Turkeyday!

Thanksgiving was amazing! It is easily my favorite holiday. I don’t even like turkey all that much. A typical Thanksgiving includes everyone helping out in the kitchen (men included), a nap during the Cowboys game and name calling during the UT/A&M game. After that there was always a game of poker, which we haven’t done in a long time and everyone went home with arm loads of leftovers. I’m getting hungry just thinking about the leftovers we had this year.

I flew home Friday morning but didn’t get home until after dark. On the way home we made a pit stop at Cabela’s.

Weston and Caitlin still had school Monday and Tuesday. I watched Caitlin get on the bus for the first time and just about died. What ever will I do with my own kids?

Thursday was Thanksgiving and somehow I made it through the day with out a nap (talk about cranky).

Friday Mom and I went shopping. Black Friday is my time to stock up on movies, seriously have you seen my movie collection? Random but good. We played volleyball up at the church and I hurt my ankle, but what’s new?

Saturday we celebrated Caitlin’s birthday a day early so I wouldn’t be rushed for time flying home. She told us when she went back to school on Monday she would be in first grade because now she is 6. I love that girl! She got a doll house and some clothes. I got her Kung Fu Panda. I wanted to giver her Tinkerbell but dad dropped the ball on that one and got it for her the week it came out.

Sunday we left church early. Mom and I are bad about that. We went to grandma and papa’s for lunch and to see Trenton. I watched Trenton over the summer; he’s seriously one of the cutest kids. My flights all got delayed so I didn’t make it into Provo until about 1:30 pm and then I had work and school to look forward to.

I was seriously stressing this week and most of it was probably self-inflicted. I tried to finish a paper early but my laptop has a nasty virus and I didn’t get it done until the early hours of the morning. So now I’m dead tired and still have classes. This weekend I am going to try to force myself to get things done so that next week I can focus on getting ready for finals.

What to do?

I have the hardest time with second guessing myself. For example, last night I couldn’t get a hold of Melissa (Beckee’s sister) to go with me and sign contracts so I got in my car and headed to Orem to sign anyway. About half way there I chickened out, there’s no way I can take a chance on keeping two contracts. I was almost home again when I decided to turn around and at least go talk to my landlord. I finally got a hold of Melissa and the only real day we can go sign is tomorrow.

Another crucial decision I recently made was starting a second job with Eleutian. It’s a great company and they are growing by leaps and bounds but I’m not sure if I still want it. I would be working from 4am-8am, paid once a month, and I’m not sure if I even want to do this in the long run. I’ve been thinking, I’m already established here at BYUB, even if I don’t like my current job very much. Plus I only have a year left. After graduation I am pretty sure I will end up in Texas because my family is way too stubborn to move. I’ve missed way too much of Caitlin’s first 6 years and let’s face it, mom and dad will need all the help they can get with that one.

I’m pretty sure this Thanksgiving break will find me trying to reorganize my life and figuring out what the heck I want to do for a career after graduation. But I can’t think about it this week, I have so much to get done before Friday morning.

So the other night I had a dream that I was sitting on the plane Friday morning, everything was great and I was excited to be going home. All of a sudden it hit me; I forgot to take my ClCv test on Thursday! So now I’m a nervous wreck making sure I don’t forget anything. Oh! Icing on the cake, forgot to do the take home part of my MFG test…that’s great! I feel like everything is just swirling down the toilet.

Eleutian

What has happened since the last time I wrote? I got a new job! I work for Eleutian as well as BYU Broadcasting now. Eleutian is a company who provides ESL teachers. Right now I'm in training and will only be a sub until I come back from the Christmas break. Our main clients are in Korea right now but soon we will be opening up in South American countries.

They gave me a key to the building last night. It feels all official. In more ways then the key. I'm going to be working two jobs until I decide if I want to stay with Eleutian full time. Luckily I'm starting out as a sub; just getting my feet wet. But I'll have to make a big decision come January.

Saturday they started the training. It was a lot to take in but I think I'll be able to handle it. The training was long but they fed us Cafe Rio for lunch so I'm not complaining. Last night I had another training with Beth, I think she was in Wyoming. Crazy huh! The company is based out of Wyoming and has just opened a branch in Provo. The company uses Skype to talk to their students in Korea; we also use Skype to talk to employees in Wyoming. I have another training tonight to test my ability to teach and then I actually call people in Korea tomorrow. Crossing my fingers.

I'm very very nervous, these students really look up to their English teachers. (Refreshing from what American students do to their teachers)

Good news or Bad news first?

I’m going to start with the bad and end on a good note. Whitney and I studied (not completely effectively but studied none the less) for a couple of hours and then I studied for at least 2 more today before going to take the English 291 test. I thought I had a pretty good grasp, or at least as good as I could get on the concepts but I sat down…took one look at the test…and yep you guessed it…Jessica blanked. I couldn’t remember a thing. The only thing I could remember was the dates I had memorized, but I hadn’t memorized enough. It probably didn’t help that I stayed up pretty late last night and couldn't stay awake in class today…but technically…I did get a nap (in class) before I took the test, shouldn’t that have helped? I guess the saying “I’ve slept since then” counts in this case. Needless to say I more then bombed that test. I left the testing center around 6:30 and it was already dark. I don’t care how much “more” sleep I get on that one night…daylight savings sucks! I’m moving to Indiana!

On to better news... It’s November! I fly home in 18 more days and I figured out today that I will be home for Caitlin’s birthday. I haven’t been home for her birthday since she was 2 or 3 and that just about kills me. Weston and I share a birthday and this year we both have our last tests for the year on that day…but we’re going to make it up in NM skiing!!! I think I will get Caitlin (who is turning 6 now) the new Tinkerbell movie. What do you think?

tagged

I've been tagged. My former roommate Sarah tagged me to place the fourth picture in my forth folder. It's nothing too spactacular, I have a ton of pictures from the last two football games I went to. At this last one these two guys wore pumpkins on their heads. I don't know if they were real but they kept them on most of the game I think. Crazy people. I think I'm supposed to tag 2 more people and since there's only a couple of people who have blogs that might read this I'll choose Joanna and Chris.

And the room bowed down to us

Last night was the ward's Halloween party. We all seemed to have the same problem of not knowing what we would dress up as. At one point I was going to steal Charlotte's clothes and racquetball gear and just be her. It was a genius plan because it would have been free. After brain storming with Joanna we decided we wanted to be something girly (which doesn't narrow things down too much). As we were sitting in the middle of boas, funky shoes, and scarves a bright idea popped into Joanna's head. We started watching "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and decided to be girls out of the 30's. From there we became mobster and eventually we had a whole gang. Later Joanna had to bail but our gang included Muscles, Delilah, The Boss, Daisy, and Babyface. It was great; we walked into the party and everyone turned to us. We're doing this again on Friday for Sarah's party and Dustin and I are going to Phantom of the Opera all dressed up.

The Amazing Vitamins!

I’ve been out for a while. I have my good days and I’m excited to be feeling better but then I over do it and crash. I’m thinking I have a deficiency problem like I had in high school. To fix this problem my mom sent me an amazing care package with food, candy, a web cam and some vitamins. I am pretty sure she’s trying to tell me something with each of these items. I took a vitamin yesterday morning thinking “good girl” but much to my dismay they had my insides wanting to be on my outside. I figured it was because I had yet to eat breakfast but today I decided to read the label (smart huh?) These vitamins are for “active” people (which I am not). I guess my mom just thought they would have some extra “stuff” in them. After reading the label I found out that they do! They have about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee. Great! I had been caffeine free for three months now! Yes I am addicted, I have no shame in saying it but do I have to start over now? Just in case you are wondering, I did take another one today. I need the vitamins. I’ll just have to get a different kind. But until then…

Down for the Count

Not much to update here. I’ve been sick which has left me sitting on my couch watching alias. My doctor has no idea what is wrong with me and worse, she doesn’t seem to think it’s a big deal. I love that I just paid to have her tell me suck it up. I guess they have to pay off their loans from medical school some how.

On to better news; I’ve decided to graduate in a year. It’s only a semester early but it feels like it’s so close. My plan so far is to work for an airline and start to travel the world. I think I’ll take up an investment property too. Not sure where, I guess close to where I’m located with work. I’ve had mixed reviews about the airline decision. Some people have told me not to do it while others are really excited for me (like my parents because the benefit from it). I’ll put up a survey so you can tell me what you think.

The game last night made me want to cry and the office was kind of disturbing. I would be ok if Dwight never did that again. All in all I’ve been spending time with friends and enjoying myself despite the fact that I’m exhausted. You only live once and as Dave would say “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”

List #3 Famous Quotes

Some of the best quotes come from just hanging out with friends saying stupid things. Since we have a quote board for that at my house this post is for those quotes I especially love from well known people.

"If you are not in over your head how do you know how tall you are?"- T.S. Eliot

"Get in the back half pint" -Chief, Fox and the Hound

“Sometimes I feel like a figment of my own imagination.” - Lily Tomlin

“A woman in love can't be reasonable - or she probably wouldn't be in love.”- Mae West

“When women go wrong, men go right after them.”- Mae West

"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." - Galileo Galilei

"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." - Martin Luther King Jr.

“I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.”- Mae West

"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." - Oscar Wilde

"It's kind of fun to do the impossible." - Walt Disney

"Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it" - Henry David Thoreau

"I love Mickey Mouse more than any woman I have ever known." - Walt Disney

"I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the ordeal of meeting me is another matter. “- Winston Churchill

It's On Days Like These...

I don’t think this weekend could have been any better. The Boman sisters and I went up to temple square and got into BOTH sessions of Conference on Saturday. During the first session I was 16 rows from the front! We had to stand in line in the cold rain, but it was completely worth it. I tried to get into the American Sign Language section but since I obviously didn’t need it, they didn’t let me in. After the sessions on Saturday we went to the Gateway mall and I bought an awesome pair of shoes. And the funny thing is, I HATE shoe shopping!! I didn’t get home until about 9ish but I then hung out with Dave and his sisters and finally crashed in bed around midnight.

Sunday morning I was stirred from sleep by Dave. He did warn me that he would wake me up in time for the Sunday morning session, but did I believe him? I will now! I spent Sunday at Dave’s watching conference, eating, and goofing off. Good times. And then Dustin came over to practice for the talent show. Charlotte thinks we agreed to sing “A Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid. We’ll see how that goes. But never the less our piano was getting played and it sounded amazing! As long as I wasn’t singing along of course. Sunday night was dessert night at our house, an excuse to hook up Char’s brother and good friend. Another late night brings me to Monday morning, homework not done, work and school. Back to normal life again!

It's on days like these you realize that even if you don't have things figured out everything can still be ok.

I currently can’t find my other chip; I think it fell out of my bag. Sad Day! But here is a couple from the Saturday Afternoon Session.

P.S. I found out today that I am going home for Thanksgiving!!

Life is Good

I seem to do a lot of my blogging at work and should probably stop but let’s face it, I won’t. This week has been tough but just the kind of week I needed to get back in the game we call life. I learned that taking spring and summer term off isn’t the smartest idea. You tend to forget that you do have to study for classes and read the assignments. I’m not the brightest crayon in the box…I’m more of a teal blue. I love to procrastinate; I like waiting until the last minute to write a paper because then I sit down to start and finish the same paper. None of this first draft/ final draft nonsense. I had a presentatoin in ASL on Tuesday, then I took my English test and wrote my Mythology paper on Wednesday, go me! The whole week I kept thinking “My week is shot.” But then Wednesday night I finished my paper and turned it in Thursday afternoon. I still have my wonderful three day weekend (excluding coming in to work Friday morning). Life is good. Tomorrow I will be heading up with the Boman sisters to visit temple square and try to get into a session or two of Conference. I can't wait!

List #2 My Life's Soundtrack

To continue my annoying habit of lists I thought I would make a collection of songs that have been a part of my life…good and bad times. Of course I'll think of more and I'll add them to the list but this is what I've come up with so far. I’ve tried keeping these in chronological order, the problem with that is I still listen to a lot of these songs.
Head Over Feet- Alanis Morissette
You Learn- Alanis Morissette
I love that I started listening to her when I was about 7 and she's still one of my favorite singers. Correct me if I'm wrong but she has been getting prettier with age.
I Want It That Way-Backstreet Boys
I Want You Back- Nsync
Shameful enough I still listen to a song or two from these guys. Remember how everyone was in love with Lance Bass? Look where that got us girls!
U Can't Touch This- MC Hammer
I've never been a big fan of this song because it gets stuck in your head and you sing it at all the wrong times. But it's a classic.
Wannabe- Spice Girls
There are some memories concerning this song that I would rather have erased from my memory but again, a part of my life. How many girls watched their movie? That’s a shameful yes from me.
All I Wanna Do- Sheryl Crow
I Don't Want to Wait- Paula Cole
More songs that gets stuck in your head quite easily…Did I just get them in your head? Good.
Waterfalls- TLC
This song has been sung by teenage girls everywhere, this and No Scrubs.
Lump- Presidents of the United States of America
I have no idea who introduced me to this song but I swear I will get revenge.
Inside Out- Eve 6
Love Love Love this song, but I have no idea why
Crash into Me- Dave Mathews Band
Reason- Hoobastank
Every time I hear these songs I think of this mix CD an ex gave me. This is lame because otherwise these would be good songs. Guys, FYI, girls don’t want to hear a song about how you’re not perfect. We know this!
Then I did- Rascal Flatts
This reminds me of those many flights to and from Dallas.
What Hurts the Most- Rascal Flatts
I'm Movin' On- Rascal Flatts
I went on a big Rascal Flatts kick in high school. I would still be a huge fan but these songs are tainted with an ex too. Who by the way I hear has a new fiancé and a baby on the way, which leads me to the next set of songs.
New Strings- Miranda Lambert
So Close Now- Eli Young Band
Picture to Burn- Taylor Swift
Over You- Daughtry
I love emo songs, even the country ones.
I’ll put some more current songs up; these are just songs up to now.

Three Day Weekends Must End

As I sit in my office at 8 am this morning, I realize the full impact of my amazing 3 day weekend coming to a close. This next week is going to be killer but my brilliant beyond brilliant plan is to make next weekend just as fabulous. To recap this weekend: Friday I have no classes but this Friday I also didn’t have work since I worked last weekend. BONUS! What I should have been doing was a paper due this week but of course I wasn’t. Instead I was chatting on Facebook, until about noon…yes I wasted away a couple of hours to chatting and surfing the web. At noon I went and bought some camping gear and Friday night had a blast up at Strawberry Reservoir. (Note: bring warmer camping gear.) I got very little sleep since my sleeping bag was literally frozen but I had a blast. Did I just say blast twice? When I came home around noon on Saturday I should have gone straight to bed…of course I didn’t. I don’t exactly remember what I did until 6, but at 6 I was at the broadcast. Saturday night I went country swing dancing…which, I will admit, was the best part of the whole weekend. Guys, if you want to know a way to a girls heart, know how to dance or at the very least be willing to go dancing. By the time Sunday rolled around I was dead on my feet, but did I take a nap? ...Heck no! Sunday night I got to that point where everyone loves to play gestures with me. Whit, do you know what I’m talking about? Hmmmm? Well, this weekend was fun. Any suggestions for next weekend?

List #1 Pet Peeves

Back in high school I had this counselor who thought it would be a bright idea for me to make lists in order to calm myself. Little did he know I’m a tad on the OCD side and that I try to avoid lists to calm myself. I must have flipped a lid because I’ve decided that lists aren’t so bad. List #1…
Pet Peeves:

People who didn’t learn to walk on the right side of the sidewalk or walk in the right door. We did learn this in 1st grade right? And for those who walk on the left and refuse to move for those of us who did learn this concept forcing us off the sidewalk is just plain rude!

Being corrected. This should actually be number one. I’m not saying I can’t take criticism; I strongly believe that you learn through criticism. But when it comes to stupid things like who is getting money back from the government you might as well shoot me if you plan on correcting me. Did I really care you weren’t getting money and I was? P.S. I didn’t, I miss filed. HA!

Talking at the movies. I understand that theaters are a social gathering place and talking before the previews begin helps pass the time. When the lights dim so should your mouth. This doesn’t just apply to the theater. When I’m watching a movie at home the same rule applies. I like to pay attention to movies.

Picking up other’s commonly used phrases. I am guilty of this one. “I know, right?” Comes from my mom. And I have picked several more up from you Whitney.

Guys wearing girly jeans. Correction, guys wearing the most awkward jeans possible. I don’t know why we say “I hate it when guys where girls’ jeans” because we wouldn’t wear those either!

Like. I hate people overusing it and I hate that I count how many times a sacrament speaker uses it rather than paying attention to the spiritual lesson they are no doubt sending my way.

Every movie that has come out in the past year or two that could be remotely interesting on a higher thinking level is R. I do love a good chick flick or comedy but does every movie based on a historical scope have to have the hot guy's blood and guts spilling out all over the screen?

The large amount of phone calls I’ve been getting from numbers that don’t exist or have been disconnected. I normally leave these alone but sometimes I feel like a good yell. And then I call and there’s no one there to yell at.

Why have I forgotten politics? Oh yes, because I hate arguing politics with people who don’t know what they are saying. Or better yet those who in the end agree with you but who are still arguing.

And of course, being pulled over for no reason. It has happened twice now in the past year. How many of you really think the police are doing a great job of spending your hard earned money on pulling over me?

Wyoming shut out

I also went to the BYU/Wyoming game this weekend. Watching them at home, sitting on my couch just isn't the same. I realized that after this season I only have one left before I graduate and I am going to try to make it to as many as I can. Here are some pictures from the game.

Bad Day...Everyone has them.

Nothing too terribly exciting has happened since my last post. But if you have a few minutes to waste I’ll fill you in. I only have a car charger for my cell, and I use it as an alarm so I sometimes find that I have to charge it for an hour or two before I go to bed to make sure it makes it until morning. One day last week I had one of those nights. I had classes until 6:30 and when I came home all I wanted to do was be lazy. So I was. Around 10 pm I took my phone out to my car and let it charge. When I came back in I noticed this little piece of paper. The one that says “get your driving record to us or else.” I panicked for a moment and went straight to ordering it online. Of course the website I chose happened to be very confusing but it’s 10:30 by now and no one is available to help me over the phone. If you didn’t know, I worry, a lot. Knowing I wouldn’t get any sleep over this I decided to get my phone to call my mom. Yes, I still have times where I need my mommy. On my way out the back door (the one with stairs) I fell. Big time, and just as I am falling someone pulled into the parking lot and just sat there…watching me. Despite the many choice words I wanted to scream at this time, I got up and got my phone and rushed (as quickly and gimply) as possible back into the house where I preceded to call my mom and cry over the day I had. And yes, it’s midnight in Texas. Just remember when you are having a bad day and are looking for that excuse to cry and let it all out…stop looking…you end up curled up in a parking lot with a skinned up knee.

Life Can Be Deceiving

You know that song by Jack Johnson "Better Together"? Look it up if you haven't. There's the part that says, "Love is the answer at least for most of the questions in my heart, like Why are we here? And where do we go? And how come it's so hard? It’s not always easy and sometimes life can be deceiving I'll tell you one thing, it's always better when we're together."
Is love really the answer to all the questions in my heart? It's has taken me a while to be able to answer that with a yes. It's a somewhat weak yes but it's there. You see, we all are looking for someone to love us, we're American, it's in our blood. But we often forget that more importantly we need to love ourselves. Not in the "O my heck, I'm so hot" sort of way, but more of an appreciation for what we have been given. I guess the things they say in church are true (go figure) you do have to look at things on an eternal perspective. Anyway, this is going to be a relatively short blog since it's my epiphany...an epiphany many of you probably had years ago.

I have no stones to cast...

First off I'd like to say that I have a LOT more research to do on the upcoming election before I decide which is the lesser of the two evils to vote for. But I had a lengthy discussion on the topic of the republican choice for VP and the "scandal" as they are calling it. First off I'd like to say, what scandal? These things do happen do they not? Yes, republicans are all about the family, but when your child comes to you with something that hard to deal with you don't shun them or send them into hiding...that's only going to make it harder. No it's not right to involve children in your political campaign; I will be the first to agree to that. But when she found out she was pregnant, when she decided to keep the baby and marry the father she is no longer a child...those are some very responsible ADULT decisions she is making. And how do we know if she did or did not want to be front page on all the best selling newspapers. Maybe as an adult she decided instead of hiding she would just face the press and not have this very private situation even more of a topic of gossip later when, let's say, Palin becomes a grandmother. Yes, I know, that I'm probably missing a lot of what's going on with anything in the political world, but before we go accusing people of the horrible sins they have can we take a step back and see if we really can cast that first stone. We're not perfect but we have the good fortune of not having our lives displayed before the whole world. These are politicians and they know that the press is always looking for a story but can we sit back for a second and realize that these are people too.

I don't know maybe I just felt a little sorry for Bristol. I'm glad she's taking responsibility for what happened and I'm glad she was brave enough to face the press. At least she's not terminating the pregnancy, that I would be mad about.

Read up on it, you can tell me what you think if you really want. I don't care.

http://www.silive.com/news/advance/index.ssf?/base/news/1220356829225330.xml&coll=1

Rainy Day

So, second blog started. Let's see if I can keep up with this one. Probably not, I'm not going to lie and get your hopes up. So I've moved into a new house...love it! Except for the fact that my roommates for the past 2 years are married...or close to it. Oh well, I'm supposed to be able to deal with change right? Right. The new roommates are great though, I really can't complain. There's definitely a need for a quote board already. For example, in trying to comfort my roommate last night I might have accidentally dissed her as well. What do you think? "Don't worry he'll talk to you again...He'll talk to anything that breathes." Yes...I did. Well thankfully we're still cool.

It's raining today, hence the sudden need to start a new blog. I'm sitting in my living room thinking wouldn't it be great if I didn't have to work today at the Latinoamericano Festival, but really...what else would I do? I even started reading my textbooks.

I have this appreciation for Baptist church signs. When your day is shot and you just need a good laugh...go find a Baptist church sign. I'm sure you all have seen the email going around with some good ones but in my home town of Bastrop the Baptist church is next to Dairy Queen and their sign said, "Our Sunday's are better than DQ's." I'd like to argue their point, but to tell you the truth...I don't think I can.

Well that's about all for now. I have this strong want to go read another textbook.