♥

On the way back to Connecticut from Oregon we stopped in Kansas City, MO. Approximately five minutes away was a casino that my step-dad wanted to go to. I didn’t really feel like going. I would have much rather ordered pizza and stayed in the room until we left the next morning. But, we ended up going…

Part of the dinner conversation went like this:

Chris: “If you win you’re giving me half of whatever it is.”

Me: “No way, but if I win $1000 I’ll give you $500.”

Chris: “Deal.”

So we finish dinner and Chris gives me $20. We both sit down at some slots and he looses the money and I print a $6 ticket and we walk to another area. I sit down at some random machine with my ticket and Chris goes to Roulette. I’m down to around $2 and just went for it all. My heart starts beating faster… and I won $1000. I print my ticket walk over to Chris and he can’t believe it.

The day before my car broke down in Denver which cost around $700 and Chris paid for it, so the least I could do was to stick with my deal and give him $500.

My sister lost her first tooth today!! I’m so excited for her and she can’t wait for the Tooth Fairy to pay her a visit tonight. It’s so great seeing her excited face looking in the mirror at her hole without a tooth.

I don’t think I could have had a better way to ring in the new year… It was great being with my best friends again.

This is why:

The land.

The view from one of my old apt windows.

The Chapman School Swifts.

Astoria, Oregon.

Summer nights.

Trips to various places along the coast.

The zoo.

The green color.

Beer.

… Part two next.

Merry Christmas!

here I come.

As some (well most) of you might (already) know I am moving back to the state of CT. I am actually pretty sad that I’m moving so soon but at the same time happy that I get to spend this Christmas with my family. My stepdad is flying into Portland on Tuesday evening and we are driving back home early Wednesday morning. It’s pretty bittersweet. I still look forward to my future… only this time it will be on the East Coast.

Tomorrow is my birthday but today I received a box in the mail from my sister and brother. I sent a text to my mom to let her know I got it. She told me to wait to open it till tomorrow but I couldn’t resist so we all went on web cam so they could watch me open the gift.

Once the box was opened I found a couple cards and two smaller items wrapped up in what was like a little bag made of tissue paper and tied with ribbon.

I read the cards… and moved onto the bags…

The first one wrapped in pink and purple flower tissue paper was from Goldie. Inside it I found two pandora beads. One was a little girl and the other was a heart spacer. Along with the beads I found a little note from her saying,”Sissy, this is your “Love Little Sister” bead so you know I’m always with you! Happy birthday! I love you!

Then I opened the blue tissue paper from my brother. I found a little boy pandora bead and the same heart spacer. His note said, “Happy birthday! I got you the “Love Little brother” beads so I’ll always be near to you. I love you sis!

Then my mom, Goldie, and Ryder started singing me happy birthday on the cam and It really hit me that I was a wreck with out seeing them every day.

My eyes started tearing up. My heart aches from being away from them. It’s so sad to think my little sister and brother live across the entire United States. I am missing them grow up.

Even though I absolutely loved my gifts from them I would have given anything to get a really nice birthday hug and to have them help me blow out the 23 + 1 for good luck candles on my cake.

I’m realizing that Christmas is going to be way hard to be away from them.