Good Morning

It's freezing out, so Gabri and I are wearing our matching slippers

Probie, the brother of Gus the Gigantic

Many of you are familiar with Gus-Gus, but few of you know that said Gus is from my house. This is his brother, my guinea pig, Probie Jethro DiNozzo IV. Why is he the fourth? I haven't the slightest. It just sounded good at the time.

Gabri

Gabrielle has become a fan of the popular Numa Numa dance. So much so, that she recreated it.

Ligers and Fluffies

When we were in Minerva, there was this closet in the fellowship hall that was full of all kinds of goodies. I would often venture in there for prizes and other fun stuff for my Sunday School class. It had a helium tank, a box of McD's toys, pipe cleaners, you know, all that fun stuff. Anyway, one day I was in there with my brother and sister exploring and I found this marionette puppet in the very back under a bunch of boxes. It was mostly white, with some pink on it, and big eyes. Michael and Gabrielle were enthralled and, having never seen one before, were convinced that it was a real animal. Of course, I was definately not going to tell them otherwise. The strings on the puppet, I told them, were a leash, and when they asked me what kind of animal it was, I quickly replied that it was a very special animal called a 'fluffy'. They then named the puppet Fluffy the Fluffy. Creative, huh? To this day, they still think that Fluffy the Fluffy is a real animal and I have definitely not told them otherwise.

Despite Fluffy sitting in my room (we took him home for the holidays one year and forgot about him) I didn't really think about that until today. My friend, Emily, writes stories and she was writing a story for the school literary magazine (called Vedette) in which someone gets sucked into another weird diminsion (she's into Sci-Fi). And she needed to know what creatures should go into the dimension. I insisted that Ligers needed to be there, but she informed me that Ligers were just play stupid, and even if they weren't, weren't they copyrighted? So, while I was sulking, Krystal, another girl at the table (there's four of us, Rachel, Me, Emily, and Krystal) was describing a fluffy character and I about jumped out of my seat.

"FLUFFY!"
"Er...what?"

I went on to describe Fluffy the Fluffy to Emily and now Fluffy the Fluffy is going to be published in a Sci-Fi masterpiece. Which, knowing Emily, will probably end up being published in a 'Best Of' collection in about 20 years. (She's like, the next Bradbury. Seriously.)

See how boring my life is? I'm posting about inanimate objects!

Mom's Thanksgiving

Every year, we alternate whose side of the family we go to Thanksgiving at. This year, it was on my mom's side, which is held at my Aunt Penny's house in Grove City. Now, the last time that we were going to do Thanksgiving at Aunt Penny's, a big snowstorm hit and we couldn't make it in. We then had Thanksgiving dinner at Ryan's Steakhouse. Not good times.

Now, my great-grandma has 4 daughters. My Aunt Linda is the oldest, then my grandma, then my Aunt Penny, then my Aunt Brenda, who I've seen probably 10 times in my whole life. Each of them have at least 2 kids (Aunt Brenda's don't come to Thanksgiving) so that's like, 8, I think, branches on the family tree. About half of them don't have kids, but still, in that whole mixture of people you have me and my brother and sister, my cousins, Micah and Andrew, my mom's cousin's four kids, Bradley, Brandon, Heather, and Hannah, her cousin, Kim's, foster daughter, and probably some more that I can't remember. My Aunt Hope and Uncle Peter didn't show up, and neither did Laurie, my Aunt Penny's daughter. Plus, my great grandparents, the multiple cousin's husbands (I say husbands because there are pretty much zippo males on this side of the family). It was a full house.

I am 17. Yet, I had 3, yes THREE, relatives pose the following question to me.

"So, Becky, are you seeing anyone?"

I must resist the urge to laugh.

"Me? See someone? Obviously you are not frequent subscribers to the oh-so-famous 'What The Muffin?'. I haven't been on a pseudo-date in 2 1/2 years. Are you joking? I will probably not have interaction with someone with a Y chromosome until I'm 87!"

Instead I said,

"No, I'm working on that, Great-Grandma/Aunt Linda/Aunt Penny."

Aunt Penny then asks me- "Are you interested in anyone?"

I resist the urge to say-

"Whoa, baby, am I interested in someone!"

And instead engage in a delightful conversation with multiple metaphors alluding to various candies. It went something like this.

"Yes, but to be honest, I'm not sure that I want to be in a relationship with him right now at the moment [speaking truthfully, let me continue] because teenage guys seem to go through girlfriends like candy. I think I'd rather be an Everlasting Gobstopper than a Now and Later."

That was quite good if I do say so myself.

My great-grandma has always seemed to believe that I was in middle school for some reason. I don't know why. Apparently I've grown greatly in the past 2 years.

"Becky, are you a senior?"

No, unfortunately.

And God bless my Aunt Penny for realizing the greatest thing ever. The second I walked in-

"Becky, you look so beautiful! You've lost weight, haven't you?"
"15 pounds, thanks!"
"Wow, I'm so proud of you! You can really tell!"
"Thanks."
"No, you can really tell! You are so beautiful and I'm not just saying that because I'm your aunt!"

I love Thanksgiving!

Bloggy Following!!!

You somewhat tolerate me! You really somewhat tolerate me!

I have been blogging for 2 years on June 6. I got a call from my much loved youth leader Sis.Redmond asking me where my blog was at, and a comment on my flocking post. I have found out, that although they don't always comment (*ahem* hint there), I have a good blog following from my church. Mistie reads it, Ratchol (hahaha) reads it, the Hammans read it, and several others. I love you guys much. I know I am just a stupid teenager sometimes with not much to say, but thank you to my church family who reads this, and to other people whom I have never met, such as Sarah "The Mouse" and JAM. Thank you so much for reading my blog, people.

Just comment me some more, ok?


And because I love you so much, here's another phobia video.



I guess that I can't make fun of the first one. I'm terrified of pigeons. No lie.

Swimming Dilemma

My Aunt Faith has just recently discovered the world of IM. Today we were discussing a great dilemma she is having.

Faith Anderson: yeah yeah yeah blah blah blah want to go swimming noone in this house wants to go:(
Rebecca Ryan: If i could drive, i would come over, so therefore i would be in that house, and I would want to go
Faith Anderson: why not just walk i heard that is your familys new mode of transportation
Rebecca Ryan: umm...no
Rebecca Ryan: bit far to walk
Faith Anderson: not really not if you really really loved me and wanted to spend time with me
Rebecca Ryan: or if i was even moderately in shape
Rebecca Ryan: hahaha...like that would happen
Faith Anderson: you never know what you could accomplish if you would but only try try try dear one
Rebecca Ryan: i also have vbs in an hour
Rebecca Ryan: sorry
Faith Anderson: well who is more important your poor poor aunt who only wants someone to go aswimming with her or your vbs
Rebecca Ryan: just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming swimming swimming
Rebecca Ryan: what do we do, we swim
Rebecca Ryan: i looooooove toooo swiiiiiiim
Faith Anderson: i can't i'd be all by myself and that is just no fun
Rebecca Ryan: obviously dory disagrees
Rebecca Ryan: you could take sassy? (Her miniature pinscher)
Faith Anderson: well dory is not here now is she i didn't think so and sassy only likes to get wet and then get out
Rebecca Ryan: midnight? (her pug, which she hates)
Rebecca Ryan: if you watched finding nemo, she would be..
Rebecca Ryan: indy?(her collie)
Rebecca Ryan: harley?(my cousin's cat, whom she hates)
Rebecca Ryan: now that would be funny...
Rebecca Ryan: oh, i know! you could take jesse and carrot!(the hamsters)
Rebecca Ryan: and hoppy and rabby!(The rabbits)
Rebecca Ryan: there's a pool party
Faith Anderson: no she would only be in the movie not here where i needed here to be. indy hates water with a passion and that would be one way to get rid of harly because she would be halfway around the world by the time her front feet hit the water
Rebecca Ryan: rofl

Grandma Update

Quick update on my grandmother.

I went to go see her this afternoon. She was apparently having a much better day than Friday, which was when my grandpa called my dad. She had no memory on that day and couldn't get herself up. She hadn't been eating over the past couple days. Apparently yesterday and today her appetite has increased and she seemed to have her memory back today.

It's both good and bad at the same time. I know that when my grandmother died 6 years ago from the same type of cancer, it was at the end of April. About a week before she died, she improved drastically, the same way that my grandma is now. Needless to say, this scares the bajeebies out of me. I'm terrified when the phone rings that it's going to be someone saying that she's gone.

This morning I had a bit of a scare like that. On Sundays, my parents usually get me up at about 7:30. Well, this morning, my brother woke me up telling me "Hey, Becky, Uncle Ken and Aunt Julie are coming home!" Then I looked at the clock and it was 8:15. The first words that went through my mind were, "Oh crap." Then my dad explained that my aunt and uncle (and hey, Aunt Julie, I know you're lurking out there. You told me so yourself. Leave a comment for Pete's sake!) were starting to drive home tomorrow because they were preaching in Jackson, and that they hadn't woken me up because everyone was tired and had overslept. I was relieved.

Prayer...

We are currently making funeral arrangements for my grandmother. She took a turn for the worse last night and my grandpa called my dad to start making arrangements. She's living at my Aunt Sandy's right now and Hospice is there. It doesn't look like she has much time. Please pray for her and for my family.

I can't wait till she starts dating....

I was playing Pac-Man World 2 on the XBox yesterday and my sister was sitting next to me. We got to this exceptionally frustrating level where Pinky (one of the ghosts) has created a robot to try to kill PacMan to keep him from getting the golden fruit (there's a plot line to the story involving golden fruit. If you're really curious, check the game out yourself) Well, anyway, Pinky apparently loves PacMan so she's just bitter, so the little word bubble that comes up before you start playing says someting along the lines of-

"Oh PacMan, Spooky (the ghost leader) was right. You never wanted me. Well, if I can't have you, no one will."

My sister, who can't read yet, asked me to read the story line to her. So I did and she asked me "Why does the robot want to kill PacMan?" Michael told her, "Duh. She loves PacMan and he doesn't love her back so she wants to kill him."

"Becky, when girls love boys, they're supposed to love them back right?"
"Ummm...not always. Maybe PacMan just wanted to be friends."
(Exasperation here.)
"Uggh...Becky, but PacMan's 'upposed to love her, because she loves him. Right?"
"Whatever you say Gabri."


And P.S. I still haven't heard anything from SubWay. I think if I don't hear from them, I may hold off till the end of the summer. Pretty much because I'm lazy and want to go to camp. And work camp.

While the parents are away....

I and my siblings were visiting my grandpa and then Dawn. We stayed at my grandpa's house on Sunday night, then left at about nine the next morning.

Dawn just got a new trampoline and water slide. This was great fun. She also has 5 foster kids, aged from 1 to 8. We watched movies and played on the trampoline, and played on the water slide, and played on the trampoline, and did I mention that we played on the trampoline? I learned the essential skill of jumping up, landing on my butt, and then bouncing up on my feet. I was quite proud of myself. So was Jennifer, the oldest of the 5. We had contests to see who could bounce the most in a row. The kids also enjoyed a game called "popcorn", in which they sat down while I bounced on the trampoline, causing them to flop around senselessly. What was so appealing about this, I will never know.

The past two days have been a great means of birth control as well. Last night we had 9 kids plus me and Dawn at the house. They were as follows-

1. 4-month-old Mary- Dawn's niece. We bonded as she spit rice all over me. This was great fun.
2. 1-year old Elisha- Dawn's youngest. He's my buddy. He jabbers a lot and likes to drool bomb people.
3. 2 year old Angelica- Dawn's niece/Mary's sister. She was definately a handful. She and Tanya got in a few fights. When I say a few, I mean constantly throught the night.
4. 3-year-old Tanya- Dawn's second youngest. She and my sister kept each other entertained. When she wasn't fighting with Angelica, that is.
5. Two 4-year-old's , Mohammad and Gabri- of course you know Gabri, and Mohammad is another one of Dawn's kids. He is also my buddy. We watched Cody Banks 2 together tonight. It was all good.
6. Two 6-year-old's, Michael and Ali- once again, duh on Michael, and Ali is yet another one of Dawn's kids. Shame he doesn't have a personality. (hahaha.)
7. 8-year-old Jennifer- She's the oldest of Dawns kids. We did each other's nails and watched some movies. She also taught me the afore mentioned butt bounce trick.

By the end of the evening the house looked like a tornado had run through it. The kids went to sleep and me and Dawn had planned on making smoothies and watching NCIS, but were way to tired. I passed out on the recliner and didn't wake up until about 3 when Michael curled up next to me and squished me, forcing me to move to the couch. At about 4, Tanya came down. And by about 7:30, we had children strewn across the living room. At about 8, we ate some breakfast and got the news that we would have 11 kids at the house this time. We got Angelica back, plus Chloe and Canaan, who are 8 months old and 6 years old. Yippee.

Angelica arrived at about noon, and before Canaan and Chloe came over, Dawn asked me to take the older kids to the park by her house. So I took 6 of the kids, Jennifer, Michael, Ali, Gabrielle, Tanya, and Mohammad. We walked over and the kids took their shoes off and ran off to the jungle gym. My brother kicked one of the kids so I had him sitting next to me. A man was standing against the fence at the park and he started making small talk. Something about the weather and such. So, in conversation my brother mentioned that our dad was a preacher at church. This man asked me if I believed in Hell and the Devil, which made me a little uncomfortable that this was the first thing that came out when I said I was a Christian. I said I did and then he went on to explain that he hated Christians and that he was sure he was going to Hell. While the conversation was uncomfortable, I didn't feel threatened until he started to interrogate my brother. At this point I decided that maybe we weren't safe and called over the kids, telling them that it was time for us to go home. Tanya walked over and the man saw her. He started calling her and the other kids names, which thank God, Tanya is only three so she didn't understand and the other kids didn't hear. I didn't even let the kids put on their shoes. We ran to Dawn's house and I broke down. I was so scared that he was going to hurt those kids. I don't think I will ever go back to that park.

After I had settled down, Canaan and Chloe showed up and we had some watermelon and played on the trampoline some more. My parents showed up at about 4 with gifts for all of us kids. T-shirts for all Dawn's kids, two Disney sets for Gabri, a chef set for Michael, and my awesome gifts. I got my Apple Bottoms handbag, a painting of Times Square, and a pair of patent leather flip flops. It was awesome. We were ready to pull out when Dawn said that I could stay for a while to help, and Michael stayed to play with the kids some more. Gabri had passed out in the car as soon as she got buckled in. We ate some dinner and then came home at about 7. I think I'm going to watch some movies with my mother now.

Poaching

I thouroughly enjoy poaching pictures from my dad's Flickr. So I am.

As you can see, my brother and sister are very close. And incredibly adorable. Ask my friends at school. I nauseate them with bragging on them and showing pictures constantly. And Rachel gets it especially bad because my brother, as he has told me, wants to marry her.

I always that I would be thrown on train tracks first.

Anyway, in other news, I applied for a job at Subway on Tuesday and got made an anchor of the afternoon announcements (or Daily Buzz) at school yesterday. Good times.

My Second Christmas

Tonight, my moms side of the family came over for our celebration of Christmas. My Uncle Peter and Aunt Shana came over early, so my mom, Aunt Shana, and I ran over to Goodwill to see what good deals we could find. Aunt Shana found a really cute dress jacket but not much else. When we came home, after about ten minutes, my Aunt Faith, Uncle John, cousins, Andrew and Micah, and my grandparents arrived. We all chowed down on lasagna, breadsticks, salad, cupcakes, cheesecake, etc. Afterwards came the stream o' presents. At left, we see the special edition green iDog, which was given to me by my Aunt Faith, Uncle John, and cousins. This little guy has a special sound sensor that especially picks up music. He is meant for use with and iPod or MP3 player. He dances and flashes lights to the beat of the music. We have discovered that he especially enjoys showtunes. We have yet to realize what this means. Anyway, other gifts I got included two books of a new series from Uncle Peter and Aunt Shana, which I am assuming that Aunt Shana has a little more to do with than my uncle, seeing as she has the same love of literature that I do. My grandma got me some candles and my grandpa got me a gorgeous wooden chest. Good times indeed. Unfortunately, the scarf I made for my Aunt Faith turned out too wide and too short. So I just told her it was a blanket for her rat dog. I also made a scarf for the rat dog. All of the gifts were well recieved (Thank God). Most of the family is still here, so I should probably quit holing up in front of the computer and spend time with them.

Scarf Love

Scarves seemed to be a common theme at Christmas this year. My sister and I both got one. Please note the grand difference. I think Gabri got the short end of the stick here. Her scarf is hand-knitted (by me) with (in the words of Grandma Spongebob) "love in every stitch". The pink band with creme around it was supposed to be the center, but apparently I pulled a little too tight on the second half and it is a tad (read as: extremely) off center. But she seems to like it, so, hey, maybe it isn't so bad.

My scarf however, is a cashmere Burberry. Yes, Burberry. As in the normally $200-$4oo scarves that are imported from London. Before you go and ask my parents where your Christmas present is, there is no way that they bought me one for retail price. From what I understand, it was an Ebay deal, but since it is GENUINE (I have the registration tags and everything), who am I to complain?