10 Years

10 years ago today, I graduated high school.

Over time I've come to realize how much people either loved or loathed high school. I fit in the former category. Call it the glory days, call it what you will, I was most engaged and involved during those four years. College was great and I made two friends-one I was lucky enough to carry over from high school and the other was the best thing that came out of Chapman University.

High school was simply fun. I loved being part of the dance team, ASB, the various clubs, dances-the typical activities that make those years memorable and relatively care-free.

Hands down my favorite year was 2001-junior year. I started dating Scott, I was co-captain to Kerri's captain on the dance team, I (finally) grew out my bangs--MY GOD a landmark year.

Senior year was lonely-both Kerri and Scott had graduated, and it's not to say I didn't have friends in my class, because I like to think that I was friend to most, but there's nothing like losing your best friend and your boyfriend to college. We had a strong class of females, athletes especially, who reminded me of the importance of female friendship, and for that I'm thankful.

September 11, 2011 took place during that year, a morning that America will never forget. A day Scott texted me on my red Nokia phone, and Kerri was supposed to come back to school and meet me for lunch but was stuck in the traffic surrounding CSULB that she couldn't get out.  A day time stopped in classes to absorb what happened alongside our teachers with fear, bewilderment, and sadness.

High school was not always rosy posy. I know I have blocked memories from the hellacious year of 2000-sophomore year, but it's the kind of thing where the good ultimately outweighs the bad, and why I've been committed to our class reunion later this month. It's a lot of work, but like any party, I'm on board and want to make it an occasion that people are glad they came to when all is said and done. Like most, I've kept in contact and see those who are near and dear but welcome the chance to reconnect with old friends and acquaintances with our shared past. If any of you are reading this, I do hope you come. I promise a good time.

Final 2011 Victories

1. Fruits of my labor began sprouting-ziva paperwhites.

2. Built up my tolerance of other species.

3. FINALLY got around to organizing and decorating the office.

In process of moving everything out to prep for paint.

More put together, but not the final vision.

3a. Earthquake-strapped the bookcase to the wall.

4. Started new nail trends in the painting process, "the spackle".


5. Fixed the doorbell so that it's no longer on the same frequency as the next door neighbor's.

6. Hung rain gutters and down spouts.

Goodbye 2011, hello 2012. First anticipated victory will be staying up until midnight.

It was Bananas

This weekend was bananas.

It started off Friday with a 10 hour work day sans break or lunch, then rushing home to load the truck with tables and chairs for the dance team reunion to get down to Tustin for set up.

Saturday brought the usual weekend chores and gym, and then the reunion. We worked really hard to bring dance teams from 1997-2004 together and were pretty happy with the 30 attendees. The party foul was that I did not charge my camera so the few shots I have do not include everyone that was there. BUT, I still think everyone had a good time.

The Committee:

Karen (1999), Kerri (2001), me (2002), and Shannon (2003)

We served white sangria (shout out to my mother in law who was the wine sponsor-thanks Sandy!), beer, iced tea, and water.

A taco cart with a very nice gentleman supplied the food. And we used dahlias for decor.

Tracy and I-went all the way from freshman to senior year together on the team.

Kane, Alex, Amanda (1998) and Carrie (2000)

Jason, Shannon (2003) Rebecca (2002), and Adam.

Tracy (2002), Jeremy, Jon, and Jessica (2002)

Our instructor was supposed to come as well but ended up having to stay home with a sick child. I wish we had taken a group picture so that I had one of everyone, but c'est la vie. We stayed and chatted and ate peanut butter pie until about 11 p.m. before cleaning up and heading home.

The next morning, we boarded the 9 a.m. train to San Diego for a little soccer and Brewfest. Little known fact (and rather ironic) I was at the 1999 World Cup with some of the ladies pictured above where we "danced" with Jennifer Lopez. I say "danced" because it was billed that way on paper when we really shook giant sheets and ran around the field. But, the game was exciting to watch live as was yesterday's. Following the dive bar soccer, we headed to Brewfest, an event for beer enthusiasts, aficionados, and just your general drinkers. We went with Scott's coworker Blake and five of his dodgeball/ultimate Frisbee/other recreational sport buddies...meaning I held down all of the estrogen.

Live music!

Live dancing!

Cheers to new beer, Pyramid Apricot Ale.

Good times with new friends and sourdough bread.

Now, I think I hit my threshold for rowdy boys at about 7 p.m. and we had an 8:20 train home. Little did I know that was about to really get full throttle.

Keeping with the theme of the weekend my phone was dead so there is no evidence from me, and it could be a "you had to be there" situation, but understand a disco ball should have been on our Amtrak car. A few seats up, a group of young guys were bumping a laptop with electronic, dance, hip hop-you name it. It raged and as soon as a conductor approached, off it went. This continued for 2 hours, and this was a full train, so the middle aged couples in front of us were unable to sit in their business class seats (but still enjoyed complimentary wine and beverages so really, this was nice for them.) In the beginning, I think they felt like they were on the Riff Raff Railroad. By the end, they were enjoying Club Amtrak. When we rolled into our station at 10:30, we (and I am not including me in this-it was all the boys) were given a standing ovation off the car. It was bananas.

Happy House-aversary

May 8, 2010 we closed escrow and moved into our first home, which ended up being not just one, but two-which I lovingly refer to as "the twins."

Closing day!

What a year it has been. I never dreamed we'd become homeowners and landlords at the same time-but we've managed both with the help of insight from family, friends, and of course, the all knowing search engine that is Google. I thought I paid our first mortgage payment twice; a great set of renters serendipitously found us and stayed the entire year; I mowed the lawn for the first time; Scott (my own Wayne Szylinski) is in the planning stages for engineering a temperature-timed sprinkler system; he has completed countless projects that I have started and given up at finishing; and though no official housewarming party has been had, we've hosted the annual Haselton Cousin Christmas Party, a recent Mother's Day weekend, and countless dinners for our parents (which will never begin to repay them for their help in educating us to arrive at the point in our lives where we could afford to purchase, making curtains, helping us move and pulling up carpet and nails the day we moved in.)

I've mentioned before there are countless projects that need tackling and I'm sure they'll get done in the next few years-though this is not our forever house we plan to live in, we do plan to hang onto it as long as we are alive and kicking-and this house is already 86 years young. It's got a few creaks, cracks, and dings, but then again so do we. It's our perfect house we've made our home.

Goal setting is not my forte.

I have a tendency to make lofty goals and give up after 5% of effort is given. Examples of this behavior include my New Year's resolution to learn the guitar (hurt my fingers too much), building Trash Can Terrace (Scott is doing an excellent job-my contribution is buying the supplies and hauling them home), and assembling any sort of Ikea furniture (which I start and he finishes.)

I am well aware of this flaw in my persona and really want to change it. Therefore, I only take on one project at one time as project manager. Currently, this project is giving some Craig's List patio furniture a face lift. When that is completed this weekend, I am going to learn to sew. I have made this proclamation several times now and even signed up for a class through extended education that was $5 for the whole semester. Well it met on Monday nights from 6-9 p.m. in Yorba Linda which is not far, but it felt like Egypt after a 9 hour work day on a Monday and at that time I lived in South OC and thus it really was a bit of a drive home at that hour. I dropped out. And yes I make excuses like an addict.

So, I am starting the search now, today, the eve of my sewing bonanza, to find classes. Naturally they are all in LA which might as well be Mars compared to Yorba Linda. Scott is a firm believer in YouTube how-to's but at this point in technology I'm sure that the instructor's hand cannot exactly reach out and fix the machine for me when it's jammed.

Sewing will open up an entirely new project category for me. Currently my "sewing" includes fabric gluing hems when needed or pawning off projects to my mom. I'm pretty sure she doesn't want to take on a set of four custom patio chair covers...or does she :) Of course if and when we have kids, I want to be able to sew Halloween costumes and other crafts.

Here is the beauty:






Thanks Grandma!

No title.

Death has a way of slipping in opened windows, unattended doors, and unguarded hearts. He hangs his hat silently, his departure more noticed than arrival.

There is no training growing up to prepare you for dealing with death. Or, perhaps I have been lucky enough to have not had to face it. I had all four grandparents for 24 years of my life, and have only attended two funerals. I know I am blessed.

People deal with death in different ways. Some need the company of friends, while others prefer solitude. The struggle I face is with dealing with everyone else's feelings and finding the words for survivors.

Today my community lost one of the classiest, friendliest, and warmest women I've ever met. Though our paths only crossed four years ago, I feel privileged to have known her.

E-R-I-N

For a good portion of my adolescence I can remember doing acrostic poems and brochures for every conceivable project in school. Acrostic name/vocabulary words/protagonists/antagonists poems, as well as brochures to Mecca, Jamestown, Wisconsin, and even a personal one in the mix. I am unclear as to whether teachers were advised that these were great projects that could be applied to all subjects or simply something easy to explain to 7th graders.

Either way, I found myself thinking about the classic acrostic name poem, and if I thought I'd use the same words to describe myself today. Granted, I don't have too much room for change when there are only four letters. I can remember clear as day the exact words I used too:

E-energetic
R-responsible
I-interesting (sometimes intelligent, depending on the day's math lesson)
N-nice

For someone who read a lot as a child, I'm rather underwhelmed with the language.

I think my energy physically has plummeted. Recess was an activity most kids counted down to each day. When I get home from work now I nearly bribe myself with a glass of wine to work out. And I really don't think nutritionists advise hydrating with wine. However, I think energy as it relates to stamina and achievement is still prevalent. I am not a procrastinator, if anything I jump the gun too early, thus my energy to get things done and checked off my list (or clear the table too early as I'm sure my parents remember). I like tasks done efficiently, and appreciate this characteristic in others. So much, that I must exert tremendous amounts of patience for friends on the other side of the spectrum.

To quote MXPX, "responsibility, what's that?" Seriously, I have never known responsibility since this wave of house buying hit. WOW. So long paying rent on the first of the month and calling for maintenance requests, hello homeowner's insurance, loan docs, and a mortgage. It's not to say that I am unprepared to take these head on, we just went from zero to 60 in about a month. I am convinced my looks have aged 50 years in the last few weeks.

Interesting. I was awkward most of my adolescence, being that I've been about the same height and weight since 4th grade. That was horrible as a 10 year old when your friends are a foot shorter and the boys are virtually babies. I was certainly a spectacle of interesting to the other kids in my class. Interesting today is Scott raising an eyebrow when I told him I entered a Harry Potter Ultimate Fan contest for the Ellen DeGeneres show. I wasn't selected.

Well, nice will never change because it's pretty hard for me to be mean. My parents pounded the Golden Rule into my sponge brain and I think even the most cynical soul can respond to a certain amount of courtesy politeness. Don't get me wrong, it's not given out free and easily, but I figure if I set the bar high, at least I tried. Pleasantries really do go far in customer service, and frankly, it gets you places. So yeah, I suppose I'm still nice. It would really be terrible if during this self-reflection I realized I was mean.

If I had to rewrite my acrostic poem today, things may even remain the same. We change and grow, and the "Erin" I was as a 12 year old has defined this Erin at 26.

Reliving the Past

I spend a considerable amount of time driving each week, to and from work, and event to event. If anyone rides with me, I have to be the most annoying driver DJ ever, in that I change the station so often, convinced a better tune is yet to be found.

It's during these channel surfing moments that I often reflect on my dance team days and the coulda-woulda-shoulda routines I wish I had the time or the thought to choreograph for our various performances (excluding songs that didn't yet exist).

Dance team pretty much defined me in high school. It holds the bulk of my memories, and even though there were moments typical of high school girls and their incessant drama, I can see past that, and truly do miss performing. Which is why I love Karaoke, even though I cannot sing, but it does offer the opportunity for shimmying, which I never deny.

A sample of the songs that would have graced my Spring Show routines:

• Son of a Preacher Man, Dusty Springfield
• Traveling Soldier, Dixie Chicks
• Uprising, Muse

I know there are more but I am totally drawing a blank. Just like I do when I actually do Karaoke and stare at binder full of songs going, hmm and fall back on the tried and true favorites of Madonna, Pat Benetar, and of course, Joan Jett.

I love the OO's

Ten years ago today, my New Year's Eve was not much different than what I have planned tonight-hanging out with KROB (fifth wheel then, Scott wouldn't enter the picture for ten more months), with a low key night at her parent's house with pots, pans, and Martinelli's at midnight. Tonight however, there will be Champagne I can assure you.

The last ten years have literally flown by in the blink of an eye, and I thought instead of a year-end recap, a trip down decade lane was in order with notable experiences and events from each one.

2000
This was a really tough year as a sophomore in high school. There was lamo teen drama on my dance team and it really brought Kerri and I down. Things took a turn for the super amazing in October when Scott asked me to homecoming and our love story began. He definitely was the best thing to come out of that year.
The dance team also traveled to NYC that year, and I set shame aside for ten minutes and acted like a crazy woman to introduce a Blink 182 video, "Adam's Song," on TRL from Times Square. Let it be known that was when Carson Daly still hosted and the show was in its heyday. Best part-calling my classmates back home to turn it on and watch, and those who happened to see it talking about it when we came back. And no I don't feel badly for that poor girl next to me. She did not wear her favorite band's concert shirt and wave it around to get their attention.

2001
This was my favorite year of high school. Between dating Scott and being an officer in ASB, as well as Kerri's co-captain on the dance team, it made for some awesome memories, including a cringe-inducing rendition of "Like a Prayer" at Spring Show. Which we reprised at my bachelorette party for some lucky patrons.

2002
My senior year of high school was packed with activity between all of my extra curricular activities. One of the highlights was spending a ton of time with this girl:
Janae has to be one of the friendliest people on the planet. She is giving and has a heart of gold, and I am lucky to count her among my dear friends.

Late 2002 also brought me to college, the first of four I would eventually pay tuition to, and the only that gave me the thoughtful and amazing new friend, Ashley. We both joke now how each of us thought the other looked normal and nice enough to sit next to in our Freshman Foundations (or some awful name of that sort) class. We were even lucky enough to have several other courses together that semester (by luck) and the next (by planning). With her living on campus, I'd come on Tuesday nights after work and we'd watch Gilmore Girls together. She made college for me, even if only for one year together.
2003
By 2003 I had started working at what I consider to be my first job. Technically I did have a hostess/waitressing stint at Ruby's Diner and about five minutes at the Coffee Bean (sensing a theme?) but I landed my dream college job-working at Style Leader, a now dead (RIP SL!) dance/cheer/skate/performing arts store that actually welcome crazy stage moms inside and allowed me to custom design Halloween costumes and $10 bathing suits. But mostly, it brought me these crazy awesome friends:
2004
I had my first major surgery in 2004, to remove a cyst in my thyroid. Weird, I know. I also spent my first holiday with Scott's family in Blythe for Thanksgiving, and we took our first and only college class together-swimming at Cypress College. The fam bam traveled to Yosemite and hiked Half Dome (kidding, though we did see it), as well as spent time with our extended clan, the Harashas.
2005
An annual tradition for a number of years, KROB, Scott, and a handful of other friends made the trek up to Big Bear Mountain for several snowboarding trips. I truly miss these week-long adventures and wish that our lives weren't all so busy that we could find the time (and work time off) to carry on the tradition.


2006
My parents remodeled their house, and I remember several nights sleeping on the living room floor, on two mattresses, with the floor ripped up and watching LOST together. Most notably, my first friend got married, Mandy, to her high school sweetheart Joey, and I could not have been happier to stand up for her on that day.
2007
2007 was the second year in a row that Scott went to Africa. The first year was hard because I did not know how I'd deal with his absence for six weeks. This time around, he went for nearly three months and I know he was having the time of his life, but I was practically a hermit crab despite Kerri's best efforts. Sadness aside, we were able to talk on the phone a few times thanks to a sat phone his friend Adam had, and I stayed up every night into the wee hours hoping to catch him online. The day he came home the second time, was almost as good as the day he proposed to me.
That same summer, my friend KM married her high school sweetheart, Andrew, in Dana Point Harbor in front of family and friends. Again, I was honored to stand next to these two as they tied the knot.
2008
Scott proposed, I said yes, and we tied the knot eight months later. Not much can top that, although KROB's engagement is a close second ;)


2009
The year I really took a hold of this blog. If you go back far enough, I really had some random thoughts back while Scott was in Africa the first time, but truly found my voice this year. It's been a fun outlet for me and the writing that I enjoy without professional limitations. Like many have said before me, I enjoy the community that it brings together, both near and far.

Additionally, my dear friend Ashley, the best thing that came out of Chapman University, got hitched! Her beautiful wedding still brings a tear to my eye when I think about it.



I am eager to see what 2010 brings, especially 16 days in when my best girl gets married, and beyond. Cheers to you and yours and a prosperous new year!

New Year's Resolutions

As my 25th year draws to a close there are a few things about the way I operate that I want to work to change. They are not necessarily bad, but the other side is more appealing. And I might as well do it before I am receiving 'over the hill' birthday balloons, and still pliable.

No more people pleasing! I am slightly embarrassed to admit that I am a People Pleaser and will do things to make things easier for others but a strain on myself. Or bite off more than I can chew at the expense of my own well being. But mostly, not being honest with others or myself when it's something that might cause conflict. I hate those 'con' words: conflict, confrontation, cons in general-of the prison variety. Anyway, things are changing, now, in 2009, as I realize how much more freedom it allows me. Feels quite liberating actually. I've put it to practice a few times and the outcome is never as bad as I think it will be. And, if it is tough at first, at least I can live with myself the next few hours. It's important to institute this practice in myself, albeit late, so that I can instill the same values in any future children. I never want to be known as a pushover and high time to change now.

I will try my best to finish everything I start. I give up too easily. I heard it from my parents growing up and I hear it from Scott now. It's hard for me to understand that just because I don't get the skills/project/task in the first 10 minutes, does not mean I should give up. Which is why I don't play any instruments, fix computers, or assemble anything. This will change, as again I don't want to be a quitter.

I am going to try my hardest to implement these now, as I don't need a clean slate or day off to do it. The sooner the better, and I can feel the effects of accomplishment all the quicker.

Park Avenue Properties

Scott and I played Monopoly last night, a classic edition gifted by the lovely Traci for his birthday this year. Playing this game makes me realize how little I know about home ownership, and how much it would really work out to live in an era when rent was $40 on Park Place. Seriously? I know, it's all relative, but a girl can dream.

A very dear friend has been in the home buying process for a while now and I am just in awe of everything. I know that my coveted House Hunters and My First Place only show the glamorous side of things, not the frustration, tears, and filing cabinets full of paperwork. Just the thought of that makes me grimace.

If only it were as simple as passing go and collecting a steady paycheck with occasional tax refunds of $20 that cover 3 months rent on Mediterranean Avenue with a property big enough for twins in the game of LIFE.

Paths Not Taken

Do you ever wonder where you would be if you took another path in college or after high school? I sometimes consider where life would take me in a career by the interests that have developed after graduating and by simply maturing.

1. Knowing my priorities, I understand medical school would be way too intense for my lifestyle, but I am intrigued by neuroscience and studying how the brain operates. It is just fascinating, however that job would require way too much responsibility in having lives in your hands. Slightly overwhelming.

2. I often consider my love of languages as well, and studying linguistics would make for a very interesting experiences and perhaps even opportunity to travel. Word construction, sound, and how they develop is simply amazing.

3. Not really sure of the exact title, but how cool are nail polish names? I could really get behind Sally Hansen or even Sherwin Williams' paint color naming. And I'll throw in the imaginative marketing behind ModCloth's marketing of their pieces which are just darling.

4. Anyone that has direct contact with me often knows that I loved high school. I know some may never want to repeat those years, but I spent my days dancing, developed my budding event profession through ASB, and had virtually no responsibility outside of those commitments. I believe that being a guidance counselor or career counselor would be a great job. Students often don't have much idea of what they'd like to do professionally and with my ability to help people and a great source of patience combined with an environment I enjoy, would work out really well.

5. I love food. I love experimenting with food (most recently with salads) and believe I would do well in culinary or pastry school. If not that, I'd take the roll of permanent judge on Iron Chef. Any openings coming up FoodNetwork?!?!

Erin as Emily

As I move through life I am reminded of my Emily Post tendencies by those around me. What better place to address these public faux pas (Mrs. Franzia, I admit I don't know how to pluralize "pas") than here.

1. I do not believe certain words pertaining to the bathroom should ever be used in a public forum. Ever. Nor said aloud in the workplace.

2. Unless used in a situation of utmost emphatic importance, cursing just appears to be well, ignorant and uninformed. We have a fabulous language full of beautiful words. Try subscribing to "Word of the Day" to help illuminate that sentence. Who doesn't love a great adjective!?

3. Licking fingers is never, ever, EVER acceptable.

4. Pajamas are never permissible in public. Always dress prepared for Glamour to find you and place your picture on the "Glamour Do" list. This does not mean dressed to the nines, but just looking ready for the day.

5. Listen when people speak. Everyone is fighting to be heard. By just taking a minute to lend an ear, is really extending the greatest gift, time.

I am not arguing that I am above any of this-more or less just surprised by my peers with their actions that lack etiquette and manners that were instilled into me as a I grew up. I thought it was normal to shake with a firm grip and look someone in the eye while saying their name. It's certainly more memorable than a dead fish/non al dente noodle shake!

Expectations

In high school I forced myself to finish Great Expectations. Next to The Odyssey it was the hardest book to get through, though I did not make it past chapter three in the latter. I understand it's a classic, but with a title like that you have to give me a little more than eccentric old Miss Havisham.

I found that as I age, my view of the world has grown more cynical, as most people's do once we move into adulthood, bills, insurance, and other things I would rather not have to deal with. We no longer have the idealistic perceptions of childhood, though as often as I can, I do try to have a glass-is-half-full attitude.

I expect 100% of myself and those around me, whether in the professional world or my personal life. Lately, I have found just how disillusioned I was as a child, believing adults were so intelligent, and could figure anything out, assuming that just came with time. Well, it has been an utter realization on my part that neither of those are always true. I am continually shocked by the lack of rational thoughts that are contributing (or rather not) to the already chaotic world we live in.

On a more frivolous level, I also expect it in the shows I have grown to love as well as certain books that then transfer to the big screen. "The Office" has grown entirely into a relationship-based show, as the antics that originally made it such a comedy are fading. Similarly, "Jon and Kate," another series that arguably is not exactly reality television, will not grace my television anymore. Parents of perhaps America's most famous children, are acting so grossly inappropriate I can't imagine the effects it will have on their kids.

Thank goodness I still have my HP books and "30 Rock" on Netflix. So far neither of those have let me down!

Old Fart

I debated using that title, as I really don't care for that 'f' word as a lady, but as of late, it truly sums up the way I feel due to the following reasons.

1. My sister, who is 7 years younger than me, began college this week. I cannot believe it. We are just a family with two kids, so to now have her in the higher education world is crazy to me.

2. The local radio station, Krth101, an oldies format, has been incorporating more and more non-oldies, in my opinion, through their rotation. For example: "Crazy for You" by Madonna. That was an 80s hit. I was born in the mid-80s. Thus, does that make me an old fart for a song being played on that station?!? Then yesterday, they played Men at Work's "Land Down Under" a 1982 hit. I beg of you-are the 80s now considered classic oldies? To me, the 50s and 60s will always remain that era. However, as time goes on, clearly that is relative to the day in age. I'm fairly sure my fellow 20-somethings aren't ready to be lumped in that category.

3. I get home about 6:15 every night. By the time I exercise, make dinner, and shower, it's usually 8:30/9. Where does the time go? I am going to hit the hay in an hour I am so exhausted, if not earlier from fatigue. Unless I give something up like exercise, there isn't any time for laying around watching tv, going out, or just normal fun. It is the weekends and work week evenings that could really use a few extra hours at night.

I am starting to understand the idea of a quarter life crisis. Oy.

The Wonder Years of My Generation

There will never be another television series comparable to The Wonder Years. It is far too poignant, the music too perfect, and characters too iconic to be duplicated. It was the voice of the generation for my parents and a wrinkle in time for Joe Cocker and his classic song. I will be forever grateful for my 11th grade English teacher, Mr. Klevos, and his clever lessons having us "complete the episode," where he showed us 18 minutes of a show and we wrote the lesson at the end for Kevin Arnold. Sadly, mine never won, but it was a great writing exercise and an even better period spent witnessing the show.

My generation grew up with a much different model. This show, iconic in its own way, ran 1989-1993 and I am fairly sure has been in syndication ever since. I tuned in Saturday mornings in elementary school, after school in junior high, and now before I go to work, as a young professional. This show began when I was four years old. And now I am 25. Now THAT is a show for the ages. If you haven't figured it out, I am talking about the cult classic:

Saved the Bell

(source)

Let's be honest. The show was campy, I am pretty sure they repeated their sophomore year three times, and how much loitering can you really do in a locker area right outside the principal's office? The high school years were most solid-junior high was a silly and the college years were almost too much of a good thing without the entire cast. I am confident in thinking that overall, my peers still ate it up. In fact, on the good ol' FB, I have seen three statuses this week relating to watching various episodes before work each morning.

People have their opinions about the Malibu Sands Beach Club period, as well as when Kelly departed to model in France and Jessie just disappeared, replaced by motorcycle-loving bad ass Tori. However, at its core, it's what my generation thought high school would be while we were still running around a playground at recess. Even after entering high school we watched, and today, knowing all of the episodes almost better than the folds of a beloved blanket, we continue to tune in to TBS mornings. I suppose there is a bit of comfort in the affable characters, the innocence of the episodes (well, with the exception of Jessie's caffeine pill addiction and Lisa totaling Mrs. Turtle's car while driving drunk) and the kinship of the tight-knit group of friends. It certainly is beloved by a good portion of my generation.

And on a silly note, I have always made these observations:
-Did anyone else notice that Mr. Morris also changed, but Mrs. Morris was always the same woman?
-How did they all have the same classes together, and always in the same room across from Belding's office?
-Didn't Lisa ever feel left out that she wasn't Homecoming Queen (except for the time with the drunk driving accident but that was while Kelly was off the show-so it's seems as if it just defaults to her)
-Anyone else remember that Tori was a triplet in the Parent Trap sequels? Oh those were some great early 90s after-school movies!
-Kelly came from a family of something like seven kids and there was always a note of tight money with her family (like "Zach and Kelly's prom) but how does she have that rich grandfather who owns the hotel in Hawaii and then they all vacation there?

Of course this post begs the question: favorite episode? I am going to have to go with the Buddy Bands. Anyone that has a class project and makes a music video that sophisticated is a buddy of mine!

Summertime Blues

Summer has officially arrived in SoCal and none too soon with a three day weekend coming up. So why the bluesy title? This week has been blue skies and warm weather and I can't help but be reminded of lazy summer vacations between school years, where the biggest problems I was facing were not getting everyone to sign my yearbook and dance team troubles.

Nothing really prepares you for the working world and absence of summer. Besides teachers, not many other professional occupations offer the 1-3 months of pure, uninterrupted holiday. This, by far, has been the hardest adjustment of working in the 9-5 world. Weekends are certainly prized beyond belief, as is my time between 6-11 p.m., but nothing beats sleeping in, staying in pajamas until noon, and then hitting the beach, followed by lengthy phone conversations with girlfriends and possibly dance practice later in the day.

I was lucky enough not to have to work while in high school during my summers. I certainly didn't lounge all day-as I have mentioned, I was dedicated to dance, ASB, and various other commitments that related to school but certainly weren't academic and classroom-bound in nature. Like many moments in life, hindsight is 20/20. I wish I had appreciated those lengthy summers where I know I cried a good handful of times "I'm bored" when I would give my left arm for a break these days.

One thing I hope to instill in future children is the wonderful gift of vacation that comes with childhood. As with age, we certainly have a greater appreciation for it later in life, but it can't hurt to remind those enjoying it just how good they have it.

Death by Darkness

I have discovered that we have no direct sunlight in our house. Clearly light comes in through our windows and patio, but nothing direct (except of course in the morning right in my eye, or so it seems).

This insightful nugget was brought to my attention through my coveted peony purchase. I bought five soft, pink, fluffy (but still closed) blossoms on Sunday and was ready for their bright birth on Monday morning. Well Tuesday night came and they were still as tight as ever, but with browning petals. It was then that I realized how little sunlight we get into our living room. Certainly its bright in the middle of the day but nothing in the form of photosynthesizing needs for my precious peonies.

How could something so lovely be so ugly? Death by darkness.

Farewell 2008

2008 was a fabulous year...

Started out with one of my favorite things in life:

A themed party!

Followed a few weeks later by the question of a lifetime

In the spring, we celebrated with our Engagement Party

In the summer, my best girl finally became an engaged woman to her fiancee, Rob!

When fall came round, naturally, we married, we honeymooned, and became husband and wife


I am blessed to have that boy as my husband, my family, and my friends in my life. Cheers to 2009 and continued happiness for you and yours.

Happiness

In determining what will ultimately make me happy in life, my daily life, and my future life, I have decided to pursue being a wedding coordinator again. Ultimately, I value the flexibility it offers, the ability to travel, take an afternoon off, and be a mom later. I am very excited at the prospect of doing this in about 7 mos.