What do you have to talk about when you're single?!
It hit me the other day that I have an incredibly boring life...Sad, but true. I read all these blogs about friends from school, all of whom are married (most with kids/puppies), and I realize I have absolutely nothing to compare to them! There are all these stories of houses being purchased, family pictures being taken, new jobs, kids eating gross green stuff that inevitably ends up all over the kitchen, vacations around the world, dogs wearing funny hats, and the list goes on and on.
What do I have going on, you ask...
NOTHING! NOTTA! ZERO! ZILCH!
I haven't seriously dated anyone for almost a year...I can't have a puppy until we move...I'm too poor to go on vacation...My life is just full of fun and excitement.
I need a change. I'm not sure what type of change, but I need to shake things up a bit. Normally when I get this idea in my head the first thing to go is my hair, but I'm actually satisfied with that. Maybe a new tattoo or another piercing or something. Again, normally that's not the type of things I turn to, but that's what a change is all about, right?
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
All I Want For Christmas
Dear Santa,
I realized it's been quite a few years since we've had any "real" contact. Mom has kind of taken over your role in the Stringham house, but we can just let that slide.
I've also realized that this year I've been pretty damn good! I work for a non profit helping thousands of people every year and I don't make ANY money doing it, so I figured you could reward me for my good behavior. I have a short list, nothing to extravagant, but I think it should do the trick.
1. First, and most important, could you please fix my car?? She's been such a great car the last 5 years and has never done anything to hurt anyone. There was that one bird but that was my fault, not hers! Since I moved to California cash has been tight and I haven't been able to buy her everything she needs...So if you could just get an elf/mechanic to give her new brakes, shocks, struts, drums, spark plugs, tires, a front windshield and a complete fluid change I would love it! It should only run you about $1,500.
2. A puppy would be fabulous! I know our landlord won't allow them at the moment, but if you bring a small one then maybe she'd never know! We'll only be there a few more months so it shouldn't be a big deal. I've enclosed 2 pictures for you to consider.
This first little guy is a puggle, a mix between a pug and a beagle. Look at the face!! How can you resist it!! You may want to get one for yourself to keep you company on the long sleigh ride.
Now this second one is just too cute for words!! She's a teacup Maltese and is just a tiny ball of fur! I could carry her around in my purse and take her to work and my boss would never know! SO CUTE!!
3. I could really use a vacation! Work has been stressful and this has been a really hard adjustment being away from my family. I know I live in a tropical paradise already, but I've always wanted to see Fiji. Again, I don't think that's too much to ask for. You can even come join me if you'd like! I'm sure it gets really annoying being in the snow all the time. You can work on your tan with me!
4. And finally, Santa, could you please please PLEASE bring me a little baby niece!! Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE my nephews with all of my heart, but I really would LOVE a niece! Everywhere I go I am surrounded by little boys...I'm always buying little boy clothes as gifts and for once I want to buy something cute and pink and girly!
Well, Santa, it's been great writing to you. I hope you take this letter serious and help me out here...Maybe I don't need the vacation to Fiji, but everything else is a keeper!!
Thanks much!!
Love-Andrea
I realized it's been quite a few years since we've had any "real" contact. Mom has kind of taken over your role in the Stringham house, but we can just let that slide.
I've also realized that this year I've been pretty damn good! I work for a non profit helping thousands of people every year and I don't make ANY money doing it, so I figured you could reward me for my good behavior. I have a short list, nothing to extravagant, but I think it should do the trick.
1. First, and most important, could you please fix my car?? She's been such a great car the last 5 years and has never done anything to hurt anyone. There was that one bird but that was my fault, not hers! Since I moved to California cash has been tight and I haven't been able to buy her everything she needs...So if you could just get an elf/mechanic to give her new brakes, shocks, struts, drums, spark plugs, tires, a front windshield and a complete fluid change I would love it! It should only run you about $1,500.
2. A puppy would be fabulous! I know our landlord won't allow them at the moment, but if you bring a small one then maybe she'd never know! We'll only be there a few more months so it shouldn't be a big deal. I've enclosed 2 pictures for you to consider.
This first little guy is a puggle, a mix between a pug and a beagle. Look at the face!! How can you resist it!! You may want to get one for yourself to keep you company on the long sleigh ride.
Now this second one is just too cute for words!! She's a teacup Maltese and is just a tiny ball of fur! I could carry her around in my purse and take her to work and my boss would never know! SO CUTE!!
3. I could really use a vacation! Work has been stressful and this has been a really hard adjustment being away from my family. I know I live in a tropical paradise already, but I've always wanted to see Fiji. Again, I don't think that's too much to ask for. You can even come join me if you'd like! I'm sure it gets really annoying being in the snow all the time. You can work on your tan with me!
4. And finally, Santa, could you please please PLEASE bring me a little baby niece!! Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE my nephews with all of my heart, but I really would LOVE a niece! Everywhere I go I am surrounded by little boys...I'm always buying little boy clothes as gifts and for once I want to buy something cute and pink and girly!
Well, Santa, it's been great writing to you. I hope you take this letter serious and help me out here...Maybe I don't need the vacation to Fiji, but everything else is a keeper!!
Thanks much!!
Love-Andrea
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Granny B
It's been 9 years since my Grandma Blackburn died. It's crazy how you remember the most random details when it comes to different events in your life.
9 years ago, on the day after Thanksgiving, my Granny suffered a massive stroke. They did emergency surgery to release the pressure on her brain, which meant a huge tube coming out of her head to drain all the blood. I remember walking into the ICU and seeing all these extremely sick people, and when we came to one room I saw the person laying in bed hooked up to all these tubes and they looked like they were about to die. I was shocked and felt so horrible for that person and their family.
Then my Mom walked into that room.
The horrible looking person about to die was my Grandma. My sweet, amazing Grandma who got up at 5am everyday to either walk or play dice with her friend Keith. My Grandma who made the most delicious peanut brittle you've ever tasted in your life. My Grandma who watched "The Price Is Right" every morning and when her 2nd husband was called down as "the next contestant" you can see her jumping up and down on the tape. My Grandma.
She was paralyzed on the right side of her body and couldn't speak when my sister and I had to leave to go back to Utah. When we walked out of the door she lifted her arm and tried to wave goodbye.
That was the last time I saw my Grandma alive. She passed away at home a couple weeks later. She had a living will and never wanted to be put in a nursing home. My Mom was with her that Monday morning when she died.
Sydney and I went back to Idaho for the funeral, and it was probably one of the worst few days of my life. As soon as the viewing started, I started crying. I cried the whole 2 hours non stop. It wasn't my Granny laying there. She always had her hair a certain way and, because of the tube they had shaved one side of her head, they tried to fix her hair so you couldn't see the bald spot. She was allergic to make up, but they had caked it on her. And she wasn't wearing her glasses. I was in total shock from the whole thing.
I was only 13 when she died and I hate it that my most vivid memories of her are her funeral. I still have great memories of her, but none that will ever be as clear as those days in November and December 1999.
My Granny was born in 1920 and when she was just 20 years old she bought and opened her own beauty parlor. Women still didn't have many rights back then so this was a huge accomplishment. She was elected as the first woman on the Rexburg City Council. Overall she was an amazing woman.
I blame my Grandma for my addiction to cheesecake and raspberries. And my love for peanut brittle...and rubharb jam...and waffles...All of those come from the countless meals my Granny would always make me when I saw her.
The more I think of her, the more great memories I have of her. Playing cards and dice, and the game of "LIFE", picking raspberries, "Pick A Hand", watching her do hair in her kitchen, old food in the freezer, her house that always stayed the same, more junk in the closet than anyone knew what to do with, sleeping in her bed with her and imagining clouds, her post it notes...I could go on and on for days.
I am a better person for having my Grandma in my life. My family is better because of my Grandma.
I LOVE YOU GRANNY AND STILL MISS YOU SO MUCH!!!
Darlene M. Saurey Blackburn Peterson Bowen
Sept. 17, 1920-Dec. 13, 1999
9 years ago, on the day after Thanksgiving, my Granny suffered a massive stroke. They did emergency surgery to release the pressure on her brain, which meant a huge tube coming out of her head to drain all the blood. I remember walking into the ICU and seeing all these extremely sick people, and when we came to one room I saw the person laying in bed hooked up to all these tubes and they looked like they were about to die. I was shocked and felt so horrible for that person and their family.
Then my Mom walked into that room.
The horrible looking person about to die was my Grandma. My sweet, amazing Grandma who got up at 5am everyday to either walk or play dice with her friend Keith. My Grandma who made the most delicious peanut brittle you've ever tasted in your life. My Grandma who watched "The Price Is Right" every morning and when her 2nd husband was called down as "the next contestant" you can see her jumping up and down on the tape. My Grandma.
She was paralyzed on the right side of her body and couldn't speak when my sister and I had to leave to go back to Utah. When we walked out of the door she lifted her arm and tried to wave goodbye.
That was the last time I saw my Grandma alive. She passed away at home a couple weeks later. She had a living will and never wanted to be put in a nursing home. My Mom was with her that Monday morning when she died.
Sydney and I went back to Idaho for the funeral, and it was probably one of the worst few days of my life. As soon as the viewing started, I started crying. I cried the whole 2 hours non stop. It wasn't my Granny laying there. She always had her hair a certain way and, because of the tube they had shaved one side of her head, they tried to fix her hair so you couldn't see the bald spot. She was allergic to make up, but they had caked it on her. And she wasn't wearing her glasses. I was in total shock from the whole thing.
I was only 13 when she died and I hate it that my most vivid memories of her are her funeral. I still have great memories of her, but none that will ever be as clear as those days in November and December 1999.
My Granny was born in 1920 and when she was just 20 years old she bought and opened her own beauty parlor. Women still didn't have many rights back then so this was a huge accomplishment. She was elected as the first woman on the Rexburg City Council. Overall she was an amazing woman.
I blame my Grandma for my addiction to cheesecake and raspberries. And my love for peanut brittle...and rubharb jam...and waffles...All of those come from the countless meals my Granny would always make me when I saw her.
The more I think of her, the more great memories I have of her. Playing cards and dice, and the game of "LIFE", picking raspberries, "Pick A Hand", watching her do hair in her kitchen, old food in the freezer, her house that always stayed the same, more junk in the closet than anyone knew what to do with, sleeping in her bed with her and imagining clouds, her post it notes...I could go on and on for days.
I am a better person for having my Grandma in my life. My family is better because of my Grandma.
I LOVE YOU GRANNY AND STILL MISS YOU SO MUCH!!!
Darlene M. Saurey Blackburn Peterson Bowen
Sept. 17, 1920-Dec. 13, 1999
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same
I was thinking this week about how different my life is from a year ago, but then in the same thought how it's really not all that different.
Last December I was still living in Salt Lake, watching Wyatt&Tyge, and working as an office assistant. I hung out with about the same people I had the whole time I lived in Salt Lake. I was dating a new guy, but still talking to some of my exes. I lived with my sister and went back to Vernal as often as I could, normally a couple times a month. I had graduated from the U and was getting ready to move to Seattle but still had NO clue what I was going to do with my life!!
So here we are a year later. I live in San Diego, technically Oceanside, and have my first real job out of college as Community Educator. I live with a girl I knew from Vernal and don't really hang out with that many people other than my brother and some girls I met in a training. I haven't seriously dated anyone for 9 months, which is a record for me. I still talk to a select few exes, but the main one I don't anymore. I still go to Utah whenever I can take the time off and have the money, so twice since March. And I still have no freaking clue what I'm doing with my life! So even though a lot of things are different, they still feel the same to me.
I didn't like my life when I lived in Utah. I was so convinced that once I got out of that damn state things would be better for me. One of those "the grass is greener on the other side" situations. Don't get me wrong I love being in California! I love the beach, and the sunshine, and being able to wear flip flops in the middle of December, but it still feels like something is missing.
I know a big part is I miss my family. I'm such a homing pigeon it's ridiculous! I miss wrestling around with Gage and flipping Riken upside down. I miss playing monster trucks with Wyatt and rocking Tyge to sleep. Gah I just miss all those little boys so much it breaks my heart!
This has been a stressful week with my family members in and out of the hospital. First my step dad fell off a ladder and had to go to Salt Lake because they thought he had a blood clot. Then my 88 year old grandmother was admitted two days ago because she couldn't breath and had to stay in the ICU overnight. I was so stressed and freaked out! I'm always there for my family when there's a crisis. Even though the majority of the time I know there's nothing I can do, it still makes me feel better just knowing that I'm there.
I'm not really sure what the intention of this blog is. Mostly I just wanted to vent. I guess to sum everything up I'm homesick and miss my family. I would love to be near them but I don't think I can give up my life in California to go back to Utah. Even though it's extremely difficult sometimes living down here, it's the life I've wanted for a long time and I'm not going to give it up.
Last December I was still living in Salt Lake, watching Wyatt&Tyge, and working as an office assistant. I hung out with about the same people I had the whole time I lived in Salt Lake. I was dating a new guy, but still talking to some of my exes. I lived with my sister and went back to Vernal as often as I could, normally a couple times a month. I had graduated from the U and was getting ready to move to Seattle but still had NO clue what I was going to do with my life!!
So here we are a year later. I live in San Diego, technically Oceanside, and have my first real job out of college as Community Educator. I live with a girl I knew from Vernal and don't really hang out with that many people other than my brother and some girls I met in a training. I haven't seriously dated anyone for 9 months, which is a record for me. I still talk to a select few exes, but the main one I don't anymore. I still go to Utah whenever I can take the time off and have the money, so twice since March. And I still have no freaking clue what I'm doing with my life! So even though a lot of things are different, they still feel the same to me.
I didn't like my life when I lived in Utah. I was so convinced that once I got out of that damn state things would be better for me. One of those "the grass is greener on the other side" situations. Don't get me wrong I love being in California! I love the beach, and the sunshine, and being able to wear flip flops in the middle of December, but it still feels like something is missing.
I know a big part is I miss my family. I'm such a homing pigeon it's ridiculous! I miss wrestling around with Gage and flipping Riken upside down. I miss playing monster trucks with Wyatt and rocking Tyge to sleep. Gah I just miss all those little boys so much it breaks my heart!
This has been a stressful week with my family members in and out of the hospital. First my step dad fell off a ladder and had to go to Salt Lake because they thought he had a blood clot. Then my 88 year old grandmother was admitted two days ago because she couldn't breath and had to stay in the ICU overnight. I was so stressed and freaked out! I'm always there for my family when there's a crisis. Even though the majority of the time I know there's nothing I can do, it still makes me feel better just knowing that I'm there.
I'm not really sure what the intention of this blog is. Mostly I just wanted to vent. I guess to sum everything up I'm homesick and miss my family. I would love to be near them but I don't think I can give up my life in California to go back to Utah. Even though it's extremely difficult sometimes living down here, it's the life I've wanted for a long time and I'm not going to give it up.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
2 months worth of updates!
Holy cow I've been so bad at this thing the last couple months! Oops!! Let's do a quick little update then!
Back in October my Mom and Syd came down to visit for a few days. We only spent one day around Oceanside/Carlsbad and spent the rest of the time up in LA with my aunt&uncle. It was such a fun girls vacation! We went to the cliffs in Carlsbad, saw the musical "Wicked" in Hollywood, played A LOT of Blackburn Rumy ((a family tradition)) and then one day me and Syd went to Disneyland...SO STINKIN' FUN!!
I love October because....IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!
So this year I wanted to do something fun&&crazy, so I dragged some friends and my brother to a Drag Queen Show!! Oh my gosh, it was amazing!! I had a few drinks before we got there so the whole thing was so much fun! Me and the Drag Queen became quite good friends by the end of the night! :D
Then there was Halloween...Oh man!! I dressed up as a flapper and went to downtown San Diego with a friend and then ran into another friend! I honestly think I was a flapper in a previous life...I loved my costume!!
October was a really busy and fun month but I was glad when things slowed down in November. When I lived in Utah I was always going to Vernal for the weekend and spending time with my family, so now that I live in California it's so strange to NOT see my family all the time! I was SO excited to go back to Utah and spend some quality time with my friends&&family...
I spent a few more days in Salt Lake than I originally planned, but it was still a lot of fun! I went with my friend Lisa to Wall-E and Body Worlds and took Wyatt&&Tyge to the Children's Museum on Sunday...GAH I MISS THOSE LITTLE BOYS! They're both getting so big and handsome!
I FINALLY made it to Vernal and it was amazing to see all my family, especially my nephews. Kids grow up so stinkin' fast! Thanksgiving was great, and the only downside was my grandpa was too sick to join us but he loved the leftovers! I got to see all my friends I haven't seen in months and spend time with my nephews. SUCH A GREAT VACATION!! The only downside was my best friend Angie went into labor the day I flew back to California and had her little boy yesterday morning!! :( I'm so sad I missed it, but I'll be back for Christmas so not too much longer til I can see little Jaxon!
Back in October my Mom and Syd came down to visit for a few days. We only spent one day around Oceanside/Carlsbad and spent the rest of the time up in LA with my aunt&uncle. It was such a fun girls vacation! We went to the cliffs in Carlsbad, saw the musical "Wicked" in Hollywood, played A LOT of Blackburn Rumy ((a family tradition)) and then one day me and Syd went to Disneyland...SO STINKIN' FUN!!
I love October because....IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!
So this year I wanted to do something fun&&crazy, so I dragged some friends and my brother to a Drag Queen Show!! Oh my gosh, it was amazing!! I had a few drinks before we got there so the whole thing was so much fun! Me and the Drag Queen became quite good friends by the end of the night! :D
Then there was Halloween...Oh man!! I dressed up as a flapper and went to downtown San Diego with a friend and then ran into another friend! I honestly think I was a flapper in a previous life...I loved my costume!!
October was a really busy and fun month but I was glad when things slowed down in November. When I lived in Utah I was always going to Vernal for the weekend and spending time with my family, so now that I live in California it's so strange to NOT see my family all the time! I was SO excited to go back to Utah and spend some quality time with my friends&&family...
I spent a few more days in Salt Lake than I originally planned, but it was still a lot of fun! I went with my friend Lisa to Wall-E and Body Worlds and took Wyatt&&Tyge to the Children's Museum on Sunday...GAH I MISS THOSE LITTLE BOYS! They're both getting so big and handsome!
I FINALLY made it to Vernal and it was amazing to see all my family, especially my nephews. Kids grow up so stinkin' fast! Thanksgiving was great, and the only downside was my grandpa was too sick to join us but he loved the leftovers! I got to see all my friends I haven't seen in months and spend time with my nephews. SUCH A GREAT VACATION!! The only downside was my best friend Angie went into labor the day I flew back to California and had her little boy yesterday morning!! :( I'm so sad I missed it, but I'll be back for Christmas so not too much longer til I can see little Jaxon!
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