Sarah's Ever-Predictable Blog

A Quickie

2011-12-23T19:05:00.000-08:00

This morning me and Curtis started packing for our trip to Texas for the holidays. After a couple of hours, this is what my suitcase looked like:

And this is what Curtis's looked like:

For a four day trip, I'm honestly not sure which is more ridiculous.

Finals

2011-12-15T13:03:00.000-08:00

Well, apparently this is all I do anymore. I just blog a brief summary of my life every time a school semester ends. No reason to be creative or anything.

But well... better than nothing I guess. This school semester was fun. Though not as fun as the one before. Things are always more fun when they are new. I also had such a hard time in one of my classes this semester that I do believe I'm going to get a B in it. *gasp* The horror!!!!!

My other classes were wonderful. My US history teacher frequently quoted from my essays, (while not identifying me of course... I know what I wrote...). My drawing teacher was, as usual, kind and encouraging, and my Graphic design teacher gave me better grades on my projects than even I felt I deserved. She once told me that I was "easy", which is a good thing, if taken in context. You'll have to take my word on that. You obviously weren't there.

I will now decorate this blog with my final projects from my graphic design and drawing classes. I know I don't post very many pictures these days, but seeing as it's just me and Curtis, you can probably just make up your own pictures of us from memory. (I'll give you a hint, just think of how we looked last time you saw us, and then imagine us a little bit fatter.)

This was my drawing final:

And Graphic Design, the assignment was "Life and Death":

Way too much fun

2011-09-09T20:11:00.000-07:00

Well, I have a lot of homework to do this weekend, so naturally, I spent the last two days doing all kinds of other things.

For one, I've been having a blast using what I've learned in Photoshop so far. By that I mean I've spent the last two days making pictures of hamsters doing all kinds of things.

Enjoy!

Final Countdown

2011-04-28T13:12:00.000-07:00

Well, my first semester at Cameron University is coming to a close. Next week is finals. It's been a good ride, all in all.

Cameron is a pretty cool college. With Art as my major, I found myself stuck with the same students over and again, which suits me just fine-- It's really the only way I ever get to know people. And my teachers were AWESOME. My drawing teacher in particular was very nice and helpful. She's the kind of person that operates on positive feedback, which I thrive under.

My English teacher was also pretty cool. I wasn't sure about him at first, but now I think he's great. Partially because he likes my essays, but also because he's funny in a dorky way that I can relate to. He also likes Zombie movies and books, proving him a man of good tastes.

So I have one busy week ahead of me. I have 4 essays, 2 art projects and 4 tests to finish. But I feel that I have used my time wisely (something which I never managed to do in high school or while I was at DLI) and thus, I will be well prepared for the week ahead.

I just love how anytime I am in an art class my drawing ability improves exponentially. Here is the proof: my last homework and in-class drawings.

Cool huh?

I am excited about the summer. In two weeks and two days I will be flying home to visit my family. In June I will start my summer classes. I will be taking Chemistry, with a lab. It is an unpleasant subject, I'm afraid, but having only one class will give me plenty of time to do it right, and hopefully I will also have some time to do some illustrations for the novel Curtis is writing.

I may draw some at home (is it strange that I still consider PA my home?) Charcoal is my new favorite medium for drawing, so if anyone, meaning mostly my mom or my sister has a photo they want drawn in charcoal, they should ask me when I'm there.

I Can't Blog Right Now.

2011-04-07T15:19:00.001-07:00

Sorry, I just don't have time to blog today. I've got a stupid paper to write, a design project to work on and an Art History test to study for.

And to top it all off, Curtis and I won't be home at all Saturday because we're driving down to Texas to play role-playing games with some friends.

So yeah. No time for blogging.

So I'll just post another drawing and that's all I can do:

I just bought an ATB cd for 10$ that has 40 songs on it, three of which are more than an hour long. Now THAT's value! I didn't even have to listen to it before hand. With 40 different songs by the best DJ on the planet there's bound to be at least a few that I like.

I also got 9 pretty decent shirts at the thrift store the other day for 11$! This has been a good week for good values I guess.

But wait. I'm not supposed to be blogging. I'm supposed to be writing a paper.

Ugh.

Done!

2011-03-31T14:41:00.000-07:00

Spring BREAK? Not really...

2011-03-17T09:35:00.000-07:00

I don't really get how normal college students spend spring break going on vacation and partying. I have way too much homework for that.

So far I've had to write a 5 page essay for American Federal Government, a 7 page essay for English Comp, plus a revision of a previous essay.

I had to paint this stupid thing for Design class:

And now, the last thing I have to do is finish most of my 3rd Pastel Homework drawing for Drawing II.
I know, it seems like I'm almost done right? Just one drawing to go. But no... these drawings can take anywhere from 25-45 hours to finish. So yeah, I'll be working on it all weekend.

In other news, Curtis started on this low carb kick lately, so I was thinking. Maybe I should give the Atkins diet a try, you know, maybe lose 10 pounds before summer.

Well, I've been sticking to it for 4 days now. I have felt next to death the entire time. I'm exhausted, my heart pounds when I do the slightest physical exertion, and my today my muscles started aching. And I'm pretty sure I haven't lost an ounce of fat. Not even water weight. If anything, my muscles have depleted slightly, making my fat look that much flabbier.

And to top it all off, if I have to even look at one more piece of meat today, I'm going to die from excess vomiting.

So in other words, I officially quit, starting now.

Maybe instead I can get myself to do some exercise now that the weather's getting so warm here. Or maybe I can just accept that fact that at age 28, 128lbs may be as thin as I am ever going to be. I clearly don't have the self-control (or the neuroticism) necessary to change that.

The Life and Times of a Sports Fan

2011-03-10T13:00:00.001-08:00

Well, for the first time in my life, I have become a true sports fan. A couple years ago, Curtis introduced me to his favorite hockey team, the Dallas Stars, and I've loved them ever since.

I recognize all the players by number, name, and/or position, and I can watch a game, not only understanding all of the rules, but also able to evaluate the plays and form intelligent opinions about them. It is truly weird.

This Counts as a whole new blog entry

2011-03-10T12:59:00.002-08:00

Being a sports fan is fun and exciting. It means you have something to look forward to two or even three times a week. And there are some truly glorious moments, like when your favorite player breaks his goal-less streak by scoring two goals- one to tie the game with less than a minute left in play, and the second to win it in overtime. Which is the kind of thing that can have you whooping for joy on an ordinary Tuesday night.

This is three Dad, now we're even!!

2011-03-10T12:59:00.001-08:00

And then there's that freak out moment, when you go to a live game, and see the same players you've been watching on tv, and you can't help grinning ear to ear, to realize that they are actually real people.

Four... Sarah takes the lead.

2011-03-10T12:58:00.000-08:00

But, being a fan has some down sides as well. Like the unbearable disappointment when your team seems certain to miss the playoffs three years in a row.

There's the overwhelming temptation to slap down 100$ a ticket for awesome seats, then pay 10$ for parking and 40$ for two cokes and the worst personal pan pizza you've ever tasted.

Not to mention the rage you feel when your team is down, and the bizarre compulsion to punch the faces of the apparently Canadian man, woman and 8 year old boy sitting in the seats behind you, cheering at your misfortune.

Yes, It can be hard to be a sports fan, but I am must say, I am loving every minute of it.

And... five!

2011-03-10T12:48:00.000-08:00

In case anyone is wondering what I am up to. My dad agreed to write a Facebook status for every blog entry that I wrote. It was a terribly unfair deal, I thought, so this was an attempt to even things out. Still, before you call me a cheater, don't underestimate how time-consuming it really is to split one blog entry into five and then post them in backwards order!

More Art

2011-03-02T09:45:00.000-08:00

Our latest homework assignment in Drawing II was to pick a horror movie poster and re-draw it with a few changes that make it your own, including putting yourself and a friend or family member in it. This is what I came up with:

This is what it looks like right now, hanging up at school, next to some of my classmates work.

And this is what I had to do for my Design II class. It is a planar sculpture.

I think it turned out well, but we'll see what my teacher thinks. (No grade just yet.)

Anyways, fun stuff. A lot of work, but fun.

Drawing II Homework

2011-01-29T19:30:00.001-08:00

This was my first art homework. I think it's done, but we'll see what my teacher says on Monday. It is kind of a self-portrait done in pastels. Not the greatest photo, but you get the idea anyway. It was so much fun!

Christmas and More

2011-01-05T11:24:00.000-08:00

Aurora came to visit us this Christmas. She's finally old enough to fly on a plane by herself, so for the first time we were able to have her stay with us in our own house-- which was absolutely wonderful, I thought.

We didn't have a lot of money to spend this year, so we spent a lot of time at the house. Aurora and I did a alot of fun little projects together-- we made beaded necklaces, paintings, and play-dough ornaments for the tree. She seemed to enjoy it a lot, and was always trying to get me to take her back to the "art room" to make some more stuff.

She and I got along very well this year. In the past, our relationship was a bit more complicated. This year, there was none of that. She seemed happy to be with us and happy to accept me as her "fun step mom", which is how I always hoped she would see me. I really liked having her here, and I hope we can get her back for a bit this summer.

This Christmas we also got to go visit Curtis's dad and his Aunt Jackie. They were very nice; they bought us all gifts, and Curtis's dad cooked a Christmas dinner, with an absolutely delicious ham.

Curtis's brother and sister in law were supposed to come as well, but their little baby boy was born premature and had to spend christmas in the hospital, so of course they stayed at home to be with him. (He is doing just fine from what I last heard.)

Now for the new year. I have high hopes for 2011, I think. When we first moved here, I thought I would not be able to go to school immediately because I thought I would not qualify for in-state tuition rates. Then I found out that the local university here participated in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which is where the VA and the school split the extra tuition costs to help out of state students using the GI Bill. While I was in the process of applying for the program, the school approved me for resident tuition rates after all.

So, put simply, I can go to school. I'm starting in just a few days, and I will be studying for a Bachelors Degree in fine arts, with a concentration in graphic design. I have a drawing class this semester, and had to buy all these cool pastel sets, which are very fun to look at, but sort of have me terrified, because I have never been all that good at pastels. Curtis says I will get better, and that's the whole point of going to school, and hopefully he's right.

But yeah, so here I am, happily married, having spent a great Christmas with Curtis's side of the family, looking foward to art school, my tuition fully paid for, and I'm thinking-- could life get any better?

Well yes of course it could-- I could live closer to my family in PA, Curtis and I could have more money and I could make some friends, and maybe we could buy a house, have a baby or at least get a dog. All in good time though, for now, my New Years resolution is to live more in the present, and I have to say, the present is looking pretty darn good.

A Blog about a Happy Birthday

2010-08-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, Curtis and I went to his mom's house for the afternoon. She got the whole family together to go out to eat with us, both to say goodbye and also to celebrate my birthday. Curtis's mom, Vikki, got me a cake and a present and everything- it was so sweet. They were all so kind to me and made me feel like a part of the family. We had a great time, and it was a for me, a very happy birthday.

And the answer is...

2010-08-01T16:26:00.000-07:00

Well, this has been a long time coming. We finally figured out where we're moving- and it's not anywhere we expected. It seems like every time I say I'm moving close to home I end up eating my words. Although we will be getting progressively closer with this move, but still not "close".

But anyways, We're moving to Lawton, Oklahoma.

Curtis just got back from a trip out there for a job interview. He rocked the interview, and was offered a good job that he is very excited about. He will be training Army guys at Fort Sill to do the kind of things he's been doing in the Marines for the last few years.

I'm not sure what I'll be doing. I can't go to school there for at least a year, because it would take that long to establish residency in order to qualify for the in-state tuition rates that the GI Bill covers. I suppose I will get a job, but I certainly have no idea of what that might entail. I'm just gonna wait and see.

Lawton is a small town in southern Oklahoma that is surrounded by even smaller towns. All very rural. I kind of think that will be neat though- it will be a nice change of pace from living in Hawaii and California. Plus, Dallas/Ft Worth is only 3 and half hours away, so if we need a fix of big city culture, we can get it on the weekends.

We will be within driving distance of Curtis's dad and brother, so I will probably get to meet them finally. That will be cool.

Overall, we're just extremely relieved and happy to finally know where we're going, after several long months of uncertainty.

We'll be leaving on September 15th, if all goes according to plan.

Sayonara Facebook

2010-06-28T11:24:00.000-07:00

Well, I decided to ditch facebook. Thing was, I realized it had ceased to be fun for me and instead had become a source of guilt and shame. Guilt because it would take me forever to get back to people who contacted me. Shame, because every now and then I would get a rare extroverted streak and message or comment, only to feel mortified afterwards. (Social Anxiety in action.)

I think a lot of people feel more outgoing online because of the semi-anonymity of it. I never felt that way. I figure, if you embarrass yourself online its worse than if you do it live. In real life people quickly forget your social faux pas, and only the people present have to know that it ever happened, whereas online, your stupidity remains, available to the public for all eternity.

So that's that. What's done is done. If anyone wants to keep in touch with me it will have to be through blogging or email, or preferably, when at all possible, we can meet in real life.

On other news, Curtis and I got to see Michelle Obama speak at Camp Pendleton a couple weekends ago. Actually we had to go see her speak, Curtis was volun-told to go. Here is a picture Curtis took of her on his phone.

It is not a good picture. Clearly the phone camera focused on the wrong black woman. Ah well. We were much closer than this looks. It was kind of neat I guess to see the first lady, but showing up two hours early to get through security and then standing (there were no seats) in the hot sun with 3500 other people waiting for it to start, the country music blaring through the loudspeakers serving as the only form of entertainment, was not even close to tolerable, much less fun. Still, I had no idea there so many cheesy, patriotic country songs in existence. Indeed, they found and played two hours worth of them. You learn something new every day.

We did not learn anything new from M. Obama's actual speech.

And my final story for the day... My watch broke a few months back, and I've been reluctant to buy a new one, seeing as how money has been tight around the Helsley household-- and will be until we finally move. Fortunately, this weekend I got a happy meal which included a watch as the toy- can you believe it? And to think I was going to blow twenty bucks on one... So glad I held out. Luckily I have freakishly small wrists.

I think this will help me fit in better with the extremely young kids that I have found myself surrounded by at college.

Five Paragraphs

2010-04-28T10:57:00.000-07:00

1. People always say San Diego is a beautiful city, but I never understood why. It seemed like a dull and brown sort of place to me. Until spring hit. We got a month straight of rain and afterwords the place just erupted with plant life. Everything turned a gorgeous green, and I've never seen more wild flowers in one place. I hate to admit it but it really is beautiful.

2. Our neighborhood is going in a bad direction lately. A couple of weeks ago, Curtis's car got broken into right outside our house. Someone smashed in the passenger window and took his Ipod. Additionally, there have always been homeless people who wander the main road near our place, but lately they have taken to visiting the dumpsters of our apartment complex. I'm thinking this was a bad time for me to lose my house key.

3. College is going ok. I am getting A's in three out of four of my classes, however, my English class is a different story. The problem is the teacher. His grading is wildly inconsistent- I've been turning in pretty solid work all semester, but the grades he's given me have ranged anywhere between a 33% and a 100%. His feedback is confusing at best, and his teaching consists of asking students what they think, and never, and I mean ever, telling us what he thinks. The only thing that I have learned from him is that you should always check a teacher out at ratemyprofessors.com before enrolling in his or her class.

4. I got my green belt in Taekwondo a week ago. Which is pretty cool, it means that for the first time since high school I've managed to stick to a Martial arts class long enough to get somewhere with it. The day class is a nice little group of adults who I actually talk to and even go out to lunch with sometimes. The class is probably the only thing I will miss about San Diego when we leave.

5. We're moving in September or October, but we still don't know where. Curtis says he will probably not be able to decide on a job until one or two months beforehand. It kind of drives me crazy not being able to plan for the move yet. On the other hand, just knowing we're moving can be liberating in a way. It's like, anything I don't like about my life right now I can tolerate, because I know it's only temporary.

Last Minute Pics

2009-08-14T11:37:00.001-07:00

A couple times each week I walk the nine oldest kids from house 2 home from school. Since today was going to be my last time doing it, I thought I´d bring my camera.

Some of the kids were a little reluctant to have their pictures taken initially, but when I reminded them that I was leaving and told them I wanted pictures to remember them by they started posing for me left and right. It was so very sweet, and the pictures came out really well I think. These are just a few.

Walking the kids used to make me very nervous, as we had to walk down and cross a rather busy road, and the kids would act out the whole way. But finally I figured out a way to get them to behave for me and since then, this has been one of my favorite responsibilities. We just have a lot of fun talking and joking around on the way.

100 Foods From the States That I Miss

2009-07-22T12:42:00.000-07:00

1. Pizza Hut Pizza
2. Red Baron´s Four Cheese Pizza
3. Bacon
4. String Cheese
5. Chai Lattes
6. Happy Meals
7. Bagels with Cream Cheese
8. Pasta Roni
9. Fried Mozerrella Cheese Sticks
10. Buffalo Chicken Strips
11. Swiss Cheese
12. Feta Cheese
13. Ricotta Cheese
14. Sliced American Cheese
15. Maple Ham
16. Lemon Pepper Turkey
17. Pimento Spread
18. Doritos
19. Sunchips
20. Sour Cream and Onion Chips
21. Barbeque chips
22. In N Out Burgers
23. Chipotles Tacos
24. Egg Rolls
25. Crab Rangoon
26. Egg Drop Soup
27. Cream Soda
28. Mountain Dew
29. Dr. Pepper
30. Orange Juice
31. French Onion Dip
32. Ranch Dip
33. Spinach and Artichoke Dip
34. Hint of Lime Tortilla Chips
35. Subway Subs
36. Stuffed Crazy Bread
37. Manicotti
38. Tortellini
39. Fetticini Alfredo
40. Enchiladas
41. Taco Bell´s Mexican Pizza
42. Meatloaf
43. Taquitos
44. Fresh Sandwich Bread
45. Cocktail Shrimp
46. Biscuits
47. Hamburger Helper
48. Tuna Helper
49. Cookie Dough Ice Cream
50. Slice N Bake Cookies
51. Cinnamon Rolls
52. Golden Oreos
53. Hershey´s Miniatures
54. Chocolate Cake Donuts
55. Slim Jims
56. Beef Jerkey
57. Grape Juice
58. Pretzel Rods
59. Fish Sticks
60. French Onion Soup
61. Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
62. Hot Pockets
63. Microwave Popcorn
64. Movie theater popcorn
65. White Cheddar Popcorn
66. Sour Cream
67. Crab Legs
68. Bubble Tape
69. Organic Cherry Tomatoes
70. Croutons
71. Waffles
72. French Toast
73. Berry Lucky Charms
74. Cheese Dogs
75. Girl Scout Cookies
76. Lunchables
77. Pepperoni
78. Spagetti O´s With Meatballs
79. Bloomin´ Onions
80. Huhsh Puppies
81. Root Beer
82. Baby Spinach
83. Sloppy Joes
84. Cottage Cheese
85. Mushroom Swiss Burgers
86. Stuffing
87. Brown Gravy
88. Chicken Gravy
89. Curly Fries
90. Onion Rings
91. Honey Roasted Peanuts
92. Salt Water Taffy
93. Skim Milk
94. Chex Mix
95. Frozen Mac and Cheese
96. Lean cuisines
97. Iced Tea
98. Milk Shakes
99. Tic Tacs
100. Chocolate Chips

A Momentous Life Changing Decision

2009-07-11T17:46:00.000-07:00

I have recently made a very important decision, which is going to have repercussions- some negative and some positive- on me, and to a certain extent to the people closest to me as well, for the rest of our lives.

I have to admit, there is nothing like working with orphans in an impoverished third world country to make you re-evaluate your life, and to change your heart, mind, and body in ways you never imagined.

Of course, if there is one thing I have learned in my life, it is that making life-changing decisions is a risky thing to do during tumultuous times. Discerning the difference between a genuine call from God and a temporary emotional state is difficult to do even on the quietest days, and a wrong decision can potentially ruin your life or the lives of the people you care about.

This decision however, has been one that I knew I should make for quite some time now, and for that I feel sure that this is not simply a knee-jerk reaction, but instead a true and exciting new life path.

So, without further ado, I have decided...

...

...

...

...

To switch from Coke to Coke Zero!!!!!
Yes it is true. I have switched to diet soda! And since it has been two weeks now, I thought it was safe to call it official.

I know you, my readers, must be reeling in shock right now, and for that I feel I must apologize and say thank you, for bearing with me during this ridiculous rollercoaster of a life that I live.

This is a photo of me with a coke zero in my hand, in case you still did not believe it. The proof is in the pudding, as they say. Although I´m not sure why it would be.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

2009-04-22T12:53:00.000-07:00

Today has seriously been one disaster after another. (Exaggeration, yes, but still.) I woke up early this morning to take a shower and head to my Spanish class. I could not take a shower because the water was out here. It came back on 5 minutes before I had to leave. I left dirty and took two buses to get to where my Spanish class is. When I got there the building was dark and empty and after waiting for 30 minutes for anyone to show up I left, Spanish-lessonless.

On the way home, I experienced my first Bolivian blockade- a political demonstration which is conducted by a group of people blocking a major road while holding signs. A police officer redirects the traffic from a block away, ensuring that no one can get close enough to actually read the signs. The bus I was on was forced to take an hour long unmarked detour which included a scenic tour of some of the poorer streets in my neighborhood here on cobblestone and dirt roads. We even got to drive backwards on a bridge with no railings.

So...When I finally got home, I discovered that while I was gone, my room had flooded somehow with stinky water from an unknown source. Well, as it turns out, the water was coming out of a pipe that has always been in my room, but I never knew what it did. (Now I know what it does- it fills my room with stinky water.) Well, some of the ladies that work here helped me figure out where the pipe led to (a sink outside) but none of us could figure out why it happened to leak, or pour rather, into my room on this particular day. (It has never happened before.) I had to move all the furniture in my room, mop up the floor and wash the rugs. I'm not sure if the room still stinks or not- I have a pretty bad cold right now and can't smell a thing.

Anyways, so just when I figure this day can't get any more troublesome, I get online and find out there is a virus on the house 2 computer. Some of you have been fortunate enough to receive infected emails from me today. (Truly Sorry.)

In conclusion, I've decided to lock myself in my room for the rest of the day. Not sure if I should risk trying to cook dinner or not.

Nope, I think not.

The pesky pipe in question which seemed harmless enough at first.

First Pictures

2009-04-05T14:32:00.001-07:00

Well, we got a computer here at the Home where I am staying so I finally have a place where I can upload photos. Which is cool. Although I haven't really taken that many yet. But well, here's some anyway.

This is the sock tree. It does not in fact grow socks, but it is an excellent place to hang wet socks to dry.

This is one of the many, many spiders I have found in my room. These little guys are anywhere from the size of a nickel to the size of a half dollar. They're semi-creepy but like I said before, they are not nearly as bad as a tarantula. Not even close.

And these are the three youngest kids in House two. I made them homemade playdough. It was a difficult thing for me because they were watching me make it so I had to set a good example and not eat any of it.

This little guy was very shy when I first met him, but now he gets all excited when he sees me and gives me lots of hugs. He is absolutely wonderful. He has some speech delays, so I was thinking he was the one person at House 2 who spoke worse Spanish than I, but he is getting better every day so I am not sure how long I will be able to claim that.

And... that's all for now. Thanks for reading.

The Dengue Fever is Coming

2009-03-12T09:15:00.000-07:00

Or so the kids here at house 2 keep telling me. I don´t know where they heard it, maybe at school or something, but I´ve had several of the kids here warn me during the last few days to look out for the Dengue. They´ve also told me that when you have Dengue fever, you bleed from your nose mouth, eyes, and even ears. Im not sure how acurate their description of the disease is, and I´m quite sure that the Dengue is not in fact coming, but it´s quite adorable to see the kids all worked up.

In Bolivia

2009-03-10T07:16:00.000-07:00

Okay I havent posted anything in forever. To catch anyone up who cares... I decided to go to Bolivia, then stuff happened, etc., and now I am in Bolivia.

I am thouroughly enjoying Cochabamba. The weather here is the best I have ever experienced in my life. It is cool and sunny almost every day. Although apparently it will get somewhat cold this summer (which is winter for Bolivia.)

Cochabamba is at a high altitude in the middle of some of the most beautiful mountains I have ever seen. The home that I live at has the most gorgeous yard which the kids and I love to play in. Ive started to hate the indoors.

Another wonderful thing about Cochabamba is that apparently, there are no tarantulas. We do get some big spiders here and there, but they do not cause the same feelings of horror and helplessness as do their hairy counterparts.

Mostly my favorite thing about Cochabamba so far is the kids. The kids at house 2 are some of the sweetest kids I have ever worked with.

I hope to post some pictures eventually, but right now I do not have acess to a computer where I can upload photos. I hate blogging without pictures, but I am going to try and blog a bit more regularly now anyway.

Well, thats all Ive got for now.

Going to Bolivia

2009-01-08T11:31:00.000-08:00

Well, I had my phone interview today with Jennifer Thompson, the directer of the Casa de Amor. It seems my application to volunteer has been approved, so I guess I'm going to Cochabamba!

I will most likely end up working in the older children's home- which is great, that's what I was really hoping for. Right now there are 11 children aged 3 to 10(?) that live there.

I'm quite excited, but I also feel a little overwhelmed, as now I have many, many things to do in the next month to prepare.

But yeah, that's how that went.

There's a nice little video on youtube about the Casa de Amor that I found for anyone who is curious...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LV3WoHmaZ0&feature=channel_page

Yet another post about the creek.

2008-12-15T14:47:00.001-08:00

Okay, so remember this is what the nice little creek in my backyard looks like normally:

Well, this is what it looks like when it rains:

It's more dramatic with the sound effects:

Okay, so I know this is not a thrilling topic or anything. But it's all I've got right now, so deal with it.

Some Pictures of My Neighbors

2008-12-04T12:59:00.001-08:00

We have this really cool little creek that runs down the middle of our apartment complex. There are ducks in it all year round.

They're not shy at all, so I'm guessing people feed them a lot. Sometimes I have to step over them on my way to the laundry room.

They got all excited when I told them I was going to blog about them, so they were happy to pose for these pictures.

Some of them speak Duck-Spanish.

It's possible that I've been spending too much time at my house alone during the day.

Thanksgiving in San Diego

2008-11-29T09:33:00.000-08:00

Curtis and I went to his Mom's house for thanksgiving. Which was cool, because this was the first time I met any of his family members. So now I know Curtis's Mom is real and he did not just make her up.

Curtis's Mom's family is all Filipino, so altogether there were only one and a half white people there. (Me and Curtis.) It was cool though, 'cause in addition to the traditional Thanksgiving foods, we also got to have some Filipino favorites. The home-made fried rice and Lumpia were both very good. (Lumpia is sort-of like a cross between egg-rolls and pot stickers, very tasty.)

So yeah, that was our Thanksgiving.

On another note, it's really wonderful to have a man in the house. This morning I was about to hop in the shower when I saw a fairly large spider crawling on the shower curtain, and I was able to run and get Curtis to kill it for me.

Very convenient.

The (edible) things that I will miss about Hawaii...

2008-11-16T18:59:00.000-08:00

Number one- Manapua

Manapua is the hawaiian version of the Chinese steamed bun- but bigger and therefore better. It is a hamburger sized pastry sort-of thingy. The bready outside is slightly sweet...

and inside there is any one of various types of Asian-flavored meats. My favorite is the barbecue pork. Which for some reason is a bright pink color.

Second, is Poi Mochi.

Poi Mochi is most often sold at stands in the parking lot of a grocery store or a Walmart. It smells like funnel cakes, which is what led me to purchase it in the first place. The outside looks and tastes like a donut, but inside is a purple, gooey substance, which is both delicious and confusing.

I have since learned, that poi, is made from the starchy, potato-like "taro root", which is often compared to a sweet potato, adding to my confusion, as I am not a fan of sweet potatoes, but I seem to enjoy "poi".

Third, and lastly, is sugar cane drink. Have you ever wanted to drink sugar? I sure have!
In reality, a can of sugar cane drink has less sugar than a mountain dew, but it tastes something like rock candy in a liquid form. Although it is not really a "Hawaiian" treat, it is easy to find here because of the heavy Asian influence.

My Testimony

2008-11-14T17:45:00.000-08:00

Okay, well, I received an application from the Casa de Amor, (the children's home which I am hoping to volunteer at.) On the application were several essay questions, one of which was "Describe your relationship with Jesus Christ and how you became a Christian." I was afraid this would be difficult to write a lot about, as I don't have an extraordinary conversion story like some people do. But I decided to chronicle my Christian walk, so far, as honestly as I could, and this is what came pouring out.

I decided to post it on my blog, as these days, I don't get many opportunities to share my "testimony". But I must warn my readers, that it is much cheesier and sappier than my usual posts. So please bear with me.

Well, here goes...

I am so blessed! I grew up in an "Uber" Christian family. (Pardon my slang, I've been in the Navy for the last six years!) We went to church twice a week. My parents read us Bible stories and prayed with us almost every night. But aside from all of that, what really made me see Christ alive at such a young age was that my parents were people who really, really lived their faith. My father made a decent paycheck. When I was younger I thought he was rich, but looking back, I realize this was not entirely true. But he gave- anytime God told him to. And when God told my mother and father to take in children with special needs, their response wasn't so much "why", but "how", and "how many?".

That's a big reason why I still follow Christ to this day- because my mother and father made Christianity more than just a cultural phenomenon for me, but rather a real reason to live, to breathe, to wake up each morning, and to die one day.

But I also know that God was tugging at my heart. For some reason, which I cannot fathom, he chose me to be one He would save. I consider myself fortunate, that the amazing God of this Earth would notice, and remember me. Me- my stupid, silly self.

I really don't know how old I was when I was first saved. I prayed the salvation prayer so many times during my childhood, I really can't say which one was the one that stuck. I know it was in my teens that I really felt secure about my salvation- and stopped begging for it. It was then that I began to have a real, personal, relationship with my Father, God.

When I was in Bolivia for the first time, I decided I was going to live as an instrument of God. I would never smoke, never drink and never do anything impure. I would be a saint and live every day of my live for my Holy Father, and for my family, who I loved and respected more than I could ever say.

But things didn't work out that way. I think God wanted me to know, that it wasn't me, (or my family) but rather Him that was perfect. He wanted me to understand my humanity. And to know what it was like to live making my own decisions.

When I joined the Navy, I was free from my parents umbrella. It rained, and I got wet.

There was a time, where I had no Christian friends. No idea whatsoever that God was still alive in this Earth, except a faint echo from my family so far away...

I began to question everything... Why not drink, why not smoke? No one is pure, so why should I be? I began to read books about alternate faiths. I read a book by a man who thought there was a God but no such thing as Hell. Why would a loving God send someone to hell, meaning to me, why can't I date someone who isn't a Christian? (Lol, are you following my logic? This is what I wanted to believe.)

But my loving God never let me go. Praise God!! Nothing I searched for made sense. As much as Atheists like to bash Christianity- their "logic" was faulty. Read Richards Dawkins- he's an idiot! There was never anything that made sense to me more than my God did.

And now, here I am. Not perfect. Not pure. But loved by my God. And where my faith in me has decreased, my faith in him has increased.

An interesting idea...

2008-11-07T18:38:00.000-08:00

So Curtis and I were talking, and he mentioned that many couples in the military, when one of them goes on deployment, they put their stuff in storage and the one staying home goes to live with friends or family for a while. And that got me thinking that maybe while Curtis is in Iraq this time, I could go volunteer in a children's home again. I've been looking up children's homes online, and I found that there are many, many homes that accept volunteers- some in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Honduras.

So I've been sending e-mails out, and the first place that responded was the place I was the most interested in. It's called the Casa de Amor. (www.casadeamor.org) It's in Cochabamba Bolivia. They only take little kids, mostly babies, but also some 3 to 10 years old. The place seems really cool, and there are several families from the States involved in running the place, and the lady who responded to my email was very nice! To quote she said "I cried when I read your email! How precious - to give us your time while your husband is serving in Iraq!".

So I'm kindof getting excited about this idea, and I'm planning it all out how it would work, financially and otherwise. And I've been studying my Spanish, just in case- well it's nice to have something to obsess about at any rate.

But check out this photo I pulled off their blog:

Doesn't that look so fun?!!!

Why I'm not Blogging Lately

2008-11-06T17:38:00.000-08:00

So today I got up at 7:00 and drove to the doctors office and the dentist to pick up my records.
(necessary paperwork- check out sheet)
Then I drove to where I work to have a brief meeting with my division head and get the last few sign-offs done for checking out of the command.
(necessary paperwork- check out sheet, separation orders)
Then I went and got a Non-Resident form so that I can register Curtis's car.
(necessary paperwork- power of attorney, copy of Curtis's LES, proof of insurance)
Then I jump started Curtis's car- all by myself!
(necessary paperwork- instructions for how to jump start a car)
Then I drove to a mechanic to get a safety inspection and a new battery for Curtis's car.
(necessary paperwork- proof of insurance, power of attorney)

Tomorrow I have to get up and be at work by 0800 to badge out.
(necessary paperwork- 2 check out sheets, separation orders, separation eval)
Then after that I have to go to the DMV to get Curtis's car registered
(necessary paperwork- safety inspection, non-resident form, proof of insurance, power of attorney)
Then I have to go to the bank to request permission to ship Curtis's car.
(necessary paperwork- safety inspection, registration, proof of insurance, application to ship vehicle)
Then I have to go to PSD.
(necessary paperwork- separation orders, dd-214 form, medical and dental records, pre-separation counseling checklist, psd checkout sheet, VMET, Terminal leave chit, Security termination debriefing statement)

And then, if I'm not dead yet, I might go to Taekwondo class.

So if you're wondering why I'm not blogging, it's because if I did, all I would write would be a long list of the boring things I have to do and the crap ton of paperwork I need to do them. Or it could also be because I have died from all the boring things I have to do and the crap-ton of paperwork I need to do them.

Finally Blogging again

2008-10-19T16:35:00.000-07:00

Well, for anyone who doesn't already know what's been going on with me lately, I got back together with Curtis. We got married. I'm moving to San Diego to be with him in just a few weeks, blah blah, so on and so forth.

Bear with me here, I've got some serious blog-writers-block and I'm trying to just push through it.

So anyways, I've always found it amazing how many dishes I can dirty- just me living all by myself. I suppose it doesn't help that I have the tendency to use every single clean dish in my cabinet before I finally suck it up and wash the monstrous pile that accumulates.

Well, the other day it happened again. I was down to my last plate and knew I would have to do dishes before my next meal. And that's when it occurred to me- I'm moving in with Curtis soon, and his dishes are much nicer than mine anyway.

With that in mind, there was only one sensible course of action- I took that dirty pile of dishes and threw them all in the trash.

It gave me the most wonderful feeling- perhaps because the whole thing was kind of like a metaphor for all the positive changes that have occurred in my life recently- but also because I really hate doing dishes.

After all that, I went out to the store and bought myself some new dishes:

I like these ones a lot better.

My Birthday Stuff

2008-08-17T16:08:00.000-07:00

My mom got me this sweet doggy family for my birthday.
I decided to make them a house to live in.
I used cardboard boxes and scraps of paper and cloth that I had lying around the house. Some of the furniture I made, and some of it I already had.
It was really fun, and I think it turned out pretty good, all things considered.

And this last picture is of what Curtis sent me for my birthday. The boxes are filled with cookies and candy. It was such a fun surprise!

Fed-up Fridays

2008-06-27T16:27:00.000-07:00

Okay I thought about making a Thankful Thursday post, but I was too late this week. So I decided to start my own tradition instead. On "Fed-up Fridays", I will list all of the little things that annoy the living heck out of me. So here goes:

1. Contests under the lid of a 20 oz soda bottle. It used to be, that you could find out if you won right away, and then simply take the cap to the store to claim your prize. But now you have to go online and type in the code, after providing your email address. Only one in five wins a free Pepsi, but everyone gets to enjoy the junk mail from the soda company that will be clogging their inboxes for all eternity.

2. People who park SUVs in compact car spots. This may be a result of illiteracy, and I can sympathize with that- after all, not every one can be a super-duper speed reader. For this reason, I propose that instead of writing the word "Compact" in the spot, they should illustrate the meaning, by painting something like this:

3. Pennies. Or what I like to call, "Satan's Sales Tax". Most of the time I throw them in the trash. But every now and then I feel too guilty to waste the money, even if it is stupid pennies. So I put them in a jar, vowing to take them to bank one day, while in actuality, I save them for a few weeks untill the guilt fades, and THEN I throw them away- along with the jar.

(My current penny jar. It made me happier back when it still had pickles in it.)

4. Taking out the trash- A job intended for a man, but for lack of one I must perform the task myself. I hate it when the bag bumps against my legs and it feels kind-of wet. I know what kind of nasty things I put in there, and there is a reason I put them in the trash and not on my legs. On a related note however, there's this Navy chief who lives in the same neighborhood as me. I knew him from DLI. He was the guy that decided which language you got to be put in. I used to be quite afraid of him. But the other day I encountered him at the dumpster, and he asked me to help him throw away his toilet. It's interesting, how much more human someone seems once you have seen their toilet, particularly if you have helped them carry it.

Well, that's all I can think of for today. Stay tuned for "Wishful Wednesday", which is where I list all the things I don't have, but want, and also "Masochistic Mondays", which is where I list all of the things I hate about myself.

(My apologies to the creators of "Thankful Thursdays"- this is just a parody, no harm intended.)

Another quick story

2008-06-19T21:40:00.000-07:00

I was printing something out today, and I kept getting paper jams for some reason. I finally managed to pull all the excess paper out, but my printer was still making an odd crunching noise. Finally I got it to print something, and when it did, look what popped out with it!! I didn't have a paper jam, I had a cockroach jam! It was so disgusting!

What I've been up to lately

2008-06-17T19:52:00.000-07:00

(Warning: this post has been edited for purposes of national security.)

I've been back to work now that my Chinese class is done. I was a little bummed at first, but I've gotten used to it again. Last set I had to _______ and this time I __________ which is always a bit of a thrill. The first minute or so is always nerve wracking, my hands start shaking and I can't hardly type, but then once _____________, it just feels really freakin' good. It's really one of the most satisfying parts of my job.

I also had to ________________ last night, for hours and hours on end, which ended up being cool because they let me go home early- which doesn't happen often, but is always a pleasant surprise.

Today I went to the beach with some of my work friends. I wish I had brought my camera, the beach was really nice today. The water was a beautiful blue green and the waves were the perfect size. There were two large ships anchored off in the distance, which added to the ambiance. It was really fun.

Chinese class, in English this time

2008-06-07T21:26:00.001-07:00

Okay, so I was just kidding about that post about my Chinese class. Now I will post about my language training experience in English.

I got put into an advanced class, which is not necessarily appropriate to my level. I could have requested to be put in the intermediate class instead, but I have found in the past that that I learn more in a class that is difficult for me than I do in a class that I can skate through, and thus I stuck with it. I was definitely the worst in the class, and it was a little hard on my ego to suffer through that, but as I predicted, the results were worth it.

Recently the military decided to make the annual language test considerably more difficult, without providing supplementary training to help everyone pass it. Fun, fun. My score on the old test, was a listening 3, reading 3. Which is pretty much as good as you can do. (Passing is a 2/2). But when I took the new test for the first time, I scored a 1+/2+. Which is the same as saying "failing miserably". But after this class I took the test and got a 2+/2+. Which means I did "really freakin' good". I am pleased, to say the least. It's also good news for me financially, because I still get a good amount of language pay, and I just started getting paid for E-5 this month, so overall I am coming out ahead. Since I will be unemployed in 7 months or so, the more money I can save now the better.

Another cool thing happened in class. We had to give a presentation in Chinese (using powerpoint) on the topic of our choice relating to China. I knew that my speaking would be lousy compared to other people's so I plotted a way to make up for that. I illustrated my presentation, by drawing humorous pictures in Paint. I got a really good response. Everyone laughed a lot, and as it turns out, my strategy worked perfectly. My presentation was not the best, grammatically speaking, but it was still one of the most memorable. I am so pleased that I was able to employ my artistic skills and my quirky sense of humor to help me do well on my project.

Overall the class was really fun, and I was actually bummed to have to go back to work. On the positive side, I'm now really excited about the prospect of attending college when I get out. When I graduated high school I was so sick of academics, I couldn't stand the thought of it, but now I think I could really get into studying again.

One last interesting thing happened. Because I was the only E-5, I ended up being the class leader, which was initially intimidating, but ended up being really fun actually. It was fun to be in charge of a bunch of E-4's and E-3's. Although the people in my class were all so responsible already that I never really had to use my authority. (Thankfully.)

Well, anyways here is a collection of some of the goofy drawings I used for my presentation. I can really actually draw better than this, but nonetheless people in my class were very complimentary, which once again, pleased me to say the least.

Just a quick story.

2008-05-31T20:38:00.000-07:00

So this guy came to my door, trying to sell vacuums, and when I answered the door, he asked me if my parents were home. LOL! I love that I still look young, even though I'm almost 26.

And by the way...

2008-05-27T21:50:00.000-07:00

I can't wait to go home!!!!

Chinese Class

2008-05-27T19:00:00.000-07:00

I've been in a Chinese refresher class for the last month or so. I've been having a lot of fun, so I decided I should tell you guys all about it. Here goes:

Well, that about sums it up.

My accidental adventure

2008-05-18T12:52:00.000-07:00

The other day I went for a walk around my neighborhood, when I happened upon this trail. I started to walk it, thinking it would wind around behind the houses and then lead right back to one of the main roads.

Very quickly I realized this was not the case.

I passed a pond.

I went over a bridge.

And this is where I ended up. It's the far side of Pearl Harbor.

I can't believe I've been living here for more than a year now and just now discovered this.

4 Things I learned this week:

2008-05-10T17:53:00.000-07:00

1. Sometimes when you accidentally leave your atm card in the atm, the atm swallows it, and then you have to ask the people who work in the bank who run the atm to give it back to you. If you are lucky, they will.

2. If it is 85 degrees outside, and you buy modeling clay that hardens in heat, and then you leave it in the trunk of your car for an hour and a half while you are in the mall getting a haircut, you will not be able to make anything with it when you get home, that is, unless what you wanted to make was a hard white brick that is in the shape of a block of modeling clay.

3. It is unwise to drive at 70 MPH in sudden, torrential rain. What happens if you do, is that your car starts to go into a spin, and you have to turn the steering wheel vigorously back and forth in order to regain control of your car. If you're lucky, you will.

4. And finally, when you leave a full container of bleach on a counter which is next to a brown carpeted floor, it's always best to put the lid on it.

Homemade T-shirts

2008-05-04T12:48:00.001-07:00

Well, I was bored yesterday so I decided to do something crafty. I ended up buying a tie dye kit and some printable iron on transfer sheets. Here are the results.

It was pretty freakin' fun.

Because Hampsters are illegal in Hawai

2008-05-01T21:13:00.000-07:00

I bought two mice a year and a half ago. The store said they were both female, but as it turns out one of them was a male. I didn't figure it out until the first eleven babies were born, and by then, the next eleven had already been conceived. Luckily the store took them all back (along with the troublesome impregnater.) I kept one of the girl babies.

They don't have names. I simply call them "the fertile one" and "the result", and to be honest I can't tell which is which anymore.

If you can't tell, this is a picture of a mouse's butt. The mouse who it belongs to is fleeing from my presence. This is mostly what I get from these two. They aren't the friendliest.

I heard that the cedar bedding gives them respiratory difficulties that can lead to an early death. That's why I always get that kind. It hasn't worked so far. The thing is, I'm really hoping they die before I have to move in January. I don't know what I'm going to do with them if they don't.

Drawing

2008-04-20T00:02:00.001-07:00

I drew this on Paint. I actually have a better program that I draw on sometimes, but I'm so used to paint, and you can actually make pretty good stuff on it.

Insomniac Rant

2008-04-18T16:27:00.000-07:00

J.K. Rowling is suing the publishers of a Harry Potter Lexicon. I'm thinking, how much more money does she think she needs?

And does she really think that anyone fanatical enough to buy a Harry Potter encyclopedia would skip purchasing the one authored by J.K. Rowling herself simply because they already purchased the knock-off lexicon? I think not.

I think Rowling needs to spend more time writing and less time suing people and saying stupid things like this-

"There comes a point where Susan, who was the older girl, is lost to Narnia because she becomes interested in lipstick. She's become irreligious basically because she found sex," Rowling says. "I have a big problem with that."

Well, it seems, J.K. Rowling, that you have read Phillip Pullman's Cliff notes on the Narnia books. Way to regurgitate someone else's crappy opinion.

While I'm ranting, How exactly does the Texas child protective services justify taking over 400 children into custody because one anonymous sixteen year old makes a phone call? Maybe take the teenage girls, but the babies and boys? I know those people are freaky, but they still have rights.

And as for the 8 girls who beat up another girl and videotaped it, What have they ever experienced in their lives that made them think even for a second that assault is funny or entertaining in any way? I just can't comprehend that.

I've slept maybe 5 hours in the last four days and I want to gouge my eyes out.

Me, gouging my eyes out.

A peek into my home

2008-04-06T21:37:00.001-07:00

Well, I can't come up with anything interesting to post about lately, so I thought I'd just post some pictures.

This is supposed to be be my dining room, but since I live alone, I eat on the couch in front of the tv. So I decided to turn this little room into my art corner.

The collage on the wall took me a couple weeks to finish. It will no doubt take me hours to take down when I move, but that's all right.

And this is my bedroom. I resisted the care bears theme for quite some time, trying to convince myself I was too grown up. But that's a joke, and besides I like Care Bears.

Item number 19

2008-03-31T14:35:00.000-07:00

Yes indeed. With my future now uncertain it did occur to me that in less than a year I may or may not have medical insurance, but either way this is certainly the last time I will be able to go to the doctor as many times as I want and not pay a single penny. My point being, If there was ever a time to seek medical help for my social anxiety this was certainly it.

I called the doctor and made an appointment to talk about "anxiety."

When I got there he had me fill out a questionnaire to determine whether or not I was "depressed." Personally I think if I was depressed I would have said I wanted an appointment to talk about "depression". But maybe that's just me.

Dr Witt was his name. He's not the doctor I am officially assigned to. Whom by the way I have never actually met, but happens to be busy every single time I make an appointment. Not a real big loss. When I checked in to the command they had me pick a doctor from a book. I picked a lady who was smiling in her photo, because I hoped that meant she would be nice to me when I went to see her. Apparently many other people were thinking the same thing, which explains why she is always too busy to see me.

Poor Doctor Witt is not nearly so photogenic.

Anyway, as it turns out, usually people who come in complaining about anxiety actually in fact are also depressed, so they are immediately prescribed anti-depressants and sent on their merry way. (Merry is perhaps the wrong word) But people who are anxious and not depressed, are complicated cases that need referred to a psychiatrist. Put simply, having less problems is harder to treat. So after making me promise I wouldn't kill myself, Dr Witt gave me a referral and that was that.

So, while I'm still waiting to find out if there is a cure for shyness in medicine, at least I have officially completed Item number 19 from my list of 30 things to do before I turn 30.

2 down, 28 more to go. Stay tuned everyone! (I am sure you are all on the edge of your seats.)

The five most Attractive Fictional Men so far created by the Human Imagination,

2008-03-22T20:38:00.001-07:00

The first one that comes to mind is Enzo Matrix, from the cartoon show Reboot. His tough guy persona is just an act that he puts on to cope with his hard life. Deep down inside he is lovable, adorable and loyal. In other words he's definitely fictional. He also has green skin, but still manages to be handsome.

The second is Jack, from the show LOST. Jack's biggest problem is that he goes after the wrong women. A common mistake made by extremely attractive but good-hearted men. Luckily for Jack, and for all the women who love him, he is not actually real.

Third, is Superman, also known as Clark Kent. Whether it's the one from the comics, movies, or tv shows it makes little difference- all incarnations of this man are wonderful. He is powerful, but good, he is horribly attractive and famous, yet for some reason he only has eyes for one woman. If only it was me, and if only he was not fictional.

For the fourth, we have perhaps the complete opposite of Superman- Vegeta from Dragonball Z. Vegeta is the ultimate bad-boy. He is powerful, hateful, selfish and obsessive, (i.e. very sexy) yet he is still oddly loyal to his wife and children. Very unrealistic I know, but that's what's great about fictional men.

Finally, the fifth is the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with. Also fictional, as it turns out.

Easter Package

2008-03-14T20:46:00.001-07:00

My baby likes his new bunny! Thanks for the Easter basket Mom! (Was I supposed to wait till Easter to open this? I just thought of that, Oops!) Well, I needed cheering up today anyway.

My Roomates

2008-03-08T18:23:00.001-08:00

I have a few geckos living in my house with me. Geckos are territorial, so each one of them has their own spot in the house where they spend most of their time.

This is Vacuum Gecko. (He likes to hide behind my vacuum.) He is the largest of my geckos and the one that I see the most often. I am quite fond of him. He lives his whole life on one wall of my house. Late at night he walks back and forth looking for food. When he gets upset he makes chirping noises.

This little guy is Balcony Gecko. He was playing dead when I took this picture. He played his role so well that he even let me touch him.

Fun With Floam at Home

2008-03-02T23:39:00.000-08:00

So I did it. I decided to go ahead and make a pencil holder out of Floam.

I have to say, it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

On the down side I cut my hand on the edge of the can while making it. It bled quite a lot in fact.

Actually that's not really blood, that's ketchup. I did cut my hand, but it wasn't that bad. And that's actually not even the right hand. I cut the other one. I just didn't want to put ketchup on the cut, I thought that might hurt.

My hand smells like ketchup now, even after I washed it.

A Boring story about Something Gross

2008-02-27T01:53:00.000-08:00

So I think I was bit by a Brown Violin Spider, which is Hawaii's version of the Brown Recluse. I don't remember it happening though, so I can't be sure.

All I know is that I noticed a weird bite on my arm yesterday, and today , when I woke up it was quite swollen, extremely itchy, and also full of pus, (yuck!) The bite has developed a pale ring around it, which is also surrounded by an additional pink itchy ring. Like this:

But really, it seems the worst is already over. Therefore I have decided to not bother going to medical. And thus my story has a very boring ending.

However, there is still possibly a Brown Violin spider lurking somewhere in my house, so be prepared for the sequel to this tale, in which I am bitten 50 times and have my arms rot off my body in the hospital.

Of course there's always a chance that this was not actually a violin spider bite at all, but simply the bite of a particularly ambitious mosquito. Or it could've been... dare I say it...*gulp*, a centipede!!!

Item Number 6

2008-02-25T23:43:00.001-08:00

So first off, I finally got a digital camera. It took me two hours to set it up and figure out how to use all the features. I got it working now though so watch out! You're all about to be bombarded with silly pictures of me and my stuff. Yay!

Anyway, I was eager to start off my list of 30 things so I picked one that I could get done immediately. It was Item number 6, "Cut my hair really short". Here are the results. I actually really like it. I've had the same hair cut for 3 years, it was definitely time to try something new.

I hope Curtis doesn't hate it!!!

30 Things to Do Before I'm 30

2008-02-23T16:21:00.000-08:00

I made this list because I was sick of coming up with excuses for not doing the things I have always wanted to do. I fully intend to complete each and every one of these by the time I turn 30 on August 16th, 2012. I also intend to post on my blog about each one after I complete it. (Lucky you guys!)

1. Get married √

2. Adopt a dog

3. Travel to China

4. Write and illustrate a story

5. Reread the Bible

6. Cut my hair really short √

7. Go whale watching

8. Learn how to make Salteñas

9. Participate in a political campaign

10. Host a Christmas party

11. Finish reading the Wheel of Time series

12. Earn an Associates Degree√

13. Buy a rat and train it to be friendly

14. Beat one of my Wii games

15. Learn how to type properly

16. Get involved with a church ministry

17. Attend a science fiction convention

18. Buy, assemble, decorate, and furnish a miniature house

19. Talk to a doctor about my social anxiety√

20. Grow vegetables in a garden

21. Dye my hair a different color√

22. Go to an NHL game√

23. Quit smoking for good

24. Take karate again for at least a year√

25. Start a retirement fund

26. Have the guts to donate blood

27. Get another piercing

28. Kill a centipede

29. Put together a 1000 piece puzzle√

30. Visit Mexico

In Mourning For a Beloved Sony Psyc

2008-02-09T14:29:00.000-08:00

So I've had this same CD player since a week after I got out of bootcamp (almost five years ago.) I've listened to it every day since then, no joke. It has been one of the most constant things in my life. It is possibly one of the only things that I still have from that time period, material or otherwise, and in that sense, it has been one of the best things in my life.

It broke today, and I find myself grieving for it as much as I would for a favorite pet. I tried to find a replacement for it. It was a Sony Psyc, and apparently they don't make them anymore. I bought some Panasonic piece of crap instead. I mean sure it can play MP3s and my old CD player couldn't, but will it love me like my old one did? Probably not.

I hate how life is constantly forcing all these unwanted changes on me. I didn't want a different kind of CD player. I didn't want to have to make new friends all over again. I don't want to have to go job hunting in a year. I didn't want him to leave.

The big day

2008-02-01T18:07:00.000-08:00

So my guy is leaving for Iraq today. He actually called for the last time on Wednesday, so I've already said goodbye, but today still sucks. He'll only be gone for 6 months. I can't wait to get my first letter from him. It will be fun to have a pen pal, I suppose. I do enjoy writing letters. (It's more fun to have a boyfriend who is not millions of miles away of course, but I'll take what I can get.)

So anyways, anyone who's reading this, please pray that he's safe and hopefully that he might enjoy his experiences there the best he can. I know he'll do his job well.

On a More Serious Note

2008-01-31T15:33:00.001-08:00

I feel bad, because my family members always post on their blogs about serious matters that are very important to them. As for me, most of my posts thus far have been not necessarily nearly as serious or heartfelt. So this time, I decided to really open up and expose my soul. I have decided to share about something that's been troubling me now for quite some time. And that is....

Whatever happened to Gak?!!!

Remember Nickelodeon Gak? If you don't, it was basically colorful, slimy goo in a plastic container. It was popular in the mid 90's. I remember spending hours on end with my friends playing with Gak. (Of course, you can't really play with Gak, so much as you just squeeze it, stretch it and and let it drizzle downwards. I repeat, we did this for hours on end.)

You can't buy Gak anymore. You can still buy Floam, which is Gak with tiny styrofoam balls in it. Floam smells like Gak, which is cool (if you don't already know, Gak basically smells like fun- like pure, unadulterated fun) and you can still squeeze floam. But you can't really strech floam, and it doesn't drizzle nearly so much as it just sort of plops onto the ground.

Apparently you can make crafts with floam, which you couldn't do with Gak. In particular, the packaging advises you to try making a pencil holder, by covering a soup can with Floam. As fun as that sounds, and as attractive as that would look in my house, I don't really need a pencil holder. What I really need is something that I can stretch and let drizzle downwards.

What I need is Gak.

But Gak is gone.

According to this picture, which I stole off of Amazon.com, kids love Floam. I'd be willing to bet they'd love Gak even more, if only it was available for purchase.

My true identity.

2008-01-18T23:14:00.001-08:00

Some people are too afraid to put their real information online. I for one refuse to live in fear. Stalkers and cyber-bullies be damned!
My real name is Fanny. Fanny Floffer.
I live on 10 Kalakala Street, Uki Uki, Hawaii.
My phone number is 555-1234, and this is a picture of what I really look like:

(Sorry guys, I was reeeaaally bored.)

Hey Guess What Today is?

2008-01-08T09:21:00.000-08:00

It's the first day of my last year in the Navy! Well, God willing anyway.

To Clear Things up

2008-01-06T23:04:00.000-08:00

Well, no doubt after that last post some of you are probably confused. You are thinking maybe that Hawaii is a beautiful, wonderful place to live. In order to clear things up, I have drawn a picture of the reality of the situation. Do not click on this image if you have a weak stomach. But also do not not click on it if you want to have a realistic idea of what it's like to live in a land infested by the most horrible creatures alive.

Just Some Pictures

2008-01-06T22:51:00.000-08:00

Since none of you people are ever going to bother to come visit me, I have decided to post some pictures of what you are missing.

This is my neighborhood, as can be seen from my balcony.

This is my Apartment building.

And this is me and my guy, Curtis, doing touristy crap in Waikiki.

To Start Off this Blog

2008-01-06T12:04:00.000-08:00

1. WHO WERE YOU NAMED AFTER?
The Bible Character, sortof, actually no one really, my parents, like many, many others of their day just liked the name

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
I had a self pity episode on Christmas Eve, it was quite pathetic

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Sure, why not

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Maple smoked Ham, or Lemon Pepper Turkey

5. DO YOU USE SARCASM ALOT?
Yes

6. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes

7. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Possibly.

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
I don't eat cereal much.

9. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Most of the time.

10. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Ha, not really.

11. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM ?
Vanilla

12. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
I really can't think of anything.

13. RED OR PINK?
Red

14.WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOU?
My weak will.

15. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Curtis

16. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
I'm not

17. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Butter and Garlic Pasta Roni, a classic breakfast food

18.. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
I've got the TV on in the background, but I'm not really listening to it

19. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
For some reason black was the first thing I thought of, but I'm going to go with purple

20. FAVORITE SMELLS?
My hand? That's really weird I know, but I can't keep it off my face, and I can't explain why

21. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Curtis

22. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
No one actually sent this to me, so sure why not.

23. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Hockey is ok.

24. HAIR COLOR?
Dark Brown

25. EYE COLOR?
brown

26. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No

27. FAVORITE FOOD?
Italian

28. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
How 'bout a scary movie with a happy ending?

29. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Deep Impact, heh

30. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
white

31. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Anything but summer

33. HUGS OR KISSES?
Nothing against kisses, but I do love a good hug.

34. FAVORITE DESSERT?
maybe chocolate pie? I'm not a big dessert person actually

35. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
I'm reading a couple of different books, all about Aspergers Syndrome

37. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
nothing, it's plain black

38. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Friends episodes on DVD

39. FAVORITE SOUND?
Uh.... I can think of some least favorites, but not any favorites

40. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles

41. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
I'm not sure which is farther, Bolivia or Hawaii

42. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I can curl my tounge into three loops instead of just one, which has gotten me out of a lot of sticky situations, believe you me

43. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland