THE EPIC ADVENTURES OF THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY!!!

So I failed at posting yesterday. Oh well. I never even got on the computer. There was just too much effort involved in that.

SO. Um...what is it, Tuesday night? Yes. Tuesday afternoon I got a beautiful  text from Crystina saying that she was making sandwiches today (at Sub Hub) so when Maggs and I went on our epic adventure we started there.



This is my sandwich from Tina. Avocado, cheese, bacon, and love. And possibly spit. You never know with her.

After we had sandwiches we went to get froyo, where we ran into Jason, Jackson, Mango, and company. It was a beautiful moment. I love those kids.

After spending way too much time talking about the most horrible ways to die, Maggie and I decided to get drinks from Sonic.

But her car wouldn't start. It locked up and wouldn't let us start it.

But then it changed it's mind and off to sonic we went! Then, drinks in hand, we decided to get lost.

WE FAILED. Every street we turned on led to a place that we knew. We were lost for a grand total of 1 block. IT WAS SO SAD. Proof that we need to move to new places.

Having no where to go, we decided to go get peaches from Maggie's house since I DIDN'T GET ANY.



These are my consolation peaches. In a cup. Be jealous.

That is all. Today I have to pack, go to Miranda's anti-party, buy Miranda a present that she doesn't want, and figure out my class schedule...yeah.

Love y'all!!! You won't hear from me for a couple days but I'll tell you all about orientation when I get back!!

Panic!!!

Today I woke up and my internet wasn't working.

I almost died.

That is all.

Today

I wish that the internet was more useful. And that it had existed in 1922. And that people with interesting lives kept better records of them.

Gwen Lam died today.

I know, you have no idea who that is, and really, I don't know near as much as I would like to. Little bits of information passed along in conversation were all she ever told about her life, but from those little bits, we could all tell that there was so much more.

Like the part about being in the USO.

Or the part where she had a Master's in Journalism, and proceeded to write articles about getting feeding hungry children nutritional food in schools.

Or the part where she was Vice President of Glick and Lorwin.

I don't even know what Glick and Lorwin is.

The problem with the world is that if it isn't google-able, then we aren't really interested. And if people aren't interested, then it isn't google-able. It's a vicious cycle. When you google "Gwen Lam", which should come up with quite a bit, you don't get stuff about her. Just stuff about Gwen Stefani's new clothing line L.A.M.B. 

It's very disappointing.

But what I do know about Gwen is that she was incredible. When I was little I got a birthday card from her in the mail every year, when most people probably didn't even consider me old enough to really understand what a birthday card was for. I remember when my dad and I would go up to church on Wednesday nights so he could cook dinner for fellowship she would always be there early, and just sit and talk to me. She was always genuinely interested in us kids, and everyone in the church really. The youth group visited her a couple years ago, and she had at least three different kinds of cookies for us. Yeah, she had a clown collection that kinda creeped us out, but somehow, since they were hers, they weren't near as creepy. I remember going to a dinner party at her house when I was little. I don't remember much about it besides the fact that I was there and it was good. I was working in the church library a couple months ago and I found a book by her. It was a devotional for the elderly, and I was so surprised that this was the first I had ever heard of it.

Gwen lived a full life, there is no doubt, but I wish that there was more documentation of it. Maybe someone will find a journal of hers and we can learn something more about her.

Gwen, I hope you know how much you meant to all of us. Thank you for your life, and for your presence in mine.

WHY?!

Dear Will and Tina,
    As much as your shenanigans cause me physical pain and loss of IQ points, I love y'all so much and I will miss you the most.

Dear Melbs,
     Your dog is adorable, and your mom's cookies were delicious.

Dear Jena,
     You fail at trying to hide from me, but I love you lots. Your vagabonding self better get up to DC so we can continue our coffee dates.

Dear Maggie,
     Next time, I don't want to find out that you're out of town from Jena. Please keep me posted! I do love you lots and enjoy being part of your life.

Dear Ariel,
     I appreciate your updates on your travels and can't wait to hear all about it when you are back in my hemisphere. I have stories for you, too. (But they won't be as cool so don't get excited)

Dear Anna,
     You are the friend that causes me the least stress. For that I am grateful.

To all of you:

I love you all so much and I don't know what I would do without you in my life. You're the reason that I get up in the afternoon.

P.S. Rock of Ages was amazing.

What Makes Me Happy

I was driving down the road yesterday and Don't Stop Believing came on. So, like any normal Skylar, I cranked up the radio and sang my little heart out. And then I smiled. Not because I hit the high note, not because the song is particularly inspiring, not even because it reminded me of some beautiful time or something.

Just because I love to sing.

There's something about being physically encased in music, the notes flowing into my ears and then my heart that causes the notes to flow out of my throat as an expression of my, apparently joyful, soul. The beauty of the music, whether I hit the high note or not, is amazing.

I'm sure my constant singing gets annoying. But guess what, I don't care. I mean, consciously I do, I don't want to be annoying (all the time), but really, when it comes down to it, I can't stop singing. I've always done it and I always will.

My life has a soundtrack, my constant singing is just me trying to share it with you.

A Moment Please

Let me pause (yes, at the beginning) to go get a cup of coffee.

Ahhhhh. So much better. Maybe I should have gotten the coffee before I started writing. Eh, we all know that I can't think before caffeine.

Now that my brain is semi-functioning, I realize that I have nothing to talk about...um....I'm at home. With my 10 year old brother. Today is my mom's birthday (<3 you Mama!). My feet are cold.

Really wish my feet weren't cold.

Anyway. On this lovely celebration of the anniversary of my mother's 29th birthday, I would like to talk about her.

My mother is crazy. But like, good crazy. She's a little neurotic, stresses about ridiculous things, doesn't get enough sleep, and still manages to make sure that everyone in my house is where they need to be when they need to be there.

We can't live without her. We tried.

Without my mom my entire house would probably just fall off it's foundation. We'd all lose everything (somehow she always knows where we last put stuff), we'd have no money (my dad and I spend it much to quickly), we'd die of being fat (I may not like the diet, but it is keeping me healthy), and no one would ever get out of bed.

In addition to keeping my family from dying or killing each other, my mom is a great mom. She doesn't freak out about stuff that some moms do. Stuff that really isn't that important. Like the first time I wanted to dye my hair hot pink, she paid for it. Her only condition was that if I didn't like it, I had to pay to get it undone. She accepts my shoe addiction, she won't fund it, but she doesn't keep me from buying shoes with my own money.

She knows the importance of coffee. My mother introduced me to coffee, and fully supports my habit.

I know that no matter what happens, I can always call my mom, and she'll be there (on the phone, not literally). She always picks up, she always texts back, and she always creeps on my facebook, but not in an annoying, overbearing way. My mother supports my independence, but she won't force me out the door. I can talk to her without her giving advice when I don't want it or her not caring or not listening.

When I grow up, I want to be as good a mom as her. I've never felt like she didn't love me, or pushed me too hard, or let me get away with too much or too little. She lets me make mistakes, but when I come to her for help, she's there with a cup of coffee and the perfect piece of advice.

Right now, as I'm getting ready for college, I realize that I'm ready to move 2500 miles away and go to a college that's really hard to get into because she taught me well.

Thank you, Mama, for everything. I love you.

Skype Success!!!

Today, Anna and I successfully Skyped. From opposite ends of her house. That's about the only productive thing I've done today.

Oh, and I may get to go see Billy Currington.

Life is good.