What makes a Melody?

We are all different and unique, and that's what makes this world an amazing place to live in: no two people are exactly alike, not even twins!

I know I often write about things that I observe, but there are some things that I do that I don't understand, so have fun with this! This will be redundant for people really close to me, but hey, you might've forgot something? (Unless you're my sister).

1.) I'm obsessed with having clean ear canals. 

My sister knows this well, because I think we have the same problem. I clean my ears probably twice a day, and I'll bet my apartment runs out of Q-Tips faster than most family residences. It seriously bothers the heck out of me if I can feel earwax. I'm not afraid of it by any means, just can't stand it like I can't stand a runny nose.

2.) I cannot sleep without socks on.

Even in the heat of summer, I need socks on. My feet (and hands) get oddly cold while the rest of my body stays warm and toasty, and basically always need something to help insulate my toes. I am super skinny with low amounts of body fat so I don't have a natural insulation that keeps me toasty at night. It stinks.

3.) I claim to hate anime, but...

In sixth grade I used to get up a half hour earlier than I needed to because I wanted to watch Sailor Moon while eating breakfast. I'm pretty sure I missed the bus a few times because I spent more time watching her episodes than getting ready for school. What makes this especially weird is that I find Serena/Usagi Tsukino/Sailor Moon EXTREMELY annoying. She is such a whiny crybaby, but I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. I recently was reunited with the show this past year using Veoh.com, and discovered a whole other season that never aired in the U.S. because of it's controversial content. I now know that several characters had their genders changed in the English versions because there's a lot of exploration in homosexuality and transexual characters. Interesting, huh? It's not a kids show in Japan!

Not gonna lie, I want to be one of these characters for Halloween this year. (shhh...)

And, of course, my favorite make up guru Michelle Phan has a Sailor Moon make up tutorial (which could be used for any of the characters!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i5qkSxF60U

To see her latest make up transformations, check out her website:

http://www.michellephan.com/

4.) I'm obsessed with high heels.

And I'm just about 5'10'' or 177.8 cm standing barefoot. Problem? For some. I'm no super model, but I did take some modeling classes which made me practice walking a runway in high heels. I love the way my legs look in them, it just also makes me a foot taller than half of the male and female population in Missouri. I get lots of funny looks when I wear them, and people ask me things like "Aren't you tall enough?" Well, yes, I guess technically I am. But you'll have to deal with it.

**Some shoes I designed (but can't afford yet!) on http://www.shoesofprey.com/designer. You can design shoes that will be hand created using only the best materials like Italian leather and silk, but keep in mind that top quality and hand sewn shoes are pricey!

5.) I'm more than a little obsessed with cats.

But I also have a conscience. Just because I see adoptable cats doesn't mean I'm going to take them all home with me. I do try to pet nearly every cat I see, but I have a policy that there needs to be a proper ratio of cats to humans in the house to make sure all are getting proper love and attention that they need. I think the ration is 2-3 pets per person. Since I live by myself, I have capped it at 2 cats, although I am trying to find homes for kittens at my boyfriend's farm and DESPERATELY want to keep one for myself! 

Kitten (Oreo) I recently rescued and found a good home for!

The little boy kitty I want to take home with me! He's such a fluffy sweetheart! Any ideas for a possible name?

5.) I'm left handed.

According to wikipedia, approximately 10% of the world's population is left handed. Which I think may be less, since many countries and people in general discourage it. When I volunteer with Chinese students and need to write something, a lot tell me "You write with the wrong hand!" Well, no, it's not wrong, but it's not right, either. It's left. :) The only downside is that the side of my hand often gets smeared in pencil lead and ink when I write a lot, so I'm glad that I've become a faster typer; no ink to worry about!

6.) I do not consume caffeinated beverages.

Technically many things I love have caffeine in them, like chocolate, but I do not like coffee, tea, soda pop, or energy drinks. I used to drink grape soda as a child, like when my parents took us to the laundromat,  but I pretended to like the burn because I liked grape flavored things. Now I don't even bother. I hate the way carbonation burns. So why don't I just drink coffee? Well, I think it smells amazing but tastes rather disgusting. My sister used to have a terrible Mountain Dew addiction, but switched it over to coffee, and now she and her husband started blogging about their coffee critiques. http://chybowskicoffeecritiques.blogspot.com/ I can't say I NEVER drink tea, because once in a blue moon I drink chai tea latte, but more for the soothing treatment of a sore throat or an overused singing voice rather than alertness or focus. I also like hot chocolate because it tastes amazing. Apparently there's caffeine, but I wouldn't know.

I thinks that's about all I have time for today. :) Maybe you learned something, maybe you didn't, and maybe you don't give a fryin' fish either way. :) God bless you and yours always. <3

Dreams and Goals: 2011-2021

I recently decided that it could be fun to once a year post all my goals for the upcoming year, 5 years, 10 years, etc. Now 5 to 10 years from now, I could reread these and find them extremely depressing, hilarious, or just sit and wonder "WTF was I thinking?" but it's the middle of a very hot day, and I can't think of anything better to do.

Within 1 year, I hope to...

1.) Travel outside of the country. I recently accepted a Graduate Assistantship with my choir department, and one perk of being in the top choir is that trips are half paid. So in May of 2012 (if all goes well) I will be in Germany and France singing and touring for 10 days.

2.) Finish my thesis. I know I just started my Master's program this past spring semester, but I feel that I can get through it quickly, and hopefully, I would be able to graduate either in the spring or summer of 2012 if I plan well. I think it would be slightly annoying to graduate in December again, and then actually deal with moving in snow and ice.

3.) Landed a job/internship that I enjoy. I know that sounds a bit of a stretch, but I'm open to a lot of different things at this point in my life. I have a degree in Music Education that certifies me for choral and instrumental programs, I will have a Masters in vocal pedagogy, and lots of options to either move or stay in the local area.  My ultimate dream would be to spend a couple years performing, like on a cruise, like with Disney. :)

I think that's a pretty good start for 1 year goals.

Within 5 years I hope to...

1.) Be working a full time job that I love. :) Right now I don't care if that means being a music teacher in an elementary, middle, or high school, or if I'm giving lessons in either a private studio or at home, or if I'm still performing somewhere. The skies the limit, so long as I am happy.

2.) Buy and own my first car. I have always driven family vehicles, which is great, because it's on my parents insurance and if any repairs were needed they paid for it! Starting this next week or so I will be driving a vehicle that belonged to my best friend who is going to be living in Korea teaching English for at least a year, so I'll get a little experience in responsibility, but still will be on my parents insurance. In five years I hope to be established to the point that I can afford to choose and buy my own vehicle. With a lot of luck, maybe something cool and eco friendly, like the new Toyota Hybrid Coupe...

3.) Live and support myself on my own! I do not want to be 28 and living with my parents unless there are extenuating circumstances that I'd rather not think about at the moment. If I was in a tough spot financially, then I would have to humble myself into living with them, but right now I just don't want that to be a possibility.

In 10 years I hope to...

1.) Be married. I almost put this in the 5 year category, but I am really starting to realize that there is no rush, unlike what southern Missouri seems to think. 23? It's not on the top of my priority list. 33? I would hope that someone would think me a good catch to marry by then. On a side note, I would love to have my wedding photos done by Katie Day, a personal friend and brilliant photographer. If you don't know her work, you are seriously missing out! Her blog posts and her galleries simply give me tears of joy.

http://katiedayphoto.com/

2.) Have (a) child(ren). For years and years I never wanted to have any children that could grow up and hate me, but I guess getting older means getting wiser, and knowing that I want to be a mom someday. If you follow my blog, you know that my two cats are currently my children, but someday I would like one that will grow to be tall like me and not shed hair all over my black clothes.

3.) Sponsor a child in a 3rd world country, and visit them. Yeah, this one is tough to put in a category. I would like for it to be a 5 year goal, but I'm not sure how much travel I'll be able to afford after graduating, looking for a job, and paying for the dreaded student loans. If I sponsor a child, I don't want my heartless money to go there, though I know it's needed, I want to actually establish a relationship and be there for that child.

http://www.childfund.org/

4.) Stay happy and thankful for God's overwhelming blessings in my life. I can never repay what He's done for me, but I want to be a fountain of love and compassion for others. Through Him, I can accomplish ANYTHING!

Are my pets being baby substitutes???

I'll preface stating that I have two cats, both just under three years old. I won't bore you with details about their adorableness; it will annoy you and it goes without saying anyway.

The thing is, I don't think a lot of people are as attached openly to their pets. I need to make myself admit that when I am gone for a few hours from my apartment, I find myself missing their snuggly, furry company.

I love being needed. I love taking care of them. I love when they take over my lap and take a nap. I even enjoy cleaning up after them. It makes me wonder if my hormones are a little out of whack.

I do want kids someday. I'm in this weird stage in my life where half of my friends and cousins around my age are getting married and having babies. As soon as one wedding happens, another friend is engaged and is planning their wedding. While that is happening, another friend, whose wedding I went to not too long ago, is pregnant, and so there are baby showers being held.

Me? I ended a dysfunctional relationship that took up almost 3 years of my college career, and have now been dating a wonderful guy for a year. I'm not quite ready to make a commitment that means forever yet, but I'm craving the thrills of bachelorette parties, wedding planning, and baby showers. It honestly doesn't help that both my sister AND my mother got married this past summer (just over a month apart, mind you).

I think that I get a little jealous and crave the attention that everyone is getting because someday I do want to get married and have children. I think that the way I keep myself from going nuts is by acting the mommy to my kitty babies. They are definitely independent beings, but they also love me like crazy and are needy for attention when I come in the door.

Another aspect that keeps me in check is that I know that often divorce in America these days contributes to not really getting to know and understand the person you're committing to until after the vows were taken. To me, marriage isn't supposed to be a business contract, where if he screws up on his end of the deal you'll be over and he'll owe you money. It's about being a family. Becoming a single unit. I want to make sure that I know exactly what I'm getting myself into before going down the aisle.

I also know that I don't want to have kids until I am married. There are definitely some great couples out there having children and staying happy without being married. The sad thing is that the happy ending is not what usually happens. I know a girl who lost her virginity to a guy she had just started dating, and even though they used protection, she got pregnant after the first time. She told him, and he wanted her to get rid of it, but she morally could not do so. Now he claims that it was from someone else and that he knew nothing about it. She's definitely a strong girl, and she's going to make it through (she's about 7 months along now), but I know that this isn't what she wanted. I know that she would have much rather wanted a guy who would stick around and want to be a part of her and their child's life. This has really happened to at least 4 friends and personal acquaintances of mine. The guy I'm dating is not this type, but it's easier for me to just avoid all the dramatic possibilities completely.

It's a tough world out there. It is implied in stories that when you love someone that everything will work out, but it doesn't. Better to make the best of everyday, and work through problems with love and understanding as best I can. In the mean time, I will probably continue to spoil my kitty babies with love (not food, one is definitely getting overweight). It calms the desires just enough to hold off until it's really my turn.