That moment when...

...you get a letter from your best friend in Mongolia and for a Christmas present he sent you a pass-along card in Mongolian and you think it's the best Christmas present ever.

...you creep on the label of the package of the lady standing in line behind you at the post office and strike up a conversation with her because you recognize the name on the package as Elder Kid-You-Did-A-Science-Project-With-In-Ninth-Grade.

...you discover that not only do you have only two more awful quizzes for your Japanese culture class, but tonight's reading consists of only 33 pages compared to Tuesday's 136.

...you realize that you'd rather spend your weekend hoping for plans than deciding which of several potentially awkward activities you are most obligated to attend.

...you finish a long hard day of work, begin to feel all the aches and pains, and realize that you are totally satisfied.

...you realize you left your piece of pie at work.

...you stop to think and smile a little about just how silly life actually is. You know, step back from the situation and look at yourself in it and just...chuckle? Chuckle. What a good word.

Grumpy.

Sometimes I get really grumpy.

Typically I have no rational reasons to be grumpy. There is nothing to set me off. Nothing to make me angry or upset me.

I just get in a funk and I want to be really grumpy.

It doesn't help that I like to say the word grumpy.

Grumpy grumpy grumpy grumpy grumpy grumpy grumpy grumpy grumpy grumpy.

In some ways it's not really a big deal. I'm good at mostly keeping my grumpiness to myself and not lashing out at people. (Not so good at not letting other people know that I'm grumpy...but good at letting them know it's not directed at them.) In other ways it's a big deal...because when I get into that funk, I start to get down on myself and ultimately I decide that I don't want to talk to people ever again.

Unfortunately, that is the antithesis of what I should be doing.

It's a vicious cycle.

Here is a picture I just found of one time that I got grumpy at my old job:

I decided to jump in the creek. (Don't worry, I didn't really. Jump. I know you were concerned.)

Now you know.

And there's still 65 pages of Japanese to read.

Exciting Times

First off, congrats to my dear elder but not elderly sister who got married yesterday, January 12, 2012, in the Mount Timpanogas temple to her best friend, Daniel Riggs. Way to be, kids. Sorry I don't have more pics...mebbe in a few weeks. Needless to say, it was a beautiful affair. As in, event. Not like..."An Affair to Remember."

Also, congratulations to ME on the reception of my very first, very own, brand new, ticket to Europe PASSPORT. I was only mildly excited. 

The best part was that they put all these squiggly lines for security over my face so in my rough passport picture I only look somewhat out of it instead of totally stoned. Ace.

They had this little pamphlet tucked inside...Oh, those words were never so true!!!

And that is all.

So much for resolutions...

Today I was smart.

Today I wore GLOVES all while I worked, even though that meant stealing a pair of gloves from an unsuspecting co-worker.

Shhh...

To no avail.

I slipped with my staple puller and nailed my finger as usual.

I thought, "Jiminy! That hurt. Good thing I'm wearing these gloves!"

I removed the gloves to look at my finger anyway.

ANOTHER GOUGE. And a bad one at that.

Through my gloves.



Question of the day: how do so many college students afford such nice cars? I'm still seeing how long I can last without groceries...

Bad News

Here is a list of some things in my life that currently fall under the category of "Bad News."

1) Passport picture. Definitely bad news. Should have cut my bangs before.

2) BYU's decision that the only obvious solution to the issue of how my study abroad loan money is divided is to just take away the loan altogether. Thanks! (Don't worry...many angry phone calls and messages later they gave it back. Jerks.)

3) The myriad cuts and gouges on my hands that still exist because the gloves that were ordered from the warehouse were a size small, not extra small. We'll have to remedy that one....

4) No food in the house but this giant box of Christmas candy... Don't ask what I've eaten today.


Fortunately there's some more exciting news thing-a-ma-jigs mixed in with all the "Bad News" items. But...they aren't nearly as exciting or fun to read about. Mostly I just thought everyone should get their laughing done now about my passport pic. Gag.

First Day

Don't worry, this post will only happen once this semester because this time I have all my classes on one day. Yee-haw. Classes: New Testament Part 1, Modern Art, American Art, Japanese Culture, French Reading. Deceptively simple semester...but a lot of BUSY work. I think it will be good, if I can stay on top of it. At the very least, I'm very interested in my subjects and classes and I've got some good friends in each.

Now, remember that time that I said I frequently have punny/random observations throughout my day and can't remember them when I get home? I wrote them down today. So here they are:

1) Campus is probably 5 times more crowded the first week of classes than any other time of year.
2) Although they are awfully scarce, male art history majors know how to dress FIIIIINE.
3) If you harbor a secret wish that the cute boy walking in front of you is in your next class, he will be, but he will definitely be married.
4) Japanese culture = not strictly art history majors = cute boys.
5) Japanese culture boys = cocky and immature = un-datable.
6) Some classes are worth taking for the people.

No pique-a-chores today. Lo siento. Though I did carry my camera! New Year's Res? Check.

Also, I walked to school today. It was exhilarating. And cold. The end.

New Year, New Semester

I still remember New Year's Eve back in 1999 thinking there was no way it was going to be 2000 - how did time go that fast?! Suddenly it's 2012 and that just sounds crazy. 2012? What? It's going to be a great year - Europe, graduation, friends starting to come home from their missions, new nieces and nephews, a wedding...CRAZY.

I've never been big on resolutions. I always thought those writing assignments in grade school after the break ended were really stupid. But it's not only a new year, it's a new semester. So here are some of my shorter term goals, just for the semester: Be more social, be more outgoing, be more on top of my work. I'm really, REALLY happy with how my grades came out last semester (did you know Krispy Kreme doesn't give free doughnuts to college students with A's? Jerks.) and I really want to do that again, with less stress, and more ... extracurricular successes in addition. So that's the plan. I'll keep in touch.

Another goal? Stop doing this:

Or this:

Don't worry. I've finally gotten my boss to get the warehouse to order a pair of work gloves that actually fits my petite hands. (Which is funny because I've always felt I had rather large hands.) They came in today so hopefully when I go back to pull staples on those darn temple chairs my skinned, blistered, bleeding hands will finally be allowed to heal. So...I've already started to meet that goal.

Also, did you know that when you have a bandaid covering a sore on the tip of the finger that you typically use for the trackpad on your laptop, not only does it hurt to type, but you can't use your mouse? Figures. Jimmy can't sense my movements with this bandage in the way.

And what other better way to start off the year than with a new niece?! Meet Mia, born just this morning. She's so little and squishy!

Sorry ... I really am against phone pics. I just keep not having my camera with me. But I figure a phone pic is better than nothing. I'll be better. There. That's my New Year's resolution - take more pictures!

Okay. Time to get ready for bed so I can be bright and not-so-early to class tomorrow! Bring it on.