How I Spent My New Years

• Is today really the last day of 2011? Happy New Year's Eve!
• There is definitely a lot to reflect on from this last year - but that will be for a different day; probably tomorrow. Today is for sewing with Krystle (we WILL finish our projects!) and a NYE party with camp friends (minus Carlee :(). It's going to be a fantastic way to ring in the new year and I am looking forward to 2012. Enjoy!

Bed of Dreams (Dec 30)

• Started the day with having to leave Carlee at the airport :/ Won't see her until the end of July. Also, she's having some interesting adventures at the bowl game...shoulda just stayed here.
• Krystle's bed is soooo comfortable. Fantastic sheets, a cushy mattress, tons of pillows and enough room for at least 2. No wonder I was in the the same spot for 7 hours - sleeping until she came back from her interview and then reading Hunger Games while she slept.
• Right now, Krystle and I are doing lots of sewing. Frantically trying to use up the remainder of our free time to finish some of the projects we've started...we can do it! (Especially with each other to shout our sewing machine frustrations at and lots of movies to watch.)
• Apparently, Krystle and I have been apart for too long - I complimented her on two different items of hers today...both of which I gave her. Hehe oops :)

Let's Go To The Mall (Dec 29)

• I helped Kristin pack a little bit today, but the best part (besides getting to hang out with Jane) was that I organized most of her tissue paper, in rainbow order, in a box whose size suggests it was made to hold folded tissue paper.
• I love George and Linda's house, but especially at Christmas time...they have 6 Christmas trees in it! (including ones in the bathroom and kitchen)
• Charlie brought a Kinect dance game to George and Linda's (camp party) and "Let's Go To The Mall" was on it!!!! It was fantastic to dance to. And I only hit one person (...sorry Isaiah).
• Sleepover #2 (in a row) with Carlee (and Krystle too but she is in the other room).

People Like You Are Why People Like Me Exist (Dec 28)

• Despite going to bed around 4 a.m., my body was ready to be awake by 9:30. So up I got, texted some friends, checked email. Which allowed me to have a fantastic conversation with the mom of one of my kindergarteners. She went to Korea for 4 months when she was 24 and was giving me tips and telling me all about her experience. It was really cool and really helpful.
• The boys and Carrie were still sleeping by 11, so I left to run some errands - including picking up Girl's remains. It was hard but I held myself together, which made me feel strong. Plus, after that, I realized I'd left my wallet at Remington's apt, so I had to go back and see my friends, which cheered me up.
• Then we went to breakfast/lunch at the East Egg and it was yummy :) And Ryan was awesome and paid for it, which is very helpful to unemployed me. Oh and I got High-Five Hugs from Ryan and Jason, which are crazy/fantastic.
• After breakfast, I came home and watched Sherlock/napped.
• Then I got to go to the Lindners' with Carlee and Krystle :D I haven't been there in too long and it was great to see all of them. Both Kathy and Al asked me about work and finishing school and I told them about Korea. But they also both asked about my family, which made me feel really great, that they care about them and they've never met them. We played lots of games (including Scategories, where Jewel deemed all iffy answers as "very creative" and, therefore, valid), ate yummy food, and just hung out.
• This morning, Remington asked me what I like to do in my free time (because, despite staying at his apt last night, I don't know him very well)...I realized that most of my free time is devoted to the people I love. I'm usually doing things with or helping the people in my life. I like my alone time, but I love being able to do something or nothing with my friends and family. I was kind of proud to be able to say that.

Little Miss Hazel Eyes (Dec 27)

• Fantastic time with camp friends tonight. Carlee wanted time with BKC people because she won't be here for NYE...so we had a party at the Hazels' :) Crafted Carlee's gift for her guard girls, listened to Christmas music and boy bands, ate cookies, played a very fun version of Pictionary and just enjoyed each other's company. I love hanging out with my family.
• After being at the Hazels', we went to Main St. (a common post-event hangout). I love my friends. Then we went to Remington's apartment and had some Captain (which I'd never had before...I liked it) and watched some videos and had a sleepover.

I Broke My Arm Christmas Shopping at the Mall (Dec 26)

[No, I did not break my arm shopping but that is a great title for a song.]

• Carlee and Krystle and I had a fantastic shopping day today. We didn't start until about 2 pm. We only had to stand in one long line. We got a lot of great stuff (for me, it was HP5, new shoes, on-sale shampoo, a Kindle cover that was cheaper and prettier than the one I returned, and a great Forever 21 necklace) for not very much money. We had dinner at McDonald's and had to place our order 3 times. We had the best crafting-idea/shopping-spasm ever, at Hobby Lobby. We finished the day at Main St. with Carrie, Jason, Justin, Amanda, and Phil. We exchanged gifts in the dark parking lot of Kohl's at midnight. Definition of "fantastic" :)

We Wish You A Merry Christmas (Dec 25)

• Today was filled with a lot of love and happiness. This should be expected but I have come to enjoy the time leading up to Christmas more than the day itself over the past several years (or at least, that's how I feel until the day of). I was surprised (yet again) with a fantastic day with all of my family and some really fantastic presents. Mom got me a Kindle! Ben got me HIMYM 1 & 2 and Bananagrams! And there were lots of other great things from Erin, Collin, Dad and Barbara. I'm so so glad it was such a good day.

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Dec 24)

• Started the day at Meijer with Carlee and Krystle (I bought cat litter and motor oil...what everyone needs on Christmas Eve) and then we moved on to Biggby. We stayed for awhile and just talked and drank our coffee. It was lovely :)
• I have never been shopping on Christmas Eve before - I've always been done before then! But it actually wasn't too bad. And I am pretty excited to give my gifts this year, which never happens to me (I usually feel like I have to rush around to find presents that are good). There weren't THAT many people out and also, Ryan helped me solve a Fluxx problem. I do like shopping earlier in the season though, because it seems to make the purchasing of the gifts more worth it. Oh well, next year.
• It took me a very long time to wrap all those presents. If I went by wrapping alone, I'd only ever give books and movies...they wrap up so prettily and easily!
• Church was great. I don't think I've been to a Christmas Eve service at First Pres, but it sure was beautiful. I was slightly under-dressed, but oh so warm and comfortable so it was okay. It was fun to watch the couples (both older and younger...though I was more jealous of the younger couples...) sit together and just be happy :) We sang a lot of great songs (though not all of my favorites) and the message was really good. Made me remember all about the reason for Christmas :) After the service, we walked through the beautifully lit-up Bronson park.

We Need A Little Christmas (Dec 23)

• Well, I woke up and just started crying as I realized that today was the day we had to put Girl down. I can't believe she is not here anymore. It doesn't seem real because I haven't been back to my mom's yet. She was a loving, beautiful cat and I will miss her so much (and do already). My mom and dad were really supportive this morning (and leading up to it) and I really appreciate it. My dad was right about keeping the morning time and me not going...it would have been so much messier any other way. I was able to stay distracted by my kids and school today. Here are some of the things they said/did as we left for break/they realized I wouldn't be back when they returned:
• Charlie – “I hope you get that game you want!” (Bananagrams)
• Sahara – “I love you!” and she made sure to wish me a Merry Christmas at least 3 times
• Lauren – “You’re my favorite teacher ever.”
• Ella – gave me like 5 hugs
• Muhammad – blew me a kiss
• Sydney – asked when she would see me again
• I traveled around Kzoo to see Christmas lights with Krystle, Carlee, Kristin and Katie tonight. (Also, before we left, we were at Phil and Kristin's and Jane fell asleep on me :D) It was fabulous. We got to catch up a little and see the amazing light display on Long Rd. Then, we went back to Phil and Kristin's and hung out with Phil, Justin, Jason and Matt. :D

Final Night (Dec 22)

• Today, we had our holiday parties in my class and I got so many presents from my students today - it was crazy because I didn't even think about expecting ANY! It was really nice to be appreciated in that way and most of the gifts are either really yummy or useful.
• This evening, I spent my last night with Girl. She was confined to the mudroom, so I hung out in there and Ben, Carlee and Krystle joined me for awhile as well. Later, Ben and I discovered that the air mattress fit nice and snugly in there and we outfitted it for sleeping. The boys left sometime in the middle of the night but Girl and Chloe laid/slept with me the whole night. I cried a lot. I was glad to have that time, even though it was not enough.

Learning To Add Is Fun (Dec 21)

• Was able to get some Christmas shopping done today. I'm getting a little better at the gift-buying thing.
• One of my kindergarten girls hugged and said to me, "Thanks for helping us learn." It was so sweet and made me feel both great and guilty - as this morning I was more than a little cranky with them (not her in particular, but the group in general).
• Got to see Phil and Jason for like 2 minutes in a dark parking lot. Phil gave me money and Jason wondered aloud how safe it is for me to be going to Korea at this time...it was all very sinister.

I'm a Little Latke

• Went to Mandy's house for some healing time with Carlee, Mandy, her mom and her sister, Emily. They made latkes for dinner, to celebrate the first night of Hannukah! It was very cool and very yummy. And there was apple cobbler and peach tea.
• We had a grand plan of watching White Christmas and possibly crafting/sewing, but that was thwarted when we found the mini-BBT marathon on TBS. So we laughed a lot instead.

Sherlock Holmes Was As Good As His Word

• Best part of today, hands down = SHERLOCK HOLMES 2. Love love loved it. Laughed, [almost] cried, and got to see it with PP, Anna and Carlee. It was fantastic. I will be anxiously awaiting its DVD release in March/April and for someone to buy and ship it to me for my birthday...
• Also got to see (and show PP and Anna) the migrating reindeer on 6th St., which are one of my favorite parts of the holidays. 

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas (Dec 18)

• Lazy day at Cara's finishing White Christmas, since PP and I both fell asleep about halfway through last night.
• When we got back to Kzoo, we went to Dad's and then made our way to Barbara's, where we immediately started decorating the tree. It turned out so pretty! Our tree has really strong branches this year, so we put all the ornaments on, including my baby carousel one and some from my apt Christmas box. Then we had a yummy spaghetti dinner, some of my Christmas cookies (which got even better after frosting) and Carlee and her mom and grandma came over. Oh, and we played Bananagrams and Apple Letters :)

Accidental Renovation (Dec 17)

• Had my first Korea meeting today. It was a little bit nice getting back into a routine of work/learning. But it also succeeded in making me nervous :/ (Dr. Koh did compliment me on how I have acknowledged that I hate change and am trying to change that though), and it seems like a good group of people who are going.
• Hung out in the new Pray-Harrold with PP for almost 2 hours, admiring the upgrades and changes and testing out the new furniture (we sat in these uncomfortable-looking chairs for more than an hour...clearly, my first impression of them was incorrect).
• Dom's. PP and I scrounged in our purses/wallets for all the change we had and did, in fact, manage to come up with $3.40 for 4 donuts. The girl working was a good sport, even though we paid with a lot of pennies.
• They are finally fixing the Stadium Blvd bridge...they totally took it out! Big empty space above and giant piles of dirt next to State Street now. Very strange.
• New make-up! I still can't find my make-up bag...I fear it is lost forever :( So I resigned myself to buy new stuff, mostly because we went to Conor's tonight for Melissa's graduation and I wanted to dress up. So, we stopped at CVS and found lots of things on sale! I got like $45 worth of make-up for about $15. Woohoo! We also wandered the store and found a razor vending machine. (Also, Melissa gave me a new pretty perfume.)
• Conor's for Melissa's graduation :) It was great to hang out with her and Cara and PP as we all got ready and then to meet Carrie and Adam at the bar. We chatted, drank a little, complained about the loud music - though mostly we were dancing in our chairs to it - it was kind of like being a real adult.

Save Your Cookies For Me! (Dec 16)

• Made and decorated Christmas cookies, while listening to my "We Need A Little Christmas" station on Pandora, with Ben tonight :) Collin, Barbara and Dad also decorated, and PP arrived around 10 so she kept me company too. It was a great Christmas-y activity :)

Little Encouragement

• Today wasn't such a good day. Make-up is missing, boots are ripped/leaking, morning kids (well, just one) were not great, missed Jeopardy, and it was raining all day and I didn't get to stay home and do nothing. Life is not awful. It was just a blah day that built up to stress and tears. But I got some encouragement from some good friends/family and a few hugs from some of my kindergarten girls.

Brave New Girl (Dec 13)

• I liked driving from Royal Oak to Kalamazoo today. It's a cool way to see all the different cities and towns that are in Michigan.
• I love New Girl. It may give me unrealistic expectations of living with boys and falling in love, but it's so adorable, you can't not love it. Nick is fantastic (though Katie claimed him first). And I love all the one-liners. Can't wait til it comes out on DVD!

Total Eclipse of the Heart

• Drove a long way to see my kids tonight, but it was worth it. I love them, as evidenced by other posts. I also loved that there were a lot of noises of excitement when I announced that I would be back next season (from parents, guard girls and band kids) :) It's nice to be loved.
• It was very strange leaving the banquet knowing that I won't see those people until next August and some I won't see again. Although I understand that there is no other way life can happen, that it often brings good things and that I'm a broken record on this point by now, I still don't like change.
• I had a little bit of a breakthrough with my kindergarteners today. I don't know if it was because they are getting used to me, because we had a lot of specials today and/or because I won't be there a full day tomorrow, but I found them cuter today. I like taking care of them. But it's hard to actually teach them things (which is not necessarily their fault...).
• Dawn called me asking the name of the Total Eclipse of the Heart video. I couldn't remember the name but after singing a few lines together over the phone, we figured it out. I miss her!

Lesson in Handwriting

• I still don't like giving gifts very much, but today I found some very good ones for several people and it was pretty fun.
• Thank to Jill and my 3rd graders, my cursive handwriting is much improved from this time last year.
• Mr. Weeldreyer asked my dad last week at church if I was seeing anyone...and then awkwardly introduced me to one of his sons today. Is my superintendent turning into my matchmaker?

Picturesque Countryside (Dec 10)

• Haircut and shopping with my brothers today. They are fun :) Oh and Collin is officially taller than me now (a fact that he is very proud of).
• I wish I had more money to buy local :/ Unfortunately, I will be wooed by sales at discounts at bigger stores until I have a steady income. I do shop at Mejier!
• We drove to Almena to cut down our tree today. I love how pretty the country is with an inch or so of snow. Everything looks so picturesque. We were all freezing, but it was fun finding the perfect one and cutting it down (...okay, watching my dad cut it down) ourselves.

Bullying the Jukebox (Dec 9)

• Babysat Jane tonight :) She's pretty cuddly when she's sleepy. Next time, I will remember to tuck her arms in so she doesn't keep waking herself up ;)
• I watched last week's episode of BBT. I didn't like it as much as other episodes from the season. I was a little surprised (and disappointed), with all the news about and movements against bullying lately, that the writers chose to end the episode the way they did :/

High School Confidential (Dec 8)

• Even though I was only at MHS for about 45 minutes tonight, I came away with some relatively stimulating thoughts:
• It’s a little sad to think how much my HS relationships have changed in the last 5 years. I was so close with a lot people, and they really changed my life, influenced who I am today. I mean, without band at Mattawan, I seriously have no idea what my life would be like. I kind of feel like I still know a lot about friends from MHS but I know I don’t. I’ve changed a lot through college and I can’t pretend they haven’t; especially when so many of them are married, in Americorps, traveling, etc.
• It’s interesting which relationships we hold onto. I know a lot of people who are still really close with a lot of people from high school. I know people (like me) who are friends with some people and acquaintances with others. Then there are people who aren’t friends with anyone and completely move on from the experience. It’s also pretty remarkable the paths of our relationships take. Like how I wasn’t friends with Katie Fahey until a few years ago. Or how I knew Phil when I first moved here but both value or need my relationship with him (and now Kristin) like 100x more.
• I am very very very grateful for the relationships I have. Carlee and Krystle, my amazing camp family, my fabulous roommates. I need them all. I’m also thankful for my family, though with some of my family members, I do wish I had a different relationship.
• All of these thoughts also make me a little sad to think of this in terms of my FHS kids. A lot of them are so close with so many people and so many of those kids are just plain fantastic. Some of them will stay friends, but probably most of them won’t; and all of them will change in some way. Hopefully, to become better versions of their current selves. But still, I hate change.
• I watched Friends (season 1) on VHS tonight. VHSs rock...you can fast forward through the obnoxious FBI warnings and they rewind on their own. If it weren’t so damn cold in this basement I’d just sleep here.

Watch Closely Now

• Today, I watched Say Yes To The Dress, What Not To Wear, various HGTV shows, P.S. I Love You, Jeopardy and Friends. Yep, I was lazy on my sick day :)

Being Boring (Dec 5)

• I don't have as many little adventures everyday with a regular schedule...it's a little boring!
• Today's adventure is that I am sick :( but I did get to watch White Christmas :)
• Also, I almost made one of little girls cry today. I might be too mean to be a kindergarten teacher...

Together Complete

• I bought a dress almost 5 years ago at H&M in Chicago when I went to visit Julia at Olivet during our freshman year of college. It's a really pretty vintage cut and print but I've never worn it because I didn't have brown shoes to match. So tonight, despite not budgeting any money for personal shopping this month, I stopped at Old Navy and got shoes and then at Target and got a cardigan - my outfit is now complete and I can wear it to the FHS Band Banquet next week. Wahoo!
• The salesgirl who rang me up at Target told me I was awesome when I told her I didn't need a bag for my cardigan :)

Light of Local Eyes (Dec 3)

• Got to hang out with the Eischeid's (and eventually Krystle) all day today. We decorated the house and tree, relaxed and played a lot. Krystle and I took lots of cute pictures of the girls, Jen made really yummy cookies and Andrew helped me fix my car. I love being able to spend so much time with this family :)
• Live & Local was great. Basically, as soon as I walked in I found the drumline and they A) were excited to see me and B) asked if I had any butterscotches. It was very funny. Then I got to see my guard girls (Kristina ran down the hall to me)...have I mentioned how much I love "my" kids? Plus, I got 3 pieces of a really yummy strawberry-rhubarb pie and, of course, the show was pretty good; I really liked the Harrison Dance Company's performance and Sara/Kristina's dance, and the drumline was seriously badass.

Lettuce Toss Yo' Salad (Dec 2)

• I got to end my week with my guard girls...yay! I think I may miss them more than they miss me, but whatever - I need time with not-kindergarteners! They got me some fantastic gifts, made me laugh (Oh Jackie...) and gave me lots of hugs.
• Anna and I ate what turned out to be $5 SIDE salads. On it's own, not that much money, but considering it was bag lettuce, with bag carrots, 1 hardboiled egg and bottled dressing, it was way too much. Overall, "fantastically mediocre" is how Anna described them, I believe.
• I'm about to fall asleep in "my" bed at the Eischeids. Love :)

December Baby

• Happy December!
• I'm ridiculously excited for Sherlock Holmes 2. It's going to be fantastic and I will be seeing it with my dedicated Sherlock Holmes Groupies.
• Better day at school today. And tomorrow I get to wear jeans.

Internet Connection

• I really need Friday to come so I can see my guard girls. I think they might rejuvenate me so that I can regain my patience and my sanity for next week. Suffice to say that today I felt like an awful teacher, because I'm falling behind on the material, feeling ineffectual, and tired of answering questions and having to respond to things that have nothing to do with what I'm teaching. As a semi-controlling personality, I hate feeling out of control, but most especially with something that I can and should be able to control. So...I need Friday.
• I kind of love trolling the Internet. I know it makes me introverted for several hours at a time, but there really are some amazing things out there that I would never know about or be able to see without this amazing resource. Things from today (some I've seen before, some are new):
• Refuse to Move
• The World At Your Feet
• Anna's Musings
• Football and Cancer
• Best Toys
• The Salvation Army
• PonchoMeg
• Favorite Occupier
• Another Sherlock Contest!
• Ginger Ambition
• 90s Fun
• Disney Mean Girls
• Hugh and Ellen Talk Slang
• Best Statement Ever

Listen, The Snow Is Falling

• Oh hey, snow; welcome back.

They are a little blurry, but I love the lighting.

This was at 7 p.m.!

• I went to my dad's choir concert tonight, so I got to be downtown...with the lights in the park, the snow and the city buildings, I fell in love with Kalamazoo all over again :) Also, I re-remembered how I kind of want to marry a musician/band director, so I can be around concerts all the time. Lastly, I want to get married at First Pres.
• I really love all the Lowe's commercials that are out right now: Never Stop Improving, Lights Across America, and Exploded.

Our First Day Together

• HIMYM & Broke Girls were both great tonight. HIMYM was the one with turturkeykey and Broke Girls was one that I've seen before, but it was so much better the 2nd time seeing it. That might be the key to liking that show.
• I had a pretty great first day. Still a lot of work to do but I'm making an awesome list/schedule, which makes me happy. I'm also working a lot, for a sub; I mean, I know that I'm a teacher and long hours, low pay and little recognition come with the job, but I wish I could at least get the long-term sub pay rate. BUT, I got a note from a parent today: "Ms. Palmer - I asked Sydney last night if she had any concerns about not having Mrs. Westley for a few weeks and she said that although she will miss Mrs. Westley that she has met you and really likes you! :) I will meet you this Thursday as I am a computer lab volunteer. Welcome!"
• Tonight would have been my night to be on Jeopardy. There was a whole category about Michigan, and they were all super easy. I mean, granted, that's probably how New Jersey people feel when there's a category about NJ and I'm like wtf, but still, it made me feel smart.
• I talked to Melissa via Skype. She told me about her life of crime. I'm so proud of her.

Who Put the Alphabet in Alphabetical Order?

• I got to organize my movies alphabetically today! They've never been stored like that, if you can believe that.
• I got a new flashdrive today and I need a name for it...OOH maybe I will name it Flash. It's a cool name, plus that's what Jason was like when he bought it for me while I was in the bathroom (that sneaky guy...).

Ms. Bell's Song (Nov 26)

• Today was the Bell Thanksgiving at Laurel and Roger's and it was fun to see the Bell family, especially since everyone (but Katie :/) was there :)
• It's become a tradition in out family to drink Jim Beam in a toast to my great-grandparents, because we know that they used to drink it when they were young. It appears my tussle with whiskey is over...it didn't make me want to hurl! Phil was proud when I told him this.
• Jill and Elaine made the polish roses this year. (I don't remember a family event without them, though I've only just started eating them.) They made 335 of them! We found that was past the Bell Polish Roses Intake Point, as lots of people brought the extras home. Not as many next year.
• I talked with Melissa W on the way home and we are realizing more and more how similarly our brains work, especially when it comes to boys and recycling.
• When I got home, I hung out with Phil, Jason and Justin. They mostly played video games but it was good just being around them (plus they talked to me every once in awhile ;)). Oh, and I'm supposed to bring home a Korean husband for myself and 10 North Korean wives for Justin, otherwise he'll be mad. Also, when I asked if they wanted to try my Pear Cupcakes, they were all like "Eh, maybe one." When I left, at least 30 were gone.

I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out Of My Hair (Nov 25)

• I've never even seen South Pacific but I had the line of that song stuck in my head as I showered tonight. I wish it were that easy.
• I'm okay with being single, but it's hard as crap to not be with someone.
• I'm the luckiest girl and got to spend my 2nd Thanksgiving with my family tonight. We laughed, ate food, planned for BKC and enjoyed each other's company.
• Sometimes I wish I could just curl up in my camp people's hugs for a very long time. Especially now with the prospect of not being able to see them for 6 months, including missing camp. I basically feel like I'm missing Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family. That will be one of the hardest parts about being away.

I've Got Plenty To Be Thankful For

• Today has been a great day:
• First of all, I got to stay in my sweatpants, moccasins and AAHOM t-shirt all day.
• Because of my Macy's sleep schedule, I woke up early enough to watch all of the parade. I love the parade and someday, I will be awesome like Krystle and be in it. I have come up with several ways to make this happen, so one of them is bound to work.
• Me and Erin hung out and made hand turkeys, which also turned out completely adorable. I was really excited that she made them with me, because none of the boys would (plus it meant we got to hang out).
• In addition to the parade and football, I (we) watched the original, 1947 version of The Miracle on 34th Street. It is quickly becoming one of favorites, just like White Christmas.
• My dad and Barbara and Barbara's mom made fantastic food for today, everything that Thanksgiving should have.
• Because today was nice and relaxed (and I wasn't consumed with EDMT projects this year), I spent some of my time making more fabric flowers. I love it, they turn out so cute!
• I got to hang out with everyone in my [immediate] family today.
• Barbara's birthday was today and falls on Thanksgiving every few years...how cool! (since those are 2 of my 3 favorite holidays)!
• Macy's Justin Bieber Black Friday commercial > Kohls' Black Friday "Friday" commercial. (I actually really love the JB one. And, yes, I purposely did not attach a link for the "Friday" one.)
• And to think, I could be one of the crazies out shopping RIGHT NOW. Instead, I'm curled up in my bed, ready to watch HP7.1 :)
• Happy Thanksgiving!

Ladies in Da House

• Packed up and left Cara's house today. It was sad, I really enjoyed living there; especially when her mom did things like get me mini-muffin cups for my mini-muffin pans and bake cookies for Cara's and my last night together. Ooh I need to remember to take a picture of their house...I've been taking a picture of the house and house number of all the places I've lived.
• Currently watching Harry Potter 1 with my mom and brother, while laying with my kitties and looking up grad schools :)

Last Day in the Mines (Nov 22)

• Happy 11.22.11!
• Today was my last day at work. It was sad, but with all the talk of inventory and crazy holiday schedules this week, I was okay with leaving. However, my biggest accomplishment of the 4 weeks I was there was that I was NEVER LATE. Not once. To my 5 a.m. job. Seriously, who can believe that?
• I helped Carlee edit one of her papers tonight. It was good time "together" and it also reaffirmed my desire to eventually edit children's books...and therefore, maybe getting a Master's in children's lit?
• Yesterday Carlee got my hand turkey care package! I was excited.
• Watched X-Men: First Class and White Christmas with Melissa tonight. It was great because Cara doesn't like to watch those movies.

Friday

• HIMYM was fantastic tonight (although HELLO surprise at the end). I'm definitely going to have to watch it again. Also, Broke Girls was surprisingly good and funny tonight too. I go back and forth as to whether I actually like that show.
• While watching HIMYM, we saw a Kohl's Black Friday commercial, with Black Friday-themed lyrics to the tune of Rebecca Black's "Friday". It was terrible.
• Today, I priced ties at work. It was tedious and made my back hurt more than lifting boxes does. Also, I found out why me leaving before Black Friday was probably the best thing ever (1 word...inventory).

Bestseller Mystery (Nov 20)

• Today, I got to go to Wesley again. This time though, I went to the service and lunch and then helped decorate the church for Christmas! It was fun and got me in the mood for the holidays, so I came home and listened to Josh Groban Christmas music. Also, the message was really interesting, primarily because Bob used the same verse that Bill did at MSU Wesley on Thursday, but in a whole different way (he talked about us needing to use our good to help the nations and people of the world).

My stack of bestsellers I'm trying to read before my library card expires.

Little House of Savages (Nov 19)

• Got to go to the FHS pit parent party today. Apparently it's been happening for years without me ;) It was fun to talk with the parents for an extended period time, since I'm usually busy on performance days. They were all very complimentary about how the season went and excited for me about Korea. Also, Lauren was really excited that I came and ran down the stairs yelling "Emily! Emily!" when I arrived...who doesn't love a greeting like that? We also hung out for a little while, watching YouTube videos (we were each other's break from the "adults"). Plus, there was great food and people liked my banana bread. Pretty good evening.

Banana Split (Nov 18)

• I met with the teacher I'm subbing for, starting after Thanksgiving, and we had a much better 2nd impression. Also, she was so excited for me about Korea! It was fun.
• While talking to me on Skype, Anna accidentally called her cell phone (from her Skype) and then proceeded to hang up on herself.
• Banana bread lessons:
• I like having people to taste my batter before it's made.
• I used a Bundt pan for the first time tonight!
• I love that I clean up as I go when I'm baking. It's so much easier than making a giant mess. And since I hate messes, they aren't that fun for me anyways. 

It was really fun to shove this bowl in the faces of my banana-disliking brothers.

One of these things is not like the other! 

Mmm banana mush

Loaf #1 (no chocolate chips)

Loaf #2 (chocolate chips)

Ready to party!

Baptize Me (Nov 17)

• Happy Birthday to my Daddy!
• For lunch today, Cara and Melissa and I had raspberry ale (in wine glasses), crackers and cranberry white cheddar cheese. We are fancy.

• Anna and I got to go shopping together! Which is good because we've been shopping individually in the last week or so, and it's much harder to get opinions on stuff via texting.
• Linus had the coolest baptism.
• First of all, it was on webcast, which means Carlee (in FL), RJ and Sara (in CO), Krystle (in Detroit), the Carrs (in Holland) and everyone in Kzoo could "be" there! I hope they all saw me wave and be excited that I could see them. 
• Second, we sang "Prince of Peace" and there were WORDS projected! So everyone could sing it - instead of boys starting it at Firebowl because they forget how many words the girls have to remember and then it basically dies once we get to the chorus. 
• Third, the message was really cool. The pastor talked about how we might as well get baptized when we're young because no one ever knows what's going to happen or if they are doing the right thing (even if they are). So you might as well have the support of Jesus and your church to help you figure everything out. (He used Matthew 25:31-46.)
• Last, we were able to come to the font and remember our baptism, with the water that was made up of Lake Louise and Crystal Springs (along with Israeli) water. It was emotional, in a good way.
• Of the 5 years I was in college, I was never able to attend a Wesley Foundation event or service...but this week alone I have done both on 2 different campuses! I love my church :)

The Take Over

• Dom's always smells amazing, and no matter how many times I go in there, I always re-fall in love with that place upon entry.
• I really like the people I work with at Macy's. I'm actually very sad that I will be done working there after next week :/
• Melissa is going to take over the world and she said that I can be in charge of crafts.
• I think I may have said one too many mean things to Cara's cat, Jazmine...she bolted at and scared me while I was brushing my teeth and then basically chased me up the stairs...

Up the Ladder to the Roof

• I climb ladders a lot at Macy's. I cant decide if this makes me more or less afraid of them. I'm definitely more comfortable on them, but it's still a really long way to fall...
• One of the contestants on Wheel tonight is a teacher for a non-profit in LA that teaches inner-city kids about good environmental practices...that's something I'd like to do with my degree! How cool.
• RJ is awesome :) (Don't tell him though...I'm not supposed to inflate his or Phil's egos any more than they already are, according to Kristin.)
• I want to be Annie. Or Eleanor Roosevelt.

I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter

• Tonight, I watched You've Got Mail for the third time this week. I love that movie so much.
• I made a fabric flower pin using this pattern. It turned out really cute and I'm excited to experiment with more patterns.
• Denim is a tricky fabric. I bought it to make pretty flowers and the kind I got became ridiculously tangled and wrinkled in the wash and then appeared to change color slightly as I ironed it. Somehow, I will tame this wicked beast...

Paging Mr. Wesley (Nov 13)

• I worked with Lynn in Men's Furnishings today and we had a good day. Nothing was rushed, there weren't that many people working and we got a lot done (everything on our list!). And when we were leaving, she said she really enjoyed working with me today (we realized that we both like solving puzzles). It was cute, especially because I got a weird first impression of her and wasn't sure I liked her or that she liked me.
• Ate lunch at the U of M Wesley Foundation. It was fantastic for many reasons. Mandy told me about it, but I decided to go (and followed through with it) on my own. I could have backed out at any time but I went anyways. I was proud of myself for trying something new by myself. When I got there, I just watched the 15-20 people who were gathered interact, because they clearly knew each other. (Some of the people reminded me of Jason and Justin and I was reminded of 1. how awesome my friends are and how much I miss them and 2. how fantastic my church is.) Then I met Dave and we chatted as we waited for the food to be ready. After that, I met Bob, the Chaplain of this chapter of Wesley (kind of in charge, kind of not). He was really interested in me, and knows my dad, so we chatted all through lunch. Afterwards, Mandy and I talked for a little while and impressed people with our Cup Game skills. Then we got to clean up the kitchen! (Yes, I said "got to".) It was fun with Dave, Alec, Mandy, Ashish and me all working together and it looked so pretty when it was done. Check off fun and fulfillment for the day.
• Today was also great because I got to wear a new outfit:

• I got to Skype with Lauren today :) I love doing that.

I Poured My Heart Into A Song (Nov 12)

• Krystle and I hung out with the Eischeids today. It was so fun. My favorite part about visiting them is that I/we equally play with the kids and talk with Jen and Andrew. It's not we come just to see Ella and Katelyn.
• Breaking into random bursts of song is so much fun. Jen sang a song about poop at the top of her lungs as she was changing Katelyn's diaper and then didn't even remember she did it! On my way home, I passed through construction and was very frustrated, so made up a song to the tune of Avenue Q's "Fantasies Come True" (which is what I was listening to at the time) and felt way better.
• I'm so grateful for the amazing people who are part of my life. Krystle and I were talking about it on the ride home, and we are incredibly blessed to be surrounded by some many fantastic friends-who-are-family.

Eyeball Tickler

• Happy 11.11.11! How cool :)
• To celebrate 11.11.11 at 11:11 a.m., Cara and Melissa and I did 11 things, including toe touches, jumping jacks, unclapping, and elbow-knees.
• I got the email telling me I am officially going to Korea! It's still surreal. But I really appreciate all the support I've gotten, both after telling people in person and the response on my FB. I love my family and friends.
• I worked an event at the museum tonight (not an Outreach event) and I got to assist with cow eyeball dissection! It was my first dissection ever and I was the only one in the room, including all the students, who hadn't done it before. The most beautiful part was the color of the reflective layer at the back of the eye (that helps the cow see at night). It was an amazing iridescent blue/green and I've never seen anything like it before.

King Size Rosewood Bed

• After working in textiles at Macy's, I've decided/reaffirmed that I want king-sized everything for my bedding.
• I really like when people call me Em. I feel like it means they really care about me. And considering the people who do it, I think that's true.
• The music that plays at Macy's while I work is a good balance of Ingrid Michaelson, other artists and christmas music. I like it. I'm also really excited for the Christmas season :)
• Fun of the Day! Provided by Andi and Sky :)

Part of the Plan

• Got to eat dinner with Wifey, Adam, Alex, Cara and Melissa. We laughed a lot and had some good food. Adam still thinks I hate him. Muahaha my evil plan is working >:)
• Podcast with Charlie, Ryan and Jason. I don't know who will watch it but it was fun.

A Cat With a Tale

• I'm currently looking for a temporary home for my beautiful kitties, Girl (10) and Chloe (3 1/2). They are both good-tempered, live well together and with other animals, and don't have any major issues. This arrangement would last until August 2012; I plan to take them back after that. Please let me know if you would be able to help me or if you know someone who could.

Girl

Chloe

Schadenfreude

• I got ice cream AND donuts from Washtenaw Dairy today for lunch/dinner. I'm pretty sure the guys working there thought I was PMS-ing or something. I'm also pretty sure that the donut won't be as good as Dom's (I'm eating it for breakfast tomorrow).
• I think the Like feature for comments on FB has made me cleverer. Also, those are my favorite notifications to get.
• As strange as it sounds, living at Cara's has helped me realize I can live on my own. I know that is weird, because here her mom makes dinner all the time and I'm not required to keep the house clean. But I already knew I could do those things, after living in the apartment. What I've learned here is that I can live by myself. I'm home by myself a lot of the time (or I run errands alone or whatever) and I've kept busy. Movies, books, sewing, discovering new places to eat, exploring the interwebs. I can do it and I enjoy it. Though I do enjoy having the company of a cat (or two).
• I went back to TBS tonight and was overcome by Schadenfreude. Not as far as TBS goes (though that definitely got stressful at times), but as far as school and balancing everything goes. It made me realize how relaxing my life is right now. But I don't feel bad about it. I've worked really hard over the last 10 years and, right now, I'm glad to have days off and a job where I don't have to think. Other things will come later.

Did I Shave My Legs For This?

• Today was kind of a weird day. Nothing particularly great + a few not-so-great things + being overly tired and therefore crying about all not-so-great things (among other stuff) = blah day.
• It's ridiculous how much I miss my guard girls and my drumline kids, because even if it were a normal rehearsal week I wouldn't be seeing them until tomorrow. I will have to figure out some creative ways to non-creepily stay a part of their lives...
• I shaved my legs today.

Once or Twice

• Today, I got to see Krystle (which makes twice in 3 days) and Skype with Carlee, and we did what we do best - hanging out, working on stuff together, whether talking or not.
• I watched He's Just Not That Into You, and I liked it a lot better after reading the book (although the Scarlett Johansson/Bradley Cooper storyline still makes me angry and hate both of them).

Miles and States

• I had a truly amazing day today. I really love the kids in the Farmington Marching Band. They are such fantastic people and I'm so lucky to be able to work with them. I actually cried when we got back to the school, as I was telling the girls how much I love them and how proud I am of them. It was a little silly, but I was also grateful that I could really show them how much I care and how much they mean to me. Good job tear ducts...you always fail me - unless I'm frustrated or watching Grey's - but today you done good.

Other things about States:

• The morning rehearsal was fantastic. It was freezing and I/Anna/the guard was there really early but when we got on the field, it was covered in frost and it was beautiful. I was really mad that I forgot my own camera battery at home but Candice let me borrow her camera for the morning and I got some really great pics:

• One of my favorite parts about working with Farmington is that I get to take care of everyone, not just the guard girls. The band kids come to me if they need ibuprofen or a tennis ball or a butterscotch or a band-aid. When we got on the bus, I was taking care of the drumline, in addition to doing guard hair :) Also on the bus, I decided to wear my moccasins all day instead of my black pointy shoes...best decision ever. I could feel my feet/toes the entire day and still looked pretty cute.
• It was weird being first in our Flight because we didn't have to wait for anything - I actually felt kind of rushed. In addition, as soon as we got there, things started going wrong. At least half the guard needed their hair redone. We didn't get the flags off the truck before it left (Mr. Savage saved us, on Bob). One of the girls ripped a 3-inch hole in one of the new silks. Warm-up was shorter outside and longer inside than I thought/expected. It was a mess. At one point, I just had all the girls stop practicing and breathe with me. They were nervous, I was frustrated...we needed it.
• But then good things started happening. We got a little wait time before we performed, which gave me time to hug, kiss and wish good luck to each of the girls. I was able to remind them about the taped numbers/hashes. I got to wish luck to my drummers. Saw and waved to Brad Fernandidaz (it's been great seeing him all season).
• And they had a FANTASTIC PERFORMANCE!!! Yay!!!
• Afterwards, we got to enjoy the sunshine while watching Senior Circle. It was cute, especially watching people (like Lauren) get all angry and then weepy. Anna and I chatted...well, she kind of chatted at me...we determined she hasn't had enough people to talk at lately, so she unloaded it all on my on Saturday :) It was fun.
• Then we got to watch most of the other bands. Jenison was fantastic and I'm so glad they got 1st. They were purely awesome - no props or floors and only a little amplification. Their amazingness was due to their fantastic use of flags, their drill and guard effects, and the performance of their music. Loved it so much.
• We ended up getting 9th, with 75.07, which was a little less than our last competition score, but their run was so great, I hope they didn't care.
• I fell asleep on the bus ride home and I think someone got a picture of me...at the very least I heard some comments regarding how I could sleep in such a position on a bus (I blame the 9 hours of sleep in 2 days, plus all those 5 a.m. mornings  and years of riding Band Buses).
• The watermelon cupcakes were a total success with the kids and the parents (again). I love that they love them!
• The after-party was not at the school this year so Anna and I stopped by on our way home. It was fun to just be with everyone (I think almost all the band kids were there, plus lots of parents) and not have to do anything. Plus there was dancing, which was super fun, and free food :)
• A lot of why I cried after Saturday was because this is the last constant in my life and it is now over (if not forever, at least for the year) and my change-challenged brain does not like that.  And it just stopped so suddenly...we were working working working until the very end and then - it was done. Plus, I just love these kids and this job so much, it's ridiculous. The students and parents are so amazing, some of the best people I've ever met. (How does band attract those kind of people? I love that about this life.) 

Unexpected Treasures (Nov 4)

• Cupcake-making explosion tonight! Much thanks to Anna, Krystle, Mandy, Alec, and Cara. I could not have made 185 cupcakes without them!
• Got the coolest phone call from Mike today...there is a band in Ohio who may be interested in buying my choreography from the Karl Jenkins show. So amazing! I never would have expected this to happen...we'll see how it unfolds :)

Revelation #9

• Happy 11.02.2011! (Thanks for the reminder of the cool date, Caitlin!)
• I had a better day at work today. I didn't talk to my boss - she was sick, with no voice, so I figured having a serious conversation would be difficult. BUT I worked with a woman who explained everything to me and answered all my questions. AND I got to stock the bedding room, which is a small storage room that only has comforters and mattress pads in it! And, since my other job today was to restock pillows on the selling floor, it was like stocking clouds all morning! :) Also, the managers got us donuts and I met this really nice woman named Loretta.
• I had a watermelon cupcake revelation while shopping at Meijer today...pre-cut, pre-packaged watermelon! Easier than cutting it up myself, cheaper, and less waste. Love it.
• [Slightly self-affirming sentences ahead] Watched the 2010 and 2009 FHS shows tonight. I love the work PP and I wrote for Cirque! :)

Chin Up, Cheer Up

• Happy November! (Happy 11.1.11!)
• Very frustrated at work today. Luckily, I have a great roommate who listens to me vent (and doesn't judge me as I sob) and a fantastic group of band kids and band parents (let's pretend I don't have to stop seeing them very shortly) to cheer me up. And I'm not afraid to voice my concerns, so I will be talking with my boss tomorrow.

Sleep In Deep

• I felt guilty about sleeping in this morning but I finished everything I needed to and didn't miss anything...so I think it's okay.
• Got to talk with RJ today. I don't see him very often (well, especially now that he's so far away) but I miss him...maybe I'll get to see him and Sara over Christmas :)
• Now I'm headed to bed because I have to get up at 4 a.m.!

Pumpkin Carver (Oct 30)

• Carved pumpkins with Cara and her parents tonight :)

• Laughed with Cara uncontrollably at the first 14 pages of Damn You AutoCorrect for about an hour and half. We perused - and cried over - such pages as the Halloween fails and the Top 25 of DYAC's first year on the web. I love laughing that hard :)

Competition Smile (Oct 29)

• Competition day - even when problems or drama or sickness happens, I'd rather have a million of these days than any other kind. My girls are so beautiful and the drummers/band kids make me laugh and I get to say "They're with me" as I walk through the ticket gate with my Director badge. And today I got to hang out with PP, Anna, my Dad and Barbara, and see Brad and Rob. I just love doing this.

Candy Everybody Wants

• Started my job at Macy's - met some nice people and some not nice people, but I got paid to organize clothes racks, so overall it was pretty good.
• I was really cool and sewed while listening to piano music on my Friday night :)
• Apparently, the Farmington kids love butterscotch candies as much as they love stickers. I love it. And they basically made my day awesome.

The Great Day Has Arrived

• Bank tellers are quickly becoming my new favorite type of people...today, mine (a girl this time) asked me if I was a dancer. I said, kind of, that I started taking classes in college. She was like, "I knew it! The way you walk and stand, and your hair in that braid thing, you just had to be." It was so awesome. I secretly love it when people tell me that because it's my dream, in another life, to be a dancer.
• I found this sandwich shop on 4th St. in Ann Arbor and the sub I got was so good! And the sandwich shop girl said I made her day, just because I gave her $21 (my bill was $6) so that she could give me change in fives, because she was running out of ones.
• I got to eat lunch with Cara before practice.
• Because of all these great things, I had a ton of fun at practice (a lot more like I used to, I was realizing...not sure what has changed...but that's a different, more somber train of thought that I'm not going to investigate right now), even with the crazy weather. Got lots of hugs from my girls and had fun watching their animal interpretations of the dance in Fur Elise. Told Jackie I was going to make her a sash that says "INJURED" so the judges don't get confused about why she doesn't have a flag. Made Mike laugh, which is always fun, because sometimes I don't think he does it enough. Talked with Laura about the transition out of HS and HS band. It was a great afternoon.
• I love my guard girls and my drummers. Yes, they are MY drummers :)

And She's a Slut (Oct 26)

• [I would write about my training at Macy's today but it was incredibly boring, other than the fact that I did get paid for all 6 hours of watching modules and reading guidelines.]
• Sewed while watching Pride & Prejudice tonight. Perfect.
• Melissa's phone does a voice alert to tell her who's calling. Cara and I took turns calling her while we were all hanging out tonight because I'm in her phone as "Angry Emily" and Cara is "Cara the Slut" and it was really funny to hear the phone voice say those.
• I finished my bottle of mouthwash!

Hard Life, Simple Song

• All I've done today was watch White Christmas, HIMYM, and Pride & Prejudice; eat; nap; cut some fabric; and scheduled my training at Macy's. Mostly, I'm grateful that I'm alive to do these silly things...there have been at least 4 people, whom I distantly know and who are around my age, that have died unexpectedly over the last week. Prayers for healing for their families and those close to them.

Foreign Window

• Ate donut-flavored Oreos today. Other than the fact that the Oreos weren't very crunchy, they were practically the best thing ever.
• Baby oil shouldn't come in a bottle with a child-proof cap, it should come in a bottle with a spill-proof cap.
• Watched Julie & Julia - very cute movie :)
• There are people (or at least one person) from the UK, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Russia who have read my blog! So cool! (I've also had people from Germany, Australia and South Korea read it, but I know of people in those countries, so I can guess who read it there.) 

You Sound Like You're Sick (Oct 22)

• I wore my brown turtleneck, soldier sweater, orange scarf and brown jacket today and all the guard girls commented on how cute I looked! It was adorable. Lindsay said that when she gets older she wants to where cute clothes like me.
• Fantastic performance tonight. My girls did really great and I'm so proud of them :)
• I got a cold this week so my man voice arrived today. Very quickly, like between rehearsal and performance. It was very funny to hear the kids' reactions. Most laughed, which is fine - it's funny. Also, I tricked David into thinking there was a strange guy in Cara's room. Also very funny.
• Guilty pleasures are really fun and are even awesomer when shared with someone.
• Currently curled up in my bed, watching Grey's Season 7 (I'm pretty sure it's my favorite). I only wish I was the little spoon to a sweet guy who didn't care about getting sick from me, instead of my Kleenex box. Oh well, can't have everything ;)

Keep The Customer Satisfied

• I know customer service is their job but when the cute teller at the bank gives me tips on how to get over my cold and tells me he hopes I feel better, I'm going to pretend he would only say that to me.
• There's a gas station on Washtenaw that charges the cash price when you pay with a debit card and it makes me happy.

Only In The Movies (Oct 19)

• Making movie trailers might be one of the coolest jobs. You get to make movies look super fantastic, even if they don't turn out to be that great. You match the action with music and introduce, but don't give away, all the characters. It seems kind of like making movies except not the same kind of hard.
• When I "settle down", it will be in a big city (like New York) or in/around a small city (like Kalamazoo). I love both settings so much. Mostly though, I can't stand a commute or fighting traffic. It does NOT work with my impatient personality.
• Rachel McAdams is in the new Sherlock Holmes!!!!!! I'm beyond excited because she wasn't in the trailer that was released this summer but she's in the new trailer. GAH SO EXCITED!

People In The Valley (Oct 18)

• Visited Lauren at Grand Valley today! I told her she should feel very special because I have had lots of friends go to GV and she was the first person I'd visited there. I took back roads from Matt and Liz's and the drive was so pretty.
• I did not have my coffee today and that was not a good plan. I will fix that tomorrow.

Lady Rachel (Oct 17)

• I love driving on the M highways, especially in the fall. I feel like they take you through some of the most fantastic and characteristic parts of Michigan. Also, it's amazing how beautiful the fall colors have been this year.
• Talked with Liz, played with Rachel, got to put Rachel to bed. I love visiting the Carrs :)