i know i'm supposed to be done here, but i have a rant.

yesterday was my family's annual reunion. now, i have a big, huge, rainbow-colored family. i have a 30 year old cousin with downs syndrome and five year old twin cousins who are both autistic.

every year we have this reunion, and then the next morning we go to breakfast.

this morning, there were people that made me want to puke.

my uncle charlie is black. no one in my family has a problem with this. we are the least racist family in the universe. but some people stare like they're wondering what's wrong with us.

sidney and jack (the twins) weren't bothering anyone. sid was behaving almost normally and jackie was just walking around with his umbrella and tugging at his shirt. no biggie. yet for some reason everyone felt the need to stare and whisper and give dirty looks. then when we brought danielle down (the downs cousin) everyone stared a little bit more. dani wasn't bothering anyone, and neither were sid and jackie. yet everyone felt the need to stare like they were. the staring didn't bother me, because i am used to my cousins. but it hurts me to know that we live in a word where people with disabilities or people who are different can't just go through breakfast without stares.

if you are ever out and about and notice a family that's different than yours, LEAVE THEM ALONE. it's not anyone's fault that sid and jack were born the way they were, it's not dani's fault she was born the way she was. they are fine..they are happy, normal people. don't stare. we're just a family, trying to enjoy our annual visit together. if you are uncomfortable with our different colors or our loved ones with disabilities, that's your problem. get over it.

so, i'm really never on here anymore. i just get on to read other people's blogs...i don't really need to post anymore. i don't need to get everything out like i used to, because i've gotten better at dealing with my problems and talking about them to real live people in person. i guess that's a good thing. i'm doing better.

i'll be back to check on everyone, but i won't be posting anymore.

i love the people i've met here. steeni...i adore you. dania...you're the biggest sweetheart in the world. there are others, some who have left, some who are still here, some who i don't have on my network anymore for various reasons. i still think about everyone from time to time, but i'm moving on.

haha, i'm such a drama queen.

until we meet again.

p.s. i think it's pretty teriffic that my last entry is #500, and almost exactly two years to the day from my first one.

the wedding was gorgeous.

I'M NOT SICK ANYMORE!! yay!

that means i get to go to my crazy cousin's wedding! wahhooo!! 

so, basically i hurt a lot today.

but that's because i won limbo last night.

bragging rights = worth the pain.

   first it was matty cee's going away party
   then it was a "yesss matt's staying" party
   now it's a thank god we're almost seniors party
   anyways...whatever this random party is:

   630-930 saturday night
   zim center in horseheads
   (need directions, ask me)
   bring a few dollars for pizza
   or twister, or operation,
   or whatever you feel like bringing
   no booze, kthanks.

   we catholic schoolkids keep it clean :)

so, um. my favorite cousin is getting married. i found out today.

the wedding is july 1.

he's known the girl for a week.

but he saw her from a distance a year ago.

she looks exactly like his ex-wife.

she has a nine month old baby.  

who looks just like him. "isn't that wonderful?"

i called and told him he was crazy already.

i just got back from 4 college visits in 4 days. i'm really tired.

i donated blood for the first time ever today. i was extremely nervous beforehand; i'd had blood drawn for testing and such before, but never a whole pint at once! the worst part was the finger prick to test my iron levels..the actual blood part wasn't too bad..it stung a little bit and i got dizzy afterwards, but i feel so great now that i am registering to donate again as soon as possible. i'm just really proud of myself and i'm really excited!!

i think everyone who isn't terrified of needles or medically ineligible should donate blood. almost everyone

to find out more about blood donation, go here.

connor's "boy" cat..jack aka xander...



HAD FOUR KITTENS :)

they're all black like their mommy. i'm excited. i'm gonna go see them tomorrow.

so basically i haven't been here in ten years. but here's some pictures from new york city for your viewing pleasure. 

 

ohmygosh it's KATEY!! (she moved to the city in october and i haven't seen her in months..she met us at the whitney on friday)

sarah, justin, monica, myself, and connor at the hard rock cafe

the only thing that comes to mind when i look at these two pictures of sarah myself and monica is the BRAND NEW (thank you rachael) song that goes "we're the coolest kids and we take what we can get." because we are. the coolest kids, that is.

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." Rebecca- age 8

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - age 4

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." Karl - age 5

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." Chrissy - age 6

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Terri - age 4

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." Danny - age 7

"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss" Emily - age 8

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." Bobby - age 7

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate." Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." Noelle - age 7 

 "Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." Tommy - age 6

"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore." Cindy - age 8

"My mommy loves me more than anybody . You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night." Clare - age 6

"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." Elaine-age 5

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." Chris - age 7

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." Mary Ann - age 4

"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." Lauren - age 4

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." (what an image) Karen - age 7 

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross." Mark - age 6

"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget." Jessica - age 8

And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry"

How many songs?: 1428 songs. 3.7 days. 4.97 GB

Sort by artist
First artist: 12 Stones
Last artist: Yellowcard

Sort by song name
First: "Tell That Mick He Just Made My List Of Things To Do Today" - Fall Out Boy
Last: "Your Way" - Smile Empty Soul

Sort by time
Shortest Song: [Untitled Track] - Relient K - Two Lefts Don't Make a Right, But Three Do (0:26)
Longest Song: "Ender" - Finch - What It Is To Burn (13:28)

Sort by album
First Album: (What's The Story) Morning Glory - Oasis
Last Album: Your Favorite Weapon - Brand New

How many songs come up when you search for "sex": 0
How many songs come up when you search for "death": 18
How many songs come up when you search for "love": 98
How many songs come up when you search for "you": 270

How many songs come up when you search for "why": 2
How many songs come up when you search for "God": 4
How many songs come up when you search for "crazy": 2

First 50 songs on Shuffle:
1. Dead on Arrival - Fall Out Boy
2. You're Crazy - Guns n' Roses
3. Slide - Goo Goo Dolls
4. Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy - Fall Out Boy
5. Angel - Sarah McLachlan
6. Thank You For the Venom - My Chemical Romance
7. Tequila Sunrise- The Eagles
8. Die Young, Stay Pretty - Blondie
9. Promise - Eve 6
10. I So Hate Consequences - Relient K
11. Takeoffs and Landings - The Ataris
12. I Want You To Need Me - Celine Dion (ick! i honestly have no idea why this is on here, it's not even on my ipod)
13. Cornography - Brad Paisley (this is absolutely hysterical!)
14. Invitaion Vampire - Darker Shade of Grey (for those of you who don't go to my school..that's my boyfriend's band)
15. Sending Postcards From A Plane Crash (Wish You Were Here) - Fall Out Boy
16. Sureshot - Yellowcard
17. A Decade Under The Influence - Taking Back Sunday
18. Hey Girl - Dashboard Confessional
19. I'm Ready - Jack's Mannequin
20. You Know How I Do - Taking Back Sunday
21. Ender - Finch
22. And The Hero Will Drown - Story of the Year
23. Dignity and Money - Straylight Run
24. This Is Your Life - Switchfoot
25. The Prayer - Josh Groban/Charlotte Church (don't hate on my opera..josh groban is amazing)
26. Longneck Bottle - Garth Brooks (i grew up on country, you really can't get it out of me)
27. Again I Go Unnoticed - Dashboard Confessional
28. Start Something - Lostprophets
29. Music of the Night - Phantom of the Opera
30. A Stranger - A Perfect Circle
31. Dirty Little Secret - Pillar
32. Javert's Suicide - Les Miserables
33. Bring the Night On - Eve 6
34. Rocket Queen - Guns n' Roses
35. Welcome to Hell - Sum 41
36. Ten Years Gone - Led Zeppelin
37. The Other Side - Smile Empty Soul
38. Angel of Music - The Phantom of the Opera
39. Wondering - Good Charlotte
40. You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
41. Higher Ground - Red Hot Chili Peppers
42. Believe Me Natalie - The Killers
43. In Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3 - Coheed and Cambria
44. I Caught Fire - The Used
45. Change Your Mind - The Killers
46. Cold Hard B**** - Jet
47. Are We The Waiting - Green Day
48. Achilles Last Stand - Led Zeppelin
49. The Night Life - The Starting Line
50. Donner Party - Alkaline Trio