OMG, it's Tash.

Less than 2 months.  I cannot wait.  I might have a nervous breakdown. 

Totally just landed two 12th row tickets to the Dane Cook SHOW in Vegas in May.  I have no clue how we're getting there at this point, but I couldn't pass up the pre-sale.  I mean FUCKING SERIOUSLY.

All I can think of how pissed off Shawn's going to be when we go out on Thursday.  Sucker.

Ugh, I've been so busy lately that I can't even think straight.  For the first time in a long time, I've really been enjoying my life.  I've made some amazing friends lately who I completely adore.  They're pretty much the most chill people I've ever met.  There's no drama, except when Chris and Blake get into it, and everyone just is so laid back.  It's a nice change from the people I used to surround myself with.  Plus, they have the best place to party at.  Not even kidding.  Plus, Ox is like the sweetest dog in the whole world. 

Anyway, that's my update.  UK plays tomorrow and so does UGA.  I'll be glued to the TV to watch both of the games.  Shawn and Troy thought I was crazy about basketball before.  Wait till they see me tomorrow.  Haha.

I fell asleep during the Superbowl.  Twice.  Yeah yeah yeah.
I wasn't awake when the game finished.  I made it to the last touchdown the Pats scored.  I had a DREAM nightmare that the Pats won.  First thing I did when I woke up was check nfl.com and saw that the Giants won.I did a fucking happy dance.  Now, I don't like the Giants.  I'm a Jets fan all the way (although that's now in question because they benched Pennington), so I literally cannot cheer for the Giants.  But my hatred for the Patriots overcomes any ill feelings for any other team. 

So now Brady, 18-1 doesn't sound all that good does it?  It's not all that impressive is it?  Now you're known as the team that LOST the Superbowl and the perfect season.  And like Mandi said, the Giants took your perfect season and proved that you're not perfect.

The Giants won because they played better.  Their defense stepped it up like no other team has been able to do.  5 sacks.  Brady spent more time on his back then he did throwing the damn ball.  And Randy Moss.  Good to see that you've FINALLY learned some humility.  I was surprised that you didn't act like a jackass when you were interviewed afterwards.

And to the NYP for copywriting "18-1", I love you.  I disagree with 99% of things you say and do, but that's hilarious.

And to Eli, you will never be compared to your brother again.  You are NOT the lesser Manning any longer.  You did the impossible. 

As you all know, I leave for Rome in exactly 34 days.  I can't believe it's come so soon.  It seems like just yesterday that I was thinking and dreaming and planning this damn thing.  I honestly can't believe that it's going to be here in a little over a month.  I am literally about to jump out of my skin just thinking about it.

 

ME!  In ITALY!  JFIOSEJF*()J#$*(RFOWIEFJIWJSKLSJ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111111!!!

 

There's so many things I want to go and see while I'm there that I don't even know where to begin.  I could spend MONTHS over there :X

 

 

 

Oh, and I fucked my knee royally up.  MRI and then surgery is the plan.

I remember the day like it was yesterday.  My mom got a call from my dad and all of a sudden we were rushing around trying to get things packed because we just HAD to go down to South Carolina that very second.  I was only 12, almost 13 at the time, so I really had no clue what was going on.  All I knew is that I had to pack one of my nice dresses because we would need it.  We called my aunt and let her know what was going on.  She then called the airline and got the three of us tickets down to SC on the first flight that was available.  At this point, I was confused; I had no clue why we were going down there.

At the time, my dad lived with his second-wife in a little town right outside of Aiken, SC.  They had a house out in the woods, and my dad loved it.  He could go hunting and fishing in his backyard, and they had room for their 4 dogs, cat, and a horse.  Turns out that the seclusion would lead to one of the worst things I have ever had to go through in my life.  Let me note here, that me and my step-mom never got along.  She was a very suspicious person by nature and tried to seclude my dad from everyone besides her and her family. 

We got all packed and were on our way down to Milwaukee.  About 6-7 blocks away from our house, my mom finally told me the news.  “Tammy died.”  Okay, at that point, yeah, I’m upset, but not really over-traumatized.  I was sad for my dad, but they had been talking about divorce for a bit, so I wasn’t overly broken up about it.  Until I found out the rest.

Turns out she had quite a few shady friends.  One of those “friends” decided that he needed some money and stopped by my dad’s house to talk to her.  We’re not sure exactly how he got there, if he got a ride or not, but that was never established.  He knocked on the door, and she answered.  At this point, there was no one else home and the nearest house is probably about a half mile down the road through woods, so nobody could hear or see anything. 

So, he asked for money, and she wouldn’t give it to him.  He left, or so she thought.  My dad had a horse barn on the other side of the house.  It was kept locked at night and this was where he kept all his guns and knives that he used for hunting.  The guy broke into the shed and found a hunting knife, a deer rifle and a .22-caliber revolver.  Just trying to type this now makes me want to cry :X.  Instead of telling you the details, I’ll take an excerpt from the paper that did a report on it.

 

“Mr. ***** first wife, Tammy, was killed in their home in September 1994 – stabbed five times with a hunting knife, shot eight times with a .22-caliber revolver before her head was blown open with a deer rifle.”

 

Going down there was a complete blur.  I don’t remember anything but two important parts.  The first was walking into the house and seeing the rampage of what was left.  I remember the carpet being a weird brownish color.  I remember the holes in the ceiling from the shot-gun pellets.  I remember the mug that I had bought my dad the year before laying broken on top of their dresser.  I remember the fingerprint dust EVERYWHERE.  And lastly, I remember being at her funeral and seeing my dad cry for the first time in my life.  It crushed him.  He always blamed himself, to this day I think he still does.  Because maybe if he was there he could have done something.  More than likely though, he’d also be dead, and that’s the only solace I get out of this situation.

 

 

The guy, William, is spending life in prison WITH the possibility of parole.  And that’s why I believe in the death penalty.  He kills someone and has the chance of getting out.

 

That’s a picture of him.  In 8 years me and my dad have to go to his parole hearing so he doesn’t get out.  If he does, I’d kill him myself. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EDIT: Thanks for the comments :)  I didn't post this to get sympathy, but to explain why I believe so strongly in something like the death penalty and to get people thinking. 

I don't even know where to begin right now.  I am absolutely appalled by the news today.  When i first heard about the shootings, I honestly thought it was a joke.  I mean really, what kind of individual would do something so horrid.  I remember the aftermath of Columbine, I know what it did to the people, and I feel for each and every one of you that was affected by this. 
I'm not even sure how to put my words into thought.  So I will tell the story on how Columbine affected a very close friend of mine.

Jill was my best friend for quite a while.  We went to school together and rode horse together when I was in North Dakota.  I met her cousin Anne-Marie quite a few times when she'd come to visit from Colorado.  We had much to talk about because I used to live there.  When I heard of Columbine, I was actually in North Dakota visiting for some reason.  I received a call from Jill telling me that I had to come over because she needed me.  So I headed on over to her house, which was a good 15 minutes from my farm.  I racked my brain trying to think of what would have happened, and why she was crying so.  Never did it pop into my brain that something happened to Anne-Marie.  Ever.

I got there about 15 minutes later and saw her family (mom, dad, and brother) in tears and asked what was the matter.  I thought maybe her grandfather, who lived next door, has passed away.  I'll never forget the words they said.  "Anne-Marie was shot.  She was at Columbine High."  I don't remember the rest of the day really.  I remember crying and trying to comfort a family that was completely lost.  Looking back on it, I can't even imagine what they were going through.  They left the next day to head to Colorado to go to the hospital to visit her.  Somehow, someway, she survived, but she was paralyzed.  At this point, they thought the worst was over.  Yes, she was badly injured, but she was going to survive.  It hit her mother and father hard.  They were lost.  I remember Jill telling me everything that was going on and it was just horrible.  She said her aunt was having a horrible time dealing with it.  She didn't deal with things very well, and now with her daughter in the hospital, horribly injured, they didn't know how she was going to survive. 
5 months later her mom, Carla, killed herself.  It devastated their family.  I'm still not sure Jill's mother has gotten past it.  She's haunted by "what ifs" and it's sad to see the person she has become. 

So, my heart goes out to each and everyone of you that is affected by this.  Be it a friend, or someone else.

If any of you would like to read the article about Anne-Marie's mother, I found one online.  link

AsshatMB