'tis the season

...the cold and flu season, that is.

been out sick all week. first with a strand of the flu, which i recovered from in a couple days to immediately catch a cold. yay. =/ i'm finally well enough to be among the living, but still sinffling and coughing. yuck.

i've got a crazy weekend ahead of me...JQ's wedding dress fitting, then her bridal shower, then the cheer Christmas party, then an all day cheer clinic, then my girls perform during the halftime show of Sunday's Sacramento Kings basketball game!

luckily, the two weekends following this one are quiet and slow. and then BS comes to celebrate the new year with me. :)

AND THEN...it's JQ's wedding. i'm SO excited to celebrate my big sister's marriage to a man who treats her like the princess she is. we're going to have such a fun time!!

have a happy Th-riday, state workers!

the greatest weekend of my life? perhaps.

Saturday morning, I drove out to Natomas to attend KR's All-Star football game. He's 8 years old and personally asked me to be there, so I sat through the freezing cold and watched as West beat East 6-0, scoring in the last 10 seconds of the game. I watched as KR made a perfect interception. The smile on his face when he saw that I'd made it was priceless and reinforced why I love that kid so much.

After the game, it was a mad dash to get dressed and ready to be on the road to the bay area by 1 pm. I had to attend BS's family's early Thanksgiving celebration! It was a HIT. The food was indescribably delicious, served in courses. First course: tomato bisque soup topped with french bread and cheese. Second course: onion custard (it was amazing). Third course: a fruit salad with a peppery-sweet dressing (one of my fave dishes of the night). Main course: turkey, mashed potatoes, homemade gravy, 2 types of stuffing, my homemade cranberries, rolls and an amazing turkey. My cheesecake was popular, as was AS's blackberry dessert (BS's mom)...all in all, one amazing meal! After dinner, we played a Christmas-themed game which was a blast. There were goofy prizes to be won. Here's a photo of one of them:

BS has guages in his ears and the glow-stick-bracelets fit through perfectly. HAHA!

I had a hard time holding back tears. The emotion of the evening choked me up more than I'd ever expected. Last year's holiday season proved a disfunctional mess, and I was looking forward to holidays this year about as much as one looks forward to a root canal. My early holiday meal spent with BS and many of his family members was heart warming, to say the least. I felt a sense of belonging and appreciation that I could only describe with a heart felt thank you, which could never be enough.

After everyone had left and the cleaning was complete, BS and I settled down in my "room" (aka the living room where AS had graciously made up a bed for me so I wouldn't have to dare the 2 hour drive home at midnight). We discussed my gratitude towards being included in the night's event and he surprised me with a question. Since we've been back in contact, we've gone from friends to more than friends to working on "us"...he took our relationship one step further and made us an official couple that night. We're an old fashioned pair, and him asking me was the ultimate sign of exclusivity and commitment. He and I have come so far, and I'm looking forward to making something of the foundation we've established. I haven't been this happy in a long time. :D

I feel like this year has brought me so much to be thankful for. After a tumultous 2 years, I finally feel a joy in my heart I never expected any time soon. I hope everyone in my life knows how grateful I am to have them, I hope everyone in my life knows that I'll always be there for them, and I hope everyone in my life feels as thankful to be alive as I do.

i sure do love to cook

HOWEVER

i've done my fair share of cooking and baking just this past week alone...and there's more to come! cooked a 7 lb turkey breast and 1 batch of my mom's special cranberries for the work potluck. baked a chocolate cheesecake and another batch of cranberries for the Thanksgiving celebration i was invited to. cooking another TWO batches of cranberries for my father's-side Thanksgiving next Thursday THEN making cornbread stuffing for my mother's-side Thanksgiving next Friday.

and i don't call "from-a-box" homemade. i make everything from scratch...so i'm kinda worn out. =/

tomorrow should be fun, though! BS's mother personally invited me to celebrate an early Thanksgiving with her side of the family...kinda BIG since i've never met any of BS's family before. i'm excited to display my cooking and baking expertise. gotta wow'em! lol. i'm really nervous but so grateful to have been invited.

in the spirit of Thanksgiving, i'd like to offer a list of people/places/things that i'm oh-so-thankful for...

PEOPLE:
-mom, dad, baby sister (we bicker and get on eachother's nerves, but i love the three of them with all of my heart and only hope to be able to take care of them)
-JQ, SR, JW, DP (my girls, we've had our ups and downs and ins and outs...but i'd give my life for any one of them, no questions asked)
-BS (the one and only guy who's ever really understood and cared about me, my one true love)
-my cheerleaders (they get on my nerves and i make them angry, but we have an unconditional love for one another that can't be beat)
-CR & family (they have become a second family to me, i love them like i never thought possible, i am so blessed to have them in my life)

PLACES: my home (i've been away from the house in which i rent a room for 2 weeks now and it's made me miss the place i call home terribly)

THINGS: my cell phone (though it has it's issues, it helps keep me in communication with my loved ones and having had a 3 month period without a phone, having one is a happy privledge), my car (after totalling my other car, i'm very thankful to have a vehicle to get me around), my job (without which i'd be...lost, to say the least), my life (it's a roller coaster of crazy highs and crazy lows, but i'm so happy to be alive in this world, surrounded by so many wonderful people)

i hope everyone is as lucky to have as many reasons to be thankful as i do this year...last year was heart wrenching and i'm looking forward to a happier, more merry holiday season. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

And so it begins...

I feel like after Halloween, it's a race for New Year's Eve. Everything is about to come so fast (Thanksgiving & Christmas) that before we know it, we're going to be writing 2010 on everything!!

I'm really anxious for New Year's though...vacation from December 31st-January 10th! New Year's with my lovebug BS, and then my big sis JQ's WEDDING!!!! It's going to 1. be a great break from my crazy life and 2. LOTS of good times. Can we skip right to that?

I keep forgetting to email myself pics from DP's Rockabilly B-day Bash...and I have photo's from her Fright Night Boo Bash, where BS and I were Roaring 20's themed (gangster and flapper)! For now, here's a photo of one of my favorite kids [TR] trying on his Sully costume:

Too cute right?! I am so lucky to live with him and his family. They are SO awesome.

Onward I go with my day: 10 hour shifts, practices/games until 8 or 9...caffeine is my best friend. Have a happy Wednesday!!

yikes...

Where have I been??!? Fell off the face of the planet for a little while...but I'm back!!

DP's party was fun-tastic, to say the least. She looked GORGEOUS! [photos soon!]

My cheerleaders had an AMAZING performance for their homecoming routine...a tribute to the late Michael Jackson. You can watch it here [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBtmRdW3v2Y ] on youtube!

Gonna see BS this weekend...and possibly next weekend...and possibly the weekend or two after that. :) He and I have made some very real progress. We know we're more than friends, more than BEST friends. I know in my heart that he's the one for me...yes, I said the one. He and I have a very long way to go, but we are slowly RE-learning about one another. We're getting to know eachother and we are learning exactly how much we mean to eachother. I am so lucky to have him in my life, and I know that if we keep going on this path that we have a very happy future headed our way.

I was sick over the weekend (massive sinus pressure creating an awful headache, sore throat) and am still feeling the effects of it today. Make sure, people, that you're washing hands, covering coughs/sneezes, and getting plenty of rest and fluids.

A post with more visual appeal coming soon...promise!! Have a happy Tuesday!

Can't - Function - Head - Hurts

I have a pounding headache...and it's kind of distracting. I feel like my eyes are going to pop out of my head! Possible reason # 1: lack of food. Possible reason # 2: lack of caffeine. Possible reason # 3: lack of water. Possible reason # 4: lack of sleep. Possible reason # 5: a combination of all the things I am lacking... X(

I posted my 2-week-schedule on monday. The only change to that is I get to see BS on saturday!!! I can't explain how excited I am! We got into it yesterday, had a really rough day. We are in desperate need to be near eachother. We have an amazing morning and afternoon planned of playing games, reading books eating sandwiches all in the shade of a tree at a park. It's going to be so relaxing! Then the following week, he's attending DP's Rockabilly themed birthday party with me...cute pics to follow? I think so!

If you are awake for the 6 am news on Friday...please watch KCRA. Our Varsity cheerleaders are going to be performing LIVE that morning in honor of Cosumnes Oaks being chosen for the game of the week. Then that night, they will be filming the Varsity football game (our FIRST home game of the season in our BRAND SPANKIN NEW all weather stadium!!) So keep an eye out for some awesome cheerleaders, they're part mine! lol

Have a happy Th-riday, everyone. CONGRATS TO C.O. FOR MAKING GAME OF THE WEEK...GOOD LUCK AT 530 AM VARSITY CHEERLEADERS! *insert evil laughter*

Right After The Rain

today, i hardly had the energy to roll myself out of bed. i desperately wanted to curl up under the blankets and spend my day in and out of sleep. i did, however, get out of bed and managed to get ready for work on time. the rain had come last night and into the morning, the pavement was still damp, water still clung to blades of grass and rolled down the sides of cars parked on the street. as i walked out the front door to my car: the brisk morning air was incredibly refreshing, the sun shined brightly on my face, and the scent of rain still lingered. i then longed to remain outdoors for a picnic, a walk, anything that would keep me in the presense of this beautiful day.

UNfortunately, i am stuck at my desk...inside of a building with very little access the beautiful weather, except for a pair of windows at my back. the clouds look so fluffy, the slight breeze blowing through the trees looks so inviting...*sigh*

this week...and weeks to come...are proving to be some of my busiest in a long time. take a look:

today: work 830-5, coach 530-8, laundry/dinner/sleep
tomorrow: work 830-5, coach 530-730, laundry/dinner/sleep
wednesday: work 830-5, coach 530-8, dinner/sleep (laundry should be done!)
thursday: work 830-5, Freshman game @6, dinner/sleep
friday: DP's BIRTHDAY! FURLOUGH DAY! JV game @530, Varsity game @715, dinner w/out of town fam, sleep
saturday: time with out of town fam, birthday event @5, sleep
sunday: shopping with DP for her Rockabilly-themed birthday party, sleep
monday: work 830-5, coach 530-8, laundry/dinner/sleep
tuesday: work 830-5, coach 530-730, laundry/dinner/sleep
wednesday: work 830-5, coach 530-8, laundry/dinner/sleep
thursday: work 7-330, Freshman away game @6, dinner/sleep
friday: work 7-330, JV away game @530, pack/dinner/sleep
saturday: leave for the bay to see BS and celebrate DP's birthday!

and the madness continues into the following week with morning practices for PowerderPuff cheerleaders, afternoon practices for my cheerleaders...we are in the works for teaching new choreography and preparing a Michael Jackson tribute as their homecoming routine...my life is cheer-madness!

plus i'll be moving soon...hopefully the first weekend in October *fingers crossed*...i'm renting a room from an amazing family. i'm helping them, they're helping me. it's a good arrangement. :)

i suppose i should get back to work. the rays of sun keep pulling me from my desk, forcing me to stare longingly out the window...i wish work came with recess. kids have no idea how lucky they have it.

HAPPY MONDAY!

meh.

Vegas wasn't the greatest trip ever imagined. (lost/stolen wallet complete with SSN, speeding ticket) but partying on the strip was definitely good times! i've never been inside a club more packed in my life!! felt like sardines in a can...a really SMALL can! :)

when i was a little girl, my cousins fooled me into thinking money grew on (...or technically IN) trees by hammering pennies into the stump of a fallen tree. i'm kinda wishing i had one of those miraculous money trees right about now. that ticket won't be pretty, especially while i'm looking to move out AND i was thinking i'd be in Florida for new years AND i'm a furloughed state employee. *sigh* caLi: you and your failing economy can kick rocks!

speaking of money: come to my cheerleader's car wash this saturday, if you're in the elk grove area. haha. 9 am-2 pm in the Kohl's shopping center. $5 for cars, $8 for SUVs and we'll have refreshments for sale.

speaking of my cheerleaders: first football games of the season are this week! fingers crossed for smooth sailing!

3-day-week this week, since monday was a holiday and friday is a furlough day. so technically today is wednesday. SWEET! have a happy one...

Welcome To...

Fabulous LAS VEGAS!

That's where I'm headed for this extended Labor Day weekend. Leaving with the little sis and nephew for an 8-10 hour drive tomorrow afternoon and not coming home till Monday. Hope everyone has fantastical plans for a fun and relaxing weekend...KISSES!

Fate vs. Choice

there is a heated debate over Fate vs. Choice.

okay, maybe not heated, but there is definitely some debate. :) there are those who believe everything that happens in your life was pre-destined, that you will end up doing/being what you were meant to do/be. there are those who believe you make your own choices, that nothing guides your life but you and your decisions. i am in between.

i don't rest alot of my trust in fate. for example: fate didn't land me my job, my turning-in-of-the-application did. i don't believe that if you want it bad enough, it will happen. for one to succeed, it takes alot of hard work. i do, however, believe that fate has played a very important part in my life to date, mainly with my relationship with BS.

our meeting was something out of a movie...no, even script writers couldn't fabricate something this outlandish. i mentioned that we met in a Jack In The Box drive thru, him with his group of friends and me with mine. i BEGGED my friends to stay where we were, i didn't want to leave. he BEGGED his friends to go home, he wanted to go to sleep. had we made our decisions, neither of us would have been there. he insisted his friend stop the car so he could jump out of the car and approach a girl dancing out of her window...something SO out of character for him. what made him do it? (he fought with me for a long time saying HE made the decision to get out of the car, it was HIS choice...but i still question why? if you'd never done it before, if you'd never think of doing it again, then why that time? why me?)

we had a very bad break up. heart wrenching for both of us, we didn't speak for months. we didn't see eachother for even longer. but we missed eachother, we couldn't remain out of contact. after all the mean and nasty things said, after the fights and the anger, something draws us back to one another. we are so similar and so opposite at the same time. we drive eachother crazy but no one in the world makes us happier! we are eachother's best friend and we talk about everything. i believe with all of my heart that it was fate that brought us together. and it is fate that continues to bring us back together.

DP emailed me today and told me that she believes that me and BS are meant to be together. i couldn't agree more. we have alot to work on and work through, but we're building on an amazing foundation we started over a year ago.

i'm sure it's been noticed that BS has been a common topic of conversation for me recently. part of that is that he's been my saving grace, my pillar of strength during a really difficult time in my life. i know, from our history, that i can rely on him to be here for me through every up and down. he's been especially great recently, letting me cry to him or vent my anger or share my excitement, and i truly appreciate it.

**to SR and JQ who have also been there for me on numerous occasions and who have offered a shoulder to cry on recently: i don't want you to feel unappreciated. i can't explain what all you've done for me and how much it has meant to me over the past months. you both have been very understanding when it comes to me not being ready to talk, and sometimes i just don't want to burden you. you both have alot going on in your own lives and i've been very careful to try not to dump my added stress on you. but i am so grateful to have both of you in my life, i love you both very VERY much!

back to fate vs. choice: i definitely believe that a single person determines who they become, the quality of their character and the general out come of their life. i also definitely think that there are those people in our lives, certain events or objects even, that fall into our laps ever so perfectly, as if by some miracle. i can only hope that my readers will know what in their life is their choice and their responsibility, and what to leave in the hands of fate/destiny/a higher power...

ps: i have the greatest friends in the world. i love you guys!

Back To Reality.

WHOA! I've had the most crazy past few days!!!

FRIDAY: emotional, to say the least. it's so difficult to be a grown child in the middle of a divorce. a tearful, somber drive to the bay area was followed by a fun night. Ride The Bus, Kings Cup and subway sandwiches with BS!

SATURDAY: what a perfectly lazy day! since we didn't sleep till around 5 am, BS and I slept in until 1:30 in the afternoon! a shocker for both of us...had a delicious Baja Fresh meal, rented a couple movies and lounged around all day. (PS: Valkyrie and I Love You Man are two movies totally worth watching!) more Ride The Bus and Kings Cup, another very emotional, tearful but overall pleasing conversation and asleep by...3 am? ish. :)

SUNDAY: the best day at the beach ever! we woke at 10:15 ish, cleaned up and got on the road headed for Santa Cruz. warm but breezy, it was a gorgeous day on the beach! we grabbed some food at Denny's and made our way to the warm sand for some comfy napping, good conversation and some playful fights in the water. we headed back to his home town and grabbed a Starbucks (coffee addicts we are) and talked for another half hour or so before it was time to say good bye. I hate saying good bye to him. we never know when we're going to see eachother again and it's always hard to let go. *sigh* but let go I did and was back in Elk Grove before 9 pm.

MONDAY: sick sick sick! I came down with something in the middle of the night. fever fluctuated from 100 degrees to 102 all day, the glands in my throat were swollen and tender, I felt AWFUL. luckily it went away and I was only gone from work the one day. but it was definitely strange.

I feel like I haven't seen my girls (cheerleaders) or the coaching staff in forever. I'm looking forward to spending the evening with them. another person I feel like I haven't seen in forever is DP. from a previous post, I'd mentioned how we'd gotten close under strange circumstances last year. apparently, our friendship never died even when we lost contact with one another, because hanging out brought us right back. she's such a good friend and we're so comfortable talking to eachother. it's nice to add another name to the short list of people I can depend on. we need to make plans, little lady!!!

Hope everyone has a happy Tuesday!!

REDO: What did they put in the water?!

**the previous version of this post caused some unwanted and unintended conflict. my apologies to any party who took offense to my own personal opinion. below: the part of the post that DIDN'T cause controversy.


I'm off to the bay area this weekend to spend more time with my best friend BS. :) haven't seen him in a month and almost didn't get to see him this weekend. i love the way we make things work, against all odds. he's great and we're in store for a happy, relaxing weekend. I NEED IT SO BAD!


Have a great weekend, everyone! <3

Th-riday? No, just a regular'ol Thursday...

super BLEH! i'm definitely getting used to my 3-day weekends...and i'm still paying my bills, so the pay cut isn't THAT awful. i'm not going to enjoy going back to 5-day weeks. BOO!


my [parents'] house is up on the market...it's awkward knowing that strangers could be and ARE wandering through our home at any time. i can't help but take stock of everything in my room and it's exact placement to see if any theives come wandering through. can't let theives (or people who go around touching other people's belongings) buy the house. no-sir-ee.


as for me...i'm going to apply to a REALLY nice apartment complex next week. HUGE kitchen, HUGE bathrooms, nice sized living room and decent sized room. you can rent a stackable washer and dryer to have for your very own in your apartment, one of my favorite parts of this complex. it's in elk grove, it's VERY near where i coach and not much further from work than i am now. i hope i get approved...keep your fingers crossed for me!!


TOMORROW NIGHT! so excited, can't even stand it...Method Echo is playing a set in the Concerts In The Park series. it's outdoors, free and goes on every weekend during the summer time at Cesar Chavez Park. they are my absolute FAVORITE band right now. it helps that they're hot local boys! (okay...they aren't "boys", they're grown men...but they're still hot) they are so entertaining and their music is amazing...everyone should check them out!


that's all for today...have a happy Thursday!

Busy Busy Busy!

BEEN...SO...BUSY!

last thursday morning was my cheerleaders' first rally!! there were rough spots and errors only a coach would notice...but overall, the COHS cheerleaders did an OUTSTANDING job! i was SO proud to call myself their coach!

friday was busy...got my oil changed (which took nearly 2 hours =/ ), checked out an apartment complex, and my baby sister got her belly button pierced! she's in quite a bit of pain now, but she LOVES it! then late friday night i got extensions. it was my first time with sewn in extensions...if you get them, be sure to take some advil before to prevent the headache that is sure to come!

Here is a before shot:

and here is an after shot:

they are definitely different than anything i'm used to. alot more hair-maintenance in the morning...i don't think it's something i'd do again. but when it comes to my hair, i gotta try everything ONCE!

Saturday was my day at the fair with my baby sister, my little sister (yes, they are two different people) and my nephew. i had a decent time.

Sunday was a lazy day...had pizza and salad bar with the baby sis then we went to see the new H.P. i do love that series!

if you are in the area tonight, head to The Habit in elk grove for some grub between 4 pm and 9 pm. find a cheerleader in the parking lot, grab a flyer from them and present it to the cashier upon payment. our program will receive 20% of all sales made with the flyers! so go eat! lol.

have a great week, all!

Memories: the Fond and the Frustrating

It's been a day of remembering for me. At times, it's a very fun walk down memory lane with pleasant recollections. Other times, it's a painstaking sprint that leaves you breathless and disoriented. I've been lucky today...

My most recent ex-boyfriend [BS] and I had a really bad ending to a fairy tale beginning. We met in a Jack In The Box drive thru, making late night food runs with our friends. He hopped out of his car and ran up to my window, later telling me that he felt he HAD to be near me. (*sweet sigh*) We talked for hours upon hours over the phone for the following week, living 2 hours apart. Our next meeting would mark our first day as a couple. We spent the next 8 months traveling back and forth, spending every other weekend with one another, enjoying every second. We went to baseball games, shopping expeditions, family weddings, parties, movies, road trips. We had crazy nights out and quiet nights in. We cooked together, we shared our excitements and our disappointments together...

One of my favorite memories of our relationship happened at the California State Fair. It was our 4 month "anniversary". We'd been at the fair all day, browsing the arts and crafts, petting the animals, eating deliciously-bad-for-you foods. As the sun went down, our attention turned towards the Midway. [if you aren't familiar with the fair, the Midway contains all the rides and games] We boarded the ferris wheel, the dark sky illuminated with blinking signs and twinkling lights from the rides below us. The ferris wheel came to a stop, with our car at the top, to allow more riders on. "Everywhere" by Michelle Branch could be heard amongst the bells and whistles of the games below us. The view from the top of the ferris wheel was breathtaking, and then the fireworks began. With the best seat in the house, we watched one explosion of color after another. He turned to me, when the wheel was in motion again, and said "Alright. I believe it now." Asking what he meant, he kissed me and told me "You've always said it was fate that brought us together, and after all that, i believe it." It was something out of a movie and is, to date, the most romantic moment of my life. (another *sweet sigh*)

BS and I came to some intense disagreements towards the end of 2008 and went our separate ways, after trying again and again to make things work, at the beginning of this year. He was my best friend and not having him in my life took a toll on me. I contacted him in April and our communication had been slight until recently. For the first time in 7 months, I saw him again on July 31st. The reunion was everything we'd hoped it would be and more. He's the only person I'm comfortable sharing my every thought with, we laugh 80% of the time that we're with one another, our conversation is endless...the bond that we share is unbreakable and one that means more to me than I ever thought possible. We talk daily, now. I have plans to visit him again. Our friendship is blossoming in a direction we're both very happy with.

Being back in contact with him has flooded back so many happy memories. Life is too short and fleeting to be bogged down with memories of the fights. We've grown and matured and our ability to maintain a healthy friendship speaks volumes about us as people and about our relationship with one another. (*happy sigh*) I've spent alot of today thinking about the good times that were, and the good times we hope to be.

BS, if you're reading this, you are my best friend! Thank you for being back in my life! <3

Shout Out to Method Echo...and other weekend happenings!

This is my nephew. He is the light of my life. This weekend, he went out of town with his mom (my little sister) and on their way home, she sent me this picture message and said "he says he wants to see you". When I pulled up to their house, I got a big grin and a squeal of "AUNTIE DOO!" (which is the nick name he bestowed upon me). He turns 3 soon, which is astonishing to me because I remember when he was itty bitty and now he carries conversations with me! I will frequently post about his antics...like the time we were driving and he was acting up in the back seat. I said "Do you want me to pull this car over???" and in total seriousness, with SO much excitement, he says "YES!" I couldn't help but laugh and he continues with "Please pull the car over! I want to get out..." Yeah, he's insanely cute, we know.

Cheer pics were this weekend, cheerleaders all dressed up in their uniforms. I like setting up my team photos...the photographers weren't great at it and I came in and balanced out the tall girls, fixed arm positions...it was fun for me! After, we had a BBQ. Tasty hot dogs, sodas, chips, salads, and the most AMAZING chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting I've ever tasted! Thanks to TM for making those...still looking for that recipe! :)

I went and saw my favorite local band with my little sister. Method Echo played a free show at Crawdads last night. You can find them on myspace, facebook and twitter. They have a great sound and are FANTASTIC live. Check them out, let them know I sent ya!

Have a great week, everyone!

P.S. - we found a home for Lana. She will be well taken care of!

Happy Th-riday, state workers!

Meet Lana. She's a 3-4 month old Pit/Lab mix. She's playful, quiet (I've never heard her make a peep), and very very sweet (she loves to cuddle).

Her original owners had 2 older, bigger pit bulls who bullied her badly, left her with cuts and such. She needed to be saved!

I was recently in the process of renting a house with a friend [we'll call him "CH"] who said he wanted her. We found her a foster home until we could get approved for the house...then plans fell through. We are no longer going to rent a home and the foster mom's landlord asked her to get rid of Lana.

My little sister is currently playing foster mom, though her very large lab Duchess isn't fond of Lana. I need to find her a home! If you know of anyone interested in a very mild-mannered, affectionate addition to their family, please let me know asap!

In other news: I've had a busy week, and it's not slowing down any time soon.

I've been cleaning the house for a Realator's visit this afternoon. Keep your fingers crossed for my papa to sell quickly!

Coaching has been...eventful...this week. School starts on Monday for my girls, so we've been trying to get them ready for their first performance in front of their peers, trying to review cheers for football season (which starts in a few weeks) and are anxiously trying to figure out if we're going to Florida or not! (that's another story for another day!) We've also had a 4th member of our coaching staff go MIA after being scheduled to start on Monday. Big question of the day: will she show up tonight?

I'm meeting up with an old friend tonight [we'll call her DP] for the first time in almost a year. I'm kinda nervous, as ridiculous as that sounds. We got REALLY close last March, REALLY quickly and under some very strange circumstances. (also another story for another day) I'm really anxious to see her again. :)

Have a happy Thriday, be jealous that I'm off tomorrow! *giggle*

A Dictionary Debacle

I pride myself on being rather well educated in the world of spelling and grammar. This includes knowledge of REAL words vs. FAKE words that are used as REAL words (example: conversate is NOT a word. "I want to have a conversation with you. Let's conversate." NEGATIVE! the word you are looking for is CONVERSE. When you have a conversation with someone, you CONVERSE with them.)

Yesterday, much to my surprise, I was...I can't say it...*pouty lip*...I was...WRONG! For those of you who don't know me...I HATE when I'm wrong. I've caught myself arguing a point I KNEW was incorrect so I wouldn't have to admit to being wrong. Sad, I know. I'm working on it. But back to grammar...

The word in question? OBSERVATIVE. I've never in my life used that word. I don't ever see myself using that word. But an actual word it is. My word of choice? OBSERVANT. Same definition, according to Dictionary.com. And since I publically humiliated the user of said word, I must now publically humiliate myself and admit my error. Not looking forward to doing that... =/

Hope everyone has a happy Wednesday...the week's half way over! (unless you work for the state, then tomorrow is your Friday! which, here in DJJ Headquarters, we call Thriday!)

Social [networking] Butterfly!

So...I'm an avid follower of SEVERAL blogs on this website as well as the author to one. (for the high school cheerleading program I coach for) I finally gave in and created a personal one...and I've decided that my love for "social networking" has gotten a bit out of control. OH WELL! We all need an outlet, right?!

I began my own amateur photography blog here, as well, but to date have not posted any photographs on it. hehehe...I'm hoping to be better about THIS blog. :]

I can also be found on Myspace [REVISED: I am no longer on myspace], Facebook [ www.facebook.com/imhisbird ] and Twitter [ www.twitter.com/melissacalderon ]. See? Out of control!

For today~ here are a couple pictures of some of my favorite people in the world: my cheerleaders!

JV & Varsity in an amazing pyramid.

Me (bottom center) and my lovlies, the JV squad.