It's me :)

Sorry I've been slack! Let's rewind..

The weekend at Rockbridge Alum Springs with Blacksburg High School was great! Young Life at BHS has exploded this year and it was a great chance to spend time with these kids and get to know them! I didn't even know half their names before we left. The weather was wonderful. Played some SIGNS. I had upperclassman in my room so there weren't any real late nights ;) We had a couple friends accept Christ.. and a couple more recommit their lives :) and some that are really starting to give this some thought :)

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday night have been great! No big commitments or things to plan. I've had the chance to catch up with my roommates and spent some time catching up with long distance friends via phone and IM. It's been nice! I've even gotten some laundry done! I am looking forward to a couple more nights of the same!

Guess what! This weekend is MIAMI! Lots of people will be in town including ABBY who I haven't seen since DEC! The weekend will kick-off with Rob's Amazing Fantastical Halloween/Beat Miami Parte! Followed by raking leaves and coaching soccer Saturday morning. Tailgating, THE WALK, watching the HOKIES stomp the HURRICANES! If there's any energy left we might take a hike to Dragon's Tooth after church. I can't wait for Thursday at 6:30 pm :)

Here's a link to get you ready for SATURDAY

So today marks 4 :) Sorry REX, looks like you're going to lose :)

Hokie Football

What to say... I still love you hokies.. but sometimes you make if difficult :) Do me a favor.. compose yourselves.. practice hard.. show Miami what's up :) Let's break the cycle and not let this carry through the rest of the season. I know you can do it :)

H - O - K - I - E - S HOKIES!!!!

Where does my time go??

Ok so this is kinda a deep thought blog.. or at least as deep as my thoughts get. Everyone knows I lead a bit of a busy life :) And really if I didn't.. I think I would be completely lost. But sitting around with a couple friends last night catching up and having our weekly (really monthy with our schedules) small group.. I realized that I don't get to spend as much time with them as I want. As much time relaxing and doing things I enjoy really. So maybe I should carve out some time every week where I don't try to fit in laundry, cleaning, paying bills or any other of life's necities... but instead do something I enjoy. Read a book, put together a puzzle, work on my quilt, spend time with a friend etc. So that's going to be my goal :) You guys can hold me to it! I think this week might involve carving pumpkins with my roommates. My roommates that I don't spend nearly enough time hanging out with :)

The Fried Pickle

Yes there really is a new restaurant called The Friday Pickle north of Roanoke on 220. Don't have the details on how long it has been open.. maybe a couple months. So mom and I met Larry and his family there for dinner. Of course before I even get there I tell my mom "I hope they sell t-shirts" My new thing is restaurant t-shirts.. don't know why.. I just like them. I think it all started with my California Dreamin shirt I loved.. then my Pat O'Brians shirt from the trip to New Orleans for the national championship game. Now I have Cheers from Boston, Dirty Ernies, Rod N Reel Pier, The Sandbar.. I just like em :) Of course I need a fried pickle shirt to add to the collection. Larry had asked a waiter before I got there and they didn't have any.. but they did have the shirts they wore (all black with 'the fried pickle' and an atom looking thing on the left chest) maybe I could sweet talk the owner into selling me one of those. (me.. sweet talk someone :) ) So I talk to the owner.. a really cute older gentleman. He says they have some ordered which are going to be nicer with the image from the menu. Two dressed up pickles dancin on a plate. (kinda corny) So I talk him into selling me one of the black ones :) I now have a fried pickle t-shirt :) Woohoo!! I know.. You're jealous :)

Oh yeah.. another goofy story. My wonderful mom is taking a photography class.. they have assignments. Well one of her assignments involves taking three objects and photographing them - showing depth of field. My mom decides to use some of my ducks as her objects. Ok so this seems normal so far. Well she forgets to bring the ducks on our 3 hour photography trip around campus... so she throws them in the car when we run over to Macado's for dinner. While we are waiting for our take-out order.. mom sets up her tripod in the Macado's parking lot and sets the ducks up on the trunk of the honda. YES we did get many looks! She's a crazy woman :) We had a great weekend!

Tailgate

Uneventful - sorry guys. No more fun sorority stories. I went to the tailgate saturday with Jill. Talked to a bunch of sisters... never met Robyn. Forgot to even look for her cause I was too busy talkin to people. It was fun.

Angela reported back on the actual Reunion. Her quote "You didn't miss anything". I'm glad I didn't go :)

SEE IF I CARE :)

Here's a good Gary Allan interview :)

http://www.cmt.com/news/feat/gallan.100803.jhtml

TGIF!!

The concert was a blast! Our seats were great. We had a great view of all 5 sexy guys :) Hot country guys singing love songs... what else can a girl ask for :) They were taping the show for a CMT special too which was cool. Who knows how many cities will be included in the special. They musta have said 'Salem Virginia' about 50 times.. that was getting old! I just want to hear them sing too.. I don't need all the extra comments to make girls scream.. oh well :) It's show business. They musta spent about 5 min talking about JoeDon's butt... that was 5 min too much :) I think Chris Cagle was my favorite act. My fav songs.. Brian's 99.9% sure and Chris's EVERYTHING :) Yeah I'm sappy :)

So most of you know my nice digital 10X optical zoom Olympus broke this summer. It will take pictures still... but there's no more zoom... and the whole point. Anyways.. it's gonna cost at least $160 for Olympus to look at it.. and that might not even cover the repairs... so currently it is retired to the shelf in my closet. Well I had bought a couple disposables.. and the past week my mom gave me one of her point & shoot zoom 35mm's to borrow. I was pretty excited I would be able to take some decent pics again finally! Didn't think about one really big problem!!! The artists are always running for here to there and turning their heads etc. So you are trying to snap the perfect picture looking right at you... catching their smile. *CLICK* Wait did I get it.. Did he turn away before I clicked.. Were his eyes closed???? Doh... you don't know with a normal camera until you get your film developed... man I miss my digital. Well you think I'll just have to take a couple more to make sure I get the perfect shot... but darn I am used to being about to take 400 pictures.. now I only have 24!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! 3 hours of concert and only 24 pictures?? I lacked in preperation for sure!! I did manange to make the 24 pics last through the night.. but you better believe I took the whole role. I guess we will find out in a couple days what they look like :) Stupid old school technology! (but I am thankful my momma's letting my borrow a real camera.. really I am) :)

I guess it would help if I read my own blogs and realized KK wouldn't have the pumpkin spice cake dooughnuts until OCT 13. So I was a little disappointed last night when we rolled into KK. BUTTTTTTTTTTTTT... they were giving out free samples.. so I got 3 HOT ONES.. for the price of 2!! (also.. just in case you were wondering.. there is NO restroom in KK.... if you have been holding it for 2 hours so you didn't miss any of a concert this is BAD)

FYI - decision has been made... I am attending the THETA tailgate.. invited or not :) Stay tuned for a full report :)

TONIGHT

Brian McComas, Chris Cagle, and Rascal Flatts in SALEM!

10th ROW BABY!!! :)

Sarah Jackson and I are going to have a blast!! We are going to cap off the concert with a trip to the 'real' KRISPY KREME for a pumpkin spice cake doughnut!!

Plus Heather and Karen are driving up for Orlando tonight for the weekend! What a good thursday :)

SORORITY LIFE :)

A little background for you. An alumni (we'll call her Katie for anonimity) from my chapter had the idea of having a 20 year reunion this fall. She queried everyone and things started rolling. They planned a tailgate and a banquet for this weekend. Because of the game and hotel rooms the banquet is in Roanoke. I decided not to attend for multiple reasons, I have other company in town I don't see often, it's in Roanoke, it's $45/person (or something), my choice.. it didn't fit for me. I had emailed Katie earlier saying I couldn't attend the banquet, but I would like to attend the tailgate and was there a fee for that. No response. Angela is going too the banquet so I wrote her asking where the tailgate was. She forwarded me the email sent to all banquet attendees with the weekend details. Here are some excerts....

"Friday, October 10, 4:00 pm - 12:00 am: Hospitality Suite and Registration, located in the Director's Suite, Wyndham Hotel, Roanoke. This is your chance to pick up the reunion schedule, registrant list, name tags, bus tickets, football tickets, shirt, and directory. This will also serve as our "meeting place" to first reconnect with old friends and meet some new ones. YOUR NAME TAG IS YOUR ADMISSION TO THE TAILGATE AND TO THE REUNION DINNER, so please stop by to pick up these items. Also, only you can sign out for your items - not your guest, not a friend. I must ensure that you receive the items that you paid for, and this is the safest way.

Saturday, 7:00 am - 12:00 pm - Tailgate in Lot 8. We will have a light lunch before the game. Again, YOU MUST HAVE YOUR NAME TAG TO ATTEND. Also, wear your letters!!"

MUST HAVE NAMETAG TO ATTEND huh?? Well what about me?? So I decide to send Katie an email asking what was going on, and could people who weren't attending the banquet come to the tailgate. I think I wrote I nice mature email.. and still got my point across.

"Hey Katie, looks like this weekend is going to be a blast!

I had asked earlier if there was any way we could pay a fee to be included in the tailgate part of the weekend. I have other company in town and the trip to Roanoke for the banquet is not feasible for me. I have now heard from other sisters that we won't be welcome at the tailgate unless we have a nametag?? Is that not welcome to eat or not welcome at all?? Kinda disappointing to me. The reunion is a great idea and I was really looking forward to catching up with sisters and meeting new ones. Kinda a disappointing show of 'sisterhood' if we aren't invited to the tailgate because we can't go to the banquet. I hope I got the message totally wrong and this isn't the case at all. Just wondering though.

Also.. I noticed that we have to personally sign that we picked up items we ordered. I bought the directory and didn't send in money for shipping since Angela Wills is staying with me that weekend and I figured she could pick it up for me. Is this possible??

Thanks so much! I know this weekend will be great for Epsilon Nu! Thanks for initiating and organizing it!

Jilian Fath (EN-98)"

Later in the day I get another email from Angela. This is the really funny part.... Katie sent out another update to all the sister's attending the banquet... here are the important parts...

"We will serve boxed lunches from Heavenly Ham. We will have a variety of sandwiches (roast beef, turkey, ham, veggie) with a salad (i.e., macaroni, potato, etc.) and dessert. You need your name tage in order to claim your lunch. We'll have lots of "visitors" at the tailgate, and this is the only way we can ensure that you, who paid for the food, get to at the food, not those that didn't.

Finally, my emails are specifically addressed to Thetas registered for the reunion because you have made a financial commitment to attend. The details of the reunion don't apply to those who are not attending. Certainly, anyone, Theta or non-Theta, can attend a tailgate (just how do you not have visitors at a tailgate???). However, smart remarks like "Kinda a disappointing show of 'sisterhood'" and negative attitudes do not sit well with me right now, especially when I have poured my heart and soul into this reunion at the sacrifice of my family for the past five months. If you know someone who has a bad attitude or doesn't like something I have done, then (1) tell them to keep their feelings to themselves, and (2) keep them away from me this weekend. I will not tolerate any negativity, either at the tailgate or anywhere else during the reunion."

Hmmm... alrighty then. I still haven't received an email from Katie saying I am welcome at the tailgate, and reassuring they aren't trying to exclude anyone. Didn't say anything about all Theta's being welcomed. I guess this is an exclusive if you were willing to hand over money you can 'know' what's going on and come and see old sisters and meet new ones. Why does the world always revolve around money. I don't think my attitude was that negative... "looks like this weekend is going to be a blast; The reunion is a great idea and I was really looking forward to catching up with sisters and meeting new ones.; Thanks so much! I know this weekend will be great for Epsilon Nu! Thanks for initiating and organizing it!" Maybe she skipped those parts. Anyways.. I stand by my word... I still think that it's a disappointing show of 'sisterhood' when you are excluding people just cause they can only do one thing.. not both!! WHATEVER :)

Do I miss the sorority... Yes I do... but not the DRAMA!!

Theta's we will always be
Sisters for eternity
Raisin hell and havin fun
THETA THETA # 1 :)

Krispy Kreme Grand Opening...

I was in Wal-Mart last night and saw the new Krispy Kreme 'fresh shop' that opened today. It really broke my heart to see it. Really it is nothing like a Krispy Kreme. Instead of having a display of doughnuts for sale they now have a store front to buy them from. It's not even like a mini store with seats and stuff. Nope really just a line you walk through.. while hearing the constant ringing of the cash registers, the bright lights, the blue smocks. They aren't even hot and fresh. What kinda Krispy Kreme experience is this. I would recommend boycotting. To get a real Krispy Kreme doughnut we will still willingly sacrifice over an hour of our time to drive to Roanoke!

FYI: Special Doughnut of the Month: Pumpkin Spice Cake
Stop by between October 13 and December 28 for a taste!

wireless 'wireless' FINALLY!!

Yes you read correctly. I put the D-LINK PCI card into my PC last night and it worked like a charm. Took about 5 minutes. Restored my hope in computers :) Now we just need to get one in Brenna's computer and we will no longer have to hurdles wire's in our hallway!! Now if I can just get this fan into my PC I can close the box be done with it :) I can see the light!

igloo status

Oh yeah.. I forgot to mention. Gas people came by friday. Turns out the pilot light on the furnace was out, one of our theories. Monica asked the guy where it was so if it happened again we could light it. His response... just call us.. it's way under hte house in the crawl space. Hmm.. cool with us.. we don't mind being damsel's in distress. So we have heat now! WOOHOO!! (not be confused with wahoo)

catch up time...

hmm.. I guess I'm supposed to do this everyday... so it's not so much to write at once. I will work on that :) This will be the abridged version of the weekend.

Thursday night - blond moment of the weekend. So I head down the road to Wytheville and get to Applebee's right on time.... 6:30. Go inside and wait for Jill. About 6:45 it's gettin more crowded so I go ahead and get a table and order us some water's. Thinking she went shopping beforehand and is running a bit late. Then I start thinking so this is how people feel when they have to sit around waiting for me when I'm late. As it gets closer to 7 I start worrying she was in an accident. Yes in a normal situation like this one would call the friends cell phone.. problem.. Jill doesn't have a cell phone!! About 7 I get a phone call.. it's Jill calling from a pay phone...

Jill - where are you?
Jil - I'm here
Jill - You're here??
Jil - Yeah I'm at Applebee's
Jill - Applebee's?? We're supposed to meet at Ruby Tuesdays!

OOOOOPPPPS!! Yep.. totally my fault :) But still.. the moral of the story.. JILL needs a cell phone :) HAHA!!

Friday morning.. house now at 55 degrees!! Yeah we live in an igloo. I got on the road an hour later then planned... which is pretty good for me :) Stopped in harrisonburg and ate lunch at Mrs T's Bagel Shop (I think) with Jessie. It was fun to catch up and hear all about college life! Hit up Khol's to spend a gift card and picked up some new pillows. You know you are gettin old when you spend birthday money on common household needs! Then stopped by to see Carly and Kenzie on my way into town.

The 'family' weekend was great. My dad parents were down from WI. My grandma is doing awesome and recovering will from her stroke last month. Josh, Chrissy and Cris all got to town saturday afternoon. Alta (the original) and Olive (great aunts) came to dinner saturday night. Paul, Brenda, Carly, and Kenzie came by for dessert. (not yo mama's banana puddin) Watched DC United play to tie against Columbus. Cris loves watchin soccer :) haha. Spent some time in the hot tub sat night... mom broke out the tripod. Mom diving into the hot tub before the picture takes was a great tripod initiation experience for Cris! haha. My unlce Mikey stopped by for a bit on sunday. Brats and Sauercraut for lunch.. mmmmmm! Cris and I took Carly to Frontline (church) sunday then to Outback for dinner. She mentioned us adopting her :) haha. She is always entertaining! Next trip home is going to include some quality time with Kenzie.

Came back to an ID payday lunch at Shakers this afternoon. Always entertaining :) Solving the worlds problems.. one at a time! You all know this already.. but I'll remind you.. (ID) ROCKS!! :)

thursday :)

Thanks REX (joey) for inspiring me to set up a blog page!! Obviously I wasn't doing real well with my altajilian site updates :)

So I have 22 minutes til I am out of work for the weekend! I am heading down to Wytheville to meet up with Jill C for some dinner, shopping, and catching up. It's been too long!! Tomorrow morning I am heading up to Fairfax for some quality family time with a pit stop for lunch scheduled in Harrisonburg to catch up with Jessie (a Hardee's Party grad). The grandparents are in town from WI so all us kids are heading home to hang out. I can't wait. It will be the first time we have all been together since my VT graduation two and a half years ago! I am sure there will be some good stories told :)

Hmm.. so my story for the day. I woke up again to a 64 degree house.. even though the thermostat is set to a toasty 74! We decided there is definitely an issue with the heat... I called RAINE'S and they sent someone to look at it. Apparently our thermostat needs to be recalibrated... which isn't going to happen today. Hopefully tomorrow. My plan is to crank it up to 90... then maybe it will be 70!! haha. Unfortunately another night of going to sleep dressed like I am ready to go play in the snow!

one

This is an experiment. You may find out more then you ever wanted to know about me :) Check back daily to hear crazy stories about my life.