Cumberland, Maryland (Where the Mountains Are)

Born and raised! And if you were too then this list is sure to make you smile, because you and I both know that:

• Maryland doesn't stop at Frederick, or even Hagerstown.
• You don't necessarily have an obsession with crabs.
• You know how to ski/snowboard and can go for the day, or even work at the Wisp, if you so choose
• You know what snow is.
• You've experienced a 40" snowfall.
• Nearly half of your friends support WVU rather than Maryland.
• You know more people that go to WVU than Maryland.
• You know what a REAL mountain is.
• Your legislators have no say in Annapolis.
• Your region has collectively won more state championships then any other area.
• Your school is an oven in the warm months and a freezer in the cold ones.
• You know the backroad way to get to everywhere.
• You get ticked off when some downstate driver flies by you on 68, but then you pass them going up a mountain, cause driving up here is completely different.
• You know where all the speed traps are.
• You don't know what the heck lacrosse is.
• The only time Annapolis pays attention to you is when they want to put a prison here or something else they don't want downstate.
• You can affiliate yourself more with Pittsburgh than DC.
• Your board of ed consolidates schools, they don't build them.
• You know or someone you know knows your local public officials.
• The biggest events in your town are football and basketball games.
• You know what Homecoming is. (THE Homecoming)
• You stick out very badly on the visitor's side at the said game.
• You've heard of towns such as Coney and Savage.
• You have friends that live in WV.
• It takes you at least 2 1/2 hours to get to DC.
• You've heard of or been to such places as the KKK church and/or the insane asylum.
• Events like Autumn Glory, Heritage Days, CanalFest, and the Oldtown Summerfest mean something to you.
• Your Wal*Mart is attached to the mall
• Although everyone makes fun of hanging out at Wal*Mart, everyone does it
• When you think of the beach, you think of Rocky Gap State Park
• The Beltway goes around the waist of your jeans
• You wear boots because they're boots, not because they're fashionable
• You can see a deer and not even get that excited about it (unless its in season)
• Half the adults you know work at a prison, and the other half are rocket scientists!
• You know someone who built their house with their bare hands
• You actually call Cumberland "The City" or "Downtown"
• You never go to the Bay but somehow it's your responsibility to keep it clean
• You consider Sheetz a restaurant
• Not even the "local" TV news applies to your town
  
  

Quote of the Day: “Home is not where you live, but where they understand you.” ~ Christian Morganstern

Remember When...

Remember when time used to move so slow? When the school year lasted forever. Christmas never could come fast enough. And in a short 2 hour car ride "are we there yet?" was asked at least a million times.

Well what the heck happened? How is life really moving this fast now? How did I get this old? It can't possibly almost be October already. I can't possibly be almost 26 years old already. >:O

As I'm sitting here at the kitchen table, eating a pumpkin muffin with my coffee (dunking of course, just like I used to watch my mom do every morning), checking up on my email and all the latest news online I can't help but chuckle out loud a little bit. I AM OLD. I'm a grown up. Worrying about whether Johnny has a crush on me or when the next big party is, has now been replaced by credit card payments and when my next meeting is.

Wow, when did this happen and how can I make it stop? Or do I really want it to stop? Is growing up really that bad?


Quote of the day: "There comes a point in your life, when you’re officially an adult. Suddenly, you’re old enough to vote, drink and engage in other adult activities. Suddenly, people expect you to be responsible, serious, a grown-up. We get taller, we get older. But do we ever really grow up?" ~Grey's Anatomy

Boyz II Men Back Again

My dearest Boyz II Men,

Nathan, Michael, Shawn and Wanya --- I really missed you guys. Where have you been all these years? Other than that little fling I had with Grant Hill and David Justice, you were my one true love back in the 90's. It really wasn't right for you to just up and leave me like that. I know you said you had come to the "end of the road" but I guess I wasn't prepared for you to just disappear on me.

We shared so many memories together, so many long car rides, so many intimate moments, so many tears. Hearing your voice, even now, makes me all tingly inside.

Just yesterday I heard from one of my friends that you are coming into town next month. It hurts me so much that I had to find out news like that through the grapevine...I really thought we were closer than that. But the truth is, I'm super excited. I still love you, always have, and always will. I can't wait to see you. I'm so glad you are back again!

Quote of the day: "Can we go back to the days our love was strong. Can you tell me how a perfect love goes wrong. Can somebody tell me how to get things back the way they used to be. Oh God give me a reason, I'm down on bended knee." ~ Boyz II Men

Happy Birthday to ME!

That was me on my 4th birthday. (How cute was I?? Seriously) Hard to believe that 21 years have passed since then.

25. Twenty Five. Quarter lifer. Half way to 50. Middle of middle age. However you want to put it...I'm getting old!

Crazy to think how fast life goes. Although some days I wish I was still that little 4 year old with not a care in the world, each new year brings new experiences, new memories and new life lessons and I'm excited to see what my 25th year of life has to offer.


Quote of the day: "In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

Spring Has Sprung

Although the temperature outside today is telling me otherwise, the news on the street is that Spring is officially here! And if you could see me right now then you would see that that has put a HUGE smile on my face :)

In honor of the onset of Spring 2009, Google has yet another adorable design today. Not sure why I am so in love with these...but I am. I think they are just so cute and clever. Always enjoy seeing what they come up with.

This one was designed by Eric Carle, the creator of one of my all time favorite children's books..."The Very Hungry Caterpillar". I'm sure you all remember it...the one where the caterpillar munches his way through a variety of different foods (and through the actual pages) before emerging into a beautiful butterfly.

Ahh...Children's books make me happy.

Some other of my own personal favorites that I fell in love with as a child and still remember vividly to this day are:

No Fighting, No Biting

Charlie

Three Little Kittens

The Ugly Duckling

The True Story of The Three Little Pigs (and of course the original Three Little Pigs)

Frosty

Little Miss Sunshine

The Berenstein Bears

Amelia Bedelia

Brer Rabbit and The Tar Baby

Wow that just brought back some great memories. Wonder if my mom still has any of these at home.

Anyways...Happy start to Spring everyone!!



Quote of the day: “The spring has sprung, the grass is rizz. I wonder where them birdies is?” ~ Winnie The Pooh

You Know What Sucks?...Change

My mom and dad got married over 30 years ago and have been happily married ever since. My dad’s first real job after finishing up his PhD was at Allegany Ballistics Laboratory and he has worked there ever since. Likewise, my moms first real job was at the local hospital (delivering little babies. awww.) and she too has worked there ever since. They’ve lived in the same house, gone to the same church, vacationed at the same place, done the same things... year in and year out.

That's us. I'm the little tike fresh out of the womb.

So I guess what I’m trying to get at, in a roundabout sort of way, as always, is…I HATE CHANGE!

My parents provided me with the most stable of upbringings, which I will forever be grateful for (thanks mom and dad!), but because of it I have the darnedest time accepting when things in my life change. And by "things" I mean ANY little thing. For goodness sakes I've cried after getting my hair cut before...and not necessarily because I hated it, just because it wasn't "the same".

Yeah, I know...I'm nuts.

Just yesterday in fact I decided to relocate from my corner office at work to one closer to the printer (which I wore the heel off quite a few pair of my favorite pumps running back and forth to so much). And just from that tiny little move I could instantaneously feel the sadness knot forming in my stomach and the symptoms of separation anxiety beginning to kick in.

Separation anxiety from changing the location of my desk space in the office? Really, what is wrong me?

Big things or little things, actually important in the larger scheme of life or not, it seems that just when I get used to the way things are, life comes along and changes it all up. The worst part is that even when I know the change is better for me, I still just hate the newness of it all.

I guess maybe that's one of the reasons why I'm having such a hard time with this breakup. Even though my head knows its better for me in the long run, the fact that my life is no longer the same as it has been for quite a few years is what is really throwing me for a loop. I'm used to my morning wake up call and my good night I love yous. I'm used to knowing (or thinking I know) what my future holds. I'm used to the whole routine of it. And then BAM...just like that I get hit with the your-life-has-changed-and-there-is-nothing-you-can-do-about-it stick!

Ughh! Anyone else despise change? Or is it just me?


Quote of the day: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Sandboxes are Underrated

I saw this cartoon today and it made me laugh out loud at work so I thought I would share it with you all. Hopefully it will make you smile too :)

The funny thing is that it's almost accurate. My seven year old cousin has a cell phone for crying out loud (and a way better one than I have, might I add). How insane is that? I'm pretty sure I was about 17 before I got my first one. Granted they only started making them then....but still. SEVEN? Come on now, children these days are growing up way too fast as it is, lets just let them be kids and find pleasure in something simple like playing in the sandbox.

Anyone agree?

Quote of the day: The older I grow the more earnestly I feel that the joys of childhood are the best that life has to give. ~Ellen Glasgow