J.K. Rowling makes me feel like a jerk

So today it took me like twelve years to eat dinner. I was all hungry, but in the mood for real food, as opposed to that fake kind I'm always eating, but I didn't know what I wanted and I was being lazy. But then Kimberly mentioned macaroni tuna and it sounded perfect and like the only thing I could possibly want. So then Mom says, "I don't think we have any Cream of Chicken." I was skeptical because we have like a million cans of whatever downstairs in our food storage, and a whole section that's labeled "Cream of Chicken," so first I checked the pantry and there wasn't any so I went to the food storage shelves. First, naturally, I checked that specific shelf, and although it was full of cans, there were exactly zero Cream of Chicken. It was mostly Cream of Mushroom and Tomato Soup and Chicken Noodle. So then I'm thinking maybe I should look where the Cream of Mushroom and Tomato Soup is supposed to be, but I look there, and you know what there is? Cream of Mushroom and Tomato Soup. Why magical food storage shelves? There are roughly 483 cans of Tomato Soup and 376 cans of Cream of Mushroom, and we don't have a single can of Cream of Chicken? DISAPPOINTMENT.

Anyway. I'm re-reading the Harry Potter series because basically I love it and it's a summer tradition for me. I just finished reading the fourth one and I was feeling all guilty because I kept thinking about how J.K. Rowling makes me feel like the worst person in the world. Maybe it's just me. I like Cedric fine, but at first I'm all, "Amos Diggory is a jerk. Cedric shouldn't have even won that match." And then I'm like, ""everybody is being mean to Harry because they like Cedric more, boo." And then it's time for the Yule Ball and I'm sad because I just want Harry to be happy, and he wants to go with Cho, but nooooo, she's going with Cedric. And it's just frustrating, and then when they both get to the trophy at the end, I think, "Harry should just win it." Clearly I'm bias. But then Cedric dies, and suddenly I'm all sad about it. But not just sad. Guilty. Because I've been all hating of Cedric because I want Harry to be the winner of the universe, and I want him to get the girl or whatever. And then I don't even like Cho later because she gets all annoying and crazy, so then I'm even more guilty, because Cedric and Cho would have been so happy together, but they can't be happy because he's dead. What the heck, J.K.? Why you gotta be that way.

My dad could fix a clock faster than your dad

I'm just gonna jump right in with this, so here's the thing: my dad is the best.

There is no disputing this, as I would never argue that your dad is the best too. But mine is the best of the best (he is in the Army after all).

Everything about my dad is so super great. Let's think of some things, shall we?

My dad is - as already stated - in the Army. He is a Colonel. That is dope. He is the commandant of the Defense Information School. He runs it! He has no boss. Top dog. When he walks into a classroom, everybody in the class has to stand at attention until he tells them to stop. And then when he walks out, they do it again. Boom.

My dad worked at the Pentagon. He knows all kinds of secrets that you wish you could imagine. He knows what the DefCon is. Or at least he did, maybe it's changed. One time he told me he had to leave immediately and he would be gone for a couple days and he couldn't tell me where he was going. Awesome.

My father loves guns. He likes to shoot them, he likes to build them, he likes to make his own bullets. When he's retired, he just wants to build and sell guns. How cool is that. If he were one of those scary dads who tried to make their daughters dates feel uncomfortable he would be a pro. (But he's not one of those dads because he is cooler than that.)

Dad likes racquetball. I can't beat him at it. I probably will never be able to. Neither will you.

My dad can fix anything. ANYTHING. Try to find something that he can't fix. You can't do it! He fixes old clocks for fun. He has built two computers. He can handle any electrical, mechanical or other situation. He has built houses. He finished our basement. There is nothing he can't do!

He used to jump out of airplanes. For his job. I don't even know what the purpose of it was, but it was so cool.

My dad is a super goof. I think that's the best thing about him because even though he is so awesome and tough at his job, and he works hard, he is just a dork. He loves a good pirate joke (or, as Kimberly pointed out, a bad pirate joke). He sings the same four songs, and only knows one line of each. He wears his sunglasses at night. O somio, it's a rigatonio.












My dad used to have a mustache, and he looked good.

Dad loves Star Trek. This summer I have been watching the original series with him. It is a good show! My dad has great taste.

He will do anything for me ever! It's the best.

My dad is also the best grandpa to my two little nephews. I am so excited for when I have children and I can let grandpa teach them about how to be as awesome as him.

My dad will push me to do better and be better because he knows that I can do it. He knows that there are things I need to earn and learn and do and he believes in me. I could not be more thankful for him because of that.

My dad is strong in the Church. He loves the gospel and that is so apparent.

My wonderful father loves is children and his family so so so much. He doesn't cry often, but the times I have seen him get teary-eyed and chin-quivery were when he was talking about his family.

Have I said enough yet? Do you understand that my dad is the best? He's the best.

I love you, dad.

Updation Plantation (Not to be confused with a Dalmation Plantation)

I have been super frustrated lately because every time I get on my google reader, there are never any new posts by my favorite bloggers. But I thought about it, and I hadn't written anything for a long time, so I figured it was only fair to give them a break. But then this morning there were about 6 new posts, so I figured they were telling me to get on with it all ready and write something. So here I am.

I think mainly I have been hesitant about posting because I feel like not so much is going on right now. After all, it's summer and I'm living in a place with approximately two people that are my age (that aren't married with two children). However, today I sat down and stood up and thought about it, and there are quite a few things that have happened that I feel I could possibly spin as entertaining if i really tried. While my mother religiously uses lists to keep herself organized and well-planned, I prefer them in scenarios when I can't think of great segues from on subject to another, so here is my list of the summer so far:

1. I came back to Maryland. It is not as spiteful and loathing of me as I remember it. In fact, it has been rather pleasant.

2. I am mainly babysitting for money and it has been an awesome experience. I have had some great (and very not-so-great) times looking after many different children. Sometimes it feels like I'm mainly watching after the TV, but considering not one has been stolen under my guard, I assume I'm doing a good job.

3. I am a primary teacher! I teach CTR 6 (which is 6 and 7-year-olds to those who aren't aware) and it is basically my favorite thing in the world. Every one of those kids makes me so so happy to be their teacher and I love them so much already. Especially when they explain things like the reason why somebody who was tied up wouldn't complain to Heavenly Father because they couldn't move their arms so they couldn't fold them. It's the best.

4. I miss my nephews so so much it makes me die. Sometimes I get to talk to them on the phone and it is so great.

5. I lost seven pounds!

6. I'm running a 5K tomorrow and I am super nervous about it, but I'm going to do it and it will be great!

7. There is some kind of Acne Apocalypse on the left side of my face and I hate it. Probably nobody wanted to know that, but I'm going with full disclosure here.

8. I have had a million fun times with my mom and dad and brother and sister-in-law. I am so thankful for them.

9. Kevin James!

10. I dyed my hair dark again. It was fun being blonde, but I am ADD when it comes to my hair so it was time for a change. It probably won't stay this way for long.

11. I went to the eye doctor today and found out I have a little astigmatism, but I don't have glaucoma, which was super great news. (I bet you didn't know I was scared about having glaucoma. I was)

12. I have to go to bed now!

Come Fly Away. Or don't.

I wrote this whilst on my way home from Provo:

"I’m sitting here on the airplane, and here’s what I think. Flying is the worst. If man was meant to fly, they should figure out a less stressful way to do it. Every time I go on a plane, I come out feeling greasy and disgusting. Can somebody please explain why this happens? Actually don’t, if I knew I would probably never get on a plane again.

I’m not one of those people who is afraid to fly, I don’t expect the engine to come flying off, or the plane to crash to the ground, or for there to be some horrifying monster on the wing that is out to get William Shatner. It’s just … not fun. First of all, you have to get there mega early, or at least I do so I don’t get too stressed, and then once you get through security, you sit and wait. And then you get on the plane and you sit and wait. And then the plane takes off and you sit and wait. The plane lands and you sit and wait. Finally they taxi you to the gate and you sit and wait. When you finally get off the blasted plane, you have to wait for your baggage, which is not guaranteed to have arrived.

From previous experiences, I know that my flight and whole travel day could have gone much worse. And I am thankful for a quick way to travel across the country, so that I will be home in a matter of hours."

And that is as far as I got. I am so thankful to be home now, and yes, it took a while to get my bags. But they were all there.

That's it.

Time isn't on my side.

I don't don't don't don't don't like packing. I have too too too too too much stuff. Why? WHY? It's not even possible to fit all of your life into a suitcase, and it is so miserable to pack it all away.

It is weird some of the things I own. I have come across kiddy rings, folders, posters, letters, 3 different student IDs, candles, spoons. spoons everywhere, 4 million socks with no matchies and pretty much anything that I have lost throughout the semester that I had been wondering about its wherabouts.

And it seems that any time I find something that I haven't seen for a while, and I don't know what to do about it, I just wear it. I had on two headbands, two rings, sunglasses, and I've changed my shirt twice.

Also, I had my first final this morning. It is cruel and unusual punishment that they have finals that start at 7 in the morning. I am not smart that early in the morning. It's just foolish. It took me three tries to get my shirt on properly. First it was inside and backward, then it was just backward. ugh. no fun. And I have another one on Thursday.

Ok, back to packing. I sure hope my dearest mommy is planning on buying me some clothes to take place of the ones I am going without when I go home... :)

Two more days left at Bountiful Court. Two more days left of my third year of college. 7 more days left in Utah. How did this even happen?

Warning: Subject matter not fascinating.

I keep having that feeling lately that I am forgetting something that I have to do. Like there is some huge assignment that I need to turn in that I haven't done yet. But then I remember that the only responsibilities I have left are to take three more tests. That's it. Oh yeah, and pack up all my personal belongings and put them into storage. Boo. On Saturday I sat down and finished my ten-page paper for my Discourse Analysis class. Super fun. But now I am done, and no final for that class either. Yay!

On a completely unrelated note, but one that I keep being reminded of as I type this, the "e" on the keyboard of my laptop broke off. It's incredibly problematic and annoying. I wish I had the skill of not using this letter as I typed, but that's really difficult. I MacGyvered it back together with a very shotty taping job, but it doesn't make a satisfying click as I type, and I don't always push it successfully. I'm very angry at my computer. I don't even know how it happened. I was just sitting there typing when suddenly the "e" was sticking to my finger instead of the computer. This fact merely makes my ten-page paper much more impressive.

In eight days, I will be back in good, ol' Maryland. I am determined to make amends with the state before my parents move out to Utah. Maryland and I have a strained relationship. It's pretty rocky. I don't think it likes me very much, but this summer I am going to show Maryland that I am awesome, and there is no reason for it to be intimidated by me. Silly, Maryland. Also, I'm super excited to see my parents. And J-Dawg and Kimba will be there. Not J-Dawg the hot dog franchise, although that would be so awesome. They should expand.

I feel like this blog post isn't all that interesting. Next fall I am taking a creative writing class. Maybe that will inspire some more interesting material.

Please somebody come pack for me. I can't handle it.

Knock, Knock. Who's there? Boo.

I was just reading a friend's blog, and the first sentence of one of her posts was, "I am not a crier." She then proceeded to list the few times she remembers crying. As I was reading, I was thinking, well that's just not me. Because I...

I am a crier. I cry all the time. For no real reason at all sometimes. I spent a lot of time just last week crying. And it was mainly because I was stressed and trying to make a big decision in my life (I'm going back to MD for the summer, bee tee dubs) and it caused me to just weep all the time.

My dear sister still doesn't let me live down the fact that I cried in Flipper. I guess it sure affected me. Maybe little, baby Elijah Wood just got to me. Maybe I was really sad about whatever problem Flipper was having. What is Flipper even about anyway? I just know there's a dolphin. Whatever it was, it must have been devastating. But probably not really, because I'm sure any member of my family would happily share with you the countless times that we've been sitting in a movie and they hear the sniffling. There were times that I physically couldn't sit through an entire movie because I couldn't even handle how much I was crying. Bridge to Terabithia for one. That movie was not properly advertised.

When I upset my parents, cry. When I see an especially touching episode of Psych, I maybe will cry. When I am dating a boy and then I am not, I cry, regardless of who may have wanted out.

I'm not writing all this because I want to be all, "Oh I'm sad all the time, feel bad for me!" Because I'm not sad all the time. I'm not even sad most of the time. It's just something I do. I love my life, and when I'm happy, I smile, when something is funny, I laugh, when I am angry, I ...be angry. I'm like Denzel in Remember the Titans (which, yes, I totally cried in). My emotions reside mostly on my sleeves. And it is something that has made me strong I think. Some people have issues about being open with people, and that's never really been my problem.

For the majority of my life, I was pretty ashamed of this quality. But that's just silly. I can't exactly control the fact that when I am upset, I start leaking. It's just a part of me. I am still happy with who I am, and have now accepted the crying factor of my life enough that I don't have to be embarrassed that I cried in The Village. Yeah, I know. I've learned to embrace it. It's just the way I roll.