::So envious of Daisy Jane's High School experience::

So, I got a wonderful raise (27%!!) and a new position within my current company this afternoon. I'm absolutely giddy about the money, obviously, just nervous about going from a bi-monthly paycheck to a monthly paycheck. Especially this month when my usual paycheck on the 15th will be cut in half. Eep. I foresee charging groceries and gas on one of my credit cards in the near future.

Woo Hoo!!! Congratulations, Nicole!

This involves full body head grabbing, hair yanking, face patting/whacking, eyelid pinching and nose wrangling.

Ack. Poor JZ. My mom wore glasses and I'm told that I was simply fascinated with them. Tried to rip them off of her face every single chance I got. That's what they tell me, anyway.

I have (mostly) fond memories of high school. I wouldn't do it all over again, but it didn't suck by any means. Lunch was usually frozen yogurt or half a sandwich from a local deli up the street from the school, if we left campus. Otherwise I might've had a super healthy candy bar or similar from the vending machine. Gym was immediately after lunch (gym usually involved running on the beach - ugh), and stuffing my face prior to running tends to lead to unwanted puking.

So, when are you coming to visit?

2008! Woot!

In October! Oh, wait, you live someplace other than Chicago, don't you? So sorry.

Hee. Thank doG I'll have a real paycheck by then.

Thanks for the congrats, y'all!

Nicole, do you have a minute to IM?

I was very lucky. Mr. Jane (who went there and was president of his class) and I have always said we were gonna donate money if we ever got rich and famous.

I showed y'all the videos he has from HS, right?

OK, not one of his High School ones, but this is about the mood of The Grapevine early on a Saturday. I think the curly headed girl is visiting from Chicago.

[link]

2008! Woot!

TOO FAR AWAY!

I originally applied to two small midwestern religious-affiliated colleges, both of which accepted me. Then I got a call from Baylor University saying if I bothered to apply there, they would give me a full ride. I applied, then could not bear to go so far away from home. Looking back, I believe that I had subconsciously picked up on some cues that my dad was not doing well - photos from the time show him looking pretty sick. He died three weeks before I moved into the dorm for my freshman year at Cedarville University. Freshman year was hell. And heaven. I loved my time at Cedarville, and rarely regret the Baylor money (as I know if I had gone there, I'd have blown the scholarship in all the stress and trauma).

The fact that I didn't complete my degree has more to do with undiagnosed AD/HD than money.

Hec, will y'all need some babysitting tomorrow? I'll have time after work, if need be.

Just home from the hairdresser's. Hung out at the bar with her for a bit post-haircut, sipping on a bitters-and-soda. I finally told her that I wanted a real drink, so I needed to go home!

The point is, though, that I love riding. I love being on the bike, I love taking those corners and accelerating down the straightaways, I even love the tension of always having to scan 12 seconds ahead. It's so wonderful. I think I'm going to go down to Pacifica this weekend.

Haircut pictures, pretty please?