K, the poem is posted... it's a little intense, but so was the story. It only represents the ongoing unethical treatment of women and children around the world. The story is of a twelve year old Romanian girl who was forced by her father to marry. The wedding night details were horrific, but are all too common in countries around the world.
Princess

Tuesday... feels more like Monday. My stress level is at about a 10 right now. I've got to finish transcribing a 90 minute interview for the Center for Interpersonal Studies through Film and Literature by Friday. I have no idea how that's going to get done. On top of all that I have tons of homework to do... and Shawna informed me that last night at the board meeting they decided they want graphs... freakin graphs of our progress every month even though they have the year-to-date statistics sitting right in front of them. Help me out here! Somebody's anal rententive. So congratulations Ashly! Here's some more busy work!!

Then my good friend Mr. Brewer calls and says, "Hey, I need you to run out to the shop sometime today and get the 59 messages off the machine." Hey! Screw my job and school! I'll just run around and do things for everybody else! (and for free I might add)

So, this is my day and that was my bitch session. Glad that's done. I had some interesting thoughts earlier this morning about a news story I read yesterday... it inspired me to write. I'll post it later taters.

Alright, I have tried to post this blog 3 times and my computer has eaten it all three times.

Anyway, I just read Ragan's blog for today and HOW CUTE WAS THAT?? I don't recall ever hearing a guy reminisce about seeing a rainbow. How very inspiring that was! I agree with him, I do think it's going to be a good week!

OOOh the weather outside... it does funny things to me this time of year. It's too cool to wear short sleeves during the day and night time definitely requires some snuggling. It reminds me of my younger and crazier days. NOT that I'm not still young and crazy. I think I just had a better forum for it back then. My feelings this time of year are described perfectly in a poem I wrote last year called
Late September.

Anyway, I've got one more pregnancy test to do today, then it's off to class to discuss sex and gender in society. That should be pretty darn interesting. Then I'm giving a presentation in a class tomorrow about conformity in grade school education... how we're producing a generation of robots and factory workers. Fun fun!

Well, maybe I'll be back tonight... or maybe... I'll find someone to snuggle with :)

Alright, finally back to the Sooner state! Got lots of great pictures so check out my photo gallery! So now it's back to the grind... got butt loads of homework to get done. So partyin this weekend for my 24th B-day will be well deserved!! I plan to be at the WD Saturday night at least... maybe more, who knows!

On a more introspective, emotional note... it was good to have a week away from my routine and the people in it. Sometimes there's nothing like distance to give you a little perspective. Distractions are always welcome in my life. This is just a great time in my life... there are so many possibilities from where I'm standing...

Just lookin for someone to share it with :)~

Ok, so I'm at Kinko's checking the email. Nashville's pretty fun... I'm really tired b/c my boss decided this was the week she would let down her hair and decide to have some fun... so we've been out late alot. I got lots of good pictures from a CMT taping of Most Wanted Live at the Wild Horse. Martina McBride was there... got lots of pictures of her and lots of pictures of me dancing with Sam and Darryl... my new pro golf player friends from Tahoe... good times :)

Anyway, I'm not looking forward to coming home because I've got a butt load of homework to finish next week... and it's my birthday week!! What a tragedy. Oh well, I'm sure it will not inhibit the partying.

Anyway, this conference is awesome... lots of good opportunities. I was able to talk to some people from Remuda Ranch (a ranch in Arizona for girls and women with eating disorders)... they told me to keep in touch and give them a call when my master's degree was in the works... sounds good to me!

Well, hope everybody in the big OKC is doing good... I miss all of you!!! Can't wait to get back on the scene... be home Sunday night!

Well, here it is. Time to hit tha hay. Tomorrow I'll be leavin on a jet plane. Don't know when I'll be back again. Well, actually it's Sunday. But anyway, Hey thanks Kevmo for the sweet comments... Whit and I are glad to interject some estrogen into your day! I gotta get, but everybody have an awesome week... be safe this weekend... and start thinking about what gift you're going to buy me for my birthday next weekend!!

Don't forget to sign my new guest book!!!!!

Peace out!

What a stressful day. Leaving for Nashville tomorrow morning is becoming a pain in my butt. I still have class to go to, a house to clean and bags to pack tonight. Work hasn't been bad... easier than I thought today would be. The schedule was packed, but we had a few no-shows so it gave me time to breathe. Sad thing though... Had a girl come in who is 17 years old, 5'9'' and 100 lbs. Incredibly (b/c of her weight), she is pregnant, 16 weeks... and she still weighs 100 lbs. Unbelievable. I hooked her up with a few good doctors though. Hope it all works out.

Anyway, gotta run! So much to do so little time!

Sunday night...The air is kinda weird outside. Maybe that explains the emotions going on in me right now. Or maybe it's lack of sleep. Maybe both. I felt the need to journal, so here it is.

This is a strange time in my life. Being a 24 year old woman, single and educated is not the norm in Oklahoma. I feel kinda out of place, but at the same time, I know the place I'm in is good-- and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I am here because of the choices I've made. I had a chance to make different choices with my life, but I didn't (thank God). Even so, it's not terribly easy.

Over the past few weeks I've experienced something kind of strange. And I'm pretty sure it is responsible for my melancholy. I know this guy... He's really cool. We are strictly on a friendship level and always have been. But I love the way he treats me when I'm around him. Call it his personality, his temperment, whatever. I know it is just the way he is. No effort needed. It's just the way he is to people... very thoughtful, and always inclusive, never exclusive. And yet, for some reason he makes me sad. But I figured out what it is.

He reminds me of the first guy who was ever of any significance in my life. I was eleven years old and in LOVE... oh yeah. It was love-- at eleven. (Note the sarcasm.) Anyway, I guess I still feel like that little girl who wants to feel special to someone, and I love it when I'm around people who make me feel that way. So why the sadness? I guess it's because, even though those people make me feel special in a way, they make everyone else feel that way too... thus I am not unique. Ahhh the viscious circle.

Being single is frustrating. But apparently being married is Hell. I'll take frustration any day.

Saturday night at WD... I dug Texas Jack. Maybe it was the tattoos, I have a thing for bad boys. For some reason they put me in the AC/DC, Metallica mood. This is good. One question? Who in the heck were those guys who opened for them?? Let's not do that again, ok. Anyway, it's a nice afternoon for a nap... that probably won't happen... too much to do before leaving for Nashville Tuesday morning.

Everybody get ready for weekend after next... it's my birthday and you never know what will happen! I'll be out in full force.

Peace out.

Last night at the Wormy Dog was awesome. Not alot of people there, so it was nice and cozy and a good time to relax, hear some great red dirt and make new friends. Many thanks to Andrew for entertaining me last night. I have to say, the spot on the couch was the best. Watching Kevin and Andrew reminded me why girls always fall for musicians. Scott Copeland worked it and in the end gave me a CD for which I am very thankful :) Jake was great too!

I'll be in Nashville all next week so...
See you guys in 2 weeks!