on writing well

new site

2009-02-27T18:44:00.002-06:00

hello dearest friends.

i have a new website!
thanks to the one and only aaron garcia,
my blog is now available at monicahopkins.com

i think you might need to resubscribe.
[all 10 of my readers]
sorry for the inconvenience,
but please do take a moment to do so.

i love you all.
enjoy my new site.
it's just a start.
expect changes in the future!

an open book

2009-02-25T22:41:00.001-06:00

i’ve recently started a new venture in my life, that just a few of my loved ones know about. [just a few]. it’s an adventure, without a doubt, and it’s frightening and emotional, and life-changing, and all of those difficult things that i know will pay off in the end.

the scariest part about it though, is being so open with these people. i fear that someone will spill the beans, or innocently share with someone else, or write something embarrassing on my facebook wall [yes, i fear this]. i have no control over that and it’s a challenge that i face often because i am committed to living my life as an open book.

but that’s the thing about being vulnerable to people. it means you hand over control to them. you are no longer running the show alone–these people become very much a part of it. and it can be difficult because you can only trust people to an extent, but it’s such a good thing because they are then allowed to take part in the adventure with you. that includes the sorrow and the joy.

i’m convinced this is how God intended it.

old habits

2009-02-22T14:14:00.003-06:00

i have this really bad habit.
i like to stay out very late on the weekends
[makes me feel like i'm an adult i think,
and somehow reassures the fact that
i own my time...or something like that].
and on my way home i stop at whataburger.
yes, whataburger.

this fine establishment starts serving breakfast
at 11 pm.
[i like the breakfast taquito with a coke.]
and i find myself craving this meal around midnight.
that's how bad this habit is.

this is not a good thing.
but somehow, i'm ok with it.
i claim it as just another one of my weird things.

new topic: how many "weird things" is one person allowed to have?

growing.

2009-02-17T09:04:00.000-06:00

i need to be a better person.
so,
i'm going to work on that.

love

2009-02-15T18:13:00.002-06:00

i have a new love for valentines day.
i don't like it when people complain
about valentines being all about consumerism,
fake romance, waste of money, single-awareness day,
blah blah blah.
i don't ever want to be that person.

so this year,
i spent valentines day with people i love.
and it was so wonderful.
the best valentines i've ever had.
and now i look back to those times
when i've actually had a valentine.
they were so empty compared to this one.

i realized that
changing the meaning of valentines day
starts with me [one person].
consciously choosing to be with people that i truly love
and make sure they know that i love them.

so instead of complaining about the day,
i celebrated valentines.
and it was lovely.

black, white, and grey

2009-02-08T22:56:00.002-06:00

i've always been a very honest person.
straightforward.
blunt, if you will.

i have always seen life as very black and white.
this is right, and this is wrong.
i situation comes up,
i instantly know what category it goes in.
i make a decision, and there is no turning back.

but things changed for me.
in the last year and a half,
there has been very much a grey area in my life.
this isn't wrong, but it isn't necessarily right.
or i knew at one time this was wrong,
but it's not really wrong to me anymore...

i've recently had a situation that was neither black or white.
it knew it was the right thing to do,
but it was so wrong at the same time.

maybe i'm just growing up.

resonation

2009-01-28T19:19:00.002-06:00

hello.
it's been a while.
i've been busy being the butterfly.
and then i got sick.
i'm working on kicking it to the curb.

something i've been thinking on:
there are very few people in life
that you know will be your friend forever.
they understand you.
they love you.
the things they say resonate with your heart
and you just know that they are an extension of you.
it's a rare thing,
and when you find it, it is comforting.
in my life,
my brothers have been that.
they might not always understand me,
but they love me.
and they say things that resonate within my heart.

especially my brother daniel.
who has recently made a smashing entrance into the blog world.
[for a second time!]
daniel and i are very similar.
we love deeply.
we think constantly.
and we both love to write.
and daniel is so talented at it.
he writes his life. and it is wonderful.

so, please, all of my [7] readers... here's daniel.

the loner vs. the butterfly

2009-01-04T19:58:00.002-06:00

one side of me tends to be a loner.
quite often, actually.
this is unusual for me.
[if you've known me for more than
five minutes,
you know that i am drawn to people]

while that is very much true,
there is still a side of me that aches
if i don't get my alone time.

my current situation in life
does not allow for much time to myself.
and i have experienced the consequences.
yet i have this internal struggle
because i truly love people.
i love their stories and their voices
and the light that they bring.

i will have to settle for the time being
with the thought that i am split in two.

the loner vs. the butterfly

2K9

2009-01-01T16:32:00.002-06:00

well, it is 2009.
and i am glad.

2008 started off with a case of mono,
followed by a series of events
that were difficult,
heartbreaking,
and wearing on my soul.

regardless of these things,
last year ended in many blessings.
for which i am thankful.
and 2009 will continue on the same route.

it will be the best year of my life!

2009 is already starting off better.
i don't have mono today!
instead i am healthy,
and my family is here,
and my brother weds in 2 days,
and i just creamed my uncles in texas hold em.

here's to living and loving in 2009!

the minivan

2008-12-29T18:32:00.004-06:00

today i was reminded of the first time i drove a car alone.
my mom let me take the minivan to blockbuster.
man, i was so ready.
and i thought i was too cool.
i remember the fact that i didn't care that i was driving
a minivan.
i didn't care...i was driving...alone!
i was slightly scared,
but my excitement overpowered that.
and i did it.
i drove that movie back to blockbuster
and i drove all the way home.
and i even parked the van in the garage.
talk about an accomplishment!

i wonder,
why can't every stage in life be that easy?
where my terror is overcome by joy and excitement.
my fears washed out by anticipation of something good.

when i think about it,
my dreams do overcome my fear and doubt for the most part.
it's when i get to the edge of the diving board,
that i get scared.

and wish i felt like i did when i turned the ignition to the minivan.

christmas via me

2008-12-25T23:37:00.002-06:00

what i got for christmas:

+ a wii [family present which we played practically all day]
+ little espresso cups from world market [adorable]
+ a pair of toms shoes [shout out: daniel]
+ a random board game [amusement to be determined]
+ the outliers by malcolm gladwell [holla!]
+ some christmas socks [thanks mom!]
+ some christmas pj's that are going back [sorry mom]
+ a lot of money [booyah]

said money will be put to good use.
[to be revealed at a later time]

during scripture-reading,
and present-opening,
and feast-having,
and movie-seeing,
and wii-playing,
during all of these things,
i thought of the many blessings in my life.

twas a lovely christmas indeed.

festivus

2008-12-23T19:05:00.002-06:00

today is festivus!

if you don't know what festivus is,
watch more seinfeld.

also, today is christmas eve eve.
said goodbye to the office
and i am officially home for christmas.
almost everyone is here.
had chili for dinner [so good]
many gifts under the tree.

life is good.

it's a festivus for the rest of us!!!

my tv show

2008-12-21T11:46:00.003-06:00

i'm convinced that my life
would make an awesome reality tv show.

characters on the show:
monica | hilarious, yet pensive girl who does weird things.
stephanie | lover of hip hop, hater of nothing.
jesse | may be mental, still awaiting test results
julie | sister-to-be and always up for shopping
+ at least 20 other riveting characters that
i am too lazy to list right now.
[i didn't realize how long the list would be
when i started typing this blog
and this did not appear to be the direction i was going.
oh well.]

anyway,
the camera crew would follow me around everywhere
[and stephanie would probably get her own crew
because she is such a entertaining character]
and it would mostly be me laughing,
driving around,
looking at christmas lights,
meeting friends for dinner,
and hanging with jesse, watching top chef.

and the camera would catch all of the bizarre things
that i experience on a daily basis.

i'm convinced this would make a great show.

experiment

2008-12-11T21:28:00.003-06:00

i held a little experiment this evening.
and the results were quite interesting.
of course,
i shall not speak of them here.
but rather, in another place.
that you will see soon.

in other news,
the relient k christmas album
is surprisingly good.
quite unexpected.

and in even other news,
the holidays seem to be jaaaaam-packed.
plus a wedding.

i am so tired this week.

coffee-water

2008-12-08T21:00:00.002-06:00

saturday.
i grabbed my keys and headed to the bucks
[my first time in quite some time there]
honestly, just needed to get out of the house
because the cleaning lady was there
and i felt guilty for just sitting on my rear
drinking my mom's coffee-water
[she makes the weakest coffee possible.
so much so, that i call it coffee-water.]
while the cleaning lady works diligently
scrubbing my dirty bathroom that i,
apparently, cannot clean myself.

with no plans until five that evening,
i grabbed my keys and headed out the door,
wondering to myself what i would do with the day.
i had a few errands to run,
but they would certainly not take up the 7 hours
that i had to spare.
pulled up to starbucks and standing in line,
my sister-to-be sends me a message via text
to join her for lunch.
couldn't be more perfect timing.
i knew lunch would somehow turn into shopping
[and it did]
and then i could run my few errands,
grab a quick shower,
and scoot off to the bachelorette party
of all bachelorette parties.

all of this running through my brain
while my current obsession,
school of seven bells,
is singing in my radio.
the weather is perfect--sunny and cold.
i've got the whole day ahead of me.
life is good.
Lovers in Japan pops up
and i hit the open road.
i've talked about this before,
but when this happened,
i was so completely content with my life.
it was a good day.

life has brought me many smiles lately.

the victorian woman

2008-12-04T23:25:00.002-06:00

thrown into the competition,
but not wanting to compete.
an image of victorian women continually popping
into my mind.
large bustles, tightly curled hair, and umbrellas with lace.
not caring the least bit for anything
but that.

foolishness appeared.

my anticipated ugliest
was rather the most lovely.
expectations violently switched.

however, perceptions changed.

the dreamer

2008-12-03T22:35:00.002-06:00

i haven't been writing here very much lately...
don't worry, i'm not on a writing hiatus or anything.
actually, probably the opposite.
i find myself writing more than ever.
just in different places.
and about different things.

however,
when it is truly me,
i find myself always going back to the condition
of the human heart.
how we work.
how we are wired.
what makes us go.
why we do what we do.
my mind is always thinking of those things.

sleep is the only time i am away from my thoughts.
and even then, dreams occupy.
i want to be _____ and _______ and _____.
and it's because i'm like _____ and i do _____ and
i'm good at _______.

thank goodness for dreams.

monday morning bits

2008-11-24T11:12:00.003-06:00

hello all,

it's monday morning.
i'm sick.
thanksgiving is in t-minus 3 days. [praise]
thought i'd give some monday morning bits:

just heard about this band. downloaded album immediately.
our video now has over 96,000 views.
[rumors of an ice cream social at 100k are about.]
i find myself quoting this video uncontrollably.
i gotta say, my boss knows his stuff.
seth godin perfectly describes what i've been experiencing
all too much lately.
how convenient: thanksgiving.com
a clean conscious makes a soft pillow.

that is all.
i've run out of kleenex at my desk.
DISASTER!

a chair in the sky

2008-11-18T10:21:00.000-06:00

this is so perfect:

levels

2008-11-16T14:44:00.002-06:00

sometimes in life, i feel overwhelmed.

i often think of life as levels, like in a video game,
or a card game of some sort.
and you conquer one level,
then move on to the next,
conquer that one, move on, etc.
and the levels are like building blocks.
they build upon each other.

i'll have these moments every now and then,
where i find myself trying to be on level 15,
but then i remember i haven't even conquered
level 3...
and i feel somewhat discouraged.
i think "how will i ever get to level 15?"
and then i feel like i'm going back to the drawing board.

trying to be content with level 3...

wintery girl

2008-11-10T20:59:00.001-06:00

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Robert Frost.

starbucks like a church?

2008-10-31T07:03:00.001-05:00

i'm in pittsburgh.
while i'm gone,
watch this:

hustle

2008-10-26T18:24:00.005-05:00

so yesterday i threw a party for my brother and his fiance.
an engagement party/co-ed shower type of thing.
it was great and everyone had a wonderful time.

an old friend of the family who is known for being absolutely nuts
pulled me aside and asked when i would be getting married.
ahh, my favorite question...the continual check on my single-ness
that will only end when i actually get married.
so i respond "george, i'm not even close..."
and my mother chips in "she's on the market, george!"
[thanks mom]
well, george responded first by looking at me as if i have cancer.
and then saying"
"well, monica... you gotta hustle!"

apparently, in order to not be single anymore,
i need to hustle. like in football.
thanks george. from now on you'll be my dating coach.

sabado

2008-10-18T11:34:00.002-05:00

i can't believe i have gone over a week without a post.
well, i must tell you...there have been many
swimming around in this ole brain of mine.

does anyone have a saturday morning routine?
i have one that sort of evolved into what it is today.
every saturday morning [that i am able to]
i wake up around 9 or 9:30
i get coffee/breakfast
[whatever is available in le kitchen]
and i watch a random movie on tv.
sometimes it's not even a whole movie
sometimes i just catch the second half.
today it was selena,
which is awesome by the by.
after i watch my random movie,
i somehow make my way to the shower
and i get ready for the day.
this is usually around 11 or 12 when this happens.

i dearly love my saturday mornings.
this doesn't happen every saturday,
but in my perfect world it would.

moonlight

2008-10-09T22:20:00.003-05:00

i've been searching for one particular song
that will represent this season.
i so enjoy when music holds memories with it.
because of that,
i tend to have 3-4 songs per season
that will always remind me of that time in my life.

this fall is so unique.
and i've finally found the perfect song for it.
clair de lune by claude debussy.
it is my mother's favorite.
and it was her mother's favorite.
"moonlight"
so beautiful.

i think you will enjoy this video:

maggie

2008-10-05T19:04:00.005-05:00

my parents are getting rid of my dog tomorrow.
maggie mae.
we got maggie when i was a sophomore in high school.
she was just six weeks old and the cutest puppy ever.
she's gotten a little crazy over the years.
and by crazy, i mean totally nuts.
she won't let anyone touch her except for my dad.
but that's beside the point.

tomorrow we're giving her away.
i haven't started crying,
but i definitely feel on the verge of tears.
i can't even talk about it.

so here's to maggie.
you've been an incredible dog.
i am sad.

new perspective

2008-10-02T19:15:00.000-05:00

do you ever go a long time without seeing someone,
and when you see them again, they aren't who you remember?
not in a negative sense.
just all of the sudden, they are a different person.
and you think to yourself,
"is this the person i knew before?"

or.

do you ever have a situation where you think you know someone,
but then they do something that completely throws you off?
again, not negatively.
you just think,
"woah, you are not who i thought you were!"

it can actually be a pretty positive thing in some situations.
i recently experienced this and it was interesting.
someone who i thought i knew
became somewhat different in my eyes.
for the better.
i think for just a second,
they let their guard down.
and i got to see a bit of their heart.

a new perspective.

the end of my sacrifice

2008-10-01T19:50:00.002-05:00

today is the day that my starbucks break is over.
i just realized [at 7:50 pm].
which means,
i accomplished my goal.

i am no longer addicted to starbucks.
i don't have to have it.
i don't neeeeeed it.
i'm totally fine without it.

i think i will continue on this course.
maybe allow myself 1 starbucks a week.
i think that's reasonable, yes?

i must say... i'm pretty proud of myself!

fall

2008-09-27T16:18:00.003-05:00

oh beloved Fall.
each year you mean something new to me.
and each year you bring memories of
the year before.
you are everchanging because of that.
each year, my memories from the year before
become the measuring stick.
each year, my mind is consumed with what you brought me
the year before.
so much so, that i miss you completely.

i would like you to be different
than who you have been before.
different than what you brought me just one year ago.

the plan for you this year:
vibrant, lovely and full of life.

instant moves

2008-09-18T18:30:00.003-05:00

there is one song that is guaranteed to make me dance.
if it is ever in your heart to see my totally fab dance moves,
then you just need to put on this song.
i'm talking instant dancing within 5 seconds.

don henley - dirty laundry.

i just recently found out he lives in dallas.
my current goal is to meet him.
daniel says he goes into his starbucks often.

in other news:
i've used up my 3 freebie starbucks
and i've had 2 beverages purchased for me.
it's only the 18th of september...

chapters.

2008-09-14T22:24:00.003-05:00

today was hard.
i did not anticipate it.
moving from grapevine to dallas.
you would think it would be easy.
i mean... grapevine... to dallas.

but i stood there looking at my empty room
and found myself bursting into tears.
i wasn't ready to leave all of those memories behind.
i wasn't ready to close that chapter of my life.

this was the first time in my life
that i wasn't ready to move on to the next season.
the first time that it was difficult to close that door.
but i look forward to this next chapter.

living with jesse in the next room
will never compare to living with stephanie.
however, i'm looking forward to the adventure.

it's random girl

2008-09-09T19:33:00.003-05:00

dad read my blog.
pretended like he didn't when i asked him about it.
oh but he did!
he gave in.

out of my 3 starbucks freebies,
i have used two.
not including the starbucks that dad just bought for me.

currently holding place for my favorite song:
words by [doves]

rainy days are good.

my dad

2008-09-07T13:24:00.003-05:00

so my dad reads my blog.
at first i thought it was weird
and it bothered me a bit.
but now i don't really care.

but my dad is hilarious about it.
he tries to bring my posts up in conversation.
like the other day he said something
about me hanging out at starbucks.
he obviously read my post about quitting the bucks
for a month.
and i said "you obviously read my blog dad"
but it's just so funny how he tries to be so sly about it.
it makes me laugh every time.

so here's my challenge to you dad:
[yes, i'm totally calling you out]
try to bring this one up inconspicuously!

on a side note: barack obama is on twitter.
what's happening?

teal

2008-09-05T11:05:00.002-05:00

i've been known to be a grammar nazi from time to time.
[the writing on this blog is generally incorrect grammatically on purpose]
[at least that's my story]
however, i never have thought of myself to be obnoxious
in my need to fix grammatical errors.

today i was reading blogs and found this.
our country needs more people like them.
i would like to join teal.
i'll most likely be carrying a sharpie around
from now on.

I&W

2008-09-04T12:55:00.001-05:00

been listening to the creek drank the cradle.

sam bean asked me:
"does he make light of a rainy day?"

good question.

starbucks

2008-09-01T12:44:00.005-05:00

beginning today,
i will be taking a break from starbucks.
for a month.
yes, until october 1st, i will not be buying any starbucks.
[waiting for initial shock to pass]
i've decided that i spend way too much money there.
so for an entire month, i'm going to stop.
we'll see what happens after that.

now i've set some ground rules for myself:
1. i'm giving myself 3 freebies.
[meaning, i'm allowed to slip 3 times.]
2. if someone would like to go to starbucks,
i will go with them and withhold from buying anything.
3. if someone wants to purchase starbucks for me,
i will gladly accept.
4. if i receive a gift certificate from starbucks,
i will abstain from using it until october 1st.

you may be asking
"why, monica, why??"
"why would you give up such a thing?"
i just spent 200 dollars on an iphone
and i was thinking of ways that i could regain that money.
i don't think i spend 200 dollars a month on starbucks,
but i spend a chunk a change there.
so it's an experiment.

also,
i rarely delay gratification.
i hardly ever give up anything.
and i generally get what i want.

so i'm going to stop for a month.

wings

2008-08-29T18:37:00.003-05:00

don't ask how i found it,
but i found the most amazing website i've ever seen.
their products are awesome,
and to be totally honest,
don't need a website to sell.
these babies will sell themselves.
please, for the love of everything good and holy,
go to this website:

wings of praise.

a burden

2008-08-28T09:03:00.005-05:00

something has been happening lately.
and my heart is being moved like never before.

i've started to read unChristian.
it's a book put out by The Barna Group
and written by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons.
basically, they are exposing how the world views Christians.
and it's sobering.
i knew it was bad, but i didn't realize the depth of that.

so i find that my heart is breaking and i'm burdened.
[this is most definitely a good thing]

i also came across this video today and it challenged me:

political girl?

2008-08-26T08:56:00.004-05:00

last night i got to catch a few minutes of
the democratic national convention.
to be honest,
i am SO not into politics.
my reason: i'm too lazy to care.
[it's absolutely horrible, i know]

however,
i'm doing my best to make an effort.
last week, i was excited to hear that donald miller,
one of my favorite authors,
would be giving the closing prayer at the dnc.
i was glad to hear this because,
as he puts it, "evangelical voices have been scarce
within this party..."
anyway, you can read his prayer here.

i was encouraged by it.
not because i'm for any particular side of anything.
rather, because he not only prayed for the democratic party,
but he prayed for the republicans too.
and he said what needed to be said.
"we need you God"

remember

2008-08-25T22:16:00.008-05:00

i was looking through some of my old blogs.
my simple revelations have become lost.
it was good to see them again.

i can't remember why i stopped writing about such things.
maybe i got distracted.
maybe i enjoyed being funny more.
either way,
it was refreshing to remember those things and those times.

revelation all over again.

le hair

2008-08-22T10:48:00.001-05:00

good morning world.

i'm having a bad hair day today.
i think it's because i had a great hair day yesterday.
and i let it get to my head.

pun intended.

the thinker

2008-08-21T22:30:00.000-05:00

i tend to be an over-thinker.
you know, i can always identify
that particular trait in others.
i never thought i would identify
that very trait in myself.

it's not necessarily a bad thing.
it just means
i love to think on ideas.
spend my time mulling over questions.
what's the real answer?
how can i solve this?

but it also comes with
what did that mean?
why did she do that?
and the ever-popular
why did i say that??

all i can say is,
it's the brain i was given.
[unfortunately or fortunately?]
i wouldn't have it any other way.

a moment

2008-08-17T12:24:00.000-05:00

there are two types of people in this world
[yes, i'm totally using that]
1. people who live for the next moment
2. people who live off the moment they recently had

i seem to go in between the two people.
[as if i'm person 1.5 or something]
sometimes i live off of the moment i've recently had.
i think about it often.
it motivates me.
i tell everyone about it.

but sometimes i find myself desperate for another moment.
i don't like me when i'm person 1.
i can never be satisfied with my recent moment.
[moment can be replaced with experience, occurrence, etc.]
i find myself obsessing over what will happen next.
when will my next moment be?
when will i experience this again?

so my question is...
which is the right person?
do i live off of my moments... or do i live for the next one?
which is the better way to live?
which is the right way to live?
i don't know the answer.

just a thought i had this morning.

becoming me.

2008-08-13T20:55:00.000-05:00

"i didn't know what i wanted to do,
but i knew the woman i wanted to become"
- diane von furstenberg

this is on an american express commercial.
and i'm totally obsessed with it.

no quote could describe me more.
i really don't know what i want to do.
or at least it changes regularly.
but i do know exactly the woman i want to become.
what she looks like, how she acts,
who she is.

i'm becoming me.

LIFE girl

2008-08-11T21:01:00.000-05:00

tonight is so very interesting.
i'm wearing a sweatshirt
in the middle of a texas summer.
it's rainy and gross outside,
but i love it.
my head is cloudy like never before,
but it's not a bad thing this time.
i feel like writing a haiku.
who doesn't enjoy a good haiku?
trying to remember what day it is.
oh LIFE!

i want to take a trip.

my legionnaire

2008-08-05T12:51:00.000-05:00

his goodness is what won me over.
yes, my legionnaire's the kindest soldier.

[brooke waggoner]

girl with a job

2008-08-04T13:59:00.000-05:00

i knew the Lord would be faithful in my requests.
i knew He would take care of things.
trusting the Lord gets easier as i move forward in life.

i've got a new job!
i am joining the team at Artistry Marketing
as their first junior copywriter.
i couldn't be more thrilled!
i knew after my first meeting there,
that was where i wanted to be.
and God is faithful.

this is pretty amazing.
i'm working where i want to work,
doing what i want to do,
at barely 23.
and the best part:
i'm furthering the Kingdom.
God is good.

surprises

2008-07-29T23:01:00.000-05:00

i love surprises.
i love surprises.
i love surprises.

i love giving surprises.
i love receiving surprises.
i love surprise parties.
i love being surprised.

if i had it my way,
i would be involved in a surprise
whether giving or receiving,
every day for the rest of my life.

i even love the way surprise is spelled.
bring on the surprise!

the movies

2008-07-25T16:20:00.000-05:00

i've discovered something about myself.
the music in trailers is always
what makes me want to see the movie.

i recently saw mamma mia.
why, you ask?
because that trailer had abba music!
i love those songs!
it totally hooked me.
the movie was terrible. music was awesome.

i wanted to see coach carter several years ago
mostly because it had that tupac song in the trailer.
and i wanted to see american gangster
because of that song.

i'm a sucker for the song.

the writer

2008-07-21T09:22:00.001-05:00

today begins my third week without a job.
i feel good and bad... all at the same time.
good because i'm accomplishing so much
of my personal to do list.
and i'm able to write like i truly want to.
bad because i don't know when my next
paycheck will be.

this weekend, however,
i found my mind wandering constantly
over my desire to write a book.
it's burning inside of me once again
and i'm not sure if it will ever go away.
even if i write a book,
i'll probably want to write another.

i can rest assure, though.
nothing is impossible for Him.

the trendometer

2008-07-19T15:58:00.000-05:00

if my brother wasn't the manager at american apparel,
i would NEVER shop there.

seriously, what's up with the hostile environment?
every time i walk in there,
i feel like they are scanning me at the door
and i may only enter if i reach a high enough
score on the trendometer.
sorry i don't have tattoos covering my entire body.
am i still cool enough to shop here?

just imagine how much more business they would get
if they were nice to the people who entered the store.

oh trendy people...

yes

2008-07-14T09:38:00.000-05:00

i love this:

"The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter."
-Mark Twain

it's why i love to laugh.

whiskeytown

2008-07-10T11:54:00.000-05:00

i am continually mesmerized by the power of music.
i write about it often, i've found.

today i took a look down memory lane
with the help of whiskeytown.
16 days.
memories of being a little one
and sitting in daniel's room
while he listened to this song,
asking him to "play it again, play it again"
or "play that song about the bed sheet fights"
i loved it then and i love it now.

i also listened to that one song that makes me sad.
i had to stop it mid-song and change the tune.
i didn't want to cry in the middle of starbucks.
how embarrassing.

oh whiskeytown,
my old standard.

christmas 1988

2008-07-07T16:29:00.001-05:00

christmas 88
Originally uploaded by hopkinshopkins

christmas 1988 was a good year at the hopkins' household. you can tell by my tongue.

i know, i know. i was adorable.

the good, the bad, and the ugly

2008-07-04T11:47:00.001-05:00

sometimes in life, you experience really great things.
and those things are like eating an amazing piece of pie.
but at the time you don't think about the fact
that the pie might not be good for you
and it might cause you to gain ten pounds.

so when the pie is over,
you're dealing with the ten pounds
and it takes forever to get rid of it.
but at the same time,
you're looking back at the pie.
and in your mind,
that pie was still really great.
you don't necessarily regret eating the pie,
but you sure do hate the ten pounds.

i'm dealing with the ten pounds
[literally and figuratively]
and i loved the pie, it was absolutely wonderful.
but i hate the ten pounds.

the veggie cake

2008-06-28T14:47:00.000-05:00

i just returned from the store.
i must say that i spent the entire ride home
planning this blog.

so i was doing my normal thing
you know, roaming the aisles, looking dumb, etc.
i get everything i need and i'm on the last aisle,
which at target, is the frozen pizza and ice cream aisle.
now since i've had this allergy to corn,
i've discovered that i can only have one brand of pizza.
red baron. no delivery, no other frozen pizzas, only red baron.
so of course i grabbed a red baron pizza for later this week
and went on my way.

i reach the end of the aisle and there's a nice old man
passing out samples.
he asks me if i would like to try a "veggie cake".
well i looked at the box
and aside from the fact that they looked completely disgusting,
i noticed that there was not only corn on the inside,
but it appeared that the outside crust of said "veggie cake"
most likely contained a large amount of corn starch.
so i said "oh i'm sorry, i don't think i can have those...
it looks like i might be allergic to something in there"
he said "OH, but you can have that pizza pie??"

first of all, no one has called it a "pizza pie" since 1932.
second of all, IT'S THE ONLY ONE I CAN HAVE!
my response was "yes, it's the only kind i can have"
and then i walked away.

thank you, old man, for being a jerk.
maybe you should think before you try to give me advice on my eating habits.
and maybe you should stop trying to sell nasty "veggie cakes".
i'm now going to enjoy my pizza.
the only kind i can have!!!!!

jobless and adorable

2008-06-24T07:34:00.000-05:00

hello world.
pause button, please?

so, i am leaving my position at gateway.
my last day is july 3rd.
i need a new job.
i have six or seven leads,
but it would be really nice if i knew i had a job.

i wish people could just meet me.
they would hire me in a second!

JC is taking care of me.
i have no doubt of that.

rich girl

2008-06-16T21:46:00.000-05:00

i'm so rich.
if you saw my bank account,
you would completely disagree with the above statement.

but it's true!
i'm so rich.

i've been thinking about my life.
loving family
great friends
wonderful community
plugged into the body
i have all i need.

i live a rich life.

steph

2008-06-11T21:39:00.001-05:00

so me and steph were just talking,
and this is what happened:

steph: so my mom was texting me last night...
that's really about all there was to that.

after she informed me that her mom was texting her,
i expected to hear another half of the story.
no... that was about it.

HA!

i love my roommate!

cool iron

2008-06-05T10:26:00.000-05:00

so last night i was doing laundry
and i pulled a shirt out of the dryer
that needed to be ironed, still.
i read the tag
and it says "cool iron if necessary"

what is up with that?
i absolutely hate it when tags say that.
it's necessary that i iron this shirt,
but what the heck is a "cool iron" going to do?
if i want to press something,
it's kind of important that the iron is hot.
who decided that a non-hot iron would work?

i just imagine some scenario
where i don't even plug the iron in
and press it on the shirt.
nothing happens
and i say "done and done!"
and my shirt is still wrinkled.

also

2008-06-01T19:23:00.001-05:00

daniel and julie are engaged!

funny girl

2008-06-01T11:37:00.000-05:00

the Lord told me this morning that He thinks i'm hilarious.

that is all i need.

bahama bucks

2008-05-25T13:04:00.001-05:00

so i have recently become obsessed
with a delightful summery treat
entitled... the snow cone.

growing up, i adored snow cones.
watermelon was my standard flavor of choice,
but every once in a while,
i'd go for pineapple.
when i was really feeling wild,
i'd get tigers blood!

well, with this hot streak
currently running through texas,
my childhood memories are coming back.
and i've discovered BAHAMA BUCKS!
the greatest snow cone chain EVER.

i will drive 15 minutes to lewisville,
just for a bahama bucks orange snow cone with cream.
also known as, a little piece of heaven.

on my way i have discovered that flowermound
is my untapped resource.

oh summer 2008 should be very interesting!

23

2008-05-17T12:30:00.000-05:00

today i am twenty-three.
BIRTHDAY!!!!

i could write a really deep post
about how this has been a great year
[it has]
and how i look forward to this next year
['twill be the best year yet]
but i'd rather just be silly
and tell everyone that i hope to get a wii today.
or a dog.

i am blessed.
and to quote jimmy eat world:
"amazing still it seems; i'll be 23"

this week

2008-05-15T08:04:00.001-05:00

i'm drained.

i had ice cream for lunch yesterday
and i didn't feel bad about it.

saturdays and sundays

2008-05-06T22:44:00.000-05:00

at the corner of stars and stripes
and 2499,
i often see a character of my liking.

toll brothers town homes
has somehow commissioned
some guy to stand on a corner
and hold a sign
advertising their discount town homes, i guess.
every saturday and sunday
this rather pathetic looking guy is out there holding
his toll brothers town homes sign
earning dollars and cents.

the funny thing is,
he always has a walkman and earphones on
and is usually waving his sign and dancing
to the beat of whatever eighties metal hair band
he happens to be listening to that day.
and always without recognition of the fact
that he looks like a complete idiot.
he's just doing his thing...in his own little world.

the odd thing is,
i look forward to seeing him every weekend.
it has almost become part of the routine.
rock on, def leppard...

five.three.oh.eight.

2008-05-04T01:27:00.000-05:00

my day started at 5:30 a.m.
and is ending now, at approximately
1:30 a.m.

it was a good day.

my morning mix

2008-04-26T11:22:00.000-05:00

change is inevitable

2008-04-20T15:24:00.000-05:00

well,

the first four months of two-thousand and eight
have been interesting, to say the least.
just as the weather has changed drastically
in these short months,
so have the seasons in my life.

i've learned, however, that change is inevitable.
so i find myself welcoming it with open arms
and a smile upon my face.

with change comes growth.
with growth comes love.
the Lord is teaching me to trust Him again.
[it is now apparent to me that i had stopped.]

these struggles always turn into a life lesson.
and just as r.t. said yesterday,
God was really right all along.

with the season

2008-04-17T22:22:00.001-05:00

april showers bring may flowers!

that's all.

lovely people

2008-04-14T21:18:00.000-05:00

there are some people in your life,
who are those people.
you know, those people.
you can call at any time.
you can ask them for any favor.
they are always praying for you,
without having to ask.

when you get to talk, it's the best.
they know your heart
to the very core.
and they believe that you're a good person
no matter what you do.
they are always on your side,
even if you are completely wrong.

they remember your favorite christmas song.
and the stupid things you did together in college.
and they make you laugh deep.
[you know...that deep laughter that comes from the gut]
it's because they know exactly what to say
to bring that ridiculous sound about.

they never think you're stupid
and they always think you're the best.
even when you fail them.
it's because you become part of them
at some point in the journey.
hearts knit together.

i love you, kelly.

memory

2008-04-09T12:41:00.000-05:00

when i was a freshman in high school,
i paid this girl five dollars to make a mixed cd for me.
(this was before i knew how to do it myself)
(it's sad, i know)
it was supposed to be part of a present for someone.
she never made my cd.
and when i asked her about it, she yelled at me.
in theatre class...in front of people.
[i can only hope they thought it was part of a scene]
i don't even remember this girl's name.
but wherever she is,
i want my five bucks back.

spring

2008-04-07T19:46:00.000-05:00

spring is upon us!
this is my favorite season in texas.
the bluebonnets are out.
it's sunny and 80.

just perfect.

i wish i had a vespa.
(my birthday is in just a few weeks)

tagged

2008-04-02T18:37:00.000-05:00

well i got the tagged.
[makes it sound like a disease]

becki two toes tagged me!

here are the rules:
Write your own six word memoir.
Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you like.
Link to the person who tagged you in your post.
Tag six more blogs with links.
Don’t forget to leave a comment on the blogs you tagged inviting them to play along.

here is my memoir:
ridiculously silly girl learning life eagerly

i'm not sure who i tag. maybe later.

poetry

2008-03-30T14:53:00.000-05:00

i've recently discovered
on multiple occasions,
that my little ramblings here
appear to be poetry.

[when really they are just
the way my little brain thinks]

so poetry it is!

He is Risen!

2008-03-23T08:49:00.000-05:00

Daniel 7:9-14

I watched till thrones were put in place,
and the Ancient of Days was seated;
His garment was white as snow,
And the hair of His head was pure wool.
His throne was a fiery flame,
its wheels a burning fire;
a fiery stream issued
and came forth from before Him.
A thousand thousands ministered to Him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
The court was seated,
and the books were opened.

I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.

As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

I was watching in the night visions,
and behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
and they brought Him near before Him.
Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and His kingdom the one
which shall not be destroyed.

----------------------------------

He is Risen,
He is Risen!

best day

2008-03-22T09:55:00.000-05:00

yesterday was the best day...
a day off of work,
slept in,
perfect weather (low 70s)
driving with my sunroof open
listening to iron and wine
our endless numbered days...
[very fitting soundtrack, don't you think?]
i ran some errands
and drove down main street.
everyone was out shopping
and enjoying the day.
lunch with a dear friend,
bought some new shoes,
walked around town square,
a birthday dinner for erin,
and a wonderful get together
for an exciting adventure to begin.
great food and great people.

i think jesus knows i love days like those
so he likes to give them to me every now and then.
i expect today to be another one.

101 girl

2008-03-17T23:07:00.000-05:00

this is a shout out to my brother daniel
who made me laugh harder than i've laughed
in quite a while,
by telling me an awkward story from his day
and making me re-enact it with him over the phone
approximately six times.
it was hilarious!

this is blog 101 for me.
probably the worst one i've written,
but some of the best content, without a doubt.

memo

2008-03-13T09:09:00.000-05:00

this was on my google quotes this morning:

"don't try to solve serious matters in the middle of the night"
-phillip k. dick

not sure who phillip k. dick is,
but i wish he would give God the memo.
He's always waking me up with those serious matters!

i also wish the dogs downstairs would get the memo too....

un-girl

2008-03-10T07:37:00.001-05:00

i haven't felt like myself in quite some time.
several months, actually.
it's a strange feeling.
i certainly hope this is not growing up.

changes on the horizon.
and getting back to myself
is in the plan too.

grocery girl

2008-03-02T22:26:00.000-06:00

never again will i go to the grocery store on sunday night.
walmart in particular.
i've never seen a store more pillaged through.
they were completely out of three of my standard list items.
i mean, this is walmart we're talking about here.

if you think about it,
sunday night is not the ideal night to grocery shop...
i imagine some wild, savage scene
where bodies are flying left and right
and people are screaming
"I MUST GET FOOD FOR MY FAMILY!"
people racing carts through the aisles
to get the last bottle of sunny d,
or the last box of hamburger helper.

and of course with the threat of ice in the forecast
texans tend to freak out a little bit.
[similar to the y2k fiasco.]

this must have happened right before i walked in the store.
because my experience was bizarre, to say the least.
the checkout lady told me some people were fired that night.
after what i had seen, i would have been glad to go.

the combination of open road and great music

2008-02-26T22:14:00.000-06:00

there's really something about the combination
of open roads and really great songs.
something that moves within us
when we hit that perfect moment in the song
and there's not a red light in sight.
this incredible combination is only obtainable
with the perfect variables.
it will only work on the highway
if there are very few cars alongside of you;
it won't work if the road has the slightest bump;
and it won't work if the song is anything
less than perfect.

it's like this freedom and complete peace that we feel
when we have this combination.
we're on top of the world,
absolutely nothing can stop us,
nothing matters.
it's an escape to some other place.
[if only our souls could experience this all the time.]

the best is summer nights with my sunroof open.
not too many things can top that.
there's just something about the open road and the perfect song...

changed girl

2008-02-23T18:43:00.000-06:00

changes these days make a pure and noble girl sad.
[qualities obtained by the name my parents chose for me]
isn't it interesting how we truly take on the qualities
of what our names mean?
that's another paragraph for another day and time, however.

my heart still belongs to Him.
the King is still on His throne
[praise]
and my hope is that He will use me
for the benefit of His Kingdom.
and that His peace will overcome.
because i am certainly without it now.

train of thought

2008-02-17T09:34:00.000-06:00

as i was getting ready just now,
i thought "someone in denmark got ready earlier"
and then i thought about people
in france getting ready for their day earlier.
and all the people here in america.

there are so many people in this world.
and i am only one of them.
just one.

i get too caught up in my own situation.
just need a little reminder every now and then
that the world does not revolve around me.

valentines girl

2008-02-14T18:30:00.001-06:00

beautiful tulips
Originally uploaded by hopkinshopkins

i have a valentine this year!
he got me some flowers (tulips are my fav)
and he got me some chocolate strawberries
some of the largest i've ever seen
pretty sure they were on steroids at the farm.
i started off with 6 this morning.
i now have 1.5

VALENTINES!! WOO!

foolish girl

2008-02-10T08:43:00.000-06:00

"and i hope she'll be a fool - that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool"

the great gatsby.

girl with a story

2008-02-07T20:39:00.000-06:00

so i'm currently reading the kite runner
and it is incredible.
i've cried countless times,
and i'm only finished with half.
i've laughed too.
and i've found myself writing my
funny little notes in the margin.

i don't care what anyone says;
there is nothing like a good book.
nothing like a great novel.
not a self-help book,
or a recent study,
or a political agenda.

there's nothing like a great story.
those are what shape people.

stepping off my soap box now...

musical girl

2008-02-03T10:22:00.000-06:00

i miss the days when i was so into music,
that i had no other identity.
[other than a Follower, and college student]

days when i would spend every extra dollar i had
on concert tickets.
and on any given friday or saturday night,
i was most likely found in that horrible part
of dallas named deep ellum.
eating pizza at the pizza place
that i can never remember the name of
and getting ready for "the best concert ever!"

i was a rather silly girl then.
however, i miss those musical days.
i think i will once again awaken that love.

radio girl

2008-02-02T10:09:00.000-06:00

last night i was driving home from an event
and i had the radio on
and one of my favorite songs started playing.
actually, it's really not one of my favorites...
just a song that i like.

but all of the sudden i was so ridiculously joyous.
i screamed "YES!" when i heard it's first notes
and i found myself singing all of the words
probably at my loudest tone possible.

isn't it funny how music controls us like that?
a good song has the power to change a mood.
i wasn't even in a bad mood, though.
just driving home.
indifferent.
and then extremely happy.

winter girl

2008-01-28T18:15:00.001-06:00

today i opened the door and it felt like Spring.
and i thought, "but i'm not done with Winter"
i am unsure of what to think.

even the morning smells reminded me
of what usually is my favorite season.
at least here in texas.

i guess i'm still stuck on Sister Winter.
but i don't think my heart is as cold as ice.
[oh sufjan]

girl.

2008-01-26T11:13:00.000-06:00

i have not been writing very much lately.
i feel as though i've put too much pressure on myself
to produce, produce, produce,
that i haven't been concerned about the quality.
this is not ok.

so lately i've been remembering a time,
when i wrote often
and i've been listening to that song again
that i listened to over and over during that time.

this part of the song is what i feel:

heal my heart and make it clean.
open up my eyes to the things unseen.
show me how to love like you have loved me.
break my heart for what breaks yours.
everything i am for your kingdom's cause.
as i walk from earth into eternity.

[i hope i live this and i hope that is my heart.]

ironic girl

2008-01-20T20:45:00.000-06:00

i just experienced an ironic situation in my life.
and it was good.
it was the kind of irony that is redemptive
[if that makes any sense at all]
and the kind that makes you laugh hysterically.

i think this whole thing
was orchestrated [by someone],
just to make me laugh.
and feel good about that situation
for once.

to finally laugh about that.
to not just feel ok with it,
but to truly laugh it off.

well...to quote alanis,
isn't it ironic?
don't you think?

quiet girl

2008-01-10T18:56:00.001-06:00

so having mono is forcing me to shut my mouth
and listen to the Lord.

i think this is His funny way of telling me
to rest.

december was a month for the ages.
and now i must rest.
i must re-ground myself.
i must recharge.
i'm forced to return to Him.
which is what i should have been doing
all along.

it is good to have rest in Him.
it's like no other rest
i could ever achieve on my own.

new year girl

2008-01-03T12:38:00.000-06:00

happy new year, folks!
2008 is going to be a year of great things.

let's kick it off with a case of mono!!

spreadsheet girl

2007-12-27T15:50:00.000-06:00

i must tell you,
i enjoy microsoft excel.
spreadsheets.
i absolutely love a good spreadsheet.
you know what i'm talking about...
with all the fancy functions.

i wouldn't call myself an excel expert,
but i do take pride in my somewhat
above average knowledge of the program.

however,
today i do not like excel.
why?
too much of a good thing.
i have spent the entire day
moving from spreadsheet to spreadsheet.
my eyes are tired.
i want to go home.
and i definitely need a coke.

spreadsheet girl...more like tired girl.

christmas day girl

2007-12-25T09:17:00.000-06:00

day four was boring.
day five:

CHRISTMAS!! merry christmas little ones.

today i was awakened by my
twenty-four year old brother
shaking me and yelling
"IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!!"

that's love right there.

merry christmas!

day tres

2007-12-23T09:17:00.001-06:00

on the third day of christmas...

no more shopping!
(i probably will find myself shopping)
church.
food.
family.

just for everyone's information:
my favorite christmas song is
the beatles - wonderful christmas time.
it's so joyous.

oh and last night,
my dear took me christmas light looking
which is my favorite christmas activity.
the lights were beautiful!
i think i scared him with my joy.

day two

2007-12-22T09:47:00.000-06:00

on the second day of christmas...
(monica's six days of christmas, that is)
more shopping!

i have approximately 2.5 more gifts to purchase.
and then i will proceed to rejoice
for it will officially be christmas time.
which means,
lots and lots of eating.

carry on.

christmas girl

2007-12-21T11:40:00.000-06:00

it's christmas time.
and it's the most wonderful time of the year!

today is the first of six days
off of work.
i like to refer to it as:
monica's six days of christmas.

on the first day of christmas:
shop till i drop.

wish me luck!

documentary girl

2007-12-13T20:40:00.000-06:00

so i'm taking part in a documentary.
taking part in the creation of something great.
and with some very dear friends.

i am feeling good!

lately, i have felt somewhat discontent.

or just like something is missing from somewhere.

[perhaps that's why i have been baking so much?]

i think this documentary making

will be rather refreshing.

sometimes you just need to shake things up.

catch my drift?