ashleyshappen

Times they are a-changin'

2010-02-17T08:49:00.000-08:00

Dear Beloved Blog,

You're looking as good as ever, how's it going? I have a confession to make. I've been seeing another blog. I've been writing faithfully on her for a some time now, and I feel like its only right that you know about it. We spent some good years together. Sometimes I had important things to say, and other times I just had things to say, and sometimes I had nothing to say-- but you were always there for me, just listening to it all. We've been through good times and bad, but I met someone new. I met a man who will listen to the things I have to say, and he's kind and considerate, and I think its time we go our separate ways... me and you I mean, not me and him. That's why you won't see me as much anymore. I'll be with him, updating our new blog about the start of our new life together. That doesn't mean I won't always love you. I'll look back at times to cherish our memories together. Please, feel free to visit...

-Ashley (now located at this blog here)

Long Awaited

2010-02-08T12:59:00.000-08:00

People keep telling me that he liked it so he put a ring on it, I guess he did. There's the actual ring on my actual finger. It's pretty exciting, I know. Anyway, the day after New Year's we went to San Jose to visit my sister and her family. While we were there we asked if she wanted to brush up her photography skills taking some pictures of us (not engagements, just for fun) and she begrudgingly complied. Jenny. Is. Amazing. Anyway, here's a few she took. Thanks, Jen!

I don't know why I love this picture so much, but I really do love this picture.

In this one, Jen said that I need to show the ring off in every picture. She said nothing about showing it off in a natural fashion, so this is what she gets.

Notice my unnaturally stiff hand, it just wasn't a very comfortable tree. At least Kevin looks good. Really good. Probably because he wasn't precariously perched in a tree.

I don't remember why I'm pouting, but Kevin has some pretty sweet shoes on.

I love him.

It's the little things

2010-01-30T12:40:00.000-08:00

It truly is the little things in life that I appreciate so much. Here's a few of the little things that I appreciated this week:

Just one student sitting criss cross applesauce and listening.
Especially when that one student is Jesus, whose name does not reflect his normal behavior.
Three squeezes of my hand.
Reading a blog that makes me cry.
Watching my countdown get closer to the beginning of eternity.
When my students say please and thank you, even though their English isn't that great.
Karate hand ninjas. (Thank you, Britton)
Waking up to the sun and not my stupid alarm that usually goes off at an ungodly hour.
Looking forward to a productive day as I lay in bed.
And.... cute youtube videos.

That one was for you, shnookums. <3

To Whom It May Concern

2010-01-26T00:49:00.000-08:00

Dear Public School System,

I don't know if you're aware of this, but you're no fun. You make your teachers work long hours, put up with punk kids, and not receive the compensation that they so much deserve. I know they say that, "Changing that one student's life is compensation enough.", but guess what? They're lying. It's really not enough. I may change my mind, but only if the following demands are met.

-No more rainy day schedules. Being with the snot-nosed brats is hard enough, but then keeping them with me all day? Really, that's just asking for some kind of violent rampage.
-Would it hurt anyone to have 3 day weekends every weekend? I am in full support of that one.
-Now this one might be pushing it, but how about scissors and glue in my classroom. No cutting or pasting in first grade is like going to the circus and there being no elephants or lions. It just shouldn't happen.

I don't think I'm being unreasonable. And if my demands are not met, you know what I'm going to do? Nothing, absolutely nothing. Because I love that I have a job, I love teaching, and deep down inside (way deep down) I like the kids and they make me laugh... that is when I'm not wanting to ring their necks after they've asked me for (literally) the tenth time that day (read: hour) if they can go to the bathroom.

--Ashley

P.S.-- Do all first graders have the bladder size of a pea? No pun intended.

The Proposal

2010-01-08T11:46:00.000-08:00

Here's the story, it took me a while to write-- but only because I wanted it to be perfect... you only get to tell your engagement story once, in theory. For me though, its just going to be this one time. So heads up, its going to be a long one, but I'll treat you with pictures at the end**-- be patient. However, feel free to skim or skip if this doesn't interest you. Just giving you an option.

So this Christmas was going to be my first of many with Kevin, and I wasn't going to let the fact that we weren't engaged ruin that. We've been talking marriage for quite a while and we were just waiting for all the stars to align, the right time to come, and an official proposal of marriage to occur. I had kind of given him somewhat of a time line the month before, and when that time came and went I stopped expecting it to happen... and that's probably why I was so surprised when it did happen. Now, I wouldn't say that I had "given up on him" (as he asked me if I had), but I had stopped thinking it would happen anytime in the near (or somewhat distant) future.

Anyway, we wanted time to spend together without the craziness of either of our families. Kevin suggested that we do something, and threw out the suggestion of going for a snow trip. Little did I know that he had had the ring for about a month, had nailed down how he was going to do it, where, AND when, all without my knowledge. I suggested Shaver Lake since it would probably have snow and it would be the closest place we could go. Apparently I played right into his hands, as this was where he was planning on doing it anyway.

So we decided that he would pick me up at 11 and we would head up and then afterwards we would go to his family's Christmas Eve festivities. Well, somewhere in our deciding that I thought, "Hey, since dinner with his family isn't until 5 I'll have plenty of time and it won't be a big deal when we leave." So I called Salvation Army to see if they had any sales going on that day. When I heard they had shoes for 50% off I headed over and shopped with my brothers, calling Kevin before we left to let him know that he should come too. We finished and Kevin still hadn't arrived but he said he was close. So, he apparently forgot where the store was (nervous??!?) and it took him a while to get there. But when he walked in he was wearing a nice sweater with a collared shirt underneath... I on the other hand was still in my jeans and a sweatshirt. Apparently he was dressed up for the dinner since we were going to go straight there after our snow adventure (something he never told me).

So we detoured to my house so I could change my clothes to dress accordingly to what he was wearing so I wouldn't look like a total slob for his family. So I changed and we got going around 11:30. He seemed completely normal during the drive, if not a little quiet, so instead of talking his ear off I read to him from the book we're reading (The Magician's Nephew). Then when we got into Shaver we window shopped, looked around a couple boutiques, ordered a pizza, colored, and had a wonderful time enjoying each other's company (as usual). I found out later the pizza was to calm his nerves... and it didn't hurt that the pizza at Shaver Pizza is absolutely delicious.

While at the pizza place we asked around for how to get to Bald Mountian since I thought it would be cool to get a nice view of the snow and the lake, but the mountain is only accessible by snow vehicles in the winter. The girl told us, "You probably want to go to Bald Mountain in the summer." So we decided to go to the lake and just enjoy the view from the edge of the lake. It wasn't too cold, and there were people all around sledding and enjoying the snow... and then there's us-- dressed up and just walking around. I had worn little slip on shoes that had NO traction and the snow would get in really easily. So I was sliding around everywhere, and then Kevin suggested that we get closer and go out on the snow. Actually the conversation went like this:

Kevin: I want to go out on the snow.
Ashley: You can, I'll watch you from here.
Kevin: No, you have to go with me.
Ashley: ::pause:: OK, I'll walk in your footsteps.

So we cautiously made our way out to the middle of the snowy area. Then we walked up to where there was less snow and a better view, but that area was muddy. Then we walked down where we had just been. I was getting a little suspicious that we were wandering around instead of actually just enjoying the view. But then he found the perfect spot. He stopped and let me look around (finally) and we were just hugging and enjoying the beautiful scenery. Then he started talking. It went like this:

Kevin: I have a confession to make. I didn't just bring you up here to look at the scenery.
Ashley: You didn't?
Kevin: No, you know I love you.
Ashley: I sure do.
Kevin: I have a question for you.
Ashley: You do?
Kevin: (Gets down on one knee in the snow (getting his knee wet and cold... pulls ring box out of his pocket)
Ashley: Oh my goodness...
Kevin: Will you marry me?
Ashley: Oh my goodness, YES! My baby (nearly tackled with hugs hugs hugs kisses hugs hugs hugs)!
Kevin: (puts ring on my finger) Sorry it took so long... blah blah blah...
Ashley: ::sobbing a little::
Kevin: Are you happy?
Ashley: Absolutely, perfectly happy.

Anyway we talked for a long time about his devious plans that included lying to me for 3 weeks, talking to my parents behind my back to ask permission, and all the times his plans were nearly ruined, all the times he almost couldn't wait to propose, and how happy and excited he was (I'm pretty happy and excited too).

So we set the date on the way down the mountain.... June 19th! That's pretty much it. It was the best day of my life (to date), and like I said... perfect proposal, in the perfect place, to the perfect man. I'm so in love and life is absolutely wonderful! Sorry that took so long... I've been done for quite a while, and Kevin edited it a while ago I was just waiting for pictures.

**And when I say the end of the post I really mean another time, when I can figure out how to download the pictures off this ruddy camera I borrowed. Sigh.

It's coming...

2009-12-31T11:50:00.000-08:00

I promise, the story really is coming... I'm just waiting for my editor (AKA Kevin) to approve it. So, until that happens... I'll give you a teaser: At one point during the day I didn't want to do what he was asking me to do, he consumed almost an entire pizza (I had one slice-- my man can eat!), and we went somewhere for the view but I didn't end up getting a chance to actually see it too much (wink!). Well there you go, Oh! and I'll also show you my ring (pictured above) ... and I'll hurry Kevin up. Check back soon!

Sigh.

2009-12-24T03:22:00.000-08:00

Today was the best day of my life to date. I got what every woman wished for. I got the perfect proposal, in the perfect location, from the perfect guy. More details to follow, but for now I'm just perfectly content to be in love and preparing to spend the rest of eternity with the man of my dreams.

Just an update.

2009-12-23T11:34:00.000-08:00

I've discussed my obsession of hatred of the song mentioned below with a couple of people. I thought maybe I could give it another chance. Then it came on the radio right after as I was driving home. Kevin and I practically raced to change it. However, not realizing how much he hated it, he made the rookie mistake of going to cover his ears... rookie. Not to worry, I changed it; and there was nobody on the road to almost swerve into.

Thank you Owl City.

I'm sorry

2009-12-22T13:50:00.000-08:00

I don't like to offend people in the blogosphere, it's not my intent, and I don't like doing it. But every time I hear this song on the radio I want to gouge out my eyes. If I had to choose between listening to this song and jumping off a very tall building onto train tracks covered in spikes where a train is coming, I would choose the latter (not really, I don't have a death wish). But seriously, I can't change the station fast enough. I almost swerved into another car while attempting to change the station, it's a hazard to play it on the radio, really.

So if you can attempt to tell me why this song doesn't blow, or you want to pledge your allegiance with my hating it... leave a comment and let me know. And again, sorry if you love it... I don't mean to offend.

Some People Lead by Example

2009-12-19T12:58:00.000-08:00

Not me. I don't lead by example. I lead by non-example, and telling people what I dream about. I think most of the great leaders of our time have done it my way. Like Martin Luther King, he had a dream. Sure. He told people about his dream. Yes. I can do that. Do I have to actually start a Civil Right Movement? No. I believe my thinking is unflawed, so go ahead and don't argue with me. When you have skills like mine, you really can't argue with them.

I HAVE A DREAMSICLE!

Yesterday I changed in my car. Some people might think that is isn't a big deal, especially considering how short my legs are. But then, you must consider that my car is tiny. Also, my car was moving at the time. And here's the kicker, I was driving at the time. I know you can't make calls (minus with bluetooth), but is there are law against changing your clothes while driving? I'll have to look that up.

Here's some dumb laws from my hometown of Fresno.

No one may annoy a lizard in a city park (Guilty).
Skipping rocks in a city park is not allowed (I've broken this one countless times).
It is against the law to hold a private Bingo game (Something to do next weekend).
Permanent markers may not be sold in the city limits (Shame on you Staples)
It is illegal to sell gasoline to a drunken person (I happen to agree with this one).
Elementary schools may not host poker tournaments (The Office, anyone?).