TAGGED

Kylee Tagged me. I love her. :)

Also, Marni was Tagged by Kara. Then Marni tagged anyone. So I took it. I should really be working on this ridiculous spreadsheet at work. But I've been rearranging it and inputting data for so long, I think my brain is starting to get scrambled. Let's just say Campus Scheduling at BYU is not my favorite department on Campus. SO. In an effort to give my brain a rest, I resort to taking Marni's free tag. :) Thanks, Marni. My children will thank you one day for the shred of sanity I have left. :)

10 YEARS AGO:

I was 15, and the second-youngest sophomore in all of my High School. All of my friends could drive and were going to Prom...and what was I doing? Bumming rides, and babysitting my siblings most every weekend. :) My locker was in the section past the "breezeway" over by the drivers-ed classroom...for some reason, that was where all the creepy, smoking, swearing, saggy-pants, "I only look cool in black" kids hung out. Ugh. I hated going to my locker that year. And this boy who had decided to kiss me at a New Year's Regional Dance (without my permission, thank you very much!) was always hanging around my locker. I'd always put off going to my locker until the very end of the day, and I'd wait until most people were gone. On purpose. There was also a boy who sat behind me in Chemistry who would steal my lotion out of my bag every day...and EAT it. YUCK! It was Bath and Body Works Cucumber Melon lotion...I still think of that weird boy every time I see that lotion! The only bright spot of my high school existence at that point was choir. I hardly ever hung out with anyone my age at school...all my friends went a little nuts that year. I did hang out with three Senior girls that year, though, and they were so sweet to little sophomore me. Becki, Diana, and Brooklynn...between them and choir, I somehow survived that year of high school. Good thing life goes on after High School!! Outside of High School, there was always Alaina, who is a year younger than me in school, so she wasn't there my sophomore year. Wow. I just discovered how much I love my life NOW!!! :)

5 PLACES I'VE VISITED:

1. Nauvoo: A performing mission, a second home, and the most beautiful place I have ever been in my life. I think it's beautiful for the green and the Mississippi River, yes, but I think what makes it the most beautiful to me is the history, and the sacrifices of the people who built that city. And that temple on the hill. I. LOVE. NAUVOO. :)
2. San Fransisco: I went there on a spring break trip two years ago with some of the funniest people I have ever known: Clark, John, Greg, Michelle, and Amanda. John spent the entire time filiming everything Clark did, Greg made unforgettable comments about Tassles, Amanda discovered Peruvians, (hahahha) Greg warned me about getting completely soaked at the beach (I ignored him and froze) we ate Thai food, almost died every time that one dude drove, played crazy, funny games in the car, and Michelle discovered why everyone was spelling Tahoe. :) Oh, I don't think I've ever laughed harder than I did on that trip. And we rode the cable cars. And the trolley. And ate all the clam chowder we could stand, went on every tour everywhere, made it to most cool sites by the time they closed at 4 pm. Lol. If I could pick one vacation to repeat in my life, it would be this one. With these people. :)
3. Pennsylvania/Washington DC: I went on a choir tour with the Logan Institute all over Pennsylvania and surrounding areas a few years ago. It was so beautiful! The Susquehanna River, church history sites, the Washington D.C. Temple, the shows in the visitor's center, the cool Amish shops, Gettysburg, etc. I remember loving how green and beautiful it was. We traveled everywhere on a giant tour bus...and in the end, only had 1 hour in the actual city of Washington DC....biggest bummer of my LIFE!! I will go back one day...hopefully this August for a much more in-depth visit! But this trip was amazing. The performing and the people are what made it.
4. San Diego: I went on this trip with my aunt and her two little girls. It was so warm and so beautiful! We just hung out at the beach and the pools and shopped in the little shops, saw a ton of lighthouses, ate seafood, and had a beautiful time!
5. L.A. and more Southern Cali: Disneyland, WICKED, and living just around the corner from the Hollywood Walk of Fame...a drama-filled trip, to be sure, but the food, the beaches, the theme parks, and the California sun made up for anything less than desirable! :) I know. I need to stop going to California. Hahha.

5 things on my to-do list:

1. Trim my bangs. My hair grows way too fast.
2. Actually put my clean laundry away. For some reason, I haven't had time to do that yet. I HATE having it just sit there!
3. Get drain-o for my stupid shower. I could use that stuff once a week, and It'd still have problems!
4. Go running while listening to a mix of John McLaughlin, Sara Bareilles, Gavin Degraw, Carrie Underwood, A Fine Frenzy, the Nauvoo Pageant Soundtrack, and some good Rob Gardner Oratorio pieces. That always clears my head for some reason. I love it. :)
5. Go grocery shopping. And soon!

Huh. I wonder if that should've been more of a "lifetime" to do list. Oops. Too late now!

I enjoy:

Sleeping in until 9:00 a.m. but not past then. Going running...even though I'm not good at it. :) Feeling productive. The rain in Nauvoo. Going to the temple. Hanging out with my family. Good friends. American Idol. LOST. Funny People. Good musicians. Pantaloons. Brownies. Thanksgiving. A clean house. (for some reason, my car struggles with cleanliness, buut...) Getting home from work, changing to jeans and my slippers or flip-flops, and basking in NOT being at work! :)

3 bad habits:

1. As much as I hate being late, I seem to have this problem being on time at least 80% of the time. I don't know why. Actually, it usually stems back to clothing. Which brings me to my next point...
2. I have to change about 5 times every morning before I finally have on what I want to wear. Some days, I look at my closet and wonder what I was thinking the last time I went shopping. Sometimes, I just have to grit my teeth, put something on, and VOW not to change it. That way, I'll only change 3 times instead of 5. Ahhhh! Lol.
3. iTunes. I'm addicted to music. Sometimes, I'll just get on to see if there's anything new and good...and before I know it, I've found more music I suddenly really need. This could be why I have more music than food in my cupboard. Oh, boy. It's a good thing I'm not responsible for feeding anyone other than myself at this point! Don't worry...I know it's a problem. I made a rule for myself that I can only get on iTunes once a month. That was about a month ago. Lol. So far, I'm doing okay? :)

5 things you may not know about me:

1. I'm terrified of dates or activities with guys that involve any kind of sports/athletic activities. I always participate and do the best I can, but inwardly? I dread the activity, and want to curl up and die every time I don't catch the stupid ball. Or whatever. Playing sports fill me with dread. I will watch them any day. Any sport. But the idea of playing makes me want to cry and go running to my mom.
2. I'm probably more of a perfectionist than I even realize. I hate not being good at things. I can laugh at myself in my mistakes, and it doesn't trip me up for long if at all, but...I really don't like that feeling. If I can't do something well, I'd almost rather not do it at all. But sometimes you just have to do things whether you're good at them or not. *sigh*.
3. Sometimes I watch Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel. And love it.
4. Sometimes I day-dream about being a really awesome dancer. Sometimes this day-dream turns into me actually dancing when I think no one is watching. I pretend I have actual technique. (I really don't!)
5. I hate flirting. HATE IT. Props to the girls who do it with finesse. I couldn't even take myself seriously if I were giggly and acting like a damsel in distress. It's completely out of character for me. I tell dumb jokes. I'd rather put my hair up in a ponytail and wear jeans than curl my hair and get all dressed up. I'm stubborn and fiercely independent (as often as possible) and sometimes I wish I wasn't quite "so." Lol. Oh, but I am. Dang it!

Okay. That's way more than enough. I now tag...Nicole and Cali.

My life as Flat Stanley's Travel Agent

Flat Stanley. He's the greatest grade school project I've ever heard of. Seriously. One of my co-worker's little boys is in about the 3rd grade. Apparently, the 3rd grade is the coolest because you get to participate in the "Flat Stanley" project. Flat Stanley is a paper man (NOT a doll) whose mission it is to travel around with people and show up in their pictures. After the pictures are taken, the 3rd grader to whom this particular Stanley belongs, will write a story about Flat Stanley in this particular place. Flat Stanley has found his way to our office. We all try and figure out the coolest places we'll be going that day for who gets to take Stanley along for the ride. Last week, I won because my friend, Nicole, was getting married in Logan. Stanley had never been to Logan before, let alone the temple, so - I got voted as the one with the coolest plans for the day. Flat Stanley camped out on my desk the whole day before so I'd remember to take him. Ahem. As I approached the city limits of Logan that day, I froze in horror.

I had forgotten Flat Stanley.

The next morning when I walked into work, my first item of business was to attempt to right the wrong I had done the day before. I knew everyone in the office would know I had forgotten Stanely. They would have seen him on my desk. However, I thought maybe, just maybe, if I was funny enough, I'd be forgiven. So I quickly googled a picture of the Logan temple in the winter, whipped out my cell phone, and held Flat Stanley up to my computer screen. *click* and send. I went online, downloaded the picture, and sent it in an email to my co-worker, J.D. I made sure to send a very honest email specifying how much fun Flat Stanley had in Logan the day before...and what a shame it would have been had I forgotten him. I never would have done such a thing, however. CLEARLY.

A few minutes later, I got an email back from J.D. This picture showed up, and I just about died laughing as I read J.D.'s email. He explained he had caught me in a lie due to the picture he had just received from Flat Stanley of his adventures the day before. Take a look at that neat cropping job, and you'll see I have NOT been outdone! Haha...darn Stanley.

I tried to apologize, but no matter what I did, nothing could make up for leaving Stanley behind. I knew it, and everyone else did too. It was a horrible, no good, very bad feeling. :(

Finally, after much debate within myself, I came up with the perfect solution: I would take Flat Stanley to his very first viewing of LOST. Yes, LOST. For those who don't know, I am an avid supporter of this star in the cinematic firmament. :) I figured it was the least I could do...to share this moment with Flat Stanley. Every Thursday night, I go watch LOST with some of the greatest people I know. I knew it would be a hit. Stanley would love it. I presented the idea to J.D., and he seemed a little skeptical due to my previous ventures, but agreed only after I promised Flat Stanley would not leave my side, and I would explain all the details to him. Yessssss!

Ahem. I think it's safe to say Flat Stanley had a GRAND time Thursday night. Check your local listings for Flat Stanley's cameo appearance as a guest star on this week's...LOST. (dun, dun, duuuuuunnnn...)

As much fun as it was, I have now resigned my post as Stan the Man's agent, and am turning his cultural education over to the next unsuspecting co-worker.

P.S. Please don't tease him about his half rubbed off golden mustache. It's a very sensitive subject.

The "happiest ending" door that leads to the rest of your life...

I love love. And by that, I mean while I myself may not be currently in love, I love it when people I love find love. Don't you worry...I'll stop using the word love all the time here in a second. But I love it whenever any of my friends get married. It's so neat to have gone through so much with them before they were married and know all the things they've gone through...to then finally see them find that one person that just fits them. I love it. :)


My good friend and roommate from last year got married this past week to the most perfect fit for her. They're super together. She went on a study abroad program a few summers ago to Switzerland, and actually met him there. He was serving a mission there at the time, so the interaction was very brief. But after he got home from his mission, they ran into each other again at Utah State, and it's basically history from there. Talk about being in the right place at the right time!

I had the privilege of being able to attend the temple with them and be there for their special day, and I don't even know if I can describe how incredibly beautiful and wonderful it was to witness that with them. She is the first friend I have been able to attend the temple with for her wedding, and it was an experience I will never forget. I have always, without question, wanted to get married in the temple, but especially after being there with them this past week, I've felt like I'm walking a little taller and I've felt happier...and I wasn't even the one getting married! Haha. :) I'm so grateful for incredible friends like Nicole...there are so many...who have set that kind of example not only in marriage, but in living life. Cali, Kara, Meagan, Amanda...the list could seriously go on and on. I am just excited for when that day comes for all the rest of my incredible friends as well as for me. There's a right time, a right person, and a right place for everyone.

Like I said. I love love. The real kind. :)

If you spell Chuck Norris in Scrabble, you win. Forever.

A friend of mine sent me a news article today about Chuck Norris. A few summers ago, I worked on this team with him and a few other guys who knew every Chuck Norris "fact" ever made up. I mean...known to man. These jokers could spend hours and hours just exchanging Chuck Norris-isms. I know it got old for some people, but I think I just about died laughing every single time. Even after I'd heard them all. Twice. And memorized them. This particular news article he sent me stated that Chuck Norris was named an honorary marine last year. Quite the accomplishment, Chuck. Although...for those of you who just don't know how awesome Mr. Norris IS, it's about time the marines finally got around to it! HA. :) Okay, it might get old after a few minutes, but...it provided some serious entertainment for me this morning. Between that, my lunch at Bajios (the pineapple shrimp salad...hello to heaven on earth!) and the fact that I might have actually sold my summer contract so I can move in with Dani, Aubs, and Jess this summer, it's been a pretty awesome day.

Here are some of my favorite "facts" :

• Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.
• Chuck Norris doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.
• Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo is hiding.
• Chuck Norris counted to infinity - twice.
• Chuck Norris is currently suing NBC, claiming Law and Order are trademarked names for his left and right legs.
• Chuck Norris is so fast, he can run around the world and punch himself in the back of the head.
• Chuck Norris does not get frostbite. Chuck Norris bites frost.
• If you have five dollars, and Chuck Norris has five dollars, Chuck Norris has more money than you.
• Chuck Norris can sneeze with his eyes open.

Please. Go to http://www.chucknorrisfacts.com/ for more insight into the world of Chuck. I don't care if you don't think they're funny. But Chuck does. He'll roundhouse kick you to the face if you don't laugh. (I'd laugh if I were you. It's just safer that way.)

Let's rock. Rock tonight.

Every year, in my New Years Resolutions, I make a goal to learn how to play the guitar. I know. There are a million people out there who already know how. But I have this one little problem: I don't have a guitar. And previous to this time in my life, I've been so swallowed up in school and other activities, that my guitar-playing aspirations have sadly had to take a place in the back-seat of my life.

Oh, it's not like I don't make an effort to learn. Every time I came across someone with a guitar, I would ask them to teach me just one more chord. This seemed like a great plan until the next time I saw someone with a guitar, and I went to play the chord, and...uh...couldn't remember it. Ahem. Only embarrassing to myself, really, but - nonetheless. I tried to borrow one from my mom for quite a while (she has 3. At least.) But they were just all too dear to her. Hmph. Guess I know what's more important...the guitar, or ME. Hehe. I've tried other ways, too...I've dated multiple guys over the past few years who all play the guitar. That worked for a little bit, but then we'd always break up. GOOD-BYE new years resolution. Errr...or goodbye relationship? I think I missed the guitar more. :)

Anyway. Now I've found this guitar. I really want it. But I can't justify the $300 it'll cost to get it because I don't know how to play it yet. HOWEVER, I clearly haven't gotten very far in my quest to learn due to my LACK of a guitar. See the problem here? I looked at some that were cheaper, but they're just not as cool looking, or as quality. (I confess, I have no idea as to the quality of this, my dream guitar, but - I think I should get the one I really want first instead of some crappy crapster guitar.) Just my opinion. I keep trying to talk sense into myself, but I always come back to this dilemma. It's about time I finished this resolution, don't you think? I probably just need to buy the thing and rock my way to awesomeness.

Sunny Days and Red Rock Nights

We'd had enough. Enough of life. Enough of boys. Enough of the snow. Enough of Provo. So we left. We hit the road, Jack. :) And what a glorious, sunny road it was!

It was a trip to clear our heads, get away from reality, and seek out the sunlight. We may or may not have banned our cell phones to the trunk. And then, when we got to destination St. George, we put them all in a drawer in the hotel room. I think it was the greatest idea ever!! I'd forgotten how GOOD that felt! freedom, FrEeDoM, FREEEEDOM!!!! We found "free" restrooms along the way, and then...to greet us after our free experience, there was the tallest, greenest porcelain doll. Just sitting there in the gas station, of all places. Random. :) There were music video opportunities in the parking lot, with red rock in the background, more seafood than any of us have ever eaten in one sitting, and Sunglasses. Yes, that's capitalized. Because it's that important. The sunglasses were worn during dinner. Almost the entire time. It was an important part of our star disguise. Jess did it best with her hat/aviator combo, though. Props, Jess. Props. I think our waitress thought we were...strange, to say the least. :) But we didn't care! We never even knew what time it was! Why?! Because...who said we had a schedule?! We could be anywhere, anytime we wanted to be there! Let freedom ring.

I think the most important part of the roadtrip was on the way back. Well - not the most important in the sense that nothing else we did was of any value. There were some PRICELESS times to be had at Red Lobster. And singing the same two songs over and over as we took over the hotel's hot tub. And when Dani couldn't decide between Noah Calhoun and Lon Hammond Jr. Dani. In essence, they are both good options. Filthy rich with beautiful jawline, or intense love-fights. You take your pick. Anyway. On the way back, we played "build-a-man." Yes, this is a real game. It's where you think back on every boy you've ever dated or loved, or been friends with, and despite all the bad things, you put together all those important qualities you've gathered from them over the years, and...well...you build-a-man. Lol. At first, it was funny. But then it made me think. Darn thinking. I love friends who make me take a serious look at my life, and make sure I become better for it all.

I can't wait for spring. :) Here's to great friends and the open road. :)

A Night at the Tabernacle

Just last week, I had the privilege of attending "An Evening with a General Authority" since I am now a full-time CES Employee. You have to be one of those (it's mostly institute and seminary teachers that are invited to go...) to be invited to this amazing night. President Boyd K. Packer spoke, and it was really great. I officially have the coolest job in the world! The tickets Lindsay and I were given were for the actual meeting in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. (Lindsay is the one in the middle with me...our cubicles share a wall. We sometimes throw things over them at each other. Very, verrrry mature.) Sometimes I forget how lucky I really am to have this job. It's a little crazy sometimes, and keeps threatening to take over my life, but - in all reality, what better things could I fill my time with right now?! Also, they served us a nice refreshment/dinner afterward in the Conference Center. I saw so many friends there who are now teaching seminary, and so many teachers I've worked with in the past at EFY...it's just a good, good feeling to have the opportunity to interact with so many super people. I never really thought I'd have a career, but this is my life! How cool is that?!

It's that time of year, Shane!!!

I have this friend.  He's perfectly normal and good.  Except for this one thing.  He has a very intense fear/hatred of Peeps.  Yes, Peeps.  Small, sugar-covered marshmallow "chicks."  He hates them.  Not as in he hates how they taste or how bad they are for you.  He hates THEM.  I found this out one day two summers ago...summer of 2006 when we worked together at EFY.  We were playing our team's favorite game, the "M&M game."  Certain colors of the m&ms mean you tell something specific about yourself.  Blue means a sad story from your life, orange is embarrassing moments, yellow is happy, green is romantic, so on and so fort.  (The brown ones are a free pass.  You get to eat your M&M.)  Anyway.  We spent hours over the course of the summer playing this game while the kids were in class (I know.  Bad.).  But we got to know each other even better over the course of the summer because of the M&Ms.  :)  I don't remember what color brought this particular moment from Shane's life to memory, but nevertheless; it changed all our lives.  Shane has this OCD thing involving Peeps.  Whenever he sees them, no matter where they are, no matter where he is, Shane MUST take his finger and smash/poke each Peep in sight.  One smash to the box is not enough.  He must destroy each and every innocent little sugar-covered marshmallow who dares to take the form of a small chick.  (However, we have found this Peep problem extends even to the halloween ghost peeps, the christmas tree peeps, so on and so forth.  Seriously.)  I LOVE THIS THING ABOUT SHANE.  The poor boy actually has to avoid the seasonal aisle in the store this time of year.  He'd smash every peep in sight if he saw them.  Either that, or he'd run away screaming...but still with this intense need and desire to smash the marsmallows.  He can't explain it.  I can't explain it.  But it's seriously the funniest thing I have ever known about anyone, and ONE of my greatest sources of joy at this time of year.  :)  Some of us may or may not have taken a special trip all the way to Rexburg, ID last year just to bring him boxes of Peeps.  He had no idea what was coming.  :)  I can't even write this without snickering to myself every few seconds or so.  So this is dedicated to you, Shane.  This may be my blog, but this is from all of us in team DeeShaBenKelIs.  Happy Easter, Shane.  Happy, Happy Easter.  :)