Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family. -- Anthony Brandt

Listening to: Trainwreck by Demi Lovato


Truth be told, I have the coolest family ever. This Thanksgiving weekend solidified that belief so many times over. For one, I have a HUGE family. (on both sides, but we spent Thanksgiving with my Dad's side) This year we decided to have our Thanksgiving celebration at Frontenac State Park. You can rent out a little shelter deal they've got there. It's really nice because it takes the stress of house cleaning/preparing off of whoever is "hosting". Plus, there is plenty of running around room for the young energetic cousins. Not to mention, it's absolutely beautiful. This year not everyone could make it but there was 22 of us that showed up to celebrate together. It was really fun, and filling.

As if the day couldn't be any more fun, one of my aunt's/uncle's has a cabin about an hour away that we all spent the night at. So ALL the cousins (minus five of them) and a few aunts & uncles packed in and spent the night together playing games, singing karaoke, eating, chatting, etc. At one point a huge nerf-gun war broke out and the entire cabin (which is actually just a house on a lake rather than a cabin) was a battleground. It was so fun. Food was cooked until the second we went to bed, the last pumpkin pie was taken out of the oven around 11 pm. We woke up around 8:30am to cousins raiding the room wanting to snuggle. Then got up a bit later to a breakfast of pancakes, pears, kiwi, hard boiled eggs, coffee, milk, cereal, pumpkin pie... basically, the best breakfast ever. The lake had frozen over just enough, so later on everyone broke out their ice skates and skated on the lake. After about an hour, you could see the ice swaying on the unfrozen water beneath it. So that could only mean one thing..... time for a game of lawn hockey. Our team won. :) We went inside after and drank some hot chocolate, sang karaoke, played some ping pong, and then split up. Some people stayed in and messed around playing Christmas music, and others such as myself opted for archery. I hit the milk jug right on. But got schooled by my 13 year old cousin, Graham, when he nonchalantly owned the Root Beer bottle with the last arrow in the quiver. We ate lunch, had a short lived last Nerf battle, and then goodbyes were said.
It was one of the best weekends I've had all year. I wish it could happen every weekend. I hope your Thanksgiving was as fantastic as the one I was blessed with. There are so many things to be thankful for, and it's so easy to get caught up in the negatives.. but I hope you found thankfulness in something as simple as your family! Here's to a happy holiday, and many more!

I like it and I do what I like, and then you do what I like, and you like it.

Listening to: Lace and Leather by Britney Spears

You know it's a stressful week when you have three canker sores. Welcome to my fucking life. I want to bite my tongue off. Sophomore slump can kiss my ass. I'm so sick of school. I need a break like whoa. Christmas, where are you?!

Okay, I'm sorry. I have to say it. Plug your ears, Twi-hards.
What the FUCK happened?! Twilight sucked big huge dick. I mean, I knew it was gonna be up there on the cheese factor scale.. but.. RLY?! I'm convinced "Bella" aka Kristen Stewart is a robot who does not know how human beings act. The upside = staring at RPattz for 2 hours. I'm totally okay with that. Also, wtf JASPER. HAHA. His eyes.. cracked me up. Here, for those of you who are like.. oh man, I kinda wanna go see it... I'll spare you the trouble.

Bella: *looking down, twitching a bit* ".............................."
Edward: *looking confused, and hot* "..............................."

*music that makes no sense with the scene*
RLY QUICK SCENE CHANGE

Bella: ".........................."
Edward: "....................."

roll credits

Whatever, I'll re-read that book ANY DAY. But if I want to rewatch the movie, I'd rather watch it online illegally than go pay for it.

In other news, Britmas came early for me. I can't stop listening to Britney Spears' new shit. She can do no wrong, and if you feel differently you can just step to the left and peace out.

<3

Shine your light down on me

Listening to: The Minute by the Push Kings

As many of you know, it's been a rough week for my family and I. My 17 year old cousin was killed in a car accident on Tuesday. It's so heart breaking and sad. My heart is aching for his father, brothers, sisters, and classmates. It's been tough, but I do believe that time heals and that while it might not get easier it will become a bit more bearable. I am so lucky to have such a large supportive family and an amazing group of friends who have helped me and checked in with me to make sure everything was going as okay as it possibly could. I really appreciate all the prayers, well wishes, good vibes, etc. from everyone. You've all helped more than you know.

In happier news, my mom received a box of stuff that was her dad's today. He was a World War II vet and acquired some of the coolest things. He has a purple heart from his service in WWII, a Nazi pin he must have picked up in Germany that says something like "The Day of the German Voyage" in German on it, money from places such as Uruguay, Brazil, Japan, Germany, and other places. He even has American money, coins from 1907 and bills from 1915. There are a couple hand written notes and a compass among many other things. I'm such a history nerd, so to actually be able to see this stuff and touch it and have some sort of connection to it is really cool. I wish I would have been able to meet my grandpa to be able to talk to him about all the stuff. I want to know the stories behind everything.

p.s. I need some concerts to look forward to. Why is no one good coming to Minnesota any time soon?!

YES WE DID.

Let me give you a taste of my inbox from last night's crazy election day happenings.

"You: soil & water conservation district 4"
-Gordo
(write in vote, bitches! HERE I COME)

"NBC has it even higher at 103"
-Paul
(referring to the electoral votes in favor of Obama early in the night)

"It's over, honestly."
-Paul
(crowd goes WILD as news reports that Obama has won Ohio)

"Uh oh...it's a baROCK and rolling Obamarama..."
-Mark

"It's better than Palin being a heartbeat away, I'll give you that much."
-Mark
(Words from the indifferent)

"EEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeee!!!"
-Maddie
(and so begins the texts as we all come to realize Barack is our next president)

"OMG I know!!!!!! I am so happy!!!!!"
-Eleyna

"OBAMA!!!! Hells yes!"
-Reed
(I then received about four more of these texts throughout the night, all from Reed)

"Fuck yeah Obama!!! I can't believe it!!!!"
-Olivia

"woo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is so cool...the first time we ever voted was for the first black president!"
-Pickett

"She knows she's not going anywhere."
-Paul
(In reference to Palin's teary eyes during McCain's concession speech)

"I know. You must be so disappointed that McCain lost."
-Pickett
(I can't remember if this was sarcasm aimed at me, or what we were even talking about)

"OMG girl I can't believe it!! :D"
-Coral

"Happy next 4 years!"
-Siri
(One of my favorite texts of the night!)

"We just made history. All of this happened because you gave your time, talent, and passion to this campaign. All of this happened because of you. Thanks, Barack."
-Obama texts
(Here come my happy tears all over again)

"Franken took the lead!"
-Paul
(Right as I signed off because it was obvious Norm was staying in the lead. And now it's a recount. Ugh, fml)

"Coleman leads by about 500 with 100% reporting."
-Paul
(not what I want to hear in the morning)

"Waking up I'm not so happy. Coleman wins and prop 8 passes... dems are no where near the 60 they need. Oh, and Bachman wins."
-Paul
(SERIOUSLY. Who voted Prop 8, and WHO VOTED MICHELLE BACHMANN?!?!)

"Ugh the senate results are probably going to the state supreme court too...this could take months."
-Paul
(And so we wait)

"Bittersweet day, I tell you!"
-Paul

(These were not even all of the texts I received regarding the election last night. I had to clear my inbox out about quite a few times)

Let me just say, I have never been more proud to be an American or a Democrat in my entire life. The way people came out in droves to place their vote, waiting in lines for hours (luckily I got right in and right out), especially the young people who no one had faith in to actually make it to the polls... made me more proud than I can even say.
Listening to Obama's acceptance speech was beyond surreal for me. I remember when he came to the civic center two years ago and I went and saw him thinking "There's a possibility this man might be our next president" before he even made it official, seeing him less than ten feet away before things went absolutely nuts for his campaign. It's just crazy, and gratifying, and amazing. All around me, people were hugging and crying and breathing a huge sigh of relief. I know I was one of them.
I came home and re-watched his speech and I couldn't even stop the tears. America showed her true colors, and I can only hope (although I know in my heart) that Obama will bring a new energy and life to America, one we all know she so desperately needs.
I can feel the change that is making it's way to America as we get closer and closer to 1/20/09. And while I know some people are having a tough time adjusting to the reality of a new day with a brand new leader, I hope that you will find some respect and decency in you to stand behind the man who will lead our country for the next four years.

Here's to the next four years, and the guidance of a wonderful new leader. :)

I can roll with the punches as long as I feel that I'm in control...

Listening to: Rock & Roll by Eric Hutchinson

This year Halloween was a bit different than it's ever been. I feel like I've never had to really look for something to do on Halloween, thanks to trick or treating. (Well, I suppose I didn't trick or treat last year.. but whatever) Beckah and I were at a loss for what to do. So we did what any normal girl does when she's bored... we went to Planned Parenthood.
Bahah, okay. So maybe it was the first time we'd ever gone there. We each got an abortion (JK JK JK), so we set up appointments to get some free BC so we can sleep around (JK JK we're not that cool) .....so we can keep our complexion beauutifulll because my derm is a bitch and won't prescribe it to me. (WHAT DO YOU MEAN? THE DERM @ MAYO CLINIC CAN'T GIVE ME BC?! WTF FU MAYO CLINIC. TOP OF THE LINE MY ASS), and we made it in and out protestor-free. (an unusual occurance for a Friday). So, we made our way to the bowling alley to say hayyyy to Beckah's mom and her class who got to bowl because it was Halloween or something. (I want to go back to 6th grade rn... you don't get to go on field trips to the bowling alley in college, ugh.) So we fretted about transfer applications and douchey school counselors and then found out that Beckah apparently already had an appt. @ PP so we had to go cancel it, and much to our delight... THERE WERE PROTESTORS. We were like kids in a fucking candy store. We zipped up to Planned Parenthood and parked RIGHT in front of it. Cancelled the appt. then decided it was completely necessary to drive the long way home just so we could drive past the protestors...so we get next to them and we're getting all giddy and excited. So I look at Beckah and I'm like, "Roll down your window... and scream, ITS MY BODY" So the green turn arrow pops up, and it was fight or flight... so we chose both. Beckah screamed (like a champ, I might add)..."IT'S MY BODYYYYY!!!" at them. They looked up and we sped off like BAMFS. Long story short: I hate PP protestors.

Then she goes home to be all healthy and run, and I go home to do homework and I'm TRYING to do my homework and the Republicans could not give me and OUNCE of peace. I'm typing up discussion question answers involving the debates, and THREE times in an hour (I kid you not) they call. The first time the phone rings, I pick up... long ass pause.. I hang up because I figure it's a telemarketer/phonebanker. About ten minutes later, the same thing happens. I hang up. About 20 minutes later, the phone rings and I'm like OKAY WTF. So I listen, and sure enough it's the god damn GOP calling to tell me that I need to vote for a president that won't ruin our children's futures and will SUPPORT OUR VALUES. SO I'm like, oh halllleeee no. I then begin to talk loudly over her so that she will STFU with her propaganda... "UMMMMMMM, AND THESE ARE NOT MY VALUES." Click. I was hoping they would call back one more time, because I had Obama's DNC speech all set and ready, turned up at full volume, to blast back at their stupid slander. Long story short: I hate GOP phonebankers.

Halloween was pretty fun. Beckah and I dressed like burritos and got free Chipotle for dinner. Then we carved pumpkins. It was pretty awesome. My sister's bff's parents came over for a bit to drop off my sister's friend.. and they didn't seem to take to warmly to my dad's joke. "I told her to carve McCain/Palin in to her pumpkin... because that would be a scary pumpkin." ...... and they were like "......" so my dad added.. "....to her." BAHHA. I was like WTF EVER. (Clarification: My pumpkin has OB on one side and AMA on the other... my pumpkin is just too huge to get a pic w/ the entirety of it) Then we were like ummm, so we went to the Dairy Queen and got coupons for a free dillybar or cone for dressing up, which we didn't but Beckah's got the connecs. Then we went and saw Zack & Miri Make a Porno. I fully intended for it to be one of those movies that looks really good but ends up being an okay waste of time and I'd never watch it again. Well, I was like sobbing the entire way through the movie. It was so damn great. I luhhhh Seth Rogan. Srsly, we can get married at any time now. Call me, BB!!!

I'll spare you one last long story and make it really simple for you: GO VOTE ON TUESDAY. You can fuck yourself if you think your vote doesn't count for anything.

Ummm, I probably just made a few frenemies from this last entry. Ugh, tevz.