so, for a while i was having photo uploading issues. and it seems to have worked this time! below are mostly pics of family stuff, including the incredible trifle(made by moi!), pics of my fab cougar mom(raaaar), my fab well-read non tv watching sis, my more silent, but still very cute brother and other randoms of a very tan me of course! also, some havalina in the yard...enjoy! you will also take note of the 4th of july sidecars made by moi, they pretty much killed my mom, and i did not post the after shots of her, but it was a fun 4th! i'm too lazy to name my photos and comment after each one...













































i'll post some from my new years trip in the am...

so this job i have been wanting turns out to seem not so great, and i kinda missed out on some fun in blo because of it. anyway, i still have the interview on friday, but i feel like it will be just to go and in case i want a job with that hospital in the future, i won't look bad.

it doesn't pay much, and seems like super hard work. pays less than both job i have right now, and turns out they only pay for those going to school to pursue nursing. anyway, maybe it is better than i think.

i may be able to pick up extra hours with the agency i work for, and there are clients i could work with here in town, which would be so nice not to have to drive 35 minutes to work.

i feel like i really just need to make school more important even if it means i will be broke. i was making decent money for a while there, but i can just cut back and it shouldn't be an issue.

taking a full time job is a lot of responsibility when i have another job and school full time.

it's nice to be home!

on the way back i got bumped in exchange for a voucher, so my next blo trip will be free...woohoo!

my infamous white coat, for those of you who know me and have seen it, has not unzippered at the bottom for two years.

well, now tonight, i came home, well home to the (e:pmt), AND i went to unzip it down to the bottom, and then step out of it, and it unzipped!!!!

such a small thing, but makes me sooooo happy!

i also found an amazing and cute hoodie on sale today, and it is so lovely and warm.

these things and the tim hortons hot chocolate i had today somewhat makeup for the fact that i am a loser and left my ipod in the back pocket of the plane seat. :(

plus at lunch the waitress though i was a movie star today, which feeds the ego.

and we are making beef stroganoff for dinner...delish!!!

so far, im loving this trip.

no one should only get three hours of sleep and then have to wake up at 230.

seriously,i am soooooo tired!!!!!!

i am also scared of the cold, because as (e:hodown) says, i think my memories of the harsh awful cold have been softened by a year and a half of sunshine and warmth.

but perhaps some good wine can cure the harshness of the cold...

i miss (e:hodown) already! hopefully all will go well and i shall see her in a few days.

so excited to see all of my friends and relax and have some fun!

moving out here was so scary at first. it was the first time i truly stepped outside my comfort zone.

and after a year and a half, i can honestly say it is the best decision i could've made, that i've ever made.

i am really proud of myself. i am doing good in school, and if all goes well, i will be at asu in the fall. i have an interview for a job coming up with a company that will pay for my school and offers great health insurance, so maybe hearing aides can become a reality for me.

i have fond something i love doing, and that i am truly good at, and i feel like i can make a positive difference in the world.

i spent the first half of my twenties so lost, and the second half will be all about gaining that back and becoming a strong woman.

i really have my mom and sister to thank for all of the help and support, and of course good friends too.

it's such a good feeling having something all my own, to work towards and be excited about.

i feel like i am really ready for the future, and anticipating what it will bring, because i think it's gonna be good stuff.

through all of the changes in the past few years i have definitely learned one of the most simple, but valuable things in life; hard work truly pays off. i feel like i can have most of what i want in life if i work hard and stay dedicated to my goals.

it makes me kinda emotional, but i think coming here to arizona really put me on the right path, and i miss buffalo and all of my friends and the familiarity, but being here has definitely allowed me to grow and allow my life to head in a better direction!

2008 was good, but 2009 is going to be even better!!!!!