Happy (Almost) Birthday, Hillrise!

Well, the days of Hillrise being age 42 are quickly coming to an end, and in just a day, my little Hillrise will be 43 years old-wow, I remember when I threw it a party for its 40th birthday. I said, '40 Years of Happiness, 40 Years of Hillrise!' For those who have spent those 43 years with Hillrise are in disbelief that it has been 43 years already. Being by Hillrise's side for almost four years, I'm in disbelief that it turned 43 myself. Yep, this Saturday marks the day that 43 years ago Barclay Hollander Curci first broke ground on what would be a piece of heaven known as Hillrise. Ahh, if only I was there during its first, second, and third birthdays in 1969, 1970 and 1971. Times were so much simpler. But anyway, I can't wait to celebrate my Hillrise's big day! I'm buying some cake mix, some balloons, and of course, it's birthday gift! The perk about this year is that it will snow-yes, SNOW-in Hillrise! It hasn't snowed here since Hillrise's birthday in 1989. Back then, Hillrise was turning age 21. it also snowed all the time in Hillrise's toddler years, so I think the snowfall will bring back some pleasant memories back for Hillrise and the people who have lived there since Hillrise was a toddler. In fact, one of the former model homes is being re-painted just for Hillrise's birthday. I don't know what color they will paint it, but I'm hoping it stays its reddish-burgundy color, since Hillrise is so unique. We're repaintng our house this year, but my dad din't want to do it for Hillrise's birthday-and the poor thing really wanted that for its birthday. Don't get me wrong, I love the paint and color of my Hillrise Home, but the paint is peeling and faded. It's sad to see my own Hillrise Home in this condition-it's like seeing someone you deeply care about very sick. I'm hoping that the paint can be fixed this year. But what we did get it for its birthday is a paint job for one of the bedrooms and 43 flowers to be planted in the community garden! Doesn't sound like much, but they were on Hillrise's wish list. Anything for Hillrise is a huge effort for me. I have to work extra hard for Hillrise. Why? I love it and I will do anything for it.
Whitney
Oh, P.S. Happy Birthday Hillrise!

Hillrise's HUGE birthday gift!

I checked the forecast for my town, and as you may know, it doesn't snow much in Southern California-except in the mountains. Well, NOT ANYMORE!!! Tomorrow, which is also the day of Hillrise's birthday, it is expected to snow!! It hasn't snowed since Hillrise's 21st birthday in 1989! Hillrise and I are very excited. I can't believe Hillrise is celebrating its 43rd birthday in SNOW!! And not just a few flakes, I mean a BLANKET. Old Man Winter wants to give Hillrise a spectacular birthday gift once again! I guess I can wait to plant the birthday flowers in my portion of the community garden. It will be worth it since it will be a frosty day! I've never seen Hillrise with icicles and snow-capped roofs before, for it has never snowed that much in my town. I guess I'm going to have to get Buster-and myself-some snow clothes! Imagine it-TOBOGGANING DOWN MY STREET!!! BUILDING A SNOWMAN-IN MY BACKYARD!!! And best of all, Hillrise will celebrate with its 43rd year of existence. What a gift!!
Don't forget to wish Hillrise a happy 43rd birthday tomorrow! I won't be blogging or even online tomorrow, so I might as well shout it out now:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HILLRISE!

Don't ruin Hillrise!

As you know from my informative posts about how much I love Hillrise, you know Hillrise is a very family-oriented, friendly, happy-go-lucky place. There are no drugs, no fladoodles, no rebellious 20-somethings. Well, apparently there is. My childhood family friends, who are kind of on the dark side now, have friends who live there. This one girl they mentioned, named Sara*, lives in Hillrise and she supposedly has two large tattoos and smokes. While she only smokes 'occasionally', it's still hurtful to Hillrise's health and cherubic personality. I know, I'm crazy to think a housing tract has a personality. But Hillrise does. It is very special to me and so many others, and since me and Hillrise are joined at the hip, I can tell if it's having a hard time. And as you may know, smoking and tattoos are two of my biggest pet peeves. They will not be tolerated in Hillrise. Especially with Hillrise's perfect neighborhood reputation. It's been known as that for nearly 43 years and I'm not letting it lose two things it is widely known for: being a nice, friendly place, and the beyond-perfect air quality. I know that I may be over reacting, but lately I've ran into about three of 'those people' living there. Luckily, Sara will soon move. She can't live with her parents forever. (I'm actually shocked they didn't kick her out yet! HA!) She'll probably find some boyfriend and move into a crappy apartment with him. But this other dude actually owns his Hillrise home. I overheard he has sleeve tattoos, and those are the worst kind. Plus, I think that douche graffitied on Hillrise!! I cannot believe some people sometimes. The combination cannot go together. Like a happy guy at a depression clinic. Or a hot dog and chocolate sauce. Or ice cream and Jalapeno sauce. It's just two things that do not go together in any way. Plus, Hillrise deserves better than that. I know only a small 2% of the Hillrise residents do things that piss me and Hillrise off, but 2% is 2% too many. I know I cannot control it, but you've gotta admit it's annoying. Especially when you're a) a goody two shoes, and b) very concerned/involved with whatever you love, like I am. I really hope those people get a life and see what the heck they're doing to my precious Hillrise!
-Whitney
*=Name changed.

Ahhh-finally raining!

I'm super happy that its finally raining! As you can tell from a previous post of mine, I've been begging for this kind of weather. I love watching the rainfall from my living room with a cup of hot cocoa and a Snuggie wrapped around me, with the Hillrise fireplace on full blast. I wish my fireplace worked, because from experiences at neighbors' homes, Hillrise fireplaces are very cozy and perfect for chilly weather. It was a hot spot (Get it?!? Hot Spot? Since it's a fireplace??! :) LOLOL!!) for families in the 60s and 70s, who would gather around the fireplace during those cold winter days. Even nowadays, Hillrise fireplaces have brought families together for roasting marshmallows, slurping hot cocoa, waiting for Santa Claus, and just simply cozying up by the fire. Another raiy day activity I like to do is watch the storm. I like watching the lighting and listening to the thunder. It can be scary, I must admit, but luckily as long as I'm in Hillrise, watching the storm and not somewhere outside, in the storm, I'm fine. We have a killer view (my house was even in one of the advertisements for 'The View Homes of Hillrise'!) to watch the lightning flash across the sky. Luckily, Hillrise has never been struck by lightning. Anywho, my point being, I'm very excited about this weather. =)
Whitney

Ehhh, not happy for da weekend.

This week, I'm not as excited for the weekend. I'm going to be away from my dogs, Pupcake and Buster, and worst of all, I'll be away from Hillrise. I sure am going to miss Hillrise-I need to be there for it during the storms. I love my mom, she's one awesome squirrel! But it's my cigarette-addicted grandma I'm worried about. I do NOT like having to breathe in all of her carcinogens-and I better not get secondhand smoke! My dad said if she gets an air purifier, I can stay. Even though she doesn't have one yet, I don't think ONE air purifier will fog away the smell that has settled into the furniture. Also, I don't like sharing a bed. I'm scared that she won't like me anymore if my dad won't let me stay over on Saturday. Tonight, I'm going to my godmother's house, and I'm super excited for that. Don't get me wrong, my mom is the best mom you could ever have, it's just her house I have the problems with. Maybe if she sent my grandma to live with my aunt again, I'd reconsider. Because I cannot handle cigarette smoke-smoking is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. It is NOT allowed in Hillrise-the poor thing can get sick from it and it destroys the fresh air that it is known for! That is just cruel. Yes, y'all must think I'm crazy to say my neighborhood/housing tract can become ill, but Hillrise is so much more than that to me and everyone who lives there. Well, almost everyone. (There's this dude who is extremely mean to me, as well as Hillrise. He used to live there...thank porf he moved!) Hillrise has a personality, a voice, and a wonderous life to me. I cannot believe some douchebags can be so mean to it! Hillrise is VERY sensitive-more sensitive than me. So it's my job to stick up for it. I really want to be in Hillrise this weekend-I was going to spend the entire day with my mom and spend the night at home. I have no problem with it-as long as I sleep in my bed, in my room, with my dogs, in Hillrise.
Whitney

I need a break!!!!!

I am really peeved off because they said it was supposed to rain today and yesterday. However, the freaking sun decided to come out with a cheesy smile on its face. I was told via Momma Goose that when the sun is happy that the temperature rises. I really wanted it to rain, and now it is shorts weather. It keeps raining on and off, but that dang sun is out for good now. I'm in a woolly coat, a long-sleeve top, rainboots and sweats. It's been sunny for a month now, and I just need a break from the hot weather. Hillrise plants are thirsty for some rain. This may seem emo, but I love those gloomy days-especially the fact that Hillrise doesn't look dreary in any way in this kind of weather. Also, my dad said he'd pick me up if its raining, so I don't have to walk home. Even if I had to walk home, that would be so nice in the rain-it's like a shower and it perks me up to get a splash of water in my face. But the sun is out, it is DRY, it is HOT, and I'm stuck walking home. While I don't mind walking home, I am just burnt out right now. It's super hot inside my photo class, and this place would pass for air conditioned compared to the weather outside. I would love a splash of rain right now, but it's so dry outside that I have dandruff. I mean, if you were me, you'd hate these days too. I'm itchy all over!!! I really hope it does rain eventually!
Whit

Valentine's Day

Everyone has their Valentines. I have one-Hillrise-but I can't bring it to school with me! Last month, I was super psyched about V-Day but after being forgotten that disappeared. No one, not even my parents, got me a Valentine or even just the right treatment. I was given a box of chocolates by these kids in my photo class-but little did I know that they had expired last year! I was given rotten chocolates-ON PURPOSE. People laughed as I ate the candy, and I didn't know why. Then, after an intense diarrhea-vomit fest, I knew why they were laughing. I couldn't figure it out why they gave me rotten chocolates, but at the same time I did. People HATE MY GUTS. After that, I went to tumbling, where I was pooped due to being sick for three weeks. Well, I wasn't sick for three weeks, but my dad just didnt let me go for the first week I was better. So I went to open gym for a half hour, jumping on the trampoline nonstop as usual. But then my coach made me do all those warm-up jogs and kept calling me by the wrong name. I tried to tell her that my name is Whitney, but she's all 'That's NOT what it says in my book!!" Also, she yelled at me for being scared on these NARROW bars. Since I'm full-figured, I could scrape something if I drop myself. In fact, I did and it was ANNOYING. I was super slow and my coach was yelling at me non stop. All the others finished WAY before I did. I think I shouldn't have done those damn warm up jogs. (Excuse my French.) Because I had been doing them for a half an hour! It's annoying.

Also, the birthday picnic I planned for Hillrise had been denied. I was really looking forward to it, but they emailed me yesterday saying it would have to wait 7 years. I'm still crying over it-I really wanted to share my signature spaghetti sauce with the neighbors. Also, my rainbow layer cake! I haven't made it yet and I really want to. I thought a Hillrise picnic would be perfect. Back in the 60s, they had these weekly. They also had Easter parades, Easter egg hunts, 4th of July BBQ's, and even Secret Santas. When all the kids grew up and moved away and the people began to age, they stopped the events. But around the time I was born younger kids began to move to Hillrise-and since those new families had no idea about the events that went on back in the 60's and 70's, they couldn't ask them to start up again. Plus, those homeowners association representatives were long gone. I really want to start all of this up again! I want to make Hillrise feel like it's 1970 again. But for some reason no one else wants to! I'm hoping that I still can. I really have confidence in Hillrise.
Whitney

I hate modern society.

I'm sorry for the moodiness of this article, I'm just fed up with school. I mean, I hate how everything is all technology-ridden nowadays. I mean, my parents are able to check my grades every single day because it's all online. My homework is all online. My vocabulary lists are all online. With most of this going around, I am not handed the worksheets; I am handed the website to go to. I swear, I'm sick of staring at a screen just to do my freaking homework. I remember in elementary school in the early-mid 2000's that the computer was a privilege, but we still went on it daily. To take tests, to learn typing, to play games, even. Also, there's this new TV channel which basically will put all preschools out of business. It's super annoying and I think that if this technology crap keeps up, all of society will be doing nothing but staring at screens all day by the time I'm 30. Back in 1968, when Hillrise was built, things were much simpler. Computers were so big and expensive that only top companies used them. The only screen you stared at was the television set to watch programs like Rowan and Martin's Laugh In or Family Feud. But that only took up some of your time. Because unlike today, where we have 9,000 TV channels, back in the 1970's you only had seven. Sounds like torture to not have Glee or Jersey Shore or CSI, or even a cell phone or Facebook, but I'm telling you, that would be my dream life. I mean, for crying out loud, just call the person! I spend so much freaking time on Facebook and on my phone that sometimes I wish it didn't exist. But with everyone having one, I can't give it up cold turkey. I mean, in 1968, there were no flat-screens or cell phones. There was no such thing as a remote controller until the 1980s. There was a large TV set and a normal phone. Grades came in through the mail every 10 weeks. There was no online system. There was barely any crime (in Hillrise anyway, because back then, Hillrise was the only neighborhood out there) so I could walk around without my parents going freaky on me. I could even ride a HORSE to school. How cool would that be?! Sadly, I can't because of suburbia. While my town is small, it is still busy and chock-full of cars and motorcycles. The creek that once flowed through Hillrise is now a man-made concrete dump. You could no longer wander across empty fields because people had built on those fields. (Hillrise is the only neighorhood with ANY open space nowadays! It's so sad.) And with those overrated houses next to Hillrise that once used to be a park, Hillrise is often labeled as 'old' 'small' or-my ultimate cracking point-an 'eyesore'. Even those who live there (that are my age) find it to be a 'creaky old p.o.s.' I swear I will set them straight and kick them so far out of Hillrise that they'll travel to Jupiter. I think that they're just trying to push my buttons, but still, that is not OK. Hillrise still is brand new to me, and still is a happy-go-lucky piece of heaven. I mean, Hillrise is WAY sturdier than those crappy, newer homes. People actually want to STAY there. Most people, when they first move to my town, move to one of the very first neighborhoods in the area-and that includes Hillrise. But they eventually abandon their plans to move to a bigger house. Why? Because Hillrise has a personality, unlike most neighborhoods. I'm sick of people tearing down the nostalgic wooden garages and wood paneling and covering it with stucco. When I get a Hillrise Home of my own, I'm keeping it as 1970 as possible. Even in my own house, my dad tore down the nostalgic wallpaper and lamps and replaced it with-get ready for this-recessed lighting. I hate the recessed lights in my room-as well as the modern light switches and electrical outlets. My house didn't even come with a light in my room! I wish I could buy one of those lamps with 5 bendy heads that look like flowers. The recessed lighting does not feel right at ALL. It is really annoying. Also, my dad wants to replace my shower, which has been in my bathroom since 1972. Plus, the shower and the drain are aging rather fast so I have NO choice. I'm really going to miss the Hillrise flair it came with.
Basically, my point being, times were much simpler back in the 1960s and I think that all this modern online crap and Hillrise-bashing a-holes should just jump in a lake!
Whitney

Flu is never fun...

This week (or at least half of it) I have had the flu. I still have it and it's NOT fun...however o the bright side, I've missed some school and have caught up on my Hillrise spirit. But on the not so bright side, I might have to take part of the high school  exit exam next year because I was sick during the testing time. I wish I could have a different way of making up the test. Also, I've had to miss tumbling practice and I've spent my fever-ful hours watching TV, going on Facebook and trying to hold down grossly flavored cough syrups. My dad doesn't have any OJ, so I'm stuck eating these chalky, sugary tablets instead. I really hope this doesn't carry through tomorrow. I really want to get out in the fresh air and check out those Hillrise garage sales. Oh, and not to mention plan its birthday party coming up! HAPPY BIRTHDAY HILLRISE!! Well, its birthday isn't today, but it is this month. I'm so happy for the middle of the month because that's when all the Hillrise things start happening! Also, another thing about February I like is Valentine's Day. While I'm single, I love all the pink, girly clothes and decorations, and not to mention the CANDY!!! Sweethearts, boxes of chocolates, cinnamon red-hots (those were HUGE when I was in elementary school) and V-Day themed marshmallow Peeps. Basically, any holiday that comes my way is a favorite of mine. Okay, holidays aside, another good thing about this sickness is that I haven't had to worry about things so much, but my dad keeps pressuring me today. I think he's irritated because he had something HUGE and I mean HUGE to do at work today and due to my sickness he had to do it over the phone. He wasn't too happy about this since it was a huge opportunity for his company and it would have been better if he was actually there. I know, I figured all of this out on my own-with some help from Mom, of course! Anywho, wish me luck on getting better!
Whit