Pain!!!

There is not a square inch of my body that is not crying out for mercy. I hurt so much. I had to go to this aerobics class yesterday in order to make up an absence in my Pilates class and, oh sweet heavens above, it was the most grueling, wretched workout of my life. It was so good, but I literally cannot walk right now. She made us do squats, and lunges, and high kicks, and jogging, and jumping jacks....and all of this awful stuff....and now my legs are like jelly. I almost fell down so many times walking down the hill from campus to my apartment today because my legs were still shaky and wanted to collapse. I'm sooooo sore. I can't believe how sore I am.

It hurts to sit down. It hurts to stand up. It hurts to lie down. It hurts to roll over. It hurts to turn. It hurts to breathe. It hurts to walk. It hurts to exist. It had better stop hurting soon. It's getting annoying!

She's a Lawbreaker...

We went and broke into the tunnels underneath the school. Lifted up the manhole cover, dropped in, and all that jazz. It was all very Ninja Turtles of us. Plus we all had codenames. I was Asian Invasion, Traci was T-Mac, Kenny was Brown Sugar, Kyle was Pebbles, Isaac was The Doc, Yvette was Checkmate, and Luke was The Chef. We took pictures too.

And then after we all got out, we walked over to the Haight Alumni Center, where Kyle (he works there) let us in and we explored and took soda from the refrigerators. It's a building where they have receptions, parties, and guest lectures, and stuff, so they have a guestbook. We all signed it---with our code names. Hahahaha! Then we went back to our place and watched Get Smart. Which was...interesting. :) All in all, a brilliant night. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Today I sang with three other people in sacrament meeting. Even so, I was shaking like a leaf. My hands were quivering so badly that I could barely turn the pages, and then when it was over and I sat down, I was shivering and my teeth were chattering, even though I wasn't cold at all. I'm glad that's done with.

I get to go home for Thanksgiving on Wednesday morning. My parents are coming to get me, so I can take all the junk I brought up home. I need a break, but it really won't be one because I have to write three papers and finish a huge creative project. Yuck.

We are about to watch some old Charlie Brown videos. Yay!!

Help!!!

BYU vs. UTAH football game. Erica's boyfriend is sitting by me. He is SCREAMING. I am going to go deaf. I can't concentrate because he is standing up yelling every other second. If he's not, he's throwing a couch pillow. My home has become a hazard.

Seriously. What is the big deal? It's a little egg-shaped ball being tossed around by a bunch of excessively muscled boys. Sheesh.

Kidding, kidding....sorry....don't kill me. Except I'm not kidding that much.

I saw Twilight with friends last night. SPOILER ALERT!!! It was the absolute worst film I have ever seen. First time Edward came on the screen, the screams made me jump. I yelled for everyone to shut up. But of course nobody heard me. The first time Bella and Edward kissed....the screams were absolutely deafening. It was disgusting. The best parts were the baseball game and where Alice rips James's head off. Alice and Emmett were spot-on, but that was it. It really was SO horrible. I kept snorting and snickering during the whole thing. Got scuzzed off about a hundred times. Pretty sure the entire theater hated me. See how much I don't care. Haha.

Thanksgiving dinner was a huge success last night! So many fun people came. Kyle's friend from Rexburg and Kenny's little brother, Luke, came too. After dinner, delicious drinks, and pie, we all headed over to Kenny's to play games....until 1 am. Let us just say that Isaac, Yvette (sp?), and I slew everybody at Cranium. I am an amazing artist with my eyes shut. That's all.

We went and did baptisms at the temple this morning. Then we went to Sis. Call's for breakfast. She made us cream-cheese-filled French toast, sausage, and orange juice. It was fantastically delicious. I was about to take a nap when my phone became assaulted by texts from Isaac and Kenny for me to come eat food and play games. I tried to get them off my back but no dice. Plus I found out that I accidentally stole Luke's Coca-Cola cards. So I had to return them and then I stayed to play. So stinkin' easily persuaded. Gah.

I am going to break into the tunnels tonight! YES!!! Pretty sure I've waited my whole life for this.

In Her Humble Way...

My roommate got her mission call yesterday! After school and work, all six of us crammed into her Buick LeSabre and booked it all the way to Clinton. She is going to the Copenhagen, Denmark, Danish-speaking mission! Which also covers Iceland, Greenland, and the Farce Islands (whatever those are)! She leaves March 11th, so I don't have to mourn for her quite yet. :) It's SO EXCITING!!

We were late getting started back to Logan, and I had to submit an quiz on Blackboard by midnight, so I didn't get to go with Kenny and break into the underground tunnels below USU. Telling him I couldn't come just about broke my heart. I was so excited to do that....hopefully, he will go again, and let me come. I love doing things like that. I broke into the football stadium last year to play Ultimate Frisbee. Oh, the utterly marvelous thrills of illegality!

I'm in class and a kid just leaned over and was like, "Those aren't notes..." No, Alex, they are not! I should probably pay attention. But really...that's no fun at all. Neither is the library. Where I am headed after class. Grrrrrr....

Actually, I think I will go home and get breakfast. I"m hungry. And I have lots and lots of cold cereal.

Yum!

Speaking of food...tomorrow we are making our annual roommate Thanksgiving dinner. And can I just say that we make the best darn apple pie around? Cos we do! It's amazing! I get to make them tomorrow. Also, I am going to see Twilight with friends at 4. Hahahaha! I'm very excited to make fun of it. :)

12 Minutes...

Once again, I'm sitting in the library. Third time this week, second time today. The first time I was here at 9:00 am. I bought an almond poppyseed muffin and a chocolate milk for breakfast from the cafe. I downed them and headed upstairs to the third floor to my favorite curvy couch and table where I fully intended to write my paper for my science class. That paper--which I haven't started--is due in less than four hours. Those intentions flew right out the window when I discovered how surprisingly comfortable the couch was when I lay down on it. That's right. I was zonked until right before my next class. Not much done there.

Now I am back again. In a hard chair. Nowhere near a couch. In front of a hard table. Surrounded by people. I would be too self-conscious to sleep here. I might accidentally drool and that would be embarrassing. Or I might kick something. My foot tends to have a mind of its own and it likes to kick sometimes right before I fall asleep. I have some funny stories about that, but I have no time to tell them. Let's just say they involve me sleeping in class. Yeah.

I should be writing my paper, but I wanted to get all my fidgets out. So I have six minutes more to do it.

I forgot to mention that I had a really strange dream when I was asleep. I dreamed that there were people singing and dancing around a Christmas tree in the library, and that I was still lying on the same couch. They were all dressed in flowy, sparkly clothing and some of them were shimmying which seemed a little inappropriate for the quiet sanctity of the library. It was kind of like that dream sequence that Jimmy Stewart has in "Mr. Krueger's Christmas." Except there was no MoTab. Or sleighs. But I think the people that were dancing around the tree kind of reminded me of the Chamber Choir in high school. Haha. Scary!

One more minute.

I really don't want to write this paper. There's a reason I'm not a science major. I suck at it.

Aaaaaand..... time's up!

I Need a Hero....Cos...

-- I watched Hercules tonight for FHE. I could use one of him. He could totally obliterate the Ray B. West building with his little toe, and then the school would be forced to build a new building. How awesome would that be? No more invading box elder bugs. What a beautiful life that we English majors have never known!

-- I have 3 papers, a creative project, and four finals. And they are all happening on 3 days of Finals Week. Why, oh why, do I have a paper, a creative project, and a final...all in ONE class? Most nice professors have two out of the three. Even nicer professors have the term paper be the final. Bless your heart, Dr. Crumbley. I'll never again make fun of how you said "elephants" instead of "elements" or "porpoises" instead of "purposes." I'll try anyway.

-- I'm so tired. I can't get everything done. There aren't enough hours in the day, or minutes in the hours, or seconds in the minutes, or.... I don't know what comes after that. Let's just say that it will be impossible.

-- I just want one. Just one little measly hero to make that bad things go away for a little bit. Is that too much to ask?

Hmmmm....

Things I Am Doing....

- Sitting in the Merrill-Cazier Library

- Fully avoiding my paper for FTH (Food, Technology, and Health)

- Listening to David Archuleta

- Texting Mikey

- Wondering about things....

- Why people swear...
- Why I accidentally let a cuss word slip out every now and then
- Why some people are always around but you don't know why....they're total mysteries...
- If I am one of those people that are always around...yikes....
- What is that clanking noise that is interrupting my musings?
- Where my roommate will be going on her mission...
- Whether we should watch Hercules or Mulan for FHE....
- Why the weather is so beautiful and I'm stuck in the stupid library....
- Why I am in jeans instead of sweats...
- Why my fingers are so cold....
- Why I have so much school left to go....
- Wondering what life will be like having only 4 roommates instead of 6....when we've been together for 3 years...
- Why I never go to bed on time....
- Why I'm not getting anything done...
- Why I always get major hiccups when I brush my teeth....
- Why I accidentally used my roommate's toothbrush the other day....or why everybody managed to reveal that they've all done it....haha....

- Wanting to go home

Called to Serve...

My little brother got his mission call today. My little brother that everybody thinks is my older brother because he is taller than I am. I wasn't able to go home, but he called me while I was at the middle school so I could listen while he opened it. I ran outside just as the bell rang and all the noisy kids spilled into the hallway. I headed out the doors near the soccer fields. He opened it and I heard "....Taiwan...." and a huge WHOOP from my parents and I jumped up and down and shrieked like a banshee. Scared some little seventh-grader to death as she came out. And then I started to cry as he read the rest of the letter. And cried. And cried. Scared some eighth-graders. Poor kids. And then I went back to mentoring with my eyes all red. He leaves January 21. It's so soon, and yet....not soon enough. We've been waiting a long time for this. I'm so happy!

It was my roommate Erica's 21st birthday. We celebrated at Chili's. Honey-Chipotle Chicken Crispers. I think that's what they're called. Yum. I am SO FULL!! I need to stop eating out. I would stop if people would quit suggesting it. I am going to run out of money.

And then we all went and soaked in our hot tub. So pleasant and relaxing.

It's been a good day.

And a guy in my ward told me that I was "so damn cute." Or he was talking about my hair. Can't remember. Haha. Either way, I dunno how I feel about that one.

Fat...

My stomach is distended. I just ate at Panda Express with my BFF Kelli. We have been friends since I invaded the sixth-grade monkey bars. That is a story for another time. Did I mention that we are going to Scotland? Teehee...

Too much food. But so good! But too much! And then I got Coldstone. Dark chocolate mint. So scrumptious. I totally recommend. I need the next millennium to digest. Seriously.

Cafe Rio. Pork salad. Ginormous. I always feel obligated to eat the entire thing. I'm not that big of a person. But I eat the entire thing. And then I lie down on the couch begging Heaven to send me Death. Every. Single. Time. You'd think I'd learn.

You'd also think I'd've learned to do my homework by now.

Hahahahaha....

Sleeeeepy...

No more games. They make me tired.

Family Home Evening always manages to turn into a 4.5 hour event. It's because after most everyone leaves, I stay behind and play card and board games with my FHE husband and his roommate and friends. I have decided I am so easily talked into anything. If you can give me a good reason....scratch that....ask me to do anything...seriously, anything, and I'll do it if it means avoiding doing more important things. Like homework.

"Chess, stay and play."

"Okay. One game and then I really have to leave."

One game is played.

"I have to go."

"Oh, come on. Just play for a little while more."

"Okay."

I admit to them that I am really easily talked into anything. I play some more.

"I really have to go!"

"But we're just about to play __________."

"Okay."

__________ is played.

"Seriously....I have to go! I've been here for two hours!"

"One more game!"

"Oh, okay."

Before you know it, it's almost midnight. And I have class at 7:30 in the morning.

"Wow! You really can be talked into anything! You want to go running sometime?"

"Wow! You just found the one thing I can't be talked into. I'm going! Good night!"

My roommates will go running with them. I will stay comfortable, cozy, and non-sweaty at home.

[BIG smile]

Muffin Bandit...

I found out who ate my muffin. It wasn't Isaac or Kenny. It was Oliver!!! Also, it was yesterday that he ate it. He found it in Kenny's car.....a week after I left it in there. Oh gosh....how gross! They kept the muffin liner for me. How thoughtful and sweet. NOT!

Traci and I played games with the Hoytsville boys. Yes, apparently Hoytsville is a real town here in Utah. Those guys have an inordinate amount of pride in it. I never heard of it until a month ago. We played Liars' Dice (fun, but I can only take so much of it) and I lost miserably at Nerts last night. I am so out of practice. It was tragic. I tried Nutella for the first time. Excuse me...I experienced Nutella. Not my words. It wasn't too bad. Kenny put it on a crepe with whipped cream and it was actually quite delightful.



I have to register for classes tonight. I hate it. I have like five classes I need to take, but they only count for 13 credits. I need one more....but it will mean that I won't be able to work. Which means I can't save any money. We will see.

I know my life is comparatively easy to some, but right now it feels really, really hard.

Oh Happy Day!

I am happy today cos....

-- I gave up writing my paper last night and I skipped class today

-- I went to Smith's today and there lots of good sales on snacks

-- I like snacks

-- I went to McDonald's today

-- I am watching "You've Got Mail"

-- Tom Hanks is in "You've Got Mail"

-- So is Steve Zahn

-- I am going to "Fun"due night at my friend Spratt's house

-- I am going to see "The Dark Knight" at the 3-dollar theater tonight (with my roommates, my neighbors, my hubby, and my children)

-- I have bat-shaped Reese's

-- I am having a sleepover in the living room with my roommates after we come home from the movie

Melt...

Oh gosh....the sweetest girls came by. Jaelise and Krystal came over with a plate of chocolate chip cookies and a note thanking me for being FHE mom. I've been so sick to my stomach with stress and on the verge of tears all day. I still am but I feel so much better. Their coming over was just what I needed. How did they know?!

I am just about to start writing my paper and here's to staying up all night.

Oh, help......

Grrr....

I spent the whole afternoon trying to figure out who ate my missing pumpkin chocolate chip muffin that I got at FHE. Granted, I did forget and leave it in Kenny's car (I eventually figured it out), but now I've got conflicting stories as to who ate it. Kenny says Isaac did it, Isaac says Kenny did it. Then they called each other liars. Kenny said I can't trust redheads....and then Isaac called Kenny a blonde-headed (insert mean name) ... And now there is a war. Some husband and son. They stink!

And yesterday, Cody stole my yoga mat when I fell asleep in the writing lab. I still haven't got it back, he's currently out of town, and I have Pilates in the morning. I could use a school mat, but seriously.....talk about NAST!!! Who knows whose sweat is on those? At least with mine, it's only mine.

And I have a 5 page paper due on Thursday and an 8 page rough draft due on Friday.....and both of them are impossible!!!

Seriously...what have I done to deserve all of this?

Owwww....

I fell off the bus today. All the way off.

It was raining this morning at 7:00. In case you don't know...when it rains, the ground gets a bit slick. Especially the floor of the bus. You know the little grooves they put in so as to create traction in times of rain and snow? USELESS!!! Completely POINTLESS!! They don't work!! At all! It's a lie!

There were about fifteen people on the bus and I was the first one to get off. Or should I say fall? The road by the stop where I get off is very steeply sloped on the sides. Most vehicles looked tipped over when they pull close to the curb. This bus was no exception and I knew it. So I was extra careful--trying to step slowly and steadily. No such luck. My foot slipped off the first step and I landed on my butt, only to slide off to land on the second step, only to bounce off that one to land on the last step, my feet hitting the ground.

I was stunned. I couldn't even laugh at myself. Nobody offered to help me up or ask me if I was okay. So I just got up....hung my head....and walked away. The sounds of laughter followed me. I'm not even kidding. Lots of laughter.

Bad things happen to me on the bus.

Always.

Freshman year, the driver couldn't see me in the mirror (I'm short) and so as soon as I stepped on, he closed the doors on me. Literally. I was pinned. I screamed. He yelled. The door was opened. Apologies were made. Lots of laughter.

Freshman and Junior years.....slipped trying to get ON the bus...fell and slid all the way off....I don't know what's more humiliating, bouncing on your butt from step to step or sliding backwards on your stomach while managing to look the driver straight in the eye....and he's laughing.....

Ma-mazing!!

Just what the title says. I'm a ma, and I'm amazing. :) Did I ever mention that I was an FHE mom? Well, I am and it's the best calling in the world. I love it. I love, love, love, love, love it! When I got called into Bro. Jensen's office a month and a half ago, I was very nervous. I was hoping for a calling where I could actually make a difference, but not have it stress me out as far as Mars and Jupiter. You know? I'm sitting there, my ears straining, and I hear "...Family Home Evening Mom..." I choked, stared at him, and then.....I started to laugh. Really hard. Poor counselor. He didn't know what to do. I said, "Are you serious?" and Bro. Jenson nodded gravely, "Yes, very." But he was smiling. He knew I was a quirky weirdo last year too. He shouldn't've been surprised.

I was sure surprised... and worried. My roommate, Erica, was our mom last year and she was basically a single mom: she did all the planning, the shopping, all of the spiritual thoughts and activities. Our dad didn't help out at all. Erica is going into interior design and her program is so rigorous and demanding that she hardly had any time to eat, let alone plan weekly activities. So the rest of us roommates usually took over. I told Bro. Jensen that I was worried, and he told me that he would allow me to pick my husband. Since I am gullible, I believed him. Later that night at ward prayer, Bro. Jensen admitted that he fibbed to me. Now I was really nervous...who the heck was I paired up with? Would he ditch me to do the job on my own? Long story short....I think I got the best husband out of all of them. Kenny was on the ball from the very start: delegating, taking charge, and helping me figure things out. All my previous worries were totally obliterated. I felt like I could do it. Plus he's hilarious. Can't get much better. Thanks honey! You're the best!

I've got the best family. There are about thirty assigned to Kenny and me, and we usually have anywhere from 15-20 show up every time. That is a fantastic turnout. They are all so funny and nice, and I adore them all. Except there are some punks that never show up, even though they tell me they will when I invite them each week. I never thought it was a big deal when I wasn't in charge, but now that I'm on the other side, it honestly hurts my feelings. But when people make the effort to come to the activities and take the time out of their busy days, well, it just makes me so happy. Those of you in singles' or student wards, support your FHE groups, it means the world to your Mas and Pas, and it just really promotes the unity within the ward. And when your ward is wonderful, the gospel is just that much sweeter. I know it is!

I love it when they call out, "Hi Mom!" Makes me laugh. My kids are great. Which is funny since they are all my age or older. I just love it. I love my husband, I love my kids, I love the fam. It's the best. I just have to gush because we just had a really good FHE tonight. I made a goof of myself as usual, but they seem to be okay with it. Just as long as Kenny doesn't get engaged over Christmas break...people tend to do that...I've never even asked if he's dating anyone...I don't want him to get married...it would suck to have to get a new partner...it'll be a good year. Haha. :D

Carrying the Banner...

No, I'm not waving a flag around. That what a color guard is for. My friend Spratt and I were newsies for Halloween. We went to the Howl. The biggest Halloween party in three states. Or so I hear. Also, it's the skankiest. And the sweatiest. And the smelliest. But I learned the Thriller dance. It was thrilling. I had so much fun though. I can't understand Spratt though. He went as a newsie, but he has never seen Newsies. He says he made a solemn vow never to watch the movie until he is married. It's so that if a girl wants to watch it with him, she'll "have" to marry him. I dunno....but methinks the logic is screwed here.

Aren't I amazing? And aren't we amazing? No worries, I know it's an awful picture. My roomie took it at a terrible angle.



My vest was amazing. It cost me 3 bucks at the D.I. I already had the hat.

I hate to toot my own horn, but I am SO fun! Haha...