15 posts tagged “thanks”

*Sigh* I wish I could say I'm feeling a little bummed that this month of daily blogging is coming to a close with this final post...

But I'm actually incredibly relieved. It was quite difficult. And yes, I feel successful, and I feel mildly enlightened, and inspired to strive toward this daily habit more long-term. But I gotta admit it wasn't as mind-blowing or epiphanic as I had hoped or expected it would be. 'Twas fun, nevertheless. And yes, epiphanic is totally a word! I was really excited to discover that...but I would've used it even if it wasn't.

So here I am, at the tail end of this month-long journaling journey. And, appropriately, it's also the last day of 2008. It was a great year, overall. And I'm glad I will have a good chunk more documentation of this year (though the majority of it has been toward the end, but I did write more regularly this year than in years past). And I'm really, really glad that I've gotten to spend the second half of this year with Joe, and that we are embarking on the new year together and happy as can be. Yes, I'm smitten. And I'm really looking forward to what 2009 will bring. All the surprises, memories to be made, lessons to learn, trials, time shared with friends and loved ones, successes and failures...all of it. It's going to be a good year. And I have a sneaking suspicion that 2010 will start off EVEN BETTER. *sneaky grin* Oh yeah...life is good.

Anyway, in the more immediate future...I just talked to Ashton, who's home from Texas for a few weeks, and found out she was gonna surprise me tonight and show up with her boyfriend Robert and take Joe and me out to Montana's! But Robert had to go and get all sick, so they're taking it easy in the desert, which I totally understand. Major bummer, though, since I only got to see her for one night during this WHOLE time she's been home! Buuuuut that's life, and we'll make it. That's the true test of best-friend-dom, right? Or something. :-P

In the slightly later immediate future, I get to hang out with Megan this weekend! Yessssss...you don't even know how excited I am. I think we'll go out Friday night, dance a little, laugh a lot, and then Saturday we are going to do what girls do best (when they don't have money to blow on shopping or spa days): totally veg out! Of course, we have to get pedicures at some point that day, but I'm all over the idea of just lounging around my house (which she hasn't seen yet!) and watching chick flicks (which I'm sorely in need of doing, since Joe won't watch them with me...lol), and maybe make some cookies or just eat lots of Ben & Jerry's and talk about girly stuff like boys and dresses and rings and...er...I mean...what? Boys. Just boys. Hehe. So that should be fun. I'll let you know how it goes...if I feel like it, since I'm not gonna be obligated to post every single day anymore! Wooooooot!

Aiight...I'm done. Happy New Year, everyone, and thanks for joining me on this 31-day adventure. Stick around, cuz I'm sure there will be plenty more musings to come, only possibly more sporadic and probably more ridiculous, weird, funny, or just plain silly.

Over the last week or so, I think both Joe and I have come to recognize a sort of trend that occurs when I get together with my family: I get weird. No, seriously...I just turn into a big goofball (when it's a relaxed, fun environment, that is...not so much when it's strained or tense, of course). Spending Christmas Eve with my family, Joe's patience with my silly, totally un-sophisticated side was definitely tested. Fortunately, he's pretty weird too, and I think he might've previously thought that he was a LOT weirder than me...until this last week in seeing me interact with family. I guess this particular week has been a real treat for me, getting a nice chunk of days off of work and being all proper and cool, and just being able to loosen up and use up some energy and weirdness I had apparently been hanging onto for awhile. I mean, nothing extreme really...I was just a bit kookier around my family that day. And then again, tonight, we got to hang out with my cousin Sarah and her husband, and the goof in me came out all over again. Sarah and I have always been that way. We have our ongoing, totally ridiculous anecdotes and inside jokes that don't make much sense or just don't seem that funny to anyone else, but we still crack up at the thought of them. Do you have any friends or family like that? I just love it. I love being around people who make it easy to be "me" around them, whether "me" in that moment is a goofball, a hopeless romantic, a person with a specific passion or hobby, or whatever. I mean, I'm generally pretty comfortable with myself, and have in recent years learned (slowly but surely) that I can be confident in who I am, in most any situation, and not try to alter or change myself into something not quite genuinely "me." But as I'm becoming a part of a new family with much different personalities, tastes, upbringings, etc., I do find myself, on occasion, feeling a little out of place, or unlearned, or simply nervous and a tad uncomfortable in a new and less familiar environment. Don't get me wrong, I am absolutely loving spending time with Joe's family, getting to know them, and I do feel very welcomed and at home around them. But there is also something to be said about spending time around my own family, my blood, that is soothing...freeing...invigorating. I am just all-around blessed with great people in my life, both related and maybe-someday-soon-to-be related. :-) I think the greatest discovery I've made recently is that with Joe, I feel very nearly just as comfortable and at ease as I do with my flesh-and-blood family. I can be that weird, goofy girl that my family knows so well, around Joe, and he still loves me. He gets me. It's awesome. And somewhat terrifying. Terrifying, because I know that being completely comfortable with people, to the extent that I am with my family, means I am also capable of being quite insensitive and thoughtless toward them as well. It's a sad confession, but an honest one. I can go from being at my very best to my absolute worst, in a matter of an hour or even a minute when I'm around my loved ones. I guess it's because "home" is the place where you get to unwind, to destress from the busy, hustle-and-bustle, people-pleasing daily life that goes on outside, and it's also where you're able to (if you're lucky) be 100% yourself -- for better or for worse -- because you know you will always be loved and accepted by these people. So, I have never really feared losing my family's love if I should ever be in a snappy mood some day, or make a rude comment in passing, or anything like that. They know me, and they understand my many moods...but it's all too easy to take that unconditional love for granted and just get downright  mean sometimes. I can't tell you how awful I still feel when I think back on times when I told my mom that I hated her, or yelled at my little sister or brother just because I was upset about something that had nothing to do with them at all. Anyway, all this to say, I worry from time to time that my being so comfortable with Joe will lead to one of these insensitive comments, or displaced anger, or just a foul mood turning into an unnecessary fight. So yes...a little terrifying. But hey, how great is God's timing? We're about to start a class all about learning to deal with this kind of stuff together, and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm scared as heck, just because of my semi-former (meaning, I'm still working on it) tendency to run at the first sign of significant conflict or the first roadblock that seems, at first glance, insurmountable. And I honestly don't doubt that we will encounter at least one issue like this during these classes, because I think that's kind of the whole point. They want to open up discussion about things that we might never have thought about without the guidance of older married couples who have been through it all, and they want to help us address it now, so that we can potentially start a marriage together with a much stronger foundation and a better understanding of each other. Yay! And also...eek! If you feel like it, pray for us these next 12 weeks! (Thanks!) It's going to be interesting. And wonderful. And painful, stressful, emotional, exciting, exhausting...you get the idea. It'll be intense.

Ahhhhh...that felt good. And there you have it. A REAL stinkin' update of sorts. And it's 30 down, ONE TO GO for this December post-a-day challenge. I knew I could do it. (Not really...I actually honestly thought I'd fail within the first two weeks. So, go me!)

Five years ago on this day, I did a year-in-review-type survey on my livejournal. Some of it is pretty funny stuff, some I barely even remember. Anyway, I thought it'd be fun to do the same survey for 2008 and kinda compare answers. Feel free to check out the original 2003 survey first, if you're so inclined. Oh, and just to help you get your bearings, 2003 was my senior year of high school and first semester freshman year of college. Okay...here goes nothin'!

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Bought a car! (Unless you count my first car, which was given to me but technically, for the signing-over process, I paid $1 for...)

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't think I really made any specific resolutions this year...but I certainly intended to try to commit to maybe possibly reading my Bible more than once a millennium. And I sucked at it. Next year...I think my "resolution" will be something along the lines of pursuing knowledge more actively. Whether that's in the form of taking adult ed classes at SBCC or actually applying for a grad program of some sort, or even just kind of assigning myself new things to learn about and research...I dunno. I just know I want to keep learning and expanding my horizons and opportunities.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yeah a bunch of people. --> I'm keeping the same answer as 2003!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
I think Dick E. from APC was the only one I knew who passed away this year, but we weren't especially close. He was a very nice, genine man.

5. What countries did you visit?
Romania.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Hmm...how about a pony? Just kidding...I dunno, I don't really feel lacking in anything right now. I'm blessed!

7. What dates/events from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory?
Jan. 5 - Kim's wedding
Jan. 25 - Garth Brooks concert with Ashton
Feb. 14 - Felicity was born! (my cousin's beautiful baby)
March-ish - Lots of ups and downs (more downs) with my two best friends
May - Met Joe, had our first dates, Scottish festival, personal training at 24 Hour kicked my butt...it was an intense month!
June 15 - Joe "officially" became my boyfriend
June 19/20 - Joe said he loved me
June 28 - In Romania, realizing/deciding I loved Joe, too
Aug. - Moving to Santa Barbara, starting a new job
Oct. - Started running with Joe
Nov. 13 - Tea Fire began, our house was in danger of being destroyed
Nov. 23 - Jessica's wedding
Nov. 27 - Thanksgiving at Joe's parents' - delightful!
Nov. 30 - "Moved" back into the house, after it withstood the fire and only incurred minor damages - PTL
Dec. 13 - Dickens Fair -- SO fun! Really, that whole weekend was memorable; San Fran and Monterey fun with Joe

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I guess it was pretty great getting my new/current job, since it pays so well and all.

9. What was your biggest failure?
More of a sequence of little failures that led up to losing my friendship with Erin.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes and yes. The worst was coming home from Romania and getting a nasty virus that lasted like two months. Bleh!

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My car, Henry. Such a steal, and a great car! I think I love Hondas.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Ashton's! (Well, after we both totally sucked at being good friends, that is, when we got a clue and made up.)

12b. Definitely worth taking a gander at:
Joseph, love of my life. :-)

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Hmm...I don't think anyone (except maybe me) did anything both appalling and depressing this year...

14. Where did most of your money go?
Debt/loan payoff and bills.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Romania, Dickens, Joe, Santa Barbara.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Much, much happier.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Reading. --> Keeping my answer from 2003!

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With my family one day, and Joe's the next!

21. How will you be spending New Year's?
With Joe's family, maybe finding something else to do, too.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Yep.

23. How many one night stands?
Zero.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Chuck, Heroes, The Office, Biggest Loser. All on Hulu.com!

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't hate anyone.

26. What was the best book you read?
I don't remember if I read P.S. I Love You in late '07 or in '08, but it was really good. That, or Dickens.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I guess I've kinda gotten into a couple new genres thanks to Joe -- swing and Irish/Scottish/Celtic music. Good stuff!

28. What did you want and get?
My own car.

29. What did you want and not get?
Hrm...well, there's something I want that I'm patiently waiting for... :-P

30. What was your favorite movie of this year?
I really liked Iron Man and The Dark Knight.

31. What did you do on your birthday?
I honestly can't remember...maybe I went home for the weekend?

32. What would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Probably just NOT getting involved with a couple of people early in the year who influenced me poorly and kinda sparked the whole chain of events leading to the end of my friendship with Erin.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Gradually improving?

34. What kept you sane?
Am I? --> Haha, keeping my answer from 2003.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I think I'll have to say Chuck Bartowski...lol.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Meh. Politics confuse me.

37. Who did you miss?
Kim, Rachel and Erin.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Joe and a bunch of his friends from up here (Josh & Margie, Justin, Chris & Ronee), Leah, Erin from work. Good people. :-)

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (Seriously, most valuable lesson ever!)

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Suddenly I see: this is what I wanna be!" -KT Tunstall

So, I only worked four days this week, because I went to Disneyland. And yet, it has felt like THE longest week EVER. Probably because Monday I was running around like a crazy person getting the potluck together, and Tuesday, while not at work, I used up a LOT of energy and then had to come back to work for THREE MORE DAYS. Yeah. I think that's it. So anyway, I'm glad it's Friday. Dear sweet Lord Almighty, THANKS for letting it be Friday at last! Phew.

Now it's time for some more busyness, in the form of fondue and the Muppet Christmas Carol tonight, then worship team practice tomorrow, church and singing in worship team on Sunday, and TWO MORE DAYS of work before some much needed time off...during which I'm sure I won't actually be very restful but will, in fact, do tons of fun and exciting and non-relaxing things. Like FINALLY see Ashton! Yessss.

Anyway, I'm excited about singing on the worship team this weekend. It feels like it's been a really long time since I got to do that, and it was probably at least six months ago, back at APC. I've definitely missed being able to help lead people into worship, and just having the opportunity to practice my musical gifts with other great musicians. Should be a good time...and Joe's playing bass, too! Woot.

Hmm...Megan wanted me to post something about Christmas lights, but first, I must recognize a very special event that I neglected to mention yesterday:

Bwaaahhhh I'm so cold I can't think straight. Or maybe that's all the mucus in my head making me so slow today. Well, the good news is, I got out of my house early enough to make it to work HALF AN HOUR early, so I can leave at 4:45! Woot. Plus, the population here at work is starting to dwindle down to a ghost town, cuz everyone ELSE gets to go on vacation this time of year. I'm pretty much convinced that next week I'll be the only person here. And I'm okay with that. :-)

Feeling sick and run down makes me cranky. And so does PMS... And right now I think I'm two for two. Oh, and this morning started off just swimmingly, too, as I was almost crushed to death by a massive semi-truck that swerved far into my lane while I was already in the leftmost lane and right next to the center divider and couldn't really go anywhere. I slammed my breaks and cussed out loud, but didn't manage to honk at him like I would've done if I wasn't freaking out so much. Anyway, he swerved back in the other direction and then switched to the right another lane, and I sped past him as fast as I could so I wouldn't be stuck behind him if he decided to doze off again. It was scary. And not fun. And exactly the reason why I HATE when semis drive in the second lane going around a sharp turn when the center divider is barely a foot from the start of the leftmost lane. I feel like I get stuck between a semi and the divider EVERY time I go around that one specific curve in the road, and it always freaks me out, but today was the first time I really felt like I was nanoseconds from death. Gah.

In other news, I was greeted at my desk this morning by a couple of Christmas cards from co-workers, and a giant Hershey's kiss! From the facilities guy, of all people. Awkward? lol... Thanks, Eric the Facilities Guy!

Well...I better get back to work. I mean, what with half my department being gone on vacation, it could get really busy in here and 37 people might need to travel. Ha...oh boy, it's gonna be a looooong day.

Bah, humbug. I should've seen it coming, but alas, I woke up this morning surprised by how totally blah I felt. Granted, I didn't get enough sleep last night, but I definitely feel like I'm getting sick. My throat is dry and scratchy, my head's all cloudy, and I just can't focus on anything. I think it's time for some Zycam and resting up this week, because this weekend is gonna be just as busy as last, and then it's Christmas and New Year's! And then it'll be 2009 -- eek!

Anyway, thanks to all this rain, I feel gloomy, too. Like I just would love to curl up in bed all day watching Gilmore Girls and eating cookie dough. Or snuggle up on the couch with Joe, sipping hot chocolate and playing Boom Blox on the Wii. Instead, I have to work another FOUR DAYS after today, before I get my vacation time. And then it's right back to work on January 2nd. So yeah...gloomy and kinda missing my "break" this time of year back in the days of final exams and Donut Man runs. I remember my freshman year, our winter break was actually FOUR WEEKS LONG! Oh how I would've cherished those weeks back then, had I known how lucky I was to have them.

In other news, I have GOT to regain control of my life right now. Mostly the disaster zone that is my bedroom. So tonight I'm going home after work, cleaning up and wrapping as many presents as I can before I head back down to Joe's to hang with our friends Jeff and Leah. It's kind of frustrating that my room gets so messy so quickly, but I really think it's because I don't spend enough time at home to keep after it. Instead I'm always rushing in and out, packing for this day trip or that weekend trip, throwing crap all over the place to find OTHER crap, and never having time to pause and think, "Gee, if I had ten more minutes to do this, I could put stuff away while I'm figuring out what I actually need." Alas...I guess I just need to learn to be more disciplined in spite of my busyness. Cuz let's face it...my life isn't gonna get any LESS busy anytime soon. I mean, after the next two weekends, Joe and I won't be in Santa Barbara on ANY Sundays for three months. And chances are, more often than not, we won't be here much the rest of those weekends, either. And here I am about to start considering maybe possibly thinking about looking into going back to school, too. Maybe. I must be crazy.

Last but not least...a haiku about something I know ALL of you reading this were just dying to know about me today:

Artichokes: Today we had our department meeting and potluck at work, and it went really well! It was the first big(ish) event I've ever had to organize kind of on my own. I was a little nervous that, like, NO ONE would sign up to bring anything, or no one would show up at all, or a million other ridiculous scenarios that flooded my brain all last week. But we had like 3/4 of our whole department show up (which is a really good turnout), and sooooo much freaking food, we could've invited a whole other department to join us. It was a very enjoyable time, and my crockpot artichoke dip turned out really good! I hadn't done it in the crockpot yet...well, for that matter, I hadn't EVER made ANYTHING in the crockpot. But it's pretty foolproof if you ask me, which is my kinda cooking! :-) I'm thinking of playing around with the recipe to see how I can improve it...maybe I'll do it for my family at Christmas! Anyway, I'm glad the potluck went well, and now we've got tons of leftovers I have to try to get rid of by the end of the day. Anyone for some crawfish etoufee?

Amore: Today is a good day, not only because of the potluck, but also (and especially) because it's my 6-month-iversary of dating Joe! (Yes, we "officially" became boyfriend and girlfriend on Father's Day...just a month after meeting each other on Mother's Day.) I must admit I'm partially giddy just because of the sheer accomplishment of making it to six months, since all of my past relationships have been shorter. But mostly I'm deliriously giddy because I've been able to spend the last HALF A YEAR dating, getting to know, and falling more and more in love with an absolutely incredible guy. Oh, and he loves me too. That's a bonus...hehe. So anyway, I've been smiling all day, and I'm so looking forward to the next six months...six years...six decades with Joe. I make no guarantees about how I'll feel after six decades, though. *wink* So I think tonight we'll head down to LA (we're staying with his parents tonight -- see "Anticipation" for reason) and try to get there early enough to treat ourselves to a nice dinner at Olive Garden, since we both have gift cards to use. (Thanks to Mom and American Express for those!)

Anticipation: The reason we're going down to LA tonight is because TOMORROW...we're going to Disneyland! I'm super excited, even though it's probably going to rain, because not ONLY will I get to go to D-land and have fun with Joe and his family, but I ALSO get to see my long lost bestest friend Ashton! She's in California for a few weeks and we weren't gonna see each other until next week when I'm in the desert, but we found out we're both going to be at Disneyland tomorrow, so that was an exciting surprise. I'm definitely looking forward to that, since I haven't seen her since like...July! And what better place to meet up than Disneyland, right? Saaaah-weeeeet! ("What does MINE say??")

That's all for now.

Ack, Ben! You're 15 today. Hooooooolllllly cow. I can't believe it. Pretty soon you'll be 25, and I'll be an old fart like Mom and Dad. Hehe! I'm so funny.

Charles Dickens! Joe and I are about to head up north to the Dickens Fair, and during the 5 hour drive I plan to finish reading A Christmas Carol, AND make a significant dent in Oliver Twist. Think I can do it?

Anyway, just wanted to make a quick morning post in case the day is too busy to do one later. Gotta stick to a post-a-day, right? Woot! Thanks for sticking with me, Wilbur. Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend.

I don't know why I suddenly felt like quizzing myself, but I did. And here it is. Feel free to post your own responses if you feel so inclined! I'm always interested to learn more about my friends and fellow bloggers.

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True or False: You've reused (or WOULD reuse) gift bags and/or wrapping paper for future gifts.

Personally, I see no problem with reusing gift bags, or even wrapping paper, assuming they are in good shape and it won't be totally OBVIOUS that you're a cheapskate who didn't buy their own wrapping materials. And anyway, it's like saying, "Thanks so much for the great gift you put inside this bag! I think I'll share the chain of giving by using the same bag to give something to someone else!" (Okay, that was totally cheesy...I just needed a way to use "thanks" in this one...)

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When are you officially "okay" with hearing Christmas music: After Halloween, after Thanksgiving, not until a week before Christmas, or any time of year?

Officially, I'm okay with it after Thanksgiving. But I don't get my panties in a twist if I hear it after Halloween. Honestly, I sometimes wish I had Christmas music on in the summertime...I think it's more a matter of how OFTEN you're hearing it; that's when it can get to be annoying. Like, if I worked in a department store at this time of year, I'd probably hate Christmas music forever.

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If you had to live without one basic condiment for the rest of your life, what would it be? (We'll say that "basic" condiments are ketchup, mustard, mayo, barbeque sauce, and ranch...just to keep it simple.)

Well, in a perfect world, I'd be able to eat mustard (which I only recently discovered I'm allergic to), and therefore I would probably eliminate ketchup. A year ago I would've said mayo, but then I couldn't have it with my artichokes, which is unacceptable. So anyway, I guess now I'll say mustard, since I'm not really supposed to have it anyway. And let me tell you...my $5 foot-long Spicy Italian Subway sandwiches just aren't the same without it.

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What is the strongest personality trait you think you got from each of your parents?

Well, I think I have my dad's quick temper (mainly when it comes to road rage, lol), and my mom's empathy, but more so than those two things, I feel like I get my extroverted side from Dad, and my introverted side from Mom. I'm definitely more in- than ex-, and some would argue you can only be one, but I (to some extent) disagree. Both my parents are good in social settings, but I think Dad really flourishes in more public situations, and Mom is better in smaller, close-knit groups. And (I think) my mom definitely refuels by having time to herself, which is how I am, too. As much as I love being around people, hanging out, socializing, laughing, and all that stuff...it's getting by myself, spending time doing nothing or doing solitary things, that allows me to recharge and be ready for MORE hanging out. I don't know for sure whether my dad is an alone-refueler or a group-refueler...hmm...I'll have to ponder that one.

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Do you ever laugh out loud (not to be confused with "lol") in awkward or inappropriate places/situations?

Umm, yes. It's like, a RULE in my life, that on any given day, I will burst into laughter when everything around me is totally silent, somber, serious or otherwise not a light or laughter-friendly situation. It's especially embarrassing when I'm sitting at my desk at work and Joe send me something funny to read or look at, and I just explode. I mean, it's not like I can go around and show everyone what was so funny...cuz I'm at work. Working. Duh. Oh, but even worse than that...I remember SO many times in school where we'd be taking a test or hearing a lecture or something, and I could just be thinking about something someone said three DAYS ago and find it so funny (again...or sometimes for the first time...I am blonde, after all) that I start giggling uncontrollably in the previously dead-silent classroom. I've been asked to step outside on more than one occasion.

***

I think that'll do for now. And since I haven't done it in a while, I'll leave you with a haiku.