One Life. No Regrets.

Day Four - Juliet, Day Five - Heartbreak

2010-07-22T20:29:00.000-07:00

Day Four and Five in one post, sorry. Emotions can be overwhelming and lately they are all sad topics in my writing. For Day Four I chose to write about Juliet. I simply love the story of Romeo and Juliet. I often put myself in her shoes, trying to imagine how hard loving Romeo must have been. Beautiful story, tragic ending.

A cool breeze blew across Juliet's face, tugging at the loose strands of her chocolate brown hair. Normally the night would have felt magical. Fireflies glowed softly amidst the shrubbery. The stars shown brighter than ever seemed possible. The wind rustled through the leaves, sounding like whispered voices in the distance. She hugged her shawl tighter around her and gazed down at the balcony. Her blue eyes brimmed with tears. At first she tried to blink them away but finally gave in and let them slide down her cheeks. She traced her fingers across the railing thinking back to the previous night.

Last night had been so perfect. So wonderful. She recalled Romeo climbing the thick vines, reciting words that made her heart race. Then he was beside her, brushing her hair from her face oh so tenderly...

She looked up at this deep brown eyes gazing intently upon her. Her heart fluttered nervously. A man had never looked at her so intensely before. He leaned closer until his lips met hers in a soft kiss...

That kiss had changed her whole world. She knew she had loved Romeo before, but the kiss deepened their love in a way she didn't thinkwas possible. It was impossible to forget and now they both knew they were destined to be together forever.

They had spent the rest of the night walking through the lovely gardens of exotic flowers. Romeo shared a whole new world with Juliet, a world of magic and wonder. They laughed and teased each other but sometimes grew serious as their passion for each other grew more and more intense.

Romeo had left at sunrise, vowing to return and be with her forever. However, unfortunate events had taken place. Romeo had been exiled. They were never to see each other again. She could feel her heart breaking and swelling at the same time. She couldn't eat, couldn't sleep. Nothing mattered except Romeo...And she couldn't have him...

Day Five isn't much happier. Heartbreak was the topic so I wrote about Kara Lee losing Johnny. This one is shorter. I honestly couldn't dwell on the subject for too long.

Kara Lee lay curled up on her bed. She hugged her pillow tight as tears streamed from her eyes. Her soft black hair fanned out henind her. A choked sob escaped her lips. She closed her hazel eyes tight and shook her head, trying to shake the pain from her mind.

Johnny had been her whole world. He was so frustrating and stubborn, but she loved him for everything. At first he had refused to acknowledge her but somehow she had broken his defenses and they had fallen in love. But now he had decided to be an idiot again! Breaking promises, missing dates. He had missed graduation tonight, after swearing he would be there. She she sent him away. Too many broken promises. She would get her hopes up every time, only to have them shattered when she never saw his face. He had apologized of course, but if he really cared wouldn't he be there?

She held her pillow tighter and glared with sorrow into the distance. For her own sanity she couldn't put herself through anymore pain but now her heart was breaking. It felt as if it had been shattered into a million pieces. The grief was overwhelming. She didn't want to be healed, nothing to put her back together again, but it would be nice to be taken away from the pain, simply be numb.

Day Three - Regret

2010-07-20T10:25:00.000-07:00

Emotion for the day is Regret. This one was a tough one for me, seeing as I don't regret anything I've done in my life. So I chose to use a couple of characters that I know like the back of my hand, makes sense because I created them. I realize I am posting a day late, but I had a late night last night and was too exhausted to post until this morning. Enjoy. :)

After a long day Johnny returned to his quarters. Quietly he sat down on his bed, earlier events running through his mind. An overwhelming sense of grief hit him like a blow to the chest. He grimaced at this unforeseen agony.

She was gone. And it was his fault. He tried to push the thought from his mind, but found it impossible. Her face appeared in his mind, clear as a picture. Soft black hair fell around her face, hazel eyes shining as bring as the sun...He could even hear her tingling laughter in his ears.

A yell of frustration exploded from his mouth. He grabbed his pillow and chucked in across the room. Unsatisfied he grabbed the next closest object: he dagger. This too he threw across the room. With amazing accuracy he hit a tapestry of a dragon square between the eyes. It still wasn't enough. The regret was torture and so overwhelming. How could he just miss the one night that was so important? He had been too concerned with himself, not just tonight but for the past several weeks. Missing one night was one thing, but several? It was inexcusable. How could he have been so stupid?!

A mix of fury and agony flashed in his eyes. He needed to take his mind off the pain. He stood up and slapped the bedpost with as much force as he could muster, digging his nails into the wood. The pain numbed his mind for a second. He choked back a strangled sob. Next her swung at the few possessions he owned. A picture frame fell to the stone floor and shattered. The sound of breaking glass seemed to snap Johnny back to his senses for a moment. Tenderly he knelt down and retrieved the photograph amidst the jagged edges. Kara Lee gazed back at him with so much love in her eyes he could feel the crack in his heart grow deeper.

Without another word he hurried from the room, photograph still in hand.

Day Two - Joy

2010-07-18T22:22:00.000-07:00

I decided I needed to give myself options so I didn't spend forever just thinking about writing. Three-hundred and sixty-five posts is an awful lot so if any of you have suggestions throw them out there. It would be fun to get prompts from people. Feel free to challenge me!

For the moment I wrote down several emotions and folded them up. Emotion of the day: Joy. Here's the excerpt for the day:

Sara's eyes flew open. It was her birthday today! Her bright hazel eyes glanced anxiously around her sunlit room. She was not five years old! A huge grin spread across her face. She scrambled out of bed, ran to her bedroom door, and yanked it open. "Mommy, Mommy!" she hollered as she raced down the hallway, pink nightgown flowing with her.

In her parents' bedroom her mother rolled over at her daughter's approach. "Mommy, it's my birthday!" Sara exclaimed.

Her mother gave Sara a sleepy smile. "It is, sweetheart."

"I'm five years old now!" Sara began climbing onto her mother's plush bed. She plopped down and stared at her mother, her expression still one of giddy excitement.

"Yes you are, sweetie." Her mother sat up. "And do you feel older?"

After a moment's thought Sara replied, "I do!" She crawled over towards her mother and gave her a big hug. "Mommy can we have cake now?" she asked.

Laughing, her mother returned the hug. "We have to wait for Daddy to get home tonight." She kissed the top of Sara's head. "But I canlet you open one present."

Sara pulled away, her grin even bigger than before. "Okay!"

Haha aren't kids so cute?

A Year of Writing

2010-07-17T23:01:00.000-07:00

Last night I was inspired to improve my writing skills. Everyone knows I am completely in love with books. I could spend HOURS in a book store and easily spend at least $100 without feeling guilty. As some of you may know I started writing a book clear back in high school. I finished it once, but it needed a LOT of plot revisions so I've been working on it ever since. Last night I decided to dig it up once again and glance through it. Wow! Can I just say that I forgot how much I love my characters? The writing was amateur but I fell in love with my story once again. I really believe it has potential! Of course my writing still needs some work. So I decided to make myself a goal: A year of writing. Every day I write something and post it. Hopefully I get some good feedback. It's definitely going to take time and dedication but I can do it. :)

Here's the first post:

A sharp pain jabbed into Amanda's side with every stride she took.

Inhale....Exhale...Amanda thought calmly. Although the ache didn't go away immediately the breathing exercise seemed to help. She glanced down at her watch. Pace: 8:45. A smile briefly flashed across her face. She was right on track. Just a few more blocks and the ten miles would be up.

An upbeat rhythm played in her ears, motivating her to keep up her pace. She was vaguely aware of sweat trickling down her bow and wiped it away with the back of her hand. Although her breathing was slightly labored she felt strong. Her feet sprang lightly off the city sidewalks and her muscles felt strong, powerful. A scent of automobiles and tar hang heavy in the air. Her quick blue eyes scanned the massive buildings towering abover her. It was beautiful.

As she rounded the corner she located her penthouse a block away. Eyes narrowed in determination. The final stretch. A surge of adrenaline spread through her body. She lengthened her stride, putting her entire heart into every step. The wind caught a few loose strands of her light brown hair. It pressed against her, cooling off the sweat from her body.

This is why she ran. It felt as if she were flying.

Infatuation vs. Love

2010-01-17T22:32:00.000-08:00

Alright, for all of you who are about to read this post please understand that I am neither infatuated nor in love! I was merely curious about the difference between the two. Here's what I found out:

When does infatuation end and love begin? Surely there is a difference between the two words. Or are they really similiar enough to be interchangeable?

Definition:
Infatuation -
1. A foolish, unreasoning, or extravagant passion of attraction
2. An object of extravagant, short-lived passion

According to this definition infatuation is foolish, maybe even blind. So maybe all love starts out as an infatuation. We meet someone and get caught up in the moment of being in love. He or she can do nothing wrong in our eyes. They appear perfect. Of course to any sensible, level-headed person this seems pretty foolish. We all know no one is perfect. Mostly this is the physical aspect of the relationship. We want to hold them or be held or kiss. We wouldn't take our hands off them if we had a choice. However the romantic rush is short-lived, as stated above, and once this stage has ended either things end or they progress. They never stand still. Both persons are continuing to move in one direction or the other. So if the infatuation is really love then the relationship will continue, regardless of flaws or fights. And if not then the passion will die with the relationship.

Definition:
Love -
1. A profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person
2. A feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection
Synonyms: tenderness, fondness, warmth, passion, adoration

Now seeing the definition of love we see it is not an object nor foolish as the definition of infatuation stated. Instead love is a feeling towards something or someone. Love is more than just a passion, it is tender and affectionate, and a personal attachment - meaning we have invested our time and interest. Love is not just about the physical but about the mental as well. With love the person understands and accepts the other person for who he or she is. If this is the case then when the infatuation wears off in a sincere relationship love is left behind. Both persons are beginning to understand the other. For better or for worse. Secrets start coming out. You yearn to share your entire life with this one person, regardless of your past mistakes. You are no longer an independent person, but rather depending on each other for support.

So when does the line of infatuation end and love begin? When we can notice someone's flaws and imperfections and still want to be with them, knowing fair well that things won't be easy? Maybe when we honestly realize our life would seem pointless without them because our lives have somehow become intertwined with theirs. When we share their emotions and forget what everyone else looks like. Nothing matters but making he or she happy.

If infatuation is foolish and extravagant then maybe love is calm and comforting. An unexplained feeling of awe and devotion that leaves you breathless. Almost as if there is physical pain simply by being separated. A longing so deep you would merely be content just sitting next to them...

What can I say, I'm a romantic. :) And I think way too much!

Tucson Marathon

2009-12-31T18:29:00.000-08:00

I did it again! I now have my second marathon under my belt and boy was it just as crazy as my first. However, despite everything, I can proudly say that I love running! I did things a little differently this time around. Some were good, some were bad, but I defintely learned from my experience! Here's how the race went:

We started on Mount Lemon (or at least I believe it was Mount Lemon...). The ride up was miserable to put it bluntly. All runners were transported on buses. I ended up on a yellow school bus - I just missed getting on a nice tour bus. :P And of course the window by my seat will not stay up to save it's life! With every bump it would slip farther and farther open and when you are driving to the top of a mountain there are bound to be several bumps in the road. For a while I would just push it up every time it slipped. It would stay for a few minutes before falling once more. Then it just stopped staying up all together...Unless I held it there. Talk about ridiculous! I was so frustrated! A gentleman behind me offered to hold it up for a little while. I graciously obligued. I swear the trip up took 30-45 minutes too.

The beginning of the race was mostly downhill. It was great! I was going at a good pace, full of energy. After running down the mountain we entered the highway at mile 9 - Oro Valley Road, I believe. This was the boring part. Don't get me wrong, the mountains down in Tucson are really pretty. They seem to just spring up from the valley! The rest is all desert though; cactus and sagebrush. Plus at this point we started fighting a headwind of 20 mph. Talk about degrading! I was going strong through mile 15. I slowed down a little after that, but I was still going to come in before 4'30". Then mile 20 hit me. I just didn't want to run anymore! I was doing great energy wise. I'd kept my carbs and electrolytes up, but mentally? I just wanted it to be over! My hips killed, the wind was frustrating, I had lung burn... It was definitely "the Wall." At mile 23 we FINALLY left the highway - see why I was bored??? Unfortunately the last three miles were more uphill than downhill. I couldn't seem to find my momentum. Sometimes it hurt less to run, other times I just didn't care. I wanted the race to be over. I was so excited to see the finish line! Unfortunately there was a sharp turn right before it and it was all on sand so I couldn't even get a good sprint in. Oh well. I finished! It felt so good when they put that medallion around my neck. :) Final time 4'45" - slower than I wanted, but next time I will be better prepared.

There are several things I learned from the marathon:

Pros:
- I ate really well - lots of veggies, not too many carbs (sushi the night before was perfect!)
- I researched what I was suppose to eat.
- I didn't feel sick the entire marathon! (probably because I ate well)
- I paced myself fairly well up until the end.
- The wall didn't hit me until mile 20 (it was mile 17 on the last marathon)
- I trained using a lot of stairs and hills - helped strengthen my quads and gave me more endurance.

Cons:
- I didn't keep to my training schedule! I didn't run Saturdays and there were very few weeks I actually ran all of the other days I was suppose to. Next time it will be better, especially now that I am learning how to budget my time.
- I wasn't prepared to be cold. Solution: long-sleeved shirt and possibly spandex pants, and look at the weather forcast
- I didn't mentally prepare for the wall. I'm sure if I actually ran the entire race I could cut some time off.

Goals:
- Strengthen hip-flexors
- Defeat "the Wall"
- Stick to my training schedule
- Run more stairs and hills to increase time
- Be prepared for weather

Although I was slightly disappointed in the results of the race I feel really good that I accomplished the 26.2 miles once again. It was hard at the end knowing that no one would be waiting for me, but I guess that is what happens when you move far from home. :) I definitely did NOT like the fact that I had to get back in my car and drive five hours. I'm sure I was very amusing to anyone who watched me attempt to get in and out of Beauty (my car) every time I stopped. Haha I was always yelping in pain. The good news: it only took me three days to recover, although I haven't ran since then. :)

My big goal is to run the Boston Marathon someday. That means I need to cut an hour off my time. Probably won't happen in 2010 but maybe around 2012? We'll see. :) Not sure what the next marathon will be but I will keep you updated!

Keep runnin' strong!

New Places

2009-08-12T16:30:00.000-07:00

I am now a resident of Arizona! I moved down to Winslow - you know, "Standin' on the Corner..." - two and a half weeks ago. It took me a few days to get over the homesickness, but now I honestly love it here! I've been making friends: Joseph, Mary Catherine, Ashley, Janae (just to name a few). Basically I'm always with the Ricks family down here. :) My friends have been showing me all the amazing things to do around the area. Did you know there is a giant Jack Rabbit that you can ride? Yeah, they make fun of it in the movie Cars. Isn't it cute? I love animals. ^^

I've also been cliff jumping at Clear Creek, driven an amazing Jaguar convertible, ran a 10k, eaten at the Rootbeer Stand, and visited the Little Painted Desert. (See Below)

Last weekend I also visited Tucson for the first time! It was pretty incredible. Joseph showed me around the city. (Much bigger than Winslow BTW!) First we went to the zoo! Did I mention I love animals??? Haha.

This picture doesn't give the bird's mohawk justice...

The otters were definitely one of my favorites!

And at night the city looks incredible.

These are all of my adventures for the moment, but I'm sure there will be more to come!

SLC Marathon

2009-04-20T16:02:00.000-07:00

As most everyone knows I have been training for the Salt Lake City Marathon for the past three months. Training has been a rewarding experience, although the process as a whole been a rollercoaster ride. Hehe. I started out on treadmills, now I hate them more than ever. Seriously, I would rather run in a blizzard than one of those blasted machines. Needless to say I do most of my running outside, despite the elements. I've learned to run in rain, snow, and my absolute favorite SUN! There was a week that I actually ran on a track, without music. Although I had no choice, I was in the middle of the pacific ocean and running ON water was not exactly an option. :) Near the end of my training I discovered I love to run with people, whether they are running alongside me or riding a bike (as Megan did). My total progress was this: I started out running at about 5.0 mph. Not bad, sometimes it was slower. Now my pace is about 6.1 or 6.2 mph and this is for several miles! Woot yeah!

Alright, enough with the training details and onto the main event! I spent the night with Megan's grandparents - LaVerne and Chet - and woke up early to get ready for the race. I parked Stevie (my car) at the Gateway and caught Trax up to U of U. My legs felt ready for action. I actually jogged a couple of paces. My whole body was quivering in anticipation. The ride was long, but after 45 minutes we finally reached Legacy Bridge at the top of U of U's campus. There were tons of people milling around waiting for the race to start. Most people were involved in the half marathon. We all congregated on the road. I saw Kyle Jennings from high school. He was running the half marathon so we talked until the race started. The start was kind of amusing. The announcer counted down, then there was a gun shot and everyone started to move forward. Although it was more of a shuffle than anything else. It didn't take us long to break up. The start was all downhill. Tons of people were passing me but I kept my steady pace, knowing I would need to conserve my energy. The morning air was cool and crisp. My music pounded in my ears. I had so much adrenaline! Every once in a while my emotions would get the best of me and I would start to choke up, but I soon discovered that I couldn't cry and breath at the same time. Haha.

At every mile along the course it said which mile you had finished and the amount of time you had been running. Every couple of miles there were rest stations with bathrooms (port o' potties) and people holding out water or gatorade. At my first rest stop I tried to run and drink at the same time... Yeah, didn't work out. I spilled a bunch. That's when I learned you walk when you are trying to drink something.

The course was really hilly. I remember looking at the elevation chart once and realizing I would encounter a few hills, but I guess it didn't fully sink in. Most of the hills were within the first 10 miles. I didn't stop to walk any of them! Except for the one at the very end. Thankfully the sky stayed overcast for until about 10am and even when the sky did clear up there was always a breeze.

I was feeling pretty good around mile 10. My pace was the same and I still had energy. Mile 16 was when everything hit me. I was tired. A couple miles earlier I had started to feel the wear, but this was definitely the Wall. I struggled. My mind was thinking, 10 more miles. Somehow I found my rhythm again, although I was all-too-aware of hot spots on my feet. Then at mile 18 it just hurt. My legs didn't want to go any further. I had 8 miles to go and all I wanted to do was sleep. I would glance longingly at the grass. I could see myself asleep in my car on my way back to Tremonton. It was hard. I stopped to walk for longer periods of time, but my legs hurt all the same. I ate some jelly beans and forced some gatorade and water down, but nothing helped. Food was the furthest thing from my mind. Even the gatorade was starting to make me feel nauseous. I remember thinking I was crazy! Part of me even thought that I would never run a marathon again. (Although I knew I could never completely make that promise.) One thing was certain, I would not give up!!! I took out my headphones, no longer amused by my selection of music. Every step hurt. My face became stoic although my mind was raging a huge battle against itself. I was counting down the miles, looking anxiously ahead for the next sign. One of the few things that kept me amused was the photographers. I started posing for the cameras, doing anything to keep my mind off the battle. I felt like I walked a lot, although it was probably less than two miles in total.

Finally I came to the last two miles of the race. There was a blasted hill. Despite my aching feet I knew I had to finish strong. I was determined to run the rest of the way once I got to the top of the hill. I walked the whole way up, exhausted beyond belief, but when I hit the top I ran. I forced my stride to lengthen. One last stretch, I thought. My eyes were focused on the Gateway straight ahead. I knew I would have to take three more turns before I could see the finish line. I passed the temple. My breathing was labored, but I couldn't stop. I wouldn't start up again. That last mile honestly seemed to take forever, but finally I rounded the corners. I could see the people. I started looking around almost overcome with emotion then I saw the finish line. Without thinking I sprinted straight ahead. I could hear everyone. I knew my family was cheering me on. I swore I heard my name but I couldn't focus on anything. It took every last ounce of energy to sprint towards that finish line. I passed a handful of people. Finally I was across. After slowing so rapidly I thought I was going to pass out. Thankfully I kept walking, trying to suck precious oxygen into my lungs. Someone handed me a medal. My mind must have been somewhat numb. I think I had to force myself to smile. I had done it. I finished in 4 hours and 42 minutes. Under my goal of 5 hours too!

The marathon was a great experience. I could hardly walk after sitting down for a few minutes. Everything hurt from my waist down, but the pain was worth it. My family was beaming and it didn't take too long for me to start beaming as well. Now I've started planning for the next one. I think it will be Top of Utah in September. I'm crazy. I knew after one I would do another. The feeling is very addicting. Even now I long to run out in the sunshine, despite my stiff muscles. :) I think I am still on an emotional high...

My family and roommates were all so amazing through all of this. I know how proud they are of their marathon runner and I hope they realize how much they did for me. Life really is a marathon and although there are times when we want to quit it is worth every minute of suffering once you cross that finish line. Thanks everyone for your support!

Running through Swamps!

2009-03-26T22:09:00.000-07:00

HAHA! I LOVE this story! So tonight I went running with my good friend Brad. Much to our surprise we have never been running together before, but we had a blast! So we set out at a good pace at least 6.0 miles per hour, probably a little more. Our goal was to run eight miles. Really, not terribly difficult. We are both distance runners. :) Here's the thing Brad is seriously awesome. I think I would consider him one of my best friends. He isn't dramatic, I try not to be dramatic, but I can completely be myself around him. (Don't worry, we are just friends, nothing more.) Anyway, so around mile three we were running down 1800 North and it lead to a dead end. We were about a block away from 1000 West, but their was a flooded field blocking our path. Being the awesome pair we are we decided to brave the swamp and cross it.

Our first hurdle was a wire fence with barb wire along the top. Brad made it over first - he's a lot taller than me so he just had to step over it. Then it was my turn. He held down the wire for me and I stepped over with my left leg, picked up my right leg and I was caught. I know, it was ridiculous! Thankfully it took me all of two seconds to fix. We laughed and the continued onto the bigger obstacle. A vast marsh.

At first the going was easy. Brad lead the way as we hoped from one dry patch to the next. Occasionally our feet would come across a little water, but nothing too bad. Until we reached the middle. By this point our feet were only half dry, but we were way to far to turn back now. We trudged on, actually it was more like hopping, laughing and talking the whole time. Our shoes and socks ended up getting soaked. The water was unavoidable, however we finally made it to the end of the mire. That did not conclude our quest though. Before we could get back onto solid ground we had to cross yet another fence. This one was higher than the first and very unstable. Brad suggested I use him to help me get over, but I couldn't get my footing right at all. So then he said he would lift me up so I could stand on the barb wire then jump over. It wasn't too difficult. I even landed on my feet. Hehe. It didn't take Brad long at all to get up and over, but he did end up falling. :) Although he jumped right back to his feet. Then we were off and running again. Haha! It was so much fun!

We did finish our eight miles. It felt nice, although I was tired by the end. That makes thirteen total today - I ran five this afternoon. I figure it is my last week to really push myself then it's three weeks until the marathon! I am so excited! And it looks like I may have found a running partner too. Yay!

As for other news I just got back from a week long cruise to the Mexican Riviera. It was soooo much fun! Hopefully I can get pictures up soon. My dad is the family photographer so he took most of the pics.

It's good to be back! I'm sure I'll have more stories soon!

Bad Day

2009-03-09T19:37:00.000-07:00

Today was honestly the worst day I have had in so long! First off I have been alone in my apartment since Friday. It is Spring Break for USU so all of my roommates left. I figured no big deal, right? I would just be alone for a few days, but I would be working and getting stuff done. Wrong! I have slowly been going insane on these long, lonely days. So today I woke up to get ready for school. I was teaching down at Mountain Crest for a high school science class today. I got ready and attempted to do my hair. That was the first thing that went wrong. I just got my hair cut and I am experimenting with a new style that I love, but of course my hair wouldn't cooperate. I gave up quickly because I didn't have time to try anything new anyway. Then I tried to get something together for lunch and honestly, nothing sounded appealing. I knew if I didn't take something I would regret it so I suffered for a hot pocket. At 7a.m. I walked out the door into a white blizzard. I knew it had been snowing from last night so I looked anxiously at my car. Yeah, a foot of snow was covering it! Gah! I thought, alright, it's alright, I don't have to be at school until 7:47a.m. (Who puts that for a starting time?) Well, there I am wading through a foot of snow on the ground and I am in heels. It took me ten minutes to clear off my car. Finally I make it out of my parking lot. Well, I knew I needed to get out to Hyrum the quickest way possible and me, being not very bright this morning, decided to drive down a steep hill. I almost killed myself! I couldn't control my car and I couldn't brake. Thankfully I did manage to stay fairly straight, although I did run the stop sign. No damage done. Thank goodness! I was a little shaken up. I took the rest of the drive slow. I didn't make it out to Mountain Crest and park until 8a.m. So I am late, but I figured it was to be expected. Teaching was easy. No lesson plan had been left for me so my classes watched a movie about killer whales. The movie was really good the first time I watched it, but I had to watch it three times. I finished one book and started another, but I was going crazy. I longed to have a conversation with someone, or at least sleep. Oh well. I survived the day. When I walked out to my car again I discovered another foot of snow had deposited itself on my vehicle. At this point all I wanted to do was go home and get warm, even if I wasn't going to be around anyone. I spent another ten minutes sweeping my car clean then another ten as I waited for anyone to let me out of the parking lot. No one would let me in! I was so frustrated. Finally, I made it home. The rest of the day hasn't been too bad. I did get my hair to cooperate with me. At least tomorrow and Wednesday won't be so bad. On a positive note I got my temple recommend renewed yesterday. I am way excited! I hope I can go to the temple on Wednesday! Woot! That's the update. I leave for my cruise on Friday so no one will here from me until I get back. Don't worry, I'll post lots of pictures. :D 'Till then!

Rascal Flatts in Concert!

2009-03-01T12:19:00.000-08:00

The event of the week was my first concert EVER! Of course I have always gone to band and orchestra concerts, but never a rock concert - even though Rascal Flatts is a country band. The concert was amazing though! My friend Jessica and I got tickets and after having dinner at Apollo Burger we headed to the Energy Solutions Arena on Trax. We were pretty excited. It didn't take long to reach our destination. We stepped off the light-rail into an atmosphere of excitement. People were milling around outside, taking pictures or trying to get into the building. A radio station was broadcasting outside and some girls were attempting to sing-along with a Rascal Flatts - they didn't sound so great... Jessica and I hurried inside where they scanned our tickets. It didn't take us long to find our seats - Section 21, Row 20, Seats 7 & 8. Not too bad. I was hoping for the floor, but oh well. Then we decided to wander around. I was ecstatic, I really wanted some souvenoir to remember the concert by. Of course the line for merchandise was long, but we decided it would be better to buy something before the concert rather than afterwards. Everything was so expensive though! I wanted a sweatshirt, but it was $50. Instead I got a strawhat. It looks really cute though.

By the time we made it back to our seats Jessica Simpson had already started her opening act. To my surprise she was really good. She had a great voice and I wouldn't mind having some of her music. I think country suits her well. I couldn't believe how loud the band was, though. I couldn't really make out the lyrics to some of the songs, but it could be because I didn't know the songs. Regardless, it was a good opening. It was really weird seeing a celebrity live. :)

Once Jessica Simpson was done performing the stage crew came out to get ready for RASCAL FLATTS! The stage was set up with the band at the back and then platforms all around the floor. Techies came out and climbed up and down from the lights to the stage on long rope ladders. It looked pretty cool, although I would probably be terrified. It took the crew about 15 minutes to get everything set up. Jessica and I just goofed around with our cameras. I was giddy with excitement.

Finally everthing went dark and an image of huge redwood trees showed on the screens in the back. After waiting for a while - in all reality it was probably only 30 seconds - I started getting anxious. I looked all around the arena, trying to figure out when everything was going to start when a shooting star started falling on the screen. I was so fascinated as it came closer and closer, until suddenly it exploded on stage! I must have jumped a mile high. Then everything was revealed and there was Rascal Flatts!

It was so amazing! Everyone started screaming and cheering and singing all at once. I was surprised how good they sounded. Seriously, they sounded just like their albums. The guitar riffs and drumset were ridiculously good. They even had someone playing the electric violin. I sang along to almost everything, although there were a few songs I didn't know that well. :) The sound balance seemed a lot better for Rascal Flatts, even though everything was still so loud! Again, the concert was awesome. They did a little improv thing in the middle, while things were getting set up, about girls walking around in mini skirts and high heels. And they gave the advice to not get offended if you choose to wear that get-up because every male is going to look at you. It was pretty funny.

I noticed they were always changing guitars. They were all so gorgeous. I remember one was an electric guitar in brilliant blue with a silver pick guard. Another was warm yellow and red. But enough about the guitars. At the end Rascal Flatts said thank you to everyone and introduced those playing in their band. A lot of people must have thought the concert was over because people started heading out. Jessica and I stuck around. I didn't know if anything else was going to happen. Everyone was cheering as loud as they could. Then, all of a sudden, the lights on the stage came back on and Rascal Flatts were back out singing! Confetti exploded from the stage and balloons fell from the ceiling. Everyone started screaming again. After a couple more songs they said goodnight.

Jessica and I had so much fun at the concert. She told me she didn't know if it was more fun to watch the concert or to watch me. Haha. It was worth every penny and I recommend them to anyone. They are so great! "Good night, y'all!"

Resolutions and Love?

2009-02-19T19:06:00.000-08:00

Alright, so I'm not really in love. I'm not even dating anyone, but I figured it would be a good title for New Year's and Valentine's Day. :) Let's start with New Year's. I made one resolution and I've thought about others, although I haven't come up with anything. Anyway, my resolution is to run a marathon! I'm so excited! I officially registered for the Salt Lake City Marathon on April 18th. I've been running consistently since the beginning of the year. I found a 16 week training plan about 4 weeks ago. It's got me training pretty hard, right now I am on week 8. Half way there! Sometimes it is hard to get out and go running, especially if it is poor weather and I'm forced to run on a treadmill. :P However, my muscles are growing stronger and stronger. Starting next week I won't run anything less than 5 miles. I never run more than two days in a row and my long runs are always Saturday, to help prep me for the big day. It is so amazing to run. Some days I feel like I could go on running forever.

Now for Valentine's Day. Mostly I just hung out with my roommate Megan. The night before we decided to go on a crazy "roadtrip" starting in Logan and making our way North. We always took the back roads and at first we really didn't know what we were doing, but slowly our trip had a purpose. If we ever saw something interesting - like an old car, or a bell - we would park then jump out of the car and take some pictures. Then we would always take a picture by the "Welcome to (insert random town here)" signs. It was awesome! I'll post pics soon. :) We ended up in Trenton and Clifton, even all the way up to Swan Lake and Downey! So crazy! Some towns didn't have a sign, but we tried to take a picture to remember the town by. All-in-all we spent over three hours driving around. I can't wait to do it again!

Right now my day consists of me subbing somewhere in Cache Valley. I'll sub K-12 and let me tell you, some of those kids are crazy! I always learn something. I'm definitely learning where my boundaries are and how I want to handle my own classroom. It's a pretty relaxing job. More than half the time I get paid to read a book. I usually end up finishing a book a day. It's great! This week I have been subbing for a 7th grade science class, but they already have a student teacher so I really don't have to do ANYTHING. It's actually kind of nice. I don't feel too unproductive cause I am making money. Today I found myself longing for my own classroom though. Hopefully that happens soon. :)

Well, that's my life for the moment. I have made a goal to post something weekly so it won't be so long inbetween posts again. Later!

First Times

2008-12-23T15:52:00.000-08:00

I love doing something for the first time. There is something amazing about trying something new. You gain a new memory, a new experience.

So I realize I have lived in Logan for almost five years. At Utah State University there are several traditions that the students love to do. We have "True Aggie Night" where you kiss on the "A" by Old Main. You can become an "Ultimate Aggie" by riding the bull in front of the Spectrum naked. Of course you have the sporting events along with our awesome fans. Then there is sledding down Old Main Hill. The hill is pretty steep with trees dotting the hill. There are always several injuries every year; anything from cuts, to broken bones, and even a few deaths. Yikes! Whenever there is snow you can always find people on the hill. However, I had never sled down Old Main Hill until last Saturday. (I know, it's pretty sad, but now I can say I've done it.)

The experience was incredible. We hiked up the hill in our snow gear then I watched Dan sled down the hill. He seemed to zip down the hill, almost reaching the road then throwing his hands up in the air to give a loud whoop! I nervously looked at Chris. He told me to get going. I sat down in the faded red sled, anticipating my descent. I tilted forward, tucked my legs onto the sled, then pushed off. I was racing down the hill. The wind and snow stung my face. I hit a little jump which sent my sled spinning. For a second I was frantic. I tried to steer, but I really didn't know how. After going in circles a couple of times I just let myself coast the rest of the way, going backwards. I didn't make it nearly as far as Dan, but I was beaming. My cheeks felt warm inspite of the cold and adrenaline bubbled inside me. We kept sledding. Most of the time I went down in circles, not really straight. I almost ran into a tree as I was headed down backwards. One time I was doing really well, at least I was going forward. I went over a big jump - I got enough air to lift me out of the sled - but when I came down I landed hard on my tailbone. I groaned and quickly bailed. I sent myself rolling then I lay in the snow, completely sprawled out. After a few moments I staggered to my feet, a little sore.

The rest of the trip was a lot of fun. Our last run Dan and I went down together. This time I was in front. We actually went straight! At this point the snow had picked up again. Tiny snowflakes pelted my face as we raced downwards. I couldn't hardly open my eyes! We managed to make it all the way to the road. Snowflakes still clung to my eyelashes and my face was wet. We laughed. It was an incredible time. I managed to not injure myself too bad. Haha.

Now I have one thing checked off my list of things to do, but I still need some more ideas. Does anyone know of any good winter activities or things you have to do at USU?

Growing Up

2008-12-17T18:44:00.000-08:00

Have you ever looked back on your life and realized how fast everything has gone? When you are little you can't wait to be a teenager. When you are in high school you want out. College is stressful and fun, but expensive so you just want to graduate and get a job to make some money. Then you get a full time job and realize you just wish you could play all the time. (At least that's what I've heard.) Everything has hit me full force this week. I graduated last Saturday at it was amazing. I felt so good. The experience felt so surreal until I stepped onto the floor of the Spectrum. That's when all of the emotions hit me. I was finally graduating. I was done... Then I looked around and saw my family waving excitedly at me. The experience was overwhelming. I was so happy and relieved and sad, all at once. I choked up a little, but I refused to actually cry. (I don't like crying in front of people.) The ceremony was awesome. Our speakers talked about memories at Utah State and remembering the good times because someday we would miss our times there. So true. I wish I could remember all of the dumb stuff that I've done. True Aggie Night, playing on the Quad, making-out in random buildings...Haha! There are things I never got to do like sled down Old Main Hill. I still have the rest of the year to do everything I want to. I can't believe how fast everything has gone. I'm done. It's a really weird feeling.

If graduating wasn't crazy enough I jumped right into a job. It's nothing permanent yet. I'm teaching at Skyview High. I'm filling in for their band director who is resigning due to a high risk pregnancy. Man, it has been a crazy week. I had a concert last night and we have pep band tomorrow night. Talk about getting thrown into the fire. You want to know what I miss the most? Having someone to talk to all the time. At Logan High Dan was always there for me. I really miss our conversations. I miss the kids back at Logan, although the kids at Skyview are great and I know they appreciate having me there. I didn't realize how spoiled I was at Logan High. Dan has everything that I want. The equipment, the resources, the knowledge, an amazing music library. You name it and Dan's got it. :) It is really nice to be so close. I still talk to Dan all the time. (Like every day.) It's really different to be grown up, to have to face the world at full force. Teaching is the easiest part of my day. Everything else is the hard part. I'm learning a lot and I'm really glad the week is almost over. I need some time to get my feet back under me. I know I'm getting attached though. Today I couldn't even imagine leaving Skyview and not coming back. It'll take time, but it is my program now.

It's time to grow up.

My Thoroughbred

2008-10-12T20:33:00.000-07:00

Now I have been riding for a full five weeks. I love every minute I get to spend with the horses. There is something entirely relaxing when I am around them. I know it may sound crazy, but they have taught me so much. This is the happiest I have been in a long time. I don't feel lonely anymore and I have so much confidence! I have always been a perfectionist and usually I take a lot of things personally when they aren't intended to be at all. However, I now know imperfections are not a bad thing. I understand myself more fully and I accept me for who I am.

Now, I think it is time to introduce my horse, Tulsa:

Although I do not own her I love her as if she was my own horse. She is a purebred Thoroughbred and such a sweetheart! She is 21 years old. Unfortunately she has not grown a close bond with anyone. A girl in 4-H bought her when she was young, but Tulsa made riding so easy and this girl wanted a horse with more problems. Now I am working on building up her trust. At first I was just another person but now she comes to me when I bring her grain. She knows who I am. I like to lean up against her when I bring her grain. Her chestnut coat is so warm and soft...She is always there for me and I love her so much.

This week I have started cantering and boy does Tulsa like to run! She is a Thoroughbred though. I can't help but laugh when we canter. Her ears perk up and she lifts her head and chest to pick up her stride. I think we would both run all day if we could. Haha! Also this week I started to jump. It was during my lessons and I was riding Smokey. There is a lot more to jumping than I originally thought, although I know if I was on Tulsa she would make jumping feel so easy. It really sucks that the weather is turning off cold. I am learning so much and most of our riding will be put on hold once it gets cold. I am going to ride as much as I can this winter, but I know I will go through withdrawals. Right now I need to figure out a way to stay in the valley. I would miss Tulsa too much if I left. :)

That's the update on life!

Update On Life

2008-09-14T17:52:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted anything! Life has been pretty busy, but I am really enjoying things. Right now I am student teaching at Logan High. I am teaching two classes - Symphonic Band and Intermediate Percussion - while I help out with Wind Band, Advanced Percussion, and Jazz Band. Then on Tuesdays and Thursdays we go to the Mount Logan Middle School and help with sectionals. Teaching has been great. It's everything I have been working for. My cooperating teacher, Dan Stowell, is great. He is a pretty easy-going guy who will listen to what I have to say. He's always laughing or making-fun of me in some way, but he has really gotten me to loosen up. He's just the medicine I need.

As of last week I have become involved with horses. Linda - Dan's wife - loves to ride. After we went to the Lipizzaner show I really, really wanted to take riding lessons. We talked it over and agreed that if I helped with 4-H she would cut down the cost of lessons. I eagerly agreed. Last Monday was my first lesson. Even though I have ridden Western before English is very different. We started with the basics. I learned about the saddle and how to mount. Linda lunged me in a circle while we practiced balancing and how to hold myself. The feeling was amazing! Linda said I was a natural and I would just fly through the basics. I hope so! We did some trotting. I learned how to post, about diagonals, and how to change diagonals. I left the lesson feeling so elated! Now I have been helping with 4-H and I love every minute I spend with the horses and the girls. On Friday Dan made us dinner while we discussed Portfolios. As we were sitting around the table I took a few seconds just to watch everyone. At that moment I realized I was where I needed to be. They all felt like my own family away from home. Working with horses is exactly what I needed in my life. I can't wait until lessons tomorrow, but it should go by fast. :)

Out of Control

2008-07-23T21:49:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know I usually use this blog to write about the happy times in my life, but not tonight. I feel like I am a fairly optimistic person. I try to be happy all the time and make the most out of life. I love scout camp because I feel like I can be little girl most of the time. I get so excited about everything. Even stupid things, like cutting myself woodcarving, I like to go around showing everyone. I don't like to be sad. I don't like causing drama or asking for help, but the truth is I couldn't handle anything without my friends. There are very few people I trust with the details of my life. Not because they are bad people, only because I don't like burdening people with my problems and because I don't like to complain. But I'm not perfect. I am constantly asking for advice and I always go to the same people. I feel like I am constantly whining to them, but all I really want is comfort. It is definitely exhausting to put on a chipper front all day while having something eating you from the inside.

This summer has been so dramatic for me. As much as I love camp I long to be in Logan and I can't stop thinking about my life there. I've tried. As for life at camp...I feel like my life is out of control. I end up hurting people I care about because I handle a situation wrong. For example, at the beginning of camp I got frustrated with one of my best friends in Logan because he hadn't called like he promised. It was all so stupid, but now I wonder if he just thinks of me as needy or annoying. The optimistic side of me says it is all in the past, but I'm too scared to talk to him about it. Then I found out one guy at camp was lying to me about almost everything and supposedly he really liked me. So when he got, um, upset at one of our best staff members I let everything out. I realize now I did not hold the conversation well. I have no desire to be around him at all because I don't like being frustrated, but I still feel like I should have handled things better.

Now, as of last night, my best friend at camp has left. He went home for the rest of summer and it is because of me. All summer long he has tried to get things to happen between us. He came up just for me. And we've had a good time. I've learned the guitar. He gave me one of his. He's reading the scriptures and praying, but still nothing is going to work out. He finally realized everything after this last weekend and finally I just got frustrated with one stupid thing. I was suppose to clean our lighthouse at camp, as punishment for going inside when I knew I wasn't suppose to. Well, this guy, being a great guy, does it for me. You have to understand, this place is filthy with spiderwebs and bird poop all over the place. (BTW I hate spiders.) When I see him next, instead of being grateful, but I really am grateful. I didn't want to do it! It just triggered frustration. You see, he likes to be helpful and it is not like I don't appreciate help it is just I like to do my job. Maybe I am one of the few people who likes to be independent when it comes to work. I dunno. But he is constantly asking to do everything. I tell him I just want to do my job, but if I ever leave and come back either he is doing it or it is already done. I like experiences. I like being able to say, "I did this!" It makes me feel accomplished. Then I can go around, giddy as ever, and brag about some little thing. So, I basically thanked him for cleaning up my mess, but told him I wanted him to stop doing my job. I wanted to be independent. I didn't realize how harsh I was being, until later. Then I was going to apologize and the camp director told me he was gone. No goodbye, nothing. He just couldn't handle the situation anymore so he left. He's been threatening to do it for weeks, and somehow I've managed to get him to stay. I knew it was going to happen, but it all happened so fast!

So now I feel lost. Out of control. I don't want to complain, but I really really want to talk to my best friend in Logan about everything. I need his comfort, nothing else will be good enough. I want a lot of things right now and I am trying to be patient. I know I shouldn't worry, but the point is I do. I don't know if I can ever get over that. If I am confident about where my life is going then I can be patient, however, right now, I care too much about what this guy thinks of me. I just want him to understand me and I want to tell him that. Right now I am too worried about screwing my life up again. Usually I don't just sit back and wait, though. I like to take action. I like doing something about my problems.

Mostly this post was for me, hoping it will change something. More than likely it won't and I will lose my patience and do something stupid. Thanks for listening though. Whoever does read this.

Adventures in Oregon

2008-05-12T22:22:00.000-07:00

Day One – Saturday

Alli and I were both eager to get on the road. Once I got back from Commencement we took off. It was basically a straight shot from I-84 in Tremonton to Portland. From Portland Alli had directions to get to Salem. Surprisingly the trip went by fast. We talked a lot, reminiscing a little. We tried to listen to the CDs we burned, however, we only had five songs on one CD. Then we tried to listen through my iPod, each of us taking an earbud… Yeah, that didn’t work either. So then we talked some more. After a while I started reading Twilight to Alli. I love reading out loud. It’s so much fun to do the different voice inflections and act the part. Haha. Maybe I’m just weird. Once I started reading the time seemed to fly by. Before long we were driving along the Columbia River. Wow, it was a really pretty sight. On our side the mountains were green and covered in lots of small foliage – like bushes and ferns. On the opposite side of the river everything was dry and brown. (It’s only obvious which side got more sun.)

At this point Alli was playing tag with a red Toyota Tacoma truck. And the driver was really cute too. He would smile and wave at us as we stayed even with each other for a while. Then one of us would speed ahead and pull in front of the other. This continued for a couple of hours. He wrote his number down on a piece of paper and held it up to the window. Giggling to ourselves I put the number in Alli’s phone and we started texting. His name was Brian. After texting for a while he asked if we wanted to stop at get icecream. We debated for a moment and decided between the two of us we could easily take him down if he tried anything. (We could have been very wrong.) Luckily he was a really nice guy and he bought the ice cream for us. We talked for a little bit and then Alli and I were back on the road again.

Finally, after Alli was in hysterics from excitement, we reached Salem. We crossed the bridge of the Wilamutte (SP?) River into West Salem. It was dark so I couldn’t see all of the multi-colored houses. We reached Alli’s house and we hurried inside. Her whole family was ecstatic to see us. I met everyone. They were all so friendly! I loved them immediately. Eventually everyone said their goodnights and we headed to bed.

Day Two – Sunday

We woke up early for church. In the morning everything looked a lot different. There were trees everywhere! And the houses, oh boy were they colorful! I think I saw every color of the rainbow. Pink, lavender, bright blue, yellows, browns, even a bright, lime green house. It was really eye-opening.

Church was uneventful. It’s nice to know that wherever I go the same principles are taught. Afterwards it was such a beautiful day that we laid a blanket out on the lawn and talked with her family. Before too long I was asleep. I was tired from the previous day’s journey. I hadn’t fallen asleep in the car once – which is very impressive for me since I always fall asleep when I’m in a vehicle.

Later than evening I went with her family to a park. The parks in Oregon are gorgeous! Not only do they have the standard playground for kids, but there are trails to take through the trees. I ran around with Scooter, the dog. (Ok, so I admit, dogs are cool. I really want one, but mostly so he can go running with me. Then maybe I can go running at night…But I won’t hold my breath.) After a short walk through the trees everything opened up into a breath-taking meadow. Marie, Alli’s sister, said it reminded her of the Bella and Edward’s meadow in Twilight. We laughed and ran around, blowing dandelion seeds in the wind. Eventually we made our way up to a hug tree. Marie was up the tree in a heartbeat and Tyler, the brother, shortly behind her. Well, me, I don’t know, maybe I just like to get in on all the action, but I really wanted to climb the tree too. So I tried, and failed. Haha. I wrapped my arms around a low branch and tried to wrap my legs around the same branch. I succeeded at that, but then all I could do was hang. I didn’t have the strength to pull myself up! Next I tried to pull myself up onto a lower branch, but with all of my weight it was barely off the ground and I still could pull myself up to the stronger part of the branch. After watching me struggle for a bit, Alli’s dad finally gave me a leg up. I scrambled up onto the branch. I made it! I was pretty elated, until I looked down. It really wasn’t too high up, but it was high enough that I didn’t want to move. Regardless, I did, a little. I wasn’t up too long before I was ready to get down. Somehow I managed to swing around the tree and drop gracefully to the ground. We continued through the park, admiring the flowering trees and the blackberry bushes, although there were no blackberries, then we headed home.

Day Three – Monday

Alli and I woke up surprisingly early. (7:30am) However, it was 8:30 back in Utah. Once Briggs – Alli’s two-year-old brother – woke up we all got ready then headed out to Silver Falls State Park.

The park was classified as a rainforest, although not a tropical one. We drove down and parked. I stepped out of the car and I stared in wonder. It was like stepping into the Night World. (Sorry to any of you who don’t know what that means.) Lush green grass covered the ground. Trees sprang from the ground and blocked the sky, allowing patches of sunlight to stream through their branches. Ferns and other foliage covered whatever was left. And moss covered everything! It hung from the trees like droopy sponges, reminding me of the trees from a Dr. Seuss book. We walked down to the edge of a path. The sight before my eyes was even more beautiful than the green canopy around me. The smooth flowing water of the river broke and fell gracefully from the dark cliffs into a glorious waterfall, landing in a shallow pool before continuing on its way. The water didn’t touch the rocky cliffs, leaving shallow caves to walk behind. Once we were closer to the falls we were surrounded by a thin layer of mist. It was cooler in the shade behind the waterfall. The light water droplets felt good on my face. I had an overwhelming desire to jump from the top to the pool below. If only the pool had been deeper…

The rest of the park was just like that. There were several trails that would take you to the different falls. I would have loved to explore more, but everyone was hungry and it’s a little different when you have a two-year-old with you. I did get a chance to close my eyes and enjoy the sun though. Mmm, I love the sun.

Later in the afternoon the whole family and I went to the coast, oh and Scooter too. It was low tide and the waves crashed into the sandy beach. Scooter, Marie, and I ran down to the water. Marie didn’t hesitate before jumping into the icy liquid. I was more wary. After a moment of deliberation I decided to keep out of the water, although I did walk along the shore, looking for any odd treasures. The beach was strewn with lots of broken shells and sand dollars. Marie and I went exploring along the rocks. Most of the rocks were covered in small holes and long, thick pieces of seaweed. We found several crab remains. Mostly just claws and pieces of the shell, although we did find an actual crab – it was dead. There were lots of dead, pink crestations. No one could figure out what it was, but I took some pictures to see if I could identify it later.

Dinner was good. We had a bonfire and roasted hotdogs with s’mores to top it off. The fire felt nice against the chilly breeze. Eventually Alli and I ran out to the water. This time we did get our toes wet and the water really was like ice. We jumped a couple of waves and ran back out, laughing and screaming the whole time. By the time our feet were numb we headed back to the fire.

Before we left we watched the sun set. It was beautiful. The rays were hues of pink and orange as they spread across the sky and mixed with the clouds. We cleaned up then, pouring sand over our fire pit, then headed back to the car.

Day Four – Tuesday

Alli and I spent the day in Salem. Alli gave me a tour of her town, showing me the high school and several parks. We went shopping at the mall – it was a lot bigger than Logan’s. Then we went to the capital building, much to Alli’s horror. Haha, not really, but she did make fun of me. I guess my behavior was hilarious. I was like a giddy school girl. But I was so excited! I’ve been in the capital buildings of Utah, Idaho, Montana, and now Oregon! Woot! We went inside and there was no one around. I explored a little bit while Alli waited for me. I went up a staircase. Eventually I found myself in one of the council rooms, up near the stand even. There were more stairs, but I decided to go back to Alli.

Once we were back outside we walked around on the grounds. The trees were in bloom with huge flowers. Some looked like tulips others looked similar to wild roses, but they were growing on the branches! As we walked around we told each other our confessions about a lot of things. (Sorry, I’m not going to post what those confessions were.)

We headed to Riverfront Park next to the Wilamutte River. It had a cute dock where people could fish. Again, it was a huge park. There was even a carousel inside a little building! It was a gorgeous view. The riverbanks were covered in trees. Fish jumped to catch the bugs. Birds darted in and out of the trees. We even saw a blue jay.

Later that night Alli and I played Curses with Jeff and Garrett. Holy crow! (Alli, that’s for you.) It was hilarious! By the end of each game we each had six or seven curses. One game Jeff couldn’t bend his elbows and he had to pretend to play a guitar while he talked. Alli had to talk like a military sergeant, while giving herself bunny ears. Garrett couldn’t take his hands away from his chest. I had to speak like a ventriloquist, while swatting away invisible bugs and pretend like I was in an earthquake. And that was just the beginning of things. It was pretty entertaining.

Day Five – Wednesday

We basically just stuck around town. It was nice to just relax. I really liked being with Alli’s family. They were so friendly and accepting. Too be honest it made me think of my own family. I found myself really missing them and longing to be home. For some reason I felt like I hadn’t said a proper goodbye to Logan. Alli and I talked a lot. We also started reading New Moon.

Day Six – Thursday

After a late night of reading, Alli and I still woke up fairly early to head out to Portland with her mom and Briggs. We went to Washington Square Mall. Wow, was it huge! I don’t even know how to describe it. Maybe twice the size of the Cache Valley Mall on one level, but this mall was two levels. It was crazy. I won’t go into any details, seeing how no one really wants to know how long we browsed through the clothes and trying them on…

On the way back to Salem we stopped at the Portland Temple. It was well hidden with all of the trees and foliage, a very secluded place for being in the busy city. The grounds were covered in tulips the size of my hand. The spires were tall and the temple itself looked like it was made of marble – I don’t know if it was marble. It was a really peaceful place though.

Day Seven – Friday

Alli and I headed back to the coast, this time with a new book, Eclipse, in tow. We stopped at Lincoln City. Well, right after we got out of the car Alli just looked at me. Then I realized what she had done. She locked the keys in the car. All we could do was look at each other and laugh. She called AAA. Then we waited. We went into a couple of shops nearby and finally ended up sitting on the hood of her car. We talked about what he would drive. Would it be a van? A truck? Then, what would he look like? I suggested an attractive young man, but Alli was more realistic and said a middle-aged man with a family. Needless to say, Alli was right. It didn’t take more than a half hour for him to come and then it took a couple of minutes – literally – to open the door. Once we had the keys we locked the doors again and headed for the shops. They were quaint little stores. Most of them sold little trinkets and seashells. Some smelled really strange. The first couple smelled too sweet, almost as if there was incense burning, or if someone had been smoking something.

We continued up the road, stopping at a popular beach. There were a bunch of seagulls all over the parking lot. If I was a cat I definitely would have attacked them. :) The beach was too crowded for our little picnic so we continued up the road. We found a cute, more secluded beach. We spread out our blanket on the sand. There was a light breeze that was a little chilly, but the skies were clear. After enjoying our lunch we read Eclipse some more. The combination of the sun and the waves crashing in the background almost put me to sleep. It felt so nice to relax. We explored a little bit, climbing up some sandy cliffs. After getting sandy we headed back to Salem.

Day Eight – Saturday

My last day in Oregon Alli’s dad took her, Tyler, Tyler’s friend, and me four-wheeling. I was excited. I had never been four-wheeling before and I was sure it was going to be an adventure. We drove up into the mountains. After driving for about 45 minutes we reached the staging area. Everyone helped get the four-wheelers ready. Finally everything was ready.

I eyed the machine a little apprehensively. It seemed bigger than I expected. A little nervously I mounted the vehicle. I learned the basic mechanics of things then started it to life. It seemed more like a beast. It snarled under me, daring me to urge it forward. Everyone else had mounted the creatures and we racing in circles around the clearing. Determined not to ruin anyone’s fun I pressed the gas. The beast roared to life, taking me forward. I struggled to control its sense of direction. The creature was swerving all over the place. Quickly, I learned to keep my arms steady. We headed out on the trails. I learned if I was going uphill more power was better and if I was going downhill I could basically ride the breaks down.

The trees raced by us, my beast constantly growling. Occasionally we traveled on narrow trails, branches and ferns brushing past me. The creature I rode loved going over the terrain. We traveled over rocks of all shapes and sizes, tree roots and fallen logs. It was thrilling. A few times the beast seemed to get frustrated with my efforts. He tried to buck me off once. I almost went sailing over his green body, but thankfully my thighs only hit hard against the handle bars. Twice he succeeded in rolling on his side. The first time I landed roughly in the dirt, but I pushed him back to his feet and remounted. The second time we were coming down a rocky ridge. I landed hard on my right shoulder, my left leg nailing its body really hard. I could only lay there, dazed for a moment. I seemed to hurt all over. But again, I got back on and we continued through the forests.

It was a great trip and by the end the beast trusted me completely. After riding for four hours through the rain (more of a mist really), and wind we were all pretty cold. We loaded the creatures back into the trailer. I felt so exhausted. Let’s just say I hurt all over! But it is a great feeling.

So those were my adventures in Oregon. It was an awesome trip and I’m really glad Alli let me come spend a week with her family. And that was just my first week of the summer! There are definitely more adventures to come. Next stop is Florida and the Bahamas! Woot! :D

Spring Cleaning

2008-04-30T20:16:00.000-07:00

So cleaning at the end of the year has got to be the worst part about living in an apartment. You would think after four years it would get easier, but it really doesn't. I've spent all day packing and loading my car. Then I cleaned what I could of my room. At least my roommate has to do the rest. Hehe. So now I just have to help clean the kitchen! Woot!

It is always interesting to find all of the random stuff I have in my room. I accumulate so much of the course of nine months. This year, however, I've been smart and started taking stuff home back in March. (It only took me four years to figure out.) But I've started to realize that I own a lot of stuff that I never use. My goal until I go to scout camp is to go through everything at my parents' house. Of course I will only actually be home for three of the next six weeks. However, it will keep me busy.

The thing I tend to do towards the end of the year is remember all of my good times. It's like experiencing everything over again. It's amazing how much will change in the course of a year and boy have I learned a lot this year! I've met so many people and also realized who people really were - for the good and the bad. Next year I will be student teaching. I won't hardly be on campus. Talk about crazy! I'm sure I will post all of my amazing stories from teaching high school, though. Like today! The student teacher at Logan High - her name is Jerusha. Well, she found a stray cat and brought it to school! O.O So all of the kids wanted to love the cat. They tried to come up with a million different names while trying to find it a good home. They asked Mr. Stowell if it could be the band cat, but he said, "No!" Haha. I wish I could have seen his face. :)

(For all of you voting on my poll, let's just say, "Cat's are better than dogs!")

So that is my random story of the day. Cats at Logan High. At least it was really friendly. Just wait until you hear the stories from scout camp! Wow, those kids are crazy!

The Color Pink

2008-04-21T22:19:00.000-07:00

So my whole career as the USU's band office manager has been amazing. I've learned so much as I've worked for Dr. Rohrer. I've learned everything from repetoire to politics. Not only that, but I have met so many awesome people! I've gotten to know several band directors in Utah and a couple of band directors at universities. Working in the band office has been a great experience and I'm really going to miss working there in a couple of weeks. But I know it is time to move on. :)

Well, as the manager I make a lot of copies, whether it's assignments, handouts, music, you name it. Several times I have to make colored copies, but I can never do anything in the color pink. EVER. Dr. Rohrer seriously hates the color. So if I'm doing anything for the bands, or for him, that color is out of the question. Everytime I get to make a colored copy of my choice I always ask to do pink. Haha. Dr. Rohrer just laughs. So today he asks me to copy a flag handbook for class tomorrow and the cover is supposed to be a color. As always, I say, "Any color but pink, right?"

But this time he said, "Actually, it originally came in pink, so why don't you just do it in pink."

Wow! I was so amazed! I was like, "Really?"

He said, "This better have made your day." Of course he was smiling. :)

Man did it ever make my day! And boy are they pink. It's pretty awesome. I can't wait to see his face tomorrow. :D So now I feel like my goal has been accomplished. I can now leave the band office in peace knowing I did get to copy one thing for Dr. Rohrer in pink. *Sighes*

My First Blog!

2008-04-19T09:54:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone!

I finally decided to join the world of blogging. It's kind of exciting. I guess it is a good way to inform the world of my life. Although, I don't know if the world is really ready to handle me. Lol. Guess we'll find out.

More to come later. Right now I need to do some homework. :)

PS The quote I used for the title of my blog I heard from my good friend. I thought it just fit, me being as optimistic as I am. ^^