Asterisk.

For the past (almost) two weeks, I have had the sense of forgotten homework looming over me like a cloud. I attribute this feeling to my lack of blog posting. So, here I am righting the wrong and contributing what little I can to the blogosphere.

It seems I have also forgotten the correct way in which to compose myself on here. Would you mind terribly if I just jot down a few ramblings that are bouncing around in my head?* Hey, thanks! You guys are super cool.

1. Today is Day 10 of no soft drinks, meaning Day 10 of headaches. I could have ended the strand of headaches if I had given up caffeine completely, but I did have a Starbucks drink or two.** Besides the headaches, there is no change in how I feel (energy wise or other).*** ...maybe as time progresses.

2. Speaking of things that are no more, Newbie - who was hired sometime in January - has left us. Last Thursday, she spoke with Dr. M just as she arrived to work and Newbie explained to her that she took another job and was starting Monday. She then asked Dr. M if she could go ahead and leave (we had a waiting room full of patients and a full schedule). Dr. M asked her if she could at least work through the end of the following day, seeing as we were going to be pretty busy. Reluctantly, Newbie agreed. Who does that?! Newbie claims her new place of employment would not let her give a two weeks notice, but I highly doubt that. So now, there are two techs working here, covering a three-tech job. We're in the process of looking for a new hire, but no one has applied yet.

This whole situation is just plain wrong. It's infuriating.

3. On the bright side of my current job situation, on May 1st I was given a raise and another week of vacation days to add to what I already had. That day marked 3 full years that I have been employed by Dr. M.

4. I have completed Midnight Sun for what I would say is the 11th time. It is the book of Twilight through Edward's eyes and thoughts. It is by far, my favorite of the series, even though it has not been finished. Every time I read it, I wish desperately that Stephenie Meyer has finished it as a surprise to her readers. Sadly, it always ends the same: abrupt and incomplete. I am still crossing my fingers that it will one day be finished.

5. Oh, goodness! I should have mentioned this first. I finished reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! (Don't worry, there aren't any spoilers in this.) Up until about a month ago, I was decided that I wanted to see the movie before I read it, as I have done with all of the others, but I have already had several key points in the final book spoiled for me and I wasn't going to let that happen anymore. I wanted to find out everything for myself. Guys, seriously. Shock and awe overwhelmed me as I read. You won't believe it until you see/read it! I am so glad I decided to read it before the last installment of the movie series came out! I wish I could say more, but I shall wait until the final movie is released. To be continued...

6. Speaking of the July release of HP7 Part 2, my siblings and I have planned our vacation around this important and historical event!**** I am so ready for July 13th so I can have all of my siblings under one roof for a whole week. I miss them so.

7. I'm sorry, but I have yet another book to talk about: Heaven is for Real. There is no way to convey in written word how much I loved this book. Colton has an amazing story to share. His description of Jesus gave me chills and brought forth tears. I am so excited to have this kind of Heaven, this kind of God, waiting on me. I recommend this book to any breathing person.

8. Before I started this post, I made a rather short list of things to write about and have been striking out each topic as I have finished its rather short paragraph. When I finished the list, another topic popped into my head; I wrote it on the list just so I could mark it off, and have since done it three more times. #obsessivelistmaker

9. I've been pondering on people's reaction to the weather. Every time it rains, patients, coworkers, etc. will makes comments about how "nasty" it is outside. I just don't understand that opinion. I can't help but see the beauty in it when it rains. It really is one of God's prettiest creations to me. I mean, look at the clouds: a deep charcoal mass replenishing the dry earth; water falling from the sky with a purpose; the cooling effect of precipitation; the life sustaining effect on plants; the beauty of lightening that accompanies it; the glorious roar of thunder that follows; the wonderful smell it leaves behind. What is so "nasty" about that?

10. My dreams have recently taken a drastic change. It's not always that there is a love interest in them, but if there is, it is usually the same person, for whatever reason. Lately, though, the love interest in my dreams has changed to a completely (and surprisingly) different person. The only thing I can deduce from this is that "times are-a-changin'"...

---

Inspirational Text #6:
Psalm 144:5-6 Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.

It's not just our heritage and the oxgoad on our side, we have the almighty God with us. We are his lightning and we are his arrows. We will leave a path of destruction for our Lord.

---

Inspirationl Text #7:
Tonight men, we face our greatest obstacle yet, those who have disgraced us and our father, but they have made a costly mistake, they stepped on our field. So tonight we make them pay, just like the "Judges" we have descended from.

---

This is my favorite from this season so far! Cody's team was going up against the other team from their church. Brilliant text.

Inspiration Text #8:
They may share our name but never have we faced an enemy bigger than this. Tonight, sons, we are without a weakness. They were our brothers but when they chose to oppose us, they chose destruction. Show them no mercy, for you shall recive none.

---

Movies seen in theaters: 26
DvDs bought: 60*****

*Clearly, this is the assumed response: "Of course not, Cassie, jot away."
**Sir Jacqués Paúl explained that weaning myself off of caffeine is far worse than quitting cold turkey, hence the headaches.
***I really want a Mountain Dew.
****Have I already told you all this?
*****I am trying to be more prudent with my money, hence the unchanging number.

I have the spine of an 80 year old.

I finally went to the chiropractor today. My appointment had me rolling out of bed at the crack of dawn but rest assured, I went back to bed when I got home at 9 something.

They first examined the range of motion in my back and neck. My back ROM was just fine... not great, but relatively normal. My neck ROM, however, was at a vastly lower percentage than where I should be at my age. The doctor then had X-rays taken of my back and neck. My backbone starts to curve to the right at about the third vertebrae from the bottom. My neck (that is supposed to have a natural curve from the side view) is completely straight, holding my head slightly out instead of directly over my body. The doctor says this makes my head feel like it ways 50 pounds as opposed to 12 pounds.

Ouch!* 

Well, I'm out of interesting life related things at the moment, so enjoy this list of movies that I love (one for each letter of the alphabet):
A- Avatar
B- Boondock Saints
C- Coyote Ugly
D- Dirty Dancing
E- Ever After
F- 2Fast 2Furious**
G- Girls Just Want to Have Fun
H- Harry Potter (don't make me choose just one!)
I- Inglorious Basterds
J- Juno
K- A Knight's Tale
L- League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
M- Mean Girls
N- Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
O- One Fine Day
P- Pride & Prejudice
Q- Quantum of Solace***
R- Runaway Bride
S- Star Trek
T- Timeline
U- Up In the Air
V- View from the Top
W- The Wedding Date
X- XXX
Y- You've Got Mail
Z- Zoolander




Movies seen in theaters: 18
DvDs bought: 60

*AKA "woe is me"/"poor Cassie!"/"pity me"... choose your favorite or insert your own meaning.
**It does too count as "F"! I'm letting it. Try and stop me.
***Eh, it was alright. It's the only movie that starts with Q that I've even seen.

How To: Have Fun with Cassie.

Everyday things I like to do with company:

• Arts and Crafts! I love to do anything crafty, i.e. make bracelets, paint canvases/pottery/anything really, take knick knacks and make them into something else, "fun science", make t-shirts, ModPodge, etc. It makes me very happy, especially doing these kinds of things with friends. And if you want me to really open up about something, this is probably the way to go... don't ask me why.
• Volleyball. This is such a fun sport to play with a group of friends, although I am less than mediocre. I play in various locations but I must say that my favorite is outside at Gilbert-Stevenson park on the sand volleyball court... it's a blast! Tennis is fun as well, but I am absolutely dreadful at it.
• Movie Theater. With the right people (i.e. those who will enjoy the movie without talking through it/making fun of it), going to the theater to see a movie is one of my most favorite experiences. The smell of buttered popcorn, the massive screen that invites you into the movie's world, the ability to prop your feet up on the seat in front of you, and the excitement of seeing a movie for the first time... it gets me everytime.
• Road Trip. Whether it be 30 minutes down the road, 6 hours, or half a day, I very much enjoy taking a trip with people who I can have a good time with... especially with great music and lots of laughter. The best part of a trip with friends is the journey.
• Game Night. There is nothing like playing games with a group of friends, especially Apples to Apples, Pop 5, Mexican Dominos, Taboo, Rummikub, Catch Phrase, Signs, Mafia, Spoons, and that game (in Inglorious) where each person has to guess the word/person that is on the card stuck to their forehead (does that game have a name?!). I didn't realize how many games I actually like to play.
• Reading Group. As in going to Starbucks or Barnes and Noble to read. I know reading is a solitary activity, but having others (Cody! :D) there reading with you makes it more enjoyable. Also, I love when we can put our books down and discuss what we are reading or whatever topic happens to be on our mind. That makes me feel intelligent. ;)
• Starbucks. I suppose this ties in to the last one, but Starbucks has the perfect atmosphere to just sit, talk, relax, and sip on a delicious latte. And hey, I would add Panera to that list as well.
• Debate. Even though it's frustrating, I find enjoyment in arguing my side of a discussion and having someone else try to convince me of theirs. Even over something as silly as what "soul mate" means and who Joey really belongs with. I don't like to admit defeat or that I am wrong, so most discussions end in "agree to disagree." It's fun. :)

And here's a tip: if you can make me laugh and keep me laughing, there is nothing we can do that wouldn't be fun to me.

Movies seen in theaters: 6
DvDs bought: 40

Twenty Ten.

Well it's that time of year again. TV and radio stations are looking back on 2010 and making lists of the best and worst of pop culture and music. I love lists so naturally, I love these countdowns and what not. So, I am going to give you a few quick lists of my year:

This that have happened to me in 2010:
-Started this here blog.
-Turned 21.
-Wrote (most of) a novel.
-Wrote multiple short stories.
-Took up painting/drawing for fun.
-Gambled for the first time.
-Started various other arts and crafts projects.
-Became more aware of things about myself that I used to overlook.
-Failed at planning a short vacation.
-Took a sucessful vacation that was not planned by me.
-Read the Hunger Games series and fell in love with it.
-Checked quite a few things off of a "Summer Bucket List".
-Talked to Travis Clark on the phone.
-Finally switched to a cell phone with internet access.
-Became an owner of a MacBook Pro.
-Touched an iceburg.
-Tried to start vlogging. Only made two videos. Two awful videos.
-Hiked 10 miles.
-Changed two tires.
-Read an entire book within 24 hours.
-Worked on Emmaus.
-Won NaNoWriMo.
-Did some other awesome stuff that I can't remember right now. :)

Favorite songs that came out in 2010 in no particular order:
-Goodnight Moon by Go Radio
-Need You Now by Lady Antebellum
-The Art of Letting Go EP by AJ Cheek (amazing songs!)
-Airplanes by B.o.B feat. Hayley Williams
-Love Like Woe by The Ready Set
-Teenage Dream by Katy Perry
-Love the Way You Lie by Eminem feat. Rihanna
-Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars
-The Only Exception by Paramore
-Grenade by Bruno Mars
-My First Kiss by 3OH!3 feat. Ke$ha
-Club Can't Handle Me by Flo Rida feat. David Guetta
-Haven't Met You Yet by Michael Buble
-Firework by Katy Perry
-Last Kiss by Taylor Swift
-Long Live by Taylor Swift
-King of Anything by Sara Bareilles
-Sam Tsui in general. I love everything he covers.
-Raise Your Glass by Pink
-Forget You by Cee-Lo
-Magic by B.o.B. feat. Rivers Cuomo
-Mine by Taylor Swift
-Dear John by Taylor Swift
-Half of My Heart by John Mayer
-Wavin' Flag by K'naan
-Glee!
I am sure there are more, but I have listed more than enough for now.

Things I would like to do in 2011:
-Finish writing my current novel or start and finish a different one.
-Vlog. At least take a legitimate stab at it.
-Read the all of the Narnia books and the rest of the HP series.
-Figure out what to do with my life.
-Read the Bible the entire way through.
-Solve a Rubik's Cube without the help of YouTube/instructions.
-Watch the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
-Increase my DVD collection to 560 (currently at 280) so it will be doubled.
-Find a new job.
-Complete BEDA.
-Fill every page of the journal that Padge made for me.
-Be more decisive.
-Move. To a different state entirely; or at the very least, to a new house/apt.
I suppose I will add to the list as I go.

Blogwise, I am going to start keeping a running count of a few things. That will start on January 1st. It will be interesting to see the numbers rise throughout the entire year.


December is almost over. Bring on a new year.

Zero Tolerance.

I love making lists! They are efficient, to the point, and tell you everything you need to know about me. So, here is another list for you to read and judge me on.

Pet Peeves:

• Having to repeat myself.
• Smacking of gum/food.
• Slurping of liquids.
• The volume being on an odd number on a radio or TV.
• Being asked several questions in one text.
• High pitched voices.
• Humming. Especially when the person isn't even humming a real tune.
• Superiority complexes.
• When things are out of its place.
• When someone expects me (or anyone else!) to do or buy something for them.
• Losing.
• People bailing on plans at the last minute.
• Being told instructions that I already know.
• Being accused.
• Forwards. The stupid ones through text or email that give you an ultimatum to send it.

Hey, what can I say? I'm a complex person. There are actually quite a few more, but I don't want to seem too uptight. ;)