My TV friends

There is something about ending a TV series that brings a pain to my heart. I have spent countless amounts of hours and memorable moments with these people. Attended their proms, sat and watched as they cried alone in their rooms, I was there for their first date, their first kiss, their first breakup. I grew up with them and helped argue who they should date, how to solve tough challenges and then just as quickly as they came into my life they were out. The series finale of a show I have dedicated so much time to is like saying goodbye to some of my closest friends. I find the following days after the ending of the show alone and wallowing a bit. I long for a new episode that will give my day meaning and am left to entertain myself. I fill the void with looking up new movies they will be in and buy my tickets way in advance. As the days go on, I soon find that I am able to make it through most of the day without longing for my friends. Before long I start a new TV series, begin a new friendship and learn more about the ways of life but never forget my roots and my friends from those beginning shows. ;)

A shout out to all of my favorite characters in all of my favorite television series... thanks for the memories.

He's Just Not That Into You

(WARNING: If you have not seen this movie, some comments that are mentioned could be a Spoiler... Read at your own risk) :0)

This weekend I went with my roomies to see the new hit movie "He's Just not that into you". As I sat there mesmerized by the stories that were being acted out I realized it had been a long time since I have enjoyed a movie as much as this one. Emotions were pulled in all different directions, causing me to laugh, to cry to feel pain and sorrow, but it wasn't only these emotions that had me sitting in my chair, refraining from blinking in case I missed even a second of the movie. They picked a great cast to tell the tale of the famous book released a couple of years ago. I was ecstatic when one of the main characters was named after me (for those of you who don't know my entire family calls me Gigi). Finally, I almost believed that they took pieces of my life and made it into this movie... more then ever I related to each of those women on so many different levels.

Just one weekend prior to this movie coming out I found myself sitting by the phone, watching it so attentively like it would get up and do tricks hoping to get the text message that was from someone important. Only making up excuses on reasons why I didn't hear from him. Many occasions prior to even this one I have found myself comforting girlfriends who have been in situations so similar to mine, and to those in the movie. "Oh Sarah, he probably just got scared because he's never felt like this for someone before" "Betty don't sweat it, he'll call, he just is helping his grandmother do some choirs around the house", "Karen, stop crying he loves you and he will realize how dumb he is being for breaking up with you". How interesting it is that we are so afraid to be the bearer of bad news or give truth to an unsettling situation. I think the moment that touched me the most, the quote that made me want to stand up and start clapping was what Gigi said to Alex about love and the stupid things that girls do in attempts to make a relationship work. I stand by her in saying that I too do those stupid things, saying things without thinking, becoming interested in music, or sports for a guy in hopes that he will think I'm hip or cool. In all reality i am just another girl, the exception to the rule... but I can honestly say I am closer to finding real love then those who close themselves off from finding that.

What a joy that movie brought to my life!! (This entry may be slightly obsessive I just really enjoyed the movie.)

I've been hit!

So I was just shuffling through some of my friends blogs and found that I was tagged by my friend Angie... having no idea of this I thought it would be a fun little idea. Thanks buddy! (I had to change question one since I don't have a husband) :)

4 things I love about my siblings-
1. Joby- Singing in Borders and in Craig! Thank you for your willingness to give me everything you possibly can and more!
2. Mandy-Movie Theater Nachos (and all that those entail) Thanks for making life seem less stressful.
3. Travis- The tumbleweed. You're ability to always know what to say to make me laugh.
4. Lena- The two strangers coming into your law firm! I am so thankful that you are in the fam. You add so much!

4 movies I would watch more than once... (Really! I can only choose 4!?)
1. Remember the Titans
2. Win a date with Tad Hamilton
3. Moulin Rouge
4. Notebook

4 TV shows I would watch more than once
1. Lost
2. The OC
3. Alias
4. Friends

4 places I have been
1. California
2. Bahamas
3. Washington (the state)
4. Nevada

4 people who email me regularly
1. Mason
2. Joby
3. Holly (instant communicator count?)
4. Stacey

4 Favorite Foods
1. Fruit-all of it
2. Pizza
3. Salmon
4. Sushi

4 Places I would like to visit
1. England
2. New York City
3. Hawaii
4. Germany

4 things I am looking forward to this upcoming year
1. Getting into great shape
2. My Birthday
3. Paying off bills
4. Getting a puppy (hopefully)

4 things I love to spend my time doing
1. Reading
2. Shopping (especially at FYE)
3. Hiking
4. Watching movies

4 things I hate
1. Bowling
2. Sitting for long periods of time
3. Math
4. The movie War of the Worlds (that one is for you Angie)

4 people I tag
1. Ashley
2. Stephanie
3. Christal
4. Joby

This is a fun way for people who don't know much about me to learn a few things about me... ENJOY!

My Next Big Thing

I have to admit that I am easily inspired. Watching someone do something enough times automatically ensures that I too can master it. Whether it be learning the guitar to becoming the next CIA agent, I can accomplish it all. I guess it began when I was little and would watch Bob Ross paint on his canvas. He would some how make a blob of paint turn into a deep ocean, or a forest. Not long after watching his show, I decided that my painting skills were up to the challenge. I had my mom buy me a bright white canvas, new paintbrushes and colorful paint. Lets just say that I easily gave up on that dream when my ocean and mountains were confused as a horse with different sized legs. I didn't let this small set back get me down though, so what if I can't paint, I found my next calling in life when I was just a few years older.
I promised myself that I would be the next horse diving girl after I watched the movie Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken. I knew that I would get the chance to run away with the circus people, fall in love with a handsome young guy and dive horses for the rest of my life. Then I went on my first high dive at the swimming pool and realized I was terrified of heights. Next...
In junior high my friend Danielle and i fell in love with the movie Titanic and decided that we needed to write a movie script so amazingly good that Leonardo DiCaprio would star in it. By pulling this together we would then get to be on the set and finally have our chance to profess our undying love to him! And really how difficult is it to write a movie script? So we plugged away, putting in countless amount of hours planning the storyline, picking the perfect cast, outlining the cliffhangers etc. and after two pages and the script complete we decided we weren't actually cut out for that line of work anyway.
Four years ago, I was going to be a CIA agent and learn how to defend myself and beat men up that were twice my size after becoming addicted the the TV show Alias.
All lifestyles that I was dedicated to becoming, which leads me to my most recent project. A seed that was planted six months ago but really started growing a few months later. Reading the twilight books and then seeing them come alive in the movie has really made me want to bring out some of my creative side. Stephenie Myer wrote a book from a dream that she had, and now look at her! I have ideas running through my head all the time... most of them random, others complex, but some that could pull out my creativity and make me famous.

So one day, I chatted with my friend Michael about the idea of writing a book. It didn't need to be anything amazing. The ideas of being famous could come later in life, I've got plenty of time. I wanted to reach inside of me and do something I never have before; a dream that I might be able to accomplish. My friend encouraged me and helped me toy around with the few ideas I had. Its been three months and I'm 50 pages into my story. Its nothing much yet, but maybe someday it can be.

Making a fool of myself... whats new!?

We've all been there... doing something ridiculous in public where you pray that either no one saw you (which is usually unlikely) or pray that the Lord will strike you down so you don't have to see the faces of the people who did in fact notice. For some of you, you may be shaking your head and think to yourself "I rarely ever come across these moments" or "Sure I've had those moments but I'm not stupid enough to share it on my blog" As I've told many of you, my life is an open book (with a few torn out pages) and when ever I come across a moment when I can bring a smile to my friends face or make enemies happy to see "even I have flaws" I'll jump at the opportunity.

Twice now I have embarrassed myself singing in public. For those of you who are cringing at the thought "she sings in public" or even trying to picture me actually putting on performances and having an audience, that's not the singing I'm talking about. Let me explain...

The first experience happened while visiting my sister in a small town called Craig, CO. While walking into one of the seven stores that are in the small town, a few of my family members stopped to look at the sale they had going on outside of the store. Most of the time I forget I am in public (this being one of the moments) and will act very silly. We had been listening to High School Musical 2 with my niece in the car. I started singing the song to my sister without a care in the world. Last I had seen, there wasn't a single person outside within a 19 mile radius of us. I sang as loud as I could to my sister. I didn't notice the man come out of the store behind me and as I turned to go through a paper away (still singing might I add) he said to me "you have a very pleasant voice, thank you for singing and don't stop." All I could do was smile and listen to the laughs from my family behind me.

Second instance happened just this week. My sister and I had some time to kill before going to see a movie. We ran next door to Borders and were doing a little browsing. It was late and there were very few people shopping. My sister and I were headed to the registers from the back of the store. I had gotten a head start up to the front but was sure she was right behind me. I heard her come up next to me and with my hand in a fist holding only my thumb up (my pretend microphone) I leaned towards the person coming up on my left and started singing. Turns out my sister stopped to look at a book and the person who had come up next to me was a random shopper passing me. I tried to cover up my singing by using my thumb to point to the books that were next to the shopper. I don't think she fell for it but gave me a sympathetic smile. I ran back to my sister and informed her to let me know next time she stops to shop.

I am hoping I have learned my lesson and the next time I throw the microphone thumb up ready to sing a tune, I am fully aware of my surroundings and the people who are near. Or maybe I should refrain from doing it at all. :0)

Healthy Obsessions?

I hate to admit this but I have a feeling that I fall into the category of obsessed. I titled this blog Healthy Obsessions with a question mark because this could be a debate. I am coming more and more to the conclusion that life shouldn't be lived through movies, books or TV. What is that famous saying, "Grab life by the reins and take control". (I promise I'm going somewhere with this) For those of you who don't know me super well I am a big entertainment person. I love movies almost more then I love food. (I really love food!)

FYE (For Your Entertainment) is a small branch of heaven on earth here for me. My friend Angie laughs at me because she knows that we have to schedule at least two hours for that store whenever we enter into it. For most people, dinner and a movie is such a "lame" date. That was so the 90's! For me, bring on the dinner and movie. (In fact, skip the dinner)

Continuing on my entertainment kick I love reading. A few entries ago I wrote about my love for Borders. Reading up on the latest pirate ships, or how Madonna became Madonna. I am easily entertained.

And of course how can we forget about television. At least two-three times a week, people tell me of their love for various TV shows and suggest that I give it a shot and watch the first episode. If I don't love it, then I never have to watch it again. That's where the fall begins. I fell for this one time when my old roommate Ashley told me to watch the OC. In her words, "Jennie, just watch the first four episodes with me. If you don't love it, then you won't have to watch it ever again." Four seasons later and owning the first couple of seasons on DVD, its obvious that I became a little addicted. Now when people suggest shows to me, I immediately let them know that I have three shows that I watch. I refuse to add anymore on there.

So what does this have to do with Healthy Obsessions? Due to the few shows/books and movies I have become addicted to this is how I secretly (not such a secret anymore) hoped my life would have played out... I go to High School in Orange County where I hang out with Seth, Ryan, Marissa and Summer. After high school I say goodbye to some of my closest friends where I move to Seattle and become an intern at Seattle Graces Hospital. Here I deal with the drama of my close friend Izzy and George. Meridith is dating Derick and Sloan is constantly wanting to "date" me. Little does he know that when I go home Edward is there waiting for me- the perfect man.

This is why I add the question mark at the end. Its an addiction and I'm learning to control it. :0)

Hopeless Romantic

I find it kind of silly that my post prior to this one was a dedication to the nuns, my desire to be one and the top ten reasons why it would be a good decision. Those of you who read this may be wondering if I have found that "special someone". Fear not my single friends... I am still in your corner, but I have realized that I am a sucker for romance and the idea of falling in love. I don't speak of anyone in particular, only the imaginative characters in the movies or in the stories I read. I have tried to fight it but I can't help but feel the tugging of my heart strings when watching two people who have gone through their own struggles of searching for "that special someone" finally able to end the battle and truly fall in love. More and more I find myself searching for the novels that share the tale of two lost souls looking for their other half. Or dropping subtle hints to my friends to see movies of a guy and girl falling in love for the third time. I will remove my pride and share with the world my secret. I AM A HOPELESS ROMANTIC!! My fear now is not only the ridicule I will get after my faithful fans read this post, but the many acts of love I have read or seen will continue to linger in my mind. I hope someone is up for the challenge of catching my attention. :0)