Another Year, Come and Gone

Here we are, yet again. December 31st. And what do I have to do tonight? Absolutely nothing. My mom & stepdad are going out with my grandparents, who knows where my dad will be, and I'm all too uncool to spend New Year's with my friends these days. Oh whatever. I did recently purchase Season 2 of Grey's Anatomy ... maybe I'll start a marathon this afternoon.

I've had the pleasure of seeing all of my cousins together a few times since I've been home. Here is a picture from this past friday when we all took my grandparents out for lunch. (Danny is missing because he got really sick right before we left).



Friday night I got to see my love, Ian. I haven't seen him since August, and I swear he grows & gets so much smarter each time.



I guess that is all. Have a great new year!

Ready, Set, Bowl.

So last night, I agreed to go bowling with Lurk, Swaz & Nerdio at a bowling alley in town that shall remain nameless. (There's only 2 that do glow bowling & we weren't in the ghetto).

We had an effed up lane since we started. Lane 11 cursed us. The 10 pin was virtually non-existant for us last night. Every third or fourth person to bowl might actually have 10 pins set up. But fine, whatever.

Then, we all took turns going up to the front counter because our pins just wouldn't reset. And then when they did, they'd do one of two things. Reset, and be on the second time, so you'd only have one chance to knock them down, or they'd reset and be fine. It was unpredictable though. You never knew what they wanted to do. Then sometimes the bar would randomly come down and reset on their own when we were waiting to bowl.

During the second game I went to throw the ball, and something in my right hand popped, and the ball literally fell out of my hand. Needless to say, I was done bowling for the night and I now have a very sore wrist & hand. Around 2, Swaz was taking his turn, and the bar decides to come down and his ball crashes into it ... one of the kids comes over a minute or two later and starts freaking on us. Then he left. It wasn't getting fixed, but it was his ball so we had to ask to get it back. He went down to get it, came back and told Swaz he has to replace the the pin setter if they can't fix it. They took down his name & number then actually called his cell to make sure he didn't give them a fake number.

Oh goodness. Fun night.

Mixed Emotions

Coming home now there are such mixed emotions it seems. I'm definitely excited to see my family after being gone for so long because I know they care and are excited to see me, and be able to do things with me when I'm home. I take for granted how lucky I am/was to grow up with all of my cousins in the same town, and to see them at every holiday and many times in between. Now that I might only see them 4-5 times a year, I try to make them count that much more.

As for my friends, I don't feel a sense of belonging with them anymore. It sucks, especially with friends I've known forever. It may seem like things haven't changed when you're gone ... but don't be fooled. They've changed and so have you. And it'll never be the same.

I have to keep telling myself that ... it'll never be the same.

Family

Christmas Eve is literally one of my favorite days of the year. Its an almost guarantee that all of my cousins will be in the same room, for even a little while. And tonight didn't let me down. With everyone growing up and half of us in college or about to start college, its something I know won't happen much from now on.

My grandma got out of the hospital about an hour before the annual party, and she still went home, took a shower, and went to the party with a smile on her face, even through all the pain. The strength she has is undeniable.

But, it's Christmas Eve and there are some last minute things to be done.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Hospitals

So depressing ... especially at this time of year. Blah blah blah.

The Eve of Christmas Eve

I've been reading so many blogs lately, that I felt like I needed to start one on my own again. I've had a few here and there in the past, but maybe this one will stick. Maybe not. Whatever.

Anyways, its my 5th full day home for break, with only 14 full days left before I board a plane back to Tennessee. Someday, I wish Christmas would just be easy. But it never is. This morning my grandmother (Mom's side) was admitted to the hospital after not sleeping last night from pains in her back, side, arm and chest. They've ruled out heart attack but need more tests to really figure out what is wrong. I just pray she'll be home sometime tomorrow so Christmas Eve and Christmas Day can be like they've always been. I don't do change well for some reason...

Finally got my new macbook yesterday. I'm in love with it. And the Photobooth / iSight camera. Below is a picture of my Mom & I from earlier today. I really do miss her when I am at school.