FLEX

My darling Chad. The love of my life. In and out of hobbies. Well, this one hobby was out, so out, but now it is back in. It is so back in. A few years ago my love, Chad, decided he wanted to gain some weight, and he did. He put on like 40 or 5o lbs. Crazy I know. He ate chicken and rice for every meal, with a little bit of oatmeal in between and some protein powder. I was getting tired of his "mean green" attitude and the bland food. He gave it up eventually because it was putting a strain on him. Recently I asked him if we could get a gym membership and we did at Planet Fitness. Every since we have been going I could see that he was reverting back to his old ways, protein powder, chicken, etc. Well, now he has told me he has a goal weight. I will be ok as long as he keeps his temper at a controllable level. It's so funny because we both weigh on the scale and he wants to be 50lbs heavier and I want to be 50lbs lighter. hmmm? Gain weight? Not I! The picture of him seated is "my little swollen face baby" at his highest weight a few years ago. The picture of him seated was also a few years ago; his pants could barely fit over his quads. You all may not be able to notice a difference but I do. "The Chad" I know now started at 170lbs he was 195lbs in his heavy days. Look at the one of us together. This is from when we went to Grove Park for our 5 year anniversary 4 months ago. Compare A and B, he has thinned out a lot. I guess it's nice when he has a buff muscly body, I just don't like the temper, if he could leave that one out, I would be ok. Oh Chad, I love you. What would I do without you?

The Music of the Night

I want to reach as many people as possible with the message of music, of wonderful opera. ~Luciano Pavarotti

I have never been to see a Broadway Show before. My sister received tickets to The Phantom of the Opera for Christmas and she invited me to go. I didn't really know what to expect. I have never been to Blumenthal/Belk Theatre before and I knew nothing about The Phantom of the Opera. All I knew was that we had the best seats in the house, practically front row (right where the chandelier falls down), and that everyone who had ever seen this show had fell in love with it.



My sister and I got all dressed up to go in our little cocktail dresses and headed downtown. Downtown Charlotte is a happening place on Saturday nights. We made it downtown without getting turned around and we made it to the theatre. We both bought programs to make the night one we would never forget. We had awesome seats! I probably would have been happy anywhere but the close seats made the experience even better! One of my favorite scenes was when it looked like they were on the water. It was a very cool effect. These are not my pictures, we were not allowed to take photographs due to copyright laws. It was a great experience and I look forward to going to see more Broadway shows. Wicked is coming to Charlotte next year in May. I have always wanted to see that one.

One more thing I can check off my list, #35 See A Broadway Showa

RIP Michael Jackson

Named the "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time" by the Guinness World Records, one of my favorite singers of all time, Michael Jackson. 1958-2009 He passed away today, I am so sad but it truly is a sign that God has a plan for everybody including Michael Jackson.

Here is a note I found from his My space to his fans:

"It’s hard to believe that 25 years ago, Quincy Jones and I embarked on an album named “Thriller.” To be able to say that “Thriller” still holds the record as the biggest selling album of all time, is just mind blowing. I have you my fans through out the world to thank for this achievement. There is still much more to come from Michael Jackson. My passion for music has never stopped. And for those who don’t know, I’ve been in the studio recording Thriller 25th Anniversary album, with a lot of surprise guests. It’s my hope that “Thriller” continues to live on for each new generation to discover. And thank you to my fans. I love you from the bottom of my heart and I hope to see you very soon. I love you. God bless you.”

~Michael Jackson

I am heartbroken. One of the things on my list of things to do before I die was to see Michael Jackson in concert, I guess I will just be watching his concert on DVD. I will really miss him but will continue to keep his CD in my Cd player. I am not ashamed to say I love Michael Jackson! I have lots of his Cd's. I will close with an excerpt from one of my favorite songs off of his Cd "HISTORY, Past Present and Future," "You are not alone."

"Another day has gone, I'm still all alone. How could this be, you're not here with me. You never said goodbye, someone tell me why did you have to go, and leave my world so cold. Everyday I sit and ask myself, how did love slip away. Something whispers in my ear and says, That you are not alone, for I am here with you, though you're far away I am here to stay..... Just the other night I thought I heard you cry, asking me to come and hold you in my arms. I can hear your prayers, your burdens I will bear. But first I need your hand So forever can begin...."

I'll miss you Michael, I will forever be your biggest fan! If they play your concert at the local movie theater I will go and see you! Rest in Peace, I will see you one day in heaven!

Where are the days going?

I have been so engrossed in the Twilight Saga and so busy with work, the days are starting to disappear at an alarming rate.

I went to UNCC yesterday for orientation. We were there for 9 hours! I don't know if I learned anything that I didn't already know, although it was nice to meet my advisor and see that they didn't have all 81 of my credit hours listed. They only had 38 which could cause huge problems. Now I have to go to all of the colleges that I have been to and request transcripts to be picked up in person ASAP! They were going to have me take College Algebra and all electives this semester. Which I know that I have plenty of elective credit hours; all those art classes I have been taking on the side. I definitely have taken College Algebra (my first semester actually). It was kind of fun at times because I was able to talk to all of the other transfer people like me, a lot of them in the same boat; changed majors, 24 years old. So I am not alone on my little road. It was nice to start this new chapter in my life. If I play my cards right hopefully I will be done in two years.

For now I am going to enjoy my summer. Our itinerary is starting to get really large for our Hilton Head Trip. Chad got his dad a cast net for Father's Day and I think he may have been a little jealous. Chad has always wanted one to play with at the beach so I am going to surprise him and get us one for our trip. We are also going to Savannah for one day to stand in line at 9:30am to make a reservation for us to eat at Paula Deen's "Lady and Sons" Restaurant. Then we are going to spend the early hours touring Savannah before lunch. I have never been to Savannah before but I am really looking forward to it. We are also going to see the Hilton Head Lighthouse too, I have only ever seen pictures which is weird because I have been to Hilton Head before. Chad talks about our beach trip everyday. I wouldn't be surprised if we went to Southport for the weekend before we go to Hilton Head. This year our trip got planned for August but that is ok because it will be well worth the wait. The place we are staying at is called Marriott Surf Watch and it is huge with many amenities. It is all free for my whole family too so that makes it even better since my dad was laid off a few months ago. We leave July 31st, which the way time has been flying, it will be here in no time!

Never had my nose stuck in a book this long

I have read Harry Potter and I love Nicholas Sparks books but never have I been drawn to a book or books like quite like the Twilight Saga. Shannon is right behind me in reading them and I am kind of glad because it is cool to know what something thinks as you are reading them together. Lori already knows what happened so she can't help us, :( at least she says it will end good. :) GO TEAM EDWARD! I love Jake but I love Edward more! I am about half-way through the final book "Breaking Dawn." Shannon just so you know I haven't read anymore since work so I am still stuck in Jake's book. Hopefully it will get better, I wonder if you have gotten to the sweet stuff in "Eclipse?" You might be done for all I know. We will all definetly have a movie night when "New Moon" comes to the big screen, I might have to buy us some Advanced Tix. Me, Shannon, Lori, and Mel and anyone else who wants to tag along. It's going to be great! Team Edward vs. Team Jake, hard one, they both look pretty good, I still going down the vampire route though, oooooh la la.

Happy 50th Birthday Mom!

"Truely scrumptious, you're truly truly scrumptious, scrumptious as a cherry peach parfait, when your near us, it's so delicious, honest truly, you're the answer to our wishes truly scrumptious, though we may seem presumptuous, never, never, ever go away, our hearts beat so unruly, because we love you truly, honest truly, we do..."

Words and lyrics from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Yesterday was my mom's birthday and boy did we go all out! My sisters and I got up at 4am to blow up 50 balloons to have at the foot of the steps when she got up. I also retrieved a few cards from work that were destined for the trash and we gave her one for every hour of the day. We also had 50 long stemmed yellow roses ordered for her. We put 50 of her favorite color m&m's in a jar for her. We went up to her office with more balloons and another card. Then we all fixed dinner and my sister made her a big 50 Coconut Cake (her favorite). It was a blast! I was pooped by the end of the day and I didn't read much of my book at all.

I am starting to miss it, but I am working today so I think if it is not so busy I might be reading it. I finished the second book "New Moon" within 24 hours and I loved it just as much as the first. I am looking forward to really getting into this third one "Eclipse." I carry it around with me everywhere and a few people have mentioned the writers writing style or whatever. Well, I have probably a fourth grade reading level (hehe) and I don't read a whole lot outside of magazines and the occasional Nicholas Sparks book and Harry Potter in between. I honestly have never been so engrosed in a book and people may think I am a elementary school kid about it for not caring about the writing style but I don't care. I admit it, I am addicted, bad writing and all. I love it, just like a lot of people, and I love Edward too! I need to get me one of those vampires to catch me when I fall.

Oh well, Happy Birthday Mom! I love you! I know you don't think I am stupid for loving those books. : ) They make me happy. I think they might be my favorite.

A Long Weekend

Between my readings this weekend, which by the way I finished "Twilight" in 48 hours and I am already half-way through "New Moon." I stopped a couple chapters after the break-up and I couldn't really sleep last night, I was kind of upset. I think it will get better, I hear Jacob becomes a big character now, hmmm? We'll see! Maybe I needed to listen to Edward's lullaby last night.

Anyways, between my readings I was helping my mom prepare for the huge party that was going to happen Saturday night. Friday, luckily could get off at 3, we went to the grocery store, the farmer's market, and then the grocery store again, and again. My mom made these awesome treats called "Buffalo Turds," they are made from red and green chili peppers stuffed with cream cheese, a baby sausage and then wrapped in bacon. I didn't eat any but they were the first thing to go. But I went all over town looking for these certain peppers, FIVE grocery stores. Super Bi-Lo had them if anyone needs any. Saturday morning we got up bright and early and headed over to mom and dad's to get the outside ready for the Party. We played by the pool for a little while and then we went to deocrating. We spent a good part of the day cooking in the kitchen. Then at 4'o'clock my baby sister graduated! She's going to NC State this year.

Chad and I left immediatly after they called her name to go home and get a few things in the oven, get drinks in coolers, shake up some margaritas and greet the guests. There were a lot of people there, I don't know maybe 18-20 kids that Emily knew, and they were all in the pool, thankfully not at once. I think 12 at once. We had badminton set up and corn hole. I think corn hole one my group over. After we all had a few margaritas it was even more fun. The photo on the left from the left Matt (Jill's bo), Jill (my sista), Chinara, Knam and Caleb, behind her her hubby Tim, Me, and Meghan, and I don't know where Chad is? He might be in the pool.

We all had a blast! My sister especially had a great time and I think that's what means the most. She got a GPS from my mom and dad, which she totally needs, she doesn't have one built in (to her head I mean) like Jill and I do. I got a lot of good pictures for her memories, because now it will all remain a memory for her. I can't believe I have been graduated for almost, well not almost but 6 years. These will be memories she'll cherish the rest of her life. Congratulations Sis!


Our weekend didn't stop there, I will blog more later after I catch a few more chapters in my book. I sure hope Edward comes back, in a good way. I hear you Lori, "Team Jacob!!" I guess I will see what you mean shortly. But, I love Edward, ohhhhh!!!

How old am I?

Ok, so the newest thing with me... dot dot dot, here we go! I am almost 24 years old, practically married, and with a kid (even though he is a bird, he is still considered my child). I have become sort of infatuated with this character in a book, movie, oh my gosh he's gorgeous! I have not been this infatuated with someone since, I don't know when I was, ohhhhh maybe 17, hmm? I went through a Joshua Jackson thing, then a Matthew McConaughey thing. This guy, Robert Pattinson aka Edward Cullen, those black eyes, ooooooh, sends a chill up my spine. I am almost 24 years old! What is up? I am actually older than him. I am reading the books, and watching the movie, over and over and over, oh goodness! (Na! Only twice) What a love story. If you don't know what I am talking about already, it's the new craze with girls all over the world, "Twilight." He has been in quiet a few other films, such as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, as Cedric Diggory. Ahhhh... Oh well, something nice to look at I guess, something good to read, something to fantasize about. I am completely in love with Chad but it is so hard not to be taken by how beautiful Robert looked in Twilight and thanks to Lori for letting me borrow her copy, now I know, now I am completely infatuated. I guess you're never too old, never too old for anything really. Thankfully Chad just shruggs his shoulders and moves on, I guess it is pretty silly.

I got free tickets to see Brad Paisley!!!

So I was having a normal day at work, tired, ready to see Chad; my friend Lori was making my day so much better. Around four'o'clock she hands me this poem she wrote, haha and at the bottom it said you're going to see Brad Paisley, waaaaa!!! I called Chad right away but he had been having a long day too and he didn't want to get caught in the traffic, or in the rain, or in the middle of tons of screaming fans, and he didn't want to get home at midnight. So then I call everyone I know, and nobody wanted to go! What are the chances? I get free tickets and nobody I knew wanted to go! I called Lori at work and told her I couldn't go so she made one last ditch effort to find someone to work for her. She called me back minutes later saying someone was going to cover for her, Thanks Judy!! I grabbed our ponchos and we were off. It poured rain, but we were dry because we had actual seats. I think there were more people on the lawn than there were in actual seats. It was so awesome. We were anticipating Jewel but Jimmy Wayne and Dierks Bentley were there, and I love Dierks Bentley, so we screamed like little girls!! Brad Paisley was phenomenal too! I love Brad Paisley, he can play a guitar for sure! I owe this whole thing to Lori, I had soooo much fun without you there never would have been a chance of me even going, and to Chad for letting me go with Lori, you are the best babe ever! Brad Paisley is going to sing our song at our wedding too!

"Every time you take a sip in this smokey atmosphere, you press that bottle to your lips, and wish I was your beer....... I'd like to see you out in the moonlight, I'd like to kiss you way out in the sticks, I'd like to walk you through a field of wildflowers, and I'd like to check you for ticks. I know the perfect little path, out in these woods I used to hunt. But don't worry babe I've got your back, and I've also got your front...... I'd like to see you out in the moonlight, I'd like to kiss you way out in the sticks, I'd like to walk you through a field of wildflowers, and I'd like to check you for ticks....." haha it's perfect! I love you Chad!

words and lyrics courtesy of Brad Paisley

New Family Member

So today I got paid and I promised Chad that we could buy a coral when I got paid, so I did. But I had a bargain with him too, that we could get an emerald green crab if we got a coral. Guess what? Today I got my way. She is the coolest crab ever, her name is "Crabby Patty," Chad says it's from Sponge Bob. It suits her I think (Lori, I am not trying to steal your kitty's name, hehe). We almost didn't get her because he said that they were all out of green crabs, but that they were going to be getting more in tomorrow, 75 of them! But I was there today, not tomorrow; so we all went looking for one, making sure there weren't any hiding in any cracks or crevices. We found one about 5 times her size but he looked mean and green if you know what I mean. So we looked a little harder and there was "Crabby Patty." She is doing very well in her new home, lots of places to hide and lots of things to eat! Oh yeah, our new coral is doing well too! These very blue pictures are at "dusk" on the coral reef before
it gets dark (just like in the ocean, oooooh, ahhhhh).

Love, Look What You've Done to Me...

If you have love in your life, it can make up for a great many things you lack. If you don't have it, no matter whatever else there is, it's not enough. ~Ann Landers

My whole life I looked for it, I waited for it, I suffered heartbreak for it, I cried myself to sleep for it, and now I have it, LOVE. I've always felt loved by my family and friends but I wanted that special kind of love.... The love you look for all your life, the person who makes you whole, the person you spend the rest of your life with, the person you rock next to while you watch the sun go down, the person who still gives you butterflies even though you've been together for 6 years. I think.... no.... I know I've found him. Ever since I was old enough to know what a phone was, I've been waiting on him to call. While I was waiting on him to call, he was just one county over running around in the back yard with a shark he caught at the beach.

I went through so much in high school, I only had long term relationships but I never felt the way I do now. Chad and I have been together for going on 6 years. We have traveled across states together, met each other's families, worked out at the gym together, flew on a airplane together, we've been gem mining together, we've been to the Biltmore House 5 times together, we saw my grandmother get married together, we saw the Blue Angel's together, we've climbed a mountain together, we've seen two lighthouses together, we have done so much but we've only been together 5 and a half years. Chad's grandparents are about to have their 50th anniversary, Chad and I have only have 5 full years together. I can't imagine what we will experience in the future, and I can't imagine how I would go through life without him. Chad is my rock, the person I can trust, the person who makes me feel my best, the person that I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with.