Your arm will be sore... You betcha

So I woke up this morning to realize I had slept on the same side the whole night.
Doesn't usually happen.
When I started moving around I discovered what was most likely the cause.
The pain of five shots fired anytime my arm moved.
If I had rolled over onto it while sleeping I would have rolled right back.
I made it through the day with it only coming back to my attention how much it hurt a few times.
I found that the pain goes away for a short time if I stretch it... Except of course the ten seconds before relief is excruciating.
I think I might be helping myself to some Ibprophen.

Oh win for me. Today I had the opportunity to experience ice rain for the first time in my life. I walked from my apartment next to the stadium, to campus, all the way to downtown Provo and back and I did not fall once.Woohoo! It was definitely an adventure.

Immune

One step closer to being all ready to leave for Puerto Rico. There were 3 different immunizations I needed to get before I am ready medically to go: flu, Tdap, Typhoid. I got the flu shot a couple weeks ago for work and I guess that I should have been required to get that because I am sticking my face right next to children's mouths quite often. Oh well.

I went into the Provo Health Department to get everything taken care of. Ladies and Gentlemen the best time to go to the Health Department is in the evening. So I guess it is kind of like going to the DLD. Crowded. Plan for it to take at least an hour. If you do not like crowds you might hyperventilating. You get it. Well at the health department there are certain nights of the week where you are not required to make an appointment. This evening was one of those evenings. I walked into the room and it was absolutely empty! If you ever have to go to the health department for anything, make note that the evenings is the time to do it.

I filled out all the paperwork and then went into the clinic to get my shot. Shots. Blech. I have gotten them a million times and I don't ever recall needing to be held down for a shot but that does not make me any happier about the whole idea. On the bonus side the I only had to get one. I'm taking one orally and I guess I don't actually need the third one.

Anyway, I sat down and immediately had to start taking deep breaths to try and slow my heart rate down. I think the RN was laughing me in her head.
I got the warning that my arm would be sore for a week. Awesome! I was pretty successful at not tensing up... I think.

So now all I have to do is make sure that I stay on schedule with my Typhoid test. I am just waiting for 10:45 to get here. I'll have been without food for 2 hours and then I start.
WooHoo

Official immune(almost).

Almost done

Last night was an adventure. I began writing a paper around 8:00. The goal was 5-10 pages... I finished up around 4:00 this morning with 6 pages. It is not my best ever but I am to a point where I don't care. I'm happy with whatever score I woohoo! One more week and then finals are over.

Hypoglycemia for dummies

I went into the doctors office today for my mission physical. I finally remembered to ask about my shakes (I've been meaning to ask a doctor about this for at least two years). He diagnosed it as hypoglycemia. While there the doctor told me a little bit about it. Of course if I were a responsible person I would make sure that I was completely educated on the matter, so I went home and Googled it.

From what I have gathered Hypoglycemia is when your body does not break down glucose correctly. The pancreas fails to shut off the insulin quickly enough and as a result your blood sugar gets low.
Symptoms I have include(I know it just sounds like I am a normal person who is just not fun to be around):
-Feeling cranky or agressive
-Hunger (I have the appetite of a starving hyena)
-Shaking or Trembling
-Trouble sleeping
-Unclear thinking/Inability to concentrate
-Fatigue
-Migraines

Food to avoid:
Processed foods
Fried foods
MSG
Soft drinks
Artificial sweeteners
Hot dogs, sausages, and deli meats (I find this one strange)

Dealing with Cravings(Their word for my appetite):
Toss it. Any food on the "to avoid" list. If it is more inconvenient to get to you are less likely to eat it.
Breathe. Take deep belly breathes till the cravings go away. Preferably for 5 min.
Bathe. Helps clear stagnant energy.
Drink. Drink water before you eat something. Wait 15 min to see if you still feel hungry.
Meditate. Figure out why you want what you do. Comfort? Love? Security? Fill it in a different form (Call your Mom. Find a time you felt loved and feel it again. Etc.)
Visualize. Imagine yourself healthy and happy-- when you finally have self control.
Pause before Caving. Bargain with yourself. 'I'll wait 10 min and then eat it.' and then follow through.
Switch to something similar. Want sorbet? Make a smoothie.

*Food to avoid and Dealing with Cravings are thanks to Hypoglycemia for dummies.

A few words on gratitude

Today I decided to go back and look at some old posts of mine. I only read a couple but it was enough.

At the beginning of this year I was thinking that time couldn't pass any slower. I was so stressed and I was a wreck. I was missing Natalie and I was having a hard time handling it... I was reminded of this when I read this post.

In church many times I have heard stories of saints in the Book of Mormon and also in these latter days who, when going through hard times, draw close to the Lord. As life begins to get better they drift away. I feel as if I have done this in my own way. Not to an extremity where I've stopped praying at night or lacked in my church attendance but concerning my relationship with my Heavenly Father.

The beginning of this year was hard. As I look back I feel as if my life is much better. I live in a cheaper apartment. I still have wonderful roommates. I have a job that gives me the hours I want. I don't live too far away from campus. But I have not shown any gratitude.

We were sent here to this earth to learn and grow. God understands that we aren't going to be perfect while we live but the important thing is that we are living and we are keeping God apart of it the whole time.

I'm grateful for my challenges. I have definitely learned from them. I am grateful for a sister who has faith enough to sacrifice a small bit of her life to serve the Lord. Her example has given me strength as I made the decision to do the same. In the Lord I am ready for anything that is to come. I pray that as I continue to live that I don't forget to live without gratitude.

Jesus Still Loves Me

So yesterday I went into the testing center to take a New Testament Midterm.

I got to the desk and realized I had forgotten my bible (open scripture test)*.
Once they give you that paper you can't exactly say, "Oh I'm sorry sir, I can't actually accept this. Go into the computer and change my status back to 'Hasn't taken test' please."
Nope there was a long line behind me and I would probably get laughed at.
It was going to be interesting couple of hours.

After I had turned in my bubble sheet I walked down the stairs to the score monitor.

58%

The minute I saw the score my mind flashed to this post.
Honestly I was really disappointed but I did brush it off.
I did my best. Didn't matter that I bombed it. Jesus still loves me.


*Forgetting my scriptures wasn't my only problem. I'm not going to be reanalyzing my study methods.

Stadium Terrace #18

Fall 2012 semester starts tomorrow. I'm so nervous. Besides the classes that I have to audition for I shouldn't be nervous. All we'll be doing is reading syllabuses. I guess what I am nervous for is what is to come in a month or two. Lots of homework. Blowing it off to sleep. Break downs in my bedroom. Getting bad grades in *pre-reqs.

I just really want to do a good job this year. And of course I know it's all up to me. 

On the upside I moved into my new apartment. I'm really loving it. I picked my roommate according to what pictures she had hanging up in her room. Ended up being an excellent method. She loves Asians, Lord of the Rings, and old classic movies. She's her own kind of weird :) I know we're going to be great friends.

Hey so do you remember Pete... So update. He went out of state for the summer and informed me he wasn't planning on getting in any relationships before then. Well the last guy that I liked as much as Pete I scared off. So this time I decided that I would avoid that. I tried to distract myself. I saw the boy from my American Heritage class. The one I thought I was leading. I saw John. We hung out a couple of times and I could have made it  work. I was reminded of a crush I've had on one of my best friends. He was concerned for my making out well being and gave me the option of a NCMO. I knew it wouldn't fix anything but it would definitely distract. That didn't happened... Well it might have if I hadn't been kicked out of my own neighborhood.

Point being I tried to get myself over Pete. Or at least stop thinking about him. I went a whole month without talking to him.

Side note. For some reason I feel the need to tell the guy that I'm interested in everything that is happening in my life. When I asked friends to take a look at our conversations, my friends said that he seemed too much like my shoulder to cry on... I'm screwed because I don't know how to flirt with guys so that was my only form of getting to know him. Ah nuts. 

Anyway I saw him yesterday to practice dancing and of course he had to be such a stinkin sweetie. Pretty much everything I did during the summer failed. I want to call him and just talk. I want to go to his apartment and tell him everything that has happened to me this summer. I want to ask him about a high school friend of his that he might possibly be interested in. I'm supposed to give it time but I don't want to.

Please tell me I'm not the only girl whose ever felt like this in their life.

*I'm looking into switching from the dance major to a dietetics major. You have to apply to the program after taking all the pre-reqs. For me that's looking at being February 2014. We'll see how that goes.

Arachni-deathicus

Please excuse if there is incorrect grammar at all but it is 2:00 in the morning.

I was watching a movie on my laptop at the time. 1:00 a.m. Probably a good time to go get ready for bed. 

I went to the bathroom and began brushing my teeth. Rinsed. Spit.

Moved onto the flossing ritual. Brush fluoride onto my teeth then floss it in between.

I go to throw away the floss and notice that the trash can is overflowing. I pull it out to get all the strays off the floor and into the can when I see it.

Pretty much the second largest spider I've seen crawling around my house. The first was in my garage and I think the only reason it looked so big was because it was carrying it's millions of babies on it's back. 

Anyway.

It was at least an inch and a quarter when spread out. Not lying. 

I should probably tell you my philosophy on spiders. 

Outside: Great. Perfect. That's where they belong. Occasionally I might torment one for kicks but I generally let them be.

Inside: Size. Color. Location. Doesn't matter. It is getting squished, flushed, washed down a drain or vacuumed. Nothing can make me agree to let it stay.

Washing down the drain

Super easy. You open the shower curtain and see the thing unable to climb out of the tub and you just turn on the faucet. Close off the tub drain for a while till you feel sure the spider hasn't decided to try again.

Vacuuming the sucker up

Also easy. Depending on how nervous the specimen makes you can vary the length of attachment. You turn the vacuum on. Suck it up and then leave it on until you are sure the vacuum has imploded the creepy crawly. The debby downer of this one is the prep time. Going to fetch the vacuum gives the bug time to make it's escape. Wouldn't want that.

Squishing

Debatable to be one of the hardest methods. If the spider is on the floor you just have to drop something heavy on it. If it's on the wall? Not as easy. You risk the spider falling onto the ground/carpet resulting in losing it. And you also have to get close to it. The thought of it getting on my hand just gives me the shivers.

Flushing

Hardest with few exceptions. I only revert to this method after I've ruled out being able to grab the vacuum and the haunting sound of it's crunch are to much to handle. This usually entails grabbing more toilet paper than necessary and lightly pinching it between your fingers. Again hoping with all your being it doesn't escape and climb onto your hand. Running to the bathroom and violently tossing and flushing almost in sync.

Well for tonight's encounter my first instinct was to get Richard to squish it. He had only gone to bed a couple minutes before so I wouldn't be waking him up. After begging him for a few minutes I lost because he was too comfortable and in all reality as terrified as I am.

Considering it hadn't moved at all since I discovered it, vacuuming it came to mind. I ran upstairs grabbed our longest extension and prepared myself.

In the first two seconds the spider lost the war. I sucked up it's unbelievable area (Surprised it had gone so long unnoticed). Then walked out a champion. 

I should tell you. About a month ago I was reading on my bed when baby spiders came out from the gap under the window sill. Squished and Vacuumed. The worst though is only two weeks ago I got two spider bites while asleep. The thought of one big enough for those bites is nasty. After tonight I wish with all my heart that my dad would've paid to get our house sprayed. 

Bad date?

Dating? What is that? Not really but it has been quite a while since I have been on a date. Well that was mostly because the only guy I want to be going on dates with is... out of town. Anyway, I recently met a young man that did catch my interest.
Well I decided instead of just obnoxiously wanting to text him and debating with myself, I would just be bold and ask him on a date. Strawberry days was this last week. What a perfect opportunity. A carnival. A parade. A rodeo.
Since I was already going to the rodeo I decided that it would be fun to turn it into a date.

Background: There was one other couple on this date... and then Chelsey. I have been in this situation before and it wasn't awkward at all so I didn't think of anything of it. Oh and my date had met Chelsey 4ish years ago.

So my date suggested that we go get food before the rodeo and I got to pick. I didn't want to pick somewhere I always go so I chose Rancheritos. I have had food from here before that was super good. But I couldn't remember what I had ordered so I just got a bean and cheese burrito. It was gross. That probably didn't affect anything though.

While eating we talked but it wasn't the best conversation. It seemed like we were both struggling for interest in the topic. First red flag.
We made our way to the rodeo and it improved until we found our seats. I didn't realize at first but after awhile I noticed that my date was more interested in talking and flirting with Chelsey than me. Flag number 2. Well actually more like Major Red Alert. Chelsey flirts with boys and is pretty much oblivious. I know she will be reading this at some point so just know that I don't care at all that she is sassy and flirty. We're all guilty of it.

Anyway I can pretty much sum up the rest of the date in that last paragraph. I tried to talk and to flirt. He did too. But only 10% of the time was it directed toward me.

The rodeo turned into a cookie dough eating dare. Chelsey took it on and then I helped her out. That was pretty much unforgettable.

Jess and her date left for home because of a long drive. I was sad when Jess left but shortly after my date left. As he was driving off the night became 200% better. My jerk of a date didn't matter anymore and it was now Chelsey, Carson and I. I began laughing and I didn't have to care who heard (I'm pretty sure my laugh bugged my date) We went up to the PG water stump (I would say tower but it's not) and just talked. And talked. And talked. I believe we got there between 12 and 1. We didn't get home until 5.

When I think about it now, that was probably the best therapy I have ever had. It was needed. If Chelsey and Carson had left right away I would have gone down to my room and thought about how rude I had just been treated. Having that time on the water tower helped me realize that it didn't matter.

Chelsey is beyond an incredible person. She's cute and easy to talk to. She is a loaded sassy pistol which just makes her personality that much greater. If a guy who is on a date with me isn't able to see me past my best friend, he's not worth my time. I think I might just bring Chelsey on all my dates just so that I can weed out the bad ones.
She won't approve but I think it's a great idea.

I deserve a man who can appreciate who I am and want to focus on me no matter who is walking by.

An end to insanity

I almost forgot to share the wonderful news!!!

So do you remember how I was insane and worked early morning custodial from 4-8?

Well it being summer and all, waking up at 3:30 and going to bed at 9 is no fun. My efforts to find a new job reached desperate. I eventually found one and two and half weeks ago so I put in my two weeks notice.

I guess I could just say my last day was last Friday.

Besides this morning, every day since I haven't woken up until 10:00.

Sleeping in is therapeutic.

If anybody finds themselves too hot over the summer and is in need of some cooling down, there is a new snow shack in the makings on 800 N in Orem. Right in front of a great little pet shop called Exotic Reef.

I've been hired full time so feel free to come stop by! I'm pretty sure it's going to be the best snow cone shack for miles around.

Chickburgers

Good news. I found a copy of Catching Fire. I didn't think to ask my little brother's girlfriend... Anyway, I haven't been able to read it as quickly as Hunger Games just because I've had a busy week. I had a realization though about half way through probably chapter 4. This romance is very relatable (new word) to Twilight. A young girl has feelings for two guys. One more than the other. It's safer for her if she chooses the one she is not as in love with... etc. But this series is definitely more entertaining than Twilight.

So for dinner tonight I made some chicken hamburgers. I wasn't sure how well it would turn out... Especially when my patties resembled my dog's barf. I had to try them though and I was pleasantly surprised! Chickburgers are super delicious. I'd show you a picture but you've probably already lost your appetite.

What a steal!

Today I decided that it was time to go buy some more shirts to add to my lacking wardrobe.

I decided that Rue 21 was the place to go. I really love some of the things they sell there.

AND if you do it just right you get it for cheap.

Well I've been wanting to buy some black rimmed glasses for a while and they had some. So I bought them. Along with a couple wallets.

So total I walked out of that store with 2 shirts, 2 undershirts, 2 wallets, and a pair of glasses...
It was all under 30 dollars. The feeling of accomplishment I had while walking out of the store was so fulfilling!



Well I was modeling my glasses around my house for my own pleasure (nobody else is home). I walked passed the mirror and realized these glasses must be made "One Size Fits All" because I what I saw in the mirror was a little ten year old who just put on her father's glasses.

Laughterful

Last week I was filling out a job application. I reached one part where it asked me to list 5 words that I felt described me best. I was having a seriously hard time thinking of good ones, mostly because I didn't want to put a bunch of generic words. They have to get a real taste for who I am in these words.

I really wanted to write something down that pertained to how easily I am humored but couldn't think of any one word. I didn't want to put humorous because this entails being funny. I do have a hard time being serious and I have gotten a couple chuckles out of friends every now and then but I would not consider myself humorous. There were a few more of these words that applied to being humored but nothing that I was looking for.

After stewing for a while I invented a new word.
     Laughterful (adj) def. 1. Having lots of laughter bottled up inside oneself. 2. Easily humored.
Unfortunately for the sake of professionalism I refrained from writing it down. But oh how I wanted to put it down.

I like to think that I have started a few trends in my life and this is my new one.
Challenge: Use the word laughterful in regular conversation at least three times this week.
This new word describing my condition will be patented some day.

I think I might be broken

I am so confused.

To understand my confusion you need to hear a story.

Once upon a time... almost three years ago... I met a young man. We'll call him John. I know you have all heard songs that talk about being smitten from the first conversation you have with someone. Well I don't know how many of you have experienced this but I definitely have.
From the very start this guy made me all blubbery. I felt sheepish and at a loss of words. I got excited inside every time I saw him. Any time there was a chance I would see him. Anyway. We spent time together. Had some fantastic times on my front porch where we just talked for hours.

After a while we started seeing less of each other. Almost to the point where I thought I had moved on. I became involved with a different guy and John started getting ready to serve a mission. A couple months before  John left I saw him again and all the feelings I thought were gone came rushing back. I decided that John would always be that one guy that would have a part of me. That was the last time I saw him before he left.

A little while after John had left, I was talking with a mutual acquaintance. She said that she had written him and suggested I should too. I seriously considered it. Where was the harm? So I did. The first time I opened my mail box to find John's reply, I just about died. I gave Chelsey and Kelsey a call and we freaked out about it for a while. This is how almost every letter opening proceeded for the next year.
After a while though it was just like I was writing my older brother. When I would see John's letters in the mail I would get a pleasant smile, and sometimes I would get real excited just because it was a great pick-me-up in the middle of a stressful week, but I didn't make any phone calls or get butterflies.

Then two months ago reality hit; John's two years were just about up. I didn't know what to expect. What was going to happen when he got home? I hadn't felt anything for him in over a year. I currently had my eye on another guy, Pete, and I really wanted to see if that would go somewhere. I was scared once John got home I would forget all about Pete and I didn't want to.

When John did get home he called me up and asked me on a date. To be honest, when he came to pick me up I was in my bedroom convincing myself that everything would be fine. And it was. We went on our date. It was lots of fun. Not too awkward. I definitely wasn't head over heels for John the way I had been before his mission. I actually didn't feel any spark of interest.

My liking of Pete continued and grew. He and I went on a couple dates. As I started looking back at how past crushes played out, I decided that maybe I was coming on too strong. This whole time I was considering John. Interest was growing. I decided that I would just go with whatever happened

This brings us to about a week ago. The semester was coming to a close and I was moving home. Pete went out of state for a summer job. I now live at home and three blocks away from John. This last weekend opportunities presented themselves and I am going with it. But I am scared I'm not ready.

Lately

I've been trying to spend less time sitting in front of my computer wasting time. Result? I don't blog for a week and a half.

Well pretty much this last week I have been tired. I've been in such a bouncy mood. But still tired. 

Yesterday I almost fell asleep while getting my planters warts worked on.

I turned my alarm clock off and slept until 3:53. A.M. Just a reminder, I have to be to work at 4. Ya, problem. I was only about thirty minutes late. 

Then at about 2:00 today I decided it was time for a nap. I konked on one of the Richard's building benches and I woke up to find I had drooled on my backpack... Yummy. 

On a more lady-like note, I've started putting make-up on again. Mainly because I want to quit looking like a sweaty, disgusting mess when I get to a certain dance class, where, I get to dance and flirt with a certain cute boy.

On the dating spectrum, I have two friends who are setting me up on blind dates. That should be lots of fun. I am going to have to try not to say anything stupid or awkward... Unfortunately I'm really good at it.

I also got a letter in the mail from Natalie:} I was really super excited! She loves me.

And that is pretty much it. Have a wonderful week.

Socially Dead

When I moved, I planned on my social life improving.

Unfortunately the only thing that has changed is my address.                  I'm still antisocial.

It was only on this fine Friday evening while making meatloaf that I realized this. 

       Last weekend all I did was watch movies, do homework and feasted on food.

              And that is exactly how the weekend before that went.

Besides making a corsage for my little brothers date tomorrow night and going to a wedding reception, this weekend is going to be practically identical.

But to be honest, I'm not too bummed about it. 

At the moment I think my life is full and wonderful just the way it is.

Cold? No, thank you.

Well cyber world I decided that it was time to show my existence again.

Words from the Wise:
If you know that you have to get up heinously early the next morning but your laundry isn't getting done because you keep forgetting to switch it, push the pause button on finishing your laundry. Your sleep shouldn't be compromised.

Let's just say I compromised and it wasn't a very smart thing to do. I texted my supervisor Sunday night @ 11:00 p.m. saying I wouldn't be coming in for work the next morning because I wasn't feeling well. That was a little white lie. I didn't want to text him, "Hey so I was stupid and didn't decide to go to bed till just now. If I come into work tomorrow morning, I'll only be getting 4 hours of sleep tonight. For the sake of my body needing rest, I'm not going to come in." I went to bed that night restless. I couldn't just lie like that because I honestly felt fine. But I set my alarm for 7 anyway.

Of course my body would not let it be though. I woke up the next morning at 4:15 thinking, "I wasn't going to go in but I feel fine. I'm just being a big baby. If I go in, I'll only be 30 minutes late." So I did.

By Monday afternoon my nose began getting the itchy feeling it gets right before I get a cold. Spectacular. In hopes I could ward it off, I had a whole can of vegetable soup for dinner. Unfortunately it didn't work.

A few days later, in the brunt of my sickness, I truly wasn't feeling well and did want to text in sick but I knew I couldn't this time.

This weekend in my attempts to get better, I've stayed at home, drinking all the fluids possible. I've gotten a bit better but so I can truly smack this cold in the bum, I'm staying home from church so that I can sleep.

It's already been an interesting week...

I'm behind on my homework reading.
I have been having minor stressed to relaxed mood swings.
I've started showering in the evenings.
I finished my paper two days before it was due and had time to take it into the Writing Center to ask for
       pointers.
I made a mass batch of waffles last week and I've had waffles with every meal since.
Earlier today I put a pot water on the stove to boil. After ten minutes and having unboiled water, I went to
       check to see if the stove was really on and realized that I had turned on the wrong burner.
For lunch I had some of my roommates leftover pasta salad and then when I got home, she had thrown it away
       because it had been in the fridge for a while.
I took a nap this morning. First one this semester!

I'm excited to see how the next four days go.



I am going on a date this Saturday to the basketball game:} I am just kind of excited.

Roommate bonding

This weekend is the first weekend since I've moved into Allred, that I have actually been home.
It's not that I wanted to be gone... I just was.

Well it's 1:20 in the morning so I won't go too in depth but one of my roommates and I had some great bonding time tonight with my roommate Kelley.

We were discussing what we wanted to watch, when we saw on Netflix BBC's season 1 of Sherlock. I knew season 2 came out this year so Kelley perused the internet to find it.

Basically we had a Sherlock season 2 marathon.



It was fantastic.

Farewell

This weekend was more than just a weekend.

It was more than just three day vacation from school.

It was more than just pay day.

It was more than a memorial for civil rights. 

It's a memory I will always remember.

This weekend was Natalie's last weekend in the United States for the next 18 months.

It's one of my memories I will call on when I begin missing her beyond belief.

Nothing too monumental happened but it was a great farewell weekend.



Friday night:

• Natalie picked me up from Provo.
• We made our way to Dominos to buy two fantastic Pizzas.
• Drove around Provo searching for Mom's credit card. 
• Went back to Dominos.
• Headed back to PG.
• Watched the Switch.

Saturday: 

• Slept in.
• Went grocery shopping.
• Did some homework.
• Went and shot a russian sniper rifle and an AK47.
• Ate unbelievable amounts of food.

Sunday:

• Natalie's farewell talk.
• Cried during the closing hymn.
• Played life.
• Ate more food.

Monday:

• Folded laundry.
• Went out for Macey's ice cream.
• Had a Jurassic Park marathon.
• Made a down payment for some fantastic cowboy boots.
• Watched the Switch again.

But I never gave her a hug goodbye so it looks like I'm going with my parents to drive her to the airport.