What's New?

Dear Readers,
LOVE. i realized that i'm totally in love with the idea of love. in all it's forms, i love LOVE. i also realized that i have a habit of living vicariously through my friends happiness. is it supreme desire for that in my life? or is it true empathy? or perhaps a little of both?
oh, and by the way....i apologize for the randomness of this post: i've just had a lot of thoughts and emotions running, swimming and erupting in my mind these past few weeks, so here's the result.
the one thing i LOVE about Texas(and it IS the only thing so far) is it's open sky. i know it's the same sky and all, but you can see so much more of it down here! and i know you all think i'm some sort of sky freak, but it's amazing how free it can make you feel!
- i think Lent this year is going to be REALLY good. i'm really pumped for it, and i only hope that this pumped feeling lasts longer than tomorrow. =) my goal is to get in shape this Lent: spiritually and physically.
- i decided i'm gonna try and take charge a little more. more for myself than anyone else, but who knows? i'm gonna really try and take life by the horns and really LIVE. i want people to say at my funeral, "gee....that woman really knew how to enjoy life!"
- i'm sitting in on a Jane Austen class at UD and i am LOVING it!!! Jane Austen really is much more clever than most people give her credit for these days. plus, my teacher is like the Dr. Izzo of Jane Austen and she just makes it a joy to be in her class.
- i'm also thinking of taking cosmotology classes and calligraphy classes(with Ruthie) too. to expand my horizons and also to keep us busy. =)
- today is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! i know most of you will hate me when i say this, but it MUST be said: it's about 70 degrees and wonderfullly breezy today!!! truly a day meant to be spent outside!

ok, i'm outtie and out!


my love to you all and gratitude for the prayers!

True Love RIP

Dear readers,

I don't mean to be depressing or anything, but i would like to take this post and honor my hero, my superman/batman/spiderman/robin hood/any other super hero: my dad. I'm doing this today for two reasons: first, because it was on this day last year that my dad disappeared. and second....because i can think of no one man who has exemplified pure and simple love more to me in his life than him. i think he is the best example of St. Therese's Little Way(other than herself, of course). He was a walking contradiction of stubbornness and humility that....just....worked. He wasn't a big social butterfly, but he was the kind of man who made you feel special and really good inside, just by saying "Hello". He was a perfectionist, and as such....only laughed at his own jokes. =) but when he laughed.....well, let's just say that's where my laugh comes from. =) he was the epitome of a childlike faith, so innocent, so trusting, and yet....so firm. i don't think a day passed where i didn't see him with his rosary in hand, praying. not to mention daily mass. he took GREAT pride in his work, and considered it not only a job, but an art form. for him it was work AND a release of creativity. he was one of those rare people who still have a twinkle in their eye. he knew most everyone in the Ann Arbor area, and even if he didn't know you, he still would say hi to everyone he crossed paths with.
my one regret is that i didn't get to say goodbye. so.....here's my attempt now:
I love you Dad, and i miss you so much.

PicturesPicturesPictures

and there you have it. my Christmas break in pictures. I'll try and find something to update about soon. hopefully it won't take too long. =P

Christmas Break:Best Friends EVER: Memories

Dear readers,

while i could possibly attempt to explain the total and complete awesomeness that was my break and are my friends......it wouldn't even come close to the truth. the truth is....that on New Year's Eve, as we celebrated the entrance into a brand new year....i found myself almost as if i were looking in through a window at my friends celebrating, and the thought of how blessed i was to have such friends and to actually welcome in the new year with PRAYER, led me to tears of joy and thanksgiving. so much so that i had to remove myself for a few moments to recollect. so, now hopefully you can see how i am utterly unable to recount such a trip in a narrative, and must only post these pics that come as close as possible to capturing it all. to all of you, my friends and family: i love you dearly. enjoy.

ok. so my computer is being stupid. pictures will follow. i promise.

GOOOOOOOOOOD Movie!!!!

ok, so my computer is being stupid and won't let me post pictures.....but anyways.....

You all MUST SEE "Pursuit of Happyness".


it's awesomeness cannot be denied or ignored.

it was freakin' AMAZING!!!!

i completely sobbed through most of it and Will Smith and his son, Jaden, did SUCH a good job!

man, if he doesn't win an Academy Award this year......someone's gonna die and it ain't gonna be pretty.

haha. but seriously guys......SEE IT. then tell all your friends. then see it again.

Home.

Dear Readers.....

First let me say that.......NO ONE COMMENTS ON MY BLOG ANYMORE!!!!! *sobs*

ok, now that i'm done with that......on to the real post:

I love being home. The most beautiful, weird, annoying and wonderful thing about home is that so much can change and yet.....everything that is important stays the same. i mean, my brothers are yards taller, my niece is TALKING all over the place, my nephew is a cyclone, my sisters actually WANT to talk to me, and my mom now listens. but....the house is still crazy and a mess(c'mon....ya really think that's gonna change?) my younger brother and i still argue like there's no tomorrow, MI still has crappy weather, that- let's be honest-..... one can at least count on, and Dominoes still has daily 5:00 mass. the Sharps still call a million times a day(i've calculated it....at least every 2.6 minutes) we still only have ONE bathroom for ALL of us, i still sleep on the couch, and the refrigerator is still empty. you know....the essentials. =)

and yet......i love being here. maybe it took a cross-country move to wake me up, but when it comes down to it.....there really IS no place like home. no matter how awful or boring or gross life at home can be.....it always was, still is, and will be forevermore.....your comfort zone. there will always be that one or two things that you ONLY do while at home.

and for me, myself, and i......i hope it never changes.

A Reflection...

Hokay....so...

i was told the other day that i am hard to read. yeah..... blunt, right?

anywho, not that it was a bad thing at all, but it really took me by surprise, and i had no idea that i was or whatever, and now i'm curious to know if others agree or disagree with that.

your thoughts appreciated.

that's all! Happy Advent dear readers!

The Internet is so interesting at times....

Dear Readers.....

first off......ONLY 6 MORE DAYS UNTIL I GO HOME!!!!!
that being said....on to my other news. well, it's not really "news" per se, but you get the jist.
here are some of my favorite internet clips from today's MSN highlights:

On the Holiday Blues:
- "Make a payback visit where you go to someone who helped you a lot and give them a thank-you gift. Research shows that these steps help create happiness."--- well, if research shows it, it MUST be true....thanks Einsteins.

- " 'It has been scientifically documented that exercise stimulates the endorphins, which send a calming effect throughout our bodies.' Plus, you might meet someone cute and available at the gym."
---- the P.S. is the one that just kills me...."now kids, do not, under any circumstances, go to the gym unless there is a possibility of meeting someone cute and available. make SURE about the last part because we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, now do we?"....haha. what a scream! to say nothing of the "scientifically documented" part.


and last, but not least.....this Christmas, make sure that your travel plans are made complete with your new and improved.....*drum roll please*.......Find sexy bartenders in 20 major cities Guide!!!

see? the internet is proof that if one looks hard enough, one doesn't need Mastercard to have fun. =)

Merry Christmas!!!

HOME!!!!!!!!!!!

dearest readers.....

well, i don't have much to say about my last post. that was just overall really....weird.

however, on a VERY positive note.......

I'M GOING HOME IN ONLY ONE WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

now, to some that may not sound like a big deal.....but believe me when i say: it IS.
not only am i going home to wonderful CATHOLIC traditions and fun parties/celebrations, but i am also going to enjoy a mini reunion at Corie's and Joe's wedding!!!!!

needless to say.....my Stoke-tation has gone WAAAAAAAY beyond the legal limits. =)

and now i leave you with this pleasant thought : Norah Jones rocks my socks off. seriously.....she's just about the most underrated great artist of today. i'm completely head-over-heels in love with her first CD. timeless.

ok. goodnight. oh, and Happy Feast of Saint Lucy!

So...I Flipped Out Today....Again.

Dear all,
as i realized that my last post was QUITE long, i'm going to try and be better with this one. i don't know about you....but long posts generally discourage me. so.....here's to a hopefully short post: Cheers!

hmmm....how to begin.....hmm. well, it was such a shocker that i guess i'll just come right out and say it. Today i was completely startled when, this morning at breakfast, Ruthie(the lady i take care of, not my sister) asked me if my mom had a boyfriend. the comment and my subsequent short burst of "NO! of COURSE NOT!!" made me stop and think about that scene. it was NOT pleasant in the least, let me assure you. but then again.....i had literally NEVER thought about it. the idea that my mom COULD even date and marry again was just never an option. at least to me. it never even occured to me that it was even possible. and now i find that i can't stop thinking about that possibility and what i would do if it ever happened. which, for the record, i don't think it will. i mean....it hasn't even been a year since my dad passed away, and yet to someone like Ruthie, that wasn't a problem. i mean.....she acted like it was so matter of fact and feasible. of course....when i was thinking about it later, i felt bad because i really DID flip out on her. and she was only asking a question that was very natural to her.

this is SO surreal.

i mean...when she said that, not only was i startled, but i then found myself upset by the very idea that it COULD possibly happen! and then i found myself wondering what the heck i would ever do if that DID happen, and if i would EVER be ok with it! *WHEW!* what a load of stress!

i just don't know what to make of it. my MOM dating again??? being married to someone other than my dad??? HAVING another "dad"?? no WONDER kids are SO screwed up in today's society!!!! man, having to deal with this on an consistant basis would drive me NUTS!!

anywho.....that's really all i have to say. i'm just so flustered. and i apologize for this random post, but i needed to get it out of my system. hmmm....