Glenn and Whitney Winn

This Year So Far

2011-09-22T18:39:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I am horrible at taking pictures but since so many of my computers have died this summer I finally have an excuse. I am taking 16 credits this semester and my life is full of history and Spanish. This semester is a bit tough because I tend to get bored after the industrial revolution and two of my classes involve modern history but whatever.

Glenn and I had a wonderful surprise last Thursday/Friday when Michael, Heidi, and the boys dropped by. Two of my classes had been canceled so I skipped the early morning one (bad I know) to spend time with them. We went to the duck pond south of campus and Glenn and I couldn't help laughing at the boy's techniques. One piece of bread for them, one for the ducks, etc. Glenn got a few ducks to come very close and take the bread right out of the kids' hands. Along with Michael, Glenn and I raced Austin, Jack, and Davie up the stairs...Davie kicked my trash, I guess it is just not the same without a 50 lb backpack weighing me down. :P

Anyway, we took the boys to the Eyring Science Center and had fun playing with all the gadgets and then met up with Heidi and little Henry in the Wilk. Glenn proved his future fatherhood abilities by taking three of the boys to the bathroom and coming out with all of them clean and dry. Bookstore shopping was quite an adventure, it seems that Jack takes after his mom concerning hats and as usual I offered to buy the boys all one thing. Jack went from a $50.00 puppet (no way that was going to happen, thank you Heidi for your amazing skills at diversion) to a $20.00 puppet to a Kaleidoscope. Austin was trying to pick between a stuffed animal and a book an since the book was about half as expensive as Jack's toy I got him another one. Since Davie could not decide I got him some stickers.

Their visit came right at the end of BYU spirit week and the boys saw the balloons. The troop had just decided to take thee boys to get balloon when several students looked at them and handed each and every little boy a balloon. It was wonderful holding little Henry for the first time and Glenn and I had so much fun with the boys. It was great to catch up with Michael and Heidi.

Lately Glenn and I have been part of a Dungeons and Dragons group. It is really more of a social club and half the time we end up bent over laughing more than playing but it is a great way to get rid of stress. Contrary to the stereotype of the typical D&D player most of us in the group are married.

Recently I have been asked to be a palm reader for my friend Bria's Halloween party so I need to refresh myself on how to do it. It should be a night full of food and fun. For my Spanish class I am making Pan Muerto for El Dia de los Muertos. My professor is counting it for my presentation requirement because I am going to tell people about the origin of the recipe and the celebration. So yeah, now to Glenn.

Okay, I guess its my turn to add my two cents to this little endeavor. First and foremost let me just say I had a wonderful time with Michael, Heidi, and their minions. At one particular point Michael confided in me and said that working with the little ones is similar to herding cats. My dad is allergic to cats so I wouldn't know anything about that. Personally I was surprised how quickly I was accepted by their little clan. The natives have accepted me as one of their own. Mission accomplished.

Moving on. Before any of you blow a gasket, let me explain the whole D'n'D social group thing. For those of you with concerns or issues, let me make this abundantly clear. Unless we're getting together on Halloween, NO ONE DRESSES UP! Although Whit does put on temporary tattoos in strange places when she get board, but that's just funny. Each person playing comes up with a character that they are in control of. I think its funny that Whitney and I chose completely opposite character types. I'm playing a holy warrior who's very loyal to his order (even if he does like to mouth off quite a bit). Oh and did I mention he rides a griffon just for kicks? Whit on the other hand is a ranger whose only loyalty is to her puppy. I say puppy but he's actually a wolf the size of a draft horse. Okay enough on that subject before you all start to think I'm deranged.

Recently Whit has been having conflicts with a guy in one of her classes. You've probably all seen the type. The guy who always hogs the one workable outlet for his computer and then he doesn't even take notes. He just watches Youtube videos all through class. So in her typical fashion Whitney dealt out justice to the unsuspecting dope. She bought an multi socketed extension cord for the partially functioning wall outlet. Here's that catch. The extension cord is PINK. Like an "OH MY EYES! I'M BLIND!" hot pink. And guess what? Mr Youtube won't touch it. And now Whit and two other people can plug their computers in and actually take notes. Its a strange site to see in a college setting but still. There it is.

To clarify, the extension chord came after I called custodial to fix one of the plugs. He was bogarting the one three pronged working plug for a two pronged object...he could use the other one but I couldn't and when I pointed it out he just shrugged. The next week he had his cell phone and his computer plugged in and texted and surfed Youtube. I asked him if I could use on of the plugs because my computer was about to die (3 hour class mind you) and he said "well that sucks" and went on texting. All I asked for was 5 minutes but whatever. So, this revenge was very sweet in that it didn't really affect anybody negatively. I provided extra plugs and my computer won't die. Anyway, back to Glenn.

Well that about wraps it up for me. Work is work. I'm giving serious consideration to finding a job where I can actually talk about my job without violating federal law. Work on my book is limping along. I took a break to read Brandon Sanderson's new book. Its the only one published in a series of at least ten. Now I have to wait for who knows how long to get the next installment. Grrrr!!!! Whit refuses to have anything to do with it until the series is finished. I can respect that.

Anyway, that's it for me. See you all later.

Glenn

Life After Finals

2011-04-30T21:43:00.000-07:00

Well, I have had an insane few months along with Glenn. The last two weeks before finals I had six research papers due, four of which were assigned from my Spanish Class. So I had six papers, only two of which were in english, and only one of which was less than 7 pages. I never thought I would thank a professor for making us turn in a term paper early but THANK YOU DR. HAMBLIN. I received an A on my paper on Arabic Medicine during the crusades: An analysis of its advanced nature and contributing factors. Not surprisingly I was the only one not competing for resources for that paper. As to the seven people writing about Richard the LionHeart...they were not so lucky, of course I also had access to all the record written in Spanish but that is neither here nor there. Thanks to my Hubby I was able to carry thirty some odd text books out of the library and then back again.

Anyway, back to the other papers. One of my professors had procrastinated giving us back our Initial Responses which he had made vital to all of our papers so I had one day to write that paper. I spent the weekend before finals scribbling out my Spanish Papers, Monday writing my analysis of the effect of Christianity on Byzantium, and then Tuesday came along. I had been in quite a few meetings with my Chinese Cultural History Professor regarding my paper and I was still stuck. Yep, it was due in less than 24 hours and I was stuck on my second 15 page research paper in two days. Then, a miracle happened. I sent my professor an e-mail asking if the paper was due in class or in his office at 5 (he had been known to do that) and he sent me an e-mail back giving me a week long extension. Being me I immediately printed out what I had already completed, met with him and of course...I ASKED WHY! He then explained that my various analysis were quite detailed for somebody who could not read or understand mandarin and due to the lack of resources he gave me the extra time because he had just found additional resources that he thought I could use. And then he proceeded to edit what I had and gave me additional ideas regarding my paper. The meeting ended with the sentiment that he wished I was going into eastern studies because I had a unique perspective on it. Three days later I had taken all but one of my finals, four days later I finished my paper, and five days later I turned in my eleven page typed final to the same professor who had given me the extension. Needless to say I was a bit fried...still am really.

For my b-day Glenn took me to our favorite Sushi restaurant, the same one he took me to last year...we decided that we wanted to get married the next day. This time there was a man proposing to his girlfriend in the next Tatami room...she said yes, it was cute.

We spent Easter with Glenn's parents and after a weekend of overindulging I lost 2 lbs. Now I am wearing sweat pants all the time because none of my pants fit me anymore and Glenn and I are looking into resizing my wedding ring or getting me a plain silver band to wear while I am gardening or working around the house. As for Glenn, he is working on his two books and has finally dug himself out of Chapter Nine, that was a good day for us all, and he is losing weight too. His wedding ring now fits on his index finger but it also still fits his ring finger so we are okay in that department.

Glenn and I will post pics of our exciting lives as soon as I get new jeans :p

My favorite wedding photos

2011-04-10T21:38:00.000-07:00

There are so many more pictures that I love and I'll post them in my next update

This Year

2011-04-05T14:59:00.001-07:00

Okay, as most of you know I have been working very hard to lose weight and I am happy to say that since February I have lost 22 lbs with 18 more to go. By July I should be down to 140 lbs and on my way to losing more. Anyway, just wanted to update everyone. Glenn has been losing weight too but he doesn't like scales. Love you all and I am off to the gym

Chicken Sausage Potato Hash

2011-03-30T19:25:00.000-07:00

Okay, I really need to include pictures with these recipes but they are usually eaten before I finish them. Also this is technically not a hash but it sounded good.

Chicken Sausage: 4 oz diced or sliced in medallions: Tastes similar to kielbasa but less greasy and fewer calories
3 Red Potatoes for every 2 oz of sausage chopped in cubes
1/4 medium yellow onion finely chopped
Corn kernels: canned or frozen and prepped: Corn on the cob works better but it was still winter
Creole Seasoning (or garlic and cayenne pepper)

DO NOT ADD SALT: it is unnecessary

Cook the sausage in a skillet on medium/medium high (about 6-8 if you have that kind of stove) until golden and the oils are releasing (there won't be many, this is low calorie and very tasty) then move the meat to the side of the pan. Add the potatoes and let cook for about 2 minutes. Mix in corn and seasonings. If you want it to cook faster add about 1/4 cup water and cook until evaporated. Serve when potatoes are soft but slightly crunchy if preferred

Life as we know it...currently

2011-02-11T16:42:00.000-08:00

Well, Glenn has a great job now that will open many doors for him. He works at a home for people with mental disabilities. The sad part is that he has to be on call all of the time but he seems to enjoy the work. I cannot really say what he does because he cannot tell me any specifics so just to be on the safe side I don't ask him any questions that could tow the line. He does love it although it does get to him sometimes.

School is going okay, I spend hours in the library just to spend more hours reading and writing. My current research topic for my Crusades class is Arabic medicine during the crusades and why it was more advanced than that of the Europeans. In my history of the Near East class I have to focus on the Middle East under Rome and draw my own conclusions about a topic to be given at a later date. I am probably going to chose to write a paper on Martial Arts in China.

Speaking of that I lost a bet with my sensei. My shoulder is not strong enough for me to do some of the more advanced rolls so I have yet to belt up. He wants me to be up to strength next month so we are striking a unique balance between strength training and healing.

Anyway, that is all from here.

Lentil Soup

2011-01-19T15:50:00.000-08:00

Here is a great slow cooker recipe for Lentil Soup. My alterations are in blue
Crock Pot Lentil Soup

1 pound dried lentils, sorted and rinsed (any type, I prefer green)
2 cans (14 1/2 oz each) vegetable broth I substituted water for this, it doesn't add that much flavor
2 medium carrots, cut into 1/2" pieces I didn't peel these but you can
1 medium potato, peeled and cut into 1/2" pieces I kept the skin because Glenn likes it
1 medium onion, chopped I would use green onions and dried white onion, less fumes
1 medium stalk celery, cut into 1/2" pieces, optional
Fresh broccoli, chopped
Sun dried tomatoes (if you feel like it, I don't use these all the time)
4 cups water
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1-2 tbs Garam Masala
Mix all ingredients together in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low heat setting 8-9 hours or high heat for 3-5 hours or until lentils are tender. Stir well before serving. 8 servings.

Note: For the truly streamlined, empty-pantried folks: This recipe works just as well when you combine only the lentils, water equal to the amount of broth plus water, salt, and pepper.

Winter Semester

2011-01-10T19:44:00.000-08:00

Well, Glenn is done with school, lucky guy. Meanwhile on January 4th I resumed my amazing journey through school. I was just faced with one major dilemma...which class to drop. I dropped my US History class because it saved me about $300 in books. Instead I am taking Spanish 205, History of the Crusades, History of the Near East, and Chinese cultural history. People laugh at me because I speak Chinese with a Spanish accent and I speak Spanish with a slightly Japanese accent. A result of living in the bay area I guess. But I speak Japanese with a Spanish accent, I guess my languages are running together. I am taking Spring courses so that by the time I get into the teaching program I can just focus on that. Right now I have to get a full FBI background check and that can take anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months.

Glenn got a new job. It pays better than his old one and it is four blocks from our apartment so we will save quite a bit in gas and sanity. My life now consists of working out, studying, and enjoying life with my amazing husband. Ever week or so we have dinner and game night with some of our friends. Well, that is all from here.

Recipes

2010-11-20T15:29:00.000-08:00

Okay, I love cooking so I figured I would post some of my healthy recipes here for anyone to try.

Brown Rice Cakes
Serves 4

1 C cooked brown rice
1 egg
grated carrots
cooked chicken
ginger, fresh or powdered
2-4 tbs soy sauce
green onions
4 tbs sesame seeds

combine all ingredients in a blender or a small chopper, coarsely puree
Heat a pan on the stove with light olive oil
Form mixture into small patties (scoop out with a table spoon to get the right amount)
Put patties in the pan and cook on each side until golden brown

Autumn

2010-11-07T21:02:00.000-08:00

Well, the leaves finally decided to turn here in Provo. Today Glenn and I went on a walk to my favorite park and we decided to have fun and take pictures. The weather was nice and crisp and there were only a few other people out walking about. It was just a beautiful day. In these pictures you may notice my infamous red hair, it is going away. Thank goodness for temporary dyes.

I just told him to pose and he did. I love him

The above is my favorite of Glenn
It's called veteran's park, every city has one I am sure. This is a replica of an anti aircraft gun and yes, people are allowed to climb on it.

Ah Utah

2010-10-30T13:39:00.000-07:00

Well, I found out that my weak knees were not the problem when I was running, well, not the only problem. I was looking at my running shoes the other day and realized that they are almost completely worn down and haven't been giving me adequate support. So I am going to ask Glenn for an early Christmas present and get new running shoes. Yeah, it is going to suck rebuilding the cardio but I still have the muscular endurance so 3o min on a bike and 30 minutes running for the next month should put me back on my way.

And as you all know how much I love being right since that is so rarely the case and we finally got Glenn new street shoes because I was convinced that his old shoes were causing his ankle problems. It has been one week and he hasn't had any ankle problems. I love being right, especially when me being right helps relieve my husband's pain. Unfortunately, due to his permanent nerve damage I will be running alone which means no iPod for Glenn's peace of mind.

This is a rather shoe heavy blog but I shall go on. Glenn got me a new pair of Galoshes because we had a little snow storm the other day and my feet were soaked. And thanks to my circulation which is about the same as that of a corpse he was worried that my feet were freezing after an hour of them being under a blanket. Another reason to get back to running. Until I get new shoes however, I will try to talk Glenn into walking three miles with me a few times a week. Well, that is all from here. Bye

Chapter 1

2010-10-13T20:43:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone,
Two people responded so that's good enough for me. As such I'm copying over the first chapter now. Please keep in mind this a very rough draft. Anyway let me know what you think and if you would possibly want to read more. Enjoy.

Glenn

P.S. There is a prologue but I didn't want to start you off with it. It reads a little like the old testament.

Chapter 1

Pain was the harbinger of my rebirth. A cold scorching pain, like a thousand acid icicles had lodged themselves in his skin; stabbing, freezing, and searing every part of me. I could still remember what it was like to take that first gasping breath. The feeling of cold dry air cascading into my lungs seemed both novel and natural somehow. Of course breathing brought with it new sensations, most of them less than pleasant. How long had I lain in agonized prostration? I’m not really sure. Time, or at least my perception of it, can be somewhat unreliable when under the duress of pain. Slowly, ever so slowly, the racking spasms subsided and I came to myself. Actually that’s not quite accurate. Maybe it’s just semantics, but is it possible to come to yourself if you have no idea who you are?

My surroundings were simple enough. Calling it a cabin would be something of an overstatement. It was more like a shack. The furnishings were sparse: a stool here, a table and work bench there. Tools too old and rusty to be useful lay scattered about the floor, accompanied by several tightly woven medium sized bags. Slivers of predawn light trickled in where the seams of wall boards failed to meet. Next to the door a long coat and broad brimmed hat made from the same nondescript leather hung from pegs.

I looked down at myself half expecting to see blackened flesh and possibly a few missing limbs. To my surprise - and relief - my body looked more or less intact. No mutilations, puddles of gore, or severed bits that I could see. Definitely a plus.

My clothing was as unpretentious as the clothing on the wall. A simple shirt and trousers with a sturdy vest enclosed an athletic frame. The only remarkable item was a silver ring with a curious blue stone on my left hand.

Sand scrapped against the floor boards and shifted under hand and foot as I rose tentatively from the floor. I paused and glanced down. What appeared to be an enormous circular sand painting had been crafted in the center of the room underneath me. Grains of almost every color imaginable spiraled and swirled across the floor to congeal into various tinted pools. Multiple symbols made of a sand that seemed to shine with remarkable brilliance given the dim light lay partially smeared by my awkward rise. They were aligned in a row along where I’d had lain. Seven items lay on the outer edge of the painting: a large blue-black stone made smooth by the patient care of a river’s flow, a small plant with its roots still attached and wrapped in the protective embrace of a heavy cloth sac, a bowl filled with clean water, a small handheld fan, a long dry bone, a single burning candle, and at the head of the diagram a small silver pocket watch and chain. The back of the watch bore a strange symbol. Each item surrounded by its own small circle of sand.

On the table there was a shoulder pack made of a simple yet sturdy fabric. Next to it was a black long sword. The guard seemed to sweep up from the handle and extend out only slightly over the end of the scabbard turning abruptly and ending in two fang like points. Both the guard and pummel of the weapon were constructed from a silver colored metal. The handle and scabbard were black and accented with silver filigree. A simple belt of black leather was attached and coiled around the weapon like some kind of flattened serpent. Leaning against this very unusual weapon was a piece of folded white paper. Lastly - and probably most important at the time - was a plate of food and a water skin.

I descended upon the hapless vittles and consumed them ravenously; pausing only to quench my parched throat. The food was of a hardy variety - made to keep with very little thought given to taste yet still providing plenty of energy, To me it might as well have been the nectar of the gods.

After a few moments of engorging myself, my attention finally turned to the paper on the table. Still gnawing on a piece of dried meat I unfolded the letter and began to read.

Hello Soldaran,
You are no doubt wondering why you’ve found yourself in a strange place. If everything went as planned you won’t remember a thing, not even writing this letter. I wish I could shed some light on the situation, but I can’t. I know you’re curious. Don’t be. That line of reasoning will get you killed. Suffice it to say you’re being hunted. And it’s vital that the people looking for you never find you. The pain you have just experiences is nothing compared to what you’ll meet at their hands. If you try to retrace your steps they will find you, follow you, catch you, and most likely kill you. Please trust me. There is a very good reason why I did this to you . . . or, why we did this to us. Its better if no one ever unearths what I’ve labored so hard to conceal. Time is your only advantage but you have precious little of it. EAT UP, GRAB YOUR GEAR AND GO! Don’t stop running and don’t slow down for any reason. Don’t trust anyone, not even with your name. Whatever you do don’t get separated from this weapon. If you do you’ll die within a few days. Only use it if you absolutely have to. And above all, DO NOT GET CAUGHT!!!

Sincerely,
Soldaran

P.S. Try not to get yourself killed. That’s my life your playing with.

Soldaran? Who was that? The name didn’t sound familiar. I tried to recall if I had ever met anyone by that name, to no avail. I tried to recall a face to go with the name.

Nothing.

My mind froze in horrified shock. The more I pondered the subject the more I realized that I didn’t recall anyone from my life: parent’s siblings, cousins, neighbors, teachers, friends, enemies. They were all completely gone. In a panicked frenzy, I tried to recall someone. Anyone, but it was no good. Every relationship of my life, every person, every face I had ever known had vanished from my memory, as if consumed by the cold flames of my rebirth. The more I concentrated the less I seemed to recall. I broadened my mental search to include more general things: places I had seen, important events of my life, my own name.

Still nothing.

It was simply gone. My life, all I’d known and everything I was had been stolen away from me. Replaced by a cold, empty, unnatural vacuum. The realization was unsettling but not as striking as one might think. Can you truly miss something that you don’t recall ever having in the first place?

There was one other avenue of logic my brain didn’t wish to consider, but I was at a loss for any other viable explanation. Regardless it warranted testing. I rummaged around in the pack until I found a pen and an ink well. With aching fingers and tentative strokes I repeated the phrase “DO NOT GET CAUGHT!” an inch or two below the post script.

The handwriting matched perfectly.

Apparently I had written a letter to myself. A little ostentatious perhaps, but effective none the less. Whatever had happened to me had obviously occurred by design. My design. But why would I have my own memory taken away? That possible purpose could that serve?

Then I heard it, a low long savage howl. The kind of howl that summons a deep primal fear. My brain screamed at me to run but my leg failed to comply. The call was soon answered by others. What kind of pack hunts during daylight hours? Then it hit me. Predators don’t hunt during the day, hounds do! I’d never heard a howl like that - at least not that I could recall - but one thing was certain. I did NOT want to be here when those things arrived.

I snatched the coat off its peg with a speed and accuracy that surprised me and adorned it in a single fluid motion. Then I hastily repacked the shoulder bag and slung it over my head. The strap tugged on my neck just before the bag itself collided with the small of my back with a reassuring thump. After hastily securing a secondary strap across the lower half of my chest. This one designed not to bare weight but rather to secure the bag itself in place. I retrieve the hat and stuffed it on my head. Finally, I grabbed the sword off the table and flung the door open with my other hand. I decided it would be better to have the sword readily accessible should those things overtake me.

The landscape outside was stern and mountainous. Large rocky slopes and shrubby grass predominated the area. Evergreen trees stippled the landscape. Thankfully, the tree line was within sight about a half mile away. I headed strait for it. My soft leather boots somehow gripping the hard stone allowing me to ricochet from rock to rock bounding towards the safety of the trees. My heart pounded in my ears with the sudden exertion. Muscles flexed and pounded against the granite underfoot, both refusing to give any quarter. In a matter of moments I reached the relative safety of the trees. At least here I would be harder to spot.

A sudden noise caused me to turn. This was not the same blood curdling howl I had heard before. This cry was decidedly less canine but no less terrifying. A quasi human shriek shattered the early morning stillness with its high pitched wail that seemed comprised of equal parts anger and frustration with the promise of grim retribution. Moments later there was a sudden rush of air and the shack irrupted in an instant pillar of red hot flame. Monstrous figures stood in stark silhouettes against the blaze. Some almost human, others disturbingly less so. One in particular stood eerily still a top mountainous steed watching the flames lick higher into the early dawn sky. I could almost catch a glimpse of heavy metal armor reflected in the light of the conflagration. The horse was flanked by two creatures that appeared for the most part human, except for their size. As bulky and tall as the war horse was these two towered over it by at least a full head. Each possessed the kind of built that attested to years of vigorous combat experience. Other silhouettes - more animal than human - prowled back and forth; their noses pressed to the ground. Suddenly a head snapped back and one of the marginally canine monstrosities howled, signaling to the others that he’d caught my scent.

I was out number, facing what looked liked well armed, well trained - not to mention well muscled - opponents, and my position had just been given away. So I decided to take my own advice.

I ran.

2010-10-05T09:03:00.000-07:00

If anyone is interested in reading the first few chapters of my book I'd be more than happy to post them. Believe me I need as much constructive criticism as I can get. Comment if you want to read it.

Jack-o-Lantern Fun

2010-10-05T05:46:00.000-07:00

Last Night Glenn and I had some friends for the ward come over and we had a pumpkin carving contest and watched Hocus Pocus. Here was my pumpkin (Glenn has not yet finished his, going the artistic route)
I think I need to carve out the scars a bit more so more light shines through

Maiden Voyage

2010-10-03T20:54:00.000-07:00

In case any of you are wondering. Yes this is my first time blogging. I've been resisting it so long, but if this is the best way to keep in touch with my in-laws . . . then so be it. So with no further delay here's what's been happening with us lately.

Whitney and I have been experimenting in the kitchen. Today we made this interesting rice paddies. The original recipe was a little bland for us so we decided to throw in some sesame seeds and it worked really well. Next time we make this dish we're going to throw in some chicken and see how it works. Then later on in the day we made chocolate cup cakes with home made whip cream. Yum. We tried to invited some friends of ours over to share in our delicious cup cakes. Only the wife came over. The husband was stuck in a WOW raid. His loss.

Anyway, for those of you who don't know, I've been working on a book for quite a while now. If I had to describe in a single sentence I would say its kind of like the fantasy book version of the borne identity. Right now I'm working on plot continuity and setting. There's a lot of work to do, but its fun to work on and that's all I really care about right now. If I had to describe my writing style I would say its somewhere between Brandon Sanderson and Jim Butcher. Lots of originality and twists combined with awesome humor and first person observation.

Well I don't know if this is an appropriate place to stop, but I'm going to anyway.

Married life

2010-08-17T18:06:00.000-07:00

Well, Glenn and I got back to Utah last Wednesday and I have had a very bad cold since then, as in I was barely able to get off the couch until...oh about 3 hours ago. Glenn has been taking very good care of me. We have most of our stuff unpacked but have to wait for my friend Ashley to pick up her bags...which is a source of huge annoyance for both me and Glenn but that is another story. I will get the pictures from the wedding Saturday and now I am going to go pass out.

Wedding Update

2010-07-20T16:46:00.000-07:00

Well, everything is going great over here. I am going in for my final fitting Thursday for my dress and to top it all off, I am moving into my new apartment. Glenn will obviously be moving in after the wedding. I love the new apartment. It is south of campus and far enough away to avoid the traffic and...I just love the area. It is beautiful, it has huge trees, lilacs in the spring, and a beautiful courtyard.
I am finally off of bathrooms at work, no more urinals! I have Friday off of work because of pioneer day. It is still weird to me that Utah treats it like an actual holiday. Of course, the Monday after the wedding Glenn's parents decided to have a mini family reunion since all of their kids will be in California anyway. It sounds fun. Oh, just FYI, I am not going to have a cell phone for a while because I won't be on mom's plan anymore and it will take Glenn's parents a little while to put me on theirs because they are so busy. It is $9 a month versus $70 a month for both Glenn and I.
Oh, and my whole "lose weight before the wedding" didn't really work out, please no fat jokes. I am in great shape, I am just a little...fluffy. I figure if I can walk 9 miles 3 times a week without getting winded I am good. I do want to start going to the GYM again when school starts. I chalk it up to an unhealthy amount of self esteem. Hahahaha, anyway, can't wait to see you all

Me and Glenn

2010-06-12T18:43:00.000-07:00

Okay, this has been a long time coming. Details about the courtship and everything. I would like to thank Meghan for this update because she wanted to see a picture of the ring so I figured, why not?

Okay, as most of you know, Glenn and I met in the Budoshin Jujitsu club. One day I got to the Wilkinson Center early because I was going to see a movie with my former bosses. After looking at computers for fun I saw some people practicing a martial art. At the time I had no idea what it was so I watched for about an hour and when they were done I asked what it was about. Two hours later Glenn and I were sharing our favorite episodes of a web series called "Red vs. Blue" a show based off of the Halo games. I joined the club the following Wednesday and Glenn and I quickly became best friends. To be perfectly honest I developed a crush on him a few months into the club but when danced around the topic he mentioned that he could not date anyone with more than a difference of 5 years over or under. Little me, I am 8 years younger than him. Everyone in the club knew that I liked him except for him...it was a very interesting nine months. We went on about eight non-dates. Terms like "cradle-robber" tend to kill any romantic hope. Finally I decided to move on and I met a blind date to see if we clicked so we could go to preference. He stood me up so Saturday Glenn came over to cheer me up with "Avatar the Last Airbender" and the whole "buddy cuddle" occurred. My roommates all knew that I liked him so they were full of questions but I wasn't getting my hopes up. By the next Wednesday my nine months of patience had paid off.
Okay, I absolutely love the beard. Anyway, now some information about Glenn. He is the youngest of 6 boys and he grew up in Eldorado County in California where we are spending our honeymoon (he knows that I am a history nut so he thought he would take me to some major gold rush sites) He was born July 4, 1982 and served a mission in the Dominican Republic. He majored in Neurological Science and minored in ballroom dance... and he met me in martial arts, that is ironic. Believe me when I say that he is the perfect man for me even down to the sense of humor. He is also writing a book, but the hilarity of that is for another post. Anyway, I love you all and I hope to see you guys at the wedding.

Oh wait, I forgot the details about the ring. The stone is a Fire Opal and his grandfather cut the stone around the time I was born. He took a jewelry manufacturing class around five or six years ago and made the ring. He mentioned it and I wanted to see it. When I was playing around with it one night we discovered that it fit my ring finger perfectly. So that is the story of the ring

Finally

2010-06-12T07:07:00.000-07:00

Okay, this is great for me to report. Invitations should finally go out either Monday or Tuesday for all of you who requested a hard copy. For all of you who did not, I can e-mail you the invitation today...actually, I am just going to e-mail it and post it here

And here was option number 2 which I really liked

I know the quality isn't great but it will be better in the e-mail

Wedding

2010-05-25T16:59:00.000-07:00

My computer with pictures of me and Glenn is currently in intensive care. Anyway, the "reception" is going to be a casual barbecue after the ceremony. Anyone who wants a hard copy of an invitation just email me

The Wedding

2010-05-11T18:49:00.000-07:00

Okay, still no pictures because...well I am a dimwit and there are some technical difficulties.

The Wedding is August 7th at the Oakland Temple with a casual reception after after wards. For those of you who are attending the temple sealing it will take place at 10:30 at the temple. Any of you who have cameras feel free to bring them for after wards. All who can attend are invited. There will be an e-mail with pictures and for all of you who who want, a hard copy. Those we will do by request because I am cheap :p

These are the final final final final final plans.

Wedding

2010-04-23T06:55:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, the wedding is looking like it will be the week of August 9th because of work and family and all. Plus that works better for me and Glenn

March 31, 2010

2010-03-31T11:46:00.001-07:00

Okay, last week was the most stressful week I have endured yet at college. In fact, it was so stressful that somebody asked me what was wrong last week and I could not remember a single thing. The entire week is blank. I do remember that one day my immune system gave out and I spent 2 hours wanting to die in my Spanish Lab and Spanish class and then I called in sick to work and went home. In total I slept for about 22 hours that day. Saturday I was so weak and tired that all I could do in Jujitsu was curl up in a corner and try to meditate. Sunday...yeah, another blank. Monday felt like vacation. I only have 4 papers due this week, two of which were turned in this morning. Work is very busy it being conference time but nothing can be worse than the "week of blank" as my bosses called it. All I know is that I have 20 more days until I am done with class and finals. YAY! And I get to come visit California for a little this summer. Woot!

New York Pictures

2010-03-22T07:55:00.000-07:00

New York 2003: Note, captions are below the images

Hello everyone. I am finally posting pictures...most of them from my visit to New York when I was 13. Above is a picture of me in where they originally printed the Book of Mormon
The printing house is now built within another building and here is me knocking on the door of the original building.
The rebuilt the Log House and here is where Joseph Smith's bed was and where Moroni appeared.
Here is the printing press. At the time I was enamored with the machines because I had done a report on Johannes Gutenberg so whenever Wendy and I went to a place that had a printing press she always showed it to me.

Wendy in the Frame House
The Sacred Grove

And below are some perspective shots that Wendy, James, and I did for fun

And a last one, one of my favorites

The funny thing is that James very well could have given me a boost like that, at my full size

Crazy Week

2010-03-07T14:23:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness, this week has been absolutely insane. I have been taking test after test after test and I have a 12 page research paper due next Friday. I just got my prospectus back a few days ago and now I have to narrow my topic. The problem is that I have to stick with the Inca's because of all the research I have done when I really want to switch to the Aztecs. The problem with my major is that each paper has to contribute something new, some new interpretation, that hasn't been done before. I think I will stick with the economic superiority of the Incas over the Spaniards in spite of the complete lack of outside trade.

As far as everything else, I have taken 6 tests in 2 weeks and managed to get A's on all of them while keeping working extra hours at work and keeping up with jujitsu. I thought that I had everything under control until I was thrown a major curve ball this Wednesday. Not that dating my best friend is a bad thing...in fact, it is a great thing. Thank goodness the semester will be over in about a month though because that way I can replace school with a second job and have more free time. Well, that is my life. Found my camera chord, now I am looking for my camera.

Pictures

2010-01-05T16:18:00.000-08:00

Well, I was planning on posting a bunch of pictures of me and my friends but I have lost my camera cord for the moment. Pictures should be up by Saturday. On the brighter side of life all my classes are amazing and in my Latin American History class I had a moment of "this is exactly what I want to do with my life" so it is going to be great. Decided on a Spanish Minor instead of a double major because it was 85 credits. Doesn't sound like a lot but when you consider my current major is 84 credits including internships...yeah. Well, hopefully I'll find that stupid cord

Interesting week

2009-12-08T10:11:00.000-08:00

Well, I figured that it was time to update this thing. Not much has been going on other than finals coming up. I have four papers due before next Tuesday but one is just a rewrite and another one is already started.

Provo is completely blanketed in white. It is almost as if somebody just came over the city and surrounding area and dumped a bucket of snow on us. Saturday night there was barely frost, Sunday morning there was about 6 inches to a foot of snow, and it just keeps on falling.

Saturday was amazing. I did 2 hours of kick practice one on one with my sensei while the other members of the club practiced together for their respective belt tests. Nobody was small enough to be my uki and due to my shoulder (now aching in the cold weather) I cannot test out for at least three months. At the command of my sensei starting now I am in an arm sling for two months and I am not allowed to use my right arm for anything except for typing, my finals, and physical therapy. I had to beg him to let me go without my sling during work and he conceded. I cannot carry a backpack anymore and am, for all intents and purposes, a lefty. Recreational typing is pretty much out of the question unless I do it with one hand. My sensei may be taking extreme measures in the eyes of some of you guys but really when I follow his instructions I feel less pain. Unfortunately with my schedule I cannot wear the sling until tomorrow at the soonest. Yay pain, but enough complaining.

I love the snow, it is pretty, it is fun to walk in, and did I mention pretty. I don't mind the cold, mostly because most of the time I am bundled up like an Eskimo or wrapped in blankets at home.

Speaking of home it is odd that I think of my apartment in that manner now. I am sure that is significant in some way but I'll think about it later. I need to go grocery shopping...I'll take the bus to the store after work. I only need things like eggs, vegetables, grains, meat, and...what do I have in my pantry? Oh, I have rice, lentils, and oatmeal...that should last me another week or three.

Really, I am just wasting time before my final oral exam for Spanish. It is only 15 minutes long and worth 200 points. I fail this, I fail the class...actually, I can get 185 on this, 60/100 on my written final, and still keep my A (pass fail class and I have an A, who knew) but I want a perfect score (If I score anywhere in intermediate I get a perfect)

Doing my regular semester evaluation on whether I like the direction my education is leading me and as usual the answer is yes. I do want to declare a double major in Spanish but I'll wait to see how well I do on these finals. Anyway, off to waste my time on something else.

Shiatzu Massage

2009-11-13T10:28:00.000-08:00

Well, as you guys know my martial art includes massages for healing. I need to practice before my yellow belt test (failed the last one because I hadn't practiced enough, stupid shoulder)So I need to practice. I have already offered this to mom and Meg but I am putting this out there for everyone.

The massage I am working on right now is a back massage. There are three meridians of pressure points on each side of the spine and I massage each three times; I go three times with my finger tips on each meridian, three times with my palm, and three times with my forearm. Due to my unique circumstance I also know the more advanced knee and shoulder massages though I am not as good at those. Anyway, it is a very long massage but I do need the practice. So if anyone wants me to practice on them during thanksgiving just let me know.

Also I have been experimenting with certain herbs for relaxation in the atmosphere of massage but I won't bring those home with me.

Warning, this is a pressure point massage and may unblock emotional channels. Some reactions include hysterical laughing or a bit of crying, depending on your emotional blockage. The purpose is to help the muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and to clear emotional blockages. There are about 10 different hand movements I can do so consider yourselves warned. Anyway, if anyone is interested, let me know.

Oh, also a personal style that I have developed is to heat the muscles after the massage. It helps people to stay still and it is just really nice.

Random thought Drabble

2009-10-23T10:19:00.000-07:00

I thought about posting this to odd topics but due to the personal nature of this observation I thought here would be the best place.

I tend to try to analyze the reasons for my depression to the point where sometimes I miss big reasons while I am focusing on the small ones. A big one that I have overlooked for almost 4 years is chronic physical pain.

As many of you know from my constant complaints about it I injured my right shoulder about 4 years ago during swim practice and the end of that season I pretty much gave up competitive swimming because I simply could not do it anymore. I could swim through the pain but I could not push myself like I had been.

The doctors were no help, suggesting surgery and cortisone shots and bending my arm in such a way during exams that I could not do the physical therapy afterwards which led them to rule it out. Eventually I just gave up on it and decided to live with constant pain. I couldn't swim like I used to and as many of you know I hardly go near a pool anymore even though it is my favorite thing in the world to do. Then when I came to BYU I realized that I could not even run because the position of my arms hurt my shoulder. So at long last I went to the student health center and have been doing physical therapy for some months. Ibuprofen no longer works on my shoulder so I was in pain but martial arts and physical therapy had strengthened me so I signed up for a volleyball class.

That was a mistake. I couldn't even do a bump without hurting my arm and anything overhead, out of the question. Finally I got sick of the pain which had been getting worse so I went to the Doctor again. He got me out of volleyball and into an adaptive P.E. class because he said that I was getting worse and would continue to get worse. Volleyball is now out of the question for about a year along with tennis, badminton, and any sports other than archery involving the upper body. He also gave me pain pills that I am supposed to take every day for about a year while I do physical therapy.

Wednesday was my first day taking the pills and something strange happened.

I wasn't in pain anymore! My depression is disappearing more so every day that I do not have pain. My life is still crazy but I am not in pain anymore. I feel liberated and I can do my physical therapy without wanting to die now. (An accurate description of the pain I used to feel was somebody cutting open my shoulder and rubbing glass and sand in the muscle tying the whole procedure off with lemon juice and HCL). If you all deal with chronic pain, do something about it because once you no longer have to deal with it your life takes on a new color. Recovery will be painful but with bi-monthly check ups and painkillers that work I am on cloud nine!

(By the way, I also aced a 14 page essay that I wrote in two hours...yay!)

History Research Paper

2009-09-14T06:44:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is, my first major history paper. My Prospectus is due in less than a month and the only suggestion we have is to keep our material after 1500 C.E. Since that knocks out my current field of interest I am stuck just finding a topic. I find one that is interesting and then I ask the question "So What?" and I get stuck. Nobody really cares about the impact of the Yukon Gold Rush or the economic history of San Francisco as it developed from a Spanish Mission to a Gold Rush Metropolis. The changing sexuality of women during Queen Victoria's time may be interesting but I just cannot find enough primary source documentation.

Any suggestions for a topic? I am pretty much going to be living in the library so help would be lovely.

Just Some Videos

2009-08-28T22:48:00.000-07:00

Update

2009-08-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

Well, things are going well here in Provo albeit a bit crazy. Life is incredibly busy. Education week is coming up and my bosses are working me as hard as they are working themselves. On top of that I have to move soon and will be homeless for three days. Thankfully my boss is letting me stay with her. I just have to find a place to store my things until then but my friends are going to help me with that and my friends will help me move.

As far as martial arts go I am loving it. The training is hard and I am very sore after each practice. As soon as I get the basics of one skill my sensei teaches me another. He is also a fan of springing tests on me when I lest expect it. For example, on Saturday he looked at me and said, "let's test you for your white belt today when we have some down time," he looked around and said, "we have some downtime right now. Tell me the history of Jujitsu." I passed but I quailed a bit when he said, "expect a test on your yellow belt in about a month...I can sell you one for 5 dollars." He then began teaching me the hambo and I have barely been able to move since. Developing Ki is very important and as soon as the club president gets us the packet my sensei expects me to do my breathing exercises three times a week as well as fingertip pushups and crunches every day. In addition I am now working towards a belt in Karate and I have the same sensei. What have I gotten myself into?

Exercise

2009-08-02T18:10:00.000-07:00

Well, until last week I was doing great with exercise. I am restarting again tomorrow and I am going to keep eating healthy. Kinda took a break this weekend and my body doesn't like it.

I love walking/jogging in the early morning but lately I have been so tired that I didn't go in the morning and that kind of killed my routine. Still, no time like the present to run again.

I also love my jujitsu class. Once you enter the Dojo (or our practice area in the Wilkenson Center) there is no eating or drinking aloud. Meditation marks the beginning of every session. It is brief but it helps us get into the right mindset. Then we warm up with slow drills and those lead into a new skill. I am at the lowest level (not even a white belt) but I am working hard. My homework is to do push ups on my finger tips (I'm starting by doing them against the wall) and to practice falling (I keep forgetting to put my arm at 45 degrees on the side falls). I still have to read through the pressure point and weapon packet and memorize the names of all the moves I am learning. My footwork is a bit off but my sensei says that I am improving.

More homework from Jujitsu involves stretching, lots and lots of stretching. Maybe I'll sign up for a flexibility class at BYU to help me out.

The beauty of all of this is that when I start class in a month I'll still be able to keep it up in the same schedule. I am on campus from 8-6 every day during the fall and since I am ready for the day at 7:00 AM.

If you guys want any BYU merchandise for yourselves or your kids let me know. I know when all the big sales are and with my discount (I am allowed to use it for immediate family) you guys can get a good deal. Well, I love you all with all my heart.

Grandma's and the 4th of July.

2009-07-22T15:06:00.000-07:00

The fourth of July was amazing. The parade was fun to watch but it was a bit tedious. The best part was the food and the people. A few of the guys dressed in revolutionary clothing tried to set me up with their sons which was very funny. I wish that I took more pictures, mainly so I can remember the name of the fresh mini donut stand. I went swimming after I'd had my fill of the Freedom Fair and then I had a barbecue with my roommate and our friends. My friend Daniel had just run a 10k that day, hence the shirt. Anyway, we all watched the fireworks together and then went back to our apartment complex to light our own personal fireworks. We were told to move from our first location because apparently we had woken a freshman up and he had complained to his land lord. It was more fun than I am doing justice to but hopefully some of the pictures speak for themselves.

Oh, I have been running for three weeks straight. I get up at 5 AM and try to jog. I have been feeling great since I started.

By the way, the above picture is of mom and dad in the Harris Fine Arts Center where they first met about 40 years ago.

Pre-weekend excitement

2009-07-03T11:16:00.000-07:00

Work drags on interminably as I listen to the hum of the printer, the frustrated beeps of the fax machine, and the droning of the fan that struggles to keep whirring. My fingers click on the keyboard as I relay invoice after invoice, cancel order after order, and look up the never ending list of books that customers want but just cannot grasp the title of. Hum Hum, click click, beep beep, whirr whirr. The clock is for once silent as the second hand has fallen off so I am left to count down; one hour and 38 minutes until I am done with work, one hour and thirty seven minutes. I speed through my paper work as if, rather than stacked up all around me, is really only a few sheets of paper. Soon, that is what the stacks become. Now the invoices are filed, worksheets have been completed, and faxes have been sent and I still have...1 hour and 37 minutes to go. Oh yay! More paper work to take my mind of the seemingly frozen clock.

The anticipation of the weekend to come causes my fingertips to tingle and my mind to race. The freedom festival is merely hours away and soon I will be in a world of revelry, roasted turkey legs, epic parades, and, of course, snow cones. For once the inclination to bring a camera with me rests in the forefront of my mind as I think of how lame I am for not taking more pictures. Not tomorrow. Tomorrow it will be in its leather case with my keys and cash while I race down the streets of Provo and watch WWII planes fly overhead. It will be with me if I decide to climb the Y to gaze at the fire works or if I just decide to watch them from my favorite haunt on BYU campus. This is going to be fun!

My lovely life!

2009-06-20T15:44:00.000-07:00

Well, I am proud to say that I have not had an emotional breakdown since Christmas. Good thing the doctors found out I had PMDD otherwise life would not be fun.

I am actually really loving life right now. While at home waiting for people to call regarding my job applications I spend my time reading, painting, or, recently, making hemp necklaces. My current project is making one for my friend Melanie with a mother of pear pendant that will be attached to it. Monday I will start running again. Each time I try I keep getting derailed. First my exercise buddy had a biking accident and ended up in intensive care (she is fine and on solid foods again. I am actually going to help her recover, mostly by hanging out with her while she does physical therapy) then they asked me to work weird shifts, then I almost got hit by a flying branch during a freak thunder storm, then I hurt my foot...you get the picture. So I am starting again Monday. Meg is really my inspiration because I want to get to the point where I can run Marathons.

I have found something that tastes better than Jamba Juice. First off, I do not like dairy in my fruit smoothies, I like fruit and if I want it to be creamy, avocado. So I buy frozen fruit, add a little orange juice, and the flavor just jolts me. It is like rainbow sherbet and eating a fresh plum all in one. Plus it keeps well and is easy to make. My current smoothie keeping my eggs company in the fridge is watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, strawberries, and some mixed fruit. I really like the watermelon, especially seeded watermelon, it gave it a really refreshing taste. Next time I am going to put some cucumbers and celery in with a few carrots. The problem is I ate my cucumber last night because I was craving something crunchy...same with the celery.

I get to see mom, dad, josh, and Grandma and Grandpa next week so I am super excited. What makes it even better is that I got the days off from work.

Another amazing thing, the weather here! It has been almost non stop rain and thunder storms. I could do without the wind (see above for tree branch incident) but the weather! I took a few photos with my cell phone of the mountains one morning. Take the Y and the houses out and you have the misty mountains from Lord of the Rings.

Oh, I have little animal friends now. There is this sheltie terrier mix that I play with on my way to the store and a few kitties that I play with on my way to campus. One of the cats reminds me of Mr. Peaches (Beautiful cat but strange...) so I call him Mr. P, it is a bit more manly. I have nick named the other cat Alaska because she attacked my Alaskan brochure one day. And then there is my favorite, the deer on campus that come so close that I can almost touch them.

I am a bit of a loner I must say but I really like it. It is very peaceful and my friends do stop by occasionally just like I stop by their places. I am storing up this peace because in the fall I am taking 16 credits along with working as well as helping Ethan out with classes. Apparently he values my opinion, I don't really know why...

I will post more pictures up here as soon as I take some. I plan on taking my camera with me on my Monday hike after my jog. That is if the weather is good. If not, my Monday hike will turn into a stroll around the streets of Provo with my umbrella and camera.

In the date department I am lacking. I am surprisingly shy around guys that I like... never really had that problem before. And since the guy I like is shy...you can see where that goes. He and I are friends but he doesn't talk much and keeps trying to get me to tell stories because apparently I am very entertaining to listen to. When it is just him and I hanging out he is a chatter box but when we are around other people...not so much. I work with the other guy so I'm not even going there, until my shift changes anyway.

As I write the wind is blowing, the air is thick with moisture and electricity, and the sky keeps getting darker and darker, almost as if the world were swimming deeper and deeper into the ocean.

I always have my umbrella with me now, even on sunny days because those days have lately been turning to rainy days. I am going to get a smaller one though, the one I have is a bit conspicuous.

Well, that is all from me!

Photo Update

2009-06-11T16:41:00.000-07:00

Basically here is a photo update of a bit of my life.

This was my Birthday, Taneth and Ashley decided to suprise me and my roommates got me out of the house to make that cake for me, they cut a long cake in half and put pudding in the middle so it was double layer and so yummy. Above is the cake

This was on my Birthday with my two best friends Ashley and Taneth. Taneth believes he is gods gift to women and sometimes men...don't ask why.

Me and my old roommates at olive garden to celebrate Heather's internship at Disney World. From left to right; Jasmin, Rachel, Heather, and me

Below is me and my old roommate Vicka at a baseball game, BYU was sadly destroyed.

dropping like flies

2009-06-10T15:20:00.000-07:00

Well I am pretty depressed. Two of my friends who I see almost every day got into biking accidents. Thankfully one of them just had minor injuries but my other friend is currently in the ICU with sever damage to her liver. Guess how I found out? I heard her brother in law on speaker phone at work which is why I am now working her shifts. I freaking told her not to go biking. It was raining, the trail she was going on was slick, and I had a really bad feeling about it. I am so worried about her that I can barely keep from crying. She and I have just recently started to know each other well, before we just worked together and joked around but lately...It is supposed to be dry here, it is not supposed to be constantly raining in June.

Running

2009-06-07T16:08:00.000-07:00

Well meg, you have inspired me.

Thanks to some of my medication (which I am going to switch for a cheaper more generic brand) I now weigh 160 lbs when I should weigh 145. So I went through my e-mail and dug out a running program that Heidi sent me. I have two friends willing to do the program with me and we are starting tomorrow. However here is where Meg's influence gets me. After I do this eight week program I am going to start training for a 5k and after I do a few of those I want to do a half marathon. I've talked to my friends and they all want to train with me. For us weight isn't a good motivator, accomplishment is. We all love sports so it will be like we are in training again. We are going to work out in the evening and I will always have my pepper spray with me to be on the safe side, plus we are going to stick close to BYU, mainly the routes that go near emergency call buttons. Also we are going to make sure that people that we live with know when to expect us back by. So thanks meg for the inspiration.

June 4

2009-06-04T14:14:00.001-07:00

Well, I have a few stories. One, my air conditioning is broken. The swamp cooler was leaking so the manager decided to have it fixed. Two and a half weeks later and no go. This led to the second story.

It had been a rough day at work. It was a Friday and it is the summer so in my office it is also boiling. Well, after work I decided to reward myself with sushi. On my way to the bus stop I saw an american red cross blood drive in the wilkinson center. It had been two months since my last donation so I decided to donate. After a rather long wait they finally tested my blood only to find out that I did not have the minimun iron content in my blood, thank you mother nature. However, the story does not end there. They pricked another finger and what do you know, there was enough iron in that capillary. However they did something wrong. For a re-test you are apparently supposed to prick a different hand, they just pricked a different finger. So I had the pleasure of waiting a half an hour to find out if I could give blood. While I was waiting I looked over at the people drawing blood and one particular girl. The thought that ran through my head was "Man, I hope she doesn't draw my blood" well, after they'd cleared me, you can probably predict who drew my blood, or tried anyway.

I was waiting in the chair for 20 minutes while I heard the person tell the girl next to me that she often missed the vein. She missed mine alright, and had somebody else try. After the sixth painful try my blood finally started to flow. They tried to be nice and offer me food but the girl drawing my blood was like, "Dude, that is disgusting, you have oreo on your chest." One crumb was on my chest, oh well.

After that experience I went to sushi and after dinner while I was waiting for my bus the wind was blowing very fiercely. However, as I mentioned our air conditioning in my apartment is still broken so the windows were wide open. As I was peacefully reading on the bean bag chair beneath the window so I could get a breeze a suprise happened. My plant was blown off the window sill and the pot shattered on my head. After I had everything cleaned up I went to the store, bought a new pot, and also an aloe vera plant, and came home.

Then Eva dropped by for a suprise visit so I had to provide food and a place for her to stay. Then she went out with her friends, leaving her stuff in my apartment so I couldn't leave because I would have to lock up.

Finally I got fed up and went to a friend's apartment to hang out, leaving my door open. She seemed very offended that I wasn't home (she didn't tell me when she would be coming back) and said that the next visit she wouldn't leave her stuff with me, mission accomplished.

Moral of the story? Don't let creepy red cross people draw blood, do not sit beneath a window sill, and tell your friend that she'd better treat you with more respect or she would be sleeping in her car when she came to Utah, also she'd better chip in for food.

May 11, 2009

2009-05-11T13:34:00.000-07:00

Well, nothing is really new here. I go to work then I go and apply for a second job and then I come home. My roommates do not know how to do the dishes so I get to clean them and that is pretty much my life. I am going to more ward activities now but that is the extent of my life.

March 7 2009

2009-03-07T08:54:00.000-08:00

Hey Y'all. Well, life has improved since my last post. I accidentally got a social life (who needs one when you have roommates that are as awesome as mine) by mentioning that I was going on a hike to the Y today (the actual Y on the mountain...MOM and DAD, WHEN you all visit me this Summer we have to hike up there) and now a few guys are coming with me. Also I am expanding my friendships beyond apartment 21 (best friends with everyone in there...even my ex...very weird I know but eh) and I am pretty good friends with my FHE bros. I went to a surprise party Thursday but due to the fact that I started physical therapy a few days ago I was too exhausted to stay long so I hugged my friends and the birthday girl and left.

Something random has been happening lately...guys drop by my apartment just to day hi or deliver ward announcements and they end up hanging out until midnight (or like last night...1:30 AM) My friend Spencer was trying to get his introverted roommate to know people around the ward so he came to our apartment with his friend. 3.5 hours later me and Dan realized that everyone had gone...we had been talking for a while I guess. Apparently I am entertaining (on that note, my psychologist says that if I do a few things I will stop having breakdowns at family gatherings...one of the reasons I am in physical therapy...to remove the stress of a long time injury)

Work is going very pleasantly...who am I kidding, I love my job especially when I get to work with customers instead of just speaking to them on the phone. Apparently I am a good saleswoman since on average 3 people a week buy books that I specifically recommend to them (hey, I work in an office, I don't see people often)

By the way, if you guys want stuff from the bookstore I am allowed to use my discount on family, sparingly. So VISIT ME!!!

The Unofficial Spring break is next week and it is Amazon/Indiana Jones/Mayan themed and at the end of next week there is a free dance with a bunch of activities and games including I believe a climbing wall? That is just a rumor though...hehehehe.

Everyone, I love you and I am sorry for being such a pain. You all are amazing and I know I am blessed to have you in my life. Oh, here is a standing offer by the way. If any of you ever visit Provo and want a small break from the kids I will babysit them for FREE! Or if I am visiting you...the offer stands. I miss everyone so much but I am having dinner with Uncle Jack again so the loneliness will be more bearable.

MEGHAN! Come and visit me...you know you wanna. I promise if you do I will clear the entire day just for you (unless I work...then you would have to be alone for 3.5 hours) but if it is a Saturday hey, somebody owes me one here.

I know most of you have lived at BYU for some time but I am still enamored with it. The beautiful snow, the activities, the study materials (the wireless internet) and my favorite, the bookstore (Jk, it is the library)

Well, I should get some work done...peace

february

2009-02-22T15:33:00.000-08:00

Well, it is official, I have no social life. People in my apartment complex keep asking when I moved back or if I am new in the ward...right. Haven't been on a date since my blind date from hell and my life consists of school and work. I need to start studying in the Clyde Building or something...where do the history majors hang out? Last night my roommates and my friend Bryan and I watched the extended version of The Return of the King.
Work right now consists of ordering books out of catalogs. Not many people call in orders during my shift and...ugh I just remembered that I have a 7:00 AM meeting on Tuesday. Well, I'm going to watch the oscars.

February 10

2009-02-10T11:31:00.000-08:00

Right now life is going at a good pace. Friday I saw mom and we had a fun time together and this Friday I am going to see a twilight themed comedy show. Inventories are next week and I am working my shifts plus some (thank Andy, more money for me). I am currently looking for spring summer housing and hoping to find somewhere closer to campus. If not...oh well. Well, I need to go to class...adios

January 21, 2009

2009-01-21T14:12:00.000-08:00

Okay, trying to update at least twice a month. Work is ridiculous. I say that because we have an office meeting today. It was originally supposed to be tomorrow and so I planned a doctor's appointment for today, okayed a study group meeting, was going to clean my apartment for cleaning checks tomorrow, was going to meet with a professor, had a meeting with a TA to help me in Spanish...you get the picture. Well, Andy, the guy who is always late for his shift and who usually gets out of weekends so I end up working them (a blessing yes, annoying, also yes) decided that he wanted to sign up for his apartment early meaning tomorrow at 6 when the meeting was supposed to be. My bosses asked me if it would be okay if we changed a meeting which had been planned out for a month to today.

Surprisingly I was quite calm. I let Andy know how hard it would be for me and asked him if there was any way he could sign up later tomorrow night. He said no. So now my doctor's appointment is on Friday, I cannot meet with my professor until after the assignment is due, the TA lab closes tonight, my study group cannot meet any other night so I get all the info via e-mail and therefore get any work they decide to dump on me, I get to stay up late doing laundry and cleaning, etc. On the bright side...free evening tomorrow. It has been a rough week. I talked to my bosses about the meeting but their answer was that I could reschedule everything, he had to be there (I applied for housing at that complex, you can do it online) to renew his contract. I took my ten minute break at that point so I would not scream.

On the lighter side of the news I am single (boyfriend was already talking about marriage...we ended on good terms) doing well in my classes, eating healthier, and I am writing my books again. I guess stress brings out inspiration. Eh, I'd rather slave over a computer for an hour rather than write something in 10 minutes when stress is the catalyst but I'll take what I can get. Right now I am working on two actual books (still in the outline phase) and fan fiction to get the creative juices flowing. I am also looking for a good illustrator (a friend of course, they know me so they would know what I want) for my children's book. On that note...DAD tell stories when I am home, I have to get your syntax and diction down because the children's book is basically the stories you told me when I was little. The stars of the book...Me, Meghan, and Emily (yeah, can I use you guys in the story?) because we were the stars of your stories.

In this book classics like the 2000 Joshua's will be included (just 'cause I love you kid) and some stories Meghan and Joseph told me. I'll write a teen book credited to Matt on a story he told me, meg, and em on a backpacking trip (yes I still remember even if you don't...that story was too good to forget)

Emily can you send me some pictures of Fluffer, she will be "Poofball" (story compliments of Joseph) in some of the stories and Meg can you get me pictures of Athena or the little grey kitten (they will be "Catface")

By the way, (this is to all the family) I reserve the right to use any of your names and aspects of your characters in my stories. I have talked to several authors that have come to the bookstore and they all give me the same advice; read the great authors and write what I know. If you see characteristics of yourself in villains don't worry, the villains are mostly based off of certain aspects of my character (or what I have gathered from past journal entries) and I just add a bit of you to make them more complex and...well...better.

Side note, if anybody wants an autographed pin by the guy who writes Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites or Passage to Zarahemla I'll give it to you because it is just clutter to me at the moment.

Okay, enough about that. It is cold here and everything is ICE! I want to wear cleats when I am walking to and from home because there is so much ice. I want more snow, the fluffy ice. Regular ice must melt immediately because I said so :p. I will be taking more pictures with my camera of me and my two best friends (Taneth and Ashley) so those will be posted after they are taken. I love you all.

Pictures from college life

2009-01-07T22:21:00.001-08:00

The night breaking dawn came out...Emma and Ditiare read their copies in four hours...I took a bit longer (curse my need for sleep and drive to do well in school)

My first snowman...we named him Alfred...batman marathon...

Halloween

Life in Utah

2009-01-06T09:34:00.000-08:00

Well, it is snowing, hard. Classes have just begun and I am loving it. My bio class has no textbook (which is good because I cannot return my spanish textbook because it is a packet! grr...) and my professor is an ethnobotonist and since there is no set curriculum for biology she is going to teach the second half of the class on ethnobiology which is amazing because I find that stuff fascinating.

My Spanish class will be moderately challenging and since I plan on becoming fluent in the language I have warned my friends that I will be practicing, a lot. However, my friend Ashley also hopes to become fluent in the language. I like that the spanish class is five days a week, that will help me out immensely.

My friend and I are trying to find a weekend when I don't work to go snowboarding. So far, no go. I didn't work on Saturday but Eva was coming to visit (she arrived Saturday night and left Sunday morning...she was supposed to get in Friday night but she neglected to tell me) and I was sick with a cold. We were going to try and go this weekend as well but lo and behold my root canal is schedueled. Not only that but President Monson is coming to BYU to speak and I'll be in Arizona...can I lose a tooth instead?

Even though I somehow managed to throw my back out life is very good. Currently I am trying to help my friend Michael find a place to live up here as well as a job...no luck on either fronts but I'll still try. Unfortunately he seems content to let me do all the work because he is in the mindset "It's too good to be true, it will never happen."

He is starting to go back to church, he promised me that he would go twice a month (I thought every Sunday would be pushing it when I made him promise...if you knew the guy you would know that his word is his word) He also wants a job so that he could pay tithing because he wants to help the church out.

My friends and I have a movie night once a week. We all pitch in for food, cook it at my place, and watch one or two movies.

Work is great. They started me on a new shift. I work from 7:45 AM to 11:15 AM except on Thursdays I work until 12:15 because the guy who comes after me has class.

For Christmas I taught each of my friends to cook their favorite recipe of mine and that warrented many gifts on their part apparently. I will never run out of lotion again.

That is all for now. My new year's resolution other than to do pilates and yoga three times a week is to update this blog once a week. I love you all.

Update

2008-10-27T15:54:00.000-07:00

Yeah. my life is pretty blah right now. I go to school and come home. On Sundays I go to church and that is my life. I do play settlers with the guys in apartment 21 once a week (there is a large "theif" that is the trophy and you get to keep it for the week, I've won twice but that will not be a repeat performance) and they have a wii so I go over there on tuesdays and play with them. That is pretty much it, wow my life is boring.

Finals

2008-08-14T06:48:00.000-07:00

Well, I am almost done with finals and I think that I am going to get an A if not a high B in American heritage. I am almost certain that I will get an A in English (the hardest writing class I have ever taken!) and I aced jogging (duh). I have to present my English final to the class, explaining the rhetoric I used to persuade my audience. I'm going to miss that class, it is hilarious. Austin is leaving tomorrow so I'm not going to see him for two weeks (maybe one, he is thinking about trying out for the football team) and our schedules are going to be crazy in the fall so we'll hardly see each other anyway. I am excited to move off campus, until I move I will be staying with Megs. During the two week break I am going to hang with my friends Emma and Ditiare. Until then though I am going to focus on (as my class says) dominating my final. I have almost everything packed up and I am moving out of the dorms tonight.

I hurt my foot rather badly (I don't know how) so I'm going to go to the health center and get it checked out. I am actually sad to see the term end because I have never been so happy in my life. I love you all!

Happy at BYU

2008-07-07T21:37:00.001-07:00

I love my life here. It has just been amazing, BYU is really the right place to be. For those of you who don't already know, I have a boyfriend. Here are a couple of pictures. For the ladies who read this, he treats me like a goddess so no worries there. He is a pre-missionary and he is going on a mission in January. I ended up spending the fourth of July with Austin and his brothers. We went to the fair downtown and played video games, went swimming, had a BBQ and I watched a few movies with his brothers' wives while the boys played Halo. I haven't hiked to the Y yet but I will soon. Anyway, I love BYU and I have a mid term tomorrow, better get back to studying

Loving Life!

2008-07-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

I am loving life here at BYU. Everything is so amazing, I love my classes, I have so many friends, and I get to spend time with Meghan. I am in American Heritage, English 150 and Jogging. I am actually getting into shape, learning history, and improving my writing skills all the while not being overwhelmed which is a strange feeling. My roommate and I get along great, I have so many guyfriends and my friend Ken wants to set me up with his return missionary of a brother when he comes down here to visit in a couple of weeks. Church is great, my calling is Home Evening Group leader, my partner is so far a no show but I can handle it. My friends and I are hiking up to the Y on thursday and I am alone for the fourth so far. I may go up to the Y again and watch the fireworks. Anyway, I am loving my life right now, BYU was definitely the right choice for me.

May 13, 2008

2008-05-13T07:25:00.001-07:00

I know it has been a while since I updated so I am sorry for that. Well, I am Salutatorian, still haven't written my speech (it is due Friday) and am in a bit of a panic since I have no idea what to I want to say. I never thought that I would be in this position so I am a little freaked out. Economics is dragging by slowly and painfully, I don't really like that class, why I signed up for AP I will never know. Graduation is June 7th so I only have a little ways to go before college. Senior Ball was on Saturday and I had fun, I'll post pictures after I have written my speech. Let's see, what else is new, Meg is coming down for Memorial Day and for that I am super excited, college starts in a little over a month and I am just forcing myself through High School to get there. The peas we have planted are very plentiful and delicious and the dog we have is mischievous as ever. Well, I have some Econ homework to do so bye!

Febrary 13, 2008

2008-02-13T09:13:00.000-08:00

New Stuff keeps happening every day. Starting next week I will be tutoring 6 hours a week for 15 dollars an hour. One of my students, I guess that is what I would call them, is a little genius. She is in 7th grade and already in geometry. However, her teacher doesn't explain things and she likes to take any and all short cuts she can. That is where I come in. Her dad sat in on the first session and he liked my style so I am going to tutor her once a week until she is done with geometry. The other four kids vary but they are all willing to learn. Two of them like to come to tutoring and we get a ton of work done.

The local scholarship application is due tomorrow, so I have two essays to write to night, no big deal. They are all about me and my accomplishments. The weather has been amazing here, in the 60's and 70's for the past few days. I think spring has come to California. Valentine's day is tomorrow so for everyone that reads this, Happy Valentine's Day.

The dates for housing selection summer 2008 haven't been posted yet on the BYU web site so I am still waiting for that. Then I have to get a meal plan and hope that I get into Helaman Halls. I am so excited for college, how did you guys stand the waiting? Summer seems to be so close but so far away at the same time. It is strange to think that high school will be over soon. It has not gone by quickly for me but still, it has been a big part of my life. I have changed so much these past four years, it's really incredible. Well, anyway I love you all.

College

2008-02-11T08:58:00.000-08:00

When I said that I could start worrying about tuition I meant that in just worrying about the next step. I applied for scholarships but I didn't get my FAFSA filled out in time because the lovely government didn't send me my information until after the due date for BYU. Well, there is always next year. I am going to work on getting more scholarships though and I will apply for the Hinkley next year. Right now I am working on staying on top of school and getting my drivers permit. The only problem is I am absolutely terrified of driving. I used to break out in a cold sweat when I thought of it, now it just gives me chills. I am planning to get my permit before March.

I had work on Saturday which was fun because it was in-service. I also wrote an essay on Brave New World and I did a bunch of economics homework. I have work at Heritage today at five and I have a four day week a head of me. Well, I love you all.

February 8, 2008

2008-02-08T08:41:00.000-08:00

Well, I have registered for my summer classes for BYU. Now I just have to wait for housing selection and then I can start worrying about tuition.

We have just planted peas, potatoes, and artichokes in our garden and of course the chicken tries to eat the seeds so she'll have to stay in her coop. The raised gardens are fun and they make planting easier in that you don't have to bend all thee way down to plant.

I will be tutoring three times a week come next week and I am working two days a week. I get $15 dollars an hour for tutoring and $9.71 an hour for life guarding. Well, that is all that is new other than the fact that our only not spayed cat may be pregnant (yikes). That is all from here.

Update

2008-01-28T07:26:00.001-08:00

Well, not much has been happening, just school and work. My English Class is killing me but that is to be expected from AP. Economics, I have no idea why I signed up for AP. All the economics classes are doing a summit thing and we each have to pick a country and act like we are the economic advisers for it. Basically that means double the homework. I am having fun visiting Wendy after school. Since I don't have a fourth period I just walk to her house. Madelyn can be such a charmer but a pill at the same time, I love that little girl. Anyway, the weather has been gloomy and my mood reflects it. I have to go to work today and it is freezing. I hope that no swimmers come today. Well, that is all from here.

December 12

2007-12-12T08:56:00.000-08:00

Well, what can I say, my life is made up of school and work. I have applied for housing at BYU and I am working on scholarships. Meghan is visiting and finals are next week.

November 20

2007-11-20T09:32:00.001-08:00

Well, today is a relaxing day at school. I don't have a first period, I am a Teachers Assistant in my second period, in my third period we are watching a movie, and in fourth we are dissecting a heart. All in all, I have had worse days. I am working again which is good, I finally proved to my boss that my allergies were under control (he gave me two weeks off because of the onset of allergy season). I have a new boss (I now have three that I see on a regular basis) who is pretty cool.

I have been having a blast with little Mada. She can turn on the charm just as well as Arwen and I am almost helpless against it. She loves it when I do "magic" tricks and when I chase her around the house.

I am finally reading the last harry potter book. Somebody had spoiled the end for me so it took me a while to start reading. The person who ruined it now owes me a ride home from work for life. (Not really, but you get my point). It is really good and that is all I am going to say.

I have been elected president of my High School Book Club and after we read the book (Tenderness) we will see the movie. It was a very interesting book, about a serial killer and an obsessive compulsive girl who once she gets a fixation on somebody, she has to meet them and it goes from there. I would never suggest it for our book club but it was still good.

Mom is home and josh and I couldn't be happier. We went to Plern last night to celebrate and since the vegetarian spring rolls weren't in high demand I got most of them to myself (they are my favorite). I am tutoring now (I get $15 an hour) but I have this week off. I get $45 dollars a week when I tutor and it is great to be able to help people. The cool thing is, all the kids are willing to learn. I give them an assignment and they do it. I am working at the pool tomorrow night but I have Thursday and Friday off which is good. Oiy, I just got the hiccups so I will end this post now. I love you all.

Most of you have probably heard

2007-11-18T18:14:00.000-08:00

Most of you have most likely heard, but just in case I am posting it. I got accepted to BYU Provo and I am so excited. I am going summer semester. Now all I have to do is finish high school and get scholarships.

Help

2007-11-02T09:44:00.001-07:00

Can everybody e-mail me their blog addresses? I want to put the links on my site but I don't have the info or the know how

Good News

2007-10-30T09:35:00.000-07:00

All of the paper work for college is complete! Now I just have to wait 4 weeks for Provo (six weeks for Hawaii and Idaho) to let me know whether or not I am accepted. It feels so good to have everything in and done! Also, our dissection of the cat muscles is done, next we move on to a lamb's brain after some book work. It sounds gross but it is really interesting.

I have to make a poster supporting a candidate for president and I think that I am going to do Ron Paul just for fun. He seems to be popular among the youth (the AP class youth anyway) and it will be really easy to put a positive spin on him. However, thanks to journalism, I can put a positive spin on anybody. Well, actually I learned that in AP World history when we had to write a Pro Stalin essay...anyway I am rambling.

I really want to get into BYU Provo, I applied to the summer semester so I think I have shot. Just think, in eight months I will be graduated and preparing for BYU. It is strange how time flies. Senior year is just dragging by but that is to be expected I guess. I am almost done! Anyway, all for now.

Update

2007-10-25T09:05:00.001-07:00

So everything for BYU has been submitted except for the seminary recommendation and my high school transcript. As it turns out, my teacher sent in the Seminary thing but the place hadn't sent it until yesterday, just my luck. Home has been interesting, we all miss dad but he'll come back from Texas next week. We are dissecting cats in anatomy and I have until tomorrow to skin mine. I won't go into detail on that however. This Friday I am working the Brentwood Aquatic Center's second annual pumpkin patch so I get my normal shift back thank heavens.
Government is killing me but I'll get through it. I am counting the days until BYU gets my college info and they can accept me (heaven willing). I have applied to all three and either way I'll just be happy to get in.
For Halloween I will be a vampire and so will josh. It should be fun especially because the ward is putting on a Halloween party the night before so I get to wear my costume a lot. Other than that, not much has been happening. Love you all.

Senior Pictures

2007-09-27T12:07:00.000-07:00

To anybody who wants a copy of my senior pictures just let me know. I ordered two different poses, one in the year book drape and the other in a background of my choosing. I'll scan and post the two soon, but just leave a comment if you want one.

Finals

2007-09-26T11:02:00.000-07:00

Well, as the title suggests, I have finals this week. Tomorrow I have no first period final and TA. Friday I have a mock AP test where I show up and get an A (we all thought our teacher was kidding, he has NEVER done this) and anything extra we get on the test counts as extra credit. I was 1.5 percent away from not having to take my anatomy final, but I blew it at the last second and have to take it now (in my class, if you have an A, you don't have to take the final). Oh well, there is always next term and believe me, I will get an A. So, that is pretty much finals week.

Other news now. I am having a huge writers block for my college essay and I only have a little over two weeks to start it. Well, that is all for now. I will write more after finals.

September 19

2007-09-19T10:03:00.000-07:00

Well, I took the ACT's again on Saturday and I am hoping that I got a better score. I actually finished within the time allotted for math and science and I checked over everything that I did for English. Little Austin and Jack were over this weekend and I loved spending time with them. Jack is such a sweetheart and his older brother is the same. Our chickens have started to lay eggs. Yesterday dad found a brown speckled egg in the hen house. Things are going to be very fun with the chickens from now on. Emily visited this weekend and then again on Tuesday to pick up the kittens. Also yesterday my classmates and I filmed our questions to submit to CNN Youtube and hopefully they will be asked to the republican candidates. Well, that is all for now! Love you all.

September 4

2007-09-04T07:49:00.000-07:00

I know, it's been a while since I updated. This weekend was a little crazy. I tried to apply to BYU but it is not time to apply to the summer/fall semester, but I got a lot done anyway. I spent Saturday night and Sunday with Michael and Heidi. Little Austin refused to go to bed on Saturday. He would not lay down unless I sat up and when I finally could lay down he didn't want me to leave. I tickled the little guy's back and for two hours he would go, "belly tickle, back tickle." It was the cutest thing ever. Turns out the poor little guy was sick and he threw up before church. Michael took him home and Heidi went to young women's with me (There were more leaders than girls but I didn't have to conduct so YAY!) The laurels are doing a camp out this Friday and the only way I can go is if I get a ride home with one of the girls who works in the morning because guess what? I work at eight in the morning. I know it sounds like I am complaining, but this weekend was very fun. Oh, on Saturday little Austin embarrassed me by calling my boyfriend "uncle?" He laughed but still, it was a little embarrassing. I have quite a busy day today. Fourth period I have a test on every part of every bone in the body. Basically my teacher lays out bones, puts stickers on certain parts, and we have twenty seconds to identify them and write them down. The test will take about an hour today. Well, I am off to study, wish me luck!

Update

2007-08-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody. School has started again and thanks to the lovely people at Heritage (picture those words dripping with sarcasm) I don't have a math class this year, so I have to take one at the LMC center in Brentwood. I recently got a raise at work but I had to give up cross country for that. What I am going to do is take time off for sports and then try to run with them because I love running and I want to see if I can do it. Right now things are okay. I am stressed about applying for college because I have to figure out how to send my ACT scores into BYU because the people didn't send them in and yes, I put down the college codes but there was some sort of error. My job sucks and I hate my boss and he scheduled me on the day that I have senior pictures. So I have to change my availability (I will only be working one day a week, none during sports) and get Monday off.

I am only in two real classes this term. AP Government and Anatomy Physiology. These classes are challenging and stimulating, not to mention fun. Since we have block scheduling but Government and Econ still take a full year to do, we get more done and have time to have class discussions which usually end up with us laughing at political debates. It is amusing watching candidates twist simple questions around so that they look good to the average person. Hillary Clinton is very funny. Anyway, My TA period just started. Love you all.

July 24

2007-07-24T11:17:00.000-07:00

Okay, my full summer will be posted when school starts because they have a faster internet connection. I got my ACT scores back, 27 cumulative, so I am going to take them again. My bosses are blind jerks and don't recognize the work that I do. They think that I don't take initiative when I get everybody to pull in the lane lines, everyone to start cleaning up, and remind the male guards to do bathroom checks after I have checked the girls bathroom. I clean up the guard room, am one of the leaders at inservice especially when we are doing scenarios, have never gotten below and "exceeds" on my audits, always have a proper uniform, am never late to work, come in when I am sick if nobody can cover for me, enforce the rules, and more. People have gone to my bosses and said how much they appreciated how I made difficult situations bearable (usually their kids mess up and instead of being rude, I politely explain things to the parents on why I gave the kids a time out and then ask the parent if they are okay with my action.) But no, when I was evaluated, the guard who treats us all like crap just listed me as average on quite a few things.

Oh, and get this, Devin, my manager, thinks I am too young for a senior guard position. When I was hired, there was a sixteen year old senior guard. Even his boss said I wasn't too young but noooooo, Devin doesn't believe him. On the bright side, Mac, Devins boss, promised me that I would be a senior guard by the end of the year and I got a raise, effective next week. I'll write more later

Finals

2007-06-07T11:45:00.000-07:00

I AM DONE! I AM DONE! I AM DONE WITH FINALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am now officially a senior in high school. I AM DONE! Now I just have to change from AP Calculus to Stats because that is what I need for my history major and all will be well with the world. Also I get to do community service, my goal is a hundred hours. Well, love to all of you.

May 29

2007-05-29T18:42:00.000-07:00

Yeah, not much has been happening, basically work and school. I do need help on an English assignment, due on Thursday, if any of you have suggestions, it would be helpful.

It is a mock college application essay. The question that BYU had was "What sets you apart from other applicants based on unique educational or life experiences, personal or family circumstances and or achievements."

Considering that my life has been pretty much ordinary, I need help on what to write about.

May

2007-05-06T19:51:00.000-07:00

Well, I haven't yet figured out how to make the pictures smaller, pixel wise. But I do have pictures...I promise. Prom was last night and it was amazing. I went in a limo with my friends and all of their jaws dropped when I walked into the room with my dress. They played some swing dancing songs so I started to dance with my friend Michael. The end of the song came and people started to clap. Apparently, according to some strangers, Mike and I were dancing very well, so people just gathered in a circle around us. The food was amazing and my friends rocked. I'll write more when I figure out the picture thing.

April 30

2007-04-30T06:51:00.000-07:00

Hey, how do you guys make pictures smaller, pixel wise? I have pictures I want to post, but it takes too long. Anyway, not much has happened. I was set apart as the laurel president yesterday and went to a presidency meeting. May is going to be a busy month for me in the laurels, school, and work. Sleep will be a blessing.

Anyway, on Saturday I worked an eight hour shift, my boss bought us all Pizza. Three of us were sick and four people called in sick. There is something going around the pool. I thought mine was because of allergies but I guess I was wrong. Hm...let me see...anything else...nope. School is great, I have a ton of friends and I get bored to death in my AP psych class. Well, see ya

April...something

2007-04-22T18:22:00.000-07:00

Hey, nothing much has been happening. I am going to go to Junior Prom in two weeks. We celebrated my 17th birthday and that is pretty much it.

Oh, I am not friends with Ethan anymore. Apparently he stopped acting like my friend because he doesn't have a crush on me anymore (I haven't liked him for a while by the way) and he still tried to control my life as in the people I hung out with (he doesn't get along with my friends, therefore he thinks they are jerks because who wouldn't get along with him? Note the sarcasm) and he even tried to tell me what classes to take, which college I should go to and more. Anyway, too much stuff had happened, so I think I will stick with my Antioch friends. Well, all from here.

Question

2007-03-25T19:38:00.000-07:00

Hey, I was wondering if any of you can answer this question. In my patriarchal blessing it says that I am a first generation child. It doesn't say anymore on the topic, just that I am a first Generation Child. If any of you have any idea's what that means, tell me.

March 25

2007-03-25T19:12:00.000-07:00

Hey.
This week was great. I worked every day this week, except for yesterday and today because my bosses know that I won't work on Sunday. Anyway, two really cool things happened this week. The first happened on Tuesday. It was cloudy and cold so there was absolutely nobody at the pool (except for 2 girls), so one of my bosses asked two of us to help out with the life guard certification class. Basically, me and Brianna (who sadly doesn't work there anymore) demonstrated all of the rescues that they were practicing. I spent a lot of time at the bottom of the 13 foot deep end waiting for people to practice rescuing me. There was this woman in her late 40's who didn't have a partner, so I offered to be her partner. After the class was over I asked my bosses for something to do since I wasn't on the rotation. I had just changed into dry clothes when my boss boss, the guy who hired me, called me into his office.
To clear something up, my boss never calls regular guards into his office for anything good so I was a little nervous. Anyway, I sit down and my boss tells me what a great guard I am. My mouth dropped (not really). He told me that I was one of his best if not his best life guards. He said that I was great at handeling costomers and that whenever he and my other bosses did inspections of the guards, that I always got an exceeds. He then told me that he is going to put me up for an evaluation in June so that I can get a pay raise and that he admired my leadership qualities and is looking at me for possible promotion. My friend Shelby told me some of that stuff, but to hear it from the man who hired me...I did a happy dance when I got home.
Yesterday Dad, Josh, and I went to SF and Berkely. We spent the day having fun. We got chocolate and dad saw some valentines goodies, so he got mom a heart box. I paid for dad and josh to get their names painted in that cool style and next time I am going to get one for mom. We walked all around the college campus and telegraph avenue. I bought this amazing CD on the warf in one of Pier 39's second story shops. It's called the sounds of Yosemite and it is some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard. Anyway, that's all from here. I love you all.

March 17

2007-03-18T20:37:00.000-07:00

OK, so, another week has gone by. This week I had finals and like the great student that I am...I put in a total of zero study hours, unless you count the time that I spent in class studying (I studied in all my classes for physics...). Anyway, I passed my psychology final and I was able to keep my grade in physics. I set the curve on the AP English test (we have had three like it...I set the curve on all of them. Although I don't tell my scores, everyone else shares theirs, so it is pretty obvious that the highest grade belongs to the only person not sharing). I can't even call my ceramics final a final because I basically took a vocabulary test and finished a project. I work ten out of the 14 days I have off from school and on Friday, the senior guard didn't show up. So, Brandi (a co-worker) and I got to do our jobs and the job of a senior guard. It was actually kind of fun. People didn't show up for a while, so she got to tan, and when people came, I got to swimming while she guarded. It was a perfect day, so when it was my turn to watch the pool, I didn't even mind being wet. Anyway, that is all for this week.

March 11

2007-03-11T17:35:00.000-07:00

Hello family.
This week hasn't been very exciting I am afraid. Yesterday we had a lifeguarding inservice and I got to be the spinal victim. Unfortunately, I was the only person in that group who knew what to do. The people kept asking me yes or no questions which we are not supposed to do so that the person does not move the head, my face was submerged under water several times, oh, and instead of adjusting the back board, they adjusted the victim. Rather than be mad, I was impressed that I remembered what to do.
It turns out that one of the senior guards is quitting this summer, so a position may be opened. My friend shelby, a senior guard, told me that I am one of the people they may consider for promotion. However, I am not getting my hopes up because I have only been working there since June and I am the second youngest life guard there. I love my job and I get paid well, so I won't be mad if senior members get promoted. Thanks to Shelby, I know my hard work is noticed. I am of the mind that they are paying me to do a job, so I do it to the full extent of my abilities. I love it there and I am very happy I decided to have that for a job.
I have decided to go to Junior prom. I won't have a date and my friend Sarah Mort probably will have a date, but she said she would want to go with me rather than with "some guy." I think that will change. Everyone is telling me that I should go with my friend Matt, but not only would that incite more rumors, but he is not mormon and I have a strict policy of only dating mormons, even if it is just a casual date. Ethan and I are having a little trouble with our friendship, and have been since December. Things are only going to get worse in April when he turns 16, so I'm glad that he is going to the Liberty Junior Prom rather than the Heritage one. I would rather have him as a friend than anything else...but he is under a lot of pressure and I don't want to add to it.
I got nominated for girls state, but I didn't make the final cut. My English teacher loves me and I haven't gotten less than 100% on all tests and essays. (I set the curve every time, he is kind enough not to mention it to the class, but they know anyway. They like the fact that I don't brag about it and instead of being mean, they ask me for tips and they ask me for help ocassionally.) Physics is killing me, but it is a hard class. I am debating whether to go into Calculus or Stats next year. With this new scheduel (four new classes each term) I have to take Calc and AP calc because they are combined. I am going to take AP English 4, AP Government and Economy, and Anatomy and Physiology. I may not take that though because Ethan will be in the class and he treats everything like a compitition. He brags that he always scored higher than I did on essays in AP European History and AP World History. It's like he doesn't want me to be better than him. I am glad that I have the friends that I do now. They accept me for who I am, not who I pretend to be. Anyway, this is a long weekly so I'll end by saying I love you all!

Family

2007-03-11T17:32:00.000-07:00

OK, none of those poems are new and I had to retype them by hand since I don't have Internet access on my laptop. Some of my other poems are depressing and many are very personal, so I am a little hesitant about posting them. OK, very hesitant. I will try to post more and I am going to post some story beginnings that I have written. I am seeing which idea will lend itself to becoming a book, so I will post and see what you all think. Today, I'll just post a weekly.

Secret Bottle

2007-03-11T17:24:00.000-07:00

Amidst the tasseled undergrowth,
Through the caves and beneath the trees,
Out to the stormy shore I walked,
And then one day, I came upon a bottle.

It was very plain, brown in color,
With a soft brown cork to keep out the water.
It had no label, nor a brand
Save for the scratches of the sea.
This strangeness intrigued me and gave my cold fingers life
As I eagerly began to loose the cork.

Inside was a small piece of parchment,
Yellow with age and tied with a leather cord.
It seemed so plain, so simple,
But then I unraveled it and read that which was written.

The words were sweet as they curled around my heart;
The welcoming flood of joy quenched my parched soul.
My stomach was empty, but my heart was full,
My spirit soared like an eagle in flight,
And my eyes became the waterfalls.

When my eyes had finished treasuring the words
I slipped the parchment into the bottle and sent it on its way.
Since that day I have always known,
I didn't find that bottle, it found me.

The stones of Sin (I lost the original)

2007-03-11T17:16:00.000-07:00

Along the road of life I walk
A stranger seeking my way home.
I strive to stay on the path,
But often I alone must stray.

The stones of sin are cast at me,
Striving to waylay my course.
I often run away from the road,
Only to find myself caught in the thorns.

I tear and strain against the brambles,
My struggles all in vain.
They rip against my hair and skin,
My clothes become tangled,
My body seeps deeper into the mires.
The mud strives to overtake me,
My mouth struggles to find the air.
My tears fall in vain, and I almost surrender my soul to death.

Then, out of the darkness and fog,
I see a light that banishes all darkness.
Then hope springs up inside my heart,
My brother is looking for me.
A hand tears through the brambles
And grips my dying soul.
I escape from my dark prison,
And follow him back to the light.

The road is hard and it takes all that I have,
But I never stop following him.
When I fall, he catches me and pulls me up the mountain.
Finally I reach the path,
Cleansed from the troubles that I faced.

My brother goes along his way,
But he left behind our father's guiding light.
Now I have a companion to walk along the road of life,
My father and brother forever staying with me.
And while the stones of Satan are thrown, I do not waver
For I have the Kings of Heaven and Earth on my side.l

Youth

2007-03-11T17:07:00.000-07:00

Youth
Youth is a raging sea
A silent breath among the waves,
Ever changing, ever ceasing
Youth is the footsteps along the shore
Washed away by time, forever more

Youth is the sea cliffs that defy the ocean's commands
But as the mighty cliffs, youth is worn away into wisdom.
Slowly, silently, soon to be forgotten.
Youth is a silent wish, cast unto the sky.

Youth is a Sea Gull
Protected by it's elders,
Never knowing its strength.
Youth is ignorance,
Youth never knows its own potential
Until forced to spread its wings and fly.

Youth is time,
Forever changing, forever questioning.
Exceedingly strange, yet exceedingly normal
Very complicated, yet strangely simple.
Youth is a moment, forever to be forgotten by the young
And forever to be remembered by all.

For the Family

2007-03-06T07:48:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, I have a blog now so this is where I will do my weeklies.