pretty sweet...

I'm posting this blog from the Apple Store on 5th Avenue in New York City.

Pretty Dang Sweet...mostly because it's 95 degrees outside and they have killer air conditioning in here.

Start Spreading the News...

Oh, now I officially feel like I'm becoming my parents. When I was little and we went to New York, my parents would ALWAYS sing this song on the way to the airport.

But, seriously, I'm leaving today. The shuttle is coming in a few minutes. Our flight leaves Orange County Airport at 7:50ish.

I planned a facial and a manicure/pedicure...I'm really excited to relax...

Then next week is JH camp. Talk about a change of pace!

So I may not be posting...but I'm sure going to try!

I've changed my opinion

I no longer believe that Kathy was the killer of FRIENDS.

Her departure corresponds with the arrival of Emily (with a few episodes in between)...

Emily is the worst.

Just FYI.

Open-ended Letter

Dear Blogger.com,
Here are some things I find frustrating about you:

1) You did not work last night. I tried my hardest to post something...and read my friend's posts...to no avail. Why? Why?

2) When I use your spell check feature, there are still some obvious words you do not recognize. BLOG being one of them. Possibly you should add this to your vocabulary.

3) A few of my friends have written comments on my blog. Some of my posts say 2 comments. Others say 1 comments. Can you please learn to check for subject/nominal agreement?

As bothered as I am with these things, I will still continue to visit faithfully.
Your friend,
Allison

The heat is on. The run is off.

So...it's been decided.
My dad's run across America has been cancelled.
With the explosion and delay in replacing it, there is no way to fund and prep a new RV at this point.

So, what was once our trip to New York to give my dad a nice send-off is now a great relaxing vaction to New York to help my dad cope with the loss of his 50th Birthday dream.

Any requests for souvenirs?

Dudes. I'm famous.

Tonight I was having dinner at Chipotle with my mom and grandparents.
A man came in and was smiling at me (it was actually kinda creepy)...

After he waited in line and got his food, he came back by our table and smiled again. And waved.
I smiled, politely, and continued my conversation.

He bent in to the table and said, "I just want you to know, you are my favorite singer at Saddleback. I think you should be on the program, American Idol."

That's right, I was recognized tonight. I'm famous.

Interesting Fact about Nature

The Bald Eagle is well on its way to being removed from the endangered species list.

There are 7066 known pairs in the US today. (Compared with 4500 pairs in 1995.) *

*Information found in Marie Claire August 2006 issue.

Who says you can't learn anything from a fashion magazine?

90% chance of RV

My dad just came home to tell me that they have a 90% chance of getting an RV tomorrow.
Which means they could leave Thursday...and he would actually run across America.

More info to come...

My dad was supposed to run across America.

Yep. That was the original plan. 50 miles a day for 60 days. New York City to Newport Beach. We are flying to New York on Sunday...so that we could be there when we began his run on the 5th. This was the plan until Friday night at midnight. (So technically, first thing Saturday morning.)

At 12:01am on Saturday, July 22nd, the propane tank keeping the refrigerator refrigerating in the RV that was meant to house my dad on his run exploded, blowing a hole in the roof and the driver's side of the RV.

The fire was so strong that even a team of firemen could not put it out in time to save the RV.

Luckily, my dad's 15 pairs of running shoes, 70 DVDs and the camera crew's equipment was not harmed in the fire. Unfortunately, everything else was ruined. Including the plans they had for the team (with my dad's dog) to leave Saturday at 10am to drive to NYC to meet my dad for his departure.

I am unsure as to what the exact plans are now. I'll update you as I find out. I may just be in for a sweet NY vacation.

Three Buttons is One to Two Too Many

I have these striped shorts that have three buttons. Last night we were at the movies and I was thinking, in a real bathroom emergency I would be in trouble. As cute as these shorts are, I waste a great deal of my day buttoning and unbuttoning the excess of buttons.

My Super SUCKS Girlfriend

Matt & I just came back from seeing this movie.

My opinion: Suck-city 2006. Don't waste your time, or your money.

Honestly. We're talking worse than City of Angels. Worse than Ghostdad.

Seriously. Terrible. Bad.

September 12, 2006

will be the best day of the year.

Here are the reasons why:

It is my friend Katie's birthday...always proves to be a fun par-tay.

Justin Timberlake's album will hit stores...I've been awaiting it's arrival...so much so that it has now been the topic of two blogs
Along with

John Mayer's newest album Continuum...I'm hoping to enjoy a great deal of it before we see him in concert.
And finally,

Smallville Season 5 out on DVD...which has also made two blogs.

On this day, I may make a public appearance at Target and Katie's party...after that I'm staying home to enjoy the other 3 things on the list.

I love the smell of brand new 3-ring binders.

We walked through Target today and I couldn't help but smile when we walked past the school supplies. The "Seasonal" section is now all pens, pencils, markers, folders, etc...things that make most kids scream with the sad reminder that fall is almost here.

I, however, find so much enjoyment in buying school supplies that I actually am a tad remorseful that I will not be attending classes this semester and so will not be needing any new pencil sharpeners or protractors. Oooh! Or a brand new box of 64 Crayola crayons that are all unused with the flatened tips.

So if you see me walking around with a notebook...chuck-full of dividers, college ruled paper, and a small pencil pouch...you know it's because, much like a chubby girl coming home from school to the smell of fresh baked cookies, I just couldn't resist.

Eat it Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker can wear high heels for an entire day (or evening) and not let them stop her from enjoying herself.

I have been striving to obtain this same level of comfort in heels. Last night, my friends, I made it.

We went to our friends' wedding last night and I wore white heels. Oh, they did not slow me down. I stood and walked in grass, stood and held a baby while dancing, danced with Courtney Gause (keeping up was a feat of its own).

I am very proud of myself. Sarah, I hope you are proud of me too. You were my inspiration.

Beach Camp #2

So...we're back...safe and sound. With the addition of some sunburns and quite a few rashes, we are all home where we started.

For being a 3-day camp, it sure felt like we were gone for a week. I hope students felt that way too. TONS of fun crammed into those 3-days. Lots of beach time packed in (appropriately enough for being a beach camp), a few delicious meals, and a fun trip to Boomers (where I SMOKED Wendy in Dance, Dance Revolution...pictures to come).

I loved the small camp experience, I felt like I knew 26 of the 31 girls names in the end, and a majority of the guys too...

Really a great time...Well done Mariah.

Beach Camp

How many jobs (beside Lifeguard) involve sitting on a beach for the next 3 days with a little Boomers and Pat and Oscar's in between?

Mine does.

I'll be looking for "blog-ortunities"...but I may just post Friday night.

One person's opinion

This woman wrote an article on "How to write an Interesting Blog".
Would you agree or disagree?

1. Have your own niche but write about other topics as well.
2. Pace Yourself: Don't write too quickly
3. Have Opinions
4. Keep it Short
5. Encourage Participation
6. Mix up Topics
7. Explore New Areas
8. Avail of Your Own Experiences

I would disagree. I think all you need for a good blog are friends who are funnier than you to comment about it.

is it too much to ask?

I am growing increasingly more frustrated with the lack of GOOD customer service.
In the past few days I have been so bummed by employees that I have almost walked out of the store(s)--3 to be exact.
AND I have almost said something to all the dummies involved (but chose to say it to you instead).

I'm sure it's because I'm slightly anal...and I'm also sure that it wouldn't bother very many others.
But why? Why must you have a conversation with your co-worker whilst you are helping me?

I'm ordering a bagel. I'm the only one in the store. Finish helping me and then go back to your conversation.

I'm ordering my Starbucks. Your friend can finish ordering his lunch from you in 2 seconds.

I'm buying a gift card from you. Talk about his girlfriend in 1 minute.


If I were the manager watching this happen, I would kick some tail.

While we're at it, I saw a sign posted at Starbucks on an employee board. Mind you the board is posted in PLAIN SIGHT to all customers standing at the bar to receive their drinks. The sign says, "BE SURE TO PUSH THOSE BANANA FRAPPUCCINOS. WE NEED TO SELL 80 TODAY! OUTSELL THE OTHER STORES!"

Excuse me. I can read. And I don't want a banana mocha frappuccino. All I want is the time I am paying for: 90 seconds? 1 minute? I really don't think I'm asking too much.

Fears

I admit, I am afraid of a lot of things that I should not actually be afraid of...
I am afraid of being attacked, abducted, raped and/or murdered (more than likely in my house, at a gas station, or out front of the McGills).

All of those things are fears of mine...along with being bitten by a black widow spider, having my Achilles tendon cut by the person hiding under my car, and my house catching on fire while I'm in the shower or only in underpants and having to run outside devoid of clothing.

To be honest, I think these are viable fears. I am mocked to no end, by people who call themselves my friends, about being overly afraid of things that will never happen. I think NEVER is a strong word.

The truth is, these things happen all the time...why couldn't they happen to me?

Some say if I truly trusted God I wouldn't be afraid. To which I answer, God allows bad things to happen...so I can trust Him and still expect the unexpected.

I'm not saying that I am not living life because I am paralyzed by my fear...all I'm saying is if there is a sudden ambush or fire, follow me, because I would have been planning my escape route since I walked in the room.

this afternoon

I purchased tickets for Matt and myself to see John Mayer & Sheryl Crow.
Two of my all-time favorites.

If you would like to buy me a present...

I would like subscriptions to these magazines.

Entertainment Weekly
US Weekly
Teen People

Just FYI.

Countries of the World

As a kid, I could memorize anything that was put to music.
Here's how I memorized all of the countries of the world.
Give it a try!

An easy way to make some money

About a year ago, maybe more, a friend of mine called to see if I would come and record a song that he wrote and wanted to pitch to Disney. So I spent about 2 hours learning and recording this song...and went home with a little money in my pocket. Not too shabby.

About a month later I get a call from that same friend telling me that Disney loved the song and I should be getting a call soon from someone in the company. Turns out they were planning to use the songs during the end credits of the Disney Channel movie "Stuck in the Suburbs". They liked my voice and said had they not already promised the song to Anneliese van der Pol, they would have kept my voice as the main vocals. But since she was promised, they were keeping my background vocals. Still pretty dang cool.

So I filled out some paperwork, sent them my vocal resume, etc...and they send me money each time the movie plays on the Disney Channel. It's a great deal. I sang for two or three hours, a year ago, and they pay me every six months. It's not a ton of money, but it still a nice surprise.

Oh, here's the song, in case you want to hear Disney genius. You can not hear my vocals at all, which makes the payment even funnier!

I'm Google-ful.

About 6 months ago, if you had typed Allison Hibbard in to Google, you would have had to sift through a mess of Allison Hibbard star athlete (those of you that know me are able to laugh at the oxymoron that is that statement) to find the two results that are actually me (each an article from Saddleback, one on HSM and one on growing up in Saddleback).


Now if you type Allison Hibbard in to Google, my blog is the first result.

Number one of about 145,000.

Pretty dang sweet.

Public Service Announcements.

NBC has some fake Fake Public Service Announcements from the cast of The Office.

This one, from Pam, is my favorite...
My second favorite: Jim's on black jelly beans.

You're Welcome!

Embarrassment with Austin Carty

So...Austin Carty from Survivor: Exile Island is here at the conference with us this week. (While searching online for a short video to show at the conference we found a Lie Detector Game that told us he was once a Hanes Underwear Model.) He flew in today, went out to dinner with us and came to our evening session. Just thought I'd let you in on what quickly became my MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT.

Austin walked in to the Tent and I saw him searching for someone who could point him in the right direction. Here was our interaction...
Allison: "Hi! Can I help you?" (In true customer-service form)
Austin: Are you Jana?
Allison: No, I'm Allison, but I can still help you out.
Austin: Oh hey, I'm Austin.
Allison: (interrupting) Oh yeah, I know who you are, I saw your underwear model thing online.

Not "I saw you on Survivor"...not "I heard you were coming to the conference"...
Nope. Here's me: I saw your underwear model thing online.

Yep, I'm stupid.

criticism...how much is too much?

I've always been aware of my tendency to over-criticize others. Recently, I've noticed this more than ever. Our ministry is amazing...This conference has been incredible...I just can't help picking things apart. I turn to the person next to me and say what I'm thinking.

What gets me is that as it's leaving my mouth I'm thinking in my head "There's no need to say this...you're acting as though it was much worse than it really was..." But I continue to tear-down.

It's more out of lack of conversation...or nervousness that others might be thinking it and say it first...preemptive strike...

I want to stop. I do.

Everybody, do the Urkel Dance!

This is one of my favorite TV moments from my childhood.
Just FYI, I can "Do the Urkel".

World Series of Pop Culture

Holy Moly. I can't wait to watch this show. I haven't seen it yet, so I can not give a thumbs up or down. All I know is that when I saw the ad for it in PEOPLE I was, in the words of Stevie Wonder, Overjoyed.

Josh Treece, if they do a TEAM competition, we should join. No one knows more useless crap than the two of us. (Except maybe Alanna).

If you'd like to practice, they have a Pop Culture Challenge Computer Game.

Thank you to PEOPLE magazine for bringing so much joy to my life...having introduced me to the World's Ugliest Dog Competition...and now this.

World's Ugliest Dog Contest

No joke, this is Miss Ellie. She was RUNNER-UP in the World's Ugliest Dog Contest

Every year the Sonoma-Marin County Fair holds The World's Ugliest Dog contest. The thrice crowned champion, Lil' Sam, passed away in 2006 and left the title open for a new champion.

Petaluma, CA...here I come... June 2007: 19th Annual World's Ugliest Dog Competition.

Oh, by the way, here's a picture of the winner:

Student Leadership Conference Session 1

So I know that the top of my blog says it won't be about ministry...but this one is.

Tonight was Session 1 of our SLC. It went really well. A few minor glitches (microphones, changes to the schedule) but other than that, things went great.

Shout out to Stephanie Jameson. I don't know what we'll do when she's not around for a conference. We'll probably have to hire Soeren for a week period. She totally owned. PPT, Mediashout, videos, upload, download, you name it, she can do it. She is beyond amazing.

More tomorrow...Can't wait!

Great Google Search

I have been Googling for the last 25 minutes or so and I just found out some great things:

1) Harry Potter 7 (as yet untitled) is rumored to be on shelves July 7th, 2007. (7th book, 7/7/07)

2) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie will be in cinemas on July 13th, 2007. My Harry Potter widget is now counting down to this date.

3) Season 2 of LOST will be released on DVD September 5th, 2006.

4) Season 5 of Smallville will be released on DVD September 12th, 2006.

5) Justin Timberlake's second album will also be released September 12th, 2006. I'm not sure how I feel about the album title "FutureSex/LoveSounds", but if the album is anything like "Justified" I'll be buying concert tickets.

Student Leadership Conference

It's 10:20pm. I am one of five people in the office still working on the upcoming SL Conference. The sixth left only 25 minutes ago. The "new sixth" is on his way in.

I am running on about four hours sleep and was outside more today than I was all of last week's workdays combined.

I am literally exhausted.

BUT. I could not be more excited for this conference. It really is going to be something amazing. I am totally confident that it will be a week that is simultaneously fun and challenging. Lives will be changed. I can feel it.

If I'm this stoked on it while I'm this tired...I know it's going to be good.

ready for the flack

I just came home from Pirates of the Caribbean.

VERY long...and to be quite honest...not very good.

I will, of course, see the third in hopes that it will uphold true trilogy format (Great #1, So-So #2, Stellar #3).

I'm sure many of you are disappointed with this review, but I am just stating my opinion.

Me and Tom Hanks: M.F.E.O.

I have a strong feeling that Hollywood stars play characters that are remarkably close to their own personas.
**I don't necessarily think that every feature and opinion of the character needs to reflect the actor's, but I do think that generally, they lean toward like-minded, like-tempered roles.**

Take Tom Hanks, for instance. He plays calm, light-hearted, somewhat romantic, generally even-keeled roles. I would imagine that he, in "real life", is similar to his "reel life" counterparts. Please note that my above statement would apply to his role in Philadelphia (he probably does not have AIDS) and his role in Toy Story (1 & 2), (he is not a toy cowboy). However, if you look at the line of characters he plays (Tom Hanks) a majority are down-to-earth, loveable guys.

(For one minute set aside the fact that my favorite movie ever is Sleepless in Seattle...) Judging by the movies he chooses to star in, I think I could be friends with Tom Hanks. (and his wife Rita Wilson) Along these same lines, Reese Witherspoon, Courtney Cox, Matthew McConaughey, Meg Ryan, John Corbett, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson could also be my friends (no pun intended for Courtney Cox). Oh, and Sarah Jessica Parker.

If my hypothesis proves true, there are some other people who are probably crazy in reality: Kevin Spacey (always plays the bad guy--and plays it VERY well--maybe he's a cuckoo in real life?), Christopher Walken, Anthony Hopkins...I'm sure Josh Treece could name dozens more.

Let's take it one step further. Let's say I'm right in my assumption. So, here are some Hollywood stars that choose to be slutty in movies. Does their life echo these cinematic displays? Amanda Peet (always naked in movies), Jennifer Aniston (I hate to say it, but she's made some slutty choices lately), Sharon Stone (I've never actually seen anything she's been in, but she always looks slutty at awards shows)...

Say what you would like, but I'm sticking to my guns. I think you only choose to portray people like yourself. Since you draw from your own life, it makes things easier if you have something in common with the character. Spacey must think, I would love to create an island out of crystals and kill Superman. Perfect role...

Meg Ryan thinks: I really like kissing bald men and crying when my husband dies...Bingo!

also missing...

I'm a little sad that I put myself in such a tight bubble with the 10 things...
Or I'm sorry I created the list so quickly.
I competely forgot something that is VERY important to me.

Harry Potter



It really should have been #1.
Above Matt Jensen.
And the McGills.
And Starbucks.
But maybe not above People Magazine Crossword Puzzles.

That's how much I love Harry Potter. (Apparently #2).

addendum to previous blog

My good buddy Josh pointed out that I am missing one very important thing on my list of loves...

LOST.

It should have been #1...I can't believe I forgot it.

10 things that I love

1. Chipotle...burrito bowls...with those tasty lime chips.

2. FRIENDS...I care for Seasons 1-4 (the first half) a great deal...in my personal opinion, it goes down hill from there. Right after Kathy. (Sorry Josh Treece, I know you love her...but she was the show's downfall).

3. The McGills...house, family, hang...mostly when it is just me and them and Matt Jensen. I don't really love sharing my McGill time with others.

4. Matt Jensen...he is number 4 because I know that he won't mind...and because these are in no particular order.

5. TiVo...I know that it is all the rage nowadays, but I still love it. In today's world, who has time to waste watching commercials? It amazes me when people still say "Have you seen that commercial where..." No. I haven't.

6. Blogs...I can write about whatever my heart desires and you can't tell me to stop (well, technically you can, but I don't have to listen).

7. Coke Slurpees and Nacho Cheese Doritos...7-11 was one of the first places to take ATM (or at least in my High-School-go-off-campus-for-lunch-world). There are very few other places that can provide such a crave-quenching meal for such a low price.

8. People Magazine Crossword Puzzles...There are very few times in my life that I feel as accomplished or brilliant as when I complete a People Magazine Crossword Puzzle...I can also finish them in a record time. Call Mr. Guinness...give him my name.

9. London...doesn't get much better than that...honestly...

10. Starbucks. I know, 3 of the 10 have to do with food...at least they are delicious items...and they truly are things that I love. You can count on me to steer you in the right direction when it comes to food.