Being an Aunt

This is one of my favorite pictures!!! This is when I was babysitting my nephew the other day.
We had fun, as you can see, and I just think he is so cute!!!!
I have to say one of my favorite things in my life is being an Aunt! I am lucky enough to have 12 nieces and nephews. I love them all!!! They are so different, each one, and all have their own quirks which just make me laugh!!!

Mind Wondering... yet again.

I don't know how to really start this post, but have felt it all day, actually for quite a few days. Ever since my friend Felicity treated me to The Civil War musical performed at The Hale Center Theatre. It was a great play and some of the people were amazing and the songs were so moving! Then on Sunday I proceeded to watch a movie I just purchased on DVD, Amazing Grace. This is an amazing movie about the abolition movement in England and the man that pushed for years and years to get his bill passed to stop the slave trade. So, there I was having seen two amazing shows about these huge issues, and people that fought for something that meant so much, to so many people. Hundreds of years later their lives are still discussed.
I have always been a private person, like to keep to myself, and keep my personal life, well just that, personal. Things I consider very sensitive I don't talk about, so its not that I want my name discussed, or written in books. However, my Grandpa Asay comes to mind when I think of these kinds of things. Small but significant life. I have heard this before, but can't recall where.
My Grandfather was an amazing man, everyone he encountered was touched by him in one way or another. He was not a proud man, and though himself ordinary. That is what made it so wonderful. He lived his life for others, always willing to help, and to do things for other people. My Dad as well is there when anyone needs him. He tries to help others whenever he can.
After watching these shows I have realized, I don't want a huge life, I want small, but significant. I want to help other where I can. I want to do something significant, something moving. Something out of my ordinary life.
I wake up and wonder what to wear that day, what cute shoes to put on. I have many to chose from. But I have shoes, I have clothes. I don't need to worry about if I can eat that day, its more, what should I eat today? I have a bed to sleep on, a warm house to sleep in, and to stay in when the weather is bad.
I just hope that someday I can make a difference, even if it is small.

Get to Know You Tag

Okay, so I was tagged by Julia.
This is a get to know you through pictures tag... so here goes...
Favorite color...
That would have to be green and black, which is wonderfully pictured here


Favorite Animal...
I'm not a huge animal person, so um... it would have to be this, which looks just like my puppy Molly use to!


Bad Habit...
This one doesn't seem so bad, unless you are supposed to be studying for upcoming tests and finals!!!!


Favorite Food...
This is probably what I have been craving the most lately, my brother learned to roll it and does a great job!!!


Favorite Hobby...
Well right now, the only one I have kept up with really is quilting.


Favorite Song...
Right now I can't stop playing this cd


Favorite Author...
I have a lot of favorites, I really enjoy reading but since I'm rereading this book, right now she is my favorite


My Job...
Legal Assistant... just in case you didn't get it...


Favorite Dessert...
My new favorite cookie!!! If you haven't tried them, you SHOULD!


Pic of me...
Okay, I couldn't resist putting this one on!

Light Switch Moment

So I think I realized something this afternoon as I was talking to a dear friend of mine. I think I realized why I love chick flicks and the sappy books. I can not for the life of me imagine a guy that would love me, be devoted to me, or want me. This stems from years of hurt, and issues, that I will not go into. All I can say is I am working on them, and think I am doing very well actually, especially the last couple of years.
I have been thinking deeply the last few days and I think this started when I saw Penelope. My friend told me to watch this, and she ended up treating me to it and dinner, she thought I would love it. Said it was such a "Jaci Movie". She could not have been more right. It struck me, and made me review my life and where I am at and where I am going. Not in the career or school path, that I have a plan for and am working my way through little by little. But more of a... what am I doing with me, with myself, why do I feel like I must depend on someone else to feel complete, or happy or any of the above? So then I finished Austenland, which is a wonderful book as well, and that made me think the same thing.
Then I started to analize why I even like the sappy movies, and books, why when all reality around me is screaming that this stuff will NEVER happen, especially to me, do I devulge myself into these fairytales and why do I let myself get carried away in them.
Well, I have determined that it is because I can see the guy's side of things, you can see the devotion, the feelings, the emotion and how he feels about the main girl, or character of the movie or book. In real life if you are out with a guy and he is looking at you deeply, the first thought out of my head is, "Oh, why is he looking at me?! Do I have something in my teeth? Is my hair funny? He thinks my nose is to big? Do I have a zit?". However, in his mind he might simply be thinking "This is nice, I am enjoying myself". So while this is a long post, I feel like I am on the step. I will still indulge myself with a good chick flick and/or sappy novel, but with a little more to knowing why I in fact enjoy them so much.

Monica

As much as I would like to say I am like Elizabeth Bennet from Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice, I am not. Of all the characters I have come across in my reading, movies, and watching television I would have to say I am most like Monica Gellar from Friends. I have neurotic tendencies with where things are supposed to be, and I'm a little competetive. However, I'm not a professional chef, and don't have a great NY apartment like Monica.
So I keep wondering, do I really need to find someone like Chandler Bing? They do fit nicely together, and his sense of humor is great with her obsessiveness. He's not a bad looker either! ;)
In my life right now, I keep wondering if I am doing everything I should be. If I am all that I could be? If there is a reason that I'm not married, and rarely, if ever, date. If there is something wrong with me? Then I try to remember that I like who I am, I have great friends that surround me. Even if I don't find my Chandler, I'm going to strive to be happy on my own, and happy with who I am, and what I am trying to do with my life.
Plus I'm lucky enough to have two great friends just like Rachel & Phoebe! Yeah, I'm talking about you Kellee & Julia! :) LOL

The Sushi Man

So if I haven't said so prior to this, I just moved in with my brother, and his family. I was very worried about this move, and scared that I would feel in the way. However, I do not regret this at all, and actually it has been probably one of the best moves I have made. I feel welcome and not in the way, and its great to have family close, like just in the other room close.
So this gets me to the whole story... My brother makes sushi, and its actually really good. My sister in law was craving it, but he didn't have time to make it, so we decided we were going to get it take-out at a local sushi restaurant. My brother put the kids to bed while we run to grab the food. We ordered the rolls and were waiting for them to be made. The guy behind the counter was what you would call a "bad boy" he had the black shirt on, the messy hair, the small, yet very attractive facial hair (which really only looks good on the bad boy) and the tattoo that you could barely see poking out of the sleeve of his t-shirt. However he was so nice, making conversation with everyone around. He talked to the guy at the sushi bar eating, took some food to another couple asked how their week was going and asked what they did for a living. Once behind the sushi bar again, he started making the sushi we had ordered, and inevitably looked at me and my sister in law and asked how our week was going. Right as I start to answer "It's been long" and he responding as "It's only Tuesday" and both slightly laughing as I say "I know" I feel it... beginning in my chest, heart beating quickly, my neck turned hot, and then it entered my cheeks... My face felt like it was on FIRE! I was blushing!!! And I knew that it was noticeable. How embarrassing!!!
So this leads me to my questions that I have... for myself. WHY am I always attracted to the bad boys in real life, but yet am so drawn to the guys in chick-flick movies that are so nice?!?
Also, why can't I keep the whole blushing thing under control?!?! Its so embarrassing! I thought that it was under control, I haven't done it for quite some time, even when provoked at work by people that think its funny to see my cheeks turn bright red, but apparently NOT!
Anyhow, in case you were wondering how the story ends, thats about it, our food was ready and as we were walking out he said "Bye Ladies, have a good night" I responded "Thanks, you too" as I almost ran into my sister in law smashing my sushi, luckily I think I just nudged her.

Pride & Prejudice

So its 10:15 on Wednesday night, I should be sleeping, or if not sleeping at least studying. However, I find myself once again in front of the movie Pride & Prejudice. My favorite movie. There is no real way to put into words why I love this movie so much, or this story. It is a beautifully written novel by Jane Austen. The movie itself is done well, the landscape and the actors are perfect for the story. I love the music played, the camera shots and how everything seems to flow.
The story, well my niece gave me a book she told me I had to read, called Austenland by Shannon Hale, a book who's main character is apparently just like me. So I have not read much but she describes Pride & Prejudice as "the most perfect romance in all of literature and nothing in life can ever measure up, so I spend my life limping in its shadow." Some don't understand this story, or the romance that it describes, but how I long for something that would even come close in comparison.
Sometimes I joke that I was born in the wrong time, I love the 1950's particularly. Sometimes I look at the time shown in Pride & Prejudice and sometimes it seems easier, however many things were harder. I would love to sit and do needle point and draw (however bad I am at this, if I had lessons, maybe I would have been better). However, money defined your station and in turn who you were suitable to marry. As did your siblings and your parents. At my age, I would have been considered a spinster, although my dad assures me that if I had not been married the first time, I would have never made it to this age, which is encouraging.
Mr. Darcy is a whole subject to himself. Shy, considerate, accomplished, and so many other words, but I will end with... dashing.
From beginning to end I smile, I laugh, I gasp, I cry and sometimes say lines along with the characters.
I will end by saying my favorite scene is the dancing scene. Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy dance for the first time and while dancing their conversation subsides and they just watch each other, and as they do everyone in the ballroom disappears and they are the only ones in the room. They dance and still circle where the other people are dancing, then as they bow the others reappear. The music playing in the back and the dancing are just very moving every time it comes on I stop what I am doing and just watch the screen.
If you have missed out on this movie, you should watch it, definitely not a waste of time.