Dessert

Just saw The Young Victoria and it was sheer bliss. Beautiful acting, beautiful scenery, and beautiful people. I loved it and it was my New Year molten cake. Mmmm, enjoy and go see it immediately!

2010 Ready

I am so ready to be done with 2009. It started with a death and I feel like it set the tone for this whole year. Unemployment, last grueling year of school, being broke, etc. I am just done with 2009. With that being said, I cheers you all to a 2010 filled with good health, happiness, love and family. To you and yours, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Smarty Pants

Guess who got a 4.0 this semester? That's right, ME!!!!!!!!!!!

Feel free to brag and say wonderful things about me!!!!

Merry Christmas

Interestings

Dave has been gone for about a week now and I thought I would HATE being alone in our apartment. Surprisingly, I have really enjoyed it. Not because I am glad he is gone, but because I haven't been alone in my own space, my own head, my own devices for a long time. I miss him, but I can handle being alone and actually forgot how much I enjoy my own company.

I bought a new pair of jeans and it moved something in me that I am intrigued by. I want a change. I feel like my creative outlets are not being expressed in a way that corresponds with my inner self. School and comfort has driven my style and life for too long! I need to change and remember that I am not just a student, unemployment doesn't define me, and I cannot wait to reconnect with my quirky and unique tastes that I have forgotten for so long.

I met new people this week. Really nice and new people. I think new people in my life are a must and I am really excited for the next shift I am feeling in my bones. Change is coming and I am not shying away, rather charging full force towards it!

Reading, reading, and reading. That's what I have been doing and LOVING it!!! I have caught up with the stacks books that I have ordered and had to shelve for months. I have absorbed them and words don't express how much I love to take a book with me everywhere in case I can steal a word or two in the grocery store, in the post office, or a 5 minute break at Starbucks. This is why I got the worlds largest purse, Nina, because she can hold at least 3 books and fit everything else comfortably.

I am itching to plan for the summer. Yes it's 6 months away, and yes it could be because it's 32 degrees here, but I am listing things I want to accomplish this summer and what I want to do before I no longer have a summer break.

Here is the short list:

1) Have Finny and Ms. Joan here for a visit. I owe Finny a trip and I haven't seen him in forever, but I couldn't stand not seeing Ms. Joan as an 8 year old. Oh how I miss those two...

2) Vacation. I will vacation somewhere. I am not looking for something amazing, in fact I really want to start my goal of finally visiting National Parks in the U.S. Somewhere, anywhere, but a vacation with Dave sounds like medicine I long for!

3) A weekend with my sister. Something over-indulgent, something we possibly can't afford, and something that makes me smile so much my face hurts. That is what I feel like I need with her. Relaxing and stupid amounts of fun.

4) Start two things for myself that I do by myself. I want to make a habit of something that can take me away from the intense work I am about to start. I need an outlet that can help me decompress and join society again. I have some ideas, and I will being trying out new things to perfect and assure that it will be exactly what I need.

That's it for now, just some things that have been pushing around and making my priority. What I see from these things is that I really need to remember who I am and be myself daily because I am loosing the essence of me.

Addicted to Amazon

The best thing Amazon ever did was save all of my information and make it ridiculously easy to purchase things. Right when I discover something I absolutely H-A-V-E to H-A-V- E, I just search, pick, confirm address and payment then, voila! My item is on it's way.

This is wonderful and awful at the same time. Well played Amazon. You had me at "checkout."

I Call it a Sister Connection

I woke up this morning to my normal internet routine, yahoo mail, favorite blogs, and people.com. When I read Mrs. Smith's blog I couldn't relate more.

I too missed my Grammy so much last night it made me catch my breath. As Dave and I hung our ornaments, drinking cocoa, listening to holiday music, I stopped and just starred at her purple Christmas balls now hanging on my Christmas tree.

The last real conversation I had with Grammy was on Christmas Eve last year. She had sent her normal box of joy all wrapped up and with instructions. We all took turns in thanking her and I was the last to go. We talked about the insane amounts of snow and how her flowers were going to be shocked because of how cold it was in Yakima. We talked about school and we made our usual crack about "depends." It was a typical and wonderful conversation with Grammy. Days later she checked herself into the hospital and days after, on January 20th she passed away.

I don't know if it is Grammy reminding Mrs. Smith and I of her, or if it's our sister connection. Either way, I like thinking about her is the most peculiar and normal of times. It reminds me that she really is with me, always.

Apologizing

5 AM: Will woke us up by doing something in the den. I yelled his named and he scurried out. Problem solved? Absolutely not.

6:15 AM: Will digging at something in the den. I yell him name again and threaten to get out of bed. He stops....momentarily.

6:16 AM: Will is rummaging again. I get up and clap my hands in the dark only to feel him run by. That ought to have done it.

7 AM: Will is seriously chewing on something. I go into the den, furious, to see what on earth he is doing. He looks up like, "Hey Mama, look what shiny thing I found!" He has been chewing on all of the Christmas present's bows. Ugh. I take it away from him and give him the boot.

7:05 AM: Chewing is still coming from the den and now I am L-I-V-I-D. I storm out of bed, flip on the light, and see the big bow in his mouth. He backs up, with it still in him mouth and plans for an escape, with the bow. Oh no he didn't! I grab the bow, give him a swat on the rear and close the bedroom door on him for the first time ever.

7:07 AM: Will is now barfing up the pieces of Christmas bow in the hallway outside our door. I roll over towards Dave and he says, "I guess it's my turn to take care of Will?" Yup, I am done.

7:10 AM: Barf is cleaned, we are back in bed, the door is closed and Fluffy wants some love. Wait, no he doesn't, he wants to scratch at the door and Will wants to cry on the other side because he can't come in. AGHHHHH, I have scratching and crying for 5 long minutes and I can't handle it!!!!

7:15 AM: Dave- "Fine. I'm up. I should just go to work."

9:52 AM: Will and Fluff are sleeping on the bottom of the bed. Will sees my eyes open and heads in my direction. I am so ready to give him the cold shoulder when he flops on his belly and shoves his little face into mine. He rubs his hands all over my face, licks my nose and cheeks, purrs like crazy, and snuggles me for about 25 minutes. He was saying sorry, I just know it.

10:13 AM: Will is back in the den. Apparently "I'm sorry" also means, I'm going to do it again. I say his name and he runs out. Done. Lesson learned....I hope.

Meanwhile, all of you are getting gifts with teeth marks and half-eaten bows. And, my Christmas tree looks sad without any presents under the tree, but I can't trust the boys because it would be a bow feast if they were left out all day.

Where There is Will, There is a Way

Okay, Fluff needs some dental work. When I mean "some," I mean he needs a lot. Like extracting about 6 teeth from the back of his mouth. I am scared for him and to be honest, I don't like what the vets have told me and I feel like I am not getting my questions answered. Additionally, they are wanting to prevent this from happening to all his teeth so they suggest taking more teeth out "just in case" without any regard for the cost of the surgery nor the fact the we have to consider what we could go without so that Fluffy can feel better. To be frank, we cannot afford a vet bill at all. The only saving grace is that Dave might get a new job offer in January and only then can we potentially purchase surgery for our cat. Want an idea of how much? About $2,000 for the surgery alone, not to mention the post-op appointments, antibiotics, and other requirements of ample cost.

I feel like a bad pet owner because it turns out, I can't afford my pet. I hate feeling like I am compromising his health when he brings so much joy to Dave and I.

Here is the plan, I need your help. I am not a praying person, but I do believe in the power of willing. So, can each of you just help me will the job for Dave? Can you pray, will, send positive energy, or whatever you do to send positivity into the universe, will you do some for us? I really want Fluffy to feel better, and I know that Dave and I would feel better knowing that we have the power to help our little one that bring so much happiness to us.

Thanks for helping...

Quote of the Day

"It takes a while for people to get this, but you know, you cheat on your wife, you cheat on your kids. Enough said."-Chis Rock on Oprah

And Here are the Reasons

1) How do you know when to stop inviting people. When people say they want a small wedding, that means 250 people. I think it would be creepy if I had that many people looking at me and I just don't want it! But, half of Bothell is related to Dave so it looks like 250 would just cover his peeps. Shout out to my small and broken family!

2) I don't have the money, nor do I think I ever will. Money is a huge issue and if I were to get married I would want to do it exactly the way I want, no cut corners. Unfortunately, that means $$ and it's just not worth it to compromise for me.

3)I think I would be Bridzilla. Enough said really.

4) We just don't want to. Not that we don't want to marry each other, but we are lazy people at heart and it seems like a lot of work. I saw Mrs. Smith be stressed and chaotic and although her wedding was glorious and she loved it, I remember "The Year of the Wedding" very well and I am not interested.

5) I'm scared. When it come down to it, people cheat. Look at Tiger, Jon minus Kate, Brad, my dad. It happens too often and it gets messier when people are married. I really don't think that Dave or I will cheat on each other, but I don't know what 30 years of being with someone does to the other. Anyway, if you aren't married, the escape is a lot faster and cleaner.

There you have it. I hope this answers questions and appeases people for at least a year and then we can reassess at that point. BUT......

I might have had this dress: I love that it has pockets!

My Sister may have worn this: She loves this color and the cut would be flattering!

And this Cake: Yummy Pavlova:)

At this location: I think a vacation for everyone would be amazing fun!

With these flowers: Oh how I love white flowers and peonies!

Possibility Contimplation

When I was in High School, I had characteristics that resembled "That Girl." You know her, great hair, skinny, could have been nicer, hot but douche bag boyfriend, cheerleader, legs for days, and always tan. I had shades of her and those shades hit the fan when I had H-U-G-E reality check in college. Anyway, one of those"shades" that I embraced the most, especially my Junior year, was the year long tan.

Me: Hello, my name is Taylor and I had an addiction, tanning.

Everyone: Hi Taylor.

Jeffery Allen was this dirty-birdie, 30-something creeper, that would come to every football game, not because he loved watching the lowest ranked high school football games, but because he loved himself some high school cheerleader. Ugh.

Anyway, all of us girls used this to our advantage as he owed the local tanning salon. He would give us unlimited, free tanning. Seriously gross and dangerous in retrospect. Either way, it was a perk and I wanted it to continue. And let me tell you, I loved tanning. Not only because it kept me looking like a Satsuma during Christmas, but because it was a wonderful boost of warmth during the winter months, and every month in between.

During the middle of the day, I had several prep periods where I would go tanning and then again after school. Can you say skin cancer? I stopped doing this for the gross tanned look, and started doing this for the warmth that radiated through me every time I laid down in the plastic, ultra-violet, coffin of cancer. Again, I learned my lesson as I have a pigment loss that has resulted from the years of fake warmth.

Why does this long background matter you ask? Well, I have now started to get cold and yearn for that warmth that once radiated my bones during these winter months. Compact that with an ample amount of time on my hands and I have no excuse for not working out A-L-L the T-I-M-E! Plus, my high school metabolism has left me and I don't really like the result it left behind. Thus, I have investigated Hot Yoga.

This Hot Yoga studio is right around the corner and it is 105 degrees and 50% humidity while doing 90 minutes of yoga. Whoo-hoo is right!!! I can recapture that warmth while combining my need for exercise and use up some of my excess time! It really sounds perfect, but I have enlisted the guidance of my Yogi Yoda, EP because not only does this sound like something that she knows about, but I think she has done this before. Sounds like Lupus would like this, we'll see.

So, this is what I am considering as a warmth and practicality possibility. Thoughts?