"Oh, I'm getting DIZZY!"

This weekend Colby and I decided to be more outdoor-sy... We found out that we had a Saturday together and I told him that we could go to roaring river and go for a hike. So on a day where the news was telling everyone to stay indoors if you can, because it's going to be freaking hot, we journeyed to Roaring river to hike. When we got there we pretty much started right away. It was noon and already 90. We each grabbed a bottle of water and started our hike STRAIGHT UP- to the fire tower trail 3 1/2 miles long. Everything just gets blurry after this. The trail was literally straight up for the first half mile. then it evened out a bit, but not much. After the first big climb I had already drank half my bottle of water. So we're going along and after a while the woods really start to take its toll on me. First the bugs...THE MASSIVE BUGS! They kept dive bombing us and I'd scream and flail my arms, I knocked off my sunglasses many many times. Then the other creatures---Snakes. Colby and I saw a snake and he PICKED IT UP! I thought I was about to lose it. "Colby-Colby-Colby don't touch it! COLBY I SAID DON't TOUCH IT! Alright FINE if you get bit I'm running, and I'm not looking back!" The snake was about as big around as my little finger, and about 2 feet long. Then shortly after that we decided to walk back towards the beginning, we hadn't seen the fire tower yet, and we knew the beginning of the trail was way the hell out there. I was beginning to get claustrophobic. So we're heading back and at every rustling of the leaves my heart jumps into my throat and I have to stop and listen. It was hard to listen though because all I could really hear was my heart beating so fast. To make a long story short, we got lost. Our 3 1/2 mile hike ended up being a 7 mile hike with no water.

Colby had to put up with me: "I think I hear a bear...COLBY I think I hear a bear...." "It's a squirrel Char-Marie." "Oh." "Ewwww I just walked into a spider web."
"Ohh I feel like I'm going to hurl."
"I'm seeing spots."
" It's So HOT!"
" DAMN BUGS!"
"I don't care where we go I NEED OUT OF THE WOODS RIGHT NOW!"
"I can't breathe!"

We ended up on the highway and had to walk it for a ways. I think next time we'll just rent deliverance and call it a day.

Cheap Date Night: Part 2

So Colby and I had a delightful cheap date night. First we went to Imo's Pizza, I love the pizza there because they're cut into square pizzas..Bite Size. We sat there enjoying the atmosphere. Espn was on TV and Colb had his beer. After we were finished we decided that we would go watch a movie, and went to see Pirates of the Caribbean, because Colby hadn't seen it yet.

I have to tell you some of the random events that unfolded throughout the night. First off the ticket stub person, she was acting all cool and ripped our tickets with ONE hand! Oh yeah she just snapped the ticket stubs right in half. Colby said that if he had her job, he'd look for a way to jazz it up as well, I agreed. Then I had to use the restroom and upon exiting the restroom I ran into a real life PIRATE! She was looking in the mirror fixing her buckles and hankies and what-not. I ran....I mean ran out of the bathroom *because all night colby and I acted like complete dipshits* and I told Colby,

Me:"I just met a pirate!"
Colb: "What, are you sure?"
Me: "Yes I'm sure she was saying YARRrr into the mirror and, I don't know she may have really killed someone!"
Colby: "Well lets wait, because I didn't see a pirate go into the bathroom."
Me: "Just wait, you'll see. I don't joke about these situations."

Sure enough here comes the pirate out of the bathroom....

Colby: "Oh my gosh you're right, it is a pirate!"
Me: "Hurry lets go, she might stab us!"

So we mosey into the theater and it's pretty packed so we finally find a seat towards the top in the middle, and guess who we sat by! The freaking pirate...And not just her like 12 more pirates. She brought her whole pirate family with her to see the movie. I was very very scared for Colby's safety, sitting next to a pirate and all, So I told him not to let go of my hand because I was afraid he might get asked to join the pirate clan.....And I can't date a pirate- always pillaging and stuff.

So there you have it ladies and gentlemen.... For a night I felt like a celebrity because I got to sit next to pirates, and although I was scared and unsure whether I'd make it out alive, here I am able to tell the whole world that I'm cool by association.

Cheap Date Night

Colby and I have come up with a solution to monotony. We call it Cheap Date Night. Every Thursday we go out on a very inexpensive date. Tonight I think it's my turn to decide. Last time we had cheap date night we went to Fazoli's and had dinner, then we went to the movies and watched....?? something *I can't remember. Anyways, I think tonight I'd rather make it not so cheap date night and take Colby to eat SUSHI!


I love sushi. If I could eat something 24-7 it would be a jurassic park roll, or spicy tuna, or hmm the possibilities are endless.

Blah.

Colby and I sat down last night to figure out how much my books will cost me for my next semester in school. *cue the crickets in the background*




$500.00

Yes ladies and gentlemen.....$500

I wanna puke.........

Oy!

Tonight at work I "effed" up my wrist! I felt a pop and the rest is history. All in all a very successful night.

Colby and I have been working out the details of moving in together...Again. Hopefully by mid August we'll get everything settled into a three bedroom 1.5 bathroom...full basement apartment. Corey, Colby, and I. Jacob will be living in the dorms, but he'll be in Springfield so he'll pretty much live there too! I'm super stoked. Oh yeah and did I mention there are washer/dryer hookups...And *drumroll please... A DISHWASHER! WOOOhooooo.

I'm going to be doing dishes like there's no tomorrow! I love dishwashers...And I really love washers/dryers!

To some this may not be a big deal, but to someone who lugs laundry all around God's green earth it's MAJOR!

Nobody in particular.

Here's a question...

Why is it that when you have so much, you always want more? Why is it that nothing is ever good enough? How is it that when you have so many people backing you, you'll always end up biting the hand that feeds you?

In my opinion.. I believe that family is your greatest support group. That no matter what you do or say family will always be the ones who are behind you 100%. So why is it that they're the one's who suffer? Think about this.... Very hard, you're losing this.

A Message to a Good Friend of Mine:

Betty Crocker,

Hi it's me, you're good friend Char-Marie. Listen, I just thought I'd write to tell you that you're fabulous! I mean what would I do without you? However, tonight I was making cookies for my boyfriend, and I have a complaint.... I noticed that the cookie packets were supposed to have 24 cookies, but the package only had 17 little cookie balls. I will admit that there was a short period of time where I blacked out, but only for about 2 minutes. If you could, please send me another package of your fantastic oatmeal chocolate chip cookie dough....My boyfriend would greatly appreciate it... And if you want throw in some peanut butter cookies because, although I love your oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter is my all time favorite!

Thanks!

Love Always,

Char-Marie

My Boyfriends Back...

Yesssssssss! My wicked cool boyfriend, Colby, has returned from Hawaii. I'm sure he was ready to come home and see me....Why wouldn't he be? I haven't seen him yet, but I'm waiting with great anticipation! I'm so stoked. I really thought 2 weeks would be a lot easier than it was. I missed him like crazy! I hate being apart and I hope we don't have to do that again for a long while.

Hurry home Colb!

A List

I have compiled a list of all the things that I miss... in no particular order.

1. I really miss waking up on Saturdays for cartoon marathons.
2. I miss not having to figure out how much gas will get me from point A to point B..It's so expensive!
3. I miss performing in front of large crowds of people. I know this labels me as a nerd, but I loved colorguard when I was in high school.
   
4. I miss having big family get togethers.
5. I MISS MY BOYFRIEND SO MUCH! THIS IS DEFINITELY TOP OF THE LIST!
6. I miss not having new episodes of sex and the city.
7. I miss those shoes I cannot find.
8. I miss Lindsay and Katie. Call me girls!
9. I miss talking on the phone for hours with Colby.
10. Last, but not least I miss my cinnamon dolce latte from starbucks! BRING THEM BACK! Lindsay pull some strings!
    

Happy Birthday from the Comfort of my Own Vehicle.

Once again I was forced to watch the fireworks from my car on my way home from work. I just got to thinking tonight how sad it is that for the past 3 or 4 years I haven't set off any fireworks and I have to work late on every fourth of July.

I can remember a handfuls of 4th's that I loved. One summer we were in Arkansas at my Granny Maggie's and we had this 5 foot sparkler, my cousin Joan set her bra on fire with it. I'll always remember that year...A year just being happy. The entire family was together and there was lots of food, singing, and fireworks.

I can also remember going to my grandpa's for the 4th. He had a really big pond and we would always have a barbecue and set off fireworks by the pond. When it got really dark there were bats that would swoop down at us as we were lighting them. Good times.

I always used to love picking out the fireworks.. There were chickens that screamed while they layed an egg, Chinese lanterns that i'd always end up hanging in my room, snakes that left black marks for weeks, parachute jumpers that I always ended up running after and tripping over some other fireworks in the process, Every year I managed to sit on a lit punk. The process of picking these things out was definately part of the fun.

Now it seems that I'm always admiring fireworks and other peoples get togethers from the comfort of my own vehicle. I realize as you get older people have responsibilities and things never stay the same, but sometimes I wish I could go back to those moments.

Katie

Yesterday, I spoke with my friend Katie who now lives in San Francisco. She graduated in December and is now an intern...She wants to come home. I miss ya Katie. Anyways it was really nice talking to her. We were discussing how everyone around us is either pregnant or married....Neither of us are drinking the water.

Chili for breakfast

Today we celebrate America's Birthday....DAAaaa HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

As we speak I'm eating chili for breakfast. I've never been one for the breakfast foods. I can hear my dad asking my mom where I am....My mom replies probably cleaning her room or something.... hahaha....if they only knew.

I'm waiting right now for my friend Kody to pick up my car because it needs the brake pads changed. I sound like nails running down a chalkboard when I try start to slow down....eww

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!!!!

Dad,

Happy birthday to the coolest guy in the whole wide world. I love you and miss you and can't wait until you're home! I hope you're having a fantastic birthday while you're in Alaska! We all love you! Can't wait until we get to come get you on Sunday!

MWAAAAAAAAAAAHH!

-Char-Marie

A Note to my Two Favorite Men....In the Whole Freaking Wide World

Dad.....Colby.....


I MISS YOU BOTH SEVERELY... PLEASE COME HOME!

Colby, I know you've still got a while until you come home, you and your family have a blast, tell everyone I'm thinking of them, and this may sound selfish, but I can't wait until you're all home. Because I miss you guys already and I can't wait for pictures and stories!!

Its very hard when my two favorite men are gone. Someone has to come home! I'm going crazy on this end.

Dad, You'll be coming home this Sunday!!!! YAY! Hurry home and have a very safe trip!

I love you both So much! Have a blast while you're away, but think of me often ;)

I heart my car.

Tomorrow my sister and I decided we'd have a garage sale....I guess I should call it a Yard Sale, since we really don't have a garage. I've decided to sale anything that isn't nailed down. I'm just in that cleaning mood....and so is Stori, she's nesting. Hopefully we really do good with the sale tomorrow because I've been eyeing these shoes that I have to have.

We cleaned out my storage shed the other day and holy crap the things I forgot I had. I had tons of stuff...stuff that I really don't need. I like to save everything and then about three times a year at best, I go into cleaning mode. The next order of business is cleaning out my car because I am always running back and forth to places and I end up looking like I camp out in my back seat. Really I have everything you'd ever need to survive.

Let me compile a list:

1. I have shelter: For one the car (obviously), but I also have an umbrella actually three, I have 2 jackets, a coat, and some sort of tarp thingy that came with my car...still not sure what that's used for, I also have blankets...
   
2. Food/Beverage: I have a gallon of water, plus a 24 pack of nestle water-with the squeeze top bottle!, I have some mints from the Japanese restaurant that Colby and I frequent, a bag of peanut butter kisses from valentines day....and I'm sure some french fries..and those never go bad, ohh and a tin o'cookies.
   
3. And what about Entertainment you ask....?!: My cds, Ipod, and the aforementioned tin of cookies that could substitute for a drum, or a maracas, I have books...lots of books, pamphlets, and papers that I have written long long time ago.

I could live at least three weeks in there. Maybe I shouldn't clean it out. Oh and I forgot about hygiene.... I have those wet wipes that they give you from restaurants I could splash some of the water on me and there you have it folks...

Let's Get Mauied in Maui....ehh

I'm sitting in my chair with my hair pulled up, my glasses on, in my scrub pants that are oohh so comfortable wearing a KISS shirt...and crying. I'm such a baby. Colby called my from Honolulu a few minutes ago. I miss him so so much! Its only been yesterday....but it's a depressing feeling knowing that usually at this time I'm snuggled up to him sleeping or watching a movie.

It's ok though Kitty is sleeping in my lap keeping me company and Hollie promised me a girls night next Wednesday--We're watching Sex and the City, while eating pizza, and drinking beer ... probably. We should think about changing it to cosmopolitans if we're watching sex and the city. Colby bought me the very last season and I watched it in one day! I LOVE THAT SHOW! Speaking of Sex and the City...Colby and I have a new addition to our family a red beta named Mr. Big. I'll post pics later. But I digress....

He was on his balcony on the 21st floor talking to me about how gorgeous the mountains look. I'm so excited for him and his family they very much deserve a nice little vacation, it couldn't happen to better people. I'm so excited for Colby to bring me back the pictures, they're going to Maui on Sunday. I saw a t.v special on Maui it was absolutely gorgeous, they threw out this little catch phrase like "Get Mauied in Maui!" I thought it was funny, but after the twelfth time they used it I changed the channel.

Family Portrait

Here's the family: Colby, Kitty, and I. Kitty is the sweetest little dog. This was taken right before we all went to bed. Look at how tan Colby is, I look like I just stepped out of a cave. Pasty white, but that's ok I'll look like a porcelain doll at 40....Hopefully.

Daa Dumm Da Dummm

This is a picture of the dress I had made for the wedding I was in on Saturday, the dress went all the way to the floor. I love to dress up, especially when I get to do my hair all pretty! I thought the sunglasses were the perfect match.

Luck. Bad....Luck

GEEZ... I feel sometimes that everything is 'just my luck'. I just took my car to get the oil changed and they said that my brake pads are worn down, and that I need to get them changed. Yeah, it'll be about $200 dollars. How long are those things supposed to last? With all of my other cars I never had to do anything really major, except change the starter, and this car is a 2001. The rest of the cars were old. Just my luck! I sold all of my Wal-mart stock so I could comfortably pay for it. Not to mention Missouri State decided that I'm not eligible for student loans this year.


I hate stressing out about money, but it seems that's all I do lately.

Baby This, baby that...

Oh man, this weekend was so very very busy. First off, I was in a friends wedding on Saturday and it was beautiful, very stressful though. Then I put together a baby shower for my sister. It turned out great, but there was definitely drama before the party started. What do you do?

This entire summer has been filled with tons of parties for lots of different people, and although I've enjoyed them all...I'm ready to relax. I can't wait until I get to have the parties: engagement, bachelorette's, bridal, baby shower. Going to all these things really makes you think. I couldn't help, but be a little giddy walking down the aisle at Teresa's wedding thinking about when I really get to walk down the aisle. It'll be about time.

I really feel like the summer is over for me. I'm done with all the things that were planned a long time ago. Now what? Colby's leaving this Wednesday for Hawaii....I'll be lost.