So...it's been awhile since I last posted, so I thought I'd give an update. Today I don't work, so I'm cleaning today, it definitely needed it. Took out the garbage, did some vacuuming (going to finish in a bit) then washing the...like 5 dishes that I have, making my bed, and taking a shower before movie night. Laura and Theresa were tired after work today-since people were getting back from holiday travels and did all their shopping today...go figure. So we postponed movie night until next week-probably Monday again. So tonight I'm going to have my own movie night! I also need to work on putting people's information in my address book for when I shut down my facebook!! I'm getting really excited for it. I would do it early, but I still need to get people's info and then post mine for a couple days before I close it down.

I also want to give up soda for New Years...my reasoning is that it's pretty much just like alcohol-I don't need it. Although I think it will be much more difficult to give up than alcohol-because I never was too big of a drinker-unfortunately a few years ago I did go to parties and drink more than I felt comfortable with because that's what others were doing. But soda, I like the taste, and the caffeine, and the sweetness/sugar; so it will be more difficult.

Anyway, I should get back to cleaning so I can shower and then settle in for a relaxing night!

I just got back from seeing Avatar. I am literally speechless. I kinda want to say it's the best movie I've ever seen. James Cameron is my hero. Everything about it was amazing. I can't wait to see it again in the theater. This is what going to a movie is supposed to be. It was 3D too, so I was moving with them onscreen-that has never happened to me before-with any movie, 3D or otherwise.

It was simply beautiful, stunning, magnificent...*sigh*

This may sound silly or weird because it's "just a movie" But it really was amazing.

Update again...

I have 2 days off! I don't work until Saturday, then I work 4 days in a row and then not again until the 26th, so I'll have several days at home.

I'm going to see the movie Avatar tonight with Jessa, I'm really excited-that movie looks super good. Generally life is pretty boring right now, but it's nice to feel more laid back and relaxed-not so much like a roller coaster. It's nice to just glide smoothly, at least for awhile.

This may sound a little weird, but I've been thinking about my "dating life" and have been doing some thinking about courtship...since I feel more mature and "grown up" than I used to...which obviously comes with age, but I feel like I need to focus on myself, and I also feel like I'm ready to find my future husband-I feel ready to settle down, not do the casual dating thing.

I feel like....God is calling me to be closer to him. I'm trying to live to be a better person. I don't drink anymore, I don't smoke, I am REALLY trying not to swear. I'm trying to be more patient with people and circumstances and realize that I would not be given any task that I couldn't handle.

Anyway, I have some laundry and cleaning to do, so I should go. Can't wait for Christmas!!

I'm just sitting in bed, going to go to sleep soon since I work at 7:30 tomorrow. I have been trying to do research about different churches and the like in the area. I actually like the ministry of the Believers Church, but there isn't one in the area. As for churches in the area, I do like what I've found and heard about Valleybrook Church. So I think I'm going to go tomorrow night at 6 pm. But for now it's bedtime....

So today after work I bought 3 sweater-skirts (one black, one grey, and one purple/fuschia) and I also now have a pair of black cable knit tights and a pair of ivory cable knit tights. I tried on the skirt and I just LOVED it!! And with it being sweater material and then the thick tights...it should be decently warm for the winter. I'm actually kind of excited for Monday to wear them to class.

I got good news at work! I got Christmas Eve off of work, as well as the 23rd after 4:00 off. Also, I got December 5th and 6th off for Dad's side Christmas and Olde Fashioned Christmas. Now I just need to try and work out to be able to go to Mom's side Christmas.

Ugh, but I have a headache now, so I'm going to go.

So, I've really been considering wearing only skirts. I really want to be more modest and feminine. While searching for different ways to wear long and modest skirts, I came across a site for another woman's blog and she is an "Empowered Traditionalist" I really like that "title" of sorts. Even though I don't agree with everything that is said on there, overall I like it.

Here is a website of a woman who has VERY cute and fun MODEST clothes-unfortunately, being a little on the broke side right now, they are out of my price range. But overall they are not any more expensive than many clothes you see at stores now-but at the same time you are actually getting much more material for your money-because lots of stores charge the same prices for more revealing clothes with less fabric and coverage.

http://www.christa-taylor.com

I wish my apartment let us have pets!! I have been getting my "fix" by visiting the Humane Association and visiting the cats and kittens. I like going into the cat colony because the older cats are in there and they just come right up and rub against your leg and beg to be petted and held. But the kittens are super tiny and cute-there is one that is from a litter of 4 and he is the smallest one and his left eye is cross-eyed-just too darn cute!! He's such a cuddler and is content to just curl up on your lap, or shoulder, or in your arms...I wish I could sneak him into my purse and take him home! But I don't have anything here for a cat, and Kirstin isn't much of a cat person...But Jules and I are planning on sneaking a cat in when she lives here next year! So that will be exciting.

And the Vikings won!! 6-0 as of right now!!

So, let's see...I did find out that I have to work on Sunday the 25th-from 10-5:30. So I left a note to see if anyone could work it for me or switch for a later shift or Monday. Today I'm just hanging out, watching tv, enjoying my day off. I'm getting hungry now though, so I'm going to go make some "lunch", haha, even though it's 3:30.

Well after my almost-meltdown, I feel much better. I ended up getting really sick to my stomach later that night and did vomit once-and then felt better-my headache started to fade almost immediately-it wasn't the stabbing pain behind my eyes that it was initially...so I could finally sleep and when I woke up Tuesday morning I felt quite a bit better-not quite 100% but a great deal better. But since then I've had a headache almost constantly for several days...I've tried lots of different things but nothing completely gets rid of it. Don't get me wrong, it hasn't been too bad-just more of a nagging annoyance than real pain. I just am almost forgetting what it's like to be without that nagging at the back of my skull.

But, on to MUCH better news; I can't wait to surprise my dad on his birthday!! I have class and work today, then tomorrow off. I work Saturday night and then have Sunday off. I'm going to church with Megan A. on Sunday. I've been really wanting to get back into that and find more positive friends-that don't drink and go party at the bars all the time. I still really like hanging out with them, but I don't drink anymore-so sometimes it can feel awkward when all they want to do is party and get drunk. I'm looking for something different-but fun. So I want to find a church here that I like and feel comfortable at. I'm going to try this one with Megan...and there is one just a block and a half from my apartment that I'd also like to try.

But, back to dad's birthday; I found out that I don't work on Friday the 23rd, or Saturday, so I'm scheming with mom to surprise Dad. I'm going to call him in the morning like I normally would on his birthday-but then just show up at work and take him out to lunch or something...Mom thinks it will be a nice surprise for him. I hope I don't work Sunday or can switch for Monday or something...then I could stay home for the whole weekend. I will find out tonight when I go to work.

Well, class is about to start, so I should get off the internet. Goodbye for now!

I'm starting to get a little scared. I feel my mind starting to spin out of control. I have had a headache all day today. It is just driving me crazy. I have had caffeine, I just drank an entire bottle of water, I took my contacts out and am wearing my glasses, I took an Aleve and an Ibuprofen...I am tired...so I hope I can sleep it off. My neck has been bothering me too-feeling like I need to crack it, but I can't....I take that back-I can, but only a few times and then it still feels like it needs to crack. I feel somewhat sick to my stomach...I moved my wastebasket over next to my bed. I'm going to go to bed-turn my light off and tv off and just go to bed. Ugh.

Update

So, the car is still running good so far...I still really like it-or should I say her-Lucy. I went to the Humane Association for the 2nd time today. It was really fun...and when Jules moves in next year, I am hoping we might be able to foster some animals or maybe even adopt a cat-I have to talk to the University Housing and see if it's ok (and even if it's not we might adopt a cat or something anyway...cause she likes pets/cats too. Kirstin isn't really a cat person, and I want to give the housing people enough advance notice/warning before just bringing in an animal.

I'm watching the Twins game right now...REALLY hoping they beat the damn Yankees that no one really likes.

RIP Artie. That's right, insurance declared Artie as totaled. But I got a pretty good amount of insurance money. On Friday, my dad came over (an hour and fifteen minute drive-one way) and picked me up and we went back and dealt with insurance and the bank for financing and then spent all afternoon car shopping. I had been looking online at cars and found a few near home to look at and test drive. I ended up getting a 2004 Kia Rio with 63,000 miles. I really like it, it's a cute little car, and I am locking this one religiously. I also plan on keeping it much cleaner than Artie. I am trying to decide whether to name my car Lucy, Belle, or Wendy. I'm leaning towards Lucy.

Last Monday I rescued a dog! I saw it wandering around in the next door neighbor's yard-they are all college guys and I know they don't have a dog. So I went around and met it in the alley, I got it's attention and held on to it and called for animal control to come pick it up since I didn't have a car at the time! Haha, anyway, a woman came and picked it up. And today I went to the Humane Association to check on the dog and see if the owner did pick him up. I found out that the owner was frantic to get him back. I knew the dog was someone's pet because it had 3 years of vaccination tags and it had very thick, fluffy fur that was well kept-it was very friendly and kept rolling over in the mud so I would rub his belly!

While I was there I donated some things that I had here at the apartment, I had some old socks that the dogs could use as toys-play tug of war or something like that. I had a couple of binders that I didn't use anymore because I don't really like binders. I had some extra pens and pencils. I also brought some leftover cleaning supplies-like ammonia, clorox and lysol cleaning sprays, and a few other cleaners. I was going to bring a pillow, but I forgot. I thought they could use it as a bed for the cat colony or in one of the small dog's kennels. I also need to ask off from work for a Wednesday night so I can go to the orientation and then start volunteering. It was so nice visiting today. I wish I could adopt a pet-or even foster a pet-but I don't think they'll let me in the apartment. So this is my chance to help out.

But while I was there, 2 animals got adopted! A dog, Sadie; and a kitten, Chase. So it was a good day for that-and overall it was a pretty busy day-there were lots of people visiting today and looking at animals. Anyway, bedtime for me now!

Artie got burned...

So yesterday, I discovered my car-which I have named Artie, had been basically set on fire. I worked until 11 on Friday, did some shopping, then came home and parked in front of my apartment on the street. I did not go out to it again until yesterday at around 1:00/1:30.

As I was walking out to it, I was wondering why it was so "foggy" looking in the windows. Much to my surprise, I found that some obnoxious jackwads decided to have some fun in my car. It was not locked-yeah yeah...I know, I should lock it-and believe me, now I'm pretty paranoid about it. I filed a report with the police and gave them the lighter and book of matches I found in my car.

The inside front corner of my passenger seat is completely burned away, and part of the floor/center console is also melted/burned. The inside of my car-all the windows and such were covered in smoke residue. I went out there this morning and cleaned with window cleaner and paper towels to get it clean...I went through almost an entire roll of paper towels.

But now I'm waiting for some clothes to dry and I'm gonna go get some lunch...and then continue to work on cleaning my room and the apartment.

So, as of today, I'm giving up soda cold turkey. My plan is that every time I want a soda or would have reached for a soda, I'll drink water instead. Occasionally if I want some flavor I'll have a glass of milk or water with Crystal Light in it. I'm not giving up caffeine, so I hopefully won't get headaches for that reason. I have some hot chai tea for if I need some caffeine at home. Otherwise I'll get caffeine at work. One thing that I might do is get the liquid chai concentrate-so I can have the latte, with milk and that should be more flavorful than regular hot tea. I'll try the Vanilla Chai tea that I have now before I buy the concentrate so I don't waste money buying the concentrate if the hot chai tea is good.

I'm going to see how giving up soda goes, and if it goes well for 2 weeks, I am considering giving up chocolate too after a few more weeks. But with chocolate, I'll probably have to cut it out more gradually-just because I love it so much! haha So if cutting out soda goes well at the 2 week mark, then I'll gradually start eliminating chocolate.

I'm trying to be healthier and maybe lose some weight by simple steps. I'm a relatively active person. Work helps with that-since I'm on my feet walking during the whole shift. So I'm just going to see how cutting out things affects my health and weight and such.

Anyway, I'm craving a Mt. Dew right now, so I'm going to go get some water!!

'nother post

So, I thought I'd post again since I have more time and I'm bored....nothing good is on TV. Tomorrow I don't have class and I don't work, so it'll be great. Going for tea with Megan at 2:00. I do have to wash my dishes tomorrow. And I'll clean my room cause it's starting to annoy me.

I wish the autumn weather would get here already, I'm getting sick of the hot humid weather. I'm ready for jeans and sweatshirts...Anyway, so even though I have more time, I'm getting tired.

Ciao for now.

Day 1

So, today is day 1 of my blog. I was rooting around Google and decided to start a blog on the site.

So I was woken up a little too early this morning with some maintenance crew cutting branches from the tree that is literally 5 feet from my window-which is open since it is still summery weather. Awesome.

I'm still doing research on towns/cities in Colorado. I am still pretty sure that is where I want to move to and very possibly settle down. I am thinking a smaller city-no larger than about 100,000 people; and not smaller than about 10,000 people.
....if anyone has any suggestions for cities/towns, feel free to post them as comments with the reason why you like that particular place.

Thanks!!