Friday, March 27, 2009

Restitution.

res⋅ti⋅tu⋅tion [res-ti-too-shuhn] –noun
1. reparation made by giving an equivalent or compensation for loss, damage, or injury caused; indemnification.

I have been asked by a few of my friends if I had plans to ever update my blog again... so here is my peace offering, by month. It's about time, right??

JANUARY


My third roommate, Cynthia, moved in to my condo - and my room! After her first semester at UNLV Cynthia decided that the course of study she was on was not what she wanted to do, and left college. Wanting to stay in the ward, she moved in with me! I couldn't ask for a better roommate to share my room with - she's very easy to get along with. Her plans are to attend a school of cosmetology starting this summer.

Yet another semester at UNLV began for me, and I started to adjust myself to another 18 credit load; only this time half of my credits are being earned via distance education - i.e. online classes. Not my ideal, that's for sure, but due to the economic situation and the resulting budget cuts in all of Nevada's higher education, online courses are all they are offering in order to complete a minor in Entertainment management.

At the beginning of each semester at the institute building next to campus new chairpeople are called to fill in any open positions in LDSSA (Latter-day Saint Student Association). I was called to take the place of the publicity chairperson; meaning I type up the weekly announcements for the institute. It's not much for now, but come Fall semester I will also be in charge of coordinating all homecoming activities to compete against all of the greek societies on campus (fraternities and sororities). Last year LDSSA won all but one award possible for homecoming, so I have some big shoes to fill!

FEBRUARY


I've decided that February is one of the most challenging months of the year for me, but thankfully it was also a very fun month for me this year! I might actually break this month down by day... so much happened!

Sunday the 1st- Our ward was given special permission to be dismissed after Sacrament Meeting to go to a special fireside held by Elder L. Tom Perry for all of the young single adults in Las Vegas. I thought it was funny that it was Elder Perry; this was the third time I had met him - I've met him about every two years! Later in the day my roommate Airline announced that she and her boyfriend Eric were engaged, and had been keeping it a secret for some time, but decided it was time to tell me because I had asked for 30 days notice if she were to move out. I was happy for her, but sad that she would be moving so soon. I also asked a guy from my ward to the regional sadie hawkins dance that was coming up later in the month. I was excited to go with him because of his enthusiasm to dress up (the theme was famous couples).

Tuesday the 3rd- Such a hard day! To sum up a five hour conversation... I poured out my heart and soul to someone and was terribly disappointed when I was turned down. I have never been hurt so bad before! It made me re-evaluate and question my experiences during another important time in my life.

Wednesday the 4th- Went through the motions of my day and called back my date to sadie's who had tried to get ahold of me during work. He cancelled on me - said something else came up (later I discovered he got a girlfriend)... definitely salt on the very fresh and open wound I had received the night before. I got in my pajamas, crawled into bed and then bawled my eyes out to my friend Emily when she came over to spend some time with me.

The weekend of the 6th-8th- Decided to run away from life even though both of my travel partners bailed out of the trip to Utah we'd coordinated. I went anyway. I got to spend time with my cousin Aubrey and see my friend Kate who I met on my mission. The highlights of the weekend however were decorating Ashley's door for her birthday a week early and going to my Grandma April's open house and farewell before she left on her mission to Nauvoo! I'm so proud of her!

Friday the 13th- I blasted 3 of my fingers with hot steam while helping out with Friday Lunch that we have every week at the institute. Talk about instant blisters! Steam burns hurt really bad! Later Ashley, Laura and Becca came into town as part of our now annual tradition of spending a weekend together in Vegas. We had fun playing as much as we could and celebrating Ashley's birthday on Sunday before they headed back to Utah.

Friday the 20th- Dressed up like a ninja and kidnapped someone from my ward for a friend. I think that's all I need to say here...

Friday the 27th- Put my month long plans for Airline's wedding and reception to use and decorated a church gym quite nicely for not having a budget.
MARCH


So far this month I have participated in the induction ceremony of the Golden Key International Honor Society as a new member, spent a fun weekend here in town with my cousins Aubrey and Angela who visited from Utah, discovered the fun and excitement and adventure involved in geocaching (PUMPKIN!!!), started an intense workout schedule (that I'm great at sticking to some days, and not so good other days...) to get ready for the UNLV dance team tryouts in April, stressed about finding an internship so I can graduate in December (cross your fingers!), came up with a back-up plan if I can't find said internship, booked a flight to New Zealand with Ashley, and filed my taxes.
I still haven't found another roommate to take Airline's place here in my condo though, so if you all know of someone who's looking for a new place to live you can send her my way!!
Well, I think that about does it for now... hopefully that wasn't too boring to read. :)

Monday, January 12, 2009

On to Thatcher!

Continuing on in the Arizona saga, I introduce you to Barbara Self!!

As I was trekking across the Arizona desert at early nightfall on Wednesday, I thought of my friend Barbara who is from a town called Holbrook in Northeast Arizona. How do I know Barbara? She was my very last mission companion in Uruguay.

We were companions for two transfers, or three months; from the second week in August up until I was to meet up with my mother in Montevideo on November 2nd, 2007. Since I hadn't seen her since I had finished my mission, I got in touch with her while on the road to see if she was available to meet up with me in Tucson sometime during the course of the weekend. Much to my surprise I discovered that she was no longer in Holbrook, but had gone down to Thatcher, AZ for school, and she told me that Thatcher was even closer to Tucson than Holbrook, and would love to see me! As we talked details over the next day, Barbara sadly realized that her textbooks were quite expensive, and that she wouldn't have enough gas money to come up to Tucson, so I opted to drive to Thatcher to see her.

It was soooooo fun! Granted, I was exhausted from all the driving I had done since leaving Las Vegas, but nonetheless, I enjoyed my time in Thatcher. We talked about the mission and relived some of the memories, went out to lunch at a Mexican restaurant called Casa Manana, talked some more, and went for a walk around EAC's campus (that's Eastern Arizona College). We took some fun pictures while out on the walk, but I don't have copies of those yet.

Barbara was the only mission companion that I had not seen since I arrived back in the United States 14 months ago, so it was a real treat! After all, she was one of my favorite companions!
We worked along side each other and with other missionaries,

studied together and ate together.

But more importantly, I learned from her. I learned more how to love and serve others,

and how to see eye to eye in order to lift others.

It was also while I was companions with Barbara (digo - Hermana Self) that I saw some of the most amazing miracles.

Barbara was always so positive and full of faith. I am so glad that I got to be her companion!

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Tucson!

Yes folks, Tucson. That's where I'm at right now! I finally got fed up with the boredom of the last week of Christmas break where very few students have returned from visiting their homes and families and decided to do something about it. Actually, the week hasn't turned out half bad!

Monday night I actually decided to miss FHE (not typical) and spend some time with my roommates Airline and Jen. We were all pretty tired though and didn't end up doing much before going to bed. Tuesday night ended up being a movie night at my apartment for Airline, Eric (Airline's boyfriend) and I - we watched one of my many favorites - The Italian Job. Because of the title I realized that my friend Ryan had arrived home from his holiday trip to Italy and got in touch with him. We had lunch together on Wednesday at his house and watched selected scenes from The Wizard of Oz in Italian afterward while discussing its deeper meaning. FYI - all the singing is still done in English.

Wednesday night I helped my new roommate Cynthia move in and set up her things in her half of my room and stayed up way too late. This however, worked out to my advantage. I slept late Thursday - even in to the afternoon, and woke up bored again. To make a long boring story shorter, and hopefully less boring, by 8pm I had made my decision, packed a bag and was on the road to see my friend Emily in Tucson, without a single member of my family having the slightest clue I was going on a road trip. I drove for 6 and a half hours and arrived safe and VERY awake on caffiene at 3:30am Arizona time.

So, here I sit, blisfully wasting away the last few days of winter freedom. I don't have pictures yet, and the story is not over yet, but oh well! I thought I should at least let people know that I'm alive and safe!

Saturday, January 3, 2009

One week to go and.... BORED.

What happened to the fun of Christmas break??



I have one full week left of free time before I am once again sitting in a university classroom counting down the days until my next break, and I have NOTHING to do! Most of my good friends are still out of town or are spending a lot of time with their significant other, work isn't busy enough to call in any temp workers, and thanks to my ingenious idea of not bringing any distractions with me when I moved back to Vegas one year ago (i.e. crafts, hobbies, projects, etc.), that's exactly what I've ended up with. No distractions. Even during the precious little time I am actually allowed to be distracted! I've checked my email and various other websites I visit (like facebook, blogger, etc.) about four times today, and even tried to find something interesting to watch on the apartment's newly connected cable service, but few people are online and none of the shows I typically watch have begun their new seasons.

Bored, bored, bored, bored, BORED!

Please, if any of you are in my area of the country - call me! Distract me! I need to burn more calories so that I'm actually hungry enough to eat more than only a meal and a half per day!

Friday, November 28, 2008

CrAzY EiGhTs

8 TV shows I enjoy watching when I have time and would like to chill:

Not a very good representation I'm sure... I haven't been really into TV since before my mission. 1. Gilmore Girls
2. The Office
3. Dharma and Greg
4. Basically any family based reality show on TLC when I'm at someone's house that has cable
5. Jeapordy
6. Animaniacs
7. Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends
8. The Amazing Race

8 things that happened yesterday:
1. Washed my hair (no - not an everyday occurance anymore!)
2. Woke up early
3. Took my final exams for my Human Resource Management and Hospitality Accounting 2 classes
4. Found another roommate to join my apartment in January!!
5. OFFICIALLY FINISHED SCHOOL FOR THE SEMESTER!
6. Had an Office Season 3 party at my house
7. Took apple cider to a friend at school
8. Had a wrestling match with my roommate Airline

8 things I am looking forward to:
1. Getting my grades!
2. Spending 10 days in Colorado for Christmas
3. Applying for graduation
4. July
5. My trip to New Zealand with Ashley Peterson
6. Winning more dance competitions
7. Paying off my school loans
8. Having a family

8 things I love about fall:
Nearly everything my sister does...
1. Walking outside and smelling the air
2. Cozy clothes (I love sweaters!!) and finding your gloves in the pockets of your coat the first time you put it on for the season
3. Peppermint and Sleepytime tea
4. Knowing that Christmas is just around the corner
5. Watching the leaves change colors
6. Playing in piles of leaves
7. Pumpin EVERYTHING!
8. Corn mazes.

8 things on my wish list:
1. A husband
2. An ipod
3. A trip to Uruguay
4. New clothes
5. Slightly thicker hair
6. Insurance. Or at least enough money to get my cavities taken care of.
7. A horse
8. The right kind of screws to put my desk together (I can't find them ANYWHERE!)

8 people I am tagging:
1. Heather Davenport
2. Jessica Alleman
3. Kate Smith
4. Chelsea Beauchamp
5. Open for the taking!
6. Ditto
7. Ditto
8. Ditto