It's the most wonderful time of the year!

So I apologize for not blogging at all recently. But in all fairness, I think I warned everyone about this in the beginning...

Anyways, this is my favorite time of the year right now. October through December is always when I'm happiest because there's so much to look forward to! Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and even New Years. Not to mention that its cold and rainy most of the time which makes me happy (weird, I know). The trees are also so beautiful with all their changing colors, I think it's amazing to look around and see all the vivid reds and oranges and yellows. It's the one time of the year where all the trees can show off their individuality instead of all being the same green color.

Now I have to add in a side note here -- my favorite kind of tree is a christmas tree, it's also my favorite smell in the entire world and it's also a tree that doesn't change color ever and I'm firmly okay with that lol. That's why we decorate them!

My family has so many traditions for Christmas and I'm a stickler for tradition. For example, I refuse to ever, EVER allow a fake Christmas tree into the house. NEVER. I don't know if I could be more clear but I hate them. I think they're stiff and boring and the main reason is because they don't smell like a real christmas tree. I love to just bury my head in a christmas tree and stand there smelling it, sorry if that's too weird, it certainly looks weird if people catch me doing it ;)

My grandparents used to go cut down a christmas tree every year, a great big HUGE tree and I loved it. They soon had to stop and I was devastated when I learned that they would be getting a fake tree. It took me soooo long to adjust to the idea but I finally let it go, as in probably a few years ago. They also decorate it the same way every year for as long as I can remember and I love it. Their tree belongs in a Christmas catalog for decorating homes for xmas because my grandma does the most amazing job ever. It's by far the most beautiful Christmas tree i've ever seen.

Another tradition for xmas is my grandparents have a small model replica of the North Pole that they put up every year. It's collectors pieces; buildings, people, animals, trees etc, that you see in Christmas stores. The buildings light up, some pieces move, you put fake snow around them, all that good stuff. Well, it was a tradition for a long time for my grandpa and I to put it up every year. We'd do it differently every year in terms of arrangement and building placement. I always loved putting all the pieces up.

Then there's Pickle Night. It's a German tradition (my grandparents lived over there for awhile) where someone hides a pickle ornament (it's only about three inches long so it's a pretty small ornament to find on a great big tree) on the Christmas tree and then the kids have to try and find it. Whoever finds it first gets a present. It's evolved for us into a huge deal, whoever finds it first gets to hide it again for the other kids, we all get a present but in order to get the present we have a scavenger hunt around my grandparents house. Clues leading to other clues and then finally at the end is the present.

I could obviously go on for days about Christmas traditions seeing as its my absolute favorite holiday of all time but it's making me too excited and I'm still stuck here at school studying for finals. I can't wait until this week is over and I can go home, listen to christmas music all day for the rest of December and just enjoy all that this amazing time of year has to offer. :)

Happy Holidays!!

Clothing Optional.

Disclaimer: Post rated PG-13

So the past week has been insanely hot. So uncharacteristic for this area. At one point, it was hotter here then in Death Valley. Like seriously!!! The majority of the places in this town are lacking in AC so as a whole I would say everyone was very unprepared. Me most of all because I hate the heat. If I was held at gunpoint and was told that I had to only pick one thing in this world that I hate the most, I would say the heat. It puts me in the worst mood ever. Last week I'm sure everyone just hated me because I was irritable and rude and sweaty....gross!

To make things worse, I live on the third story of an apt complex which, typical, doesn't have AC so my apt was like a sauna. It was the worst week ever. But, I will say that I took matters into my own hands and when life gives you lemons, you make a lemondrop and say bring it on.

On the very hottest day of the week, I had had enough. I turned on some loud, hip hop music, stripped down to my underwear and started dancing. If you have never danced alone, in only your underwear, you have not lived and I feel sorry for you haha. It is so much fun, plus a great workout! It made me feel SO much better and got me through another day of heat.

I like to do stuff like that every so often, have dance parties by myself. Or Like today, I was bored, so I pulled out my high heels, pulled on (or off I guess) the most minimal amount of clothing possible, turned on some new music and have been cleaning my apartment while alternating between playing dress up with all my heels.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I missed a spot on the counter...and those pink high heels are calling my name. ;)

Confidence is Key.

A friend once said to me, "don't ever let a guy let you think that you deserve less then what you think you deserve. Have confidence in yourself!"

I love this quote because it's 100% true. If you have confidence in yourself you can do anything as well as get whoever you want. Confident people draw others to them like a magnet and make people want to be around them.

Confidence and love of yourself. Love of yourself doesn't mean vain or self centered, it just means that you love yourself as you are, flaws and all and understand that no one is like you or will ever be like you. It is knowing that you're not perfect but saying that you're okay with not being perfect.

This quote means to not let a guy (or for my male readers, a girl) push your confidence down because they reject you or make you feel not good enough. Don't give them that power. If anything, their rejection should strengthen your confidence because you put yourself out there enough to even get rejected. You never would have known unless you had tried right? So have confidence, believe you deserve the best and you will get the best.

"Must be a full moon tonight."

Okay, so I have to do another post about my job because, well, it's just so darn entertaining sometimes. Sure, it can be annoying trying to deal with people who have no idea what they want or how they want it, but most of the time we find ways to laugh about it.

Now, at my work, there are several things that I've learned and that are always a guarantee.

-People will say something about how strong your forearm must be from scooping ice cream.

-Someone will try to order food from the ice cream counter.

-That sugar cone you're scooping will break on you at least once. They are the worst cone EVER.

-"Can you scoop AROUND the bubble gum pieces?"

-You will have to explain to someone that, NO, strawberry lemonade and chocolate dipped cheesecake are NOT ice cream flavors.

-People will ask for a scoop of Merlot Raspberry Truffle ice cream and then come back and complain that it tastes like wine. Um, helloooo, what did you not understand about the name, MERLOT Raspberry Truffle...

-When you're getting ready to close for the night, you'll get a family of ten who all demand ice cream.

-Two hot chocolates never means only two.
"Did you make those two hot chocolates yet? Oh you did? Well could you make five more?"

-"Cup or cone?" will be ingrained and forever in your vocabulary. It may even come out on accident.

-Along with asking which one, a cup or a cone, people will be looking at the cones and say cone but not specify. Ummm, there are three and I am NOT a mind reader.

-Someone will mistake Motor Oil with a coffee flavored ice cream because it says it has Kahlua in it.

-People will comment on how huuuuge that ice cream scoop you just gave them is (when it really isn't).

-You will have to describe multiple times what the difference is between the Tiny Scoop and the Regular Scoop (also known as the golf ball/baseball comparison).

-Someone will ask "are these real dog bones?"

-You can tell what time it is by the afternoon regulars (aka my favorites); Large Chi Tea Latte, extra foam, extra hot, cinnamon on top. Small Americano, room for cream. And L-Dog. :)

-Someone will ask for a Medium drink. Even though our menu only says small or large.

-The full moon will always bring out the crazy people. (or more so than usual).

Now this last one about the full moon you may think to be ridiculous. Well I thought the same thing until this week. I couldn't believe how many weird people came into work. The following scenarios all occurred Saturday afternoon at my place of work.

-Someone asked me for a small sample of ice cream today. A small sample. What do you think a sample is? No, we decided today, our sample is a whole scoop if ice cream. I thought it was hilarious.

-I was digging through the freezer in the back looking for an ice cream flavor we had run out of and this lady sneaks up on me with her half eaten waffle cone and starts complaining.
"I didn't get any cups in my peanut butter cup ice cream."
I just stared at her for a minute, then was like, "Oh, I'm really sorry about that." When I was really thinking, What do you want me to DO about it.

I then asked her who scooped her ice cream and she said that I had scooped it. And then I remembered her. There had been a line, and I had scooped the first scoop of her waffle cone and my boss had scooped the offending peanut butter cup scoop. It had been the bottom of the barrel. I said, Ohhh yeah, I remember, sorry about that. Now eat your ice cream and stop complaining. I ran back behind the counter after that. Now, I don't mind helping people with their problems, but she wasn't asking me to solve it, she was complaining.

-Along those same lines, I can't stand it when people think that they don't have to wait in line to get help from us. You are not better then everyone else, nor is your issue more pressing then those of the people waiting patiently in line. You will not make me, or the person you just cut, very happy if you bypass the five people waiting in line to ask me for a water refill/fresh straw/ketchup/etc. Going around the back to the cooks station or shouting across the counter don't work either. I don't mind helping people, that's what I'm there for but all I ask is you wait your turn. Please.

-A group of three kids came in, probably around the ages of 16-19 (for blogging purposes, their names will be Hat, Black Pants and Mute). I was up front at the fudge and Hat asked me if we would have any fudge left over that we were going to wrap up and throw away that night because he wanted to have it. Ummm, we don't throw away fudge. It's not like it gets old. Tomorrow it'll just be a day older but it'll still be damn good fudge. It was after this that I realized all three of them were on some type of drug. Black Pant's eyes were more red than white and it looked like thinking was extremely painful for him. Mute didn't say anything the entire time. So I tell them, no, no fudge sorry. Hat asks for some water, I give them water. They ask for another one (typical). I give them another one. Then Hat says, do you want a penny. I do my stare again, "A penny?" I ask. He nods, dead serious and holds up a penny. "Yeah, some lady gave it to me today and said it could give me good luck, do you want it?"

I was skeptical. "What do you mean 'could' give you good luck?" Hat shrugs. I say, "Have you had good luck today?" Hat nods and says, "Well I've been taken care of all day so I think it's a good luck penny." He hands it to me and it was my turn to shrug. I took the penny and then Hat says, "But you have to keep it on you for it to work, and then eventually you have to pass it on to someone." I laughed but nodded and agreed because I had nothing better to do but humor him and he was entertaining me for sure. They leave after that, but because of the full moon we hadn't seen the last of them.

Later that night as my coworker was bringing in the tables from outside he comes in with a piece of clothing.

"Someone left their jacket outside. Wait..." he pauses as he looks at the clothing more closely. "These are pants!"

I start laughing and my coworker pulls out a cellphone from the pants. "And a cellphone...who would forget their pants?!" We both laugh and he puts them down below the counter as we both wonder if anyone will come to claim them. But we should have known someone would. Sure enough, those same three boys come back, looking more messed up if thats even possible. Hat asks me the same question about the fudge again, I give him the same answer but then I'm struck with a suspicion and I ask, "Are any of you missing a pair of pants and a cellphone by any chance?" Hat's face lights up and he goes "Yeah! Wait...what color pants and what kind of cellphone?"

I shake my head, no way was it going to go down like that, "No, no, You tell me," I said. Hat looks over at his friend Black Pants (hmm, I wonder where he got his name from lol) and says, "They were black pants annnnnd, hey, what kind of cell phone do you have?" Black Pants frowned and did some "ummmm, ahhhh....mmmm" for what seemed liked days. It looked quite painful to be honest but he finally came up with the right model of cellphone and his Black pants and phone were restored to their rightful owner at last.

Mute's story isn't as eventful but I called him Mute because he came in as we were closing and bought a bag of chips without ever saying a word. I never heard him speak. He paid his money left and then came back and bought three more bags of chips without me ever hearing him say a word.

-Another small story was someone ordered their ice cream on a plate, while pointing to a bowl. I was severely confused, especially when I pointed to the bowl and said bowl and they nodded and repeated plate.

-I had another regular sneak up on me that night too. I was buried in the ice cream bin, scooping for a customer when I came up and there she was, staring me in the face. I was a little frightened because last time I had to help her she kept me talking for about fifteen minutes. Scratch that, I wasn't the one doing the talking, she was. I don't even think I needed to be present in the conversation it was so one sided. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't mind talking to customers, in fact it makes my job waaaay more enjoyable if I do have interesting conversations but she is not one of those people. She always gets the same thing and says the same things, "I had 40 dollars when I left my house and now I don't know where it went, I just don't know where it went"......"Stores sometimes offer discounts, you don't offer a discount..." I think she is a more you had to be there type person but it fit in nicely with our night of full moon crazy people.

I can't think of anymore weird stories that would be funny enough to tell. Most of them are you had to be there type stories but all in all these last few days of work have been very entertaining. There are some weird people out there for sure.

But again, don't get me wrong, I like my job and I like talking to people because besides all the crazy ones there are some very fun and interesting people out there that have a lot of cool things to say. And I don't mind helping people out or helping them solve a problem but please, do it the right way and ask me nicely. It never hurts to be polite. I will always greet you with a smile, all I ask is you give me one back. :)

"...because that's what living in. The six inches in front of your face."

I'm very, very excited.

Why?

Because my favorite season is almost here.

What season is that? Well, I could say fall/winter because that WOULD be true. I love the colors of the changing trees and the rain and everything that comes with these cold months. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years.....but I'm not talking about holidays or weather seasons. I'm talking about something better.

FOOTBALL SEASON!

Preseason has already started and I can't tell you how happy I am to hear all the sports talk switch to football. It's basically the only sport I follow and actually know enough to hold my own in a conversation. I haven't been following football long though, this is only my third year so I still don't know a lot. However, I decided to try something I've never done before.

Fantasy Football. And I have absolutely NO idea what I'm doing. It should be interesting. I'm also doing the one where you guess the winners of each game every week. I'll probably be better at that. Either way, I'm excited to try it out. I guess I better get on the phone with my cable provider, I still don't have ESPN and that will definitely be a problem come September.

GO STEELERS!

ReDONKulous

So I usually don't get out to see many movies when they're out in theaters. Usually because I don't feel like spending an outrageous amount of money. I remember when movies were five dollars. FIVE DOLLARS! Ahhhh, those were the days. But lately I've actually been seeing a lot of movies out in theaters. I've seen Ironman 2, Shrek 3, Twilight, Toy Story 3, Inception and Despicable Me. I feel like there's one I'm forgetting but seriously, this list is long for me. And also surprising is I liked them all, some I was very surprised about actually.

Like Twilight for instance because the first two were so awful, the acting made me cringe and I can't stand Edward or Bella for that matter. But the third one, Eclipse, was actually decent. Jacob was looking fantastic, mmm, and they actually put in some action scenes which spiced it up (not to mention the kiss on top of the mountain, damnnn). Bella also stood up for herself, finally! I can't stand weak main characters...

I also saw Ironman 2 and Shrek 3 at the Drive in, which I will write about how awesome the drive in is in a minute but I loved Ironman 2 and thought Shrek 3 was just adorable. I liked the first Ironman which weirdly enough I also saw at the drive in. Robert Downey Jr is hot, hot, hot. I also love how funny he makes the movies. Shrek 3 was also really cute. I didn't like the second one, the first one was good but this might just be my favorite of the three. It was funny and while most third movies in the series die, this one definitely held its own.

Now this brings me to another animated movie and another third movie in the series, Toy Story 3. EPIC. Like the facebook group says, "Move aside children, I have been waiting 11 years for Toy Story 3" It was awesome and I loved it and I teared up at the end I'll admit it.

I seem to be seeing a lot of animated movies because I also went and saw Despicable Me with my grandparents and thought it was cute and funny for sure. Not to mention the 3D was soooooo good! I thought it was a very cute movie and it was also one I was surprised about because I knew it was going to be good but it turned out to be better than just good.

Annnd lastly, Inception. I don't even know what to say about this movie besides the fact that I can't believe someone actually thought up that idea. How ingenious and creative and imaginative. I'm kind of jealous that I don't think that way because I would be making a ton of money right now and twisting people's minds like this guy is. Inception was definitely one of the better movies I've seen in a long time. I love movies like that that make you think and make you follow along instead of just sitting there and watching something. Although I will say this, I thought that Shutter Island was waaay more of a "mindfuck" as people are calling it (pardon my language) than Inception, even thought people said it was predictable, I don't know. I think they could have toyed with us a lot more in Inception but maybe they were being nice haha, either way, it was awesome and I will definitely go see it again.

I have also been very impressed with the quality of the 3D movies lately. I saw Avatar in 3D when it came out and I don't know whether it was the theater or not but I wasn't impressed. I saw Toy Story 3 and Despicable Me in a different theater and both in 3D and it was awesome. Either way, 3D is quickly becoming an impressive piece of technology and I hope that more movies are going to be in 3D, Can you imagine if Inception had been in 3D????? I also absolutely LOVE the drive in. I think its an awesome idea and its cheap. You pay half of what you'd pay at the movie theater to see TWO movies. And not just stupid movies either, box office hits that are out in theaters at the time. It's awesome.

The last thing I want to say too, is I saw Book Of Eli recently, (not in theaters, on demand type deal) and thought it was one of my favorite movies. Denzel Washington is a beast. If you didn't already know this then watch that movie and you will see exactly why he is a beast haha. Great movie.

I love movies and I love going to the movie theater to watch movies, I'm just sad it has to be so expensive... :(

(PS: If you didn't see Shrek 3, you won't understand my blog title haha) :)

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

I have decided to turn over a new leaf today.

For as long as I have enjoyed writing, I have had this self constructed road block built up. This road block keeps me from ever finishing anything I write and it has long been a goal of mine to write a novel and get it published.

Today is the day I'm going to tear that road block down.
Or at least, begin the process of bashing it to pieces.

My writing bug is back and lets hope that I can keep it this time because I am more determined then ever to finish something. I have one short story to my name. Only one, yet I have maybe about 50 starts to novels and random spurts of writing. This is not acceptable.

Even if my goal of finishing a novel is still some ways away in the future. My recent ambition is to write a childrens book. And boy is it HARD. You would think that writing something that contains nothing more than a few short sentences would be easy but I was wrong, oh so very, VERY wrong. It is probably the most challenging thing I've ever had to write. I can sit down and write essays for days. I can write excerpts from novels but a childrens book? It's a little overwhelming to tell the truth.

But I'm going to do it. One of these days you'll see my name in the bookstores.
Count on it.