Three

I turned the big 3-0 the other day.  I still can't believe that I am now 30 years old.  I may be looking like 30, but I certainly don't feel 30 (other than when I wake up every morning and my body pops and creaks at every joint as I crawl out of bed).

In honor of my living through the first three decades of my life, I decided that for the day, I was going to celebrate in threes.

I was going to eat three crepes for breakfast, 

but I was barely able to finish two. 

They sure were yummy! 

I thought about plucking out three gray hairs, 

but I decided that three wouldn't make much of a difference,
so I just left my hair alone.

I tried to watch three episodes of Chuck, 

but I only had time to squeeze in one and a half.  

I love Chuck.

And then we went and saw Thor. 

In 3-D.

Mmm...Thor's hunky...

I'd say it was a win.

One Hot Potato and Two Burnt Thumbs

That's what you get when you try to make a baked potato

using the microwave and a ziploc sandwhich bag.

My Date-less Date

Keith told me I should take myself on a date.  So tonight, I did just that.  Well, it was more of a night in than a night out, because who needs crowds when they can have my company?

• I bought dinner at Chipotle
• I rented 2 Redbox movies
• I busted out the Fresca
• I popped popcorn
• I whispered sweet nothings to my own ears, and
• I snuggled with myself on the couch.

I had a great time!  In fact, I'm the best date I know (besides Keith, of course).

The best part is that the guy behind me in line at Chipotle asked if I wanted to have dinner with him.  I had to turn him down, as I already had other plans. :)

Still on Track

During the summer of 2009, I started writing in my journal every day.  My goal was to keep the habit up for a year and some how I made it.  Some days I would write long entries, sometimes very short entries.  Some days I had multiple pages; others, just a line or two, and occasionally, just a couple of words.  Yet, regardless of length, I picked up my pen, opened my journal, and wrote every single day. 

My goal for June was to blog every day for the month, and so far, I have made it.  Some days the posts are short.  Some days they are long.  Sometimes I tell you a story, sometimes I don't. However, unlike my journal entries, there is a point where too few words just doesn't cut it.  It seems wrong to only write what I would often write in my journal on late nights.  I mean, it just doesn't seem right or sufficient to simply write

"Am tired; will blog tomorrow."

But that's what you're getting.

Chocolate On My Chompers

You know how Dove chocoloates have sayings on their wrappers? 

Just now mine read, "Feel Good About Today."

How can one feel good when they are about to go to the dentist???

Don't tell my dentist that I ate chocolate before going to see him, ok? 

Things About Eyes

These are my Eyes:

My left eye has been twitching nonstop for at least 3 weeks.

According to the internet, I am either stressed, sleep deprived, anxious, or fatigued.

I think I am all four.

...Can I be all four?...

***

This is Eye Candy:

The whole show is filled with it--

One cute outlaw after another.

And not only does it make my twitching eye feel better, it's funny too.

Thank You, Netflix!

My Fifteen Minutes (or One Second) of Fame

I just got a text from one of my school friends.

Apparently, I was on TV this morning.

YIKES!!

I had no idea they were actually going to use that footage.

Now, my question is,

Where's my tuition reduction?!

...I knew I should have signed a contract before they started taking pictures.

P.S.  This isn't my first television appearance. 

Years ago, a news camera caught me during a Black Friday shopping frenzy. 

I told you we were hardcore.

Chuck Meets Alice

 Do any of you ever watch Chuck?  You know, the geeky guy with a computer in his brain who is now working for the CIA?  Yeah, basically it is my favorite t.v. show ever.  Did you happen to catch last night's episode?  Where Chuck's spy mom and her bad-guy boyfriend visit the family for Thanksgiving? 

Having watched the show while finishing my Cyber Monday shopping, I must have had Chuck on the brain when I went to bed because I dreamed about it last night.  But, it was a more Alice in Wonderland than Chuck-like spy dream. 

There I was, having dinner with Chuck, his mom, and her bad-guy boyfriend, when suddenly things got out of hand.  Chuck was doing kungfu, I was twirling knives, and the other two were alternately eating peas and carrots.  Peas and carrots, you ask?  Yes.  You see, the peas made a person instantly grow bigger and stronger, and the carrots made them shrink back to normal size.  We then fought for our lives, Chuck and me versus Mrs B. and friend.

I definitely see where the Chuck aspect comes into the dream, but the Alice in Wonderland reference?  I'm guessing it has something to do with the note I found on my pillow Saturday that read, "Don't eat me."

Note to Self: Next Time Wear Black

I went to my first ever Zumba class last night.  And I'll tell you what: it was fast, it was hot, it was sweaty, and I completely stuck out in my bright red/orange exercise pants (I dislike mirrored walls).

But it was actually really fun, even though I thought I was going to die within the first twenty minutes. And although it cost $5/hour, and I know I'm going to be super sore later today, I'll probably be going back soon.  Want to come?

POST EDIT: Zumba is a Latin dance-like exercise class.  I went to Expressions Dance on Hwy 89.  It costs $5 for 1 class or $40 for a 10 class punch card.  They have classes most week nights and some mornings.

From Jillian, on her 27th Birthday

Dear Everyone,

Thank you for making my 27th birthday amazing!

I received flowers from my coworkers

And flowers from my boyfriend

And tons of emails, phone calls, text messages, and fb posts from everyone else.

You are AWESOME!

I have a feeling it is going to be a very good year.

Purely Psychological & Yet, Completely Valid

At 12:03 I opened the fridge and froze.  Someone had stolen my lunch.

But then I remembered that I had never put my lunch in the fridge in the first place, and I was a little disappointed because there is nothing like meat and cheese at room temperature.

Being the poor student that I am, I did what any normal 26 year- and 51 week-old would do:  I put my chips on my sandwich and called it good.

....Have I ever told you about my gag reflex?

Thank heavens for leftover Halloween candy.

David Archuleta Vs. Dan Cahoon

Ryan left the MTC last week and finally began his mission in the field.  On a temporary detour to South Carolina where he'll await his visa to Brazil, Ryan was in the Salt Lake City airport, and his first day out, met a superstar.  Yes, that's right--Little missionary Ryan ran into David Archuleta.

David Archuleta!!  You know, of American Idol fame?  That's big.

Ryan says he and David shared a moment.  They even shook hands.  Sweet!

So Ryan runs into a megastar on his way out to the mission. 

His story reminded me of the megastar I ran into on my way home from my mission. Yep, that's right--on my very last day out, I ran into Dan Cahoon.

Dan Cahoon!! You know of Marshall Dyllon fame and local notoriety?  No?

Well, he was a big name in a small town. 

Dan and I went grew up in the same city and went to the same schools.  He was a year older than me and I had always known who he was, but I doubt he ever knew me.  He was in the school musicals, sang in the choir, played in community theatre, and I'd see him around.  But then I met Kim, and she knew Dan (better than I did), and we developed this long running joke about him being my boyfriend.  He wasn't really my boyfriend, or ever any sort of love interest, and he didn't know me, so it was no big deal.  But then, when you're 14, everything is a big deal. 

After school, Dan went on to Nashville, sang a bit with the band, did his own mission thing, and then I never saw him again.

Years later, I had just gone through customs at LAX.  Having left Taiwan at 3:30 pm, sat on a plane for 12 hours, and arrived in L.A. at 5:30 pm of the same day, with your hair pulled up in a pony tail, no make up on, haven't showered since 7:00 am Taiwan time, and are all hot and sweaty from the heat and from hauling your carry-ons, the first person you don't expect to see as the first person you've seen from home for 18 months is not Dan Cahoon.

To say the least, I was unprepared.  I don't know if he recognized me as someone he'd seen before or as just another missionary passing through, but he looked right at me and just stared because I was shocked (and because I couldn't believe what I was seeing).  And it was just awkward.  I mean, when you see someone that you don't really know for the first time in years, and you've just come from a foreign land, and you smell bad and have oily skin, and have 18 months of fried rice stains on your skirt, and all of a sudden you are confronted with your fake 'boyfriend' at the LAX airport, there are a lot of things going through your mind--

Things like this

and this

 and this

Needless to say, I did not shake his hand.

P.S. I had to email Kim to ask her what band Dan sang for.  Her response?  "Missing your old boyfriend?"  I told you it was long running.

Beautiful Reverie

This morning I was having a perfectly lovely dream--one that had wrapped me up in subconscious sunshine and joy and love.  Everything was right and good.  I was entirely content:  I was warm and comfortable, and I never wanted to leave.  Inside my dream, I could have stayed forever.

And then my alarm went off and my day began, my dream breaking and my body stirring.  And I thought of my dream and how it felt, and how beautiful and fulfilling it was, and I wanted to hold on to it for just a few more moments.  It was too warm, too wonderful to give up just yet. 

Yet, no matter how hard I strained or grasped, the dream slipped through my fingers and disappeared.  It was gone and would not be recalled.  But the feeling was still there, the loveliness slightly lingering on my thoughts, leaving smudges of light on my soul.  I embraced it.  And when I woke up, I was happy.

Perhaps one day my life will hold the same warmth and serenity that my dream held.  And perhaps one day I will be as truly content and at peace as I felt while inside it.  I know that one day the dream will become reality.  It will come true, just like so many other dreams do.  It just isn't time yet, not for this one.  I need to wait a little longer and be patient.  It is sitting there, just out of reach, waiting for me to be ready.  And I will be, soon. 

What Makes Me Happy

A list:

• Peanut Butter M&M's and Nutella
• Autumn and sweater weather
• Books
• Finding a new favorite song
• Clearance shopping
• The fact that I get to go see my boyfriend today :)
• Food
• My Family

Thanks to Livia for the tag! (and the forced introspection :)

What makes you happy? 

 I want to hear from: Erin, Diana, and Melinda.

Better Late Than Never

Four years of college,
Eight semesters of class,
Three years of sorority,
Two and a half years of Sunday services,
Seventeen months of employment, and
One Bachelor's degree later,

I finally took my very first campus shuttle ride.

I'm a slow learner.

My Last 24 Hours:

When I got off of work early yesterday,

that was awesome.

When I lost my shoe while boarding the train and

some random stranger picked it up for me,

that was funny.

When I left my jacket on the same train and

went back for it two minutes later to find it was already gone,
that was upsetting.

When I slept for an amazing 10 hours last night,

that was obviously needed.

When I knocked the orange juice out of the fridge this morning 

and it didn't spill or bust open,

that was a miracle.

When I nearly dropped my nephew while holding him but didn't,

that was lucky.

When I went to the store and ended up wasting $5.60 of my $10 coupon,

that was less than exciting.

When I paid for and brought home lunch for everyone only

to find that everyone had already eaten,

that was frustrating.

When I had ice cream melt all over my car,

that was not completely unexpected.

When I spilled an entire bottle of peaches and sugar water

all over the kitchen,

that was the last straw.

I think I should stop before I hurt someone.

On Your Mark, Get Set, TWAIN!

Samuel Clemens aka Mark Twain

Sometimes my smartness astounds me. 

Take this morning for example:

I was playing along with the 7:40 Challenge on B98.7 while on my drive in to work. They ask five questions and you have five seconds to answer each question.  In order to win you need to get at least 3 of the 5 questions correct.  You have to be quick.  You have to be fast.  You have to be smart. 

One of the questions this morning was, "What great American author wrote the novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?"

My immediate response?  "Samuel Clemens!"

P.S.  Have you ever read his Diaries of Adam and Eve?  It is absolutely delightful!

Red, White, and Bruised

We had a great weekend celebrating the Fourth of July.  There were parades, and family, and picnics, and movies, and fireworks, and barbecues, and balls of frozen cookie dough.  What more could you ask for?

I did have a tiny mishap, however.  Somehow I biffed it Sunday night during our family firework show. 

Fortunately, the picnic table bench broke my fall. 

Unfortunately, I think my fall broke the picnic table bench. 

I was okay, but I am now sporting a HUGE purple bruise on the upper regions of my posterior thigh.

I would let you see it...but I'd have to moon you.

Stars and Stripes (literally) Forever!

Missed Milestone

Last Saturday, June 12, marked my three year anniversary since being home from my mission.  And I completely forgot about it.  How could I do that?  Such an important day--the day that I returned to normal life after a year and a half of Taiwanese Awesomeness--and I didn't do anything.  No celebration. No Chinese food.  No nothing.  Sad. 

So what has happened in my life since coming home?  A lot! 

Over the last three years, I:

• Welcomed one niece and three nephews into the family
• Started a blog
• Graduated college
• Fell in love with Texas BBQ
• Have had four jobs, not all of them winners
• Became eligible for marriage
• Lost both my Lambert grandparents
• Outfitted Izzy with new tires, a new timing belt, and new brakes
• Read the Chronicles of Narnia
• Started graduate school
• Crossed the border, twice 
• Went to the Olympics
• Published!  (...on the web...on my own blog...still counts, right?)
• Had two sisters get married
• And became an adult (with my own insurance policy and everything).

It has been a crazy three years and I miss Taiwan a ton, but life is going well.  And I still need to celebrate.  Anyone want to get some Chinese?  I know the best place in Salt Lake...

Read last year's anniversary post here.

Jill and Jane Austen

Sometimes I get made fun of for my likes in LITERATURE. Just because I read good, old English classics, I tend to get mocked and ridiculed. So what if I own EVERY title Jane Austen ever wrote? And just happen to be watching Sense and Sensibility this week? Who cares that I have FIVE (or six?) different movie versions of Pride and Prejudice in my collection? Or that I tend to watch Persuasion every other week or so, because I LOVE it that much? Although I have read Mansfield Park at least FOUR times, I have only read Northanger Abbey TWICE; I love Emma, but I have NEVER read Lady Susan. Therefore, I am not a FANATIC--for, I cannot be a fanatic if I have not read the COMPLETE WORKS. And, for your information, I happen to be reading North and South right now, which, by the way, is NOT written by Jane Austen. Nor is Jane Eyre, which is one of the best books EVER. I have read Wuthering Heights twice, and find Wives and Daughters just DELIGHTFUL. Hence, if I also ENJOY the Brontes and Gaskells, I can't be too CRAZY, can I?

(Note: all words in purple are linked to other blog posts. Maybe I do I have a problem...)