Starting Over...

So although I haven't written about this in awhile, I still have been working on losing weight since about February. Very slowly it has been coming off due to eating healthier and most of the time exercising. I figure even if it's slow losing it it's still better than gaining right?
Anyway so today after weighing myself I realized that I weigh about as much as I did when I went away to school last year. Yes... in one year I've managed to gain and lose a little over 13 pounds. Can't really be too good for my body, but at least now it's going down right? The last 2 weeks I lost a total of 3 pounds... so it's picking up speed a little!
Just thought I'd share :) So as I'm about to leave for school again I'm starting over... except this time I am really working to watch my weight and will continue this downward trend, instead of again gaining 13 pounds...

Side note... I'm leaving for camp in a few hours!! Woohoo! Last night I had wanted to get extra sleep since this week will be so busy. Unfortunately that turned into about 5 hours of sleep. Oh well, that's what caffeine is for right?

Never a dull day...

I was thinking about last summer earlier today. I did alot of vegging. Alot of nothing. Many days of not waking up until noon at least. Sitting on the couch all day watching TV.
I think I've only had half of a day like that this summer, maybe. It's not necessarily a bad thing. But definitely no days of just vegging. Work, or hanging out with friends, or figuring out apartment stuff for next year, or helping Corrie at work. Whatever it was, never a dull or slow day. The whole "relaxing for the summer" idea I think for me is gone forever! Every summer from now on I'll have a job. I'm sure they will all be busy in some way.
So even though I just had my last day at work I'm still not relaxing. Helped Corrie at work today, and am still helping her with camp stuff as I write this. Tomorrow more interesting stuff like separating shirts. Woohoo! Then I need to actually go back to my house so that I can pack for camp and get ready.
Been on the phone back and forth all day with Cerise and Jen figuring out apartment stuff. Money mainly and all that fun stuff. So in the five minutes I'm home tomorrow I need to do alot more mailing checks and more phone calls.
Sunday we leave for camp right after church! We get back the next Saturday and then Sunday I leave with my family for our family vacation. Get back that Friday. Pack and then move into my apartment Monday the 15th. And Tuesday the 16th I start work again at the bookstore! Man. Somewhere in there I need to figure out my class schedule. I register for classes on the 19th... but at that time I need to already know what classes I want and for what times. Much easier that way. then August 31 I start school! The next weekend is Hume Lake camp. The weekend after that my cousin is getting married in Northern California. Boy, that's a lot of traveling in about a month and a half!
Few! It makes me exhausted just thinking about it!

All done!

So today was my last day at Petsmart! I was actually having a lot of fun. It was a slow day. Thursdays normally are. So I had a lot of time to talk to people and joke around. I think I am going to miss alot of the people there. Even though I have only known them for about 2 months! Greg and Katie, both of whom weren't working today, came by to say goodbye. Jamie, one of the trainers that I've gotten to know alot over the past week said at the end of the night, "You know we'll miss you right Laura?" Awww. That made me feel good.
So after promises to visit when I'm home and goodbye hugs I finished with my last day of work at Petsmart! Always nice to leave on a happy note.

1 more day...

Tomorrow's my last day at Petsmart! I'd say it was a good job for the summer. Lots of hours. Decent pay... well a higher pay rate than I've ever had before at least.
But as of late I'm kind of ready to be done. So after tomorrow I'm free of having a job for 2 whole weeks! Kind of like a vacation. Well I'll be working at camp. But still...
So anyway, yeah. Just thought I'd share!
I still haven't finished reading Harry Potter. So behind.
Bought a Bible yesterday. I was still using the Student Bible I got from graduating in 6th grade! Kind of ready for a new one... It's a study Bible too... which is nice because hopefully it can help give me a little direction in my devotions.
My mom is listening to a Robin Williams CD while Emeril is on TV and Emily is playing the piano and Katie just turned 22!

Piece of Meat.

The last couple of days I've been getting really annoyed with men. I mean, I know that you are all not gross and feel that you can treat women like a piece of meat to be looked at, or whistled at, or make lame comments to. But lately I seem to be coming across alot of men who are like this.
I guess I knew that there are guys out there that are like this, but haven't really encountered it myself too much.
Let me explain myself before I continue to ramble on...
At work the other day a middle aged man told me that I have pretty eyes. But not in a complimentary kind of way. Then the whole rest of my transaction with him he continued to kind of just look me up and down. I just felt like saying "really? I mean seriously do you feel like you can treat me like this?" In a different situation I could have just avoided the guy. I don't remember specifics about a couple of other guys. But I do remember them acting the same way... thinking that they could just kind of look me up and down. Ask me multiple questions that they're not really interested in. I actually had another guy a few weeks ago ask me multiple questions and eventually invite me to his apartment. He was at least 40. He actually came back a couple of weeks after that and tried to talk to me again and asked me if I remembered him. One of my coworkers rescued me by telling me she needed something from the back. Another guy continued to ramble on and on, asking me how I was and telling me random things. But it was in a way where I was feeling invaded... if that makes sense?
When I went to get a woman customer from one line to come to my register I asked her if she was with the guy she was standing next to. He goes "no, but boy I sure wish she was". And again did that classic look up and down like he's undressing with his eyes. I could tell she was annoyed, obviously.
Anyway... sorry. I feel like I've been brooding over this for a while now because it's just frustrating me so much. So I complained to all of you.
Really, where do some men get the idea that they can treat women this way??

"Sick"

Yesterday I called in sick to work. I told them I felt naucious.... that it was probably something I ate the night before. Well I don't like lying, but the reason I did it was so that I could go to a counselor/staff/intern meeting at 2:00, which would have been right in the middle of my shift.
So instead of work I went to Norwalk church in the morning. And then once again became part of the Butcher family to go out to Christi's birthday lunch at a yummy Chinese food place. Straight from there to the meeting, and then a little bit of hanging out after the meeting. Man, that Jason Tippitt is seriously crazy! He has way too much energy and plays way too many practical jokes! But at least I know that camp will be fun! Haha.
Then Corrie and I went to get Starbucks and to go shopping for a little bit. All fun stuff... being our usual dorky selves. Then watched Diary of a Mad Black Woman for a second time. If you haven't seen this movie yet go rent it because it's really good!
Then back home where my mom seemed all resentful that I hadn't been home all day. Even though she knew I wasn't going to be home all day.
This week I'm working Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday... all 8 hour closing shifts. Fun. My last day is supposed to be Friday, so I guess they figured they would work me as much as they could until then.
My mom finally hooked up our router so I can write from my computer and upload some pictures! So here's some random ones from the last few days...

Saturday Emma and Dana and I went to see the sneak preview of Must Love Dogs... then hung out for a while after at Dana's apartment.
Emma and Dana


Dana's half face


My apartment. It's the one on the bottom floor. I don't necessarily like that it's the one on the bottom floor, but we didn't exactly have a lot of options!


Cerise on our trip to San Diego a couple of weeks ago... first looking for apartments.


Random bumper sticker. Yes some choices are wrong... like backing that car into a pole from the looks of it.

Successful Day

Drove to San Diego this morning. Signed lease papers. Stopped in at SDSU and filled out a form declaring Philosophy as a minor.
Drove back home (round trip driving was probably almost 6 hours, way too much traffic!)
Took a quick nap.
Went to ikea with my mom and got a bed, desk, new really cute duvet cover, couple of other random things for the apartment. Went to linens n things and got sheets.
Feeling really excited about the apartment at the moment!

Keeping busy...

So although I don't really have any real "projects" I've been working on, I'm sure managing to keep busy anyway!
Saturday - Tuesday was working...
Today I went to help Corrie at work and then went to the youth group afterwards to help out a bit.
Started reading the new Harry Potter book. I don't know what it is about these books but they just pull you in. I read until 2:30AM last night.
Been looking into classes for next year trying to make my schedule work. I really don't want to have Friday classes. But I also don't want to just have Tuesday Thursday classes. So I'm having a bit of trouble. We shall see I still have a bit of time to figure it out.
Tomorrow I'm going to San Diego with Cerise to sign our apartment leases! Woohoo! Hopefully in this same trip I'll be able to go into the philosophy department and declare a philosophy minor. It's just a quick filling out a paper and having them approve me. It's just a matter of being in San Diego at the right time and doing it.
Saturday or Sunday I'll have to "call in sick" so that I can go to the counselor/intern/staff meeting for camp. Next week is my last week at work! And then camp the next week.
Parents decided to go to Utah to a place called Zion. I know what you're thinking... Utah? But the place is actually really nice, tons of hiking and outdoorsy stuff. Should be allright.

Painting

The last couple of weeks I've been working on my sister's room. I've wanted to redecorate a room for a while... and she was up for something fun. It was a good project for a little while. Anyway here's how it turned out! I think my parents were a little freaked out by our choice of colors at first... but upon the finished product I think they like it! And so do I. Fun stuff!
Here's just a couple of the walls... my dad put a lot of furniture back before I had the chance to get in there with my camera.





Oh yes, and you can't tell but the ceiling is white. It might be a little overwhelming otherwise :)

Your Mom!

Last night I went with Corrie and some teens from the Norwalk Nazarene youth group to an NYI district event... which was bowling. I had so much fun just being a dork all night.
At the youth room where we were at before we went bowling there was a big bounce house. We all jumped in it and threw a big inflatable baseball at each other to try and knock one another down. Somewhere in between all the giggling and falling Corrie managed to fall on the side of the bounce house and fall to the floor. Which caused the ceiling to almost collapse. Good times.
We all pretty much sucked at bowling... but I won both games! Woohoo! Corrie put my name in as Your Mom, so every time I got a strike or spare YOUR MOM would flash on the screen a couple of times. Of course we were also using the saying way too much.
After a car ride home of dancing and singing we played the card game Swap until the girls were picked up. Oh yes, and somewhere in there Corrie ran me over... well sort of.
Anyway good times! I had a blast! I can't wait until camp!! :-D

Someone took a picture of the whole group of us somewhere... but not on my camera... so here's a picture of me and Corrie :)

August 15

That's our move in date to the apartment! A month from today! Basically we still have to be approved or something like that. We've faxed in all of our applications and then had the leases to sign, which we did and then faxed in. I think they are just doing a background check first (probably more on our co-signer than us).
Anyway not so interesting stuff... but I am excited.
The only piece of furniture I still need to buy is a desk. I have the kitchen table (bought off of Corrie who bought it off of her old room mate Vanessa when they moved out). An old but in very decent shape coffee table. And I bought a bed from an estate sale last weekend for $20!! Ok, I know what you're thinking. Probably a crappy bed. But actually it's really pretty nice. If anything I will at least keep the mattress because it's a good mattress and probably newer than the one I have on my own bed right now! Cerise and Jen have alot of the other furniture type stuff (TV, couch...)
Now I really am rambling... I'm just so excited!

Oh yeah... I almost forgot. I gave my 2 weeks notice a few days ago. It was actually a little over a 2 weeks notice. But my last day is July 29... right before camp.
The first week in August I'm going to camp as an intern... should be fun. Originally it was Corrie talking me into it... but now I really am excited to go!
The week after that right before I move down to SD my family wants to go on vacation. Except we don't know where! Any good suggestions?? There's hundreds of places we could go but we can't really think of anything. Money is a small issue right now so can't be too expensive either... Any ideas?

The Smiths.

My friends Tim, Jamie, and their sons Oliver, Noah, and Myles left Saturday evening for the Carolinas, where they're moving. I'm excited for them and the new life that they're going to create. And yet at the same time it's sad to see them leave.
I've been thinking lately about my friendship with the Smith's. How it's changed, progressed, been transformed.
When I was a dorky little sixth grader Jamie invited me to youth group at Long Beach Nazarene, and continued to invite me until I came. At that time Tim was the youth pastor, and more of an authority figure. I think the most important thing to me about that youth group was the people that I had the chance to meet, and get to know... Tim, Jamie, Melissa, Julia, Cassie, Jeff, David, Anna, later Joel. Many of whom I still keep in touch with today.
After Tim and Jamie left the youth group, as I pretty much did not too long after... I didn't really get the chance to see them for quite awhile. After Joel Hyde passed away the only people I really knew to turn to was the Satellite church. I knew that I needed God in my life, and Satellite seemed like the only logical place for me to turn. That was a little over a year and a half ago. And yet in such a short time I have developed so many close friendships. I have become a Christian, grown in my faith and relationship with God. When I decided to take the step to become a Christian I realized from the Satellite, through the churches examples, that there was much more that I didn't know, how to have a relationship with God. When I asked Tim to help me he was more than willing. I feel so blessed to have had him there as a mentor.
I have had the chance to be a small part of the Smith boys lives. They are such great kids. And of course I will miss their never ending hugs... they sure know how to make people feel special!
As I realized that the Satellite church would come to its end I was at first a little sad. And yet now I am excited for the possibilities of the future. To find another church where I can make new friends, continue to learn more about God. It's exciting to me. The possiblility that I can be an example to others, and have others as an example to me. Wherever I go I will be praying about it, because I want it to be where God wants me to be.
The friendships that I have made through the Satellite are the kind that last for a long time. I truly believe that the reason for that is because God is the foundation of our friendships. Until the past year or so I have never really known a friendship that was able to grow so fast, so deep... I can't really figure out the word I'm looking for...
Anyway... this post has a little of everything jumbled up in it.
I feel blessed that God has brought me to the Smith's and allowed me to be a small part of their lives. To have had Tim as a youth pastor and then pastor, mentor and friend. The Satellite has become such a big part of my life. I have no idea where I'd be if Jamie hadn't pushed me to go to youth group over 7 years ago. Isn't that weird that just that one thing can make such a huge difference?
And now the Smith's are on their way and almost "home" in the Carolina's. I'm excited for them. It's a huge step to take and yet they were willing to step out in faith for the sake of their family, and because they know God will take care of them. I will miss seeing them all of the time. I will miss the hugs from the boys. Oliver's crazy imagination. Noah's ability to be so stubborn and yet sweet when he wants to be. And little Myles, just talking and beginning to truly have his own personality.
Congratulations guys... thanks for having such a big impact on my life... I know that we'll still keep in touch... blogs (I heard Jamie might be starting one?), instant message, email (what would we do without the internet?)

Update

Cat is perfectly fine... *phew

Finally have an apartment... Villages of La Mesa ... *phew

Kidney Stones

About a week ago my cat had to have surgery for kidney stones. Poor thing! They shaved her tummy and now she has stitches going up half of it. She also had a couple of pain patches and one of those cones around her head for a while. Well the last couple of days all of a sudden her stomach is getting really bruised looking. This can be normal after surgery, but not necessarily showing up so much later.
So anyway. My sister and I took her to the vet early this morning and they have to run some more tests and then hopefully by this evening they'll tell us she is ok. Poor thing.

Free?

At my job we have to try and give out these savings cards called Pet perks cards. Basically like a grocery store savings card that you can stick on your key chain.
My schpeel goes about like this after asking if they have a card and they say no...
"Would you like to get one? It's free and it gives you savings on certain items in the store..."
The first question by more than 50% of the customers...
"Is it free?" or "How much does it cost me?"
Gotta love it.

Apartments

Yesterday Cerise and I drove to San Diego to look at and hopefully find a place to live for next year! We had 10 apartments to go look at, on top of the one we have our name on a wait list for. At first we were a tad discouraged. Mainly we were looking at apartments in La Mesa. The thing about La Mesa is there is good and bad areas. The first probably 3 that we looked at there we didn't even stop because the area was just a little too scary.
After looking at all 10 places there are 2 that are a possibility. One called Heatherwood will have 1 vacancy on August 26, we start school on the 31st. The other apartment is a little more expensive (but still in our range) and has a washer and dryer actually in the apartment, and is located right next to the trolley. This one will have two vacancies.
Basically I am good with either one... but we need to figure it out NOW. The only problem is Jen hasn't had a chance to look at them yet because she is in Bakersfield. Hopefully she will be able to drive down on Tuesday or Wednesday next week. The only way to reserve the apartment is to put our deposit down, which we can't do until we all have seen the places and decide together.
Which makes me a little nervous. We have 3 possibilities, but we might lose them if we don't put our deposit down very soon.
So I'm a little anxious, and I can tell Cerise is too. Pray for us that we don't stress out too much and that we're able to work something out soon. A big weight will be lifted off of all of our shoulders once we finally have a place to live. Then we can focus on other things like buying stuff for the apartment with the money we don't necessarily have! Woohoo!
Oh yes, and I almost forgot. The place we put our name on a waiting list is starting to really not look so great. Mainly because they don't call us back when we call. When Cerise and I went in there they had no idea where we were on the list. On top of the fact that they were treating us like we didn't belong there. I just wasn't getting a good vibe... So so much for that place basically.

HAPPY SWEET 16 EMILY!!

Wow. I can't believe it! She's so old! Happy Birthday Emily! (And yes Tim, that does make me feel a little old. Except when I hang out with friends like you... then I can feel young again ;) hehe

Stuff

I went to lunch with Emma and Corrie, that was fun.
Today at work I was visited by a couple of friends. That's always fun! Tony V. showed up and asked me from behind where the bathrooms were before I even realized it was him. Of course then it got steadily busy enough so that I couldn't even talk to him. Even when he bought a drink I was on the phone :( Then Niki visited me with her cute little puppy. :) Actually I don't think she was intentionally visiting me, but it worked out that way.
After work Sophia and I went to see Bewitched all decked out in our Petsmart uniforms. Although we did get 10% off at Ben N Jerry's for working in the Town Center, whoopi!
One of my kitties is in the Vet right now, she had kidney stones and had to have an operation, poor thing :( One of the other ones is on antibiotics because of sores she has. That's difficult. Poor kitties, they're getting old.
Tomorrow after working from 9-4 I'm driving to Mission Viejo to visit Cerise, and the next morning her and her mom and I are going to San Diego to look at and hopefully find an apartment. Too bad my mom can't come. Then we'll have to plan a day for everyone and parents to come down and sign stuff!
Friday is Emily's birthday. Sweet 16. Man, I can't believe she's gonna be that old. I haven't actually bought her present yet, although I know what I'm going to get her so that's ok. I figure Friday will just be her day to do whatever she wants to do.
And that is my busyness for now! Time for bed. I hate working a closing shift and then opening the next morning, it seems like that should be illegal or something.

Sticker Face

Yesterday was the Smith's going away party before they leave for the Carolina's. It was great to be able to hang out with so many friends. I am definitely going to miss that family, but I know we'll still keep in touch. Later on in the night Corrie and Myles decided to put sticker's all over each others faces. Noah joined in on the fun a little later. So cute. However Oliver was too cool to become sticker faced. Boy I'm going to miss those kids.

So much to write about...

But right now it is kind of late and I am drained. Plus I want to actually put a little thought into one or two of the next blogs. So for now, goodnight all. Happy 4th of July. More coming later...

Going Going Going

Have you ever had one of those weeks, or months, or few days when you just feel like you've been going and going from one thing to the next with never enough time for any one thing?? Well that is how I've felt the last couple of days!
It started with our last night at Satellite on Thursday with a child dedication. After eating cake and hanging out with friends for a short while afterwards I drove to Norwalk to get my car to drive back to my house to exchange it for my moms car and then back to Norwalk to have a sleepover at Corrie's. Friday we got to a bit of a late start after not waking up to the alarm. I went to Corrie's office to help her out a bit. Then went straight from there to pick my paycheck up from work and then to my friend Dana's. I helped Dana move all of her stuff out of her parents house into her new apartment (exciting day for her!). Also the reason I borrowed my moms car because it has a lot more space to move things.
I went straight from her new apartment home to go eat dinner with my parents. Earlier in the week my mom told me she feels like she talks to me less than when I was living in San Diego and wanted to go eat dinner or do something with me. So although this sounds sad, I "fit them in" to my schedule and went out to Mimi's Cafe. Then I went straight from dinner to Friday night Bible study. From there back to Norwalk to again spend the night away from my house.
Woke up fairly early this morning and then washed cars ALL DAY at Norwalk church to help Corrie out a little while earning money for camp at the same time! It was constantly busy all day and we ended up not making it out of there until 4:00 instead of 3:00.
Went back to Corrie's and very briefly refreshed before driving to pick Emma up and then heading to L.A. to eat at the Stinking Rose with friends from Satellite. Mmm such a great restaurant! I've never been there before. Probably cause I haven't had a boyfriend or date to take me to nice places like this! I can't wait until I am dating in college, way different from lame high school boys. Well that's what I'm hoping at least! ;) Afterwards we headed to the Getty museum. Great place, again also a great date place. Straight from there went to pick up the Butcher parents from LAX. Then back to Norwalk and now finally home!
Tomorrow it doesn't slow down! I go to my Weight Watchers meeting at 8:00 AM. Work 10-5, and then head straight to Teddy's house for BBQ and more hanging out with the Smith's and friends before they leave for the Carolina's.