With this ring...

Nothing like an engagement to get you a'bloggin'!
Engaged. What a lovely word. Fiancée. Even better!
I, Melissa Scanlon got engaged to Tyler Cameron on August 21st, 2010! I feel like the luckiest person in the world!
So many people are asking for "the story" so here my side...
At the beginning of the year, Tyler bought us concert tickets to see "The Juliana Theory"'s reunion/anniversary/farewell tour. Our best friends, Ben and Becky and Tyler's brother, Matt came with us to the first show in NY. So on Friday morning, I got on a plane to Boston, and Tyler picked me up - We took a bus to NY and checked into the hotel. We had a blast - some good food, a fun concert... that consisted of the three boys head banging for what felt like 14 hours, and Becky and I sitting down at a table yelling at each other... only because it was too loud to chat normally!  (I should also mention that on Friday night, I wore new heels to the concert...last time I buy cheap heels ever... because once we got to the concert, my feet hurt so bad I could barely stand, my feet were blistered and I took my shoes off, left 'em by a trash can and never saw them again!) Matt left early-ish on Sat. Ben, Becky, Tyler and I had some time to hang out - met up with one of Ben's groomsmen that lives in NY and ate at the cutest place! It was just a really fun time!Around 4 o'clock, we said good bye to Ben, Becky (and Maddi, my unborn "niece"), and got on a bus. Luckily, it was a much nicer bus then the one from Boston to NY, and of course much shorter! As we were approaching the city, I sent my mother a text message informing her - as my parents and grandparents were meeting us at the bus stop to take us to dinner. She said that they were in traffic. After getting off the bus stop, and using the restroom at an AmTrack station, I was told that we were needing to walk to a square to wait for them... I realize now that this isn't a big deal... but after two days of traveling, and WALKING all over NYC... I was NOT excited about it. Luckily, my smart and loving boyfriend suggested we take a cab. I was confused, but as I learned from Bambi, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all". So, I kept my mouth shut, and pretended like that smartest thing was for us to take a cab to meet them a stone's throw away, instead of just making them meet us where we were. But, here is where I started to get really annoyed. The cab drops us off.... with no restaurant in site, so I just assumed Tyler had no idea where he was... so, he were go, dragging my suitcase and his duffle bag, aimlessly around Philly following Tyler's iPhone GoogleMaps dot! We walk up to this fountain, and kind of cut through it to the other side... I'm thinking the restaurant is on the other side. Still trying to keep my mouth shut, and be patient, I'm just standing there... fuming. After standing in one spot for a couple minutes, Tyler looks at me and says "I kind of have ulterior motives for bringing you here"... I didn't have an idea what that meant. He got down on one knee... believe it or not, I got even more annoyed... I thought he was trying to make me laugh or something. I remember him saying (similar too) "I've loved you for 7 years, and I've known you were the one since I was 17"... then I go blank... somewhere in there, he pulled out a box, opened it, asked me to marry him, got up off his knee. He was shaking so bad he almost dropped the ring! There was hugging, kissing, clapping from some cute couple on the bench... to which Tyler said "Thanks! This will be my second marriage, so we're hoping for a better outcome." He's a dork. My mom came out of a bush with a camera and made me cry ever more! My dad and grandparents came out from somewhere and came running across the street! It was so perfect. Simple. Just us. A pretty fountain! My family. I'm so in love, so happy - and so incredibly lucky. The next few days we just.... perfection! I could write a book about how loved and special I feel! I have the greatest family, and will be joining into a new amazing family!
I want to enjoy every second of being engaged and plan to be Tyler's fiancée for as long as I can! :)

A whole lotta first!

Happy 1st of July!

I'm going to skip the redundant and expected "I suck at Blogging" mumbo-jumbo. There are too many exciting things going on to focus on that. I will say though, that 7 months ago today I was really thinking that Daily Blogging would become a reality in my life. I'd like to go back 7 months, and give that naive old me a reality check. But hey, 7 months later is a good time to try again, right? I thought so.

I'm going to be spending the long weekend in Maine(Our first weekend away), with my boyfriend's family. For some reason, he thinks it a good idea to bring me along. Yikes! I am certain it will be full of awkward moments and uncomfortable encounters, but I hear that's to be expected in these situations. Truth is, I am very excited about it. For many reasons. First of all, it's Maine. If you haven't been, pull out that dusty bucket list and add it on - it'll rock your mind. It'll blow your world. (Wait, what?) I've seen pictures of where we will be staying, and I can't wait to take better ones! Granted, the ones I saw were on Tyler's iPhone. Most looked like pictures you'd see in a "Rent this palace for the weekend" ad on Craigslist. (Love you, Geebs.) 4th of July in Maine sounds perfect to me! (Our first forth of July celebration together). I'm also excited for time away. A break from life and some relaxation. That will be very appreciated. Most of all, I can't wait to spend time with his family - and watch him with them. He's a complex fellow this man-o'-mine. He's the truest and most loyal man. He loves unconditionally, and he makes everyone around him feel like the most important person in the world. He can make one joke, and have the attention of an entire room adverted* to him. But when he's with his family, it's like a multiplication of superpowers. It's so fun to watch him care and love and encourage and be completely himself. Of course, I'll be digging for embarrassing stories and trying to share a little bit of me with everyone.
I'm such a family girl myself, I know I'll enjoy being around all of his!


I've got plenty to do in the next few hours. The most stressful part of this whole thing is that I have to work on Friday from 8am to 10pm. Sleep. Leave my apartment at 3am and drive to Charlotte. Get on a plane. Land. Somehow look presentable for Tyler (My first time seeing Tyler drive and my first time riding in his car. His first time driving to the airport...less exciting.ha.). Drive for 3hrs and somehow look presentable for the crew in Maine. Hopefully they are a forgiving bunch - and don't mind a nap or two.


To add to the firsts, the day we get back from Maine (not only do I get two whole days with my family!) but it will be our FIRST first Anniversary. I realize that may sound confusing to some, but  if you know us, that's kind of exciting! 




Random Thought: Sometimes, a song will start playing and I get so excited. Then, I realize it's the original and not the Glee version and my excitement fades.


*I'm gonna try and use some of my Merriam-Webster Word of the day words in my blogs, see if that helps them stick. If anyone ever see me use one improperly, please tell me. It's a major pet peeve of mine and some of the words are hard to use. That and I'm not all that bright. 

it's my birthday.

And I'm not being a baby about it!

Sure, I wish that there was something I could do to prevent it, but I can't. Tough. 23 won't be that bad. I actually think 23 might have a lot in store for me. I've got lots of visits/travels planned. I'm currently not scheduled to be on a plane again until July. That means I will have gone from January to July without any jet-setting. Woah. I don't remember the last time I did that!

I get a special visitor tomorrow and I am so excited to show him my little world here in Augusta. Mom is coming next month which makes me happy in a way that only she can make me. I'm hoping I can take my brother to Sea World in June... so far, it's looking good :) I get to go to Maine in July which is going to be so much fun. August is going to be filled with so much happiness its hard to express! I'll be in Oregon for a good while and then a couple concerts with my man and our besties. So that will get me through to August, at which point I'll move... somewhere. Whether it be a different apartment or different state, that I don't know.

Side Note:

I've been pretty proud of myself today. I confronted several people (at work) in a very mature and honest manner. It's so not like me. I think it's because it's not a necessity. No one is making me confront them and in a lot of ways, I don't need to be the one to do it but it just worked out today that it all came up. It was very encouraging. I felt like I managed my way through the conversation well and actually made some progress with someone. Time will tell. I work with some...interesting people. Who am I kidding? Interesting doesn't come close. Most days ridiculous would be appropriate. Other days saying that I work with people who no social skills would work. Lately, I feel like I work with people who are completely detached from the human race and world around them. When I'm in a good mood, it' comical. When I'm not, it's simply depressing. I'm sure that a lot of, if not most, people feel this way about their job - but I think my job would make a great TV. Sadly, there's already The Office.

time really does fly.

And I am so sick of it.
I know. I'm supposed to be all mature and over it. I'm 23. Today. I seriously just got used to being...not 21 anymore. Most days I genuinely feel 19. But no, I'm 23 years old. That is a lot of years.

I'm terrified....no, I need a word that is worse then terrified.. terrorized? scared stiff? Well, I'm petrified that my life will turn out to be many boring years strung together full of unattained goals. I love setting goals. I'm actually quite addicted to it. But goals, by definition are targets and objectives. They are work. I don't like doing the work. I just like thinking about what my life would be like if I were to accomplish that goal. How pathetic, right?

So, next thing you know, here I lay on my 23rd birthday - once again telling myself that this would be a great day to start blogging again. Empty words. Meaningless thoughts.

I close my eyes. I try and focus on all the reasons that I want to "blog". There are a lot. They make me happy. The thought of doing something consistently makes me happy. Doing something for no reason other then wanting to do it. I open my eyes.

I can do this. I can do anything. I have been blessed with a life surrounded by people who help me to see that. I wasn't born with an innate sense of endless possibilities for myself. But God made sure that I was surrounded by people who did. So, I owe it to them, and to him - and heck- to myself to do it. Because I can. Because I want to.

Plus, coming back around to feeling like time flies by - blogging is like pausing time. Stealing those moments and keeping them forever (much like another passion of mine....hmmmm). I'd love to know what I was thinking and feeling 10 years ago... so 10 years from now, I'm sure I will find all this meaningless banter endlessly entertaining.

So, I'm going to try. And we'll see what happens. I've got a couple other goals up my sleeve. I'm not gonna write about 'em just yet- but, once I'm feeling more confident and successful about the whole thing, maybe I will.

Job, Movies and Paris

Alright, time to blog about one of the greatest joys and pains in my life right now...

"The Portrait Studio"

I came into this studio, in the Augusta Mall... and it was a mess. In every way. Don't get me wrong, it still is in most ways , but now its got a little bit more of a blank canvas feeling. In a couple weeks, we get a boss man. I'm my mind he wears blue tights and a red cape - and his kryptonite better not be anywhere near that studio. There is so much work to be done, at all times. Paper everywhere. People doing things in the only way that they know how... which is nothing like how its supposed to be done. And contrary to what you might think, at work, I am very by the book!

Nonethelessssss.... I will wake up everyday not only grateful that God gave me a job, but that he gave me a job that I love doing. It really is my dream job for this stage in my life. I get to come in the studio, and take pictures of cute and very crazy kids. I love it. I'm sure that a lot of bloggable stories will come from this job. I wish that I could post pictures that I take, but needless to say that would get me in ALL kinds of trouble : )

Useless thoughts....

Usually I'm one of those people complaining about the good ol' days when MTV played music,videos and TRL - when MTV was music television.

Who am I kidding.

Yes- I DO honestly miss hours of awesome and awesomely awful music videos. But as I sit here watching a self-proclaimed hippy pimple faced high school kid being "MADE" into a model, I am grateful for SOME of the brain trash that MTV has to offer me. Don't get me wrong, this crap should never have one's full attention. I wouldn't want to know what would happen then. I would never watch any of it without a laptop in front of me or without a serious sickness keeping me from a full state of consciousness! And I'm glad that there was no one else here to witness how excited I got about the following two things....

The 2009 MTV Movie Awards hosted by Adam Samberg

I'm so excited about the movie awards. Even I think it's so silly that I get SO excited about award shows. I love looking at all the clothes - and MTV is especially funny cause you never know what to except. I've also just ALWAYS loved watching celebrities interact with each other and hang out - who is sitting next to who, presenting together- all of that really entertains me.. I can't help it.

Next....

The New Season Of Paris Hilton's My New Bff

I know, I know. This should not be something I'm ok with telling anyone. But I do love her. I mean, she has more money than anyone else her age that I know of! She could be alot crazier! I mean, this is not me defending everything that she does- I'm praising her for all of it! Plus, she looks like a sane, brilliant rocket scientist compared to the crazies who shows up that want to be her BFF. I mean honestly, ladies - we all know you will never end up her BFF. Nicole Richie didn't even last- and she is about as Fabulous as you get.

Watch these! SOOO awesome!

A Blogger: ReBorn

Ok... it's time to come out of my non-blogging bubble.
Truth is I think about blogging more than I ought to. There are a lot of things that happen that I want to write about - mostly for the sake of remembering them. Little things happen that I know only I could care about but I know that reading it over again one day will make me happy... I think I blog about blogging more than anything else. Probably breaking all sorts of blogging rules. So, I'm done.... no more blogging about blogging. Just blogging.

I have to say - it's been very great having Kim as a roommate...for about 20 hours. It's just exciting getting to know her... and actually having things in the apartment is nice too. It's always fun moving- I love it. Obviously, it was hot, muggy and rainy, but her parents were here and fun peeps came to help(Thanks Andrew, Mike and Melissa!). It does make me feel so old though. Two roommates? What happened to living with my parents! I mean even just sitting here.... Sunday night, watching the SNL shorts special (because they are awesome and also because we have yet to purchase a universal remote)... drinking a beer (because Tyler was making me jealous of his fun drinks)... feeling like a grown up enjoying the precious and rare joy of a day off work!


22 years of age. Come to think of it, have I blogged since I turned the big 21+1? Well, if I have- I'm just as mad about it now as I was then. But, if I have to pick One good thing about being 22.... it seems like a real life is brewing over the horizon. Ha. I had to make that sound cheesy. I guess I'm just getting to a point where the usual daydreaming or general wondering of what will be... seems to be all too close in my future. Who really knows what I mean by all this.

In other thought... Every time I see an iPhone commercial i feel butterflies and my eyes light up. But after about the 5th one today.... and i haven't been watching tv THAT long... Can you imagine showing a 22 year old from the 50's....60's'....70's....80's......heck, 90's that commercial. Told that they could get an app for finding a textbook for $285 instead of $315 dollars.... or that if you were afraid of the wait time at your favorite restaurant there is an app for finding that out. I mean, there really is an app for anything. And if you find something that there isn't a an for....chances are you know someone that could make it. I just wish that I could know what it was like to live without all of this stuff. Who would we be without every convinience?

I'm in trouble now because all of the things I have been wanting to blog about are coming back t0 me! But I should really pace myself! Don't wanna get a blogged out. (I think i just liked the word blog...) So one more thing for now...

I wish I could explain how outraged I was when I saw this trailer... I mean... obvioulsy these spoofs just get worse and worse. And i wish I could pretend to not be bothered by them. But, honestly, this threw me over my movie loving edge. Come On. I've never gotten the Wayans Brothers. I thought the concept and production of White Chicks was the most horryfing thing I've ever seen. So, yea, I'm upset about Dance Flick.

View Trailer Here

Bad.

Good.

fun SNL shorts:
Lazy Sunday
Maraka (one of my favorite things ever)


Later. ; )

the inner turmoil of a post adolescent girl

Ok - So, I've started to let myself worry about who reads what I write on here... and I suppose, chances are, no one does really. There are some people that I hope do. I love that some people that I don't know might read it - and wonder how they react to it. But, then there are the people that I know that might read it.
It's Sunday morning. I've been sick and in bed since Thurs night. Gives you a lot of time to think.
Sometimes I hate it when I have too much time to think.
I overwhelm myself!
Lately, my thought has been "What is the world am I doing with my life?"
No biggie, right.
I feel like this might be the time in my life when I start to think- I have dreams for my life...
To be a wife.
To be a mom.
Are those dreams enough? I know! It's so cliche - the inner turmoil of a post adolescent girl trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life.
I'm starting to realize how much of a kid I am not!
You would think at 21 I would have realized that a little while ago- but, no, now that I will on my own, legally own my own car, pay car insurance, will soon be legally an independent, therefor will be paying health insurance.
I have grown up bills, that require a grown up paycheck.
Sometimes, I think the grownups around me don't see that.
Ugh- see, writing, thinking, it's stressing me out.

Well, it's been a little while since I've written much of anything... and I don't honestly feel like I have much to say now, I just really don't want to get out of the habit or writing somewhate frequently.
I'm going home tomorrow. I'm very excited to go home - it's going to be an interesting trip!!! It's not really a vacation- it's going to be an emotional roller coaster!
Why is it that saying goodbye to a house is so hard? It's just sad.
Is home really where the heart is? Is that it?
If that's the case, my heart quite possibly is still there as well- and I'm scared it will end up feeling somewhat homeless.
Can the heart move-in somewhere it will have known for a couple a days before flying off again? A smaller place, not meant for it?
Don't get me wrong - I know that I will have my room and my place in that house. I know that if I wanted/needed to I could run back there any second- but can this house be my home?
I suppose it will just take longer then usual??

See- emotion. Told ya.
Friday night will be the last I spend it what is left of my house.
The house that I threw a hissy fit in the first time I saw it.
The house that I had two rooms in.
The house that gave me my best friend as a roommate for a summer!
The house in which I said goodbye to my puppies.
The house my brother came home to after getting baptized.
The house that hosted my graduation party.
The house of favorite Christmases, game nights, movie nights.
The house with the room that comforted me during heartache and where I went when I couldn't contain my excitement.
The house in which I left home for the first time.
The house that I came Home to for the first time.
I barely remember who I was before this house - I was a kid.
I guess, it's the house I became, well, not a kid in!

I could go on.... for a very long time, but I won't.
I learned to love this house because of the home we've made it.
I'm glad my parents will be free from the stress it's causes- and that I will never have to park in that horrid driveway again! : )

367 Pleasant St..... you were great. See you soon, even if just for a while!!

Some of my day's pictures...

Hebrews!

I went to Panera today and sat and read Hebrews. It was very cool. I've been inspired to really start to think about the bible as a whole. Book by book and not scripture by scripture. I was surprised at how much more sense it made to just sit and read through it. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Hebrews because of Chapter 11. The beginning of the book made me feel really connected to Jesus.

1v³The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

I just feel in love with this scripture. How glorious! And again..

2^v9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Amazing.

2v¹⁸Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

It's just filled with so much goodness!!

4 ¹²For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ¹³Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

I was seriously challenged by this next scripture. Oh my goodness! I really felt like 'he' was talking right to my face!!

5 ¹¹We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. ¹²In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! ¹³Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

6⁷Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. ⁸But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

I feel like I'd never heard this before--I'm sure I've read it before but I don't think I've ever understood it. I just thinks its gorgeous. I mean, I don't want to be land that produces thistles.... I would like to be a gorgeous crop producing field. I know that the only thing that will keep me that way is 'drinking in the rain often'. oh, i just love this picture. It makes me want to paint a picture or something....hey, maybe I will!!

Such a gorgeous scripture about God's promise...

¹⁹We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

I just love that I read this at this point at my life. I think God was just calling me to it. I hope that my continuing to learn about God's love never ends. I just can't believe that he loves me enough to send his son to die for me. That Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice for me sin. It's a 'basic' stuff, but this is what keeps me going every day. This is what gives me hope for the rest that they talked about in Chap 4. I can't wait until that rest!!
Ok, I'm going to stop there for now but I have lots more to say! Mostly for myself because I can so often forget how I felt as I read certain things...