SUMMERSUMMERSUMMER

I woke up this morning with the delicious feeling of knowing it's Saturday. Which means two things: One is that the farmer's market is open at Ancestor Square, and the other is that it's my last day of work before SUNDAY, which is my favorite day of the week. So I lounged a bit over breakfast and then went straight for the vegetables. My Grandpa is here for a few days so I've got to get my cook on- let me rephrase that: I am super excited that my Grandpa is here because it gives me an excuse to COOK. (also I love the man) I'm going to try Ratatouille because, yes, because of the movie and the pixar version looked soooooooooooo delicious. I'll let you know how it goes. I am thinking pie too. C-c-c-can't wait to get off work tonight. xoxo

New Garden Pictures

A baby Lemon Cucumber that I transplanted from beneath the heavy shade of the zucchini plant! Durst I cling to the shadow of hope that it'll live?

Oregano

Zucchini flower

Tomatoes

Can fruit be cute? Look at it just peeking out from under the leaves like a shy little puppy! I could just eat IT UP! Ha

If you want some, come visit me.

I'd like to give a shout-out to MEN'S RAZORS. Why oh why are they so much better than women's? Sexism, I say. Although I have this really awful sneaking suspicion that maybe Men make Men's Razors, and Women make Women's Razors? NAY, I say razor companies have grossly uneven budgets, giving a disgusting majority of money to the improvement of Men's products. Although, it would be to the advantage of men everywhere for women to have high-quality razors because ask any man, they don't appreciate stubble. So why the discrepancy? No one will ever know.

I know you're dying to know what's been on my mind since that last happy post, so I'll tell you. For some reason a great deal of bitterness has been surfacing lately, so like any well-adjusted woman would do, I have been taking it out on the people around me. Curses upon my hypocrisy. Ok maybe it's not bitterness, I think it's more like good old-fashioned frustration at... well if I told you I'd have to kill you. And we all know there are THOUSANDS of riveted readers who follow this blog, so while I'm deeply dedicated to population control, I can't at this point in my life take on such a prodigiously messy task. I digress. A bit lighter subject matter, perhaps?

Your wish is my command. Ignore the fact that I made that wish, and not you. It's only five days till my little brother turns the big ONE-EIGHT. That's really weird. Siblings will always be children when they're together. Sooooooooooooooooooooooooo, Happy Birthday, Alex! Hope it's a good one.

Fun Fun Fun

I want to write you something so ridiculously and hillariously funny that you are rolling on the floor crying and peeing your pants. But I can't think of anything. Sad. I am going to find a funny movie to watch now. Maybe a Jim Carrey one because I am definitely in a laughing mood. And I'll be so healthy when it's over!

Books. Again.

Latest development: I am no longer going to read any book anyone hands me. My previous philosophy was to read people's books to find out about them, especially if they claimed to be readers, but from now on I'm just going to read the titles. Yes, in the very truest sense of the phrase, I will now be judging books by their covers. I have a stack of books up to the ceiling that I am slowly but surely wading through, but at the rate I was going, I'd never make it. Always allowing myself to be diverted by these trifling stories- and in order to defend against those who may accuse me of being a hypocrite, I'll tell you that there is really only one book I want you to read, and I only give it to people I really like. A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken. And this is because it changed my life. It's a love story, true, but it is so much more than that. It is the story of two people were so in sync that together they figured out exactly what they wanted, devised a plan to make it happen, and then followed the plan until they had accomplished almost all of the things they were after. They were purposeful in the way they lived, planning carefully, and yet they weren't afraid of anything. They didn't conform to any standard but their own, and later when they discovered Jesus, they did their best to serve Him, conserving nothing for themselves. The book is full of drippy poetry and silly letters, but amongst all the romance, there is a love for life that I want to have. Alright I'm done with that tangent. Thanks, Mal, for giving me that book. So anyways, basically I've decided that I'm better than you- yes, you- at picking books. For myself, at the least. Mostly because I know what I like. Sorry. (Gilly voice)

In other news, there are baby zucchinis on my zucchini plants! HA! I'll take pictures tomorrow. Maybe.

It's Where You Are, Not Who You're With.

As promised, a list of things that make me happy. There are so many more of these than angry things, but i'll try to keep it brief.

1. The open road. Actually, although driving is a great way of getting around, I get excited about any mode of travel because... well, it means going somewhere!

2. Saturday Night Live. My current favorites are of course Andy Samberg and Kristen Wiig, But I can appreciate the old guys too, like Molly Shannon and Will Ferrell. Just kidding they're not OLD! I meant John Belushi and Chevy Chase and Gilda Radner. I LOVE her.
3. Books. You can never have too many or read too many books. There is no end to the worlds you can enter and the treasures you can discover. It's a Reading Rainbow! Did anyone else watch that show as a kid?
4. Lipstick. A lady can never have too many shades of lipstick, and I'm a fan of mixing them. Rules: Never match your lipstick to your clothing, and never touch a metallic. Blech. All it takes is a bit of lipstick to make me feel glamorous, no matter what I'm wearing or where I am!
5. Roses. Cliche? Perhaps, but that doesn't diminish the beauty and fragrance of a rose. A vase of Roses I could pass up any day. Get me daffodils or daisies, but in a Garden? NOTHING BETTER than roses everywhere.
P.S. I took all these pictures, Just kidding I took none of them, Just kidding I took one of them but you'll never guess which one, Just kidding I don't even have a camera, Just kidding I do but it's a toy and it doesn't take real pictures, Just kidding of course it does, Just kidding toys are for kids, Just kidding Trix are for kids, Just kidding Trix are for rabbits, Just kidding rabbits don't eat cereal, Just kidding they do but only if they're domesticated, Just kidding my cousin had a rabbit who ate cereal, Just kidding he didn't, Just kidding he did and it had rabies and it bit him on the lip and he had to go to the hospital and get lots of shots and he was there for three weeks, Just kidding I don't even have a cousin, Just kidding I do but he doesn't have a rabbit, Just kidding, Just kidding, Just kidding....

Till I'm Blue in the Face.

Please, dear readers, allow me for a moment to stand on this little thing I like to call my soapbox, and preach to you. HA that's a JOKE. More like RANT. I'd like to post today a list of things that make me angry.
1. Feelings. No, not just feeling them, that's normal. What makes me angry is when people make decisions based on their emotions. Little ones, sure. Having a rant, fine. (since that's what I'm doing I have to justify it) But basing your belief system on a FEELING??!! COME ON PEOPLE. Quitting your job cause your boss ticks you off? I want CONSISTENCY. Wake up and use yer noggin and start caring about the truth!
2. People who don't fight back. Here is one of my biggest pet peeves. I love to argue, and if I make a ridiculous statement, well golly then slap me in the face! I will only be as mean as you let me be; by criticizing you or your ideas I am only challenging you to come up with a response. At least think of a good comeback!
3. Voicemails. Good grief if you're just going to say "call me back," don't bother. That's why cellphones show a missed call. If I see you've called, it's pretty obvious that you wanted to talk to me, and I'll call you back! Eventually. Leave a message only if you're going to give me information.
4. Girls who hate Girls. Now, I used to be one of these. (ok maybe I still have some bad tendencies...) I only wanted to hang out with "the guys" because they aren't so catty, and also they pad the ol' self-esteem. But ladies, we are only perpetuating this stereotype! Yes, we can be mean to eachother over a guy or a percieved popularity contest, but that is why I am friends with my BFF. She calls me on it. She tells me the truth, and she doesn't BACK DOWN.
5. Ok last one. LEG HAIR. No matter how many times I shave it.... Arrrrrrgh!

P.S. If I offended you, please- fight back. Otherwise, leave a comment and let it out! I know you're angry about something too.
P.P.S. I promise to post happy things tomorrow.

Long Weekend

Ok here's what I've been doing. Went dancing, went hiking, bought a marathon training book and got too intimidated to open it, swam across this lake: (cellphone picture, sorry for the blurriness)
It took a long time. If you can't tell from the picture, that lake is about 10 miles wide. Ok, five. Fiiiiiiiiine, it's only about a quarter mile, but I think I'm just about ready for a triathalon now. Also, celebrated Mother's Day (come to find out it's an extremely pagan holiday) with my Grandma, went to a tea party, put on some lipstick and heels to watch Roman Holiday, wrote a song about the weekend, and listened to Britney Spears. (Not necessarily in that order) And amidst all of this activity, I've been doing alot of thinking about where I am and where I'm going. To say the least, I am happy. Happier than I've been in a long time, and SO excited for the next few years. I'll leave it at that. Happy Mother's Day to Donna Johnson, and to all the mothers who have been a part of my life. (This includes but is not limited to: Joy Boydston and Heidi Folks)

Dragonfruit.

May I take a moment to explain to you how incredibly profound I am? Doesn't matter what you say I'll do it anyway. (rhyme) You know when you are driving or eating or talking to someone and some little quip pops into your head and you either don't have a pen or can't take your eyes off the road long enough to write it down? Well that happens to me at least 17 MILLION times a day and although I can't think of any of them right now, I wanted you all to know how lofty my thoughts are. I'm thinking about getting twitter so that I can share them all with you via my phone, since I have that around pretty much all the time. JUST KIDDING I know it's not that important, but do you have this frustration too? It's kinda like being ridiculously beautiful and walking around with a bag on your head. Of course, sometimes it would get me in trouble, like when I think of a super-clever but super-harsh comeback and have to bite my tongue till it bleeds. (Sometimes they just slip out...) BAD.

Completely unrelatedly, I had a WONDERFUL visit home to see my family and friends. Well, friend. Ha you'd think with all my charisma I'd be more popular. We saw "How To Train Your Dragon," in 3D. When I heard about people experiencing depression after seeing Avatar, (because of the fact that the world is Made-Up, DUH people) I pretty much laughed my head off, but I think I understand now after seeing this movie. I want a dragon for a pet. Daddy get me one of Those!!!!