Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Day of Random Happenstance

Okay, so today was a little crazy. I was supposed to have this job interview this morning, but the people never talked to me about a time or a place, so I called last night and there was no response. I called again at like 8:30 this morning (which is a bit early for me to up on my day off!) and there was still no response. I finally got a call back from them around 10 o'clock saying today was going to be too busy for them and that they could do it Thurs afternoon or Fri. I told them that wasn't really possible. So we decided to reschedule for sometime in January.

With that out of the way I decided to get ready for my GRE. I was scheduled to take it at 1pm so I figured if I left around noon then I would be okay to get there in time. I got there took the test and did okay (I got 520 verbal, 660 quantitative - not as good as I was hoping, but still okay). I was super duper fun (that is sarcasm in case you didn't notice).

On the way home I was feeling pretty good about things, listening to Christmas music and happy that I had taken the test and got that out of the way. I came to a stop on I-5 just about to get on the I-405 because of traffic and I had been stopped for a minute or two when suddenly *BAM* I got rear ended. Look in my rear-view mirror and this old lady is behind me with her car all smashed in. I get out and see if she is okay - all the while shaking like crazy. She is fine - but we don't really know what to do because neither of has been in a wreck before. We give each other our insurance info and I am thinking about calling the police and then this guy pulls up to help and he has road flares. He was super nice and his name was Dave. Then about a minute later the police show up so Dave leaves. The police officer takes our stuff and starts filling out this paperwork. Then about two minutes later ODOT comes and the police officer leaves. We fill out some stuff. I get to leave because my car runs fine (hers won't start and they have to wait for a tow).














I get home and call everyone I know to tell them about it. Then randomly a guy that I kinda know but not very well that I used to have a HUGE crush on texts me "hey what's up?". So I am like, okay, whatever. We text chat a bit and then he says he is looking for a dinner partner and would I like to go. I am like heck yeah, I need something to make my day better. He finally realizes I wasn't kidding about the getting rear-ended thing (as if I would joke about that) and then comes on over to get me. We go to this Hot Cake House in Portland that is pretty tasty. Then we came home. It was fun.

Then Adrianna and I went to WinCo quickly so we could get a few things - I needed to get stuff to make more cookies (I had made some for FHE on Monday, and now I need more) for a work potluck tomorrow and she needed food because she was totally out.

All-in-all, it was a crazy day. I really need to go to sleep and then in the morning I need to call and report that accident to the insurance peeps. I have never done this before but I imagine it is going to be a HUGE pain in the arse. Wish me luck!

Thursday, December 03, 2009

Boring-ness

So, my life are still pretty much the same as the last time I updated. I have no idea what to do with my life, I am not dating anyone, I live with some pretty good girls (even if they are a little quirky) and I work all the time. Tomorrow is this luncheon at work Christmas and that should be super duper fun. Mostly because it is free food and time I can spend at work not being too productive and not feeling guilty about it because no one else is going to be productive either! What I really need to do is work on grad school apps, but I am waiting to take the GRE which takes money to register for and I have none of that. Plus I need to figure out what to get people for Christmas that is personal and yet still cheap, because again, I am feeling very broke. I was going to make my brothers both sweaters but I won't have time to do that (I am going home in 17 days - there is def not time for that!) so maybe that will have to be next year's project or something. In the meantime I have no idea what to get them. Boys are hard to buy stuff for, especially when you live so far away from them you don't really know them as well as you would like. Maybe I should forget grad school and forget Oregon and move closer to home? That is a bad idea. I always get to thinking that when I am unsure of what to do with my life, but I think that spending Christmas vacation at home will remind me that I don't want to live there. Of course living there would be different than visiting there because I would hopefully get a job and make friends so I wouldn't be doing nothing all the time, and hopefully I would not live with my parents, which is what I do when I am home for the holidays. Not that I don't like my parents, but I am too old to be living with them for any prolonged period of time. Especially since they live in the middle of nowhere so living with them would help me to never make friends or get a job.

This whole post has been all stream-of-consciousness, and I apologize for that since the stream of my consciousness is not so fun to try to follow. That was just the quick update. Maybe if I did this more often (updated the blog that is) I wouldn't get so behind and then feel like I have nothing to talk about and just complain through the whole thing. Okay, I will try to update again sooner this time and hopefully it will be a blog post made of win!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

MIA

I know I have been kinda MIA for a while, but I have a few excuses (I know, I know - that is all they are, excuses - I could have posted had I really wanted to). Anyway, I was in Utah this last week on vacation before the week from hell here at work. I was so shocked I actually got to take a week off and I didn't get any calls from work or anything. It was amazing! And I realized a few things. One is that I need something new. I spent time with some family (which was great and I didn't see enough of them) and I spent some time with some friends (ditto the above parenthetical comment) and I made some new friends. No one that I will be new best friends with, or anyone that I will date or anything like that, but just new friends. People I liked spending time with and felt comfortable around after only a few moments of meeting them - and that hasn't happened in a long time. I haven 't met anyone new in a long time that I just felt so comfortable with that it was like I could chill with them forever. And maybe that feeling would have gone away, but that isn't the point is it? The point is that I miss meeting people and feeling comfortable immediately. But the main reason that hasn't happened lately is because I don't meet new people all that often. So therein lies the problem. And the solution is for me to go out and meet new people. But that is scary (not to mention difficult) so we will see if it happens. I think as I think more and more about going to grad school or some other such place the more I will be able to actually get to know new people - esp if I ever interview anywhere! Wish me luck!

Saturday, September 19, 2009

So

Well, it is Saturday and guess what I am busy doing? You got it, dear reading, working. What else do I ever do? Nothing it seems. But I have tomorrow off. And I have next Wed off as well. So that is something right?

Anyway, I don't really have much to say right now, other than I am a little bored at work. I know that I have stuff I should be doing, but I am feeling way too lazy to do any of that stuff. I have been feeling that way a lot lately about work - which is not good. I have this huge to-do list and so little motivation to do it. Gah.

Last week my uncle died. My dad's older brother. He was only 57 or so and they say that the official cause of death is a heart-attack but there was probably more to it than that since he was a heavy drinker his whole life, plus he had some sort of leg issue not too long ago. Anyway, regardless of the cause of death he is gone now. It is sad. My whole family went to the funeral - even Johnny went (and now I find myself wondering if he acted like he did at the wedding we went to in the summer - haha). I, of course, wasn't there because I was, of course, working. And it would have been very expensive to fly home for that and I have no dinero. Mom said it was a nice service. She said that Auntie Wendy spoke (that was Reb's wife) and she held herself together pretty good. She is an amazing woman. She just got through having a mastectomy because of breast cancer (I know it is odd I put that - why else would she have a mastectomy?) and now this happened. I don't know them all that well - we never visited them a lot when I was younger, and when we did I just wanted to go play and not hang out with the adults, but from what I do know she has great faith in God which I think helps her be so strong in the face of adversity. I hope I can be like that.

RIP Uncle Reb, you will be missed.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Seriously?

So, ever since ... who the crap knows when I have been doing most of my banking online. I would say that most people my age do this. I only actually go in a bank maybe twice a year and even then that might be pushing it. I only write about 1 cheque a month and that is for more personal things than bills - like tithing. Also, I have been trying to convince my mom this is the way to go. It cuts down on your cheque usage and time spent at the bank. Also, it is nice for her since she lives in the middle of nowhere so she won't have to travel anywhere to pay bills and whatnot. And she could do it at midnight if she wanted! But has she listened to me for the last 10 years? No. Why would she? I have no idea what I am talking about. Besides that crazy internet isn't safe to enter banking information into.

Well, she signed up for online banking the other day and she thinks it is the greatest thing ever - probably even better than sliced bread! All I have to say is, Mom, maybe next time I make a suggestion to you like this you will listen to me!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Hallelujah! It's Over!

One more summer over. To me this isn't a sad thing, but rather a joyous occasion as it also signifies the end of roundups. Thank the heavens. It means I can get back to a more workable schedule and life. No more 16 hour days (I hope). And more blog posts. (Lucky you!) The only sad part of this whole thing is that it isn't summer anymore - and I didn't really do anything fun the whole time! Oh also, I told myself that once roundups were over I would make a really good effort to exercise more. I have an idea of what I am going to be doing for this, it is just the finding of the motivation that will be the hard part, but I think I will try to follow my mom's lead on this one (she has been going swimming every day after work) and use that as motivation to do something. If she can do it, so can I, she is at least 2x my age! So I will be trying to do that. Keep an eye out for updates dear reader. About this and all other things in the life of yours truly. Until then, sleep well!

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Okay Then Mom

Well, I just got a nice little comment from my mom about how a couple of days ago I said I was going to post tomorrow, but then I didn't. So now I am posting. I am waiting for the next big event at work and thought I would do a small update. About yesterday. So basically, I came to work as per usual, and I waiting for a phone call in my office around 10am and my boss comes in a says she is getting ready for tomorrow blah blah, and also, weirdness, but her right butt hurts. Kinda like a pulled muscle. So she took some ibuprophen and thought it would go away in a day or two. I then got the call I was waiting for so off I went to do what I needed to do and about an hour and a half later I get paged on the overhead pager. I NEVER usually get paged, so I though 'oh no, this can't be good'. I call the number and it is my boss saying she can now barely walk. She went to the bathroom and it took her 10 minutes just to get her pants back on! And once I am done with what I am doing can I take her to the ER? Sure. So, around noon we head up to OHSU main campus to the ER. By about 3 o'clock she comes out with a perscription for some pretty good stuff and asks me if I will drive her to her house and drop her off, then if I will go and pick up the scripts for her. I do. I get home around 4:30. Oh man, what a crazy day. Seriously. And now the whole next week is hanging in the balance since the drugs didn't really help all that much and she still can barely walk. Great.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Quickie

I really am going to post something real eventually, and not just junk, but I just wanted to put this on here because I found this video on youtube and I thought it was a pretty good version. I am usually not a fan of remakes of songs because they often get butchered, but I think Daughtry does great here.

Friday, June 19, 2009

I will not go into a big long diatribe about how much I suck at posting, yada yada, because any of you who might read this know that I have not updated in like 2 weeks and so you know I suck at updating. Anyway, yeah. I just feel like I have been neglecting everything lately - I haven't even updated my Facebook status that much! I know, gasp in shock, it is crazy! But now I think I feel cleansed of whatever was making me not post or update or anything and I should be back in full force on the internets for a while. Go me!

So, I didn't go back and read my last post, so I really have no idea what I talked about last, so I am just going to talk about what I feel like talking about and you can complain if I missed anything huge or important.

Most importantly, I am going on a vacation (of sorts) soon. I am flying home on Wednesday. I am way excited about that. I haven't been to see my fam in a while and I am excited for a few reasons - 1) I get to see my little nephew again, he is so cute! 2) I get to meet my little brother's girlfriend. He has been with her for a while now I think, but he was hesitant about the relationship at first because she has a kid already, so I haven't met her. Also, I haven't been near enough to meet her for the last however long. Oh well, that should be fun. 3) I get to see my Mom. I love that woman. She is amazing and I can't wait to give her a big hug!

So, we are going to be in Canada for a few days, then my mom and I are going to drive down to Utah (renewing my status along the way at the border, which is the main reason I was 'allowed' to go). Not sure when we are leaving exactly or what, but that should be good. I really won't get a chance to do much while I am there since I will only be there for about 10 minutes before I have to leave again since I need to be back in Portland on July 2nd for work stuff. Stupid Job! The more I think about it the more I get annoyed. So I will stop thinking about it. Anyway, I am way excited for that to start.

Another thing that is exciting is that my friend Emily is in town and it is super fun to hang out with her. She is a fun girl. She is totally quirky and weird, but in that awesome I wish I could be like that way. The thing I like most about her is that she isn't afraid to be herself and I kinda hope that hanging out with her will cause some of that stuff to rub off on me. Here's to hoping. :)

Well, that is about all that is exciting that is going on in my life. That and the interns are here so work is now super busy because I get to spend amazingly awesome amounts of time babysitting them. In their defense, they don't know what to do, and how will they learn if I don't show them, but still, it can be really frustrating when my list of things to do is a million miles long and then I can't do any of it because I have to take care of them. Oh well I guess. They are fun kids and it should be a good summer.

I have started reading this new series that my roommate is into right now, but I am not sure how I feel about it. It is the 'House of Night' series written by PJ and Kristen Cast (they are a mother/daughter duo). I think it was more the mother wrote it and the daughter did a lot of heavy editing to make it sound like it wasn't written by a 40 year old woman and then she added a bunch of pop-culture, which I think it a bad idea because it really dates it, but whatever. Anyway, my roommate really likes this series, but I am not to sure how I feel about it. I mean, I will probably read them all, but I can't say that I am enjoying them. I have many thoughts and ruminations about them, which I don't feel like going into right now, so I think I will just say that much now and I will write my thoughts out better when I have read more of this series (I only just finished the first book last night and there are like 6!)

Well, I should be off. I need to go do some actual work while I am here at work. Boo. I wish it was the weekend, but, oh wait, I have to work this weekend! Boo again! Good thing I have some time off coming up or I would be seriously annoyed.

Saturday, June 06, 2009

It's Been A While

Since I posted on this blog.

Lol. Yes I was singing that song by Nickelback as I typed that. I am funny, I know. Whatever. But, it has been a long time since I posted - the last time being before my birthday - and I know all my faithful followers must be chomping at the bit to see how my life is going! So here I am to fill you in.

I will start with my birthday. I ended up helping Barlow move all the stuff out of his parents' house all day. I know, I know - you are sitting there thinking 'poor girl, had to move stuff all day on her birthday' but seriously, you shouldn't feel bad for me. I wanted to do it - he told me more than once that he wouldn't be offended if I left. But I got to see my friends all day, I got to do something useful, and I got to use my muscles (which I know there aren't a lot of, but it still felt good to use them). Afterwards we went to dinner with Barlow and Lexie and both my roomies and my other friend's Adam and Mark. It was good times. I had a really good birthday. :D

The interns got here which is exciting. It is weird, I felt like at this time last year I had so much ready for them, and now I feel like I still have so much to do to get ready for them to be here. I am prepared I guess, it just feels like it came sooner than usual. Which is pretty good I guess since that means that I didn't stress about it for a million years before they came. Yay for no stress. There are only four of them this year which is kinda nice since that is less people to deal with. Also, they seem like a fun group so this will be a good summer I think.

On Friday Jasmine, Julie, Adam, Mark and I all went out to Lexie and Barlow's house so we could have a bonfire and then go shooting on Sat morning. Well, it was kinda rainy and cold and Lex was feeling a bit sick, so we had a bonfire in their yard rather than on the beach (which is totally fine by me, walking in the sand in the dark is no fun!). Then the next morning (this morning!) we had a coming back deadline for Jasmine and Mark so we came back a little sooner after skipping out on shooting (the others all still went). It was good times.

My mom called and we chatted. I have to get my status renewed by June 30th and so we talked about that and how that was going to work out. I am planning on flying home to visit her and then I am going to drive with her down to Utah where she was planning to go for vacation anyway, and then fly back to Portland from there. It should be a good time if I can ever figure out which days are okay to go. Gah. It is kinda frustrating since I have to wait to hear back from someone that my boss was going to talk to and I haven't heard anything. Annoying. When I was talking to my mom she was babysitting my nephew and he is so cute (sounding anyway). He is getting very talkative and can say lots of words - I heard him saying 'spider' and 'cricket' as he was flipping through this book. Then I heard him say Grandma and Suzie (my brother's g/f) - he says her name super cute. Then mom said "do you want to say hi to auntie Mandi?" and he said "Mandi" Oh my gosh. So cute! He can say my name! He doesn't know what it means, but he can say it. I want to see him so much. I can't wait!!!!

Anyway, that is about all for now. I gotta go - not that I really have anything to do, I just can't type anymore since I am lying on my bed on my stomach and my laptop is in front of me and it is kinda hurting my back. So I am going. I hope this will satiate the masses for now. I will try not to take so long to post next time.

Friday, May 29, 2009

Free Stuff!

So, since it is my birthday tomorrow I thought I would check online to see if there is any cool stuff I can get free on my birthday and there is a ton! I found this website and they had a good list. But most of them are things you have to sign up for in advance so do it sooner rather than later! I only wish I lived near a Disney park so I could go there for my birthday since they let you in free too! Dang. Oh well, I am going to eat well tomorrow!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

May Long

That's what we would always call it when I was in high school. What are you doing for May Long? Want to go camping on May Long? We didn't even specify that we were referring to the weekend. I don't know if people do that in the states. I tried it a few times and just got weird looks. Oh well.

So this weekend was good. I did so very many things. Friday we went to my friend's wedding after we made the strawberries for it (which turned out awesome by the way!) and it was so good to see them so happy. They are a really cute couple. At the reception a bunch of people were talking and we decided we needed to do something, so one of our friends said 'meet at my house around 10 and we can do something.' So we went over and by maybe 11 everyone who was going to be there ended up there. We couldn't really decide what to do so some people suggested going to get some VooDoo Doughnuts (which is this really awesome place in downtown Portland - if you live in the area and have never been there you should go!) so we went. We ended up taking three vehicles because there were so many of us. Our vehicle got slightly lost and then we had to park a few streets away from the place, so by the time we got there everyone else had their goodies. I wanted one, even though Jasmine and Emily didn't, so I sat waiting in line forever (it was the Rose festival so the lines were long). Anyway, everyone else was getting impatient so some of them left (their ride didn't park but instead drove around waiting for them) and the other car stayed but this one guy mentioned how impatient he was getting. It was kinda annoying since we get dragged there and it wasn't like I was dawdling - the line was just long! Anyway, after I got my doughnut I came out and ate it and then the other people decided they were going to go back to the house we met at and watch a movie. We said goodbye, but we didn't really feel like leaving since we just freaking got there! So we wandered around for a bit. Nearby we saw these guys playing music on 5 gallon pail's and stuff like that and we stopped to listen for a while - they were pretty good. I was going to take a quick video of it but it was too dark to see anything on my phone camera. So anyway, as we were watching some girl walked by and gave us free tickets to a club. So we figured, what the heck, lets check it out. It was not very busy, so no wonder they were giving out free tix, but it was fun. We got there around midnight and stayed there dancing until the bar closed at 2am.

Saturday was our birthday party. We spent all day cleaning and picking up things we thought we would need and stuff like that. The party ended up being really good I thought. There weren't a million people there, but there were quite a few, and we just barbequed and then we ended up building a fire in this portable fire pit thing we were using and just sat around the fire chatting and roasting marshmallows and stuff. It was good times.

Sunday we went to church and then we left early (I know, we are sinners and going to hell! lol) and went swimming at my friends apt pool. He was out of town and said we could use the pool if we wanted and it was so nice we just had to take him up on it. That was fun. We laid out for a while and then went in the pool. After that we went home and chatted through a movie (we intended to watch it, but instead we just talked through the whole thing) and messed around online and stuff.

Monday I came in to work for a bit. I wanted to set up my new office and also had some other things to do. It is cool having an office. I still feel like I am sitting at Skyla's desk though and that she might come in at any minute and kick me off her computer. lol. It is a weird feeling. But yeah, anyway, then after that we had some friends who were having a BBQ, so we went over there to eat. That was fun times. I like sitting around just chatting with people. Then we went to FHE for a brief few minutes but then we left to go to the pool again. This other girl Melanie came with us as well. It was super fun times. We swam around for a while then we went in the hot tub and had some good girl talk.

That was my weekend. It was fun for the most part. There were definitely parts where I was getting annoyed at people, but that never lasts long for me anyway, so whatever. I know this post is all about the stuff I have done and I really don't go into anything else (it is kinda a fluff post if you will) but that is okay right? You have to have those every once in a while right? Whatev. I don't really want to start going into my thoughts and feelings because then it will get all boring. Blah. So I will leave it at this. Thanks for reading!

Friday, May 15, 2009

Can't think of a title

Okay, so I suck at posting. I did great for a while there but then I just kinda petered out on my posting. The real problem is that I got busy and/or lazy. I always feel like I have all this stuff to do and then I don't do it and instead I just sit around putting it off making it so I have even more to do and I never get anything accomplished. Like posting on my blog. Oh well. Nothing too exciting is going on anyway. Work is going great. I am going to write a paper. Well, let me rephrase ... I am going to help write parts of a paper and then it will be heavily edited and maybe three words that I originally wrote will end up in a journal somewhere. Lol. But that's cool. It will give me good experience and I like writing anyway (in case you hadn't noticed). Not to mention it will be good to put on a resume somewhere.

My roommate (the one who owns the house I live in) is going away for a week. She is leaving tomorrow and won't be back until the long weekend Monday. I am kinda excited. Not that I don't like having her around, because I do she is really fun (although sometimes odd, but aren't we all) but it will be different to have her gone for a while. And I like change. That is why I used to move all the time at BYU. It wasn't because I couldn't find a place I liked enough to stay longer, but rather it was just because I like moving and I like living somewhere new and having new people around etc etc. It is really hard on me that I have lived in this house for so long because I find myself itching to move. But instead of just moving down the street like I did at BYU I want to move across the country! Which I won't do, and I don't always want to do that, but still, I find that I have those 'cravings' once in a while.

The other thing that is good about my roommate leaving for a while is that it gives my other roommate and I a chance to get her birthday present together. You see, it is Jasmine's birthday on May 20, Julie's on May 24 and mine on May 30. Last year we had a fun party that turned not so fun but since Julie will be gone this year Jasmine and I decided to make her something good for her birthday. It is going to be awesome and I am way excited and it is perfect that she will be gone so we can leave it all over the place and not have her see it :D

On that note my planned projects for the next little while include:
1) write a few short stories that I can then submit to fiction journals
2) finish the knitting project I have been working on from the pattern I made up
3) edit my novel
4) write article parts for work
5) make b-day thing for Julie
6) figure out something for Jasmine's birthday
7) figure out something for my Mom's birthday (almost forgot about that - jk)
8) have a fun party
9) update blog more often

That is about all. Anyway, on that note I am going to go because my fingers are freezing and I have to sit on them while reading an article so I can get hints about how to write this thing for work (okay, I don't HAVE to sit on my hands, but I am going to). Have a good weekend kiddies and I will try to update more often (hence number 8 above).

Monday, May 11, 2009

Oh Man

So I went to see Star Trek on Friday. I was planning to blog my thoughts about it the night I saw it since I knew a couple of other people weren't going to see it until the next day and I wanted to rub it in their faces. Oh well, I got distracted. It turns out I had a busy weekend. Friday was the movie.
It was so stinking good. It was funny cause every time someone new came on screen everyone in the audience would murmur and you just knew they were saying "Oh, that's so-and-so, he looks just like him!" And they did a really good job casting (I think). Also, I didn't know until Friday morning that Simon Pegg was in the movie and I just have to say that I love him. He is so great in everything I have seen him in, so that was a real treat.

Then Saturday we (Jasmine and I) went up to Tillamook to go shooting and spend some time with Lexie and Barlow. That was super fun. They have the cutest little house up there and every I go there I just want to hang out longer than I have time for. Anyway, then we rushed back and cleaned up in time to go to our friend's BBQ birthday party that he does out at his family's house every year. That was a good time. Then we left that a bit early to go to our other friend's bridal shower/bachelorette party. That was super fun. One of the best bridal shower's I have ever been to (and I have been to a lot!) the bachelorette part was fun too. We went to downtown Portland and asked random strangers to take compromising pictures with Christy (the bride to be). When I say compromising I mean like them giving her a hug or pretending they are proposing. It was fun and most of the strangers we asked to help us out were super good sports about it (thanks random Portland guys!).

Sunday of course was church, and more importantly, mother's day. I love my mother. She is a good person. I really am glad that she is my mom becuase not only do I get to hang out with her and call her whenever I want, but that means I am going to turn out like her, which is awesome. And I am not just saying those things because I know she reads this blog, but rather, I am saying it because I mean it. I even called and chatted with my Grandma Reeder for a bit. She is a special lady as well and I really like her. I am lucky to have such a good family.

Since my family is not close enough I could go hang out with them, Jasmine was kind enough to invite me to have dinner with her family. It was great. They are a fun group of people - they are just really accepting and loving. I felt like one of the family even though I had never met most of them before then. After dinner Jasmine's cousin came to stay with us for the night she Jasmine could do her hair and then she could have company on the way to the hospital tomorrow since their grandpa is having surgery.

Now I am at work again. Boring boring me. There is one funny story from yesterday though. We went to Safeway so Jasmine could get some flowers for her mom and grandma and aunt's. So we are in the parking lot and I had my door open and Jasmine was getting her purse out of the back seat on the driver's side. I had got out and I was leaning back in to grab my phone and I had my hand on the car (stupid stupid girl!) and Jasmine closed the door right on my finger. I just said "Oh F*** open the door please please please please please." Jasmine was like "What? Are you serious?" She couldn't even tell that my finger was in there because there were no problems closing the door. So she opened it again and my finger survived. It was actually really funny. And my finger is only a little sore today - and there isn't even a bruise or anything (yet). I will leave you on that funny note until next time. :D

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Inspiration

I was inspired the other day in the grocery store. I was in line behind this woman and her total came to about $45 or so. Then she handed this huge wad of coupons to the cashier and I saw the total go down down down ... until she ended up paying only about $4 for the entire cart full of stuff. It was amazing. It kinda made me want to coupon clip. We will see about that though. The problem with that is that it takes forethought and planning and usually I am too unmotivated to do either of those things. We'll see.

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Boring Old Me

Well, I haven't posted in a while so I figured I should make an effort, even though it is going to be a sucky post since I am the same boring old me as usual (hence the title). The weekend wasn't bad. The bleed went fine and Skyla's talk was great. I mean, Dr. Skyla's talk went great. Lol. Then on Friday night we went out to McMenamin's (the Hillsdale Pub one) and hung out for a long time to celebrate her success. It was good times.

****Spoiler Alert******
Then Saturday we went to see The Wolverine movie. Now I know that every fan has already posted their thoughts on it and I agree with most of those. I think they did a little poorly for the reason he lost his memory. And seriously, the part where they finally defeat the baddy and he falls with his head all chopped off but his laser eyes still working and making the nuclear tower thing fall apart was pretty ridiculous. I seriously laughed out loud during that scene. My friend next to me must have thought I was having convulsions or something. But all in all I like the movie.

Anyway, then we went to a Mary Kay thingy my friend was doing and that was fun. Then we played some Rock Band. I love that freaking game! Sunday was good too. It was Stake Conference so it was early for once, and the choir sang so it was even earlier! Oh well, we sounded pretty darn good if I do say so myself, so it was all worth it. And we got to be out of church by noon which is just amazingness in and of itself.

Also, the girl who had the Mary Kay thing got these great highlights recently (courtesy of my awesome roommate) so she inspired me to want highlights as well. So last night we did it. We gave me some highlights. It isn't a lot different than before, just slightly lighter on top. It looks sun-kissed. I am liking it. My hairstylist is awesome! If you want to put her services to use just let me know and I will try to hook you up (she lives in Oregon though so ... heads up ... lol).

Friday, May 01, 2009

Blah

I am really sick of being at work. I came in this morning and was here until about 12:30, then I went home and napped for a while, then I came back around 5:00pm and I won't be leaving again until about 1:30 in the am. And then I have to come back in the morning around 7am. I might as well just move in! But, today I was praising my Mom and the fact that I am a lot like her. See, she works nights and she has this amazing ability to fall asleep whenever she needs to. I have the same ability (I am not sure if it is a genetic ability, but it surely is amazing!) Anyway, if I hadn't had that nap this afternoon I would be dying now ... and tomorrow who knows what I would be like! All I can say is, thanks Mom.

Needless to say work is kinda crazy and so my actual life is pretty much non-existent. Oh well, at least tomorrow will be fun. We have a work talent show in the afternoon and I get to dress up like a monkey (we are doing this evolution of a scientist thing - it is a musical odyssey and it should be funny). And then tomorrow night we are going out to celebrate Sklya's defending her thesis (which is why I have to be up so early). It should be a good afternoon/evening. Let me just say that I am so glad that I will have Saturday off and can sleep in like it is going out of style!

On that note, I am going to sign off, because I have nothing else to say.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Lazy ...

As my mother pointed out to me last night, I haven't posted since I got my new phone. I guess I am just too busy talking on said phone to update my blog (although, I don't see her blogging, so I am not really sure if she has any right to complain! lol). But yeah, so here I am attempting to update and not be too dreadfully boring.

Let me start with my weekend. It was good. I watched a lot of Buffy. I saw '17 Again'. I went to a karaoke party at a friend's house. I made a new skirt. I worked because my boss missed her flight. I watched more Buffy (just in case you were wondering we are almost done season 4 - then on to my favorite season!) It was a good weekend all in all.

Last night was FHE and we did a photo scavenger hunt. It was super fun. And we fit 5 people in the trunk of my car! Talk about a spacious trunk! Lucky me for having such a grande trunk. And I learned how to put the seats down to make the trunk really big - yay me! I can't believe I have had the car for over a year now and I just barely learned how to do that. Oh well. Anyway, it was good times. And our team won. Woo.

In sad news, my Mom called just before FHE and told me that my aunt has breast cancer. She is having a mastectomy on May 6 and then she will go in a month later to see if they need to do try doing chemo and radiation therapy. I just want her to know my prayers are with her and I know she can handle whatever trials come her way because she is a strong woman. I just want to also comment here that I have a link on the side of my page ----> that says Breast Cancer Site (or something like that). If you go to that website and click the little button they will donate money to help fund breast cancer research. Go and Click.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

The Reason I Am Awesome!

I know, I know, the thing you have all been waiting for. The reason for my awesome-ness. Drum roll please. I got a new phone. And not just a new phone, but a new phone number. I know, I know, this is a little disappointing and you are now sad you held your breath so long and mad at me for making you do it, but oh well. Lol. If you want my new number email me and I will give it to you (if I haven't already).

It is an LG Voyager. I love it. It is really fun with a touch screen on front and then it flips open to reveal a qwerty keyboard inside so it makes texting super easy. It is a bit heavy and kinda bigger (I thought cell phone sizes were trending downwards, but bot was I wrong - the iPhone changed it all) but I still like it a lot. It is pretty nifty. And it has a 2 megapixel camera, which is better than my old phone camera. Heck, it is almost as good as my actual digital camera since the one I have is really old and only has 3.2 megapixels. Lol. Here are some pictures. Now all I need is someone to call me ...

Monday, April 20, 2009

Games!

I just wanted to tell you all about this game. Basically, just go to this link and then you can create a little 'brute'. You just type in a name, and then you pick a character shape and colors by clicking on the little person and the little paint palette. Then, if you follow the link you will be my apprentice so you will fight me first, then you can go on to fight other little dudes who are on the same level as you and you can level up and stuff, and as you level up you get more cool weapons and skills and stuff. But the best part is that it is all random. You don't have to do anything other than click on the word fight. It has a little automated fight and you can cheer for your little guy and then you can do it over again. And if you don't like how good or bad your thing is turning out you can just create a new one. And as you get apprentice's then you get more experience points as well. You only have 6 fights your first day and then you have 3 fights every day after that. It is really fun. I am enjoying letting the little things loose on each other. :D

I will fill you in on my weekend later!

Friday, April 17, 2009

I Am Awesome!

And I am not going to tell you why. Well, I will, but not for a few days - not until it is official. And then when you do find out you are going to be disappointed because it is not as good of a reason as you all hope. :)

In other news, I had a pretty good night last night. I made some yummy rice krispy squares but with fruity pebbles instead of regular krispies and they are de-lish (but way way more sugary than I would like! whew!) And yes, I have eaten more of them then I would like to admit. Oh well, in the words of my Grandma "I gotta get rid of 'em!" Then I will not have them to eat anymore and I can try to work off the 5 pounds I am going to gain from eating the whole pan in 2 days. Lol. Then I finished the book I was reading (it wasn't that good) and I surfed the internet for a while. And then I was bored because my roomie decided to go visit her family for the night and my other roomie was visiting the neighbors so I decided to go for a walk. It was good. I got my iPod and my cell phone and I went for like an hour long walk. It was good. Then I watched some mindless tv and went to bed. Not the most exciting night, but it was nice. Although I missed my roomie.

Saturday morning we are going to go shooting. That should be fun. I hope it is a little bit warmer than the last time we went. That time it was f-f-f-freezing! When we weren't taking our turns with the guns we would huddle together in a group so that we didn't lose any limbs. Okay, not really, but it was pretty chilly. Also, we are hoping not to sustain any injuries this time. Last time we went my roomie caught the scope from a pretty high-powered rifle in the forehead on the kickback. She still has a perma-bump from it. Sad. Yet, kinda funny.

Tonight I am not really sure what we are doing. Maybe 5 Guys again? Maybe nothing. I know some people from the Ward are going to play Ultimate Frisbee but I abhor that game and won't play it. Plus, I am too out of shape to compete (but even if I was in shape I wouldn't play that stupid game!).

I am still trying to think of an idea for the story I want to write for the competition (I need to hurry so I can have time for writing and editing!) and I am not really sure what to do. I have received some advice (thanks to those who advised) and I know that often true stories are better but I don't have any good stories from my life that I think would work. But I am going to keep thinking about it. I was also thinking about using this idea I got from a dream I had - but that is a horror story (would that make it more of a nightmare?) and I am not sure I am any good at writing horror. I guess it can't hurt to try right? I think I will start the horror story just so I am working on something as I try and think about some other good ideas. Plus, I wrote out my dream when I had it, so I kinda already have a basis. Yippee! This will be fun! (I know, I know, I am a major dork!)

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Again! Oh Noes!

Okay, I know I already posted today, but there is this writing competition that I wanted to enter ... and the deadline is in a month. But the problem is that the entry can only be 4000 words. Uh oh. I am not sure I have anything at all decent that is that short (I don't know if I have anything at all decent that is longer than that either, but I have more recent stuff that is longer). So, if you have a good idea then let me know. I think tonight I am going to have to look through some of my old story ideas and try to find something that is suitable for that length. Wish me luck!

I've Done It Again!

So last night I did that thing where I go up to my bed to 'read' and then I fall asleep and don't wake up until the next morning. It was nice. I had had a headache all day and I was feeling kinda grumpy and sleepy and so I read but I wasn't really into the book all that much so I set it down and fell asleep around 7:30. It was awesome. I woke up all happy and warm this morning and didn't even need my alarm (which was good since I didn't set it last night). I even had enough time to get breakfast from McDonald's before work. I really do enjoy a good Mcy-Dees brekkie.

But I forgot my phone at home. I might have to run home and get it at lunch. But I am not sure. By the time lunch rolls around I figure that the day will be over soon and do I really need my phone and then I just don't go. We will see how I feel about driving anywhere by then. Maybe I will just want to get out of this place for a while.

Anyway ... that is about all I have to say. I am content. :D

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Tired

So, I am really tired today. I got a decent amount of sleep - like 7 1/2 hours - but I still feel really tired. Just like I want to go have a nap. I kinda have a headache so that doesn't help and I am just really lethargic. Maybe I am getting sick from sitting in the stupid cold lab all the stupid time (yes, I am a little bitter about the temperature in here).

I am going to have this be a short post because I am really just here to say 2 things.

1) I almost forgot to do my state taxes. Well, I had done them, but I hadn't mailed them in yet because I wasn't getting much back and I figure I had plenty of time. Oops. Oh well, I sent it out today.

2) I am going to post some pics later from the strawberry things that my roommate and I made after getting the recipe from my old roomie. I might also post a pic of my most recently completed knitting project - that is if we take a pic of it ever. Lol.

That is all. I will post later.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Pity Party

That is what I had last night. A pity party. I wasn't even feeling too bad but I am pretty influenced by other people's emotions - esp when I am right on the edge of those same feelings anyway ... so yeah, my roomie and I had a pity party. And honestly, I don't need to go into details because it will just make me re-throw that party today but if you really want to know the subject you can probably figure it out.

So today my resolve is to not have a pity party! Not that I had planned it yesterday, but you know what I mean. I just want to try to stay a little more upbeat.

I also have lots of things I could work on that could keep me busy and distracted. One of those things is figuring out what I am going to do with my life. Not in a pitiful 'I don't know what I am going to do, poor me' way, but rather in a very research oriented way. Like, I am going to research my options and make a pro/con list and try to decide from there. I also want to work more on my writing. I am never going to be able to submit anything anywhere if I don't work on my writing so that I have something submittable. I think I need a deadline - like during NaNo. That helped a lot. Maybe I will look into taking a writing class at PCC or something. I also have lots of knitting projects I need to work on. Jasmine forwarded me this link the other day and it is amazing. It makes me want to make some amazing knitting project that when people see it all laid out like that they will go 'oh man! that is amazing!' I have something that I have been planning to make for the last year - but I don't have all the kinks worked out so I have been working on other things in the meantime. I will do it eventually.

Anyway, that is all for now - kinda sucky I know. But I do plan on working on these things and then giving updates. Lucky you!

Monday, April 13, 2009

Changes

So, obviously I am going to change my posting promises to 'I will post every weekday, except sometimes on Fridays' because that is all I do anyway. Oh well.

So last Thursday I went to sushi night with some people and I have to say that I enjoyed the sushi more than I ever have in the past. I am not sure if it is just that I know what to get now or if sushi is just growing on me (well, not literally because that is gross) but I really enjoyed it and can't wait for the next time. Mmm.

Friday my roommate and I went to see a movie - we saw 'The Knowing' and it was okay. I am such a movie guesser and I like to try to figure out what is going to happen before it happens - and I am usually right. Just like I was with this movie. There is a line right at the beginning that gives it away for the most part. Jasmine said she was shocked but I wasn't. And the worst part is I can't turn it off - I can't just enjoy a movie and not try to predict what will happen. Oh well I guess.

Then on Saturday we went to 5 Guys again - but this time my clothing all stayed where it was supposed to! Thank goodness! Hallelujah. Also, my roomies made some chocolate truffle stuff that turned out more fudgey than anything, but it still tasted amazing.

Yesterday I made an effort to pay attention in Church. I realized I am not paying attention very much and I am too often leaving early for no reason other than I don't feel like staying - but if I am not paying attention then of course I won't feel like staying because it just seems like I am sitting there for 3 hours for no reason. It was good. I enjoyed all the lessons and talks and I am going to continue to try to make an effort to actually listen.

Then at night we went to a friend's house to eat an Easter dinner. It was really good. I enjoy hanging out with people and eating and chatting and stuff.

All in all, it was a good weekend. And now, back to the week. I am trying to figure out a time when I can go visit my family. I am also trying to figure out a time I can go visit my old roommate who now lives in Kansas. I miss her and I need some time away. Wish me luck in the figuring!

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Again!

So, I missed again! It seems that if I don't take the time at work to post, I am not going to do it when I am at home. And this one is going to be short. The reason I didn't post yesterday was because I had finished my book Poison Study on Tuesday night and I knew there was a sequel and I really wanted to read it RIGHT NOW so I went to Powell's after work on Wed to get it. Jasmine and I went, and we looked around and I got that (it is called Magic Study for anyone who is wondering) and another book (just what I need eh?). Then we came home and watched some Buffy. Then I went to my room to read. I went around 9 thinking, I can read for an hour and still go to bed at a decent time. Well, 10 rolls around and I think 'one more chapter' then 10:30 rolls around and I think 'okay, really one more chapter'. Finally 11 rolls around and I force myself to put the book down (the chapter ending is less cliff-hangery than some have been so it is okay) and go to bed. I am still tired though. Stupid Mandi. I sometimes hate how much I love books. I just want to do too many things! Read, write, watch tv ... the list goes on. Oh well I guess. I can't wait to go read more of the book tonight!

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Bleargh

That is the noise that describes how I felt as soon as I saw my email this morning. When the only thing in your inbox is an email from your boss that is tagged with high importance that is titled 'CALL ME AS SOON AS YOU GET IN' it isn't the greatest start to your day. Well, at least it isn't the greatest start to mine. But oh well, it wasn't as bad as it could've been (and has been in the past) so I will take what I can get.

Last night's FHE turned out really well. We had people bring stuff they wanted to donate to DI and then before taking it all in we did a little fashion show. I was in charge (we have pairs in charge, but my partner had to work - and was absent during the whole planning process) and even though there were way fewer people there than usual it still turned out great and we donated a lot of stuff. I am glad. Makes me feel good to help give people opportunities to serve and get do some spring cleaning in the meantime.

But now I am looking forward to the nothing that I have planned for tonight. Seriously, I just want to watch some Buffy, knit and do laundry. And then read. And then go to bed at a decent time. I don't really want to leave the house. I will if something good comes up, but I kinda hope something good doesn't come up. We will see.

Well, I guess I should go do more work. I need to check on a few things and help settle some statements. And then change. We are going to go to Qdoba for lunch today. It has become a Tuesday tradition since it is double point Tuesday. Yay for points!

Monday, April 06, 2009

The Weekend

So, I didn't post this weekend (obviously). I really do suck at this posting every day thing. The only problem is that if I have something (anything almost) else to do I am going to do that instead of post on my blog. So I was busy ... suck it up. Lol.

What did I do this weekend? Well, on Friday I went to this spa place that I got free sessions at and got a spray tan. I normally wouldn't do that, but it was free and I figured I would see how it turned out. It was okay ... except that I can totally tell it was sprayed on because there are parts where my arm was bent weird and stuff that are white. Also, you put this lotion stuff on your hands and feet so that they don't get all tanned (because that would look silly) but the girl suggested not putting it on the bottoms of our feet because then you might slip and fall. Well, it sprays stuff all over and then when you change positions you step in it and the bottom of your feet turn orange. Also, I obviously didn't do very well on my hands (even though I swear they were really goopy - not sure how I missed parts) so they are a little tanned in weird spots. I don't think I will do it again - I will stick to getting a real tan (but not much of one). After that we just watched more TV and knitted and chatted.

Then on Saturday I slept through the first session of General Conference (I know, I am bad) but I got up and watched the second session. Then Saturday night we went to this guy's house for a karaoke party and it was super fun. I love karaoke - even though I am not that great at it, it's still fun. Not to mention, who cares if you are good - chances are you aren't going to be the worst one there. Even at a party like that I wasn't the worst. And then when it was a song everyone knows everyone sings along anyway so you can barely hear the person actually singing into the mic. Fun times. Anyway, that was a late night.

So Sunday I slept through the first session of Conference again (I know, I am really bad) but then these girls I know had brunch at their house so I went to that and chatted for a bit and then I stayed at their place to watch the last session of Conference. Then we went home for a while and were bored and it was super nice out, so we went over to our friends house and we played a good ole' game of Monopoly. I haven't played that is a long long time. It was fun. Then we hung out for a bit more, but eventually we went home and watched some Buffy on DVD then went to bed.

So, its not like I did anything life changing with my weekend, but it was fun nonetheless. Now it is back to the grind. Blech. But my boss doesn't get back until Wednesday, so that is a plus :) Hopefully I will post again tomorrow.

Friday, April 03, 2009

I Sucketh

I forgot about posting last night until I was lying (laying?) in bed and half asleep and then I thought "screw it" and just conked. I was one tired mamma jamma. And I finished my last book and I have a a couple new ones I could start but I can't decide which one I want to read next, so I haven't started yet, so last night I went to bed without reading. Just watched some Arrested Development, chatted for a bit, then crashed. It was odd. I almost always read right before going to sleep, even when it is really late, so it was a strange feeling. But good. :)

But then I missed posting, so sadness. Oh well. I can still keep going for the rest of April. Because, well let's face it, I can do whatever I want. Anyway, I just had a mini-epiphany about my story (a miniphany if you will) so I think I will go and write some notes about that before I forget.

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

This Day's Post

So, I am sitting here at work, waiting for a phone call, at which I will spring into action and work very hard. But since I can't really stray very far away from the phone I thought I would post now, so that I don't cut it so close to the wire like I did last night. Lol. Today is April fools day - but I haven't been fooled (at least not that I know of) nor have I fooled anyone. I never really have. Except one year when I built up this story to my Mom a few days before that I met this guy and we were going on a date, then on April 1st I sent her an email that started of innocently enough saying we were getting married, but then it went on to say I was going to quit school and support him because he was in a band that was really awesome, and I didn't really need school anyway and that we were moving to some far away country or something like that (I feel like I tried to make it more and more ridiculous the entire way through so that she would figure out it was a joke by the end and not freak out too much). Anyway, I think my bro ruined it accidentally by saying "did you get fooled by that email from Mandi?" or something like that not realizing that she hadn't read it yet. Anyway, it would have been funny had she believed it. I might still have it in my sent mail somewhere ... I should go look for that.

In other news ... oh wait, there is no other news. My life is too boring. Blech. I haven't taken much time editing. I just read. I really want to go on vacation somewhere but my inner self tells me I should make a few other payments before I buy a plane ticket somewhere. Plus, the main place I want to go (home to visit my family) I don't want to go right now because it is still freezing there. Brr. I just want to get away and do things I don't normally do in a place I am not normally at with people I don't normally see. I guess I could do that here, but not as much because I get in a rut. Rut, rut, rut!

I wish they would just call me already!

Day 2

So, today is almost over and I still haven't blogged ...yet. Yeah, I know you thought I was going to forget already, but I didn't. Nice try. Maybe next time.

Not much exciting has happened today. I went to work, came home a little early, watched Buffy (last 3 eps of season 2 - so good) and knitted, went to GoGo (a mongolian grill), watched some Arrested Development. Now it is about bedtime. Just need to post on the old blog and listen to a song that a friend recommended and then that is about it.

I am a bit tired so it is good that I am about to go to bed. I have this problem, where no matter how good my intentions are, I can't seem to go to bed at a decent time. I was planning to go to bed early-ish today but now it is 11:30 at night and here I am typing away. Stupid stupid girl. Oh well. I guess I will learn sometime. Or else I will fall asleep right after work someday and have one of those evenings where I come home and sleep from then until the next morning. Either way I guess the problem will be taken care of. Haha.

I have been thinking about my future a lot lately (shocking isn't it? Oh wait, no it's not, that is all I ever think/talk about anymore!) and I was looking at possible schools today. Grad schools, optometry schools, etc. Part of the problem is that I didn't really try my hardest in my undergrad and so I don't really think that I will be getting into any post-secondary educational programs that I want. I know, I know, it can't hurt to apply ... but dude ... what if I fail?

Okay, I will stop. And go to bed. I think ....

Monday, March 30, 2009

Posting is Fun

Well, I know it has been a long time since I posted last, but I have been busy darnit! Doing what? You ask. Well, knitting and watching Buffy on DVD, that's what. So suck it up. And so this morning I was checking all my blogs and I was sad because hardly any of my people updated since I last checked. Just because I check obsessively doesn't mean I shouldn't be rewarded. Anyway, again I realized I was being hypocritical so I decided that this month (April obviously, since March is almost over) I am going to try to post every day. Because, let's face it [insert title here].

Lol. I am a dork. I can't promise they will be good posts, but they will be posts nonetheless. I mean, this is about the total of this post, but it better than nothing right?

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

My New Favorite Website ...

... ravelry.com

I know that it sucks that you have to sign in, but you just have to sign up to be sent an invitation and they will send it to you in about a week. They have tons of awesome patterns and stuff for knitting. Woot!

Also, writersdigest.com.

Yay for the internet!

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Stupid Klutzy Unlucky Day

Well, this is going to be short and sweet - I hope (and when I say sweet I mean it will be sweet for you - it wasn't for me).

To start the story of my awesome day I will need to mention that a week ago, after my friend's wedding reception that I went to, I was hanging out with my friends and one of my friends swooshed his nerf sword near me and I was still wearing a dress from the reception . Anyway ... my skirt flew up and I kinda flashed my friends.

Fast forward to today. I had to take my car in to get serviced and I was later than I meant to. Then we went to go out to lunch while we were waiting for my car to be finished and we went into this one restaurant and the staff seemed to have no idea what was going on - so we left and tried to find this other place. We called free 411 to see if there was one of what we wanted in the area - but that stupid phone number sucks. Anyway, after driving around for like an hour we finally found a place to eat (not the one we were looking for).

Then we went to another wedding reception. Afterward we went to dinner at this place - I was still wearing my skirt and these cute boots with heels. Anyway, the floor was kinda slippery and my heels are kinda spiky and I almost fell on the floor. Then when we were leaving my skirt fell right off. Seriously, it fell right down around my knees and my butt was exposed to the entire restaurant. A restaurant that has big glass windows all the way around it. At least one guy was looking right at me and laughed his head off. Luckily I was wearing spanx at the time, so my butt wasn't totally hanging out - but they were nude coloured so it looked like my butt. Gah!!

I then changed and we had a good laugh. Then we had to go to Fred Meyer's to look for knitting needles. As we were walking through the place I tried to pick up a set of needles and the whole thing it was hanging on fell. Then as we were leaving there was a candle display and I dropped one of those on the ground and it broke all over the place (yeah, it was one of those ones that was in a glass jar).

Anyway, I need to go to bed and hopefully sleep off my clumsiness.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Trip Time

Basically, I really want to go somewhere or do something that is not be here. My friend and I want to go to Kelly Clarkson on June 11th in Utah - but it is way cheaper to buy 4 tickets than to just buy 2, so we want to find someone else to go with us. Also, I have to check that I can get the time off since my boss will be in Pitt/DC at the time of the concert. I guess I could always find a diff concert to go to but Utah is always nice since I have a bunch a friends and family there so I could kill two birds with one stone so to speak. But I really want to get away. I was thinking about visiting my friend in Texas for a while there, but the other problem is that I am broke and cheap. Gah. Any suggestions on fun things to do/ places to go that aren't too spendy?

In other news, I have been trying to do some editing on my NaNo story, but I keep getting all sidetracked by books that I am reading. First it was the Harry Potter series, which I finished, but then I made the mistake of going to Powell's twice in as many days and buying a total of 5 books (they were almost all sale books and really cheap so I didn't have to spend a lot of money) but now I have all those books calling my name and so I have to try hard to actually edit instead of read. I already finished one of the books though - it is called Interworld by Neil Gaiman and Micheal Reaves. It was really good (and an easy read which is always nice too) and I would recommend it if anyone is looking for something good to read. Maybe I need to find a writing contest with a deadline so that I have a goal date to be done something by to keep me motivated. That doesn't always work ... but it can't hurt to look. We will see.

Anyway, that is all for now - I have to go do some work and then I am taking my car in for an oil change and some other routine maintenance crap. Woo. Lucky me. More money that I get to spend on fun stuff like that. Gah. I have a love hate relationship with money.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

The Weekend

So, Friday night I went to a friend's wedding reception. It was fun - small and quick and fun. I like weddings, because I love seeing my friends who get married when they are so happy (and she did look beautiful and happy) but I hate them because of the inadequacy I feel and how I feel like I will never have one. Seriously. Whatever.

After that we went to hang out with this friend of ours and we stayed over at his place until late just chatting and hanging out and even playing the Wii a bit.

Then on Saturday I had to go to work for a bit in the morning, then I came back home and watched a couple shows on Hulu (love that website!) I just want to insert here how much I really like the show 'Dollhouse'. I gave it a try because it is Joss Whedon - who created some of my favorite shows ever (Firefly, Buffy, Angel) - but I keep watching it because it is interesting. You should watch it if you get a chance. I also watched the new Office. Hilarious.

Then we went to visit some friends who live in Tillamook area. It was great. I love those guys. They are really cool and down to earth and just really good at making you feel comfortable and accepted, no matter what.

Now we are back and I am just waiting to get in the shower so I can get ready for church.

Overall - good weekend. :D

Thursday, March 05, 2009

Contact

So, I need to wear corrective lenses. I have worn glasses for the last about six to either months because I was too busy (and lazy) to go get new contacts at the eye doctor. But I finally went! Yay! I remember now why I love having contacts. They don't fall off my face like my stupid glasses, I can wear any pair of sunglasses I feel like, and mostly, I just feel like I look better. Not that my glasses were terrible, they suited me and looked fine, but I like not having them so much more. Although, it has been so long that the first day whenever I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror or something I thought something was missing. Even now I still try to push up my glasses once in a while so they don't fall off my face. And apparently the glasses hid my eyes a little since I have had about three people so far ask me if the contacts I got were colored because my eyes look so blue.

In other news, nothing much is going on. I finished that ridiculously boring course, and now I can x-ray your animals. I keep saying small animals, but heck, if you brought me a horse I could x-ray that too. I have never actually used an x-ray machine and I don't really have access to one, but darn it, I am certified to do it! It was a bit ridiculous that I had to take the course since I am just using a DEXA scanner, which is not really the same as x-rays and way less complicated (you position the animal and then click 'go') so I didn't really need to sit there for the full 20 hours. Oh well, I did what I had to and now it is over with. Whew.

I am thinking about getting a new phone, but I am on a family plan with my friend. I am torn now about whether or not I want to get my own account or just continue as I have been. The family plan has benefits - such as if I ever move out of the country I could probably not pay the cancellation fee, but just pay the $10 a month for the rest of the time and call it good. But then on my own would be good because I would get the new every two service they have, and also I would be able to use my employer discount that I can only use if I am the main person on the account. I am still thinking about it anyway. Give me any thoughts or suggestions about which phone you would get if it were you and put in your opinion about the whole own account thing!

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Scolded

So, I have been scolded by my friend about how often I update my blog - which isn't very often, I know (although, as far as I can tell, said friend doesn't update her blog very often either, so she is just being a hypocrite lol). Anyway, she is right though - I haven't been updating. I have actually opened to this new post page every day for the last week and then not been able to think of anything blog-worthy and so I just navigated away, sans new post. I guess I just think that my blog should be somewhat interesting so that my readers (all four of them) aren't too bored with it. Although, they might be more bored with no post than a boring new post, I am not really sure. Either way ... I am kinda getting off track here from what I was saying. My point is that she is right, and I know it, so I am going to make an effort to post more - boring post be damned!

So, I have to go to this x-ray class for the next three days instead of work and I am not really looking forward to it. It will be good to have the certification but it will not be fun to sit through the class (I don't think anyway, I could be surprised). And to top it all off, it is all the way out in Clackamas - which is like an hour from here. And it is at 8 in the morning, so I have to fight rush hour traffic. This is really going to suck. Esp since I live about 7 minutes from my job, so I when I have to fight rush hour traffic all it does is make my trip 15 minutes instead of 7, so not really a big deal.

And the worst part is that I can't even like read a book or anything fun like that while I am traveling. I guess I could get a book on cd, but I have issues with those unless you are taking a really long drive, 'cause I don't like to have to try to find a good place to stop and then sometimes if I can't hear it over car noises, and then if I don't pay attention for a bit I get confused. Anyway, in my opinion it isn't a long enough drive for a book on cd. Good think I like driving.

Also, I did end up finishing the ending of my novel. So now I have a completed first draft. It isn't long, but as I was reading through it I noticed lots of places I need to add things in and change things around and all that fun stuff, so I have quite the editing journey ahead of me, but at least I have the entire thing finished. That is quite the accomplishment I think. The last part that I wrote ended up being about 4000 words ... but I was getting kinda tired at the end there so I may need to add some stuff to it once I flesh out other parts and make it more comprehensible. So, after I get time to work on editing (I think that will be after I finish reading Harry Potter - I am on book 5) I will be looking for a few good editors. I already have a few people in mind ... but I will probably want anyone who is willing to read it. So yeah ... if you like fantasy let me know. :)

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Figured It Out

So, I never really finished the story that I wrote for NaNo. I finished the required 50,000 words to become a winner of the contest, but I never ended the story that I wrote. And then I abandoned it for a while and couldn't even remember what happened. So, I just re-read the whole thing and I have good news - I figured it out. I know exactly how it is going to have to end and the way to get there. And I don't think that it is too obvious (I hate books that are super predictable) but I guess I will have to wait to find that one out. Anyway, I am super excited to get off work today and go home and work on it! Woot. I will let you know how it goes once I am done. And how long the finished product is.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Friday the Thirteenth

So, I have always considered the number 13 my lucky number. I am not sure why - I think it is because when I was in elementary school our intramural teams all had to make these huge posters. We were the Black Stallions and we won that year (I think). Anyway, the poster was pretty nice - it had a picture of a Black Stallion on it that we painted (I am pretty sure JR did the most of it - how strange we were on the same team eh?) and then all the names of the people on the team. And it was huge. To win the poster at the end of the year we all had to pick a number between 1 and 100 and whoever was the closest to whatever someone drew out of a hat got the poster. I picked 13 and won. Go me.

So, now when days like this roll around - Friday the 13th - I always think it is going to be my lucky day. It never really is of course. Not that I noticed. But it is never a really BAD day. It is usually just a day. But still, it makes me happy to think it is the 13th and a Friday. And I actually get tomorrow off! Woot. I have to work on Sunday (which sucks) but I get Sat off so that is nice. Maybe I will do something other than just sleep and read my book. We will see though. I kinda like reading and sleeping.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Push Me Pull Me

So, my life has been a bit crazy lately. Who's isn't, right?

On that note, we were chatting at work the other day about why people make decisions in their lives and my boss said something that I really liked (she was quoting it from someone who said something to her about 12 years ago - I just don't know his name or I would give him credit - but chances are he was quoting someone too so I don't feel too bad). Anyway, she said that people have two things that drive them to make decisions - a push and a pull. If you don't have both elements, you will never make a decision. You have to have something pushing you away from your current situation and something else pulling you to your next situation. For example, if you are going to move you need a reason to leave and a reason to go where you are going.

I think that is my major problem - I have the push but I don't feel like I have a pull. I want to leave my job, but until I get a job somewhere else I can't leave. Mind you, I know I should be helping out a bit by, I don't know, actually applying for other jobs (right Mom?) but that doesn't change the fact that there is no pull. So I am on a quest for a pull right now.

Sunday, February 08, 2009

Sunday Secrets

What a provocative title, eh? Too bad this isn't going to pan out into anything interesting. I just check the Post Secret website all the time and that is what he titles his new posts.

Anyway, Costa night turned out really good. I only made 2 pounds of the pork, so there weren't a lot of leftovers, so I think next time I am going to make more. Mmmm.

-Break-

And now it is no longer Sunday. See how lazy I am?

As for more info the make this blog not so dull. I had a weird dream a few nights ago. I dreamt that I had a job interview at Merck (where my friend who left my lab went to work), except it was a huge group interview. Seriously, there were like 50 people there! And most of them were these young recent college grads. At the beginning we were all intermingling with the current staff and everyone kept thinking I was part of the staff. Anyway, then we sat down and this woman was giving us instructions and everyone else was talking during the whole thing and fooling around. I felt like I was in a high school english class or something. It was nuts. We were then supposed to go to lunch with the current employees and I asked my friends if I could get a ride with him. That was when I woke up. I am not sure if that means that I am afraid that I am not good enough and I am going to get beat out by some recent college grad or if it means that I think I deserve at job at Merck instead of the rcgs. Whatever. It was interesting anyway. My friend said it was pretty high tech over there and so my mind's adaptation of that was the most interesting part.

This dream reminded me of my 'scary' dream from the holidays. I really want to make that into a good story. I might have to do a bit of editing since the 'big bad wolf' thing isn't really that scary, but I am going to work on it to see if I can make something at least a little tense out of it. Wish me luck.

I have also been reading my story from NaNoWriMo over again so that I can do some editing and let me tell you, it needs a lot of work. And I am only on page 30 or so. Gah. There is a lot more I need to add and change around and stuff like that. It needs work. But I have been distracted from working on it because I started reading the Harry Potter series again. It is so good. I laugh out loud frequently and my roommate thinks I am nuts. She said I was the only person she knew who actually laughed out loud when reading books. But my grandpa does it when he reads comics so I guess it is hereditary. Whatever.

Anyway, I guess I should go. The dishes are calling my name. And the last like ten pages of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Yeah, yeah, I know. Why would I only leave ten pages? I was trying really hard to finish it before FHE, but to no avail. I had to get ready. We were barely on time as it was, if I had finished we def would have been late. And I don't like being late!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Wednesday ... I think ...

So, basically I am not sure what day of the week it is ever. Welcome to my life.

So, today at work I was not working as hard as I should have been but instead I was looking up things that I could potentially do with my life. And so as I was doing this I looked up Grad Schools and I found the greatest website. You could search for schools based on different areas of Neuroscience (like Behavioural or Imaging) and then they would bring up all the ones that have those programs. Then you can click on the school and it would tell you program info, admissions info, cost, financial help information - all sorts of good things. It was a great website. I wish I had known about it before. I am not sure I want to go to Grad School but that is a great resource. I have been looking up other types of schooling too - Optometry school and PA school and stuff and they have websites like that but they just list the schools and you have to go to the school site on your own and figure out the stuff you want to know. Anyway, I was impressed with the site. Mandi is happy now.

Well, mostly. I still don't know what I want to do and I have to apply and then once I decide I have to take the test that I need to and then I have to decide what to do from there. So, I really don't have any more decision made than I did before but I have a new resource at my fingertips.

In other news, the local Costa Vida closed a few weeks ago, or months or something like that. Anyway, it was traumatizing. I find myself craving it every day and my friends keep saying things like "I could really go for some Costa right now!" which makes me want it more. So last night I decided to look up some recipes. I put some pork in the marinade last night, then tossed it in the crock pot today and we are going to make some rice as well and have burritos. I hope it turns out good. I am excited! I will post again later telling you all about it!

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eater

So, I talked to my mom on the phone today and she told me that my last post was boring, and a long time ago so I have decided to post again. Something better I hope. I was thinking I was going to cheat though and post another excerpt of my novel since I still have nothing interesting to write ... but I have been away from it for so long I am not sure what a good part to post is. Obviously if I am going to do that I am going to have to re-read the thing first. And then I am going to have to do massive editing because I know it is going to suck (which is why I haven't read it yet - I am afraid of the suckiness). Anyway, I plan to do that soon since I want to finish it and then do a lot of editing.

Moving on. The reason that I don't have much to post is that all I do is work. Work work work. I had to do a thing last night that I had to be at work until 1am. Ugh. Then I had to be at work at the usual time this morning. It was fun. It reminded me of my 4am custodial days - barely sleeping, then going to work, then having a nap, then going to work, then barely sleeping, then going to work. Boring. Anyway, I did manage to finish the book I was reading - but now I have to read the next one in the series. It is a trilogy called Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen by Garth Nix. It is really good so far. I just finished the second one. I really like his writing style most of all - it keeps you interested without getting too plot driven and yet there is enough action to not be bored. I think I just repeated myself. Oh well, I hope you get it.

Anyway, so that is all I have been up to lately - reading and working. And sleeping which I love! Love love love! Maybe I will do something interesting this weekend. I know that Sat is supposed to be our Ward talent show which should be interesting. I only know of one talent that someone is doing that I saw on the sign up sheet - this girl is reading and excerpt of the novel that she is writing. And she is a weird girl. We will see how it goes.

Anyway, that is enough for now. I hope this wasn't as boring as the last post (I don't think it was) and I will be posting a cheater post once I start re-reading. You got lucky this time!

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Well then ...

So, I am being a bad girl today - I am not going to go to choir practice. I should but I really don't feel like it. So I am not. Tra la la.

Yesterday was a good day. We went shooting out past Banks at this little place that I couldn't get back to if I wanted to. We had a lot of guns and ammo and we shot targets such as milk jugs and pop cans and we also shot clay pigeons. My friend Adam had this 7MM rifle that was my favorite thing to shoot of all the guns we had. It was powerful and had a pretty good kickback on it but it was fun. I think the main thing I liked was the feel of it and the fact that it had a really good scope on it.

I am not really in the mood to write a long post right now. I just don't know what to say. I have a lot of things that I am thinking about, just nothing worth writing. I have been trying to do better at asserting myself - and I am doing okay. Not stellar. But okay. The thing is that I still am worried about offending people. Which is okay I guess. I will still work on it.

Well, that is all for now (I told you that I didn't want to write a long post). Bye for now. Sorry this was such a boring post.

Saturday, January 03, 2009

The Power of Resolve

So, I am happy to report that I accomplished my goal last year - I flossed more than I did the year before. Of course, that wasn't hard, since I never really flossed the year before that so I only had to floss a few times before it was accomplished. But then I went to the dentist just about a month ago and when I got my cleaning done the hygienist mentioned I should floss more (do they ever NOT have to mention that to anyone?) so I did. The last few weeks of December I flossed quite a bit actually.

This year I don't have any goals like that. I am of the opinion that New Year's resolutions are kinda silly. If there is something I didn't do before now, why do I think that suddenly I am going to do it now? It isn't like I got some magical burst of resolve that made me want to change my life. I think sometimes people do have that happen - but it is almost never at New Years. Like, usually when someone wants to lose weight it is because they realize how big they looked at so-and-so's wedding, or they had some sort of health scare. Same with quitting smoking and most of the other really common New Year's resolutions people have.

But I did have a moment like that recently (it was on New Years actually). You see, upon meeting me most people think I am outgoing and fun (at least I think they do) and a word that you would probably not use to describe me is shy. And I don't think that is the word I would use either, but I am definitely very low on self-confidence. And I hate that about myself. I hate that I feel like I can't say what I want to or do what I want because of the way I will look to others. It isn't just physical self-consciousness either - I hold my tongue a lot because I don't want others to judge me. I have tried hard not to develop an opinion because then I can honestly say "I don't care, whatever you want." And to an extent these things are okay. It is good to be a pleaser sometimes - it makes me happy to see those I love happy. But sometimes I shouldn't have to hold my tongue because I am afraid of being judged. If you don't like me because I told that stupid joke or because I am not really very eloquent or because (heaven forbid) I have an opinion that is different than yours, then screw you. At least that is the attitude I would like to develop somewhat.

The main problem that comes with being a pleaser is that no one really gets to know the real me, because I don't let it out. I play the role that I think you want me to play. If you need someone to be funny with, then I will do that; if you need someone to talk to, I will listen; if you need someone to talk to you, I can do that too (boy can I!) - but it is never about what I need. My roommate tells me that it is okay to let out my emotions more and I think she is right. Why is it that I can't have emotions? I can't let myself show that you hurt me, because then I might be vulnerable.

So, after all that rambling I guess the real goal here is this: I need to be myself. Fear be damned. Consequences be damned. And I am not just doing this because of New Years, that is just a serendipitous coincidence. Courage, help me out here because I am going to need you.