Studying with my Sweetie

Not that sweetie, my cat Sweetie (who is really usually a witch). Every time I start to try and study, which is important, ya know? Sweetie wants attention and gets in the way. Other than that, she loathes attention. But as soon as I look like I need to focus, there she is purring and snuggly. Here is a picture of her saying, "Don't even think about opening that book, Ali! I am here and I want your attention now." (until I try and shove her away and she scratches my neck. Ow. She is truly a witch...

Mugsy's Neurosis

Here's a tidbit of what it's like when you're crazy in the head like Mugsy (and what it's like to live with him):

"Aroof (tilt head to side as if I might be able to understand if I do this)?"

"What are you doing? Where are you going? You're walking that way? YOU'RE GOING OUTSIDE?! I want to come! Can I come? Open the door! Come on, what're you waiting for?! OH! You want me to sit? I forgot you make me do that every time. Ok, I sat! Can I go? Can I go? I'M IN THE YARD! (run side to side lightening fast and inspect for demons or ghosts or strangers) A flying fly! Arf! Darn! Missed it! (run up onto the raised border, even though I know I'm not supposed to, just to show how excited I am) AH! My tail! Hurry, GET IT! Chase it! GROWL! SNARF! WHoa! A gust of wind! That's shocking! (whip head quickly in opposite direction while looking uber alert) Ok, everything's fine. Don't worry, I took care of it with my manliness. STRANGER DANGER!!!! RRR, RRR, RRR!~ Hazootalo! I have spotted an intruder! Growl, growl, growl. (sniff stranger skeptically, jolting back every couple of seconds in case it lunges at me) Why does it smell like plastic?! I've never seen this before in my life! Eh, it's not movin'. I must've scared it stiff. GOOD! That's what I DO!!!!! (continue running about the yard and being suprised at everything I see)"

In conclusion, if you're wondering who the "intruder" was toward the end there, it was his plastic bin (yes, an inanimate object) that sits in his exercise pen every day with him. I had rinsed it out because he peed in it (which is what it is for) and left it upside down to dry in the backyard last night. It's an exhausting lifestyle, but somebody's gotta do it. The rest of us have no idea what neurotic people and dogs and other creatures go through to protect and serve. I personally am very thankful that Mugsy would never let a blade of grass quiver without bringing it to my attention.

Troublemakers at the Weezer Show

This was a "hootenanny" (sp?) where 30 local artists got to come up on stage and play with Weezer. The best was probably the dude with the melodica that nailed a solo in Island in the Sun!

At first they had white jumpsuits, but then they stripped and had red. Whoohoo!
The guys were awesome because they all switched around and played different instruments or sang and were so multi-talented. I didn't even realize they could harmonize like a barbershop quartet!



Someone blew up a condom like a balloon and we all bopped it around (actually none of us touched it), but it was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.


A & A other dude.

Tom grabbing himself ala Michael Jackson.

Yay! We're here to see Weezer!

Nice sock head, buddy.

"Ha, ha, ha. This show will be great. I'm having so much fun, are you?"

"Yeah."

Tom making love to the mic.

A "candid" shot of us walking to the Coliseum.

After much great anticipation, we attended the best concert we've seen since Jared and I got been married (just don't ask what other concerts we've seen in the last three years together...)!!! It was Weezer, of course, which was opened for by Angels & Airwaves (and some other no-name band). All were fun to listen to and watch, when we weren't being blinded by the "revenge of the rock stars on paparazzi throughout the decades!" lighting effects. The crowd was somewhat docile compared to what I was geared up for, but maybe just the kids around us were scared of us because we were obviously older and more knowledgeable in knife-fighting and such skills than they could possibly be... There was a little crowd surfing and jumping up and down and maybe I shoved one girl a little and boxed people out with my butt and elbows a little (the other mean side of Ali came out and had some fun), but not a lot of any of that. It was better than getting my arm broken though! The lead singer is really funny and one of my favorite things was when he would just jump on a trampoline while playing like a spazzy little kid. Below are some vids of our adventures in Weezerland!

Candy's Windy Wedding

I think I win the prize for most spastic blogging ever. No consistency or follow-through whatsoever, but hey, its better than nothing!~ I must admit, I use Facebook a lot to post pics and give updates/see what other people are up to. So, to catch you all up briefly...

...we had fun in Cancun, Hannah got a boyfriend named John, Nat moved in, Candy and Scott got married, Ali is applying for night school to get her Master of Arts in Teaching at George Fox (trust me, we don't all want to hang presidential candidates - there are crazies at every school, right?) because she wants to be a middle school teacher someday, I can't wait to go to Cody and Emily's wedding someday, we're planning a Halloween party at which we'll be wearing Street Fighter costumes, we're looking forward to snowboarding this year, we're still attending our beloved Life Group sometimes (but hope it will pick itself back up soon here as it's been in sort of a lull over the summer), we're staying home for the holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas namely), Jared is probably pretty overwhelmed, but overall LIFE IS GOOD.

Not suprisingly, I also win the prize for longest run-on sentence. Yay me!

Hasta la vista, Baby!

One more for the road, I guess, as it has been a while... Tomorrow bright and early I leave for beautiful Cancun, Mexico! For EIGHT WHOLE DAYS! It may be stormy, but I won't have to work! I couldn't be more excited! I'll post some pictures from my NEW DIGITAL CAMERA I got for my birthday when I return! Wow, I am a total braggert today, but I don't really care because I'M GOING TO CANCUN!!!!! Adios, amigos! Ooh, and if you want to learn or brush up on Spanish, just let me know. I have this awesome website my friend Edvin told me about that I'm playing on now.

"Wow. That is usually super hard. I guess I just got lucky!"

The title is a funny quote in honor of my best friend, Emily, who inspired me to write today by telling me she enjoyed reading my entries, which she probably will live to regret someday...

Last night, while hanging out with aforementioned BFF, I discovered yet another raw talent of mine - bird whispering. It's the uncanny ability to soothe and calm the wildest of bird spirits into docile, gentle, loving playmates. It all began when Emily (who I think you should know has a long family history of being bird-lovers and also a bit bird-like) was telling me she wanted to forfeit her two parakeets, Vavagreen and Aquamablooey (if I remember their names correctly), to the fateful hands of Craigslist, but had been unsuccessful. Thus, stranding her with the two "worthless" creatures seemingly indefinitely!
She was so distraught I simply had to try and do something. So, I lifted the birdcage from it's hook on the ceiling and brought it down to my level on the coffee table. I quietly and slowly opened the door to their prison and, while uttering soft reassurances such as "Don't be scared my beautiful baby birdie boos." They love alliteration, so this got me off to a great start with them.
After the initial nervous flapping around, I decided to get serious and use the old "Good Cop/Bad Cop" trick and put on a black snow glove and continued trying to carefully grab them and hold them until they loved me as much as I wanted them to. This worked so well they simply got tired of hating me and decided they loved me so much they would stand on my hand for aproximately 2 whole minutes! This is a sure sign of affection any bird expert will tell you.
Now at least one of the two special little buddies is COMPLETELY domesticated, like an old golden retreiver that just loves to be pet so much.
And that's the story of how I tamed the birds.

Trust me, I'm not slacking...

I may not have blogged as much lately, but it's only because I've been so busy with everything! I will write more soon!!!!!!! I have a bachelorette party Friday, a test on Saturday and then working Sunday! Another speed weekend, here I come! But life is good. I can't wait to get back in school!