You Have Reached The Voice Mailbox of...

I have found that one of the most controversial topics of discussion revolves around something we all deal with everyday. The most contrast in opinion includes the very thing that we as social beings either adamantly participate in or profusely refuse to participate in. I think you know what I'm talking about...VOICEMAIL!

Now I have heard from quite a few nonbelievers that they don't leave voice messages and therefore fail to ever check their incoming voice messages. "It's a pointless waste of time and energy. I can always call back or they'll call me back." Blasphemers! What if they don't cal back? What if you don't recognize the number? What if it's a job interview? What if they're about to fall to their death but wanted to leave you one last piece of wisdom before their utter doom and gloom consumes their utterances?! Tell me, What then huh?!

In case you didn't already gather, I'm a big supporter of voice messages for the simple reason that they make me feel darn good. When I unlock my phone to see a little message icon blinking at me, it's exhilarating. I can't wait to see who it's from and what it could be about! Sometimes it's from Peter and it's as simple as "Hey just wanted to talk, can't wait to hear from you, have a good day!" Feels Great! It could be from my mom "Just needed some information from you. Call me back whenever you get the chance, love ya." Feels Great! Could be from Talysa (yep I'm finally getting to the point of all this rambling) "Hey Taylee, it's me, your BFF the one named Talysa, so....um I'm calling you, obviously, but you didn't pick up which is kinda lame. You're probably doing something exciting or awe-inspiring which is NOT cooler than what I'm doing because I'm leaving you a voice message and that can't be topped. In fact, this message might be so long that your phone will beep at me and tell me that it's too long and I need to try again. If that is the case, I won't mind because then I get to say even MORE! Even though it just occurred to me that if that happens, you won't get to hear any of this message..."

Yep, that pretty much is the 'tell-all' of the relationship that Talysa and I have with one another. Nothing brings a bigger smile to my face than hearing Talysa's creativity through to outlet of a voicemail (that's obviously excluding wearing high suede boots and buying a Groupon cause those things just can't be topped). I encourage all you nonbelievers to partake and bask in the never ending, joy provoking, laugh inducing, fate inspiring mechanism that takes on the name VoiceMail!

'Nuff Said

'Nuff Said

Jammin’ out to Glee and Cee Lo Green.

Trying to be the hippest Mormon scene.

Listening to 'Marry You' as we’d find “something dumb to do."

Gossiping ‘bout Teej and Pattywack.

Reading each other’s minds behind their back.

Bowling nights in the middle of the workweek ‘cause we didn’t seem to care.

Then time said we had to change…

Now I come home at the end of the day,

Undo my hair and prop my legs

And I enter what I know to be

A state of noncommittal and infirmity.

But no matter what we go and do,

I’m still me and you’re still you

We’ll always be…

T-T-T-TIMELESS!

Sandwich notebook always in my bag.

Movie weekends and pictures left to bag.

Queso nights and using charm to let our wallets be.

Writing songs that didn’t mean a thing.

Karaoke to prove that fools can sing.

Midw-week sushi, Oberweiss, and dressing like we were something to see!

Then time said we had to change…

Now I come home at the end of the day,

Undo my hair and prop my legs

And I enter what I know to be

A state of noncommittal and infirmity.

But no matter what we go and do

I’m still me and you’re still you

Together we'll be…

We'll always be...

You and Me...

T-T-T-TIMELESS!

The Non-Narrator

There are two ways to deal with information after a lot has transpired: The first possible scenario is to tip-toe around it while making a cutesie story and stringing the non-narrator along while you divulge rather unimportant information that may or may not waste someone's day. The latter and less common way is the way I am going to use. It is quickly and efficiently divulging all the information that needs to be known in a timely (i.e. entertaining) manner. Here it goes...

A lot has come to pass. First off, Talysa got an out-of-state boyfriend that decided she needed to be the man in the relationship. Needless to say, she preferred being the estrogen so that didn't turn out the best. Second, the flirty waiter at Chili's became my boyfriend after 4 similar trips to the Chili's Saturday Night Lounge. Like I said, entertaining. That was a good yet short-lived run but enjoyable nonetheless. During that time, Talysa and I found time to embarrass ourselves via poole and karaoke night and countless trips for midnight sushi. We dressed to impress and yet never seemed to see anyone...I wonder if the time of day had anything to do with it?

Talysa has now moved back to Utah which seemed to be needed and I have lowered myself to calling strangers for weekend hang-outs. Yes this is the reality of a sister-esque friendship. The friendship is not dead, however, and never can be. We still send our "Peanut butter and Jelly Sandwich Notebook" through the snail mail so it can be updated continuously and I have recently started composing an all encompassing song that will embarrass both of us if ever heard by the general public.

Ahh the beauty of sisterhood!

Without Wax,

Taylee

Uncommon Talent!

Last Saturday, while enjoying a girl's night with just ourselves, Talysa and I discovered a talent never before known to either one of us. This talent had shown through once before, but that time alone hadn't been enough to convince us of its true potential. Saturday was the confirmation.

While sitting at the booth at Chiles, after enjoying "Tangled" ( one of the greatest 'chick' films out there) we waited for our server to arrive. We didn't have to wait very long at all. He came up to the table a few minutes later and introduced himself. (It must not have been a very thorough introduction because neither of us can seem to remember his name.) We ordered chips and salsa and he said we also wanted Queso. We're an easy sale I guess. He brought us the queso and chips only a few minutes later. He returned every five minutes or so until we finally decided we wanted the salmon. We continued to just talk and eat, but he continued to stop by every five or so minutes. Spread out through those times, he had managed to tell us about how much he likes drinking, his age, where he goes to school, how much longer he'd be working, and when his next shift would be. Talysa and I had managed to tell him our ages, where we went to school and that we didn't have plans for that night.

I may have batted my eyelashes a few extra times and Talysa may have pursed my lips when it wasn't necessary but who was keeping track?! After over an hour of being there, he finally brought the check and said "I may have taken care of a few things..." Sure enough, the queso was free, the brownie sundae we had ordered had been given to us on a special and the only thing charged had been the salmon. Our total for an appetizer, seafood entree, and dessert was $13! If that wasn't enough, when he came back to take the check, he got us two drinks on the house!

You could argue that this had just been one really lucky night. I would probably have even agreed with you on that, if this same exact thing hadn't happened one month prior as well with a server named Nick.

Talent? I think so. Useful? I know so.

Without Wax,

Taylee

Gala/Earl Had to Die

A couple months ago, I received an unexpected invitation. I was invited to a Gala party in which all my fellow scholarship winners would mingle. Now if you're like me, when you think Gala, you think about those professional parties that take place in Washington D.C. where they all wear tuxes and drink out of tall champagne glasses and nibble on orderves that are half the size of their pinky. While that explanation doesn't make it sound that appealing, who wouldn't want to go? I felt so sophisticated! Of course when it said I could bring a guest, Talysa and Jake were the essentials. They seemed just as excited as I was. We put on dresses (and suit so that Jake doesn't feel left out) and did up our hair, and did our very best to look professional. However, once we got there....it was somewhat of a disappointment. There were drinks in tall glasses but the glasses were plastic. There were orderves but they were crusted Macaroni and Cheese and there was mingling but only because if we filled our card with names, we could enter to win an Amazon gift card. Though Talysa and Jake said that they enjoyed it, let's be honest, they didn't want to make me feel bad.

We left after entering our name cards (obviously the Amazon gift card was a huge perk) and decided the night was too young to get back in the car and drive home. We found a cute little sushi bar down the street and went in in our heels, long coats, and curls. The next occurence will give you a good idea at how good our friendship must be. Yet again, I was laughing hysterically! Jake brought to my attention the song by the Dixie Chicks called "Earl had to Die." One of my personal favorites. He asked me how long it was after Wanda got married that she started getting abused? I thought it was a random question but started singing the song in my head..."well it wasn't two weeks after she got married that Wanda started getting abused..." I blurted out with cofidence, "Two weeks." He very proudly answered that I was incorrect. Eager to prove my point, I started singing the song to him. After I had, he just smiled and said "Taylee it WASN'T two weeks after she got married. It could be anything BUT two weeks. Four weeks, a day and two minutes, three years, we may never know." Once again, Jake had me. I didn't stop laughing the rest of the night and my sushi ended up having to take the back seat! It turned out to be a great night after all!

Without Wax,

Taylee

View From The Top!

In the far distance was the dark landscape of muddled lights trying to break through the mist of air but all blending in together. Building after building fought for the spotlight trying to prove their worth in the eyes of the beholder. The lake looked like a never-ending sheet of glass. The cars below still in the their place, as small as match heads, seemed insignificant. The buses slightly larger looked as though they were the hounds defending their turf. A pool on a rooftop had a glimmer from the moon's reflection of it. The tallest building seemed just equal with the eyeliner yet profound as it reached further toward heaven. Several church spires created a stark contrast from the plethora of high-rise, steel trees that poked through the clouds. There wasn't even a faint glimmer of a single star in the sky due to the city lights and the engrossing fog that only seemed to hide the very top of the tallest steel tree. All these lights together created a jewelry box filled with glimmering necklaces, shining gold bands, and pearls galore.

This is an image taken of the view of Chicago from the 95th floor of the John Hancock Tower in the month of September, 2010 while eating a good meal and talking with a good friend, Talysa. This is the view of what life really is. The buildings represent the working life and the accomplishments of man. The lake is our survival, our fun, our beauty. The cars and buses and trains symbolize the need to always be moving and to always have a purpose. The fog is the ongoing confusion that comes with being real and being human and making mistakes. The lights, however, are the reason we go through all of it. The lights are the beauty, the music, the speech, the glory, the emotion. Some people may look at this scene and see a busy city, chaotic maybe, sometimes impossible to deal with. I look at that scene and I feel a sense of joy and pride. This is my town. So many amazing things have happened here. I have felt so many powerful emotions while here that I associate with this beautiful city. Chicago creates its own beat, its own culture, its own story. Chicago has a history, a past, a future. Chicago is the house of my present.