1. What drink wakes you up best in the morning? Vanilla bean frappuccinos (drinking one right now haha). Probably all the sugar that's in it lol
2. During the day, what do you drink to keep going? Water, Vitamin Water, apple juice, etc
3. Do you drink the recommended 8 glasses of water per day? Why/why not? Probably not, I don't want to go to the bathroom every five minutes LOL, but I do drink a bunch, especially if it's hot out
4. What are the ingredients of your favorite mixed drink? (Doesn't have to be alcoholic!) Vanilla beans, milk, rum, coconut juice, etc
5. Are you a coffee drinker? How do you take your coffee, if so? No

It got hot again this week, and it was super windy on Wednesday, so the forest fires exploded and got bad again. It can't be healthy breathing in all that smoke. D: Luckily by Monday it'll cool off and rain for a couple days. I always want to go watch the fire from a safe distance, but I don't think the firefighters would appreciate that lol

Mom said dad had to go to the ER again yesterday, and then ended up at the VA clinic on base, who then called his doctor (who's on the East Coast right now), who finally prescribed him some Clonazepam (sitting in a chair and staring for hours is no way to live!). They want to do more tests I think, so hopefully the Clonazepam will help him until then. He seems SO much better today, which is nice..I hated seeing him so miserable :(

( some pics of curti! )

2. Your favorite season: Summer, before it gets too hot. Fall is nice when all the leaves change color too

3. When was the last time you cried? *shrugs*

4. What is the best birthday present you ever received? A trip to London, the "junk journal" mom made me, cake haha, etc

This past two weeks of moving/shelving/arranging shelves at the bookstore has not been easy on anyone. We only had TWO days to get as many books as possible on the shelves..many of the boxes are a mix of genres, which slows us down some. When volunteers would come in Vicki would say "welcome to hell!" I asked Bill if he was dying inside when he sighed and he said "I'm already dead" lol. So many things could have gone better, but now it's just best to move forward. There's still a LOT of work to do, but we still opened today. I was greeted by the smell of whatever Lucie used to clean the floor with, which smelled fresh and nice, perfect for a new start! Lucie insisted on being the first customer LOL

Yeah, it is definitely weird checking customers out in the kitchen haha! (The building was some food bank program.) Shelby must have taken time off, because she looked refreshed and cheerful. Many regular customers came in today and said the new place looked great (even with semi-empty shelves, which they undertstood), yay! It was nice doing my "regular" job again haha

Here's a pic of part of the store:

Dad's been driving me, but we took the bus one day together and it gets to the bookstore very quickly! I'll have a longer ride going back home, but that's what books are for. :P We'll do an "official" grand opening in June, I think. Hopefully things will run smoother now lol

Curti is definitely part dog..dad said he went down to the lake, got a stick, and brought it in the house haha! Yesterday he got one of his toys and jumped up on my lap with it. I just find that SO cute, awww <3

( may 24-29 )

This morning I was laying in bed and Curti jumped up and dropped one of his mouse toys next to my face! For cats that's a sign of love, wanting to share the "prey" they've caught. Awww, my heart definitely melted at that! (I've been happy all day because of that lol.) I threw it off the bed and he jumped off and brought it back to me, multiple times! I've never seen a cat play fetch before haha. I'm so glad Curti's happy here <3

Today at work I met a couple from Torrance, California! My grandma used to live there, so I thought that was cool. They said it's gotten SUPER crowded, and liked the casualness of Fairbanks' drivers (one reason why I like Fairbanks too). The world really is smaller than you think!

( april 28-29 )

Today the bookstore staff went over to see our new building! The front is has nice wooden floors and is well-lit, even when the blinds are down. The back area definitely has more room for incoming donations, yay! Everyone is pretty excited..Vicki said I was "glowing" when we were talking about how nice we're going to make it look. It's a bit too far for me to walk, so I'll have to see if a bus stop is nearby. Hopefully the customers won't panic when we tell them lol. Change is hard, but it can be exciting too! I'll have to find a place for my very important cat curtain LOL :P

Not only did I sprain my ankle last week, a couple days later I got sick from the cold that's going around town..ugh! My ankle is a lot better today, but the cold seems to want to hang around. I didn't feel great when I came home from work yesterday, but I did better today. Mom said Ryan is sick now too..evil contagious virus! Hopefully I'll feel a lot better soon

Curti's gotten big in two weeks!

No one can get over how cute he is LOL. When he's in your lap and shifts position, he'll meow or make another cute little noise. He gets super energetic at night, so me or mom has to play with him so he doesn't play with wires or curtains lol. I can't believe I got lucky again finding such a sweet, loving kitty!

( march 22-26 )

I've been busy looking for a new cat this week (it was killing me coming home to an empty apartment :(). I visited some massive Maine Coons (way too much cat and fur for my apartment lol); visited a cat rescue place with a very odd lady who didn't want to let me adopt anyone because I have a balcony, and the cat could "fly off the balcony" (I wouldn't let a cat jump off my balcony, if it even wanted to). She was also concerned because I go to my parents' house on the weekend, and the cat would have to get used to riding in the car and going to another house. I also visited someone who has to give his cat away because he's terminally ill. That was probably the fattest, most miserable looking cat I've seen..he had to have weighed at least 20-25 pounds. D: Poor kitty! There have been no cats at the shelter the last few days, so yesterday I looked at online ad things where people were wanting to sell their cats. One was a super cute little kitten..I wasn't sure I wanted a kitten (so much energy!), but then I realized..if the cat is young enough, it would quickly get used to riding in the car and going to a different house, and would just think it was normal. I texted the number and they told me where to meet them. Weirdly enough, the person selling the cat sometimes shops at the bookstore! Fairbanks is small haha. The tiny kitten (he was born around Christmastime) was meowing in a very squeaky voice, and seemed nervous, but as I was holding him, he snuggled in my arms and started purring. Yep, he's mine now. :P He seemed kinda nervous and restless in the car, but eventually snuggled into me and purred. He had fun exploring my apartment, and ate like he was starving. :P For such a tiny kitten, his purr is SUPER loud! I about died when he jumped off my bed, but he was fine..I'm not used to an agile cat anymore! Haha. He loves jumping playfully, and absolutely LOVES to be snuggled and pet. Mom was melting when he curled up next to her hehe. Here is what he looks like!

Snuggled in mom's arms! He LOVES kneading the air lol. After wracking my brain, I named him...Curti! Short for curtains, of course! He learned his name in about five seconds haha, so I guess he approves. :P He's been using the litterbox fine and didn't freak out overnight, which was nice lol

Today I came home during my lunch break to see how Curti was doing (I was worried he would panic and meow nonstop while I was at work), but he was just fine. He's smart and will probably learn my routines quickly. I'm not sure if he was fed much at his previous home, because he's been eating like crazy..it seems like he gained two pounds overnight! I had to take him to the vet because he had earmites..now I'm suspicious of the previous owner..did they not notice him scratching his ears?? The vet washed his ears out, with Curti purring the whole time..she was surprised, because most cats hate that. She was happy to see my new kitty, and that he's so friendly! He did better in the car this time too, yay! I hope he's still this happy and loving when he grows up lol

( more pics of him! )

8. The most disappointed you've ever been? Seeing the Colosseum in Rome (I thought it would be more intact), hating books I thought I'd like, etc

9. A place you could visit again and again: Valdez, for one..I love being surrounded by glaciers!

10. What do you consider to be your culture? Uh..American?? Haha

11. Your first week in college: Probably just going to class and learning how things worked
12. Your favorite songs: There are so many!! "Do You Hear the People Sing?," "Ghost River," "Little Talks," "It's All Coming Back to Me Now," "Only Time," "Something Just Like This," etc

13. If you could change one thing about your life, what? Hmmm..maybe weigh less, or be better at math haha

1. In your city, where might a visitor find a wretched hive of scum and villainy? Probably somewhere I never go to lol, sketchy-looking places scare me D:
2. When did you most recently do something you didn’t think you could do? Probably the karaoke in Kansas..watching the video makes me SO happy haha. I feel like I might even be able to do it again someday! (Give me wine first though :P)
3. If a robot could do all but two of your regular menial chores, which two would you continue to do? Laundry, making my bed (it's sacred! Bumping against the posts is not allowed :P)
4. Who best qualifies as a mentor in your life today? Vicki, mom
5. How are you at chess? TERRIBLE haha. I went to a charter school in 9th grade and they made you play chess in the morning..I hated it and always lost lol

How have I been spending a bunch of Thanksgiving Break so far (besides eating too much LOL)?

It's hard to eat and use my laptop when Abby's in my lap haha, but when a cat chooses to sit in your lap, you just can't say no! Her old bones are very creaky now, I have to be careful with moving her..I don't want anything to get broken!

Today I had to do errands because I really need a new computer chair and desk (sorry Abby :P)..I found ones I liked, but I'm nervous I won't like the change..the desk doesn't arrive until sometime in December, so I have lots of time to get mentally prepared :P

There are live cameras on YouTube filming the Icelandic volcano erupting..it's fun to watch it for a couple minutes throughout the day!

( nov 26-29 )

On Sunday, I was really short of breath, even just from walking across the room. I tried taking a shower..BIG mistake. I could hardly breathe at all, and the edges of my vision were kind of going black. I somehow got dressed again and then went back downstairs to mom, where I was completely freaking out (which didn't help breathing either lol) and mom rushed me to the ER. They were pretty quick seeing me this time..when they put that oxygen clip thing on my finger, it was 91! They did a breathing treatment, which brought my oxygen up a little, but it didn't do much else. They tested me again for covid and flu (still negative) and did another chest x-ray, which definitely looked worse. The doctor talked to another doctor and asked if I needed to be admitted, but since I'm otherwise healthy, my oxygen stayed kind of steady (though still kind of low), and my lab work looked good, they gave me an inhaler and an oxygen monitor I could take home..they said if my oxygen got to around 88, I should go back to the ER. That was pretty terrifying though, I thought I was dying! I was definitely reading the appropriate book though:

Les Miserables! Probably the longest book I've ever read. It didn't NEED to be that long, but I think Victor Hugo challenged himself to write the longest book possible, with whole chapters not even related to the plot. It'll definitely be an accomplishment when I finish it!

Since then, I've felt a little better each day (I took my last antibiotic today). I've been way too tired to write here! My breathing is a lot better today..I can probably take a shower now without feeling like I'm dying haha. It's hard to stay positive when you've been sick for so long and not able to do much..I'm hoping by next week I can go back to work again, even for a couple hours. Pneumonia is definitely one of the worst sicknesses I've had..it's exhausting and I never want it again!! Abby's been a good nurse!

So cuddly!

Awwww <3

Aunt Gina had to put her cat to sleep this week. :( She video called mom and Julie and Cindy, and I had to come over when I heard sobbing. I think her cat got a blood clot in his leg, which collapsed and he was meowing in pain. She took him to the vet and they said he was too old to have his leg removed, so all they could do was put him to sleep. It was HARD watching that, but everyone was there for her (Joelle came on too). It was so sad seeing her hold her cat in his last moments, omg. :( Losing a pet is always hard, especially when it's sudden like that. I'm glad everyone was able to be there for her, it would have been awful to do something like that alone :(

( may 25-30 )

1. What song do you live for at the moment? I always love hearing "Losing My Religion," it's really fun to sing to!
2. Is there a band or artist that you attach to a particular memory? What memory is it? Oh yes.."Uptown Funk" during one of the summer festivals and dancing to it at Dana's wedding, singing and headbanging to "Bohemian Rhapsody" with friends in high school, the singer of HammerFall looking right into my eyes during "Blood Bound" at a concert, etc
3. What's the most beautiful song lyric you've ever heard? Hmm..the one that comes to mind right away is from "Dead to the World" by Nightwish: "I studied silence to learn the music, I joined the sinful to regain innocence." It definitely makes you think!
4. If you could choose any band/artist to cover any song, which combination would you pick? Someone (Nightwish?) should do a metal version of "My Heart Will Go On," that would be epic haha!
5. What's the best concert you've ever attended? Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Kamelot

The sale at work went very well, we made almost $8000!! That smashes our previous record of a little over $6000 (before covid, our record was $2000 something..we did that in like an hour and a half this time haha). We play music and dance at the register and the customers smile at how much fun we're having..a great atmosphere! I was definitely busy reshelving this week lol

Yesterday I woke up to Abby sleeping next to my head, and purring when I stroked her..it's easy to be in a good mood the rest of the day after waking up to that! <3

Tomorrow mom and Ryan and I start our journey to Puerto Rico! (Jo's already there.) I'm nervous about meeting Jo's family, but it'll be cool to see a new place! It's going to be in the 80s and 90s there..I hope I don't overheat!!

( oct 14-20 )

Today I got my hair cut!

I hadn't got it cut in a couple years, and it definitely needed help haha (all of it wasn't even the same length!). After the past week, I definitely needed to treat myself. :P It's so light and soft now! I shouldn't wait so long to cut it lol

Abby definitely missed sleeping with me..last night she curled up against my head and purred..awwww <3

I recently read a book called The Elements of a Home, and thought it would be fun to put an interesting fact about each item here (I love trivia LOL). Today's item is the bathtub: Unfortunately for public health and personal hygiene, the arrival of the plague in the fourteenth century put an end to the bathtub for the next four hundred years. Bathing was believed to dilate the pores and allow harmful substances to enter the body. [Wtf..I'm sure that made the plague even worse.] It wasn't until Enlightenment [17th-18th centuries] thinking brought about a renewed understanding of the importance of cleanliness that Europeans gradually (read: modestly) began to dip a toe back into the water. And so began the private bath

( 16. If sacrificing your own life would save the lives of a specific number of strangers, how many strangers would need to be saved for you to sacrifice your own life? What if the people were friends? How about family? )

Abby loves curling up on my head, especially when I first go to bed. She's so cute, except when she starts snoring LOL

Mom's home, yay! (Yep, Greyboy was beyond happy and drooled all over her. :P) She said on the flight home, she sat next to someone who had just had shoulder surgery, and he kept talking to her about it and how the stitches ripped out and how it was leaking and mom was like "...why is a complete stranger telling me this??" THEN he put his hand under his shirt and was like "see??" and RUBBED THE FLUID ON MOM'S HAND!!! D: D: OMG THAT IS SO GROSS!! Who DOES that?? She couldn't get up to go to the bathroom yet either, and when she did, he was like "did you wash off my mess on your hand?" Mom was just thinking "STOP TALKING TO ME!!" haha. That is horrifying and so gross. D: It also decided to become winter as soon as she got here..the temps have been in the negatives..guess it had to happen eventually lol

My 6th grade journal entries are on my other computer, so here's my journal from Spain 2006 when I went to Europe with People to People!
( under here! with pics too! )

10. What’s something that’s much more difficult than a lot of people realize? To me, saying someone's name to get their attention or whatever..maybe it's too intimate or something, because I've ALWAYS had trouble with it. Pretty much the only people whose names I can say to their face are Ryan, Elias and babies' names. If I need to get someone's attention, I'll be like "is Denise back here?" Yesterday I needed to get Donna's attention but my brain died and I was just like "uhhh *strangled noises*" and couldn't say anything. And a couple days ago I was trying to tell a customer to talk to Denise or Donna, and looked at Denise and was like "talk to D-D-D..Denise!" *dies* It seems like such a simple thing, but to me it's hard!! I wonder if anyone else with autism has trouble with that?

11. What are some things a house would need to have for you to purchase it? Running water, electricity, room for books LOL, etc

Today's trivia: There are over 9,000 benches in Central Park