The Perception of Andrea

I thought that I would write a blog on my first night back in Ithaca about perception. The picture above is how I see myself. Everyone loves to see me smile. In fact everyone says that I have a beautiful smile and the people that know my family say that I have my father's smile (I do have to agree with that one).


This is how others see me when I am thinking about something or someone..doesn't really matter what I am thinking about, it's all what shows on my face. And just for your information, James took this picture as I was looking for sea-shells in Florida.


I don't know if you can make out this picture or not, but this is how everyone and I do mean everyone perceives me. I have this look on my face and people think that either I am mad, sad, or just not in any mood to talk. Can't I just have a face that really doesn't show what it means? Unfortunately, I don't have a face for that. My biggest flaw is that when I am thinking about something whether it's bad, good, sad, or even funny I have the same look on my face (which you see above) and people think that I am mad but I am not. It really sucks that people assume that I am mad without asking first.
I remember going to James' family reunion for the very first time and I just had a blank stare (or should I say the face that I have above) and people thought that I was in a bad mood or I didn't want to be there that wasn't the case. Sometimes I wish that I could smile all the time or just have a face that everyone understands but then again, that wouldn't be me now would it? I just wish that people could understand me and know what goes through my mind before making accusations...wait, did I just say that I wish people could read my mind? I didn't mean it that way, I just meant that before people make accusations, they would ask me before assuming that I am mad at someone, something, or just a situation.
On a dfferent note....way different note.....My week in Lawrence was non-productive and it was great!! Although I did wish that I got my notary done...then again, I am glad I did it here. Since my bank is here, there was no charge. I didn't know that there was a charge for that..you learn something new everyday. The only regret that I have is well, it's not really a regret it's more of what I really wanted to see. What I really wanted to see are my two nephews that I haven't seen I think going on a year. I miss them so much....they have such a stupid father...oh well, I hope that I can see them soon or even during the holidays...(insert prayer here)
Oh! Didn't I mention about my trip back to Ithaca (or Rochester)? It was amazing!! Amazing isn't even the word to describe it. Let me tell you about my trip back home (Lawrence, Kansas). I almost missed my plane by 2 yes 2 minutes. I am so glad that the crew was willing to wait for me or else I would have to reschedule and I didn't want to do that or pay the difference as well. Yea, I know the story was short and sweet about how I got back home to Lawrence, Kansas but, on the other hand, getting back to Rochester (Ithaca) a whole different ball game.
The first plane that I got on that connected from Kansas City to Washington, DC was scary!! Goodness gracious!! First of all, the plane was small (it only carried 24 people give or take) and when it took off, it was shaking like mad!! Then it dipped low a little, then shook more...scaring the living daylights out of me (I was grabbing on to the girl next to me and she was grabbing on to my arm as well.)! The plane finally stopped shaking and it was smooth...but then again, it still shook but not as much. That's what I hate about small planes; you can feel everything and I do mean everything.
The next plane that connected from Washington, DC to Rochester was awesome!! So laid back and relaxing so relaxing that I fell asleep. The pilot was so fast that I didn't even know that we reached our destination until the call was made. Did you like my story? Some story huh? Nothing to tell my future grandchildren or anything, but something I would tell my mother-in-law when I get a chance to see or talk to her.
It's 11:47pm eastern standard time and I need to wrap this up (going to work tomorrow morning at 11). I guess I have nothing else to say...for now anyways. I guess I am done!! This blog started out about how people perceive me then it ended with how my travel went to and from Kansas City to Rochester. Wow, don't I know how to change the subject?! :) Why not? Needed to spice this blog up a little! Have a good week everyone and God Bless!

Dance Like There's no Tomorrow

Wow, two blogs back to back. And this time it's about dancing..or at least I would like think so.
I don't know at this moment. I guess I am obsessed with putting animated icons on here. Yes, Andrea, you are addicted or "obsessed" as you put it to using animated icons on the blog. Repeat after me: I am addicted to putting animated icons on your blog. Feel better? :) How funny is that?
I guess I am writing in here because this will be my last entry here in Lawrence, Kansas and it's somewhat bittersweet but then again, it's not. I am actually ready to go back to Ithaca, New York. I miss James way too much and I am ready to see him again. James even said that when I get back, the apartment will completely different from when I saw it last. Goodness, I am excited to see the apartment now.
I don't think that I have anything else to say...guess that's why I don't write in this thing everyday like some people that I know. I only write in here when I want to vent to just to speak out about something that has been bothering me. I just took a deep breath...and out came...NOTHING!!! What an amazing concept that is huh?! :)
Ok, I should wrap this up now. The next entry will be from Ithaca, New York and it may be a few days from now because to be honest, I don't think that there will be anything to say except for the fact that I will be working again and faxing my affidavit out to the credit card company to show that I have never used their services before...stupid identity theft. What can you do but learn from it right? That's all you can do not to mention pray about it as well. Being a victim of Identity Theft has taught me way too much and it has only made me stronger and wiser.

Hmmm..no comment on this picture..I just like putting animated pictures on my blog. Don't worry, the next I do put an animated pictures on my blog, I make sure it goes along with the topic or what I am blogging about. Deal? ;)

I just realized that I am making comments about the pictures that I have chosen without looking at them directly. I really need to stop this blog and sign off. I am not even tired...just exhausted from doing...NOTHING!!! What an amazing concept!

I felt like head-banging so this is the only thing that comes close. I really don't feel like head banging..just the thought of it makes my head hurt...goodness, I really need to stop jabbering...WOW!!!

I put this one on here because...well, who really knows? Probably because she's dancing and I guess I am in a dancing mood...no not really..then again..

I don't know why I put this person on here...I mean she's not animated or anything; just smiling and that's what I do each and everyday is smile. You have to smile at the silliest or the dumbest or the rudest things because if you don't, it will just make you go crazy for no particular reason.
Ok, I am officially done blogging for this week and here in Lawrence, Kansas! Have a wonderful weekend everyone and until then, God Bless!

What a Feeling it is....

What a feeling it is...Oh how I wish I was fishing right now...(but not being eaten by the Shark of course) just sitting back and not worrying about anything or anyone for the time being. But, I can't and since I don't have a fishing license but, being at home for a whole week not worrying about work is my version of fishing. Or, I can be like Homer here and just drive endlessly until my heart and mind tell me to turn around and head back to my Mother's house and give her the keys and go downstairs and lay down and dream about what I just did over and over again.What a feeling it is....just to be doing nothing. Positively without a doubt nothing at all.
Whether it is driving, fishing, sleeping, or even relaxing. I just know that I am not doing anything that involves work and I must say it's such a grand thing. I just wish that James was with me to enjoy this feeling. Then again, when he has a day off, he enjoys it as much as he possibly can. Just relaxing and enjoying it until I have to go home on Monday. This has been a relaxing week; not caring about anything or anyone. Goodness, I need to have this more often. I don't know what I am jabbering about this time around but, at least I am making sense...or am I?
I don't know what the purpose of this blog is but then again, I guess it's about being lazy for the first time in I really don't know how long and it feels fantastic!! Or even watching the sunset sounds good with James after a rainy day sounds good to me at this point. This blog is a first for me; a first of many...meaning that I will try to put pictures to animate my moods...or something like that. Hey, at least I am not stumbling or falling like Homer here: I guess it could be worse but, I am sure that I won't be falling...just walking and enjoying what God has made.


Oh what a feeling it is to imagine myself sitting on a beach with James looking at the ocean: and wish that all of our worries would go away. Yet, we don't have any worries at all. Any worries that we do have we just put it up to God and we know that we will be fine. I won't be pacing or wondering if God will be there for me because I know He will always be there for me no matter what the circumstances are. Oh what a feeling it is that James and I could be dancing and not worry about getting dizzy from spinning so many times because we have each other no matter what lies ahead. Is this blog of mine or what? I don't think it is but it's really close. What a feeling it is not to worry about life because my life and health are great and I couldn't ask for more! I am blabbing and jabbering again. I don't know what I am talking about. I guess I just wanted to post pictures and I did so am I done writing? Who actually knows? It's 10:28pm central standard time and if I was in Ithaca, I would be thinking that I need to go to bed so I can get up early for work...then again, tomorrow is Friday and I wouldn't have to be at work until one so I guess sleeping in is an option. Oh what a feeling it is not to worry about it...for now anyways. :)
I am done writing..oh what a feeling it is to be done writing...get the theme of this blog? Hope so! Have a wonderful week and weekend everyone! God bless!

Reunited and It Feels So...So...Weird?

Goodness, I really don't know where to begin on this one, but then again, I think I do. I am not crazy then again, I think that I am. I know that I am crazy in love with my husband and it is so good to be that in love. But, that's besides the point. Anyways, about 11 years ago, I met this guy online named Lyn. We would talk on the phone constantly (when I wasn't in class or if it was the weekend, we would just talk). We never knew what each other looked like, but we didn't care. We just talked and talked on the phone for hours on end. We would talk about stupid stuff and it felt nice to talk.
Eventually, we started to develop feelings for one another and before we both knew it, we were in love (I know how can you fall in love with someone that you never met let alone not know what they look like?). Not knowing what he looked like or the fact that he lived in Ohio didn't bother me one bit. He was the one person that I can go to whenever I was down and needed someone to talk to. I am fortunate now that I have someone like that (which is James). Three months into talking with one another I decide that we can't go on talking to each other and saying that we love each other if we can never meet and it broke his heart. I felt so bad for doing it, but I knew it was for the best.
Back in I think 2001 or 2002, I was working for the Alumni Center and there was a chance that we (the callers) can call anywhere (and I do mean anywhere) and for some odd reason, I had Lyn's phone number stuck in my head so I gave him a call. Boy was it awkward. He had no idea who I was, but then again, he did. After jogging his memory, the light bulb finally lit so to speak. We didn't speak long but it was long enough just to have a "walk down memory lane". LOL
Now on to the present.....I was on Facebook and I typed in his name and low and behold, there he was! I tried to add him as a friend, but he declined so, I decided to send him a message to see if he remembered me and he did! He was so shocked to see me (because remember, we never knew what each other looked like). And I was shocked to see what he looked like too. To both of our suprises, we pictured what exactly what we looked like to the T! :) To quote him, he is still trying to wrap his brain around the fact that I found him let alone remember him. We are both amazed that we found and remember each other after not speaking to each other for almost eleven years.
This doesn't mean that I am going to leave James for Lyn. I am not stupid. Lyn is someone that I will always remember as someone that was always there for me during my first year in college and for that, I was and still am thankful for that. I always hoped that I would find someone that was just like Lyn (caring, thoughtful, sweet, etc.) and I did. James. He is everything and more. I couldn't thank God for bringing James into my life when He did.
Now that I wrote most of my blog about Lyn, I think that it's about time that I moved on to a different topic...that could possibly the crazy, yet annoyed crab on top of this lovely blog. Trust me, this blog isn't

but, pretty close! :) Oh man, I have to get to bed because I have to work in the morning. Maybe this is God telling me that I shouldn't complain about work. Yea, I am not going to complain about work; there's nothing that anyone can do or say about working with this one particular woman so I am just going to grin and bear it!
Oh! I almost forgot! A week from today (Friday) I am getting new rings! What I mean by that is that I am getting a new wedding band and a new engagement ring! James chose them with the help of me of course and I couldn't be happier. The rings that I have on my finger well, the engagement ring is fake and I didn't really care about it but, James thought that after almost four years of marriage, I deserve something real (since I have complained only once that white gold doesn't look good on me but yellow gold looks much better) so we went to the jewlers on Tuesday and boom! I will be getting my new rings next Friday! I am so thrilled and excited!!! Yeay!!!
Ok, I think that I am done...for now anyways! Have a good weekend and God Bless!

It's Officially Official

Today is official (now that everyone knows, I can put it on here). Daniel and Tori are expecting!! They are due at the end of January. Today, we (James, Sean, Conor, Finley, Jade, Casey, Grandma and Grandpa Shew, and James' parents) all had lunch today at oh crap, I forgot the name but anyway, the announcement was made that they (meaning James' grandparents) are going to be great-grandparents again (James' cousin Chris gave them their first great-granddaughter) and at first, Grandma Shew looked at me thinking that it was me, but I had to say no it's Tori. The look on her face was priceless. I don't know whether to say that she was thrilled or what. It's so hard to read her face. I told Grandpa Shew due to the fact that no one else wanted to tell him and when I said that he is going to be a great-grandfather and he was so excited; he actually thought that it was me! When I told him that it wasn't me, he was to me disappointed. He was thrilled that he's going to be a great-grandfather again, but I am sure that he wanted me to be pregnant. In fact, everyone and I do mean everyone wanted me to be pregnant right along with Tori. What they (meaning the family members) don't know is that James and I are trying again soon and we can't wait until we become parents.
Babies, babies, and more babies! Everyone (well just about everyone) that I know is having a baby! Amazing, isn't it?! Today, James and I (mostly myself) babysat for Tori's little boy Jackson. I am surprised on how good of a boy he is. Yes, he threw a temperatatrum, but other than that, he was pretty good. He calls me "Rea" (just take the first part of And off of Andrea and you have Rea). I guess that's good enough since apparently it's difficult for some kids to say my name. I either get Annie, Andy, or Underwear (don't ask about the last one).
Today, I also got to see the Bolton side of the family for the first time in four years and that was wonderful! I also got to meet James' Aunt Pat and Uncle Mike. They are wonderful people. In fact, I had no bad vibes or anything from them. I am so happy that James' family is so warm and loving and that also includes his Mother's side of the family as well. I remember meeting Phillip's family and extended family members and you could literally hear a pin drop because of the fact that they have never seen a black person before (you could just tell by the looks on their faces). I also remember meeting Chris' (James' cousin) father's side of the family and they were unique too.
I can't wait until I am a mother; I can blog about that and even put pictures on here too! I guess I am done now. Have a wonderful week everyone and God Bless!

Independence Day

I told you that I was going to write a blog on the Fourth of July so I am. I even including pictures too. Goodness, I feel so proud of myself for finding a site that has animated pictures. There's nothing much to post except for the fact that James really does want to have a family soon and I couldn't be happier. I am also going home (Lawrence, Kansas) in a couple of weeks and I am so looking forward to that. I need the time away from Ithaca and work. I just wish that James was coming with me. Oh well, there's always the Shew Bash (which is James' mother's side of the family's reunion). He took that whole week off so we can spend time together. We are going to have fun there I am sure of it. Last year, I couldn't go because we just moved to Worth, Illinois and the Wal-Mart over there wouldn't let me take off that fast to go back to New York so James went by himself.
This is an interesting Fourth of July for me because James has to work so I have to spend it by myself. Oh what I am going to have! NOT. Oh well, what can you do? They (the town of Ithaca) won't have a fireworks display because it's more expensive to have it on the actual day versus another day so they had it on July 2. James and I didn't really care to watch it because it was his birthday for one and another was because I just got out of work and I was way too tired to go up to Ithaca College to watch it. People said it wasn't that great anyways.
Red, White, and Blue are todays theme colors. I am also in a dancing mood today because of the fact that I have Friday off but, I won't dance or anything. I am so creative today aren't I? :) Oh well, what can you do? I don't know if anyone actually reads this blog of mine but, if they do, they will find this one quite amusing to be honest. For the next two Mondays and Tuesdays, James and I have it off together!!! Can you believe it?! I know that I can't. It's about time that we have the same time off together!! :) I am so happy and James is too!
That means that we can actually spend some time together like watch a movie or even stay in and relax and not have to worry about him leaving for work. This Monday, we are going to have lunch with his parents, brothers, cousins, and grandparents. I am excited for this because we do this every year and gives us a chance to catch up with everyone before the reunion.
James' brother Finley is planning on sending his girlfriend of two years a commitment ring. Keep in mind that he has never this woman before but he has talked to her on the phone and he is in love with her. I really don't what to think of all of this. He hasn't met her but has spoken to her and told her that he loves her. He doesn't know what she is like in person or what her mannerisms are. In some odd weird way, I see a disaster approaching but then again, I could be wrong. I just hope Finley knows what he is doing.
I think that I am done blogging for now. I want to watch the shows that I recorded and just un-wind. My eyes are getting tired and I can't look at this computer anymore. Maybe later but not just at this moment. Happy Fourth of July everyone! God bless!

P.S. If you can't read the white part of the blog, just highlight it and you will be able to read it! :)

You Make Me Smile...

It's amazing on what someone can say or do to prompt someone to say something to make you smile. Did that make sense? Hope so. Anyways....yesterday was James' parents 35th wedding anniversary! It's amazing on how long they have been married for that long. They have been through so much and through it all, it all comes down to one thing: THEM. Their faith in God and each other has helped them through so much it's amazing. James and I will be married four years in August and God only knows what we will be like 31 years from now. Goodness.
Also yesterday, the Bolton family came to find out that Daniel's girlfriend Tori is pregnant and the family is totally stoked about it! It's about time that the secret came out. I've known for a while and it was so hard to keep that to myself but I did. Today, out of nowhere, James told me that he doesn't want to wait til after the elections to start a family. He wants one now. So you know what that means?! We can start trying again!!! I am so happy!! I have been praying about this for a while and I am so glad that you God answered my prayers. So starting next month, James and I will be trying. I hope that we can get pregnant pretty soon. That would just be awesome wouldn't it?
Tomorrow is James' 29th birthday. I bought a card for him and thank goodness he hasn't found it yet. He wants to spend it with me after I get out of work. Have dinner and watch a nice movie. Who could ask for more? Today, I got my hair done and it looks really nice. Hanunah actually made it look really nice and I am really happy that she did. She has a knack of making it look half done. What I mean by that is even though she would finish it, it wouldn't really look like she took her time with it.
Off to work for the next two days and then I have the Fourth of July off!! I am stoked! It's such a wonderful feeling to have just about every holiday off and get paid for it. I think that Wal-Mart is the only Pharmacy that does that because when I worked at Walgreens and CVS, they really didn't honor any holiday except for Christmas and there are some Walgreens out there that are open 365 days (all year round) and they don't care if they have business or not.
Haven't blogged in a while so this is why I am. I am just thankful that I have a wonderful family and a great husband. I just couldn't see myself any happier than I am now. I guess I am done for now. I may write on the Fourth but then again, I am not sure. Then again, I am sure that I may because James has to work so I will write! Have a wonderful week everyone and God Bless!