Not Your Average Jane

So, we just got back at about 5 or so from being in Brownwood.... For those that don't know where that is... Its like 2 hours west of Austin, sort of near Abilene and Stephenville.... I have a grandmother, both aunts, various cousins and their children (also my cousins) all there... The rest are mainly around San Antonio... The branch that isn't quite so.... Crazy.... :0) Thats a good word for what they all are. People ask why I'm completely insane.... Well, just take a good look at my family.... All smokers, a few in and out of jail, all married young, with kids no less.... To top all that off that ask me why I'M not married with kids..... Yeah, after all the sucess and bad marriages they have from marrying so young, having no jobs, and being a chain smoker, as well as being obsesely overweight... Yeah, I want to be part of my family... Don't you? :0) We left Houston Saturday and came home today and I'm doing a few loads of laundry just to get the smell of smoke off my clothes... We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express and yet still somehow all my clothes reek of smoke.... So yeah, I gots to do some laundry... :0) The trip itself wasn't that bad, I love traveling with my mom and sisters usually, but all we did when we got there was sit around a smoke filled house, kids underfoot, and talk BS all 3 days we were there (mostly repeating myself about why I WASN'T married or having kids like it was going out of style....).... Well 2 for Lauren and Lindsay, since somehow they got to leave yesterday, I still don't know... Then my mom invited over my cousin Matthew's oldest daughter, Cheyenne, who is 6 years old and a pistol.... She's so outgoing its crazy!!! Random people at McDonalds she was like, "Hey, excuse me, ma'am, but I know you from somewhere. What's your name?" And it usually turned out she did... Strange, I don't remember ever being that outgoing.... So she spent the night with us and proceeded to wake me up about every 2 hours by smacking me in the face with a hand... Of course she didn't mean to, but it still bugged me... I guess I just started to loose my patience with her after being around her and 5 other kids all day.... That and an indecent night of sleep had me rethinking my future plans, top that off with how inadiquate my mom can make me feel without even meaning to... Yeah, not a good night all in all.... We finally left around 1 ish today.... I still want to be a teacher of course cuz I mean I still love kids, but I know I'm really not ready to be a parent yet... Good thing I didn't plan to be one for at least 5 years..... :0) Anyway thats about it for now.... My dryer just went off and GWE Radio is about to come to the end of Shot full of holes.... :0) O, real quick... I got my family into Doug Moreland over the weekend (his humor is right up there alley) and one of my step uncles is a musician and is planning to play one of Doug's songs at one of his gigs... Kinda kewl I thought.... NEway laters!

posted by Ali @ 9:55 PM 0 Comments

All my Christmas shopping is done! Whoo hoo! This has been the most stress free holiday season I think I've ever had... Well, with the exception of the traffic... Every single one of my shortcuts back to Mom's house had traffic!!! How could they? :p I got all my presents, Mom's, Lauren's and Lindsay's in only 2 days... I think that's some sort of record! Lauren's present I got to go back to Cactus Records for... I'll take any excuse to got there and look around and/or buy stuff... I also found Finding Nemo at Best Buy. Its on DVD, but its still Finding Nemo! Hehehe... Only thing I don't have that I'm not getting until after Christmas is my cell phone... :0) Tonight Mom is taking us all to the ballet, its the Nutcracker I think... God, I haven't been to the ballet in... Years.... But yeah, all my presents are bought and have been wrapped.... So Christmas is definately going to be off the hook! Uh, I mean, going to rock... Or something... I've been listening to too much rap here lately... Neway I'm off to try and get ready for tonight, Mom wants us all ready to eat at 6 and ready to leave at 6:45... Doubtful, but we'll see... Laters.

posted by Ali @ 4:24 PM 0 Comments

Its Monday, Houston, and here's what's not in today's Chronicle .. I should know I just got done looking at it... :0) So, Monday... No longer a day from hell with classes from 10 - 8 at night... Its a nice, nice thing.... I still haven't done any Christmas shopping, though its on my list of stuff to do today and tommorrow... I know exactly what I'm getting for Mom and Lauren, but Lindsay's an unknown at the moment.... And I get to go get all my presents.... Hehehe... I'm going to Cingular tommorrow to look at new phones and see if I can find one with a camera in it, you knwo one of those cool flip ones that you can take pictures with? That would be awesome... :0) So, I'm off to eat lunch... And maybe I'll be nice and unlaid the dishwasher too while I'm in the kitchen.... Then to Highland Village and Best Buy... And if I have time maybe even the Galleria *gasp egads*... I know its completely insane to go 3 days b4 Christmas, but I haven't seen the tree yet and I haven't been there since... I think the last time I was home in October or did I go over T-day break? I'm not sure... But anyway I'm off to eat and try to find Finding Nemo again ..... Who'da thunk it'd be so hard to find??? I was at 3 different places where I can usually find it no problem.... No luck at all... Of course this may become a trend... Me wanting something thats hard to find for Christmas that is, not going 3 different places... That's everyday type stuff... :0) Last year it was a digital camera, this year its Finding Nemo, whats up for next year? Neway thats it for now! Laters....

posted by Ali @ 12:38 PM 0 Comments

So I got back to Houston safely and soundly... Though exhausted as usual... :0) Soooo, Honeybrown at the Firehouse is so not going to happen... Sorry, Fred, next time... ;0) I started out this morning at about 8:30 after a long, drawn out good bye to Heather, who won't be living with us since she had to go and graduate, the punk... We did find a new roomie however so they can't kick us out of the house like they were threatening to this week.... But Heather will be back... She still has to finish her grammar tests.... :0) Last night, Ana, Mel, Heather, Elizabeth (a friend of Ana's), and I went to see Mona Lisa Smile... A very cute movie, though not sure if I liked the ending... Then we went home and packed, me for coming home, Heather for moving out... Of course I overpacked as usual, and Heather got little to no packing done, also the usual... :0)
I did have an interesting thought in the car, weird and kind of obscure, but interesting nonetheless.... Who decided that when horseback riding you had to mount on the left side? Why not the right? Is it because most of the world is right handed and therefore left brained? I don't know... Also passed over a creek in East Texas that made me think of O'Neal... Peach Creek... I had to call Heather and Amanda and tell them, it was hilarious... :0) Also while I was driving home today, I noticed how many out of state plates there were... Not just in Arkansas, but in Texas too... Weird places like Maryland, Virginia, and places as close as Tennessee, New Mexico, and Louisana... Even a couple from Michigan of all places! I know its winter, but aren't all the snowbirds already here? Oh, wait it may be cuz Christmas is this week... Doh... :0)
So I got back about 6:30 tonight, talked to mom and Linz for while, ate dinner with mom and John and they're currently watching Pirates of the Caribbean.... Meanwhile I'm contemplating either going to bed (even though its only 9 at night) or unpacking the rest of my car.... Need to do the later in order to do the former, so I had best get with it... O... Also I get my bedroom... At least for tonight... Since Lauren gets back tomorrow... And as we all know she is the boss of all of us.... :0) Anyway I'm off... Laters....

posted by Ali @ 9:07 PM 0 Comments

So Finals are almost over.... One more day... Two more tests... Well actually only one and a half.. One at 9 on vocabulary and applications of stuff and a take home to finish by 2... I'm doing pretty good I think.... Saturday I go home (whoo hoo). Honeybrown's playing at the Firehouse Saturday night, though I seriously doubt I'll make it... Let's see... Aside from Finals my life is relatively boring at the moment... Sunday morning I'll wake up in my own bed... Well, techincally the sofa sleeper... Unless Lauren comes home Sunday instead of Saturday in that case I WILL wake up in my own bed... Whoo hoo... :0) Laters.

posted by Ali @ 11:05 PM 0 Comments

Well, its Sunday night and I'm still recuperating from the weekend... No, no drunken stupors or passing out in ditches this time... :0) Friday night it snowed... Not just a little... Like a downpour for a couple of hours... There were a couple of inches that actually stuck to the ground no less... Heather, and I were hanging out with Mel and Ana and watching movies in the living room when it began.... Then it turned to rain and that was the end of that.... Mel and Ana spent the night even though they only live across campus, it was fun... Its been awhile since I've been to a sleep over... Co-ed, girls, whatever.... Saturday, we all went lingerie shopping with Heather, since she's getting married next summer and before she left next week she wanted to get a bunch of girls' opinions on what she should get... We spent almost 3 hours there and she wound up registered there too... Just think what'll happen when I get married, 2 words, Victoria's Secret.... Ah, I need to go shopping.... :0) Saturday night we went to James', this time it was Heather, Amanda, Matt and I to go hot tubbing... Fun stuff, hot tob in the middle of the winter... It was great except the getting in and out part... :0) Then we stayed up most of the night watching movies with the help of James' parents' digital cable.... I got to watch Animal Planet for the first time in 2 weeks.... It was very, very nice... We left about 10 or so this morning and got home about 10:30ish... I got a couple more hours of sleep, Amanda went to work and Heather's been working on homework... So I supposed you could say I've had two sleep overs this weekend after a long dry spell... Cuz technically when Peaches comes over it doesn't count, since we seem to stay up all night... Sleep overs are only sleep overs if more than 2 people sleep... :0)
Finals start tommorrow... I have two tommorrow (One at 11 and 6) and two on Friday (one at 9 and the other at 2) and I'm debating on whether or not I want to go to Ft. Worth after my last final on Friday and stay with Lauren and go home Saturday or just go home Saturday... Lauren's leaving Saturday so it'd be cool either way...
Last night before we left I was watching TV and I came across CRL on GAC and Pat Green was on... I watched that for a while (i only caught the last 15 minutes) and it dawns me... Texas music is taking over the world... *evil laugh* Last week Charlie Robison's song 'Right Man For The Job' was used as one of the background songs(you know the ones that play in the background while stuff is going on on the TV show) on MTV for that show One Bad Trip... Before that, Nashville singers were getting material from Texas songwriters.... And 2 words.... Dixie Chicks.... Natalie's dad is a major producer for many Texas musicians, as well as being a musician himself... So yeah, look out its coming at ya, live and local.. And it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to get into a concert, at least not usually... :0) Thats about it 4 now. Laters...

posted by Ali @ 7:42 PM 0 Comments

Ever since I saw Trista and Ryan's Wedding last night I haven't been able to quit thinking about weddings.... Well, actually this has been going on a while... I used to be addicted to Wedding Story on TLC, and one of my roommates is getting married to her boyfriend of the last 5 years next summer, so I hear alot of wedding stuff from that quarter... I pretty much have chosen, my dress, rings (engagement and wedding band), colors (though they vary every couple of days), kind of have chosen the location, whose going to perform the ceremony, only thing missing is the groom... I don't really want to get married any time soon (least not for a year or 2 and no kids for another year or 2)... Is this my biological clock's way of telling me to get my butt in gear and search for Mr. Right more in depth? Not that I haven't searched and kissed alot of frogs.... ALOT of frogs actually... NEwho I guess I'll eventually figure it out... One day after all my finals that is, until then I have more than enough stress... Laters....

posted by Ali @ 5:41 PM 0 Comments

Well, its a good thing I didn't go to Fayetteville last night, as much as I adore Bleu Edmondson and Cross Canadian Ragweed.... It freakin' snowed!!! Sure it was only flurries that didn't stick to the ground here, but school was canceled for a friend of mine who lives just a little north of Fayetteville... So, yea, it must have been pretty bad... Its just it was cold, wet and I hate to drive at night, as well as it was a town I didn't know and a bar I'd never been to, so yeah, not gonna happen... So I went to the poetry thing instead at the coffeehouse... Dillon wasn't there, so I couldn't flirt shamelessly... He did tell me though last time I talked to him he was still 2 hours short of graduating and he's taking summer school, so he'll still be here next semester.... Heck, he considers himself a townie now, so yeah... Anyway last night after the poetry was over this guy, Brandon, I'm only sort of acquainted with (hes a sophmore and hes always at these things and he's into Pat Green like me.... Though unlike me he can play guitar.... But anyway some random guy wanted to meet me adn since he looked like he wasn't even out of high school yet, I shot him down gently... Made like I just had to leave in order for my roomie to go do her homework and couldn't talk.... A very nice brush off but a brush off nonetheless... I don't think Brandon knows how old I actually am or else I don't think he would have tried that.... :0) Or if he knew my no townies rule (unless its Peaces or Dillon), as I haven't had any luck with them, nor do I want to... :0)
I've also rediscovered an old, not so great, habit. Though I did find out something about myself to be proud of too. I found that no matter who asks me, or what it is being asked about, for some reason I just can't say no... That has the potential to get me into a lot of trouble... It has before and it will again, but for now its under control... But the good thing, on the other hand... I discovered I can stand up to my mother without sounding like a smart ass or immature.... I can make my point in defense of myself without sounding irrational... Kind of kewl if ya ask me.... :0) Anyway I think I'm off to bed... I have to get up early and get some more hours at the daycare down the street... Laters....

posted by Ali @ 11:46 PM 0 Comments

Ok, so I fell asleep ungodly early last night.... During Jay Leno's monologue, if that tells you anything.... I woke up to Unsolved Mysteries and changed it to Winnie the Pooh cause Unsolved Mysteries freaks me out whether I'm awake or half asleep... Then I saw another episode this afternoon while eating lunch.... That got me thinking about my friend, Steve.... Well, I think he's still my friend since we haven't spoken in monthes, but that's just how our relationship since 98, at least, seems to work... Neway, he always compared himself to Tigger, which I thought was cute.... But now, years later, I can definately see the resemblance... Thinking about Steve got me thinking about this one particular Christmas carol.... Its to the tune of Walking in a Winter Wonderland, its called Walking 'round in Women's Underwear... Very cute song.... Newho, I was going to go to Fayetteville tonight buthave changed my mind for the millionth time since hearing about it.... Actaully the weather changed it for me.... Rain, cold and dark, not my favorite combo to drive in even for Bleu Edmondson... :0) Oh, yea, and Cross Canadian Ragweed, too... But mainly Bleu.... :0) Oh, well, I'll see him New Years, if not b4.... So I guess I'm going to the WA Press thingy tonight instead.... At least there I can flirt with Dillon... A little at least... hehehe... Let's see what else is occuring? O, yes, since yesterday was the day from Hell, with all the stress and the work and the rushing to get things done and turned in and the screaming and the moaning that was done I figured I could take today off from work of any sort.... Though I didn't sleep late, didn't have classes, and only had to call someone to tell her I wouldn't be in her office for our appointment at 2:30 as I usually was.... Its been great so far but I need a back rub like no one's business....
Let's see.... Oh, yes, my major complaint about women.... I know I am one, but I was ashamed to admit it last night when I witnessed one of the worst travesties ever on television... I recently (like 3 weeks ago) got addicted to this show the Average Joe, where this chick, Miss Missouri, Melana, picks form a lot of 'average' kinda guys.... Plot twist occuring when 3 'hot' guys are thrown in the mix... Though some of the average guys were attractive and 2 of the hot guys were just... ew... The third guy (and one of Melana's final 2) Jason seemed like the average guy to me.... Though he seemed absurdly laid back (some of my best friends are the stereotypical surfer 'dudes' and even THEY'RE not this laid back) and he looked like he was fake and baked (i.e. self tanner and/or tanning booth)... While the other guy Adam, was decent looking, funny, always smiling, successful, and treated her like a princess... Well, Miss Melana in her infinite wisdom picked Jason, the student/waiter, who she had immediate chemistry with and enjoyed kissing, and not much else.... Adam on the other hand enjoyed a friendship with her, romanced her, and they both implied a future together (i.e. having kids together, moving to the same city....). So I thought Adam was a shoe in, since everyone knows good relationships are based on friendships... Chemistry is nice I know, but it can fizzle out quickly if there isn't any sort of foundation to back it up... And to top it off Jason, the winner (as much as I hate to call him that), came out and shook Adam's hand and then Adam got on the bus and Melana and Jason started to make out, while Adam was still there and could see them through the window of the bus, how inconsiderate is that???? Anyway.... Trista and Ryan's wedding is on on Wednesday and at least I know that will end better.... Shoot its pretty much a guarentee that it will end better.... Laters.....

posted by Ali @ 4:18 PM 0 Comments

Happy Birthday to me happy birthday to me.... Well, okay maybe not today, but yesterday.... But I claim the whole month as mine gosh darnit... :0) If Mom can claim the entire month of February on the basis of having a birthday at the end of the month, why can't I do the same in the beginning of the month? Its not like I don't know someone with a birthday almost every other day from last Friday to January the 12th... So I can*throat clearing* help them celebrate, so to speak... :0) But anywho, I don't feel any older, I feel just the same as I have all the rest of the year.... Of course most birthdays I usually don't feel my age till the middle of the next year (July - ish), so we'll see... Man a quarter of a century old.... First time I heard that I was like, that's old.... Now I'm like thats just funny.... Its like time goes on and theres nothing you can do to stop it and when you reach certain points in like (i.e. mile markers in life - 16, 18, 21, 25, 30, 40, 50, etc.....) certain things are supposed to happen and have been done... I'm a bit behind in that I'm not out of college but by gummi beary I will be in May.... But I'll catch up quickly... Though I'm not planning to get married till a whole lot closer to 30 than I am now... Unless something completely unforseen, like Mr. Right, comes along, in that case I'll make an exception... Though whose to say he hasn't already and the timing hasn't been right? Ok, this is beginning to sound too much like the blog about soulmates a few weeks ago... So what did I do for my big 2 - 5, you may ask? It was rather dull actually... Slept late, ate lunch, showered, went shopping at the new Hastings in Russellville, picked up dinner at the Cracker Barrel, and came home to a little bit of a surprise party.... A few friends had come over and as soon as I walked in the door confetti was thrown at me, birhtday wishes shouted, and clothes taken off (ok so not the last but got your attention didn't I?).... We had birthday cake, the thing looked like a torch with all the candles on it, but I got it all in one breath.... Hehehe.... I guess the older I get the more hot air I'm filled with? hehehehe.... Watched tv, went to the coffee house, came back watched most of Pirates of the Carribbean b4 going to bed.... So it was almost your average Clarksvegas Saturday night.... Almost, but not quite... :0) Also I found out that there's a WA Press (a poetry thing) Tuesday night when I want to go to Fayetteville.... So Decisions must be made.... But I'll worry about that tommorrow (isn't that so Scarlett O'Hara of me?).... That's about it for now.... Laters....

posted by Ali @ 4:22 PM 0 Comments

Well, I got more birthday stuff today... A package from mom, with a couple of birthday presents (baseball caps I wanted) and O'Neill promptly tried to steal one... Silly boy... I also went to Walmart tonight and got cake mix, icing and candles for the big day... Still don't know what I'm doing, aside from going to Hastings... Might go the the play, Peter Pan, here on campus, not sure yet.... I don't know if we're going to the Winter Formal tomorrow night either... It doesn't even really seem worth it... Went to the Halloween dance and knew like a handful of people and dance like 2 or 3 times.... So yeah, not really sure if its worth getting all fancy smancy in order to only go for like 15 minutes... When I could spend quality time getting drunk and watching Pirates of the Carribean, yet again... Oh, or I could go to see Haunted Mansion since I have that free ticket from buying the Pirates DVD... Hmm, let's see what else? Have two or 3 major things due Monday so tommorrow (Friday) and Sunday are going to be devoted to getting those done... Cuz Lord knows I won't get any of it done Saturday... I'm also debating on whether or not to go to Fayetteville on Tuesday, Bleu's opening for Cross Canadian Ragweed and I want to see them both, but I don't know it just depends on a bunch of stuff... That's about it for now I suppose.... Laters....

posted by Ali @ 11:50 PM 0 Comments

Ok, so this week has been incredibly, insanely stressful beyond belief.... Not as bad as last Monday, but its getting there... It seems as if everything that my professors want turned in is due between today and Monday... Its insanity I tell ya, pure insanity.... :0) Anyway, Saturday's my 25th birthday, and I still have no definite plans yet.. I got my first birthday cards from my aunt and grandmother.... I talked to mom tonight and she said she was sending me some 'stuff' and she wouldn't elaborate, and usually you can't shut her up, so I know something's up and its probably something for my birthday... Which would be pretty darn sweet... :0) 25... Man, that's a fourth of a century old.... I've been working with a girl who is 7 years old, it turns out that she was born on my mom's birthday my sophmore year of high school.... I suddenly felt very old... But I'm over that now, so its all good... I don't feel as bad as I did about graduating so far out of high school since I found out last week that another guy O graduated with is graduating in May too, that made me feel tremendously better... He took off a bit more time than I did, but still he graduated in 97 like me and hes graduatuing in 04 like me, so its all good... :0) In other news we started decorating the house on Sunday and we're still working on it... Perhaps by the time we go home for the break it'll be done... :0) I also bought Pirates of the Carribean yesterday and proceeded to watch it for like the 4th time... At the moment I'm about half way through the bonus features (that alone took an hour).... There was also a voucher to see The Haunted Mansion free... Pretty sweet deal... :0) Thats about all for now, unless I write about my obsession with certain reality tv shows that all end next week... Sux to be me, huh? Laters....

posted by Ali @ 10:43 PM 0 Comments