Ketchup...

***First of all...I can post pictures?!? Get ready because I got picture happy!!

So a lot has gone on since the last time I've posted. I've got a lot of randomness that I've been wanting to write about...so here's the Reader's Digest version of what I think about.

For those who haven't heard - I went to Portland to visit Jake over Spring Break. We had dinner at a friend of his house one night and they were super great. I met up with a friend of mine from Seattle and ate vegan cupcakes (SO GOOD). Jake and I went downtown and explored. More importantly, however, I went to an anti-war rally.

Jake was there as a legal observer and I tagged along and tried my best to keep up. It started around one or so and was pretty tame but Jake and I followed a group that is prone to needing legal observers so as the day went on it got more exciting. After a few arrests we all ended up outside of the jail. The police kept closing in and to stay true to the promise he made my mom to not get me arrested Jake tried to make me leave. I didn't. The police were in front of us, to the left, the right, and some on horses behind us so Jake tried to make me cross the street so I could at least see everything but be away from the happenings. He wrote the number to the NLG's line on my arm and gave me three things to say if I were to get arrested. After a few minutes of whining I got to stay in the park where I took a lot of pictures. I'd really never been more scared in my entire life and even though I in no way had done anything to provoke the police - I was still there so being arrested was a possibility.

All in all I met a lot of great people - who I'm now friends with on MySpace (so it's legit). I saw the ins and outs of downtown from walking in it all day. I ate some delicious food (both vegan and not) and caught up with quality time with my broseph.

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I was picking up dinner for me and my mom a few weeks ago and noticed this boot just off of University and was so intrigued by it that I had to take a picture. Who is...was the owner of the boot? How did s/he lose the boot? Did that person not want the boot anymore? Did it fall out of their car? Have they noticed it was gone? Were they sad?

It was scuffed and dirty so imagined it belonged to a construction worker...I imagined it belonged to someone like my dad. He gets up early, drinks a cup of coffee, reads the paper, puts on his boots, grabs his lunch and heads to work. He's a laborer who is constantly working all day with only a lunch break and working under harsh elements that make his boots dirty and his feet sweaty but he does his job and he does it well because he's got a wife and three kids to support. He comes home after work, gets his youngest to take off his boots reclines in his chair so he can watch TV to decompress. He watches the 10 o'clock news gets up and goes to bed leaving his boots for his next day at work.

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It's April which means the Bluebonnets are blooming. On a trip when I was younger I got my picture taken in the Bluebonnets...how cute was I?

I've never really been into flowers but I've been realizing that I like more flowers that I lead on...so here is my ongoing list of my favorite flowers...

Water Lilies, Tiger Lilies, Orchids, Magnolias, Lotus Flowers, Dahlias, Tulips, Sunflowers, and Spider Daisies.

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As mentioned above, tis the month of April and today just so happens to be Equal Pay Day. Meaning, the amount a man makes in one calender year takes a woman (who makes .77 cents to one dollar) one calender year and four months. In addition to wearing red - to signify women getting out of the "red" Pam and I made t-shirts. Yes, I should have been working on my (ironically enough) Gender Roles paper...but making t-shirts always trumps school work.

The front read ".77" and the back "I'M WORTH MORE."

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Last one I promise...

Speaking of Pam and I'm not sure if it's because of her upcoming nuptials or what but I've been reflecting on our friendship lately. We've been friends since 1995 and she quite possible might know the most about me. When we all first found out about Tio Jr. being sick she would ask about him and his health...someone she's never met. She called while I was at dinner with my parents and their friends for Dad's birthday and in her message she told me to tell Dad "Happy Birthday." She even made Jake a birthday cake a couple of years ago when we were in town from Dallas. She's the best person to have console you when you're upset because her shoulder is always there and she has hand to rub your back. She's fun to cuddle with while watching TV and always has the funniest things to say during The Hills. We even have grown up conversations about current events and things we're passionate about.

So, I couldn't pick just one picture to post...the first is a picture taken by David after Pam's Graduation. We went to the reception to pick up their diplomas where they had snacks...the cookies were SO good and David perfectly captured our reactions to just how good the cookies were.

The second was when we went to a Rangers game in '04. I have no idea what was said...but it was funny...

At work there are two other best girlfriends who work there. I see the way that they interact, listen to their inside jokes, watch their body language and I think about them in relation to us. I think it's funny to see how differently they interact with each other than when they interact with others. How do we come across to other people? Does people understand us? Do they get our jokes and our slang? You may not understand us - but you wish you did.

0315

I'm leaving for Portland in exactly seven hours!

...On the Ides of March...hm...weird...

Well, I just wanted to throw a shout-out to those who help with the fundage of this trip for me! Thank you so much! Y'all are great! I brag about having family like you. That sounds kind of cheesy, but it's true.

Anyway, I need to finish packing...I'll update while I'm there...if not - then soon thereafter!

Thanks, again!

International Women's Day

Happy Iternational Women's Day, All!

Word on the street is today is also a Blog Against Sexism Day, Y'all! So, here I go...

This is how I know sexism is still around.

That is all.

The Sounds of Silence

While closing today Lindsay suggested I mop with the lights off and she would turn off the music...she said it was soothing. It was. The only thing I could hear was the soft rhythm of the mop against the floor.

It got me thinking...why am I so afraid of silence?

-I wake up to an annoying alarm clock and immediately turn on the radio.
-I walk to class and in between classes I listen to myPod.
-During class I listen to the lectures.
-On my way to and from work I listen to the radio
-During work I am either listening to the (not so great-even if there is a U2 cover of All I Want Is You-it still doesn't compensate) Pier 1 cd, my Launch, or I'm streaming the Edge.
-I come home and either fall asleep to the television. I have been guilty on more than one occasion of falling asleep while on the phone with someone. I've always loved falling asleep to someone talking. Bonus points if it's someone with a really soothing voice.
-Even when I'm doing homework I'm listening to myTunes.

So what am I afraid of? Am I scared of what the silence might bring? What I might hear or think I hear in the quiet air? Am I scared to be left alone with nothing but my thoughts to keep me occupied?

*Original Post Wednesday, February 21st, 2007

I want to make someones day...

Stupid, I hate it. That's what I usually say when I get asked how work was. Every now and then I will leave work with a feeling of accomplishment or feeling like I've done something and I've done it well. Most of the time I'm tired, preoccupied and by the end of my shift I end up cranky.

Today didn't start out any different. I didn't go into work cranky but it quickly became that way. Then, Lindsay and Matt came up to work and we talked for a bit. It made my day.

Next, M* and Amy came in. We caught up as they shopped and made plans for me to stop by later. That too, made my day.

Then Pam and David came in to register for their wedding. They stayed for a while and I took my break so we could all go grab something to eat together. That, again, made my day.

After work I stopped by Amy's new place to drop off some stuff. M* was there too and so I hung out for a bit. I loved just sitting and talking with them. It's something we've only done a couple of times, if that...but it was fun just hanging out and talking. No other family around, not parents or grandparents to watch what you have to say in front of. That, made my day.

Customers can be annoying, people will come in to work that I would rather not see or have to deal with but, I've had my day made four times today...at work. I'm usually lucky if someone can make my day once. But, I'm not worried about my day being made..but I want to make some one's day. At the end of the night, I want someone to reflect on their day and think to themselves, "Seeing Ang today really made my day." I want someone to be happier by just having me walk into the room and greet them with a hug the way I was today. Oh, well.

*Original Post Sunday, February 11th, 2007

UPDATE - I sent an email later that week to my cousin Mon. She and I never really talk outside of familial obligations but on my way to class I thought about her for some reason. So I shot her an email just asking for an update on the happenings of her life and in her reply she said I made her day. Yay me!

Any Suggestions???

It has been so hard for me to blog lately. Along with not having anything interesting to write about I've just been so busy with working and with school that I just haven't had the time. Wednesdays are pointless for me. I've got an English class and a discussion and a lab. I also have, collectively, about two hours between classes. Needless to say, I get to catch up on the family emails and MySpace and Facebook. Both sites, I of course, am not on enough as it [insert sarcasm].

Maybe it's with Pam graduating or Ben leaving or the fact that I don't like any of my classes or that at the end of this semester (I pray) I will be junior but I've been dealing with the dilemma of what is next? I'm ready to know what I want to do for the rest of my life. I'm ready to have my life set for me. Maybe set is the wrong word. I've always been partial to mixing things up; but, God, if I just had some kind of idea as to what - I don't care how lame this sounds - my calling is.

I've been asking everyone what I should major in. So, now, Reader, I ask you...What should I major in? I've got a few ideas...sociology, anthropology, public relations...psychology, art history, and political science have also been on the list.

I don't want to settle for anything and any one who knows me knows that all I want to do is to be passionate about something.

Having said that, someone planted an idea in my head to transfer. I hate that person now. Okay, I don't hate that person but why would you say something like that to me? Why? I don't want to hear that! I can't. I wouldn't hear him out at first. I protested and kept talking over him. I finally let him talk and when he did I was torn. I was torn between being inspired and being driven by something that I care for so much. The other part, hesitant, resistant, and apprehensive (I just said three things that mean the same thing). I was, hell, I am scared.

It's hard to make it on my own as it is living in Lubbock, how can I make it in another town without my parents. Without friends. Without my brothers. Living away from home didn't really work out the first time for me. Why would I think it'll work out this time? I wasn't ready then and I don't think I'm ready now. It was just so hard. I'm not as strong as he think I am.

What's wrong with living in Lubbock anyway? (besides everything) Tech isn't THAT bad. I see the same guy and girl everywhere I go because Tech doesn't believe in a thing I like to call diversity. Other than that, the classes - aside from this semester - aren't unbearable.

Which brings me to more frustrations - I hate my classes. All of them. I'm taking 14 hours...four classes, two labs, and a no-credit discussion. Fantastic? I hate it. I've got three classes tomorrow and a test in every one of them. Why am I blogging? I'm not a math and science girl. I'm just not. Give me something I can BS my way through, like a paper. Liberal Arts, my friend, Liberal Arts. I'm ready to be finished taking classes I have to take and start taking the ones I want to take.

Wait, but what classes do I want to take? I don't even have a major? It's cyclical. Dammit.

Anyway, do you have any suggestions?

34 Years Later...

A few weeks ago I read this blog and signed up to write a blog of my own on why I'm pro-choice.

It's really quite simple.
I'm pro-choice because the concept of someone being pro-life doesn't make sense to me.
I'm pro-choice because I don't want to see my rights taken away from me.
I'm pro-choice because it's my body; it's my choice.
I'm pro-choice because I know that sometimes there is no other option.
I'm pro-choice because I think to have children you need to have a want that goes beyond wanting a new car or a new pair of jeans. The want also needs to come with love that you know you can provide. Providing not only love but the necessities that a child requires to be healthy.
I'm pro-choice because I think a forced pregnancy is wrong; it's just wrong.
I'm pro-choice but recognize that others who are pro-choice are not pro abortion and realize that there is a difference...and THATS what others need to understand.

That's all I've got so far. I'm pro-choice. Keep your laws off my body!

PS - I haven't read it yet as to not have her's change my style of writing but read Pam's Blogging For Choice 2007!

Whoa, two blogs in two days!?! What's wrong with me?!

No, I'm feeling fine-just ready to feel some feelings...

School is fine thus far-but yesterday was only my second day. I don't think I'm smart enough to be in my Feminism and philosophy class, but we'll see. I'm in it with Pam and she's a Philosophy minor so I'll get her to help me if I need it. I don't like my speech class but that mostly due to the fact that we have to give three oral presentations and oral presentations are stupid. But in all seriousness, I enjoy all of my classes. My sociology class is looking pretty good-there are a few conservatives in it, so that should make for good fun. I don't have to buy my books for two classes (exciting!) but I had to buy a $50.00 course pack for my Feminism & Philosophy at The Copy Outlet and they don't take TechExpress (not exciting!). I have however renamed TechExpress to Texpress...I think it sounds cooler. I'll make it happen-spread the word, tell your friends! Texpress is on the way!

On a sadder note, an old friend of mine-Jackie was killed Sunday night by a drunk driver. Pam and I went to her funeral yesterday and saw some old friends. We were totally bff in elementary and part of jr. high. Even in highschool whenever we'd see each other in the hall we'd wave and talk for a second or too. I've never had anyone close to me die before so I didn't know how to take this. The more I learned about that night and the more I learned about her life I grew sadder and sadder. I thought I was okay but Dad called me on my way to work. The fact he did that meant so much to me. My voice got shaky when I told him I don't think I could handle it if it were anyone closer to me. I don't want to go through that. I don't think I'm strong enough to deal with it. I don't want to and I'm not going to go. And I told Dad that.

It's sad that it took a funeral to see old friends...but it did. Last night Pam and I met up with some people. I had a really good time and it was great seeing those I grew up with but lost touch with. It was good times. I'm glad I'm not the only one who has moved and come back. What is that about?

Speaking of-in my speech glass there are the girls who all they do is complain about Lubbock and the lack of things to do. But they aren't even from here. I don't understand. If you don't like it-than leave. We don't want you here anyway. Well, I don't. The only real problem I have with Lubbock is the conservativeness. (I think I just made up a word-I looked it up, it's a word.) Anyway, so there's that.

That might be all I've got today. That might be all I've got for a while. Really though, I do always feel better after having written a blog so maybe I'll update more often. Eh, who are we kidding?