The Kristen C. Experience

Big News

2011-08-20T22:23:00.000-07:00

Okay, I have to admit that I used that title so you all would think I was getting married or having a baby or something. Don't worry, friends. I would have told you LONG before now. :)

The big news is I'm moving my blog! To a real website! You can now find me at:

www.kranady.com

A Letter to Myself

2011-08-18T21:34:00.000-07:00

Dear Future Me:

I wish I had a letter to myself from five years ago, so I'm writing one now to remind you of a few important things. I just learned them, and I want them to stay fresh so when you look back you can remember them in their purest form. So listen closely- I know how fast you'll forget what I'm about to tell you.

1. Good girlfriends and chlorinated hot tubs can make almost any situation better.
2. When good girlfriends and chlorinated hot tubs don't help all that much, add peanut M&Ms into the mix
3. Sometimes taking a break to figure things out is a good thing. Especially if you're confused.
4. It's okay to be sad for a little while.
5. Learn the motto "Just Do It." And then live it- especially on the hard stuff. Because regrets suck.

Learn this now. Because if I look back in three years and am still struggling with the same darn stuff, I'm gonna be mad.

Love,
Present Me

Obsessed

2011-08-13T22:53:00.000-07:00

I can't stop thinking about this song. The lyrics. The melody. The scary parallel it has with my life. It's erie. I just keep listening. Hoping that maybe someday it won't really apply.

Today I Turned 27...

2011-07-07T20:37:00.000-07:00

and despite the utmost hatred I had for turning 25 and 26, I'm remarkably okay with 27. I feel like this is my year. Watch out world. I've got all sorts of tricks up my sleeves for this year- it'll be one for the books.

Del Mar Fair FTW

2011-06-29T12:44:00.000-07:00

I went to the fair last night with some friends. It was really fun- had some mediocre BBQ, watched my friends ride crazy rides, saw some really cute (and really foul-smelling) farm animals, hung out with T, and got this little friend. You had to win it by shooting a basketball through a hoop- my friend Tim came through for me. Isn't he cute!!!

4 Reasons Why This Week Need to Go By Fast

2011-06-29T00:41:00.000-07:00

1. I leave on Saturday for my FAMILY REUNION!!! I am so stinking excited I can't even contain myself. I've never been to a reunion before, and I have high high hopes for this one.

2. Along with the family reunion comes the introduction of me to my teeny cousins. I've meet a couple of
them (shout out to Jack when he was a baby, as well as Avery and Dono a few summers ago), but I'm
really excited to meet the rest of them. They're all so cute!!!

3. When Friday is over, I will officially be able to unplug my computer and phone and just take a break from the craziness of my job. I absolutely love what I do- but it's healthy to take a break every now and
then.

4. The Fourth of July is coming up! I love the Fourth of July- and this year I'll be in Utah and can legally
do my own fireworks! How awesome is that?!?

Be Still My Heart

2011-06-23T00:22:00.000-07:00

My roommate got me hooked on this show called Chuck. It's actually really great, but this man here may be my favorite part. Agent John Casey...move over Robert Downey Jr and Bronco Mendenhall- there's a new player in my celebrity love trifecta.

My New (SUPER EXPENSIVE) Toy

2011-06-20T23:20:00.000-07:00

This is my new baby. I'm in love. Subaru Forester. Brand spanking new. RED!

I'm sad the civic era is over- it was a good one, but three cheers to a bright future with this new friend!!!

My Poor Little Rodney

2011-06-16T22:36:00.000-07:00

This is my car. Rodney. Rodney and I have been through a lot. I took my driving test in him, traveled to college and back too many times to count, and enjoyed a whole plethora of exciting adventures.

Rodney is sick. He overheated and blew his main gasket head. Since he's getting a little older, and it would cost upwards of $2k to fix him, I'm going to put the monies towards a new car. A new vehicle to have lots of fun new memories in.

That being said, I will miss him. He's been the best little car ever. :)

Friendship

2011-06-10T15:22:00.000-07:00

I've been contemplating the concept of friendship as of late. It's interesting to me that two people (just talking about one-on-one friendships- groups are a whole different dynamic for another day) can have such varying degrees of attachment/loyalty/care for the other person. It's frustrating, actually, being the one that cares more. I think back about all the friendships I've enjoyed in my life, and I think there are only a handful where I actually felt like the friendship was on equal ground- that I received as much care and love as I gave. Then I get kind of cocky and think, "Man. I am an AWESOME friend." Which, I try to be...but often times I fail miserably. But that's not the point.

The point, actually, is what I've recently learned about personalities. I have this great friend named Becky. She's big into personalities and motivations and behaviors (closet psychologist), and she told me about a remarkably interesting philosophy. It's actually quite a popular one- but it's basically color theory applied to personalities.

Red Likes power, is very logical
Blue Emotional, thrives on connections
White Peaceful, keeps emotions and motivations closed to others
Yellow All about fun

I buy into this theory. I personally (and I'd be interested to see if you disagree) am a Blue with a hint of Red. Turns out I tend to gravitate to whites- who are by nature more closed off. So, I've concluded, that I'm not the only good friend in the world. I'm not the better friend to my friends- I've just stumbled across another way to put myself in their shoes. Now I get it- people react to different things in different ways (obviously...but it really was a wake-up call for me), and that doesn't mean they care more or less...just that they process it differently. I used to live by this quote:

"Sometimes we expect more from others, because we would be willing to do that much for them."

I suppose this is still true in some cases, but I'm grateful for a friend who psychoanalyzes and is in-tune to others and their reactions to life. It's clarified all sorts of things.

World Series and 30 Things

2011-06-08T16:39:00.000-07:00

Remember how I have a new-ish job? (I say ish because it’s been over six months since I’ve been with the company! SIX MONTHS!!!) Anyway, I pretty much love said job. I love the assignments I get, the experience it’s giving me, the fact that I get to write and design, the people I work with, the challenges (believe me, there are a LOT- learning comes with a certain amount of pain)…I could go on and on. But today, I particularly like my job today because I get to travel. I love traveling. I feel like a total grown-up when I get on a plane, fly to a new city, hail a cab or figure out what metro line to jump on, check into a hotel, etc. It’s weird when you realize you’re an adult- but it’s kinda cool, too!

Anyway, I’m at a marketing summit, learning tips and tricks from the social media gods. In San Francisco. I’m having a blast and learning a ton. I realize this may not be of huge significance to anyone else, but this might be…

How many people can say they’ve touched a World Series trophy?!? If I had known I would have such an opportunity I would have put it on my 30 Things list!

Speaking of 30 Things To Do Before I Turn 30, I’m about to turn 27! I gotta get some of these crossed off! Here’s an update- more to motivate me, but for your entertainment, as well:

1. Run a 5k

2. Ride a mechanical bull- I tried to do this one. Drove out to a country bar, did some line dancing, wore my cowboy boots…turns out I’m terrified of mechanical bulls and I chickened out. I'm going to have to gear up for this adventure.

3. Write a love letter and actually send it- this one terrifies me. Why the heck did I put this on the list?!?

4. Ride a horse

5. Go on a backpacking trip

6. Sit on a jury

7. Get scuba certified

8. Participate in a Polar Bear Swim- New Years Eve 2011. Washington DC. Done and done.

9. Have a complete physical

10. Get a letter to the editor published- I think I’ve found something I feel passionate enough about to write the editor about. And what is that, you ask? People not using their turn signals. THIS. DRIVES. ME. NUTS.

11. Drive a wickedly cool car- my friend Brad is going to help me out with this one. :)

12. See Old Faithful erupt- July reunion. Day trip to Yellowstone with Dad. SO excited!

13. Get a stamp in my passport

14. Walk on the Skywalk over the Grand Canyon- road trip in October

15. Learn to drive stick shift

16. Go white water rafting- Kern trip in August

17. Successfully stand up on a surfboard

I Found This Terribly Hilarious

2011-06-07T20:19:00.000-07:00

Wisdom Teeth

2011-05-01T22:20:00.000-07:00

It was my turn...

It’s the Bulls and Blood, Dust and Mud, and the Roar of a Sunday Crowd.

2011-04-17T21:29:00.000-07:00

Ever since spending four and a half years of my existence in Rexburg, Idaho, I've waxed country. I love the music, I love the trucks, I love the wide open spaces, I love the patriotic feel, I love the rodeos...I just love it! But you wanna know what I love most? These little beauties. I love cowboy boots! I finally bought myself a pair. A real pair. They make me so happy!

Tonight.

2011-04-12T21:31:00.000-07:00

Tonight I'm listening to a band that someone from a former life introduced me to. Someone that I really really loved. Someone who really knew me- who would poke me when I could handle it and hug me when I couldn’t. Someone who pushed me to be better, and someone I would let because I trusted him completely.

Usually I stop myself from thinking about it, but for some reason tonight I’m not. And I’m reliving it like it was yesterday. Man was I stupid. I let fear get in the way of everything, and I guess that's something I will always regret. It’s okay, though. It’s amazing how adaptable we are as human beings. How we can learn from past situations and improve the ones to come.

Besides...now I have my gold standard...

(on a brighter note- it's been 30 years today since the first shuttle launched. 30 YEARS!)

For Your Viewing Pleasure (and mine)

2011-04-11T22:03:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that I stole this from my clever double cousin Jordyn (who named her blog "The Pensieve!" How perfect is that?!?). But I just love him so much. Robert Downey Jr., that is, not Elton John. Sigh.

Curling...yep. You heard me right.

2011-04-09T18:30:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, I was super bored on a Saturday. Lucky for me, I have these great friends named Natalie and Greg. On said Saturday, when I was fighting some major boredom, Natalie called me up and told me of a phenomenal thing called curling lessons. Can I just tell you how awesome it was?!? Between the sweeping and the delivering and the 42 pound rock from a stone quarry on the Shetland Islands in Scotland to the random scoring to the tendinitis it introduced into my left knee (only downfall), it was such a cool thing! Look how professional I look!!!

On Intimidation

2011-04-03T22:23:00.000-07:00

First of all, sorry for my lack of blogging. Also, I'm going to apologize in advance for waxing philosophical on a blog about adventures.

Sometimes I read my horoscope. I'm not really sure why. It's not like I think they're going to come to pass, necessarily, and I certainly don't put a lot of weight into what they say or suggest. There's just something fascinating to me about being read based on my birthdate. That being said, I actually took a little gem from my horoscope today. Check it out:

Don't be afraid of the fire today, Cancer. Instead, embrace it and incorporate more of it into your life. Certain people may intimidate you at first, but that doesn't mean you should run away from the scene. More than likely this feeling of intimidation is a signal that there's something you need to learn from that person or situation. Stick around and pay attention.

I like this for several reasons:

A. I love the concept of embracing fire. Fire can be very uncomfortable- it's hot, dangerous, unpredictable, and captivating. But those aren't bad things, necessarily. I liked that reminder to harness something scary and make it into something that gives me more power and a better capability to help more people.

B. I also LOVED the ideas presented on intimidation. Sometimes it's TOTALLY a signal that you need to learn something if you're intimidated by someone. Not always, but looking back of people I've been intimidated by, usually once I know them and understand them a bit more the intimidation goes away and I always walk away knowing something more.

Oh, Thought Process...

2010-12-24T00:34:00.000-08:00

You know how every now and then a random thought will pop into your head? Or how every now and then that thought triggers an avalanche of different thoughts, all bouncing off the walls inside your brain? And then you come to some conclusion that follows absolutely no rational thought process? That happened to me tonight, and I'm really glad it did.

This is kind of how my thought process played out...and maybe it's not really that ridiculous, but I feel like there were WAY too many steps.

I need to remember to tell my boss I need January 5 off-->my vacation time is super limited now-->I wonder if this will be a good time to take time off being so new at the company-->I kind of wish I had the time to spend New Years in Washington DC-->I love Washington DC-->maybe I could go to Vegas for New Years->Maybe I should just stay here. It could be fun here-->started talking to RSD-->RSD did a Triathalon with a girl wearing a pink swimming cap-->this same girl also did a polar bear swim on New Years Day a few years ago-->I could do a polar bear swim-->except a polar bear swim will be WICKED cold-->HEY! ISN'T A POLAR BEAR SWIM ON MY 30 THINGS LIST?!?-->it IS on the list-->I'm doing the polar bear swim this January 1.

So I'll take the plunge. Not "THE" plunge, although I really wouldn't mind a matrimonial immersion. No, I'll brave the frigid waters. Wow, I'm getting cold just thinking about it. So why, do you ask, am I happy to take a freezing dip to start of the new year? Because this random thought process brought me back to my 30 things list. I love this list. I think it's the best thing I've done for me in a long time.

Speaking of lists, I thought I'd repost it again. Not so much for the benefit of my three (thanks!) readers, but for me. A simple reminder of the cool things I promised myself I'd do before I turn 30. I'm down to 17 now...crazy crazy crazy.

1. Run a 5k

2. Ride a mechanical bull

3. Write a love letter and actually send it

4. Ride a horse

5. Go on a backpacking trip

6. Sit on a jury

7. Get scuba certified

8. Participate in a Polar Bear Swim

9. Have a complete physical

10. Get a letter to the editor published

11. Drive a wickedly cool car

12. See Old Faithful erupt

13. Get a stamp in my passport

14. Walk on the Skywalk over the Grand Canyon

15. Learn to drive stick shift

16. Go white water rafting

17. Successfully stand up on a surfboard

Three Things

2010-12-23T21:44:00.000-08:00

A. Sometimes I find myself wandering around blogs of people that know people that I know. That’s not awkward, right? I stumbled upon this particularly charming one with a delightful quote. It went something like this…”How could you ever be happy with a man who insists on treating you as though you were a perfectly normal human being?” I melted.

B. Due to severe (and I mean severe) allergies, I had to give Gemini back to the shelter. It broke my heart into a million little pieces- it was rough. I posted an ad on Craigslist, though, and a nice lady responded and adopted her. I feel loads better knowing she has a good home on a ranch with horses and cats…but it’s still a sensitive subject. I really did fall in love with that little dog.

C. Motivation is a funny thing. Sometimes it comes in the form of positive reinforcement. Other times it comes as a result of a negative reaction. Today I dropped the ball. I have that nasty gut feeling and I hate it. WORST. FEELING. EVER. And guess what? It won’t happen again.

(Wo)man's Best Friend

2010-11-20T19:36:00.000-08:00

Meet Gemini. She's my dog. As of two hours ago. Isn't she adorable!?! I fell in love with her the minute I saw her. I was supposed to be getting clothes for my new job, but I "accidentally" popped into PetSmart for a few minutes and met this little lady. The foster parent told me a little about her, and then how to adopt her. So I drove down to the animal shelter in the pouring rain, filled out my paperwork, proved to Johnny (animal guy) that we are a good match, and made it final. Johnny even told me she had a litter of puppies before coming to the shelter- he could tell by just looking at her. She's believed to be around 3 years old, and I think she's perfect. She came to the shelter as a stray, so they assigned her a name- Victoria. She doesn't look like a Victoria to me, so I renamed her Gemini. You know- like the NASA mission. If you didn't believe me about my space obsession before, you have plenty of evidence to believe me now. At any rate, Gemini is getting spayed on Wednesday and I'll pick her up after work! Happy Thanksgiving to me!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

2010-11-20T19:23:00.000-08:00

I've turned and faced the strain...thank you David Bowie. In all seriousness, though, I've made some big decisions. Well, one decision. One big, scary, life-changing decision. I have a NEW JOB! It was actually a much harder choice than I was anticipating, but I feel really confident and excited about the challenges and opportunities that lay before me. It was a really bitter-sweet moment for me, though, when I decided to take the new position. I love my old job- love the patients, love the people I work with, and I ADORE the doctors. It's just time for me to move on. My new job is a career move- starting on Monday I'm a marketing specialist for a software company based in Carlsbad. It's a whole new industry with a whole new set of lingo, and I'm scared out of my mind. I have a feeling, deep down inside, that it will be okay. Here's to just jumping in...

Friends

2010-11-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

Can I just say that I’m really grateful for friends? Especially charming friends who encourage me to do hard things when they know it will be good for me. And when they follow-up and ask me how it went, and then let me explain how hard and emotional it was without even telling me to suck it up. Or when they let me vent, and then in turn vent to me so I don’t feel as bad about spilling my guts and often-hard feelings. And I’m especially grateful when those charming friends tell me that I’m being too hard on myself. Or when they give me advice on how to get rid of my cough. Or when they pick me up in their wicked fast BMW at 11:00 at night and take me to get hot chocolate because it’s cold outside. I am so blessed to have such awesome friends.

Bond...James Bond.

2010-10-24T00:39:00.000-07:00

It's official. I've watched EVERY single James Bond movie ever released. Yep- all 22 of them. It's taken me at least six months to get through them, and while I'm currently on Bond overload, it's been a really fun adventure. The following is my official report.

Favorite Movie

By far, my favorite Bond film was Moonraker. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. Honorable mentions include: A View to a Kill and Octopussy.

Favorite Bond Villain

Jaws. Hands down, this is the coolest bad guy in the franchise. He even chewed through steel rope in one of the movies. Ridiculous. And awesome.

Favorite Bond Girl

I don't know her name, but she was in A View to a Kill, and she has fabulous hair.

Favorite Bond Car

The Aston Martin. Duh. But the one from Casino Royale was particularly hot.

Favorite Bond

And now, the report you have all been waiting for...which Bond was my favorite? Roger Moore. Loved him. He was so smooth. He could beat the heck out of someone, brush off the dust and blood, and then head flawlessly into a perfectly charming dinner. None of the rest of them had said ability, thus making him the far superior 007 in my opinion.

Well, there you have it. Thanks to everyone who watched with me...so many great memories! I'll have to fill my Tuesday nights with something besides James Bond and Pazookies. And it's high time I find something else on my 30 before 30 list to focus on.

Meet Muggle

2010-09-30T11:48:00.001-07:00

Doesn't his little face just melt your heart? It melts mine. I want him. He's a puggle- half beagle half pug. And his name will be Muggle. Now I just need to figure out logistics. Like, what do I do with him when I'm at work. I have a tiled kitchen that I could put doggy-gates in...get him piddle pads? Run home at lunch to let him out to run around and use the bathroom? But I don't want him to be lonely during the day. Sigh. All I know is that my heart wants him...so even if it's five years from now, this little guy will be MINE!

I've decided

2010-09-25T21:06:00.000-07:00

that some people are just better as memories.

12 down, 18 to go

2010-09-24T11:29:00.000-07:00

I let my friend GB read my poetry journal. It was one of those moments that panicked my heart. I'm not a good poet- I write as an outlet, not because my words flow beautifully. It's also raw emotion. I only write when I'm either super happy, super sad, or super mad. So to let someone see those unfiltered aspects of my soul is scary. But luckily GB is a good friend- a friend I trust my soul with. And it was actually way more liberating than I had expected. All of a sudden there is someone who understands my emotions, because he felt them in their unadulterated form as he read those poems. And it was kind of nice.

1. Paint a painting on canvas
2. Go to a different church
3. Take public transportation
4. Run a 5k
5. Ride a mechanical bull
6. Write a love letter and actually send it
7. Watch every James Bond film
8. Ride a horse
9. See a space shuttle launch in person
10. Go on a backpacking trip
11. Complete at 1000 piece puzzle
12. Give blood
13. Sit on a jury
14. Golf at a driving range
15. Go pier fishing
16. Get scuba certified
17. Participate in a Polar Bear Swim
18. Have a complete physical
19. Get a letter to the editor published
20. Drive a wickedly cool car
21. Let someone read my poetry journal
22. See Old Faithful erupt
23. Camp out and watch Rose Parade in Pasadena, California
24. Get a stamp in my passport
25. Find out my blood-type
26. Go on a cruise
27. Walk on the Skywalk over the Grand Canyon
28. Learn to drive stick shift
29. Go white water rafting
30. Successfully stand up on a surfboard

Why I'm Excited for BYU Football

2010-09-10T12:21:00.000-07:00

Space Rock

2010-08-20T09:20:00.000-07:00

You gotta check this out. Even if you're not a space junkie, you have to admit this is pretty cool.

https://songcontest.nasa.gov/home.aspx

Dear Future Husband:

2010-07-27T14:43:00.001-07:00

First of all, you should know that I don't obsess about you, our wedding, or our future family. It just so happens, however, that I live with a couple of girls who do. I must admit (sheepishly) that I let my ridiculous inner-girly girl come out the other night. But only a little. Interested in the outcome? Thought so. ;)

Can we please have a nautical wedding? With red or green accents and thick blue and white stripes? Please? I promise it will be adorable and manly. We can have anchors and sailboats and compasses and seashells and mariner's rope and circle windows and cupcakes shaped like those round life preservers. You have to admit, it would be the best party ever. And I won't even make you dance.
I want our children to have cool names. Cool names like Corbin and Tagg and Rhys. I told my Mother this once upon a time, and she rolled her eyes. I expect your reaction to be similar, but you should know this won't dissuade me. I'm kind of stubborn.
My design sense is sharp. I realize you probably have opinions on what you want your house to look like, but promise me this. I get to pick wall colors. Okay?

Love,

Kristen

Today I'm Grateful For...

2010-07-20T19:53:00.000-07:00

Tiny little 94 year-old men who speak in Swedish accents and thank me (profusely I might add) when I do nice things for them.
The ever-expanding list of terms of endearment used on me at work. My top 5? Love, love cricket, gorgeous, love blossom, and good lookin'. I should probably mention that most of them come from men at least three times my age. And the UPS guy.
Hair that behaves itself when I only have 15 minutes to get ready in the morning.
Brand new red planners that start in August.
The sun-burnt skin that is staying on my nose. In a day or two it will start peeling off, and then I won't be very grateful for it at all.

26?

2010-07-07T22:10:00.000-07:00

Today I turn 26. I think I like 26 even less than I liked 25.

Things that significantly improve my day:

2010-06-23T16:58:00.000-07:00

When the minimized browser window says:

“Gmail (1) – Inbox”

Fonts. I love them.
All things nautical. Thick blue and white stripes, red accessories, and larger than life sunglasses make my heart happy.
Diet coke.

Golfing

2010-06-13T00:45:00.000-07:00

I went golfing today. Real golfing. On a driving range golfing. And I liked it. I was awful, but it was really fun. T taught me how to hit balls, and I think if my thumb wasn't still injured I would have done a lot better. I feel like my game could have benefited from sweet golfing clothes, though. The jeans and ratty t-shirt I had on hardly count as appropriate golf attire. At any rate, it was wicked fun to do something new. T told me to add it to my "bucket list" and then cross it off. Considering golfing at a driving range should have been on my list to begin with, I thought that was a valid suggestion.

I Love Him.

2010-05-21T13:09:00.000-07:00

He's giving Bronco Mendenhall a run for his money.

For You Fellow Space Nerds...

2010-04-14T00:09:00.000-07:00

Shuttle Scuttle 2010

2010-04-13T23:44:00.000-07:00

I had the best time in Florida. The shuttle launch was as awesome as I had hoped it would be, and it was one of the coolest things I've done in my entire life. This blog post will not do justice to the memories and experiences I had there. This was seriously one of the best vacations ever with two of my favorite people of all time, and you lucky ducks (all 3 of you) get to read a play-by-play of my travel tales.

Day one started out with a horrific red-eye flight from LAX to Orlando. It was a rocky beginning to our eminent adventures, but we survived it alright. Upon arrival (day 2), Carin's uncle showed us an adorable small-town diner where we ate breakfast. We took a nap for a couple of hours, and then headed out to a Spring Training baseball game between the Astros and the Braves. It was awesome. We had lawn seats, so we took blankets and just relaxed in the sun. I got two semi-awesome things from that game. The first was wicked tan-lines. Short-sleeve shirts and capris leave all sorts of interesting marks on one's body. The second was a foul ball! After the ball was hit, it bounced a few times, smacked a kid in the face, bounced off a lady's shoulder, and rolled into my lap. It was wonderful.

The next day we ventured out to Disney World. We figured that the only thing we couldn't do in California was Epcot, so that was the park we went to. It was so much fun. We walked around to different cultures, ate delicious food, took goofy pictures, went on a mission to mars ride, and had a very pleasant day.

Day four brought a low-key, sleep-filled morning, an awesome canoe ride, and Good Friday service with Carin's aunt. The canoe ride was one of my favorite things about Florida. We took out two canoes, and I sat in the front of ours with T in the back "steering." We stopped to get cold beverages at a random swamp bar, which was hilarious to us. We took a picture. The trip was really fun, even though I went through every bush and tree in the river. Turns out steering a canoe is tricky business...haha. There was even a manatee that swam under our canoe. It was rad!

Day five T and I went to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure. Carin couldn't go because her back is still healing from surgery, but we had a good time even though our trio was down a player. It was an awesome day full of roller coasters, hilarious pictures, and a lot of great conversations. My favorite part of the day? Making T sit on the pink bird on the Dr. Seuss carousel. Awesome.

Day six was Sunday, and we drove out to see the Orlando Temple. Afterward we walked around some Botanical gardens and "listened" to conference. By listened, I mean sleep. Needless to say, I have some catching up to do.

Day seven really started at 11pm the night before, when we left for the Kennedy Space Center. We had to be in the parking lot at 12 midnight, so we got there and ended up hanging out in the car for a few hours before they let us board the buses for the causeway. Carin and T slept a little, but I was so excited I just laid there. After waiting in line, we boarded the buses, blew up our air mattresses, and hung out on the causeway for a few hours. They were broadcasting the communication between mission control and the Discovery shuttle, so we got to listen to that. It was so cool!!! There were a few moments that the launch had "no go" status, but they fixed everything and it launched at 6:21am. It was beautiful. I have never grinned so big in my entire life. The rest of the day we explored the Kennedy Space Center (including the Apollo 11 walkway!!!) and then went home for an early bedtime.

Day eight we took an air boat swamp ride. It was AWESOME! We saw so many alligators, and it was really slick cruising through the swamps of Kissimee. There was even a gator that did the death roll right next to my side of the boat. I was nervous about the swamp boat ride at first, but we were up high enough and had a really good guide that I was able to chill out and enjoy it. After that, T and I went back and explored the KSC and the astronaut hall of fame some more. We also went out to the manatee refuge, but didn't see any. It's all good, though. One swam under our boat!

Day nine we caught our flight at 0'dark 30 and flew home. It was sad to come home, but the vacation ended perfectly. Just the right amount of activities, and the perfect amount of time. I'm bummed it's over, but as a dear friend of mine pointed out, I will always have Florida.

I'm Sailing!!!

2010-04-13T23:11:00.000-07:00

I went sailing a few weeks ago, and it was awesome. I fell in love with it! There is nothing like being on a gently rocking boat, soaking in the mid-afternoon sun, watching the water, being out for the sunset, and thinking about life. I checked my cares at the dock, and had the best time ever. All the girls wore nautical stripes and boat shoes...it was awesome! And I even got to steer! Turns out I'm a pretty good sailor. Here is some documentation.

Ghost Hunting

2010-03-29T12:51:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, on Friday, it was my friend Natalie's birthday.

Her awesome boyfriend (who happens to also be my awesome friend Greg) arranged for a group of us to take a haunted limousine tour of San Diego. It was hilarious and interesting and historical and wonderful. Not scary, though.

We even ended up in a cemetery. It was by far the most random thing I've done in a really long time, but it was pretty cool.

All Systems are GO!

2010-03-27T22:43:00.000-07:00

So, as it turns out, planning a vacation around a space shuttle launch is like hitting a moving target...nearly IMPOSSIBLE! The mission was supposed to launch March 18th but then got pushed back to April 5th. As they were getting space shuttle Discovery ready for launch, though, they found some problems with the helium systems, and no one really knew for sure if it was going to launch. Well, yesterday NASA made the big announcement...ALL SYSTEMS ARE GO!!! I am so excited!!! I leave Tuesday...T-minus 3 days until the best week of my life!!!

Puzzling...

2010-03-01T00:21:00.000-08:00

I am just soaring through my list of 30 things to do before I turn 30! Tonight I finished a 1000 piece puzzle. It was BRUTAL! Seriously the hardest puzzle I have ever put together. Luckily for me, however, I had some of my favorite people help me: T, Joe, Rich, Sondra, BreeAnn, Staci, and Sarah! Adventures are always better when you have them with friends.

Words Can Not Express How Excited I Am...

2010-02-25T18:32:00.001-08:00

I Just Fell in Love With This Quotation

2010-02-22T22:11:00.000-08:00

“Don't ever give up on something or someone that you can't go a full day without thinking about.”

Our Off-Roading Adventure

2010-02-22T21:54:00.000-08:00

I LOVE off-roading. I always have. I always will. I love the thrill of mud and cliffs and wondering if you'll make it up that incline. I love the trucks that tear up those trails. It makes me grin from ear to ear just thinking about it. The bumps and the side-to-side...I can't get enough. And I went this past weekend. Day trip with some of my favorite friends up to Palomar Mountain. It was awesome...and it was all sorts of adventurous. It was so muddy that it was hard to get enough traction. Some of the roads had sheer drop offs, too, and a few times we got uncomfortably close to the edge. It was one of my favorite adventures ever...and here is why. 15 minutes after we made it up a particularly steep hill, one of the trucks in the caravan got stuck in a mini-lake. Like...reeeaalllly stuck. Like, five guys digging and pulling and pushing for an hour and a half made no difference stuck. Finally the guy had to call his Dad, who had a Rubicon Jeep and a Winch, to pull him out. It was awesome. Definitely not the way I had anticipated the trip to go, but one of those memories that I will remember F-O-R-E-V-E-R!

It's Amazing What a Crooked Smile Can Do

2010-01-27T21:11:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time, I went to the bank to cash a check. The teller happened to be a family friend, and she noticed that my Mother was still on my account. She recommended that I take her name off, and although I didn't really care, she called over her manager and started to getting the wheels in motion. I was about to graciously decline, but then he walked in. John graced my terminal with his quirky style, stunning green eyes, and unruly hair. He spoke fast and warmly, and all of a sudden the only word I could say was, "sure." My friend asked how life was going, and I mentioned in passing that I was going to Florida for a space launch. Turns out John is a space geek, too. We got to talking, and ten glorious minutes later I had a new checking and savings account to add to the three accounts I already have. My money is currently, for all intents and purposes, spread through five accounts...all because of a beautiful boy with a crooked smile. When all is said and done, it was a good move financially. I will close down my college checking/savings accounts when everything is up and running with the new, improved one...but my goodness. To think I just wanted to cash a check...

Blowing the Lid Off 2010

2010-01-12T11:13:00.000-08:00

2010 is MY year. I don’t want to undermine 2009 - I had lots of adventures, made incredible friends, and got a lot accomplished. I’m just ready to blow the lid off of 2010! Plans have already been set in motion to make it a memorable year, and I think more than anything that my mindset will be the big difference. I’m taking a pro-active approach to the New Year. I feel like sometimes I let life happen to me instead of making choices and being in control of my life’s experiences. That being said, like the majority of the human race, I’ve made 5 resolutions to work on in 2010.

Be consistent with the fundamentals of the Gospel: Scriptures, prayers, tithing, and fasting
Take control of my body: stay within a healthy calorie budget and exercise 3 times a week
Be nice to and think nice about other people
Spend two hours a week learning slick new tricks in PhotoShop and Illustrator
Write in my journal once a week.

Happy Birthday Elvis!

2010-01-09T13:19:00.000-08:00

I threw a birthday party for the dead King of Rock and Roll last night. It was among the nerdiest of things I've ever done, but I had a really good time. I invited as many people as I could think of (I think we had about 30 people total). We had four different Elvi (plural for multiple Elvises) hanging on our walls, made bowls out of old records, had cupcakes, tons of balloons, watched "Jailhouse Rock," and jammed to his 30 greatest hits. Lots of talking, lots of laughing, and we even got in a few rounds of Pit.

It's Finally Happening...

2010-01-09T12:22:00.000-08:00

I will be here in 67 days. For reals. I have flights. I have a place to stay. I have a tentative itinerary. And I have two of the most amazing travel buddies I could ask for. Am I excited? You betcha.

Ice is not my Friend

2010-01-08T09:16:00.000-08:00

This is what happens when you get me on the ice. Attractive, isn't it?

New Year, New Adventures!

2010-01-02T23:18:00.000-08:00

I have officially survived one of the craziest adventures I have ever embarked upon. In an effort to do cool things before I turn 30, I scoped out Pasadena, California and decided to brave the crowds and the cold to experience the Rose Parade. I navigated through hundreds of thousands of people, drove around for half an hour looking for a parking spot, camped out for 20 hours next to a friendyl young Asian couple, fiercely protected my 3 square feet of concrete, witnessed (in total disbelief, I might add) a marshmellow and shaving cream war between cars and pedestrians, wore eight layers of clothing on the top half of my body and three on the bottom half, went through at least five of the handwarmers that you activate by shaking, left my cell phone in a restaurant and had to walk back to retrieve it, "slept" for about half an hour on a beach chair on the streets of Pasadena, laughed so hard I couldn't breathe, drank two cups of hot chocolate, used the portable toilets one block up WAY too many times...and finally was able to see the Rose Parade. It was awesome. It was worth the sleep deprivation and the cold temperatures. The floats are so much bigger and way more impressive when you see them in person. My favorite was a float called "Under the Sea." It was so pretty! I really like the space ship float, too...although that shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. I was with three of the most awesome people around. It's a memory I will forever hold dear to my heart. I had a TOTAL blast, and I hope that 2010 has many more fun adventures in store for me.

List...Revisited

2009-12-28T13:31:00.001-08:00

I've had a lot of really fun adventures in 2009, and I'm looking forward to a lot more in 2010. I updated my 30 things to do before I turn 30 list in order to motivate me in the right direction. I have a bunch of things on the list in the works, and I'm really excited about them. The Rose Bowl parade, for one. I'm camping out on the streets of Pasadena on New Years Eve so I can watch the parade on New Years Day. I also have my flights for the space shuttle launch in March- which is something I can't even contain my excitement about. I love adventures...and I invite you to come along for the ride.

1. Paint a painting on canvas
2. Go to a different church
3. Take public transportation
4. Run a 5k
5. Ride a mechanical bull
6. Write a love letter and actually send it
7. Watch every James Bond film
8. Ride a horse
9. See a space shuttle launch in person
10. Go on a backpacking trip
11. Complete at 1000 piece puzzle
12. Give blood
13. Sit on a jury
14. Golf at a driving range
15. Go pier fishing
16. Get scuba certified
17. Participate in a Polar Bear Swim
18. Have a complete physical
19. Get a letter to the editor published
20. Drive a wickedly cool car, even if it means renting it
21. Let someone read my poetry journal
22. See Old Faithful erupt
23. Camp out and watch Rose Parade
24. Get a stamp in my passport
25. Find out my blood-type
26. Go on a cruise
27. Walk on the Skywalk over the Grand Canyon
28. Learn to drive stick shift
29. Go white water rafting
30. Successfully stand up on a surfboard

You May Say I'm a Dreamer...

2009-12-10T13:29:00.001-08:00

I had the weirdest dream the other night. I was with a group of friends (I never knew who they were in my dream, but somehow I knew I was with them) and we were riding a roller coaster. The roller coaster was purple, and there is no way the Consumer Product Safety Commission would EVER approve it. It was a towering, soaring, 10,000 foot roller coaster with 90 degree drops. It did corkscrews and loops and upside-down flips and all sorts of thrilling tricks. When we boarded the coaster, everyone around me was fitted with over-the-head restraints. When I boarded, I got nothing. The train took off, and we were flying through the air. I was completely free. I clutched to the seat next to me, and my body wasn’t even in the seat, but the air. I was convinced I was going to die.

According to dreammoods.com, my dream meant that my life is out of control.

“To dream that you are riding a roller coaster signifies that you are experiencing erratic behavior brought on by yourself or a situation. You are experiencing frequent ups and downs in your waking life.”

Interesting. Dreams are weird.

Cruising Through Life...

2009-11-19T23:22:00.000-08:00

I just got back from the best adventure EVER. I went with some of my favorite friends on a cruise to Mexico. It was a three day jaunt down to Ensenada, and it was a blast. In classic Kristen fashion, here is a list of the highlights of our activities. Don't worry- I attached some of my favorite pictures for your viewing pleasure.

1. Eating TONS of food

2. Exploring the ship

3. Formal dinner and dressing up all fancy

4. Singing AWFUL karaoke (video to follow)

5. Learning part of the Thriller dance

6. Line dancing!

7. Shows!

8. Hypnotist

9. Tea on the high seas

10. Hot tubbing!

11. Laying out in the sun

12. Singles only dance party

13. Speed scrabble in the library

14. Going to church in Ensenada

15. Street shopping with Greg and Tyler

Holla-ween

2009-11-02T12:24:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, among the host of holidays we celebrate each year, Halloween has never been my favorite. It’s never even been in my top 5. This year was a little different, though. I have a phenomenal group of friends who happen to really love Halloween, so I, in turn, happened to have a really great time. I went to a Haunted House, I watched a hilarious Halloween movie (Young Frankenstein- so inappropriate, but I haven’t laughed so hard in ages), I danced on a boat with 500 other costume-clad people, I went to a Halloween party, and I carved a pumpkin…and I liked it. I dressed up as two things- Laverne from that old TV show Laverne and Shirley, and a skunk. I really liked the way the skunk turned out, but I should have thought twice about it- I had to turn around in every picture so people could see my costume. Yay for having my butt photographed!!!

This is the Cutest Thing I Have Ever Seen...

2009-10-30T18:20:00.001-07:00

Cougar at Heart

2009-10-19T22:15:00.001-07:00

I had a BYU weekend, and it was awesome! Friday night a group of friends went down to listen to the team and my beloved Bronco speak. The fireside was awesome- they spoke about being disciples of Christ. I loved it. Then on Saturday we went to the game! It was an awesome game by my standards, but evidently it was a little too close for comfort. My friend drew me a map of the players, which helped me understand the game a little better. Ah...just a great weekend. We tailgated after the game, and it was just a good time. Here is a picture of the girls and T. Don't be jealous of the big "Y" I painted on his face.

What Happens in Vegas…

2009-10-12T13:24:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, I journeyed to Las Vegas with some of my very favorite friends. We drove up for a football game, but the weekend was so much more than college sports. We left early Saturday morning, and took some really fun detours along the way. Here are some of the adventures we had!

- When driving by the outlet mall, it was suggested that we stop at the outlet mall and shop for a bit. The best part of this suggestion was that it came from a boy. HAHA! The girls didn't care about shopping...the guys did! This amused me greatly. While in Barstow, there was a really cool car show with some real classics in it, so we looked around for a little bit before hitting the road again.

- Once we arrived at the state line, we stopped and rode the Desperado roller coaster. It was so old and rickety and fast! One of my seat restraints came undone mid-ride, though…that was kind of scary. It was a thrilling stop, to say the least.

- In Vegas, we hit up the buffet at the Bellagio. We all ate so much. Seriously, we all totally pigged out. After we gorged ourselves, we got some face paint and blue hair spray and colored ourselves cougar! It was well worth it...the game was awesome with BYU winning 59-21. Don’t worry that I have a huge crush on their head coach Bronco Mendenhall. Sigh.

- After the game, a few of us went over to the Stratosphere and rode two of the roller coasters on top of the 1,149 foot hotel/casino. It was really really scary, but it was really really fun, too. One of the rides took you over the side of the building, and spun you in circles. The other one we rode shot you straight up and then dropped you a few times. They took a picture (which I regret not buying) right as we were shot up. It was a picture of our reactions, and it perfectly displayed each of our personalities. Oh, it was epic. The ride was seriously terrifying, but so fun at the same time. It’s weird how those two emotions can co-exist.

- We ended the trip by stopping for strawberry shakes on the drive home. They were so thick and so delicious.

I think in the archives of greatest weekends of all time, this one is ranked in my top 3. I'm attaching some pictures below...they're not of people, though. I need to be better about documenting my adventures.

It's Been a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day...

2009-10-07T23:40:00.000-07:00

...I think I'll move to Australia.

My Celebrity Trifecta

2009-10-02T10:38:00.001-07:00

I recently had a conversation with a couple of good friends regarding attractive celebrity men. I was allowed to chose 3...my trifecta, if you will, of famous men. What we have here are my favorites...plus an honorable mention just in case one of them is horribly mangled in a car accident.

Buddha Buddha

2009-10-02T10:24:00.000-07:00

A few friends and I went to a Buddhist Monestary out in Escondido last weekend. They had a Zen Master from Vietnam come speak to them and the public was invited, so we went. I didn't know much about Buddhism, and it proved to be a very enlightening experience. It was in Vietnamese, so we had to wear headphones with a translator speaking in order to understand. They talked a lot about love and what we need to do to cultivate it in our lives. It was a very good message about the effort we need to put into our relationships. The Zen Master also spoke about paying appropriate attention to the good things and energies in our lives and not spending so much time focusing and the things that are negative. Buddhism focuses on inner peace, and I really did feel very peaceful when I left. Such a rad experience.

Killer Time

2009-09-19T23:46:00.001-07:00

Let me paint a picture for you. You're in a dark arena with at least 2,000 other people crammed onto a basketball court, with probably 5,000 more in actual seats. It's muggy and hot, the lights are dimmed, the crowd is restless, and anticipation is high. Suddenly the lights go out, and onto the stage walk four glorious men. The crowd explodes. I myself turn into one of those girls you see fawning over rock stars in the movies- complete with the jumping up and down, screaming, and waving my hands desperately. Mark strums his first few notes. Is that my heart I feel pounding or the beat of the song? Fog and strobe lights illuminate that stage. Those men, those magnificent men, assume their positions. Dave chimes in with guitar, and Ronnie rocks the drums. And then he sings. Brandon Flowers takes the microphone, and the music becomes alive. The crowd ignites once more. We know all the words and we sing along. We jump up and down and dance. We're showered with confetti and fireworks and water. We experience pure paradise.

This memory is a moment that will forever live in my capsule of happiness. We were so close to the stage, and it was so awesome to be able to experience the music. Best. Night. EVER!

If Only a Picture Really Did Paint 1000 Words...

2009-09-16T22:01:00.000-07:00

I need to preface this post by saying that I have some of the best friends a person could ask for. They are great examples to me...and they are fun and kind and caring and considerate people who make my life the grand adventure that it is. Here are some of the recent memories I've shared with them. Sorry in advance for the awkward formatting.

These two girls convinced me to try this new craze called Boba. They're little Japanese rice balls that are put in the bottom of delicious icy drinks. Every time you suck on your straw, you get some drink AND little suprises that hit you in the back of your throat.

And even though I like Boba now, my first experience with it was...interesting.

I went to Disneyland with these two girls. It was a lot of fun.

Wow Mom Cool.

I went to the batting cages with these folks. Goodness, it had been years since I had swung a bat. It felt really, really good. I miss hitting balls. It's so so theraputic.

In August, there are free movies in the park on Saturday nights. A group of us went down to Liberty Stations in Point Loma and watched Field of Dreams on the grass. It was wicked cool!

I went bowling with some friends, and I tried to learn how to curve the ball by taking my thumb out of the hole. That didn't end well.

Sondra, Greg, and I wore tall socks...so we rolled up our pants and bowled it up. It was so fun. AND it turns out tall socks are very lucky when bowling.

I went to a Padres baseball game with these girls. It was awesome! I love baseball, but I love baseball even more when I'm with good friends. Happy happy.

Here's another shot of us. Yes, our seats were pretty high. The altitude was getting to me.

I took a picture with my one true love. I think Elvis is super hot. Well, in his glory days. Not when he was fat and old and dying of drug overdose. Love his music. Love his face. Love him.

Meet MACbeth

2009-09-15T08:33:00.001-07:00

I have a new love in my life. Meet MACbeth. I got him last night, and I'm in love. While I will miss my last computer, this one is a ROCKSTAR! Holy cow...seriously so cool. :) It's been established that I'm kind of a nerd- I name my electronic devices after Shakespeare characters (my ironic tribute to the way he captured human nature...name non-human things after his characters), so Macbeth was the perfect fit. I call him "Mac" for short. Haha.

Races Schmaces.

2009-09-10T17:46:00.000-07:00

Ode to the End of Race Season

My street became so busy,

With weird people everywhere.

My mind was in a tizzy-

I hate being forced to share.

But now I park wherever,

And I can walk where I like.

No more stupid visitors

Who think they’re hot and clever.

I say to them, take a hike,

For they make me so bitter.

Super Sliiiiiiiiide

2009-09-03T22:39:00.000-07:00

I'm 25 years-old, and I would consider myself a mature adult. That being said, I acted like a five year-old last night. Haha! We went to Ikea to get a coffee table, and once it was set up we were left with a spectacular cardboard box. What do three twenty-somethings do with a cardboard box at 12:3o in the morning? Slide down the stairs on it, of course! We have a killer set of stairs that is the exact width of the box. PERFECT! It was so much fun! I haven't laughed so hard in ages.

SHARK!

2009-09-03T21:40:00.000-07:00

Drumroll please. I, Kristen Canady, swam with sharks. This is the part where you all go, "Ohhhh. Ahhhh." A group of friends and I went snorkeling in La Jolla this past weekend, and these sharks were everywhere! If forced to guess, I would say between 10 and 20. Before you get too impressed, I should probably tell you these sharks are harmless to humans. I think the worst injury one has ever inflicted was flipping it's fin and giving some guy a bloody nose. It was really cool to see them and to swim around them. It was a little scary at first, but I got used to being the water and having them swimming under me. Plus, I was with a group of really awesome people.

Top 10 Reasons I love Washington DC

2009-09-03T20:45:00.000-07:00

I LOVED my time in the district. I think I loved it a little too much. I'm itching to move there...to experience life in the fast lane. I gave myself a year...then I'm serious about moving back there. I have a year to experience California and do all the things I wanna do and date all the boys I wanna date...and if, after a year, I still feel like I'm not progressing, then I'm going to pick up my life and move. I'm sure that will make my parents THRILLED! Haha. Washington DC was amazing, humidity and all. I got caught up in seeing all the cool stuff that I forgot to take pictures at some of the places...ooops. At any rate, here are the highlights.

1. Air and Space Museum. I loved seeing the Apollo stuff and the Alan Bean painting gallery. So much cool stuff in there!

2. The changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington. It was such a solemn ceremony. I feel privledged to be able to have experienced it.

3. The Metro. Enough said.

4. Sneaking a peek in the reading room of the Library of Congress.

5. Seeing the Trifecta of Freedom. The Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independance, and the Constitution. It was amazing to see the documents that changed everything.

6. The American History Museum. Specifically Old Glory, Seinfeld's puffy shirt, and C3PO's costume. Yes, folks. It was a costume. Turns out he wasn't a real robot.

7. Mt. Vernon. George Washington was an amazing man, and I LOVED visiting his home.

8. FAMILY! I got to meet my cousins Avery and Donovan for the first time, and they are adorable. It was nice to see Scott and Tiffany, as well as Kathryn, too. I love my family!

9. The monuments. We saw the Washington Monument from the car, but actually got out to see the Jefferson and the Lincoln. They are way cool during sunset/nighttime.

10. The National Cathedral. The architecture was gorgeous. The view was gorgeous. Amazing!

Honorable Mentions:

- Seeing the Liberty Bell and Independance Hall in Philadelphia

- The random torrential rainstorms, complete with thunder and lightening

- Air conditioning

- The sunset

The Inside of My Head Looks Like the Inside of My Purse

2009-08-13T10:42:00.000-07:00

Here are the random thoughts churning in my brain.

After eating a TON of red meat, I gave blood last week! In the past, I haven’t been able to because my iron level has been too low. I was a little worried about it, and I was NOT excited for the finger prick, but it wasn’t bad at all. It took me a whopping six minutes to fill my bag, AND the guy let me hold it when I was done. That was weird...it was warm. They told me they’re going to send me a card with my name and my blood type on it. I’m excited. I think I’ll go back and do it again in 6 weeks.
I’m going to see a space shuttle launch in March. The launch is scheduled for March 18th. There’s always the chance it will get delayed, but I am going anyway! If anyone wants to come with me, the invitation is open. I kind of really don’t want to go by myself.
I don’t like feeling like I’ve been replaced.
I saw the play Wicked last week. I loved it! I really want to see it again! The music was fabulous, the set was incredible, and it was a very pleasant experience.
Why do people say you can’t wear white after Labor Day? That's ridiculous. I happen to really like white. I'll wear white whenever I want!
I’m going to Washington DC next week, and I am so excited! But what am I supposed to pack? Just shorts? Mostly shorts and some jeans? Ugh... packing is the bane of my existence. I’m dragging my family to the space museum…I don’t know if they know what they’re in for. I plan to spend a good chunk of my day there, as well as most of the memory on my camera card. I cannot even begin to explain how excited I am. I love space. I have a very unnatural obsession with space.
I got dental insurance. Phew.
My credit card was compromised, and I have to get a new one. Annoyance. Evidently someone called in and placed an order with a car rental company for $2.57. I guess what these people do is charge cards for small amounts that no one will notice, and then once they know the card is valid they make larger purchases. Stupid people.
My cat barfed on the couch, and now my Dad is getting rid of her. Sad faces. If anyone wants a very cute, sometimes loveable cat, let me know.
I’m a freelance writer now. I like doing it, it makes me schedule my free time better, and it’s helping me further my skill set.

Catholic Mass

2009-07-28T18:19:00.000-07:00

I crossed another thing off my list of things to do before I turn 30. I've been wanting to experience religion from a different perspective, and this past Sunday, I attended a Catholic Mass. I really enjoyed it! I've never really experienced other religions before, and it was a very eye-opening experience for me. There were a lot of rich Catholic traditions that I was able to take part in, and the sermon presented was wonderful. The pastor spoke about how when the bread and fish were presented to Jesus, it wasn't enough to feed the multitudes. He then explained that that measley sacrifice was as much as could be given, and it was multiplied to the point where it met the needs of the Savior. I loved that! Just a sweet reminder that when we sacrifice and do everything we can, the Lord will take our offering and expand it past what we are capable of. I think I may become a scholar of other religions. I find pure happiness and peace being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but I really enjoyed seeing good, Christian people who are striving to do their best to be good people. It was refreshing, and it was an experience I would gladly welcome again.

My New Bedroom

2009-07-20T21:04:00.000-07:00

Alright, this is my room. I love it. I love spending time in it. I love the colors. I love the furniture. I love the layout. I love everything about this space. I think the thing I love the most is that it's mine. I have a walk-in closet that you can't see (behind the door), and my own bathroom. I have my own big bed and my own place to sit. I can close the doors and I'm in my own little heaven. So simple and classy. Ahhhh.

Painting Party

2009-07-20T20:47:00.001-07:00

Before I moved in to my apartment, the girl whose place I took left with all of her furniture and wall decorations. I got new couches, but that didn't solve the problem of wall decorations. Never fear, though, because my roommate Brianne is a genious. She suggested we get a bunch of blank canvases and paint, and make our own wall art. We invited some of our favorite people over, and this is the result. Fabulously original pieces of art, and hilarious memories of how they came to be. Mine are the dark green painting with a black dot in the middle, the sunset that looks like the sun exploded over the water (I had a little problem with the sun), and a very abstract cowboy hat. We even did our own splatter painting! My paint was yellow...so awesome! It was probably one of my favorite nights ever.

25

2009-07-07T13:28:00.001-07:00

Today I turn 25. I don't think I like 25.

Mt. Laguna Camping Trip

2009-07-04T22:54:00.000-07:00

I went camping the weekend before last, and I have to say...I don't think I've ever enjoyed camping more. We went to Mt. Laguna, and it was all sorts of exciting! We hiked up to a peak and saw an incredible view of the San Diego valley. We explored a meadow, where there was a wild turkey and a herd of stampeding cattle and an amazing sunset. We saw a deer. We drove up to the Palomar Observatory and laid and watched the stars. I saw one of the most amazing shooting stars that lit up the night sky for at least two seconds, and it was hilarious picking out constellations that none of us knew. We played tourist in a local town called Julien. We took naps and read books in the shade of pine trees in the middle of the day. We went to a Bluegrass Festival. I spent the weekend getting to know a very cute, very kind boy. Seriously. Best. Camping. Trip. Ever.

Growing Up

2009-06-23T22:27:00.001-07:00

My mom has always told me that change is the only constant thing in life. I always fought that idea, but I'm actually embracing it these days. This particular change is by choice, though. I've been done with college for about a year, and I've been living with my parents since I graduated. It's definitely time to move out and start acting like a grown-up. So that is precisely what I'm going to do! I'm moving! I am so excited to have my own place! It's not too far from home...maybe 20 minutes or so...but the idea of if just makes me feel like I'm doing something with my life and not mooching off my family. Hooray! To celebrate, I bought a couple of couches. What a grown-up thing to do!

Welts and Bruises? Where Do I Sign Up?

2009-06-14T23:45:00.000-07:00

I went paintballing for the first time EVER on Saturday. It was so much fun! It hurt like a mother when I got hit, but once I got used to it, it wasn't too bad. It was fun being snipers with paint, and it was awesome strategizing and running around. I didn't know it would be so fun! I can't wait for all these welts and bruises to go away so I can do it again!

Pier Fishing

2009-06-14T14:03:00.000-07:00

I went Pier Fishing on Friday night. It was really fun! I've seen people do it all the time, and I put it on my list of things to do this summer. When we got there, a high school graduation was just letting out so my friend and I were walking through all these people dressed to the nines with our fishing poles and our scrubby clothes. It was hilarious! People were actually laughing at us, too. I guess we didn't look like fishermen, but it was still a blast. I tied on my own lures, and I even caught something! I hooked a big, fat pier post! Haha! I still have yet to catch a fish, but maybe next trip I'll have better luck.

My First Painting

2009-06-02T23:26:00.001-07:00

The first thing on my list of things to do before I turn 30 is to paint on an actual canvas. I totally painted a canvas tonight! It was awesome! The end result is far from what it was supposed to be when I started, but it was by no means a failure. It was liberating to paint and then follow the natural flow as it progressed. I just went with it, and it didn't matter that it wasn't perfect. I have a couple more canvases, and I think I'm going to keep at it. I really enjoy painting.

Platonic is a Subjective Term

2009-05-29T13:00:00.001-07:00

What do you do when you fall for a good friend? Not just one of those, “Oh I like him,” or “He’s pretty cute,” or “Oh, man. Do they make them any cooler?” No. A full-blown fall. When you actually feel sad if they have a bad day. Or when you realize the reason they make you so mad sometimes is because you care about them so much. Or when you actually answer that midnight text because it’s from them. Or when you give up plans just because they want to play. Or when your friends tell you not to read into it…that he’s just not that into you, but you can’t help but hold on to that tiny little shred of hope. Or when you see how great things could be, but for some reason that’s just not communicated. BLAST! What the heck do you do? Is this to be my life’s great plague? To fall for people who are meant to be platonic?

30 Things To Do Before I Turn 30

2009-05-27T23:43:00.000-07:00

My friend Allison told me about a list she made of 101 things to do in 1001 days. I loved the idea, but I couldn't think of 101 things to do! So I made up my own list...a list of 30 things to do before I turn 30. I am so excited! Some of these things will build some awesome memories, and some of them will help me make some serious personality breakthroughs. I'm not sure I would classify them as goals, necessarily, but definitely social and entertainment milestones. I have 5 years this July...and I will keep a photo journal of all of my adventures! I hope you're as amped about this as I am.

Okay...here's the list:

1. Paint a painting on canvas
2. Go to a different church
3. Take public transportation: bus, train, trolley
4. Run a 5k
5. Ride a mechanical bull
6. Write a love letter and actually send it
7. Watch every James Bond film
8. Ride a horse
9. See a space shuttle launch in person
10. Go on a backpacking trip
11. Smile at 100 strangers
12. Give blood
13. Sit on a jury
14. Do a total body make-over
15. Go pier fishing
16. Get scuba certified
17. Participate in a Polar Bear Swim
18. Have a complete physical
19. Get a letter to the editor published
20. Drive a wickedly cool car, even if it means renting it
21. Let someone read my poetry journal
22. See Old Faithful erupt
23. Answer my cell phone without screening it for a whole month
24. Get a stamp in my passport
25. Find out my blood-type
26. Go on a cruise
27. Send a postcard home every time I leave the state
28. Put $5 into savings for each item completed on this list
29. Go to bed before midnight for a month
30. Profess my feelings to a person I like

Gasoline Chronicles

2009-05-27T22:44:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time last weekend, I had quite an exciting gasoline escapade. I was on my way to a bonfire at the beach, and realized I needed fuel. So, like any right-minded soul, I pull in to the nearst Shell station. I slid my card, selected my octane level, and put the nozzle into the gas hole. And then came my mistake- I put the trigger on because I was lazy and didn't want to stand there pumping gas for five minutes. The next thing I know, the nozzle has shot out of my car (still pumping gas, mind you) and is hosing me down with the putrid-smelling liquid. Ridiculous! I caught hold of the nozzle, put it back in my car, held the handle manually, and cursed under my breath. Okay, maybe it was out loud. Needless to say, I didn't go to the bonfire with gasoline-soaked clothes.

Update on the heart

2009-04-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

I just got the results back from my heart monitor test! The test lasted a month, and I never want to do that again. Anyway, so it was determined was that when I have panick attacks, they aren't registered emotionally or psychologically, but physically. So instead of having a complete break-down or freak out, my body reacts instead of my mind. When that happens, my heart starts going crazy for a little bit, which is why I went to the doctor in the first place. I evidently experience tacchycardia (fast heartbeat) and palpitations (irregular heart beat) when I have these episodes, but nothing that the doctor nor the on-call cardiologist was concerned about. Hooray!

It may be time for an update...

2009-04-28T22:12:00.000-07:00

As the title indicates, my blog needs to be updated like no one’s business. It’s been far too long, and (by consequence) this blog is shaping up to be a long, action packed adventure. This is what I’ve been up to in the last few months:

I went snorkeling! It was so stinking cold, but so stinking fun! We saw lots of these little beauties, and I really enjoyed swimming in open water! I felt so brave. Don’t worry, though. Not a whale was in sight!

I went to my very first college basketball game. It was the SDSU vs. BYU game. It was pretty fun, and the game got really exciting in the last four minutes or so. BYU pulled off a win, and it was pretty cool to be in such a charged atmosphere.

I attempted to go on a grunion run. In the Spring/Summer, these little fish called grunions “run” onto the beaches and lay their eggs. People sometimes go and watch this strange mating ritual, and it’s supposed to be really cool because the entire beach is filled with little flopping fish. When we went, we only saw three fish…I guess they were tired that night.

I’ve taken up rock climbing! I know I’ve blogged about it before, but I really just love it. Enjoy this picture. I had to put it up because my butt is squished through the harness. Oh, the occupational hazards of climbing really high…

I dyed my hair purple! Just the underside, actually, but it looks really cool! I let my friend do it, and she’d never dyed anyone’s hair before. It was all sorts of adventurous, but everything turned out well. Much better than the last time I attempted to put purple in my hair.

I ordered something from thesomethingstore.com. It’s this random website that you send $10 to and they send you something. Haha, it sounds a little ridiculous, but I got a sweet pair of sunglasses from the exchange. It was a fun little exercise in letting go of control, and it worked marvelously. It was fairly liberating. Ahhhh.

I went to a rodeo! I really enjoyed it, too. I kind of had a problem with the way they threw around the baby animals, but it was really cool to see the bull riders. I love cowboys!

Anyway, so those are some highlights of what the past few months have brought. SO FUN!

The Stimulus Package

2009-02-16T17:28:00.001-08:00

As has probably been the case with you, many discussions with friends and co-workers and randoms have revolved around the stimulus package. This is how I will describe it from now on.

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2009/02/stimulus-package-explained-qa/

My Brother the Missionary

2009-02-15T16:30:00.001-08:00

My little brother Jacob had his mission farewell today. Actually, I should say younger brother because he is not little anymore. It was an awesome experience to be in that meeting. He had his mission hair cut on Friday, and he finally looks the part. He’s a sharp kid. He spoke about hope and did a really good job. He referenced some things my Dad said to him, which was really cool for us to hear. He quoted conference talks and Preach My Gospel, and he pulled together an impressive talk. Haha, he even gave it in his surfer-boy accent. It was a wonderful experience. One of Jacob’s non-member friends was in the congregation, and when my brother closed his talk, he bore his testimony to that friend. It was powerful. It was our little glimpse of the missionary he will be, and I am so proud of him. There was fire behind his words, and his tesimony blew me away. My baby brother really does know the church is true, and he has a burning desire to share it. I envy the people he will get to know in Michigan. They will just love him, so I suppose I can loan him to them for a couple of years.

My Latest Adventures

2009-02-13T14:27:00.000-08:00

I went rock climbing on Wednesday. I got to try out my new harness and the equipment I got for Christmas. I went with some friends and we had a blast. It’s wild when you repel down and just fly through the air. I did learn one thing, though. I do NOT like slack on my lead rope. That sucker has to be cranked tight, otherwise I freak out. I never thought I had issues with heights, but it turns out that I do if there is any insecurity about my safety. Hmm…I bet everyone is like that, though. Anyway, it was so much fun.

I went to Disneyland on Thursday. I bought a season pass last time, so it has officially paid for itself now. Haha, and I’m quickly turning into a Disney junkie. I love it. I love how happy people are when they go. I love how excited little kids get, and how even the adults enjoy riding on weird pink caterpillars. Seriously…everyone is happy at Disneyland. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that it acts as an escape. They call in the “Magical Kingdom,” and it really is. Maybe not in the sense that “real” magic takes place, but for a short ten hours, guests can completely forget about the outside world and live in a place where princesses and pirates and circuses and Winnie the Pooh and dragons and fairies are real. It’s impossible to stress about finances or relationships or anything while you are taking the ride of your life through temple ruins or speeding through space in a rocket ship. Ah…I seriously love it. It was a perfect day yesterday, too. It was the perfect temperature, it was right in between rain storms, the crowds were minimal, and it was a slow day at work so I could take it off. It was great!

Type

2009-02-10T23:35:00.000-08:00

Turns out, I have a type. I always thought classifying guys into one lump category was a prejudice, shallow, and unnecessary way of looking at the opposite sex. I would hear story after story of girls dating and marrying boys who were “so no their type.” I started thinking that even if a girl thought she had a type, she would probably marry someone who was opposite of that, so what would be the point? Why in the world would anyone base anything on a “type?” Well, as ironic as this seems, I have a type. This may shock you, but it’s not the tall, rugged, muscular cowboy I always pictured myself with. It’s not the “bad boy” who rides motorcycles and throws around a random curse word when he gets upset. It’s not even the spontaneous guy who plans random trips and goes dancing on a whim. Nope…he’s completely unexpected. He’s good. He is polite and pleasant and conservative. He is mellow and grounded and stable. He’s tall and loves the outdoors and he’s skinny. He loves sports. He’s funny and nice to everyone and has great hair and dark eyes. And the best part? It’s not just the current one. It’s been the past four. Ah…life is good.

School and Heart

2009-02-03T22:57:00.000-08:00

I started school again. I’ve been talking about doing it for a while, but classes actually started last week. I go every Tuesday for six hours. It’s a little grueling, but I’m enjoying it. I just started enjoying it tonight, actually. Last week’s class wasn’t interesting, and I was kind of regretting signing up. After tonight’s class, I’m actually considering going back full time to get an RN or surgical tech certificate. It just seems like it would be something I would enjoy doing. My classes now are medical terminology and anatomy and physiology. The best part is that I’m taking these classes at the local junior college so I can still work and make money, and I feel so incredibly intelligent. My intelligence is average, but I feel like a freaking genius in there with all the druggies and straight-out-of-high school kids. Anyway, I’m taking an online Photoshop class, too, which is AWESOME! Believe it or not, I missed school. It feels right to be walking around with a backpack on again!

I get a heart monitor on Thursday. It’s taken my insurance two weeks to authorize it. Annoyance. Luckily I’m not really dying of heart problems, otherwise this might be an issue. I have to wear it for two weeks, and I’m not excited. There are four electrodes that attach to various spots on my chest, and then those electrodes are hooked up to a little machine I have to wear on my belt. On a scale of one to nerdy, this is totally off the chart.

All Sorts of Crazy

2009-01-16T12:32:00.001-08:00

I went to the doctor yesterday, and it was less informative than I would have liked. He listened to my heart and said it sounded normal-which is good because the main point of the visit was to make sure I didn’t have any underlying weirdness going on. Sometimes it feels like my heart beats irregularly. Anyway, so then he sent me for blood work to check my thyroid, and he’s making me wear a heart monitor for two weeks. Blood work I understand…but a heart monitor? Really? For two weeks? I think that’s a little overkill, but the fact is that I am not the doctor, so I don’t get to make those decisions. Geeze, all I really wanted him to say was, “There’s no problem with your heart. You’re healthy. You probably had some sort of strange panic attack. Next time it happens, try __________.” I suppose it’s a good thing to rule out all any major problems, so I should just appreciate that he’s being thorough.

On a different note, I’m finding it hard to detach myself from people. Actually, just certain people. I get obsessively emotional about people, and no matter how hard I will them to do something or feel something, it doesn’t work. Obviously. But sometimes this makes it difficult for me to allow the natural course of things to take place. It’s hard to roll with the punches when you are so obsessively attached to people. It’s hard to accept their reasons and feelings when all you really care about are your own. I came to that conclusion last night. It wasn’t a fun epiphany, but a necessary one. There’s this old song that goes, “Que sera, sera.” It’s in Spanish, but it translates (roughly), into “what will be, will be.” I need to accept that truth. I need to accept the fact that no matter how hard I want something, just wanting it doesn’t mean it will come to fruition. Perhaps by taking appropriate actions and having appropriate conversations things will come to pass, but not by passively oppressing someone into feeling or acting a certain way.

Strange Things

2009-01-11T11:24:00.001-08:00

Things have been weird with me for a while. Well, I should probably clarify. I have physically felt weird for a few days. On Thursday, I had this really weird panic attack. At first I thought I was having a heart attack. It was strange. My heart started going crazy and I got lightheaded and dizzy. I had these weird aching pains in my chest, and I was really starting to freak out. But then it kind of went away…to say the least, I’m going to the doctor on Thursday. I just thought it was really odd. I have never experienced anxiety before, and I have appropriate outlets for my stress so I don’t internalize toxic emotions. Clearly my outlets are broken. Oh, man. It was really weird.

Christmas and New Years

2009-01-03T23:50:00.000-08:00

A lot has happened in the past two weeks, which means a lot of information for one blog. Readers beware.

First of all, Christmas was awesome. It was so nice to spend time together as a family. Robby was in Japan the last two years, Jacob will be in Michigan for the next two years, and it was really fun to hang out and catch up. I love my family. My parents are the best people I know. I couldn't have asked for better role models. My brothers are strange, but so cool at the same time. My sister is just awesome...I could go on and on. I feel like Dash did in The Incredibles when he said, "I love our family." I am reminded of how lucky I am every time we are together (even when we pick fights with each other), and I really enjoyed these past couple of weeks. I am so blessed!

Secondly, I did something WAAY out of my comfort zone for New Years Eve. I normally do something very low-key for this particular holiday, but this year I went to Las Vegas. It was kind of crazy, but incredibly fun. I went with a couple of my college roommates, and it was a blast. Here are a few of the highlights (In no particular order), followed by a few pictures.

- Blue Man Group. These guys were awesome. They are so funny and the show was extremely entertaining. I highly recommend it.
- Fashion Show Mall. I think I'm in love. There are so many stores in the place.
- Bajio. This isn't necessarily something one goes to Vegas to experience, but Bajio is my favorite restaurant in Rexburg, Idaho. They don't have them in San Diego, so we made sure we had lunch there while we could.
- The Strip. No explanation necessary. Walking around was fun and definitely entertaining. We rang in 2009 with what seemed like a million other people outside The Mirage. I had I don't know how many too-close-for-comfort encounters with strange men. Oh, man. Sometimes I like to get a little crazy, but this was a little too crazy for my liking.
- Tennis. I hadn't played in about a year, and it was really nice to dust off the old tennis skills. Amy, Jared, Zac, and I used to play everyday during the summer when I was in Idaho. I miss those days.
- New York New York roller coaster. It was really fun and kind of freaky. We went during the night, and it was a little frightening as the Las Vegas skyline is spiraling in and out of vision.
- Hiking Red Rock Canyon. We took a little hike to a "waterfall." Haha. It was so not a waterfall. It was a trickle. It was still really cool, though. We also drove the 13 mile loop that offers a panaramic view of the canyon. It was gorgeous.
- Cheesecake Factory. It was so incredibly delicious. Chicken Ceasar Salad, Virgin Pina Colada, and Pecan Caramel Turtle Cheesecake. Yum.

Disneyland

2008-12-18T21:31:00.001-08:00

I went to Disneyland last Saturday with some friends. It's the first time A. I've been to Disneyland at Christmas time, and B. The first time I've been to Disneyland on a Saturday. I have to say it was a very pleasant experience. The Haunted Mansion was decked out all Nightmare Before Christmas style, and It's A Small World was AWESOME! That ride is so predictable normally, but it was decorated all Christmasy and the little robots sang Christmas songs along with their ballad of global unity. It wasn't too terribly busy, and it was even cold enough to buy sweatshirts. I love a good excuse to shop! Here are some pictures...the first one is quite possibly the best picture taken of me EVER!

Anyway...so that's a little bit of my fun day. In other news, I'm going back to school! I know I've mentioned it before, but I actually registered for classes. I'm not doing the full-time thing again, but I'm excited to be a student again. Gosh, I never thought I would say that ever again. I'm just dipping my toe in the water with Medical Terminology and Body Systems, but I'm excited to learn and use my brain again. Not that I don't enjoy my job...but I really just need something more stimulating.

Christmas Card

2008-11-30T15:55:00.000-08:00

It turns out that when you know how to use design software, everyone asks you to use design software. That's okay, though...I enjoy designing stuff. It's a hobby of mine. Anyway...this is our Christmas card for 2008. I kinda like it.

Family Pictures

2008-11-29T17:31:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving is finally over (WOOHOO!) and it was really fun spending time with the boys while they were back from college. I'm not a fan of Thanksgiving, but it is always nice to hang out with family. We figured that before the boys went back to school, we should take a picture. We took one before Robby left on his mission, so it made sense to take one now before Jacob leaves. My parents thought it would be a brilliant idea to just set up a tri-pod and take the pictures ourselves. The outcome of that is posted below...the pictures are really lame. I guess they're okay...at least okay enough to put on our Christmas card, but it wasn't one of the better family pictures we've ever taken. I think when the boys come down for Christmas, we will actually have someone else take them. Until then...here is what we look like. LOL!

15 Random Things

2008-11-23T12:13:00.000-08:00

My friend Rachel Jaynes tagged me on facebook...so here goes. Most of this stuff isn't a surprise if you know me, but it was kind of fun thinking about all of the random and bizarre things that make me tick.

1. I am terrified of whales. I’m not sure why…I don’t recall having a bad experience with them. They just really freak me out.
2. The only way I will eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is if it’s open-faced. If you put the two sides together, the sandwich totally loses its charm.
3. I love Air Supply. I realize they’re an 80’s band who sings love ballads to themselves, but I really like them. Ask any of my college roommates.
4. Once upon a time I had a kidney stone that stuck around for about two weeks. I got tired of referring to it as “kidney stone” so I named it Sparky.
5. I just discovered scrambling. What is scrambling you ask? Good question. It’s climbing from rock to rock up a mountain. It’s really fun, and not as scary as straight up rock climbing.
6. I hate thanksgiving. Turkey is too dry, I don’t like cranberries, stuffing makes me gag, and it seems like the only point of the holiday is to get together and watch football. I’m not a fan.
7. I am extremely competitive. My family refuses to play cranium with me anymore.
8. I like lists. I make lists for everything. I think in list form. Sometimes in my conversations I letter or number the main points I want to talk about.
9. I watch the food network religiously. I have a secret crush on Bobby Flay.
10. I got in a car accident my freshman year of college and have a ridiculously cool scar above my right eye.
11. I love striped shirts. Especially the horizontal stripes…you know, the ones that are supposed to make you look larger than you really are. Yeah.
12. I sleep on my stomach, with one pillow under my head, one by my side with my arm around it, and another in between my legs.
13. I always wanted moon boots as a child. I never got them. It was one of those things that I’ve never gotten over.
14. I have a backpack fetish. I love them. Every time I go in REI I examine all the backpacks. My favorite is a North Face pack called the Heckler. It’s green and white and beautiful.
15. I name all of my electronic devices after characters in Shakespeare plays. My computer’s name is Hal from Prince Henry the IV. My jump drives are named Hamlet and Macbeth. I have an external hard drive dubbed Mercutio. I’m a nerd.

Joshua Tree

2008-11-19T17:42:00.001-08:00

I went camping this past weekend in Joshua Tree. It was so much fun! We camped and hiked and played with fire....it was a nice, relaxing weekend in the desert. Here are some pictures...

Jacob will be spending the next two years in...

2008-11-14T17:08:00.000-08:00

...Lansing, Michigan

Random Observations

2008-11-12T23:00:00.000-08:00

Every now and then I like to sit back and enjoy the random nature of my life and the strange way my mind connects things. Here are a few...

A. I drank my first glass of Eggnog for the season. I normally would not partake of such a beverage until Thanksgiving is good and over, but there are several factors that play into this.
1. It's 10:45 at night
2. I'm really bored
3. There's nothing else in the fridge.

B. Today was the best mail day I've had in a really long time. I received a new power cord for my lap top (affectionately dubbed Hal, which is the nickname given to Prince Henry in Prince Henry IV written by Shakespeare), 4 shirts from GAP, one puffy vest, one pair of khaki (love that word) pants, and my new AAA membership card. I love mail!

C. After I finish my last load of laundry tonight, I will have done 8 loads in the past 24 hours.

D. I somehow managed to gouge my face with my nails last night. It looks terrible. It scabbed over, but I've been putting Neosporin on it to make sure I don't get some sort of infection (I'm paranoid about MRSA...although I have no good reason to be), and it looks disgusting. If asked, I would describe it as a cold sore that missed my lips. People don't usually get cold sores on their cheeks. Of course, I wouldn't really know...I've never had one. But I bet if I got one, I would be just as conscious of it as I am about this.

E. My brother Jacob should be getting his mission call ANY DAY NOW! We thought he might have gotten it today, but the mail came without a letter from Salt Lake. It was kind of dissapointing, but at the same time kind of relieving. I swear I will cry when he reads it, and then I will have to deal with the embarassment of being a big baby.

F. I need dental insurance. Anyone know of any good plans for individuals?

G. I met my friend Aubrey's 2nd cousin for the 2nd time today. It made me think of my 2nd cousins, and I wish they would come visit again. The only ones I have are Madeline and Kate, and they are the two most adorable girls ever. Each of them have such a spunky little personality, and I miss seeing them.

Worst Halloween Effort Ever

2008-11-01T16:40:00.000-07:00

This year I failed at halloween. Well, maybe not halloween...but my costume. Every year I try to find a conservative yet clever costume, but every year I forget until the night before. This year, I obtained a cowboy-ish shirt that would have been really cute if not for one thing...it was a man's shirt. When I finally tried it on, I realized too late that it was pretty lame. It was sooooo big. I had to tie it at my waist, and it looked pretty stupid. Note the picture. Haha. Don't mock me. It gets better, though. During the night, the knot kept falling out, so it looked like I was about two sizes larger than I really am. Not so fun. Other than that the night was really fun. After a long day at work, I got all dressed up (as much as I could given the ridiculous shirt) and partied it up on a San Diego harbor cruise. A bunch of us went and danced on the boat from 11-2 at night...it was fun. I'd done it before, but this year was wicked fun. Maybe next year I will start thinking about my costume a little earlier than the day before. LOL!

Prague

2008-10-21T19:42:00.001-07:00

I met a boy on Sunday. Well, re-met would be the more appropriate phrase. His name is Mark, and he used to live with a few friends of mine. We would see each other occasionally back in the day, but I hadn't talked to him for about three years. So we got to talking, and he mentioned that he had just taken a trip to Prague with a friend of his. I remarked at how cool that was, and then he said it was because he had turned a certain age and wasn't married yet. Again, I remarked how cool that was, and we talked a little more and then meetings started. Well, I haven't been able to get that off my mind. I think I'm going to copy him. So Mark...I apologize, but I'm stealing your idea. If I'm not married by the time I'm 26, I'm taking a trip. I don't know where yet, but I'm totally going to do it! I even applied for a passport today. I let them take my picture, and I gotta say, it looked pretty good. I was expecting a mug shot, but the lady let me smile and I actually looked decent. AMAZING! So in 2-4 weeks, I will be free to roam around the world. HOOT HOOT!

Picture Tag

2008-10-14T23:01:00.001-07:00

Okay so this is how you play. You go to your "my pictures" file, and find the fourth file and the fourth picture. This is so funny! People have some random pictures. For instance, check out mine...

SO FUNNY!!! You're supposed to tag other people to do it, but I don't even know who all has blogs these days. If you're reading this, consider yourself tagged...just leave me a comment so I can check out which random picture you have.