Summertime Sunshine

Guess where we went...... HAWAII!

And it was the bomb. Sunshine, ocean, sand, shaved ice, what more could I ask for?

He loves me, I know it. Also I don't know why tank tops are in style now for guys. But my brother can rock 'em. He maybe had to have a talk about modesty with my mother "Nathan, boys have to be modest too."


Only one more month until I start my teaching job! I'm excited and nervous. Hopefully I won't get eaten alive by middle school children.

You're chummin' the water!

We may be 15 years older but we still know how to have a good time.
 In a few short days me and this kid will be headed to Hawaii!!
Sharing a room, let the good times roll!

Needless to say, and based on the title of this post, I will not be participating in deep sea fishing this trip. When you throw up 10 times in a matter of 2 hours, you know deep sea angling is not your thang...

Bumble

First off, let's just say that bees HATE me. I swear I have always had trouble with these stinging insects following me and getting all up in my business. Maybe they can smell fear? I don't know? Regardless, yesterday and this morning I had an encounter.

Yesterday I was traveling around with my momma we were waiting at a red light when all of a sudden a wasp started harrassing my window. Not just being curious and flying away, no, bumping up against my window over and over and flying all around that glass portal. As the light turned green it grabbed onto the window and held on for dear life. We were traveling at approximately 50 mph and it was hunkered down. I began hitting the window, because of course that always works, but he was a stubborn little guy. We come to a stop, it begins to crawl around the door. I am sitting there watching it in the side mirror and it crawls into the crack where the door connects to the car....what the?!!! I then refuse to open my door, climb out the back seat when we reach our destination and then remain paranoid and constantly check the crack from the door that leads into the car.

This morning I get into my car to drive peacefully to work, rocking out to Ke$ha, Kelly Clarkson, and Justin Bieber (don't judge). But as I take the ramp down onto University Avenue I hear a loud buzzing and catch a brief glimpse of a dark shadow in my rearview. Because of yesterday I still had the heeby jeebies. There in my back seat flying all around is a huge, fat, gigantic bumble-bee. WHY ME?! I yell out "GOOD GRACIOUS!!" and then proceed to pull over to the side of the road. I jump out of my car as fast as I can and then try to figure out what I am going to do? I can't drive to work with that thing back there, what if it comes and attacks me, what if I get distracted by it and cause an accident, what if it stings me, how did it get in my car?! I open the passenger side door and look at it....I can't swat at it, what if it gets angry? I then pound on the window from outside, this always works right? Recent events have taught me that no, this does not always work! I leave the door open, maybe it is not like other bugs, maybe it is smart, and actually knows that I am trying to help it escape...alas no luck. (I probably look like an idiot at this point to passers-by) But it seems to be calming down. It sits there for about a minute with no movement. I think, I can do this, I'll just keep an eye on it and drive to work and hopefully it doesn't start buzzin' around again. Flash forward, I made it to work, the bumble bee is still in my car, my windows are cracked, hoping against hope that it will fly away.

I'm telling you...they hate me.

The Grizzlies

I have been a Viking, Leopard, Bruin, Cougar, and now I am a GRIZZLY!

That's right people my college career actually got me a job! I am now the proud recipient of the Health and PE internship at Payson Junior High School. What does this mean exactly? Well it means that I have a job, a job that pays half salary, full benefits, a job that if I want it next year, it is all MINE! And I will then be a full fledged teacher! This is so so so exciting because I don't know if you know this or not, but it is DANG hard to get a job in this economy, let alone a job right out of college and in the public school system. AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME! (yes, it did need to be said three times in all caps)

Needless to say I feel extremely blessed. And it is kind of scary to be a first year teacher, but I am up for the challenge. Bring it on Payson Junior High. I'm ready!

My not so little brother...

Turned 17 last Saturday, and I'm unsure how I feel about it. I remember being 17 like it was yesterday. In actuality it was 5 years ago...this is crazy talk! I feel old, but I also love that weird kid more than anything. So Nathan, here's to you buddy!
 
- I love that you make me laugh so hard with your ridiculous stories and witty comebacks
- I love that you wear a robe around the house like you are 85 years old
- I love that you humor me when I am feeling like an adventure
- I love your wicked awesome hair in the morning
- I love how you chase me around the kitchen with a wooden spoon, or wet towel
- I love how you do not care if you are messy or dirty as long as you are having fun
- I love how amazingly skilled you are in golf and basketball
- I love how you let me sing stupid songs to you when you are mad at me, such as "Nathan, I love you, that's all I have to offer. Nathan I need you, please don't turn me away." Saturdays Warrior anyone?
- I love how hard of a worker you are
- I love the way you let me put my head on your shoulder when I'm tired
- I love that you are my not so little brother forever!

Finisher

Have you ever had someone say...
enjoy this time while you can, because
it only gets busier as life goes on.

Sad to say, but I NEVER believed them.
This is what I would say to myself in my head:
"Ya, ya, ya, whatever you old man/woman. I am
going to graduate from college, get a job, and
everything will be smooth, hassle free sailing,
from there on out."
Oh what a fool I was. What a gosh darn fool.

As I attended my last real class EVER today. The
ginormous scope of my situation hit me. I have
a lot of work ahead of me, lots of things to do, busy,
busy, busy, and no slow down in sight. But that's ok,
because I am excited and I'm going to enjoy every
minute of it!

So I just want all those old people out there to know...

You were right. You win! 

Oh the places you'll go

Lately I have bizarre day dreams of where I want to travel to.

In no way do I have thoughtful or inspiring reasons on why I want to go to these places. Regardless...here you go.

Maine! Why Maine you ask? I picture ME (stupidest state abbreviation ever)

exactly like this

I will stroll along the coast, where lighthouses abound, eat lobster, visit cranberry bogs,

and dress like I'm straight out of a JCrew catalogue. 

Greece! This could come from my love of the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, or Momma Mia.

I'll be honest I just want to fish and swim in the sea and eat pita bread and humus all day. 

Is that so bad? Oh and finally be around people who are as loud as me.

Super Powers

Today I took a test that decided the future of my major

and therefore, also my career. It's called the Praxis...dun, dun, dun.

I used a trusty spider man pencil and then while waiting to leave the testing room

I doodled in my test booklet.* I'm an adult!

*Don't worry I was allowed to write in it.

strength

I am currently taking an exercise physiology class for my minor. Basically it is the bomb, and I may complain about it but it seriously is one of my favorites.

Today we went into the weight room to start our own personal strength training program. I was kind of excited about this, seeing as I do work out pretty regularly, and consider myself to be in good shape. This is more due to my 15 years of rigorous dance classes than to anything else. But get this,

I can leg press 200 pounds! My 5'3" frame is strong! However, I could not relish in this moment for too long because then I went to the bench press. I have never benched pressed in my life, until today. A measley 60 pounds...I'm ashamed. Regardless of this I am still lovin' that 200 pounds. So thank you dancing days for giving me super powered legs, and toned arms that look nice but don't really do anything. Bench press is mostly your pecs right? That's what I'm going to go with.

I feel like I have posted a lot of videos on here lately. But I couldn't pass this up.
This is how you feel sometimes when your teachers want you to hit an exact position.

Golden Girls

I just got back from the BYU v New Mexico game...devastating....I think that's the right word. We could not make a shot and they made everything they threw up. I hated it. I yelled, screamed, boo-ed, cheered, and bad mouthed refs. Speaking of the refs, that was the poorest display of officiating I have ever laid eyes on. So ridiculous. I hated it.

But I didn't hate ALL of my time at the game. The half time show was off the chain! You see, there is a group of ladies, ages 50-94 who are called Jean's Golden Girls....they are the BOMB! And if I am not a crazy cat lady when I am old, my new dream is to join their dance crew. An old lady dance crew. Can life get any better? I submit that it cannot! New life dream: GOLDEN GIRL!

Meet Terri Dixon, 94 years old and can shake it like a salt shaker. Oh and still do the splits! You go girl!

I can't get over it

These artists are amazing! It's comforting to know that
all music isn't complete SMUT these days- a.k.a. Ke$ha and Miley Cyrus*





*I will always love you Hannah Montana

frost yourself

Today I hated the snow.
Then I made sure to make
a new path through a field of untouched snow :)

Also I realized I crave french fries every other day,
this could be a problem.

More relevant news: I had my first interview for an internship.
Wish me luck! Next autumn* I will be teaching for real. AWESOME

*Autumn is classier than "Fall"

Confessions

I have decided to share with you a few of my confessions. Nothing serious, like I would confess to a Priest if I were Catholic, just fun things that I have noticed about myself, that are maybe a little unique...or maybe they're not...who knows?!

Confession #1
I am a people watcher. Many of us are. But I think I may participate in this activity more than your average Joe. I say this because I have been known to blatantly stare at people and even make faces depending on my reaction to what is occurring. This usually happens when I am alone and have no one with me who checks me back into reality. In fact one time I was eating lunch in the Cougareat and watched a break-up go down between two little freshmen. Sad, really, but so entertaining. Now usually this is a private conversation and happens with no one else there to share in the agony and all around awkwardness of the situation. But I was there and watched every second of it. I felt a little bad for eaves dropping later but it was so fun to watch this young boy (pre-mish) and 18 year old girl end their relationship in a very public place. You're young people! Go and live your lives! She probably would not have waited for you anyways. So really it is there fault for doing it someplace so public. This habit has even made it difficult to study in the library. To combat this I now study in the depths of the library, between stacks of books, in my own little cubby. It is great and I get loads of stuff done. I just have to seclude myself away from humanity :)

Confession #2
Buying a new journal is a deeply personal and spiritual matter for me. It has to be cute, so no plain Jane journals. It must be a good secret keeper. It should have crisp pages with college spaced lines. It must protect, be a good listener, and share in triumphs and failures. I mean we have been told repeatedly to write our own personal histories for our posterity so I better have a good journal to keep all that information in. Really tho, I am a little OCD about choosing just the right journal but I love it. And I always love getting a new journal even if I don't need one right at that moment. So if you are ever looking for a good gift just get me a cute writing tablet, I will seriously LOVE IT!

Confession #3
Christmas morning is a SACRED event, not to be tampered with in any way. In my family's household we have always looked forward to Christmas morning with excitement from the time we were 1 till now. Many of you now that you are grown wake up at 9 o'clock and mosey your way on down to the Christmas tree. There is no moseying or sleeping in on Christmas! My family still awakes promptly at 5 a.m. and if we are not up by that time (this happened only one year) my dad will wake us up and hurry us down to look at our Santa gifts. As I said this only happened once and he had to wake us up at 5:30 a.m. so no harm done. We do not get ready for the day before going down to look at and open presents, but we remain steadfast, in our pajamas until around 10 when we finally take some showers and what not. Christmas morning will be celebrated appropriately! I mean it is hard to not get excited when your dad wears a red silk robe and a Santa hat when he comes down.

Yes, I live at home

As many of you may or may not know on Thanksgiving day my apartment flooded. This resulted in much chaos and destruction. Stress, tears, and unbelief were felt by me and my roommates as we gazed upon the mess that was our cute and beloved apartment. Now because of this flood I moved back home. Now that I live at home I feel like I have to explain myself to everyone who asks where I live. I mean I love it! I have a queen sized bed instead of a twin, space for all my clothes, my own bathroom, a refrigerator full of food, a mother that cooks for me, etc. So really, it has a lot of plusses. But everytime someone asks me where I am living or about my apartment I have to tell them that "Oh! I live at home now." This is usually followed up with a drawn out "OOOOOOH...." from the other person. What is up with that?! Don't they know that I have been living away from home basically my whole college career. I know how to take care of myself ok, I'm not afraid to leave the nest, so this is a nice break from paying rent every month, so back off people!

But then I feel like I have to explain myself, and how I came to be living at home as a 22 year old, senior, college student. Then understanding seems to get to them but I always feel like I am looked down upon...just a little...because I live at home. I think they are just jealous, right? That is what I am going to tell myself whenever I hear another "OOOOH" from someone about my living situation. I promise I am not the 30 year old man who still lives in their parent's basement and plays video games every day.