special visitors

drew and rachel came to lanc today!
it was soooooo fun having them in the store. i am pretty much obsessed with the two of them.

i feel really safe and happy when i am with them, near them, or talking to them. they make me happy...so thanks guys!!! :) xoxo

ok, well back to work...but i love you guys!!!! SO MUCH!!!!

im tellin' ya...i have helped quite a few shoppers that have just left me baffled, or cracking up, or awkward, or just plain pissed off. its amazing how different people are. how people act in everyday life...how certain people have manners and others dont, and the utter lack of knowledge people have in regards to hiding the fact that they are rude, ignorant and pissy.

look, bucko...i had a rough night last night too. i didnt sleep well. im pissed off. i have to go to the bathroom. im stressed about the economy too...i may not make rent. i have to clean my apt. i need to go buy cat food and vacuum. but i wont act like that to you. all you should know about me is that i am happy, working hard, and will do anything to make your shopping experience wonderful. so, please, do the same for me. dont throw a pile of clothes on the floor. dont demand anything...simply request it. please, thank you, and a smile are all free but are universally appreciated.

it is my job to help you, and, believe me, i want to. i want you to look beautiful or find something for a loved one to do the same. i want to make you happy, and smile, and boost your confidence. i want you to find something that takes your breath away, that surprises even you. all of that makes me happy. but you need to work with me. we are on the same team.

that said, happy shopping! haha :)

hey, its OK!

ok like ive said before, i totally love these posts! this one especially grabbed me...i can totally relate!!

...to really want to get married super-duper bad.
...to discover all your new music courtesy of the hills.
...to secretly hope that your exes consider you the one that got away.
...to find the word "panties" totally creepy.
...to take a quick YouTube break at work. A sneezing panda can really clear the head.
...to buy it without trying it on-especially if you are wearing more layers than a piece of baklava.
...to laugh inappropriately every time Maury says, "Billy Bob...you are the father"
...to wish you came equipped with guy GPS. ("Turn left at the next man to avoid heartbreak. Recalculatin!)

light up a life

just got home from the "light up a life" ceremony at hospice. it was beautiful...but freeeeeeeeeeezing. it was held outside...and it is just so crazy cold. but i channeled my inner John Kelley and kept it tough. haha.

there were a few songs, and then the best part...they lit up a dozen or so trees. it was a cute moment. we walked around the trees...and then tried our darnedest to find dads brick. little dark though, haha. i cant wait to see it!!

we were given a program that listed all the names honored over this past year. its so crazy...if i see his picture or name i lose it. i can keep it strong if i need to, unless i do either one of those. oh geez. we got pins too. cute little memento.

well, dad. youre now officially shining out there for the world to see!! (granted, i think you shine all the time...but even more now!!! :) :) :)). thinking about my dad makes me happy and feel special. i want him back so bad. they had a speaker say a few words tonight...he spoke psalm 23...dads favorite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! its been a busy week with all these ceremonies...and it feels soooo good. were really looking forward to spending christmas at hospice. i cant think of a better place to be :)

twas the night to remember...

last night my mom and i went to the candle ceremony at the snyder funeral home. its a yearly ceremony they put on to honor those lives lost this past year. they mentioned this year saw 541 lives lost. its a rather short deal...a few songs, the lighting of a candle, and a prayer. its sweet...and not too drawn out. (you know how sometimes these things can be a bit of a production, and lose their purpose and feeling)

but i have to say, it cracks me up...i go to these things with the best of intentions of keeping it together and just putting up a little front of strength. it was a simple setup of flowers with the speakers off to the side so we could all watch a video of the pictures of the lives lost this past year. the video flashed either the name or the name with a picture. wellll, as you can imagine, as soon as i saw dad i cried. not in that over-the-top manner but into my tissue. good grief!!!! and so as the night progressed i just felt weaker and weaker and lost my ability to reel it in! haha. i didnt get overly annoyingly sad, as i was in public afterall, but definitely affected. we were fortunate enough to see his picture flash twice...such a happy, sweet picture.

ive had a lot of reflective moments recently. ive really had some downer times...im at a point where i could really use my dads advice. with jobs, boys, and being a girl. but more on alll those thoughts later :)

tonight is the ceremony at hospice. mom and i are both really excited...i cant wait to fill you all in on how it goes. the best part!? im finally going to get to see his brick laid out!!!!!!! ohhhh, itll be so special. and tonight i will be bringing a box-o-tissues!! haha. xoxo

john kelley...err, gary?!

so there is this guy that runs around drew and rachels area that apparently (upon hearing from them) has an uncanny resemblance to dad. his running style, his apparel, and chiseled face all resemble dad. (i cant wait to see him!!!!).

being dorky, rachel and i have these conversations where we dissect how we think it is totally dad just keeping his eye on us...little does gary know that my dad has taken over his body, haha. welllll, the other day, he stopped rachel randomly to introduce himself. no reason at all. just saw her walking emmitt and decided to say hello. totally crazy!?? i mean, noone does that. he even took off his glove and shook her hand.

and gary...4 letters. john...4 letters. i told you, dissect everything! soo, either i want rachel and drew to take a picture (haha, stealth mode...cant let him see!!!) or i want to see him. its totally funny and makes me smile thinking that dad is still roaming around. god bless him, hes still running...in his normal attire. god love him!! xoxo

oh where oh where should i go...

san francisco? LA? new york? haha howd that last one get in there?! was that you ali?!? haha. i really do want to head west...i mean happy weather, aaron, family, disneyland, aaron. haha. i dont know about LA necessarily, as much as like it. it doesnt really scream im-ready-to-grow-up-and-fall-in-love, etc. HAHA. itd be fun to be near enough to it to party, but SF is more of a living and working city. its also one of my dads favorite cities and that is kinda cool. but id appreciate any help or advice or opinions on this matter. im thinking the beginning of the year to focus myself on the next step. thanks guys!!

you know youre a grown-up when...

...you dont need to rerecord your outgoing voice message 10 times before you deem it acceptable.

...youre actually interested in learning how to save money on car insurance.

...someone asks you about your ex and, instead of ragging on him for two hours straight, you dispatch the matter with a perfectly executed eye roll.

...even though everyone else brags about how much they love dark chocolate, you still like your Snickers and arent afraid to say so.

...it finally dawns on you that waking up with a 102-degree fever means you should keep your sorry ass at home (and that, yes, your coworkers will muddle through without you).

...you no longer find yourself wearing your bikini bottoms some days because you have absolutely, positively no clean undies left.

*...you feel truly grateful for what you have, despite all the stuff (obnoxious in-laws, cellulite, perpetually messy closets) you wish you didnt.

my thanks

this year has been a very odd one. i have had so many sad moments. other moments i have found oddly inspiring. in fact, it has been such a wild ride this past year, that at this exact point i am starting to cry. we just got home from seeing "four christmases" and were laughing so hard. now im sobbing. AHH!! haha. my damn emotions are still so unsettled its amazing. that said, i want to take a minute and thank those people that are in my life. my family, close friends, and those that i am lucky enough to have met through my dads illness. i think you are all angels. there are times that i feel so broken and am so humbled when i remember how lucky i am to know you.

this year marks the beginning of tragic firsts. all events, birthdays, holidays, anniversaries and memories will be had without my dad. he was the kelley family team captain and always will be. he can never, and will never lose that title.

amidst my tears i am having a very difficult time writing this. soo, to wrap this up, thank you. for everything. this is (i hope) the hardest, saddest, most intense thing i will ever know. i dont know when, if ever, it will register. it hasnt yet. im still waiting for his business trip to end. maybe one day...

happy thanksgiving everybody! i am truly thankful for you. xoxo

gobble gobble

happy (early) thanksgiving everybody!! my mom and i will be en route to visit drew, rachel and emmitt tomorrow so i wont have a chance to blog but i will be thinking of everyone!! it will be so awesome to see their new place and just spend the day with them. hopefully you all have a great time gobbling up turkey, mash potatoes, stuffing, and pecan pie!! aand, then rest up for a crazy day of shopping on friday! my fingers are crossed that azura kicks ass friday...send us good thoughts!!! love you guys :)

cjd walk

hi all!
one of the girls that i have been lucky enough to meet through the craziness that has been cjd was sweet enough to include dad in a recent cjd walk. i sent her a picture of dad and his info and she sent me the picture of him around the walkers neck. i was so touched that she emailed me the picture. i know dad was looking down having a ball that he was being honored. i wish it could have been me wearing his neck, but i am just happy jessie was able to wear him. its a cute touch that the picture was taken on my birthday...feels about right, haha :) i love you dad! and thank you nikki and jessie!!!!!!!!!!!!!

do you agree?

so people magazine just named hugh jackman the sexiest man alive in 2008. what do you think? nothing against hugh, as he is, no doubt, a good-looking man...just not who i would have picked. i was loving matt damon in that spot...for sure my favorite. or aaron fox?? (ha, ok that just slipped!) or john kelley?? (oops, another slip).

its funny, these days there really arent any celebrities that i just loooove. i think the gossip girl boys are adorable, always have a soft spot for andy roddick, and still love the backstreet boys. these arent "sexy men" though...they are cute and adorable. the sexiest man definitely needs to be all man. otherwise i think it loses credibility and becomes the latest teen mag poster kid. maybe daniel craig? matt lauer? joe biden? edward norton? people who arent soo damn in your face. no more george clooney (sexy, yes. but too unoriginal). brad pitt (same)...you get where i am going...

i got it!!! ricky gervais!!! ok, so he probably doesnt come to mind as the sexiest man alive in the traditional sense, but i mean come on. the man is hilarious, self-depracating, hugely successful and happily married. sounds perfect. well, there you have it. hilary kelley has chosen ricky gervais as the sexiest man alive in 2008. i think its more fun if the guy isnt the "it" actor of the moment, if he isnt the most popular, or best looking for the majority of the population. thats too easy. (secretly i still think they should be who i accidentally named at the top...shhh)

8 eternal truths we can learn from tykes...

1. breakfast is the most important meal of the day. even when there isnt a prize in the box.

2. your world can be half-real and half-imaginary.

3. if theres even the slightest doubt, hit the potty before you leave (i can attest to this...always always obey this one...haha).

4. homework blows. bring work home with you and itll ruin your night. and your marriage.

5. theres a reason they dont give credit cards to 8-year-olds. youre supposed to save up for a new toy.

6. the coolest adults are the ones who listen.

7. adrenaline is the greatest drug.

8. rain isnt something to curse but to enjoy. hurry up, before it clears.