always one foot on the ground

So I finished Catch-22 (which took A MONTH), The Catcher in the Rye (three days) and the Message (two days) all in the past week. And about 75 pages into Everything is Illuminated. I like to read. I can't believe it's already Wednesday. What an improvement on the week it makes when Monday is a holiday! Although it hits the paycheck a bit harder than preferred. Anyway, literarily (is that a word?) I thought Catcher in the Rye was the most well-written, Catch-22 was the most thought-provoking and the Message was one of the worst-written books I've ever read but also one of the most inspirational. I recommend all three, but with reservations.

My mom tried on some clothes at Cabellas. Which is an AMAZING store. Although I could do without the plethora of dead stuffed animals everywhere. And when I say everywhere I MEAN EVERYWHERE. Anyway, it wasn't until we were out to the car that my aunt pointed out the fact that my mom had put her pants on backwards. She whispered it to me and I burst out laughing. I couldn't help myself! Oh Wendy! Bless.

Gabe, Shawn and I went bowling on Saturday. Shawn wasted us the first game. Gabe wasted us the second. Both were with bumpers. *Blush* it was both embarrassing and hilarious and painful--the second time Gabe went up to bowl (or perhaps the third) he threw too hard, and it went down the lane next to ours... right in the middle of a guy's turn. Yeah. That's the second time that's happened when I've been around (the first was before my mission). Oh Gabe. Shawn just winced and covered his face, it being too painful to witness any further.

My grandma says he's (Shawn) just darling. Those words. And my cousin's middle kid, Briar, remembered Shawn (he's the one with blonde hair! Briar said to prove it) and not me (Josh said, "Oh Briar, you remember Kari! She's really nice!" Aw. Thanks Josh. At least *sob* SOMEONE appreciates!).

We went geocashing! First time I've ever gone. I'll have to bring my camera tomorrow to work, although I lost the connections temporarily to the computer since I cleaned my room last night. The bathroom is spotless, too! Yay. Anyway, cute pictures. I found the first treasure, the others beat us to the second one and found it before we even arrived so I didn't bother getting out of the car, and the third they beat us again, but they hid it for us so we found it about ten minutes after them. Geocashing is very addicting. And a cute family activity. Unless you do it with the freakishly unapologetic inappropriately competitive Walkers. COME ON BRANDON! Give me a break! Then it elicits eye-rollage.

Shawn, Gabe and I also saw Spiderman. Poor Shawn paid for it. I'd hardly say we got our money's worth. It was AWFUL!! Really? Peter Parker goes emo (complete with black eyeliner, and I swear they dyed his hair) and starts dancing (ALSO while he's just walking!) and playing the piano? And Topher is REALLY that unconcerned by the fact that his girlfriend is barely hanging on for dear life hundreds of feet above ground? And Peter REALLY says to James, "You came...!" And James REALLY keeps calling him, "Buddy"? REALLY? It just kept getting worse and worse and increasingly more ridiculous. Too much. And they have Kirsten Dunst sing like TWICE?! REALLY?! I used to think Tobey Macguire was a remarkably good actor, but either the dialogue, the direction was bad, or Tobey has taken a turn for the worse. Oh you guys! COME ON! And the venom black grease stuff just HAPPENS to crash just yards away from where Spidey and Kirsten are making out? REALLY?! Wow. Wow. That's all. Three and a half more hours of work with nothing really to do. Sigh.

Same boy you've always known

Shawn comes home today!
I'm cranky because I didn't get much sleep last night!
Got to watch TV yesterday! That was fantastic! Especially Bill O'Reilly ( Dennis Miller is great I must say). Although a guest host was on instead. Sigh. Oh well.
So you think you can dance just started, as well as... shoot, what's it called again? The Lot or something like that? It's a new reality show about directing. And it's great. And it has Carrie Fischer. Which is great.
My mom's idea of a good time was to take all of us to the mall yesterday. Gabe and I wandered around for awhile, he got some food, and only ate half of each hamburger, because even though I picked out all the lettuce tomatoes and pickles, there were still bits of onion in it (BITS!!!!!!!). And then barely touched the fries. And then nearly puked several times. We then went to the Gamestop shop, where I asked ('for my brother, really!!!!') when the new Zelda game for DS was to come out. He bought a pokemon game and a player's guide to go along with it. Then he wanted to go to a bookstore (what?!) but all they had was deseret books, and he refused to even enter it. He wanted Borders or Barnes and Noble. Man, I missed that kid. He used the word "postpone" yesterday and I about died. And when I poke him furiously on the shoulder saying "Gabey baby Gabey baby"over and over in a really obnoxious high-pitched voice, he just takes it for a minute, and then asks me some random question about a TV show or movie or game or something. As if I hadn't been trying desperately to get on his nerves or elicit some reaction. Gotta love family.

Especially when my mom chooses to loudly nitpick my posture on the way out to the car, prodding, poking and pushing my shoulders back and my back straight.

You hold it and I 'll squeeze

It's embarrassing where the title came from. And it is nearly as bad as it sounds. Just ask Rachel. Do I really have to upload the pictures? Can't you just look on facebook? Grumble. Here are a few. I'm too tired and lazy to put the rest.




And my first roommate from freshman year just got engaged to her boyfriend of a billion years. I wish them all the happiness! Aren't they just so sweet and tender?

Practice?

So I had a great weekend. Fantastic! Amazing. Brilliant. Spectacular. And not just because of all the things my Mom bought for me. Which was quite a bit, some required but all desired. I got a haircut! And new shoes! And new...unmentionables! And new clothes! New art supplies! New kitchen stuff! Basically my mom loves me. A lot. And she has the receipts to prove it. We both got facials done at the Bon Losee Academy (where i got my haircut as well). It was quite lush. And the girl there said I had beautiful hands (my nails are really long right now, which does NOT make typing easy but they're great for back scratches. And sometimes you just have to prioritize. I mean let's be honest. How often do I REALLY type, compared to scratch someone's (or my own) back? Come on!). It was her birthday that day, too. She was way cute. But sitting there with no makeup on and crap hair (this was right before I got my haircut) being surrounded by skinny, thickly made up, gorgeous peroxided giggly 19-yr-olds, that was rough. DON'T... FIT... IN... BUT... AT... LEAST... I... HAVE... A... SWEET... SPIRIT... RIGHT? I always have a hard time telling if I like my haircut, too, if I'm not wearing any makeup. Is that weird? So anyway, the second I hit the car I busted out the makeup and put some on. WHEW. Cute haircut after all. Thank goodness!
I got new contacts, too. Still trying to get used to them. I keep sitting closer to the computer than I need do, out of habit, which is a great recipe for a headache.
Because my little cousin Kaylee is getting baptized in a couple of weeks, and my aunt's 50th birthday is the week after that, my mom decided to lengthen her stay. by another three weeks. She's crazy! But this is exciting because now (besides you of course Rachel. I'd say Janay, too, but she has new friends and doesn't need me any more. Yeah, I see how it is!) I have someone to hang out with during the week when Shawn ditches me for greener pastures. To make them brown. At least for three weeks. ALSO, Gabe is coming to visit tomorrow! Holy CRAP he is the CUTEST GUY EVER!!! Rex is close, FREAKISHLY CLOSE, but still. Gabe is cuter. Because he's mine. MINE. But I plan to take him and Shawn bowling. Gabe is the cutest bowler! He's just cute. i'm going into convulsions right now just thinking about itdsjkflasjdfa
Moving on, it was great to spend time with the family. I hadn't seen my mommy since Christmas (and MAN that went fast!) so it was good to catch up in person. And for her to spend more time with Shawn. and to hang out with my little cousin Kaylee! She's so funny. I got a new digital camera, too (my mom is such a push over. It's my early birthday present. Yeah. My birthday isn't until August.), so I was able to take loads of pictures of everyone. Well, Grandma refused, despite being a beauty, and I didn't get any of Yu hua or Rick (aunt and uncle), because they were usually upstairs. Grandma insisted on going shopping with Mom and me (even at my age, I found all of the shopping really draining. It wears me out like nothing, so you can imagine what a spry trooper she is!) and she said I needed to wear makeup (which I do, but apparently not bright or thick enough. She said I needed more color. And that Shawn needed new shoes.). And they refused to buy me anything brown. Except one shirt, but that had white polka dots, so it hardly counted.
My uncle got married! He looked so happy! And Shawn looked freaking hot. Seriously. I wish I had gotten a picture. But the batteries on my camera died. Yeah. I don't want to hear it. He was wearing this dark teal shirt with a matching hot tie, with a black jacket and slacks. And shoes and socks. I had a hard time controlling myself. Apparently one of my cousins told my mom (grandma?) that he was hot, too. And when it's not to your face you can guarantee it's true. When it's to your face, it depends. Obviously.
DANG IT. I just broke a nail. Past the quick. Well, it got caught. It's not completely off, but that means I have to cut it short. And cut the rest short. Argh. O THE HUMANITY. Now they're going to hurt and feel weird for the next two days. And take a month to grow back. No backscratches for anyone. So I guess it's a good thing my dad's not coming, because he loves my backscratches.
Anyway, it was great to see everyone! We went for a hike yesterday--my uncle literally lives at the base of these mountains in Alpine--but Kaylee insisted we take the tamer route which led AWAY from the mountains and TOWARDS this poor excuse for a playground. And I realized I've lost any and all ability to do pull-ups. I tried. Shawn did two pull-ups. Show off. I guess I've lost all my upper body strength. So yeah. Kaylee is just as cute as ever. Especially with Shawn. He insists she doesn't like him, but I think she's warming up to him great. It just takes time.

And we played piano together. And then Kaylee showed us up big time by playing Beauty and the Beast. Yeah, have I mentioned she's barely eight?

And my mom so obligingly told Shawn that I was held back in kindergarten (which I think he already knew) because I wasn't emotionally prepared enough to move on to the first grade (basically I cried all day everyday over everything), and that I had to be in speech therapy for a year or two in elementary school. Which he didn't know. Apparently this was because (I didn't know THIS part) Gabe had severe speech impediments and we played with him so much, and my mom rarely talked to us, that we picked up his speech patterns more than my folks. She said it was because it was so freaking boring talking to little kids, so she rarely did. Thanks mom. At least she did read to us a lot. Fond memories connected with that.

Anyway, if I remember, pictures will be included as of tomorrow. So stay tuned!

I'm gonna get me a shotgun and kill all the doggies I see

I'm sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNGGGGGRYYYYYYYY. Shawn can say that a lot better than I can. Sigh. So there was this STUPID DOG that barked ALLLLLLLLL NIGHT. I turned on the fan, but I'm not one of those white-noise type people where the fan can function to block out all other noises while still being subtle enough to facilitate my own sleep. No, that just kept me up, too. I couldn't decide which was worse. So, basically I barely slept a wink last night. And when I finally turned off the fan the first time my alarm went off (I snoozed the alarm clock like three or four times this morning) THE DOG WAS STILL BARKING!!!!! I need earplugs. Why didn't the owners shut the stupid dog up? Or at least shoot it? I don't get it. I just don't get it. Anyway, even though my birthday is three months away from tomorrow, I talked my mom into getting me my birthday present early: a digital camera! Hurray!!!!!!!! I've been DYING for one, and Shawn's not exactly the best sharer (it's true, Shawn, admit it) so, um, yeah. She acquiesced to my request. I'm getting new clothes today, too! So excited. I've been wearing the same five shirts for the past year, (basically the last time I went shopping, except for those two shirts I bought in Park City a couple of weeks ago. Wow that went fast!) so it'll be nice to add a few more to the mix. I also should be getting a haircut today or tomorrow. Wow, I almost wrote two morrow. As in I wrote it but then deleted it. That's how tired I am. Shawn got back early! And my mom somewhat behaved herself around him, better than expected, so that was good. At least yesterday. We're getting together today and loads of extended family tomorrow, so we'll see how that goes. *fingers crossed*


Through a string of events I came across this. And liked it a lot more than I should. No I am NOT into sado-masochism, although I still insist, being backed by both Janay and Rachel and I'm sure every girl in the audience, that the scene where Hamlet threw around Ophelia in BYU's production of Hamlet was one of the hottest scenes of ANYTHING EVER. Gotta love the take-charge type.

I read the news today, oh boy

sell-out-has-been or stick-it-to-the-man?
I'm so confused. He's promoting his new CG movie about bees that he wrote himself, and does the voice over for the main character, Barry B Benson. Oh Seinfeld.

My Tigers My Heart
The mum of the three tigers (the far right is the dog's own pup) rejected them, so the zookeepers (as apparently is common practice) had a nursing dog give them milk. They usually have to cover the little guys in dog urine so the mom will think the tigers are her own, but this one didn't mind. Does that hurt you as much as it does me? So sweet.

Jenna Fischer, whom we all know as Pam from the Office, fell down a flight of stairs and broke her back in like four places. But she's okay! She just needs a month or two to recuperate. Yikes, eh! We need you Pam, but more importantly, Jim needs you!

Half the stories were about celebrities caught on camera with wardrobe malfunctions.
A quarter were about American Idol. Although I'm secretly pleased because one of the two finalists is from my home town of Bothell, Washington.
Apparently some kid from Japan, 17 years old mind you, decapitated his mother, and carried the head to I think authorities, although I may be mixing up what he did with the head with ANOTHER story where ANOTHER kid decapitated their own mother's head in Asia.

One more hour then I'm done with work. And start with mom. She said she was the most excited about seeing me. The rest... notquitesomuch. Although I do secretly think she'd be the most excited about seeing her sister, my aunt Terri, but alas she's in Africa. So I'm number one by default. And I'm perfectly okay with that.

Surprised by Joy

Wow. I just spent three hours making copies and collating and sticking them into folders for graduate students planning on going on internship. Good times. I collated all the cute colored ones for the right side, while my blessed coworker Monica is doing all the plain white ones for the left side. My back my back. They'd better appreciate and recognize. Or there will be offensive threatening notes in the next batch.
Anyway, today I'm celebrating the word joy. The title of my blog comes from a book of C.S. Lewis. His wife's name was Joy. Isn't that sweet? And I'm pretty sure the title also comes from a poem (play? too lazy to look it up).

Upon learning that my art teacher had served his mission in Cambodia, I just HAD to ask him a language question. When I was in elementary school, my sister taught me that the word 'joy' meant the F-word in Cambodian. Embarrassingly enough, that unverified fact stayed with me all these years. And I just HAD to know if that was true.

It was.

A professor came in, HILARIOUS woman, while we secretaries were organizing a tubful of toys for an autism test, and began playing with a dump truck sitting on the front desk. She then began to relate to us how her son, when he was in kindergarten, couldn't say his "tr's" so he would call them a "dumb f*ck" instead. Yeah. She said it. Twice.

I love my job.

I never thought I'd be in a professional, academic, largely Mormon environment where I would be constantly exposed to profanity. I even read an assignment sent in today for independent study that said hell. Incorrectly (as in for a swear word, not the location.). It's great. The joys of being a secretary!

Well, how come I don't FEEL like the one?

Well, I had a good weekend. Got to spend a lot of time with Shawn, did barely anything productive, got to catch up with a couple of freshman year friends, and eat great Indian food with Shawn and his family while watching Kramer vs. Kramer. Not sure how I feel about the ending. I mean, I'm happy that at the end of the day, the right thing was done, but not how it got there... never mind. I'm tangenting. It's what I'm into! Here are people that surprisingly like and/or understand me and demonstrations thereof:
My Dad. My folks got a check in the mail for sixty bucks as a mortgage refund. My mom told my dad to just spend it how he wanted, and he sent it to me! I didn't even have to whine for it! Just a nice surprise.
My Grandma. She told my mom she wanted to go shopping with her and me on Friday, because she likes me so much (since when?! I mean I know she loves and likes me, but I've never considered myself to be a particular favorite of hers), but it's PROBABLY because I have a boyfriend now so I'm now all of a sudden exciting, and because I won't accept cash from her (apparently the only grandchild to turn it down, although I will accept VCR's and TV's. I know), but mostly because, as she told my mom, I crack her up. Oh Grandma!
Shawn. He and Brady left to go get some cleaning supplies after a slight mishap involving sauce and the carpet occurred (it WASN'T ME!) and they turned and asked if we (meaning Annalisa and I) wanted anything. I scrunched up my face, and Shawn in turn said, "That means she wants chocolate." Aw. It's scary how well he knows me sometimes.

F%$# your teen angst. I'm dying.

Poor Stacey. I just got off the phone with her and apparently my mom told her how I was hurt by Stacey pressuring me about school and Shawn and life and motherhood and my identity and everything. I wasn't really hurt, just irritated. It broke my heart though because it sounded like she was more hurt by my being hurt or irritated than I was to begin with. If that makes sense. Bless her heart. IT'S OKAY STACEY. NOT A BIG DEAL. I'm over it. I guess I'm just grateful that she's self-aware enough to realize that not everything she says is the gospel truth, and that I have different priorities and dreams than she. I have difficulties with people who aren't humble about things like that because there's no reasoning with them. Like take Jared for instance... Just kidding... OR AM I?!? While we were talking on the phone she apologized, which caught me off guard at first because I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about until she explained herself. Awwwww Stacey. That's why we not only make great sisters but friends.
Watched Dreamland a few nights ago with Rachel. Basically because it had Justin Long in it. Shawn's not around, so I guess that's the next best thing, right? A dumb indie movie with a former teenage celebrity crush in it? Right? Oh man, his hair was so bad in it, and he was supposed to play an athlete. NO Justin NO. Part of his appeal is the fact that he's just such a dork. A COOL dork, but a dork nonetheless. And we're expected to believe that this pasty toothpick is supposed to be a basketball player? And I was the head cheerleader in high school.
It was interesting to analyze with Rachel. There were loads of unnecessary unflattering cleavage in it (support becomes even MORE important, the more heavily endowed you are. You'd think that stupid blonde chick would've figured it out, but no.), a really obnoxious, aforementioned blonde chick that was dying from MS, and dreamed of one day being Miss America. Stupid stupid stupid. Her name was Sydney but at the beginning of the movie she decides to change it to Calista ("Calista Bliss") because it sounds 'hot.' She was beautiful, but that's really all she had going for her, and all she seemed to care about. And the fact that she was dying. And nobody likes a babe that feels sorry for herself. She and her best friend live in a trailer park. Her best friend, played by a chick named Agnes Something-or-other, is a lot deeper and cooler and just cares for her drunk of a dad (miscast, but still good--the dad that is) and her dying shallow best friend. And people who think they're deep or misunderstood get on my nerves, too. Especially when THEY'RE the one to point it out. It's like humility I suppose. The moment you say you're deep (or think deeply), it negates the fact that you are. At least to me. ANYWAY, Justin goes out with the blonde chick at Agnes's urging, but secretly she and he fall in love. They don't DO anything except this steamy sort of half-kiss thing, but later she tells the blonde that she loves him and hopes he feels the same. Calista freaks out and follows him by stealing someone's motorcycle (by this time he leaves for school in Las Vegas), and of course her MS freaks out and she gets into an accident. COMPLICATIONS. And there's a bunch of weird beesting scenes. I think I get what it represents, but the scenes themselves are so weird, I think they detract from whatever point they're trying to get across. Anyway, in the end, Agnes and Justin get together, he gets a cute haircut (I WISH), And Calista electrocutes herself, but doesn't die. The electricity is supposed to help with the MS. Whatever. And John Corbett, the dad, gets a job. And Agnes goes to college, just like Emily Dickinson. Rachel loved the line, "They're having sex right now, aren't they? And it's beautiful..." Whatever Rachel, whatever. Rethinking the whole celebrity crush.
We watched the Apartment last night. I've seen it before and liked it a lot better this time around. With stars like Jack Lemmon and Shirley Maclaine, I was expecting a screwball comedy, but it was a lot darker than that. But MAN it kills you how much Jack just LOVES her and would do anything for her, even to the extent of allowing the neighbors and others to get the wrong end of the stick about why she overdosed at HIS house, in order to protect her. And she had tried to commit suicide over a stupid shallow womanizing married man. Argh. Anyway, THAT'S a truly most excellent movie.
At work I've been put in charge of a project that I suspect is only to give the secretaries something to do (ie busy work), but never mind. I have to go through all of the letters of recommend for ALL of the students in the past like eight years, write down the names and addresses of them if they were professors (those who wrote the recommends), and copy down other things in a spreadsheet. So if they like the student after a number of years, we would contact said professors to express appreciation and encourage them to recommend MORE people to the program. Blech. At least I'm to the fourth years, and the fourth year folders are purple. Purple always helps.

Valley Fever isn't a reference to the Bubble?

Have any of you heard of Valley Fever? My coworkers were talking about it today. Apparently it's prevalent in Southern California, and Hispanics, Asians and Africans are the most susceptible to it. It's a fungus in the air that once it gets inside continues to grow in your lungs. And causes a lot of coughing. Good times.
I've got a new roommate. Her name is Cherish. She's from Grand Junction, Colorado. I'm surprised by how much I LOVED Colorado when I went there over the summer for a wedding, although everyone kept trying to get me to couple up or at least get some with Jared's friend who was a less-active alcoholic... and Jared made me contribute to the lewd and perverse and extremely inappropriate decorating of the newlyweds car, but those are stories for another day. Cherish is more talkative than Rachel (I don't mean anything by it Rachel, so don't GET OFFENDED), by a LOT. And the "baby" in her family is my age, 23, and she mentioned something about considering going to the family ward--something along those lines--so my guess is she's in her late 20's and early 30's. And all she talked about was her mission and things that happened four years ago (I kept asking, oh wait, you mean THIS past general conference? And she's like, no, 2003. Um... I thought I was the only one living in the past...). I barely remember ANYTHING from my mission, and it was amazing that's she's been home for as long as she has been and was able to recall with apparent extreme accuracy all this stuff that happened to her (and that it was mostly what she had talked about, even though she's been home for so long. I mean I've been home for a year, and she told more mission stories in the span of 2-3 hours than I've told in the past 2-3 months). Mostly about all these elders that were deeply in love with her. And when she got home how most of her friends are guys and all these girls were and are jealous of her for being friends with such righteous babes, and she would be confused because they're just FRIENDS... She's getting her Masters in English. Graduated with a degree in English and Theater I think. She's hilarious, and it's obvious she's was a theater major by the way she tells her stories. I just couldn't help by try to analyze her... Was she trying to explain why she's in her late 20's/early 30's and still single or compensate for any suspicions by telling me all these stories? Still don't feel like I have my finger quite on it. Stay tuned for further news on that front. All in all though she seems like she'll be a lot of fun. And at least English is her first language...
I've started organizing my fabrics! Can't wait for new clothes. My old roommate moved her junk out of the bathroom and front room, so at least those are clean now. Except for my fabrics in the front room. And the bathroom can use a wipe down as well. But one thing at a time.
Shawn might be going to Wyoming. He's in Idaho right now, instead of Vernal, and if things don't work out he might be headed east to Wyoming. Which I don't like, because it means he'll be getting back LATER on Friday. Gwarsh. What about MY NEEDS!
Have a great Tuesday. I must say I'm thoroughly enjoying Catch-22. I'm about 200 pages into it, and have already started applying the said circular paradoxical reasoning to my everyday life. Which I'm not entirely sure is a good thing, but I just can't help it.

No pictures please

So I had a fantastic weekend, I must say. But alas, Shawn took all the pictures. As in he didn't steal them, he just owns the camera. And refused to give me any last night. Sigh. Which makes it difficult for me to make this a graphic entry, so I apologize and hope that you will direct your dirty sideways glances in his general vicinity. He will be in Vernal until Friday again this week, if that helps. Well, we left Saturday morning around 10:30. I promptly got carsick, which thankfully DID NOT result in my puking all over the backseat on Shawn or forcing the car to be pulled over to gracefully ralph over the side of the road; it just ended with me feeling angry and understanding Shawn's reservations more over his objections to Brady's driving abilities. Very bumpy I guess. Although I think it was more the smell of the car. Which didn't smell BAD per se--it just had a very car-ish SMELL, which for me usually facilitates the urge to vomit. It was great of them to invite us though, and beyond the ride there (even gum and avoiding reading didn't help! Which almost always does the trick) I loved every minute. And the ride back was a lot better. At the cabin they had this game called Hit the Spot that was the most addicting game I've played since Wario Woods. Dumb games but I just can't help myself.
And it was SO lush to see Shawn after a week of... um... no Shawn. I have to wait until Friday AGAIN to see him. Not sure how I feel about this.
We went shopping in Park City (Did I mention I HATE shopping?) and ended up getting two V-neck T shirts for about 6.50 each (on sale). Annalisa and Mindy were both great, though. I've gone shopping with other friends before where they take FOREVER and they want your opinion about EVERYTHING and then they continue to whine and moan and hesitate. But those two were basically in and out of most of the stores. Which I really appreciated. It was cute to observe how two sisters behaved when shopping together, too. Mindy sometimes would treat Annalisa the same way Stacey treats me. "Oh YOU don't like THIS." Okay, good to know...
It was also snowing. And at this one gourmet food place they had loads of samples, and MAN it was all I could do not to go back and eat every sample. Shawn said I could ONLY have one. Such a controlling boyfriend I have.
His aunt makes jewelry, and let us use her supplies to make bracelets, and Shawn made me one! It's a goofy bracelet made up of red, light blue, and dark blue beads that alternated with silver spacers. I'm wearing it today with one of the new T-shirts I bought over the weekend. Awww...
Church was a lot more fun than it should've been. When visiting, I usually only go to sacrament meeting and skip out on the rest, but we didn't realize how close the building was, we were without a car, and had to rely on Shawn's aunt Erin to drive us (and sacrament meeting is last). And his uncle is the Stake President. Keeping up appearances! We went for all three meetings, everyone was super-friendly, and Shawn had decided that if the Liberty ward was to be a movie, we were to be in charge of casting. Hence it being so fun. Even if he DIDN'T know who Christopher Plummer was, or couldn't remember what the actress looked like in Legally Blonde that Elle was defending. We even casted Woody from Toy Story and Samara from The Ring. And Mitch, Shawn's roommate. And the entire cast of Little Giants and The Mighty Ducks. It was great. And there was this little girl sitting in front of us just STARING at me but mostly at Shawn. Which made ME crack up during the hymn, and Shawn I think initially thought I was laughing at his singing (I LOVE the way he sings hymns--and I'm very particular, which, you know, just goes to show...), so I pointed her out, and then he couldn't stop laughing either. It's been a LONG time since I've been in a family ward so it took some major adjusting.
We went for a nice walk through the forest, too, and came across a reservoir which was very nice! And Shawn took loads of scenic pictures, and even acquiesced to allowing me to take one or two. The thoughtfulness. Yeah, can't wait to get my own digital camera (*baby!*).
We watched the Office as well on Shawn's computer which was hilarious as always. O Creed. I'm so confused.

Jessica STILL hasn't moved her stuff out AND she took a shower here this morning. I'M GETTING ANGRY!!!!!!!!!

MY LIFE!

I don't really know what to say, but I've been told to update my blog several times now, so... Um.... yeeeeeeeeahhhhh.......... Hmmmm.

Sorry if I've been cranky this week. A lot has been going on. Shawn's been away, there was a pregnancy scare (HAHAHAHAHA I just realized that that made it sound like I HAD a pregancy scare. Um.... NO! IDIOT! My sister was rushed to the hospital with strange pains in her right side. She's two months along, and therefore still going through a danger period, so the scare was HERS. NOT MINE! PERVERT!), my ROOMMATE WON'T MOVE HER CRAP OUT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ALL OUT TEN DAYS AGO, I've been tired and adjusting to the new work schedule, I FINALLY got the rest of my art supplies yesterday...

I got like three hours of sleep last night. I was FURIOUS. I did take a long nap yesterday, but that usually doesn't prevent my nighttime sleepage. I think what did it was my cleaning most of the house. Got way overstimulated by it, in the nonsexual sense (PERVERT!). My mind wouldn't slow down, and insisted on replaying the Belle and Sebastian songs I was listening to as I was cleaning.

Anyway, I did get to see a musical and a play last week. My Aunt Terri and Uncle Mykal treated Shawn and me to "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels: The Musical." Now, I LOVE the movie, and was VERY apprehensive when I found out they added music to it and put it on the stage. But MAN ALIVE it was outstanding! And they even took us out for really good Mexican food right beforehand. Awww. THOSE TWO! Don't tell the others, but they're pretty much my favorite extended family members. As far as those who are older than me goes :).

The VERY NEXT NIGHT we saw "No Time for Sergeants" with Shawn's roommate Mitch playing several small roles in it. He was great, the play was great, although some of the players were obvious newcomers to acting, so a few small scenes came off a bit contrived. Bless! What was REALLY fun came after--we harassed Mitch to tell us what the actors were really like, and the truth was VERY enlightening! Stay away from Sergeant King. That's all I will say.

Finished reading "Angela's Ashes" yesterday. It was fantastic. Made me stay up and/or late for work on many occasions. Very much a Jim book, too (Jim being my Daddy). Reminds me a lot of him, and some of his childhood stories, although his Dad didn't drink away all the wages. And he grew up in Canada. And as far as I know they didn't lose any brothers or sisters to the galloping consumption or to anything. Just three boys.

I started Catch-22, which has been most excellent so far. Thanks Janay for letting me borrow. The sweetness.

Trying to think if there is anything else... Nope. Just sorry if I've been short with any of you! Itrysohard. My sister thinks I'm in danger of losing my identity. I'll show HER my identity. The nerve THE NERVE. Got my grades in yesterday. Or was it the day before? These days just blend in and out don't they! Anyway, I got the following: A, A-, A-, B, C-, in respectively, Intro to Drawing, US History, Biology, New Testament and Statistics. I was gunning for the C-. It was a B-I. Shawn got this: A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A-. I was disappointed in him by that last A-, too. Ridiculous. Clean yourself up, Shawn! Anyway, he's coming home tonight from work in Vernal! Can't... wait... and this weekend is going to be great. Hopefully the weather will improve. I love Park City. Oh and him, too. Him being Shawn. Of course.