#33 - one more sleep 'till christmas

After two long days of driving, we finally arrived! Christmas with my sister and her family in Colorado instantly made the strenuous trip worth every minute. Merry Christmas everyone!!

#32 - clothes make the man

I was finishing up my Christmas shopping yesterday, and in doing so, walked around Best Buy. While I was there, I saw a sales rep talking to a woman about external hard drives. I'm guessing he was either just starting his shift or just finishing because he was holding his bright blue "I know things" Best Buy shirt and had on a, normal people, Hurley shirt. I was listening to their conversation and then I realized: I was subconsciously questioning every word out of his mouth; he didn't really know that much about external hard drives... It was because of the shirt. Those blue shirts give them power: "He knows, he's wearing blue." "He must be right, can't you see his shirt?" Even though he was still clearly an employee, the absence of his official uniform made me see him as just some punk guy. Shopping is all a big mind game - and if they look official, I'm a sucker all the way.

#31 - i'll be home for christmas

This year I get to spend Christmas with my whole family (in parts). I'm so excited! Especially that I get to spend so much bonding time with our newest, Chase Matthew. I think that family is what makes Christmas, Christmas. I love you all! Merry Christmas!!

#30 - shout out

Thanks to my friend, Kristal - I have embraced the addition of hyperlinks into my blog. Being all "technological" still makes me feel funny, but I'll just go with it for now. Anyway - love the special blue words with me... click them and enjoy the ease of the hyperlink.

#29 - chance of precipitation: 100%

What an ordeal! I started on my trek home yesterday afternoon and finally made it 27 hours later. I stayed overnight in Ontario, OR (which, by the way, getting a hotel room by my self made me feel very adult) and then left this morning around 8:30 am. Evidently, overnight, the mountain pass received a down pour of snow, because my life flashed before my eyes about 10 times driving through it. First off, before it even started snowing, my windshield wiper broke. Just the one.... the one on the driver's side, of course... just randomly. So, now I'm making my way up the mountain and notice about 100 semi's pulled over on the side of the road putting their chains on. Should I be doing that? Do they know something I don't? Confidence in my driving skills and in my car (and the fact that the roads seemed very do-able still) allowed me to brush the internal question off. Soon, I realized my mistake and was in about a foot of snow. My poor little car was sliding every which way and add to that, the fact that I could not see a thing because of my windshield wiper (unless I leaned over and peered out the passenger side of the windshield).

So now I'm blindly sliding through snow in a blizzard, going about 30 mph. I saw two other cars pulled over to the side and asked the assistance of one very capable looking man and one very old man, to help attach my chains. With no success, I then turned to AAA. [Now I have to add a footnote: Up until this moment, I have idolized AAA as this unknown supreme entity, an all-knowing car superhero company that will come to your rescue whenever you shine the "bat signal". I have previously never needed their services, but strangely looked forward to an opportunity to see their skills in action.... the skills I pay a monthly fee to have at my disposal]. The call was placed. I explained my situation: how I couldn't get the chains on, my wiper was broken so I am driving blind through the pass and now, because I pulled off the road, I think I am stuck in the snow. After explaining where I was located on the highway, the AAA man expounded their actual services to me. "We can't help you put on the chains and we also can't fix your windshield wipers... but we can tow you to safety... well, within a 3 mile radius" "Well, is there a car place within 3 miles? Because my GPS doesn't show that there is anything for at least 20." "Right, so there will be a fee for each additional mile that we need to tow you". BOGUS. That plan was seriously not working for me, and the situation accompanying my now shattered glorified view of AAA forced me to release some anger on this poor customer service representative. "Well, you're a man - can't you just come out here and help me put on my chains?? Or do something!?" "I'm sorry ma'am, that's not one of the services we offer. We can only really tow you out of a ditch if you get stuck." "I see, so I'll just attempt to drive again and in 2 seconds, when I crash into a ditch, I'll be sure to give you a call right away. Thanks a lot!" I have removed AAA from my contacts list and also immediately removed their endorsement sticker off my dashboard. I also pulled over when I saw a cop, hoping he could help me with the same problems, until he also informed me that he could only push me out of the snow, which I was now stuck in since I pulled over for his help. Ironic. With the aid of my brother, texts of support from friends, and payers being sent a million miles a minute, I made it through the pass (about 3 hours later) and onto clearer roads. Thoughts of "this is the end" crept up again while driving through the Portland area through a down pour of rain, again with wipers not working and it starting to get dark. When a car passed me, there was at least 3o seconds where I could see absolutely nothing and just tried to keep my car in line with the break lights in front of me. "Don't they know I can't see anything?!" I guess not. Relieved and alive, I took a hot bath when I got home and am now going to bed. Good luck to all those still on the road. Safe driving!

(PS. the first picture is what the road looked like when my wipers broke, yes it was stuck in that position and the 2nd is my view for about 4 hours... death! But, despite all that, I remained optimistic - I was not going to die in a bad mood.)

#28 - harvey

It is finished. I have officially completed my last final for this semester and I think I skimmed by okay. I finished around 2:00 pm, so for the rest of the day I have been forced to entertain myself. I can usually hold my own pretty good and today, I have become especially creative. I played "house" with myself, home alone; acting out all the parts while I made "everyone" lunch and cleaned the house. Maybe it's a nostalgia thing, but I don't think I ever really grew out of playing "imaginary". I often role play scenes in my head and even get so caught up, that my outward expressions change to reflect the pretend situations. So, if I look, sound, or even behave crazy sometimes, just know that there is a whole other exciting world and life going on inside my head.

#27 - sweet dreams

I'm not saying I have the greatest or the most comfortable bed, but there is something to be said for coming home after a long trip to your own bed. I've got an almost "princess and the pea" set up, with my box-spring, 2 mattresses, down comforter, memory foam mattress pad, and fitted sheet under me and my down comforter on top of me. I slept so well that first night back. I was reading an article recently about sleep positions, and what yours can say about you. For instance, if you sleep on your stomach (or "Freefaller), you are often gregarious and brash, but can be nervy and thin-skinned underneath, and you don't like criticism or extreme situations. I am usually a "Foetus" which means I might be seen as tough on the outside but am sensitive at heart. Aw......

Anyway, tell me what kind of sleep personality you are: www.flatseats.com/general/positions.htm

#26 - it's thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I took the advise of a knowledgeable teacher and didn't eat beyond the point of nausea. I definitely reached that point, I just didn't surpass it. When you can actually see your stomach expanding - you know, enough is enough. It's not a comfortable, or a good feeling, so why do you do it? I think that the food is just too good and you're left with no choice but to uphold tradition. And after all, without tradition, our lives would be as shaky as a fiddler on a roof, true? True. I took a nap after eating to help the digestion process, and just because I wanted to. I hope everyone was stuffed to the brim and thought about what they were thankful for. I know towards the top of my "grateful list" was stretchy pants and naps.

#25 - lost in space

If you look in the right place in the sky tonight, you can see the famous bag of tools that was dropped last week by an astronaut. Evidently, this was not just any tool bag. This was a $100,000 tool bag. SpaceWeather.com started tracking the tool bag and "More bag-viewing opportunities are expected." I don't know why I think this is so funny; I just do. What's more is, they say, "the errant tool bag will fall back to Earth in June of next year" and that when it falls, it will be a huge, fiery ball. I'm excited to see this fireball come back to earth and am marking my calendar now. I just looked up my area and there are 54 flybys in the next 10 day. Goodness! That is one zippy little lost tool bag. You can track it's progress by linking to: http://www.n2yo.com/?s=33442 (bag might not be actual size...)

I love that this is news and that people are concerned. Funny.

#24 - womanly toes

I'm not a girlie girl. My dad's nickname for me as a kid was even, "girlyman." I think as I've gotten older, I've embraced my femininity more and more, but it's still not at the level most women are. Nails for instance. I never paint them, and if I do, it's a clear coat, and the extreme would be french tipped. Two days ago, I made the plunge. I painted my toenails RED. Bright RED. I really like the color, but now, every time I look down at my toes, it throws me off and I feel like they aren't mine. I can't help but stare at them while I am in the shower. I wiggle them up and down... yup, they're mine. Anyway, I thought I would share my womanly progress with you.

(I would show you my actual toes, but that's a little too personal for blogging)

#23 - beuller... beuller...

Earlier today, I was at the doctor's office, waiting to have my prescriptions filled... waiting for my number to be called... waiting... waiting... There were two guys sitting next to me. One just had his head in his hands, sympathizing, while the other guy talked to his girlfriend on the phone. He's breaking up with her. Or rather, making her break up with him. He just broke his arm and he is asking her if he should come home to her, if she still loves him, and if she will take care of him until his arm heals. He gives her the ultimatum and asks if he should look somewhere else to live. He expresses his financial issues and how he needs her money. "You gotta decide, Amelia. That's what I'm tellin' ya. There's no more time." I wonder what she's thinking on the other end. "I hafta know, Amelia!" Sometimes I think that I might be too picky in regards to relationships. I might not give guys enough of a chance. But it's situations like this one and couples that I see everyday, that refortify my original impressions. I don't ask much at all; I don't have a list of necessary requirements or a book of a hundred qualities and hurdles the guy has to pass, but time and time again, my heart is left wanting. Why is he doing this now? In the most public of places and over the phone? He accuses her of not caring enough about him. "You shouldda seen this comin', Amelia. Are you gonna tell me you need more time? 'Cause you ain't got no more time. I need a definite answer, Amelia." The answer is simple; if you find yourself in this situation, asking these kinds of questions... end it. I hope that's not just me being cynical, but I've been through a lot and I guess have high expectations and low patience. It's amazing how much personal information people share in public places. I am a pretty private person. I don't like people (even close relations) to know too much about me and when too much information is leaked, I feel exposed, vulnerable, and emotionally naked. Exposure is quickly followed by a recluse into silence and solitude. Slowly, I'll emerge and begin sharing myself again, but it's a vicious cycle of self-disclosure. What good does it do to keep yourself to... yourself? Gossip, opinions, and unwanted input instill fear of opening up, but equivalent fear of loneliness and solitude push me back into communication.

Camera phone shot trying to capture the pain in my eyes...

"now serving... number 724..."

(I think another key reason why this guy bugged me so much is how many times he said her name. Someone's name is important and how many times you use it is powerful. Use it too much, derogatorily, and it makes you seem cocky, overbearing and obtrusive. Use it lovingly and it makes all the difference in what you are trying to say. Needless to say, how he was using her name did not make him come off compassionate and understanding. It made me want to punch him in the face... not really, that's mean.)

#22 - John Fitzgerald Kennedy

P.S. Yesterday was the 45th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This is my favorite painting of him in the White House.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jk35.html

#21 - the humans are dead

Very slowly and timidly, I am walking into the technological light. A few things rub me the wrong way (facebook, myspace, twitter, intelius) but some have been like a pair of new fuzzy socks: warm, comfortable and easy to incorporate into my everyday life. Obviously, in contrast to my first blog entry, the "blogging" water is nice and warm. I think the reason why I enjoy it so much is, I really enjoy writing and currently have no outlet, being neck deep in science and health classes at school. But, another technological creation has replaced a make-shift invention of my own. When ever I don't know something or have a question/debate regarding a particular subject, or just have something on the tip of my tongue that I just can't grasp... I call or text my mother and ask her. 90% of the time, she knows exactly what I am talking about and promptly responds with my answer, relieving much frustration. Then came along chacha. Evidently, in January this year, a company was birthed that answers random (and practical) questions. "What concerts are in Olympia this week?" "What time does my flight leave?" "What should I eat if I need more vitamin D?" a few of the questions I have posed to chacha. They are always quick to respond and, to my knowledge, correct. They are a great resource if you are out and about and can't look up information for yourself. Or, even if you can look it up yourself, they can save you some googling energy. Three opinions I have: because of inventions like this, we are becoming a more and more lazy people. Why look it up myself if some "impression of a person" can do it for me? One confession I have is, with my school, I only know (basically) one phone number: campus operator. I ask them everything, and have them transfer me everywhere. It takes a few seconds to go to my school's website and look up a professor's number... OR I can just ask Sally on the other end of this 24 hour hotline and ask her what my teacher's number is and have her transfer me. Opinion two: I hope this isn't some weird, uncomfortable way of somehow replacing my mother with an invisible "chacha"entity, like those orphan monkeys that think a terry-cloth with a cube-ball on its head is its mom. Opinion 3: too much technology still scares me, and it's taking over. Proof enough is that, while typing this blog, the word "googling" does not come up as a spelling error. It is, in fact, a word in the english dictionary. Sometimes I just freak out and turn off my cell phone, shut down my computer and write a letter. I still think that no matter what new advances are made in the future... nothing means more and can replace the feeling that come when you send/receive a letter in the mail. I love it, and think that the written word is much more potent and efficacious that anything else. I'm still very much anti those, attached to your head bluetooth things. Makes you look like a robot and completely unnecessary (possibly acceptable while driving...possibly.)

#20 - prudence

Tonight I am alone. My friends have all gone away. I'm leaving tomorrow for Utah to visit with a best friend from NY, then I'm off to WA to be with my family for Thanksgiving. Tonight I decided to think of what I am grateful for, right now.

My music that I love. (it defines me)

My cozy sweat pants.

... It's hard to just do now thankful things and not just list off all the general, normal thankful things...

Brown Cow, cream on top, fruit on bottom, strawberry yogurt.

Imaginary pets to keep me company.

When I am alone, I think way too much about way too much. I think someone should call me and save me from my wandering, obscure thoughts.

#19 - a great divide of desire

There are no words. Actually, I'm experiencing a little bit of word vomit because of the intensity of the situation. So here it is: I feel like I need to give some background information before springing this on you. I don't like squirrels. No one should. They are satanic demons of the dark underworld. They offer no benefit to the world and only instill fear and dread. They stalk you. They scurry all over really fast with their sharp little nails attached to their creepy feet. They attack people (just watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for proof). They plot against man-kind (haven't you ever seen that car commercial where the squirrels run that car off the road and then give evil handshakes??) They carry rabies. They teased my dog maliciously for years. They are just bad all over and I don't like them. Despite my hatred of them, the kind-hearted person within can not actually harm them (even though every instinct I have tells me to). I once was faced with a situation, driving in my car at night when a squirrel ran in front of my car and I swerved. I swerved!

This all brings me to tonight's events. We were all sitting in our living room. "KNOCK KNOCK" none of us wanted to answer it because, well....we are lazy. We yelled, "come in!" and after no response, Holly (my roommate) got up to answer it. Clipped to our front door was none other than a dead squirrel. My body was faced with a divide of desire. I was utterly grossed out and screamed!! I couldn't look at it. It was SO gross! But then, a part of me was almost relieved that there was one less of them in the world to terrorize me. I felt a little happy (and then immediately guilty for the happiness). We don't know who it was, but the whole evening's events were very confusing. My body has never felt so contradicted.

#18 - that's what we have

Approximately one year and a half ago (April 2007) I made a discovery. Flatwin. I was waiting to meet up with a few of my friends at the Olympia Arts Walk, I came across a table in the middle of the street. (For a quick catch-up for those of you who aren't familiar with arts walk, it is a time when 100's of businesses and artists display their art and their talents through performances and displays. The Spring Arts Walk also includes the Procession of the Species which is when people in the community create costumes and vehicles to look like different animals and they parade down the street (usually accompanied by their pets). It is one of the defining attributes that makes Olympia, Olympia). It was just a regular small table and there was a regular looking man (okay, he gave a striking resemblance to David Duchovney) sitting surrounded by flat black combs displayed in a plastic case. What drew me in was his speech, "I'm basically doing nothing. I am selling combs for a dollar. You give me a dollar, and I give you a comb. That is all that is happening." Evidently one day on his front step appeared a large box filled with hundreds of flat black combs. He wondered what he was going to do with all of these and then it came to him. "This is something that I can do, in the world. I am in the world, and this is what I am doing. I'm selling combs for a dollar." I stood there just staring at him with my mouth partially open, amazed at his ability to attract this much attention. He really was doing basically nothing and selling practically nothing, but I couldn't move away from his presence. I texted my friends and told them where I was and they were equally entranced. I thought at first that this was some sort of social experiment and kept looking around for the hidden camera. Anyway, he has expanded his business to now selling, "It's a Comb" "It's a Twig" "It's Art" "It's a Flat Can" "It's Nothing" "It's a Piece of Burnt Toast" and "It's a Booklet". Currently (because I've been away from home) I only own the Comb and the Twig, but will make my collection complete and up-to-date in three days when I am at last home for Thanksgiving. What is it about the Flat Win Company that pulls at my being. I'm drawn to their products and can not see my home complete with out "Nothing". He inspires: how am I contributing to the world?

Check him out: www.buyolympia.com/q/Artist=The+Flat+Win+Company and tell him Vanessa sent you (maybe we'll be friends!)

#17 - "if we walked on our hands with care, instead of on our feet, would what we saved on shoe repair suffice to make ends meet?"

The conclusion is... the smaller the task, the more frustrated I become if I can't do it. It's those dang small motor skills - they need some major fine tuning. Tonight my shoe broke, and i've been trying to save money everywhere I can so if things break, I try to fix them before going out and getting a new one. Shoes, clothes, appliances, etc. I run into some limitations when it comes to electronics, but it seems like nowadays, no one wants to take the time. Like, you can't find a cobbler or taylor anywhere any more...we just get new things instead of fixing the old and comfortable. (I could go on a whole metaphor ramble about relationships now, but will refrain. You're welcome.) Anyway, tonight's focus was the shoes. They have stitching all around the edge and the string came out. The string was too big to fit in the eye of any needle I had so I tied the large string to a smaller string and tried to hand sew it back together. Great idea! oh but wait, no. The smaller string kept breaking, I kept on stabbing myself, losing the string in the fuzziness of the shoes, and constantly struggling with fingers too big and needle too small. Many "urg!!!" and "grr!!!"'s later, the shoe is fixed! But now I'm afraid to wear them, worried that the string will come out again. So I fixed my shoes so I could save money and fix what I had, all to be too afraid to wear them. Someone explain this to me please. (The picture is the most frustrated face I can make...trying to convey to you the pain of the evening)

#16 - i'll take two

Soaking in a 112 degree natural spring while it's 25 degrees outside. It really doesn't get much better. My friend took me about 1 1/2 hours south to the Lava Hot Springs last night for some much needed relaxing. There were three pools of varying hotness. mmm...hotness. It is a whole resort spa place (with massages which I might have to cash in on next semester). Compared with the other natural hot springs around the area, this one really surpasses them; classier, bigger, more relaxing atmosphere without the smell of sulfur. I want to go back in the winter because evidently it's the best when you are burning up and surrounded by snow.

#15 - quantum of solace

Wow. You really have to see this one. I thought it was, dare I say, better than the first one. Tons of intense action and an in-depth plot. It keeps you interested and the special effects were flawless. There were a couple far-fetched Bond moves, but he's 007! He is for sure the best Bond so far. This one gets my vote.

#14 - have we met?

The BYU-I homepage has been cycling through the same 5 faces of students for about 5+ years now. Suddenly dawns a new dynasty! There are 5 new heads that adorn our school's webpage! While looking up a teacher online at work, I came across one new head I didn't recognize. "Who is that?!" "They go to our school?!" "HELLO!!!" =) excited voices gathered around me as all my c0-workers and volunteers circled around our computer as we hit refresh over and over again until we had identified all the new people. They are very culturally diverse and bear the classic BYU-I, "Golly! I'm just happy to be alive!" pose. So if you have some time, visit byui.edu and join me in welcoming our new heads. Get to know them, love them, remember them; for they will be the new heads for the next 10 years. (You can tell the new heads from the old because the new ones are brighter with newer campus backgrounds).

#13 - "Beauty is God's Handwriting" - Emerson

I've been reading about handwriting analysis (graphology). I'm going to take a writing sample of myself and see what I can deduce about the inner workings of my being. I'll let you know what I come up with. Wish me luck!

Ooh, and I also discovered this program you can buy that turns your own handwriting into a font on the computer, so you can use your handwriting as your font. Pretty awesome! (...if you liked your handwriting...)

#12 - check your kids

I thought I would pass along something that I learned today about scoliosis. Parents have a responsibility to check their children for early signs of the disorder. If you just rely upon the yearly checks in schools, you could easily miss it, or catch it too late and then have permanent damage done. There are easy things you can do and should do about once a month to make sure your children are healthy. Something that I am going to do in my family is have healthy body checks for FHE and this will be part of it. Have you child bend over (in half at the waist) and check for "razor back" which is a first indicator that your child has scoliosis. There is no absolute cure, but if you catch it early enough, you can, through physical therapy and bracing, stop the damage where it is and maybe even help correct it. I think it's a good idea if we do everything we can to watch and make sure our kids are happy and healthy and growing properly!

#11 - stigmas

Tonight is my Relief Society Enrichment and we are having cultural foods night; each apartment bringing a different main dish from an assigned country. I volunteered for our apartment to bring Indian food. I think that Indian food scares people and that even if they haven't tried it before, they think it's gross or will make them sick. MMMM! Curry is SO good and our apartment is going to make it for everyone and everyone will love it!

Foods not to be afraid of: Curry, Sushi, Spinach, Egg Nog

Foods to fear: Cherries, Kraut, Brains (way too high in cholesterol!)

#10 - dopplegaenger

Every monday, Tessa and I have our usual routine consisting of crocheting together while we watch Arrested Development episodes for about an hour and a half, then heading over to the school for Music Outlet. Music Outlet is a place where students who feel like they are musically gifted play (usually a song they wrote) for their peers. About 10% of the performers are very talented and should make a CD or something. They do an excellent job and are very creative. However, on the all too common occasion that someone that doesn't fit that description gets up, they have opened themselves up to criticism. They must think that they are really good, good enough to get up in front of a large crowd and belt it out. Either that or their friends lure them into a false sense of security, despite their own protests. Tessa and I usually sit together and make constant comments about either their voice, lyrics, or playing ability. I mean, sometimes it is completely just. Some people just majority need to practice before they come. Or at least play the song through once... I mean, come on. We very rarely suffer through in silence, and tonight was no exception. There was one guy in particular who thought he was just too cool and we just couldn't take it. If you saw us, we portray an uncanny resemblance to those two grumpy old men hecklers on Sesame Street (Statler and Waldorf). It made me laugh, and I should feel bad (I mean, who am I to talk), but they are basically asking for it when they get up there to perform. Alright, I'm mean, but at least I'm aware of it... right? And really, this is the only time that I allow my critical and unreasonably judgemental comments get the better of me.

#9 - stick to the plan

Alright, so I'm accepting advise (you can vote on the left or just leave a comment). These are some ideas i've been playing around with but pretty much any combination works:

Plan 1: Graduate in July 2009 - move to Boise and get an apartment alone (maybe a roommate later if i've met someone) near BSU, get a job hopefully at Hfit or Medifit (exercise/wellness centers) and work until I can apply for grad school in the fall and start the Health Science Masters Program in the Spring of 2010.

Plan 2: Graduate in July 2009 - take August off and used my saved money to take some time off and go to Italy. Stay with family and tour southern Italy for a month. Come back home to WA, work and save money while looking for an apartment/job near Seattle and eventually apply to grad school at the UDUB.

Plan 3: Be done with school after graduation. Just look for a good job and move where ever that takes me.

Plan 4: Pretty much the same as plan 1 except replace Boise with Denver, CO and replace BSU with University of Colorado, Denver.

Plan 5: Prolong graduation from BYU-I and just keep taking classes that interest me; going to school part-time and working part-time.

Plan 6: Get married and live happily every after.

#8 - an emotionally charged issue

Thursday, 11/ 6, the LDS L.A. Temple closed due to hundreds protesting the vote on prop 8. The church has issued a statement asking for a spirit of mutual respect and civility and remains firm in its stand to defend the sacred and divine institution of marriage. By supporting Prop 8, the LDS church members aren't showing their intolerance for homosexuals, just standing up to maintain their their beliefs. I am sad to see that it has gotten so bad as to cause the L.A. Temple to close and make the members of the church in California fear for their safety. It is scary, but I know that it is only going to get worse as the amendment now will surely be sued and taken to the National Supreme Court. Saints around the world are going to be persecuted for their stand in this matter and I feel that this is the issue that will draw the line in the church members.

I'll just leave it to the experts:

http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/first-presidency-urges-respect-civility-in-public-discourse

http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/church-responds-to-same-sex-marriage-votes#continued

#7 - i'm a barbie girl, ooo woah

For my friend's 21st birthday, she had a barbie party. I received an invitation requesting that I come as "Nurse Barbie". Since that would be the barbie I would probably be if I was transformed into a barbie, I easily found pieces for my costume. We had barbie party bags, put together barbie puzzles, had a barbie runway show and afterwards, headed to Large House for a big dance party.

From Left to Right Top Row: Rocker Barbie, Cowgirl Barbie, Artist Barbie, Birthday Barbie, Disco Barbie, Gold Digger Barbie, Cocktail Barbie, Malibu Barbie

Front Row: Evening Gown Barbie, Hollywood Barbie, Workout Barbie, Nurse Barbie

#6 - give me migraines!

I read this health article that found a correlation between women, migraines, and breast cancer. Evidently "research" indicates that women that get migraines are 30% less likely to develop breast cancer than those that are migraine free. I have to give the article some credit for answering a few of my initial "are you joking?!" reactions. I see a viscous cycle emerging from this article of women, not taking medication for their migraines because they think having one is a good thing and will save hem from breast cancer, when, in actuality, it may be the medication that is helping prevent breast cancer. Anyway, I think that sometimes, health ideas that emerge are a little on the funny side.

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=migraines-breast-cancer-estrogen

HOWEVER, please heed the conclusions from new research that tells you not to static stretch before you exercise, but that you should do dynamic warm-up movements before you exercise, and follow your workout with static holds. Stretching before shows no improvement of performance and will actually cause muscle tares and soreness. (This is a shout out to those tennis players and joggers that I have noticed doing toe touches and "v" stretches before their respective activities). I think of it like trying to bend a spaghetti noodle before it is cooked. If you try to bend and stretch a muscle before it's warmed up, you will cause small breaks.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/sports/playmagazine/112pewarm.html (good video)

#5 - so what you're saying is, I should follow satan?? ooh... okay.

Regal Cinemas was generous enough to reward my giving them lots of money with a free movie ticket. I don't want to think about how much I've spend on movies over the years, but at least every 30th movie is free! (or something like that). I've been holding on to this ticket, keeping it oh so safe, waiting for that one great movie that comes out that I can cash in on. It didn't happen. No good movies. Before I knew it, the expiration date was now. Last night was the night and I had no choice but to see a lame movie. I drove to Idaho Falls with a friend and we picked the best looking one without any prior knowledge of those listed. It was about this girl that like...died right after being born and so this devil lady came to her parents and said something to the effect of, "I can make your daughter live to age 18 if she becomes a devil child after that and serves us". The parents agreed....shocking, I know. So she's about to turn 18 and is having these devil visions and hearing things and thinks she's crazy. Her dad tries to help and her uber freakishly religious friend tries to help, but all the "christian" people just come off crazy. So she turns 18 and becomes a devil. She turns to the dark side and all of a sudden there is super happy music, she hooks up with the hot jock-guy (who also is a devil worshipper), is valedictorian, beautiful and successful. Her dad gets locked up in the insane asylum and the religious girl dies. So moral of the story... succumb to the devil and don't listen to your crazy christian friends and you will be happy and successful and popular. Seriously? What an awesome movie! The whole experience was topped off with having too salty of popcorn and being disappointed that the happy song at the end was an Honorary Title song.... oh Honorary Title....why did you go and attach your awesome name to a bizarre-o-world movie like that?? Hmm.....in the end, I blame Regal Cinema for giving me a free ticket and making me feel bad if I didn't see a movie I wasn't even interested in.

#4 - ah yea, that's right

Bret and Jemaine from Flight of the Conchords

http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=nwvEDzsLHc4

http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=FUVagbFcSUU&feature=related

#3 - it's like looking in a mirror

Sami and I were the Flight of the Conchords for Halloween. We hung out at the campus operator office (Sami had to work all night) and watched Sweeney Todd. So demented, but being a musical, it was surprisingly light hearted and up beat. Johnny Depp and Tim Burton are a match made in heaven.

#2 - who dunnit

This Halloween, I did it all: carved "Jack", went to a haunted house with my friend Cam, dressed up to watch a scary movie and learned Thriller.

We had a Clue theme at work so Thursday before Halloween we all dressed up like the characters (I was Miss Peacock).

#1 - how did this happen??

Giving blogging a try...

So I've been pretty skeptical about blogging. I think it's kind of weird...just talking about yourself. Anyway, from family requests, I have decided to give it a go. I don't think I'll have much to say, but read if you wish.

#0 - an emotional heimlich dedication

Sami and I have now passed our one year anniversary of when we first moved in together.

Our History:

Sept 2007: Hopped in the car and drove (what should have been) 13 hours to Rexburg. We quickly made the transition from skeptics of one another to friends. From no fault of her own, Vanessa took us to the edge of California instead of Idaho. Panicked decision making, musicals, and swapping boy stories helped us build our foundation.

Fall Semester 2007: We were, unfortunately, not room roommates, but down the hall roommates. We sported Mario and Luigi for the halloween party, took a ridiculous amount of pictures, drove to Boise and flew home for Thanksgiving together, had numerous bonfires (some of which, involving a couch strapped to the back of a pick-up and Sobe bombs). We also discovered one of our first differences of opinion. Sami being of the opinion that Christmas music and other holiday related festivities should be reserved for Christmas Eve and the day of - - while Vanessa can't help but hum christmas carols beginning in November. We compromised by decorating the first day of December, complete with volleyball sock stockings and twisted tapped lights covering the ceiling.

oh, and this video is what it is. We figured out that it feels really weird to rub our ears together... we thought it also looked funny, so we video taped it to prove our point. It is still impossible for us to watch this movie, or just know that someone is watching this movie without cracking up. =)

Winter Semester 2008: Separated by over 800 miles, Sami roughed it in Rexburg trying not to dwell in loneliness, while Vanessa worked her butt off and tried not to drown in drama. Sporadically calling one another to share the travesties and missing each other.

Summer Semester 2008: Trips galore (Yellowstone, Logandale, Jackson Hole), a lot of men (in and out), turtles here one day...gone the next. Evenings spent lounging in the sun on our sofa on the porch, handlebar bicycle rides, birthdays, and trips to the movies. Always staying up late, sharing stores from the top bunk to the depths of the lower (bat cave) bunk. Mumblings from the top bunk in the middle of the night, sleeping Vanessa often let out half asleep sighs and frustrated exclamations of, "this sucks!" while Sami listened intently to see what other bizzare things would happen while Vanessa slept. Also a few near death experiences followed by a deafening shriek from a concerned friend, "SAMI!!!!!!!!!"

Seven Week Break: Starting the trip off right with a fabulous concert from Rocky Votolato and heading out the next morning for Maryland. We spend a week touring Washington D.C. (including private tours from an official looking, dark suited man), a week being beach babes in Virginia, then off to the Oregon coast with the family "roughing" it in the yurts. Separated for the last few weeks, then finally again, reunited for another Fall Semester as roommates.