Just in case you were wondering...

Today, while working hard at school (not really), I was brainstorming what to write about tonight. I thought for a while and came up with a few ideas, but then thought some more and realized that most of my supposed "new" ideas have already been written about.

And, I'm not one to repeat myself---so here's something fresh, however unclever and silly it may be...

Top Ten Things Lauren Can't Live Without:

10. The Dishwasher-8 months ago, I was the dishwasher! Not that I didn't mind standing at the sink for hours each week scrubbing dishes, but it's so much nicer having the mechanical dishwasher to do that job for me. When searching for places to live, having a dishwasher was more important to me than how big the place was!!! Now if only there was a machine to unload....
9. My cell phone-Gee, I sound like a snob, but really, one day without the darn thing and I'd probably go insane. The real reason why I say this is because without this little flip-phone in my life, I would have a hard time arranging sub jobs each day--and we all know how important those are. Also, it's nice to have the ability to text-message Ben when we're working.
8. Chapstick-Any kind will do, honestly. My lips (and all of my skin for that matter) are dryer than the Sahara Desert. If I'm lucky, I can manage to hold onto one stick every three weeks or so, but usually I'm not lucky and the first thing I buy when I get paid is a little tube of heaven.
7. My Red Crocs-If I could wear these little babies every day of my life, I would, but a few things prevent it: One, the snow on the ground+Holes in the Shoes=Wet Feet. Two, I'm a shoe matcher by heart and the lovely bright red doesn't exactly go with my black dress suit. But, you can bet your bottom dollar that I put those suckers on as soon as I get home from work!
6. News-Ben hates the news, any kind of news at all, but I thrive off knowing what's going on in the world. Without it, I'd be an ignorant, misguided soul. One of my Journalism teachers in college MADE us watch news and read newspaper as part of our grade (we had quizzes each day). At first it was boring, but then I got into it and, even though news media is biased, I found it a staple in my life.
5. Music-Can anyone say iPod?? I got one for Christmas (thanks dad) and have become quite the iPod geek. Even without an iPod, however, I was a fan of music and since the recent breakdown of my car radio, I sometimes can't stand the silence!!! Music to me is the whipped cream topping of life, it's just not complete without it!
4. Family-Here's where I'll get a tad sentimental. Family includes Ben and all the family that came with marrying him; family includes my parents; family includes my two favorite brothers and their lovely wives; family includes friends I've had since I was a tiny baby. Without them, who would I talk to? Who could I call to say hello? Who would give me birthday presents????
3. Hot chocolate-Some people have a daily cup of Joe; I have a daily cup of coco (usually just in the winter, though). For example, today when I got home from school, I heated up some water and drank a nice cup of mint chocolate coco. I'm a freezing cold person by nature so this little invention really helps out on the days when I'm guessing the heater just won't cut it!
2. Words-Written words, spoken words, any words are worth it. I couldn't live without words because I write them, speak them, and read them and, to be quite frank, I LOVE WORDS. Think of a world without words, the only communication being series of grunts and finger pointing. I can't quite fathom the barbaric idea myself.
1. Tuna Fish, pizza, celery, and cheese-I'm a food-a-holic! There are, of course, obvious reasons why I couldn't live without these items, namely death by starvation. But more importantly, these four foods bring me indescribable joy. The last time I ate tuna? Yesterday. Pizza? Last Saturday. Celery? Today. Cheese? I'm eating it right now. If music is the whipped topping of life, these four foods are the cherry on top!!!

(By the by, the 2 year anniversary was swell!!!!!)