Monica's mysterious journey thru life!!!

Will you be my Valentine???

2012-02-18T14:59:00.001-05:00

Valentine's Day 2012!!!

It was a day like any other! Valentine's Eve I spent the evening with the ward. We decorated Valentine's cookies. Thanks, Meredith, for making them. They were tasty! Add a little frosting...and some tasty candies..vióla...a pretty cookie! I did get Valentine's tulips and chocolate! Whoop! Then a little late night visit from da punk! He gave me mine and I gave him theirs (his family's). Then in the morning off to work as usual. At work, after exchanging little gifts, we got our Admission packages all wrapped up to go! Good work, ladies! We even left the office earlier than we thought we would. Kudos to Pat Sielski! I did receive a lovely Valentine carnation from Debbie Williams! Love ya, Debbie!

I got a call from my Ambera! That certainly made my day! I got to chat with her for a little! And I had already received a card from my Amy Harlow!! She's so good!!! Thanks, my pretty ladies!

Some time during the day I had texted Sean; the night before i had told him that he need not see me later on that day. I was going to be unselfish and let him see other people. Then I changed my mind. We've spent the last five or six years together on Valentines so I reneged. I'm evil!!! But first I went home and got into my fleece electric blanket because Eric and Doug were occupying the living room. While in my blanket I thoroughly enjoyed watching, Goethe umpteenth time, Dune!! Love iiiiit! Such a good movie. I talked to a few people. Allen Ray had texted me earlier saying he had something for me. Then when I asked what it was, he said nothing. BUT then he called from the porch later and he had a bouquet of flowers, a coupla boxes of chocolate , a stuffed cow and a beautiful card for me! What a beautiful surprise! So he stayed and hugged up on me for a while on the porch which had us being discovered by Adam who was heading to the church on the corner. Ironic! Then Tish was heading to meet Adam so we saw her too! Surprises all round. Then Lamar stopped by and gave me a card later. So nice these gifts. THEN Sean came home and was my last Valentine for the night. Such a good day; chock full of all kindsa love! Thanks, everyone, for making my day special.

The Catch-up

2012-01-28T07:58:00.001-05:00

I need to work on trying to write at least once a week on this blog. I am such a pathetic writer.

All kind of things happened after the holidays! I was housesitting, April was housesitting and we utilized the houses as much as we could.

New Year's Day was a Sunday. After being at Sean's and then taking NyQuil...I didn't wake up until 10:30! Church starts at 10. Then my city peoples wanted to go bowling to bring in the New Year. I told them I wouldn't go bowling with them but I'd drop by and say hello and then be back at the Rogers house where they were coming to watch movies afterwards. So they all came...Tish, Esha, Paris, Kenny, Allen Ray, Adam and then Sean who surprised us; was coming then picked up Phil and wasn't coming but just showed up! It was a nice time. Then the Rogers retuned on the 2nd and I moved down to the house where April was staying.

April had a small dinner party on the 3rd. We had Sabrina and Susie come over. We don't see Susie very often. It was lovely to spend that time with them. It was hard to go back to my crazy cold house.

I was still sick that first week. I was going to work and not feeling well. My family was trying to "med" me up and take care of me, da punk was trying to take care of me, and I still felt a mess. I finally decided, after talking to the nurses at Bryn Mawr, to go to the Minute Clinic at CVS. (thanks April and Christine Rogers) Well good thing I went. It seems I had sinusitis and a double ear infection! Whoop whoop! I have never been diagnosed with either before. So I was given some yummy amoxicillin. A month a a half later, my sinuses haven't completely cleared up, but oh well!

Work has been absolutely busy!!! It's the height of the admission season and we have to get all the paperwork together so all the applicant's folders can be read. I so enjoy the admission office. Pat Sielski is absolutely the best lady! Everyone's working so hard. I just bought sunflowers for the ladies because I thought everyone needed a little sunshine!

Things are going well though. And it has been fun so I guess I'll figure out what else I've done and type it up later.

New Years Eve 2011

2012-01-01T17:14:00.001-05:00

Yeah!!!! We just began a wonderful new year! 2012...what what!!!!I'm excited to start anew...to take stock of any progress I have made and to make sure it continues. I have NO idea what is in store for me this year, but I know that Heavenly Father will bless me as long as I continue to abide by His principles!

So yesterday...to end the year...what did I do! After getting up at 5:30 am, I fed the animals. I'm still petsitting for the Rogers. I dinkered around for a while until I left for Kate and Meredith's house in Hampden; the Big Red House. They were throwing an all day long Harry Potter Marathon party for New Year's Eve. The first movie began at 5:30 am. I was not there. Kate Patterson and John Staziuk were the only ones watching that early. Kate had made waffles and an egg sausage casserole. But I made it by the end of the first one. I watched movies (and cat napped) until I had to go back for Kelty to go out. On the way back I grabbed April. April had to work, but we stayed to she had to go. By the time we left, Allen and Martha Baron had arrived; but also Louise Moss, Sheri Slater. Meredith had gone to work.

After taking April to work, my brother, Doug and I met our family at the Tokyo Seafood and Buffet in Security Mall. They have yummy food. I was so tired by then so Eric drove us back. I headed back the the Rogers to feed the dog and cats before enjoying the rest of my night. I was supposed to go back to the movie marathon but I decided to take a shower and nap instead. It was a very short nap! Then I dressed and ran back into the city. I spent the rest of the evening with da punky jerk. We talked to our neighbor Kenny for a while. He and I talked about some of the places we traveled. Then inside to watch movies or whatever we felt like doing. We saw
the ball drop in NYC. We saw the fireworks and all downtown. We drank some bubbly to toast in the new year. We discussed our resolutions and hopes for the new year. We laughed with his mom and grandma a little. It was just a lovely way to end a year and begin another.

Today I am certainly recovering from the lack of sleep. I cannot believe how drowsy I am feeling. The Ny-Quil I took early this morning may have a little to do with it. How blessed I am though to be leading the life I have. May you all realize the blessings in your own lives. Hopefully we will all learn to be better; to other people, our family and friends, and to ourselves.

Christmas fun!!!

2011-12-25T21:53:00.001-05:00

It's been a lovely holiday thus far! It's the season to think EVEN MORE about our Savior and His birth! Then to share that time with my family...beautiful!

My Tennessee family came up, Sarah and Madre from Tennessee and Uriah with the kids from North Carolina!!! It's been fun to have the children up here! They are definitely entertaining. The last couple of days we've been at Uncle Stanley's...seeing as he has the big house. Aunt Diana, mostly, Momma and Madre cooked up plenty of food.

Let's see...what did I do the last couple of days...we've been trying to go watch "Mission Impossible" but we haven't quite got there. We've been watching a lot of movies...for the kids and adults. We were also planning to go see the Power Plant Holiday Light Display, but didn't get there for that either. I played with Sarah a lot, laughed with Uriah a lot, made people a little upset a lot and hugged littles a lot! I tried to deliver some Christmas cards. I spent some special Christmas Eve night with da punky jerk. That was...lovely! Then went over again for presents today and spent a little time over there for Christmas! We got to see Uncle Rodney and Aunt Linda. Ashley came over with Henry, Taylor and Christopher. We almost came to fisticuffs; me and that one year old! It has been a wonderful time of the year for me!!!!

I love this holiday, but I hope we all keep in mind the birth of our Lord who makes the lives we lead possible. He was born to show us the path we should follow; the principles we should keep! I KNOW that my Redeemer lives! I know He loves me and blesses me daily! I hope to cherish that knowledge every day as I hope you all will too!!!

Annual trip to the Festival of Lights at the DC Temple

2011-12-24T09:55:00.001-05:00

So every year, Sean's family and Adam love to see the temple! I think this was our 4th year! Meh...whatever! It's mostly for Miss Charmaine. But I love that THEY love to go!!! The temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are such holy, beautiful, peaceful places! Just standing in the vicinity of a temple...it envelopes you in such an amazing feeling. The Washington DC temple is one of the most beautiful on my opinion! When all the Christmas lights are lit up...and everyone milling around, it's oh so lovely! So we all trekked down...wowed over all the lights and listened to the concert they had that night. It was a member who sings on Broadway. She has a beautiful voice. Her brother sang with her. She also sang "Where Are You Christmas?" with one of her little girls! So touching. We made sure to take pictures of the temple and the Christus. Calvin looked like he thoroughly enjoyed himself. Then Miss Charmaine treated us to Double T Diner after we got back into town. What an honor it is for me to share the temple with them. They know it is such a sacred place to me. Those of you who live near a temple, go more...this is for me too. For those of you who have never been near one...I hope, no I pray you will have the experience one day!

Longwood Gardens at Christmas time

2011-12-18T15:14:00.001-05:00

Debbie an I went to the garden!!! I has never been up there with anyone but my punky jerk...but it was lovely. We drove up after Bryn mawr got out for the holiday! It was a fairly temperate late autumn evening. There were a good number of people! And it was beeeeeeautiful! Debbie was pleasantly surprised by the size of Longwood. It's over a thousand acres! But they had trees lit up...structures and all kinds of decorations! So lovely! We enjoyed ourselves immensely...had a cup of hot chocolate...and enjoyed the water fountain display to Christmas music. If you can ever make it just for the Christmas display...please do go!!!!

"Them Dang Latinos Reunion"

2011-12-11T18:35:00.001-05:00

We finally got together with some of the Latinos yesterday! Luz set up an event on Facebook. We invited every Mexicano, Dominicano, Colombiano...Moreno...we could think of. We had it at Luz and Richard's down in VA!! It was sooooo soooo much fun!!!!

When April and I got there, Lubianca was already down there. Amilcar and Johnny showed up. Amilcar brought Arianna and Jordan. Luz and Rich had Alexandra and Canaan! We talked and talked and ate and ate!!!! Then did it all over again. April made chili. We had appetizers and brownies and cake. We got to check out there mini-cinema( a room turned into a movie theater...big screen, leather movie seats, great sound and stadium seating!) It was one of the happiest nights I had in a while.

Since we had so much fun, we decided to do it again next month! Thanks, Luz and Rich, for allowing us to invade our house! Thanks to everyone else for coming. I hope the number is bigger in January!

Late night walk!

2011-12-09T00:29:00.001-05:00

So da punk and I spent time strolling in the wintery cold, but clear night. We had a lovely lovely conversation and then he shared with me one of the pretty places he likes to go to on Johns Hopkins Homewood campus. We walked all the way up there...and thoroughly enjoyed the Winter Wonderland that is there campus with the Christmas lights up! It's magical with the lights, the beautiful buildings and the sky full of stars. Wow!!!

Philadelphia weekend!

2011-12-06T18:34:00.001-05:00

So I ran away to Philadelphia this past weekend. I have been anticipating this trip for a while. I missed my Edison Constante so I decided to go see him. I had not seen Eddy since we went to Medieval Times last year. (a good time!) and I needed a weekend with a good man who is doing something great with himself; someone who truly loves his friends. So I ran off after work on Friday!

I decided to hit up Dots clothing store on the way AND Payless...just in case there was something I could wear up there cute. Hahaha! My sister had given me a gift card for Dots way back in July. Figured I could use it. I did find a couple of things at both place. (Oooh, I bought the sassiest heels. I'm so excited to wear them. Allen Ray said he'll take me out so I can dress up in them.)

Then off to Philly. I did speed (about 80 miles an hour) so I made it up to I-76 West in about an hour or so , but got stuck in traffic on the ramp because someone's car burned up! Then I passed Eddy's street but found a Subway and I guess met a few guys there. One wondered if I was going home to my boo! So funny. I said yes! Then I made it to Eddy's in Manayunk area. Pretty area. He had worked a long day so we didn't do anything but watch some Netflix and chat. It was so lovely. Than off to bed! Saturday morning we lay and talked for awhile. How nice it was to have stimulating conversation with a smart man...who ACTS like a man! Siiiiiiigh! Loved it. Then he took me to the (Ben) Franklin Institute Science Center. They had a CSI exhibit. We got to solve a case. It was fun to write down our clues and make deductions and test our hypotheses! We played around in the rest of the center too. I climbed thru a HUGE heart. We checked to see how many cups of blood we each had. And just talked. He showed me the Philadelphia LDS temple that is being constructed. So beautiful! So exciting. We went to a burrito place in his 'hood and made plans for my friend, Lupe, to come over and watch movies at his place. Then back to the house for a nap since I kept him up so late.

It was fun to have Lupe come over. We took a while to pick a movie. I had brought "Bridesmaids", but it seems the DVD was not in the case! Frickin' frack! So we watched "21" instead. Good movie. We also had Papa Johns! Yum! Then we took Lupe home as she had ridden the train over. Then to bed all early....poor tired Eddy!

Sunday arrived with a lovely sunny morning. Church didn't start til 2pm so we laid around watching episodes of his favorite shows...like "How I Met Your Mother" which I like. It was also nice because I could shower everyday in HOT water. I miss hot water in my house. Sad. Church was nice. He had a nice sized ward. It was Fast & Testimony Sunday. Sorry, Heavenly Father...I did not fast. I ate cold pizza for breakfast. Anyhow it was so warm, I was having a hard time staying awake. I've been tired a lot lately. I think some form of sadness/depression ...just haven't been totally happy with my life at the moment. But am happier in some ways then I was...aaah, the blessing and joy of repentance...it's so wonderful! Thanks, my Lord and Saviour, for that SACRIFICE! Anyhow...I digress...so I stayed only until they introduced visitor's after Sacrament. Then Eddy saw me off. It was kinda sad to leave, but I think Eddy was ready to have his place back to himself. But while I was up there I felt like gold. So thank you, Eddy, for an amazing weekend of fun and comfort and conversation.

So now back to my real life of Bryn Mawr, city life, supposed best friends who lie, church good times, figuring out what I'm gonna do with myself, hateful females who act crazy on my block, and a cold house.

Such a grand life!!

People are silly!

2011-11-30T15:19:00.001-05:00

My friend has this girl that has been in and out of his life for too long! He's so silly about it! It should have been done so long ago, but this association has some "benefits" (in quotes because benefits normally implies a positive thing...which in this case is debatable). This girl seems not to be the kind of friend one would like to have. She has been hateful...spiteful... and just does not act like a good person. I ask about feelings...and I get the "I don't love her...I don't even want her! She pops up!" He does not want to hurt her feelings and is okay with using her in a way. I am such the protector...I do not like to see ANYONE used. My fear is he'll keep using what he calls "her obsession" with him in an unhealthy way.

What is wrong with caring enough about her as a person (fellow human) to allow her and himself to be free to develop more positive associations in their lives?? Then I hear about it in complaints and stuff. Grow up, people..you hold yourselves back with the decisions you make. You will NOT move forward if you do not choose better for yourself and the people around you!! She may not be a nice person but that doesn't give you the right to somewhat abuse the feelings she claims to have. So silly and so wrong...for both...especially when he has another in his sights. Go make that fruitful.

People are SO DANG silly!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2011-11-24T13:30:00.001-05:00

I hope today is the day everyone takes the time to be extra grateful for the blessings in their lives!!!

I love this day to spend with my family! I miss the opportunity to spend it with all of my extended family also. But I love and miss all of you!! And sorry, April, that you have to work!! Love you too!

We are having lasagna this year! Ain't Diana makes the best!! And while she and Enoch loves the football, I'm enjoying the Last Unicorn!!

Later I will go see a few other families to say hi and share the love! Its a great blessed day! I am grateful for this mortal life in which I can enjoy many experiences, gain knowledge (spiritual and secular) and grow! I hope you all are also grateful! Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Thanksgiving break begins...!!!!!

2011-11-23T08:25:00.001-05:00

Today begins my break!!! Yeah!

I tried to make sure all of the applications at work were processed because the deadlines are approaching quickly after the break. Pat took off today...so we had to endure the horribly rainy day without her. How lonely! But everyone was ready for vacation to start! We enjoyed breakfast for lunch. Yum. Christopher ate with the cafeteria crew and me. It was not as good as our sushi the night before with Patty and Enoch. Then the thanksgiving convocation which had beautiful music and dance numbers. Finally, onto Supervision. We watched Disney's Tarzan! The girls loved it and a few tried walking like apes across the floor! (as I said...everyone was ready for vacation to start.) Tho we did have some very late people as a result of the weather.

Later I picked up Hannah and went to Kate's so they could visit teach me. That was lovely. We discussed the spirit of Elijah. Afterwards I stopped at Brian and Andrea's. My baby baby was not there but I went to talk to Brian. It seems Brian's co-worker had a friend who purchased an iPod at a pawn shop. The co-worker happened to take a look at the iPod and recognized Brian in a couple of pictures. He asked Brian of he had lost one...Brian had not. But as the co-worker described people...and the main person in the photos...Brian realized it may have been mine. So they let him see it and BEHOLD...it WAS mine that I lost a year and a half ago. Funny! So they let Brian bring it home to see if there was anything on it that I wanted (a little reluctantly since the friend did not know Brian or myself). So funny!! I wasn't sure if I lost it down on Fremont in Southwest Bmore...or lost it in my house somewhere. Anyhow..all the important stuff had been erased...all bit the photos. I think thats odd but whatever. So Brian and I just reset and erased it. Now the co-worker's friend has a nice empty iPod...tho for such an old version at $80...the pawn store robbed them.

Then to home I went. What a long day...it was late and still so rainy. But the rest of the night I "decompressed" at da punky jerk's...finally truly beginning my break! Yeah! Thanksgiving! I'm excited to spend this time with the people I love. I need to remember to continue to be grateful for the life I live and blessings I receive.

Rock & Bowl!!!

2011-11-20T16:34:00.001-05:00

So the boys wanted to go bowling again...to prove their manhood by beating the ladies! Well!!!!

So we went! But we've realized that we've become very impatient waiting for people to take their turns. So we take the turn for them. Sometimes it seems like non-stop bowling when you have everyone's names on both lanes. But how much fun is that??!!!

Imagine the scene: The lights are down...the music is booming...you hear the cheers and high-fiving but also the groans interspersed with various euphemisms! You see the pin rack and sweeper go up and down! Fellow bowlers at neighboring lanes are either sober or in an alcohol induced relaxed state. You smell the food from the fryers...yum...French fries and chicken nuggets! There seems to be a fevered pitch as the night draws to a close and all are trying to finish their games. Then aaaah...the last frame for the right lane....aaaand Monica wins! Woooo! That's right! 155 points!!! But as she starts her celebratory strut around the screen controls, she realizes that she might not win the game on the left lane. Sure enough, Allen Ray pimp walks back as he wins that side by 6 points with 123!!! Ah well! Still doesn't touch my 155, does it???!!! I AM the Man!

Thanks, Tish, Esha, Paris, Idrissa, Sean, and Ray for a good time. We missed ya, Kenny and Adam!

Friday evening...

2011-11-18T19:19:00.001-05:00

Going to dinner...with the family and best friend! Way to go in a Friday! Sorry I'm missing out on the Latin Palace!

Visiting lovely Boston

2011-11-14T18:32:00.001-05:00

So I am here in the airport hanging out for a while til my flight starts boarding. I still have an hour til then. I just spent the weekend with friends. It was wonderful.

I flew in on Friday night. Ben and Sharla so nicely came to pick me up. We hung out and ate pizza until bed time.

Saturday Ben left us to attend a conference. Sharla and I then went to the Boston LDS temple. (found out Amber was going at the same time...just in Bismarck, ND! Yeah!) It was a beautiful day to attend the temple and help those gone before us to receive their ordinances. It had been over a year since I had been in a temple!!! I know...I know...too TOO long. It was exciting and a little scary, but oh so wonderful. I love being in the House of the Lord! It is so peaceful and comforting. I had some thinking and praying to do; in gratitude and for answers. After the temple we did a little running around and then headed home. We decided to go to Hull beach for a while, then to eat at a nice seafood place on the water...then we went to see the new "Footloose". It was good. They stuck the the original script A LOT! Then home.

Sunday we enjoyed church. I met a lot of the members in Sharla's ward. We just relaxed back at the house. One of the couple's from her ward stopped by later with their kids and talked for a bit. They will be in Baltimore in January. So I'll get to show them my city. Then Sharla and I watched "Smoke Signals". We looooove that movie. Watch it, people...watch it. It's so good. Anne and Joe came over to visit me for a little. It was SO good to see them! I miss my A.J. Thanks for coming over, Anne and Joe! They're so dang cute!

We really just kind of hung out this morning. Then we ran off to the city to rum errands and play. We had Indian buffet for lunch. Yum!! We went to Harvard Square. We hit up Back Bay where Sharla used to live. We went to Newbury Street to hang for a while. We went to the Converse store, but also Uggs (love it) and H&M! Just wandering around. Then off to the airport! Boo!!!!

Ah well...back to reality tomorrow. I so enjoyed myself this weekend. Thank you, Sharla, for a great time. I needed the time a way...to settle myself...to take care of myself. Thanks!

Beginning of consistency again!!!

2011-11-09T21:59:00.001-05:00

I just started in Admissions again...FINALLY!!! I've been just biding my time...and pennies waiting for the day. THEN this past weekend I was surprised by a cold (or whatever!) that hit me. (I'm rarely sick!!) It was stake conference this past weekend too. Although I needed the extra special spiritual uplift, I stayed home and rested. I wanted to make sure I could start in Admissions Monday AND since there are like 500 people at stake conference, including babies and kids, I didn't want to get anyone else sick. As for my people at work...SORRY!

I even skipped out on going dancing with Adam and them. I did see them...and we did watch part of the game at Ray's. So they may get sick too. Oh and Sean cause I shared germs with him too!!! Sorry, people! But I love you all!!!

Anyhow, it's been nice to be back in the office. I enjoy working Admissions a lot. Pat Sielski rocks!! She is so wonderful and takes care of me there. I enjoy seeing the people come in wanting to learn more about the school. I enjoy learning about each of the children applying. I like being a part of the process. I also like consistent pay. Maaaan, this past month was a rough one even with the subbing that I was doing. I hate that feeling when you feel you can't buy the food you need to eat...or whether you want to spend money on gas. I was hoping to have started Admissions back in October, but alas the decision was that I wouldn't be needed til now. If only they all would think of what Monica needs. Oh the things I do for Bryn Mawr...it'd be nice to get a little more back! Ah well! I do enjoy my jobS there.

I have a great life...I shouldn't not wish for too much more.

Date with Godbaby

2011-11-05T12:18:00.001-04:00

What a lovely night. Lauren and James got to have a mommy and daddy date. So the cutie had a free evening!!!! We had a great time!!

She is so precious!!! Makes it easy for the godparents to love her!!! She was talking up a storm!!! Loved it!

Pretty Godbaby!

2011-11-01T22:56:00.001-04:00

I also went to see my godbaby! She's so pretty! Well her mama, Lauren, is pretty too so I guess she gets it honestly!!! She is such a little smiling sweetheart!!! Has cute chubby cheeks...both sets...and a lovely
little 'fro! So much fun visiting while we can. She is oh so pretty!!! How fun babies are!!! I love her!

What a nice night!

2011-11-01T21:54:00.001-04:00

My best friend asked me to go to dinner with him!!! Red Robin...Yum!!!! It was a good time...great conversation...plans for the future! He's fun!!! So now to continue enjoying for the rest of the night!

Halloween weekend!!!!

2011-10-29T16:06:00.001-04:00

Boooooo!!! Happy Halloween!!!!!

It's the scariest weekend of the year!!!! We had The Harvest Fair at the Little School! The kids had a good time!!! What fun!!! Couldn't dress up tho! Sad!

Then to home...watched late nite scary movies with da punky jerk! We watched Dark Ride and Dracula 2000!! Looooove the vampires!!!

We'll be hanging the uncle's watching more tonight!!! Yeah, Uncle Stanley!!! Thanks! And hopefully be with a couple of my birthday friends! Happy birthday, Adam and Phil!!!!

I don't think I am interested in dressing up and going out this year. Blah blah....I did it for the service project...that was enough!!!

But overall....I got in a little scary for Halloween!!! Tho...this is Baltimore...we always have a little scary!

2011-10-24T22:13:00.001-04:00

Heeeeeeey! I'm gonna impress you, Your Honor!!!! I'm professionally dressed! Have the boots on! I got my mind...and paperwork to back me up! My sense of humor may just tickle your fancy a little! Mr. Judge...our court time is gonna be a good time!

As an aside: hmmm...could have ironed my clothes! Ah well!

2011-10-23T16:47:00.003-04:00

Walking in the woods!

Little stone wall on the path.

We were playing with sticks. I was getting beat!

Autumn at the dam at Robert E. Lee Park

One of our places we like to go. Robert E. Lee Park...re-opened.

2011-10-23T16:41:00.005-04:00

I used to nanny my girl here. We are crazy together!

Just cannot smile for me! LOL!

Her rainbow of hairbands...worn on her wrist.

So lovingly displayed on a table at Papermoon Diner.

Date night with Rebekah! Papermoon Diner!

2011-10-23T15:41:00.002-04:00

It's been a pretty nice weekend! The weather is absolutely wonderful again today! Love the fall weather....just a little cool...suuuuuuuuuuuuuunny daaaaaaaays! Oh Yeah...bringing back the Sesame Street.

What did I do...let's see...Friday........oh, the Y to workout. That was lovely. Then after da punk worked out, he came over. Sweaty good times...keep up the workouts.

Saturday, I stayed in bed til almost 10. (not asleep) Gotta stop those late late nights even when it's good times. But after helping a friend by jumping his car, I got ready to meet Fabilita!!! Faby is getting married next year and we are had to get her measurements for her pretty dress. Then she, Adriana, Gabi, Emily and I went shopping for our bridesmaids apparel. We had a good time!!!! Then we returned to the house to play with the rest of the kids and Ken. We had tasty pizzas and Pina Coladas!!! Yum! Then I had to go bug the boys for a bit. First Allen Ray....who loves when I stalk past his house. (Hahahah...he hates it!) He and his sister harassed me, per norm, about me and da punk. It just doesn't stop....when ya'll getting married...why do ya'll still deny...blah blah blah! ANY..how...secondly I hit up Kenny just to make sure our night plans we on track. (seemed to be) Then home to rest before we went bowling!!!! Yeah. Bowling is always a good time. Ray is always jonesing to beat me. He got so so close. I had 122 as my final and he had 118 with one more frame to go. All he needed was FIVE pins to win. FIVE!!!! He choked! I won! Whoop! And I proceeded to laugh hysterically about it. May have gotten beat up a little. But my highest score was 178!!! Such a good game!

Today is the Sabbath. Church was oh-so-lovely! Emily K. taught the R.S. lesson. It was on the scriptures. I've been reading them daily like I should. It helps me out so much...the scriptures are "packets of lights"...which fill the dark pockets that occur as a result of living in the world. Thank goodness for those little pieces of divinity. Keeps me on track. In Gospel Essentials, we talked about baptism and its importance. Baptism by the proper authority being the old way into the gate. We had a lot of investigators in class today. Good lesson. Then in Sacrament, a new member was confirmed and received the Holy Ghost. Then we learned about service. We have a huge service project coming up in Havre de Grace at the end of the month. Come on out and serve with us! What an edifying day.

It all helps to facilitate our way through this life. It makes me happy that I receive guidance and inspiration in this chaotic life I lead. This world is so full of confusion and chaos that only with God will you make it. One of my friends always seems so lost when it comes to doing this in their life. Even after I try to help...just, at times, chooses ways that bring my friend down. It's sad to watch when you know someone you love deserves better than they are giving themselves. It's sad. You want to beat back all of the demons for them, but you cannot. They have free agency to choose for themselves, so you step back and just watch them fall again and again. They may even let you down....other people down and risk something that could really help. But you love them. In one of the service talks...charity....you continue to love those who let you down. So do that...even from a distance. And that love will come to you also....tenfold....from God. With my friend, I tell them I have faith in them and I know they deserve the best in life. So hopefully this demon they are struggling with now (mind you...one the friend says is not important or needed or wanted or loved....then why let it be a demon you ask...uh huh) will not destroy too much....hopefully my friend will not allow it. But my friend knows that my love will always be there as the net after falling.

Aaaaaaah, what a brilliant Sunday. Life is good, my friends. Love is good, my friends. The Light is good, my friends!!! God is great, my friends!

2011-10-11T17:17:00.004-04:00

Oh friends....I really need internet at home to keep up with my blog!! Sorry!!!

Life is fine and dandy at the moment. My family is good....we still love each other! My friends are good....we still get along. My work is good...tho more money would be nice. My church is good...there's a lot of new people to get to know. Me? I'm good...I am still breathing! Soooooooooooo, there is a lot for which to be thankful. (why does that sentence seem grammatically awkward?)

I am just loading up a few pictures. Sean and I ventured up to the Gardens again. (Paul Holmes likes to call it the Secret Gardens...but there's no secret. You can google it! hahah!) It was a lovely day. We had a lovely time. It's such a nice place to get a way from the world and just enjoy plants, blossoms and water. The meadow is still one of my favorite spots. So nothing too exciting this time. Sorry...maybe later.

I love you all though!!

2011-09-09T19:47:00.003-04:00

Aaaaaaaaaaaah, it stopped raining! Finally!!!!! This week has been one LOOOOONG BATH! I think I've been pruney (haha..no, not prudey!) all week! Good thing for porticos covering most of Bryn Mawr.

It's been a busy week......my family came to visit this past weekend for Capa Field. If you missed the picnic...sucks to be you! Thanks, Alabama family, for coming to see us! We so love you. You are so much fun. Man, we all need to live closer...both sides of my family combined. Capa Field was great and had wonderful weather. Church and 'hood friends came along with the family. Good times. My punky jerk and the boys came too. (Yes...Enoch...we did go swinging and walking down by the water! Geez!) Enoch fell asleep on a bench for a while. I got photos!

My cousins....and their littles....ran all over. Siiiiiiiiiiiigh, have I told ya'll how much I LOVE my family! Then this was the first week the kids were back at Bryn Mawr. So much fun to have them around again. Yeah!!!!

This weekend I get to do some wedding gown shopping....and see an old friend. (Yeah, Karen Reynolds!) I also get to go to Longwood Gardens with da punk again! Love the gardens. LOVE THEM! I need to go see my godbaby. I need to kiss her cheeks. AAAAAAAAAAAAAND, I'm gonna see my other friend and her little (who is my boyfriend). It's good I get to see all these people because during the week...it's been harder to go out and visit people. I usually only see Sean....and Kenny. Every once in a while I'll see Shade and Adam. Gotta get out more! Sooooooooo lazy!

Well life still seems to being going....now whether great or just ok.....jury is still out! But this weekend....that'll be GREAT!

2011-08-15T11:31:00.001-04:00

It's been such a busy summer I haven't blogged as well as I should. OF COURSE, everything IS on Facebook!!! But now I can blog from my phone! Back on track!!

2011-05-31T19:58:00.002-04:00

Happy Memorial Day!!!! It was a day to remember and thank those who have fought and are fighting for our freedom. It is a day to remember those who are important to us....but may no longer be within our grasp. It is a day to gather with loved ones and spend some quality time....eating good food from the grill.

I didn't do ANY of that...ok ok...I did the first two and half of the third one. No food on the grill this year. So so sad! I did spend a little time at grandma's with the family...until they left...well the parents. Then I went home and tried to finish this "Summer Island" book I was reading....and crying through. THEN I called up Kenneth and asked him if he wanted to go out for ice cream. Because....it was WAAAAAARM! Then we tried to call up Sean too (cause Kenneth said I should be nice!), but alas...he was unreachable. So off we went to Friendlys to hang in the a/c. We both had ice cream with Reese's PB cups! Yum! Can't go wrong with that choice.....unless your allergic to peanuts......or chocolate......or cannot handle lactose.....BUT besides that....can't go wrong! Then we headed back home to see if the boys wanted to hit up the park. Allen Ray was a pain to talk to...but he had plans. Adam was outta town living it up! Our Phil..."butta love" was busy too! But da Sean came with us. We went out to beautiful Loch Raven Reservoir while the orange ball in the sky was setting. It left wings of pink and orange as it set. There were a lot of people out there. We played some ball....sweating in the humidity, but it was good to be doing something outside. Then we returned home to chat and hang in the coolest place in our 'hood....the porches!

I had hoped to get to the beach this weekend. Ya'll know how I love the water! (I know, Sharlady....I'm black....we don't like to mess our hair up very often! haha!) But alas, all my friends who would have traveled to the beach with me have moved on....and left April and me behind. (Tho April doesn't go to the beach. She's black!) Maybe another weekend....any of ya'll game? LOL!!!!!

Is that all I did this past weekend??? Oh....we celebrated da punk's momma's birthday. We saw Thor!!!! (mine and da punk's second time!) That man has a body on HIM!!!! Woo!!! Gigidy...gigidy!!!! Ay! Anyhow....a movie and dinner. It was a great time. We all have sooo much fun together....always.

We also went to see Brittany and Mike Nair after church on Sunday! We miss them. I forget how much fun we have with them. The boys are getting so dang big! But they are absolutely gorgeous...even when their faces are covered in blueberries or brownies! Hahahah. They fed us dinner and just filled us in on what is going on with them. Then we filled them in on what is going on with all of ya'll that they also know. We may have filled them in on ourselves too. Brittany was wondering if we had any special men in our lives. Ha!!!! What a question? Do we have any men in our lives that AREN'T....."special"???? Think about it! Anyhow...we love you, Nairs. We'll come and visit again.

So although I DID not hit up any of the beaches.....it was a eventful weekend. I got to be with people I love and thoroughly enjoy....and got a little me-reading-time in too! Isn't that what it's all about......along with some spiritual edification too. Hee hee!

2011-05-02T22:39:00.008-04:00

Spring has finally sprung....well mostly! Life is better...well mostly! Summer is cooooooooooming!

So let's see...today is my sister's BIRTHDAY! Happy Birthday, SISTER!!! (maaaaan, she's old! ssssh!) We did a little eating and movie watching together at grandma's. It was nice. Enoch went to get the food. (Thanks, Enoch!) It's fun to watch ourselves age....but look so good doing it! Hahaha...black don't crack! (Thanks, Casey, for reminding me of that one!) We will truly celebrate her birthday on Friday at the Helmand (a fabulous Afghani restaurant in Mt. Vernon) and we'll go see the movie Thor! (He's gonna be my NEW boyfriend!) It'll be a good start to the weekend.

So the crazy is gone from my life....tho I'm sure it will try to sneak its way back in somehow. I mean how crazy can somone get??? Honestly...I think we had our own version of the movie Obsessed...the Gorsuch Avenue sequel. Some people act so desperate...when they are the ones who dug the hole they're stuck in! Then the crazy tries to put the "crazy" on me! Of course somehow I end up being evil (because YOU KNOW I am...)! I just have to shake my head! It's sad really! "Hey Crazy....you were wasting your energy on me. You've never had to worry about ME! You were so deceived."

As life settles again....my good friends and I settle too. Da boys and I are always doing something. Sean and I are...well....it's always special. My best ladies and I are always fantastic. I just went to San Antonio to see myAmber and my Aunt Lee. It was a great trip. I hung out with Aunt Lee from Easter Sunday (no Easter peanuts on the plane!) til Monday night. Then she dropped me off at Hotel Contessa on the River Walk to stay with Amber. It was lovely place. She was there to interview. It had been a year since I saw her....it was time!!!!! We both needed some best friend time. Between Aunt Lee and Amber...some good emotional healing ocurred. (Thanks, ladies! I so love you!) My baby baby, Nadia, is in the hospital again. Andrea and Brian are fantastic parents who have been caring for our little Nadia so well. I know it's so hard for them with all the bouncing back and forth to the hospital for whatever our little angel needs. This little girl may not have the most perfect physical body, but oh, her soul!!!! She embodies all that is good and Christlike. She is so sweet and innocent; such the perfect little angel. My baby, Andrea, and Brian are the PERFECT parents for her. How blessed they are to have such a perfect soul as a part of their family. But they can always use extra prayers. Nadia has to have some surgery....and I know her parents are emotionally, mentally and physically exhausted. Please add your prayers to mine....for them! I'll see my baby baby tomorrow and hopefully get to hold her.

I got a new car.....AGAIN! This time it's a 2003 Honda Accord EX sedan with a manual transmisison. It's maroon...with a sunroof! I have some things to fix on it....but I HOPE this one last me yeeeeeeeeears! *fingers crossed* So come around a get a ride. It actually has a custom cold air intake on it. Makes this weird humming sound that annoys me sometimes, but the boys think the sound is cool. *roll eyes* I'll post pictures soon.

Well that's all I guess I wanna impart at the moment. If something else comes up...you KNOW I'll come back and post it here.

2011-04-02T20:40:00.004-04:00

I know I've blogged a lot today....and I apologize for it. (I'm apologizing, but I'm not feeling too bad about it!) BUUUUUUUUUUUT, I was reading some of my first blogs. Man....I was so much more honest about what was going on with me then. Geeeeeeeeeeeez! I mean..Wow! I really just laid it out there for you. So I've decided I need to get back to that. See I've gotten in the habit of not sharing everything because I've been protecting people. Well...about that....forget it. Too much energy!!!! I've been protecting people who do not seem to be totally open with the people in their lives. So therefore....to keep peace, I do not write about everything I normally would. (If you are thinking, "Is it my friend who is not being totally open with me?"...it just might be you!) Like I have a friend..who has someone in their life who is quite mean and spiteful. This friend has not always told the spiteful person they know all my friend should (in my humble opinion...alright if I state that, it's not so humble anymore...but I digress...). As the result of keeping information from their spiteful friend, I end up being hushed about my life too! Does it make me a better friend that I hush about my life so the mean one doesn't get upset. Hmmmm???? Then the mean one has done childish things that ricocheted onto me (I lie...directly towards me) ...when all I tried to do was remain pleasant (until the mean one got on my nerves to much....). I just wanna say, "Grow up, Sh...ooops I meant 'mean and spiteful one'! " Almost wanted to call that person to repentance. Hee hee! I'm kidding....but not really! Oh the cunning of the evil one....I truly believe Satan's minions integrate our lives through people we know. Oh the temptation to have nipped this all in the bud by telling all.....SOOOOOO great the temptation. But I continue to refrain and remember that I will choose to always be the better person. (just because I really am in this situation! Oh shoot...that was not very charitable. MONICA!) My life is still great....so I wasn't keeping anything tragic from you. There have been so emotional adjustments...some tweaking because some friends have problems standing up for what is right. But as I have so many great friends who truly honor our friendship, life continues to be grand. What more could I really ask for that I do not already have in this life.....I feel joy from what I already enjoy in this life. The Lord continues to bless me with many things. I STILL am not living up to His example as well as I can, but I am working on it. I am going for that "endure to the end". I have to get back to the temple. I have a friend...I use the term loosely because we aren't where we used to be....who has done right by me in the past and encouraged me to choose the right so I can always go to the temple. This friends reminds me of how happy I seemed and sounded after a going one day. I think I had gone to a sealing. I do forget. If I do not attend the temple consistently, I forget about the feeling of peace and love that encompasses me when I serve there. I forget how full of light and truth my heart is when I've walked the halls of the house of the Lord. I need to re-dedicate myself to the Lord's work and plan of happiness. I know all of you too can feel that same joy from partaking of the living waters of Christ....accepting the fulness of His gospel. I pray we all will remember the peace He brings us....and strive to share that with all those we know. (A good start would be to share the conference talks from this weekend with those around you. This is advice mostly for myself...but good for all. ) I hope my posts return to the blunt style I used when I first started this blog. I have to remember this is about MY journey through life. If my path has crossed yours.....I'm sorry....you'll be on this blog. If you don't like it.................hmm..........

2011-04-02T16:11:00.003-04:00

I've been having a lot of bowling parties lately! It all began with Ashlee Blohm setting a great bowling goal for herself. Now I feel I should jump on the wagon...though my goal will not be set as high as hers..... hopefully all these bowling parties will help. Let's see...last night I went out with my boys. (PHIL...we missed you!) I do have to say...as I like to brag when it comes to bowling...that I did win the last two games! Yeah me! But as it is with the boys....a lot of rowdiness...a lot of laughing...and hurting the Monica. I am never yanked, pulled, pinched, poked....hugged, kissed, rubbed.....as much as I am when I am with the boys. GOODNESS! But we had fun. But if our Phil had been there....the night would have been COMPLETE! Look at them...crazy! Look at us! Allen Ray..always cheesing.

Hey Adam!!! Oh man! Courtesy of Allen Ray

Always eating at the alley. Ssh...he can't see me! Um.....well......

My honeys!

2011-04-02T15:24:00.011-04:00

Where is our warmer weather????? I'm tired of this crap!!! (Yes, I said it!) The stinkin' groundhog lied to us! He lied....do those people in PA believe in corporal punishment for liars?? I surely hope so. And can I tell ya...I've definitely been doing some wishful thinking about the weather...warmer clothes...walks around the neighborhood with friends....even a porch party with Sean and Kenny the other night! We had to bundled up like it was still Deember. Ok...honestly, I don't ever bundle up like it's December..but you know what I'm saying.

Aaaaaaaaanywho...I think I'm gonna try and load up all the Boston pictures I can. It really was a good time, my friends....a good time. Love ya, Sharlady and Benjamin!

2011-03-17T16:00:00.004-04:00

Oh, a trip to Boston....home

to great tea, war stories,

and good friends!!!!!!

It's Spring Break from work this week! So I felt the need for speed! Sean had already put in for a coupla days off to spend with me off on some adventure and I opted to head to Beantown! (or is it Beantowne....or Bean Town....or.....ok, Boston!) My Sharlady is there, of course, and it would be a short and cheap road trip! So Sean said, "Let's do it!" In my mind, we were already there!!!

So it normally takes 7-8 hours to drive up there. But as you all know...when I'm on a road trip and we're leaving in the middle of the night...when the road is open and the wind is calling my name...I'm flying with the night wind. So we did; made it in 6.5 hours!!!! I KNOW!!! Hee hee! As I was driving a hybrid rental, it really only took one...uh-huh...ONE tank (11 gallons) to reach Boston. I'm digging this hybrid. (Oh, Murphy met with an ill-timed death it seems! Story to come later....moment of silence for Murphy!) We arrived in Weymouth at my Sharlady's early in the morning. Sharla and Ben already had company in the guest suite on the main floor, so we, after sneaking in the house with as much stealth as a troop of 3 yr olds, were regulated to the upstairs suite to sleep off part of the trip.

We entertained ourselves while Sharla and Ben worked and schooled. So we saw the U.S.S Constitution and checked out the museum (it snowed that afternoon...brrrr! Cold enough up there....good thing for us that I brought my well-loved electric fleece blanket on the trip! Love it!) We did hit up a mall...had to get some dessert for Monday night! Ducle de leche cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory. Yum! Then we played with the peoples when they got home. Well Sean retired while I played. We watched "Money Pit" with Tom Hanks. That movie is such a classic Tom Hanks!!!! Ben, Sharla and I laughed so dang hard!! Anyhow, at some point I sent them to bed. Sean and I watched movies til late....I'm wondering why I hadn't crashed yet....as I didn't sleep much Saturday night or Sunday (as I was driving!). Anyhow, the next day was sunny and beautiful. So we decided to hit up Plymouth Rock; pretty town. We slid by the Public Gardens; took some pictures at the old Cheers bar from the tv show. Went to Quincy Market; I love markets....and little kiosks through which one can wander. Then we stopped by Hull Bay to check out the beach; so beautiful and yes, I put my feet in the water. I was called crazy...a couple of times! But it was oh so lovely!!! What a great way to end our time there.

We had to leave that night to head back so da punk could get enough sleep for work! *sigh* Good times with the Sharlady and Ben.....good times!

Ben and Sharla, thanks for housing us and entertaining us when you could. You both are such wonderful hosts. Ben's friend, Zach....thanks for not rolling your eyes too much when you woke up to Ben and me listening to Malcolm X's talk...and the black jokes I made afterwards. LOL...one of these days I'lll learn! Anne, I'm sorry that surgery is so important at times...hahah...and that we missed you this trip. Love to you and Joe. And Sean, thanks for being my partner in travel....and...you know the rest! Hopefully I'll get all the pictures I want to post in here....eventually.

GO TO BOSTON, PEOPLE!

2011-02-16T20:40:00.002-05:00

Oh, it's the week of looooooooooooooove....love, affection, candy and flower giving!! I do love the week of Valentine's!!! (maybe not the five lbs I gain from all the lovely treats people hand out!)
This was a very special Bryn Mawr Valentine's Day! All last week I was anticipating the time I would spend with my five beautiful co-workers! Sunday evening...the anticipation had reached a fevered peak. Oh how much fun it was going to be ALL day in the office with those lovely women.

By the time I was ready for bed, all the butterflies were flitting around in my abdomen. Was this Valentine's gonna have a WONDERFUL end.....or would it "bomb"??? Well a few minutes after midnight on Sundaynight, I gotta a Valentine call from the best friend! That was cool. So I went and spent some movie watching time with him to calm my insides. Then to sleep. Then up and off to work again in the morning with my treats for my friends!

At the office, our counter was littered with Valentine goodies. So I KNEW it was going to be a good day. As the day commenced, the energy in the office began to rise. We knew that we'd be running the gauntlet together....and we were READY! As the day went on, we treated ourselves to the yumminess that is Valentine candy. By the end of the day, I knew this Valentine's Day would be alright!

It was long day, but a productive, busy...and appreciative one. We enjoyed being together and knew we could count on one another. Wow!!! What a group of Valentines. You all should be JEALOUS!

Anyhow, I eventually made it home...wrung out from the time I spent with the ladies! Buuuuut, what a day!!!!! Before heading home, I went to Minato's...messed with my brother and Enoch and then treated myself to some sushi! Tropical Maki! So dang good. Then back to the house to decompress from such a day! Then as I was about to end the day for good...Surprise...Surprise! The best friend came over again to end the day with me! SUCH a nice Valentine's Day! It is so nice to know you can have multiple Valentines like back in the elementary school days...passing cards out to everyone and saving the biggest cards for the special people.

But the love, presents, cards, and visit don't stop on Valentine's Day. It continues throughout the week! I love that...I really do! Yeah for Valentine's Day!

2011-01-17T20:47:00.002-05:00

Sooo King Midas is gone!!!! One of these days I'll have a photo uploaded on here of him. Sean texted me to let me know that the tow truck took him away! *siiiiiiiiiiiiiigh* I'm carless again! Well I do have the Impala still for another week.....what what! It's a fun car to drive around in. Last night, Sean suggested we take a joyride around town. So we did! When gas was much cheaper some of us used to drive around late a night on all the back roads in the county. We'd hit up Loch Raven Reservoir, take a drive up Harford Road....and just enjoy the hills and darkness. So that's what we did. We spent the wee hours of the early morning cruising around until we were too tired to cruise anymore. It was nice. (Good suggestion, agape mou!)

Anyhow, back on topic, I only had Midas for a year! But "it was a very good year"!!! Hahah! Woo! I loved that he was 5 speed....and could zoom if I wanted him too! ( Girls...sometimes boys think you are the coolest thing in the world when they learn you can drive stick!) I loved having my bluetooth radio in Midas....so I could continue to have good conversations while driving. I have good good memories that will keep me warm thru these carless days!

I hope all of you who have had a moment or two to enjoy King Midas will take a moment or two to remember him...and the good times we had together in him. Ta Ta For Now, Midas!!!

2011-01-08T20:56:00.003-05:00

So I had to clean out King Midas today. (for the uninformed...King Midas is my pretty gold Honda Accord!) Sean came over and HE took out my lovely stereo (still loving the cafeteria crew for that one! BLUETOOTH). Then we cleaned the rest of the car out. Thanks, my punky jerk!

This is the fourth car I have had to let go within 13 years. I guess that's not absolutely horrible...but REALLY? A little old man ran a red light about a week ago...and BAM...there went my car. But at least Enoch and I are physically fine. (now mentally...tho were we right mentally to begin with??) But King Midas did give me some fun times for the year I owned him. Thanks, Midas...thanks a lot! When the insurance comes to pick him up...I'll probably shed a tear...but just the one. So we said goodbye to Blackhawk about a year and a half ago...and now da Midas. I guess everything he touched didn't quite turn to gold! Ah well!

Now I'm chillin at grandma's. Busy week. Sooooo tired. Okay...that's more my fault then work. People be callin other people on Friday nights after they get home late telling you to come over and play! I could have said, "No!" you say......hmm....tru dat...tru dat! But it was a Friday night!!! I'm supposed to play. Then I had to get up all early this morn...and help out at work. That was cool! Then my King Midas cleaning...then da jerk and I went joyriding in the rental! hee hee! And now here! Full day!!!! But a good one! (Debbie Williams.....our joyride is next!!!)

So if any of ya'll know of someone selling a well taken care of vehicle at a decent price......send this lady a line...or two....or call...or video chat.....or smoke signals (tho that would only be from my Benallys or Sharlady! ha!)...or whatever it takes to contact me. But in the meantime...if you could all join me in a moment of silence for the King, I would appreciate it
...........................................................................................................................................................OK!
Thanks, everyone!!!!!!!

2010-12-20T21:04:00.003-05:00

Ode to my fleece electric blanket:

Oh, fleece electric blanket,
how you warm my heart.
But not just my heart...
my arm, legs, feet and toes.

You have saved me
from such cold cold nights
but not just those,
but also hypothermia.

You have been wonderful
on the freezing nights
I could not steal warmth
from across the street.

How did I stay warm
before we met?
How did I stay warm
before the miracle of you?

Oh, my fleece electric blanket,
how you warm my heart....
and arms, legs, feet, toes...
butt...stomach....

2010-11-23T19:15:00.003-05:00

I know....I know...it's already Thanksgiving time and I still haven't been on to post the pictures from this summer!!!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! It's not having internet at home....and not having time during the day. Ah well. They'll get on there eventually.

What has been going on? I've been working in the Admissions Office again!!! That's great! I love my ladies in there! All the ladies....what what!!!! ANY-how.....it's getting busier....but "we got this"! Pat, in the office, just gave me a Hoops and Yoyo card the other day. I love them....their sound cards are the funniest thing. I'm still doing supervision so I don't lose touch with my girls! Love them. Today was Thanksgiving Convocation on the school. Choirs sang, ensembles performed....girls danced...it was a lovely assembly.

We had a busy church weekend. Baltimore is the National Bible City for this year. The National Bible Association had some events here. Saturday, we used their theme for this year to come up with our own for the Stake Fall Festival. That was busy....I was on the committee again, good job, Debbie Walk....but fun. And then with the National Bible Association we had an Interfaith concert at the historic Basilica downtown. It was the first cathedral built in this country. It is absolutely beautiful inside...and the musical performances just enhanced the atmosphere. I met Pat from work down there. That was great!!!! Good weekend.

What else....what fun things. I still mostly hang out with family and the boys!!!! Love my family. My Sarah is coming up for the holiday! I'm so DANG excited to spend time with her. Her birthday is coming up next weekend...she's looking for gifts! Hahahah...only is she's good.
Let's see.....Sunday of last week...the boys all showed up at my house. Weeeeell, Allen Ray, Kenny and Adam. (Sean wasn't there, you ask??? I hung out with Sean after they left!) That was fun. All they did was talk about me.....then talk about Sean....then mess with me....then talk about how they first met me....then laugh at me.....then laugh at Sean....and poor Sean wasn't even there. He heard about it....no worries! But they are entertaining boys. I hung out with them on Halloween. Some of that was good times too. Ya'll know me and vampires....I'll bite ya! (I did do some biting! hee hee!)

I took a trip in September to Boston. I went up there and hung out with my Sharlady and her Ben!!! It was such a good time. I was needing some Sharlady time. We hung out...I got to check out their new house (cuuuuute!)...they took me to Vermont (we had cheese and maple syrup!)...I got to see my Anne Jenkins Change (love you...and Joe)....and just had some time away from Baltimore. Sharla and I went to the South Shore and hung out at the beach for a while. She made fry bread so we could have Navajo tacos! Yeah!!!! I love her. Thanks for such a good time Sharlady! I need to go see my Ambera now. She's so far away in California. *sniff* But we talk all the time. That'll have to suffice for the moment. We're trying to get them to move to the East Coast. Maaaaaaaaan, would I love that. I miss my littles. I keep hearing that Baby Q is getting so dang big. Amber keeps calling him a MONSTER because of his size. Ahh, my little nephew.

Hmmm....I'm trying to think of anything else that may be exciting to type up....but I think that's all. Ooooooooooooh, I have only ONE class left in Practicum . I still have 87 hours of interpreting left to accomplish if I wanna pass the class...but our last physical class is in a coupla week. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. We're so worried. I've only been interpreting at church some. I just don't feel ready enough to interpret for people who have high expectations of me and my interpretation. I so need to get over this wall when it comes to interpreting. I need to go out and use the language more too. I'm gonna have to push myself if I actually want to do this as part of my future career. It's so scary!!!! *Fingers crossed*

Anyhow...that was a lot more than I planned. Well I hope that everyone else is having a good life. I hope that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!!!!!! Enjoy your turkey or tofurkey if that's what you prefer. Let me know what's going on in your own lives. And send pictures of your littles ones so I can see how your families are growing.

Thanks....and Merry Turkey Day!!!!!!

2010-09-25T14:47:00.002-04:00

Aaaaaaaaaaah, it's been a beautiful weekend! The weather, the friends, the "activities"....all have been spectacular!!! And it will continue for the rest of the weekend. I have to catch up on some posts. I have photos from our Capa Field picnic that I need to upload. (It's always when I have pictures to upload that I take forever to post on this blog!) My family was in town that weekend and I so love them! My father's siblings and some of my cousins rolled into town for the picnic. I will go into more detail when I post the photos. (Can I tell ya'll that the first thing my Uncle Pat said after greeting and hugging me was, "Where's the friend of yours?" Me: "Uh...friend? You mean Sean?" Uncle Pat: "Yea." Really.....not "How are you, Monica....What's been going on with work/school?" It's alright...he got to hang out with him a coupla times. But we had a houseful at Aunt Diana's with them all here. So much DANG fun!

So...with time passing by so quickly now...(that rushing in of time that the Lord speaks of is definitely happening in this last dispensation...)....I have to learn to keep up with the blogging. Why??? Because I sure haven't been writing in my journal. Gotta make up for that somehow. So I will post soon about our CAPA field good times...tho I'll add a coupla photos my aunt took!

2010-08-30T15:21:00.004-04:00

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, Kings Dominion...the ups and downs, the screams and laughs, the wind and waves......I LOVE amusement parks. Saturday was Kenny's birthday! (Happy Birthday, Kenny!) So he had decided that he would looooooooooove to go to Kings Dominion with all of his friends. Well....not all of them came, but the important ones who could did! =o) So Kenny, Phil, Malik (Phil's little brother), my punky Sean, and I rode down the two and half hours to the park. (after an hour and a half of waiting to get on the road...) Malik had never been on a roller coaster so we thought to introduce him with the Dominator. This is one of those quick twisting coasters with your feet hanging. He endured it well (meaning he didn't throw up) so we continued on. The boys wanted to hit up an old childrens wooden coaster. The bench seats were so small...they had to sit one per seat. Then there was the Backlot Stunt coaster....and then the new ride.....da da dummmmmmmmmmmmmm....the INTIMIDATOR!!!!!! It begins with a ride up to a 180 degree drop! Wow....AND it was fast. But was I intimidated...?? Naaaaaaaaaaaaaah! I did like it tho!

After the heat and adrenaline rush....we decided to take it a little slower. So we moved on to the water park. We jumped into the wave pool and just had a good time there. Now...imagine....4 boys and then oh-not-so-little me in the water. What kinda mischief .....? All kinds of mischief! What happens in the water......stays in the water! (Sssssh.....don't tell my mama!) I'll just say a fun time was had by ALL in the cool H2O with little clothing on. Hee hee!!!! I did get my requisite piggy back rides....seeing it is MUCH easier to pick me up in the water. And I was attacked by the boys.....hmmm...no less than 500 times. Water grappling is a good sprot. (or sport for you non-gibberish speakers!) I love the water. Then all of us were supposed to enjoy a lazy float...but it ended up being just Sean and I on a double tube. (The other 3 disappeared somewhere....rudesomes!) The lazy float is one of my all time favorite rides.

Then back to the coasters. The boys had been talking up the Outter Limits ride aaaaaaaaaaaaaall day. (which I had been on when it first opened years and years ago) So we convinced Malik to go on that one (he really wasn't enjoying the rides! *snicker*). I do have to admit that we may have fibbed a little and told Malik there weren't any upside down twists on the Outter Limits....a minute white lie! So he certainly was done with all rides afterwards. Kenny then decided to return to the INTIMIDATOOOOOOOR (say in big announcer voice) and ride it a couple more times. The rest of us decided to start decompressing. I was feeling a little light headed after running all day and not eating or drinking much and the other boys wanted to get a funnel cake. Sooooooooooooo off to find a place to eat we went. Sean shared his funnel cake with me....it had strawberries on top. (his first time eating one!) Yum!!! Phil had one and shared with Malik. Then we headed to the ferris wheel to finish up the evening on a romantic note. (tho not so pleasing for Malik....again! LOL!) But it was a great way to finish up our day at the park.

Then I put in my two cents about real food. So we stopped at Denny's on the way back and had "real" food. We laughed and ate until the exhaustion started to set in. I have to say it was a wonderful, wonderful day at Kings Dominion. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Man, we were all so tired when we got back. But seemingly not tired enough....for the night didn't QUITE end for some of us...............but THAT'S another story!!!!!!

2010-08-10T15:13:00.002-04:00

Since I'm such a braggart.....I do have to post that I went bowling on Saturday with the boys. Kenny and Ray decided to take Sean out for his birthday. And I invaded the party! Yeah me! I love bowling. Anyhow, Kenny made sure Phil came too! I love my boys...they are so much fun to bowl with.

Anyhow, I got the HIGHEST score of the night! YIPPEE to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! Hahahahahahahahahahahah! Go Monica!!!!!!

*Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh* It feels good to beat them every once in a while.....ya know...just being a girl and all. Hee heeeeeeeeee!

2010-08-10T14:41:00.002-04:00

I haven't talked about my birthday weekend.....and it's been about 2 weeks since it passed. *sigh* I'm a little slow on the blogging. (internets down at home!) Sooooooooooo, my birthday WAS the 26th of July. I turned #%....that's 35!!!!!!!! I tried to make sure all of my friends knew the date so they could all celebrate with me. It kinda worked. I was hoping to get birthday cards from all over the world...but that didn't quite work out either. Ah well!

So let's see, that weekend (before my bday!) Sean and I ran away to PA. I wanted to watch the Firworks and Fountains show at Longwood Gardens (No, not the Secret Garden, Paul!). I know...I know...we had been there a couple times already this year, but they only do the Firework and Fountains show during the summer. AND it was MY birthday, dang it! So we went up for the weekend. If you have yet to visit Pennsylvania, I would encourage you to plan a trip. It IS a loooooooooooooovely state. It's beautiful...has some really peaceful spots, pretty small towns....and the Amish! See, a looooooooooooooovely state. Sean's a good best friend to go along with all my road trips plans....especially since Saturday was one of the most amazingly hot AND humid days this summer. To top it off, I do not have a/c in King Midas. So good thing we went up and came back at night when it was already dark. But during the day Saturday.....woo! We escaped part of the time in the movie theater. We saw Salt. Pretty decent movie. We got to the garden around 5pm. It was SWELTERING. We took a blanket....found a spot and relaxed. Sean reeeeeally relaxed....he slept in that heat for the next TWO hours. The family set up next to us was shocked he could sleep that entire time. "I know, right!" Sitting in that heat almost...ALMOST helped me understand why people enjoyn nudist colonies!!! (I did say ALMOST!) When he did wake up.....he bought me an ice cream cone. I didn't think he was bringing back anything for me....and when the older guy behind us saw him coming back, he said, "And you said he didn't love you....but he's bringing you back a cone!" (hahaha....I never said my punk didn't love me!) We (the entire group of people there....hundreds and hundreds!) were so happy when the sun went down and the air cooled a little. Whew.....thank you, Heavenly Father for making it so the sun sets! Now the fireworks were fantastic. You are so close to the show....you feel the ash that floats to the ground. And the music they played was Gershwin. Good stuff!! What a good time....and nice people with whom to mingle.........even with the staggering heat!

On my actual birthday, I got songs from my campers....and lots of hugs. I received a necklace from Vicky, Kevin and the girls. My Admissions office gave me a beautiful bracelet...while Pat gave me new lovely earrings!!! I put all my new jewelry on IMMEDIATELY! I already had celebrated my birthday with the cafeteria crew. I got a gift card from them to BEST Buy so I got a new car stereo. I had a birthday lunch with Gina and Pat in the Admissions office. Pat even made me birthday placemats. She is the sweetest "thang"! So my day at Bryn Mawr was great. I had been getting texts from friends on and off facebook all day. (and phone calls) They started before midnight the night before. I didn't do much when I got home that evening until Sean came over with my presents from him and his family.

But the celebrations continued on Tuesday evening. Susie took me and my sister to Valentino's for dinner. Granted we have a friend that works there too...but we just included her in the celebrations. Whoop whoop!!!! Then Wednesday evening, we went over to have dinner at Dawn and Leo's. That was exciting...especially since I am in love with their little boy Oscar. Though I did get to cuddle with their daughter, Lucia, a bit also. Too cute!!!!!

Overall it was a wonderful birthday! I'm in my mid-30s people......and what do I have to show for it???? A lot of love, family and friends.......and faith in God, Jesus...and hopefully myself that I will continue to exercise so it grows! Thirty-FIVE!!! Whoop!

2010-07-21T21:17:00.003-04:00

Oooooooooooooh, the guys at work are CRAAAAAAAAAAAZY!!!! If they don't come up with the most innane things. They can't find anything out.....without taking what they know and running with it. I don't EVEN know where they get the stuff they use to "embellish" the stories they tell. Though some people would call it lying!!! LOL!!!

For example....I finally got King Midas fixed (somewhat!). So while he was hanging out at the shop, I asked Kenny to come run Ashley and me home. Since he is such a good friend....he complied with my request! (Thanks, Kenny....love you!) Well as a surprise....Sean AND Phil rolled with him. My boys!!! So as Ashley and I waited....we tried to encourage some unnamed man...a humanitarian....to go about his way! Alas...he refused because he had been just WAITING to meet Sean....and suspected he was the one picking us up! The boys drove up. Amidst the hugs we got from Phil and Kenny....we introduced them to the humanitarian. But as Sean was driving....the humanitarian had to actually go search out an introduction. "Sean....THE Sean???" *sigh....really???*

From such an innocent meeting of peoples....such CRAZY stories have begun. First...we had a whole GANG of boys get out the car??? Then it seems the hug from Phil went on for days on end!!! *Uh huh* Oh, and I would do ANYTHING for Phil...ANYTHING! *Huh??* Now the other guys are wondering where this So-Called-Phil came from. "Why haven't we heard about this Phil before??" "Sean came and got you....so what it wasn't his car....HE....he was driving.!" Somehow Phil's outfit changed with this story.....I mean...by time the story get around, the only real truth is that the boys came. Really!

Ashley and I have to crack up at times because they really do come up with some STUFF! I really believe these guys could write sci-fi movie scripts.....their stories are so far out there. If you ever want to take a boring story in your life and make it so much more exciting, you should come ask the humanitarian to "embellish" it for you. He and his co-writers could turn it into a BEST-SELLING novel! I'm sure of it!

2010-07-08T14:47:00.004-04:00

Aaaaaaaaaaaaah, it was the weekend of the red, white and BLUE!!!! Happy Fourth of July, my friends!!! Happy Independence DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!! It was the loveliest of weekends. It really was. I did say I was going to catch you all up on it!!! Soooooooooooooooooo, here ya go:

July 2: Friday...but not pay day! Sad!!!! That's ok....one more week! Camp ended well this day. The weather this week had been alright....I think I posted something earlier that day. Well....then onto the beginning of the weekend. Soooo, I was at my house Friday...and decided I needed to exchange some clothes at Aunt Diana's house. So off I went....I swung past Kenny's to see if he might accompany me across town. Lo and behold, my best friend was hanging out on his block. But as Kenny had yet to appear....I kidnapped Sean and we took off into the sunset. We hung out at da grandma's for awhile....staring at the napping Enoch (poor tired baby!). Then we jetted across town again. Along the way, we got a call from Phil...I was going to slide through his neighborhood. Well we all decided to just grab Kenny.....swing to get Phil and play! Yeah, me and my boys!!! Well...surprise....surprise...as we popped onto Kenny's block, he was outside chatting with Allen Ray! Whhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaat??? That's right. So we asked Ray if he wanted to head to Phil's too. (I was expecting a no....cause Ray doesn't ride in anyone's car but his own!) And he said, "Yeah!" (I almost fainted from shock...but the thought of having all my husbands in my car scared me enough to revive myself somewhat.) ANYhow, we got to Phil's. He saw all of us.."Whhaaaaaaaaaaaaaat"...yep, that's what he said...and jumped into the car. So we ran off to Silver Moon diner on the west side. Hung around there and talked....then went back to Kenny and Ray's block and talked to dang near sunrise! Ray's sister and her boyfriend joined us too! We laughed...we cried (cause of the laughing).....and just talked about whatever came out of our mouths. It was DE-lightful! I'm serious!!! But we were SUUUUUUUUURE tired Saturday morning.

July 3: The gathering at Whispering Pines in Flintstone, MD!!! So Cody Saville invited some of us to hang out with his family in Western Maryland. So we went. It was a nice drive into the beautiful mountains (Yes, people...the Appalachians are mountains!) So we arrived to the family already eating. (Thanks for driving, Christian!) The food was good. There was a HUGE bassett hound there, Waldo. He could crush me with his paws. Cody's family is totally cool. There was a new little there. She was so darling. Ya'll know I love me some babies!!! Umm...let's see...we went into the creek. We did some canoeing, swimming, walking...talking. Cody has a cute little cousin named Monica. We became good friends!!! There were swings to enjoy, sunshine to absord, and tranquility to realize. Then there came the time when we all had to join in and crank the ice cream maker. If you have never experienced the taste of homemade ice cream....you should. It's pretty dang yummy!!! But if we wanted to eat it, we had to participate in the making. So we all took turns cranking the maker. But the ice cream was well worth it. What an enjoyable Saturday! So what there were all these gnats and little flies that swarmed your head, so what the city seemed so faaaaaaaaaar away.....Whispering Pines is a lovely place to rest ones mind! Thanks, Cody and the Savilles!

July 4: Independence Day! So I spent Saturday nite with my sister and we got up and got ready for church in the morning. I washed my hair! (Yeah for you, Monica!) Church was oh so edifying as always. I do enjoy going to feel the Spirit and learn what might help me make it through the upcoming week. I am so grateful to a Heavenly Father who loves us enough to forgive us our sins and continue to show us the path we should follow...in the footsteps of his Son. Enoch came to church! (Whaaaaaaaaaaaat?) He didn't quite come in the chapel, but he made it into the building...looking all spiffy in his Sunday attire. So for the afternoon, when we last saw Faby, she invited Sean and me to a bbq at her place....so I went and partook of the yummy food they had there. It's her sister and nephew's birthday this month....so we celebrated that too. The kids had a pool to play in. They got to knock down the pinata. (sorry don't know how to add a tilde to a word. Lo siento, mis latinos!) I got to play with my Ki-le! He is so dang cute. Little Kyle is getting so big. We really did have a good time. It has been a while since I had seen all of Faby's family. Oh my gosh, Donovan has gotten so grown!!! *sigh* I'm getting so old. But what a good way to spend the afternoon. Then back to home....I thought about going to see the fireworks downtown, but I just listened to them instead....sitting on my porch. Lots of people seem to decide to set them off in our neighborhood anyhow, so I DID get to watch a display. LOL!!! Then I headed across town to grandma's. Enoch was planning on rock climbing the next day with his friend....and I got to be their photographer. So I went to stay over there so we could leave early in the morn! When I got to the house...I did creep into Enoch's room and make him entertain me for a while...though he WAS sleeping. I'm such a pain in people's butt! Hee hee!!! Then off to sleep after April got home in the wee hours of the morning. "Hey sister!"

July 5: A day off!!! So Enoch woke me up in the morning to get ready for our journey into the wilderness.....or at least into some park. It was becoming quite warm already! I kept asking if I needed to wear shorts or if I could wear a dress. I wanted to make sure I was dressed appropriately...and I wouldn't have to hike for miles to reach wherever it was he wanted to go. "You can wear a dress, Monica....and your flip flops will be fine. We won't be walking far!" Pshew! So we jumped in the car with his equipment....and with Lucky...........the dog! Now, granted, Enoch does take Lucky when he goes rock climbing outdoors. And I do love the dog, but just not in my face in the car. AND THEN he of course is shedding....and his hair is flying all around the car (we had the windows down) and landing on my clothes. Enoch said I was fighting a losing battle trying to pick all the pieces off. "Dagnabit! Aaaay, Lucky!" Anyhow, we picked up Enoch's friend, Jeff...and started on our way (Enoch and I had already been to Walmart to pick up our food for the day. Oh, and he was nice enough to get me Chik-Fil-A for breakfast. What a nice boy!). Jeff was nice enough to keep Lucky somewhat corraled. (Thanks, Jeff.) But that hair..... Anyhow, we went to Carderock Park down in Northern VA! It's a HUGE rock. There were all kindsa people there rock climbing. So that's what they did all day. I just bounced around down the bottom taking pictures...and bounced around at the top of the massive rock taking pictures. Hopefully some of them turn out well. I think Enoch was a little concerned because I was jumping around on the top of this work wearing flip flops...and getting quite close to the edge of the ledges on it. Well I'm still alive! SUCCESS. It was quite interesting to watch every one climb. Lucky did a lot of whining while Enoch was up on the rock. (the Princess! That dog is princess!) By the time we left...we were ALL sweaty and dirty. But the boys felt good about the climbing they did....5 hours of it....so I guess that's good. So then back to home because I was going to see The Last Airbender with my punky jerk. I felt SOO much better after a nice shower (yes, it was cold...furnace still out!). Then off we went to the movie....we hit up Wendy's for a little movie snack first. Love it! Anyhow, I really enjoy the Last Airbender. I don't know what people don't like about it...but I thought it was a really really good movie! You should all go see it. That's my advice for your weekend good times! The little boy was darling. I cried. (shut up, Sharlady!) I love movies where people can control the elements. Anyhow, then we hung out for a while after until I went back home. *siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh* What a good day.

Anyhow, that's what my weekend was like! I hope all of you had one that was just as enjoyable as mine!!!! What a blessing it is for us to live in this wonderful nation where we have such liberties...and abilities to make decisions of our own regarding our lives. Thanks, Heavenly Father, for this wonderful country. Happy Independence Day, U.S.A!!!! And thanks to those men and women who continue to choose to fight for our freedom.....and the freedom of others!

2010-07-02T15:26:00.001-04:00

The weather this last coupla days has been BEEEEEEEEAUTIFUL!!! It's been so nice and breezy...but more importantly cooler!!! It makes it so much easier in the night! Alright...let's see...this week. Camps of course!!!!! Yeeeeeeeeeeeeah, we LOVE Bryn Mawr summer camps. Ya'll think I'm kidding about how much fun we have....just roll yourselves on down here next week and check us out!! You'll be out here jump roping, monkey bar climbing and cartwheeling with us too! The girls had me doing flips on the bars last week! We might have had several bee/wasp stings this first two weeks, but heeeeeeeeey, are kids (and one adult) are troopers! The girls and boys are amazing. Also all the directors, counselors and helpers are GREAT!!!! And we could NEVER do anything well without Operations, Groundscrew, our Cafeteria crew.....or Housekeeping. They treat us so DANG well! Thanks to all of you. Oh, what an exciting summer we have every year.

My Amy stopped by this weekend. She took a road trip out here with her friend and was gracious enough to come to Baltimore to see me!!! I love her!!! Every time she comes to the East Coast, she'll pop in to make me "oh so very" happy! Amy, Natalie and I just drove around and saw a coupla people. That's all we did. That's all we needed to do. I do miss my Ames! (Cooooooome back to me!) She's already most of the way home on their trip back to Utah! *siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh* Thanks for visiting me!!!

I got to see the movie The Crazies this week. The punky jerk brought it over. I will admit to jumping a coupla times. Ya'll know how it is.....scary movies in the dark!!! (slightly scary, if you will!) Thanks, mister, for the movie and for......well....you know.

I went to Medieval Times this week also. How much fun was that?!! We yelled and cheered for our Green Knight.....ate chicken, ribs, potato, and soup....with our hands....saw sword play, jousting, and horses prances while there. There was even a lovely falcon flying around the room! I got a flower from the knight. Oh, to have gifts bestowed upon oneself. We were "milord"ed and "milady"ed the whole time! It was great fun tho!

Ashley took me out for sushi yesterday...at Minato's. So we got to mess with Eric and Enoch a littlle. Ya know how much we enjoy that. All my favorite people were there last night. And the sushi is DELISH!!! If you haven't tried it, but want to...hit up Minato's in the 10 hundred block of North Charles. If raw fish scares you, there are plenty of other dishes to enjoy!

The girls at camp having been buzzing about the new Twilight movie, Eclipse. Weeeeeeeeell, I'm not sure I even need to see the movie after all the scenes the girls keep describing to us. Thank goodness I've read all the books! But i hear these movies just keep getting better.

My Amber moves away to California this weekend. No more tips to Heeeeeeeeeell Paso!!! "What's that you say, Monica?" Yep yep...I said it....no more trips down there. (unless I decided to go hang with Maryl and Travis Sommer) They are headed to Northern Cali. So when I go see them...it'll be the beach, mountains...and the REDWOODS. What what!!!!! "For the beauty of this eaaaaaaaaarth...." "Ambera...I sho wish I coulda road tripped wit ya'll to dat western wilderness! I sho do! But good luck on your drive. Be safe...and kiss da chiltluns for me!"

I guess I should say that this blog isn't just about my journey.....but also about those I love and adore. We all have paths we follow....but somewhere....somehow......we all meet up at a crossroads. But how much more joy we get from our own journeys this way. Peace be the journey, my friends. I hope to meet you all at a crossroads somewhere along the way. "Cool Runnings!"

2010-06-25T14:37:00.003-04:00

Ooooooooooooooh this weather............it feels so much better today. Being with your best friend all night in hot hot house....makes you appreciate any decrease in the humidity! I love it!!!!! Keep up the cooler temps....please!

On a lighter note....one week of Bryn Mawr Summer Camps................DONE!!! (Just look at Ashley and Isabella...that's how happy we are here!)

2010-06-18T19:09:00.005-04:00

Soooooooooooooooooo, my children....yesterday was SUCH a lovely lovely LOOOOOOOOOVELY day!!! The weather was magnificent!! The sky was blue....fluffy clouds floated across the heavens! The wind cooled down the warm rays of the sun!!! AND I had an absolutely fantastic time at Longwood Gardens!!!! It was a gorgeous day to explore the garden!!

Sean and I took my Aunt Diana up this time. She yelled at us for going without her the last time! "Sorry, Aunt Diana!!!!" She loved it!!! Who wouldn't?? It's such a place of beauty and peace. It's a place to go and commune with our Father in Heaven for His amazing creations. It's a place to go and rest from the weary world. It's a place to renew a spark of romance. It's a place to love.....share your love......and be loved!!! We did all that!!!!

This was taken inside the conservatory!! You can see Aunt Diana and Sean in the back!

We climbed the bird house...and you can look all the way down through that leaf at my feet!

My punky jerk and Aunt Diana taking a break from all the walking!!!!

One of the beautiful flower in the Pierce-Du Pont house.

Look at da man and his new buddy! "My buddy...my buddy...wherever I gooo, he gooooes!"

"Hi.....here I am!!!!!"

A pretty fountain!!!!

A bee enjoying the blossoms.....just as much as we were!!!

Aunt Diana and Sean posing for black box! What a good time we had!

Awww.....that's my baby boy!!!! This garden makes all the "crazy" go away!!!

This is the Italian Garden Fountain.

2010-06-16T15:31:00.003-04:00

My my my....boys are silly! But you love them anyway. Why? Cuz they sure make you feel good!!!! And mine??? They know exactly what to do to make me happy! They do a pretty dang good job. Do your spoil you too?? I sure do hope so!!!!!!

2010-06-12T23:33:00.004-04:00

By the way....since this is the end of the school year....there has been a lot of graduations and parties going on. So I'm gonna post a few pictures from some of these celebrations!!! Thanks to those who invited me to come and share in the joy of your accomplishments. As I said before...I'm so DANG PROUD!!!!!

This is Kim and I at Jamie's graduation party last weekend!

This is my group of terps who should up to help Jamie celebrate!

Yeah, Jamie!!!!!

My baby girl, Samantha, just graduated from Bryn Mawr!

She looks so grown up and gorgeous!

Congrats, Samantha!!!

2010-06-12T23:16:00.002-04:00

Today was a hot hot hot day!!! Ya'll know we don't really use much a/c in our houses. We just put the fans on.....and blow!!!! Hee hee! That's why we like to go over our friends house....to mooch their cool air. (or if not a/c....some people's basements are cool enough! Nice and comfortable...it's so much easier to sleep when one is cool and comfortable. I need to go get my car's a/c charged up! It's becoming kinda killer during the hottest part of the day.

We celebrated Madison graduating today!!!! Woo hoo! We're so proud of her. She'll be starting high school next year. So Sean and I popped over to the pool party. All of her family was there....we love them. They are so much fun to be with. We did some dancing...singing....lotsa eating....enjoyed the cool of the pool. They have some great parties....really! But YEAH for Maddie.

Then we dropped by Miss Lucille's for Lamont's memorial bbq. They have it every year on his birthday weekend....just to remember him. He was killed several years ago....around the corner from us. All their friends and family show up for this memorial bbq EVERY year. It's wonderful how their family and friends continually show love and support.

Both barbeques were for two totally DIFFERENT reason....but show how amazing people can be to those they love. In both places you feel the connections...the relationships dynamics....which vary greatly, but still allow you to feel a part of a great family circle. God placed us here on this earth to make those connections...to find those people who will teach us something good and great about life. I hope I will always....ALWAYS....connect to people who are good people....striving (and actually striving...not just words, but action) to better me and themselves. Those who say they love the Lord, but actually live their words too!!!

2010-06-05T16:30:00.002-04:00

Maaaan, I still have another blog to finish about my trip last month...but it's taking so dang long to describe my good times. Sooooooooooooo, we'll just work on this short one now.

It's HOT!!!! Blazing...as some would say. The humidity is up...and so are summer plans! What what!!!!! Summer camps start soon. So I'll soon be playing with all my girls...including Vicky and Ashley! Da boys are out more.....so we have porch parties and gatherings more! The looooove one gets from these boys. If ya'll roll thru my neighborhood at just the right time....you'll see me and one or more of my boys!!! You are all welcome to join the parties! Tho if you don't see us...we may be having a party, but be hiding it! Ya never know who comes out on the block. Some people we don't wanna see or want them to see us!!! Hee hee!!!! Let's see...my family is getting ready to remind ALL about our Capa Field picnic. You all will soon start receiving invites! I'm gonna hit up Longwood Gardens again! I looooooove loooooooooove looooooove the place! I would prescribe a visit for ALL of you. Go visit and call me in the morning!! I don't know...the summer will be fun.

I plan on making some trips to see some best friends.....and plan on taking some with the punky best friend here. My baby will take a trip with me in August. Maybe a cruise....maybe something a little closer. But either way.....GOOD CLEAN (slightly dirty) FUN!

Sooooooooo, my friends....if you are are aroud this summer, feel free to call and join the excitement. Sometimes.....the more the merrier. Other tiiiiiiiiiimes.....weeeeeeeeeell.....you know!

2010-04-26T22:02:00.004-04:00

Ooooooooooh, the other night.....we had a porch party! The last one we had is a vague memory! So all the boys came and chilled for a while.....Phil, our re-enactor; Sean, our binder; Kenny, our agreeable one; Nina...the protecteur......and me!!!! As soon as Phil tells a story...we all start laughing....he really does re-enact everything! We had stories about ghost throwing irons....and ones about he and Sean's biking escapades!!! Aaaaaaaaah.....such memories they have.

You hang out there long enough...all kindsa people show up! Jimmy, the junkie, showed up (YIKES!)....as did Anthony. Anthony stopped and demonstrated various martial arts moves. We ALL had not been together in a while. It was quite the porch party!!!!! (Miss you Roz and Crystal!)

Thanks, my lovelies, for showing up on the block and having a good time! I am just sorry that Ray-Ray did not get to participate. Maybe next time we'll remember to invite him a little earlier......maybe!

2010-04-22T00:09:00.003-04:00

Aaaaaaaaaaagain, everyone!!!! I went to Tejas...Heeeeeeeeeeeeell Paso...again!!! I have an absolutely wonderful friend, I don't wanna mention any names...just to avoid jealousy (Thanks, Michelle Halladay!)....but she called and asked me if I wanted a buddy pass. I said (in my Utah accent), "Heck yeah!" So there I was with a buddy pass and so many places to go (within the continental states). She thought I might like to journey to Utah because it has been sooooooooooo dang long since I had been to visit. I have a lot of people there I do need to see! (I'll be comin for ya one day, Amers!!! I will! It's not easy being green!!! *kisses* hee hee) But my best friend, Amber, just had her little boy. Now granted, I had just returned from El Paso earlier in the week that my "friend" called me. Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuut, little Quinten just didn't want to come out while I was there. So I had to do some mad thinking....okay....not so much thinking. It was between Utah...and a new baby......UuuuuuTAH.....and a NEW BAAAAAAAABY! "Memo to self....remember, Monica....new babies are cute...and have little bums...and smile at all of your jokes and singing....unconditional love....little hands and feet to kiss....so sweet!" Well yes....I chose the baby! (Sorry my Navajo family....I mean...really, can't ya'll come out to visit ME??)

He is so so so so cute. I love him!!!! He made me so happy.......along with his older sisters. I will post some pictures on here of them all. Thank you, Amber and Tim, for allowing me to share your beautiful family. Thank you, Freckles, for always being my mom away from home. Thank you, Amy, for not reprimanding for not taking the trip to Utah....I do wanna see you. Thank you, Southwest, for making it possible for me to become very acquainted with the Houston airport (as I stayed overnight!). Thank you, my "friend", for giving me the opportunity to visit and love my new nephew! AND thanks to a "special" not so young lady who made my night at the airport so much more exciting and exhilarating than it would have been without your beautiful, profoundly intelligent words!

2010-04-08T19:22:00.004-04:00

Now these are all out of order. Sorry....now that I'm not at Bryn Mawr full time....I can catch up on the blogging. I had been helping out in their admissions office......was it BUSY!!! But the girls that work in the office are great; especially Pat Sielski. She's da bomb...so thoughtful, lovely and quite organized! LOL! Anyhow...we'll discuss that in a later blog.

These pictures are from Valentine's Day!!! Although Sean and I are no longer "official" (What, Monica....what do you mean??? Aaaah, it's true....it's kinda hard for worldly people to date us Mormons...ya know what I'm saying....ya know. He had to go find some worldly peoples like himself.) But we are still......something.....and hopefully that will still be something good. Anyhow, we celebrated Valentine's by a weekend escape from our lives. We went away....but not very far away. It was fun....and relaxing. I wish I had hot tub pictures....because who doesn't like a whirlpool. (How's the Jacozy, Monica? hee hee....inside joke) Wait...no I don't wish for hot tub pics because I was in a bathing suit...and ONLY priveleged few get to see that. Anyhow, it was a good get-away.

2010-04-08T02:19:00.003-04:00

I just got back from a week in HELL PASO (as Amber likes to call it). Amber's been in El Paso for the last few years and I got to go visit again. It was a wonderful week. We had such a good time. I love her. She is one of the most amazing friends in my life. Thank goodness for the day she made the decision to show up at my family's house 16 years ago! Wow! Our anniversary is next week.

Well Amber, Tim and the girls are doing well. My little nieces are so dang cute. Alivia looks like her mom and little Hazel looks like her dad. What a trip they were. We laughed and played and teased each other all week long! Alivia had to show me everything she could while Hazel like to play the "My....." game. "My Mon-ta! My Mommy!" It was quite fun.

They are all awaiting the arrival of their little boy! I was hoping he'd show before I left, but he decided to hang on in there! Aaaaaaaah, little boy....WHYYYYYYYYYYY??? But Amber did start walking around while I was there....so we didn't have to do bed rest together. I mean she may have the fortitude to do bed rest for TEN WEEKS, but I don't know if I would have made it!!! I hope I get to see him really soon though. "Little nephew...I wish I could have been there to welcome you into the world, BUT atleast I helped pick out the blessing suit! How DANG cute!"

We took some good pictures....mostly of the girls. I had gotten them the CUTEST pink dresses for Easter! Let's see if I can get them loaded up on here!! Look how lovely we all look in our pinks and blue (aaaaah, the dress I bought from one of my punky jerk's lady friends. It's such lovely color. Amber and I match!!)

2010-04-08T01:28:00.005-04:00

Whew....it' warm. We just broke a record here in Baltimore today....!!!! It was 94 degrees....I think that's what I heard. It's just the beginning of April. First record snowo this year....then the lovely heat! Woo! Okay....I'm adding pictures on here.....the first set will be from Longwood Gardens again. The huge garden in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Sean and I went again the other week. We love that garden. It's huge!!!!!! And so gorgeous!!! We had been wanting to go since the first time we spent the weekend up there in 2008. So we road tripped in King Midas. Yeeeeeah, King Midas!!! Since it's just the beginning of Spring....all the flowers outside have yet to bloom, but we had fun in the Conservatory. (esp. in the dark and isolated part of the Childrens Garden! ssssh!) Then we took a walk around some parts we hadn't seen before. I can't wait til we go up later this Spring! I'm so excited about all the flowers that will be in bloom. (Oh, this time we enjoyed the Orchid Extravaganza!)

It really is one of THE most peaceful and relaxing places....just to walk and enjoy. I would suggest you all go and partake of the floral atmosphere. We sure did!!!

2010-02-10T11:55:00.002-05:00

SNOOOOOOOOOOOOWPOCALYPSE!!!!!! It's really driving me bonkers...how much white fluffy stuff can actually fall from the sky! I mean really...how many TIMES do I have to shovel the same path down the steps and in front of the house???? How many times do I have to dig my car out of the same spot??? Some might say "Monica, just wait til all the snow has fallen AND THEN clean off your car!" And I might say, "Stupid...do you know how much snow would be on the car then.....do you know how much more effort it is to dig 3 feet of snow off a car instead of cleaning of only a foot or so maybe 2 or 3 times???" *SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGH*

Enoch called me last night to ask if I could come get him from downtown. I paused for a moment....and then told him that my car hasn't gone anywhere yet AND they have yet to plow our street. Then he contemplated walking from Mt. Vernon up here to Waverly in the snow that was falling last night! Crazy boy! Not that I would mind the company...my sister left and went to stay at the hotel where she works. So it's me and Enoch's dog, Lucky, in the house! How exciting!!! He's such a good conversationalist. Anyhow, I wish I was sure my car would've made it down there.....because I would have picked him up. Ya'll know how horrible I am at entertaining myself. I finished my new book. I had to download new applications for my Ipod Touch (Mahjong was one of them...good game!) Two of the games I bought were too new for the version of the Itouch that I have. (one of them was skeeball, dang it!) I thought about taking the dog for a walk, but he'll stop at the porch and not go one step further. (the princess!)

I haven't been watching much tv because I don't watch the new series that are on nowadays. I don't enjoy watching movies much by myself. (tho I did watch Armaggedon last night and cried my eyes out at the end AGAIN!) Oh, Enoch....why are you so far away?!

Speaking of walking in the snow....my Sean had to walk all the way home from work last night...in the snow. I think it took my poor baby about an hour and a half to get back! How horrible! And ya'll know the road and sidewalks did not make it any easier for him. I think he's staying in the house today! LOL!

Anyhow, I hope all those who are caught up in this CRAZY weather with me are hanging in there. People....we can make it through these storms. I know they are predicting more snow this weekend, but if we mentally clasp hands and together wish for "Suuuuuuuuunny days...chasing the cloooooooouds awaaaaaaay..", Mother Nature just might oblige us! We can do it together, Mid-Atlantic.....we CAN do it together!

2010-02-04T00:23:00.003-05:00

Ok...it has been quite a while. I've been slacking on keeping up with the fun things I do on my journey. Well....I hope to rectify that soon.

I've been quite busy helping out in the Admissions Office at The Bryn Mawr School. The ladies of that office are a "bang up" group!!! I really do enjoy being there with them. Thanks, ladies, for calling me up to help you all out!

I just started my Survey in Specialized Interpreting class today! Man, am I scared outta my wits about taking this class. I really haven't been signing since last May when my other classes ended. But I've gotten a lot of reassurance and support. And the teacher seems really cool! So...*fingers crossed*!

The holidays were great. My baby came up from Tennessee. That was lovely! I absolutely love her. If only she lived closer to us!!! My 'Bama family came here for Thanksgiving. They are the best! I adore my family!

My Sean and me are wonderful. I've told him how I want to see the world with him. You know me...I love going places. So we'll see how much of that takes. We have a couple in Utah who are trying to get us to come out. Hmm...so much future to plan for. Sean's been trying to convince me that in his eyes I'm beautiful. Maybe one day soon I'll believe him. But it warms my heart that he is actually baffled by my low self-esteem. =o)

I still love my life. God has graced me with such wonderful things and experiences. That's not to say that I have been making the most righteous choices ALL of the time, but I'm still working on it. I know that only through the Lord's grace will I ever feel TRUE JOY....and that is a daily goal. I try to keep their Plan of Happiness in sight. Such rewards and joy can come from that.

So to sum up.......life is still so good.....and so sweet to me!

2009-11-16T15:07:00.003-05:00

I just had a nice time in Pasadena at the birthday party for Sean's brother and nephew. I hadn't seen the baby since last year sometime. But he is just as adorable now as he was then. Sean's family is a trip. It's still so interesting to see how differently his family members interact from my own. But they are a fun family and all the grandchildren are gorgeous. They are growing so big so quickly. Of course Sean and I ended up being the focus of many questions and wonderings. (we usually are while down there with the family!) But wow....people can ask some pointed questions!

Anyhow, here are some of the cute photos from the celebration:

This is Corey and his son.

This is Sean's sister, Muffin, her daughter, and Jaylen.

These are the cute cousins!!!!! Trying to get them to sit still...whew...work!

The proud uncle with Jay.

While we were chillin with the fam....

2009-11-11T20:01:00.003-05:00

These are a few of the photos I took while we

were on Swans Island, Maine this summer!

Look at this well formed spider web! It was pretty

early in the morning when I caught it!

Then I found a couple of lovely butterflies
in Sis. Ellison's garden. What a gorgeous insect!
It let me go all photographer on it while
it fluttered through the diasies!

2009-11-11T19:50:00.002-05:00

Soooooooooo, I went to the doctor's today. Finally! But no.....no diagnosis on the lovely nodules in my arm and leg. Aaaaaah well!!!! It was a nice visit anyhow. I WAS told that I am pretty healthy except for the odd lumpage in my body. Hey...that was nice to hear.

I had to get a booster shot though. Now my arm is sore. *sniff* I'll make Sean come rub it better later. I didn't even get a sticker from the doctor for being a brave little girl. So sad....what's the world coming to when you cannot even get a sticker when you get shots anymore???!!!!! I just wanted one DANG sticker!!!!

2009-11-04T19:45:00.003-05:00

What makes this journey of mine so mysterious??? I mean....the life I am living is pretty much standard. I live, learn, experience, lose, gain, fall , rise and love just like everyone else!!!! But I think it's just that I have no idea where it will lead on this earth...in this temporal sphere. Life is a journey, people; a journey to share with those around you. And for this journey to be somewhat enjoyable, you need to share it with those around you who will help you rise; help you gain all that is necessary to make it through life...unscathed.

I keep telling my boyfriend that we all need good connections in this life...good friendships. God did not mean for us to make it alone....and we will not if we try it. He keeps telling me how I have such good friends. And I do. (I love you, my good friends!) And he tells me my family is perfect. (Family, what DO you think of that?) It's just we put love and effort into our relationships. It's a pretty simple solution that seems at times so complex. But so so worth it. I cannot stress enough the worth of these connections. But people will learn....sometimes it just takes a good teacher to show by example.

The connections in my life are glorious. My family is my unfailing support, my friends are the bright light in the darkness that can be this life, while the man that is my heart is the boost that always gives me the confidence to be the best I can. His support of me emotionally, mentally and physically astounds me at times. How can he believe in me when I do not believe in myself?? But it all adds up to the glorious connections that will ease my mysterious journey through life! Thanks to my family, thanks to my friends....and thanks to my "little" man!

2009-10-28T18:43:00.003-04:00

How nice is it to have someone to share things with.....worries, doubs, concerns, joys...love. It doesn't always have to big anything huge. I've been told it's okay to celebrate the little things. That it's a sin not to celebrate good things (Thanks, Joanne!). I really do agree with that. I like to do things that simply make me happy. (I know...most of you think I am happy all the dang time! Weeeeeeeeeeell, you're not TOTALLY wrong!) But what makes me most happy is doing things that simply make other people happy.

Last night was one those nights of being simply happy. Nothing big.....nothing expensive.....nothing ostentatious. Two people.....one room.....one bottle of Welch's bubbly and one carton of Haagen Daas Butter Pecan. So so so so simple!

2009-10-27T10:34:00.002-04:00

Well, my friends, it has been a while! Right now I'm at Bryn Mawr Middle School watching the girls rehearse their small parts of the balcony scene in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. They've paired up and will come back in a few minutes and show us how much theatrical talent they have! The other two classes this morning performed quite well. We even had a couple of girls attempt an accent. It was lovely!!! How exciting! Thanks to my "brother", Michael Robinson (teacher at BMS), who made this day of performances possible! Thanks, Brother.

This weekend will bring the Day of Ghouls, Witches and Scary Things. Sean just asked last night what will be going on for Halloween. I'm not sure. We have our annual Foulger-Pratt Barn Dance. That is always a good time. And yes, I will be a vampiress.....AGAIN!!! Who doesn't love fangs and blood??? Don't lie, people!!!! I do enjoy Halloween...a time to be eerily beautiful. (Who knew such horror could be beautiful?) But I'm sure there is much to get into on Saturday. "Get in on it!" And plus, everyone will have lotsa candy! "ummmmmm....Caaaandyyyy!" I know what my honey wants to be for Halloween. He's been planning for a while....contacts and everything! Very cool. I hope if we all do something....it'll involve lots of scary ghoulish times!

2009-09-09T12:30:00.003-04:00

Soooooooo.......it's new and exciting........well...maybe not so new......but certainly exciting! I've been with my best guy friend for the last few years. It's been a long road; dramatic spins and turns.....with a few about faces. You just DON'T know the fears, hopes and expectations discussed constantly. The girls....the guys...the nos.....the yeses.....the hugs and kisses...the cold shoulders......well you get the picture. Just like any relationship, we worked at it.

Well now, we've decided on a stronger, more committed relationship. It's kinda weird after all this time, but exciting. Who doesn't like moving forward to see what could happen in the future?!! Ya kinda get that giddy "who-knows-what-the-future-will-bring" kinda feeling! Someone at work told me I was glowing. I said, "Now, I'm pregnant???" Hahahah. (I'm not pregnant, people!) Weird...glowing??? But I'm excited to see where it all leads. Neither of us have any idea of where we will be in two years......or even one.....but we are willing to take the ride....to brave the dramatic spins and turns. He's a sweetheart. He has always told me how beautiful I am (which I tell him that it's a nice lie), how great a person I am (he's biased).....and how I seem to be "perfect" (meaning I do no wrong...which we ALL KNOW is not true!). Sure, maybe he's wearing rose-colored glasses, but it works for me right now! He makes me feel good about myself. I hope I do the same for him.

Soooooooooooooooooooo......not so new and exciting!!!!!! Yeah.......!!!!!!!

2009-07-20T14:34:00.005-04:00

I've had two pretty exciting weekends in a row!!!! Yeah for a Monica! Woo! So first I address the earlier weekend. (July 11th!) That Saturday....we went to Hershey Park! Remember, I did mention I was going to write about it! Sooooooooooooo....here I am............writing about it. *ahem* Where was I.........we went to Hershey Park. It was EVENTFUL. I am not going to go on forever about it (cuz I could), but I'll give ya the happenings!

So we left with a caravan of three cars....eleven people total. A good number except uneven, but that's alright. In the car I was in: Kenny, the driver......me, Ashley and Samantha, a couple of ladies I work with at the summer camps. In the second: Sean, driving...Miss Charmaine and Calvin, mother and brother...and best friend, Phil. In the third: Frazer, Andrea and Noelia, friends from church. So we headed up late morning..........and all was well....UNTILLLLLLLLLLLLL....we got to PA. (that's Pennsylvania for you westerners...) As we were riding along....we were speeding (OF COURSE....geez....we ain't no grandmas) and one of our cars got pulled over! Can you believe the cop had them sitting there for 30 mins??? It was crazy!!!! And he took every single on of their IDs. (Some of the theories have something to do with a car full of black people...but who really knows!) He was just messing around for 30 mins....wasting out time! Sooooooooo, we finally got on the way again.... but then there were a coupla wrong turns and all. That put us back about 20 more mins. BUT we did make it to the park! Yeeeeeeeah!!!! We made it.

So then we got in line for the Fahrenheit til the dark clouds rolled in and they shut down the ride. (I also hit my long nail on a pole....RIPPING it halfway across my finger...below the skin line. It was bleeding and all. So it was suggested that I rip it the rest of the way off the finger so it wouldn't bug me. So I had Sean finish ripping it QUICKLY off. More blood....so nasty...a chunk of skin under the nail! Ugh....) So we thought we'd head to the Boardwalk area....but everyone was told to get out of the water there too. So we sat around and ate while it started raining on us! After a while, the weather cleared up and we got to have fun for about an hour and a half. THEN while in line for the Claw, it started raining....then thundering...(close the ride down)....then lightning...(close most of the other rides down too! ). This was like 7:30. So we decide to hang out in the arcade (some of us) and get a funnel cake (the others). That was pretty much it for the rest of the time. What a trip.....we got to go on like 5 rides! For $40! And altho, it was so back and forth, I was with the best group! We laughed a lot and had a good time regardless of silly policemen and Mother Nature's tantrums! Thanks, friends! Thanks for just enjoying whatever was thrown at us!

I'll have to leave this past exciting weekend for the next time..........

2009-07-08T15:04:00.002-04:00

Just another day at Bryn Mawr Summer Camps!!!!! I'm sitting here waiting for the first round of girls to get out of their Art Camp. Then they'll be ready for car pool! I loooooooooooooooooooooooove this job! We have such a good time!! The directors are great....the teachers and counselors entertaining.....the helpers, tireless!! And the kids??? So dang cute! We get hugs and love all day! (sometimes a little too much love.....but hey...we should get it where we can right?)

Speaking of getting love where you can...............that's how I roll!!!!!! If you know me, and i assume you do if you are reading this, then you know I'm shamelessly affectionate!!!!! SHAMELESSLY!!!!!! (ask my cute punky jerk....he gets it all the time!) I just like to make sure people know they are loved by me!!!! And who doesn't like getting their backs scratched or heads rubbed. You know you are all just sitting there thinking of how good that would feel riiiiiiiiiight now! (hmmmm...now I'm thinking it!) So my friends..............SPREAD THE LOVE! Show your family and friends how much you care by the affection you show them. Pay it forward through the touches, hugs and kisses you pass out! If it makes you feel good to receive it.....I'm sure it will make them feel good too! Just a little "The More You Know!" plug!

Now you remember how I blogged almost a year ago about hitting up Hershey Park with my punky jerk and his friends??? Well we are going again this weekend!!!! Yahoo!!! Amusement parks and good times!!! Yeah! I hope the weather is wonderful! And I hope I can convince the guys to go to the water park also this time!!!! Last time it was only the boys and I. This time I will not be the only girl....I hope....but I expect to get as much love as I did last time. I was poked, prodded, pinched....kissed, caressed, and cuddled! Who wouldn't give time for all of that! Aaaaaaaaaaah, such good memories. I really need to scan the my picture with Sean and the guys so you can see how hilarious it is. Oooooooooor you can just drop my my house and check it out! Fuuuuuuunny! Anyhow, i want you all to be just as excited for me as I am!!!! Ok?!

Well...life is good right now. I love my job. Thanks to Vicky for taking a chance on a crazy person like me!!!! I love the gospel. I'm just getting my recommend renewed! That's always so exciting, but kinda scary at the same time! I love my family. They are so good to me! Sean keeps telling me how lucky I am with the family that I have. I totally agree! Heavenly Father has blessed me amazingly with my immediate and extended family. And I try to share that blessings with everyone I know! I love my friends. I have such a wealth of friendships. I am rich beyond comparison (in my mind) when it comes to my friends. I hope they feel I love them as much as I feel they love me!!!! My Amers, Mowgli, A-pill, Mija, Sharlady, Knock, Punky Jerk, Mexicana, and Ahn-dreya. My core...I'm totally in love with these people. I only see my A-pill and Punky Jerk about everyday, but the rest.........it's the same when I see them again. It's always just as good and strong! Thank you all for that. Thanks to my sister for being my forever companion in most of the adventures I have. (Can't wait for Maine!) And thanks to my punk for trying......and making me feel better about me......for seeing me in ways I won't ever! Life is grand, people! But you gotta work to make it that way. God doesn't just owe it to you!

2009-05-01T11:27:00.003-04:00

I think I've finally worked out what I'm doing for the future. (Atleast for the next few years) I've been trying to figure which direction I would like to take educationally. I have about a year and a half left in the ITP (Interpreter Training Program) that I am in right now. (esp. since I'll take a break from it in the fall.) The program is good. It's slow going, but it's good. I really have enjoyed all of the teachers I've had thus far. It does get frustrating (as I've mentioned before) at times. I AM learning a lot, but I think before I take the last two classes, Survey and Practicum, I need to involve myself in the Deaf community more. As a result, I hope my signing skills will improve enough so I am more prepared for the classes.

The rest of my plan is to go back to Towson for a 2nd Bachelor's degree! Crazy?? Yes....yes it is!!! I just recently heard Towson University has a program for those people who would like to earn a second Bachelor's Degree. How exciting is that??? I have decided to pursue education in the second language of my heart! That's Espanol! Then when I am finished that, I believe I will then get my Master's in Spanish also. As an interpreter in training, my teachers constantly tell the students how a broad foundation of knowledge makes the interpreting process so much easier. If you know a little about a lot, then you will be able to use that information in the many different interpreting situations in which you find yourself. I've been told several times not to obtain a Master's in anything related to American Sign Language, Deaf Studies or Interpreting. Soooooooooooooooooooo, Spanish it is. And then who knows.....study abroad in Spain...somewhere!

2009-04-17T16:59:00.003-04:00

So, it's a beautiful sunny day in Baltimore, Maryland again!!!! I LOVE SPRING TIME! I'm so excited to take pictures of the tulips that come up in Sherwood Garden in the Guilford area. I want to take a trip up to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Sq, PA.....it's the biggest garden!!!! Last time we went, we walked around for 3 HOURS and didn't even see half of the garden! It's amazing. (Ya'll let me know if you wanna go sometime soon!) This season makes one feel like one can accomplish anything!!!! ANYTHING! I feel like I MAY even be an interpreter one day; even though I go to class twice a week and just wonder at how my brain just does not want to ease up on the processing enough for me to "Let Go and Let Flow!"

My Sean just had another lesson from the amazing book; Preach My Gospel. I am a little sad that I was not there this time to participate in this part of his spiritual enlightenment journey. I am so unsure of what to think of it all. He does not mind the learning. He knows there is a lot of spiritual knowledge that he needs to gain....for himself. But I do not know where it will lead for him. So do I just sit back and encourage the learning.....or start pushing for the changing to go along with it? Well....we'll see......mustard seed and all that! Thanks, Louise, for sitting in for me, sharing your testimony and helping the Harmons out!

Now for something a little more interesting.....you all know that I'm about self revelation on this blog. I talk about all kinds of thoughts that I have. Sooooo....this is another of those entries.....I enjoy watching the Discovery Health channel. I love the Baby story shows and adoptions...etc. This week I saw one about IVF treatments; women who used fertility treatments to try to have children. It was so heart wrenching to see what these women go through for such a righteous desire. It was so heartwarming to the successful pregnancies. It was disheartening (to me) to see the not so successful couples breakdown when they found out they did all that work for another failed attempt. The show talked about women around 40 and how difficult it was for them to get pregnant. And I thought......"Oh my.....this might be me in a few years!" (only 'might' because....if I'm not married.....this is all moot!) I may be one of those women who take the shots everyday.....goes to see how my follicles are growing EVERYday........constantly waiting for the next phase to begin EVERYDAY! Am I going to be able to bear it? I have one more year before I am old enough to be labeled under "Hi-risk pregnancy". But as a result of a syndrome.......I'm already kind of under that umbrella. So add a few years...it may be "No possible pregnancy". That kinda scares me!!! For all I have EVER wanted in life is to become a mother and raise my beautiful, quite intelligent, amazingly humorous, endlessly creative, bilingual/biracial children!!! Is it really so much to ask for?? I found myself in tears because of the empathy I felt for these women and men. One of the best things one can become in life is a parent. I guess I need to realize that as long as I stay faithful to Heavenly Father's commandments that although I may miss out on motherhood here in this life; the blessing awaits me in the next. I think that is harder to do than it sounds. I could sit here and complain about how if the guys think I am such a great person, how is it none of them ask me out! Or why do these Mormon guys not appreciate us larger sisters of color???? But I am one who thinks that it is their loss for not appreciating what I will bring to a home and family! Isn't it, ladies?! *wink wink* But the possibility of not BEING ABLE to have children biologically.....squeezes my heart. Aaaaaaah, life.......full of exciting possibilities and extreme disappointments.

Sometimes I believe I share way too much in this blog, but isn't this about my mysterious journey through life??? And with whom better to share my journey than all of my good friends and family!!!!! I am constantly thankful for the love and support I do receive from all of you...esp my family. I seem to enjoy going through life with a vague idea of where I am going and how I'm going to get there. But it's quite the ride......lemme me tell you!!!!!

2009-03-18T17:20:00.002-04:00

So this past Saturday....April and I had THE BEST time! Really!!! It was a great weekend overall actually! Sooooooooooo, we wanted to see the movie "Taken". It's the movie about a government agent whose daughter is kidnapped in Paris. (Paris, France....not Idaho!) So our new friend, Frazer, had already seen the movie. And so had our good friend, Prec...oops...I mean, Douglas. But they both told us they wanted to see it again!! So we said, "Heeeeeeeeck yeah! Come on along with us!" So we really had a late night on Friday. We went to the Latin Dance in Germantown with a group of the people from the ward!!! We didn't get home til after 3AM. But we had such a good time! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeell, anyhow....I talked to Douglas in the morning about the movie; where I also found out that he passed his Dental Board exams!!!! (Yeah for the Dooooglas!) So in my meandering that morning....I decided the best way for us to all get together for the movie (aka make sure Frazer was up for the movie!) was if we headed up in Frazer's direction. So we picked Owings Mills as our rendezvous point. So Douglas, in his rich boy car, came and picked up April and me. We could have taken my car, but the Blackhawk was having round rubber issues! But we love his car so.....he came and picked us up! Then we ran up to grab Frazer (Doug made it to the end of the rainbow...well really Northern Pkway. He had never been that far west on it! Surprise....Liberty Road!). Then we sped (and I mean SPED) off to the movie! I got in the movie free....thanks, Kiwi boy....and Doug made April pay for her own movie ticket! And HE'S the rich boy! Anyhow...the movie was good. Sooooooo yes, we snuck in cheap candy that we picked up at Shoppers together! (Yeah, okay people...you cast the first stone!) But the movie was quite good. And yes, I did cry a little! I just can't help it! Then as we left....we all reminisced on how much we love Blue Men with hanging lanterns. Aaaaaaaah, the Blue Man!

Then after the movie...we hit up the mall. Iam so not a mall person, but da boys and April made it a good time for all!!!! Some of us needed to do a little shopping....but somehow we ended up having a lingerie show!!! How the came to be....weeeeeeeeeeeell all I can say is that it's not the first time I've seen Precious wearing womens' clothing! Hahahahah!!!!! Then April, Frazer, and I tried to emulate the evil cop in Terminator 2. That was fun!!!!! Then we stayed in the food court and had some good food. Tho for some reason it seems like there was a food fight on a minute scale. It didn't involve it flying out of hands at all, but food did go flying in a coupla places it shouldn't have! Good thing I like sharing DNA! But to top that off, there was a little loving going on too!!! We got pictures to prove it, children!!

Well then as we left, we had to race to the car because Doug got it in his head that he could leave us there!!!! Good thing, Frazer knows how to dive into a car moving at 5-10 miles an hour! I think he landed on April in the back, but I don't think she minded! (did ya, sister?!) Then we headed down to Charity and Arla's place to have the Latin Dance after party. Except it wasn't really after the party............well I guess it's still after, but ususally an after party implies a party right after another event. But I digress....so we went downtown to their apartment and played a coupla Wii games. I'm getting better at Rock Band.....I think! There was still some very friendly feelings going on down there. Man, I love boys!!!! LOL!!!!! (or men....or..guy....well actually I love girls...or women...or ladies...TOO!) We laughed and laughed and played until we had enough! But thanks Charity, Arla, Emily, Nathan, and Tommy for a good time!!!!! As Doug and I walked out of the apartment building at a fast clip (I've moved at a fast clip in another blog...I'm sure of it. Hmmmm....gotta do better a lexical substitution!), we decided we could drive off without April or Frazer!! But alas, fate conspired against us. SOMEONE....no names.......left something PRECIOUS in Charity and Arla's PRECIOUS apartment! So we had to wait til they came out! *sigh* Shame...seemed the perfect opportunity to mess with people!

All in all....it was such a wonderful day! Doug, April, and Frazer had me cracking up so hard at times, I was leaking! Really.....now out of which orifice....you decide! I do have to say that if you want to have a great day, those would be the people I suggest you get with. Maybe our sense of humor is similarly demented.....our maybe 3 brown people and 1 white guy is the perfect combination of person to create a great day!! I'm just saying....

No really..............I'm just saying.......

2009-02-26T10:47:00.003-05:00

The Day Da Black Girl Escapes Da Courthouse!!!

So the saga continues:

As Monica narrowly evades the clutches of jury duty, the horizon appears brighter. The energy escalates as the frenzied celebration begins. Monica comprehends the magnanimity of God in allowing her to be released from her call to civic duty. She raises her hands to the heavens, full of gratitude!
Who knew that escaping jury duty would be included in the myriad of blessings she receives everyday??

Although, if she had been called, Monica would have adopted her father's courtroom pose. She would have applied on her "mean mug" and assumed the "abrasive black man" stance. Her father has tried to instill in her the importance of this stance in intimidating the counsel. Now, Monica has never achieved any real success with this supposed look of menace, but she has only tried to use it once.

Aaaaaaaah, though it can be quite the illuminating adventure to be confined to a room with people from various walks of life who tire very quickly of staring at the movie and each other. You feel the anticipation whenever the intercom squawks; signalling the imminent announcement of juror numbers! You hear the constant ching of coins dropping into the vending machines. You see the blur of people's thumbs as they text whoever they can reach during the work day. And at the end of the day, you feel the massive relief of those who were not picked for a case; yet at the same time, you see the disheartened who were picked and wonder how people in the world can create such chaos.

Whichever you prefer.....Monica is quite content that she did not have to serve this time!!! But she is certain that the rectangular green envelope will soon appear again on her doorstep; inviting her to join the exodus into the courthouse, once more.

2009-02-06T15:25:00.002-05:00

So I have begun an exciting new chapter in "The Life of Monica: Another Professional Student"! Woo-hoo!!!! Don't you just feel the anticipation the new semester brings??? Don't you just want to go to my classes with me to feel what I feel every single Tuesday and Thursday night this semester??? Don't you just love the opportunity to expand your mind just a little more each class? Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeell......me too!

The classes I have this semester are......*drum roll*.............INTR 221 and INTR 227. These classes are going to challenge my mind a lot. They are very exciting classes filled with all the knowledge I'll need to pursue the career I want! Yeah.....now you know all about my classes. Okay...I'm sorry....I should give you the class names. (though it may not help) INTR 221 is my English to Sign Tranliteration class. INTR 227 is my ASL to English Interpretation Class. They both will be challenging in ways I do not like to be challenged. That means I will actually need to go to each class and particpate and do homework and study! I really don't enjoy any of those things!! And since these are some of my harder classes...and my grades are not as high as previous classes.....it's screwing up my dang GPA! Aaaaaaaaah!

So now....to plan for the future.....to continue the saga that is my Professional Student life.....I have made a new decision. I have decided (tho I haven't gone to God for his stamp of approval) to go back for a second Bachelor's degree in Spanish! Then when that is done....I will try for a Master's in Spanish!!!! What, Monica? What???? That's right.....welll....that's the plan anyways.

2009-01-22T16:04:00.003-05:00

Well ladies and gentle"mens".....WE...I mean WE...have a new President of the United States!!!! And guess what???? He's Hi-Yella like meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! This past Tuesday President-Elect Barack H. Obama was sworn in as our 44th President! Our first ever "apparent" black Pres. Who knows.....one of the others may have had a little black in their background somewhere. It's been quite the coupla months. Ever since Obama won the election back in November, the excitement about the upcoming presidential term has increased. Not only have the Americans become very excited about Obama, but a huge number of people in other countries have been excited also. It's quite amazing to see the amount of hopeful people we have in this world.

I am also excited about the possibilities. People kept asking me if I was going to go down to the inauguration in Washington D.C. And I said, "No." But I do think it would have been an amazing event to be a part of. I am excited about the new President, but I am one who needs to see what will happen before I start all of my applauding! Of course we make all the jokes about having a black President. "It's called the Black House now!!!" "If he's president and Hi-yella! I can be President since I'm Hi-yella!" etc....etc. I'll have to work on some other ones!!!! Hee hee!

Barack was here in Baltimore this past weekend! I didn't go down for the either. Supposedly there were like 30,000 people there to hear him speak. I watched his speech on TVthough. He's quite the orator!!!! But it will take some years for this country's future to become more secure than it is right now. It's going to take time and Barack Obama asks us get to work also. He can't do it alone. So hopefully all the people (esp the black city people who are always "It's bout time we got a black person in the White House!) will actually do their part too! Cause they do a lot of complaining about what the former President did to our country when they aren't doing anything to help it themselves!

We'll see right. We'll see!!!!! BLACK PRESIDENT NOW!

2009-01-16T18:10:00.002-05:00

This past Tuesday night my poor Kitty was hit by a car. It was so sad....and until that moment I didn't know how upset by it I was going to be. I lost a little control. I "fell out" as they say here in the city! I came out of a meeting, before which I had just been talking to my cat, and walked down the street to my house. My mom had told me to make sure I let him in before I ran to watch the last hour of American Idol at Doug's apt. I saw Kitty laying on the sidewalk and started asking, "Hey, what you doing? You waiting to go in the house!" But he was still and then I noticed the blood under him. That's when it all became surreal. I was sure that I was mistaken in what was right before my eyes! I didn't see the blood under him or the trail someone left as they dragged him out of the street. I was sure for a moment that it had to be another cat. And as reality began to re-establish itself in my mind, the hiccups began in my breathing. I looked around for anyone I knew that would give me comfort.....anyone who would know what to do next. I couldn't go back into the meeting where my mom was because the door automatically locked. I had seen Sean drive up the street past me to turn around and come back for a parking spot. But I called my sister first and began to cry. I tried to relay that someone had hit our cat....I guess she understood enough to say she was on her way home. But I needed someone immediately. So I started down the street at a fast clip. I saw that Sean had finished parking his car. My mind kept thinking...."Hold it in...hold it in...don't let the neighbors on the street see you lose it!" My hand was up to my mouth psychologically helping to hold in the emotions wanting to loose themselves. I made it to Sean's car. He had seen me coming down the street in his side mirror. As soon as he opened his door my head was on his chest and the emotions poured out. I bawled...something about my cat was dead.....someone's car hit him......i just walked out and thought he was laying on the sidewalk until i saw the stillness and the blood. Sean was very comforting. When I got myself back together we walked up the street because I guess my sister called my mom and told her I was hysterical outside. (an apt description) So we got a box and layered some bags in it. Then Sean helped me scoop him into the box. My father then buried him the next morning!

How devastating it was at that point. My kitty was such a smart cat. He was very loyal, friendly and protective. When you pulled up on the street, he would meet you at the car and walk you to the house. Sometimes he'd want to go in....other times he just made sure you made it up there (ok...sometimes it was the food too!). If he felt you were a safe person, he'd let you come up and pet him while he was lounging on the front wall. If we were sitting in the house, he'd plop himself on top of your feet so you could scratch him with your toes. (occasionally he'd give a love nip) If he tried to enter a neighbor's house (some neighbors would let him in) and you told him no...he'd turn around and go the other way. If he really wanted in the house and he absolutely knew you were home, he'd meow at the front door for a while, then go round the back....meow at the back door and THEN if you were in the kitchen, he'd jump up on the a/c unit and meow while staring at the window. If all else would fail, he'd start scratching at the back door. He was so funny. He winked at me once. I'm not kidding. Sharla saw it.....and Sharla was jealous!!!

GW aka George Washington aka KITTY was an amazing animal. He did catch mice...he kinda retired from catching rats. He loved "playing" with the birds. (don't think the birds loved playing with him.....sorry birds!) He loved climbing trees. He loved people petting him. He loved me. And that's what I'll miss the most! My friend and my security guard.

2008-12-15T14:24:00.002-05:00

So at the moment, I'm at Bryn Mawr subbing for a Chemistry class. Whew...man I don't remember any of the science I learned in school. It's so sad. I looked at the equations they were balancing and fell out! But these 16 girls(in an Honors class) are more behaved than the 9 I had in the regular class. They told me their teacher "hates" their class. They were a little crazy! Bryn Mawr's a fun place to work. I can't wait for summer time! I missed their holiday party last Friday. Sad. But I do have another one for Brick Bodies this Friday.

Do YOU KNOW that I asked that boy last week to go with me to the partythis Friday. I GAVE him two weeks notice! Now he tells me on Saturday night that he wasn't sure. He said, "I keep trying to stay in the house, but you keep dragging me out!" Unh huh!!!! So he said he needed til Wednesday to decide and I said, "No!". I need time to ask someone else to go with me and a day and a half was not going to cut it. So then I told him he was being so difficult about it. I just had a nice party to go to and wanted him to be my date!!! He said I was difficult! So I told him that I was going to have to uninvite him! Cause really....he wants to say reject me to stay in the house?!!!!!!! Anyhow, last night I made sure to ask what his answer was. "No, I'm not going to go." Ok. Fine...then he started saying, "What comes out on Friday (as in movies!)?" I thought to myself, if he said no to being my date because he just wants to stay in the house AND THEN decides he needs to go to a movie INSTEAD.......................That'll be IT!!! Oooooooh, just wait. I guess I did not think that there would be any other answer besides "YES! Of course I'll be your date, Monica. I keep telling you I love you which means I would love to enjoy this special night with you!" PUNK! Oh yeah....I'm feeling the love now! I wish he would go to a movie on Friday night. Armageddon will be happening A LOT sooner than people think!!!! You'll know. You will all feel the storm if it happens. I'm just warning you now!

2008-12-15T13:54:00.002-05:00

Aaaaaaaaaah, doctors!!! I mean I have quite a few friends who are doctors. I have former employers who were doctors. And doctors have saved the lives of families and friends of mine. So doctors are wonderful. We need them....we really do. But why do they have to be so dang expensive?????

I think I have a healthy respect for doctors. My best friend is a doctor. I respect her. A ER doctor found Jack (my ovarian cyst). I respect him for that because that saved me from a LOT of pain. But if one does not have insurance, one can become bankrupt going to see a doctor.

So the week before last, my father called me because he had heard about the heart palpitations I have been having lately. I told my mother about it like months ago and really have not brought the topic back up again. And then out of the blue, my father calls me about it. Sooooooo, he decides that I should go to Patient First. So we did the Friday before last. My parents broke out a credit card for me! (Thanks Mom and Dad!) So I got to go and register. The guy asked why I was there. I explained exactly how my heart had been acting up. (or rather tried because it's kinda hard to explain. I don't feel exactly short of breath as much as a fluttering and warm feeling in the center of my chest.) Well then he sent a message to the back that I had been having some palpitations but not any pain. He told me they would use the EKG and check me out. He asked for insurance. I said I had none. He told me the EKG would cost over a hundred and then the appt. would be between $90-$200. "Wow!", said my mind! THen I went out and warned my father who said, "I think you're worth atleast $500!" (hee hee) Anyhow they did take me in the back....make me get top-naked and then ran the EKG. They also did some blood work just in case I had some vitamin/mineral deficiency. And ran a test to see if I had any thyroid issues. Well the EKG read fine since my heart was behaving itself at the time. Then the bloodwork came back fine also. (Ooops, gotta call bout the thyroid test!) So, the doctor came in with her 'scope and listened again; then recommended that I go to a cardiologist. (Does that sound like more money???) Oh, yeah....I forgot that I had mentioned to her about the weird lumps in my arm. She felt them and said, "They could be some kind of lymphoma...tumors....but you would need to go have someone check them!" (again, to someone else! I should just go to the ER where you get answers the same day!) I kinda like the lumps tho. I make people feel them and it freaks them out!

So the doctor at Patient First (Greenspring Station. Nice place. Thanks, Sharla!) was a kind lady. And she also has my respect since she tried to figure out my problem. (I seem to be the one in the family who ends up with the weird health issues!) But I am in the same position I was before I went.....broke....and not knowing what's wrong with me. BUT now my parents are broke too!! (Sorry Mom and Dad) My father is pushing for me to go to the cardiologist, but really...it's going to have to wait. I guess I better find a full time job that will offer me some benefits!

2008-11-14T12:13:00.007-05:00

Last night I went to see my friend's little 3 day old baby boy. How amazing are babies!! How amazing that such small parts are fit into such a small shell that functions so well! How amazing that people who had NO IDEA they could love SO much....all of sudden have such immense love for a person...albeit a tiny one. It really is amazing. It really does make one appreciate God's power more. Hopefully it makes us appreciate His blessings also. The father of this baby is so in love with his child! He just wants to be with him all of the time. I hope that never changes. I hope his feelings remain the same after the "newness" has worn off a little. This cute little boy will cry, spit up, stay awake all night, poop, fuss, and drive his parents crazy. But isn't it worth it to have such a bundle of joy??? I'd think so. (of course this is coming from a person who has not has no biological children....that she knows of....of her own)

On facebook today, my status states, "....is it that hard to get a baby?". So, people...is it??? I mean really. All my life, I've only wanted to be a mother. Ever since I started babysitting, I have adored children; ADORED them. Whenever we talked in school about what we might want to be when we grew up, I would say a mother. As I got older, I changed that to "domestic engineer", but I wanted to be at home taking care of my spouse and littles. That feeling has not changed. My biological clock started ticking when I was ten years old. Imagine how fast it's ticking 23 years later!!!!!

Since I am nowhere NEAR getting married, I've had to consider what I want to do about this becoming a momma stuff. I mean.....there are options, right? I have considered that if I do not marry, I can always adopt. (which I've kinda already done really. I have my Sarita...she's my baby! And then all the other children that I've watched over the years!!!! I love every single one of them, but I still would like biological ones. So there is always a sperm bank, but that really is so dang impersonal. "Can I get a bottle of your best sperm???" "Can you now implant it in my womb???" Yeah....I don't think so. Sooooooooooo, then I thought, I need it to be a much more personal act, but not so personal that I mean marriage (cause that doesn't seem to be happening). Then I thought of all my male friends who I love and adore. I have so many good guy friends whose children I'd have. I can ask some of them. I can ask for donations!!! Maybe one of these men would love me enough to help me achieve my dream.....will they......would they.......??? So I have approached several about it. And I have gotten mixed answers. One of my Latino friends said yes, but the next time said no (he was dating someone at that time)....then said yes again....and then...well who knows now. I've had another friends say his ESSENCE is just to valuable to give it away. And then another friend who said yes as long as he could give the child its middle name. (Hey....works for me.) But I don't know how serious any of their answers were. I guess I have to wait til I'm financially independent....then we'll see. You all will know when you see me walking around with a huge belly! (well much bigger than the already huge one I have!!!) So if you know any wonderful cute men who would give up of some of their essence to a nice lady who just wants a baby................let me know!!!!! I'm the nice lady!!!!

Babies are beautiful!!!!

2008-10-30T13:18:00.004-04:00

Hellooooooooooooo peoples! It's me again! Yeah!!! A lovely man named Allen Abel, a reporter for the National Post in Canada, mentioned to me that I hadn't written on here for a while. So I thought, "Mr. Allen Abel...you are so right....I should rectify that immediately!" This was all in my head, mind you, but so was the thought: Man, he really does have the quite the voice! I was interviewed last year by Mr. Abel on my thoughts about the upcoming election.

In the beginning of the running....there was a collection of candidates including a black man, a Mormon, and a woman. So Mr. Abel was interested in interviewing a black Mormon woman. Bro. Premont, our institute teacher, suggested me. It was a cool article. Last night Allen Abel and I chatted again about my decision. Would I vote for Obama because he was black? Did religion or sex or race play a part in my decision? I'm sure those do play a part in some people's decision. I'd like to say that if it does...it's not a major part of the decision. I tend to choose the people whose personalities I like; who represent themselves well. We shall see how it goes on Tuesday. But thank you, Mr. Abel, for making me think a little deeper about my decision!

I'm subbing at Bryn Mawr right now. The girls in this science class are using maps to do their lab work. Aaaaaaaah, 7th graders! Cute little children all in the school uniforms...trying so hard to be grown up while still kung fu gripping the fun life of a child. I just want to tell them, "Don't let anyone rip that childhood out of that fist! Hold tight, ladies....Hold tight!"

I've noticed lately that I've been having these weird heart palpitations...a little arrhytmia (sp?).

It started this summer. I've noticed that at random times my heart seems to skip a beat and then jumpstart itself again. Now...this wouldn't seem to bother me if it happened rarely. But I can be just sitting somewhere doing nothing and it does this skipping beats. Not just a coupla times, but pretty consistently. Like every few beats...it's skipping and it feels so weird. I feel kinda warm and it makes it feel like it's hard to catch my breath. It's doing it RIGHT now actually. But it does it when i'm sitting...when I'm standing...while I'm driving....when ever it feels like it. Sometimes it seems rather overwhelming, while other times I'm too busy to notice as much. Supposedly people in their 30s (which I am) start to have random "mis"-beats. (or "miss"-beats..get it...ha ha ha...get it? Miss-beats...I'm missing beats...Woo! I'm funny!) It doesn't happen everyday tho. I can go days without feeling it happen (cause I can feel it) and then a few days (or one or two) with it bugging me. "Hmmm", I say to myself. "What could it be?" Well....I don't know and since I'm not going to the doctor anytime soon, I won't know for a while. I do like to self diagnose myself. (like the time I had the Whooping Cough....that was awful.....you felt like you were dying while you were coughing...and I also fractured a rib as the result of that violent coughing. What an experience!) So I think it may be that I have more anxiety in my life (Who knew Monica worried about things.....school and falling for boys....that'll do it every time!) than I ever remember having. I'm one of the most laid back...not caring...kinda person. And I like to think I am still that person, but mental and emotional stress is strong this year. So maybe it's slight panic or anxiety. That's what I'm sticking with. Anything else seems really scary!

So anyhow, life is fine. I'm still in interpreting classes. And the classes I'm in at the moment, I actually am quizzed on how well I can interpret. It's so scary. I really just don't have the knowledge I feel necessary for such a task! But I'm truckin on! Sometimes I feel I won't ever make it...but just last nite, the long term sub (for my transliteration class) called me over (it was her last class with us) to tell me that she really likes what I say when I voice my interpretation. She just think I hear myself too well while I'm doing it. She said some people don't hear themselves well at all when they should, but I'm opposite. That tends to make me wanna check everything I'm saying and then I'm not paying enough attention to the message I should still be taking in...then I get a little lost...then I'm voicing in phrases and not whole thoughts. That made me feel a lot better because these classes certainly make me doubt myself. But like I said; I'm still trucking!

Life seems much more amazing at time then I ever really thought it would be.....and I haven't even experienced the most amazing parts; like getting married and having families. I'm waiting. I have a young (YOUNG) man that I happen to have an interest in at the moment. And maybe something will happen with him in the future. But we do have some differences in our lives that would involve compromise. He's a good guy with a good heart......and I like that. But he's not at the point I am in my life and I'm not sure that I have the time to wait til he grows up some to reach it. But we'll see....I'm a patient person, aren't I??

2008-09-18T17:04:00.004-04:00

Woooooooooooo, it's a Thursday afternoon/evening! I'm sitting at the operator switchboard at the Bryn Mawr School (where I work part time) subbing for one of the receptionist. It's a cool job. I get to see a lot of people walk in and out of the building. I get to greet most of the staff at some point of the day. Anyhow, I've been here at Bryn Mawr since about 8:3o this morning. I sbustituted for a Middle School History teacher first....then I came to sub at the switchboard. It's been a full day. I get off at 6pm. So I have about an hour left. Wooo-hoooo!!!

I really do enjoy working at Bryn Mawr...but I really don't have a job that would cause many ripples in the politics of the employees here. I believe that's a good thing. I have teachers asking me to sub fairly frequently...and that is also a good thing since I am a broke student.......STILL!!! I swear I'm never going to finish this Interpreter Training Program that I'm attending. It's been a year and a half and I have about that amount of time left. I've enjoyed my classes thus far. My teachers are amazing, but now I have these interpreting classes. Well one is English to ASL Interpreting. The other is English to Voice Transliterating. Now I actually have to use the signing skills that I have to really try to practice interpreting. Of course......since I'm taking classes, I will be tested on the use of those "supposed" skills. Did my teachers not realize that it was all a facade??? How did I sneak past them in this program. Ah well. And then the skill levels of my fellow classmates varies just enough so that it can be intimidating to watch those who sign quite well. It all can be very discouraging. But I will continue to strive to attain that of improvement......mentally and financially. =oP

Anyhow, it's been a good day. Tiring, but nice. I will go home and if not fall asleep, go to institute at the church. We just started to study the New Testament. Always a good book...always. Or at some point I might avail myself of Sean's company. Okay, so I see him everying day/night, but he's my babycakes. LOL! Don't let him know that though! Hahahhaha!

I house/petsit for one of the people I work with. That'll be a house for me all weekend long! Woo-hoo! AND I have permission to have whoever I want over. Yeah for me!!!!! Partaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! Call me people. Ya'll call me!

Okay....I'm a little more awake now. I will go back to watching the switchboard....waiting for the tiny flashes of light that tell me that someone is wanting to talk to some person about something at the school! Actually the lights can be kinda pretty if you look at them with your eyes all squinty. ooooops, there go the lights at the side of my eyes! Phone call!

2008-07-14T15:36:00.004-04:00

Woo....I looooooooooooooooooove amusement parks. So Saturday, I went off to HERSHEY PARK. For those on the wrong side of the country.....Hershey Park is the land of chocolate. Yes, it is the park built by the man who started the company that makes some of the best candy in the world. A loooooooooooooooooong long time ago....there was a man with the last name Hershey. And this man did a wonderful thing for the world (not so wonderful for some addicts I guess...but whatever). It all started in Pennsylvania. That's right...in PA!!! So anyhow...there are so lovely attractions in PA because of Hershey...and the amusement park is one of them. So I went to the park with my friends, Sean (and his momma and brother), Ray and Kenny. They are all really good friends who grew up together. Sean is one of my best friends.....the other two are pretty cool also!

We WERE supposed to leave about 12:30pm on Saturday. Why that late? Cause Kenny usually works early morning and wouldn't get off til late morning! But little did we know he ended up having off, but we still left later. But around 12:30 while I was waiting outside, I got a call saying the the boys weren't ready. I guess they felt they weren't quite pretty enough yet so we pushed the time back an hour. I KNEW they weren't going to be ready by 1:30. But I took my stuff (around 1:15pm) and sat on Sean's front steps to await our leaving time. Yep, altho Sean and his family were ready, the other two were still late. So we didn't really leave til almost 2:30. So we arrived at the park after 3:30. That's kinda late, but ah well...we made it, right? So Sean's family was not up to the big roller coasters. So they split off from me and da boys. We just checked in with them every once in a while! (Oh, for the six of us.....we took 3 cars! Why again? Well Sean's family felt it was good to take theirs for them, Kenny didn't really want his car full for some reason, but I rode with him. Then Ray has the tendency to just want to have his car always available in case he decides he needs to leave!! Yeah....hmmm.)

The weather was good. They rides were fun. I brought my bathing outfit (just in case....and heaven knows I don't like to show off anything in a suit), but the boys were into the rides instead. Ray and Sean didn't want to get wet anyhow. Of course Kenny followed suit. Even tho he bought his trunks! We first tried to get on the Comet...but it broke down while we were in line. The cars got stuck on the first hill. I'm always grateful that I'm not one of the people on the ride when it gets stuck! Whew! So we picked the SuperDooperLooper instead. That was good. We also rode the Great Bear.....your feet hang on that one. We rode the Flying Falcon with Sean's family. That was quite relaxing...you lay in a pod while it spins your circle of pods around and raises you high in the air. Then at the top, it stops and the spins you in an even faster cirlce....then slows down and lowers ya back to the ground. I was so relaxed...I kept yawning and da boys commenting on me falling asleep on the ride! It was nice! Then I know we at lunch/dinner at some point! Whatcha expect at a park....almost $20 for a meal. Shooooooot. I should've taken myself out to Mickey Ds on the way home or something. There were a couple of bridges we walked over that had geese and ducks en masse. So i begged Sean for a quarter (there were gumball machines with corn kernels) so I could feed the animals. I'm such a child! I did it again a second time.....Sean and Ray contributed to my "feed fund". We tried this ride called the Claw! That also felt lovely once we got the seats situated....i went with a bunch of skinny boys so i sat in the seat for the larger people..aka fat people. As long as I fit!!!!!!! Let's seeeeeeeee, we also went on the new ride, The Fahrenheit. It's a strait up and down slope in the beginning. It was alright......but then we hit the real fast ride....the Storm Runner. That took of at a fast clip! There were twists and twirls and loops and shakin.....oh and rattling too!!!! Since I was sitting next to Sean....he swore I screamed on the ride! "What you talkin bout, Sean?" I don't scream on rides!!!! But he said that it sounded so close but he couldn't turn his head to check. (see what happened was the girl behind us was quite loud as she screamed her head off....) So we went down to look at the photos.....I'll have to scan in onto here, but I'm in the picture looking like I'm Sunday driving....relaxed and smiling. Sean's next to me with his tongue out and an intense expression. Ray's in front of me with his face all scrunched up and squinting. Then Kenny's in front of Sean with one eye open really wide and his mouth open! It's the funniest photo. So we all bought a copy! I was like, "Sean....look at that photo....does it look like I was the one screaming?" Yeah......no!!!! Anyhow, it was a really good time. So then we found the rest of Sean's fam (the rides started closing down) and headed back to da big city!

Now there were some interesting dynamics. Always is going to be when you have one girl with three boys. But lemme tell ya....I got my arms pinched........biceps vise squeezed........back pushed......head locked......shoulder shaken.......shoulders massaged.....hand held.....cheeks kissed.....wants ignored........wishes granted......soooooooo overall, it was a great day!!!!!!!! I mean really....at the end I really wanted a Icee. But I only had a few more dollars on me. Sean offered to give me the money for the rest. (aaaaawwww, thanks honey!) So the first place I saw had those souvenir cups that make it all like $7. I thought and then said nah. (Ray kept tellin me to just hit 7-11 on the way home.....much better prices) But then I found the place with the paper cups....only $3 something. Yeah...so I was given the extra needed change and got my Icee. The boys let me stop saying "If that's what she wants....let her get it!" Good boys!!!! Thanks!

So ultimately.....I was treated kinda like a princess......in a way.....right? The Princess of Hershey Park??!!!! The Chocolate Princess?????? Hmmmmmmmm......

2008-06-10T11:38:00.000-04:00

Hello people!!! What's going on? Today is a loverly...yet quite warm day in Baltimore City. City of Compton...it keeps me rooooooockiiiiiiiiin.....wait...that's Tupac's song. My bad, people...my bad!!!! ANYWHOOOOOO....the summer programs here at The Bryn Mawr school start next week. So I was here finishing up paperwork. Then since we haven't had internet at home for atleast a year, I decided to check my email also! Good for me. I'm gonna be leaving soon, but I'm scared to go back out in the hot weather. I didn't sleep very well last nite because it was so DANG steamy in the house(the ceiling fan just circulated the hot air...yuck)! Or maybe it was because I was awaiting a phone call.....hmmmmmmmmm.....maybe the phone call. All I can say is that boys are silly. Then I'd like to add that girls are even sillier cause we keep trying to deal with the silly boys. Ah well....it's what life is about, huh?!!! Weeeeeell, in my opinion....and yes it is humble, life can stow it!

I am really wanting a beach trip. I've seen a few of my Latinos lately and I really would like to get them together and "vamos a la playa"! We used to be so much more carefree. I miss it...and them!!!!! Tho my Juanito just got himself engaged not too long ago! Yeah Juanito..to our good friend, Tracine. I'm proud of mi marido. He manned up!!!! Dats mi chulo! Anyhow, back to da beach.....I keep asking da black people I hang out with about the beach, but they don't want to sit in the heat....or get darker.....or play in dirty water! Yes, it can be dirty, but that's what showers are for later!!! Geez, mon!

Hmmm....i guess this was just a short note to let everyone (including myself) know that I'm still around and kicking. By the way...I think the movie "Bucket List" comes out today. Ya'll should all see it!!! It's fantastic. Abso-dang-lutely!

2008-03-28T23:19:00.000-04:00

Hello again. I'm writing from the LONE STAR state! Can ya believe it?? I'm in Texas!!!! Yee-haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw! It's been a stomping grand time down here. I've decided to conform and start wearing my tight Wranglers, 25 gallon hat and then the real pointy cowboy boots! Woo!!! If ya'll could see my Hi-Yella self now!!!!!! I fit right in with all the Latinos here in El Paso!

Yeah...conforming.....hmm...I'll have to think about that a little more. Anywhooooooo, I'm here visiting my best friend and her family! Her girls are so dang cute! I'm got white nieces. I got white nieces!!!!

I'm going to have to finish my trip explanation another time tho. And add photos!!! OK?

2008-02-27T20:14:00.001-05:00

I am back because it did happen. The matriarch of our family has passed through the veil. My grandmother is finally free of physical pain. I believe she's in paradise at peace for now. What a woman she is! She has such a big heart and enormously generous spirit. I envy those in paradise with whom she comes in contact. She looked very peaceful in her stillness this morning.

My family is okay for now. We really are emotionally strongest when we are together as a unit. We also were prepared (as well as one can be) for this time.

We will miss you, Grandma....with all of our hearts. You taught us, you cared for us, you loved us.......if we can but continue your legacy. May God bless you in the next part of your journey. Mayhap we will all join you in the kingdom with God.

We love you.

2008-02-26T17:14:00.000-05:00

Well.....two blogs in one day. It's because we are all over here at my grandmother's house. We're gathering together....which makes us quite the force of nature. I got out of work today and had a message from my brother. HE had received a message from our family saying that the nurse is giving my grandmother 24 hrs. One day.....twenty four hrs.....1440 minutes..86,400 secs. Oh...that's better. That's a lot of time then. 86,400 secs seems like a lot of time. It's okay, Monica...it's okay.

*Sigh* I prayed that Heavenly Father would not let her reside too much longer in her mortal diseased body. I did. I want her released from that type of prison. And it seems he has answered that for me. So we wait. Thank goodness my family is light hearted.....because as soon as someone gets emotional...I lose it. We sit here and tell stories and eat and watch movies. We are biding the time. I don't think I've ever bided (is that a word) time in this way. We'll be at peace with grandmom gone, but we'll miss her sorely. We sure we'll miss her. I sure will miss her. But the heavens will sure be lucky to have her!!!

2008-02-26T09:20:00.000-05:00

It's me again......wandering thru this maze we all call life! Sometimes I think I need to have more checkpoints along the way in the maze....this puzzle of my life's journey. Or maybe I am not taking any notice of the checkpoints that ARE there. Maybe I bypass them thinking I AM on the right path. I really do not take advantage of my priveleges as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I do not use prayer anywhere as much as I should....or take advantage of the gift of the Holy Ghost that I received. I know Heavenly Father is just waiting for me to ask for His wisdom on my life's path. Yes...maybe I have blinded myself to the checkpoints. Perhaps I am scared to take a look at the path I've trod thus far because I know it has not been as straight as it should. I do not want to see how close I've gotten to the mist...the darkness; how far I am from the iron rod leading me to God. Enough introspection......I've never been a good one for it.

Right now I am substituting at the Bryn Mawr School. The Global Studies teacher in the middle school is sick today. The girls do not like their Global subject. Ah well. I remember not enjoying some subjects in school. The ladies are cute...but too full of life (a nice way to saw 'rowdy'). It's fun subbing here.

My family is realizing how much older we are getting. My grandmother is not doing very well at all. My mom and her siblings (and my grandma's sisters) are all taking care of her while she is in hospice care at home. I am glad that she is home because that makes it easier to visit her. But it certainly is hard to watch her health deteriorate. I know I sit with her and just looking at her want to cry. I am sure it is harder for my mom. I was here on Thursday and she could still talk and respond to us. I came back on Sunday and I was shocked. Her breathing is labored and she's seems so little. She can no longer speak or respond or move really. Our family is great when we're together. But when I'm alone it hits me much harder. We'll see how she does. She is such a BEAUTIFUL person; physically and spiritually. She has a wonderful soul. I hope to be like her one day. Maybe when I finally utilize the checkpoints Heavenly Father has installed for us; for me!!!

2008-01-30T15:27:00.000-05:00

I've decided that life is not going to become any less mysterious as I grow older. You think that as you learn more....hopefully become wiser.....that the mists in your eyes start to clear. NOPE! You find out there are more and more and MORE things to learn.

This past Sunday....the Prophet of my church, President Gordon B. Hinckley, passed away. The great man was 97 years old. He lived a great life. He was loved very much by the members of the church because of his concern for and service to all the people of the world. What a wise, magnificent man!!!! I am happy that he gets to rest and be reunited with his wife. But I am also sad that I will not actively hear his words for a while. May God bless The Prophet greatly for the many years of service he performed. May God bless me with the strength to learn to follow the example President Hinckley was to me.

Now I haven't posted on this blog in a very long time. Our internet at home has been defunct for almost a year now. Wow!!! So I don't nearly have the time to just sit and blog a little. But since I'm at school very early today......ta DA!!!! I'm still in school....learning how to interpret from English to Sign Language and vice versa. I'm still enjoying my program. I must be learning something....I'm still going. My family is good for the moment. Grandma is still fighting her cancer. It is really hard to watch sometimes, but I love to see her. I'm sure it's harder for my mom and aunt then it ever is for me. I don't want to ever watch my mom go thru something like this. But Grandma is a wonder. She just keeps on ticking. And work is fine. I'm still working one day a week at Lynne Bricks, but I also work at The Bryn Mawr School. It's an all girl private school in the city. During the summer (like last summer and this coming) I am the Assistant Director of Summer Progams. During the school year....I am a Proctor for the Middle school. I watch the girls a coupla days a week when they get out of school. We wait for their parents to pick them up. It's a great job. The people that work at the school and the students are great!!

Socially.......hmmmmm.....I'm still in the Young Singles ward here tho I'm not really Young Single Adult anymore. Ah well. So that's still fun. And I have neighbors I hang out with a lot. And then there's a couple of guy I talk to that I met out and about. So I guess that's fine too.

Anyhow.....any questions or detail requests....lemme know. I'm glad that people are still doing their bloggin sooooooooooo much better than I.

2007-03-28T22:51:00.000-04:00

For those of you who have heard the stories of da crazy people in my neighborhood. Weeeeeeeell....i got another one for you. This one made me go home and wash up a little. And put some perfume on because I felt the need to cover the psychological stench! Okay...so I go to see my little cute baby neighber, Unique, and her mom, Crystal.....Jimmy is Crystal's boyfriend....and the source of many of my stories. Well I'll let this tale begin..........

I was over on their porch yesterday to see da baby and her momma. Some drunk junkie friend of Jimmy's came to the house so he sat out on the porch too. Jimmy introduced us....also made comments like "monica ain't got no man...he needs someone too, Monica...blah blah blah". So somehow this guys comments on my dimples and starts calling me that. "Hey Dimples"...yuck. So I leave and he was hoping i'd come back over later I guess(atleast that what he told me tonite. "I was waiting for you to come back over yesterday, Dimples....". SO just now...today..tonite...I dropped over by the house cause Crystal had called me and Jimmy needed the phone..so I couldn't talk to her on it. Well when I come in...Jimmy has some other friend I should meet...and *warns* me that the guy from yesterday is in there too and he "really likes you, Monica". So I meet the new guy (barely leaning into the room to say hi...planning to escape up the stairs to Crystal and da baby) but the junkie guy gets up..."Hi dimples...hey..how you doing,dimples". Crystal hearing that I'm stuck comes downstairs (thank goodness). This junkie guy comes and grabs my hand...leans in and kisses me on my cheek (TWICE). Then continues holding my hand...I"m trying to slid it out....Crystal seeing my dilemma...hands me Unique so I can hold her. The guy decides he has to come closer to me...grabs my arm.....and puts the other on my back (rubbing) ALL IN MY FACE saying..."I need to ask you something, Dimples..I gotta talk to u" (I know this is a long story!) Leans right into my side, "Hey..can I take u to a movie or something." Still in my FACE!!!! I try to lean back from him. Crystal is trying to say "you ready to go upstairs, Monica". Jimmy's talkin in the background..."man...that's her polite way of sayin she's not interested...man..." (Mind u, he started this....purposely i'm sure!) I tell da junkie that I have a guy I hang out with (Sorry for the lie, Heavenly Father!). Does that make him back off immediately??? I'm still trying to pull away and go upstairs...still holding da baby....and trying to play with her enough that he'll stop touchin me. As I try to go...he leans in to try and kiss my neck...THANK THE HEAVENS I started walkin away and he really got my jacket! WOOOOOOOOW!!!! How nasty is that??? AND THEN to get out of the house....I had to sneak downstairs so they wouldn't hear me leaving! Whew!

I honestly came home.....and washed everywhere he touched with antibacterial soap...and really HOT water. Who da heck......? Why you touchin me, maaaaaaaaan?! I just can't tell people to back off. I need to learn how to do that properly. I'm not going to be able to go anywhere near that house if that guy keeps hanging around. How do these weird things happen to me? Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck! I'm totally disgusted. I had just gotten some Klondike bars at the store before I came home. I was all excited about having one. I've lost my dang appetite! Well desire for some sweet goodness.....LOST IT!!! Geeeeeeeeeez, people.....I think I threw up a little in my mouth.

2007-03-13T23:29:00.000-04:00

Wow....people...wow. It has been quite a while. I'm sorry. I was doing so well with keeping up with what's going on in "The World of the Hi-Yella Heifer"! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell! Let's see. It's now March.....and I'm busy. My father's birthday was just yesterday! Ummm...there were a lot of birthdays this month. Ummm....school is great except for the reading, studying and testing part. But all the rest of it........................It's GUUUUUUUUUUUUD....or good. Whatever!

Church is good. Tho I'm not keeping up with the Joneses spiritually as I should. I know it. I haven't been reading my scriptures daily or praying anywhere NEAR AS MUCH as I should. Please don't follow my example. And I can tell that I'm not as strong as I need to be. Yes, you should be disappointed in me. How can I affect others in a positive way if I'm not setting a righteous example????? But I do and will always love going to church and learning about the gospel. Always!!!!

I been fighting myself emotionally..........for the last coupla months. I have drama going on in the life of Monica. That doesn't usually happen with me. So it's more difficult. I'm fine...as long as I don't think about it. But that last about half a day. And then....bam......then I'm upset until I find something to distract me. Thank goodness Baltimore has a lot of distractions. I'm just seiously heartbroken over.....well..........stuff and I'm trying to let it roll off my shoulders. Doesn't seem to wanna work really. There's a part of me that's not as full as it once was and it's kinda devastating at times. Nah...it's nothing most of you could fix....tho I know you would try. I know what needs to happen, but I think I have to be patient until it does. This is one situation I do not control myself....unfortunately. Otherwise I would have fixed it already. I don't think I've ever been seriously heartbroken before. It knocks the breath out of me sometimes. Wow! The things I learn thru experience.

Anyhow..........Monica does as Monica always does. Lives in the moment. I gotta learn to set goals and plan ahead one of these days. Hahahahahaaaaaaaaaaa! Like that'll happen!

2007-01-24T23:23:00.000-05:00

I've been told that I should publish 5 things that ya'll don't know about me!!!!!!!! Hmmm......I'm not one that hides my light under a bushel, ya know. I'm kinda out there with all the many talents I hold. Geeeeez, you want me to find something I haven't let people know about me???? Wooooooooooooooow! Let me THINK....

#1 I know I'm black, but I really do not like chitluns! I know it's hard to believe. BUUUUUT, nonetheless it's true. I have tried them. Won't do it again.

#2 I once had this undiagnosable (is that a word) rash when I was ten. CRAZY! It only manifested itself on the right side of my body. If you cut me right down the center....the rash wouldn't have crossed the line. The doctors (Hopkins doctors....uh huh! and a conference of them too) came thru to look at me. It was like 20 doctors! I was so upset. Then at one point there were only female doctors in the room so they were looking at my bottom and then the door opened and the male doctors were all "Oooops, sorry...we''ll wait!" Yeah...not a good memory. I had "scars" from that rash for yeeeeeeeears! Both physically and mentally.

#3 I really am a shy person. I know most of you don't believe it. But iiiiiiiiit's true. I'm very insecure and I don't really like going outside my comfort zone...AT ALL. I'll do it, but it sure takes a LOT of effort. I really am too obsessed with what people think of me!

#4 Hmmmmmmmmm...ooooooooh. I have a cyst on my ovary! It's been there for years. Some of my friends named it. So we call it Jack. I do have some physical oddities don't I??? Yeah...Jack and I.....we love each other. I don't think we'll ever part!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAND finally.................................................................................................
#5 I am part Native American. I'm of the Sharanig family in the Negrokee Tribe. It goes waaaaaaaaaaaaay back! My great grandmother was full blooded native. Yeah............i just wish I got some of her physical charateristics. Ah well.

OKay...........that's it for the moment. Thanks, Nancy for tagging me with this. If any of the rest of you out there have a blog...........and haven't done this yet. Post 5 things we don't know about you! K? Love ya'll.

2007-01-04T23:30:00.001-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's the year 2007. I cannot believe how quickly time is passing. The scriptures do say there will be a rushing in.......well, I cannot keep up with how fast everything is happening. Sooooooooooo, a new year to celebrate a new beginning. Everyone begins the year with all these goals (aka resolutions) they hope to accomplish. Everyone ponders on the changes needed in their life, figures what goals would best be accomplished this year and then tries to actually achieve them! WOW!!!!! Yeeeeeeeeeeeah. I am just not that good. I know I'm not going to reach my goal. So I stopped making resolutions! Kinda lame of me??? Probably. But ah well! Atleast I'm not the one disappointed when I fall short of my desires! Hmmm.....am I right???? I do not think setting goals is bad. No, no...not at all. I think it's a worthwhile endeavor. Maybe just not for me. LOL!!! I really do have things in my mind that I know I need to work on this year. Well not even this year.....just things I need to work on. And if I was completely honest with myself, I could say I have mental resolutions. I could say...... But I won't. I am excited that another year has come to pass. I enjoy getting older. I enjoy seeing how old I can become without getting any smarter or wiser. It's become a game. I don't think my mom likes the game very much. But I've always been one to entertain myself. Hey......gotta get my jollies from somewhere. I try not to make fun of other people very much. So HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE! I hope that you all accomplish your resolutions no matter how much of a waste of time I think they can be. Good LUCK!

2006-11-26T23:26:00.000-05:00

Obviously I have had some extra time...cause here I am again. Hi everyone! Hiiiiiiii. Hmmm...sometimes I am not sure how candid I want to be on this blog; how much do I want to share. Weeeeeeeeeell, I'm not sure. So we'll just see what comes out. I remember at the end of one of my blogs....I said something about being a very loving person. I do love people and sometimes my love is too much for a single person to handle. I think that's why I have a number of best friends. I'm not kidding. I think I could probably love someone to death like that little girl, Elmira, from Tiny Toons. Soooooooooo, I try not to overwhelm too many people by spreading the love around. I'm not sure if it really works.

The problem is I get very attached to people. If I care for you and enjoy being in your company, I will want to spend as much time with you as allowed. But of course, everyone isn't like me. People do tend to like some alone time. I'm not really like that. I'd rather be with someone (unfortunately for some people). I prefer to entertain people.....make them laugh...happy...whatever. So I try not to get so attached to people that I want to talk to them or see them every single day. But I fail at that a lot. So what can I do to not become so attached????? Isolate myself most of the time so I adjust to being alone? That kinda what I'm leaning towards.

I used to have this really good friend; a guy friend. He was with me all the time. Weeeeeeeell, the majority of our time we were together. We talked during the work/school day and then we hung out afterwards. It was only a friendship, but it was such a good friendship. I LOVED...absolutely LOVED this man. Well I still love him....but he has a different life now than he had then. He was mine in a way. I knew he wanted to hang out with me.....or talk to me. We were close enough for me to be secure in our friendship. I loved it, but I'm afraid that's what I'm looking for again. Someone who is "mine" onto whom I can concentrate a lot of time and love. How can I learn that not everyone has that much time to dedicate to me??? How do I learn to understand that the relationship I had previously with my friend was a great one, but may not be repeated?? And how do I learn not to feel slighted when someone cannot spend as much time with me as I'd like with them????

If you have advice....please leave me comments or email me. I need the help. But in the mean time as a warning.....unless you want me to suffocate you with the love I have inside....tell me when you're tired of me. I wish people would just be up front about that. I do want to hang out with you, but lemme know when you're tired of me. I respect that!!!!!!!

2006-11-25T17:14:00.000-05:00

I just had an epiphany. I was going thru some old emails.....ran across some from the friend I'm no longer speaking with....and had some thoughts. (We used to have the best conversations. It took me reading the emails to remember that!) Yes, yes....I still miss this friend a whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooole lot. I probably miss this friend too much for what's gone on, but ah well. My heart has always been a softie. So while I was thinking....I came to the conclusion that this friend is a masochist. I believe this friend misses the relationship we had. I believe this friend still wanders about me and my life as I do this friend's. But this friend continues to try and keep themselves away from me. Why? Why is that?

Of course I could be wrong.....I'm wrong a lot (don't tell anyone..sssssssh!), but I don't think so. But I bet this friend would debate it. From the emails and other misc. things from this friend, there seemed to be mutual caring in our friendship. But IF...IF i am WRONG, then there sure has been a lot stories over a very long period of time! And not from me!

2006-11-25T16:20:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!! What a wonderful holiday! So fulfilling temporally, and possibly spiritually also...if one has the right frame of mind. I do not quite know what my mind was this time. Well.....I am very thankful for so many things; my life, my religion, my family and friends, God's beautiful world and whatever else with which the Lord has seen fit to bless me. I really have an abundance of blessings and privileges. I know I do not show the appreciation and gratefulness I should for them. Heavenly Father, please continue to forgive me that. I know I need to work on it.

But I really am thankful for my family. Again....my family is very good to one another. With my grandmother's therapies, everyone tries to help. AND one of those people who helped out a lot was my cousin, Broderick. We love Broderick. He would come to my grandmother's house and do work for which she no longer had the energy. Broderick would do housecleaning, outside work or run to the store for my grandmother (his aunt). But it seems that my cousin passed away this past week in his house. I do not yet know the circumstances of his dying. We just know we expected to see him this past Friday at my grandmother's, but no one heard from him all weekend long. Someone went to check early this week at his place and found him. Two years ago my uncle died in a similar situation. Tho they both died alone, I hope my cousin and uncle knew how much we all loved them. Or rather love them, because I know we still do. Altho they may have felt alone physically, I pray they did not feel that way in their hearts and souls because of the love in our families.

Because of Broderick's death and the reminder of my uncle's....Thanksgiving was not as lively as it may have been. But we still enjoyed being together with the family that was there. I am grateful to those family members who each make life fuller for me....and hopefully for each other. May we all be thankful this season for the family and friends who care for us. We aren't alone....you are never alone. God does not want us to feel alone. He waits for us to ask for his help and comfort and presence. I am grateful that He is so patient with a wandering soul such as me; one who does not ask for His help nowhere near as much I need to. I know I have to learn to humble myself and follow the path He marks as best for me.

2006-11-13T14:46:00.000-05:00

It's meeeeeeeeeee AGAIN! Wow! I'm keepin on top of this bloggin thang! Go Monkita! Woo!! Anyhow......this is going to be short....I think. Life is fine at the moment. I'm not so emotional. Probably cause my grandmother is doing alright. But we'll see cause she does start chemotherapy this week. We'll see how she is in a few weeks. She's lost her hair from the radiation therapy. My grandma's head is so cute bald. What a woman she is. I love her more as I get older because I appreciate her more and understand her life more. Thanks, Heavenly Father, for blessing my grandmother!

Church is great. I'm not doing all I should to be as spiritually strong as I should, but I still love the gospel. I know this gospel is true and thru it that I can live with God again. I feel for those people on this earth who go thru life not knowing of their divine potential.....without knowing how great they can be. I mean I'm not living up to my potential as much as I should, but I know I have it...I know it's there.

My family is good. Lately it's only been me and my sister at the house cause my mom is staying at my grandmother's mostly. My dad.....he's around when he wants to be. And my brother?????????? Who the heck knows. But we still love each other lots and lots. My sister's one of my best friends. We do almost everything together. Sure we get on one another's nerves sometimes, but that just means we care about what the other thinks. That's all.

My friends.....they are good too. I love my friends. They keep life so exciting for me. Aaaaaaaaah, what would I do without them. They love and support no matter what's going on. What more could I want out of life??? And my best girl friends......they are integral to my living. I'm serious. Ya'll are da best....all that and a sprinkle of Old Bay seasoning. Yummers....love Old Bay!!!!! (East coast...Chesapeake Bay rocks!)

Now boys.....hmmmmm...getting tired of them. Weeeeeeeeeeell, not all of them. Some are dang cute..... will smith...and some just drive ya crazy.........will smith cause he married someone else. Isssssssss all good tho. I ain't mad at 'im. I ain't mad. LOL! I like boys/men. (I'm bisexual cause I like da mens and da boys! That's a quote..ask me about it someday.) But I have so dang many of them. What do i do?!!!! I'm kidding boys.....joseph knows he's my only....right...john daniel too, my only.......y tu juanito...tu eres mi marido.........and p. diddy, u know ur my number one.........and jaye...definitely my only!!!! Haaaaaaaaaaaa! Ya'll love me. You know you do!

So, at the moment..............that stuff is okay. I'll fill ya'll in with the rest of it another day! Til then, my loves...my family....my friends......tootles.

2006-10-26T09:30:00.002-04:00

Well....hello again. It's been another month. That's probably how it'll be on this blog. I mean I write in my journal only like every six months or so. So you should feel priveleged that I do better on here. Weeeeeeeeell, aren't you? Geez, ginas. So let's see....well the "friend" I no longer speak with, I am still no longer speaking with. (i know....hanging prepostion) I still miss this "friend"; not everyday like I was, but almost. I've been speaking to a couple of my best friends about it. They both believed the friendship was not as healthy for me as a friendship should be. But they both are very understanding as to why I miss my "friend". Sometimes to a point of heartsoreness. (yes, it is in the Webster's Dict....okay not it's not.) And I hate it at times. I hate that I'm so weak as to miss this "friend". It's my "friend's" fault that we are where we are now. Ah....son of a.....whatever. I'll work it out. And then I thought I was all emotional last month. Geeeeeeeeeeeeez, it doesn't compare to now. My grandmother, who "beat" her diagnosis of ovarian cancer two years ago, went into the Emergency Room back on the 18th of September. She had been sick for a couple of weeks. And we always worry it has something to do with the cancer returning when she feels ill. The other times she's been sick...it usually ended up just being a cold or something. Well this time my aunt ran her to the ER and they found a good sized tumor in her brain. (the cerebellum...it affects her mobility and stuff) Man, these last two years....I think I had gotten to the point where I was quite optimistic about her beating the cancer. Well she really has been doing well. So she was diagnosed with the brain tumor. That's why she had been feeling nauseous and having headaches. Those first coupla days....WOW. My grandmother is a strong woman who doesn't like when people have to care for her. There were a lot of upset children (hers) over her attitude in the ER. "I'm fine...go do what you have to do.....I don't want you to have to stay here....and I have to think of what I am going to do because I don't want to be a burden to you all!" She had us worried about what she might do so that we wouldn't have to care for her. It upset my mom a lot. I sat with her in the ER and she was worried about what everyone else was doing. She tried to give me money for driving her around. This woman is in the ER with a brain tumor and she just WILL NOT LET GO and let us care for her. I told her to go back to sleep. Anyhow...she had surgery to remove the tumor. Now she's in radiation therapy to make sure it's gone. The doctor was the same doctor who performed surgery on my grandfather's brain the year before. Great doctor. He thinks he got all the tumor out. So we were happy about that, but then later the next week they told us she had more cancer around her kidneys. My poor grandmother. So now she has to go thru chemo therapy again after she's done all the radiation (which she has for 15 days. she goes every day of the main work week). It has been scary. Our family from Tennessee has come up to visit and to help. My mom and her siblings are all pitching in and taking turns. My aunt (the oldest) is retiring early to help out. It all scares the heebies out of me. I have odd crying bouts. I watch an emotional movie and now I don't just have tears running down my face, I actually bawl. Sometimes I tear up or cry for no apparent reason. But she is doing very well. We had a lot of prayers and support for her surgery last month. Thank you to every single one of you who contributed to the well wishes. And the love continues. God loves my grandmother a lot. He shows it in how he heals her. She has a lot of faith in Him and the Lord. She really is a good example to me. Thanks, Grandmama, for your spirit, love and example. What an update, huh? It seems like sad times, but we are very blessed. My family is close anyhow....but we just bond more as a result of needing each other. (excpet one punk person....such a punk!) I'll try not to be such a watering pot around everyone. Forgive me if my emotions kinda freak you out! Ha ha! Life really does give us some great experiences!!! I have to say as a whole.....my life has been great. I've been spoiled by Heavenly Father, Jesus.......by family and friends. I probably do NOT appreciate all I have. I am pretty sure I don't. I'll work on that too. But please continue to pray for my grandmother. I thank you. All I have to offer is my love. I do have a lot of that to offer......actually to omuch for most to handle alone. But that's for another post......

2006-09-11T13:57:00.000-04:00

People....it's been a month. It seems I am not much of a blogger. I apologize...but like anyone cares. I'm sure noone reads this but myself. Ah well. I've been a little more emotional this past month than normal. While watching movies that normally just make me tear up a litte, I've been bawling. It's been kinda crazy. I been more nostalgic than normal too.....just overall more apt to think things that have me holding back tears. I've been denying that I may be upset about anything happening with me. But why keep hiding from myself.....my feelings?

It seems I lost a friend. Yes, me...monica...yes. And not just someone who is like an every once in a while connection. I lost someone with whom I shared my thoughts, emotions, desires and fantastic dreams; someone I opened my heart to trust. I don't quite know what happened. But the loss didn't happen because i wanted it to. All this month I've been telling myself that it's better this way....that I'm fine. AND that may be true, but if I'm honest with myself, I don't see it that way yet. If you know me, you know I treasure my friendships. Everyone brings something that fills different parts of me....of my soul. This friend was no different.....and now there's a little emptiness where I miss the friendship. I don't replace friends. So the little emptiness will always be there. And that makes me sad. I constantly find myself wanting to call up this friend; when something interesting happens, when i get excited about stuff, when i become worried. I want to know how well my friend is doing. I want to know about my friend's family. How can you make yourself stop caring for someone you've known close to ten years??? I am not a person who just lays people aside, who can just forget about someone I care about.

Other people say it's my friend's loss because it was not me that chose to end the friendship. I should agree, but it is my loss too. I pray that time really does heal all.....lessen the emotion. Then as time passes, I will not be so dang weepy. I won't have such a strong urge to call or write or text. I pray that this friend gained something good from the what we shared. I pray that all this friend wants, and more, happens. Does that surprise you? That I want the best things for this friend still??? I hope not. If I care...should I feel bitterness? I struggle hard enough to be a fraction of what Christ is. I do not want to harbor bad feelings that would detract from the effort I'm making. I sincerely pray my friend is happy.

It seems I lost a friend. Does it hurt? Yes, though I try to act like it doesn't. Do I still miss my friend? Yes, I'm sure I always will to some extent. Am I sorry for the friendship? NEVER! Tell me.....how could I be.....I shared and felt with, I hopefully gave to and received from this friend. Isn't that what connections are about...even for a short time???

2006-08-03T11:11:00.000-04:00

Hmmm....i've been thinking lately. Weeeeeeeeeeell, not really, but it sounds good. It seems that I turned 31 last week on July 26th. Yeah, Happy Birthday to me!!!(one of my best friends, Fabiola, threw me a surprise party at my house that evening. I was surprised. I heard people were coming up, but I though it was family. Then I had been out to dinner with my great friend, Sharla, who also knew about the surprise. Sneaky sneaky. It was a good time. We had a porch party. Thanks to all of you who came to see me and give me your well wishes.) I'm 31 years of age and haven't really done anything people would call very constructive with my life. I don't have a career at the moment. I have a college degree I'm not using. And I've been told I have a brain i'm not really using either. Kinda sad, you say? Yeah well. My life, to this point, has been very....um...fairly easy. Don't ask me how i've gotten so lucky. I know I've been blessed. And during my life I've only had on true love (not like between man and woman). That has always been children. They've been my life since I was in elementary school. I've babysat so many children over the years. I should write a book about it. But I've absolultely loved it. I enjoy taking care of children. I love the innocence, the blind trust they so unwittingly give me, the affection, the nonjudgemental...unconditional love. Man, it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. I know raising children is my "calling" in life. I've known it. But i'm sure the calling is partly referring to my own. Yeah, yeah. We know I'm not anywhere near being married. (sometimes I think Thank Goodness...no offense men!) So in the mean time, I enjoy raising other people's children. But I may be the only one who thinks that is a good thing; besides the kids' parents. Is nannying/babysittig a "real" job?? I get teased about it not being a real job. It irritates me sometimes, but not much. Everyone else seems to feel I should be out there in the work force...making my mark on the world and earning good money. And that's the conundrum. I KNOW I need money to do things, pay bills, and go out. I'm not stupid...stoopid, yes...sTUpid, no. I should be out there earning money to be support myself. But I don't want a career, in that way. I DANG want to raise some children!!! Since I don't seem to be having my own, that means other people's. But what i'm doing at the moment isn't supporting me so it's not so good. So what do I do in the mean time. Yes, I did graduate from school in Deaf Studies. I could just go back to school, become fluent in ASL and then certify to interpret. I could go back for Spanish. I could kill myself off (i'm kiiiiiidding!). I just am so focused on wanting to take care of children(no not in a classroom environment).....the other stuff doesn't seem to matter. I enjoyed college. I really did. But I didn't go cause I felt the burning need to accomplish something for myself. Which if i was smart, that would have been my reason for going. But I agree that everyone should atleast have an undergrad degree. But what do I do in the mean time??? (the mean time would be between now and the time I get married...or hope i get married...whenever that may happen.) I know I should be out on my own; mooching off roommates instead of my parentals. (LOL! sorry future roomies) I'm thinking on it. I've been told I better think and ACT on it. Soon.

But on another note. I accomplished one of my dreams of going to Niagara Falls. Woo-hoo!!! It was beaut-ific!! A dream come true. I loved it. One of my best friends, Amy; my good friend, Karen, from church and I all jumped in a car on July 14th and headed towards Upstate NY. It was a gorgeous drive. We took backroads on the way up....there's a story behind that. The small towns were cute. The scenery was stunning. We attended the Hill Cumorah pageant up in Palmyra. We've all seen it before, but it's still wonderful. Then we talked to Amy's good friend for a little and headed over to our hotel for the nite. Then in the morning we got up and traipsed over to Canada. I got to go to Canada. Yeaaaaaaaaah! Anyhow, the falls were absolutely amazing. That much power in a force of nature always strikes me. It makes one humble, I think. We stared (along with a bunch of other people), but the falls are so huge....those people were nothing. Except when you had to push them outta the way to reach the railings. Anyhow, this earth...this planet is amazing. God's creation awe me....all the time. How he graces us with so much beauty when we treat him so disrespectfully......I don't know. He just keeps on blessing us. Niagara was certainly a blessing. Such gorgeous color and all. The weather was great. The wind blew the mist toward us so it seemed like it was raining. My hair suffered somewhat. hahahah! We also went down the tunnels behind the falls. The observation deck down at the bottom of the falls was the best. Seeing how all that water pounded onto the rocks and ground. Whew! Thank goodness for our yellow ponchos. We took so many pictures. I LOVED IT! The company I was in was great too. Amy and I have been trying to get up there for a long time. I'm sorry everyone else missed the adventure. Another time, perhaps, another time!! This time maybe i'll have someone to hold hands with me since Niagara Falls is such a romantic place. Amy and Karen refused. Ah well.

2006-07-05T12:12:00.000-04:00

Summer shonuf is here!!! The heat has begun. We actually had an enormous amount of rainfall the last few weeks. It's been kinda crazy. The whole northeast has had flooding problems. Thank goodness I live in the city away from the water. My mama's a smart woman. Black people...always prepared for possible disasters. Hee hee. I really am only kidding. Well this past weekend, my best friend, Amber, came up to visit me. She brought along her husband and her cute little 3 mth old. Oh my...she's my little angel. She's absolutely gorgeous. Just like her mother. It was so good to see them. They'll be moving soon and I won't see them much at all. I'm sad about it. But excited for them to have this new and exciting venture. I'll cry when they leave. Of course I'll cry. My ambera is one of the best parts of my life. And to be able to hold this infant who's come from her love....her soul....her body.....it's AMAZING. I love mi angelita more because she's a part of Amber. Creation is such a divine gift. One day, Monica....one day!

2006-06-16T22:18:00.000-04:00

Do ya'll know it's a Friday nite and I'm just hanging out at home (well Grandma's at the moment...her computer works!)?!!!! Crazy. I'm getting way too old! How old is that you ask? hehehehe!!!! Old enough. lol. Actually my profile has my age. I like to let people know exactly how old i am. I'm fine with it. Are you?!! Anyhow, it's Friday nite and Monica, the party girl, is here without a party. Kinda sad, huh? Yeah, it is. I thought maybe someone would ask me out tonite, but alas, that must have been in some dream I had last nite. Haaaaaaaaaa! Ha! Ha! I don't get asked out on dates!!!!! That's HI-larious. Woo! I'm laughing so hard I'm crying again. Like any of the guys I know would come up and ask me on an official date. I'd probably keel over. Wow, I'm so funny! Tho guys can be a pain that I just do not want to deal with anyhow. I just was driving to work yesterday when this gucci, guido looking (possibly Arab) guy kept staring at me while we were waiting at a light. And then when it changed (he was in the next lane) I tried to drive slow so i wouldn't pull up even with his car. Yeah, he started going really slow too. then I tried to speed up to pass him. As I tried to do so, he had his head out of his window and waggled his fingers at me. It was so retarded that I busted out laughing. So then i tried going faster again and then saw a street on the left that I quickly screeched onto. I don't play that "let's flirt with stalkers" game. LOL! I decided to take the longer route to work. What is wrong with some men?!!!!! I'm sure there are so many more beautiful women to look at than myself. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease. What was he looking at?!!! (and I don't want your little comments differing with my opinion either...thank you!) Sometimes I think some men are just desperate. (sorry men). Geez, you strange men.....leave me alone. Dejame en paz!!! Atleast this guido guy didn't ask to kiss my toes like the security guy at shoppers did. Wow!!! That's all I gotta say....Wow! oh and I needed a hot hot cleansing shower after talking to him. Maybe I have just realized that being at home on a Friday nite away from all that.......it's a bargain!!!!!

2006-06-12T12:51:00.000-04:00

This is me. Okay, okay, I do look kinda crazy. Well, really because I am a little. But I hope we can still be friends despite the craziness. Just so you know...this is a cute picture. I don't normally look like that. But hey, I want you to check my site every once in a while. So you need something good to look at, right? Hmmm, look at the smile. My teeth look white. Woooow!!!! I'm not so "hi-yella" anymore. It's summer now and that was taken in the dead winter. My double chin is missing....pshew! That's a plus. Ah well, this isn't to impress you; just to pique your interest a little. Though if I really look at the photo, I am kind of impressed. I could have powdered my face a little though. (shiny forehead and all) Black people...we don't moisturize like everyone else....we gotta lotion or grease up!!!!!