Well, in 15 hours it will be 2012.
And. I. Am. Stoked.
2011 has had many up's and down's.
I got good grades.
I worked at Walmart for a month.
I made new friends.
I still cried too much over silly things.
I have a baby cousin who is just too cute for words!
I'm broke.
I made more memories with my friends and family that I'm going to cherish forever.
And I finally found a boy who doesn't care if my hair looks like a lion's mane, or that I am a complete nerd, or that I can be a major diva sometimes. He just likes me for ME and that has been the greatest blessing of 2011.
Although this year has been great, I have VERY high hopes for 2012.
London, 9 months.
Nine freakin months.
Happy New Year! :)
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Christmas love.
Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. I love the spirit of love, faith and family that's in the air during the month of December. I'm in such a good mood the whole month, I don't even mind the snow!
As a child, my siblings and I would wake up around 5 on Christmas morning and have to wait until my dad got home from milking the cows, which was usually around 8. We would watch movies and pester my mom for three hours. When my dad was finally home we would have to wait on the stairs until our parents gave us the okay to come running down and into the living room, where we would exclaim and squeal at all the presents under the tree. We opened our stockings first; I remember one Christmas we all got dinosaur figurines from The Land Before Time movies. After that we passed out all the presents to each other and then ripped them open to see what Santa brought.
Now, my parents have to wake me up on Christmas morning when it's time to open presents!
As I've grown up the real meaning of Christmas has become more and more apparent. My parents would always remind us that the reason for the season was the birth of Jesus and we would read the Bible on Christmas morning.
But the meaning of Christmas is more than just celebrating Jesus's birthday. It's about celebrating love and family. Jesus's birth into the world changed everything; he is a symbol of love for so many people in the world. Despite what many people believe of Christianity, our faith is based around loving everyone, because that's how Jesus lived his life. Christmas is a time to remind yourself the true meaning of life; which is to love unconditionally and irrevocably.
Just like Jesus did.
Merry Christmas, my dearest friends.
Also, Happy 3 Month Anniversary to my wonderful boyfriend. I adore you :)
As a child, my siblings and I would wake up around 5 on Christmas morning and have to wait until my dad got home from milking the cows, which was usually around 8. We would watch movies and pester my mom for three hours. When my dad was finally home we would have to wait on the stairs until our parents gave us the okay to come running down and into the living room, where we would exclaim and squeal at all the presents under the tree. We opened our stockings first; I remember one Christmas we all got dinosaur figurines from The Land Before Time movies. After that we passed out all the presents to each other and then ripped them open to see what Santa brought.
Now, my parents have to wake me up on Christmas morning when it's time to open presents!
As I've grown up the real meaning of Christmas has become more and more apparent. My parents would always remind us that the reason for the season was the birth of Jesus and we would read the Bible on Christmas morning.
But the meaning of Christmas is more than just celebrating Jesus's birthday. It's about celebrating love and family. Jesus's birth into the world changed everything; he is a symbol of love for so many people in the world. Despite what many people believe of Christianity, our faith is based around loving everyone, because that's how Jesus lived his life. Christmas is a time to remind yourself the true meaning of life; which is to love unconditionally and irrevocably.
Just like Jesus did.
Merry Christmas, my dearest friends.
Also, Happy 3 Month Anniversary to my wonderful boyfriend. I adore you :)
Friday, December 23, 2011
magical.
Dear Lana,
Meet me in Northwest Park at eight.
Fancy dress required.
Yours,
Zane
My best friend and roommate Anya giggled after reading the note. "What are you going to wear?" She asked.
"I don't know! I don't have any fancy dresses here with me!" Anya was quiet for a moment while she thought. Then her green eyes brightened and she ran upstairs. "What are you doing!?" I yelled.
"Hold on!" I sat on the couch and re-read the note three more times.
I had met Zane at a party a couple years ago. We had bonded over hating parties and Anya puking over his shoes. We exchanged numbers, went on a few dates and he asked me to be his. We've been inseparable ever since.
A few minutes later Anya rushed downstairs with her coat and purse and my coat and purse.
"We're going shopping. Let's go." She threw me my coat and left before I could even object.
Two hours later and seven shops visited, I still had no dress.
"That's it, we're going to Fancy Thrift Stores." Anya pulled into the parking lot of a tiny, off beat thrift store that I had never stepped in before.
"I'm screwed." I said, defeated and tired.
"No. We will find you a damn dress. C'mon!" Anya pulled me into the store and we searched for twenty minutes in the small woman's section.
"Shoulder pads and sequins galore." I said.
"Yea, no luck here either..." Anya said looking around. The only person working was an elderly woman who was knitting at the cash register.
"Excuse me, miss. But do you have any dresses in back?" Anya asked the lady. She looked slightly startled but smiled warmly.
"As a matter of fact we do! Come with me." She sat her knitting down and started walking towards the back.
"You stay here." Anya told me and left. I glanced through the racks one more time but it was pointless. A few minutes later Anya came rushing out from the back room.
"Holy cow. Lana, you will not believe your luck." The old lady came from the back room holding the dress of my dreams.
It was light purple and strapless, with a full ruffled skirt. The bodice was plain, except for a simple brocaded belt around the waist with a diamond in the center.
"Here you go, dear." the lady handed me the dress and I just stared at it.
"Go try it on!" Anya pushed me in the dressing room. I slipped into the dress and had never felt more beautiful in my whole life.
"Holy sweet mother of pearl." Anya muttered when I walked out.
"I want this dress."
"You need this dress."
"How much?" I asked.
"$50." The lady answered.
"I only have $20..." I said to Anya.
"We'll put it on my credit card. Consider it an early birthday present." My eyes filled with tears and I embraced her.
"Thank you."
"You are welcome dear. Now get dressed so we can get back to the apartment!!"
Anya dropped me off at the entrance to the park at 7:58.
"You better tell me all about it later!!" She exclaimed.
"I will, I will!" Anya grinned.
"You look smashing, darling." I smiled.
"Thank you for everything today. I owe you."
"Pish posh! Now go!" I shut her car door and walked into the park.
Anya had curled my hair and pinned some of it back. I borrowed her silver heels and I wore the elephant necklace Zane had given me for our one year anniversary.
When I reached the center of the park, I was surprised to find twinkling silver lights covering all the trees. Zane sat on the park bench wearing a white button up, black pants and a blue tie that matched his eyes that I loved so much.
"Wow." He muttered and stood up. I blushed and approached him.
"You look very handsome." I complimented.
"You look... stunning. Words can't even describe..." He said, staring at me. I looked into his eyes and grinned. I always loved looking into his eyes, because I could see the love he felt for me radiating out of them. It warmed my soul and made my heart skip a beat.
"Thank you." I kissed him on the cheek. He took my hands in his.
"Lana Marie Harrick... I love you with all my soul and heart. I thank God for you every night. I can't imagine spending my life with anyone but you." My heart nearly stopped when he knelt on one knee. "I took a visit to your parents last week." He pulled out a tiny black box and tears formed in my eyes. "I asked them a very important question and they give their love and blessing. But the most important question of all is... Lana, will you marry me?" I didn't even need to see the ring before I gasped out "Yes! Yes, I will marry you!"
Tears came down my cheeks as we embraced and kissed. My heart was soaring with happiness. He slipped my beautiful ring on my finger and kissed me.
"Let's get married now." The words were out of my mouth before I could think. He looked at me, blue eyes wide.
"Really?"
"Yes. Now. I don't care where, let's just hop on a plane and go somewhere." Zane laughed.
"I love you." He kissed me and then led me out of the park, off to the airport where we hopped on a plane to New York and got married in a small chapel from a man in a ninja turtle costume, with his wife as our witness in a Power Ranger costume.
It was spontaneous, beautiful, and magical.
Meet me in Northwest Park at eight.
Fancy dress required.
Yours,
Zane
My best friend and roommate Anya giggled after reading the note. "What are you going to wear?" She asked.
"I don't know! I don't have any fancy dresses here with me!" Anya was quiet for a moment while she thought. Then her green eyes brightened and she ran upstairs. "What are you doing!?" I yelled.
"Hold on!" I sat on the couch and re-read the note three more times.
I had met Zane at a party a couple years ago. We had bonded over hating parties and Anya puking over his shoes. We exchanged numbers, went on a few dates and he asked me to be his. We've been inseparable ever since.
A few minutes later Anya rushed downstairs with her coat and purse and my coat and purse.
"We're going shopping. Let's go." She threw me my coat and left before I could even object.
Two hours later and seven shops visited, I still had no dress.
"That's it, we're going to Fancy Thrift Stores." Anya pulled into the parking lot of a tiny, off beat thrift store that I had never stepped in before.
"I'm screwed." I said, defeated and tired.
"No. We will find you a damn dress. C'mon!" Anya pulled me into the store and we searched for twenty minutes in the small woman's section.
"Shoulder pads and sequins galore." I said.
"Yea, no luck here either..." Anya said looking around. The only person working was an elderly woman who was knitting at the cash register.
"Excuse me, miss. But do you have any dresses in back?" Anya asked the lady. She looked slightly startled but smiled warmly.
"As a matter of fact we do! Come with me." She sat her knitting down and started walking towards the back.
"You stay here." Anya told me and left. I glanced through the racks one more time but it was pointless. A few minutes later Anya came rushing out from the back room.
"Holy cow. Lana, you will not believe your luck." The old lady came from the back room holding the dress of my dreams.
It was light purple and strapless, with a full ruffled skirt. The bodice was plain, except for a simple brocaded belt around the waist with a diamond in the center.
"Here you go, dear." the lady handed me the dress and I just stared at it.
"Go try it on!" Anya pushed me in the dressing room. I slipped into the dress and had never felt more beautiful in my whole life.
"Holy sweet mother of pearl." Anya muttered when I walked out.
"I want this dress."
"You need this dress."
"How much?" I asked.
"$50." The lady answered.
"I only have $20..." I said to Anya.
"We'll put it on my credit card. Consider it an early birthday present." My eyes filled with tears and I embraced her.
"Thank you."
"You are welcome dear. Now get dressed so we can get back to the apartment!!"
Anya dropped me off at the entrance to the park at 7:58.
"You better tell me all about it later!!" She exclaimed.
"I will, I will!" Anya grinned.
"You look smashing, darling." I smiled.
"Thank you for everything today. I owe you."
"Pish posh! Now go!" I shut her car door and walked into the park.
Anya had curled my hair and pinned some of it back. I borrowed her silver heels and I wore the elephant necklace Zane had given me for our one year anniversary.
When I reached the center of the park, I was surprised to find twinkling silver lights covering all the trees. Zane sat on the park bench wearing a white button up, black pants and a blue tie that matched his eyes that I loved so much.
"Wow." He muttered and stood up. I blushed and approached him.
"You look very handsome." I complimented.
"You look... stunning. Words can't even describe..." He said, staring at me. I looked into his eyes and grinned. I always loved looking into his eyes, because I could see the love he felt for me radiating out of them. It warmed my soul and made my heart skip a beat.
"Thank you." I kissed him on the cheek. He took my hands in his.
"Lana Marie Harrick... I love you with all my soul and heart. I thank God for you every night. I can't imagine spending my life with anyone but you." My heart nearly stopped when he knelt on one knee. "I took a visit to your parents last week." He pulled out a tiny black box and tears formed in my eyes. "I asked them a very important question and they give their love and blessing. But the most important question of all is... Lana, will you marry me?" I didn't even need to see the ring before I gasped out "Yes! Yes, I will marry you!"
Tears came down my cheeks as we embraced and kissed. My heart was soaring with happiness. He slipped my beautiful ring on my finger and kissed me.
"Let's get married now." The words were out of my mouth before I could think. He looked at me, blue eyes wide.
"Really?"
"Yes. Now. I don't care where, let's just hop on a plane and go somewhere." Zane laughed.
"I love you." He kissed me and then led me out of the park, off to the airport where we hopped on a plane to New York and got married in a small chapel from a man in a ninja turtle costume, with his wife as our witness in a Power Ranger costume.
It was spontaneous, beautiful, and magical.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
thoughts on facebook.
I really like Facebook.
It's not just because I can stalk my old classmates that I never talked to, procrastinate on homework assignments or update my friends on my boring life.
It's because it keeps me connected.
Think about it. We are the most interconnected generation of all time.
As long as we're friends on Facebook I'll be able to stay in touch with high school and college friends long after I graduate and my family after I move away from Fremont. I'm very grateful for that, because I don't want to wonder sometime down the road "What ever happened to so and so?" I can just look on their Facebook or even message them! Facebook's new profile setup called Timeline is a prime example of that. I think it's wonderful gift for our generation, I truly do.
Some people might claim that we've lost our privacy with Facebook, but that's only if you abuse it. Sure, there are people on Facebook that put WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION on it, but that's there own fault. I find the people that complain about Facebook are usually the ones misusing it. If you use Facebook correctly, it's just another communication tool, like the phone.
So unless Facebook really messes up, I don't plan on ever deleting my account.
It's not just because I can stalk my old classmates that I never talked to, procrastinate on homework assignments or update my friends on my boring life.
It's because it keeps me connected.
Think about it. We are the most interconnected generation of all time.
As long as we're friends on Facebook I'll be able to stay in touch with high school and college friends long after I graduate and my family after I move away from Fremont. I'm very grateful for that, because I don't want to wonder sometime down the road "What ever happened to so and so?" I can just look on their Facebook or even message them! Facebook's new profile setup called Timeline is a prime example of that. I think it's wonderful gift for our generation, I truly do.
Some people might claim that we've lost our privacy with Facebook, but that's only if you abuse it. Sure, there are people on Facebook that put WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION on it, but that's there own fault. I find the people that complain about Facebook are usually the ones misusing it. If you use Facebook correctly, it's just another communication tool, like the phone.
So unless Facebook really messes up, I don't plan on ever deleting my account.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
how beer saved the world
The Discovery Channel put together an hour long documentary on how beer has changed history.
Here are some of the things I learned from watching this documentary:
1) Beer is the reason the Agricultural Revolution began, which means we can thank beer for writing, math, the plow and the wheel.
2) Egyptians paid the workers that were building the pyramids in beer. One gallon of beer a day. They also wanted to go onto the afterlife, so they had the chance to drink even MORE beer. So basically, the ancient Egyptians were a bunch of drunks. :P
3) Ancient beer was very low in alcohol but was chopped full of minerals and vitamins. So no beer belly for the ancient people!
4) Ancient beer ALSO beat modern medicine by 3,000 years with the use of antibiotics.
5) Medieval beer saved millions of lives, because they began to brew the beer which killed the bacterias living in the nasty water!
6) The Medieval people drank 6 TIMES the amount of beer we drink today.
7) "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." -Benjamin Franklin
8) As Americans, we should be especially grateful for beer. The Pilgrims would have never made it over from England without it!
9) SQUIRRELS HELPED THE PILGRIMS SURVIVE BY GIVING THEM THE IDEA TO MAKE ACORN BEER. YAY SQUIRRELS.
10) The men that were part of the Boston Tea Party.... were drunk.
11) Our National Anthem's melody... is the same of that of an old drinking song. Words changed, melody stayed the same.
12) Beer is the basis for modern medicine. It helped Louis Pasteur find germs!
13) The first refrigeration device was developed for the beer industry.
14) Ford Automotive was not the first industry to change factory production. Ten years before Ford ever opened his assembly line, beer was changing the face of production.
15) #1 Adult Beverage all over the world.
I have never drank beer, but I now have a greater appreciation for it!
Here are some of the things I learned from watching this documentary:
1) Beer is the reason the Agricultural Revolution began, which means we can thank beer for writing, math, the plow and the wheel.
2) Egyptians paid the workers that were building the pyramids in beer. One gallon of beer a day. They also wanted to go onto the afterlife, so they had the chance to drink even MORE beer. So basically, the ancient Egyptians were a bunch of drunks. :P
3) Ancient beer was very low in alcohol but was chopped full of minerals and vitamins. So no beer belly for the ancient people!
4) Ancient beer ALSO beat modern medicine by 3,000 years with the use of antibiotics.
5) Medieval beer saved millions of lives, because they began to brew the beer which killed the bacterias living in the nasty water!
6) The Medieval people drank 6 TIMES the amount of beer we drink today.
7) "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." -Benjamin Franklin
8) As Americans, we should be especially grateful for beer. The Pilgrims would have never made it over from England without it!
9) SQUIRRELS HELPED THE PILGRIMS SURVIVE BY GIVING THEM THE IDEA TO MAKE ACORN BEER. YAY SQUIRRELS.
10) The men that were part of the Boston Tea Party.... were drunk.
11) Our National Anthem's melody... is the same of that of an old drinking song. Words changed, melody stayed the same.
12) Beer is the basis for modern medicine. It helped Louis Pasteur find germs!
13) The first refrigeration device was developed for the beer industry.
14) Ford Automotive was not the first industry to change factory production. Ten years before Ford ever opened his assembly line, beer was changing the face of production.
15) #1 Adult Beverage all over the world.
I have never drank beer, but I now have a greater appreciation for it!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
30 Day HP Challenge combined into 1 Day
Day 1 - Your favorite book
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" and "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"
The seventh book is a favorite, because it wrapped the series up perfectly.
The fourth book has been a long time favorite, because it's just a fun novel to read, but at the same time it changes the whole series with the return of Voldemort. We can see the impending evil and we wonder how it's going to all end.
Day 2 - Your favorite movie
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 and part 2"
Both are bloody brilliant films. Just fantastic.
Day 3 - Is there any of the film adaptations that have made you angry because they’ve ignored important parts of the book?
I really did not like "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."
I feel like they left SO much out at the end, with the conversation between Harry and Dumbledore, that really left the last three movies having to make up for those mistakes.
Day 4 - Least favorite female character and why?
Dolores Umbridge.
She's a bitch.
Day 5 - Favorite male character and why?
Ronald Weasley.
I'm partial to gingers.
Also, I really like how Ron grew during the series into a hero, instead of just the side-kick.
Day 6 - What house would you want to be in?
I am such a proud Hufflepuff.
<3
Day 7 - Favorite female character and why?
Hermione Granger.
She is the definition of a strong, intelligent and independent female character!
I have always admired and looked up to her.
Day 8 - What do you think would be your favorite lesson?
I feel like I would really enjoy Charms, because that's where you would learn all the fun spells!
Day 9 - Least favorite male character?
Hmm.
I feel like Voldemort is an obvious answer... but I'm just going to go with him.
Day 10 - Horcruxes or Hallows?
Hallows. duh.
Day 11 - What character would you say you are most like?
Hermione.
Day 12 - Favorite relationship?
Ron and Hermione :)
Day 13 - Least favorite movie?
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, for reasons already explained.
Day 14 - Team Voldemort or Team Harry?
Harry.
DUH.
Day 15 - Who would be your best friends at Hogwarts (Three Only)
Luna. Hermione. Neville.
Day 16 - Who is your favorite Death Eater?
Does Draco count?
Day 17 - Are you excited about the Deathly Hallows movies or scared they won’t do the book justice?
Well, this is obviously old.
But I love those movies.
Day 18 - Least favorite book?
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
I guess I just feel like it was a filler novel. I'm not saying I hated it, it's just not my favorite.
Day 19 - Do you prefer the books or the movies?
omg. books. duh.
Day 20 - If you got to meet one member of the cast, who would it be?
a;dkfajdf;alieur
Can I meet Emma and Rupert at the same time?
PLEASEEEEE.
Day 21 - Out of all the characters that died, if you could bring one back, who would it be?
Fred.
Fred.
Fred.
Fred.
Fred.
Day 22 - Harry Potter or Twilight?
>.<
Day 23 - Any part of the books or movies that makes you cry?
There were many parts that made me cry, mostly whenever someone died.
Day 24 - Any particular scene you wished would have been put in the movie, but wasn’t?
THE FREAKIN QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP IN THE FOURTH MOVIE.
GAH.
Day 25 - Nineteen years later. Are you happy how it turned out, or do you wish something was different, ie Neville married Luna?
I have never been a fan of Harry/Ginny.
I think Harry/Luna would have been adorable.
But I also really enjoy Neville/Luna, so it's hard for me to decide.
Day 26 - If you would be able to work one spell without a wand what would it be?
LUMOS.
LUMOS.
Day 27 - Would you rather own the Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand?
Invisibility Cloak.
Day 28 - Do you listen to Wizard Wrock, what do you think about it?
I don't listen to, but I think it's unique and creative!
Day 29 - Did you enjoy A Very Potter Musical?
Holy shit, yes.
Day 30 - What affect has Harry Potter made on your life and how much does it mean to you?
I'm already said this in a previous blogpost, but Harry Potter has taught me a lot about death, love, and friendship.
I wouldn't be who I am without Harry.
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