4.18.2013

I Want to Know You

 These might have been the crazy eyes Celeste saw all those years ago, but to be fair, who wouldn't have crazy, excited eyes after a fourteen-hour day          walking the streets of New York AND then they found M&M World right at that moment? 

Once upon a time, I was a new girl in a new place. I watched the other women in my church congregation for signs of friendship, and I found lots of signs and lots of wonderful, warm friendships.

But, there was one girl who eluded me.

I think it was because she already had two small children of her own, so she wasn’t really making friends with people who had no children at all. Or, maybe it was just me. How could I approach her and what should I talk to her about? I didn’t know the first thing about her life. I was not a mother. When I saw her at church functions, she had her hands full with her young family.

So, one day, she and I ended up at the same baby shower. The shower was at one of those small, old houses with cramped living rooms. At last, she did not have her children with her; however, I was dressed up as a Greek Goddess for Halloween – I might have been the only one who listened to “costumes optional” for this October baby shower. Because of this, I watched her from a distance as she chatted with others, and then as we both crossed the small room at the same time, I impulsively stopped her with her plateful of party food. Probably she was even eating some of it.

“Hi,” I said.

“Hello,” she answered good-naturedly.

I had not previously thought of something to say, so I just said the first thing that popped in my head:

“I want to know you.”

Thankfully, she laughed, rolled with it, and became one of my best friends. I spent many lovely afternoons in her kitchen getting to know her over the next year. I would ask her about her growing up years, her popularity in high school, her philosophy on life - all the things that made her who she is today. She would perform domestic tasks, and I would watch, occasionally helping with her children. Most often, I was there during her precious nap times, but she never once kicked me out.

I loved her then. I love her now.

I was thinking about this because I want to know you, too.

You who stop in to read this blog now and then.

I want to know you, but I don’t really know how to ask. I don’t know how to find out who you are. So, because it seemed to work out so well with my wonderful friend, Celeste, I will do the same with you.

Pretend we have bumped into each other at a crowded party. You were going to just slip past so you could eat your scrumptious cream puffs and artichoke and spinach dip, but there is a strange girl who won’t get out of your way, so you look up. She is wearing an interesting dress, and she has intense, crazy eyes that won’t look away. She says in stalker-like fashion:

“I want to know you.”

With the grace of my friend Celeste, you laugh and say:

“Okay, I’m game.”

And now, you will answer one or all of the following questions because that’s the kind of person you are:

What is your nickname? Who gave it to you?

What is your favorite thing to eat on a road trip?

Speaking of, if you could travel anywhere, with anyone . . . .?

How long have you been friends with your best friend?

You’re at Wendy’s. You order?

And, be prepared for more crazy questions coming your way sometime in the future because that’s the kind of person I am. Just ask Celeste. ;)

Cheers!

43 comments:

  1. One of my many nicknames was Sparkling, a play on my maiden name, Sparling. My 7th grade English teacher gave it to me. You are one amazing lady Sally!! I Wish I had gotten to know you better while you lived in Seattle, I love your blog.

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    1. Not a bad nickname to end up with, if I do say so myself. In fact, you just might win the prize for best nickname. My in-laws call me 'Scallywag' so now you know where I'm coming from. :)

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  2. So I have met you before but it has been a long time since we have talked. It's always hard for me to stay in contact when I move. I guess I always worry people won't remember me. But I would love to be apart of this fun!
    My nickname growing up was GwennyD I don't remember the exact person but it was somewhere in my early sport years. Lots of people just add endings on to my name like Gwendolyne, Gwenith, Gweniver ect.
    My favorite road trip food is strawberry licorice. Oh and Gatorade to drink, in the squeeze bottle!
    I want to go to Hawaii with my husband. I always wanted to get married there ever since I saw the picture of the Hawaii temple in my grandpas album from when he was young and in the navy. He said he took the picture not knowing what the building was just that it was beautiful. Also not knowing that one day his daughter would join that church that was connected with it. I married in Portland instead, still very joyous but still long to go to Hawaii.
    For best friends since Kindergarten.
    Wendy's is my most favorite fast food place. I always get the number 7 with cheese on it and a junior frosty to dip my fries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    1. My name was the same way when I was in school. Nobody just called me Sally. They always added my last name or 'sue' or 'anne' or something else. Some names are just like that. I love Wendy's. Dustin doesn't understand the obsession, but it's pretty much the best fast food restaurant ever. I don't care who you are. :)
      P.S. Of course I remember you, and I'm glad you joined in the fun.

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  3. ha! Katie, my English teacher game me a nickname too! Although, it was in 10th grade: "Three Musketeers". I always had some sort of candy with me and I think the day he finally noticed this little quirk of mine my candy was one of those miniature Three Musketeers. He called me that all year long.

    And ... I met my best friend walking home from junior high, 7th grade, because she had one of those AWESOME Giga-Pets. She was bored of it so she sold it to me the next day for about 5 dollars.

    Somehow, despite that meeting (and me getting totally ripped off because those things get so annoying so fast) we've been friends ever since.

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    1. haha, I will have to remember that. Nicknames are so fun and random.

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    2. High school teachers are so weird. Also, the way you met your best friend is SUCH a good story. I'm so glad I know it now. Happy birthday, btw.

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  4. You are probably one of my top 3 contenders for funnest to get to know! I seriously had so much fun in that class with you and the adventures we had outside of class. Love you!

    -Nickname; Kristalberries, my dad calls me that but I don't know why.
    -Eat on a road trip; swedish fish. my hubs and I always got those when we made the 4 hour trek from Provo to St. George or California.
    -Travel to Europe, all of it, with my husband.
    -13 years with my husband.I had a best friend in high school but I don't consider her that now. We are still friends but it is interesting how time changes everyone.
    -Wendy's - junior bacon cheeseburger and/or nuggets, fries, chocolate frosty

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    1. Word. I feel the same way. Good times in a sucky class, for sure.
      P.S. I order the exact same thing at Wendy's that you do. Every time.

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  5. Sally this is such a cute idea!!! I haven't seen you for a few years (since you were pregnant and ready to pop with Claire and I was pregnant with Wyatt). Most people call me Alli but I don't consider it a nick name. But my Grandpa used to call me Alli-oop all the time when I was little. My favorite thing to eat on a road trip is beef jerky and water. I would love to take a fun road trip with my best friend Chelsea, just go cross country and check out the US! And we have been best friends since 8th grade, so about 13 years now?

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    1. I LOVE your grandpa's nickname for you. It just makes me happy. :)

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  6. I don't have a nickname now, but growing up it was niecie (my sister gave it to me), in college it was D (my cousin/roommate). Favorite roadtrip food, peanut butter M&Ms. I would travel to Australia with Colby, you and Dustin. Childhood best friend, 22 years! College best friend 14 years. I don't eat at Wendy's very often, but I would definately get a chocolate frosty. I love your blog Sally! I'm not sure if you know, but we moved! We've been in our new house for a week and a half. We love it so far.

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    1. I do know that you moved! And, I want to call you to find out all about it and if you sold all your stuff on craigslist or just gave it away! :) Dustin's fav road trip food is peanut butter M&M's, too. Let's start planning the Australia trip asap. :) Love you guys!

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  7. I don't really have a nickname, when I was really little my grandma would call me jezzers, but now it's mostly Jess...which isn't really a nickname...
    My favorite road trip food is probably Subway and chex mix. And to drink Countrytime strawberry lemonade...which by the way I have searched high and low for, it is only to be found in Utah. Annoying.
    I would travel to Italy with Richard.
    Mmmm...wendy's. I love their chicken sandwiches, fries and a chocolate frosty.

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    1. Yes! And fry sauce only in Utah! Why hasn't the rest of the country caught on to these good things?

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  8. Other than Ang, no nicknames, and just about every calls me that. :)
    Road trip food-Trail Mix
    Travel-I'd really go about anywhere. I love to just go. With- Jeff. A girls road trip with my BFFs would be really great, too.
    BFF-Tiff and I have been friends about 7 years and Cami's just over 5 years.
    Wendy's-I don't go there. I am a Chick-Fil-A girl. There I order either chicken strips or the little nuggets, waffle fries, a Dr. Pepper. Can't forget the chick-fil-a sauce!

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    1. I think I gave you the nickname 'Ang.' :) Just kidding. We finally caved and got a home line, so I'll call you soon - our cell phones have been so stinky here at home.

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  9. All day I have tried to think of my favorite thing to eat on road trips - I guess I don't have one. I would love to travel to Scotland and Ireland. :)

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    1. Can I come with you to Ireland? Puh-lease? :)

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  10. ACOLE. That's what I was called all through highschool. It's my first initial and my maiden name. Not really sure how it all got started, but it stuck. Among others are smashers, ashtray, and stashley(by my mom when she can't think of my name, she combines my older sisters with mine)

    Beef Jerky, Seeds, and anything sugary, coupled with the "artic" variety of gatorade/powerade

    One day I will travel to the Greek Islands, and waste my days away on the white sand beaches with the crystal bluegreen water, listening to the waves pound against the shore with my Al pal (who will be bored out of his mind).

    How long have you been friends with your best friend?
    Jenni-almost 10 years
    Annie-15ish? We've known each other forever, but we became best friends our sophomore year of highschool

    No brainer (don't judge me) 2 spicy chicken sandwiches-plain w/side of bbq, french fries, frosty (to dip my fries in), and if I really want gut ache, an extra chicken nugget with BBQ sauce.

    And now I'm hungry. For Wendy's. :)

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    1. Seriously, Dustin would also probably be bored on any one of my dream vacations. Maybe that means you should dream about vacationing with me on the Greek Islands. You'd get no complaints from me!

      Also, I will never judge a fellow Wendy's fan. Never.

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  11. I have lots of nicknames. Jay calls me Principessa (which is princess in Italian) because when we were dating we watched "Life is beautiful." I don't usually snack on road trips, probably because I feel guilty about sitting for so many hours. I like munching on baby carrots though. If I could travel anywhere, it would be to Italy. I have dreamed of going there since I was a little girl. I would of course go with my sweetheart. I don't know if I have a best friend other than my husband. I have always wanted a girl bosom buddy, someone I can tell anything and everything to. Someone who will do crazy things with me and share inside jokes. Although I can't say I have a "best friend," I honestly feel that the friends I do have are the best in the world. Wendy's: I am cheap, so I usually order chicken nuggets off of the dollar menu. I do love their apple pecan chicken salad though. If I wanted to splurge, I would go for a bacon cheeseburger or a spicy chicken sandwich, fries, and a frosty.

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    1. I start out not wanting to snack on road trips, but when boredom sets in, which it inevitably does, well . . . :)

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  12. I had quite a few nicknames growing up. My sisters called me Boopsie Doll. I was 8 and 12 years younger than they were, so I was like a doll to them, I guess. My brothers called me Noodle, because I was very thin as a kid. My mom once called me Shadoe, who was our dog that had died about 2 years before, and I will never let her forget that story:) On roadtrips I have to have Twizzlers. You can eat them kind of slowly and they're not too terribly unhealthy or messy. The perfect road trip treat in my opinion. If I could travel anywhere I would go somewhere warm and sunny with my husband. Sadly, we have never taken a vacation just the 2 of us. Between school, work and kids it's just never happened. Wendy's....as a side note I used to get asked all the time if I was the inspiration for Wendy's, or if my parent's named me after Peter Pan. No to both, they just liked the name. As far as what I order. Usually just a spicy chicken sandwich. Recently I went and paid an extra $1 to get free Frosty's for the rest of the year. Score!!

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    1. Hey Wendy - so fun that we would order the same food at Wendy's :) !! And how did you manage to pay $1 for free Frosty's for the rest of the year? I sense a story there!

      I hear you on needing to get out on a vacation with just you and your husband. Hopefully that will happen for both of us sometime in the near future :) !!

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    2. I paid an extra $3(!) to get three of those mini frosty's every time the girls and I stop in, which is embarrassingly often these days. Also, gotta love the Boopsie Doll.

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  13. "I want to know you." Ever since reading this post, I have said this in my head quite a few times to people I really do want to get to know better!

    My siblings used to call me "Please pass the peas, Miss Louise" since my middle name was Louise. It was funny how often they used that entire long phrase to refer to me :) !!

    Road Trip snacks - I alternate between wanting something sweet and something salty - wheat thins and then a good milkshake. Yum.

    Travel - I will go anywhere to have a vacation, sans kids, with my husband. Of the 15 years we have been married, we have only been away together once and that was for two nights. Hawaii, a place I have never been, would be a good place to start :) !!

    My friend Lisa and I have been great friends since 7th grade. My husband and I have been best friends now for almost 19 years!!!

    Wendy's - I am not a huge fast food fan, but on road trips, we definitely stop there. I like to get their Spicy Chicken Sandwich, and if I am in the mood, a coke - no diet stuff, but the real deal. [And yes, Coke, not Pepsi ;) !!]

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    1. Siblings are so weird. My older brother used to call me "Sags." What does that even mean?

      P.S. I didn't know your middle name was Louise! We gave that middle name to my second, Avery, after Dustin's grandma. What a great name!

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  14. My turn...

    Nicknames: Miss T (from my dad) and TenleyBenley (from my high school friends)

    Road trip: chocolate of some fashion and carbonated drink

    Travel: I would love to take you to Japan to the Wisteria tunnel. Dave and I want to go to NYC and/or Dominican Republic together. And I would probably go with ANYONE to Hawaii in a heartbeat.

    Best friend: Abby and I walked to kindergarten together and still keep in touch regularly. Dani and I have been friends since elementary school. I have several great friends from high school. Karin since freshman year at college. Asako, my Japanese companion from my mission and now the crazy eyed pregant girl in the picture of this post!!!!! Lucky me!

    Wendy's: spicy chicken sandwich and frosty. I do not dip fries in frostys - my cousin has tried numerous times to teach me that. yuck!

    And you do ask very personal questions at random times - I personally testify of that. It is something I love about you!

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    1. You didn't always love my mis-timed personal questions, but I'm glad you're good with it now. ;) Also, why haven't we road tripped together yet? We should get an RV and road trip family-style down the coast or something. Let's talk about that some time. :)

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  15. This has been sitting in my browser window for days. I need to answer these questions before my computer crashes and I loose it all together!

    What is your nickname? Who gave it to you? Kevin occasionally calls me "Banana," for obvious rhyming reasons. Annas of the world can probably relate. My former co-workers, with whom I now have a book club, call me "Janie," as in "Janie's Got a Gun," by Aerosmith. I am not a fan of Aerosmith, or that song, but I once had this toy that shot out a paper spool like a gun, and henceforth, I was and apparently will always remain, "Janie."

    What is your favorite thing to eat on a road trip? Twizzlers and Diet Coke

    Speaking of, if you could travel anywhere, with anyone . . . .? I would love to see Greece with Kevin, in addition to all the other parts of the Mediterranean. I would like to visit the UK with Jane Austen and Oscar Wilde.

    How long have you been friends with your best friend? Chelsea and I have been friends since 6th grade, when I moved to the area. Chelsea and I traded Christopher Pike thrillers and watched Star Trek: The Next Generation together. Renee, who was my matron-of-honor, I met the summer after high school graduation. The only person I feel closer to in my life is my husband. We share a third best friend, named Angie, who now lives down the street from me.

    You’re at Wendy’s. You order? Those fries are quite tasty, and of course, I like a Frosty as much as anyone.

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    1. I absolutely LOVE who you would travel with. I mean, we are talking dreams here, aren't we? I miss chatting with you and your way of thinking outside the box so nonchalantly. You are so cool and you don't even know it. Tell Kevin and the kids hi.

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  16. My dad calls me KK since my maiden name was Kolan and those are my initials...KKN now. I didn't take the name Newton until my first child was born. It seemed like a drag to have a different last name than my kids so I became a "Newton" but in my heart I will always be KK. My husband often calls me Kimberly, which I suppose isn't really a nickname but everyone else just calls me Kim.

    Baby carrots are good on a road trip and my family loves cheezits. Good for me since I don't like them and am not tempted by them one bit.

    I love a baked potato with chili from Wendy's. Really any baked potato is delicious but that would be the one thing that wins me over to Wendy's, plus an original frosty. Wendy's classics.

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    1. I love that your full name is a nickname from your husband. It's just one of those happy things. Thanks for playing along, Kim. :)

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  17. My turn my turn!
    I didn't get around to doing this, so I'm glad I saw on the FB the "thank you"!. (Miss you, Sally...)

    Nicknames: lizard, lizardio (my dad still calls me this), "zard", lizzie (from friends and fam), the boys in highschool just called me "boyer" (my last name).

    Roadtrip food: peanut butter M&Ms, swedish fish, and popcorn (cuz you can eat lots of it) and a big gulp of Diet Dr. Pepper

    I want to visit Rio, Brazil with Sid (his mission) and stay on the beach. Anywhere with a beach, really.
    (And do NYC with sisters....)

    Wendy's: Cheesy baked potato, fries, and a frosty (dipped in!). Or the chili baked potato. YUM.

    LOVE and MISS you, ms. Sally!

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    1. Hi Liz! So glad you are reading along! You totally would roll with a lizard nickname. Love that about you. :)

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  18. Oh I love this!
    Let's see, nickname. My dad used to call me Pirulin! which is "Pirouline"
    Favorite road trip snack?..... pretzels and dark chocolate, YUM!!!
    Places to visit, I would love to go to Paris with girlfriends :-)
    Wendy's... Oh I used to love the frostys, so good!

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    1. Oh my! I would LOVE to go to Paris with girlfriends! Dustin has no desire to go, so it would kind of ruin it, don't you think? :)

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  19. Hey! That was my baby shower you met Celeste! Can you believe our first Seattle babies are 5!
    Nickname- Anna Banana
    Favorite road trip snack- Trail mix
    Places to visit- I a want to go to Hawaii with Alex! Hopefully post nursing our baby girl due to arrive at the end of May.
    Wendy's- Same as Tenley, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, fries with ketchup, and a frosty
    Best friends- Judy, met her at age 3, she moved away in junior high, then we were college roommates. Wish she didn't live thousands of miles away now! Brittany, she lived above us in our first apartment in Seattle, we can't stop talking when we get together. Melanie, she is my best friend here in AZ, I met her at the park when we moved into our house 3 years ago, she has been the best running buddy, confidant, and friend through these early mothering years! Its interesting how friends move in and out of your life through the years, but there are those that never really leave your side, even if they are far away!

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    1. You are so lucky to have so many best friends! And, that totally was your baby shower! :) We are doing the opposite with our families - you have the two boys and now a girl, I have two girls and now a boy. :) Due at the same time as you - good luck!

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  20. I'm late to the party!

    Nickname: My whole life, my parents and brother called me (and still do): Cail. Some of my best best friends in high school started calling me that too. Another nickname was brief, in 5th grade. One boy said I laughed like a witch, so he called me Cackle-ee-anne. Kind of funny.

    Road trip food: We've NEVER been on one, so I can't even begin to answer! That's what happens when you live within 30 minutes of each set of grandparents!

    Travel: I am a huge travel-dreamer. I would love to go to Tokyo, Iceland, Europe-in-general, Australia, South Africa (family history etc.), and NYC! I'd love to go anywhere, actually. And probably #1 travel companion would be a girlfriend or two or three. My husband is a homebody!

    Best Friend: My best best best friend that I'm still in touch with I've known since middle school. Another best friend from more recent years I've known since 2007. I've had many best friends in my life but I don't make best friends easily any more. I have a ton of friends/acquaintances now but I miss connecting with women on that deeper level. I think I'm frankly just burned out! :)

    Wendy's: This is going to be embarrassing. My brother works for the Wendy's Corporation and I haven't eaten there in probably 20 years!!!!!!!!!! He could have given me any # of free frosty coupons etc. for life but I just have no desire to go there. As fast food goes, I'd probably go there before anywhere else. When I did go, back in the 90s, I would always get a baked potato!

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  21. Hi! I'm Laura. But you already know that, because in a similar crazy-eyed fashion I approached you and said, "Will you be my married-people friend?" And you said, "Yes," and I immediately envisioned you as my Charity Lang, the beautiful character in Crossing to Safety, but more supportive of her husband who continues to work-out, even though they're married.

    I have many nicknames, but nothing that would win any contests. My sister calls me Sister. Tyler calls me Wife.

    When I was a kid, my favorite road trip treat was Red Vines. Mama me, having gone through a whole food paradigm shift eats carrots and cherries and sometimes Babybel cheese.

    I miss Red Vines.

    My best friend growing up was Shelley. We used to say we had been friends since I was 3 months and she was born. Now I'm a mom, in sure the friendship more realistically goes back since we were 2, but I'm still labeling that impressive. She lives in Manhattan and I keep trying to woo her with the glamours of suburbia, but she is stubborn. We only see each other about once a year, but we pick up just fine, and it was probably good that she left after a week, because my boy and her girl developed a disturbingly mature friendship. We'll let them reconvene after Talmage's mission.
    I have many nicknames, but nothing that's going to win a contest.

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  22. My iPhone is malfunctioning. Don't tell Tyler or his idol may fall off the elaborately constructed pedastle.

    Wendy's. I'm sorry I missed the Wendy's love. Are they the one with market fresh sandwiches, or baked potatoes?

    I'd probably walk out and go order something at cafe Rio. They would ask me if I wanted black or pinto beans. I would order black. ALWAYS ORDER BLACK.

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