I want everyone to know before start this almost serious blog, that the title I just came up with made me laugh out loud. Sometimes I amuse myself.
anyway......
The first time I put on tap shoes something in me changed. Does that sound ridiculous and cheesy? probably, but I don't care. It's totally true.
I was depressed all the time. I couldn't sleep. I thought about death on a daily basis and knew that I was way to chicken to ever hurt myself. Yet, for some reason, I really didn't want to be alive.
I cried myself to sleep on numerous occasions, nothing anyone said to me made me feel better. Most people don't even know that something so serious was going on. It was a horrible time for my husband. The first night I ever told him I wanted to die, I laid in his arms and cried for a very long time. I don't even know why. I just know that I no longer wanted to be alive.
Dave threatened to call my mom, and I told him that all she would do was come here and not be able to help me either. I had this huge void in my life that I couldn't explain to anybody. Even people who say they have gone through the same thing can not possibly understand. When people have depression they have to live with their own demons. It's not about me trying to stay alive for other people or worrying about what would have happened if I was no longer around. It was about me being numb to everyone and everything around me.
I had all the hopes and dreams and places I wanted to go. My life was nowhere near where I imagined it would be. I never wanted to be married and I never really thought about having kids. Then one day I decided that I wanted kids, that was 6 years ago. I haven't been able to have kids and all of a sudden it hit me, that I was going to have to get over that. So what if I don't have kids??? Dave is fine with us not having kids, or so he tells me. I know it is just to make me feel better because I saw the hurt in his eyes the one time I took a pregnancy test and had to tell him it was negative. So I laid there at night and would cry for no reason over things that were out of my control. Not just the not being able to have kids issue, but many many things clouded my thoughts.
Then last year on the 4th of July, I was able to go to Washington DC and see the fireworks by the Washington Monument. This made me realize that there was so much I wanted to do that I was missing out on. Why? Because I was lying around feeling sorry for myself playing the "woe is me" card all the time. I needed to find more things that made me happy, and quick.
Not only did I decide I wanted to live and be happy, I decided I was going to do all of the things I always wanted to do. Spending the 4th of July in DC, was always the number one thing I wanted to do before I died. I never did because I have issues with being around that many people and with the heat. Since I managed that, why couldn't I do the other things?
I was going to take photography lessons, I was going to go on a hot air balloon ride, and I was going to take tap dancing lessons. I couldn't find a photography class that interested me close enough to where I live. I figured I could do the hot air balloon ride at any time. I also really wanted and still want to get another tattoo, but I figured I could wait on that since I have yet to find the perfect version of what I want.
My friend Karmy is a dancer. I told her I always wanted to take tap dancing lessons. She said I should go for it and not to be worried about anything. She said that her dance studio was awesome and they had people there of all shapes and sizes and ages. I don't know why but those were the words I needed to hear. So in September I signed up for a teen/adult beginners class.
The first day of class I was so scared. Terrified even. I remember pacing in front of the studio and not knowing if I should go in. I did not want to be the only adult in the class so that made me more nervous than anything. So class was about to begin and I put my shoes on and walked in the room. I tried to hold my head up high. I really did. It was pretty discouraging to find out I was the only true beginner in the class. It really didn't matter though. Not to me. I was so determined to get through that first class that I ignored the other girls. Plus there was another girl my age so it made me feel a lot more comfortable. My teacher was so nice. She told me I should get better shoes though. Apparently I had bought the shoes that were more for little kids and not adults. She said I would feel a lot better and be able to hear my taps better if I had a better pair. So I went on ebay and managed to buy an 80 dollar pair of shoes for 26 bucks.
When time came for the teacher to ask us if we wanted to be in the spring recital, I said yes without even thinking. A few weeks went by and I really wondered what I had gotten myself into. I couldn't turn back. I had to do it. I told myself from the very beginning that if I was going to do this, I was going to go all out. I wasn't going to just go to class. I was going to prove to myself that being alive meant facing all of my fears. Even the fear of failure, and showing other people all my hard work.
Then came time for the recital practice on the stage. I couldn't smile. I just could not smile when I was up on that stage practicing. I was convinced that the "Niki Factor" would set in and I would fall off the stage or go in the wrong direction. I had bad dreams about this. The Friday night before my show we had dress rehearsal. I was more scared than ever but I wasn't going to show it. I told the stage manager that I was going to throw up. She told me not to be nervous that there was no doubt that I knew what I was doing. I guess hearing it from a complete stranger gave me guts. I went out and did it, and smiled. It was more of a nervous smile, a fake smile.
So Sunday came. Sunday June 5th to be exact. I stayed in the little room under the stage until it was time for my dance. I have never in my life been so scared, nervous, excited, and sick, at the same time. Before I knew it they were telling me I had to be "on deck" and that my dance was next.
......and then it really did happen. I wasn't smiling on stage because I had to anymore. Not right at that moment anyway. I was smiling because I was actually tap dancing on a stage. Maybe it wasn't a Broadway stage and there weren't a thousand people watching me, but it was a stage. I had so many friends show up to see me. I will forever be grateful for all of the love and support I felt leading up to that day. I cant even express how much it meant to me without crying. I wish my mom would have been able to be there. Part of me was dancing for her. I knew she would be proud no matter what though.
However, the most important thing I learned that day and through out this whole experience is that I made ME happy. I made ME proud. For the first time in a long time, I actually felt like if someone had pinched me, I would have felt it. Like is someone had cut me, I would have bled.............. I felt alive and felt like staying alive........... Just like the Bee Gees!!! hahahahahaha
Also, I have come to learn that I love tap so much, it does not matter if I ever get to do those other things. This is me, and I love it!!!!!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
100 Facts/Random Thoughts
A friend of mine posted a note on Facebook that was 100 facts about her. She tagged my husband in the note, but he wimped out after 30. So I decided that as my next blog, I would try and come up with 100 facts about myself. This is going to be challenging. Thanks Bobbi Jo for the idea.........
1. My full name is now Alexandra Nichole Leonardis. It sounds like I should be royalty. Seriously, it's a pretty awesome name even if it does suck when I have to spell it out and it takes forever.
2. Because of fact number one, my initials are now ANL.......make all the jokes you want
3. I have had more head injuries than anyone I know. It's very surprising that I am not in a mental hospital somewhere.
4. I have pretty much been employed since I was 12 years old. I started out cleaning and painting apartments for my mom. I was a better painter than any of the "professionals" she hired, and I could do a faster job. I was awesome at it and wish I could still be doing it. Unfortunately my back would never allow it.
5. I severely dislike the color yellow
6. I love the colors Red, White, and Blue.
7. Taking tap dancing lessons has opened up a side of me that I never knew existed.
8. I love my cats. They are my children and I don't care how weird that makes me. One of my cats was fed anti-freeze by a neighbor and he died. His name was Ditto and I will never forget the day I held him while the vet put him to sleep. April 3, 1999.
9. My 2 cats that I have now, are named Liberty and America. If my favorite colors are red, white, and blue, and these are my cats names, you can see the pattern.
10. I'm overly Patriotic.
11. My favorite day of the whole year, is the 4th of July. Id rather work on Christmas day than miss celebrating the 4th.
12. I cry pretty much every time I hear the Star Spangled Banner, unless it is being sung by someone who is trying to make it their own song.
13. I severely dislike it when people try to overdue the National Anthem. It makes my blood boil and I see red.
14. I have an older brother and a younger brother. This makes me the middle child and the only girl. yeah, you SHOULD feel sorry for me.
15. My birthday is 7/13. This is probably why weird things always happen to me.
16. I'm left handed. This is totally crazy because there is not a single person on either side of my family who is left handed other than me. As far as Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, Parents, Siblings, go anyway.....
17. I love to laugh, but I don't really like my laugh
18. Megan Fox's thumbs really creep me out.
19. I speak kitty
20. I didn't like my job at Circuit City, but if I had never worked there, then I wouldn't have the amazing group of friends that I have now.
21. I love bad jokes. Jokes that most people wouldn't even smile at, I find hysterical.
22. I still laugh when someone says fart, or poop. I don't care that it makes me immature.
23. I can't stand it when people are late. I have to be 15 minutes early for EVERYTHING otherwise I have a panic attack.
24. One of my husbands biggest pet peeves about me, is fact number 23. one of my biggest pet peeves about him is, he could be late for everything and not give a damn.
25. I guess that means we balance each other out. I love my husband. A LOT.
26. It really upsets me that he (my husband) is not a famous sports writer. He has more talent than pretty much any of the guys who are in ESPN or Sports Illustrated.
27. I do not like warm weather. Anything above 70 degrees is too hot for me. I get sick from the heat. I have had multiple migraines from being outside in the heat for too long. It's not pretty when I over heat.
28. I don't like wearing winter coats.
29. I wear flip flops all year long
30. I was in a singing and dancing group called Sunshine Generation when I was little.
31. I have type 2 diabetes
32. I don't like my legs. I don't mind winning calf offs with people, but I really don't like my legs. they are out of proportion with the rest of my body. Why can't my stomach be muscular too? and my arms? hello? stupid genetics.
33. I realized that Dave was right, I don't own any moves past the year 1999. It makes me a little sad, but also AWESOME
34. My new addiction is celebrity apprentice. Mainly because Garey Busey is on there and I find him to be totally amusing. He is the best train wreck ever.
35. My nephew is so freaking awesome. I love him and really wish I was able to see him more often.
36. When I was younger I had like 300 pictures of Jonathan Brandis on my wall. I wish I were lying about this. It was a little worse than being obsessed. I have no idea why my mom didn't have me committed for that. When he died, I really felt like a part of my childhood was gone, yet I never cried over it.
37. number 36 will probably cause my husband to make some sort of hanging joke, if he even reads this.
38. aside from Jonathan Brandis, my other childhood crushes were Patrick Swayze, River Phoenix, Robert Downey Jr., Johhny Depp, Jason Bateman, and Jeremy Piven......
39. I named my first cat Ditto because of the movie Ghost with Patrick Swayze
40. As much as I love being around people and meeting new people, sometimes I just wish I was alone.
41. I try to find something to laugh at every day.
42. I have been to more funerals than weddings. this fact is very sad for me
43. My great uncles had nicknames for me that today's society would probably find inappropriate. "nookie" and "shagnasty"
44. I love the t.v. show Arrested Development. It was only 3 seasons long and I still laugh when I watch it over and over again.
45. I have really bad luck with electronic devices. If there is a glitch with a phone or pretty much any other device, I will buy the one that has it. I went through 5 ipods, before deciding I needed to buy a zune. My zune broke within a few months. it just stopped working. I have been with at&t for like 4 years and have had at least 12 different phones..... the sad thing is, I don't drop them, get them wet, or abuse them. they just break
46. Everyone always says "count your blessings" "be thankful for what you have" why can't I be thankful for what I have and still want more? I am very thankful for my friends, family, and that I have a job.
47. That doesn't mean I can't want a better job.
48. I haven't found anything that I am really good at yet. My husband is a writer, I want to be able to be good at something as well.
49. If you are a dude who comes through my line at work and you are buying a package of tampons and Arbor Mist, the answer is YES, I am laughing at you when you leave. Actually I laugh hysterically at you when you leave.
50. I really do judge people by what groceries they buy. This may make me a horrible person, but after awhile you can't help it.
51. 99.9% of the people who get Government assistance, such as WIC or Food Stamps, abuse the system and don't need it. I know this for a fact because they usually pull out wads of hundred dollar bills to pay for their 40s and cigarettes. I'm not kidding. They also drive much nicer cars than you and I have. This makes me feel extra sorry for the old ladies who come in and are embarrassed when they have food stamps and don't know how to use the card. They need it. They're SS checks are getting smaller and smaller.
52. I realize that I am in debt and it is no one's fault but my own. I just wish I could catch a break and win 50 grand in the lottery.
53. I have severe sleep issues. I am lucky if I sleep 3 hours a night. This is why I am always so tired on my days off. I end up taking long naps when I don't have to work.
54. People who can't drive correctly, really piss me off. The ones who can't even follow the arrows in parking lots, really make me mad.
55. I am taking Body Combat and Power Yoga classes at my gym. If I ever get in a fight in the parking lot, I should win. No problem!!! I think about this when I see MOMOS driving around.
56. I watch way too much Walker, Texas Ranger. It's a sickness
57. I love movies that most critics would call "bad"
58. I love music. All kinds of music. I am not biased for one genre.
59. Because of my love for music I have a few issues with people who sing the wrong lyrics to a song, or try to re-make a good song, and ruin it. If you don't know the words, then DON'T SING THE SONG!!!!!!!!
60. I use the term MOMO too often. I even refer to some customers as momos without realizing it. oops!
61. I love football, hockey, baseball, and have recently become a big basketball fan.
62. I really hate it when I see girls wearing pink jerseys when pink is not a team color. I equally hate it when the said female is cheering for a team just because some hot guy is on the team. I love Peter Forsberg, but he is not the reason I love the Avalanche. I have been watching Hockey since I was a little girl. I'll be damned if some guy being attractive is going to make me cheer for that team. (I did start liking football because of Joe Montana, but I was like 11)
63. Also it is annoying when I am in a bar and some stupid girl wearing a pink jersey starts to cheer every time her team gets a first down. It's a good thing I have learned to control my anger.
64. During a Tennis match once I threatened to jump over the net and beat a girl with my racket. My awesome Tennis coach, Mr Gavato, told me "Niki, next time you threaten to do bodily harm to a person, make sure you aren't going to get caught." I miss him!!!
65. My friend Hannah and I found it to be very entertaining to drive around and flash people when we were younger. Well, I would flash, she would drive. I even stood up through her sunroof one time and flashed rush hour traffic......... that wasn't the smartest thing, but it was the ultimate flash!!!
66. I never had a head cold, sinus infection or any other type of "common cold" until I moved to VA.
67. Now I feel as if I am sick all the time........
68. Sometimes it's just fun to pop in a movie I have seen a million times and recite the entire film word for word.
69. I do not like Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt, yet these two are in a few of my favorite movies.
70. I have too much useless knowledge of music, movies, and television.
71. I love to sing. I was in some sort of choir for as long as I can remember until I was in the 9th grade and my teacher told me I was too loud and not good enough.
72. This lowered my self esteem enough so that I never tried any type of performing again until I started taking Tap lessons. I'm not bad at it either. F U Mr. Hugo!!!
73. I drive a 2005 Pontiac grand am GT
74. I hope my next vehicle will be a truck or some sort of SUV. I want my 1986 Blazer back!!!
75. I can relate pretty much everything in life to at least one episode of the t.v. show FRIENDS
76. My husband hates fact number 75
77. I don't care. I love FRIENDS and it helped me through many situations in my life
78. I don't like chocolate
79. I don't like soda/pop
80. One time I was standing under a tree and a bird crapped on my lip. Every since then, I hate standing by trees
81. I was hit in the face with a fly ball at a baseball game once and the guy that ended up catching the ball kept it. I have never forgiven him. (yeah, another head injury! what of it?)
82. I ran into a clothes line and the screw sticking out hit me right between the eyes. Blood started squirting out like in the movies. It was awesome.
83. I love the smell of rain and the sound of rain. In fact, I sleep soundly when it is raining out. I feel the same way about snow.
84. When I was younger my mom used to make us go Christmas Caroling every Christmas. I miss that now.
85. The name Mike Hunt makes me laugh.
86. I don't think his parents thought that name through
87. When I go out to eat I have to sit in a booth and my back has to be to the wall. I cant handle it when people can look at my back.
88. I love lemons and limes. I am surprised I have any enamel on my teeth
89. I am average height, but my husband insists that I am short. 5 foot 3 inches is not short.
90. I want to have a baby
91. I do not want Dave to be a part of the naming process, but of course I want him to be the father. Peeing Artist Leonardis, is not growing in my belly I don't care who thinks that name is funny
92. I never ever wanted to get married
93. I wish I had a really nice camera and could take awesome pictures. I love photography!
94. I want my husband to start liking "the arts". I wish I went to more plays and musicals and art museums and such
95. I love buying cleaning supplies. I love cleaning. I just wish my back liked it too.
96. I can't stand shady secretive people. If you have something to say, then say it!!!
97. I get extremely defensive when being criticized. I can't help it. I hate it when I do something wrong, or something that other's perceive as being wrong.
98. My friend Sean Kerin told me that an old guy at a Nascar event once told him "there are 2 types of people in this world: Journey fans, and Liars." I now believe there is a third kind of person: Those who have never heard of Journey. I cry for this last type of person. I have a feeling there is a whole generation of young people who are not going to appreciate Journey. I blame Justin Beiber!!!!! That little mopped haired bastard is ruining music. Well, him and Miley Cyrus and Rebecca Black!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
99. I really want a second tattoo. This time I am getting the sheet music of The Star Spangled Banner somewhere on my body. I haven't decided where or how I want it to look. When I do, watch out world, cause it is happening
100. It was not easy in any way shape or form to come up with these 100 things. I am sure that as soon as I post this blog, I will think of 20 more things. That is just how my mind operates.
1. My full name is now Alexandra Nichole Leonardis. It sounds like I should be royalty. Seriously, it's a pretty awesome name even if it does suck when I have to spell it out and it takes forever.
2. Because of fact number one, my initials are now ANL.......make all the jokes you want
3. I have had more head injuries than anyone I know. It's very surprising that I am not in a mental hospital somewhere.
4. I have pretty much been employed since I was 12 years old. I started out cleaning and painting apartments for my mom. I was a better painter than any of the "professionals" she hired, and I could do a faster job. I was awesome at it and wish I could still be doing it. Unfortunately my back would never allow it.
5. I severely dislike the color yellow
6. I love the colors Red, White, and Blue.
7. Taking tap dancing lessons has opened up a side of me that I never knew existed.
8. I love my cats. They are my children and I don't care how weird that makes me. One of my cats was fed anti-freeze by a neighbor and he died. His name was Ditto and I will never forget the day I held him while the vet put him to sleep. April 3, 1999.
9. My 2 cats that I have now, are named Liberty and America. If my favorite colors are red, white, and blue, and these are my cats names, you can see the pattern.
10. I'm overly Patriotic.
11. My favorite day of the whole year, is the 4th of July. Id rather work on Christmas day than miss celebrating the 4th.
12. I cry pretty much every time I hear the Star Spangled Banner, unless it is being sung by someone who is trying to make it their own song.
13. I severely dislike it when people try to overdue the National Anthem. It makes my blood boil and I see red.
14. I have an older brother and a younger brother. This makes me the middle child and the only girl. yeah, you SHOULD feel sorry for me.
15. My birthday is 7/13. This is probably why weird things always happen to me.
16. I'm left handed. This is totally crazy because there is not a single person on either side of my family who is left handed other than me. As far as Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, Parents, Siblings, go anyway.....
17. I love to laugh, but I don't really like my laugh
18. Megan Fox's thumbs really creep me out.
19. I speak kitty
20. I didn't like my job at Circuit City, but if I had never worked there, then I wouldn't have the amazing group of friends that I have now.
21. I love bad jokes. Jokes that most people wouldn't even smile at, I find hysterical.
22. I still laugh when someone says fart, or poop. I don't care that it makes me immature.
23. I can't stand it when people are late. I have to be 15 minutes early for EVERYTHING otherwise I have a panic attack.
24. One of my husbands biggest pet peeves about me, is fact number 23. one of my biggest pet peeves about him is, he could be late for everything and not give a damn.
25. I guess that means we balance each other out. I love my husband. A LOT.
26. It really upsets me that he (my husband) is not a famous sports writer. He has more talent than pretty much any of the guys who are in ESPN or Sports Illustrated.
27. I do not like warm weather. Anything above 70 degrees is too hot for me. I get sick from the heat. I have had multiple migraines from being outside in the heat for too long. It's not pretty when I over heat.
28. I don't like wearing winter coats.
29. I wear flip flops all year long
30. I was in a singing and dancing group called Sunshine Generation when I was little.
31. I have type 2 diabetes
32. I don't like my legs. I don't mind winning calf offs with people, but I really don't like my legs. they are out of proportion with the rest of my body. Why can't my stomach be muscular too? and my arms? hello? stupid genetics.
33. I realized that Dave was right, I don't own any moves past the year 1999. It makes me a little sad, but also AWESOME
34. My new addiction is celebrity apprentice. Mainly because Garey Busey is on there and I find him to be totally amusing. He is the best train wreck ever.
35. My nephew is so freaking awesome. I love him and really wish I was able to see him more often.
36. When I was younger I had like 300 pictures of Jonathan Brandis on my wall. I wish I were lying about this. It was a little worse than being obsessed. I have no idea why my mom didn't have me committed for that. When he died, I really felt like a part of my childhood was gone, yet I never cried over it.
37. number 36 will probably cause my husband to make some sort of hanging joke, if he even reads this.
38. aside from Jonathan Brandis, my other childhood crushes were Patrick Swayze, River Phoenix, Robert Downey Jr., Johhny Depp, Jason Bateman, and Jeremy Piven......
39. I named my first cat Ditto because of the movie Ghost with Patrick Swayze
40. As much as I love being around people and meeting new people, sometimes I just wish I was alone.
41. I try to find something to laugh at every day.
42. I have been to more funerals than weddings. this fact is very sad for me
43. My great uncles had nicknames for me that today's society would probably find inappropriate. "nookie" and "shagnasty"
44. I love the t.v. show Arrested Development. It was only 3 seasons long and I still laugh when I watch it over and over again.
45. I have really bad luck with electronic devices. If there is a glitch with a phone or pretty much any other device, I will buy the one that has it. I went through 5 ipods, before deciding I needed to buy a zune. My zune broke within a few months. it just stopped working. I have been with at&t for like 4 years and have had at least 12 different phones..... the sad thing is, I don't drop them, get them wet, or abuse them. they just break
46. Everyone always says "count your blessings" "be thankful for what you have" why can't I be thankful for what I have and still want more? I am very thankful for my friends, family, and that I have a job.
47. That doesn't mean I can't want a better job.
48. I haven't found anything that I am really good at yet. My husband is a writer, I want to be able to be good at something as well.
49. If you are a dude who comes through my line at work and you are buying a package of tampons and Arbor Mist, the answer is YES, I am laughing at you when you leave. Actually I laugh hysterically at you when you leave.
50. I really do judge people by what groceries they buy. This may make me a horrible person, but after awhile you can't help it.
51. 99.9% of the people who get Government assistance, such as WIC or Food Stamps, abuse the system and don't need it. I know this for a fact because they usually pull out wads of hundred dollar bills to pay for their 40s and cigarettes. I'm not kidding. They also drive much nicer cars than you and I have. This makes me feel extra sorry for the old ladies who come in and are embarrassed when they have food stamps and don't know how to use the card. They need it. They're SS checks are getting smaller and smaller.
52. I realize that I am in debt and it is no one's fault but my own. I just wish I could catch a break and win 50 grand in the lottery.
53. I have severe sleep issues. I am lucky if I sleep 3 hours a night. This is why I am always so tired on my days off. I end up taking long naps when I don't have to work.
54. People who can't drive correctly, really piss me off. The ones who can't even follow the arrows in parking lots, really make me mad.
55. I am taking Body Combat and Power Yoga classes at my gym. If I ever get in a fight in the parking lot, I should win. No problem!!! I think about this when I see MOMOS driving around.
56. I watch way too much Walker, Texas Ranger. It's a sickness
57. I love movies that most critics would call "bad"
58. I love music. All kinds of music. I am not biased for one genre.
59. Because of my love for music I have a few issues with people who sing the wrong lyrics to a song, or try to re-make a good song, and ruin it. If you don't know the words, then DON'T SING THE SONG!!!!!!!!
60. I use the term MOMO too often. I even refer to some customers as momos without realizing it. oops!
61. I love football, hockey, baseball, and have recently become a big basketball fan.
62. I really hate it when I see girls wearing pink jerseys when pink is not a team color. I equally hate it when the said female is cheering for a team just because some hot guy is on the team. I love Peter Forsberg, but he is not the reason I love the Avalanche. I have been watching Hockey since I was a little girl. I'll be damned if some guy being attractive is going to make me cheer for that team. (I did start liking football because of Joe Montana, but I was like 11)
63. Also it is annoying when I am in a bar and some stupid girl wearing a pink jersey starts to cheer every time her team gets a first down. It's a good thing I have learned to control my anger.
64. During a Tennis match once I threatened to jump over the net and beat a girl with my racket. My awesome Tennis coach, Mr Gavato, told me "Niki, next time you threaten to do bodily harm to a person, make sure you aren't going to get caught." I miss him!!!
65. My friend Hannah and I found it to be very entertaining to drive around and flash people when we were younger. Well, I would flash, she would drive. I even stood up through her sunroof one time and flashed rush hour traffic......... that wasn't the smartest thing, but it was the ultimate flash!!!
66. I never had a head cold, sinus infection or any other type of "common cold" until I moved to VA.
67. Now I feel as if I am sick all the time........
68. Sometimes it's just fun to pop in a movie I have seen a million times and recite the entire film word for word.
69. I do not like Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt, yet these two are in a few of my favorite movies.
70. I have too much useless knowledge of music, movies, and television.
71. I love to sing. I was in some sort of choir for as long as I can remember until I was in the 9th grade and my teacher told me I was too loud and not good enough.
72. This lowered my self esteem enough so that I never tried any type of performing again until I started taking Tap lessons. I'm not bad at it either. F U Mr. Hugo!!!
73. I drive a 2005 Pontiac grand am GT
74. I hope my next vehicle will be a truck or some sort of SUV. I want my 1986 Blazer back!!!
75. I can relate pretty much everything in life to at least one episode of the t.v. show FRIENDS
76. My husband hates fact number 75
77. I don't care. I love FRIENDS and it helped me through many situations in my life
78. I don't like chocolate
79. I don't like soda/pop
80. One time I was standing under a tree and a bird crapped on my lip. Every since then, I hate standing by trees
81. I was hit in the face with a fly ball at a baseball game once and the guy that ended up catching the ball kept it. I have never forgiven him. (yeah, another head injury! what of it?)
82. I ran into a clothes line and the screw sticking out hit me right between the eyes. Blood started squirting out like in the movies. It was awesome.
83. I love the smell of rain and the sound of rain. In fact, I sleep soundly when it is raining out. I feel the same way about snow.
84. When I was younger my mom used to make us go Christmas Caroling every Christmas. I miss that now.
85. The name Mike Hunt makes me laugh.
86. I don't think his parents thought that name through
87. When I go out to eat I have to sit in a booth and my back has to be to the wall. I cant handle it when people can look at my back.
88. I love lemons and limes. I am surprised I have any enamel on my teeth
89. I am average height, but my husband insists that I am short. 5 foot 3 inches is not short.
90. I want to have a baby
91. I do not want Dave to be a part of the naming process, but of course I want him to be the father. Peeing Artist Leonardis, is not growing in my belly I don't care who thinks that name is funny
92. I never ever wanted to get married
93. I wish I had a really nice camera and could take awesome pictures. I love photography!
94. I want my husband to start liking "the arts". I wish I went to more plays and musicals and art museums and such
95. I love buying cleaning supplies. I love cleaning. I just wish my back liked it too.
96. I can't stand shady secretive people. If you have something to say, then say it!!!
97. I get extremely defensive when being criticized. I can't help it. I hate it when I do something wrong, or something that other's perceive as being wrong.
98. My friend Sean Kerin told me that an old guy at a Nascar event once told him "there are 2 types of people in this world: Journey fans, and Liars." I now believe there is a third kind of person: Those who have never heard of Journey. I cry for this last type of person. I have a feeling there is a whole generation of young people who are not going to appreciate Journey. I blame Justin Beiber!!!!! That little mopped haired bastard is ruining music. Well, him and Miley Cyrus and Rebecca Black!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
99. I really want a second tattoo. This time I am getting the sheet music of The Star Spangled Banner somewhere on my body. I haven't decided where or how I want it to look. When I do, watch out world, cause it is happening
100. It was not easy in any way shape or form to come up with these 100 things. I am sure that as soon as I post this blog, I will think of 20 more things. That is just how my mind operates.
Friday, March 11, 2011
The First Amendment
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances
This is the first amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America. I believe in this wholeheartedly, as I believe in the rest of the Constitution. I love this crazy, messed up, country that I live in and am glad I was not born anywhere else.
On Facebook recently many people have had this as their status:
So the US Supreme Court has ruled that you have the right under the First Amendment to protest military funerals. I invite you to start your protest in my front yard and we can see if your First amendment is better than my Second Amendment. Feel free to re-post if you feel the same.
Now lets think about this for a minute. Is it really smart to pit one amendment against another? The whole reason for the amendments is so that we can supposedly live in a more peaceful country. The amendments where made in hopes of the Constitution always being relevant and people to be able to live peacefully in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Unfortunately, very unfortunately, the Court made the right decision. People should be allowed to protest. No matter what it is, they should be allowed to peacefully protest. Whether it be at O.J. Simpson's trial, abortion clinics, Gay rights rallies, even Military funerals. It is part of our rights as US citizens. Even though we do not always agree with what the other side is saying or how they feel, they have a right to say it and feel it.
However, The Supreme Court completely ignored a small, yet very important part of the entire amendment. THE RIGHT TO PEACEABLY ASSEMBLE!
You see when those people are protesting at military funerals, there is nothing peaceful about it. They yell, scream, throw things, start fights, and are pretty much just being horrible people. If all the people where doing was standing outside the gates of the cemetary and holding up signs, that would be one thing. Those people don't just stand outside the gates though. I am wondering if one of the justices had a family member in the military that died, how would they feel about someone screaming and throwing things at them as they are trying to lay their loved one to rest??? I know that if I were ever at a military funeral and someone started screaming at me about my family member, I would probably go to jail. There is not a doubt in my mind that if those protesters were at my Uncle Joe's funeral, I would still be in jail to this day.
So the next question is, where exactly do you draw the line? When do authorities step in and say, "hey, this person died for you to have the right to protest, we are not going to let you trample on their grave!"? What happens when the people who are protesting the protesters start showing up? This could get really ugly, really fast. I would never want the Supreme Court to go against the Constitution, but I do think that there may need to be an amendment to the amendments. I mean the people who wrote the constitution, did so in a way to make it adaptable for many many years to come. Here we are almost 235 years later and we still refer to it on a daily basis. We still rely on it when our country goes to war, picks a president, has questions about a citizens rights!! Hell yes we should have freedom of speech, hell yes we should be able to own guns! Those people and many people like them should be able to protest and state their ignorant view all they want. They should not, however, be allowed to trample on the very reason why they are able to express their stupidity. We can't make an exception for military funerals. We should be able to enforce the "peaceably" part of the amendment though.
What if, just what if we make a new amendment?? One that states, "Once you stop being peaceful, once you yell and scream and throw things, you are no longer allowed to express your first amendment right. Your organization will be shut down. You have given up your right!". No more military funeral protests, no more KKK rallies, no more standing outside of court rooms yelling about homosexuality being wrong.
My point is this: Did the Supreme Court make the right decision? Yes. Did they ignore a key part of the first amendment by allowing the people to protest at military funerals? Yes. They have been ignoring this key element for many many years. I really think that once you stop being peaceful while protesting, you have given up your first amendment right.
Just to clarify I DO NOT IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM AGREE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO PROTEST MILITARY FUNERALS!!!!!! I AGREE WITH THEIR RIGHT TO DO SO AS LONG AS IT IS PEACEFUL AND THEY REMAIN A GOOD DISTANCE AWAY FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN MOURNING!!!!
As John Lennon once said, "all we are saying, is give peace a chance."
This is the first amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America. I believe in this wholeheartedly, as I believe in the rest of the Constitution. I love this crazy, messed up, country that I live in and am glad I was not born anywhere else.
On Facebook recently many people have had this as their status:
So the US Supreme Court has ruled that you have the right under the First Amendment to protest military funerals. I invite you to start your protest in my front yard and we can see if your First amendment is better than my Second Amendment. Feel free to re-post if you feel the same.
Now lets think about this for a minute. Is it really smart to pit one amendment against another? The whole reason for the amendments is so that we can supposedly live in a more peaceful country. The amendments where made in hopes of the Constitution always being relevant and people to be able to live peacefully in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Unfortunately, very unfortunately, the Court made the right decision. People should be allowed to protest. No matter what it is, they should be allowed to peacefully protest. Whether it be at O.J. Simpson's trial, abortion clinics, Gay rights rallies, even Military funerals. It is part of our rights as US citizens. Even though we do not always agree with what the other side is saying or how they feel, they have a right to say it and feel it.
However, The Supreme Court completely ignored a small, yet very important part of the entire amendment. THE RIGHT TO PEACEABLY ASSEMBLE!
You see when those people are protesting at military funerals, there is nothing peaceful about it. They yell, scream, throw things, start fights, and are pretty much just being horrible people. If all the people where doing was standing outside the gates of the cemetary and holding up signs, that would be one thing. Those people don't just stand outside the gates though. I am wondering if one of the justices had a family member in the military that died, how would they feel about someone screaming and throwing things at them as they are trying to lay their loved one to rest??? I know that if I were ever at a military funeral and someone started screaming at me about my family member, I would probably go to jail. There is not a doubt in my mind that if those protesters were at my Uncle Joe's funeral, I would still be in jail to this day.
So the next question is, where exactly do you draw the line? When do authorities step in and say, "hey, this person died for you to have the right to protest, we are not going to let you trample on their grave!"? What happens when the people who are protesting the protesters start showing up? This could get really ugly, really fast. I would never want the Supreme Court to go against the Constitution, but I do think that there may need to be an amendment to the amendments. I mean the people who wrote the constitution, did so in a way to make it adaptable for many many years to come. Here we are almost 235 years later and we still refer to it on a daily basis. We still rely on it when our country goes to war, picks a president, has questions about a citizens rights!! Hell yes we should have freedom of speech, hell yes we should be able to own guns! Those people and many people like them should be able to protest and state their ignorant view all they want. They should not, however, be allowed to trample on the very reason why they are able to express their stupidity. We can't make an exception for military funerals. We should be able to enforce the "peaceably" part of the amendment though.
What if, just what if we make a new amendment?? One that states, "Once you stop being peaceful, once you yell and scream and throw things, you are no longer allowed to express your first amendment right. Your organization will be shut down. You have given up your right!". No more military funeral protests, no more KKK rallies, no more standing outside of court rooms yelling about homosexuality being wrong.
My point is this: Did the Supreme Court make the right decision? Yes. Did they ignore a key part of the first amendment by allowing the people to protest at military funerals? Yes. They have been ignoring this key element for many many years. I really think that once you stop being peaceful while protesting, you have given up your first amendment right.
Just to clarify I DO NOT IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM AGREE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO PROTEST MILITARY FUNERALS!!!!!! I AGREE WITH THEIR RIGHT TO DO SO AS LONG AS IT IS PEACEFUL AND THEY REMAIN A GOOD DISTANCE AWAY FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN MOURNING!!!!
As John Lennon once said, "all we are saying, is give peace a chance."
Friday, February 18, 2011
Thanks for the potty mouth Uncle Vince
The story of how I came into this world is quite funny. Mom woke up at 5 in the morning with contractions that were 3 minutes apart. By 8 o'clock her water had broken and she found out I was supposed to have been a twin. By 830 I had popped out so fast I almost fell on the floor. The Dr literally ran into the room put one glove on and grabbed a paper towel. There I was, a bundle of joy that my mom didn't want. (She wanted 3 boys and instead had 2 boys and me!) That is another blog, for another day. This blog, is the story of a girl and her Uncle.
When I was very little, even before I started talking, my Uncle Vince came to live with us. Uncle Vince was married to my mom's sister Ruth Anne. I never called her Ruth so from now on in this story she will be Aunt Annie. Anyway, Uncle Vince came to live with us for awhile.
You see, Uncle Vince was in construction. For as long as I can remember that is what he has been doing.The man is nearly 80 years old and still does one form of construction work or another. He had a bedroom in the basement of our house and was gone way before we woke up in the mornings and usually got home way after we were supposed to be in bed.
Uncle Vince and I share a love for many things. We both love history, we are both fiercely patriotic, and we have never been able to turn down Pancakes or Spaghetti.
So uncle Vince would leave in the morning and when he got home at night, even though I was supposed to be in bed, I would get to stay up with him. Mom said that I would eat a second time just so I could sit with him.
Then one day Uncle Vince broke his leg. I have no idea how and am not sure how long, but he had to stay home from work.
Uncle Vince was/is the biggest work-aholic I have ever known. (The only person who comes close is my father-in-law Steve, who works 365 days a year. I wish I were lying about that.) So Uncle Vince having to stay home was kind of a big deal. He must have talked to me a lot, even knowing I couldn't talk back. Yet. There are even pictures of me sleeping on Uncle Vince's chest with his leg propped up. One of his favorite stories that he tells anyone who will listen is when I fell asleep on his chest and decided that I needed to roll over. As I started rolling off the couch, he says he broke his leg again trying to catch me. If you are ever lucky enough to meet Uncle Vince, have him tell you the story. It is hilarious and filled with expletives. Which most of his stories are.......
Which brings me to the next story. You see, I spent more time with Uncle Vince than most anyone, and I guess talking to me was good for him, cause I never interrupted and apparently paid very close attention. One day I was in my walker helping mom with the dishes. I believe I dropped a plate or something, the first words out of my mouth were "Son of a Bitch"! Not so sure mom was happy about it then, but it makes her laugh now. Oh and I should probably mention those were my first words, ever. The only problem is, after those words, I never stopped talking. She said that after I would say something, that I obviously heard from Uncle Vince, I would look at her and say "don't say that Mom??".
Uncle Vince lived with us for a few years. I remember playing in the basement and always being told to not go in his room. Uncle Vince had blue prints for houses everywhere. It looked more like a work room than a bedroom, who knows maybe it was a work room. I am going from the memory of a four year old so my story may be a little choppy.
One day my little brother, Bubba, decided to go in Uncle Vince's room and play with matches. You can imagine how dangerous this situation was given all the papers in the room. He started a fire and ran out of the room crying. Me and my older brother thought that little Tupperware cups that we were playing with, would suffice to put out the fire. We did manage to get the fire out, but not before some major damage was done to the blue prints. We had to tell our father, who was still around at the time, and he was not pleased. I remember him spanking me and sending me to my room. I should have came and got him right away, he said. I never should have tried to put the fire out by myself. We all got in trouble. I'm sure my little brother got the worst of it, but honestly I was more worried about what Uncle Vince would say.
You see, even then, I cared more about what Uncle Vince thought about me, then anyone else in my life. In the end he was pretty pissed off. There was definitely a slew of curse words uttered. Then, very calmly he said he was glad no one got hurt and it wasn't worse than it was. I'm pretty sure he forgave us, but he tells this story to anyone who will listen as well.
So eventually Uncle Vince went back to live with Aunt Annie. Of course we saw both of them a lot. I loved going over to their place and just sitting next to Uncle Vince and listening to his stories. I seriously have spent hours transfixed on his every word. He has amazing stories about being in the military and fighting over seas. He would tell me about the books he was reading. To me, its always more interesting to hear Uncle Vince's take on the book, then to read it myself. He did manage to convince me I should read Mein Kampf.
Then Aunt Annie got sick.
She had cancer and it wasn't pretty. I took her to a few of her chemotherapy appointments. Those were some pretty tough days. Soon Aunt Annie was in a hospice.
One day, mom got a phone call from the hospice. Aunt Annie wasn't doing very well and the family should probably get there asap. The immediate family was at a wedding for one of Aunt Annie and Uncle Vince's daughters. So I went with mom to Aunt Annie's bed side. It was the summer that I graduated from high school and I had just turned 18. I had been to many funerals, but had never seen someone pass away. How does one prepare for that? I mean, you see it in movies, on t.v., you hear about it from other people, but you just don't know, until you experience it for yourself.
Aunt Annie wasn't breathing very well and although her eyes were open, you could tell that she wasn't really there. Mom bent down and started hugging her. She kept saying "it's ok, you can go. We all love you. you can go." Over and over again my mom said these words. I just stood there and did the only thing I knew to do, I grabbed her hand and held on and rubbed her arm. I just kept saying the same things that mom was saying. Then she was gone................
The first thing I could hear myself saying to my mom was, "oh god, Uncle Vince". We stayed until everyone got to the hospice, it was really weird being in the room with my Aunt for such a long time. Then everyone was in and out of the room and the next few days were such a blur. Mom says there is a reason her and I were the ones there on that day. I don't know what to believe. I just know that I was more worried about my Uncle than anyone else.
You could tell that a huge chunk of him was missing. I'd never seen him cry until then. I remember hugging him, and knowing that all he wanted was to see her one last time. ugggghhhhh I can't think about that day without feeling horrible. It's a terrible thing to say, but I felt worse for my Uncle than I did for my Aunt. She was the epitome of a person suffering from cancer. She was a mere shell of her former self and in the end she was literally dying from pain and suffering. My Uncle looked as if he was going to die from a broken heart. I'd never looked at Uncle Vince and noticed how tiny he was, until the day of my Aunt's funeral.
Not long after Aunt Annie's funeral, I moved to Virginia. I went home the following year to visit and of course had spaghetti dinner with Uncle Vince. He seemed to be doing much better and was still working. He told me the same stories and asked how I was doing.
A couple of years later I came home and Uncle Vince met the man who would eventually become my husband. He gave Dave the same speech he gives any many who come into the life of a woman in his life. "hurt her, and I'll hurt you." Only Uncle Vince's threat also included nailing Dave's nuts the the floor of a tool shed...... yeah he doesn't hold back much. I had spaghetti dinner with him that time as well. Every time I come home to Colorado I have spaghetti dinner with Uncle Vince. I sit next to him, I listen to him tell me stories, and I always ask him about the time he broke his leg catching me fall. It never gets old. I don't care that he tells me the same stories over and over again. I will never tell him I heard them before.
I even called Uncle Vince to tell him I was getting married. He sounded a little dissapointed that I wouldn't be coming home and having a big wedding, but he knows I am not like the other women in his family. He knows I am stubborn and head strong and need to do things my way. He also knows that he is one of the few people I would have wanted at my wedding had I actually gone home to have it.
I don't feel like I have to call Uncle Vince often, or write to him. I am sure he knows how often I think of him because I know he thinks of me often. We just have that kind of a bond. Too everyone else I am his Niece, but to Uncle Vince I'm "his Nichole"!
This year I am planning on going to Colorado for the first time in 6 years. I know I will see Uncle Vince and I know we will have spaghetti dinner. I also know that he will tell me stories and talk to me for hours. This, above all else, is what I am looking forward to. I love Nichole/Uncle Vince time. I love my mom and my brothers, and my daddy very much. I love my nephew more than words can say. I am looking forward to seeing many old friends. However, when I see Uncle Vince, I will know that I am home.
When I was very little, even before I started talking, my Uncle Vince came to live with us. Uncle Vince was married to my mom's sister Ruth Anne. I never called her Ruth so from now on in this story she will be Aunt Annie. Anyway, Uncle Vince came to live with us for awhile.
You see, Uncle Vince was in construction. For as long as I can remember that is what he has been doing.The man is nearly 80 years old and still does one form of construction work or another. He had a bedroom in the basement of our house and was gone way before we woke up in the mornings and usually got home way after we were supposed to be in bed.
Uncle Vince and I share a love for many things. We both love history, we are both fiercely patriotic, and we have never been able to turn down Pancakes or Spaghetti.
So uncle Vince would leave in the morning and when he got home at night, even though I was supposed to be in bed, I would get to stay up with him. Mom said that I would eat a second time just so I could sit with him.
Then one day Uncle Vince broke his leg. I have no idea how and am not sure how long, but he had to stay home from work.
Uncle Vince was/is the biggest work-aholic I have ever known. (The only person who comes close is my father-in-law Steve, who works 365 days a year. I wish I were lying about that.) So Uncle Vince having to stay home was kind of a big deal. He must have talked to me a lot, even knowing I couldn't talk back. Yet. There are even pictures of me sleeping on Uncle Vince's chest with his leg propped up. One of his favorite stories that he tells anyone who will listen is when I fell asleep on his chest and decided that I needed to roll over. As I started rolling off the couch, he says he broke his leg again trying to catch me. If you are ever lucky enough to meet Uncle Vince, have him tell you the story. It is hilarious and filled with expletives. Which most of his stories are.......
Which brings me to the next story. You see, I spent more time with Uncle Vince than most anyone, and I guess talking to me was good for him, cause I never interrupted and apparently paid very close attention. One day I was in my walker helping mom with the dishes. I believe I dropped a plate or something, the first words out of my mouth were "Son of a Bitch"! Not so sure mom was happy about it then, but it makes her laugh now. Oh and I should probably mention those were my first words, ever. The only problem is, after those words, I never stopped talking. She said that after I would say something, that I obviously heard from Uncle Vince, I would look at her and say "don't say that Mom??".
Uncle Vince lived with us for a few years. I remember playing in the basement and always being told to not go in his room. Uncle Vince had blue prints for houses everywhere. It looked more like a work room than a bedroom, who knows maybe it was a work room. I am going from the memory of a four year old so my story may be a little choppy.
One day my little brother, Bubba, decided to go in Uncle Vince's room and play with matches. You can imagine how dangerous this situation was given all the papers in the room. He started a fire and ran out of the room crying. Me and my older brother thought that little Tupperware cups that we were playing with, would suffice to put out the fire. We did manage to get the fire out, but not before some major damage was done to the blue prints. We had to tell our father, who was still around at the time, and he was not pleased. I remember him spanking me and sending me to my room. I should have came and got him right away, he said. I never should have tried to put the fire out by myself. We all got in trouble. I'm sure my little brother got the worst of it, but honestly I was more worried about what Uncle Vince would say.
You see, even then, I cared more about what Uncle Vince thought about me, then anyone else in my life. In the end he was pretty pissed off. There was definitely a slew of curse words uttered. Then, very calmly he said he was glad no one got hurt and it wasn't worse than it was. I'm pretty sure he forgave us, but he tells this story to anyone who will listen as well.
So eventually Uncle Vince went back to live with Aunt Annie. Of course we saw both of them a lot. I loved going over to their place and just sitting next to Uncle Vince and listening to his stories. I seriously have spent hours transfixed on his every word. He has amazing stories about being in the military and fighting over seas. He would tell me about the books he was reading. To me, its always more interesting to hear Uncle Vince's take on the book, then to read it myself. He did manage to convince me I should read Mein Kampf.
Then Aunt Annie got sick.
She had cancer and it wasn't pretty. I took her to a few of her chemotherapy appointments. Those were some pretty tough days. Soon Aunt Annie was in a hospice.
One day, mom got a phone call from the hospice. Aunt Annie wasn't doing very well and the family should probably get there asap. The immediate family was at a wedding for one of Aunt Annie and Uncle Vince's daughters. So I went with mom to Aunt Annie's bed side. It was the summer that I graduated from high school and I had just turned 18. I had been to many funerals, but had never seen someone pass away. How does one prepare for that? I mean, you see it in movies, on t.v., you hear about it from other people, but you just don't know, until you experience it for yourself.
Aunt Annie wasn't breathing very well and although her eyes were open, you could tell that she wasn't really there. Mom bent down and started hugging her. She kept saying "it's ok, you can go. We all love you. you can go." Over and over again my mom said these words. I just stood there and did the only thing I knew to do, I grabbed her hand and held on and rubbed her arm. I just kept saying the same things that mom was saying. Then she was gone................
The first thing I could hear myself saying to my mom was, "oh god, Uncle Vince". We stayed until everyone got to the hospice, it was really weird being in the room with my Aunt for such a long time. Then everyone was in and out of the room and the next few days were such a blur. Mom says there is a reason her and I were the ones there on that day. I don't know what to believe. I just know that I was more worried about my Uncle than anyone else.
You could tell that a huge chunk of him was missing. I'd never seen him cry until then. I remember hugging him, and knowing that all he wanted was to see her one last time. ugggghhhhh I can't think about that day without feeling horrible. It's a terrible thing to say, but I felt worse for my Uncle than I did for my Aunt. She was the epitome of a person suffering from cancer. She was a mere shell of her former self and in the end she was literally dying from pain and suffering. My Uncle looked as if he was going to die from a broken heart. I'd never looked at Uncle Vince and noticed how tiny he was, until the day of my Aunt's funeral.
Not long after Aunt Annie's funeral, I moved to Virginia. I went home the following year to visit and of course had spaghetti dinner with Uncle Vince. He seemed to be doing much better and was still working. He told me the same stories and asked how I was doing.
A couple of years later I came home and Uncle Vince met the man who would eventually become my husband. He gave Dave the same speech he gives any many who come into the life of a woman in his life. "hurt her, and I'll hurt you." Only Uncle Vince's threat also included nailing Dave's nuts the the floor of a tool shed...... yeah he doesn't hold back much. I had spaghetti dinner with him that time as well. Every time I come home to Colorado I have spaghetti dinner with Uncle Vince. I sit next to him, I listen to him tell me stories, and I always ask him about the time he broke his leg catching me fall. It never gets old. I don't care that he tells me the same stories over and over again. I will never tell him I heard them before.
I even called Uncle Vince to tell him I was getting married. He sounded a little dissapointed that I wouldn't be coming home and having a big wedding, but he knows I am not like the other women in his family. He knows I am stubborn and head strong and need to do things my way. He also knows that he is one of the few people I would have wanted at my wedding had I actually gone home to have it.
I don't feel like I have to call Uncle Vince often, or write to him. I am sure he knows how often I think of him because I know he thinks of me often. We just have that kind of a bond. Too everyone else I am his Niece, but to Uncle Vince I'm "his Nichole"!
This year I am planning on going to Colorado for the first time in 6 years. I know I will see Uncle Vince and I know we will have spaghetti dinner. I also know that he will tell me stories and talk to me for hours. This, above all else, is what I am looking forward to. I love Nichole/Uncle Vince time. I love my mom and my brothers, and my daddy very much. I love my nephew more than words can say. I am looking forward to seeing many old friends. However, when I see Uncle Vince, I will know that I am home.
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