The Battle Inside My Brain

There is a constant epic battle in my brain. I think it can be best likened unto the Batman vs. Superman personas.

On the one hand, there is Batman. He is awesome. He is up to date on all the new, hip, technological stuff. He is cynical, sarcastic, and an all-around badass. He's dark and mysterious, keeps secrets, and carries some serious emotional baggage. He has few friends because he basically hates everybody. But despite his Aspergers-like qualities, he makes a pretty functional superhero.

Then there is Superman. He is also awesome. He is a little removed from modern-day technologies (he still uses a typewriter). He is sweet, kind, and genuinely concerned for others. He's bright and happy, but still has to keep some secrets, and really only struggles with the fact that he's not actually human. He has a few more friends than Batman because he actually cares about people- even Lex Luther. Everyone loves this guy- and who wouldn't?

So. Imagine both of these guys living inside my redhead. They duke it out all the time. Sometimes one actually wins, and for a while they rule my cerebellum. (Imagine the poor other guy who lost in a heap in the corner of my head with "K-O" written on their forehead). Now, what exactly is it that they are battling about? Basically their inner essence. Sometimes I think I would like to be the type of person that is totally into cyberspace and iphones- someone that knows all the cool in-and-outs of my information-crazed generation. But, for some reason, when I start getting into this stuff, I totally turn into Batman. I get all cynical and sarcastic and removed from humanity. Then, as I realize how much I actually hate the computer, cell phone, ipod, and such-the-like, that I try to shove it all away. Then, I become like Superman- I start liking life again. I am nicer and have more fun.

So. Why would I want to even try to get in touch with my technological side if I know that Batman beats up Superman? You're guess is as good as mine. Like I said, there're two dudes living inside my redhead. I can't really control them. They just keep fighting till one wins for a while. It's super frustrating and I really wish that Superman would go ahead and just win.

Maybe it would be worth it to slip Superman a tazer, just to keep Batman at bay.

So then, here is my question: is it really THAT cool to be up-to-date on stuff? I mean, does it make me a better person if I know how to use Twitter and get constant, annoying tweets on my iphone every 8 seconds? Does it matter that I haven't seen every funny clip there is on youtube, or that I download music and movies on sketchy foreign websites? Does it even matter that I don't have google at my fingertips... or in my pocket? Apparently, Batman thinks it's pretty darn important.

I'm not going to lie, I like it when I don't have my phone on me or facebook up. I like calling people instead of texting. I like telling people my stories before I blog about them. I like having face-to-face conversations. I like going outside instead of watching movies or youtube.

Maybe I was just meant for the country life.

Happiness is...
~ Going a day without my phone
~ Super lazy saturdays
~ Making brunch for my family
~ Seeing a whole bunch of friends all together
~ Strawberry Days rodeo
~ Seattle-like weather
~ Record shopping with RayRay
~ Having Superman win

"I'm not a prophet or a stone aged man, just a mortal with potential of a superman. I'm living on."
~ David Bowie

Psych!

According to all calculations, the dreaded "White Envelope" should have been in my mail box today. But, of course Calculations + the Lord's timing = more waiting.

I can wait! I can do this! Bring it on! (Maybe saying this is giving me bad juju?)

On a better note, the Strawberry Days carnival was way fun! Full of vomit-inducing rides, strawberries and cream, caramel apples, and rain. Lots of rain. I've never been to a legit carnival before, so it was a great late-childhood experience! Though, I wish I had the stomach of a ten year old again, I probably could've done more rides if I had one.

Also, one of my favorite patients came in the other day wearing this shirt over her prego-ness. I thoroughly appreciated her sense of humor!



Happiness is...
~Strawberries and cream
~Paying for rides with paper tickets
~"Up" :)
~House, MD
~Blueberry pancakes
~Weekends

“O you who believe! seek assistance through patience and prayer; surely Allah is with the patient. (The Cow 2.153 )”
~ The Quran

Remembering That I Like Country Music

*Gasp!*

I know. Sometimes I hate to admit that sometimes I come to the realization that I really do like country music. And, until last night, I had forgotten again (I go through phases.)

Last night I helped Twin and her soon-to-be-hubby, Log, build and finish some made-from-real-log home decorations. They were so awesome! Picture frames, candle holders, signs (Log, I think I'm going to have you make me one :) ), etc. Twin and I were in charge of binding the candle holders together with barbed wire- which, by the way, is really hard to bend. But, by the end of it, they looked quite amazing if I do say so myself.

Anyway, while we were doing all of this, The Country Couple (aka Log and Twin) put on their oldies country music station. And guess what? I danced, that's what.

Yes, dear friends. I remembered that country music is really fun! It brought back memories of road trips with Twin, country dancing with Jordan and Ty, my first apartment of roomies- CareBear, Kimerz, and Ashby- and for some reason, it made me think of making fresh apple cider when I was 6.

So now that I've reverted back to listening to country, I have to curb my mockery of it. *sigh* Giving up an easy target to tease is hard for me, but until I get sick of country music again, I suppose I'll just have to let it go.

Here are some favorites of mine:
~ Chris LeDoux
~ George Strait
~ Willie Nelson
~ Elvis Presley
~ Miranda Lambert

And some "country mixed with a little something else" favorites:
~ Janis Joplin
~ Brandi Carlile

Now that I've accepted country music back into my life, I think this summer will be extra awesome.

Let the good times start-a-rollin!

Happiness is...
~ Playing with Log and Joe
~ Being creative- I made a bow out of barbed wire!
~ Listening to some country music :)
~ Hoping for the best
~ Pink and brown scrubs
~ Realizing sleeping in isn't all its cracked up to be
~ Going on walks
~ Jumping in the pool with your clothes on

"Some folks don't realize that it's a well know fact
Cowboy's and hippies ain't never got along
Was it just coincidence or some weird act of fate
That brought these two together on the road"
~ Chris LeDoux

Getting Used to Summer

I think I've finally settled down into the mood of Summer Vacation. After the semester ended I kept thinking, "What the devil am I going to do with all of this free time? I don't have to study, I don't have to read anything in particular, I don't have to whisk off to classes... I'm going to go crazy!"

Turns out, however, that I'm doing just fine.

Miraculously I have found many things to occupy myself... like anything I want. I've visited long lost friends, read books that I've had sitting on my shelf since last summer, gone shopping (sorta, you know me), and have watched LOTS of House. I think I could get used to this type of lifestyle- the one where you get to do anything your heart desires :)

So what does my heart desire? Well let me tell you:
~ Go to the Heaton Ranch with Twin
~ Party it up on Twin's wedding day (woot!)
~ Travel to a faraway land call California for a weekend (sunscreen included)
~ Hunt for Trilobites
~ Travel to another faraway land called D.C.
~ Read the rest of the books that are sitting on the shelf unread
~ Watch through season 4 of House
~ And to top it all off, travel to a faraway (or not-so-faraway) land and tell people about Jesus.

Sound like a pretty legit summer? That's because it is! If any of you wish to accompany me, add something to the list, or whatever, let me know! I'll try and pencil you in :)

Happiness is...
~ Family Sorta-Reunions
~ Finding shirts at Forever21 (sometimes it's impossible)
~ Temple Nights
~ Having a Pretty Sweet Summer Lineup
~ Learning Something New- Digital Photography- Thanks Amy!
~ Games with Dude and Dude-lia
~ Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies *YUM*
~ Meeting New Peeps- in the hot tub!?

"All summer single, I wanna be what I wanna be.
Yeah, all summer single, I'm gonna have
what I can see.
All summer single, yes, I don't mind, ya know.
All I want is a good time."
~Billy Idol

Behavioral Science Fail

Over the past two weeks I've been putting together my academic plan for finishing my degree, plus getting in all of the classes I need for the MCAT, so that when I come back from my adventure, I'll be set to go. I have had to meet with three separate councilors to do this, and I have had some of the funniest, and most surreal experiences from them.

I'll start with the "surreal" councilor first: Mr. H (Or Doctor, as he likes to be called) is my GE adviser. I had to visit him to get the contact info for the Pre-Med councilor, and just to ask him what best way to go about my business was. As we got talking, and I told him my intentions, he proceeded to try and convince me that, because I was getting older (and the older you are when doing school the more likely you are to drop out) that I should forget about my dreams of serving others in far-away places and just plug away through school. He said that he didn't want to see such a good student with great potential to be robbed of her chance to become more than... nothing. If I leave now, I may never get my chance to be a doctor.

I'm not making this conversation up. It really happened!

I endured through his pep talk, relatively calmly and outwardly happily too. Though, I was a bit irked. I kept thinking in my head "I asked for you to point me in the right direction, not to give me your opinion". Oh well, I got it anyway. But, I've decided to take what he said and twist it into opinions I would have actually appreciated. Here they are:

1)I cannot be guaranteed a life devoid of death, divorce, loss, disabilities, and accidents, therefore, I should get the education I need to be able to provide for myself- especially in something that I love and am passionate about.
2)I have talents and abilities that are wanted and useful, and may help to make this world a better place.
3)You. Are. Awesome. ("Why, thank you.")

Now for the funny one: Councilor Number Two- Ms. Behavioral-Science-Failure. For sort, we'll call her MBSF. MBSF graduated with her BS degree in Behavioral Science/Psychology from UVSC about two years ago. She now works for the department at UVU as a Behavioral Science councilor. She's a nice lady, she really is. But you would've thought that she would have picked up a thing or two from slaving through 4 years of psych classes. This woman is quite confused,and the worst listener alive.

Take one: "Wow, those are beautiful pictures on your wall! Did you take them yourself?" I said to MBSF pointing to the kodak pics on the adjacent wall.

"Yeah, I did. They're from a trip to Guatemala I took last year." She says looking at them too.

"I love the black and white one with the old fence..."

"Actually, I didn't take that one."

"What?"

"Actually, I didn't take the one at the top either... or the one in the middle... or the four on the left hand side. Let's see,I think I took the one on the far right corner."

"Uhhh.." I then decide it's just not worth it to continue the conversation.

Take two: "So, I was wondering if you had any suggestions of some psychology classes that might be beneficial for me to have learned for medical school." I say as we're finishing up my degree evaluation.

"I really can't say, I really don't know anything about medical school, I suppose you would want to take Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy..." She says to me with a very confused look on her face.

"No, no. I don't mean science classes, I wouldn't ask you about those. I mean psychology classes."

"Like I said, I think you should probably look into chemistry and biology. But you'd want to talk to the science department about that..."

"No, really. I know. I'm not concerned about those, I already know. I mean, do you think that any of these psychology classes would benefit me to have taken before med-school?" I say, pointing to the course listings.

"Maybe I should help you set up an appointment with the science department..."

She's looking at me like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Ugh. Never mind!"

I pick up my thinks and walk away thinking "How ironic."

Happiness is...
~Putting together a plan
~Feeling pretty darn good about that plan
~Knowing I'm making the right decisions for me
~New scrubs
~Waffle Crisp cereal
~Mr. Magoriums Wonder Emporium
~Slumdog Millionaire
~Ending another semester with flying colors
~Cooking a great meal- healthy too!

“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.”
~Robert McCloskey

Life is Like Longboarding Down Provo Canyon

Spring is finally hear my friends! And this morning I woke up and had the strong impression that I needed to visit my sanctuary: Provo Canyon. And anyone knows that, when the canyon call for you, you go. Immediately.

While cruising up and down the canyon path, listening to the sounds of spring, letting my mind float to whatever subjects it wanted to visit, and enjoying the warm sun and the cool air kissing my skin, I though of this:

Life is a lot like longboarding down Provo Canyon:

~The happiest moments of the day are the times when you let the wind through your hair, and smile because there's nothing that can bother you in that moment.

~Don't let the bumps in the path stop you, just ride them out.

~On that note, the bumps are some of the funnest parts.

~If you totally eat it, laugh at the fact that your bleeding and keep going.

~That sharp turn between Nun's and Glenn Canyon comes a lot faster than you think, you gotta be prepared!

~Bikers are mean jerkfaces. But just because you know that you'll run into them doesn't make you want to avoid the canyon.

~In fact, you are extra nice to everyone on the path just to prove that longboarders are better than bikers.

~The canyon is never a punishment, it is always a reward.

~Longboarding down Provo Canyon is all about the experience: the sounds of the wheels on the asphalt and the rush of the river, the cool air, the birds chirping,the tingle from the vibration through your feet, and all those damn bugs getting plastered to your face.

~Some of the best memories are made when the sun is down and the moon is full.

~Longboarding down Provo Canyon makes your friendships stronger, and your solitary moments more fulfilling.

So, those were my thoughts this morning. I don't know what I would do without the little bits of time I get to spend in the canyon. There is nothing better than to have something in your life that makes you smile for the sake of smiling while your doing it. I think I'll go again tomorrow, anyone want to join me?

Happiness is...
~ Longboarding down Provo Canyon
~ Feeling the sun on my skin
~ Spring time spring time spring time
~ Billy Joel- And So It Goes
~ Having a shower that put out hot water

"In every heart there is a room, a sanctuary safe and strong."
~ Billy Joel

Dazzled

As always, The Velour has brought to the world another dazzling artist. Her name is Sayde Price:



I'm officially a life-long fan. A jaw-dropping beauty of a voice, one that I'm quite envious of. I pretty much just completely love her!

Happiness is...
~ The Devil Whale
~ Sayde Price
~ RuRu
~ Springtime in March
~ Having class canceled
~ Watching for shooting stars

"If apathy's going to kill them they're dead."
~ Sayde Price

They Are Among Us.

This has been a weekend for decapitating my faith in humankind. Here are three instances within the last two days:

Uno.) I was walking to my car from the Student Center at the UVU, listening to the conversations of people that I passed (because I'm obnoxious like that). This is one of the quips I overheard:

"...I'm going to be shot down for another job. They're doing the background check today, and when they find out about my FELONY, they'll tear up my resume for sure..."

Uhm. Yeah.

Dos.) I was meeting with my research group, discussing which faculty member we were bringing on board to be our "mentor" (because you have to have a professor's name to publish research). Merlin, the guy who is leading our group, is telling us that we need to be careful of which faculty members we let know about our research at all. This, he explains, is because professors are known to steal research information, measures, tests, and assessments and sell them.

"Are you serious?" I ask.

"Yeah," says Merlin, "I made an assessment to measure depression last year, I let Prof. So-And-So know about it, he stole it and sold it to practitioners in California. It hasn't even been tested for validity! It's undergraduate research! And there's nothing I can do about it."

Who would've known that there was an Underground for psychology research? Apparently I'm a bit naive.

Tres.) At the end of the day at PC, a couple of us were chatting in the corral, unaware of the spectacle that had just waltzed in. Jon walks up to me and loudly makes small talk and then very quietly says to all of us,

"Check out the woman with the blond hair over by the gate..."

So, of course, we all glance over. There, standing just 20 feet from us is this "woman", whom I'm not convinced at all is a woman, that, I kid you not, looks like she could be part of the band KISS. She had a huge blonde wig on that made her head and body look like an 80's Bratz doll, and her entire face was painted! She had put white make-up on her entire face and neck, like a geisha, and had precisely painted her lips bright red. She had fake eyelashes on that resembled black toothpicks springing from her lids and bright purple eyeshadow that reached past her drawn on eyebrows.

"Good L..." "What the..." "Whoa."

"There's no way that's a woman. She's got to be a transvestite." I say, almost pleadingly to Jon.

"No. I'm serious. She's here to pick up her son! Her husband is right next to her!"

And he was. A rather dumpy looking guy too.

I'm still not convinced she was a woman. It just doesn't make any sense.

They are out there my friends. People that make you lose all faith in mankind.

Happiness is...
~ Not being a felon looking for a job
~ Getting work at PC
~ Merlin's homemade dinners- from scratch!
~ Watching completely random and weird movies with my research group- like horribly filmed zombie movies and RockNRolla
~ James Taylor and Billy Joel on vinyl
~ Uh... not being a transvestite from the 80's.

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the former."
~ Albert Einstein

Cheetos

If there is one thing in this world that can actually, truly, gross me out, it's throw up. Barf. Chunks. Spew. Whatever you wish to call it. For the most part, I'm fairly safe from having to deal with that particular bodily function. I myself have only felt sick enough to dry heave once in the last five years (can you say, "dehydration and sun poisoning"?) And I don't work at a place that people go to when they're sick- I mean, if you're not feeling well, you just cancel your dental appointment. I don't have friends that get drunk off their bucket and need my assistance holding their hair back while they regurgitate their alcohol. See? I'm fairly safe.

But not today. No, not today.

After a wonderful breakfast at Earnie's with Cheer, He says to me, "Just take the day off! Let's go on an adventure!"

I wanted to! Oh how I would have loved to call in sick and gone a-plundering. But, I have this thing about being responsible... at least at my job. So, I said, "I can't. I want to, but I can't."

And so, I went to work. Things were going great until I get this sweet little boy, whom I'm sure is autistic except for the fact that he makes great eye contact, sitting in the chair, waiting for me to brush his teeny teeth. As I begin to prophy, I'm met with far too much protest from a kid his age, "Yuck! This is yucky!" and "I don't wanna do it anymore!" But, I mean, he's only got 10 teeth to brush, any 6 year old can handle it!

But oh no. Not this one. Instead of just handling it like a regular kid, he gags and ralphs his lunch ALL OVER. You should have seen my escape maneuver from getting barfed on, It happened in slow motion: Me, leaning over his head with the prophy cup in hand, see his eyes dilate and his throat open wide. I slide to the left, push the chair back with my butt, and utter a small "Sshhhh....!" and I leap from the chair and out of the way of the volcanic child erupting ORANGE goo literally everywhere.

"Oh geez." I say.

I summon his mother as I sit him up and start cleaning him off. And he just looks like nothing had happened, the spewing episode hadn't even phased him! As his mom comes in she says, "Oh, not again." and walks over to him.

"Wow honey!" she says, "Looks like you had Cheetos for lunch!"

I had handled the situation splendidly until that very moment. It took every bit of my being to stay composed, though I did gag a little and my eyes were definitely watering.

Needless to say the kid was through for the day, and I wanted to be too.

Next time I'll take up that random "sick day", because now I know Karma will be out to get me with ralphing 6 year olds if I turn them down.

Happiness is...
~ Skillfully avoiding being puked on
~ Getting an A on a test
~ Earnie's breakfasts, or any time of the day really.
~ Finishing yet another great book- The Watchmen

"Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer."
~ Mark Twain

Zilactin

I have found the topical medication from Hades. It's called Zilactin.

For the last, oh, 4 days or so, I've had this canker sore the size of Jupiter in the inside of my lip. Because it's in the most convenient spot, I can feel it's huge, ouchiness every time I twitch. This being the case, I have been prone to complain about it- which was my first mistake.

That first mistake led to another, which mistakes tend to do. My complaining led to the referral of a medicine.

"It'll stop it from hurting!" They said.

Yeah, sure. Sure. The reasoning for it's effectiveness in that category is that it replaces the cold sore hurt with something much, much worse: Alcohol burn! In the mouth!

You can imagine my surprise when I put the gel-from-'ell on my lip expecting it to be an anesthetic, when really, it was a dollop of fire and brimstone!

So now, I have two sores. The original canker sore, and the burn on top of it.

Curse you Zilactin. Curse you.

Happiness is...
~ Watching friends play at open mic night at the Velour
~ Swinging on swings on an uncommonly warm winter night
~ The prospects of having an adventure with an old friend
~ Knowing what Step 2 and 3 are! (To be revealed soon!)
~ Just winging it
~ Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, though quite distant

"Bad medicine is what I need, shake it up like bad medicine. There ain't no doctor that can cure my disease."
~ Bon Jovi

Saving Lives, Tormenting Others

I love my job. The one where I get to suck spit and pass sharp tools over patient's heads. Sometimes, I think I love that job and my patients too much. I love them so much that I go to great lengths to save their lives. Take Tuesday for instance:

One of my lovely patients came in for her exam. I chatted with her and gave her mild doses of radiation, and never expected to have to save her live. As I wheeled her around in the dental chair, and locked it into position, a large spider came pelting from the ceiling right in front of her face! Her eyes widened in panic, and I, the brave dental assistant, snatched the little cretin right out of the air! I didn't even think, I just did.

And after I "did", I thought, "What did I just do?!"

I hadn't squished the disgusting urchin, and it wriggled in my hands as my own panic set in.

"Oh! Thank you! Don't you hate those things?" My cute patient said to me.

"Heh heh, the day has been saved!" I chuckle back... as I step from the room to find Dad.

"Dad! Take my gloves off! Quick!" I whisper to him urgently.

He looks at me real funny-like as he helps me take them off in one bundle, the spider wrapped inside.

Yes, I love my patients enough to put my nerves on the line for their comfort. Now that's customer service!

On another note, the other week I set Penny Lane's home page to rent-a-clown.com, and she still hasn't figure out how to change it. So every morning when she turns on her internet, the spine-tingling, all-too-creepy circus music fills the room as she audibly shudders and curses my name.

And I laugh.

Happiness is...
~ The Watchmen
~ Getting a moment to read a non-text book
~ Danielle, for helping me find and adventure :)
~ Finally getting the stupid sink un-clogged
~ Valentines Day with Grandma Ruthie- What is VDay without Mr. Darcey Gramms?
~ Getting out to see the boys- thanks for calling me Sky!
~ I hate to admit this, but Katy Perry
~ Feist on vinyl
~ Pretty much any day with Penny Lane

"Bravery is being the only one that knows you're afraid."
~Franklin P. Jones

I've Been Thinking...

So I've been thinking a lot lately. Not that I don't think a lot anyway... I suppose I should be more specific as to what I've been thinking about. I've been thinking that I should rethink my attitudes and goals in life. That's a pretty big thing to think about. Not to mention scary.

Two quotes have been in my mind, one for a while, and one more recently:

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." ~Lao Tzu

"history has no meaning.
when its not about your life." ~Ryan Holdaway

And what have these quotes led me to think? For one, selling Marley and buying an Element might not be the smartest, most attainable goal in my life right now. Maybe after she dies and I actually need to buy a new vehicle, then I'll start thinking about buying my 4-wheel drive. For two, I need to go on an adventure. A BIG adventure. One that takes me to a place that is so different that I will be challenged on every step. One that makes me see the world in a different perspective. On that shows me how I can make a difference on this green planet. And, for three, a question has been circling in my brains like a broken record, "Am I really heading in a direction that will lead to happiness?"

And so here I am. What do I do now? How do I change the path I'm on? I guess I have to start with one step...

Step one: Get through this semester.

Step two to appear shortly.

Happiness is...
~ Waking up at 7:30 all by yourself, without an alarm clock
~ Getting a second wind for work
~ Realizing that I can change goals, Who's stopping me??
~ Being satisfied with my car, Love you Marley.
~ Relief from the decision to take a break from school this summer
~ One step.

"Lord! We know what we are, but know not what we may be." - William Shakespeare

Stoned

There are not too many things worse than waking up to your body reviling against you. No, not too many things. Take last morning:
I woke up early to get some homework done before rushing off to class. I got up and plopped myself on the couch. As I sat there with my computer on my lap, I became quite aware that my back was really, really sore. So I fidgeted, changed positions, but nothing seemed to work. And then, it hit me. I can liken the feeling to getting slammed in the side with a metal baseball bat. I was knocked to the floor! As I writhed in pain on the floor, I proceeded like this:

"Gaaaah! WTF?? What is wrong with my body!?" I clutch my right side and panic. Appendixes are on the right side... right? CRAP. I wiggle myself back to the couch with all my might and grab my phone. I dial the first person the came to my panic stricken mind.
"Hello?"

"Daddy?" I say, through gritted teeth.

"Uh... Are you ok?" (The last time I called him "daddy" was when I accordioned my car).

"What side of my body is my appendix on?"

"Are you serious? The right side..."

"Ok, can you take me to the doctor please?"

Needless to say, I was rushed to the doctor. But, of course, as soon as we got there, the pain had ceased. "Shoot." I thought, "What if I made the whole thing up?" But could my mind really make up that kind of horrible pain?

The doctor came in, and through a series of tests that included being poked in all of the sore spots and peeing in a cup, he announced that, no. My appendix was not exploding. "But," he says, "You've got kidney stones."

What?

So now, my days are spent waiting for the pain to subside and my diet had to be changed to accommodate more water than I'm used to drinking. But do now worry, dear friends, I am doing fine! And my appendix and kidneys are in tact!

On the positive side of last morning, it was Inauguration Day! I am so happy to see that prayer and God are still included in the festivities of this nation. I have hope and faith that the leaders of this nation, particularly our new president, Pres. Obama, will allow the Lord to guide them through the trials this nation will see. Good luck to you, Mr. Obama. My prayers are with you.

Happiness is...
~ Not having appendicitis
~ Feeling pride in my country
~ Witnessing a historical event
~ Teachers who let you turn in homework late, due to medical emergencies
~ Back to the Future III
~ Not being in significant pain

"And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"
~The Star Spangled Banner

Resolutions I Can Actually Keep

I've been thinking long and hard of some New Years resolutions that I can actually keep this year. Here they are:

1. Watch more Shaun the Sheep




2. Play more games. Like Nerts, or Killer Bunnies, or Ticket to Ride.

3. Write to my missionaries- Kim and Jaime :)

4. Go to bed on time. Not at 2am.

5. Visit a different friend every Tuesday (the only night I have off school)

6. Finish a book every month. I'm currently working on "Born Liberal, Raised Right" by Reb Bradley, and "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller. I think if I can keep my recreational reading up, I can get through the semester relatively sane!

Those are my goals for the moment. I know I can keep these at least! I was going to add "be less sarcastic" to the list, but my immediate thought was,

"Pfft. Yeah right."

Happiness is...
~ Shaun the Sheep
~ Reading a good book
~ Finding textbooks on Amazon for $50 less than the stupid book store
~ Tea in the morning... or whenever
~ Planet Earth by BBC


"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right."
~ Oprah Winfrey

Lesson #1 For Future Parenting

Look at it -^. Just look at it. The infamous video game console in all it's shiny, expensive, awe-inducing glory. Part of the system that has slowly, but surely, taken away the goodness of youth and childhood.

I have the grand opportunity to teach kids to do something active, something healthy, something more fun than any sleek black box can ever offer. But I have had my eyes opened to the harsh reality that not all beings appreciate doing something that does not include vegging on the couch. Not only that, but not all parents understand the necessity to teach their children that there is LIFE outside the room that holds their beloved Wii, Xbox, Sega, PS3 or whatever else is contaminating the American home these days.

Last weekend, I was assigned a new snowboarding class of...one. One child. 6 years old. Normally this would be a cause of rejoicing! A class of one kid! How could it get easier than that? Typically, it can't. However, on that fine day on the snow, this particular child presented himself as being one of the hardest children I have ever come in contact with. He was of normal height for a 6 year old, but a bit overweight, with a mouth worse than that of a sailor. Have you ever heard the F word from a 6 year old kid? I have. It produces a strange quivering in the deep innerds of the ear canals. But not only was this child chubby with a mouth that bubbled over with vernacular tar, but he was in NO WAY interested in being outside.

As I came to understand it, the child, let's call him Billy, wanted to learn to snowboard because he had played Shawn White's video game so much that he was sure that he could not only snowboard, but could do it at a level that would leave Mr. White in the dust. Little did Billy know that in order to snowboard, you actually had to be located outside, on a mountain, in the snow, strapped to a board, using muscles, and wearing winter weather gear. I think his head must've exploded when his parents handed him a snowboard instead of a joy stick when he was brought out to have lessons.

As the day progressed, and as I tried, in complete vain, to teach Billy to snowboard, I became very aware of how his household worked. When he wanted something, he got it. When he didn't want to do something, he didn't have to. If mommy and daddy (or instructor) asked him to stop, stopping is optional.

Because gamer-boy-Billy realized that snowboarding counts as using your legs in a non-sitting fashion, and kept taking of his freaking snowboard on the hill, I decided to give up on this foul creature. He had no balance, no muscle mass (though quite a bit of fat), and was SO ADHD that he could not, and absolutely would not listen to me. Can you say, "DISASTER"?

The rest of the day was spent in the lodge, unsuccessfully drinking hot cocoa (I say unsuccessfully because Billy was so uncoordinated that he proceeded to spill the whole cup of burning liquid everywhere... twice). I tried to get him to have normal, 6 year old conversation (which might include what superhero is your favorite, what kind of animals live in the jungle, or how fast you can run), but of course, Billy would have none of that. Instead, I listened to him go on and on about his Wii (and that he wanted to go home RIGHT NOW to play it), how many people he could kill in various combat games, how he and his friends didn't go to each others houses because they could play and talk to each other through the Wii system at separate houses, how he hated being outside, and that he wanted to make a website that had a collection of movie scenes of people getting killed because it was, "Fun." I wanted to shank myself.

Oh, and at the end of the day his parents stiffed me. I babysat that horrid child for 7 hours and got nothing. I almost wanted to quit my job.

I had to wonder, do they know that their child is like this? Do they realize what kind of citizen of the world they are raising? Probably not.

So... what have I learned from this experience? Let's make a list:
*My child will NEVER have a video game system until they can pay for one themselves.
*My kids will have good language, and never get away with saying curse words
*My kids will not be fat little gamers who get everything their way
*My kid will not get their way if they throw tantrums, make fusses, or whine
*I, as a parent, will not be passive and submissive to my child
*I, as a parent, will be a parent, not a child to my child
*My kids will be active, outdoor loving, grateful, innocent, sweethearts
*My kids will have friends. Friends that play together. Without the use of video games, IM, or cell phones

And, most of all, *I will never stiff a babysitter.

Happiness is...
~ Going home after a horrible day at work
~ Not having over-indulgent, passive, uncaring parents
~ Breathing the fresh, clean mountain air
~ Striped pajamas
~ Seeing all of my cousins and their babies
~ Trying something new- park riding
~ Talking to old friends
~ Hearing about other's happy lives :)

"Parents often talk about the younger generation as if they didn't have anything to do with it."
~Haim Ginott

A Quick Look at 2008

This last year (2008) seems to have flown by, but also to have crept by like cold molasses sliding down a flat grade. It's funny how so much can happen in such a short amount of time. I think this year can be recapped in segments of seasons, because my life always changes with the quarterly intervals of temperature. Call me a woman of all seasons :) Here are the lessons learned from each term:

Winter
*Skills are learned faster by trying to keep up with those better than you
*Never take on the mentality of others just to appear agreeable
*Drive slowly on icy days

Spring
*It is impossible to keep all of your friends happy all the time, though you may try your hardest
*There is no such thing as "Good Timing"
*It's nice to fly south once in a while

Summer
*Absence does not always make the heart grow fonder
*Truth: Happiness and happy endings can never come from unbridled passions
*If you don't have family, you don't have nothin
*Indifference is dangerous
*It's nice to fly south once in a while, and north, and east.
*Not everyone thinks the same, and for that matter, no one has the same understand of anything.
*Love hurts, love scars, love wounds and mars any heart.

Fall
*Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other is gold.
*Putting your heart and soul into something actually does pan out.
*Taking a risk can produce great results
*Sharing a room with someone really isn't so bad
*Sometimes Yoga is the only thing that can make you feel better


I can think of quite of few other lessons learned, but those require their stories. If you'd like to know them, you can always ask :) I loved this last year, but I am so happy to start a new one. I feel like I need a clean slate. A chance to make some changes and make some memories. I think I'll get just that.

Happy New Year everyone! Let's make some resolutions and accomplish many great things!

Happiness is...
~ A fresh start
~ Park City
~ Snowboarding buddies
~ Long distance runs

“Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!”

~William Arthur Ward

PCMR

Ah. Another riding season has come. And I have a good feeling about this one.

With a new pair of boots, bindings, and will to increase my riding abilities, I think I will actually be able to make something of my riding this year. So, here are my goals for this lovely winter season:
~ Complete control on all terrain
~ Comfort in riding switch
~ Comfort in riding unstrapped
~ Learn to do a 180, butter, and ollie

Good goals, right? I think so. And not that I can't do the above, with the exception of the last goal, I just want to get them down 100% instead of my usual 70-90%. But of course, I have to get used to my new equipment! You may be thinking, "Well whatever Tiff, as if new equipment would make any difference in your riding.", but I'm telling you, it does! These new boots have built-in forward lean, which means that I don't have to do anything to get them to respond. This is a good thing! I'm just not used to it. So now, when I go to make a turn, if I put as much pressure into the turn as I'm used to, it cranks me so hard that I do a complete 360. Whoa. Not used to that. It's kindof like learning to board all over again. But I love them, those boots. They're warm and tight, and well worth the need to relearn to snowboard.

I'm so happy to be back at Park City teaching again this year. Just being up there this last weekend has reminded me how much I love to teach! I love the people up there, and just getting to be surrounded by the snow, mountains, and goggle-faced crowds. I love it. Seriously.

Happiness is...
~ New boarding equip- Nitro Matrix boots, Solomon bindings
~ New friends at work
~ Old friends at work
~ Delicious new places to eat- Guanauato (I think that's how you spell it, it's right next to the Movies 8 in Provo)
~ Minus the Bear

“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.
~John Ruskin

Sometimes,
Fear is more than just it's face value.
Sometimes,
Warnings should be acknowledged.
Sometimes,
The inner battle is better ignored.
And sometimes,
All the good things aren't enough.

But maybe,
It's not about the good things.
Maybe,
It's about something bigger.
Maybe,
There is no such thing as "someday".
And maybe,
Happiness is right there.

But whatif,
Caution is rightly founded.
Whatif,
Choices already made are set in stone.
Whatif,
Nothing means something.
And Whatif,
It's impossible to tell.

Abstract? Yep. I just needed a place to write it.

Happiness is...
~ Going home
~ Not getting eaten by cougars
~ Peppermint kisses
~ Philosophical conversations, via text :P

“Writing a poem is discovering”
~ Robert Frost

Skin Cancer

Remember that horrible, awful, no good sunburn that I let myself get way back on the 4th of July? I thought I'd just let you all know that the tan lines are STILL THERE! There is a perfect tan that makes it look like I'm still wearing my swim suite while actually in the buff. And there's a spot on my tummy that I'm convinced is skin cancer. Darn my fair skinned-ness! But I seriously just cannot help but laugh because it is so positively ridiculous.

And here I am, one week away from a winter at Park City where I am sure to receive some sweet coon-eyes! Bring on the tan lines!!

Happiness is...
~ The start of the boarding season
~ New friends- Dallen and Josh
~ Grasshopper cookies mmmmmmm.....
~ Winding down the semester
~ Catching up with good friends! You rock Vanessa!
~ Getting ready to move :)

"In the depths of winter, I found within me an invincible summer."
~ Albert Camus

Kiss A Wookie

There is no word good enough to describe what this guy has done!

First notice that it is all the same guy.
Then notice his shirts.

And most of all, listen to the lyrics.



If you don't know who John Williams is, basically he is the man who gave us all the best cinema theme songs..ever. Here's to you Sir. Williams! *Chink!*

Happiness is...
~ Star Wars A Capella
~ Funny clips that make your day
~ "That's What She Said" t-shirts