Days 8 through 11.

Thursday - Day 08 Someone you think would make a good president

Truth be told -- I may be in the field of law -- but I actually don't like politics. And i didn't really like ANY of the recent candidates for President during the previous election. I have had the privilege of having many brilliant teachers and professors over the last 20 years or so of education. One in particular, my Constitutional Law and Crim Pro professor (coincidence, really!) is exceptional. He would make a fantastic President. Not because of political reasons, but because of his personality and demeanor. He is tough -- really tough. He asks direct questions and forces students to get thinking, whether we are in class or simply on the lunch line having a polite, intellectual conversation. But while he is thought provoking and won't let you off with an easy answer -- he is also understanding. He'll help you work through your thoughts and is so completely approachable - even if you know your opinion will be different than his. I think these are really important qualities. The ability to be a hard ass, to help people excel, to know when to back down, and to know when to push ahead.


Friday - Day 09 Five things you want to see change
1) The Family Court system in America -- too often, courts get caught up in what should and shouldn't be "BEST" for a child that they actually ignore the child. I could go on and on, but i wont.
2) my obsessiveness about my weight. i weigh myself three times a day. i really wish i didn't care but i can't NOT care. and i'm sure its super annoying to other people to hear me talk about it. but honestly, i DONT talk about it to other people. nobody knows how obsessed i am, i just take the ability to vent about it on here.
3) the attitude of the "youth" generation. and i'm young, i know that. but i'm talking about current 13-17 year olds. they are SO young but they act SO old. they dress like they are in their mid twenties and think they are invincible. too often we hear bad things happen to them, and not that it is ever a child's fault, but you can't help but think about these kids' behaviors and what kind of role models they have had in order to become the way they are
4) the economy - wayyyyyyyyy too many people are suffering. it needs to stop.
5) i want to see my sister in law go from PREGNANT to NOT PREGNANT!


Saturday - Day 10 A dream you had this past week described in detail
i actually haven't remembered my dreams in a really long time. it's kind of odd actually because i used to have crazy vivid dreams that i would remember distinctly. I don't even know the last time i remember dreaming. I am pretty sure it had something to do with me missing the baby's birth, though. That's been a dream i've had a few times in the past 9 months!


Sunday - Day 11 Favorite picture ever taken of yourself

A few of my faves...

Nicky (my cousin's son) was SO little! i was a freshman in college so he would have been about three. I'm so glad and so lucky to have developed the relationship with my little buddy. I can't believe he's already almost 9! i remember this day (and this picture) because we were carving pumpkins and I let Nicky just go wild playing in the sink with the guts and water and he was giggling SO hard. I think back then he was still calling me "Mictoria."
My Kaitypants (my cousin's daughter). This was taken just recently at my SIL's baby shower. I have an unbelievable relationship with Kaitlyn as well. I'm so glad i took the time over the past 9 years of my cousin having children to visit with them once a week or so. My cousin had the same relationship with me, and now, i have it with her daughter. This was a really special day for our family, especially the women, and this is one of the most beautiful pictures from the whole day because it perfectly represents the way I am with Kaity -- the way she will snuggle up on my lap and just talk to me, something she doesn't really do with many others. Plus we kind of coordinate, which is just adorable.
So i'm kind of cheating using an OLD picture of myself. But this picture i must have been about 3 or 4. (it is NOT january 1993 as the pink date says -- these pictures were victim of our flood and salvaged, and the date bled through the picture on top of this one. i would have been 7 in 1993 and i am definitely not 7 in this picture.) regardless, this picture IS my childhood. i remember so many days standing on that stool "helping" my mom cook and bake and do all the mommy things. i was such a typical little girl like that and i am so glad my mom instilled those "traditional" mom things into me when i was growing up.

Day 07- Favorite cover of your favorite song

First, I'm going to be a total lame-o and outright say that i really don't have a FAVORITE song. i don't really have a favorite anything. there are many songs that i could listen to over, and over, and over again, and then again, for hours or days or months and never got bored or sick of it.

Second, I'm going to say that each of the originals of these covers are among my many favorite songs.

Third, if you have never heard of the PS 22 chorus -- you are severely missing out. YOUTUBE it. NOW. the videos may not be the best sound-quality-wise, (particularly the first one), but what these kids do is absolutely amazing. and i love all of their covers, but these are some of my favorites

Day 05 and Day 06

Day 05- A thank you letter to someone who has changed your life
In lieu of writing to one person, i am writing to all of the amazing ladies in my sorority.

Dear AST,
I entered college as a sheltered, naive 18 year old who thought she knew it all and had it all. I had parents who supported me, a part time job, a clear cut set of life and career goals, and a strong core of friends at home. My first semester, i earned 4 As and 1 A-. My parents were so thrilled they bought me beautiful white gold hoop earrings. but honestly, i was miserable. my friends had all gained new college lives, my p/t job was at a bagel shoppe and i spent my weekends working 5:30 or 6 am until 2 or 3. I pretty much spent my days going to work, sleeping, and going to class.

my best friend had joined a sorority her first year of college, and encouraged me to go to a greek life recruiting event and i met you all. you amazed me with the ability to feel and seem NOT AT ALL what my preconceived idea of sorority life was like. you all were genuine. you were smart and not the slightest bit overwhelming.

i pledged. and you all made my life MISERABLE for 7 weeks. you tested my physical, mental, and emotional limits. and a lot of people think its crazy and stupid to do all of these things for 'friends' but i you all aren't my friends. you are my SISTERS. and yes, there is a difference, but it is a difference only we would know. sorority threatened my relationship with my parents. we didn't see eye to eye and i didn't think that i would be able to handle as much warfare, but we did. and it was because of you all that my parents and i realized new boundaries. much more appropriate, healthy, and realistic boundaries for the adult i was becoming. and even in my worst fights with them, you were all there. drying my tears and rubbing my back promising it would be okay. offering to call them and help them understand.

you all taught me independence. you gave me a voice. not that i was ever a quiet person. not that i never had an opinion or failed to voice it. but you all taught me to stand up and do it loudly when i disagree, even if the people i disagree with are the people i love the most.

but most of all, you gave me a lifetime of people that i can turn to, regardless of if i've spoken to them 2 minutes ago or 2 years ago or 20 years ago, that i know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, would do anything in the world to be there for me. and i know a lot of people would do that for their friends. but there is something about sisterhood that's different. and as a girl who spent the first 18 years of her life wishing i had a (biological) sister, i am so glad i found you all.

thank you. T<3&mine.


Day 06- Earliest thing you can remember
There are two things. Neither of which i remember very well to be honest. The first, I remember riding in my mom's old car, in the backseat between my brothers. Someone said something, presumably a curse, slang, vulgar word or something to that extent. I remember asking what it meant. Then SILENCE. Then my mom said something about it being a bad word and grown ups only can use it and they didn't ever want to hear me ask about it ever again. the funniest thing is that i can't for the life of me remember what the hell this horrible word was. and it still bugs me!

the second thing i can remember is a recurring dream i used to have when i was very young. it would happen quite frequently and it used to scare the crap out of me. I would be in this row boat / canoe and rowing through these swamps and there were all of these branches hanging -- i guess like a weeping willow or something. very eerie and creepy feeling. nothing would ever happen, but i would just be lost and never be able to get my way out until i wake up. it still gives me the chills!

Day 04- What you imagine paradise to be like

sun shining. birds chirping. completely still bay -- so calm it looks like a sheet of glass. no sand, but lots and lots of cool, crisp grass, free from ants and bugs. friends and family would surround me, but paradise's population would be much more widespread. friendly, smiling faces. no malice or pettiness. it would be a place free of judgment. silence. utter silence. no time crunches or deadlines. complete relaxation. time to do everything everyone ever wants to do that they say they "can't" for one reason or another. it would be the place to just "be"

Day 03- The five songs you would have with you on a desert island and why

I'm going to preface this with the statement that i have the most unoriginal taste in music and all five choices are probably totally cliche and overplayed, but i don't care - each of these songs has very personal meaning and i love them!


Karma Chameleon - Boy George & the Culture Club
This was our sorority song (with our own lyrics, etc), and there are so many good memories of formals, pledging, and times i was with my sisters/best friends that i never, ever want to forget.

Who Says You Can't Go Home - Bon Jovi
Huge Bon Jovi fan -- and its something that my bff and i share. we've gone to 4 bon jovi concerts and pretty much go every time they are in town. plus, since bon jovi is a total NJ thing (from jon is from nj), this song is especially meaningful

Circus - Britney Spears
my island would not be complete without some britney. this is just one of my faves.

How to Save a Life - The Fray
Song has gotten me through some really tough times. My group of friends (A, K, R and myself), this kind of became our go to-between krys's dad, angie's struggles, etc.

Heartbeats - Jose Gonzalez
Total OTH geeky-ness, but it's just a very beautiful song that i can listen to on repeat forever.

Day 02- Something that inspires you

Is it inappropriate to say i'm not really inspired by anything or anyone. i've never really been the type of person to be moved into action or achievement. the basis of all of my achievements or desires thus far have been because of my own personal work ethic and the work ethic instilled by my parents. "you want to get what you want -- work your ass off for it." so there.

I've missed this...

I've missed regularly blogging in the past few months, when life got in the way. When i first started this blog, it was about a lot more broad. I wrote about life, about things that went on regularly. I wrote about the ups, not only the downs. But then this blog became my safe place, to write about all the stuff that i couldn't bring myself to talk or think about. But i want to get back to the beginning. To make this blog more about letting people get to know me and my life than just about the hairy scary stuff. So as an attempt to do that, and to get back into blogging here regularly, i am going to take on the 30 day writing challenge that I've been following from Megan's Tumblr. I believe that she 'borrowed' this from someone else, just to give credit where credit is due. But regardless, thank you Megan for letting us into your world, and giving me the chance to take this kind of little project on. I love reading MM's random thoughts, and appreciate her being able to throw it all out there.

Day 1: Guilty Pleasure
Every single show on Bravo. Housewives, RZ, top chef, millionaire matchmaker. I.LOVE.THEM.ALL. i could seriously sit and watch bravo for hours and hours and hours and days and days and never get up. I'm not really sure if this counts as a true guilty pleasure seeing as i'm not really embarrassed by it at all, and it's not anything too bad. perhaps the worst part is my inability to move from the television when these shows are on, rather than the shows themselves.

sing me a song, piano(wo)man.

I haven't written about A in a very long time. She has been at a rehab facility in New Mexico for just over a year. When she first left, after many months of on and off the wagon, we were told that we would be able to send her mail and receive letters from her after a 90 day blackout period. This seemed reasonable, and a policy that made total sense. After 90 days Renee and I sent letters, only to have them returned with a note saying that she could not receive mail. After a few weeks, we learned that she would not be able to have any contact with non-immediate family for one year. it was tough, knowing that she was going through a tough process but not knowing what was going on with her life for an entire year. (we did receive occasional messages from her mom that she was "doing well" but not much detail other than that.) but we knew that it was the best thing for her. Renee and I talked about her often, wishing she was there despite her noticeable absence. christmas, birthdays, celebrations, personal struggles. she always had the right thing to say.


a year has passed. We've learned that she will be able to begin writing to us this month. and in about 6 months, we can begin writing back.

It's crazy how fast a year has gone. actually, it's not. i know how quickly time passes when you aren't paying attention. but what is more startling is how much things have changed in the one year A has not been here. what i know, is that i will love filling her in when we can finally communicate with her again.