Dear Internet,

I am sorry for my absence lately. I really have no legitimate excuse for this. However, during my absence several things went down. I shall fill you in briefly:

Cali was amazing. I sincerely heart it there. My days were spent walking around the city, eating till I thought I would puke, crashing a few happy hours, and watching endless movies on my computer. It was a successful trip.
My sister got engaged on Christmas Day. I don't know if I told you that. The girly and her future hubby are getting married in Cabo in July. I am incredibly, insanely excited. Not only for a vacation, but for her to get married too. It's about time! This is where we are staying:

I wasn't tagged to do this, but I am doing it anyway and I am tagging K-Dub, at holaholla.blogspot.com/ to do the same. Go K-Dub, GO!

Here's what you do:
Go to the fourth folder on your computer where you save your pictures and pick the fourth one and explain it.

Here's mine:
This picture was taken at the Mill one evening, where my buddies and I went to go see The Diplomats of Solid Sound, Featuring the Diplomatettes:  thediplomats.org  It was fantastic night, complete with good booze and great friends. And of course, The Diplomats rock.

In other business, I leave for vacation Tuesday.  It is also slick outside and I got my hair cut today. I am having panninis for dinner.

Happy New Year! Hope you all had an excellent, drunken December 31st, 2008. I know I did. I started the year off, at approximately 12:05am, by laying in cat pee and getting a HUGE splinter in my foot. Then the boy performed surgery and spilled hot candle wax. Then I had a drunken shower to get the cat pee off.

For your blog reading pleasure, I was going to do a recap of 2008 and tell y'all everything I did, everything I learned, and all that jazz. But, instead I stole this survey from  freeandflawed.com/

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Started my 2nd year of graduate school, saw Dave Matthews live, traveled to Mexico, used the UIHC's ER, broke a toe and dislocated a toe, had surgery on my tongue, became a vegetarian. You know, same ole', same ole'.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't think I even made any.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, lots of people.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Not in 2008.
5. What countries did you visit? Mexico.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? a Master's degree and more money. Actually, any money at all would be grand.
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory and why? July 11, 2008 because I met the boy.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Hmmmm... I didn't fail out of school?
9. What was your biggest failure? Making my practicum placement people hate me, becoming unbelievably broke.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? See #1.
11. What was the best thing you bought? Plane tickets: one to Morelia and one to San Francisco. I am working on becoming well traveled.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Mine, duh.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Mine, duh.
14. Where did most of your money go? Tons of allergy doctor bills, car payments, rent, credit car bills. Just life in general, really.
15. What did you really, really, really get excited about? My Mexico trip.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? "Lollipop" by Lil Wayne. When I first met the boy, he listened to it NON-STOP.
17. Compared to this time last year are you:
Happier? Yes.
Thinner? Yes.
Richer? Definitely not.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Livin' every day like it's my last.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Bitch, complain, whine, be negative in general, spend money.
20. How did you spend Christmas? With my family, mostly sleeping.
21. How will you be spending new years? I spent it with the boy.
22. Did you fall in love in 2008? Pretty damn close, yes.
23. How many one-night stands? Like I would tell you!
24. What was your favorite TV program? One Tree Hill, Weeds, and Californication.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? No.
26. What was the best book you read? "Loving Frank" by Nancy Horan. But in all honesty, I didn't read much.
27. What was your biggest musical discovery? I discovered so much awesome stuff: Greg Laswell, Conor Oberst's new album, Someone Still Loves you Boris Yeltsin, Pete Yorn, etc. etc. etc.
28. What did you want and you got? Happiness.
29. What did you want and not get? Financial security.
30. What was your favorite film of this year? Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old did you turn? I turned 24 and spent the evening with Mykle, Krystal, RLC, and my bro at Jake's. I got rather wasted and had a blast.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Not having any priorities, responsibilities, or obligations.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Wear-what-is-clean.
34. What kept you sane? K-Dub, Michelob Golden Light, journaling, and awesome tunes.  
35. Which celebrity did you fancy the most? Megan Fox.

36. What political issue stirred you the most? We all know that politics cause my eyes to roll to the back of my head. I try to be involved, I just can't. But hey, I at least voted. Right?
37. Who did you miss? Randi Jo Munch.
38. Who was the best new person you met? The boy.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008: Worrying and being high strung is for the birds. Be ready for anything life throws at you, grab it, and tackle that bitch. Make the best of every situation. Fly by the seat of your pants and enjoy your time here.
40. Quote or Song Lyric that sums up your year: “I fuck up all the time. If you don’t, you’re not doing things that are hard.” - Jeff Goodby .”

I am good at creating messes. I am not good at picking them up. I hate picking them up. My Mom says I am a pig; I am starting to agree with her.

Over the last nearly-25-years, I have realized that creating messes is part of being.... ME. My failures typically come in the form of sucking it up. You know, losing. Failing. I am the person I am today because I have screwed up SO MANY TIMES. Struggles and challenges only make you stronger.

A couple Christmases ago, my Bro gave me a thingy that says, "We learn the ropes of life by untying the knots."

Why do there have to be so many flippin' knots?


1. I am broke. Really, really broke. But yet I am going on vacation in 8 days. 

2. I am one moving violation away from losing my license. Sorry, Daddy. I know you are disappointed in me. Just remember that your other 2 children have had, in all, 3 MIPs and 1 open container ticket. And just remember that I love you.

3. My practicum placement people hate me. This could potentially be all my fault, as I suck at meeting deadlines. Good thing I did not follow through with that whole journalism thing.

4. I am certain that I have a sinus infection. An awful, horrible one that sucks life out of me and eats away at my soul. See, this is also my fault because I can no longer afford my sinus medication. This is because I suck at managing my finances.

5. I take on commitments then decide I don't want to be committed to them anymore. Say, for instance, the event that I am planning that takes place in 22 days. I DON'T WANNA ANYMORE! (K-Dub, that is a cry for help. Everyone else on the committee is out of town for the whole break.)

6. I am unmotivated.

7. I am a procrastinator.

8. I am impulsive.

9. I am reckless.

10. I am a huge fuckin' mess.