Love This Life

Hani, Hani come and dance with me...

2008-04-29T07:57:00.000-07:00

As per a request from my bestest buddy... I have decided to resume blogging. I am not sure who reads it but hey... its out there... ;)

I just got back from Atlanta, which was a much welcome reprieve from all that is Fort Lauderdale. I like my new home, I just like my old home better. Who would have thought? If there was just someway to get the ocean closer to Cumming, Ga then my life would be good! I'll have to have a talk with the big man... speed up those polar ice caps melting.
All is good on the home front, mom and dad are doing well, I got to see my old neighbors from Woodstock because my old buddy Brandon Holland got married! That's another one down... haha. I just couldn't help but think how young he looked. I am really happy for him and his bride seemed lovely.
On another note, my friend and I are launching our own tie-dye t-shirt business... Ashra designs. Its going to be a "do-it-yourself" concept where we provide the dye and t-shirts and you provide the creative power. Its basically what I do all day at my job anyway but I get the profits and we are going to offer it to anybody on the beach. The shirts are really cute and each feature a sea creature. Right now we are in the process of printing sea turtles and sharks and if they do well I hope to add dolphins and starfish. I'll post the designs up eventually. Wish me luck on my new endeavor. I'm hoping the extra cash will help me pay for school!
Alright, stay positive and take all the universe has to offer.

Peace

2008-02-15T18:01:00.000-08:00

Good Bye to the Snow... Me and Mia is headed South!

639 Sw 5th Avenue

2008-01-15T08:15:00.000-08:00

So I just returned from my little trip to Ft. Lauderdale. I was supposed to pick out a place to live and get a job. MISSIONS ACCOMPLISHED! My future roommate Chrissy found an awesome home on Craig's List and I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. Here are the great things about it:
1.) We have a built in neighbor, Tiffany. She is about the coolest thing since ice.
2.) We live on a very nice street... Lexus, mercedes, corvettes, did I meantion yachts?
3.) We live right on the river front... about half a block to our northwest.
4.) You can walk to the bars... that's right WALK
5.) We have a sweet front yard, with a mango tree that drops mangoes.
6.) My room is blue already!
7.) Tiffany comes with two cats and a dog... so I have animal friends!
I think that's about all I can think of that's great about the house, oh yea.. its mine! well... sort of... *drum roll please*

Ta Da!

Would You like to see more of our crib?
This is our front yard, it is missing the hammock now but I'll fix that!

This is the view of our living room from our dining room, also looking out
into the florida room

Here is a closer look at our living room... with bookcases and

I don't know if you noticed but we have a red fireplace.. haha..

This is a view of our dining room looking into the kitchen.

This is the walk way through the kitchen into the breakfast room.

This is the rest of the kitchen and the all important stove

And last but not least: My room!

Just when you thought it couldnt get any better... this is where I work!

10-3 on the beach... oh ya!

Are you Strong?

2008-01-07T09:05:00.000-08:00

Today, one of my soul mates posted my favorite song lyrics to my facebook profile, and it brought back many fond memories. Memories of hiking the Appalachian Trail, singing "Two coins", memories of various parties, introducing everyone to my favorite band, even singing with 100,000 of my closest friends as we pooled out of Madison Square Garden and into the subway station shouting, "Are you strong? I am strong if you are strong!" Man.

"They don't even know what it is to be a fan. Y'know? To truly love some silly little piece of music, or some band, so much that it hurts."-Almost Famous

Do something good... click here

A Sad Goodbye to 2007

2008-01-02T08:25:00.000-08:00

Though I should be looking forward to 2008, I find myself reminiscing fondly all of the good that double 0-7 brought.
January:
- First recruitment as President
-Last days of being President

February:
-Coached my first legitimate Soccer Team (J.V.) at St. Paul's!

March:
-Mardi Gras in New Orleans!

April:
-Met my nephew for the first time!

May:
-Graduated with my B.S.!
-Had 15 cases of beer for my birthday... though it was supposed to be 22...
-Went to Europe
-Got lost in France without my passport, wallet, backpack and cellphone

June:
-Rode Mopeds down the Amafi Coast
-Rode bikes in Brugge (watched Lynsey eat it)
-Went to Arizona to visit my cousins and be with my G-ma for her birthday!

July:
-Saw Dispatch in NYC!
-Saw Emily for the first time in years!

August:
-Started first "REAL" job at LMD
- Went to my first DE at Road Atlanta

September:
-Played on first Adult League for Soccer

October:
-First time as a Bridesmaid for one of my friends! (YAY CASS!)
-Put up the best Halloween decorations yet! (this is big to me! ;)
- Second DE at Road Atlanta

November:
-Visited Sammy at his house in New Hampshire for the first time
-Went skiing for the first time at Mt. Sunapee
-Got into Graduate School at Nova Southeastern
- Recieved Fastest Time of the Day at Autocross

December:
-Spent my first New Years Eve away from my parents!
-Got my puppy Mia
Yup... Can't really beat that year.... ;)

Mama Mia!

2007-12-26T10:43:00.000-08:00

Mama Mia! A Christmas Miracle:

Once upon a time there was a little girl, who's friend wanted a bunny for Christmas. So the little girl set out on a nice warm Sunday morning to find the bunny. She went to the local Petsmart, they didn't have any bunnies, so she decided to try Petland instead. Petland had bunnies but they were very expensive, and the little girl didn't have enough money saved so she decided that her friend would have to wait until after christmas for her bunny and left to go home. On the way home the little girl spotted a big yellow sign that said, "Adoptions today!" so she decided to stop and look at all the dogs for adoption.

There were lots of dogs, some big, some little, some white, some black but one particular dog caught her eye. She was a small puppy with bright blue eyes. The little girl bent down to pick her up and she noticed that something might be wrong with the puppy. The puppy seemed to be having trouble breathing, her nose was running, and her tail was drooped between her legs. The little girl asked the women running the adoptions what was wrong with the puppy and the lady said she just had kennel cough and that the puppy would be alright in a couple of days. The little girl didn't think that the puppy would be alright in a couple of days, so she called her mom and asked if she could PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE bring home the puppy. Her mom said, "NO!!!" So the little girl put the puppy back in her pen and went home.

When she got home she asked her mom again if she could have the puppy, her mom said, "No!" So the little girl asked again... and again... and again...

The little girl's Father, who really didn't want another animal...the little girl brought home lots and lots of animals... told the little girl's Mother that it would be alright to bring the puppy home if the Mother really wanted her.

The Mother said she would at least go LOOK at the puppy. The little girl was overjoyed! She and her Mother (and her best friend) jumped in the car and raced to adoption place to look at the puppy before they left for the day.

The little girl picked up the puppy and showed her to her Mother. Her Mother took one look at the puppy and saw that she was in fact very very sick so she talked to the lady who ran the adoption. The lady repeated that is was infact just kennel cough and the puppy would be over it in a few days if she could be away from the other dogs and she agreed to let the little girl foster the puppy for a week.

The next day was Christmas Eve and after spending the night on the couch so she could check on the puppy, the little girl awoke to find the puppy peering over her gate. The little girl picked her up and let her roam around the living room, where the puppy promptly feel asleep on the fireplace hearth in the sun. The little girl's Father decided that the puppy seemed to be very sick and decided to take the puppy to the vet.

When they arrived at the vet, the doctor said that the puppy was in fact very sick and would need to have an x-ray done of her chest. The doctor was very kind and understanding that the puppy was not even the little girl's and so she could not pay for the x-ray. The little girl's father said that it was alright and to do anything that would make the puppy better.

So the doctor to the x-ray and the little girl and her father went to Starbuck's. When they came back to the vet's office, the doctor showed the little girl and her Father the x-ray of the puppy's chest. The x-ray showed that the puppy was not using 3/4 of her lungs and had begun to belly breathe, filling her stomach with air. The doctor said that she was in fact a very sick puppy and that she had pneumonia. He also said that she was very close to going into respiratory arrest if she was not aggressively treated for the sickness.

The little girl's Father repeated that everything that could be done should be done for the puppy. So the puppy was given two anti-viral shots, four medications, and special food so that she could get better. The doctor also warned that if the puppy seemed to be doing any worse, she would need to go to the emergency vet clinic.

The little girl hoped that the puppy wouldn't need to have any other veterinary care, especially after the first visit.

So the little girl and her father took the puppy home. Once home, the puppy seemed to be getting better already. She had her ears perked and her tail seemed a little higher. The little girl was excited that the puppy seemed to be doing better.

The little girl slept on the couch that night because not only did she want to keep an eye on the puppy but she wanted to be there for Santa Claus!(She wanted to change her list to include getting the puppy better)

The next morning, the little girl awoke to find the puppy alert and perky. She took the puppy out of her room and set her on the floor to begin unwrapping presents. The puppy LOVED all of the excitement and killed all of the wrapping paper and bows and boxes. She even played with a little rubber ball.

The little girl was very excited to see her new puppy feeling so much better when she got the best present of all. The little girl's kitty-cat who was hiding under the tree came out to meet the puppy who was so excited she Barked! The little girl had never heard her bark before because the puppy was so sick she couldnt. It seemed that the puppy was getting better after all!

The next day the doctor called to check up on the puppy. The little girl's Father said to the doctor, "I hate you!" but he was only kidding because the puppy had just finished chewing on the Father's robe, and slippers, and hands, and feet, and shins, and anything else she could get her puppy mouth on. The doctor said he was very happy the puppy was feeling better, because he had been afraid even to call in case she had gotten worse. Then he asked if the puppy had a name. Right when the Father was about to answer the doctor, the puppy bit one of his toes. Because the Father did not want to say bad words with the doctor on

the phone he shouted, "Mama Mia!" and the doctor said, "What a great name!" and so now the little girl has a healthy puppy named Mia!

Mama Let Your Hair Hang Down

2007-12-19T09:39:00.000-08:00

I've always thought that I would make a great Hippie.. from the philosophy... to the hair.. to the music.. ESPECIALLY the music...
This year for Christmas I decided to start Dad on a record collection... starting with the top albums of 1967 (probably one of the best years for music) and also adding some of his favorites...

My search has led me to find an amazing website...The Music Genome Project I recommend it to everyone... just type in a song or an artist and it will make a radio station based around your taste... AMAZING...
Because of the Music Genome Project... I have discovered some amazing songs from some old artists that I thought I would share...

Donovan: Why do you treat me like you do?
Neil Young: Sugar Mountain
Peter, Paul & Mary: Christmas Dinner (why dont they play this!?)
Cat Stevens: The Wind ***** I LOVE this one
Alex Harte: Sweet Tooth
and Finally: Donovoan: The Trip
If anybody was wanting to make me a C.D. for christmas... that would be a great place to start.. ;)

Walking In a Winter Wonderland

2007-12-10T10:33:00.000-08:00

So life has been pretty busy this past week...
I've been the lucky one selected to address all of the office's greeting cards...
unluckily for me they all seem to come out looking like a five year old addressed them *sigh*
BUT addressing all of the envelopes has gotten me into the christmas spirit... as has the Christmas music that is blasting out of my desk's speakers as requested by my boss...
So today I have successfully figured out how to make paper chains specifically reindeer chains... to help with the complete lack of christmas decor around the office and also some snowflakes... ironically the snow flakes which I got off a CHILDREN'S snow flake website proved very hard to cut out.. and even have a disclaimer that some patterns may be impossible to cut out... which leaves me wondering WHY DO YOU HAVE THEM UP?... but an impossible snowflake pattern may be a great way to procrastinate so you can look at them here... http://www.papersnowflakes.com/...
Since I was successful at making my festive reindeers...

How to Make a Reindeer Chain*:

Materials:
Sheets of Paper
Scissors
Paperclips
A Good Sense of Humor

1.) Locate a piece of paper... 8 1/2" x 11"

2.) Fold the paper in half... hamburger style...

3.) Starting on the top flap of your folded sheet, fold the top flap in half again.. hot dog style this time... then fold bottom flap in the same manner... this should make an accordian...

4.) Paste the reindeer image to a word document and make sure that it is 4.5" in width

5.) Print out the reindeer image

6.) Cut the image down to the right size using the guidelines, attach the image to your folded paper accordian using paperclips

7.) Cut out the image.. making sure that the paper clips keep the four pieces together so that you get a nice clean cut... also make sure that you do not cut out the parts of the reindeer that had the arrows pointing to them on the original image

8.) Unfold your newly created reindeer chain

9.) Drink a glass of champagne or other alcoholic treat and pat yourself on your back for you accomplishment!

When you are done it could look like these: (it helps to imagine them in a very beautiful high-lighter blue)

Happy Deer Making!
*We take no responsibility for individual's who's bosses do not find the presence of deer chains to be office worthy.. nor making them on company time as productive*

I'm going to the snow!!!

2007-11-29T13:52:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to say how excited I was to go see Beth, Jake & Sammy this weekend!!
Not only do I get to see my lil' friend but its going to sleet and snow... something that I haven't seen in forever!
So to help with my excitement I've added some pics of Sammy for all of those who haven't gotten to meet him yet (which is most)

This is what I'd like to call the "Georgia" face... he started scrunching his nose when he first visited us in Georgia.. I'd also like to think that I taught it to him since I tend to make that face when I play with him.. ;)

Here's Sam with Grandpa Dude when G. Dude went to help paint the house... Sam supposedly loved to run around the house checking out what G. Dude was doing outside... I think its just because G. Dude is funny looking....

This one was to help mom and I give an opinion on what color the trim should be painted... I dont remember what we decided but I'll be sure to report back if it looks good..

Well that's all for now... I hope everyone has a good weekend!

Badger Turned Shark

2007-11-26T11:41:00.000-08:00

The wait is finally over!

Last Wednesday afternoon as I pulled in the driveway there was a large yellow envelope sitting on my front steps. As soon as I saw it I knew it MUST be the news from Nova Southeastern's Graduate Program! And as I clumsily grasped its edges and read the return address label, my notions were confirmed, it was a package from Nova Southeastern! But what was in it?

I sat down right on the front steps and tore open the envelope only to have brochures pop out, brochures I already had mind you. So for about 2 minutes I was confused, here was a ton of information but did I get in?

So I fumbled around with the package's offerings until I finally came upon a letter (insert the light of god and the sound of angels singing). A letter that did infact say I, Ashley Clarkin would be welcomed as a new student into the Nova Southeastern Family! The letter also included one of the my favorite sentences I think I have ever read which I will one day duplicate here.. on my new blog..

so with the feeling of my glorious triumph recaptured I am starting a blog... so that I may actually keep up with my friends and family as I finally leap from the nest into the wild unknown...as a shark