Best Friend

The other night I felt like curling up into bed and watching a good movie, so I went to Blockbuster and rented Marley and Me. If you haven't seen it it's about a young newly-wed couple who get a golden lab together. Marley is quite the hellion! But I feel like you deserve a bit of chaos if you're stupid enough to buy a lab. True to form, this dog chews up everything, jumps on everyone, can't walk on a leash, and the only people who love him are his owners. But there were two traits of Marley's that made me fall in love with him as well: his unconditional devotion to John and Jennie, and his fear of thunderstorms. The former may make more sense than the latter.
when I was a little girl I had a best friend, our golden retriever Brandy. She had a way of knowing when I was sick, upset, angry, and even happy. She made everything better. She listened and somehow, I knew that she understood. Brandy had the demeanor of a mother, grandmother, and 5 year old all wrapped up in one. We got her when I was 4 years old. She died when I was 17. Until that day, I literally had no idea what life was like without her. Whenever Ian was being mean to me and excluding me from his games (meany face) Brandy would play with me. I remember Karina and I used to try to dress her up. I think that's where Brandy's patience ended. Her long life ended on Ian's last day of high school. With all the courage he could muster, he buried our best friend in the yard by the garden. She'd been there for both of us through it all. I didn't know it would be so hard to lose a dog. I mean, it's just a pet right? ha! Goldens always look like their smiling, and Brandy was no exception. She was truly happy to see every single one of us, every single time we came within her sights. After her death my family and I didn't think we could go through it again and decided not to get another dog.
a few years later, with the house empty of children, my parents changed their minds. And we got Cooper. Best decision ever! Even though he hates to sleep on the bed with people and flat out refuses to play catch, he's just playful and definitely just as happy to see you. Though I wish he'd give more kisses :) Brandy would knock you down trying to lick your face! I used to hate it but now I miss it. (damn you human nature making me want what I can't have!).
I miss Coop. I worry about how we're all going to take it when he goes. But he's only 5 yrs old and I'm more of a "live in denial"/"we'll worry about that bridge when its crossed" kinda girl. For right now I'll just enjoy him whenever I can! Someday I'll have my own golden retriever to spoil like crazy. Until then, I have my baby Coop.

marriage with children

...seems to be the next step in life. At least for my friends. The past two years I've had many friends tie the knot and a few even have kids. I think it all started to sink in when the annual Memorial Day Weekend party had a play pin! I even got to hear the line, "here hold my kid while I shotgun this beer." That quote is disturbing to me. It's like my generation didn't get the full memo about life's next step. The memo should say: "in your mid-20's you should find someone who you love and who loves you back and marry that person. Have children. Grow up and settle down." My generation, under the any-excuse-to-party moto, got drunk in celebration of getting married and was too wasted to read the rest of life's memo. the whole "grow up" thing just hasn't happen for some of them.

9/11

Today is the anniversary of that terrible day. I never forget where I was when I first heard about this tragedy. I had just woken up and was getting ready for highschool as I always did: sitting cross-legged in front of my mirror curling my hair and putting on mascara (the only makeup I wore back when I didn't have bags under my eyes...). I was listening to 104.7, the local country radio station. When I'm back in Cashmere I still listen to this station. They interrupted a song to announce that a plane had crashed into the south tower. I remember not believing them. I mean, I once believed their "April fools" announcement that the Wenatchee river was flowing the opposite direction! My gullibility is astounding....I'm aware. I digress. I went into the basement living room and turned on the TV just to make sure. I don't know how long I stood there staring at the TV in utter disbelief. I probably looked like a statue. Watching the towers burn. The second plane hit. Flight 93's plight. It was just too much.
So of course that day in school all we did in every class was watch the TV. I called my mom later that day to make sure that Brent and Sarah were okay. They live and work in NYC.
Tragedy and I disagree. The way that I deal with things that are uncomfortable for me is through sarcasm. So I spent the day making jokes about the end of the world and other inappropriate comments about how I can't possibly die before losing my virginity! (ear muffs mom). Terrible, I know. As a 16 year old kid though, I had no idea how to deal with this type of large-scale tragedy. And being on the west coast, I felt very detached from it all.

I thought that being around Muslims in India would be hard and that my prejudice may flare up. Quite the opposite happened though. One of my best friends from that experience is Muslim. Just like any religion, the people behind terror are fundamentalists and do not represent the majority. Just because someone wears a turban, doesn't mean they're plotting our demise. In the US we live in our own little fish bowl and don't get exposed to eastern religions all that often. Maybe instead of just mourning those who we lost, we should seek to understand.
....And now I officially sound like a democrat. shit. ;)

25 random things about me

This was a quiz that went around facebook a while back. Just thought it was an interesting insight into my life :) It's a fun exercise!

1. I prefer to communicate through sarcasm.

2. I'm always on time or 5 minutes early and HATE being late! Because I'm always on time I hate waiting for others and it's one of my biggest pet peeves. I don't make you wait for me, don't make me wait for you! This pet peeve msotly developed during cheer for GU. (Erin knows what I'm talkin about!)

3. My Cashmere friends are fiercely loyal, halarious, unique, and some of the most inspiring people I've ever met! They are who they are and love themselves for that simple matter. There is never a dull moment when cashmere kids get together!! They're also crazy. And I love them for that! Though I hate it when they make me play moose! I don't have the reaction time to be any good.

4. Sometimes i feel like my life would be easier if i were two different people: meaning, my life sometimes feels like it pulls in two opposite directions.

5. I'm stubborn. and dammit, I'm not changing!

6. I like to sew and make my own clothes. Though I rarely get time to complete a sewing project!

7. I talk to my Mom at least once a day. My parents and my brother are my best friends.

8. I spent a year of my life thinking that I could lose my mom at a moment's notice and it was hell on earth. I didn't realize how much it hurt until it was over. Love you K-dub!

9. When I'm dancing (in dance class or rehearsals, not like at a club) my brain just turns off. It's the most peace I've ever found here on earth.

10. I love the silence that surrounds me while scuba diving. All you can hear is your own breathing.

11. I'm dead set on never losing the ability to do the splits! I can still do them!!

12. I actually like to work out and if I don't get to go for a run or to yoga, I tend to get very testy/pissy.

13. I have a weakness for french fries and nachos!! mmmm....salty goodness....

14. Make me laugh and you'll be in my heart forever! I love love love to laugh

15. I suck at spelling. I also hate it when people use big words just so that others will think they're intelligent. maybe it's cause I don't have a super large vocab. :)

16. Ken Hoffman's Psychology of Transcendence seriously changed my life.

17. I forgive easily and hate dwelling on the past and on other things that I do not have the ability to change. If someone has done me wrong, it's done. No reason to let it ruin my day/week/month. If you can't change it, let it go. It's not worth your energy. Use your energy to go out with friends and get a martini.

18. I love college basketball! Esp. GONZAGA!

19. I think we should cancel pro sports for one year, take their salaries, and pay off our national debt. Seriously, where are our priorities? (PS: I really dislike pro anything except tennis and baseball)

20. I rarely put a "g" on the end of words ending in "ing." I think it's my Cashmere influence

21. The true sign of comfort for me is being able to just sit next to someone and enjoy the silence. There is something so lovely about it.

22. I'm going to make Peter Cruickshank be my maid of honor ;) [insert Pete-ism about how he aint no one's maid of honor and I can go suck it :incoherent rant: here]

23. I decided that I wanted to be a lawyer at 10 years old in Mrs. Ryan's class when she asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. (please refer to #5 for reason I'm in law school)

24. I love shoes!!!! and clothes. and owe Nordstroms way more money than I should. If you wanna get me a sweet b-day present, Juicy Couture is always a safe bet!!

25. I'm not very openly religious because I think mainstream religion has become bullshit, but I collect crosses in an effort to understand how different cultures express religion/god/jesus/buddah/

love.