The Jobens

Home away from home. I spent last week with a fun little fam I like to call the Jobens. Also known as Lulu, Chuck Deisel, Nickitynangle, Kyky the Clown, Ryry, and D-Rock. I may have made some of those up. I did not make up the absolute JOY of spending Thanksgiving with this lovely group of people.

Here is a list (not exhaustive) of why I love the Jobens:

1) The laughing - I am constantly laughing when I am with the Jobens- whether it's because Kyle just smashed a bag of Nicole's chips in front of her, Lulu just riled Tucker up and then called him something regal, Ryan put on a dance performance (along with the DDC), Charlie made an ugly pose, or Derek competed with himself to finish a meal. It's the most funniest time ever.






2) The animals - Cooper, Tucker, Sassy, Ivory & Spooky - they are the best.

3) The competitions - I thoroughly enjoyed the one where we all had to make the weirdest noise or maybe it was just an animal noise - I don't know but all of the sounds were amazing. Also I enjoyed when we played Scattegories and people were yelling across the room - it was fantastic.

4) The snack drawer - Always stocked with the tastiest trendiest snacks - mmm, delicious.

5) The bonus room - From a fridge stocked with drinks to the softest couch in the world to the ginormous TV, this is a room I like - there's always fun things happening in that room too.

6) Shopping with Lulu- It's nice to know that even though Nicole didn't inherit her mom's fashion sense, I can power shop with Lulu and receive great advice.

7) Sports - I actually love watching sports, but I don't have people around me who do most of the time. It's nice to be inundated with sports while at the Jobens - from tv sports to school team sports to live action in the living room sports. It's a good time.

8) Visiting the magic of Puyallup. They have a new Target - it's pretty amazing. Also, I like to see Mt. Ranier everytime we leave the house. "Hi Purple Mountain Majesty"

9) Just being. Sometimes it's nice to just be somewhere and not have any expectations - I mostly feel that way while at the Jobens

10) Crazy times - With a family of six, five pets, and a family of six's friends, things get crazy sometimes. But I think I like that because there's so much life - it's like a life explosion and THAT is exciting.

Make money money, make money money money!

That's right. I'm on a mission. It's all about the Benjamins. Well, it is when you're in debt. My car loan, my student loans, some unmentionable credit card debt from my student days - it's the American way. I, however, am now a fiscally-responsible ghetto pig and I am about to dominate my debt like I dominate the streets. That's right. Yeyah.

First, I don't buy crap just to buy it anymore - like when I bought a new cell phone just because my old one didn't have a camera with zoom...honestly, how often do I take pictures with my camera? Almost never.

Second, I keep track of things. Everything is accounted for, even that $1.90 coffee I bought last week - it's in the budg.

Third, I moonlight as a profesh childcare worker and a life-giving plasma donator. Pretty much I help raise the struggling younger generation and save lives in my spare time. The extra cash -> straight to savings...or debt...or coffee. No, not coffee. Crap. Financial Breakdown!!!

No, I'm in control.

Feel free to send me additional cash at your leisure.

Will give ghetto pig advice for money!!

I'm not poor, I'm po. Can't even afford the o and the r....

Bring it on down to Turkey-ville

As a society, I really don't think we dress up in costume enough. That's why on most occasions with my friends, there is a costume involved. A certain group of friends referred to as the BSBs held a Thanksgiving extravaganza where some choice costumes were worn.

Can you tell what I am?

If not, you're not ghetto enough. Obviously, I'm mashed potatoes and gravy (Do you see the pat of butter? Do you recognize the white pillowy-ness? The gravy streaming down?)

Some other noteworthy costumes were

Pilgrims:

Indian:

Sparkling Cider:

For actual Thanksgiving I plan on being Plymouth Rock.

CHRISTMAS!

Who's excited? You know, don't tell me it's too early because people who grew up in the ghetto like myself need reasons to celebrate life - Christmas is joyous forever.

Here are some ways I have already begun celebrating this joyous season:

1. Getting out Christmas decorations

2. Shopping for/making gifts

3. Listening to Christmas music

4. Planning holiday events

5. Budgeting for Christmas expenditures

6. Visiting Santa's workshop at the mall

7. Looking for elves

8. Using only red and green paper and pens at work

9. Thinking of things I don't need for Christmas but would definitely like

10. Wondering if overweight old men wearing red could actually be Santa in everyday clothes

11. Watching Christmas movies (so far: The Santa Clause, Santa and the 3 Bears, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation)

12. Looking Christmas-y (Today I'm wearing a green shirt and my, uh, cheeks are red)

13. Volunteering to help people (well, I do that everyday because I'm so thoughtful, but it is Christmas spirit-filled)

14. Looking at the sky often and thinking, "It might snow tonight!"

15. Baking sweet treats

I'm such a Christmas-pig.

Stephanie E. Almeida

Well hello blog. Updating is just not my thang. When something extroardinary happens, however, I am quick to expound on it. Extroardinary thang of the moment: Stephanie E. Almeida of Spokane, WA, currently residing in Eugene, OR with her husband Ricky and two cats: Clyde and Suki. Stephanie is fantastic - here are some facts:

1. I have known Stephanie since 7th grade - she helped me in science labs. Very smart.

2. Stephanie and I won a Hewlett Packard science competition in ninth grade and earned a ginormous trophy for our school.

3. In high school, Stephanie was a gymnast and a sprinter in track...very athletic.
4. Phone conversations between us before we could drive would often go to: "Man, it's going to be so fun when we can just drive to Zips anytime we want."
5. There are few things that brought Stephanie as much joy as a blue cheese burger from the Sawtooth Grill in Spokane.
6. Stephanie has had the unfortunate experience of running into people who have never met anyone/talked to anyone who was black. Questions she has answered include: "Does your hair grow?" and "What part of Africa are you from?" Awesome white people. Awesome.

7. Stephanie has a secret love of fuzzy posters and beef sticks.
8. In high school, Stephanie was frequently referred to as Miss Jackson (her maiden last name) and even complete strangers would yell "I'm sorry Miss Jackson!" Thanks Outcast. It was kind of fun.
9. Stephanie will be voting McCain this election year. Ha! Just kidding. Party like Barack.

10. Songs Stephanie and I know all the words to and often sing when we get together: Weak (SWV), Poison (Belbivdevo), More than Words (Extreme), Salvation Army camp songs, If I Ever Fall... (Shai), and many more.

True story: Stephanie will be in Bellingham in approximately 4.5 hours. Let the singing begin.

New House

I moved and it was amazing - well, not so much the moving process, but the end result.

#1 - Fun roommates (see previous post)

#2 - I live on another street other than High Street (where I've resided the past 4 years)

#3 - I'm closer to Trader Joe's which I love

#4 - I'm closer to work, which my gas tank loves

#5 - I have a bedroom ceiling that doesn't slope and I can't hit my head on the ceiling everyday

#6 - I have a trailhead across the street which leads to fun places like Whatcom Falls

#7 - It's totally a party house, but a classy party house. I'm so above college-level entertaining.

#8 - My roommate has every season of Friends on DVD

#9 - I have my own bathroom - quite a change from sharing a shower between 6 girls previously (not at the same time, perverts)

#10 - I have converted my previously college-study-computer desk into an art space. Now I can release my inner ghetto pig on a regular basis. I like to art.

Long time

Oh hey blog. I have been spending time with my less-digital friends lately and have had an absence of creative bloggerage energy...I guess. Well, good things are happening:

I'm moving. That will be a good thing once I find a place to live. I'll be living with some quality individuals - Krizzly Bear and Millard Fillmore (see below). They are nice.

2. I'm not a counselor at Ray of Hope camp this year, which means I have not been hit, kicked, punched, yelled at, or spit on by children this summer. It's an improvement for sure (I do miss the good times though).

3. I'm getting a tan (slowly)...who knew it could happen for me in Bellingham. They should call me bronze beauty pig.

It's a good summer.