1/8 Dinosaurs RULE

Today I took a little jaunt into the city to visit the dinosaurs. Very cool. It was the first time I've been to the museum since I moved to NY. What a madhouse, but once you get past all the tourists it's not so bad. I decided to add some pictures to give a better idea of my experience. I wish I had a picture of the giant turtle, it was as big as a mini cooper, reminded me of the big turtle on Never Ending Story. I'm such a nerd, I love this stuff. DINOSAURS RULE!!!

Ahhh...the comforts of home

I'm back in NY and it feels great to be home. It's strange when you can call a city so far from everyone 'home', but that's what it's become. I have my own bed, shower, closet and Tyler...deep breath...sigh. I think my shoes missed me. I had to assure them I hadn't forgotten about them and introduce them to their new siblings. They were happy I came home. I haven't really accepted the fact that I'm only here another week before I leave for almost three months. I don't want to think about it. I'll be doing what I love, but at what cost? How much longer do I have to 'pay my dues'? I hate that statement. I'm not going to get down, just keep working. Now, it's off to be domestic...laundry beckons and the shower is screaming for Tilex. Later, Rochelle

No more pampering

I'm just chillin' here with my brother watching rsn on Park City TV. These guys are crazy, I would never have the guts to do some of this stuff. They are showing all the wipe-outs. I can't handle it...broken bones and balls...aaahhh! So, my time of being pampered and spoiled by my family is nearing it's end. Back to reality and the grind. That's okay, I think I'm ready to go home. I miss my things and my space, and I'm tired of switching between the couch and the air mattress. One last day of hittin' up my parental units for stuff. We're hitting the Victoria's Secret sale and Nordstrom before I'll be deprived for many months. I've been such a slug lately. I've watched Edward Scissorhands twice in the last two days, but one was with commentary by Tim Burton so I had to watch it again. Then I watched Romy and Michelle's HS Reunion and freaked out because that's me this year, frightening. I go back on tour in 10 days. That's not very far away. Then my life will be a whirlwind again. Okay, this is getting random so I'm going to bed. Bye, Rochelle

Perestroika

A new year, the rebuilding begins. I died my hair, found some new music I liked and I have no regrets going into another new year. Of course I have plenty to work on and I accept the challenge. I'm ready for what ever comes my way. I'm so glad I had the chance to begin my career and do what it is I love to do. And I'm glad I made some close new friends who I will treasure forever. I can't wait to see them again. I don't have any specific resolutions, I just want to keep striving to be successful at my craft. I can't stop here, my life is just beginning. I have no definite idea of what this year or any year will hold for me, but I don't care. I love that my life is always changing and bringing me new possibilities and opportunities. I believe that's what it means to LIVE. So, that's my goal for this year, to pick up the pieces and really live. Happy New Year! Love, Rochie BTW - I hate New Year's. It's really a worthless holiday. I can only take so much sitting around in a bar watching people get drunk for no reason. Okay, 'nuff said.

Not Heinous and Heinous

Here's the Christmas update. The actual day was great. I woke up to find that "Santa" had come. Yeah! My parents are still convinced that on Christmas all of their twenty-something children are 10 years old. I don't mind, I can still reap the benefits. The toys just get better and better as we get older. I can't complain. I got some new duds and and iPod! Wicked Awesome! I've been playing with it for two days straight. I already have 1200 songs on it and I still have almost 14 gigs left. SWEET, iPods RULE! It just kept getting better, we had an incredible breakfast spread...pancakes, egg caserole, ham, sweet rolls, fruit, hot chocolate...you get the picture and then we got our big family gift. This was a total surprise. My grandma, before she died, paid for the entire family to go on a two week cruise to the Mexican Riviera. I can't wait. It's not until next fall but time flies and it'll be here before I know it. So that was my Christmas day. Today was pretty lax. We really didn't do all that much. My mom wanted us to go to church and since my dad is the bishop I thought it would be a nice gesture. WHAT A TREAT (sarchastic truth)! The program was all by some guest performers, a senior citizen choir called "The Cheery Notes". I had a hard time not laughing but they were very cute and it was a nice way to start the day. ...more gorging on food... Later we did something I don't think we've done as a family for what? twenty years? We played a board game. Life, Simpson's edition. It was actually a lot of fun, I think we're all a bit more competetive now so there was an added element. Then...it happened...the HEINOUS event to make our roller coaster plummet. You know those yankee candles, the big ones in the jars. So, my sister has one in her bathroom and instead of burning it she keeps it on a little candle warmer that melts the wax. Basically it's a big jar of hot melted wax. I think you can see where this is going. Long story short, Christel knocked the jar over today by accident and hot RED wax went splashing all over the bathroom. It covered the counter, the wall, the floor, the sink, toilet, brushes, razors, soaps, hairspray, pretty much anything you can find lying around a bathroom. And that's what I've been doing tonight, cleaning red wax off every surface in the bathroom. I should have taken a picture to add. Maybe I'll draw one. Oh, the best part was, we heard Christel yelling "HELP" from the bathroom and my brother went to find out what was wrong. At first glance he almost had a heart attack because the red wax looked like blood and it was everywhere. He thought she was dying. Then there were two screams and we all jumped to find out what had happened. All is well now, the clean up is done and we can laugh about it. Ah, adventures, I have to enjoy them when they come along. Usually things are pretty boring around here. Hope everyone had a enjoyable Christmas, let me know, and I'll talk to you all soon. Love, Rochelle

12/24 Christmas Eve

It's Christmas Eve and I've been wrapping presents for my mom, watching A Christmas Story marathon and eating way too much food because it's all over the house. Those pilates videos will come in handy after the feeding frenzy is over. My anticipation for tomorrow isn't what it used to be, especially this year. It's just not going to be the same without Granny. I'm not ready for how sad I'm going to feel. On the other hand, I am here with my family instead of spending Christmas in an apartment in New York listening to the deaf people above me and eating pizza for dinner. Just not the same. My family goes overboard with Christmas. They have the music playing all the time, lights and decorations all over the house, the little village that lights up and the inflatable snowman out front. Good times. I love my fam. This is random, I've been trying to blog the last couple of days but nothing is really going on and I can never think of anything to say. I'm thinking I want to go back to school. I have this thought once in a while. That's why until this last June I've been a professional student. If only I could afford it. I think I would pursue more psychology, maybe get my masters or doctorate...my friend Janna has inspired me. Crazy talk...I'd be a good clinical psychologist though. Okay, back to watching A Christmas Story marathon.

Today was better

I woke up this morning to one of my favorite smells, my dad's buttermilk blueberry pancakes. YUMMY! Already I was off to a better start. I had a great laugh when my mom went to get some milk out of the fridge and realized she had put the toilet paper in there as well. Ah, mom. Menopause kickin' in. The things women have to look forward to. My sister and I were feeling creative today and decided to make some jewelry. Necklaces to be exact, made out of fishing line, Coke bottle caps and sea shells. They turned out great and we personalized them with a word describing the person wearing them secretly placed on the back. The afternoon was pleasant aside a little tiff I had with my sister. That was short lived after we both determined that she is a bitch...but she's a good bitch...you gotta give her credit. Now it's time to begin the OC marathon...I promised Christel we'd watch it together. Later. Ro