So, yesterday I happened upon one of my favorite professors ever (I can say this now without being a brown-noser because he's not my professor now) and it was brought to my attention that I basically never blog anymore.

Sorry.

Legally, I feel safer just not blogging about my job. I still love it. Every day has it's challenges and I've decided that I never want to teach first grade ever, but I still love my job. So there's that.

On another note, I almost died about a month ago. OK, I might be dramatizing the situation a little bit, but there was this fun trip to InstaCare followed by the ER, and I could have died getting to there (I kept almost passing out). Then there were needles and blood tests and IVs and horrible things which resulted in us finding out that my iron stores have dropped insanely low again. Which means more IVs and needles and blood tests to come. While none have been exactly pleasant, some experiences with IV therapy have been far better than others and I for sure have 2 favorite nurses at this point. I am now more than half-way done with IV therapy, however, so that's good news.




To celebrate the half-way point, and also to celebrate the fact that I totally aced all my midterms, Dad took me to Disneyland. Yes, it was only for one day (and not even a full day, at that), and yes it was totally worth it. Except I want to go back because I didn't get any cookies, caramel apples, or marshmallow sticks. It's not a true Disney experience without these things. I didn't really take many pictures, though. Mostly because I've been so many times in my life now that I think I've got pictures of just about everything possible there.

Meanwhile, school is good. I adore my mathematics and Chinese classes, like my education classes, and tolerate history (there's a long story about this; if someone really wants to know and asks kindly I may tell it, but it's not exciting). I'm taking 16 credits.

And now for a picture of my cat, because I can.





I've got like a million thoughts running through my head right now, only I've assigned myself a Very Strict Bedtime, so I don't know if I've got time to write them all down! This is so hard.

First. Today was my first day of school (for my own education) in 2+ years. It felt totally weird, but I'm actually excited to be learning again.

Second, I've completed my first assignment of the semester, and it's not even due until Wednesday! See, Dad! I don't always procrastinate!

Third, I am a teacher assistant again at the same elementary school as last year. Today I got to be impromptu teacher for about 10-15 minutes because a small child had a rather... messy accident that required massive amounts of cleaning to child, child's clothes (probably a complete change of clothes), and the chair that child was sitting in. Sad for child, but somewhat awesome to me because it reminded me of AK funtimes in Taiwan!

Fourth, I've decided that Chinese is the most beautiful written language in the entire world and I am super excited and grateful for this opportunity to once again try to improve my skills. Third time's the charm, right?

AND IT'S BEDTIME SO GOOD NIGHT!


You guys, I want to grow dragonfruit in my backyard.

That is all.

Guys, for the first time in my life EVER I have the stomach flu. It came on very suddenly when I was about to leave work on Monday, and I spent a good 2-3 hours at the InstaCare yesterday receiving fluids via IV and having fun tests run.

On top of everything else (or maybe it's part of the stomach flu? I don't know!), I have a migraine.

I. Want. To. Die.

Good news is, my fever is mostly gone, I have not thrown up in 24 hours, and therefore water stays in my system now. I was also able to go in to work for a whopping two hours before becoming so exhausted that I could barely stand. My parents are also practically waiting on me hand and foot, and that's pretty nice for me (but slightly inconvenient for them). Also, I've been sleeping A LOT, so hopefully that means I am getting all caught up on my lost hours due to the Mother's Day Madness at the flower shop a couple weeks ago. More good news: I don't have to work tomorrow AT ALL because SCHOOL IS OVER UNTIL AUGUST (and I signed a contract to work at the same school this coming fall, and did I mention I'm going to be a full-time student again and that I'm learning Chinese for REALS this time?)

So, despite all the nasty, ghastliness in life, there are still some beautiful things about it. Never forget that.

Labels: health, School

Labels: Religion

For Valentine's Day (but actually earlier, because it was for the girls I visit teach), I made Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Labels: food, Pinterest

1. Who are you? I am me. I am a Child of God and a daughter of our Heavenly Father. I come from goodly parents. 
2. What are the 3 most important things everyone should know about you?
3. When you aren't filling out 5,000 question surveys like this one what are you doing? I work basically full-time (split between 2 part-time jobs), read, and think about crafts a lot (think, but rarely do anymore)
4. List your classes in school from the ones you like the most to the ones you like the least (or if you are out of school, think of the classes you did like and didn't like at the time). As of this moment, I am not taking classes, however I will be starting school (again; third time's a charm!) pretty soon (probably) to get my Elementary Education Degree with an ESL endorsement. Also, I want to learn to speak Mandarin Chinese fluently.
5. What is your biggest goal for this year? This year? Probably to start school up again.
6. Where do you want to be in 5 years? Graduated, married, and working. Not in San Horhe, possibly in Taiwan.
7. What stage of life are you in right now? Limbo
8. Are you more child-like or childish? I think everyone has their childish moments, but I'd like to think I am more often child-like than childish.
9. What is the last thing you said out loud? "Talk to you later."
10. What song comes closest to how you feel about your life right now? Good Question?
11. Have you ever taken martial arts classes? Err... briefly. My knee was whacked, though, so I dropped the course because it Wasn't Working Out for me.
12. Does your life tend to get better or worse or does it just stay the same? Of course life always gets better. Hard things happen, but there is always far more good than bad.
13. Does time really heal all wounds? No, but the Atonement can (with time).
14. How do you handle a rainy day? Depends on the season, what plans I had. I love a warm, summer rain. I love to stand out in it and get drenched to the core.
15. Which is worse...losing your luggage or having to sort out tangled holiday lights? Losing your luggage. Always. Thankfully, this has never happened to me (yet... knock on wood!)
16. How is your relationship with your parents? My parents are two of my best friends Will you miss them when they are gone? DUH
17. Do you tend to be aware of what is going on around you? Meh... depends. Where am I? What am I doing?
18. What is the truest thing that you know? God loves us.
19. What did you want to be when you grew up? This has changed a few times. When I was little, I wanted to be a school teacher or a country singer (don't judge). When I was in High School, I wanted to become a photographer/archaeologist. Now I'm back to the school teacher dream!
20. Have you ever been given a second chance? Hasn't everyone?
21. Are you more of a giver or a taker?  I would hope that it'd be pretty even between the two, but, realistically, probably I am more of a taker.
22. Do you make your decisions with an open heart/mind? I try to, but most of my decisions are based on feeling rather than logic.
23. What is the most physically painful thing that has ever happened to you? That fun time I shattered the cartilage in my knee was pretty painful, as was that other fun time when I had shingles. Both resulted in months of physical therapy.
24. What is the most emotionally painful thing that has ever happened to you? Having one of my ex-boyfriends break up with me. I'm such a girl!
25. Who have you hugged today? My cat. My Kristy face. Dad. 
26. Who has done something today to show they care about you? My cat, my Kristy Face, Dad, Mom, Pengyou
27. Do you have a lot to learn? So much! Don't we all!
28. If you could learn how to do three things just by wishing and not by working what would they be? A ALL THE LANGUAGES!!! B Everything associated with my degree C Everything associated with archaeology
29. Which do you remember the longest: what other people say, what other people do or how other people make you feel? Probably... what other people say. Unless it has to do with where a car was parked; in that case we are all doomed.
30. What are the key ingredients to having a good relationship? Communication, respect, compassion. This goes for all relationships.
31. What 3 things do you want to do before you die? A Go back to Taiwan B  Have my own family C Learn to better serve others
32. What three things would you want to die to avoid doing? A Surgery B Anything involving needles entering my body C Getting a horrible disease
33. Is there a cause you believe in more than any other cause? Does religion count as a cause? If so, then that.
34. What does each decade make you think of: The 19..
20's: Flappers?
30's: The Great Depression
40's: World War II
50's: Elvis
60's: Hippies
70's: Disco!
80's: Birth!
90's: Elementary school!
2000: Adult Life!
2010's: Figuring out Adult Life!
35. Which decade do you feel the most special connection to and why? I can't say I really feel a "special connection" with any of them. I'm just glad that I don't remember the 80's.
36. What is your favorite oldie/classic rock song? The Monster Mash. That counts, right?
37. What country do you live in and who is the leader of that country? USA, Obama If you could say any sentence to the current leader of your country what would it be? I actually have nothing to say to him.
38. What's your favorite TV channel to watch in the middle of the night? Netflix, but hopefully I am always sleeping!
39. What Disney villain are you the most like and why? Thinking.. thinking... thinking...I don't know, but Yzma is definitely my favorite.
40. Have you ever been a girl scout/boy scout? Nope.
41. If you were traveling to another continent would you rather fly or take a boat? Fly. Always.
42. Why is the sky blue during the day and black at night? Because light and molecules.
43. What does your name mean? "ewe"
44. Would you rather explore the deeps of the ocean or outer space? Outer Space. The ocean actually scares the snot out of me. 
45. Word association What is the first word that comes to mind when you see the word:
Air: Oxygen
Meat: beef
Different: same
Pink: she has a horrible song that they always play on the radio (I know, more than one word...) OR Barbie
Deserve: pride
White: elephant
Elvis: Stitch
Magic: Disney
Heart: cards
Clash: Titans
Pulp: Juice
46. If you could meet any person in the world who is dead who would you want it to be? I don't even know. Actually, this is one of those questions that always irritates me because you know people judge you based off your answer.
47. What if you could meet anyone who is alive? I would love to be BFFs with The General
48. Is there a movie that you love so much you could watch it everyday? I have several of these. A couple years ago I watched Sweet Land every day for 3 weeks. On repeat.
49. You are going to be stuck alone in an elevator for a week. What do you bring to do? In an elevator? I won't need anything. I'll be passed out/dead after a few minutes.
50. Have you ever saved someone's life or had your life saved? Not that I am aware of.
51. Make up a definition for the following silly words...
Fruitgoogle: Google for fruits(?)
Ambytime: Any time in the morning
Asscactus: A horrible place to sit.
52. What was the last thing you made with your own hands? Today... a rose boutonniere. 
53. What was your favorite toy as a child? What age are we talking here? I had a horse that I adored beyond all reason. Also my waffle town road set, which was awesome. Also my Barbie dolls.
54. How many TV’s are in your house? Just one. I don't believe in more than one television in a house.
55. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Hiking. Photography.
56. How do you feel when you see a rainbow? Happy!
57. Have you ever dreamed a dream that came true? I don't remember. I did wake up this morning with the thought that there would be a lot of funeral orders at work, and then there were. That's kind of the same thing, right?
58. Have you ever been to a psychic/tarot reader? No, and I have no desire to.
59. What is your idea of paradise? I don't know. A beautiful beach with a soft, gentle breeze, lots of sea shells...
60. Do you believe in god and if so what is he/she/it like? Yes. God is good, God is great, God is perfect. He loves us and is our Heavenly Father. He has a plan for us. He is merciful. He is just. Everything good comes from God. He is our creator, the author and finisher of our faith. I'm always happy to share about my God!
61. Do you believe in Hell? In a manner of speaking, yes.
62. What one thing have you done that most people haven't? Most people, I think, have not accomplished one of their life dreams by the age of 23. I have.
63: What is the kindest thing you have ever done? I don't know. I don't know that I am really that kind?
64. Are you a patient person? Not hardly.
65. What holiday should exist but doesn't?  I feel like August needs a holiday. One that gets everyone out of work for a day.
66. What holiday shouldn't exist but does? Valentine's Day
67. What's the best joke you ever heard? I have heard a lot of jokes, but the majority of them are not funny. My go-to joke, though, is this "Why did the elephant where tennies? Because nineies were too small and elevenies too big.
68. Where is the most fun place you have EVER been? Taiwan! Hong Kong! 
69. Is your hair natural or dyed? Dyed.
70. Do you have any deep dark secrets or are you pretty much up front? I think I'm pretty up-front about most things.
71. What is under your bed right now? Better not be anything.
72. If you were in the Land of Oz would you want to live there or go home? There's no place like home.
73. If you drive do you frequently speed? Define "frequently." Actually, define "speed."
74. What is the world's best song to dance to?  I don't dance. 
75. What song was on the last time you danced with someone? See above.
76. Do you prefer Disney or Warner Brothers? DISNEY!
77. What is the first animal you would run to see if you went to the zoo? I can count on one hand how many times I have been to a zoo in my life. Is the zoo awesome enough to have manatees? If yes, then I choose that. If no, then just go in order.
78. Would you consider yourself to be romantic? Not overly romantic, no. Most chick-flicks bug me.
79. If the earth stopped rotating would we all fly off? No. Gravity and other stuff.
80. What is the one thing that you love to do so much that you would make sacrifices to be able to do it? TRAVEL TO TAIWAN!
81. If you (and everyone) had to lose one right or freedom, but you could pick which one everyone had to lose, what would you pick? The right to pick belly-button lint.
82. If you had to choose would you live on the equator or at the North Pole? Equator. Easy choice.
83. Would you rather give up listening to music or watching television? Television.
84. What do you think makes someone a hero? Sacrificing for the betterment of others.
85. What cartoon would you like to be a character in? I'm just going to go with The Emperor's New Groove
86. Name one thing that turns your stomach: Bloodandguts. 
87. What was the last thing you paid for? I'm thinking... probably scrapbook supplies
88. Are you a coupon clipper? No
89. Get anything good in the mail recently? Also no. I only get bills.
90. Which would you rather take as a gym class...dancing, sailing, karate, or bowling? Bowling.
91. In Star Trek people 'beam' back and forth between different places. What this means is they stand in a little tube and their molecules are deconstructed and sent to another tube somewhere else where they are reassembled. Only problem is when the molecules are deconstructed the person is dead. When they are put back together it is only a clone that has all the dead person's memories. So... Is the person who gets beamed the same person on both ends? I'mma just say yes because I don't care.
92. What insects are you afraid of? Most of them. Spiders especially. Actually, if it has more than 6 legs, definitely I am afraid of it.
93. If you could print any phrase on a T-shirt, what would it say? I feel like there are no original answers for this.
94. What's the most eccentric thing you have ever worn? I don't... I don't know. I'm pretty conservative. 
95. If you could pick one food that you could eat all you wanted but it would have no effect on how much you weigh, what food would it be? CHOCOLATE IN ALL ITS FORMS also cookie dough
96. What are your parents interested in? Family history, crafts, gardening, their children
97. Have you ever caught an insect and kept it as a pet? I remember having a parent catch a Taranchula once... Real memory? Don't know. Have you ever caught and tamed a wild animal? No.
98. What is more helpful to you, wishes or plans? Plans. Wishing gets you no where.
99. When do you feel your life energy the strongest? I don't know... when I'm fully rested?
100. You are spending the night alone in the woods and may bring only 3 items with you. What do you bring? A tent. Pepper spray. A flashlight.

Labels: 5000 Questions

Recently I was reading all the amazing quotes that I wrote down from when I was in Taiwan. Here are some of my favorites (to Protect the Identities of the Innocent, I have changed all of my roommates' names to numbers):

• Lauren: “If you want to take a picture, put my poo on your food.”
• Mom: “I admit that the Modern Toilet would be a place I do not think I would go to.  My body knows what it's supposed to be doing when I sit there - and it wouldn't be very pretty!”
• Ten: “I see a trash can!” One: “I brought my camera, don’t even worry.”

• Two: “I think I’m going to do that, just for funny.”
• Seven: “Was that Irish?” Two: “I don’t know what that was. Let’s not talk about it.”
• Two: “Yes, I hum in Chinese.”
• Lauren: “Our service turned into gluttony, but it’s OK!”
• Sister B: “You know in our body we have a lot of cells, and they die. Mine are already dying.”
• Ten: “[Two] just gave me a flat tire!” Two: “Because I love you!”
• Dad: in regards to finding a hotel in Taiwan “Make sure it’s clean and nice, not a brothel.”
• One: “And then these thoughts come into your head and you say, ‘yep!’ and then they go away.”
• Ten: “It’s like a Mormon rave! … with only four girls.” Two: “That’s pretty much what a Mormon rave is.”
• One: “Guys! I’m not wearing a bra!” Three: “I’m glad you brought that up.” Ten: “And that’s why the lights are off.”
• One: “That was so ninja!”
• One: “Have you seen [Seven]? I have bad news for her: I don’t have her underwear!”
• Two: “Where do you get your underwear? I buy mine in Taiwan. At the Easy Shop!”
• Dad: “Maybe we’ll get you some compression pantyhose so you don’t come home with bungles. And it’s plural because you have two buns.”
• Johnny: “Who is Cinderella?” Me: “She loses her glass slipper.” Johnny: “Her shoe? She can go buy another one, it’s OK! Throw this one out and buy two more!”
• Seven: “Oh! I wanted to get into your closet!”
• One: “I wish I could take my lips off and just leave them up here.”
• One: “I feel more and more like a mix between a cockerspaniel and a bag lady.”
• One: “Where’s my night bottle?”
• Three: “One time at church, [Ten] gave me a tissue and it smelled like boy. Do you want to smell it?” One: “You still have it?” Three: “Yeah, it’s right here!”
• One: “[Ten]? I’m going to sleep now, but I forgot to tell you to watch out for the zombie dolphins.”
• William (5G): “How do you 'go around the bed?'”
• Three: “The real question is, were you wearing a bra?”
• Eight: “ We’re all friends here. I’ll hit you with this frying pan!”
• Four: “I’ll destroy his face! Hand me the bowl.”
• One: “There was still underwear in these sweats! It was the weirdest feeling!”

Or, in other words, Happy New Year!

Once upon a time I used to blog... occasionally. Remember those times? Well, then this fun thing happened where I ran out of free storage space for pictures, and I'm too cheap to pay a monthly subscription. So, until I finally, I don't know, find another option for storing pictures online... well. You know, blogging will continue to be limited. Also, my life isn't Super Exciting right now anyway.

However, here's to New Beginnings in 2013! I've got a few future plans kicking around in my head, two of which are: a possible trip to Taiwan this summer, and going back to school for an Elementary Education degree.

So, Happy New Year to you all! I Hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving and Christmas season.


I don't really have a lot to blog about lately. Mostly I work, come home, eat, work some more, come home, eat, and go to bed. There are also weekly Outings involved, but rarely does anything of Blog Material happen.

However, this one I just can't pass up.

So, actually I'm working at an elementary school here in town again, right? Due to privacy laws and all that kind of fun stuff, there's not a lot I feel safe blogging/talking about in public. Which is OK, and I don't mind. But today I had a student that I work with ask me, "Do you have a baby in your stomach?"

The answer, for those of you suddenly concerned, is, of course, a resounding NO. But still it was funny in an awkward sort of way.

(Also awkward is when you can't spell "awkward" and end up spelling it "awkard" instead.)


Meanwhile, now that the weather has turned more autumnal, if anyone has Out Doors suggestions for things to do in the surrounding area between the hours of, say, 4-9 on a weekday, please. Share.

Labels: children, School, Teaching, work

Last week Dad and I visited my grandparents in the beautiful, green, slightly cold (only 60 degrees two days we were there!) state of New York. Actually, I had forgotten that I had started this blog post, so the details now might be a little limited, but at least you can see what it is that I have been up to.

We left home at about 4 am Tuesday morning to make our way to the airport. Pretty much all of Tuesday was spent traveling to there, so the adventures didn't really start until Wednesday when we (myself, Dad, Grandma, and Holden) made our way to Niagara Falls. Two years ago we went to the Canadian side, but this time we just stayed in the good ol' US of A. However, you can still see Canada in the background of some of these pictures.










Day the next Dad and I went to Letchworth State Park. Actually we have been here before (two years ago), but decided to go again. This place is sometimes called the Grand Canyon of the Eastern United States. This day was just me and the Dad.







Our next adventure took us to Palmyra to attend a session at the temple and then spend a little bit of time in the Sacred Grove. Grandma came with Dad and I, and it was so nice to go there.







The last full day we were there (last Monday), Dad and I went to Rock City Park. We kind of arrived off the beaten path, but in the end we got there. We spent about an hour trundling along over the rocks and roots.














And thus concludes a week in pictures.


Meanwhile, public school here has started already, and I did manage to land a job at another elementary school for this school year. However, I do not start working there until NEXT Monday. So soon I will be insanely busy working six days a week again, but I think it's OK. Also, I'm still trying to decide where it is I want to go to school next year. And, unrelated, I burned myself giving a dear friend cooking lessons last week, so I'm currently sporting a nasty large, red, blistery sore on my wrist. It's awesome!

Labels: Photography, travel, updates, work

"I think I know how it is to be grown up; it's when you feel how someone feels that isn't you." -Frances Griffiths

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