The best ladies quote...

Every day I get a Lady's Quote of the Day, this one was so great I just had to share it.

Quote Lady's Quote of the Day Volume 9, Number 305ISSN 1534-3073
Quote for Wednesday November 1, 2006


One often learns more
from ten days of agony
than from ten years
of contentment.
~ Merle Shain

One has learned...

I had a long talk with my sister. I think I used to understand things to the extent of which I felt like doing them. Acceptance, I would accept the things I wanted to, and I don't think I really learned what forgiveness was. (Thank you!! :)

I had heard the acceptance thing before, but coming from my sister it really made sense. It's what you are willing to accept, that's each person's own decision. She also told me that when your emotions take over, it's hard to remember where you are at or want to be.

After having this talk I feel like I realized a lot, and I feel like although I didn't actually do anything I have grown a lot just by finally understanding! It's such a great feeling.

So, since I am better at small talk, here it goes:

link for photos:http://new.photos.yahoo.com/jlc341981/album/576460762327794062#page1

I had an emergency root canal, ugh! My mom and Bob visited, we had tons of fun. I made a fancy dinner and we celebrated their birthdays with a cake from the Cold Stone Creamery. Eric and I made a Pirates (Pittsburgh) blanket for his Pap for his birthday, we celebrated in Altoona... that was also a lot of fun. It's always nice to be around family.

Today my sister is coming (not the one who advised me!) I named the blog "one has learned" because I have... and I am sure she has learned a lot over the years, but she is still always LATE! BUT on the other hand, I can accept that she will be late and go accordingly!! :) MJ is also coming this weekend, which will be great. I am excited for him to meet my sister.

I like entertaining, it's kind of like a big game of pretend :) Tonight will be filled with treats, wedding photos and I bet lots of laughs!!

Let the fun begin....

A Good Story

Once upon a time there was this girl. This girl thought she knew so much about herself, she thought she had experienced life and love and many more emotions. This girl had a lot to be thankful for, but she didn't realize it at the time that most would have. She had a hard time with feelings, she hid from them. She thought forgetting was easier than dealing, she thought being logical was better than having a heart and dignity.

This girl was raised to be independent and self sufficient. She was independent, but in some ways it wasn't always a good thing. She was afraid to ask for help, or maybe it was that she hadn't realized she needed help. She knew she didn't always make the right decisions and she learned, but it wasn't always the right thing she learned. She always tried to see the positive and move on, but she never actually dealt with the negative. She avoided things because she didn't want to feel the negative, and it wasn't until recently that she learned this isn't a way that works for her. Self sufficient is something she can be, but not something she had always chosen to be... and that's not how she wants things.

She always had an idea of what she wanted her future to be like, and there were a few times it was right on track, but as soon as something scary came up or something not so good, she ran away.

She had always moved around a lot, and it wasn't until all of these realizations that again she realized something. She thought of it before as moving and a new adventure, but again it was really just running away.

She had a good thing going, and at times.. the good times she realized it. In the bad times she made some horrible mistakes, she made one mistake that could cost her everything. It was then many things became very clear to her, what was important became clear to her. No matter what, it's important to face the negative and to be honest. It was really hard for her and she knew she hurt others and hurt herself, but it was something she had to do. It was horrible knowing what she had done, she was the devil... but in doing so she realized a lot. She realized she finally knew what it was like to truely love another, she realized she finally did something with her heart and she did it because she knew it was right and because she wanted to, not because it was logical.

All of these things were hard for her to realize were a big deal because she was so focused on the past. It was in fact a breakthrough, something that would help her in the future.

She learned being honest and giving yourself to another person doesn't have to be scary. She learned asking for help is a big deal and it takes a lot to do that. She learned that life is billions of lessons and not all feelings are "peachy". She learned she will make mistakes and as long as she faces the mistakes and learns, things will work out, of course things work out one way or another.... but the important thing for her is that she knows it's possible to be who she wants to be, who she says she is, and who she will be. She knows running away isn't the way for her.

She is thankful for all the people in her life that have lead her to these conclusions, there are some people she can't thank enough, those people are inspirations to her and have helped her more than they will ever know. She will show these people how thankful she is and how she will show them their advice and wisdom have helped her get back to where she wants to be.

She knows she has to wait, and waiting isn't something she is good at, but it is what will be learned. It's all a process, and she seemed to have forgotten for a while, but everything is what she makes it. And she wants to make everything right, she wants to deal with things, she wants to be the person that she seems to be, and now after all this time she realizes she will be that person.

She also knows there are many tough times ahead and there is no way of knowing what will happen, but she knows she won't be running from anything anymore. She is only running to something.

There is no end of the story because this girl is still learning, the point in her story is how far she has come and how much she has learned when she did the right thing, when she did what her heart told her to do, and for that and many other things she is thankful.

Seeing and not being

I had a life changing experience over the past week. I figured out a lot, I finally did something with my heart and my head instead of doing what the logical thing would be. It's really difficult knowing I have hurt people, especially the ones I love....but it is something I did and I have to deal with.

I know I have let a lot of people down, but most of all I have let myself down. I have not been the person I said I was or the person I wanted to be. I do know though who and what I want to be and think I am on a good road at last to becoming those things. I haven't always, but now I am doing my best.

25 rolls in with a BANG

This morning started out a little rough, I was disappointed I didn't work out, but it was far more important to me to pick up my flowers!! (Thank you mom!!) I was about 10 minutes away from work when I realized I left my computer at home..ugh.

Talk about the best birthday ever!! There is nothing better than knowing someone cares about you, and what you like and the things you love. I am not big into material things, but love things that take thought. Thought is what I got this year!

Usually my birthday was a day I dreaded, maybe b/c I felt a little disappointed, but it was never a BIG day. This year it was maybe even bigger than Christmas!! I am so impressed that it's hard for me to explain.

My mom sent me flowers, which was a first, and it made me just melt! I got cards from everyone, great things that I really have PASSION (<--- hehehe) about from my sister and some lovely jewlery from my other sister.

It all started like this.... "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!"
We hung out during the day and had reservations at the Fondue place, where apparently you have some kind of 4 course meal. Our friend Ian had told me about a place called the Green Forest Brazilian Restaurant, where we decided to go... it was authentic and not a place where you would feel uncomfortable b/c it was too fancy...which could have been the case at the Melting Pot. It was a great experience, I would reccommend it to anyone!

At about 10:00 Eric gets a call from work, and he has to go in... DAMN IT. So he gave me a piece of paper with a clue on it and leaves. He lead me on a scavenger hunt... it couldn't have been any better. The idea was so authentic! He put so much time, thought, effort and love into it to make it the best present I have ever gotten! The clues were all hilarious and something only he and I would understand. He was very clever... very clever, and perhaps leading me to believe things that actually weren't!!! Tricky tricky. I would love to talk more about it, but it's something I can't put into words. The only way to describe it is possibly the best feeling I have ever gotten, the most loved I have ever felt, the best of just about everything. It meant more to me than anything ever has. It's funny b/c I am sure he knows that I loved it, but I don't think anyone has the ability to even fathom just how much it means to me.

I knew things were great and I had/have a lot to be thankful for, but you want to talk about a WOW factor?!! Well I have that for you! I feel like the luckiest girl on this earth. I have the best family, the best friends, and the best boyfriend EVER.

I AM THE LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE... LIFE IS GREAT!

The second best Christmas ever

Christmas here was wonderful. It was so great to be with my mom, Gram and Bob. It was soooo great to be with both of my sisters too. The boys were fun too, but I think they really wished Eric was there so they weren't out numbered! We were all very comical. It was great to see Digger too... Thundar!!! ahahahaha

I decided that blindsighted would be the word for 2005! Luckily the year is almost over! Of course there were so many great things that came along with it, but for me it was also a big year of learning lessons... the hard ways too. I thought the older you get the more you appreciate the people in your life, and the more you realize life is short and to treasure all those people in your life. I still think that, but I learned that some people don't, and it makes me sad that they think that way.

I am very proud of myself though, there was a situation that I was worried about, but I know there isn't anything I can do, so I just have to accept it. I did have a very upset stomach b/c of it, but when I realized it wasn't worth it, it went a way as fast as it came! I did, and I didn't spend my time worthlessly...I am so proud of myself for that!

I am thankful because I have a wonderful family. Even if all of my friends decided to hate me I have 3 best friends... and they have to always love me b/c they are my mom, and my two sisters!! :) I have the best boyfriend in the world and every day that passes he becomes more of a best friend to me as well.... who could ask for more?! The friends I have I am very thankful for too...

So presents I got...

Lots of undergarments!!!
tons of socks
life is good mittens, socks, PJ pants and a shirt (it's yellow...woohoo!)
Warm vanilla sugar bath and body works stuff... it smells so good I want to eat it!
lots of coffee
a whole bunch of spices and a nice little rack to hold them!
some fish decals for the shower... :) (no one wants to fall right?!!)
a gorgeous hat and scarf that my mom made...purple!!
Lots of swiss colony stuff, (sausage and cheese for you!)
a new luggage bag
candles
YAK TRACKS!!!
a really nice capiline shirt
lots of chapstick!!
a sweater
PENGUIN longjohns!!
lots of other stuff I am sure I am forgetting too! It's just so nice to feel so loved, and that it can overpower the feeling the I know at the same time I am truly hated too! But it's all ok, it really really is, and that is the best feeling of all!

The best day ever

So in case anyone ever wanted to try to give me the best day ever... it's been taken! I had Christmas last night with Eric! The gift exchanging was great, but the best part was how you could feel the love and thoughtfulness when you walked into the apartment. There are very few times when I felt like I could cry happy tears, but last night was one of them. There were so many great things that had nothing to do with gifts, and that's what Christmas should always be about. (I did love the gifts though!) The most comparable feeling I can think of it when I was a little kid and as soon as I saw my gifts I felt at a loss for words, but last night it was as soon as I walked in, and had nothing to do with the gifts! Guess who's going to see Moe and the Disco Biscuits play in Chicago... Eric and me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Too busy on cloud 9 :)

For my mom

I thought about writing this in an email, but then I thought... as much as it's private between us, it's important for everyone to know just how great you are! It's like I told you... well as far back as I can remember... If I could have chosen anyone in the galaxy to be my mom, I would have chosen you!

Thank you for being so wonderful.
When I stayed with Aimee, it hurt you, and you were still there everyday to pick us up for school, you let me be angry about things I would later realize were ridiculous, thank you. You let me take home stray pets without getting too angry! You let me take home Isabell and then gave Cotton to Gram, which was totally selfish of me... thank you. You threw the best baby shower ever for KT, but it really wasn't for KT it was for me, and I didn't even say thank you, so I am saying it now with ten times more love and appreciation than if I would have said it then. You have taught me so much. The thing I want to say thank you for the most is for being proud of me, and knowing that is one of the biggest priorities in my life... btw-I know you think that is crazy, but how else can you give back to someone who has given you so much?

You have taught me about the person I want to be, the person I get closer and closer to being everyday. So you didn't send patience my way, but it could be worse right?!! (had to throw some humor in!) You really made me believe in myself, especially at the hardest times, when I felt like I hadn't done anything right. You showed me that anyone can do what they put their mind to, that love is more important than anything. So what we weren't rich, we had more than most families will ever have... each other. There is nothing more real than that. Of course there will always be that part of us that wants to be rich!!! But we have what the "walsh's" of the world don't... real life and real love! We don't need to be fake about the way we feel b/c we really are best friends, it was a long time of loving, hurting and learning to get this way... but I think there is no better feeling a daughter could ever wish for! Thank you for wanting to "agree to disagree" I think if a lot of people could agree to that things would be much easier for so many people!

Thank you for all the memories you have helped me collect. Thank you for being you, thank you for being my best friend, and most of all thank you for letting me wait this long to say thank you for all of the wonderful things you do, not just for me... for the world.