every summer has a story.

Okay so I guess its more like every summer SHOULD have a story. But you see, last summer didn't really have much of a storyline for me. It involved working and going to bed early and waking up early. It wasn't terrible and of course, life threw me a curve ball or two in attempts to mix things up for me... but I didn't really do anything about it. I don't think I exactly took advantage of the summer sun and the freedom and the experiences I could have had.. and I'm kind of regretting it.

I think I had a bit of a wake up call. I arrived home, not expecting all too much of my three weeks, with a few plans here or there. Nothing set in stone, but sometimes crap just happens and makes you realize that in fact you gotta make life count.

So, in effort to make up for my terribly dull summer of 2011, combined with the fact that I was in school until five days ago, I have exactly three weeks to make up for lost summertime.  Now I have three weeks of no job, no commitments, and no expectations, I am quite determined to make the story of summer 2012 one worth smiling about and maybe even writing about if I find the time. I already have a few things checked off my bucket list, and I certainly have a few more things I need to do before I am headed back to Texas. I suppose this is my vow to make every second count this summer. I have to say I'm looking forward to having no regrets, not over-thinking things, and just living a little bit, because I'm tired of being a student zombie. I'm ready for a few more spontaneous late night adventures, a few more days on the lake, perhaps a little camping and hopefully not too much sleeping. I'm excited to just stop worrying about doing what everyone else expects me to do this summer and not caring about what everyone else thinks. It's gonna be good.

x

ramble ramble update.

I've been slacking. I think its time for a quick rambling update on life, just for the record.

Christmas was perfect. I love my family so much. I kept having to hide in the bathroom the day my oldest sister was leaving because I kept almost crying. I don't cry. I won't even talk about the day Jenn and Brian left. I'm going to cry just thinking about it. Whats wrong with me? Who is this emotional person I have become? It's freaking me out.

Speaking of Christmas and such. Did I mention how perfect it was? In every aspect? Okay, just making sure..

I turned twenty. Steph, one of my best friends, bought me a ticket to see Beauty and the Beast on broadway. I'm lucky, I know. My two other besties Karlee and Katelyn came for the trip and we made a stop in Banff National Park and then all headed to Calgary and spent the night. After the show I got back to a birthday pizza and a decorated hotel room. How adorable right?

I have become this ridiculous bawl baby. I don't even know what happened. I didn't cry hardly all fall being thousands of miles away from my family in a strange land with strange people and strange food. Okay, just kidding its not that strange. But for serious, I break into tears over anything slightly emotional. It's humiliating. 

So, ... it's 2012. Weird. 

People start talking about how Cody's gonna be home in like a year. That also freaks me out a little bit. Time is flying people. Flying. 

I'm kinda excited to go back to Texas. I miss it a tiny bit. My apartment, although rather musty and cockroach infested, it is quaint and homey. I miss my room mates. I miss Sarah Jo. 

So even though this is so contradictory to my last statement.. I am already feeling homesick and I haven't even left. I didn't feel homesick the entire fall but now every time I think about leaving I tear up. Bawl baby. I tell ya.

Did I mention I cut my hair? Well. I didn't. Amber did and I'm so happy about it. Yep. Chopped it right off. Here is a before/after.

Jus call me a poser or something..

Best thing I ever did. Thank you Amber =)

I realized I am a socially awkward person in large social settings. Serious. Put me in a huge crowd and I kinda freak out and want to be invisible and look like an ugly duckling following around my mother when I find one person I know. Put me in a room with five people I know really well and I'm great. Comfortable. I laugh and stuff and tell jokes sometimes. Ask anyone of those five people. Just don't ask the 200 people at the ginormous party. Like I said. Duckling. A lost duckling.

I'm incredibly poor suddenly. I was always poor. I'm a student. It happens. But for some reason things just keep popping up unexpectedly. $90... $200.. $60.. $300.. these numbers just keep appearing and its really ruining my hopes and dreams of ever buying any new clothing again.

Happy New Years bloggers. New Years Resolutions.. hmm. Let's just say I'm gonna try to get into better shape and maybe cut back on my online shopping? I think that's possible. Nothing too serious. No numbers no dates set. 

Ok. I'm bored. Peace out.

Sorry Steph, I know how much you hate long posts.

My best friend turned twenty today. That frightens me a little bit. 

This photo of us from six years ago also frightens me a little bit.

Anyway.

I remember the moment Steph and I became friends. I think she remembers too.

"Wanna come color?"

I sat beside Malarie Bevans and the three of us just immediately hit it off.

Yep. We were in grade four. 

It all just went from there.

In grade five her classroom was the one next to mine, but despite the distance, we remained best friends.

I remember she wrote a story every week about George and Martha. Just a lil tidbit of info for ya.

Sometime that year we moved into Bianca's house too I'm pretty sure.

We played Nancy Drew every weekend.. all weekend? 

and we actually played it. Like make believe. She was always Phillip.

The random old guy.
In grade six we really hit our prime I believe. Skippin recess to play cards and such.
We sure lived it up. Sometimes I used to miss grade six. Then I remembered how terrible we were.
One time Stephanie farted in music and because I was sitting next to her, she pointed at me.
Everyone believed her. Terrible. I forgave her though. It was funny.

In grade seven our desks were still separated by brick walls and our lockers were separated by E through Q. We managed to stay friends.

This year we both lost a best friend.

I think we cried each other to sleep at night.

Maybe I just cried and Steph stared at me and didn't know what to do.
Just kidding. We were both devastated. But I think we were closer because of it.

I'm pretty sure Steph use to always have dreams about me being really mean to her. I am hoping these were always just dreams and I wasn't ever that mean to her.
Ask her about them. She may even still have them.
Grade eight I was a lame-o best friend to Steph, but she always stayed a perfect-o best friend to me.

Stephanie was the most loyal friend I ever met. Even ask my mom. She will tell ya. 

She wins that award easy-peasy.

In grade nine I think we had some classes together. Which was nice, although it made no difference because we were besties anyway. We did football stats together this year. It was a lovely time.

She was always there when I'd cry. Never offering advice, because thats not what she did.

But she listened.

Sometimes you don't want advice, ya know?

Just a listener. She's the best. And I was a drama-queen. It's embarrassing.
She loved me anyway.

In grade ten, I remember in CALM class we took these personality quizzes and such.

We always ended up at opposite ends of the spectrum. We decided thats what made us such good friends, ya know?

She toned down my annoyingness. She was good for me.

I like to think I brought out some good qualities in her too, but it's hard to say. She was good for me though, thats for sure.

In grade eleven we had our separate lives because I decided to be a cheerleader and she did not.... but still kept close. I think this was the year I got all ten seasons of F.R.I.E.N.D.S for Christmas.

Did you know we watched every.single.episode together? Yep. All 238 episodes. Plus the bonus features.

In grade twelve we decided to go and graduate. We were closer this year than the previous. I remember asking myself why I spent so many weekends without her during grade eleven. 

We danced together. We cried together. We were Fireflies together. We ripped T-shirts together.
I think dancing together brought us very close.
She even helped me when I sucked at remembering the dances. She was such a fast learner.
She had a side of the bed at my house you know. Toothbrush? I forget. Maybe at one point.
I drove her around. I liked driving her around... and she hated driving around.

After we graduated after a few turn of events, we both ended up living at home for another year.

We decided to go to California and also dragged along our other two best friends with us. 

Stephanie loves Disneyland like I love Disneyland.

Stephanie also loves musicals more than I love musicals, I'm pretty sure.

But we saw Lion King together, where we may or may not have shed a tear or two.
And now? Steph has bought me a ticket for Beauty and the Beast in December.
She's the best, isn't she.

Okay. I could go on forever, because Stephanie has been my best friend since forever.

Now, Stephanie turned twenty today, and she is in North Carolina and I am in Texas.

And it's odd.
I would very much like her to confuse my nose with a teddy bear or wake up with a heavy metal ball in her chest or perhaps drink a Barqs by my side tonight.

I miss her terribly, and I cannot wait to see her face on Dec 21.

source.