my new front.

Hello, friends!

We are rolled out! (Is that what you say when you launch a new online venture?)

Anyway, check me out: thirtybefore.wordpress.com

I'm writing as "Jane Anger." She was an English writer who wrote ONE pamphlet about women's rights in the 1500's. I could talk about how her short career is related to my attempt to do MORE, but I really just picked her because he name sounds like my middle and last name (minus a letter).

I'm sure I'll still post over here, every once-in-a-while. Especially when I want to write something isn't really relevant to my list. But, most of my energy will go to 3o Before, so check me out.

Really. Check me out! Now.

my partner in crime.

I know you all have been at the edge of your seats in anticipation for my 30 before 30 list, so I thought I'd give you an update.

My good friend from college and go-to girl when I need to convince someone to do something ridiculous with me (and my go-to girl when I need someone to obsess over Josh Groban with me), has agreed to take on her own 30 before 30 list. We will be setting up a brand new, squeaky clean, fresh from the oven, 30 before 30 blog in the very near future, so get ready! (Are you ready!?)

All of my old posts on this blog are slowly disappearing, BUT I plan on keeping it so I can stalk all of YOU, my favorite bloggers. (And, because I still REALLY like the name of it.) Maybe I'll use it to post, maybe not. How many blogs are too many? (I'm looking at you, LGM. Kidding.)

So, that's what I know. I hope you'll STILL stick around for the fun, even though I'm moving it to another blog.

Get ready!

my new direction.

(No, this post isn't about the season premier of Glee because I MISSED IT!)

This post IS about the future of my little blog.

A few months ago (right before I turned 25), I made a list of 30 things I'd like to do, and see, and learn, and accomplish before I turn 30. Some are simple, some nearly impossible, but I thought all of them would be fun to blog about. (Plus, that would keep me accountable, AND actually give me something to write about.)

I'd also like to come out of my bloggy closet and actually invite people to read this thing if they feel like it.

In order to do that, though, I feel like I need to start with a clean slate. I'm not sure who I've been considering my audience over the last year or so (a few of my favorite people from camp, I suppose), but I think I might approach this thing a little differently with everyone I know in mind while I write. (Does that sentence make any sense??)

ANYWAY! Over the next week or so, I am going to either delete OR find out if there's a way to privately archive all of my previous posts. So, if you feel the need to revisit my rant about my period DO IT NOW!

Consider this your warning, and thanks for staying along for the ride.

my bloody euphemism.

Tonight I made an emergency run to the Giant Eagle. Perhaps this is too much self-disclosure, but emergency runs, for me, mean one of three things. One, the cat needs food. Two, the cat needs litter. Three-- choose your favorite euphemism for "my period has arrived." (You can find the most extensive list here.)

Anyway, it was number three, and I was preparing to run my bag of monthly products (hygiene-products, Advil, pita chips) through the self checkout (cause I'm 12 years-old). I scanned my Advantage Card, and immediately(!) the coupon printer creates TWO advertisements for Always Ultra Thin Pads. This raises a few thoughts that I wanted to share with you, the internet.

First of all, how, how HOW did it know?! I understand that Giant Eagle keeps track of your purchasing habits to print coupons, but is it possible that the Big Bird ALSO keeps track of my cycle? My body is nearly clock-like, so it wouldn't be difficult, but--hmm-- nah! they can't!

Or, can they?

Also, these were not coupons. A coupon would be great. I don't understand why Always feels the need to advertise. It's not like I have much of a choice in the matter. (Except my $40 DivaCup that I have never used. I wonder if there's a market for not-quite-used DivaCups...) If I have to buy these once a month, I would appreciate $.50 off. But, no coupons for me, tonight, only coupon-sized greeting cards wishing me "a happy period."

Yeah, Always, you know what? When you start giving out coupons, I'LL have a happy period. Guaranteed.

my diagnosis.

Criteria for Major School Procrastination Episode

A. Three (or more) of the following symptoms must be present during the same semester, and represent a change from previous functioning:

Note: Do not include symptoms that are present between the months of May and August, or immediately before or after a holiday.

1. Excessive complaining about upcoming test, project, paper, or presentation.

2. Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all activities surrounding coursework.

3. Excessive consumption of two or more of the following the night before the due date: coffee, chai, baked goods, chocolate, cheez-its, hummus.

4. Inappropriate feelings of impending failure. Individual must recognize that these feelings are excessive or unreasonable.

5. Diminished ability to think or concentrate, nearly every day.

6. Recurrent thoughts of skipping class, leaving school, or becoming a hippie.

B. Cycling occurrences of the following, one or two nights prior to the due date:

1. 15 minutes of studying or writing.

2. 20 minutes of Facebooking.

3. 5 minutes of tea-drinking.

4. 3 minutes of dancing to Mika, Queen, or The Jackson Five. (Do not include if dancing is related to coursework, OR displays even a little bit of talent.)

C. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or recreational areas of functioning.

D. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance or a general medical condition.

my gugan.

[It's been 5 months since my Grandma Kells died, and I've been meaning to post this, but I haven't been ready. I'll never be.

This is only the second half of an entry in my paper journal-- seriously, who still has those?! It's from when she was admitted into the hospital for the first time two years ago.]

This is an old photo of my grandparents, my aunt carol, her husband, their four children, my mom, my brother, and me. (My dad was probably the photographer.)

Gugan has made it her purpose to care for people who need it. Her whole life has been devoted to helping others. She told me that when she was a kid, she lived wherever they needed her.

She moved around as a young person, caring for family members who needed help. She didn't finish school because she was needed to help raise a family.

She cared for her siblings and her siblings' children, and her own children, and then, finally, her children's children.

Me and my little brother.

She made us a million lunches-- she even strained the mushrooms out the mushroom soup for me. She walked me to the creek down the street and we wrote my name in the sand. She removed a million splinters, and threatened to use a wooded spoon to give us a million more if we didn't behave.

She sat with us on the porch swing and sang You Are My Sunshine, and Away In A Manger, and Jesus Loves Me--over and over and over-- as long as we wanted.

I remember I used to ride home from church with her, and she told me she was never afraid of dying because she believed in Jesus.

Lots of people would say that she shared the gospel with me in her car, I'd argue she had done that a million times before...

She shared with me the gospel of love your neighbor as yourself, and let the little children come to me and whatever you do to the least of my children, you do to me as well.

Well done, good and faithful servant.

And to everyone else: go and do likewise.

my swan song

A few of my favorite family campers wrote this song for me and I wanted to share it because it was so cute! It's sung to the tune of "Pharaoh, Pharaoh" which is sung to the tune of "Louie, Louie..."

Bangor told me the other day
She was in the office and could not play.
She started as a camper many years ago.
She's had many jobs but it's time to go!

Chorus: Bangor, Bangor! Oh, Mandy, please don't go! (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)

So me and my family go to Family Camp.
It's been raining all week and we're really damp.
Not from the rain, but from our tears,
Cause Bangor's gonna leave after all these years!

Chorus: Bangor, Bangor! Oh, Mandy, please don't go! (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)

Well, Ryan Ebner's leavin', too!
What do you think that they should do?
They should return as family campers next year!
Here's your invitation to join us here!

Chorus: Ebner, Ebner! (And Bangor!) Oh, Ryan (and Mandy!) Please don't go! (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)