"Aint it funny how a melody...can bring back a memory"

There have been a LOT of songs written about how a song can "take you back" and make you re-live moments of your life that have been "pushed back" to other areas of your brain.  As someone who always thought of herself as "musically inclined" I feel there are many "tunes" that describe an era of my life.  There are also many songs that remind me of specific people who have enhanced my life.
Here is a list of songs that remind me of specific people and why.

Salt N Pepper "Shoop"...somewhere around 7th grade...this girl I knew (Virginia) and I decided that we should sing Shoop at our Uber conservative Church's talent show.  luckily VA's cousin Paula was older, more mature and realized that a song about "doing it" would not be an appropriate song for two tweens to lip sync in any sort of venue...let alone our church. Our endless Thanks goes to Paula for saving our souls...though we continued to LOVE the song!!!

Bonnie Tyler "Total Eclipse of the Heart"...so...I grew up in "middle Illinois" (some may call it southern...its not, where I spent many of my highschool nights either planning for or participating in our Snowball event (which was a weekend lockin that provided highschool kids an outlet away from alcohol and drugs).  There was a very moving skit to "Total Eclipse of the Heart", where there were different people on the stage representing different substances...from "gateway drugs" to the "hard core stuff" and you would watch this family deal with the "pain".  My first huge "CRUSH" turned "BOYFRIEND" was in this play and I feel head over heels....as a silly freshman or sophomore in highschool.  We had our fling, realized we werent right for each other and have moved on.  This song always has and always will remind me of him.  I wish him and his family the VERY BEST! 

Semisonic "Closing Time" Throughout Highschool I worked at "DRAGONLAND"...AKA- the best place on earth if you were a high school student and wanted a job where all of your other friends would work and you could walk around and pick up life jackets and get a tan...not to mention, pretend you were the "head guard" and start the rotation"....Anyways...I worked there for 3 years and had a GREAT time...During this time, Closing Time was one of the most OVERPLAYED songs on the radio..and was on 98% of the day.  It soon became an anthem to those of us who were working as they played it close to that 6:00pm whistle...AKA- "get out of the pool...we all have places to go"

Billy Joel "Only the Good Die Young"...as two individuals who were not raised Catholic at a Catholic University, Tisha and I (not only Billy Joel Lovers) stuck together singing this song in Gallagher Hall Freshman Year of College  Singing "You Catholic Girls Start Much Too Late" was a little rebel yell for us...though we were the farthest things from Rebels you ever will see.

Songs that remind me of Jessica Rickert
"Night to remember" Shedaisy
Anything with Rob Thomas or Brittany Spears- before she went nuts

Songs that remind me of Emily O'Malley (Olsen)
Anything EARLY John Mayer- early acoustics of Why Georgia and prior
"Center of Attention" Guster
Beatles

Songs that remind me of the DR
"Sittin on the Dock of the Bay"Otis Redding
"How can you solve a problem like Maria" from Sound of Music
any Shakira song AND if I ever heard a Mamajuana song...one of those
"Yo tengo nueva amore"- though I never hear that song except in my dreams.

Any Country Song- reminds me of my time in Kentucky (steriotypical or not)...esp. Dierks Bently or Kenny Chesney.  They are not bad...they are actually quite nice.  They remind me of good friends, friends that helped me get through my "post college stage" and on to my "early adulthood stage". Friends that will never be forgotten...My LWC baseball boys:)

So yes, I truly believe that songs can take you back to somewhere you have hidden deep in your mind.

What song takes you back?

Watch Out Season 16 of Project Runway- here I come

Yes...they are only on season 8...I know...that means I have 7 more seasons to get my sew on.

Once upon a time, I had my first trial at sewing. I made my old college roommate Jessica and myself Halloween costumes. We went as Velma Kelly and Roxy Hart from "Chicago". I was Velma, she was Roxy. The dresses...ummm...were snug. We had to add lots of fringe to the bottom of Jess's dress so she didn’t have a Brittany Spears moment. But they stayed together for the most part and we had a good time wearing them.

I am also about 40% through making my t-shirt quilt from college. It’s going to be awesome..all the shirts are cut and have been cut since right before I left to go on the road...that right, since 2004. So, now that it’s 2010, its time to get back on track.

Now, I would not call myself anywhere close to "fashionable" as a matter of fact, most days i secretly hope to be walking down the street and hope the "what not to wear" folks will find me and give me a lesson on fashion. I know what looks good on other people, I just can’t seem to find something that looks good on me. I’m very square in body type and more recently have become a little more "round" than I would like to be (that’s a different story for a different blog), needless to say...I will not make it in the fashion design world. But, I like to sew...I like the rules that surround it. You have to follow order, guidelines, patterns. At least I do now, until I get the real hang of it.

So about a month ago, Scott brought me a "sewing table", I bought myself a "sewing chair". I have my mom's sewing machine, now it’s just a matter of sewing.

On Wednesday I went to Joann fabrics, much to my dismay. I live in Chicago for peter rabbits sake. There are tons of AMAZING fabric stores, but they all seem to close at 6pm and i just can’t make it back to the city by then....they also don’t seem to have any patterns. I’m not quite a "make my own pattern and then sew from it" expertise yet. I'd be the person on project runway that would make all the other contestants go..."she can’t even thread a needle, what is she doing here". So, I ventured to Joann's. This is probably a pretty good choice for a first timer like me. lots of patterns, they were very helpful and frankly, they had a pretty good fabric selection.

I chose two pattern packets.

One has a wrap dress and I found really pretty fall fabric to make my dress (and its stretchy...I figured stretchy would be good for a first trial so that if it’s a bit snug it will stretch.) and then I will make two skirts.

I started the warp dress as soon as I got home on Wednesday. I've got the pattern cut out, its been pinned on my fabric and I have cut most the pieces out. Words of caution...stretchy fabric is NOT easy to cut....sometimes you stretch it when you cut and then you have some uneven sides. Also, does anyone know when it says on the pattern "leave 1/4" for seam" if that means you are supposed to add a 1/4" to the pattern, or they have already built that in for you. This "simplicity stuff" is not very simple if you don’t know the sewing terms. Hopefully this weekend i can get the pattern traced on the fabric....still not entirely sure how to do this and start the fun part...sewing!

I will keep you updated on my progress...but until then, here are a few pictures...consider it my "next time on project runway" segment.

My Sewing Nook

Hoping for finished product..looks easy enough, right?

Pattern cut out- check
Pinned on fabric- check
Cut out of fabric- half check

A closer look at the fabric for the wrap dress.  I love it and think it will be very cute for fall.

The two fabrics I bought for my two skirts...we will see how these work.  Im debating between getting lining for the gold one, or just wearing my slip...thoughts?

Bridezilla....I hope not!

So, I have a new horrible past time that I do when Scott isn't home (when he is home...he keeps my bad tv watching habits in line). I have been watching alot of "Bridezillas" on WE. I find these people RE-DICK-U-LOUS!. I keep asking Scott if he thinks I will be a Bridezilla...he says no. And I am begining to understand why.
1. These women are NOT organized....they drive me crazy by not having things done on time, not creating a plan, not remembering to SEND OUT INVITATIONS, etc.
2. They are inconsiderate. I'm sorry (I'm not really sorry), but be on time...for appointments, for your dress rehersal, and FOR GOD's SAKE...FOR YOUR WEDDING....Now, I was a wedding coordinator for 3 years in college, so I understand that there is usually a little lateness (generally because people---ie guests---are still coming in and getting seated when the wedding is supposed to start), but being an hour late. This is incredibly rude to your guests who have come to share your day with you, who have spent money on transportation, perhaps travel expenses, hotels, gifts, etc.
3. Self Centered. Wow....your bridesmaids are doing you a HUGE favor by standing up at your wedding. They crack me up when they have their bridesmaids do a run way show and then criticize their wardrobe....PS- you probably picked out the dress...its probably not going to flatter everyone...they had to buy a dress that they will probably not ever wear again...

If there is anything I have "learned" from this obsession is that I have been BLESSED for the "27 dresses" I have dawned for weddings. I have been priveledged to be standing up for some very CLASSY brides, Thankful brides, and organized brides!
I promise my bridesmaids that I will be respectful, organized and will love whatever you are wearing. I promise my future husband that I will not yell at him...but he already knows that he will be part of the planning process. Not because I am a bridezilla...but because I want him to be a big part of our day and I dont want it to just be my ideas.

My kind of Sunday Funday

We have had a CRAZY last few months. We have been to Yorkville (where Scott's parents live twice), Pekin once, I bought a car, went to a wedding, went to a graduation party, started a new job...needless to say, it has been exhausting! This weekend we FINALLY got a weekend at home. We had no plans. It was perfect.
Friday night we met some of Scott's friends at a new establishment that opened in our neighborhood, The Fountainhead. Great food, great people, great refreshments!
Saturday, Scott had to go do a little bit of work, but I had nothing to do. we laid around, took naps, caught up with each other and our crazy lives. We ordered delivery and just ate junk food and hung out.
Today was a PERFECT Sunday! Though I did have to do a few chores, they aren't as bad as it used to be. As I have spoken about before, I have a disdain of public laundromats. They get so crowded, and kids are running around and Im worried about knocking them over with my cart. But we found a better place, LOTS of washers and dryers, LOTS of spaces to fold clothes that each have their own TV so I can watch my Sunday Morning News shows. It is much better.
So I did laundry, then I went grocery shopping. I love cooking on Sunday's and making enough for us to have for most of the week. I'm usually our the door at 5:15am and don't get home until 6:30. Scott has class on Monday and Tuesday and works late on Wednesday, so we barely see each other from Sunday-Thursday, let alone have enough time to cook. Today I made a big thing of chicken salad (yum:)) and some turkey burgers with cranberries and brie. We had the turkey burgers for dinner tonight and we have leftovers. We should be able to get through those by Thursday and we have our menu ready for Thursday of stuffed peppers!
I went to the library and picked up another book I had on hold (I know have 4 books at home to read plus one on audio for my commute). I wish I would have gotten a little more cleaning done, but you know what...it will wait. I got to spend some great time with my guy and got caught up on normalcy!
I will be the first to admit that I love to be busy. I love to have things on my calendar (I guess it makes me feel popular), but it is also nice to be a homebody and relax, recharge.
I am ready for an exciting week!!! (and what an exciting week it will probably be)!

8 years ago...8....

I am feeling a bit nostalgic this weekend. 8 years ago yesterday, I flew back to the USA from my semester abroad in the Dominican Republic. I was in the DR from January-May in 2002. Creighton sent a group of 13 students, 1 teacher, a Program Director and a Dallas:), we lived together, learned together, and did service projects together. We built houses, taught english, taught safe-sex, but learned about true social inequality and injustice, about hospitality, about life, about love and most importantly, about ourselves.
I'll never forget many of the memories I have of that place. Dallas catching us "swimming in the ocean" much later than we needed to be..., smoking cigars sitting at Cabarete, whale watching, Jarabacoa....and the scariest, most mindblowing realistic, nightmare inducing moment of my (and Vals/Pablos) life. Not to mention the deep down emotions that come up whenever I hear "Yo, tango nueva amor", the sound of marangae, the thoughts of the Batey boys strumming on their guitar and singing to Sara and I for hours on end. The hours I cried during the Haitian earthquake earlier this year, hoping Papito/Nanaota and any of my other family members were not there. Knowing I probably would not know if they were.
I think of my friends, many of whom I have not talked to in YEARS, who I will always have a connection that no one can break. No matter the miles, no matter the occupations we have chosen, no matter the fall outs we have had, we will always have one thing in common that NO one else will. No one else will have the same memories of Jarabacoa that the 12 of us have. No one else will think of a hotel in the Dominican Republic when they hear the song "Hotel California". No one else will know that starfish STINK...and actually live outside of salt water...and can continue climbing on walls, beds, etc.
I think of those that are no longer with us: Johnny, Chucho, Patricia at Hogar Luby. How these lives were lost too early, some out of disability that could have been prevented, some out of hatred and racism and some out of decisions made to create a living.
I am extreamely greatful for the four months I spent abroad. I wouldn't it trade it for anything in the world...and if anyone wants a 10 year reunion...I would be in for 2012!

Goal Completed!!! I did it!!!

I got a new job! I start as a "Real" employee at McDonald's Corporation on June 1st, 2010!

I thought I would share that good news since the rest of my "goals" for this year are failing miserably.

Oh-
I also bought my wedding dress saturday...who buys a wedding dress 15 months BEFORE their wedding....SERIOUSLY!

Goals for my 29th year

As I stated in my last blog, every year on my birthday I create a list of goals. As the year passes, I take a look at my goals and see how I am doing. In my 28th yeat, I succeed in completing only about 30% of my goals:( Hopefully this year will be better. I have also decided to make my goals more "SMART"- Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely. I am also hoping to blog on my progress and am giving you, my loyal readers, the task of ensuring I am completing them.

So, without further adeu...
10. Workout at least three times a week. I am stating that my workout week is Sunday-Saturday. A workout constitues at least thirty minutes of sweaty activity (ie- walking does not count).
9. Continue working on my leadership skills- read at least 2 leadership books and identify where I can continue to improve upon. This is harder to make SMART.
8. Work on communication skills- see above.
7. Continue volunteering with ACS- perhaps expand to an additional organization?
6. Pay off credit cards by December- no more using credit cards.
5. Eat healtier- cook at least 4 meals per week. Limit fastfood intake to twice per month.
4. Try a new recipe every week.
3. Start a monthly brunch club- who is interested in joining?
2. Save 10% of takehome per week.
1. Secret goal- I will let you know when it's accomplished...but its getting close!

Thanks for all your support and friendship. 28 was a great year. 29 is shaping up to be the same!!!