tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57198252806228586192024-02-07T11:27:53.694-08:00This Is Real LifeNicole Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735292036899059158noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719825280622858619.post-36489184737062340142016-01-31T23:43:00.001-08:002016-01-31T23:43:18.729-08:00Having Your Legs Knocked Out From Under You<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This post was originally written on September 4, 2014:<br />
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The first time I flew in an airplane I was 18 years old. I knew that I always got carsick easily, so I couldn't begin to imagine the kind of nausea I would experience on a plane. Before take-off I took the recommended dose of Dramamine and nervously waited for it to kick in. Three years later I found myself on a flight across the Atlantic ocean returning home after a semester in St. Petersburg, Russia. After spending 24 hours on planes and in airports, I was relieved to spend a comfortable night in my own bed. The only thing that bothered me (aside from the intense jet lag) was that every time I closed my eyes the room would start spinning. It wasn't enough to make me sick, but it was disorienting.<br />
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The dizzying, rocking feeling after spending time on a boat, in a car, on a plane, or otherwise in a constant state of motion is called Mal de debarquement syndrome, or MdDS. The actual syndrome is more severe than the short 12 hour period that I experienced. Symptoms can be present for up to three years and cause significant turmoil. Additionally, there is no set treatment for the syndrome.<br />
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What is most interesting to me about MdDS is that the people who experience it never know until they are on solid land and stable. Their bodies are able to adjust to the rocking and swaying and whatever other motions they have to go through. The inner ear helps people to stay oriented and up-right. Because of this they can get used to what is actually completely unsteady ground.<br />
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Time and time again I've found myself (as most people have) battling against rocking ground, trying to find my balance. Sometimes it feels like jumping through flaming hoops in the middle of an earthquake when a tornado is also coming to suck you up. I always manage to keep my balance, jump through the hoops, and steer clear of the tornado. But the transition back to stable ground is so jarring that I'm unsure of what to do with myself. If I don't have the battle pushing me forward, then why am I moving forward at all?<br />
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As if I don't have enough comparisons and stories, let me throw one more in here for good measure. It will all come together in the end, I promise. Back in January I decided to cut carbs out of my diet completely. I lasted about three days because on the third day I got in a car accident on my way to work. Thankfully no one was injured.<br />
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You'd think that the worst part would be waiting an hour for the police and tow truck to show up when cars were rushing by as my bumper protruded slightly into oncoming traffic. But I learned a really important lesson at that moment. Life is too short to avoid carbs. So I ate fruit snacks with my friend and joked about ways the situation could be worse.<br />
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The most awful part of that day was calling one insurance representative after the other and retelling the story. I second guessed everything that happened, why it had happened, if I had responded correctly (for the record, it wasn't my fault), and most of all how much this would cost me.<br />
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Let's tie this post up with a bow. Douglas Adams said, "It's not the fall that kills you; it's the sudden stop at the end." Falling is terrifying and freeing all at once. The only choice you have in that instance is to keep falling. You can't grow wings and fly your way out. It's when you hit the ground that the options begin. Stay there, wobble around until you fall again, or start running to the next drop even sooner.<br />
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(This is when I drop the mic and walk away.)</div>
Nicole Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735292036899059158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719825280622858619.post-73051270350473728382014-06-10T20:40:00.000-07:002014-06-10T20:40:16.394-07:00Why I'm Satisfied: Part 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some short time ago I decided that one of my favorite sayings was “It’s a metaphor.” I like to add it to the end of statements. It works great for deep thoughts, poetic thoughts, or nonsensical thoughts. I wanted to trace the origins of this saying and I tracked it down.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Back in November I was driving to work with my friend, Brittney. We were listening to NPR and they starting discussing the following story:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/11/06/google-barge-new-technology/3456031/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/11/06/google-barge-new-technology/3456031/</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The correspondent decided it was appropriate to say that the Google Barge is a metaphor for… something. We didn’t quite catch what he said. But we were obsessed with how funny it was. And thus the “It’s a metaphor” saying was born. Here is evidence of how I use it in everyday conversation. Or at least when I’m chatting at work.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">11/15/13</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brittney</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That is true</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can't believe it is already the 15th</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the passage of time is so disturbing to me</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nicole</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can't believ eit either</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But I am rather grateful for it</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brittney</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I guess I am too</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I feel like I've been living in a haze for two weeks</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nicole</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I mean, imagine if it were still August or something</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I would hate that</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wandering through the mist</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's a metaphor</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3/10/14</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nicole</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perhaps</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'd be really down to go to New York</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you ever just feel really uncomfortable in your skin and antsy?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because that's how I feel today</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lauren </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">your skin, like metaphorically?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">like you want to be someone else?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nicole</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yeah, it's a metaphor</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No, I don't want to be somebody else</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I just want to be myself</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But not</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like, you just get sick of yourself</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can't even describe it</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like you're just tired of being with yourself all the time</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lauren</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">oh i totally get that</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">we've talked about it before</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5/3/13</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nicole</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Raffle time, baby!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope I win</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lauren</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">booyah!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">i hope IIIIII win</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nicole</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don't know what the prize is, but I know that I want it</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope that one of us wins</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lauren</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">haha</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">maybe it will be a tie</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nicole </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They will accidentally pull out both of our tickets</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because they will be stuck together</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's a metaphor</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5/8/13</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nicole </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There he is</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Talking about the project</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brittney </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shark out of water.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feet fully wet</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's a metaphor.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nicole </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My line</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brittney</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Empty words.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6/3/13</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nicole</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can I share with you a gem from my funny things notebook?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: I was wondering why it looked extra dark outside. But it wasn't. It was actually extra dark inside.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Emily: It's a metaphor.</span></div>
<br /></span></div>
Nicole Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735292036899059158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719825280622858619.post-62437185650150711892014-05-16T18:56:00.002-07:002014-05-16T18:56:42.218-07:00Why I'm Satisfied: Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I like three things about this life right now.<br />
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A) I am old enough to go to concerts at 21 and over clubs.<br />
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B) I get my ID checked at said clubs.<br />
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C) When the guard sees a small plastic bag sticking out of my pocket he says, "Looks like you have some goodies there." Implying that perhaps I'm trying to sneak something not so legal into the venue. To which I put on a big grin, pull out the bag, and say, "Yeah, my friend gave me cookies!"<br />
<br />
I love tricking people into thinking I'm a junkie when really I just have a sweet tooth. This is the life I lead.</div>
Nicole Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735292036899059158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719825280622858619.post-60402018898277444172014-05-08T20:38:00.000-07:002014-05-08T20:38:02.441-07:00Why I'm Satisfied<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I like that I can open up my notebook at work and see this written down:<br /><br />
"Note to future Nicole. Bjorkell would make a ballin' dog name."<br />
<br />
I am very satisfied with the professional adult that I have become in the past year.</div>
Nicole Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735292036899059158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719825280622858619.post-32056725896243582742014-04-30T21:20:00.000-07:002014-04-30T21:20:02.450-07:00Hollywood Dreams<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Contrary to what the title of this post is, this won't be my confessions of how I dream of going to Hollywood to become a famous actor or actress or director or... sound... mixer... anyway.<br />
<br />
No. I had an insane dream about a week ago and I can't shake it.<br />
<br />
Allow me to set the scene here. (Assume that everything I say from this point on was in my dream, unless otherwise stated.)<br />
<br />
I was watching a movie by myself. The movie starred Matthew McConaughey. He worked as a member on a cargo ship, while the vessel was carrying something like oil. You know, not important cargo at all.<br />
<br />
Like most movies, the film goes from calm to intense so abruptly I almost get whiplash. While one second it is serenely moving toward its destination, in the next frame the cargo ship explodes! And who is the lone survivor, left to drift out to sea on a tiny lifeboat? That's right. It's Matthew McConaughey. Alright, alright, alright!<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, Matthew was severely injured in the explosion. He's pretty cut up all over his face and his left arm is hanging on by a couple of ligaments. You can literally see the tendons in his arm where all the flesh has been burned off. This is some gruesome stuff. I'm pretty sure this dream is rated R. At least PG-13.<br />
<br />
As he is floating in the middle of the ocean the heat is relentless and he begins to lose hope. His lips are dry with thirst and his eyes are half closed - a mixture of seasickness and exhaustion. A breeze picks up, but he doesn't even notice. When the wind starts to make the water choppy, the little lifeboat begins to sway more and more. The waves grow and grow until the lifeboat tips over and Matthew McConaughey falls out.<br />
<br />
He's swimming under water and trying frantically to reach the surface. It is now that Matthew's voice begins to narrate the scene. He starts talking about how he was trying to swim with all his might. But in his frantic paddling he used too much force and his fragile left arm fell off completely. As he continues to scramble, kicking his feet and waving his right arm around uselessly, you can see his left arm slowly sinking to the bottom of the ocean.<br />
<br />
As he's swimming he makes a pained expression and inexplicably all of the skin on his face peels off in one even strip. His narration at this part was, and I quote, "I knew my face peeled off because I could feel the salt water entering my nasal passage. And it hurt like hell."<br />
<br />
While I'm watching him scramble for air I can feel myself start to panic. Will he make it? Do I have to watch him die? Then, seamlessly, it's not Matthew drowning anymore. It's me. I am four feet under water and using every ounce of strength I have to make it to the top.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, I have all my limbs and my face to aid in my survival. I remember being aware of this fact and thinking I was in much better condition than he was to be swimming. But as I flailed my limbs, I got nowhere. I knew that I was swimming correctly because my grandma had taught me when I was a kid. But there was something blocking me from getting to air. I knew I was running out of time so I started a fight between dream Nicole and semi-conscious Nicole.<br />
<br />
"Just take a breath."<br /><br />
"I can't. I'll only breathe in water."<br /><br />
"But you have to breathe."<br />
<br />
"I can make it to the surface."<br />
<br />
"No, you can't. You're not going to make it."<br />
<br />
"I have to or I'll die in the ocean."<br />
<br />
"Breathe! Breathe right now!"<br />
<br />
"It will only be water and Matthew said it hurts like hell!"<br />
<br />
That's when I woke up, desperately gasping for breath. I'm not sure if I was holding my breath in my sleep or if I was panting because I was panicking. Either way, it was one of the strangest dream experiences of my life.<br />
<br />
Author's Note: This is when I tell you that my greatest physical fear is drowning.</div>
Nicole Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735292036899059158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719825280622858619.post-84425780413833581192013-11-15T22:49:00.001-08:002013-11-15T22:49:53.140-08:00Day 290 of Summer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Kara and I have decided to try and challenge each other on occasion to keep our writing sharp. Here is my latest challenge from her (after she totally rocked the <a href="http://karav.blogspot.com/2013/11/momo-backstory.html">Momo challenge</a>!). This was insanely harder than I imagined it would be. I get what Summer is thinking but I have a really hard time translating that into a way that she would say it. I think I barely passed on this one.<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 27px;">Tomorrow's challenge for Nicole is to write an internal monologue from the point of view of Summer from </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 27px;">500 Days of Summer</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 27px;">, struggling with making the decision of whether or not/ why to break-up with Joseph Gordon-Levitt .</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 27px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
This was fair from the start. It was clear that this wasn't a relationship. He wanted a label on it, but that doesn't mean that I had to believe the label was true. As great as it seems like it's been the past few months, life changes things.<br /><br />Life changes people. <br /><br />I can't do this couple life. I don't love him how he needs me to. We can't keep pretending that this is all real. Not when we believe different things about where this is going.<br /><br />"I think we should stop seeing each other."<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://data1.whicdn.com/images/11636032/500-days-of-summer-500-days-of-summer-joseph-gordon-levitt-love-movie-quote-Favim.com-95260_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://data1.whicdn.com/images/11636032/500-days-of-summer-500-days-of-summer-joseph-gordon-levitt-love-movie-quote-Favim.com-95260_large.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Challenge: Come up with a back story to one of your favorite songs.</span></div>
</div>
Nicole Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735292036899059158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719825280622858619.post-74865848564988471392013-11-14T21:54:00.002-08:002013-11-14T21:54:31.525-08:00Not Touch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I asked my roommates what to write about. They were not as helpful as I wanted them to be. But still a little helpful I guess. Their ideas:<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Write about them</li>
<li>Lights</li>
<li>Abby's essay assignment</li>
<li>Caramel sauce</li>
<li>My terrible speaking grammar</li>
</ul>
I decided that last topic would be adequate.<br />
<br />
Let's set the scene:<br />
<br />
<br />
THURS EVENING - 9:42 PM<br />
<br />
NICOLE is minding her own bees wax, making a caramel dip for apples. The base is yogurt so she has this empty yogurt cup sitting next to her.<br />
<br />
Enter SARAH and ABBY.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
ABBY</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What are you making?</div>
<br />
NICOLE<br />
Caramel dip?<br />
<br />
ABBY<br />
For ice cream?<br />
<br />
NICOLE<br />
No, for apples.<br />
<br />
SARAH<br />
What do you use for it?<br />
<br />
NICOLE<br />
Like, some yogurt and brown sugar and whatever.<br />
<br />
SARAH walks to where the empty yogurt cup sits on the counter. Her hand hovers over it for a short time.<br />
<br />
NICOLE (in a panicked voice)<br />
Not touch!<br />
<br />
SARAH<br />
.......<br />
<br />
ABBY<br />
Not touch?<br />
<br />
NICOLE<br />
Yeah, I need that. I didn't want you to throw it away.<br />
<br />
SARAH and ABBY'S laughter ensues.<br />
<br />
END SCENE<br />
<br />
So apparently when I feel threatened my grammar resorts back to that of a two year old. This should be promising if I ever get attacked while I'm out for a jog or confronted by an angry drunkard or whatever. Again, this causes me to think that my children have a very bright future ahead of them.</div>
Nicole Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735292036899059158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719825280622858619.post-47126687394128777942013-11-13T20:37:00.004-08:002013-11-13T20:37:40.932-08:00Challenge Accepted<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The challenger: <a href="http://karav.blogspot.com/">KaraV</a><br />
<br />
The challenge: "write 4 parent trap related haikus"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://blog.lib.umn.edu/meriw007/myblog/parent-trap_lindsay-lohan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="http://blog.lib.umn.edu/meriw007/myblog/parent-trap_lindsay-lohan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Small Lindsay Lohan,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I once thought you were a twin.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Kids are so naive.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/5500000/The-Parent-Trap-the-parent-trap-1998-5578560-1280-720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/5500000/The-Parent-Trap-the-parent-trap-1998-5578560-1280-720.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Loved you on a boat</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then I threw stuff at your head.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Let's split up the twins.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sparkles-and-crumbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/meredith-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://www.sparkles-and-crumbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/meredith-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Give the 4-1-1.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Gasp, did I get you wet Mer?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Just a little Hal."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/wqT5e4JBaU4/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/wqT5e4JBaU4/maxresdefault.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Meeting the parents,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"You can call me Aunt Vicky."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She looks familiar...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Challenge status: Complete. Take that Kara!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Kara's challenge: 6 sentence original back story for Momo. To be completed in the next 24 hours. Let's see it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/31000000/Zen-Momo-avatar-the-last-airbender-31030229-500-250.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/31000000/Zen-Momo-avatar-the-last-airbender-31030229-500-250.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Oh, PS: You want to know the difference between you and me?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCJ2Q9uXwfzntg-8nG09xGPZoEul7M6r_pxZpt52he9JaugPllHeSGInLOTpOqeQIVGzkHC3HA2WeslNLSrtgQrZ7XsNGIKNxUQiCrYUjaLivHCKYSS8WZ47YyUgcISjUuaq_WJwQzs0q/s1600/The-Parent-Trap-the-parent-trap-1998-25469806-500-250.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCJ2Q9uXwfzntg-8nG09xGPZoEul7M6r_pxZpt52he9JaugPllHeSGInLOTpOqeQIVGzkHC3HA2WeslNLSrtgQrZ7XsNGIKNxUQiCrYUjaLivHCKYSS8WZ47YyUgcISjUuaq_WJwQzs0q/s320/The-Parent-Trap-the-parent-trap-1998-25469806-500-250.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I kid, I kid. We both have a lot of class.</div>
</div>
Nicole Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735292036899059158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719825280622858619.post-80784114367564827982013-11-12T22:27:00.005-08:002013-11-12T22:27:42.925-08:00Haikus (Cop Out)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yeah, I committed to myself that I would blog every day this month. I am so tired right now though. But I have to do it. So my signature cop out blog post will be ridiculous haikus.<br />
<br />
Absurdly tired!<br />
I went running for a bit<br />
And it wore me out.<br />
<br />
Oh those leftovers.<br />
I keep you cold in my fridge<br />
Then forget you're there.<br />
<br />
This creepy stomach,<br />
It's how I feel with peanuts.<br />
Nut intolerance?<br />
<br />
Curse these darn trojans!<br />
They're not true views on my blog.<br />
No viruses please :(<br />
<br />
What will be a good<br />
Topic for me to write on<br />
When tomorrow comes?</div>
Nicole Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735292036899059158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719825280622858619.post-73852978975045187712013-11-11T21:39:00.001-08:002013-11-11T22:00:04.469-08:00Children are Insane<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr05/2013/4/24/17/enhanced-buzz-13097-1366839727-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr05/2013/4/24/17/enhanced-buzz-13097-1366839727-9.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a sweet, sweet spaghetti shower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I read this article on Buzzfeed a while back, "<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/reasons-kids-are-pretty-much-just-tiny-drunk-adults">26 Reasons Kids Are Pretty Much Just Tiny Drunk Adults</a>."<br />
<br />
I lack the knowledge of what it's like being around large groups of truly drunk adults. But I'd imagine this is accurate. This is Buzzfeed we're talking about after all.<br />
<br />
For real though, the youths (as I like to call them) are totally nuts. Any human being from the age of 1 second to .... roughly my own age are all crazy people. I have some reasoning for this, so stick with me.<br />
<br />
1. They do these things that are totally normal in their own minds but make generally no sense at all. I once heard of some crazy kid who thought it would be really cool to go to school as a "monkey trainer" for Halloween -- in 8th grade. How is that a cool thing to do?<br />
<br />
2. They will learn things when they want to and no one is going to tell them otherwise! You can't force a kid to figure out that a square block goes into a square hole. No. They will try their darndest to shove that sucker into the round hole until they become outraged that it won't work. Every time I see this I just want to say, "Look! Does this shape look anything at all like the other shape?! No!"<br />
<br />
3. Every idea is awesome and should be treated as such. Mmmmmm, nope. Not true. Adults have the good sense (usually) to recognize when an idea is complete garbage and should not be followed through with. Toddlers, kids, and teens? They are truly brilliant and can't pass up a good plan. How is it a good idea to put a pair of scissors in your Spanish teacher's chair so that when he sits down it becomes a really, Really, REALLY unpleasant experience. The logic here is truly amazing.<br />
<br />
I totally can't wait until I have some insane children of my own. Knowing me, they are going to constantly be up to either horrifying or nonsensical tasks. Oh, the future is looking bright.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7i1AX5cXaoGY7n1kfNCyJyNR8b8EgTsgq11sAdBeB4f7LlwCEGE53xt8OKxrC5JYqD7yrBcehnwuguP5MNU9c4yRgKSPeDrfv7Yw2xaDM5L6LRuHgNWW5TqVlE2WlL36qdY3uXFc5ui42/s1600/1385533_10153350870470593_533094998_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7i1AX5cXaoGY7n1kfNCyJyNR8b8EgTsgq11sAdBeB4f7LlwCEGE53xt8OKxrC5JYqD7yrBcehnwuguP5MNU9c4yRgKSPeDrfv7Yw2xaDM5L6LRuHgNWW5TqVlE2WlL36qdY3uXFc5ui42/s320/1385533_10153350870470593_533094998_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So I like watching kids play at the park. Sue me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Nicole Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735292036899059158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719825280622858619.post-46927235954836929412013-11-10T22:32:00.002-08:002013-11-11T21:40:30.379-08:00H-h-h-h-halloween<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I don't know why, but I always think words sound cooler when you kind of stutter over the first sound. It gives it a rapper feel, in my opinion.<br />
<br />
Anyway!<br />
<br />
My costume this year was AMAZING. Real life, I put so much searching and time into this sucker. I knew that if I was going to be this, it would have to be well executed. Yeah, I think I pulled it off.<br />
<br />
Three trips to DI, three random thrift stores, failure at K-Mart, and one Target trip later, this is what we had:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwsl72dOvKuRI8DS8r1qvYanAWly6mkq7jneP7DoUwpRx3IPyJSr0Ljg2tqVMOPx9r84O166z7q7mJfZ1ldoGH4_Fb6nADx_PizuOrIhm9S1BJg7pI3nAPOwFrdb4m_XIgJSgbtTel825/s1600/Grandpa+Nic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwsl72dOvKuRI8DS8r1qvYanAWly6mkq7jneP7DoUwpRx3IPyJSr0Ljg2tqVMOPx9r84O166z7q7mJfZ1ldoGH4_Fb6nADx_PizuOrIhm9S1BJg7pI3nAPOwFrdb4m_XIgJSgbtTel825/s320/Grandpa+Nic.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit to Brittney Thompson :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Yes, I was an old man for Halloween. I have to say, this was probably one of my best costumes ever. And I thoroughly enjoyed getting in to character. I spent the better part of the day slowly walking up to people and saying things like, "Hey sweet cheeks, you look like my next nurse" and "I'll give you a quarter to rub my feet." I like to think that people appreciated it.<br />
<br />
I have to say though, acting old actually gave me a lot to think about. I didn't want to be an old man in a disrespectful way because I really love my grandparents. A lot of my childhood memories would not be the same without them. They were all so sweet and great to be around.<br />
<br />
But I thought about who I wanted to be when I got older. Pretty much, I just want to be awesome. No matter what type of old person I am, I want people to look at me and think, "Wow, that old lady is so much cooler than I could ever be."<br />
<br />
If this comes through owning six cats, so be it. If it's because I'm really grouchy and sit on my porch and throw stuff at people, that's terrific. If it's from having a giant carpet bag filled with candy and wearing a muumuu everyday, all the better.<br />
<br />
Regardless of who I become, I want to be a person that I like and who other people can appreciate. But, it would be really cool to frighten a few children along the way.</div>
Nicole Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735292036899059158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719825280622858619.post-90545655389594458942013-11-10T22:22:00.002-08:002013-11-10T22:22:27.361-08:00This is Where it Starts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So here it is. (I don't know what it is about starting sentences with the word "so" but it makes it feel like I've been thinking about it for a long time.)<br />
<br />
I said over a year ago that I was going to revamp my blog...but I never did. Instead, I did one better and created a whole new blog! Okay, it took over a year to do it but whatever. I never said I would revamp it in a timely manner.<br />
<br />
After a discussion with a very trustworthy friend (holla at your girl!) I've decided that I need to start writing more frequently. At some point in my life, I would love to have a novella written just for my family and friends to read and appreciate. But there's no way that's going to happen unless I can get back in to writing mode first. Commitment! I'm going to post at least once a day for the rest of the month. It's not much but it's a start.<br />
<br />
I hope that this blog can be a combination of personal and stand-offish, funny and serious, spiritual and (dare I say) slightly sacrilege. Because I feel like that's kind of who I am. Which brings me to the blog title.<br />
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It comes from a quote I read from Emily Dickinson a few months ago. I was instantly obsessed with it. In a letter to a friend she wrote the line, "...I am out with lanterns, looking for myself." I think that everyone is constantly trying to figure out who they are or who they're going to be. But this line just described it so well. A lot of time we're out there actively looking, and all we have to go off of is the dim light of a lantern that we're holding. Oooooh, chills!<br />
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At some point I'm sure I'll find a piece of myself but there's always more to find. This is a special glimpse into some brain thoughts along the way. Get excited. This could get pretty weird sometimes, but hopefully it will be a good time!</div>
Nicole Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735292036899059158noreply@blogger.com0