We Wish You a 'Hairy' Christmas!

It's a Christmas miracle. I consented to have my hair go dark--quite close to my actual hair color. Well, the real miracle is I absolutely can't get enough of the color!!

I didn't think I'd look good with darker hair. However, Mackenzie made the color much more "pretty" by adding some extra color to kick it up.

I'm just not quite sure in the picture above about Mackenzie's laugh-inducing methods.

Okay, she finally hit her mark. I don't know how anyone could withhold laughing from the phrase: "I have chicken nuggets in my pants."

Above, I think I'm wearing thin from trying to smile on cue.

Here's some close-up shots of my hair from the side and back.

These last two pics are great!

Here's the one who makes it all possible...ME!

Naw, just joshing. Mackenzie!!! Thanks for being such an awesome-amazing friend and sister!! You're the most super-coolest best!

Holiday Merriments

Below are two videos featuring Charlie the Boston Terrier and, my brother Phil's pooch, Joel. Both are widely engaged in a sock with a knot in it...fascinating.

In this first video, Charlie seems so bent on ripping that sock out of Joe'ls jowls, but then he suddenly wimps out and admits defeat. Personally, I think Charlie's just trying to be nice to Joel. I dunno.

In this second video, they're both at the same sock again, but now they take to the couch...where Joel, again, gains control of the foot-covering cloth.

Here's poor ol' Charlie later that night. He was worn out, but still looks super-adorable as always.

This is a video of our quick snowflake extravaganza in St. George. I wish it could've gone on much longer, but it was beautiful, and I'm so glad I got to see it and film it.

As a bonus, our neighbor unknowingly walked into the shot. I didn't mind, but he seemed to feel a tad bad. No harm done. I never know what to say anyhow as it is.

Here's a gnomeman that started out as a bunny, which turned in a tiny snowguy, which turned into a bird, which turned into a penguin, which turned into...a melting lump of nothingness. Fun stuff.

Mackenzie thought it was the snowy owl, Hedwig, from the Harry Potter series. Why didn't I think of that?! I mean, sure...OF COURSE!


Here's a picture I've grown quite fond of. It's the St. George temple at night, with the Christmas lights reflected in the wet walkway.


Didn't turn out so grand, but here's a cute light display of carolers. Cool.

Here's outside of the temple gates. I loved how many lights there were in such a small space. Very pretty!

Here's the life-size nativity scene. I can't get enough of these.

Just a, not-so-focused-because-I-still-don't-know-how-to-shoot-worth-beans-at-night close-up shot of it. I think the infant should be moved down a tad closer so he's in the light more and closer to his mom...or dad.

Well, that's it for now! Aren't you shocked? I updated again, and it was sooner than 2 or 3 months!!!!!!!!! >8oD

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Let it Snow...in St. George.

Oh golly, It's snowed earlier here today,

--I couldn't help but want to shout, "Hurray!"

I'm just trying out my brand-new camera too.

Can you tell that my skills are quite new?

Charlie sits peacefully on the top of the sofa.

He's dying to go outside to smell, but it wouldn't be so fun.

Here's a glassy, ornament-like light outside.

The snow dusted on top gives me a special feeling inside.

These two lone pine trees have little to no snow,

but I still wanted to snow them off--that's the way I go.

Here's our neighborhood still sleeping and unaware

That Jack Frost painted everything frosty and white without care.

My SW 98 is all nestled on the driveway.

So I like to take pictures of snow on my car...what the hey.

I love how this frost settles serenely on vegetation.

It almost gets me going on my own meditation.

So, if you have time, gather 'round your tree and gaze

Outside to a world a new, to better days.

I Turned Him into a Newt

Okay...I really didn't turn some confused British man into a slimy amphibian, but now that I've got your attention, let me show you my most elaborate/favorite costume for All Hallow's Eve yet!

Here's me having a little doggie treat before my daily helping of Batwing Soup, Snake Steak, and Rodd and Todd Flanders Casserole.

Here I'm just contemplating who to bewitch to clean my room and teach my classes for the rest of the week.

Note: This photo has not been altered or resized in any way, shape, or form.

That, folks, is indeed my leg. Maybe the tights make them look that good or maybe it's the nightly walks. Either way, I'm happy.

Gotta love the vibrant-orange pumpkins I'm gently caressing.

Also, I'm not wearing the blood red nail polish, fake, glittery-tipped eyelashes, a neat metal necklace with links and balls, witch make-up, and huge spider-webby earrings in these--which I most certainly will for Friday/Saturday and possibly other days too!

I'm so blasted excited for Halloween!! Hey, who isn't?!

Just so ya'll know, I'm going all out for dressing up starting next week (the 26th-30th), so I hope to post a couple pics or so for each Red Ribbon Week theme day. If I forget, remind me so I can! Hope everyone has a lovely week!

...but remember, If you do me wrong, you'll be next on my menu! Heheheheheheh! < ) ;^D

30 "Firsts"

Who was your FIRST prom date?
I never got...or had to go.

2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love?
Um...my first love was in California when I was like 5, so, no.

3. What was your FIRST alcoholic drink?
I've never drank said liquid.

4. Who was your FIRST kiss?
My very first love. I remember it being more of a hunt down for this poor boy and cornering him in the sitting room at church were I laid a big wet, slobberly one on his quivering cheek. (I pray it wasn't his mouth. Maybe I wisely blotted it from my memory?)

5. What was your FIRST job?
I'd have to say cleaning houses for three months (I quit as soon as college started for me) for Home Pros Clean Team. It was mostly fun, sometimes way exhausting. I met some way nice/way picky/way overly-lavish rich people that way. One had a TV IN their fridge door, with a huge screen TV feet away in the next room. Good holy crapness!

6. What was your FIRST car?
98 Saturn SW She runs great and was a super-great deal!

7. Who was the FIRST person to text you today?
Haven't had the pleasure yet.

8. Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning?
Psh, like I remember that and from the MORNING. Um, either me or my mentor teacher. Not so sure.

9. Who was your FIRST grade teacher?
Mrs. Sunberg (Sadly, I can't think of her name! I think this is it.)

10. Where was your FIRST apartment or place of your own?
The first place of my own really was a multi-colored kiddie tent from Ikea. Not kidding. I LURVED that piece of 80-licious fabric and plastic black poles. It literally was my little sanctuary. I slept in it a lot too!

11. Your FIRST ride on an airplane?
17 years old from Las Vegas to Honolulu

12. Who was your FIRST best friend & do you still talk?
I'd say Michelle Anderson. Um...no, not really.

13. Where was your FIRST sleep over?
The first one I remember was sleeping over at one of my friends when I was 5. Her name was Marin.

14. Who was the FIRST person you talked to today?
Me madre or myself.

15. Whose wedding were you in the FIRST time?
Never really been IN a wedding. I was a kind of a server at my Uncle Nephi's when I was 8.

16. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning?
Sleep in too much as usual...

17. What was the FIRST concert you ever went to?
Um...I guess Jericho's Road

18. FIRST tattoo?
I used to get tattoos all the time in California. They sold them with a piece of gum from the ice cream truck. Those were the days! All those tattoos were creepy/gross themed. I specifically remember one of them being maggots coming out of the skin. They were SO dang awesome! The setback was they were temporary and hurt exceedingly when they started coming off soon after. The sticky residue of the tattoo pulled the hair on my arms/legs. That hurt SO bad. I hated that.

19. FIRST piercing?
When I was 17 I think. Yep, I never wanted/was interested in earrings. Now I can't get enough of them!

20. FIRST foreign country you've been to?
Never been as of now.

21. FIRST movie you remember seeing?
Wow, I dunno. Good question. Dang, still can't think of one...so many bombarding my mind right now. I'm just gonna say Batman because that movie changed the way I saw movies. Man did I love (and still do) the Joker.

22. When was your FIRST detention?
I've never gone. I kept any detention-worthy comments/actions out of school for the most part.

23. What was the FIRST state/province you lived in?
California!

24. Who was your FIRST roommate?
Lisa, my big sis

25. What was your FIRST "bad" word?
I don't know. Maybe "damn?" It slipped out when I was like 7 or something. I was banging on the bathroom door and told my older brother to, "open the [dang] door!"

26. What was your FIRST broken bone?
I really haven't broken any yet. I'll say chunks of my jaw bone from getting my wisdom teeth yanked out.

27. When did you lose your FIRST tooth?
Have no clue. Maybe 5?

28. If you had one FIRST wish, what would it be?
This is an incredibly stupid, vague question. I guess I'd wish I could see my grandma one more time and just hug her for as long as I could, while she talked softly to me with her reassuring, irreplaceable voice. I regret not doing this more often.

29. What is something you would learn FIRST if you had the time?
Still don't quite get what this is asking. Maybe it's just me? Ummmm...learn how to decorate cakes semi-professionally-ish!

30. Who do you think will be the FIRST person to post this?
I'm thinking my super-awesome mom will.

Mostly Musings of an Adolescent in Bondage

This is a short story I've been playing around with for quite a while. I don't know if it's worth pursuing further, but it was great fun to write! This is loosely based on me if I was 15 and grossly exaggerated in most aspects. This has a bit of a _Freaks and Geeks_ and _Breakfast Club_ sprinkled into it, or at least, that's what I was indirectly going for. Let me know what ya'll think! I'd love to know!

Mostly Musings of an Adolescent in Bondage

Now, I can be a pretty shy person. In many ways, I'm not really, but most people see me as one. In reality, I'm not a "Little Miss Quiet" or whatever. I easn't really like that at all. Anyone who really knew me would say I loved to laugh, joke, watch movies, act like a moron, be completely random, and play various videogames. Yes, even the ones with guns and varying degress of blood. But in school, we tend to "be" what were not. So I guess this was it. I had finally got put in detention for the first time. I was a good student. I never ditched. I never did any of that "rebelling kid" crud. I was one of the quiet kids.

Carefully, I opened the door, trying to eliminate any sound so none of the kids would look up and see me as I came in. Success! I had managed to turn and hold the knob enough so the lock majigger wouldn't stick out and click on the door frame as I opened it. Yeah, I know it's not really called "lock majigger," but my mind wasn't deeply concerned with using appropriate door mechanism jargon at the moment. Excuse me if some lock or door mechanism lover just cried or died a inside from my uncouth phraseology. Right now, I was heavily focused on not having people look at me when I came in. I hate it when they do. That's about when I start to either ardently loathe or admire every last invisible superhero out there. Lucky punks.

I managed to slip into the room fairly unnotice. A couple looked up and gave me bored, indifferent stares. Hurry and sit down before more look up! I silently urged myself. I really hope no one recognizes me...I made it to an empty desk with the usual amount of left over graphite smears tatooing its chipped surface. It was on the second to last row, third desk from the back. I did not feel like sitting close to a man who had to baby-sit twenty or so troubledoers. Crap! My stupid backpack betrayed me before I had successfully stealthed my way to the desk. One of the backpack straps had caught on an unsuspecting chair.

The chair in reply screeched obscenely on the hard floor my my panicky momentum, but I was already sitting down. Pretending I was unaware of and hadn't broked the silence, I chanced a cringing glance. Most of them were ignoring my interruption and presence. A few were looking at me, while pretending to see something behind or close by me. Great. Just fantastic...

I recognized one of the kids looking around at me. My heart stopped beating. I knew those calm light blue eyes anyplace. Not to mention his cute, short, red hair. It was my one-side crush: Eric Vance. My face was turning into a deformed tomato that could easily place in any mutant vegetable fair.

No! No. Please don't. Not right when he's looking at you! Not now. Get a hold of yourself or I'm gonna punch you in the face!

I wasn't sure if I should look away or pretend I didn't notice that my face was on fire. Finally, I felt my wretched capillaries in my face settle down. He had only looked around at me for a couple seconds, but I felt like it had been much, much longer--like his blue- eyed, pale face was still hovering right in front of my desk. Good crimany! That sounds incredibly demented. My face continued to tingle, reminding me, shamefully, of how I had resembled someone with a terrible sunburn upon their face that mysterious vanished. I felt dizzy and nauseous.

It doesn't matter anyways. He doesn't lke you. He's never liked you. He never will like you, so move on and quit freaking out! He's probably wondering what I'm doing in here. I'm pretty sure he knows I'm a good student. Yeah right...I really doubt he's thinking about you. I dunno...you never know. Oh yes you do! Come on already!

I looked up again. I didn't know that guy's name with the spiky black hair sitting in the row in front of me, two desks to the right, but I knew he was a jock or in the somewhat-a-jock's group at least.

I looked up again. I didn't know that guy's name with the spiky black hair sitting in the row in front of me two desks to the right, but I knew he was a jock or in the somewhat-a-jock group at least. He was kinda cute, but I didn't really care for him. He never looked at me and when he did, he still wasn't really looking at me.

I didn't understand this 'unspoken' rule revered by many and abhorred by many others. Why in the world couldn't I freely talk to this guy without worrying of feeling like a circus freak gawked at from every angle while all of my shortcomings and insecurities were pointed out instantly with one passing glance from a jock or cheerleader type? I hated it. I couldn't stand feeling like that, how I felt right now in every last cell's obtusely-shaped corner located in my slowly-sinking-through-the-weird-school-tile-floor body. But he was still dang hot.

Curse his incredibly white, straight smile and narrow, hotly-pointed nose and chin! Don't you dare think of getting me started on his deep emerald eyes… Please don't get me started on those jade orbs containing captured stars, shining just for me…though, somehow, he'd never yet said so much as a "hi" to me.

My head became dizzy from the overwhelming fuzzy, hot stupidness, that most high school crushing infects your brain with an expertly-applied covering, briefly suffocating all crevices devoted to the logical, smart leanings I sometimes allow to momentarily pass into action when thinking clearly enough in my brain. It was so utterly blissful and freeing. Too bad it was a pathetic hallucinatory hope--but it was mine! Freakin' hurrah for me…

I scowled at no one, at thin, extremely boring air. Still, I did not know why in this sorry, stinking world I had to be forced to endure endless torture in this small, starting-to-smell room. I couldn't fathom that this had really happened--to me! This wasn't me. I was innocent! I was a good kid! I--

Then the male teacher who was watching us and who's name I couldn't remember spoke: "Listen, I'm going to leave the room for a couple minutes. I don't want anyone leaving this room or talking. I'll be back in no more than five minutes. If I find out that anyone was out of their seat or talking, you'll be spending two more weeks in here with me for two hours after school each day Monday through Friday without question. Okay?"

The room muttered some form of the response 'yes', and the thirty-something-year-old babysitter with wrinkled corduroys and a fake, confident smile squeaked his way out of our midst in ugly brown sandals. The sandals had two squeaks. The first was higher, and the second was lower. The shoes seemed to be announcing proudly to everyone within hearing distance in a creaky squeak, "I'm lame. I'm lame. I'm lame. I'm lame." I nodded my head boredly in agreement. As soon as he was gone, most of the class was walking around the room, talking to anything that moved, and some were even slipping out of the not-even-fully-closed door.

I pulled out some homework. I didn't want to be here, but I wasn't about to rebel anymore. I struggled through a worksheet about some Greek Mythology. Boring. Just when I was convinced the whole planet would stop rotating do to the lack of anything remotely interesting occurring in this classroom, I noticed my best friend a couple rows away, chatting with some girls. Hallelujah!

Just as I was, for whatever reason, discreetly exiting my chair and making for my friend, the door opened and the babysitter reappeared. I abandoned the attempt and lowered my head in defeat. As he sluggishly squeaked back to the desk, the door opened with a loud door-opening sound and the escapees swept back to their chairs. He heard them. He saw them. He was looking directly at them, but made no indication he had.

"All right, please put away all of your homework (I stifled a deadly snort from erupting through my nose and throat.) and textbooks. It's almost time to go for today." Suddenly the student corpses reanimated with incredible agility and vigor. (It's aliiiive!) We hovered anxiously behind our desks. C'mon, it's only one more minute, be a human for once and show us just one act of compassion!

"Let my people go," I muttered as quietly as a female 15 year-old possibly can. That stupid black-haired spiky jock turned around slowly. My face melted from the bright white straightness of those teeth.

Oh how I deeply love detention. It wasn't that bad at all, and at least the teacher was a nice guy and never annoyed anyone, especially me. Did I mention that detention is way underrated? I couldn't believe how fast time had flown by in those two hours. The bell rang. Every student body galloped through the metal door. What's the rush?! This wasn't that bad. I could spend hours in here dancing and spinning in idiotic circles. Detention was the greatest invention in the world. He smiled at me with his teeth, lips, dimples, and teeth!!

I skipped with joyful glee, trying to give that wonderful teacher a embrace of warmest regard, though somehow his name escaped me. He had brought me and this black-haired angelically-smiling being together. That amazing man squeaked by after the last person had fled this precious, precious room. I lowered my head in respect to the great room I was privileged enough to reside in for a short period of time. I decided at that moment I must research and find out who had come up with the idea for detention and pray he or her was survived by a relative or family member--or pet. I must pay my respects without any hesitation.

Gliding out of that room, I saw my prince standing outside the door--waiting for me! I hesitated, his presence intimidated me. Then that blasted sensible side of my brain gasped for air. My one true lover was not alone. A harlot had her arm and body draped over him, her lips worked furiously, like a bottom feeder with a severe case of Tourette's Syndrome.

I stared in heartbroken realization. I remembered the annoying babysitter again and the terrible, terrible prison cell. I wish somehow detention could have magically transformed into a guy--that jock to be precise. Better yet, why not that stupid jock? How I wished to thrust my right leg upward and cause them to howl as both keeled over in ashamed, but dutiful, defeat.

An Epic Harry Potter Meme

As of now, most who gander at my blog won't really care for or be able to easily appreciate this post, but for the scarce few (Mackenzie, I'm not pointedly looking in your direction.) who do care for and "get" this sort of stuff--ENJOY and please do this too!

Also, a quick note: meme (mēm) n. A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another.


Thank you, dictionary.com!

A Harry Potter Meme

List the books in order from your favorite to your least favorite.


Man, this is too hard! I'm sure I'll disagree with this in time...but...


1.Deathly Hollows
2.Half Blood Prince
3.Order of the Phoenix
4.Goblet of Fire
5.Prisoner of Azkaban
6.Philosopher's Stone
7. Chamber of Secrets


List the movies in order from your favorite to your least favorite.


For me, they really seem to improve with each one.


1.Half Blood Prince
2.Order of the Phoenix
3.Goblet of Fire
4.Prisoner of Azkaban
5.Chamber of Secrets
6.Philosopher's Stone

Favorite chapter from your favorite book?: "The Prince's Tale--bar-frikin'-none.


Top 5 favorite characters?


How in the world can I narrow it down to three?! There's at least 20-30 I want to put!


1.Severus Snape
2.Luna Lovegood
3.Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
4.Harry Potter
5.Lily Potter


Five least favorite characters?


Maybe I'm just slow, but does this mean characters that are bad/evil and/or characters that just bug me--bad or good? Um, I'll go with characters that bug me.


1.Dolores Umbridge
2.Rita Skeeter
3. Vernon Dursley
4.Bellatrix Lestrange
5.Zacharias Smith

Favorite member of the Golden Trio?: Ah, man, I love 'em all. I'll say Harry. He doesn't get enough love.
Favorite family?:The Weasley Family--Heck yes!
Favorite antagonist?: Either Snape or Voldemort
Favorite Death Eater?:Severus Snape

Three favorite spells?
1.Expecto Patronum
2.Animagus Transfiguration
3.Bond of Blood

Three favorite potions?
1.Felix Felicis
2.Polyjuice Potion
3.Amortentia


Five favorite quotes:

Bah! Could they make this any harder?!


1."You've been so brave."

2."Look at me."

3."Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love."

4.""Well, usually when a person shakes their head," said McGonagall coldly, "they mean 'no.' So unless Miss Edgecombe is using a form of sign language as yet unknown to humans --"

5.“What's comin' will come, an' we'll meet it when it does."


Favorite non-Hogwarts magical building?
The Ministry of Magic--particulary the Department of Mysteries

Favorite Diagon Alley shop?
Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes

Favorite Hogsmeade Shop?
Honeydukes Sweetshop or The Three Broomsticks

Favorite Unforgivable Curse?
Avada Kedavra

Favorite mode of wizard transportation?
Broomsticks or Thestrals

Favorite Weasley?
Ron

Favorite Order Member?
Severus Snape

Favorite DA Member?

Darn. Hard to choose.

Neville Longbottom or Luna Lovegood

Favorite pet?
Fawkes

Favorite Hogwarts room?
The Great Hall or the Room of Requirement

Favorite Hogwarts professor?
Remus Lupin

Favorite non-human Hogwarts resident?
Kreacher

Favorite Tri-Wizard Champion?
Harry. (Sorry, Cedric. Harry had to put up with a lot of flack in that book--even though you kinda died...)

Favorite house elf?
Kreacher! Dobby's okay, but not super developed.

Favorite wizard sweet?
Fizzing Whizbees

Favorite couple?
Ron and Hermione or Snape and Lily (I don't think they really became a couple, but yeh know, it was a sweet relationship/friendship they had.)

Biggest surprise of the series?
Probably Moody's true identity at the end of Goblet of Fire or Harry's or Fred's death. Or...Nagini camping out in Bathilda Bagshot

Biggest letdown of the series?
Hm. I dunno... I don't think I was really ever let down. Not finding out more about "the locked room" or the "death veil" in The Department of Mysteries was a bummer. I was dying to hear all about that.

One character you wish lived?
Snape. But at the same time, he was so miserable and didn't seem to have anything left to live for...so maybe death was sort of necessary for him. He could finally "relax" and not spend his life living as a double-agent. Or Fred. That was way sad! Dang I hated having any of the Weasleys die. Or Dumbledore or Sirius. Yep, that's only one...

Moment that will always make you cry?
It's weird. I cry a lot sometimes, but hardly EVER from a book or movie. I had to really get into the book (the last one) the second time to tear up. That would be when Harry's taking his last walk into the forest. The narrative is absolutely beautiful and heart-breaking.

Your Patronus would be______?
I wish I knew! Perhaps a doe?

Three things Amortentia would smell like to you:
Straight-out-of-the-oven homemade bread, freshly-fallen rain, and very old book pages

You would use Felix Felicis to______?
I have no clue! Save it for a rainy day, perhaps? Or, as someone else said, to win a lottery, but I don't really want that much money. It'd be overwhelming and weird sorta. I don't need THAT much. Maybe a small lottery? :D

Job you would most like to try?
Not sure. Never really thought of it ... Probably a professor and/or writer? Maybe taking care of magical creatures?

Ron/Hermione or Harry/Hermione?
Ron/Hermione! Are so many people that blind and deaf?!

James/Lily or Snape/Lily?
James/Lily as a couple and Lily/Snape as very good friends

Do you think Harry Potter is better than Twilight?
Very much so. But at the same time, they are too different and unique to compare. But I much prefer Harry Potter over Twilight when it comes down to it.

Are you going to go see the Half Blood Prince in theaters?
Already seen it 3 times

Do you own the books/movies?
Yep.

Have you ever played any of the video games?
No, not really.

Do you think it would be cool to have a pet owl?
Freakin' heck yes!

How about a rat?
Um, maybe.

Have you ever listened to the soundtrack?
Yes! I love them. Especially the 1st, and 4th-6th

Which house would you want to be in?
Gryffindor Not sure if I'd really get in, but yeah...

Do you like Draco?
Um, in some ways. He's good as a antagonist/bully of sorts. So to speak, he gets the job done. He's really a jerky character, but he's not completely evil. Just raised to be predjudiced and arrogant to those different than him. He's not exactly plesant--especially in the first four books. But he starts fleshing out as a real young man with a terrifying mission to complete. This makes me like him and sympathize for him.

Would you ever enter the Triwizard tournament?
Um, if I'd been previously going to Hogwarts for 6 years, maybe.

Would you keep your money in Gringotts?
Uh, if I lived in London...sure.

What class would be your favorite?
Care of Magical Creatures, DADA, and Transfiguration

Do you think you would enjoy being a witch/wizard?
Fo' sho!

I hope you had as much fun reading this as I did filling it in. I'd love to read yours too!

*hint* *hint*


*wink* *wink*


*stab* *stab*


*shoot* *shoot*


*impale* *impale*


*disfigure* *disfigure*



...Okay, I'll stop.

My Newfangled Lorgnette (a.k.a My New Glasses)

At long last, the time felt quite ripe and right to get my eyes checked and pick out some new specs. I have wanted to do this for many, many months, but kept telling myself to be realistic and focus on school and such. Well, I tried to stay in this mindset, but when Mackenzie, one of my best friends--as if you didn't know already, voiced how much she wanted new glasses, by golly, I couldn't ignore the same notion trying to surge from my twitching mouth. So, this last Tuesday, her and I ventured forth to the local Lens Crafters located in the Red Cliffs Mall.

To summarize the journey and happenings which took place there, we both got eye appointments. Mackenzie picked out her glasses AFTER me (I had been looking for a half hour or more already). It took her 15 minutes to choose, and it took me 2 hours. In my defense, I stink at deciding/picking out most solid matter of value. Also, Mackenzie's very glasses savvy and knows the different styles, brands, and so on. She kind of knew what she wanted, at least far more than I did. Me, I was incredibly clueless--except I knew I didn't want just plain ol' wire frames ever again. I wanted plastic frames--and somewhat chunky. That helped me slightly, but I had no idea 90 or more percent of the frames were plastic there. In conclusion, it was so giddily fun and hopelessly maddening trying to find the glasses that were, to quote The Three Bears, "just right."

At last, after driving everyone in slight vicinity from me nuts with my incessant hesitation and which-is-the-right-frame-for-me? confusion, I was basically convinced with which glasses fit me the best. I couldn't be happier with them. I really liked them when I picked them out, but, because I had to run to a meeting, I couldn't pick them up until the next day. Garbage!

So the next morning, I was excited and filled with trepidation. I couldn't wait to seize my very own awesome spectacles, but I kept feeling unsure and uneasy. "Did I pick out too flashy or bold glasses for my taste or wearability?" I couldn't help ask to myself and aloud to all who were present. After putting them on for the first time, though I loved how the glasses looked, I kept feeling unsure about how they really looked on me. But, as the day wore on, I couldn't believe how much the glasses seemed to fit me: unique and reflective...okay, that was a lame pun.

In short, I seem to suck incredibly at quickly picking out glasses, but thanks to Mackenzie, Bree Squires and their limitless patience and struggle to keep their sanity, I was able to pick out the coolest glasses I've ever seen and never thought I'd own, let alone, be able to wear.

Well (this is for mainly Lisa) you be the judge. But if you even try to diss my glasses, I shall incinerate the very fabric of your soul:

Mary Anneology: The Study of...Me

I saw this questionaire thing on Mackenzie's blog, so I thought I'd give it a whirl:

FOODOLOGY

What is your salad dressing of choice? Ranch, poppy seed or that exquisite rasberry vinegerette one in the pre-maid Hearty Italian salad kit.

What is your favorite sit-down restaurant? Quite debatable. Village Inn comes to mind or Chili's. Wait, nevermind--Northwoods!

What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of? Maybe taquitos? Can't say for certain.

What are your pizza toppings of choice? Either hawaiian, meat lover's, spinach, or chicken/bacon.

What do you like to put on your toast? Sometimes just butter, but usually various types of jellies--pomegranate is the beyond best!

TECHNOLOGY
How many televisions are in your house? Two.

BIOLOGY
Are you right-handed or left-handed? Right-handed

Have you ever had anything removed from your body? Um, clothes? Wait, that sounds dodgey. Four wisdom teeth and other baby teeth.

What was the last heavy item you lifted? I believe it was dog food.

Have you ever been knocked unconscious? Not that I can recall. Closest would probably be procuring a concussion of sorts from playing Red Rover

BULLCRAPOLOGY
If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? No way. I'd spend the rest of my life waiting, worrying, and not living, so to speak, if I knew. Plus, I really don't think it'd do any good, and I don't think anyone's supposed to know unless "privileged" enough.

If you could change your name, what would you change it to? I love the name Elenor (Ellie), Allie (Always loved that name.), Sunny, Elizabeth (Lizzy/Lizzie is such a cute nickname!), oh, maybe Lily-always, always thought this was such a nice, beautiful name.

Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000? The incentive is nice, but I'd probably blow chunks before I got halfway through. But I'd try it for the heck of it.

DUMBOLOGY
How many pairs of flip flops do you own? I dunno. I think like four.

Last time you had a run-in with the cops? A couple months ago. It was just one cop on a motorcycle who made sure I updated my plates. He was very nice and helped me put them on.

Last person you talked to? Daddio

Last person you hugged? Mackenzie

FAVORITOLOGY

Season? I don't know! I like different aspects for each...right between fall and winter?

Holiday? Christmas, my birthday, and Halloween!

Day of the week? Oh it depends so very much. Friday, I'm thinking. I love the weekend break.

Month? December or October!

CURRENTOLOGY

Missing someone? You, probably. My grandma, sister, and nephews.

Mood? Content and grateful

What are you listening to? A shower?

Watching? Amazing Wedding Cakes! Love that show!

Worrying about? Being ready for the fall.

RANDOMOLOGY

First place you went this morning? Haven't gone anywhere yet.

What's the last movie you saw? Transformers II: Revenge of the Fallen. Not fantastic, but amazing visuals and chocked to the max with action.

Do you smile often? When it's meaningful or depends on who I'm with or where I'm at.

Sleeping Alone Tonight? I dunno...you tell me!

OTHER-OLOGY
Do you always answer your phone? Most of the time. Sometimes, because I can see who's calling me without answering, I wisely do not comply.

Its four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it? I have no idea! I was asleep, but now I'm worried, possibly scared, and struggling to gain consciousness.

If you could change your eye color what would it be? If there is such a thing, or not, a soft green, like cottonwood leaves.

What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? Um, I used to just get cherry limeades.

Do you own a digital camera? No. I'd certainly like to, but I'd want a pretty nice one. Not super important in the long run as of now.

Favorite Christmas song(s)? Dang, so many to choose from! Happy X-mas (War is Over) by Neil Diamond, any song from the zany cartoon with the mice family, Twas the Night Before Christmas, oh, and Carol of the Bells.

What's on your wish list for your birthday? Not sure. Haven't thought concretely about it.

Can you do push ups? It's been ages, but I'm thinking no.

Does the future make you more nervous or excited? A little of both.

Do you have any saved texts? Nope.

Ever been in a car wreck? Does an accident mean the same thing? Not sure if wreck would be more severe. Anywho, it could've been a lot worse, but luckily, I didn't even get a scratch--but my car indeed did.

Do you have an accent? No, unless a lisp counts.

What is the last song to make you cry? Wow, not really sure. Can't remember which song exactly, but a certain hymn made me pretty emotional a while ago.

Plans tonight? Neighborhood Block Party--woot.

Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom? Every once in a while. It's crappy, but happens to the best of us at least a little bit.

Name 3 things you bought today. Haven't bought anything as of yet.

Have you ever been given roses? I think like one for Mother's Day

Current worry? School

Current hate right now? Having a pimple right next to my lip. Kills like the dickens.

Met someone who changed your life? Mackenzie and my grandma

How will you bring in the New Year? Um, not sure. Only time will tell.

What song represents you? Way cool question. Give me a minute to consider. There's so many, and I don't think I could definitely say. For the time being, I really gravitate to this song and love it: Magic Works by Jarvis Cocker--> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBPGJ0daqWg

Name three people who might complete this? Me mudder, Lisa, and Lori :o)

Would you go back in time if you were given the chance? Heck yes, I would! I'd love to see the dinosaurs, go to Jane Austen's time, or the medieval times

Do you have any tattoos/piercings? One piercing on each earlobe.

Will you be in a relationship 4 months from now? Couldn't say. Anything's possible.

Would you be a pirate? Heck yeah! But not today. They're kinda too evil now.

Attack of the Killer Tomato Worms!

Blergh. You're probably wondering, unless you had the privilege to already read Mormor the Merrier's (me mum) blog, why I'd ever want to post such hideous creatures on here. Well, read on, and I'll enlighten you shortly.

After watching a thoroughly disturbing 1953 sci-fi film titled Invaders from Mars but enjoying it quite thoroughly, I graciously acknowledged the comforting thought that at least my parents weren't being controlled by an extraterrestial's tentacled-head, residing in a glass orb.

My graciousness was short-lived. No, my mom didn't go glassy-eyed on me and try to enslave me for her master's biddings, but something equally horrifying occured: my mom's two tomato plants were infested with bloated, green worms of destruction! Good criminitly crap! Well, wait. Let me back up a bit and start at the beginning.

So not long after finishing the movie, my mom announced she was going outside in the backyard to water her tomato plants she had planted a month or so ago. Shortly after she had passed through the backdoor, I began watching a show on TV. Only a couple minutes later, an urgent "Mary Anne!" rang through the evening air. My mother was calling me, in desperation it seemed--but for good or bad, I had not yet found out. She beckoned again, even more shrilly. What in the world is it? What's going on? I raced outside, perplexed and hesitantly curious. She was standing by her two tomato plants. I thought at first that she was just really excited her tomatoes on one of the plants were growing real well, thinking she was over reacting a bit. No, I looked at her face and saw revulsion, fear, and despair. She pointed and explained as she did so, a large, plump green (caterpillar, I thought) was hugging it's grotesque, jelly form against one of the branches. Good night, it was ugly. Sadly, this experience only deepened in the nightmare category.

Increduously, we became aware that three more gross green grubs feasted fiendishly upon the poor tomato plant's arms. I immediately wanted the vile things to be gone. As if reading my mind, my mom announced we had to get it off and snatched up a plastic trowel from nearby. The black plastic fell against supple, pale green flesh, prying and swiping with vicious endeavor. Still, the worm of evil clung. Her slashes with the makeshift sword against the foul beast became more frenzied, crescendoing with our dance of disgust and just plain freaking out, complete with many a well-deserved scream. She said something like, "It won't budge!" Her proclamation was sound. The wreaking worm of wrong held fast. What to do? What to do? In the back of my mind, I couldn't help but think perhaps salt would work against them? I returned with salt, shouting for my brother, James, to help us destroy these beastly bugs. Pretty soon, I was armed with a small glass salt shaker. I scattered the tiny white granules on the same worm we'd unsuccessfully tried to remove. Success! Very, very gross success.

Yep, the salt worked, exceedingly well. The creature soon resembled a very long, writhing Gusher fruit snack. Very nasty ordeal, but unusually satisfying. As if this wasn't sci-fi enough, the stupid slitherers still succeeded in staying on the branch after I had provided each a life of sodium overdose. That's where James came in. Instructed by my mother, James brandished a pair of steel barbeque tongs at the leeches. It worked! It was comically downright weird at one point and, dare you imagine, graphically gross, but it worked. What I mean is, one of the worms managed to stick to the branch even as James yanked at the poor devil. The result was sickening but cartoonish. The worm literally stretched out, half grabbing the branch and the other clamped in metal. It finally was ripped off, but, as James put it, "deflated" upon breaking contact with the branch. Blechchch... Nope, still not done grossing you out. Throughout this exoricism, each was gushing green goo, leaving plenty smeared upon the tongs--not unlike how a sword would look after slaying a fiery, scaled monster. Or for that matter, not unlike slaying a like-like:

Okay, no more. I think I've sufficiently grossed or scared the pants off of you. Now I just need to check the backs of my parent's necks.

Yeah...laugh! Watch the movie--you'll see!

Managed to Clear My Head...er

Sorry this isn't fantastically exciting, but my new post is really above (a brand-spankin'-new blog header and, to a lesser extent, my blog background and such). Yippity-doo-dah...


I'll try to post something soon--"something" being the keyword, mind.


Here's something else to occupy you in the meantime:

Um, you're welcome?

Write or Wrong--You Tell Me.

Below is a fictional short story I've been working on since last fall or so. In case it's not your thing or your not in the mood, this isn't a happy story. It's fairly dark and eerie. I would love to have anyone that's (still) interested read it and tell me what they think. Any constructive criticism is quite welcome. The title's still not set in stone. Also, if at all possible, please try to be specific with exactly what you didn't like or (hopefully) liked (e.g. what worked or didn't work in the story why or why not). I can't wait to improve this and submit it to a literary magazine of some sort. Also, I promise I know quite well how to indent and when to. This word processing program on blogger doesn't seem to allow it. Finally, if you'd rather read it later or on/in a different format, I'd be more than happy to e-mail the story to you instead because this blogger is doing a wonderful job of not spacing out the dialogue and paragraphs as well.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this and critique/comment on it!

Fear Conversed

A young girl encased in a lime green bathrobe nestled against a couch's corner, her feet and body wrapped in folds of a sixteen-year old 101 Dalmatians comforter. The once vibrant red now pinkish orange material constricted further as her right hand slid down determinedly and secured a loose corner under her right foot. She yawned. Her exposed teeth gleamed dully from a late night TV show's ghostly grey light. The leather coach squeaked, groaned as her form sank further, further into depths of deliciously warm fabric.

A commercial selling greasy, slowly-rotating pizzas began. Her fingers and chin bobbed absently to the muted jingle about "2 pizzas for 10 bucks" while fists of 10 dollar bills and grinning families in well-furnished kitchens with immaculate dinners flashed across the small square screen. Another followed featuring a natural male-enhancement pill. Her lips and brows wrinkled downward over the ridiculous, distasteful innuendo.

Her sluggish, undecided thumb surrendered of locating a watchable program and switched off the jumbled images with a silent click. Black exhaustion lowered her into arms of waiting dreams. Her mouth became lax, a black void drawing air in…out…in…out…
A tall shadow crept through her closed eyes. A worn sole shuffled over laminate wood.

Charlie? She wondered with petrified hope. No ten year-old dog's paws made that noise but a large person, casually, the presence silent and thick as fog.

Her chest kept her frantic heart from escaping. Her breathing cut off. She refused to see.
Nothing was there. Nothing was there. Nothing was there. Nothing was th—! A whispering of smooth, light fabric brushed leisurely back-and-forth, like solidifying vapor. Closer…closer…closer…closer…closer…

The floor she cowered by creaked deliberately. She felt the presence of something, felt the air in front of her occupied. Someone was standing there. Watching her. Waiting.
"Dad? Mom?" she jerkily cracked. Why weren't they saying anything? This wasn't her parents. She knew their footsteps: a heavy shuffle or quiet, dry sweep of heels. This was another’s.

Her mind shrieked at her legs, Run! Get away! The waterless mouth struggled to function. What could she do? Her arms clenched each other. She wrenched open her quivering eyelids. A thin silhouette waited.

Knowing, quiet omnipotence.

"Hello, Elenore." A fluttering, soft noise.

The blanket and feet yanked back from the sound. The remote control, laid to rest for the night, catapulted off the armrest into thick ebony silence. Her mouth gaped.
A desiccated chuckle.

"Help. Help. Help. Help. Help. Help." Her whispered words lost in juddered breaths.

A smooth voice. "No need to fear. I won’t kill you tonight."

She shrunk from the response. Her chest squeezed air into frozen lungs and heart.
"Wh—what—who are you!?"

"I couldn't tell you, really. I'm fashioned from fear," a deliberate, heavy hesitation, "yours, actually. I’m unattached to any bonds of existence, yet your imagination and fear insist I…linger." The girl's pupils contracted. Her eyelids drew back, disbelieving.

"I'm awake so how can I see you?"

"Oh, I'm not a nightmare." A hint of jeering loftiness.

The floating voice paralyzed the girl. Each word cut, slowly, deeply, carefully into her skin, seeping, searing into her bones. Blood slogged icily through veins and heart.

"Get away from me!" "Help!" she wailed. The shadow laughed. Quiet, bemused.

"You arranged this to be private."

"…what?"

Each word drew, languidly from encircling darkness: a water-laden rope dragging up from fathomless depths. "No one can hear us. No one can see us.”

“Why are you here? What do you want!?”

“Now that’s a good, sensible response from you for a change.” Mocking incredulousness.

“Shut u—” Slender fingers slid quietly around her throat.

He whispered liltingly, his hand harshly directing her to his voice, caressing her ear’s ridge with one fingertip. A weak moan bled through her lips. “Should I break my promise? The one I made just for you, Elenore? Do you want me to kill you—right now? When I could give you more time to live, to ponder, wonder just what night I’ll return to unravel your mind and destroy you?” Her body quaked as fear held her. A trapped whimper longed to escape her.

“S-sorry—! Ple-ase …” The fingers allowed only so much air for her plea.

And then fear released the girl. Her body took over next as it convulsed with frenzied twitches. Perspiration coated her trembling flesh like liquid sequins. She inhaled slowly, fearing to do so too audibly for its ears--if it had any.

“Don’t be frightened, my sweet, precious Elenore…breath all you want tonight. Enjoy the sweet, fresh air surrounding you.”

“Ar-are you human?” The question had lingered on her lips from the beginning of the meeting.

A laugh. Humorless, dark. “Of course not. Most humans have eyes, I gathered.”

The young girl couldn’t stopper the sickened curiosity teeming within her, “How can you see? The last word a noiseless hiss.

“I don’t need eyes to see my prey, Elenore. Most humans produce an extraordinarily tangible representation of fear. Though I can't see others’ or your fear always, only when my prey gives in to thoughts and hallucinations.” She saw the shadow smirk though she could not see him. His voice was thoughtful, polite. “I've been watching you,” every one of her cells quivered, “I should say your fear, for quite some time. Sometimes I lost track of yours amidst the ever-growing forest of mindless victims, but as of late, it's grown stronger and clearer for me to watch and study.”

The young girl could feel boundless euphoria and a ringing note of reverence swell forth from the shadow with the next words: “How fortunate and rare you truly are to be selected by me." She recoiled, clutching at cushions, blanket, moisture between her fingers.

She feared the response before the question entered her thoughts, "What do I…What's my fear look like?"

"An odd, unwise notion to pursue. However, if you insist. A peculiar, rather delicious image.” He was surveying a great, succulent feast with those words. The higher tone and tempo ripped at her. She clung to the withered edges of the quaking blanket, furling the material around her.
“Fully-ripened fear always looks a deep, dark, old shadow.” He spoke slowly now. Ancient and far away.

“As fear matures and prey weakens, I always step closer to examine, being, of course, understandably incapable of disregarding my maturing curiosity and craving. As I come nearer, I look beneath, past what all other humans see and project. You. I see a crumpled, grey girl child. Scarcely does she raise her head or eyes. Whimpering, whining, weeping always. Her eyes always staring, never closing, never calm. Eyes so hallow, so broken, like an expired light bulb."

"You’re lying." She barely whispered.

"False hope, ludicrous hope usually springs up.” She imagined him waving a hand airily as his tone while he smiled ruefully and shook his head in jest. Then his voice was bubbling acid, “But soon enough I'll ruin it.” Just as abruptly, his voice became as quiet and assuring as each careful step of a feline. “My selections sometimes manage to hold onto a little bit of light that I can distinguish—like you. Each loses this dim glimmer though. Once I find them, I lead each to fade to darkness, utterly absorbed, lost in fear. He paused, breathing measured, peaceful breathes. His words smoothed out and became eager, exultant. “How I look forward to guiding you there soon, Elenore. Watching the little grey figure grow limper, darker. Watching those once shivering fists and arms lie silent, still, welcoming. Seeing—"

"No!"

Elenore sunk back, terrified and spent. A long, sinister gap of sound hovered and fell upon both. All she could muster was a dry, involuntary swallowing inside her throat. Still, he did not speak. Finally, a faint snigger, to mostly himself.

"My most sincere apologies, dear sweet Elenore.” Polite. Then, a rapid crescendo of obsession mixed with palpable resonances of jubilation. “I'm getting far too ahead of the agenda, so to speak. There's plenty time left yet to savor those happy moments.” He stopped, smiling wistfully to himself, she imagined. The voice became solemn and longing. “Yes. Those long, delightful moments." He sighed true bliss.

“Well then, until next time, my most extraordinarily fortunate friend." She heard a cold, pleased smile in his farewell as she sunk into the cushions from her body’s weight, limp and cold, unaware another slighter hand also rested upon her still, grey countenance.

Still "Man's Best Friend?"

Well, this may look awful familiar--awful being used literally in this instance.

Our family dog's (Charlie) at it again:

And guess who got to pick all this crud up and clean up afterwards?

Urghh! It was so gross and made me exceedingly displeased. But Charlie's old and he looked so forlorn and ashamedly curled on the floor looking up at me with those chocolate eyes of sorrow and pouty black lip...


so I didn't yell at him...or murder him.


And yep, he's still walking around with all four limbs.

However, I almost altered his appearance when I had to also clean up sick he'd left earlier this day on the floor. Surprisingly, I didn't think anybody'd really want to see that, so I didn't take a picture of that.

Well, I guess he didn't mean to (I hope!! D:< ) , so I'll forgive him... yet again!

Do Re N' Mi (Translation: Dory and Me)

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, this post really doesn't feature me in photo and/or text. I just thought the post title was mildly clever.

This is my a'Dory'ble new niece, (you guessed it) named Dory.
I was privileged enough to see her just this last Saturday and Sunday while visiting cousins/family in Glendora, California.

It's the story
of a girl named Dory
who--

Naw, just kidding, but she kinda looks like she is singing in the above pic.

Anyways, I'm so happy I got to finally see my sweet little niece. Thanks Lisa, for flying all the way out there with her so we could all meet and get to know her!

It looks like she's saying, "C'mere, lemme show yeh somethin." in the picture above.

She's a way well-behaved baby, and she has such a beautiful face/smile and quirky expressions. I fell in love with her when she first smiled-which she, thankfully, liked and kept doing!

I couldn't (obviously) get enough of her (or taking pictures of her). She even does a crooked smile (sadly not caught on camera yet) that's to die for! It's way unique and so cute! Edward lovers, eat your hearts out!

In case you needed any other reason or argument of why my niece is the most adorable, sweet, and boss baby ever in existence:
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Get ready...
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Here it comes.
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Can you tell yet how much I love to brag about my niece?
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Ready to smack me for making you scroll down/wait so much?
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AW!!!

Can't wait to see more of you, Dory--not to mention the rest of your equally awesome family later this Summer. Thanks for making the beginning of my Summer so memorable and special, Lisa and Dory!

Love you both lots!!!