Scope For The Imagination

Dinner Conversation...

2011-12-04T22:15:00.002-07:00

A classic game of would you rather always does the family good...

well, it usually does, but not today.

"If you couldn't be in Gryffindor, which house would you want?"

I hard question, but I quickly decided, "Ravenclaw".

"Hey Bryan would you rather fight a dragon or a troll?"

"Do I have a broom?"

"No"

"Do I have a wand?"

"Ya"

"A troll definitely." bugged that he would even ask me such an obvious question.

Then more questions were asked between us such as which we would fight, the big spider, centaurs, more dragons and other Harry Potter things.

Then things went sour when I asked, "Dyl, who would you rather fight, a centaur or Hagrid?"

"Duh Hagrid, he's stupid".

"Did you just say he's stupid??" I replied.

"Ya, he's stupid".

"Sorry but I can't talk to you right now".

"Well then, who would you rather fight______" (can't remember what he asked because I couldn't stop thinking about what he just declared).

"No seriously, I can't talk to you right now".

Wellllll HE started it!

Sophisticated Thanksgiving

2011-11-27T20:36:00.002-07:00

As you can see we have a very sophisticated family. Our Thanksgiving weekend consisted of high-class humor, fine dining, and tuxes and cocktail dresses. Only the fanciest for us, thank you very much.

One of the best parts about these videos is that you can hear Leigh in the background outraged about the noises, but yet she can’t stop giggling. Leigh blames calls everyone out by name, blaming them for the noises, but she can’t stop laughing either. AND THEN when mom accidently closes out of the app, she sounds upset.

Good one Leigh.

Some of the best lines from these videos

“oh! I can’t breath” –SAM

“do that one again. Oh I love that!” –DAD

“it’s like asking a question” –LEIGH

“What! Okay that’s diarrhea” –LEIGH

It’s just not possible to be offended by these videos when you see how hard my mom is laughing in them.

Good one Mom.

Just Me

2011-11-20T20:06:00.005-07:00

Hottie is in the other room being hot again. Well, technically he's studying, but that's basically the same thing. I've been looking at blogs for the past hour wondering how people can be so funny/clever/witty with their words and still have time to live a normal life to talk about. It's a cycle for me. Pinterest, sometimes facebook and definitely blogs hook me, then get me into a funk. I love reading about others' lives and experiences, but if I don't pull myself away from it, after long enough I get envious. And then I make the same realization that I do every time, people are different. I don't have to be them or have their things to be interesting. I'm me and me is awesome (especially when I'm accompanied by a Dylan). Does anyone else feel this way? In the world we live in now, when there is SO much accessible through the internet that literally a half a day could be spent just on browsing, that it is incredibly easy to get caught up in what we're not, and what other people are.

Just curious if it happens to you too...

p.s. see you in 3 days Reagy goo and Sammy poo.

Books

2011-11-13T20:01:00.003-07:00

"No man can be called friendless who has God and the companionship of good books".

-Elizabeth Barrett Browning

image

Sometimes do you wish that you could be like the people you read about in books? I get engulfed in books and catch myself acting like the characters that inspire me. Like when I am reading Jane Austen books, my vocabulary gets more sophisticated and I tend to dress in classy clothes. Recently I read Peter Pan and all I could think about was what it would be like to talk to a mermaid, or be a mother that waits for her children every night to come home from Neverland. Now, while I read The Wednesday Wars, I wonder if my seventh grade self could understand Shakespeare and respond to death threats for cream puffs. I am so grateful for books and how they take me out of myself and explore new thoughts and ideas.

How do books affect you?

Not a Typical Saturday...

2011-11-06T22:16:00.002-07:00

7:54 wake up and rush to the church to help clean

9:00 go home/eat breakfast

10:00 go out back and start taking down the shed at Cherry Lane

10:00-2:45 Take down shed/take stuff to dump

2:10ish FIND A TRAP DOOR

what?!

Yes, that's right. We have a mystery on our hands here. Yesterday we were taking down the shed in the back yard of Cherry Lane. It was a tin-ish shed with a bunch of pallets and uh other stuff in there *ah hem...Apparently when Brad and Sherry bought this house the shed was there. So no one even knew about this trap door that we found. In case you didn't hear me the first and second time, we found a trap door! The shed was built up with a cement slab as the floor. As we were finishing taking the last parts of the pallets out that were covering the cement slab we uncovered a round secret trap door, with wires going into it. But, this task took us so long that we had to hurry to take the last load to the dump, and by the time we got back we barely had time to change our clothes and rush off to meet the McKinnon's for a movie.

Lest you think we weren't dying of curiosity on what was inside hole of imagination, let me tell you that we came up with quite a list of what it could be.

Some guesses we had

underground passageway
bomb shelter
treasure trove (possibly a skeleton holding it)

What do you think? Vote on it!

thoughts...

2011-10-30T23:34:00.001-06:00

Words that are constantly going through my head these days…

Dylan

birds

yellow

babies

white homes

good parents

fall colors

tissues

love

Leslie Knope

arugula

pajamas

candles

San Fransisco

Cousins

blankets

treat yo’ self

witty

Jane Austen

classics

birthdays

curry

sewing

knitting

planner

billy balls

succulents

decorating

friends

travel

just a few…

Story of the Book End...

2011-10-23T20:00:00.002-06:00

Here is a little situation that sums up being the last child in a family.

A few weeks ago Dylan and I were discussing our Thanksgiving plans. Initially we were going out to visit David, Emily and company in New Orleans, but tickets were expensive. So, we were looking over our options. I thought of a brilliant idea and we proposed it to my parents. Hey, why not drive out to San Fransico and spend Thanksgiving with Reagy and Sam. My mom is obsessed with China Town and dad likes a good car trip. Even though the plan was flawless all my dad responded with was a big fat shoot down of my idea.

Come with me now to two days ago. I'm at work and Dylan calls, "Hey I have something exciting to tell you..."

Me: "what"

Him: "your dad just thought of the best idea for Thanksgiving, we're going to San Francisco!"

Me: "seriously?"

Him: (while chuckling) "yes"

Me: "this is ridiculous"

Apparently my dad has no recollection of my brilliant idea.

But hey, at least we're going to Reagy's ~~house~~, ~~apartment~~, shoe box!!

Year year year

2011-10-16T21:20:00.002-06:00

Last weekend Dylan and I celebrated our first anniversary.

No way, where did the time go? So many people say the first year of marriage is the hardest, but what about the happiest? This past year I have made some of my best memories and they’re all due to Dylan.

Through our fist year of marriage I’ve learned a lot things about life, but my favorite things to learn were about Dylan. Getting to know him better than I did before has been so fun! Until this year I didn't know such a compassionate, sensitive, silly, handsome, loving person. For how much I have loved this year with him, I cannot wait to see what the future holds for us. Thank you honey!

Although this year has gone by so incredibly fast that we almost can’t believe it’s been a year, Dylan and I were amazed at all the places we went in that year.

England, Park City, Las Vegas, Italy, Skagway, Juneau, Yukon Territory, Oregon, Texas

I can only hope we’ll get this many adventures in the next ten years…if that.

I LOVE DYLAN.

(suckas)

Glassblowing

2011-10-09T17:53:00.003-06:00

This was something fun we did in Alaska this summer. Almost everyday we drove people on tours to this little place just right on the outskirts of Skagway called the Jewel Gardens. In the full bloom of summer it was a breathtaking piece of land with a quite little café and a fun little shop. People who go there for garden tours, lunch or to glass blow. I thought the gardens were beautiful, but personally I would never spend $150 + to look at them or a whopping $200+ to glass blow there. Luckily, the locals are treated like gold in Skagway as long as you weren’t a day visitor discounts were incredible. So why not right? We picked our colors and designs and hit the floor. It was cool to watch the glass melt down and become all one color, and then as it would melt the brilliant colors would shine through again. We had so many fun experiences in Skagway and it was home to us for a short little while. Thanks Skagway for being so….cool (brrrrr!).

The Good Kind of Weekend

2011-10-02T22:43:00.003-06:00

General Conference

When it comes along is there anything that is more of a prize? I love how this biannual conference ALWAYS kicks me back into shape and makes me see how my priorities should be. Every time we get the experience to listen I remember why this gospel is so right and so incredible. Some things that I have gained and want to yet realize in my life after this weekend,

• talking about the gospel to anyone, anywhere and make if feel like casual conversation

• being a parent (someday, not now)

• living a life more conducive to the spirit

• having a million baby girls for Dylan to protect

• remembering how many batches of our biannual cinny rolls to do (is it 3.5 or 4.5 jo? I’ve already forgotten)

• becoming more acquainted with the Book of Mormon

I feel like with every new general conference I watch the more and more specific talks are, and the more I feel like they are talking directly to me. Anyone else feel that way?

If you don’t know what general conference is, check it out here!

Football Season

2011-09-25T23:04:00.003-06:00

And so it begins, another wonderful season of BYU football. For me this is a unique experience that thankfully is only seasonal. I've found only a few women who can understand and relate to what life becomes for me once football season has begun (and let's not forget to mention basketball season following right on it's jersey tails). Most of the women happen to be in the family I married into and have lived with the men's enthusiasm (read: consuming obsession) for many MANY years. One of these great, patient, enduring ladies is my mother-in-law. So as this season approaches I was brought back to an email she sent me at this time last year with an article that couldn't describe the experience any better.

She wrote: "My life. I laughed so hard when I saw this. If you are not a McKinnon or married to one, it may seem impossible to fathom that it can actually be like this. We, McKinnon wives, can vouch for the authenticity of this obsession. Even as I write, two McKinnon boys are talking about "the game" in the background on the phone! We love them so! That is what makes them them! Love you all! Sherry"

Confessions of the wife of a college football fan. If you even slightly know what I'm talking about when I say life is literally put on hold when it's game day, read that article and you'll be able to relax a little, realizing you're not alone in this crazy world.

Farah

2011-09-13T16:56:00.000-06:00

I am back from the summer of working long hours and days strung together of never endingness. So what do I come back to? More work! Seriously I'm really excited about this. You see folks, I don't have just any ordinary hum ho kind of jobto come back to, I have Farah. Farah is one of my best friends and is such a light in my life. When I left she was sick and consequentially unhappy quite often. I was worried about her all summer. Now that I've seen the lovely girl I am happy to announce that she is back to her good ole happy beaming self again (Farah is a true summer baby). She makes so many people happy and has blessed countless lives. She teaches lessons through her happy optimistic demeanor. How did I get so lucky to find her?

We’ve had some really good times together and I am so blessed to know this remarkable person.

How bright our future is...

2011-09-07T12:03:00.005-06:00

Out of all of the semesters going to BYU I've learned some things, and i'm not talking information from my books and teachers. It's those kind of life lessons you realize you've learned after the fact. One of those happens to be how HARD school is. Not homework, staying focused, tests and ignoring the pencil tapper behind me. School is hard because the decisions that have to be made, specifically what to study. I am now going in to my 5th year of college and I've just declared my last and final major (~~hopefully)~~. Yes definitely. Yes, for sure.

It shouldn't have been majorly difficult for me because secretly I hope I can settle down with a family and apply the things I've learned from my major to motherhood and not a full-time job. But what about those people who do need to be concerned about liking what they do in school because they could be doing it for 30+ more years. HARD HARD HARD things.

Dylan is going through this right now. He's taking his time because we really want him to find something he loves and is excited about. He has taken just about every intro to whatever class out there and has been exploring his options endlessly. Finally he has stumbled upon a class this semester that we're hoping will give him the answer. It's a career exploration class. I wasn't trying to get my hopes up, but today they took a million of those career tests that will tell you what you should be and Dylan finally discovered his calling in life.

Ladies and Gentlemen, meet your next nanny in the world, Mr. Dylan McKinnon.

Juneau

2011-08-14T15:21:00.006-06:00

So after our adventure to Whitehorse with Chase, Jen and Val, we decided this getting out of Skagway thing for a few days was a good idea. So, a few weekends ago we decided to take some time off work and enjoy what Alaska had to offer. So first off we headed over to Haines on a 4X4 tour with Chase, Jenny and Goo.

It was a pretty fun time -- the views were beautiful, the company was great, and everyone got a chance to drive.

Early the next morning we left the Browns behind and headed for Juneau, and had an awesome ferry ride to get there. Here's the prettiest thing we saw on the ferry:

We spent a few days in Juneau and slept at the youth hostel there. It was sad not being able to spend the night together, but we couldn't pass up $10 a night.

In Juneau we rode up the Mt. Roberts tram (and took some sweet jumping pictures)

We went on a whale watching tour and saw sea lions and humpback whales

Ate some really good King Crab at Tracy's Crab Shack

Hiked out to the Mendenhall Glacier, and even up onto it

Then did a puzzle we found on the ferry as we came home to Skagway

It was an awesome weekend, and we loved spending it together in such a beautiful place. We tried to do as many things as we could that you can only do in Alaska (or at least that you can't do in Utah) and I think we did a pretty good job.

Also, you just got duped into reading a blog post by Dylan, and you probably didn't even know that he wrote it until now!

Welcome to our life

2011-07-25T19:17:00.015-06:00

Basically this is what we see every day of our summer. If you're jealous, it's alright, you can come visit. PLEASE?

The other day, when Dylan and I were finishing up work we got a call from Jenny. She was in Whitehorse (the next town away from Skagway, about 2 1/2 hours away) visiting Chase while he was on tour. She invited us to drive up and spend a day with them. We stole a car and we were off. I was especially excited for this spontaneous rendezvous. Why you may ask? SKAGWAY DOESN'T HAVE A MOVIE THEATRE. Normally that's not a big deal, but when THE VERY LAST MOVIE OF HARRY POTTER (meaning the end of my childhood as I know it) CAME OUT WEEKS AGO AND I STILL HADN'T SEEN IT, it becomes a very big deal.

And we saw it, and I cried, many times. Many many times. Tears of joy and sadness.

The drive to Whithorse is beautiful. We get to do half that drive on tour about once a week, but being able to do it without crazy tourists and lugging a big bus up the mountain was a totally different experience.

This is Dylan and Valerie planking together on a bridge. It was all Valerie's idea and since Dylan can never say no to her, he had to give in.

It's not that I want you to see my face all the time, but this is the only picture of Jenny I got on the whole trip. And Goo's face is always priceless.

Oh ya and did I mention all the friends we met along the way.

Alfred the porcupine.

A bear that looks like a gorilla.

and my very first spotting of a MOOOSE!!!

and this is Chase, jumping off a bridge. Again, it was Valerie's idea, and no one can refuse her. Obviously.

Need I say more?

What we've been up to...

2011-07-07T19:22:00.007-06:00

Dylan and I are in Alaska for the summer driving big busses around chuck full of tourists. I know, you're jealous already.

I was really worried at first to come to a new place and most importantly to be away from everything that is going on at home. Needless to say the couple days before we left I was having a very bad attitude about the whole thing.

But I'm happy to ~~stand~~ sit before you today and say I am loving it here.

We're living in a small town Skagway in the inside passage. It is so small there aren't any stoplights and the next town by road is over 2 hours away.

We work a lot, but when we're not working there is so much to do. We've been ziplinning, hiking, swimming (more like a polar bear plunging), and hanging out with family and friends. Jen and Chase are here with little Goo, and Dyl's cousin Seth and wife Elise are here as well. LUCKY!

Sorry to post such a revealing picture, but really, how can you get enough?

Need to finish this paper but I can't...

2011-04-07T21:53:00.007-06:00

Why you ask?

We leave for Italy in 2 weeks (2 weeks people!)
can't stop looking at Reagan's blog and drooling
reading through 30 minutes of a facebook thread trying to catch up on all my friends lives
drooling over Heathers recipe's on her cooking blog (check it out! Sugar Betty)
wondering how i'm going to catch up to Reagan and her tan lines
feeling much more snuggley than scholarly
and there is a cute boy in the next room over...

oh ya and the video of Maggie (4th video down) on this blog post.

Murder Mystery Dinner...

2010-12-15T21:44:00.005-07:00

Our hosts, Holly and Fred

See all the awards around our necks. Everyone's is the real deal except for mine.
Sam: Best dressed
Reagy: Best actress
and for the shocker
Dylan: Best actor (say what!)
I was very proud to say the least

Jenny and Johnny....and yes, that gold chain Dylan is wearing is from my grandmothers jewlrey collection. How did you know? (sorry grandma, Dylan sports it the best.)

and did I mention the house the party was held at? It was everything and more, the library was heavenly to say the least. I imagine myself spending my summer mornings there.
(sorry I am an accessory to this picture, it's much better without)

Dylan Clarinet McKinnon

2010-12-15T21:28:00.003-07:00

at this moment I am reveling in the music my husband is producing. Anyone know that Dylan could play the clarinet? I hardly did either. I snuck a couple pictures of him and when he caught me he pouted. I'm loving this whole marriage thing. Especially the parts when I discover new things that I married, like clarinets...(and pouting).

2010-09-17T19:01:00.004-06:00

Dialogue of Dylan and me the other day while driving to school...
(side-note, Dylan has been really excited about the radio station 101.9 lately, because it plays all the music that used to be popular when we were young.)

A song on the radio comes on that I would deem a little to hard for my taste.

D: "oh wow, this is crazy!"
B: "what song is this??"
D:"don't you remember this song? It was like the biggest thing in sixth grade" (another side-note, we lived on completely different continents in sixth grade).
B:"I don't think I ever listened to music like this."
D:"really? everyone knew this song." then he pulls out a fact from his vast reserve of music knowledge "I would have to say this song is probably the forerunner to all screamo music."
B:"oh really"
D: "ya, it's Papa Roach"
....
D:quietly singing along to himself, and knowing ALL the words
then all of the sudden I recognize it and sing out loud
B:"SUFFOCATION NO BREATHING!"
what!? where did that come from. Thankfully those were the only words that I knew. The whole song is about suicide...what in the world?!?

And now I want to know what other kinds of music worked it's way into my small eleven year old self without me knowing it!

Please someone tell me if you remember this song too. Or if it's just weird Dylan and I who in some weird trick oddly know this awful awful song...

{and can we take a small moment and notice how cute he is?}

Yesterday, oh yesterday...

2010-09-16T16:06:00.001-06:00

Yesterday would've been the day my parents dropped me off at the MTC...

but instead I spent the evening stuffing wedding announcements into envelopes!

Here are some of the ways people have put my switch in life into words....

" you're still going on a mission,
just a different kind"

"if you're going for easier I would've
stuck with the one that only
lasts a year and a half"

"Dylan is your mission now"

"oh man, you think the mission you were
going to go on is hard, just you wait!"

and my personal favorite by best friend Lauren....

"you're going to make babies instead of converts"

....my intentions exactly.

that poor person

2010-09-14T20:55:00.002-06:00

I feel bad for whoever thought up story problems. They probably thought it was a great idea so people would like math more, because they could apply it to everyday life. Oh boy, they were wrong. And that is why I feel bad for_______, for creating the story problem. What a bummer way to go down.

England, a month with the McKinnons

2010-08-26T12:13:00.007-06:00

oh and did I mention the best person in the whole (picture below with some girl). June 22, head off to Denver, then Toronto and finally ending up in London England June 23.

uhhhh....ya
I started this post at least a month ago. What was I thinking doing a day by day for a whole month in one sitting. Impossible! But then again that is typical of me. I feel like a super hero on a day to day basis, thinking I can tackle anything. As you can guess I usually disappoint myself. But on a happier note of the same subject, my self-esteem has not suffered because of it. So, because I have now (probably a month and a half later) realized that blogging about a whole month after the fact is not something my patience or personality is up to, I will default to posting the highlights and a few pictures out of the billion taken and try to aid you in understanding what an amazing and nearly indescribable trip I took.
HIGHLIGHTS

plane rides. I LOVE riding on planes because that means I'm traveling!
going to touristy places and people watching to the max
spending an entire month with the greatest boy imaginable and knowing that saying goodnight only meant "see ya first thing when we wake up".
beauty EVERYWHERE. especially the architecture. Everything in England is a gazillion years old, so it all looks cool.
Getting proposed to at Hampton Court Palace. what?! who get's to even be in England and get proposed to at the same time? That moment in time was real life magic. I'll get off on a tangent for a second. But seriously. I think that there are certain circumstances that can be created that will make magic no matter what and this is one of them.

Recipe:
1 handsome wonderful boy.1 girl who is in love with said boy
Reciprocated feelings
A palace on the Tames
Promises
A ring
A million happy thoughts of the future
a little side-note: to make the experience even more magical for the girl and maybe a little less for the boy add 70% nervousness on the boys part. He's cuter that way

....now back to the bullets

seeing more castles then you even knew existed.
finding inspiration for my wedding dress at a Saturday market
being blissfully happy for one month straight
Wimbledon!
Scotland!
trying to read Welsh...impossible
and being at a place in my life where everything is good and right. That is such a huge blessing!

*collages seemed to be my best bet

This just kills me...

2010-06-09T09:39:00.001-06:00

LIFE: taking a turn

2010-06-06T10:39:00.001-06:00

A late discovery of Bryan Brown: Life is the most wily double-dealing friend to own....and I like it.
It seems to me that when one tries to take life into one's own hands, life wriggles free and throws you in an opposite direction. Vague I know. But that is what I'm having to be lately. Super vague. Currently life is taking me on a roller coaster, and although at times I feel sea sick with the inconsistency of it all, I come down from every day thanking my Heavenly Father for how blessed I've been, and wonder at how it could get any better. After a week of wondering, even with my imagination, I can't seem to conjure up a better life right now.

Actually no, I don't want to be vague and uninformative about my life. Since I know that about me and maybe Stacy read this blog consistently, I can say what I like. This is my world. Silly, I forget sometimes.

Why I'm so blessed.

One word.

Well one person...

Dylan.

If you ever find a Dylan, hold tight, squeeze as tight as you can if you have to and don't let go. Dylans are the kinds that you gotta keep, cause really nothing is better than a Dylan. Dylans are worth it all. I'm staying home from my mission so I can be with a Dylan forever. I like to make my Dylan think I'm making this big sacrifice for him, but secretly I think he knows how much of a better gig I am getting with him. Dylans are the really really sweet kind of people, and that's a good thing to have around. But the even better part of Dylans is that they are silly. Not the kind of silly that you see and it makes you wanna throw up and then grow up. It's that kind of silly that you see and feel too mature. It makes you a kid again. Dyalns are sneaky. They act shy, but that's only a facade for your benefit, because they save the really fun side of themselves for you and some other select few they really like. Another reason you'll really want a Dylan is for his family. It's crazy when you're lucky enough to get a Dylan. First, you think WOW! I get a Dylan? life could not get any luckier.... and then you meet his family and a whole new world of luckiness is opened to you. Yes, it's true Dylans are the best kind to have. I'm glad everyone could be enlightened on the subject.

current status of me... "out of one's tree"

2010-04-28T16:43:00.004-06:00

Going C.R.A.Z.Y

Whilst I wait for the 9:00 hour to arrive I have been doing various things all day to try to keep myself busy...

A list will do.

*Wake up WAY too early, because I wasn't sleeping anyway
*bug the post office man to give me "the call" early when I can't even open it for another 13.5 hours
*Make the house spotless and my mother happy
*Bake cookies
*Buy cookies and eat them
*Mall (blah, why did I even test that as an option)
*Single woman dance party <-----probably the best decision I've made today
*Visit sister at work and eat her givings
*Movie (Elvis and Anabelle, anyone seen it?)
*text and talk to A LOT of people. A LOT. A LOT.
*watch the clock desperately
*Puzzle of a scout camp?
*Think about how all this waiting is really going to effect my mental well-being (seriously worried)
*sit and stare (oh ya that's a good one..)
*steamed open various other letters to satisfy the urge to do the same a one particular letter

...and so so so much more! So how is it only 5:00??!?!??

But please take comfort in the fact that I haven't dropped dead quite yet....really I'll be fine...I swear

TIME, PLEASE LIFT YOUR WINGS TO THIS TREACHEROUS WIND WE HAVE OUTSIDE AND FLY! FLY! FLY! I'll even give you a boost if you'd like!

Leggi Blonde

2010-04-22T22:00:00.003-06:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LE-LEIGH!!!!

Today this wonder of a woman had a birthday.

On EARTH DAY.

She was meant for the earth and the earth her.

They are quite good friends

She wanted a rainy/stormy day for her birthday....

What an incredibly weird but most awesome sister I have.

I love birthdays, because we are able to set aside time and celebrate the people who really mean a lot to us. And Leigh means a WHOLE LOT to me. Believe me, if you had one of her, you'd wonder how everyone who doesn't gets through life. Thanks for the 20 years you've spent with me Leigh. I love you so much!

(plus can we take a moment and awe over how intense she looks in that picture....wow...)

Sweatshirts, Blankets and Robes

2010-04-16T23:12:00.004-06:00

I love them...

They wrap you up all nice and warm...

They make you feel comfortable...

And they tell you everything is going to be alright...

(technically not the last one, but it definitely feels that way.)

{and if I ever had a snuggie, I'm sure it would fit into this category too}

I don't mean to be frank...

2010-04-15T21:37:00.004-06:00

I WAS HUNGRY...

I found a stale peice of bread....

and I ate it....

{there is nothing like a stale peice of bread to curb your appetite...}

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!

2010-04-11T14:41:00.006-06:00

SOOOOO EXCITED RIGHT NOW!!!!
SOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSO PUMPED!

My dad... (Isn't he just a gem?)

just informed me...
THAT I CAN TURN MY MISSION PAPERS IN 120 DAYS BEFORE MY BIRTHDAY NOW! (Instead of the previous 100 days)

APRIL 26th HERE I COME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*From now until I get my call you can expect (just to name a few) the following from me, distractedness, jittery movements, much more frequent squeals and arm squeezes, higher energy, the humming of victorious music, arm pumping, good game pats, and a whole lot of impatient waiting!

A small thought I had today...

2010-03-23T12:56:00.001-06:00

Why can't life be a bit more like a strawberry?

Life Lesson

2010-03-22T10:28:00.004-06:00

I'm learning an important life lesson right now. It's something I hope will become incorporated in me, instead of realizing it but never applying.

It's simple but profound to me:

The trial isn't the thing that should be considered in great depth, it's the people who are there for you when you go through it.

This means a great deal to me. I get so caught up in myself and how hard things can be, when I've never had to do this alone. I have an abundance of people who care about my well being. People think that to be happy things need to be going well in life, but happiness doesn't come that way. It comes from relationships and caring and love.

So Bryan, stop being so selfish!

Happy St. Patricks Day!!

2010-03-17T16:19:00.003-06:00

I've always loved this holiday...ALWAYS.
I look forward to it every year. For some reason this day always brings about something good, a turn of events or just pure happiness. These are a few reasons why I loved today already.

my dad without reminder put on green pants this morning
just adding to the wonderful weather, the excessive green I saw on campus made spring even that much more tangible
I learned just recently that the Chicago river is dyed bright green every year...

(I vow to be in Chicago at least once when this happens)

I pinched two people today (just about the right amount to feel like you support the holiday but not abuse it)
my mom woke up this morning wearing a great green long sleeved shirt not on purpose...
and...I got in trouble in Spanish today for making the girl next to me squeal as I pinched her, making me feel like I was in 2nd grade again....

I hope you all enjoyed this holiday as much as I did!
(the blue is due to the fact that it originally was the colour associated with Saint Patrick.
Just one of those very important facts that you should know offhand)

This is beautiful

2010-03-16T10:30:00.003-06:00

I want this to be my theme song. I don't
know French and I definitely don't know what it is about, but it's beautiful and it makes me happy and I love it.

Feelings...

2010-02-11T13:17:00.001-07:00

Today I am grateful for feelings.

I love to feel things. Sometimes when a few moments are spared to me in between life I like to sit outside and soak it all in.
Although my feelings make me cry weekly, feel sadness and worry often, they counter it 100 times over with happy spells that leave me smiling for days and strong attachments to people.

And then I feel so sad for the people who don't feel.

There is a show I sometimes like to watch called Criminal Minds. Those people don't feel, no hardly at all. I'm glad I'm not a maniac or a compulsive killer.

Dreams...

2010-01-28T19:52:00.005-07:00

I want to...

create something so beautiful it takes my breath away. My sister did this. So did my best friend.
As I watch them with their husbands I have an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for their happiness. And I want it too. Not now. Maybe not even soon. But the love they have for each other is absolutely infectious. For how much I love them and value thier worth to me, their husbands amplify that by millions.
They take each other for everything. The weirdness, the beauty and everything else.

It's magical.

and this young love turns into something enchanting, old love.

I see this in my parents.
I said a prayer today only about them. I'm full of thanks for the magic they create in my home as they continue to love each other. It's the thing I think I'm most grateful for in my life.

Some day, I'm going to make magic.

And now as I write this, I'm realizing how incredibly love sick I am. But this time it's different from all the many other love sick phases I have gone through. I don't just want (someday) someone to tell me how much they love me. I want the something more that has been showed to me lately.
The things that actually mean love. Like knowing silly things about how they like their toast, or when they need a joke rather than a hug. When it's time to be distracted from homework. Giving appreciative side glances and finding the good in the mistakes made.

This is just a bit of silliness in my head, but it means so much to me that these wonderful people would share what they have worked for and created with the world. I've never understood couples who don't feel the need to show the love they have for each other everywhere they go. How do they suppress something so wonderful. It should be bursting out of them, all of the time. At least I know I'm going to let it burst. So when it's the real thing, everyone who knows me will know it.

Mission Statement: a statement about a mission

2010-01-25T14:30:00.004-07:00

Yesterday

marked

the

four month

mark

until.....

I can turn in mission papers...

So now the question is, will I?

*please, Mr. Answer, manifest yourself soon.

Somedays...

2010-01-25T09:36:00.005-07:00

Somedays, when things are tough, I wish for a wise old man to stop me and give me some grand piece of advice. Like they do in my imagination, and the books I read.

The other day. I wished so hard for this. I felt like it was all I needed to get me through.
I drew it all up in my head. I would be walking along, reading my book. He would stop me and say, "you seem to be a special person in a tough spot." and I would reply "who me? How did you know?" "It's just something that comes with the job of being old, and wise. Now go ahead and tell me about it."

I would. I would tell him everything.
Then he would give me the most brilliant piece of advice, that at first I would brush off as meaningless. Until I thought about it again and realize exactly what he meant and what I would need to do. Then I would fix everything with his advice.
That's how it would happen.

I was waiting all day for him.

just as I was walking to my car from school he came...strolling towards me.

and it didn't happen just as I planned

but it did happen perfectly.

He said nothing to me.
Just as he was passing me he held my gaze and smiled.
And that's all I needed.
Thank you old wise man.

You've done your duty in your own wise way.

Caught in the middle of something good

2010-01-07T10:38:00.002-07:00

This is to you my blog,

Right now life is weird. But then again isn't it always. No matter what normal doesn't happen...ever. So why is it even a word.

This really isn't much too read or even worth time of anyone but me. But sometimes I just gotta write things down to try to make sense of myself. Organize the noggin a bit ya know?

I've found a new philosophy about life lately.

When you want one thing, that's when another is thrown at you. And I do mean to use the word thrown, because it perfectly describes what happens. Not delicately tossed, not nicely placed in your lap, thrown.

Lately I can't
*speak clear sentences
*form a though intelligent enough to say in class
*eat normally
*grasp the concept of time
*flirt with boys
*control my emotions
*keep my phone charged
*peal an orange like I like
*realize when I need to go to the bathroom (what?)

CONFUSED.

This is how I describe myself right now. Someone grabbed the pieces of my life and threw them up in the air and I have to retrieve them...? Because apart from school, which I'm still trying to not be intimidated by, I don't know anything else about my life.

But I guess that's why I say Caught in the middle of something good. Because I have this sense of something more lately. Like altough this is weird and rough and whatever, that I'm gonna learn something great from it.

So.......

When I get more me again...I'll let you know.

But until then blog, please try to put up with my un-me-ness.

I say yes, how could you not?

2009-12-21T21:31:00.003-07:00

This is what is currently on my mind and will also hopefully be whipped up and in my tummy soon.

Key Lime Meltaways

and

Bourbon Pumpkin Cheesecake

feel free to hop on over and eat them with me.

A Christmas miracle!

2009-12-20T21:28:00.014-07:00

THIS little thing wasn't supposed to come for Christmas this year because he get's so sick going on planes and his dad is getting ready to take the law bars soon. You cannot even imagine the disappointment that was cloaked over the once high Christmas spirit and excitement that was already in me. Christmas slash the Holidays are just not the same without the whole family together. BBBUTTTT on Friday we got a HUGE surprise when low and behold he shows up at our house. Bean can definitely classify in the CHRISTMAS MIRACLE category this year!

And while we are on the subject of really cute things that make us happy, him along with my other nephew Daniel are two things I know I'll never be able to get enough of.

I think that Chicago coined it so perfectly when they said, "you bring meaning to my life, you're the inspiration".....exactly what I am feeling about these boys.

pictures taken from these lovely blogs

Once was love

2009-11-19T17:12:00.004-07:00

Once I was one and lonely.
Then I was two and a friend came along, her name was Lauren.
We were meant to be bosom friends.
My name was supposed to be Chloe...that was the name of her pet pug.
She looked like a girl...my name was Bryan, I looked like a boy.
I taught her to be feisty, she taught me to be sassy.
She taught me how to roller blade, I told her to part her hair on the side and not the middle.
We were together for everything.

My best friend get's married tomorrow. Sometimes I don't know what to do with myself, but most of the time I'm just grateful I get to be apart of things like this and see her so happy. Whether he likes it or not Devin is gaining another girl in his life besides Laur. But I think he likes it. And I like him.
They're perfect for each other.
They're the perfect couple.
I love them.

Sometimes I cry when I think about her getting married.
If you see me tomorrow I'll probably be doing just that.
But good thing we know they are happy tears.

Good luck tomorrow Laur. I hope everything is perfect because you deserve nothing less.

ya fam!

2009-11-10T15:24:00.002-07:00

I found this and thought it was something lovely...

A happy family is but an earlier heaven. ~ Bowring

Aren't you just so grateful for the things that make you happy in life. Family is one of them for me. We're just an odd band of people who shoot each other with nerf guns, make each other laugh and cry, give and receive the worst types of teasing, are happy for others successes and don't mind stealing the last dessert. We know how to bring each other down the hardest but also lift to the highest. We would give our lives for each other yet too often take each other for granted. We share toothpaste, laughs, socks, homes, secrets, sadness's, inside jokes and food. For all the bads that come with us there are a million billion other amazing and heart lifting goods.
I'm so glad to have family and everything that comes in that category, cousins, sisters, brothers, parents, nephews, nieces (hopefully some day) sister-in-laws, brother in law (more someday), friends who are called family just the same, aunts, uncles, G-ma's, grandpas....extraordinary people who were each placed in a spot on our family trees to contribute and make life that much better with God given individual talents. Sometimes they touch on our lives in the most odd ways, but they make us better and we do the same for them.
Where can be a better place but in the presence of family?

Brown to the Bonnett attack!

Uneven things...

2009-08-29T10:41:00.001-06:00

do they really bother you too?

The Egg and I by Betty MacDonald

2009-08-27T17:36:00.004-06:00

". . .I realized why it is so much easier for a man to adjust himself to new surroundings and people than for a woman. Men are so much less demanding in friendship. A woman wants her friends to be perfect. She sets a pattern, usually a reasonable facsimile of herself, lays a friend out on this pattern and worries and prods at any little qualities which do not coincide with her own image. She simply won't be bothered with anything less than ninety per cent congruity, and will accept the ninety per cent only if the other ten per cent is shaping up nicely and promises accurate conformity within a short time. Friends with glaring lumps or unsmoothable rough places are cast off like ill-fitting garments, and even if this means that the woman has no friends at all, she seems happier than with some imperfect being for whom she would have to make allowances.

A man has a friend, period. He acquires this particular friend because they both like to hunt ducks. The fact that the friend discourses entirely in four-letter words, very seldom washes, chews tobacco and spits and random, is drunk a good deal of the time and hates women, in no way affects the friendship. If the man notices these flaws in the perfection of his friend, he notices them casually as he does his friend's height, the color of his eyes, the width of his shoulders; and the friendship continues at an even temperature for years and years and years."

sooooo much truth, it's killing me

not only do I love this book and this writer because she is real and honest, but also because she can be asolutely hilarious when writing about things that were really hard for her.

and.... she wrote some books that were part of my favorite list as a child... Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle anyone??

b day my b day

2009-08-27T11:52:00.004-06:00

waffle ice cream breakfast
pedicure with the sisters
a movie I loved (surprising)
treats
Reagsters (surprised)
a nephew
a visit from a poodle (even more surprising)
the said nephew and poodle
dance party
wonderful wonderful wonderful friends
cake
some very kickin' spandex
more cake
nice notes
a friendship's new beginning
two emails from missionaries
almost my whole family
not one but two packages from my roommate KK
visits from unexpected(s)
Ingrid Michaelson tickets (thank you Lauren!)
peaches and home-drawn pictures
a homemade shirt that is brilliant!
a mother
a father feeling better
heartfelt texts and calls

A big thanks to all who contributed to it...it was wonderful.

Some day I will.....

2009-08-15T15:27:00.002-06:00

Japan, California, South Korea and Denmark

The 4 locations of Musical Roads

It's only all I've ever wanted....

Thought for Reagan, a sister in want....

2009-08-15T10:28:00.006-06:00

Ari, in reference to this post you did, I would like to tell you that it's not as impossible as it seems.

1. Red Lipstick, if I can do it, you can do it....
(oh ya and check out this amazing night Jo did for us, hence the occasion to wear red lipstick, you'll love it)

2. You've already proven you can do this one. What is up with saying you cant?!

3. We all know you've pulled that one off before. And might I say you did so in quite a classy manner.

4. I've still got those purple high heels in the closet you bought and wore once upon a time.

Mother Teresa

2009-08-14T10:23:00.003-06:00

“I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.”

(something I hope to live by this next semester...)

2009-08-12T21:38:00.001-06:00

I need something magic

to happen...

to me.

Florence Nightingale

2009-08-11T09:05:00.006-06:00

"Were there none who were discontented with what they have, the world would never reach anything better."

Not only is her name absolutely poetic, but she is too.

And now we have our own little Flora in the family....love her.

paRADe

2009-08-03T09:37:00.002-06:00

Our awesome Relief Society from my singles ward participated in the parade for the Highland Fling on Sautrday....needless to say we were pretty awesome!

We had a SINGLE float....

"Single Ladies" was our main song

and THANKS to Brother Beal, we had a driver who wasn't ashamed to be support us in our great cause.

Eat your heart out...

2009-07-26T19:48:00.000-06:00

I know I did...

Plans For a Wednesday Night....

2009-07-22T18:38:00.003-06:00

First I plan on watching this girl...

and this boy....

fall madly in love.
THEN....

amuse myself with this activity....

THEN...

eat a whole box of these...
(note the no sugar added, these are the little loopholes I love!)

THEN...

play a little speed on the b-ball court with my peeps...
come on over!

Dalai THE llama

2009-07-20T20:08:00.008-06:00

ONCE UPON A TIME I met a llama....and I liked it!
You can see this was no ordinary llama, this was a special llama.
It all started when my family took a Sunday stroll to collect eggs from a vacationing neighbors' house. After a struggle with some obstinate mother chickens and an escapee from the coop, my mother thought it would be a fine idea for everyone to meet the "llama with personality".
I said (quite naively) "llama with personality? right!"
she said (quite boldly) "yes, a llama with a personality".
and that is exactly what it was.
His name is Dalai.
He is my friend.
I think about him every day.
I love him.

But....this love could not be hidden, it needed to be shared with anyone that would listen to me. So I brought a couple friends...

Animal lovers....

and haters alike revere and appreciate this Dalai, who is a llama, very very much.

Stacy is "head over heels" for this little guy

and so is everyone else that has met him....
come stop by for a visit and the best first impression from an animal you've ever had.
I'll see you soon?

Modest?

2009-07-15T20:33:00.004-06:00

I just did a google search of "modest swimwear" and THIS came up....
I have no words to describe my feelings about this...

PRANK

2009-07-13T15:06:00.002-06:00

A practical joke or prank is a stunt or trick to purposely make someone feel foolish or victimized, usually for humor. Since pranks are made to make people feel foolish or victimized, there is an inherent strain of cruelty in most practical jokes. OKAY there is nowhere in that definition of consequences or results or pranking. And WHY don't they provide a disclaimer to pranking so the pranker is full aware that what they are doing might come flying viciously back at them???? Maybe if I was taught as a small child the foolish ways a pranker can fall into, I would have reconsidered my recent actions. I blame my parents.

Right now would be a good time to say, I'm nervous and wary for what my near future holds for me.

And for all those out there I, (because no one else feels the need) will provide a disclaimer.

Disclaimer: Although pranking is a thrill of adventure and sets your rebellious side to satisfaction, it can be short-lived and regretted in the end. All those pranking may want to inwardly consider the following : Who am I pranking? What is the prankee capable of? Does the prankee often seek revenge? Is the prankee more clever than I? Do I have several more pranks to put into action if needs be?

So....wish me luck as I continue to shoot wary glances behind me, edge around every corner I encounter and test my young, age defying skin as I wrinkle it with worry.

love equation

2009-07-01T10:45:00.004-06:00

THIS

+ THIS

= THISwho's with me?

Love love love love = love times 4

2009-06-28T14:02:00.003-06:00

mhmm....this needs no words, just listen and feel it.

Sittin, Waiting, Wishing....

2009-06-23T23:11:00.003-06:00

I am currently waiting for this little miss thang's plane to come in so I can leave to pick her up

because she decided to leave us this summer for this pretty little state,But is coming in town for this couple and a weekend celebration in their honor!
Reasons why this is going to be (and has been already) a good week:
1. I finally cleaned my room since the disastrous move IN from moving OUT of my apartment in....APRIL
2. REAGY POO is coming until Sunday :)
3. Whitlie is getting married and is one of the most beautiful brides I've ever seen
4. I foresee a lot of Yahtzee games, and what week isn't better with heaps of Yahtzee?
5. Thursday is officially the set day when the big race happens...and no I'm not talking about the Wasatch Back (that happened last week). This is the BIG race with Michael Keller. Killer post coming after the race on Thursday.
6. Family time....WOOT!
7. Sleepovers on the tramp with R-face
8. I'm giving a talk on Sunday so I'm getting to read mucho good conference talks and such. I'm learning sooo much.

Current status: signing off to go get the sista. Come visit while she is in town!

Wasatch Back....at cha!

2009-06-23T15:40:00.010-06:00

I completed my first race on Saturday and needless to say I am quite proud of myself. It was such a wonderful opportunity and the fact that I got to run it with my mom and Leigh escalated the experience to heights unheard of in the running world.
The race is called the Wasatch Back and is in a series of similar Ragnar relay races across the country. This race goes from Logan Utah to Park City, a total of 188 miles split between 12 runners in two different vans in 24 hours.

This is the whole team. I was the youngest on the team probably by an average of 27 years.
What Fred said about that little statistic made me laugh so I'll share it "I'm glad you are able to bring the average age down for the team to make them a little more youthy."
-Fred Nelson
"youthy" is now officially a word

Our team name was "Scrambled Legs and Achin' ".

this is Leigh (sister), Leslie (mom) and Me at the beginning. I'm delicately holding the fake legs hanging from our van, made of panty-hose stuffed with cotton and topped with socks.

although you might not be able to see the "so", it says "I run SO I can eat"...such a good motto

We saw a lot of different funny names people came up with for their teams. Here are a few I remember....
Real men have six legs (a team that only had 6 people and ran six "legs" each...crazy crazy crazy!)
Swine flu...you can catch it but you can't catch us!
The dirty dozen Two Fats-Ten Furious
Zena Warriors- Our soles are hot and our boobs are real
Run like the winded
The Wagnar Welay Wace Wunners
The flying Buffalos-Eat our chips
Be gentle; it's our first time
Who the Hills Idea was this?
Dirty Underwear Gang
J.A.R.E.D (Joggers against running, exercise and diet)
We've got the Runs
Running out of Cache(valley)
Viva Las Vegas- What happens on the trail stays on the trail
Our wives think we're at work
Dude, where's my van?
Mom jeans
Ignorance is Bliss-ters

After we completed our first legs.

This is all of my van (van #2) minus me (taking the picture) and Leigh who is currently running. Kristin (the one in front) unfortunately at the last minute couldn't run with us because of injury but we were so happy and blessed to have her still come with as the official designated driver. Thanks!

I FINISHED!!!! Ya, I actually did it.

My mom and Leigh had the hardest legs of the whole race. They were called "What were they thinking" and "Ragnar". No matter how many pictures we took of mom (which totaled to be about 10) on this leg, we could not get one pleasant looking face from her.

Leigh has always been SO intense.

but rain...

...or shine, this run was beautiful!

and of course I couldn't neglect the triumphant pose when all was finished.

Lately...

2009-06-17T17:02:00.002-06:00

Lately I've adopted a daily routine. Around 3:00 pm every day Ashley Guymon and Amber Jones will meet me at my house and we'll go out for our leisurely bike ride. Sometimes we feel very old because most the people we meet along our route or doing the same activities are small children. But most of the time we feel just right at home, like little children ourselves, and seriously what is better than that?

A bit of ridiculousness....

2009-06-17T09:59:00.006-06:00

I'ts a book...combining Pride and Prejudice with ZOMBIES?
The story follows the plot of Pride and Prejudice, but places the novel in an alternative universe version of 19th century England where zombies roam the countryside.

WHAT!!!!!!

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single zombie in possession of a good appetite for human flesh, must be in want of a tasty brain or two."

NO, NO, NO, NO

it's actually supposed to go like this...

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single MAN in possession of a good FORTUNE, must be in want of a WIFE" (emphasis added)

Okay but seriously listen to part of the summary of this book from wikipedia, I don't know whether to laugh or cry...

"Mr. Bennet trains his daughters in martial arts and weapons, molding them into a fearsome zombie-fighting army...Mrs. Bennet spies an opportunity and sends the girls to the first ball where Bingley is expected to appear. The girls defend the party from a zombie attack,"

"Although Elizabeth and Darcy strongly dislike each other at first, their common interest of zombie-killing draws them closer together."

"Elizabeth's dislike of Darcy turns into full-blown hatred when she learns that Darcy plotted to separate Bingley from her sister Jane. As demanded by her warrior's code of honor, she vows to avenge the slight to her family by killing Darcy. Later that evening, she is afforded that opportunity when he appears unannounced at the cottage where she is staying, but before she can fetch her katana and behead him, he surprises her again by proposing marriage."

"Elizabeth embarks on a trip around the country, fighting zombies along the way. At Pemberley she runs into Darcy, who helps her to defeat a rampaging horde of zombies."

OKAY AND THIS IS WHERE IT REALLY GOT ME....

"Jane and Bingley resume their relationship. Elizabeth hopes to do the same with Darcy, but his aunt (the Lady Catherine) interferes, insisting that her daughter Anne is a better match for her nephew. Lady Catherine challenges Elizabeth to a fight to the death, intent on eliminating the competition, but Elizabeth defeats Catherine and her cadre of ninjas. She spares Catherine's life. Darcy is touched by this gesture, and he returns to Elizabeth's side. The two cheerfully wipe out a field of zombies (their first battle as a couple) and begin a long and happy future together."

I believe I have seen hell and it's white, it's snow white.

2009-06-13T22:10:00.006-06:00

Right from the start I'm completely captivated...well I should be honest and say right from the first time Thornton's beautiful face shows up I am captivated. The movie has a fulfilling ending like a Pride and Prejudice where they take you through an entire four hours of anticipated love and then they hand it to you in the most beautiful way in the last minutes of the movie.

I want this face to look at me as I am leaving town and say "look back, look back at me"

WATCH this movie if you have not already.

this a clip of the ending of the movie, kind of a spoiler so don't watch it if you haven't seen the movie and intend to. BUT if you have then this is a little treat that will definitely leave you feeling love sick. Ah....

on the road again

2009-06-04T23:50:00.002-06:00

For the second time in less than 3 weeks I will be back on the road to Oregon. I have to say, I am really kickin it up on the spontaneous meter. I just hope I don't overkill it.

no jokes

2009-06-03T13:33:00.007-06:00

WAHOO! Watermelon season is wonderful. But who ever knew about square watermelons made into old men. What is our world coming to, I would wager to say a whole bunch of weirdness.

Mandy, I love this poem

2009-05-31T23:26:00.001-06:00

*Mandy showed me this poem a year or so ago and I'll never forget about it. I love it. Thank you Mandy Madson.

INSTRUMENT OF CHOICE

She was a girl
no one ever chose
for teams or clubs,
dances or dates,

so she chose the instrument
no one else wanted:
the tuba. Big as herself,
heavy as her heart,

its golden tubes
and coils encircled her
like a lovers embrace.
Its body pressed on hers.

Into its mouthpiece she blew
life, its deep-throated
oompahs, oompahs sounding,
almost, like mating cries.

---Robert Phillips

thank you Charlie Brown

2009-05-31T22:53:00.000-06:00

Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love.

Charlie Brown

and now, just like Rory Gilmore, I'm ready to wallow.

Grandiose Canyon

2009-05-31T18:20:00.000-06:00

I didn't know it was possible either until the day came when, well, when I was tricked into it. Not really that someone fed me false information, or even that the trick was contemplated and played out with great accuracy. I actually like to think that nature dealt me this trick as a little shove into the outer boundaries of hard core I didn't know I had.
It actually came as a plan B. Originally me and a group of friends had intended on going to Havasupai for a few days but in the last mile of the 10 hour drive we were stopped by two Indians who told us it was closed because of swine flu. Not that THEY had swine flu, but that they thought WE had swine flu. So, we needed another plan and the grand canyon passed as the place to go.

Before this little rendezvous, I didn't even know a decent to the VERY bottom of the grand canyon was possible unless you were a Buffalo Bill or a Jim Bridger type of character, but alas you can do it as a not so notable figure like Bryan Brown. And we did it in 9 hours. It was a 6,000 foot decent, 16 1/2 miles and in the middle of the day. It was hard, but so worth it. I'm not doing it again though.

Disclaimer on the picture....this was BEFORE we did the hike. I guarantee we did not look that pleased afterwords.

oh but isn't it breathtaking!

An amamzing discovery

2009-03-17T16:12:00.000-06:00

This was my discovery yesterday morning when I happened to walk to campus to get to class early.
PEOPLE!
Can I honestly say that I never knew that this kind of crowdage went on just south of campus. I get that people go to classes in the morning and that a lot do live south of campus but I honestly was astounded. I felt like part of something big. I had this great inclination to tap the closest person walking next to me and say, "hey, me too". Because both of us had something in common. We woke up early enough to be EARLY to class, and that was big.

So.....maybe I'll start trying to be early more often. I like the feeling of that fire ignited in me when I become part of something unspoken. A clan of people who have finally figured that it is, in fact, better to be early to class.

Thump thump thump thump.....

2009-03-06T13:15:00.000-07:00

If you want to hear an amazing juxtaposition of voice, lyrics and rhythm you should check out this beautiful boys stuff. I've known about him for quite some time and have loved him for just as long, but it seems the more I listen to more I fall in love. The only thing I ask out of life is for the song "Vegetable Car" to be about me. I've got Lisa Lobe glasses....it could work. I love you Joshua Radin.

MAJOR STATUS: CHOSEN

2009-02-27T00:52:00.001-07:00

Exercise Sciences baby and there is no turning back! But seriously, this is big stuff. My life is officially moving on to greater heights that I'm not quite sure if I can soar through. We shall see, oh how we shall see. But putting the difficulties aside I am super stoked about it. Especially the anatomy classes I get to take. mmmm this will be GOOD.

A Little Daisy Can Go A Long Way

2009-02-25T12:19:00.000-07:00

Daisies do something to me that no other flower can quite accomplish. I can't describe it. They swoon me. At this time in the year is when I especially crave the companionship of these friendly children of mother nature. I like to imagine myself returning to my apartment after a particularly cold day filled with little outdoor experience, and find this waiting for me in my bedroom. I don't even expect it to be from a hottie that I would kiss upon first request. It's not that I want it, I need it.

But even more than that above, this is what I require from the world at this moment.
I NEED I NEED I NEED, to run through this right now, have a wicker basket filled with a nice lunch, an incredibly good novel of my choice and maybe even a boy with incredibly good hair, a heart stopping smile and an open generous temper. Hmmm....now I have to think what novel I would actually choose!

Oh and did I mention I would be wearing this little number....

But, since fate would not deal me such a day, I guess I will settle for rearranging my apartment to look like this... :)

Pushing Daisies=LOVE

2009-01-23T11:10:00.000-07:00

Personally I think we look great together.
This is one of my favorite shows, then they decided to ruin my life and DISCONTINUE it. Tears are falling to my keyboard right now. So so sad.
Lee Pace is so good to me. He graces me with his wonderful face and his shy boy smiles and every week I fall in love with him, deeper and deeper every time until they will rip him from my life with NO MORE SHOWS. I guess I'll be watching Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day a lot more now. I love you Lee. So much.

want it

2009-01-10T14:13:00.000-07:00

Want this coat? I do.

Brilliant!

2009-01-07T12:41:00.001-07:00

The ups outweigh the downs in this wintry situation right now.

I could care less about the nearing zero degree cold, wet socks, sniffley noses, constant coughs, slush and wet pant bottoms BECAUSE OF...

the sense of purity everywhere, unique choices of styles in winter wear, sledding, the hopes of boarding soon, scarves, the times when it looks like some heavenly being is dropping us glitter from the sky, snow angels, watching people slip on the ice, and OH so so much more. Thank you Utah for making up for the not so adequate past winters we have had.

Over Rover....

2009-01-06T18:24:00.000-07:00

And so it begins once again. After three weeks of bliss, consisting mainly of Beanie, Daniel and various other family members, plus reading (for pleasure might I add) whenever I please, I started to get used to kickin' it old school without any cares. Then my life pulls a turn on me, which I can't say I didn't know it was coming, because no matter how much you try to ignore it, Winter semester is always going to begin. And really when you think about it, it is quite a romantic scene, campus blanketed in snow, everyone bundled in their warmest, seeking refuge in the library for hours to get out of the cold and get the studying done, then coming back to the apartment for hot chocolate and sledding. But then when I take those pleasant thoughts to the present reality and I still can't quite seem to wholly ignore the biting 5 degree cold weather and the confusions of WHAT IN THE WORLD IS MY MAJOR GOING TO BE. All in all though I have to say that nothing can be too much for me not to realize how incredibly blessed I am. Seriously, wow. So goodbye to pleasure reading and... hello to a 4.0 this semester?

mmmmmm......

2008-08-19T03:21:00.004-06:00

Look at these faces...it's okay if you also just peed your pants.