"I'm not trying to sound so insincere, but the postcard that's taped to the freezer reads: "Wish you were here.""

oh jeez. what to blog, what to blog....I feel like I have been neglecting Mingo (my laptop- for those of you newcomers). I haven't really bothered to get online in awhile and now I feel all disconnected from everyone. What's new?
Christmas was awesome because I went to my parent's house and Isaac, Carly, and Nathan were up there and I got to play with them all weekend. That was the best, I can't get enough of those little kids. I wish I had pictures but all the pictures I took were with other people's cameras. Just trust me when I say they were all adorable!

This past month has been a pretty good one, despite the freezingness. I've been about ready for that business to stop since before it started. I miss Florida. Summary since the last time I wrote- We went and saw Avatar 3D in Imax- I went in with very low hopes and came out happy. It was surprisingly good...Surprisingly because I thought it looked lame. We also watched all the old school Christmas claymation movies which are the only Christmas movies I really enjoy watching. Side note: I want a penguin named Topper. Oh! speaking of adorable, Logan made me a blanket. It's super cute, I love it.

Last weekend we went up to Salt Lake City with my friend Jonny and this girl Emily and froze to death while looking at the Christmas lights. The only picture I have of that event is from my phone because Logan took pictures on his camera, and my fingers were way to frozen to bust my camera out, too.You can't tell in this picture, but is was super foggy up there.

  Most of the time we couldn't even see the tops of the pillars, it was very creepy and cool looking. I like fog. After that, we went to IHOP for delicious breakfast food and then we all met up with Robyn and her husband and bought stuff and made gingerbread (ahem...graham cracker) houses- I think the pictures will tell the stories there.

Robyn and Justin made a bungalow...

Jonny made a house that had the roof cave in and turned into a construction zone, complete with yellow construction tape and little gummy bear victims...

And Logan and I made a trailer park house. :)

Now that Christmas is over and I've got my grades from this semester, I guess I should be thinking about what's coming next. School, the New Year, that sort of thing. I should be mentally preparing, if nothing else...but I'm not. Not just yet. We'll see what happens... Did I mention I miss Florida? I'm homesick again.

"you're a mean one...mister grinch"

I never really understood when people said they were afraid to major in something they enjoyed doing because they didn't want to take the fun out of it. I always figured it would be like getting assigned something you loved to do so it would be all play. I do however realize, after taking my color theory class, that it can be super frustrating when you have a day to do a project a certain way, with guidelines that you have to look up and research, while you are juggling other classes as well. I feel like I didn't learn anything this semester. I wanted to take some art classes next semester but everything I've heard about the teachers say they don't teach you anything, they just give you assignments and expect them to be done the right way. I need a mentor. Sometimes I'm okay with learning by trial and error, and other times I think it would just be a lot more fun having someone actually teach me what to do the right way to make my projects better.

Some people just have a gift, and the rest of us have to work at it I suppose. If any of you artists out there would like to teach me I will gladly come on over and listen to your wisdom...'cause heaven knows I'm not gettin it at school.

"Do I stay or run away and leave it all behind?"

"so your semester is over?"

"Yes! I guess so...how weird. What a waste of time that was."

no song for no music

Dear itunes,

I hate your guts. I've hated you for quite some time now...just about as long as I've known about you, but you continue to encourage my loathing. I guess it is a freshly renewed hatred now that you have decided, once again, to delete all my music. I didn't even ask. There I was, ready to jam out to some tunes, when I opened you up and you asked me to download some music to start my itunes experience. You are worthless. The only reason I've kept you around is for my phone's sake, but I think you are ready to bite the dust for good.
In conclusion, go delete somebody else's music for a change. Do what you do best.

-Irritated and music-less.

"Well, I guess it's just the way you are..."

Today is Johnny Rzeznik's birthday.
Nevermind how old he is.
Anyway, I can't say enough great things about him...as is evidenced by pretty much anyone who's ever talked to me at some point or another. I recently became a fan of him on Facebook to get more updates and videos, and apparently it appeared on my wall because suddenly I got a comment from my old friend Jon, who I haven't talked to since probably 2003, that said "tell me something I didn't know." ah, yes. I just like to be very clear with my obsessions.
Happy Birthday, Johnny...

sock monkey hat?

"happy endings"

Today is the last day of my "blogging all month". I know you're all feeling disappointed that you wont be hearing from me as often...it's okay, hold back those tears. It's been a good run.
[okay, side note: you should hear my stomach right now! Actually, listen closely...I bet you can hear it wherever you are.]
So anyway, thanks for hangin' out. I got up to 108 posts during this month- which is pretty impressive considering I haven't really had anything to say in I don't know how long. Hopefully next time I blog it'll be because I actually have something entertaining to write about. Suggestions welcome :) ha ha. Until then, I'll just enjoy reading everyone else's posts :)

"they come runnin' just as fast as they can- 'cause every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man!"

I went to church with this handsome guy today:

and Melinda gave an awesome talk :)

"Come together right now- over me"

Today I made two little hats for my tiny nephew. They're so little! probably about the size of my hand.

Also, thanks to everyone who comes and visits my blog even when I have lots of boring stuff. Ha ha. I felt so touched when I walked in to Micah's house the other day and everyone commented on my scarf and asked if it was the one I made. I didn't realize people really visited here...guess I gotta start spicin' things up! :)

"Ain't talking no tall tales friend"

This was my Black Friday:

"Happiness, no more be sad, happiness....I'm glad. "

"headlights on dark roads"

I can hear my roommate snoring through the wall. Only it sounds really far away, so i'm not exactly sure who it's coming from. I just finished a delicious meal of chicken nuggets, fries, and junior mints at so early in the morning with Robyn and now I am ready for bed. :) I really like driving around late at night when there are hardly any other cars on the road and you feel free to do what you want. There is something mysterious and refreshing about the air at night. Tomorrow perhaps I will get festive and think of things I am thankful for.

"turtle power!"

Mikey is awesome.

"If you want it, (oOo) you can have it (oOo)-But you've got to learn to reach out there and grab it"

So, I didn't realize it but my last post was my 100th post. yikes. I'm pretty sure it could've been more exciting...Sorry everyone. I guess that's what I get for trying to come up with something-anything- to write about to have a post of the day.
Also, I learned how to jailbreak and unlock my iphone so that I now have Tmobile with it. They wanted to charge me $45 just to unlock it at the store but I'm pretty much the bomb.com so I did it myself. Okay, Curtis told me what website to go to to read about it, and it was the easiest thing ever, but still...
alright, that's all I've got.

"bound to happen"

I bought a...um...loom? to make beanies and scarves and decided I felt very domestic walking down the isle holding yarn. It was actually pretty weird, but I started making a snow hat and so far so good. If it turns out fabulous I'll post a picture. If not I'll find a picture online to post and claim it as my own so everyone will be impressed. Hm, I might do that anyway.

So...Christmastime is here! I'm learning to see it differently, because Logan loves all things Christmas and he's trying to get the scrooge in me to love it too.
We set up a tree in his living room the other night and it's super cute.

Happy Holidays, everyone

"I will buy you that big house..."

So, the time has come for Michelangelo to upgrade his house again. I was thinking something ninja turtlish but I can't quite think of what I could do. Any ideas, send em my way.
 Also, i've realized how spoiled dogs are in my search for turtle houses. I mean, I found one cool house for a turtle, but most of the houses I found were for dogs, and most were along these lines:

seriously? I mean it's awesome, but jeez.  (p.s. mom, don't let Myska see that or she might disown you) 

"Piano man he makes his stand In the auditorium. Looking on she sings the songs the words she knows the tune she hums"

My Mom was going to see a concert today and she was very. very excited. This is the instant messenger conversation we had this morning:

Mamma: I'm brushing up on my mad singing skillz, don't worry about me.
Mamma: What's that you say Elton?
Mamma: Oh, you're in town and you want me to come and hear you sing?
Special K: oh yeah..forgot about that
Mamma: IT'S TODAY!!!
Special K: oh really? so it didn't get canceled?
Mamma: nope.
Mamma: he's recovered
Mamma: i have little butterflies in my tummy
Special K: haha well that's exciting
Special K: is dad ready to rock out?
Mamma: i know, right?
Mamma: no, i've been listening to eltons songs that i've never heard for the last few weeks and he's not interested
Mamma: gosh, i think i'll be sick before i get there
Mamma: dad wants to go out to eat beforehand and, um, no thanks
Special K: haha oh my gosh, it's not like you're MEETING him! then again...i almost passed out on the floor last time i saw johnny in concert...i was literally hunched over on the floor cause my tummy hurt so bad right before he came out. luckily that went away once he started singing. must've been nerves
Mamma: i've wanted to see him in concert for forever!
Special K: yeah i know
Mamma: gee, i wonder who you get that from?
Special K: ummmm
Mamma: feel free to tell BJ thanks again
Special K: yeah, you should tell him. he doesn't talk to me anymore
Mamma: i'll let him know if i get called up on stage from my mad singing skillz
Special K: haha
Special K: i'm sure ol elton will just reach down through the crowd and grab your hand and pull you up
Mamma: with his stubby little arms? he'd never reach his toes, much less my hand
Mamma: i don't suppose you know anyone who has binoculars
Mamma: holy cow, now my butterflies are turning into birds
Special K: oh jeez
Mamma: starts at 7:30, if i'm not in the emergency room by then
Mamma: so pretty much dad will be sitting there enjoying it and i'll be in the restroom worshiping the porcelain god


like I said...very excited. Unfortunately, shortly after this conversation she was informed the show has been canceled, after all. :(

Mamma: i wish i had a stone to throw
Special K: aww
Mamma: or a rock to kick
Mamma: i feel like i'm five and my mom wouldn't give me money for the ice cream man


sad day....poor mamma. :(

also, there's this:In-N-Out is here. I'm hoping maybe that will make the novelty of it wear off since the big thing was that they weren't around...but I think it will still be awhile until that happens. People are obsessed. I don't get it. Their burgers just taste like regular burgers to me. And their fries are gross.

"over and out, she said..."

I know I already posted for today but I have a lyrical picture of the day, too. I guess there is a time for everything and now is mine to let go of something I've been holding onto, hoping it will change.

"knock three times and hope that my pale complexion wont blow my cover..."

I have the loudest tummy you will ever hear. Not only is it loud, but it is constantly rumbling. I could've eaten 7 minutes ago, 7 hours ago, or 7 seconds ago, and it will sound the same. Okay, maybe louder if it was 7 hours, but then again, you never know. I have never met anyone who's tummy is as audible as mine. People comment on it all the time, and I've kind of gotten used to it but sometimes it catches even me off guard. It just never shuts up. Even when you think it's quiet, if you listen closely you can still hear it.
So the other night I watched a vampire movie called "Let the Right One In." I think it's in Swedish. It was surprisingly good, though, with a sad undertone. Anyway, the little vampire girl in the movie...her stomach sounds exactly like mine! I didn't even realize hers was growling, I just thought it was mine until Logan looked over at me with huge eyes as my tummy growled in sync with the girl's and asked in a sort of panic, "are you going to eat me?!" Yep. I found my tummy twin. Kind of like how Joey finds his hand twin in Friends? Anyway. It was bizarre. And I might be a vampire.
The End.

"Am I still tough enough? Feels like I'm wearing down, down, down..."

This week I rediscovered my need for comfort. As I have mentioned before, I much prefer to be under-dressed than overdressed. I know, most people seem to be the opposite, but I just can't help it. It's not that I don't like dressing up...that's fun on occasion, I just don't like being all dressy when other people aren't. It makes me feel silly. Also, it's easier to rock in rocker clothes.
That is all.

Wait! That is NOT all! We went to Outback last night...and all was right with the world. THAT is all.

"But WAIT...there's more!"

I am thinking about studying for a test I have to take tomorrow. I don't really know what's come over me. I'm not even entirely sure I know how to study, but I thought about maybe taking out the notes and looking at them. This isn't like me. Something weird is happening.
Eh...it'll pass.

Also, it's cold now. I mean, hibernating cold. It will be interesting to see how this Winter plays out since I seem to have some sort of obligation to be out of the house every day for class. I have a feeling it's not gonna go over so well.

also, here is the infomercial of the day: (you know how I love my infomercials)



and there's this:

"she wore a...."

p.s. I know it's winter, but look at this bathing suit. It's so cuuuuute. I want it real bad. Can I have it please?

"You won't cry, I won't scream..."

I am not a big crier. I don't really cry over personal things very often, but for some reason I just can't help tearing up when I read some books, or watch certain movies and shows. It's embarrassing and kind of ridiculous.
I always try and be cool and casual about it if other people are around. Slowly and discreetly move my hand up to my face to brush away the tears before anyone notices.

I was telling my mom about this the other day and she said  "oh my gosh, you're just like your dad! He never has any emotion in real life, but he's always crying over there during movies!"

ha ha. Guess I know where that comes from. 

"You were a child, crawlin' on your knees toward it... "

I went to my parent's house today and got to see all of the little adorable ones. Man they are all so cute. I love them to pieces.

"i'm only sleeping"

picture of the day:

This guy was sitting across from me in church. Note the nice pillow-scriptures he's using for his sunday morning nap. Clever.

Maybe he's just doing that to absorb them better...?

Friday the 13th...

I am superstitious. I am still waiting for something bad to happen today, but in the mean time, it's also National "To Write Love On Her Arms" Day. A lot of bands that I like support TWLOHA and that's how I first heard about it. Summed up, it's a movement supporting loving each other and helping those recovering from different things. Below is the more in-depth explanation.



To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery.

To Write Love On Her Arms Day is a day where anyone can write the words love on their arms, to support those who are fighting against depression and those who are trying to recover.

The vision is that we actually believe these things…

You were created to love and be loved. You were meant to live life in relationship with other people, to know and be known. You need to know that your story is important and that you're part of a bigger story. You need to know that your life matters.

We live in a difficult world, a broken world. My friend Byron is very smart - he says that life is hard for most people most of the time. We believe that everyone can relate to pain, that all of us live with questions, and all of us get stuck in moments. You need to know that you're not alone in the places you feel stuck.

We all wake to the human condition. We wake to mystery and beauty but also to tragedy and loss. Millions of people live with problems of pain. Millions of homes are filled with questions – moments and seasons and cycles that come as thieves and aim to stay. We know that pain is very real. It is our privilege to suggest that hope is real, and that help is real.

You need to know that rescue is possible, that freedom is possible, that God is still in the business of redemption. We're seeing it happen. We're seeing lives change as people get the help they need. People sitting across from a counselor for the first time. People stepping into treatment. In desperate moments, people calling a suicide hotline. We know that the first step to recovery is the hardest to take. We want to say here that it's worth it, that your life is worth fighting for, that it's possible to change.

Beyond treatment, we believe that community is essential, that people need other people, that we were never meant to do life alone.

The vision is that community and hope and help would replace secrets and silence.

The vision is people putting down guns and blades and bottles.

The vision is that we can reduce the suicide rate in America and around the world.

The vision is that we would learn what it means to love our friends, and that we would love ourselves enough to get the help we need.

The vision is better endings. The vision is the restoration of broken families and broken relationships. The vision is people finding life, finding freedom, finding love. The vision is graduation, a Super Bowl, a wedding, a child, a sunrise. The vision is people becoming incredible parents, people breaking cycles, making change.

The vision is the possibility that your best days are ahead.

The vision is the possibility that we're more loved than we'll ever know.

The vision is hope, and hope is real.

You are not alone, and this is not the end of your story.

"I need your discipline...I need your help"

This is my petition for help, please.

I have a couple projects for school that I'm supposed to be working on already for my end-of-the-year final. One is in photography, and the other is in Digital Imaging. Anyway, we're supposed to be doing a series of something important to us. So I picked music. Obviously. More specifically, Lyrics. I think I am going to call it "Lyrics we Live by". I need phrases, or mainly one-liners. Things that inspire people, or that people relate to. I need lyrics with feeling...and lots of it. Good, bad, happy, sad, all of them.

Anyway, if you think of any good lyrics- please send them my way. Many thanks!

"them crooked vultures"

Dear Color Theory Teacher,
I signed up for your class because it sounded interesting and fun from the description. I am sorry to say that it is not. Your homework assignments take entirely too much time, because half the time is spent trying to figure out how the heck to do them since you don't explain them. Most of the people in class come in saying they averaged 14+ hours on the assignment, which you give us about a day to complete, or really- a day and a half, which is ridiculous because they take that long and we have other classes with other homework to do! Get over yourself.
Possibly giving up,
disgruntled student

"pictures of you"

Rebecca came over on Sunday night to help me out with my photography homework. We're supposed to do portraits, so here are a few pictures we took :) She was awesome.

"I get by with a little help from my friends..."

Today is Robyn's Birthday...she's awesome and we've been through lots of stuff and to lots of places together. Happy Birthday Robyn! This one's for you....you know I'd be playin' you 50 cent if I was there ;)

"you should be dancin'...yeaaaah!"

Our photo of the day today comes from NYC and the disco king...of M&M world.

So, I have pictures from today, but I don't have the cord to my camera at the moment so this post will have to be redone tomorrow. I just had to keep in my every day posting. On that note, goodnight.

"Let's go Outback tonight..."

Sometimes I check my email and have messages from Outback Steakhouse about new deals and menu items, personally addressed to me. What can I say? We're really close friends.

Speaking of friends, I have a friend I went to high school with that is living the life I want to live. He's living where I want to live, in the kind of place I want to live in, with the kind of people I want to live with, working the kind of jobs I want to work, doing the kinds of things I want to be doing, and I find myself wondering when my life changed into one where I was jealous of what someone else was doing. That's been me. Living where I want, when I want....what in the world happened? Anyway, I was looking at something he'd written and it could be me writing this:

"I am bad when I go to the ice cream shop. Being there, seeing all the different flavors to choose from, makes it really hard for me. Because I know no matter what decision I make I will always wish that I had chose a different flavor. Not because the flavor I got isn't good, but because I made the choice, and now I cant have that other ice cream and I am stuck with the choice I made. With all those other choices right there for me to look at. So what do I do? I spend hours just sampling every flavor in the ice cream shop. Those small little bites that are suppose to just tease you into choosing a flavor are all I need. After Ive had enough of those small bites I can leave. I can leave and I can go to the grocery store. I can walk to the ice cream section and I can buy a gallon of the ice cream I always buy. Nothing fancy. No rainbow colors or chocolate chips. no bubble gum pieces or rock hard mints. I'll take my plain ice cream home with me and I'll stay outta that ice cream shop until the gallon is gone."

I find this incredibly relate-able. On that note, I'm going to go scheme about what I want to be doing with my life next.

"remember remember the fifth of november..."

I wish that I had something more exciting to post than just a picture, but as it is, I've got nothin'. Oh well, sometimes pictures are better than my ramblings anyway, I suppose. Picture of the day:

curtis and melinda
me and jason

awww. Yeah, I have no idea when this was or what beach it was at. But aren't we cute?

"one of these things is not like the others..."

Today's picture is brought to you by my cute little niece Carly...

I cannot even tell you how cute this little girl has been since the day she was born.

"Paper bags and plastic hearts. All our belongings in shopping carts..."

Today's pictures are made possible by Smiths grocery store employees. (no offense to your place of employment, Justin) This picture was captured at the store closest to my parent's house:

For all your spobnging needs.

This next picture was taken at the Smiths down the block from my house:

Yes! "bargin" bonanza!

"This ain't believable... This ain't predictable"

Nothing super eventful has happened so far today, other than listening to lots and lots of Raditude...which speaks its amazingness for itself. so I suppose it's time for picture of the day. Let's see what is is....

Yay! Look at my amazing Ursula shirt! So last year I was working in NYC, and I got to see The Little Mermaid on Broadway, which was amazing because Ariel is my idol and we even got to meet her afterwards:

I know...don't mind my half-crazed look. It was a very exciting night for me. :)

NaBloPoMo....What?!

It's officially National Blog Posting month! You try and blog every day for the month of November. A few of my friends did it last year and I totally missed out, but it's here again! To make things easier I might just go with a picture of the day when I don't have things to blog. And when I can't decide on a picture I'll choose the 11th picture (for November) out of each of my photo folders and blog that one. I have about a million folders of pictures, so that should be easy enough. Happy Blogging everyone! Picture of the day:

Ha ha. Jason, Melinda, and I went on like a three week camping/hiking trip after Curtis and Savannah got married. We went so many cool places, and on this part of the trip we went in this little "Grand Canyon airlines" plane over the Grand Canyon to a river, and then took us rafting. It was awesome.

LOVE

I am so excited. I love Angels & Airwaves and they made a movie :) http://www.apple.com/trailers/lions_gate/love/

or

http://modlife.com/angelsandairwaves/videoview/7745/official_love_trailer

"Adventure is worthwhile in itself. "

So, last night there was a Halloween party/dance. Wait, back up. So, there is a gorgeous motorcycle parked out in the parking lot by my house. I've admired it since the day I moved in. I never knew who's it was, but I loved looking at it. Isn't it pretty?

 It turns out it belongs to our BFF BJ, who is also our home teacher now and told us we can ride on it anytime. yessss. He lives two floors below us and became our best friend when we saw him at church and liked his Jonny Rzeznik hair and then found out he's a singer/guitar player in a band and owns the amazing motorcycle. We don't really ever call each other by names, just "BFF" when we see each other. He's awesome.

Back to our original story, last night was a costume party and I didn't have a costume. Logan was going as a cowboy, Kari was a New kids on the block fan, and I couldn't decide. At the last minute Logan told me to be Amelia Earhart, so we gathered some stuff and off we went!



And guess what...in the middle of all the dancing they announced prizes, and I won best costume! Woo hoo! I was like a celebrity, people were hi-fivin' me as I went up front and on the way back, it was all very exciting.







This was right before we left, Logan, me, BJ, and Kari. BFFs.