The Third Decade.

I just entered my third decade of life.

Wednesday was my 20th birthday!

To celebrate, I:

Went to work, and was given this fabulous birthday tiara by two of my coworkers.

Please excuse how awful I look. It was early. 

 Was gifted the complete series of Friends on DVD (finally!), a cake decorating set & cake decorating lessons, and a few other small things.

 Presents!!

Went to the Cheesecake Factory with my parents and grandparents, and ate this delicious caramel apple streussel cheesecake.

That's right. Be jealous.

Spent some of my birthday money on a third ear piercing, because apparently I was lying when I got my double and said that I was done with piercings forever.

 I think it's really cute. Don't you?

Also, my growth group started on Wednesday which is always super fun! But I don't have a picture of that. Just know it was awesome.

I always get really sad when my birthday is over. I think the day after your birthday is one of the most depressing days there is. But if this year goes by as fast as last year did, I'll be 21 in no time.

Until then, I'll be looking forward to Christmas. Just 88 more days -- better start shopping!

An Early Birthday Present.

[Background information: My birthday is on Wednesday.]

*The doorbell rings, Mom opens the door and comes back in with a package.*

Mom: Someone got an early birthday present!
Me: YAY!!! Can I open it now?!
Mom: I don't know, we might have to make you wait!
Me: Who's it from?!
Mom: It's from a boy!
Me: A boy...? [Internally: What boy would be sending a birthday present to my house...?]
Mom: Yes, a boy named Tom.
Me: Tom? [Internally: Do I know somebody named Tom?]
Mom: Someone named Thomas!
Me: Thomas? [Internally: Do I know somebody named Thomas?]
Mom: Thomas EDISON!
Me: YAY! [After briefly thinking, Isn't he dead?! -- then I remembered that's the name of the college I graduated from last week.]

I'm a diplomatic! 

Soooo I'm *officially* official! And the words say (if you're wondering): "The Board of Trustees, upon recommendation of the President, hereby admits Kayla Rose Holiday to the degree of Bachelor of Arts with all of the rights, honors and privileges thereunto appertaining. In witness whereof, the seal of the College and the signatures of the President and the Chair of the Board of Trustees are here unto affixed this thirteenth day of September, two thousand and thirteen."

In other, less fancy words: I graduated. (On Friday the 13th...)

Yay!

I will be accepting congratulatory cash gifts starting now through September of 3013. (I also have a birthday in two days, so if you want to double the cash amount to cover both things, that is also acceptable.)

Exciting Things That Have Happened Lately.

1. Today at work my friend/coworker gifted me with a live cricket that he found in the bathroom. He intended to freak me out but the joke was on him because I love crickets. After I caught it, I made him open the door for me (because my hands were busy holding a cricket) and I went and released it outside. But the cricket had already grown attached to me (because I'm lovable) and wouldn't leave so I had to push it off.
2. Yesterday I subbed for a 5th grade class and LOVED it. And apparently they told their regular teacher to get me next time she needs a sub, so that's a good sign. One of the girls came up to me while we were walking over to lunch and held my hand and told me I was really fun. Made my day week.
3. The new seasons of all the TV shows are starting this week and next. It's been way, way too long.
4. Last week I cleaned out our refrigerator. I found a candle. But before you question our sanity, look at this picture of said candle. It looks like jelly. (On another note, we could totally be on an episode of Hoarders: Refrigerator Edition. But that's an entirely different story.)
   
   
   
   Making a candle that looks like jelly is just ASKING for it to be stored in the fridge.
5. I got iOS 7 today. It took about 2 hours to download and install and I had to delete all my pictures, music, and about 5 apps (including Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram aka the only things I use my phone for) because it requires a whopping 2.9 GB to install, BUT other than that it's pretty cool.  
6. Update on my car: We figured out that the reason my car tried to kill me a few weeks ago is because my tires were very worn down, so I got all new tires (which are NOT cheap). On Sunday, I had trouble getting my car started and figured out that my battery had gone bad, so I now have a new battery. I also got an inspection and oil change, and my registration is due this month. Cars are expensive. :(
7. MY 20TH BIRTHDAY IS IN ONE WEEK AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

That is all.

Drowsy.

Shortly after midnight last night/this morning, my mom walked into my room and the following conversation (or something very closely resembling it) took place.

Me: *Coughing my lungs out*
Mom: Are you still awake?
Me: Yes, that medicine...it doesn't work.
Mom: I came to get a pill for your dad since you took the whole bottle up with you.
Me: That medicine doesn't work, it's not making me sleep. I want to take more but I can't remember if I took a second one already or not...
Mom: You don't remember?
Me: No.
Mom: Well go ahead and take another one anyway.
Me: Okay. *Takes pill*

Mom starts to leave.

Me: I just keep tossing and turning.
Mom: Are you having crazy dreams again?
Me: Yeah, it's like every time I close my eyes there's...it's like, my bed...and then the sheets...and you have to pay to make a room...it's a blank room, and you have to pay money to...put stuff in it...
Mom: *Nodding as if she totally understands me* Why don't you just try to think of something else?
Me: I can't! The room! Every time I close my eyes it's the room...and the game show...and we have to build...something...and my bed...and...
Mom: Just close your eyes and think of a story or something.
Me: (Defeated) Okay.

The medicine may not have put me to sleep -- or cured my allergies/cold (whatever this is) -- but it sure made me lose my ability to form a complete thought.

And 14 hours later? I still feel completely out of it. And I don't even have medicine that will effectively put me to sleep.

Life is hard.