2 years ago tomorrow.

October 21st, 2006 is the first day we met in person. You can see my silly post about our first date. You can also see how my blog posts deteriorated in the past 2 years. This isn't just because of him, but it is mostly because of him. Because frankly, in what little spare time I have outside of my hectic work schedule, I'd always prefer to be in his company.

There isn't anywhere I'd rather be.

Filling a hole.

Oh, you didn't realize that this blog was just filling a hole in a particular time in my life, and when something better came along I ditched this bitch?

Okay, well now you know.

I'm flighty and flaky and I rarely finish things I start. LOVE ME ANYWAY, DAMNIT! Closure is for the birds anyway. My mode of closure usually involves a bridge and some matches. :)

I hate to say it but if anyone cares to read or leave comments, don't be surprised or disappointed if I don't respond. Don't be surprised if this is the last entry for another year - who knows when I'll feel like writing again.

Everything is so beautiful right now... work rocks, the boyfriend rocks (we'll be 2 years in October!), and my friends seem happy and busy too. My family is good enough, maybe better than usual. It seems like it's all settling into place. This is what I wanted life to be like and I finally got here.

My last best friend is getting married November 1st - yes, that's Echo, my drinking buddy from college! She met a great guy named Dean and they're getting hitched! I'm a bridesmaid, too. I happen to be one of those people that just LOVES weddings, and especially being a part of a wedding. It's exciting to me to witness something so personal and passionate and special, made public for all to see and hear. This may be the last wedding I am a part of, since I am not planning on making any more best friends in my lifetime. It could happen, sure, but I'm pretty thrilled with the 3 I have.

I don't know if many know this, but almost 2 years ago when I first chatted with Corey (the boyfriend) online, I was actually chatting online to 4 other guys. I was signed up on a dating site and it just so happened that when it rained, it poured. When you're a geeky girl like I am, guys flock to you. Just mention video games or Star Wars or 3D modeling and they're excited.

I had 3 dates scheduled for the same weekend, each to meet 3 of the guys for the first time. Another was near asking me to meet too. I'd been chatting to Corey the most, in fact, we talked online every single day except for the days I went to Worlds of Fun with Echo. After a few weeks of chatting, I was beginning to think Corey would never want to meet - I thought maybe he wasn't as interested as I was. Finally, he did ask me to meet... on the same weekend I had 3 dates scheduled.

I just felt that he was too good to be true and I had to meet him FIRST... so I moved things around a bit to make it so I'd go out with Corey first that weekend. After we spent over 10 hours together on that first date, I canceled the others immediately.

I kinda felt like a bitch, in a way, even though I'd never even met these guys. I told them all I'd met someone else and that I was off the market. I always kind of wondered how things turned out for them. Why is it that you can be perfectly honest with someone and still feel like a jerk? Not that we would have definitely hit it off or anything, and I don't regret it, but I just kinda felt like... a guy.

So, I'm off to bed now. Maybe I'll write again sometime soon... maybe not. Who knows? I do miss writing, now that I'm sitting here doing it. I miss the useless diary-type blathering that I do so well.

P.S. I hope you all are voting this year. And by voting this year, I mean for Obama. Because any other vote would be a disgusting mistake. And speaking of disgusting mistakes, how's that Sarah Palin thing going, McCain?

Ohhhh.... too soon, John?

Can I get a witness?

Just to forewarn you, this post is about religion. So... you probably don't want to read it. Also, you don't want to take it too seriously or freak out on me after you read it. It's all my opinion and not fact... in case that wasn't blatantly obvious. Ok, thanks.

It's not that I have anything against religion. Actually I think it's a very nice thing as long as you're not psycho about it or a hypocrite about it. Sometimes (not often) I think it would be nice if I had a god or religion I believed in. My issue is that there seem to be a lot of zealots and hypocrites in the group, which of course you will find in any walk of life, but which is also perhaps one of the reasons I avoid religion all together. That's great and all, to be passionate about something, but there's passionate people and then there's blind ignorant sheep. Somehow I always get stuck dealing with the latter.

What the hell do you say to get someone off your back about religion and morality, without offending or alienating them forever?

There's a couple of very religious people I know, (and I won't mention what their religion is, because frankly it could be anything and their words/actions would still bother me. And I also won't mention the countless times I have witnessed astounding hypocrisy and ignorance from them), who insist on bringing up the subject of religion/morality on a daily basis. This isn't a situation I can walk away from, so it's really freaking inconsiderate and inappropriate.

When they asked me, I told them straight away that I was agnostic. I even had to explain the definition to them, because they had no idea. I find this is all too common that religious-zealots are completely ignorant of any and all other religions outside of their own herd of mindless sheep. It kind of amazes me that the people I meet who are most anti-religion are also the most well-read and self-educated about the many different religions in our world.

These people ask me about my personal life and then judge me on the morality of the decisions I make in my life.

I was most offended recently when they were, in casual conversation, asking me about my relationship with Corey. When I mentioned we were moving in together, they were appalled and even said they were "disappointed" in me because their religion tells them it's a sin to live under the same roof with someone before marriage. They said I would be living in sin until we were finally married.

First off, welcome to the 20th century, folks. Lots of people, devout or not, have SEX before MARRIAGE. How about we work on some more difficult issues here, like teen pregnancies and world hunger and animal cruelty and teen suicide and terrorists and serial killers and rapists.

Second, thanks for judging me. Next time keep your asshole opinion to yourself. If I'm not mistaken, I thought I read somewhere in that good old book that judgment should be made only by 'God' and you are supposed to stick you nosy ass somewhere else... Yeah I think those were the exact words.

Third, I'M NOT IN YOUR EFFING RELIGION. Why do you think that your rules apply to me when you know damn well that I'm not in your religion? You already KNOW I'm a GODLESS HEATHEN, so why are you still preaching to me? Do you think I'm going to give a shit? Do you think you're gonna say, "Oh my my! That is a sin!" and I'll reply, "You're kidding!?! Thank you for showing me the error of my ways. Oh good heaven above, I have been saved at last!"

Anyway, I'm just venting. Let's not make this a big deal, ok?

Back from Sioux Falls.

Corey and I went on vacation for our 1-year anniversary to Sioux Falls, SD. It was really fun, especially Falls Park where you are free to climb the rocks all you want and climb right up to the waterfalls.

On the 3rd and final day before we returned home, I planned for us to spend the day at the Kirby Science Center at the Washington Pavilion, which is a science museum that has over 80 interactive exhibits all relating to science.

I guess it's mainly for kids, but I knew we'd both like it since we're pretty much kids. I thought the science-crap would appeal to Corey, and the interactive games would appeal to me.

Well, I came to find out that they hire really RUDE tellers and also they aren't even open on Mondays (or Saturdays. Or Sundays.) I even called the day before and wrote down their hours from the machine recording that apparently LIED to me. So we didn't see the whole damn reason that we went to Sioux Falls in the first place.

So I'm pretty pissed at the Kirby Science Center in Sioux Falls right now. That's right, Kirby. I'm not talking to you anymore.

Anyway, we did have fun for like 1 day of the trip. When Corey wasn't miserable with a bad cold on the 1st day and when I wasn't miserable because I was pissed at the science place on the 3rd day, the second day was perfect. :)

Yes I'm writing this to avoid homework. Again.

in other news...

Hello, blog?
It's me, Jen.

Are you still there?

...

(Yeah, I would be long gone by now too.)

I finally shut off What the Blog... made it private except to the other 2 admins and myself. It's closed until further notice, which is somewhere between forever and ever. Maybe I will miraculously find time to bring it back, but it's doubtful.

I really am sorry about the whole thing... it was a great idea but as usual I didn't stick to it. (Kind of like this blog.) I have trouble sticking to things sometimes.

Here's my news, to all those interested:

• Still working at the most awesome and time-consuming job ever. I love seeing my work online and in print every day. It rocks so much! Even on the days I'm at the office until 8 or 9 pm... oh yeah, and that one night I was there 'til midnight...

• I am still madly hopelessly wonderfully truly in love with that boyfriend of mine... our 1-year mark will be October 21st. It's kind of amazing to me that this blog witnessed the last year of my singledom, our first date almost a year ago, and now my life as it is with him in my life. The more I think about it, the more I realize how I've documented a huge milestone in my life just blogging for that one year. It's like a part of me knew I needed to have it written down. (Yes, parts of me are also sappy and insane now.)
  

• I got a NEW car. This awesome job I have pays me enough to live (who knew?) and breathe (wow!). Plus, my old car kept needing all these stupid repairs. So I thought, why the hell not? I got a 2007 Toyota Yaris, which came loaded with all the extras I wanted, and it's even the exact color I wanted. I wanted a hybrid, but I couldn't afford one, so I went with the next lowest gas mileage I could find. It's especially wonderful now that I commute so far to work every day.
  

• Still going to college to get my Bachelor's degree... even though I kind of hate it right now. The classes are too easy and boring, which makes me want to skip class and not do homework. And my classmates are all fresh-out-of-high school, no-talent, no-skill, skinny-bitch-girls. "Uhm, teehee, it's either graphic design, cosmetology, massage therapy, or nursing... I think I'll just flip a coin. Um wait... aren't there any 4-sided coins?"

• Recently reaffirmed my lack of faith. This sounds strange, I know, but I'm very glad I'm finally making some firm decisions with my religious beliefs. And my firm decision is: I don't have any religious beliefs.
  

• Of course, I'm still a vegetarian and, if anything, that in itself is my one true faith. I have seen a few documentaries lately on animal rights, and while I wouldn't recommend them to meat-eaters, I would be happy to recommend them to any veg*ians out there. Nadine recently went vegetarian and has been doing really well with it. Even though she says I was the initial influence, I know she came to this conclusion on her own. And that's the way it should be.

I'm writing in my blog to avoid doing my homework... so I guess I need to stop now and do it... I guess.

Things I have time for.

Things that my new job and college classes allow me time for:

• My boyfriend (Duh... I will always make time for him.)
• Putting my fat checks in the bank every other Friday. Woot!
  
• Putting 3 times the gas into my car because I'm driving from West Omaha to East Council Bluffs.
  
• Doing hours and hours of homework about 4-6 nights per week.
• Worrying/Giving myself headaches.
  
• Blinking.
  
• Eating ice cream. Woot!
  

Things that my new job and college classes do NOT allow me time for:

• Checking my Google Reader feeds (I used to spend hours doing this.)
  
• Helping run What the Blog!? (I used to spend HOURS doing this too. Now I think maybe I should put it out of its misery???)
  
• Communicating at all with my blogger-BFFs and co-admins, Tiffany and Mikala.
• Chatting via email or Gtalk with any of my other online friends. (They might think I'm dead.)
  
• Checking my email. Like, ever.
• Eating regular meals.
• Hanging out with or even talking to my friends, Nadine, Ashley, Echo, and Katie.
  
• Sleeping.
  
• Writing stupid things like this in my bl-