Into the great, wide open...

Sooooo... in a few short hours (like 13!!), I will be on a plane to Germany. I can't really believe I'm actually going, and there are these little seeds of doubt that this will all actually work out ok. I like to pretend that I'm this highly adventurous, spontaneous person... But truthfully, this trip kind of took me by suprise, and I'm absolutely not looking forward to it. Now don't get me wrong.. I AM looking forward to seeing my German friends and family again... VERY much... I just don't like the actual trip part of it all. I hate flying. Hate the autobahn. Hate trains. Hate airports. Sooooo I plan to consume copious amounts of alcohol, and I will let you know how it goes! Last time, I got smashed on the plane, and they were concerned about me... so I got to go meet the three burly pilots of my Lufthansa flight... SO that was fun! And when we were in Frankfurt on a eight hour layover, I met Torsten and Mossimo - the baggage handlers. So that was good. I'm sure it will all work out. But if not, please know that I have always loved you all... (Different and varying degrees of love, of course, ... you know who you are...) Hope everyone has an awesome spring break! I will try out blogging from Europe for you, Brad. Hey Sarah -- don't let Grade School Teachers Gone Wild catch you flashing the neighbors ... at least not until I get back! I may not get the weather Mr. B. is catching in Florida,.. but I'll be getting a stamp in my passport, and going to EUROPE and that has to count for something. OK! I have to go do laundry and pack.. ssssssooooooooo... Talk with you all in a week or so! (I return NEXT Friday to O'Hare. Anyone who needs to make emergency contact with me for any reason, should call my parents... they will have my phone number in Deutschland....) Bis dann!!

For my next bizarre illness...

Today, Rebekah and I spent 3 hours in the "prompt care" facility here in Racine, WI. During which time, I believe we were both exposed to many more germs and sicknesses than either of us has ever seen at one time before. I swear to you, we moved seat three, four, five times! And each time, no matter how craftily we plotted our next seating arrangement, we ended up next to another hacking cough, or phlegm-spitting nasty case of one kind or another. The last guy Rebekah sat next to was muttering "help me, please"...then lapsing into a sort of nap, only to wake and begin whining again. Finally, they called us in, and I felt badly enough for the whining guy to give him my spot -- only I was sure Becks would have left me there alone if I made her wait any longer than we already had. In the end, we had just gotten showed to the room, when all the doctors and nurses were called out into the waiting room for an "emergency"... My money was on the whining guy -- apparently he really was in need of help. Anyway -- back to me!! I now am the proud recepient of a shot of pennicilin for my new case of Tonsillitis. I've become amused at my ability to just... get things! Shingles.. Tonsillitis... sure! why not? And as I'm leaving in a matter of days to FLY to Germany - I figured the shot would be quicker than the oral medication. And hopefully, it will be -- but it hurt like no other shot I've ever had.. and I've had a few. So now I can't swallow... and I have a horrible pain in my ass. Now I know what you're all thinking - "The irony: she IS a pain in the ass, and now she HAS a pain in the ass..." Yup. That pretty much sums it up.

In other news: Happy Birthday to Me week has finally come to a close. Because I have the somewhat grown-up responsiblity of work... This year marked the first year that "Happy-Birthday-to-ME"-week was broken up over the usual 7 days... but with breaks in between for the work week. Therefore, I've now celebrated just about enough. And Doug came up to visit with his lovely new wife -- therefore, is my Birthday week complete. Well... almost... Andy did not make it this year. And I'm sure it's payback for me missing his birthday. So Andy, if you read this, know that ANY time you come down and visit it will be like "Happy-Birthday-to-US"-day! Ok? But AJ.... you're dead to me.

Thanks to all the friends and family who stopped in this year - you are too numerous to name, but you know who you are.... I love you all, and look forward to next year's celebration of 26 years of excellence!!

(PS. Mum... I hope your back gets better soon. Have fun with the Vicodin!)

"Up Dating"...

Here's what I think is awesome: finally meeting a person my age at school to hang out with... And beyond that, to meet a GUY my age who actually has ambition and plans, and .. goals! That's pretty refreshing. I think too many people (sorry guys, but especially you of the male gender...) are content to simply make money and not make a difference. SO! I think you should have a plan.. but not be so rigid as to not be able to change the plan if necessary. Let me pose this question to the cosmos, however, regarding guys: WHY do guys think "whatever" is actually an acceptable answer to... well.. any question. To not have an opinion one way or the other is to label yourself as a boring, and non-committal individual with a vocabulary the size of a third grader (no offense, third graders!). I like a guy who argues his point, but also listens to the point I'm making. So that when we agree to disagree, I at least know he's heard me and understands where I'm coming from -- even if he still thinks I'm wrong. There is something very comforting about being understood. Having said allllll that..... This appears to be the beginning of a male-centered rant, and I vowed not to be that girl anymore. Let me just say this -- and then no more -- Girls are continually being blamed for being "too dramatic" or "too emotional"... I know! I've been accused on more than one occasion. But I think the problem is really three-fold: 1) We really are more emotional.. There is evidence of the scientific kind to back that, so just deal with that.. know that.. get over it. 2) Perhaps, in fact, you men are too UN-emotional. If you gave us a little more emotion back, we wouldn't have to carry the emotional burden of the relationship ("relationship" here is used with the lower-case 'r'.. meaning: friendship, Relationship, family relationship, acquaintance-ship, etc...). and 3) It's possible that we are not AS emtional as you accuse us of being. For example, I've had the experience with male friends in the past ... who think I'm totally "into" them, and they get all weirded out and kind of withdraw or whatever.. And I get all confused, because I NEVER thought of them like that at all. You know? So maybe the problem (if there is one!) is partially just imagined or mental. See my point? I hope so, because I'm not sure I do at this point. BUT the point is..... well, the point is be aware that we all have limitations. I can TRY not to be "over-dramatic" ... but let's face it - I can only do so much, and then "me" kicks in. Just as you (average person who stumbled across this rant and actually made it this far!!) probably have something about your personality that is beyond your control. It is just who you are. And the people who love you, know that about you.. and are willing to accept you, overlook that part of you, or indeed love you more for the bizarre little things you do that drive them insane.

At least, that's what I'm hoping!

PS. My new tattoo is on my right ankle -- and it's a red and white lily with a curvy green stem. It looks totally cute. I'm very pleased with the outcome. I may be alone in this, but I really really like tattoos. Not like -- a LOT of tattoos, and not the kinds where people put tattoos on their faces to look like animals, or whatever. But a well-placed tattoo here or there is, in my opinion, absolutely hot.

Me and "Earl"...

So having obtained my second tattoo on Friday night, I am sure I will soon meet an ex-con named Earl. He will think I am tough (... actually, "tuff"...) because of my 'body art', and he will love my free spirit. We will ride across the country on his bike - smoking, drinking at pool halls, and holding up convenience stores when we run out of money. I will lose tons of weight and dress all in leather and chains. Earl will be overweight with a beard, and although I won't find him physically attractive, our mutual love of tattoos and piercings will keep us together. Until one day he gets picked up for a bar fight and sent back to prison. I will go home to await his parole hearing. And I will grow old and saggy and wish I'd never gotten so many tattoos -- since an eighty year old with a sunshine on her flabby back is not nearly as hot as a thin, 25 year old dressed in black leather and chains, riding on the back of a bike with a guy named Earl drinking, smoking, playing pool, and committing felonies...... but for now, I'm pretty psyched.

She's going to GERMANY!!!....

That's right, kids... Miss D is flying to Germany. Braving her fears of both flying, and confined spaces -- off I go to visit the family. I will be leaving on Good Friday, and returning the following Friday! I'm so excited... I could... ?? I'm not sure what exactly, but I could surely do something. Perhaps a "happy little dance"? Could be. Nothing is outside the realm of possibility. This is just what I needed. I haven't been this happy since before I came home from Germany the last time! haha... just kidding. ANYWAY...... I'm off to bed. Just had to update the world! woo-hoo!!!

I forgot you'd all be DYING to know....

I just had to come back and meet the overwhelming demand for the account of this year's "Happy Birthday to ME! Week"... Dismal failure. Sure there was drinking. But only one day -- as opposed to the usual 7. And although a great time was had by all who were in attendance, we held a moment of silence for those who were not with us this year. Especially Doug and Andy, who apparently finally have better things to do than show up for my birthday every year. SURE Doug is married, and Andy had some fraternity thing to do -- but honestly!! Priorities, people! On one hand you have adult obligations ... on the other hand -- ME! And a pub crawl! For that is, in fact, what we did. We crawled from bar to bar downtown Racine, and it was a great time. I could have done without the three or four times I walked over the bridge and up the hill -- like a BILLION blocks -- without a coat in the freezing weather. But that we can credit Mr. B. with... and don't worry, he has paid mightly for irritation he caused me. Other than that -- beer was drunk, shots were taken, music was heard, and fun was had. If you did not make it, come to the "Happy Birthday to ME! Week: Part Deux" -- probably the weekend of the 18th when Doug (and Andy?) will be around.. Though I cannot guarantee a pub crawl, I can promise it will be an amusing time -- if nothing else.

PS. The rest of my birthday was great. Thank you so much to all you great buddies who remembered and called, or sent cards, or emails. Yes, Sean - birthdays can be a big deal -- even the shortest voicemail can make the biggest difference. It's nice to know there is one day out of 365 that people are thinking about you... It's your "special day"! And for those of you who FORGOT my special day?? I know who you are.......... But now that I'm 25, I might be too mature to pout... maybe.......

Never ask why I'm cranky...

...Because first of all, I will actually tell you..probably in great detail. Secondly, I can usually find something to be crabby about if questioned. And thirdly, asking me why I'm crabby actually makes me crabby. So don't ask. Today, I swear to you, it was like being in "Office Space" when that lady comes by and says "Looks like someone has a case of the 'mondays'!" ... I kid you not. People I hardly know were giving me that look you give crazy people so you don't set them off. But yesterday was my birthday, and I was in a perfectly fine mood... So why is it that I'm constantly seen as a drama queen, and a crabby person?? Is it possible that really the problem lies with everyone else? I believe that if it weren't for other people in the world, I'd probably be a very happy, well-adjusted, fun to be around gal. (I'd probably even be the kind of person who would use the word "gal" twice in one blog... sorry about that.. ) BUT because of the stupidity of others, I am forced to go through life irritated and annoyed. That is NOT the same as angry. For example, I am not angry at my new friend the gym teacher... I am irritated with him. For me to be angry, I would have to think people were irritating me on purpose, but I am pretty sure they are just somehow deficient, and unable to realize how annoying they have become to me. That does not mean we can't be friends. I am friends with many people who irritate me... And I am sure, in turn, that I irritate them. Get ready because here is my personal definition of friendship:

Friendship is acknowledging that someone irritates you, but being willing to be irritated with that person -- because being irritated or annoyed with them is better than not being with them at all.

But I swear if one more person asks me why I'm so cranky today.............. grrrrrrrrrrrrr....