Open up your plans and damn you're free

Sometimes, I'm kind of amazed at the things that make me happy and bring me joy, but you'll have to ask me more about.

So, occasionally I get down on myself for allowing myself to be a college graduate who waits tables as a living, but all in all, the lifestyle has some perks. Here's a list of my best 2008 moments to help remind myself.

-Disneyland! (Obviously this is first. My first trip to the happiest place on earth)
-California Adventure
-ESPN zone (my new favorite restaurant... of course only during Bball season)
-UNC Tarheels rocking season 07-08 and going to the final four
-UNC Tarheels having the potential for an even better season thus far in 2008-2009
-Climbing to the top of Mt. Timp
-Just jo and I in the apartment for the first couple months
-Midnight Bonfires on some mountain up provo canyon
-San Francisco
-Reno Rodeo (my first and probably last rodeo ;)
-Getting lost and driving around all of Lake Tahoe
-Chicago with my sisters
-Bongo Room in Chicago (best breakfast I've had in the U.S.)
-Seeing Shamu
-Four Wheeling all over the mountains in Idaho
-One song dance parties
-hot tub rendevous
-snowshoeing in cottonwood canyon
-riding a tandem bike
-amazing friends at work, and when they leave finding new friends that fit too
-Wicked!
-buckle jeans with jo
-a birthday without finals
-mac grill dinner parties (that would be the one's i threw, not other people's parties coming in to work)
-rock climbing adventures
-Rachel, Jo and I's grey's anatomy marathon on 2008! It was absurd and ridiculous, but once in a blue moon it's hilarious to spend an entire day watching tv
-Church Bingo
-Slurpees in the hot tub. Slurpees after football games. Slurpees.
-Trying 4 times to gas up Cassie's VW and finally giving her the keys
-Dancing around the apartment to "sexy can I", "forever", "bleeding love", "untouched", "out here grindin'", angry i hate boy music, and various other things
-So You Think You Can Dance and the associated parties
-7 Eleven hot chocolate runs


Ok, well that's all I could think of right now, but if I've forgotten major events be sure and let me know.

This is myself... under pressure

As fate will have it, after spending the past couple days shuttling friends to the airport to fly home for Christmas, I have no one to drive me to the airport.


I'm considering calling the provo police and seeing if they wouldn't mind dropping me off. I mean, my tax dollars should count for something, right? And cops should be all about helping and the christmas spirit, right?...


Or, I suppose here comes my first big hitchhiking adventure! Wish me luck :)

I'm going crazy from the moment...

My week slash month, and probably life.


So i was... blah blah blah... and then I got distracted.


(ooh shiny object)

All I want for Christmas...

Ha ha this video has brought me years of entertainment.


MERRY CHRISTMAS!

In the morning at the table (milk and cereal milk and cereal)

So I have a problem.


I'm addicted to buying cereal.



Notice how I said "buying." Not necessarily eating. I mean I like cereal as much as the next person. I especially like honey bunches of oats as you can tell in the picture, but I don't eat cereal more than about 4 times a week for breakfast. I'm addicted to buying cereal. Seriously though, at a dollar a box, it's such a good deal. And hey, if Utah has a blizzard that leaves me trapped in my apartment for a month... I'm good to go.

Oh and I can't figure out how to turn the stupid picture, so just turn your computer sideways.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Ever since high school I've loved the idea of Black Friday. For those of you who have somehow missed the commercialization of Christmas in the past 20 years, Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving and involves the best markdowns, bargains, and door buster sales of the year... all beginning around 4 or 5 am. It's insane, it's ridiculous... it's American.

For several years I have braved the bargain hungry crowds of Wal-Mart at 5 am just to get some semi-entertaining dvd's out of the 2 dollar bin. Am I really that desperate for some movies and is it really worth all the trouble to save a dollar or two? Heck no! For me it's about the excitement. It's the first initiation into the holiday season. It's like a spectator sport. Who's gonna get the tv's first? Who's gonna forget their kid in aisle 12 because they just had to get to the DVD player next (they spread everything into random aisles in an attempt to make it less chaotic)? Why is that 90 year old grandma up at 5 am to get the socks that are on sale? Doesn't she know nobody wants socks for Christmas and they'll still be there around noon (a more normal shopping hour).

Anyhow, I think I've described as best I can my need to get up at some awful hour of the morning (oh wait I normally get up at this time...) and go shopping the day after Thanksgiving. BUT, I'm sad to report that this year I didn't wake up. Whether it was sabotage by my alarm clock or the fates trying to save me from myself, I do not know. All I know is that I woke up at 9 am, and I will proceed to sink into my stupor of depression for the rest of the day.

And I don't even have any leftover pie to eat for breakfast.

Holidays as a single adult can really suck sometimes.

When it gets cold and it feels like...

I love the holidays.

Really, who doesn't though. Sure, there's the segment of the population who is in uproar over christmas music being played before Thanksgiving, and then there are those that wish to acceptably play their christmas music 300 days a year. There's the battle between eating all the delicious food and trying not to gain 15 pounds in a single week. There's the love you have for spending time with your family balanced with your need to get back to your own life. The holidays are a special time of year, and they come packed with memories.

Though I love the holidays, sometimes I think back through the memories and the people with whom I have shared past holidays and it makes me a little sad. I'm sad because I miss those that I have grown apart from and those that I'm literally far apart from. So, although I'm stoked for Thanksgiving and Christmas... there's those other feelings. And since I seem to be at a loss for words lately, I'll leave this one to Lifehouse...

So far away from where you are
These miles have torn us world's apart
And I miss you
Yeah, I miss you

So far away from where you are
I'm standing underneath the stars
And I wish you were here

I miss the years that were erased
I miss the way the sunshine would light up your face
I miss all the little things
I never thought that they'd mean everything to me

Yeah I miss you
And I wish you were here

I feel the beating of your heart
I see the shadows of your face
Just know that wherever you are
Yeah, I miss you
And I wish you were here

I miss the years that were erased
I miss the way the sunshine would light up your face
I miss all the little things
I never thought that they'd mean everything to me

Yeah, I miss you
And I wish you were here

So far away from where you are
These miles have torn us world's apart
And I miss you
Yeah, I miss you
And I wish you were here

And I can see it in your eyes that you're so sure

"Deep down, everyone wants to believe they can be hardcore. But being hardcore isn’t just about being tough. It’s about acceptance. Sometimes you have to give yourself permission to not be hardcore for once. You don’t have to be tough every minute of every day. It’s okay to let down your guard. In fact there are moments when it’s the best thing you can possibly do… as long as you choose your moments wisely."

Sweet like a chica cherry cola

So it's kind of sad that it has taken me 4 years to come to the realization that Provo actually has some delicious dining options other than the standard national chain (not that I'm knocking the chain restaurant, because that's what pays my bills, but seriously... you can do so much better.)

Also, I suppose I shouldn't be too shocked that it's taken me 4 years to realize this, considering my dislike for eating out combined with the fact that it's rarely my idea and I just tag-a-long with friends who lack creativity or diversity in dining options.

Anyhow, some of my favorites include (I hope you realize that this is a purely selfish blog and not for your reading entertainment, but on the off chance that I need to resort to my blog as a journal of sorts, I can remember the few things I loved about Provo):

1. Cafe Rio, of course... no list of fav. restaurants in provo is complete without the Rio
2. Kneader's Bakery Cafe... although their sandwiches are delicious, $4.99 all you can eat french toast... need I say more
3. Hickory Kist... amazing sandwiches, rarely crowded
4. Sammy's... hole in the wall places are usually my favorites and the pie shakes have sold me for life
5. Zupas... anyplace that gives you a chocolate covered strawberry to end your meal is a winner in my book, oh and the salads are amazing

Oh, I could go on and on about the great Indian places, and Thai Restaurants, and even Tucanos (the meat lovers paradise) or the ridiculous amount of dessert (more recently yogurt) stops, but I will leave my list at 5. They are all delicious, cheap, and do not employ waiters. In one word, perfect!

So anyone feeling a pumpkin pie shake?

A thousand other boys could never reach you...

So Jo and I were complaining about the holidays today and how you have to spend them with all your happily married family, siblings, cousins, etc. Ugh. We decided since we are not part of a happy couple we don't want to have to spend the holidays with all the happy couples. So then I said "I just want to spend the holidays doing what I want to do while I'm still single!" And then after several seconds reflection I realized, hmmm that might be a while. I don't know what kind of crazy guy would marry me, to which Jo replied, "If I were a guy I'd marry you!" Ha ha, then we decided that we would be the coolest couple ever. We'd be that couple that everyone wishes they were friends with, but of course we would be very selective about who we chose to hang out with us.

I can just picture the look on your face right now. You're pondering how sick and twisted we are and judging us... ha, but I don't care, I love Jo. So here's to watching movies and eating pie by myself on Thanksgiving!

She is right in front of you

So the random shuffle songs game was fun, but here's what I would pick if I was designing my own soundtrack


CARLA CANKLES MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK

Opening Credits: "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" -Cyndi Lauper

Waking Up: "World Spins Madly On"- The Weepies

First Day of School: "Suddenly I see" -KT Tunstall

Falling in Love: "Time After Time"- Quietdrive (or the Cyndi Lauper version is always good)

Fight Song: Eye of the Tiger (seriously... are there any other fight songs???)

Breaking Up: "Ready, Aim, Misfire" -New Years Day, "Total Eclipse of the heart"- Bonnie Tyler, "White Horse" -Taylor Swift (It's a 3 way tie, but hey, sometimes you gotta go through a lot of break up songs before you find the right "one"... and i still haven't so...)

Life: "Dirty Little Secret" -All American Rejects (ha, can it be considered a soundtrack now a days without dirty little secret)

Mental Breakdown: "Dark Blue"- Jacks Mannequin

Driving: "Life is a Highway" -Tom Cochrane

Flashbacks: "Learning to Fly" -Tom Petty

Getting Back Together: "Only One" -Yellowcard

Wedding: "Brown Eyed Girl" -Van Morrison

Birth of a Child: "The Prayer"- so many different artists (Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Charlotte Church)

Final Battle: "Draco"- Dragonheart Soundtrack or "Once and For All"- Newsies Soundtrack

Death Scene: "Only the Good Die Young" -Billy Joel

Funeral Song: "Spirit In the Sky"- Norman Greenbaum

End Credits: "Don't Stop Believin'"- Journey


Ha, I realize most of these are pretty cheesy, and the styles don't blend very well, but guess what... It's my life, and I can have whatever jumbled conglomeration of music I want!

Favorite fruit is chocolate covered cherries

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?
So, here's how it works:
1. Open your music library.
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press play.
4. For every question, type the song that's playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button.
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool...


CARLA CANKLES MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK

Opening Credits: "Fools like me"- Lisa Loeb

Waking Up: "Get Up" -Ciara feat. Chamillionaire

First Day of School: "Soldier" -Destiny's Child

Falling in Love: "Crazy For You" -Madonna

Fight Song: "I never loved you anyways" -The Corrs (I guess if it's a break-up/fight)

Breaking Up: "Bruised" -Jack's Mannequin

Life: "Journey to the Past" -Anastasia Soundtrack (dude it's a sign... genealogy is always haunting me)

Mental Breakdown: "Thriller" -Michael Jackson

Driving: "Broken Road" -Rascal Flatts

Flashbacks: "Why Can't I" -Liz Phair

Getting Back Together: "The Way I Are" -Justin Timbaland

Wedding: "No Woman, No Cry" -Bob Marley (wow, do you think my marriage is gonna last, geez)

Birth of a Child: "When I'm Gone" -3 doors down (yeah, this game was going so well before...)

Final Battle: "Act Naturally" -Buck Owens (ha ha my final battle is a dance off!!! ((between country hillbillies that is)))

Death Scene: "Hypnotized" - Plies ft. Akon (the dance battle didn't go so well apparently)

Funeral Song: "Bleed It Out" -Linkin Park

End Credits: "Better Than Me" -Hinder


So there ya go... the soundtrack of my life. I'll admit i'm a little disappointed certain songs didn't show up, and the last several songs didn't exactly fit, but it's all good and that's part of the game i guess.

They talk about greatness whenever they speak about me

Umm... not really, nor does the title have anything to do with the post I just thought it was a good line.

So are you ever doing something and you're reminded of a great inside joke you have with someone, but said person is no longer really in your life anymore?

It's such a depressing feeling. And then I am left chuckling to myself but nobody gets why. So in particular here's to you Rach... "I think I hit my head."

And for all those people in my life who have shared inside jokes with me, but are no longer around to keep bringing them up, to you I say "I miss you. I miss you like a fat kid on a diet misses chocolate cake!"

Open the gates and seize the day...

When I have no words, I leave you with other's inspiration.

"A couple of hundred years ago, Benjamin Franklin shared with the world the secret of his success. Never leave that till tomorrow, he said, which you can do today. This is the man who discovered electricity. You think more people would listen to what he had to say. I don't know why we put things off, but if I had to guess, I'd have to say it has a lot to do with fear. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, sometimes the fear is just of making a decision, because what if you're wrong? What if you're making a mistake you can't undo? The early bird catches the worm. A stitch in time saves nine. He who hesitates is lost. We can't pretend we hadn't been told. We've all heard the proverbs, heard the philosophers, heard our grandparents warning us about wasted time, heard the damn poets urging us to seize the day. Still sometimes we have to see for ourselves. We have to make our own mistakes. We have to learn our own lessons. We have to sweep today's possibility under tomorrow's rug until we can't anymore. Until we finally understand for ourselves what Benjamin Franklin really meant. That knowing is better than wondering, that waking is better than sleeping, and even the biggest failure, even the worst, beat the hell out of never trying."

You don't know me, you don't know me at all

Jamie tagged me on one of those blog list/e-mail forward-esque activities, and for lack of better posting options here goes...

8 Things I am passionate about

1. Swimming
2. Games/Game Night
3. Desserts (cooking, baking, eating, sharing, basically anything to do with them)
4. Movies (I would love to be a part time film critic)
5. Jobabe
6. One song dance party
7. North Carolina basketball
8. Well UNC anything really

8 Words or Phrases I say often

1. ridiculous
2. blahddy blahddy blah
3. curses!
4. it's all good
5. seriously
6. gosh (but with a southern accent more like gash)
7. I can't think of any more.... you tell me

8 Things I want to accomplish in the coming year

1. Quit the Macrackaroni Grill
2. Keep up with the old guys at swim practice
3. Figure out the next phase of my life
4. Move out of Utah
5. Learn to fly
6. Master 5 languages
7. Grow 5 inches taller
8. Dye my eyes blue

8 Places I would love to go or visit (I'm currently on this whole see the U.S. kick, so these are my places to go in the next year or two... i'll start adding world sites after the u.s.)

1. Seattle
2. Portland
3. Grand Canyon (I'm actually going in 2 weeks!)
4. Disney World and all accompanying parks
5. New York City
6. British Columbia (I hear it's gorgeous and the weather is perfect... oh and i do realize this isn't the U.S.)
7. Boston
8. Atlanta

8 Things I need or want (sadly mostly material things came to mind)

1. A pair of jeans that actually fit
2. A new ipod, just one with more memory so I can have all my music with me at all times ;)
3. A bike so I can go on adventures with Emily!
4. Tear away pants (remember the old track pants that button up the side so you could just rip them off, I lost mine and I want a new pair, but I think they quit making them)
5. I could use a new laptop, but i'm still trying to decide how much i care
6. a cute apartment
7. a pumpkin pie shake (mmm mostly it just sounded really good right now, and a kid was talking about them at work)
8. AND world peace (ha ha i couldn't resist the shout out to Miss Congeniality)

And now you pass this along, but I'm not sure anyone reads my blog... however, if you do and you feel so inclined, write a list and I'll read it!

I wanna let go and know that I'll be alright

I'm wide awake and so alive
Ringing like a bell
Tell me this is paradise
And not some place I fell
My skin like scars
Cause I keep on falling down

I wanna feel the car crash
I wanna feel the capsize
I wanna feel the bomb drop, the earth stop
Till I'm satisfied

I wanna feel the car crash
Cause I'm dying on the inside
I wanna let go and know that
I'll be alright, alright

Push me til I have to fly
I've shed my skin, my scars
Take me deep out past the lights
Where nothing dims these stars
Nothing dims these stars

I wanna feel the car crash
I wanna feel the capsize
I wanna feel the bomb drop, the earth stop
Til I'm satisfied

I wanna feel the car crash
Cause I'm dying on the inside
I wanna let go and know that
I'll be alright, alright

So right
So wrong
I'm wide awake and so alive

I wanna feel the car crash
I wanna feel the capsize
I wanna feel the bomb drop, the earth stop
Til I'm satisfied

I wanna feel the car crash
Cause I'm dying on the inside
I wanna let go and know that
I'll be alright, alright

Cause I'm open wide
So right, so right

Your mind is in disturbia, it's like the darkness is the light

Sometimes I get up at 5 am. And sometimes when I get home at night I park in the underground parking so that I won't have to scrape my windshield in the morning.

I'll be honest, sometimes the underground parking kinda freaks me out. I mean I walk down there at 5 am, and it's dark outside and nobody else is up at that ridiculous hour of the morning. It wouldn't take much for a serial rapist to be sitting in between two cars with a knife just waiting to take advantage of a slightly delirious (only cause of the cold, I'm pretty alert right when I get up), cute (i can say that right, I mean I don't think I need a paper bag over my head), unsuspecting (provo gives you a false sense of security) young lady such as myself.

Perhaps, just perhaps, my imagination has run away with me at these wee hours of the morning... and for that I blame the cinema, the world we live in and my roommate Jo.

The weather outside is frightful

It's hard to want to swim when there's snow on the ground. I'll be honest. I'm not really a winter person. I like a good snow storm. Sledding is fun, and cuddling up with tons of blankets and watching movies all day is fun. But it's not realistic to do this for 6 months out of the year. So I prefer warm weather with a token snow storm once or twice a year.

Too bad I still live in Utah, and I have to scrape an inch of snow off my car that has accumulated during the 2 hours of swim practice this morning...

I guess all I'm left with is the mormon approach... that I'm supposed to learn something from this, and that's when I turn to wise words once uttered by Albert Camus.

"In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer."

It's just a little crush...

Sometimes I actually do enjoy my job. Mostly I enjoy the people I work with. Let me just share one moment with you...

So we're sitting around table 201 after our shift (technically i was still on, but i like to sit around on the job :)) Anyhow and we were talking about crushes, I think because somebody's horoscope said something about their crush. Soooo, Sam mentions that she had a crush on a guy named Travis Cain in the 4th grade. Well, then Ryan (Cain) chimes right in and says that Travis is his cousin. So of course we all kind of pause, because this is potentially hilarious, but think to ourselves well there's probably a lot of Travis Cain's. So Sam says "no it's not the same guy." And Ryan says "Yeah, Travis Cain from Valencia California right." Oh I wish you could have seen the look on Sam's face. I about died laughing. It was priceless. So, she further denies that it's the same guy and Ryan offers to call him. He whips out his cell phone and starts dialing a number. In a panic, Sam says "no, don't call him." Anyhow, after several more minutes of laughter Ryan admits that he doesn't have a cousin named Travis, he just happened to hear Sam mention one time that she went to elementary school in Valencia.

Good times. Anyhow, this leads me to my gratitude list

November 3
-Papa John's pizza... yum
-Ryan and his wittiness that allowed me the second best laugh of the week
-Kneaders French Toast for breakfast

November 4
-Pushing Daisies and the funny/crazy phrases they make up like "pissing jitters"
-Laura, my roommate, for just laughing at Jo and me and our crazy antics and accepting us despite our silly escapades
-JoBabe for encouraging and laughing through all of the above. Sometimes I don't know what I'd do without my honey.

Think about the chance I never had to say, thank you...

The month of november is time for the attitude of gratitude challenge. Thanks to a roommate 4 years ago, there is an e-mail that I pass around between some friends and mostly my sisters where we have the opportunity to share what we are grateful for during the month of November. I figured I'd share the details on my blog so that A) if anyone reads this and gets inspired they can pass the e-mail around between friends as well or B) in the more likely event that no one reads my blog, I can at least someday print my blog and have something slightly memorable in a journal of sorts and C) so we can all laugh at how shallow I am when it comes to making these lists.

Here's more details:


It's that time again! You can either accept or decline this challenge, but it really
isn't that difficult, and the results are wonderful, so I would advise you
to accept! It is time for the Attitude of Gratitude Challenge!

For those of you who have not played before, the "CODE" is outlined below.



HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:

Each day during the month of November you will send an email to the people you want to
include in your own challenge! You only have to send one list a day, so send it to as many
people as you like! Each daily email will contain *3* "things" for which you are grateful.
[Except for the week of Thanksgiving (November 19th to 25th). All entries this week must contain
*5 "*things"].

Definition of "things"- the term "things" is used here to encompass a myriad
of stuff including, but not limited to: a certain set of circumstances, an
event, an inanimate object distinguished from a living being, possessions or
effects, a deed or act, a product of work or activity, an idea or notion, a
piece of news or information, a person, a memory, anything that makes you smile.



THE CODE:

- The challenge is to come up with 3 ORIGINAL "things" each day. Try
not to repeat entries.
- Your email should be sent by midnight each night. If you miss a day
or two, no biggie, but you have to make it up, no skipping! (Note:
For some of you, this may require accessing your email account on a more
regular basis).
- The challenging part of the challenge: One of your entries each day
must either be the name of a person who you spoke with that day about how
you appreciate them OR an experience involving a person who did something
for you ( i.e. held the door or the elevator for you) and you gave
them a "Super" thank you.
- NOTE: A "Super" thank you is more than a simple " thanks" or
"thank you". Let's say, for example (hypothetically speaking,
of course), you ordered a "tricky" order with specific preferences at a
restaurant and the waitress gets it all right! Along with
leaving a nice tip, a "Super" thank you would include remarks to the
waitress along the lines of "thanks so much for getting that right".
"Super" thank you's involve more interaction between the giver
and receiver and are typically more sincere. I think you get
the idea.



Okay, the challenge starts November 1st, which is today. Good Luck!

Unless you are one of my cohorts, this is the last email you'll receive
from
me until the December Holiday challenge. It's up to you and your cohort to
keep the challenge going. (Maybe I'll send an email to remind you about
the 5 "things" for the week of Thanksgiving).



WARNING OF POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS !!

Please note that challenge participation may result in any or all of the
following:

-you will be surprised at all the Lord has done for you

-angels will attend

-you will feel help and comfort

-(my personal favorite) you may find yourself singing as the days go by

-your doubts will fly

Have fun!

***** So here's two of my days so far

November 1
-Braxton for thinking that I make work fun, and reminding me that even though i sometimes hate my job, we still have a lot of fun
-Hearty sandwiches with everything on them
-Big Tips that make crappy nights bearable

November 2
-Grumpy Gills for allowing me to have the longest hardest laugh in a while
-Wheat Thins and the fact that I don't have a gluten allergy
-Rain which reminds me of home and makes me feel so much less guilty for vegging on the couch all day

I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell

In case you're having a hard day, here's a little therapy...

1. At lunch time, sit in your parked car with sunglasses on and point a hair dryer at passing cars. See if they slow down.
2. Page yourself over the intercom. Don't disguise your voice.
3. Everytime someone asks you to do something, ask if they want fries with that.
4. Put Decaf in the coffee maker for 3 weeks. Once everyone has gotten over their caffeine addictions, switch to espresso.
5. In the memo field of all your checks, write "For a better grade."
6. Finish all your sentences with "In Accordance with the prophecy."
7. Don't use any punctuation
8. Ask people what sex they are. Laugh hysterically after they answer.
9. Specify your drive-thru order is "To Go."
10. Put Mosquito netting around your work area and make tropical sounds all day.
11. Five days in advance tell your friends you can't attend their party because you're not in the mood.
12. Have your co-workers address you by your wrestling name, Rock Hard.
13. When the money comes out of the ATM, scream "I Won! I Won!"
14. When leaving the zoo, start running towards the lot yelling "Run for your lives, they're loose!"
15. Tell your children over dinner, "Due to the economy, we are going to have to let one of you go."

Cheers!

Woke up early this morning, and made my coffee like i always do

Actually I don't drink coffee. But I bet I'd be in a better mood in the morning if I did.

So I woke up at 5 and was a bit cranky because I got less than 5 hours of sleep and I was about to go get the pulp beat out of me (aka swim practice). As well as leaving my warm bed to enter the frigid utah air only makes matters worse. So as I stumble out the door mumbling and grumbling about the cold and my lack of sleep I hear some rumbling on one of the balconies on the second floor. I look up to find a couple shifting around trying to get comfortable while they attempt to sleep on a hammock on the balcony.

Somewhat alarmed, but mostly amused I considered the possibility of screaming at them to just go inside and sleep on the couch. I mean honestly. Stupid BYU students who try to be all technical about not breaking the honor code, by not having a boy in your apartment after midnight... but I'm pretty sure BYU would frown upon sleeping with the boy out of your apartment as well. Aside from the fact that neither 20 degree weather nor sleeping in a hammock with another person are very comfortable.

Anyhow, rather than blurt out all these thoughts that raced through my head in 20 seconds, I just laughed... out loud. I hope they heard me. I'm still laughing. Oh life in p-town, don't you wish you lived here!

Today we salute you, Mr....

You know the saying "it's the little things in life..." I actually don't know how that statement is supposed to end, but something like it's the little things that make life worth living. Amen.

Recently, upon entering my car and turning on the radio, I have been overjoyed to hear that Budweiser is at it again with those little bits of hilarity known as .... drumroll please.... REAL MEN OF GENIUS.

Today we salute you
Mr. 80 SPF Sunblock Wearer
(mr. 80 SPF sunblock wearer)
There are 24 hours in a day
You're wearing 80 hour protection
If the sun fails to go down...
You'll be ready.
(don't forget the moonlight)

Your coconut-scented force field
blocks out all the sun's rays
and any stray rays
from another sun
in another galaxy.
(you're a star)

30 SPF?
Please...
you might as well be wearing cooking oil
(something smells delicious)

So crack open an ice cold Bud Light
Mr. 80 SPF Sunblock Wearer
In fact, feel free to crack one open at high noon
In the middle of the Sahara Desert
(mr. 80 SPF sunblock wearer)

For a complete list of these 30 second moments of bliss see Real Men of Genius

And I am here still waiting, though i still have my doubts

My manager recently asked me what my plans for the future are, and after talking to her for about 5 minutes, I realized that I had already had this exact same conversation with her. A year earlier. I feel as though I am in the exact same place I was a year ago. I know, I know, I have since then been on several cool trips, I'm slowly seeing the world, etc. etc. But I still can't help but feel that I am going nowhere, fast.

So, what do i do in times of distress, but turn to a great Grey's quote, put so nicely by Meredith herself in my favorite episode. "I just need something to happen, I need a sign that things are going to change. I need a reason to go on. I need some hope! And in the abscence of hope, I need to stay in bed a feel like I'm going to die today."

Food, Glorious Food!.... not quite

The bathrooms at Macaroni Grill smell like funfetti cake batter.

It's kind of an alarming smell, in that when you walk in to the bathroom your senses are all of a sudden confused. You usually don't expect the bathroom to smell like a pillsbury bakery. I must admit at first it was just weird, and I really didn't appreciate the mix of location and this usually enticing smell. But now i have grown quite fond of our saccharine odorific restrooms. I wish every bathroom smelled like funfetti cake mix!

I know a place where the sun is always shining

Highlights of Fall Break (a.k.a. my L.A. and San Diego trip)

1. (lists are more fun than paragraphs, so here we go) WICKED! This play was amazing. 'Nuff said. You know how some plays you enjoy, but you wouldn't ever pay to see it again, Wicked is not that play. I could see this one over and over and over.

2. Shamu spinning on the platform in the pool, almost like the breakdance move, the coindrop. And yes, Shamu is still alive (or at least a killer whale named Shamu... it's kind of like saying Jesus is alive, because there's Jesus' everywhere (although, it could be the original, the whales live long in captivity, one was 42 years old)).

3. The Waffle. A delicious little restaurant we happened upon at which we ate delicious waffles for dinner. I love places that serve gourmet breakfast foods all hours of the day. I had carrot cake waffles with some tasty syrup and cream cheese sauce.

4. There was a Race for the Cure in Balboa Park, in San Diego on sunday, and we saw a black t-shirt with two baseballs on the front that said "Don't let breast cancer steal second base." Ha. (I think it's better than the save the ta-ta's shirts).

5. Four trys to gas up Cassie's VW Jetta. So I pull up to gas up and get out of the car only to realize that the gas tank is on the wrong side of the car (a.k.a. the passenger side). So, a little frustrated, I pull a U-turn to the pump on the other side, only to realize that I'm an idiot and I'm still not on the required side in order to fill up. So I pull around in a circle to get the passenger side next to the pump, get out, and realize that this time I have pulled up to a diesel only pump. At this point I am ready to forget getting gas, but Cassie after laughing hysterically comes to my rescue and pulls the car up to a pump where I can proceed to gas up.

So, those are the best highlights. We also went to Universal Studios on Friday. It was a lot of fun, but there's a lot more shows than rides, and Disney is just basically better, but Jurassic Park was a really fun ride, and The Simpsons was cool too. In SeaWorld we also went to a dolphin show which was cool, but the seal show was one of the best because they had a halloween special and danced to thriller. It was pretty S-I-C-K, that means sick. Oh and the weather was perfect. I got a sunburn. And we realized that it is practically impossible for me to get lost (a little to my own disappointment). That's about all. Overall, a pretty respectable fall break!

I've been a fool for lesser things

Despite the failing economy and needed car repairs and expensive certification exams I should be taking, I've decided to invest my money in other areas of my life. Namely, the development of my appreciation for the arts.

I am going to see Wicked! I'm going to LA/San Diego for the weekend. I am so excited. Even though this trip is totally not in the budget, I believe it is totally worth it. As my sister said "You're only 22 once." AMEN.

So, Cassie and I are headed down to L.A. where we will see Wicked and go to Universal Studios and then we will head down to San Diego where we are going to SeaWorld (I really really want to see Shamu) and hopefully we'll hit up the beach.

Hopefully, I'll actually have some awesome stories and pictures to post about. Until then... it's work, work, work for me (gotta make money for souvenirs and postcards :)

Who Needs Sleep? Tell me what's that for

So I've developed a new talent/condition/hobby.... wait for it.... Narcolepsy! I have developed the ability to fall asleep practically anywhere and at anytime I am given the opportunity. It's beautiful.

Minus the fact that I'm not given the opportunity very often. In fact, it might not even be classified as Narcolepsy, because I'm sure Narcolepsy has something to do with neurons and systems not operating properly, and I'm pretty sure my talent/condition/hobby is a result of my new schedule. Basically I arise before the dawn has cracked (5 am for those unfamiliar with this ungodly hour) to then have my muscles ripped from my bones and shredded simultaneously (aka swim practice). Two hours later I head home in the freezing utah dawn to catch up on news before I go in to work.

I know what you're thinking... quit crying, there's enough water in the pool already. I know. I actually love it, despite the miniscule sane part of my brain screaming "what is wrong with you." I just wanted to let you know, next time I fall asleep during dinner, a phone conversation, a movie, pretty much anytime... it's nothing personal. Besides, i just keep telling myself (as the BNL said) "Who needs sleep? be happy with what you're getting. There's a guy who's been awake since the Second World War."

It felt like the world would freeze

So last week, out of frustration with my wardrobe, I uttered the words "I want the weather to get cold." At that moment in time the thought of wearing my long put away (ha, since beginning of june) long sleeve shirts, cute coats, and beanies seemed oh so exciting!

Well, curse me and forgive me my blasphemy, I did not mean it. I'm already tired of the cold weather and I wish I could magically make it be the beginning of summer. Summer is just a superior season.

The most disappointing part of the cold weather is that despite the comfort of sleeping in bed with all sorts of covers and knowing you have a toasty little haven from the surrounding chilly air, it takes me a good 15 minutes to heat up the bed after getting in. I think there might be something wrong with my internal heater, because I'm just not emitting enough heat.

Maybe... it's because I don't have enough body fat. Ha ha ha, yeah, well... it's as good an excuse as any to go eat ice cream...

Your voice is the soundtrack of my summer

I am so ridiculously tired, I'm not even going to attempt to write a post, so here's a quote to sum up my ponderings of the evening. Make of it what you will...

"Sometimes reality has a way of sneaking up and biting us in the ass. And when the dam bursts, all you can do is swim. The world of pretend is a cage, not a cocoon. We can only lie to ourselves for so long. We are tired, we are scared, denying it doesn't change the truth. Sooner or later we have to put aside our denial and face the world. Head on, guns blazing. De Nile. It's not just a river in Egypt, it's a freakin' ocean. So how do you keep from drowning in it?"

Rescue me from everything

The bail-out bill just passed in the Senate.

My roommate is getting a Master's degree in economics. Between her rantings and flipping through her fun subscription to the Economist magazine, I've recently decided that I should probably be concerned about the economy. I don't agree with the bill, and I think the only reason it passed in the Senate is because only 1/3 of the Senate is up for re-election this year and so the majority doesn't care what their constituents want, while practically all the members of the house are up for re-election and they actually have to listen to the people who write them nasty letters if they want to be re-elected.

The 700 billion dollar bill, wait let me repeat that, seven hundred BILLION dollar bill is supposedly going to help with the economic crisis, but no one is really sure that it is. So, why would we spend an unfathomable amount of money to fix a problem that we're not sure can be fixed? Because congress isn't full of economists. We just have charismatic, good-looking individuals who can read a que card especially well and dribble on about change.

So, with the largest bank failure in U.S. history under our belt, and in anticipation of what might be the new "great depression," I'm wondering if I should go buy the expensive bike I want now before my money isn't worth anything and we can't get gas for our cars, or wait and save my money for more neccesary items such as food (my parents don't think the fat on my bones would sustain me for a week).

I suppose this is kind of a bleak outlook on the inevitable recession that is creeping up on us when really I think there will be some great consequences even if the next 10 years kind of suck. Let's see... the day of american's living beyond their means is over, this might appease the terrorists for a little while with the attitude we americans are getting what we deserve, and the second coming is getting closer.

And to think you all make fun of me for buying ridiculous amounts of cereal. Feel free to stop by when you're hungry :)

Here's the story, of a lovely lady...

So my friend Jack purchases edited movies (for an exorbitant amount) much to my delight. It allows my typically guilt-ridden mormon conscience to enjoy R rated films that I have longed to see, yet out of some probably dramatic concern for my salvation have not yet previously viewed.

Last night I watched Little Miss Sunshine. It was hilarious! You know those films that you just know you'll love, this was one of those. (Kind of like me purchasing Grey's Anatomy on DVD before I had ever seen it, or more recently Pushing Daisies (I know I'm gonna love it)). ANYHOW, little miss sunshine depicted what I like to think is the real American family. A completely dysfunctional, weird, slightly self-absorbed, set of individuals who don't necessarily get along even 10% of the time, but deep, deep down love each other and find this love in the most dire and hilarious of circumstances. Movies like these allow me to embrace the realization that my family is not exactly "normal," and savor the fact that we put the fun in dysfunctional. Now, I'm not saying that I have a grandpa who snorts heroin, or a suicidal uncle, nor have we ever transported a dead body in the trunk of our car but we definitely have quirks and I think we are better for it.

Besides, normal never won any Oscars.

I need another time, another town, another everything

December sounds like a great month to move. I could pack up my crap, actually go home for christmas this year, and then start fresh somewhere in January. It's so cliche to want to start over in January with the new year and all, but hey, if it works... it works.

In other news, I've started an adult swimteam. It's not really a swimteam, because there aren't meets. But, it's swim practice with a coach everyday from 5:30-7 in the morning, so what would you call it? I'm pretty stoked about it. I'm excited to get back in shape and pretend like I'm hard core about swimming. The only downfall is it's noon and I'm exhausted. Perhaps, I'll go to bed... so much for studying.

I was gonna clean my room but then i got... my room is still messed up and i know why

Sadly, it has been a week and I continue to have nothing to blog about. This could be for several reasons.

1. I don't watch the news, therefore I have no valid opinion on current events. Quite frankly, I'm tired of hearing about McCain and Obama and I forgot to file for my absentee ballot. Dang.

2. I'm not working this week. I took the week off so that I might study and finally get my health instructor certification. Somehow, I forgot that I am terrible at studying. You may think I am exaggerating, but no, my ability to graduate in 3 years was merely from information being fresh in my mind. I have never been good at studying and I am still not good at studying. Go figure.

3. In an effort to not feel bad about studying I alternate between looking for jobs that I would be qualified for if I just studied and got my certification, and staring at the blank blog page hoping for some inspiration with which to amuse you (my 3 faithful readers :)

4. Then when even those activities get dull, I just sit here and watch my roommate curl her hair (she's so pretty). Oh, and I discovered the show Pushing Daisies this week. It's my new favorite. It's so cheesy and sappy, but endearing at the same time. It's wholesome in a way that mocks it's wholesomeness (which is my favorite kind of wholesome).

5. I just felt like I needed a number 5. What kind of a list only has 4 reasons. Is that even a list?

Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous

 Ha, this video is hilarious. Go Vote!

See more Judd Apatow videos at Funny or Die

Suddenly I see, this is what i wanna be

So Emily and I were having a conversation (if you can call messages over facebook a conversation) about *shocker* how much it sucks to be an adult. We were contemplating the fact that people constantly ask those of us who are single what we are doing with our lives, and they expect big answers. They expect us to be productive and successful and going places. Yet, to my knowledge married people don't get asked these questions. It's like getting married gets you off the hook. All of a sudden nobody expects you to be going places, and doing things to change the world for the better. You're married. That is going places and doing things. 

Oh, but I can hear you. Sure, Carla, being married is so great, instead of asking about jobs they ask you when you're having kids. SO WHAT!!!! Are you trying to say that making babies is hard. I don't buy it. Heck, it's enjoyable to boot. Which then leads me to the pregnancy state of being. Somebody asks me "Are you just trying to be a career server, or what?" Yes, yes of course my lifelong dream was to take orders from people detailing whether they want mushrooms in their pasta or a lime in their coke. However, they turn to my friend who is pregnant and does she get asked what she is doing with her life. No, she's pregnant.... Yeah, let that sink in. 

Since when did being pregnant become an active pursuit in life. I mean it effects your daily life and I'm not in any way trying to say that it is easy or shouldn't be respected and taken seriously. However, it is still an involuntary bodily process. It's not as though you have to take 10 hours each day and focus "grow baby, grow baby, grow (ha ha in my head that sounded like V-Ice singing go ninja, go ninja, go)."

So, I have decided that from now on when people ask what I'm doing with my life I'm gonna say "I'm metabolizing. Yeah, that's right, you heard me. I'm metabolizing." Crinkled foreheads, and questioning looks. "What you thought metabolizing wasn't something you do with your life... oh, are you sadly mistaken. See, because I'm focused I metabolize at twice the rate you do." Cynical looks. "Yeah, that's right, twice the rate."

If that doesn't work, I'm resorting to "I'm in the witness protection program, I can't give you any details, but they call me Carla."

If I lay here, If I just lay here, would you lie with me and just forget the world

I used to live in a house on a street off of a main road. In the kitchen of this house was a bar (cabinets extending into the middle of the kitchen) and a breakfast nook so to speak, or just a convenient place to put the table i guess. We had chairs around the table and stools next to the bar. This table was an ideal location for sprawling homework and books out in front of oneself because we still had the bar on which people could eat their meals. Also, next to the table was a large window overlooking the front yard, the gas station across the street, and the main road off to the left corner. 

I loved this window. We used to just sit and stare out the window. I can recall many profound conversations I had with over 14 different roommates while staring out this window. I can recall some remarkably delicious meals eaten right in front of this window. I can also recall many spying's on dates, neighbors, and other events out of this window. I can even recall the changing of seasons and all the emotions that follow. I have seen the beginning of fall, and leaves falling off the trees onto the front lawn. I have seen the collection of feet of fresh snow and then watching the snow ploughs driving up and down turning it into a mucky (muddy + yucky = mucky) mess. I have seen countless students walk by on their way to class with jackets in the morning and t-shirts in the afternoon as the weather warmed up again. 

If someone asked me one of my favorite places, surely the first words out of my mouth would not be "in front of a window, in a broken down, drafty, in need of repair barn shaped house located in the happening town of provo, utah." And yet...

I loved this spot. I love the memories that I have of this one spot, and I can't think of one spot in any of my previous or current residences that hold as much meaning to me. 

Am I crazy? Or do you have a window too...

Love was surely made for fools like me

Love is complicated. I know that's not exactly some profound world shattering statement. We all know this. Yet it still interests me how complicated love can be despite billions of people inhabiting the earth, dealing with all types of relationships every day. I mean shouldn't somebody have a clue.

Some guys at work keep telling me about their relationship problems. One wants to marry a girl and she has all of a sudden become distant, giving crap excuses like she's not sure the spirit is telling her the same thing. I mean I'm all for involving Heavenly Father in major life decisions, but if you don't want to marry someone, man up and just say it. Another guy is dating a girl who wants to marry him, but he isn't sure. He says he's at the point where he doesn't mind seeing her and spending time with her, but it also isn't top on his list of things to do each day. That makes me sad. Is it so unrealistic to want a relationship in which the other person is excited to see you even after 6 months, a year, or 20?

Perhaps, it's the constant stream of Grey's Anatomy episodes on our apartment television, but I've come to a few conclusions about what I want in a relationship.

1. In the spirit of Grey's, I want someone who looks at me the way McDreamy looks at Meredith. I know that sounds absurd because it's a tv show, but in all reality he just always seems to convey sincere emotions when looking at her. It's concern when she's upset, and attentiveness when she's talking, and the overall I can't believe I'm with her kind of look.

2. I want a guy who talks about me the way President Hinckley talked about his wife. They weren't without their problems, and he often talked about needing to go for a walk around the block, but in the same breath he could say she was the girl of his dreams. He always had so much respect and appreciation for her. 

3. I read a book recently that restored my hope in romantic novels (after all the dribble that is twilight, i was seriously doubting (sorry to those who love twilight, i don't mean to offend... and i don't mean to go off on that book)). So my favorite conversation in this book isn't a particularly climatic one at all, but it just seemed more real than most books, in that it's not exactly the most eloquent, but it's sincere and tugs at the heart strings- in it's own way. So, the background is a boy talking to a girl, they're just friends, and he's explaining how he thinks of her.

      "I mean, if you gave some guy the assignment of creating a woman using as little material as possible but without cutting any corners, he'd make you."

"Why, that's so--- sweet?" But it was sweet. No one had ever told me my corners were uncut before.

"I don't know if it's sweet, but it's true. When you're around other women, they end up looking sprawling and overdone, like whoever made them got carried away."

"Went way overbudget," I said.

"Right. Although, the person who made you may have gotten a little extravagant with your face, but probably because he had some left over to spend."

"Economical guy that he was." I laughed. 

Anyhow, I guess I don't know what I mean by #3, other than I want to have real conversations that aren't out of a movie, but seem sweet to me and that's all that matters. Although on that note I do love on Grey's when Meredith tells Derek she loves him "in a really big, pretend to like your taste in music, let you eat the last piece of cheesecake, hold a boom box over my head kind of way"

So there you go, my ideals for a relationship. They don't seem awfully unrealistic to me, but who knows- maybe it would be easier if i rattled off a list with stats such as 6 ft 2 in, brown hair, blue eyes, college educated, loves the beach, etc. etc.

I'll just leave you with this thought from our good friend, the wise man Dr. Seuss: "You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams" 

One step at a time

My trip to Chicago got me out of the blogging habit, and then I came home and wrote a blog about my trip, but I was bored writing it... so I assumed you'd be bored reading it, and well I just haven't been struck with inspiration since. Like those cheesy shirts say "Life is good." My roommate Jo is back and I find that it's more entertaining for me to just talk to her, rather than blog about my issues- because feedback is nice and I'm all about instant gratification.

Anyhow, to help get the juices flowing again, I'm gonna share just a few of the activities that keep my simple mind entertained lately.

-Sitting in the broken and empty apartment hot tub writing letters to my friends on missions (I find that people are more willing to talk to a crazy girl sitting fully clothed in an empty hot tub... funny how that works. Hmmm, now I'm tempted to see how they would respond to a girl sitting in her swimsuit in an empty hot tub.)

-Swimming in a long-course pool. It's so much nicer than just a 25 yard pool.

-Buying ridiculous amounts of cereal. I can admit I have a serious problem, but with cereal going on sale for a dollar a box, I don't understand why more people don't have this problem.

-Milk tastings. For anyone who is unfamiliar, BYU creamery has many flavors of milk, so we had a taste testing to see which were the best. I stand by the good ol' classic: chocolate.

-Listening to cheesy new pop songs. Yeah, I'm talking about you David Archuleta, Colbie Calliat, and Jordin Sparks.

-Wal-mart shopping with Jo. Correction. Any shopping with Jo. Correction. All the shenanigans Jo and I get into, and boy do we get into them...

So, yeah, pretty dull, but it works for me. 

Scars are souvenirs you never lose

I love this time of year. It almost feels more like a new start than New Years does to me. A new school year (I'm still adjusting to the fact that my life isn't defined by school years anymore), new clothes, new shoes, new tv shows, and of course... new people. New people at church, at school, at work, basically all my current social networks are changing and with change comes get to know you conversations which are oh-so-fun. 

These conversations typically go like so- "Hi my name is so and so, I am from whatever state, I have been attempting to figure out what to do with myself while at college for some amount of semesters and now I am majoring in this and that. La ti da."  YAWN. Oh wait, what was that. 

Exactly, these intro's are boring and nobody remembers any of the details. Recently, though, while sitting in one of these social settings with a number of new people, we were asked to go around and introduce ourselves by telling about our best scar or our worst date. It was the most entertaining "get to know you" that I think I've ever been a part of. 

So what's the story behind your scars?

When I grow up, I wanna be...

While watching Grey's Anatomy, Meredith discusses the benefits of being an adult... 

1. Driving- definitely the best thing to happen to any individual as they make their descent into the dismal existence that is adulthood.

2. Ice cream diet- ice cream for breakfast, lunch and dinner if you want... cause there's no one to nag you about the complete lack of nutrients 

3. Sex- oh wait, I'm mormon, darn....

Ha, then my roommate Rachel chimes in "sex, we can work on that, you'll be having sex in no time." 

......

......

Hmmm... yeah, my roommates are great influences. Don't worry, I'm not gonna go around breaking any commandments... I'll just stick to watching Grey's with half gallons of slow-churned cookie dough Dreyer's Ice Cream. 

I'll keep you my dirty little secret

While reading an article about the sappy Olympic commercials, i found a link to this article.

Ads We Hate: The most annoying commercials in the universe.

The slogan on Greyhound's most recent ad campaign: "There's a reason you've never heard of 'bus rage.' " A clever line, extolling the alleged laid-back nature of bus travel. Two problems. 1) I myself have experienced "bus rage"—every single time I've ridden a bus. 2) The ads went up just in time for the occurrence of what must be the absolute worst case of bus rage in history—an incident in Canada in which a Greyhound passenger beheaded his seatmate with a knife and then began "hacking off pieces of the victim's body and eating them." If you hadn't heard of bus rage before, you have now!

Ok, i must admit, I laughed. I know, I'm a disturbed person, who has obviously been calloused by video games and overly violent movies and reduced to a desentized cruel excuse for a human being... but seriously, i bet you laughed too. No, not because I think it's funny that some guy brutally killed and ate his busmate, but because sometimes commercials are so ridiculous you wonder how they ever got past the advertising executives.

And yet, despite the intro, i was having trouble recalling obnoxious commercials, so I decided to share my current favorite. Enjoy.

Look me in the eye and tell me you don't find me attractive

As the Olympics draws to a close, it's only appropriate to end my Olympic postings with my favorite pictures of Michael Phelps!

Yeah, he know's he's hot.

You've got the most unbelievable blue eyes I've ever seen

I've always hated those girls who planned out their whole wedding down to the most ridiculous detail when they were in high school. Or before they were even engaged for that matter. It always seemed kind of selfish to assume that everything would be exactly how you want it, when there is someone else with whom you are sharing the day. Not to mention, the fact that for many people their taste in clothing, music, and color schemes changes during the 5-10 years between high school and "the big day."

Yet, as is becoming rather common for me, I feel that I need to eat my own words and confess that I've become a total hypocrite. Despite my best efforts, as I've watched many of my friends get married in the past year, I've decided on a lot of preferences in relation to weddings and I'm sad to admit I do have a less than vague idea of what i want.

So, let me step out of reality for a moment and share some of these with you. Opinions are welcome, but I can't promise that I'll care what you have to say, because it'll be my (and some guy's) party and I can pretty much do whatever I want.

My vision is pretty much limited to the apparrel, the food, and more recently the dancing. I've already designed my wedding dress (my mom is a most talented seamstress, who is very accomodating when it comes to my designs), and it's a very casual dress reminiscent of a beach wedding (but obviously won't be, because I'm getting married in the temple). I want the guys in the wedding party to be wearing tan suits and rainbows (the flip flops). I also want the girls to be in a more casual summery dress (oh, yeah this fantasy is contingent on a summer wedding). I hate when the guys are in tux's and the girls are in sunday dress (or vice versa, satin dresses and slacks). Essentially I just want everyone to be casual and comfortable, but classy... think JCrew summer catalog.

Anyhow, so with the summer apparel, the backdrop most obviously has to be a Pig Pickin'. I mean seriously, a wedding is a celebration and therefore should be all about good food, good company, and good times. I define this as a Pig Pickin'. I love barbeque. I love the South. I love the outdoors. Need I say more.

So this was pretty much all I ever wanted out of a wedding, and then i saw this preview for some show where Napoleon and Tabitha (off So You Think You Can Dance) choreograph a wedding dance for couples (they do hip hop routines), and I thought that'd be cool. I mean who wants to dance to some lovey dovey crap like Jesse McCartney's "beautiful soul" (i'm really sorry if I just offended someone), I sure don't! No of course not, I'd rather bust it out to some sick Chris Brown song like "Forever." Ha, I know, you're all thinking "and how is that better." Fair enough, I maintain the right to dismiss this part of my plans at any time. But for today at least, i think it would be cool to bust out a hip hop routine at my wedding.

Oh, and I want the groom to have the most unbelievable blue eyes I've ever seen (hey, it's my fantasy wedding!)

So there ya go, the crazy girl side of me. Oh and when this all goes down, you're totally invited. Just remember your sunglasses and appetite!

I want to run through the halls of my high school

Actually, I have no desire to ever step foot in my high school again. It's like that Jack Handy quote "why ask me how school was, it's like a drive by shooting, i'm just glad I made it out alive."

I do, however, want to scream at the top of my lungs. I mistakenly thought I graduated from high school 4 YEARS AGO. Oh contrare, I dwell in the dismal, gossip invested, back stabbing, immature world that should be called Macaroni Grill High. Anyone, who rejoices upon high school graduation, has yet to stumble upon the dream crushing realization that high school is merely a preview of life and the drama continues as long as you're a functioning member of society. It is a strong person who can continue into life unscathed and revel in their lack of concern towards other opinions and the immature and selfish games we play to get ahead in life.

I'm not sure how well I'm playing the game, but i suppose Kanye put it best... that, that don't kill me, can only make me stronger.

Henry the eighth, I am I am

Having just watched The Other Boleyn Girl, I am amazed at the drama and complete lack of morals the involved parties displayed. Geez, and I thought our political system has issues...

Lessons I learned from The Other Boleyn Girl

1. Committing adultery will not only send you to hell, it'll lead to you and your sister sleeping with the same man, you sleeping with your brother, and the loss of your head... They should use Anne Boleyn in high school health classes as a shining beacon of why you should remain abstinent.

2. Violence against women is fine if said women "seduced" you into breaking your ties with the Catholic Church.

3. Bastard children are perhaps lucky to be unclaimed by their psychologically damaged father.

4. And of course, never underestimate the power of women... no male heir could have done what Elizabeth did so powerfully for 45 years.

*Disclaimer: Wikipedia does not paint the picture of such a conniving power hungry wench as hollywood does. Ok, really the movie was interesting and it prompts you to seek out the 5 facts that you know hollywood spun a 2 hour movie out of. (dang it, i know i'm not supposed to end sentences with prepositions but I'm too tired to rewrite it... goodnight)

In my mind I'm going to Carolina...

So I found this old list of 25 ways to know you're from North Carolina and it made me laugh... so i will share a few of my fav's.

You Know You're From North Carolina if:

-You have an opinion about UNC. You went there and loved it, or you hate everyone who did.
-You sold Krispy Kreme doughnuts for a school or church fundraiser before those glazed doughnuts went global.
-You remember watching the ACC Tournament on television at school.
-People are not fat, they're healthy
-You've actually uttered the phrase "it's too hot to go to the pool."
-School was cancelled because of cold, heat, and hurricanes
-The festivals around the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, or tobacco
-You know what a pig pickin' is, and you consider being a "Pork Queen" an honor.

Well, welcome to my world a little bit. Anyhow, in other news Chelsie Hightower, Gev and myself are becoming fast friends (meaning they came in for another 20 minute meal at the Mac Grill!). I am proud to say I got a picture this time, and if I ever bother to learn how to add pictures to my blog it will be up shortly.

I don't quite know how to say how I feel

I can only imagine how Michael Phelps feels. I'm ecstatic and tired, and all I've done is watch. Way to go Michael! Congratulations.

That is all.

Because I'm sure it isn't good- that's the impression that i get

Wow, so while perusing through some friends blogs and then linking to their friends blogs I came across this assessment of the fourth and final book in the Twilight series. Having just completed the book, so as to better defend my stance on the poor quality of the series, I really couldn't have summed it up better myself. So here's to stealing from other people's blogs...


For some inexplicable and perverse reason, I spent the last hour and a half of my life perusing an online copy of Breaking Dawn. You know, the new manual for Young Women's and Relief Society. And this is what I learned:

1. Sub/dom is the model for the ideal relationship. (That's right: forget that "equal partnership" article that the Hafens wrote up for the Ensign. They just haven't discovered the thrill and fulfillment of rocking your wife to sleep while singing her a lullaby.)

2. Promising self-betterment is a great way to get a guy to sleep with you. Bonus: after you've achieved your goal (the sex part, not the betterment part), he'll be so happy that he'll totally forget about that little promise you made about education.

3. Speaking of education, it really is just a way to half-heartedly pass the time until you get knocked up. After the happy event, who needs it? Out the window!

4. Being pregnant is really, really awful.

5. Bella is the noblest vampire ever. Why? Because she doesn't need human blood! All she needs is sex, sex, and more sex! (And lots of helpful vampire friends to watch the baby. All the time. Until it's convenient for her to remember that said baby exists (ie: in the morning).)Throw Fascinating Womanhood and A Fascinating Girl out the window. We've got all we need right here to raise the next generation of errand-running angels.

A bit harsh, and yet well said.

And the world spins madly on

He is amazing! He is just straight up amazing. Tonight's race was incredible. To be honest, I'm a traitor in thought. I didn't think he had it. It looked like he was going to lose, but with one hundreth of a second he out touched for the gold medal. (It makes me feel better to know that his mom thought he had 2nd as well, and then practically fainted when she saw that he won.) Anyhow, the swimming is nearly over, and then I have to wait four more years til the London Olympics to share my love of swimming with the World. But for now Michael Phelps has won 7 Gold Medals, is one of the greatest Olympians of all time, and has potential to be the greatest swimmer of all time.

In other news, I was explaining something to a couple of new guys who are training at Macaroni Grill, and my manager walks by and states that I am available (always looking for prime opportunities to embarass his employees). So I ask him what makes him think that I'm available, and he matter of factly states that there aren't any guys good enough to make me completely unavailable. (the collective ahhh now comes from all 2 people that will read this). Yeah, I know... not true, but a really sweet thing to say. Anyhow, perhaps I should write him a note about it* (inside joke with mac grill employees, or at least the cool employees :)

Lame posts lately, I know, sorry. I'll try to make my life more interesting so as to have better posts, and well, cause life's just better when it's interesting.

I met the girl on tv

So I have just been on cloud nine right, with the Olympics and all, but to put icing on the cake, Chelsie Hightower and Gev from So You Think You Can Dance came into Macaroni Grill last night to eat. It was hilarious! I see them walk in, totally do a double take, and then go running back to Jodi screaming "you won't believe who just walked in!" We then proceeded to watch them through their entire meal just gushing and debating whether we should bug them or leave them to their date. Graciously, we allowed them to eat their food in peace, but I talked to them as they were leaving and even got a hug from both (they seemed almost equally as stoked- to know they have nerdy fans like me). Anyhow, what a night.

Of course I didn't get out of work til midnight because I couldn't stop talking about So You Think You Can Dance and the celebrities that I touched! And of course this morning I had to call my mom and sisters to brag about meeting them and now it's 1 pm and I'm feeling pretty worthless.

Ehh who cares. In the grand scheme of things am I going to remember and be glad that I used this day productively or that I watched every swim race in the 2008 Olympics and met Chelsie and Gev. Yeah, I agree, definitely the later...

Please get me a towel, Mr. Tangerine Speedo

I just witnessed perhaps one of the greatest swim races of my time. The Men's 4 x 100 Free Relay was incredible. I'm not sure there's even words to describe that relay. Basically it was the perfect relay. The U.S. team swam the perfect race to beat the highly favored French Men's Team by 8 one hundreth's of a second, not to mention shattering the previous world record by 4 seconds (that's like going from a 6 min mile to a 3.5 min mile in 2 weeks, for all you non-swimmers). And of course, as if winning gold and rubbing it in the french's face isn't good enough... Michael Phelps is now 2 for 2 in his quest for 8 gold medals in one olympics, which would make him the greatest Olympian in history. Bascially to sum this all up, I'm pretty much as ecstatic as I was when UNC won the NCAA title in 2005. I only wish that I actually had some of my swimming friends to watch it with me, or at least my little sister. Anyhow, I should probably go rest my voice now if I have any desire to talk to my tables at work tomorrow... (ha, so much to respond to that, but i'll leave it alone).

***Disclaimer: If you're already tired of my posts on the Olympics, you might want to tune out of my blog for the next 6 days... as there are many more swimming events to come***

Don't wake me, I plan on sleeping in

Just some quick random thoughts, because I should have gone to bed forever and a day ago, but.... of course I got sucked into another 3 hours of Olympics. I love the Olympics. I think they are so entertaining. It's just incredible to me what people can do, and the spirit that allows people to set aside political, religious, and ethnic differences for 17 days every 2 years to rejoice in the human spirit (I know I sound like one of the television ads... it happens after watching practically 15 hours of Olympics in a 28 hour time period... ok i tivo through the commentator and boring stuff, but it is still pretty ridiculous.)

On another note, 2 friends from work (Swift and Peter) and myself are going to open a conglomerate of businesses. We're considering naming them Johnny Swift Industries with one of our first companies being 'Fork Me Fondue: Come take a dip in our pot.' Ha. I'm still laughing, I think it's very catchy.

Now, on to my beauty rest (I have a potentially life changing dinner tomorrow (ha, that's for you peter ((since you're my only blog reader, anyhow))) :)

Seriously! Seriously?

Do you ever watch a movie and wonder how the heck it won so many awards? I mean I'm talking an Oscar for Best Picture for goodness sakes. Best Picture? Really? Was this movie really the best picture for said year? Well, that's just sad, because I then immediately assume that the rest of the films produced that year must have been pretty bleak. This has happened in recent years, but I've been watching a lot of old Best Pictures Oscar winners and I've been so disappointed. Shouldn't a "best picture" be able to transcend time and appeal to the masses even generations later?

Well, perhaps it's just me. Let's be honest, I love the orignial Buffy the Vampire Slayer... so what do I know about best pictures.

Cause I'm easy like sunday morning

Today's a good day. I love overcast summer days. I also love string cheese, my new favorite snack. It's 60 calories of protein and calcium filled goodness (a.k.a. behold the power of cheese).

Everybody go, the party's over.... I want to be alone in my head in my bed tonight

I'm finding lots of jobs that would lead me to places that provide less than optimal social scenes (google: Supai, Arizona). Some days I think so what... a social life is over-rated. I could be completely happy going to work, going to the gym for a couple hours and then settling into my bed to enjoy a couple netflix delivered hours of mindless entertainment. Could I though?

The same girl who sinks into a pit of despair when she realizes not one person texted her today, who would rather sit at Macaroni Grill an hour after her shift ends just to chat, who started blogging so she's not talking out loud to herself, do you think this girl can handle a practically non-existent social life in a town where she knows no one? (Although that seemed like a run-on sentence, I think that sentence is actually grammatically correct, amazing...)

Annie are you ok, Annie are you ok, are you ok Annie?

I need a roommate. Or to be more correct, I need my roommates to be home once in a blue moon. Or I need a friend. Will you be my friend?

Seriously, though, I'm searching for jobs and sometimes I stumble across the most ridiculous job advertisements, which just ache to be aprreciated (a.k.a. mocked) by more than my lowly self. And yet, I sit here... alone, chuckling and wondering if these advertisements are truly out there in cyberspace for the world's entertainment or if someone hacked into my computer and planted them just for me. I'm pretty sure it's the former, which is almost more dismal.

Anyhow, there's also this other position. It's this successful businessman (runs 3 companies) who is looking for a personal assistant (female) who also has an exercise/health background, is organized, and can handle phone calls and meetings with important people. Sounds right up my alley, right? The job is part-time, pays well, and involves lots of paid international travel. Should one actually apply for such a job? Sadly, with the world we live in today, I wonder whether he is just a beast to work for or a serial rapist putting out a rather clever job ad to lure in innocent girls. Well, since I have nobody to discuss said job with, if I end up applying, please watch for me on Dateline.

Happiness is...

My more recent blogs have been somewhat depressing. And although, recent activities in my life are not the most exciting or on my top 100 list of things I enjoy doing, I'm actually quite happy. Life is good. To illustrate let me just list 5 measley things to celebrate.

1. Twitch is in the finals
2. My favorite flavor of ice cream has been on sale 2 weeks in a row
3. I have a Netflix subscription which delivers little envelopes of delight about every 2 or 3 days
4. I just glanced in the mirror and I look hot (of course these moments are most often at midnight when I'm home alone, but it's a confidence booster anyways)
5. AND..... I'm going to my baby's daddy's house to have dinner with his family in approximately one week, one day, and 23.pie hours (just kidding about the countdown) ((but seriously, our baby is named biscuit and once he's done cooking in my oven, he's gonna be one ridiculously good-looking kid))

So.... yeah.... the list is slightly over the top with a pathetic meter rating of about 'a day in the life of paris hilton,' but i'm just trying to illustrate that life is good and I think I'm better than I've been in a while. I suppose Carrie Bradshaw summed it up well "Happiness is like a butterfly- the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder..."

I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve

I have so many things to figure out. My sister once shared this bit of wisdom. "Deciding on the right thing to do is a bit like deciding on the right thing to wear to a party. It is easy to decide on what is wrong to wear to a party, such as deep sea diving equipment or a pair of large pillows, but deciding what is right is much trickier." I feel as though I've spent the past year wearing a wildly inappropriate outfit to the party. Why didn't anyone tell me?

Your love is my heart disease

Life was so much easier when clothes didn't match and boys had cooties.

I used to think I understood guys. I grew up around guys and I've always been more inclined to be friends with guys. I don't mean this in a harsh or critical way, but guys thinking is just more simple. It's typically a thought followed by an action. There's usually a pretty clear motive behind their actions if you know the person or look at the big picture. Girls, on the other hand, are so complicated we confuse ourselves. It's thoughts back and forth and back and forth and sometimes you end up with an action that came from some logical reasoning and sometimes things just got all muddled up in the back and forth and you're left with our crazy antics.

I also used to think that I could be one of the guys. I could keep things simple if I wanted to. You say something that ticks me off and I just punch you, or you ask if i want to hang out with you and I respond "no, i'm ticked at you right now... maybe some other time." Sure, I am a girl and by that right, I suppose I'm crazy like all girls. In our defense, I say to the male audience: You try dealing with ridiculous amounts of hormones pumping through your body at fluctuating levels every day of the month. "It's like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get." EXACTLY. So cut us some slack. However, despite even the disclaimer, I've convinced myself that I have a remarkable ability to step outside my emotions and identify when it's the hormones talking and live my life in a rather rational and logical manner. And yet...

I don't understand boys. Sometimes I swear they're about as bright as lava lamps. I am of course speaking purely on a relationship level. Why do guys treat some girls with respect and not others? Why do they think it's alright to call one girl just to make out, but they would never consider calling this other girl? What causes them to make these judgements about girls? And more curiously, why are some girls good enough to be a friend, dare i say even a best friend, a confidante, your right hand man, but she's not good enough to date?

Now, i almost wish someone read my blog so i could get a response to my questions... Alas, I'm left with only my ponderings.

Just when i was low, feeling short of stable

My self-esteem has taken a rather large blow recently upon realizing that I have been working at Macaroni Grill for almost a year. As I attempt to look for other jobs that provide a little more in the department of satisfaction when going to work, I realize that a year at Macaroni Grill is hardly a shining beacon on my resume. Sadly, misery likes company, and I find solace in my friends who have had, or are having a similarly hard time figuring out the next phase of life. Sometimes it's just good to know you're not alone.

On a happier note, I get tired of explaining what I'm doing with my life, so I tell everyone that I aspire to be Tinkerbell and fly over the Castle at Disneyland. Anyhow, I just wanted the world to know that my mom is the best, and to help keep my dreams alive, she just mailed me a tinkerbell shirt that is S-I-C-K, that means sick.

Bare Ass meets Cheese Grater

There are few things worse than job hunting.... Sliding down a human cheese grater buck naked is the only thing coming to mind right now. Dear lord, please bless me in my job search because I might not last much longer and waiting tables for the rest of my life is a pretty dismal life.

In other news, I got new sheets and pillows and I'm pretty stoked to go to bed tonight. (Yes, I know... the highlights of my life are new sheets and So You Think You Can Dance... don't mock, one day you might be in my position, and then won't you feel like a jerk!)

BYU parking sucks

Despite the fact that my life is rather fabulous and I have no major complaints, I must still ask the great cosmos that is blogging society (even though I know no one reads this blog) a question. Why for the love of all that is .... (fill in the blank) does BYU only have 20 visitor parking spots? On the off chance that I need to visit my Alma Mater, I find that there is not a parking spot within a 5 mile radius. Oh wait, let me correct myself. There is not a parking spot for visitors. There is tons of faculty parking just sitting there unfilled taunting the numberous visitors who just want to make a 30 minute stop, but due to the over zealous parking officials who subsidize BYU education with parking ticket fees, one would have to be out of their mind to attempt to park in an undesignated spot and run their errand. So I settle for the 15 minute parking. And Dangit... I'm over my 15 minute limit. I better quit blogging and go save my car from unwanted boot.

All I know is that you are on my mind

I have this annoying habit. I find songs I like and then I proceed to listen to said song over and over. I really only suspect that this is an annoying habit, as I am alone about 87.6% of the time (due to my increasingly smaller work schedule, and roommates who vacation more at the apartment than actually reside here). Today's song is Kalai's "On My Mind." I've probably listened to it at least ten times already today. I tend to play the song over and over until I know the words so well, I'm not thinking about the lyrics when the song plays. Then I know I need to find a new song. Anyhow, I only share because I presume I only have about 8 hours left with this song, so I'm open to suggestions for tomorrow's obsession...

Can I have your pee please!

NASA needs pee. They are collecting urine samples to perfect the process of disposing urine in space. I wonder if they'd pay me to sit around drinking Sunny D all day and then give them urine samples. What a funny world we live in.

Sing Along

I often drive with my windows down, music blaring, singing along shamelessly. As I waited at the stop light today there was a biker waiting to cross the rode dancing (if you can call it that) and clearly enjoying his music. I kinda chuckled, as most people do, when they see someone oblivious to the world singing their hearts out to whatever is playing on their Ipod, but why? I often get self conscious when I pull up to a stoplight and I've been singing at about 90 decibles. Why? I got a good laugh at the poor bikers expense, and why not let others get a good laugh at my expense. It doesn't hurt anything, and if anything I'm cheering up America's drivers (which with the incredible stupidity that is known as Utah Drivers, should be considered a public service). So next time you pull up beside me rocking out to All American Rejects "Dirty Little Secret" (don't pretend like you've never rocked out to it), pull out your Ipod, find "Dirty Little Secret" (we both know it's on your Ipod), and join me. It boosts endorphins.

Rollover Minutes are Beautiful

So I was pondering the prospect of driving back to the east coast by myself, in the event that I move back, and I decided that I would need to spend a good deal of that drive on the phone just to keep myself sane (don't underestimate the extreme boredom that ensues across Kansas and much of Nevada). So I decided to see how long I could talk on the phone without procurring overage charges... and low and behold I could talk on the phone the entire trip without going over my allotted minutes! That's beautiful. That's not even taking into account that a good majority of the minutes used on such a trip would be free Mobile to Mobile and Nighttime minutes. So now I just need friends willing to talk to me for a minimum hour block while I drive. Anyone, Anyone?

Does this make me look fat?

So I was watching a movie this afternoon in which the Mother says to her son, "That shirt makes you look fat." He replies with "I am fat. In fact, if anything, I make the shirt look fat." After the appropriate burst of laughter, i got to thinking... That's a very valid, if not mildly ridiculous point. Why do we always blame the article of clothing for our inability to resist the haagen dazs dark chocolate chocolate ice cream bar, or our need to eat seconds and thirds of everything. Now, if i went along with the theme of the movie, I'd say to heck with it. You're FAT. Own it. But alas, the exercise science major that I am... I say yeah, enjoy that ice cream... then go run 3 miles at the gym and give that shirt the hot body it deserves to be seen on ;)

Prozac, please... scratch that... ice cream, please!

Unc lost. I'm depressed. Expect a full recovery in approximately 5 days.