I Love My Parents!

Now more than ever! Well, at least now I am noticing it. I love talking to my mom about stuff and telling her what's on my mind. And I'm also starting to realize just how much they spoil me. Where would I be without my parents?? NOWHERE!!! It's unfathomable where I would be. And I like talking to my dad on the phone, even though it's kind of awkward. All you college students know what I mean. When you leave home, you wanna talk to mom, right? But I love calling my dad now because he just cracks me up which just makes my day! And I know it makes his day when I call him, and especially when I tell him I love him. (I don't come from very vocal about love family, so it's kind of a big deal). I wish I could find the words. I just love my parents. :)

Dr. Pepper (Some Call it Love)

Heidi got a lot of soda for her birthday. Meaning she got twelve 2-liters of Dr. Pepper. And a 12 pack. So we decided to have a little fun.

She needs to work on her acting skills.

I Love Being an Art Major!!

And here is why:

1. I am weird. And because I am an art major I don't have to explain to people why I am the way I am. I say I'm an art major and they just naturally accept my weirdness. So nice!
2. Our opening songs in class... they aren't hymns or anything like that. No, we watch music videos on YouTube. Like, Walk Like an Egyptian by the Bangles. And it totally goes with what we are learning.                                                                                                                                             http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWP-AsG5DRk 
3. I get introduced to new artists, or just old ones that I didn't know before. Like the Shaggs. (Side note, if you don't know of them, don't look them up. They hurt my ears, but were an entertaining little joke. And a good lesson). Actually, you should just listen to them.               http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxPsXPCR5MU
4. I get to do art, my favorite thing ever, ALL THE TIME! Well, most the time anyway.
5. I get to carry around a big bag that makes me look like a professional.
6. I make priceless works of art and get to be proud because it's all mine.
7. People look at my work and comment. They criticize it, they praise it, they cry over it, they laugh and joke and examine it. And it's mine.
8. Because it's the right thing to do.

Big Break!

There is always something on our minds. Sometimes it weighs us down for just an hour, sometimes for our whole lives. Or sometimes just two years, give or take a month or two. And then there is that day, you wake up and for the whole day, you don't think of that something. And it's the best day ever! But then, what is replacing that something? Maybe it's better to have the original something weighing you down, then to have something new take it's place. But hey, I'll take a break!

It's All Over Now...

This isn't a typical Lanette post. I don't think anyway.  But it's literally all over. You know, my 9 month break from school. I thought that this break would really suck, but in all honesty it has been the best 9 months of my life. I don't know if they were the absolute hardest. The first few of them definitely were. And they sure weren't the easiest. But they were definitely the best. I learned a lot about myself. Figured out a little better what I want. More of who I am at this point. The usual self discovery business. But I also learned other important life's lessons and blah, blah, blah. And now that it is time to move on there is so much that I am going to miss. I'm not a crier, but some of this stuff almost has me in tears.

Laren. Odd isn't it. Our whole lives all we did was fight. And now we are almost like the best of friends it seems. We spent pretty much every day together. And I can't think of a single time we fought. We would just joke around and have a good time. And find reasons to escape and run into town. (I've pretty much taught the booger how to drive ;) ). And all kinds of other random crap. Good times. Good times.

I will really miss my nieces and nephews. I love my babies! It's going to be so weird to be childless. It will take some getting used to. And I'm really going to miss having the little kids teach me how to be an adult! (Ok, that sounded really Relief Society of me, but I'm serious).

I've accomplished so much living at home. I have no desire to really share those accomplishments. Instead I'm going to "hide under a bushel". But I'm proud of my success. Earlier I wrote about trying to find patience and happiness. And I did! I've never been so happy in my life, and I am still very impatient, but hey, I have improved. I don't let the little things bother me as much, and I spend most of my time searching for happiness and the good in others.

Sorry about the Relief Society post. But I just wanted to share my happiness at achieving some goals and vocalize the fact that I have a heart. :) Over and out.

Photography

This sunday I got to take pictures of my brother and his family up Water Canyon. I love taking pictures!! Anyway, they aren't edited or anything but I think they are great!

This is the most photogenic child I know.

 That's all folks! I hope you enjoyed!

Wisdom in Years

My sisters, my mother, a couple of my nieces and I were gathered in the kitchen. I don't know how the topic started but we were talking about friends. And I made the super smart comment "You don't want to be friends with girls because they will stab you in the back. And you don't want to be friends with boys because they will lie to your face." My seven year old niece was quick to respond with: "If you can't be friends with girls, and you can't be friends with boys, then who do you play with?" I had no choice but to sit and stare at her with my mouth gaping open as I tried to come up with the answer.

I don't know why I said it.  In fact, I think it is a horrible thing to say. It's untrue, and I have never had any experiences that would prove it to be true. (Well maybe I have, but they couldn't have been my friends if they were acting in such a fashion. So truly, it can't be proven). Leave it to my best friend to straighten me out. She may be young, but she is wiser than I. Thanks little lady. :)

Butterflies

I. Love. Butterflies.

No really. I always have and probably always will. My parents potty trained me with butterfly underwear if that tells you anything. My shower curtain is butterflies. And if I had butterfly window stickers, they would be tastefully decorating my car.

I don't know why I love them. Maybe it's because they are all so beautiful, graceful and unique. Or maybe it is because they are commonly associated with love and fear. You know, when you see that beautiful someone across the way, or via computer screen, or in your mind's eye. And your heart starts beating super fast, you can't breathe, you sweat like a sinner in church, and you get that twittering in your stomach. You have to consciously control panting, drooling, psychopathic behavior before that significant someone notices. Or when you're about to do something gutsy and you just might release your previous meal in a matter of seconds. Those butterflies.

Many people love Monarchs.

And sometimes even the Blue Morph butterfly.

I couldn't decide which picture I liked best, so I posted them both!

And while these two specimens are on the top three list of my favorite butterflies, there is one that beats them all. And that is the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.

That's really all I have to say about butterflies. I just wanted you all to know I like them.

Childhood

Do you ever sit and think about your childhood? Ever compare the person you were then to who you are now? See the way you've changed over time?

Remember when you rode your bike everywhere? Even though Grandma's house was just a few yards away you had to take your bike. It was just so much better than walking. Now you drive your car or ride a four-wheeler. No physical effort required.

How about in fourth grade when you and your two best friends had that worm saving committee? It rained and all the slimy creatures are popping up all over the playground and sidewalks. You feel bad for them. People are stepping on them on purpose as well as on accident. So you would pick them up and try to save as many as you could. But now, what do you care? What was the last thing you cared about besides yourself? When was the last time you stood up to the bully and told them to leave the little guys alone?

Remember growing up, and dolls were your pretend children? You had over 50 hot wheels in your garage and had french fry pizza delivered to your huge pretend house every night. Now real children have replaced those dolls. Now the 50 hot wheels is a Chevy Impala, the back passenger door has a leak so half a gallon of rain water is pooled on the floor. Kids muddy footprints and candy wrappers smear the back seat. The insurance comes around like clockwork taking up your whole paycheck. And that french fry pizza is Great Value spaghetti sauce poured over semi cooked noodles. At least you got the cuisine right. And that house, it's a small apartment, a 10 by 10 bedroom, outrageous rent and hopefully free utilities.

Back in the day, you were the one that walked up to everyone and said hello. You were the one that made sure you became friends with someone. Now you are afraid of strangers. That sweet innocence of childhood is over. You don't know who the bad guys are so you watch your back now. You have a horribly intimidating face that make people scared of you.

You read Junie B. Jones books and Little House on the Prairie. Now it's CNN, Facebook, Yahoo, and that waste of time futuristic novel your colleague recommended cause the world is going to end.

Instead of Saturday morning cartoons it's The Hangover, 27 Dresses, Fast and the Furious, and the Departed.

Cursing as a child meant soap in your mouth, and lots of it. Now it's an accepted vernacular in most social circles.

Remember when your day consisted of all play. Now it's all study and work.

Remember when helping Grandma bake was the best activity in the world! And Barney and Lambchops before kindergarten?? Only to be replaced with video games and Barbie movies.

Remember catching grasshoppers and crickets, then ripping their legs off and feeding them to the ducks and the goose that thought it was a duck?

Remember purposely making stink bugs stick their nasty butts in the air and then running as fast as you could so you didn't have to smell it?

Remember pretending the laundry baskets were cars on a train and filling them with anything you could find?

Remember playing with your older sister and she insisted that you could only color with boy colors and she got the girl colors?

Remember when the TV didn't have a remote?

Remember making your own fake money by cutting paper in rectangular pieces and writing $1 on it?

Remember playing swoggle? (Yes, swoggle). Or getting a whole bunch of big boxes in the basement, taping them together, and having your big brother be the monster that lived in the back and trying to touch the back without the "monster" getting you? Forts in the living room made of pillows and blankets? Riding pizza pans and mattresses down the stairs when mom and dad went to town?

Remember having an imagination?

Remember jumping on the trampoline and your brain didn't bounce around in your skull? You could do back flips and land on your feet? What happened?

Remember when you kept falling off your bike after taking the training wheels off? And then, after learning to ride your bike, your shoelaces were too long and kept getting caught in the chain? You played cops and robbers and raced to see who had the fastest bike. And your siblings always had time to come ride with you and get eaten to death by all the mosquitos.

This Just Might be the Weirdest Blog Post You Ever Read.

This weekend I had the opportunity to watch my nieces cat give birth to her kittens. It was an interesting occurrence that caused me to enter into a deep thought for the past couple of days. But I should probably warn you now. If you are not comfortable talking about natural events in any form, stop reading now, as this blog post will probably make you uncomfortable.

Most of my thoughts centered around different species and the different male/female roles. In most species, I think we can all agree that the male is more dominate. At this point I have to say, that after thinking about these roles, and the dominate gender, I am glad that I am a human female.

Take this cat for instance. After the birth of each kitten, the mother cat has to clean the kitten (of course) and she eats everything. By everything, I mean the placenta, the sac encasing the kitten, everything. That's great Mamma kitty, but I'm all for the placenta going to make shampoo and conditioner to moisturize and nourish the hair of others. Naturally there is a reason for the cat eating it. Not only to clean up the mess, but the placenta helps her milk be more nourishing for her newborns. (How weird would it be to walk down the street, or rather, in your backyard, and see a cat placenta just laying there. I don't know about you but I would probably pick it up and examine it and try to figure out what it is. And then probably end up with some weird disease, or something like that. Maybe people like me are another reason they eat the placenta).

Cats also have another natural instinct. After the kitten is born, they can sense that something is wrong with the kitten and they will desert it. They don't fight for the kittens life like we humans would do. My human brain says "Save My Baby!" But not a cat. Some one else can save it if they want to. But the cat has other things to do. (I believe a lot of animals are like this. And by "this" I mean like the cat).

One last thing about the cat. Male cats have burrs on their penis that cause females all sorts of pain. So the next time you hear a yowling cat, you know why. And for heavens sake, feel for the poor woman!

Next animal- The elephant. Elephants are pregnant for 2 years. Can you say SUCK! Also, elephants hang out in packs. Not like that one Disney cartoon, where there is the daddy elephant and a bunch of ladies, and baby Goliath. Instead they hang out in groups of males and groups of females. They only mix and mingle during mating season. This could be just me, but I would go nuts hanging out with a herd of females all the flippin' time.

Now it's time for the dragonfly and damselfly. The said male flies dig into the female's head and clasp it with his genitalia. And the genitalia will only fit into the head of the female of the same species. So you can't form something like a liger here. (And yes, it does cause the female much pain). Most species, after flying around like this for about 15 minutes, the female ditches the male and goes to lay the eggs in the various locations that that species lays eggs. (Meaning in the water, in the mud, on a plant, etc). But sometimes the male is needed to help lay the eggs so they fly around like that for a bit longer.

Ever wonder about jellyfish? Those creatures that have no brain, blood, muscle, etc. It depends on the species of jellyfish, but most of them do it quite simply. The male spits the sperm into the females mouth. She spits it out and the little jellyfish are free floaters until they attach to something hard and then they form into a polyp. Over a span of years they develop into what we picture as jellyfish.

Male elephant walruses are the ultimate douche bags. You may think it's cool if a man fights for you. But do you think it's cool when he is fighting for hundreds of other ladies? Ok, not hundreds. But a lot of other girls. Maybe if he is defending their dignity right? Not this guy, he's only fighting because it's his job to lay all the ladies. And nobody else gets them. Polygamy just doesn't suit my way of thinking. But we are all entitled to our own opinions.

It's no wonder humans and dolphins are the only ones that have sex for fun. I realize this is probably the weirdest post you've ever read, but it's all natural. So open your mind and realize that while your life might suck, there is another female out there that is having a tougher time than you. And if you are male, don't be a cat, jellyfish, elephant walrus, or any other male. Or ladies will have a good reason to hate you. Over and out.

People Really Care???

As I walk through the store passed magazines, and newspapers; or as I watch TV, be it a show, movie or the news, I notice a disturbing constant. All of America's media is plastered with celebrities. A.K.A. People we don't even know. Sure we know their name and their occupation, how many children they have, how many times they've been divorced, their latest scandal, and how much cellulite is on their butt. But we don't KNOW these people personally. So why does America care so much?

Do you even realize how much you depend on these people to be who you are? You let them dictate which gym you go to and which workout video you are going to use to shed that extra 3 pounds that you probably don't need to lose, but to look like our beloved celebrities maybe you should lose an extra 5 to be safe. You let them pick the style of clothing you are going to wear this season. They say what media medium is your preference. You are a disgusting clone of a worthless individual that isn't making you a better person or building you up to your potential. They aren't giving you the confidence to be yourself. Instead, we have no self-esteem and are in search of being everyone but ourselves.

I'm sure most of you noticed that that prince in England got himself hitched. I mean, every detail has been gracing every magazine cover, and it was broadcast worldwide. This is one that really gives me an itch. I can't believe that people really care about this. People are seriously dumb. Do you realize these people aren't even americans and yet you are ecstatic over it. I'm not saying you shouldn't care because they aren't "one of us". But you realize you are caring more about the wedding of someone that has nothing to do with your country, and you obviously don't know personally, than you do about your own daughters wedding next week? (Maybe I'm so bitter about this because I picked up one of my favorite magazines and the wedding was in it. It's not uncommon for this magazine to MENTION celebrity weddings but all 300 and some odd pages were DEDICATED to this joke!) One of my schools even asked us to watch the wedding and share our thoughts. (I didn't. I refuse to become a part of that parade).

If you want to keep an eye on how celebrities lives are going and morph yourself into a mini-them, then by all means, please do. Just realize I despise who you are. (Obviously you don't care because you care more about someone you don't KNOW). I just think there are more important things to care about.

Cigarettes

I know you all were just dying to see some cigarette butts. That's why I found this picture. Just for you.

Now, I don't smoke. Nor do I think that it is a good thing to smoke. I am LDS and believe the Word of Wisdom to be.. well... the right thing, I guess. But, I do have something to say concerning cigarettes that many close-minded people (not just LDS people, because obviously we are not all close-minded), will disagree with and find absurd. Just bare with me.

As most of you probably have gathered, I have been working at Pilot Travel Centers the past little while and (gasp!) they sell cigarettes there. For a number of years Pilot has had a two fer's deal on cigarettes. Buy two packs, save one dollar. Well recently the government has provided the citizens of America with this "great" new law. Here it is in short: No promoting the sale of cigarettes. Why? Because it is encouraging bad habits.

Ok, this sounds an awful lot like public school. Don't grade papers in red ink, it's too harsh! Or, let's reward the children who didn't do well so they don't feel left out. Ok, maybe those are lame examples because they have absolutely nothing to do with the selling of cigarettes, but I mention them because they are ideas, and they are absolutely ridiculous ideas. And so is this new law.

I can see why the government thinks that this is such a good law. I mean, they just have the health of the American people in mind, right...?

Regardless of any good intentions they might have had in creating this law, I think it is, for lack of better wording, stupid. Let's face it, if somebody smokes, they are going to continue smoking unless they have a strong enough desire to quit. And even that takes a lot of time. So really, the government is just helping the American people who smoke, lose more money. The smoker is going to buy that second pack of cigarettes anyway, so they might as well know about the buy two packs save a dollar deal, right? Not only does it save them a dollar, but it saves them from having to buy cigarettes as often.

Let's do some calculations. Say Bob smokes a pack a day. If Bob buys two packs each time he buys cigarettes, in one week he will have saved about three dollars. In one month, fifteen dollars. Do you realize, that fifteen dollars is equivalent to about three packs of cigarettes? (of course, that varies by location. In Missouri it's about five packs). So, since Bob is going to smoke, regardless of this anti-promotional law, wouldn't it be better to let him save that money? He's going to need it later anyway if he develops lung cancer or some such thing. (I admit, he may not save that money for if he gets sick, perhaps he will use it to buy something else and help stimulate the economy).

And if we look at the health side of this argument, why stop at cigarettes. Why not ban promotional selling of candy, soda, cupcakes, etc? After all, those items lead to obesity (especially in people who do nothing but drive a truck all day) and obesity leads to diabetes, heart failure and all kinds of other diseases. You do realize that those are the biggest epidemics facing America right now? More people die from heart failure each year than lung cancer. So if we are so worried about bad habits killing people, why don't we target the biggest killer? (I really hope some political type isn't reading this and getting ideas to make up more pointless laws.... I really do like my junk food).

Anyway, my stance on smoking is: it's your choice if you want to do it. My stance on this law: it's not helping anything. Except maybe damage pocket books....

Patience 'N Happiness

One of my biggest trials, ok scratch that. I have many "biggest" trials. But one that I am making a conscious effort to turn around is patience and finding happiness with what I have. Well I guess that's two, but who really cares. They kind of go hand in hand.

I've always had a difficult time with patience. Just ask my mother. She's always reminding me to have patience. She's been reminding me since the day I was born. On a daily basis. (I obviously have a patient mother. If I had a kid like me I'd be shooting myself).

I know I've already used this picture, but it's the best one I've got with my mom so I guess it's picture time with Mommy!

I don't really know what my problem is. I just get really excited for things. Even stupid little things like getting my hair done in under 5 minutes so I can move to the next thing. Which, in that case isn't really a big deal. But I have no patience when it comes to the big things in life either. I'm always "wishing my life away." If I'm at school I can't wait for the semester to be over. If I'm home I can't wait to be back at school. And at the same time I wish I was graduated and didn't have to be at school and could just do the rest of my life. Next thing you know I could be 62 and wishing for my death bed. Basically, I have a problem. I keep telling myself that I will be happy when this happens or when that happens. Whatever this or that may be. But believe it or not, it's not true. When it happens I'm still not happy. I'm just wishing for the next thing to happen so I can wish for the next one and the next one. Well, ok, I won't be completely unhappy when they happen. I mean, I'm always happy when my birthday comes around and I wish for that 364 days of the year except on leap year when I'm wishing 365 days.

I am all for instant gratification. The problem: nobody learns anything from instant gratification. Which is probably why I have to work so hard to get myself through school. I wouldn't learn anything if my education was handed to me. (When it comes to school, my patience is awful. If I were to sit down and just do it instead of impatiently dreading it, I could get my homework done in no time at all. But instead I sit around wishing death upon myself and take forever to do it).

This non-vacation I am taking for school, I am trying to use to my advantage. At the end of these 9 months we will see how I did. I am trying to teach myself patience. And I am reminding myself that I am happy with what I have right now. Which makes me sound like a Pollyanna, but really, how else is one to endure this suffering? Just think, if I wasn't home for the time that I'm home there are so many things I wouldn't get to do. Like play in the mud with my siblings. Or explore the great outdoors. Or get to know my new sister-in-law. Or even get the great opportunity to work at Pilot Travel Centers. (GAG ME). There is so much that I would miss out on if I had gone somewhere else. And while I am in the act of doing these things I am happy. And my family loves it when I'm home. Especially my nieces and nephews that say I "have to stay here. Never leave!"

Check them pearly whites!

Someday all my dreams will come true, and when they do, it will be great. But for now, I just need to have patience and appreciate what I have now.

The United States Government is a Cheerleading Squad

If someone compared me to a cheerleader, I think I would consider suicide, too.

No, really. It is. At approximately 4:16 this morning I was leaning against the counter at work, as usual, with not much to do as I had already finished my assigned tasks. I was coloring on the back of a receipt and read the words on it for the first time. (You would think after working there for two months you would know what it says on the back of those papers, but allow me to continue). Not only does it have a picture of a steaming cup of coffee surrounded by the words Freshness Guaranteed Day and Night (side story, some guy came in and told me that the coffee in his cup was too cold. I so very badly wanted to ask him why the hell I had burn marks all over my hands and arms from cleaning the damn coffee makers, but I was a good soul and only said "I will take care of it." Next time though...!) it also says "One of our goals is to recycle six million tons of cardboard annually."

Allow me to repeat that. "One of our goals is to recycle six million tons of cardboard annually."

I stopped coloring for a minute. I looked down into the trashcan beside me. It was a slow night, but already maintenance had thrown away a bag full of just receipts. Ok, there was a couple empty cartons of Marlboro Reds in there and maybe some Camel Filters or Pall Mall Light 100's. But thats it. A bag big enough to hold at least 3 of me was filled with receipts and taken to the dumpster already that night and the current bag was almost half full. Once again this was a slow night. I couldn't help but think to myself, "Wow. Pilot is really going out of their way to save the earth by recycling all that cardboard. I wish I could be as thoughtful as them." And my thoughts continued. If Pilot really gave a crap about the earth wouldn't they stop printing all those receipts that customers don't want. In the long run it would save the company money as well just because they wouldn't have to buy so much freakin' receipt paper printed with their pretty coffee logo and useless recycling goals. Or, if they must print all those receipts and want to look good to the general public (who, by the way, I'm convinced 99.99999% of don't ever see the back of the receipt) they can always RECYCLE THE FREAKIN' RECEIPTS!!!!  Ok, enough freakin'. I could go on about all the ways they could supposedly "help the environment." But I won't because I think that even though environmentalist may have good hearts in their attempts to save the earth, I really don't agree with 99.999% of things they say and do for one reason or another. That discussion is for another time and possibly place.

I know this is photoshopped, but I liked his/her smile.

So, as I was staring down into the depths of that tree filled trash can, my thoughts strayed from Pilot's environmental efforts, to those of the United States government. And then it moved to how pathetic the U.S. government really is. I remember back when I was a freshman in high school, or maybe a junior, I just remember sitting in Mr. Beck's class. Anyway, it was back when they found oil up in Alaska and wanted to start drilling there but the oh so caring environmentalists absolutely forbade it! Think of those poor moose trying to migrate, we will throw them off their course and they will soon become extinct in that part of the world! May we all be condemned for wanting to drill oil on our own land as opposed to importing it from the middle east, all over a few animals! (I could rant about this for hours, but I have a point to get to).

This really has no point other than for my amusement. I can't help but wonder what those environmentalist think when they see this. Dead Moose. Evil Car. Bad Oil!

Obviously, my personal opinion on the matter: drill. But the United States government, they just don't get good ideas and act on them. No, they have to hear everybody's side of the story. They have to know every little reason why they should or should not do something. Which don't get me wrong, that's not bad. At least, until you've spent billions of tax payers dollars to hear from "experts" that have no real life experience, just book knowledge. Or when you've wasted 20 years trying to come up with a solution and now instead of you paying for all the new problems created by waiting, your children have to take care of it. Ok, that probably didn't make much sense. Basically, I don't agree with sitting around talking about something important. I think you should take action. (Another rant I could go on, but moving on).

Which brings me to my point. Finally. It was at precisely 4:36 am that I came to the realization that the United States government is a cheerleading squad. Listen to my reasoning. Or rather, read it:

1) Cheerleaders are very in touch with their feminine side. Meaning they over think EVERYTHING! They have to analyze every little, itty bitty, teeny weeny piece of everything. Just like the government! The government can't make a decision until they have thought and stressed and worried and cried about it all for long periods of time. Just like a sissy cheerleader and whatever her problems may be. (Just a side note, the difference here is the government actually tends to have important issues to make decisions on, unlike our butt shaking friends).

Would you believe I spent forever looking for a decent picture for this? I wasn't about to put some cheerleaders vacationing in Hawaii in lingerie on my blog. Heavens no!

2) Over dramatizing. This technically could fall under over thinking, but thinking isn't really dramatizing. Thinking is what goes on in the brain. Dramatizing is the thoughts put into action. The government makes a big deal out of little things. It's all for attention. All for political parties, money, you name it. I don't understand the need to prolong crap, but I guess some people do. I don't think I need to explain cheerleaders over dramatizing. I find that pretty self explanatory.

3) They get acted on but they never get any action. Yes. I said. Cheerleaders are the action. They are the ones who get used. They are... the whores. People use our government. Other governments use our governments. Our own politicians use our government. Our government is one big whore. Never get any action you ask? Well, cheerleaders may get a lot but 5 years down the road, who wants somebody like that. She's a thing of the past. Much like America will be in a few years.Well, I guess I can't say our government doesn't get action. I should be proper and say that the government as a whole doesn't get any action. But the individuals that get voted in...

Side note. Did you know Harry Reid is trying to shut down Brothels? Yeah. Nevada's oldest business. I obviously am not a frequent brothel goer, but really?

Don't get me wrong. I am grateful to live in America. It beats bowing to a dictator or being faceless wife number 357. But nothing is perfect. So I am voicing my imperfect thoughts toward an imperfect government. And also, I'm not trying to sound like one of those oh so wonderfully clever bumper stickers that people stick to their car in an attempt to sound funny and smart all at once but really sound like retards.

See what I mean. These aren't even 1/100 of the bumper stickers out there, but if I had one of these on my car's butt, I would have no choice but to allow you to call me an idiot. Who thinks of this crap and thinks they are clever? They sound more like they forgot to pass second grade.

(All images found using google images.)

California!!!!

From the 27th of December to the 2nd of January, I went to Upland, California to visit my best friend Ariel. It was basically the best trip ever! One, because it was pretty much one of my first vacations that didn't revolve around a wedding. Two because I got to see Ariel for the first time in six months. (These obviously aren't in order of priority). Three, because of all the things we did. Four, ok there are a lot of reasons why this trip was amazing so I will just have to tell you what we did.

I showed up at LAX on Monday. It was my first time on an airplane. All I have to say is I should have been put on a plane a lot sooner. That was amazing! So after Ariel and her family picked me up, we went through Beverly Hills and went to Hollywood and ate at the Hardrock cafe. Then we went to the L.A. Zoo. I love zoos! Unfortunately, we got there at closing time so we didn't get to see many of the animals. And I left my camera in the car so I only got pictures on my phone. And they are hard to see.

On Tuesday, Ariel took me to Huntington Beach. I love the beach! Sooooooo very very much! It is my favorite place on earth. While there, we ate at a diner called Ruby's. I had to take a picture of the menu just because I call my sister Ruby. :)

On Wednesday we went and got our nails done by chinese people. It was seriously the funniest moments of my life. If you have ever seen the comedy "Nail Salon" by Anjelah Johnson, it's all true. It was so hard not to laugh out loud. After getting our nails done we went shopping. I love shopping. :) And then we went home for Chase's birthday dinner and cake. It was delicious!

On Thursday we went to Disneyland!! Ahhhhh! That place really is the happiest place on earth! It was so amazing! (Yes, it was my first time).  We saw quite a few characters. Such as Mickey Mouse, Pooh, Tigger, Aladdin, The evil queen from Snow White, Rapunzel and Flynn, and Tiana. I got a picture of Aladdin, but that was it. I wasn't going to stand in line for them.

On Friday, Ariel, Robin and I went to another beach. (I don't remember what it was called. But it was amazing, of course). It was a rocky beach where old people lived. We took lots of pictures and then we went to Balboa Island and got Balboa bars. Sooo good.

On Saturday we went to the Rose Parade. It was really cool. All the floats had to be made out of flowers and organic materials. Talk about time consuming! They take a lot of work! But they looked great! (Ok, we didn't go to the actual parade. We just went and looked at the floats after). We also went to In-and-Out and Outback Steakhouse that day. It was my first time to Outback. (This week was a lot of firsts).

On Sunday we finished the week by going to church and playing games. It was a great week. Right before dropping me off at the airport we stopped by the visitor's center. We got out pictures taken in front of the "Big Jesus".

One of my old roommates is serving her mission in the LA Visitor's Center mission. She wasn't suppose to be at the Visitor's Center that night. But she was. Meaning I got to see her!!!

It was a great week! I had a lot of fun and I fell in love with southern California! I definitely want to move there someday! :)