So My birthday was amazing. Day before, my boss bought me a cake that said "Happy Birthday Brat" on it lol. Later that night 12 of my friends and I went out to Ichiban for dinner and it was so much fun and delicious! They sang happy birthday to me in Japanese and it was so cute! Some of us went out and had a good time at the bars afterword. On the day of, Russ and I spent the whole day together. First we went to Stella's for breakfast and that was fun because I LOVE their french toast. Then he took me to the mall and gave me my present. He bought me new speakers for my car and a new deck so I can listen to my Ipod in my car now. It was awesome. I brought my car there to get it installed and Russ and I went apple picking for the rest of the day. I love him and I've never had a nicer birthday.

Then a twist of events...

So the day after I woke up sicker than shit! I went to work Monday sick and Tuesday. After having a rough day at work on Tuesday (yesterday), I got into a terrible car accident. I was on West Genessee making a left hand turn onto Rt 5. I had a green arrow and I was the second car in the lane making the turn. I never saw the lady run through two intersections before running this red light, hitting my car head on. My car was spun more than 360 degrees in the intersection. The air bags deployed and broke my nose. When the car stopped I realized I was still screaming and that the airbags left a thick white powder in the air. I freaked out and ran out of the car to the side of the road. I also realized my nose was gushing and my knee was in pain. Some thing cut my knee in the car and it was sore. The old woman who ran the red light was not getting out of the car and complained about pain. It turns out she didn't have a scratch on her and she was actually on Lortab, which is a serious pain medication which can impair your judgment on reality including her ability to drive. She shouldn't have been driving in the first place. She was like 65. Fuck.

I took an ambulance to Upstate hospital and got X-rays. I'm ok. I might have a torn ligament in my knee and my nose is straight so I didn't need it to get set. Today I woke up feeling sore everywhere and I've been on the phone all morning talking to my insurance agency. I had to take today off and now I see why. Everything hurts. Uggg. I can't wait to see how things unfold.

So I just got a new hairdresser and I love her. My hair looks cute like this. :]
Going to open house for Empire today. EEEEE!

So I went to the casino and lost 40 dollars. All and all I'm pretty sure I always lose but I'm always someone's good luck charm. Ashley played all night. She lost, she won, and she ended in the positive by .10 cents. Haha. Today I'm going to the zoo with my mans. I can't wait to take pictures. Don't have much to update. I'm just trying to document good times in my journal and not always the bad times. <3

A little over two weeks until my birthday. I'll be 24 years old. I'm actually content with my age. For a while I was really dreading it. I've come to realize that I'm actually in a decent place in my life. No, I'm not married and don't have kids. But I don't want those things for a while. Getting engaged would be sweet but that's obvious haha. I reeeeeally don't want children until I'm like 30. Hahaha! I have a job that pays more than my bills, friends that care about me, a man that loves me more than life itself, an apartment that looks the way I like, and more importantly I'm content with myself because I can honestly say that I've tried.

My job is going well. Panera is a fun place to work. I can't wait until December when I get my week of vacation. I get another week in May. I met my best friend there. Her name is Ashley and she's the caterer. I've met a lot of other awesome people there too. There really isn't anyone I don't get along with there. Being a manager here is sooo much different than at Bruegger's. I do a lot more paperwork and make sure others are doing the job correctly. At Bruegger's I felt like another worker. There weren't enough people to actually have a manager. So anyway, I've been playing the "yes man" game and it's working out for me. I used to feel depressed/bored because I didn't have anything to do outside of work for a while. I've had plans pretty much constantly since I started saying yes to people more often. I'm working on my social anxiety and it's getting better for sure. I'm a lot happier. Seriously. I get out of work at 11pm on Friday and Ashley, Brittany, Russ and I are heading to the casino for a night of shenanigans. I have a lot to look forward to.

Russ and I are doing amazingly. I love this guy more than anything in the world. We are for each other. We have our ups and downs but at the end of the day I will always love him and he me.

Tonight I feel great. I'm listening to some great music and I just finished some decorating for the autumn season. Anyone who knows me, knows I get so excited for autumn festivities. I got Bella and Murmur little costumes so I can horrify them and take their pictures haha. I'm going apple picking next weekend with some family and friends. I will take tons of pictures. Speaking of taking pictures, soon it will be the perfect time of the season to take graveyard pictures. WEEE! I feel so free during autumn. I don't know why I feel a sense of relief.

Oh! Minus the Bear is playing in Syracuse on November 17th. Anyone care to join? <3

So I have an appointment at SUNY Empire next Wednesday. I'm either continuing college in November if I can get my financial shit together in time or in January. I'm so freaking excited. I'm so ready for it. FINALLY!

I would become a lesbian for Emily Haines. hahaha <3

So camping this year was fun and I look forward to next year. It was such a beautiful time. Russ and I went hiking a few times, cooked over the fire, read ghost stories, and took long drives in the middle of nowhere where we found an orchard with amazing fruit and took cute pictures at the beach. God I love him. I'm fairly certain we'll be together for the rest of our lives. Last week he asked me what I will wear at our wedding. Like what kind of dress and the style etc. How stinking cute! :) I think I want to get married in Hawaii and have a few close friends and family come. I don't care about getting married in some huge ugly old church. I want to get married on the beach and have a vacation with my lover right there. Le sigh... hahaha I'm such a dork.

Ashley's birthday was yesterday and I took her out the weekend before for some drinks with some of the ladies. When I got to work on Monday, I brought orange Gerber daisies, a huge embarrassing ice cream cake, and then had Jay sang over the mic and announce it was her birthday. How embarrassing! People sang and clapped while she sat on her break. hahaha. I'm glad I met her. She's such a great person and I hope I made her birthday better in some way. Today I'm getting my oil changed and going to the fair with Ash, Brit, Sam, and Julia. I'm so glad I've met some amazing friends recently. I felt alone for a little while mostly because Alisha and I pretty much never talk anymore and I didn't really know anyone in Baldwinsville. I used to feel like if I didn't invite myself to come hang out with people it would never happen. I think things have flip-flopped and I'm happy. I still miss Alisha but I think she's happy anyway and that's all I could hope for.

My Sallie Mae loan is more than 3/4 paid off. I can't believe it's becoming Autumn already! Fuck yeah! :D

me - "raspberries make me poop"
brittany - "hey! everybody poops emma..."
me - "I've always wanted that book."

Life has been good lately. I've met some new amazing people and I've been so much more social. I love my job and the people I work with. Money has been tight, what with going out a lot and paying off my furniture, saving for our vacation and will have one of my school loans paid off by december of this year. I'm so proud of myself. Things couldn't be better. :)

( yesterday i went to the beach )

Russ and I are seriously considering a cruise to the Bahamas this March for our anniversary. <3