Of Course I Hear Voices: I Own Parrots

I love to quote "Empire Records." Despite it's cheesiness, there is just something about that movie that makes me smile. I know I shouldn't love the movie as much as I do, but I do. I could blame it on the fact it came out when I was in high school. Instead, lets just call it my guilty pleasure. This movie is awful, but I really would quote it more often if I knew other people knew the movie. Maybe I love it because it is about a bunch of outcasts that somehow manage to save the day. Maybe it just the soundtrack. Who knows?

I need a new car. I love my little Kia, but last summer just about did her in. Actually, I was planning on buying a new car before the accident. I even talked to my parents about cars I had been looking at when I was home over Memorial Day. 13,000 miles later, I still have her. I need something with a little less wear and tear and that is a little higher off the ground. Dad can't get in and out of her. I have been getting rentals for my trips home, but I would like to save some of that expense. On Sunday, my dad asked me how much the car I was driving would cost (I had said that I really liked it). I said probably around $15k. He told me to find one I liked and let him know how much it was. Yes, my father wants to buy me a car. Part of me wants to be selfish and take him up on it.  However, as the person responisible for his finances, I know it is a bad idea. As much as  I know this isn't his best plan ever, it is nice to have someone want to take care of me. 99% of the ...

I'd rather be taking the picture. I'm pretty good at the whole photography thing. I usually do not like pictures of me. Actually, I usually avoid being in pictures if I can. Ask me anything

When You're Gone by Avril Lavigne: My friend Stephanie and I sing this together. It reminds me of my parents . I can't imagine how it is for my dad. He's lost so much all at once. It also reminds me of going through the parsonage after our accident. I sang it once and made us both cry (not because it was bad, but because I was crying). Now if we sing together we have a 50% chance of making it through tear free. Yes...we are dumb girls, and I am okay with that. I was listening to the karaoke version last night trying to determine if we needed it down 1 or 2 steps to put the bridge back in both of our ranges...so I listened to and sang my part numerous times. It has been in my head all day! Ask me anything

Here's another Mama Kat prompt. It isn't from the workshop, but from the  prompt generator: Put an outfit together using pictures you found online and show us what you'd LIKE to be wearing today. I'm feeling creative tonight...so this could be fun. My Casual Look from www.torrid.com: My fun look from Hot Topic (www.hottopic.com)

Who I Am --Jessica Andrews If I live  to be a hundred And never see the seven wonders That'll be alright If I don't make it to the big leagues If I never win a Grammy I'm gonna be just fine 'Cause I know exactly who I am I am Rosemary's granddaughter The spitting image of my father And when the day is done My momma's still my biggest fan Sometimes I'm clueless and I'm clumsy But I've got friends who love me And they know just where I stand It's all a part of me And that's who I am So when I make big mistake When I fall flat on my face I know I'll be alright Should my tender heart be broken I will cry those teardrops knowin' I will be just fine 'Cause nothin' changes who I am I am Rosemary's granddaughter The spitting image of my father And when the day is done My momma's still my biggest fan Sometimes I'm clueless and I'm clumsy But I've got friends who love me And they kno...

Oddly enough my best St. Patrick's Day memory doesn't involove alcohol. Well it doesn't involve me drinking alcohol. I have enjoyed several great parties over the years, but my best holiday story doesn't involve me in a bar. It involves in me in a classroom. It was my junior year of college. I was in a 400 level Commnication Theory class that afternoon. It was a small class. Many of us had been in classes together for the the past 2 years. I was a semester ahead of most juniors, and that meant I was the youngest in this particular group. I was the only student under 21. Our teacher was awesome, but he was stickler about attendence. If you missed class and you didn't have a good excuse, there would be hell to pay. I showed up to class about 5 minutes early: no one was there. Right as class started, a few classmates stumbled in. Our instructor was annoyed, but he started teaching. A few minutes later a few more people came in. By a quarter after, the whole class...

To Whom It May Concern: I try not to be a "complainer," but I am beginning to think you have out stayed your welcome. Before midterms, I totally got you. I was stressed and this was our way of coping. During midterms: You were almost expected. I would have been worried if you hadn't stuck around. Plus your hurting meant I wasn't hungry: bonus. Now: Midterms are over. Yes, I am playing catch up and I have a few things looming on the horizon. However, none of these things warrant your presence. They may in the future, but lets let me enjoy a week or two before you start up again. I don't want to start anything with you, but I think it is time you stop being a drama queen and let me make it through the weekend with out sudden sharp pains. Love, Me

Last week and this past weekend was strange. It wasn't bad. Things were busy and stressful, but there was no drama to speak of.  Still, I'm off my game and I'm not sure why.  My focus isn't there. I'm missing something, and nothing I come up with seems right. Maybe it is just the lack of sleep. :) My First Tornado Warning of 2011: Less stressful than I thought it would be...really it was. It did mean starting the work week on zero sleep. Midterms: Survived. I still have tons of work to catch up on, but I had big report to get out today. I will be back ahead of the game by the end of the week. 62 hours over 6 days with 1 day off is rough though. We tested over 103 students in 4 hours on Saturday. Exhausting! Nine Months Later: Still blows. I can't explain to people what this is like. That is probably the hardest thing for me. Upside: The song Live Like You are Dying still makes me throw up, but I can make it through the song and the Indy Idol wrap up before...

I remember midterms from college. I know they were stressful, and may have pulled a couple all nighters. Still, I think midterms stress me out more now. I work for a community college. Actually, I am the Coordinator for the Assessment Center. That means that students in Distance Education classes take their proctored midterms with us. That means working extra hours, figuring out our staffing, securing second rooms and all the other general planning. I'll put in at least 50 hours during midterm week. Typically it is more like 60 hours. This semester is our first semester to require appointments. The students have to m. ake their appointment online. The way the software is set up, we cannot make it for them. We've emails students this information, but they still think they can just call or e-mail and we can help...but we can't. That is just the tip of this semester's iceberg. 1)We set appointments based off of last year's numbers. So we have to adapt the appoi...

A year ago I was actually doing pretty much the same thing I am doing now: Trying to resurect and rework my blog. I was writing a lot a plinky prompts and just random stories from my life. It was fun and random. There was no real substance to speak of I was doing really well with the daily blogs until the summer hit. Then my life changed. One day my dad had a stroke. The next day, my sister and I were following our mom home from the hospital and we were hit by an tornado. Our mom didn't survive. I didn't write for a few months. I may have ranted a few times, but every time I sat down to write, nothing positive came out. Plinky prompts did nothing. I had lots of other things going on in my life, but nothing else seemed to come out of my head. I didn't want this blog to become my daily ranting blog (I do love to rant from time to time), nor was I looking to make it a log of my raw emotion and depression. I stepped away. I tried to come back a couple times, but it just ...

I would be writing. Long before the internet (or at least when my parents finally got the internet), I was writing. I filled notebooks like it was going out of style. Sometimes I wish I had that kind of focus again. Ask me anything

Last night some severe storms rolled in to Central Indiana. A year ago, I would have loved it. There was just  something about thunderstorms that made me happy. I loved the sound of the rain on my window and the thunder and lighting always brought a creative spark. Now thunderstorms only bring me dread. The sound of rain on my window reminds me of sitting in the totaled rental car. The thunder causes anxiety. I'm pretty sure you don't want to know what I see in lighting flashes. I probably should never drive in a thunderstorm either, but I can't let my fears run my life so I suck it up and deal. Last night though, my laundry could wait and I decided to stay home. The storms kept getting worse, and I was getting more anxious. I knew I wouldn't sleep through the night, but I had to at least try. I crawled into bed around 1:00. Finally, around 2:00 I just started to drift to sleep. That is when I heard the sirens for Hamilton county. I live just over the county  l...

Dear Mother Nature: I know we aren't on the best of terms. I am not sure *why* you do not like me, but last time a I checked, you sort of owe me. You may think that my whole still being alive thing makes us even, but I contend what you have taken and the mess you left behind has a bigger price. I would like to point out that it is still February, and we live in the Midwest. While I am not a fan of snow or ice, that is the weather we are supposed to be getting. I am supposed to have a reprieve on thunderstorms until at least mid March. I know that in years past, I have said how much I love thunderstorms, but you pretty much destroyed that love last summer. Until I have been paid back in full, I would appreciate if you would cooperate with my requests. Thanks, Jennifer

Here is just a quick one for today. Hopefully I can squeeze another one in tonight, but for now this will have to do. It has been a long week. It isn't a bad one, just really busy. As the week went on, I had quite a few random thoughts. If the receptionist who cuts my hair can remember that I have Fridays off unless it is midterms or finals (and when midterms and finals fall), people who are my friends should be able to remember a simple request. I don't need to explain myself to anyone. If I'm busy: I'm busy. No one needs to know my schedule. I shouldn't have to defend myself to anyone. Someone elses failure to listen, read or pay attention, is not my problem. Ok, I feel better now. Off to do more work :)

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Sometimes I would kill for more hours in a day. There is a lot on my plate these days, and I have to keep moving to keep on top of things.   1) If you aren't a morning person, pick out your clothes the night before. Picking clothes in a half awake stupor can take forever, and be disastrous. 2) Plan your errands carefully. If you have an appointment on one side of town, try and fit in other errands in the general area. 3) Stay Focused. 4) Make lists. It may seem OCD. Okay, it might be OCD, but I find it is a great way to keep focused and help me plan my day. 5) When you have a random idea, write it down or make a note on your phone. *Right Now* might not be a good time to look into an idea. However, you don't want to forget about it and waste time later trying to remember your sudden epiphany.        

The newest blogging project has a new home. Caring For Norm has launched and has it's first blog post with 2 more on the way in the next 24 hours. I'm pretty excited, and I can't wait to start getting input from people who have offered to contribute. Please check it out and watch us grow! I will continue to keep working on this blog (1 blog a day at least!) and making more changes to the outlet. I may even buy a domain name in the next few days. I'm finally ready to write again, and I can't wait to get things back in shape! The Dream Journal still is a work in progress. We will have to see how that works out. At this point I'm not retaining enough of the dreams to make it work! I'm also working on a fiction project. I'm hoping it cleans up nicely. I *want* this story to work, I'm just not sure about some of the details. I *love* my characters, but I need to sort out the main conflict.

I'm a busy girl. I work full time, work part time, write part time, help care for my father and support my family. I like being busy. It keeps me focused and it keeps  me happy. I get bored easily. I feel like if I'm not at least thinking about something productive I'm being lazy. Yes, I have moments where I may have more free time than others. Still, if you want to get to know me, you have to be able to keep up. I will be working hard at my full time job. If I tell you I'm busy, I am busy. I will be working on multiple web and writing projects all the time. If they are published, read about them before you ask questions. Nothing is more insulting than someone asking a question when the answer is clearly listed in the article or blog. If it isn't published, I may be at a point where I am ready to share, I may not be. I will work my part time job at least one night a week. I will also go out usually one night a week. Why? Well when I work, I generally do not ...

Again, I do not have children, but I have birds. Really, they are just toddlers with wings. They are destructive, adorable, inquisitive and repeat what you say (yes, there is no cursing in my house). This Christmas, was our first Christmas without my mom. I knew it was going to be hard, but I had no idea how I would react. As the holiday grew closer, I decided to keep some of mom's traditions alive. One of those traditions was that along with a gift from Mom and Dad, there was always a present from "Santa" under the tree. Mind you we were all adults, but it was Mom's thing. I decided to keep that and the fun random stocking stuffers alive. I did my shopping. Wrapped (and by wrapped I mean gift bagged) the gifts and put them under my tree. In May my 22 year old male and 2 year old female had babies. I still have the 3 boys, and they LOVED the Christmas tree. They would fly into it, throw ornaments off of it, and pull lights out (there is nothing like looking up an...