Thanksgiving!

So, Thanksgiving was amazing:) Of course. The Riggs came down, and Randi brought Steve, and Gramma and Poppy came too. And basically the day consisted of eating, eating, and more eating. But we did have a pretty fun treasure hunt this year, except for the fact that we missed out on a chance of 100 dollars each!!! Yeah, we got SQUAT! NOTHING! NADA! AHHHHH! But it was fun, we had to sing a couple times, and Steve had to do all kinds of stuff, haha. Poor guy:) At the end of the day I walked down to my neighbor/friend Steve's house and hung out with him for the rest of the night. We looked through old messages and comments to and from Niamh, and it was actually really fun to do. I would not have been able to do it by myself because I probably would have just cried and then had to stop, but having Steve there, doing the same thing, made it fun. It is nice to remember the funny memories, and see the old nick-names we used to call each other. I had totally forgotten about some of the stuff I read. 

And then yesterday, Me, Bent, Danika, Brit, and Kalani went to PB and OB. We spent all day down by the beach and it was so great. I miss the water. We spent a lot of time under the crystal pier looking at sea critters, the water was SO cold, but SO nice. And of course, ended the day stuffing ourselves with left-overs. 

I am gonna put some pictures up, because heaven forbid Ashley have to wait any longer to see them;) Haha, I am just kidding Ash, I LOVE YOU:)

Home

I am flying home AGAIN tonight, for Thanksgiving. Even though I was just there, I am happy to go back. :)

Niamh Mary Pownall

Seriously, the most beautiful girl in the world.

Life is funny like that...

As you all know, my very close friend Niamh was in a car accident at 3 am this last Sunday, and did not make it. I flew home on Tuesday so that I could be here for her family. Last night I went to the rosary/visitation and saw her parents, and today I went to her funeral. I got to walk down and lead her casket along with some of her other close friends and place a flower in this thing. Today was by far, the hardest day that I have ever had to live through. There are not words to describe the pain that fills up my heart right now. For her, for her family, for her brother, for her friends. It was so good to see that so many people came to support and remember her today. Old friends, old soccer coaches, old class mates. Even her family from Ireland flew in. She was so so loved, and that really showed today. After the funeral we went her burial at Singing Hills, which is absolutely beautiful, her parents could not have picked a more perfect place to lay her to rest. And here is where we get to the part about life being funny... I got in a car accident on the freeway on my way over to the burial. Ironic? It was actually a 9 car pile up, which my parents and sisters were also in, but I was not in the same car as them. But the good news is that no one was hurt. And I am sure Niamh was looking down on us and just laughing her ass off;) Anyways, we got the burial a little bit late, but in time enough so that I could say my farewells and talk to her family. Every time I saw her Dad it just broke my heart. You see, Niamh's Dad is like my second Dad. He took me on trips with them, and has always just treated me like I was a part of the family. He even calls me his surrogate daughter:) I love her family from the bottom of my heart, and even with Niamh gone will still see them as often as I can. I promised. I was also actually forced by her Dad to promise that I will not knock on the door when I come over, that I will just walk in. I believe his exact words were: " I swear Brooke, if you knock on the door I will kick your ass!" And he is a large Irish man , so I don't think I really want to take any chances there;) After the burial Mom, Dad, and I went to a smaller little gathering for close family and friends and it was really nice to just visit with people. I sat with my good friend/neighbor Steve and we just talked forever about Niamh, and funny things she did, and silly stories, and just everything. It was good to be able to laugh after a whole day of crying. All in all, today was a sad day, and a day I will never ever ever forget. I will miss my friend more than anything in the world and no one will ever replace her. I can't believe that she is really gone. Who is gonna jean shop with me now!?! I love her with every inch of my body, and she will always be on my mind and in my heart. Rest peacefully Niamh.

R.I.P Niamh Pownall

I just got news from my Mom that my best friend Niamh from high school passed away last night due to a car accident. There were 3 other people in the car, and she was the only one that died. I can't believe this. It doesn't seem real. You never think that something like this is going to happen to you. This is the worst feeling in the world. I love you Niamh! I will never forget you!

Lake

Here are some pictures from the lake:)

OH!

I forgot! We also went to the Desert Museum last weekend! It was awesome... the picture in the heading is from there. It was beautiful!

Just a little update!

I am sure you are all so very eager to know what has been going on in my life since I haven't written in a while! Hahaha. Well here you go! Last weekend my roommates and I hosted a "Obamarama" party in celebration of Obama being elected, it was so much fun! Then I had an Alumni game Saturday that I actually missed because I was registering for classes, but I made it to the BBQ afterwards and that was fun. This week nothing really happened. There was no class on Tuesday due to Veterans Day so Kristin, Yael, Jessica, and I went to Silverbell Lake and had a picnic!! It was so so so much fun! We made deviled eggs and sandwitched, and then brought a bunch of other picnic food and ate it by the lake, then played around in the grass and fed the ducks:) The rest of the week I did nothing. I only had lacrosse one day this week, so I was just a lazy bum the rest of the days. Yesterday I went and had shirts made for my teams ASU scrimmage in December, then went straight to an advisor meeting. According to my advisor I am right on track and should for sure be off of probation at the end of the semester!!! YAY! This weekend I have A LOT to do. I have to study for a geo exam on monday, a music quiz on monday, and write a paper for mythology due monday. WOW. And I also have a car wash on sunday and I have to go to some stupid concert for music and then write a paper about it. BOO. That's just a tad bit overwhelming!!!! Anyways, I don't have much else to say. I am so happy for Ash and Matt, I can't wait to see baby Paiton! I think that this new addition to our family is a good reason for us all to come together and have a little celebration! A family reunion if you will. We could all go to Idaho, or meet somewhere in the middle, I don't care, but we have not ALL been together for a very long time. SO, I say... once Brandon is back from his thing and we are all within the continental U.S. we need to have a family reunion. What do you guys think!?!? Don't be lame, I know you want to too! :) And here is a little poem that my Dad write for me... he would like to think that he is a published writer so I am going to put it up for you guys to enjoy:) Can you see where I get this great talent from? HAHAHA.

You are super

You are strong

You smell pretty

You smell wrong

You work hard

And it shows

You've changed that

But not your nose

Miss you greatly

Sometimes not

See you soon

To eat a lot

You have some serious skills Dad:)

Congrats Ashley and Matt!

Baby P is finally here!!! I am so happy for you guys (and just a tad bit jealous;)), you guys are gonna be awesome parents! I can't wait to meet the little beauty:)

Prop 8

I could not be more disappointed in California right now. We have come such a long way, and passing Prop 8 to ban gay marriage is a huge step back. Although this proposition does not effect me personally, I am so sad to see it pass. What happened to equal rights? Who cares if you are gay, straight, bi, black, white, asian, latino... we are all the same!! We should not be discriminating against anyone! ANYONE! I mean look, our next president is a black man!! That is so great! I would just hope that since we have come this far to see each other as equals, no matter our skin color or gender, that we could also see each other as equals, no matter our sexual preference. I don't understand why people who are not gay care so much about the actions of gay people. Some people believe that being gay is a sin... well, what do you care if someone else sins? ( Not that I believe it is a sin) It is not your life! It does not effect you! This is just so sad, and I don't understand.

Obama!!!

I am excited to say that I voted in my first election! And I am so happy that Obama is going to be our next president:)

Yes, I realize that it is 2 am...

... someone hit my car (while parked) and scratched the crap out of the back of it:( I am really upset, this is the second time this has happened and now I have 2 big scratches, one on each side of the back bumper... my poor car:( People are such idiots! My car is tiny, how could you possibly hit it while it is just chillin in a parking space in front of my apartment?