lbs.

after 4 weeks:
17 down...
5 million to go!!! ha!

but i already had to buy new jeans and i have tons of energy now so i'm feelin' good!
aaaaaaand i like a really cute boy!
no but seriously...homeboy is bangin'!!! (o:

home sweet home.

fresno. the more time i spend here, the more beauty i find in it.


i've complained about this town more times than i count, and always told myself that i would never move back here, never stay here for long, and most definately not find any kind of happiness here.

however, certain circumstances that are out of my control have put me here...for who knows how long...so i have been trying to come to terms with that and make "the best" of my situation. because no one likes a negative nancy, right?

well, in all honesty- even though i told myself this, over the past ten months i haven't really given fresno the chance. whether it's san frany or LA, i have been going out of town almost every other weekend. i've been trying to escape the realities of me living at home, rather than facing them head on and making the most of it. i came to this realization about 2 weeks ago...the realization that i haven't been giving the people or places here in fresno the time of day. i blow off guys on a constant basis because deep down i'm afraid that if i get into a relationship they'll somehow "force" me to stay here. i go to church off and on, but i haven't found a stable church home. i haven't even unpacked some of my moving boxes. it's like i've made every effort to make sure that i am not rooted in this town in any possible way. and what has all this done for me?? i ended feeling like a nomad in my own home town. but the only person responsible for making me feel this way was myself.


it's amazing what kind of changes can happen in one's life in just 2 weeks when they decide to actually live it. i have a new church home and possibly a new bible study. i have a new set of friends. i have a new weekly hang out. i have a new crush! i have a new job...and i'm actively pursuing all of them!!! for the first time in my life, i'm actually giving fresno a chance to make me happy. i'm learning that i don't need to drive 3 hours to find what i'm looking for in life. there's so much available for me here, all i have to do is be open to experience it.

so this is me now. happy. i'm finding art in everyday things. from the tree blossoms that look like snow falling, to the clear skies showcasing the real snow on nearby mountaions. from the giant wall murals in downtown, to the funky paint creations we made in mel's living room. from watching abigail & jonathon's bands perform in tower, to challenging the boys in a game of rock band.


i'm giving this place a chance, and loving every minute because of it.

celebrate the 80's - at shannon & katie's!

it was late. we were tired. that is how this video blog was born.

bask in it's randomness, boringness, and poor image quailty.

warning: you will not be able to get back these 8 minutes of your life if you regret pressing play. sorry.

oh incahooties...how i miss you so!

ok so i think i'm going to start an "i miss incahoots" group on facebook, because i'm prety sure i'm not alone in my feelings here. i miss that dirty, sleazy, cheap ass place we once called home.
i miss having that friday night default all throughout college.
i miss seeing that sloppy drunk girl try and dance on the stage.
i miss being that sloppy drunk girl trying to dance on stage.
i miss hangover wednesdays.
i miss break dance fights.
i miss actual gang fights!
i miss seeing tyler hagstrom get kicked out every week.
i miss parking lot drinking.
i miss making fun of friends who made out on the dance floor.
i miss making out on the dance floor??
i miss ghetto night.
i miss 80's night.
i miss helping kelly figure her outfit every week.
i miss the annoying camera guy.
i miss the bathroom conversations with random girls.
i miss the alberto's after party.
i miss the guaranteed craziness it brought us each week.

if i become rich and famous one day....i am buying that building. that nasty nasty building.
without a doubt!

the good, the bad, and the ugly.

things that happened to shannon last week:
1. her company went out of business.
2. she got laid off.
3. her sister turned 21!
4. she went to hollywood for the weekend.
5. she scored a 123 in crunk bowling!
6. two random girls asked to be friends with her, because she obviously rules.
7. she went clubbing with her sibs.
8. she got to drive her brother's really really fast car!
9. she got a personal serenade by some kick ass musicians!
10. oh yeah, and she's no loner friends with trista milanovich...

true story.

shannon hill's top ten vids of '08:

10. the bitch documentaries.
*featuring trista milanovich, shannon hill, and "drally" somewhere in the background.



8. mastercard "we want the funk" commercial.
*featuring shan's favorite commercial of all time.



7. premonition trailor "melanie and nick style"
*featuring my brother's girlfriend molly, made by some crazy days of our lives fan.



6. & 5. "drunk history" volumes 1 & 2.
*featuring micheal cera, clark duke, and jack black all acting out different history stories being re-told by a drunk narrarator's perspective.




4. a fan-made beaver montage.
*featuring a ton of scenes with my brother (as the beaver in greek), put together by some crazy polish fan with too much time on his hands.



3. clark and micheal's "live linxxx dating tape"
*featuring a 20-year-old clark duke and a 17-year-old micheal cera (aka the love of my life) making a online dating mockumentary.



2. the twilight movie trailor.
*featuring rob pattinson (and a few other people that don't really matter right?), because he is just too damn hot. geez.




ANDDDDDD THE NUMBER ONE SPOT GOES TO................

1. drinking out of cups.
*featuring the audio of an east coast druggie tripping on acid in a closet by himself, and an animated lizard to interpret his incoherent speech.

i think you should try this.

try listening to the radio on your way to work today.
that's right, i said RADIO. so turn off your ipod you spoiled brats, and see what kind of adventures the radio takes you on down memory lane.
it's honestly my favorite part of the day....my 30 minute drive to work each morning where i blast the most random tunes the radio stations in fresno can provide me.
it's amazing how each song reminds you of someone or something or some time. every single song. and the best part about it, is that you never know what the next song will be...what old memories will be resurfaced...and what people you'll be remined of and want to text the very next second so they know you're thinking of them.
so i tried it one day last week. every song that came on the radio on my drive to work....i texted whomever it reminded me of...and ya know what....it totally made my day better. i ended up texting back in forth with like 4 of my friends that i hadn't seen or talked to in awhile. and now i've made it a ritual. what's funny is the timing of things like these....it's like God knows exactly who i need to talk to make my day better, and who needs a little reminder call that i still care about them, so he sends me these little hints through the radio or something...haha.
i know that sounds really cheesy, but it's been true for me. so how are you supposed to listen for life's little nudges if you listen to the same cd everyday? expand your mind kids! and TUNE IN!