"Just because I'm drunk doesn't mean my tears are fake..."

What a weekend of fun! I had a glorious time really meeting Tyler's family, seeing the vineyard and winery, cake tasting (mmmmm...), drinking delicious wine, and selecting flowers! What more could a girl ask for? Oh, maybe the best company ever:) 

Dave and I just got home and my lovely friend Savvy B. watched the boys for me. And guess what? She got us fresh flowers for us when we got home....she will certainly be watching my two monsters again. 

I love coming home to them, because I can tell they miss me. They weave in and out of my legs making me trip and fall, cuddle to the point of biting me, scratch at my legs for thousands of treats, ahhhh, true love. 

Anyway, I have a bunch of homework to do, cut Dave's hair, and cookies to make. It's raining and I couldn't think of a better welcome home. 

Thanks to my favorite people for making this weekend so enjoyable. Time with you all is priceless...

PS Morgan, I will try and resist acting out the quote above, but I fear it may be unavoidable. So sorry sister...

Fast Forward

At work today I had a really nice woman interested in a sofa ask me about myself. This was weird because at University Village, these women don't care 3 shits about who they are talking to they just want their sofa NOW. This particular woman, who's name was Jane and this just made me like her more, was curious about my life. She asked me point blank, "Now, what do you do?" I replied with a inquisitive look and told her that I worked as a manager at RH. She clarified, "But, what do you do?" I stopped for a second and then remembered that I am thousands of dollars in debt because of "what I do"....duh, school. I told her I was a student still and she was all excited telling me how much she missed school and wished she was in the midst of struggling to make ends meet and so on. I sat there and listened to her story thinking, how the hell would you know lady. All you are doing is dropping 40,000 on redecorating your home without so much as flinching. I, on the other hand, am at the point where IKEA furniture is quality. When will it get easier? I have encountered so many people that say they wish they were in school and back in that struggling mode, but do they really remember what that is like? I mean I am not on the streets by any means, but a girl can dream about new jeans and a lovely sofa, right? I want to not worry about budgeting and not stress about groceries. When will my life's choices start paying off? Furthermore, when will it begin? What would it be like if I were to push fast-forward, would I miss this part?

As we've said it before and will for years to come, no matter what the combo, grad-school, growing up, life,......it's all hard Barbie. 

Self-Diagnosing

Today has been an off day. It had to have been a compilation of things that I willl list below, but I hate this feeling. Maybe it is one or more of the following, you decide the combo that pushed this day over the edge:

1) Woke up too early to a hall full of cardboard after a late night and couldn't go back to sleep.

2) Finished a final paper and wondering if it's good enough.

3) Tired of worrying about Mr. Darcy and how he is allergic to his own plaque on his teeth. Which doesn't seem like a problem except I know now that he is off his meds his gums are hurting and he won't let me touch his face.

4) Mentally calculating how much it will be to sen him to the vet again.

5) Picking up Grammy and her telling me her sadnesses (Morgan-I know this is not a word...get over it)

6) Getting to school to find study partners in a foul mood as well.

7) Talking to my favorite person, Annie, and making her upset with me.

8) Sulking in class

9) Driving past the exit to my home with mom and not taking it

10) Missing my mom

11) Coming home to a hall full of cardboard

12) Having an interesting tension headache and HUGE knot in my stomach.

What do you think? Recipe for a bad day? Not devastating but no good nonetheless. I have higher hopes for tomorrow. I hope you all had a lovely day and I promise sunny words from me tomorrow....

In

We're in and it looks great!!!!! I love, Love, LOVE it:) Everyone is welcome to visit, in fact, I insist that you all visit! See you soon....

Déjà vu

I feel like I've done this before....wait I have! MOVING DAY:) Remember when I moved to California, then out of Sheri's, then back to Seattle, then to England, now to Queen Anne? I feel like I should start my own reality show like "Where in the U.S. (because we all know I probably can't leave the U.S. for a while...) is Taylor?" Fun right????

Anyway, today I leave, yet again, hoping that this move sticks. Mom is of course crying but making me food, and I am smiling but shocked about how much crap I have...it's a good day. My fingers have blisters on them because I insisted that we paint before, might I add, this is not the first time Dave has been 100% right and I choose not to listen. Hence the blisters. Oh well, new furniture, new paint, lots of homework, 2 angry cats, a sad mom, what else could a girl hope for?

Please visit me...

All in a title

I am watching the Animal Planet right now and in tears. No other show makes me question why I am going to get my MA in Family and Marriage Therapy. Why the hell would I do that when I truly prefer animals to humans? 

This particular show is called Animal Rescue. I used to watch it with Morgan when she would invite me over under the false pretense that we would hang out, but in actuality, she didn't want to study alone. So, I was told, "Just sit and watch TV or something." Fun right? Anyway, this show is beautiful and saddening at the same time. 

This episode was broken down to 3 different stories.

1) Fabulous story of a woman who rescues elephants! Hear that Auntie? Elephants. There is hope for you yet:) 

2) Another lovely lady in Harlem, NY who is a dog and cat rescue in her home and has won several awards because she has sheltered and found homes for over 9,000 animals in 7 years. I LOVE this woman and want to send her flowers immediately!

3) Lastly, the most infuriating and grotesque story ever. This is the definition of why I prefer animals. There is something called a "Cage Hunt." I have never heard of it, but it is no surprise that it's origin is in Texas. Apparently it is a breeding ground for ass-holes. Nonetheless, there are these insane people who think it's cute and fun to purchase wild and endangered animals and caging them. Most often they are wild cats, my fav. So, once the cats are purchased and get older, not surprisingly, they want to eat your face off. The cats are then placed in a cage for their entire life, teeth filed down and let out only to be shot within seconds. You call that hunting? What ignorant, selfish, disgusting, shameful bastards. I apologize for the language, but I feel it is certainly necessary. After these beautiful creatures are shot they are stuffed and promptly placed on a fireplace somewhere is warped Texas. Often times these "hunts" are filmed and, thank god someone in Texas is decent, because these hunts have become illegal and these particular people shown on the program went to jail for 30 years. Thank you animal lovers!!!

Now the good part of that program. There is a wildlife rescue in Colorado that follows the trafficking of wild and endangered animals and has rescued more than 5,000 animals that are for caged hunts and dumb-ass people's "pets." The man who founded it made tears come to my eyes. You can tell what a to-the-core good person looks like and that was him. All of the animals were roaming the rolling CO plains and a cougar was literally cuddling with him. It kind of made me want one myself, but NO that's not okay. Anyway, the cougar was purring. Now before I continue, I have to say that purring is on my list of brilliant mysteries. Scientists still cannot find out how or why cats purr. Alright people, we can put people on the moon, isn't it great that we cannot figure this one out? It's like someone telling you the know the right equation for love, yeah right! Again, off the topic, but this enormous cat was purring and cuddling. The rescuer said that this cat had been in a cage all it's life and was on it's was to a cage hunt. He and a local sheriff intervened and he drove the cat back with him to CO. What a happy ending.

Lessons of the day:

1) Do not ever think it would be a good idea to buy anything other than a domestic cat or dog. NEVER consider any animal that as exotic, endangered, or wild in the title.

2) Get a cat and love it SO much because I can guarantee, it will love you 12 times more. Seriously. 

3) Consider being a vegetarian. Or at least try and eat free-range organic meats. Although a cow and a pig can be domesticated, remember that that was breathing once. It may have had a baby, it had a sister, it had a mother. They feel love, they feel pain. If you really want to get down to it, cage hunting is what is presented to you on a plate everyday, just not with foreign animals. Please look at www.goveg.com they have some really fun stuff to look at.

4) Last but certainly not least, for the love of god, NEVER LIVE IN TEXAS. They breed crazies down there and it just scares me.

Thanks for baring with me on that. I can guarantee a lot more of this because as the title implies....

Sick Day

I hate that we get sick only on a weekend or during a week that surely has an abundant amount of things that need to be accomplished. For example, this week/weekend I have to move out of my house, get prepared for my finals week in grad school, write a paper, do an insane amount of work at Resto, and of course I have some phlegmy yuck in my throat and I sound like a man. Not to mention the pounding headache that I am currently sporting. The cherry that tops this sundae is that work is giving me a hard time for calling in sick. WTF????? I am clearly sick and have several important things that must be done this weekend and apparently that is irrelevant. I don't get it. Every morning, week, month, we preach about our "Core Values" and one of them is people. I quote, "we put our people first." This peeps is not putting our people first. I let them know last night and then also called this morning. I have contacted everyone at my store and Pac Place and no one can cover my shift. I'm pretty sure that is going above and beyond. ARGHHH!!!

PS Super cool news, my long lost cousin Jordan is blogging too!!! Welcome, and where have you been all my life? Lady, we need to get together!!!

Treasure Island

Today is packing day, otherwise known as, the only day I have off this week. Dave and I signed the lease yesterday, YEAH!!!!, and I inspected the apartment again to make sure we had enough space. Our apartment is 950 sq ft, which is quite large for Queen Anne. The closets are a lovely size and I am in love with all the built-ins.
When I got home today and started packing, I noticed that although I have 2 very large closets, I am wondering where Dave is going to fit all of his clothing. Where did all of my clothes come from? Who knew? I didn't. I mean seriously, I have 2 large suitcases full of clothing and have 4+ loads of laundry still to go. All joking aside, I have way too much shit.
The only fun thing about packing is all of the great treasures you find along the way. They day has been full of phrases such as: "Hey look at that!", "Who gave me this!", and "WOW, what a find!" All of which I believe are unhealthy responses to the items taking up A LOT of space in your own living quarters. These fun phrases told me one thing: PURGE!!!! Get rid of everything that will make boyfriends look at you with the "question look*."

*The Question look includes a tip down of the chin, looking slightly sideways, with one or both eyebrows looking at you judgingly. Usually there is not communication necessary with the question look, but when there is and it is accompanied by this look, that usually means that you are in fact ridiculous and should immediately stop doing what it is that is eliciting both the look and verbiage.

Anyway, amongst my "question look" items, I found a lovely photo. My parents went to Hawaii on their honeymoon in the '70's and I have never heard much about it. In fact, I don't know much of what life was like for parents when they were growing up, in high school, just married, new parents; I would like to met them during that time. Sorry, that was off the topic....So, the photo is of the sand. It is very cliche, but their initials are drawn in a heart with "true love" written under it. Is that not one of the most beautiful things you have ever seen. We have all seen this or done it ourselves, but I felt different when it was done by my parents well before me. I have to admit that I stared at it for about 5 minutes wondering if that was the first time my mom had written her new initials or what they wished for.

They divorced 6 years ago. I think marriage is like those words in the sand. You can't just write it once and expect it to be there day after day. You have to constantly, everyday, re-write it and make it fresh again. You have to stand above the words and marvel at your penmanship. You can be frustrated that everyday there are odds and the waves against you, but you are committed to make the words stay.

My sister is getting married and I have no doubt that she can make her words stay in the sand.

Hello, Goodbye

I fear all of those who read this blog know my past years of travels, adventures, schools, etc. For those who don't, well, you are missing much. Nonetheless, on my way home from school tonight I tried to think of my theme song for this past year. My professor mentioned that for every developmental stage that one person goes through, they can pick a theme song that has directive meaning or sentimental meaning. Thus my driving thoughts focused on my theme song. Here is what I have decided suits me best: Hello, Goodbye, by who else then the ever-fabulous Beatles. I feel like I have to post the lyrics and to my excitement, and possibly your demise, explain a few observations and explanations.

You say yes, I say no

You say stop and I say go go go, oh no

You say goodbye and I say hello

Hello hello

I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello

Hello hello

I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello

Now this first stanza reminds me of the constant debates that Dave and I had when we were deciding to move to England. Then when we finally decided to make the leap of faith, they promptly kicked my deported ass right back home, hence they said goodbye to us and we said hello to Seattle again.

I say high, you say low

You say why and I say I don't know, oh no

You say goodbye and I say hello

Hello hello I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello

Hello hello

I don't know why you say goodbye

I say hello

Why why why why why why do you say goodbye goodbye, oh no?

You say goodbye and I say hello

Hello hello I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello

Hello hello I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello

Now this part seems like the odd rhetoric that I heard from all 3 schools, yes that's 3, graduate schools I was excepted into in the last year. How high could I jump for them? How many circus tricks would I have had to preform for them? Too many....

You say yes I say no

You say stop and I say go go go, oh

Oh no You say goodbye and I say hello

Hello hello I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello

Hello hello I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello

Hello hello I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello hello

This is the moving out part of the program. Moms says yes and then no, Taylor says no then yes, Dave says.....well what Dave always says, "Sure Tay, that's sounds fine by me!" (PS love him way too much) Anyway, we are finally moving in together this weekend to my beloved Queen Anne. What seems like years in the making, wait, it has been years in the making, is finally culminating!!!!

Hela heba helloa

Hela heba helloa, cha cha cha

Hela heba helloa, wooo

Hela heba helloa, hela

Hela heba helloa, cha cha cha

Hela heba helloa, wooo

Hela heba helloa, cha cah cah

And for the finale, this is what all the shit after the year will now feel like. Blah, blah blah blah. If I made it thus far in the song, these next few months will be lovely and a beautiful combination of hellos and goodbyes.

Thank you to my lovely family for making my hellos and goodbyes of this year seemingly smooth and without judgment. You have made my choices now possible and I share this final success with you. You are my life's theme song.

Now enjoy the fact that this song will be in your head for the next week. You're very welcome:)

Hello Gorgeous!

I used to be a nanny for a tyrant. Then shortly after I became a nanny for a goddess. Her children are the most endearing, lovable, sweetest children I have ever met. Also, they are so cute. You might think that them being cute is irrelevant, but I don't like ugly kids. They are beautiful. Nonetheless, Hadley, the smartest 5 year old I have ever met, I think I love her more because when I am around her, she reminds me of what my sister might have been like when she was young. I feel like I am meeting Morgan a little bit more through Hadley. Deep right? Anyway, Hadley used to look up at the sun when It was shining, and say with her arms wide open and her eyes shut, "Hello Gorgeous!" Yesterday was a rare sight, Seattle hit 80 degrees. Mind you this is the same Seattle that 3 weeks ago was snowing. I woke up thought of Miss Joan (Hadley) and opened my arms, closed my eyes, and welcomed the sun. I hope there is much more to come. Here's to missing you Miss Joan....

My calling

When I started college the instant questions was: What is your major? It was quickly followed with: What do you want to do? I always indulged through gritted teeth, and secretly wondered if any of these people even cared. Nonetheless, the partially interested would follow these questions with: Did you always know you wanted to be a _________? Now the obvious answer would be yes, but in my mind I thought, "This is my back-up for sure." My true calling is....wait for it....... I'm an insignificant-fact-knower. Thats right. More narrowly speaking, an insignificant-CELEBRITY-fact-knower. I know you are all green with envy and wondering how lucky I am to be so sure of my calling, but I have to accredit it to my ever-inspiring aunt, and I will for now on refer to as Annie. My Annie is the master if insignificant facts. She taught me all I know...thank you Annie. 

I'm sure you all have a plethora of questions, and I will answer two of the most important, 1) How does one gain this knowledge, and 2) How is this beneficial? 

1) I check people.com as much as I check EP's blog and use the restroom. It is my home-page and the first thing I run to after a vacation. By my definition a vacation can vary from 1 hour to several days. That can give you a idea about how many times I check. This is essential in perfecting my calling. In addition I check a slough of other really important and reliable websites such as tmz.com, thesuperficial.com, perezhilton,com.....I believe you get the idea. 

2) The benefits. Well, this answer is a work in progress. Other than the random category on Jeopardy or the annoying trivia no one can ever remember that I will undoubtedly remember, it is useless. Yet, I have faith in my calling because I feel that in the future I will be in some situation where my insignificant-celebrity-knowledge will be useful and pay off in the long run. Otherwise my calling is pointless and that means I waste a lot of time checking on shit for information.

What is your calling? I bet it's not half as interesting as mine.

PS I think this quality makes Dave love me more, really.

To blog? Or not to blog?

Here is the issue at hand. My dear fabulous and amazing friend EP has been blogging for ages and I am in love with her humor and words http://blogs.provost.org/emily/. Let me explain love (because this explanation may seem weird, I must include that not only do I do this, but my sister and aunt do this as well), I check it between 2-6 times a day. It is really that great. I think the fact that EP has left this lovely state also makes her blog sweeter. Everyday I get to have a few minutes with her again, only in writing, and shared with half the world. Nonetheless, I have slight apprehensions about blogging because it seems like it is hers. Why would I blog if her is so interesting and wonderful? But, my aunt and sister are ever so encouraging and thus, here is my blog.

I feel it necessary to explain my title. If you are not animal lover, then this is not the blog for you. There will be several pictures and insignificant facts about ever-so-many pets. You must get used to it, or my friends (Ew!!!! A McCain comment...no good. Never again will I treat you all this way, but tough love in the beginning will weed out those who are not for our new club!), again, this is not the blog for you. I feel that animals are the only honest creatures left on this planet, so start making friends!

I cannot guarantee anything interesting or engaging. I am a student, an underpaid employee, and in my early twenties, nothing is really that thrilling right now. Most of my blogs will be about idiots, my family, my cats, or random rants. That is all I can offer. If you find something particularly "WOW," then you are lucky, and you're welcome. I feel like that was my disclaimer and you should sign below....