Crazy things my parents do...

I've decided to create a new installment that will be a part of my blog. My mom and my step-dad have become quite adventurous in their old(er) age and they've started doing some pretty funny things.

My sister called me a couple weeks ago at around 11 o'clock at night, she said she needed help because my parents were going crazy. She said she could hear them run from their room to her room. They barged in her room and said "We're gonna do what you do!" So they got on her bed, while she was in it doing homework, and started jumping up and down yelling "HELLO MICHELLE!" while papers and books fell to the floor. She called me while this was going on, I could hear my mom in the background yelling "Hello Seeesta! Helloooo SEEESTA!" Translation- 'Hello sister.' I could just picture the two of them on my sister's bed tormenting her, while giggling at her. Proud at themselves that they got her back for times that she had jumped on theirs. My sister explained that my parents complain that she doesn't hang out with them often. She's always at school or working, but every now and then she'll go in their room and get on their bed and say ''I'm hanging out with you!" This was their way to return the favor. I literally laughed at this vision for so long that I couldn't fall asleep. I laughed about it the next day. What was the conversation they had to decide to do it? They were already in bed, so where they like "I know let's get up and go jump on Michelle's bed!" It makes me laugh again just thinking about it. :)

Today, my sister and I went for a run. I called her on my way home from work and asked her if she wanted to join me. She also invited my mother along, but she declined. She came to my house and we did a routine of jogging for a minute and walking for two, then running and so on. We did this down a major road by my house. Halfway in, during our walking part, a car coming our way slows down, honks, and two crazed people started yelling "RUN RUN RUN!" at us. Of course it was none other than the 'rents, they knew where we would be jogging/walking/running and they doubted we would actually be running. So they took the 5-10 minute drive from their house just so they could find us and yell to us, to run.

Hilarious! I'm looking forward to what's next...

Boots!

I want some!

Nola 2011

I've decided against Go New Orleans 2011. I can't say that I'm happy about it. Unfortunately I'm horrible at fundraising and I'm trying to do some new things financially. I am also trying to get myself involved in new volunteer opportunities locally.

I really sat down and thought about my motives to go to New Orleans this year. Last year I knew one person I went with and I was eager to get down there and help; do some good. This year I was afraid my motives were more about recreating the fun I had last year, than they were about giving back to the city. I'm still not to the point where I feel comfortable praying out loud for someone. It's still a bit odd for me. I think there are other ways that I can grow the way I did the first time in New Orleans. I'm thinking of a small road trip with my camera and my journal would do me a little better than seven 10-12 hour work days. Selfish maybe. But needed.

I'm hoping to either head back to New Orleans in 2012 or maybe somewhere overseas for a mission trip.

mmm

I had my first green beer this year. Turns out it taste just like regular beer :)

Erin Go Braugh

In the past couple years I've taken a real interest in finding out more about my Irish heritage. I've been saving for a trip to Ireland as well. I'm hoping to make it there next year. In honor of St. Patrick's Day I'll be headed down to Newport on the Levee to drink some green beer and have my very first ever Irish Car Bomb, lol. I know I'm late but better late than never.

A little bit of history on O'Hogan:

It has been recorded as O' Hogan, Hogan, Hoggan; this is a famous Irish surname. It derives from the Old Gaelic name O' hOgain, which means male decendant of "Ogan", a nickname which literally translates as "young man". The original namebearer, Ogan, was himself descended from the uncle of Brian Boru, High King of Ireland (1002 - 1014). Therefore the Hogan's descended from Kings and Queens of Irealand! The Hogans come from County Clare with adjacent parts of Counties Limerick and Tipperary. The chief resided in Ardcrony near Nenagh, County Tipperary, and today, the great majority of namebearers belong to that county.

Fun facts about St. Patrick's Day!

St. Patrick's Day is religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over a thousand years. On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and feast—on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.

The actual color of St. Patrick is blue. Green became associated with St. Patrick's Day during the 19th century. Green, in Irish legends, was worn by fairies and immortals, and also by people to encourage their crops to grow.

The very first St. Patrick's Day parade was not in Ireland. It was in Boston in 1737.

In Chicago, on St. Patrick's Day, the rivers are dyed green. Mayor Daley is also of Irish descent.

The phrase, "Drowning The Shamrock" is from the custom of floating the shamrock on the top of whiskey before drinking it. The Irish believe that if you keep the custom, then you will have a prosperous year.

Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!

Just keep going...

I just want to drive, I mean for months. I live off one of the last exits before civilization basically ends for a while. Before you head off to Lexington or Louisville etc. I cannot tell you how much I want to just keep going with nothing but the clothes on my back, music and my camera. I've been on several road trips, but of course there are always time restraints. Saint Louis, Gatlinburg, Chicago, Nashville, Columbus, where ever it may be. I go to meet people, to party, with hotel reservations etc. I just wanna drive, with nowhere to be, no restraints, so I can pull over and take pictures of whatever I want, talk to whom ever I want, do whatever I want. I'd even stay at those 'side of the road' motels no matter how creepy they may be. You have live a little right? I'm going to check that out, see how that might work out this year.

"life is a highway, I wanna ride it all night long"

Journey

So I kind of started this spiritual journey this year. I really want to write more, and I have, but what I've been writing about has been pretty personal so I don't share it here. I thought though that there are certain things from my journey that I feel comfortable sharing, and there are things I can dig deeper into as well.

My new years resolutions have been working out well. I've been going to Crossroads every Sunday, I've only missed one because I was out of town, but I actually ended up watching the service on-line because I didn't want to miss the message! It's refreshing to go to a place that just talks to you about life, experiences and the best way to handle them. I look forward to it every week.

I started going to church because I wanted to find peace, with my dad. It's been almost 3 years and I still don't handle certain situations I think I should. Certain things make me way more upset than I think they normally would. I'm not impatient with myself. I know it's ok, but I realize it's something I want to get better at. I realize it still hinders me in certain ways. I just want to be the best me and I think it's really helping me get there. It's helped me be more patient with myself.

"We don't receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us."