Word vomit.

Twenty days without a single word from myself. New record, I believe.

Anyway, I played dominos for the first time ever tonight.. Mexican dominos to be exact. It was fun.. much better than I thought it would be. I came in second, which is pretty good I must say. I am sure I will take the crown next time; I'm pumped and ready... watch out, suckers! ;)

***

I finally got my brakes/rotors/drums changed out today on my car. Thank you, Thomas, for being so kind and installing it all! You are my life saver. :)

He did, however, find that I needed to replace one of my tires because it was getting too close to a blowout. Ugh. So, I took my car to Walmart after work and had two new tires put on.

It feels so much better and safer driving in my car now.. I had forgotten what it was like to put on my brakes and not have my entire car shake. Still though, I need a new windshield and an oil change. I very much miss having my dad take care of everything. Why must we grow up?!

***

I've been quite sad this past week... one of my very best friends is moving off to school, about two hours away from home. Actually, he has already moved his stuff up there; but he will be back to play in the band at church one last time tomorrow. After that, he goes back to his new apartment at his new school to make new friends... :/

But seriously, I am very happy for him. This will be a great experience and he will be going into the major he is passionate about. I am excited for him because he will have some very fun/interesting classes to attend.

Yay for Bubba! :)

Also, I will have a new place to visit every so often... and it's not too far from Nashville! I've never actually visited that musical city, just their airport. I feel a road trip to Nashvegas coming soon!

***

Oh yeah!... I finished my short story! :)

I will post it as soon as I get some constructive criticism back from my previewers. Not one of them has yet to tell me anything, so I may just post it without any outside help. Tell you what, I will definitely post it Tuesday... so make sure you come back then and read it! And leave all the comments you want... the good, the bad, and the ugly... I can take it all.

***

Goodness, I really just went to town with this update. Sorry for skipping around to so many subjects, but that's what happens when a certain someone with a certain blog puts off updating for weeks at a time. What are we ever going to do with her?!

I need a buddy.

3 MONTHS UNTIL NOVEMBER.

I am excited. Very excited.

I have decided that someone I know HAS to do NaNoWriMo with me. Having a writing buddy that is actually a friend would help me so much! I know I'll have support and encouragement from everyone around me, but to have a friend going through it all with me would boost my confidence even more.

So, I ask that each of you at least look into it... who knows, maybe you'll feel inspired enough to take the challenge with me. :)

If you would like to be my writing buddy, let me know!

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. ;)

Car Troubles.

I took my car to get new brakes today because my car shakes and I sometimes hear a grinding sound when I put on my brakes. The guy inspected it and told me that I needed new brakes, rotors, and drums.. whatever those are. The estimate that he came up with was $450.. so, including tax and all, it would be 500 freaking dollars. 

Luckily, my friends' dad, Bill, happened to come into the lobby before the mechanic came in (he was getting something done to his car). Bill told me that I should probably get someone else to look at it to make sure what they were saying was legit. So I called my grandpa and he told me that our family friend could do it all, I would just have to buy the parts which would make the whole process A LOT cheaper. I am very thankful that Bill was there to tell me that they were probably ripping me off. Stupid men... preying off of girls who are mechanically ignorant. 

So, now I am still driving around in the death trap. Pray that it holds together until I can get it fixed!

Not only are the brakes messed up, but I need a whole new set of tires. I went about a month ago to get them rotated and the guy told me that the tread was getting so worn off that rotating them would make it more unsafe.

There is also a HUGE crack in my windshield that has been getting bigger and bigger over the past several weeks. I've been holding off on getting one or the other to see which would be more imperative because I know that as soon as I get new tires, my windshield will shatter or if I were to get a new windshield, my tires would blow out. I would be up a creek without a paddle.

But now, the brakes come first. This is so frustrating! I miss living with my dad because he took care of my car and could fix anything that was wrong with it. 

Lord, please help me!

F I F T Y

Random facts about yours truly:

1. I have a collection of over 250 dvds that is continually growing.

2. Locked my keys in the car... while it was running.

3. I competed in a national cheer competition in Disney World.

4. I've gotten pulled over by a cop twice but have only had one ticket.

5. Moved out of my parent's house when I was 18.

6. Got a hole in one during a Putt-Putt game.

7. I was a model for Macy's when I was younger.

8. Read a book in a single day.

9. Someone legitimately told me they wanted to marry me.

10. Stood in Times Square.

11. Discovered "dragon boogers".

12. Saw Twilight in theaters more than 10 times.

13. Sang on stage in church with the PPK.

14. Played piano in a recital.

15. Tripped in front of everyone at school.

16. Memorized the first 19 lines of the Canterbury Tales Prologue.

17. Played the "question game" with someone non-stop (besides sleeping) for several days.

18. I have almost 50 hours of play time on sudoku on my iTouch.

19. I've ridden on the back of a motorcycle.

20. I've been the photography editor of a yearbook.

21. Completed only one year of college before "taking a break".

22. I have skied on both water and snow.

23. Volunteered for a good cause.

24. Marked the wrong answers on my test because I knew someone was cheating off of me. (I changed my answers when they weren't looking.)

25. Passed my drivers test the first time.

26. Made a meal out of a bowl of corn.

27. Pretty much taught myself to put contacts in when I was young.

28. Lasted 10 days on $20.

29. Took a kick boxing class.

30. Watched "A Walk to Remember" everyday for months.

31. I have only kissed two people.

32. Took three years of Spanish.

33. I have watched every single Dawson's Creek episode. More than once.

34. My first concert experience headlined Billy Ray Cyrus.

35. I've had a phone conversation that lasted more than 5 hours.

36. I kept a diary in 10th grade and shredded every page of it last year.

37. Ran into a wall when I had Vertigo.

38. Played percussion in my middle school band.

39. Helped produce and direct a play my neighborhood friends and I put on for the parents.

40. I have moved 9 times.

41. Got stung by a baby jellyfish.

42. I am still working at my first full time job.

43. Walked the halls of the White House.

44. Saw three shooting stars in one night.

45. Went to the movies alone several times.

46. I have sealed away secrets to this very day.

47. Hit a mailbox with a car.

48. Learned to do a back handspring without a spotter.

49. Voted for McCain in the last presidential election.

50. Was taught the "Hoedown Throwdown" by one of my guy friends.

It's the little things.

Yesterday was a very slow day at work, meaning a very boring day for Cassie. And, even though I had Bible study to look forward to that night, the day still put me in a "blah" mood. On the way home from work, I got off onto my exit and was behind a random SUV. Two little kids were sitting in the back and just started frantically waving at me (keep in mind, I do not know these kids). I wasn't completely sure they were waving at me, so I ignored them for a minute. When they persisted, I realized they were probably playing a game, so I waved back. They jumped up and down, showing excitement in their success. This instantly put me in a good mood. I smiled as I thought of all the times my siblings and I played the same type of games. Those two little strangers brightened my entire day.

I love it how the smallest thing can have such an impact on a person's day.

New friends.

So, I'm having a little trouble getting started on my challenges... but they're coming! I promise. :)

I feel like things have been so crazy lately.. but not in a bad way. I am just way more busy than I have ever been before. We have been expanding our group of friends I am glad to say. Ash, Em, and I met Nicola and Alyssa at one of the Bible studies we are a part of. These girls are just so sweet and so much fun to be around. We have all gone hiking, played ping pong, went to a movie, played games, and hung out just in this past week. I love our new friends. :D We also have two Bible studies during the week, which are SO good. God really is speaking to me and stepping on my toes, which is something that I've really needed. It's a great thing for Him to put me in my place. My stubbornness keeps me learning the hard way.

There are things that I have been wanting to get done that I just haven't had time for... my silly (but fun!) arts and crafts, reading, writing, etc. ... but I am okay with putting all of that on hold to form new relationships. This summer has been the best ever... and it's not even over yet! I cannot wait to see what happens in the rest of this hot, sticky season.