For all the people that didn't believe me.

Bonobos are real monkeys and they really fight each other with their dingles.

You can read about it here, but be ready for some specific references to monkeys and their sex lives.

Sometimes I watch CNN.

Not very often, but sometimes.

Today, I tuned in during the Election Update show. They were talking about Religion and Politics, and specifically the divide between Christian voters between Obama and McCain supporters.

Not long after I became a Christian, someone told me that if you are a Christian, you are a Republican. It was a lady that worked with me. She said "You can't be a Christian and not be a Republican." I didn't know that. So I said, Oh. Well I guess that makes me one.

(side note: I couldn't have told you the difference between a democrat and a republican if someone had offered me 7 million dollars at this pont in my life. Absolutely no exaggeration. Ask Kelly.)

So without thinking or voting from the age of 19 - 21, I assumed I leaned towards being a republican. But I never told anyone that because, well, I didn't even know what it meant.

But a lot of my friends, my Christian friends, voted for John Kerry. WHAT. Did they realize that John Kerry was A DEMOCRAT? Maybe they didn't know the rule. Maybe they weren't really Christians. Maybe they were secretly part of the Anti-Christ movement of people that claim they are Christian and then secretly vote democrat. I was very, very uncomfortable with this. (note: I was uncomfortable silently.)

Anyhoo, time passed and I learned that most of my Bellingham Christian friends tended to vote democrat, even if they didn't call themselves Democrats perse. So, being utterly confused, I looked into what the differences were between democrats and republicans.

Time passed, blah blah blah, and I now also lean towards the left politically, mostly because of social justice issues. And I (and most of my Christian friends) are very excited about Barack! But I still thought it was a Bellingham thing.

Wrong! Apparently, "a growing number of other young, left-leaning believers are entering the political arena ..... And they are placing social justice issues, like poverty and war, at the intersection of their moral and political decision making."

I knew young people were all like, "Party like Barack!" but I didn't know that lots of Christians were behind him. I thought that was very exciting - it made me feel like I was part of a movement. Like I'm in the 60's.

I'd make a good hippie. Peace, love, hippie Nicole.

Coming Soon to CBS...

This. I think my mom should enter Tucker Jobe.

"Who calls it a dingle?"

Some of my favorite people in the world, I met at Ray of Hope.

I think there's something really cool about a group of people that are passionate about the same thing. Like anime people. I mean, we're not passionate about anime, but think of the people who are. They're a special breed.

As are people that are drawn to be Ray of Hope staff.

Also, I think I like them a lot because they always laugh when I think I'm being funny. And that just makes a person feel good.

Hm.

I had a dream last night that Jesus had manifested himself on earth again - as a T-Rex.

Hm.

SYTYCD vs. American Gladiators

I have an inner conflict - what is my favorite show? Is it So You Think You Can Dance or American Gladiators?

SYTYCD sample

American Gladiators sample

Ashley

Ashley has a man laugh.

Actually, this was my favorite childhood song

My favorite song in childhood

Ear Beer

This blog post is not about ears or beer. But that is a fun rhyme.

Other fun rhymes:

1. Mint Lint
2. Frisky Whiskey
3. Poodle Noodle
4. Rhyme Slime
5. Snuggle Juggle

In celebration...

.... that our country has gotten to a point where one of the nominees for president is a black man.

Good job, America.

Ideas for how do deal with annoying people

1. Pretend they're not talking to you
2. Trick them into getting on a plane with a one-way ticket to Azerbaijan
3. Every time they start talking, play your xylophone
4. Every time they start talking, do cartwheels repeatedly
5. If they are being rude and brash, remain extra calm. My mom always called this "killing them with kindness." It really pisses people off. Thanks mom.
6. Ask Annoying Person to play hide and seek with you.... and then don't seek them
7. Meditate and pray
8. Move away

Profile #8: Ricky Martin Van Buren Raden

Name: Ricky Martin Van Buren Raden


Age: 2 years


Relationship to me: First cat of my own ownership!

Where he lived previously: In some lame-o home where the owner had health problems and couldn't take care of him. So his previous family gave him up to the Humane Society

How I found him: So I've wanted a pet ever since I moved to college but I didn't want to get one until I knew I could take good care of it. Lately I've felt like I reached that milestone in life. So, I started talking to my friends about what pet I should get a few weeks ago.

I was pretty sure I wanted a dog. A smallish dog like a Bichon Frise or a Havanese. But I found out they would be pretty complicated to take care of, and so my mom encouraged me to get a cat. I didn't really want a cat.

If I did get a cat, I wanted to get a female cat. But I didn't really want a cat.

So I went to the Humane Society and Ricky meowed and I got a male cat.

Fame: Ricky was the KAFE 104.3 Pet of the Week the week before I adopted him! He was on the radio! HE IS FAMOUS!

Likes:

• Water in cups
• Tipping cups that have water in them over
• Super-snugging (snugging that involves pushing his fuzzy face up against your face and purring loudly, and then plopping his 13 pound cat body down on your chest and continuing the face snug)
• Sitting in small, enclosed spaces
• Being in my room and not in the laundry room
• Pounce! Kitty Treats
• Kitty hugs
• Being brushed
• Tummy rubs
• Pooping 16 times a day
• Being my pet

Dislikes

• Being outside
• Being in the laundry room
• Not being with people
• Getting neutered
• The size of his current litter box (it is too small and he pulls the plastic liner off EVERY DAY)

Summary: Ricky MBV Raden is the best cat ever.

Busy busy busy

I am as busy as a bumblebee.

Things I'm going to buy now that I'm a cat owner

• 
  
  
  A new cat necklace to don so people know when I am not WITH Ricky that I have a cat.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• A shirt to go with my cat necklace, just in case people aren't standing close enough to me to realize that my necklace has three cats hanging off of it. They will be able to see my awesome tye-dye t-shirt from further away.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  While at home, it is useful to have a place to put my glasses that displays them AND makes a statement about what I love - cats.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  And finally, I thought it would be best to display this on my front door.

In celebration of RICKY DAY... Here are some orange cats!

Announcement

Hello Kitty is now an official tourism ambassador of Japan.

Redonk.

Also, check out the guy in the middle. How much does he love Hello Kitty? Answer: Too much.

Something special I made for tomorrow

Redonkulously tired

I am redonkulously tired. I am so tired I could fall asleep in a garbage can, if someone offered me a garbage can to sleep in. I had a fun night of baby-sitting fantasmicism, but it was a late one. So now I'm tired.

I am sippling on a coffee, so that should help at least a tad.

Please leave some ideas as to how I can wake myself up.

Reasons I (and my blog) rule over Kelly

1. My blog is more pleasing to the eye
2. I am smarter, faster, and stronger
   
3. I am an Americorps and Kelly is not - i.e. I am serving AMERICA, and Kelly is not.
   
4. My handwriting is bigger.
5. I am older
6. I have a stuffed bear that could beat up her stuffed panther
7. My blog received 10 out of 10 stars on a recent poll
   
8. I am more humble
9. I have gone on more blind dates than Kelly has
10. My family has been on national television, and their reality show episode was NUMBER ONE.
    
11. My cat is cuter than her cat
    

And there you have it. Undeniable proof that I rule over Kelly.

Coming soon....

Ray of Hope rules all.

Fashion and the Homeless

Today, I saw a homeless person who was wearing a perfectly color-coordinated outfit. His outfit included

• A forest green do-rag


• A beige button up the front shirt (that was dirty and torn, but buttoned up to a fashionable degree)


• A pair of forest green sweatpants that EXACTLY MATCHED his green do-rag.


• A pair of beige work boots that were the exact same color as his shirt - down to the dirtiness!
  

I wonder if he had two pairs of green sweat pants and tore one of the up to make the do-rag. Just because you're homeless does not mean that you can't be fashion conscious.

Puppies

" The cool thing about puppies is that they look awesome. But then they piss on you and chew everything up."

- Kyle Raden re: puppies

Adoption Counseling

I dropped off my adoption application yesterday for adopting Ricky from the Humane Society. I am very, very excited.



Today I go to the Humane Society for my adoption counseling session. I'm not sure what exactly they are going to counsel me on, but I'm very excited to see Ricky. Everytime I come he pushes against the cage bars and purrs loudly and tries to get himself snugged into my hand. HE'S THE BEST CAT IN THE WORLD. I can't wait to bring him home.

American Gladiators ROUND 2

Could you do the Eliminator? I could.

All you have to do is......

1. Swim under the fiery surface


2. Climb the cargo net


3. Rope swing


4. Tight rope walk


5. Hand bike


6. Run across a spinning barrel


7. Climb the Pyramid


8. Grab onto the zip line at the top of the Pyramid


9. Run across a giant teeter totter


10. Run up the Travelator


11. Climb the stairs


12. Rope swing through a banner and into a pool

And wah-la, you've won the Eliminator.

Also, last night a guy with ONE LEG did it. It was inspirational. I almost cried.

Funny Product Warning Labels

I was came across this while I was looking for something else, but it is awesome, so I'm glad I did. Here are some of the highlights

1. Hair Coloring Do not use as an ice cream topping


2. Mattress Warning: Do not attempt to swallow


3. Air Conditioner Caution: Avoid dropping air conditioners out of windows.


4. Blanket from Taiwan Not to be used as protection from a tornado


5. Infant's bathtub Do not throw baby out with bath water.


6. 13-inch wheel on a wheelbarrow Not intended for highway use


7. Package of Fisherman's Friend throat lozenges Not meant as substitute for human companionship.

I think #6 is my favorite. No, they're all my favorite.

Ricky

So Lynn, Carolyn and I went to the Humane Society today and we met the best, most snuggleable cat in the history of the world.

Oh my GOSH! Here he is! I found his picture on the Whatcom Humane Society's website: Here is Ricky:

The best cat in the world. I want him. I WANT HIM.

The Mr Rogers Adventure!

My brother was in an all-male pageant. Ashley, Carolyn and I went down to Puyallup last Tuesday. Here we are in the car. I had a very un-photogenic day, so don't judge.

Also, I am very beautiful all of the time.

We stopped at IKEA! Ashley had never been there. We bought cookies and picture frames. Carolyn and Ashley each made several inappropriate jokes. They usually do. Also, I looked at couches. Yay couches!





















HAHAHAHAHA. Here is Ashley. She fell asleep in the car. Snoozersons. I couldn't fall asleep because I was the in the passenger seat and it is the responsibility of the person in the passenger seat to entertain the driver. So I did. We played would you rather.

















Ryan was competing for the title of Mr. Rogers at Rogers High School. The three components of the competition were: Talent, the Catwalk, and Question and Answer. For Talent, Ryan chose to sing A Whole New World (both male and female parts). He also had backup dancers. Here is Lulu helping the Sultan get ready.















And here is the performing crew. Ryan is the one in the purple vest on the top right.


THE PERFORMANCE WAS EPIC.

Hopefully I will be able to post a video on here soon. But if you weren't there, you should cry because you missed the best thing I have ever, ever seen. Ever in my entire life.










Ever.

Necessary

Popcap's website could revolutionize the way you waste time. It has done this for me.

Games I recommend:

Peggle:













Bookworm:











Chuzzle:

Honestly

This morning, I had to be at work at 6:55. So I stopped for coffee... and George W. Bush was driving the car in front of me in line at the coffee stand. I'm not kidding. I know him when I see him.

The president was driving a Dodge Grand Caravan with Triple A Logos on the side.

It was very exciting.

Possible pets - What's your vote?

A Friend for You

List of the Day 5/2/08

Things I Like about Buffalo:

1. They are furry
2. They move slowly, like they are inside jello
3. They are brown, which is one of my favorite colors to wear
4. They would be fun to ride
5. They have funny fluffy hair-dos
6. If I had a buffalo for a friend, I would name him Jerry and he would protect me from evil-doers

Profile #7: Rachel Handy

Name: Rachel Handy


Age: 21

Hometown: Ferndale, Washington

Relationship to me: Housemate and next-year apartment-mate

Occupation: Student

Major: Human Services

Nicknames: Roachel, Shredder, Ching, Rachie Roo, Womples, Flip-flop


Fun Facts about Rachel:

She has curl-tastic hair.


She went through a phase when she ate ice cream for three meals a day.

She is the middle of 7 siblings.


She and her family own an espresso stand called "Handy Shots"

She is taller than me.


She is secretly funny. It's like you know her for 2 years and then she says something outrageously funny and then WHAM, every day she gets funnier.

She went on a mission trip to Haiti this past spring.







She was homeschooled.




Activities:

Volunteering at Compass
Reaching things that are very high
Listening to Ace of Base
Saying funny things
Drinking Wild Turkey
Watching America's Next Top Model
Consuming White Chocolate
Wearing mis-matching grey sweatsuits

How Rachel Sees Herself:
"I am not very strong at doing chores or dishes... but I am very strong..... spiritually. If I had to rate myself, I would say that I am a little bit higher than Mother Theresa, but not quite as high as Jesus."


Rachel eats her macaroni and cheese with a fork.

I know I wasn't wearing a bow in my hair, but come on.

Today, the lady at the coffee stand handed me my drink and said, "All right, sir, here is your mocha."

Seriously.

Nice

So today I was eating some grapes at work out of a coffee cup. While looking at something online, I confidently put my hand into the coffee cup to pull out some grapes.

Except I had confidently put my hand in the wrong coffee cup. The one full of cold coffee from yesterday.

It was pretty neat. Slash gross.

Is this real? If it isn't, how did they do it?

How? How how how? How did this happen?

Starbucks Bathroom Etiquette

At the Starbucks close to my home in Bellingham, WA, there are two bathrooms. One for boys and one for girls. It's like a normal bathroom, where the door opens right to a small room with a toilet, sink, etc. No stalls.

I have used this bathroom many times. Thus, I have learned the appropriate etiquette.

Rule of the Starbucks bathroom - if you are in it, the light is on. If no one is in it, the light is off.

PROBLEM: Some people do not know this universal code. They just leave the light on when they exit. This presents a problem for me.

If I see the light on underneath the door, I wait outside the door for the person to come out. (Keep in mind I am physically uncomfortable because I have downed a coconut latte and haven't peed in 6 hours.) Then comes the real question - is someone in there? Should I knock? Should I try to open the door?

And THEN, if it IS unlocked, there is still a chance that someone is in there. Oh, hey, surprise visit from Nicole.

World, to avoid this difficult situation, please just follow the rule and make life easier for everyone else.

Light on, you're in there.
Light off, you're not.

Come to RU!

Raden University is a student-centered university where we expect students to expand their interests and perspectives. We combine the academic distinction and personal attention of a smaller, private college and the choices and variety of a comprehensive university.

We offer bachelor's degrees in -

• Impromptu Song Writing
• Cool Ranch Doritos
• Stuffed Animal Appreciation
• Fireworks
• Funny Words

With addtional Master's Degree opportunities in -

• Friendship
• Friends (the TV series)
• Frolicking
• Free-lance Snuggling

Please contact our Admissions office at radenuniversity.edu in the future. (site is not currently up and running but surely will be soon.)

We look forward to seeing you this fall!

Why I love Walgreens is twofold -

1. They never close. I can get a perscription filled at 3am if I want to. On Christmas.


2. They have their own brand of every medication available and they all have a Walgreens spin on the normal name. For example:

Claritin becomes Wal-atin

Aleve becomes Wal-eve

Airborne becomes Wal-borne

Sudafed becomes Wal-fed

Ibuprofen becomes Wal-profen

Benadryl becomes Wal-dryl

Robitussin becomes Wal-itussin

Zyrtec becomes Wal-zyr (that one's kind of tricky, they mixed it up a bit.)

Etc. Some of the Walgreen brand medications have boring names like "Walgreens Extra Strength Acetomeniphen." I think they should stick with their creative re-naming scheme and go with wal-omeniphen or something.

I love you, my Z-22

Have you heard about my new ELECTRONIC ORGANIZER? I love it. I love it forever. I might be IN love with it. If you could marry electronic devices, I would marry my organizer. I really would. Here is what it can do:

• Keep my to do list
  
• Prioritize my to do list
• Sync to my Microsoft Outlook so I have my calendar with me ALWAYS.
  
• Dance
• Display all my contact information for everyone I ever met.
  

It has a game called Crazy Daisy. Ha! Crazy Daisy! It's very crazy slash the best game ever.

I heart you, electronic organizer aka z22.

A WHOLE New World

My brother Ryan is going to be a contestant in the Mr. Rogers pageant. It is a male beauty pageant put on at his high school.

They have to do a talent portion and so my brother is going to sing.

And he is not just going to sing, he is going to sing a song from his favorite movie, Aladdin.

And he's not just going to sing a normal song, he's going to sing both parts of A Whole New World.

And he's not just going to sing both parts, he's going to be half dressed as Aladdin and half dressed as Jasmine.

And he's not going to be alone - he has four of his friends as back-up dancers.

And they won't just be dancing - they will be dressed as Abu, Carpet, the Sultan, and Rajah.

Seriously, I can't wait. I'm going to video tape it and maybe I can figure out how to post it on my blog because it will be the best thing America has ever seen.

FYI, there are at least 2 lifts in the presentation. On the final one, all his friends will lift him up and the person dressed as Carpet is going to be underneath his feet as if he is actually floating off the stage on Carpet.

It's going to be epic.

Nickitynangle

One time Carolyn called me Nickitynangle and it was awesome.

Profile #6: Rachel Handy

Name: Rachel Handy


Age: 21


Hometown: Ferndale, Washington


Relationship to me: Housemate and next-year apartment-mate

Occupation: Student

Major: Human Services



Nicknames: Roachel, Shredder, Ching, Rachie Roo, Womples, Flip-flop

Fun Facts about Rachel:

• She has curl-tastic hair.
• She went through a phase when she ate ice cream for three meals a day.
  
• She is the middle of 7 siblings.
  
• She and her family own an espresso stand called "Handy Shots"


• She is taller than me.


• She is secretly funny. It's like you know her for 2 years and then she says something outrageously funny and then WHAM, every day she gets funnier.


• She went on a mission trip to Haiti this past spring.

She was homeschooled.






Activities:

• Volunteering at Compass
• Reaching things that are very high
• Listening to Ace of Base
• Saying funny things
• Drinking Wild Turkey
• Watching America's Next Top Model
• Consuming White Chocolate
• Wearing mis-matching grey sweatsuits

How Rachel Sees Herself:

"I am not very strong at doing chores or dishes... but I am very strong..... spiritually. If I had to rate myself, I would say that I am a little bit higher than Mother Theresa, but not quite as high as Jesus."

Rachel eats her macaroni and cheese with a fork.

Heading to P-town

Yeah, vaca in Puyallup!

I am heading home to Puyallup, Washington today and well, it's going to be awesome. Here are some things I will do while in Puyallup:

1. See my family's new house


2. Snorgle all the pets


3. Beat my brother Kyle at Limbo


4. Make sure that my family's new house has a snack drawer, because that's the most important part of a family home


5. Make loud unneccesary noises

Being busy is kind of stupid

A poem:

Being busy is kind of Stupid
by Nicole Raden

Being busy is go go go
Being busy is never slow
Being busy makes blogging harder
In September celebrate Arbor (day)

Snowy Jr.

Seriously, you have to see this. <-- click there

Worky work

I am currently eating some very questionable leftovers from going out to Phad Thai last week with Carolyn. That's what happens when you don't bring your lunch to work. You have to eat questionable leftovers.

Jabbawockeez are America's Best Dance Crew!

Skip the first part and watch the dance. Towards the end one of the guys spins on his head for like 3 minutes. Seriously, it's amazing.

Profile #5: Charles Lewis Jobe

Name: Charles Lewis Jobe

Age: 45

Birthday: October 21st (Although until last year, literally, I thought it was the 23rd)

Hometown: Puyallup, WA

Relationship to me: Dad. Technically, he is my step-father, but I don't think of him that way. He's just my dad.

Nicknames: Noodles, Papa Bear, Papason, Chuck Diesel, Chuckles, Cranky Curls, Chaz (that's a new one I picked for him), Posh, Posh Spice, Vic, Father Dearest, Thor

Quick Summary of life history: Mom was from Germany and dad was in the military; lived in Germany for a few years in his childhood; became an optician, worked at Willows Optical, became co-owner, married my mom Laureen circa 1988.

Nuclear Family - Mom, Guisella; Dad, Charlie Sr; Brothers Leary and Dave, Sisters Linda and Caren, he was #4 of 5 kids in the family


German words I've learned from my dad: (I am making up the spelling of all of these words)

- Machenelle = Hurry up.
- Splikenze Deutch? = nothing, he just always says that when he wants to make noise for no reason
- Guten morgen = Good morning

Things Papa Bear Likes:

- MASH (the TV show)
- Monkeys (they make him laugh)
- Answering the phone in ways that he thinks are funny (ie "Dominos Pizza, how may I help you?" or "Why are you calling again?")
- Chasing my brothers
- Howling so that all the dogs will start howling
- Remodeling the house and building things
- Medical TV shows
- Eyeballs
- The name "Vic"
- Beating my brothers in physical challenges

Comfort Item: His super-gross decaying pillow from like 1965 that he insists is the perfect consistency for sleeping on. Seriously, it's grosser than Snowy.

Claim to Fame: He has several.

1) He starred in plays in high school. This includes playing Edmund in Narnia and Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar.

2) Our house was featured on an episode of Trading Spaces. It was recently voted the #1 Trading Spaces Episode of all time. You can even watch it on DVD.

Fun Facts About Charles Lewis Jobe:

1) He had an afro in high school.

2) Once, I was upstairs sleeping and he didn't know I was home so he thought he was alone. I was awakened by an extremely loud vocal rendition of "WHO LET THE DOGS OUT? WOOF, WOOF WOOF-WOOF!"

3) He has always coached my little brothers' sports teams.

4) He pretends not to like the dogs but he really, really does. (He actually doesn't like the cats, however.)

5) He has 2 jokes that he loves to tell over and over to new people. These have been the same 2 jokes that he has told since I was 13.

Love Language: My dad expresses love through Acts of Service. I wouldn't mention this except for that it is so, so true about him. Once, I really, really wanted to go to Ellensburg to see my friend but I there was some complication with me driving my car over there...the pass... something. Anyway, I wasn't going to be able to go and I was absolutely crushed and then my dad was like, "I'll take her." He voluntarily drove for like 4 hours to drop me off in Ellensburg. It was ridiculously generous. It was the nicest thing.

I've got a good dad.