tis the season ...

because i've been working for the government for over four years now, i've been brainwashed groomed to be politically correct.  but today i'm going to try something new.  now today is no special day ... it's a simple and plain tuesday in williamsburg.  but for some odd reason i have chosen today to be the awesome rebel that i can be.  so please count with me ...

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happy holidays!!

merry christmas!!

it still feels weird to see "merry christmas" written above ... but i'm gonna stand by my decision!  i realize christmas isn't for a few days but i'll be busy spending time with my pregnant sister and brother-in-law.  that's right ... i'm headed to new jersey again.  here's the story ...


this last saturday, i was supposed to fly to salt lake city to meet afton and mikey and the three of us were going to sing songs allll the way to oregon.  well on friday, weather reports were saying the DC area was going to be hit with a severe snow storm.  really?!  we've never gotten THAT much snow.  but regardless, i hustled out of work and frantically drove to northern virginia to avoid the other morons on the road.  it was rush-hour traffic for three fun hours.  but alas, i arrived safely!  my luck quickly turned to ... non-luck ... when my taxi called to cancel my reservation and then my flight was canceled the night before.  then it started to snow ...

two days!!  luckily, i was snowed in with two fabulous friends.  we ate, laughed, and watched A LOT of television!  i also couldn't get through to the airlines for two days.  on the third day, i finally got through to reschedule my flight and they pretty much laughed at me ... everything was booked solid.  so now i am headed to jersey ... and niki is scrambling for gifts so i can participate in unwrapping gifts.  isn't that a great sister?!

second verse ... same as the first ...

who says ...

as you all know, i had surgery two weeks ago from today.  i am officially handicapped and am extremely limited in taking care of myself.  (although ... i can almost pull up my underwear with both hands ... hercules!!)  this means i cannot do my hair or make-up and i officially look like a truck ran me over ... why oh why did i have to meet a hottie today?!  anyway ... although the rest of me looks like [insert somewhat nice adjective here], who says my nails have to be as bad?  so i took the only matter i could into my own hands ... literally ... and got a manicure!  i think they look fabulous!  they are a dark purple, mother.  now i'm definitely not a flower kinda girl ... but the cute little asian lady convinced me.  afterall, she had to stick her hand into my butt pocket to retrieve my cash ... letting her paint a flower was the least i could do!  notice the bling?!  i know ... it's blinding!!

you may have also noticed that annoying piece of paper in the background.  that's my surgery bill.  shiver.  but i am truly blessed to have such a great job with wonderful benefits ... a $9,000 bill is only costing me $400 out-of-pocket!  i did a little jig right here on the couch ... and the couch only shifted a little bit!  join me in jigging won't you?!

colonial williamsburg

well, after much abuse supportive prodding from my sister, afton, i decided it's time to update all of my readers (i'm pretty sure i have at least three).  i have officially been in williamsburg aka willyburg for three months.  has it only been three months?!  it feels like i've been here forever ... for e ver.  it's a nice small town with lots to do ... unfortunately, most of the "lots to do" deals with colonialism.  now don't get me wrong ... colonialism is a great ... can't think of a good word here ... and really helps our local economy.  but once you've done the tour, you're good for a while.  and don't get me started on the tourists.  anyway.  so the "issue" i've been having is finding things to do in willyburg.  while i enjoy a nice quiet night at home after work, there are times i actually want to get out and socialize with the town.  and sometimes i'm even nice.  there is a phenomenal movie theater that occupies some of my time.  it's called the movie tavern and you can order your food (pizza, wraps, finger foods) and they will deliver it to your seat.  let me repeat ... they will deliver the food to your seat.  two great pasttimes in one sitting ... pun intended.  however, i can count on one hand how many good movies are out right now.  (i do recommend law abiding citizen ... sweet twists and a hot girard butler.)  so next option ... hrm.  now, i have forgotten to mention that willyburg is a nice family town aka everyone is married with families.  this is a bonus for me cuz of the one many dinner invites.  on a bright note, thank goodness i found another singleton!!  stephanie and i were set up by all the ladies at work bcz we are the two single ones.  two singles = partners in crime!  stephanie and i are planning lots of great domestic (north carolina) and foreign (spain) trips so that gives us something to look forward to ... and we do a lot of "lets go check this out" together.  but aside from my awesome friend, what should i be occupying my time with?  my point to all of this is that i'm bored in willyburg.

i was pretty stoked when i found out the tiny little airport down the road offers flying lessons.  being a singleton means i can afford this option (knock on wood).  and i'm completely game since i fell in love with helicopters while overseas ... but fixed wing will do.  of course, this is after my surgery and everything heals.  then wait for the next class.

i've done some searching for cooking lessons.  i have found one such place.  their website talks mostly of chef-type classes.  this might not help since i'm more at the boiling water level.  my poor mother and grandmother still deal with questions like "does it matter if the shiney or dull side of the foil is on the outside?"  that's only if i decide to cook.  once i'm no longer one-armed, i will pop my head in.

i've done some searchig for sewing lessons.  i know, wendy, i know.  alas, none to be found.

and yes, i'm looking into volunteer work.

by now, you've been reading my blog for twenty minutes.  and now i ask the question of the hour ... what are some creative ideas that i won't get bored with?  making cute holiday blocks and banners would be a lot of fun ... but i'm not sure i'd keep thinking that after my second one.  so please feel free to throw some ideas at me.

and yes, pole dancing is an option!!

the new baby in my life

well, i decided it was time to post pics of my baby ... the 2009 honda accord coupe! isn't she beautiful? she's one month old and has walked about 1,500 miles so far! they grow up so fast! when i found out i was in the market for a baby, i was being choosey ... i wanted four doors and no leather. but katie kizzle opened my eyes to a different breed of baby and i was instantly in love! yes, she is a 2-door and has leather ... but the perks have been awesome! i was able to take her with me to jersey and she handled like a bute ... good air conditioning and kick-ass xm satellite radio. and the color ... beautiful! i was able to obtain her for $4,000 less than the asking price ... apparently they were desperate to sell some babies (that sounds awful) and/or make room for the up-and-coming 2010 babies ... so i definitely wasn't complaining!

home sweet home ... temporarily

as of this morning, i have officially been home two weeks. how crazy is that?! i've been fairly busy so as of this moment, i am on vacation ... in my fabulous hotel room. it's almost a studio apartment ... has a full kitchen (i had to buy groceries yesterday ... huh?!), a flat screen tv, big bed off to the side of the living/dining room. i love it ... so i will share pics with you!

i'll be in my hotel until 18 july ... so i have lots of time to rest and get cozy! then off to my permanent new home!

i also just got back from visiting my second favorite sister (according to afton) in jersey ... we had such a great time! we caught up on some movies (defiance, twilight, revolutionary road, he's just not that into you), ate lots and lots, i watched her cook lots and lots, and spent good quality time with jason and tex. thanks for the good times sis!

i have officially caved ...

it's true ... i finally let curiosity get the best of me and read THE book ... and have now fallen in love with edward. really?

p.s. afton is dead meat!

I count my blessing

I have a confession...I hope this doesn't hurt any one's feeling, but I must admit that Afton is my absolute favorite sister. (Sorry Niki. You come in a close second!) I am so grateful that she is my little sister and I have her in my life. I don't know what I would do without her. I would definitely be bored because she's so much fun! She's just all around....what's the word? Oh yeah, PHENOMENAL! Here are all the things I love to do with her when we have time:
I love snuggling with her. We sit as close as possible and sometimes hold hands. It's phenomenal!

I love to play games with her. She's phenomenal at games!

I love going to my fav places with her and giving her phenomenal kisses!

I love acting like Charlie's angels with her and I love making her laugh with my dorky ways. She has a phenomenal laugh!

As you can see, I just love her! I feel truly blessed she's my sister! She's, yeah you guessed it...truly PHENOMENAL!

first week down ...

it's weird to think that a week ago tonight i was flying across the atlantic ocean and leaving my life behind. i've now started life number 15 and just finished week one. i bought a brand new car ... 2009 honda accord coupe ... was going for the sedan but then saw the coupe ... who knew that a 2-door car could be so bad ass (i know afton ... new word). she's between gray and black and uber shiney ... she has black leather (never thought i'd go there either but mom says it shows my passion) and lots of fun interior knobs.

today i drove down to williamsburg to meet my new house and new office mates. it was 2.5 hours each way and put about 400 miles on my new car. but the house is amazing and i can't wait to move into it! virginia beach is about an hour away and will spend many a weekend not frolicking in the ocean ... if i'm feeling adventurous i may go in up to my knees.

tomorrow i leave for niki's. i wrote down the directions and boy, it seems a lot more complicated than i remember. lets hope i can find my way again ... afterall, sussex new jersey is in podunk. but i will definitely enjoy the 5-hour drive in my new car ... any ideas for a name? wait ... courtney said it's not cool to name cars anymore ... i'm so out-of-date on the new life rules. so anyway ... visiting niki and she's gonna cook alllll weekend long ... it's been a long time since i've had a home-cooked meal and i'm really looking forward to it.

pics of car and trip to jersey soon to come ...

and then comes boredom ...

well, after a busy sixteen months in the sandbox, i am finally home. i am only on day three, and all i've done is become addicted to crackbook, drink diet coke and try and figure out how to create a blog. my poor sister, aspen, has been very patient with all my texts and questions ... she's made fun of me only a few times today. this should be interesting and i have a month off from work to try and figure this all out. wish me luck!