word vomit

I must learn patience....

2008-07-23T23:43:00.001-07:00

I turned in my paper 9 days ago.....9.... and I still have yet to meet with the Stake president.... I am GOING INSANE! I just want to get out there! So much to do and so little time. I cant shake this sense of urgency that I have, its like if i dont go fast I will never go. Where is the faith in that? I know, I know, all in God's time but its proving hard to get on the same page.....
Another sign of God's sense for humor: today Parker tells me he is probably going to Utah State now. What?! I freak, you cant go to Utah State without me. Thats my school, my home and you choose to go NOW? Now that I am leaving! Talk about torture. So now the 2 people I love most will be in Cache Valley while I am off being amazingly spiritual. Not a bad trade I know, but still hard to chew.
This phase of life is proving just as interesting as my last chapter but I think I might fare better this time because I have some faith on my side. Man I love my religion. I love to talk about my religion. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints- is that beautiful or what? Even if you dont buy into my beliefs you have to admit its nice to think about-
- I believe I get to be with my family and friends FOREVER. Its not goodbye, just see you soon.
- I believe I have guidance from a prophet just for this day and age- someone who knows God even better than me
- I never have to feel alone because I believe I can talk to God whenever I want and he listens to me
- I feel happy and hopeful because of my beliefs
- I believe God has a plan for me. One I understand when I am listening for it.
-I believe when I die, I get to be with the ones I love and especially with God somewhere amazingly lovely!
- I believe bad things happen to good people. Those trials help us grow. There is purpose in everything.
- I am most happy when I remember and stand up for these beliefs

I want to serve for many reasons, here is just one: The Gospel makes me happy. I want others to be happy.

I am just one voice, but one voice can carry far.
He was just one voice, but one voice that changed the earth.
One but not alone, a thousand voices sing,
praises to on high, of our Master and our King.
With one voice.
One Voice.

On my mind....

2008-07-11T18:48:00.000-07:00

I havent blogged for some time. I dont really have time as I am on break at work so I will talk fast.... I just miss hearing myself write....

Anywho, a few additions to the Summer Playlist 08:

1. I kissed a girl- the first time i heard this song I thought- this is the epitome of society at its downfall- alas I like the song although it is society failing.
2. Thanks for the Lemonade- who sings this song? No idea but love it!
3. Anything by the Director particularly "Alive."
4. Ryan Shupe's 1000 times- its an oldie but man... he's good
5. Paul Cardall's randition of I love to see the temple from his Primary Worship album

Next:
I am having a particularly awesome week. I worked alot, things are falling into place for my 2 segments for Studio 5. One airs on August 4, the other on August 28. I will let you know more later.

I went out with my home teacher this week. The fulfillment of an age old stereotype made this adventure all worth it. I loved it for that reason alone. It doesnt hurt that he is tall blue-eyed and entirely eccentric either.

Pretty fun week with the Blaker coming to town. It was awesome to have another Ben Blaker guitar session last night. What a talented kid. I missed POL more than ever as Ben played some of my favorite musical gems.

I realized just how amazing my friends really are. How lucky I am to have them and how bad I am going to miss them. We all leave for seperate parts of the world this summer and who knows when I will see them again, if ever. We are growing up. We may outgrow eachother but we also may learn to stretch and grow together. I will hold on to this hope for the time being and hope reality agrees.

Time is up at work. I get to see Ju this weekend for the first time in maybe 3 months and I cant wait!! Until later.

The Posse of Love

2008-06-10T18:33:00.000-07:00

SO I just ended an amazing and exhausting week. My favorite boys in all the world all came to Utah in the same week. I knew Benjamin was coming but Josh and Ry had me convinced (and sad) that they would not be able to make it. Lo and behold tuesday evening Josh and Ry waltz into the shop and my heart stops--- literally I thought I almost died. I almost burst into sobs I was so happy and so mad at the same time. Nevertheless, they came, all of them for one magical week.

I dubbed this group of boys the Posse of Love because well.... I love them. We love eachother as only the best of friends can. Joshua G-Side, Ryan Christopher Cowles, Face- Jon Dalton and Benjamin Blaker are the best guys ever. Its pretty rare to be the only girl in a group of boys but I love it and I would never want it any other way.

What I love about the Posse of love:
1.
I am pretty much the only girl.... im spoiled
2.
These men practice chivalry on crack- they are almost too kind, too certain of their roles as men. They fight over the check, ben carries my purse. Its lovely.
3.
We are PDA champions. Its impossible to fight with eachother when we just hug it out. You need a hand to hold? They got ya. Someone to cuddle with? They will be there. I love their hugs. All of them.
4.
We can all be ourselves. We met in circumstances that have let us be 100% us from day one. That will never change. Ryan can yell in public places, Joshy can make all girls swoon, Benjamin can attempt to get the ladies with his "Im the Director" line, face can talk to total stranger for hours making us wait for him almost all the time.... who cares.... we still love eachother.
5.
They make me laugh. I cant go 20 minuets without laughing so hard im about to pee... sick but true. They are funny boys. Perverted at times, plain awkward at others. A hoot.
6.
They will be my friends forever. I know things will change when I or we all get married and go off into the world, this is particularly true for me as the only girl, but who cares. Today and now I have 4 of the best guy friends in the whole world. They know what true friendship is. They prove it to me everyday.

Face and G-side leave the country this month, Ben is back in Idaho and Ry and stranded in Colo....our lives are seperate and changing but will remain the same for one reason alone- we need eachother.

I love you guys. Thanks for making my life. No really.

Why I write

2008-06-02T12:12:00.000-07:00

So we have a girl coming on Studio 5 next week named Lindsey. I found her blog and on it she talks about why she wanted to be a writer. I thought, man this blog sounds alot like my life. I get up and go to work at 2 jobs that I enjoy at times, but nothing has inspired me more than writing. At this important phase in my life I am struggling to find work that I have a true passion for; work that I would go to work for free for. Though I will never give up writing, I wish I could just get paid to blog in the real world.

Every passion has a spark that starts it, for me, writing began as soon as I was able to write. I remember sitting at Salt Lake Institute, always the last child at the table slowly writing my daily plans into a black and white steno notebook. I was the slowest, I could not spell and many of my letters were backwards. It was frustrating, but I wrote.
In my free time I would write my own stories alone and with my friends. In 2nd grade my friend Kate and I wrote a story about a boy who lived on Free Willey's the killer wales back in a bubble. It was a terribly creative plot for 2 small girls but it was our world and we loved it. Things came to life in stories, things I could not create otherwise.

I owe my writers fire to two teachers I had in my life: Ms. Kenner my 5th grade teacher. She had a write stories often. I liked using the National Geographic magazine pictures and making up the stories behind the images. I wrote one story "Gonna and the Salmon Ceremony" and it was the most ridiculous thing I have ever read, but I loved doing it. Kenner said I had a way with words, a real talent and to never stop writing. She gave me many opprotunities to write and helped improve my vocabulary to be a better writer.
The other teacher was Ms. Alsop my 7th grade english teacher. I wrote things in that class that she said were impressive and that I would one day be a famous writer. I believed her. I still believe her. She taught me about the short story, detail and character development. She moved my from regular english to honors. I felt I could do now what so many said I could not in the past.
I have dreamed of being a writer for over a dozen years now. Is that not amazing? If only to say you had a dream, an ambition, a purpose for so long?
What a beautiful thing, words. So much nothing that when put together just right becomes everything you could ever need or want. Words are it. They are all we have. They advance society, they slow it down, the move what could not otherwise be moved. They heal what is broken and they transcend time. Thats the key. Transcending everything. Writing has the ability to totally capture a person, a soul, a mind, a heart and yet be so outside of them, its not even them at all. Make sense? I doubt it.
It doesnt matter. These words are mine. They can mean somthing to you if you let them. If not, they are still mine. perfectly endlessly flawed.

Hayley's master mix summer 08

2008-05-29T18:51:00.001-07:00

I am at work tonight having completed all of my tasks. Usually I blog with an idea in mind, tonight however, I am blank. Here's an idea, TOP SONGS I THINK ARE THE SHIZ SUMMER 08.

1. # 1 by Hello Goodbye.... I like where we are, when we drive in your car
2. The tension and the terror by the straylight run.... the possibilities
3. We werent Crazy by Josh Gracin
4. # 1,3,4 and 10 and RSRB's new album Last Man Standing
5. This Side by Nickel Creek
6. Around the Clock by the Rocket Summer
7. If you didnt love me by Phil Stacey
8. Love Dont Live Here anymore by Lady Antbellum
9. With you By Chris Brown
10 No Air by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown
11. Apple bottom jeans
12. Jump On it.... bom bom bom bom bom.... Jump on it, jump on it!

This is pretty much my mix of the week. Things may change over the summer, but for now, this music is making me pretty dang happy. Most of these songs are not new, thats the amazing thing about music, it has application in your life at so many times. At least that is true for me. I'll add to the official HAYLEYS MASTER MIX as the summer progresses. Any suggestions, let me know!

The NACURH expereince

2008-05-24T22:57:00.000-07:00

SO I just got back from my national conference NACURH at OSU in Stillwater Oklahoma. It was my first time in Oklahoma and my last time perhaps at a NACURH Inc. conference. I feel it is a great time to reflect on the past 3 years I have been affiliated with this group.

What a joy it has been to work with, serve and befriend some of the greatest leaders this world will ever know. People do not understand what it is we do at a "housing conference." Yes the Res. Halls united us, but really, NACURH and IACURH are opprotunities to develop leaders like nothing else can.

These leaders are the underdogs it seems. The few who may not win a popularity contest, or a hot or not award, but they are the leaders who lead because they love to serve. Because they have caught the vision of something greater than themselves. I too share that vision.

I was fortunate as a freshmen, to have an advisor who has a vision beyond my own. She opened so many doors, and Tiffaroo, I thank you forever. My 2 years as NCC and one on the board have been my best memories of college and some of my most treasured of my life. I will never forget dressing up like a freak a few times a year, Hey IACURH, Hey What?!, collecting my beloved pins, making some of my best friends and ultimately watching people change. Watching someone catch the vision, to see more in themselves and the world around them.

I would not be the leader I am capable of without my time in the region. I would not relate to people, be as open, curious or compassionate. I would not be as daring or confident, I would not be as happy.

I owe great thanks to Tiff for always having vision for those she leads and pushing me outside my box. Thanks to USU for funding this dream of mine from every conference and for my beloved No Frills 07. The biggest thanks Dr. E Hash, Benjamin, Ry, Face, Diva Dollars and the whole E-board. To everyone who has sat in that boardroom the past 3 years, what a journey and a joy. Thank you.

Drive on IACURH, Drive on!

Reflecting on age 20

2008-05-03T18:59:00.000-07:00

So this blog started out as a blog for work but I've decided I am going to keep it up so the few people in the world who care what I am up to can read it. Blogs seem to be the trend for the newly married folks in the world, but why outcast the not- quite married kids as well?

Midnight tonight marks my 21 birthday. A friend of mine commented that birthdays are a great time to reflect on the past. This past year in particular has been one that I will never forget, though at times i will wish to.

This is the first birthday I recall actually feeling the influence of my age. 20 is still cute, with room for error based on naievity and pure stupidity. By 21 however, we are adults, we know what is right and wrong and we have no excuses. With this newfound mantle of adulthood, I am both excited and terrified.

The things I will never forget about age 20:

Kevin Thomas Dawson. That sums up my whole year alone. Every thought, wish, dream, plan, fear and pain I have felt this year revolves around that man. Right now I sturggle to see the beauty in all of this, my heart is broken. This would be perhaps the first time. Someday, when it doesnt hurt to breathe anymore I will remember only the good; the beautiful smile, the roses at random times, his innabilsity to keep a secret, his ambition for all things good, a kiss that takes my breath away, flying kites,feeling more love than I think I will ever have in my whole life. Being 100% myself with him. Breaking my own heart and letting him go. Watching him marry someone else. Attempting to feel happy for his joy, but feeling my heart break all over again. The bitter-sweet moments, when everything, my table, a smell, my very face remind me so much of him. Moving forward.

JP. She is my roomate and I love her so much. She's been the one constant friend in Logan. She is good for a laugh,pure stupidity or the deepest level of understanding and curiosity I can imagine. The poor girl has been stuck in the middle of what feels like a divorce and she has never once complained or picked sides. I wish I were more like her, and since we are clones, its pretty close.

Colorado. 2 of my greatest friends and best memories hail from that state. Ryan and Josh have meant the world to me this year. Not only are they amazing men, but they remind me of my strengths as they have been nearly impossible to find.

My religion. God and I have had our battles this year. I dont take no for answer very well. I am still learning humility and to trust in Him, but I know he is there for me no matter what is going on in my life. I have felt it and I know it. I wont forget that my prophet died this year too. I cried for a good 20 mins even though I know he deserves a break. I love that man. I will forever revere him and admire his legacy.

Really 20 for me has been one big learning experience. At times I have felt like Job, the trials have just come in ceaseless waves but so have the lessons and the blessings. I am better prepared for the future because of the past year of my life. I hope that 21 brings more opprotunity to grow, a chance to heal, the courage to move forward and the peace to forgive.

March Madness, Jensen Style

2008-03-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

March is proving to be an interesting time in the life of Hayley. A relaionship rollercoaster to say the least. You think you escapre the drama once you leave highscool.... I thought I had but I was wrong. Same drama, just more years of life expereince making the drama seem even more stupid and thoes involved even more ridiculous.

In honor of my own March Madness, here is the top ten reasons relationsips are bad in March:

1. There is no ambaince to the season, snow is melting, rain is falling, the lawn is mud. Its just ugly.

2. valentines is over, you spent all your money and energy on something amazing and now everyday attempts at romance just dont cut it.

3. Somedays the sun shines and you step outside in your capri's only to realize he is white and you are harry from a winter in pants. so you go back inside and wait until june.

4. The end of the school year is approaching so everyone who failed to date this year is trying to squeeze in one last chance at a relaionship before may, just to say they dated.

5. Professors recognize how hormonal everyone is and decide to drown students in work, essays and tests to help reduce the dating chaos. This fails and so do the students.

6. Everyone who got engaged in december is planning weddings. The rest of us who did not get engaged pretend to be happy for our friends, roommates and neighbors but secretly we hate them.

7. Utah State Men's Basketball has ended by this time, so all the ladies who have been pretending to date Jaycee Carrol and Tai Wesley for the past 3 months, are out of luck.

8. Spring Break hook-ups, while awesome, remain just that, hookups. Some how the chick you dug in Mexico, late at night, at a bar, is not as appealing in Aggie sweats, sober, whining at you to take her to dinner. Its sad, but true.

9. If you are Irish, super, this month is awesome, you will probably get tons of action, but lets face it. Most of us are not Irish and even if you buy a shirt or pin that says you are, you know its a lie. Give up. Your luck had better change, or better yet, your entire genetic make-up.

10. The number 1 reason I never date in March: People are either really good looking with no self-esteem, or really funny and nice but well, sweet spirits. Stop looking for validation people and figure out that you are awesome. This needy crap has got to stop. PLEASE!

Top 10 things I wish I were doing for Spring Break 2008

2008-03-05T18:59:00.000-08:00

Being the poor student that I am, I do not get to go on a fun spring break trip this year. Actually I am saving for a sweet trip to Cali this June... so its worth it but still painful. Here's what Id rather be doing.

1. Going to my favorite city on God's great earth, BOSTON, with some friends/ co-workers who really are going

2. Going to Arizona to hang out with my friend Bear. Bear is amazing. I could very well be in love with him. Too bad I botched that one and we dont even speak. The joys of lifes lessons.

3. University of Washington. Why another school? Because I have some amazing friends who live there thats why. And I have never been to Seattle. No Grey's fan can be a true fan without that trip.

4. UCCS- Another school- Colorado Springs is where 2 of my best friends in the whole world are. Everyone knows and loves Ryan and Josh. In fact, I bet YOU know Ryan and Josh. That city is beautiful enough said.

5. Hawaii..... cuz its PaRaDiSe

6. St. George Utah- its close, its cheap and its crazy this time of year... plus its warm. I wouldnt mind the sun for a time.

7. Road Trip to anywhere with Face- I have a friend named Face (of course that is not his real name). Face and I love the time we have together but it is rare. I would love some time with him, blastin some Boondocks and HSM. which leads to numer 8...

8. Anywhere with the whole IACURH E-Board- I love this group of people I serve with on a regional student council. You can do some cool things in college, this is by far my favorite. Anywhere with Dr. E Hash, Ben, Troy HASHIMOTO and his Diva Dollars, perhaps stay at La Quinta.... as long as we dont "motion" and we MoVe... we will be fine!

9. Sea World- I have a thing for wales and that water ride they have there is pure fun for hours. How often to you get to touch an animal that sleeps with only half of its brain at a time? I cant do that. Awesome!!

10. A Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband concert- all hall Utah's most under-appreciated band and my favorite band ever.. RSRB is sick funcadelic bluegrass to make you high... on life. Never get enough of them... NEVER!!

A few things that give me Aggie Pride

2008-03-05T18:40:00.000-08:00

Now I am proud as anyone to go to school where I do. It was my father's favorite band the Beach Boys who said it best- "Be True to Your School." Never before has this statement been more true than for the Aggie's. Here are a few things that I am dang proud of:

1. Jaycee Carroll- Now that is one fine athlete. I like to call him Midis because if he touches the ball, its gold. If he's in the game we can all breathe easy knowing our man is going to make some magic happen. There is no better feeling then when Jaycee lets that ball go soaring from way bay and everyone knows its gonna glide but we all still hold our breath and then..... the Spectrum erupts with cheers! I love that famous 3 point gold! I also almost get a little teary when the crowd gets all into the chant of "Jaycee Carroll... clap clap clap clap clap clap." You say it boosts his ego? He earned that ego. Yay for that ego.

2. The school song and the Scotsman- I hear that music play and I cant help but stand with pride, hand on the heart or doing whatever I feel constitutes a salute at that moment.... that last note of "Where the sagebrush GROWS!" is one of the ugliest, off-pitch beauties i have ever heard. Just you wait, spine tingles.

3. Old Main- that building is crazy cool. Not only is it all majestic and Harry Potter-esq up here on the hill, but it has a crazy history. Half the dang building burnt down once. There once was a gym with a swimming pool that we dug up last year no one even knew was still there, the Anthropology Museum was once a chapel so students could have some religion and such. Its kind of awesome.

4. Big Blue and the dude who plays him- the other night at the game they unmasked Big Blue. All my years here I wondered who was cool enough, brave enough and pretty much stupid enough to dress up like a bull all these years and you know what? They unmasked him and i was grateful to that guy Roy. He never once got credit for his stunts or all the time he had to spend. No one knew. well i bet some did, but not most. Props to that guy for sure!

The Spectrum demands RESPECT!

2008-02-06T18:07:00.000-08:00

If there is one thing I love about USU, it is the Spectrum. The Spectrum is the arena where my beloved Aggies play b-ball, gymnastics etc. Every year crazed fans anticipate the showdowns that will take place on that very floor. The Huntsman arena and Cougar Stadium have nothing on the Spectrum. That building and thoes who call it home DEMAND RESPECT.
Most friday or saturday nights students jam into terrible yellow and orange plastic seats to watch one more team fall to the mercy of our house. Our fans our loud, RUDE and famous for it. Perhaps we should be ashamed of rude chants such as " You, you you you you you you you SUCK!", "Airball!", "Stupid, Stupid!" "Take his whistle" (for a particularly stupid ref), "You will miss it, You will miss it!" etc.
However, I am going to be honest, thats part of the fun,and I think even if we yelled compliments, the sheer volume and reputation of this court would shake teams to their core.
I love Aggie games and I will well after I leave. It has been an honor to watch the feats of Nate Bendall, Chaz Spicer, Jaycee Carroll and the man Stu Morrill. Anticipation for the havoc we will reek on the b-ball court makes being one of the less awesome football schools, bearable, at least to some degree.

Accepting Change

2008-02-06T18:01:00.000-08:00

If there is one thing I do not do well, it is accepting change. I dislike change when it in inevitable and I dislike it even more when someone else controls that change. There is a maturity that comes with adulthood people say, they say that little boys will grow out of the things they do and that little girls will grow out of the whiny drama-queens they so easily become. For most people this is true, for some people, being a little boy in a man's body is their sorry lot in life.
Call me a cock-eyed optimist for wanting to believe that every person has some good in them. This belief, that I have held since I was three, is slowly but surely being dashed and that totally sucks. I am amazed that in adulthood some people are still so selfish that they throw everything away to prove a point that they themselves dont even understand. Amazing. So if anyone tries to tell you that "they" grow out of it, hope you got one that really did, if not, you will just be one more sucker decieved by the little boys of America.

Epiphany

2008-01-26T16:19:00.000-08:00

I pretty much lead a lame life, that is what I have decided. If I a life worth talking about, a blog might be a good thing to have. I am also discovering that this thing I have been calling writers block for the past six months is actually called no writing ability. This new information has come as somewhat of a blow to me since the only thing I feel I somewhat enjoy or excel at is indeed writing.
I am starting to think that my story reservoir is drying up, my imagination is wilting and it is time to get a new dream. This is a moment my fiction lecturer would call a moment of "epiphany," where the character (me) has a sudden enlightenment and with it an inevitable and somewhat painful loss of innocence.
The more I dabble in this journalism business, the more I think perhaps it is a road I can and should pursue. I really cant imagine a more fun job then a human interest writer for newspaper of magazine. Perhaps my imagination is ungifted, but my ability to form ascetically pleasing sentences is not. I wouldn't mind spending my time traveling and testing out accommodations from a travel magazine or writing reviews on food, ski resorts, or bed and breakfast joints.
That is the beauty and sometimes torture of college. You come with some idea of what you want to do, like me, to be a writer and then you realize that its way harder than you thought. Or sometimes it is way too boring or nothing like you planned. So you change plans. I guess that's all this college business is, learning to deal with and accept change. Never liked change, but maybe it will help me get a good job. I might change my opinion, who knows.

I'm the Full Beard, you're just peach fuzz

2008-01-20T21:39:00.000-08:00

So I was forced into going to a gig over the weekend at The Retro House. The headliner was one "Calvin Smooth." With a name like that, one is asking to be critiqued heavily. It either takes a really confident person, or a total social reject to pull off a name like that. I know Calvin, met a the kid a time or 2 through mutual friends and needless to say, for being a white rapper, the kid has got somthing special.

The Retro house is a literal house on about 800 N. in Logan, just below campus. Apparantly a bunch of guys live there and invite bands to come play free shows. Its a small house that truly is retro, from the sign above the door as you enter, to the red shag carpet througout. Needless to say the house was packed with bodies. Being petit I weaseled my way to the front where Calvin and his band would play.

The band was good. Calvin on keyboard, his younger brother on lead vocal, a guitarist and a sax player. The real deal was Calvin Smooth, himself. Calvin is not some Eminem copying white kid wanna be, hes got witty lyrics and verbal agility to amaze. I did not want to be there, but needless to say, by the end of the night, even I was singing along, chanting call backs and wondering where I could get this kids CD.

Amazing what funny things you can find around this place we call Cache Valley if you just take a minute to explore and perhaps risk being a little uncomfortable.

Check out Calvin Smooth on Myspace or his sweet video for "Peach Fuzz" on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Mr0Y1xsy7k

Not so bad this week...

2008-01-16T16:55:00.000-08:00

I am having a good week I think. With the new semester afoot, I am exhausted 24/7 but that is the life of a student/workaholic. Here are the few things that prove that this is indeed a good week.

1. I am taking my first news writing course. In the 8th or 9th grade my journalism teacher told me that news writing was not my thing and to probably find a new thing to do. His lack of faith in me has weighed upon me to this day. Why in heaven's name would you become a journalism major then, you might ask? Answer: It is the only way I can write and guarantee that I get paid. The stories in my head, while amazing to me, may not sell to blind children in Indonesia, let alone in the U.S.
Back to my topic. Intro to news writing: We were asked to write an intro to a news story. Literally the first two sentences of a piece about a friend in the class. My 2 lines took me at least ten minutes. I wanted them to be perfect, to not look stupid. I got that paper back the other day and it said "Good job, Hayley." Instead of the big stamp Pease threatens us with and a million red marks that I feared, I capitalized hip hop and the rest was good. He said so. Good! This small feat has pretty much made my week.

2. Housing has a Returning Resident Campaign every year to re-talk residents into signing up to live on campus. Every year it has a theme such as Uncle Sam's "We want you" to live on campus etc etc. This year the big wigs of housing held a contest. I entered. My idea won. I admit the idea is not super. I bet anyone could have come up with it, but I wont lie, its kind of cool, plus I got $50 for it. Not bad for a moments work.

3. I might get an internship with my favorite radio station 101.5 the Eagle, a country station based out of Salt Lake. I get to talk to some lady on Friday about it. This is my first step to earning my way to free concert tickets for life! There are a few things in life I feel i know something about, writing being one of them, country music being the other..... Sweet!

Ding Dong Ding Dong Christmas Bells are Ringing!

2007-12-29T21:34:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe the holiday season is coming to a close yet again. It seemed in elementary school that december seemed to lag forever and the holiday could not come faster. I could not wait for my mother to put up the advent calendar on the side of our fridge, the symbol that meant it was time to start counting down to Christmas.
This year I feel old. The holidays flew by, I did not count one day on a calendar and I am still not sure what day of the week it is. I used to love being shocked by at least a dozen or so gifts under the tree and now.... I buy my own gifts and my mother tells me that I owe a year in car payments thus putting me about 1000 bucks in the hole.
Now I am not complaiing. Holidays in old age 20 have their perks. There is nothing more adoarable than a 3 year old opening her 18th dora the explorer gift.... i swear i saw 3 of the same things but no no... that dora was wearing a pink tutu this one is purple. I also love the smell of this season. Christmas at the Jensen home smells like homemade chicken-noodle soup w/ fresh made noodles, caramel popcorn, also homemade and the smell of snow. Our house looks like somthing out of pottery barn thanks to my fathers obsession with frank lloyd wright and pier one.
Im going through a list phase and until it ends you get anoter one. This one belongs to my 10 favorite things about christmas 2007 and my least favorites as well. Happy Holidays!

Favorites:
1. Making my mom cry from laughter. Just being with my mom who is my very best friend and greatest treasure.
2. Hadley my 3-year old niece. Gods greatest cration thus far. She has a thing for Indian Jones, playing her "atar"(guitar) and is identiy confused weather she is Dora or not.
3. The Nutcracker with my mom and older sister and the really nice place we ate and.... still smelling like garlic 14 days later
4. Chicken Noodle Soup and Caramel corn
5. Having time with my cousin who wont be able to have GNO (Girls Night Out) for much longer
6. Kissing under my first mistletoe
7. Getting nails done,shopping and just being with Whitney, my best friend even though we are on different paths and knowing that things will not change
8. The Kite Runner Movie... my favorite book now an excellent film as deleicious as the book
9. The wonderful people in my life who do so much for me
10. Jesus, because really its kind of His holiday and for that I am greatful to Him. Forever.

Least Favorite
1. Some really tough conversations and choices in 2008 looming
2. Learning that my 2 cousins will both be wed in 2008 leaving me feeling left out
3. Being sick the whole entire time, a record length in an almost absurd way
4. Missing my family on Christmas eve... but things worked out for the better
5. How nasty dirty my car is
6. 1000 in car payments
7. feeling old wondering where to magic went
8. Only working out once.... can you say new years resolution?
9. Hurting many feelings
10. being more confused about life than ever

When I am sick I....

2007-11-29T13:24:00.000-08:00

A warning list for anyone who comes in contact with me when I am ill.
I am rarely sick (the first time in about 2 years) so when I am sick, it wipes me out for a good week. anyone willing or crazy enough to encounter me during this time should be warned: it is NOT a pretty sight.

When I am sick I:

1. Get even more mean and selfish than I already am. Known for my one-track mind, my less desireable ME-centered attributes shine forth unrestrained and in all their glory.

2. I to lay very very still with hoodie up over my ears, a down comforter and few fleece blankets for comfort. Yes this practice increases my fever and places in a state of mild comatose, but oh how lovely it is!

3. I love a good book.... normally a good sappy romance or somthing entirely outside of my current life to wisk me away while using the least amount of brain cells possible. (Suggestions: The Time Travelers Wife, Bridget Jones' Diary, A Thousand Splendid Suns).

4. A little trick I picked up from my dear roommate... the age old orange juice served WARM. Might sound sick but it soothes throat and congested chest while provided needed vitamin C.

5. A massage is always nice. When muscles ache from a cold, relaxation can be met with a fully body rub down. It may be hard to find someone willing (consider mom or a boyfriend). Tension from illness or your all-too-heavy backback can really make the wellness process slow down.

6. Need a huge box of PUFFs by Kleenex. I find it morally wrong to use the cheap stuff when I am ill.... in fact anyone that used say toilet paper to wipe their nose.... no friend of mine... unless its Charmin... but... no.

7. I do not want to go to classes that talk about things that are over my head. What constitutes "over my head"? To name a few... buddaim... buddaism as bases for poetry.... anyhting with numbers greater than 5....

In Short..... I am not a good sick person, so until I heal... leave me alone.

When People Lose It

2007-11-16T10:22:00.000-08:00

So, I have been having one of the worst weeks of my entire life. I have been more busy than ever before (my own fault thanks to the fact that I am a workoholic) and I can't seem to catch a break! I want to teach everyone out there about a rare disorder that is not diagnosable until it has created a full-fledged epidemic and there is nothing you can do about it. This disorder is called "Who-Ate-my-Roommate- itus." (WARI)

What is WARI?

It is a disease where your roomates social skills, ability to communicate, and all sense of logic ceases to exist resulting in them hating you for arguments you never had.

How do I know If my roomate has WARI?

You don't. One day they just wake up and they hate you. Here are a few common signs:

1. They stop talking to you

2. They only respons in grunts

3. There day is always "horrible" and they have "10 million things to do, 5 tests, and a classmate with rabies"

4. They communicate only in written notes or through everyone BUT you, ABOUT you

5. They lose their ability to sense when they are no long whispering and you can hear everything they are saying

6. They usually have an accomplice who is equally as prone as them, if not worse, who will worship them

Is there a cure for WARI?

Probably not, but if anyone finds one, please let me know ASAP

What can I do if I know someone with WARI?

1. Pray to whatever God you so choose for help

2. Kill them with kindness. They will glare and grunt. You will live.

3. Live your life. It is your parade, they dont have to rain on it.

4. Be the happy they refuse to be

IACURH 2007- ASU

2007-11-13T16:30:00.000-08:00

It has been too long! Well, in my absence I have been at Arizona State Universtiy attending a conference called IACURH. IACURH is a really long acronym for Intermountain Affiliate of College and Universtiy Residence Halls. In short, it is a conference for residents and employees of on-campus housing. They make a conference for that?! Why?!

As off the wall and entirely stupid as it sounds, these conferences bring people together with a common interest, where they live, and help them to develop leadership skills, programming ideas and all in all to have the best time of their lives.

Any school from Idaho to New Mexico can come to our conferences. Each school sending between 3 and 20 students. I used to come as a representivie for the Aggies, but last year I was elected to serve on the regional board of directors. I now oversee some amazing students, and even better, sit on a board with 9 of the most amazing people I have ever known.

We spend 5 days trying to make living on campus a fun, educational and most of all memorable expereince. We cheer loud, we dress the drag queens, pirates, army dudes, whatever we want, make new friends across the US, win awards for RA of the years etc. and we never ever sleep!

Check out the IACURH site for more details on our happenings!

www.nacurh.org/IACURH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elvhpOBpNOk and cehck out our regional roll call from this past week... on youtube too... Im the far right... its a bad dance!

2007-11-02T12:00:00.001-07:00

Dan in Real Life

2007-10-28T18:15:00.000-07:00

I recently saw the movie "Dan, In Real Life" with the charismatic Steve Carrell (The Office). Being a semi-enthused fan of "The Office", I was curious to see Carrell in a role far different from that of Michael Scott. Not only did I love this movie, but I found Carrell to be hillarious, touching and downright charming. The humor in "Dan" does not compare to the "Office" but I still found myself laughing often. Overall I would rate this film a 4/5 (out of 5) and I will be buying it when it comes out on DVD!

Wisdom from Dan:
"Love is not a feeling, its an ability."

Steve Carrell can be cute when not playing Michael Scott

The second row of a movie theater is slightly uncomfortable

Big happy families thrive in lovely New England beach houses

Clowns with chainsaws and other fall fun!

2007-10-14T17:49:00.000-07:00

This weekend was kind of aweseome for a few reasons. It was one of those weekends full of stereotypically fall goodness and fun. Friday night, as all good college kids do, we searched the coupon book for a cheap dinner. After that my beau and my best friend McKenzie decided to carve pumpkins. It has been a few years since I remember carving pumpkins and I really loved it. Its messy and smells so richly of the season, I had a blast. We learned that we are entirely unartistic and should never be trusted with large knives. we also learned that pumpkin seeds baked with a little salt are delicious!

Saturday I stayed in bed until noon just because I could. I went shopping with some roomies and we learned that denim jackets are really not in which is depressing as they are a staple of American fashion. Being the overly spoiled girlfriend that I am, Kevin bought me a dress and a, dare I say, hot pearl-button down shirt, black.

That night we hit La Beau's, one of my favorite burger joints in this neck of the woods, and a corn maze. There is somthing about corn and pumpkins at night, that just screams fall, october. Consequently, it was a haunted maze with chainsaws galore that scared my roomate JP so bad that she screamed at least 3 times. I must admit it was fun to be scared, minus the one time Kevin ditched me and left me to be attacked by a clown with an electric saw.... SCARY!

We learned that we have no sense of direction, that corn mazes are really truly mazes, and that running into the same spot 6 times is very depressing. Fun weekend!

Grown Up

2007-09-27T16:18:00.000-07:00

I have this roommate, we shall call her Sue for confidentiality. Sue is the craziest person I have ever met. I spend 80% of my time with her wondering how in the heck she comes to the conclusions that she does or where she came up with the nonsense pouring from her mouth. I spend the other 20% of my time laughing. To say the least she is the most humorous person I know.

She is the prime example of what it is like to be entirely comfortable in your own skin. She has a way of being confident without being cocky, and proud of who she is without being vain. I find myself more comfortable with who I am as a result. Today she discovered what it means to be a true adult by using the Quicken program to monitor her money. Who knew that dividing expenses from income could offer such a defining sense of self!

I wonder if I will ever feel grown up. I wonder if I will ever make enough to actually need Quicken, instead of my fingers to do the math. I am in college and while it is socially acceptable to have less than ten bucks or less to call your own, I seem to barely make a car payment or fill up the tank of my car.
For Sue, Quicken has drawn the line between adolescence and adulthood. What is that line for me? Is it the day I stop eating s'mores cereal or laughing at Laffy Taffy jokes? Or is it when I get over the fact that my mom knows everything and I stop calling her every other day? Or is being an adult the day I trade in the old slip on vans for some leather loafers and my beloved USU hoodie for some Banana Republic pea coat? scratch that..... I will never get rid of the vans.

I almost forgot... we had homecoming last weekend and I just wanted to say that it pretty much was amazing! I conveniently have an adorable man friend to dance the night away with and I can't deny the fact that he looks kinda gorgeous all dressed up. The best thing about dances around these parts, is that there are several dance floors and a few live bands to fit any musical taste and offer a fun variety. I must admit that we preferred the big band/ Frank Sinatra sounding band. I have a thing for Frank.

The first day of the rest of my life

2007-09-11T15:57:00.000-07:00

September 11, 2007

Welcome to blog one of perhaps a million that you will see from this desk in the coming months. In this cyber-savvy world that we live in, it seems that the every-man voice is getting more hard to hear, thus the creation of the blog. As far as I am concerned, I am a writer, born and bred with a story worth telling and you, you are an information-starved reader who has wisely chosen to spend some time seeing the world through someone Else's eyes. Mine.

So welcome, I hope you find not only what you are looking for but perhaps something more. I hope you find something that makes you think, makes you curious, makes you laugh out loud or hope for something more. I hope most of all, that by being exposed to my stories, that you own will become more valuable, more relevant and more true. After all, we are the storytellers and it is our job to capture the human experience the best we can. This is my attempt.

No one gives you instructions on how to properly blog. I think that that is the beauty of the whole thing. I find it easiest to relate to someone when I know a little about them so here goes....

I'm a student in my home state. I am vigorously in pursuit of a degree in Public Relations and English. I work hard for my school, it is in that work that I have found who I am and really who I have the potential to be.

I'm addicted to snowboarding and wake boarding, hiking, biking and really anything in the mountains I love so much! Of all the books I have read, the Kite Runner and a Thousand Splendid Suns by Kahled Houissini are by far the best. I love my family and a few close friends.

I believe in God. I believe in music and the divine creation that is the Ipod. I laugh more than is necessary and have a tendency to be sarcastic when provoked. I don't respond well before 9 a.m. and I can't live without Dr. Pepper. I work hard, I play hard. I'm happy... What more is there?