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I have a tendency to romanticize things.

My closer friends (good-naturedly) roll their eyes and call it “Lauren.” My politically-minded friends think I’m ignorant and generally want to slap me. Some people think I’m a silly little girl trapped in a short lady’s body…and I’m pretty okay with all of these opinions of me.

One of the objects of my blind romanticizing, however, greeted me with a blunt “Oh, heeeeeey there! Do you still like me now?” yesterday as I walked to the car.

Winter. Winter was kind of an a-hole yesterday.

I’m not even going to take the time to set a scene or anything; Charlie and I took a spill on the ice. I managed to sub-consciously turn my body so I didn’t crush him, and that meant that my hip and elbow were able to get intimate with the pavement.

Paul scooped up the screaming toddler and I sat there feeling fairly stunned. (This doesn’t mean that Paul left me hanging… it just means that screaming toddlers move to the priority forefront if the mom’s not covered in blood.)

Anyway, Charlie was super-mad but perfectly fine, I was okay but a little shaken up, and we continued on to go grocery shopping. Today, however, I feel a little bit like I walked up to a brick wall and repeatedly threw the left side of my body at it…just for kicks.

So, am I mad at Winter? Do I blame this whimsical, frosty season? No!

I blame fashion.

I borrowed a pair of “snow boots” from a friend a few years ago, and I forgot to give them back to her when she moved away. I say “snow boots” because I tried them out yesterday, and the snow definitely soaked through the boots. Also, these “snow boots” have no traction. Zero. They’re the tall snow boots that look cute when you tuck your jeans into them, but you generally get all stupid and girly when you see other girls wearing their snow boots over their jeans, because they look all snobby and into themselves, so you feel guilty wearing them, but you can’t help it because they’re cute, and—

Whoah. See what fashion does to me? It makes me bitter and incoherent.

Anyway, they’re cute…so I’ve never really put forth any effort to actually buy myself a decent pair of snow boots. These are the boots I was wearing yesterday. I blame their lack of practicality and the false sense of confidence they instilled in me.

Winter, that wise old Season, probably took one look at my stupid boots and closed its eyes, waiting for the inevitable sound of my hip kissing the cement.

So, everybody, let’s remember that Winter’s not to blame; Winter’s just doing its usual thing. Also, let’s remember that fashion kills, and we should all just bundle up in really practical winter clothing so that I don’t have to feel jealous of the people who look cute and are still managing to walk upright.

Also, I’d like to point out a milestone for myself; I’ve almost been blogging for a year. One of my first posts last year was about Winter, and here we are…almost full circle. Thanks for hanging out with me for all these months, guys. You’re the coolest. I’d bake something delicious for all of you, if I could.

I swear, I’m really not trying to drown you guys in sappy posts… but it’s the holiday season and sometimes these things just happen.

I’ll try not to make this too painful.

We’re coming up on the end of the semester, and anytime you’re in an end-of-semester situation, things can get a little stressful…especially around Thanksgiving. You know, you’ve got a decent-sized break coming up, and that’s exciting, but all it means is that you’ve got a pretty hellacious couple of weeks ahead of you before you’re truly free.

When I was in college, it meant that my body immediately started preparing for terrifying amounts of coffee from Perkins.

What does this mean for us as a family, though? It means it’s time to pony up, grit our teeth, and focus on the good stuff.

So, yeah, I’ve got one of those, “I’m thankful for this, this, and this” lists. Let me do that, and then you can go forth and gorge on turkey.

I’m thankful for a husband who will absorb a spontaneous burst of PMS-ridden emotion-explosion and still want to be within 50 feet of me.

I’m thankful for a son who will throw tennis balls at the TV, get a time-out, and then do the cutest darned little happy dance away from the Time Out Zone like nothing ever happened (after he gives me a kiss, of course.)

I’m thankful for my sister, who I don’t get to see very much. She’s smart as hell, and I’m telling you, there’s not anybody in the universe who I would trust with defending my honor more doggedly than Alli. If you’ve ever been on the wrong side of Alli defending someone’s honor, you’re probably still crying.

I’m thankful for my parents, who are pretty much the coolest couple you’ll ever run into. Nobody else mixes motorcycles, bees, new-age thought, and country living better than my mom and dad.

I’m thankful for my extended family. I’ve got spectacular cousins, aunts, and uncles…and Grandmas who are so awesome they’d probably win in a ninja fight.

I’m thankful for the family I’ve inherited through marrying Paul. If it weren’t for them, I’d still be terrified of Catholic church, Charlie wouldn’t have cute cloth diapers on his butt, and I wouldn’t know the joy of topping instant cappuccino with 7 pounds of Reddi-Whip.

I’m thankful for my friends. New and old, close and far away. These people are my sanity, and no matter how long it’s been since we talked, they still know how to make me laugh so hard I pee in my pants…just a little bit…but not enough that anyone will notice.

And, finally, I’m thankful for you guys. The people who read my blog. Without people reading my words and commenting on them, I’m pretty sure I would feel like a crazy person…well, more than I already do.

Okay, I’m done…that wasn’t so bad, was it?

I hope all of you have an awesome Thanksgiving, and I hope you all remember to well, be thankful.

I also hope you’ll all hide your desserts from me. You know those PMS-ridden emotion-explosions I was talking about? Those pumpkin pies don’t stand a chance.

My recent bout of introspection has had me thinking about blogging a lot.

One of the big questions that comes up is, “What has blogging brought to my life so far?” Initially, the answers were all along the lines of self improvement, expression, and preservation…and then I thought a little harder.

I’ve learned more this year about a couple of people that I’ve known for almost all of my life.

My blogging cousins.

When I was younger, I liked my cousins, Lacey and Meghann (my other cousins, too…they’re just not bloggers…as far as I know…) quite a bit. Did I know much about them? Not really. I knew that Lacey did MUCH better than me on her ACT, and that (at a certain point) she didn’t watch rated R movies…I also knew that we always had a lot of fun when we hung out with her and her sister, Jessie.
Meghann came into my life a little later, when her dad married my Aunt.
Let me say, I was NOT okay with him taking my aunt away from me.

Now, of course, I realize my uncle is totally cool.

Back then, though, the concept of a new uncle complete with new cousins was a little foreign to me… I knew Meghann liked The Little Mermaid and called my Grandpa “Papaw.” That was kind of it at the time.

Over the past year or so, however, I’ve been reading their blogs…and you’ll never believe it: They’re pretty awesome ladies. They’re also my friends. Not just cousin-friends…but friends. I’m not sure if we could say that about each other before.

I’ve learned that there’s more to Lacey than the sweet girl who read her Bible every night before bed. She’s a fiercely spiritual woman who makes it her daily duty to find joy in the most unlikely places. Lacey’s recently become a business owner and social media consultant, and is doing that while she chases around my cute little cousin-niece. She’s got a serious thing for ice cream and coffee, and it’s spectacular to watch her grow as a mom, woman, cook, steward, blogger, wife, (and on and on and on)…

I’ve learned that Meghann’s not just the far-away-in-Kentucky cousin with freckles and red hair. She’s a creative powerhouse who can cut your hair exactly like your favorite celebrity with one hand and design your Christmas cards or website with the other. I’ve been giddy to read the new chapter she’s opened in her life with her sweet little girl and brand new husband.

I’m hoping they’ve learned a lot more about me, as well.

I would love it if you’d check Lacey and Meghann’s (I’ve got links to their blogs up above in their names) blogs, if you’ve got the time. If you feel inspired, leave them some comments. We bloggers always appreciate comments. 🙂

As for you two, Lacey and Meghann, I hope my previous images of you didn’t offend you; they were simply the observations of a young woman, slowly realizing that people are so much more than what they seem. I’ve loved getting to know you both as women rather than simply cousins, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us.