If you're going to sell dogs...

Please refrain from allowing spelling and grammatical errors to run rampant in your ads. In fact, do me a favor and do not sell dogs at all. Because 'Doberman Pinchers', 'German Shepards', 'Dashounds/Dachshounds/Docksunds/Dachshuhnds/Weener dogs', 'Pomerians' and 'Shnauzers' do not exist. When you say you have 'purebread' puppies, some strange images come to mind.

Example A:



And for those of you buying a dog, don't support breeders like those. If they can't even spell their own dogs, that's just a bad sign.

This post was inspired while perusing through online classified ads for dogs. No, I cannot have another one. No, I am not highly considering another one...yet. I just look for fun sometimes. Is that nerdy? Probably no more-so than knowing all about how to spell different breeds and then ranting about it when people get them wrong.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!

Comment Approval

Alright. Becca's back to blog. Nothing like a little alliteration to start things off right. Although, does that alliteration count? Because the word 'to' is part of the sentence? Well, if it messes things up, then you can 1. Change it to Becca's back, bringin' blogz or 2. Just call that first one a partial alliteration. To start things off right.

Ok, so a week or two ago, I checked my email to discover that I had about six emails in my junk box. Five were from a blogger calling themself 'beccarox' (best name ever!) The sixth one was from, let's face it, an unmentionable sort of a place. Now, don't worry. Just because my blog comment notification emails go straight to my junk box doesn't mean I miss out on them. I check it diligently and make sure I can stay on top of the thousands of comments this blog receives. ANYWAY. Back to beccarox.

I went to the entry that beccarox had commented on. October 15th was the date. I will spare you the trouble of going back to look it up (unless you don't believe me - if you don't, feel free to check it.) The comments were as follows:


Blogger beccarox said...

dear becca, u r so fit, i want u more than santas want pies, like a block of cheese

Blogger beccarox said...

becca your soo fit cant wait to see you at the party itll be a right laugh hahahap.s your fit

Blogger beccarox said...

becca lovs chris 4 ever and ever
xxxx

Blogger beccarox said...

becca musk loves chris T

Blogger beccarox said...

chris is gay, never =0 chris turner loves becca

And I learned so much from this! I learned that I am so fit. Beccarox mentioned it enough times that I now can really take it to heart. I also learned that I love Chris forever and ever. I don't know much about Chris, except that he is not gay, his grammar is not exactly spot on, and he loves me/wants me. Like a block of cheese, he wants me. He is also likely from the UK judging by the slang he uses, and, let's face it, was maybe drunk and never intended for me to be the recipient of these messages (although possibly a different Becca should have been?)

Anyway, it prompted me to set up comment approval for my blog. But come to find out, the notification emails subside when you do that and you're supposed to approve them on the actual blog. So today I found three comments that I never knew existed! My favorite of which was probably the most recent one on my post about the walrus right down below:

Anonymous said...

You easily entertained looser.
Mr.X

Dear Mr. X,
Thank you for following my instructions from that blog post. I definitely let your comment be published for that reason.
Love,
b

Who are these unknown people I wonder? I have never been asked on a date because of my blog or recognized at various locations across the country because of my blog like this lady I know. In fact, if I am completely honest, I can almost guarantee that 90% of the traffic on my blog comes from hers alone. But tonight, that does not stop me from patting myself on the back because I just might have more than three readers.

Sara, Plain and Tall

While some people come up with very innovative, unique things to post and say on their blogs, I myself take a much easier way out most of the time.

Which is why I am sharing this gem with you today. Meet Sara the walrus.



Call me a loser. Call me easily entertained. I am fiercely interested and charmed by animals trained to do different things, even if it's just for fun. (Soon I will put up a new video of Gabe's new tricks!) I watch something like this and immediately want to know how they taught her, or if they really had to. Maybe they simply captured the behavior by reinforcing her when she did it on her own. Maybe she learned it by them modeling it for her. Maybe they rewarded close approximations until Sara grasped the entire behavior. Maybe I should have gone to walrus training school?

And in case Sara is not entertaining enough for you, at least take notice in how much fun the TRAINER is having starting at about the 38 second mark.

One Point For Starbucks

I went to the dentist today. Which is a harrowing experience as it is, but especially when it's been, oh, two and a half years since the last time I went. And here I was thinking that you're supposed to go every year, but apparently it's every six months. Either way, I was overdue. Between going in and out of having insurance over the past year and a half and not really staying in one place for very long, it's been difficult to put a dentist appointment at the top of my to-do list.

And in the midst of all of this, I started working at Starbucks, the place I have come to frequently complain about. My best friend's dad Dan happens to be my lifelong dentist from growing up. He once told me a horror story about a girl who started working at a coffee shop and when she next had her teeth cleaned showed up with 14 cavities. 14! Can you imagine? Well, I have started to lately.

So I, being the Starbucks pessimist that I am, figured that I could probably be told some pretty bad news during my appointment. How many cavities would I come away with? 12? 19? Needless to say, I was dragging my feet a little when I stepped foot into a new dentist office today for the first time.

Needless tangent: can I just take a moment to describe the office to you? ('I don't know Becca, can you?') MAY I? Ok. All I can say is that you can't really expect anything less in Johnson County. The entire office had high, vaulted ceilings. The decorations were a mixture of upscale southwestern memorabilia in 'Tuscan' colors. (What is Tuscan? I don't know, but I read about it in an article they gave to me regarding the place. Think warm, earthy colors.) There was a flat screen TV inside of the over-sized granite counter the secretary sat behind. Not one, but TWO computers sat with internet access for waiting patients. Around the corner was the kids' area, complete with DVD's and a Wii. The bathroom looked like a facility you would use in the Bellagio...or something. Each chair patients occupied while being worked on had a flat screen with headphones so they could watch shows and movies while having their teeth cleaned. And my personal favorite touch? The BOUTIQUE connected with the office. Having anxiety about your dental appointment? Buy a handbag, or some jewelry! For the record, I did not indulge. End tangent.

So the place was pretty over-the-top. But the staff was honestly very kind, welcoming, and warm. They had a good sense of humor about the millions of x-rays that had to be done in my abnormally small mouth, they were not condescending about the fact that it took me so long to get my teeth looked at, and best of all - they told me I had no cavities! I was so thankful to hear that! It's certainly a blessing. Another blessing? The fluoride treatment didn't make me nauseous like it usually does.

And maybe the biggest blessing of all? My insurance covered everything except for the fluoride treatment, and that was something optional I decided to have them do. God is so good. And Starbucks isn't all bad, afterall.

((If you want to know the one bad piece of news from the visit, you can know that I still need a gum graft. Yes, that's right: taking flesh from one part of my mouth and patching it in over my receding gum lines. Apparently braces paired with my aggressive teeth brushing habits has destroyed much of my gum-line, leaving the roots of some of my teeth exposed. Can you say sensitive teeth? And painful surgery? I'm not going to worry about it today though. Maybe in another two and a half years, or when I become a millionaire.)

At Least I Won't Outgrow Gabe

I want to tell you a story about stuffed animals.

I was one of those very sentimental kids. Which probably means I am one of those sentimental half-grown ups now. But anyway. Every one of my stuffed animals had a name and identity of its own and I pretty much kept very close track of all of them. I was the kid who would go to a yard sale and feel the need to 'rescue' the forgotten stuffies I would find there. Bottom line: I believed they had feelings and needed a 'home' (just imagine the nightmare of walking into a pet store or animal shelter with me).

As I got older and realized I probably did not need 468693 stuffed animals, I made the decision to get rid of some of them at our yard sale we were about to have. It wasn't necessarily a mindless, easy decision, but I told myself it was time and I really thought if other kids could enjoy them, it would be worth my own anxiety over it.

Well, the day of the yard sale came, and everything was out to be sold. I think an animal or two was taken here and there for the first little bit. It was fine. And then, this kind of older man came and started stuffing a grocery bag full of my old animals. My parents only had the mindset to get rid of everything, not make a lot of money. So I think my mom was egging him on, telling him to take as many as he wanted.

And as he came to pay, he said something like 'Oh man, my Rottweiler is going to LOVE these. He destroys them so fast, we have to buy lots at yard sales to keep up with him!'

ARE. YOU. KIDDING ME.

By then it would have been too late to throw a fit and save my old friends. He gave his money, took his bag full of my memories and childhood, and he was gone to sacrifice them to the hairy dog.

Life lesson fail.

This is so Disturbing

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...but I just about died watching it. And now I'll probably die of embarassment that you are watching it.

Hairy Christmas

It took me eight months to get a haircut. That is most certainly an outright violation of the laws of any salon or hair stylist. But I am proud that I waited that long. Because I saved money. And gained some length on my strands.

Some people have asked me how I pulled that off without my hair being completely ruined. Simple: wear it in a french braid ALMOST every day. I know what you might be thinking - a french braid is often a favorite of 4-Her's and homeschoolers. Well, let's just say that I may have been both of those things back in the day. But aside from that, it has been a lifesaver lately! A french braid has been the hairstyle that enables me to shower at night, sleep on it, and get up between 4 and 6 am for work without having to style it again. Another plus? The day after that, you can take the braid out and then wear it wavy. Thus saving on shampoo use as well as doing damaging styling to your hair.

I think my new haircut is a good one finally! The reasons that I like this haircut are: 1. she didn't take off all that much length 2. I can wear it down if I choose to 3. it has lots of new layers. And now I am thinking about dying it for the first time in my life...

I would like to take a moment just to mention that I feel a little bit trivial talking about hair so much. But while I am on the topic, I bought a Furminator for Mr. Gabe and The Others too. For as much as those things cost, it had better work well! And it seems to. My biggest complaint is that you have to stop and pull the hair off after about two strokes of the coat. Oh, and Gabe REALLY wants to eat both the hair and the brush. Every time.

Lastly. A lot of you have probably seen this. I want to know your thoughts on it though. And what would the best response to it as Christmas approaches.

Kindred soul cracked spirit

Her: When you're calling out drinks, try to put a little more pizazz into it.
Me: Ok.

What she was thinking: The District Manager is here and I am going to do whatever it takes to really wow her.
What I was thinking: You have no idea what's going on with me. I suppose that's my problem because I haven't told you. But I don't plan on telling you. And I know that I am not exactly a Disney Princess when I call out drink orders, but maybe I don't have to be when the customer is standing inches away from the spot they pick their drink up at. I'm still nice to them. I make eye contact and smile and thank them. And I don't really care to kiss up to her because she clearly already has her favorites. I'm not a competitor for her attention.


It wasn't a bad shift. It was actually decent. But I'll still be glad for the day when I can leave that nonsense behind. And maybe I am totally flawed in my way of thinking about work. But there is something really frustrating about being asked to act fake towards others. If I was standing on the other side of the counter, I'm pretty sure I would prefer to be interacted with on a person-to-person level, not an exhibition-to-person level.

It makes sense that sometimes we have to power through the day and put on a little bit of a face when we are in public while there is a lot more going on beneath the surface. But I guess even on the best of days, I am still not a fan of cheesy fakeness.

Tory asked me this morning, 'Why are dogs so amazing?' I didn't know how to answer exactly. It's hard to summarize exactly why they mean so much to some of us. But maybe one reason I love dogs so much is because I can be myself around them always. And, ironically, I don't have to be told to be animated with them - it comes naturally because of how wonderful they are :)

A dog can express more with his tail in seconds than his owner can express with his tongue in hours. ~Author Unknown

I guess that means Gabe should be the barista, not me.

This Day's a Spinning Circus on a Wheel

So...I'm back in Kansas now.

It was a blur of a week gone; certainly had its ups and downs - but God really took care of me out there. Took care of me personally and also through other people. And even though I left with an empty spot inside of me accompanied by a dull ache of sorts, He has taken much of the razor sharp edge off of the pain. For that, I am truly thankful. He is faithful. And He blessed me with fun times with friends. Just look.


























Props to Misses Tory and Shefali and their uncanny ability to take good pictures. There were too many fun ones to use less than this many. Oh, and it's unanimous - Tory and Shefali are BEAUTIFUL.

So now it's back to the norm. I was welcomed back to reality with a nice 4 AM awakening to open at Starbucks. I'm not 100% sure what will happen with the job I interviewed for - but mornings like this one certainly give me ample motivation to do something to change my job.

Don't get me wrong - there were many perks to arriving back here. Not the least of which would be sweet Gabe and the hyperactive wiggle fest he bestowed me with upon seeing me through the car window. Parents waiting to welcome me back. Numerous friends' phone calls, text messages, and emails. I don't know what I am doing or where I am going or how I should be feeling. But maybe for today it's ok to just be. And enjoy today's blessings.

If you live near me, let's hang out.

Glass

'There are a lot of different ways to cry. There's the "somebody close to you is dying" cry, the "confessing dark secrets" cry, the "I'm angry and want to kill or at least significantly maim someone" cry, the groom's "my bride is coming down the aisle" cry, the "kid whose feelings have been hurt" cry. There's the "car accident I could have died in but didn't" cry. There's even the "I just hit my thumb with the hammer and it hurts so much but I'm not going to cry, so little tears are forming in the corners of my eyes" cry. But her cry on that day was a kind of crying I have seen many times. It's the cry of someone who has had their heart broken by a lover.

It comes from someplace else.

Someplace far inside a person, deep in the soul. It's a cry with a certain ache. It's the ache of a broken heart.'

-Rob Bell, 'Sex God'.

I don't like casually writing my feelings on this blog so that people simply can have a look inside my life. I don't like the impersonal approach of simply blabbering out my thoughts so that you know what's going on with me. And yet I feel as though it's very hard to talk about my situation as well. To live and re-live events that have taken place this week and in months past most assuredly means tears will form, tears will fall, and tears will keep coming. Tears like the ones Bell speaks of.

It's difficult to know where to begin. I feel foolish. I feel naive. I feel upset with myself for so stubbornly trying to hang on to my past. And simultaneously, I am concerned for him. My heart is breaking for him. I am devastated by what sin does to people and what it can cost them. I so desperately desire for him to experience freedom and to make decisions that will help him prosper, not stumble.

And I'm not even sure why or how I can feel those things for him. How after all I have been put through I can still pick myself up off of the floor just to experience disappointment again. Time and time again I have found myself thinking 'If only I could hate him...' What a flawed way of thinking on my part. I am so blatantly reminded of how human I am. And of my own sin. I should never wish to have a hardened heart. To turn my back on the ones closest to me because that's the easier thing to do. I guess that is precisely why I do not understand the why's or the how's of my heart. Because I should not/cannot take a bit of credit for any good thing that my heart may be experiencing; the Lord is the only One giving me a shred of grace throughout this time.

I have been humbled to learn and re-learn and then re-learn AGAIN that I am not key to his salvation. To anyone's salvation. Any control I had at any point in time was merely perceived control. This is God's battle now. Actually, it always was and has been and will be. And while I am really trying to rest in that and trust Him with the road that lies ahead, it is so easy to feel discouraged. To wonder if all of my love has been in vain. To be slapped in the face with the possibility that I may never speak to or see one of my best friends again. It feels almost impossible to know how to put the pieces back together. Which one to start with? And how?

I pray that I did not speak out of turn yesterday. That I have not somehow made a bad situation worse. I was too upset at the time to really convey all of my feelings. And typing about it now feels all too risky, but on those occasions where I come to the end of myself, somehow the opinions of others just don't hold the same significance that they might on any other day.

There is a good chance the one I speak of will read this. And if/when he does, I hope he at least knows that I care about him. I'm worried about him and it is so endlessly difficult to feel like I cannot help him. And that my heart is broken all over again, but that I plead with the Father to direct his steps and to give him a discerning heart. That even if I have no significance to him or a role in his life, I am truly desperate for him to experience what freedom is. Because life is too short to live ensnared in something horrible. And that I never, ever want him to give up. That there is help available to him out there, and I hope he will take it. And that when I gave him a hug, I meant it.


As for myself, I have some very tough weeks and months ahead of me. I have already gone to a job interview with swollen eyes and a deflated self-worth. He is just a few miles away from me and there are reminders of him everywhere I turn. The mere thought of continuing to experience the kind of pain I have dealt with for months is scary and over-whelming and devastating. I covet the prayers of those who read this.

23

Well guys, I am another year older. Have I aged?

Happy Birthday to Tory!

She's just one day older than me! And I miss her. But I will be seeing her in just over a week, how crazy is that?



Now I have a story. It doesn't have anything to do with Tory, but I think it is worth telling.

Yesterday at work, Murad answered a phone call that came in. I wasn't really paying attention, but after a minute he was like 'Becca, it's for you.' I was pretty skeptical at first. I figured that either there was no on on the other end or it was going to be our boss or something and he just wanted to play a joke on me. No one has ever called me at work before. But, he kept a straight face and said 'No really, it's for you!'

So I picked it up.
Me: Hello?
Voice on the other end: Hi, you rang me up earlier when I came through I think.
*I get a sense of dread in my stomach, wondering what she must be calling to complain about.*
Me: Oh, ok...
Her: Do you see a guy in scrubs sitting in the cafe?
*Still not convinced I am not talking to a co-worker just trying to play a joke, I kind of laugh.*
Me: Um, well...
Her: He's in there. He has sunglasses hanging on the collar of his shirt.
*I suddenly see the man she speaks of, kind of getting creeped out MYSELF that she is talking about him, wondering if I am getting roped into some kind of assassination plan.*
Me: Oh, yeah. I see him now.
Her: Do you know if he is single?
*Seriously? SERIOUSLY? You are calling your barista to dish GOSSIP on someone?*
Me, getting more and more amused by this: haha, No, I really do not know.
Her: I was in there earlier, and I see him a lot, but I just didn't have the guts to go up and talk to him!
Me: Oh, yeah...
Her: And he doesn't wear a ring or anything, but in his line of work that doesn't mean a thing!
Me: Yeah, true...
Her: So you don't know if he comes in there with anyone ever?
*Unable to even recognize the guy, let alone keep tabs on his hypothetical main squeeze, I am at a loss for words.'
Me: No, I don't really know him. At all.
Her: Oh, ok...well, how old do you think he is?
*HAHA*
Me: Oh, wow, um...I don't know, 20's or 30's maybe? I only have a side profile view of his face.
Her: Yeah, he seems pretty young!
Me: Yeah...
Her: Well, your mission, if you choose to accept it...
*oh crap*
...is to find out more information about him!
Me: hahaha
Her: I am in there all the time and I know you work quite a bit.
Me: haha Ok, well I don't know but if I am able to find anything out I will let you know.
Her: Ok, thank you!
Me: Sure, bye.

hahahah. It felt sort of inappropriate, but funny and almost a little sweet at the same time. She must have a maaaajor crush if she was willing to call Starbucks, ask for the girl at the register who apparently looks like she might know all of the juicy details, and ask the questions she needs answers to. If the guy's not married, I kind of hope they get together because it would be kind of lovely.

And then Starbucks would give me a raise for being the best Barista/customer service agent/MATCHMAKER they ever had.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

A - Autumn. My favorite season.
B - Birthday. Soon. VERY soon.
C - Cavities. I am worried I have a bunch. But won't know til I go to the...
D - Dentist. Need to find one.
E - Eggnog. 'Contains eggs' (found on the allergen warnings at Starbucks).
F - Friends. Two of the best are coming to town on Thursday/Friday!
G - Gabe. Might as well be my baby.
H - Halloween. Also soon. VERY soon. What are you being?
I - Interview. I have one guys.
J - Juno. Has a nice soundtrack playing right now.
K - Kansas. I've lived here for 9 months now. Wow!
L - Lethargic. Look it up in the dictionary and you'll see my picture there.
M - 'Mater'. The name of the towtruck from the movie 'Cars'. I just found that out today. It's not 'Mader'. It's Mater. Does anyone have an explanation for this? Or find it funny like I did?
N - Nighttime. Comes so early these days.
O - Old. That's me.
P - Pointless. This blog?
Q - Quickly. That's how the past couple months have passed.
R - Red. My favorite color.
S - Sisters. Wish mine were here.
T - Tragedy. I have been particularly heartbroken by several stories making headlines these days. We live in a broken, broken world.
U - Um. I am having the worst time coming up with one for U.
V - Vug. A cavity in rock, lined with mineral crystals. (V is also for vocab skillz).
W - Water. I should drink more of it. Story of my life.
X - Does 'X' mean hugs? Or kisses?
Y - You...are almost done if you've read this far.
Z - ZZZZZZZ I'm goin' to sleep!

My-notony

It's weird how long things can go on somewhat monotonously.

And then suddenly one day you find yourself faced with a bunch of big decisions and potential changes.

Things could go right back to being monotonous.
But they might not.
And actually. Even if the current potential changes don't pan out as they might, I'm not sure I am willing to go back to monotony.

It's kind of liberating.
Definitely scary.
Hopeful.
I've felt sort of nauseous all day. In a good way?

Have I used 'monotonous' enough times in these few short sentences, as well as different variations of it? How monotonous of me.

That's all I'm willing to say for now.

PS: I like rain.

Buenas Bonjours

Yesterday, I had several customers greet me in different languages at the cash register. At least, that's what I could assume they were doing, as I do not understand that many languages.

Maybe Johnson County is becoming more culturally diverse, you say?
Doubtful.
Maybe coincidence?
Unlikely.
Maybe someone had, without my knowledge, posted a 'trivia question' on the board behind me asking customers if they could say 'Good morning/afternoon to us in a different language?'?
Yes, I think that might have happened.

Customers: Sorry for staring blankly at you and not cracking so much as a smile.
Starbucks: I'm over you.

Love, Becca

Dear Weather,
Thank you for being cold.
I love how grey you make the sky.
My long sleeved shirts and sweaters are over-joyed to be worn again.
My heart feels lighter now that it is not being strangled by the summer heat.
You rule.

love,
becca
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Eyelashes,
Thank you for growing back.
I'm so happy to see you again.
Sorry for killing you a few months ago.
I wasn't the same without you.
Please never leave again.

love,
becca
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Neighbors,
Please get a clue.
Your dogs are miserable.
Don't chain them up.
All you have to do is build a partial fence for your whole yard to be enclosed.
They are obnoxious barkers. That's because they are unhappy. Especially in the pouring rain.
I wrote down your address.
Not so I can send you this letter, but so I can send the authorities to your door if this continues.

love,
becca
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear God,
Please help me sort my life out.
Kthx.
You rule too.

love,
becca

What do You Think?

So I was just at lunch with this beaut and told her about a question I recently asked Cha Cha. With the impending election growing closer every day, it has gotten me thinking about prejudice that existed in the long ago past, the very recent past, and still today.

I don't know that I can say prejudice of one kind or another will make or break the election, but I am confident it WILL be a contributing factor to how people vote. So I would like to know what you think exists more prevalently today: racism or sexism? And why?

Time For a Vent

I am generally a pretty pleasant, easy-going person. But sometimes, there comes an hour where I just have to state some things to prevent a Becca explosion.

I can't stand salespeople. Sure, it's their job to sell things and they are only doing what someone who pays them told them to do. But still. Let me elaborate.

Now. I know it's bad tact to write about work in a blog. I know it could get me in trouble. Or even possibly fired. But when you don't even like your job that much and need a new one anyway, I say that rants about work are fair blog fodder.

At my place of employment, I am sometimes asked to do what we refer to as 'suggestive selling'. This can be described as employees 'suggesting' that a customer may want a little 'something' to go with their coffee, latte, iced grande whatever. Let me first make something clear. I hate suggestive selling. I HATE IT.

For starters, I don't like the fact that suggestive selling does not serve a genuinely heartfelt question. For example: 'Would you like a pumpkin scone to go with your coffee today?' You know in your heart that the guy you are asking does not want a scone. He never does. He drinks his coffee black and bland and bold. So really, do you think he is going to suddenly want a sugary, preservative-filled, empty calorie seasonal sensation? Of course not. And furthermore, did the customer not have ample amounts of time while in line to examine the pastries available and decide for his or her self if he/she truly wants something to eat? Cut the crap. If you ever hear suggestive selling coming out of my mouth, it's a sure bet that my boss is there too, holding a gun to the back of my head.

On to story two. Today, I was at the mall. By myself, but on a mission to get some clothes. Upon leaving Forever 21, I was basically attacked by a woman working at one of those damn kiosks you see throughout the mall. 'HELLO sweetie, COME sit down! Come now.' Sweetie? Do I know you? Sit down? Do I have a choice? I, taken off guard and not smart enough to get the H out of there immediately, scuffled over to the stool at her stand and took a seat. Only then did I even see what she was trying to sell. Hair straighteners. She then pulls out a straightener to do a demonstration. I happen to be wearing my hair wavy today. Little does she know, my hair is NATURALLY straight. I braid it to make it wavy. So 1. it's not like I lament the fact that I have waves in my hair and 2. I did not want her fugly straightener on my hair. She brings it near my hair and I am just like 'you are going to STRAIGHTEN it?' and she assures me 'I will fix it after!' So she straightens a section. Wow. Amazing. My hair is straight in that spot. Just like it naturally ALWAYS is.

She starts in on another section 'NO MORE.' I told her. She got kind of offended because she stopped being all suck up to me. She then put RINGLETS in the section she messed up. I would just like to state that RINGLETS are not the same as WAVES. SEE?


Ringlets


Waves

On the upside, I DID get some fantastic clothes.

Thank you for your time.

Kin

On Friday night, my whole family got to have dinner together.

I guess I should specify - my whole immediate family. That's Dad, Mom, Jeremy/Ashley/Micah/Tyler, Annie, Sarah, and myself.

Big deal? Yes.

Need context?

For a while, I lived in Montrose with Dad, Mom, Annie, and Sarah while Jeremy moved away to Greeley. Then, Annie moved to Seattle. Then Dad, Mom, Sarah, and I moved to Kansas City. Then I moved back to Montrose. Then I moved to Greeley. Then Jeremy and Ashley moved to Portland. Then they moved to Kansas City. Then Sarah moved to Liberty. Then Annie left Seattle and didn't have a place to call home at all. Then I moved to Texas. Then Annie moved to Nashville. Then I moved back here. And that is just the summary, really.

And Annie is not sure how long she will live in Nashville. And I am not sure how long I will live here. And Sarah doesn't know where she will be going after nursing school, but there is a good chance it won't even be in this country.

So. Having dinner with my whole family is rather special. I'm always amazed and even baffled by entire families that live in one place. The concept of it makes sense. But right now might be the closest my family will ever come to achieving that. So I'll take it while I can have it.

I love my family.

Arbitrary

It is finally my favorite season. And almost my favorite month. Tomorrow.

When I took Gabe for his walk this morning, I noticed that it was actually chilly outside. And it made me glad.

Or sitting at a stoplight the other day, I looked up and was surprised to see that the trees lining the road ahead on either side were mostly gold.

Little stuff like that warms me inside.

I also got to help be in charge of decorating the store with a 'harvest' theme last night. We had a budget of thirty dollars - we spent one hundred and eight dollars. Um...budget fail? But we had like two things we ended up being able to return. Plus we justified it, thinking that most of the stuff could be re-used in future years. And it IS the third biggest Starbucks in the country. Shouldn't we have a budget to match?

Ever have one of those days where you just never get yourself together? Like, still wearing pajamas well past lunch, wearing your hair in the pony tail you slept with, contemplating errands you could run but instead choosing to ignore them and checking your Facebook periodically and hanging out with your dog because you're not really fit to be around people at the moment...anyone?

wow, that ended up being a little more revealing than it possibly should have been. But I, like anyone else, have my reasons for condoning such a day.

A heart that's full up like a landfill,
a job that slowly kills you,
bruises that won't heal.
thank you, radiohead.

A Young Jedi

Happy Friday!

This Post Does Not Flow Well

The lodge we stayed at in Whistler was sooo nice. I think the final number of us staying there was 26. Even with so many people, it never felt crowded. Each room had its own bathroom, too! It was definitely a classy house, within walking distance of the village. Here is what it looked like outside and in...






Not bad, hmm?

I feel like this trip was forever ago already. And it's been what, two weeks? How does that happen? And also, how is it almost October? And continuing on that note, how can it still be 80 degrees outside? FOR YOUR INFORMATION: I am thankful that it's not as humid as it was this summer. It has been much much better lately. And I appreciate it. I just want to know when my long sleeved shirts can return to society. And my drawer full of scarves. I've never lived here during this season, so I don't really know what to expect.

On a slight-tangent-yet-still-on-the-same-topic, I am baffled by how different my life is currently than how it was just a year ago. Just read back to last September's blogs if you need proof. What I am slightly discouraged about is that last year at this time, I felt lost...and now, this year, I still feel lost. In a much more hopeful manner. But lost, nonetheless. Some people seem to have such clear direction and ambition in their lives. I'll be honest, I'm a little jealous of those people.

But I discovered a dog that is on various TV shows/ads that looks SO MUCH LIKE GABE! So I think I should contact the trainer and see if she thinks Kuma needs a body double, and then Gabe and I can just go tag along on all of their endeavors. Does he not look like he could be Gabe's brother???