I hope Someone get to see this!

Hey Guys!

I've been having some issues with Blogger. It seems they aged me 14 years, a few kids, grandkids and a 30 year marriage! :) For those who don't know what I am speaking of (and no, the 95 degree heat hasn't gotten to me), it seems when you try and get my blog site, you instead get someone elses. Weird.

Anyway, just wanted to write and say I figured out the whole Jason Mewes thing....turns out, Sunday was his birthday. GEMINI!!!!! I swear to God, it's now gonna be the first question out of my mouth! A serious, "What's your Sign?"! If they say, Gemini, I'm just gonna turn and run like hell! Ryan, Neil....I gotta start meeting other signs in the zodiac! :)

Just wanted to share. I hope you all get to see this and I am "found" again soon!

Snoogins!!!!!

Hey All!

Just a couple things I wanna say. I was gonna make them separate posts, but decided instead to not delve deep ('cuz I'm tired) and just lay them all out there.

* Our student trainer, Amanda came in today so I could sign her yearbook. It's been "herds" long since I've signed a year book, so I had no clue what to say. I couldn't very well sit and browse through her yearbook, since she hadn't even seen it yet...but I really wanted to. I'm one of those dorky people who like reading the Senior quotes and looking at the baby pictures the parents put in the back...goofy things like that. The other kids don't get theirs until Monday and I doubt I'll have any more to sign. Somehow, Tuesday or Wednesday I've gotta get my hands on one so I can browse through it and check everything out. Their yearbook, even from the little bit I saw, is 10 times better than ours was. Speaking of which, maybe tomorrow, while I'm procrastinating cleaning I'll take my yearbook down off the shelf and fumble through it again. Nothing like reliving a little teen angst.

*I'm still trying to keep up with my Netflix. Last week, they sent me "An Evening with Kevin Smith". I first saw Clerks a few years after it's release while I was living with a fellow Jersey-ian, Kare. I remember it seemed a bit slow in the middle and don't really remember seeing the end the first time I watched it. However, he hooked me and from there I saw "Chasing Amy" ('cuz I heard mixed reviews on Mallrats) which just disturbed me a bit. I still get sucked into watching it every time it's on though and then for days after some of the references cause me to shudder, which looks really strange, 'cuz there's usually not anything around and people will wonder about me! :) Jeremy and I saw Dogma in the movie theater (remember the stupid people who talked through the whole thing?)and it instantly became one of my favorite movies, both for subject matter, as well as Kevin Smith signature banter. In none of these movies, did I think either Jay or Silent Bob to be attractive.

So, I'm watching my Evening with Kevin and at one of the schools (it was edited so the school shows weren't all together, but mixed up throughout the tape)Jay walks out on stage in his little white tank top,lounge pants and long hair. I couldn't help myself from thinking "he's hot"- which completely threw me for a loop! It's a two-disc set so when I finished the first one I had to wait to get the second half. The whole few days or so, all I could think about was Jay in his little tank top and lounge pants and that I had to wait at the mercy of the Netflix people until I could see him again. Being the over analyticaly type we all know me to be, I couldn't for the life of me figure out why, now, all of a sudden, I thought he was hot. (Kare and Jill - I'm gonna leave out the other analysis because not everyone would understand and they may actually think me to be weird and goofy.) It's a bit scary because I went from wanting a nice, romantic, gushy, sweet guy to date (you know, the opposite of what I usually want, but once I get my heartbroken seems like a good idea because they wouldn't hurt me) to liking a stoner-portrayed, goofy, tank topped guy who has.....here it comes....potential to be great. WHY CAN'T I LEARN?!?!?!?!? Words like, Snoogins aren't cute and endearing. They certainly wouldn't be when I'm trying to have an intelligent conversation about my day, or my feelings or something. They'd be annoying and childish. Must...Keep...repeating this to myself. After reading Kevin Smith's website boards and blogs and such, I found out the have an "Evening" part 2. Think he's in there?

* Third, I just want to let Number Boy know my thoughts, heart and love have been with him all day. Jerm, I wanted to call you, but I didn't want to make you cry and I was afraid I would cry, then we'd all be big ol' messes (difference is, you prolly were at work). The world is a little sadder place today, with a cuter face never to be found ever again. All I can hope is that The Mav greeted him and is showing him around and keeping him company. (Granted, Mav is um...a third or so of Jake's size, so it'll look a little strange.)

* Lastly, I am down to 3 days left at the job. It hasn't really sunk in and probably won't until Thursday when I wake up with NOTHING TO DO! I'm sure that now, even more so than before, the summer will fly by and I'll be back in the training room before I know it. I'm not sure how much I'll write over the summer. Maybe a little after my San Diego trip, then again after hanging with Don Juan in Cheese Country, but really what else can I say "today I got up, went to the shore, got tan, worked out, ate and went to bed"? (Are you guys jealous yet? :) :) ) Snoogins! :) I'm sure I'll write more, but I'm planning on a boring, nothing new to say, summer....but I might have lots of fun philosophical thoughts from too much time baking in the sun! :) Happy Friday!

"Don't Stand So Close To Me"

Why do people think if my body is not physically taking up a space, they are automatically entitled to it?!?!?!?

This is one of my biggest pet peeves. I have noticed it happening alot lately - the woman who's hangers (which were draped over her arm)kept poking me in the arm, the lady today who stepped almost in front of me while I was in line (well, I was either in line or standing in the middle of the entrance to the 7-11 dreaming about aliens), then realized I wasn't a "zombie" type person, but did put her milk on the counter next to me as soon as I stepped up to the counter, or the gentleman who's chin, had he been a few inches shorter, would have been resting on my shoulder. One day real soon, I'm gonna lose it and scream "BACK OFF"!!!!!

What happened to personal space? What happened to my 4-6 inch bubble? Why do people want to keep invading my bubble?!?!?!? I have noticed the people who keep invading my space fall into 2 catergories: foreigners and older-to-old women. Now, I try and give the foreigners some slack. Various countries have various "bubbles" and I try to remain sensitive to this, but the older women? It's a "oh she's young, she can't be important enough to warrent...space to breathe." Are these people in such a hurry that the 4 inches of space around my body will speed up their day tremendously? Is someone going to slip into the 4-6 inches of space around me, ignoring the 2 or 3 people BEHIND me, and get ahead of them in line?

I realize I am a bit sensitive to this. Four or Five years ago, I was attacked while running/walking one August evening. I'm sure I've told you all this story before. While I was unharmed physically and pretty much emotionally, the one thing I still get freaked out about is people coming up fast behind me. I think this has carried over to people (read: strangers) being too close behind me at all. It takes every bit of effort not to elbow them square in the jaw. To the woman with the hangers at Old Navy, I was two seconds from asking her if she would please step back because she was making me uncomfortable. I think everyone who reads this would be mortified, or at least apologetic if someone said this to him. I'm not quite so sure these people would be anything but angry and rude.

Now, I am pretty good at the art of "boxing out". Any person (well, at least women) who've ever spent even one second in a crowded bar or restaraunt know how to do this - You square your hips and separate your legs to take up as much space as possible. I understand having people pretty near pasted upon me in a crowded place. I don't like to frequent them for this reason, but if I'm there, it's pretty much a given. I DO NOT see the need to be this close to me standing in line....for anything. If I'm standing a foot or so behind the woman who's using her ATM card at the 7-11 counter (yes, this is you the woman with the milk), it's not because I'm lost in a great alien encounter daydream, I'M IN LINE!!!! (and trying to be polite in giving the woman in front of me some space and privacy.)

So, if in the near future, you read a story in the newspaper (or hear on the news, or the radio) that a woman in NJ broke someone's jaw because they were standing too close to her in line, please pool your money for my bail. :)

My Mood Today

My Mood Today
Originally uploaded by Jenn V.

Hey All! It's a Neil kinda day today! Hope you all agree! :)

"Room gets suddenly still
And when you'd almost bet
You could hear yourself sweat, he walks in
Eyes black as coal
And when he lifts his face
Every ear in the place is on him"

ARUBA

The disappearance of Natalee Holloway has me a little upset. As someone who likes to travel, it is always such a shame to me when people aren't safe while visiting beautiful places.

As you all know, the sister and I are travelling to San Diego at the end of this month. I said the last time I was there that I would love to go to Tijuana, as it is 20 miles away. It completely blows me away I could be in another country in a matter of minutes. Even more so when my old roommate Mike used to tell me he had baseball players at USD who commuted from Tijuana to school everyday. My sister, the adventurous one, keeps telling me she is in no way going. "Didn't you see Traffic?" Our friend Carol has found a compromise, so we may be eating Mexican food in Mexico at some point during the trip! :)

I have frequently heard stories about people disappearing while travelling. (There is one story about a woman disappearing on a cruise I saw on Unsolved Mysteries that I haven't ever been able to get out of my head.) The urge to "take" women, either for slave trade, prositution, drugs, or just to hold for ransom just makes me ill. So, as the Holloway case advances, I keep hoping they find her alive somewhere.

Having said all that, there are other things about her disappearance that anger and upset me. First off, didn't we all learn in kindergarten or first grade NOT to get in the car with strangers?!?!? At what age does someone decide this is no longer a rule we need to follow? I guess the term "stranger" needs some defining as we get older. The other thing considered I guess is how good a judge of character you think you are or how invincible you believe yourself to be. The "strangers" I have often found myself with were friends of friends, or, as happened last weekend, a gentleman we had been hanging out with for hours before taking him with us to dinner. We knew lots about him, it was our city...and there were three of us in a car I was driving.

I must admit there have been times I've gotten in the car with a stranger or strangers. This admission leads me to my next point...Where were her friends?!?!?!? Even the times I HAVE decided to get in the car with strangers (only one I could really kick myself for, but luckily it turned out o.k.) I have been with at least one other person I know, and we were the definate majority. Even in college, we had an unspoken "buddy" system. You must always account for your buddy. If they were leaving (for the bathroom, outside for a smoke or to um...relieve their stomach of the poisioning it had been enjoying! :) ), someone always knew where they were. In an instant the scene was judged safe (as in, there's 40 million people outside we go to school with, or no one would brave the line to the ladies room...or cranky ladies waiting in line to abduct a girl from there), or, if worried, the "buddies" usually went together. No one was ever left "standing" alone. Sometimes, things even warrented putting your foot down and keeping your buddy by your side. In the event they were leaving with someone else, the person they were leaving with was instantly judged for safety and a decision made then. (It really was alot more subconscious than it sounds all written out like this.) Her friends have admitted seeing her getting into a car outside the concert as the last time they saw her. Why didn't they ask questions? Where were her wingmen? You never leave your wingman! Didn't they see Top Gun? Friends can get away with questioning that doesn't sound parental, but secretly is...it's all in the best interest of each other. A weird kind of take on the "Do Unto Others...." rule.

As a last resort, where were the parental chaperones?!?!? Isn't that the point of parental chaperones? I'd like to reference our trip to the Bahamas. I think I've mentioned this before, but the first night at the dueling pianos there were 6 high school aged girls there. They were dancing, the piano guy was making crude comments about them, and one of the girls mothers' was sitting with a friend (another mother?) laughing at the whole scene. For as much as one of the other wedding guests and I couldn't figure out what the mother was thinking letting her high school girl and those in her "custody" in that environment, I do give her credit for giving the girls their space while still keeping a close eye on them. All 6 girls walked off the ship in pretty much the same pieces they came in with.

Please do not think I am blaming the girl/friends/chaperones or taking a "she got what she asked for" attitude, I am not. I just think somehow basic things were forgotten. Maybe it's because they felt comfortable on the island and let their guard down. Maybe they just never learned the rules. Whatever the reason....I hope they find her.

(Just something I read while bloghopping...d*mn that True for her blogroll! :) Which is nothing like "D*mn that Cole Haan"! ;))

Have You Ever:

Before I really start, I'd just like to remind everybody I've always been a "good" girl and followed the rules. Just keep that in mind before reprimanding me for the things I HAVEN'T done! :)

( ) snuck out of the house
( ) gotten lost in your city
(x) seen a shooting star
(x) been to any other countries besides the united states
(x) had a serious surgery - I consider my laproscopy "serious"
(x) gone out in public in your pajamas
(x) kissed a stranger - I also kissed a priest! :) I really think they should warn us non-catholics that you aren't supposed to kiss the priest during Peace Be With You thing, like you do everyone else! :)
(x) hugged a stranger
( ) been in a fist fight
( ) been arrested
( ) laughed and had milk/coke come out of your nose- but in my defense, I have had Goldschlager come out my nose, so I think it more than makes up for it! It also burns like heck. Haven't had Goldschlager since. Thanks Kare! :)
( ) pushed all the buttons on an elevator
(x) swore at your parents - to their face? I need clarification. If they have to know about it, un "x" this one! :)
(x) been in love
(x) been to a casino
( ) been skydiving
( ) skinny-dipped
(x) skipped school - but my parents knew about it. How lame is that! :)
(X) seen a therapist
(x) done the splits
(x) played spin the bottle
( ) gotten stitches
( ) drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour - Who does this?!?!?
(x) bitten someone - I'm pleading the 5th! Jill, stay out of this. You have no place here! :)
(x) been to Niagara Falls
(x) gotten the chicken pox
(x) kissed a member of the opposite sex
( ) crashed into a friend's car
( ) been to Japan
(x) ridden in a taxi
(x) been dumped - every relationship I've ever had
( ) shoplifted
( ) been fired - (technically, no, but I did quit a place because they put an ad in the paper for my job without telling me I wasn't going to have it anymore.)
( ) had a crush on someone of the same sex
(x) had feelings for someone who didn't have them back
(x) gone on a blind date
(x) lied to a friend
(x) had a crush on a teacher
(x) celebrated Mardi-Gras in new Orleans - I'd go back in a heartbeat, too!
(x) been to Europe-
(x) slept with a co-worker
( ) been married
( ) gotten divorced
( ) had children
( ) seen someone die
(x) had a close friend die - i think Erin would have loved the heck out of Blogging! :)
( ) been to Africa
() driven over 400 miles in one day
(x) been to Canada
(x) been to Mexico - the best vacation EVER! Ask any member of our family!
(x) been on a plane
(x) seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show - I have a couple songs on my iPod. I love "Sweet Transvestite, I just have to remember not to sing it out loud! :) Hey Kare, remember when James' friend Dave dressed up like Frankenfurter? He's the best one I've ever seen! :)
(x) thrown up in a bar
( ) purposely set a part of myself on fire - There's a long story involved with this comment, but ever since hearing the story through a friend of a friend, when talking about an embarassing or weird night, we say..."yes, but did you light yourself on fire?" It's now (thanks to a friend's coworker who was drunk, dancing on a bar and lit her pants on fire. The complete story is HILARIOUS!) how we judge! :)
(x) eaten sushi
( ) been skiing/snowboarding
(x) met someone in person from the internet
( ) lost a child
(x) gone to college
(x) graduated college
( ) fired a gun
(x) purposely hurt yourself -- does drinking count? How about getting involved with boys you know you shouldn't?
(x) taken painkillers- Luckily, I had an adverse reaction to that or I'm sure it would've been easy to get addicted. Some sick joke to give painkillers to ease back pain after a car accident, then I got sick and spent an EXTREMELY miserable few hours with the porcelin god. Try that with back pain! :)

Feel free to add any you'd like! I'm just happy there weren't a whole lot more! :) Have a good weekend Everyone! :)

Hey All!

Happy June! I can't believe the school year has flown by so fast. The next two weeks are gonna be rough, 'cuz we have stuff to do, but it's all easily procrastinated. The countdown to summer begins!

I thought I'd list my random thoughts of the last few days...since I've had many random feelings and moments lately.

• I'm really slacking on my Netflix. My mom got me 3 months free as a Christmas present. I started it Januray 1st and was really excited. Determined to get through my "q" of movies, I'm still trudging along. I have added some and I'm still at 24 or so to watch.
• I just finished Garden State, which I was a little bored through the beginning, but it when it ended, I thought it was "cute". Not so much for The Big Bounce. Too much build up and a pretty predictable ending. I spent most of the movie thinking if Owen Wilson got his nose fixed he'd be pretty hot and trying to figure out if the lead girl was hot or not.
• Next up, to fulfill my odd self, Team America, World Police (which I started to watch with my friends Saturday before I fell asleep) and a two disc set called An Evening With Kevin Smith. I've missed only two of his movies, but loved the rest.
• BLT's just aren't good on any bread but white bread. So, I stopped at the grocery specifically to get white bread for the BLT's for dinner. Got home, bread was moldy...ahd to eat it on potato/wheat potato rolls. :(
• They aren't good with burnt bacon, either.
• Why doesn't Miracle Whip advertise anymore? I've been eating alot of Miracle Whip lately. I forgot how much I liked it. Last night, I used the last little bit of miracle whip...ring a bell to anyone?
• I really like Mandarin Oranges. I'd eat more of them, but they but them in tin cans and then the oranges tast like tin. I don't want tins...I want oranges. Can't they put them in plastic or something so I can eat them?
• I never remember taking lots of days off in high school. We have lots of kids with 20 or more days out of school. What could they have learned?!?!?!
• There's nothing better than a good sleep...deep, so you don't know where you are when you wake up, or remember anything you've dreamt, sleep.
• I think I could eat Mexican food every day of the week!
• Mike called me yesterday to tell me the apartment we used to live in was now a pile of rubble. Part of me was really happy about this. Shouldn't I be sad? Nostalgic? Nope. Tear the sucker down! :)
• I don't really have alot of sappy feeling about Greensboro anymore. I do miss some of the food places. I guess what I liked the most, the people, is gone now. They've all moved on to other things.
• Even Mike mentioning Neil didn't evoke any emotion in me. Maybe I'm still numb from the beer I drank this weekend! ('cuz, to quote Grace from Will & Grace..."Better her than me. Bettah her than me." :) )
• Ever have a person who, when they talk to you, you swear they're undressing you the whole time?
• I have tons of books that have just been piling up in my room to be read. Guess I'll be working on that this summer too.
• I've also left 2 partially read. That's so very unlike me. They weren't bad books, I just don't really feel like reading.
• I blame my iPod for this
• I've decided I will give in to the fact I can't wear contacts and buy a pair of sunglasses with a prescription. I hate trying to keep track of expensive things, but what choice have I.
• Now, I just have to find a cure for the rain with glasses. I'm seriously thinking about LASIK. Just don't know if the risk of being blind forever is worth not having to wear glasses.

Well, I'm off to do something else random. Hope you all have a magical day! :) (A quote from one of our track runners. He's such a sweet kid...but such a goof-off that most teachers wanna throttle him! :) )