10 February 2009

So I have decided on a little nugget I'd like to share this week -

When I was six years old my Dad decided that there were other things to do in life and he left. My grandparents, they wanted me, but I'm afraid it was a bit late - the lesson had been learned. When times get tough - the weak run away.

Well, for almost twenty years that's what I did. The only thing I ever completed was school.

You know what, four years - of thinking about what's wrong with me and how can I fix it - later, there's something I've really learned.

Yes, I've run away - A LOT!!

Yes, over the years I've made many bad decisions.

Yes, I am a daughter of the Most High and have been forgiven.

No, I will never run away again!

For, you see, it is not who you once were or what you once did that defines you but who you desire to become.

Until next time I send my love ~~~~~~~~~~~~

29 December 2008

Well, here I sit eating an apple and some sliced, processed Provolone - yum!! There is one problem - I love Bizarre foods - the show on the Travel Channel and it's hard to eat anything when people are cutting up octopi and eating it raw - bleck!!

This has definitely been my most difficult Christmas Sason since I've been here. The weather has just been so nasty that no one could make it to visit, and I love the snow so I wanted to be at home with my boy playing in the luscious freezing whiteness of it all.

But it's all good, I've made it through and have all the more character to prove it.

I'll tell you this was also the strangest winter...the Friday before Christmas they informed us that due to rising natural gas prices, they were switching to propane back up and there would only be enough to heat the institution to 66 degrees. That's fine. The next day it was 21 outside. I'm glad I have lots of clothes. :o) Well, on Saturday a couple of water lines broke in Wilsonville so they asked Coffee Creek to cut back on water use. So now cold-as-ice showers - every other day - lovely...

There is this positive though, there are a lot of women here who have forgotten what is truly important in life and I hope a small season without some of the everyday comforts helps them to be reminded.

All in all this is still the time to remember that Christ was born, lived, and died for each and every one of us.

I want to say thank you to everyone who is reading this - thank you for your love, compassion, mercy and grace that you extend not just to me but to the woman you pass on the street - the one who is dirty - strung out, hungry, and in need of the Bread of Life.

Happy New Year!!

By the way - I took my last test at school today and only have my finals to go!!!!!!!

December 18, 2008

Whew! Another week and another Cowboys win. What more could a girl ask for?

So, how many of you watched the National Finals Rodeo? Well, I saw what could be the funniest bulldog performance I've ever seen. This cowboy lost the steer but chased him down - on foot - grabbed him by the tail and got dragged around a bit before he finally crawled his way up to the horns and wrestled him to the ground.

That was Tuesday so if you want to check maybe it's on YouTube or something. I don't know - they hadn't invented that yet the last time I was online. :o)

The week was so uneventful I can't even think of what I watched on TV.

So I'd love to talk about Sunday though...I woke up and it was a beautiful snowy morning. It really came down and by noon there were a few inches!! that afternoon my old boss came in looking for volunteers to help shovel show. Of course, I was excited to have the opportunity to, one, work hard and, two, play in the snow! Then he says, by the way I'll be coming to pick you up around 2:30 - AM!!!

Oh brother, I've just realized that I can't find Claire's address and she's not answering her phonee!! Aargh! Well, it looks like this will be a bit late, eh? [editor's note - I finally found my phone...]

Anyway back to shovelling snow - it was cold and it was hard because it was the second shovelling and the ice had settled under the new snow...

Can I just say that when a curling iron is the heaviest thing you've picked up in a year, shovelling snow for five hours is nothing to scoff at - ever.

As I write this a day later I can tell you all that this is the beaviest pen I've ever held. did youknow that you could pull that muxcle below your thumb? Yes! It's true.

Oh and here's a lovely little portion of the story, I'd hate to leave anything out. I don't want you to feel cheated in any way dear reader. :o)

Sunday afternoon the girls and a few staff members went out to shovel the furst fall and while they were there they built a nice big snoman named Doc (D.O.C. - silly) [ed. note: Department of Corrections]. Well, when we went out that morning/night - moght, nirning, hmm - we discovered a crime scene for Doc had fallen and he had a boot print on his back. :o(

At some point after daylight I was starting to get annoyed and silly because I was cold and tired and my arms had actually fallen off of my body twice. So I saw Doc and my opportunity to relieve aggression and be silly. Everyone knows I'll do almost anything for a laugh...

Well, in my head I visualized running over and kicking the giant snowball that created the head of this beast and having it simply turn to snow dust at the lightest tap. We'd laugh - and all would be right with the world once again.

Sometimes visuals can be so deceiving because what really happened was I made certain everyone was looking, ran the ten feet and kicked as though I was going for the gam winning field goal at the superbowl and kicking into the wind.

Can anyone tell me what happens to snowballs when they sit a long time? Yes, that's right, they turn to ice...Where were you when I was being oh so cute?

Now I have pulled that muscle that runs up your shin bone and the top of my foot is black and blue. But, I was right about one thing - everyone laughed. Including myself - that is until I was alone - then I cried. :o)

Well, there's my week - I really enjoy sharing everything with you - thanks for reading, thanks for caring - until next time -

Don't work too hard; don't sit too long, and always, always love too much.

Address

If you ever feel like dropping me a letter, here is the address:

Michell Fox # 15532299
24499 SW Grahams Ferry Rd.
Wilsonville, OR 97070

8 December

Tuesday! My birthday!! I'm now 29 and I don't feel a day over 41. It was a fun day. I had a great visit in the afternoon and I ate some junk food. I've become a slave to scrumptious vending machine treats. There are Funyuns now, my favorite chip.

I think it's fair to say that I LOVE food! Especially meat, all the great stuff I haven't had in so long. Steak, pork chops, hamburger, bacon, pizza!! I could literally go on for days just like Bubba talking about shrimp on Forrest Gump.

Ooh, Wednesday, I got a couple of new books in the mail. The one I'm reading now is called: "How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must)" by Ann Coulter. I highly recommend this one, she's a phenomenal author.

Also on Wednesday I watched one of my fave shows - Top Chef. I must admit I'm a reality show junkie. Top Chef, Kitchen Nightmares, Blush, I would watch Biggest Loser but it's on during House and, no matter how much I beg, they won't get me TiVO!!

I've been thinking, and one of those channels like TLC or Bravo or Style should give me a reality show when I get out to open a salon. I'd be such an underdog, and everyone loves the underdog. I mean, come on, they have two shows about tattooing, they could at least give me a chance.

Saturday the house movie was Eagle vs. Shark. Please do not waste your time. I may very well have lost a year of my life during those two hours. Saturday night I watched a special about Alan Jackson. Plus I've been trying to watch the rodeo, at least parts of it, every night while keeping up with football and studying. Whew!! I'm drained.

Sunday I didn't really feel very well so I just stayed in my room and read and studied. I had a test to take today. I only got an 85% :o(. Only one more test after Christmas then it's time for my Baby Boards and Practicals.

Today was really fun, I practiced some Christmas nail art. It turned out so cute!! A snowman, a candy cane, and a snowflake.

This weekend my homework was an essay so I thought I'd include a copy for your reading enjoyment but then I decided it was too long if no one was really interested, so let me know.

Have a great week and don't work too hard, don't sit too long, and always, always love too much.

Favorite quote

"What lies ahead of ya;
What lies behind ya;
Is of very little importance
Compared to what lies within' ya!"

-Dr. Lou


*Editor's note: I'll figure out how to get this on the sidebar...eventually...*

1 December 2008

The past week was fairly interesting. Thanksgiving, you know. Last Monday was my first day back to work in eleven days because my boss was out...

I got a lot of letter writing done during that break. I finished off my Christmas letters - it's a lot harder when you have to hand write 30 :o) - you know the ones, where you glorify yourself and your children, talk about how perfect life has been this year.

That's me. See, my son is excelling in school this year and I'm almost finished with beauty school. The only way it could be better would be if we were together, of course.

So, we worked a strenuous and tiresome 2 1/2 day week due to Thanksgiving. Believe me, I was giving thanks for time off of work!! It's amazing because you'd think, being in here, I'd want to work every day but, alas, it is not so. You see, no matter where you are in life, it's always so nice to have time off!!

Thursday was Thanksgiving, yay!! Definitely one of my top ten favorite holidays. The food was good though. Real mashed potatoes, not instant; stuffing, real turkey, not pressed meat!! and to top it off, pumpkin mousse. Tho' I'm not a big sweets person so I traded mine for extra potatoes. :o)

Ooh they also played Hellboy II on Thursday...On holidays and weekends they play a new release on an in-house station.

Then Friday, that was the weirdest day because at about 9:ish my roomate went to "the hole." It's sucky living by yourself in a concrete room. It's colder and echo-ier and lonelier. But, oh well, the solitude is also nice. So, Friday, I watched IRONMAN!! I enjoyed it so if you hated it, well I can't think of anything nice to say so I won't say anything at all.

Saturday!! Started off great, I watched Baby Mama with my friend and then had a superfun visit in the afternoon from a friend I hadn't seen in almost five years.

I got back just in time to listen to the Civil War game - Oregon & Oregon State!! I don't really feel like talking about it now tho' as I'm still hoping for an upset where UCLA beats USC and the Beavers can still make it to the Rose Bowl. Everyone cross your fingers - GO BEAVS!!

Sunday was fun, my friends threw me a b-day party - tomorrow is my real one - I turn 29, for the first time. :o) Then in the evening I had a visit from one of my very best friends, Missy. Usually her husband, Jeff, comes along - he, along with his brothers and sister are the closest thing to real sibs I've ever had. I've always been jealous of kids who had a bro or sis.

Anyway back to the visit, they try to come every Sunday but sometimes Missy or Jeff come alone and that's always fun, too. You know how it is when two women get together, especially when it's only rarely!! :o)

Don't work too hard, don't sit too long, and always, always love too much!