Walter and my dad - BFF!

Though Walter moved away, he, mysteriously, is still around A LOT! I guess my dad's helping him with some stuff. Last night I got home with my car loaded with a bunch of stuff. My family was helping me unload it and Walter decided to lend his helping hand. Afterward, he lingered and after everyone went in the house he asked if I got the note he left on my car. I said, "yeah, I did. I don't know how to respond Walter." He said, "That's okay. You don't have to respond. Your smile is enough for me."

Tonight my dad told me that Walter told him he talked to his mom about me. His mom told him that he needed to change his ways so he could get me. He also showed my dad a picture of Jesus hugging a bum and told him that's what he lives by. The best part is when he took off his shirt to show my dad the tattoo covering his entire back of Jesus face down in the dirt carrying the cross. I think that's just frightening.

PS- My dad asked me if he could invite Walter to Christmas dinner.

Comment from Toronto

This is my second entry today, but I just wanted to share my excitement with you all. I got my first comment from a perfect stranger yesterday. I thought the only people that read my blog were people that know me. It made my day!

Stupid alarm clock!

I went to bed last night at about 11:30 and set my alarm for 5:30 am. I was planning to wake up and spend a couple hours doing my last minute cramming before my final. I really needed the 2 hours. When I woke up, it was light outside, which I thought was strange because I never heard my alarm. IT WAS 7:49!!! My final started at 8:30 and I live 20 minutes from school in NO traffic. I did the only thing possible - put my hair in a pony tail, threw on some clothes straight from the hamper, loaded my laptop, sprinted out the door, peeled out of my driveway, and started crying. Only by the grace of God did I make it to my final with 10 minutes to spare...sans the extra 2 hours of studying. Again...how have I made it this far through law school?

Finals

I have a final that I'm not ready for in 10 hours and yet I'm re-reading my past blogs. Seriously, what is wrong with me and how have I made it this far in law school?

Crazy letter

I have this next door neighbor. Let's call him....Walter. He's nice enough, but not so bright and a little on the creepy side. He asked me out several months ago, but we just never got around to going...shoot! Well anyway, he told my mom a while ago he wanted to be with me forever and make little red-headed babies (apparently he doesn't know my red comes from a bottle). Well I pretty much thought he was harmless, especially after I started noticing a new woman at his house a lot. My mom confirmed he had a girlfriend. I'm now out of the Walter woods, so to speak. Or am I? So I walked out to my car Monday morning and noticed something on my windshield. I have a secret confession to make at this point. Often, as I walk to my car, I hope for some little note or card or ANYTHING to be left on my windshield. I don't know why I wish that. It has never happened...until Monday. As I approach my car, I see that the outside of the folded paper says "To my beautiful flower, Tara." It's so sad, but I knew that Walter would be the only one crazy enough to write that. I unfold the paper and find a 4 PAGE handwritten letter. Below are some excerpts:

"The reason I look for so long when you come home is because you are my sunshine. You run shyly, my heart flutters." - What he doesn't understand is that I don't run shyly, I just RUN!

"I was talking to Craig a while back and I understand how you feel about men. But I choose to be different by choice. I know how to love you." - Craig is another neighbor. While I love him dearly and have known him since I was 2, he's as crazy as Walter. What do either of them think they know about how I feel about men?

"I would like to spend more time with you and if the ball bounces right, that time could be forever." - Is he really dillusional?

The funny thing is that our interaction to this point has been so limited that I cannot even imagine where this is coming from. What do I do now? I can't possibly talk to him or face him. I wouldn't have a clue how to respond. So for now, I just hide, duck, and run to and from my car. Should I worry for my safety? Can he possibly be an emotionally balanced person?

I almost died (again)!

I was sound asleep at 3:00 am last night when I was JOLTED awake by a big crash bang boom! Then I see it...a shelf that was hanging on my wall when I fell asleep was now lying about 3 inches from my head on my pillow.

Apparently, one of the shelves on my wall above my bed decided it was tired of being there and just leaped off the wall. On it, was a large porcelain figurine of Christ, a glass vase with a fake flower in it, and a candle holder with a brass base. They all came spontaneously crashing down, shattering and almost nailing me in the head.

It took a while for me to get back to sleep. I got up and cleaned it up, but was quite shaken. When I did sleep, I just dreamed that everything on my wall was attacking me. But hey, whatcha gonna do?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving was wonderful! My family all left town and went to Utah. I had the house to myself all weekend and so much peace and quiet. Thanksgiving day was great because I had no obligations and several invitations. I spent the morning watching a movie with MM followed by a nice long walk with CJ. Then I went to my Grandma's house for about an hour and then to my friend Kari's for dinner #2. It was a lovely afternoon. Later, Kari, Kari's mom, MM and I went to see Walk the Line (which was good). It was a good day!

Another shower story

What is it with showers? My 19 year old cousin is getting married and her bridal shower was on Tuesday. We have a tradition at bridal showers to videotape the groom in an interview and then ask the bride how she thinks he responded to the questions. So one question to the groom was..."What are the 3 top things that would make Brooke a good wife?" Then she gets a chance to guess his answer. DO YOU KNOW WHAT SHE SAID???? 1- cooking 2- cleaning 3- I can't think of a third, maybe having babies. Do I really need to comment? RIDICULOUS! How can someone go into marriage with such low expectations? Thankfully his answer was quite a bit better. 1- kindness 2- loving 3- (ok, so I don't remember #3, but it was along the same lines). I just don't understand.

PS- Who came up with the idea of bridal showers anyway? Who made it socially acceptable for women to gather and offer congratulations in the form of underwear while all the other women watch?

New CJ Pics

Okay so really...isn't he the cutest thing you've ever seen? Actually, my mom told me that he's not really cute. Is it true? Does CJ have the face that only a mother could love. I can't bear the thought! What if i have ugly kids and I don't even know it? Regardless, I'm still in love with him!

We've started going on walks. The first walk we ever took was so funny. We passed a house with dogs in the back yard. They started barking up a storm and I swear, CJ jumped straight into my arms. I've never seen him leap that high. Such a little sissy!

Bed & Baggage

I'm a moron #1:
About a week and a half ago, I was lying in bed on a Sunday morning. CJ (puppy) was underneath my bed chewing on something. I could hear him, but I had no idea what he was chewing on. So I leaned over while still lying in bed to investigate the chewing. I was leaning, leaning, leaning. All of the sudden....BOOM! The rest of my body lost balance and my legs came flailing off the bed. My left leg slammed into a chair, sending both the chair and my laptop that was on the chair flying. I was fully sprawled out on the floor by this point. My leg was throbbing, my dignity had been destroyed. Who falls off their bed while they are awake??? So I sat on the floor whining for a little while. When I realized there was no one there to feel sorry for me, I got up and got back in bed. I'm not sure I ever did figure out what CJ was chewing on.

I'm a moron #2:
For Christmas last year, my parents gave me luggage. I loved the luggage because it didn't look like any other luggage I'd seen. It was this fish scale looking texture of brown and tan. I went to Utah with my mom last weekend with my luggage. When we landed in Salt Lake, I went straight to baggage claim to retrieve my fish scale luggage. It was one of the first ones out...lucky me. My mom and I were out the door in no time. It was about 10 pm that we flew in and about 11:30 that I was ready to go to bed. I opened my suitcase and saw some candy on top...my mom must have stashed it. But did my mom also stash a purple bikini and size 4 jeans. I really doubt it! The embarrassing part is that it took me a good 30 seconds of confusion to realize I had taken someone elses bag. So I call the airline and it seems she took my bag too. GREAT! She could be in Idaho or China for that matter by now. I call the number on her tag and get a voicemail. The airline was less than helpful. I finally give up and with some borrowed pajamas and a new toothbrush from my grandma, I settle in on the couch for the night. About 12:30, Marissa (it fits that a size 4 jean would belong to someone named Marissa) called me. Apparently she didn't get my voicemail because her cell phone is in her bag that I have. Well it turned out okay. We just met the next morning and exchanged bags. But seriously people! JUST CHECK THE TAG BEFORE YOU TAKE THE BAG!