AmeriCorps Afterthoughts.

Once upon a time, like 3 months or so ago, I decided to start sharing with the free world the playlists of my music collection that make my world go round. I didn't get too far, for reasons I can't discuss. (and that means I can't discuss them... yet. When I get word from Britney's people that I can share, I'll explain my brief hiatus.) I first shared my AmeriCorps Vol. 1 & AmeriCorps Vol. 2 playlists...
AmeriCorps?? What is that??? There really isn't much written word other than that of my playlists on this dot of a blog in the universe about my year in AmeriCorps... (at least, not until I decide to publish our AmeriCorps yearbook for all to see.) I don't expect people to understand why it was a year that shaped me, and I don't expect many people to even read beyond this sentence... I blog about this stuff for my own soul, and for anyone else who either experienced it with me, or chooses to dig a little into my mind. (it's all random, I know.) This playlist consists of songs that take me back to that year, for one reason or another. (and fear not, I detail the reasons right here.)
These might be afterthoughts, but more importantly, they are foreverthoughts...

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WHITE HOUSES by Vanessa Carlton ~ Toni discovered this song not too long after our AmeriCorps term ended, and the lyrics sum up all too well our year together. "Crashed on the floor when I moved in, This little bungalow with some strange new friends, Stay up too late, and I'm too thin, We promise each other it's 'til the end..." I have NO CLUE what possessed me at the age of 27 to up and leave the only life I'd ever known and haul balls to the West Coast on a whim to try and become a better person. I know 'the age of 27' probably sounds old to many, but being 35 as I write this, I still feel 18. (I told you my life is totally random.) Moving from El Dorado, KS to Los Angeles, CA in a day and knowing nobody- but eventually meeting people that would live forever in my heart?? WOW. and we still have "Beer through the nose on an inside joke"
CALIFORNIA by Phantom Planet ~ I moved back to Kansas in June, and in August THE OC premiered on FOX. I thought I was hot stuff, listening to the California lingo on a hot new show and totally understanding it. I later found out that Toni and Mary-Curtis had stumbled upon the filming of THE OC pilot in Malibu a few months prior. WHERE WAS I??? Oh yeah- in Sherman Oaks, where I lived, and where Mary-Kate & Ashley were raised. (That was me trying on my bragging pants, by the way.) THE OC theme song will ALWAYS take me back.
TRIP AROUND THE SUN by Jimmy Buffett w/ Martina McBride ~ I constantly refer to my year in AmeriCorps as my trip around the sun... I know it was something so huge in my life, but I secretly hope I have frequent flier miles and that maybe I have a few return engagements up my sleeve. I'm not beyond believing I might have a few more trips around the sun in my life. "I'm just hanging on while this old world keeps spinning, And it's good to know it's out of my control, If there's one thing that I've learned from all this living, Is that it wouldn't change a thing if I let go..."
CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY by Mariah Carey ~ On the serious side, the lyrics alone can tell the story of my life and why I choose to make Jimmie Taylor decisions.
"They can say, Anything they want to say, Try to bring me down, But I will not allow anyone to succeed hanging clouds over me, And they can try hard to make me feel that I, Don't matter at all, But I refuse to falter in what I believe or loose faith in my dreams 'Cause there's, There's a light in me, That shines brightly, They can try, But they can't take that away from me" Now for the funny side?? Poor Mary-Curtis... who, while on DR (aka Disaster Relief) with me in Oklahoma City, was held captive in our rental car while I made sure she heard and understood these exact lyrics. My bad.
I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING by The New Seekers ~ Cheese Ball Alert!! Make fun of this song if you must, but this simple song (to me) is the very idea of what AmeriCorps is all about. I joined a group of total strangers from all corners of the US, because in our own way, we each wanted to build the world a home. I think, nearly 8 years later, we still find our own ways to furnish that world with love.
LOVE IS AN ARMY by LeAnn Rimes ~ I discovered this song the day LeAnn's TWISTED ANGEL album was released, and I had a personal connection to it immediately. When LeAnn performed this song at the Academy of Country Music Awards in May of 2003, I was in Oklahoma City with MC on DR for the tornadoes. I watched LeAnn perform it on my little hotel TV and that deep connection suddenly ran deeper. MC and I were there helping people who had lost nearly everything... and we were there with our own little army. Love.
LA SONG by Beth Hart ~ The funniest part about returning to Kansas after a year out on the Left Coast was how much I found myself identifying with so much stuff on TV about Los Angeles, even in repeats. I discovered this song while watching a 90210 episode from the final season. (I would fill you in that it was Gina Kincaid's last episode, who was Donna's cousin/sister, but then I would have to go off for a few paragraphs about how much I disliked that entire avenue, and it's just not worth it.) Point being: when I first heard the song as a KS guy when it first aired, I paid no attention. When I heard it again after having lived in LA, I soaked it in. "Man I gotta get outta this town , Man I gotta get outta this pain , Man I gotta get outta this town , Outta this town & out of L.A." (rest in peace, Doc Martin!!)
SK8R BOI by Avril Lavigne ~ There is really no deep, hidden meaning why this song is an afterthought. Truth is, this song blew up in my first few months of living in LA, and I decided that I wanted to be Avril for Halloween. My plans didn't pan out, so instead, I dressed as a SK8R BOI (if you will) while I went to West Hollywood with my roomies Syp & Deej (and SUZY SUZUKI, RN) to see P!NK in concert... I still have my tiny skateboard, and somewhere in this world is a bitter bitch who took a butterfly wing to the face. It was Halloween in West Hollywood, what did she expect?
HERE'S TO THE NIGHT by Eve 6 ~ This is a song I had a connection to without having any real connection to, if that makes sense. Once I moved back to Kansas and I heard it, this song went to another level. "Here's to the nights we felt alive, Here's to the tears you knew you'd cry, Here's to goodbye tomorrow's gonna come too soon" Guess what? Tomorrow came too soon.
NIGHTS I CAN'T REMEMBER, FRIENDS I'LL NEVER FORGET by Toby Keith ~ Before anyone gets the wrong idea, I remember more than I don't. And on that note... I guarantee we were "Pushin' everythin' we did to the limit, Livin' right out on the edge of the world." On top of that, I can say: "We did it our way lookin' back on the good days, There's still not a lot I regret, Nights I Can't Remember, Friends I'll Never Forget." I PROMISE.
COME HOME by Debbie Gibson ~ I know my original plan when I moved to LA was to stay there, do my AmeriCorps term, move on to something bigger and be discovered. Within my second month of living there, I knew I would be returning home to Kansas. It took me separating myself from everything I had ever known to appreciate what was mine all along. Am I trying to sound smart and poignant?? Not at all. That's truly how it happened. "Growing up so strong, but you're not made of stone , Isn't it nice to come home?" Yes. It is.
HOLD AN OLD FRIEND'S HAND by Tiffany ~ Our reunions aren't as frequent as the years have passed, but whenever we do get back together, it's like holding an old friend's hand. "I don't believe it hurts to grow, even when the crop you sow is a failure." (Did anybody catch that I have a Deb Gib & a Tiffany song back-to-back? Classic Jims.)
WE CAN by LeAnn Rimes ~ Legally Blonde 2 was about to be released when I moved home, and Elle Woods was all over LA. I don't remember why I didn't have any friends in Kansas that would go see that movie with me, but I do remember sitting at the drive-in alone with my window down and being eaten alive by mosquitoes. (I won't go into detail about my trip to the ER because I thought I fell victim to the West Nile virus and I thought I was dying.) I was pumped that LeAnn recorded this song for the soundtrack, and I fell in love with the video. When the movie was released on DVD & included LeAnn's video, I took it with me when I returned to LA for a visit. I remember sitting in my former little living room with my former apartmates singing "with our one voice, one heart, two hands- we can." Kind of sounds like an AmeriCorps anthem.
BEAUTIFUL GOODBYE by Jennifer Hanson ~ Annoyed with reading lyrics yet? Sometimes the entire lyrics of a song sum up an entire experience for me. This would be one of those songs. This was released to country radio right at the end of our time together and it couldn't have been more perfect timing. I was sad to be leaving my new life, but anxious to return home. "It's like the most amazing sunset you've ever seen, There's never another quite the same, It just falls into some deep eternal sea, Like the end of a movie that makes you cry, You're sad when it's over but you're glad you had, That moment that moved you deep inside. Beautiful goodbye, baby goodbye, I enjoyed the ride, we really had us a time,It's a strange kind of high- A beautiful goodbye."
LOVE'S THE ONLY HOUSE by Martina McBride ~ To know me is to know that this song is my personal anthem. To know me is to also be annoyed at how often I play and/or sing this little number. This song, in a way, is part of the reason I started looking for something like AmeriCorps in my life. I know that I have been blessed with more than anyone deserves, and I think it's so important to give back... to whoever and whenever possible, in any possible way. "so come on down to my house."
ISN'T THAT EVERYTHING by Danielle Peck ~ This is just a random song that reminds me to be thankful for what I have. One of my favorite quotes ever goes a little something like this: "Life isn't about getting what you want. It's about wanting what you have." If I share with you that I heard that come from the mouth of someone on The Real World, would you think less of that quote? *I'll never tell* "I might not have a million dollars in the bank, But I’ve got food on my table and gas in my tank, I might not have designer sheets on a king size bed, But I lay down at night with a roof over my head."
I'VE GOT FRIENDS THAT DO by Tim McGraw ~ If there's a tiny chance someone is still reading this, I'm afraid I'm not done with posting lyrics. This song is basically word for word from my heart and how I feel. The truly great thing about being a part of AmeriCorps was being united with strangers from different parts of the US... coming together because we all had a common interest. I really do have friends that do. "This is for the nobody, The one in the crowd who's got a, Lost look on his face, This is for the down-trodden, The one that the worlds forgotten, Waitin' on a better day, Well I'm in no position to judge 'em, Heaven knows they're just like me, And I'm not alone, In knowing what it's like, To wonder where you're going in this crazy life, And I'm not alone, knowing how it feels, To pray to God and sometimes wonder if he's real, 'Cause I got friends that do."
LIFT ME UP by Backstreet Boys ~ If I could put into words the roller coaster of emotions we all went through during our year, I would. I can't. There is, without question, no way I would have lasted without the friends I made. They lifted me up then, and they continue to lift me up now. "When I'm down on my luck and I'm searching for my soul, When I'm feeling too much and I start to lose control , When I'm down so low that even enemies don't wanna know , You still care for me, say a prayer for me, and I know , Oooh, I like you hangin' around , 'Cause you lift me up when I am upside down , Oooh, you are my favorite sound..."

YOU'RE LIKE COMIN HOME by Emerson Drive ~ You may be familiar with this song by Lonestar, but I love me some Emerson Drive, so they're version is more my taste. (I must admit, though- both versions taste about the same.) I moved home, but I feel like I left another home behind. Whenever I reconnect with my LA friends, it's like comin home. "Ridin' restless under broken sky, Weary traveller, somethin' missin' inside, Always lookin' for a reason to turn around. Desperate for a little peace of mind., Just a little piece of what I left behind:, Well, I found it now: you're like coming home."
WEST COAST WIND by The City Drive ~ This isn't really a song with lyrics that speak to my heart, rather a song that just reminds me of the Santa Ana winds that would mess up my hair. (oh wait- I'm thinking of Kelly Taylor on 90210.) I miss a lot of things about the West Coast- and if someone were to ask me if the wind were one of them, I would say: probably.
EVERYTHING I DO by LeAnn Rimes & Kenny G ~ I don't feel like I need to throw out any lyrics here, because once upon a blue moon the entire universe was obsessed with Robin Hood (I wasn't one of them) and chances are this song needs no explanation. LeAnn seems to have been a big voice in my AmeriCorps year...
WITH ALL MY HEART by Deborah Gibson ~ I close out my Afterthoughts will my all-time favorite song. Unless you are a die-hard fan like me, or one of my friends I force music on, you probably haven't heard this. The song is timeless and will forever be an anthem for the way I want to live my life.

Sometimes I am in the wrong
I go where I do not belong
believe me I know my faults
I force my will
I walk on coals
I prey on unsuspecting souls
we all do somersaults

Then we land on solid ground
and turn it all around
the first chance we get to make a brand new start
but everything I do
I do with all my heart.

Sometimes I will not look down
I trip and fall and scrape the ground
cause I thought I knew all
But every twist and every turn
and every time I live and learn
it comes down to that fall.
cause the pain was mine all mine
and nothing human or divine
could make me put that horse before that cart
backwards upside down,
but with all my heart.

there is one you
there is one me
one go round
one short life
use it wisely
sink or fly but fall grasping for stars
cause the thing about our hearts
they're uniquely ours.

once upon a time
when i could stop the world
right on a dime
I never analyzed
I fell straight into passions crows
I struggled heaven only knows
but opened weren't my eyes
to all I could not see
I believed it all could be
so I went there not picking it apart
I saw it whole and with my soul
and yes with all my heart.

somethings in life won't matter
like if you climb the ladder or not
but sit back relax
if you've tried with all your heart.

hip to my heart.

"I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return"

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Once upon a time there was a boy named Jimmie. This boy liked to live his life out loud, for all the world to see. He had dreams of shining bright beyond the streets of Small Town, Kansas and he had a fierce passion for the Hollywood world he surrounded himself with. The pages of US Weekly would come alive each Friday night and the celebrities would whisper in his ears. Jimmie spent many hours and dollars, dragging friends with him, traveling the US for artists he loved. It was in those times when Jimmie felt the most alive and his soul would sparkle. Like glitter.

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Writing about myself in 3rd person and past tense just kind of creeped me out, so I had to stop. I felt like maybe I was a ghost-writer for myself, penning the Jimmie Taylor: Famous in a Small Town biography. Jinkies. There is a point to this blog, and I feel my weirdo intro was needed to set up my story. On Friday, July 16th, my boyfriend Josh and I (along with our friends Travis, Heather and Keri) went to the Adam Lambert/Allison Iraheta concert in Wichita, KS. The concert was general admission, which meant showing up hours early would pretty much guarantee a decent spot close to the stage. When we showed up at the venue, we joined the already-growing line. I pretty much pride myself in being a social butterfly and getting to know people, and the Adam Lambert fans were a fierce group for me to interact with. Right in front of us in line was a woman who had a purple glow about her. She was covered from head to toe in purple glitter w/ her purple outfit and self-created purple glitter shoes. (I was rocking my red wooden shoes, and I had a hunch we would get along.) I learned her name was Cathy and she was from Dallas. She had driven up just to see Adam Lambert. She had an extra ticket, because her son was unable to make the trip. I immediately got my picture with her, and we became Facebook friends. As the line was moving inside, the guys were pulled into a different line, and I didn't think we would see her inside. I was wrong. Not even ten minutes after we were in, Cathy appeared to us in what I swear was a glitter cloud. She was with us through the entire show, and when I wasn't watching the stage (or trying to fight off a Mean Girl, but that's another story) I loved watching Cathy watch Adam. Not in a creeper way, either. At midnight, Cathy would be turning 51 years old. I looked at her and I hoped I saw a little of me when I am her age. I wouldn't give a second thought right now, at the age of 35, to traveling solo to see the show of someone I love. I can only hope and pray I'm lucky enough to be doing that 16 years down the line. Cathy inspired me on a level I can't even explain. She was living her life out loud, and I feel blessed that for a night I was a part of it. I enjoyed Allison & Adam that night, but I came away from that concert with a feeling that I had a brief peek into my future. And I liked what I saw.

rumor 'bout a Revolution.

Picture it: Sicily, 1854. (that's a shout-out to Sophia Petrillo, of course.) As I was cruising the Kansas turnpike after dinner with Mama Cherryholmes, I decided I needed to send out a few words about the current Golden Girl of Country Music. It's not Taylor Swift or Carrie (she was my American Idol first, people!) Underwood, but Miranda Lambert. I don't normally buy entire cd's anymore, because frankly, I have been a little disappointed as of late. I usually end up enjoying 3-4 songs out of 12 and then I kick myself in the shin twice. (That's not true. I usually kick a chair. Or a foot stool.) I won't drop any names, but let's just say a certain sister duo was hurtin' for certain without Natalie Maines. After my burning LOVE for Dead Flowers, White Liar and The House That Built Me (hello, 1154 S. Arthur!) I decided it was time to drop the dollars for Miranda's REVOLUTION album. SIDE NOTE: I was crusing the Lambert section of Wal*Mart for Adam (the other Lambert)'s cd, as I prepare to attend his concert tomorrow in Wichita... as well as protest the Fred Phelps protestors. Not familiar with Phelps & Co? Click here, but it isn't pretty. It's ugly and filled with hate, and I plan to fight back with LOVE. It is, after all, an army. And the only house big enough for all the pain in the world. So... driving home through the Flint Hills I joined the Revolution de Miranda, full throttle. While I'll stop short of calling her a lyrical genius (because I'm not a critic, and that just sounds corny), I will scream from the mountain tops my love for this disc. (I've called it a cd, an album and a disc. Did you notice that? I like to keep things fresh 'round these parts.) And about those mountain tops. That was an overstatement, because I live in Kansas. But I did scream it from the Flint Hills. Then it just seemed unsafe, and I wasn't going to risk my life professing a love for my latest purchase. Bottom line? Buy the album. Tell Miranda I sent ya... that's the way that the world goes 'round.

Rimes with Silence.

Can I throw this out on the table? For any random reader who knows nothing about me?? (Which causes me to beg the question, what brought you to my blog if you know nothing about me? BRIBERY??) Anyway, for the randoms, here it is: I LOVE, ADORE & RESPECT LeANN RIMES. While it's true that since 1988, Deborah (wait, is it Debbie again?) Gibson has been my #1, when Ms. Rimes Blue me out of the water in 1996, I knew I had another musical hero. (and I don't say 'musical hero' like I am some aspiring artist. Far from it... just a simple gay guy in Kansas who knows good talent, good music- and most importantly, good people.) Did I ever tell you how easily sidetracked I am?? Again with the anyway... I have been lucky enough to meet LeAnn (and Deb Gib, mind you) a number of times over the years. I am a dedicated fan, and when anyone (wheteher it be a close friend, an encounter with a stranger, or a random writer of a crappy-ass article in a crappy-ass celeb magazine I am guilty of buying) says something negative about someone I feel extremely passionate about, I get on the defense. And if you know me, you know my years of playing defense on the high school football team. (oh wait. I was the drama nerd, with a crush on the high school football team. I'm easily confused.) Long story longer... LeAnn's personal life is her personal life. I respect her and care about her enough to be on her side. If for some reason I were no longer on her side, I would simply stop listening to her music and stop reading anything about her career or life. (Not that I ever see that happening.) It is beyond my brain how people who have such a negative opinion on celebrities will take the time to send hate... whether it be through Twitter, comments on websites or a personal letter to People magazine. (And I must thank the fan who wrote in to People and said something positive about LeAnn. The person who wrote in to diss my Tori Spelling... well, you might just have a blog post coming your way later.)
Because of the hate, LeAnn has abandoned Twitter for now, and I think it might be the smartest thing for her. And I am not speaking about her career or her image, I am speaking about her heart. I can't imagine the negative things she has had, and continues, to deal with.
Crap. My intention of this blog was to post LeAnn's final tweets (for now) and my follow-up.
Let me do that now.

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twitter, @leannrimes “Taking a break from twitter for a while. It’s unhealthy for me and my family to have to read negative comments from people who’s opinions have no bearing on my life. I love my fans so very much and will return one day soon. God bless to you all! I hope you understand. It’s time for me to focus on healing, my happiness and my music. I can’t wait to share it all with my fans soon! There’s a million other ways to stay connected with my fans and I plan to focus on those! The most important, bringing you great music!”

These tweets were posted on the site www.leannfans.com - to which I responded:
twitter, @jimbob90210 "I am very happy to read that LeAnn is taking a break, for her sake. I imagine there are hateful words from people who have no business sticking their noses in LeAnn's personal life, yet somehow feel the need to attack her character via Twitter. I think it's sad people sink to that level. Unless someone's name is Paula Abdul, there really isn't room to judge anyone. (oh wait- even she can't judge anymore.) :^) I enjoyed reading about LeAnn's happiness on Twitter, and while I will miss hearing updates from her, I think it's wonderful her happiness can go to another level... without haters in her face. I have been a fan since the VERY beginning... I am SO excited to hear the new album... and her original music after that. Bravo, LeAnn. I am happy you have learned to let go what you can not change. jimmie."


I hope to anyone reading this, you have an artist (or artists!) in your life you feel about the way I feel about LeAnn Rimes. (And Deborah (DEBBIE?) Gibson!!)

LOVE IS AN ARMY.

pic: LeAnn and me, at the taping of the ELVIS LIVES! special, Los Angeles, 2002.
(I was going through a BAD hair phase, with ZERO highlights.)

for the love of mary horowitz.

DISCLAIMER:
this an actual note from my facebook page, so forgive me now for trying to pass it off as a new blog entry... because the cold hard facts are that it's recycled Jimmie hash. and how lame am I for not honoring National Betty Rubble Day on June 24th here?? I just slapped my own hand...
(right after I slapped my facebook.)

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Welcome to another note from yours truly.
I'm not posting rules for this alleged note, and I am tagging at random.
(and by random, I don't know what I mean.)
Before I left MySpace for all but dead, (mine still exists, but there's not much
of a pulse) I loved filling out these little bulletins. Why? Because I enjoy
letting my fingers go with the flow... (that just made me crave a
little Salt n Pepa if ya know what I mean.)
Anycrap- my local Gaga filled this out, tagged me, and here we are.
(And by we, I mean me.)


1. What time did you get up this morning?
6:12am. The alarm was set for 6:15. 3 minutes early. Kind of pissed me off.

2. How do you like your steak?
alive. No food with a face. I am approaching my 5 year anniversary of being a vegetarian. (If you don't count the time I enjoyed Crab Rangoon with artificial crab. Someone forgot to tell me imitation crab is a fancy way of saying cheap white fish.)

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
At the cinema? That would be sometime in my former life in the 1950's when the term 'cinema' was common. (That just reminded me of when MC's mom called Britney Spears 'common' and I didn't know what it meant. Good times.) I saw The Last Airbender w/ Josh, because he LOVES the cartoon... but the cartoon is called Avatar, and there was a conflict of interest with that title. I don't know... I don't make this stuff up.

4. What is your favorite TV show?
I assume we are not talking about BH, 90210... because that is not a show to me, rather a lifestyle. You think I might be kidding, but if you know me, you know there are 2 things I never joke about: my Zip Code and mice. I lived and breathed 90210 from 1990-2000, and it's forever in my blood. Think I'm being dramatic?? I once named a mouse AaronSpelling (no space) in honor of the greatest man that ever knew great television. I also had mice named Donna Martin, Kelly Taylor and Mrs. Teasley. If you do the math, that adds up to 90210. Enough about that? Ok. Can we discuss RAGS TO RICHES? The show about the singing orphans adopted by millionaire Nick Foley? That was my first true hardcore obsession in TV land. I recorded the episodes w/ my sisters on CASSETTE tape. (We didn't even have a VCR yet.) Luckily, I had a VCR and mastered the art of recording and re-watching by the premiere of the 2nd season. Thanks to music rights, this magical show will most likely never live to see the light of DVD. And that's a crying shame. Kind of makes me wanna cuss. (bitches!) Don't get me started on Wonder Woman, Small Wonder, Full House, Popular, Everwood, Melrose Place, Reba, SNL, gLee, The Facts of Life... stop me now.

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
Peoria or Toledo, because those names sound funny coming out of my mouth, and sometimes I like to pretend in my head I am form either place. I would love to meet someone and introduce myself as Jimmie from Peoria. Sometimes in my head, my name isn't Jimmie even. Maybe I'm Seth from Toledo?? Seriously... I would love to live back in LA again. New York City is somewhere I imagine myself living one day. I'm actually happy in Kansas, smack dab in the middle of it all, with my family, Josh, his family and a handful of close friends. That's the secret of life. (Don't tell I told you.)

6. What did you have for breakfast?
A random cup of dry Honeycomb at work.

7. What is your favorite cuisine?
Macaroni and Cheese. I call it my death-row meal. If I were ever to find myself the evening before my execution, I imagine mac & cheese would be on my plate. (Again, in my head I am on death row for a crime I didn't commit. I was framed by a member of the Peoria mob... probably.) I would hope I would be allowed to take shots of Cheree as I toasted to the final episode Friends. Crap. I forgot to mention Friends on my list of fave shows. Shame, shame, shame.

8. What foods do you dislike?
I'm fairly certain the devil invented tomatoes. I don't know if I actually dislike brussel sprouts, but I certainly tossed them behind the fridge when I was growing up.

9. Favorite Place to Eat Sushi?
Anywhere with Lesly. New York City was a def fave. (I said def, cuz I'm hip like that.)

10. Favorite dressing?
the dressing worn on mannequins without heads. I feel so sorry for them.

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive?
She is a Nissan Sentra, and her name is Ally McBeal.

12. What are your favorite clothes?
My teenybopper attire... New Kids, Deb Gib, Backstreet, Britney, *NSYNC, Spice Girl & Aaron Carter tshirts. My 54 tshirt. Any shirt with any random last name on the back. I know I could rock skinny jeans, and one day, I plan to rock the skinny shirt again.

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?
The Land of Efron. I could get serious here for a minute, but why start now? I know my life would benefit greatly by visiting an underprivileged country. I know I am spoiled. I'll leave it at that.

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?
It's a glass. A shot glass. Filled to the brim!! (but not for long!!!)
Don't mind if I do!!!!!

15. Where would you want to retire?
Wherever The Real World is being filmed that year. (In the actual house, of course.)

16. Favorite time of day?
11:54... am and/or pm. Magic.

17. Where were you born?
Wichita, Kansas (by way of Toledo.)

18. What is your favorite sport to watch?
SOCCER BOYS!!!!

19. Who do you think will not tag you back?
anyone uncool.

20. Person you expect to tag you back first?
anyone auditioning for the role of Jimmie Taylor's New Best Friend.

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this?
Dakota Fanning, but we're not actual Facebook friends.

22. Bird watcher?
I watch the sad oil-covered pelicans on the news, and my heart cries a little.

23. Are you a morning person or a night person?
I'm such a night person, the night turns into morning and I must rush to bed before my flesh full-on sparkles... if ya know what I mean.

24. Do you have any pets?
Mimi LaRue Taylor, chihuahua... Weezy McGee, mouse.

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?
Well Josh hasn't surprised me with tickets to the Justin Bieber concert in Kansas City yet, so no...

26. What did you want to be when you were little?
Smurfette. I also wanted to be one of The Littles. Or Vicky the Robot.

27. What is your best childhood memory?
When I scored the winning touchdown for my peewee little league. (oh, wait...)

28. Are you a cat or dog person?
*meow* If I were a lawyer, I'd only represent cats.

29. Are you married?
When they legalize marriage to an iPhone in Kansas, I would seriously consider it.

30. Always wear your seat belt?
click it or ticket. (That's the true Kansas motto, I'm not that clever.) Seat belts save lives, and they're kind of like little one-armed hugs.

31. Been in a car accident?
A few. In high school, my window shattered. But not really, it was just my water that splashed all over the place. I panicked... and I think that was God's way of telling me not to skip CCD anymore.

32. Any pet peeves?
oh, plenty. bad manners is at the top of that list... say please & thank you. a lot.

33. Favorite pizza toppings?
cheese... and black olives!! (If I would've said white olives, I would've been labeled a acebook racist, no doubt.)

34. What is your favorite flower?
The dandelion. It's really your business if you want to call it a weed and complain about it when it grows into a fuzz ball, but it's my business to embrace it as a flower and make it feel special.

35. Favorite ice cream?
Dairy Queen, plain and simple.

36. Favorite fast food restaurant?
Taco Tico, for as long as I can remember. I'm a slave for that place.

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test?
none. College Algebra, however, is a completely different story.

38. From whom did you get your last email?
eBay... reminding me to pay for my "Fashion Cute Hello Kitty Hard Case Cover for iPhone" seriously.

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
You are assuming I have a credit card. I don't. Thanks a lot my first year of college and shopping sprees with Ang... I would kill for an eBay credit card, but then I'd end up on death row, for a crime I actually committed, and I wouldn't deserve mac & cheese as my final meal... so I'm gonna stick with no credit cards.

40. Do anything spontaneous lately?
welcome to my life.

41. Like your job?
LOVE my job. I feel sad for anyone that doesn't, and I know of many.

42. Broccoli?
I would also defend broccoli... if I were a lawyer, of course.

43. What was your favorite vacation?
my trip around the sun.

44. Last person you went out to dinner with?
The Artist Formerly Known as The Brooke White.

45. What are you listening to right now?
The end credits to ALL ABOUT STEVE... the Sandra Bullock movie the world crapped on. I watched it as I've been typing this, and it warmed my little heart. I love Sandra as Mary Horowitz, and I'm pretty sure I will own this movie soon. "If you love someone, let him go. If you had to stalk him, he probably wasn't yours to begin with." Were they talking to me??

46. What is your favorite color?
YELLOW!!

47. What book are you reading?
Uncharted TerriTori. I'm shallow enough to only read books written by Tori Spelling.

48. What is your favorite hobby?
my life is my hobby... you kinda gotta know me to understand.

49. Coffee Drinker?
Coffee is for grown ups... so that would be a no.

50. What time did you finish this quiz?
9:43pm

sticks & stones.

When I was in 10th grade in the dark ages of 1991, I rode the bus to school. There was a girl who often sat in my area (and I sat wherever I could turn invisible, because that was one scary ride, let me tell ya) and I remember people saying that she ate dog food. She was a less-attractive girl who I'm sure had a less-than-easy life, and she didn't appear to have many friends. I remember kids would bark at her, and she would just seem to ignore them. Why am I writing about her? Because I saw her this evening at the grocery store, and my first thought was dog food. I was sad and angry at myself for letting that thought creep back into my brain. How awful. Almost 20 years later, and that's how I remember her. I wasn't the kid barking at her, but I also wasn't the kid telling people to stop. People always ask each other about life regrets, and that's one of my biggest ones. Not just for her, but for not being a voice for anyone who might've been barked at in their own way. I wasn't exactly a voice for myself, but I know I could've been a bigger voice for others. I don't even know why I'm typing about this, because it's a far cry from Hollywood, but maybe it's my own way of apologizing. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will break my heart.

little things.

Blog entries like this border on the ridiculous. So many events happen in day to day life for all of us, and in between random posts on this "crappy little blog" that I imagine typing, so much more happens and my ideas just fall by the way... (if you will.) I visit Hollywood gossip websites more often than I visit my own personal reality (I never said I was proud about it) and I want my blog to be something different. If I have zero followers (even though it says I have six, I'm not sure how dedicated they are) that won't matter... I'm going to write about stuff that makes me happy, and then I might just print it off and give to my mama to read. (she is, what one might call, internet-shy.) Because Jill Cherryholmes is my perfect fan... and I know she cares about what I have to say, so if for nothing else... I shall blog on. (WHAT??)

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This I promise you... these blog entries always make much more sense in my head, when I plan them out, like 7 hours prior to typing them. Seriosuly. (I know I just spelled that wrong, get over it.) Anyballs, the highlight of my day? Actually... I had a few highlights. The one I choose to focus on is this- I walked into Dollar General Store (for my own personal reasons, stop looking me up & down like I'm white trash) and guess what slapped my eyes?? Well, if your name isn't Sherlock Holmes and you haven't figured it out, look at the pic. A HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3: SENIOR YEAR doll (one of the VERY few I don't own) for $12... for 25% off... that rang up $6!!! (I know I just recently passed college algebra, but I think I got what is known as a bargain.) Random, little things in life that bring me joy, I feel I should always write about. I feel like I have more to say, but that's for another time & another place...

ps- "crappy little blog" is a shout-out to my Aunt Jan, who my mama tells me got in trouble when they were young for referring to the family pet as a "crappy little dog" ~ good times.