Monday, December 31, 2007

Reese Loves Geese

David Hughes posted pictures of his dog with this bird.
I bought one for my dad's dog, Reese.
She loved it...
She played with it, shook it around and then lay down next to it for a nap...


Sunday, December 30, 2007

A Better Top Ten List

TOP TEN THINGS THAT, IF PROVEN TO BE CANCER-CAUSING, WILL KILL ME:

10. Aquafina
9. Chipotle Black Beans
8. Turkey Bacon
7. Cheese Tortellini
6. Coca-Cola
5. Nestle Quik
4. Mocha Frappuccinos
3. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese
2. Eggo Waffles
1. Almonds (raw, unsalted)

Looking at this list, it would seem as though I eat crap all the time...
I do, a lot...or at least I did...I'm trying to be more responsible.

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Taking Up Taffy's Challenge

Taffy said we have to post a Top Ten list...

Since I have had five glasses of chocolate milk in two days, here's my list:

TOP TEN THINGS I LIKE TO EAT WITH CHOCOLATE MILK:

10. Pancakes
9. Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches
8. Oreos
7. Teddy Grahams
6. Apples and peanut butter
5. Waffles
4. Vanilla ice cream
3. Strawberry Fig Newtons
2. Graham crackers
1. More Chocolate Milk

Friday, December 28, 2007

I Drink Too Much

I've been cleaning up my house.
There are three trash bags full of recyclables...one in the garage, one in the laundry area, one in the kitchen...

Then I found a few more...so here's my kitchen counter:



I think I drink too much water...at least someone convinced me to recycle...

Spider-Senses

There was a giant (quarter-sized) spider running in my living room...
I don't know where the heck it came from!

I threw a giant magazine on it...and it was still...then it got up and kept running toward me!

So, then I dropped a huge special edition Vanity Fair on it...and it was still again.

Then, I wrapped it up in some plastic from the Vogue magazine...taped the plastic up and threw it away.

I was too afraid to just throw it away un-taped...I thought it was going to come back to life and crawl up my arm when I went to throw some trash away...

Don't Judge Me

I might have developed a little crush on this guy...
He's funny, plays the guitar, sings...and apparently has great credit.



Thursday, December 27, 2007

My Last Three Days

MAGAZINES:
1 Us Weekly
1 Vogue (1 left)
1 Lucky
1 Marie Claire
1 In Style
1 Harper's Bazaar
1 Life and Style
1 Fashion Rocks
1 FAO Schwartz catalog
2 People Style Watch
2 Vanity Fair (2 left)
11 Entertainment Weekly (6 left)
12 People (6 left)
(1 Elle & 1 Room Service Home catalog left)

TV SHOWS:
2 Friends
2 Will and Grace
3 Grey's Anatomy
5 I Love Lucy
8 Brady Bunch (1 left)
10 Project Runway (season 1--1 left)
(3 Planet Earth left)

BOOKS ORDERED ONLINE:
Other People's Love Letters: 150 Letters You Were Never Meant to See - Bill Shapiro
The Abstinence Teacher - Tom Perrotta
The Elements of Style Illustrated - William Strunk Jr.
This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession - Daniel J. Levitin
How to Make Friends and Oppress People: Classic Travel Advice for the Gentleman Adventurer - Vic Darkwood
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao - Junot Diaz
One Hundred and Forty Five Stories in a Small Box: Hard to Admit and Harder to Escape, How the Water Feels to the Fishes, and Minor Robberies - Dave Eggers
Maynard and Jennica - Rudolph Delson

OTHER ITEMS ORDERED ONLINE:
Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle
Sunglasses
Scarf
iPod Block Dock

To avoid looking unproductive: I've also gone to the grocery store, done laundry, dishes, vacuumed, taken out three loads of trash, driven to LA (to go to Amoeba Records), to San Clemente (to see my friend play), read a book, went to see 27 Dresses (really cute)...

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

It Hit Me Like a Lightning Bolt

I was cleaning my house just now...putting groceries away, taking out the trash, putting in loads of laundry...

I started singing...without thinking...then realized what I was singing:

The Great Adventure by Steven Curtis Chapman

Why? I don't know. Maybe because of how sweet the music video is...

Say Goodbye (to taste buds) a Little Longer, Make it Last a Little Longer

I really don't love cinnamon gum...
I've been chewing it this week because I was out of my typical flavor...and there really is no better way to get fresh breath quickly. But I hate it.

What I've realized is that it makes my tongue swell up...
And as my tongue swells, it gets really tingly...and then it starts to hurt really bad.
With every bite it hurts more...and even after I spit it out it hurts for at least ten more minutes.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

New Year's Eve, Anyone?

I know this makes me SO nerdy, but I'll bet I can convince a few friends to help me build this on New Year's Eve...


Christmas 2012



I would really like my kids to have this...
I would love to have geographically genius kids!

If you want to buy this for them, you can purchase it here...

Scarlett Johansson? More Like Marilyn Manson

Ryan is a Canadian actor best known for dating Alanis Morissette for years, just in case you didn't know. And just before his 31st birthday, Scarlett had her wisdom teeth removed. She took one of the teeth, dipped it in gold, and strung it on a necklace for him as a birthday gift. Fact.

I read this in People Magazine...but found it online here.

Creepy, right?

Monday, December 24, 2007

The Christmas-iest of Christmas Songs

Is "Carol of the Bells"...in my opinion...

How can you not feel in the Christmas spirit when you hear
"Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells, all seem to say throw cares away..."

Ch-ch-changes

LAST CHRISTMAS:
  • I lived with my dad.
  • I had blond hair.
  • I spent Christmas Eve at the Jensen's.
  • I was being called "Aunt Allison"...thinking I would become a staple of this family's Christmas traditions.
  • I would spend Christmas morning there, before heading to lunch with my dad.
  • I was going to spend New Year's in Seattle.

THIS CHRISTMAS:
  • I live in my own place.
  • I have black hair.
  • I spent Christmas Eve with both sides of my family.
  • I am not on the verge of being added to anyone's family traditions.
  • I will spend Christmas morning by myself and then head to my Bum & Papa's (Christmas with my dad is not until next week)
  • I will spend New Year's in Orange County.

POTENTIAL NEXT CHRISTMAS:
  • I will live in Kenya.
  • I will have grown-out, half-black, half-blond hair (I'm sure that will be lovely)
  • I will spend Christmas by myself (or with whomever I live with)
  • I will (potentially) develop my own traditions.
  • I will spend Christmas morning giving Kenyan Christmas gifts...watching Christmas movies on a laptop!
  • I will also spend New Year's in Kitale, Kenya.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

2007 Questions

I did this last year, so I thought...why not?

1) What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before? Spent the night at Montage; moved out; saw the Spice Girls, The Police, Mute Math, Muse; Programmed the Youth Summit

2) Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I made one this year. Read HERE for more details. I think I made some steps in the right direction...I think my resolution will be the same this year.

3) Did anyone close to you give birth? Sue, Matt's sister...maybe some others?

4) Did anyone close to you die? Yep, my Great-Grandpa John

5) What countries did you visit? Kenya, Holland, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Mexico

6) What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007? A smaller dress size, a grasp on the Swahili language

7) What date(s) from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? A few memories: Indy, Kenya, Chi Alpha...a few others...December 1st.

8) What was your biggest achievement of the year? Moving out

9) Did you suffer illness or injury? Nope.


10) What was the best thing you bought? My very first Christmas tree

11) Whose behavior merited celebration? I don't really know

12) Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I'm not sure I know that one either

13) Where did most of your money go?
Rent, utilities, groceries, Starbucks

14) What did you get really, really, really excited about? Kenya, Montage

15) What song will always remind you of 2007? "Jenny From the Block"

16) Compared to this time last year, are you: Wiser? Yes...I think I learned a ton this summer Healthier? Slightly... Richer? Not really.

17) What do you wish you'd done more of? Exercise...cook...save

18) What do you wish you'd done less of? Cry...

19) How did you spend Christmas?
I will be spending it with my families.

20) Did you fall in love in 2007? Yes, I did.

21) What was your favorite TV program? Heroes, Grey's Anatomy, Gossip Girl, Smallville, The Office, LOST

22) Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? I don't think I hate anyone

23) What was the best book you read? Harry Potter 7

24) What was your greatest musical discovery? Grey's Anatomy music

25) What did you want and get?
A tattoo

26) What did you want and not get?
A chicken-shaped timer

27) What was your favorite film of this year? Lars and the Real Girl, Across the Universe, Juno

28) What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? On my birthday, I turned 25 and had dinner with my friend Amanda

29) Which celebrity/public figure did you like the most? Milo Ventimiglia

30) How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Inexpensive

31) What kept you sane? Katie Edwards

32) Who did you miss?
My Kenya and London friends

33) Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007. I can't always trust my first opinion of someone...and I shouldn't pass that opinion on to someone else.

34) What did you gain this year? A few pounds, some best friends

35) What did you lose this year? A few pounds, a boyfriend

36) Who was the best new person you met?
Person I met in 2007? Zack Barker

37) Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause

Scotty's Christmas Classics

I love this video...

My Day at the Movies

I spent the day (9-5) at the movies...I love going to the movies...and I really don't mind going by myself...No one to have to apologize for when the movies I choose are awful...
I had a really fun day alone and will probably go again sometime.

The morning began with Alvin and the Chipmunks...
I was the only one in the theater...which was embarrassing on multiple levels:
  • I was alone in a theater
  • I was watching Alvin and the Chipmunks
  • I was there for the 9:10am showing (on a Saturday)
  • I laughed out loud right as the cleaning crew came in (thinking they could "clean up" early since no one was in the theater)
All in all, it was cute (for kids)...I will not be purchasing this movie.

I went and bought a soda and a ticket for Sweeney Todd...
This theater was pretty packed...and the dumb people behind me talked at full volume every 10 minutes for the first half-hour.

Here's what you should know if you plan to see this movie:
  • It's about a murdering barber
  • It's a musical
  • It's really dark and gory

If you are aware of all of this...and expecting it...you might actually enjoy it...
I thought it was really well done...creepy and bloody...but the cinematography is so great.
I will probably buy this movie.

After this, I bought a Juice It Up and a ticket for Walk Hard.
I love John C. Reilly, so I was hoping for the best. Sorry, John...
It was super dirty, and not at all funny...the people in the theater laughed a few times, I laughed once (at the very, very end) and since I laughed at something that wasn't dirty, I was the only one who laughed at that moment.
Not worth your time (even as a rental)

I ran outside, caught my mom and went in to see Juno (two days in a row).
I love this movie. I laughed and cried. I've re-laughed at lines just thinking about them...
I'm not the only one with this opinion: Bethany, Jaime, Cathi, My mom.
I can't wait to own this movie...

Friday, December 21, 2007

The "One Semester of Spanish" Love Song

Two videos in a row, I know...
This is really funny...Jaime I think you will really like this...



I found this on Chase's Blog.
GREAT find, Chase!

Planet Earth

I caught a Planet Earth marathon and set my Tivo to record all day...
This is the episode I'm watching right now.

Skip past the boring crocodile part to about 3 minutes in...then watch the rest.

The most interesting part is the sunflower starfish (at about 4:30)...although the great white attack at the end is pretty unbelievable too!

Season Pass "Planet Earth"...you won't be sorry!

Brushing My Teeth

I really like to wander around while I brush my teeth.
I hate to stand over the sink and wait for the minute to be up.

When I lived with my dad, I would go and make my bed every morning while brushing my teeth...

Now, I sit and check my email, myspace and other people's blogs while I brush my teeth.

Maybe that's strange, but I really prefer it.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

My Night At Home

Buying:
"All That I Want"--The Weepies
"Stars"--The Weepies
The Reminder (Album)--Feist
"Love Like This"--Natasha Bedingfield
Audio Day Dream (Album)--Blake Lewis
"Maybe This Christmas"--Ron Sexsmith

Wrapping:
2 Gifts for my mom (still waiting for my brother's to be delivered)

Watching:
Home Alone 2
Last night's Gossip Girl
I Love Lucy

Reading:
"The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World" by E.L. Koningsburg

George Bailey, I'll Love You 'Til the Day I Die

I just finished watching "It's a Wonderful Life" with a few friends. It was the first time for two of them...which made it even more fun.

I love that movie every time I watch it...tonight it was like introducing an old friend to my new friends. I wanted these people to love this movie like I love it...for its quirks, its moments of over-sentimentality...

Though Bethany fell asleep toward the end (it was 1am), I think she enjoyed it...
And Zack's been waiting to watch it--this made six years he'd been promised a first-time viewing...so I'm hoping it was worth the wait.

Josh, Jeff and I made it through the whole thing...though we've each seen it more than a dozen times...Jason has seen it so many times we had to convince him to stay awake and watch it...

"No Man is a Failure Who Has Friends"

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Book 'Em Danno

I stopped at the bookstore on my way home from work...I needed to pick up a gift for a friend.

I was too proud to search for the author, so I decided to wander up and down the aisles of the kids section hoping to spot the title on the binding.

I listened as kids spoke with each other:

"Should I get James and the Giant Peach or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?"

"Look at how cool this one is"

And as they spoke to their parents:

"Mom! Can I get two books? I'll pay for this one with my allowance."

"Look! Cool! This is the one I wanted"

And as one little girl (who was maybe seven) helped another mom find a book for her daughter:

"If she's in the highest reading group in her class, you should buy her this book...but if she's not, she might want this...Do they have reading groups in her class?"

I wanted to stay and listen, but I had already stood there for 15 minutes and thought I would look creepy staying longer. But I did discover that I will need to develop some severe strength before becoming a parent because if my kid wants to read, I will buy as many books as he wants.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

iHeart iTunes

iJust bought a bunch of iTunes.
Here's what iBought:


The Night Sky: Keane

Little Voice (Album): Sara Bareilles

Enchanted Soundtrack

The Way I Feel Inside: The Zombies

Anyone Else But You: The Moldy Peaches

Falling In Love At a Coffee Shop: Landon Pigg

Say: John Mayer

Stitched Up: Herbie Hancock & John Mayer


iAm waiting until iGet a gift card so iCan buy:
The Reminder (album): Feist
Audio Day Dream (album): Blake Lewis

You can judge me all you want...iDon't care.

I Have Really Good Luck

About a week ago, I turned on Sabrina the Teenage Witch just in time to catch a special performance by Aaron Carter. What luck!


Saturday, I turned on an old episode of Saved by the Bell at the exact moment of Jessie's caffeine withdraw..."I'm so Excited, I'm so excited...I'm so, so, scared!"


Then, this morning, I turned on my usual TBS morning viewing of Saved By the Bell and caught the most memorable moment in the show's history...


Don't thank me, thank the brilliant Hollywood writers.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Really? Is This Who I Am?

I just logged on to Amazon.com and these were the recommended items in my cart.



Who am I? How did I get on this list?
Yikes.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

John Mayer Has a TV Show

Well, he did...for one episode.

In this one episode, they have a panel of girls sitting at a table.
John begins to play "Daughters", asking each one to raise her hand and say "tears" when she feel like she is going to cry. It really is very funny.

So, I laugh at this...thinking how dumb these girls are to cry during this song.

Then, I get in my car tonight and listen to John Mayer...

I refrain from tears during "Daughters", but totally well-up during THREE other songs.

Oh, and it's not like this is a one-time ordeal...these songs get me every time.
Do you think he also wrote that stupid JC Penny commercial that brings me to tears EVERYTIME?

WHEEL:
"And airports, see it all the time/ Where someone's last goodbye
Blends in with someone's sigh/ Cause someone's coming home
In hand, a single rose/ That's the way this wheel keeps working now"


COMFORTABLE:
"I loved you/ grey sweat pants/ No make up/ So perfect
Our love was comfortable and so broken in
She’s perfect/ So flawless/ I’m not impressed/ I want you back"


STOP THIS TRAIN:
"So scared of getting older/ I'm only good at being young
So I play the numbers game/ To find a way to say that life has just begun/

Had a talk with my old man/ Said "help me understand"/ He said "turn sixty-eight
You renegotiate"/ "Don't stop this train/ Don't for a minute change the place you're in/ And don't think I couldn't ever understand/ I tried my hand/
John, honestly we'll never stop this train"

The Question Man Has All of the Answers

Every once-in-a-while I like to play "the Question Game".
It works like this: One person asks a question--any question--and everyone in the circle answers. Then, the next person asks a question and everyone answer...this continues until everyone has asked a question.

I think it's a pretty fun way to pass a long car ride or even to get to know a new group of friends.

My old favorite question:
"If you could invite 3 celebrities to your birthday party (couples count as one guest), who would you invite?"

My new favorite question:
"If you could invite an elderly celebrity on a picnic, who would you invite and what would you bring for food?"

So, who would you invite? What would you bring to eat?

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Friend Crush #2

You can read about Friend Crush #1 HERE.

I have a big fat friend crush on Dominik.
I think he's funny...I also think he is really talented.

I Google-image-searched his name and this picture came up...

Play-Doh

I spent the evening with a 2-year-old boy named Luke.

Luke was a complete gentleman; we watched a movie, had dinner and even played a little baseball.

But my favorite part of the night was our time spent with Play-Doh. I was making a few shapes (snakes, snowmen--you know, the really difficult stuff). At one point, he made a pancake. So I picked it up and, in a series of chomping noises, followed by a YUM!, I pretended to eat the pancake.

His response? "Sometimes I eat Play-Doh"...and put a tic-tac-sized piece in his mouth...

I laughed, he laughed...he spit it out and added it to the "mountain of papers" he was constructing.

He didn't eat anymore after that, but I did catch him licking the paper mountain a few times.

Fellas, take notes...Luke knows how to treat a lady to a memorable Friday night.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Father Daughter Date Night

I had a great night with my dad...
He came to see the place (which he had not yet seen fully-furnished and decorated)...he kept saying he loved the art (a Police poster, an Abbey Road sign and a giant Flatiron building photo)

I had made him a CD of 80's cover songs that they have played on Grey's Anatomy (and one from Smallville), so we listened to that on the way to dinner.

We waited for a table by walking around Borders...I bought LOST season 3 and he bought a bunch of car magazines...

We had dinner, then walked to get ice cream...

When he dropped me off I lent him LOST season 1 and "Love is a Mix Tape"...I think he will love both.

It was such a great night. I really am excited for the next time!

I Can't Wait



Unbelievable.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

I Heart Reali-TV

I know...I sound like a loser...but please, hear me out.

I don't love the ridiculous "fall in love" reality shows. I did not watch one episode of "Rock of Love" or "Tila Tequila"...I was forced (almost literally) in to watching the finale of this season's "The Bachelor"...and I have never really loved Real World, Road Rules or Big Brother (except for the British Big Brother--remember that Josh Peters?)

But, each week I get really excited for:

The Amazing Race...
I love the travel, I love to see new places...and add to my list of places I want to go...I would LOVE to be on this show, but I think I'd have to learn to run first.

The Biggest Loser...
I have cried at the last three episodes of this show...I love that each person is choosing to change their life. And that they are so happy about it. Last night, as each person climbed on the scale and burst in to tears over their weight loss, I couldn't help but cry alongside of them. I love that they will have such better lives because of this show.

Project Runway...
I'm totally new to this show. I watched a marathon of a previous season just before this season started...and now I love it. I love that they have to create a look from scratch...The creativity, the colors, the drama, the inevitable tears from Ricky...oh so good.


**We watched the season premiere of CROWNED tonight...it may be added to my list of shows simply because of how over-the-top and ridiculous it was**

I Ate a Bunch of Crap Today, But Had a Lot of Fun







Monday, December 10, 2007

Kevin and Wendy--We're Friends

Kevin and Wendy have been promising me "special birthday presents" since my 24th birthday (so, a little over a year)...They finally brought them to me, yesterday.

I think they were TOTALLY worth the wait, but you can decide for yourself...
Wendy hand-painted these three specifically because they are my three favorite places in the world...Kevin was proud to say that he helped by painting the stripes on the zebras.





Thanks, you guys! I LOVE them so much!

Monday Night Framing

Finally! My walls have frames on them...it looks like I really live here!





I Have a House

Tonight I'm having my mom, my aunt and my Grandma over for dinner...
I'm making tortellini...

I love having a place to have people over!

Sunday, December 09, 2007

Day 200: Update #2

As my 500th post, I made a list of goals that I would like to reach by 500 days from that day. Here's the link...day 500 happens to be October 2, 2008.

Here's the link for update #1: Day 100 of 500.

Friday (December 7th) was day 200. So, here is an update:

* Read at least 23 books.
So far, I have read 7 (at this rate, I could make it to 23)

* Write something (a short story, some poetry, a song, a YM resource)...SORT OF CHECK
I wrote an article for the SYM Newsletter...

* Weigh 135.
Nope

* Speak near-fluent Swahili.
I can sing a few songs, count to ten, say hello and welcome...but that's all

* Travel to at least 10 countries I have not been to before.
Only 3 new countries so far (this may be the only unattained goal in 500 days)

* Be financially independent...CHECK
Well, in theory, I am...mom, you don't get to comment on this!

* Have serious Kenya-living plans...CHECK
I'm moving in July...for 6 months. I'll return in January.
When we go in a few weeks, I'll be making connections over there and establishing some firm plans...

* Be en route to a Master's degree.
Not even close

* Record...CHECK
I was part of Fuel (a night of worship) on November 26th. The CD will be released sometime in January...the DVD in the summer!

* Laugh a lot. Loudly and a lot...CHECK
Of course...

Day 300: Update #3 will be Tuesday, March 18, 2008...

Things That Make You Look Like An Idiot at a Concert

For the first in this series, please see: Things That Make You Look Like An Idiot At A Party

Last night, my mom and I went to John Mayer's 1st Annual Holiday Charity Revue.
It was a great show...to read more about it, visit my mom's post. I came up with this list last night and was very excited to post it.

Things That Make You Look Like An Idiot at a Concert:

1. Buying a shirt of the band and putting it on right away.

2. Taking a picture of yourself with the empty, pre-show lighted, stage behind you.

3. Playing the air guitar during the show.

4. Playing the mouth drums (loudly) during the show.

5. Trying to jump out of your chair and land exactly with the end of the song...EVERY TIME.

6. Sitting so close to your girlfriend (and kissing her so often) that I almost turn to warn you that you are closing in on 4 pints of saliva and running the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.

7. Constantly trying to guess which song will be next.

8. Fist-pumping when you correctly guess the next song.

9. Spurting out unimportant facts about the band in-between sets.

10. Shouting out variations of "I Love you!" or "Marry Me" or even titles of other songs.

Lucky for me, we sat next to the guy that embodied all things idiotic...a tip of the hat to you sir, for inspiring this post.

Thursday, December 06, 2007

My Life Has Been Spiced Up




Tonight Ryanne, Alanna and I went to see the Spice Girls in concert. No, you're not reading a diary entry from 1996...

They opened with "Spice Up Your Life" and Ryanne and I both got teary-eyed.
We were laughing at ourselves, we know how lame it sounds, but there was something so "childhood dream" about seeing them come out and dance on stage.

They sang "The Lady is a Vamp", which is my very favorite Spice Girls song...

Alanna still remembered the dance to "Stop!" (Ry and I were a little rusty)...

They sang all of their hits, and clearly did not have enough to fill an entire show because each girl sang a solo (of a cover--or their own solo hit), and there were a few dance interludes from a group of "spice boys".

The show was worth every penny. So were the T-Shirts.
We'll take some photos in our souvenirs and I'll post them tomorrow...

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Sappy, Party of One

So, on Bethany's suggestion, I'm watching October Road. I'm about to begin the season 1 finale...

Part of this last episode was about an old man who just lost his wife of 56 years. He was so sad...I, of course, started to cry.

But it made me think. How can someone not want to look for their perfect match, knowing that they will be together for 56 years (well give or take)?

How can you not want someone who just gets you?
Who knows you so well it's almost as if they can read your mind.
Who makes you laugh more than anyone else.
Who likes you at your worst.
Who loves you at your best.
Whose passion sparks your passion.
For whom no apologies, no explanations are necessary.

Why settle for less than that?

I know this is reading a little too much in to a TV show (and an under-the-radar show, no less), but as tears stream down my face, as I listened to this old man talk about how much he loved his wife--for 56 years seeing the world side-by-side--this is what was on my mind.

Friend Crush

I have a huge friend crush on David Hughes.

In case you're not sure what a friend crush is: Experiencing a strong desire to become friends with a person you don't know very well. Often times, people experiencing friend crushes will exhibit nervousness, giddiness, idolatry, admiration, and clumsiness similar to those emotions experienced when being around a regular crush.

I want to hang out with David all the time...but with photos like these, who wouldn't want to?





I was going to blog about this the other night, but I was nervous that it would be super awkward...then when I told David about my crush, he beat me to it and called me out...

Monday, December 03, 2007

Movies I Really Want to See

Enchanted
Juno
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
Alvin & the Chipmunks
P.S. I Love You
Walk Hard
Sweeney Todd
The Killing of John Lennon
27 Dresses
Be Kind, Rewind
Strange Wilderness
Vantage Point

That's a lot of movies...but the last few won't be in theaters until March...

My Favorite Christmas Song

So, I made what I think is a great Christmas CD...I put all of my favorites on it.

My favorite traditional Christmas song: "What Child is This?" sung by Lyndsey Lloyd Wallace

My favorite "I'm the only one who likes it" Christmas song: "Last Christmas" by Wham!

My favorite Christmas-season, not actual Christmas song: "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" sung by Harry Connick, Jr

My "Favorite Breaks My Heart Every Time" Song: "Welcome to Our World" also sung by Lyndsey Lloyd Wallace

My Favorite "Shake It In The Car" Song: "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey

HIV/AIDS Youth Summit

I promised I would blog about the day...I was too exhausted until now.
So, here's how it went down: If you just want to read the behind-the-scenes notes, skip to the italicized words.

My morning began at 5:45 when Zack and I moved all of the program pieces from the office to the Worship Center, and then had band rehearsal until 8:15. That's when the madness started. With Jenna Bush coming to speak, there were secret service men everywhere. I was introduced to the head agent and given a pin to signify that I had been cleared (I had to give my social security number) and could be on the same stage as Jenna.

Once that was figured out, the program was ready to begin. 9am, the countdown ended (it fired itself 3 minutes early) and the intro video began. The event was simulcast to 35 states, so in addition to the almost 900 we had in the live audience, there were hundreds more across America. Our hosts, Doug Fields and Josh Griffin gave my number out on stage, so people were texting from all over the country with their attendance at the event. (With the pastor's green room in "lock down" for Jenna Bush, Fields and Griff had to sit side-stage with me...that was so much fun--laughing and joking with the two of those guys really made the slight-chaos laughable)

The program was filled with speakers:
  • Rick and Kay Warren (who shared about how their hearts came to be broken for those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS),
  • John Thomas (he runs the world's largest government-funded ministry for HIV/AIDS from his church in South Africa and spoke on the importance of abstinence...he used phrases and terms that were a little shocking, but was definitely speaking the truth),
  • Francis Chan (whom I was so honored to meet, I can't believe the heart this man has...they lost his daughter on Friday and he was still there to speak on Saturday saying "God has me here for a purpose"...and he was probably the highlight for most students), then (Francis was supposed to follow Jenna, but her plane was late arriving...we flip-flopped the schedule, which turned out to be better any way...but we had no idea when she would arrive, so we were ready with a few schedule options...she walked in less then 5 minutes before Francis walked off stage and she was introduced--the timing couldn't have been more perfect...but wow that was a stressful half-hour.)
  • Jenna Bush (she read an excerpt from her book Ana's Story and really drove home the importance of educating yourself and others on this pandemic). (I really wish I could have told her how much I liked her skirt and boots--she was darling)
  • Shaun Blakeney (the High School pastor of Saddleback) spoke on David and Goliath. How it took a teenager to rid the world of the giant that was taunting his world. Then he challenged the students to be like David; to work to be the teenager to rid the world of this giant: HIV/AIDS.

He then gave them five "next step" options:
  • initiate (a relationship with Christ),
  • educate (yourself and others--we provided a list of websites, books and videos),
  • participate (here & now, there & then--we gave a list of local and global missions trips),
  • donate (your money, resources, time),
  • pray (for infected and affected: for their education, health, spiritual development, governments, etc.--we provided a card with a child's picture, on the back was a list of ways to pray)
At each table was a piece of fabric, to staple gun to a fence as a public commitment to one of these next steps. Next to the fabric was a rubber bracelet. This bracelet is meant to be a reminder of the personal commitment made to one of these steps.

Somewhere in the mix was the band. We played "World on Fire" by Sarah McLauchlan, "Cannons" and "True Love" by Phil Wickham, "Tears of the Saints" by Leeland and "Butterflies and Hurricanes" by Muse. (This last song was the most difficult and the one we were all the most excited to play--Dominik played the piano solo perfectly...)

I was an amazing day...I am so glad I was able to be a part of it...I am really proud of the way it came together and was executed. Our team worked really hard to pull it off and I think we did it really well...

Mom Question

I had a few friends over tonight and I made grilled cheese and tomato soup.
I stopped at Target to purchase cheese, and then had a two hour meeting.
So, I wasn't sure how that would work out...

I stopped a lady (who looked like a mom) and said, "Can I ask you a mom question?" She said, "Sure" (nervous at what my question might be)

I said, "How long can I leave this cheese in the car and still have it be okay?"

She said, "Well, not too long...like you want to leave it over-night?"

"No, 2 hours"

"Oh, that's fine"

"Okay, thanks for your help"

I really appreciate helpful strangers.
I wish I knew more about the rules of food preservation.

Saturday, December 01, 2007

S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night!

LAST SATURDAY at 10:30pm:
I was leaving church, I had just had a great dinner and a lot of laughter with my friend Wendy...and I went home to read and sleep!

THIS SATURDAY at 10:30pm:
I was just leaving church after dinner at Chipotle. After spending 32 of the last 48 hours on the church campus, I'm ready to crawl in to my bed and read a book for about 3 minutes before I fall asleep!

NEXT SATURDAY at 10:30pm:
I will be at a John Mayer concert with my mom...
Hooray!

AIDS, AIDS, AIDS

Tomorrow (or today, I guess) is World AIDS Day.
A team of us have been working for months to pull-off a Youth Summit to inform and activate students on the pandemic of HIV/AIDS. It begins tomorrow morning at 9am. We have a handful of speakers (including Francis Chan and Jenna Bush), a load of videos that are really great, and an unbelievable band that will play 4 cover songs over the course of the day.

I'm really excited about it...There will be about 600 people in the live audience and over 2000 people via simulcast.

I'm hoping all of our videos will be online by the end of the weekend...but I'll post about it after the marathon of a day tomorrow.

AIDS DAY CHALLENGE:
Learn one new thing about HIV/AIDS.
And then tell a friend.

Here are a few facts I have learned recently:
* Every 14 seconds a child is orphaned by AIDS.
* Someone dies from AIDS every 8 seconds (relatively every time you take a breath)--that adds up to over 9,000 people a day
* If you have HIV and you marry someone with HIV, it doesn't make you okay to have sex--you can be re-infected with a different strand of HIV
* There are so many different strands of HIV that doctors can not keep up--some strands are completely immune to the antiretroviral medication
* A little more than one-tenth of the world’s population lives in sub-Saharan Africa, however, almost 64% of all people living with HIV live in this area. Two million of them are children younger than 15 years old.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Everything Glorious

I've been singing the lyrics to this David Crowder song "Everything Glorious"...not the entire song, just these few lines...I really like them.


You make everything glorious
And I am Yours
What does that make me?

How To Be a Good Parent

I really like to watch parents of the students in our ministry and take notes on "to do"s and "to avoid"s.

Here are a few items on that list:

1. Let your child miss school every-once-in-a-while for something fun...
let them spend the night on a school night, let them skip class to go to Disneyland or the beach, give them an early dismissal to go and buy the new NSYNC CD at Tower Records...those are the memories they will have forever--not Tuesday, December 4th's History lesson.

2. Teach your child to choose the event that they won't get to do again...
My mom used to say this when I had a difficult choice to make: summer camp or concert? "Which will you never have the chance to do again?" I loved that...it always made the choice easier...and then I wouldn't miss things like a leadership retreat to play in a soccer game.

3. Always pick your child up on time...
Being the last kid sitting around, knowing the leaders are only waiting for you to leave, sucks. Be there on time. Be a few minutes early, bring a book. My mom was the best at this too.

4. Be aware of the church's calendar of events...
Your child will not always remember to bring a form home, but I guarantee there are summer events happening, and you could call and get those dates and sign him or her up...so, as the parent, be responsible...make it happen.

5. When your child has questions, answer them honestly...
It can be detrimental to your child's development for you to "dumb down" answers or tell them they're too young to know about those things...If your kid is old enough to ask the question, then he/she is old enough for the honest answer...and is probably getting the wrongs facts from friends at school.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

And This Christmas Will Be A Very Special Christmas For Me

Tonight, I decorated my very first don't-live-with-my-parents Christmas tree.

Jared
, Alanna and Ali came over for dinner (made completely by Jared)...it was delicious...and they even brought apple cider!

Then, Jared and I hung way too many ornaments on my tree while Ali and Alanna kept the conversation flowing...

I really, really love Christmas...so much.

And I love that I came home to a pine-scented house...

Here's a picture of my tree last night:


Here's what it looks like now: (flash)



(no flash)

Next Week at This Time

I will be on my way home from what is sure to be an amazing Spice Girls concert.

I am going to the concert with two old friends...we are planning to buy T-Shirts and sing most of the night at the top of our lungs...

I can't wait.

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf

Two facts about it:

1. They have delicious blendeds (especially the Espresso Mint Chip)

2. Their soap smells like Desitin. (Yuck!)

Ah, Thank You

One of our High School band students (who went through JH with us) gave me a huge compliment yesterday...

"I my sister grows up to be like one person I know...I hope it's you"

Thanks Landon! That was really nice of you!

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Hooray!

I fixed it!
Welcome back, Firefox.
I missed you!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

I bought my very first Christmas tree tonight. It's beautiful...It's very full and symmetric.

The guy who helped me (at Target) was covering for someone who was on a break, so he had no idea what was going on--he kept apologizing...he was so nice...but couldn't really work the chainsaw and I had to remind him to put the protective goggles on...that can't be good)

I took so long that all of my students (who helped pick out the lights, the star and the tree skirt, and were going to help decorate), had to go home.

So, my friend Brian came over and put the stand on for me...and then cut the top so the star would fit on (because I couldn't reach).

Right now I'm sitting next to a well-watered, but naked tree...I'm totally dying to wrap something just so there will be pretty things under the tree.

Tomorrow night, I have three friends coming over to have dinner, watch a Christmas movie and decorate my tree...

I left my camera at work, but I will take photos once it's all finished!

Hooray for first Christmas trees!

I Hate Safari

I downloaded a new version of Firefox...and now, for some reason, it won't open.
I'm using Safari right now and I hate so much about the way it chooses to be.
No new tabs, no italic button, no spell-check, no password memory--boo safari, boo!

I really wish I could get my Firefox to work...
You really can't always get what you want.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Upstairs Neighbor

The woman who lives upstairs (I've never met her) is awake all the time.
All the time she's awake and walking around...well not so much walking as stomping.
She likes to stomp to her bedroom at 6am. She likes to stomp to the kitchen at midnight. She loves to vacuum around 11pm, making sure to walk loudly enough that she can hear her footsteps over the noise of the vacuum.

I don't really mind, since evidently I am awake at those times too...but it's always funny when someone new comes over to my house and hears her traipsing around. I like to thumb-point at the ceiling and say "I know, crazy..."

I also like to alternate these two nicknames when referring to her:

Sir Stomps-a-lot
Lead Foot

She's stompin'-it-up real nice right now.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

TV Shows on My List

I've just finished the first season of 30 Rock. (I watched the entire season in under 24 hours...yikes!)

Here's what's next for me:

Seinfeld
Gilmore Girls
ER
7th Heaven
Alias (Katie, this is my way of asking to borrow it when you finish)
Amazing Race
Project Runway

Also, I'm kinda thinking about Golden Girls

Any other suggestions?

P.S. I just saw that Alex Mack is out on DVD...and Perfect Strangers comes out in February...

Three Questions For You

1. If you could be anything in the whole world (and you could not fail) what would you be?

2. What are the top five things on your Christmas list this year?

3. In your opinion, what celebrity is least likely to ever host Saturday Night Live?

I Think This Commercial Is Funny

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Oh, Thank You

I really like the new toilet paper that we have at the church.
It's really soft...not thin and cheap like the old brand.

I'm sure the person who ordered this paper assumes that no one noticed, but I did. And I'm appreciative.

Best of Christmas

I finished my Christmas playlist.

If you bring me a disc, I will make you one...you won't regret it.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Hot Friday Night

Tonight, I watched TV on DVD. For about 5 hours.

Around 8:30 I was almost asleep on the couch, until I thought about how delicious Teddy Grahams would be. So, I went to the grocery store...in my Christmas pajamas and Ugg boots.

Of course, when I get in line, this super cute guy (full beard--so cute) gets in line behind me. I'm officially embarrassed...I mean, let's review: I'm wearing Christmas pajamas, Ugg boots, and a blue jacket and I'm purchasing 2 boxes of Teddy Grahams (chocolate and honey), a pint of low fat ice cream, and a box of Ritz crackers.

Did I mention it was 8:30 on a Friday night?

Oh yeah, I'm awesome.

Making the Perfect Mix

I've been trying, for a few days, to make a Christmas mix of my favorite Holiday songs...for some reason, it's more difficult than I expected...it's so important to have them in the right order...to make sure each song plays in to the next with a smooth transition (not too loud, not too fast, not two Franks in a row)...

Once it's finished, I'll post the playlist and I guarantee, it will put you in the Christmas spirit!

I Love Lucy

I was just watching an I Love Lucy episode...Ricky said something about the rent...$125 a month.

$125 a month.

Crazy.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Ten Things I Bet You Didn't Know About Me

Well...maybe you did...

10. I really love when someone says "I remembered this is your favorite..." or "I know you like..."

9. I cry at every episode of Grey's Anatomy. And I love that.

8. I puke a lot...maybe I have ulcers?

7. I would rather watch TV on DVD than read a book...but I would rather talk about a
book than the TV on DVD

6. I really like to learn things I don't know...preferably things that no one else knows or cares about

5. I drink Coke with all breakfast foods...unless it's French toast, that requires Dr. Pepper

4. I threw a large nut at a kid once and hit him in the nose. He cried. I got sent to the Principal's office.

3. I have never finished an entire bottle of vitamins. I start taking them and never finish...then they expire

2. I have been to over 30 weeks of summer camps since sixth grade

1. I enjoy crossing things off of to-do lists. Sometimes I will make lists and
include things I've already done just so I can cross them off.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

25 Things to Do While I'm 25: An Update

Here's the list...Here's what I've done so far...These will be done soon...

1. Make a mosaic table
2. Have my very first Christmas tree, stockings, and Christmas morning at my own house
3. Get some students to think about their community and the world around them
4. Learn to speak a foreign language
5. Visit London
6. Watch a movie in an LA Cemetery (Cinespia)
7. Relax
8. Make a trifle
9. Take dance lessons
10. Be a good small group leader
11. Go indoor sky-diving
12. Learn to use a sewing machine
13. Ride in a helicopter
14. Spend the night at Montage
15. Go to baseball games at Fenway Park and Wrigley Field
16. Watch 3 full series of TV on DVD
17. Learn to play the guitar
18. Work with Habitat for Humanity
19. Buy a pair of Christian Louboutins
20. Apply for graduate school
21. Learn to cook
22. Visit Kenya
23. Be a good friend
24. Get a full-body massage
25. Visit the Grand Canyon

My Night at Montage

I just had one of the best birthday parties of my life...

Katie, Amanda and I spent the night at Montage. It was unbelievable. Katie and I spent the day at the spa...and then checked in to a beautiful room. We only left the room for 45 minutes...to sit and chat in the jacuzzi.

We ordered dinner, dessert and breakfast from room service.
We laid around in comfy robes, in a giant bed, watched Waitress (and the Bachelor, though it was not my choice)...that's it...it was everything I hoped it would be.

(we didn't use this bathtub, but it was just so pretty!)

Sunday, November 18, 2007

I'm Not Sure

"most of what we are is what people expect us to be"

I can't decide whether I agree or disagree...what do you think?

Christmas Time is Here...Happiness and Cheer

I love Christmas.

I love watching laying under a blanket, watching a Christmas movie...the room dark save for the tiny glow from the lights on the tree.

I love walking through a store and seeing Christmas decorations. Even if I'm not buying anything, I walk through the aisles looking at everything.

I love to listen to Christmas music. The day after Thanksgiving to Christmas Day, it is all Christmas music, all the time. I own a wide-array of Christmas albums (Frank Sinatra, Martina McBride, Christina Aguilera, NSYNC, Crystal Lewis). I love to listen to these albums because they are only 25 songs that artists typically choose from. The best part about Christmas, though, is that everyone has their own arrangements...their views of Christmas classics. (In the same way that everyone has different opinions on Santa, decorations, traditions...)

I am very excited for Thanksgiving this year...but mostly because it means Christmas time is here.

Friday, November 16, 2007

Untypical



I am of the belief that Christmas decorations should not surface until after Thanksgiving...but we are doing the first of four Secret Santa weeks on Tuesday...so I had to do it...

But it looks so cute!

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Leaders Are Learners (Copyright Rick Warren)

I am always amazed at the places my lessons are hidden.

Tonight, while watching Gossip Girl, I really felt like God was teaching me something...I know this sounds unbelievable and ridiculous...but I honestly feel as though my heart was being nudged toward something I've been feeling and fighting for a while.

You see, Serena learned a valuable lesson tonight...and I need to follow her example. Believe me, I know how lame this sounds...

If you watched it, you know what I mean...if you didn't, that's probably okay.

It's really a bummer when people say lessons aren't deep enough for them...I think, if you are looking to learn, you can learn anywhere...(for good and for bad)...

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Here is London...


I really wish I were standing right here...looking at this in person.
I wish I were wearing a scarf and a big coat and walking up toward Leicester Square...
I would enjoy a delcious Peppermint Hot Chocolate whilest reading a book or looking out the window at passers-by.
Then I would have a delicious Chicken Ramen with my friends...before heading off the the Stags to chat the night away.

I'm sure this is not what life is like there right now...but it is exactly what my dream of that life is...

I miss you, terribly.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

HIV 101

We watched this video in my small group tonight. I think it was eye-opening for me and most of the students.

It is worth your 10 minutes.

Oh, Internet...

Today, I was looking something up on the internet...I don't even remember what it was...but on the side of the site, there was an advertisement...

"Learn Turkish Like a Secret Agent"

So, the internet really can make dreams come true...who knew?

Monday, November 12, 2007

Something I've Been Thinking About...

I spent the weekend at High School camp...it was very cold, and very fun. I love when I get to be a part of events as an extra set of hands. I'm not in charge (don't get me wrong, I also love to be in charge), but I get to stand in the background and help where needed, but also relax and hang out.

From the sidelines, I get to see things that I might have missed if I were in my typical "program" mode.

One thing I noticed this week was a group of students who have amazing hearts for others and for their world. I love that. I am so proud of who they are...

I'm so proud of their parents. I look at these teenage boys who are kind and accepting...raising their hands in worship to God, approaching the speaker with tears in their eyes to ask questions about the Bible, and sitting in the cafeteria with bow ties, dinner jackets and running shorts...I really hope that I raise kids that are like that...I know they will be crazy and make mistakes...I know they will fight and cry, I know that I will fight and cry...but I hope that, in the long run, they are filled with compassion and a desire to follow God...

I also feel like they are shining examples of what a good Student Ministry can do in the life of a student. I know that parenting plays a huge role in who they will grow up to be...but I also know that the presence of a loving, caring adult (who is not their parent) takes them to the next level. Someone willing to take time to listen, to pour in to them. I strongly believe that the compassion and selflessness shown in our students are, in part, a result of the compassion and selflessness they are being shown by these adults.

I know that this is true because this is my story. My parents are great: so supportive and loving...but I know that I would not be in ministry today, I would not have a heart for Africa, so many other things that make me who I am today, without the other adults I had in my life...the adults who loved me, modeled God's love in my life...

Students, I am so proud of who you are. I hope that you take some time to pour these learnings in to the next generation...and encourage them to do the same...

Irrational Fear #7

I have a tremendous fear of hitting someone with my car...

I don't think that I am a reckless driver, I am pretty sure that I will hit someone who is attempting suicide.

I have a fear that I will be driving down a darker street and have someone come running out of the bushes or trees, right in front of my car...and get hit.

I will be incapable of getting out of the car to see if he is alright.
I will, instead, call the cops and sit in the car until an ambulance arrives.

This is a ridiculous fear...but it's completely true...

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Free Rice

This is a great website, despite what Zack Barker says...

Maybe try to match the correct definitions and give rice to another country...Who knows, while helping someone in another country, you may actually learn something...

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Baby It's Cold Outside

I'm up at Chi Alpha, this weekend, with HSM. I invited myself to be a part of the band, since it's my weekend off from Wildside.

Camp began this afternoon, but we drove up last night to get set-up and sound check. The band is made up of some of my very favorite people: David Hughes, Gecko Luke, Zack Barker, Dominik Michalzik, and Mark Reinhardt (who went home sick and is now being covered for by Carson Leith).

Yesterday, the ride up to camp was filled with some sweet love songs of the 80s (such as "Everything I Do" by Bryan Adams) and 90s (such as "Sometimes" by Britney Spears)...and a lot of laughter.

It's simultaneously fun and awkward being the only girl in the band...we are staying in a giant house, and I get my own room (fun)...but when I got up to go downstairs this morning, I saw Luke in his underpants (awkward)...

It's cold...really cold...and I love it.
I love wearing a long sleeved shirt and a sweatshirt...and a beanie...and thick socks and boots...I'm totally over-dressed, but I just love it too much and I don't have enough cold weather in my life...

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Supervillains: An Over-Generalization

Why is it that supervillains have alliterated names?

Lex Luthor
Doctor Doom
Green Goblin
Gabriel Gray

And, hero aliases are also alliterations:
Peter Parker
Bruce Banner
Clark Kent
Matt Murdock
Peter Petrelli


On a side-note, did you know that Captain America was created to fight Nazis? Awesome.

Irrational Fear #6

I have a huge fear of breaking my neck.

I think it spawned from my mother always threatening that it would happen...not that she would do it, but that by some freak accident I would become paralyzed.

She would say things like "Don't ride your bike without a helmet, you'll fall and break your neck" or "Don't climb trees, you'll fall and break your neck"...

Now I find myself thinking about it...

Yesterday, we were throwing apples in the office. I actually thought, I'm not going to walk back down there. They could throw it and it could hit me in the back of the neck and I could be paralyzed.

I'm bound to make an over-protective mother...

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Organic Discipleship

I wrote an article for Simply Youth Ministry.

You can read it here.

I'm a Nerd

This is really interesting to me:

an emigrant is someone who leaves one country to settle in another while an immigrant is someone who comes to a country where they were not born in order to settle there

The Double Flush

There are four stalls in the women's bathroom at the office, each of them equipped with a low-flushing toilet. If you are not alone in the bathroom, that's bad news for both of you...because each of you will have to double-flush, making it sound as though you just pooped. Oh, and if you try to flush at the same time, nothing happens...that makes for a triple-flush.

And, to make matters worse, you will have to push the sink button down at least three times to sufficiently wash your hands...

Every time I visit the bathroom, this is frustrating to me. I always want to say "I'm not pooping!"

Monday, November 05, 2007

Irrational Fear #5

Here are links to #1-4.

In 1996 a movie came out that changed my view of public-bathroom use.

Scream came out when I was a freshman in high school...I saw it in the theater three days in a row.

The scariest part, to me, is actually a pretty forgettable scene to most people.

Sidney (Neve Campbell) goes in to the school bathroom during class. She's in there alone (or so she thinks) and hears her name being whispered, seemingly through the air conditioning. She looks around, but doesn't see anyone...then we see the feet step off of the toilet and hit the ground...

Oh man...SO scary!

This fear doesn't affect my everyday life...since most days I am not in a public bathroom alone.

But, I can not go to the bathroom during a movie without slight fear of hearing "allison, allison"