Whelp, I'm sitting here in front of the computer at home. It's eight thirty, and if everything were normal, I'd be sitting in Comparative Religions right now. But I'm not, and it kinda sucks. Being almost completely cut off from the outside world has left me feeling more than a little depressed. I feel so bad for Chris at times because he's the one I turn to when things get really rough for me. He's ended up consoling more than once in the middle of the night when I've called him up crying because I've been so miserable. I just can't stand sitting around this house all day by myself, and that's on top of never being able to go anywhere. And the other part of my problem is I miss Chris when he's not here, plain and simple. The two of us have gotten so close in such a short amount of time, and we hate being separated from each other. And not only are we separated, but our time together is also dictated to us so we're not able to see each other whenever we want. Both of us want to go ahead and get married so bad, but I don't think that's likely to happen due to certain forces in life. I know most of you out there think I'm crazy for wanting to marry so young and to a person I've known for only a short period of time, but I believe that a person knows when they've found the person they're meant to be with for life. I know I have that gut feeling...it's a wonderful feeling if you've never felt it! I also believe that if you find something good in life, don't wait around. Grab it up because tomorrow is not guarenteed to us!

But that's all I really have to say. Those of you that have my number, please call me. I'm dying for outside contact.

BIG SHOT OUT TO LAUREN B. FOR CALLING ME THE OTHER DAY! YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH THAT MEANT TO ME!!!

For those of you that actually care, the reason I haven't been at school for the past two weeks is because I'm sick. I thought I just had a nasty cold at first, but it wouldn't go away even after I took antibiotics. Come to find out, it wasn't a cold that I had. I was diagnosed with mono. So, that's why I haven't been at school, and I'm not coming back either. I've dropped out. Yes, that's right, dropped out. But on the other hand, I will be coming back next semester to finish out high school and graduate. Fortunately for me, PCHS is set up on the block scheduling system. Only needing four more credits to graduate means that I can miss this semester and still graduate on time if I come back next semester. So that's definitly a good thing.

BTW, I'm now back in the Byron area. I live off White RD. in the Bradford trailer park...it's actually not that bad, except that I have nobody around here. I mean, I'm at home all day, everyday by myself. I know some of you out there have my phone number, but for those of you that don't, here it it: 319-7625. Somebody please call me!!!! I'm desperate for human contact other than my mom and brother. Well, I have Chris, but having him around isn't the same as all of you out there that I've known for God only knows how long.

Ashley, Lauren, and Lauren: I'm still interested in FPS for this year, so one of yall please call me and give me whatever info becomes available. Mono will NOT stop from competing my senior year, so yall don't have to worry about that!

Again, I did not fall off the face of the earth. So I'm in for a quick update with elaborations saved for a later date. So here goes:

~School started back Monday. It feels so weird to be a senior. It's like I'm having a hard time grasping the concept of graduation in eight or nine months. I have Comparative Religions, Pre-Cal, English 12 Gifted, and AP World History.

~I still work at Waffle House in Centerville. You can find me there most Friday and Saturday nights for third shift.

~PCHS vs. NHS tomorrow night. You better be there! It's the game of the season.

~I'm engaged! Yep, that's right. I, Ashley Self, am engaged to Chris Tamulonis. Congrats to me.

~I'm moving for the fourth time in nine months. Mom and I are moving down to Byron, and my brother is moving in with us. Speaking of which, Ben is a freshman this year so feel free to hunt him down and harass him.

I think that covers the important things. I'll try to elaborate more on all this later.

much love...

No, people, I have not fallen off the face of the earth. I've just been incredibly busy with work. And when I haven't been at work, I've been with my amazing boyfriend, Chris. My mom jokes that the two of us are joined at the hip, which is partly true to her credit. We spend as much time together as we possibly can. We joke that during the week my sleep schedule revolves around his work schedule, and on the weekends his sleep schedule revolves around my work schedule. Which that in itself is entirely true! I'm so not ready for school to start back for the simple reason that I won't be able to see him as much as I've gotten used to over the summer. But I'll learn to cope.

Right now I'm really worried about him. He has a training flight today, and there's alot riding on this flight. If he does well, then it will count for him. But if he doesn't do well, he may have to retrain for another job or leave the military all together. This decision comes from the medical problems he's been having lately, all of which have caused him to go DNIF before a flight. He's had two concussions, and I had to leave work and take him to the ER one night because he was having severe weakness and chest pains, difficulty breathing, and headaches. He scared me so badly that night!! But I'm hoping everything goes well for him today! I'd hate for him to have a bad flight. Having to retrain or leave the military would break his heart. But at least if he has to retrain, he won't be relocated. That makes both of us feel a little better. I don't think either one of us could deal with the separation.

But anyway, I just wanted to give a quick update so that everyone wouldn't think I'd died. Hope everyone's having a great summer!!