Day 8: Someone Who Has Made Your Life Hell or Treated You Like...Rubbish

I'm sitting here, watching television, doing laundry and drinking tea so black it looks like whiskey. Yum.

So, I'm realizing that over the course of this Challenge Thing, a lot of people will pop up repeatedly. I suppose it's just the nature of the game, and I'm finding this rather therapeutic. I try to seriously consider all my answers and work through the issues the prompt brings up. This blog has helped me get through a lot of my issues with dating and guy in general, and my hopes/fears about my future. So pat on hte pack to this blog, better then any therapist I could have asked for....or afforded.

Well, I gotta say, this one is a hands down winner. She was devious, manipulative, hurtful, and just so friggin emo. Or was it 'scene'? Aw heck I'll just go with slut and call it even! (If I don't like you I can get nasty. Boo hoo you suck). She Who Must Not Be Named, or as you all will know her as the ex-girlfriend I ranted about in this post from November. She treated my sibling horrendously and he still has some lingering issues he has to deal with.

There was nothing about her that I can look back on and trust. I made SO MANY excuses for her, while blaming SO MUCH on my brother! The only thing she brought to my family was discord as we all grappled with the question of what do do with/about her. I don't appreciate feeling used or lied to. Her actions were unpardonable and I hope one day she realizes what she did. But I doubt it. After all, it's really just in stores that the hero gets the justification and the villain gets punished.

Day 7: Someone Who Has Made Your Life Worth Living For

Ummm...gonna have to be an absolute jerk here....gimmie a minute....uhhhhhhhh......there has to be SOMEONE....errrrmmmmmmmm


The first 'person' I'd say would have to be Jesus. Yeah, yeah, the cliched Christian answer, but that doesn't make it any less true. My life has changed these past few years, from happy and innocent, to grown up and troubled. And though I know full well that many people have much more difficult loads then I do, my trials are enough for me. My Savior has been with me every step, every break up, He was with me every time problems with siblings grew to painful/frightening to bear on my own, He has protected me during my studies, and He is with me as my family deals with multiple relatives in poor health. so yeah, cheesy and cliched but true.

As for the mortal realm, I'd have to say it would be my Bestest Friend and Katie, as well as Southern Brother. Ironically, they all read my blog. No I am not buttering them up, though if they appreciate this so much that they buy me a puppy, who am I to stop them? ;) Bestest Friend and Katie are the girls I go to with pretty much everything. We all know what the other is going through and these gals are the best friends I've ever had. They are always there when I need to vent about brothers or need a girls night out or just need a friend. Katie and I worked together for like three years and even though we've moved on, still text like EVERY DAY. Cause we're totally awesome. Bestest Friend and I have been friends since like middle school. Though we drifted during high school when I left the church we both attended, thanks to the miracle of facebook we found each other. We've been friends so long its' weird to think of her NOT being in my life. Love you girls! <3

Also, Southern Brother! Of all my siblings, I was closest with him. He TOTALLY spoils me, but I'm cute so I deserve it. Now that I think of it, he's also the only one whose explanations of tech-y things I understand. Probably cause he's the only one who takes time to make sure I understand! But events like today's really remind me of how much I miss having him around. At lunch today, Army Brother and Air Force Brother began harassing me for a tiny joke I had played. Normally, I can handle their jokes and constant barbs at me, but today it got out of hand and their words became outright cruel and wounding. I went upstairs in tears and haven't been down much since (naturally neither brother has apologized, though I apologized for the prank). I kept thinking if Southern Brother was here, I'd have someone to defend me. He NEVER teased me like they do. He never hurt me like they do. He makes me laugh and we talk in animal noises on the phone. He has a dog that eats feet. His wife is southern and super nice. And he knows how to fix mah cell phone (speaking of which dude...)

I watched all three extended editions of the Lord of the Rings films in less then 24 hours and am now very tired. Losonmg ability to form cohesive sntace things. will try to get backt on track with 30days posts. sooooo tireddddd

Getting Real for a Second

You might have noticed that I skipped yesterday and today for the 30 Days of Truth challenge. I will get back to it, but to be honest it kinda just plummeted on my priority list. The story is long, and I'm sad to say it isn't going to be a happy one, but I have to share this. So just bear with me while I explain whats been going on the past few months.

My Momma is the oldest of five siblings. She is the only normal on in the bunch. I am very blessed to be her daughter. But seriously, she is, the siblings have all joked that she was switched at birth or something! She is the only one to have gone to college, and have gone on to really make something of herself. She became a nurse and worked until my second or third brother came around. Her siblings didn't really live close by so I never felt very connect with most of them. It was a bummer, but they were never there, so there was nothing for me to miss.

In fact, until 2007, I had only met Momma's sisters. One lives in the area, the other came to visit with her daughters ONCE years ago. In 2007 Southern Brother got married, and I got to meet Uncle G. He was sarcastic, weird, and had never met me. Needless to say, I made him be my friend. I'm very obnoxious and persistent and it amused him. The best way to describe him is...well...he looks like a pirate! Fat and hairy. Well, we stayed with him and grandmother for a few days before Southern Brothers wedding, then it was back home. I hadn't seen much of him since then, and apart from a few brief phone calls we had little contact.

Then everything changed this summer. Uncle G went in for surgery on what we all thought was just a hernia. Here the details get a little fuzzy, lots was going on all at once. Turns out however, that it was NOT a simple hernia. They found out he had pancreatic cancer, the very same cancer that killed my grandfather (his father) in just a few months. The survival rate is dismal, but we had a ray of hope, a surgery that could possibly remove the tumor. It was small, but I clung so tightly to it. It was the first day of classes at Uni X and I recall right were I was at the kitchen table when the call from Southern Brother came in. The surgeon was so sorry, but the cancer was too far progressed, they removed a small bit and closed him back up.

When you get a diagnosis, its bad. When the surgeon gives you months....its worse.

Lots has happened since then, but he is still alive. He decided to have radiation, not that it will do much more then make him sicker. He is mostly in denial, and he lashes out at my mother. Did I mention she went to college and became a nurse? You better believe my Momma's a smartie.

All this has made for a very stressful few months. It was the worst way to start a semester, and it really effected my studies. My grades will be pretty dismal, but I'll survive. Now, this all sucks, but hang on kids, we're not done yet.

My one aunt who live in the area, Aunt A, has been sick since the beginning of December. She asked Mom what to do, went to the doctors, but just couldn't shake the pneumonia that had settled in her lungs. December eighteenth, my first day of vacation, I was woken up by Momma telling me we were going to the hospital. In my half-asleep state I thanked her, but told her I was fine so we didn't have to go. No, she replied, it was for Aunt A, she had gone to the hospital last night. That's one way to wake a person up, belive me.

Over the course of her six day hospital say, the doctors removed over ten liters of fluids from her lungs, gave her a CAT scan, put in a chest tube, and was just today diagnosed her with cancer. You read that right. Two of my Momma's younger siblings have cancer. Now, for my aunt we all saw this coming. She's smoked for thirty years often three packs a day, we always knew it was going to be cancer that gets her in the end. So she has lung cancer, but there are also spots on her colon, intestines, breast, and ovaries. The lesson here kids is: DON'T FREAKING SMOKE! If you do now smoke, I beg you, you need to STOP. You life isn't worth being puffed away! find some reason worth quitting for! Even if it is just to explain to me until I understand the finale of Lost or the meaning of Inception!

Sigh. So I went from a stressful semester to a horrible holiday season. My whole family needs your prayers. I need your prayers. I'm exhausted. Physically, emotionally, mentally. I'm going to lose two of my favorite relatives probably by this time next year. Aunt A will be telling her three children (ages 22-16) in the next day or so.

There was so much more I wanted to say and I could have said all of this so much better, but this will have to do. I used to think 'Wow, God sure has blessed me, I haven't had many trials to endure!' Now I think 'Wow, God sure has blessed me with His ever-present love, a loving support system of friends, and the knowledge that He is here with me and He will get me through all this'.

The 23rd Psalm

The Lord is my sheperd, I shall not be in want

He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters

He restores my soul

He guides me in paths of righeousness for His names sake

Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of Death, I will fear no evil

For You are with me

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies

You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows

Surely Goodness and Love will follow me, all the days of my life

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

Forever

Day 6: Something You Hope You Never Have to Do

With the recession being what it is, the current state of unemployment, and the rising cost of living, one thing I have worried about in this time of my life is having to move back home after graduation. This is probably rather premature, especially since I have at least one more year at college and haven't even moved out yet, but it is something I wouldn't want to do. I long for independence and freedom and moving back home would be so hard. My family is big, and loving, but I like having my own space. I like having people around, but I prefer to do my own thing and not have to answer a thousand questions every single time I go out with friends!

I suppose it could be seen as very ungrateful to be this way but this is the 30 Days of Truth Challenge. Don't think I don't love my family or anything. I just need to move on. I am living in the same house I've been in since I turned three, the same room since I was sixteen, the same job since I was seventeen. I used to hate change, now I'm more receptive to it. But, I don't say anything because everyone FREAKS OUT when I change my mind. I know they kid, but really? Is SUCH a production needed when I just say I want to try a different breakfast cereal?! Sheesh!

Part of the problem also might stem from the fact that I am twenty-two, and still living at home playing the same role I did when I was a child. Granted, I do have a job, something those pesky child-labor laws prevented me from getting earlier. I know that of all the horrible things that could happen when I finally leave home, having to temporarily return would hardly be the worst. Just so long as it was temporary.

Also I hate potatoes.

Day 5: Something You Hope to do In Your Life

TRAVEL! See the WORLD!

I know it wouldn't be a big thing for others, but I want to be a dog owner someday

 I want to look EXACTLY like that bride on my wedding day.

I mean, how adorable is that little crown?!

I also want to find Narnia. Or be a Pokemon master

Day 4: Something You Need to Forgive Someone For

Ughh, for better or for worse, I knew this one right away.

The Ex. well, the first ex really. Sigh, he was bound to pop up in this eventually. For as much of a jerk as he was to me, I know that he didn't mean to hurt me as much as he did. I learned a lot from our brief, stupid time together. I learned that sometimes what we want isn't what we SHOULD want. Settling NEVER works. And Trekkies are just as lame as people think they are. They just don't know how to handle the opposite sex. Lameeeeeeeeeeeeee. And that's enough about him, moving on!


I am glad it's over. I know that one day I will find happiness and awesomeness and someone who will make me feel like this :)

I've never wanted something rational

Yay for cheesy love songs! Also, funny thing, from talking with my best friends I actually realized I have a type.Didn't know that, I thought I was pretty varied in the guys I like. I realized that I am most attracted to goofy-looking brunettes. How funny!

Day 3: Something You Need to Forgive Yourself For

Sorry I didn't post this yesterday, it wended up being a crazy day with me being woken up to go visit my aunt who had to be hospitalized suddenly, a 3 hour mid-day nap, and girls night out with Katie. Not what I'd expected for my first day on break! Alright, lets get tot this...

Forgive myself, eh? This was a bit tricky, I had to think a while until I realized what I was overlooking. My baby brother. I need to forgive myself for things I've said to and about him, for how I've treated him, and for not being the sister I should be. I blame myself for 'messing up' the birth order, instead of it being all five boys then me, it's four boys, me, last brother. Sometimes I can't help but think that if he and I had been switched that many of the problems we have wouldn't have happened or been as emo-riffic as they were

Forgiving myself for this has been a process, and every time I lose my temper at him I have to forgive myself again. Repairing the last few years of discord have been difficult, and it is SO EASY to slide back into old habits with him. But I do try to be a better sister, a better person with him. I try to give him grace and ignore his obnoxious behavior. When he yells at me I try to stay calm and leave him to cool down as quickly as possible. It's not going to be an overnight thing, as one of my friends said when I asked him to pray for my brother and I, we expect things to change overnight but they take time. Or something to that effect. It was awhile ago.

So there ya go, I'm not perfect. Actually, looking over the topics, my imperfections will become glaringly obvious at times....sheesh. Well, on to the next day!

Day 2: Something You Love About Yourself

Ahhh this is more like it!

That's right, I'm so awesome, guys from Atlantis give me thumbs up.

I am Awesome. That's probably one of the things I love about myself. I love that I've finally REALIZED I'm awesome, and actually started to care less what people think of me. True, I could be in better shape, I could care more about style and fashion, I could fuss more over my appearance...But then I wouldn't be ME! I freely admit that I'm not stereotypically pretty, but I'm far from ugly! Rather, I have a stunningly sunny personality that draws people in, I'm a bright happy person. I look out for my friends and I am fiercely protective of my best friends.

Being Awesome is more then trumpeting out to everyone that you're Awesome, it does come with a set of responsibilities you might not expect. It means you have to live as the best person you can be. Childern will look up to you and desire to emulate you. Teachers and professors will love having you in their classes, but will also expect Awesome work from you. Bosses give you Awesome tasks to perform. Being Awesome means you hold yourself to a higher standard of living. By this I don't mean you become a snob, no you just have to act better then the non-Awesome eople around you.

It's simple, it's fun. Be Awesome! You'll love it!

ANOTHER New Thing!

I wanna star doing movie reviews. But I also hate when reviews babble on and on. Simple and to the point, that's how I'll be. Unless they suck. In which case let me know, and I'll stop.

The Karate Kid

 Or, Why Some Franchises Should be Left ALONE

You know it's gonna be a bad movie when after five minutes you are rooting for the bullies. Seriously, Momma and I wanted to beat the bratty protagonist up!  I get that it was one of those really for kids movies that supposed to teach them something, but really??? There are so many better-less whiny-ways to get your point across. 2 stars, cause it DID have Jackie Chan

30 Days of Truth (Cause I'm Always Late to Trends)

So I guess back in November, this blog challenge thing went out. It's pretty straightforward: Everyday, for thirty days, you are given a truth to blog about. Some are going to be easier then others, but isn't that the nature of truth itself?

Without further to do, here we go, Day 1: Something You Hate About Yourself

Um, owch...alright....

I'd have to say that, currently I hate how stress makes me freeze. Like, literally, I can be set on a certain plan, but once problems arise or I have loads to juggle, I don't know what to do. So I stop. Look at this semester! The day before classes started I was all excited to go, but then my family received rather horrible news. That threw me off my game and the following months have felt wobbly as I struggle to figure out how to help at home when I can and be the student I need to while also maintaining healthy relationships with human friends and keeping my job.

Then, as I might have mentioned before, I want to be a sign language interpreter, but I am not able to register for the class that I need. Oh, and I also have a language requirement for my college, did I mention that? Yeah, cause no one told me. Sigh. College sucks. I'm sick of this anxiety that makes everyday feel like I'm getting punched in the stomach. I sit in class and feel like an idiot, I CANNOT pay attention! I've had no idea whats going on in class since like midterms. But rather then do something productive and study, I freeze and don't do anything.

Ergo, I think college is making me dumb.

The good news is that tomorrow (Friday the 17th) is my last exam! Hope I don't completely bomb it.

Well that was fun...ish. Tomorrow is another day.

Cue HUGE Sigh of Relief!

Ahhhh! All three papers handed in, one exam down, now just two more exams until I'm freeee! This has been such a rough semester, lots of personal issues kept distracting me as well as a general disconnect from my entirely new college. Intense. But I'm getting used to it, finding teachers I like and getting my bearings around the place. Three more semesters (hopefully) and I'll be done for good! Just gotta hand in there a little longer!

So...other then a desperate race to finish classes and papers and such not much else has been going on with lil' old me.Sporty Brother told me he wants me to move in with him next year when his lease is up. That would be soooo awesome, but I'll have to see where I stand with college and such. And besides, Southern Brother has a dog lol. 'The Plan' for when I graduate is currently in a state of flux, but there are some points that I'm set on: I want to move south where the sun lives, I want to live with a sibling for a brief time before moving out on my own just me, I want to be a sign language interperter where ever I end up. We'll see if all that ends up panning out, I mean, man plans and God laughs, ya know? But I do want to see what it would be like to be self reliant and independent. I've spent so much of my life bound up in what other people expect of me, shyly watching the world go by, but that has to stop. The best way I can see to change myself is to go and see what I make of myself. I won't be able to stay by myself, I'll NEED to get out and meet people, I'll NEED to learn how to take care of myself. An adventure! The adventure I've been longing for.

Now, I will admit part of the attraction for leaving is that there are no interesting guys around, and I absolutely adore southern accents ;) But somehow, the more time that goes on, the more content I am in being single. It's hardly the worst thing in the world, I actually have been happier being single then I was with either of my ex's. Ya live and ya learn. Now that's not to say I think I'll be single the rest of my life and die a crazy cat lady, no. That's just to say.... I suppose, that I'm waiting. When it's real and worth it, it will happen, I'll find someone. And like I've said, I'm still in college! I don't want a long drawn out courtship, nope, it's gonna be fast when it doen happen!

But enough talk of all that lovey-dovey nonsense!

IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS!! Momma and I will be putting up the tree tomorrow, I just ordered a few more gifts from Amazon (hey Katie your gift finally came in! Big sigh of relief!). I hope you all have some where to go to spend time with family or friends for the holiday! We'll probably be having a few friends and cousins over, and I might be working in the church nursery with my babies on Christmas Eve. I love the little ankle biters in our congregation, so cute and cuddly and fun :) Some of them I've been babysitting since they were born and are now 4-5 years old. I feel so OLD watching them grow up and start talking and such.

No joke, I'm getting teary over here, mooooving on...

It's snowing again. I really hope it's drivable Friday night and Saturday. Got plans with my girls! Totally need time to relax and chill with them, it's been a crazy few months for us all.

My Momma has boring taste in Christmas presents. Silly Momma. Any ideas what to get for my Dad?

Bonjour!

Woah, France. Hiya. Glad to see you guys have been enjoying the blog so much this week! I've never been read much over there, but this week I got like five separate hits from you guys. Thanks!

I like France. You guys have given us some pretty cool things. French comedies (Amalie, EASILY one of my top five favorite films!), french braids, French Bulldogs, french Poodles (well, not really, they're actually from Germany but I'm not blogging about Germany today am I?), the French Resistance during WWII, french guys, and french manicures. So, I thank you.

Now back to final papers.
Paper 1: Due Monday. Required length 7-10pgs. Current page count 7
Paper 2: Due Monday. Required length 8-10pgs. Current page count 1.5
Paper 3: Due Tuesday. Required length 5-7pgs. Current page count 2

Ever Wonder...

What would happen if we just stopped censoring ourselves and said what we really wanted to say? The kind loving words that we hold back inside. Imagine the wounds that could be healed, the pain that could be cleansed away...

What if you kept every single one of your promises? Fewer hearts would be broken. We would realize the strength of promising something. Of course, then lying about homework would be much harder...

Would your life be different if you knew the exact count of heartbeats you had been bestowed? How precious our lives would become!

If it was a baby, a blessing, a treasure; and not a fetus, not an inconvenience, and not a problem.

If we could love each other. Even past all our differences, all our problems, and all our hangups, how about we just love each other? We're all in this together after all. Try not to lose your temper so much, instead think of whats its like to be on the other side. Forgive, learn, and move on. NO ONE is perfect. Not even you, my precious little snowflake blog reader

Learn.
And move on.

And never forget how truly blessed you are.

Procrastionation at its FINEST

I'm at the point that I wish I could make a clone of myself to attend all my classes and write all my papers. Just one more week and exams until the suckiest semester of my life is over. The goal is not to pass, but simply to endure.


SO.
DONE.
WITH.
COLLEGE

Friggin hate this rubbish.

Ooo Baby it's Cold Outside

No, really, it's cold.

I live in the frozen north east of America, in a miserable land well adjusted to winter storms. We survive in snow boots and parkas. Almost every driver can tell you at least one vicious story of being trapped in their car for hours or in rare cases days as fierce storms raged outside. We get used to being trapped at jobs, friends or strangers houses, or 24-hour restaurants as we pray for the storm to blow past and the plows to free us. Our police officers have tow cables and tow trucks make a living just during the first storm alone. Snow is a way of life here. Now, all that having been said, never has a response to snowfall been as horribly mishandled as the reaction to this current blizzard.

I'll start my story by telling what I went went through last night. I've been a driver for about 3 or 4 years, and I had always been proud that I had NEVER been stuck or stranded in my car. I'm too smart to go out if its too bad out, I just elect to stay home or wait for the storm to abate. Well, yesterday I was on my two hour break between classes when I realized I had left at home, a textbook I needed for the next class. I sat for fifteen minutes debating if the snow was bad enough to risk a quick trip home and back. Yeah, quick....except my house is a forty minute drive on a GOOD day, and though I didn't know as I walked to my car, the roads I would be taking were still unplowed. Though the roads were a bit slick, visibility was fine, and I'd driven on far worse. My little neon was fine, until I turned onto my street, and my car just barely skimmed over the top of the snow. Simply, there was no way I could safely get off the road and back to school in time. Oh, and this was all around 10:30, so nice and early in the day.

We all had been warned. The news was calling for snow, and hoo boy did it come. Initial reports that I saw predicted little to no accumulation, but every report I saw agreed on one thing: the snow was coming at six. And baby, you better believe it came.

I was oblivious at work, chatting with my coworker and shelving books. Due to the odd shaping of the buildings roof, when heavy winds come, the building makes some craaaaazy sounds. So when the roof began moaning, I paid no attention and continued going on with my job. When the patrons began filing out far earlier then normal, I didn't notice. Isn't it amazing the things we don't see? What brought the gravity of the situation to my face was a simple act of kindness. I had offered to go out and brush my three coworkers cars off at 8 so that when we left at 9 we would have less time to all be out miserable. I really wish I'd had gloves.

It was awful. The moment I stepped outside I knew this wasn't going to be a good night. Mine and my coworkers cars had only been in the lot for three hours, yet every single one was covered with at least six inches of heavy, fluffy snow. And I didn't have gloves, or even proper snow boots on, and let me tell you, snow that's well past your ankles and in your sneakers isn't fun! And frostbite is just as painful and dangerous as you've been lead to believe. Every one still in the lot was trying as best as they could to dig out their cars from the unplowed lot while the wind blew stinging snow into our faces. Thankfully, our maintenance man had left in storage several shovels that we quickly handed out to those who asked for them. I was still valiantly trying to clear at least SOME of the snow from the cars, but I was losing feeling in my fingers at an alarming rate. I watched with growing unease as mini vans were spinning their tires, smaller cars like mine weren't getting anywhere, and even a pickup truck struggled feebly against the heavy drifts of snow.

My hand were getting red and I couldn't grasp my keys from my coat pocket to re-lock my car. With a shiver and a shrug I went back inside, covered head to foot in snow. My hat had a crust of snow on it and my long colorful scarf was white and heavy. I shook my gear off to dry and began to close the library up with Puppy Momma (She's my age and totally obsessed with fashion, fitness, tanning, and her Cockerpoo puppy). By 8:30 we were done tiding up and all that was left to do was fret. The Former Boss Lady and Sweet Old Lady were starting to get worked up as they stood anxiously at the windows. We watched in horrified amazement at the mess our parking lot had become. Cars on the road were skidding and sliding, we saw a accident, and once car after another got stuck. finally two Police cars arrived, and that's when things really began moving.

A few of the stragglers who were truly stuck had arranged for someone to brave the snow to rescue them, but a few kind (and helpful) people with SUVs stayed after they were freed to help pull others out. Between the two gentlemen shoveling out and directing the cars that could move, the two police officers with their tow cable, and your very favorite blogger with her replacement tow cable when the first one snapped pulling out a mini van, we got all the patrons out safely.

Now all that was left were the employees. Unfortunately, my car and Puppy Mommas cars had nothing to attach the tow cable to, and with snow covering the cars grills and inching up to the hood, it was looking bleak. I had called and asked my dad to come get me, but he had gotten stuck in the driveway and our street was a mess. One of the nice policemen offered to take me home, but since I live in a different town (FIVE FLIPPIN' MINUTES STRAIGHT DOWN THE STREET!) then where I worked and where the officer was from, he couldn't take me. I had stopped panicking once my hands thawed out (hey, one of the employees had to keep a steady head!), but I was beginning to get anxious as the snow kept falling and my car looked more and more stuck. But then God sent an angel in an SUV. Now, I know every child is trained from birth to NEVER NOT EVER get in a car with a stranger, but I did and I was fine! He lived just past my house, and once I saw he had his two toddler sons in the car I felt better about riding with him. So with a pull and a pop, all the cars were free or every driver had an alternative way home.

Gotta say, SUV=Gods gift to the snow-bound north.

SUV Guy got me safe and sound over the slick roads. We passed easily a dozen cars stranded or stuck during the five minute ride to my house. Dad and Air Force Brother were trudging their way to then end of the street to fetch me, and together we thanked SUV Guy and plodded back home. It had been an hour since we shut down early and a half an hour since we'd stared shoveling out the cars. I have to say, there was no sight more lovely then my own room with heat and dry clothes.

Snow continued to hammer the area, and to add some fun to the mix, thunder and lightning! I became quite clear that there was no way I'd make the hour long drive to campus the next day. So, with visions of snow days dancing in my head, I snuggled in bed.

3 AM rolled around and I was still awake. I checked facebook from my phone and saw two common themes in the local status updates. Themes I'd never have expected to see, let alone on the same night. People were talking about being stranded on the thruway, and snowplows getting stuck. And THAT was when my brain said "Oh snap. This is bad."

People had been stuck for hours, and little did we all know at 3AM, there were still hours ahead for them to wait. 10, 14, 20 hours people were trapped, and as I write this, there are still people stuck out there! The thruway had been open, then it was closed for most of Thursday, it reopened, only to now again, be closed. This is horrible, and people are not outraged that this has been so bungled and poorly handled, and they are totally correct! We live in a city that has extreme winters, why is this happening??

And the SNOWPLOWS! Four people in four different locations reported plows getting stuck in the snow! THAT'S new! Yeah, maybe it happens once or twice a winter, but four that I've heard of in one night seems a little, oh, BAD, don't you think?! And if the plows aren't getting stuck, in some cases, they just aren't coming. Katie's street has yet to see a single plow! We've peen plowed out three times in 24 hours but between the first and second there was easily a gap of twelve hours, so by the time they came back again there was about 16 inches in the road!

So to end my little tale, I'm staying home yet again tomorrow, and hopefully Momma and I will be able to get my car out and home. If the camera on my phone starts working anytime soon, I'll post some pictures for you all to be amazed at.

[UPDATE!] So, according to Army Brother, there were people stuck on the thruway for, you ready?

30 hours

Just let that sink in.....

yeah. In a car. With no food, no bathroom, no change of clothes, and eventually no gas for some people! Everyone is blaming everyone else for the problems, but at least they did agree on one thing. Next time a storm gets this bad, the thruway will close right away. No more of this waiting around crap, that only makes it worse.

Next person to mention anything about global warming gets punched in the face and gets to shovel out the driveway out the rest of winter.

HELLO DECEMBER!!!

I love snow! So pretty, so white, so fluffy, such a good excuse to skip class. Hehe! Alright, in my defense, I went to my first class, forgot book I needed for my next class, and decided after the slippery ride home to stay home and never again leave. I make good plans.

So, as it is now December, I hope you are all staying warm and cozy! I hope that you could think of at least one thing to be thankful for on Thanksgiving (and I hope you were all thankful for my blog!) and that you will remember the true reason we celebrate Christmas in a few weeks.

Fellow college students, hang in there! We're almost done, please don't lose out on too much sleep, don't freak out, and we'll all get through this just fine.

People driving in snow, remember to use sense. If the roads are too bad, don't go out! Give plow drivers right of way, leave loads of space between cars, and always know alternate roots. If you've never driven in snow, it's not hard, just calm down and keep up with traffic.

Parents, with Christmas just around the corner, please don't spoil your child. Don't go bankrupt on one day to get a toy the kid won't care about in a few hours, don't put yourself in danger to get to a store. It's just a trinket you're after, it isn't worth your life, or a fight. Your precious little child can survive without the newest gadget. I didn't, and I turned out fine!

Now go outside, play in the snow! If you don't have any snow where you live, go outside and enjoy the lack of snow! I've got final papers to write.