Friends Forever.

I've always believed God puts people in your life for a reason. In my lifetime, I've been particularly blessed with the friends I've had and the memories I've shared with those people. This has particularly been on my mind lately when I saw that my friend from EIU and her husband are expecting their first child (and I am very excited for them both!). In college, D and I shared many fond memories together. We played poker together on Monday nights my sophomore year, we t.p.'d my RA's door, we went to countless basketball games together, and if it wasn't for her... there's a good chance Zack and I may not be together. I credit her and Beth for teaching me how to effectively boo the other team at basketball games.

I could continue on about all the fun times we had together at college but I won't. And I'm sad that we've gone our separate ways and perhaps don't keep in touch very well. But I guess that's life.

I've had many best friends during my life and I still care about all them very deeply. Recently at work, I was told that I simply care too much about my employees. But that also follows being told I have an enormous heart. For some reason or other, God gave me this HUGE capacity to love everyone. 

I've always believed it to be one of my greatest strengths because all I really want to do is help people. It's that simple for me. My reason for living on this Earth is to help out the people I come into contact with. That's why I'll never make in corporate America because I am far too honest and care far too much about the people around me.

Tonight I was also able to catch up with an old friend of mine from church, Jessie. She's currently working as a missionary in southeast Asia doing research. I've been following all her newsletters and e-mails and I pray for her every day. Like D and I, my friendship with Jessie has shared very fond memories. We coached the church's JBQ team together, went on countless missions trips/retreats/conventions together, and so many other memories. Jessie made my faith in God stronger and always lifted my spirits with her laughter and boundless energy. She has invited me to see her speak at a church around Chicago when she returns to the states in December. I'm very excited and cannot wait to see her again.

So I guess the point of my blog tonight is that if you were ever a close friend of mine, you're still very important to me. I know our paths may have split and gone separate ways. Heck, we may not have a single thing in common anymore (even though part of me wishes we did). And even if your world falls apart and everyone else runs off, I never will. I have this fault of being desperately loyal and once you've gained it, it never waivers.

I have this dream of one day being best friends with everyone again. Learning about what you're up to and where life has taken you. We probably once said best friends forever and when I said it, I meant it. If we never speak again, then it's ok but I will always cherish the friendship we shared for the rest of my life.

So thank you for allowing me to be your friend. I won't list you all because that will take forever. I have MANY people that I would consider close friends.I will consider you all my friends until the day I die (whether you like it or not). And to end my blog... I end with this fun video from Youtube. Just remember... you've got a friend in me.

Candy W(Rappers).... ???

I have to say first and foremost, I am so SAD Steve Jobs died. I am both a lover of Apple computers and Pixar so I feel the world has lost a huge force in the fields of technology and creativity. I bought my first Mac, named Machiavelli, right as I entered college in 2006. The thing is a beast! Five years later and it still runs like the day I pulled it out of the box. Eventually one day I will have to replace it because I can no longer update the software. It's sadly far away from me in the great state of Missouri on loan to the youngest Burge, as she soon will finish her first semester of college. I immediately knew that I would never own another PC. Now Zack and I argue on this but he can live with his stinkin' Dell. Apple is 100 times better!

I actually do remember watching Toy Story in theaters. I think I was only 7 at the time but I remember it being super awesome! Who doesn't imagine their toys actually having lives of their own? I used to pretend to fall asleep at night and tell my toys I was doing it so I could catch them in the act. The only Pixar movie I have not seen in theaters was Monsters, Inc. When the movie comes out each summer, I put it at the TOP of my priority list of must-see summer blockbusters. I wish I could pick a favorite Pixar movie but I really can't. It's like trying to tell which part of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup is better: Peanut Butter or Chocolate? I would have to argue that's its one of those questions like "How many licks does it take to get the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop?" You will never know the answer because it's different every time.

I could go on talking about how Steve Jobs changed my life but CNN does it so well. But while I was reading his obituary in the entertainment section, I came across this fascinating article on one of their entertainment blogs. The title reads... "Method Man raps about Sour Patch Kids." Yep... I had the same reaction.

It is, naturally, for an upcoming promotion but Method Man, who is part of the Wu-Tang Clan (a rap group), actually came out with a legit song AND a music video. The song is 3:28 and yes, the Sour Patch Kids candies do actually appear in the music video along with the whole Wu-Tang Clan and a dancing video girl.

I was so curious I watched the music video and was surprised, the song isn't too bad. I wouldn't go download it or anything but for a song about candy... it's better that what I expected. Some of the lyrics are pretty catchy. My favorite line is "They'll throw bleach in your laundry and then fold your origami."

I also enjoy eating Sour Patch Kids so now that the song worked and I want to go out and buy some, I'll do what the song says and "Shut up and eat 'em up."