Summer time, and the living is easy!

Things that make me happy:


SUMMER: It is summer and I am feeling good!! This is turning out to be a fabulous summer! I love summer so much! The weather is beautiful and you have time to just be yourself, relax, hang out with friends, and do what you want without worrying about homework and papers and meetings.

I don't know what it is, some may say I have SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), but the sun and the heat just do something to me! They spark an energy in me that I can't get enough of! I truly do not belong in this state. I know I've said this before, but I belong down south where the sun is always shining and the temperature never gets below 70!

This is truly turning out to be one of the best summers of my life though. Which is weird, because its not like there is anything particularly special about it. I mean I'm not off in some other state performing at some extreme venue and I'm not going on any huge vacations or anything, heck I'm not even living on my own. But, for some reason, this summer my life seems so full!



BEING BUSY: I think a lot of this is accredited to the fact that I'm not just having a lazy summer where I sit around on my ass and feel bad because cuz there's no one to hang out with. For some reason I just feel more whole if I am busy and have a lot of things to do.



FRIENDS: I've also been really good at friendships lately, which has not always been a strong suit in my past. My mother has always told me since I was very little "to have friends you must be a friend" and I feel like I am really starting to understand what this means. All it takes is a little effort and I'm getting much better at it.

Also, I feel like as I get older and start to grow and get know who I am, I'm starting to lose some of my insecurities and am finding it easier to just be myself as well as know what kind of relationships I want to to be in and being able to find friends who are like me and understand where I come from.

This summer I've had the amazing opportunity to hang out with AP, Lisa, Lisa's Rob, Robby G, Vanessa, Rob, and Scott. But I need to see ASAP Brittany Jeanne Cagney, Nathan James Runnells, Chadwick Glen Murphy, Megan and KO.



BOYS: I've also had a lot of opportunities to go on some "dates" this summer. Whether with a guy friend I kind of like, or with someone a friend has hooked me up with. I've been to a couple movies, a bonfire, a game night. All harmless, but a lot of fun.

I've recently begun to like getting to know new people, which, being introverted, I never really liked before. I was too shy. But along with a sense of maturity, is being secure in who I am, which has lead to not be quite as shy.


FAMILY: I have always been blessed with an amazing mom, step dad, brother, sister, and the two cutest dogs on the face of this earth. But it has really been nice having a big extended family this summer. Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts and Uncles and Cousins. Unfortunately I wasn't lucky enough to have this during my high school years but it is soothing to have it again.

When you have a big extended family that lives close and really cares about each other, it makes you feel special and loved and taken care of and safe and it always seems like there is something going on. I have had a great time at birthday parties, cookouts, card-making parties, graduations, graduation parties, homecoming parties, etc. It really is a nice atmosphere.



MOTORCYCLES: I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH MOTORCYCLES!! I have always liked them in the past and thought they were cool, but I have had two opportunities to ride on them in the past two weeks and I love them.

First I got to ride one with my new friend Scott last weekend. It was beautiful weather and so much fun. Then last night, my cast-mate/co-star/husband, Kyle took me for a ride on his bike. It was great and he told me he's gonna give me lessons so I can learn how to drive one. SO EXCITING!

I want one of my own sooo bad!! But I didn't realize they were almost expensive as cars so I have a feeling that won't happen for a quite a ways down the road.



DOING FUN STUFF: I love going and doing fun things and having adventures and trying new things. It exhilarates me!

I have already had so many opportunities to do fun stuff this summer including going to AZ, going to Six Flags, going to bonfires, riding on motorcycles, hanging out with friends, going to movies, reading good books, making new friends, hanging out with family, going to parties, making cards, visiting friends in their new homes, going to auditions, etc.

Some things coming up on the list: Massage tomorrow, Jared's graduation party tomorrow, Mt. Olympus on Sunday, Summerfest next Wednesday and Friday, Six Flags next Thursday, 4th of July festivities next Saturday, lots of rehearsal, go see My Sister's Keeper, etc.

PERFORMING: I don't know what it is about performing that lights a fire in me. Every time I am involved in a choir, play, musical, dance class, anything I feel whole. I feel like me. I feel bright and energetic. Its like exercise, its so good for me and I don't always want to do it, but when I do I feel healthy and like it is exactly where I am supposed to be.

Right now I'm in a musical production called "Baby". It's being put on by Theatre Unlimited in Janesville. I play Pam, a thirty-year-old, married tom-boy who wants nothing more in the world than to conceive a baby with her husband, Nick but is having a very difficult time doing so.

I've only been to two rehearsals so far but I think it is going to be a really good show. We have a pretty solid, talented, experienced cast. The performances will be August 14-16 and August 21-23 so make sure you all come see it!

That is all I have for now. I hope you all are enjoying your summers as much as I am!