It's been forever and a day!

Wow, it's been ages since I updated! People keep telling me they check this once in a while to see if I've written anything, so surprise for you guys! Hopefully I can remember everything I want to write about. I'm not sure I can remember everything I've done...so here we go:
I don't know if there was too much more excitement at the end of last year after my last post. Thanksgiving and Christmas were good, I got to spend time with my family, and I enjoyed having that time with them. New Years was pretty uneventful. In January we got a new president, and that was something I wanted to talk about. The night of the election, back in Nov. was so interesting to me. I was at work, and at some point between flights heard that Obama had won. I have never seen such a response from the American people. There was so much hope and joy! People went out into the streets all over the country to celebrate, and at the White House people just randomly gathered to express their happiness. Then on inauguration day people swarmed to the National Mall in DC to hear Obama's speech. There were so many people there! I'm really glad to know that our country has come far enough to elect a black man to be the leader of our country. It was great to see the emotions of the people, especially civil rights leaders, who had been waiting for a day like that for so long. It was really special. I do feel though that at the time there was so much hope put into one man (the whole world was celebrating this!) that we are bound to be disappointed. People are imperfect, our hope should really be in the highest power.
Sometime back then I got word that my alma mater, Cascade College, would be closing at the end of the academic year. It was absolutely shocking. They had just been able to pay off a lot of debt, and we all thought that things were going well. But funding needs weren't being met, and OCU couldn't bear the deficit anymore I guess. When I heard this I felt (and so did many others) like it was as if a friend had died. This last weekend was the last graduation and there were some reunion events as well. I still can't believe it. I am really sad about it. That school was so vital in developing who I am. I met many of my best friends there. Some of my best memories take place on that little plot of land. The teachers not only taught my classes, but also life lessons, and I would even consider some of them my friends. Now they are looking for new jobs, and moving all over the country to have one. Cascade and the people there were a strong part of the Church of Christ community in this area. There were meetings and events held there all the time. The staff are leaders in our churches. I really feel we will be losing a lot with the closing. Plus all the current students had to transfer to new schools. Besides all of that, it was soo good to see so many friends this weekend and reminesce about the good times. I hope something good comes out of all of this, keep praying for that situation.
Feb. was busy month for me. I went to San Antonio to see Anna. We went to the Alamo, to some of the old spanish missions, to Max Lucado's church (he wasn't preaching that day), I saw her base, we went to a dance performance, and I ate some BBQ. It was of course good to spend time with her, and see where she spends her life right now. (she just found out she will be based in Great Falls, MT for the next 3 years) I also went to DC with my friend Brian to see our friend Randy who is currently at Marine base Quantico for training (for like 1 more week now). It was fun to hang out with them because they make me laugh a lot. We did some site seeing: museums, monuments, white house, pentagon 9-11 memorial, and we went to Quantico too. Plus, I got to hang out with 2 guys on Valentines Day, haha. It was cool to see where Randy is living and training and get a better idea of what all those Marines are doing out there. They are tough! Their training is hard core and I am super impressed by what they do. Make sure to thank our troops!
The next weekend we had a baby shower for Carrie and mine and Amanda's apartment. It was fun and it went well. We had guys come too and played some dumb, but not too annoying games, and did presents and snacks and all that showery type stuff. Suzie was in town for that, yay to see her more often now that she is back on the West Coast!
And the next weekend Amanda and I went out to Cannon Beach. It was nice to be near the ocean, it was one of the greatest reminders of God's power for me.
March was a little calmer. Robin and I went to stay with Suzie in Calabasas. I saw Pepperdine for the first time, it is beautiful! Oh also we went to DISNEYLAND! Man, I love Disneyland. I act like I'm a kid and I don't care. The rides are fun, and it's just a great time there! Plus the weather was perfect for running around all over the place. Can't wait to go again!
Also my birthday came around. My friends surprised me and Danny with a dinner at the Greek Cuisina. I have always wanted to go, it was great. I got to break a plate and yell Opa! and there was a belly dancer and some ouzo (eyw). Thanks guys! I feel pretty dang old now...27! Geez. And still, things are never what I expected them to be like. Not bad I guess though. There are somethings I think I would change if I had more control. But I believe things will work out just fine in time.
Donna and I went out to lunch for our bdays, and Kyle came with us of course. He recently learned the joy of random scream outbursts. haha Everyone probably hated us, but whatever. It was a little funny at first, but then it got a little old. What can you do though? He's a baby, come on people!
Last month Sue and her bf were home from NY, up in Seattle, so I got to spend some time with my friends there. I got to stop by my grandpa's house where Jeremy and Megan are living right now and see them and their new puppy. Justin came back down with me because my mom and dad were in Portland where my grandma had a kidney removed. She is doing just fine. That was Easter weekend, so it was great to have family around.
On April 20, my friend Carrie had her son. The first baby in our little group of friends. They named him Oliver Keith Rude. He is so very cute, although I told them he couldn't be born on 4-20! Oh well.... I saw him yesterday and he had his eyes open more than I have seen yet. So that is fun. They are doing a great job being parents, it will be fun watching him grow.
Last weekend with all the Cascade stuff going on, my group of friends, the Mag7 got to be all together for the first time in about 9/10 months. There were a lot of things to do including Anna's graduation - with her doctorate! Wow! So much work goes into that. I am proud of all my friends who worked hard to get their masters and doctorates (Suzie has her graduation in a few weeks).
Recently Amanda and I went to Multnomah Falls and went to the top. It's only 1 mile, but all uphill, it's a tiring walk! Very pretty up at the top though. Well worth it. We also went out to the tulip festival in Woodburn. 40 acres of tulips. It was so beautiful! I love tulips, and they had so many colors and varieties.
I don't think I had an opportunity to blog about my Twilight obsession? I don't remember. They were good. I read them quickly. I bought them quickly. I read them multiple times. I saw the movie, now multiple times. (books are way way better) I wish someone loved me! :-) I'll probably read them again in a few months, whenever the next movie comes out. But first, Harry Potter 6 will be out in a few months, and I'm going to have to reread all of those. And Angels and Demons is coming out. I think that book was better than the DaVinci Code. I really thought it was good, so I'm pretty stoked about that movie too.
Maybe that was all? I hope so. I'm going to try to be a little better about updating, so I can get back to pictures and things like that?? But there's facebook right?