Soooooo

Sometimes I want to blog and then I open up my blog page, but I can't remember what I wanted to write about. And occasionally, I then look thoughtfully around the room, trying to remember. Perhaps this went on for 2, or 3, or 90 seconds.

And in the midst of my innocent thinking...."WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" I turn and find Rachel Handysnacks (who you can imagine looking an awful lot like the Evil Stepmother from Cinderella) laughing at me.

"Uhh, I was THINKING."

::laughter from the Evil Stepmother::

So apparently, I need to NOTIFY Rachel before I start thinking or else she will make fun of me. Can't a girl just think about what she wants to blog and not be ridiculed?

Rachel, I will forgive you as soon as you do something weird so I can make fun of you back.

I am pretty good at being unemployed

I can really occupy my time. I am super-entertained by simple things. For example, imagining Ricky in a pair of pants. It's very funny. I could imagine that for like 2 hours.

Yes. Yes, this is appropriate

I HAVE WON AN AWARD. Ashley L.T., noted blogger and nationally-acclaimed blog award presenter, has nominated my blog as the best blog she has ever seen in her life, far outweighing her own blogging efforts.

I HUMBLY ACCEPT THIS AWARD AND ALL OF THE ESTEEM AND GRANDIOSITY THAT COME WITH IT.

The blog AWARD comes with a one-word quiz/survery thing that you're supposed to copy and paste (and answer) and then you're supposed to nominate others for the award and pass it on.

1. Where is your cell phone? Purse
2. Your hair? Fluffity
3. Your mother? MomDot
4. Your father? Two
5. Your favorite food? CoolRanchDoritos
6. Your dream last night? Hopping
7. Your favorite drink? Juice
8. Your dream/goal? Hugs
9. What room are you in? Living
10. Your hobby? Winning
11. Your fear? Needles
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? NFL
13. Where were you last night? BiggestLoser
14. Something you aren't? SociallyAppropriate
15. Muffins? Meh.
16. Wish list item? Loveseat
17. Where did you grow up? P-Town
18. Last thing you did? Babysat
19. What are you wearing? RayofHopeTShirt
20. Your TV? Rachel's
21. Your pets? RMVBR
22. Your friends? Tall
23. Your life? Schmoodlie
24. Your mood? Sizzling
25. Missing someone? Mybrothers
26. Vehicle? SpeedyWheels
27. Something you're not wearing? 3-DGlasses
28. Your favorite store? Toys'R'Us
29. Your favorite color? Cerulean
30. When was the last time you laughed? BabysittingIsaac
31. Last time you cried? Saturday
32. Your best friend? IGotALottaBestFriends
33. One place that I go over and over? Facebook
34. One person who emails me regularly? BaronMiller
35. Favorite place to eat? Grandma's

So there it was. I am a champion.

A Sad Time

Hello, bloggy friends. I have been made aware that some of you (the crazier sorts) have been noticing and/or harrassing my family members about the fact that I have not been blogging lately.

Well, the truth is now being revealed. I did not blog for the past month because it was a Sad Time for this blogger.

I quit my job.

I quit my job at Rebound because it was no longer a healthy place for me to work. And it was very sad. I had to make the decision, and it was the right decision, but it was still very sad.

Here are some of the sad things that happened:

• One of the moms cried.
• One of the moms wrote me a card that started with "Thank you for being part of my family."
• One of the little boys said, "Why do you have to leave? You are the best at Flying Colors."
• One little boy, who has never hugged me in his life, gave me the saddest, most unexpected hug.

Here are some funny things that happened:

• When I announced it to the kids, many of them shouted, "NOOOOOOO!" like they were being attacked. It was a little dramatic.
• The kids had hilarious suggestions for what to do - they asked for a signed picture of me. Like a head shot. I am sad to say I didn't get around to signing photos. Another kid asked if I would "write them letters at least once a month." Like I was leaving the country.
• One little boy wrote me a goodbye card and on the front of it drew a gravestone with the words "RIP NICOLE."
• Quite a few of the kids brought me goodbye presents, aka crap from their houses. I received a pencil cushion, a jingle-bell bracelet, 5 fake ice cubes, a handful of weeds, and a small velvet pouch.

So, it was a sad few weeks for me, but I'm glad to say that I'm back in business. And I'm even gladder to say that with all my newfound free time, I will be able to blog even more often. So for all you nicoleissointeresting blog fanatics, I'm back!

Edited my Halloween Post

Dear friends and family,

Thanks to all you brilliant minds out there, I have edited the previous post and I hope it is more accurate. Please double-check for me.

Sincerely,

Nicole Raden
Halloween Enthusiast

Halloween Costumes from My Life

6 weeks old: Elephant

Ages 1,2, & 3: Pumpkin

Ages 4 & 5: Princess

Age 6: Cowgirl

Age 7: Hawaiian Hula Dancer

Age 8: Japanese woman

Age 9: Betty Rubble (from the Flintstones, my brothers as Barney and Bam-Bam)

Age 10: Seahawks Cheerleader

Age 11: Rag Doll

Age 12: Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz

Age 13: Clown

Age 14: Snow White

Age 15 - 19: Nothing that I can recall

Age 20: Fairy

Age 21: Fanta Girl

Age 22: Louse (a single lice)

Age 23: Carolyn Hann's Middle School Best Friend, Tiffany (punk)

Age 24: Rachel Handy, Roller Dancer

Age 25: TBA . . . .

Special Quote

FC Child, age 7, chonic liar: "Where did you get your skirt?

Me: "I think I got it at Old Navy."

FC Child: "Oh. I got a skirt at New Navy."

Thank You, Morgan

Morgan reminded me that I left out an important additional fainting out experience.

Sophomore year of college I woke up in the middle of the night with the flu. Puked in a punch bowl next to my bed. Filled the bowl entirely. I mean all the way to the top. So I HAD to get up and dump it out in the bathroom.

Unfortunately, I fainted while carrying the bowl. Of barf. And spilled the bowl of barf all over the floor in the hallway. And all over myself.

Thank Jesus for my roommate Becca Barber. She woke up and took care of everything. Because she is a saint. She carried me into the bathroom, WASHED THE FLOOR, changed my pajamas, got me medicine, and put me to bed. She then stayed awake and washed the rugs from the hallway and made sure that there was no barf left in between the boards of the super-old hardwood floor.

She actually deserves a trophy for doing all of that.

That may have been the worst possible moment to faint. Well, maybe tied with in the middle of a benefit at the Nightlight.

Other Times I Have Fainted

1) In fifth grade, I passed out when I jabbed a pencil into my hand.

2) I laid in the sun on Mothers Day circa 1998 and when I came inside, I sat on a bar stool to eat dinner. Then I passed out and fell off the bar stool onto the ground.

3) I passed out in the hallway of my dorm room 3 times in one night while I was trying to make my way to the bathroom. (KJW, do you remember that? When I came back into the room I made you take care of me.)

4) I fainted when I had a mole removed freshman year of college.

5) I fainted when I was with my friend Melissa in high school and she was getting her belly button pierced. The piercer man said I was the first person to pass out who was NOT getting something pierced.

6) I pass out every time I get a shot. or have blood drawn This encompasses probably 15-20 times.

7) I fainted right before I had my wisdom teeth removed. When I woke up, I thought they were hanging me from the ceiling and I screamed.

8) I fainted in junior high when I had food poisoning at my friend Halli's house. Also, when I fainted I was in the bathroom and I hit my head on the wall AND the toilet.

9) I passed out the other day at the Nightlight after I got a massage. (See previous post.)


Hm. I knew I've passed out a lot, but it just seems like more than I thought after typing that all out. Maybe I should start wearing a helmet.

Or maybe I could wear Ricky around my shoulders like a protective neck-wrap and his fat belly would protect my head from falls.

All good ideas.

So I Fainted at the Nightlight...

Yesterday there was a benefit at a bar called the Nightlight. It was a benefit for DVSAS. Very cool.

The benefit was organized as a "Beauty Bar" which meant that 10 different salons/masseuses/places like that things were there and giving 1 free service to anyone who paid the $10 donation cover fee.

Fun, fun, fun. Right? Wrong. Keep reading.

Carolyn, Jodi, and I all chose which service we wanted. I chose massage. We made our appointments for 10:15 and then went to get a drink. I had one Lemon Drop. Not even a shaker, just about 6 oz of a Lemon Drop.

Then it was time for our appointments. Lalala, I am paired with this masseuse named Amber and she was really good. It was the type of massage in a chair with a face-holder. Very nice.

I was all relaxed and happy, and then I suddenly started to feel weird. My hands got all clammy and I felt heavy. Then I lifted my head and said something to the effect of, "Uhmhmm, I don't feel good."

Blackness. Gone. Fainted. Fell right out of the chair. Onto the floor. In the middle of like 300 people.

I woke up right away and they helped move me to a less crowded area. I wanted to keep laying down. A man came who used to be an EMT and he asked me 20 million questions. Luckily, Carolyn was there and could let the people know that no, I did not have alcohol poisoning, I had only had one drink.

The EMT man asked the masseuse if she had been massaging my neck right before I fainted, which she had been. Apparently there is a "vagus nerve" in necks and if it is pressed on and someone has vasovagal syncope, it can cause fainting. Alcohol and stress could contribute to the likelihood of a fainting episode.

I went home and cried because I was so embarrassed. I also have felt pretty sick ever since that happened, like I usually do after I faint.

I have been fainting and nearly fainting more often lately.... Luckily I'm going to the doctor on Thursday.

I think I have vasovagal syncope.

Sometimes I Think I Might Just Put His Tail-less Butt Out on the Street

Last night, I was sleeping, zzz-zzz-zzz, just dreaming nice dreams. And then, I burst into wakefulness when I received an unpleasant SPLASH IN THE FACE.

Ricky the Cat had knocked over a cup of water ONTO MY FACE in the middle of the night.

I was mad. I'm talking mad.

Take a Chill Pill, World

It's like when take a break from blogging, you all don't know what to do with your online time. My complaint department has been overwhelmed with angry readers, wanting more, MORE, MORE!

"More blog entries!" you cry, "Please write more! We live and breathe your blog entries and we are all dying off without our daily supply!"

"Relax, you freaks," I reply calmly. "I was just watching SYTYCD and cleaning my house. I'm back now."

In other news, Ricky the cat misses Rachel Handysnacks and is super annoying about it. He stares at me all the time. ALL THE TIME.

Rachel, come back from Philadelphia. Philly is silly.

Yes......... I think I even did this one when I was in like 8th grade.....

DO YOU SNORE?: No. Okay, maybe sometimes. Only when I am sick.


LOVER OR A FIGHTER?: Christina Aguilera's FIGHTER, obviously.


WHAT'S YOUR WORST FEAR?: Needles. Losing Snowy. Having a never-ending stomach ache.


AS A KID, WERE YOU A LEGO BUILDER?: Only at my Grandma Jobe's house because she had 50 million legoes and it was impossible not to play with them.


WHAT DO YOU THINK OF "REALITY TV"?: It is awesome if it is in the form of The Biggest Loser, SYTYCD, or SuperNanny. I also think that it is awesome if it is my mom and dad on Trading Spaces. I think it is very, very dumb if it is in the form of "Tila Tequila's Chance at Love" or whatever it's called.


DO YOU CHEW ON YOUR STRAWS?: No.


WERE YOU A CUTE BABY?: Of course. I need to find a picture so you can all ogle over it.


HOW IS THE SINGLE LIFE FOR YOU?: Why is this survey assuming I am single? It was not listed under "Surveys forLoser Singles." I could have a boyfriend. That being said, my single life is PHENOMENAL. Obviously.


DO YOU SING IN THE SHOWER?: I do not shower silently ever.


HAVE YOU EVER BUNGEE JUMPED?: One time I did this thing in Las Vegas where I was all strapped into this harness thing and they raised me and my brother and Tyler Zaichkin very, very high in the air and dropped us and we screamed. That is similar to bungee jumping.


ANY SECRET TALENTS?: If I told you what they were, they wouldn't be secret.


WHAT'S YOUR IDEAL VACATION SPOT?: Disneyland. Or DisneyWorld.


HAVE YOU EATEN SUSHI?: Yes. Kelly made me eat it before. I didn't love it, but I could eat it again.


CAN YOU SING THE ALPHABET BACKWARDS?: Yes. When I forgot my clarinet everyday for a whole week in junior high, I was so bored during Band Class that I taught myself to say the alphabet backwards.

WHAT ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO?: Amoxicillan.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAID, "I LOVE YOU": 2 hours ago when Kyle Facebook chatted me something mean. That is how I respond when he says inappropriate things.

IS SANTA CLAUS REAL?: Absolutely. If I stopped believing in Santa, I wouldn't get a Santa gift every year.


ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?: Yes.


WHAT ARE YOU ADDICTED TO?: Buying books. Cool Ranch Doritos. SYTYCD. Farmville.


CRUNCHY OR CREAMY PEANUT BUTTER?: Crunchy.


HAVE YOU EVER RIDDEN IN AN AMBULANCE?: No. I always almost die and no one calls the ambulance.


HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BRUSHED YOUR TEETH TODAY?: Once.


WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?: Last week when I was driving home from Puyallup, after driving home from Montana. Do you even know why I cried? Because I am a dork. I was crying because I had so much fun with my family and I was overwhelmed by how much I love them and how lucky I am to have such a wonderful family.


DO YOU LIKE YOUR LIFE?: Yes. Very much.


DO YOU PLAY ANY INSTRUMENTS?: Yes, half way on the following instruments: Piano, violin, clarinet, spoons. I own a guitar but Ron refuses to teach me.


IS A DOG A MAN'S BEST FRIEND?: No. Obese, tail-less cats are a man's best friend.


WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?: Ravioli with pesto and cherry tomatos.


And there you have it, friends. A survey of Nicole, straight out of the years when surveys were cool.

Today I was Interviewed

I like being interviewed. I just like when people ask me questions. Sometimes when I'm grumpy I have Carolyn ask me questions.

Maybe you think that's weird. So what? YOU'RE WEIRD. I'm just more open about my weirdness.

I was interviewed for Rebound for a promo video. I said some awesome stuff. I bet people will write $100,000 checks after they hear me talk about FC.

Oh, you know what I always secretly liked? Those stupid surveys that people sent around in high school that asked like 200 questions. Everyone hated them but I liked it when I got it.

I'll see if I can find one and then I'll post it for all of you to scour over.

The Real Footage of the Oprah Dance Party

I wish I was the girl in the front that was dancing by herself at the beginning. THIS IS THE MOST AWESOME.

I have a new best friend. Her name is Eloise Miller.

Here we are.

And there she is - 2 hours old. She kept sticking her tongue out at me. It was a funny joke between the two of us.

I want a dog

And Then Rachel and I Got Up And Danced

I was flipping through the channels and I stumbled upon THIS. (Note: This is just a personal video from some person, not the actual footage from the television.) (Also note: You can't understand how surprised Rachel and I were.) (Third note: the real footage is SO AWESOME.)

It's time

I am starting to accept that it's autumn. Mostly this is because there is the pumpkin spice latte.

Also, only 4 months until Christmas! I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

First Day of School

Today was the first day of school for Bellingham, and therefore the first day of school for Flying Colors Afterschool Care.

It was long.

But we survived.

I am too tired to give details so I will give a picture of some dogs in costumes:

A Terrible Occurance

Something terrible occurred in our home. I could not find a picture online that accurately represented what happened to me and Rachel this evening. So I had to draw one myself. Here it is:

A spider monster crawled into our living room.

Not a Single Person

I had a dream last night that I performed in the Ray of Hope Talent show and NO ONE CLAPPED.

I was super embarrassed when I woke up. Also, I was mad at Rachel because she was the one who suggested that I do the solo.

Oh, the best TV Show ever.

Learning and Living

Here are some facts, followed by a conclusion:

1. Yesterday was Rachel's first day of school. She is at this very moment working on her school work.
2. I am jealous of her school work.
3. Lately, I have been going to the library and checking out books on subjects like "behavior management" and "common syndromes in children" and "how to energize your employees."

Conclusion: I want to go back to school.

Where should I go?

Another Visual Treat for You

GUESS WHO IS GOING TO THE SYTYCD SHOW ON NOVEMBER 21ST!

ME.

Update

Two things are all you need to know about my life right now:

1) I have been very busy with camp and FC and all the working that I do.

2) They started selling MY FAVORITE GRANOLA BARS IN THE WORLD again at Fred Meyer. Unfortunately, they can only be purchased in a multi-pack of 10 granola bars, only 2 of which are my favorite kind. So I have to buy these big packs just to get 2 of my favorites.

Favorite Granola Bar: "Food Club" Chewy Apple Berry

It is an off-brand generic that has no web site (I just checked) so I can't provide a picture. However, it is the most delicious granola bar ever made. They used to sell them in boxes of just 10 Apple Berries (glorious day!) but then they stopped inexplicably a few years ago. Until today when I was at Fred Meyer and I saw the Multi-Packs.

If anyone would like to arrange a 80%-20% payment agreement for these granola bars with me, that would be great. You pay 80% and get the rest of the bars, and I pay my 20 percent for my 2 bars.

Actually, it should be more like 85-15, because it was my smart idea.

Let me know if you're interested.

A Special Flying Colors Story

Once upon a time there was a little Ray of Hope camper named Justin. Justin started coming to camp 2 summers ago when he was 7. He and his 3 siblings had recently been removed from an abusive home and moved in with their aunt.


Justin also participates in Flying Colors (which is the program that I help run) which is held after camp is over every day from 3 - 5:30. When his aunt enrolled the kids in the program a few years ago, she pulled me aside and explained to me about Justin's extreme academic and school anxiety. He had some undiagnosed learning challenges that have kept him behind in school and he had developed a pervasive fear of failure.





The first year we had him in Flying Colors, he refused to even enter the "classroom" area because it reminded him of school. He would get sweaty and jittery. We worked with him and he was able to complete some assignments sitting in the hallway, but never really joined the class.





This year, Justin was doing better emotionally and so he progressed to being able to at least sit in with the class. He was very anxious about doing any school work but we paired him with a volunteer to help him one-on-one and that seemed to help.





Each kid had to set a goal for their multiplication "timings" (where they get 5 minutes to complete a page of 100 multiplication problems). Unfortunately, even though Justin is entering the 4th grade in the fall, he didn't know any of his multiplication tables. His volunteer partner and his teacher and him all worked together to decide that his goal would be to learn his 2's.





At the beginning of the summer, Justin couldn't even complete 1/2 of the worksheet with 50% accuracy. Daily he would get discouraged, and daily we would point out where he had improved, how he was working so hard and that we were proud of him. Slowly, he began to improve.





On Monday, Justin anxiously came up to his teacher and said, "I'll never finish the whole page. There's too many." She told him, "I bet you'll do better than you think you will. Just go a tiny bit faster than you did yesterday, and see what happens."





Justin's volunteer partner sat across from him and gave him a last minute encouragement before the timer began.





At 4 minutes, 38 seconds, Justin's hand shot in the air because he had finished his entire page. His volunteer buddy and him pumped their fists in the air and celebrated. When the timer went off, Justin ran to his sister and said, "I did it! I finished the page! And it was 2's!" They hugged and I rushed and got my camera and took his picture with his completed worksheet.





I've never seen a child so proud of himself. The whole class celebrated with him.





When Miss Alyssa corrected his work, she verified that he had completed the page with 100% accuracy. He was the first kid at Flying Colors to reach his goal this year.

"I'm not held back by what I can't do. I'm held back by what I think I can't do." - Jim Fay

The Bug Bite

I got the ultimate bug bite this weekend. Actually, it was a normal bug bite that swelled into the ultimate bug bite. On my forehead. The above picture is my bug bite and a special sneaky Zach in the background.

By the end of the evening, it had swelled into a tumor-like bubble that stretched from my temple to my eyebrow.

Just thought I'd share this with you.

Raindrops keep falling on my head

My ceiling is leaking!

Leaking!

That only happens in children's story books. But it is happening to me. I woke up to a mysterious drip, drip, drip DRIP DRIP DRIP sound and it took me at least 30 seconds to figure out what it was.

It was my ceiling.