We must go out and ninja in the night

So, Ryan just put this stuff on the bed of his truck. and sent me this video.

http://www.paxcon.com/px-3350_video_1.shtml

HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MY BROTHER GOT INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!! Ross U. in the Caribbean!! He has been trying to get in anywhere for over 4 years; he really needed this; it is a true Godsend!! I'm so happy!!

-Such a good day. I LOVE days like this.

-I started teaching Spanish to the preschoolers in Bekah's class last month. It's so much fun!! They never cease to amaze me. I can't believe how much they remember. And they surprise me too! I keep thinking up ways to teach things; the ones that I think will take for sure, almost never work. And the ones that I think are stupid and unlikely to be effective are usually the ones that keep them the most engaged! I don't get it, but they are definitely keeping me on my toes!!

I miss speaking Spanish though!! I never get to anymore unless I'm talking online with my Spanish host sister, Uma (and that's not often because of the time difference). Haley, bring your hispanic friend to FNG already!!!!!

-I was so afraid, after seeing the funny trailers for it, that Zombieland was going to be one of those movies that just drags on and on and the only funny parts are what you already saw in the trailers. MY FEARS WERE UNJUSTIFIED. It was hilarious and awesome in every way! Everyone will love this movie go see it now or at least immediately when it comes out on dvd :)

-Speaking of movies, Ryan and I watched Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone today. I DID NOT make him watch it. It went something like
Ryan: So what movie do you want to watch?
Me: WELLLLLLLLL, you know I do have ALL FIVE Harry Potter movies now *BIG GRIN* [I said this as a joke and he knows it]
Ryan: Ok.
Me: What??
Ryan: Let's watch them.
Me: What?????

I have been very careful about not ever making him watch a specific movie with me because I am sick of those stupid girls who make their boyfriends watch stupid chick movies with them every single time they have a movie night. I do not pretend to think this resolution will last forever; in fact I'm pretty sure that I will eventually break down over some film I know he's uninterested in and be like WATCH THIS MOVIE WITH ME OR DIE and he will watch it. But for now I'm sticking to it. I at least refuse to go to the opposite extreme of the women I despise.

And even after seeing the 1st one (let's face it; it's not great, it's pretty mediocre and the 2nd one is terrible), he is still insisting that he's going to watch all the rest of them with me. I'm not even allowed to watch them without him. O-M-G. (can we say..."good boy"?? LOL)

-I was in a fender bender tonight. It was fine; someone else rear-ended me, nobody's hurt and I don't think there was even a dent in either of our cars. We were in heavy traffic in Ann Arbor (after the game), it was very wet outside...
The Sebring ahead of me stopped suddenly...
Me: "OH JEEEEEEESUS PLEASE LET ME STOP!!"
I slid a bit, but stopped in time to not hit the Sebring.
Me: Whew. Yay!
Car Behind Me: *bump*
Me: Aw.

It was honestly the best accident I've ever been in. I was afraid it would be some big beefy guy in the car behind me who was going to blame me for everything and yell at me about stopping too quickly, but it was just this sweet, short blonde girl who was very apologetic and nice. I was not even slightly upset, even before I looked at my car. And as far as I can tell, there is barely even a mark. Even if it had been dented though, I don't really care. I'm not one of those people who obsesses over his car's appearance *COUGH COUGH RYAN COUGH* and I don't exactly lose a lot of sleep over dents (you can probably tell :). I just think there are more important things to be concerned about. I really felt bad for her because she had hit a deer earlier that week and I could tell she felt really bad about our little accident, but as far as I was concerned, it wasn't really her fault. It could happen to anybody. And neither of our cars were damaged. I just told her, "I'm completely fine; if you want to exchange insurance information that's ok, but if not I think we can just go."

Anyway...it seems like even a little accident usually leaves a bad taste in your mouth, but it seriously did not even slightly affect my good mood. I don't know how, but I'm grateful for it! I am just trying to figure out WHY, today of all days? I don't believe in coincidences. I certainly was not in need of a reminder for yesterday. I can accept that maybe it wasn't for me to learn anything; maybe it was for her and she just needed somebody to be nice to her today...except...it's still a coincidence for me, so why? I have really been trying to keep my eyes and ears open to the things I am supposed to learn from all the millions of events that happen in my life, but this one really has me stumped. So, I wanted to tell you guys about it; maybe it's for one of you instead of me. If you have any insight, you can let me know if you feel like it.

-Speaking of cars....Kevin and Sarah FINALLY got a Jeep Rubicon. Now Kevin can stop driving us crazy with his constant deliberation over whether or not to get one!! We took it off-roading THE NEXT DAY. Temporary tags on it and all. It was AWESOME :)

-Speaking of completely unrelated things, Mar, I PROMISE I am going to give you quality feedback on your story!!!!! It just takes me a long time to really think about it and separate & review all the elements. I can't do it the first time I read it, because I ruin it for myself if I'm dissecting it at the same time; I always have to come back and do it later. (No wonder writing papers about books in school always took me so freakin long.) Plus I have been busy and want to devote a good amount of time to it. I just want you to know I didn't forget!!

-I want to win, but this guy is too smart!! http://en.akinator.com/#
I used Misuzu Kamio. I have NO IDEA how he got it only based on the few questions I answered. So weird.


And that's how Sue "C's" it!
(Glee is a fun show!)

both kind of crappy pictures (from phone and webcam) but it's all I have time for, sorry! But I LOVE IT!!!

I NEED HALLOWEEN COSTUME IDEAS!!!!! I don't like repeating costumes, so I always have to do something new....the problem is that I'm not creative enough to come up with stuff like this! Aaahhhh!! Please post suggestions, any at all!!

I'm leaving in like 5 minutes to have my hair done and I won't be blonde anymore!!!!!!!!!!! I'm driving straight from there to Lake Somerset so I won't get to post pictures--however I WILL text one to Emily and have her post it to facebook. And I will text it to anyone else who wants it. If you haven't communicated with me by phone recently, just so you know, my number is still the same; I've had the same one since I was 16. So, you can send me a text or just wait till later today to see it!

I'm nervous because I've never not been blonde before, and I'm pretty sure I will hate it and miss the blonde for at least a week, probably two, but once I'm used to it I think I will enjoy it. We'll see. I don't even know yet what color it will be. Have to figure that out...lol! I'm more excited than I am nervous!! I've wanted to do this for a long time but I was always too scared before, but I'm ready now!

I can't remember if somebody else has posted this already....? oh well.

If you hate Twilight, you will probably like this. If you like Twilight, you will probably still like it (unless you take yourself way too seriously).

I'm listening to old choir CDs from like 2003, that I found....it's fun--do you heeeearrrr what IIIIIII heeeearrrrrrrrr--and sometimes a little horrifying, I had a solo?!? (actually it wasn't too bad, just a little quiet....not surprising haha :)

So, I just want to let everyone know what's going on with my life....good stuff of course :) I'm so blessed, seriously. I have a really nice life.

I went back to work at the daycare almost a month ago. Could not WAIT to get back to work--it was nice to have some time off after getting back from Spain, just to unpack and visit everyone, and of course get ready for Kevin and Sarah's wedding (!!! so cute!!)! I was just going to be part-time in the toddler room, looking for another job, but then Kim (my boss) called me and offered me a full-time position as the infant room lead teacher. So I'm doing that, and I love it!!! It's so good to be back...althought we only have 5 babies, so I work alll by myself, it gets a little boring sometimes. But we are supposed to get more in the fall, so then I get another teacher! yay!

I would say the biggest difference working there now, besides being there all the time (lol), is leading my own room. It's really fun! I like that I can just do things the way I want to. I'm working on a cute picture-project for our hallway now :) also the babies are soooooo cute (nothing new there...), although they are germy and already I have a yucky cold from them. I have to build my immunities back up; I'm kind of annoyed they didn't hold over the six months I was gone!

Kim also is going to find us a Spanish curriculum for preschoolers that we'll implement in the fall. I'm gonna teach it!!!!!! I'm so excited :) it's just once a week, but I will feel special actually using my degree (which is Spanish, by the way). I knew dem furr years warn't fer nuttin!!

I got my diploma in the mail a couple of days ago, too. It is exciting and fancy-looking! I graduated magna cum laude!! cause I'm a smart cookie!! I don't even care; I didn't check my last grades for weeks after getting back--I'm just SO GLAD to be done! I can't believe fall is going to arrive and I'm not going to go back to school. Everyone says "oh you'll go back...someday..." but they are WRONG; unless there are extenuating circumstances (like a job that pays for it) there is no WAYYYY I am ever going back; I hated every minute of school! I did my time and I am outta there baby!!

I'm not in a hurry to leave the Jarchows (loooooooooove them) but I really feel I shouldn't like, impose on them and live here forever....so I'm looking around for apartments but most of all I NEED A ROOMMATE!!! I can't live by myself; I hate it!! please if you know anybody let me know!

I also have a new boyfriend (yaaay :) His name is Ryan; he's my cousin Kevin's best friend and I've known him for a couple of years at least (we can't remember when we met....lol). He is so great and I think I am really lucky :) I won't keep writing about him because I don't want to make anybody puke (cause I'm so nice) but you can always ask if you want to know more. tehee.

I wonder when I became okay with my own impatience. It's not okay.

I'M HOME :)

I LOVE IT <3

free free free free free FREEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

i am a frikin colidge gradugeragrajew IM FRICKIN DUN!!!!

omg i can read a book......i can read a book if i want! i can take a nap...

last train ride!!!!!!! I like the trains actually, I will miss them a little....and the metro too, even though the metro is horrendous it really IS a very, very interesting place, hahahahaha....we have had SO many little metro adventures it's ridiculous. kind of a love/hate relationship with really good experiences and really bad ones ;)

oooooh yesss it's a double-decker, I was soooo hoping my last train ride would be in one of these!! ok I have to go....it's my last chance to enjoy watching the Spanish countryside, at least a little of it. I wrote this during the ugly part :) GOODBYE VICÁLVARO, you ugly little town with its ugly little campus, you.


********************
I'm home now but I'm going to get a drink with Andrea because I won't see her tonight. and then I have to get back here and pack holy crap!!!!!!

I'm coming home in three count 'em THREE days!!! I feel like I should be sad to leave, I love this country, and leaving my Spanish family and allll my friends here should be really sad, but I just feel psyched to be home hahahaha. I think the rest doesn't really feel real yet. I'm such a "home" person; I just like to be home, it's been great here buuuuut you know. I'm ready to come back; I've been ready for a while haha :)

I feel like I've become so much more independent and adventurous here. I feel like a lot of things that used to make me uncomfortable I will now be able to face fearlessly (rawr!).

I have the strangest desire to just give America a big hug. All of it. The whole country. That's so stupid...

I wish that not everyone from my program was from California, Nevada, Montana, New York, Maryland, Florida....none of them even remotely close to Ohio (except Patrice in Chicago, but that's still kind of far). Going to see ANYONE except Patrice would be ridiculously expensive and difficult. aw. at least we have facebook :)

I know I am a total facebook addict, i have a problem....hahaha! But it's my only connection to home, and currently the one thing the remaining threads of my sanity are clinging to, this week. I am not actually on there constantly like it seems; I added facebook chat to my IM client (it combines them) so basically whenever I'm online I appear on facebook as well. but I am on facebook a ridiculous amount of time too.

I have 2 more papers to write; both of them are outlined but they will still take forever to write. I slept two hours last night so I should be able to stay up pretty late but I DON'T think I can make it the whole night again, which sucks because I also have two finals tomorrow!! My life sucks so much right now. threeeeeeee more days. The one paper is due today but I will leave it till Thursday (to turn in) and Jorge can just frickin deal with it, I don't care if he doesn't has to rush to grade it; he shouldn't have assigned us two papers (which we had to read a whole book for, because they're about it) AND five final drafts (just correcting our old essays, still it's a time-sucker) for the last week. Jerk. I hope he DOES have to stay up all night correcting this shite, he deserves it. God knows I've had it worse.

Ok, here is my really for real update. I don't have time for it. Oh well.

I love love lovvvved Switzerland :) I seriously DO NOT have time to put up pictures of it, though. I have a feeling the Ireland and Switzerland albums will have to wait until I get home, sadly. Oh well. Anyway--it seriously is SO beautiful. So was Ireland, but in a different way. And so was France. And so was Portugal. I love how they are all completely gorgeous, but so completely different!! Every major city has its own special flavor, its own character, and it sets it apart completely from all the others. /sigh I love Europe.

But I still love America MORE!! It's my home and always will be. I have heard that people come here and drastically change their opinions about America (by which I mean, they hate it and never want to go back). I think this is retarded. It's the mark of a person with very weak convictions, if you ask me--either they just attach themselves firmly to whatever strong opinion is closest at the time, or never bothered to believe in anything before leaving their ordinary lives behind in the first place. In reference to the second, it's natural to be radically changed here--we are all changed. An experience like this DOES that, and it's okay. My point is that they were never changed BEFORE, just drifting purposelessly without any kind of conviction because--this is the part that really bothers me--they never valued any of their former experiences enough to be significantly impacted by them. I don't have a problem with people changing their minds (in general), I just don't like people changing their minds without a good reason, or without really thinking it through (as objectively as they can).

In reference to the first--I have done this, I do this, I will probably continue doing it. Probably, so does everyone else. But I think we should avoid it if we can. It's not bad to be influenced by others--it's a fundamental part of relationships, if you ask me--but not without careful consideration, not without taking into account all of the events and experiences in your life that have brought you to where you are now. All of these things, old experiences and new, have to be reconciled somehow; you can't just bounce back and forth and all over the place whenever you feel like it, forgetting the rest. That's not a life; it's a video game.

So that was me getting distracted (welcome to my brain!), getting back on track here--MOUNTAINS. Switzerland has freaking mountains literally everywhere you turn; it's like everywhere you look is another postcard snapshot. So neat :)

I flew into Geneva with my friends Mary and Patrice. We parted ways at the airport; they took a train to Interlaken and I took one to Yverdon-les-Bains to see my friends from HOME (HOME HOME HOMEY HOME!!!!)! We were a little concerned about this because TBR was onstage at 10:30pm, and my train didn't even get into town until 10, so it would be cutting it pretty close. But fortunately, the venue was REALLY close to the train station (10-minute walk). I found my way there okay, although when I arrived at the address it looked like just a bunch of dark warehouses and porta-potties, so it was a little creepy (I knew I was at the right place because of the TBR sign for Amalgame Club....but still). I wandered in nervously, a little blonde girl in a summery green flower-print dress, dragging my cute little red-and-blue suitcase behind me with a floaty scarf (the handle broke, haha) and following the muted sound of alternative rock music, walked into the first door I found, which was some kind of empty cafe, but I found a couple of guys working on God knows what, and said "Amalgame Club?" with the most confused and pleading look I could conjure up (I dont' speak French, which is the predominant language in the area, so I just had to hope they would recognize the name of the place through my American pronunciation). They pointed me in the right directon (the door was hard to see because it had a black curtain in front of it, what is with these people??), and as it turned out one of the guys was British; when he found out where I was from he said he had an American dj playing that night (so either this place was another club, or he meant amalgame?? I have noooo idea, I had no idea where I was, LOL, Im just glad it didn't turn out to be a sex shop or anything) and then asked me if I was in the band. I enjoyed that immensely :) and then said no, I'm a friend of the band (also enjoyed that...hahaha).

Anyway, got inside the club and before I got any farther than "Bonjour" (not that I had anything much beyond that, lol) the girls at the desk said "Are you GRETCHEN??" and I said yes, and they were like ok you're on the guest list, we'll stamp your hand and then come this way....so the girl took me backstage where I saw JEREMY!!!!!! YAY!!!! I am going to interrupt myself here and just say that I am so homesick and it was really good to see familiar faces from home (HOMEY HOME HOME!). And to get hugs; nobody hugs in Spain, we do the weird cheek-kissing thing, which is so not as cool. ANyway. I actually ended up speaking individually with each band member at some point before the show as I was rearranging my suitcase backstage while they were all popping in and out getting ready, and I have a good story about this--

So I met the new drummer, Cameron--actually maybe we met before, I can never remember this kind of stuff, like when you meet someone BRIEFLY once and then not see them ever again for like a year or five, it just makes it awkward to mention it, you know? I think I've finally learned to not do that, haha--who is super nice, by the way, and part of our conversation went like this:
Him: "So where are you from, exactly?"
Me: "Oh, I'm from Toledo as well, didn't you hear?"
Him: "Yeah, but I meant, where did you come from, like, today? Like, why are you 'over here'?"
Me: "Ohh right, well I came today from Madrid. I'm studying there for a semester actually, and then coming home in a couple of weeks. So, I just came here for the weekend."
Him: "Ah, Madrid, okay. And...is that.......in Switzerland?"

I was laughing so hard I couldn't even answer for a minute--yeah, I just laughed right in his face, it was maybe not nice--I don't think he was offended though, he was just like "Haha yeah I'm not very good at 'over here' " and I was like "Clearly..." anyway that is a good story, I hope it's as funny reading it as it is when I tell it in person; it's quickly become one of my favorites :) please don't tell Cameron though.

The show was full of awesome. It felt like home (HOME HOME HOMEY HOME) to be there, seriously! All the guys were sick though, and worn out, and you could almost tell because their show was SLIGHTLY toned down from the normal insanity (they are one of the most fun live bands I've ever seen, seriously). After that it was just waiting around while they chatted with fans and signed stuff, tearing down and having a beer (I still hate beer but I am getting to a tolerance point now, besides it was free), loading the van and heading out. The venue had booked them three rooms in this weirrrd little hotel (it was SO ugly, lol...so so so UGLY! but clean and comfortable enough, hahaha. Oh, Europe). It didn't have 24-hour reception, so I went on a little adventure with Jeremy and Cameron trying to find a washing machine (unsuccessful, but we did find some weird windows which Jeremy asserted were in fact fire escapes, based on the fact that each was accompanied by a gigantic fire hose, which you would then use to shimmy down the side of the building if it were on fire. Come to think of it, I haven't seen any fire escapes in Europe; do they have them??).

I shared a room with Jeremy; it was fun, almost like a sleepover, lol! Fortunately there were two twin beds which we could just push apart, so nobody had to sleep on the floor, by which I mean we didn't have to fight over who would sleep on the floor, because earlier he was being all nice and gentlemanly and I was like dude, no way, you're still sick and I'm freeloading, there is no way I am letting you sleep on the floor--i am telling you all this because I want to ask, is this a wrong attitude? I know I need to allow people to do nice things for me, and not let my pride get in the way, and I also want to let men be gentlemen (I really hate it when women get all hissy over some guy opening the door for them, seriously, calm down lady)--but I WAS freeloading, they were being so nice by giving me somewhere to stay the night (none of the hostels or even the expensive hotels had openings in this little town for that night; I had only asked them if I could sleep in their van and I would've been perfectly happy with just that), and more importantly he WAS sick and very tired, whereas I was not. So, I don't know which is better. What do you think?

We weren't planning on leaving until 8 Saturday morning, but strangely enough both of us woke up at 6 even though we'd only slept like 3 hours (I don't get it...), then they drove me to the train station, cursing European roundabouts and confusing roads the whole way, and we parted ways there, which was sad. I ran off and then cried on the train. Not much, though; fortunately Switzerland is distractingly pretty! Anyway, I have to say, the guys were just ridiculously nice and helpful and awesome the whole time, I'm so thankful for them, and I had a really fun time with them too.

Moving right along--I've now been writing this (off and on; I am almost constantly IM-ing every night) for an HOUR now--I traveled by train to Interlaken. It was supposed to take a little over three hours, but I screwed it up a couple of times--err, I mean, I took the scenic route. The five-hour scenic route. It was a little bit frustrating, but mostly I really did not mind, because I was having a good time of it, sitting there and relaxing and listening to my ipod and watching the Swiss countryside (quite a lot of it) go by. The Swiss trains are reeeeally nice, by the way; they're very comfortable, you have a good view, they're clean, and very efficient--they are always exactly on time, to the minute. I enjoyed them. (Soooo much nicer than flying, just not as fast! I hate flying, by the way).

EVENTUALLY I got to Interlaken, checked into the hostel (which was really nice, possibly the best one I've stayed in), and then went out and found Patrice and Mary (Not difficult; Interlaken is really small, and my phone was miraculously working--usually only works in Spain, although it's SUPPOSED to work in other countries; it's very Spanish in its inefficiency). They had done a really fun ropes course that morning and then rented some bikes to ride around. Then we went whitewater rafting! It was reeeallly fun (of course!). The river was SO cold, so they gave us these wetsuits (really hard to get into! and even harder to get out of afterwards, since we were wet haha) which actually kept us pretty warm; I wasn't cold at all the whole time. The rapids were all class II and III, so nothing too crazy, which is good because my friends hadn't done it before and were nervous (I don't know WHY, I TOLD them we weren't going to die!!! why don't they ever believe me when I say this, have I been wrong yet??)

After this we got changed and walked around the town taking pictures, souvenir shopping, and most importantly, chocolate shopping at this famous store called Schuh (yes, it does mean shoe), which is the oldest chocolatier in Switzerland and someone told us was rated like the best chocolate in the world or something, a couple of years ago. We met some really awesome people at our hostel, including my roommate Alan who is one of THE NICEST people I have EVER met in my LIFE (was he gay???) why isn't everyone that nice? Although I do meet a lot of really nice and friendly people in hostels; it's kind of the best part of staying there (besides the price). They are really interesting!

Sunday morning Mary and I got up early to take a walk down to one of the lakes (Interlaken = "between lakes"; because um, it's between two lakes. a pretty-sounding name for a very simple concept, haha), then we checked out, took a train (the RIGHT one this time) back to Geneva, and flew back home to Madrid.

Now I am slogging through paper-writing hell. There are approximately 5 papers, 2 essays, 1 presentation, and 5 finals in between "me" and "done". But done is done FOREVER. eeeeee!!!

current thoughts on this subject:
-Jorge, Sara, Paul, and Pablo currently own my life. And they are not kind masters.
-A week from today (it's thursday here, just), I will no longer need my Study playlist!! I just realized this.

is this the longest post in they history of my LJ?? quite possibly so, quite possibly. I just havent had the chance to tell you any of my stories in so long! I couldn't help it. And it was fun. And now I have to get back to writing the two essays and preparing the presentation for tomorrow. bleh.

8 DAYS TILL HOME HOME HOMEY HOME!!!

I don't have time to update for real because I'm in class. Instead I'll just post a video (full of awesome). But, hello, hi, I'm still alive! 10 DAYS TILL AMERICA!!

Sorry about the last post, I didn't mean to make it sound so dire...it was a serious matter, but it's been taken care of, I've discussed it with people and prayed about it and acted as well as I could. It's done, it's over, and I want it behind me where it belongs! I am NOT going to let it get me down. No way.

So Ireland was awesome and all, but I don't have enough room on my computer to transfer the pictures, and I don't have the time to rearrange space on my computer! So, we'll see how that goes!! It was so beautiful though. I didn't want to leave! It's the first trip I've ever taken where I wasn't missing Madrid by the end of it, but that might just be because half the other trips were to places where I don't speak the language, and that gets old REALLY fast :)

Friday I'm going to Switzerland!!!!! and guess WHAT, the EXACT SAME day I'm flying in is the ONE DAY that This Beautiful Republic will be playing a show in Switzerland during their European tour!!! (Crazy, right?? No way could THAT be a coincidence!) SO, I'm going to fly to Geneva with Mary and Patrice, take a train to Yverdon-les-Bains to see the show, spend the night there, take a train to Interlaken Saturday morning to meet up with Mary and Patrice again, and go whitewater rafting and something else, I think mountain biking--that kind of thing! and then we'll come back on Sunday. The boys are being soooo sweet, they are letting me stay in their hotel Friday night AND taking me to the train station in the morning (providing, of course, that it isn't "too early"--so I might end up taking myself there after all but still, it's the thought that counts, lol)!! how CUTE! I am so excited to see them. I need to see some familiar faces really badly! School stress is making me homesick!

The only trouble is that the website for the Swiss trains is reeeally confusing...I even called and they just told me to send an email, which I'm supposed to get a response to within 24 hours. Hopefully it all works out smoothly (I think it will! actually I'm pretty sure). Our hostel looks awesome, I actually wish we had more time to spend there....but nooooo I have to get back to the grindstone. soooooo tired....but...

2.5 more weeks of school before I'm done--FOREVER!! I can't believe it!

ughhhhh. that went so much worse than I hoped it would. SO. MUCH. WORSE.

I don't feel guilt over my (horrible horrible) mistake, anymore. I talked with God, I told him everything. I know I'm forgiven. I accept it (gladly). And believe me, I am so thankful for it. But I still feel so disappointed with myself. And I still have to DEAL with it. And it isn't over even now. :(

I'M SO EXCITED!! My big sis is coming tomorrow <3 <3 <3 we're going to to stuff in Madrid and Toledo and Segovia and Barcelona! lalalala!

And the Jarchows are already here, I got to see them <3 lalala! (<--current happy phrase)

I'm also planning trips to Ireland and Switzerland, so, look forward to being even MORE jealous of me than you already ARE!!! (I am always the one who is jealous of other people....so...I have to rub this in as Much As I Can! ha!)

(but I want to come home...!!!! /sniff)

I had my first bug-in-the house experience here today, it was in my bathroom....ewww! I think actually my host brother is still up but I am still too embarrassed to ask any of my host family to kill bugs for me. They probably already think I'm so weird; do I really want to add bugaphobic to that list??

I actually do have a serious bug phobia. I get really freaked out--at first I thought I was just doing it for attention (LOL) but then I noticed that it's the same level of reaction when I'm alone too (often including jumping back, squealing, running out of the room, and wringing of hands, just depends on how big it is and how surprised I am by it...!) I mean, most girls are not fond of bugs, but also most people get a little uncomfortable at great heights or in tiny spaces--but people who seriously are acrophobic or claustrophobic understand the difference, this ridiculous, unreasonable, crippling fear (I am kind of laughing while writing this, but it's all true. I'm not exaggerating at all).

I tried and tried to beat it and force myself to squish bugs, told myself not to be such a baby, I can totally do this-- but it ended badly (heart pounding, hands shaking...I had to go lie down...)



another weird phobia i have--have I talked about this before??? I'm getting deja vu here....oh well, anyway, I'm afraid of electric fans. NOT ceiling fans, mind you; a lot of people have unreasonable terror of ceiling fans but I am not one of those freaks (LOL), no, I'm just afraid of the regular fans. I hate to even get near them, and I do it as fast as I can if I have to like, turn it on and off, and really hate having to reach behind a fan to turn it off; I always think somehow it is going to "get" me. I've been this way since I was little. I even remember crying at my grandmother's house when I was a teensy little tyke because I was scared of the noise the bathroom fan made (and you can't even SEE that one), and she sat me down and said "Oh no, Mr. Fan is a NICE fan; Mr. Fan is our friend, and he helps us!"

haha... but at least I have reached a point by now that I CAN turn a fan on and off, or even *shudder* remove the grate and touch the blades, if absolutely necessary....but I still can't squish a bug :(

any other weird phobias out there??

ok these are NOT work/child safe, just so you know. but they ARE ummmm fantastic.



I may have posted this one before; I don't remember.....if you're an anime-hater don't be put off; it's just a bunch of mixted anime clips added to the song, honest!


DISTURBING...
(omg 1:42 hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!)

[the original poster, qft: "The question is, how the hell do you even define what sexual harassment IS in that series!?" seriously!]

I picked some favorites. You can see the whole album on facebook, but if you're too lazy, these ones are fun :)

( pictures! )