Since Vic's was so awesome...
fun with Ashley, Tom, Amanda, and Amanda's costumes of amazing!

( halloween )

Had to rescue a bunny from the cat today... check it out!

The Goblet of Fire (#4) was by far my favorite-- it was the best designed in terms of it pulling a great deal of small details from the previous chapters in the HP saga together to give readers a real shocking discovery. What really makes it, though, is the fact that all of those little details COULD have shown you what was going to happen, but J.K. Rowling wove them all together so masterfully that you'd never think to look at them as hints, just as insightful, fun details. All of the other books did this, as well, but the fourth book just handled it beautifully. =)

Teaching certificate: check
Bachelor of Arts in English and Language Studies: check

-done-

So... the Gaelic Storm concert was an entirely unbelievable amount of fun. Vic and I got there early for the meet & greet, which was fairly low key, and then went to take over our truly fantastic seats. The band was amazing-- they played for almost three hours, and I swear, they didn't stop drinking the whole time. It was HILARIOUS, and the whole place was just so energized. It was the best concert I've ever been to-- that includes topping Bob Dylan, James Taylor, and even Billy Joel and Elton John face to face. DEFINITELY doing that again. They're playing in Boothbay in Maine in September... yeah, so on top of that. Anyone else in?

I'd rather be self-loathing and convinced I'm not good enough but nice to other people than being self-confident and proud of myself and critical of other people. Too bad I can't find a balance.

<a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Ok7NHaGENAn_2b8ZemtcJuQg_3d_3d">Click Here to take survey</a>

hey... could y'all make up answers to this? It's for a stupid assignment for my pass/fail tech in the classroom course, and I'm not going to bother all the actual busy students to do my homework for me.
Cheers!

^Story of my life! :)

The Big Read reckons that the average adult has only read 6 of the top 100 books they've printed. Well, let's see.
1) Bold the books you have read.
2) Italicize those you intend to read.
3) Underline the books you LOVE.
4) Copy, paste, & repeat.
5) Starred next to the books you're reading/have read some of.

( Damn do I read a lot. )

forty-eight and a bunch in progress. go me.

Omg, Rachael wrote a poem! For absolutely no reason!

She is all soft silver lines
So delicate and finely made that sometimes
You’re barely even sure she’s real
With her strong silver neck and long graceful back and perfect chiseled head
Her long legs are perhaps the most elegant
Slender arching silver curves that appear fragile—like glass—
But are still as strong as anything
And they can carry her faster than you could ever dream of going
You can tell—you can tell how fast she could go if she decided it was what she wanted
You can tell even when she’s just ambling across the fields
As though she was a mere mortal creature
But you know the truth
She’s more than one part magic.
 

 Most of the time you’re certain she’s too good for you
With her silver lines and silver waterfall tail and long silver legs
And you wonder why she bothers with you at all
But just as you decide you’re sure you’ll never be worthy of her
(As you stand beside her, honored to be there,
And groom her silver coat and brush her silver mane)
She swings that elegant head around to look at you
Gazing inquiringly at you with those deep amber eyes
Asks you
“Why are you back where I have to look to see you?
Aren’t you going to come up here to see me?”

 

Of course you drop everything and go to her head
(Because really—how could you deny her?)
You lay your small hand against her soft face
And brush her long forelock out of her eyes
She leans into your hand and nudges you gently
With her muzzle of silver-grey velvet
So you reach out to caress one of her silky-soft ears
And she just looks at you with those warm eyes
She doesn’t have to say anything to you
Because her magic has already taken you in
(She knows that it has, too)
And you already know what she means:
 

 Your worth is equal to hers, because after all—
She doesn’t look at just anyone like that.

stolen from elenrandir 

The ONE WORD List
1. Where is your cell phone? --- purse
2. Your significant other? --- horse
3. Your hair? --- braided
4. ??? --- life
5. Your father? --- love
6. Your mother? --- same
7. Your dream last night? --- roses
8. Your favorite drink? ---water
9. Your dream/goal? --- Scheri!
10. The room you're in? --- living
11. Where do you want to be in 6 years? --- home
12. Where were you last night? --- Maine
13. What you're not? --- amused
14. Muffins? --- breakfast
15. One of your wish list items? --- kitten!
16. Where you grew up? --- massachusetts
17. The last thing you did? --- portfolio
18. What are you wearing? --- sweater
19. Your TV? --- phantom
20. Your computer? --- old
21. Your mood? --- exhausted
22. Missing someone? --- Dad
23. Your car? --- snowy
24. Something you're not wearing? --- shoes
25. Favorite Store? --- tack
26. Your summer? --- independent
27. Your favorite color? --- green
28. When is the last time you laughed? --- skating
29. Who will/would re-post this? --- you
FOUR PEOPLE WHO E-MAIL ME: --- Claud, Dad, Mom, Dan
THREE OF MY FAVORITE FOODS: --- clementines, strawberries, chocolate
FOUR PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW: --- home, barn, Claud's, bed
FOUR PEOPLE I THINK WILL RESPOND: --- Vic, Sarah, Jackie, ?

One year since Ireland
<3

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Let's see... left the country... rented a house, bought a car, asked out a guy, learned to jump a horse, learned to do Irish step... I think that's all the big ones ;)

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I think mine was to just be more optimistic and kinder in general, and I think I succeeded... this year's is to do situps and stretch every day, and take a walk each day of the weekend.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No one close... I know some people who got pregnant and are expecting this year, though. =)

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What countries did you visit?
Ireland, England, and France =)

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
An apartment, a kitten, and a graduate school education. =)

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Jan. 18th-- arrive in Ireland
Jan. 20th-- meet Mary McAleese, president of Ireland
March 17th-- St. Patrick's Day in Dublin
March 18th-- Wicked in London
March 19th-- tour of London (including Shakespeare's Globe!) with Sasha
April 1-9-- CK and James visit Ireland, and I go run around with them.
April 6-7-- Visited Connemara, and went horsebackriding on the beach in Cleggan. <3
April 11-13-- Paris!
April 25-28-- ran around with Mom & Dad-- Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, etc
April 30-May 2-- Dingle Peninsula and the fastest horseback ride of my LIFE.
May 3-May 5-- Clare Island <3
May 8-May 15-- Emily visits from Wales, and we go climb Croagh Patrick and do a Cliffs of Moher cruise with Aileen and Megan
May 21st-- Home from Ireland
May 28-June 1-- visit Washington DC
June 14th-- NYC with Jackie-- front row Steph!! <3
July 25th-- turn 21!
Sept. 1st-- move into new house with Lauren!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Living in a foreign country for five months, I think. ;)

9. What was your biggest failure?
lack of motivation?.\

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
oh geez, tough call. Wicked in London, Wicked with Steph, the Dingle trip, and the car are my top four though.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
"Everyone who has been here for me this year, to be a friend, or just good company." <-- I like that.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Dave, our chorus director

14. Where did most of your money go?
travelling around Ireland

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Clare Island, my 4.0 this semester, Ireland in general

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
"Granuaile's Dance"

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder? Happier
ii. Thinner or fatter? about the same
iii. Richer or poorer? much poorer. ;)

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercising

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Wasting money

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
This coming year? Hanging out with the family, as always.

21. How will you be spending New Years?
Celebrating Claud's birthday, like we always do

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Does a country count?

23. How many one night stands?
None.

24. What were your favorite TV programs?
N/A

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't "hate" anyone, but I strongly dislike certain folk

26. What was the best book you read?
The Lord of the Rings. That's always the best book I read.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Gaelic Storm

28. What did you want and get?
... a trip to Ireland? A car? lots of things.

29. What did you want and not get?
A boyfriend (haha), Scheri's papers

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
well since I didn't see Enchanted until this year, I'm counting that one.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 21, and I went to dinner with my parents because I had to get up ridiculously early the next morning to take a very important exam.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More time with Scheri

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Professional and flattering... thank you, student teaching =)

34. What kept you sane?
being busy!

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I'm a fan of Obama... and Steph is always way up there ;)

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
NCLB

37. Who did you miss?
since leaving Ireland, Megan!

38. Who was the best new person you met?
that one's easy. Megan.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Stay positive and go out and do things, even if they're crazy!

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
On the sea of life
Trav'lers all are we
At its mercy, to and fro
Where it takes us, there we'll go

“If you bury her in this spot, the secret of which you must already have, she will come to you when you call- come to you over the far, dim pastures of death, and down the remembered paths to your side again. And though you ride other living horses through life, they shall not shy at her or resent her coming. For she is yours and she belongs there.
People may scoff at you, who see no lightest blade of grass bent by her footfall, who hear no nicker pitched too fine for insensitive ears. People who may never really love a horse. Smile at them then, for you shall know something that is hidden from them, and which is well worth knowing.
The one place to bury a horse is in the heart of her mistress.”
-Unknown

RIP, Judga and Licorice

=)
Today... is a good day. =) It's perfectly sunny and everything's covered in that clean white snow, the shoveling is done, I'm going to go see Scheri, my folks are working so I get the house to myself since Dan will sleep until two anyway, I only have one scarf left to make and all my papers are done, and I can pay my credit card bill on Wednesday and breathe again! =)

Such a good weekend.

Had Dan visiting? yep. awesome.
Had party with favorite college friends? yep. that's awesome too.
Had Nick come visit and talked about a cappella for an obscene amount of time? hey, look, that's awesome too!
Heard back from Andrew??? THAT'S JUST FUCKING EXCELLENT.

*ahem*
-fin-