Merry Christmas, One and All!

And since I won't be here: Happy New Year!!
I'll see you all in a few weeks.

The One Day I get to Sleep In. . .

My phone rang this morning at 8:30. I can't believe it took me that long to recognize his voice. It hasn't changed at all. He doesn't even have an Italian accent. We got to talk for a while.

It's right up there with the best ways to wake up ever.

I've been listening to Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas CD nonstop. Someone just barely gave me and I haven't turned it off since. It finally feels like Christmas. Thank you thank you thank for that CD!!

Countdown to Christmas: 1 day, 14 hours, 2 minutes and 30 seconds
Countdown to Mexico: 2 days, 14 hours, 1 minute and 49 seconds
Countdown to Day O'Doom: 105 days, 13 hours, 1 minute and 12 seconds

Let the Countdowns Begin

Christmas is almost here! Yesterday I got to open my first present. It was perfect!! exactly what I asked for (I asked for world peace and it was a piece of a map; world piece)!! Even better was part II. .4% and the start of my Egypt fund. Absolutely wonderful.
Today Little Girl and I spent most of the day making presents for her parents. They turned out quite nice if I do say so myself! Anyway, Little Girl and I are getting along wonderfully now. No problems at all. I love my job.
Happy Christmas everyone!!

Countdown to Christmas: 5 Days
Countdown to Mexico: 6 Days
and since we're on the subject of coutdowns:
Countdown to the Day O'Doom: 109 Days

Don't pay any attention. It' just the depression talking

I can't fix anything, you know. Like someone once told me, I can't even save myself.

I missed Aneeka's Birthday. I told myself a million times not to forget it. Last night I realized it had been last week.

Last night I dreamed I was drinking blood and it made my throat sore. Now I have sore throat.

Yesterday I spent a lot of time in the rain. And then the rain turned to snow. I wasn't cold.

I knew him, you know. I had the privilege of spending a few days with him. He was really funny. A genuinly nice person. And now I can't so anything. I can't even admit that I'll be devastated when he dies, that I'm devastated now, because who cares about the ex-girlfriend, right? Anything I do will just make the situation a million times worse. I can't fix anything. I can't even fix myself.

Baby News

My sister's having a girl!! I'm going to have a neice!! I knew it was a girl. I knew it.

Megan Anne.

Megan=Pearl
Anne after my grandma.

Past Week

So, notable events of the past week. . .

Let's see.
Last Friday was the Quark Dance. It was amazing. Tim was nice enough to let me dance with him almost the whole time. He even taught me a basic tango!
Saturday was Drek's birthday. It involved much secretnes and much coldnes.
Sunday was Drek's birthday part II. That was more secretnes, the phone stealing kind of secretness, and a lot of fun.
Tuesday was Kris's last night as a single. We both got very tired and ate some goldfish. Poor Sarah. She called us, but neither of us were coherent enough to talk to her. Anyway, Kris and I watched Da Vinci Code. I loved it. Kris said it was tool time.
Wednesday was the wedding of Krateizling. It was a success.
Friday Drek and I got lost in a parking garage. Luckily, he has an amazing sence of direction and was able to get us not lost.
Today was Trans-Siberian Orchestra day!! Hooray!! it was amazing!! There was fire, and lasers, and strobe lights, and singing, and instrument playing. Such a day could only be ended with fudge.

I saw me life flash before me eyes.

Today I got to go shopping with my mother and my wonderfully pregnant sister. We came home by way of State Street. My mother was driving, my sister and not-yet-neice/nephew were in the front seat. Suddenly we relized that there was a car coming towards us very quickly in our lane.What I mean to say is that he was driving north in an south bound lane. He was coming straight for us and accelerating. My mother slammed on the brakes and he swerved into the suicide lane, back onto the correct side of the road, and kept going, speeding like a demon, only to crash into two cars.

Apparently, it was quite the ordeal.

http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/201927/

Yeah. So, that was an adventure.

Changing topics, on May 17 I posted that I was going to get a princess dress for the wedding of Krateizzling. Seven months later, and five days before the wedding, I finally got my princess dress. Actually, it's not so much a princess dress as a slinky dress. As in: "If I'm going to buy a dress I want one with a little more slink."
But I think it still qualifies as a princess dress.

Thanksgiving is over. Thank goodness. Thus begins what I look forward to all year:
CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!!
Oh Trans-Siberian Orchestra, I have missed you!!

And so the Christmas Season begins. Today I ventured upstairs and lugged down the Christmas Box O'Doom. The contents of which are currently scattered about my room. I was decorating until I ran into a small problem: I'm out of space and I still have two nativity sets to display. Hmmmmm. . . .
I love Nativity sets. I collects them. Unfortunetly, this year I seem to have a table-top shortage. Ah well, I'll think of something.

Happy Christmas everyone!

Pavor Nocturnus

Last night I had a Night Terror.
This is all sorts of frustrating because 1) I haven't had one in months 2) I still don't know why I'm having them and 3) I'm not even a teenager anymore, I should not be having them at all. grrr.
Anyway. It was a pretty mild one and except for the feeling of impending death and the desperately wanting to resort to old habits, it was fine. This morning I awoke and much to my surprise found that the feeling was not gone. I think the feeling is generally characterized as "anxiety," but it seems like much more than that while your experiencing it. It's more like knowing that any moment a cataclysmic disaster is going to happen. You want to dig your nails into something, anything. You want to hide in a dark cave and be be swallowed up forever. It's not fun.
Anyway, the feeling most of the day. Luckily, little girl was feeling especially cling-y today so I got to hold on to her for most of the day.
Afterward I went over to Krisling's apartment. Because she is a saint, she let me wash her dishes and organize her pots and pans. I'm sure she wanted me out of her kitchen and to stop touching her things, but she didn't say anything. It helped tremendously. We watched "Invader Zim" and sometime between Grr becoming the house and Zim writing a note to his past self the feeling went away. Thank goodness.
Also, Thanks to Krisling I now have Halloween pictures that I actually took, rather than stealing them of QUARK. That blog post has been updated.

Christmas List

Growing up I always thought that being an adult meant that you wanted boring things for Christmas. "I just want you to have a clean room." or "for you girls not to fight." I thought being an adult meant that all you wanted for Christmas was world peace.
According to that definition, this is the first Christmas I am officially an "adult". It is a very sad realization, only making the impending doom of my next birthday more terrifying than it was before, but it's true.
So here, for your entertainment, my Christmas List for 2006.

And you ask me what I want this year
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

And it's someplace simple where we could live
And something only you can give
And that's faith and trust and peace while we're alive
And the one poor child that saved this world
And there's 10 million more who probably could
If we all just stopped and said a prayer for them

I wish everyone was loved tonight
And somehow stop this endless fight
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again

-Better Days, Goo Goo Dolls-

Writers at Work

As I'm sure you all know, November is National Novel Writing Month. Somehow, it was decided that this year a bunch of us participating in NaNoWriMo should get together and write all night.
Friday night we all showed up with laptops and candy, ready for a night writing genius.

Pictures!!

Hard at work. Stories (and homework) are all progressing nicely. Note the Latin Dictionary. No writer should be without one.

Drek: I don't know about you, but at 3:00 in the morning my writing becomes amazing! Everything I write is genius!
Jakeson: After I read what I've just written a little tear rolls down my cheek. It's just so beautiful!

Aneeka contemplates her character, Rissy works hard on her tablet

Jakeson and Gmilla

The next Great American Novel coming right up

Can Rissy really type that fast?

The whole gang

Fortune Cookies and The Killers

Yesterday was a wonderful day.
It was the first time in three weeks I was not terribly depressed, therefore, it was a simply fantastic day.
I've decided I love my job. The morning was spent reading books with Little Girl, discovering what a tree is (trunk, branches, leaves, and bingy-bongas) to be followed by making a tree. It was a lot of fun and Little Girl was so delighted with it that she wanted to lie down under it and take a nap.
After work I drove around to run some errands and three Killers songs came on in a row. This, I took as a sign.
I got hang out with Bradley for a little bit and he listened to me while I talked my head off.
I also got to talk with my cousin for a while. He's newly married (less than a month) and it's fun to hear him talk about his life.
Best of all I got to see Drek. He took me out to dinner and my fortune cookie said: Any trouble you have will pass very shortly." Which I'm taking to mean that my depression spell is finally over.
We then went over to a friend's house to watch "The Great Race" which is always hilarious.

:)

Announcement:

I am NOT an object.

I cannot be owned.
I cannot be bought
I cannot be borrowed.
I cannot be stolen.
To borrow a phrase from Princess Jasmine, "I am not a prize to be won."
I do not belong to anyone. I am not the property of anyone. I am not a doll to be shown off, or a territory to mark. I am not to be claimed, I am not to be controlled.

Right now, I am making, as I have in the past, a conscious decision. It's my decision to make and I am perfectly capable of making it.
Good-bye.

Halloween!!

So, late as usual, here are some Halloween pictures:

Halloween Twister. Announced by the Dreaded (and handsome) Potato Hunter



The Dreaded Potato Hunter.




Me and Krisling. "I'm pulling fuzz out of my eye! My eyeBALL!!"


SuperNate


One Alien thought a SuperNate might be tasty.



Krisling in the back-up costme: a Fuzzball.


Sakura and Real Chainmail-Man




Creepy in the light, creepy in the dark. Almost enough to give me the Jibblies



Personally, I love the paper bag costume. Pure brilliance. And can it get much cuter than the basketball hoop? I submit that it cannot!



Aneeka with Drek's potato launcher. In case you can't tell from this picture, her costume was AMAZING. And, she did it all herself. It is now my goal to one day be that good.



Clue. What more can I say?



And the epic battle begins.



Another amazing costume. The Joker has returned!!!



Awwwwwww.



And to end, a crappy picture.

frisbee secrets

Browsing through Postsecret.com once again when I came across this gem:



So there was this one time, when we were playing Frisbee golf, and taking in the amount of people between us and our target I causally said: "20 points if you hit someone." He threw it, and hit a poor girl playing on the playground.
I actually collapsed, I was laughing so hard. This postcard makes it all the more funny.

Startling realizations

-Brownies of the non-homemade variety are disgusting
-I do actually like my job
-Scary movies are a million times better when watching them with someone
-Somewhere along the line I became decent at sewing. Shocking, I know
-I'm going to Mexico in December to build houses. I cannot express how excited I am about this.
-3 month anniversaries don't have to be a disaster

Zoo, Castle of Chaos, Applebees

After a perfectly wonderful day, I don't think my night could have ended any better.

Relocation

As an update, I quit my job on Friday. I told them that I would stay the weekend if they needed me, but that it was the end of the month so it was a good time for me to go. She replied that I would stay two weeks, or until they found a replacement nanny. So that was that.

Today was actually going very well. Little boy was being his usual difficult self, but things were running quite smoothly. The Evil Stepmother comes home just as I am finishing up dinner. I tell little boy to go wash his hands and come eat. Five minutes later I relies he has not come back. Then I hear Evil Stepmother screaming from downstairs. I hear little boy cry and there is more yelling. Usually, this scene unfolds upstairs, as Evil Stepmother doesn't like to go have to go down to the basement where little boy's room is. Today she must be in a good mood. The yelling and crying continue on for ten more minutes. I sit there and wonder to myself how I am possibly going to survive this for a few more hours, let alone another week. Finally they come upstairs and we have dinner.
Back downstairs Little boy gets into the shower and from upstairs you can hear Evil Stepmother and husband fighting. Again, I wonder how to get through this.

Soon I am in little boy's room, reading him his bedtime story. His father comes down and informs me that they have hired a new replacement. I excitedly ask if that meant that tomorrow would be my last day. He replies that tonight can be my last if I want. I am overjoyed at this news. Little boy is not so happy. We talk about it for a while and finally I hug him good-night and go into my room to pack. I decided to put the collection of little boy's pictures in little boy's room. When I go in there I find him crying into his pillow. He tearfully explains to me that I'm the nicest Nanny he's ever had and he doesn't want me to leave. We discuss it more, I assure him it will all be ok, and tuck him in again. I really had no idea the kid even liked me. I feel devastated for abandoning the child, especially in those conditions, but the alternative would be far worse for him. The poor thing has been given a horrible lot in life, but at least he is well cared for physically and financially. I do, however, think that the child will never be normal emotionally and there is absolutely nothing anyone can do about it.

Anyway, I pack up my car, leaving behind most of my stuff. I shall return for those in the morning. I go off to a meeting. While there I receive a phone call: I am to clear out all my things tonight.
What??
Is he actually telling me that I have to relocate all my junk at nine o'clock at night? Yes. Yes he is. In the midst of this, I get a call asking if I am going laser tagging. I explain my situation, and ask if she has any boxes. She does not. I thank her and hang up. Two minutes later I get another phone call asking why I am not going laser tagging. Again, I explain my situation. He responds by saying that I am the one that keeps complaining that we never get together anymore and when he does invite me to things, I don't come. "I mean I guess you have a valid excuse this time. . ."
Excuse me? For one, I have never lodged such a complaint. Two, My life has just been hurled upside down, I am given a deadline in which to relocate my whole apartment immediately, and your upset because I'm not going laser tagging??
I hung up on him.
Which I realize was incredibly cruel, and I know I'll regret it tomorrow, but I did it anyway.

Thankfully, my family is incredible, as is my boyfriend. They came to my rescue and I was completely moved within 45 minutes. So, a million thanks to my wonderful family, and by amazing boyfriend. You guys really saved me tonight. Thank you.

Good news and more good news

Conference weekend!!
It is a weekend I dreaded as a child and now look forward to most emphatic. This conference had particularly good timing, as the it followed a quite a horrific Friday.
The talks were amazing and, as always, just what I needed. It always amazes me that even though there is so much evil and depression in the world, all the talks are uplifting and hopeful. The Gospel really is good news.
A few talks really stood out to me, but the one that I was impressed with the most was Elder Holland's talk. The power he was speaking with was incredible. I think it also helped that all of conference was spent curled up next to one of the most spiritual boys I have ever known.
My sister and brother-in-law invited Meimei and I over to their apartment inbetween sessions on Sunday. We were there for lunch but, as they said, there were alterior motives. The motives, as it turns out, were to privilege us to some very good news:
They're having a baby!! The baby is due sometime around April or May. I'm so excited I can hardly stand it.

I debated with Shandra for a while, but it just wasn't quite right.

Jasmine.

I think. That's what I'm going with for right now. Maybe Yasmin. Hmmmmm. . .

What's In a Name. . .

After much struggles, I have finally come to own a car. It's a Saturn. It's a girl. What should I name it?

Assassin Log

Target: Tim

Friday

I finally acquire my target. I call Tim up and ask him help on identifying shot glasses for Russell's surprise party. He agrees to help. He says he is home alone and he'll call me when he is free so I can come over. I think to myself that this kill will be too easy. Oh how wrong I was.
He calls back in an hour and asks to meet somewhere. I suggest Carl's Jr, as that is where I was at the time with the little kid I'm taking care of. He shows up at the restaurant, I tell him the glasses are in my car. As we head outside I realize he's holding a gun behind his back. Curses! Not so naive after all.
I show him the glasses. He says they are too big. While talking he seems to relax and tucks his gun into the back of his pants. I reach into my bag to grab my gun, but fumble. He realized what I'm doing and reaches behind him to grab his gun. It turns into a good-old-fashioned-fastest-draw match. I win.

Target: Cardissen

Saturday

Drek points out that there is a planning meeting for all VPs on Saturday in the library. Cardissen is a VP so he should be there. We show up to the meeting right on time. Luckily, Cardissen is not there yet. I stake out the perimeter, noting that the only way to the meeting room is through a wing of the library. I casually pretend to be browsing shelves. Soon, he comes strolling around the corner. He passes my location. "Cardissen." I call out (softly, of course, it is a library). He turns. I shoot him in the shoulder. Oh it was perfect.

Target: Ilya

Saturday

It's Russell's Party!!!!! Ilya stays with people the whole time. That's ok, my master plan is to give him a ride home, where I will drop off Drek first, Shoot Ilya, and then drop him off.
At the end of the party I ask if anyone needs a ride. Ilya says he does. Perfect.
Once I find my keys and my shoes I walk out the door. Ilya does not follow. He says he will stay a little longer. Curses!

Monday

Drek and I go to his apartment at night. We call up josh to find out exactly which apartment it is. Josh informs us Ilya moved, to someplace by Wall-Mart, and he doesn't know where. Bah!
I look up Ilya on Stalker Net. His listed address is in Russia. Decide that information is useless.


Tuesday

Call some people to cleverly find out info on Ilya. I discover he either has to be at work at 10:00am, or he leaves for work at 10:00am. He works at Shop. . . Something. It might be in Orem. I decide hunting down a THE Assassin might prove difficult

Wednesday

Enlist my mother to help with difficult/impossible target. Starting at 9:00am we drive around all the apartment surrounding Wal-Mart (there are a million of them, in case you were wondering) We pay special attention to bus stops, as I am kind of maybe sort of sure he hasn't bought a car in the last few days. At 9:45 I spot Ilya walking down the street to the bus stop. I promptly freak out.
MOM THAT's HIM THAT'S HIM!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT IT'S HIM IT'S HIM TURN HERE!!! HERE HERE TURN HERE!!! IT'S HIM IT'S HIM
We park my the bus stop. I cleverly hide myself from view and wait. He walks by. I jump out, run toward him and shoot wildly. This is, beyond a doubt, the sloppiest assassination of all time.

Target: Beatobur

Wednesday

Make up a plate of cookies. Look up address on Stalker Net. Drive to apartment. Cleverly hold gun under the plate of cookies. A roommate answers the door. Target won't be back till 6-ish
At 8-ish I enlist meimei to help. Once more decide on cookie trick. The plan is to shoot him from under the plate of cookies when he opens the door. Once again the roommate opens the door. Bah! This time there are two other people in the room, and Beatobur is in the kitchen. He comes out to great us. Right before he crosses the threshold he realizes why I am there and jumps back inside. He grabs his gun and we have a shoot off. It was much fun. I lose due to the witnesses. I give him the cookies anyway, content to know the game is over.

Thursday

The game is not over?????

Friday

Enlist help of Tim. He arranges the perfect set up (see Tim's blog). The plan: Kill Beatobur and have him join us in killing Jill.
We spend 10 minutes in a photo booth waiting for the opportune moment, Just the fact that we did that makes me laugh.
Following a brilliant plan by Tim, Beatobur is assassinated oh-so-secretively. It mostly rocked.

Target: Jill

Friday

Jill is not at home, Tim is extremely good at improv. Jill is not at work. We go back to her house. Jill is in her room alone. We know Kim is still in the house somewhere, although because she is already dead, she doesn't count as a witness. Jedi is on the couch, This is a problem as I am Jedi's target. Plan: Knock on door, shoot Jedi so she can't shoot me. Quietly go back to Jill's room and shoot her.
But, unfortunately I hesitated, Tim greeted Jedi, I shoot Jedi, and, for some odd reason, Kim. There is an unidentified witness on the couch. Jill hears Tim speaking and comes into the living room. I can't shoot her. Curses.

Target: Josh (not my target, but I'll help anyway)

The plan is to kill Josh, then go back to Jill's house so Drek can kill Jedi and I can kill Jill.
Get info that Josh is on a date at Fall Fest. Go to fall fest and look around. There are hundreds of people there, We do not find Josh. Drive to Josh's apartment to wait. We wait. Finally Josh calls me and leaves a message that he knows we're there, and he's not coming home 'till we leave. We leave, park the car, and head back on foot. His apartment is locked, no one is inside. We ask the people in the apartment across from his f we can wait there for him to come home. While he is unlocking his door we will shoot him in the back!!!!
unfortunately, Josh's roommate is in the apartment we are in, and calls Josh to warn him. Curse faithful roommates!!
We leave. Twenty minutes later we call paranoid Josh to taunt him. He is still not home, and still thinks we are there waiting. I'm not sure if he ever made it home that night. . .

Saturday

To lazy to attempt any kills. Resolve to just stay alive until midnight.

Sunday

The game is over; I am still alive.

and counting. . .

One Year

Hoo-ray for me.

And it's not even the slightest bit easier now than it was this time last year.

Games

This round of Assassin is turning out to be quite perplexing.

Also, Werewolf is amazingly fun to play with the right group of people

The best band to play at weddings. . .

Last weekend I was privilaged to go to Texas for my cousin's wedding.

I met her husband-to-be the day before the wedding while the happy couple and I were driving to my other cousin's Eagle Court Of Honor. It was on this drive that my cousin relized that they had no music for the reception. I volunteered my ipod and was promply hired.

That night I spent thirty minutes with my cousin downloading wedding-appropriate country songs onto my computer. We only had enough songs to fill half the reception time but she still needed to pack her suitcase and run to Wal-Mart, so she left me with the words "just use whatever songs you want"

Bwahahah

This meant one thing:

Deathcab for Cutie

And so the reception was a success. There was a plathera of country songs, a few classics, and a few songs of my choosing. It worked out rather well I think.

Oh, and my cousin's are darling.

This morning I got quite the haunting e-mail. It's like a ghost from the past when I thought I had left the haunted house. I'm really not sure what to do, or what to think, or how to feel. I suppose I have this blog so I can rant. So this is me, ranting.

This is one thing he wrote:
"I do wonder about you from time to time. It's an odd thing---I sometimes attempt to recall the way your voice sounded, or the exact way your face looked---and I can't."

You know what? I do remember. I remember the inflections he used, the tone of his voice, and the words he would say when we were with his friends, and I remember how different all that was when we were alone. I remember the way he did his hair, the way he walked, his facial expressions . . . I remember how angry he would get. I remember how useless I used to feel. I remember struggling with all my might just to keep from drowning.

The thing is, I'm a different person now. I've changed a lot. I've worked hard to try and be somebody. I've worked hard to show myself that I'm worth something. That I have value. It doesn't matter anymore what he thinks about me, or what anybody thinks about me for that matter.

I'm happy now.

Much Hilarity Ensues

Yesterday was the start of the assassin game. This meant that all of today I was completely paranoid. I was constantly looking around corners and over my shoulder. I told myself that if anyone in the game showed up at work to just stay in the back, lest they were here to shoot me.

Mark (my boss) stayed at work late, so most of my morning was spent joking back and forth and him teasing me mercilessly. Almost immediately after he left I got a phone call for a job interview. The interview was at 1:30. I was scheduled to work until 6:00. I called meimei and asked her to cover me for two hours. She said she would, because she is amazing and so much more generous than I ever was.

Noon. Cue IRS man coming into the bakery. IRS man has come into the bakery everyday since before I started working there. Since the deli opened, he'll come in and get lunch, then come back around three for an eclair. We've has causal conversations before, to where we're on a first-name basis, but yesterday while his sandwich was being made we had an actual conversation during which he asked if I was leaving the bakery because I was getting married. I told him I was not (but Mary seemed to think that too. Where is this rumor coming from?) and realized he was about to ask me out (IRS man is very nice, around 26-29 years old, not married and not my type. Not to mention I am very, very happy with who I am with right now). His sandwich was finished just in time. Anyway, back to today, IRS man came in for his sandwich and I hid in the back. We didn't have eclairs, so I told him while he was paying and leaving, that I would be sure and make some before 3:00. Because that's what my job is.

When Meimei came in at 1:00 I asked her to make eclairs, and she said she would.

At 1:20 I showed up to the interview, had a wonderful talk with the supervisor who then offered me the job on the spot. I accepted, because it really is a great job. My last day at the bakery is Aug 23. My first day at Craft Supplies USA is Aug 24.

I got back to the bakery to discover that meimei had used the wrong filling for the eclairs, which is no big deal. I thanked her and she left.

At 3:00 IRS man came in. I hid in the back.

At 4:30 Russell showed up. We talked for a while and then he left. I blame this exact occurrence on my state of stupidity for what happened next:

I was in the back, I came out to the front to help people. Mary was helping one customer, there was a customer waiting, and I see another person waiting in the corner. I turn to help the customer in line, and realize the person in the corner is _________.
I turn back around, greet him, and go to give him a hug, when I am squirted three times in the stomach.

I am assassinated.

After laughing my head of at my own stupidity, we walk to the bank, walk back, and I bid my killer good-bye, and good luck on his next kill. Before he leaves he gives me an extra water gun. I will use it well next game.

Back in the bakery as I am closing, who should walk in but IRS man!!!! He's staying late at work and wants to buy caffeine. I ring him up and ask if the eclair was ok. He replies it was still good, but he likes the custard better. I apologize and replies with: Tell you what, if you dump that no good boyfriend of yours and go out for ice cream with me I'll forgive you.



. . .




After I regain my composure from laughing so hard I think I'll explode ( no, I wasn't mean, I was very diplomatic. Poor IRS man) Mary starts making fun me and I die laughing all over again.

Next is D and D. I always end up laughing till my sides hurt, but tonight is particualry hillarios because most people in the campaign are aslo playing Assassin. I get five phone calls during the run asking me information on other Assassin players. News of my death has spread quickly apparently. DM threatens if I answer my phone again, I will lose a level. giggle giggle.

After the run everyone becomes paranoid. Bradley sends Todd out to search the perimeter. Todd apparently fails at this because the moment Bradley steps out of the house he is shot. It does not count as a kill because Todd was a whitness. And now the plot thickens.

I arrive home to the news that Ben has just been assassinated. My, we were a busy bunch tonight.


Ah, glee.

This is possibly the best post secret ever.
I have never laughed so hard at a postcard.

Update

As of Saturday, I am no longer going to San Diego.

I'm not sure what I ill do, as my house and my job end in a few weeks, but it looks like I'll stay in Provo.

Huzzah!!

so tired everything is funny

Ever wonder what other people do during the early morning hours?

Kris and did the following:

11:00pm: Kayla tries jumping of the wall to pull a peice of paper of the wall in the hallway. Kris decides to be of assistance and lift Kayla up. Kris and Kayla fall onto the floor, laughing hystericlly. After several more attempt Kayla manages to pull the paper of the wall.

11:10 Kris and Kayla decide to stage an intervention. To Ferdinand!!!!

11:11 Kris and Kayla stop at a stoplight, they are attempting to make a left-hand turn

11:17 Kris has had enough with the never-green light and runs the very red light.

11:18 Kris hits another red light. Kayla laughs at her ensuing road rage.

11:25 Kris and Kayla stage intervention.

12:20am Kris decides Kayla would not make a good Private investigator, as she does not return furtive glances. Kayla is not a glancer.

12:30 Kris and Kayla have following converstaion:

Kris: Your mom
Kayla: Your face
Kris: Your father's face
Kayla: Tu Madre
Kris: Touche

12:45: Kayla's "Real fake hot dog" is asploding. Kayla tries putting "ket-ca-cechsup" on it.

1:00am: Kris and Kayla sit at the kitchen table, working dilligently on their own computers. See? This is why I shouldn't leave Utah.

Questions

I just don't understand.

How can some people not want to be mothers? I want to be a mom more than anything else. I know people are different, and everyone has their own goals and ambitions, but how do you make it to the point where you have a nine-year-old daughter, and just decide to quit? If you know you don't want to be a mom, shouldn't you decide that before you get married? Shouldn't you not have a child? Shouldn't you not have two children? Gah!!!

Life's so crazy. You wake up in the morning knowing exactly what your plan is, when you're leaving, what you'll be doing, how long you're staying, and the next moment you have no idea what's going to happen, where you're going to live, what you'll do. . .

I suppose patience is the answer.

Patience indeed.

Just like the pioneers

Last night I attended a ward activity. The idea was to celebrate out pioneers (it is almost July 24) by holding a bonfire up the canyon and eating s'mores.
It turned out quite nicely, with a good talk and some great pioneer stories. The ice cream wasn't bad either.

After that it was spontaneously decided to ry a camping trip. We camped up at a place where you can't have a campfire, but we did have a laptop, an ipod, a camera and a butane stove. This was also in celebration of the pioneers.
We ended up watching three episodes of LOST on the laptop before the battery died. Just so you know, watching a show about being in the middle of nowhere while you ARE in the middle of nowhere, is all sorts of awsomesness.

Ah, the joy of last minute plans turning out better than you expected them to turn out.

To the Tintinnabulation That So Musically Wells

Last night I found the cutest baby kitty ever. She's around two weeks old. Her brothers and sisters are all dead and her mother is nowhere to be found. She wasn't eating anything so I came over to help feed her; which I did. I then stated that she would probably have to be fed every few hours during the night. I volunteered for this job. So I got to bring the darling back to my Apartment.



It's doing very well this morning, playing and following me everywhere. Kris wants to name her Bells. I rather like the name.
The vet said she has an eye infection, but other than that is doing well.

I love my MacBook. Thus far it has brought me joy.

i have, however, found a fatel flaw:

There is no Apple works, no word perfect, no word, no nothing! Why? Why?

How can I change this? Any ideas?

Bring me that Horizon

Best. Pirate. Day. Ever.

There were many piraty costumes, much singing, much "arrr"-ing, Kris did a dance, Nate did a funnier dance and the movie wasn't bad either. All I'm saying is that Johnny Depp started out the movie in a coffin and ended in chains. I'm just saying.

Also, there seems to be an obsession with Rum. Time flies when ye arr having rum. Drink up me harties yo ho!

Change

It's official:

In September I'm moving to San Diego. I'll be there for almost a full year.

I really don't know how I'm going to leave all my friends behind. I'm having the time of my life here, I don't want it to end.

I've never lived outside of Provo before; Ever.

I know it will be fine and I'll have a lot of fun in California. I know I'm doing what I need to do and I will love it.

But basically, I'm terrified.

Warm Rain

Hello...
Can you hear me? Am I getting through to you?

Hello...
Is it late there?
There's a laughter on the line. Are you sure youre there alone?
'cause I'm trying to explain somethings wrong. You just dont sound the same.

Why don't you go outside
Kiss the Rain

Hello...
Do you miss me?
I hear you say you do But not the way I'm missing you.

What's new?
Hows the weather?
Is it stormy where you are?
You sound so close but it feels like youre so far.
Oh would it mean anything if you knew What I'm left imagining in my mind?

Would you go
Kiss the rain

As you fall over me
Think of me; Only me
Kiss the rain
Whenever you need me
Kiss the rain
Whenever I'm gone too long
If your lips feel lonely and thirsty
Kiss the rain
And wait for the dawn
Keep in mind
Were under the same sky
And the nights
As empty for me as for you
If you feel
You cant wait till morning
Kiss the rain

Anything for laugh

Friday was Free Freeze Pop Day. This involved us sitting out on BYU campus with a sign, lawn chairs, and a cooler full of dry ice, Sobes, and of course, Freeze Pops. The idea was anyone could get a freeze pop if they made us laugh.

We laughed at:
an EFY counselor perform two ridiculous dancers with his kids
An EFY group perform an entire skit
Two girls doing a clapping/slapping routine they had known since sixth grade
Kids walking on their knees
A full stand up routine
countless jokes and embarrassing moments. Here are the highlights:

An EFY EMT recalled how the counselors decided to turn the service project into a race. All of them ran up to get the supplies for their groups. The grabbed handfuls of blankets and (oops) scissors. Unfortunately, some of the scissors were open. The EMT got called and sent to the bathroom where she found blood EVERYWHERE! On the mirrors, the sinks, the floor, the door handles, the walls. She asked who was hurt, around eight counselors responded: ME!

A Couple recounted how he had "lost" the car for four days. They thought it had been stolen and reported it to the police. As it turns out he had just parked it and forgot about it.

A boy trying to impress the ladies was riding his bike in front of the yard the girls were standing in. A little dog barked at him and he turned to shoo it away. He turned around and ran smack into a mailbox.

Did you know that Helen Keller had a dollhouse?
Neither did she.

A boy with a wooden eye goes to a dance and sees a way hot girl with a wooden leg. He asks her if she'd like to dance and excitedly she replies: Would I, Would I!!! He replies: Peg leg Peg leg.

What do you call a man with no arms and no legs up in a tree?
Russell

A man comes home to find his girlfriend packing. She's visibly upset so he asks her what's wrong. "I'm leaving you! I just found you're a pedophile!" "A pedophile? That's an awfully big word for a ten year old."

How do you make Holy water?
You boil the hell out of it

What do you do with Holy Water?
You make pope-sicles

And so on. The day was a success.

She wants a car that will get her there

After some waiting I finally received a car from my Aunt and Uncle. I love them both dearly, and a year and a half ago they decided to fix up their old car for me. This car is now in my possession. I love it.

It's very old, a 91, and it's quite ragged. All it really needs is time and money. I decided to name the car Ferrall. So there you have it, Ferrall is doing quite splendidly.

I named him that because he's wild, and because He comes from the Ferrall side of my family. I've always wanted to be a Ferrall girl, with the skinny ankles, the long tapered fingers, the red hair and the firery personality to match. I decided If I can't be a Ferrall, at least my car can; Which I know makes no sense whatsoever, but it works.

Yesterday Bradley and I went on a mission to make Ferrall beautiful. We bought him seat covers, a steering wheel cover (That is oh-so-soft!) and hubcaps. Bradley was so patient with me the whole time. Afterward we went through a car wash and scrubbed him clean. Afterward I vacuumed his insides while Bradley put on the hubcaps.

Voila! Ferrall is the most gorgeous cars on the road! He just needs minor improvements from here on out.

Road Trip!

The adventure begins:

After a late start Kris, Nate and I head out in Charlotte. The ride is very long. After 4 1/2 hours of straight driving we stop in Monticello to stretch out legs and view the temple.




Kris and Nate had a serious conversation



A little snack-y snack is in order before taking off again.







Soon the journey continued and at 9pm we finally arrived at the hotel. Pratt was waiting outside so i got to see him as soon as we pulled into the parking lot.

We attempted swimming at the outdoor pool was the water was frigid so we retreated back inside after ten minutes.

The next day Pratt and I went in search of breakfast (Have you ever eaten McDonald's in front of a vegetarian? They look at you like you're barbecuing a baby!) And had quite the wonderful talk.

Back at the hotel, Nate and Kris were still getting ready for the day



Afterward all four of us headed out to Mesa Verde so see the sites. And what amazing sites they were!























We went back to the hotel for more swimming, which, again, I couldn't do for long so Pratt and I talked while Kris and Nate swam. We then went to dinner which turned out to be wonderful both in the food and in the before, during and after conversation.

Sunday morning is time for good-byes



Nate is confident he can drive us back to Provo




It is a very, very long car ride. kris thinks she might asplode




Thankfully, we all make it back safely (well, almost; After we had parked Kris fell out of the car, but she was ok).

Looking forward to the next road trip!!!

"We have them, repeat, we have them!"

Last night was the best night game adventure ever!

It was a really good turn out (12 people) So we could play the fugitive game. It was so much fun! Afterward we played Ghosts in the Graveyard and Bradley, Jennie and I ended up singing at the top of our lungs so we would be found. Afterward we went back to the house and played Super smash Brothers, which was hilarious. We ate the most delicious drumsticks and ice cream sandwiches.

Everyone said they had fun so we're going to play again, maybe next week. It's good to have Miriam back, now if only Matt and Pratt would be the cops and Sarah could be a fugitive. . . I could see this being the best game ever.

Yesterday in the mail. . .

I am now, officially, certified.

I am can now put C.I.M.I. After my name.

Certified Infant Massage Instructor.

Huzzah!

My certificate and I.D. came in the mail yesterday. I only missed 1.5 questions on the test (there were 100 multiple choice questions, 100 short essay questions and a written part of the test).
So there you go. I'm am so ready to start a real career!

Billy the Kid, Butch Cassidy and. . .

This weekend I went up out of town to have a miniture family gethering and so many stories happened I'm at a loss as to wich one to blog. Hmmmmm. . .

Poopah and my new Grandma Poomah (whom I adore) wanted to go on a 45 minute tour in very cold weather. My sister and brother-in-law decised this would not be fun. Therefore, we wandered around downtown and found a perfect bandit hide-out, Perfect name and everything. We decided to set up our headquarters there. We committed and solved many murders before called back to the rest of the family.

"Poisen Creek Mercantile" is a building with furniture stores inside. Because it was memorial day, the building was open, but the stores were closed. So we sat down in the middle of the heated, lighted hallway and played CLUE. It was great.

I miss everyone

For the first time ever, I wish summer was over

Bath time!

Yesterday I arrived home and was greeted with the words: "Your cat ran away last night"

I was highly confused, as Acouchi is terrified of the outdoors and has never once set foot outside our apartment. Apparently, she decided to overcome her fear. She made her escape at night and at approximately 4:00 pm Kris heard her meowing outside the front door. She opened it and Acouchi came slinking in.

I know you're wondering how I could not realize my baby was gone for over twelve hours, but it's actually pretty common for me to misplace things, I can just imagine what will happen when I have human children:

Neighborhood kid: Can Jimmy come play with us?
Me: Jimmy. . . Jimmy. . .Where is he anyway? I haven't seen him in like a month. Where did I last see him. . .Hey husband, did I ever pick Jimmy up from soccer camp?

It's quite frightening.
Anyway, I go into the living room to question Acouchi herself. She is FILTHY. VERY VERY FILTHY.
This must be remedies immediately.
I go into the bathroom, Fill up the tub to cat-friendly heights, grab a pitcher from the kitchen and then carry Acouchi into the bathroom.
She, of course, flails around, leaving some oh-so-deep cuts on my arm before I plop her into the water and dump a pitcher full of water onto her head. She stands there, stunned, then raises her head, looks at me and very loudly says: MEOW! In a very perturbed sort of way.
It is wrong that I was thoroughly amused?
I soap her up with Lavender soap, scrub her until she won't stand for it anymore, rinse her off, dry her off, and then groom her until she is once again the gorgeous mini-cougar she once was. Only now, she smells surprisingly good.

Today was. . . exciting. 5 years ago I banned myself from reading beauty magazines. Today I spent three hours pouring through aforementioned magazines. My extreame thinking kicked in and I ended up in front the mirror, cutting five inches off the front of my hair. I then dyed it a color I was not intending to. GAH! I now resemble a moose.

On the bright side, I had my traditional annual child scoop of Jamoca almond fugde ice cream today. I also ate British Chocolate. Yummy. Bad self bad! no eating until you lose twenty pounds, or your hair can at least pass as pleasent. Gah

Also, I am extreamly angry at someone. Furiously angry. This is new to me. I'm not sure how to handle it. GAH!!!!!!

Missions

Today, I had three missions:

1) Buy tickets to the midnight showing of X III: The Last Stand
2) Buy two tickets to Da Vinci Code for me and Da Krisling
3) Drop some Japanese lotion of to Krisling at the Krisling's office

So this morning Rissy picks me up and we drive over to get the tickets, BUT FIRST! to 7 eleven to get the collectible X men slurpie cups. I explain to the man that I want the cup, but I actually do not like slurpies, so may I please fill the cup with hot chocolate? The answer was in the affirmative so the cups were bought and we were off! Again!
A slight complication: because of the slurpie detour it is now more efficient to go the the movie theater first, and go to Krisling's office second.
On the way to the theater Krisling calls and cancels mission #2.
We get there, the line is out the door. Thankfully, they are all in line for Da Vinci Code, which is very close to being sold out for the whole day by the time we reach the front of the line. Also, there is now a sign indicating X III tickets are on sale.
"eight tickets to the midnight showing of X III!"
"um, we actually can't do that."
"What? Why?"
"They're not on sale yet"
"What? But we called yesterday, they said today, the sign! THE SIGN!!!"
"It's not in the computer yet, I'm sorry, I can't sell you the tickets."
"You do not understand. I NEED these tickets. I have come here everyday for the last week trying to get these tickets. I was told they would be on sale TODAY! The sign says 'on sale now' and I want them NOW!"
"I can give you the direct phone number here so you can call in and ask tomorrow."
I consented, and sadly left.
Mission 1: FAILED
We drove to Krisling's work. en route, she calls and says she DOES want the tickets for tonight. I inform her I could have gotten them, but as we were speaking someone was probably buying the last tickets, so we could not get them.
Mission 2: FAILED
"Also," she adds, "I left my office and am driving home."
GAH!!!!!
We continue to converse and drive home. While in traffic, I spot a familiar car up ahead.
"Kris, are you on mumble mumble road?"
"yes"
"I see you, I am in the other lane, seven cars behind you."
"Oh, that's exciting."
and that's when my honor took control. I had three missions that morning, I had failed two, I would not fail again. "Rissy, CATCH UP TO THAT KRISLING!!!!!!!!!"
And the chase was on. I held the lotion out the window to hand off, Rissy caught up to the car, Krisling freaks out and signs no, she will not grab the lotion. FINE! I will throw it into her window!! The angle is not right!! "DRIVE faster!!!" No! Cars switching lanes! Falling behind! Ah! A red light! The Krisling is stopped three cars ahead, I jump out, run between traffic and hand off the lotion.
Mission 3: ACCOMPLISHED!!!!
I run back to the car and jump in just as the light turns green.
Oh the adventure.

Krateizzling

Update:

Curse those X-men 3 tickets for not being in my hand yet!!
LOST day today!!!
Hopefully I'll have my own car on Saturday
Hopefully I can use this car to visit Colorado in June
I'm going up in hot air balloon this summer!!
I get a new princess dress for the wedding of Krisling and Nateizzle (Krateizzling?)!!!
Life in general is going very well.

Finally, some closure

All the way back in October an older couple (the nicest older couple I have seen) called into the bakery and asked if we could do a brown sugar frosting. I asked them to explain what they meant and, in great detail, they told me exactly what they wanted. I explained this all to the baker and he said he could do this. The next day I called the couple back and told them we could do a cake with a brown sugar frosting. They ordered a cake, for a Halloween party, that had apparently been a tradition when they man was a child. The cake had to look exactly like he was describing it, because the cake was for nostalgic purposes. I filled out the description of what they wanted, making it extremely detailed.
A few days later the couple came down to the bakery to buy some goodies and to make sure I had the description of the cake right. This time I added a drawing to the description just so there would be no mistake.
A week later they came back to pick up the order. I went into the back to get it was mortified to find that the cake decorator (who quite frequently messes up orders) had put buttercream frosting on the cake, not brown sugar (when I later confronted her she explained she didn't know where the brown sugar frosting was). I took the cake out to the couple and asked them if we could try again for tomorrow. They said yes. So I filled out another form, even more detailed, with a diagram, and a note to the baker to make the frosting, and tell the cake decorator EXACTLY where it was.
The next day the couple came in again. The cake was not what they had ordered, the cake decorator had again used the wrong frosting. I refunded the couple's money and asked if we could try again tomorrow. The couple gave each other sad glances, mumbling something to each other. The man finally said: "Well, we would let you try again but I am going in for surgery tomorrow and I probably won't be coming out of it. The cake was supposed to be my last party cake. I'm sorry that it didn't work out. If everything goes well tomorrow we'll come in again."
I was devastated.
I know it shouldn't have hit me so hard, but these people were SO NICE! Even after I screwed up his last wish they were so nice. This story has kept me up at night, tossing and turning, to this very day. Everyday I work, I look to see if they'll come in.
Yesterday a man came into the bakery. He was just there to get some treats. I almost dropped dead. It was the same guy. He recognized me and asked, jokingly, if he ordered a cake would it be done right. I told him I would personally make it. He smiled and left.
I went into the back and almost had a heart attack. Apparently the guy is alive and doing well. Never have I been more excited to see someone walk into my work. It was amazing.

Boys clean up nice

Saturday evening I had the privilege of going to Kirsa and Mike's wedding reception. This turned out to be a blast and here is why:
I hitched a ride in a car with three very sharp dressed men. I am serious. They were all so good looking! It was amazing!
We played that band game (Where the last letter of the band you name must be the first letter of the band the next person names) and it was so much fun! Congratulations to the Prattman for stumping us all! Bravo!
The ride up was quite enjoyable and once we got there we joined other quarkies for much fun. Weddings are so strange. People just act differently. Russell told me all of his romantic plans for the future and Pratt even talked to me about his plans.
I talked a lot with James who I didn't get to know very well before he left in December. He is such an interesting guy.
Kim and Jill looked so beautiful in their dresses and of course Kirsa looked amazing. She also looked very, very happy. She couldn't stop smiling. Kim said she had been like that all day.
Afterward I got to spend the better part of an hour talking with Pratt. Oh Pratt, I shall miss your face.
So all in all, much fun

New names for everyone!!

Marrage and timing

Let it be known that I love my family with my whole heart. That said, I think we do weddings all wrong. I was startled to find this e-mail in my inbox:

On Saturday 6 May 2006 at 2:00 PM Lorita and I will get married in News Braunfels, Texas.

I am accepting e-mails and phone calls for comments.

Poopah

What?????? Now, this would not be such a big deal, if my uncle had not done the EXACT SAME THING three years ago. GAH!!!! Yeah, so, a little warning would be nice.

The other thing I find interesting is in my family, you either get married to the right person the first time, or the third time. Second time people are BAD NEWS!!!!

That is all.

P.S. Poopah is my Grandpa. Just BTW

Apologies

Only the facts:

1) I arrive home at 2am and crawl into bed. Kris is already asleep
2) I sleep very heavily for about 2 1/2 hours
3) Something is very VERY wrong with my bed. The next thing I am aware of is that I'm on my knees huddled on the floor by Kris's bed.
4) My next thought is: AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!
5) My next thought is: Curses!!!! I haven't had a night terror in two months! Why? Why?!
6) Kris asks me if I am ok. I mumble yes
7) Kris informs me she is bleeding a lot and asks if I will help her
8) I follow her into the bathroom and somehow come to understand my sudden movement made Acouchi (who was sleeping on Kris's pillow) Launch out the door, using Kris's face as the launch pad and her chin is now bleeding like a mo fo.
9) I stumble back to bed and spend the next two hours in dozing in and out.
10) I wake up and take Kris to the hospital because she is still bleeding and I have only just realized what the heck happened.
11) The doctor is freaking hilarious
12) Kris needs no stitches, but does need antibiotics
13) The lady at the computer was a) really really slow b) computer challenged and c) Very very hard not to laugh at.
15) The day continues. Happy Birthday Nate!!!!
16) I freaking have another night terror. That's two in a 12 hour period (that's a personal record) only this time I have it in front of Prattman and Nateizzle. GAH!!!!!! I am so sorry guys, I can't even tell you how sorry I am.
17) Kris, to you I also am so sorry. Oh babe, I am so sorry.

So this is what having friends feels like

The other day I came to an astonishing realization:

I am content.

How odd.

I like this. I'm not dying to change things around or to travel the world or to flip my whole life on it's head and I'm even satisfied that my baby girl is a cat. I've never had this happen before. I kind of like it.

It's so nice to be able to say: "hey, let's go to lunch, call up people and tell them to meet us there" and 5 (well, more like 45, gosh just go shower Nateizzle!) minutes later show up at a restaurant with a party of five and just have a blast. I love having a party every night. I love how someone can say "let's cook a really fancy dinner and invite people over to eat it" and have twenty people over bringing rolls and lemonade. It's amazing (and so was that sauce, my gosh that had a kick to it).

I love going through my day thinking: this is sooooo funny, Kris is going to die when I tell her this" and then tell her and she ends up laughing harder than I was.

I'm so happy with my life right now. So, I guess thanks to all my wonderful friends whom I adore so much. I will miss ye sarah the cheerful and Miriam the beautiful and Matt the. . .um. . .fish.
Farewell ye friends!!!! I'll see you in a few months. There are much adventures still to be had. And I know this summer shall be filled with friends and much spontinaity.

So, mondays are my new favorite day of the week.

and that's all I have to say.

Word

Also, because I've been thinking about it all day, has anyone besides Kris seen the last episode of Miricles ever filmed? That cliff hanger still has my attention. I mean, for crying out loud, THE BLOOD IS TRYING TO TELL US SOMETHING!!! but what? BUT WHAT??????

Ok, let's see if I can explain my last blog.

Last year I visited a certain Catholic priest who gave me some advice. Keep in mind that this man's advice is very valuable to me. I always take his advice seriously (and with a grain of salt mind you this man is an avid member of the NRA). Anyway, last year he turned my whole concept of reality upside down with these words: "Kayla, life is not a game."

...What?

Yes. Yes it is. Life is just one big game; it always has been and it always will be. What?

So for the last year I have pondered this. Is life supposed to be taken seriously? Is life meant to be plodded through come what may? Is more hanging in the balance than just winning or losing?

My conclusion is thus:

It's just an object. It's not what you think.

In other words: Life IS a game. A very complex game filled with mini games. Sometimes you lose, sometimes you win, in the end you'll be dead anyway. But life is just a game to be gambled, bribed, cheated and enjoyed.

Let the games begin

It's just an object; It's not what you think.

This last week has been a lot of fun.

Starting on Monday my work had seen it's share of drama. Usually I'm all up for it, but there is just too much deception accusations circulating. It's getting very old very quickly. Holidays are always stressful but Saturday was worse than ever. I really think I'm done. It's been wonderful working there and I've enjoyed it a lot, but it's time to move on to better paying, better communicating jobs.

On happier topics, there has been an adventure every night this week. So this is what having a social life is like.

Happy Easter!! Kris threw an Easter party this morning and it turned out to be a blast. It was quite enjoyable. After the party the quarkies came to our ward for church. It was hilarious. Kudos to Nate for eating confetti. Way to be. Mark/Matt was there with his fiance and they are so cute together. I really love my ward. It will be sad to see them go, and even sadder than mark/matt will no longer be my home teacher come July. But life continues onward and there are always better things around the next bend. Tonight there are plans to (finally) watch "The Prince of Egypt" which is an astonishingly well done movie. Life is excellent.

Today was amazing. Best day ever!!

I got up early and ran until my lungs asploded. I then took a shower(1)and went to the temple for the first time in a very long while. Wow. Just wow. In the temple I took a shower (2) but didn't have any hair stuff so when I got home I took a shower (3) and got ready for the day. I went shopping and considered myself extremely productive. Kris woke up and I went home only to go on a fantastic picnic. The picnic was followed by a walk around the park. That only made the day better.

Also, a certain RPG was bought and I am SO EXCITED!

Later I got to play Kickball with my whole ward. It was so great. I then went to a "smoke house" with a wonderful bunch of quarkies.

There was making cake and eating it too, there was cats attacking necks and then came the scariest moment of my life. Just so everyone knows, I have a very deep and abiding fear of singing in public, therefore, karaoke revolution is not a game for me. But everyone was so nice and encouraging and I was hyperventilating and I almost died. Finally I just sang. Oh! It was SO SCARY!!!! Seriously, I almost died. But people are so nice to me.

It was a great day

Day of Doom

I am officially not a teenager. I am now 20 years old. Gah! I'm so OLD!!

Actually, my birthday turned out to be quite wonderful. Instead of trying to hide my birthday by pretending it doesn't exist like I usually do I decided that this year I would face it head on. It turned out to be quite the wonderful birthday as far as birthdays go, everything went very well, everyone was so wonderful, and I think I'm ok with being ancient.

Huzzah!

So monday was my official start of spring.
No shoes all day!!!!!!! well, almost all day, but I digress.
Monday I had the best wake up call ever but it only lasted for 30 seconds.
Kris and I went to visit the old catholic priest who apparently now is an action figure. Whatever. He gave me some good advice on my new brilliant idea and now, so I don't forget:

THE DEADLINE IS APRIL 30

ok? great.

Anyway, much boring stuff later, Kris and I went over to the QPH to make sandwiches and invite everyone on a picnic. Pratt was the only one that came and we had an excellent time in the park. We then ran all over town, crammed Matt and Miriam into the car, and ended up in another park playing frisbee. Oh the joy!
We were joined by Russel and Brad just in time for some random tackeling, some grass fights and at one point I was taken captive by Matt.
Later we went Laser tagging which was wonderful! For the first time I was on the winning team. The music we played to was Star Wars, and at points it was the best laser tag music ever, but during some scores you felt like you should be rolling around in feilds rather than running around in the dark looking for red lights to shoot at. It was lots of fun.
Back to the QPH where I was introduced to a new band that had something to do with toads. The music was excellent. The night continued on and it turned out to be better than expected. Much better. Not that expected to be bad, I was expecting to have a good time, I just had a REALLY good time. anyway, I am rambling now.

Song of the day:YELLOWCARD!!!!!!!!

"Lights And Sounds"
Stop, turn, take a look around
At all the lights and sounds.
Let them bring you in.
Slow burn, let it all fade out,
Pull the curtain down.
I wonder where you've been?

Not so the end

So this is me: blogging again
For you Kris, I shall Blog.

I'm not sure if other people do this, but I live my life to a soundtrack. I have a new favorite song every week, sometimes every day.

Today my favorite song is Blink-182's Stay Together For The Kids. What a good song.

In other news, my favorite quote of the day was spoken by an apostle of God and were taken right out of my head. Jeffery R. Holland "If you are broken, He will [fix] you.

Go God.

Green Dragon Bowl

Green Dragon Bowls

2 Cups Cooked  Rice

2 Cups Thinly Sliced Green Cabbage

2 Cups Thinly Sliced Purple Cabbage

1 Cup Thinly Sliced Bok Choy

1 Cup Shredded Carrots

1 Cup Diced Red Bell Peppers

Roasted Chickpeas: 

2 Cups Chickpeas

1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar

1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce

1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup or honey

1 teaspoon Ginger

1 teaspoon Garlic

Sauce: 

1 Cup Cashews 

1⁄4 Cup Soy Sauce

2 Tablespoons Tahini

1 Tablespoon White Vinegar or Rice Vinegar

1 Tablespoon Sesame oil

1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup or honey

1 Carrot

Preheat oven to 424 degrees. Rinse chickpeas. Add to a bowl with Apple Cider Vinegar, Soy Sauce, Garlic, Ginger, and Maple Syrup or honey. Stir until chickpeas are well coated. Pour onto cookie sheet covered in aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes or until crispy. 

Add sauce ingredients to high-powered blender. Blend until smooth. 

Get 4 big bowls. Add rice to bottom of bowls. On top of rice add Green Cabbage, Purple Cabbage, Bok Choy, Shredded Carrots, Diced Red Bell Peppers and Roasted Chickpeas. You can also add tomatoes and/or cucumber, bean sprouts, edamame, or really any vegetables. 

Top with sauce. Enjoy!