Out of the frying pan...into the fire.

My brother's graduation went off without a hitch, thankfully. I video-taped him walking across the stage, and then you can hear us, particularly me, screaming and cheering him on. Then we came back home for a photoshoot and dinner, and then I stayed up with Darren, Kim, and Becca talking. The next day, we had an excellent breakfast - my Grandma really knows how to cook certain things, and pumpkin and zucchini bread are some of them. Then we went to the Aquarium and checked it out. It had been closed for two years while they remodeled it, and it was just reopened this May. I must admit, it was impressive, but I would have preferred several things: more than one floor; more breathing room on the inside; and some more parking area. The huge tank with the U-boat replica was awesome, though. It had huge sharks and and a huge moray eel, HUGE! But the parking situation is ridiculous. Before it was remodeled, you had very little room in the actual parking lot so you usually ended up parking along the road. The situation has not changed. What is it they say about learning from history - well, whatever it is, they didn't listen.

In other news, I have some great news! I'm going to be a bridesmaid in Kim and Darren's wedding! True, I have to wear a dress, but on the bright side, I like the dress and more importantly, it fits. I can't wait! My younger sister Becca is also going to be a bridesmaid, along with some more ladies that I will meet later. The wedding is on October 14th. Ironically, or fortuitously, my Fall Break is on the 12th and 13th of October, so I can go down early to help out provided I find some transportation. I really am starting to see what a benefit it would be if I had my license!

I saw The Omen today and I was pleasantly surprised. It is exactly like the original, exactly. However, the original Omen was excellent, so it's remake was excellent as well. There were some parts that got me quite well. Apparently, I would become complacent and then BAM! The music surges as a demonic dog comes out of nowhere to tackle the leading man and my husband, Liev Schreiber and David Thewlis respectively. Seriously, I see the signs everywhere: JCT: Jessica C. Thewlis. It's a sign! And he's cute. I love him as Professor Lupin in the Harry Potter movies. And his resume is almost as wild as Johnny Depp's, and that's saying something! Plus, he's as tall as my brother Rob, 6'4". I don't know why that is a plus, but it is.

Anyway, in reference to the title of this post, my life and my family have taken a jump from the frying pan into the fire. Nothing against anyone, but we are now trading my Grandma (her flight is tomorrow morning) for my niece and nephew, aged 15 and 13 respectively. My nephew is fine. Josh is a good kid, except Rob (I feel) is a bad influence on him. My niece, Brittany, is another story. I really feel sorry for her sometimes, but she embodies every vice that I abhor, every stereotype that I despise and cannot stand. I feel so terrible saying those things, but they are true! School is a priority for me; talking on her cell phone and sulking are her priorities. I'm going to hell for saying that, but it seems to be true. I know that neither one of them has the best home life. In fact, I think they have almost the worst home life possible. I think indifference in child raising is almost worse than animosity and anger, although there is a bit of both as well in their home life. They will be gone all summer, spending their time being shipped between different relatives because their mother, my oldest sister, does not want them at home because she is in nursing school at the moment and she just can't concentrate with them there. I feel so sorry for Josh and Brittany sometimes. They have essentially been kicked out of their home by their mother for the summer, to be dumped (literally) on the doorsteps of various relatives to be rented for two weeks at a time like a timeshare. The whole thing gets me riled up, so I will abstain from saying more.

All I have left to say is that I had a great weekend filled with family, friends, lumpia, and fun.