...

I suck at blogging.  Want to know why?  Because my life is boring.  I guess boring is good.  I really am in a good place, though.
And now here are some of my incredibly random thoughts...

*I just started watching "Hart of Dixie".  It made me realize two things: 1) I really want a Southern accent and 2) men from the south are HOT.
*I have recently developed an obsession with colored skinny jeans.  I'm still not sure that I can pull them off, but I'm sure trying.  Today I'm wearing yellow.
*All of these recent tragedies - the Connecticut shooting, the murder of little Jessica Ridgeway, Josh Powell killing his two young boys - have put me on edge.  It makes me hesitate to ever bring kids into this world, exposing them to such sad and awful evils of the world.  My heart breaks for those families who lost their little children and loved ones.  I cry just thinking about it.
*I desperately need to get my elliptical fixed to work off all of the Christmas treats I have been eating.
*My trip to Ireland is in 69 days and I can't even wait!  I'm going to kiss the Blarney Stone!
*I am still desperately needing a trip to Disneyland.  It's the happiest place on earth, don't you know!
*Sometimes I think that I can sing better than I can.  Then I heard myself on video the other day and realized I am not.  Haha that's disappointing.
*I cannot wait to see Les Mis.  I hear it is AMAZING.
*I am craving the fried macaroni and cheese from the Cheesecake Factory.  Seriously.  A taste of heaven.
*Is anyone else excited for 2013?  Besides the fact that I turn 26, I think it is going to be a stellar year.  Travelling the world, bettering myself, doing all the things a single girl can do.  It's going to be great.  Maybe I'll even run in a few races again this year.  Things are about to get good.  :)

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of my friends and family out there in the blogging world.  I truly am grateful for all of you in my life.  Amen.

United We Stand.

I feel the need to express my opinion.  1) because I can.  2) because it's my blog.  3) because I want to be able to remember my feelings/concerns/thoughts when I look back at this at a later time.

While this post is going to express some of my political opinions, please know that it is not going to be bashing on anyone.  It is not going to be negative towards one candidate or the other.  It is not going to be to persuade anyone to feel the same as I do.  It is not going to be pushy.  If you don't want to read it, then don't.  I won't be offended.

A lot of people may think I don't have an opinion on the political stance of this country, mostly because I choose not to express those opinions.  I chose not to watch the presidential debates.  Some people might think that I was uneducated when going into this election because of that.  Not the case.

The fact of the matter is - I HATE the negativity that comes during campaign/election time.  There is so much mudslinging and hatred on both sides.  People are so focused on finding out any sordid detail from a person's past, so focused on bringing the other person down and making them look bad.  Shouldn't the focus be on what each person can do for the country, for the people, for the business owners and workers?  Why is it necessary to bring another person down to make you look/feel good?  (And I think this is true in any and every situation, with every single person, not just  those running for election).

I hate that our nation is divided - Democrat and Republican.  Liberal and Conservative.  Democrats will only vote for democrats.  Republicans will only vote for republicans.  "If you're not with us, you're against us" is the only feeling I get.  It doesn't matter if you agree with some the policies of the other candidate, if they aren't apart of your political party, you won't vote for them.  I can only see more division as the years go on.

Furthermore, why does it matter what race, religion, gender, age, hair color, state, wealth, ethnic background, etc. that the candidate is?  Those things shouldn't matter.  What should matter is their political stance on issues that are most important to you.  I can't help but feel like people did or did not vote for Mitt Romney, just because he is a Mormon.  Or that people did or did not vote for Barack Obama because he is black (specifically in his first campaign).

I understand the point of the electoral college.  I do.  But I also think that popular vote should have some impact.  Maybe popular vote should be allowed a certain number of electoral votes?  I don't know.  I know that a president can't be elected on popular vote alone.  If that were the case, we could have some real problems.  There is a significant number of people out there who choose not to educate themselves before they vote.  They base their choice on political party, how handsome a candidate it is, how old, how rich, how educated, or what have you.  But it does concern me that the popular vote gets almost no say (unless you are in a swing state), when the people who are voting are those most affected by the policies that congress puts through.  Men, women, children, students, business owners, employees of all kind are the ones who are affected most by income tax, property tax, healthcare.  The middle class has a lot to say, but rarely do their voices get heard.

Here is what I do know.  I know that one man cannot destroy this country, just like one man cannot fix it.  This is a group effort - the president, congress, and the PEOPLE.  As citizens of the United States of America, we need to stand united.  We need to come together to make things better.  If we all took the time to help our neighbors, serve each other more, we would be better off.  Stop looking out for just #1 and start looking at how we can help humanity as a whole.

I have hope.  I have my faith.  That is one thing that no one can ever take away from me.

And, if things do go down the shitter, I can move to Canada.  Just kidding.  :)  GOD BLESS AMERICA.

Sorry this is so long.  Amen.

thoughts.

*I'm excited for winter.  WHAT?  That doesn't happen often.
*I have seen Pitch Perfect in theaters 4 times.  I have never seen any movie in the theater that many times.  But I love it.  And would go again tonight.
*I am not excited for how dry my skin gets with winter.
*Kit-Kat used to be my favorite candy bar, but lately I always choose the 100 Grand.
*I fly into Ireland in exactly 19 weeks.  AAAAAH!!!!
*We are entering my favorite time of the year.  I love the holidays!
*On the other hand, this time of year consistently reminds me that I am alone in my life.  Going to Christmas parties alone is definitely one of my least favorite things in the whole world.
*I'm curious to see how Lucy handles the snow.
*I am trying to convince my mama to let me get a kitty.  I need a furry companion.
*There are times when it takes all of my self-control to not sing as loud as I can at my desk at work.  Especially when I have my headphones in.
*Although I am sad that sno-cone season is over, I am soooo excited for flavored hot chocolate season!
*I need to start saving my pennies for Black Friday shopping.
*I wish that they had mandatory nap time at work.  2 o'clock in the afternoon sucks.
*How am I going to find the self control to resist all of the deliciousness that comes with Thanksgiving and Christmas?
*Good thing I am buying my sister's elliptical from her.  Hopefully that will help keep me motivated.
*Garth Brooks is ending is show in Vegas.  I am heart broken.  I never got to see him.  Tickets are going for like $1500.  That is more than my trip to Ireland.
*I relate more to songs that were made before I was ever born than I do to most songs recorded this year.
*I hate that music television stations never play music videos.  Why is MTV called Music Television if there is NO MUSIC?
*Being on a computer all day means that I get the chance to stay updated with news around the world.  With all of the child abductions, murders, burglaries, suicides, mass tragedy, it makes me hesitant to bring children into this world.
*The amount of evil in the world makes me sad.
*I have little gnats flying around my desk.  Where do they even come from???
*I'm craving cheese fries for lunch.
*Why is Cafe Rio sooooooo delicious?
*It has been an emotionally exhausting week.  I think I need a good cry.

Ok.  That's all.

travelling.

Remember how it is my dream to travel the world?  Well guess what?  I am going to IRELAND IN MARCH!!!!  I cannot even wait!

Ireland, what?  All of my dreams are coming true.  Groupon had this screamin' deal...$999 for six nights, seven days of hotel stays, rental car, and round trip airfare out of New York.  And for an extra $99, you get 4 breakfasts, 1 dinner, and tours of some castles.  Seriously...how can you beat that?  YOU CAN'T!  So, me and my BFF Melissa are headed out in March.  And I am freaking out a little.  Just look how pretty it is!

All of these pictures are places we are going to be visiting while there.  SO PRETTY!!!  It is my goal to visit some of the places that "PS I Love You" was filmed.  Gahhhh I just can't wait.

In other good news...my sister had her baby!  We welcomed little Blakeley Reese Meldrum on Sunday morning...2 1/2 weeks early!  She is precious and I love her already!  Yay baby!  :)

hunting.

killed my first elk this weekend.  but not with a gun.  with a car.  yep.  my mom and i hit an elk driving through spanish fork canyon sunday night.  i will tell you what...it was one of the scariest moments of my life.

we were on our way back from dropping the sista pants off back at school in price.  we had gotten a bit of a late start, so it was pretty late when we were driving back.  i realllllllly hate spanish fork canyon.  there is some seriously windy roads, lots of traffic and semis, and a lot wildlife.  i had gotten pretty car sick on the way down.  so on the way back, i had been laying down quite a bit.  one of my biggest fears is getting in a car accident, so i was consistently praying "please don't let us hit a deer, please don't let us hit a deer."  we had just gotten back into cell phone range, so i was answering my texts when all the sudden i feel this incredible force.  a force like we hit a brick wall.  the next thing i remember is not being able to breathe from all of the crap the airbag released and not not being able to get my seat belt undone.  my mom had gotten us over to the side of the road and out of the way by the time i came to.  i must have blacked out.

fortunately we were both ok.  no broken bones, no cuts.  it could have been so much worse.  a nice gentleman pulled over to help us.  he was headed back into the canyon and was inches away from hitting the elk himself.  when he saw us hit our brakes, he turned around to make sure we were ok.  he was so nice and stayed with us until the police arrived.  45 minutes mind you.  yep.  45 minutes is how long we had to wait for the police to show up.  in the freezing cold.  in a canyon.  right by a curve.  seems safe, no?  the cop finally showed, along with a wrecker to tow the silver bullet away.  i rode in the back of a cop car down to where jd came and picked us up, and we finally got home after 1 am.

besides being a little sore and having some bruises, we are both ok.  i feel very blessed to be alive and unharmed.  things could have been so much worse than what they were.  we slept a lot yesterday and ate cafe rio to celebrate being alive.  now my mama has to either get the silver bullet fixed (not likely, since it is probably totaled) or get a new car.  poor mama.

ok.  here are some pictures from our traumatic night.  enjoy.  :)

 poor little stupid elk.

 5 point.  weighs at least 600 pounds, but more likely 800.

 i wanted to keep the rack, but apparently it is against the law.  boo.

 yep.  that is where i was sitting.  i could have died.

 yuck.

 my first time in the back of a cop car.  naturally i had to take pictures.

 save me!

my "arrested" picture.  the cop even offered to let me wear the handcuffs if i wanted.

my "celebrate life" meal.  i couldn't think of any better food than cafe rio to celebrate the fact that i'm not dead.

blah.

DIETING SUCKS.

Just kill me now.  Or feed me.  That works too.

Special.

Saturday was a very special day for me.  It was something I had been working towards for a long time.  I went through the temple for the first time.  And it really was a very special day.  I am proud to belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (if anyone has questions or is wondering about my religion, please feel free to visit here).  :)
Thanks to all my family and friends who came out and supported me!  I think my loved ones took up most of the room.  Haha.  And then trying to fit about 30 people in our house was quite the accomplishment.  :)

Me and Mama before.

The Oquirrh Mountain Temple...it was a perfect day.

 All of my family at the temple afterwards.  Love these folks!

Later Saturday night, we went mini golfing.  Sure wish I had been doing that more this summer.  It was quite the adventure and I loved it.  And now for some pictures from the weekend...

Sista pants and me mini golfing.

The whole group! 

 Me and Cait before church on Sunday 

 Pretty sunset from last night

Official.

Well.  That's it.  I am officially half of a half century old.  And that is weird.  I am 25 years old.  Welp.  What can you do?

Now for my 25 before 25 list.  I am ashamed to say that I did not complete all of these.  And yes, I do know that some of them were unattainable, but others I just chickened out on.  Bahhhh I'm such a dummy.  I just need to work up my courage a little bit.  Well, here we go...

1. Sleep until noon
        Well, I tried.  But my body just won't let me sleep in.  It's just not fair.  I think the latest I slept in was 10:30.  Pathetic.
2. Run in a race
        FINISHED!  And have two more coming up.  Bahhhh I still hate running.
            Did my other two races.  And it was good.  I am trying to keep up my running, but I hate it.  But I still do it.
3. Pay off my car
        Technically, YES!  I no longer drive Walter.  I do pay for Lucy, but it is much cheaper.  :)
4. Jump off the high dive
        I was only at a pool with a diving board ONCE this summer.  Such a travesty.  And I wasn't even wearing my swim suit.  So I had zero opportunities for this one.
5. Kiss a total stranger
        Yeah.  I have no one to blame for this one but myself.  I just completely chickened out.  I probably could have done this every single day had I had the guts to do it.  But I WILL do it.
6. Give up Diet Coke
        Today is my first day being soda-free.  Yep.  No more soda at all, not just Diet Coke.
7. Teach myself to like avocados
        Still working on it...
8. Go skinny dipping (technically I have already done this, but it was more skinny run-into-the-water-and-run-back-out, so it needs to be on there again)
        Again...zero opportunities.
9. Save $500 dollars (apart from my regular savings) and go on a shopping spree
        I did save $500 apart from my regular savings.  But I'm not going on a shopping spree.  I am saving it to go on a vacation.  But I did go on a shopping spree after I sold Walter.  $300 worth.  It was lovely.
10. Participate in "Ellen's Dance Dare" and submit it to her show
        Again, I am ashamed to say I did not do this.  And there are no excuses for this.  Sad day.
11. See Garth Brooks in concert
        I hope this happens one day...
12. Go to a professional baseball game
         GO BRAVES!
13. Make a dress that I will love to wear
        I have only pulled out my sewing machine once in about 2 years.  I still want to do this.  A cute maxi dress.  So if any of you have a cute pattern, send it my way!
14. Go to a formal event that requires me to get really dressed up
        Yeah.  This didn't happen.  No opportunities.  Maybe as the holidays come...
15. Lose 20 more pounds
        I have not been on the scale for awhile, but I do know that I have lost some.  On my spending spree in July, I had to buy pants a size smaller.  I'm sure it wasn't 20 pounds, but it is still progress.
16. Visit a state I haven't been to before
         Colorado?  Check!  But I do want to visit more.
            I WENT TO TEXAS TOO!  I did.  On a business trip.  I didn't see much of Texas, but I was still there.  And it was bloody hot and humid.
17. Eat funnel cake at a fair
        Yep.  Did this too.  Delicious.
18. Go an entire day without eating one single piece of candy/sweets
        Yeah.  I failed.  I almost made it one day, and then I got called to go get sno-cones.  And how could I turn that down?  Again, I'll work on it.
19. Learn to waterski
        Never went to a lake... :(
20. Make 5 of the recipes I have pinned on Pinterest
        Check!  I'm a superb cook.
21. Go paragliding
         Coolest thing of my life.  So glad I did it.
22. Go on one date during every month of the summer (doesn't seem like a lot but I NEVER date)
        HA!!!!  Big fat failure.  There was one day that I had to cancel a blind date because I got off work late.  Gosh, I am the worst dater ever.
23. Make 10 blankets to donate to a children's hospital
        Yeah.  No excuses either.  I could say that I was just too busy.  And yes, I was busy.  But I could have done it.  I just didn't want to pay the money to buy the stuff.  I'm an awful person.
24. Learn to play a song on the guitar
        I kinda forgot about this one.  I was pretty gung-ho about it at the beginning, but it tapered off. Hmmm.
25. Be happy with my body and who I am - don't let other's opinion of me bring me down
        This is something that I have been working on for 25 years, and something that I will have to continuously.  But at this moment, I am happy with who I am.  Honestly and truly.  I have really grown as a person and I like it.

*Honorary goal: make a scene in a public place
        I chickened out here too.  My friends and I once thought about something we could do, but it never panned out.  Bummer.

Welp.  Looks like I am a BIG FAT FAILURE.  I think I will give myself to the end of the year to accomplish the rest of them.  Except the Garth concert.  That would be by miracle only.  I'm still praying for it...  :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!

Now validate me with comments.  :)

life. as i know it.

guys.  not too long ago, i played a lumberjack for the day.  and it was suuuuuper fun.  i wish i had put it on my 25 before 25 list.  i went up to my favorite mountains and chopped down trees for firewood.  i also got hit in the face by a tree.  ok.  i ran into a tree.  don't judge me.  sometimes it happens.

just lumberjacking deep in the mountains of idaho.  it was quite liberating to chop down dead trees.

and then i ran into a tree.  a live one.

speaking of 25...my birthday is in a week.  i turn 25.  and that is a weird.  i am half of half a century old.  is that a weird thought to anyone else but me?  i am proud of who i am and what i have accomplished, but there are a lot of times when i think i haven't done nearly enough in my life.  i wish that, by now, i would have had more experiences and done more things.  i want to experience MORE.  so that is my goal.  from this birthday on, i am going to have more experiences, do more things, be less afraid of those things that scare me.  i just want to do MORE.  so here i go.  you guys can hold me to it.  don't let me chicken out of anything.

as for my 25 before 25 list.  well, let's just say i had realllllly high hopes to get all of these done.  and i fell wayyyyy short.  i will do a full update next week, after the day comes.  but let's just say i have a week to cross off...ummm 13 or so things on my list.  oops.  :)

as for the other happenings in my life.  this has been a good summer.  i still love my job.  i went on a business trip to dallas a month ago.  that was definitely a new experience for me.  some really long days, but it was tons of fun.  i had never been to texas before.  humidity sucks.  i also never blogged about the dirty dash.  but just know - it was awesome.  i loved it.  and, in case you are wondering, i still hate running.  i had a small obsession with sno cones this summer.  i only went to get these delicious treats like...twice a week or something.  nothing too outrageous or anything.  i only got in a swimming pool once this whole summer.  that is a travesty.  but such is life when you work all day, every day.

i have some really good and exciting things coming up in my life, but i will just keep those to myself for now.  :)  ok.  now for a giant photo dump of summer pictures from my iphone.  in no particular order.

demolition derby night with the sissy pants and d-nile.

yep.  finally got the F*R*I*E*N*D*S complete series.  my life is so much happier now.

love this princess girl.

does that not look like the most perfect sno cone?  it was.  

my purchases from the other night.  this basically describes my life.

mama, sissy pants, and me getting pedicures.  good day.

one day this summer, i went on a bit of a shopping spree.  and it was so worth the money i spent.

oh fall.  the leaves are changing.  i love this time of year.

our business trip in dallas.  so much fun.

hi mommy!

lbd.  perfect.

lost my toenails after running my race.  embarrassing.

i really love this picture.

the happiest outfit of the summer.

yay life.  ok.  peace and love, y'all.

Peeved.

Today has been a day.  EVERYTHING is bothering me.  The sound of certain people's voices today is just driving me absolutely up the wall.  So today, I will be making a list of my pet peeves.  And the list is long.  And I don't feel bad about it.

• When people ask the same question over and over again.  Listen to the answer the first time!
• Drivers who try to get all the way to the front of an ending lane, then want to cut over in front of the drivers who have waited in line.  It's especially annoying when there are signs for 2 miles that the lane will be ending.
• Losing a new chapstick or lipgloss.
• Flimsy silverware.  I hate forks that bend!
• When people put the toilet paper on the roll the wrong way.
• Driving 5 miles under the speed limit.
• People who drive the speed limit in the fast lane.
• When my cell phone freaks out and freezes on me.
• Waking up to the alarm in the middle a good dream.
• When my favorite pair of clothing gets too worn out to wear.
• Filling up my car with gas.  
• Losing.  At anything.
• Wearing real shoes when it is hot outside.  Summer should be for sandals and flip flops.
• When someone younger than me calls me "hon" or "sweetie".  Really, sweetie?  You're a 17 year old high school senior.  Wait until you get a   
• People who order 1642312374654 menus off a drive-thru menu.  GO INSIDE.  You will make a person who orders one, simple frozen hot chocolate late for work because you need to feed every person you know.
• Having my hair look awesome for the first 10 minutes after I do it, and then failing me 30 minutes after I get to work.
• When a 27 year old guy wants to date a 19 year old girl.  Makes things realllllly difficult for me as I get older.  Not that is was that easy for me to begin with...
• When an episode of a show I watch and have missed is not online.  How am I supposed to catch up on my shows????
• Not being able to sleep in when that is all I really want to do.
• Ending a book series.
• Working really hard to lose weight and not seeing the results I neeeeeeeed.
• The fact that I have not been to Disneyland in over 4 years.  A piece of my soul dies every time someone I know goes and I am stuck here in Utah.

That is all for now.  I don't you all to think I am just some big whiner...  Someone get me on a vacation nowwwwwww.  :)

Farewell

Recently, I said goodbye to a dear friend of mine...Walter.  Walter has been faithful to me over the last (almost) 5 years.  When I first met Walter, I wasn't really sure I wanted him in my life.  But he proved loyal to me, and I really grew to love him.  But a few months ago, I felt like it was time to move our separate ways.  Walter was just a little boring and I needed a little spice in my life.  I tried for awhile to find Walter a new, loving home but to no avail.  Finally, I knew it was that time to just cut our ties.  So I said goodbye and hope for the best for him.

Bye Walter!

After Walter's departure, I made a new friend - Lucy.  Lucy is reallllllly pretty.  And she goes really fast.  Do I sound like I have small crush on Lucy?  Well I do a little bit.  And I'm not ashamed about it.  I'm making a few small changes to her, but she is mostly pretty perfect.  And I loooooooooove her.  I love Lucy..cliche much?  Oh well.

Pretty Lucy!

On a more serious note, recently I really did lose a good friend of mine.  I'm not really sure what happened either...she just kinda stopped talking to me.  It was very hurtful to me.  I went from talking to this person every single day, laughing, hanging out and having fun to nothing.  And it was almost instant that it happened, like someone just flipped a switch on our friendship.  I have felt so confused over the last two months.  I have tried to mediate the situation, but it just didn't work the way I wanted it to.  And now she is moving out of Utah and I don't think we'll ever be friends again. It makes me sad, but I know that there is nothing else that I can really do at this point.

One of the hardest things about it is that I feel like I have failed.  I have always prided myself on being a good friend - knowing what that person needs and how to make them feel better, being there for them through whatever.  And I know that I have failed her.  I wasn't the friend that she needed me to be...I let her down.  I'm not really sure how that happened either, but that is something I am going to have to work on.

I am now on the hunt for some new friends.  Not that I am getting rid of my current friends, I just need to expand my circle.  I have been feeling like this for awhile.  I just want to meet new people that can introduce me to more people and so on.  I am really looking for a new bestie.  I have a lot of people I consider best friends, but I need that one person who is just my...bestie.  That's is the right word for it.  The person who I can laugh and have fun with, where our conversations go "What are we doing tonight" and not "Do you want to do something tonight".  I'm not even just looking for one person.  That group of friends where you just know you are going to hang out and have fun and be able to talk and laugh and do stupid things without being judged.  Am I too old for that?  Sometimes I wonder.

Enough with my sob story.  I'm just going to go look at how pretty Lucy is some more...

Lessons Learned: A few teachings from my virtually non-existent dating life.

It's no secret that I'm not a huge dater.  I've talked about it a little bit before, but let me tell you a secret that you probably didn't know - I have only been on one date in about the last 2 years.  Embarrassing, right?  

I have signed up, yet again, with an online dating service, hoping for better results (don't worry...it is not the same site as mentioned in the previous post).  I have hope that maybe one day I will have some better results.  I know people who have met their spouses from online dating.  In fact, my visiting teacher is engaged to someone she met online.  So I know it works.  And I'm hoping that one day it works for me.

The problem is...guys just don't want to date me.  I seem to have that same problem everywhere I go...whether it is through the internet or in person.  I have tried to figure out the reasoning behind it - I put off a man-hating vibe, I'm too tall, I'm too heavy, guys don't like the insane amount of sarcasm that just seems to flow out of my mouth, men are distracted by my intensely overpowering beauty.  I don't know.  I try not to think about it too much, because the truth of the matter is - I like myself.  I really do.  It took me a loooooooong time to get to this place, but I am happy with who I am and what I have accomplished in my life.

I'm really at a point in my life where I just want to date.  Do I want to get married?  Absolutely.  But am I ready for it or am I looking for it?  I don't really think so right now.  I'm just looking to find out the things I want in a future man, and possibly make some friends along the way.  Is that really too much to ask?  I recently read a hilarious book (a silly romance novel, don't judge) that documented one girl's experiences with online dating.  And I loved it.  So I am going to try not to be so picky, while still being a little bit selective, and go out with more guys.  Usually, I just get nervous and freak out over small things but I'm going to work past that and just focus on having fun.

Now here is where you, my dear, lovely, beautiful, funny, amazing (am I laying it on too thick?), blog readers come in.  If you know any single men who want to hang out with an outgoing and funny (yeah, I'll say it.  I'm funny) girl, send them my direction.  I promise I will try not to scare them away too quickly.

And now for the moment you have all been waiting for...a few things I have learned from my experiences with dating.  I don't know how many of my blog readers are male (hey Bryce!), but you ladies are free to pass these words of "wisdom" on.

*Don't give a girl the "chicken wing", especially if you are going to do it every two minutes.

          The "chicken wing", as I have so affectionately named it, is when someone sticks their elbow out to nudge you, usually accompanied with a nod and an "ehhh", while trying to impress you or get your affirmation for something.  It has been dubbed the chicken wing, because it frequently makes the person look like a downed chicken, flailing its wings about while trying to take flight.  I once had a guy do this to me about every 30 seconds during a movie.  I left that date with a bruise the size of Texas.

*Don't stick your fingers in your mouth after eating, in an attempt to get food off of them.

          Seriously.  That's what napkins are for.  And soap and water.

*Please say more than 4 words while on a date.

          Especially if it is the type of date where interaction is required, as to not make things awkward.  Example: when taking a date to the midnight drags at RMR, it would be a helpful tool to talk to the girl, especially since the activity is probably not something she is interested in.

*Never ever ever ever ever run your tongue all over your date's face while kissing.

          This one doesn't need much explanation.  All I can say is GROSS.

*Don't ever send a girl naked pictures of you.

          Again, no explanation needed.

*Don't act too shy to speak during dinner, and then try to make the moves during a movie.

          Is this one of those "put the girl down first, then she will love you when you bring her back up" kind of things?  Doesn't work so well.

In case any of you are wondering...yes, all of these experiences are my own.  I attract the best, don't I?

Now validate me with your comments!  Please and thank you.  :)

Creepers.

I seriously attract the creepiest and weirdest people.  And that is not even a lie.  I have written about my "adventures" in online dating before.  Occasionally I get bored or lonely and will sign up again.  This was the case a couple of weeks ago.  I got bored and signed up on one, just for hell's sake.  I thought it might help me cross off the "one date per month" that is on my bucket list (so far - zero, in case you are wondering).  

On to the super creep who I most recently attracted.  This man who messaged me seemed nice enough.  He was pretty cute.  He was LDS.  He didn't drink.  He was taller than me.  Anyway, when he asked for my number, I gave it to him.  That is when the trouble started.  After about 2 texts, I knew I was not impressed.  The off-color, shall we say, jokes did not sit that well with me.  I came out and told him that I wasn't interested like 3 minutes into the conversation.  Then it started - continuous phone calls, texts every 30 seconds, some seriously inappropriate pictures.  It was AWFUL.  After asking him to stop texting me more than once and to no avail, I finally threatened to call the cops and file a harassment suit against him if he didn't leave me alone.

Seriously - how the hell do I attract such a weird group of people???  I think I am a fairly normal.  I may have some quirky traits - I like to make up songs and sing them, I frequently bust out random accents, I make weird faces at people, I don't like flimsy silverware - but I am a good, decent, normal person.  It gets rather discouraging at times.  I often wonder if I will ever find a normal man.  I want to start singing Bonnie Tyler's I Need a Hero..."where have all the good men gone and where are all the gods?  Where's the streetwise Hercules to fight the rising odds?"

Bahhh.  I really don't know why I write these things down for you guys to read.  But there you go.

Lately.

Lately...

*I have been watching an excessive amount of "Saved by the Bell".  Zack Morris is just as foxy now as he was back then.
*I am slightly obsessed with my iPhone.  But I don't have problem...
*I cannot WAIT for this weekend.  Father's Day weekend is my absolute FAVORITE weekend of the whole entire year.  I need it to recharge my batteries, to get away from everyone and everything that is bringing me down.  I can't wait to visit the cemetery and sit with my grandparents for awhile.  Sounds morbid, I know, but I am looking forward to it.
*I kinda love Jason Mraz's new cd.  It is pretty swell.
*Softball has started for my single's ward.  Tuesdays are, once again, my favorite night of the week.
*I am trying to sell Walter.  We have had a good run, but I think it is time to move on.
*I still hate running.  But I did the Dirty Dash and it was amaaaaaazing.  I will blog about it at another time.
*The last couple of weeks, I have been in a confusing situation with one of my close friends.  I'm not really sure what is going on, but we haven't been talking like at all.  It has been really hard for me, and has been quite painful.  I'm trying to stay positive, hoping that it is not something I have done - that this person is just going through something they need to work out on their own.  It is just hard to see them so friendly with others.  I don't know.  But I had a talk with one of my amazing ecclesiastical leaders, and it has helped me get some perspective.
*I am on the search for new ways to style my hair.  I feel like it is the same old, tired look.  I don't want to cut my hair, I just want to learn some new ways to do it.
*My beverage of choice lately has been cream soda.  It is delightful.
*One of my favorite things about summer is SNO CONES!  Mmmmm.
*Also.  Big Brother starts in about a month.  And I cannot wait.
*I have had soooooo many allergies this year, that I think I need to buy stock in Kleenex.

Ok.  That is kinda it, I guess.  Peace and love.

25 before 25

Guys.  I turn 25 years old this year.  And I am freaking out about it a little bit.  And I know people will tell me that 25 isn't even old, blah blah blah blah.  But it feels old.  I have a whole list of things that I want to do before I turn a quarter of a century old.  That gives me less than 4 months to get these all checked off.  Yes, I know some of them will not be possible, so those ones will just transfer over to my 30 before 30 list.

So...who wants to help make this the BEST. SUMMER. EVER?  :)

1. Sleep until noon
2. Run in a race
        FINISHED!  And have two more coming up.  Bahhhh I still hate running.
3. Pay off my car
4. Jump off the high dive
5. Kiss a total stranger
6. Give up Diet Coke
7. Teach myself to like avocados
8. Go skinny dipping (technically I have already done this, but it was more skinny run-into-the-water-and-run-back-out, so it needs to be on there again)
9. Save $500 dollars (apart from my regular savings) and go on a shopping spree
10. Participate in "Ellen's Dance Dare" and submit it to her show
11. See Garth Brooks in concert
12. Go to a professional baseball game
         GO BRAVES!
13. Make a dress that I will love to wear
14. Go to a formal event that requires me to get really dressed up
15. Lose 20 more pounds
16. Visit a state I haven't been to before
         Colorado?  Check!  But I do want to visit more.
17. Eat funnel cake at a fair
18. Go an entire day without eating one single piece of candy/sweets
19. Learn to waterski
20. Make 5 of the recipes I have pinned on Pinterest
21. Go paragliding
         Coolest thing of my life.  So glad I did it.
22. Go on one date during every month of the summer (doesn't seem like a lot but I NEVER date)
23. Make 10 blankets to donate to a children's hospital
24. Learn to play a song on the guitar
25. Be happy with my body and who I am - don't let other's opinion of me bring me down

*Honorary goal: make a scene in a public place

Ok.  Now be a dear and help me cross of these things in my life.  :)

#ihaterunning

Notice the title of the post?  I think #hashtagging is cool.  I don't do it often because I don't want to be one of those people who hashtags everything.  Because that is not cool.  Ok.  Moving on.

See the other part of the title?  The "I hate running" part?  That's because I do.  My race was on Saturday.  I for real almost died.  It was fun to be able to run with my girls, but I hated every second of it.  The race was a relay, with each person running two legs ranging from 5.84 miles to 7.1 miles.  Thank goodness for Janae who was willing to run my other leg for me.  That means I was left with only a 6 mile leg to run.  She is champ and totally my hero.

I think I kinda psyched myself out for this run, because I felt like I was going to die 2 miles into the leg.  2 miles is nothing for me.  I do almost 3 on my easy days.  I think part of the problem is that I had no reference points.  I had no idea how far I had gone or how much further I had to go.  In my training, I know exactly how far I had gone, and I think that helped.  But during the race, I was going and I was thinking that I had run for like 45 minutes, but really I had only gone like 4 blocks - which is nothing.  It was frustrating.  And I was sloooow.  I was almost the slowest person to run the leg.  But I actually ended up being faster than I had originally thought I had done it in.  And you know what?  It's ok.  It is ok that I had to walk a significant distance.  It is ok that I almost cried when I thought it was never going to end.  You know why?  Because I did it.  If you could see how far I have come from a year ago, you would think it is ok too.  :)

Alright.  Here are some pictures.  So glad that I got to run this with Rose, Brit, Nat, and Janae.  You girls are the besssst!

These are our super sweet car decorations.  Yes.  I decorated a window specifically for myself.  Because I am that awesome.

All of us girlies before the race.

 My pre-race picture.

Coming in.  Don't let this picture fool you...I walked a significant amount and then ran the last little bit.  :)

With my sissy pants right after I got done running.

 About to cross the finish line! 

52 miles in 9 hours.  I would say that is a success.

 My medal!

Now I just gotta start preparing for the Dirty Dash....  AAAAAAAAH.