Feelin' lucky

This weekend has me feeling very fortunate. I'm lucky to know the people that I know and to have the support that I have. Drew's Crew is about to hit $10,000 online, which is well beyond where I expected to be at this time. It's especially surprising because the team is still forming and I haven't put a heavy emphasis on fundraising yet. It's really refreshing to see so many people standing behind me and my cause. Let's cure CF! http://www.cff.org/great_strides/drewdotson5267

Now, for the insane part... As I mentioned in yesterday's post, it was my friend BB's birthday. After I finished working my crew shift at the theatre, a group of us went out to celebrate. We went to a bar in Midtown and did some people watching and things of that nature. When we called it a night, my roommate and I got in my car so I could drive us home since I was the DD (double meaning!).

We were chatting and driving on 400 when I saw a car weaving in my rearview mirror. I was in the center lane of the three-lane highway. It looked like it was about to barrel into the back of my car, and it startled me to the point of yelling. Before I could even realize what was happening, I saw the headlights jerk to the left and I started to brake. The SUV then looked to have lost control and headed toward the cement wall that acts as a median. When the car was literally feet from crashing into the wall, the driver must have spun the wheel to the right, and the SUV crossed directly in front of us (perpendicular to the way of traffic). Thankfully, I was shocked into braking, but a car in the far right lane didn't see this happening and we watched the SUV barrel right into the driver's side door of a truck.

Debris went flying like rain onto our car, and both the truck and the SUV started spinning. I slammed on the brakes so hard that we started to fishtail and head straight for the cement wall/SUV that was bouncing off of the wall. How we made it between the two spinning cars without getting hit is beyond me. It was truly like our lives flashed before our eyes. Both scared speechless and shaking like crazy, I tried to make my way to the side of the road as AH called 911. As AH was fielding questions from the 911 dispatcher, I saw the SUV start to reverse (it ended up facing the wrong direction after bouncing off the wall and back toward the shoulder).

The SUV then started riding up the shoulder behind us and I was hopeful that they were turning around to move the car out of the way and wait for the cops. However, given my experience two months ago, I knew better than to trust that someone would do the right thing. I started yelling that the car was leaving and tried to remember how to put my car in drive. As the SUV went by, I yelled out the first three letters of the license plate, but we were both so shocked that neither of us were functioning to the best of our abilities. When I got the car going, I started trying to follow the SUV. The car got off at the first exit so I started to follow, but I'm positive that they could tell that's what I was doing. The person started (or continued) driving like a maniac. For example, we started to get in a left turn lane right behind them at a red light, and they instinctively got out of the turn lane so they could have a green light and cut across three more lanes of traffic to make a quick right-hand turn. At this point, we realized that catching them was hopeless (and probably dangerous), so we decided to head back down the highway to turn around and get back on heading toward the accident.

When we got back to the scene, people were standing outside of their cars and the truck looked even worse than I'd envisioned. There were items from the bed of the truck on the highway and the whole right side of the truck was practically touching the ground. The tailgate was on the other side of the totaled guard rail, and the metal sound barrier past the guard rail was torn up, too. I was relieved to see that the driver's door was opened and that everyone was standing. We then realized who the driver must have been because there was a lady who was clearly in shock and very emotional.

The cop finally arrived a few minutes after we made it back and, once again, I became the witness to a hit and run. The cop said I would be the primary witness since I was in the middle of it and had seen everything happen. He said that I could expect to hear from the detective regarding the case. I wonder if it will be my same detective friend; I'm quite the magnet! As the cop was getting my number, another group of witnesses started trying to make a love connection, but the cop wasn't having any of that.

I couldn't sleep when we finally got home (after 3:30 a.m.) because it was one of those moments that makes you think about how your life can change in a split second. As my roommate and I walked through the grocery store today, all we (mainly I) could talk about was how that could have played out differently. It's times like these when I think about some angels I know who are breathing easy and looking after me. It was such a frightening experience, and I really can't even put into words how grateful we both feel today.

It makes me think about life and, despite the health battles that I face, I'm not exempt from anything. That was one of the scariest things I've ever seen, and I'm amazed that we were so lucky. It's just a reminder that you can do everything right, but you can't control the crazy things that other people might do. There's obviously no need to live a life of fear, but there's a need to live a life that makes you proud.

Love you all.

Been tryin' to get down...

to the heart of the matter. Tonight's song is "The Heart of the Matter" by Don Henley. There's no secret meaning to that - it just got stuck in my head because of a random conversation earlier.

So, where did the week go? I don't even know.

Well, I do know that on Tuesday night I worked a graduation show at the theatre. I was on lights, which meant I was in charge of recording the DVD. Now, this was nerve racking considering this show was only happening because it was a redo of a show that did not record several weeks ago. However, the recording was successful! I had a really fun time working in the booth during the show, and then went out with a couple friends (JR, TO) for a few beers afterwards.

Wednesday one of my greatest fears came true... kinda. My friend (AM) called after she got off work - she lives in Virginia. We were chatting as I made my way down to Midtown to do a little work before rehearsal. Out of nowhere, she was in mid-sentence, and she said, "Whoa, whoa, whoaaaaa." Then, I just heard crashing, much like when you're in a restaurant and a server drops a tray. She was like, "I just got hit. I gotta go." Thankfully I could tell it wasn't too horrible because she sounded relatively calm. Either way, it scared the living daylights out of me. I've always had this unrealistic fear that I would hear something like that happen.

Last night I attended the 10-year anniversary party of the house where we work. I was supposed to be working at the registration table, but we had plenty of people, so I pretty much got to mingle and sip on cocktails. When my shift technically ended, I decided to rush down to Midtown to see my friend's (JR) first show as an apprentice. Man, it was so fun to be in the audience without any obligations! The show was awesome and I was thoroughly amused.

It's Homecoming, so I have to work pretty much all day tomorrow. I start at a movie screening at 10:30 a.m. and will basically work until midnight. I know it will be fun because it typically is, but MAN, that's a long day. I'm working at the Indigo Girls concert after the movie screening and then I head to the Class of 1990 reunion. I've got a big day ahead of me!

I have nothing to say about the Braves. NOTHING.

Well, I'm starting to get impatient waiting for sinus surgery. I have headaches pretty much all the time now. Two weeks to go!

I worked out today, so I am proud of myself. I haven't felt like it much lately with my head feeling the way it does, but I'm glad I went. I plan to exercise tomorrow morning before I head over to campus for my slew of events.

Givin' Lip

I'll go ahead and say that the title of this post has nothing to do with actually giving lip... I am wearing a shirt that someone gave me because it was too small, and it is a white tank top with the words "Givin' Lip" in pink writing. I actually kind of love it because it's worthless.

Well, I just got home from rehearsal. I guess you can't really call it rehearsal because we actually went hanging up posters around Midtown - at least that's the group my area tackled. [Side bar: I just noticed after posting that I said "group my area tackled" instead of "area my group tackled." I have been doing backwards things like this for a few days, so I'm leaving it as-is for a trip down memory lane.] It was a fun change of pace, but we walked around a lot and I'm feeling kinda worn out. I guess that's good since I should be heading to sleep soon!

Umm, Drew's Crew is at $9,602!!!!! I really, really hope to hit $10,000 by the week's end. Did I say that yesterday? Or say it in my mind? Either way, it's still the truth! I think I did say it. (Can you tell I'm delirious?)

What elsssssssse? I went to the fitness center for a little chunk during lunchtime today. I got in a pretty good workout. I ran for a little on the treadmill, then hopped on the elliptical, then did some sprints on the treadmill, and topped it off with walking at an incline. I didn't feel like I could exert myself in the way that I do when I'm feeling my best, but I was able to do moderately intense things for a decent length of time, so that was good!

I am kinda at a loss of things to say, which is surprising.

I better take advantage of this 'being tired' thing while it's still accurate.

Oh, my boss is going to have a baby any day now. I don't know why it is nerveracking for me! I'm not the one giving birth, but I am just anxiously waiting...in a neutral way. The actual due date is April 22, so I am trying to be prepared, but I don't think I will be. I will miss her while she's on maternity leave.

Okay. Done.

This post is me psyching myself up

Woooooooooo! Wooooooohooooooooooooo! I am so energized!

I have to be in Midtown in about an hour, and I'm extremely tired, but at the end of this post, I will be ENERGYFIED!

On the way, I plan to go to Starbucks and try the newest thing that caught my fancy - the Dark Cherry Mocha. I tried to get it a week or so ago, but they said they didn't have it yet. I am excited to try it because I think it's exactly the potion I need.

Tonight's gonna be a long one at the theatre... I start at 6:30 and will probably get to leave around 1:00 or 1:30 a.m., which will kinda be 2:00 or 2:30 a.m. given the time change. DON'T FORGET TO CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS! We're so inundated with technology that most clocks will just change for us, but in case you're confused...

I think that's about all I have to say. There's definitely more I could say, but the longer I type, the more hectic it will be trying to make it to the theatre on time, and we all know I can't sacrifice that Dark Cherry Mocha I just swooned over.

ENERGY! ENERGY! ENERGY!

I am not a boy

Hi. I am writing today with a lot less hair than the last time I wrote, but I am not a boy. The jury's still out regarding my hair. I'm not sure how much I got cut off, but probably six inches in some places and more in others. Yeah, this is a true story. This is the shortest I've had my hair in probably ten years. It is kind of cute because it looks like I made more of an effort, but it also makes me feel like a small boy. One of my BFFs from high school cut it and he did a great job! Now I just need to be capable of making it look as good as he did.

I am still at my parents' house, so it has been quite the holiday weekend. I am leaving for work from here in the morning. It looks like I'll be wearing jeans and one of my new shirts. I will probably wear a headband I got today so everyone can tell I'm still a girl. I wonder how long it will take to get to work from here in the morning. I better leave early to be safe, so I'm going to go to bed by 9:00 p.m.

I couldn't sleep well at all last night. It was the most restless night I've had in as long as I can remember. I was tossing and turning and probably only slept in one-hour increments (at the most). Then, it didn't help that there was a darn squirrell tap-dancing in the attic this morning. It sounded like he was right above my vent, so that contributed to my sleeplessness.

This week should be fun. I'm going to an improv graduation show on Tuesday night, and that's always fun. Friday I believe I am staffing the young alumni holiday party in Midtown, so that ought to be adventurous. I can't remember if I have any other obligations - it will depend on when I start improvising as an apprentice. Giddy up!

Well, I took some NyQuil in hopes of being able to battle the squirrell tonight. Hopefully he's out in the cold shivering. That's mean, but I don't want him in the attic. I am tired and am afraid tonight will be like the night before school starts - anxious to go back to work and what not.

I guess I better go round up my belongings and get some more writing done to finalize the weekend.

This is pathetic

Hellooooooooo. Well, today had an interesting start. I was heading to Midtown to meet a friend for a goal-planning session. I was on GA400 approaching the toll plaza, fumbling in my purse for 50 cents. As I neared the plaza, I pulled off on the side of the road because I was having a hard time finding the appropriate amount of change. After I emptied my purse and scoured the car for loose change, I only had 46 cents. I was so annoyed because, at this point, it was too late for me to take a different route considering the toll booth was just up ahead. Anyways, I pulled up and said, "This is pathetic, but go ahead and ticket me because I only have 46 cents." You could tell the lady agreed that I was pathetic and told me just to give her the 46 cents. What a sweet, sweeet lady.

Then, when I got to the coffee shop, I saw a girl get in her car and start to drive off with her cup of coffee on top of the car. I honestly watched it happening and was kind of suffering from the bystander effect. I mean, I thought about getting out of my car and trying to hurry to say something, but I was also slightly amused. She started backing out with it still on the car, and then thankfully a better samaritan ran and waved her down and handed her cup in the window. Then, I turned and saw a woman lose her balance on her bike and fall off. She was able to catch herself by holding on and made it off the bike landing on her feet. I felt like a cameraman was watching to see if I am a helpful citizen or something. Apparently I'm not.

I had Mexican food twice today. I seriously ought to calm down. I'm starting to concern myself a little because I have an addiction. Oh well. I haven't eaten at home lately, so it makes sense to eat my favorite type of food if I'm paying to go out to eat. TAKE THAT!

No talking in the library

Well, I'd say I've had a pretty productive weekend. I went to Coldstone Friday night, the pool Saturday afternoon, out in Midtown Saturday night, and spent today enjoying the sunshine and hitting up the library.

Call me a dork, but the library is so much fun. I just wanted to walk up and down the aisles all afternoon. I have seven different books checked out right now. It's interesting what the books I'm reading say about me. None of them are fictional books - those were the two I returned today because they didn't intrigue me soon enough. All of my books are nonfiction books of some kind and I think they say a lot about my life. I will just leave it that vague and continue on to another topic.

Oh yeah, I got a smoothie today and it was making me feel absolutely crazy... in a good way. It had strawberries, pineapple and kiwi and I had a great time with it. It put me in the best mood! I was just laughing hysterically at everything, acting somewhat intoxicated. I love FOOD!

Last night when we were out, this guy kept trying to talk to me and get me to dance. Needless to say, I wasn't having it, but at one point he was just like, "YOU ARE SHAWN JOHNSON." It was funny because I used to get that during the Olympics and it just picked up a bit because of Dancing With The Stars. I still think that nobody would tell me that if we weren't similar in size...