I Love My DAD

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I received this in an e-mail from my own father. So I don't feel guilty ONE BIT about putting it on my blog. I love it :)

Enjoy.

12 hours

I've survived severe headaches, numberous infections, a few gashed open toes, countless jammed fingers, high fevers, a broken finger, an ATV crash, gout... I've survived all of this without any kind of pain medicine. I admit, I came close to taking them when I had gout but never could swallow that pill. In fact, I didn't even learn how to swallow pills until I started college. (And that was for vitamins, not meds :))

I've never taken ibuprofen. That is... until this past October. Shortly after my 20th birthday I seriously hurt my back. I was all alone in the apartment when it happened and the pain was so great that it literally paralyzed me. It was frightening. After what seemed like an eternity one of my roommates came home and found me in tears from the immense pain. She disappeared and immediately reappeared with some pills. I was in so much pain that I just swallowed what she gave me - no questions asked. It was 6:30pm. By 7pm I was out cold.

I woke up after what felt like 15 minutes. I was a little sore when I moved but amazingly the pain was pretty much gone! I found myself in bed covered with a blanket and a heating pad was on my back. What sweet roommates I have. I checked the clock - it was 7 AM! Amazing.

I haven't taken ibuprofen since. (Only because I haven't gotten injured since.) But next time I am in a situation where I need pain meds, trust me, I will not hesitate to swallow that ibuprofen.

Stuffed Animals

I've had a few stuffed animals in my lifetime. I loved them like they were my own children. I respected their feelings and made sure they all recieved equal amounts of play time with me. We travelled across America and Europe together and if I decided to bring one - then I'd have to bring them all. It was only fair. We share many great memories. They were always nonjudgemental, they kept me safe at night, and they provided me the comfort that I needed when I needed it.

But that was when I was a child. I've since grown up and can't even remember whatever happened to my 'best friends'. Sad, but true. Over these past years I've learned to survive without them. I've 'outgrown' them. I've almost completely forgotten about them.

Floribel recently got home from a trip to the happiest place on Earth- DISNEYLAND. Since I could not go she was thoughtful enough to bring me back a piece of the happiest place on Earth. She gave me a beautiful necklace with my initial on it. Love it. In addition to that, she also got me a stuffed animal.

Cutest thing ever. It's baby Pluto! (Comes with his own adorable hooded blanket too.)

Now I am wondering, how did I ever manage go this long without a stuffed animal? They comfort you in a way that no other person can. Do yourself a favor - go buy a stuffed animal today. (I don't care how old you are)

Outwit. Outplay. Outlast.

I first fell in love with SURVIVOR when I was a young sophomore in high school. I love everything about it - the strategy involved, the challenges, the rewards... oh I could go on! Best. Show. Ever. I've dreamed about being on the show. I wouldn't do it for the million (although that would be a nice little side bonus if I did win :)) I would do it simply for the love of the game.

For 4 years now I've been watching SURVIVOR all by myself because none of my friends or family watch it. That's 9 seasons of exciting blindsides and victories! My family members would run for cover when I got done watching an episode because I would have to explain to them all the exciting points of the episode. It was simply too exciting to keep to myself. I HAD to talk to somebody about it. But since they don't watch it I would then have to explain who's who and what the alliances 'appear' to be and what they really are and the strategies that are brewing up and etc. You get the idea... not all that fun.

This year I found out that my next door neighbor, Mike Hilton, watches Survivor too. Not just Mike, but his whole family plus the Campbell's. What? For 4 years there has been a group of people having a SURVIVOR party while I watch it alone. I wish I would have known this 9 seasons ago... oh well. Can't change the past.

Last week I was invited to their SURVIVOR party to watch it with them. Life changing. My 10th season of SURVIVOR is going to be amazing now that I have a group of people I can talk to who actually know what I'm talking about. Oh it's so exciting! See you Thursday for our next party my fellow survivor friends.

Living In The Moment

I love Germany. I love the landscape. I love the food. I love the language. I love the traditions. I love it all. (minus the beer and cigarettes)

I had the priviledge of living there for 5 whole years. That's a fourth of my lifetime. Sadly, that fraction is getting smaller and smaller with each passing year. What's even more sad is my memories are fading with each passing day.

As I grow older I appreciate that opportunity more and more. It was a wonderful experience, but in the moment I didn't appreciate it. Originally we were only suppose to be there for 3 years. I was definitely living in the future as I counted down those three years in anticipation of my grand return back to Utah. When three years were up I was told we would be staying another 2 years... what!?!! I could not believe this.

But what could I do? Absolutely nothing. A year went by and one brother was already back in Utah attending BYU and the other was leaving to move in with my grandparents and complete his senior year with his friends in Utah. How unfair, I thought. But looking back I wish I could have seen that it was unfair that my brothers didn't get the full 5 year experience. I guess over time I have developed a new perspective on the situation. :)

I've been home for 6 years now. That's longer than the time I actually spent in Germany. I miss it so much and want to go back to visit. One day I will, but it won't be the same. I regret not living in the moment for those 5 years. I'm not going to let that happen ever again.

"Don’t let your life pass you by, focus on the present and enjoy today!"

- Glen Hopkins

PERSPECTIVE

DEFINITION #1:
the relationship or proportion of the parts of a whole, regarded from a particular standpoint



Okay, obviously it's a man playing the saxophone. Well, from my point of view anyways...

DEFINITION #2:
a specific point of view in understanding or judging things or events, esp. one that shows them in their true relations to one another.

Take ice for example. Depending on your perspective, ice could be a number of things. According to Reader's Digest:


As a sheer challenge.


As a sign of life.


As a thing of beauty.


As an upscale igloo.

DEFINITION #3:

the appearance of objects or scenes as determined by their relative distance and positions.

I don't blame her - from her perspective an elephant really is bigger than the moon. Final answer.

Good Citizen

I use my right to vote.
I follow all street laws (I come to COMPLETE stops at stop signs. None of this rolling business.)

I pay my taxes every year.

I care for the environment and do what I can to make it better.
I am honest in everything that I do.

I am a good citizen, but I still can't help feeling nervous while in the presence of a cop. Why is that?

I respect cops and what they do but maybe I get nervous because they have quite a bit of power. Let's face it, if it was ever your word against their's - they would win every time.

Today while running I noticed in the distance was a cop car coming my way. It was the only car on the street and I'm the only one on the sidewalk. I kept my eye on him as he got closer. I'm running, what could I possibly do wrong to violate any laws?! Well that's rational thinking. However sometimes my imagination gets the better of me. I was starting to get somewhat nervous, just somewhat when all of the sudden he reached up for something -

OH NO.

I flinched a little when I saw his arm start to reach up. I knew it, he was going to turn his lights on and 'pull' me over. Or maybe he was reaching for a gun or some cuffs. My heart started beating faster and I noticed that I picked up my pace significantly. I was no longer 'somewhat' nervous. This was a full panic now.

Oh... He was just waving 'hello' at me. *sigh of relief*

What is that?!

A few years ago while working at Gold's Gym child care center, it was unusually slow. Instead of 30 kids to take care of there were only 3... the other worker was watching the two babies while I was lucky enough to be having a tea party with Gracie, a four year old girl. During the tea party (which I'll have you know I was the Guest of Honor :))We noticed a hole in the wall that was barely big enough to fit my pointer finger through.



Strange.
I've never noticed that hole before.

Gracie soon lost interest in the tea party and became obsessed with this hole. She wondered what was in the hole but she was too scared to put her finger through to find out. So I put my finger through it to show her that there was nothing to be afraid of. I still could not convince her that nothing was in there though. It was like she knew something that I didn't...

One thing led to another and now we were taking silly pictures on my digital camera. But she again lost interest and was AGAIN drawn to this strange hole in the wall. What's the deal? Now she wants to takes pictures of the hole. Whatever - she was having fun so I just sat back and relaxed while she obsessed over this hole. After a few minutes she brought the camera back to me so I could show her how to view the pictures she'd taken on my camera. We looked through them together. There was picture after picture of this stupid hole but one of them was much different than the rest. I was shocked to discover this -




WHAT IS THAT?!
Can you say creepy!?!

I will never be putting my fingers in dark holes ever again... and I advise the same to you. Who knows what's in there..

there's one in all of us

I have to say that when I saw Where The Wild Things Are I LOVED it. Strange, yes... but I loved it. Mostly because I think I can easily identify myself with Max. (Oh how I love that name too.)



For those of you who haven't seen this movie... it's about a boy named Max who is rambunctious and has an incredible imagination. He feels misunderstood at home and after an argument he runs away. Not only physically, but to a whole other world of his imagination. An ocean away he lands on an island where he meets large wild beasts whose emotions are as unpredictable and wild as their actions. One beast in particular, Carol, is very similar to Max in temperament. Instead of eating him, they crown him king because Max proclaims that he can magically solve all of their problems and he can create a place where everyone will be happy.



I am a daydreamer. Big time. I may be physically on the same planet as you, but trust me.. I'm living in a whole different world. Maybe it's all in 'perspective'. That's what my psychology professor keeps telling me anyways..




Anyhow, I'm going to keep on living in 'my world' thank you.

"Inside all of us is... hope. Inside all of us is... fear. Inside all of us is... adventure. Inside all of us is a wild thing."

p.s. DIBS on naming my son Max. I called it.

Happy Valentine's Day

Life is FULL of simple pleasures. We all have them. Here is a relatively short list of some of the simple pleasures in my life that I just LOVE and can't live without.

1.Finding money you didn't know you had
2.Receiving a hand written letter
3.Baking a good batch of cookies
4.Alicia Keys comes on the radio right when I get in the car. As if she knew I was getting in the car and wanted to sing to me. She's just awesome like that
5.Saying something simultaneously as someone else after a moment of silence
6.Receiving an unexpected, but nonetheless, very appreciated phone call
7.Putting on clothes straight from the dryer
8.Having a really good laugh
9.The feeling right after you've had a good work out
10.Making someone smile
11.WHOLE MILK.
12.Rain storms on a summer day
13.Helping someone in need
14.Reading a good book
15.Watching a sunrise/sunset
16.Waking to a clean house
17.Playing a good game of soccer
18.Taking a looong, hot bath
19.Checking something off my to-do list
20.Swinging on a swing
21.Having a picnic
22.Swimming in my pool at night
23.Campfires
24.Making snow angels
25.A good snowball fight
26.Dancing like Beyonce
27.MY HAIR EXTENSIONS
28.Tricking people into thinking I can play the piano like a pro
29.Watching the clouds
30.My ROXY moccasins. They are a foot's best friend
31.Going everywhere in my sweats and a hoodie
32.Surprise parties
33.Cruising around on mopeds
34.Building snowmen on the roof
35.Getting an ace in volleyball
36.Buying a new pair of running shoes
37.Passing, playing and watching some good football
38.Cooking a dinner that everyone loves
39.Fleur de lis
40.When you discover new music on your OWN iPod
41.When the forcast predicts bad weather but you get 100% sunshine
42.Pillow fights
43.PB&J Sandwiches
44.Playing in rain puddles
45.Looking out of a plane window and only being able to see miles and miles of puffy white clouds below you
46.Family, friends, neighbors, classmates... people in general.
47.Creating music videos with friends
48.Animals
49.My annual family talent show
50.Life

“Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live.”

Happy Valentine's Day.

Going Solo

Through some persuasion from Caralee, I have decided to start my own blog. I know you're probably wondering "But what about Anna?" Truth is, the blog we created together was a lot of fun... while it lasted that is. Okay okay, I'll admit it. Over the past few months we slacked off BIG TIME on our blog and consequently, I can no longer remember the password and the domain name is a little fuzzy itself. But rest assured that my dear sweet friend, Anna, will live and our adventures will continue. Just on a new blog :)

I've thought about what my first post should be about. It didn't take long to decide.

ALICIA KEYS.

This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.

This past Christmas I didn't have a wish list of things I wanted. Because after all, it's not about the presents. Whenever anyone asked me what I wanted I told them it did not matter but that they couldn't go wrong with Alicia's newest album, Element of Freedom. ;) Knowing that I suggested it to everyone who asked I was sure to get it. Christmas day came and past. No Alicia Keys CD.

But Caralee came to my rescue! She bought it for me in addition to the gift she had already purchased for me. Oh how I love her! Let's face it, the only time I cry is when I laugh. We all know that. But I was so touched by her thoughtfulness that I was ALMOST moved to tears. You should be so proud Cara.

For years I never had a favorite music artist. But when I discovered Alicia's As I Am album I was blown away. I've heard a few of her songs before this and quite enjoyed them but when I heard this album I fell in love with her music and she has been my favorite artist ever since. I admit there was a time when I thought twice about it and wondered if Beyonce was my new number one. Beyonce has got an amazingly powerful voice and DANG can she dance. But Alicia wins everytime. She will always be my number one. Beyonce is just going to have to get use to always being my number two.

As if getting Alicia's new album wasn't enough, while Cara and I sat listening the her music I was looking at the track names and to my surprise number 10 featured Beyonce. Say what? Noooooo way. I'm sure you can't believe it either. I shouted at Cara to skip to number 10, I HAD to hear this for myself to believe it. It's a dream come true. I was suddenly flooded with all sorts of happy emotions that were so strong that I really thought I was going to cry this time. Seriously.

I've been listening to Alicia's album ever since.

Thank you Cara.