BravelyboldSirRobin's Xanga

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:57:13 GMT

Hi xanga! :)

Life's different. But waaaaaay better. :) :)

It's so great.

Missed you!!

Love,
Casie

Beth

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:05:11 GMT

    "Beth was too bashful to go to school. It had been tried, but she suffered so much that it was given up, and she did her lessons at home with her father. Even when he went away and her mother was called to devote her skill and energy to soldiers' aid societies, Beth went faithfully on by herself and did the best she could. She was a housewifely little creature and helped Hannah keep the home neat and comfortable for the workers, never thinking of any reward but to be loved. Long, quiet days she spent, not lonely nor idle, for her little world was peopled with imaginary friends, and she was by nature a busy bee. There were six dolls to be taken up and dressed every morning, for Beth was a child still and loved her pets as well as ever. Not one whole or handsome one among them; all were outcasts till Beth took them in; for when her sisters outgrew these idols, they passed to her, because Amy would have nothing old or ugly. Beth cherished them all the more tenderly for that very reason and set up a hospital for infirm dolls. No pins were ever stuck into their cotton vitals; no harsh words or blows were ever given them; no neglect ever saddened the heart of the most repulsive; but all were fed and clothed, nursed and caressed, with an affection that never failed. One forlorn fragment of "dollanity" had belonged to Jo; and, having led a tempestuous life, it was left a wreck in the ragbag, from which dreary poorhouse it was rescued by Beth and taken to her refuge. Having no top to its head, she tied on a neat little cap, and, as both arms and legs were gone, she hid these deficiencies by folding it in a blanket and devoting her best bed to this chronic invalid. If anyone had known the care lavished on that dolly, I think it would have touched their hearts, even while they laughed. Beth brought it bits of bouquets; she read to it, took it out to breathe the air, hidden under her coat; she sang it lullabies and never went to bed without kissing its dirty face and whispering tenderly, "I hope you'll have a good night, my poor dear."
    Beth had her troubles as well as the others; and not being an angel but a very human little girl, she often "wept a little weep," as Jo said, because she couldn't take music lessons and have a fine piano. She loved music so dearly, tried so hard to learn, and practiced away so patiently at the jingling old instrument that it did seem as if someone (not to hint Aunt March) ought to help her. Nobody did, however, and nobody saw Beth wipe the tears off the yellow keys, which wouldn't keep in tune, when she was all alone. She sang like a little lark about her work, never was too tired to play for Marmee and the girls, and day after day said hopefully to herself, "I know I'll get my music sometime, if I'm good."
    There are many Beths in the world, shy and quiet, sitting in corners till needed, and living for others so cheerfully that no one sees the sacrifices till the little cricket on the hearth stops chirping and the sweet, sunshiny presence vanishes, leaving silence and shadow behind."

Quel exemple.

Hey Tulsa

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:01:27 GMT

I'm in Tulsa right now. I'm also laughing because including the previous post this is the most I've updated in a really long time. Ha.

I'm pretty much obsessed with aviation right now. Not like, the different types of private airplanes, and not like, how to pilot an airplane per se, but rather everything to do with commerical flights, airports, and the like.

I think maybe I should've been a flight attendant instead. Although I don't think I have the right personality for it.

Man. This break from school has been awesome. I've been off since December 15th-ish, and I won't even have to go back until January 22nd, by which I mean January 28th, because John and I are going to Toronto with everyone from their office for their work's Christmas party on the 24th. WOOT! I got my passport all ready and am pumped to go. I get to fly on a grand total of FOUR airplanes and see a grand total of FOUR airports! SHWEET. This only feeds my aviation obsession and I'm not complaining.

Speaking of aviation, as if I hadn't enough already, I went to Border's with John yesterday and got this rad book about commercial airlines and flying using the gift card Marisa got me. YESS!

Still loving the HP and the LotR and the LW and the figure skating. Definitely enjoying the time off.

Hoping you are well,

Casie N. Jones

Wonderful Wonderful

Sat, 15 Dec 2007 00:22:28 GMT

Oh boy. Finals are finally over. :) I am so happy. I am a very content little woman right now.

The only tiny speck marring my perfect happiness is my dog Diamond. She's been acting a little strange for a few days. She's been extremely clingy to me and my dad and has even been seen following my mom around (she doesn't usually do that). As an experiment, I walked all around the house to all sorts of different places, even scary places like the bathroom (where she gets her baths) and the workshop (cold and full of weird stuff) and she literally followed me as close as a shadow. She doesn't really seem sick, and while I can't exactly remember her eating in the last few days she could totally have done it without me knowing. She did refuse a rawhide chew earlier though, which is highly unusual. Does anyone have any clue as to what could be up with her? I am out of ideas. For the time being, she seems ok, just very attached.

Other than that, life is a peach. :)

**Update**

I think I solved the Diamond mystery. She was just lonely I think. I played with her and Jessie and they seemed a lot more cheered up. Plus then Mom and Dad got home and that pretty much sealed the deal. :) She's over in the corner chewing the rawhide now. Hooray!

Now I'm trying to think how best to spend the rest of this comfy, snowy evening. Bon soir.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 21:09:33 GMT

Xanga is just always going to be set to Home.

*shrug*

Tonight Stacy and I are seeing Mandy Patinkin. :)

Fall. Fall. Fall. Autumn. Finally. Please stay.

I can't decide who I would want to be the most if I could pick a fictional character :

1. Rosie Cotton-Gamgee
2. Pamela Beesly
3. Hermione Jean Granger

Help me decide!

The End

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 21:06:52 GMT

Well, It's almost over. In 7 hours' time, everyone will have access to the end of the series that has meant so much to me and so many other people in the world. I'm tremendously sad, but I'm also kind of relieved. From this point on, I can look forward simply to rereading the books over and over again, much like visiting an old friend, rather than anxiously waiting to meet a new one. Goodness knows I like my comfort (comme Horace Slughorn). I really don't know how I feel at this point. I will be dressing up as Hermione, Stacy as Luna, Jill also as Hermione, Lisa as Professor Trelawney, Sally as Ginny, John as Voldemort (hehe), and many others will be there as well. I'm extraordinarily excited for this evening, and for the coming weeks of reading and rereading and cherishing of a new jewel, but I'm also scared, for spoilers, for mockers that will undeniably and unerringly unsettle and sadden me, for the end, for knowing no more release parties will happen, for finding out which characters die. But in the grand scheme of it all, this is going to be fun. I like books so much more than movies. They're so much more advanced than computers as well. You open it, immediate access. You're gone. You can stay away for as long as you like and find solace for however long you need it. I can never focus on anything so well as I can a book. Well, while I know part of me will always heartfully enjoy nostalgia, the better (bigger) part of me would much rather laugh and have fun. So that's the end of that.

Summertime

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 01:17:33 GMT

It's June. It's been hot. Although it's been raining the last two days. I'm going to employ the same technique I use on Xanga for when it's been a year and a day since I last posted. In no particular order:

1. I've been volunteering at the zoo for about a month now, and I am LOVING it. I've gotten to do and see and experience some amazing things, such as feeding elephants, petting and giving rhinos baths, helping to capture swans, helping to corral storks, hand feeding exotic birds, witnessing a zebra operation thing, and more. Plus I've met so many awesome people! Kinna, Norma, Jan, Jen, Barb, Pete, Mike, Amanda, Dylan, Scott, etc., you all know who you are. Kinna, you are such an awesome friend and I am so glad we met! I've never met such a genuine person who's so friendly right off the bat, and your passion for elephants and all animals and educating people about them was one of the things that made me look forward so much to first volunteering there. I expect we will be hanging out bunches!! Jan, we need to get signed to a label. I mean, come on. Ghetto Zoo Hits of 2007. It's a sure thing. Norma, you make me laugh so much. I am glad to know such a cool woman! Jen, your passion for birds really shines, and I'm glad to have a fellow klutz to symphathize with! Everyone else, you're just awesome. Keep doing what you do. I am so glad to be able to help these amazing animals and the people who care about them in any way I can, and I'm hoping I'll be able to continue to for a long time.

2. Megan had her baby!! Sophia Ryoko Smith, born June 12th, 2007 at 7:26 a.m. She's beautiful, just like her mommy. Dark hair, big pretty eyes, and so alert. Yesterday I visited her and Meg and Eric and got to hold her and feed her and burp her for like 2 hours. Well, the feeding and burping lasted for about 20 minutes. Then she fell asleep and I just held her. I can't wait to have a baby. Well, I guess I can. They're hard work. But you know what I mean. I'm happily anticipating the future. I'm really glad she's here. It's an amazing thing, when your best friend has a baby. I feel like I know her so well, simply because of the connection I have with her mom. I'm really glad Meg had such a good delivery (preeclampsia aside) and that she and Sophia are healthy and happy. We plan to take her on fun excursions like to the zoo (as aforementioned in number one) and to the park, and later, to El Dorado lake, the exotic Kansas beach!!!

3. John, you are an amazing boyfriend. I never tell you enough, but you are. You're there for me when I need to talk and you have this amazing calming effect on me that no one else has. You make me laugh, and your passion for your work really motivates me to do well for my future career. We belong togetha like peanut butter and jelly. (NOT SALAMI! haha.) I love you so much. I'm really excited to see you Friday too! What a treat, seeing my boyfriend two whole days in a row! haha.

4. I'm looking very much forward to moving back home in August. Not having to pay rent will be SO nice. My mom said we can paint my room, and I think I've decided on a really pretty color of green, kind of in between a forest green and a sea foam green. Christy will be at school in Atlanta, and I will really miss her, but it WILL be nice to have my own bathroom and the whole back end of the house to myself. I will miss the independence of being on my own (and the 2am hot baths, of course), but it's a small price to pay for living rent-and-grocery free in a nice house with my wonderful parents.

5. God is blessing me so much. That sounds so cliche, but I guess that makes me cliche, as Pam Beesly would say. I'm low on money, but moving home will take care of that. I miss my boyfriend and wish he could live in the same city as me, but I'm lucky to be with such a strong, handsome, wonderful man who's so devoted to me. I have an awesome car now too! I ended up getting my wish and got my mom's red Grand Am for a graduating from sophomore year present. Not exactly high school graduation, but I'm lucky to have such a nice car. Life is really great right now, and though I now it won't always be so great all the time, I have wonderful family and friends to be with.

6. I want to hang out more with:
Megan (and Eric and Sophia)
Hannah and Andy
Diego
Brittany
Maddie and Bernie
Marisa (but she's in Provo, then Scotland, so no cigar, until August)
Melanie, Monica, Lauren, James, Ashley, Aaron, Seth, basically everyone I work with.
Kinna
Jack and Chris
Jessica and Andy
Ginger
Ari
basically everyone who I never see anymore.

7. I'm VERY VERY excited for my trip to Atlanta with my family in August. I may have to miss a day of school, but it will be worth it. I love flying!!

8. I need to start practicing so I'm not rusty as an old red wagon by the time school starts again.

9. I'm SO FREAKING EXCITED for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on July 13th (11th?) and Deathly Hallows on July 21st! My birthday is on the 23rd, so that will be an AMAZING weekend!

10. I read all the time. It's ridiculous.

Well, I think that's about it. This novel has taken 900 million years to write, and my fingers are tired. I need to take a ten minute break, so as not to endanger myself for carpel tunnel, strained eyes, and back cramps. And speaking of The Office (in case you didn't get it, that's what the computer reference was to), I'm going to go watch a whole bunch more episodes now. I hope everyone's summers are going well. You should call me so we can hang out. If you don't have my number, send me a message and I'll give you it.

If you've read to the end of this outrageous thing, then you're both my hero and my true friend.

Au revoir, adios, and good day.

Casie

Mahah! No more school almost. A mother's Day Post.

Sun, 13 May 2007 19:33:54 GMT

I'm just a-updating to let anyone know I'm alive on xanga. (but just barely). Ummm.....in no particular order:

1. I want Meg to have Sophia right this second. Babies are fun to play with. Plus I know for a fact she tired of being almost ready to explode.

2. My zoo volunteer meeting is this Wednesday. My finals end on Tuesday. I have two on Monday and one on Tuesday. Thanks for waiting til the last second, teaches.

3. I'm really very very very excited for the zoo meeting. I'm gonna try real hard to work in the African Veldt once a week and I hope I hope I hope the new penguin exhibit a.m.a.p.!!!!

4. Seven hours of pouring hot coffee on a hot day will make you want to go swimming. Anyone game?

6. (I said they weren't in order). My relatives will be in town on Wednesday. I get to pick up my aunt Debbie and my grandpa (no, not the turtle one. The "karn" one) Wednesday afternoon at the airport. heart. heart heart heart. I love the airport. I love my family. Love.

9. Harry Potter is still my obsession. You just don't understand.

5. I recently found a bunch of old pictures of my mom withe her mom and dad at Atlantic City in like 1958. My new favorite pictures they are. I even blew up and framed one I redid in Sepia (thanks, Walgreen photo editing machine) of my mom when she was about 2 with her mom on the beach at the water's edge, and gave it to her for Madre's Day along with one I framed of me and her at the pool in Florida in Sepia when I was about a year. Turned out pretty neat. Someday I plan to give her a third of me and my daughter in some sort of similar beachy-water setting.

7. Diamond just ran down the stairs and into this room and jumped up on the couch. I like the sound her nails make on the fabric when she jumps up on it.

8. I'm going to be working at Sbux a lot this summer, you can catch me oftenly during the late hours of the night, steaming milk and pouring espresso for the upper-middle class white and blue collars of Wichita.

10. John just moved into a new fancy pants apartment down in Tulsa. I'm mad at him for moving somewhere that wasn't Wichita.

11. I love John. He's pretty much the best boyfriend ever. Daily newness in our relationship after two and a half years is sumthin. Good job us.

13. The end.

Twelve. 12.

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 03:05:04 GMT

Howdee everyone!

I realize I haven't posted in like 2 months but I've been off on a facebook binge for a while.........yeah.

I forget how much I love xanga. It's like coming back to a childhood haunt, like the playground or your grandparents' house, after spending months in the corporate business world. Sappy, I know, but it's the truth.

I've had a xanga for....4 years now, is that right? Dang, that is crazy.

So in other news, I have 15 hours of school this semester, and it's beginning to catch up with me. Not that that's a lot, but I work about 20 at Starbucks on top so it can get a little overbearing at times. Theory, Music and Literature Connection, and Piano are starting to pile on a fair amount of homework, not to mention I've got piano proficiency and juries coming up (in the increasingly-not-so-distant future) plus all my regular flute and piccolo practice work. Urgh. I can already feel the Finals Week migraines sneaking their way into my sinus cavity.

Dr. Shelly and I had a nice little chat a couple of weeks ago, and she really wants to push me towards more piccolo performance. The fact remains that I'm one of the only majors interested in doing it, and, to use her words, so as not to seem braggy (), I have "soooo much talent. And sooooo much potential." She thinks I could possibly go for a smaller orchestra (her suggestion was Grand Rapids or something) that rehearses at night so I can still teach during the day, before moving on to something bigger like Detroit. I was pretty scared after she said that. I mean, I'd love it. But is it really what I want? I've had so many second thoughts piled contrastingly atop my already laid out plans, I don't know what to think. But it'd be cool. The nice thing is that I do still have a while to think about it.

So I developed a really random rash today. I don't feel particularly bad, although at first I felt HORRIBLE and thought I was having an allergic reaction. I actually traded shifts with Diego (bless him) so I wouldn't have to go in; I was just feeling way achey. I do still feel like that, although resting all night has helped calm me. I'm getting ready to log onto Mugglenet.com so I can access Alivan's and buy another HP scarf (the Gryiffindor POA one), so that'll be sure to cheer me up. In conclusion, I have a weird rash of little red bumpies slightly raised off the skin, all over my arms and shoulders and stomach. It needs to go away.

No other new news to report. Except yay! I finally got a new car, about 2 or 3 weeks ago, a 2000 red Pontiac Grand Am. Nothing fancy, but it's still pretty hot.

Man. This evening has flown by. I don't know how I feel lately. Moving out was awesome, but I've felt like the last 4 months have been a crazy whirlwind, and the last two weeks I've felt really unsettled. Like I feel like my life's moving so fast that I can't enjoy anything, but at the same time it seems like I'm always just trying to get through the days to the little bits of "actual fun" there are. I know that a theme in my life has always been that important things and fun, happy things seem to always happen when they're unforseen and unplanned. That's probably my problem. I just need to live here and now, and enjoy whatever it is I'm doing, no matter to what degree or level. Maybe I'm just stuck in a rut, but I've felt the need to escape lately. The everyday routine doesn't seem to be doing it for me.

So now at the end of the longest post ever (ridiculous overexaggeration courtesty of my developing mental headache), I think I will bid you adieu with a bit of a sunshiney note:

Earlier I was watching t.v. and I saw my new favorite commercial! It's the one for IAMS dog food, where a man gets home from work and calls happily for his dog, yelling the name "Mr. Barkey Von Schnauzer!" The dog doesn't appear. "Mr. Barkey Von Schnauzer!!!" The dog still doesn't appear, and the announcer guy chimes in with "Give your pet a name it won't be ashamed of." I have no idea why, but it struck me as hilarious and I full on sprayed a mouthful of water straight out and all over my unsuspecting dog, who then proceeded to run straight from the room looking scandalized. So maybe IAMS needs to be careful about how hilarious they choose to make their commericals.

Anyway, if you've actually read to the end of this I can only say that you must be one of my true friends (or just really bored) and that I'm gratified. I'm going to go order my scarf now, and then do some HP sleuthing courtesy of mugglenet and my own fantasy-oriented brain.

Monday, December 11, 2006

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 21:51:21 GMT

I'm going outside to enjoy this beautiful weather, what do you think about that?