Day Thirty-Five; Who loves random dates? Me.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, let me explain.

Okay, the day started with Brandon waking me up and telling me to come lay down with him. He always does this in the mornings. We aren't allowed to sleep in the same room, of course, but we're allowed to nap together in the mornings once other people are awake in the house. We quickly realized we couldn't fall back to sleep, something that doesn't usually happen. Jill and Caitlin were going to be out and about that morning. Jill came in Erin's room where we were lying down, and gave Brandon her card, telling him to go to the mall and look for shoes, which he needs.

A few hours later, we finally got up and about and got ready to go to the mall. We first went to Park Plaza and had fun walking around. Brandon got a jacket in Forever 21, but he didn't find any shoes he liked. He DID make a request that I buy him a grill for Valentine's Day. We shall see. Baha.

After the mall and some scrumdiddlyumptious Dippin' Dots Ice Cream, we went to Sports Authority, a place that I had already assumed to be quite boring. Boy, was I mistaken? We played ping pong there for like an hour. Seriously. When we FINALLY left, Brandon bought some athletic gloves to keep his widdo fingers warm during his games, the first of which is tomorrow. For once, I'm really hoping it doesn't snow so that I will be able to go to his game. I'm not crossing my fingers, though. Every time I do that, bad stuff happens.

After Sports Authority, we went to lunch/dinner at McAlister's. We shared a huge bacon spud, which Brandon was quick to point out was only two regular sized potatoes put together. I had broccoli cheese soup, and he had some panini thing that he kept trying to convince me had poop in it. What a weirdo.

We then went to Wal-Mart very quickly and then headed home to watch the Superbowl. We were BOTH very happy with the outcome. Go Saints!

I hate leaving. I'm home now, though. It's so hard to say bye to him. Good news is, as long as it doesn't snow and ice and all that crap, I'll see him tomorrow for his game. I can't wait to see him play. I bet he is going to be amazing!

What did I realize this weekend? Something that I, of course, already knew. It was just strengthened; reinforced, if you will. I have a best friend and a boyfriend all molded into one person. With this person, I can play ping pong even though I suck, and he will look like he is having the time of his life, which is exactly the way I feel. I can be laughed at for eating my ice cream too slowly or discuss whether or not that is one potato or two. I can cuddle up and watch football with him and actually give a damn, something that is amazing. I have a person that I can be myself with 100%. I have a person that I love, unconditionally, a person that I will continue loving until...well, forever.

Hi, sorry for the mushyness, but that's what my day was. Oh, and the picture was Brandon singing to me. Bahaha.

Day Thirty-Four; Reminders.

This post is, again, late. I think one post a week will have to be late for me, unfortunately. Saturday? I went to see Dear John with Brandon, Caitlin, and Sierra. Jill, Mr. and Mrs. Moon, and Devin went to see a different movie, The Book of Eli. They said it was amazing. Dear John was, of course, sad. I didn't expect anything less coming from Nicholas Sparks. The ending was questionable.

Brandon and I spent a great deal of the day fighting, coming to a bang when we went to get pizza for the family. I hate fighting with him, and we do so extremely rarely. By the end of the night, however, we had made up. I stared at my promise ring and realized that nothing was ever going to come between us, no matter how big or small. He promised, and so do I.

That is, by far, the most important thing that happened to me Saturday. Our bond became even stronger, something I am always amazed is even possible. I love him very much, if you can't already tell.

Day Thirty-Three; Here in your arms.

I left school today at 10:30 only to come home and find that my car was going to be ready for me to drive tonight. I hadn't driven it since September. That felt good, believe me.

I came to Brandon's today, of course. It's Friday. I went with him, Caitlin, and Cymber to see Hellogoodbye. It was awesome. That is the picture you see above. 

As of now, I'm lying next to a sleeping Brandon until I get tired enough to sleep, at which point I'll go in the other room. He has the ACT in the morning. I know he will do brilliantly. 

Cassi and I received several emails today from people wanting to help with Project Unprepared. If you would like to help as well, contact me immediately. The smallest help would be amazing.

I'm going to go watch TV now. Today was pretty awesome.

Day Thirty-Two; An idea of charity.

Two key points of today: I got insurance for my car and I came up with this idea. Please read.



Project Unprepared

Did you know that, based on the results of a survey done nationwide in the year 2000, Arkansas is the tenth highest state for teenage pregnancy, with ninety-three teenage pregnancies for every one-thousand teenage girls? This survey went on to say that Arkansas was the FOURTH highest state as far as women who actually end up giving birth to these babies, which means we are the fourth highest state as far as teenage motherhood goes. From what I have heard, these statistics have only gone up since 2000, despite the increase in emphasis on contraceptives. That is just going by ear; that part might be inaccurate, but from what I’ve seen as an Arkansan and as a high school student, it’s pretty accurate.

There are many different routes for sexually active teenage men and women. One route is to protect yourself the best you can. Birth control is available, condoms are always ready to be purchased, and, if you have failed contraceptives, the morning-after pill is always an option. Even women who go to these measures to protect themselves, and then the ones who choose not to, sometimes end up pregnant at a very young age.

There are also many routes after a teenager finds out she is pregnant. Adoption, abortion, the abortion pill, or the old standby…keeping the baby and raising him/her the best way that a mother can provide. I personally think that teenage mothers who keep their babies are very brave, especially if they choose to remain in school and care for their child at the same time, something my mother chose to do. Some financial situations, however, prevent teen mothers from having everything their child needs: clothing, blankets, diapers, wipes, bottles, etc. So I came up with an idea; first, though, it is necessary for me to explain the inspiration behind this.

I have a friend who recently had a child. She was brave enough to keep her, something I admire. Her baby is an absolute doll, and the new mother is an extremely nice person. I don’t know her all too well, but I know her enough to know that she has a creative mind and a kind, mothering heart. Her financial situation is preventing her from getting the things her daughter needs. She lives with her father, and he doesn’t have a sufficient income to provide everything that my friend would love to give to her daughter. I was immediately stricken with the want and need to help this friend of mine, but I couldn’t figure out how.

Then it hit me. Facebook. Networking. Talking to friends, students, teachers, this girl’s fellow parents. I talked to one friend today, Raelynn King, who offered to talk to her mom about donating some of her little sister’s used clothes and baby items. I was thrilled. Here I am now, on Facebook. Many of us have family members who recently had children that have already grown out of their clothes or have been weaned from bottles and such things. Many of us, also, have a few spare dollars, that we could donate to a just cause. I understand if a monetary donation isn’t a good idea in your eyes. Some people might say that just doesn’t feel secure, and I understand that. But please, if you have any used baby stuff, and you’re interested in donating this to this friend of mine, Project Unprepared’s first “project,” please let me know. Contact me via Facebook, email, or cell phone. Feel free to approach me at school as well. My contact information is posted below. Thank you so much for reading this, and I hope to hear from many of you in any of the contact means listed.

-Breana Steele

Email: breanasteele@hotmail.com
Cell phone: (501) 593-7005

Day Thirty-One; Stress, Stress, Re-Stress.

Today at school was fine. Most of my classes finally actually got back to work after the weather disaster. Mr. Skaggs, our distance learning teacher, recited "Pants on the Ground" for us. What a hoot.

Work was interesting. We had a new lady. She is the mother of one of my friend's boyfriend's. In fact, said boyfriend is Drew Williams, boyfriend of Tess Kee. It's a small world after all.

When I got home, I browsed the Internet, played Bookworm, watched Idol, and started something I was totally dreading. My FAFSA. I nearly did it on a website that was going to charge me $80. Thankfully, lovely Faceboogers like Sarah Lucheck and Lyndsey Shea fixed it and put me on the right path. Thank goodness for people like them.

That tax return folder of my mother's is the devil. I hate trying to decode what those forms say. I hate it, I tell you. And I'm not looking forward to paying for college. Yay debt.

I DID do something else really productive today. I purchased part of Brandon's Valentine's Day gift... I must say, I'm really excited. I think he will really like it. I can't wait to find out. The rest of it will be finished next week. I have a feeling he has something up his sleeve, even though he says that he won't be able to do much. My evidence? He came on the phone with this smug sounding voice after he "went to talk to his mom." Who knows?

Day Thirty; It's about freaking time.

Today was my first day back at school. I must say, I was glad to see all my best friends. Oh, how I love them. Props to Dakota; he let me borrow a pen and saved my life by doing so! Yay! My actual classes were pretty normal today. Nothing special. The boys kinda grossed me and Shannon out at lunch. That's not all that easy to do. We listen to a lot of their guy talk without flinching, but today was yuck. We survived, though.

Work was a breeze. I hardly did anything. I ate popcorn with Glenda and talked about her family. She has great stories to tell. Seriously. I could talk to her all day long and be alright.

When I got home, I played some more Bookworm. It's addicting, I tell you. I put it down, however, for another addiction: American Idol. I watched the Denver prospects and was pleased. I'm ready for next week: Hollywood Week!

I then started a near-impossible task. I began cleaning my room. That's what that picture is above: the finished product. It's still not perfect, but it looks amazing next to what it was before. I looked through a school memories book that I have had since kindergarten and filled in some of the stuff about senior year. The best friends I listed? Brandon, Cassi, Shannon, Tyler, Bryce, Chance, Dakota, Raelynn, and Caitlin. They are all very special to me. I love you guys.

While I was cleaning my room, I was dancing around to a shuffle list on Limewire, texting Tyler and Dannatt, and singing. Tyler, being the best friend that he is, listened to a crazy essay I wrote a while back out of sheer boredom. How awesome is he?

Anyway, now I'm gonna go fill in a little bit in my senior book and listen to a little music before I head to bed. It's been an okay day. I miss Brandon though. Good news! We are going to see Hellogoodbye on Friday. I'm stoked! My second concert, and this one's with him, too. Yay for awesome boyfriends. Also...yay for actual blog posts today instead of just little snippets of my life.

Day Twenty-Nine; My Apologies.

I'm in a terrible mood right now, so this blog is going to be terrible and short. I'm trying to study some more for a test I have tomorrow. I had to leave Brandon's today. I'm becoming more frustrated with...life. I'm ready for a change.

This game, Bookworm, has kept me semi-sane today. Thank goodness.