Weweas the secwet weapon!*

Pics from New Years Eve

We had played Frisbee in the morning and then people kept asking what the plan was for New Years. Finally we just decided to have some people over to the house. (p.s. this was the first day I started to notice I wasn't feeling well).

It's always a good time when Jim is there.

We all realized that we were wearing red - so why not take a photo?

That Face!

Ryan got in trouble for making that face!

As the night went on, things started to get a little crazy.

We watched the ball drop online since I don't have cable. We had some sparkling cider and toasted to the new year!

But in case you guys were really wondering the type of stuff I did right before the end of 2011....here's a video.

Here's to 2012!

You're mocking me, arent' you?*

Since we can no longer play frisbee on Wednesday nights (the only field we knew of with lights got torn up and they are making it into a baby baseball diamond - what a waste of resources) we have been playing soccer on Saturday mornings.

We like to go to Bryan Park - even though there is a little problem with it.


...do you see it? The fields are "closed" we're not supposed to be on them. But as you can also see from the picture - that doesn't really stop us.





Our team moms, Brittany and Vivienne, making us snacks. Pictured in the back are Elder Pounder and Elder Wardenberg (sp?)

I'll tell you what does stop us though - Parks and Recreation. They came by for a routine visit (aka to make sure the signs were still standing) and that's when we had to quit playing.

Here's Eric, Kami and Jesse as we are trying to figure out where else we could play (where we could play that was close by).


There was a school not too far down the way so we went there - not as nice - but it would do.



I don't really play soccer - but I had a lot of fun, I stick to defense cause I feel like I'm better at stopping people than actually making goals (this is for most sports by the way). One of the Eric's asked me if I played soccer in high school and I laughed and asked him if he was picking on me, he said 'no', apparently my defense is good. ...or he's never really played either. It's a toss up*.

Ew, dandelion, must be the last one of the season.*

Okay - this one is older - I was worried I would have gone on another hike before I posted about the last one of the season.

We decided to get one more hike in for the season - so before people began leaving for Christmas, we went to Old Rag one more time. I apologize in advance - at this time I couldn't find my camera so my pictures were taken with my phone (so that means they might not be good AND there won't be many).

Stephanie and Renee trying to keep warm in the parking lot while we waited for the others to arrive.
Zach - doing the "fearless leader" pose. He was like this until he ripped that shirt on a rock - then he became a big baby and kept lamenting the shirt.

Ben led us off with some...yoga I think. He called this the Tree Stump

Then we stopped at one point to replenish our calories and we had a touching moment with the gnome - Renee is singing in the background - I hope you can hear it.

Old Rag may be a hard hike at times (especially the rock climbing when your fingers are frozen and you don't have gloves...) but it is by far my favorite!

It was so cold that we found thick sheets of ice at the top. I don't know if you can tell, but Renee and Stephanie are holding it up in front of them.

And just in case you couldn't see it - they are now attempting to eat it.

Ben was being a dare devil and jumping from this one rock that made most of us nervous - unfortunately the picture doesn't do it justice - he just looks like he is stepping off it.

I think the weather and my schedule (and my new found fatigue) will keep me from hiking in the spring - but I do hope to return to it soon!

I won't say I'm in love*

Last night was the Ben Folds concert. I LOVE Ben Folds. I don't know if you know that, I don't know if I have been that clear, but I LOVE HIM! With all this love for his music though, I have never seen him live. I had the opportunity a few years ago, but the concert was on a Sunday and I don't do concerts on a Sunday, I don't care who you are (obviously - cause I didn't go see Ben Folds). Special thanks to my friend Ben though, if he hadn't told me that Ben Folds was coming, I would have missed the boat. So - of course, Ben came with me. We made a night of it, dinner at Red Robin (where they had that creepy, blue eyed bird staring me down most of the time) and then off to the concert. Ben even tied my shoe for me. What are friends for right? Now - to the concert! First off, I left my ID in the car, not a problem because I don't drink. So I got my fist ready for "The Black X" (I feel that makes it sound more official). The guy marks my hands and I say something about how that will be nice at work the next day and he says, "Oh a little Purell will take it right off." Then he pauses a little like he knows he shouldn't have said that. Ben and I joked that it would have been great if I pulled out a mini bottle from my pocket and been like, "Oh, like this!" and run for it. Again, wouldn't have mattered, I wasn't going to drink. In the lobby there was a bunch of paper and a sign saying that you should write your request on a piece of paper and make it into a paper airplane. Then everyone had to hold on to it until the announcer told them to throw them on to the stage. The above picture is very blurry (I was still finding the best setting for my camera) is from when people were throwing their airplanes up. That blurry figure in the middle is Ben Folds...I love him. First song was "Luckiest", which is my FAVORITE so right off the bat I was one happy camper and very excited to be there.

There's something about hilarious nerdy guys who sing and play the piano that I just love.

This is a video (sorry if it's blurry, shaky, etc. people were bumping in to me and all) of Ben doing "Luckiest" in a lounge singer kind of way. Love it.

Due to unforeseen circumstance however, I had to leave the concert early. I was NOT HAPPY about this, but Ben (not Folds) proved to be an excellent best friend and really came through for me. I will not get into the particulars of the situation because I am still a little angry about it, but I do want to say that I am grateful for my friend who seemed to do all the right things to make my mood better and who kept a level head when all I wanted to do was cry and yell like a big baby.

And I am grateful that Ben (Folds) played Luckiest first - otherwise I would have been really angry *insert smiley face here*. So - if anyone hears of him coming back to Richmond - I only realized a partial dream last night and would gladly go again. Cause I don't know if you know this, but I love him...

Gone to California, to live in the summer sun.*

In 16 days I'm going to California to see this girl:

Mur and I were roommates in college for three years. We ordered lots of pizza and watched lots of Gilmore Girls. We also did crazy stuff like slide around in the snow in the mostly empty parking lot one night, threw cake over the banister, stalked Creepy Nate...

She is the first person who questioned if I am Caucasian...but hasn't been the last (most recently Joanna and I were asked if we were from "here", assuming VA we said 'yes' and then the lady said, "You are American?"...must be the bushy eyebrows).

I got a voicemail from Mur the other day saying how excited she was that I was coming and that her family is even asking. Mama Busath wants me to stay at her house...why? Because I'm awesome and made her a get well card once with a picture of me holding an icicle

I told her to take care of herself...and I would take care of Mur.

Good times.

I'll also have the opportunity to go here:

I have been here twice. Once to walk around the outside with Mur and her dad. The other to sit outside with Mur's sisters while she got married. Now I will get to see the inside.

I am so excited!

I even bought new luggage for the trip (okay, okay, so that was more a need to do since my luggage from college has/is disintegrating).

See ya soon, Mur!

Everybody in this family needs to just calm down and eat some fruit or something.*

On Wednesday Pam and I decided to go to Noodle's and Company instead walking...don't look at me like that, it's cold outside. Pam got to go through before me and after she ordered her meal she turns to me and asks if she should buy a cookie, I laughed and said, "I don't know." She asks if I am getting a cookie and I told her I was thinking about it. So she takes the plunge and gets a cookie, in the meantime the other cashier is ready for me to make my order. I walk up to the register and start to tell him what I want and Pam walks by and says, "she's getting a cookie!" The cashier starts laughing and we both watch Pam walk away. Then I try again with my order, at the end I said, "And yes, I'm getting a cookie." He checks out what kind, nods approvingly at my choice of the giant snickerdoodle and punches it in. Then he asks if I want something to drink, I tell him I'd just like some water. So he pulls out a cup, tells me my total and I give him the money. As he is telling me where the water can be found a man walks right up to the counter and takes my cup! He just grabbed it like he'd been waiting for it. The cashier is slightly calling, "Uh, um," after the man and I am looking at the spot where my cup used to be thinking, "This always happens to me!" Because I kept thinking about the time my wheelchair was taken from me

see story below

The cashier and I both begin to laugh and he says, "Guess he didn't want you to drink water" and I fake whined and said, "But I'm thirsty." So the guy pulls out another one and I pull the cup in close while saying, "I'll just bring it in closer this time." Which got the cashier laughing again. He must be one happy guy, or a visit from Pam and I just made his day because from the moment I stepped up to his counter his day got more interesting. My money is with just a really happy guy.

So I find Pam and sit down with her and she was like, "Why is your cup so much bigger?"



And I said, "My cashier liked me." Then I told her the story of the cup thief. Once I got back to work I started to think, maybe the guy who stole my cup had a small cup like Pam's and from wherever he was sitting he kept seeing this cashier pulling out big cups for people while he was stuck with the cursed mini cup. Overcome with jealously and desire until he could no longer take it, he waited for his moment to walk up to the counter and unabashedly steal someone else's cup!

...Noodle's and Company is probably the most interesting place I have ever eaten...like living in a soap opera.

Now for the wheelchair - not nearly as interesting. In college I broke my foot while playing floor hockey (p.s. in college my dad had a saying, "It's either your car or your health." because I was always calling home because I broke, burned, cut something on my body, or popped a tire, smashed a window, killed an engine or transmission on my car). I had to go through the airport on crutches at Christmas time. To make this easier, the airline prepared a wheelchair to get me around, so on my connection they were going to have one ready to take me over to the next gate. I waited and waited and waited on the airplane and then finally they had a wheelchair for me. They explained that the guy had been there waiting for the flight, but an older lady came off of my flight and sat down in my wheelchair. Not knowing me from Adam, the guy must have assumed it was me and took the lady to my connecting flight. Once they got a new wheelchair the man was hauling butt to get me to my gate in time, yelling, "Coming through!" I was either covering my eyes or getting white knuckles from holding on to the handles so tightly.

Oddly enough, when that man took my cup on Wednesday - this is the story that came to mind. So no, this doesn't happen to me all the time, but it sure does stick with me.

Your life is an occasion. Rise to it. *

I had a very good, long weekend! I won't bore you with the details just the highlights...that I remember.

I made these!!!

I call them gingermuffins (you have to say it with a British accent). They are gingerbread cupcakes and they were fabulous!

I had dinner on Thursday with the family...

I went to the Temple on Saturday (it was fabulous). When I got home Mary-Carmen and her husband were here to visit. She said her daughter would take a while to warm up, but I think we have a connection. She totally gave me a hug, played with my piggy bank and pointed at the cat a lot. I have no clue what she said the whole time, but she was way fun.

Saturday night I went over to Joanna's and we made Christmas wreaths.

Sunday night I finally rearranged the furniture and put up the Christmas tree. ...it needs a little TLC...and a tree skirt. I will get one of those soon.

I don't really remember all of the rest and since I want to post something already I won't try to sit here and remember it all.

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving! I will be making the rounds soon to read up on all the blogs!

Man I just gave your momma a piggy-back ride and she weighs twice as much as I do! *

Today I am grateful for basketball.

In the past, mostly the past month, I feel certain that I have informed you that I am not a good basketball player. Once upon a time I thought I was a good player, I had confidence and all that jazz. Playing on a real league this fall has shown me that...well, that maybe I'm not as good as I thought. It was like this when I played ball with the guys on Thursday nights...there are not many girls who can play competitively on a guys level, it's just not possible, no constitutional amendments or equal opportunity legal jargon can change this fact. It doesn't help that the extent of my basketball career was always playing low stakes ball with church girls in a cultural hall (pardon the rhyming).

Anyway, so this "season" I haven't really felt the sport, if you know what I mean. I'm more than happy to sit it out if there is someone who really wants to play (very unlike how I am with church ball when I want to play the whole game).

I tell you this because this week was different. We had two games this week, the first was Monday night and it was fun! I played the whole first half, I got a few steals, got a foul (even though I ran into the guy, they called the foul on him - I love co-ed sports), and I just felt good. We won - which always helps to boost the good feelings.

Last night I was just hoping I could feel the same way cause I liked feeling good about it instead of apathetic. I feel like I played okay, I stayed out of the way. But sometimes I felt like my upper body strength was dismal. I don't know if the passes I got were hard or if my hands are flimsy or what. We were totally beating the other team, so I didn't worry about the game and I just had fun running up and down the court and used the time to practice my defense (church ball will be starting in a month after all).

In the second half Katie (I know you're reading) called a time out when Chris R. had the ball. We walk over to her and she says, "Jessica needs to make a basket." (By the way - I haven't made a basket the whole season). I really didn't need to embarrass myself, I had already tried a shot from directly beneath the basket which had gone up and over the basket in a large arch...that's embarrassing, I didn't need more of that. But everyone who heard her agreed that I needed to. I kept insisting that I didn't need to and one person turned and said, "I'll be looking for you every time, open or not." ...yeah, we were ahead by that much. So I got a little nervous, tried to hide behind the opponents and avoid getting passed the ball. Chris passed me the ball, I put it up, and it hit the rim and fell away. At least it touched the rim. Then a few moments later the ball was in my hands again, I dribbled (which, by the way, when I dribble I picture myself looking like a 12-year-old girl learning to dribble for the first time - if you have seen this phenomenon, you know what I think of my dribbling skills), turned and put the ball up. ...the rest of the story is told through my adrenaline pumped perspective. The sound of the ball going through the net was crisp and clear. No one could hear the ball bounce against the court floor because at that same time the crowd jumped to their feet and the sound of their cheering drowned out all other sounds. This was the greatest shot in the game...(ahem - except for Clint's buzzer shot at the end of the first half. The shot that people take haphazardly, not expecting it to go in and on rare occasions it does and everyone stands in awe).

Okay - back to reality. But seriously, I heard the ball go through the net and I heard a loud, collective cheer from my team. Their little one was growing up so fast, she finally made a basket. The cheer sounded louder than the 7 people it could have possibly come from. It felt good, but despite the fact that it felt good the first words to come out of my mouth were, "Okay, can we stop this now!" I didn't want the ball anymore, I made my basket, I reached my goal. Didn't stop the ball from coming my way a few more times, but I feel pretty confident that each time I just passed it off to someone else.

All in all - a good game with a good team. Can't wait for the tournament.

I like the night life. I like to boogey.*

In no particular order, pictures from the Harvest Ball... Updated per Tami's request

Amber and Me

Benny

Drew and me

Andrei

Jordan and Me

Jesse decorating (better than I can)

With Daniel

With Bryce

With Benny
Benny showing off some sweet moves

With Chris G.

Tall girls just don't understand...

Don't stop believing - with interpretive dancing from Bryant

I love my sister

With Kat

Kat

Bryant

Chris G.

With Claire

Sarah, Kathryn, and Mary

With Sarah and Mary

Matchy, Matchy

With Chris B.

With Kat

Nicole, me and Amber