life is good

as my 26th year comes to an end..and my 27th is fixing to kick off, I can't help but feel so grateful. After telling my dad about the surprise party thrown for me for the second year in a row, i made some rash comment that i thought my best friend enjoyed throwing surprises more than I liked receiving them, but my dad called my bluff. His response: "Ashley loves you so much, she'd do anything and everything she could think of that would make you happy and she knows you well. Having people show you that you are special to them makes you happy- so you do like surprises." True words. I feel that way about everyone that showed up on a Thursday night to a random Karaoke bar to celebrate my life. I have great friends. 

Also things that make me happy:

My boyfriend is super thoughtful and is great at encouraging me. He also continues to amaze me by his kindness and respect for others.

My college friend Nick who also spent a year teaching in Korea with me is getting married next Saturday and I get to witness it! 

I get to go to London approximately 42 days...and I get to share it with an awesome group of students and my best friend!

My brother called me out of the blue today and shared crazy intimate details of his life with me....a first for us and it was special to me.

I get to see my boyfriend in a tux tomorrow.

My roommate is really supportive of me...

Life. is. good. 

The Mundane Report

It has been a crazy past 2 and a half months and counting...

as coincidence would have it, love was in the air on Valentine's and we have been inseparable ever since.

my mom's mom passed away two weeks after her 90th birthday in March...i'm glad i got to see her one last time (my mom and her three bros have, as a result, acquired an INSANE inheritance)

my dad's dad turned 90 in April

my cousin came to visit me as she traveled to re-locate to Florida from Ohio- the 8th time I've ever seen her in my life...

my J.O.B. is working me mental

i'm going to NYC next weekend (pending the health status of a family member)

my mom and i are getting tattoos together on Mother's Day- not matching tattoos, just a little mother/daughter outing...

I'm going to London for 11 days at the end of July- WHOA HOOOO!

I'm turning 27 in 5 weeks...crazy...time flies when you're having fun!

I'm looking forward to the future!

I promise something much more substantial in the weeks to come- including some pics of the trip to NYC!

I miss my friends...

So my friend Stephanie from Canada asked me if I wanted anything sent to me. She's mailing my birthday present early (my birthday is in June, but Steph is horrible with remembering dates...a frequent conversation between her and her husband: "When did we get married? Was it July 22, 23, or 24?" For the record, It was July 23, 2005...so it is a miracle that she even remembers my birthday and is afraid she'll forget to send it when it actually comes around to June). Do I want anything? Yeah, I want a big hug. I'd like some soju and a night at the buzz playing Cribbage. I'd like to hang out at your house and chat up your mum (that's how she says it) and dad. I want a 4 a.m. raman run after a night out. I want a kimbab picnic at Olympic park. I want sing-alongs at the noraebang. I want to snowshoe across lake Winnipeg-minus the whole frostbite thing. If you could wrap that up and mail it to me, I'll pay for the shipping, thanks.

Life

I have been meditating on the comforting certainty of my own inadequacy, which is the negative way of saying that God is adequate in my everyday situation. Comforting.
Not comforting however were the signs on some doors that appeared in my dreams last night, that said "No cell phones" etc., but then when I looked closely at the bottom it said, "Abandon hope all ye who enter here." Personally, I would prefer to abandon my despair... whatever awaits me beyond those doors.

Some of you worry about the world's problems... which I do as well, but I don't think anyone needs to read anymore of my blogthoughts on aid to Africa, or the war in Iraq. So here's a little something light and minty for everyone:
I, under the assumption that the run I committed to do to raise money against Hunger in Columbia was a mere 5K, have been forced to spend many a hour on the pavement and treadmill to train to run what is actually a 10K on the 28th. When I am at the gym, my training time seems to go by quickly because I am distracted by the TV. However, I have one question for you: What is the deal with Deal or No Deal? I mean really, why is this even on television? Let me break this down:

1. Howie Mandel is creepy. He isn't balding, but he shaves his head to feel cleaner, because he has a fear of germs. I don't want to make fun of people with these sorts of issues, but that's pretty interesting and weird. He doesn't shake hands with the contestants. Now, I just can't be around people like that. The urge to freak them out would be too great. I'd be trying to touch their hands all day.

2. So there are these women, and I'm sure they are really beautiful, but I can never get past their legs, and how they all march down the steps in unison, like an army of leggy women with brief cases... also creepy. And I have leg envy.

3. The cases. What the heck? Isn't there an easier way to do this? Brief cases are big and clumsy. Shouldn't they have a card? Or like, they stick their tongue out and the amount is written on it? Ok, too far right? How about something simple, like a game board? Would anyone watch if there weren't women with cases?

4. The uber-creepy guy upstairs in the dark room, who makes offers. They call him "The Banker". You never see his face, or hear his voice. He makes phone calls to Howie, and who knows what they're really saying? Maybe Howie makes up the offers... who knows, you can't tell because YOU CAN'T SEE THE GUY'S FACE!!! Alright, so I might be a little afraid of clowns, at least I was as a child, in part because you can't really see their faces, and that's not right. I hate masks, I hate those ski masks that only show your eyes/nose/mouth. Sometimes I don’t even like talking to people when they have sunglasses on. I don’t like not being able to see someone’s eyes, either. Don't ever put a stocking on your head, because I might have a panic attack. I guess I shouldn't make fun of Howie Mandel and his idiosyncrasies, should I now?

5. It's just stupid, how you have to pick a case at the beginning, and then you open all the other ones one by one. Like, why not pick a case, and that's how much you have, but you can trade it. I don't know, I just don't get the suspense of it all. And the idea that you don't just take what the creepy silhouetted man is offering, is just too much for me. Money! Take it and get out of there!


Alright, that's it.

Love is in the air...or is it?

I am so excited about my Valentine's Day plans for the morrow.

Sleep late.
Gym/or perhaps a little run with Kristin.
Afternoon to myself.
Art. Love. Short Films. Music. Trapeze performance. Magic. Food and beverages. New people. What could be more fun than a visual, media and performance art Valentines day show?

Oh, and guess what? It is a three day weekend for me! Huzzah!

On a lighter note...

My blogging has been a bit too serious lately. I keep getting these all about you emails and what not, so I've given in. Are these things a bit narcissistic? Undoubtedly. But isn't blogging just as equally narcissistic? Perhaps. So, enjoy. Or don't. Or whatever.
10 Random Things About Me
1. I can’t whistle very well.
2. Sugar and Carbs are my kryptonite.
3. I can do the splits (sometimes).
4. I am that driver that rolls down the window to inform you that you completely disregarded the no turn on red sign (or in most cases yelling) or inform you of any other traffic violation you are committing. Lame. I know. But true.
5. I've always wanted to change my name legally. I've never told anyone what I want to change it to, however.
6. I have 1 brother.
7. I like to clean.
8. I love the great outdoors.
9. I sing in the shower, the elevator, in the car, everywhere.
10. I always put my foot in my mouth (but you knew that).

Nine Things I Want to Do Before I Die
1. raise children
2. run a marathon
3. sing in a band
4. see my relatives still alive in Eastern Europe.
5. dance at my wedding
6. be fluent in 6 languages
7. start a campfire without a match (man I suck at that!)
8. Get my JD (Law Degree)
9. Learn how to cook

Eight Ways to Win My Heart
1. be sincere/kind
2. care about the needs of others
3. make me laugh and laugh with me
4. sing, even if your voice is funny
5. love your family
6. be creative/passionate
7. watch silly movies with me
8. think for yourself

Seven Things I Believe In
1. Jesus
2. love covers a multitude of sins
3. forgiveness is hard but priceless
4. agreeing to disagree
5. children know more than we give them credit for
6. prayer
7. you can teach an old dog new tricks

Six Things I'm Afraid Of
1. stress
2. being in debt
3. drunk drivers
4. public humiliation
5. losing my memory
6. being cold

Five of my Favorite Items in My Bedroom
1. space heater
2. Nester Fuzzofski (Polish teddy bear)
3. photo albums
4. little lamp by my bed
5. my MAC

Four Things I Do Everyday
1. sing
2. laugh
3. pray
4. play

Three Things I Am Trying Not To Do Right Now
1. eat sugar
2. gossip
3. doubt
4. do too many things at once

Two Places I have Visited
1. Istanbul, Turkey
2. Gaborone, Botswana

One Person I want to See Right Now
1. Olivia