Family.

So I've neglected my blogging for a few days. That's nothing new, it seems like blogging is the first thing to go (along with my previously firm thighs). Anyways, guess what?

My dad is buying me a laptop! YAY for me. Mine is so old, and I have used up all of the hard drive space on it. I'm a little shocked that my dad is going to buy me one, because while my dad is an extremely generous man, he sees me as the "responsible" child. Therefore, all of his generosity goes to my other four siblings.

So for Thanksgiving, me and the family are going to the in-laws house on Thursday. Trey's sister likes to cook (thank God), and we can always go over there if we need a decent meal. Then after that I have to work from 6 pm til 2 am. Hopefully, it will be busy at the casino, and people will be thankful for all the money that they have (and I don't), and tip me big (hey a girl can dream). On Friday we're packing for our trip, then I have to work again 6 pm til 2 am. When I get home we are going to take off for Va. Beach.

I love Va Beach. I go every chance I can get. The shopping, the food (at my dad's house), the family, and of course the beach. I also go to the beach every time we go up there. I don't care how cold it is, I need a proper amount of beach time, to balance out all the mountain time I get. Last December, I took a quick road trip up there to see my sister play a solo on the piano, and we ended up on the beach. I got some really great photos of her in winter clothes, playing in the sand. I don't know how much beach time I'll get this year, because I do have a 9 month old with me. Man, I love my child, but when you become a parent you have to think about something other than yourself. Being a spoiled brat, this was a hard concept to grasp (not really). So the beach trip may be a quick park, and stare. I was hoping to get some family pics on it, but if it's too cold my lil munchkin is not going anywhere!

So my Filipino family is crazy. Seriously and literally. My dad spends all of his time telling me what is wrong with my life, and how to fix it. This is the same guy who told me I didn't need glasses, and if I would just go out and stare at the sun for x amount of time each day, my eyesight would be restored. That's just my dad... "old and set in his ways." It is hilarious to listen to the crap he comes up with, but if you laugh he gives you "that look."

Ya'll know the look, the one that scares you even at the age of 28. The one that shuts you up almost instantly. So tonight, my public speaking teacher gave me that look. I hate when teachers give you "the look." I want to stand up and proclaim, "I am an adult!" So, here's how I got the look. We have a persuasion speech due.... She asked us what kind of emotions we would like to illicit during this speech, I responded with, "boredom." That was just the beginning. She then asked us, "Where do you want the audience to be at the end of your speech?" I then responded, "asleep." That is when I got "the look." But seriously, what kind of questions are those. I am just hoping the audience will still be in the room when I get through with my speech. Anyways, what kind of question is that?!?

So, while my dad is giving me the look, he will be cooking up the most awesome food ever. All of my childhood faves will be cooking, and he will have stuff wrapped and canned so I can have it at home. I grew up on Filipino food (my dad had custody of me til I was 14), and I have no idea how to cook it. Well to be honest, I don't cook anything, but I really don't know how to cook Filipino food.

So, on to my step-mom. I love this woman, but it took me a long time to realize that we were two very different people, and to just get on with it. You cannot change people. So, I will grit my teeth and manage. She will spend the weekend, asking me why I haven't lost my baby weight yet. She will talk about my ass, or any other number of ways to make me feel bad about myself. That is just her thing, it's something I have learned to deal with. Although, in the back of my mind I do realize she can't be that happy. What kind of person acts like that, and is truely happy with themselves. She will then proceed to ask me why Liam isn't wearing clothes from Baby Gap, or why I'm not wearing name-brand crap. After that she will bring out her collection of Coach, Guess, Dooney & Burke crap, and show it off to us. Sadly, she still hasn't realized that neither me or the man I love care about labels.

Mom and Dad in 2006

Now on to the two coolest people on the face of the earth: Gyrome and Jezzelle. They are the reason that I have managed to maintain such good terms with my step mom. I grit my teeth, so their lives won't be any harder.

Gyrome is 17, and the coolest, sweetest teenager you will ever meet. We'll stay up and talk about everything! He is like all other teenagers, but he is also responsible, respectful, and very loving. He was/is the best part of my childhood. We'll probably go to the mall Saturday night, and check out new video games and all that.

Jezzelle is 15, and a little hellion. She is all gothic and emo (although I have no idea what any of that crap means), so she walks around being "apathetic" to everything. I have such a good time with her, because she is so mean like me. She is also so creative. She plays so many different instruments, and does so many different things. This year she was a flag girl in marching band, and because no one told me in time, I didn't get to see any of her performances. She is also extremely smart. She lets me take hundreds of pics of her, and she poses without complaining. What an incredible little sister.

Gyrome and Jezzelle 2006

Well that's my Filipino family!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Just Another Round Of Venting.

So it seems like I am the queen of whining. Really, sometimes I whine so much, I have to take a step back and look in the mirror, and give myself a serious reality check. Why? Because I just don't feel like I should be whiny. I have such a great life. Really, I do. Most people are unhappy, or sad, or just blah, but me, I'm happy. I've got a wonderful family. Most of you know me and my 26 yo brother don't talk, but he is slowly starting to call me more. I do have a 17 year old brother and a 15 year old sister, and they talk to me about everything. I love that. I worry so much about them growing up in Virginia Beach. It is so much bigger, and more violent than the little area of WNC. But they talk to me, and they are honest with me. My little bro told me when he tried pot, and when he started having sex (although I did cry myself to sleep that night). While I wish they would wait just a little bit longer to grow up, I am glad that they are open with me. All in all they are both good kids. My little bro, Gyrome, called me a few weeks ago and told me he made the A,B Honor Roll. He made my stepmom swear to not tell me herself, because he wanted to tell me, hisself. I do admit, I am a little harsh about school, but the nerd in me just can't help herself.

My little sister, well, uh, she's a teenage girl. Moody as hell, but still so very awesome. She gets amazing grades, and my family really wants her to graduate early. Both her and I, both agree, we want her to stay in highschool for the entire 4 years. She's not ready to grow up, and I don't blame her. You get to spend your whole life being a grown up, and only a small part of it being a kid. I told you, she was smart.

So I've got a great family. I've also got a healthy, happy son. A man who tells me he loves me everyday. A guy who puts up with my whining, and lets me buy whatever I want. Although, I am on a spending freeze, in the off chance that I get laid off, I really don't want to have thought about all the money I've wasted. I have yet to spend any money this month on scrapbooking supplies. And ya know..... I actually scrap more, now that I'm not so busy shopping.

So back to the great life and no whining. I just can't help myself. I have to whine.

Okay, I don't know if ya'll have heard about the Grey's Anatomy drama. Well, here it goes, this season they started getting into the lesbian stuff, and people pitched a fit. Angry people were writing in about how sinful and wrong it was, and guess what.... They put a stop to it. Does anybody see how wrong this is? First off, Grey's Anatomy is one of my favorite shows.... I love it, watch it all the time. It has been on for a few seasons now, and people are pitching a fit NOW? They waited until it had something to do with a lesbian. So in this show, up until this season, let's see, they've had adultery, stealing, lying, cheating, gossipping, etc.... So if homosexuality bothers you, because it's a sin, then why are you watching the show at all. It is full of sin.

BTW, I looked up the Grey's Anatomy drama, and the show people said it had nothing to do with the lesbian aspect.

I guess that is what irritates me the most about people who hold up signs saying rude things about gay people. What happened to the other rules in the Bible that you are suppose to follow? Do you only pick the ones you care about and forget the rest? What about sex before marriage? What about lying? What about judging other people? I know that this sounds like I am bashing someone's religion and really I'm not. Mostly I'm bashing people who feel the need to persecute in the name of that religion. Especially when they aren't following the other rules/laws of that religion. It's called a hypocrite. As far as I'm concerned, you're not a real Christian if the only thing you base your religion on is holding up a sign against homosexuality. You don't get to pick and choose the rules/laws you want to follow. You don't get to have sex before marriage, or lie to your mother, or cheat on a final exam, and brush it off with a, "well I'll just ask for forgiveness later on."

So, the people who are angry about the homosexual aspects of Grey's Anatomy, you all are crazy. If you can watch a show that has violated almost all of the rules in the Bible, then you can watch the show when it has a lesbian scene in it. A sin, is a sin, is a sin. You are not allowed to decide which rules can be broken, and which rules can't be broken.


I said this before, and I'll say this again. Jesus Christ (and yes I do believe that He existed), did not come to this earth so people (Christians, or not) could act the way we do now. He came to die for US, all of our sins. And for those people who want to "blame Jewish people" for His death. You are crazy, too. It's just as much your fault as anyone else's. If we weren't sinners, He never would have had to die. Think about that, you prick, Mel Gibson. He wanted us to be loving, faithful, ethical, and moral people. So if you are a Christian, but cheat on your taxes, you are doing something wrong. You are no better than the people you point a finger at.

Proverbs 6:16-19.
These six things does the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

It states it right there! So why am I not seeing people with picket signs saying, "Liars, you are all going to Hell," or "Gossipers, into the eternal fire for you!" Although, I kind of wish there were. Maybe then, more people would worry about the sins that they are committing instead of what everyone else is up to.

Bottom line: If more people loved in Christ's name, instead of judging in it, the world would be a much better place.

It's 6 A.M......

So it's 6 am. I cannot believe that people actually get up at this time. You see, I am a night owl. I like to sleep late (preferable 12 or 1 pm), and I like to stay up late (usually till 3 or 4 or 5 am). So why am I up, when I should be sleeping next to my sweet baby, you ask? Well, I have a wonderful photography teacher, really he is just the greatest.... (If you could hear me say these words, you would realize that I am being sarcastic). He gave us an assignment. The assignment is to take 60 photos of our houses. Five, at different exposures, will be taken on each hour from 7 am til 7 pm. He says that this assignment is going to teach us the difference in photographs taken at different hours of the day. That is what he says. I, on the other hand, have another theory. I think that he is a sadist, and this is his form of Chinese water torture. By the end of a semester at school, students have gotten lazy. We are all ready for break, tired of homework, and ready for some stress-free living. He knows this (I'm sure of it), and this is his way of sticking it to the man (or in this case, the students). I also think that he severely dislikes me. It could be my big mouth. Or my loud opinions. Or it could be my smart-ass demeanor. Anyways, this is his way of getting me to fail at an assignment (which I haven't, yet). But, NO, I will not fail! In the words of President Obama, "YES I CAN." My teacher knows that I dislike the morning. The morning and I, we're not friends. The early bird can have the worm, I prefer the actual tequila. So, he is trying to bring me down. But I SHALL PREVAIL, so instead of getting up early I just decided to pull an all-nighter. This will probably not be my first all-nighter of the week... I have a seven page research paper due on Friday, so we all know what I'll be doing Thursday night, at 6 in the morning. I can't help it, I work best under pressure....

I really can't complain. Digital photography is my favorite class this semester, and I really do like my teacher. I've learned so much more than I could have learned reading a book about photography. I love taking pictures. Just not at 7 a.m. I'll miss the semester, once Spring begins, because I am taking some serious classes.

I've signed up for Anatomy & Physiology II, I will probably like it, because I do well with memorization. I also got my Biology II in this semester, which I love Biology... I am also taking two online classes, one is American History I, and another one, which I can't remember. The online classes shouldn't be a big deal. I am sad that I am not going to take any Math classes this year. I've pretty much exhausted my math options at HCC. Next year when I'm in radiography, I won't get any math classes either.... I wonder if there is a club somewhere for people who just like doing math problems. Like, for entertainment. I'm also not going to get to take Chemistry II, which is another big disappointment. Unfortunately, I couldn't get it to fit into my schedule, and I'm trying to cut my gas usage down during the Spring. Oh well, technically I don't need Chemistry II, or any more Math classes for my field, but they were going to be my funsie classes. Every student should take at least one class a semester for funsies. Digital Photography was my class this semester. You see, I have taken too many classes for my degree. Half of the classes that I have taken aren't going to transfer, because other colleges only accept so many credits. I don't really care though, because I took a lot of my classes, because I wanted to take them. So far, my favorite classes have been Digital Photography, Chemistry I, Biology I, Pre-Calculus Algebra, and the two Literature courses that I have taken.

I really love literature. Not English. On a side note, don't check my grammar, because it is 6 a.m., and I cannot be held responsible. Literature courses are so much fun. Normally, I am a Science and Math geek, but once I realized that there were puzzles inside stories, waiting to be found, I was hooked. I love the symbolism. I love researching something I read, like the time period it was penned in. That tells you a lot about a story. Except for Nathaniel Hawthorne. I dislike him. I realize that he is probably in every literature book in the history of the world, but he is just so damn wordy. Unlike me. I am to the point. Joe Biden and I, we're the same. Anyways, I get bored reading Hawthorne's short stories, and a person should never get bored reading a short story. Seriously, how many pages do you need to describe a tree.

I also dislike James Joyce. My hubby loves James Joyce. But, James Joyce and I, do not get along. I tried to read Ulyssess (spelling?) once. I got about 10 pages in, and I asked Trey, why they were talking about Dublin, Ireland when this was a novel about the Civil War. Yeah, he laughed. I felt like a jackass. That's okay though, even though some people pretend they can read James Joyce, they can't. Well maybe if they were on acid. I'm sure James Joyce took acid, or some form of drug. His stories just do not flow for me, but I don't think they are supposed to. I'm just not intellectual enough, or high enough, for James Joyce. I wonder if they have a book on tape of Ulysses... I still wouldn't understand it.

Okay, now that I have demonstrated my true geekiness, on to more important things. I know, you want me to shut up, but I still have 34 mins before I can go take a picture.

Liam stands on his own for a few seconds at a time. He can now fake cough. I think it is hilarious. I was choking on Ramen (who doesn't love Ramen), and Liam starts coughing and laughing at me. I didn't think it was nice, but Trey thought it was hilarious. He also likes to throw things on my head (while I am sleeping at 12 p.m., go figure). The other day he threw the remote on my head. It hurt.

Here are some pictures that I took at work last night. This is me and my best work friend, Jenna. We are in our Super Hero poses (sorry for the bad lighting). See her last name is Lackey, and my nickname from the Army is Khaki. We decided that we would become the SuperHero Team for Beverage Servers. Yes, that is a man standing behind us. His name is Slim, and he is so very tall. He is also African American. So when guests come up to the Bar to get a drink, I introduce him as my brother, Slim. You should see the looks we get.

SuperHeroes: Khaki and Lackey

My super hero ability is eating (go figure). Her super hero ability is her booty shake. (We have too much time on our hands).

This is our mysterious, Men In Black, pose.

Sorry this was such a long blog, but thank you for putting up with it!!!! I am off to set up my tripod, and figure out how to get my whole trailer in the picture without falling down my steep hill. If you don't hear for me, send a search party.

Liam's Christmas Present

So this is what I want to get Liam for Christmas... It is absolutely adorable, and I am thinking about all the great pictures I can get of him in it.... But, Trey says it's a waste of money, and my mom thinks it will be too small for him. The website says it is for babies 5 months and up, and Liam will be 10 months come Christmas..... What do you mommies think? I know it is probably too small for him, and it's a little expensive at $80, but think of the photos! Think of the scrapbook pages.... Maybe I can buy it, snap some pictures, and return it?!?!?!?

Btw, Liam can now officially stand on his own. He is getting really good at climbing on to things, and he acts like he wants to walk...... He is growing way too fast! Oh yeah, he loves to pull his diaper off! Which is cute, until I turn around and realize it's off and there's POOP everywhere!!!!!

Happy Veteran's Day

As usual, I'm a day late and a dollar short. Today/Yesterday (it's like 12:01 a.m.) I'm going to post some military pictures. I thought they would be cool to share. Bear in mind these are old"er" and I didn't have quite the skill I now have. I wish I could go back in time, and retake these bad boys!

This is me at Fort Jackson, SC, where I went for Basic Training! That is called Victory Tower, and we have to rappell (I have no idea how to spell this) down this bad boy. Okay, so I am deathly afraid of heights. Now at this point in my Basic Training I have been gassed, I have been screamed at for hours on end, and I have been pushed to my breaking point physically, and I still haven't cried. This was my day! I balled like a baby while climbing up the ladder on the right, and I balled all the way down that bad boy. It was humiliating. The actual experience wasn't that bad, I was just scared out of my mind!

This is me in Korea! I am carrying a M16 with a M203 Grenade Launcher attachment. I love this gun. Especially the grenade attachment, you only needed an area within 5 meters, which makes it great for people like me, who are horrible shots! Although, it did make this gun weigh a ton!

This is me at Fort Bragg. I'm sure you've noticed me on top of the antennaes. By the time my military career ended, my fear of heights had abated just a little bit. I didn't mind climbing things like antennaes, although I still won't ride a roller coaster!

These are my boys at Fort Bragg, NC. They were some of the coolest guys you ever could meet.

Unfortunately, a few Christmases ago, my mom's house was robbed, and I lost many of my Army pictures. They took my computer, and I hadn't yet realized the importance of backing up files to another source. Fortunately, I still have a few photos left. (If the people who robbed me are reading this, one day, I'm gonna kick your asses. Oh who am I kidding, crack heads don't know how to read.)

So, I hope you enjoyed checking out my Army pictures! Happy Veteran's Day to all!

Blog Challenge: 10 Thing I Can't Live Without.

1. My beautiful son, and my family.
2. My camera.
3. Coffee first thing in the morning.
4. Rice!
5. My best girlfriends.

6. Scrapbooking!

7. Shopping.

8. Scrapbook.com!

9. Books!

10. My televisions shows: Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Las Vegas, House....

President Barak Obama!

So, I am glad that the election is finally over. The President of the United States has been elected, and it is finally done with. Personally, I am happy that Obama won. My candidate made it this year, but unfortunately somebody else's candidate lost. So, I have tried very hard to be quiet. I have listened to the complaints, the griping, and the whining, and I have bitten my tongue. Why? Because I know that if the situation had been reversed I would feel the exact same way. I know exactly how upset I would be if Palin managed to become Vice President of the United States. I figure I will let people spend their emotions, get them under control, and than we all can move forward! By the way, I am so happy that I got to witness an African American become President of the United States. How historic!

Unfortunately, I can't keep quiet for very long. I don't mind that people are upset that their candidate lost, really I don't. I understand their feelings completely. Along that note, a big kudos to Senator McCain for giving a touching speech, and attempting to bring the nation together under President Obama. Unfortunately, people (on both sides) are just crazy. Really, they are. I've had people post videos on U-tube about how ridiculous Obama supporters are, and I've seen videos on U-tube about McCain supporters. Stupidity is not only reserved to one party. There are always those bad apples that just make everyone look bad. Really, they are nothing but a waste of space.

Today and for the past few months I have heard it all. Obama is a terrorist, Obama is a Muslim, Obama likes to kill live babies. Seriously, people have opened their mouths and said things without bothering to check the facts. Then they just end up looking stupid to the rest of the world. I get irritated when people just open their mouth and say, "I heard from a friend, of a cousin, of an aunt..." The sentence never ends well. And during this election, I myself have been corrected, and I deserved to be, because people shouldn't state things without having the full story and all the facts to back it up.

First off, the people who keep threatening to move to Canada are nuts. They don't want Obama, he's too liberal, he's a socialist.... Uhhh really? And Canada is where you want to go, because their government is conservative, right? No offense to my darling Canadian friends, because I think Canada is the absolute bomb! Canada is not the place you want to live if you are a conservative, because they are not a conservative country. They have same sex marriage and universal health care. That is because they are awesome! Seriously, I don't feel that it is the government's job to legislate morality. I don't think it's the school's job to legislate morality. If I as a parent, can't teach my kids ethics and morals that pertain to my beliefs, I shouldn't expect other places to do the job for me.

Another crazy, this woman stated that she wished there was another terrorist attack that was even bigger than 9-11, and even more people died... All to prove to the United States that we had made the wrong choice in our President. Are you absolutely nuts? What kind of person are you? People keep saying Obama has "Muslim tendencies," and must be in bed with terrorists.... But this white Christian woman just sanctioned a terrorist attack in the United States. Where is the Patriot Act now? Take her dumbass to Guantanamo Bay, and take away that dumbass's rights. She doesn't deserve them. Thank God, that she is not the majority of Americans.

Another thing (I'll make this short, because I typed it up last night, but I can't get it to load on here). Christianity is not totally reserved for one party. I am not a "Godless American" (you dumbass, Elizabeth Dole), because I voted for a Democrat. I have never, ever seen a verse in the Bible that states, "God only supports members of the Republican party." Hell I've seen Christians that are members of both parties, and athiests that are members of both parties. While we're on the topic of God's endorsements, contrary to what Palin thinks, there is no verse in the Bible that says God supports a war for oil. While Palin may think that she has a direct line with God, I can't imagine a true Christian stating, "There's a place in Hell reserved for women who don't support other women." Contrary to what she says, that woman is not even close to being what a good Christian should strive to be.

I digress. Yesterday, people went to vote for the person they wanted to run the United States. Unfortunately, for McCain fans, the majority of America wanted Barak Obama as President. See that's what makes our country so great... If a party (look at the Bush administration) screws up, then we can step up, and say get the hell out of the White House. You are not helping us, you are hurting us. This keeps all political parties in check. It shows the evil, corrupt politicians that we will stand up to them. That we are tired of their crap. Maybe now, they will be less likely to do whatever they want, because they know that we are THEIR bosses. So while you may not have wanted Obama to be President, the majority did. Now that there has been enough time for people to lick their wounds, complain, and tell me how ashamed of me they are, it's my turn. Put your big girl or big boy panties on, and suck it up. I sucked it up for 8 years, while that idiot ran this country. You can suck it up, too.



I end this blog with a picture of my son, Liam. Should this beautiful gift from God, grow up and want to become the President, maybe he will be elected. Maybe by that time, we will have progressed much further than we are right now. I hope that I never have to worry about my son getting assassinated, because he is not the same race, religion, or sexual orientation. Hopefully people will have really learned to love in Christ's name, instead of just judging in it.