Last Post of 2009!

I'm so excited for the New Year! I thought 2009 was amazing, but according to my yearly horoscope, I just went through bad years. And 2010 is going to be much better for me! I didn't think the last few years were bad, but now looking back I guess they were kind of hard. But now I'm stronger, deeper, and much more mature. I can't wait to see what next year has in store. Apparently, people will be drawn to me- friends, family, and classmates- at random points through the year. That sounds awesome; more attention for me (I get overlooked... a lot)

Here are some amazing New Year's Eve dresses that I wish I was wearing tomorrow:

(the third and fourth pictures I designed on looklet.com. my account is HereIsYourVerse)

But I'm actually wearing (probably) a sparkly sequined top from Forever 21, dark skinny jeans, a dark gray cami, and either black flats or grey wrinkled ankle boots. Is anyone wearing something glam and fabulous? Preferably silver, preferably sequined (;

Let's all blow out 2009 with a bang and welcome 2010 with a louder one, the start of a new decade and even more fond memories and adventures.

Happy New Year!

PS. It's also the year I turn 13!!

The True Meaning of Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And momma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"



Christmas needs no explanation. It is warm, loving, comfortable, and simple. You can give and receive, or cook and celebrate all you want, but take time to slow down and think about the real meaning of Christmas, the 'reason for the season.' Christmas is traditional, it is everlasting, it is familiar. Keep Christmas in your hearts, minds and souls, and don't forget. *winks*
I hope you took the time to read the poem above. It's a classic.

PS. I got a laptop. What did you get?

Happy Christmas Eve!!

Lately I haven’t felt like blogging for some reason, and I feel bad about leaving you in the dark about the goings-on in my life. A few things have happened lately:

1. I went to a super-awesome Christmas bash at my friend Molly’s house.
2. A picture I took of a baby panda at the San Diego Zoo is being considered for an online brochure about San Diego destinations (see the picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/42311910@N05/3905392920/ )
3. I found out that my grandpa’s sister, Aunt Sadie, is in the hospital with a rare type of heart cancer.

The party was sick! We made pizzas, watched movies (“17 Again” and “The Clique”), stayed up till 3:30 playing “Would You Rather,” and had a crazy dance-off/fashion show. In. Sane.

I got an email on Tuesday telling me that Schmap San Diego is considering my Flickr photo that I took of a panda to be featured in a brochure about different places around San Diego. I’ll get recognition, yet under a penname (I’m not putting my name out there for creepers!), and no payment. I wouldn’t have accepted payment anyway, for other reasons than just ethics. I’m so excited, though, and if my photo makes the cut they’ll email me the finished product. It will be on the page about the zoo.

Lastly, my father’s aunt has been in the hospital for over a month with a rare form of cancer, which I believe is of the heart. She is on a feeding tube and is moved back and forth between hospitals by ambulance. She looked great when we visited her yesterday, but it would be greatly appreciated if you kept her in your thoughts and prayers.

Merry Christmas!

PS. We still don't have snow! Looks like no white Christmas for us... and no sledding.

"I wers warshin’ my hands when the alians came through that ther winder and scooped up Old Man Jenkins like a piece’a fire wood. I just kept on warshin’ my hands like nothing had happened. It was all just a big misunderstandin’."

Snowy Day Stories

Today was the first snow of the year! and with it came many odd adventures involving mailboxes, art projects, and icy trechery.
When i woke up, i noticed the snow outside my window. it wasnt much, but it was SNOW! On my way to school, the roads were so icy and the truck in front of us was slipping and sliding into the side ditch. it was hilarious. but pertaining to the immense traffic, i was fifteen minutes late even when taking a detour. but the secretary told me no one was late today because of the ice (ice baby). Sorry, i had to!
to make matters worse, as soon as i walked into homeroom, i realized that i had left my art project (a self-portrait of myself, pics eventually) on my dining room table. Whoopee. so i went to the office to call mi madre.
i punched in her oh so complicated phone number, and this is what i heard:

Me: "doo dee doo dum dum..."
(phone is answered)
Call Reciever: "Heh."
Me: "Mom?"
CR: "Whah?"
Me: "Hello?"
CR: Hollo?"
Me: "Mom, Hello?"
CR: "Mah? Holla."

Apparently, i had called a mexican child by mistake. Huh. i hung up when i realized what had happened, while the ghost-pale kid waiting behind me was sweating and breathing heavily with some kind of spur-of-the-moment illness that came about, what, twenty minutes ago? so i redial and get mother dearest's voicemail. after leaving the shortest, sweetest message i can manage and trudge back to class.
After one step into the door, my teacher says, "Breanne, back down," holding the envelope for the office out to me. my job this week was to be the unpaid pageboy, running down 3 flights of stairs to get the delivery to the office ASAP, then running BACK UP equally as fast so as not to miss first period. The secretary told me my mom was coming soon when i gave her the envelope, so that was a load off.
school was great, i made lotsa people laugh, and my art project arrived safely! (claps for self) but science class was crazy. this one kid, we'll call him Nicolas, really wanted to hold the chinchilla. so, me, meg, and lex tried to grab the chinchilla, Eore, out of his 3-level cage. lex got him up to the third layer, and was about to grab him when he jumped onto the floor. people were screaming and slamming the doors so he couldnt excape, while we all ran around trying to catch this little gray wisp of fur. lex finally managed to catch him after he ran under a cabinet. she gave it to me, and i TRIED to show dear nicky how to hold it. guess what, animal-lovers? he dropped it.
i caught him again from behind Mrs. C's desk, and gave him to nick again (probably not my best idea). bet you can't assume what came next. He dropped it again. but, wait for it.... i caught it while it was in the air. with one hand. (cheers) Yay! then i didnt trust nick enough (neither did Eore), so i kept the little trooper. nicolas almost started crying because the chinch didnt like him, so i told him chinchillas were afraid of dogs, and it smelled his dog. that made him feel much better.

ok, back on topic. when my mom picked me up, all the snow had melted, and you would have never guessed all that chaos had been caused. Mommy told me that a school bus had gotten stuck on a hill, and made tracks in the grass. the school bus recovery team (for lack of a better name) had to take out the mailbox to save the bus and get the little urchins to school. so, we dont have a mailbox until "the people'' pay for us to replace it. wow, this post is geting long.
needless to say, the snow didnt stick, and now we are stuck back in a sunny damp holiday just like last year. ((sigh)) cross your fingers. we need snow. Woe is me.

Thanks for listening,

Oh, Cristmas Tree, Oh, Christmas Tree!

I can almost hear the golden ballerina saying, “I vaunt to be next to mi amour!” as I place her gingerly by the lopsided snowman. Her smile gets one watt brighter, if possible, but I might have imagined that.
After I’ve moved Santa-bears away from Santa-cats, princesses closer to princes, and cowboys under wild animals, I stand back to admire my handiwork. The tree glistens in a rainbow of lights, but I can’t help notice the small patch of blank, uncovered green near the top.
A tiny voice inside my head starts whispering, “Over here! Here!” A little rabbit sits alone on the dining room table with wide eyes and a hopeful expression. He looks perfect in the place of honor.

My Christmas tree is up at last, and not a moment too soon! Christmas fever has been spreading through my family all day. My sister and I worked on our wish lists today, and I started on my ‘give list’. I’m so very excited, also because St. Nicholas Day is next Saturday, December 5! Or is it the 6… I don’t care! I just know it’s soon. And that is enough for me (:

Christmas is in: 28 days.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, Bloggers! Sorry this post is so late... We have so much to be thankful for this year. Here are just a few things that I’m giving thanks for:

My ABCs and 123s, because so many people don’t know theirs.
My family, because without them I wouldn’t be the person I am now.
My amazing friends, because we’ve shared so many laughs that I would be empty without.
Good books, because rainy Sundays wouldn’t be half as inspiring.
Movies, because we all need a smile.
Photography, to capture the world’s greatness without disturbing the world’s greatness.
And, of course, God, because He has given me everything I know and love.
Brownies, those Eeep! moments, the smells of wine and rain, crisp mornings, sunny nooks, a pair of blue eyes, the internet, Blogger, all my nice things, outlet malls, that one great purchase, gifts, giving and receiving, Harry Potter, traveling, soft breezes, sandy beaches, home decorating, animals and plants, the stars above, Christmas, pine tree scent, giggle-fits, the happy bits, being at ease, serene bliss, running, my health, crying, ideas, converse, my warm snuggly puppy, and much more.

Sadly, some people don’t have much to be thankful for. We can help by simply donating, participating, giving a gift, or even giving a smile. This holiday season, let’s try to make someone’s day a little brighter. You’ll be glad you did, and that warm fuzzy feeling stays for ages. Trust me.
If this Thanksgiving has made me realize anything, it’s that we should be grateful for every moment we have, because our lives are fairly short in the larger scheme of things.

I know we all have special holiday memories (: No matter if they’re good, bad or funny, they always bring a smile to our faces. Whether it’s a tear-filled smirk, or a bright cheery grin, you decide. Today didn’t have too many casualties, except mother dearest kept calling our family friend’s father Mr. Smith (name has been changed). But it was filled with good friends, family, and delicious food! I think my mom put it best when she said,

“If [your stomach] doesn’t hurt, you didn’t eat enough.”

What are your family's favorite holiday memories?