Well it's that time of the year when I like to look back and recap my year. Though I always have a tendency to feel like nothing is happening with my life, a lot did happen this year.
Well we all start the year somehow right? And this year I started it at my friend Reggie's house with Daniel and a bunch of other people playing video games. So right there disproved the idea that what you'll be doing at New Years is what you will be doing the rest of the year lol! But I did get to spend it with great people and that I enjoyed very much.
From here til April there are parts that are just a blur. I got sick and it took them a long time to figure out it was my gallbladder. So I had school, and it was the year that I had missed the most days than I have in a looong time. I just got sick and slept and when I did go to class I was so tired. It wasn't really until March that one day I woke up and realized everything that happened before that was like a sleep daze.
But I do remember for Valentines Day I gave Daniel a message in a bottle. I got some sand and rose petals and made it all pretty like. And I got him a stuffed puppy. But Daniel and I think so much a like, I always got a puppy and a message in the bottle lol! It was very cute.
March I turned 22....I don't think I did anything for my birthday? But! I did got on my frist (and last lol) spring break trip! Daniel and I went with my friend Sami and Jay to Florida!!! My favorite place!! We got to meet her sister Dani which is an amazing person! We went to Daytona Beach, Universal Studios, and Disney World!!! It was a blast! I didn't want to come back!
But I did and I made it through another year school year alive. This semester I had directing, one of two classes I had dreaded since I was a freshman. But guess what? It turned out fine! Even sick and having surgery in the middle of all that, I was able to have practices and put together a damn good end scene from the Crucible if I do say so myself. Thank God for my amazing cast who helped me through it. And I learned so much about what to do, what not to do, how to do things differently. And how to look at a script which I thought I would never be able to figure out. And I got an A! All that worrying for nothing, you would think it would have taught me to calm down. It didn't lol. But more on that later haha.
Also I sang in front of people and acted at the same time......which scares me to death. I love singing, I want to do it more. But acting? I'm still not sure about. That is that part that freaks me out. But this also went well and I freaked over nothing.
Now for the bad news of the spring semester. My car, Bonnie Blue Honda, was totaled. I loved that car and I was just sitting at a stop light! I just stopped and was sitting there calmly and BAM! Thrown into another car, which was thrown into another car. It was the last time I was able to sit calmly in the car. Since this wreck I have anxiety so bad I can't function on a daily basis. I'm horrified of everything. I was never afraid of cars but I am now. Any time I'm in a car I hear the sound Bonnie made. But the anxiety spread to beyond cars. It's hard for people without anxiety to understand how hard simple tasks can be. I'm horrified to get in touch with people. I'll not do things I want to just because I'm scared. I want to go to church on Sunday but I'm afraid to walk into the church alone. I almost had a panic attack at the idea. I don't know what to do about this anxiety. I added this into my year because I know it was triggered by this car accident and no one will take me seriously on how bad this anxiety is affecting my life because people don't understand anxiety...and I just don't know what to do about it.
But I got a new car! And so rises Stormy Silver Honda! I do love her, she's as good as Bonnie...but because I'm so afraid I don't have the connection and comfort I had with Bonnie.... though I love the ipod hookup in this one, I really miss that car...
Well on to the next part of life! This summer we had the first in a long time of Barr Family Reunions at Blackwater Falls!!! It's a beautiful place and Daniel and I miss judged the temperature of lol. Muuuch colder up there than we expected. Got to hang out with the family and swim, all that fun stuff. And then Daniel and I went into town to eat pizza at this local place which was amazing! It was a really fun trip!
Also in the summer Daniel and I had out 1 year! We went to Pittsburgh for a couple days. Had Cheesecake Factory! You wouldn't understand the significance of this unless you know that Daniel does not like cheesecake. But he took me anyway! He's so sweet! And the next day we went to the zoo and shopping and have Primanti Bros because he had never had that before and that's just a sin haha.
One of the big things that happened all began on facebook. One day I was looking at my news feed when someone I knew put a picture of this adorable dog that was up for adoption. I had liked Pet Helpers and I had seen many cute pictures but there was something about this one I just couldn't turn away. I fought it for a day and then I finally asked Daniel if we could talk to them about the dog. And so on June10th we added a new addition to our family. Her name is Missy! And she's a four year old Dachshund mix and I love her soooo much!!
Also in the summer I went to Hershey Park with Daniel and his family. It was fun. It rained on it but it was still a good time. Plus I don't like thrill rides so rain was a good excuse for me not to go on them lol. AND this summer I got to go up to New Jersey and New York with my best friend Sami to see HAIR on Broadway which was amazing!!!! It was so awesome to see real and powerful talent, high energy, and it was just so beautiful. At the end when they were singing 'Let the Sun Shine In" and the light on this them all together at the end of the show I swear I saw the face of God. I'm not someone to say this, I am not so good at feeling or seeing or hearing God. But I did in that moment. And it was beautiful.
To top of that wonderful night we got to go on stage and sing and dance!!! On Broadway!!!! It was a magical experience!!
And then we get into yet another school semester. But this one is my last!!! I only had two classes (and, well, one that I got an incomplete in last semester. Hey now! It's not because I'm a bad student, I was sick and he's a teacher that you just can't miss his class.) So I got through school. Daniel turned 21 in September! He's not a baby anymore!! But I'm really sad that just once I couldn't get him to order milk while all over his other friends were old enough to drink lol. We had a party for him at our place! It was the first time we had had a party.
Also in September I went to my first Renn Faire! Daniel and I and "that friend" Sami (inside joke haha) went together one week (our first trip). We all went dressed up. Daniel was putting together a pirate outfit for Halloween, I got a nice costume on sale at Illusive Skull, and we got an outfit together for Sami out of some old clothes of mine! We saw the Washing Well Wenches, which are hysterical! I have a new dream of what I want to be when I grow up now lol. And we got a picture taken there! It was really cool! Then the next week we went again because Daniel was old enough to drink. We went with his mom and his sister Korri and her boyfriend Mike. I loved that place and all the people who went with us had a great time too.
Also during the fall semester we went to this thing called the Alpha course at St. Pauls. It was a really cool experence and I loved going to it. I really love that church. I really want to go...I just have to find the nerve to do it haha.
In October my favorite holiday happens: Halloween!!!! We went to a Zombie Makeup class, which was a blast! I love makeup and all the things you can do with it. And we went to a Zombie Prom! We got all dressed up. We went and bought a prom dress and Daniel got a white suit really cheap at secondhand clothing store (and when we bought them the woman asked if we were getting married lol ). Then we got our outfits and ourselves all bloodied up! It was a blast! I love Illusive Skull for their makeup! They have some great stuff. BUT I bought a costume from them and it was CRAP! I tried one on and the zipper was busted so I got a different one and this one, when I got home, also busted and things were falling off. So Illusive Skull I'm NOT happy about that one! I would say I won't shop there again, but I'm moving to Florida so that's kind a given. But thanks to being crafty and a costume earlier I had bought from them that was not crappy I was able to make a costume that was really sweet! And Daniel bought my awesome hat! So I was a ghost type thing...haha. Next year I'll just be a pirate haha.
Oh! But also at Halloween we threw a Halloween party!! We had so much fun getting ready for it! It had games and food and drinks with Tru Blood in them!! It was a blast and we were so excited about all the people who showed up!!
And Halloween night Daniel and I handed out candy at my grandmas and then walked around for a bit. We took Missy, our little witch, with us and we ended up meeting the woman who used to walk her everyday for her old owner!! It was so exciting and so awesome!!
November is usually not one of my favorite months because, well it's just kinda blah for me. But not this one! Daniel planned a trip to Disney World and let me tell you when you've lost all interest in school something to look forward too, like a countdown to Disney, can really keep you going!
So we went down there for Thanksgiving break. We stayed in a Hilton and went to all the parks. We got to hang out with Dani again! She helped Daniel do all the planning and in our room we had a gift basket waiting from her! It was soo sweet! And on our last day in Disney, we were at Magic Kingdom. And outside the castle during the fireworks, when they started to play Beauty and the Beast Daniel proposed!!!!! So I got engaged!! I guess November won't be such a blah month for me any more! haha
We then took the long drive home and when we got back we went right to where our puppy was and got her and Scarlett and had Thanksgiving Dinner at Grandmas!! Not a bad break if I do say so myself.
Well we are finally at December (and I'm sure for those who read this far, I'm guessing not many, you are probably thinking Thank God! lol). Well I finished school. The other class that I had freaked out about for 4 years, foundations, and I even got a different teacher which people said was hard...well I ended up really liking the class and doing well in it! In fact A well! All this worring for nothing!! I graduated Dec 17th with a 3.6 gpa overall! (and that's with a semester when I was really sick and had surgery mind you!). I think I need to give myself more credit lol! Well now I'm graduated and I don't have a clue what to do. I'm thinking about going out and doing something to save up money and then I want to go back to school with cosmetology and massage therapy. Could have done that years ago and been happy in a job but nooo had to go about it the hard way haha. As for theatre....well I'm leaving all of that stuff alone for now until I'm out of Fairmont and can hear my own voice and follow my own heart on the subject and not all the jumble I'm getting from others here. And I've felt a lot better since I made this choice, I know it's the right thing for now. Plus I'm learning a lot more about me because I'm not worrying about everyone else so much anymore.
After I graduated we went up to Daniel's Mom's for Christmas and I had a wonderful time! Well, minus being sick haha. I loved getting to have dinner and hang out with them all, but by the time his gradparents left I had a fever so bad the heat was coming off my skin and I was freezing. It kept getting worse in the night. That was the highest fever and worst I've felt since I was an adult and this coming from a girl who had surgery this year! But luckly that got under control after a day and I was able to go out and do things. We saw Sherlock Holmes 2!! It was pretty great! And went shopping. I got a knitting loom and was instantly loving it. I hope to get back into knitting. I always enjoyed it so much when I got to do it. And we got to hang out with his friend Ryan for a bit. Good times.
Well I love Christmas. We were decorated before we left for vacation! And I was so excited! But my family....they do not get excited for Christmas. The things I hear.....well by the time it was almost Christmas it had gotten me so down I didn't even want to celebrate it. But when the day finally came it was a great day. I went to the Christmas Eve service at St. Pauls. I love Christmas Eve services! Now my Christmas Eve was sort of a mess...the day was good, the seeing family was good, but bad things happened later.But it all worked out for Chirstmas Day and I got some cool stuff (typing on one of them right now haha) and Daniel loved his stuff. I love his child like wonder. When people would come he would show them all the stuff he got haha. It was so cute! And it was just a wonderful day!
What a year, so much was done. And I think it was a pretty good year over all.
Favorite movie of 2011 was: "Just Go With It"
Band: They aren't new but I just discovered them, so I'm in LOVE with Celtic Thunder!!
Biggest Pet Peeve: Well there's two: People who do not know how and do not teach their children how to act properly at the movies and at the theatre!! SO ANNOYING!! We need ushers to come back and tell theses people to sit down, got off our phones, and shut up or LEAVE! AND people who do not listen and hate everything. Drives me insane!
Favorite things for the year: DISNEY! I love Disney and Disney stuff so much! I have to say I think it's a Disney year!
Well and that brings me to the end. I don't really know what I want for the future. I know I want to lose weight for my wedding. I've been fighting a losing battle with that lately. Also in this last year I still have stomach problems and don't know how to make those better and I have pain that started early in the year in my back and now has worked itself so that it goes from my neck to my feet and it hurts so bad and so constant! They are looking at arthritis but this has made it hard to exercise to help me lose weight. And I have no idea what to eat. I'm hoping to get some help soon so I can get on the track on losing weight for my wedding!!
Also in the up coming year I plan on moving to Florida! I'm really excited but I need this. I need to go some where and just try things and live for myself. I need it so badly and it's so close to happening. I'm really excited about all this!
Well that's been my years. Here's to hoping that we all have a Happy New Year!!!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
A World Where Dreams Come True
Well I am back from Disney and I have sooo much to write about. I do have some bad news, well it's not news, it's just people who should be special in my life disappointing me but I really don't want this to post to be about them (even though they tired to make my good news all about them with their bad attitude). But I will try to save that rant for another time because this will be a good blog post!
So Thanksgiving Break has come and almost gone. Last Friday Daniel and I got up early and started our long drive to Orlando! We only hit traffic once, and in that we went 3 miles and an hour. But after that it was mostly smooth sailing. We stopped in Savannah, GA for dinner. We wanted to go to this place called the Moon River brewery. It was recently featured on Ghost Adventures as haunted and we were interested in checking it out. Well we didn't see a ghost but it had really good food and Daniel enjoyed their beers. After that we got back on the road at which point Daniel hit a cat. It just darted across the road and we couldn't avoid it. I was so sad about it I balled for like a half hour. But we went on and we stopped for the night in Jacksonville, just a couple hours away from Orlando. Because we got in so late the lady gave us a discount and upgraded us to a bigger room which was truly huge! I mean I could have put on a dance recital in the empty space in that room! haha. And we looooved the king sized bed. I'm a bed hog so Daniel actually didn't have to worry about being pushed out of the bed (which has happened before lol).
In the morning we got up and went the rest of the way to Orlando! We stayed in a Hilton in Downtown Disney. Oh my goodness it was soooo nice! I took a million pictures. Our friend Dani, who is our friend Sami's sister, works in a Hilton so she helped plan all this with Daniel. I upgraded our room to a view of Disney for 10 a night and trust me it was worth it! They said you could watch the fireworks from your room but of course we were out every night so we saw no fireworks from there haha. Anyway we went and walked about Downtown Disney. Daniel had me eat a place called "Earl of Sandwich" which has these really amazing sandwiches. He had turkey dinner on a bun and you wouldn't think that much stuff on one sandwich would be good but man was it tasty! I had a meatball which was pretty delicious. Then when our room was ready we went back and got ready and went out with Dani and her boyfriend Jesus ("hey-zeus" for those who don't know how that's pronounced...but don't worry most of the time we just call him Jesus lol). We went to this piano bar called Howl at the Moon and it was sooo cool! They had dueling pianos and a band and they took requests. It was just awesome! Then we went to Dennys, which seems to be the drunks choice down there haha.
The next day we got up bright and early and started our days in the park! We went to Animal Kingdom first and there we ate at the Rain Forest Cafe. It was my first time getting to eat at one and it is such a cool experience! We got to sit but this HUGE elephant and they would come have like these loud fits every now and then. I always tell people it was a wonderful meal but there was a bit of an elephant in the room (ba-dum-CHA! Get it "elephant in the room"...like ya know awkward....oh never mind haha). And of course we visited the tigers!! I love tigers so much! And like the minute we got there two got together and cuddled each other and I got a picture of it! I was so excited!
After that we ran over to Hollywood Studios. Daniel made me go on Tower of Terror. I hate thrill rides! I mean... A LOT! And the longer I wait in the line the more freaked out I get. Well the wait wasn't that bad, but that just means I get freaked out faster. For those of you who have never been on the tower of terror, the line starts outside and you are working out way into this huge hotel building. You enter into the lobby and then they take you into a room with a bunch of people. In there the tv comes on and it does the beginning of the Twilight Zone and it tells you the back story of 5 people dissappeared some many years ago on the elevator and tonight the doors are opening again but this time it's for you. And then lets you down into the basement to get on the service elevator. By the time we are in this line I'm crying. By the time we got on the elevator I'm shaking. Then if you don't know what the ride is, the elevator drops you. They take you up and fling the elevator doors open so you can see out over the park and drop you...multiple times. It's not a that bad actually...but I'm screaming and crying and gripping everything. But the end I'm shaking and near panic attack crying ( 5 year olds handled this ride better than me lol). And I didn't think I was going to be able to calm down....and then I saw the picture. The first worlds out of my mouth after the ride to Daniel was "I hate you!" This picture. was me like mid scream (much like cartoons when the cry. Ya know mouth wide open, head thrown back, eyes squeezed shut) and Daniel with his arm around me calming looking at me like I'm crazy. It was so hysterical! I wish I had taken a picture of it!
After that I did not have to go on anymore thrill rides. So we hit like the muppets and stuff like that. We ate that night at Prime Time which is a restraunt based off 1950s tv shows. You're at mom's kitchen and will tell you to get your elbows off the table or like one woman was on her phone and the waitress told her to put that down because it was family time haha. Daniel and I got a picture sharing a coke float and we became members of the clean plate club! Until dessert, it was a huge brownie sunday and we just couldn't do it! haha. After that we went and saw the Osbourne Family Light show which was amazing. There were so many lights and they danced to music! It was awesome! And it was snowing! In 80 degree weather! Okay so it was not real snow, but I think that's even better! It was the feel of Christmas without the mess in the driveway haha. After that we rushed over to Fantasmic because he had never seen it. It's this really awesome show they do, about Mickey's imagination and then the villians try to take over and Mickey has to save the day! They have live actors and puppets and images projected on water (yes! water!) and fireworks. It really is the definition of epic!...and spectical if you are theatre person haha. After that we went on the great movie ride because our friend Sami loves that ride and I promised to ride it for her. We got on the last boat and it is a really cool ride. At the end I was going to take a picture of the building when I realized I didn't have my camera...and Daniel didn't either. Daniel lost my camera on the Great Movie Ride! Thank God for this worker who ran inside and found it for us! Bless him! I would have died a little if we would have lost that!
The next day was our Epcot day. So we got confused on the bus schdule. The way it was written we thought they charged for later bus rides, so we had taken my car the night before from downtown (which we had to hop two buses to get to) and took it to the parking garage at the hotel. We were going to go to Chef Mickeys and try to get in (because Daniel tried for months and couldn't get a reservation) but we decided not to go. So we took the car back to downtown and hopped buses which took waaaay too long and finally got to Epcot. We started with some rides and then went over to Mexico and China. I found a necklace that said Belle on it and I was really excited! We also rode test track which was my first time and it was a pretty fun ride. Oh we also went into the ball for the first time and that was a lot of fun! I had no idea that was in there!! Well when we got to China it started to rain. At first we didn't mind but then it got heavier. So I bought a panda umbrella with panda ears and Daniel bought a rice hat and the minute we had them and stepped outside it stopped...and never rained again haha. Daniel had me eat lunch in England because he loves the fish and chips, and they were pretty awesome. And for dinner we ate at the Coral Reef which is like in an aquarium and you can see sea animals while you eat. We had a huge turtle sit by us the whole dinner. They said his name was Tolstore, but they tell the kids his name is Crush, and he's 70 some years old. Very lazy and the other fish like the pick on him and try ot make him move. We actually saw one come up and looked like he kissed him. But I guess they try to make him move and sometimes he lays on them haha.
After we went on around the world and went to Japan and did the pearl thing, where you get an oyster and they open it up and you get a pearl. I got a 7 1/2 pinkish pearl and Daniel got a rare bluish silver pearl. Then we got them set. They had a pumpkin carriage I wanted to get mine put in but mine was too big haha. So I got mine set in a seashell and Daniel's is a moon. He then went and bought soki buuuut we seemed to have lost the bag with his soki and these little gifts we got for people :( We're very sad about this but in the grand scheme of Disney bags that was probably the cheapest so guess that was lucky haha.
After that we got Dani a glass. You can get them personalized at $2 a word and the glasses are a good price.It was to thank her for all she had done but we weren't sure her favorite character we took a guess and got the chesire cat and put her name on the back. Then we watched IllumiNations which was a fireworks deplay in the water in the middle of the park. It was so awesome!
When that was over we went over by boat to the boardwalk to meet Dani and Jesus at Big River Brewery. I am so glad we got her that glass because she loved it so much! It was moments like that which is why I love giving gifts. That honest love for that you gave them and the happiness it brought! I'm so glad she loved it so much, it made me so happy to see her reaction! Well after that we wandered around for a little bit and then went back to the hotel for the night.
The next day was Magic Kingdom! I looove Magic Kingdom! It's my favorite. We started by going on some rides and actually lines were really short all day except the Peter Pan ride so we haven't got to do that one yet. We'll remember to get a fast past for that next time. We went on the Haunted Mansion twice because there was new and awesome stuff in the line that we wanted to play with! haha (many pictures of that was taken as well). That night we ate in Cinderella's Castle! It is called Cinderella's Royal Table. You get a picture of you and Cinderella as part of the meal and then you get to meet some of the other princesses while you eat. I got to meet Belle!!! And the meal was soooo amazing! After that we went out and watched Cinderella's Christmas Wish where they light the castle. It was so beautiful! That night we saw the electric light parade, which was a pain in the butt to find a spot for! Only part that wasn't magical! haha. People lined up an hour early and there was a line and if you were over that line they made you move and people were saving spots for 7 people and sitting so you didn't have any room. I mean seriously you only have so much space and people can't find a spot tell them to stand up if they want that spot and let others in! and saving? No if they aren't there, TOUGH! I am. And the workers made you keep moving so we couldn't even stop to rest and I was in so much pain! I ended up crying! It was really terrible. But we did get lucky to find some room in the that we could get in and watch the parade and it was nice....def not worth that hassel though...but it could have been ruined by the workers yelling a people to keep moving and people yelling back during the parade. I don't know.
But after that Daniel and I went up and got a pretty good spot to watch the castle. They did this memories thing where they projected pictures and different things onto the castle! It was soooo cool!!! And then after that was the fireworks.
Of course the fireworks, Wishes, is always magical. But now they are very special to me because during the fireworks, when they started to play the Beauty and the Beast music Daniel proposed!!! It was so sweet, he was so nervous! And of course I said yes! And the ring is gorgeous! And the woman behind us saw it and thought it was so sweet!
When we went back to the hotel we got a celebration champange which was bought for us by a couple at the bar (who ended up being from West Virginia! How cool!) and then Daniel had got another and the bar tender bought that! What nice people!
The next day we checked out....and went home? Not exactly lol. We checked out but then we went back to downtown to lose the money we had saved lol. And ate at the House of Blues for lunch. Then went and had one last dinner with Dani! We went to this place called Crave which was delicious!! I had sushi and I enjoyed a lot! Then we started home. But we only got to somewhere in GA. We stayed in a Sleep In and boy I can tell ya we weren't in a Hilton anymore lol! It was a hot mess. Not dirty, but we went in and turned on the light and it flickered. One lamp was broken and swinging in it's stand, another didn't even work as well as an outlet. Leaky focet and the door to the bathroom was in the wall, like had to pull it out. The furniture didn't even fit in the room. And there was this random colomn in the room which turned out to be the rest of this random big shower! Daniel and I was laughing so hard! It was such a magical way to end the trip. haha!
The next day we drove the rest of the way and got home around 6:30 and went staight to Thanksgiving dinner with my Mom and Grandma.
Now I'm chilling with Daniel and his Dad who came down for the weekend. And school starts tomorrow.
So I didn't get much a break but it was in a good way. And Daniel def didn't disappoint when it came to proposing! I'm very happy about the whole thing and once school is over I get to start planning!! Pretty excited!!!
Well I think that's enough for one blog haha.
Peace and Love,
Andie Claire
So Thanksgiving Break has come and almost gone. Last Friday Daniel and I got up early and started our long drive to Orlando! We only hit traffic once, and in that we went 3 miles and an hour. But after that it was mostly smooth sailing. We stopped in Savannah, GA for dinner. We wanted to go to this place called the Moon River brewery. It was recently featured on Ghost Adventures as haunted and we were interested in checking it out. Well we didn't see a ghost but it had really good food and Daniel enjoyed their beers. After that we got back on the road at which point Daniel hit a cat. It just darted across the road and we couldn't avoid it. I was so sad about it I balled for like a half hour. But we went on and we stopped for the night in Jacksonville, just a couple hours away from Orlando. Because we got in so late the lady gave us a discount and upgraded us to a bigger room which was truly huge! I mean I could have put on a dance recital in the empty space in that room! haha. And we looooved the king sized bed. I'm a bed hog so Daniel actually didn't have to worry about being pushed out of the bed (which has happened before lol).
In the morning we got up and went the rest of the way to Orlando! We stayed in a Hilton in Downtown Disney. Oh my goodness it was soooo nice! I took a million pictures. Our friend Dani, who is our friend Sami's sister, works in a Hilton so she helped plan all this with Daniel. I upgraded our room to a view of Disney for 10 a night and trust me it was worth it! They said you could watch the fireworks from your room but of course we were out every night so we saw no fireworks from there haha. Anyway we went and walked about Downtown Disney. Daniel had me eat a place called "Earl of Sandwich" which has these really amazing sandwiches. He had turkey dinner on a bun and you wouldn't think that much stuff on one sandwich would be good but man was it tasty! I had a meatball which was pretty delicious. Then when our room was ready we went back and got ready and went out with Dani and her boyfriend Jesus ("hey-zeus" for those who don't know how that's pronounced...but don't worry most of the time we just call him Jesus lol). We went to this piano bar called Howl at the Moon and it was sooo cool! They had dueling pianos and a band and they took requests. It was just awesome! Then we went to Dennys, which seems to be the drunks choice down there haha.
The next day we got up bright and early and started our days in the park! We went to Animal Kingdom first and there we ate at the Rain Forest Cafe. It was my first time getting to eat at one and it is such a cool experience! We got to sit but this HUGE elephant and they would come have like these loud fits every now and then. I always tell people it was a wonderful meal but there was a bit of an elephant in the room (ba-dum-CHA! Get it "elephant in the room"...like ya know awkward....oh never mind haha). And of course we visited the tigers!! I love tigers so much! And like the minute we got there two got together and cuddled each other and I got a picture of it! I was so excited!
After that we ran over to Hollywood Studios. Daniel made me go on Tower of Terror. I hate thrill rides! I mean... A LOT! And the longer I wait in the line the more freaked out I get. Well the wait wasn't that bad, but that just means I get freaked out faster. For those of you who have never been on the tower of terror, the line starts outside and you are working out way into this huge hotel building. You enter into the lobby and then they take you into a room with a bunch of people. In there the tv comes on and it does the beginning of the Twilight Zone and it tells you the back story of 5 people dissappeared some many years ago on the elevator and tonight the doors are opening again but this time it's for you. And then lets you down into the basement to get on the service elevator. By the time we are in this line I'm crying. By the time we got on the elevator I'm shaking. Then if you don't know what the ride is, the elevator drops you. They take you up and fling the elevator doors open so you can see out over the park and drop you...multiple times. It's not a that bad actually...but I'm screaming and crying and gripping everything. But the end I'm shaking and near panic attack crying ( 5 year olds handled this ride better than me lol). And I didn't think I was going to be able to calm down....and then I saw the picture. The first worlds out of my mouth after the ride to Daniel was "I hate you!" This picture. was me like mid scream (much like cartoons when the cry. Ya know mouth wide open, head thrown back, eyes squeezed shut) and Daniel with his arm around me calming looking at me like I'm crazy. It was so hysterical! I wish I had taken a picture of it!
After that I did not have to go on anymore thrill rides. So we hit like the muppets and stuff like that. We ate that night at Prime Time which is a restraunt based off 1950s tv shows. You're at mom's kitchen and will tell you to get your elbows off the table or like one woman was on her phone and the waitress told her to put that down because it was family time haha. Daniel and I got a picture sharing a coke float and we became members of the clean plate club! Until dessert, it was a huge brownie sunday and we just couldn't do it! haha. After that we went and saw the Osbourne Family Light show which was amazing. There were so many lights and they danced to music! It was awesome! And it was snowing! In 80 degree weather! Okay so it was not real snow, but I think that's even better! It was the feel of Christmas without the mess in the driveway haha. After that we rushed over to Fantasmic because he had never seen it. It's this really awesome show they do, about Mickey's imagination and then the villians try to take over and Mickey has to save the day! They have live actors and puppets and images projected on water (yes! water!) and fireworks. It really is the definition of epic!...and spectical if you are theatre person haha. After that we went on the great movie ride because our friend Sami loves that ride and I promised to ride it for her. We got on the last boat and it is a really cool ride. At the end I was going to take a picture of the building when I realized I didn't have my camera...and Daniel didn't either. Daniel lost my camera on the Great Movie Ride! Thank God for this worker who ran inside and found it for us! Bless him! I would have died a little if we would have lost that!
The next day was our Epcot day. So we got confused on the bus schdule. The way it was written we thought they charged for later bus rides, so we had taken my car the night before from downtown (which we had to hop two buses to get to) and took it to the parking garage at the hotel. We were going to go to Chef Mickeys and try to get in (because Daniel tried for months and couldn't get a reservation) but we decided not to go. So we took the car back to downtown and hopped buses which took waaaay too long and finally got to Epcot. We started with some rides and then went over to Mexico and China. I found a necklace that said Belle on it and I was really excited! We also rode test track which was my first time and it was a pretty fun ride. Oh we also went into the ball for the first time and that was a lot of fun! I had no idea that was in there!! Well when we got to China it started to rain. At first we didn't mind but then it got heavier. So I bought a panda umbrella with panda ears and Daniel bought a rice hat and the minute we had them and stepped outside it stopped...and never rained again haha. Daniel had me eat lunch in England because he loves the fish and chips, and they were pretty awesome. And for dinner we ate at the Coral Reef which is like in an aquarium and you can see sea animals while you eat. We had a huge turtle sit by us the whole dinner. They said his name was Tolstore, but they tell the kids his name is Crush, and he's 70 some years old. Very lazy and the other fish like the pick on him and try ot make him move. We actually saw one come up and looked like he kissed him. But I guess they try to make him move and sometimes he lays on them haha.
After we went on around the world and went to Japan and did the pearl thing, where you get an oyster and they open it up and you get a pearl. I got a 7 1/2 pinkish pearl and Daniel got a rare bluish silver pearl. Then we got them set. They had a pumpkin carriage I wanted to get mine put in but mine was too big haha. So I got mine set in a seashell and Daniel's is a moon. He then went and bought soki buuuut we seemed to have lost the bag with his soki and these little gifts we got for people :( We're very sad about this but in the grand scheme of Disney bags that was probably the cheapest so guess that was lucky haha.
After that we got Dani a glass. You can get them personalized at $2 a word and the glasses are a good price.It was to thank her for all she had done but we weren't sure her favorite character we took a guess and got the chesire cat and put her name on the back. Then we watched IllumiNations which was a fireworks deplay in the water in the middle of the park. It was so awesome!
When that was over we went over by boat to the boardwalk to meet Dani and Jesus at Big River Brewery. I am so glad we got her that glass because she loved it so much! It was moments like that which is why I love giving gifts. That honest love for that you gave them and the happiness it brought! I'm so glad she loved it so much, it made me so happy to see her reaction! Well after that we wandered around for a little bit and then went back to the hotel for the night.
The next day was Magic Kingdom! I looove Magic Kingdom! It's my favorite. We started by going on some rides and actually lines were really short all day except the Peter Pan ride so we haven't got to do that one yet. We'll remember to get a fast past for that next time. We went on the Haunted Mansion twice because there was new and awesome stuff in the line that we wanted to play with! haha (many pictures of that was taken as well). That night we ate in Cinderella's Castle! It is called Cinderella's Royal Table. You get a picture of you and Cinderella as part of the meal and then you get to meet some of the other princesses while you eat. I got to meet Belle!!! And the meal was soooo amazing! After that we went out and watched Cinderella's Christmas Wish where they light the castle. It was so beautiful! That night we saw the electric light parade, which was a pain in the butt to find a spot for! Only part that wasn't magical! haha. People lined up an hour early and there was a line and if you were over that line they made you move and people were saving spots for 7 people and sitting so you didn't have any room. I mean seriously you only have so much space and people can't find a spot tell them to stand up if they want that spot and let others in! and saving? No if they aren't there, TOUGH! I am. And the workers made you keep moving so we couldn't even stop to rest and I was in so much pain! I ended up crying! It was really terrible. But we did get lucky to find some room in the that we could get in and watch the parade and it was nice....def not worth that hassel though...but it could have been ruined by the workers yelling a people to keep moving and people yelling back during the parade. I don't know.
But after that Daniel and I went up and got a pretty good spot to watch the castle. They did this memories thing where they projected pictures and different things onto the castle! It was soooo cool!!! And then after that was the fireworks.
Of course the fireworks, Wishes, is always magical. But now they are very special to me because during the fireworks, when they started to play the Beauty and the Beast music Daniel proposed!!! It was so sweet, he was so nervous! And of course I said yes! And the ring is gorgeous! And the woman behind us saw it and thought it was so sweet!
When we went back to the hotel we got a celebration champange which was bought for us by a couple at the bar (who ended up being from West Virginia! How cool!) and then Daniel had got another and the bar tender bought that! What nice people!
The next day we checked out....and went home? Not exactly lol. We checked out but then we went back to downtown to lose the money we had saved lol. And ate at the House of Blues for lunch. Then went and had one last dinner with Dani! We went to this place called Crave which was delicious!! I had sushi and I enjoyed a lot! Then we started home. But we only got to somewhere in GA. We stayed in a Sleep In and boy I can tell ya we weren't in a Hilton anymore lol! It was a hot mess. Not dirty, but we went in and turned on the light and it flickered. One lamp was broken and swinging in it's stand, another didn't even work as well as an outlet. Leaky focet and the door to the bathroom was in the wall, like had to pull it out. The furniture didn't even fit in the room. And there was this random colomn in the room which turned out to be the rest of this random big shower! Daniel and I was laughing so hard! It was such a magical way to end the trip. haha!
The next day we drove the rest of the way and got home around 6:30 and went staight to Thanksgiving dinner with my Mom and Grandma.
Now I'm chilling with Daniel and his Dad who came down for the weekend. And school starts tomorrow.
So I didn't get much a break but it was in a good way. And Daniel def didn't disappoint when it came to proposing! I'm very happy about the whole thing and once school is over I get to start planning!! Pretty excited!!!
Well I think that's enough for one blog haha.
Peace and Love,
Andie Claire
Monday, November 7, 2011
My Day
So for a boring day it's been...not so boring?
Yesterday I was exhausted, so I went to bed early and was asleep before 11. That never happens! I didn't know I even had the ability to go to bed that early!! Well before I got to bed early I decided to leap into bed..but I misjudged the distance between me and the bed and I missed, hitting the wall with my leg and arm and over extending the other trying to catch myself. So I was in a lot of pain and I had to take a couple advils haha. But after that sleep was smooth sailing.
So this morning I woke up at 6:30, which is also a time I don't usually see. But I didn't need to be up for another couple hours. And though part of my felt rested I was still so exhausted so I just laid there with Missy (who snored in my ear for the next hour haha). When I got up, I started to get ready, and as always no matter what I do I end up running late. So I throw on this new shirt mom got me. It actually fit! So I was brushing my hair and low and behold this had to be cheap fabric and the brush snagged it and it ripped! So I was thinking oh great now I have to find another shirt that fits...so I went to grab on I knew fit and I started to put it on and I noticed it had a hole too! I was so upset! You see I've been struggling with me weight....well my whole life. When I was dancing in fourth grade I thought I was fat and bigger than everyone else around me and awkward. Now I look at those pictures and I'm like what was I thinking! Well I've always heard I was chubby from people or I need to lose weight and that's what fed that my entire life. I've even had trouble with eating problems before. But it hadn't been til lately that I am actually "fat". And people still go 'oh no your not'. Yes. I. am. I don't what the lie okay. Because I used to be skinny and self concious and needed that compliment, and because of those skinny girls digging for that compliment we think the response is 'oh no your not.' Okay, I've seen my weight rise and rise and I can't get it to go down no matter what. Yes I'm not skinny anymore and I know those. No, that doesn't mean I'm ugly or whatever else we think attaches to weight gain. But I am definately chubby. I've always learned being on the other side of the table how painful it is to hear a skinny person talk about how bad they need to lose weight, because I mean if they think they need to lose weight, what do they think about you who are way bigger than them? I know they never mean it that way, that they really feel they need to lose weight (because I've been the tiny girl not getting she was tiny), but now being the bigger girl I know how painful it is to hear that. And I'm sorry for ever saying that. I wish I would have loved myself and not beat myself up like that one pound made all the difference. Because now I'm here and I can't lose weight and I can't fit my clothes and my family always bring up how big I am and the thoughts of how do I deal with this with no money for trainers or the right food, how do I not let what they say hurt me? How do I lose this? These thoughts plague me daily. And I'm sorry for never just loving myself..
So that was part of my morning. And after I cried over my weight. I got it together, got in the car, and drove to school. Once there I was 5 mins late and I tried to grab my bag to goggles for my experiment and the bag ripped! So now I'm late with a ripped bag and a purse that keeps falling off my shoulder. I'm a mess. I had pretty much given up on going to class but when I got in there I saw my teacher just ahead of me and I realized I could still make it!
So I made it to both classes today.
Then I ran my experiment. I had an awful headache and was so exhausted so I grabbed myself a coffee. I ran into Sami, my best friend, who was on her way to my experiment so it was nice having someone to talk to. Today 6 people came and did my experiment. It's really frustating to try and get people to show up for this. I have wrote all kinds of people. Most ignored that I sent it, others say they are going to come and done. I have had 20 subjects so far and I need 60. It's so upsetting that people can't just take some time out of their day and sit for like 10 mins and do this to help me out. I have to do this to graduate! Well I supposed that karma will get them one day when they need people for something, or at least I can hope haha.
But on the flip side to that statement, I have to say those who have wrote and came in really just make me so happy they don't even know! To me it's such a blessing that they really came in there and helped me out and I just love them for it. It really warms my heart when I see those people come in! I'm so thankful for those people in me life. They are truly wonderful!
Well after that, I went home, toting all my stuff back across campus, stabled hallmark bag and purse falling off my shoulder, and a coffie on top of all this. Get in my car and take 10 mins to find a song I kinda wanna listen to (damn random on the Ipod, it never gets it right). Came home and thank goodness our landlord came over and picked the dead raccoon off the side walk. Poor baby was poisoned last week and he died in the road, he then at some point rolled over and put is little face on the side walk and stretched out his arm and died. It was very dramatic looking and very sad. POINT 1: If you are going to poison the raccoons, pick them up for goodness sakes! I mean it was kind of funny to see all the people struting down the street stop and now sure how to get around it, but it was sadder than anything else. If you have such a problem with them getting in the trash clean it up! Because I have a problem with it's dead body being outside my house! And pluse it got Missy all excited and we couldn't get her to go to the bathroom when she was outside because of it.
But then it got worse, so idiots put him on the sidewalk on his back, then proceeded to sprinkle potatoe chips all over him and then put cheetos in his mouth. POINT 2: Okay, you are NOT creative, you're an idiot. Thanks for blocking the entire sidewalk with something dead. I hope one day raccoons get to decerate your body. I think that's fair.
Anyway after that I couldn't stand it anymore and we asked our landlord to come pick him but because we had nothing to do with him. So bless him for picking that poor baby up and the sidewalk is now useable again!
AND! We got our first netflix dvd in the mail! How exciting! We just ordered it like Friday! I couldn't believe it was here already!
Then I took Misses out and some guy was watching me go up the steps so that freaked me out and I was afraid he'd follow me but luckly he didn't.
Then I did some dishes and cleaned. Because I ask Daniel to do somethings, like put the dishes in the sink or throw away your candy wrappers and he says okay and then he does not! He is going to get it when he gets home from Wal-Mart, which is where he is now working. haha
Anyway, I guess that's not a really exciting day but it hasn't been a total bore either. I don't know what else is going on today. Not much I assume. I just hope food is in order soon because I am hungry.
Oh! And 11 DAYS TIL DISNEY!!! I am getting more and more excitied everyday! I just can't wait to go down there!!!!
Well that's all I got haha.
Peace and Love,
Andie
Yesterday I was exhausted, so I went to bed early and was asleep before 11. That never happens! I didn't know I even had the ability to go to bed that early!! Well before I got to bed early I decided to leap into bed..but I misjudged the distance between me and the bed and I missed, hitting the wall with my leg and arm and over extending the other trying to catch myself. So I was in a lot of pain and I had to take a couple advils haha. But after that sleep was smooth sailing.
So this morning I woke up at 6:30, which is also a time I don't usually see. But I didn't need to be up for another couple hours. And though part of my felt rested I was still so exhausted so I just laid there with Missy (who snored in my ear for the next hour haha). When I got up, I started to get ready, and as always no matter what I do I end up running late. So I throw on this new shirt mom got me. It actually fit! So I was brushing my hair and low and behold this had to be cheap fabric and the brush snagged it and it ripped! So I was thinking oh great now I have to find another shirt that fits...so I went to grab on I knew fit and I started to put it on and I noticed it had a hole too! I was so upset! You see I've been struggling with me weight....well my whole life. When I was dancing in fourth grade I thought I was fat and bigger than everyone else around me and awkward. Now I look at those pictures and I'm like what was I thinking! Well I've always heard I was chubby from people or I need to lose weight and that's what fed that my entire life. I've even had trouble with eating problems before. But it hadn't been til lately that I am actually "fat". And people still go 'oh no your not'. Yes. I. am. I don't what the lie okay. Because I used to be skinny and self concious and needed that compliment, and because of those skinny girls digging for that compliment we think the response is 'oh no your not.' Okay, I've seen my weight rise and rise and I can't get it to go down no matter what. Yes I'm not skinny anymore and I know those. No, that doesn't mean I'm ugly or whatever else we think attaches to weight gain. But I am definately chubby. I've always learned being on the other side of the table how painful it is to hear a skinny person talk about how bad they need to lose weight, because I mean if they think they need to lose weight, what do they think about you who are way bigger than them? I know they never mean it that way, that they really feel they need to lose weight (because I've been the tiny girl not getting she was tiny), but now being the bigger girl I know how painful it is to hear that. And I'm sorry for ever saying that. I wish I would have loved myself and not beat myself up like that one pound made all the difference. Because now I'm here and I can't lose weight and I can't fit my clothes and my family always bring up how big I am and the thoughts of how do I deal with this with no money for trainers or the right food, how do I not let what they say hurt me? How do I lose this? These thoughts plague me daily. And I'm sorry for never just loving myself..
So that was part of my morning. And after I cried over my weight. I got it together, got in the car, and drove to school. Once there I was 5 mins late and I tried to grab my bag to goggles for my experiment and the bag ripped! So now I'm late with a ripped bag and a purse that keeps falling off my shoulder. I'm a mess. I had pretty much given up on going to class but when I got in there I saw my teacher just ahead of me and I realized I could still make it!
So I made it to both classes today.
Then I ran my experiment. I had an awful headache and was so exhausted so I grabbed myself a coffee. I ran into Sami, my best friend, who was on her way to my experiment so it was nice having someone to talk to. Today 6 people came and did my experiment. It's really frustating to try and get people to show up for this. I have wrote all kinds of people. Most ignored that I sent it, others say they are going to come and done. I have had 20 subjects so far and I need 60. It's so upsetting that people can't just take some time out of their day and sit for like 10 mins and do this to help me out. I have to do this to graduate! Well I supposed that karma will get them one day when they need people for something, or at least I can hope haha.
But on the flip side to that statement, I have to say those who have wrote and came in really just make me so happy they don't even know! To me it's such a blessing that they really came in there and helped me out and I just love them for it. It really warms my heart when I see those people come in! I'm so thankful for those people in me life. They are truly wonderful!
Well after that, I went home, toting all my stuff back across campus, stabled hallmark bag and purse falling off my shoulder, and a coffie on top of all this. Get in my car and take 10 mins to find a song I kinda wanna listen to (damn random on the Ipod, it never gets it right). Came home and thank goodness our landlord came over and picked the dead raccoon off the side walk. Poor baby was poisoned last week and he died in the road, he then at some point rolled over and put is little face on the side walk and stretched out his arm and died. It was very dramatic looking and very sad. POINT 1: If you are going to poison the raccoons, pick them up for goodness sakes! I mean it was kind of funny to see all the people struting down the street stop and now sure how to get around it, but it was sadder than anything else. If you have such a problem with them getting in the trash clean it up! Because I have a problem with it's dead body being outside my house! And pluse it got Missy all excited and we couldn't get her to go to the bathroom when she was outside because of it.
But then it got worse, so idiots put him on the sidewalk on his back, then proceeded to sprinkle potatoe chips all over him and then put cheetos in his mouth. POINT 2: Okay, you are NOT creative, you're an idiot. Thanks for blocking the entire sidewalk with something dead. I hope one day raccoons get to decerate your body. I think that's fair.
Anyway after that I couldn't stand it anymore and we asked our landlord to come pick him but because we had nothing to do with him. So bless him for picking that poor baby up and the sidewalk is now useable again!
AND! We got our first netflix dvd in the mail! How exciting! We just ordered it like Friday! I couldn't believe it was here already!
Then I took Misses out and some guy was watching me go up the steps so that freaked me out and I was afraid he'd follow me but luckly he didn't.
Then I did some dishes and cleaned. Because I ask Daniel to do somethings, like put the dishes in the sink or throw away your candy wrappers and he says okay and then he does not! He is going to get it when he gets home from Wal-Mart, which is where he is now working. haha
Anyway, I guess that's not a really exciting day but it hasn't been a total bore either. I don't know what else is going on today. Not much I assume. I just hope food is in order soon because I am hungry.
Oh! And 11 DAYS TIL DISNEY!!! I am getting more and more excitied everyday! I just can't wait to go down there!!!!
Well that's all I got haha.
Peace and Love,
Andie
Friday, November 4, 2011
What A Wonderful World It Would Be
So I wanted to update on how Halloween and the rest of my week has been going so far.
Well Halloween was a lot of fun! Already talked about how we got all dressed up. We went to Grandma's and gave out candy for awhile but not many people were coming so we decided to go ahead and walk about while people were still out. Well I knew a few blocks up there was a guy who drives and ice cream truck and on Halloween he used to give out free ice cream, so Daniel, Missy, and I went up to see if he still did that. On our way we went past Illusive Skull and there were a couple standing outside (the owners) and they loved out costumes, they said we were the best they had seen! But the especially loved Missy. So they had us go in and show the others workers inside and they seemed really excited about the dressed up dog.
After this we kept walking and got in line for the ice cream. There was a lady in a blue wig behind us, just one of the friendly sorts that always like to strike up a conversation. She asked if we would like her to take our picture. So she did that. And then Daniel picked up Missy and she started petting her and she said "Did you adopted this dog? Is her name Missy??" It turns out this was the woman who used to walk Missy every day. Missy's owner was in a wheelchair so this lady came and took Missy out for him. We found out her birthday is Feb. 2 and she's 4 years old and she loves Christmas and opening gifts!
It was so exciting! I mean how cool! How often would that happen! You could tell that person was so excited to see Missy. She tried to get a picture of her on her phone but because it was dark it didn't come out. Daniel and I plan on sending her a picture of Missy in her costume (she told us she has a picture of Missy on Santa Claus's lap haha). And I was so excited to find things out about Missy that I thought we'd never know!
So that was really cool and I'm still really excited about that. It's just a moment that makes me think about how God can work in our lives. I've been going to this thing called an Alpha Course on Weds at St. Paul and I am really enjoying it. It's supposed to be about the basic questions of Christianity. This week the guy on the video, Nicky Grumble, told a story that I really loved:
"It's easy to be overwhelmed by the scale of these problems and to think, "Can we really make a difference?" Is there anything we can do as individuals? One day a man was walking along a beach as the tide was receding. He saw tens of thousands of starfish stranded on the beach, drying out and slowly dying. He noticed a young boy picking up the starfish one at a time, and throwing them back into the sea. He approached the boy and said to him, "With tens of thousands of starfish lying up and down the beach you must feel like you're not making much of a difference." As the boy tossed yet another starfish into the sea he turned to the man and said, "I bet it made a difference to that one."
I loved this so much when I heard it. I got shivers because it was so powerful to me. I'll be the first to admit that I have a rather grim out look on life often. But I don't really want to have that. I do feel hopeless, like "What can I do? Will it really even matter?"
Back tracking (and it may seem like I'm going off subject to brag but I'm really not) in August I went with a friend to see HAIR on Broadway. My friend loves this show and she had gotten 2 tickets, but the other person she was to go with decided against it and I was lucky enough to be asked. So we went up there and stayed with her grandparents and it was a wonderful time. And we went to see this show, which I expected to be good but I had no idea how powerful it would be for me. The energy of these actors was amazing, it was the first show I had ever seen where they were all just wonderful sings, fully committed. It was beautiful, and simple yet so complex in what it was saying. And in the last scene, right before we got to go on stage and sing and dance with them (okay, that part was bragging :p) when they were gathered together under this bright yellowish light singing "Let the Sun Shine In", I saw God. I know it sounds crazy and most would laugh, but God was there in that moment so strong and in a way I have never experienced in my life. And so often I know many Christians would turn there back on a show like that because of nudity and drugs, etc, and they don't just do it to shows they do it to people and life. If they don't like it, they turn their back, but they're missing something. God is there too. And it's so beautiful when you see God. I still cry to think about how beautiful it was.
After that show I had something restored in me, I can't tell you exactly what it was, but something in me really opened up. I just feel loved flowing from me or wanting to. I want to love others and show them that light I saw. And why I loved that story so much is because I feel it's connected. I always feel I'm too small to do anything, but any moment I can have the opportunity to help or do something nice is a moment that may change someone's life. Why would I not take that opportunity?
Lately I have thought back to this time when I was younger, first of second grade. And I remember there was this boy in my class who no one treated well. I usually say that I don't remember bullying happening much in my school, but in this case I do remember it. Everyone was so mean to him and I can't even think of a reason why. I couldn't tell you what his name was or where he is now, but I remember one day on the steps coming from art class he tripped and fell and dropped his stuff and his pencil box busted open and it all fell all over the floor. Everyone went up the steps laughing at him,]. I was the only one who stopped and helped him pick up his things. I remember him saying thank you and saying I was so nice, and even at so young I can remember how much that moment meant to him. And how happy I am now that I did that. I don't know if anyone else is ever been proud of me for anything, but that is the proudest moment in my life.
Then we grow up and what happens? Do we just lose faith in humanity because we ourselves have been jaded? Maybe we've learned from adults not to do those things. But some where along the ling we stop. We see an opportunity but we don't take because we think we won't matter. Like in the case of Kitty Genovese, where as many as 37 people heard or saw her get attacked, but no one did anything because they all thought someone else would do it. And we do this all the time. Someone drops something and instead of helping we think someone else will do it. It is widely studied. But why follow the crowd? Why not be the person that when someone falls apart, why not be the one who will pick up the pieces. Because what difference will that make? All the difference to that person.
So that has been on my mind a lot lately. I'm really thankful for getting to hear that. I was also in my car today listening to music, on my way to school and a song came on I've heard many times. It's called "Die Vampire Die" from the musical [Title of Show]. But there is one part that is so quiet in the song I don't think I had ever heard it. I could never tell what she was saying. Well while jamming in my car today I finally heard it:
"The last vampire is the mother of all vampires and that is the vampire of despair.It’ll wake you up at 4am to say things like:
"Who do you think you’re kidding?"
"You look like a fool."
"No matter how hard you try, you’ll never be good enough."
Why is it that if some dude walked up to me on the subway platform and said these things, I’d think he was a mentally ill asshole, but if the vampire inside my head says it, It’s the voice of reason."
This was another perfect timing to hear something instances. I have a whole thing I could write on theatre and my struggle to find my place within it (or not within it), but I'm not going there right now. Because I've been healing from things lately and made some great progress. Feeling peace and love in my life in such a great way. But I do stop myself. That much I know and no I don't know how to deal with it. I'm shy and I have no confidence and I have anxiety like crazy. I can't agree with myself when it comes to what I can do. I can't get out of my own way because I'm scared. Of messing up, of failing, of getting hurt. So I am truly my own worst enemy. But I love that because everyone says the "oh you're your toughest critic" but I had never heard it said "What would you do to someone else who said that to you? So why are you taking it from yourself?" I think it was really something I needed to hear. I can do so much more with my whole life if I'd stop letting myself run me. Because it's making things hard that shouldn't be hard, and it's ruining things that should be fun. So I'm glad I heard that today. I really loved that quote too.
Well now I just too you all on that little emotionally roller coaster, I'll bring it back to happy and say 14 DAYS TIL DISNEY!!!! I am so excited!! I can not wait!!! My aunt had been telling me about Mickey's Christmas Party and said I should try to go but it isn't going to be done while I'm done there. So I thought I wouldn't get to see the castle being lit. But I found out today that it is lit every day in a show, where they light the entire main street and the castle and I was so excited about it I started crying! Disney makes me cry. I think it's such a beautiful and wonderful place, I can't stand the joy it fills me with! So to think I was going to get to see the castle all lit up just made me so happy!
Well enough. I think I have written all I need to for now.
Peave and Love,
Andie
Well Halloween was a lot of fun! Already talked about how we got all dressed up. We went to Grandma's and gave out candy for awhile but not many people were coming so we decided to go ahead and walk about while people were still out. Well I knew a few blocks up there was a guy who drives and ice cream truck and on Halloween he used to give out free ice cream, so Daniel, Missy, and I went up to see if he still did that. On our way we went past Illusive Skull and there were a couple standing outside (the owners) and they loved out costumes, they said we were the best they had seen! But the especially loved Missy. So they had us go in and show the others workers inside and they seemed really excited about the dressed up dog.
After this we kept walking and got in line for the ice cream. There was a lady in a blue wig behind us, just one of the friendly sorts that always like to strike up a conversation. She asked if we would like her to take our picture. So she did that. And then Daniel picked up Missy and she started petting her and she said "Did you adopted this dog? Is her name Missy??" It turns out this was the woman who used to walk Missy every day. Missy's owner was in a wheelchair so this lady came and took Missy out for him. We found out her birthday is Feb. 2 and she's 4 years old and she loves Christmas and opening gifts!
It was so exciting! I mean how cool! How often would that happen! You could tell that person was so excited to see Missy. She tried to get a picture of her on her phone but because it was dark it didn't come out. Daniel and I plan on sending her a picture of Missy in her costume (she told us she has a picture of Missy on Santa Claus's lap haha). And I was so excited to find things out about Missy that I thought we'd never know!
So that was really cool and I'm still really excited about that. It's just a moment that makes me think about how God can work in our lives. I've been going to this thing called an Alpha Course on Weds at St. Paul and I am really enjoying it. It's supposed to be about the basic questions of Christianity. This week the guy on the video, Nicky Grumble, told a story that I really loved:
"It's easy to be overwhelmed by the scale of these problems and to think, "Can we really make a difference?" Is there anything we can do as individuals? One day a man was walking along a beach as the tide was receding. He saw tens of thousands of starfish stranded on the beach, drying out and slowly dying. He noticed a young boy picking up the starfish one at a time, and throwing them back into the sea. He approached the boy and said to him, "With tens of thousands of starfish lying up and down the beach you must feel like you're not making much of a difference." As the boy tossed yet another starfish into the sea he turned to the man and said, "I bet it made a difference to that one."
I loved this so much when I heard it. I got shivers because it was so powerful to me. I'll be the first to admit that I have a rather grim out look on life often. But I don't really want to have that. I do feel hopeless, like "What can I do? Will it really even matter?"
Back tracking (and it may seem like I'm going off subject to brag but I'm really not) in August I went with a friend to see HAIR on Broadway. My friend loves this show and she had gotten 2 tickets, but the other person she was to go with decided against it and I was lucky enough to be asked. So we went up there and stayed with her grandparents and it was a wonderful time. And we went to see this show, which I expected to be good but I had no idea how powerful it would be for me. The energy of these actors was amazing, it was the first show I had ever seen where they were all just wonderful sings, fully committed. It was beautiful, and simple yet so complex in what it was saying. And in the last scene, right before we got to go on stage and sing and dance with them (okay, that part was bragging :p) when they were gathered together under this bright yellowish light singing "Let the Sun Shine In", I saw God. I know it sounds crazy and most would laugh, but God was there in that moment so strong and in a way I have never experienced in my life. And so often I know many Christians would turn there back on a show like that because of nudity and drugs, etc, and they don't just do it to shows they do it to people and life. If they don't like it, they turn their back, but they're missing something. God is there too. And it's so beautiful when you see God. I still cry to think about how beautiful it was.
After that show I had something restored in me, I can't tell you exactly what it was, but something in me really opened up. I just feel loved flowing from me or wanting to. I want to love others and show them that light I saw. And why I loved that story so much is because I feel it's connected. I always feel I'm too small to do anything, but any moment I can have the opportunity to help or do something nice is a moment that may change someone's life. Why would I not take that opportunity?
Lately I have thought back to this time when I was younger, first of second grade. And I remember there was this boy in my class who no one treated well. I usually say that I don't remember bullying happening much in my school, but in this case I do remember it. Everyone was so mean to him and I can't even think of a reason why. I couldn't tell you what his name was or where he is now, but I remember one day on the steps coming from art class he tripped and fell and dropped his stuff and his pencil box busted open and it all fell all over the floor. Everyone went up the steps laughing at him,]. I was the only one who stopped and helped him pick up his things. I remember him saying thank you and saying I was so nice, and even at so young I can remember how much that moment meant to him. And how happy I am now that I did that. I don't know if anyone else is ever been proud of me for anything, but that is the proudest moment in my life.
Then we grow up and what happens? Do we just lose faith in humanity because we ourselves have been jaded? Maybe we've learned from adults not to do those things. But some where along the ling we stop. We see an opportunity but we don't take because we think we won't matter. Like in the case of Kitty Genovese, where as many as 37 people heard or saw her get attacked, but no one did anything because they all thought someone else would do it. And we do this all the time. Someone drops something and instead of helping we think someone else will do it. It is widely studied. But why follow the crowd? Why not be the person that when someone falls apart, why not be the one who will pick up the pieces. Because what difference will that make? All the difference to that person.
So that has been on my mind a lot lately. I'm really thankful for getting to hear that. I was also in my car today listening to music, on my way to school and a song came on I've heard many times. It's called "Die Vampire Die" from the musical [Title of Show]. But there is one part that is so quiet in the song I don't think I had ever heard it. I could never tell what she was saying. Well while jamming in my car today I finally heard it:
"The last vampire is the mother of all vampires and that is the vampire of despair.It’ll wake you up at 4am to say things like:
"Who do you think you’re kidding?"
"You look like a fool."
"No matter how hard you try, you’ll never be good enough."
Why is it that if some dude walked up to me on the subway platform and said these things, I’d think he was a mentally ill asshole, but if the vampire inside my head says it, It’s the voice of reason."
This was another perfect timing to hear something instances. I have a whole thing I could write on theatre and my struggle to find my place within it (or not within it), but I'm not going there right now. Because I've been healing from things lately and made some great progress. Feeling peace and love in my life in such a great way. But I do stop myself. That much I know and no I don't know how to deal with it. I'm shy and I have no confidence and I have anxiety like crazy. I can't agree with myself when it comes to what I can do. I can't get out of my own way because I'm scared. Of messing up, of failing, of getting hurt. So I am truly my own worst enemy. But I love that because everyone says the "oh you're your toughest critic" but I had never heard it said "What would you do to someone else who said that to you? So why are you taking it from yourself?" I think it was really something I needed to hear. I can do so much more with my whole life if I'd stop letting myself run me. Because it's making things hard that shouldn't be hard, and it's ruining things that should be fun. So I'm glad I heard that today. I really loved that quote too.
Well now I just too you all on that little emotionally roller coaster, I'll bring it back to happy and say 14 DAYS TIL DISNEY!!!! I am so excited!! I can not wait!!! My aunt had been telling me about Mickey's Christmas Party and said I should try to go but it isn't going to be done while I'm done there. So I thought I wouldn't get to see the castle being lit. But I found out today that it is lit every day in a show, where they light the entire main street and the castle and I was so excited about it I started crying! Disney makes me cry. I think it's such a beautiful and wonderful place, I can't stand the joy it fills me with! So to think I was going to get to see the castle all lit up just made me so happy!
Well enough. I think I have written all I need to for now.
Peave and Love,
Andie
Monday, October 31, 2011
Happy Halloween!!!
Well first off I have to start by saying HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!! It's my favorite holiday!! I just love getting to dress up and the decorating. It's such a wonderful time to be creative and it's fun to see what everyone else comes up with too! Daniel and I had our first party a couple weeks ago and it was a Halloween party. We played games and everyone came dressed up. I even made little pumpkin awards for the costume contest! We had a lot of fun getting ready for that party. This Saturday we went out with out friend Sami to Morgantown to celebrate Halloween college style! And by that I mean bar hopping. lol. Had a few drinks and went to a couple new bars. I love Bent Wileys! It's so nice! It was such a great time getting to go hang out and have fun with friends!
And of course today I'm not going to miss the chance to dress up. We're going to go over to my grandmas to give out candy (we live in an attic apartment so I'm pretty sure we aren't going to get anyone here haha). Oh! And I need to mention out costumes! Daniel is a pirate! He actually ended up being that because it was the costume he put together for the Renn Fair we went to in September. Missy, our doggie, is going as a witch. It's actually an old costume of my other dog, Scarlett (who lives with my mom because my mom is very attached to her haha), but Scar's going to be a pumpkin so I stole the withc for Miss. Plus Missy will wear the hat which Scarlett would NEVER do haha.
And my costume? Well I actually bought a dress from Illusive Skull that was black and purple for my costume. I had tried one on at the store and had zipper problems but we thought it was that dress so we go another and tried the zipper. It seemed fine so I spent 40 some dollars on this dress and when I got it home this zipper busted! Before I even got to wear it! I was very upset to have wasted my money on such a badly made costume (and they don't do refunds. I understand why for the most part. But I mean if the costume is that badly made there really should be an exception). Luckly they had had yard sales a couple times this year and I had bought some costumes for 10 (and these are usually around 90 dollars. These are really nice costumes...unlike the one I got for Halloween haha) for the Renn fair so I was able to throw something together. Even luckier one still matched the hat Daniel got me to go with the other outfit. So we went to the Dollar store got some freaky fabric and spider webs and took so plastic spider friends and made me a ghost! I actually ended up liking what we made waaay better that the one I had bought!
I'm really excited to get my Missy babe dressed up. It's out frist Halloween with her! We had just adopted her in June from Pet Helpers. He other owner was an older man and he died :( So now she our puppy dog. But I love her so much! She's such a sweet heart!
Well why not take this oppertunity to brag. In 18 days I'm leaving for Disney World!!! I love Disney World so much! It really is my favorite place on Earth! I can't wait to be down there in Florida, in this awesome Hilton hotel room and enjoying the parks and the restraunts all of which Daniel planned and paid for! Sooooo excited!!! I can't wait!!! : D
Well I suppose that's all for now. Only other thing going on in my life is my last semester of college which is taking up a lot of time. I am doing my research project now for foundations and it's so hard to find subjects! I didn't think it would be this hard to find people to give me 5 mins of their time. It's times like these I realize how much of a loner I am and how that doesn't come in handy. But by December 17th I'll be done and out of this school and ready to start new in my life! And that fresh start will the best thing for me!
Well enough for now!
Peace and Love,
Andie Claire
And of course today I'm not going to miss the chance to dress up. We're going to go over to my grandmas to give out candy (we live in an attic apartment so I'm pretty sure we aren't going to get anyone here haha). Oh! And I need to mention out costumes! Daniel is a pirate! He actually ended up being that because it was the costume he put together for the Renn Fair we went to in September. Missy, our doggie, is going as a witch. It's actually an old costume of my other dog, Scarlett (who lives with my mom because my mom is very attached to her haha), but Scar's going to be a pumpkin so I stole the withc for Miss. Plus Missy will wear the hat which Scarlett would NEVER do haha.
And my costume? Well I actually bought a dress from Illusive Skull that was black and purple for my costume. I had tried one on at the store and had zipper problems but we thought it was that dress so we go another and tried the zipper. It seemed fine so I spent 40 some dollars on this dress and when I got it home this zipper busted! Before I even got to wear it! I was very upset to have wasted my money on such a badly made costume (and they don't do refunds. I understand why for the most part. But I mean if the costume is that badly made there really should be an exception). Luckly they had had yard sales a couple times this year and I had bought some costumes for 10 (and these are usually around 90 dollars. These are really nice costumes...unlike the one I got for Halloween haha) for the Renn fair so I was able to throw something together. Even luckier one still matched the hat Daniel got me to go with the other outfit. So we went to the Dollar store got some freaky fabric and spider webs and took so plastic spider friends and made me a ghost! I actually ended up liking what we made waaay better that the one I had bought!
I'm really excited to get my Missy babe dressed up. It's out frist Halloween with her! We had just adopted her in June from Pet Helpers. He other owner was an older man and he died :( So now she our puppy dog. But I love her so much! She's such a sweet heart!
Well why not take this oppertunity to brag. In 18 days I'm leaving for Disney World!!! I love Disney World so much! It really is my favorite place on Earth! I can't wait to be down there in Florida, in this awesome Hilton hotel room and enjoying the parks and the restraunts all of which Daniel planned and paid for! Sooooo excited!!! I can't wait!!! : D
Well I suppose that's all for now. Only other thing going on in my life is my last semester of college which is taking up a lot of time. I am doing my research project now for foundations and it's so hard to find subjects! I didn't think it would be this hard to find people to give me 5 mins of their time. It's times like these I realize how much of a loner I am and how that doesn't come in handy. But by December 17th I'll be done and out of this school and ready to start new in my life! And that fresh start will the best thing for me!
Well enough for now!
Peace and Love,
Andie Claire
Friday, October 28, 2011
To Begin At The Beginning
Well I never really know how to begin blogs or journals. It seems weird to just start writing about my life without ever being introduced...and plus today was rather boring. So I'll just start by telling about me. My name's Andie. In my last semester of college for a psychology degree which I have no idea what I'm going to do with. I live with my boyfriend, Daniel, and my dog which we just recently adopted named Missy. I love them both so much. Any time I have a bad day getting to come home to them always feels me with warm fuzzies. haha
I'm very artistic. I love to sing, dance, act, and do crafts. I also love to read. My favorite author is Stephen King and I'm just starting the 7th Dark Tower book right now. I can't watch horror movies but I love to read them. I also like to read vampire books. They're my favorite supernatural character.
I LOVE Disney!! I love their movies, especially the princesses. And of course I love Disney World! I am actually going in 21 days with my boyfriend who planned the entire trip for me!! I am sooo excited to be down in Florida at one of my favorite places in the world!
I am also a big fan of musicals, love to shop, and go to new places. I would really love to travel and see other countries. I hope I get the oppertunity to do that in my life.
I'm very shy and it makes the things I love hard because the people who usually love to perform and such aren't shy haha. But it makes it really hard to notice someone like me who wants to learn more about it.
My life is a mystery right now. I don't really know who I am or where I'm going, but maybe that's normal about graduation? Anyway, all I know is I want to move to Florida and if I could lose weight I'd love to work at Disney World .
Well I'm going to say this is as good a start as any to a blog and call it quits here. Now we'll see if I actually keep up with this. I now prefer to keep it in a journal because I can keep that with me and it's more easily ready when I want to look back on my life and things I've thought and done. But maybe I'll keep up with this too because I do like to type haha :)
Peace, Love, and Understanding,
Andie Claire
I'm very artistic. I love to sing, dance, act, and do crafts. I also love to read. My favorite author is Stephen King and I'm just starting the 7th Dark Tower book right now. I can't watch horror movies but I love to read them. I also like to read vampire books. They're my favorite supernatural character.
I LOVE Disney!! I love their movies, especially the princesses. And of course I love Disney World! I am actually going in 21 days with my boyfriend who planned the entire trip for me!! I am sooo excited to be down in Florida at one of my favorite places in the world!
I am also a big fan of musicals, love to shop, and go to new places. I would really love to travel and see other countries. I hope I get the oppertunity to do that in my life.
I'm very shy and it makes the things I love hard because the people who usually love to perform and such aren't shy haha. But it makes it really hard to notice someone like me who wants to learn more about it.
My life is a mystery right now. I don't really know who I am or where I'm going, but maybe that's normal about graduation? Anyway, all I know is I want to move to Florida and if I could lose weight I'd love to work at Disney World .
Well I'm going to say this is as good a start as any to a blog and call it quits here. Now we'll see if I actually keep up with this. I now prefer to keep it in a journal because I can keep that with me and it's more easily ready when I want to look back on my life and things I've thought and done. But maybe I'll keep up with this too because I do like to type haha :)
Peace, Love, and Understanding,
Andie Claire
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