Oh the Hilarity!

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!

Crazy Music

I've watched this video multiple times. It's mesmerizing in a strange sort of way...

Read about it here.

Went a Little Out of Order

I also never did a birthday post for Harper (whose birthday is four days before Caitlin's)

Oops!

Harper (aka 'Harps' and 'Spanky' - the latter, only to family):

H - heavenly
A - adorable
R - alphabetically-speaking, you're 'okay'
P - i could go on all day
E - exciting
R - alphabetically-speaking, you're [still] 'okay'!*

Seriously though - Harps is a great youngest brother for the family. He takes the teasing that's dished out in a very good-natured way. He's fun to be around, and he doesn't get mad at me when I call him Spanky** in front of other people. I've also enjoyed watching him play in different intramural games.

Happy really-late birthday Harps!

*you get a trillion points if you know where that's from
**the birth of his nickname is a long story,
but suffice it to say - I think it's going
to be around for a long, long time

To Caitlin...

... a super-belated birthday post (sorry!).

Last summer - we started doing Power90 together
Last summer - we quit doing Power90 together

Last fall - she helped me pick out a frame for a temple picture - I'm not very creative, but can appreciate the minds that are (remember this?)
Last fall - she sent me up to my room with a bunch of her professional-type clothes

Last winter - she made sure I 'dressed nicely' for a date
Last winter - she gave me a Christmas gift of more 'nice clothing' (:

Tonight - she kicked by backside into gear and 'made' me do Physique 57 (it still kicks my trash)

Last November - she and Rob made eclairs for my birthday (they were delicious!)

For the past year - she's given me more practice being a mother by letting me babysit Guy (aka "stinker" - I love this most recent post)
For the past year (and more) - it's been nice having her around

Happy super-super-late birthday Caitlin!

Wouldn't You Like to Read -

- about a man who can inspire this kind of feeling?

For scientific leadership give me Scott; for swift and efficient travel, Amundsen; but when you are in a hopeless situation, when there seems no way out, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton*.

I'm reading Endurance.
You should too.

I've heard that
Shackleton's Way
is also amazing.

*how awesome is that name?

I Like This

Calling All -

- returned missionaries from countries where malaria is present. If you - or anyone you know - qualify, please follow this link -
http://qtrial.qualtrics.com/SE?SID=SV_eY6rpFIKqbVd6T2&SVID=Prod
- to take the survey, or send it on to them. It takes about five minutes to complete.

Thank you!

Sleep

Last night around 7 I noticed I was starting to hit a wall. I went to my room, changed into pajamas, and crawled into bed. Around 7:30 I fell asleep. I didn't really wake up until around 8:30.

I've always said that 13 is my lucky number. (:

"Fantastic"

-I've been awake *literally* all night-
-I closed my eyes for maybe 15 minutes a bit before 4 am-
-I was not asleep at all for those 15 minutes-
-I decided to get up and be productive-
-Dingo's stayed with me all night-
-Now it's time for me to get ready for school-

-My mind keeps whirling-
-Perhaps someday I'll tell you why-

Baby Steps

Last year, the day before Valentine's Day, I went to watch a movie alone for the first time in my life. This year, two days before Valentine's Day, I went to watch a movie* alone for the second time in my life.

It's not necessarily that I really enjoy doing things like this alone. It's that I feel that if I don't learn to do them alone now, I'm going to have some long, long, lonely years ahead of me - that will be more boring than they need to be. If I learn to get out there and do things on my own, then my long lonely years will have more 'adventures' than they otherwise would.

Does that make sense?

*not a horrible movie, but there were
some things about it that I wish
weren't there. what's wrong
with making a completely
clean, cute movie?

Does It Make Me Lame...

... if I update my blog on a Friday night?

Well, it's no secret to me that I'm *always* available.

I'm about to do Physique 57 for the second time in my life.
- the half hour workout -
I lied when I told you last week that I was about to do it again.
Oops.
- I'm not lying this time. Promise! -

Wish me luck!

ps - today went really well in terms of sticking to my overhauled diet... except that I just realized it's after 8:00 and I never actually had dinner.

Blast.

The Green Day

My concession to the holiday:

: a ribbon that I've carried in my bag for the last year because I bought it a year ago on St. Patrick's day when I forgot to wear green. It's kind of a trend for me.

I figured I'd most likely forget again, so I carried it around with me.

Good thing too.

I hate being pinched.

I hope you had a chance to kiss some Irish person. (:

Turning Over a New Leaf

(not a leaf... but I like the picture)

My life is in need of drastic changes.
So I'm working on changing.

- I'm in the process of volunteering at a place I've had my eye on for about two years.
(it's about time I actually did something about it)

- I'm working on fixing my sleeping habits with a little help from one* or two things...
(kind of looking into an item like this too)

- I'm doing a {currently} temporary overhaul on my diet.
for a few reasons
1 - my eating habits have been awful lately
2 - I'm planning on walking/running a marathon in a month and need to be in better physical condition than I am now
3 - I told myself that if I went back to my mission reunion this year that I would be thinner than I was last year
(right now, I weigh less than I did a year ago... but there's a lot of room for improvement)
4 - I know that I'll feel better if I weigh less, I've been feeling pretty *blech* lately

- Dietary changes that I told myself I can make for one week**
(just one week...)
1 - no refined sugar
2 - no white flour
3 - all fruits and vegetables
- with some whole grains thrown in
(I'll be making a stop at Great Harvest tomorrow)
4 - no eating after 8
(maybe 7)

Feel free to check up on me during the week.
**This begins tomorrow.

*just fyi - this is a rare "help"
I don't -nor do I want to-
use it every night.

ps - popcorn is okay - no butter of course! (:

?!?!?!

I'm going to try something radical.
Something that's never been tried before.*
It's kind of revolutionary.
It'll put me in a minority group.
It'll be super-amazing if it actually happens.**

Here's a hint:

Tonight, I'm aiming for 8 (consecutive) hours of sleep.

Wish me luck!

And try it yourself. (:

*that's an outright lie.
I apologize for lying.

**except for this line,
it's probably all an
outright lie.
oops.

I Saw...

(can you see who it is? -it's Mitt Romney-)

... and heard him speak last week Saturday in the Salt Palace.

It was pretty neat.

With the ticket came a signed copy of his book.

Woo hoo!

Ouch

Yesterday I tried Physique 57 for the first time.

My legs shook for about 10 minutes after I stopped.

It was the first time I ever turned off an exercise video because I couldn't finish it (it lasts about an hour, and I turned it off 45 minutes into it).

Today my arms are sore, my legs are sore, and my abs are sore.

I'm about to turn it on again. (:

DC Pictures! (there are many, and there will be more...)

(click each one to enlarge)

To Do List:

:laundry
delayed it for too long... ugh
:pack for DC
so excited to be going! but any travel - even fun travel - brings with it some added stress
:write a two-page paper
due Thursday night by midnight, but since I'll be in DC... I should get it done tonight
:straighten up bedroom
not necessarily a *must* before I go, but it's always nicer to come home to a clean space
:make sure plants are watered
I've been doing such a good job keeping them alive, I don't want to risk them while I'm gone
:get 10 hours of sleep
okay, okay, I know, not possible, especially having to leave for the airport at 8 am. but I can dream, right?

It Just Hit Me -

- I'm

I'm in my upper-20s.
I'm no longer a mid-20s-year-old.
This time next year I'll be casting my eyes toward 30.

While I've never been embarrassed to state my age,
I didn't really realize how old* I'm getting.

I'm 28.

My life is so not the way I pictured it would be.

I'm 28.

... and 4 months ...

*admittedly an extremely relative term

ps - I'm not asking for any platitudes / condolences / etc.
More than that, please don't offer them.

I'm just expressing an awareness that time is moving on.
And I'm not necessarily moving on with it
I need to remedy that.

The View From My Bed

Since Friday evening I've been sick.
The kind of sick where every time I stand up I get dizzy and nauseous.
I've been lying down a lot.
So much, that I'm sick of lying down.
I'd get up, but I feel sick when I stand.

Anyway - the dingo has stayed close.
I love that he stays close.
(he's snoring right now - so cute!)