Every Once and a while there is a song....

Songs are written to be easily related too. Well- most of the time. So it doesn't surpise me when I hear songs about a girl who has a smart mouth and blue eyes and he loves her anyways and blah blah blah. I don't have that "OMG this is soooo my song!!!" moment that you have when you are 16 and you want to impress your friends by saying "My boyfriend says that songs totally reminds him of me..." when you actually just made it up to watch their faces twist into an "awwww"; to praise a "relationship" that will last 3 weeks.

 Some of my favorite songs are beautifully simple- anyone can relate to them; but they are so divine in the way they communicate the emotions we go through that it makes the hair on your arms stand up, your throat swell, and becomes a permanent song on your Ipod. You can be in a perfect relationship, and hear a song you heard after a bad break-up or event in your life- and have it just torture you. I found a playlist on my Ipod the other day with the kind of songs I'm talking about- I had it saved on the computer but didn't listen to it because it was so emotionally exhausting. Ups and Downs and curveballs..These are some of me best memories, and some of my happiest moments. These are the songs I listened to with my best friends, and These are the nights I spent curled in a ball crying on my bedroom floor, these are the songs I listened to falling in love-and trying to let go of it. So much intensity for 25 years! Haha; but everyone has those songs- and these area few of mine...


1.)If You Wanna Be My Lover- Spice Girls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YdemGR2Hcw&feature=fvsr

Yes the Spice Girls!!! I spent more time jumping on the bed with hairbrushes (microphones-duh!) with Jill, Megan., and Jessica singing this song than I did anything else there for a stint of time. We all had our little parts...and oh the clothes...haha. Just love them :)

2.)We Danced Anyways- Deana Carter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE66MPAO3Es

Like any little girl- I wanted to be a singer. I would put on headphones and sing to Nicole so she couldn't hear Deana Carter- and she would reassure me I could be a singer (What a good sport) haha. She loved me enough to lie! Im sure an 8 years old's version of this song is bad enough- but ACAPELLA? Sheesh. Everytime I hear it I think of that :) then I think of when I was older- 5th grade to be exact- I sang it for my music teacher to try our for the talent show. I had somewhat found my voice by now, but she didn't cast me! Bitch. I was robbed.

3.)Kokomo- beach Boys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ChADh1zt5I

This is the first song I remember; I used to put this in my little tape player and dance around in my underwear dreaming about all the places the Beach Boys sang about, i guess i was a travel junkie even as a kid. I would swing around my babydolls and shake my little hiney haha. Good times.

4.)Truly, Madly, Deeply- Savage Garden

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQnAxOQxQIU

Oh my gosh! The first time I danced with a boy- 6th grade. He will remain nameless- but I just thought he was the GREATEST thing since sliced bread. I couldn't breathe- and I felt like I was gonna pass out. My hands were so clammy haha- gross. Oh wow. I floated home and wrote all about it in my diary. Then locked it up tight of course and hid the key in its normal place, the pillowcase, and fell asleep smiling.

5.) All My Life- K-Ci and Jojo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXvMT_mVbqw

Ohhh bring on the heartbreaks of our youth. Remember the aforementioned school dance? Well this was the one after it- like 3 months later. Same guy too- yeah this was a long one haha. I had been standing there all night looking all wall- flowerish in my denim and white belly shirt and best jeans- no results had come of my  "oooh im so boooored (look at him) oooh i wish I could dance I love this song (look at him)" subtleness, so I finally had worked up the ladyballs to ask him to dance to THIS song. He looks at me and says "Umm- she asked me-maybe later?" oh.    my .  god.  It was so Jessi Spano's caffeine pill-breakdown in Saved By the Bell (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bflYjF90t7c) that I was found boo-hooing in the girls bathroom for the rest of the dance and refused to talk to him for weeks lol. Oh goodness if only that were the worst it ever got. Sure felt like it though.



6.)Honey- Mariah Carey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3KOowB4k_k

oh Jessica's stepdad was a patient man. Back when the greatest thing ever was going to the mall for your birthday; he took us for her 13th or something- and gave her a pager haha, (she later asked us to page her when she was getting her nails done...just so it would look cool ;)  I bought this tape and we listened to it about 100 times on the way home and for weeks. 7 girls singing this song-even all the "aaaaaah's" and "ooooooh's" and at the top of our lungs was sure to be annoying to say the least haha.

7.)Butterfly- Crazy Town

Fast Forward a few years- I am 15-ish and have a boyfriend. Ohhh man and he was cutie pie. We would i.m. chat all the time, and hold hands, and I got all giggly and nervous when he would put his arm around me. I was always blushing and making up excuses to hug him. He had the longest eyelashes I had ever seen. We went ice-skating and were taking a break and this song comes on and he looks at me, smiles, and says "Cmon babe- come and dance with me.." i'm pretty sure we almost fell alot- but we were on the ice to this song. Great guy, that one. Still a friend of mine :)

8.)Breathe- Faith Hill

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCmsZUN4r_s

Fast forward to high school, another dance- they were the death of me haha- I had been sort-of dating a guy for a while, and we kind of broke it off and he was at this dance with this girl, ugh, who was not half as cute as I was. Or so I believed at the time. Scratch that- still believe it haha. I had watched them all night and was sick of it, She was all rubbing his arm and glancing at me...I was getting ready to leave when this song comes on. I'm standing next to a girlfriend and in true pre-drinking age fashion- I chug what is left of my punch, slam down the cup, turn on my 22 dollar high heels and start strutting. I grab him, we dance for about minute and I kiss him. I brace myself stand on my tiptoes, put my hand on the back of his neck and just lay one on him. Then I smile at her- and walk out. I'm pissed and teary eyed and walking on gravel- ouch, when he comes up behind me and like a teen movie I turn- and as one tear falls I say "I don't want to hear it- have fun." SLAM goes the car door, and me and my girlfriends are off. Ha. Thats when I started getting bitchy I think....

9.)Rock Your Body- Justin Timberlake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSVHoHyErBQ

Its after highschool- and Im at my usual weekend spot. Dancing to this song and drinking terrible beer. Im keeping it light- trying not to get to worked up over the fact that my new love interest is totally wonderful. Everyone's having a good time and laughing at the ones who started to early and are stumbling by now. My best friend and I are secretly pouring the terrible beer down the sink or carrying the same one for hours...weren't into drinking a whole lot back then. Let the good times roll.

10.)When I hear your Name- Keith Anderson; Tell Me That it's Not Just Me- Rascal Flatts

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx47k1c5dvk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtjmhhCw0hA

its 4 or so months later; Yes-we had broken up. and these songs ruined me. Simple as that.

11.)When I'm Up- Great Big Sea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-oC-kNtPTs

Back Together- Yay!

12.) Iris- Goo Goo Dolls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdYWuo9OFAw

Tears, Lakes, Stars, Late night Drives and

Bad Decisions. Broken up again.

13.)I Feel Bad- Rascal Flatts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZZijys9Zu4

In the words of the former song "You can't fight the tears that aint comin...." If anyone's ever reached this point...it pretty much blows. Its almost as bad as missing someone so terribly you can't sleep. When you start to forget and not care.... that's when It just kind of pitiful.

ONE YEAR LATER.........


14.)Everything Else Disappears- Sister Hazel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc3Aj0eZq3w

I swear this song is when Jon and I met. I felt like my final puzzle piece. The first time I noticed him was when he laughed. It was so loud- it filled the entire room. It gave me butterflies- weirdest thing ever. I hadn't even seen his face yet- but I knew I wanted to know him.

15.)She Likes Me for Me- Blessed Union of Souls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9CjkWQ9tOI

Jon calls me one night and says "Hey! Ive been listening to this song and dancing in my underwear- reminds me of you! Listen to it! Haha. So cute.

16.)Far Away- Nickelback; Don't Say Goodbye-Skillet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4y-RzVGrHg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XzA0FEEyF8


We are broken up. Im in the fetal position on my bedroom floor. I have literally ripped my bed apart and thrown it out because I can't sleep in it. These songs still makes me feel sick.

17.) Over You- Chris Daughtry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m02-RHN_hQE

Pissed off part of my breakup haha- I've got a new bed after 2 months; Me and Jill are wearing bandana's and painting my bedroom bright colors and blaring this song- Its a lie of course; but Im trying to be positive and the anger helps.

18.)Crazy Love- Van Morrison

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vS8GKcl9KQ

Long story short- Jon pulls his head out of his hiney after I wont speak a word for 6 months via e-mail, text, phone or through friends, and 4 and a half years later here we are. Love of my life. Could've killed him- but good things come to those who wait. <3 <3 <3

Practicality... overrated or completely necessary?

I have an addiction. A BIG one. It's all I can think about a lot of the time. Everytime I pay all of my bills and have some left over I put it in my savings account, buy myself a drink, and usually dream of making more money. Shallow I know. Food, shelter, and basic survival necessities....like Netflix.... dominate my bank account. I'm fine with this. Usually. But then I get that all familiar feeling. The itch- if you will. I start to dream about it. So I start a change jar as a "If I have extra change, i'll just throw it in here and see what happens" convenience,

 ---->Which turns into a "just a few bucks every shift...." 

 To a "hmmm could probably throw a 20 in there and not miss it..." 

 To a full blown-foaming-at-the-mouth, pick up extra shifts, 

work until I can barely stand, money -grubbing fiasco.

 All to contribute to what started as a "change jar".  It's time to come clean.

I am a total and complete travel junkie.

Next to my boyfriends kisses, I never knew I would crave something more than chocolate.

Chocolate is a beautiful thing. It makes me happy when I am sad, Paying for it has never been a problem, There is always an abundance of it everywhere I go...

But travel....oh travel how you have stolen my heart.  You make my mind dance, and the corners of my mouth turn up slightly into a bright smile when I think about you. You dominate my dreams; and I wake up in a trance after one of our escapades together to Jamaica, Italy, or....dare I say it..... DISNEY WORLD.

I am a total addict. I have been very blessed in my semi-adult life to have gotten to see a few places, usually by the gracious nature of the wonderful people in my life. I have always been fairly careful- never doing more than I could, saving for a year or more in a seperate account from my regular savings account before taking a trip, turning them down if I just couldn't stomach the cost of it... I saved 5000.00 to put down on my car like I planned, still have 1200.00 in a savings account and add to it regularly, always pay my bills on time, live fairly frugally but don't feel deprived of getting to be fairly social.....why am I defending myself? Because Im SICK of being practical.

Ugh. I hate it. I love it in the sense that I can take care of myself, and I'm arrogant enough to REALLY enjoy that, but other than that I just hate it.  I couldn't be irresponsible financially if I tried...i just don't have it in me. Im way to OCD. But sometimes I get so sick of not being like others my age and just jet-setting and "seeing what happens.". On that note, I have done some soul-searching lately, and decided after much back and forth tugging and number crunching and trying to talk myself out of it.....for 5 years....that (pardon my french) Im going to f*ckin Disney World.

Now....Im going to Chicago in July, but thanks to Jon's new Honda Civic that gets killer gas mileage (Thank you Scott and Paula) and our gracious friends Chase and Diandra, we will be driving there cheaply,eating lots of meals in-home, and staying for free. While we will definitely be exploring the city and hitting the famous haunts i.e. Cubs Game, Lake Michigan, and a Lunch/Dinner Cruise from Navy Pier, it should be fairly inexpensive. Good for me because as aforementioned- I'm a travel junkie but I'm also stingy, Good for Jon because he's a downright Jew, and has an important piece of jewelry to pay for sometime THIS YEAR.

These were our plans.Well.....introduce the lovely Merric and Alisha into the mix.

Meet Alisha: Gorgeous, funny,  thoughtful, my "Monday Fun-day" and girl date companion;

AND very good at "that's what she said" jokes... (yes Im flattering her- soon you will see why...)  whose parents own part of a resort on DISNEY PROPERTY. and-get this-she gets to stay there, with pals, FOR FREE.  I am not completely shallow- we were already very good friends before I realized she wasn't just awesome- but came with perks.

Now meet Merric-

Also very pretty, silly,so  fun to be around, dating one of my favorite men ever, 

and looks like Erin from the Office. (I'm sorry...I had to...)

She is a lucky bizzle who got to work there. and gets in for free (insert knife into my heart) BUT- can also get in friends for free for 5 days. Oh.    My.   God.  

Yes. you heard me. I didn;t know either of these things until after I voiced that I would go to Disney World, by myself  if I had to cut out my own kidney- Aron Ralston style, sell it on the black market, and get a tattoo on my face. I don't know what those have to do with each other. Its just really damn dramatic.

Then I hear these two things, Then get this, Mark (Merric's boo and my buddy) says he's in.  SCORE. and. after begging and pleading, LITERALLY ALMOST TEARY-EYED, and swearing I'd pay for us both (even though he won't let me) Jon agrees. If this works out financially as cheap as it could- he is totally in as well.   I am a happy, happy. girl. I now am contributing to my Disney Jar. It hasn't taken precedence over anything else yet, I am still keeping up with my regular savings account, but I've gotta say....I can see myself eating alot of Ramen if it means saving on groceries....and going to Disney ;)

So, I ask you a question, is it completely impractical for me to be traveling instead of saving for a house instead? or something along those lines? We both have new vehicles, my payments aren't a problem, I have $$ in a separate account and my credit card balance is basically nothing. We have no debt, and live in a shoebox but are happy with it. We will have a wedding- but plan on having a lengthy engagement to put money back to put twoards it, and we don't plan on having kids soon-so we don't really need a house... but should a house be what we should be concentrating on? Am I being impractical....or simply doing what I can when I can; because I can? I'll be straight with you- I'm going to go no matter what the feedback is-haha; but your advice honestly is welcomed and appreciated. :)