Midnight City

So.


My birthday is coming up. SO FREAKING EXCITED FOR THIS.

I love birthdays. I love half birthdays more, but really I just love any kind of birthday (especially birthdays in the future?)

Since my birthday is in 21 days *who is even counting* I was thinking of all the wise things I have learned this year. Now this is not my regular boo-hoo I love my life post that I usually do for my birthday (that one will come up, promise) but I was just thinking about all the weird stuff that I have come to realize.

For example, I am not a coordinated person at all. I think my equilibrium or something is off in my head (plus other things. So funny am I). I am always covered in bruises. So either I am just out of control clumsy or I am in an abusive relationship with some spirit.

Better not be the Holy Ghost.

Mmk, peoples. I have been sitting here not focusing on the task at hand and I really can't think of anything I have learned this year. I am life's greatest student for sure. So how about we just change it to fun tidbit things about me. We all know that I love to talk about me.

1: I love hairspray. I think that I will be one of the main causes for the ozone growth and global warming that will bring the world into a new ice age or something. Seriously though, I love that stuff so much. It is like crack. It is really the only thing I want for my birthday too. That, and possibly Apple Jacks.

2: I don't eat. I just forget to eat. Oh, and I also don't ever buy groceries. Recently I have been eating normally though and it is some intense stuff. I mean, I can't complain but it is sometimes hard work to eat. Now that just sounds like I am trying to rub it in that I don't eat.

3: I have become a cat lady. I love Lucille 2. In fact, I love all cats in the world. God made them all extra special and I want them all to be around me. I am not supposed to disclose this information to the public (for my hope in relationship sake) but I cannot hide it any long. Cats are great. I want everything to be decorated in cats. That and birds. And Lord of the Rings.

4: Since I have moved to Salt Lake, I have only watched the Lord of the Rings twice. That's right, folks. Only twice. What is this world coming to? That doesn't me that I have stopped quoting it constantly and that I don't think of it daily in my life. No, it is still very much in me. It's a special relationship. It is precious to me.

KEEP IT SECRET. KEEP IT SAFE.
5: I have a hard time reading uplifting books. I like really dark or "normal life" books. Who wants to think of happy things, right? Nay, I do read good stuff, but most of my stuff is just....well, kind of awful. Like A Clockwork Orange awful. I kind of stopped though because the words were weird. That right there just showed my intelligence.

6: I now read The New York Times. Why do I read it now? Pretty much just for the crossword. You see, this is what I want to do: I want to dress up really sharp, go to a local coffee shop, and get my Times out while drinking a nice cup of tea. That just screams intelligence and attractiveness. I will become a local to this place and have everyone know who I am. Then, one day, some smart, attractive, liberal doctor who saves African children or something like that will notice that I am there everyday. Upon closer look, he will notice that I am working on Thursdays crossword puzzle. "What a genius!" he will think, and he will note everything I have, including drink. The next day I will go with my Times, wearing my "casual Friday" outfit and my hair ever so wavy, to my little coffee shop. Before I can even order, Shantel, the barista will say, "Chelsea, someone has already ordered your chai for you and he is sitting over there." I will turn to where she points and I will see that gorgeous man with his copy of the Times too! I will try to coolly make my way over there and when I am in front of him, he will ever so casually look up from the paper and say, "Help me figure out what 32 across is."

And that is how I will meet my husband.

7: What a great story you wrote, Chelsea. Maybe you should be a writer. I say to that, well, I have been starting a book! That is only partially true, but in reality (which all of this is....except my doctor lover, of course) I am writing more and I am working on an outline for a book. It is going to be a memoir of sorts, possibly a fiction book based on reality *Think Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar* and it will be on my diagnosis and my recovery. My life has been interesting to say the least and I feel that I have been able to connect with a lot of people from it. So there you go.

8: I love vinyls. I found a cheap cheap CHEAP record player (with an eight track in it!) and became my own because it was just too good to pass up. Since I have had this new love in my life, I took it upon myself to inherit my parents' record. Lemme just state that my parents have the BEST taste in music and I was hooked up with some amazing stuff, ie Led Zeppelin, Billy Joel, Elton John, The Beatles, Donna Summer, America, Simon and Garfunkel, Peter Paul and Mary, Don Henley, Toto, Christopher Cross, FREAKING THE CARPENTERS CHRISTMAS ALBUM, The Police, Michael Jackson, and sooo much more. Pretty much I just lay on my bed and soak up the awesomeness of the tunes.

9: Homeless people make me feel pretty. I love my job because I am always getting compliments that I am gorgeous. Now, I sound like I am reeeeally into myself, but hey, a compliment is always good to hear. My favorite moment though happened when one of my clients came up asking me a question.

Client: "Chelsea, are you married?"
Chelsea aka me: " Nope, not at all."
Client: "Well that is just great because now I can flirt with someone as gorgeous as you!"

Best. Thing. I. Have. Ever. Heard. I laughed; I blushed; I was flattered. Whenever he sees me he is always like, "Oh great, the pretty girl is working today." I just love it.

10: Really though, I love both of my jobs so much. I love going to work. The people are great and my co-workers are awesome. Yes, there are some dull moments, but it never is when I am talking or helping the clients. They are some of the greatest people ever. We just have way too much fun.

11: I can't buy lipstick. Apparently what I think will be a nude color is a neon pink. That was a good laugh.

12: I think that I am one of the funniest people EVER. I am always cracking jokes to myself and laughing. Sometimes this is in front of strangers. Not the best for me to do, but hey, if I think I'm funny, then I am funny.

13: My hair has natural wave in it. I found this out when I was attempting to not get ready. Best find ever! The problem with it though is that I use a million sprays of hairspray (sorry, ozone) and this leads to me having knots upon knots in my hair. I probably only brush my hair once or twice a week. Great but not so great at the same time.

14: I rarely wear "real" clothes anymore. The only time I dress nicely is when I work at UNI. Other days, I just sport the scraggly tee and leggings combo. Oh, and it is always paired with my trusty cardigan. That way, I feel like I am hiding the fact that I am just wearing pajamas in public eye.

15: I am becoming a master at Rummy. I play it probably an hour of my shift at Valley with my clients. I love that game and I can kick some serious butt.

16: I cannot WAIT to be an aunt. I will be the best auntie ever and it will all be so soon. HUZZAH!

17: Sometimes I turn on really cool music in my car and pretend that I am a super spy while running errands.

18: I found out that I am the youngest person at both of my jobs. It was kind of a terrifying realization when I made it, but also an extremely flattering one.

19: I chew my nails way more than I should. For example, I am chewing my nails right now while I am trying to think of three more things that I can come up with so I can end this post.

20: I barely found out that the manager at Wendy's likes my voice so much that he will up size any of my frosties.

21: I started using washcloths?

22: In twenty and a half days, I will be 23.

There is the list. Thank heavens it is over. Let's pretend that this was really entertaining to read. Life is super good right now though; I honestly cannot complain about it at all. Now it is time to pretend that I am working again. Woooooooooohoooooooo.

Cheers
Ch.Wa

Lights

Hello all!

I finally figured out why I haven't been able to sign in to blog. It's because I changed my password. I just thought it was because gmail is not allowed on this computer at work.

As you can tell, I am ALWAYS productive at work.

So today is Pioneer Day. Apparently there was a marathon today too. So I left for work, knowing I would be on time (which is a huge feat for me at seven in the morn') and there were detours EVERYWHERE. I really mean everywhere. I had no clue how to get to work and since I was so late already, I decided to grab some diet coke because I am exhausted...like always.

I also bought one for my co-worker for putting up with my tardiness. She was grateful for it.

I just also asked her if she was ok with me posting her in my blog with HIPAA and whatnot. She said that if I didn't say anything like she has a horse face or something. My reply? "Well you aren't Sara Jessica Parker." Below the belt, but hilarious non the less.

I have been reading a lot, which is great. Of course, all my books are about mentally-ill people and just weird stuff like that. Like, I have read The Bell Jar, Shutter Island, The Psychopath Test, and....something else. So I was thinking, "Hey Chelsea, maybe it's time to read something happy or something." That leads me to reading Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Not my idea of happy, but it is still really good? There also are no crazies, so that is a plus. Just some kid's dad dying in 9/11. Super happy.

While reading it, I came across a really great quote in it. In it, Oskar is visiting an old man and seeing if he knows anything about his dad and this mysterious key...or something like that. So the old guy (who is lonely, I am sure of it. I want to find all the lonely people in the world and give them a cat) was talking and he said this:

"So many people enter and leave your life! Hundreds and thousands of people! You have to keep the door open so they can come in! But it also means you have to let them go!"

Yeah, that made me go into a cry fest. Like, ugly cry fest, and I am not an ugly crier. I mean, I was making faces and wailing a bit, snot was everywhere. It was bad.

So work just got in the way. I am tired (three hours of restless sleep will do that to you), but all is well. Remember your pioneer heritage, folks, and have a great holiday!

Cheers.

Ch.Wa



On Your Way

Oooook, people. I just recently read my last post and oh. my. hell. Spelling errors galore. It looked awful. I couldn't even write "please" correctly at the end. So now I will always blog while at work.




Classy and productive, I know.



So this week, I am working seven days in a row. You read that right; I am working every day this week. I might even work more in a row because I don't have my schedule for UNI next week. It is day three right now and I am already exhausted. I mean, don't get me wrong it is all going well. I am still loving Valley Mental (the things that go on...the names I get called. It is AWESOME) and I like working the warm lines here at UNI, but it is all just a lot of work. Plus, I get off of work at eleven tonight and I have to be at work tomorrow at seven.



I am SO excited.



Life is going great, though. I am loving my place, I finally got a bed, and I guess it is all pretty chill. Orientation and all the training for UNI has been a blast, especially the CPI training. In it, I learned how to restrain people and get out of situations that include being bit, punched, choke, and hair pulling. Intense stuff I learned. I turned to the girl that has been through all the training with me and I said "What the hell are we getting ourselves into?!" It was a good laugh, but a nervous one at that. The nice thing is that I will most likely never be in a situation where I will have to deal with those things. No one can really punch through a fun, except in really funny cartoons. Plus, words really don't hurt anymore. I can thank my last job for that. Funny story though. I asked one of my clients to do something and I called him bud. He turned to me and said "Chelsea, I would really appreciate it if you didn't call me bud. I'm not your buddy and you aren't my buddy." Honestly, I am totally ok with that because I really don't want him as my buddy.



So cruel I am.



I love my clients at Valley though. It is great being in a job where the clients are steady and I can build relationships with them. I always tell them that they are all going to give me lung cancer because I go and talk to them while they smoke. They are just cool people.



Uh, other news in my life.......my posture is really great right now. I am ninety-five percent perfect posture right now. It isn't one hundred because my feet are crossed. Woe is me. Lucille is great. Her cold is better and we have cuddle time ALL THE TIME. My roommates made fun of me one night because they heard me say, "Come on, Lucille, it's cuddle time." Yeah, they told their friends that I did that. I wasn't even mad.



I dress like an adult now. Like, I own a million pairs of slacks now. I have to dress up at UNI and I feel like a professional person with an adult job. It is great. Plus, my butt hasn't looked this good before. I've got swag.

I spend my weekends lying in bed watchin Les Miserables. I need friends. Or more cats.

Eddie went missing. He ran away during a thunderstorm. We are all pretty much messes (my mom especially) and I really miss him too. I hope that people are taking care of him and that he will come home. I know this is lame, but pray that he will make it back. He is the best dog and I need my cuddle buddy back.



Uh, I think that is it. I am always forgetting to eat but I drink a lot of water. I wear make up a lot too? This may be the most boring post ever, but at least I am updating.



Right?



Right.



Cheers.

Ch.Wa

Bring Him Home

Oh hey everybody. Look who is updating their blog. I will give you a hint: it's me. A lot has happened since I last blogged about my good tidings. You see, I am finally moved into my new place. I have some great roommates. I mean, they are all normal. I lucked out to the extreme. The place is beautiful, the neighborhood is awesome. And he layout of my room is kick ass. So that is going on. I also have not one but TWO jobs. You see, I have some weird issues of just having one job. It's too...normal for me. And lemme tell you something; my jobs rock me like a hurricane. I am working for Valley Mental Health and the University of Utah's Neuropsychiatric Institute (aka UNI). With VMH, I am working at a home that is just for the homeless population. This has been a great job. Right from the interview, I felt that this is an amazing place. The employees actually care about the clients and want them to be able to live productive lives and help them reach their goals. I absolutely love it there. I love the people I work with, I love the clients already, and I love just having a job. With UNI; it is a dream come true. To me, it is the Mecca of jobs. The establishment is AMAZING and the care the people give is out of this world. You see, it is extremely patient oriented so much that the patiet satisfaction is 96 percent (remember that forty percent of these people have come involuntary.). Incredible. I already love it and feel part of the community that is there. There is a hell of a lot of training and it has all Ben entertaining and a little intimidating, especially the self defense we learned that delt with: hair pulling, choking, biting, punching, kicking, and all other types of behavior. It was...intense and that is an understatement. Why I am so excited about this job though is my job title. I am a peer specialist. Pretty much I get paid to have a me two illness and I am appreciated with what I have. I am the first person the people meet and my job is helping them relax and feel ok with being there. I get to share my recovery story with these folks all day and show them that it will be ok. I get to help break the stigma of mental illness and I get to help these people on their way to recovery and back to life. This has been a huge blessing for me. What I thought was a hinderence in my life is actually a gift that I get to share with others. I am tested with upmost respect and am seen as a crucial person for the center. It has helped me so much in my daily recovery and is a daily reminder that I am ok with what I have. Greatest thing ever. With training and work though I am one. Isy girl. This last week I have worked over fifth hours. Going from not working for the past two month to this has been a it overwhelming. I have. Den sick from the stress and have a nice cry every night. I know it will get better once I get the routine. Oh! I also got a cat! She is the most precious thing on earth. She is an old maid and I love her. She looks just like Liza and do her name is Lucille 2 from Arrested Development. She has helped me with the loneliness I am feeling and we have cuddle time all the time. Either is pretty much it. I am loong life like always and I am so grateful for all the good that is happening to me. God boss you all and I will *try* to update more. Cheers Ch. Wa. Pathos has been written on the phone. Ignore all spelling errors pleas.

Baby's Romance

Oh hellos to you all in "Ye Olde Cyber World." Write now (great pun, Chelsea) I am in the library typing away. Lemme share with you how many people are on computer games right now. I almost had to wait some time before I could use one to aimlessly surf the web myself.

How dare they.

Really though, I had to do some "important" stuff. You see, I GOT A JOB!

That's right, folks. You read that right. I, Chelsea Waterfall, am going to be employed ever so soon once again. I couldn't be happier. To make the deal even sweeter, it is the place that I wanted to work for the most! So I am a quite a happy girl right now. I am almost as happy as a clam.

*Side note* I don't imagine clams to be that happy. Whenever I think of clams, I think of their cousins, the oyster, and how they get sand all up in their biznazze and make a pearl out of it. Sounds awful.

There you go. I have meant to update about my life, but I don't have a "library card" for said "city" of "Salt Lake City." I have been living in the great Salt Lake....City for the past three weeks with some amazing friends. You see, one of my very good friends and her hubby have let me crash at their place while I find housing and an occupation. Literal angels on Earth. They have been waaaay too good to me, even in our little sarcastic word battles (which I fail at miserably. Kara has a sword for a tongue.) It has been super great living in the city.

Speaking of living in the city, I have also found a place to live! It is with roomies and it is right by Liberty Park. Right when I walked into the place for the grand tour, I felt like I was at home. Even Stephanie was super jealous of my new crib and new housemates. Hell, I think I will even be okay with having roommates (the idea still terrifies me, but I hope I can manage it.) I should be moving in this week *fingers crossed* and then it is party time, excellent.

Whoo whoo whoo whoo.

Thanks, Wayne and Garth for teaching me the ways.

So life is going really well right now. I even rode the "big rides" at Lagoon the other time. It was the scariest moment of my life. I am amazed that I did not soil myself. A lot of people got a good laugh at it so I guess that s alright....

Sure.

No, but life is going super great, like I said. A lot of good is happening and a lot of blessings have come my way. I am being treated way too well for my life. I love it.

Cheers.
Ch.Wa.

Just a Song Before I Go

Oh hey, World. I have some big news.

I am HOMELESS.

Mother is going to be furious about this...

Ok, so I really am not homeless, but I did move out of my dwelling in Bountiful. Which adds to more news...

I am JOBLESS

Bring on the calls, Mother...

Well, I ended my job with Davis Behavioral Health. With me ending said job, I had to move out. Sometimes, even with a mental illness, you don't get to live with the rest of the crazies.

Rats. (not really)

So yeah, I ended my job. I have been thinking about this for awhile (since my first week at the job...woof) and a year at a highly demanding job like that is amazing. Incredible. Almost impossible.

Well, I defied impossible once again. Go me. No, but some crappy crap was going on at work and then they decided to make the place coed and when they said that, I put on my panama hat and headed out the door. Problem was, I totally forgot that my parents were moving out of their place and there was no room in their inn for this virgin (immaculate, I know).

Shoot.

(Currently, Cami is sitting by me reading this while I type and she just told me "I really wish that I wasn't reading this right now and laughing because then I won't be able to laugh at it tomorrow during class." I am a fun crusher sometimes, for sure.)

So. I was about to be homeless. Imagine this, if you will. Chelsea, high stressed and highly emotional, thinking about THE FUTURE. Scary thing to imagine. Scarier thing to go through. Thoughts of adult responsibilities ran through my mind. 

--I have to pay rent.

--I have to find a job that will help me pay rent.

--I have to have a baby.

--I really don't have to have said baby, but thinking about it terrifies me. 

--I try to find a date so I can marry and have said baby.

Woe. Is. Me.

P.S., I hate "dating" or whatever the hell that term means. Damn Match still isn't cutting out. None of you get to see me on a commercial any time soon. *single tear* ---Pun definitely intended.

Back to being an adult.

It was a scary moment thinking about it. I don't want to be homeless. I would have to prostitute myself with Lord of the Rings or something (body wise, I wouldn't be the best choice for a prostitute. Double woof. However, LOTR-wise, I would be rolling in the Benjamin's with Smeagol or somethin' like that. Big Pimpin' in Mordor. Hobbit style.)

Please ignore that little snigit *combination of snitch and golden nugget* of grossness. But really, the idea of being homeless was horrible. I would stink. And I guess other stuff too. The point is, it would be a horrible experience and all I would grow from it is a butch hair cut and a barbed-wire tattoo on my arm. So I was freaking out and contacting everyone I know to tell them that I wouldn't have a home, hoping people would offer a place. Sneaky, I know. 

And it worked! Really, I have some amazing friends. My sweet, incredible, amazing, gorgeous, almost social worker (sorry, Cami, it's not you) Kara and her amazing hubby offered me a place with them. Miracle on 34th street for sure. So I will be their practice child for a month. 

I will make them never want to have kids. 

But, really, it has been pretty rough with thinking about moving. I mean, it is super exciting. I will get a new job, meet new people (not from Match...duh) and just have some great new experiences. It is scarier than Hell though. In fact, if I do go to Hell, I am sure it will be an eternal struggle of thinking I am going to be homeless and job hunting. 

Double Woof.

Plus, I am going to miss my ladies. 

That job has been rough. It has been miserable at times. I remember the first month, I would have my weekly breakdowns on Sundays. It was glorious. False, it was terrible. But I made it through and then the job was actually, well, quite enjoyable. I learned a lot about myself ( like, that I really should never be a manager or an RA ever again) and I learned a lot about other people, good and bad. 

I love my ladies. One of them came in and chitchatted with me while I finished my packing and it was great. We talked about Lord of the Rings (no brainer) and just some good ol' times. She was one of the toughest clients at the house, but it was just great to just sit and talk with her. She told me about her life and gave me some great grains of wisdom. One of the best things that she said to me was this: "Chelsea, you are going to make it though this and you are going to be happy. You will get a job, you will have friends, and you are going to be great to everyone around you. I know you have made a dent in my life and you are going to continue that wherever you go."

Wow. I started bawling and she told me to stop because those are just wasted tears. It has been great talking to them. They have helped me learn more about me and...tooting my own horn here...but of all the good that I can provide for others. When I was telling my favorite client about me moving, *we all have favorites, so shut up. I know I am one of Craig's top three. I may have also made him say that* She was like, "Chelsea, if you leave, I will die." After her saying that, I was like, "Well, if you say something like that again, we will have to make a trip to the hospital."

I am reeeeally funny.

But she then said, "No, I am serious. I will not live there if you aren't there. You make the place comfortable."

Again, I started crying. Boob, I am. I mean, comfortable is not a word to be used lightly, in my opinion. When something, or someone, is comfortable, it is the best thing in the world. I automatically think of my bed, Diet Coke, and Return of the King (again, why won't guys realize how awesome I am?* So to be considered comfortable is the highest honor. 

I hope I don't sound like bragging. I think I really just need to write good things about myself so I can feel good about the situation, you know? Maybe if I read these things and remember them, then I will believe them. Trying some psych right now. 

Really, though, let's get to the point. I truly care about these women. It has been the hardest job ever, but working with these women, I have learned that I really do like them. We have had some great times together. Whether it is me making them push me in the cart at Wal*Mart or watching When Harry Met Sally, it has been full of laughs. We would dance, we would sing, we would laugh, and we would even cry. They are great people. 

I really am going to miss them and the job. It is sad leaving people and worrying about who will come and take care of them next. I guess I am a little protective over them, but really, they deserve the best care and I hope they get it. 

Anyways, after bawling my eyes out all day there, I went to my other job and bawled my eyes out there. May have accidentally dropped a tear or two in front of the kiddies. BONUS FOR ME THOUGH. It totally made them shut up and be on the greatest behavior ever in tutoring. It is sad with that job too, though, because program is ending next week. My kiddies are going off to summer break and I won't get to see them.

I love my kids. I adore them. Oh my gosh, they are horrible sometimes, but they are the best things in my life. 

So there you go. Chelsea is stressed, tired, and thirsty. But as my lady said, 

Chelsea is going to be happy again.

Cheers.

Ch.Wa

Belfast

Today is Mother's Day. Right now, my mother is telling me that I shouldn't be driving home tonight because I could hit an animal.

Gosh, I am so glad she is my mom. 

 My mom is seriously the most beautiful woman that I have ever known. She has always been so stylish and always looks good. I like to blame it on my mom that I can never really go out in public looking like trash. Pajama bottoms and no bra while going to the store?

Doesn't happen. Ever.

You see, though, Nancy just always looks good. She has poise and she has grace. She is so feminine and carries herself as a woman quite well.

 Some of my favorite things about my mom are...well, a lot. I feel like since I am the youngest child, I have an extra special relationship with Nimmer. I remember being a kid in our old house and having her serve me breakfast in her and my dad's bed in the morning while I would watch "Sleeping Beauty." She had/has spoiled me rotten. In fact, I love hearing the stories about how I was such a mama's girl that I would sit in the corner of dance classes and cry because she wasn't with me. I also got out of many piano teachers because I knew how to work her.

But really, here are some special moments that remind me of her.

• Elton John/Simon and Garfunkel. My mom is great with music. Her taste is incredible. But these two artists are what really stand out with her. I remember listening to Scarbarough Field while riding with her to Maddox when I was a little girl. That song was magical to me. I probably (and maybe secretly still do) thought that it was such a romantic song and that I would get married in the woods with my first grade boyfriend and it would sound just like that song. Nerdy, I know, but it is great. I also love how she loves Elton John. He was her first concert, (was only five bucks or something to see him) and she still loves him to this day. Whenever I want to think about my mom, I just put "Belfast" on the pod, and think of our good drives to that song. 
• Dancing. My mom is a horrible dancer. I am a horrible dancer. So when we dance...well, we dance. It is terrifying but oh, so much fun. Her classic move is the "camel dance", which is just awful. Ang and I still try to master that dance but she is the only tamer of that one. 
• The Graduate/When Harry Met Sally/The Way We Were/any sappy romantic movie. My mom loves a good romance movie and whenever I need a good "woman time" movie, I always ask for her advice. I love watching her favorite movies so I can share that with her. I still remember when I stole The Way We Were from her. It was the first month of me moving into the house and I was a wreck. So I was thinking, Oh hey, Bah-bra knows how to make someone feel good. Well, I was wrong. I called her up after bawling and talking about how great that movie was. She really does know some good stuff.
• Also, she told me that Edward Scissorhands is a funny movie. I called her after watching it, bawling hysterically and telling her she lied about it being funny and her response was, "Well, when he grooms the dogs it was hilarious." Yeah, that part was only five minutes. Horrible.
• My mom remembers every outfit she wore on the first day of school. It is great hearing her talk about her amazing memory (she can remember things like that but not my name? Awesome.) I also love listening to music with her and how she can say things like, "I remember I was in Sixth grade when I got this vinyl and I was wearing such-and-such outfit and someone threw a snake at me." 
• Adding to that, she is amazing telling stories. I want her to write down all her childhood memories so I can share them with my kids.
• My mom loves El Matador. Hell, she really loves gross mexican food. Sometimes, when I come home on Sundays expecting dinner, I find out that dinner really is just chips and salsa from Javiers. Not the greatest moment, but hey, it is a nice snack

I really do have the most amazing mom. I swell up with pride whenever anyone says that I am just like her or that I look like her. She is tougher than nails but is still so gentle. I really do see her as my best friend. I loved it when I lived in New York that we would call each other every morning to talk about how our days are going to go. I love how she hates The Lord of the Rings. I love how she will call me three times in a row and when I call her back, she will tell me, "Oh hey, I have to call you right back." Annoying as hell, but she never lets me down with that. I love how much she loves my siblings and me. I love how she loves my friends and the people I care about most in my life. I love that she loves our dog more than us kids sometimes. I love her cooking. I love that she reads. I love having her there for me always. I love walking with her in the mountains. I love her when she is nice and I love her when she is annoyed at me. I love that I call her Nimmer. 

But most of all, I love that I get to call her mom. 

I hope that I get the chance to be the amazing type of mom that you have been to me. Thank you for all the wonderful things that you have done for me. I thank God every day that I have you as my mother.