Let it Snow!

The snow has been coming down for over an hour now and the accumulation is building up quickly. I absolutely love snow, it is what makes Winter such a wonderful season. Growing up I wasn't so blessed with Winter Wonderlands and White Christmases. That is because I grew up in the South where a snow flurry is enough to shut down businesses and schools. 

Even if it is only a flurry, just the tiniest bit of snow makes me happy. Which is why I am ecstatic that we are having a snow storm! Ich liebe schnee!

Shipping Christmas

Today I mailed five boxes to my family in the South. I decided to use UPS this year because they are faster and cheaper than the USPS. Also, it was closer than FedEx. I'm so excited about this year because I bought my oldest brother a really great gift that I absolutely know he will love. The suspense has been killing him and on Christmas Eve/Day, he will be videotaped so that I can see his wonderful reaction. I can't WAIT! 

Anyway, now my Holly tree looks lonely without the gifts all wrapped up underneath. Maybe I'll be surprised later. Who knows. Then again, Christmas isn't about the gifts. It's about the family and that is much more important than anything anyone can ever give me. ^_^

Being Sick Sucks

Since Friday I have been suffering from an annoying cold. Of course it didn't help that I went on a cruise on Friday and battled the cold wind, then danced up a storm and became all sweaty only to go back outside again. This weekend I had to work at the airport and so being around other sick people didn't improve my chances either. Last night I woke up twice due to nausea but since my stomach was empty I had nothing to do but stand around and try to feel better. Today I am hot, icky, and stuffy but maybe that is a good sign. Hopefully by tonight I will feel 100% again. Either way, I'm still going to the gym later to try and sweat out the toxins so that I will be better soon. Besides, who wants to be sick during the happiest times of the year, right? 

NYC Lunch Cruise

Yesterday I went on a Lunch Cruise with some friends of mine and with the International Student Organization (ISO). We set sail in NYC on the Hudson and East rivers. Our ship made its way past the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Downtown Manhattan, and under the Brooklyn Bridge before turning around and returning to the dock. I had such a great time dancing, eating, and taking pictures of this beautiful city. There were only a few things that I didn't like such as the club music that was played so loudly I could not even hear myself speak and the cold weather. It was extremely windy and brisk out so that wasn't much fun for me, especially since I am suffering from a cold. Other than those two things, the cruise was fantastic and I plan on doing it again with my boyfriend. 

*The above photo is copyright of Lydia R. Gillis. Any copying or using of this photo without my permission is stealing. So please, before you use just ask. You can ask me via comments on the most recent post of this blog. Thank you.*

New Projects

It has been seven years since I've played my flute. During those 7 years I have picked it up a few times and tried to play but I've noticed that I'm really rusty and my sound isn't as great. Plus, I've had nothing to drive me, to motivate me to play. That is until YouTube started this online audition for an orchestra. That's right, people will be submitting videos of them playing selected pieces to become a part of an orchestra that will play in Carnegie Hall in April 2009. I'm really excited because they are asking people from around the world, amateurs and professionals, to submit their videos. Now I finally have something motivating me to play my flute. I have until January 28 to submit so I really need to start practicing. Even if I don't get picked, just being a part of this first time event is well worth the time. Plus, I get to play my flute again. 

Another project I am participating in is a photo contest that is being held by my town council. The theme is Winter in [mytownsname]: A Great Place to Live, Work, and Play. I already have some great winter shots from my town but I need more. Again, they are looking for amateurs and professionals of all ages and so I'm really excited to be a part of this contest. I feel like I am finally part of this town, which means so much to me since I've felt like an outcast for so long. I really hope I win but if not it will be fun taking pictures. 

Music and photography are two passions that I seem to never have time for anymore. Yet, with these projects I am able to have reason to utilize my talents. Hopefully more projects will come along that will bring more joy into my life. In the meantime I am enjoying the present. 

Autumn Flowers

Back in June I went down to Tennessee to visit family, go to a wedding and a baby shower that was held on the same day, and catch up with some old friends. My friend Sherry had given me some flowers just before I left to come back home and it was in the end of October/beginning of November that my mum finally bloomed. I was so afraid I would never see its flowers but I'm glad that wasn't the case. This orange bloom is only 1 of 2 from the small plant and hopefully come next year there will be many more. 

Anyone with a green thumb, or close to a green thumb, will know that some plants hibernate in the winter. If you never knew this before then you must not be from Earth because just living on this planet would tell you that. Why else do trees keep coming back every spring. We do not cut down the tree in the winter simply because it has lost all its leaves. No, we let it grow and mature so that the next Spring it will be bigger and more beautiful. This morning one of the maintenance guys tried to throw away my High Ginger plant. I was shocked and came running out yelling at him to stop. It took a few tries to get him to actually listen, mostly because of the language barrier. He told me that the office had informed him to throw out all garbage and so he assumed that my not dead plant was in fact dead and therefore garbage. First off, who are these people think they are telling employees to trash other people's belongings. I know I live in an apartment and so I share the land with others but that doesn't give them the right to throw away my plant. I called my future mother-in-law (FMIL) and asked if I could store my plants at her place for the winter. She was happy to oblige and so next week I will be making the trip to Pennsylvania to save my plants from the dumpster. I just cannot believe someone would do that to someone else's property. Egads. 

So anyway, winter is fast approaching and I cannot wait. I love the snow and as luck would have it have already had two snow falls this season alone! The second one being on my birthday. It was a wonderful gift from God, that's for sure. I hope we have a great snowy winter, I would love to be able to make a giant snowman this year. ^_^

*The above photo is copyright of Lydia R. Gillis. Any copying or using of this photo without my permission is stealing. So please, before you use just ask. You can ask me via comments on the most recent post of this blog. Thank you.*

The Birthday

Yesterday was such a great day. I received such wonderful gifts but the best part was that I was spending it with my family. Not everyone of course. It was my lovely boyfriend, his parents, and my dad that I celebrated with. There wasn't a cake but rather pumpkin pie with a dozen candles on top. Six of them were trick candles and when I saw them spark, I knew right away what was in store for me. I started laughing so hard that I could barely blow out the regular candles!!! It was a great time and delicious. 

As for the gifts, I received some speakers for my MacBook, a wireless mouse to use at home for my MacBook, and $200 cash. I don't know what to do with the money. I'm debating on whether I should buy a Wii, some new clothes, or just put it in savings. We'll see soon enough. 

^__^

Happy Birthday To Me!

Today is my 25th birthday and I had such a fabulous time! I received some great speakers for my new laptop from my boyfriend, a wireless mouse for my laptop from my dad, $200 from my future in-laws, a great time with my family, and a ton of well wishes from my friends. Plus, now I can rent a car and the insurance for the cars will go down because of my age. Who said turning 25 didn't have its perks? ^_^

Happy Birthday to ME!

Thanksgiving

This was my first thanksgiving as a vegetarian. My future mother in-law (FMIL) was very kind in preparing plenty of vegetarian dishes for me to eat. Foods such as white potatoes, sweet potatoes, string beans, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and cucumber (the last three being raw and cold, just the way I like them). There was of course Turkey for the meat eaters of the night. ^_^ Overall it was a wonderful thanksgiving meal. 

Also, it was the first time my father met with the future in-laws. In the words of my dad "Thank goodness it was nothing like the movie." ;-)

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

Meanness

I cannot understand why people can be so mean sometimes. Whenever I snap at someone or yell, I always end up apologizing for being so mean. Yet whenever people are mean to me they either don't see it or refuse to acknowledge it if they realize they have hurt my feelings. There have been too many days in my life where I have locked myself in a room and cried my eyes out to no one but myself or my cat. 

I've been told that I am too nice and yes I can be for the most part. I do not, however, allow people to walk all over me like I'm some placemat. It seems that people confuse being nice with being submissive. Those are two totally different things and I become really annoyed with others assume they can take advantage of my niceness. 

I was raised to be independent. I was told to think for myself. I was instructed to defend my self and beliefs. Then explain to me why people refuse to let me be me and why they insist on treating me with meanness. 

-_-

Procrastination

I do not know why I do this to myself but I tend to wait until the very last minute when it comes to major assignments. In my mind I keep telling myself that I have plenty of time and history has told me that I always pull through. However, I keep forgetting the panic that I go through prior to completing the assignment. 

I just completed a major assignment today but only thanks to a classmate to lent me the book necessary for said assignment. Without this book I would have been S.O.L. and I cannot afford to miss any more assignments. I was also fortunate enough to complete the extra credit that is also due today. Again, I do not know why I do this to myself but so far I've pulled through every time. 

Only 2 more major assignments to go and I'm done until the summer. 

Reunion

Last night my father arrived at the airport for his week long visit with me and my future new family. This week he and my future in-laws will be meeting one another for the first time ever. I'm pretty excited about this because I have had the pleasure of getting to know the future in-laws for over a year now and I know they will get along great. I am one lucky girl to have such a loving father, loving boyfriend, and his loving parents. Some people just click I guess. ^_^

I do, however, have tons of homework that I foolishly have put off until the very last minute and so the first few days will be rather dull. That is until Wednesday!! Oh yay!! I can't wait! Thanksgiving is always one of my favorite holidays. Especially this year since my birthday is this Sunday. I'll be 25 years young and going strong! Hehe...

Happy Turkey week everyone!

A Lazy Bum

I've been such a bum lately, it's ridiculous. My dad is arriving on Sunday and I had so much time to do my homework and clean up the apartment but did I do that? No. I cleaned the bathroom, which says a lot because I hate cleaning bathrooms and dishes, and I also cleaned out my closet. That was a project in and of itself. However, I still have a paper and extra credit to do for my Sex Crimes class, plus I have to make up hours at the Animal Shelter. I had to miss this week because of the car troubles. Now I have to do all this with my dad around. Why do I wait so long to get stuff done? Because I'm the Queen of Procrastinators. Yay.... 

On top of that I have been slacking off at the gym. I've only gone once this week and I was scheduled to go three times! I plan on going later tonight but still, I shouldn't be so lazy. I made my goal for the MEPS but now I have to keep the weight down and build up my muscle strength at the same time. In my defense though I have been running sprints to the busses and trains for the past two days plus I've been doing some push-ups at home. Come Monday, Dad and I are working out and doing homework. Ok, my dad isn't going to do homework but I sure as hell will be...or else I'll never graduate! 

I'm on campus in my uniform in the ISO office and it is hotter than the Land of Down Under in here. I guess I'd rather be hot right now than freezing my face off. I don't think I'll ever get used to the cold up here.

New Home.

I have been blogging for quite some time now. My first bloghome was  LiveJournal. Then I moved on to Xanga. However, Xanga is loosing its luster and its fanbase. They are creating Xanga Powered sites that are generating traffic away from its loyal customers and only promoting those who contribute to those other sites. It's dividing the community. I'm very frustrated about this because of the fact that I payed for a lifetime membership of Premium with Xanga and now I feel--well, unwanted. Plus, no one reads it much anymore. I'm not saying I expect people to be reading this one any time soon but if you do happen to stop by, please let me know. I'll even pay you a visit as well. 

Isn't that what blogging is all about? Telling your story so that others know that you exist. So this is my story. I hope you find it interesting. :-)

Hello

I don't have much to say at this moment except "Hello." 

^_^