic until the fumes start to get to you.

It's actually fun to scrape the old paint off the walls. It's a nice way to take out any aggravation that you may have. The wall is understanding, you can take out your anger on it without any consequences.

There is nothing prettier than a fresh layer of paint on your house. It has made my house look a little less... well... old.

I think I'm going to become a regular handyman by the time summer ends. Yeah, who am I kidding? I am not handyman material.

Cooking Lesson

I got to learn how to make enchiladas today. Well, that depends on what you define as learn.

Does it count that I was learning while watching the soccer game? I may of been distracted when Australia lost to Germany by 4. I was even rooting for the Australian, and they let me down. How my heart hurt.

I was kind of helpful in the kitchen. I shredded the chicken, crumbled the cheese, and cut up the lettuce. See? I can do things. Maybe. Sometimes.

The chicken enchiladas were perfect. They have the chewy texture of tortilla, the saltiness of the chicken, the crunchy lettuce, and delicious salsa. I must declare love to it. Especially to the salsa. There is just something so delicious about it.

Now that I sort of know how to make a Mexican dish, maybe I will venture into another ethnic cuisine. I want to learn how to make Japanese rice dishes. I think that would be yummy is my tummy.

Oh how I love food. Maybe I'll even like to cook someday too? Maybe?

Church

Over the last few years, I slowly went to church less and less. It's not that I don't love God or believe in him, it just that I became really lazy when it came to my faith. Crappy things started to happen to me, and I didn't know how to deal with them.

I became more sad, and questioned my purpose as a person as time went on. I didn't become a terrible person or lose my faith in God, but I wasn't the same.

A friend started to go to church with me on a regular basis. She began to convince me to go to church, and without even realizing it, I felt more at ease.

When I'm in church I feel like things will be okay. No matter what happens, everything will be fine. I even feel light hearted, and more optimistic.

I know that I am responsible for my own future. I know this, but it doesn't hurt to know that God has my back.

I'm actually happy to be back at church, and don't think it's really a chore. I really think it has to do with the fact that I go to the youth mass though. There is just something about it. :)

At this Moment

I am feeling a little bit lost lately. It's just that the more I think about my future, the more confused I become.

Will I ever get to do what I really love? What is it that I really love? I have so many interest that I get confused on what I really want to do.

It stresses me out immensely as I would like to think that I am getting somewhere. I've always been a planner, and it worries me that I don't really have a plan for my future. I've never been a person to wing things. I need to know where I am going at all times, and make sure that I am on schedule.

It's really scary when you think that you have to grow up. I am no longer a teenager with many years to plan out my future. I should know where it is going by now.

It's weird when you try to picture your future, and you can't imagine anything. I don't know where I am going or how long it will take me there. I'm just going to try to figure out which way I am going, and enjoy the ride.

I hope the ride is filled with many adventures. Especially if those adventures involve going to new places. :)

I Love Nature

It kills me that there is a giant oil spill right now. It has been months, and the oil still has not been stopped.

To see the devastation in the gulf area breaks me heart. I feel bad for the residents both human and animals. There homes are now destroyed, and where are they to go?

I admit that I love having a car. I try to be conscious of my decisions though. I don't go very far, and I drive a gas efficient car. I realize that it is not enough, but if we all made a little step... things may get better.

I care about the earth, and make sure to recycle and never liter. I enjoy National Parks, so I support it by going and camping there. I even hug trees because I love them.

It just makes me a little bit sad to see that all of our beautiful nature is going to waste. I wish I could save it, and keep it pretty forever.

Worst Immune System Ever

I am always sick. The thought of getting sick will often result in me getting sick. It's a sad life I live.

I spend about every other month of my life being sick. I can often be heard coughing and sneezing. I am usually blowing my nose, and drugged up on cold medicine.

I don't know what it is. Someone sick just has to breathe on me, and it's a guarantee that I will get sick within the next day.

I just spent the day mopping around trying to cure myself of the dreaded runny nose. I have always thought that was the worse symptom of being sick... the constant rubbing and blowing of the nose. I have already gone through a box of tissues, and am almost done with the second. I am going to have to restock the next time I am at the store.

I got sick because I was constantly going from hot to cold. It would be extremely hot outside, and I would then proceed to go to the movies. I would then walk back outside, and end up at the bookstore. Later I would take a walk outside, and then go to Target. My body just couldn't take the fluctuation.

Now I just have to suffer through. I'd give 5 dollars to be back to normal again...

All for a Lunch Bag

Sara Lee is promoting this thing where you can get free stuff if you eat enough bread to build yourself a fort.

Because the prizes are Toy Story 3 related, I must have it. Have I even told you I am a huge Pixar fan or that Toy Story is my favorite Pixar movie?

I've been forcing my family to huge quantity of bread so that I can collect enough proof of purchases to get a Buzz Lightyear lunch bag. It may be a bit ambitious, so I might settle for the Toy Story 3 plate and cup.

I realize that this is all in Sara Lee's plan to sell more bread. It's okay with it, I generally do buy Sara Lee bread a lot of the time. What's a few extra bags?

I probably sound a little bit obsessed, but I was never one to pass up something free.

Weed Work

My mother decided that my brother and I should start doing yard work. She thinks that we are wimpy, and unable to do manual labor.

We were out to prove her wrong, and decided to tackle the enormous problem. We have weeds that are growing between the sidewalk and fence. There is a slight crack there, and the weed decided that it wanted to grow and annoy us.

I knew I was in trouble the first 10 minutes of weeding. Sand was flying everywhere and the weed just wouldn't leave. My brother even witness me falling over when I couldn't pull a big chunk of weed.

I then proceeded to complain that my back hurt. My brother began to tease me, and we decided at that moment we would never be a gardener.

We did make a little dent in taking out the weeds. We still have a lot to do, but at least we are trying. I don't mind housework, but I definitely know why people hate weeds. They are the most annoying thing I've ever encountered.

Sewing

I wear pajamas all the time, and believe that it should be everyday wear. I would wear it out to public if I could. That's how much I love it.

I wear them so often (I always wear pammies at home.) that I go through them quickly. I am always buying new pajama bottoms.

I am not sure why pammies even cost so much. They are basically pants with a stretchy waistband, and the material is usually not that fancy. At least I don't have fancy pajamas.

That's why I decided to make my very own pajama pants. I thought, "How hard can it be?" I know all of you are wondering about my sanity.

My pajama bottoms didn't turn out beautiful, but it does work. It looks just like regular bottoms (Maybe a little bit uglier), and I am so very proud.

I even made pammies that had dinosaur prints. That's right, my pajama has dinosaurs. Don't be jealous.

I think if I practice more, I'll be really good at making myself interesting pajamas. Hey, I'm happy as long as I am saving money. :)

Coffee Highs and Crashes

I've recently discovered the delicious-ness of coffee, and have been drinking them somewhat regularly. I have be fine the last 50 times I drank coffee (except for being a little jittery.), but have now learned what it is like to Overdose on coffee.

I decided to drink a large cup of coffee (I was tired, and decided coffee would help.), and felt a little nauseous afterwards. How can something so wonderful make you feel so horrible?

I immediately felt jittery and extremely bouncy moments after I drank my fill. I was happy until the coffee wore off. The yucky feelings started right after my happy high. The terrible headache with the upset tummy. I felt like crap. Do you know that feeling when you've watched too many movies and sat too long? That terrible feeling that won't just leave you. It feels terrible, and I felt it for the rest of day.

I even had to pay the price of not being able to sleep. Life was being cruel, and I was getting desperate.

I learned my lesson. Never take coffee lightly, and never drink more than you can handle. It was a terrible lesson to learn.

But in reality, I really don't think it's going to stop me from drinking more coffee. I may be traumatized at the moment, but I'm going to crave the delicious taste of an iced coffee in a few days. I just know it.

How I torture myself...

Time to Celebrate

I finally finished my finals, and now I am free to enjoy my summer. There will be a lot of eating at fairs, laying on the beach, exploring museums, and many wild adventures.

My favorite teacher just told me about how she is going to mentor undergraduate students from USC in a field research, and she wanted to know if I wanted to come. WHY YES I DO! I am thrilled, and I seriously can't believe my luck. I have the most amazing people in my life.

This the summer where I am living it up. I want to go whale watching, hiking, and visit many historical houses. I'm going to explore southern California. There is just so many things around that I've never done. I know I sound like a parrot because I've already mentioned all of this, but I am just so excited.

My Seattle trip is at the end of this month, and I am seriously counting down the days when I am going to go. I CAN'T WAIT. The plans are going to be finalized this weekend.

Life is good... except for when it's bad. Haha.

Macho?

Not so much. I've been helping friends move, and I am now convinced that I am weak. Moving desks, beds, and bookcases may not be my thing. I have proof...

Exhibit A: As I was dragging a desk across a room, I fell down and dropped the desk on my friend's foot.

Exhibit B: Carrying a large stack of books wore me out. (Hey, hard covered books are heavy! Don't judge.)

Exhibit C: My arms hurt the next day.

This may be a sign that I need to work on getting stronger. No one likes a weak and feeble girl. Maybe I should carry weights with me where ever I go. Sounds like a good plan.

Another Stroke of Bad Luck

My car was hit by an uninsured, unlicensed motorist yesterday. The man who hit me was extremely old, and was not from the United States.

He basically rear ended me, and tried to pay me off with $20. WHAT?! The damage is definitely worth more than $20.

I was told later by the cops that I may be out of luck because most people never collect from cases like mine. I wanted to cry.

I am not sure why I am having the worst luck this year, but it's definitely something that I wish would go away.

The accident also had to happen before my final for Historical Geology. I really needed to study, and this wasted a lot of time.

I've come to accept the situation, and am determine not to dwell on it. I have other things to worry about, and things to do. I will not let this bother me any longer.

Oh a happy note, the police officer that came and helped me was really handsome. Now that I think about it, the police officers that helped me with my burglary were really handsome too. Wow, I think I am in love with police officers. (How did I go so off tangent?) :)