My birthday!

Well, it isn't actually my birthday yet, I still have until the 30th as a 19 year old. And then, I will no longer be a teenager... WOOHOO!

Ebby Ray and Marian Holtorf were so kind to me this year and threw me the best party I have ever had for my birthday.
I had such a great time. A bunch of my Rochester families and friends were there, and we hung out in the beautiful weather and ate and chatted and played. What could be better?

Here is a link to some of the pictures that Veronica took for me. Enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=133925&id=548315258&l=7cec2e311b

Stereotype

Ok, so the other day I read a post someone put on facebook. The title of the post was even suggesting that I specifically read it. So, of course, I checked it out. I was thinking it was going to be funny or something that I would appreciate because this person and I often laugh at the same things. But not lately.

Well, this was not a post that I enjoyed one bit. It may have been funny to people who stereotype in that manner, but when the stereotype is something you get enough of, you don't want to read about it in a "humerus" way.
This post made sure to elaborate on how lazy my generation is. It said "You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled." It also said something along the lines of us being spoiled brats.... Really?!? All of us are spoiled brats? Good to know. I guess I missed that memo.

This is a stereotype I have to fight all the time. I hate being put into a generalization of my generation. I am not a lazy spoiled brat. I dare someone to say that to me and mean it.
I work two jobs, soon to be three, two of which are management positions that I worked for. Not long ago I was working 7 days a week.
I bought my own car, I pay for my insurance, which is under my name... not my daddy's. I pay rent where I live. I pay for my phone bill, I buy my own groceries, clothes, shampoo, furniture. Yes, people have me over for dinner, and before throwing out an entertainment center I was asked if I would like it. Some things get handed to me. But not to the extent of being someone who is lazy and spoiled. And especially not a brat.
I am not the "typical" 19 year old.

I don't mean to sound full of myself or to toot my own horn, but seriously, I can say those things about myself and know that they are true. People (who don't stereotype me, and who really know me for who I am) affirm me quite often with this. So, that is how I feel. That was my rant, and now I am done...

After thinking about this, I think it is really important for me and those of us who hate being stereotyped to quit doing it to others. I need to watch what I do and say about people. I would hate for someone to blog about me because they are mad about what I said!

Just do it

Do you ever wish, you could just do whatever it is that you want... within reason of course. Do you ever wish that the fear in you, about whatever it may be, would subside and you wouldn't second guess yourself or think twice about it, and you would just do it? I know I do... that is for sure.

Over the last two years I have changed so much, and this isn't just some observation I have made about myself, it is something that a lot of people have told me. There was growing up that needed to happen, bridges that needed to be burned and bridges that needed to be built. There have been great relationships established in the last two years that have changed my life in the best of ways. There was a lot of maturity lacking in my life, and there were things that I needed to find out for myself, it has been an adventure to say the least. I changed so much, and a lot of it, I like... but there is one thing in particular that needs to change asap! And it is this...

I have become too cultivated... is that the word I am looking for? I think so... I don't take the jump anymore. I think twice, I chicken out, I think about the long term... It is getting annoying. I know that in some cases it is a good thing to reevaluate the situation, but I have become quite the pansy this way. I have been thinking about all I could miss out on because of this. I don't want to think about what is in the water, I want to just jump in! I don't want to think about going off the jump when I snowboard, I just want to do it. And who cares about a spider bite?? Holy crap that is seriously something I need to get over! I always hear that they are more afraid of me that I am of them... but I choose not to believe it. Why? Am I more comfortable being afraid than I am embracing the fact that there will be spiders in my house sometimes?
I don't want to think about the worst case scenario in everything, because honestly, how often is our worst case scenario the real deal? I want to be free to just do.

This is my rant to myself. I am sure that many people go through the same type of thing. Not necessarily with water, snow and spiders, but we are all afraid of something. And I am sure that all of us have at least one thing that we really really wish we could get over. It is a learning process... a long one... for me anyway! My goal for now, until I leave, is going to be to get over some of these fears that I carry with me. I will not chicken out, I will live life without these fears that hold me back. (God help me!)

Randomness

Well, goodness, I have not posted in a long time! So, this post is to fill you all in on the random things that have been going on with me.

Well, I have started summer hours in the cafe. It is nice not working so much. And because of summer hours, I have had to pick up another job. It is a great one though. I am nannying for the Ganz family! I just love baby Micah and Anna, they make my heart smile every time I see them. I couldn't ask for a better couple of kids to watch for the summer.
Here is Micah just hanging out and resting his chin on my leg while we watch Everyday Italian on the Food Network. (our favorite show and channel)

And here is Anna and I playing on the front steps of the old house

This is in grama and grampa's back yard. Bubbers is not used to the grass yet. It was so funny watching him play in it. And as you can tell by Anna's hair... it was quite windy!

My sister came into town last week. We don't get to see each other as often as I would like. It is nice having at least one person from that side of the family that I talk to on a semi-regular basis. She came into town and we tried not to have too much of an agenda. We hung out at my place for a little bit while we decided what to do for morning. And, we decided to go get her nose pierced, it was fun being on the watching end of it. I can't imaging having a needle that big shoved through my nose! I can't believe I did it!
Then we went out for sushi with Ebby and Audrey. Deanne and Jennifer couldn't join us, but we made due and had a good time. We went to sushi itto... if I could go there at lease once a week, I so would. That place is amazing.
Then we just messed around for a while. We walked around for a little bit downtown, then went for coffee. And on a crappy rainy day, what could be better than a movie? Yep, that's right, nothing! So we went to go so Night at the Museum 2, a very cute movie.
And to finish off the day, we hung out at the Jensen's house. a darn good time.

I bought a pet the other day. It was fun, I have never really bought a pet before. I got a panther gecko, they are super cute. But I am not sure if it is a boy or a girl, and it was hard to come up with a name for a boy/girl gecko... so I named him Metro because I think he is a boy, but he is kind of girly... Whatever though, the name seems minuscule. All I know, is that I already love him! He was the cutest of all the geckos and he liked to be held, so that is why I chose him. Then when Veronica got home we put his house together. It was funny because we couldn't figure anything out! And the things that seemed like they should be easy didn't come with instructions... the few things that we really needed them for!
Here is Metro, he would dip his face in the water and then lick his lips? (Do gecko's have lips?) It was super cute.

Also, the other day Veronica and I went long boarding and rip-sticking. It was a fun time. I want to buy a long board now for cruising around town. If I get good enough it would be fun to get to work on a long board. I am pretty sure I would be the coolest cat on the block! (as if I am not already! Ha, just kidding...)

I think that is it for now. I will try to stay caught up better this summer!