"If he asked for a free cup of coffee, Gimpy's goin' down"

Basically, regardless of personal doubt or issues I have a pretty good life right now. I have a fabulous job, good friends (a small group, but good friends), a wonderful family, HEALTH (mental and physical), and a future ahead of me that I can do anything with. I am very lucky and I plan to acknowledge that daily and start to actually plan my life-well at least start looking at colleges and potential majors/careers again.
The reasoning for this post is because this week I have discovered a few shocking and scary things about people I know and knew. No names will be listed but here is what happened:
1) discovered that 2 people I went to HS with (and KNEW decently well) are in prison for slightly various reasons (ask if you really want to know)
2) another person I went to HS with (and again, KNEW decently well) is one the run from the FBI for a terrifying reason
3) one of my oldest and dearest friends got in a horrible car accident and MIRACULOUSLY walked away with only some bruised ribs. She is a very lucky person and someone was definitely looking out for her and I am so grateful for that.
So yeah, my life is pretty good right now. I will happily (hopefully) take what challenges come my way in life with a smile (or grimace) and learn from them and run with them. I have no reason to shy away from life and the above shocking and scary things prove that life is short and I don't want something stupid or blink-and-life's-gone thing to ruin that.

So everyone. We are lucky to be alive and I am happy to be who I am, where I am. It can only get better (for me at least) from here.

*title is just funny. not in relation to anything in this post*

"I've been higher."

I just got back from a FANTASTIC trip home and to my wonderful cabin! It was just what I needed to "recharge" my batteries. It was beautiful up in Island Park and Yellowstone! I took so many GORGEOUS pictures! I personally think you should go check my flickr account to see the rest because the pictures of the rainbow from mesa falls are SUBLIME! I can't believe how lucky we were to be there to see it! Also, that moose (or merse...?) was so cool! And Yellowstone was great! It was the perfect trip! I loved being there with my mom and brother and sister-in-law. Bacarac is such a great great game! And careers! I am BEYOND thrilled that the cabin will be around for a few more years to come. At least. It was the icing to the cake that was the greatest trip! And going to dinner with my sister and her husband and baby and stepdad (and of course mom isaac and lesley) was a great way to end the trip! My nephew is just too cute for words!!

I'm so lucky to have gone on this trip and I wouldn't exchange it for anything. But I am thrilled to be back and can't wait to see my little boys on Sunday! :D
Again, I STRONGLY encourage you all to look at flickr...you will not be disappointed...
Okay. I'm done now!

"It's just, it's always the good kids who've never had a drink that take one sip of Kahlua and fall out of a window."

Time for some memories! Took this from amelia...thought I'd try it. I'd love to hear what you have to say! (Don't be shy now!)
Here are the rules.
1. As a comment on my blog, leave a memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember! If we're only blogging friends, write about a post that is most memorable. If you don't have a blog and don't know how to sign in, please comment as anonymous.
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll be sure to write one about you... either on your blog, in my comment box, or I will email you back!
3. If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all ☺

"Would it give you that much pleasure to hear me say "ass"?"

So I went to Louisiana to visit my dad and it was AWESOME!!!! Totally enjoyable!! The south, as I've apparently forgotten, is GORGEOUS! I miss how pretty it is... The picture grid is just the tip top of the massive amount of pictures and videos! You all MUST check out my Flickr account to see them all...they are truly beautiful, and not just cuz I took them. :D
It was also of course great to see my dad and dana. (and also mitch!) We played games (of course) and then much to my happiness, i randomly (and not completely seriously) that my da

d take us all to the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino. He did. My daddy took me to a CASINO!!! Picture of our complimentary shirt on Flickr...It was FANTASTIC!!!! I lost the 40 bucks I went with but I had a blast doing it!!!! Dad was happy. He won 85 bucks!
While there, we also went to see what is best described as a war zone. The St. Bernard's Parish, Lower 9th ward neighborhood and community. It was so deserted and so sad to see. I physically couldn't take pictures of it because it was so hard to see. The flood that followed Hurricane Katrina absolutely demolished the city. Some houses were gone, some were just deserted, and some were even rebuilt or att

empted to be rebuilt...That was hard to see because 911 and Katrina were the 2 biggest things to happen in my life time and I will still never know how it truly affected the people who lived through the disasters. It was sort of humbling to see...
With that said, I had an AMAZING trip and I was thrilled to have it and I miss my dad but I'm glad to be back at work (and to go to my cabin this weekend!!!)! :D When I pulled up to the house, Connor was still awake and was so excited to see me, he started running/dancing around singing "Abbey's back. Abbey's back. Abbey's back." and so on until his parents put him to bed. So cute!! :D :D I had a blast and I hate that my dad (and others) are so far away!

Oh and you better believe I got a Mardi Gras mask!!
It looks a little creepy in the picture though...



I was going to upload a video but it wasn't working...just go to flickr and check out the awesome pictures and videos!!! Enjoy!!!!

Okay, i'm done! :D