Beatle Me This, Beatle Me That

i decided to make one of those lists....i will add some now and update later with more stuff.
in no particular order.

1.) travel to europe, africa, and australia.
2.) drive Pacific Coast Highway from San Diego to San Francisco.
3.) swim with a dolphin
4.) see the chicago cubs play at wrigley's field
5.) get married
6.) send a message in a bottle
7.) ride a camel in the desert
8.) write my screen play
9.) open my Beatles diner
10.) drink beer at Oktoberfest in Munich
11.) spend St Patrick's Day in Ireland
12.) visit winchester mansion
13.) get backstage passes to a concert
14.) drive the Autobahn
15.) go to the grand canyon, yellowstone park and all of the national parks in the U.S.
16.) scuba dive off Australia's Great Barrier Reef and wander through the Australian Outback
17.) go on an African Safari
18.) kiss the Blarney stone
19.) visit the Holy Land
20.) go on an archeological dig
21.) trace back my family tree
22.) catch a ball in the stands of a major league baseball stadium
23.) visit the 7 wonders of the world
24.) visit area 51
25.) visit roswell, new mexico
26.) see an active volcano
27.) learn about the geology of orange county (yeah, i'm a nerd lol)
28.) visit the louvre in paris
29.) get out of debt
30.) finish my degree
31.) establish a career
32.) make lot's of money
33.) spend the two months in alaska when it is nothing but dark
34.) ride on a sled pulled by dogs in the snow and tell a dog to mush
35.) be in times square on new year's eve for the ball drop
36.) go skinnydipping
37.) ride a cable car in san francisco
38.) go ice skating at the radio city music hall
39.) ride in a horse-drawn carriage
40.) read the top 100 classic novels
41.) see the top 100 movies of all time
42.) hear the top 100 albums of all time
43.) visit the liberty bell
44.) go white water rafting
45.) travel the oregon trail
46.) visit pearl harbor
47.) cross the international date line
48.) fly first class
49.) try to see the lochness monster
50.) see the northern lights
51.) visit all 7 continents (i know that would fall into traveling to europe, africa and australia lol oh well)
52.) meet ewan mcgregor and tell him he should make an album covering beatles songs hehe
53.) see my boyfriend in a kilt hehe
54.) have a library
55.) meet a Beatle lol (i only have 2 choices now)
56.) have a romantic candle lit dinner
57.) kiss in the rain
58.) learn how to ballroom dance
59.) walk across the abbey road crosswalk
60.) float on the dead sea
61.) attend a film premiere
62.) build a snowman
63.) make a snow angel
64.) see a musical on broadway
65.) go on a scavenger hunt
66.) live abroad
67.) have a family
68.) fight for a cause
69.) make a difference in at least one persons life
70.) do a raindance
71.) take a submarine down to the resting place of the titanic
72.) visit the great wall of china
73.) visit the barringer meteor crater
74.) see one of earth's poles at night
75.) ride the trans-siberian express across asia
76.) buy my own house and then spend time making it into exactly what i want
77.) get all my friends together for one special birthday
78.) shower in a waterfall
79.) walk through a forest
80.) participate in a protest
81.) have a coffee on the sidewalk in Paris
82.) help out at a soup kitchen
83.) drive route 66
84.) take the orient express from venice to london
85.) ride on a gondola in venice
86.) hold the olympic torch
87.) learn how to make the perfect strawberry daiquiri
88.) identify all 88 constellations in the sky
89.) be a seat filler at the academy awards
90.) join the mile high club
91.) see the earth from space
92.) visit all 50 states
93.) help my parents like they've helped me
94.) visit the world's top 100 wonders
95.) save a life
96.) write my autobiography
97.) make a time capsule
98.) own a 66 mustang convertible, baby blue
99.) take a ride on a steamboat
100.) attend a mystery dinner party

There are many places I get my inspiration for writing - movies, music, family, friends. Other writers/artists inspire me with their talents and play on words. There have been a few artists that are very lyrical and what they say really makes you think. Nature. A beautiful sunset can inspire me - just to know that despite all the ugliness that can occur in life, something as beautiful as a sunset makes me know that there is something better out there, you just have to take the time to appreciate it. When someone does something so selfless, even if it's just something little, it helps me regain my faith in the world.

so i have this theory. you know how all of us women are always wondering why guys are complete jackass'? well, i don't think it's their fault. i know what you're probably thinking, 'how could she say it isn't their fault?' thus, this leads me to my theory. i believe that there is a defect on the y chromosome known as the jack ass gene. at some point in a guy's life, probably around puberty, this gene erupts into full force. now, some guys are able to control it a bit more than others, but from time-to-time, they have a jack ass spasm and that is why nice guys are sometimes jackass'. i guess you can say it's a males form of pms, but they don't get it once-a-month, it occurs daily. lol now for us women, what can we do? i guess all we can do is hope and pray for some sort of cure, or perhaps a temporary anecdote that makes the defect bearable. for a while, it was thought that beer and sports calmed the defect, but alas, this was not the case. too much of the two increased the behavior. so what can we learn from all of this? absolutely nothing! just the fact that us women aren't as crazy as we seem and everything that men blame on us as 'pms', it's probably just them being jackass' and they want to point the blame on anyone other than themselves.

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

ANAHEIM HILLS - About 1,500 residents were given precautionary orders to evacuate Monday and students at two schools were relocated due to a fast- moving brush fire that scorched 1,200 acres in the Cleveland National Forest.

Firefighters were hoping the Eastern (241) Transportation Corridor would serve as a barrier to homes in Anaheim Hills and Orange Hills, said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Stephen Miller.

Flying embers started two small spot fires a half-mile from the closest homes, which sparked the evacuation order, Miller said.

As of noon, about 1,200 acres of mixed brush had burned, Miller said. About 500 of the homes under the precautionary evacuation order were in Anaheim, Anaheim Fire Department spokeswoman Maria Sabol said.

Heavy concentrations of smoke led school authorities to order that students at Santiago Middle School and Anaheim Hills Elementary be sent to Canyon Hills High School, said Lynette Round of the Fire Authority.

Meanwhile, the American Red Cross opened shelters at Villa Park and El Modena high schools for evacuated residents, Round said.

The blaze broke out before dawn in a mountainous area between Orange and Riverside counties near Sierra Peak, Miller said.

Miller said he did not know if there were power lines in the area, which is very remote. He had no information as to how the fire started.

Firefighters carried out an aerial assault on the blaze using water- dropping helicopters, working from a command post established at Irvine Regional Park.

There was no immediate word on containment, Miller said, adding that "once we get a helicopter freed we'll map" the fire.

As a precaution, officials closed the 241 toll road between Santiago Canyon Road and the Riverside (91) Freeway, said California Highway Patrol Officer Denise Quesada.

Miller told a local TV station that despite the fact that the official fire season is over, the danger continues and people living in the area need to be ready to leave their homes quickly if needed.

Fighting the blaze along with personnel from the OCFA were federal and state firefighters. Because of a Red Flag Warning in the Southland, many firefighters were pre-deployed in various areas.

The 460,000-acre Cleveland National Forest is the southernmost national forest in the state.

The County of Orange Health Care Agency warned late this morning that smoke from the wildfires posed a public health danger.

"Among those who can be most directly affected by smoke exposure are individuals with heart and respiratory diseases, older adults, children and pregnant women," said Acting County Health Officer Hildy Meyers.

People in areas downwind from the smoke were urged to limit outdoor activity and physical exertion until the smoke diminishes; keep windows and doors closed; and use air conditioning.

People should call a doctor if experiencing symptoms of chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath or severe fatigue, according to Meyers.

Evacuations:

Schools:
Children from Anaheim Hills Elementary School and Canyon Rim Elementary are being taken to Canyon High School at 260 South Imperial in Anaheim Hills.

Residents:
Residents are being evacuated to Villa Park High School on Taft Avenue in Villa Park.

....here are some places to visit



The Cathedral Of Saint John The Divine – I didn’t get a chance to visit this cathedral, but it is said to be the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world.



Bella Napoli- The best pizza I have ever had! It’s a pizzeria/Italian Restaurant off of Madison and 30th street. They have thick Sicilian cheese pizza pies and the best damn salmon I have ever eaten. Not to mention hot Italian guys!



Burger Heaven – Awesome burgers! Their Burgers are better than In N Out and Fatburger.



Empire State Building – Getting to the top of the Empire State Building is an experience in itself. You are jammed packed into the elevators and whooshed away to the top. The ride is quick to the top, but you have to take two elevators to get there. Once you get to the top, the view is spectacular!! You can see the entire New York Skyline. I’ve got some photos from atop the Empire State Building under my photos.



Central Park – This has to be my favorite place (besides Times Square) in NYC. It’s so breathtaking! You have this gigantic city and right smack in the middle, you have this park that is so beautiful and serene. You can ride a horse-drawn carriage around the park. There is a lovely lake in the middle, where you can go fishing or on a boat ride. When I went, they were having some sort of a ‘Adopt –a-Dog Day.’ So there were all of these dogs running around with signs on them, asking for people to adopt them. I also saw the funniest thing: a Great Dane sitting on a bench. I swear to you, it is true! The dog was soo big, that he had his little rump resting on the bench, with his two front feet just chilln’ on the sidewalk. I was so upset that I didn’t have my camera handy. My absolute favorite part of Central Park is this little place called Strawberry Fields. It’s across the street from the Dakotas, the apartments where John Lennon lived and was murdered. Strawberry Fields is this little section in Central Park dedicated to John Lennon. You walk down this little pathway and there is a sign saying ‘Strawberry Fields.’ There is another little pathway with a lot of trees and benches and it opens up to a bigger section with a lot more benches and trees. In the middle is a mosaic that says ‘Imagine’, where John Lennon fans bring flowers, candles and anything else they want and they place it on the mosaic. There is always a musician or two sitting nearby, singing John or Beatles songs. It’s such a beautiful spot that I’ve decided that this is where I want a marriage proposal lol. There are other places in Central Park to visit, the zoo and Tavern on the Green, which is a restaurant. Unfortunately, I was unable to visit the zoo or Tavern on the Green. These are places I definitely want to visit on my next trip. What I love best about New York City is how random things are. Something is always going on. While walking through Central Park, there was a guy standing on a rock in the middle of this little sitting area, giving a very entertaining speech of why we should give him our money. I wish I could remember his exact speech, but his honesty was refreshing.



Times Square- To truly experience Times Square, you have to visit it at night, with its spectacular lights. It is worth visiting during the day, only to catch the famous ‘Naked Cowboy.’ The coolest thing I was able to visit here was the Toys R Us. It’s so freakin’ big!! It’s a two-story place and has two ferris wheels inside. One is designated just for the kids, so it is much smaller, but the other one is smack dab in the middle! It has an entire section dedicated to Lego’s, and has some really cool Lego displays: the Empire State Building with a small King Kong on it and a few other cool displays. There is also a section for Barbie, with a life size Barbie Dream castle or some sort of dollhouse. I can’t remember exactly, but it was really cool. Another great thing about Times Square is Broadway. For many actors, Broadway is the place to be. It’s been around long before Hollywood and is a dream for many actors to have their name up in lights. I wasn’t able to see a Broadway play when I went to NYC, but this time around I am making it my top priority. There is something far more different about seeing a performance live, than on the big screen. It’s easier for an actor to perform live, because they feed off of the audiences’ energy. If you’ve got a wonderful audience, then your performance is a million times better than if you had a crappy audience. If you have never been to a play, it’s something you have to experience once in your lifetime. I spent 5 years in drama and to see a play through from start-to-finish is fabulous. Seeing the audiences’ reaction makes it all worth it. I can babble on-and-on about Broadway and Times Square, but nothing I say, can describe the feeling of actually being there.



Staten Island Ferry- The ferry is a nice way to see New York. You are able to see the Manhattan Skyline from afar and the Statue of Liberty. When I went, it was rather cold, so I only spent a little time on the main deck of the ferry. You can get some great shots of the Statue of Liberty. The first stop the ferry makes is at Ellis Island.



Ellis Island – It is a small island, with a lot of history. The whole point of visiting Ellis Island is to view the museum of all the people that have immigrated to the United States. It’s quite interesting to see and hear the stories of how people made it to NY. They even have a little place where you can trace your genealogy. The next stop the Ferry makes is Liberty Island.



Liberty Island- Home of the Statue of Liberty. It is also a very tiny island. The Statue of Liberty is rather small, only 40 stories I believe. Normally, you are able to take a tour of the Statue of Liberty and walk the 40 stories to the top, but it was closed when I went. There is a little place for souvenirs and food on the island. Here is a lesson to be learned, never feed the birds. My family and I were sitting outside eating, when a tiny little sparrow flew beside me, in search of food. I took a French fry and threw it to the sparrow and within seconds a flock of pigeons and seagulls swarmed over us. We quickly got up and moved inside



FAO Swartz – Not many people are familiar with the name of this toy store, until you mention the movie ‘Big.’ Remember in ‘Big’ when Tom Hanks played chopsticks on the piano? Well, this is the famous toy store with the famous piano. ‘Home Alone 2’ was also filmed here. I liked FAO Swartz better than Toys R Us, because it is very unique. Its atmosphere doesn’t have the manufactured feel like a lot of toy stores. It’s tri-level, with a Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, a section completely dedicated to dolls; the entire bottom floor is just games. It’s a place that is geared to represent a child’s imagination and I think that’s the reason it is so beloved, because even adults can relate to its atmosphere.



Macy’s – All I can say is that this Macy’s is 10 stories! When you reach the 7th-10th floors, the escalators get narrow and are wooden. I didn’t even get the chance to walk through the entire store, so I have no clue what is exactly inside.



St. Patrick’s Cathedral- This is a gorgeous cathedral! I took some great pictures from inside and outside the cathedral.



Flat Iron Building – This is New York’s first skyscraper. It is famous for it’s triangular design. It’s tiny compared to all of the other skyscrapers; you can easily miss it if you don’t know what you’re looking for. I think I drove by it three times, before I actually saw it.



Rockefeller Center – I was unable to visit this place on my visit to NY, but it’s on my list of places for my next trip. My brother’s job, UBS Warburg, was actually across the street from here. He was able to look out of his office window and see the ice skaters. I was unfortunate enough to miss the Christmas tree and ice skaters, as I left a few days before the tree was brought in. L



Radio City Music Hall – It’s the largest indoor theatre in the U.S. Famous for hosting major events and its Christmas show. I was walking towards the Radio City Music Hall to go and see it, when I looked across the street and saw St. Patrick’s Cathedral. So I went inside the Cathedral instead. Afterwards, I was going to go take a look at the Music Hall, but I couldn’t find it! It turns out that I went out a different way, and ended up on 5th ave, instead of 6th ave. I must have gone out the wrong way for a reason, because I met Caroline Rhea. She was a little ways down from the Cathedral, filming her show. It was pretty cool.



Chrysler Building- This was built in the 1930s, and is an Art Deco masterpiece, famous for its gargoyles.



Brooklyn Bridge- Takes you to Brooklyn and has some spectacular views of the city. It takes 30 mins to walk across the bridge.



Ground Zero – Ground Zero was closed to the public when I went to NY, as it was only a year after the September 11th attacks.



Coney Island – Home of ‘Sideshows by the Seashore,’ where you can experience the old fashion 10-in-1circus sideshows, including a freak show.



Other places to visit:



The Late Night Show with Dave Letterman at the Ed Sullivan Theatre.

Live with Regis and Kelly

Chinatown

Shea Stadium

Harlem

Little Italy

Grand Central Station

Greenwich Village

SOHO

Tribeca

Union Square

Guggenheim Museum

Museum of Modern Art

Metropolitan Museum

American Museum of Natural History

10 Things I Hate About You - cute movie that is based on Shakespeare's play 'Taming of the Shrew.'
50 First Dates - Cute date movie. Gotta love Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore
Arlington Road - amazing movie!! It's about conspiracy theories and terrorism. It's a very edgy movie and the acting is outstanding. It stars Jeff Bridges and Tim Robbins.
Back to the Future Trilogy (3 disc) - A classic, by-all-means. Who doesn't love Doc and Marty McFly?
Basketball Diaries- This movie breaks my heart. It's about a guy who battles drug addiction. It hits close to home, because my brother was battling a drug addiction at the time the movie was released. Leonardo DiCaprio deserved some sort of an award for his role.
Beatles Anthology (5 Disc)- Best DVD I own! It chronicles the Beatles career. I saw this when it aired on TV and I fell in love with the Beatles music and personalities. The first song they play is 'In My Life' and it hooked me.
Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show (2 disc)- When the Beatles played on the Ed Sullivan Show, there was no crime reported in that hour. It was also the biggest ratings for a show, only to be broken a few years ago. See how Beatlemania began.
Beatles Yellow Submarine - The Beatles animated. Good, even though the Beatles didn't voice themselves. :( They make cameos at the end of the movie. It's a cute movie.
Big Fish - This movie made me bawl my eyes out. It's about a father and son relationship. The father tells these tall tales and his son feels he doesn't know his father because of this. The movie flashes back to these tales. It is a movie with lots of heart.
Black Hawk Down - Based on a true story about the American siege of the Somalian city of Mogadishu in October 1993. It's about a rescue mission that takes place, when one of the black hawk helicopters crash.
Bowling For Columbine - One of the best films I have seen. Some people don't agree with Michael Moore's views, but he brings up some valid points and does some pretty ballsy things. It's about a lot of things: guns, how the media makes things more than they are. I think this is a movie you need to see once in your life.
Breakfast Club - A classic 80s movie, enough said.
Bring It On - fun movie :)
Brokedown Palace - great movie about to young girls being framed as drug smugglers in Thailand.
Calamity Jane - fun! fun! fun! Doris Day as the gun-slinging tom boy, Calamity Jane.
Chicago! - First musical to win an Academy Award since 'Oliver!' in the 1970s. Has some great musical numbers: Cell Block Tango and the Overture/All That Jazz. Catherine Zeta-Jones shines with her flawless portrayal of Velma Kelly.
Chocolat - cute movie starring Johnny Depp and Juliet Binoche about a mysterious woman coming to a French village and opening up a chocolate shop during Lent.
Count of Monte Cristo - Wonderfully acted movie starring James Caviezel and Guy Pierce about revenge.
Cruel Intentions- sexy movie that pushes the envelope.
Deep End of the Ocean - about a mother whose son is kidnapped and years later she sees a young boy who lives down the street, that reminds her of her son.
Down With Love- smart movie!! It's a homage to the 1960s Doris Day/Rock Hudson Sex Comedies. Ewan McGregor plays Catcher Block, a womanizer and Renee Zellweger plays Barbara Novak who writes a book called 'Down With Love.' The book ruins Catcher's womanizing antics and he strives to get her back.
Edward Scissorhands-Johnny Depp and Tim Burton. Good enough reason to see.
Elf - adorable movie with the lovable Will Ferrell.
Empire of the Sun- One of Steven Spielbergs earlier movies starring a young Christian Bale. It takes place during WWII in China. Christian Bale potrays a young boy who is separated from his family and placed in a internment camp. It's a coming-of-age story about how a young spoiled boy, has to overcome separation from family, the horrors of war and trying to survive.
Empire Records - Great movie about a group of kids who work at a record store.
Evelyn - Pierce Brosnan portrays an alcoholic father living in Ireland. After his wife abandons the family, his children are taken away and he fights to change the law and get his children back.
Ever After - a sweet take on the Cinderella Fairytale.
Eye For An Eye - finely acted by Sally Field. After her daughter is killed, Sally Field's character does everything she can to get revenge against the man her killed her daughter.
Father of the Bride- what can I say? It's a classic movie. Sweet father/daughter movie starring Steve Martin.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off- Don't we all wish we could have a sick day like this?
Final Destination- I loved the premise of this movie. That you can't cheat death and that death has a plan for us all. It's creepy.
Fool's Rush In - I love Matthew Perry, so of course I love this very sweet movie. It's about Alex and Isabel, who becomes pregnant after a one night stand. They get married and it's very I Love Lucy type movie, because of their two different cultures.
Frequency - Another terrific movie. A young boy loses his father when he is 6. The son finds an old ham radio that belonged to his father and when he turns it on, he begins talking with a man. He soon realizes that he is communicating with his father who is still living in the 1960s, while the son is living in 1999. It's a sci fi movie with heart. You have to watch it to really get the storyline.
Girl Interrupted - Winona Ryder's character is sent to a psych ward in the 1960s, where she meets Angelina Jolie's character.
Good Son, The - watch it. I don't feel like writing a description lol
Goonies, the - Classic 80s movie.
Groundhog Day - Bill Murray is wonderful. This movie is about a guy whose day repeats over-and-over again.
Grumpy Old Men - Two Brilliant Actors: Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon.
Hard Day’s Night, A - My boys in their first movie. It's a classic movie and the acting is good, considering the Beatles weren't actors. It's a movie to see once in your life.
Help! - I like this movie a lot more than A Hard Day's Night, because it's got a lot of humor to it. The boys really let loose and it shows in their acting. It's a spoof on the Spy movies.
Jack the Bear - Really sad movie starring Danny DeVito. It's about a single father raising his kids after his wife is killed in a car crash. His youngest son is kidnapped by his Neo Nazi neighbor.
Joy Ride - Great thriller about a group of friends going on a roadtrip. They mess with a truck driver on the CB Radio and things take off from there.
Jurassic Park - Love the premise of this movie.
Keeping the Faith - It's a cute story about three friends: two guys and a girl. One becomes a Priest and one a Rabbi. The guys stay friends for a long time and the girl comes back to visit them and they both fall in love with her. Starring Ben Stiller and Edward Norton.
Kuffs - Cop movie with Christian Slater that has a lot of comedy to it.
Last Castle - Robert Redford plays a court-martialed three-star general sentenced to a military prison, where they are stripped of their ranks. It's about rebellion and earning respect.
League of Their Own - I love this movie. It's so much fun to watch.
Legend - I remember watching this as a child. I loved it a lot because it has to do with unicorns. It's one of Tom Cruises first films. It's a great fantasy.
Legends of the Fall - Heart breaking movie starring Brad Pitt about three brothers.
Liar, Liar - One of the few Jim Carrey movies that actually has a plot of some sort. It's funny to see how far Jim Carrey can push himself to get a laugh.
License to Drive - 80s film starring the Two Coreys: Corey Haim and Corey Feldman.
Life Less Ordinary, A - Ewan McGregor and Cameron Diaz star in this bizarre love story. It's got some great scenes in it. Ewan's character is upset that he is being replaced by robots, so he goes to his boss to tell him off. He ends up kidnapping his boss' daughter, and the movie takes off from there.
Little Voice - sweet movie starring the very talented Jane Horrocks. It's a small British film about a young girl who hasn't really talked since her father passed away, but she is able to sing and mimic some of the great singers of the past: Judy Garland and Marilyn Monroe.
Lost Boys - Another movie starring the Coreys. It's about Vampires!
Mask of Zorro - Great action movie starring Antonio Banderras as Zorro.
Maverick - I love Mel Gibson in this movie. He is so charming as Brett Maverick.
Moulin Rouge - My favorite movie, by far! You either love it or hate it. It's about a courtesan who falls in love with a penniless poet. It's a musical set to music that we are all familiar with. The acting is outstanding, along with the singing and dancing. It was ripped off at the Academy Awards and should have won Best Picture. Ewan McGregor should have been nominated and Nicole Kidman should have won an Oscar for her portrayal of Satine.
Mrs. Doubtfire - Robin Williams....as a woman....
National Lampoon’s European Vacation - Chevy Chase, when he was funny.
Neverending Story - Wonderful Fantasy movie from the 80s.
Newsies - Cute musical from Disney starring Christian Bale.
Not Without My Daughter - Sally Field plays a mother whose husband takes her and her daughter to the Middle East and won't allow her to leave with her daughter, so she tries to find a way to leave the country with her daughter.
Object of My Affection, the - This is a sweet movie starring Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd, who are best friends. Jennifer Aniston's character becomes pregnant and her best friend decides to help her raise the child. She falls in love with her best friend, who happens to be gay.
Once Bitten - Jim Carrey, before In Living Color and when he was James Carrey. It's a funny movie about vampires.
Others, the - very slow, but creepy movie about ghosts starring Nicole Kidman. It's a British movie.
Passion of the Christ - Powerful movie about the last hours of Christ.
Power of One - starring a young Stephen Dorff who portrays a young British boy living in Southern Africa. He fights for a better future for people in Africa.
Radio Flyer - Starring Elijah Wood. He plays a young boy living with his mom and young brother. His mother marries and what she doesn't know is that the stepfather beats the youngest son.
Return to Me - sweet movie starring David Duchvony and Minnie Driver. David's character loses his wife and years later he meets Minnie Driver's character. He has an instant connection with her.
Road to Bali - Classic movie starring Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.
Rookie, the - Starring Dennis Quaid as a baseball player who doesn't make it to the major league in his 20s, but later on in his 40s is recruited.
Salton Sea - Val Kilmer plays a musician who goes undercover to find out who killed his wife.
Saved - Satire. Jena Malones character thinks God wants her to save her gay boyfriend by having sex with him. He is sent to a camp that is suppose to de-gay him and she ends up pregnant. It's a very funny movie about religion, but it doesn't step on any toes and respects the faith.
Seven - Kevin Spacey and Brad Pitt. A killer using the Seven Deadly sins as an excuse to kill.
Sleepers - Brad Pitt and Kevin Bacon star in this movie. Four boys in NYC's Hells Kitchen are sent to a reform school after an incident leaves a man dead. They are sexually abused by the guards there. Years later, two of the boys want to seek revenge on the guards who molested them.
Sleeping with the Enemy - Julia Roberts portrays a woman who is abused by her husband and tries to escape from this abuse by seeking a new identity.
Stand By Me - A group of boys go hiking in the woods and find the body of a boy who was missing.
Stir of Echoes - creepy movie starring Kevin Bacon. Kevin Bacon's character allows his sister-in-law to hypnotize him, which opens a door and allows him to see ghosts. It has kind of the same premise of the Sixth Sense, but it's not as slow and I think it's a much better movie.
Summer Rental - John Candy - a comedic genius. How much chaos can happen to one family on vacation?
Tears of the Sun - Heart wrenching movie about the on going wars in Africa. Bruce Willis' character is sent on a recovery mission to bring home an American doctor. When she doesn't want to leave a group of African citizens that are hurt, they begin a mission to move them to a safer place.
Titanic - This movie made me bawl. It's a sweet love story and it's sad to think about how those poor people died.
To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday - great movie. A widower can't let go of his wife and keeps seeing her and communicating with her. It's a movie about love and loss and the difficulties of letting go.
Trainspotting - The movie that made Ewan McGregor famous. Ewan plays Mark Renton, a heroin addict, trying to quit.
True Lies - very smart comedy.
U-571- awesome war movie about the U.S. overtaking a Russian submarine after their sub is blown up.
Uncle Buck - John Candy plays the unorganized, but lovable Uncle Buck, who is asked to stay with his brother's kids, while they are out-of-town.
Untamed Heart - Christian Slater and Marissa Tomei. beautiful love story.
Vanishing, the - Kiefer Sutherland stars in this movie. He plays a man whose girlfriend disappears and he spends the next fews years trying to find out what happened to her.
Wayne's World - Mike Myers and Dana Carvey bring their SNL character's to the big screen. Contains many great one liners and scenes.
What About Bob? - Hilarious movie! Bill Murray plays a therapy patient who is afraid of everything. He follows his therapist on vacation, where he is very annoyed by Bob, but his family loves him.
What's Eating Gilbert Grape - Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio. Gilbert tries to make it through life living in a small town, where his mother is over weight, his father committed suicide and his brother is mentally disabled.
Wizard of Oz - classic movie. One of the best movies of all time.
Wonder Boys- Michael Douglas plays a has been writer who is having a bad day, full of surprises. It's got a great script and the entire casts is astounding.
X-Men 1.5 - better than Spider-Man! Great movie based on the comic books.
X2: X-Men United – better than the first movie.

All you need is love. The world is at your command. It's wonderful to be here; it's certainly a thrill. A splendid time is guaranteed for all. No need to be afraid. Take a good look around you. Everyone you see is full of life. You are part of everything. Don't worry; take your time; don't hurry. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders.
Think for yourself. Living is easy with eyes closed. Open up your eyes. Look at all the lonely people. Without going out of your door, you can know all things on Earth. Silly people run around. The deeper you go, the higher you fly. Free as a bird is the next best thing to be. Sit back and let the evening go. Bright are the stars that shine. Listen to the color of your dreams. Nobody can deny that there's something there.

Twist and shout. You can celebrate anything you want. Sit beside a mountain stream; see her waters rise. There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you meant to be. When you find yourself in the thick of it, help yourself to a bit of what is all around you. Coconut fudge really blows down those blues. So take a piece but not too much. The sun is up; the sky is blue; it's beautiful and so are you. Dig it.

It's getting better all the time. With every mistake we must surely be learning. Take these broken wings and learn to fly. Life goes on. If you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao, you ain't gonna make it with anyone anyhow. It's true; pride comes before a fall. We can work it out. When it rains and shines, it's just a state of mind. The ice is slowly melting. You know you should be glad.

One thing I can tell you is you got to be free. Love is more than just holding hands. Try thinking more, if just for your own sake. When you've seen beyond yourself, then you may find peace of mind is waiting there. Don't care too much for money. Every one of us has all we need. Yeah yeah yeah.

Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting. It's a fool who plays it cool by making his world a little colder. Soon we'll be away from here. A lifetime is so short; a new one can't be bought. When you're dead, you don't take nothing with you but your soul. All good children go to Heaven. Get back to where you once belonged. Smiles await you when you rise. Greet the brand new day. There'll be no sad tomorrow. There will be an answer; let it be.

And, in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make. Goo goo goo joob.



http://www.spaff.com/poesy/beatles.html

I got tickets to Paul's November concert at Arrowhead Pond!!!! I got up at 9:30 to get ready for the tickets when they went on sale at 10:00 am. As soon as I got on, they were sold out, because they did presale tickets. I was soo pissed! Then, a little alert popped up and said at 10:24 new tickets would go on sale for a newly added date! I got section 205, Row J. They are pretty decent seats...better than the nose bleed seats. I tried to get better seats, but the nose bleed sections kept coming up. I can't wait until Nov. 12th!

I don't have anything new to write, well anything that is interesting lol. I've been going out a lot lol. This last week sucked, because I closed every day, so I've been exhausted. It probably doens't help that I've been going out after work as well. After work, we've been hanging out at Starbucks and yapping a lot. Last week, my friend Ryan's band played at a local Starbucks and I went to see them. They are a Weezer Cover Band. I told them they should learn a Beatles song lol. They were like 'We're a Weezer cover band!' and I asked them if Weezer ever did a cover of the Beatles and they said they did, so I told them they could do a cover of a cover ::grin:: I told them I would give them $10 if they played a Beatles song. haha. Last night I went to the Irvine Spectrum. I haven't been there in years..probably 6 years or longer. It's so different! We went to the Yard House, which is a bar and before that we went to Fox Sports, which is sort of like the ESPN Zone. I went with my friends Edith and Jeanette, who invited her friend Carol. This guy Justin from work went with us too. When Edith and I walked to where the others were waiting, we saw Carol and Edith was like 'She looks wild!!' She looks like a cross between a fairy and a hippie. She has the long flowing hair and is really skinny. She was pretty quiet for most of the night and talked a little bit. Once she started drinking, she was dancing like a hippie lol. She kept hitting on Justin. He's like 22 and Carol is probably 33. She kept telling him age doesn't matter and saying he was soo cute lmao. It was funny. She left to go to the restroom and a waiter comes up to Justin and tells him to watch her. I didn't drink and Edith couldn't drink, because she got her tongue pierced. I told her now she knows how much fun I have watching the drunks hahaha. I guess Jeanette invited Carol to go to Las Vegas with us. This trip should be interesting. We still have no idea which hotel we want to stay at. I really want to stay at the Paris or New York New York, but they are so expensive. Christy told me we would take a trip in August and go on a weekday so I could stay in one of the two lol. They want me to let loose in Vegas and drink. I told them I would do a shot and maybe have a Pina Colada, but that's probably all I will do. I am not big on drinking. They make fun of me, because I'll take a sip of their drink and I'll say 'It taste like alcohol!' lol and they are like 'That's because it is alcohol.'
On St. Patrick's Day I want to go to a pub :)

I am going to Las Vegas!!! Whoo hoo!! My friends and I are planning a trip to Vegas. It was getting frustrating, because I couldn't go except two weekends: April 8-10 or the first weekend in May. Well, nobody could go until the end of May and I told them to go without me. In May, I'm working a weekend for one of the GSTL's, so she can go out of town and that was the weekend they wanted to go to Vegas. Well...my friend Luis, who is an absolute doll, said he would work that weekend for me! I am sooo excited!!! The only thing that I'm not happy about it that my friend Edith invited this guy that I think has a crush on me and who I am really uncomfy around, and he says he is going. blah! I told Edith she better keep him away lol. My friend Ayende is going with his girlfriend and we invited my friend Evan, who I'm not sure if he'll go. I think my friend Christy will go, along with her best friend Jennifer. They are both insane. They are soo much fun to hang out with. I also invited a few team members from the front lanes: Barbara and Jan. They are also a lot of fun. Edith was talking with Ayende one day saying we should all go to Las Vegas. A few days ago, Edith and I were at Denny's and she brought up the idea and I said we should go, so we made a list of people to invite. It took us almost a week to get the date set. Nothing is going to prevent me from going. It'll be a day after school is out lol and I will need to have fun!
On Saturday, Edith and I went to Disneyland with our friends from work: Jeanette, Lily, Jan and Justin. Justin is the one I am uncomfy around and they invited him to Disneyland. blah! This was before I told them I was uncomfy around him. I kind of avoided him while at Disneyland. I made Edith go on all the rides with me lol, so I wouldn't be stuck going on any with him. We made the guys go together hahaha
Anyways, when we went to California Adventure, which is next door to Disneyland, they made me go on the California Screamin' ride. It's a big roller coaster and has an upside down part. An hour before the ride, I drank a vanilla shake and ate some fries. Well, about 1o seconds into that stupid ride, I started to feel sick. I cloed my eyes and sucked it up and waited for the ride to end. I was not liking that ride at all. I got off the ride and I was like 'I need a Dr. Pepper!' lol Couldn't find one anywhere in the park, so I had to settle for Coke. They take a picture of you on the ride and I looked soo sick to my stomach. It was hilarious! We were at Disneyland from 10:30am to 11:15pm. We met at Starbucks around 8:00 am and Edith and Lily needed to get cash back, so we walked over to Target lol. I dunno why we didn't just meet there. We went to Denny's for breakfast and they were making fun of me, because I told them I have to eat every three hours, because of my hypoglycemia. After we got to Disneyland, we rode the Matterhorn, It's a Small World and then Big Thunder Railroad. By the time we got off of Big Thunder Railroad, it had been about 3 hours since we ate breakfast and my head was hurting so I said, 'I need food!' lol and they started laughing because I wasn't lying about needing to eat every three hours. We went to eat at this Burger place in Critter Country and I was the last person to order. None of us realized that until they turned and looked at me. I started laughing saying it was funny that I was the one who needed to eat, and I was the last to order. One of my friends had to call in sick to work, so he went to the bathroom to call. It was so loud there that he couldn't call, so he came back to where we were sitting. He leaves again and takes a long time. Finally, he calls Justin and asks him if he could hear any noise in the background and Justin said no. lol He was so scared of calling in sick. We told him to suck-it-up, and make the call. I had so much fun. I haven't been to Disneyland in like 10 years. I think I'm going to buy a pass, so I can go more often.

The other day at work, Luis was being so funny. He called Target on his cellphone and kept asking the operator if Miguel was there. Well, we don't have a Miguel that works there. Luis tells the operator that he works in the backroom, so she puts him on hold. Luis switches his walkie over to Channel Two and hears the operator asking for Miguel and they are like, there isn't a Miguel here. So the operator gets back on the phone and says, ' There isn't a Miguel that works here.' Luis then says, 'There should be. Isn't this Walmart?' lmao He is such a brat. Then yesterday, Evan got to take the LOD calls, since they were in a meeting. I was on break, so I come back and he tells me, 'We are the LOD for right now.' LOD's are the Executive Team Members on Duty. So someone is asking for an LOD on the walkie and Evan was ignoring it and I look at him and I cough and say, 'LOD!' lol and he's like 'oh! go ahead!' lol He's so cute. I have so much fun at work. I was walking from Togos on my lunch and I told the Cart Attendants I needed a carry-in lmao. I love working Tuesday and Thursday nights. Evan and I work together and I get to work with Jan, Barbara, Kenny and a bunch of other cool people. Monday and Wednesday nights are only cool, 'cause Ayende is working and I don't get to see him as often. He and Andrew are security guards who are like brothers to me. I feel so protected by them, like if someone was to start crap, they would protect me :) That's how cool most of the people at work are. Almost every night I close, a bunch of us go and hang out and have coffee or go bowling or go and do something. On Friday, this other Evan that works there and Ryan, they have a band that is playing at a Starbucks down the street, so a bunch of us are going to go see them play. They are a Weezer cover band. I gotta Jet! I have homework to finish.

Oh yeah!! Paul McCartney is going to tour the U.S. again!!!!!!! I am sooo going. Ewan McGregor is going to be on Jay Leno March 11th. I want to go and see the taping, but you have to be there at the butt-crack of dawn to get tickets. :( One day I will meet Ewan McGregor.

Peace, Love, and Beatles,
Stefanie

So Monday, at 10:00 am, I faced my fears and had my wisdom teeth extracted. I was very nervous! I didn't eat breakfast, because I had several conflicting reports that I should eat or that I shouldn't eat before I go. Not wanting to risk having to come back if I ate, I skipped breakfast. The dentist asked me if I had breakfast and I told him no, so he gave me some chocolate raisins to munch on, which I don't like, but I wasn't going to argue since I was very nervous. The dentist doubled up on Novocain, to make sure I would feel no pain, since I wouldn't take nitrous oxide. I waited for at least 30 mins before they started the extractions. I kept hearing the breaking of the teeth as they were removed and I cringed at the sound. I asked if I could have earplugs lol, 'cause it was a horrible sound to hear. The cool thing that happened though, was when the dentist began to extract the first tooth, the Beatles started playing over the radio. That made me relax a little, although I was shaking a lot. When the dentist went to remove my bottom teeth, I keep thinking to myself, 'They better support my jaw! I don't want to go home with a broken jaw.' I think the nurse was new, because she seemed like she had no idea what she was doing. The dentist called her over to support my jaw and she wasn't supporting it correctly. Then, she put the gaze in weird and I couldn't breathe. It was like sticking in the back of my throat. I started to panic, 'cause I wasn't able to breathe and my asthma started to flare up. I had the nurse remove the gaze and I told her I was having an asthma attack. She asked me where my inhaler was and I grabbed it out of my purse. Then I started to feel dizzy and felt like I was going to faint lol The doctor ran over and kind of tap my face to keep me alert and asked me if I knew where I was. I told him 'Yeah! Getting my wisdom teeth pulled at the dentist!' lol He then pops a chocolate raisin in my mouth and told me to suck on it. The nurse runs to get me some coke and the doctor tells me to drink and not to worry, it's diet. He said a little bit wouldn't make me gain weight :::roll eyes::: and I told him I don't care about gaining weight lol Finally, after about 5 mins I was fine. I think I freaked the nurse out. The doctor walked me to the waiting room to where my dad was and he explained to my dad what I needed to do for the next few days. I was so numb that when I drank water, it just dribbled out. I looked at my shirt and I was soaked lol. I kept messing with the gaze and I was wondering why the gaze was sticking out so much, when I realized it was my lip I was trying to pull back in. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but it still sucked. I'm so glad it's over with. I'm in pain though. I keep taking vicodin, but I don't like taking pills. I'm worried about getting dry socket, or an infection. I didn't get any stitches, so that's good for me. It hurts to laugh or smile. I went back to work today and everybody was so sweet. I wanted to eat something and they were like 'You can't have that!' lol I went all day without a pain pill, because I don't want to take them while I am at work, so I took Advil all day. Apparently, while I was gone, our store manager quit. I was so surprised to hear that. I was a little sad, because I liked her. I hope whoever replaces her is as nice. I don't want a crappy manager to replace her. It's so weird; I had a feeling something like this was going to happen. I don't know why. When I went to work, I was sort of expecting some big news. It was a very mellow day at work today, except for some lady who was trying to imply that we screwed her over on her giftcards. I tried to explain to her for 15 mins that she was wrong. I even voided the transaction so the giftcard would reset itself, but she insisted I was wrong. She made the cashier who was helping her feel like an idiot. It took me 15 mins to get it through her head that everything was okay. When she left, Gia (she was the cashier that helped the lady) told me she'd never seen me like that. I wasn't yelling at the lady, but I was trying to explain to her that she was mistaken about the transaction and that everything was fine. I told Gia that when someone tried to make me or someone I know look stupid, I get upset. I love proving people wrong lol That is one of my flaws. Tomorrow is our Team Lead After Christmas Party. It was suppose to be a Christmas party, but they didn't have time to throw one during the holidays. I'm excited! Next weekend begins my rotation of weekends off. I will have every other weekend off now. whoo hoo!

I can't believe in a few hours it'll be the start of a new year. Looking back at the past year, I am thankful for everything that I have. This month alone has been hectic and emotionally draining. I'm not one to make New Years Resolutions, because I doubt I will stick to them, but this year I am making a list of life goals. My first goal is to continue down the right path with school. I have a semester and a half to go and then I can transfer. I need to really consider what my major is going to be. I have been dancing around this for a while now, because it's such a big decision and I want to be happy with it. I don't want any regrets. That's always been my philosophy. I realized because I haven't really declared my major, which is why it's taken me so long to finish school. Of course there are other reasons, family, work and health. I've been taking a lot of marketing classes the last year, so I think I may end up declaring that as my major. I still would like some background in Graphic Design and as much background I can get in business. Other goals: Paying off my bills. I want to pay my bills off ASAP, so that I can begin to save money. I want to travel around the world. That has always been my dream. I want to see Paris, England, Italy, Ireland, Africa and Australia. I want to be financially stable so I can help others. I know money isn't everything, and you don't need money to make a difference in someone's life, but I want to be able to give a person what they need. The tragedy that occurred in South Asia is a good example. I want to be able to say here is a thousand dollars, or even a few hundred to help people get back on their feet. I feel helpless when I can't help someone. I will not look back on the past, what I did or didn't do. Things happen for a reason and if they didn't turn out the way I wanted them to, then it wasn't meant to be. I want to learn another language. I know a little Spanish, but I would love to learn French and Italian. I want to start studying different subjects and learn about different religions. I just purchased a book on Amazon.com about World Religions. I'm going to re-awaken my artistic side and start drawing again, get back into my photography and perhaps even take some drama classes and film classes. I know I definitely need to expand my taste in music. I am naive when it comes to some music. I have no clue who some of these new artists are lol
Most importantly, I need to get over my shyness. I need to get out there and find a good guy, or I'll end up alone. These are all long-term goals, but all achievable. Some short-term goals will be taking a trip to Las Vegas, San Francisco, and NYC. Sticking to my Hypoglycemic diet.... no more Dr. Pepper :( Applying to colleges for Fall Semester, which is halfway met, because I applied to Cal State Fullerton already. Let's hope I get in :)

I think I also need to stop getting so irritated with my family. All I want is an hour to myself, without interruption. I can't even sit here and listen to my music, while I type this up without being bothered :::rolleyes::: I love them all, but they need to understand I need some me time.

Monday I get my wisdom teeth pulled, and I am planning on reading and watching movies I haven't seen in a while: Moulin Rouge, Help!, maybe Titanic, Fool's Rush In and a few others. I bought a bunch of good books to read: The Da Vinci Code, which I heard is an amazing book; Black Like me, which is a true story about this white guy who darkened his skin to appear black and he went to the South in the 60s to live as a Black man. The book is a detailed report of how badly he was treated. I also bought a book on World Religions, which talks in depth about the major religions of the world. I am also going to by the book '5 People You Meet in Heaven', another book I heard was awesome.

Cheers to the New Year :) I hope the New Year is pleasant for everybody.

OMG! Today totally sucked for me. It started off with me stepping on a piece of broken glass, so my foot hurts a lot. I decided to go to Target to shop, and then afterwards I decided to go to the Block to spend my gift certificate for Tilly's. So my mom and I are driving along, trying to find a parking space, when this guy in a huge truck backs out all of a sudden. He didn't even look back or brake or anything. I stop and honk at him. I slammed on my horn and he stops for 5 secs, while I am still honking for him to stop. I am about to back up, when he keeps on backing out. I honk at him again and then bam! He smashes the hell out of my headlight. He gets out and he's like 'I'm so sorry!' and I told him I was honking, why didn't he stop. Well, apparently he heard the horn, but he thought it was a car alarm, so he didn't think anything of it.... If he would have looked in his mirror, he would have seen me. My car is not that little. Then my mom goes off saying he freaked me out. I was not freaked out. I was pissed off. He smashed my poor little car :( It's not that bad, but it'll need to go to a repair shop to fix the broken light and the dent in it. The funny thing that I noticed was that if you looked down every aisle of the parking lot, you could see broken glass. It looks like there were several other accidents in the parking lot. People are so dumb. You don't back out of a parking space like a maniac. You slowly back out. I can't wait for this month to be over with. It's really sucked. The only good thing that happened was I found out my job is going to keep me as a Team Lead. It was suppose to be only for the holidays, because they needed the extra help, but they decided to keep me as a manager :) That made my day!

Tomorrow, I have to get some estimates done on my car. Then on Monday, I get my wisdom teeth pulled :( I'm going to be such a baby. I am so freaked out about it. I can't handle any pain.

My prayers are with the victims of the horrible earthquake and tsunamis in South Asia. I can't believe how many people were killed. So far the death toll is at 58,000 and they said it could double due to disease. I read in an article that dead bodies are washing up on the shore. :( It makes me numb just thinking about what they are dealing with over there. I can't imagine having someone you love missing and not knowing if they are dead or alive. They lost everything. It's sad that something like this had to happen. A 20-day old baby was found alive, floating on a mattress and was reunited with her family. I've been avoiding the news, because it upsets me too much to watch it. I remember when September 11th occurred, I started crying and my sister had the nerve to ask me why I was crying. I think it took her a while to finally come to terms of how bad September 11th was. Some people aren't even fazed by these types of tragedies. I can't see how anyone couldn't be affected by it, at least a little bit.

I need to listen to some uplifting music...

Christmas was wonderful! It started off with a wake up call from my sister's kitty, Nala. She came into my room around 10:30 am to wake me up lol I woke up to her laying her head on my pillow, with her face turned toward my face. My family and I opened presents around 11:00 am. There were so many presents for Makayla! I got the Beatles Saturday Morning Cartoon Figurines, a Target gift card, a Tilly's giftcard and a few other little things. We decided to draw names this year and focus on Makayla. I like doing it this way, because there is more to Christmas than presents, although I love giving presents. I never want anything anyways lol. For dinner, my mom cooked turkey, ham and prime rib. The power went out while the prime rib was cooking. About 30 mins later the power came back on, so my mom put the prime rib back in to finish cooking. Well, I guess she spilled a little bit of grease when she took it out, because the foil on the bottom of the oven caught on fire lol. I walk into the family room where my brother is watching the Lakers game and I'm telling him 'fire!' He looks at me like I'm insane and I say again, 'Go help mom. There is a fire in the kitchen.' LMAO and my mom is so stubborn, she is trying to put it out herself, and my brother is telling her to move and he says 'Why are you so damn stubborn?' lol We put the fire out and we are all laughing, because a long time ago, my dad thought he had a great idea and tried to burn the wrapping paper in our fireplace. Well, it was a dumb idea, and the whole house filled up with smoke. So today, I say 'We haven't had a Christmas fire in a while.' lol

It was so awesome having a new baby in the house for Christmas. Makayla brightens up everybody day. She got so many cute outfits for Christmas. I think I took a whole roll of film, just of her. The cats were running around the Christmas tree and playing in the wrapping paper. We found a present that was half way opened from one of the cats lol. All-in-all, it was a really great Christmas. It was nice having the entire family together and nobody fighting. Another plus was eating my mom's cornbread dressing! Yum!!!!!

So this week, we had two cashiers arrested for theft. I was very upset, because they were two people I really liked and I hung out with once in a while. I can't understand why someone would throw their life away and steal. First of all, there are a million cameras so how the hell do they think they aren't going to get caught. Second of all, it's wrong. Third of all, they are young, bright kids who have everything going for them. I can't see hurting my family, hurting my future, or hurting myself. I care about my integrity. I care about how I am perceived as a person. I don't want people to think they can't trust me. I have such a big issue with trust; because I've had so many people screw me over. I am such an honest person that I could never, ever see myself stealing or taking advantage of people. I've got a tender heart and I feel people's pain. I can't handle seeing people upset. I want to make them feel better. I don't care if I make myself look like a fool, I will do whatever it takes to make a person laugh or make them feel better. This has been such a crappy week. I really hope things improve. I am wiping the slate clean and starting the week over as of right now. I am not going to dwell on what happened this past week. I am going to focus on having a terrific Christmas and starting the New Year off on the right foot. I have a goal to get things back on track for myself. I want to get my bills paid off and to finish school ASAP. I've decided that I will take each difficult situation I encounter and turn it into a life lesson and learn from other people's mistakes, as well as my own. Aside from that, my Christmas Eve is going great!

Tonight, I went over to my cousin's house for a Christmas Eve party. I got to see a few people I haven't seen in years. It was great! I got to see my little cousin Lindsey, who is an absolute doll! Makayla was precious as usual and tonight I got to spend some quality time with her. She kept talking and laughing and smiling at me. It's so refreshing to hear a child's laughter. The smallest thing amuses them and they will smile at anything. I saw some old family friends, who I haven't seen in 10 years or so. They lived across the street from my grandma and are my Aunt's best friends. They are lovely people that I would love to see on a daily basis, but they live in Arizona. My family has known them for years and it was great to hear everybody reminiscing. They were discussing this old Honda motorcycle my dad bought for my mom when they first got married. My mom nearly killed herself on it, because she had no idea how to ride it. My dad, my cousin Perry and Joe (my Grandma's old neighbor) were discussing rifles and such. Perry then pulls out a knife that Joe had given him nearly 20 years ago and told Joe he would sell it to him for $2. Joe took the offer, because he missed the knife. Perry asked Joe if he could have an old knife his father had given Joe a long time ago, because it was a family heirloom and Perry's father had recently passed away. Joe said he would ship it to him when he got back to Arizona :)

At work, we exchanged little gifts. The Team Leads had stockings hanging in the office and we had so much stuff in them by the end of the day, it was insane. My friend Kathy made all the Leads blankets! Mine was pink with a really awesome stitch. Kathy said it was a special stitch, just for me :) Ava gave these little books out that she said reminded her of each one of us. Mine was a little book that said "You Rule!" and features a bunch of cool quotes. Kathy and Ava really made my day. I also got a card from Lalla, who has been with Target for many years and use to be a Team Lead. She wrote that I was doing a great job, which meant the world to me. I got a lot of candy lol and some really nice cards. I love everybody so much at work. That's why I take things so hard when people do stupid things. I can't tell you how awesome everybody is at work. They make working there a million times better. I look forward to going to work everyday, which not many people can say. My family keeps telling me I work too much, but it's only because I love what I'm doing and I love being around everybody.
I am so exhausted, because I woke up at 3:00 am. I set my alarm for 4:30, but I woke up earlier blah! I am off to get some sleep, so that I can be ready for turkey and my mom's yummy dressing!!

Merry Christmas everybody! Happy Birthday Jesus!! Love ya!

God Bless!
<3 Stefanie

...wake up before the sun wakes up! I have to be at work at 6:00 am...... I'm gonna die! I think I'll buy Krispy Kremes for the morning peeps to help us get through the day. Today I went to Hazel's funeral. It was a beautiful ceremony. It was difficult to see so many people upset :( I had to drive my friend Edith home again, because she was in no condition to drive. Hazel was buried at the same cemetery my grandma is buried at. I haven't been to see her grave in 7 years, so I stopped by her gravesite before I left. I kissed her headstone and told her I loved her and missed her. It feels like she just barely passed away. I can't believe I still miss her so much after all these years. It makes me so sad that Makayla will never know what an awesome person my grandma was; even my little cousin JJ doesn't know her. He was 6 months old when she died, so he is missing out on her too. I can't wait to show Makayla home videos of Granny, when she is old enough. She'll love to see the videos where my sister and I beg Granny to take her teeth out, and she quickly does and smiles really big, then puts her teeth back in lol. Tomorrow, I have a bunch of family coming over for Christmas eve. It's a tradition we've had for a long time. We have Mexican food and visit with the family. I'll get to see my little cousin Lindsey, whom I haven't seen since August. She's 6 months now. Everybody is going to eat Makayla up. She is soo adorable. I went shopping for her on Tuesday and I spent $100 on her :::eek::: I kept putting clothes in the cart, because they were so cute! I got her a little sun dress, for when she is 6 months old and it has a little knitted sweater.
My sister's cat Nala, and my cat Duma are driving me nuts with the Christmas tree. The first night we put it up, we woke up to 5 bulbs....broken... I also caught Duma drinking the water ewwww. Nala also opened a present, so Kristy had to re-wrap it lol. You would think they were human or something. Nala has the best personality though. Well, I best be off. I have to eat and go to sleep, so I can get up at the butt crack of dawn! I hope ya'll have a Merry Christmas! Love Yas!

Peace, Love, and Beatles,
Stefanie

Oh yeah! I got the coolest Beatles bumper sticker the other day. It says All You Need Is Love and has a picture of the cartoon Beatles on it. I am soo stylin' in my car now. I want a license plate holder that is cool. Maybe I could customize one that says 'Turn off your mind...relax and float downstream', from the song 'Tomorrow Never Knows.'

I saw these at Carrie's friend’s blog. I was looking for a cool survey thingy last week!

Layer One:
-- name: Stefanie
-- birthplace: Orange, Ca
-- current Location: Orange, Ca
-- eye color: hazel
-- hair color: dark brown.
-- height: 5'4
-- righty or lefty: right
-- zodiac sign: Scorpio.

LAYER TWO:
-- your heritage: Irish, Cherokee, German, Russian, a few others.
-- the shoes you wore today: Sketchers
-- your weakness: sometimes I think I'm too nice.
-- your fears: not finding a true love and getting married. I don't want to end up alone.
-- your perfect pizza: Bella Napoli's (NYC) Sicilian Cheese Pizza Pie
-- goal you'd like to achieve: to make a difference in someone's life. To travel the world and to open up my Beatles diner.

LAYER THREE:
-- your most overused phrase on AIM: lol, I'm just saying, blah!.
-- your thoughts first waking up: I don't want to get up.
-- your bedtime: whenever I get tired.
-- your most missed memory: I miss hanging out in drama and performing. I also miss some conversations I had with certain friends: Brandon, Dean, etc.

LAYER FOUR:
-- pepsi or coke: neither. Dr. Pepper!
-- mcdonald's or burger king: mcdonalds
-- single or group dates: group dates 'cause I am shy! lol
-- adidas or nike: neither! Sketchers!
-- lipton ice tea or nestea: blah! tea!
-- chocolate or vanilla: vanilla!
-- cappuccino or coffee: hot chocolate

LAYER FIVE:
-- smoke: nope
-- cuss: I try not to, but it's never the bad bad words lol
-- sing: everyday
-- take a shower everyday: definitely.
-- have a crush: yes. My crushes last long, so I've had a few.
-- do you think you've been in love: yes
-- want to go to college: currently there.
-- like(d) high school: I liked my friends, and drama
-- want to get married: yes.
-- believe in yourself: yes
-- get motion sickness: yes.
-- think you're attractive: not really
-- think you're a health freak: sometimes
-- get along with your parent(s): yes
-- like thunderstorms: yes
-- play an instrument: I wish, but no.

LAYER SIX:
in the past month...
-- drank alcohol: no
-- smoked: no
-- done a drug: no.
--had sex: no.
-- made out: no
-- gone on a date: no, but they tried to make it a date lol
-- gone to the mall?: yes
-- eaten an entire box of oreos: no.
-- been on stage: nope.
-- been dumped: nope.
-- gone skating: no, but I want to! A bunch of us at work are planning on going lol
-- made homemade cookies: mmmm oatmeal chocolate chips!! no.
-- gone skinnydipping: no
-- dyed your hair: i want to
-- stolen anything: nope.

LAYER SEVEN:
ever..
-- played a game that required removal of clothing: no lol
-- if so, was it mixed company:
-- been trashed or extremely intoxicated: no
-- been caught "doing something": no
-- been called a tease: more like a flirt :)
-- gotten beaten up: no.
-- shoplifted: no, never.
-- changed who you were to fit in: nope
LAYER EIGHT:
-- age you hope to be married: 27
-- numbers and names of children: 2
-- describe your dream wedding: I would love to get married in Ireland, because it's so beautiful. I want bagpipes or a flute playing. I think a castle would be the perfect setting.
-- describe your dream proposal: Strawberry Fields, central park, NYC. On a snowy night in December, with the moon shiny bright. There has to be a light snow fall.
-- how do you want to die: happy and at peace with the world
-- where you want to go to college: CalState Fullerton or Chapman.
-- what do you want to be when you grow up: I would love to be involved in film or photography
-- what country would you most like to visit: England, Ireland, Scotland, Africa, France, Australia.

LAYER NINE:
in a guy/girl..
-- best eye color? piercing blue eyes are nice, but it doesn't matter.
-- best hair color? doesn't matter.
-- short or long hair: short
-- height: my height or taller
-- best weight: average.
-- best first date location: I think a sweet first date would be the beach. Go to the boardwalk and play some games and then walk on the pier and watch the waves. Sit and talk over a bonfire with a beautiful full moon. Listen to the waves :::sigh:::
-- best first kiss location: The beach

LAYER TEN:
-- number of drugs taken illegally: 0
-- number of people i could trust with my life: 2
-- number of CDs that i own: 60+.
-- number of piercings: 0
-- number of tattoos: 0
-- number of scars on my body: lot's! I have cats lol
-- number of things in my past that I regret: I regret not telling people how I feel and losing touch.