Okay, so I've had a couple of mishaps this week.
Yep, it's true. I know that doesn't come as a surprise to most of you (the few people that actually read my blog! You know who you are!)
So let's start with mishap number one.
The Table
I know I've had my table for like a month now, but I finally got around to actually putting it together. I went to the store twice, buying pliers both times to see if I could get the nuts off the bolts. Every time I tried, the whole bolt would spin with the nut and it wasn't coming off! My brother-in-law kindly gave me a ratchet set, claiming it would get the job done.
So enter my trusty best friend Brittany. She came to my house last weekend and kindly agreed to help me put together my table. Even with the ratchet the whole bolt was still moving. So Brittany used her strong muscles (and a pair of my pliers! Those trips to the store weren't useless after all!) to hold the bolt. And I used my strong muscles to use the ratchet and we finally got all the bolts and nuts unattached from each other. I was so excited to be putting my table together! I put the legs on and set the table up!
The next morning I awoke to an epiphany.
I had put the legs on wrong!
How did I do that?! I put the bolts facing outward instead of inward. I don't know why I thought it would be attractive to have the bolts all facing outward! In fact, that's probably dangerous! But yep! That's what I did...not only to one leg...but all four! Wow...just wow...it's like I've never put anything together before! That reminds me of the time I put a bookcase together when I was 20...but we won't talk about that!
So I tried desperately to fix it, but once again, I was alone! And not strong enough to get the nuts and bolts separated. Too bad I don't have a strong man to come help me! But then he'd know how dumb I am sometimes...I just can't win with this one! :)
Chapstick
So I'm pretty much addicted to Chapstick. I always have a tube or two in my purse or my pocket. Well last night I was in a hurry to get my laundry done because I had gone to the temple, it was like 9 and I needed to get ready for bed. So I threw my skirt that I'd been wearing in with my laundry. I was able to get it all in the dryer by the time I went to bed. I was so proud of myself for getting everything accomplished that I'd needed to!
I woke up this morning and went to get my laundry out of the dryer. I hear a small clatter. I looked down and to my horror, I saw my Chapstick...in the dryer! I pulled it out and took off the lid. No more Chapstick in the tube. I carefully started inspecting my clothes and found exactly where that Chapstick had ended up...all over half my clothes!
The tube was almost gone anyway! How did that little bit of Chapstick manage to get all over my clothes?! Bah! So I've been spending my time this afternoon trying to get stains out of my clothes.
I guess if all else fails, it just means I get to go on a shopping spree to replace all my ruined clothes!
So now I have Chapstick stained clothes and a table that is put together all wrong. Yep...it's been a good week! At least I get to go country swing dancing tonight!!
Sometimes I worry about myself! :)
*Good Song: Congratulations by Blue October
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Highlights!
I have now lived in Salt Lake City for a month. What?! That went by fast! In honor of this, here is a list of highlights!!
1. I bought a table. Yes...I did! It's wood with red trim and has mismatched chairs! But I think it's cute!
So here's the story. I bought it from a lady in Ogden. I didn't really think much about how I was going to get it back to my house, but I was sure I could figure it out! I get to the house, like the table, pay for it, and the lady asks me if I think it will fit in the back seat of my car....my little Toyota Corolla... "Maybe? We can try!" So we carry it out to my car and we move it around and adjust the seats...and the table hangs out the door a couple of inches. No way was that car door closing. Then the lady comes up with a genius idea! "If you don't mind, we can tie your door shut." Do I mind?! Of course I don't mind! I'm a country girl, mate! So we tie that door shut, I fit the four chairs in my car, and off I went.
So if you saw a little Toyota with a table hanging out the backseat driving down the freeway...I'm pretty sure that it was me! (I also realized later that I'd forgotten to get the legs...but no worries! They are now safely in my possession!)
2. I almost get run over by Asians when I walk to work.
Haha! Okay, so there is always a big tour bus full of Asians visiting the Capitol building...every single time I walk to and from work. I almost get run over by them sometimes. They're taking pictures and not really paying attention to anything. But I love those awkward little moments. "Oh sorry" as I'm sidestepping the collision. They say something in whichever Asian language they're speaking and keep taking pictures.
But I love that I can rely on my Asian tour bus friends to be there, every single day!
3. I finally went country swing dancing here!
So I don't know hardly anybody and I didn't know anybody going dancing. But I still wanted to go! So what did I do?! I went! By myself! And had an awesome time!
Two funny things happened: a) I was dancing with this attractive man who was really good. Then he dipped me...and flung me back up just hard enough for my face to meet his shoulder...haha! But don't worry! No serious injuries! b) I danced with this other guy and we had exchanged names at the beginning. At the end he asked, "It was Anna, right?" "Yes," I replied. "And you're Todd?!" He gave me a death look. "It's Tom." More death stares. Me: "Oh, I'm sorry! I was close though! Haha." More death stares with awkward silence. Okay...I'm just going to leave now. I mean come on! It's one letter difference! And the music was loud! So Tom...or Todd...or whatever is name was...will probably never ask me to dance again! But it's fine!
4. I finally went to Zupa's. My dear friends, you need to go try their sandwiches! They are soooo good! It's like sandwich heaven! Loved it!!
So there you have it...the highlights of my month! Also, Utah Highway Patrol always has some cops hanging out around the Capitol Building. I should probably bring them some cookies or something...I feel like just sitting in a patrol car watching the Capitol building wouldn't be very exciting. And it's never a bad idea to be on the good side of law enforcement, right?! :)
*Good Song: Just A Fool by Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton (I know right?! Who ever thought they would sing a song together?! Well it's true my friends! They sing it! Together!)
1. I bought a table. Yes...I did! It's wood with red trim and has mismatched chairs! But I think it's cute!
So here's the story. I bought it from a lady in Ogden. I didn't really think much about how I was going to get it back to my house, but I was sure I could figure it out! I get to the house, like the table, pay for it, and the lady asks me if I think it will fit in the back seat of my car....my little Toyota Corolla... "Maybe? We can try!" So we carry it out to my car and we move it around and adjust the seats...and the table hangs out the door a couple of inches. No way was that car door closing. Then the lady comes up with a genius idea! "If you don't mind, we can tie your door shut." Do I mind?! Of course I don't mind! I'm a country girl, mate! So we tie that door shut, I fit the four chairs in my car, and off I went.
So if you saw a little Toyota with a table hanging out the backseat driving down the freeway...I'm pretty sure that it was me! (I also realized later that I'd forgotten to get the legs...but no worries! They are now safely in my possession!)
2. I almost get run over by Asians when I walk to work.
Haha! Okay, so there is always a big tour bus full of Asians visiting the Capitol building...every single time I walk to and from work. I almost get run over by them sometimes. They're taking pictures and not really paying attention to anything. But I love those awkward little moments. "Oh sorry" as I'm sidestepping the collision. They say something in whichever Asian language they're speaking and keep taking pictures.
But I love that I can rely on my Asian tour bus friends to be there, every single day!
3. I finally went country swing dancing here!
So I don't know hardly anybody and I didn't know anybody going dancing. But I still wanted to go! So what did I do?! I went! By myself! And had an awesome time!
Two funny things happened: a) I was dancing with this attractive man who was really good. Then he dipped me...and flung me back up just hard enough for my face to meet his shoulder...haha! But don't worry! No serious injuries! b) I danced with this other guy and we had exchanged names at the beginning. At the end he asked, "It was Anna, right?" "Yes," I replied. "And you're Todd?!" He gave me a death look. "It's Tom." More death stares. Me: "Oh, I'm sorry! I was close though! Haha." More death stares with awkward silence. Okay...I'm just going to leave now. I mean come on! It's one letter difference! And the music was loud! So Tom...or Todd...or whatever is name was...will probably never ask me to dance again! But it's fine!
4. I finally went to Zupa's. My dear friends, you need to go try their sandwiches! They are soooo good! It's like sandwich heaven! Loved it!!
So there you have it...the highlights of my month! Also, Utah Highway Patrol always has some cops hanging out around the Capitol Building. I should probably bring them some cookies or something...I feel like just sitting in a patrol car watching the Capitol building wouldn't be very exciting. And it's never a bad idea to be on the good side of law enforcement, right?! :)
*Good Song: Just A Fool by Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton (I know right?! Who ever thought they would sing a song together?! Well it's true my friends! They sing it! Together!)
Saturday, May 18, 2013
A World To Believe In
So I discovered a song by Celine Dion on the plane ride home from my mission in Australia. It's called "A World to Believe In". At the time, I felt like it summed up my mission experience. As I listen to it again, I realize that it sums up my life!
So you should go listen to it, because it's good!
Life is full of hard things! Heartache, pain, suffering, broken trust, abuse, separation from loved ones, bad health, lost love, loneliness...the list goes on and on!
But amid all those terrible things are beautiful wonderful things! One of my roommates is blind. I was talking to her today about her condition. She told me that if she had the option, she would probably still choose to be blind. She said she would be too afraid of what she would see, that there are too many terrible things that she's glad that she doesn't have to see. But I think the beautiful things make up for the terrible things!
Sunsets, mountains, clouds, flowers, smiles, the way old married couples still in love look at each other, beautiful art, music notes on a sheet of paper, reading poetry, colors, eyes, city lights, stars, rivers, animals, etc.
Although life is full of pain, Heavenly Father has given me a world to believe in! No matter how hard life gets, His love helps me rise above all of it! Is it hard? Yes! Is it worth it?! YES!
I will take all the hard things because amidst those hard things are incredible experiences!
*Good Song: A World to Believe In by Celine Dion
So you should go listen to it, because it's good!
Life is full of hard things! Heartache, pain, suffering, broken trust, abuse, separation from loved ones, bad health, lost love, loneliness...the list goes on and on!
But amid all those terrible things are beautiful wonderful things! One of my roommates is blind. I was talking to her today about her condition. She told me that if she had the option, she would probably still choose to be blind. She said she would be too afraid of what she would see, that there are too many terrible things that she's glad that she doesn't have to see. But I think the beautiful things make up for the terrible things!
Sunsets, mountains, clouds, flowers, smiles, the way old married couples still in love look at each other, beautiful art, music notes on a sheet of paper, reading poetry, colors, eyes, city lights, stars, rivers, animals, etc.
Although life is full of pain, Heavenly Father has given me a world to believe in! No matter how hard life gets, His love helps me rise above all of it! Is it hard? Yes! Is it worth it?! YES!
I will take all the hard things because amidst those hard things are incredible experiences!
*Good Song: A World to Believe In by Celine Dion
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Single Girl Probs
Okay so this post is based on numerous experiences I've had over the years! So here goes!
Part One: Skank Girls
The beat of the country music makes me want to stomp my boots and be twirled around. I spot an attractive man across the room I've seen here before. I meet his eye and smile, hoping to encourage him to come ask me to dance. A few seconds later, he starts coming my way. Yes! Maybe it worked! But out of the corner of my eye, I see a girl in short shorts, a tank top, and cowgirl boots that are definitely not legit making her way across the floor. The attractive guy spots her as well and the next thing you know they're dancing around the room and I'm still standing on the side - by myself - and not dancing! Intercepted! By skank girl.
That's what my friends and I call the girls at country swing dance night that always get asked to dance. Men just like scantily clad, overly made up girls! Come on country boys! You know they're not going to work hard or do much for you other than look pretty! I mean, let's get real, girls like that are way too high maintenance!
These skank girls also get in our way every time we try to do line dances! They come stand right by us. There is definitely a certain amount of space you need to do some line dances and these girls just don't get that! Half the time they don't know what they're doing so they give what they think are sexy booty shakes. And they just look hilarious! They think they're so hot...well, I guess the men do too... but seriously, I just laugh every time!
But that's just coming from me - a country girl who would rather be out shooting guns or four wheeling than going to a movie or getting my nails done! And I don't know how to be super hot for the life of me! I have too many other things to worry about than to worry about catching a shallow man only looking for a hot girlfriend with no substance!
Part Two: Men Who Think They Can String You Along
Okay, so what is with men who think they can lead us on? One second they're all friendly and wanting to spend time with you. And then the next, they're completely ignoring you! Or flirting with other girls in front of you!
One week: Date, call, call, text, text, handholding, etc. Next week: Nothing. The next week: Call, call, text, date, hang out, etc. Next month: Nothing. Next week: Text, text, call, date, cuddling, etc. What?!
I mean, these guys drive me crazy! What the heck do you want mate?! You either want to date us or you don't! So make up your mind! Don't play around with my or my friends' emotions hey?! We're people too! Either pursue us or leave us alone! Are you interested or not?! Just when we start to get over you, you come back with something nice to give us hope that something might work out! It's like they think they can leave us on the back burner when they're checking out other girls. If that doesn't work out, they come back around!
But the dumb thing is that sometimes we let them put us on the back burner. Maybe we as girls think that nobody else will come along. But I have decided that I would much rather be alone than be somebody's second choice. Dating games are dumb! I am making a goal to be more straight up about what I'm thinking! Yep!
So there's my little rant for the week. But being single really isn't all that bad! A couple of my friends and I have just been talking about dating recently and so there are the thoughts that we've come up with! :)
*Good Song: Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men
Part One: Skank Girls
The beat of the country music makes me want to stomp my boots and be twirled around. I spot an attractive man across the room I've seen here before. I meet his eye and smile, hoping to encourage him to come ask me to dance. A few seconds later, he starts coming my way. Yes! Maybe it worked! But out of the corner of my eye, I see a girl in short shorts, a tank top, and cowgirl boots that are definitely not legit making her way across the floor. The attractive guy spots her as well and the next thing you know they're dancing around the room and I'm still standing on the side - by myself - and not dancing! Intercepted! By skank girl.
That's what my friends and I call the girls at country swing dance night that always get asked to dance. Men just like scantily clad, overly made up girls! Come on country boys! You know they're not going to work hard or do much for you other than look pretty! I mean, let's get real, girls like that are way too high maintenance!
These skank girls also get in our way every time we try to do line dances! They come stand right by us. There is definitely a certain amount of space you need to do some line dances and these girls just don't get that! Half the time they don't know what they're doing so they give what they think are sexy booty shakes. And they just look hilarious! They think they're so hot...well, I guess the men do too... but seriously, I just laugh every time!
But that's just coming from me - a country girl who would rather be out shooting guns or four wheeling than going to a movie or getting my nails done! And I don't know how to be super hot for the life of me! I have too many other things to worry about than to worry about catching a shallow man only looking for a hot girlfriend with no substance!
Part Two: Men Who Think They Can String You Along
Okay, so what is with men who think they can lead us on? One second they're all friendly and wanting to spend time with you. And then the next, they're completely ignoring you! Or flirting with other girls in front of you!
One week: Date, call, call, text, text, handholding, etc. Next week: Nothing. The next week: Call, call, text, date, hang out, etc. Next month: Nothing. Next week: Text, text, call, date, cuddling, etc. What?!
I mean, these guys drive me crazy! What the heck do you want mate?! You either want to date us or you don't! So make up your mind! Don't play around with my or my friends' emotions hey?! We're people too! Either pursue us or leave us alone! Are you interested or not?! Just when we start to get over you, you come back with something nice to give us hope that something might work out! It's like they think they can leave us on the back burner when they're checking out other girls. If that doesn't work out, they come back around!
But the dumb thing is that sometimes we let them put us on the back burner. Maybe we as girls think that nobody else will come along. But I have decided that I would much rather be alone than be somebody's second choice. Dating games are dumb! I am making a goal to be more straight up about what I'm thinking! Yep!
So there's my little rant for the week. But being single really isn't all that bad! A couple of my friends and I have just been talking about dating recently and so there are the thoughts that we've come up with! :)
*Good Song: Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Big City Living!
Hahaha, me in a big city...
This is great!
I find a strange comfort in seeing pickup trucks driving around Salt Lake. Maybe there are more country people than I realize.
Also I live near this really beautiful park that has dirt trails going up into a canyon. The trail is right along the river and just beautiful! I went exploring there yesterday. My mom went with me and we wanted to cross the river at one point. So what did we do?! We took off our shoes and waded across the river! After walking up the trail about 3 minutes, we realized there was a bridge! Haha! Oh well! Wading across the river is much more fun than walking across a bridge!
We got lost trying to find a store, but that's because my GPS took us to a random place in the middle of a residential area! :)
I smiled and said hello to a few strangers when we walked past. A couple of them seemed really friendly. Maybe the city won't be so bad after all!
The girl I replaced in the house I'm living in invited me to go get Thai food with her the other night too. So I've made a new friend! She's really great! And I love Thai food!
In all, I have determined that this whole city living isn't going to be so bad! I even know a place where I can go shooting! Give me a place to hike and a place to shoot and I'll be happy as can be! :)
*Good Song: Kiss Me in the Dark by Randy Rogers Band
This is great!
I find a strange comfort in seeing pickup trucks driving around Salt Lake. Maybe there are more country people than I realize.
Also I live near this really beautiful park that has dirt trails going up into a canyon. The trail is right along the river and just beautiful! I went exploring there yesterday. My mom went with me and we wanted to cross the river at one point. So what did we do?! We took off our shoes and waded across the river! After walking up the trail about 3 minutes, we realized there was a bridge! Haha! Oh well! Wading across the river is much more fun than walking across a bridge!
We got lost trying to find a store, but that's because my GPS took us to a random place in the middle of a residential area! :)
I smiled and said hello to a few strangers when we walked past. A couple of them seemed really friendly. Maybe the city won't be so bad after all!
The girl I replaced in the house I'm living in invited me to go get Thai food with her the other night too. So I've made a new friend! She's really great! And I love Thai food!
In all, I have determined that this whole city living isn't going to be so bad! I even know a place where I can go shooting! Give me a place to hike and a place to shoot and I'll be happy as can be! :)
*Good Song: Kiss Me in the Dark by Randy Rogers Band
Thursday, May 2, 2013
AAAHH!!
Almost six years ago I packed up my little Toyota Corolla with my clothes and my keyboard and made the six hour drive to Logan Utah by myself. The only person I knew here was my cousin Megan. I remember being absolutely terrified. I cried on the long drive, knowing that my life was never going to be the same. Friendships would change and I had no idea what it was like to live in the world outside of my beloved small town.
Haha! It still makes me smile when I think about how I didn't know how to find street addresses when I first came here to school. I'd never had to use them in my little town. I'm still pretty good at getting lost though. So I guess that hasn't changed much in the past six years...even though I've had a lot more practice! :)
Almost four years ago I packed the same Corolla and made the long drive back to my hometown. I was getting ready to go on a mission to Australia. I cried on the long drive knowing that everything was going to change. My friends would be graduated or married by the time I got back. I was scared, but those 18 months were some of the most incredible months of my life!
Almost two years ago I made the long drive back to Logan to finish up my education. I was so nervous then too. Would I make friends? Would people think I was weird after being on a mission? The only person I knew that was still here was my little brother Jason. He set me up with some pretty awesome roommates and I met my very best friend, Brittany.
Now I'm about to pack up my little Corolla again. (I've had the little guy for a long time!) The drive isn't as long as it is to my beautiful little town, but I'm just as nervous as I've been at other crossroads in my life. But I know that this is the start to something incredible! I've been nervous every time I've started something new. But every single adventure has turned out to be so fantastic!
So I think I'm ready for another one! Because this adventure is going to be just as or even more incredible than the other ones I've had!
*Good Song: Hearts on Fire by Passenger and Ed Sheeran
Haha! It still makes me smile when I think about how I didn't know how to find street addresses when I first came here to school. I'd never had to use them in my little town. I'm still pretty good at getting lost though. So I guess that hasn't changed much in the past six years...even though I've had a lot more practice! :)
Almost four years ago I packed the same Corolla and made the long drive back to my hometown. I was getting ready to go on a mission to Australia. I cried on the long drive knowing that everything was going to change. My friends would be graduated or married by the time I got back. I was scared, but those 18 months were some of the most incredible months of my life!
Almost two years ago I made the long drive back to Logan to finish up my education. I was so nervous then too. Would I make friends? Would people think I was weird after being on a mission? The only person I knew that was still here was my little brother Jason. He set me up with some pretty awesome roommates and I met my very best friend, Brittany.
Now I'm about to pack up my little Corolla again. (I've had the little guy for a long time!) The drive isn't as long as it is to my beautiful little town, but I'm just as nervous as I've been at other crossroads in my life. But I know that this is the start to something incredible! I've been nervous every time I've started something new. But every single adventure has turned out to be so fantastic!
So I think I'm ready for another one! Because this adventure is going to be just as or even more incredible than the other ones I've had!
*Good Song: Hearts on Fire by Passenger and Ed Sheeran
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Graduating, Moving, and What the heck am I going to do with my life?!
I am graduating!!
That's right...with a Bachelor of Arts in History with minors in Music and Anthropology.
I have taken my nerdiness to the extreme by having two minors! And it added a couple of extra semesters onto my education! But it's fine! The day is finally (almost) here!!
I find myself having the occasional mental freakout. Am I ready for the adult world of real jobs and responsibilities?! What do I truly want to do with my life? What kind of person do I want to be? And how am I, a quirky, country, small-town girl, going to make any kind of difference in this world?
My four years at Utah State have been incredible! I've learned so much about myself, about the people around me, and about the world that I live in. So much more than the education I've received though are the people I've met along the way.
Goodbyes are always hard for me. And being here at Utah State has brought me a plethora of goodbyes - childhood friends and first loves, incredible professors, friends who graduate or get married and move, and even death has separated me from some incredible people. How are there so many incredible people in this world?! I've learned so much from so many people that I've met on this insane journey!
Soon there will be more goodbyes. To Logan, to my fantastic friends who are staying here, to the person I've been as an undergraduate, to professors who have helped shape my education.
But with those goodbyes will come so many more hellos!! What does the future hold?! Nothing but more incredible people, more joy, and more to learn! I can't wait to see what life has in store for me next!! :)
Stay tuned for more adventures of me living in the big city!! :/
*Good Song: Let Her Go by Passenger
That's right...with a Bachelor of Arts in History with minors in Music and Anthropology.
I have taken my nerdiness to the extreme by having two minors! And it added a couple of extra semesters onto my education! But it's fine! The day is finally (almost) here!!
I find myself having the occasional mental freakout. Am I ready for the adult world of real jobs and responsibilities?! What do I truly want to do with my life? What kind of person do I want to be? And how am I, a quirky, country, small-town girl, going to make any kind of difference in this world?
My four years at Utah State have been incredible! I've learned so much about myself, about the people around me, and about the world that I live in. So much more than the education I've received though are the people I've met along the way.
Goodbyes are always hard for me. And being here at Utah State has brought me a plethora of goodbyes - childhood friends and first loves, incredible professors, friends who graduate or get married and move, and even death has separated me from some incredible people. How are there so many incredible people in this world?! I've learned so much from so many people that I've met on this insane journey!
Soon there will be more goodbyes. To Logan, to my fantastic friends who are staying here, to the person I've been as an undergraduate, to professors who have helped shape my education.
But with those goodbyes will come so many more hellos!! What does the future hold?! Nothing but more incredible people, more joy, and more to learn! I can't wait to see what life has in store for me next!! :)
Stay tuned for more adventures of me living in the big city!! :/
*Good Song: Let Her Go by Passenger
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