Justin Timberlake's Bday

Happy birthday, Justin. I know it's the big 3-0, but as Sarah said, age is just a number. :p I woke up late today...probably my body compensating from all the energy I exerted yesterday. Nonetheless, I got to talk with Sarah on the phone for a bit. That was good, considering I rarely get to catch her when she's not busy now that school is back in session. I miss her! Her mom actually came by and brought a few things. First, she brought me new contacts and some solution (hooray!) since I didn't bring the ones I needed down here. I am very thankful for her taking the time to come out here. It was good to see a smiling face. :) She also brought Sarah's present to me for my bday. I got a sweet book called "Crazy Love". So many of my friends have been telling me that I need to read it, so I guess now is the time! I got balloons, flowers, and a stuffed animal too. :D Thanks Sarah and Dawn! Dad brought home some lunch from Little Miss Muffin and poor Macie whined the whole time she saw me eating it. Dad has been amazing lately, running errands constantly for Mom and I. He's always either driving to Jackson or Cape to drop something off or pick something up or do anything he can to help. He bought a new DVD/Bluray player today since our DVD player pooped out on us. We noticed it after watching Avatar and the characters were all green lol. I'll have to try out a schnazzy bluray movie sometime soon. Dinner consisted of food from My Daddy's Cheesecake. Yum! I tried a new sandwich I've never had. Look at me being all adventurous lol. After dinner we watched a little TV while I tried to get rid of my hip pain. Yesterday I had very little and today it came in spurts. Most annoying pain of the day? Most definitely the random stabbing sensations I have on my right hip area. They come so fast and hurt so much they almost make me scream. It freaks Mom out a bit when I randomly howl in pain, but it's just my body's immediate reaction. I'm wondering if some stitch has popped loose inside my skin or if the hardware is scraping against a muscle or what. I'm just weirded out by pains that I can't find their source. I expect back pain, that's a given. But as for strange momentary "I'm getting pricked by needles" pains, those are from left field. Anywho, I walked around some more, listening to my newly updated ipod that has songs Ryan was nice enough to lend me. It's funny how music motivates me to walk. I usually either use the time to pray, contemplate job interview questions, or listen to music lol. Tonight's music choice was a little Destiny's Child, some Usher, and (yes I'm ashamed to say it) Justin Bieber. Whatever makes me want to walk, I'll listen to it. I welcome any suggestions for those of you who jam while you're at the gym. Mom and I started to watch Invictus (or however you spell it) but I fell asleep halfway through it. My body is so strange right now with sleep. I swear it needs like 10 hours before it's content lol. I have to get out of that habit before I move back to St. Louis. I guess my body is finally making me listen to its demands for rest and healing. But it's just more fun filling out applications and sitting down to pet my dog. Which, by the way, was a success today. Today was the first day where we let her our of her cage while I was walking. She didn't attempt to jump up on me or anything! She was such a good girl, just being calm and playing with her toy. She even let me scratch her belly on the couch for a bit :) Canine therapy is a good thing. On a random note, I'm considering making a video to post on youtube featuring pictures I've taken throughout the surgery process. I've put pictures on facebook, but I want people who aren't my fb friends to be able to see my journey and possibly help someone who is headed down that same path soon. I guess I'll just use some of my downtime to put a video together and hope it inspires someone. It's weird how some of the weakest times of your life lead to the biggest blessings. I don't want to get all sappy and cliche, but if anyone reading this is going through a rough time, please try to think positively. There really is power in positive thinking, and I hope you are able to look past the current chaos and find beauty in small things. When I was in Hawaii, there was one certain flower that I looked at, and it was during a time where I was kind of freaking out about the impending surgery. For some reason, that flower totally made me realize how wide and huge and gigantic this world is, and how much intricacy and beauty is found everywhere. We live in a world that tends to dwell on what we don't have, but we should focus on what is already ours. Smile, take a deep breath, and let the immense awe and wonder of life bring a sigh of relaxation. The simple fact that I woke up this morning was a blessing. We take so much for granted. Actually, this is totally random, but here is my challenge for you today. "You" meaning anyone reading this. Take a scrap of paper and write down five things that you are thankful for. No, it's not Thanksgiving. I know we're past the "holiday season", but seriously think about it. Write down five things/people/places/etc. that you refuse to take for granted. Hopefully it might brighten your day a bit. :) Okay so I'm done being all philosophical and hippy-ish. Life is beautiful. That is all. Goodnight :)