becconingamberlance

2007-12-12T16:09:00.000-08:00

yes, this is a real, new, post.

"What's the occasion?", you may ask...

...well,I'm coming back home! Or near to it. That's right, we're moving back to KING COUNTY! I"m excited to even be back within the king county library system.

I'm transfering to my owners other gym in Federal Way to be the assistant director. Yay.

We found an apartment and everything, and we're moving the weekend before christmas. yaaaay.

Okay. That's all I have time to say.

-becca

2007-12-11T22:11:00.001-08:00

2007-09-25T19:49:00.001-07:00

here IIII AM!

I'm at work right now. I had to come in and open up the gym for a tai chi class. But the lady just left almost an hour early without saying anything, so I'm waiting a few minutes to make sure that she's not coming back...then i'm going home. If she hasn't come back, that is.

So, I've basically been working every day andddd...not really doing anything else. Which is okay for now. CUZ GUESS WHAT! It's my birthday on FRIDAY. That's right. I'm gonna be 20. woo. So you better send me flowers and chocolates and balloons and flowers and presents and take me out to a fancy restuarant and make dress up in a pretty dress which you also bought for me...and what else? I don't know. Send me a card. Make me feel loved on my first day as a 20 year old. I wonder if any of my relatives sent me a card. Probably not...since I haven't even sent some of them wedding pictures yet. Eesh. I should do that. And YOU (jeremy) should do the above mentioned things as a surprise for your wife..cough cough.

I don't know why my birthday makes having no life but work okay. I guess cause I get most of saturday off and an actualy ENTIRE day off on Sunday! That hasn't happened in over a week and a half!

That lady still hasn't come back yet.

I wonder if she drove away.

There don't seem to be many cars outside.

hmm.

Well anyway.

I started crocheting again. Jeremy wants me to crochet him a scarf. So I guess I'll do that. But I tihnk now I need to go. Because if that lady isn't coming back, then there is absolutely no reason for me to be at work.

Hey amber, if you ever read this, sorry I didn't call you back yet. I'm not ignoring you. I just...haven't called you back for some reason. Maybe I will tonight.

BYE!
becca

2007-07-31T16:47:00.000-07:00

So, I'm still alive. My post is going to seem amazingly short compared to amber's novella though. wow.

Life is good. I'm still working at My Gym (and yes, I still like it), living in Silverdale, and pretty much loving my husband and being married. So, it's pretty good. I don't really have anything specific to say, do I? I just felt like I should really post after it being so long.

Plus I'm waiting for something to be done on the computer and there's nothing else to do at the moment.

I really have nothing I feel like writing at the moment, deep or not.

Oh well.
I"ll try some other time.

Amber and I are going camping this weekend! WOO! At Fort Stevens. Hopefully this wasn't a bad thing to do, considering that last time I went camping was with Amber at this campsite when we were like...15 or 16, and we got into some fight and deemed it the worst camping trip ever.

I'm just hoping that doesn't happen again :P

okay,I need to get going!

-becca

2007-07-12T20:17:00.000-07:00

Okay, I've actually got something interesting to say!

My doctor wanted me to have a blood test done, and she wanted me to fast for 8 hours beforehand, so yesterday morning I skipped breakfast and went to the clinic to have my blood test done. I had my day all planned out - after visiting the clinic, I would pick up a prescription, get an EggMcMuffin at McDonald's, and go to work. After work, I would vacuum my car and wash it at work, then go home and clean.

I got to the clinic and sat on the bench outside the lab, waiting for the technician to come take my blood - I was the very first one there. After a few minutes, a little old lady sat next to me. She took out some knitting and we chatted a little bit. Then the technician came, asked who was first, and since it was me, I went and sat in the chair that looks like it could occupy a 400 pound bottom.

I wasn't really nervous - I've had blood taken before, and I thought I'd be more nervous because I hadn't eaten, but I wasn't really. I was doing fine, she put the needle in, and I felt kind of sick so I put my head back and closed my eyes. She asked me if I was okay and I said "yeah". I felt really dizzy but I knew it was almost over. She asked me a few more times if I was okay and I just kept saying "yeah".

Then I opened my eyes and there were about six people standing over me, and I was lying on the floor. Someone was saying "You're okay, Amber, you're fine, it's okay". I saw the lab tech and thought "I think that's the girl who took my blood a few days ago." I closed my eyes again because I thought I was just in a dream and I was really tired. Someone said my name and I was like "What?" and I was kind of annoyed. They were like "Have you ever had a seizure before?" I was like "what? no."

Gradually I realized what was going on. "Wait, so I'm still at the clinic?" "Okay, I passed out?" "What do you mean, I had a seizure?" I couldn't believe it was happening. They brought me some orange juice and I sipped it. After a few minutes I could half sit up if I was leaning on somebody, but I was shaking really bad. They got me into a wheelchair, and as they took me away I saw the lady I had been chatting with. Her eyes were huge as she stared at me.

I laid down on a table and everyone there was so nice, asking me if I wanted a saltine or some orange juice - I had people popping in every ten seconds to see how I was doing! The lab tech came in and she was like "oh good, your color's back." I said "Why, was I pale?" and she said "Um, your face was the color of your shirt" (I was wearing a white shirt). I called a friend from work to pick me up because I couldn't really drive.

I got back to work and used the bathroom and discovered I'd peed my pants while I was out! Haha, I don't think I've done that since I was too little to remember. I laid down at work for a few hours, then I suddenly got this massive headache. I was able to walk around, but poorly and only for a minute or two. I could only sit up for a minute or two before having to lie down. I called the clinic and they told me to go straight to the ER. I didn't want to, I cried and begged and said I wanted to wait longer but they said I had to go and get a CT scan. So my coworker drove me to the Auburn emergency center, but they were out of power so their CT wasn't working. So I went to Valley Medical Center, which is kind of a bad word around here - people always make a face when someone says "I went to Valley". It's just not a great hospital. But it was the closest thing.

My coworker dropped me off, and I checked in and they said the wait would not be long, but I was in the waiting room for at least 2 hours. I was miserable - I was thirsty, they wouldn't let me have water, and I was so hungry and I wasn't supposed to eat but I was sneaking fingerfuls of peanut butter. The only nice thing was that a friend of my mom's works there and she found me like two minutes after I got there. I was laying down on the bench because I was so dizzy and she brought me a pillow for my head.

Ooh! Dramatic moment! A black dude came in, screaming, "My fingers are cut off! They're gone! F***! F***! My fingers are gone, you understand they're GONE! Can you people help me! I have insurance! I have insurance, I'm covered, but my d*** fingers are gone, they're just gone!" He was waving his bandaged hand around in the air and getting blood everywhere. They took him back and you could hear him yelling. We in the waiting room kind of looked at each other, smiled, and resumed our normal sleeping/reading/talking. Two minutes later the guy's buddy came running in - "I've got the fingers!" Heehee. This poor traumatized little girl that was there, I felt sorry for her but at least her mommy was with her.

Finally I went back and got a bed. From here on it was pretty boring - lots of blood pressure tests, an IV, EKG, CT scan. The lady in the bed next to me, I guess she was waiting in the waiting room with me because she asked if I was the girl with the peanut butter. Her name was...um...Lydia? no... dang it. I cannot remember. Anyway, it was nice to talk to her for a bit. After a bag of IV fluids I felt so much better, and after a few hoursI was discharged and my cousin picked me up. But I hated being at that hospital. I've decided to write them a letter:

Dear Valley Medical Center Emergency Room:

Your staff is really extreme. Either they are extremely competent and nice, or they are extremely arrogant and rude. Your check-in lady was nice. She was efficient and quick. My mom's friend, who works there, was nice.

Your nurse, the blond guy with all the muscles who looks like he could break my arm off at the shoulder when he's taking blood pressure, he's arrogant. He was asking me why I'd had a seizure and I said "well they think it was because I was fasting" and he was like "well duh you should have eaten first" and I was like "well they told me to fast, dodo," and he was like "how long did you fast" and I said "just eight hours, I skipped breakfast" and he was like "well pfft, that's not fasting" and I was like "well that's what they called it so you can just take it up with them." I don't really remember how much of my part of the conversation was in my head, but he was a jerk.

Throughout the day, my blood pressure and heart rate were taken at random intervals, and the heart rate was taken with this little finger thing you put your finger in. Well, sometimes they'd forget to take the blood pressure cuff off (or so I thought) and just leave it on for forty-five minutes until they came back. So when Mr. Blond Surfer Nurse came in and put the finger thing on and left, I figured he'd forgotten to take it off, so I did. My monitor started beeping and he came in and was like "What's up?"

I said, "Nothing,"

"Why did you take your monitor off?"

"Oh, sorry, I didn't realize I was supposed to leave it on."

"Well, if you don't want to wear it that's fine, we just want to monitor you so we can tell if you are dying or something."

"Um, I don't mind wearing it, I just thought you had forgotten to take it off."

"Ha! I never forget anything" and he stalked off.

Your patient advocate, whose name (I think) is Ray, was really nice. He came with a smile and asked if he could get me a pillow, and I said yes, and he asked if I'd like the light off and I said yes because I was laying on my back staring up into the light. He gave me a card to fill out and he thanked me for my smile.

Your doctor was nice. His name started with an R. He told me the same thing had happened to his dad, fainting and then having a seizure. He said it might not have been a true seizure, just a reaction after fainting that some people have. Then he asked if I'd peed my pants and I said yes and he said "Oh, well that's more like a seizure". He ended up giving me a referral for a neurologist, which I didn't want, but I asked if I really had to go and he basically said yes, and I couldn't drive till I see the neurologist.

The lady who came in just before I was discharged, what the heck was up with her? She acted like it was her job to convince me, the hypochondriac, that I was fine. "Yeah, you passed out, but that's a normal body reaction and a lot of people do that when they get blood drawn, so you're fine." I got that reaction from so many medical professionals yesterday who asked me what had happened and when I told them they tried to tell me why I was overreacting. So here's what I want to tell them.

1. I don't know what happened. I was passed out, remember? For all you medical professionals who asked me what I did during the seizure and how long it was, how the heck would I know? Idiots. I felt like I was in the ER for nothing. It's not like I had a litte pain so I went straight to the hospital. I don't even remember what happened. So don't try telling me that I'm overreacting to something I don't even remember.

2. I didn't want to come in to the ER, but my doctor said I had to. When the first hospital I went to couldn't to the CT scan, I called her again to see if I could just wait till they got their machine up and she said I had to come to Valley. I didn't even want to come in! You think I like sitting in the waiting room with groaning, sleeping people, having water withheld from me, donning an ugly gown that would fit someone 200 pounds heavier than me, having needles stuck in me and handsomely arrogant surfer nurses being dumb at me? Well, I didn't! I was so bored and I was dizzy and in pain. So don't try and tell me I came in for nothing and it's my own fault.

Sincerely,

Amber.

Grr.

Anyway, today I still felt pretty sick until about noon, then something clicked and I was way better. Like, I couldn't really walk straight before and I was so dizzy and tired. And this morning it was pretty warm but I kept getting chills. I'd be like "Agh! It's FREEZING in here! Can we PLEASE turn off the fan!" and my coworkers were like "Um, no. It's hot and we're sweating." But I feel soo much better now! Wow! I have to see my regular doctor tomorrow - I thought I'd get out of it by seeing the neurologist, but they called me this morning at 8 and they were like "Don't think that just because you went to the ER you don't have to keep your 9:00 appointment tomorrow!" No, they didn't say it like that, but that was the basic message.

I drove today even thought I am not supposed to, but I just got my car from the clinic and moved it to work so it won't get towed. It was only like five minutes away.

So that was my day yesterday and my day today. Sorry everything is so detailed - I like to put in as many details as I can because whenever I read back on old blogs I like all the details and remembering.

Heehee. Random, huh?

2007-06-29T17:48:00.000-07:00

so....hi.

I haven't posted anything on here since way long ago before I was married (wow, threeeee months!)

But, seeing as I was talking to amber on the phone while she was at Debbi's house, and I spoke with Debbi the weekend after that, I thought I should get around to posting...finally.

umm, life is good. I just exchanged my defective dashboard confessional CD for a new one. Hopefully this one is not a defect too.

I had the stomach flu or something for 24 hours on tuesday night. I thought it was food poisoning when I threw up at 1:30am, after eating out with Jeremy. However, after I went to bed, I threw up 10 more times between then and 10:15AM. I was not pleased. And I did not feel good. And I did not go into work. And I am very tired of getting sick every week. And! I still haven't eaten very much solid food since then. I'm better though, yay!

So what else can I say. I'm working at My-Gym still, and I still enjoy it thoroughly. Um. Um. Um. I'm kind of bored in silverdale sometimes though, because we don't have many friends out here yet. Uuuuum.

I love being married :D

If you haven't seen my wedding pictures yet you should go look at my myspace space: www.myspace.com/aestheticvestige

There are quite a few up there, though no where near the 500 that I have.

I guess I don't have that much more interesting anything to say.

Happy Fourth of July!!!!

BYE!
becca

2007-06-16T21:19:00.000-07:00

Since Debbi was the last one to complain that this blog hasn't been updating it, I'm updating it AT HER HOUSE! Technically, while babysitting her kids, except they're in bed. Her "h" key tends to get stuck (I'm on your laptop, Debbi) and I should have switched computers but I'm just lazy like that.

Too many people have been asking me how I'm doing. If I'm doing well, it doesn't matter how many people ask me, because my answer is always the same and doesn't require explanation. Plus, if I'm doing well, I have enough energy to be convincing.

Here's why I don't like not being well:

For every person that asks me how I am doing, I have to evaluate how much information to give them. Will I ever see this person again? How much do they care about me? Will they share information? Will they ask helpful questions? Will they probe for gossip?

For every person that asks me how I am doing, I have to evaluate my own mood and how much information I am willing to share at the moment: Have I just finished a three-hour conversation of my life with another person? Am I cranky? Am I about to burst into tears? Am I bitter? Am I desperate to talk?

It takes a lot more energy to tell someone that you are not doing well than to tell them you are doing well. Very rarely will I indicate I am doing well when I am not. So if I'm not in the mood, or if it doesn't feel like a "good" person to tell, I find it awkward and stressful to defer the question and change the subject quickly.

Okay, here's the deal: At this moment, I am fair. I'm not about to burst into tears. My body is a little tired and has been for the last two weeks, and I've been craving sugar constantly, which is weird. I am also thirsty all the time. All day I think about sugar and water and sleeping. Emotionally, I should be at a high point this week and I'm just not.

On the bright side, there is something freeing about realizing that something is wrong. I didn't acknowledge that I was not "great" until today, and now I can honestly say, "No, I am not great, but I am okay at the moment." Honesty is so freeing.

Sorry this wasn't funny or anything!

2007-04-21T09:14:00.000-07:00

Today, I had an absolutely wonderful day. Wow. Those of you who have been close to me in the last two months know how amazing that is!

First of all, at work we haven't had any books to list, so I basically worked Monday this week, and then no other days. Now, running out of books is bad for the company so I hope we have a lot next week, but it's nice to have a long break. And I get paid during this time. Woohoo!

So today was sunny. I finished up some computer projects - I organized all my music, which has been an ongoing process for the last few months. I took some stuff off my computer that was taking up space and slowing things down. I finished one book and started another.

Then I went to my cousin's new house for lunch with some aunts and cousins. I lounged around and dozed on the couch with my cousin for most of the afternoon and looked out the sunny window.

Then I went home, went on a walk and called my mom and had a very pleasant chat with her, which was ended with her saying "Oh, your dad just got home. Oh! He has flowers! Yellow roses! A dozen! Um...I'm going to go give him a kiss! Okay bye!" She loves yellow. Anyway, that was a really happy way for a conversation to end.

After that, I called my good friends in Portland, my "other family", and on a whim I asked if I could live there next school year. They said "yes" without hesitation. So I have a place to live! Oh my goodness! I can't believe I asked them, and I can't believe they said yes, and I can't believe I have a place to stay! And I don't have to worry about it! Really, that was the number one hassle I didn't want to deal with - finding a place to stay. And now it's taken care of!

And now the sweet icing on the cake: There's this stray cat that's hung around my aunt's house for the last year. My aunt's cat hates him, so we've always shoo'd him away to discourage him. He was hanging around the house as I returned from my walk, just looking at me and meowing. I tried to ignore him and walk back to the house, but he kept walking right in front of me, but when I bent down to pet him, he shied away. So I just stood there, and he started rubbing against my legs, and after a few minutes he let me pet him. He has this HUGE clump of matted fur on one side of his neck, and his paw is hurt, and he's just really matted and dirty, but he's soooo lovable! After petting him for a while, I finally went inside and told my aunt, and she was shocked - she said he'd never let her pet him before!

She came outside to see. I sat down on the driveway, and this cat climbed right into my lap and curled up! He kept nudging my hand to pet him, and purring.

We gave him some cat food and he ate a bowl full. He was so hungry!

I looove kitties, but Lucy (my aunt's cat) isn't very cuddly. Oh, Lucy hates this cat, by the way. She watched from the window while we loved on this cat, and her eyes just spewed fire. I came inside and she wouldn't even look at me, and when I tried to pet her she gave this long, mournful sound. It's kind of funny, actually. But Lucy was once a stray too, they found her on the street.

This cat survived the whole winter homeless! And maybe longer!

His name is Gil. I'm actually not sure if it's a boy; I can't tell with cats. If he keeps coming around, I might take him to the vet and get some shots and treat him for any fleas he might have. My aunt said I might bring him inside sometimes if I take him to the vet first, so I'm going to wait and see if he keeps coming around before I invest my money.

Anyway, it was a wonderful day, which was Friday, and I'm posting this now (Saturday) because I had some difficulties with blogger.

how well do you know us?

2007-03-13T14:32:00.000-07:00

Create your own Friend Quiz here

2007-03-13T00:04:00.000-07:00

Most likely, I should be in bed sleeping right now. But I'm not! Why? I guess I'm being irresponsible. Which you wouldn't think i would be about sleeping, because this morning I did NOT want to get up. So I slept in and didn't take a shower.

Anyway. I left work early today to go meet Jeremy so we could apply for our marriage license. That was eeaasy. Then on our way home, we ran out of gas.

okay. I have neeeeveeer run out of gas before in my car. Ever. Before I moved over here, I was always very good about putting gas in my car. But, now I have to drive a lot farther to get to gas. So I don't do it as much, and I just put a few bucks in here and there at the closer more expensive stations, until I can get to a cheaper station to fil up my car.

So here's another thing. My gas indicater fluctuates a lot. I count the miles and it's different from quarter tank to quarter tank. I don't think that's really supposed to happen. So, I didn't believe that it was really empty. I thought I had farther. I think I kind of forgot to take into account that I had driven to work and back, but I figured I had plenty of gas to get to the courthouse and back to a gas station. I almost did.

I ran out of gas, so we took the exit we were by, knowing that there was a gas station - we just couldn't remember how far. Luckily, it was mostly downhill. We coasted and coasted and finally I was completely out of gas and...there was a stop sign. I stopped and pulled over to the side of the road. We're trying to decide where we are and what we should do when we look the right and Jeremy goes, "hey, that's the house we bought the car from." THe mechanic we bought it from was out in his yard too. grinning we asked him if we could borrow a gas tank so we coul dwalk to the gas station right around the corner. He let us have some gas so we could get to the corner, and we laughed on the way home.

We also went to try out mattresses. I can't believe how expensive they are. Some of them are more than I paid for my car. Crazy.

I'm going to bed now. I need to be good and healthy 'cuz I'm getting married 12 days. Yikes!

-becca

there's a song in my soul...

2007-03-07T12:00:00.000-08:00

Here I am, posting again.

I have a job interview! At My-Gym. All I have to say is that it looks like fun! AND it looks a lot more fulfilling than selling ice cream to people. The program isn't really THAT expensive (I mean, if you have the money) and they offer a non-profit fitness program for disabled and abused kids. The program just sounds like...it's not out to get people's money, it's there to help them...for a living. Guess I'm sold. We'll see if I like it when I go in for the interview though.

What else can I talk about. My wedding is getting ever-closer with every passing day. I still can't believe it. I still don't know how I'm going to get everything done in time - and yet, I don't really feel that stressed about it. Somehow, I know it'll all work out, and if something doesn't - it's okay. The major stuff will be taken care of, and the little stuff doesn't matter that much. Why would I want everything planned out to the very last detail? The memories will come from stuff just happening. ha.

I have a bunch of people I need to call today. I hope I get off work a little early.

-becca

when you say you love me, the world goes still so still inside...

2007-03-05T11:31:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: 2 weeks and 5 days until I'm married.

In other good news, our apartment is opening up early! This means that I get to move in and we can get everything ready before the wedding - and have a place to stay when we get back from our honeymoon. I'm excited. This ALSO means that I get to tan for free before the wedding! hahaaa. I stil have tan lines from summer, and it will look ridiculous against my white dress if I don't do something about it.

Um, what else.

I have a week and 3 days left at my current place of employment. I still don't have another job, but I'm working on it. I applied at two different childcare positions yesterday - one is actually a childrens fitness instructor. haha. It sounds like fun, I kind of hope I get that job. But maybe I don't have enough experience...except they said that none was necessary...hmmmm.

I also got a neeew car. It's cute. I think I've named it Derby. It's kind of an odd shade of blue too. But I LIKE it. And we sold my old car yesterday, so I don't have to worry about that anymore.

Maybe this wasn't that interesting, but I'm happy today.

BYE!
becca

2007-03-01T14:56:00.000-08:00

And all I need now is for this moon to keep light in its desolate skyline for good...

2007-02-28T12:20:00.000-08:00

hey, it's me...becca. The only one who posts on here anymore (ahem, HINT to amber...!)

So I preeeetty much cannot believe AT ALL that I'm getting married in 3 weeks and 3 days. That is so insane! I kind of feel like we're just playing "getting married". I'm not really engaged. I'm not really having a wedding. I can't possibly pull it off! HAHA. And yet, I'm not really that stressed or worried about anything now. I had a week where I was pulling hair and grinding teeth, but I'm all good now.

I'm really bored right now. Terribly bored. This is really bad of me. I shouldn't be on the computer when I'm bored. I shouldn't have time to be bored! Oh well.

I played guitar last night for the first time in a while. I think I'm going to do it again on my day off. And maybe piano too. I can't wait until we get our apartment and put my piano in it! And it's tuned! I think I don't play as much because it's more effort than I'm used to. I have to go up to the sanctuary of the church, where it's cold, and uncover the piano, and bring all my books with me, and then my fingers get really cold, and then I have to cover the piano back up and so on. So when I can just sit down and play in the comfort of my own home, I'll be happy.

This is a boring boring post. It's starting to SNOW outside! Or hail or something. Really hard, whoa. Oh it stopped.

Tell me something interesting.

-becca

the days go by...

2007-02-06T12:08:00.000-08:00

wow this thing is...dead.

But, I actually have something amber and becca related to post about!

WE hung out on Saturday! For the first time in a while. Okay, so maybe the day wasn't so much hanging out as much as running around trying to get her dress altered, but still!

I'm going to go ahead and recount the entire day to you.

I woke up at 8:30am and leisurely took a shower and got ready to leave. I realized I needed to do a few things. a.) go to the bank, b.) put gas in my car, c.) run to the store
So I called amber at 11 and told her I'd be in Renton around 12:30.

She laughed because I was originally going to call her around 10 or 10:30, I think. I don't remember what I said, I thought it was more of a "when I leave", and I decided not to call untill I left the store, since I wouldn't really be on the road until then anyway. Oh well. Apparently I'm always late to see her, but I don't think that's true. I just off-handedly say when I THINK I might be showing up, and then it's usually a little later, because I'm not planning on getting there at the time I originally sort of thought of. But she thinks assumes thats when I'm going to come, which I guess I can't blame her for. :P "A wizard is never late, frodo baggins, he always arrives precisely when he intends to."

Okay, so then we met at my parents house and drove up to get some chow mein. We usually park in this one section of the parking lot, but it was full, so we went and parked somewhere else. Just as we pulled in, my dad (quite randomly) pulled in a few spaces down from us. We got out and stood next to his car and stared at him until he realized we were there. I think he was listening to the radio or getting his checkbook out or something. That was kind of funny, then he walked in with us, but went to the bank.

Amber and I, however, had our fill of chow mein. I think it was the greasiest, saltiest thing I've consumed in a while. It was pretty good, but I felt a little sick after I ate it.

SO, we went and got her dress, then we went to her Oma's house, and decided it was goign to be very difficult to taylor ourselves. Her Oma gave us 50 bucks to go get it altered at Davids bridal (woo!).

We went to buy shoes, then went to southcenter to Davids bridal (that is, after an hour interlude at my parents house to waste time before our appointment.)
We went and got the dress altered, and it was pretty amazing, because 1.) the dress looked GREAT when it was all pinned up, and 2.) we somehow managed to talk the seamstress down to half the price, so we only had to pay like 12 dollars out of our own pockets.

Then I had to go home. I was a little disappointed, because I wanted to spend more time just hanging out, but I had to finish up invitations and clean the church a little bit.

In other news...

the wedding is like...6 weeks and 5 days away! That is so insane to me (haha I am so excited)! And what's left to do? Pretty much just pick a cake, get tuxes, pick out decorations and flowers, aaaand...plan the menu.
And ask people to help me. haha. I really need to do that, cause I'm gonna die if I don't.

We also got an apartment yesterday - yay! but it might not be available until the 31st of March. We're hoping something comes up earlier than that, but I guess we'll just extend our honeymoon if not...or something. But at least we will for sure have a place to live that we can afford.

I'm still looking for a new job too. Mora is not going to work out for much longer. I mean, nothing to do with the job itself - I love my job (okay, I complain about it being boring, but really, most of the time, I enjoy it, I'm just kind of tired of selling ice cream to people. I want to do something to help people. Sometimes I wonder if I should've studied to become a nurse.) and my employers are awesome people to work for, and I like my co-workers too, but it's just too far away.

Life is really good. It's changed a lot over the past year, and it's going to change a lot more, but I'm looking forward to it, and am excited about everything.

You know what the biggest thing I miss is though? I miss all my girls. I miss amber and debbi and I miss quiz practice a lot! I miss coaching my girls, and I miss doing CEF clubs with everyone too. And I miss hanging out with Kaitie and sharing a room with her. And Matt. And even Josh and Mason. haha. Of course I miss you guys!

Somehow I am amazingly blessed though. All these things have just fallen into place, and I haven't had to worry about a thing, really. That doesn't mean I haven't worried about them, but I really didn't need to. So I'm trying not to worry about anything else.

BYE!
becca

2007-01-15T12:09:00.000-08:00

hmm. I'm at work, and wow...it is so slow.

Amber, I switched it to Beta, I think it gave us a new sign-in name because I made a google account, and I had to use my email address. But maybe you can make a google account for yourself and sign in too, I don't know.

I'm sick today, I think. Because my nose is really runny, and I keep sneezing. And I kind of have a sore throat. But that's...okay.

I don't know what to talk about. School started last wednesday. It's not too bad. I mean, the classes seem pretty interesting. I think I'm going to try and get ahead of the workload, since it's pretty easy to predict.

I really have nothing to write about.

this was pointless.

-becca

2007-01-05T14:46:00.000-08:00

okay I'll post!

Although, I don't think that silly 80% success rate post should really count.

Last night, I watched Saw. Okay, that's not entirely true - I shut my eyes during most of it. It wasn't really scary, just very gory, and I guess I really can't stand to watch that stuff. Lord of the rings is about as far as I can go. Anyway, I couldn't sleep last night because of it. Isn't that silly? But my room was so dark and I was so tired and so alone. ha. Jeremy makes fun of me, but at the same time he's been good at making me feel better about it. At least I know that stuff never lasts more than one night with me.

hmm.

I had a nice new years. I jumped in the ocean. It was freezing cold. My entire body went into shock. It was fun. ha. Then we stayed up late playing games. We went to Port Townsend yesterday and went up to the bunkers, which I had never been in. Those scared me too, but I think Jeremy just kind of got annoyed with me that time, because I didn't want to walk down the pitch back tunnels. gah, I'm so silly.

I went to the dentist this morning for the first time in like...2 years. I guess I have beautiful teeth, but I still need about 1500 dollars worth of work done on them. Why? I have two very small cavities, and I need to get all four of my wisdom teeth pulled. Not because they've grown weird, they hurt, or because they are too big. They're just too hard to reach with my toothbrush, and the dentist said I probably couldn't keep them very clean forever, and that will just cause my other teeth to get bad.

I've never had a problem with going to the dentist - it has never scared me. But I've never had a tooth pulled before, so that kind makes me nervous, even if it won't be for a while. But I really like the people at the dentist I found.

I don't know what else to say. Life is life. I'm finishing up my invitations this weekend, and hopefully will have them out in the mail soon. My wedding is 2 months, 2 weeks, and 4 days away, and I'm super excited :) And I really want to take a nap.

-becca

2007-01-02T21:57:00.000-08:00

When I came to work today and went into the break room to get something, I saw a box on the table, and inside that box was a very appetizing-looking doughnut. I know that most doughnuts look appetizing, but it seemed like exactly the kind of doughnut that I suddenly decided I wanted (what a coincidence!)

I only glanced at it, because I was in the break room for something else, and I wasn't consciously thinking about the doughnut. And then I left the break room, free from the temptation - but the seed was planted.

A little later, I had a mental list of three things I needed from the break room. I went in and got two of them, then caught sight of the doughnut. Very hurriedly, my subconscious longing became conscious and I immediatelly quelled it. "No Amber, that is not your doughnut" I said severely, but the warning faded into my subconscious and soon I forgot that I had spoken.

I think I managed to leave the break room (but remember, I still had one more thing to get that I'd forgotten). I went back to work. I couldn't concentrate. I didn't realize it was because of the doughnut, because my longings, while stronger than ever, had subsided into my subconscious again.

The rest is a blur. As far as I can remember, I suddenly got up in the middle of what I was doing, marched into the break room, and was halfway through the doughnut before I realized that I was eating someone else's doughnut. Shame and laughter struck me at the same time.

I didn't find out whose doughnut that was - yet. But I decided to work up a good excuse, just in case anyone was upset about it. The first excuse that came to mind: "I had to eat your doughnut because I needed it." Not plausible, but absolutely true. I'm hormonal. I went home, took a nap until 8 pm, and ate a box of chocolate.

There are more reasonable excuses: "You left a doughnut, unmarked, on the break room table. That means it's up for grabs. It could be sitting there all week, taking up space. Maybe it was there all the week before. Anyway, I did everybody a favor by eating it (especially me! Mmmm...)

Just so you know, it was really, really good. It tasted like it looked. You know how sometimes you see something that looks good and you bite into it and it has banana filling or something gross like that? Well, this did not have banana filling, or anything gross. It was good. Glazed, but not too glazed. Greasy, but not drenched. Sugary, but not enough to see the grains.

I've posted three times in a row, haha. Rebecca, post!

2006-12-30T20:14:00.000-08:00

2006-12-27T23:29:00.000-08:00

I'm sick.

I was writing an email to a friend and started ranting and complaining, and then I decided that instead I would vent here.

I got sick on Christmas morning. You know how if people know you're sick they're always asking you, "Are you feeling any better?" And you don't want to sound negative so you always say "Yeah, a little" even if you don't. Well, I'm probably going to keep saying that, but inside I'm really saying "NO, I FEEL WORSE WITH EVERY PASSING MOMENT, AND I'M COMPLETELY SICK OF BEING SICK!!!!! AAAAGGGHHH!!!!!!" I really hate missing work. I feel irresponsible. Even though I know I can't help it, and I know I shouldn't go in to work and infect people anyway, I feel like somehow I could manage if I made myself.

I tried today. I thought positive and everything. I was like "Hey, I feel better, right? That's what I've been telling everyone for the past three days, right? I'll go to work, put in a solid six hours or so, and for the rest of the week I'll come in early and stay late and come in on Saturday or whatever!" I was all motivated.

I went into work. I "worked" for maybe an hour before I decided that nothing was being accomplished no matter how hard I tried. So I went home. I was assured that it was okay, but it's NOT okay! I don't LIKE BEING SICK!

At first it was like "Okay, I never get sick real bad, so I guess I'll let it run its course now." But ugh. It's been three days. That is way too long. I know I have no patience. Maybe this is me learning how to get more patience, and how to see how long I can not work and still stay stable in my job and my finances, and be BORED all day! Honestly, I like to read, but not all day.

It's 11:30 now. I laid in bed for, I don't know, three hours? Probably less, but it felt like over three hours, and three was kind of generous for what it felt like. Every time I laid down I felt like I was going to throw up. Oh, and on Christmas I did throw up.

But I'm not bedridden or anything. Oh, and did I mention, I have a good appetite, maybe even better than usual because I eat when I'm bored and I'm bored more now. I ate a full mashed potato and ham dinner on Christmas. Why, if I feel so nauseous all the time, am I eating so much? And if I'm eating so much, why am I so fatigued that walking a short distance leaves me gasping?

This was obviously a post just for ranting. I'm kind of tired now, so I'll attempt sleep again. I'm kind of hungry but I always get hungry when I stay up till midnight. I'm seeing a doctor tomorrow.

Whenever I'm sick or have something wrong with me, it always makes me feel better if it's confirmed by a professional. Not something serious, just something that proves I was right. A couple months ago, my shoulder started hurting at work, and it became kind of unbearable. I didn't want to leave early for the lame excuse that "my shoulder hurts", but I also found it very difficult to continue working. And I thought that maybe I was thinking about it too much, and that's why it hurt. You know sometimes when you think too much about a small pain it becomes a big, unignorable deal?

But I did leave work early that day, and lo and behold, I had injured my shoulder! All official and stuff. I couldn't lift boxes and I had to use ice and everything. I mean, I'm not happy I got injured, but I am glad my whining wasn't just me being a wimp.

So it is in this case. It's funny, I can't exactly remember what it feels like to not have this nausea, so now I'm second guessing myself and saying "you're just thinking about it too much, that's why you're still sick, if you'd just get over it you'd be fine" and I'm hoping the doctor will at least say "Oh, you have this not severe thing. Take this pill and everything will be fine." And then I can say, "Yes, I was sick with this, but now I'm better" instead of "Well, the doctor said I should wait five more months and if it doesn't go away, to just shoot myself."

Haha, I made myself chuckle. Okay, I'm really going to bed now. My eyes are actually drooping.

2006-12-13T14:52:00.000-08:00

The power was out this morning at work, so I didn't have to go in. Or so I thought. Right about the time I got around to changing out of my work clothes, sitting on the couch comfortably crocheting, and expecting to spend some time with my handsome fiance, the power came back on and I had to go and serve ice cream - which is okay, I guess.

It was a little sad though. Jeremy went to work at 6:30 this morning, and I was going to work at 10:30. I get off work at 4:30, and he usually gets home somewhere between 2 and 6. So while I was home at work, he found out that he wasn't actually working again until 5-9. Right before he got back to spend some time with me before he had to go back to work, I got called in. And now, I get off work about the time he has to leave for work, so we're not really going to see much of each other today.

That's okay, I mean we get to see each other all the time, it was just a little disappointing to me, because believe it or not, but I really like this boy. I'm don't just love him - I think you can learn to love anyone, if you really want to - but I really really like him too.

I don't know what update I can give. I guess my wedding dress and bridesmaids' dresses just came in at David's Bridal, so now we can start our fittings and see if we need to get anything adjusted. I booked the church last weekend, so now I just need to get invitations out and things like that. This wedding thing is coming soon! I'm pretty excited.

I've also been crocheting more than I've crocheted in a while. For some reason, I decided to make bunches of scarves for people for christmas. I've been averaging 1.5 a day, I think. That's a lot of crocheting. And now Christmas parties and children's musicals and etc. are coming up. There's always something, isn't there? Then it will be school again, and only a matter of weeks before our wedding!

hahaha. Maybe I'm overwhelmed, but i still have to laugh. My boss says that I look kind of sad lately. I wonder if I'm just tired or worried or thinking too much. I'm sure it's one or all or more of those.

I guess I'm done updating for now. This blog just makes me a little sad to look at, because it used to be so much more...alive.

ha. whatever that means.

-becca

2006-11-10T22:54:00.000-08:00

Heh heh. I want to say I had the most awful day ever, but God very carefully balanced the moments of anger and frustration and confusion with moments of joy and clarity and peace. If I were able to write down every event and emotion today and rate it, I'm pretty sure the strength of my happy emotions would at least cancel out the severity of my negative emotions. Energy-draining people, energy-giving people. Expecting the best and being disappointed, then expecting the worst and being surprised. The conversations and people that made this happen are private, but I just want you to know that I feel very satisfied and peaceful right now. I think I do like a day full of opposites, as long as it's under God's control. If it were all joy today I don't know if I could handle it, but I can handle a few trials mixed with a lot of happiness.

What have I been doing? Working, worship-teaming, and web-designing. I'm busy, but not too busy. I have a full plate, but not too much on it. I refuse to volunteer for anything else or get caught up in any other commitments, and that decision brings me great relief every time I say "no" to something. The only thing I could get overwhelmed by are all my personal projects (mostly writing). I told my dad yesterday, "I need two people to do all the things I want to do." I have so many ideas and they never stop.

We're going to be having a Christmas party on December 15. Email me if you want an invitation.

2006-11-07T12:06:00.000-08:00

Debbi says that I (and amber too) need to post something - so here I am.

So school is almost over for this quarter. Only like 2 more weeks of school with real homework and then two more classes and we're done. It went by really quickly. I have three papers left to write. One of them I haven't started on, and I still don't really even know what it's going to be about, the other one I have to write another 6 pages of, and the third one...I haven't started on that one either. But I've got a week. A lot of my time right now is work, school, church, wedding shopping, and spending time with my fiance. It'll be nice to have a break from school. It's not hard or anything, but I'll be gaining like 12 hours just from driving to class and class time plus the hours I spend doing homework. I'll have my evenings back. I'm looking forward to that.

I bought a wedding dress last Sunday. I can't say much more than that though, because Jeremy may read this and find out about it, and that's not allowed. I really like it though. It's different than I thought I'd get. I had a lot of fun though. I think I like dress up more than I thought. I'm taking all my bridesmaids to get their dresses next Sunday, that will be fun. We were going to make the dresses, but the color was off and I had Kaitie try on a dress that we loved so we decided to get that instead.

What else? Hmmm.

Work has been amazingly boring. Working in an ice cream shop in cold, dark, rainy November is not the most exciting job to have. There's nothing really to do. I take open the shop and take inventory in the first hour, and then maybe there's something to clean up, but otherwise, I've got nothing to do for the next 4 or 5 hours. I get a customer maybe twice an hour, on a good day.

I'm also looking forward to the holidays. I love fall. I love September through November so much, but I also like December and January. It's so cold out, but this time of year is so warm. I remember last year, when Jeremy was up in Canada at school, and we could only talk over the internet. And even though neither of us enjoyed talking online, pretty much every night we would end up chatting for 2-3 hours, or longer even. That was a little silly. We probably didn't need to talk that much. haha. I hope it snows this year too. I love getting wrapped up in sweaters and scarves and playing out in the snow in the dark. And after that, you come inside and drink some tea, and watch a movie or play music. There's just that feeling about it.

okay, I guess I'm all done posting for today.

bye!
becca

2006-10-22T19:51:00.000-07:00

Another survey-er called a few minutes ago (at 7:00 on a Sunday night! Goodness, have they no shame?!) He said he needed to talk to the male registered voter of the household (sexist!). I said "Dad, are you the male registered voter of the household?" Dad said "Tell them we're not interested." I said, "Sorry, but he says we're not interested." The guy laughed and said "I heard. You guys have a great night."

It would probably kill me to be that nice to strangers for an extended period of time, especially if they mostly rejected me. At Subway, I could always tell when I could make an extra sale. I'd be like "want some cookies? We just made them" or "you know, instead of a foot long and a six inch, you can get any two foot longs for $9.99". I was always amazed how such an offer (coupled with my charming smile) was often accepted.

At work we're going to have a potluck and dress-up day on Halloween. Of course, I'm going to be a gypsy again. At this very moment I am in costume similar to what I was last year, heavy eye makeup and all. This time I have my ears pierced so I have real hoop earrings. I need a cooler-looking shirt though. I got a nice one but it doesn't fit me very well.

Here's a pet peeve about shirts. I don't know what size I am. Because some "small" shirts are very big on me. The obvious solution is to say "ha! I'm just skinnier than the average small size" but that's not true, because some "smalls" are skin-tight and the bottom of the shirt ends at my belly button.

I can't immediately think of an obvious solution to this problem. Usually I just hold up a few different sizes and pick the one I think looks best.

Also, there's the whole women and juniors thing. I get so confused. When I'm in Wal Mart looking for an item of clothing, I'm always embarrassed if I suddenly realize I'm in the women's section, or in the "plus size" section, and every piece of clothing I look at is way too big for me. I worry that some "plus size" woman will see me and think that I think I'm fat.

Usually I pretend like I'm looking for something for my mom in these circumstances. Now, my mom is far from fat, but the people around me don't know that. And actually, it probably doesn't make much difference whether I'm looking for clothes for myself or my mom - do you ever watch people clothes shopping that closely?

But if I ever find myself on the wrong side of the store and I'm completely clueless and a stranger walks up to me and says "do you realize you're tying men's ties around your head and pretending they are bandanas?" I'll just say "Oh, I'm just trying to find a good one for - my husband. Er, dad. Pirate night. Yeah."

Snicker.

2006-10-14T13:30:00.000-07:00

Alone in the house on a Saturday again. I'm in pajamas (of course) and I've already watched a movie, finished a book, worked on websites, taken a nap, eaten junk food, and wasted a lot of time.

The phone just rang. It was someone wanting to do a survey. Normally I don't really want to do them, but it wasn't like I had something better to do, so I let a lady with a foreign accent ask me questions about what radio station I listen to.

I probably messed up the results of her survey. "What station do you listen to most often?" "KCMS." "What type of music do you like?" "Mostly Christian."

But she was sweet. At one point she asked, "Okay, do you know which station is getting better?"

"Better?" I said.

"Yes. Um, better."

"What do you mean, getting better? The reception? The sound? The songs? The DJs?"

"Um, I guess so."

Long pause here. Then I said, "I'm sorry, I guess I don't really understand the question."

She laughed like she was embarrassed and said "me neither".

Of course, the next question was "which station is getting worse".

She was laughing by the end, though. She played about a dozen different clips of songs and after each one asked me to tell her if I liked them. I had heard some of them before but I didn't like any of them. I just kept saying "no, no, no" after each one and she kept giggling.

Anyway, I hope I made her day less dreary. I remember having to work on Saturdays.

2006-10-12T08:10:00.000-07:00

Something I love about the mornings: waking up.

A lot of times, I don't really feel like waking up. I want to lie in bed and rest for just a few more hours. But I always like it when I get up early - well, almost always. This morning, I like it. I like being able to sit in my warm pajamas, eat some oatmeal, drink some tea, and study. The morning is my favorite time to study. It's so still and quiet, and it's nice to start the morning accomplishing and thinking about things. And yet, sometimes it's really hard to get to that point. Why? It's just a matter of rolling out of bed. Hum. Oh well.

I guess I was just realizing that studying is for morning and working out is for the evening. I much prefer to run around and be active at night.

I have to go to work pretty soon. I've been working at an ice cream shop on bainbridge island. It's cute. It's easy. It's kind of fun too. Although it's painfully boring on cold days like today. Actually, yesterday it was pretty sunny and a lot of people were out walking around, but it was still extremely slow. Someday I'll get a job that I enjoy more - or maybe not really work that much at all. For now, it's okay though.

I'm also getting super-excited about the wedding and starting my life as the wife of Jeremy Ellis. I think I'm way more excited about that than the wedding, and I think that's probably a good thing. haha. Although, I need to start working on things like, finishing my guestlist and getting addresses, picking out the formal attire, etc.

At the moment though, I need to go take a shower and get ready for work.

-rebecca

2006-10-07T10:51:00.000-07:00

This is such the perfect Saturday.

When I woke up, the clock said 6:30. I smiled and thought "Well, looks like I forgot to set my alarm last night. At least I woke up in time to get ready for work. Sigh...I don't really feel like getting up for work."

Then I remembered! It's SATURDAY!

I rolled over and dozed until I got too hungry and bored.

Then I had Cheez-Its and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for breakfast while I watched a movie. After the movie I read Calvin and Hobbes for a while.

And it's not even 11 yet!

Well, I actually feel like being productive now, so I guess I'll do some laundry, clean my room, go shopping, do some website work, and read.

The only thing I don't like about Saturdays is that I always get a headache on Saturdays. And it lasts all day. Every single Saturday. I don't know why, but it's the only day that I stay home in the morning.

2006-10-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Last night I asked my mom if she wanted to watch a movie with me. She did, and suggested a movie she had heard about but not seen. "It has Meg Ryan in it," she said, so I looked it up on IMDB and we found it - City of Angels.

I went to the video store. I always make an effort to find whatever movie I'm looking for without asking them if they have it, but I can never seem to find the one I want. The layout of the Hollywood Video store in Bonney Lake is infuriating! The only way to see the signs telling what genre each section of videos is in, you have to walk all the way around the store. And sometimes it still doesn't make sense.

I looked everywhere for this movie. It was Meg Ryan, and I'd seen her other chick flick stuff, so I was looking in "Comedy". By the time I waited in line to ask where it was, I was annoyed. They told me it was in "Drama". So, unless I'd already seen the movie, how would I know it was there?

I knew I'd already looked there but I allowed her to lead me to the spot. There it was - "City of Angels" - with a sticker covering "City of An". That's why I hadn't seen it.

As I followed the lady back to the counter, she grabbed another video off a shelf, tossed it at the other guy behind the counter, and said "I'm going outside to smoke." I didn't know why she threw him the video, but I assumed he knew. But he didn't, so he put both on my bill.

So he had to go get her, and she had to come in and give me a refund.

The trip there and back, and the time I spent inside, probably took half an hour. It doesn't sound like such a big deal now, but at the time I was seriously annoyed.

Okay. So I got back home and we watched it.

I'm glad I saw it. Now when somebody says "What's the worst movie you've ever seen?" I'll have an answer.

Part of it is that I already don't like Nicholas Cage that much, and he's just a mumbling, whining mess in here. I almost snorted out loud when Meg Ryan looks at him and says "You're so beautiful". No, he's ugly, and he doesn't enunciate, and he has no concept of personal space, so I'm automatically leaning away every time he leans in close to her.

Part of it is the excessive drama (that's why it was in the drama section). Even with really predictable parts, they take forever to go through it. Near the end of the movie, there's a scene where he's in the shower, and she's setting the table. Then he's in the shower and she's shopping. Then he's in the shower and she's riding back on her bike. But it seemed to flip between the two at least a dozen times, with dramatic music playing the whole time. That annoyed me.

I got really antsy about half of the way through the movie. I just wanted it to be over, but it draaaagggeedd out.

Okay, I know this shouldn't really bother me, because it's just a movie. There's all these angels. 90% of them are men (but it's okay, they have some blacks and Orientals too) and they all wear ominous black cloaks and live in the library. (Why the library? Who knows.) To some extent, I can take whatever information the movie gives me and live with it. If it's a fairy tale, I'm not going to say "Hey, that can't be real! Fairies don't exist and this movie sucks." So to some extent, I can allow this movie to put the relationship between angels and humans in a way that seems ridiculous to me and not get offended. After all, I knew this wouldn't be a "Christian" movie.

It's creepy. To think that an invisible (to you) humanoid male being might be watching you or trying to touch you all the time is creepy. And it's cheap - they could have done some cool special effects but they didn't (except for the one where the knife went through his finger without cutting it - that was cool). We noticed several blatant advertisements. So blatant that we kept commenting. I wonder if the whole sucky movie was funded through advertising.

Something I found interesting: In order for an angel to become human, he must "fall" - that is, jump off a high building. (Strangely, when Cage jumps off a high building, his hands bleed, but he's fine. Odd.) Angels who have jumped are referred to as "those who fell", never as "fallen angels", but the Christian will automatically want to put in that phrase.

Oh, and the only reason to be an angel is to hear the beautiful music of the sunrise.

Well, for anyone who didn't want to wade through that whole post, I had a heck of a time renting a movie last night and a worse time watching it. Ugh.

it's official...

2006-09-20T15:07:00.000-07:00

I'm engaged!!!! :D

2006-09-06T15:50:00.000-07:00

I guess it's about time I posted. I was trying to make this look a little nicer, because I have a bit of time right now, but I can't make the sidebar fit right, and I really don't care that much.

So. Whats new with me? I still don't have a job, but that's not a big deal, because I don't drive that much and I can earn money for gas and rent at the church and I'll get a job eventually.

School started last night and it was really good. I am so looking forward to the rest of the quarter. And really, I don't feel like writing anything on here, so maybe I'll have a better post some other day.

I'm coming home tonight too, probably until Friday morning.

-rebecca

2006-09-04T08:36:00.000-07:00

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003242604_irwinobit04.html

Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter, was killed today by a stingray.

2006-08-24T21:08:00.000-07:00

Hi. I know it's been a while. I'm really tired. I don't really feel like talking here. But if you're reading this, I am in desperate need of socialization! If you're in the area CALL ME because I want to hang out with somebody. A cup of tea would be nice. Anywhere not at home would be nice. A comfortable chair would be perfect. If the day could be rainy that would be even better. We could watch a movie. Then we could drink some more tea and make cinnamon rolles or biscuits or some weird belgian pastry recipe that we pull off the internet at random. Oh, wow, that would be the perfect evening. Won't someone give it to me?

THERE IS NO ONE MY AGE HERE AND I AM GOING CRAZY!!!!!!!!!

Ahem. Goodnight.

2006-08-01T17:20:00.000-07:00

whoa, when was the last time anybody posted on here?

uuum.

So here's my life right now:

Wake up.
Go over to the Ellis'
Paint things and wait for Jeremy to get back from work.
hang out with Jeremy.
Stay up until midnight.
Go to sleep.

Yep, I don't have a job yet. But I guess it's a good thing, since I'm able to help with all of this vbs stuff.
I had a job interview on Saturday, but the lady didn't call me back, because she was in the hospital. So I'm still waiting to hear about that job, as I continually call around looking for better options. I'm not too worried. God will provide as always. I just need to wait on the Lord.

I was thinking about that today as I was reading Psalm 27. I left my bible at the church on Sunday, so I was reading out of my old bible, which has tons of notes in it from when I was like 14ish. In the Psalms, there's lots of margins to write your own prayers and thoughts, so I had written like a prayer for every single psalm almost. And I was reading it. I really like to look back on old prayers of mine. Why? Because so many times, I still have the same prayer, and yet, I get to see this reminder of how God answered it before. Like I knew why I was praying that prayer when I was 14, what I was going through, and what God did with it. Right now, I know why I'm still praying that prayer, but I don't always see the answer. I need to wait on God and not worry about things. He always comes through.

I guess there's more I was thinking about writing about, but I'm kind of bored of blogging right now. I just thought someone should say something since amber only posts on myspace now. hehe.

-rebeccca

2006-07-23T14:22:00.000-07:00

I'm about to go down to renton river days with Kaitie for a little while. I just got back from Oregon (for the second time this week) at close to 2 this morning. I don't even know how I'm awake right now...I've gotten collectively about 5 hours of sleep in the past two days and I've spent a lot of time driving and hanging out with people and doing lots of stuff.

Maybe it's all adrenaline. I have a feeling I'm going to crash hard tonight though. Unless it's way too hot to.

Hmmmm.

Maybe I'll write more later, I can't sit still right now.

-rebecca

but I think I'm going to post this picture because I love it. ha.

2006-07-17T17:05:00.000-07:00

Today, I input file #23456 into the computer. It made me very happy, but I didn't tell anyone at my workplace because I was sure they wouldn't understand.

I do a lot of things with various numbers and dates, so it's fun because I notice lots of patterns like 739739 or 180081 or something. They always make me happy. Those numbers, along with the really weird last names I get to type up, sometimes provide the only diversion in a 4-hour long typing session. I'm always either typing on the typewriter or on the computer, and sometimes it's funny switching between them because I kind of forget how to computer type.

My typewriter is stupid, though - if I typo on the left side of the page it won't let me use the correction key, so I have to be really careful typing over there, and it's SOOO annoying. So sometimes I'm computer typing and I'm like "DARN I made a typo!" and then I'm like "YAY! backspace!"

I'm SO hungry.

2006-07-09T20:11:00.000-07:00

I want to buy a treadmill. I've been planning to do this since probably February. I finally went on craigslist and found a cheap one that folds up for a space saver. My dad says we're not getting one.

Why?

Because we don't have enough space.

Um, currently we live in, I'm guessing, 2,500 square feet. One third of that is the basement, where my sister lives. What's down there? Oh yeah. A queen size mattress on the floor, no longer in use. A broken foosball table. An office for (GASP!) STORAGE! We have plenty of room. But no, we don't have room.

I really hate it when my dad starts treating me like a child and using the "because I say so, that's why" excuse. He knows he is being unreasonable, but when he can't come up with an answer to my "why" questions he just gets mad and acts like I'm being stupid and disrespectful and says something like "because I'm the head of this house."

I'm very surprised my parents don't read either my blog or my sister's. But I think Dad already knows what I think of his petty attitude, and I know Mom does. I have a great dad, don't get me wrong. But I think sometimes he feels like he has to win some small battle just because the house is full of women who know how to argue.

our sunday afternoons together are long gone...

2006-07-09T15:19:00.000-07:00

I love Sundays. Sunday has always been my favorite day of the week.

I'm back in Renton right now. Visiting, doing laundry, writing encouragement cards to the VBS kids in my class, and using my computer a little. My family isn't home right now. They went to the nursing home to sing. I would've gone, but I have a sick person voice and I didn't want to get any of the elderly people there sick.

So I guess I'll talk about where I moved, since I don't have much of anything else to talk about. I moved over to the peninsula. I'm living in this little apartment room above a lady's garage. It's a little smelly but it's good. And free. It's kind of weird being back in my bedroom right now. It's so empty with all my stuff gone and Kaitie moved things around and put up a table and all this crazy stuff. It was weird being at church too. I don't think I've been in a worship service at May Valley without playing piano or doing something in two years. I didn't even clean up that much after the special luncheon - I just held a baby. It was nice.

Anyway...I live right on the beach now, which is really nice. I've never really lived anywhere like that. Only in cities, pretty much. And the smaller ones were just surrounded with...corn. I think I'll like it. I let myself get a tiny bit bored, because I'm not working and I don't know that many people over there. I'm so used to babysitting or cleaning someones house or doing stuff like that in my free time. I've always tried to keep the need to redeem my time in my head, but I'm realizing that doesn't necessarily mean always working or doing something. It's such a gift to have time to just grow. Learn and grow closer to God. And I need to make sure I take hold of that.

I don't really have much else to say right now. It's fun seeing my family and talking to people though. Ha, I've only been gone a week. That's alright though.

-rebecca

2006-07-08T17:41:00.000-07:00

It's Saturday, which means today I was waving a sign in the sun.

A guy drove by, told me he and his semi truck drivers drive by this road all day long, and said I was the best sign waver he'd seen. I know it sounds kind of silly, but I was flattered. I mean, whatever you're doing, you should do it well, right? Anyway, he offered me an office job. I was surprised, and even more flattered. I told him I already have a full time office job, and I'm only here for the summer and stuff. He gave me his card.

=D

Even though I don't need another job (it now looks like I'll be working close to 60 hours a week!) it's nice to feel wanted. Some other time I may need a job, and this will come in handy.

I'm still here wishing you were too...

2006-07-06T21:32:00.000-07:00

sooo, I moved. And I'm really only online because I was filling out an application, so maybe I'll write a post some other time. It's kind of weird over here....ha. But I like it. ;) I just kind of feel like talking to people over there right now. Wow, I miss people too easily. Not so bad though. I'm so tired of being up here by myself. ha. bye.

-rebecca

2006-07-06T17:38:00.000-07:00

Hi!

This morning sucked. For undisclosed reasons, I am very prone to emotion today and the next few. I had a coupon for a free 12 ounce drink at a new coffee place, so I went and got one. I was the only one there, and I chatted with the girls there while they made my coffee, and they were really nice. The coffee was really good, too. I took a sip, then put it in the van's cup holder and drove away. Twenty seconds later, I reached down to take a drink and the cup was gone. The cup holder wasn't very good. My cup had fallen over and the entire thing had spilled over the floor of the van.

Now, I was already emotional, and it was almost 7 am, and I hadn't had a good cup of coffee for months. I was shocked for a minute, and then, I admit it. I started crying over spilled coffee. I cried all the way to work. One of my coworkers was unusually chatty, and that kind of helped me to stop focusing on my spilled coffee. I resolved to treat myself to another cup of coffee at lunch.

At lunch, I found an espresso stand. I asked for a venti latte. She said, "We have 24 ounce cups." I said, "Okay!" I was feeling luxurious because of my earlier lost coffee.

Because I hadn't had coffee for so long, it really affected me. I got pretty hyper and energetic after lunch, which was nice because I usually get really lethargic after lunch. I'm going to start going out for coffee after lunch, but I'll only let myself do it if I bring a sandwich and don't go out to eat.

Something else kind of funny happened. I use a typewriter to fill out forms for about four hours every day. Today, my correction key didn't work. It would only backspace. I asked one lady for help, and she did something and fixed it. Two minutes later, it didn't work again. She fixed it again and showed me what to do. Two minutes later, it didn't work again. I asked my boss, who reset my typewriter and fixed it. This reset my margins and the spaces between my characters. I managed to fix the margins, but when I tried to fix the spaces, they wouldn't fix. When I reset my typewriter again, I was able to fix the spaces, but it wouldn't let me fix the margins. Another lady worked on it, and was able to fix both. Finally ready to type, I sat down.

But everything I type is in uppercase, and now it was in lowercase. So I hit caps lock (obviously). This fixed my letters, but half of what I type is numbers, and now all my social security numbers looked like swear words (*%&_&*_&*(%$) .

My coworker offered to let me use her typewriter. So I wheeled my chair over and started typing. She went over to my typewriter and miraculously fixed everything. I was very happy. I thanked her. I started to wheel my chair back over to my desk, but the arm of my chair suddenly fell off.

I was past the point of caring, so I put it on a cabinet top to deal with later. It rolled off and crashed on the floor. It wasn't even a shape that looked like it could roll. We tried to put the arm back on my chair, but some other part had fallen off and we couldn't find it. So we took the other arm off to call it even.

Anyway, it was a weird series of events to happen in fifteen minutes. It was like everything I touched malfunctioned.

2006-07-02T17:44:00.000-07:00

I feel rather like rambling.

Did I ever mention that I got the job? Well, I did. I started on Monday, and last week was my very first week of a full time job. I still have my sign-waver job. I can't decide whether or not to quit that. My feelings on it change every five minutes. I don't need the money, but I was perfectly honest when I said I enjoyed doing it. And the money is nice.

However, beginning this week, I'm going to start my workdays earlier in order to get more done. 7 am to 4:30 pm, MOnday- Friday (except I get Tuesday off this week for the 4th). Including the hours from my other job, and including my lunch breaks, I'm going to be at work 51.5-53.5 hours per week.

There are nine people in the office, including myself. and everybody is swamped with paperwork and busy. I'm already behind in some ways, and I just got started! It's really overwhelming. And one girl just put in her two-week notice, and another lady is probably giving birth right now, so we're only going to have 7 people! Secretly, I'm hoping that if they aren't able to hire someone else before the quitting girl leaves and I end up having to do a lot of her job, I can ask for a raise. I mean, it only makes sense that if I'm doing two people's jobs I should get paid more. We'll see what happens - again, I don't really need the extra money, but it would sure be nice.

It's kind of annoying to have lots of small-amount checks lying around. I have a check for like $22 from Subway, another for a similar amount for my Oregon income tax return, another for like $44 from my first paycheck for sign waving, and one more somewhere for some amount under fifty dollars, and I can't even remember what it's for.

I don't understand how people get so much pleasure letting off noisemakers before the 4th of July starts. I mean, fireworks are usually a big event, and usually we make a point to save the noisemakers and fireworks and sparklers until the night of the 4th. It's no fun unless there's a party going on, with the whole family together and eating hot dogs while playing with fire(works). Who randomly goes out in their backyard, in the middle of the hot day, on a day when it's NOT EVEN THE FOURTH and lets off fireworks?

It actually doesn't annoy me that much, but I don't like that it scares our dog, and the high pitched squealing ones hurt his ears. I know I don't like dogs that much, but I usually like them more once I get to know them.

I should clean my room. Goodbye!

The summer sends it's love to you just like every year...

2006-06-30T16:54:00.000-07:00

wow that song has been stuck in my head for the past week.

That and "Arctic Edge...where adventure meets courage..."

ha. I felt like I should say something neeeew.

It's pretty warm right now.

um.

CAMP! I should write about camp.

So camp was pretty much amazing. I love saying that about things when I really mean it. ha. It was great. I had a great group of girls in my room, I had a great group of girls on my team, and in general, there was just a great group of people there! It was so much fun being a supervisor too. It's funny how much you can really learn once you start evaluating and helping people learn stuff you already know.
One of the coolest things of that week was hearing the missionaries speak every day. Steve and Kris Groome, every morning, did the devotional and then shared part of their testimony. Every day I was so excited to go to chapel, because I loved hearing these two share their story. Every evening we got to hear specifially about their missions work too. It was just such a joy and encouragement. God really spoke in so many ways to so many people during that time.

Lots of silly little fun things happened the entire week too. Our first day of club (although, this was not very fun), we got lost. ha. Well, they had switched my club the night before and no one had chcked the directions...but that actually isnt'w hy we got lost. It was completely my fault. I wasn't paying close enough attention (I was talking, of course) and I missed our exit, so when I turned around, I figured we had to get off the highway going the opposite direction. Yeah. Makes sense? no. I go around talking about how the directions make no sense, and eventually we find the house. The right address, the right street...but no ones home. And then I find out we were at the SE address. So I finally got in touch with the host (I had been tyring to call the entire time) and we made it there. ha. The directions were perfect...it was just the other way. Buyt we laughed pretty much the entire drive home about how ridiculous it was.

But club got better every day of the week, and the kids were great. There were some challenges with discipline, but we prayed about it every day, and I know a lot of other people were praying for us too, and those problems just disappeared.

The coolest thing about camp this year, was how much time was spent in prayer. It was amazing. At the beginning of camp, the director said, "Let's make this camp a camp of prayer." Wow, did we take him seriously. Yet, I still feel like I could've spent even more time praying. There's always a time for everything though I suppose.

Okay what else...VBS! I just got done with that last night. That was really fun. A little short, but fun. We had 17 kids in our class from the second night on. We had such a great group of kids too! 2nd graders - such a fun age - but they all listened so well and were really excited to be learning about God. And I got the priviledge of leading 6 of them to Christ. It was really a blessing and it was so awesome to see how excited they all are.

Anyway, I'm going to amber's house tonight, woo. I should've come over and swam in your backyard. ha. It'll be fun though. And then tomorrow we're throwing a party, woo. We pretty much decided on that three days ago, so like...I didn't tell that many people. So you can come if you didn't get the invitation. That is, if you're someone who knows me and knows where I live and knows how to get in touch with me. Or knows someone who knows me and where I live, I guess.

and I'm moving on Sunday!

haha, I'm happy it's summer. I put some pictures of camp and stuff up on "my myspace space" if you want to see.

-rebecca

2006-06-26T17:19:00.000-07:00

wow, it is so hot.

I took a shower a little while ago, because I was really dirty and sweaty and gross, and it was suuuch a cold shower, but when I got out, I didn't even need a towel. I was dried off in a few minutes. craaaazy.

It's sort of nice though.

ha.

I hurt my ankle today.

Josh, Kaitie, and I went and cleaned the garage today, and I kept dropping stuff and banging up against stuff. So I dropped an anthro-cart shelf on my ankle, and it really hurt. Those things are heavy. It's like...a big piece of wood with plastic things on the ends. ouch. So I put some ice on it for a minute, but I have a bruise and a big red slash there now. And it hurts.

Oh well.

I didn't work on packing at all today. oops. I just cleaned the garage, did laundry, felt sick and hot and tired. Almost took a nap. Cut out stuff for VBS tonight.

It's nice not having a job though.

Oh VBS was last night, it was fun. I should put the pictures of my room up. But whoa, actually, ha, I just looked at the clock and realized that I have to leave in a few minutes, I should go get my stuff together.

-rebecca

2006-06-24T12:40:00.000-07:00

hey!

I'm home from camp! It was so amazing! I can't even tell you how good it was. I have never been in a place with so many people who love God so much. I expected it to be that, but it so surpassed my expectations. It was such a huge blessing in so many ways, I am so glad I went.

I'll have to do some long post about it some time, but right now, I'm exhausted. Well, I'm really tired, but I'm also kind of alert because A) I don't have time to take a nap right now so I need to be awake, and B) I'm so joyful right now! I've got the after camp spiritual high. But I'm really glad for it. Last night we had a really good closing communion service that went pretty late, and I guess I'm kind of emotionally drained from that too. And saying goodbye to all the teens I worked with and got to know at camp and the children at our club. Weeks like this remind me what life is about. Why shouldn't that keep going all year round? It's hard to leave the things I'm so passionate about. Our last day of club went so great, but I so wanted to come back today and just love those kids. They need it so much.

Anyway, I'll go on about that some other time.

I've been trying to do some major cleaning in my room so I can sleep on my bed tonight, and I have to leave for my nieces first birthday party in about twenty minutes.

But, it was so nice to take a hot shower and take my time getting dressed with music playing, and just to sit around with my family and talk for a while. AND it's absolutely BEAUTIFUL out! I want to go to the beach and play.

haha.

Hi amber :)

-rebecca

2006-06-22T21:51:00.000-07:00

Here's some things that if I had a dollar for every time they happened, and if that were my only source of income, I would not have any money.

-Every time I ate something banana-flavored and liked it.
-Every time I walked by a lake and a steaming, cooked trout on a plate, garnished with parsley and lemon wedges, jumped out onto my head.
-Every time I've dreamed about rhinoceri (rhinocerouses? rhinos?)
-Every time I have tried to brush my teeth and failed
-Every time someone's told me "You know, you need to lose weight."
-Every time I've asked my mom to give me a backrub and she's said "no"
-Every time I've met a person named Ricardo De Micardia
-Every time I've been related to somebody named Lionel
-Every time I've been mistaken for a man

There are some things it's just good not to have a dollar for every time they happen.

If you had a dollar for every time something happened, and that was your only source of income, what things would make you broke?

2006-06-22T17:38:00.000-07:00

I got the job!

And my boss is a Christian!

I start on Monday!

And I got my check from the three days I had that other job and deposited it, so now I have some money until I get my first paycheck from this job!

As Emperor/Llama Kuzko would put it, "I'm so happy!"

2006-06-21T12:50:00.000-07:00

I have an interview for a full time office job tomorrow!

This would be so ideal, for many reasons:

-It would get me out of the fast-food cycle.

-It would pay more than I'm used to (not a whole lot, but at this point I'm just looking for a full time job and not worrying about pay so much)

-It's very close to home

-The hours are predictable and steady

-No weekends

-No evenings; I'd be home by 5 for dinner every day!

-It's something I like doing (computers, answering phones, smiling at people)

-It starts immediately (they want someone to start on Monday!)

-They don't care that I'm only going to be here for two months and ten days before I"ll have to quit to go to school.

So, basically, this job would be a DREAM from what I hear so far. I interview tomorrow at 2. They're desperate to fill the position; I'm desperate to get a job. Please pray that I will get this job! God's been providing for me so far, and I will consider this a huge blessing from Him if I get it.

2006-06-19T15:22:00.001-07:00

I found one part-time job. Saturdays only. I had an interview on Thursday, and my first day was last Saturday.

I don't think I've ever enjoyed a work day more. Who gets paid $12 per hour to work out, listen to music, work on a tan, and have people waving and smiling at them all day?

Sign wavers!

Haha, I thought it would be so stupid. I was afraid I'd look dumb or that someone I knew would drive by and see me.

But it was fun! I was only there for four hours, and by the end of it I felt so happy and optimistic. Who wouldn't be after having people waving and smiling at them all day?

I was just waving a directional arrow into a housing development. I liked waving at everybody.

My arms were really sore afterward, but they feel better now.

So, that's my Saturday job. Still trying to find jobs to fill the week.

2006-06-14T10:20:00.000-07:00

Did you know that I'm pretty silly?

ha.

I'm kind of contradictory sometimes too. Of course, there are times when I do it just to be silly in a good way and joke around, but there are other times where I'm just...ridiculous. I know what I believe, and I'll even write long blogs about them or passionately share them with someone, and yet - I still fall into the patterns I'm preaching against.

Which is okay. You are what you hate, right?

When I say "okay," I mean because I'm a human, it's okay because I kind of have no way around making mistakes and not being perfect. It's kind of just part of life.

And, yes, of course I'm not condoning keeping on doing things and just accepting them as life. I want to be the best I can be at everything I do. But I can take things too far or not far enough or just mess up.

SO it's not really messing up, it's just funny to me, I guess. I think a lot of the times when I do something sort of ridiculous and selfish, that after the fact, it's sort of funny. Just because it's like "Why in the world did you do this?"

Because it's always the same. Life is never really that hard. I have feelings that seem to come from nowhere, and they usually just come from myself craving attention or being selfish or just dumb. I forget who God really is, how he loves me unconditionally. Sometimes that's hard to see, I think, because in life, so much of love is performance-based.

And, I know it pretty much always will be. We can learn from God and ask for his love in our lives and seek that in our life as much as possible, but we're human. We can never love perfectly like God.

So, I've been feeling sort of funny, on and off for the past few weeks. A couple people have pointed it out to me, that I'm just...not myself at times. And I know. But it's really just that I'm too focused on myself. It usually comes down to that, doesn't it? That God is God and I'm just me forgetting that I need him for everything and I don't need to worry about anything really. I just need to seek him and live for him, and do what I'm supposed to do day to day. Plus, I think I'm a little anxious about things, anxious about leaving all the things I know and moving on. And the things that stress me out are other people and conflict, and I've had a bit more of that than usual lately.

I don't know if any of these thoughts are tying in with each other, I'm just writing, as I tend to do.

Jeremy usually helps me see these things better. I tend to get kind of silly for just no good reason sometimes. I think I know it when I'm like that, I just need a reality check and to get refocused. I love Jeremy a lot. ha ha. What does that even mean? What is loving a lot? Right now, it's not nearly enough. I want to walk in love, and that means not only in my relationship with him, but everyone. Jeremy is very straightforward and I love that about him, because I'm not always. I try to be, I'm just not always that good at collecting all my thoughts and getting to the point. And on the way, I say a whole bunch of silly stuff that doesn't make any sense and usually I don't always think, and it's just ridiculous. So I'm glad I'm getting better at that. Better at not letting the way I feel at that very moment change what I think. ha. Because that doesn't make any sense. But I'm learning. ha. I just need someone who will talk and tell me all the things that they know I know - or what I need to know - and I need to just be quiet and listen and think and get over things. And that's what he does for me. Among a lot of other things too :)

It's always fun to see who you are and where you're going and who you're being made to be. I love to see change in my life, and it's really a joy to see it in other people's lives, to be a part of it. You learn from them and they learn from you. It's something I really look forward to. But I forget that I can look forward to it all the time! Every single day I can learn something new and apply it to my life.

I think of something Debbi has told me a few times, about living in the mundane. Just doing the normal things day to day without losing sight of the big picture. Wherever you are, God can use you. Of course, there are times when he places a definite calling on your life to go somewhere and do something specific, but even if it doesn't seem like that, he still wants to use you where you are, even if it seems normal. Normal is not boring.

ha. It's just funny. You can always make up for these things. If one thing is hard for me to do, I just need to ask God for help. Why do I try and do so much and figure out so much on my own? It's soooo pointless!

So anyway. I have two more days of work, and then Friday I'm leaving for camp, and I'm excited about that! Then it's a week of VBS and packing, and I'm moving in July. CRAZY! huh?
It'll be good though. Just a little change. Something I kind of realized is that if I wouldn't be happy staying here and doing just "normal" things this year in the same area, I'm not going to be any happier going somewhere else and doing "normal" things this year either. Either way I should still be happy, because ultimately, my happiness must come from God and doing what he wants me to do. If he didn't want me to move and go to school, I wouldn't feel right about it. But this is what I want to do, because I think it's what God wants me to do too. And I love that feeling of peace that I get. I should be seeking that in every little decision I make.

ha this got supa long. Why do I always do that? I need to leave for work pretty soon.

-rebecca

2006-06-12T13:43:00.000-07:00

Well, I had a job for three and a half days. Windshield chip repair. Actually, I never repaired any, because the job is mostly sales and I didn't get that far.

It was kind of a mutual agreement thing. They didn't really think I would work, and I didn't really want to work for them. The reason my sales were so low is because I trained with one guy who didn't write my name on any of the sales I did, so my records look like I've been selling an average of one per day.

But it was a super high stress job, and I know I couldn't have handled it for the summer. The people who excel are in-your-face, arrogant, loud, and full of themselves. I'm not any of those, so I knew I wouldn't succeed very well.

But I made some money, got paid more per hour than I ever have, so that's good.

I'm half relieved that I don't have to worry about that anymore, and half bummed that I don't have the security of a job. I console myself, though - they would have probably let me go within a week anyway.

And I'm glad I have someone to vent a little anger on - that guy who trained me and didn't give me credit for six sales we did.

Anyway, now I'm looking for another job.

2006-06-06T08:14:00.000-07:00

Ack! It's the devil's day! 6/6/6!

Except...in the Philippines, this awful date actually started at 3 PM Pacific time...the day before. And there's nothing in the news about the Filipinos disappearing off the face of the earth or having some major catastrophe happen...Not to mention all the other countries in various time zones. If something huge is supposed to happen to the world on this date, it should be the same date everywhere in the world.

Unfortunately, the date already passed for Australia. It's either 12:20 or 1:20 there, on Wednesday. And it's 8:20 AM here.

Well, you know which culture is even more superstitious about numbers than we are? The Chinese. You know, they're the ones that pay millions of dollars for "lucky" telephone numbers. Let's see if they're hiding in their houses and covering their heads. Oh, look! According to this, they're actually all celebrating today! Today's a perfect day to get married, because 666 signifies holy matrimony in their culture!

And, here's a surprise - different cultures/religions have different calendars, so it's not the same for everybody. Who's going to be the first to say "The American Protestants count the days correctly and everybody else is wrong?" (To go back to an earlier point, who's going to say "The Pacific time zone is the correct one, so too bad Australia"?) If you say either of these things, you will quickly be labeled an intolerant, anti-everyoneelse pig.

If you are Baha'i, today is not Wednesday, the third day of the week, but Glory, the first day of the week. The date is "the tenth day (Might) of the sixth month (Mercy)". http://www.bcca.org/bahaivision/docs/today.html

If, somehow all cultures of the world discovered that 666 was a ominous sign in their societies, signifying the coming of the Antichrist, I might be more interested in this. If somehow all the time zones came together so we could accurately measure the beginning and end of the day together, I would have even more cause to believe that something would, indeed, happen.

I've read several articles making a big deal of this date because "it happens once a millenium". Actually, it happens once a century. On June 6, 1906, the date was 6/6/06. Same for 1806, etc. In fact, almost everyone who has ever lived under this calendar system has experienced, or will experience, this particular date.

If you're going to be picky and say that the second digit of the year must be a zero, there is no reason that the first digit shouldn't be a zero. The date is not 6/6/6; that's just an abbreviation for 06/06/2006. The true date 06/06/0006 has only happened once, but unfortunately it already happened, so we can't speculate about it.

And now, all you superstitious people, die in the face of my impeccable logic! Thanks to typing this out, I now have to warm up my tea again.

2006-05-31T22:05:00.000-07:00

I know I've been bad about updating, but I'm not conscience-stricken (I almost wrote scone, croissant, and conscious!) I don't have a "real" job yet. Details might be boring. I just don't feel like writing.

Anyway, I just noticed that someone stumbled on this blog by using google to search for "girly fashion blog". I also noticed that their visit length was 0 seconds. If they ever come back, I want to apologize. I'm sorry we haven't lived up to your expectations. (Re)becca and I try to outdo each other in cheap, quality clothing.

Me: "I like your shirt."
Becca: "Yeah, it's new."
Me: "Where'd you get it?"
Becca: "Ha! Union street thriftstore, thirty-nine cents."
Me: "Oh, I prefer St. Vincent's. It's better organized, and cleaner, and it has at least a few white people, not just Hispanics, so I don't feel like I'm in Mexico."
Becca: "Me too, but St. Vincent's is more expensive."
(Here we both laugh, because we're comparing two thrift stores, which never charge more than seven dollars for a shirt that, at one time, may have cost seventy somewhere else.)
Me: "Well, you get better quality at St. Vincent's, and a better shopping experience."
Becca: "But if the clothes are cheaper, you can afford to throw more stuff away if you don't like it."
Me: "You probably didn't notice, but I just bought a very well fitting pair of jeans at St. Vincent's."
Becca: "Yeah, and how much did it cost?" (mockingly) "three dollars?"
Me, reluctantly: "Four."
Becca: "Ha! plus tax! you could have gotten those for fifty cents at the Union thriftstore!"
Me: "Well, you just wait until the third tuesday of next month, when they have a sale on all pink tags. I'm going to go and buy all the clothes I need for school for under ten dollars!"
Becca: "Yeah? Well, I'm not even going to get store-bought new clothes for school. I might even garage-sale shop!"
(we both gasp)
Me: "Well, I'm going to buy my clothes by the pound at the Goodwill Outlet!"
Becca: "Well, I'm going to scrounge through trash bins and wear other people's old clothes!"
Me: "Well, I'm going to fashion my own free clothes from paper towels, Kleenex, and toilet paper - at home, where it's free!
Becca: "I'll make my own from cement, and I'll never have to change again!"
Me: "Well, don't come running to me when people start frying eggs on you on hot days!"

is life really all that hard?

2006-05-29T21:02:00.000-07:00

*this almost seems harsh. ha.

I'm getting a little weary of hearing about all the standards that people set that don't really seem all that necessary for life. It's fine if that's how they want to live because it's important to them, but if what I think is good enough for me, why do they feel like it affects them enough that they have to "set me right?"

Like, going to school. Why do you need to go to a big school? Why do you need to get school out of the way before you get married? Why do you need a degree? Why why why? Maybe for the job that you wanted to get, you needed a degree. What's that you say? I can get a loan or scholarship and get college for practically free? Okay, that's great, I'm not deciding against a school because I think I can't get a loan or something. I don't want to have to work off any debt to a school either.
But what will you do without a degree? they ask. I guess end up as a shift manager at a Mcdonalds for the rest of my life.
There is so much you can do without a degree! It's different for every person and situation - we need people to do all sorts of different things, and I commend those who go through school and work hard to meet the goals in their lives. But it's meaningless if it's not accomplishing what God wants to accomplish in your life, and everyone has different goals that don't make much difference when it comes to eternity. My goals may lead me through different steps thans yours do, or maybe we're even going the same way in life, but we decide to get there by a different path. That's okay too.

Well school is a lot harder when you're married, so you should get it done first.
What kind of school are we talking about? Am I planning on going to a full-blown four year school where if I have to drop any classes at some point in time, my carreer path is stopped dead in the tracks and everything I hoped for destroyed? Nope! Why wouldn't I want to go to school with my husband? If I've found the person who is going in the exact same place as me, and we both want to do it the same way, why wouldn't we do it together? Plus, think of the "ups":you only have to buy one set of books, you get to study together, and you don't have to be distracted by not being married. It seems like it would be easier. A lot easier. School isn't that expensive and it doesn't have to be that stressful either. It's just school.

What about money and kids?

Two things I seem to hear a lot: You have to have a lot of money to live on, and kids will completely change your life, so you have to understand that because you have to be able to make the adjustments.

Thank you. I understand that and I can make the adjustments.

Life is only has hard as you make it out to be. You don't need that much money live on. As long as you have enough to pay for a place to live and food and necessities, you can survive - and not just survive, but live comfortably - and if you save the rest of the money, you can even spend a little here and there when you need to. But that's something that comes down to the individual and what they feel like they need to live life.
Sooooo, am I just missing something? I don't think I'll be deprived by "depriving" myself of some of the entertainment most of the world can't seem to live without.
Who cares if I have the ability to spend a lot of money if I want? I think it's better that I make wise decisions with the money I do have to spend. My kids deprived? That's nonsense. What kid needs I-Pods and expensive phones and all the latest video games? You can still do meaningful things for your kids and not need to spend a lot of money. And those are the important things. I'm not saying I'm completely against giving them things or something like that, but no one is deprived just because they don't get tons of expensive things all the time.

Well, what about having kids in the first place? Come on! I'm so excited to be a mom! I've wanted to be a mom since I was 4 years old! Suuure, everyone says that, but that's because you're not thinking becca. You're not being practicaly or responsible, you just want kids because all girls want little babies.

No sorry, wrong again.

Well, yes, I guess I am a girl and I do want babies, but I don't just want babies. I want little kids, I want older kids, I want teenagers, and I want young adults who get to make their own decisions and have their own lives and jobs and go to school if they want and get married if they want, and have kids too. And, most of all, I want them all to love the Lord and serve him with all their hearts.

But what if I had a kid after I got married and was still in school? It would be okay. Why? Because I'd deal with it. Life really is not that hard. Money wouldn't be an issue. Time wouldn't be an issue. I think Faith is the biggest issue here. Where is my faith? Is my faith folded in my wallet? Is my faith watching the clock as the seconds tick by? No. I lift my eyes up, up to the mountains, where does my faith come from? It comes from you Lord.

My faith lies in God. Not myself, not my abilities, not my status, not anything in this earth, because all of that, in and of itself, will fall apart. I want to follow God, and I want to trust him with my entire life. God knows about the things I need, and he'll provide them(matthew 6). So why should I worry? If he blesses me with children and money to live on, and I'm able to actually give those things back to Him, those aren't the things I need to worry about. It's Him that I need to focus on, and doing what I'm supposed to do.

Yeah, there's a balance. I can't just not care about anything and blindly hope that God will drop everything into my lap. I have to do my part. But that's up to me. You do your part the way you think you have to in order to accomplish your dreams and I can be happy for you for that. But don't put down my dreams by giving me silly standards of what money is really worth (because I'm naive and don't know), or what things the world chases after that I need to have to live life to it's fullest. God gave these dreams to me. Don't stamp out my ambitions. Don't tell me I can't do something just because you never thought of it that way. I believe that God will grant the desires of my heart if I'm seeking Him out. And I'm so excited about that. I'm so so so so SO excited. I hope you can be as excited about what God gives you as I am about what He has given me.

Maybe I will make a bad decision. It is possible, I am a human. I don't know that much. There are people who have lived longer and gone through these things and I'm thankful for their wisdom and input. But I know, that if I make a mistake, there are people that God has blessed me with, surrounded me with, who are there for me to fall back on. And ultimately, God is there - not only to fall back on, but to have leading me by the hand the entire way through life.

And that is so good to know, because I can't find the way on my own.

-Rebecca

2006-05-27T20:00:00.000-07:00

sooooo, I'm trying to figure out why I have to work on memorial day. Who in the world is going to be going to a dance shop on memorial day(except to see me maybe)? We didn't even have any business today. I mean, we did, but like...nothing. Especially for a Saturday.
But we did have a new girl start today, and I really like her. I'll only be working there a couple more weeks, but she's nice. I guess it's always fun when I get to work with people who aren't 30-50 years older than me. That's what I liked about working on the beach - that is, excusing all the drama that comes along with a mostly juvenile staff. But 40 year olds are just as capable of creating drama as 14 year olds, it's just usually more about things like...messing up the bathroom because you thought the gold paint was going to turn out really good but now you need to add some subdued undertones and you just don't have the time for that. Or something.

On the subject of projects that don't turn out well, I've decided that I'm going to sew something. Just because. But what am I going to make? I'm thinking a jumper. ha. But whyyyyyy? Because I don't really need a pattern for that, I can just make it up. How hard can that be? I don't know what I'd do with a jumper. Maybe wear it, just because I made it. I just thought it would be easy to make. And I guess it could be cute. Hmmm. Maybe not. Maybe I'll make something else. Like...a few matching throw pillows. I don't know. It just sounded like a good idea. Actually, I should finish my blanket.

Just watch me go and not do any of those.

Amber was over here last night. I haven't seen her in MONTHS. It was fun. Wasn't it? I hope so. We pretty much did the usual. Talked about watching a movie, but ended up just drinking tea and talking instead and getting really tired and being sorta silly.

I really don't have anything to say. I'm going to go enjoy the rest of my weekend, and so should you.

-rebecca

2006-05-25T09:40:00.000-07:00

I think this might end up being kind of silly.

I have changed a lot over the years. And change is a good thing (especially in my case).

I think I'm a lot more girly than I thought I was. And there's nothing wrong with that. But I thought there was for a time of my life. I call that my awkward years...like...16-17 1/2. I was just kind of weird.
I found all my cosmetology books a couple of weeks ago, and as I was going through journals and things, trying to get rid of stuff so I wouldn't have so much to pack and move when it comes to it, I found all my fashion designs and make up sketches and studies and wow. I totally forgot that I wanted to be a fashion designer for a while. It was always something in design though - artwork, fashion, hairstyling, architecture, graphic design, set design. Those were the things I liked to do. But I never studied enough at any of them to actually do them, which is perfectly fine with me now. It's just funny. Especially the fashion design and cosmetology one. But that's only because so many people know me as the girl who just doesn't care about that kind of stuff. Maybe. But I'm still girly (coughvaincough)enough to like to dress up and look nice and play around with make up, maybe wax someones eyebrows once in a while. And I know about make up, which is even weirder. Because I don't think I'd actually let on to it before. haha. I just don't wear anything but foundation now because I don't want to buy anything else. Or spend time on it. Apparently I'd rather blog.
Plus, foundation is pretty much the only make-up that your skin actually benefits from. I think. Don't take my word on that. ha.

I'm just silly.

I had some point to all of this? No. I was just thinking. I'm pretty sure you don't get worse looking once you hit like 24 or so though. I mean, that can happen to you at ANY time in your life. But, I'm planning on 37 being my peak year. At least. I mean, sure this stuff is NOT the most important thing, don't get me wrong. But there's no reason to just not care.
I'm not going to stop working out just because I'm "that age," or just wear sweats all the time because I have no one to impress. I want to look as nice as I can for my husband. And then when I'm 40 I'll have beautiful daughters who can be pretty for me. Not that I'm anything special anyway. Really, I think of myself as pretty plain. Which is fine with me.

haha, I have no idea what I'm even talking about anymore! I need to go to work.

-rebecca

2006-05-19T17:31:00.000-07:00

I was debating against this, but I'll post a photo taken of me and my date at the Junior-Senior banquet. I may take it down soon if I feel like it.

my life as a ballet retail store clerk

2006-05-18T20:11:00.000-07:00

it's pretty boring.

ha.

Okay, I'll admit that it's kind of fun to get to be one of those cute shopgirls who smiles at people, waves at the UPS guy, greets the neighboring businesses, and leaves silly notes on things my boss writes to make fun of her. Really, it's a cush job. I don't have to do that much most of the time. Sometimes it will be super busy and I'm fitting 6 kids with dance shoes, suggesting costume ideas, trying to get people to buy the sale items, and ringing up customers all at one time with no help on hand. Or maybe I'll decide (or be told) to tackle some big reorganizing project, or maybe change displays around. But most of the time - there's nothing to do. Part of this is that I don't do things slowly. Unless I'm talking. But if I'm just getting sometime done, I like to work at it until ti's done. But then I have nothing to do because I get everything done too quickly. And then I start acting kind of obsessive compulsive, because I don't like to just sit around and do nothing and get paid for it (well, I sort of like it, but I feel bad about it), so I go around and check the same things I just checked. Sometimes I'll do it a third time. I don't really know why. It's not accomplishing anything more than just sitting around. Maybe it makes time go by faster.

So that can get really boring. But my boss lets me read if there's absolutely nothing to do. I always kind of worry that when I decide there's nothing to do, and start reading, crocheting, or making earrings, that there actually is something to do and I'm not being a good employee. ha.

Oh yeah, making earrings. Here's a new hobby I've started. No not really. This was something I used to do a lot when I was 12 or something. Make earrings for people. I haven't done it in a while, and I came across my earring making stuff recently, so I thought, "hey, why not." SO, I'm making earrings. It's that time of year. I always end up doing stuff like that around summer time. Maybe it's the heat. I just want to lay around and read and do creative stuff when it's hot out. I end up crocheting, writing music, and painting or drawing a lot. Which is good, because I hardly do it the other times of the year. Maybe I just have more inspiration during this season or something. I'm not sure.

So what else could I talk about. I don't know why I'm looking for more things to spend time writing, sense I actually have quite a bit of stuff I need to get done tonight, because tomorrow I won't be back until Saturday night. It's Pre-Trainting for Christian Youth In Action camp this weekend. I'm so excited about being a counselor. It'll be really fun. I haven't been to camp in four years.

Oh, I'm getting a massage tomorrow morning. 30 minutes. I've never had one before. The doctor at the chiropractic office next door to where I work gave me one when we moved. I'm excited about that.
He's kind of a funny guy, Dr. Warwick. Sort of just walks around the plaza like he owns the place.

Anyway, I'm done.

-becca

2006-05-17T08:08:00.000-07:00

I guess I'll say something.

I have a few minutes before I have to leave.

I've been loving the sun. Except that I haven't gotten to be out in it that much. The heat has been okay too. But my room was really hot last night, so it was a little hard to sleep. I woke up so many times during the night. But that's okay.
I always forget how much I enjoy summer. It's just so fuun. So many memories and fun things to do outside. Plus a lot of commitments dwindle down. Programs I'm involved in end for the season. Biblequizzing is already over, AWANA only has a couple more nights. And there's camp, and lots of VBS' and different things like that to do, which are a lot of fun too. Camp is only 4 weeks away.
Oh, and I quit my job. Or gave my notice rather, I only have four more weeks there too.

Amber, remember sitting in my room crocheting and listening to all those random books on tape? That was ridiculous. We were always so bored. Why did we do those things at my house? It was so much cooler at your house, with the basement and all. I was just talking about that at worship practice last night. I always got out of the bulk of walking that way though. Ha, remember when we used to walk everywhere? haha. I still rather walk or bike places anyway though. It's cheaper. And better for you. or me.

I guess I need to leave. ha.

-becca

2006-05-15T23:04:00.000-07:00

Today reached the 90's in temperature! It helped me to remember why I will always live in the Pacific Northwest - I really do like mild temperatures and rain. I was actually pretty miserable today, but I managed to get a lot done. I went to work, but I got off two hours late. And, I'm going to have to work five hours tomorrow, and I never work Tuesdays. My coworker's sick.

But it's money. I was really excited about having only one more day to work at Subway, but now I have two. Oh well.

I want to tell you about a customer I had tonight. She was the meanest, angriest little lady I've ever seen in my life. She must have had some disorder or PMS or something.

And let me tell you something else - when I get a rude customer, my politeness level goes way up. I become extremely formal, saying "ma'am" and "sir" and using my most cordial, sweet tone of voice, coupled with a fake smile.

Okay, here's what happened.

Me: "Hi! Do you know what you want?"
Lady: "Yes. I want a tuna melt."
Me: "Okay, what kind of bread do you want?"
Lady: "Six inch parmesan."
Me: "Okay, and would you like that toasted?"
Lady, very clearly and distinctly, as if she is speaking to a three year old: "Yes, you need to toast it with the cheese and then put the tuna on top."
Me: "Sure, I can do that for you."
Lady: "No, you don't understand. You need to do that. All the time. It's the way you're supposed to do it."
Me: "Actually, we usually toast the tuna and the cheese together, but-"
Lady: "No! You do it MY way! Every Subway I know does this! I know you're supposed to do it this way!"
Me: "Okay, calm down. I would be happy to do this for you. What kind of cheese do you want?"
Lady: "But you're always supposed to do it this way!"

At this point, I'm just confused. Why is it such a big deal? I get odd requests all the time - put the mayo on before the olives, cut the meatballs in half, put the cheese with the point of the triangle facing up, cut the sandwich with a clean knife, whatever. Lots of people have quirks, people have ways they want things done. I don't care, as long as it's not really annoying. But I already told her I was willing to make it the way she wanted, and she was livid with rage.

I mean, this lady was actually shaking. She was pointing at me and her finger was shaking. Her teeth were gritted and she had this look of hatred in her eyes that kind of scared me.

At this point, my coworker, Emily, got involved. She is more outspoken than I am.

Emily: "Okay, you need to understand that Subways are independently owned, and some Subways might do things differently from the way we do it. We always toast the tuna with the cheese."
Lady: "Look, you guys taught me this. I wouldn't do this if you hadn't told me this was the way it was supposed to be done. You're doing it wrong!"
Emily: "Amber is happy to make it for you however you want, so I don't know what your problem is."

At this point, I was pleading with Emily just to stop. I just wanted to make the lady's sandwich and get her out of there. The lady finally told me what she wanted. I didn't look at her face, but she was shaking with rage. Emily said she was looking at me like she hated me and wanted to hurt me. And the funny thing is, I wasn't even the one arguing with her! I was nothing but polite the whole time!

When she got to the reigster, she asked me in an authoritative tone, "I want a business card. Do you have a business card?" It took me a minute before I realized that she wanted to complain about me to somebody in charge. I said, "I don't, but I'll get you a phone number. What do you want, the phone number for Subway headquarters? This Subway? My manager?" She said, "All of them." Stifling a giggle, I went to the back and wrote down the required phone numbers, along with a note - "On May 15, 2006, Emily and Amber were working" just so she'd have names when she called Heather to complain. She huffed out angrily, and as soon as she was gone, Emily, me, and the customer who had witnessed the whole thing all started giggling.

Even though I had to stay two hours late, it was worth it to experience that lady. I wonder if Heather got a call from her.

It's too hot to sleep, and because I'm working tomorrow I cut down my list of things to do, so I might just watch a movie now because I can, or read. Goodnight!

2006-05-07T10:39:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated in a while.

Not that there's much to update. Here's what the last week and a half has been like.

I started getting sick, then I got sicker. I got better very, very, very slowly, and yesterday I started getting sick again. Now I'm sick again.

The end.

2006-05-05T09:55:00.000-07:00

hey, it's becca.

I have about twenty minutes before I need to leave for work, and I don't really feel like doing anything profitible, so I'm just going to post.

Letseeum.

I'm good. Really good. And it's sunny out today. I burnt some oatmeal earlier though, because I wasn't paying attention to it. I turned on the burner and then someone started sending me text messages on my phone and I was doing dishes and singing and got completely distracted, and then I had this lump of oatmeal which was really gross. But I ate some, because I felt bad wasting it, and now I feel kind of sick. But that'll go away.

hmmmm. So what's going on. Actually, I should go do the dishes like I said I would. ha. This was pretty pointless and boring. Oh well.

-becca

2006-04-28T19:54:00.000-07:00

Aah, it was SO beautiful out today! I wanted to go out and bask in the sun all day, but I was inside at work. I didn't even really get to sit out in the sun during my break either, because I had to go run an errand. Oh well.

Sorry you're sick amber. Hope the dance is fuuun, I want to see a picture of your dress! With you in it. And your date too. But....he can be standing next to you or something.

I really like Johnson's softlotion. I found it in our bathroom stuff bin in the closet. It's good, because I usually have super dry skin, but ever since I started using it, I'm all baby-soft, and I even SMELL like baby powder. In a subtle, good way. I like the smell of baby powder. I remember once when I was 8 I got in trouble, because I took the baby powder out of matt's room and went and puffed it around my room just because I wanted my room to smell like it. But, I don't like deodorant that smells like baby powder. That's just weird.

So anyway, today I worked all day and came home and went running because it was so beautiful out, and then I took a shower and now my family is home so I'm going to go hang out with them. And eat some dinner, because it's dinner time and I'm hungry and I haven't eaten anything today other than reduced fat wheat thins.

byyye!

-becca

2006-04-28T10:58:00.000-07:00

Ugh. I am exceedingly miserable.

Yesterday I had a horrible sore throat all day, and today I went to the nurse. She looked at it and said I have post nasal drip. She gave me a decongestant/tylenol pill which made me very drowsy and hardly able to move and helped a little bit. I've used up a whole box of Kleenex in the last day and a half. and my head is stuffed up and my nose keeps running. And JSB is tonight! Ugh! What a horrible time to get sick. And tomorrow's my birthday. Ugh.

Everybody's birthday is in these two weeks. Danielle, Filisha, me, Toni, Meagan, and that other girl at least. And probably more. It's okay, it's a good time of the year.

2006-04-24T08:17:00.000-07:00

So, about summer.

It's about that time of year again. The wind is blowing, but it's warm this time, and the leaves are green this time. The world seems smaller and friendlier. Because of the newfound sun, numerous friends are now hooking up and making it "official", just in time for junior/senior banquet. Subway business increases, making me stay longer and longer every time I work. I still don't have a car, which means I have about $500 in checks to deposit but have to wait till somebody can take me to the bank. At least that'll happen today! Unfortunately, I'll promptly spend much of it on a formal dress, shoes, earrings, and a birthday present for my roommate.

Yes, the dress is for me, not my roommate. And yes, I'm going to junior/senior banquet. And yes, I have a date.

I think this post was going to be about summer memories or something. I was just remembering how I used to walk to the library. It was over a mile, and it was just so beautiful - I can see the whole thing in my head. I remember taking the "short cut" through the blackberries and the apartment buildings. Haha, becca, remember whenever you were driving to my house after that, Kaitie would say "why didn't you take the shortcut?"

Kaitie's pirate party happened on a sunny day. So did becca's surprise party, but I only know that because I remember she was wearing shorts.

Before we could both drive, we'd walk from our houses toward the other and meet in the middle. I don't know why, maybe so one person would have company on half of the way there. Except usually I'd call becca and say "I'm leaving" and she'd say "Me too, in like one minute." So of course I'd wait a few seconds to grab some water or something, and I'd leave right then. And I'd show up at her door like "Hi, I'm already here" and she'd be like "You walk fast" and I'd be like "Yeah, whatever." We'd go to Safeway, and sometimes we'd get chow mein, but I think our summer thing was really root beer float bars. We'd buy them and then try to get them quickly back to her house unmelted and in the freezer before the rest of her family saw them. I think the box held six and we each ate two on the way to her house. And then sometimes we'd let Kaitie and Matt have the last two.

Summer was also when we went on our "hike" down that street, whose number I can't even remember now. 140th. Right? I bought some fruit snacks and ate the entire box on the way down the big hill. Then we got down there, and walked along Cedar River, looking for "the bunny place", a place becca insisted was somewhere around there. But we ended up wandering off the trail into stinging nettles and spiderwebs. It was at least two miles, mostly uphill, back home, so we kept going. We walked into downtown Renton, caught a bus (we had exactly enough money for the fare) and went back to becca's house. We were soooo tired.

Summer afternoons and evenings, of course, we'd just sit out on the sidewalk in front of becca's house (sometimes my house, but more often hers. I liked her house because with more people, it was more interesting). We'd make arrangements with pine needles (remember the speed bump?) in the road. Once we drew with sidewalk chalk, too. Sometimes we'd walk to the park and throw a frisbee or play freeze tag. We'd make tea but we'd be too hot to drink it, so we'd just sit and smell it.

Once when we were sitting outside and talking, Josh came out briefly, then said "I'm going into the house" but we both saw him duck behind a tree, hiding from us. After exposing him, we said something like "So, whenever you say 'I'm going into the house', you really mean "I'm going behind a tree'!"

For a while we had an inside "joke" that involved people meaning other things, and I think it may have stemmed from that. Do you remember, becca? Because we'd be watching a movie and someone would say "She's not really talking about the horses" and everybody would crack up.

That's all I can remember right now. Help me, becca! Let's show our readers what a perfect summer looks like!

2006-04-21T16:33:00.000-07:00

hehehe.

so I'll waste these nights for a while, but I'll be holding onto you forever...

2006-04-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

You know what I LOVE about days off where I actually have nothing that I need to do (in other words, no one is expecting anything of me, but there are still a lot of things I should get done)?

Spending my morning in my pajamas, eating breakfast leisurely (actually, just eating breakfast is good), reading, playing music, not taking a shower until noon. And I really only took a shower because I went running and was all gross and worky-outy.

I was thinking about fixing the template on this blog. But I don't really feel like it right now, because I want to go do some stuff.

But I have so much time! ha. I never know what to do on a day off. I'm so used to working 6 days a week and having like three evenings and sunday afternoon to do stuff in. Having a whole day is like...too much. The main thing I don't like about having weekdays off though, is that every one else is working or doing stuff, so I'm just on my own.

Life is so good. haha. I really like my life. ha. I better, since I'm kind of stuck with it. But, I mean, reaaaally. I have everything to look forward to and so much to look back on with a smile and a laugh. Maybe I just like my attitude about life. That seems a little arrogant or something though. But I'm just happy with the fact that I'm not worried about anything. And that doesn't mean I'm beeing irresponsible or impractical - of course I think things through before I make decisions and stuff, but there's just so much more to life than that. It's important, but it's not the most important. I bet this doesn't make sense at all. haha. This is definitely NOT the most deep post I have ever made. I'm in way too silly of a mood right now.

I've been playing a lot of guitar lately. Writing a lot of music, some lyrics. ha, amber, remember when I used call you all the time and say, "hey I just wrote almost all of a song!" and then I'd have to show it to you whether you wanted to hear it or not and I don't think I even cared if you liked it that much or not, bcause I was pretty convinced that it was good, and you always said something nice about it anyway. haha. I don't even remember like half of those anymore, but every once in a while I come across a scrap of paper or something with lyrics and music written down and I'm reminded that I can't really write, but I still do anyway, because I love it. ha. It's just a way I like to express my thoughts or anything - words delicately crafted to melody. That line seems really out of post. I mean place. why did i say post. hm.

wow I'm in way too happy of a mood today, I'm not even erasing anythign I write. I"m just writing.

oh, and last night, I had by far the weirdest dream I have ever dreamt. But I don't know how well I can explain it. It was about spiritual warfare but it was really weird. I haven't even been thinking about that at all. This morning Kaitie and I woke up about the same time and I was telling her about it, and it's all deep and weird, and then she goes, "I had a dream that we all had to make a bajillionzillion frappacinnos! It was INSANE!"

I love kaitie.

ha, maybe my next post will be a little more intelligible, but I just can't pretend right now.

-becca

2006-04-17T11:07:00.000-07:00

Hi! This is Amber typing. I had a wonderful Easter. I really missed spending it with my family, and I wanted to at least spend it with some people I really love, so I called up Frank and Penni and asked them what they were doing. Their invitation was immediate. This was the conversation:

"Hi Penni, what are you doing tomorrow for Easter?"
"Going to our relatives' for church and brunch. Want to come?"
"Yeah!"
"Alright, we'll pick you up tomorrow at 8:30. Okay?"
"Okay, bye!"

They sure are great people. Their relatives are great too. I'd met them once before but it was really fun hanging out. We attended a good church service, had an awesome brunch, and sat around and told jokes. They are very laughy people. I felt like I was one of their family. I laughed at things they said and they laughed at things I said. Then I played piano and Frank played guitar and Joni played autoharp and Bob played banjo and we all sang and played hymns and worship songs and other songs that I didn't know. It was so, so, so fun. The way I most enjoy spending time - playing music with other people. And on Easter! Ah.

Then we went back to Frank and Penni's. I did my laundry and we watched two movies and I went home.

What a wonderful day!

Today has been going exceptionally well, too. I woke up an hour and a half before my alarm so I decided to get breakfast in the cafeteria, which I haven't done all this semester (I bought a smaller meal plan, and I've been eating breakfast in my room every morning.) It was so fun. I realized I hadn't really spent time with anyone from school in a few days. My roommate left on Friday so I didn't talk to her at all that day, and I worked Friday, and all day Saturday, and I was gone all day Sunday. So, as soon as I left the dorm this morning, I started walking and talking with a gal I don't normally, and it was just fun. And then Amanda joined us and we were just chatting and walking to the cafeteria and I ate with some more friends. And it was just so fun. I felt like I loved everybody and the food was good and I just felt so happy!

And then I walked to chapel. The weather was one of my favorite - a combination of rain and sun. You feel the rain, but you see the sun. It makes for a happy rain.

And chapel! We were supposed to have a speaker but he was flying in from Canada or something and something happened and he wasn't here today. So, we had a worship team up there that was awesome. They'd found out they were going to be doing worship only a few hours beforehand. They were all great. The program did not seem thrown together at all. The whole chapel, all we did was sing songs and read Scripture. It was wonderful. Oh man, it was great. The songs they picked were great. I knew all of them! Lots of times when they do a "worship chapel", they use the opportunity to sing lots of songs we don't know. I guess that's fine, but I really enjoy singing when I'm there to sing. If I'm there to listen I'll listen, but when it's time to sing, it's time to sing!

Oh man. I am blown away. I am so happy! I keep thanking Jesus for all these little things I've been needing. Okay.

Now I'm going to have lunch. Goodbye!

-Amber

2006-04-15T20:11:00.000-07:00

First post on the new blog! HA!

If you want to see our archives, please visit www.becconingamberlance1.blogspot.com.

Statistics for our first blog:

Number of words:134,558

Number of letters (including spaces): 708, 500

Number of letters (without spaces): 573,947

Number of lines: 8.442

Number of pages: 191

Days spent on this blog: 495

Average posts per day: 0.6

Average words per day: 271.8

becca: approximately 130 posts

Amber: approximately 169 posts

Kaitie: exactly 1 post

More updates and changes to come. becca, if you have time you should help me out. Maybe we should do something totally weird and new with this! Maybe the theme, instead of "here's how you can become friends like us", should be like "Here's how you can win over your favorite person of the opposite sex." I mean, now that we're all mature, and stuff. You know?

-Amber