Dresses and techno

It's been awhile, I know.

Things were tough that week. Not just that day. That week.

I cried. A lot. I haven't cried much since coming to Ashland. And that week the floodgates opened up. And it was legitimate, sure. No one likes being told they are hated. And me? Well, we know I take all things to heart, and I love everyone. And being hated by someone simply boggles my mind, I suppose.

Thankfully people reached out. And I felt loved. And comforted. And I'm grateful for all the people who soothed me, tried to make me laugh through the tears, and gave me some perspective.

Lots has gone on. I don't have space to get into it all. Many things are still the same. Loving my kids. Loving living here. Loving my surrogate family. Looking forward to summer. Still being a girl.

And speaking of being a girl, I went shopping for a Prom dress yesterday.

Let me remind you, my dear readers: I hate shopping. I'm too picky. And even worse, I hate shopping with people. So imagine my comfort while shopping for something specific (i.e. Prom dress) with people (i.e. my girlfriends) for an unspecified amount of time.

Don't get me wrong. I love my girls. And I loved seeing them. But I felt like I was dragging them along and taking up their afternoon while trying on awful dress after awful dress. Granted, the dresses were pretty and the girls were having fun (especially when I flashed them and hey, they asked for it!), but I still felt slightly uncomfortable.

BUT! This story has a happy ending! Prom dress has been procured! And wow. It's a beauty. It's a beautiful color, flowing and simple, yet very nicely shaped. I feel awesome in this dress.

It was, however much too long in the straps. And you know what? Today I actually acted even
more like a woman and shortened the straps myself. That's right, folks. Yours truly ripped seams, pushed down the straps, and sewed the dress back up. And it was successful!

Have I lost your attention my dear male readers? I know all this dress talk must be endlessly boring for you.

Hmm. How about this?

I saw HANNA as well.

Holy. Crap. What a movie.

It's beautiful and vicious. That's the best way to describe it. The fight scenes are Bourne-ish. The world is stylized and lush, even in stark places like the snowy forest. And the violence is unapologetic and incredibly in-your-face. These aren't characters who hesitate when it's time to pull the trigger. No. It gets done.

And the soundtrack? Oh my word. The Chemical Brothers. Not kidding, I was sitting practically
on my knees in the theatre chair because I was so excited by this music.

A sucker for kick-A fight scenes paired with hard, industrial techno and throbbing bass? Yeah, ok, you caught me. Guilty.

Here, take a listen to this one. Made the movie for me.

Don't like it? Well, no one's perfect. But I'll like you just a little bit less.

A Weekend Visit

Well, I visited Ashland this weekend and I can officially say that I feel much better about my move.

It was a weekend full of meeting new people, and while it was overwhelming, it was also really good for me. I stayed with the woman whose house I'm buying, Vicki, and she made me feel so welcome. I am so blessed to buying her house and to have someone in Ashland who I feel really comfortable with already. She helped introduce me to people, which I really appreciated.

I got in on Friday evening and chatted with Vicki for a bit, and then we headed to the local pizza place. She treated me to a pizza (Canadian bacon and mushrooms, yum) and I asked her a ton of questions about the high school over dinner. After that we headed back to her house where I met some former students. Basically, we just sat on the porch and hung out for the evening. It was great.

Saturday was so busy! Up at 7 to get ready for a pancake breakfast at the local fire station. I met some great ladies there and got recruited to sing with their church choir on Sunday. They move quickly here! After breakfast it was time to head over to Main Street for the parade, which was small but cute. Then over to the elementary school for turtle races, introductions, and schmoozing. I stood up on the back of a fire truck while my assistant principal introduced me to the field of people over a bull horn. Awesome. After that it was back to the house for a quick breather, then a taco lunch at the VW. The afternoon was lazy and relaxed, then Vicki and I stopped by a house that some people are building in Ashland. If you'll believe it, it's the first house to be built in Ashland in 40 years. Man! A future student stopped by for a visit, and I was so grateful for it. I think it made us both feel better about school starting. Then we had a great 4th of July dinner at the house--I made deviled eggs for the first time!--and hung out for a little bit until it was time for fireworks. Needless to say, after the fireworks I was exhausted. Believe it or not, ladies and gentlemen, but I was in bed by 11:30.

This morning was good. I visited the Methodist church (and sang in the choir!) with Vicki. I enjoyed the service, and it'll definitely be a great place to take the people who move me into my house. I'm still going to visit the other churches in town, but I'm encouraged by my visit this morning. We had lunch at the house and then took a trip to the West of town. You remember that picture from the Website that showed beautiful red bluffs on either side of the highway? Well, I hadn't seen it yet, but it was because I hadn't been West of town yet! Vicki took me out there and it was so beautiful. Then we walked around the outside and the inside of the house and discussed all the things that need to be/could be done to the house. I'm mulling some ideas around in my head, but I'll make a separate post for those later.

I headed home today around 3:00. It was actually really sad because I'd enjoyed spending time with Vicki a lot. She is truly a blessing! I am so grateful that God led me to this house because she's made the process fun and exciting rather than scary.

OK friends. I did my best to take some pictures, but I have to admit that I didn't take as many as I could have. Here are my favorites from the ones I took.

Instead of taking the normal route home today, I chose to take the scenic byway. There was a spot for cars to stop and take pictures off the side of the highway, so I stopped. This particular spot, however, was the least beautiful spot of the entire byway! The next time I go I'm going to stop at the non-designated areas and take more pictures. 

What a great trip. I came home and just sort of chilled. It was rainy, so unfortunately that meant no fireworks. I did manage to find a T-shirt I would like, however. I know that some of you will appreciate this if you watch the most recent video I posted here.

Come on. This shirt is a winner. I've never been one to wear shirts with clever slogans or sayings, but this one calls out to me in an irresistible manner. Plus, it's great for occasions. If we're ever hanging out on your birthday, there'll be a good chance that I'm going to wear this shirt. Just for you.

. 

Woman Victorious

OK, ladies. Moment of truth. You all better admit to this or else I'm going to do one of two things.

1) Know you're lying. 

2) Cry.

Here it is. You're in a popular clothing store. Perhaps Gap. And you see a pair of shorts that you absolutely adore. Perhaps these. And you rush to the rack (have you noticed that we tend to do that, ladies? The store is empty and you are alone, but BY GOLLY when you see that dream item you are drawn to it as quickly as those scary kids magnets that snap together in a split second and threaten to take your fingertips with them). 

So. You rush to the rack. You pore over the sizes . . . 0, 2 (yeah, right) . . . . 4, 6 (OK, getting closer) . . . 8 (just one more) . . . and . . . 12. 

NOOOOOO! The skies pour and the thunder crashes as you cry out your despair to the heavens. 

But since you're in public, you just sigh and say, "Darn."

But then . . . a soft light shines down on you and choirs of angels sing praises! You know what to do!

See, guys, if you're lost, let me walk you through the logic in a woman's brain. 

     A: She really, really likes these shorts. 

     B: These shorts are too small.

+   C: She's wanted to lose weight for awhile now. 

___________________________________

     D: She will buy these shorts, lose some weight, and THEN wear them!

GENIUS.

Only problem with this scenario is that most of us ladies don't end up losing the weight, never get to wear our cute shorts, and end up $30 poorer. 

OK. So. Set up engaged. Now for the payoff. 

I, like so many women, did this last summer. I was rummaging through my closet this morning, looking for something to wear. I saw my lovely, olive green, shorts, so new they still had the tag on them, and on a whim decided to try them on. 

You know that feeling as you slip one leg into your pants and then another and you begin to gauge just how far they're willing to slip over your hips and you pray that those extra chips last night haven't attached themselves to your rear?  And sometimes you have that glorious feeling of a pair of pants that are sliding on perfectly? So perfectly you can hardly believe it?

I began to have that feeling. And it kept happening. And before I knew it, the shorts were on, buttoned, and looking awesome. 

It worked! The shorts I would have been forced to wear as a size 10 last summer now fit me as a size 8 this summer. Fabulous. So fabulous that I almost want to go get ice cream to celebrate. 

But that would only ruin this perfect fit. Not to mention give me gas.