love the life you live

2005-11-02T22:29:00.000-08:00

I think I figured it out... so here Eric and I are at the top of the alps in Switzerland. Love it! We were freezing cold! :o)

2005-10-03T17:10:00.000-07:00

So, some time has passed since I last wrote. Things have definitely happened! Where do I start?! I guess I'll take a hop, skip and a jump back to June. In June I got offered a new, full time job in a different district. I accepted and am now teaching 7th grade Language Arts. It's definitely a switch from kindergarten! After the first day of school, I seriously thought that I wanted a career change! No joke! Luckily it's gotten a bit better since then!

So then, July. Eric and I got engaged in July! He took me to dinner at one of our favorite resturants, right on the beach. After dinner we walked along the beach and he proposed. Things that I distinctly remember about the night? I was freezing cold and begging him to stop walking along the beach... we saw dolphins right after he proposed... so neat! All of a sudden, after he proposed, I was no longer cold and wanted to sit and watch for dolphins!! He tried to put the ring on the wrong hand! He's so cute! On the way to dinner that song came on by DramaRama.... "Anything, Anything" I can't remember right now how it goes exactly, but I know that one part of it says something like "If you'd just marry me, marry me, marry me!" ... I was singing that part to him on the way to dinner! ha ha... poor thing, he was probably so nervous... and here I am bugging him about getting married!! He didn't bring a camera. Of course, I wanted a picture!! So I asked some random people to take our picture for us and email it to me... they did! How sweet were they?! I'll never forget them! So then... we were engaged for 3 days and I got to wear my gorgeous ring for 3 whole days... before we left for .....

EUROPE!! I was so sad to take my ring off!! Eric got to hear all about how much I missed my ring for the next 23 days!! We had an amazing time! Spent the night in NYC on the way over... spent time with Eric's brother, Travis... and then we were off to London. Cat and Denz picked us up at the airport. I must say that my little green ipod definitely was put to use on that plane ride... oh wait! and the train rides! We spent the first night with Cat and Denz in their cute little flat on the outskirts of London! It was super fun. The next day was quite the adventure... we had to find our way from Cat and Denz's house to Central London... it took us quite some time... but we found it eventually! We stayed in London for about 4 nights I believe... saw the sights, had a great time! and... spent way too much money! I mean, we're talking a $20 burger!! no joke!! We even rode the tube... living on the edge, especially since the day we left on the chunnel train to Paris, was the same day as the 2nd attemped bombings that failed! CRAZY!!

Paris was amazing! Last time that I went to Paris I wasn't a big fan... I definitely was this time! We had only been planning on spending one night in Paris... but, we loved it so much we stayed for 2!! We stayed in the most amazing little hotel... we had a view of the Eiffel Tower from our bedroom! It seriously couldn't have gotten much better than that!! We also went to Versailles and took some amazing pictures! (which I would love to post on here... but the memory card is being a pain in the patootie!)

From Paris we headed to Gimmelwald, Switzerland... right in the Swiss Alps! Absolutely gorgeous! We took the gondolas up to the very top and had lunch and champagne on top of the world... so fun! We spent an evening walking around Interlocken, which was fun! We had a cheese fondo dinner... yummy!

Then we did the craziest thing a person could do... we decided to hop on a night train to Salsburg, Austria.... it was miserable! I wasn't able to sleep at all... and we were stupid and didn't realize that we had first class rail passes and that we could have gone to a nicer train car!! The train was packed, hot and miserable!! We arrived in Salsburg around 4:30 am, without a place to stay. We took a taxi to a youth hostel, the YOHO to be exact, and they let us in... though they told us they wouldn't know until about 8 am if they had a room for us. So we sat down in the breakfast area and were unable to sleep... it was horrible! Finally the receptionist showed up around 7:30 and she gave us a room... we went and slept the entire day away. We woke up to empty tummies so we decided to venture out from the YOHO for some sights and food... and ... it decided to pour down rain while we were eating at an outdoor cafe... there went our ideas of sight seeing. So we hopped a cab back to the YOHO, where we ended up meeting some great people...we sat around all night at the YOHO's bar and gabbed it up! We had loads of fun! We hung out with this guy, Chris, from Canada... he was great! Also this guy named David, who was from Tennessee. Next 2 days we saw the sights of Salzburg... castles, catacombs, graveyards, cathedrals, mozart's house....

then we were off to Germany. We went to Fussen and stayed there one night... so fun. The next morning we headed over to the Nueswanstein Castle. Now, this is the castle that the Disneyland castle is modeled after... Disney doesn't compare at all to the real thing!! It was incredible! Again, I wish I could post some pictures... Let's just say it was out in the middle of this gorgeous forest and it had amazing, incredible views of 2 different lakes... just indescribeable!! From there we went to Cologne, Germany... we weren't too impressed! Maybe it was the awful hostle that we stayed in... it was the first that we found, and it was dreadful! It was so hot and it was super small, and just gross!! It seriously looked like the room hadn't been thoroughly cleaned EVER!! The next night we treated ourselves to a nice little hotel, after a day trip to St. Goar where we spent time along the Rhine River... so neat. We went to the old ruins of a castle in St. Goar... Eric had a blast roaming around all the nooks and crannies of the ruins... I had fun watching him!!

From Cologne we headed to Amsterdam for one night. We didn't plan things very well... it ended up being a Saturday night. Saturday night in Amsterdam with no reservations, proved to be a challenge!! Let's just say we were walking around with our backpacks looking for a place to stay for well over an hour. Finally we gave in and paid an exorbidant amount to stay in a junk hotel... but at least we were able to dump our stuff and go out on our next adventure. Now, Amsterdam was the only squabble we really got into... and no, it wasn't about anything that one might associate Amsterdam with... it was about salt and pepper shakers!! I saw these adorable blue and white salt and pepper shakers and wanted to get them... they were only 7 bucks!! Eric decided to remind me that I had purchased Picasso salt and pepper shakers in Paris at the Picasso Museum. Poor Eric, just didn't seem to understand that a person could have more than one set of salt and pepper shakers... needless to say I didn't buy them and I sulked about it the rest of the day! Poor Eric! :o) We went to the Anne Frank house, which was very interesting ... though I had been before, I was just as neat to go again. Then, of course, we found our way through the Red Light District... quite the eyefull, to say the least. The next day we had been planning on hopping onto one of the canal boats for a little ride... but we woke up to rain. So, instead, we headed straight to the Van Gogh museum and ended up being the first ones in line by accident! There was this huge line... 3 actually and the museum hadn't openned yet ... so people were standing in line out in the rain... we didn't have an umbrella, so we were getting wet and cold. I told Eric that I didn't care, I was going to stand under the covered area at the enterance... it ended up being another line that no one had realized was a line... so essentially we were the first in line and the first allowed into the museum! So neat! We got to see amazing Van Gogh stuff without crowds of people! We bought a 23 dollar Van Gogh umbrella, that wasn't even a push button umbrella... what a rip off! But... it's so cute!! I love it! From there we headed to the Ricks Mueseum (I know I spelt it wrong)... and were far from impressed!

After Amsterdam we went to Belgium... spent 3 nights in Brussels, really was a relaxing end to our trip. We took a day trip to Bruge and took a ride along the canals in a boat... so fun. It was beautiful. We had a good time in Belgium!! We had some amazing waffles and chocolate! Probably ate way too much!!

Then it was back to London for one more night on our way back to NYC. We did a few more museums on our last night and had a great time just absorbing all there was around us on our last night in Europe!

Spent about 4 nights in NYC with Travis and his gf Mami... had a tremendous time. Stayed at a crappy little hostel on the upper west side, right by the park... actually it was called Jazz on the Park. Went on the row boats in Central Park. Went to Ellis Island to see my grandpa's name on the wall. Saw the statue on our way over to the Island... did some great shopping on the streets, bought some adorable cheap coach bags!! So fun! Had the best steak dinner at a place that we would never have gone to... and probably never will again. sang karaoke all night one night... too funny! tons of memories... so much fun... times that will never be forgotten.

Since then... it's been back to reality (though after Europe I did go w/ my fam to Hawaii)... but now... it's teaching full time.... 7th grade English. I llike it... but it's tons of work. The kids are fun though. .... I must admit at times, I really miss kindergarten! It's a totally different world.

Then... there's wedding planning. Wow... that sure keeps ya busy. We have our place booked... and took our engagement pictures last week, we should get them on Friday, so that will be fun. We still have a ton to do. We're having our engagement party this weekend... that should be fun too! Let's see if I can figure out how to post some pictures.! How's that for an update?! xo.

Dancing with the Stars!!

2005-06-29T22:15:00.000-07:00

Okay... so tonight I got hooked. I was watching Wheel of Fortune and after it was over they played the rerun of Dancing with the Stars from last week... my mom and I got hooked! We watched the rerun and then tonights show. It was so fun to watch! I want to dance like that! My vote is for Kelly! I think she's so cute! I hope she beats out that other guy... but I have a feeling he may win.

When Eric and I first started dating he said that he thought it would be fun to take dance lessons together. I totally agreed that it would be a blast. He told me to find out the time and place to take the lessons and that we'd for sure do it. Yup, you guessed it, I never found the time and place... now I'm a little more inspired to research it and go out and dance with Eric! What fun!

Can I see your i.d.?

2005-06-29T01:03:00.000-07:00

Wow... so summer is here. The school year, my first year of teaching, went by so fast, but so slow at the same time!! Summer is great. I love the time you get to spend outside. In the sun. The beach. Friends, Family.

Traveling. Eric and I, on a whim, decided to go to Europe this summer. We leave in 18 days! I don't think it's really hit me yet how close we are to leaving. I guess in a way it doesn't seem real yet. Though we have our tickets and I even bought my new 'backpack'. I have the bug. The travel Europe bug. It's in me... I can't wait to go back. I'm ready to embrace the cultures. See amazing sights. Take in the world. I'm ready to sit at an outdoor cafe and take it all in. Watch my surroundings, appreicate the small things. It will be amazing.

Until then, I've found myself the perfect summer job. I'm an offical personal 'super' organizer. I am helping a couple get their lives organized. Sounds hilarious?! It really is a fun job! The ironic and crazy thing is that I am the least organized person I know when it comes to my room and car! ha ha. They don't know that though, and I'm doing my job well. It's easy and fun work and the pay is great, so I'm not complaining! I'm a happy girl. I can definitely use the extra spending money for my trip!

Lately in my head I've been thinking a lot about the different people that constantly come in and out of your life. It's crazy. So many people just come in and out of your life. They may leave an impact, or may not. It may be a positive impact, it may be negative... either way, they touch your life and effect it in some way.

Like this guy, his name was Yo. He was from Japan. I met him at my favorite sushi place, Satsuma Sushi. Until I met Yo, I always needed to ask for children's chopsticks. One night when I was out to dinner with Eric, Eric asked for kiddie chopsticks for me. Yo looked at me and said "Can I see your I.D.?" I started cracking up! Yo taught me how to use real chopsticks. I will never forget him! Ever! Eric and others had tried to teach me so many times and it was impossible! Yo showed me one time and I got it! I saw Yo every time we went in for sushi ... and at that time in our lives it was often that we were able to go out our fav. resturant. Eric lived right by it... now it's about a 30 min. drive away and we don't go out there as often. We went about 2 weeks ago, and I asked our waiter if Yo still worked there... he doesn't. He's gone forever now. I don't even have a picture of him. And see? It was just a small relationship... but I will never forget him.

People really just come in and out of your lives. And I feel like lately it's happening a lot to me. Whether it be by random chance: the story of Yo; moving: my youth pastor from church that I've known since I was little; school year ending: having to say goodbye not only to my class full of kindergarteners that I loved, but also to my fellow teachers, as I will not be teaching there next year; death: one of my mom's very best friends fighting cancer until it took her life, and she still had so much life to live; or just losing touch: with friends because life gets so busy. When I stop and think about it I really start to realize and appreicate the small moments that each day brings. I want to appreciate, well at least try to appreciate, all of the people that come in and out of my life.

go me!!

2005-06-24T14:25:00.000-07:00

woo hoo!! i figured it out! we'll see how creative i can get!

experimenting!

2005-06-24T13:38:00.000-07:00

wow... you can upload pictures an easy way now! neat-o mosquito! now i just need to figure out how to change my main picture in the upper corner... and still, how to add on my links on the side.

oh no!!

2005-06-24T13:29:00.000-07:00

oh geeze! here i was trying to brighten up my blog a bit... and i lost the links to my friends blogs! i have no clue how to get them back either! i don't know how to do all the fancy blogging stuff! i need to learn. do you suppose there's such a thing as 'blogging classes'??? that would be a good thing for me to attend! no joke! well, i guess i'll go back and try to figure out a way to get my links posted again... ha ha, i doubt i'll be able to figure it out though! wish me luck!

don't take it for granted

2005-05-26T23:56:00.000-07:00

all i have to say is don't take life for granted. life is so short, it's crazy. things can happen so quickly to change your life, or to take your life, or the life of someone special from you. don't take it for granted that you'll be here to see tomorrow. things have happened, and i've been sad this week. i asked eric tonight why death has to happen. he actually had a good answer. he told me that death makes life that much more precious. he explained that without the knowledge of death as a part of life, we would really take life for granted and the little moments would not mean as much and wouldn't be as precious and special as they are. i mean, think about it. a simple smile, the wink of an eye, a rainbow, the art of conversing with loved ones, laughter, beautiful sunshine and the warmth it brings to you, memories, the smell of rain... i could go on and on... i believe that these moments really wouldn't be nearly as special if we didn't know that life was short and that each small moment matters and means so much. so when i get upset later down the road about how life is not fair and how things are so tough... i want to be able to rememeber how i'm feeling now. i'm feeling sad, but at the same time i'm feeling lucky to be alive and to have the moments that i do have. the moments that God has blessed me with in this crazy world of ours.

an outdoorsie type of woman

2005-04-17T23:32:00.000-07:00

okay... so it was a beautiful day out today, right? yes siree! eric and i decided to go on a hike. sounds great, right? so we decided we'd go to chantry flats up in arcadia/sierra madre area. neither of us had ever been on that trail... it was labeled 'easy' and had the perks of waterfalls along the way... we're talking a good 5 hour hike though. surprisingly i wasn't turned off by this! i was excited! we went to the grocery store and bought snacks (eric being a diabetic, we especially needed to have snacks with us)... and water. drove all the way to arcadia/sierra madre... to find that the road to the trail was CLOSED. bum deal. so then we were like, what are we gonna do now? and me? i had the bright idea. "let's go to mt. garcia trail" okay, i've encountered this trail 2 times prior to today. the first was when i was in college... one day we were driving by and just decided "let's try this trail" did we have water? did we have good shoes on? were we an ounce prepared for the trail?! NO! this trail, might i add, is labeled somewhere along the lines of "hard" it's steep and long. needless to say that my first encounter, totally unprepared we only made it maybe 20 minutes into the trail. if that. before we had to turn around. the second time was probably about a year ago now, which is hard to believe. i went with my friend ian. he is an eagle scout. so we were well prepared. i must say that i bitched and complained the entire time. but ian, was kind and encouraging and just laughed at me and we pressed onward until we reached the very top! what an accomplishment! then we had to go down. that was a chore in itself. so that leads us to today. and my bright idea. "let's go to mt. garcia trail" eric had never been on this trail with me. eric had never tried hiking with me. eric, poor eric, who knows me so well. poor eric. he should have known when we reached the beginning of the trail and i said, "i don't know about this eric... i hate this trail! it's steep." he told me "oh, come on honey, you can do it, it'll be fun!" so we started the hike. well prepared. (eric too is an eagle scout) oh my goodness there were bugs. i want to turn around. oh my goodness it was hot. i want to turn around. oh my goodness there were plants. i want to turn around. oh my goodness it was hot! so we make it to this spot in the trail where we aren't even near to being half way up the trail. i'm still asking him if we can please turn around. stating that it's just too hot and that it's just too steep. all of a sudden he turns to me and says "that's it. we're done. we're turning around and going down." he's upset. i can tell he's not happy. i say "no, forget it. you're upset. let's keep going." he says "no, i'm not joking. we're done. i'm done. i'm not having an ounce of fun up here on this trail with you. not one ounce. you're the type of girl that's good in society but that cannot deal when she's out of society. you need an air conditioner" oh my goodness. this comment made me mad! i said "i never said anything about an air conditioner. i just was stating that i was hot. i'm perfectly capable of going to the top of this mt. i've done it before! come on, let's keep going." he says "nope. we're done. like i said, i'm not having an ounce of fun with you." oh i was mad. (but secretly happy to turn around and go down the hill) we walked all the way down the mt. without speaking to one another. we drove all the way back to my house without speaking to one another. when we got to my house he was upset/sad to really come to the realization that i'm just not gung hoe about the outdoors. it took him until now to realize this? i told him. "i like the outdoors eric. i like to be in the outdoors. i just don't like to trudge around in them for hours and get all dirty and HOT and sweaty. i'm sorry that i'm not an amazon woman. no wait. i'm not sorry. i'm glad i'm me." he told me then that he would never go hiking with me ever again. that it wasn't possible. that i wasn't an ounce of fun. that i couldn't handle it. that the only type of hiking i could handle was through a mall. it wasn't pretty. i told him that it could have been fun. that we just needed to go on an easier trail. one that had the excitement of waterfalls especially! it would be more enjoyable. mt. garcia does not have waterfalls. it is steep and it has bugs and it's hot. he just looked at me. and told me that hiking with me was out of the question. somewhere after that the conversation dwindled to an end. from there we went on with the rest of our afternoon. then tonight on the way home, we're driving in silence. he says to me "honey, what are you thinking?" i honestly answer... "i was thinking that i really hope that someday soon we can try hiking together again. i know that it could be fun. we just need to try an easier, less steep trail. i was really excited to go hiking with you today. i'm sad. i hope that i didn't really scare you off from ever wanting to try to go hiking with me again." bless his sweet, little heart. he looks at me and squeezes my hand and says "of course we can try it again honey." i love him.

Happy Louis Girl!

2005-04-09T23:40:00.000-07:00

Just a small update for those of you that read and are curious! I decided to purchase my Louis Vuitton purse about 2 weeks ago! I also decided to spoil myself and buy a matching wallet! So fun! I absolutely love them! They are adorable... and so much fun to use! I figure I deserve them! This is my first year teaching... my first real job... and I worked darn hard to get my degrees and to get this job... so why not treat myself to something special, right?! Something that I'll keep for a very long time! I think it's so much better than a Playstation 2 or a Mammoth Season pass... but then again, I'm not Eric, am I?! We all have our own ideas of what is worth spending money on! Treat yourself to something that you deserve! I did... it's so much fun and definitely worth it!

I am Chandler...

2005-03-28T22:40:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I printed out a paper to quit the gym! They seriously make it difficult... you can't just call and quit. You have to fill out a paper and send it in... what a pain in the butt! Never join a gym... they rip you off!! ha ha. Okay, so I decided to try out Pilates... I ordered it from tv. I hope that Daisy Fuentes is telling me the truth about it! I need to loose some of my chunk. Easter hasn't helped. So, I don't know who reads this blog, if anyone does... other than my sister! But... if you happen across it... you ought to check out Anna Nalick!! She's amazing! My brother is roommates with her brother out in Redlands. Her cd is being released in April! You'll love her, I promise! www.annanalick.com Also, check her out on myspace www.myspace.com/annanalick ... you can hear 3 of her songs! I can't wait til I can go see her sing! Random thought: I need to learn (re-learn) how to upload pictures to this blog... I have fun ones that I'd like to put up.

The dreadful GYM!!

2005-03-05T10:05:00.000-08:00

I feel like Chandler did on that episode of friends!! I never go... and every month they take out 30 dollars from my account!! I should walk in ... or even call in and quit... but I know they'll try to talk me out of it! What a waste! What a joke! If anything, I've gained weight since I joined the stupid gym! I think it's like a horrible cult! I hate the gym!!

Happy March!

2005-03-01T07:22:00.000-08:00

Wow! It sure feels like the month of February went by quickly! Things have been busy and crazy in my life... as usual. But things are going good. For awhile things were tough ... and one thing kept hitting after another. I counted with my mom and sister last night... and I hate to say it but in the month of February I knew of 6 people that passed away. Wait, make that 7, I just thought of another. Four of them were older, and had pretty much lived life. One was pretty young to die, and 2 were way too young to die. It really just put my life in perspective. It made me realize exactly just how precious life is. It's such a gift... and it can be taken at a moments notice. So my hope and prayer for all of you is that you don't take it for granted, and that you enjoy it to it's fullest.

Onto something that will grab your attention. I want to purchase an $800 dollar purse! Eric thinks I'm crazy... I don't think I am. I feel like, it's something I want... so why not buy it? You only live once, life is short. I don't have a car payment, a house payment, or a husband that I have to share my money with.... why not be a little irrational and bold and buy something that I really want?! What's your opinion on it?!

Well, may you all have a happy first day of March! Much love.
xo-Alison

The Countdown...

2005-02-15T20:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, another short post, as I still do not have a computer to use at the present moment. The Countdown has begun... 3 full days until we reach the 19th of February!! My 24th birthday! Wow, I feel like I'm seriously getting old! ha, ha. No joke though. I really am getting up there! :o) It'll be fun! Hope things are good with all of you. All my love. xo-Alison

<3 Happy Heart Day!! <3

2005-02-14T21:56:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to say a quick "Happy Valentine's Day"!! I hope that you all had a wonderful day full of love and laughter and spent with loved ones! Love you all. xoxo-Alison

Green Bananas

2005-02-05T09:25:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I realized something that is very important about me that somehow didn't make it onto my list of "100 things".... I absolutely LOVE green bananas! I know it sounds funny! That is the only way I like to eat them! They have to have a touch of green! .... and no, it's not just because I like the color green! It does make a difference in the taste!!

oh the germies of my life

2005-01-12T18:07:00.000-08:00

Okay... so ... before I left for Puerto Vallarta I was pretty sick, we're talking, completely lost my voice. Went to the doc before I left, he gave me some antibiotics. Took those, came home, still sick. Called the doc before I left for Mammoth and had him call in a refill. So, I'm still on the antibiotics for another 2 days or so... and I was just starting to get better.... until, yesterday, when the sneezes came on in full force. Okay no, yesterday was just the start, today it's the full force business! Total and complete cold now...horrible! I love those kindergarteners, I really do! But... my Lordy goshens!! I feel like I am NEVER going to be healthy again! Sniffly, runny nose, sneezes galore, constant itchy tickle in my nose... horrible!! just horrible! Make it go away!! I'm going to San Francisco and Carmel this weekend with Jessica... I deserve to be healthy!! Don't I?!! Oh, I hope I can get better by then!

100 Things About Me!!

2005-01-07T16:52:00.000-08:00

1. I love the rain, and think that we don't get enough of it here in so. cal.
2. My favorite color is green!
3. I'm a kindergarten teacher and I love it... although I cried the first time they told me that was what I was going to teach!!
4. I'm a dog person for sure! A little afraid of cats really! The latest craving is a BULLDOG!
5. I love to eat cookie dough.
6. "Friends" is definitely one of my all time favorite shows... I rarely get my fill of it!
7. I crave Eric's homemade lettuce wraps! (It's like a taco, but with lettuce!! ha ha.)
8. I love my reef flipflops.
9. I definitely have a shoe fetish!
10. I think laughter and love, family and friends are the best medicine!
11. I hate cleaning my room, but I love having a clean room!
12. Shopping is my favorite sport!
13. I still don't get football...
14. I can play the bagpipes!
15. and the flute.
16. I've always wanted to learn the guitar.
17. and the piano... and someday I will.
18. I lived in Spain in college and LOVED it!
19. Sangria has to be one of my all time favorite alcoholic drinks!
20. I had a habit of dancing on bartops while in college... you know, free drinks, for the poor college students!
21. I have been known to stalk boys that I'm dating.
22. I've traveled to Africa by boat.
23. I love to eat grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches.
24. I finished my Masters Degree in a year! I was determined!
25. I enjoy reading.
26. I like to drink hot tea.
27. I don't like coffee.
28. My middle name is Brooke.
29. I was due on Valentines Day, but was 5 days late and born on my Grandpa's (Bobba's) birthday instead!
30. I was afraid to drive because of the birds and unprotected left hand turns.
31. I order my In-N-Out burgers protein style with ketchup and mustard instead of the sauce.
32. I've been in the Hollywood Christmas Parade.
33. I got my nose pierced in Spain in the basement of some store, by a woman who spoke not one word of English.
34. I love Picasso.
35. I like riding on subways.... at one time I was deathly afraid of this.
36. I joined the gym with all intentions of going, we'll see if I do.
37. I love singing karaoke!
38. I love the old Hayley Mills movies, The Parent Trap, Pollyanna.
39. I can sing the 50 states in alphabetical order.
40. I love the beach.
41. I've been snowboarding once in my life... and I would probably try it again.
42. I'm in love with a "hard-core" snowboarder.
43. I am not high maintenance, though some may argue otherwise!
44. I've gone 4 days without a shower... not recently!! but in my lifetime... it was while I was on a mission trip in Mexico!!
45. I've realized that true friends are hard to find.
46. I'm not afraid to tell people that I love them.
47. I was almost pickpocketed, but I screamed my way out of it!
48. I've been stranded in Portugal!
49. I love riding in convertibles with the top down, that's the only way to go!
50. I've ridden on the back of a Harley before.
51. I voted for Bush and respect him an incredible amount.
52. I'm in love with someone who voted for the other!
53. I rode a camel in Morocco.
54. I dig on shrimp.
55. I taught myself how to knit.
56. I've been on a gondola in Venice.
57. I've met Alicia Silverstone, Lance Bass, and Pamela Anderson... strange combo, I know!
58. I love watching the stars (the ones in the sky... not the red carpet, although sometimes it's fun to watch them too!)
59. I think learning is fun and consider myself a lifelong learner.
60. I like to watch Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune and Millionaire.
61. When I was in college I was addicted to Survivor.
62. I've dated people I've met via the internet, I don't recommend it, although one of my friends married someone that she met that way.... to each their own.
63. I think the sound of water is peaceful.
64. I like burning candles.
65. I like wrapping presents.
66. I consider myself an open and accepting person.
67. I like scary movies.
68. I can say "thank you" in Portuguese.
69. I can say some interesting phrases in Arabic, thanks to my grandma!
70. I'm not afraid to speak my mind.
71. I enjoy change.
72. I like dancing.
73. I love sushi!
74. I'm an email junkie.
75. Some might call me ditzy.
76. I hate shots... I'm like a big baby.
77. I'm a picture person... I love taking pictures and having them up.
78. I love traveling.
79. I like peanut butter but not peanuts.
80. I can recite (okay fine, sing) the preamble to the United States Constitution.
81. I've laughed the night away with total strangers.
82. I would rather be cold than hot.
83. I've gotten food poisoning, it's not fun.
84. I'm scared to swim in the ocean because of the waves.
85. I enjoy writing.
86. I like getting dressed up.
87. I love singing along to Madonna songs.
88. I love taking HOT showers!!
89. Cuddling up by a hot fire and talking and laughing the night away is my idea of a wonderful evening!
90. I change my hair color about every 2 or 3 months!! It's become addictive!
91. I eat lemons the way most people eat oranges!
92. I have this weird thing where I can't even bring myself to eat an orange... they make me gag!
93. Another strange thing that I have is that I absolutely have to be facing the door when I am eating out at a restaurant.
94. When I was little I stuck a peanut up my nose and it got stuck! My parents took me to the emergency room, but there was a long wait. When they finally called my name to see me, I sneezed and it popped right out!
95. I am ticklish!
96. I've never broken a bone!
97. I've won money on the slots in Vegas!
98. I've gotten fired from a job because I got lost on the freeway.
99. I'm notorious for being late!!
100. I'd say that I'm worth the wait!!

Happy New Year!! 2005!!

2005-01-01T14:25:00.000-08:00

Wow! It's sure has been a busy Christmas Vacation! On the last Friday before school got out we had our Winter Party! The kids loved it! They dressed up like roudolph!! Santa visited the classroom too, it was exciting!! That night Eric and I were supposed to leave for Puerto Vallarta at 1 in the morning... long story short, we didn't make it on the flight, because they gave our seats away. We were on our way to PV for a wedding of one of Eric's friends from Colorado... so all of his college friends were going to be there!! We were so upset and worried that we were going to miss the wedding when they told us that there were no more seats left and that they had overbooked the flight!! It all ended up working out though... we got to fly first class and they gave us each a $300 gift certificate to the airline (so our NYC tickets for our trip this summer to visit Eric's brother Trav, are now paid for) and we got to the wedding on time!! We had a great time down in PV. The weather was beautiful! The wedding was beautiful, right on the beach! I was so happy for the chance to get to meet all of Eric's college friends! They really are great people! So then we came home a few days before Christmas. Celebrated Christmas with all of my family on Christmas Eve and all of his family on Chrismas day! We had a lot of fun! Then the day after Christmas we headed up to Mammoth! Eric loves his snowboarding! We went up with a big group of friends. We had a good time! There was a major snow storm though so poor Eric only got to go boarding one day, and I didn't even get to go... Last year was my first year trying it out... and I was a little scared! I was really excited to try it again this year... now I'll have to wait til the next time we go up! We did have a lot of fun though, celebrated a friends birthday up there, watched tons of movies and played tons of ping pong!! We just got back a day or so ago and had about a day to recover... before the New Years Eve bash! We went to Longbeach to a really nice club and danced the night away... and dinner and drinks! We had a great time! It really was a lot of fun! Jessica came too, the two of us had a hilarious time together! We all crashed in a hotel room down there and someone pulled the fire alarm twice!! We were on the 8th floor so we had to walk up and down all the stairs... it was a pain in the butt, but also incredibly funny at the same time! Just got home a few hours ago, I'm exhausted! I can't believe that school starts up on Monday! I'm sure those kindergarteners are not going to be on the ball with all of our daily routines, it will be a trying week!! What a great Christmas Break though! Wow, the year went by fast!! Now it's 2005!! It's crazy to me! It really does seem true, that the older you get the faster life seems to go!! I'm happy that it's a new year!! I'm ready to become dedicated to the gym and lose some of the chunk!! Jess and I are going to go to our hip hop class every week, it will be fun! Well, I'm out for now. Happy new year to all of you. Much love. xo-Alison

LOVE the hair!!

2004-12-03T23:41:00.000-08:00

Wow! So I went out to dinner tonight in Old Town Pasadena with Eric...we had wanted to go to the Cheesecake Factory, but it had over an hour wait!! So we decided to walk down the street in Old Town and find a place to eat. A few months back we ate at this really neat Italian restaurant... so we're walking down the street and we get to the Italian place, only we realize it's not an Italian place anymore!! It's now a new restaurant called "Bar Celona" a tapas bar!! How fun!! Of course I get all excited about it because it totally reminds me of Spain! So we go inside, order some sangria and tapas and have some good conversation. When we walked in there was a family of 4 sitting at the table next to us... and some time passed and then I noticed that a young couple was sitting right next to us... we were sitting at a table where my seat was actually a big long booth bench seat and Eric was across from me sitting in a chair... I noticed that this couple were sitting next to each other on the bench seat, instead of across from each other... and I glanced over at them and noticed her hair... it was totally cute. Now, being that I just recently dyed my own hair back to dark brown, I really took notice... this girl was wearing her own dark brown hair in a cute, short bob... with whispy bangs. I glanced (or as Eric would later say "starred") at her hair numerous times... it was soooo cute!! I never really saw her full face... just her profile... and the guy she was with... who I thought looked a little "shaggy"... and I sat and enjoyed my sangria and my fantastic boyfriend's company!! Then we got up to leave and we walked out ... and Eric says to me... "Wow honey!! I can't believe you didn't even say one thing about sitting right next to Jennifer Love Hewitt!!" I looked at him like he was crazy!! I said, "I sat next to Jennifer Love Hewitt?!! No I didn't!!" Eric said, "Yes you did... that was her, you kept starring at her... I thought for sure you knew and that was why you were starring!!" I glanced in through the window and sure enough it was her!!! I can't believe that I didn't even realize it was her! I kept staring at her hair because I thought it looked so cute!! She probably thought I was starring at her because of who she was... oh geeze!! I can't believe I didn't realize it was her!! I mean, I even heard her talk, noticed what she ordered, noticed what she was wearing (long sleeved white cotton shirt and jeans, big black handbag, clearish white nail polish!), but the whole time I didn't even know it was her! I never would have known if Eric didn't tell me!!! So crazy! She was super cute!! It was crazy, no one bothered her at all... maybe they were all like me and didn't even notice it was her... ha ha, Eric claims everyone kept talking about it and glancing over at her... I was apparently clueless!! It's so strange to think that she has to deal with those stares all the time when she goes out... I can't imagine how strange that would make life... while I think it would be fun for a day or a week to be famous and go shopping and have all the money that they all have and blah, blah, blah... I so much prefer my own simple life. I made Eric walk back by the restaurant later to glance into the window to see if she was still there drinking her sangria and big fruity martini drink... but she was gone!! So that was the account of my almost unknown encounter with Jennifer Love Hewitt!! I'll post on a picture of what she looked like and you'll be able to see why I didn't recognize her without being able to see her whole face!! Eric knew it was her cuz he literally got to stare right at her the whole time!! I still can't believe he didn't tell me until we walked out!!

happy turkey day!!

2004-11-25T13:26:00.000-08:00

Well, it's Thanksgiving morning! I'm actually spending Thanksgiving with Eric and his family! It should be fun! One of his brother's came into town, and some of his aunts and uncles, and of course his sweet grandma! It's kind of strange knowing I'm not on my way to Bakersfield to celebrate turkey day with my family... but it's not the first time I haven't been with them on Thanksgiving. One year in college I led a children's ministry group down to Mexico over Thanksgiving... that was a good trip! Christy was my co-leader and I remember we had some fantastic tacos from a taco stand for our Thanksgiving meal!! It was fun! So, I told Eric's mom that I would make/bring a spinach dip appetizer... yikes! I'm not much of a anything when it comes to preparing food, hopefully I can pull it off! ha ha... I'm halfway done... and it doesn't look too bad, if I do say so myself. On Tuesday we had our kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast and Grandparents Day. It was really fun! The kids looked soooo cute dressed up as pilgrims and indians!! Maybe I'll attach a picture later if I get around to it! Well I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Don't eat too much turkey and pumpkin pie!! (I know I won't with the pumpkin pie, because I'm definitely not a big fan!!) Love you guys! xo-Alison

spiders, shopping, movie, friends

2004-11-15T13:16:00.000-08:00

Wow! It's been a long time since I've updated my blog! Life has been busy! Let's see... the update on my life...

Still teaching kindergarten... halloween was... dare I use the word "fun" to describe it?! ha ha! The kids, no doubt, had a great time! I felt like I was going to collapse over dead by the end of the day! We had the halloween all school parade in the morning! I thought we would walk the large L shape area of the blacktop one time, but no... we walked it three times!! It took forever... and the kids were tired afterward! (which was nice for me) ... then we had Miss Spiders Tea Party! We made spider cookies and drank peppermint tea after reading Miss Spiders book. They also wore their spider hats that we made in class! They looked super cute! I'll have to upload some pictures sometime soon.

Hmmm, what else has been going on... I subbed for 5th grade last week, 7th grade manana... I have a bunch of BTSA (beginning teacher support and assessment) paper work that I have to finish by manana! Not looking forward to that!

Did a bit of Christmas shopping with the boyfriend this weekend... that was fun. We went down to the Irvine Spectrum one afternoon. We rented a movie one night... I think it was called "Before Sunset" ... it was rather interesting. Throughout the entire movie it was just two characters talking... no one else... not what I expected, but interesting all the same.

Lately life has had it's handful of changes... which I guess is to be expected. It just seems that everyone is growing up ... and lives seem to move in different directions. Those people that once such a frequent knowledge of your life and meanderings, and you on theirs... well... how else can you say it, but that it seems to have faded. It's strange, sad, and yet... even just comfortable, as life plays out it's course.... not to say that the love and concern you've felt for those people has changed at all... but rather the frequent talks and hanging out times have just become distanced...

Well, that's all for now... hopefully I'll get around to uploading some of the Halloween pictures sometime soon. Much love. xo-Alison

Busy Weekend!

2004-10-25T18:54:00.000-07:00

Wow! It sure was a busy weekend! Lots of fun though! Friday was Mom's birthday! The fam went out to dinner to celebrate. Jeff came home from Redlands for the occasion. I wasn't able to go out to dinner with them, cuz I was off at the bachelorette party for one of my college roomies. We had a good time. We went to a show in Hollywood and then played some silly bachelorette games. It was fun to spend some time with the girls! (I'll try to attach some pictures)

On Saturday, I woke up to a horrible cold. One that I've been fighting for at least a week and a half. I guess it was bound to happen, hanging out w/ kindergarteners all the time! They sneeze, drool, have snot galore, and are just full of germs! I was trying my hardest not to catch it, but it obviously caught up with me! So now I just pray that I get better, and not worse! So anyways, Saturday night Eric and I worked on our puzzle and made grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup for dinner. It was nice and relaxing.

Sunday was Denae's wedding. Eric, Jessica, Christy and I all went. It was a very nice wedding. It was very quaint. It was at this resturant in San Bernardino called "The Castaway" way up on top of a hill. It was a really neat view at night, with all of the lights. We had a great time. Denae looked absolutely beautiful. She sure found one wonderful guy! I'll never forget the night I tried so hard to convince her to stop studying and instead create a profile with me on match.com!! She was so against it, but then she finally gave in, realizing that ANYTHING was better than studying! Then, after her new addiction began to form, and after she'd met a few random and strange guys from Match, she was lucky enough to meet Brad! Looking back on it all, it just seems so crazy, that now she's married him! Especially after she thought I was crazy for wanting to find guys to date online!! (I WAS CRAZY!!) ha ha!! But they are great together and I'm so happy for both of them! They are the perfect compliments to one another!!

Well, I hope you all had a wonderful weekend too! Much love! xo-Alison

Denae's Wedding Reception

2004-10-25T17:56:00.000-07:00

Eric, Jess, Christy and I at the reception.

The Happy Couple!

2004-10-25T17:54:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Denae and Brad on their wedding day!

The Bachelorette Party!!!

2004-10-25T17:49:00.000-07:00

Christy, Jessica, Denae, and Alison at In-n-Out before going to the show in Hollywood for the Bachelorette Party!

Taking Shape....

2004-10-21T16:23:00.000-07:00

Okay, so my blog looks like it's actually starting to take shape. :) That's exciting! Much thanks to David for helping me get it set up! So now I have my moods that I'll get to change; I think they're pretty fun!

Let's see, what else is new... I taught my kindergarten class today! We had a good day. One of the little girls in my class told me a few weeks ago that I look like the "news lady" on tv. Today she said "Miss Ghazarian, remember how I told you that you look like the news lady? Well you REALLY do look like her!" So funny!

Tomorrow's Mom's 50th birthday! That will be fun! I won't get to go out to din with the fam though, cuz I will be at Denae's Bachelorette Party (college roomie). I'm sure the party will be fun! We're going to see a show in Hollywood, I'm not sure which show, and then we're gonna play some silly bachelorette party games. Jessica and Christy are planning on going, so that should be fun.

Get to see Jeff tomorrow, as he's coming home for Mom's b-day. We miss him around here! It's so quiet w/o him! Sounds like he's having a great time at Redlands!

So it's 'date night' tonight! I finally get to see Eric! Feels like it's been forever... even though it was only Monday. We're gonna go out for dinner somewhere, and then head to the bookstore... one of our favorite places! It'll be fun! Then we'll probably work on our jigsaw puzzle! ha ha, we sound like a couple of old folks! Look what we do for fun! Puzzles and books! But it really is fun!

Well, I'm out for now. Love ya. xo-Alison

The Yardhouse, Fall 2004

2004-10-19T21:19:00.000-07:00

Eric, Quincy and I down in Irvine celebrating Quincy's birthday!

Rain... I love the rain!

2004-10-19T21:10:00.000-07:00

There's just something about the rain that is so comforting. I love being able to cuddle up on the couch and listen to the rain.... drink some hot tea, read a good book, cuddle with boyfriend. It's great. I just don't think we get enough rain here in So. Cal. But then again, if I moved somewhere else that has more rain throughout the year, I'm sure it would take away my appreciation of the rain.

Malibu Wedding, 9-4-04

2004-10-19T18:09:00.000-07:00

Alison and Eric...in PINK!

Europe 2004

2004-10-19T16:22:00.000-07:00

Santorini, Greece

This thing called Blog

2004-09-15T13:41:00.000-07:00

September 15, 2004

And so I sit at the puter and wonder what to do with my life on these Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays... This being a Wednesday, I've found myself bundled up in my sweats and sweatshirt, surfing the net, and I came across BLOGS... now, what is a Blog?, one might ask... well from the looks of it, it's a website that you can form about YOU... so ... this is me... I'm a kindergarten teacher, part time. I am on the substituting list for the other days... I wish I was teaching all 5 days, but I guess this is a start. So, bored on my days off, I find myself here... and this is just the start, more to come later... have a beautiful day!