The Bucket List

Have you seen it? I enjoyed it.

Things to do before you "kick the bucket." We all have one, whether you have it written down or not. We all say, "before I die..." How many people actually cross off everything on their list, well aside from Morgan Freeman? After reading blogs, magazines, books, talking to people, etc, I've become jealous. There are people out there that are doing such neat things. My list consists of things such as:

• beating a certain friend at a tube war
• finding all the hidden Mickeys at Disneyland
• doing a flip (front or back)
• getting my heart broken [yes, I know, I sound nuts. But, I figure if I get my heart broken, that means I was able to care enough about someone, right? I'm not afraid of getting oober depressed over such a thing or never finding another "one." Also, I want to go through something like that just so if/when I have kids, I can sympathise with them if they go through such an experience. That's my thinking of the whole situation, as skewed as it may be.]
• etc...

However, next to those (lame-to-some) bullet points, I also want to:

• go to some third world country, get stinky and dirty from not being able to shower everyday, sleep on dirt floors, participate in some form of service (build an orphanage, dig wells, etc), and have an incredible experience.
• backpack through Europe and all that implies
• regain my Spanish fluency (yes, at one point in my life I was completely fluent in... "you know.. the language of love." Actually, español. I would even dream in it. Nuts, I know.)
• become scuba dive certified
• etc...

The point is not what is on your list. The point is that you accomplish what you want to accomplish. When I think of these things I get giddy, but then I think about it more and realize how hard it would be to actually cross these things off. All the planning and saving it requires is huge. A few of my things are just spur-of-the-moment things which is also kind of stressful. But, this life is for living right? I want to live. I don't want to just sit and do nothing. Sometimes I wish I could just drop out of school and just go where the wind blows me, how exciting does that sound? 
I was talking to my sister the other day about how there are so many things I want to do, and how I get a little discouraged when I think of them because in my mind, any of the things on my list need to get done right now and if I don't do them right now, it'll never happen. I tend to forget that I am (nearly) nineteen and still have X amount of years left and that there is plenty of time to get everything done. My sister told me that if I want to do something, I should do it. There are so many opportunities out there, I just have to not be lazy and search them out and follow through. I just got giddy again. I'm excited for what my future has in store. I'm excited to start crossing things off.

Listen Up Yo.

Judging by the title one might assume this post is about something important. It's not. Don't fool yourself. It's just going to be about listening. Lame I know. Suck it up, or don't read.
I like to think of myself as a good listener. For the most part I am genuinely interested in what people have to say, even if they think it's really lame or stupid or boring or even above my intelligence level. I'm here to tell you, it feels good to be listened to. Growing up (and still), I was never listened to. I remember a few times when telling my mom a story, I would grab her face and ask "what did I just say?" and she wouldn't know, then I would have to repeat myself and feel down that my own mother didn't even have the patience to listen to my story or whatever I had to say. I got to the point that when people stopped listening, I stopped telling. If a person cuts me off in the middle of my story to start onto their own, I just figure I am done talking and let the other person take it away. It doesn't really phase me anymore, I've gotten used to it. I have to admit, I know I am not a very good talker. Sometimes I stutter and lose my train of thought and I understand it's hard to listen to someone like that.
It's always a surprise when people actually listen to me. I can remember two distinct times in the last couple of years when people actually listened to what I had to say. Once at Bear Lake. I was telling a story, my cousin cut me off to start telling his own story, so I just leaned back to listen. My (now) friend looked me right in the eyes and said that he wanted to hear the rest of my story. He never broke eye contact and I knew he was listening (I almost fell in love with him that day). The second time, I was in a discussion for one of my classes and when I started talking, the WHOLE class turned and listened to me. It was almost exhilarating.
I know that people don't cut others off on purpose, and that not everyone doesn't listen, and that I am probably just over exaggerating everything, this is just how it feels.
Gross, this sounds like I am sorry for myself. Don't read it like that because it's not suppose to sound like that.
I think I am going to watch Dumb and Dumber, it's been a while.

For All Intents and Purposes, It's the Sunshine State.

California. Yeah, I know, it's the Golden State, but that's kind of a lame name, so it is going to steal Florida's nickname and be the Sunshine State.

"Kenlynn's Roommate" (this is how Ern was refered to in prayers) and I took a road trip over/down to good ol' cali-for-ni-a. We really wanted to go down to see V but didn't really know when we were going to be able to. Then ta-da, my aunt asked me to go down and look after her kids (Megan, Adam, Sam, Sophie) while she was in Chicago with my uncle for a dentistry shindig.

Here is the trip:

• Gave Erin a tour of New Harmony
• Went to St. George to get new break light bulb (the guy told me it was $300, I nearly killed him. It was only $2), while waiting, I changed into shorts in the parking lot.
• Saw an old man sitting in the back of a pickup... on the freeway
• Drove FOREVER. The freeways in California are whacked.
• Nearly killed Elizabeth (Lizzy for short, it's the GPS with an English accent). "Turn Right, Stay Left" "3 miles till next destination.... 257 more miles."
• Erin almost didn't make it, but luckily, the finish flag was in view.
• Got out of the car and embraced the sweet California air.
• The parents left and Ern and I were left as the dults (spelling error intentional).
• Felt like a mom: woke up kids, made breakfast, made lunches, took kids to school and was left to do nothing. What do moms do when their kids aren't home? 
• Entertained Sophie playing "dungeon" even after we had escaped. I never want to eat fish custard again. Sophie was mad at me for telling her I was done playing and would play the next day.
• Other kids got home, went and saw Diary of a Wimpy Kid (I liked it) and hit up Target.
• Ate pizza and put kids to bed.
• Lived off of Eggos and Nutella
• Went to Megan's track meet to watch her run hurdles. She is 4' 11", got second and broke her school record. Shout out! The younger ones just complained the whole time, but, we did have cool signs.
• Met my cousins love interests. Meg knows how to pick 'em. A good looking Ginger. Nice.
• Took Sam and Sophie to Mammoth Park and played pirates. Super dangerous park for children and adults, and apparently there is a wrong way to play pretend...
• Experienced teenage drama (not me personally, but Adam (he's 14)).
• Went to In-N-Out and left Sam and Sophie home watching Mr. Who. They were too scared to sleep that night. I'm an awesome babysitter, don't worry about it.
• Church with a lady that asked if we could take a wedding dress up to P-town for her.
• Old lady RS with ladies that know New Harmony and have babies.
• Sunday nap hidden in a room
• Sunday dinner followed by Farkle and laughs
• Adam somehow got Sophie's hair caught in his skateboard
• Sophie nearly ate Erin and I to death, literally.
• Parents came home and Ern and I stayed up chatting with me auntie.
• Left $200 richer. Win.

Hello Earls and Disneyland

• Passed Disneyland on way to V's and experienced an euphoric feeling. 
• Found the Earls in a cute gated community.
• V said I looked taller. Holla.
• Went to a huge mall and ate Chipotle.
• Hit up the beach. Shot a peace to the East. 
• Found my future home. It's a lifeguard shack. A very large shack. It should work out well.
• One word: bombshell. 
• Told Jamba ladies my name was Lightening McQueen
• Had FHE. Real family home evening. Played the snort game.
• Warm hot tub. 
• Over-cooked Pazuki.
• Witnessed the opening of Disneyland.
• Had 3 shout-outs for being from Utah. That's what's up. Also, there are BYU fans everywhere.
• Partied in the rain and walked around in drenched shoes, but, there were short lines so all is good.
• Tower of Terror remains my favorite ride.
• Ate at the Blue Bayou. Monte Cristo was the choice dish. Monumental moment: I ATE THE HAM! If you know me, you know I hate ham and take it off of everything, even the little itty bitty pieces, but this sandwich was too difficult to take apart, so I had no choice but to eat it. This was probably the best sandwich my digestive system has ever come in contact with, and the most fattening. Delish. "Turkey, ham and Swiss cheese in a battered egg bread, lightly fried to a golden brown. With Blue Bayou potatoes and seasonal vegetables" They failed to mention there is powdered sugar sprinkled on top and a raspberry jam thing that you spread on it. Oh, I am dying just thinking about it. I was full all day. Perfect. My mom doesn't believe in bringing your own food to Disneyland, she says it's better to just save up an extra $100 to spend on food, hence the reason we got to eat here. Happy Birthday Kenlynn.
• Ern and I hit up all the rides minus Indiana Jones and Splash Mountain which were under renovation. Bummer. The only ride that took forever to stand in line for was Space Mountain. It's to be expected. I laughed the whole ride at Erin, it was hilarious.
• Found one hidden Mickey on accident. Next time I go I plan on searching them all out. It's on the bucket list.
• Ate expensive Disney chocolate. Mmm. 
• Talked to some Canadians... Canadians are weird.
• Watched the World of Colors. Awesome. I would watch it again.
• Head hit the pillow and I was out.
• Went home (it rained the whole way, well at least when we passed the UT border it did).

Road Trip=Success. Also, California is a beautiful state. My skin and hair are ready for me to return.

World of Colors

When they fall... you fall. Remember that.

Laughing at Erin on Space Mountain

Peace to the East. For Josh.

These are pictures from my phone, the only pictures I have, all the rest are on Ern's camera.