Today I start my real estate classes and I’m really eager to see what it’s all about. It’s gonna be 3 days a week for the next 6 weeks and I’m sure it’s not gonna be easy while working a full time job, but I’ll survive. There are some people who forge through degrees in college while working full time so I just have to remember that I actually have it easy compared to some.

The real estate market isn’t that hot right now but it might be a great time for me to learn and there are a lot of first time home buyers with that new Obama incentive. I think more so than anything though, it will make me feel more secure knowing that I have another small notch to place on my knowledge belt.

There are so many fun things coming up in the next week or two, I love this time of year! Lots of changes and Halloween is just right around the corner + all the parties that come with it. I have my costume all picked out and ready to go. I’ll have to post some pics of it afterwards… for now, it’s a secret. Well I’m off to work. Wish me luck and see you soon.

So I’m opening a celebratory bottle of wine in preparation for my big  trip and the strangest thing happens.  I’m using this “wine bottle opener mechanism thingy” which by the way, I prefer just a normal, old school opener.  Anyways, this blasted thing pushed the cork DOWN into the bottle and sprays red wine all over me.  Great.  Now I smell like a wino, which isn’t too far from the truth and my wine is corky. 

I thought only champagne shot out like that once you opened a bottle.  Apparently wine does too, if the cork goes down!

So I spent about 10 minutes picking small bits and pieces of cork from my wine that I was so looking forward to sipping after a stressful day.  And I’m pretty sure I’ve swallowed about 5-8 small pieces…

I don’t think cork will harm you if digested, will it? 

God, I hope my plane doesn’t go down tomorrow.  It will be awful embarrassing to have my last blog post be about me spewing red wine all over myself in a drunken stupor.

So I was wandering into BP this morning, droopy eyed and ready for a fresh morning coffee when a lady approaches me and tries to sell me on the point that I may just very well be going to hell if I do not accept Jesus Christ.  Really, I thought.  Hmmm… why did you think to approach me?  Of all the people in the parking lot this morning, why did you pick me?  Is there something about my appearance that made you think, “this girl here at this BP on July 7^th must be damned?” 

 I do not discourage religion.  I think it is wonderful if you can find peace in your heart with faith and devote your life to your religion.  However, I am not a religious person (despite being raised in a Southern Baptist Church) and I DO NOT enjoy having religion forced upon me.  Especially at 7 in the morning, on my way to work, while innocently entering a gas station for my habitual brew.  And the fear tactic is pitiful really.  It’s seems some sort of last ditch effort to convince a person that they will suffer eternal pain for not believing in something.  If there is a God, I don’t think he will punish me for having a mind and thinking about life a little deeper.  

 Do I have the face of a sinner?  And if so, what characteristics make up this sinful face?  I personally thought I had the face of a sweet, angel child but I guess I was wrong.

Today at work I had to give a presentation in which I was scared to death.  One of my worst fears is speaking in front of a group of people and even though our group isn’t all that large, I was horrified at the thought of it.  I persevered through and pulled it off with relative ease – a tight chest, voice that started off like a baby sheep crying and a small feeling of anger (I’m not sure why) when some lady asked me to talk louder.  I just thought to myself, “If I speak any louder, I won’t be able to hear myself think.”  I guess the slight anger towards her helped me get somewhat boisterous and pronounce my words more clearly.  Now I just have to get through the next three and I will be fine!

 Also, later today I have to undergo a medical procedure that isn’t too serious but I have a major fear of needles.  I’m starting to sound like a wimp.  I am pretty tough believe it or not!  Anyways, this day is a real nail biter and I’m looking forward to a LONG weekend.  At least now I can relax and enjoy the 4^th without having to worry about these things.  I’d like to go out of town but the thought of lying around and just enjoying the holiday would be nice as well.  We’ll see…

I watched the Count of Monte Cristo last night and loved it!!  There was a quote from the movie I’m trying to live up to today.

~ Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next.
What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes. ~

I haven’t cried – yet.  So far so good.  Wish me luck.

 L

The many stories behind “Kilroy was here”

I recently completed a book titled “Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer.  I loved it!!!  I was compelled to purchase this book after reading “Into the Wild” and I’m so happy I did.  This book is about a journalists’ harrowing climb to the top of Mt. Everest and the sequence of horrible events that go along with it.

Nature stories always spark my imagination and by reading this book, I felt as if I were part of the team climbing the mountain.  I would read a lot on my lunch break and at certain parts of the book, it was painful to put it down.  

*Do not read any further if you don’t want the book spoiled for you*

The part where the climbers continue right on by the dead bodies without a glance shocked me.  I guess a lot of them were accustomed to this and it was just another part of the scenery; as normal as a boulder.  There’s a lot of controversy /questions surrounding the events and decisions made while in the “death zone” of Everest but I personally believe that while on that mountain, you should ultimately be responsible for yourself and make the smartest decisions possible.  There were a few individuals who probably had no reason to be on that mountain other than egotistical purposes and were not properly trained.  Some sacrificed their own lives to help others.

Money can you buy you lots of things (even an ascent to the top of Everest) but when you’re in a tough situation like they were in, it cannot buy you experience or strength.  That situation was truly a fine example of survival of the fittest and some luck.  Many people died on Everest that year and it goes to show that Mother Nature ultimately rules and she will take you down if she wants.

I would love to be physically able to climb a mountain like Everest someday – after proper training of course; but at the end of the day you have to ask yourself… is it really worth possibly losing fingers, toes or even death?

I had a blast last night at the Coldplay concert… they put on a GREAT show!  It was cold and rainy but I think the bad weather made it even that much more fun.  After about 3 $11 beers the weather was no problem at all.  They played at Lakewood and even moved out to the lawn where we were for a small portion of the concert which was great because we were able to get really close (you could see Chris Martin’s sweat.)  They played the cover “I’m a Believer” which was probably more of hit with the crowd than their own songs.  I blasted the lyrics drunkenly bouncing in the rain on a sloped hill and I’m paying for it today with sore calves and a scratchy throat.  We were even able to recover a water bottle we were forced to leave at the entry gates on the way in.

Marta was exciting as usual, lots of odd people to stare at and routes to get lost on.  And bladder usage was in overhaul. 

What a fun time!

**Courtesy of Coldplay, click the below link to download a few tracks from their album Left Right Left Right Left**
http://lrlrl.coldplay.com/leftright.html

Glass of Water
42
Clocks
Strawberry Swing
The Hardest Part_Postcards From
Viva La Vida
Death Will Never Conquer
Fix You
Death and All His Friends

The heat is rolling in!  It’s supposed to reach 85 today in Hot Lanta, I’m ready for it!  I thrive in the heat and the cold corrals me indoors like an insect.  On my lunch break I’m gonna go get some of my favorite chips, Dirty Chips w/ garlic, walk out to the park and absorb some much needed Vitamin D on my regular picnic table.   I REALLY need to go take some more pics sometime soon to post.  Maybe I’ll take a trip to the beach…

Enjoy this sunny day everyone!  I’m getting outta this office – for now.

p.s.  I must’ve been drunk when I wrote the below poem, even though it seems like I must’ve been on a more powerful drug/hallucinogen!  I re-read it this morning and laughed so hard.  I will not dare delete it though, it’s too funny. 

I quote myself:

Eyeballs glued to them
A pretty violent tinge (s/b violet tinge, apparently my veins are angry)
The biggest veins

Ciao!!

This past weekend I got to visit Anniston, AL.  While it may not have the excitement and flashiness of a big city, it sure was nice to go and just relax and enjoy a delicious country dinner from the sweetest lady in Alabama.  I had no clue there was mountains in that part of Alabama, they were very pretty rolling along in the background as the sun set behind them.  The entire place took me back to my own childhood, playing barefoot in the yard, bright green cow pastures, gardens, climbing trees and playing on railroad tracks.  I felt like a little girl again and I think that may be the best feeling in the World.  And the best part was that I got to experience it with my big adult playmate.

It made me miss my own family; I can’t wait to see them for Easter.  No matter what you may do in life, or where you might land – there’s really no place like home.

And the award of the day for most interesting species goes to….

*Drum roll please!*

Amoebas!  At first glance they seem boring but are anything but.  With asexual reproduction, no set shape or form and the ability to split themselves in half, amoebas win this category hands down.

Congratulations Amoebas, keep up the good work!

Oh by the way, has anyone heard that Britney cover “Toxic” by Local H?  I laughed so hard Redbull poured from my nose!  Between the Lollipop cover and now this new Toxic cover, dare I say these artists have not only landed at the top of their “creative plateau” but have already begun that painful process of hurdling over the edge and to the ground.  I miss 90’s music!