Brace yourselves, this is a long post!

Gotcha!

Lakers game!

Hollywood sign.

Hanging out on the beach

Pepperdine!

Spring break has come and gone already. I had a nice, relaxing break with a few "dream come trues" intermixed in all that down time. First, I headed to LA to visit Lisa and Mike in the ever so lovely town of Calabasas. The weather was miserable when I arrived. High 70s?! How dare you, California for being so perfectly warm. Boy was it great to see some family! Lisa and Mike sure have California figured out.

The day after I arrived was dream come true #1. Yes, there are more dream come trues, as I said earlier. So, #1...Lisa and I drove to Burbank, CA. Isn't that everyone's dream? Oh, right. The reason! A lady by the name of Ms. Ellen DeGeneres. Have you heard of her? If you haven't, a: You have never read my early blog posts. or b: You should stop reading them right this minute because we have nothing in common. Good-bye.

Lisa and I had guaranteed tickets. This meant that we were guaranteed a seat somewhere in the audience if we showed up by 3:30 for the 6:00 pm taping. Naturally we were there by 2:15 and watched everyone shuffle through the line for the taping right before ours. I was getting especially antsy. Lisa and I grabbed a snack and an Ellen water bottle "It even tastes funny" and waited. I may have glared at a few Ellen workers because I am so envious that this is what they do. They say you should love what you do, well, um, hire me Ellen and that will be no problem at all! Finally, at 4-ish, everyone was asked to get in line and receive a number which would be the order we would file into the studio. Then the unthinkable happened. As I was waiting for the numbers, a woman behind me called her friend over. I will sum up the conversation using woman 1 (who was in line) and woman 2 (who was not in line).

Woman 1: I just found out the show doesn't start until 6

Woman 2: How long does it take?

Woman 1: About an hour to film, but I didn't realize we would be waiting this long before it started.

Woman 2: Yeah, that's a really long time.

Woman 1: What do you want to do? Do you want to wait that long? What would we do if we weren't here?

Woman 2: I don't know. I just didn't think it would take this long. I'd probably go for a run.

Woman 1: Okay, should we just leave? I mean, I like Ellen but I don't want to wait this long.

That hurt. Go for a run? Wasting time waiting to see Ellen? Why come in the first place? These questions will never be answered so I should just continue on with my story but for a moment, know that I was NOT pleased with these women. I was given 35 and 36 for Lisa and I. We lined up in numerical order and proceeded inside. Wow, is that studio a LOT smaller than it looks! I could not believe I was standing in the same area that I see on TV every single day. Lisa and I walked to the top right side of the audience's seating area. A man, who clearly had a lot of power, was seating everyone. He asked how many in our party. "Two!" We went down a few steps, a few more, and then a few more until he motioned to the seats on the right in the....FRONT ROW! My goodness, what a surprise! How did Lisa and I handle this? Giggling. Uncontrollably. The Ellen gods were obviously on our side. Ellen's chair was closer than ever! I'm getting excited just remembering this momentous time! We were not on TV because we were a bit far to the right but it's okay, I will forever remember that moment and the view! Pierce Brosnan and Betty White were on the show. They were just as you'd expect them to be; Pierce was full of himself, boring, not funny, and annoying. Betty was the cutest little woman, hilarious, charming, and entertaining! Ellen was the main star though. Oh, maybe that's why it's called The Ellen Show!? It's all so clear now. :-D We won a $100 Shell gift card that I have already used. In fact, it's halfway gone. I just can't stop buying those hostess cakes and slushies. Just kidding, it's for gas you guys!

I suppose Ellen could have been an entire blog post but I will move forward. I still miss you, Ellen. Melissa, Brad, and John joined us in LA on Friday evening through Monday. We went to the Calabasas farmer's market (the best I've seen), Venice beach, Santa Monica, the local restaurants and dessert places and so much more. Dream #2: The Lakers game with Lisa, Mike and John. It was such a fun experience! Although Kobe Bryant did not play as much, I was still excited to see him out there and everyone else! Next time, we'll sit court side (after winning the lottery). I'm sorry I don't have a story with as much anticipation as Ellen but it was a dream come true. Those Lakers are a wonderful team...I can't wait until they play the Seattle Supersonics! Oh wait...........

Before I knew it, it was time to leave. California, I'll miss you. Special thanks to Lisa and Mike:)

Now it was time for some Mom and Dad time. My mom was there to greet me in Washington to spend her vacation time with family and her favorite daughter (Sorry Meliss). We spent the week relaxing, shopping, cleaning---well, mostly my mom (thanks!), eating great food, playing cards, and more! My dad arrived Thursday and we went to Vancouver the next day. I can't stay away from that beautiful town! I loved having my parents around. We had a few laughs in there. All in all, it was a great break. I miss everyone already!

I shall end this rather quickly because I'd hate for you to get a headache from staring at the computer screen for so long. Take care until the next time. Also...If I have any words that are misspelled or sentences that don't sound right, I apologize. I am definitely not re-reading this lengthy post before I post it. I just don't have that kind of time, folks.

Best,

Anne

Spring Break

I have been on Spring Break blog hiatus! I'll be back shortly. Stay put!

Best,

Anne

Running on empty.

Well, I'm back. Told you it wouldn't be so long. I thought I'd fill you in on a little homework assignment I have been toying with. (I know I shouldn't end a sentence with the word 'with' but I'm too exhausted to think). So there. Anyway, the assignment was very vague. We had to each create a video about ourselves. Who wants to do that? It's like writing a personal essay and believe me, I grew very tired of writing those three schools later. I thought I'd make a link for you to view the video if you please. It's nothing too exciting but I do throw in some cheesy lines every now and then to keep you on your toes.

Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj1Gjd_gv_Q

Best,

Anne

Please, punderstand.

Feel free to be upset with me. I mean, where have I been for so long? I know, it's completely unacceptable and this is my apology. I'd prefer to apologize in person but, well, you guys are all over the country and some of you (probably not but I can be hopeful) are reading this and I don't even know who you are or where you are but I appreciate the fact that you are still reading after such a hiatus! With that said, I will inform you that it has been an eventful and busy hiatus. Surely you can forgive me.

I know this is coming from left field, but I wanted to discuss my love for puns and plays on words. I'll try not to go overboard with this particular post but my friend Max and I just had a conversation incorporating Illinois towns and when that happens, it's hard to stop. I think I can thank my family and their sense of humor for this gift. I live for puns. Why else are we on this earth? I'm sure you have had some idea about my love throughout my blog posts but I thought I would honor the wittiness right here and now. Punfortunately, I cannot count how many great phrases I have heard throughout my life. My brother John also cooks up some great puns. It would be punfair not to mention that. It's all relative.

I suppose I will end this before it turns into five blog posts. You have no idea how carried away I can get! Hopefully it won't be such a long time before my next post. I'm truly sorry. Take care of yourself and everyone around you.

Best,

Anne

They say you're really not somebody until somebody else loves you.

I love my family. (all of my family...these are just a few pictures!)

The other day I was indulging in my daily dose of Ellen and she was talking to her guest about how important it was to tell everyone you love them. Just a simply phone call can do the trick but she mentioned how fantastic it would be to call random people and say "I love you". If only we lived in a world where that would be okay to just dial a number, say "I love you" and goodbye. If it's too weird of a concept, how about just doing that on Valentine's Day? The three words could make a person's day or just put a smile on their face momentarily. I think it would make you feel good to randomly make someone's day. You just may not feel good when you get your phone bill and it says you owe three times as much because you accidentally called France four times! Je n'aime pas! I think Valentine's Day and Thanksgiving have some correlation. I'm certainly thankful for the ones I love in my life and the ones that are crazy enough to love me too. I just won't be eating turkey because of that...

I thought I would find my inner fourth grade self and write a poem on this very day. (Hopefully with a little bit more of a vocabulary than my 4th grade years...) It never hurts to test your rhyming ability. I'll use all of my typing agility.

Apparently it's Valentine's Day

All because of a Saint who didn't want to celebrate in May.

There is a reason it falls in the middle of the worst month of the year

But it may make your month worse and full of tear after tear.

No need to make a big deal

Don't fall apart, start to congeal.

Read a book or write a song

The day can only last 24 hours long.

Life is funny so smile and laugh as much as possible

But take a few moments to make sure your teeth are still floss-able.

No one wants you to laugh with teeth falling out

That would just encourage people (well, everyone) to pout.

Sit straight and stand tall

Don't forget, I love you all.

Best,

Anne

Wake me up before you go-go.

I'm in the midst of a project for school about sleep and how necessary and wonderful it is for you and your well being. Well, we all know that but the topic itself sparked new ideas in my head to create a blog post. Are you a morning person? Are you a person that wakes up and could create a tornado of anger everywhere around you until you succumb to the promise of a new day that has already begun? "I'll take Are You a Morning Person for 1,000, Alex". "Who is Anne Vurdelja". I am choice A. The one that people don't understand. How are you awake so early? Why are you up? Do you have somewhere to be at this time? To answer all of those valid (and completely annoying questions): I'm up early because God gave me this fantastic alarm clock in my head to wake me up in the morning when it's still dark out and there isn't a soul around. I guess that answers question two as well. No, I do not have somewhere to be between five and six in the morning but I'll throw a question back to you. Why must I have plans if I am waking up early? There. I said it.

I used to feel like I was too young to be waking up early in the morning. Everyone else my age could sleep until noon. By noon, I can count a dozen things I have already accomplished. I'm not saying each day I get a million things done. In an ideal world, I would but I'm content just being awake early. When I hear the gasps or see the bulging eyes about my early rising, I will never understand. It's not as if I am waking everyone else up that early! Personal choices. Calm down, folks. You should also know, that I don't go to bed at one in the morning. In that case, I would NOT be able to function. The morning is my absolute favorite time of the day. No questions (please no more questions) asked. As ridiculous as it sounds, when I wake up, I wake up. Nearly jump out of bed at the thought of a new day. I'm not joking although I can understand if you think that sounds like a bunch of nonsense. I would probably think that too. If there is a more perfect quote then I have yet to find it but Dr. Seuss puts it so eloquently and couldn't relate more---"I like nonsense. It wakes up the brain cells". Thanks, Doc. Brilliant!

Sleep well.

Best,

Anne

Someone actually put this on the internet! Just in case you like schedules!

Send me to vANNEcouver?

It's hard to contain my pure enjoyment of the 50 degree weather Bellingham has been having for quite some time now. But I have to wonder about that place north of here. A little place I like to call Vancouver. You probably are not aware, since NBC has lost millions of dollars NOT promoting them, that the 2010 Winter Olympics are in Vancouver in just a few short weeks. How are the Winter Olympics going to begin with spring weather? The show must go on! Sure, figure skating, curling and other indoor activities will go as planned but what about the mountain sports? I'd hate to see them put wheels on the bottom of their skis to go roller-cross-country skiing on a mountain full of dirt. The skeleton and luge would be a bit uncomfortable if the smooth, icy path is melting and they end up in puddles of water. The ski jump is now a mere bump in the ground, I'd assume. How will they ever be able to prove to the world how great they are at their specific sports? First, I suggest they lower ticket prices. That way, I can go and cheer on such talented athletes. Second, I will tell the world (or the dozen people reading this) how phenomenal they were in spite of the weather conditions. Finally, I will give you all loonies and toonies in exchange for donations to attend and report on the winter (or spring?) Olympics. That is how you will know the validity of these remarkable athletes. With that said, the Olympics begin on February 12th. Tickets can be found via the World Wide Web. Think about it? Warm wishes.

Best,

Anne