A Moment I Treasure

In honor of Lent...

2011-03-12T16:34:00.000-08:00

...which while I do not celebrate it, I still thought it would be fun to make a list, because...I like making lists.

Top Ten things I should give up forever but probably won't (in no particular order):

1. Starbucks

2. buying mini hand sanitizers from Bath and Body Works (Honestly, as a conservative estimate, I probably have around 50.)

3. Facebook

4. asking random questions

5. spending 80% of my shopping time at Sams's just looking for the free sample people

6. naptime

7. cheese

8. letting my dog sleep in my bed

9. saying "Seriously?!"

10. a pushmower

Shake it Up

2010-09-06T20:23:00.000-07:00

So, about three months ago my friend Whitney told me about this app for my iPhone that turned "normal" everyday pictures it took into POLAROIDS! And you actually get to shake the phone to "develop" the picture. So of course, I bought it, because that's just cool. Anyways, I just found some of the first pictures I made with that app on my phone and...thought I'd share!:

Cool, huh?

It's so hot...

2010-08-13T21:25:00.000-07:00

...even the sunflowers don't want to look at the sun!

Please hurry, fall!

The Answer to Life

2010-08-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

(anyone remember whose car that was?!)

Yes, believe it or not, I know the answer to all life's problems: get rid of automobiles. Think about it...whenever you're angry or upset or irritated, it usually goes back to the car. Or at least, your day would be 9000% better, regardless of what else was happening, if your automobile wasn't around. I mean, everyone got along just fine when all we had to use were horses and carriages and boats to get places. Who said we had to improve on the horse? To prove my point that the world would be a much nicer, saner place without vehicles, let me give you my Top 10 things that annoy most everyone in the world about cars and/or driving. Warning: this may turn into a Top More-than-10, depending on how heated I become while typing.

1. The DMV. Do I need to say more? Long lines, people that look like they may have been inbred, rude DMV workers that don't care that you just waited 4 and a half hours just to get a bad picture taken, etc. NOBODY likes going to the DMV. NO ONE.

2. Sure, horses had to be fed, but SO DO CARS! How much do you spend on gasoline a year?? I bet you could buy bags of feed and some hay for less. Honestly, you probably spend approximately 87% of your life (on average) complaining about gas prices.

3. All that other junk. Oil changes, valve leaks, air filters, anti-freeze, rims for your tires, tire tread, tire pressure, tire fairies, etc. Who even knows what half of that stuff IS?

4. Cars are impossible to keep clean! Inside and out! You wash your car, it rains. You wash your car, and it doesn't rain, but a bird craps on it. Give a horse a bath once a month. Done.

5. Now let's get to the actual driving part. I begin with Road Rage. We all have it. Don't lie.

6. The Speed Limit. One more law to follow. Were there ever speed limits on buggies?? NO! Buggies had one speed: the speed that the horses could pull it + you, and horses trot or gallop or mosey, or whatever else they do.

7. Getting pulled over because your left lower taillight was only at 89% power. Getting pulled over because you were doing 45.5 mph in a 45 mph zone, etc.

8. Potholes.

9. People who text, put on make-up, eat, write short novellas, bathe, and otherwise do anything that is NOT driving in their car while driving.

10. People who are so in love with their cars that they wildly swerve out of the way if there's even a jelly bean in the road.

11. Stoplights that are on timers. "No one's coming, no one's coming, no one's coming, I'm still at a red light, should I go?, Maybe but there could be a cop around, no one's coming...". Yeah, I would finish that guy's thoughts for you, but he died waiting before that red light changed.

12. People who cut you off, no blinker, not even a WAVE. I mean, at least give me a WAVE.

13. Traffic, "rush hour" etc. I know we're on the same page now, so I know what you're thinking, and YES: a horse COULD weave right through that traffic!

14. People who crawl along at 37 mph BELOW the speed limit and/or stop in the middle of the road to rubberneck, look for a turn, etc. Let me solve this for you: watch the news and get a GPS.

15. There would be no more Grand Theft Auto! OK, so it doesn't happen THAT often, but that's one less crime in the world, right?! If someone steals your horse, you just breed another one! Easy!

Well, now I think you get my drift, so am I right, or am I right? Wait, sorry, I would listen to your answer, but I need to stop typing this so I can stop my car and pick up this jelly bean in the middle of the road; I'm STARVING.

Any other reasons cars should be banned from existence??

Until next time!

oops...

2010-07-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

I forgot to tell you...

got

BIG GIRL HAIRCUT!!

I like it...

... especially my bangs!!

It's way more fun to play with, and I got to buy new hair product...woo!

A Day in the Life

2010-07-27T10:42:00.000-07:00

5:15 am - alarm goes off.

5:55 am - I finally get out of bed...no clean hair today!! Sorry, everyone who has to look at me at a distance of 3 feet or closer!

5:55-6:20 am - Get dressed, brush teeth and hair, gather books, take Mocha out, feed Mocha, say bye to Mocha, leave for school, realize outside that I forgot my calculator, go back in, retrieve calculator, leave for school.

6:20-7:05 am - Drive to school. No thoughts occur during this time. It is too early. I just look up at some point and realize I am at the Mcdonald's drive thru across from campus, getting a soda.

7:05-7:25 am - Park car, put makeup on using rearview mirror (something I really feel as though I could win a gold (or at least a silver) medal in at the totally-off-the-wall-things-people-do-in-their-cars Olympics), eat breakfast: 1 Clif bar, chocolate chip, and it is DELICIOUS.

7:30-8:30 am - Class. I realize towards the end of the hour that I am OUT OF PAPER. Seriously, Megan? This is SCHOOL and you ran out of PAPER?? That's like going to a picnic and running out of food. I mean honestly, woman, be prepared.

8:30-8:40 am - class break. I walk to the bookstore and buy some paper.

8:40-9:50 am - class. I realize my lab partner has on amazing shoes.

9:50-10:10 am - class break. I eat Clif bar number 2: white chocolate macadamia. YES, people, these things are amazing. Try them!

10:10-11:50 am - class....we get out 40 minutes early!!!

11:50 am-12:35 pm - I drive home. Things happen:

1. I am SO glad it is cloudy and the heat of the fiery sun isn't blazing down upon my car with its puny air conditioning. 2. I try to play the alphabet game to pass the time, but I get bored of it at "J". 3. I see a light buttery yellow car. I do not like this color on the car. 4. I look up at a billboard for the lottery, see that it's only at like, 12 million and think to myself, 'that's not very much'. 5. I wonder what kind of culture I must live in when I look at a sign proclaiming that it is giving away TWELVE MILLION DOLLARS and think 'eh that's NOT VERY MUCH'?! I feel silly.

12:35-1:12pm - eat lunch (ritz crackers and colby jack cheese, possibly the best meal I have ever created on a limited budget and short time), throw the tennis ball for Mocha 80 dozen times, write part of this, change for work at the doctor's office.

1:13 pm - *borrow* a pair of earrings from Mother's jewelry box.

1:14 pm - I realize my mother owns more earrings than a Claire's.

1:15 pm - leave for work.

1:15- 1:30 pm - drive to the doctor's office to SHADOW A DOCTOR!! WOO!

1:30-5:30 pm - I become the doctor's shadow...yeah, pretty much literally. I love it!

5:30- 5:45 pm - drive to Walgreens to see if they sell that "as seen on TV" clip on fan thing that keeps your car cool during the day

6:05 pm - after searching for 20 minutes, I come to the conclusion that Walgreens does NOT sell this product after all. They DO sell that "as seen on TV" foot softening cream though. I decided to try it, as well as the Dove with peanut butter bar...it was on sale.

6:15- 7:00 pm - get home, greet Mocha, play with Mocha, talk to the family, eat a tuna fish sandwich and a Dove peanut butter bar.

7:30 pm - write the rest of my day. I realize at this point this is the first time my mother will read about my borrow-ment of her earrings and consider deleting that part, then reconsider and decide it will be more fun for her to find out this way...IF she reads this....da da daaaaaa....

I shan't bore you with the rest of my evening which mostly consisted of studying and then going to bed. It's boring; it's my life. I am really impressed with anyone who read this whole thing all the way through. Kudos to YOU, Mr. (or Mrs, Ms. etc.) long boring blog about my day reader, kudos to you.

Until next time!

This one's for Penny (or, A letter to my Blog)

2010-07-13T11:34:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog,

I am so sorry I have neglected you these long, long months. I know you have been lonely without me; you may have even gone looking for another writer, or maybe began surfing the web for your own interesting pictures and stories. Well, I am here to tell you.............I promise never to leave you again!! ...for that long, at any rate. Let's face it, blog, I'm a busy woman, and I need to take our relationship a little slower, ok? I KNEW you'd understand.

So today,

1) I saw a guy drinking water out of a mason jar. Seriously, get a water bottle. It comes with an opening that you can actually fit your mouth around.

2) I almost got run over by a fire truck on its way to a fire. So, if they had hit me, would they have had to stop and help me first?

3) I tried to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich today, but I accidentally put on too much PB and I couldn't get it off the bread, so I added some extra jam, but then it was too much, so I added more PB, etc. until my sandwich was approximately 5 inches thick. DELUXE PB and J.

Have a good Tuesday, Blog. I'll be back. Pinky Promise.

What amazing courage.

2009-12-04T22:10:00.001-08:00

Preparing for the surgery that would leave him permanently blind, Jake only wanted to see one more USC football game. The Trojans took it a step further for an amazingly brave kid. Prepare to cry.

We're off to see the wizard...

2009-11-14T17:30:00.003-08:00

If I ever have to follow a yellow brick road to get somewhere, I want it to look like this one.

Happy weekend, everyone! :)

(thanks flickr for the picture!)

More wedding-y things!

2009-11-09T13:23:00.000-08:00

Sister had her first engagement party this weekend! There were lots of people, great food, and most importantly...Sister and Fiancee! Aren't they perfect looking?...Brother and MJ drove up from college just to attend...

One of the flower girls helped open presents...

And then took a picture with me!...

Happy first engagement party, Sister! I know there will be many, many, MANY more... :)

A happy little fall day!

2009-11-03T17:41:00.000-08:00

The weather was so beautiful today!

Upwards, blue sky and leaves getting ready to fall...

Downwards, leaves already fallen (and ready to be crunched!)...

Forwards, Mocha crunching through the leaves to play!...

I love the colors of this season!

Almost done with catch up!

2009-11-02T14:01:00.000-08:00

SO, the last bit of catch up I have to do is tell you about...bridemaid dress shopping!! No, not for me, for my lovely and wonderful Sister! I can't post any pictures of the wedding dress (just in case Fiancee happens upon the blog...), but here are some shots of the bridesmaids looking for our bridesmaid dresses:Our first three picks...not bad!

In case you were wondering, yes, this was a sample.

2 bridesmaids + 1 bride (who helped try on bridesmaid dresses!) = cousins!

The winning look: the nude dress with the black sash...although the dress will be apple green for the wedding!

What's your favorite wedding site/blog? I need ideas to pass on to Sister!

School Day Sunrise

2009-11-01T11:43:00.001-08:00

"What is the good of your stars and trees, your sunrise and the wind, if they do not enter into our daily lives?"

-E.M. Forster
Special bonus picture...the sky as I was leaving!

I have changed my mind.

2009-10-27T14:51:00.001-07:00

THIS is the coolest commercial of all time. Isn't there just something about athletics that is so inspiring and motivating?

Pre-Halloween fun!

2009-10-26T16:29:00.000-07:00

So yesterday, I got into the Halloween spirit...I got to carve pumpkins with the lovely and wonderful and oh-so-fun Whitney (go see her blog for more pictures!) and Guitar Hero and the gang! In the spirit of the ALCS and the fact that I am a huge Yankees fan, here is my pumpkin!:

Here are our pumpkins all spookily lit up (with delicious smelling vanilla and applie pie candles, I might add.):

And here is my pumpkin REALLY lit up! (thanks, Guitar Hero. I never knew you could light pumpkins on fire...):

We even made pumpkin seeds! Attempt number one didn't work out so well...

But attempt number two equaled delicious apple butter pumpkin seeds! YUM!

What are you going to carve into your pumpkin?

I'm BAAAAAAAAAACK! (and I'm never leaving again.)

2009-10-25T21:43:00.000-07:00

Oh fellow bloggies and blog readers...I've missed you! Thank you for letting me be bad and take some time for m-o-i. I've been able to rest and study (which has paid off!). So, this week, I am going to catch you up on the fun things that happened to me LAST week (because yes, I was still taking pictures.). So, to begin...

I won something! Adele over at poptart had the most fabulous-tastic giveaway ever of all time and I won! Go read her blog, because I love it. Period. Look!:

More on my fun filled adventures from LAST week up through today THIS week! How are all of you!? Catch me up!

BLAAAAAAAAAAAH-G

2009-10-19T12:54:00.001-07:00

Dear Blogg-ies and Blogg-ettes,

I have been a bad Blog-ger. This past week has included lots of midterms, life decisions, and frustrations. I apologize for leaving you for so long...but I am coming back! I beg you to let me have until this Thursday to finish un-stressing, and then I shall return! You guys are the best-est (but you probably already knew that)!

"I've learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances."

-Marth Washington (a really cool lady!)

(thanks ffffound for the picture!)

Love Letters, Chapter 6

2009-10-07T19:39:00.001-07:00

Dear One Day Husband,

I found these lyrics today from Owl City:

"I'll watch the night turn light blue,

But it's not the same without you,

Because it takes two to whisper quietly,

The silence isn't so bad,

Till I look at my hands and feel sad,

Cause the spaces between my fingers

Are right where yours fit perfectly."

Isn't that wonderful? Your hands are going to fit mine perfectly. I can't wait to hold hands...just because, dancing, in the car, praying, walking, arm wrestling because I challenged you to be funny and you took me on and then let me win. That's really all I had to tell you today, just that I can't wait for you. And your hands holding mine.

Love,

(Thanks al1son for the picture!)

The sun set as I drove home.

2009-10-07T19:16:00.000-07:00

As I was leaving school today, the sun began to leave too...

...And then I was home...and so was the sun!

Disclaimer: If you have never tried it, it is extremely difficult to both get great pictures AND not die while careening down the interstate at approximately 75 MPH. I will probably never do it again. ;)

Halfway to the weekend!

Road Trip!

2009-10-06T20:35:00.000-07:00

I had a day off! So of course, I used it for an adventure! I drove east, Sister drove west, and we met up in little tiny Crossville to visit the Stonehaus Winery!

No wine for us though...we went for the cheese and fudge. You see, I don't just have A sweet tooth. The human body has approximately (depending on who you are, I guess...) 32 teeth. Of my 32, I'd say 21 of them are sweet teeth, 6 are cheese teeth, and the remaining 5 are reserved for fruits and vegetables and such.

This is the peanut butter and chocolate fudge...

Sister tested creamsicle fudge, and MY favorite was pumpkin nut fudge...although that one didn't make it to the photo shoot...

We had so much fun visiting and chatting!

Do you have a favorite destination for a road trip?

Love. This. Commercial.

2009-10-04T18:58:00.000-07:00

Short, sweet, to the point, the music gets you dancing in your seat, AND Abraham Lincoln winks at you! Perfect!

A little Shoe Love from Shoe Lust

2009-10-04T18:04:00.000-07:00

Do we all remember my everlasting love for shoes? The spice of life. The #1 accessory. The drainer of my bank account. --sigh--. Love 'em. And here are some lovelies from Shoe Lust for you to drool over. Don't worry, I already cleaned up my puddles of drool, and here, here's a paper towel for yours. Aren't I thoughtful?? Can't you totally see yourself swing dancing in these?

I love the color!

Holy buckles! I would wear these with everything!

Zipper time!

Agh! I love love the socks with these! So chic!

I have to stop there, or I might be tempted to buy some.

Which one is your favorite?

So cute and Happy weekend!

2009-10-02T21:29:00.000-07:00

When was the last time you were *this* intrigued by pasta? Oh, to be a kid again!

I have had such a busy few days with the work and the school...and a busy weekend coming up! I promise to drop by your blogs as soon as Monday rolls around! And until Monday...I miss you!

(thanks amolife for the picture!)

School Day Sunrise

2009-10-01T19:04:00.001-07:00

"May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

the rains fall soft upon your fields, and until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of His hand."

-Irish blessing

You will see no pictures of actual rainbows.

2009-09-30T17:25:00.000-07:00

Do you remember ROY G. BIV? You know, that thing you were taught way back when in elementary school to learn the colors of the rainbow (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet)? Well, it turns out if you do a google image search for "roygbiv", you get some absolutely beautiful pictures! Look:(StandardRGB)

I particularly love the bookstore one! And in case you were wondering about the cat...(I was too)...his NAME is Roy G. Biv!

Gold medals!

2009-09-29T15:45:00.000-07:00

Today, I had so many fun/interesting/moronic things happen that I decided to award gold medals to the BEST happenings in each of my three classes. And so, without further adieu, I present the medals to:

Biology, 8 am: My professor! He plays us videos (which actually do keep us all awake that early) of the fun little critters we are studying. Today, he played one, and it started playing in French. He couldn't get it to stop. So what did he do? Curse? Not play the video? No. He sighed, re-started the video, and began TRANSLATING from the French. At the end, all he said was, "So, those were pretty cute, huh?". AMAZING.

Psychology, 9:40 am: Once again...my Professor! We were discussing infancy, and my 62 year old professor actually got down on the cold tile floor and demonstrated what a baby looks like when it is crawling. You can imagine the many reasons why this was funny. I love Dr. B.

A&P Lab, 2:40 pm: The kid-who-asks-the-dumbest-questions-ever did not disappoint. His question today, "So, if you break your coccyx, does it disappear completely?". Please note that the coccyx is a bone. Like your arm. Or your collarbone, right? So, that's like asking "If I break my collarbone, does it disappear completely?". I am glad I am not a professor, because my answer would have gone something like this: "Actually, yes, it disappears into thin air. There are actually some people out there who have broken so many bones that they have turned into jello-like piles of skin and muscles. Excellent question." Seriously.

How was your Tuesday? :)

(thanks starparticle for the picture!)

I don't think it's just me...

2009-09-28T21:03:00.000-07:00

Don't sneakers make for just the cutest pictures? Like these:

(from Annie-pinkalicious)

(from Caiti anne)

And LOOK what I found today! Something to spice up those sneakers!:

(from Shoe Lust)

STUDS!

A Beautiful Day!

2009-09-28T14:29:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day! The sky was blue, the sun was shining:so Brother and I took the dogs out to run. First Mocha...

And then Hugo...

And then we tried to get some studying done (the dogs helped)...

until the dogs got tired of studying (and we did too) and so we all just played instead...

I wish I could have taken pictures of:

-the cool breeze blowing

-the cricket that hopped away too fast

-the sound of the leaves

Happy new week! :)

They're here, they're here!

2009-09-26T16:45:00.000-07:00

My brother and sister are BOTH home from college this week! Although my sister is already gone again :(, my brother is STILL here! YAY! So, we had a random Brother-Megan adventure--I can ALWAYS have fun with Brother--...at Wal-mart...trying on Halloween costumes!I think I am a MUCH cuter serial killer than him...What do you think? Me as a platinum blonde? Yea or Nay?

As we were leaving, we noticed a car. A red car. What we didn't know until we got closer was that this red car is actually the birthplace of small figurines. We had come across an historical monument!! So of course, we took pictures...

I hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend! :)

I got something!

2009-09-24T15:47:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite bloggers, "Little Kiddo" at Ocean Dreams left me the cute blogger award! Look!:She is probably the nicest person I have never met. Go see her blog, it is SO fun!
This is my first award!...I have only been blogging for 6 weeks, and I still get crazy excited about new blogs, and new followers, and other new blog-y type things, and I did a little dance (think of it like a REALLY excited can-can).So, I get to bequeath this onto other bloggers:

a "cheery" disposition: this lovely lady inspired me to start blogging. She has a fabulous blog, and also happens to be a pretty fabulous person. I'm really lucky to know her!

Quenchant of the Curious: I am always impressed at how creative and unexpected Lemon is. Her blog is beautiful.

Diet Coke-Fueled Life: One of the first blogs I started following. You have not laughed until you have read Penny's blog.

Playing Grown Up: this lady is capital F-U-N. I want to be her when I grow up. ;)

THREE BIRDS: I just found this blog, and I am so glad I did. "Mama bird" is bold, funny, sweet and her "baby bird" is adorable!

Ladies: I NEVER miss your blogs. They make my days! :)

AND, I have to list 10 things about me you may not know:

1. I have three earlobes. Seriously, the third little guy is on the top of my right ear.

2. I played competitive softball for 15 years, and I LOVE going to baseball games.

3. I giggle at people who have the hiccups. This includes giggling at myself. I don't know why, I just think it's funny.

4. I haven't had regular Coca Cola in probably 3 or 4 years. It's all Diet for me!

5. I play board/card games like they were going out of style. Slightly competitively, of course.

6. I cannot resist a good deal. Seriously, it could be like, a knitted elephant trunk warmer, but if it's on sale...I will buy it.

7. I am a sucker for cookies. Especially the ones that are a tiny bit crispy on the outside and soft and gooey on the inside!

8. I am incredibly clumsy. I don't mean to be, it just happens. But I trip over my own two feet AT LEAST once every day, along with other fun clumsy adventures. I actually am pretty decent at sports though.

9. I have been bunjee jumping.

10. I read books like it was my job. So, if you have any suggestions (especially fiction!), let me know! Please!

School Day Sunrise

2009-09-24T15:17:00.000-07:00

"He who...turns blackness into dawn

and darkens day into night,

who calls for the waters of the sea

and pours them out over the face of the land-

the Lord is His name."

-Amos 5:8

Step right up!

2009-09-23T14:54:00.000-07:00

Did you ever go to the circus when you were a kid? I can only remember one time that I actually went (although my mom says I have been TWICE) when I was little, and it felt like anything could happen...it was pure magic...There was so much going on! It seemed like a magical world where anything was possible. Animals were your friends... ...and did crazy tricks.

People could swing through the air (with the greatest of ease).

And then you could swing in the air!

Beautiful costumes...

Juggling...

Can't you just hear the music? (doo doo doodoodoodoo DOO doo doo doo...)

The colors...

The food...

You know what? I STILL think the circus is wonderful, a whole other world of fun and mystery and just plain MAGIC.

Don't you want to go right now!?

(thank you to (in order!): pikaawho, vi.sualize.us, /marie/, Ffffound, Carnet_atelier, Narnia, Scenemissingmagazine, Lunar kitty, Tatielle, Tatielle, Peppermintss, Ffffound, Ai102 for the pictures!)

There will be no pictures.

2009-09-22T07:09:00.001-07:00

And there will be no sunrise. Why? Because as I drove into the dark abyss this morning (which only appeared as soon as I got onto the interstate), with torrential rains falling so hard they tore up some pavement, one hand was so firmly attached to the steering wheel that I needed the jaws of life to pry it off, and the other was busy using its fingernails to leave permanent bruises in my palm-no hands free for a camera.

I am talking no-see-through kind of rain. Lightning that seems like it jumps out of the road in front of you. They say the safest place to be during a lightning-thunder-rain bullet storm is in a car. Who is "they"?! Let me tell you: "they" must have said this when "they" were already safely where they needed to be for the day and not in peril of losing "their" lives on "their" interstate. I say the safest place to be is snuggled in my bed in my pajamas.

I tried. I really tried to like the rain. At this point though, I am starting to feel as though nature is testing my resolve to go back to school. Well let me tell you something, nature: I am MUCH more dedicated to attending classes now than ever. Mostly out of spite at this point, but also because I am paying for each class out of my own very hard earned money. So, even if I have to drive 40 mph down the interstate, with BLACK sky behind me and YELLOW sky in front of me with my emergency flashers on, I will be in class. Even if you send the sun miraculously shining through as soon as I park my car, I will attend class. I will have this Master's degree, rain or shine. Literally.

P.S. I saw a man riding a bicycle down the road during all of the afore-mentioned rain mess. He seemed totally at ease. I think he may have something there.

P.P.S. I tricked you! I put a picture in here!

(thanks to Michael Penn for the picture!)

Aw.

2009-09-21T14:41:00.000-07:00

I want to be this kid. She's so happy! And she pulls off that hat so well!

That's all I had right now. Just wanted to tell you.

(thanks amolife for the picture!)

October, 1987

2009-09-18T20:12:00.000-07:00

Remember how I told you occasionally I would remind you how cute I was when I was little? No? Go here.
Ok now: I am going to remind you how absolutely precious I was when I was little:

This could also serve as early Halloween costume inspiration, or as my reason why I now love jelly beans (only Jelly Belly!) so much. I don't just love jelly beans, I WAS jelly beans.

Have a very happy weekend!

Rain, rain go away

2009-09-17T15:17:00.000-07:00

Well, it's officially official. My campus is actually a vortex that sucks in all of the rain from the entire world (and possibly even some water from oceans, seas, etc.) and brings it here. I have driven in a pouring, torrential downpour of rain on the interstate (my personal version of torture) for three days now, and my nerves are slightly on edge. Nature: it was cute at first, but enough is enough. Grow up. So, in an effort to be more positive about the rain (which I cannot stop...unless one of you knows how...??), here is my list of things I love about when it rains:

-the really fun umbrellas you see everywhere

-watching for the lightning, then listening for the thunder (this reminds me of the Sound of Music!)

-on that note, raindrops on roses, of course!

-the big, rolling, booming kind of thunder that keeps going so long you don't think it will end

-grabbing a friend, standing in the huge bodies of water on the street, and getting cars to splash you (yes, I have done this. It was awesome.)

-the way it looks right after it quits raining

-the reminder that there has never been a rainstorm that wasn't followed by the sunshine

-that rain brings out beauty--rainbows, flowers. And not just in nature...in people too. Today, way in front of me as I was walking to campus, I saw a girl having to use a walker to get to class, which meant no free hand for an umbrella. And it was pouring rain. Another girl walking towards her smiled, turned to walk next to the girl with the walker, held her umbrella over her, and chatted with her all the way to her building.

So I am feeling kind of positive about the rainy situation we are in now...! (ok, but seriously, I am ready for the sunshine again.)

What do you like about the rain?

(thank you to (in order!): vi.sualize.us, Rainydaywomen, Kuzeytac, sondela_nz, Teppo, Lifebeginswith4t, Felixspencer2, and Paix120 for the rainy pictures!)

School Day Sunrise, morning 3

2009-09-15T20:03:00.000-07:00

"Next time a sunrise steals your breath or a meadow of flowers leaves you speechless, remain that way. Say nothing, and listen as heaven whispers, "Do you like it? I did it just for you."

-Max Lucado

Love Letters, Chapter 5

2009-09-13T22:38:00.000-07:00

Dear One Day Husband,
I know we will find each other when the time is right. You'll see me, I'll see you, we'll get to know each other, etc. etc., we fall in love. You'll get through the big doors into my heart right away. But just in case the etc. part ever gets difficult for you, or if I start being stubborn, here are 10 little back doors to my heart...any one of them will give me the butterflies-smiles-heart melties every time. Take notes. I'm giving you the answers.
1. Bring me jelly belly jelly beans. Only certain flavors though. Find out which ones.
2. Hold doors open for me. Car, store, house, it doesn't matter.
3. Give me flowers for no reason at all. Even if you sneakily picked them from your neighbor's yard.
4. Leave me a note on my car, in my shoe, in my wallet, on my lunch, wherever. I love that; I don't know why.
5. Make me dinner. Preferably Italian food. I don't care if you can't cook, I promise.
6. Take me to a baseball game. Even a high school one where we don't even know who's playing. I'll still hold your hand and cheer.
7. Call me a nickname. I love nicknames. Even better if you start it and you're the only one who calls me by it.
8. Show up somewhere when I least expect you. I love surprises.
9. Dance with me. I am a pretty bad dancer, so maybe only in private. Fun dancing to crazy music, slow dancing after we wash dishes, etc. is fine with me.
10. Make me laugh. I don't care how (and it doesn't take much...I love to laugh!).
Love,
Me

(picture from hjartesmil's flickr stream!)

I know...

2009-09-13T22:07:00.000-07:00

I know EVERYONE is ready for fall, but I wasn't...until today. In college, I joined this group on facebook (thanks, facebook, for getting me addicted to you in college. You have ruined my life. I can't quit you.) called "I will go slightly out of my way to step on that crunchy looking leaf". And today... I found my first crunchy leaf. I stepped on it.

Let fall begin!

(thanks fierycrash for the crunchy picture!)

I love...

2009-09-11T20:34:00.001-07:00

...chocolate. Particularly, this new Dove milk chocolate with peanut butter. I mean, I LOVE me some Dove chocolate. But with peanut butter?? Perfection. Pretty soon, my chocolate addiction is going to reach the out-of-control levels. I need someone to invent Chocotine patches or Chocorette gum, please.

(thank you blisstree for the delicious picture!)

Letters to people I will probably never meet, Chapter 2

2009-09-09T18:58:00.000-07:00

Dear boy who sits 1 section over and 4 rows down from me in Anatomy,

I have noticed several things about you (please don't let this creep you out, I'm not a stalker), so I'm happy to be able to write you this letter instead of having to have the actual conversation, because that could take awhile. First things first:

Your shoes (which I think used to be white) are REALLY cool. But maybe it's time you got a new pair. Same ones, for sure, just NEW ones.

I would appreciate it if you stopped asking questions that have already been answered (usually in the immediately preceeding part of the lecture). Example for you from today:
Professor: So, when these two polypeptides join, they form a protein.
You: So what happens when two polypeptides join?
Ok, that wasn't exact, but it was around that same general topic. You get the picture.

If you tap your pen on your lap-desk-thing-that-pulls-out-from-under-the-seat so loud that the entire room of 230 students can hear it one more time, I think I may run out screaming. Who knows, maybe that is your goal.

The hat you wear every time to class is really awesome. I'd like to know where you got it.

Thanks for your time,
Me

(thanks ffffound for the picture!)

Tall, dark, and handsome

2009-09-09T18:22:00.001-07:00

I absolutely adore guys with dark hair, which is how I know I am going to end up with a blonde (my plans never seem to work out, no matter how much I try. Come to think of it, now that I said I am going to end up with a blonde, I'll probably end up with a red head. And now that I said that, I will probably end up with a guy with no hair at all. And I am going to stop there because what comes after that??). So, since I have NO guy in my life right now, dark hair, blonde hair, no hair or anything, I thought I would entertain myself (and you) by letting you in on my tall, dark haired, and handsome celebrity crush list...they are very tiny crushes, of course...

1.Keanu Reeves

Because who else can pull off looking that mysterious all the time?

2. Will Arnett

I love his voice. And he is absolutely hilarious!

3. Johnny Depp

Mostly as Jack Sparrow, of course.

4. Skeet Ulrich

Ok, he's not the most popular actor ever, but he's so cute!

5. Zachary Quinto

The epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. That smile! That hair! I have never loved the bad guy so much (watch Heroes!)

Who is your teensey tiny celebrity crush?

(thanks to Google image search for the pictures!)

School Day Sunrise, morning 2

2009-09-08T18:01:00.000-07:00

"There's beauty in the silver singing river,

There's beauty in the sunrise in the sky,

But none of these and nothing else can match the beauty

That I remember in my true love's eyes."

-Bob Dylan

Shoes and Tattoos

2009-09-07T20:01:00.000-07:00

Shoes: I am obsessed with them. I want too many, I buy too many, I own too many. I love seeing the shoes other people wear, what they paired them with, if they got a good deal...because then...I can buy them!

Tattoos: I am equally obsessed with them. I love seeing them on other people, but I do not have any, and I do not want any. I love hearing the stories behind people's tattoos: why they got it, when they got it, how old they were etc. etc. It's like meeting and getting to talk to a live piece of art!

And so, I present what I hope will become a recurring series, and I hope you have as much fun getting to know each of these people as I do. They get to pick one tattoo (if they have several), tell me about it, and then I take a picture of the shoes they are wearing. Simple, yes. Fun, ABSOLUTELY.

Meet Cass! This is her tattoo (on her right foot):

It is a sunset surrounding the phrase "to live" in Greek. Her mom actually encouraged (and went with!) her to get her tattoo when she was 18. The first night she met her one-day husband, he asked her what it meant. She told him, "to live", and he quoted to her the bible verse she had taken it from. She said she immediately thought, "MARRY ME!"! She picked the sunset to go around the letters because she loves how sunsets show the beauty of God's creation.

And these are her shoes!:

Red peep toe heels, blue lining. She has no idea where she got them, but I LOVE them (I almost accidentally took them with me...)! Isn't she stylish?

Thanks for being the first to show off your shoes and tattoos, Cass!

YAY!

2009-09-07T17:38:00.001-07:00

My store threw me and this wonderful lady (I shall call her Mrs. London!!) below a going away party!:Although I am staying here in Nashville, Mrs. London is heading off to...yes! London! She married a Brit (oh, the accents!!). We all had so much fun getting to talk and eat these delicious things:

(all it is is fruit loops and melted white chocolate...YUM!)

and watch this little cutie:

try to be a couture model. I think she did a pretty good job, yes?

I hope you all had a fabulous holiday weekend!

Happy Labor Day weekend!

2009-09-04T12:43:00.000-07:00

I hope each and every one of you has a fantastic Labor Day Weekend! I am going to try to relax in between working! Do you have any exciting plans?

If you have time, check out this fabulous giveaway at adele's blog, poptart!

If you have more time, check out THIS fabulous giveaway at Penny's blog, Diet Coke-Fueled Life!

Happy Labor Day :)

(thanks ffffound for the picture!)

Would You Rather...

2009-09-03T19:49:00.000-07:00

(photo: nickwheeleroz)

1. see everything upside down

hear everything backwards?

(photo: Rachel.am)

2. have a jar of jellybeans that never goes empty

a magical stereo that can play any song you want to hear?

(photo: Catherine Dunn. This adorable little boy's name is Carson. He has a serious heart condition. I found his oh so cute pictures on his Aunt's flickr stream, but you can visit his "carepage" HERE. Then put in "carsonjacobdominick915"!)

3. have x-ray vision

be able to fly?

(photo: sandsational)

4. wake up tomorrow with a jack-o-lantern for a head

with tree limbs for arms and legs?

(photo: iwantvintage)

5. live in a world with no chairs

no tables?

Me? I'd rather:

1. see everything upside down

2. have a magical stereo

3. be able to fly

4. have a jack-o-lantern head

5. live with no tables

What about you??

(I got these fun questions from THIS fun game!)

School Day Sunrise, morning 1

2009-09-03T15:34:00.001-07:00

"Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning

And who told the Ocean, 'You can only come this far,'

And who told the moon where to hide 'til evening

Whose words alone can catch a falling star?"

-Nicole Mullen

Love Letters, Chapter 4

2009-09-02T09:32:00.001-07:00

Dear One-Day Husband,

I've had a few bites, but none of them were you. Could you swim faster, please? I'm not impatient, but...ok, I'm impatient. You just get here whenever you can. I'll be the one waiting with the fishing pole.

Love,

(thank you bigcitydreams via Deviant art for the picture!)

First day of school!

2009-09-01T16:53:00.000-07:00

Highlights:
On my walk to my first class (at about 7:41 am), I was attacked by a killer demon bee from hell and I ran away from that sucker like he was pointing an uzi at me. I'm sure it gave anyone awake at that hour a good laugh. That's what I love...bringing joy to others through my own clumsi/crazi-ness.
Biology class: The professor is short and frumpy and when he talks, he makes huge, awkward gestures, but the gestures don't match what he is saying or when he is saying it. Think Will Ferrell in Talladega Nights, but grander:

Also, there was a boy in front of me wearing a purple checked button up with a grey vest over it and blue jeans...it looked awesome!
Psych: I adore this class. The professor is this 62 year old woman who half squaks (she kind of even looks like Jimmy's teacher in Jimmy Neutron, if you've seen that...), half laughs every word she says. NO JOKE. Think that guy from Mary Poppins who sang "I love to laugh". SHE LAUGHS MORE THAN THIS. And the thing is, she is so ridiculous, we all laugh too! She told us that she hasn't watched TV sicne 1980 and that this summer she tried out for a play as the ...she whispered..."whore", but they gave her the grandmother role instead. She was disappointed.
A and P lab: AGHH! T-O-R-T-U-R-E. The professor is what I like to call a SECT or Shifty Eyed Chin Talker. Meaning, when he talks, instead of looking at you with his eyes, it's like he is looking at you with his chin (it's slightly raised). And his eyes shift around (I thought that was pretty self explanatory.) Also, no one taught him how to be socially acceptable. He says things you know he thinks are funny, then stops for someone to laugh, but no one does. STOP! Don't pity him! He always then looks as if the only reason we didn't get it is because we are actually 5 year olds...which is how he talks to us. Like 5 year olds, or rocket scientists. He kinda hops back and forth between big words no one has heard of (and that he KNOWS we haven't heard of but he uses them anyways to make us feel dumb) and words like "teensey" and "ootsey (???)".

On my walk back to my car from all this madness, I realized I had two huge blisters on BOTH of my heels.
My days are never boring.

(thanks Ohio barns and Covering the mouse for the pictures!)

It was an interesting night

2009-08-31T19:54:00.000-07:00

I know none of you are going to believe this, but...I was just e-mailed by the sad princess Eliza who has lost her father and needs to get to America with her millions of dollars...what a predicament! I can't get any photos until I email her back, but I imagine she is looks something like this: Unfortunately, she doesn't know my name, (she found my email on the "internet record", whatever that is) but she is in desperate need of my help. You see, she has just escaped from her evil stepmother (who probably looks something like this):She needs me to give her my bank account information so she can deposit into it her 8.4 million dollar inheritance that her stepmother is trying to steal. She can't do it herself, you see, because she is a refugee and the bank won't let her. Guess what? I ALSO get 30% of the money when she arrives in the states just for my help! Not only that, but she is asking me (ME!) to offer her financial advice. I mean, I AM listed on the "internet record" as a financial expert. And don't worry, this is all confidential. It's almost like it's too good to be true, or a scam or something...

(thanks google for the pictures!)

It was a boring afternoon

2009-08-31T16:02:00.000-07:00

So boring, in fact, that I started taking pictures of how bored I was...So I decided to un-bore myself--time for a project! What you need: One old (flat) picture frame...One bag of square mosaic tiles (you pick the color)...An old paintbrush and some new Mod Podge...

The cutest dog in the world (who is willing to lay on your legs while you work)...

And then you start paint-gluing those tiles right on! First it looks like this... And then the cute little dog decides she wants to help after all... With her help, it's almost done...And then, voila! A brand new picture frame!

"It was a good morning" (or, "I am in an exaggerating mood")

2009-08-31T12:40:00.000-07:00

I woke up late this morning. I drove 89 hours (45 minutes) to stand in line for 16 hours (25 minutes) for a parking pass, only to realize...I left my wallet at home. I then parked in Libya (a 15 minute walk away) from the bookstore to retrieve my books, and carried my 17 two ton bags (2 bags at about 20lb. each. I'm estimating.) back to my car. I finally got home 3 months (45 minutes) later, only to realize I had forgotten to go by the bank and drop off a check and had to turn right back around.

Why then was this a good morning, you ask?

1. I got to sleep in!

2. A very nice lady at the parking pass place (say THAT 19 times (3 times) fast) told me not to worry, just park anywhere I needed to tomorrow, and if I got a ticket to bring it in and they would handle it.

3. A very nice man at the bookstore helped me find all my books.

4. Another very nice lady at the bookstore cash-stand let me type in my credit card number from memory (yes, I am actually so absent minded that I have memorized all of the important numbers in my life) since my credit card WAS AT HOME.

5. My sister called and made me laugh. Like usual.

6. I got this:

stamped on my bank receipt!

See? A good morning!

Look look look!

2009-08-29T18:50:00.000-07:00

So...I was lucky enough to be the winner of a wonderful giveaway hosted by Melissa at So about what I said! She is such a fun, honest writer; go check her out! And look look look what I got!: This pretty (and PINK!!) bracelet is gorgeous! Thank you Jo at Lifestyle Bohemia for making such a beautiful piece! I am having so much fun wearing it!

(Do you see the heart?? Isn't it lovely!?)

Crosses

2009-08-28T20:32:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking lately about how much is going on in my life, how much is changing, and how much I am dealing with. And it reminded me of a story...

Once, there was a man who felt as though the world rested on his shoulders. He thought his "cross to bear" was too great. He had so many problems, it felt as if his cross was weighing him down. So this man asked God to take his cross away, to let him bear a smaller burden. God heard his request and came to the man. He took away the man's burden laden cross and told the man he could choose any cross he wanted in its place. He took the man to a room filled with crosses.

The man looked around. Many crosses were as large as trees, built thick and strong. Some were riddled with nails and thorns. The man thought he would look around and choose the smallest cross he could find. He looked and looked, and finally found the smallest cross in the room, leaning against the wall. He told God that this was the cross he wanted. God smiled gently and said to the man, "But son, that is the cross I have just taken from you."

You never know who around you is dealing with a loved one dying slowly of a disease, has been layed off, can't afford to feed their family for a night. Be patient, be kind.

I love this story, because it reminds me that no matter what we have in our lives to deal with, it won't be any more than we can handle. Be glad-not that others are suffering, but that you have the ability to handle the load you have been given.

(thank you psychologytoday, faithandfacts, and nzhistory for the pictures!)

What I will NOT miss about my store

2009-08-27T20:27:00.000-07:00

1. The 87 people who call every day asking for tickets to the Grand Ole Opry. I'm not sure when we changed our phone number away from what the Opry's used to be, but I think it was back in 1902. Stop calling, people.

2. Dealing with mean spirited customers. That's all I'll say about that one.

3. Having to work 65 hours a week with no overtime.

4. Madly scrambling for a mop and buckets when the air conditioner starts leaking.

5. Never being able to do enough.

6. Making the (approximately) 23,541 trips to the dumpsters, which are (approximately) 23,541 feet away to take trash out.

7. Spiders. And beetles. Ick.

8. Metal wall decor. Not fun to open, not fun to merchandise.

9. The thievery! Believe it or not, people actually think I won't notice that they are wearing a giantly oversized, suspiciously bulky trench coat in August. Go figure.

10. I KNOW 100% that I am not meant to be there (in charge, anyways). I am meant to save lives! So Master's degree, here I come!

(thank you redbubble for the picture!)

Why I will miss my store

2009-08-26T19:52:00.001-07:00

1. I have met some of the most wonderful people (both employees and customers), and some I am positive I will know for a lifetime.
2. Making my own schedule. Nothing beats picking your own days off.
3. Unloading and processing our trucks. I know, I'm weird...but I LOVE seeing all the new and fun things we get in!
4. Re-setting the store in one giant overnight with friends and cookies and chips and trips to Target to try on footie pajamas and take pictures in the kiddie section with them on and be politely asked if we could cease and desist (true story) because we are tired of working.
5. CHRISTMAS! The best day of the year is Christmas blitz--hanging up ornaments, decorating the trees...ahhhhh, I love it.
6. Going in early...just because I can..., turning on some quiet music, and catching up on paperwork.
7. Being the first to know what's going on sale!
8. "Free" chocolate
9. Getting to decorate the store with furniture and flowers and accessories so I don't spend so much money on my own place...
10. Our friendly neighborhood stray dog, Macaroni! (We named her that because the first thing we ever fed her were macaroni bites).

To be continued...

(thanks NYT for the picture!)

Love Letters, Chapter 3

2009-08-25T17:30:00.001-07:00

Dear One Day Husband,

There will probably be times when you may have to leave me. Business trips, and, I actually can't think of any other reasons why you would leave me. But if any other situations come up (and I SO hope they won't), I would really like to have a run-and-jump-hug when you get back. Preferably with a professional photographer sneaking around somewhere to capture the moment, because it's just so powerful and special and filled with butterflies-in-your-stomach and being squeezed just tightly enough and not wanting to let go and smiles so big it makes you want to cry, don't you think? Maybe we could have one when we first meet, because I already miss you. I've included some pictures for your reference.

Love,

(thank you amolife for the pictures!)

Letters to people I will probably never meet, Chapter 1

2009-08-24T21:07:00.000-07:00

*There are always people I see every day that I wish I could ask questions or make comments to. So, since I never have time when I see them (read: since it would probably be incredibly awkward and usually impossible to talk to most of these people), I shall talk to them through letters...which only you will read. Unless I become famous, and then these people might read about themselves one day. But I doubt it.*

Dear 3 women walking down the street this morning,

What on earth were you doing at SIX in the morning going for a walk? Do you have a better time to exercise? SIX?! You ladies are passionate. Now, several things: 1) Woman on the right: a dress is not appropriate workout wear. Maybe you were going to work, but your friends were in sweats. Maybe this would be a good idea next time. 2) You were each carrying sticks. Not big sticks, or baseball bats, just sticks, like my 2 year old cousin would pick up out of the yard. a) Were you carrying these for protection? If yes, did you actually think you would do any damage with them? b) What kind of mugger do you think walks around stalking groups of women at SIX IN THE MORNING (emphasis added) walking in a quiet neighborhood? I AM proud of you three for getting out and going for a walk though. It's more than I did today.

Sincerely,

P.S. SIX?!

(thank you Main street vintage for the picture!)

Body parts of the snake.

2009-08-23T22:36:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to remind everyone that I was probably the coolest/cutest/most imaginative kid there ever was. I'll try to do this from time to time, just so you don't forget. And yes, that is a drawing of a snake, and yes, snakes DO have toes. How else would they paint their toenails? I was also a SMART kid! Also, missing there next to the arrow on the right are the "shulders". I wouldn't want you guys to miss out on ANY of these very important body parts. (Sorry, the paper was big and the scanner was small.)

**Please note that at age 4 (or however old I was), "stomach" is spelled "stumike". Just so when you interact with children, you'll know.

Oh Happy Day: the sequel to One Fine Day

2009-08-22T21:01:00.000-07:00

I just got this picture on my phone:

MY SISTER IS OFFICIALLY ENGAGED!!! CONGRATULATIONS, SISTER!!!! :)

One Fine Day

2009-08-22T16:38:00.000-07:00

It takes me about 8 minutes to get to my store from my house, and today, in those 8 minutes, I realized: Today was going to be a great day.

Call #1 on my way to work came from my AM, who told me that if I could please hurry, she would appreciate it because they were trying to pull together a $2,100 sale. Yeah. As it turns out, the sale ended up being FIFTY SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS!! We made up our entire week's losses with that one sale. Thank you, I'm-decorating-my-office-lady. I appreciate you.

Call #2 came from my friend who is also a Store Manager in Nashville to tell me that someone had run their CAR into her STORE. I guess she didn't see it or something... I'm not lying. I know, it sounds like a movie. I laughed so hard I cried. It made this hole in the incredibly thick glass:And then it completely shattered while she was standing there looking at it:

Once again, I laughed so hard I cried. I mean, really? How do you explain that to the insurance company?

"Uhh, I have just had an accident."

"Whose fault was it?"

"Well, I was the only person involved."

"Oh. What did you run into?"

"Um, A STORE."

And THEN, as if that was not enough to make my day, as I was turning into my shopping center, I saw a man. Dressed like an elf. A Christmas elf. Green coat looking thing, black belt, HAT. People, I cannot make this stuff up. I slammed on my brakes and madly scrambled for my camera, but he turned a corner and went inside some apartments. So, make do with this picture of Will Ferrell from Elf...it is a pretty close representation of how this man looked. I think this guy was wearing tennis shoes though. And he had green pants with fur. But other than that:

And you're probably thinking, how could it get any better? It did. THIS little guy came into the store as I was leaving!:

Isn't he precious? His name was Edward (after Edward Cullen in the Twilight books. Seriously.) He was like a tiny little furball!

Here's to a great end to a fun week. Can't wait for next week...last week being able to call the store MY store!

Cliche

2009-08-21T19:57:00.001-07:00

"There will be storms, child

There will be storms

And with each tempest

You will seem to stand alone

Against cruel winds

But with time, the rage and fury

Shall subside

And when the sky clears

You will find yourself

Clinging to someone

You would have never known

But for storms."

-Margie DeMerell

If we don't fail, we won't know success. If we don't fall, we can't pick ourselves back up. If we don't cry, we don't know whose shoulder we can cry on. We wouldn't have great days if we didn't have bad days to put up in comparison. The sun couldn't rise if it hadn't set, and there wouldn't be rainbows without the rain.

Smile. It's always going to be alright.

Little Brother goes to college

2009-08-20T20:49:00.001-07:00

Up and at 'em bright and early at 6:00am! Sister and I rode with Brother down to Samford. (Mother and Dad drove the SUV with the actual dorm room clothes/goodies in it.)These green shirted helpers swarmed our car like locusts when we got there. The luggage was in the room before we had the car stopped. We "decorated" Brother's room. (This consisted of hanging his clothes in the closet and making the bed. Oh, boys will be boys...MY dorm room was full of cute pictures and shoes.)

We met Brother's Roommate--a football player! He's a good seed. We visited Brother's friend K's room and she got a picture with Brother......and with me and Sister!We visited the "bookstore", also the size of a large bathroom or small hut, and I got this cool shirt...gotta support the Little Brother!We go back to Brother's dorm and see this sign (visitation between 2 PM and 12 AM!!...HA!):No late night parties...that you get CAUGHT having ;)

We got the typical sibling picture right before we have to say goodbye ;(.

I am going to miss Little Brother! He always makes me laugh and makes a bad day better. We have such a good time together and we have so much in common. I am so blessed to have gotten such a good one! Thanks for being one of my besties, Brother. ;) Happy College!

P.S. The sky gave us a show on the way home!

That's me doing the bunny ears

2009-08-19T18:10:00.000-07:00

Finally, what you've all been waiting for: proof that I was just as big a goofball 17-20 years ago (sorry, no date on the picture) as I am now.

A day (-ish) in my life

2009-08-19T17:02:00.000-07:00

Morning-ish (I sleep late, remember?):

I woke up and remembered it was my first day off in SEVEN days (YAY!), grabbed my morning can of diet coke and my breakfast bar, and headed to the computer for a leisurely hour of online window shopping. I admit, I have a problem with shoes. And purses. Not that kind of problem. Problem as in I would rather have a pair of Christian Louboutins than, say, eat dinner for a month problem. I'll have to mention that to One Day Husband. ("Sorry, honey. Tonight we are going to sit in front of the fire and look at my shoes instead of chowing down on chicken and potatoes. And that's what we're going to do tomorrow night too. All the way until October. It'll be great!") Christian Louboutin and I are actually in love. These are his new (ok, new-ISH) limited edition Marie Antoinette heels. And I MUST have them. (You know, with that spare $6000 I found yesterday in my winter coat and couch cushions.):

Sometime after my shoe lust had waned (a TEENSEY bit):

I shopped and ate, and ate and shopped, and then I realized...I hadn't checked my phone since yesterday! "Maybe someone will have sent me a fun message!" I thought. As it turns out, I had several messages, but none of them were fun. Apparently, I thought it would be a good idea to completely forget about (and hence sleep through) my weekly conference call. You know, the same call that has happened EVERY WEEK at the SAME TIME for THREE YEARS. And so...I began to hyperventilate. When I could breathe normally again, I called my RM and it turns out...it wasn't a huge deal. Thanks. They could have told me that in one of those texts I checked before I went into major-panic-so-hard-I-need-a-nap-afterwards mode.

Late Morning-ish:

I am still (--insert sneaky happy face--) online window shopping when I hear Mocha playing. "How cute," I think. "I shall play too!" Turns out, Mocha was trying to wrestle with my ankle brace. Not a toy Mocha. Good imagination though.

Early afternoon-ish:

I go for a run. 3 miles! Yay me!

Late in the early afternoon-ish:

I get out of the shower, put on a robe, and realize it is going to take me 13 hours to dry my hair.

4 days later:

My hair is dry.

1 minute later:

I realize my hair looks like something from the Addams family.25 minutes after that:

My hair is saved by my Chi (Ok, and Mother. Oh c'mon! The back parts are hard to reach!).

3 minutes after that:

I put on my jeans. (Don't worry, I am going somewhere with this one.) I know exactly which shirt I want to wear. I look in my closet. Nope. Dirty clothes? No. Clean clothes on my couch? NO. Random pile of clothes I STILL haven't folded from my vacation? NOT THERE. At this point you'd think...she's going to pick another shirt! You'd be wrong. Now it's personal. Between me and the shirt. I WILL find this shirt, and I WILL wear it; I don't care how long it takes.

49 minutes later:

I win. Take that, shirt! (Imagine how I am at board games.)

Early evening-ish:

I get my toes done! This is possibly one of the ONLY financial splurges I ever make (unfortunately, buying $1000 shoes only happens in my head). But seriously, it feels amazing. Am I right?So yeah, that's how my life generally goes every day. Eat, shop, lust after shoes, panic, write, shop, fight with my hair, fight with my clothes, shop, eat (insert "work" in between fight with clothes and shop on a non off day). I didn't say it was exciting; it's just my life. And I can't wait for it to all happen again tomorrow.

Except tomorrow...PROJECT RUNWAY IS BACK!! woo!!

Love Letters, Chapter 2

2009-08-18T17:30:00.000-07:00

Dear One Day Husband,

I know you will be going off to work every morning (I hope), maybe except for Saturdays and Sundays (and a few Fridays when we're feeling sneaky), and I want a kiss before you leave every morning. Even if I am still asleep (I may as well go ahead and admit it...I sleep late. I know you still love me anyways). Even if I am so groggy that I don't know what's going on and I throw a pillow at you. Even if I am awake, but still tired and I throw a pillow at you. And I promise to kiss you back. (Unless I am asleep. But then I promise to dream about kissing you.)

Love,

(image from ffffound)

Conversations.

2009-08-18T15:48:00.000-07:00

Made me laugh out loud in the Movie section:

(Overheard)
8:42 a.m.
Target employee #1: "You know how hard it is to stop smoking? As hard as it is to start flossing."
Target employee #2: "You don't floss?"
Target employee #1: "My friends say to me, 'Why are you so jittery?', and I say, 'Because I am about to floss.'"

My life is comparatively boring:

2:04 p.m.

K: (walking into my office) "I punched my boyfriend in the face."

Me: "Did he deserve it?"

K: "Yes."

Me: "OK then."

How I know I have been at the store too long:
4:18 p.m.
S: (reading from a greeting card at the store) "'Yesterday is history...'. You know, yesterday was a good day. Why can't today be yesterday?"
Me: Because (reading from same greeting card), 'Today is a gift'."
S: "But I don't like today. Can't I return it?"
Me: "Only with an original receipt dated within 30 days of the purchase."

Guys, I know I complain about the store, but I really am going to miss it. Maybe I'll share the things I will miss (and what I WON'T miss) in a later episode. 10 days left!

I have a confession...

2009-08-17T17:25:00.000-07:00

...I love cupcakes. Mostly the cupcake tops, with a lot of icing, and just a little bit of cake. But if the cake is good enough, then yes, that too. Don't these make your mouth water for a cupcake?: And my life-long-love of cupcakes has finally met its soulmate: Gigi’s in Nashville. Her cupcakes are to die for. She uses exotic ingredients to make the most delicious cupcakes I have ever tasted. Also, her cupcakes are HUGE. Let me break it down for you...you are given a SPOON to eat your cupcake with. The company was started by...who else...Gigi! She learned to cook from her great aunts as a little girl. On her home page, she says "My mission is to touch each person with that special kind of love and hoping you will live life to the fullest one cupcake at a time." Doesn't she sound cool?! Currently, there are only stores in Tennessee, but she is opening new ones in CA, GA, KY, TX, and AL soon! People all over Nashville love Gigi's cupcakes, and with names like:

White Midnight Magic Chocolate Chip,

Caramel Sugar Mama,

Chocolate Malt (it comes with a straw!)

and Key Lime,

how could anyone turn a cupcake down?!

(thank you google, the groovy baker, and Gigi’s for the pictures!)

It was cheese. And 1 quart of milk.

2009-08-17T15:50:00.001-07:00

You know how when you go to the grocery and you load the groceries into your trunk, and sometimes something falls out, and you find it like, a week later when you think you’ve run out of food? Isn’t that the best? Like Christmas in August! Unless it’s something that needed to have been REFRIGERATED, and then it’s more like a horrible nightmare involving a lot of garbage bags, plastic doctor gloves, and febreeze. That is NOT like Christmas at all. Unless you do Christmas like I have never even heard of…

I have a question for you...

2009-08-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

Do you like Darth Vader, Star Wars, MC Hammer, and/or dancing? If you said yes, you absolutely MUST watch this video. If you do not like even one of these things, A) I am worried about you, and B) watch the video anyways. Regardless of your opinion of Darth or Hammer, you will laugh. Pinky Promise. I was having a down day until Sister showed me this. Thanks, Sister!

My very own mini (and I mean mini) Farmer's Market

2009-08-15T18:26:00.000-07:00

So, do you remember the garden I wrote about a few days ago? If you don't, I'm hurt, but my feelings can be assuaged if you go here!

--ahem-- To continue, I was driving by the mini garden on my way home from work, and I noticed that there had been an addition...a picnic table with fruits and vegetables (don't they look YUMMY!?)...and humans!! (not on the table, walking around). By the way, these pictures make me ready for FALL!!

So naturally, I stopped to see what the commotion was about. This garden (which I have watched grow up since its first little rows were planted) has been planted as a "community" garden. The man's name who planted it in his "side yard" (not the back, not the front...) is Brian. He accepts donations only for his produce and all donations go to a friend's medical bills who is suffering from Ataxia Telangiectasia. How neat is this? We have our own itsy bitsy tiny little farmer's market right in my very own very city-like neighborhood!

The Time Traveler's Wife-part Dos

2009-08-14T21:33:00.000-07:00

Movie:
1. Eric Bana, you are handsome.

2. They changed the ending (just a little)!!!! To be fair though, this was a good *movie* ending.
3. The violin and opera music are beautiful.
4. I love the emotion…Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams SHOW you the feelings Audrey Niffeneger wrote about.
5. If I was half as precious as the girl who played Alba, I would have been a child movie star too.

Book:
1. I told you so—better than the movie.
2. The book ending was better. More beautiful, I think. I’m biased though…I love to read and imagine. And movies are almost never as good as my imagination.
3. They did such a good job of taking from the book to make it an understandable movie, but the book is so…RICH and full of detail and deep in character. So, read it.

4. And then see the movie, ‘cause it ain’t bad.
5. (But read the book.)

It’s almost Saturday!

I am going to see The Time Traveler's Wife tonight!

2009-08-14T15:46:00.001-07:00

I am so excited to see this movie, because the book is easily my all-time favorite book ever (of all time.). I read it a few years ago, and ever since, I buy extra copies to give to people who have not experienced it. You must read this book. If you don't have it, go buy it. If you can't afford it or just don't feel like going to the bookstore in your car (or going to Amazon and clicking "purchase"), let me know, and I will send you one. No joke. After tonight...I will let you know how close the movie comes to being AS good (books are ALWAYS better than the movie...with one exception: The Princess Bride. Seriously, watch the movie, then try to read the book. You'll see what I mean.)

Wish me fun!

Love Letters, Chapter 1

2009-08-13T21:11:00.001-07:00

Dear One Day Husband,
I want you to know that I already love you, even though I don’t know you. I can’t wait until we meet for the first time. I want to warn you that it will probably involve me clumsily tripping over something and you gallantly saving my life. I love firsts. I can’t wait for the first EVERYTHING. First kiss, first Christmas together, first baseball game together, first time you realize that I tear the top crust off of my sandwiches because I think it tastes funny but you love me anyways, etc., etc., etc.
Love,
Me

Things that happened today

2009-08-13T17:29:00.000-07:00

1. I saw a praying mantis the size of my HAND. He was actually a pretty good dancer to our music in the background, so we nicknamed him Fred Astaire. To see a hilarious/the BEST/the FUNNIEST video of him dancing, and the even more hilarious ending where we scream and run away when he tries to attack us, go see Whitney’s blog!

2. I gashed my head open on one of my displays. (no pictures of this, wouldn't want anyone to get ill...)

3. Went shopping at Marshall's during work because our truck was almost THREE HOURS late and I bought these coasters!!:

4. I got REALLY excited and squeal-y (sp.??) because all of our Harvest candles and decor came in today!!! (Thanks for squealing with me, Whitney!!)

5. I forgot that I had no food for dinner because payday is tomorrow, so I ate gushers, cheddar shun chips, and oreos for dinner.

6. I found this AWESOME website...it is AMAZING what people can do with photoshop (YES, these were PHOTOSHOPPED. NOT painted!!) These are just a few of the little gems I found:

6. Decided I am VERY thankful for new friends.

7. I saw a familiar car in the driveway...MY SISTER IS HOME A DAY EARLY!

8. I legally changed my name to Moonbeam.

One of these things isn't true. I'm not telling you which one. Guess what? TOMORROW IS FRIDAY!!

The 4 ladies...and I use that term loosely...of the retail apocolypse

2009-08-12T16:27:00.000-07:00

This will be long. You have been warned. Also, the trusty ol' Cannon had her batteries charging during my momentous meetings and greetings, so I will do my best to entertain you with my at-home recreations of the events...

Today was my first day back at the store after 2 days off. And I got to meet and/or talk to 4 THRILLING, CAPTIVATING ladies...

Number 1: 18 Minute Monologue Lady. I had a conference call this morning, which had already gone about 37 minutes longer than usual, when...*surprise!*...a special guest speaker from our home office logged on and spent 18 minutes (I am NOT exaggerating, I timed it) M-O-N-O-L-O-G-U-I-N-G about direct deposit and pay stubs. I was bored. to. tears. I can barely maintain focus on my DINNER for 18 minutes, much less vocalize an 18 minute, un-memorized, completely improv speech about it. I mean, wow. This woman was passionate.

B: Table Runner Lady. You know how sometimes, when you ask a question, you do it just to be polite and you really don't want to talk? Well, this woman did not know about that. After engaging me in meaningless (and sometimes unintelligble) conversation for 5-FOREVER minutes, she proceeded to ask me if the 15" measurement in the 15"x78" measurement on the table runner she was holding was the length or the width of the table runner. I thought I was being punk'd. First ofall...seriously? Ma'm, do you even know what a table runner is? Secondly, regardless of which two sides are 78" and which two are 15"...it's probably still going to RUN the length of a TABLE. Period.

Numero Tres: Jewelry Lady. Yeah sure, I like jewelry as much as the next girl, and this old woman (90's, maybe??) was as sweet as she could be, but let me just say that I walked around the store with her just so I could count the number of pieces she had on: right arm=7 HEAVY bracelets and 3 rings, left arm=13 braceletes and 8 rings, neck=5 necklaces. And she came in asking where our jewelry was. She actually bought 4 MORE rings. She told me she doesn't take her bracelets off when she goes to sleep. They probably anchor her to the bed. I don't know how she walks around with all that weight.

Last: Sour Candy Lady. This lady wouldn't stop asking questions. Also, she looked like she was sucking on a piece of REALLY sour candy. Also, I think this candy was filled with something that makes your eyes alternately twitch and close for awkwardly long periods of time.

Yes, these are my customers on a daily basis. This is my store. And I will truly miss it all.

I woke up this morning and realized there were things I had not done...

2009-08-11T11:04:00.000-07:00

...Since yesterday: EATEN! As soon as I am through writing, it's lunchtime!

...In 2 weeks: Gone for a run! Today is the day though. Get ready treadmill, I will OWN you!!

...In 3 weeks: Picked up my dry cleaning! I totally forgot about it! Dad came home last night and told me they tried to give it to him. He refused. Today I found out why. Let me explain. You know, when you get in your head how much something is going to cost, and you add, like, $5-$10 on just to give you a mental preparation cushion? I went today to pick it up, and I was NOT prepared for the cost of my dry cleaning. It's ok dad, I understand why you refused to pick it up. I almost did too.

...ever: Planted a garden. I do not live even remotely close to anything resembling the countryside, but down the street from me on the corner, these people have planted this cute little garden...complete with sunflowers...(and a fire hydrant!)!

One day, I want to have one (maybe minus the fire hydrant).

Life on the Lane

2009-08-10T19:23:00.000-07:00

I had a day off today! And in my boredom, I trolled around the internet lookning for things-I-MUST-have-but-will-never-afford. I found the awesome-est website: Ruby Lane. It is full of little shops of antique and vintage clothing, accessories, books, housewares, etc. I found some of my favorites in a shop called Catseye Vintage Estate Collection:

It's the sweetest 80's Little Black (backless!) Dress!

This necklace is HUGE...and I adore it! What a conversation starter!

Ok, yes, I have a thing for little black dresses. But isn't this 80's cocktail dress precious?

How cool is this 40's vintage handbag? It would make an amazing clutch paired with a black dress and gold jewelry!

Which one is your MUST?

Old Fashiondy stuff

2009-08-09T23:58:00.000-07:00

I was thinking this afternoon about how much I miss getting good old fashioned "snail mail". Who doesn't get excited to go out to their mailbox and retrieve something that isn't a bill, credit card application, or notice that they MAY have just won $1,000,000? I love the thrill of opening a letter that someone wrote just to me, just for me, that could say anything! So, in the hopes of inspiring you to write a real letter this week, Mocha and I took a walk and snapped some pictures of some of the mailboxes in our neighborhood...enjoy!

It's a dog's life...(seriously, they're spoiled rotten.)

2009-08-08T19:47:00.001-07:00

Since you already (kind of) know me, I thought it important to introduce you to the two most important canines in my life: Mocha and Hugo. I suppose I should just go ahead and tell you...these dogs aren't really dogs. They are little tiny humans stuck in dog bodies. I'll do my best to convey their personalities.

I begin with Mocha, MY precious little angel. She was a gift to me from Santa 2 Christmases ago (isn't Christmas the BEST?!). She is a miniature chocolate poodle who weighs 9 lbs. She is basically the most beautiful little thing in the world and she KNOWS it. She talks in a very high, very southern accent. Her favorite pasttimes are gathering all of the toys in the house and putting them in her bed, trying to lick up people's nostrils, and generally being beautiful.

Hugo is actually Brother's dog, but he loves me like he was mine...secretly, he IS mine ;). He is a standard caramel colored poodle whose half brother, Nadal, happens to belong to our vet. He weighs just under 60 lbs and is quite the gentle giant. He and Mocha are best friends. Hugo's voice is...well...just think Forrest Gump. He loves to have his belly rubbed.

I also have to mention Baby, my sister's miniature black poodle who lives with us. I won't picture her for security reasons (We all think she is an evil foreign spy. Baby, not Sister.). I think she hates me, but I'm still not sure. She's pretty sneaky.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend :)

Have a happy weekend!

2009-08-07T20:25:00.000-07:00

Random questions:

1. You know when you wake up in the morning, and you have those things in the corners of your eyes (I call them "sleepies"!)? What are those made of?!

2. Can you put your foot behind your head? If so, could you pick your nose with your toes? If yes, would you?

3. Would you rather fly or be invisible?

4. If you were sitting next to a divider at a restaurant, and all of a sudden a drink came flying over the divider at you, would you look to see who threw it? Would you throw something back?

5. What do you miss the most about being a kid?

Have a happy Friday night and enjoy the sunset...I enjoyed mine :)

Inventory and Goats

2009-08-07T11:44:00.001-07:00

As promised...inventory pictures! The oh so kind inventory people just threw everything on the ground or into the wall when they were done counting...my store was a mess!! I would say more about inventory, but...it's boring.

So, as I was driving home from inventory last night, I started thinking about drivers in Nashville. And how most drivers nowadays have the mental capacity of potato salad. Believe it or not, some drivers actually think that that white broken line down the middle of the interstate MUST mean that they place half of their vehicle on one side of this line and half on the other. Other, even more astute drivers are under the impression that driving so incredibly slowly I could pass them if I were riding a goat is acceptable. Let me just say to these people that when, after I have passed you, I do not appreciate that then, and ONLY then do you realize that you are going slow, and hence speed up and make me feel like an idiot when you whiz past me. Also, using some turn signals would be nice now and then. Even just a flicker before you swerve in front of me at the cost of my life would be good. You know, especially at night, when it's raining.

Anyways, when I got home, I wasn't feeling well, so I thought I would take my temperature just in case. I grabbed an old thermomemter out of my bathroom, and it said...101!!! I went to bed immediately, determined to go to the doctor today if it wasn't better. I woke up this morning feeling decidedly better than I did last night. I decided to take my temperature again, just to be sure, but again, it was 101. Thinking this was odd, I turned it off and tried again. To my dismay, I was still apparently melting, even though I felt well enough to, say, ride a goat up and down a freeway. Becoming a little suspicious, I performed a number of scientific tests to determine the authenticity of my thermometer, and here is what I doscovered: a switched on light bulb, my dog, cold tap water, leftover chicken, the couch cushion, and middle "c" on the piano ALSO had a temperature of 101! Incredible! Either the thermometer was stuck on 101, or I was so sick that I was deliriously hallucinating my disease onto various household items. The first option was obviously absolutely ludicrous...I mean, when is sceince and technology ever wrong, right? So I rode my goat to the hospital. I think I'm getting better. It's that leftover chicken that's still looking sick.

Give me your tired, your hungry, and your firstborn!

2009-08-06T23:11:00.000-07:00

I don't think any of us really knew how high gas prices really are. Just to keep you posted, here are the official prices as of today:

If you don't have any children, I think they accept any family member for Premium.

On a side note, we took inventory at my store (yes, it is still MY store!!) tonight, so...fun pictures from that. But tomorrow. I am exhausted. Good night!

A Whole New World

2009-08-05T17:34:00.000-07:00

So, today was the day that I "officially" quit my job. I am no longer a Store Manager earning a salary! I am now a student earning knowledge! And let me tell you, knowledge takes a little longer to pay off. I start my undergraduate work in 3 weeks, and then I will begin a 2 year Master's program to become a Physician's Assistant. The whole family had been telling me to go into healthcare for quite awhile, but I, being the pleasant, kind, and obedient daughter/niece/sister/granddaughter that I am, promptly dismissed everyone. It took quite a kick in the pants to get me back in school. Over three consecutive days, I took a career profile (which singled out healthcare as my 100% match...NO thank you!), was involved in an interstate car crash which I handled with nerves of steel (and all I thought was, 'I wish I could help these people who are hurt!'...Hmmmm...), and then sold a desk at work to...get this...the Southeastern Director of Physician's Assistants (Ok, Fine, I'll go back to school). I can be stubborn, but when I get kicked through a wide open door, I do NOT turn around.

With all that being said, I am going out on quite a faith limb here...I'll have no income for three years while paying for gas/insurance etc. I know I am following the right path and I am completely at peace that I will be taken care of. When you are headed in the right direction, even when it is uphill, it's amazing how much smoother the path can be.

Get to Know Me

2009-08-04T20:21:00.000-07:00

So, I will use this first post as a "get to know the weird stuff about me" post. I LOVE hot chocolate, expecially when it is made with hot milk, and it froths up, and some of the chunks of powder mix get stuck in the froth. Yum. I HATE when you are trying to find something, like the second shoe of a pair and you can't find it, only to have it jump out waving a flag at you the next day when you don't care where it is anymore. I LOVE falling asleep on a boat. I HATE non-professional cyclers who ride bikes around their neighborhoods in fancy/creepy spandex suits.

And as a special end note, I would like to make sure that everyone is aware that Snickers bars with almonds are pretending to be Mars bars. And they are NOT! Don't be fooled! If you are in charge of the Mars bar industry and you are reading this, PLEASE bring back Mars bars. I LOVE them.

I think that was a pretty respectable first entry. Wouldn't you agree?

A Moment I Treasure

In honor of Lent...

Shake it Up

It's so hot...

The Answer to Life

oops...

A Day in the Life

This one's for Penny (or, A letter to my Blog)

What amazing courage.

We're off to see the wizard...

More wedding-y things!

A happy little fall day!

Almost done with catch up!

School Day Sunrise

I have changed my mind.

Pre-Halloween fun!

I'm BAAAAAAAAAACK! (and I'm never leaving again.)

BLAAAAAAAAAAAH-G

Love Letters, Chapter 6

The sun set as I drove home.

Road Trip!

Love. This. Commercial.

A little Shoe Love from Shoe Lust

So cute and Happy weekend!

School Day Sunrise

You will see no pictures of *actual* rainbows.

Gold medals!

I don't think it's just me...

A Beautiful Day!

They're here, they're here!

I got something!

School Day Sunrise

Step right up!

There will be no pictures.

Aw.

October, 1987

Rain, rain go away

School Day Sunrise, morning 3

Love Letters, Chapter 5

I know...

I love...

Letters to people I will probably never meet, Chapter 2

Tall, dark, and handsome

School Day Sunrise, morning 2

Shoes and Tattoos

YAY!

Happy Labor Day weekend!

Would You Rather...

School Day Sunrise, morning 1

Love Letters, Chapter 4

First day of school!

It was an interesting night

It was a boring afternoon

"It was a good morning" (or, "I am in an exaggerating mood")

Look look look!

Crosses

What I will NOT miss about my store

Why I will miss my store

Love Letters, Chapter 3

Letters to people I will probably never meet, Chapter 1

Body parts of the snake.

Oh Happy Day: the sequel to One Fine Day

One Fine Day

Cliche

Little Brother goes to college

That's me doing the bunny ears

A day (-ish) in my life

Love Letters, Chapter 2

Conversations.

I have a confession...

It was cheese. And 1 quart of milk.

I have a question for you...

My very own mini (and I mean mini) Farmer's Market

The Time Traveler's Wife-part Dos

I am going to see The Time Traveler's Wife tonight!

Love Letters, Chapter 1

Things that happened today

The 4 ladies...and I use that term loosely...of the retail apocolypse

I woke up this morning and realized there were things I had not done...

Life on the Lane

You will see no pictures of actual rainbows.