Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

I'm sorry I've been MIA lately and haven't been good about responding to messages. Everything's fine here, just extremely busy and I've been too tired when I get home to turn on the computer. I've been literally just falling into bed at night. (That IS sad.)

I hope everyone is doing well and not stressing too much during these strange times. I'll be back soon with more to say, but for now, I couldn't resist a "quickie"--this comic was too good not to share.

Hugs, kisses, and other indoor sports,
- Annie

Real people wouldn't really use their religion as an excuse to rob others of their dignity, rights, and even their lives, would they? Certainly a country that prides itself on its ideals of freedom and diversity wouldn't do that... Its leaders wouldn't brag about killing the enemy and create amendments to restrict the rights of its own citizens...

It's just a comic, right?

- A.

I was just sitting here, feeling sorry for myself because I have to study today for a test tomorrow, but I'd rather be eating ice cream and drinking beer. Then the song Shut Up and Smile by Bowling For Soup came on, and I'm reminded of two things:

1. I need to just shut up and smile

2. All I really need is love and beer, some ice cream and a hug

So I’m gonna’ take a break now and go get me some of that.





May your day be full of those things that make YOU happy!

Happy July 4th!!!

-- Annie



Wise words from silly guys:

SHUT UP AND SMILE
by Bowling For Soup

It’s not the end of the world
In fact its not even the end of the summer
But thank god the TV is on
Cuz there’s no way we could know
Anything that’s goin’ down
Or how were supposed to be feeling about it
I can’t tell you how much I wish we could shut up and smile, yeah

Sail around the world and tell them all to keep singing it
la la la la la la
All we needs a harmony and we’ll convince the world to sing
la la la la la la
Throw your arms around someone (throw your arms around someone)
Maybe spread a little love
I know it sounds a little dumb (or maybe I’m a little drunk)
But all we need is some ice cream and a hug…

Take a good look around
Does life really suck
Are we just complaining
I hope that this mic is on (testing 1, 2)
Cuz im on a roll here
I hope this is making some sense
I hope that you’ll throw up your hands and sing it
And tell all the haters that they should just shut up and smile, yeah

Sail around the world and tell them all to keep singing it
la la la la la la
all we needs a harmony and we’ll convince the world to sing
la la la la la la

Throw your arms around someone (throw your arms around someone)
Maybe spread a little love
I know it sounds a little dumb (or maybe I’m a little drunk)
But all we need is some ice cream

All we need is love and beer
And old school metal and holiday cheer
TO be happy
(All you need is someone near)
Like Ben and Jerry
(To hold you close and pretend that they care)

Can we all just, get along now
We found something that we all have in common now
We can hold hands, do keg stands
Water skiing sounds great to me now

Sail around the world and tell them all to keep singing it
la la la la la la
all we needs a harmony and we’ll convince the world to sing
la la la la la la
Throw your arms around someone (throw your arms around someone)
Maybe spread a little love
I know it sounds a little dumb (or maybe we’re a little drunk)
But all we need is some ice cream and a hug

(Chanting “All we need is love and beer”)
all we need is some ice cream and a hug
all we need is some ice cream and a hug
all we need is some ice cream and a hug

FIVE THINGS I’M GRATEFUL FOR THIS SUNDAY

1. Sleeping In
2. Spooning
3. Rainy Mornings
4. Mellow Music Mixes
5. Frosted Flakes

LOST: ONE HARD DRIVE, GAINED: A BETTER PERSPECTIVE

I’ve got a mid-term tomorrow, so once again, my time here is limited. I’m sure I’ll do just fine on it, but stressing out beforehand is just my way…

I wrote this little essay for class that I wanted to post, but my hard drive crashed this week and all my photos, writing, paper creations, and work stuff is gone. My husband tried to salvage some things, but apparently once your hard drive starts sparking, it’s pretty much a goner. At least my music files were on a separate drive. And I have hard copies of most of the major stuff, like my resume and children’s plays. The photos and work stuff will be sorely missed, though.

My husband was expecting a major melt down when he told me that everything was gone. But after hearing that an acquaintance’s husband died last week, my lost hard drive didn’t even seem worth wasting a second thought on. It’s just stuff. The things that really matter are right in front of me and my energy is better spent appreciating them while they are still here.

So please go hug someone you love. And if you have time, back up your files too! (I will from now on, trust me…)

I’m off to enjoy a slow, snuggly Sunday and hope you do the same!

- A.

I got on a rant and almost forgot my Friday Things...

FIVE THINGS I’M GRATEFUL FOR THIS FRIDAY

1. Guacamole
2. Overtime
3. Balloon Animals
4. Quantum Leap Reruns
5. Afternoon Naps (I think I remember what those are…)

Have a fabulous weekend, fellow bloggers!

- A.