Wow has it been a while lol

Wow it has been quite a while since I have updated this blog lol. Well lots been going on since last post but the main things were: Seth and I found and bought my engagement ring :) He says no one but he knows when he will pop the question and no amount of prodding (as many are doing) will make him spill his plans lol. Were both excited for sure :) I had 2 long term assignments with teaching and those were great to get! A great experience both times, and I know how lucky I was to get those with all the demand for anything in teaching right now. I moved to Costa Mesa at the end of last summer and love the neighborhood, there is even a Sonic nearby :) Other than that it's just been the same old things still working at the store, subbing, and keeping busy as always lol.

Not again 2010!!!!

I am so ready for 2010 to be over! This has to of been one of the worst years ever, not just for me but for so many people. I should have known this was going to be the craziest year ever when it started with Dad's unexplained blood infection. This year I have known several good friends that have died (another one just this week), also 5 close family members had extreme close brushes with death, got let go at the Boys and Girls club summer preschool program leaving me with only a part time job, my car literally died on me, got hit twice by people talking on their cell phones on the freeway, and so much more. I think I will party more on this New Years Eve than I ever had before!
I always tend to try and look at the positives in life too though. At least those 5 family members did not die, my car was fixable, I at least had a part time job, etc. Plus knowing how crazy this year was I just know that 2011 will be HEAVEN!

So much going on....

Wow I am starting to see why the Lord did not provide me with a new job this summer, life is CRAZY right now lol. In the next month alone I have several relatives going through major health issues which include cancer and an open heart surgery. One of my best friends and I are actually heading to LA in a few to go donate blood for one of these relatives that will be used in the open heart surgery coming up. Also I found a new place down in Huntington Harbor that I will be moving into this Sunday, I have one of my best friends' weddings next Friday that I am a bridesmaid in (were all soooo excited :) ), then a good friend of mine's baby shower :), my young relatives open heart surgery in LA, and then my brothers wedding in Vegas. That is just a sampling on whats going on this month haha. Speaking of wedding stuff, I had one of my Besties wedding shower a couple weekends ago and that was so much fun! My future sister n laws wedding shower was this weekend as well and that also was fun, got to see alot of old faces. I am so happy for all my friends and family that are having these major life events this month and feel honored they are having me be a part of them.
Well enough updates I better start heading to LA, 6 more days left till I move!!!! I cannot wait! Last night was the first quiet night in my place in nights because my room mates don't think that anyone ever has to sleep and its ok to have late night parties to 3 am! Seriously? lol.

Fireworks to Quakes

So much going on lately I forget I have these blogs haha. Last weekend was crazy busy with July 4th and all. I think July 4th is one of my favorite holidays, not only for it being our nations birthday, but for all the events and get together's that also coincide on this day. Every year for at least 12 years now, one of my best friends, Michelle and I, have been going to the 4th of July parade in our hometown. We used to work it for many years as kids selling parade merchandise along the route. We were able to meet multiple celebrities this way including: Dustin Diamond, Doris Roberts, Jamie Renee Smith, etc.
The parade went well this year and had a good turnout as usual. My boyfriend Seth was able to join us for the parade and that made it extra special :) Michelle and her neighbors we have all grown up with, always save a spot together down on Main Street, so we get front row every year along with being able to see everyone as well. After the parade Seth and I were going to hang out downtown, but there was literally no parking within a 10 mile radius of downtown. Therefore we decided to walk at Central Park, one of my favorite places in the city. The park always reminds me of my roots back in Mississippi, maybe that's why I enjoy it so much. Well after the walk we met my Mom and Stepdad for dinner at my Aunt's. My Aunt Cathy is such a good cook! Anytime I hear that she is cooking I secretly want to be there. After dinner Seth and I went back to downtown for another tradition of Michelle's and I, watching the 4th of July fireworks over the pier. We always have this same spot that we go to on top of the parking structure, so Seth and I met Michelle, her brother, and a mutual friend all up there. I definitely love our Country and love the 4th of July!
That weekend I also took my Aunt Cathy to LA for the day, and she even went on her first subway ride. We took the Gold line to Pasadena and walked around before hitting Chinatown on the way back to downtown LA. I love what they are doing in downtown LA, they are slowly adding more and more entertainment and hot spots in the downtown area. The ultimate goal the city has is to turn the LA Live and Staples Center areas into a kind of Times Square West Coast style :)
Well along with all the fun and happenings that are always going on in Southern California, we also had another earthquake. The quake hit late yesterday afternoon and was very small, only a 5.4, though large enough that most people I know felt it. We have all had so many earthquakes in the past year (more than my whole life combined), that were all just getting used to it. I was more concerned in yesterdays quake that my can of soda sitting next to me on the bed was going to spill, than I was of the actual quake haha. Of course my soda did not spill and by the time I got out of my room with my video camera, the quake was done. Almost as predictable as USGS Kate Hudson coming on with non stop interviews for the day after a quake, was the immediate flurry of facebook status updates on the quake, and yes I was one of them. Got to love living in So Cal haha. Now I don't mind the small quakes but after every quake there is always the fear here that there could be something larger on the horizon, and with all that we have had this past year, everyone is starting to get a little freaked.

Summer Already?!

I can't believe it is already Summer, didn't we just celebrate CHRISTMAS?!!!!! Well since there are no jobs for Substitute Teachers during the summer, I am working almost full time at my part time job during the school year. Thankfully they were able to give me many more hours or I would have been stressing out for the next couple of months. It is nice only having 1 job for the time being instead of 3 like I do during the school year, alot less money though. I get MORE time with my boyfriend though so that's a MAJOR plus :)
I went back to my hometown in Memphis a couple weeks ago, and it was good seeing nearly everyone. I hate to fly with a passion, and my connector flight to Memphis was so small it resembled my skydiving plane I jumped out of. Needless to say I was one of the first one's off the plane once it landed. This was my 2nd trip back home in less than 9 months so I focused on seeing the loved ones I didn't get to see last trip, it is almost impossible to see everyone in one trip. I have found it better to "sneak" into town with some of my relatives to avoid the chaos of trying to fit everyone in, I did that with my Grandma this trip and surprised her by driving up in her driveway. The look on her face was priceless lol.
The main reason I went back this month was because of a family reunion my Father's side was having, and this was the first reunion that side has had since my Grandmommy died 18 years ago. When Grandmommy was alive she was the one that organized all the get together's and kept in touch with everyone, so when she died everything fell apart. It was good seeing everyone and meeting so many of the people I had studied about when I was doing my genealogy research over the past 11 years.
I took a few hours one day to go all over Memphis and see my favorite spots, and I really enjoyed that, I am making a scrapbook about my favorite things on Memphis and Mississippi, and I was able to collect alot of mementos for the album :)
Before I headed back to my hometown in California I made a stop by Grandmommy's old house, and I was amazed it hasn't changed in all these year's, I half expected to see her sitting on the porch, but of course there is a new family there now. I wish that family only knew the kind of memories that house holds for so many of us, I know my best childhood memories are from that house.
Even though it is always hard leaving everyone there, I am more than eager to get back to Orange County which has been my home for 23 years, and I got home just in time to see my LAKER'S WIN and was even able to attend their victory parade!