You May Fool Me and I'll Fall, But I Won't Stay Down Long

I. Am. Country Strong.

I'm so excited for this movie! I can't even begin to tell you how much I'm looking forward to it.

It combines so many of my favorite things:

~Country music

~Gwyneth Paltrow, I really think she's one of my all-time favorite actresses... Actors? Is that the apparently "politically correct" term now? And she sings!

~Drama, hate it in my own life, but boy do I enjoy watching it sometimes:)

~A cute boy who sings and tries to help the damsel in distress.

~There's also some Tim McGraw acting going on that I'm surprisingly becoming more and more ok with.

It also reminds me of this movie that I adored as a child,

Pure Country. I love me some George Strait and someday I will

marry me some George Jr. but only if he sings to me after we're married in the temple. Anyone who finds this for me on DVD and I'll marry you instead of George. Unless you're a girl and then we'll just be best friends forever and watch it together.

And last, but certainly not least, I want a red dress like this to wear with cowboy boots! Anyone know where I can find one? And by a show of hands, who thinks I could pull it off?

Wordy Girl

Sometimes I read other people's blogs and am jealous of their use of pictures.... I was thinking about this the other day at work and I realized something... I love words... I know that seems weird, but I do, I love them... I love the way they look on paper or even on a screen. I always notice handwriting, probably because I'm severely lacking in the nice or cute or neat handwriting departments. I love hearing people talk and use big words. I thoroughly enjoy using big words whenever I get the chance. I don't even care if it makes me sound smart, I just like using them. I love listening to people's tones and the syllables they stress. I think that's the strangest part of my obsession..... When I quote movies I try to get the voice and tone down perfect... Weird... I also really like a well used play on words. I can't think of any appropriate ones right now, of course, since that would be silly.... Now when I say appropriate I don't mean I'm being totally perverted... I just live with 3 young boys and a girl who has the sense of humor of a boy. I have potty jokes coming out my ears tonight... So in all my thinking about this random stuff, I've decided, along with being a ballerina in Ballet West's The Nutcracker, a professional wielder of a grinder, and Pepper Potts, when I grow up I shall be a linguist! Yes! That is all...

Lots to say today! First things first, the day that has been so highly anticipated for 19 years and insanely so, the past 11 weeks, finally came! We kicked Golden to the curb, almost literally, at precisely 12:15 PM and as Shadow pointed out, the date matched. It was bittersweet, there were tears and smiles and hugs and I think a little denial... It still hasn't hit me, I'm sure it will as soon as I need to vent about some jerk guy and Golden's not there to listen. He tends to be the only one who can put up with my ceaseless rants. He's going to be an amazing missionary though! He's one of the most friendly people I've ever met and he has the best personality. Now the bad news of the day is I couldn't find my blasted camera! Never fear though, the dad's was in working order so we used his. Only downside is, the memory card is a really random one and we can't find the cord so I'll post pictures as soon as I figure a way to magically get them on my computer.

I was also a tiny bit mopey just for the fact that I'm sooooo jealous! I want to be in his shoes! Almost literally since sister missionary shoes are about the same as elder's but worn with skirts. I still have precisely 77 days to wait. Yes, we counted on the way home so my mom knew how long she had to prepare for sending another.

I'd also like all you readers to watch this and then come on back and we'll discuss. I came across this little gem a few weeks ago while stalking the beautiful Jammie's blog. I had quite the giggle while sitting alone in my room one night, until I realized.... My mom totally used to do that! Sadly as a child, I was deprived of ever seeing the video since Rocky and I shamelessly mocked her so she'd lock us out of her room. Then it into turned into a full-fledged laughing fit... Now, every time my mom and I go to the temple at least 6 people comment on how we look more like sisters than mother and daughter. She, of course, reminded me of this fact as I made fun of her for "The Lion" and pointed out that there might be a little something to it... Interesting, but I shall still mock and show it to Rocky and Golden so they can join.

The temple workers and their complimentary ways brings me to my next point. After leaving the temple my mother is somewhat pleased with herself and her young ways. It gets old real quick. Then I realized today.... I'm an extremely cocky person... But only in my head... And to certain privileged, or not so much, people. It's only a matter of time until it starts coming out of my mouth to everyone. Yikes! For the most part though, I am still too insecure to actually be that way. Let's hope the mish humbles me up and I don't ever get obnoxious.

Last, but certainly not least, there must be a tribute. To my papa! Oh how I adore that man! I woke up this morning to snow in all it's white, frigid, beautiful glory. Just as I was beginning to dread scraping the windows of the truck to run my errands before the drop off I remembered! My lovely father cleaned out the garage so the little black truck, lovingly dubbed, Rita, could fit in there. Yay! No scraping! Now, this seems like such a small thing, but my dad seriously does awesome stuff like this all the time! He's always thinking of things he can do to make people's lives easier. I've never met anyone so giving and serving as my dad. Stressed about work and money and other things and he will drop everything at the drop of a hat to help with anything.

Also, the stinking fonts keep being stupid so it looks the way it does because of my computer, not for lack of trying on my part. Dumb.

I Merely Noticed You Were Improperly Packaged, My Dear

I had such a good day today! I was in an amazing mood. I worked for six hours, pulled in carts for an hour, helped a woman out who had 6 carts, completely full and I still was in an awesome mood! Just fyi, there were three of us who went and helped this woman, me and two guys. I started mostly working with the lady who was probably about 60 and we worked circles around the guys. Our system just worked better I guess because we were smoking them. Anyway, I don't know if you readers are aware, but work tends to make me grouchy. Last week after an especially annoying shift I came home and did not at all like that I was so upset. So I got on my knees and asked that I could have some help in not letting things get to me. I can definitely say that prayer was answered! I even got to our stake Christmas party and my bishop asked me what kind of mischief I'd been causing because I couldn't stop smiling. I loved it.

I think my good mood came partially with the help of these two...

Random that this picture even exists, but the entertainment value definitely helps. Anyway, Mandy Reynolds and Ryan Gurr. Mandy, that lovely girl put up with me and my indecisiveness for about 7 hours yesterday helping me make an awesome Christmas present for Golden and Ryan was with us for about 4 of those hours and he helped us do tons of copying and putting together of cool things. There will definitely be pictures later, I doubt Golden stalks my blog, but you never know.

So the help of lovely friends and the feeling of accomplishment, because this gift is seriously soo cool! All of this equates to a fantastic day and what is shaping up to be an awesome week! Hopefully it continues to go great!

Oh and the receipt of letters from two of my best friends ever sure helped! I got one of them right before work and didn't have time to read it, but even just knowing I had it put a huge smile on my face!

This also made me smile. I found this picture on facebook today. Taken on my birthday, it was seriously the best birthday present I got! He just climbed up on my lap and laid his head down. I totally melted, as if I'm not already wrapped around his sticky, chubby finger anyway. I absolutely love this picture too, I want to print it off and frame it to take on my mission!

So there are all my reasons for smiling today, I'm so thankful I recognize these blessings in my life and that I've been so blessed.

When I Was Your Age, Television Was Called Books

Sometimes I have profound thoughts.

Today I was outside in the frigid air pulling in carts at work. There are these little tiny birds that just chill in the parking lot of Maceys. They're there all the time, like I've mentioned, it was freezing they're still just there. Here were my thoughts about them though. These birds seem to always be on the ground and when they do fly they only go about 3 feet at a time and never more than a foot off the ground. I'm sure there's something scientific about this, but I don't know it, this is just the world according to Pebbles. But I kept thinking about it and even when I would come really close to them with carts or cars would pass them, this held true. They never just flew away even though they obviously have the ability.

So as I did my meaningless cart pushing I kept thinking how much like those birds I am. Maybe you are too, I don't know. I feel like people have so much potential. Obviously we're all here for a reason and have extraordinary talents, so why do we not use them?? Do we get comfortable in our ways around the ground? It's the only thing we know? Maybe we're just plain scared of falling. How many of us go out of our comfort zone to do things that will only help us in the end? I know I don't very often. How often do we get a few feet off the ground, realize where we are, get scared and quickly go right back down. We can fly, people! All it takes is some practice and we can stay up there all day! The ground, by no means is a bad place to be, but the sky offers so much more opportunity. No more being comfortable with the ground and our own scaredy cat ways.

It's For Some Stupid, Noble Reason Isn't It?

Ginny Weasley to Harry Potter at the end of this book:

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. My favorite of all the Harry Potter books! I seriously loved it and the movie was absolutely horrible. I know, I know, the movies are never as good and of course the movie can't have everything the book has. This one was terrible though. As they write the screen plays they obviously have to decide which sub-plots they have to get rid of and which they have to keep. They didn't choose well at all! There's hardly anything about Quidditch in it and that's really the main sub-plot.... Is that an oxymoron? Oh well, you know what I mean.

My second favorite Harry Potter book is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Even if you don't know anything about the books you will be aware the first of two parts of this movie just came out, unless you live under a rock. But that's not the point. The point is, I'm scared to see this one! For two reasons: first, I don't want them to have ruined it! And second, I won't be in the country when the second part comes out. I've been debating whether I shouldn't just wait and watch them both at the same time. Together. In all their glory in our theater room. Help me fellow bloggers! What should I do??

The Sky is Falling!

I still don't know how to upload a video. My computer always hates on me when I try so here is the link to this video. It doesn't even do it justice, but it's a good introduction...

http://www.fox13now.com/kstu-residents-gather-emergency-essentials,0,5862002.story

I'd say let's set the scene, but anytime I say that it pretty much means we're at my place of employment... But this particular story takes place on a chilly November afternoon 2 days before Thanksgiving 2010. We all planned on Maceys being pretty busy with people hoping to beat the procrastinator rush, little did we all know the world was coming to an end! Breaking news was a blizzard that was going to bring 8-12 inches of snow! Wait, what?? (insert noise of brakes screeching/vinyl record stopping here) 8-12?? How is this any more than a normal winter here in Happy Valley? To my knowledge, it's not, but apparently someone knows better than me and EVERYONE in Utah County got the memo. When I say everyone, I seriously mean everyone. The video shows people leaving, but what they don't show is the insane amount of people waiting in line. All 17 check stands were open and we still had lines about half way down aisles. It was at least a 35 minute wait to get to the front of the line. I worked the Express Lane, for those of you who don't know, that means come through my line only if you have 15 items or less. Heavy on the LESS! A lot of people really struggle with this concept to my never ending annoyance. With lines the way they were, though, people couldn't see the signs so they'd get up to me and be really embarrassed and apologetic and what could I do? Send them to another line to wait 45 more minutes? The evil part of me, to this day, screams a resounding yes! But, alas, good won out, I let them come through. People behind them ranting about it definitely made me feel a bit better though. Except there was one woman I really wished I had sent away when her daughter kept humming the Flintstone's theme song. I've never wanted to cause bodily harm so much in my life!

Here are some of the things people were saying:

The power and sewer are going to be off for 21 days.

uh... What?? Precisely 21 days?? Pretty sure things like that only go off when something is amiss, so how exactly is this man predicting the precise amount of days it's going to be off?

We need sand bags!!!

This woman was on the phone (which is soooo rude, please refrain from doing this at all cost!), so I didn't actually have to make conversation with her which is probably a good thing since I was hard pressed to not laugh in her face as it was. Unless she was planning on making the most epic snow fort ever, sand bags were going to serve no purpose to her.

I-15 is closed from Tremonton to Montana!

Ok, this is totally legit and I can't really make fun of this except to say, how does this have any bearing on you buying your propane, firewood, 65 gallons of water and one dollar flashlights with batteries to last 20 years. Yes, the 65 gallons and 20 years' worth of batteries is an exaggeration... But only by a tiny bit!

Now bloggers, most of you experienced this blizzard of insane proportions. For those of you who didn't I will tell you, IT MISSED US! Totally went right around Utah County! I really think we're the only ones who prepared like zealots too, which makes it that much more entertaining.

Short and Sweet

Ok bloggers, what's the protocol on stalking blogs? I like finding random people who are funny or lead interesting lives or are just plain cute. So what's the deal? How do I make sure I don't lose their blog, but I'm also not a creeper? Also, I love life right now! I don't think I've ever been this satisfied with the direction of my life, not that I'm usually hating it, but it's just really fantastic with all the potential it holds and the good things I get out of life every day.

No survivors? Then where do the stories come from, I wonder?

So readers, as the holiday season approaches it gets me thinking about the new year. I know, I know, it's still 2 months away, but hey that's how I am. Anyway, mostly I've been thinking about it tonight because of my birthday so I guess the new year of my life. I will turn 21 on the 25th of this month, crazy! I'm excited for this new chapter in my life and I am realizing that I sure am not getting any younger, go figure. I went to a movie today and my friend asked me if I wanted Chik-fil-a first, I said no because I really wasn't feeling it. For those who know me that is a strange and very rare occurrence, I love Chik-fil-a. But after I got home and another friend brought me In-n-out I understood why. After I got done eating it I felt so sick! Not the normal I ate too much and it was greasy fast food sick, but a weird sick that is becoming more and more common.... It made my stomach hurt and my heart kept doing weird things, while I was just laying there it would randomly beat really fast. It was like I could feel my arteries getting harder and my whole body was protesting this unhealthy-ness I had so indifferently put inside my body. So, as I approach this new year of possibilities and unavoidable change I'm making a resolution. Yes, it's early and not the normal "new year" time, but I really feel like this is a good idea for me. I am going to avoid fast food at all cost. I'm sure I'll have it every once in awhile, but no more of this 3 or 4 times a week. It's just not good for anyone. So, as you read my ramblings and wonder how I'm doing with this, drop me a line and find out. I love making goals for all the internet world to see, then I feel like I can't fail or I'll be mocked and ridiculed for the rest of my life.

PS I feel I've lost my touch for the entertainment value, anyone have any ideas on how to get it back??

PPS Aren't I doing so good at blogging regularly?? Hope I didn't just jinx it.... I knocked on wood, don't worry. But stay tuned for an adventure that might be in the works, I'm so excited!

I'm assuming you're joking, I'm ignoring you for time reasons

Unfortunate news fellow bloggers, mobile posting does not work!!! No, I did not get hacked, I did that all on my own ha. Darn, I was excited to be able to post from my phone because I am, sadly, a child of the technology generation.

I had an entertaining day yesterday though, Maceys did a tailgate party for the BYU game today and I got to work the bean bag toss. Personnally, I've never seen the appeal of a bean bag toss, but apparently every child between the ages of 3 and 14 just love it. That, or they love Flintstone's pixy stix. Either way I had kids coming through more than a normal person should want to. It wasn't like they were getting better each time either, most of the time they got worse. Not that I was complaining, it was much easier to gather the horrible things from in front of the board than behind it.

I had the kids who thought they were major leaguers and threw the pitch in as hard as they could. Usually it was a ball and not a strike. The parents who brought their two-year old who had no desire at all to be there and made them throw it in. And then there was the parents who actually did it themselves and wanted the candy after. Really? Crazy people.

So 6 bean bags for probably 300 or so people and me picking them up every two people makes for a long 3 hours of lunges! And boy, am I sore today! Walking is difficult. So the moral of the story is, if you're bad at exercising regularly, work the tailgate party at work and you'll get your work outs in for a week!

New Look

My blog has a new look! I hope you noticed even though it's been ages since I posted and you've probably stopped looking.. It's a winter themed background obviously and for those of you who know me best, you know, I'm not a huge fan of winter. I'm an extremely cold blooded person and don't like being out in the cold.

Seems like an ironic background choice, no? Let me 'splain..... No, there is too much, let me sum up... Wednesday October 27, 2010 at approximately 5:47 PM I opened my mission call to serve in the Uruguay, Montevideo mission. As you may have realized from my last post, I'm a firm believer in Google so that night before it had sunk in I Googled it, yes Googled is a verb.... Anyway, obviously at this point I had seen a map of where Uruguay is, for those who don't know, enjoy:

It's about the size of Utah, but if you notice the small star at the bottom that's where the mission home and temple are. Anyway, as I began my Google journey I did know Uruguay was in South America, what I didn't realize was that the seasons there are reversed.......... So as I leave Utah in what should be toward the end of winter, even though it will still be the dead of it, I will be going straight into the beginning of theirs. Now wait, it gets better, I'll go through that winter, have one summer then another winter there. I will come home in October and guess what will be starting here? You guessed it! Winter! Complete with snow, which thankfully, I'll be saved from in Uruguay. So pretty much I get 2 years of winter and you want to know the crazy part? I'm not scared! I know that's where I'm supposed to be and that I can deal with it or that's not where I'd be going. I'm so excited and I just want to go tomorrow! I don't want to wait until March!

Time

Being the nerd that I am I turned to Google to start this post, I wanted a really good quote about not using time, but as goes the way of the internet I got too many to choose from! Here's a sampling:

“Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't

own it, but you can use it. You can't keep

it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it

you can never get it back.”

-Harvey MacKay

“Life is all about timing... the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable become available, the unattainable... attainable. Have the patience, wait it out It's all about timing.”

-Stacey Charter

“Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.”

-H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

“We say we waste time, but that is impossible. We waste ourselves.”

-Alice Bloch

They all hit me pretty hard, I've felt like I've been wasting all my time lately, I haven't. I've been wasting myself, I don't get anything done anymore. I'd never presume to say it was because I didn't have enough time, I know that's not true. I have plenty of time, I just don't use it wisely. I work 3 or 4 days a week and the rest of the days I do what?

Hmm clean my room? Nope, it's a disaster...

How about my bathroom? Nope, also messy...

We all know the answer to whether I blog...

So what do I do with all my wasted self? I sleep... Or I hate to admit this, but I play Bejeweled on facebook way more often than any normal person should.. And you know the worst part? I don't get any better!!! I just get the same scores over and over. What the devil is the point??

As I think about time and what I do with mine I'm reminded of the ever imminent approach of my departure... I received my mission call as most of you probably know. I will fly out exactly 4 months from yesterday. So using my time for facebook or sleeping is probably not the best plan. I should be studying Preach My Gospel or learning Spanish haha

I also have to give myself a little credit, for instance I have written in my journal every single day for almost a month. That is a rare thing for me and it's exciting. I also went to the temple, for the first time, a couple weeks ago and although it hasn't been very long, I went twice last week and have set in stone plans to go twice this week. Doesn't seem all that impressive right? but hey, you gotta start good habits somewhere, no?

Uh... It's Phonetic...

Now as all of you know, I work at a grocery store. At this place of employment we're required to wear a name tag. Store policy mandates that we have our real name on said tags so mine indeed says Pebbles. I'm going to go ahead and lay out some scenarios for you. Yes, these happen about every other person.

They all start the same. I look up at the guest to start a conversation and get slightly uncomfortable when they stare down at my chest for long amounts of time.... Then I remember the name tag... Now it's just a waiting game.


Scenario 1

Person: You probably get this a lot, but is that your real name or a nickname?
Me: Yeah.... It's my real name... (for some reason the nickname addition always throws me off, hence the yes to a question with multiple options)
Person: Wow. Your dad must have been a fan of the Flintstone's.
Me: Umm yeah.... (Sometimes varies depending on how much I want to divulge.)
Person: Cool...


Scenario 2

Person: Do you have a brother named Bam Bam?
Me: No..... Or if I'm actually feeling like talking to this person I'll explain to them that Bam Bam and Pebbles get married in the cartoons of them grown up, therefore making it super weird if I had a brother named that.
Person: hmmm...


Scenario 3

Person: Hey! Is that your real name?
Me: Yep
Person: No way! You're lying to me!
Me: umm.... Nope, it's my name.
Person: I don't believe you.
Me: umm... Ok....


Scenario 4

Person: Is that a nickname? That was my nickname in high school. All my friends called me that.
(Notice they have a lot to say, this individual usually requires minimal talking on my part.)
Me: hmm... That's neat.
Person: Random speaking of HS and their friends which I normally ignore.


Scenario 5

Person: (Individuals in this group usually spend an extra few seconds with the uncomfortable chest staring) How do you pronounce your name?
Me: (very politely) Pebbles... For those of you who know me, yes my brain is SCREAMING, it's phonetic!!!! You fool!!!! But alas, I enjoy getting a paycheck every two weeks and not going crazy sitting around so I am as nice as can be even to these crazies....

It happened! They are officially Sunny and Derek Johnson! She looked so beautiful! And he was quite the dashing groom. It was a fun-filled day and I'm so happy for them both!

And now I shall tell you of my adventures driving up to Tremonton for the open house Thursday night. I was going up early to help set up so I left my house around two.
You'd never know I was only going to be staying in Logan for one night right?? I needed clothes and I had to look cute for pictures so I pretty much have every toiletry I could maybe possibly need in those bags hehe
All excited for the drive and the day and I decided to stop at Maceys since I hadn't eaten all day and I didn't want gross fast food. Figured I'd be healthy and get an apple or something.

Yep, this is what healthy eating gets you. Stinkin' dented doors on your car. I got hit and then stood in the wind in the parking lot for an hour and a half waiting for the cop to get there. Ugh. At this point it's 3:30, open house starts at 5:00 and I'm still starving. So I raced trying to get food and then I'm on my way. PS it takes about an hour and forty-five minutes to get up there...

So I finally made it! Yay I'm all in one piece and my car runs. That's all I dared ask at this point. I was also in my jeans and t-shirt. Walked into the backyard lookin' like a doof, dress in hand though. At least I didn't forget anything.Cute Shan and I did finally make it!
Isn't she just so beautiful?? Sunny looked amazing! And Shan's always like a model. I felt pretty good about my looks taking into account my crazy stress of the day haha although in this picture I look extremely Asian. Shannon and I took lots of random pictures that day and then drove to Logan to sleep on her floor so I could pick up the flowers in Salt Lake at 9:00 the next morning.

Flowers were quite the adventure! The shop people didn't really speak great English and it was rough getting it all in my car when she brought all the center pieces out and put them on the ground in front of the door I was putting them in... Ack!! Flowers made it safe though!

Here's some pictures from the day of the actual wedding. Enjoy!This is definitely my fave picture of Sunny from the day and we were missing Andrea. She couldn't be there due to the high cost of airline tickets from China to the US:) Hugs all around!

Luncheon, this was after the two groups of bridesmaids were a little better and not being segregated. And Seth the faux best man.

I just have the most beautiful friends!

The Prep

I have a pretty busy weekend planned, the biggest event being Sunny's wedding!! Yep, she's getting married, we've been friends since junior high and I'm excited to be a bride's maid and help all I can on her big day. It's been fun getting ready to look my best too.First, I got a pedicure, of course, granted I'm wearing closed toe shoes, but what girl passes up the opportunity to be pampered in any way:)

These are the adorable close toe shoes, they may or may not be the first pair of flats I've owned in 5 or 6 years. I love them so much!

The dress! It's not as shapeless as it appears on the hanger I promise..

The cute belt that helps make aforementioned dress not so shapeless.

And of course hair and make up supplies for getting the face cute!

I'll also have to pack an overnight bag so I can stay with Shan after the open house in Tremonton. I'll be picking up the flowers in Salt Lake and now I only have to make one trip to do so.

I'm so happy for Sunny and excited to see how amazing her day turns out! Tune in next time to see the finished product and how all of it works together for the good of everyone who has to look at me:)

Beauty

The other day I was sitting in the hair salon waiting for the dye on my hair to soak into my hair and I was reading People magazine. I know cliche. I was even sitting under one of those driers that makes me feel like I'm going to go into orbit heh. Anyway, the People I was reading was talking about their most beautiful people list. They asked the question, what makes you feel most beautiful. I honestly don't even remember the celebrities that answered or what their answers were, but it made me ask that question of myself. What makes me feel most beautiful? I must admit I have some shallow things on the list, but that's ok right? There's shallow beauty and everyone needs to feel that way sometimes. As long as that's not the only thing that makes a person feel beautiful. So, this post is going to be a list of things in no particular order that make me feel beautiful. This will obviously be in the works for awhile since I can't think of them all right this second, and anytime I'm having a bad day I'm going to sit down and force myself to think of five things to add to the list. So here goes.....

I feel most beautiful when......



I learn something new from something I've read or heard dozens of times.

I have freshly washed hair.

I think of something that could really help someone and then I do it for them.

I make someone else feel good about themselves.

I have freshly waxed eyebrows.

I make someone laugh.

Someone makes me laugh.

I laugh at myself.

Something makes me cry... Tears of joy of course.

Driving down the road with the windows down, wind in my hair, smelling summer and listening to the birds sing.

Someone tells me I'm beautiful.

I feel the spirit.

I bear my testimony.

I think of my potential and all the things I can do.

I feel the love of my Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ.

My hair actually does what I want it to.

I wear that great dress I bought on sale.

I wear an awesome pair of shoes.

I shave my legs haha

I get a text from that certain someone.

Someone tells me they were thinking about me.

Sitting in the sunshine.

Like I said, some are shallow, but I'm good with it. I think this is a pretty good list. Now everyone think of your own:)

Work Work Work

Today, reader, I have two bits of frustration to share. The first is about my name. Now, don't get me wrong, I love my name. I didn't always, in fact, I hated it in elementary school, back when I thought it was cool to be the same as everyone else. As I got older though, I saw the awesomeness in it. And we all know there is no charge for awesomeness... Or attractiveness. Anyway, the frustrating part is that I wear a name tag at work and EVERYONE asks about my name. I had a man come through my line today and asked me how to pronounce it..... Umm.... It's phonetic.... And when I told him he said, oh that's what I thought... ok guy.... I also had a large group of Polynesian men come through (slightly overwhelming) and they called me a liar when I said it was my real name. Really? Come on! But! There is one good thing, today, I had a woman tell her husband she wanted to name their unborn child Pebbles. Oh yes, I have inspired even just one person to go against the norm and give their child something great. I loved it.

Ok, second piece of frustration. This one is directed more at myself than anything. You know when people talk about writing a letter and throwing it away to get your anger out? Well I really want to start this practice, as I feel it would help me since I can get out all my frustrations and think about everything I want to say. Here's the catch though, I think I might be too tempted to actually send them.... And that would not be good.

Dear so and so,
I'm sorry you broke my heart. I'm sorry that I didn't see it coming and that I thought I could trust you. I'm sorry that I thought you were different and you wouldn't play me like a fiddle. I'm sorry that you made me want to be better and in turn your rejection made me feel as if I wasn't good enough. I'm sorry that I kept hope even though I knew better. I'm sorry that you know how to treat girls well and that even if you don't like them you still treat them amazing which causes that danged hope.

Dear so and so,
I'm sorry I broke your heart. I'm sorry that I am a flirt by nature. I'm sorry that sometimes I like the attention and don't discourage you as much as I should. I'm sorry that you didn't understand when I said we'd be just friends.

Dear so and so,
I'm sorry I felt betrayed by you. I'm sorry that I didn't want to try and salvage what had been dying for awhile. I'm sorry that maybe I was immature. I'm sorry that I was selfish. I'm sorry I can't be a better friend. I'm sorry that I don't want to be a doormat anymore.

Dear so and so,
I'm sorry that I feel like I can't do anything right sometimes. I'm sorry that I hurt you by not being what you wanted.

Dear so and so,
I'm sorry that I put so much stock in your opinion of me. I'm sorry that I'm rude when you say hurtful things. I'm sorry that that's how I cope with it and not show how much it pains me to hear those things.

Dear so and so,
I'm sorry that I was intimidated by you and didn't know how to act around you. I'm sorry that I made a fool of myself and you won't ever talk to me again because I'm a doofus.

Dear so and so,
I'm sorry I haven't written you a letter. I'm sorry that I haven't been a supportive friend. I'm also sorry that I know your secret. The secret that hurts me so so much and I can't imagine what it must be doing to you. Or if it is doing anything to you.

Dear so and so,
I'm sorry you can't spell. I'm also sorry that it drives me up the wall and that your bad grammar makes me want to scream. I'm sorry that you grew up in a time where 'cuz' and 'like' and all things text abbreviated are words.

Obviously those are not at all specific, but I figured this was the closest I could come to having it both ways. I don't know that the people these are intended for even know about this blog, I also don't know that they would know it was directed at them, but I do know I feel a little better and I didn't hurt any feelings by sending a specific letter and no one knows who or what these are intended for.

And that is all sorry about the downer post, but it had to be done and so I bid you goodnight, fair reader.

I've Fallen Like a Fool for You

Also! I fell in love with a song yesterday, normal people would just post a video, but I'm new to this blogging thing and have no idea how ha. Someone teach me please! Anyway, Look At Me by Carrie Underwood. I was listening to the Play On CD on the way up to Park City with mi madre and actually listened to the words of that song. It totally describes the dating life of most single girls out there. To a certain extent at least. Why are we all so foolish??? A lot of the time we know there's nothing there for him, but we hope anyway. We read way too much into every little thing he does even when it means nothing to him. Maybe he's just a gentleman and wouldn't treat a girl any other way, whether he has feelings for her or not. Honestly, he might just be a major pig and be looking for some action, whether we want to think "he's not like that" or not, some are. I don't know if guys do this too since I'm obviously a girl and haven't talked to many male specimen about the subject, but ladies, please! No more of this insanity! I'm probably the most guilty of this and need to take my own advice, but that also means I know how stinkin' hard it is to not hope for things that shouldn't be hoped for. Anyway, that's my rant for the night, I had many so I chose that one ha, sorry about not having a video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deUFpJPpDBo


Look! A link! I know this video is just a montage, but there's not a whole lot better. Also, if I wasn't already determined to be Pepper Potts when I grow up, I would be Carrie! Maybe I'll be a mix.. No idea how, but hey, I can be anything I want to be right?

School's Out!

It was with much apprehension that I logged onto UVLink today to check my grades... I had three whole classes this last semester and none of them were too tough. I was also working though and one of those classes had mostly busy work, so it took the back seat to other things I needed to do. What class is this you may ask..... University Student Success... Ironic that the class I was sure I had failed was the one that was meant to help me in my studies hehe I'm a winner student... Anyway, so I logged on and searched for about an hour to find the grades. UVU website=not at all user friendly!! I asked a friend who did not help at all, but I finally found it! Drum roll please!!! Two B+'s and a B-!!!! Yippee!!! I have no idea how I pulled it off, but I was so happy!!! Apparently the professor just really loved me heh heh heh there's no other way I could have passed that dang class. And so... Without further gilding the lily and with no more ado, I give to you, SUMMER VACATION!!!! Yes, I will be working A LOT! And apparently no one has given Mother Nature the memo, but oh well, it is summer none the less!!!! The warmth will come soon!

PS As I am now officially a passing college student, please if you read this or any post and find any mistakes, call me on it. It drives me crazy when I read things that make no sense and make me think of the writer as unintelligent ha.

Monticello

I know, I know, two in one day doesn't make up for my lack of posts lately, but hey, at least I'm doing it now... So over Easter weekend I went down to Monticello... Not with my family though haha I actually went with the boy from country dancing a couple weeks ago.This is Jason and me:) like I said, he's kind of adorable.

I rode down with his family on that Friday and we got there at like 11, in the car it was his parents, his 13 year old brother, his twin brother's fiance and myself hahaha so funny. It probably should have been really awkward for me since I'd only met his family once, but it really was fun. I talked to his brother's fiance quite a bit too. She's super fun. So when we got there we couldn't go to sleep of course so we went in the hot tub. His three brothers, the fiance, him and myself... It was a small hot tub and let's just say I am a footsie slut, just from that hour and a half haha. We then watched The Princess and the Frog, I actually really liked that movie. I think it's cute, but his brother was snoring soooooo freakin' LOUD!!!!!!!!! It sounded like a chainsaw it was so loud! ha Jason's twin, Derek (the chainsaw) on the left and his 18 year old brother Ryan (a footsies culprit) laying down.



So the next day, we got up at 8 so we could leave by 9, yes if you do the math it's about 4 hours of sleep since we didn't get in bed till around 4 or 5. I was so stinkin' tired!!! We were going hiking though and I was excited to be out in the sun, since we'd had snow at home for like a week. Ugh have I mentioned I hate the snow? Well I do. So we got all ready to go and left for the Medieval Chamber canyon near Moab.



















For those of you familiar with me, you'll know I don't like acting like a girl when I'm doing things like hiking or camping. I'm one of the guys for the most part so instead of walking around the girly way, I went the exact same way the guys did. hahaha



It was a 3.5 mile hike and we started at noon.... Guess what time we got done? I think it was 5:30 ha. It wasn't even our fault though! There was a group of 4 who caught up with us right before the first place we had to rappel so we let them go first since there were 6 of us and we figured they'd be quick...... Yeah, no. It took them like an hour to get down.Oh well, our turn came, and I can't say I wasn't a little nervous, but it ended up being so fun! I loved it!

The first shelf of rock on the rappel, about twenty five feet from the bottom.

Right before I hit the bottom. Oh yeah I made it!




The second rappel. This one was so much worse to start out! It just dropped straight off whereas the first had a little hill and then it went off. I did this one a lot faster though. I was pretty proud of myself. I'm almost to the ground here because Jason's dad kept telling me to stop for a picture and I didn't hear him ha
Now look closely at this picture, what do you see? If you said two people rappelling at once you would be correct.... Jason and Ryan used each other for their counter weight and went at the same time. Can you say heart attack for those watching?They made it down, don't worry:)
So, that was my adventure in Monticello. It was sooo fun! I need to go hiking more!



PS I know the layout of this post is kind of weird, I tried to be cool with the pictures and failed.... Whoops.

Almost a Month???

Wow I feel it's been so long... It's been a busy three weeks though. In the space of these three weeks I've been on a road trip, babysat overnight for 4 days and become a stress eater....... We'll start with that last one because it makes me sad.

It all started last week while I was babysitting, all I ate was Ramen noodles, frozen personal pizzas, fast food and candy. I even stooped so low as to eat french fries from McDonalds. Blech. I ate Costa Vida and cereal too. This is just the beginning though, those kids were crazy and it made me frazzled. So when I got home Sunday I was pretty ok, just feeling annoyed so I decided to have some chocolate, one piece turned into two and it all went downhill from there! Before I knew it I'd eaten the rest in the box. It was a half pound and there were only about four gone... Yikes!!! So at this point I'm trying to figure out why I'm so munchy.... Then I remember the crucial element, my aunt is coming to visit in a couple weeks, she always stresses me out. For the sake of anonymity we'll call her Aunt Flo. Darn her poor timing.

The next day at work I was still feeling like I needed something sweet and decided against my better judgment to buy the delicious pumpkin cookies the bakery makes..... And ate 5 of them during my break. Sick! At this point I'm feeling like a whale and thoroughly annoyed with myself and my lack of control. Tuesday my uncle fell 15 feet so I was freaking out about that at work the whole time and had a donut and Dr. Pepper at work. I ate something bad Wednesday, Thursday and Friday too, but you get the idea and I can't remember what they were ha.

This week I've also had a whole can of Pringle's, about half a package of Chips Ahoy, I did share that with my nephews though. I also had Del Taco one day after class and last night I had a quasidilla from Costa Vida. GROSS! I've probably gained five pounds this week alone. I'll let ya know ha...

So now that you all know my nasty habits, feel free to shun me until I start jogging again and tell me I'm gross. Who knows, maybe it'll help haha

Skadoosh

Today as I sat on my floor amongst a mess of clean clothes that desperately need to be folded I was listening to some Pandora, now I love Pandora, but if it starts going the way of mainstream radio I won't stand for it! I'll boycott! What is this song that came on that makes me so upset you may ask? The first song that came on was Need You Now, by Lady Antebellum. I do like Lady A don't get me wrong, but they decided they needed to be played on pop stations as well as country so it's overplayed double what it normally would be. That is one of my biggest pet peeves, country artists thinking they can be pop too. Just choose one genre, for the love of pete! I don't exactly know who pete is but apparently he is much loved. I believe I have a key chain that informs people that my name is peter.... I might put that on my name tag at work so people will stop asking me if Pebbles is my real name.... Although, I don't know if a boy's name would really serve that purpose for me....

Anyway, on to the real reason for this post. Let me tell you a story, the setting is my front entry about three months ago... The doorbell rings and there's the Relief Society president from my home ward with a nice looking book in her hand. She hands it to me and tells me it's the manual for this year, sweet I'll put that somewhere safe......
Then she is asking me about the single's ward and whether I still want visiting teachers. I'm impartial, so I'm sad to say it was a slightly one-sided conversation as I nod randomly...
This may have been her plan all along though, next thing I know she's asking me to join an indoor 3 on 3 soccer league.
Sure, that sounds fun!
Wait! What?! Did I just agree to playing a highly competitive sport with an extremely in shape woman???? Not only did I agree, I said it sounded fun! Props to Ms. President for her strategic approach.
Now fast forward to last night. Our first game! Yikes! I'm not all that aggressive when I play sports because I'm afraid of getting hurt. For those of you who know me that will probably surprise you because in life I am a tiny bit aggressive and I will mess around with anyone. I wrestle with my brothers all the time. I don't know what it is, organized sports just scare me. So I'm sitting in the back of the car trying to telepathically tell my dad stations to find some pump up music on and to turn it up loud. Oh and did I mention at this point I was pretty much peeing myself from nerves.
We got to the field and signed in. All the boring stuff and the time has come to step onto that astro turf field. Now let's turn your attention to the other team, they're all probably early twenties and look like they know what they're doing, you know the look, their shin guards don't look brand new, their socks don't have creases in them from where they just took them out of the package.... And wait, are they wearing matching shirts??? These ladies mean business... Oh boy we are so dead...
And so it begins, three from our side in the lime green pennies provided by the facility, smelling distinctly of teenage boy and turf, and three from their side, with their nice yellow shirts and broken in shin guards. I was on the sidelines at this point, trying to watch and pick up some sort of technique before they need a sub and I get thrown to the wolves.
Now to not bore you completely I'll just tell you, I struggle with ball control, but toward the end I figured out that you can't just kick it and not follow through, chase it. Always. I also went back and forth between myself, the wall and one of the other women on the team and on the fifth bounce off the wall I kicked it in! Whoo! Now they killed us like I said, but it was 10-5 instead of 10-0 like it could have been. One of the women on our team actually played in high school so she was our fighting chance. Next game will be even better now that we have the hang of it! And I can honestly say, I loved it!