LoLo's Life

Auld Lang Syne

2009-01-14T12:43:00.017-06:00

Around the end of a year and the dawn of new one, people tend to use the phrase, “I’m so glad this year is over,” or “It’s been a rough one, I’m ready to start fresh.” I can honestly say I’ve been there; For 2007, I hold those sentiments. Looking back, I just can’t cast that shadow over 2008. Even with its rough spots and hurdles, I’m grateful for 2008 and feel lucky and blessed to have experienced it.

2008 was a crazy, emotional, fun, learning, and life-changing year for me. Nothing stands out as singularly monumental, but thinking back on the past year, I’ve had some exciting firsts, some great almosts, a lot of important lessons, and some amazing times with family and friends. I might not have thought it along the way, but looking back, I would definitely give 2008 a thumbs up, rather than a thumbs down.

Ok…2008, I’m going to try to hit the high and important points.

This year encompassed a lot of firsts for me. I started living in my own apartment, with no roommates, which has been a good and bad thing. I think the solitude has taught me a lot about myself. It was definitely an adjustment coming from college with 3-4 roommates every year, to living at home with 3-4 roommates, to living alone. It’s nice when you want to be alone, you definitely can, and with my crazy schedule, it’s worked out pretty well. I still miss having roommates sitting in my room when I get home from class…err work, and always having someone to eat dinner with, or go on random adventures with, or get into some kind of trouble with, but I guess that’s what friends are for, and I definitely have made some great ones this year. I think that living alone has forced me to get out and meet new people. Sometimes living with people makes you content to stay home more, and complacent to only hang out with them. These are not bad things, but I’m putting the positive spin on my sitch, and I’m glad for the forced meeting of people this year :).

I’ve learned a lot about myself also through the care and time I have spent with my grandmother (Grandmommy) this past year. It really has been an experience I never thought I would have to take on, especially this early in my life, but as a participant of this part of my life, and not a spectator, I am eternally grateful for whatever reason that I have been placed in the position that I have. I have no doubt that it was not all by chance that I work and live so close to where she lives. It has been trying and hard to completely swap roles with someone; To care for someone who once cared for you. It is hard to spend so much time with someone who doesn’t speak much, when she used to be a constant chatter box full of advice and knowledge. I love our time together, and am glad that I have come to be somewhat less sad about the situation, and switched gears into thankfulness that I even have her here at all. As strange as it sounds, she has taught me equally as much or more since her mind has changed, than she taught me before. I find solace in the time we spend together and what it has taught me about unconditional love. I am blessed that I am not scared of her situation, but have embraced it, as it is all that one can do. Our time together has definitely shaped me and caused me to realize the important things in life, and to perhaps not take myself so seriously. Life is precious and I think that we forget that sometimes. I’m thankful for that reminder through Grandmommy’s daily ups and downs with her dementia/Alzheimer’s.

I love her so much.

On a lighter note, I had some amazing times in 2008 with friends! I was fortunate to get to go on a trip to Colorado to ski, which was my first skiing experience—the Losaks are tropical people. I also had the unique opportunity to travel with my brother and wonderful friend Brian to NY for an adventuresome trip I will never forget.

AND…Crista and I went to Laguna Beach, California to visit Lauren while she was working out there. The trip was so much fun, and reminded me of what sweet, fun, crazy friends I have! Fun memories! My last trip of 2008 was to St. Louis with Lauren Lockett, which was spur of the moment, fast, exciting and COLD!

Crista and I also joined a gym in 2008..which I am so proud of us for doing. We’ve been going pretty regularly…so watch out!

Our family lost our sweet dog Chloe that we had for 12 years. What a sweet dog she was. She is missed.

Did I mention I was in and attended sooo many weddings this year. For full report see earlier blog post.

I have made a lot of new friends and kept up with old ones!

2008 was also the first full year of the working world for me. I have been really privileged to work in such a nice place with such encouraging people in the years directly following college. I have learned a lot, and think I might be a little bit smarter and more…. something. :) Hireable? Philosophical? Crazy? Goal-oriented?

Speaking of goals…. This year I want to have more adventures. I want to learn another language. I want to live somewhere else for awhile. Experience another culture. I want to build more meaningful relationships. Decide if and what I want to go back school for. I want to write more. I want to read more. Drink more water. Be more vulnerable. Keep up with friends that don’t live here better. Take more risks. I want to find a job that I’m passionate about, or that contributes to something I’m passionate about. I want to work out more. Travel more. I want to live more. Pray more. Love more. You get the picture. :) Phew… thanks for sticking with me through this up and down, happy and sad, long and short blog post.

Here are some pics from New Year's Eve this year. What a perfect way to end '08!

Farewell 2008—it’s been incredible.

Junk in the Trunk

2008-12-18T11:11:00.006-06:00

I know what you're thinking. This has nothing to do with mine or anyone else's posterior. Seeing as 2009 is nearing, and I've been talking about it for like three years... I figured it was time to clean out the ever increasing collection of junk in the trunk of my car. I never imagined all of the things I would find. Please see below for a complete inventory...seriously.

This is not actually my trunk.. mine was worse

day planners from '05-06 and '06-07
Jason's Deli menu
Baylor graduation program
22 pens
3 hats
4 pairs of shoes
unused shippping envelope
unsent birthday card for Brian
20 coat hangers
Juanita's recipe for granola (missing for 2 years)
6 gift sacks
2 greeting cards
cup holder for Harrison's car seat (when I was his nanny)
notes from job interviews
notebook-(on first page, "I LOVE YOU- your secret admirer (undoubtedly my sister)
5, yes 5 cell phone chargers
musical Dora the Explorer birthday card
2 wedding shower invitations
2 thank you notes
Communications Law book (oops)
CondeNast Traveler from July 2006
"How to Kick Ass in College" book
graduation cap and tassel
3 receipts from doctor's appts.
comb
shelf brackets
terrible picture of Julie and I (discarded)
mailing tape
Rachel's "Crisis in American Schools" paper
list of songs on the "Once" soundtrack ??
box of X-mas cards
2 books
2 pairs of gloves
5 shirts
1 pair of shorts
3 jackets
3 pairs of socks
coozie
blank cd
hairbrush with tags still on it
1 skirt
bracelet
earmuffs
sunglasses
2 picture frames
2 bags of trash
a rug I was supposed to take to the cleaners a year ago
lint roller
peace sign earrings from a few Halloweens ago
charger for my old camera
picture of Grandmommy and Luke from when he was born (2 years ago)
1 workout outfit
Note from Abnormal psychology class in college, between Lockett and I-"I wonder if he could give us a test to see how bored we are?"
wrist support
yellow inflatable raft
nail file
camera cord-not mine?
Rockwall HS graduation program
4 mapquest printouts
Ray Charles cd
Chi Omega roster '05-06
SING program
apartment lease
renter's insurance policy
4 wedding programs
People Magazine
2 pay stubs
Baylor lapel pin
magnet clip (been wondering where that was)
steak knife?
purse
prescription (never filled)
that's all.

As you can see, I could've dressed myself from my car for weeks if I needed to. Let this be a lesson to you all. Don't wait years and years to clean out your trunk! If any of the above listed items belong to you, please contact me at laurenlosak@gmail.com :)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas?

2008-12-15T14:45:00.002-06:00

Some call it Road Rage, but in this case, I think it should be referred to as Parking Lot Pissiness. This weekend I braved North Park Mall. Yes, we all know I love to A) shop and B) procrastinate, so where else would I be on two Saturdays before Christmas? However...this is probably the earliest I have ever begun my shopping. So I pull into the parking lot and head to my usual "secret area," that I think no one knows about. Well...during Christmas shopping days, everyone knows about it. I circle around a few times, and start to get frustrated. How dare these people park in my lot? So, I'm behind about 3 cars when I see break lights illuminate a little ways in front of me. Assuming there would be 5-6 vultures waiting to ascend on that spot, I internally admit defeat yet again and think about the next area I will go to...when to my surprise the 3 cars in front of me, pass it up. I flip on my blinker with an excited look on my face (I'd been driving around for about 20 minutes). This was a prime spot.
All of the sudden I see some tart coming from the other direction, pop on her blinker. I am usually the polite, unassuming, "oh, you can have it" type, but I had clearly had my blinker on first. And mall-parker etiquette clearly states, "I win." The way the that the person parked in MY spot backed out made it easy for me to slip in first. I felt kind of bad (I don't know why), and then all of the sudden I didn't. The contender for the spot laid on her horn, and flipped me the Hawaiian good luck sign! Come on people! Is it really that big of a deal? I had my blinker on first! I waved back in the most friendly way I could with a huge smile on my face. I'm sure she couldn't see me, but I hope my Christmas cheer soaked through her Scrooge-like handsignals and brightened her day. Ho Ho Ho. Merry Christmas! All this to say, you know it's Christmas when the birds are flyin' in the North Park parking lot! Happy Holidays!

Sorry guys, I know you've missed me...and when I say guys, I mean all three of you. :)

2008-12-02T12:26:00.019-06:00

So...it's been awhile. November was a busy month at work...my boss must've read my last blog post. Thus, I have not really fulfilled my computer program goal for the month, but I have probably improved my hate-email typing speed to well over 70 wpm. At the end of October all of my friends and I met up in Waco for our annual Homecoming reunion. Good times all around. The Bears didn't pull out the win, but went on later in the month to beat A&M, and put forth a great showing against the undefeated Red Raiders.

The best part of November of course is Thanksgiving. Our family traveled to Denton to spend the day with my cousins and aunt and uncle. Great food, great fam, great times. This year I am really thankful for all of the new people I've met, all of the new things I have learned, my family, and of course my grandmother, and all that I have learned through the experience of caring for her for the past couple of years. I would not be who I am without her.

ALSO--Brian and I ran in the Turkey Trot this year. I signed up for the 8 mile (haha-what was I thinking?) so that I could run with Brian. At the fork in the road where it says 3 milers go this way, Idiots that signed up for the 8-mile go this way, I obviously made the right decision.

I'm sure there was some other cool stuff that happened in November, but I can't think back that far.
Oh yeah..we got a new president... I'm feeling lame today, so I'll just stop.

I've got the blahs... so I'm making some goals.

2008-10-28T16:32:00.003-05:00

I wish I still shared an office. It's nice having my own space, but sort of boring/lonely in here when I have nothing to do...which seems to be the case lately. Thus, I am making a goal to learn how to use one new computer program each month...at least the basics anyway. Hold me to it. First I must master perhaps the simplest of all...this dumb blog. Why is it that I can use much more complicated programs, but have a mental block when it comes to this one? I've also decided to learn Italian and perfect my Spanish. Spanish is most important on the goal sheet for me. Re-learn Spanish conversation, learn Italian. Then go to Italy. That is all for now. I figure if I put my little goals out where people can read them, I might feel more obligated to achieve them. So... I've bought some cds to listen to during work that are supposed to immerse me into the Italian language... we'll see how this works out...haha. It's cold today, and I have a crick in my neck. I hope it goes away before Homecoming this weekend in Waco. It's driving me crazy. Well back to work. Toodloo.

Wedding Tour '08 comes to a close

2008-10-27T11:46:00.019-05:00

Well, I guess I am an official blogger now...neglecting my blog right off the bat. Let's see.... to catch up, I have been in some sort of wedding or wedding activity every weekend except for one since September 20. It has been fun, but Wedding Tour '08 has finally come to an end...as for the weddings I'm in at least. It has been a lot of fun to see friends fall in love and get married though. And I have three brown bridesmaid dresses to add to my collection... :) Just call me Katherine Heigl.

My friend Julie, whom I have known since we were playing in the dirt at our brother's baseball games, got married on October 10. It was great to see old friends from years back! The wedding was on an estate outside of Waxahachie, and was simply lovely. I caught the bouquet, which wasn't hard, considering it was me... Brandon's grandmother, and one other person vying for it.

I think I was set up. haha

And then it was on to the events for the Parrilla/Arnt wedding. My roommate of four years at Baylor, Jordan Parrilla, was married this past weekend in Dallas, TX. Their wedding was celebrated with an awesome reception at the Historic Cotton Mill in McKinney, TX. It was an awesome wedding and I was so happy to see so many old friends and meet so many new ones! It seems like yesterday that Jordan and I met Justin at a dinner, and the rest is history. Below are some pics from her wedding events and the wedding itself!

Showers and parties

Wedding errand runners and Besties...." You want large?"

Parrilla Gals getting ready!

Rehearsal dinner and wedding!

Great times with new and old friends!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ARNTS!

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And here is a throw back from July...to wrap up the three brown dresses. Another of my roommates and best friends, Allison Sadler, now Thompson, was married on the Baylor campus, July 19, 2008. Below are some pictures from the wedding and events.

Rehearsal dinner and bridesmaid luncheon

Wedding Day!

Ok...one more I forgot... Jenn and Casey's wedding in August! Dallas, Texas

Thomas Law Firm, old and new, at the reception

Testing 1, 2, 3

2008-10-13T16:27:00.002-05:00

I generally consider myself a fairly intelligent person... but as of late, I have realized I have no web design skills. I know...blogging doesn't really require a lot..but I don't really get how to get these codes and fonts and everything changed. However, I often have things that I feel I need to share with the world. THUS... I am going to learn. Plus...lately I've had a lot of "down time" at work, and I need to do SOMETHING. I just watched a blogging tutorial... I'm challenged. This is my first blogging experience, but I want my blog to look better than this "Son of Moto" design I've got going on right now. So...any advice would be greatly appreciated. I might switch to Wordpress... I hear it's easier. But hey hey, look at me, I'm blogging. Blog Blog bloggity boo.