Okay, so it's been a while... To catch up, my sister is having a baby! So far his name is Voldemort, the baby who shall not be named. I don't know if this is normal or not, but I'M SO FREAKING EXCITED!! I'm going to be an auntie!! The poor kid's going to have...let's see...6 uncles. And until all of my brother-in-law's brothers get married, I'm the only auntie! Naturally I'm going to have to spoil the kid to death. So tonight I went over to my sister's for some vegetarian stew...yum yum...and I felt the baby move! LOTS! Kicking and twirling and flipping and everything! It's just really surreal to watch my sister grow and grow. She looks more and more like my mom every time I see her! So anyhoo, the baby is due January 4th but I have a feeling he'll arrive much sooner. Closer to Christmas. Maybe a New Year's baby? In other news, it's almost my birthday!!!!! I'll be 25. A quarter of a century. The official 20-something. I haven't made plans yet, as my bestest friend is going to Vegas for that weekend for a wedding. My birthday also usually falls on the following: the Bear's Halloween Howler, any given Halloween Party, daylight savings time. There's a new piano bar in town, I'd like to check it out. If it's anything like the one at New York New York in Vegas, it will be a BLAST!! aiiight later

It's a lie. I could very well live a satisfying life without watching the rest of season 1 of LOST. However, so many people have been talking about how great this show is, that we feel like we should give it a chance. It's just that there's this 'thing' on the island. It whispers and stuff, and the last time it killed someone was a month ago when the plane first crashed. There are polar bears on the island. Okay...I'm just going to let this one go for the time being. It's a goddamn polar bear on a tropical island though...they really could have done better than that. I find it quite amusing that every person who survived this plane crash has some sort of specialized skill or talent or dangerous back story: we've got a doctor, a fairly famous drug-addict band member, a 9 mos pregnant girl, 2 outlaws, a freaky guy who knows everything and is the hunter of the group, an Iraqi soldier, the token fat guy, the token black guy who has a son that he hasn't seen in 10 years since his birth, a chinese lady who plants all these wonderful medicinal plants, an ex-model who is useless, etc. I'm just going to ignore my better judgement and continue watching the show. It's GOT to get better.

Yo yo my peeps, the shizzle in the hizzle is almost complete. The place almost looks spectacular. Now, if you are wondering what on earth to get us for a housewarming present, here are a few ideas:

A million dollars: This would allow a couple of additional house purchases to do some flips. With the money we make from the turn around, your million will come back to you. And we'll pay interest by having lots of parties with open bars and live DJ and light shows.

A gas fireplace: You'll love to come over and watch the fake logs burn while sipping at your Bailey's and coffee, provided by, of course, yours truly.

A high top table, or 'bistro' table: They are utterly impossible to find, but the only thing that would look funky in the dining room/common area.

We'll need 6 stools: 4 for the table and 2 for the bar. Thank you.

A 42" or so LCD screen TV: This one is for you too! You are welcome to come over and watch whatever you like, be it '24' or the good ol' hockey game! Aren't you lucky!! pssst...you can even have your own key!!

Leather couches: This, like the last item, are things that are next in line for purchase, but require some saving and probably a second job. Just think though: you can spend more time with US because we won't be working 2 jobs!!!! Again, you should be so lucky!

These are just some of the things that I could think of that would benefit ALL of us. Now, I could be selfish and ask for little things, like black appliances, even something fairly inexpensive like a jacuzzi tub!! But instead I chose things that all of us could enjoy, together. Love y'all!

Remember when the Dixie Chicks announced that they were ashamed that George Bush was from Texas? Well they are releasing a new album in May and on their website is the lyrics to their first song released from that album.

 I heard it once, and figured it was about love or an ex or something. Bree informed me that it isn't. It's about some girl that wrote them a letter about the Bush comment. Kudos to the Dixie Chicks for writing a song about it and standing their ground.

Perhaps on stage at an awards show was not the best place to vent frustrations about the war in Iraq, but a song is okay. In the States, "Freedom of Speech" doesn't actually exist. It exists, but only if you are not talking about War, Abortion, or any kind of prejudice. I haven't seen the letter that was written to the Chicks, but from the lyrics I would assume that it was somewhat of a death threat.

"Shut up or your life will be over".

So kudos for releasing a song just to put this letter girl in her place. And that's right, take all the Dixie Chicks songs out of your radio station's logs because they don't believe the war is right and they don't like Bush. But you're not going to change anyone's mind.

www.dixiechicks.com have a listen.

I used to pray everyday when I was in my pre-teens/teens. Not for world peace or for my aunt whoever, and not for anything that normal people pray for. I prayed for 3 things throughout those awkward years:

 In elementary, I prayed to be taller. I was always about a year's worth shorter than everyone in my grade. I was picked on constantly. It sounds silly to an adult, but kids are very mean.

In junior high I prayed to God that I would hit puberty. I was the last of anyone I knew to grow boobs and get my period. SO uncool.

In high school I prayed that I would gain weight. I was called everything from "anorexic" to "boneser" and I would never be caught dead in shorts or skirts.

I'm now 24 and all of my prayers have been answered. I grew taller, I grew boobs, and I grew width-wise. It took me a very long time to be comfortable in my own skin, thanks to all the teasing and bullying. I never thought in a million years I would ever utter the words, "I'm fat" or "these pants make me look fat" or "they don't fit anymore". But alas, the time has come. My metabolism has slowed and I have reached the age of twenty-something, when I find myself looking at ads and other women and being jealous. So finally I have set myself some goals. I've joined Curves for women and there are no chips or cookies in my cupboards. I am going to eat right and regularly, and work out at least 3 times a week. I am going to lose 15 pounds in the next month and a half.

I know I'm not fat, I just don't feel good about myself anymore. I don't feel sexy or pretty. I don't put on something and pose in front of the mirror. I look through magazines and want to strangle anyone who's 'perfect'. I am now just like every other woman. Congrats to me! By summer I will be smokin' in a bathing suit and wear my old green pants. (I still have them Bree, shhh!)