16 Random things I know you're dying to know about me.

Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 16 random things, facts, habits or goals about you. If I tagged you, its because I want to know more about you.

1. I eat weird food, and it’s only gotten worse since my grandpa had triple bypass heart surgery. Now it’s ONLY egg whites instead of one yolk and two whites.

2. I am, and always will be homesick for Yosemite. I’m jealous of lifers (they live and work in a national park their whole lives), because I only got to work there for 7 months.

3. I have talked seriously about marriage with six guys, and I’m still single. I don’t know if that makes me creepy, cool, or just a psychological mess. Probably all three.

4. I am addicted to moving! I used to move every 5 months, but I actually lived in one place (not just the same city, but the same house) for a whole year, ending in Aug. 2007. It was hard, but I feel like I’ve accomplished something.

5. Cookie dough is SO much better than baked cookies.

6. I am afraid of heights, IF it’s something manmade that could break any second. I barely made it on the tiny dino rollercoaster at the county fair!

7. I have had more than 50 roommates! Living with family is so nice after the girl drama (not that I didn't have some great roommies).

8. My cousin Michael describes my music as “the Mormon Tabernacle Choir with a little Josh Groban to mix it up.” Too true.

9. I’m much too opinionated about politics. I voted for Obama, so shoot me! I actually found that my cousin’s wife did too, so I’m not alone in the world.

10. If I get sick, it’s something weird: Mono when I’m supposed to be too old to get it, Rosecia something something, which the doctor had only seen once before… What’s next?

11. My biggest fear is being "normal" and boring, living a burnt out life. So far the normal hasn't happened, whew.

12. I love hiking, but don’t always plan ahead: no flashlight/food in the dark, one water bottle for 5 kids in 100+ degrees, not telling anyone where I was going and hiking alone, etc. I’m getting better I swear!

13. I’m loving Picasa 3, and I’m sad for people who don’t yet have a Facebook account. How do you find old friends with out it?

14. My favorite temple in the world is the Provo Temple. Am I the only one?

15. I like to watch movies that most people turn off after two seconds. Not because they’re gross, but because they’re either strange, or documentaries about social ills. My cousins would ask, “Is this a Carrie movie?” before consenting to watch one with me.

16. Right now I’m reading “The Real George Washington” and “War and Peace” so I can feel “educated.”

My war face with a peace sign.









17. I just thought of an extra one: I struggle between wanting to live a simple life with litle money, and wanting to be rich, traveling the world.

Single Blog?

I just read another blog about being Mormon and single. After a few posts, I got sick of the same topic over and over, and I am a single Mormon! Hopefully you don't get overloaded with my opinions about the topic, though I would hope you would be fairly warned by the title :D

Dating Safety- My Soap Box.

Part of being single is dating, and part of dating is thinking of safety. An SUU student was sexually assaulted recently, and as I was watching a newscast about it, I was bugged by the comments the girls being interviewed were making. The incident was actually a date rape, not someone jumping out of the bushes. The girls answered that they thought they were fine because they were "always aware of their surroundings," and they "made sure not to walk alone in the dark." I just about jumped out my seat! While these precautions are good to take, there are many other things to think about. Statistically speaking (and from personal experience as a former rape crisis team member, who also worked at a women's crisis center), acquaintance rapes far outnumber stranger rapes.  I think new ideas about dating safety need to be addressed.

With that said, here is my list of things to do to be safe on a date:

1. Be careful about someone you meet online, because a guy can say anything he thinks you want to hear.

2. If you do meet someone online, get to know them in person before you get too close. Don't have him pick you up at your house. It's best to meet in a public place with lots of people around (I know there are a lot of people who met their spouse online. Obviously not everyone is dangerous).

3. If you're going on a blind date, make sure you trust the person who set you up (Paola, you're good). And follow the guidelines in rule 2 as well.

4. Double dates area always a good idea, especially if you don't know the guy very well.

5. I know it's said a lot, but really, watch your drinks. Date rape-drugs are around.

6. If you're going to a party, make sure you're with a friend who can check on your whereabouts.


7. Last of all, NEVER NEVER NEVER go into a house or apartment alone with a guy you just met, or any guy for that matter!!!!!! Ok, maybe husbands are ok.  

I did write more, but I figure this is enough.  Be safe, even if you are married! 

After that, we all need a good laugh.

I found this picture on my mom's computer and had to load it. Pictured are my sisters Annie and Emily, and our nephew Kaden. Ha Ha Ha!

Obsession like you've never heard.

Is it really possible to be this exhausted? I wonder if this is how new mom's feel? I guess I'd have to ask someone who had mono and has been a new mom, because it's the only way they'd know. Anyway, I just don't get it. I'm supposed to be getting about 10 hours of sleep a night, which usually is really easy, I just fall into bed and sleep at the drop of the hat. Yesterday/last night were the exceptions. I left church early so I could go home and take a nap, only I got here and couldn't sleep. It didn't help that my little cousins came running into the house looking for, of all things- pudding? I assume they found it since they didn't stay long, and I have no idea where my mom keeps that stuff. So I didn't get the usual nap, then last night I COULDN'T SLEEP again. I stayed up until about 4 am, talking to my sister Annie who was nice enough to stay up with me, and eventually slept a little. Today I feel like I'm moving in slow motion, I'm hating being sick, hating being tired, and trying really hard to think of something to be happy about. I can't think of anything, help! Is this ever going to go away? February 18, February 18, hurry up and get here!!

P.S. I've realized more than ever that I get really whiny when I'm "under the weather." Feel free to ignore this post.

P.P.S. Feb. 18 is my birthday and it's the date I've decided that I'll be completely healed- able to ride in cars (now every bump makes my stomach turn), stand up for longer than a few minutes (The other day I grated some cheese, but had to have my mom finish the block so I could sit down), and start working again!

Today has been an interesting day. Nate and I talked on the phone, figured stuff out, and we're finally back to the good times. We sat on my couch in each other's arms, and for the first time in almost a month it wasn't like, "that's rubbing too hard (feet, neck, or shoulders), I can't breathe, your arm around my neck is bugging me, or your leg is bouncing the whole couch!" (all said by me). I am once again reminded of why guys are in the world. It's because life is better with them (even when they do drive you crazy). Sometimes I guess you just need to step back from living your every day life (my life lately has been sitting on the couch trying to be comfortable), and just be together. It's interesting what can be taken for granted, until you don't have it. Why is it only then that you realize how much you miss it?

I thought I was too exhausted for a relationship, but now I realize that having people in your life is what actually helps you through being exhausted! I am sooo grateful to my family, who have been there for me through this whole annoying sickness. I hate to think about what it would have been like if I was still living alone in my little cottage, trying to go up a silly ladder to get to my bed every day! Yeah for people, once you get past being bugged by them of course...

Besides that, I got a great book from the library today. Nate got the fabulous idea that we could read together, since I'm completely sick of TV, movies etc. The book is "The Last Lecture" by a professor giving his last lecture before his upcoming death from cancer. I found the actual lecture online at thelastlecture.com if you want to listen to it. It's not what I expected, but it's very good. I love the idea of reading together, and look forward to reading more tomorrow :D

possibility

Sooo, Nate and I might just be on hold instead of over. All I can say is that I'm exhausted; from being sick, and from being in a relationship. I don't have energy for this!!! Right now the only reason I can see that God put men on the earth is to drive women insanely crazy. What other reason could there be? I guess without them the earth couldn't be populated... I'm pretty sure that reason has nothing to do with my life at the moment.

Change is the only constant.

Just when I thought things couldn't get worse... Nate and I broke up yesterday. For some reason it went right along with the usual date. What is it about the 11th of the month for break- ups in my life? I think this is the fourth one, but I'm not really counting. All I can say is that we're still friends, we're both pretty broken up about it, and it's permanent. There never really is a good explanation for something that brought so much joy and fun into my life, to be over. Things just happen.

I don't get it. My sister's good friend just got married on Saturday, and she's 19. How did she do it????? It is yet another day in the life of a single person. At least he didn't string me along for a year then drop me, like one of my friends just experienced. It could be worse!

What in the world is Heavenly Father's plan for me? Right now I have no clue. I think I'll go take another nap.

Singing the Blues.

It's now official- I got the blood test results from the doctor today, and I tested positive for both Mono and Epstein Barr Virus. It still doesn't make a lot of sense, because EBV causes Mono, but the doctor said you can test positive for Mono (which is of course more mild and isn't recurring) but negative for EBV. I guess older people get worse symptoms, and both tests were positive for me. Besides the bad news that it will most likely recur after a few years, from stress to the immune system, they also found that I haven't even peaked yet so my symptoms will get worse before they get better.

At first I was worried because I work with the Demilles. They're already tired and exhausted- and I wouldn't be able to help out (I've seriously spent the last week sleeping or sitting on the couch). Luckily my cousin Heather is looking for a job, met the family and is interested (hopefully her school schedule will cooperate). At least they won't be left high and dry. Now my concern is money for bills. Any ideas for someone who has no energy?

Good things:
1. I got weighed at the doctor's office, and I weigh less than I have in five years. Wahoo!
2. I've got plenty of time to watch the Cosby Show- what could be more hilarious?
3. More family time
... more to come as I keep thinking ;)